Chapter 531: Hedong Storm (3)

Li Shaoyou pondered for a moment, wearing an air of casual indifference, then suddenly glanced up at Zheng Gong and said softly, "Administrative Assistant Zheng, if I remember correctly, before Gaozu the late emperor raised his army, you were already a staff aide to Liu Chong. Over the years, Liu Chong has trusted you greatly, appointing you as Military Governor's Administrative Assistant, relying on you as his right arm!"

Hearing Li Shaoyou's words, Zheng Gong's expression shifted slightly, but quickly he pledged his loyalty, saying, "The Commandery Duke sees clearly. The Prince of Taiyuan has indeed treated me generously, and though I am mindful of his kindness, I have never for a moment forgotten that Hedong is territory of the Great Han, and I am likewise a subject of Your Majesty. To be loyal to the Son of Heaven and obedient to the court is only proper duty—how would I dare defy the court?"

Watching his expression, Li Shaoyou clapped his hands lightly and said with a smile, "If His Majesty knew you had such loyalty and understood such great righteousness, he would be very pleased!"

"I still rely on the Commandery Duke to put in a good word!" Zheng Gong replied with a fawning smile.

"That Li Xiang—he still has some measure of loyalty and obedience toward the court!" Li Shaoyou added.

Meeting Li Shaoyou's gaze, Zheng Gong replied, "In my view, this Li Xiang has insight, but his temperament is proud and aloof. He understands the times yet does not know when to advance or retreat. Thinking himself loyal and respectful, he did not wish the Prince of Taiyuan to bring calamity upon himself, but instead only provoked the Prince of Taiyuan's great wrath."

"There is also Surveillance Administrative Assistant Zhao Hua, who also opposed the Prince of Taiyuan's ideas of defying the court. During secret deliberations in the inner residence, he also offered remonstrance and counsel, but unfortunately the Prince of Taiyuan would not listen!"

Hearing this, Li Shaoyou let out a sigh, his tone laced with mockery: "It seems Hedong is not lacking in worthy and capable men. You all know when to advance and retreat, and understand the balance of strength and weakness—so why does our Imperial Uncle not understand?"

"Commandery Duke! I observe the Prince of Taiyuan—though his words express helplessness, the undertone already reveals an intent to move troops to resist the court's edicts, to pressure the court into enfeoffing him with permanent rule over Hedong!" Zheng Gong's expression gradually turned serious.

"Utterly delusional!" Li Shaoyou immediately sneered: "His Majesty is supremely wise—how could he possibly be threatened by such a thing!"

"The Prince of Taiyuan is certainly taking things for granted, but as he says, if he truly manages to connect with Xiazhou, and while the court is exhausted from major warfare, also stirs up trouble in the southwest, I fear it could indeed bring great trouble to the court." Zheng Gong said to Li Shaoyou: "Hedong has forty thousand soldiers in total—insufficient for offense, but more than enough for defense. I even worry that if Taiyuan can move to ally with the Tangut, he may well not hesitate to contact the Khitan as external support. If the Khitan get involved, then the situation in Hedong will certainly become critical!"

"If that is so, then Liu Chong will have cut himself off from the ancestral temple!" Li Shaoyou's expression also turned grave, and he said: "Your considerations are sound—we must guard against this, or else the situation in Hedong may prove difficult to manage!"

Watching Li Shaoyou's expression, Zheng Gong couldn't help but probe cautiously: "May I ask how the Commandery Duke plans to resolve this?"

"You only need to do your own part well!" Li Shaoyou gave him a cold look.

"Yes!" Zheng Gong was startled by his gaze.

"You continue to stay by Liu Chong's side, carrying out your duties, and report his movements and intentions at all times!" Li Shaoyou instructed.

"This subordinate understands!"

Rising, Li Shaoyou strolled slowly toward the door of the hall, waving his hand: "I shall take my leave now—thank you for the tea and hospitality! Oh, the tea leaves are quite good! No need to see me out!"

"Respectfully seeing off the Commandery Duke!" From behind, Zheng Gong stopped himself from personally escorting him out, and bowed.

Only after his figure disappeared into the central courtyard did Zheng Gong turn his head toward the direction of the Acting Military Governor's residence, murmuring to himself: "Great Prince, it is not that I am disloyal, but the situation is what it is—smashing an egg against a stone is a path to self-destruction!"

As one caught in the middle of it all, Zheng Gong had deeply experienced the court's penetration into Hedong. Not to mention anything else, among the officials and clerks throughout Hedong, how many people, like himself, were secretly leaning toward the court—he himself could not even imagine the number, but one thing he could be certain of: it was absolutely not few.

And Liu Chong only stared at the court's edicts, stared at Fan Zhi, stared at Zhao Kuangyin, unaware that within Jinyang city, a venomous snake was already lurking, ready at any moment to strike a fatal blow.

Li Shaoyou left the Zheng residence, boarded his carriage, wound through the streets and alleys, turned into a ward, observing the situation in Jinyang city along the way. Looking at those familiar sights, he couldn't help but sigh: "This Jinyang city—apart from the walls being more formidable, nothing has changed at all!"

At the same time, he noticed that up to this point, there was not much of a tense atmosphere to be seen within Jinyang city. In the markets and streets, just as in days past, there was noise and clamor...

In an ordinary courtyard residence, beneath a calm exterior lay strict vigilance, with visible and hidden sentries alternating. In the hall, three men were already waiting in attendance. Li Shaoyou entered and directly fixed his gaze on one man, asking: "How are the Jinyang garrison troops? Any unusual movements?"

"The inner and outer infantry and cavalry forces are each holding their own camps. However, the Acting Military Governor's residence has ordered that the yabing guards and all infantry and cavalry units be placed on full alert, with all officers and soldiers on leave or outside recalled. Additionally, yabing officer Li Chan recently mustered two thousand troops and marched out of camp heading south!"

"Mm, how is morale?"

"The soldiers all harbor doubts!" the intelligence officer replied: "According to investigation, rumors have already spread among the Jinyang infantry and cavalry forces, saying the court intends to disband all the soldiers—morale has already become unstable!"

Hearing this report, Li Shaoyou's brows knit together: "It seems our Imperial Uncle is not entirely foolish after all—he even knows the trick of stirring up military morale!"

"Commandery Duke!" the subordinate said: "Observing the Prince of Taiyuan's recent conduct, his disloyal intentions are plain for all to see. We should report to the Eastern Capital as soon as possible, so the court can make early preparations, lest we fail to respond in time!"

"How should we respond?" Li Shaoyou glanced at him sideways.

"Naturally, by mobilizing troops to deal with it!"

"What do you think His Majesty sent me personally to Jinyang for!" Li Shaoyou rebuked: "If it were a matter of moving troops, why would we need to run around so diligently like this? If we truly provoke a mutiny or war, the moment we return to court we will be guilty!"

"To tell you the truth, His Majesty sent us here precisely to eliminate a potential rebellion in silence. If we accomplish this matter, we will all have great merit; if not, we will all bear great guilt!"

"But how can we alone turn the situation back from chaos and ruin?"

"That is what I need to consider! You all only need to follow orders and do your jobs!" Li Shaoyou said calmly.

"Yes!"

"Then how should we subordinates respond?"

Li Shaoyou considered for a moment, then raised a finger and said: "Have our people in the military also spread rumors, saying that the court, mindful of the hardships of Hedong's soldiers in garrison duty, intends to select meritorious officers for rewards and honors. Additionally, say that the Prince of Taiyuan, Liu Chong, wishes to reject the court's grace toward the soldiers...

The Imperial Uncle wants to stir up military morale, but we cannot let him succeed!"

"Send people to keep a tight watch on the military's movements. In the final analysis, this matter is still about the army. As long as the army does not follow him into rebellion, the Prince of Taiyuan is no cause for concern!" Li Shaoyou said calmly: "Especially those junior officers and commanders—Zhang Yuanhui, Chen Guangyu, and other troop-leading generals—keep a tight watch on them for me!"

"To catch bandits, first catch the ringleader!" After a long pause, Li Shaoyou added: "Originally, I intended to take a gradual approach, but now I have no choice but to adjust and scheme more carefully!"

Seating himself at the writing desk, Li Shaoyou wrote swiftly, composing three letters in succession, sealed them, and summoned three subordinates, instructing: "These three letters—deliver them respectively to Chancellor Fan Zhi, Yang Ye of Daizhou, and Chief Inspector Zhao Kuangyin, and hand them over in person! These letters must not be lost. Remember—destroy them rather than let them fall into wrong hands!"

"Understood!"

In Fenzhou, having just returned to his lodgings from the Defense Commissioner's office, he had once again accepted a lavish reception from Defense Commissioner Liu Chengjun. The night was already deep, and Fan Zhi's brow was full of exhaustion.

"Chancellor, there are some suspicious characters lurking outside the post station!" the Inner Palace guard responsible for the chancellor's protection reported to Fan Zhi.

"Mm!" Fan Zhi was not at all surprised: "After all, this is Fenzhou. Along our journey here, we have dismissed and punished quite a number of officials from Hedong's subordinate prefectures and counties, which has already provoked dissatisfaction and wariness from the Prince of Taiyuan and his son!"

"Additionally, I have discovered that the garrison troops in Fenzhou have already gone on alert!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Zhi's expression indeed turned serious, and he took a deep breath: "Has it already come to this?"

"Chancellor!" a subordinate official accompanying him also reported to Fan Zhi with a grim expression: "According to reports, the several officials who were punished in Fenzhou have been secretly released by Defense Commissioner Liu Chengjun! The winds in Hedong are turning somewhat ominous!"

Fan Zhi sat in silence for a while, pondering for a long time, before finally speaking in a deep voice: "Too hasty! Too hasty!"

In fact, Fan Zhi was well aware of the Son of Heaven's desire to take back control of Hedong. In his view, this matter should be pursued gradually—administrative power, financial power, and military power should be stripped away step by step. Moreover, given the situation the court currently faced, one should not advance aggressively. If it could be delayed a bit, matters would be much easier to handle, and the court would have more room to maneuver. To attack on so many fronts at once, intending to sweep the nest clean, would inevitably provoke backlash—and now, in Fan Zhi's view, there were already signs of such backlash. He couldn't help but sigh.

But the Son of Heaven was too impatient. The great victory in Huainan had made the Emperor somewhat overconfident. Before leaving the capital, Fan Zhi had hinted at this to the Son of Heaven, but unfortunately, his words had not been heeded.

While he was still pondering, he received word that someone from the Wude Office had come seeking an audience, delivering a personal letter from Commissioner of the Wude Office Li Shaoyou.

After reading the letter, Fan Zhi's expression showed both concern and some relief. What concerned him was Liu Chong's intentions and the changes in Jinyang; what relieved him was that, clearly, the Son of Heaven was prepared.