Chapter 760: It's Over

Dingzhou, situated at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains and the western edge of the Jibei Plain, was a strategic throat and vital thoroughfare. Over the years, Dingzhou had played an extremely important supplementary role in defending against the Khitan, especially in holding the Taihang passes, supporting Yizhou, and clearing out scattered infiltrators coming from the direction of Weizhou.

For the past decade or more, Dingzhou had been dominated by the Sun brothers. Back when the Jin and Liao were locked in conflict and the northern situation of the Shi Jin was growing increasingly precarious, Sun Fangjian seized the opportunity to rise, rallying able-bodied men, fortifying Wolf Mountain, and strengthening his fortresses for self-preservation.

Thereafter, whenever the Khitan marched south, he repeatedly led his men in resistance, raiding and ambushing, killing and capturing many. Of course, at that time, for Sun Fangjian, national righteousness and loyalty to the court were secondary—self-preservation and security were his primary aims.

That said, Sun Fangjian did possess a measure of courage and cunning, and he was bold to the core, showing not the slightest fear of Khitan military might. He even dared to tweak the tiger's whiskers, seizing grain, weapons, and other supplies.

Though his operations were small-scale, he ultimately made a name for himself. The people of the surrounding areas, hearing of his reputation, flocked to Wolf Mountain to attach themselves to him. The Jin court even appointed him Border Patrol Inspector, ordering him to recruit men and resist the Khitan. Later, Sun Fangjian even took the initiative to submit a memorial to the Jin court, offering strategies for breaking the Khitan—but the result was predictable. A mere Border Patrol Inspector, in truth regarded as little better than a bandit or outlaw, why would anyone heed his thoughts and suggestions?

Receiving no regard from the Jin court, Sun Fangjian grew resentful and secretly communicated with the Khitan. On the Khitan side, their focus at the time was mainly on the Shi Jin's great northern defense army. Though this "anti-barbarian" band under Sun Fangjian was a constant nuisance, they could hardly spare the attention for it, and they were also inclined to buy him off, hoping to quiet his inclination for mischief.

Of course, it was also because Sun Fangjian's actual strength was not great. At its peak, his old camp at Wolf Mountain had fewer than ten thousand able-bodied men, and the only Khitan he contended with were those in Ding, Wei, and Yi Prefectures.

Even so, with his less-than-impressive forces, Sun Fangjian accomplished quite a few things—attacking pass cities, killing barbarian captives, and even leading men to breach Feihu Fort in the north, returning that vital thoroughfare to the Central Plains dynasty for a brief time.

It was not until Yelu Deguang entered Kaifeng and established the Great Liao, appointing Sun Fangjian as Military Governor of Dingzhou and then soon reassigning him as Military Governor of Yunzhou, ordering him to move his men there. What kind of place was Yunzhou? It had already been ceded to the Khitan for ten years by then. How could things go well there? Sun Fangjian flatly refused to serve, leading his men to shrink back and hold fast at Wolf Mountain, biding his time.

Thereafter, his opportunity indeed came. Yelu Deguang's rule turned tyrannical, and the military towns and common people of the Central Plains rose up in revolt. Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan seized the moment, raising troops into the Central Plains to pluck the peach, hunt the deer, and seize the tripod.

Sun Fangjian then moved with the tide. Especially after the Battle of Luancheng, when Khitan forces in Hebei fully contracted and withdrew north, he led his army to recover all of Dingzhou and once again launched a surprise attack on Feihu Fort, taking it and placing it firmly under the Han court's control with no further reversals. Liu Chengyou thus memorialized the court and appointed him Military Governor of Dingzhou.

Thereafter, Liu Chengyou succeeded to the throne, and Sun Fangjian remained long stationed in Dingzhou as Military Governor, rendering much service in garrison and defense, coordinating operations multiple times in the early Qianyou period's defense against the Khitan.

Altogether, the Khitan troops killed or wounded by Sun Fangjian numbered nearly three thousand. Though this was accumulated over many years, and most were Bohai and Xi people, in direct combat against the Khitan, his achievements in kills and captures were considerable.

It was not until the seventh year of Qianyou that Sun Fangjian entered court, surrendered his authority and returned governance, retiring to the Western Capital, where he soon fell ill and died. After Sun Fangjian's death, the Dingzhou Military Governorship was abolished, and the court newly established the Yongning Army, appointing Sun Xingyou as Army Commander, responsible for the defense of Dingzhou and Feihu.

Compared to his elder brother, Sun Xingyou was far more mediocre, and his views and ideas were far more benighted. Originally a man of the wilds, he had risen with his elder brother by seizing the moment, and his methods often overstepped the bounds of propriety, causing Dingzhou's military and civil administration to collapse. Of course, this was also a lingering poison of the military provinces that had not been thoroughly cleansed.

As for the demonic nun causing mischief, the root of it lay with his elder brother Sun Fangjian. In the early years, when Sun Fangjian gathered his followers at Wolf Mountain, to reassure the people, he used incense and religious doctrine to bind his followers, bewitching and brainwashing them. In the early period, this had indeed served a certain purpose.

In the third year of Qianyou, when the court "abolished Buddhism," though there were actions within Dingzhou's borders, they were mostly superficial—a show for the court's sake. In reality, they secretly protected the faith, and many deeply devout Buddhists secretly made their way to Dingzhou, seeking shelter under the Sun family's power.

But in the years that followed, the movement gradually grew, spreading its doctrine ever more brazenly, no longer bothering with concealment. The common people vied with one another to go and worship, in an unending stream. While Sun Fangjian was alive, he still kept some control over it, but by the time of Sun Xingyou, he could not restrain it, especially since they were also proclaiming the virtues of the Sun family...

"You both probably understand the situation!" In the imperial tent, Liu Chengyou looked at Li Huan and Bai Chongzan, speaking unhurriedly: "Tell me, how should we resolve the matter of Dingzhou?"

"Your Majesty, we must rigorously rectify, purge corrupt governance, take back military power, eliminate the demonic nun, clarify the heretical teachings, and calm the people's hearts, so that Dingzhou may return to stability!" Li Huan responded immediately, spouting one set phrase after another.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou merely said: "This is precisely the effect I wish to achieve. But how should we go about it?"

Bai Chongzan had evidently been pondering the matter as well, and immediately said: "For the present, we must swiftly seize Sun Xingyou, confiscate his military power, and take control of the prefecture's administration, to avoid disaster. Thereafter, we can resolve things at leisure according to the court's administrative system. As long as the situation remains under control, even if there is some unrest, it will not be of great consequence."

"As I said, Sun Xingyou has the intention of leading his men back to Wolf Mountain for self-preservation. Though he is foolish, we must not be careless. If he truly succeeds, the consequences would be hard to predict. Therefore, I believe we should not delay—we must take decisive measures!"

"These words accord well with my intent!" Liu Chengyou smiled faintly, looking at Bai Chongzan: "As for controlling the situation, I shall trouble you, Minister Bai, to go in person!"

As he spoke, Liu Chengyou personally drafted an edict, affixed the seal, and handed it to Bai Chongzan: "Sun Xingyou is still in Tang County, and Puyin is less than a hundred li from Tang County—one can set out at dawn and arrive by dusk. I shall give you one thousand imperial troops to go in the name of patrol inspection, take control of the government offices, and summon Sun Xingyou to come before me!"

"Shouxin, arrange the troops!" Liu Chengyou then instructed Shi Shouxin and Li Huan: "Minister Li, you shall go as well, to take over Dingzhou's civil administration. Close what needs closing, handle what needs handling, and sweep away all that murky filth. I want to see a peaceful Dingzhou in the shortest possible time!"

"Yes!" The two acknowledged the order.

"Your Majesty, Sun Xingyou does after all hold military power. If he should resist with his garrison..." Bai Chongzan showed a hint of hesitation.

"What, Minister Bai fears you cannot take Sun Xingyou?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"I beg Your Majesty to issue an explicit decree!" Bai Chongzan said with a grave expression.

"If he gathers his troops and holds the city in stubborn resistance, then he is a rebel. Against rebels, simply execute and eliminate!" Liu Chengyou gave Bai Chongzan a cold, stern, and unambiguous directive.

He then looked toward that Wude Office intelligence officer and instructed: "You shall go along with General Bai and give him a detailed account of the military and civil situation in Tang County!"

"Yes!"

The next day, before the first light of dawn had even shown, the field headquarters was already astir. As the sky was just beginning to brighten, Bai Chongzan led the one thousand Longqi Army troops that Shi Shouxin had allocated, heading west, lightly equipped and swiftly marching.

The prefectural seat of Dingzhou was Anxi County, situated at the confluence of the Tang River and Changxing Stream, with the two waterways serving as natural defenses. However, before the Khitan withdrew north, they had burned and destroyed the city. When Sun Fangjian recovered it, it was nothing but ruins, and unwilling to spend the great sum to rebuild, he memorialized the court to move the prefectural seat to Tang County. After the court abolished the Dingzhou Military Governorship, the prefectural seat was moved back to Anxi, but Tang County remained the garrison post of the Yongning Army.

This arrangement conveniently aided Bai Chongzan's operation. Following the Tang River, he hurried northwest, suddenly arriving at Tang County city, and in the name of patrol inspection, directly called for the city gates to be opened and entered the city.

At this time, Sun Xingyou was in his residence packing his luggage, a scene of great bustle. His chest bared, holding a palm-leaf fan in his hand, he fanned himself while panting—whether from the heat or from nervousness, it was hard to tell.

Sun Xingyou was already in his fifties, yet from the scolding curses he intermittently let loose, one could tell his health was good and his lungs were strong.

"You idiots! With this little bit of property, you've been packing for two days and still haven't finished!" Seeing a group of servants digging up the greenery in the garden, Sun Xingyou could no longer hold back, stepping forward to kick one: "What are you bothering with these flowers and plants for?"

"The mistress said these flowers and plants were carefully cultivated by her and need to be brought along..." a servant replied fearfully.

Sun Xingyou had no shortage of women, and among them was one he doted on most, a woman of learning and refinement with considerable charm. But now, hearing of her, Sun Xingyou's anger flared: "Ignorant woman, what does she know? Do you listen to me or to her? Wolf Mountain has plenty of flowers and trees! Never mind that—go, prepare my bedding and personal effects..."

As the sun moved westward, the bustle in the Sun residence continued. When a subordinate military officer hurried in to report that imperial troops had entered the city, Sun Xingyou's face instantly turned white, his mind going blank, leaving only two words: "It's over!"