Chapter 58

From ancient times to the present, establishing a capital has always been a very troublesome matter, with a great many issues to consider.

In ancient times, especially in eras of war, when a country established its capital, the primary consideration was strategic. For example, during the Warring States period, before Xianyang, the Qin State established its capital in Liyang to contend with the Wei State for the Hexi region. Many years later, Emperor Chengzu of Ming, Zhu Di, established his capital in Beijing mainly to more conveniently fight the remnant Yuan and defend the nation's gates. Besides that, one had to consider transportation, climate, economic development, and so on. In short, if a place was chosen by several dynasties as their capital, it must have had irreplaceable advantages.

From the moment Liu Yuan decided to find a more suitable place for their main base, Liu Zhen began to ponder this question. Even though Liu Yuan had not asked for her opinion, she treated this difficult problem as a test for herself and took it seriously.

Liu Zhen sifted through almost every location on the map.

First, she had to consider it from Liu Yuan's perspective.

Right now, Liu Yuan possessed four territories: Hengshan Commandery, Nanyang Commandery, Nanjun Commandery, and Xianyang City. This meant the capital should ideally be considered from among these four places. However, Xiang Yu had just made a move, enfeoffing the area east of Xianyang to Zhang Han precisely to tie down Liu Yuan and prevent him from comfortably and securely acting as a local king. Therefore, for safety's sake, the areas near Xianyang were best not used as the capital. Otherwise, it would be fine if everyone remained at peace, but once the flames of war ignited, Xianyang would become an isolated city, looking at Nan Commandery and other places from a great distance, cut off by Zhang Han's vast territory. When that time came, they wouldn't even know how they died.

Historically, the reason Chang'an became the capital after Xianyang was firstly because Xianyang's palaces had been mostly burned down by Xiang Yu, and secondly because Xianyang's scale of development was growing ever larger, and the land was becoming insufficient, requiring expansion into the surrounding areas. Chang'an was the appropriate first choice. Moreover, being adjacent to Xianyang, it possessed all the same geographical advantages, making it the undisputed choice for a capital.

But now, unless Liu Yuan were to eliminate Zhang Han in the future and connect the entire area from Xianyang to Nanyang, Chang'an was not a very good choice at present.

As for other places...

Beijing was not even worth considering.

At this time, the outskirts of Beijing, along with the Hebei area, were called Ji, which was currently the territory of King Han Guang of Yan.

What about Luoyang? It currently belonged to Sanchuan Commandery and was the territory of King Shen Yang of Henan.

As for Southern Brocadeg, it was called Jinling Yi at this time, having just been named in the era of King Wei of Chu. Right now, it was still just a simple, small city of stone.

Previously, when Liu Yuan moved from Yingchuan Commandery to Hengshan Commandery, the seat of government was established in Zhu County of Hengshan Commandery. Zhu County was part of the later Wuhan, and its location could not be called unimportant. But Liu Zhen felt they should have a better choice—one that was close to Xianyang for future schemes, had a considerable economic and political foundation, and whose geographical location was also taken into account.

After considering various options, her gaze passed over Jiangling, which would later become Jingzhou, and fell upon the administrative seat of Nanyang Commandery, Wan County.

Wan County had several advantages. It was close to both Xianyang and Luoyang, was within Liu Yuan's territory, and most importantly, it was rich in iron ore.

When Liu Zhen presented the location she had decided on to Liu Yuan, the latter couldn't hide his look of astonishment.

You see, just a day before, he had discussed with Song Xie and the others the matter of temporarily leaving Xianyang and moving to a new capital. In the end, Song Xie and the others had also unanimously agreed that Wan County was the best choice.

Liu Zhen's performance amazed him once again.

To be honest, Liu Yuan didn't want to move again at all.

Counting from the start of his uprising to now, he had first moved from Yangdi to Zhu County, then later from Zhu County to Xianyang. And now, after he had gone to great trouble to capture Xianyang first, he actually had to move again. If he had known this would happen, why would he have worked so hard to rush ahead of everyone to occupy Xianyang in the first place?

But on second thought, Liu Yuan now held three commanderies, all in fairly good geographical locations. If Xiang Yu wasn't out of his mind, there was no way he would let him occupy the vast, fertile land of Guanzhong east of Xianyang. He would inevitably find someone to restrain Liu Yuan. Thinking it over, the feudal lords who had previously been bribed by Liu Yuan to retreat were unsuitable. That left only the former Qin general, Zhang Han, who had no connection to Liu Yuan and even held a bit of a grudge against him.

After Zhang Han surrendered to Xiang Yu, Xiang Yu let bygones be bygones and even kept him by his side, treating him as a right-hand man. Now, he had even enfeoffed the land of Guanzhong to him, a gesture of immense grace and favor. If nothing unexpected happened, Zhang Han would naturally be moved to tears with gratitude toward Xiang Yu and serve him with all his heart.

This move by Xiang Yu threw all of Liu Yuan's plans into disarray. Liu Yuan was furious, but there was nothing he could do. This was because the Emperor of Chu's earlier words were: "Whoever reaches Xianyang first, Xianyang is his." This statement actually had a loophole. What the Emperor of Chu said did not include the lands of Guanzhong. If Liu Yuan insisted on not giving up Guanzhong, he would be viewed with hostility and resentment by all the feudal lords under heaven—how could one allow another to sleep beside one's bed? No one would sit by and watch a neighbor with too much power grow beside them.

So, if Liu Yuan didn't want to be trapped and surrounded in Xianyang, he had to find another capital.

"Did you think of this yourself, or did someone tell you?" Liu Yuan asked, looking at the location Liu Zhen was pointing to.

"If I said Elder Brother helped me think of it, would Father believe me?" Liu Zhen asked back with a grin.

"Of course not," Liu Yuan said, his expression unchanging. "I know you want to plead for your elder brother, but the mistake he made this time was too great. He deserves to be taught a lesson. If not, he'll cause even greater trouble sooner or later."

"But Elder Brother is completely devoted to you, Father. He only makes mistakes occasionally because of his coarse personality. He has already improved a lot compared to before!" Liu Zhen shamelessly tugged on her father's sleeve, acting cute.

If it had been a son acting so childishly, Liu Yuan would probably have slapped him. But he was very tolerant of his daughter, merely patting Liu Zhen's head lightly. "Alright, stop speaking up for him all the time. I know you two siblings are close. At his age, it's precisely the time for him to gain more experience. Going to your Third Uncle's place will only benefit him, not harm him. Since he wants to be a general, he should properly hone his skills on the battlefield. Now, hurry and tell me how you thought of moving the capital to Wan County."

Liu Zhen thought to herself, 'Aren't I doing this to keep the two of you, father and son, from growing distant?' But since Liu Yuan didn't want to say more, she couldn't press the issue and could only switch to explaining her reasons for choosing Wan County.

As Liu Yuan listened to her eloquently state her reasons, he found that more than half of them were identical to what Song Xie and the others had said. He couldn't help but feel both gratified and regretful. The reason for his regret was self-evident: if Liu Zhen were a boy instead of a girl, Liu Yuan wouldn't have to suffer so many headaches and fits of anger because of Liu Nan and Liu Jin.

After Liu Zhen finished speaking, he smiled and said, "Actually, before you, Mr. Song and I had already decided on the matter of moving to Wan County."

Liu Zhen was very excited. This was an affirmation of her abilities, proof that her homework had not been done in vain.

Before her excitement could fade, she heard Liu Yuan say, "Ah Zhen, from now on, when I discuss matters with Mr. Song and the others, you may listen from the side."

In the past, Liu Zhen had often snuck in to eavesdrop when Liu Yuan was discussing matters with others. But that was always without asking, and although Liu Yuan tacitly allowed it, it had never been formally acknowledged. But today, Liu Yuan himself had spoken, permitting Liu Zhen to listen in. This meant that from now on, when her old man was discussing official business with others, she could sit openly to the side and no longer had to be an "unregistered resident."

"Father is the best!" Liu Zhen's face was full of sycophancy, not hesitating in the slightest to offer her words of praise.

Liu Yuan teased, "If you were to become a flattering official, I'm afraid there would be no foolish rulers left in this world!"

The implication was that Liu Zhen's skill at flattery was too poor.

Liu Zhen retorted, "I am clearly a remonstrating and capable official, how could I be a flattering one!"

Liu Yuan burst out laughing, "Alright, alright, you're a remonstrating official! Would this remonstrating official deign to dine with me today?"

Liu Zhen performed a proper salute and said, "It is what I wish for, but I dared not ask!"

Amused by her, Liu Yuan roared with laughter, and the bad mood that had plagued him for days was finally alleviated somewhat.

Taking advantage of his good mood, Liu Zhen asked a few more questions, "Father, if Zhang Han occupies Guanzhong, does that mean we have to hand over Xianyang?"

Liu Yuan sneered, "If he has the ability, then let him try to take it! He led two hundred thousand Qin soldiers out of the pass, only to be buried alive by Xiang Yu in the end. In the eyes of the people of Qin, his status is likely no different from an enemy's. Now that he has returned to his old land of Guanzhong, he must gather troops and provisions anew. With his footing still unstable, how would he dare to forcibly occupy Xianyang!"

Liu Zhen was very curious, "Xiang Yu's hatred for the people of Qin is famous, and Zhang Han is a former Qin general. Can he really be at ease letting Zhang Han occupy Guanzhong?"

Liu Yuan didn't mind taking the opportunity to teach his daughter. "What can he do even if he's not at ease? Although he is now the head of the feudal lords, he is not, after all, the Son of Heaven who issues commands. The feudal lords dislike Zhang Han; Zhang Han knows this, and of course, Xiang Yu knows it too. But he intends to replace the Emperor of Chu, and he needs Zhang Han to guard Guanzhong and keep the other lords in check. That's why he must reward Zhang Han handsomely and enfeoff him here."

Hearing these words, Liu Zhen was naturally quite shaken.

In her impression, Xiang Yu had always been a crude and boorish warrior, unskilled in strategy, lacking in cunning, and very arrogant. That's why in history, he became a cautionary tale of someone who clearly had the advantage at the beginning but ended up a loser.

But now it seemed that even though Xiang Yu had many flaws, his ability to become the Hegemon-King of Western Chu and command the feudal lords was not without substance. Like Liu Yuan, Xiang Yu's current position could not have been obtained without luck. If his uncle Xiang Liang hadn't died, if he had been defeated at the Battle of Julu, the situation today might be completely different. But luck often doesn't decide everything; at the very least, one must have considerable strength.

This realization reminded Liu Zhen: Do not look down on Xiang Yu, or anyone for that matter, because of some fixed impressions. They will often surprise you.

Liu Zhen humbly accepted the lesson and then said, "Then how will Father deal with Xianyang and handle this matter?"

Liu Yuan sighed, clearly troubled. "Xianyang's treasures have already been distributed by me to the feudal lords. Now, only a few palaces remain, which are essentially empty shells. They don't hold much attraction for Zhang Han. But it's also not an option to leave no one here to guard it."

In other words, Liu Yuan was unwilling to give Xianyang to Zhang Han for free, yet he couldn't waste too many troops here. After all, Xianyang was isolated, and if attacked, the distant forces in the Yu region would be like "distant water unable to quench a nearby fire," and it could easily fall.

This was a very troublesome matter.

Xianyang, which they had fought so desperately to seize, had now become like chicken ribs—tasteless to eat, yet a pity to discard.

A few days after Liu Yuan said this to Liu Zhen, he dispatched envoys to meet with Emperor of Chu, Xiang Yu, and Zhang Han. To the former's edict, he expressed respectful acceptance. To the latter's impending arrival, he showed a great degree of welcome. He even told Zhang Han that he had already chosen a new capital and would be moving from Xianyang within two months, hoping that Zhang Han would lend him the roads of Guanzhong for his passage.

Liu Yuan's straightforward attitude greatly increased Zhang Han's favorable impression of him.

You must know, this wasn't the first time Liu Yuan had given up meat that was already in his mouth. The last time was Yingchuan Commandery, which he handed over to Ying Bu for nothing. This time it was Guanzhong. Liu Yuan was already the master of Xianyang; he could have claimed all of Guanzhong in one go, but he didn't. Perhaps he was afraid of attracting too much attention, of being resented by the other lords, or perhaps he feared his own forces were insufficient to hold it.

In short, Zhang Han was very grateful for Liu Yuan's cooperation. He was originally a minister of Qin, and quite a few of the feudal lords held opinions against him. Suddenly encountering such a righteous "bro," Zhang Han couldn't help but feel flattered.

He immediately puffed out his chest and sent a reply to Liu Yuan, saying, "Rest assured. Since you are so straightforward, I am not a petty person either. Before you have finished moving, the roads of Guanzhong are all yours to use."

After this incident, their friendship actually grew closer. With shared interests and somewhat compatible temperaments, when Liu Yuan was moving his entire family to Wan County, he even paid a personal visit to Zhang Han. At that time, he only brought a small retinue of guards, fully demonstrating his trust in Zhang Han's character. Seeing this, Zhang Han was even more pleased. The two toasted each other, drinking for two full days and nights. They even "beheaded a chicken, burned yellow paper, and became sworn brothers." Oh, to put it more elegantly, they swore a blood oath.

Liu Zhen always felt that her old man wasn't the type of pushover to be screwed over twice by Xiang Yu and still remain silent. Sure enough, after Liu Yuan returned from Zhang Han's place, the two continued to correspond via envoys and letters. Not long after, Liu Zhen heard that her old man had viciously undermined Xiang Yu.

Zhang Han's enfeoffment in Guanzhong was, of course, thanks to Xiang Yu. But there was also a history of old grievances between Xiang Yu and Zhang Han.

Back then, Xiang Yu's uncle, Xiang Liang, was leading troops to attack Pengcheng when he was killed at the hands of Zhang Han.

For such a feud—the killing of his uncle—it would be simply illogical for Xiang Yu not to hold a grudge!

Regardless, with this piece of history between them, it would be a betrayal of his ancestors if Liu Yuan didn't make good use of it.

He wasn't foolish enough to go and speak ill of Xiang Yu to Zhang Han directly. Instead, from the standpoint of a good brother, he told him earnestly, "The feudal lords don't think much of you because you are from Qin. But it's alright. As long as you manage this territory of Guanzhong well, sooner or later they won't dare to look down on you!"

Zhang Han, of course, expressed his gratitude for his buddy's good intentions. At this moment, Sima Xin, who was regarded as a trusted confidant by Zhang Han, made his appearance. He picked up where Liu Yuan left off and said to Zhang Han, "This Xiang Yu has ulterior motives. He is clearly using you to restrain the other feudal lords. Don't forget, you killed his uncle. With a vengeful personality like Xiang Yu's, he definitely still holds a grudge against you. He's only giving you some benefits now because he wants to make use of you. This man has his eyes on the whole realm. In the future, he might even kill the Emperor of Chu and establish himself. My lord, it's best you don't get too close to him, lest disaster befall you!"

At this time, Sima Xin had not become one of the feudal lords as in history, but was instead by Zhang Han's side. He had been bribed with a large sum by Liu Yuan. Liu Yuan didn't need him to do anything else, just to help speak ill of Xiang Yu in front of Zhang Han whenever the opportunity arose.

Because Sima Xin had not received an enfeoffment from the Emperor of Chu and could not become one of the feudal lords, he had long been dissatisfied with Xiang Yu. Seizing this opportunity, he naturally went on at great length.

Three men make a tiger. With this back and forth, Zhang Han naturally began to harbor some resentment toward Xiang Yu. Although no effects were visible for the time being, at least a seed of suspicion had been planted in Zhang Han's heart, so the goal was considered achieved.

Meanwhile, Liu Yuan had already begun to move.

Madam Zhang and the others were very reluctant and unwilling. This was only natural. They had traveled a thousand li from Zhu County to get here, then spent a considerable amount of time adapting to the vast emptiness of the Xianyang Palace. So that she would no longer be disliked by Liu Yuan, Madam Zhang had worked hard on managing the affairs of the Qin Palace, consulting Fang Yu and Madam Han daily. Just when she had finally gotten the hang of it and grown accustomed to living here, they had to move again.

But there was no choice. Even Liu Yuan had to move, so what could anyone else say? Let's just move!

Although the treasures of the Qin Palace had all been distributed, Liu Yuan had kept a little for himself. Adding the belongings that Madam Zhang and the others had brought from Zhu County, it all filled a full ten large carts. And that's not to mention the servants, palace maids, and so on. With the escorting soldiers, one could imagine the massive scale of the procession.

"Young Mistress, should we not bring the clothes in this chest? Many of them have faded!"

Gui Xiang was busy organizing Liu Zhen's chests and luggage. She was bent over, her body almost buried inside a chest.

Ah Jin, meanwhile, ran back and forth, directing the strong servants to load the chests onto the carts.

But the main character, Liu Zhen, was spacing out.

"Young Mistress?" Gui Xiang waited a long time for Liu Zhen's reply. Propping herself up on the edge of the chest, she turned her head and saw Liu Zhen's dazed look.

Liu Zhen was contemplating a very serious problem.

"Gui Xiang, I have something to ask you."

Seeing her serious expression, Gui Xiang quickly composed herself and bowed, "Please speak, Young Mistress."

Liu Zhen: "What are we eating later? Are there any of those chicken and duck cakes from yesterday left? They were strangely delicious!"

Gui Xiang: "..."

Liu Zhen: "What's wrong?"

Gui Xiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Yes, yes, if Young Mistress wants to eat them, of course we have them! It just so happens we'll probably be having our midday meal in the carriage later. I'll go have someone prepare it right away!"

Liu Zhen waved her hand, "Then go give the order now. Don't worry about organizing the clothes for now!"

Gui Xiang didn't know what she was up to. She opened her mouth to speak again, but Liu Zhen had already walked out quickly and was soon out of sight.

When Liu Zhen ran to Liu Yuan's location, he was making use of the time to discuss important matters with Song Xie and the others.

Liu Yuan was unwilling to leave either Song Xie or An Zheng behind; the two of them were indispensable advisors to him. The person finally chosen was Fang Yu. Firstly, Fang Yu was familiar with Xianyang. Secondly, he wasn't that important to Liu Yuan right now, so it wouldn't be a pity even if he were lost—Liu Yuan had already decided to treat Xianyang as a place that was "best to hold, but it doesn't matter if we can't."

Over in Wan County, An Zheng had already departed in advance to make arrangements. As the former administrative seat of Nanyang Commandery, the most high-class building in Wan County was the Governor's manor. But Liu Yuan was used to "moving house" anyway and didn't feel it was any hardship to live in a Governor's manor again.

After Liu Zhen entered, she didn't interrupt them. She waited until Song Xie had finished a point before saying to Liu Yuan, "Father, I have something to say."

Liu Yuan nodded. "Speak."

Liu Zhen sat up straight with a solemn expression and said, "Father, I want to stay behind."

Seeing that everyone didn't seem to quite understand what she meant, she repeated herself, "I want to stay in Xianyang and not go to Wan County."