Marquis of Sincerity Cao Jie could not be allowed to govern the Xia lands alone; there were naturally ample reasons for it.
First, his talent for warfare and Dao Derivation cultivation could easily put Chu Kingdom on guard. With Cao Jie stationed in Xia, the neighboring states would find no peace. Second, with the immense prestige of having destroyed Xia in a single campaign, if he were made overall governor of this region, it would be all too easy for him to carve out his own territory and found a state.
You Sheng's Notes says, "Jade must not be set in a place that breaks easily; how can fame be lightly bestowed upon one who holds the vessel!"
The reasoning behind it had already been laid bare.
It had nothing to do with whether Cao Jie was loyal, nor with whether the Emperor of Qi trusted him.
Rather, any sovereign ought to avoid such a situation, avoid granting a minister room he should not have.
The same logic applied to Chongxuan Chuliang, Li Zhengyan, or Chen Zeqing—not one of them could serve as Governor-General of the Xia lands.
As one of the great contributors to the war against Xia, Jiang Wang possessed tremendous prestige in the Xia lands. He was no exception either, even if his current cultivation posed even less of a threat.
When Su Guanying said she had tea prepared and was awaiting him, she was naturally assuming the bearing of the host here. Yet between her words, she also placed Jiang Wang within the Southern Frontier, classifying him as one of her own. The measure of it was flawless.
Jiang Wang merely replied, "Helplessness. I listen to His Majesty in all things." It was also an answer delivered with proper restraint.
Through those two exchanges of pleasantries,