Chapter 1715: Opportunity

"Among Yuan the rebel's men, besides the two brothers Yuan Tai and Yuan Zhen, there are also leaders such as Yuan Qing, Yuan Zhong, Ma Shan, Zhang Yu, Liu Heng, Fei Yong, Mi Gu, Feng Yi, and others—these men are either minions gathered by Yuan the rebel or Tangut strongmen, all appointed generals by him! Yuan the rebel also has a strategist named Zhang Hong, and much of the rebellion's plotting was done with his counsel!" Wang Shen said with his head lowered.

"Besides sending Yuan Zhen south with troops, Yuan the rebel also dispatched Yuan Tai and Fei Yong westward to Lingzhou, stirring up the Tangut there to rise in rebellion. As for the specifics, this humble one does not know."

Liu Fang was well aware of the latter point Wang Shen mentioned. Though Yulin was in chaos, information had not been completely cut off—postal relay and travel remained relatively smooth—and he had received reports on the situation in Lingzhou while still in Chang'an.

However, he was clearly more concerned with those motley rebels of Yanzhou. He sneered twice and said to the several Han generals in the hall: "All nobodies! Yet it is these nobodies who have stirred up such turmoil, bringing disaster to prefectures and counties, suffering to the people, and exhaustion to the court! All of you remember these men—these will be the rebel ringleaders you will need to hunt down and exterminate in the future!"

Liu Fang spoke sternly, and the Han generals dared not take it lightly. One by one they clasped their fists with solemn expressions and answered gravely: "Yes!"

After this round of questioning, Liu Fang understood that no more valuable information could be extracted from these two captives. After all, they were only minor figures in the Yanzhou rebel army, still some distance from the core secrets.

Still, something was better than nothing—there was some gain. After pondering for a moment, Liu Fang stared at Wang Shen and the other man and said flatly: "Your testimony is of little value, but I am a man of my word—your heads are safe for now!"

All that talk had been for this very sentence. At these words, Wang Shen and his companion felt a great weight lifted. They hurriedly knelt, kowtowed repeatedly, and gave endless thanks: "Thank you, Great King, for sparing our lives!"

"Don't rush to give thanks. You have committed a death-penalty crime; your heads are merely being lent to your necks for the time being!" Liu Fang said. "You will remain in the army for now, serving as guides for the imperial forces. We shall see how you perform—whether you live or die depends on your conduct!"

"Yes! Yes!" Wang Shen immediately replied: "This humble one will spare no effort in guiding the imperial forces, and will not dare harbor any disloyalty!"

Indeed, a slight warmth even surged in Wang Shen's heart—a feeling of secret delight. Why had they followed Yuan Ke in rebellion? Wasn't it for a path of advancement, for wealth and glory, to be above others?

As for how much hatred and resentment they bore toward the court, that too depended on need. When agitating rebellion, of course they cried that the court had oppressed them for too long. But now that their circumstances had changed, their backsides naturally sat on the other side again.

This could even be seen as a tremendous gamble—merely one with greater risk, requiring their very lives as stakes. But judging from the current outcome, one had to say it was a rare opportunity in a lifetime. In ordinary times, men of their station could not even hope to see the exalted Prince of Zhao, let alone a mere prefect—yet now they had seen him and spoken with him personally, even if it was under interrogation.

The rebellion in Yanzhou, when all was said and done, was still a traditional peasant uprising—just with a bit more collusion between dissatisfied Han opportunists and foreign peoples. In Chinese history, such situations were common; whether in times of prosperity or chaos, the fundamental contradictions were ever-present.

As for those who joined the rebels, they did so for fame and profit, but at root it was still for a better space to survive. Yet in the Great Han, to live comfortably and well, one had to be within the system—to step from the ruled into the ruling class.

And the leap of class, for most people under heaven, was a chasm spanning the road of life—without great fortune or great wisdom, it could hardly be crossed in a lifetime.

Since ordinary means could not achieve it, one had to resort to radical and risky measures. Kill, burn, and you'll wear a golden belt—this was the hard truth that had held since ancient times. Those who rebel may not truly oppose the court; perhaps they only seek amnesty.

For a man like Wang Shen, even without deep understanding, instinct alone told him how to choose. Seek advantage and avoid harm, turn danger into safety—now an opportunity lay before him: to transform from rebel bandit into a hound of the official army. Compared to following Yuan Ke in rebellion, this seemed the true broad road.

The ancestors and predecessors had long pointed the way—"revolutionaries" dye their official caps red with the blood of other "revolutionaries," illuminating their own futures. Wang Shen did not think far, but he knew that sacrificing his "righteous army" brothers was a fine way out. This was turning misfortune into blessing—perhaps it could be seen as the ultimate goal of rebellion.

Wang Shen's promise was too cheap, and Liu Fang naturally would not take his pledge of loyalty at face value. Still, if he could be of some use and aid in suppressing the rebellion, it was worth a try.

"Take them away and tend to their wounds!" Liu Fang waved his hand and ordered.

"Yes!"

After Wang Shen and his companion withdrew, Liu Fang fell silent again, his face lost in thought. Seeing this, the others assumed he was pondering the Yulin troubles and dared not speak to interrupt.

After a long while, Liu Fang raised his head and asked Wu Ping: "Besides these two leaders, how many rebels have been captured?"

Wu Ping hurriedly replied: "Reporting to the King, about two hundred or so. They are temporarily held in the fortress—how does Your Highness wish to dispose of them?"

"How to dispose of them?" Liu Fang said in a cold tone: "Tomorrow we formally enter Yulin, and we are in need of sacrificial banners. Take the heads of these rebels to send off the imperial forces!"

At these words, most were taken aback—especially the several northwestern generals who followed Liu Fang. They knew that His Highness the Prince of Zhao was not normally such a cruel man.

The Commander of Jinzhou hesitated and asked: "Great King, kill them all?"

Liu Fang glanced at him: "Did I not speak clearly enough?"

"Reporting to the Great King, most of these two hundred captives are Han, and they surrendered voluntarily."

Liu Fang cut him off before he could finish: "Han who rise in rebellion are even more detestable than Tangut bandits, and even more deserving of death! These are His Majesty's own words—what do you think of that?"

At these words, even in the dead of winter, the Commander of Jinzhou could not help but pale, cold sweat breaking out. He hurriedly said: "The Great King has given the order—we subordinates will surely obey! However, though killing these captives can boost morale and awe the rebels, the rebels in Yulin are numerous. I cannot help but worry that when the rebels are driven to desperation, they will fight to the death, inevitably causing obstacles and losses to the imperial forces."

"That is not for you to consider!" Liu Fang was resolute on this point. He swept his gaze around and said: "Let me reiterate—this campaign of suppression does not end with merely defeating those rebel troops. His Majesty has reached the limit of his patience with Yulin's ills. We must not only pacify the rebels, but thoroughly cleanse Yulin, eliminate those chronic maladies, and ensure the Great Han's rule endures forever! As for those who resist, there is likewise only one solution—kill!"

The final word "kill" was spoken with weight and force, equally cold and resolute. Clearly, Liu Fang understood Emperor Liu's will thoroughly and was fully prepared ideologically.

No one dared raise any further objection. After all, Liu Fang repeatedly invoked Emperor Liu's words, and to these generals, Emperor Liu was a deity-like existence—obedience was instinct. Moreover, the more rebels killed, the greater their merit. Once they realized this, there was no more hesitation or burden—men who serve in the army have never feared killing.

"Furthermore, the court is not leaving the rebels without any way out. His Majesty's intent is clear—the earlier edict has already stated that those who bring rebel heads to the authorities may be spared death. Life or death is their own choice; we need only act according to the edict! Is that all clear?" Liu Fang said sternly.

"Yes!"

"Today we rest at Guide Fortress; tomorrow we march on to Yanzhou!" Liu Fang ordered further: "Notify Governors Zhang Qixian and Wang Xuanzhen of Yanzhou to prepare for our arrival!"

"Yes!"

In fact, before Liu Fang marched north, a high-ranking official had already rushed to Yulin—the newly appointed Administration Commissioner of the Yulin Circuit, Zhang Qixian. Just as Emperor Liu had told Crown Prince Liu Yang earlier, Zhang Qixian could serve as the chief official of Yulin—and so it proved.

And Zhang Qixian was clearly a man of action. He was most enthusiastic about this assignment that combined opportunity and challenge. After meeting Liu Fang in Chang'an and briefly discussing the suppression campaign, he hurried off to Yulin.

Zhang Qixian did not choose Xiazhou, where the circuit government was seated. Though Li Jiqian was causing trouble there as well, the situation remained under official control. By contrast, the situation in Yanzhou was more severe—and that was where Zhang Qixian chose to take up his post. For this courage in facing difficulties head-on, he deserved commendation.

As for the former Administration Commissioner Guo Tong, he had been dismissed and recalled to the Eastern Capital. He was still in Xiazhou now, sharing a sorry fate with Wang Shen. Clearly, the highest nobility of the court were all implicated in the Yulin rebellion—even without being charged, they could expect no good outcome.

"Your name is Wu Ping, is it not?" Liu Fang looked at the garrison commander of Guide Fortress.

"That is correct!" Wu Ping replied respectfully.

"You have performed well. I am promoting you two grades, to Chief General. The garrison troops of Guide Fortress will be reorganized on the spot and brought up to a full thousand soldiers. Tomorrow you will enter Yulin as the vanguard!" Liu Fang said.

Hearing this, Wu Ping was overjoyed and immediately bowed in thanks. Squad, platoon, company, battalion, command—with a word from Liu Fang's golden mouth, this mere garrison commander of Wu Ping's leapt up to a fifth-grade officer of the Han army. What was even more enviable was that this was a promotion personally bestowed by His Highness the Prince of Zhao—a promising future indeed.

Times of great upheaval often mean great opportunity—so it was for the rebels, and so it was for the official army. This garrison commander of Guide Fortress was the first to taste that flavor.