Chapter 263: Settling Scores After Autumn (Continued)

Deep within the southern camp, on a stretch of open ground, a sturdy stockade had been erected. Over a hundred officers and soldiers were held here, each in a sorry state, faces full of bewilderment. He Hui and Fan Aineng, holding higher military rank and having their names registered with the Son of Heaven, received "special" treatment—they were separately confined in two narrow prison carts.

All around, Xiaodi Army soldiers under Sun Li's command kept strict watch, and following his instructions, treated the prisoners harshly—especially despising He, Fan, and the others who had fled in cowardice and caused the deaths of their comrades.

Under the autumn sun, two figures stood beside the prison carts—Li Chongjin and Zhang Yongde, who had come to visit He and Fan, bringing them some food.

These two were both old subordinates of Guo Wei, and had come specially to show their regard.

Wolfing down the food until it was gone, He Hui—filthy, haggard, and worn—rallied a bit of spirit and looked at Li and Zhang with desperate hope, pleading: "Thank you, Young Lord Li and Young Lord Zhang, for coming to visit. The two of you must find a way to save us!"

Beside him, Fan Aineng gripped the bars of the prison cart and echoed excitedly: "Yes, indeed!"

Their conduct was truly contemptible, yet they failed to notice the disdain in Li Chongjin's and Zhang Yongde's eyes.

"The two of you have violated the law most grievously this time, and the Son of Heaven is furious. We are but mere commanders in the army, low in rank and humble in position—how could our words carry any weight?" Facing their eager gazes, Zhang Yongde shook his head and spread his hands, speaking in a low voice.

"Please, Young Lord Zhang, send a letter to the Eastern Capital and have the Chancellor speak on our behalf before the Son of Heaven!" He Hui clearly had an idea in mind, offering Zhang Yongde a fanciful suggestion.

Hearing this, Zhang Yongde's handsome face twitched slightly. He drew a small breath and, meeting their eager gazes, put on a helpless expression: "The Chancellor is still in the Eastern Capital, a thousand li away—how could he possibly speak on your behalf? Even if he wished to save you, his reach would not extend so far."

"Just send a single letter!" Fan Aineng brushed aside the hair obscuring his vision and spoke up from the side.

Zhang Yongde shook his head again.

"Why waste so many words on them!" Li Chongjin stood at the side, face showing impatience, and rebuked Zhang Yongde in a cold, hard tone. Then he swept He and Fan with an indifferent gaze:

"For what the two of you have done, even death could not repay your crimes. If I were you, I would have taken my own life long ago to atone. What face do you have to still beg for your lives? You wish the Chancellor to speak for you—do you mean to drag him down with you as well? Our bringing you this food, to see you off on your final journey, is already the last bit of regard we can show on the Chancellor's behalf..."

Facing Li Chongjin's merciless rebuke, He and Fan's expressions turned ugly. They actually looked at the two men with venomous eyes, and seemingly failed to notice anything amiss.

Soon, a battalion of armored imperial army soldiers marched in with orderly steps. At their head was a middle-aged military officer with thick brows and large eyes, holding a list in his hand. He exchanged a few words with the guard captain, then produced a military order.

Approaching, he swept his gaze over Li Chongjin and Zhang Yongde, who tactfully withdrew. As for the officer, he didn't even spare He Hui and Fan Aineng in their prison carts a glance, but walked straight to the front of the stockade and asked coldly: "Who is Xie Hui?"

The prisoners exchanged glances; instinctively, one of them stepped back two paces, only to be dragged out directly by the soldiers.

This Xie Hui had originally been a military clerk in the Imperial Guard Command. When Shi Hongzhao's power was at its height, he had been exceptionally arrogant and overbearing in the Command—accepting bribes and forcibly seizing civilian property. After Shi Hongzhao was sent out to guard Luoyang, his old subordinates were transferred, reassigned, or demoted. Xie Hui was caught up in the fallout and demoted to squad leader in the Xiaodi Army, where he had behaved himself for a time.

This time he had joined the campaign, and after the city fell, seizing the moment of chaos, his old habits resurfaced—he led his men in looting the city and was captured by Patrol Inspector soldiers.

Now singled out, he knelt on the muddy ground before the middle-aged officer, trembling with fear.

"You dare to be called Xie Hui?" The middle-aged officer stepped forward, kicked him down in a rage, then had him bound. Afterward, he gestured to his men and pointed at the rest: "Take them all away!"

This middle-aged officer was also named Xie Hui...

The scene immediately caused an uproar, but it was useless. Those who lagged or delayed were directly cut down with blades.

Without waiting for an auspicious hour, over a hundred men, bound and tied, were marched to the camp gate. Regardless of their pleas, wails, or curses, they were beheaded without mercy—executed by law. Heads and blood displayed the severity of military justice in full.

This time, over a hundred lives were taken to serve as a warning to the tens of thousands of others.

Settling accounts after autumn—fitting for the season, fitting for the occasion.

Within the city, in the prefectural office of Hezhong, there was another account for Liu Chengyou to settle.

The hall was rather desolate. Two figures sat facing each other on opposite sides, staring at one another, both wearing anxious expressions.

Xue Huairang and Hou Zhang.

During this campaign to suppress the rebellion, ever since the army advanced on Pucheng, these two had been with the army—but had been kept under "protection" the whole time, never summoned, until today. The hall was very quiet; guards watched from outside, yet the two sat obediently, even after being left waiting for so long.

Finally, Xue Huairang could not hold back, his tone somewhat irritable: "What could the Son of Heaven possibly want with the two of us this time?"

Both had stones weighing on their hearts, though their situations differed. If Hou Zhang were clever and thick-skinned, he might still argue his way out, with a better chance of preserving his life. Not so for Xue Huairang—his deeds in Tongzhou were an open secret, his entanglement with Li Shouzhen the deepest, and he had repeatedly defied imperial edicts. Most importantly, he bore a grudge against Liu Chengyou.

Xue Huairang was clearly speaking for Hou Zhang's benefit. Hou Zhang, hunched over, reacted—he raised his eyes to give him a look, drew a deep breath, and said in a low voice: "I hear many people were killed today. Officers of the imperial army, and some of the rebel officers from Hezhong."

Hou Zhang had evidently done some preparation.

Hearing this, Xue Huairang's expression indeed changed, much of the color draining from his face. His ugly features twisted together in a most uncoordinated manner as he said worriedly: "Brother Hou, you don't think the little emperor will actually kill us, do you?"

Hou Zhang seemed to have grown much wiser—or perhaps someone had coached him. He shot Xue Huairang a glance and said coldly: "You still dare to speak rudely?"

His expression froze. Xue Huairang's back hunched lower, and after a moment of silence, he said: "But we are military governors of a region!"

"Li Shouzhen's entire household has already been wiped out!" Hou Zhang's tone was harsh, though the worry in his pupils did not diminish.

"But we didn't rebel..." Xue Huairang's tone clearly lacked conviction.

Hou Zhang grew impatient. He looked directly at him and said: "Brother Xue, better to think about how to beg the Son of Heaven's forgiveness and preserve your life. After all, our entire families' lives now hang on a single thought from the Son of Heaven!"

With that, another silence fell.

After a long while, just as their hearts were sinking ever deeper, Liu Chengyou finally appeared, striding swiftly toward the hall's main desk.

"Your subjects Xue Huairang (Hou Zhang) pay respects to Your Majesty!"

"The two of you—why such great ceremony?" Scanning the two governors who were nearly prostrate on the ground, Liu Chengyou asked mildly.

"It has been long since we last had an audience with Your Majesty; naturally we must show proper respect!" Hou Zhang said.

The last time he had an audience in Luoyang, Hou Zhang had not been nearly so deferential.

"Rise!" Waving his hand, Liu Chengyou bade them stand and speak.

The two were extremely ill at ease, especially Xue Huairang—gone was his earlier roughness; he dared not even meet Liu Chengyou's eyes, and could barely form words.

His gaze roamed over the man's corpulent frame twice: "In just over a year's time, Governor Xue has grown so portly—it seems life in Tongzhou has been quite comfortable..."