North’s defense line has been broken, with the Dá, Zhè, and Bohai tribes encountering no obstacles, driving straight into the Central Plains’ heartland. Half the territory has fallen to foreign enemies. Under these circumstances, Yue Changfeng, the Huainan Circuit Governor, was the first to raise troops against the bandits, blocking the Bohai army north of the Huai River and stopping the barbarians’ southward advance. Immediately following, Prince Duan Guihong of Xiping County declared that “the southwest must focus on self-preservation”, only accepting refugees from the north and no longer dispatching troops to rescue the emperor.
With these two precedents, various circuit governors followed suit, maintaining their own territories, governing independently, and agreeing not to invade each other except in resisting foreign enemies.
Watching the Great Zhou about to fragment and lose its national foundation, in the same year’s autumn, Prince Qi Sun Yaoduan proclaimed himself emperor in Jinling, honoring Emperor Yuan Tai as the Grand Emperor, establishing the Zhou dynasty, changing the era name to “Changzhi”, and declaring it to the world.
The new dynasty was composed of former officials who had fled from the north and renowned scholars from Jiangnan. Emperor Changzhi did not establish a prime minister position, instead following the old practice of the Yuan Tai era by opening the Yanying Hall to jointly decide state affairs with senior officials.
On the day of his ascension, the governors of Jiangnan, Jingchu, Lingnan, Fujian, and the East Sea Navy all submitted congratulatory memorials, supporting the new emperor. Yan Xiaohan followed the Prince of Qi to Jiangnan from Jingchu, first preventing his return to the capital, then negotiating with various circuit governors. His merits were enough to be granted a marquis or ministerial position, but he declined, preferring to be a behind-the-scenes contributor due to past criticisms.
Thus, Emperor Changzhi still allowed him to lead the imperial guards and permitted him to attend discussions in the Yanying Hall, treating him as a crucial right-hand man.
The old officials who had previously criticized Yan Xiaohan were now enlightened. Standing firm through two dynasties, he transformed from a notorious court favorite to a stabilizing hero who supported the new monarch. This cunning strategist not only possessed remarkable political skills but also incredible luck!
