Chapter 257: No Mercy

On the day dinghai (the tenth day) of the eighth month in the first year of Qianyou, after besieging Puzhou for over ten days, the Han army took the western stockade and attacked the city. The Son of Heaven supervised the battle from the rear, and the city fell in two days.

It was far easier and faster than Liu Chengyou had anticipated—there were still four days until the Mid-Autumn Festival. Of course, to call it easy, on closer reflection, it had not been all that easy either. Tens of thousands of cavalry and infantry had marched out of Kaifeng, the Emperor had taken the risk of leaving the capital on a personal campaign, and provisions, weapons, and conscripted labor—none of it had been simple to arrange.

This western rebellion had not been a coalition of three bandits, and Liu Chengyou and the court had been prepared from the start, striking targeted blows from the very beginning. Though there had been setbacks, they had never managed to shift the overall situation. Thus, within a very short time, the rebels in Hezhong lost all hope, and with the official army's tactics and strategy, morale crumbled even faster. Add to that Liu Chengyou's refusal to give them any opening, aided by superior equipment, the fall of the city was all but inevitable.

After the city fell, the official army proceeded with greater ease—entering the city, hunting down the stubborn resisters, accepting surrenders, securing the city, and putting out fires along the way. The flames atop the walls had spread somewhat after all, reaching the civilian houses behind the barbican.

In siege warfare since ancient times, the moment a city falls is the time of greatest chaos and the time when problems are most likely to arise. Liu Chengyou understood this principle well, so after the city fell, he issued strict orders for all army officers to restrain their soldiers. He also had Han Tong and Li Chongju lead troops to temporarily handle military discipline patrols, and had Bai Wenke temporarily administer Puzhou, purging the rebel soldiers while strictly preventing local thugs and ruffians from taking advantage of the chaos to commit crimes.

After the southern city fell, the eastern side also collapsed smoothly. Yang Ye personally led troops charging into the city, and the rebels all surrendered. In truth, under these circumstances, most of the Pu army had no intention of living or dying together with Hedong city and their "Prince of Qin."

Most of the Hezhong officers and soldiers very naturally followed their initial instincts and surrendered decisively. Among them were a few who had been "enticed" by Feng Dao and had originally planned to wait a bit longer, holding out for a better offer—but they had never expected the Han army to attack so ferociously and break in so quickly.

Surrendering after the city fell was certainly too late, but not surrendering meant not even having a chance to live. The entering official troops had all received orders: if any rebel soldiers in the city showed the slightest sign of trouble, kill them first, to prevent chaos. Rogue soldiers were always an unstable factor.

No matter how well things were arranged, when a city fell, with troops in disarray and chaos everywhere, even though Hedong city was not particularly large, it still took over two shichen for order to be restored.

Liu Chengyou had not been idle either. Accompanied by Yang Bin, Feng Dao, and Fan Zhi, he personally inspected outside the city, comforting the troops left outside the walls, commending meritorious officers and soldiers, and visiting the wounded. In short, before the army, he constantly displayed the presence of his imperial majesty.

At this moment of victory and the city's fall, the effect was better than ten or eight ordinary displays of presence.

At the southern gate of Puzhou, protected by his personal guards, Liu Chengyou stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the smoke-blackened southern city. The watchtower had been completely burned down, and the scar-covered city walls still stood firm and sturdy. All around was gray and black, with wisps of smoke still rising faintly in the autumn wind, still warm, and the air was thick with the foul stench of burned oil...

"This Hedong city—Li Shouzhen really did fortify it solidly!" Looking at the city's silhouette, Liu Chengyou remarked in a relaxed tone.

"No matter how solid, it is still a rebel city—how could it possibly withstand Your Majesty's heavenly might!" Feng Dao immediately raised his sleeves and said.

"Minister Feng speaks truly. My majesty—how could a mere rebel city resist it!" Liu Chengyou's gaze darted around, then he raised his hand and declared in a clear voice: "But my majesty also comes from these tens of thousands of loyal imperial army soldiers of the Great Han!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Feng Dao wore an expression of admiration.

Standing nearby, seeing this harmonious scene between sovereign and minister, Yang Bin increasingly felt like an outsider. As for himself, he no longer even had the interest to interject a word. His mind was still clear at this moment—after this campaign to wipe out Li Shouzhen, this young Son of Heaven's arrogance would only become harder to restrain. Old ministers like himself would likely be even less regarded in his eyes...

"Hedong." Liu Chengyou muttered to himself, then after a brief pause for thought, said: "This city's name should be changed!"

The several ministers attending at his side were all startled—why had he brought this up? But Feng Dao immediately offered a suggestion: "This city commands the great river, linking Qin and Jin. Times have changed, and it no longer befits the name Hedong. I beg Your Majesty to bestow a new name."

"I can't come up with any good names." Liu Chengyou waved his hand and looked at Feng Dao: "For such an elegant matter, I must trouble Minister Feng."

Seeing this, a flattering smile appeared at the corner of Feng Dao's mouth. After thinking for a moment, he clasped his hands and said: "With beautiful mountains and waters, may the Great Han prosper forever—how about naming it Yongji, Your Majesty?"

"Then Yongji it shall be!" Liu Chengyou decided on the spot.

"Your Majesty, the city has been fully pacified." At this moment, Han Tong rode out with a squad of men, dismounted at a distance, and reported respectfully.

Liu Chengyou glanced at Han Tong, whose face was streaked with grime. Han Tong was somewhat frustrated—he had led the ten commands of the Left Wing of the Imperial Guard on this campaign, yet there had been no opportunity for cavalry to prove their worth before the Hezhong rebels were already suppressed.

"Where is Minister Bai?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"Governor Bai is currently inventorying the government storehouses." Han Tong replied, then explained: "That Li Shouzhen was utterly detestable—he had firewood piled in advance around the prefectural offices and storehouses, intending to burn them all. There are still tens of thousands of dan of grain in the Hezhong storehouses. If General Liu Ci's men had not arrived in time to put out the flames, it would truly have all gone up in smoke..."

"For a man on the verge of destruction, such mad acts are hardly surprising!" Liu Chengyou said flatly.

"And Li Shouzhen's corpse?" Liu Chengyou asked.

He had already been informed earlier that after the city fell, Li Shouzhen had taken his own life with a blade in the city.

"It has been placed in the courtyard of the prefectural offices."

"Let's enter the city!" Liu Chengyou nodded and directly gave the order.

"Your Majesty, the southern city has been destroyed, and the roads are filthy and unsightly. I fear they may defile your sacred person—please enter through the eastern gate instead." Feng Dao spoke up with a suggestion.

"No matter—if the soldiers can cross this city, how could I not?" Liu Chengyou said flatly. With that, he mounted his imperial horse and rode in at a light gallop.

Within the prefectural city, all was silent. The Pu army had all been moved outside the city under guard, every door was tightly shut, and the common people cowered in their homes in fear.

Inside and around the prefectural offices, including several surrounding streets and alleys, everything was under the control of over two thousand imperial army soldiers. The troops were a mixed lot—units from the Longqi, Xiaodi, Wujie, and Xingjie corps were all present.

Bai Wenke and Li Hongjian led a group of officers, arrayed in formation with joyful expressions to welcome him.

"This prefectural office really is quite grand." Dismounting, he looked at the main gate, his gaze pausing noticeably on the three large characters reading "Prince of Qin's Residence" on the plaque.

Noticing Liu Chengyou's gaze, Bai Wenke's expression shifted slightly, seeming somewhat regretful, and he immediately called out to the soldiers: "Why haven't you taken down this plaque of the false prince and rebel—chop it up and use it for firewood!"

Only after the plaque had been disposed of did Liu Chengyou step forward and walk inside.

In the courtyard, Liu Chengyou finally saw Li Shouzhen—his corpse, that is. He studied the square, honest-looking face carefully. The gash across the neck was deep, the blood long dried. Back in the Eastern Capital, when Li Shouzhen had come to pay respects to Liu Zhiyuan, Liu Chengyou had only caught a glimpse of him as they passed each other. From beginning to end—even after Li Shouzhen rebelled against him—the two had never once had any direct exchange.

"Died cleanly—that's letting this traitor off too easy." Liu Chengyou said flatly.

"Your Majesty, the rebels who fled north have been annihilated by Military Governor Wang of the Jianxiong Army and Commander of the Eastern and Western Bands Zhao Hongyin. Their families have all been captured, and his son Li Chongxun was killed by Commander Zhao's son, Zhao Kuangyin..."

"Zhao Kuangyin?" Hearing this report, Liu Chengyou's brow twitched involuntarily, but he quickly and naturally returned to calm. His eyes rolled twice, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

"Your Majesty, Li Shouzhen still has over ten civil and military subordinates who joined the rebellion, followed the traitor, and plotted revolt against the imperial army. How should they be dealt with?" At this moment, Bai Wenke stepped forward and asked.

How to deal with them? The smile at the corners of Liu Chengyou's mouth turned somewhat cold. He rolled his shoulders, loosening the joints, and ordered: "Take them and Li Shouzhen's family to the marketplace and behead them all as a warning to the realm!"

He wore a languid expression, but the words he spoke and the orders he issued sent a chill through the hearts of the generals and ministers present—especially Bai Wenke and Zhao Hui, who bore the weight of military governor appointments.

By past precedent, since Li Shouzhen was already dead, even if his family and remaining partisans were not pardoned, they would not have been exterminated so thoroughly.

But the Son of Heaven's attitude could not help but make one vigilant and trembling with fear...