Three years later.
The imperial court had been beaten into a rout by Rongyao Company.
After several major battles, the court had won some and lost some, but it was clearly unable to hold on.
Although several generals had managed to achieve highly favorable exchange ratios, their finances were gradually collapsing.
Having lost Jiangnan, the land of tax revenue, they lacked grain, fodder, cloth, weapons, armor... They could no longer keep fighting.
At court, someone proposed making peace.
The court would cede the southeast to them and keep the north as its place of refuge.
Rongyao Company refused outright.
They knew they could not remain a separatist regime.
Separatism in the southeast was the easiest path to decline.
Wealth and luxury corrupted people.
Most courts that had retreated to Jiangnan had never managed to rise again.
They built fortresses along the waterways, campaigned westward, and launched northern expeditions.
More and more factions, officials, and powerful clans saw where the tide of the realm was heading and flocked to join them.
The number of those urging them to ascend the throne grew by the day.
They urged Jia Rong to become emperor.
But Jia Rong said, "The true emperor is someone else. We still have a Big Boss."
Everyone was bewildered.
"Why isn't the boss becoming emperor? Is being emperor not good enough? And why is there another Big Boss?"
"Exactly. This is the first time I've heard there's another Big Boss. Is the throne being given to him?"
"Who could it possibly be?"
On River Heart Island, north of Jinling City.
Zhao Han had long since moved the entire household of sisters and young ladies onto the island.
That ensured that even if the imperial court went mad, there was nothing it could do.
Steam warships patrolled the surrounding