Although making him a king just after his birth did not quite accord with ritual propriety, he was his first son, and born to Zhen Mi at that, so showing him some favor was only natural.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Jia Xu cupped his hands in acknowledgment, though inwardly he was somewhat surprised.
The Son of Heaven had been King of Bohai before ascending the throne, and only later had his title been changed to King of Chenliu. Now he was making this imperial prince King of Bohai... could he be hinting at something?
Curious though he was, Jia Xu restrained himself from asking and turned to leave the great hall.
Changsha, Jing Province.
After escaping along the Huarong Trail under the desperate protection of Xu Chu and the other two, Cao Cao fled a great distance. Only after confirming that no Han Army troops were pursuing him did he dare cross the river and return to the southern bank.
He then joined up with the forces on the southern bank of the Yangtze River and led his battered remnants back to Changsha.
The arduous journey, compounded by fear and anxiety, caused Cao Cao to fall ill as soon as he returned to Changsha. Meanwhile, bad news arrived one piece after another.
First, after word of the defeat at Red Cliffs spread, the gentry throughout Jiangnan defected in droves. Wherever the Imperial Court's army went, cities surrendered at the mere news of its approach.
Next, Liu Bei led his troops out of Yi Province toward Changsha and had already entered Wuling Commandery. In addition, Yu Jin, who had been defending Jiangdong, was betrayed by the local gentry, defeated, and captured.
Only Changsha Commandery remained under their control.
The situation was worse than it had ever been.
Crucially, Cao Cao had