Chapter 1629: In a Rage

Wang Yinwu's concerns proved somewhat prescient—though slow in coming, the affairs of Hexi eventually reached the ears of the Palace City Office and were promptly reported up to Zhang Dejun.

Unlike Wang Yinwu, who still had room to digest, analyze, and judge, Zhang Dejun set out for the palace the moment he received the news, intending to memorialize Emperor Liu with this piece of ill tidings.

Outside Chongzheng Hall, Crown Prince Liu Yang and Chancellor Zhao Pu, who had been summoned, happened to run into Zhang Dejun arriving in a "great hurry." Seeing the two of them, Zhang Dejun quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.

Raising his hand in a gesture to excuse him from ceremony, Liu Yang gave Zhang Dejun a once-over and asked flatly: "So Zhang the Senior Eunuch was summoned by His Majesty as well?"

Eunuchs always seemed to age more slowly. Zhang Dejun was already past fifty, but aside from a few more wrinkles, his appearance had hardly changed from twenty years ago—not even a few more strands of white hair.

"In reply to Your Highness, this humble one came unsummoned, for there is a grave matter to report!" Zhang Dejun answered.

Withdrawing his gaze from Zhang Dejun, Liu Yang said nothing more, but turned his head and greeted Zhao Pu with formal courtesy: "Chancellor Zhao, let us enter the hall for an audience—we must not keep His Majesty waiting!"

Zhao Pu nodded with a smile: "Indeed we should! Your Highness, please!"

However, once they set off, Zhao Pu quietly slowed his steps to walk abreast with Zhang Dejun, exchanged a glance with him, and asked in a low voice: "What grave matter has occurred?"

Zhang Dejun, casting a sidelong glance, also slowed his pace, his voice equally low: "A grave matter indeed!"

With that, he briefly recounted the situation of the Kara-Khanid envoy delegation being ambushed and slaughtered, then said no more. Zhao Pu's previously composed expression immediately turned grim—his old brows shot up, and the corners of his eyes twitched involuntarily.

Gazing at Chongzheng Hall, that tall and imposing doorway now seemed like the maw of a ravenous beast. A chill crept into his heart, yet he had no choice but to steady his churning emotions and enter the hall.

As for what Emperor Liu had summoned them for, there was no need for further speculation...

Inside Chongzheng Hall, the oppressive atmosphere was nearly suffocating. When Liu Yang and the other two arrived, Wang Yinwu was kneeling prostrate on the ground, trembling with fear. Emperor Liu sat slightly askew behind the imperial desk, showing no signs of a furious outburst—but this kind of anger, kept hidden within, was all the more terrifying.

"You've come! Sit!" Seeing the arrivals, a spark of life returned to Emperor Liu's gaze. He gestured toward Liu Yang and Zhao Pu; as for Zhang Dejun, he only gave him a single glance.

"Tell the Crown Prince and Chancellor Zhao what happened!" Emperor Liu said to Wang Yinwu.

"Yes!" With others arriving to share the burden, Wang Yinwu finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the mountain-like weight pressing down on him lightened considerably. Not daring to be remiss, he recounted in detail the contents of the Hexi memorial.

When Wang Yinwu finished, both Liu Yang and Zhao Pu were greatly shocked—even Zhao Pu, who had prior knowledge, could not help but feel surprise, for Zhang Dejun had only given him a brief hint earlier.

Before Liu Yang and Zhao Pu could respond, Emperor Liu let loose: "This is truly an outrage! A state envoy delegation, within the borders of the Great Han, under the governance of the imperial court, was actually ambushed and slaughtered by bandits, with scarcely a single survivor. An entire company of border army escorts could not guarantee safety along the road—has public security in Hexi deteriorated to such a degree?

Wang Yinwu judges this to be the work of horse bandits. I am most curious—what kind of horse bandits would dare attack government troops and murder a state envoy delegation? And what kind of force has the strength and the audacity for such a deed?

Hah? The northwestern horse bandits—I have heard of them for a long time now! Well, now I have remembered them!

Even if they are horse bandits, what were the civil and military officials of Hexi doing? They cannot even protect foreign envoys coming to court—do they think that because peace has lasted long, the realm is free of trouble?

And what about Liu Fang? Is he too busy riding horses and hunting? I sent him to hold the northwest—and this is the result he holds? He cannot even suppress mere horse bandits—what use do I have for him?"

Emperor Liu's tone was not particularly intense, but the fury of the old emperor that seeped through his words was plain for all to see. Even Liu Fang, the Prince of Zhao whom he usually favored, was criticized so harshly—to say nothing of anyone else.

Zhao Pu made his judgment on the matter in the first instant: this was a major incident, grave in nature and vile in impact, and the Hexi officialdom would inevitably face a great upheaval.

However, Lu Duoxun had once managed Hexi for a long time—was there perhaps something to be exploited there? Almost instinctively, Zhao Pu could not help but lean toward factional scheming...

Liu Yang, after a brief moment of shock, quickly calmed himself. Looking at Emperor Liu shrouded in anger, he rose of his own accord and said: "Your Majesty, such a major case is indeed shocking to hear. However, your minister believes that the priority now should be damage control, keeping the vile impact to a minimum!"

"You take it rather lightly!" Hearing Liu Yang's suggestion, Emperor Liu's anger subsided somewhat. He said flatly: "Tell me, how exactly do you propose to handle the aftermath!"

Meeting Emperor Liu's somewhat emotionless gaze, Liu Yang's heart tightened. He realized that if he could not offer a satisfactory answer, he too would likely face the brunt of misplaced anger and reprimand.

However, Liu Yang's mental fortitude had long been tempered—this bit of pressure was nothing. Thus, after deliberating for a moment, he spoke with composure: "First, dispatch a special envoy to investigate the full circumstances of this matter thoroughly; second, spare no effort in pursuing the villains who committed this evil deed, completely eradicating this scourge that harms the people and restoring peace to the region; third, send an envoy bearing gifts westward to the Kara-Khanids to report and explain the matter, so as to avoid unnecessary disputes arising between the two states..."

Liu Yang's suggestions were logical, well-organized, and reasonably considered—but Emperor Liu's reaction was just two words: "That's it?"

Hearing this, Liu Yang inwardly thought "as expected." The reason he had made such suggestions was precisely to keep the impact of this matter under control, but Emperor Liu clearly did not see it that way—he was determined to escalate it.

Staring at Liu Yang, Emperor Liu said coldly: "The matter must be investigated thoroughly—whatever demons and monsters are behind this, they must all be dragged out for me!

But this is no mere banditry—this is treason and rebellion, a direct provocation against the imperial court. What must be eliminated is not just one faction, but all of them. Have the Bureau of Military Affairs issue orders—all garrison troops in the northwest are to be mobilized. Those so-called bandits, those thieves—exterminate them all for me. One, kill one; a thousand, kill a thousand; ten thousand, kill ten thousand!"

Each "kill" that emerged from Emperor Liu's mouth—though it was summer, everyone present felt that bone-deep chill emanating from within. Liu Yang even felt his scalp go numb.

But Emperor Liu was not finished: "Also, in recent years, whether it be the Palace City Office, the Wude Office, or the Censorate, all have memorialized that public security across the realm has grown increasingly unstable—there are many roving bandits, scattering in all directions, crossing prefectures and circuits, plundering merchants and common folk alike?

This situation has already threatened the safety of the people and even affected the stability of the state. What are our officials doing? What are our soldiers doing?

What year is it now? The twentieth year of Kaibao? Unless I have grown senile, otherwise I would think it is the twelfth year of Tianfu, the first year of Qianyou!"

"Your Majesty, calm your anger! Take care of your imperial health!" Emperor Liu's furious demeanor was enough to frighten anyone. Seeing this, Liu Yang could only steel himself to offer consolation: "Regarding the matter of local public security, your minister and the chancellors have already discussed it, and we are in the process of drafting resolutions.

Your ministers believe that the roving bandits scattering about stems from the increasingly frequent movement of the populace. Your ministers believe the main direction should be placed on strengthening household registration inspection and management, as well as purging local public security..."

Following that, Liu Yang reported the outline of the ongoing deliberations on resolving local public security issues. Emperor Liu, upon hearing this, thought for a moment and gave an attitude of approval: "At least you are not so dull-witted. This is necessary—carry out a nationwide crackdown for me. Throw all those bandits, thieves, robbers, rapists, kidnappers, and murderers into the penal labor camps. Such scourges, such dregs—the penal labor camps are the best place for them!

Also, directly issue orders to all local government offices—if I hear again of unending banditry and unstable popular sentiment, it will no longer be just a matter of suppressing bandits!"

"Yes!" Though Emperor Liu remained frighteningly forceful, Liu Yang's mood relaxed somewhat—as long as he was willing to listen to reason.

However, that relief was short-lived, for Emperor Liu continued: "With such a major case in Hexi, why do you not mention the local civil and military officials? Wang Ming, as the chief official of Hexi, bears primary responsibility. He has been capable and competent his whole life—is he to lose his honor in his twilight years? As for Hexi, the court must also investigate. I want to see just what kind of officials, what kind of soldiers, could tolerate bandits wreaking such havoc on the region!"

"Your Majesty, banditry in the northwest has a long history. Governor Wang has only been in Hexi for two years—this..." Seeing Emperor Liu's intention to make an example of Wang Ming, Liu Yang offered a fair word.

Emperor Liu said with slight coldness: "Then why has such a grave crime never occurred before, yet it appears precisely during his tenure, under his governance? Did he give the rebels courage, or is he simply incapable of governing Hexi properly?"

Wang Ming was a rather renowned capable minister of Emperor Liu's era—skilled in both civil and military affairs, decisive in handling matters, and always active in the upper echelons of the Great Han's power structure. Setting aside earlier times, for at least twenty years, every post he held had been that of a regional magnate.

But even such a famed minister, when trouble came, could not escape censure.

. wap.