Chapter 538: Storm in Hedong (Finale)

At the eastern gate tower of Jinyang city, lanterns blazed brightly, and the garrison troops patrolled with strict vigilance, showing no slack. This was likely the night when the defenders' alertness had been at its highest in recent times.

Light cavalry rode through the night, making no attempt to conceal their tracks, quickly drawing the attention of the soldiers atop the wall. The gate commander immediately shouted: "Halt! Who goes there!"

Under the dim light cast down from the city wall, Li Shaoyou's weary face was faintly visible. He reined in his horse and looked up at the battlements. With a gesture, his subordinate immediately bellowed: "Open the gates at once! We need to enter the city!"

"The curfew is already in effect, and the Military Governor's office has issued strict orders. If you wish to enter the city, go to the official hostel and wait until dawn!" The officer on the wall was not at all courteous.

"How dare you!" The subordinate who had called out immediately shouted angrily: "Beneath this wall stands the Son of Heaven's special envoy, Commissioner of the Wude Office, Commandery Duke of Shouyang—open the gates at once!"

At these words, the officer on the wall visibly hesitated but still made no move. Seeing this, the subordinate grew angrier, but Li Shaoyou reached out to stop him, then raised his head and called out loudly: "Report this immediately—go find Zhao Kuangyin, Chief Inspector of the Palace Command!"

"Please wait a moment!" A reply came from above.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Li Shaoyou's face. One phrase confirmed it—the situation in the city was settled, and nothing had gone seriously wrong.

He did not wait long. Figures moved atop the wall, and soon the drawbridge lowered and the city gates swung open. Zhao Kuangyin personally came out to greet him: "Forgive the wait, Commandery Duke!"

"This brief wait has set my heart at ease!" Li Shaoyou spurred his horse forward and rode into the city side by side with him, asking about the situation within.

Zhao Kuangyin said: "The Prince of Taiyuan's entire family has been gathered and placed under guard. The remaining guards of the princely residence have all been disarmed and moved elsewhere for detention. That Chen Guangyu cooperated fully. The officers and soldiers of the city have been pacified, and Chancellor Fan has already entered the princely residence to take charge of affairs!"

"Excellent!" Li Shaoyou smiled calmly: "After tonight, we can finally relax a little. Let's go to the princely residence—twenty days since I came north, and I still haven't set foot in it!"

The night was deep, and the princely residence, after its brief disturbance, had fully returned to calm. Imperial army soldiers, led by Han Lingkun, stood on strict guard. In the hall, Fan Zhi sat in conversation with Zheng Gong and Zhao Hua, the latter two behaving with utmost deference, allowing Fan Zhi to feel the status and reverence due to a chancellor of the court. Since coming north to Hedong, he had endured no small amount of indignity.

Li Shaoyou and Zhao Kuangyin ascended the hall together, and all three rose to receive them.

"The Commandery Duke has worked hard!" Fan Zhi said to Li Shaoyou: "Please, take the seat of honor!"

"With a chancellor of the Great Han present, how dare I presume!" Li Shaoyou waved his hand, appearing very modest. As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Zheng Gong and Zhao Hua.

"Oh! The hour is late—we two subordinates shall take our leave first!" Seeing this, Zheng Gong quickly said.

Seeing him so perceptive, Li Shaoyou did not detain him. After a moment's thought, he instructed Zheng Gong: "I must trouble Administrative Assistant Zheng to take some men out of the city and clean up Yongli Post!"

"Yes! I shall see to it at once!"

When only Li, Fan, and Zhao remained in the hall, the atmosphere became far more relaxed. They exchanged smiles, and looking at the two men, Li Shaoyou said: "Liu Chong is bound, and Hedong has not descended into chaos. At last, we have not failed His Majesty's mission!"

"The Commandery Duke has truly labored with great merit!" Fan Zhi clasped his hands toward Li Shaoyou, and these words came from the heart.

"Chancellor, Commandery Duke." Zhao Kuangyin then spoke: "Although Jinyang has been temporarily pacified and the two envoys Zheng and Li have submitted to the court, to the south lies Fenzhou and to the north Xinzhou. If they are not handled properly, new troubles may arise!"

Fan Zhi nodded as well: "This matter cannot be ignored. Xinzhou is a strategic stronghold, and Fenzhou is in the hands of Liu Chengjun. Especially Fenzhou—he is Liu Chong's son. Before I came north to Jinyang, there were already signs of unrest in Fenzhou. Though its troops are not numerous, if it descends into chaos, it will still be trouble!"

Hearing this, not a trace of tension appeared on Li Shaoyou's face. He said: "As for Xinzhou, Yang Ye of the Daizhou Militia has already seized Defense Commissioner Li Cungui, so there should be no problem there. As for Fenzhou, we need to devise a sound plan!"

"The crux of the Hedong problem lies first and foremost with Liu Chong, the Prince of Taiyuan!" Fan Zhi stroked his beard and said calmly: "News of Jinyang is still sealed. We only need to issue a document in Liu Chong's name, summoning Liu Chengjun north to discuss important matters. If he comes, a single minor official can seize him!"

"Good! Chancellor Fan is indeed shrewd—let's do exactly that!" Li Shaoyou said: "We can dispatch an official of the Military Governor's office to go in person!"

Having settled this matter, Li Shaoyou rose and looked at Fan and Zhao, saying lazily: "Once Liu Chengjun is bound, my mission in coming north will be complete! From then on, the military and civil affairs of Hedong—how to rectify, reform, and handle them—will no longer be my concern!"

"Let the three of us each submit memorials to His Majesty, reporting our duties and requesting his arrangements!" Yawning, Li Shaoyou waved his hand and walked toward the exit: "Hiding in the shadows, sequestered in deep mansions—these past days I haven't had a single good night's sleep. I'll take my leave for now and sleep soundly..."

Sitting in the hall, watching Li Shaoyou's even his retreating figure had become leisurely, one could hardly recognize the Commandery Duke of Shouyang who had previously maneuvered with strategy, controlled the overall situation, and commanded with unshakable composure.

Fan Zhi and Zhao Kuangyin exchanged a glance, somewhat surprised, somewhat moved. Fan Zhi said to Zhao Kuangyin: "Chief Inspector Zhao, the main forces of the Hedong garrison are now all concentrated in Jinyang. The task of pacifying the troops and selecting soldiers falls to you!"

Zhao Kuangyin replied: "I came north precisely on orders from the Bureau of Military Affairs, to select the finest and strongest to fill the ranks of the Eastern Capital. Naturally, I will not shirk this duty!"

Over the next two days, the trio who had come north made no major moves within Jinyang city. They continued to issue official documents in the name of the Military Governor's office, stabilizing the various posts and maintaining operations. The army, however, was re-adjusted in its garrison deployment to ensure there would be no problems.

But regardless, Fan Zhi and Zhao Kuangyin were kept busy to the point their feet barely touched the ground. Zhao Kuangyin remained with the army almost constantly, inspecting the various camps, reassuring the soldiers, and learning the military situation, while Fan Zhi stayed in the command headquarters, poring over various registers and documents to examine the state of governance in Hedong.

Only Li Shaoyou idled about the city at his leisure, wandering here and there, even finding a Lady of Beauty to keep him company in amusement—utterly carefree...

Just as Fan Zhi had planned, Liu Chengjun, Defense Commissioner of Fenzhou, received the letter from Jinyang and, suspecting nothing, hurried north with a hundred mounted personal guards. Upon entering the city, the moment he stepped into the residence, he was seized by Han Lingkun—without the slightest chance to resist. Reunited with Liu Chong's family, he also shattered the last hope in Liu Chong's heart, who cursed his son's incompetence. Following this, Han Lingkun, on orders, led men south at speed and temporarily took over Fenzhou with exceptional smoothness.

In broad daylight, at the eastern camp outside Jinyang city, Zhao Kuangyin had selected five hundred soldiers from the various units of the Jin army and gathered them here, most of them officers of various ranks. The reviewing platform had long been erected. Zhao Kuangyin ascended it and, with a single sweep of his gaze, the murmurs of discussion gradually fell silent.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Kuangyin felt he had never spoken so loudly in his life. Facing these five hundred men, he raised his voice:

"Brothers, I am Zhao Kuangyin. By the grace of the Son of Heaven's promotion, I humbly serve as Chief Inspector of the Palace Command. Over these past few days, I trust you have all come to know me. Regarding the court's selection of soldiers, there have been many rumors circulating in the army recently, and the men have harbored doubts. I have gathered you here today precisely to dispel those doubts and to tell you plainly: the court has absolutely no intention of treating the soldiers of Hedong shabbily.

Before I came north, the Son of Heaven summoned me and instructed me, saying that Hedong commands the strategic advantages of mountains and rivers, and is the very land where the Great Han rose to power—a place that has always produced heroes and champions. The soldiers of Hedong can kill enemies on horseback and tend the fields when dismounted. They rendered tremendous service in the founding of the Great Han. Since the establishment of the dynasty, you have garrisoned the passes, guarded against the Khitan, and suppressed bandits—your toil and merit are truly admirable! All of this, the Son of Heaven holds in his heart!"

"General, does the Son of Heaven truly remember us? And praise our achievements?" Perhaps out of genuine doubt, or perhaps deliberately playing the straight man, one of the officers below the platform asked.

"Of course—I speak not a single word of falsehood!" Zhao Kuangyin said immediately, with absolute certainty: "The Son of Heaven specifically charged me to treat you soldiers with respect and not to be remiss!"

"This time, I have been ordered to select the finest talents and fiercest warriors for the court, to fill the ranks of the imperial army and serve the Son of Heaven in the Eastern Capital. Those chosen will surely be the elite of Hedong—heroes and bold men. Their pay and provisions will be issued entirely according to imperial army regulations. Upon reaching the Eastern Capital, they will also receive a personal audience with the Son of Heaven, along with rewards and promotion! And your families will likewise receive the court's care and compensation!"

As Zhao Kuangyin's words fell, a stir ran through the assembled soldiers, and many faces showed signs of interest.

Zhao Kuangyin continued: "Of course, beyond those selected, the remaining brothers will not all be dismissed. As long as they meet the standards, the Bureau of Military Affairs will organize you into local prefectural troops to guard the realm, with increased pay, and additionally grant you land, grain seed, and farming tools!

As for those soldiers who are retired due to age, injury, or infirmity, the court will not abandon them either. The Son of Heaven has already decreed that these soldiers shall receive money and grain to return home, and upon presenting the name certificates issued by the Bureau of Military Affairs, they may likewise receive land from the local authorities—fifty mu per person. Moreover, common soldiers may serve as village officials, and officers may take posts in the counties and towns.

These are all favors granted to you by the Son of Heaven. When you return to your camps, you must carefully inform all the soldiers of these matters. The court will never treat you unfairly..."

Zhao Kuangyin's words had been made perfectly clear. As his voice fell, a burst of enthusiastic cheering erupted on the spot.

Li Shaoyou, having rare leisure from his idleness, had also come to the camp and watched from afar. Amid the cries of "Long live," his gaze settled on Zhao Kuangyin's tall figure atop the reviewing platform, and he murmured with feeling: "This Zhao Kuangyin is truly a man of substance! With a few words, he has steadied the morale of the army!"

"If it weren't for the Son of Heaven's favors being able to move these Hedong soldiers, how could he have the chance to stand high on that platform, dispensing grace and displaying authority!" A subordinate beside him muttered.

Hearing this, Li Shaoyou abruptly turned his head and stared at the man, making him nervous: "This subordinate spoke out of turn!"

"No! You spoke very well!" Li Shaoyou smiled instead: "The key lies in the Son of Heaven's benevolence, treating the soldiers generously!"

In truth, the rumors Liu Chong had spread among the army earlier were nothing more than distortions of the soldier-selection edict. What the officers and men truly worried about was simply the matter of their settlement.

Many among them had been soldiers for so long that a sudden dismissal would cut off their livelihood. Now, with clear explanation and proclamation, and with the follow-up measures properly implemented, the matter was settled.