Chapter 398: The Old Ministers Fade Away

While the Han court's arrangements were proceeding at a rapid pace, the situation in Hunan underwent earth-shaking changes. The three-year confrontation between the Ma brothers had produced no result, yet in these three winter months, a victor emerged.

The day Changsha fell, heavy snow fell on Tanzhou, four feet deep on level ground, while the Chu king Ma Xiguang threw off his robes, donned monk's garments, and prostrated himself in prayer for fortune. The fall of Changsha was easy—the defenders were terrified, the soldiers had no will to fight, and with collusion from within and without, when Ma Xi'e's Langzhou troops joined with the barbarian soldiers in the assault, the defense collapsed at first contact, surrendering at the sight of the enemy. Changsha thus fell into Ma Xi'e's hands.

Looking at the overall situation, one truly felt that the hearts of the people had turned toward Langzhou. In truth, among the gentry and commoners of Hunan, who did not know how unfit Ma Xi'e was? Yet why were so many willing to follow him and help him seize power? The truth was that the Chu king Ma Xiguang was simply too incompetent.

Many times, better to follow a villain than a good man!

With Changsha taken, the Ma brothers had a victor, and the situation in Hunan had its resolution. Of course, it was only a preliminary settlement.

After taking Changsha, Ma Xi'e styled himself Grand General of the Heavenly Strategy, Military Governor of the Wu'an, Wuping, Jingjiang, and Ningyuan Armies, and King of Chu. He made Ma Xichong Deputy Military Governor and Administrative Assistant in charge of government affairs, and all important posts in Hunan were filled with men from Langzhou.

At the same time, he carried out large-scale retaliation and vengeance in Changsha, butchering and devouring the military governor's staff officers—cruel means indeed—and letting his soldiers plunder the people and empty the treasuries to fulfill his promises to the barbarian troops. The chaos of war had ended, but Changsha suffered all the more for it.

The Chu king Ma Xiguang could not escape his fate of death, for Ma Xi'e certainly lacked the mercy of "unwilling to harm his younger brother." Ironically, even at the moment before his execution, Ma Xiguang was still reciting Buddhist scriptures...

Meanwhile, the Northern Han army stationed at Li under the command of Defense Commissioner Cao Yin, having borrowed passage through Jiangling, replenished its supplies, added boats and oars, and then resumed its march.

Just as Wang Qiwu had described when recommending him, Cao Yin commanded troops with steadiness and prudence, favoring set-piece battles; though lacking flexibility, he made up for it in reliability. Especially this time, leading troops into an enclave, he was even more cautious.

He did not hurry southward, but proceeded at a measured pace, surveying routes, scouting terrain, and identifying retreat paths. Moreover, because the soldiers did not know their general, Cao Yin spent the entire march south building cohesion with his troops.

The result was that before the Han army reached Lizhou, the "situation in Hunan had already been settled." Under such circumstances, the foresight of Wei Renpu's earlier considerations became evident—he had long since obtained the Son of Heaven's authorization that, regardless of how the situation in Hunan developed, taking Lizhou by any means was worth it.

Without political concerns, considering only military matters, Cao Yin's task was much easier. He had learned of Lizhou's situation from Jingnan early on and had sent scouts ahead in advance.

Langzhou's elite troops and fierce generals had all been taken by Ma Xi'e to attack Changsha; the small remaining force had to garrison Langzhou itself, the home base, leaving the northern Lizhou nearly abandoned, with only a few hundred old, weak, sick, and disabled soldiers.

Had Jingnan troops come to attack, there might have been some resistance, but when Cao Yin led the Han army to the city walls, Lizhou raised its banners and surrendered—one could even describe it as welcoming the king's army.

The Han army entered the city with armor rolled up, without expending the slightest effort. After entering, Cao Yin quickly seized the various government offices, treasuries, and military camps, sent a written report to the Eastern Capital, conscripted the people to repair the city walls, drilled the officers and soldiers for defense—he slipped into his role very quickly!

In the Eastern Capital, when the memorials about Hunan were received, there was no overreaction. Following Liu Chengyou's intent, the Secretariat-Chancellery jointly issued two edicts.

One edict was sent to Changsha, condemning Ma Xi'e, sternly interrogating him for killing his brother, harming the people, and usurping authority.

The other edict was sent to Lizhou, commending Cao Yin's merit in taking the territory, instructing him to defend it well as a prefecture of the Great Han.

The attitude toward Ma Xi'e was very tough—he was branded a rebel, and in the eyes of the Northern Han sovereign and ministers, the late Chu king remained the legitimate ruler.

Generally speaking, one should stand with the victor. But Liu Chengyou harbored ulterior motives; he did this to continue lulling the Southern Tang sovereign and ministers into complacency. Look—the Northern Han court and the Ma Chu were at odds, mutually incompatible; seize the golden opportunity to expand territory.

The situation in Hunan was still fermenting. Though its most prosperous regions had been severely damaged by the flames of war—livestock failing to thrive, hearts and minds unsettled—some strength remained. Before Ma Xi'e could squander that remaining strength, a fragile stability could be maintained.

As for how things would develop next, the Han court did not intend to make further moves. One must know that going too far is as bad as falling short; everything now depended on Ma Xi'e and on how the Southern Tang chose to act.

As the third year of Qianyou was drawing to a close, Liu Chengyou received mournful news in the Eastern Capital: Liu Shenjiao, Defense Commissioner of Ruzhou, had died in office.

At the beginning of the Han dynasty's rise, when the realm was in turmoil and hearts and minds were divided, the Liu father and son had been able to win the realm not only because heaven granted them advantage and Hedong's troops were strong and horses sturdy, but also thanks to the support of many old ministers and veteran generals.

For example, Feng Dao, Bai Wenke, Hu Yanke, Shi Kuangyi, Liu Shenjiao... And of them all, the one who left the best impression on Liu Chengyou was Liu Shenjiao alone.

At first, Liu Chengyou had been somewhat suspicious of him for assisting Prince Wei Liu Chengxun with military farming in Zhengzhou, but after making contact, he discovered this was a capable minister who did real work—one with the ambition of an old steed in the stable and the ability to govern the age. Most importantly, there was simply a natural rapport.

The military farming affairs in Zhengzhou were managed in perfect order and gradually on track. Ruzhou, near the capital, was known as difficult to govern, yet when Liu Chengyou appointed him there, Liu Shenjiao showed not the slightest displeasure and respectfully obeyed. Before leaving his post, he even recommended the capable minister Jing Fan to Liu Chengyou, and during his tenure in Zhengzhou, his achievements were outstanding.

In his post at Ruzhou, he eliminated all vexatious abuses, did not disturb the people, encouraged farming and sericulture, and developed commerce, and the people sang his praises. In these two or three years, among the prefectures and counties near the capital, in terms of the recovery and development of people's livelihoods, northern Zhengzhou and southern Ruzhou were spoken of together.

His achievements in governance were visible to the naked eye. Liu Chengyou held him in great respect, thought of him often, and at festivals and holidays, when bestowing gifts from the palace, he would always remember the old minister.

At the beginning of the year, Liu Shenjiao's body weakened and he fell ill, confined to his bed. When Liu Chengyou heard of it, he had intended to let him retire to enjoy his remaining years, but Liu Shenjiao refused, saying plainly that the people of Ruzhou were not yet settled and he could not bear to abandon them.

To honor the old minister's wishes, Liu Chengyou issued an edict praising him, and at the same time bestowed renowned physicians and fine medicines to prolong his life. He also ordered the officials of Ruzhou to share his administrative burdens so as to spare his labor. Even with Liu Shenjiao's experience, he could not help but weep with gratitude at the Son of Heaven's favor. During his illness, facing those who came to visit, he would often speak with emotion and sigh, saying that at seventy years of age he had still encountered an enlightened sovereign—though he had not been born in the right era, this life was enough.

As if in perfect coordination, the deep friendship between Liu Chengyou and Liu Shenjiao, this pair of young sovereign and old minister, was widely publicized, spread far, and universally praised.

Now the old minister had finally passed away—one could say he died of old age in his bed—but Liu Chengyou still displayed grief and reluctance to part, ordering three days of suspended court to mourn him. He bestowed beautiful posthumous titles to honor his name after death, and had Feng Dao personally write an obituary detailing his merits, virtue, and conduct. The people of Ruzhou submitted petitions en masse, wishing to erect a shrine to commemorate Liu Shenjiao, and permission was granted. At the same time, his sons and grandsons were given official positions through shadow privilege.

Toward Liu Shenjiao, Liu Chengyou had shown his full sincerity.

Afterwards, Liu Chengyou began to reflect on his own faults. In the midst of grief, he summoned his ministers and said: "Lord Liu Wenhui (the posthumous title the court had conferred upon Liu Shenjiao), over seventy years of age, was worn down by his labors and suffered the hardships of public office. Truly, I failed to spare an old minister—this is my fault."

To err and then be able to correct—there is no greater good. Then, to show consideration for those below and prevent further loss of old ministers, Liu Chengyou issued an edict that those in the Eastern Capital court who were advanced in years and frail in body should be granted money and grain and retired with honorary titles.

The result was that the various central offices and government bureaus—both military and civil—suddenly had more than thirty positions of varying rank vacated, and most of these positions held real power.

The Northern Han had taken in the leftover ministers of the Liang, Tang, and Jin dynasties, and even the remnants of the Li Tang. These men, even if not senile, were decrepit with age and simply could not keep pace with the current Son of Heaven.

Therefore, they would inevitably be purged from the court by Liu Chengyou one after another.