Chapter 1703: Surfacing

"You don't need to carry any burden, nor should you heed those idle words in the court. The reason I'm having you overhaul the Wude Office is to get things done! With me here, the Wude Office need not look forward and back—investigate what should be investigated, arrest who should be arrested, and show no leniency!" In the early winter in the Eastern Capital, a chill had already settled over everything, and inside Chongzheng Hall, what chilled the heart even more was the directive Emperor Liu gave to Li Chongju.

Commissioner of the Wude Office Li Chongju, his old back hunched, had barely given a brief report on the situation in the northwest after entering the hall when he heard Emperor Liu's cold declaration.

"Your servant understands!" Li Chongju replied, but still warned the Emperor: "However, Your Majesty, based on Wang Xuanzhen's reports over this period, after this severe crackdown in the northwest, the people are unsettled and grievances run deep. In many prefectures and counties, government affairs have fallen into neglect. Your servant fears—"

Before he could finish, Emperor Liu cut him off almost brusquely: "What are you afraid of? We've weathered decades of storms and seen every kind of battle. I may be old, but I'm not so old as to become timid and hesitant.

Some people cite the Shu rebellion of years past to remonstrate with me, as if the northwest were on the brink of collapse, as if without changing policy and quelling the unrest, the court's rule over the northwest would crumble!

You know me well—I cannot abide threats, and I will never yield to those demons and ghouls. In the early years of the dynasty, the court regarded military men as the scourge, viewing them as the source of chaos. But I see those corrupt officials and rotten clerks as no less harmful than arrogant soldiers and fierce generals.

Civil officials can oppress the people with harsh governance and deceive the sovereign to the ruin of the state, but when it comes to raising rebellion and wreaking havoc upon the realm, they still fall far short!"

Emperor Liu's voice was not loud, nor was his speech fast, but to Li Chongju's ears, it struck like a thunderclap that awakened the deaf. The Emperor had once again made his stance clear, and Li Chongju could no longer feign conservatism. He could only reply solemnly: "Your servant shall strictly obey the imperial decree!"

"From Wang Xuanzhen's reports, the situation in the northwest is worst in Yanzhou?" Emperor Liu nodded with satisfaction and asked.

At this mention, Li Chongju grew serious and explained: "Prefectural Administrator Liu Fang, during his tenure, was overly indulgent toward the non-Han peoples and powerful families under his jurisdiction, to the point that government orders never reached the townships, and the court's authority plummeted.

According to Wang Xuanzhen's investigation, governance in Yanzhou extends only to the prefectural seat and the salt fields; everything else is ignored. Powerful families have risen unchecked, and the Tangut do as they please. The worst case is Minghu Township, whose headman, Yuan Ke, recruits estate retainers and colludes with the Tangut, making him a veritable local tyrant. He is widely praised as a hero and champion, and the local Han and non-Han commoners know only of the Yuan clan, not of the government. Moreover, he has a marriage connection with Liu Fang, who has shielded him extensively."

"Heh!" Hearing this, even though Emperor Liu had been mentally prepared, he could not help but grow angry: "Fine! After all these years of vigilance, such a situation still emerges! The government, the powerful families, the local gentry—these local snakes all wallow in the same mire and collude with one another. Truly impossible to guard against!

That Yuan fellow, a local strongman, recruits retainers and buys people's hearts—what does he intend? To play the Lord Meng Chang, or to gather a crowd and plot rebellion! Letting such a man entrench himself in the region—how could abuses not arise! Where is he now? Has he been taken into custody?"

Li Chongju lowered his head and reported in a grave voice: "To answer Your Majesty, after Wang Xuanzhen entered Yanzhou and arrested Liu Fang, he sent men to seize Yuan Ke. However, the man saw the situation turning against him and fled early! Even so, during the search of the Yuan estate, some anomalous clues were discovered!"

"Speak!" Emperor Liu also sensed something unusual in Li Chongju's tone.

Li Chongju paused, then continued: "Based on interrogations of the estate's retainers, servants, and local villagers, it is clear that the situation there runs far deeper than imagined.

For a long time, Yuan Ke has been buying people's loyalty. His estate keeps several hundred retainers, and over the past few months, they have been drilled constantly, ostensibly to guard against the Tangut and protect the homeland. Yet his prestige among the local Tangut tribes is extremely high—it is said he can summon a hundred responses with a single call."

As Li Chongju reported, Emperor Liu's brow furrowed ever deeper. Stealing a cautious glance at Emperor Liu, Li Chongju added: "Furthermore, my subordinates recovered large quantities of wealth from the Yuan estate, along with concealed swords, bows and crossbows, and even dozens of suits of armor!"

At this point, Li Chongju stopped, and Emperor Liu was momentarily stunned. What such a situation meant was all too obvious.

In the Great Han, armor has always been a sensitive commodity. Unlike ordinary swords, it is strictly forbidden to circulate, with only the military and certain special departments having the right to use it.

Even the guards and retainers of high-ranking nobles and officials dare not overstep without the Emperor's gracious bestowal. Once violated, execution is often the result, and such cases can basically be judged outright as rebellion.

A mere local strongman, keeping estate retainers and stout men was bad enough—but privately hoarding armor, and dozens of suits at that? There was no need for doubt: this was rebellion, this was treason. What was even more alarming was that he could obtain weapons and armor and operate for so long without being reported or discovered.

Connecting Yuan Ke's behavior, his collusion with the Tangut, and his relationship with the prefectural government—putting all these pieces together, a rebel group surfaced from the water.

"Heh heh..." Emperor Liu suddenly laughed aloud, and the sound made Li Chongju's heart pound with dread.

"It seems this Yuan Ke is quite extraordinary!" Emperor Liu's voice carried almost no emotion.

"Furthermore!" Li Chongju bowed even lower and said: "Based on the investigation and analysis of the Yuan clan, Wang Xuanzhen suspects that this Yuan Ke may be connected to those 'Mingsha Bandits'!"

"Oh?" A hint of surprise appeared on Emperor Liu's cold countenance: "How so?"

Li Chongju: "According to investigation and interrogation, the Yuan clan's growth and expansion in Yanzhou roughly began when Liu Fang was promoted to Prefectural Administrator, which was also after the Mingsha Bandits emerged.

Last year, Yuan Ke also went out on several occasions, each trip lasting months, with no one knowing where he went or what he did. At the same time, around when the bandit stronghold in the Helan Mountains was discovered last year, Yuan Ke went out again, and afterward, many outsiders returned to Yanzhou and were housed within the Yuan estate.

Though their movements were secretive, they inevitably left traces. It is said that one estate retainer, in his cups, boasted wildly that he had followed Yuan Ke in accomplishing a great deed—after which the man disappeared, his fate unknown.

The Wude Office's major investigation into the envoy case and the Mingsha Bandits has never ceased. Previously, we had already suspected that some local power was providing support and shelter.

This affair in Yanzhou strongly corroborates that point. Yuan Ke's panicked flight, along with the many pieces of evidence uncovered in the search, all warrant the judgment that he is connected to the Mingsha Bandits."

After Li Chongju finished, he let out a soft breath. Emperor Liu was silent for a long while before speaking slowly: "I grow ever more curious about this Yuan Ke. Where did he get the ambition and audacity to carry out such treacherous schemes? Whether or not he is connected to the Mingsha Bandits, one can say he is a rebel hidden in the localities—even hidden within the government itself!"

"Yes!" Li Chongju answered with certainty.

"Heh heh!" Emperor Liu laughed again, then said coldly: "Do you see now? Where lies the source of rebellion in the northwest? It is not just those Tangut—it is also these treacherous, scheming rebels lurking in the shadows. Where are the thieves? Inside the court itself!"

As he spoke, Emperor Liu's voice suddenly rose, and the sturdy hall beams seemed to tremble: "For such brazen acts of treason, your Wude Office detected nothing beforehand, and the government made no response—even extending protection!

Who promoted that Liu Fang, and who shielded him? A rebel like Yuan Ke deserves death, but an internal traitor like Liu Fang deserves it even more! What were the Ministry of Personnel, the censors, and the Yulin Surveillance Circuit doing? If not for dereliction of duty, how could they have allowed him to run rampant for so long?"

Hearing this, Li Chongju hesitated, then reported in as impartial a manner as possible: "Your Majesty, Liu Fang has served as an official for many years with many accomplishments, and is known as a capable administrator. Moreover, he is a former subordinate of Wang You, the Fiscal Commissioner of the northwest, and Governor Wang thinks highly of him..."

At these words, Emperor Liu fell silent, but anger flashed quickly across his face. He said grimly: "Fine! I kept Wang You in Guannei to use his talent and prestige to stabilize the northwest. Now that I think of it, I wonder—was it he who was blind, or I?"

Emperor Liu had indeed relied heavily on Wang You, but precisely because of that, his inner fury was all the stronger now. Of course, he did not believe that Wang You was also implicated in rebellion, but the feeling of being let down nonetheless flooded his mind irresistibly.

"Can the northwest be left unreformed? Can peace be achieved without solving problems at the root?" After a moment of deliberation, Emperor Liu said with a sigh.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Li Chongju offered in consolation.

"Anger? Why should I be angry?" Emperor Liu sneered, his graying beard trembling: "Shouldn't we be glad that these petty villains have exposed themselves? When they hid in the dark corners of the gutters, the court could do nothing to them. Now that they've shown their true colors, we can sweep them away in one stroke!"

Li Chongju hurriedly said: "Though Yuan Ke fled with his trusted followers, the pursuit in Yanzhou has been intensified. Wang Xuanzhen analyzes that the man has likely gone into hiding among the local Tangut. At present, the Tangut in Yanzhou are restless and stirring, and the situation is grave. If a villain like Yuan Ke manages to link up with them, chaos is certain. Yanzhou has already been placed under martial law. To guard against unforeseen events, Wang Xuanzhen has requested the Dingbian Army be mobilized to assist in eliminating the rebellion."

"Wang Xuanzhen has handled this assignment well—you chose the right man!" At this, Emperor Liu had already regained his composure, and instructed unhurriedly: "Send word to him: now that the snakes and vermin have shown themselves, let him wipe them out completely!"

"Yes!"

"As for Liu Fang's matter, I will need Wang You to provide an explanation as well." After a moment's thought, Emperor Liu said softly.