Chapter 761: A Lenient Disposition

"Uncle, the imperial army has already been let into the city by Yao Jineng—the situation is dire! How should we respond?" The subordinate officer, a member of the Sun clan, spoke with a grave expression and urgent words.

Unfortunately, Sun Xingyou's composure was even worse—his body stiff, hands trembling slightly, lips quivering as he muttered: "It's true, the court will not let me off. The Son of Heaven has sent the imperial army—they've come to interrogate me for my crimes..."

"Uncle, what should we do? You must make a decision quickly!" Seeing Sun Xingyou's truly vacant expression, his clan nephew could not help but shout loudly.

Hearing the voice, as if snapping back to his senses, Sun Xingyou looked at him: "My mind is a tangled mess right now—I don't know what to do. You... do you have any suggestions?"

Seeing this, the officer was taken aback, somewhat speechless, but at this critical juncture, he could not afford to overthink. He immediately said: "Let us flee! The imperial army is not numerous—it will take them some time to control the entire city. We should gather the household retainers, then summon the troops under our command, and retreat to Wolf Mountain. As long as we reach the Wolf Mountain stronghold, the court will not be able to catch up, and we will still have a chance to live..."

Clearly, this Sun clan nephew was not a man of vision or insight either. The advice he gave was not only rotten—it was actively leading Sun Xingyou down the path to ruin.

Hearing this, however, Sun Xingyou shook his head repeatedly: "No, no—wouldn't that make us true rebels? And besides, if we flee, what of our families? What of the clan? What of this great estate?"

The officer's thick brows rose sharply as he spoke with intensity: "Uncle, the situation is urgent—how can we afford to worry about so much! Otherwise, if we stay here, we will only be sitting and waiting for death!"

"This... this..." Sun Xingyou fell into deep hesitation, stammering endlessly before saying: "Let me think again!"

However, though his clan nephew gave him time to consider, the imperial army entering the city gave him no such opportunity. Before long, a flurry of panicked noises came from outside the mansion gates, and the gate guards rushed in with alarming reports.

Outside the Sun mansion, led by the intelligence officer, Bai Chongzan led two hundred imperial soldiers straight for the Sun residence. Accompanying them was a burly, imposing general by the name of Yao Jineng, who was the Army Supervisor of Dingzhou's troops. As for Li Huan, he had taken his men to seize control of the government offices and granaries.

"Surround the Sun mansion—let no one escape!" Looking at the residence with its gates wide open and guards having retreated, the ease of it all was somewhat surprising to Bai Chongzan, but he still gave his orders crisply.

The imperial soldiers quickly fanned out, surrounding the front and rear gates and seizing the intersections. Bai Chongzan then looked toward Yao Jineng and said: "Army Supervisor Yao, go immediately to the garrison barracks in each quarter of the city—quell and reassure the stationed troops, and do not let chaos break out!"

"Yes!" Yao Jineng appeared full of vigor—after all, he was the one who had unhesitatingly let the imperial army into the city.

Bai Chongzan then instructed a young officer beside him: "Bai Ding, accompany General Yao on his way. Cooperate and assist him well—if anything goes wrong, I will hold you accountable!"

"Understood!"

Having given his orders, Bai Chongzan looked once more at the now-empty mansion gates. Hearing the commotion within, he could sense the panic and confusion. A faint smile curled at the corners of his mouth as he led his men inside.

Entering the central courtyard, the scene before him was somewhat unexpected. Including Sun Xingyou's entire family, the servants and guards all waited obediently in place, with weapons and armor neatly laid out to the side, signaling their harmlessness.

Sun Xingyou stood at the front, his face still bearing traces of panic. Seeing Bai Chongzan, he stepped forward and responded: "I am Sun Xingyou, Army Commander of Yongning. I know not why the General has come, making such a great show of force with armed soldiers in tow?"

Bai Chongzan sized up Sun Xingyou for a few moments, his expression relaxing somewhat as he replied: "I am Bai Chongzan, sent by order of Your Majesty to invite General Sun. I beg your pardon for any abruptness—as for these soldiers, they are here to protect General Sun and his family!"

As he spoke, Bai Chongzan produced an imperial edict and handed it to Sun Xingyou. Taking it and reading through, it was a personally written edict from Liu Chengyou, lacking literary flair, but the meaning was clear. Though Sun Xingyou was not a well-read man, he could still understand it—he was to relinquish his post and proceed to the field headquarters to pay homage to the sovereign, with the affairs of the Yongning Army transferred to Bai Chongzan, effective immediately upon receipt of the edict.

Sun Xingyou's face twitched, and a visible struggle flashed across his expression before dissolving into a trace of dejection. He lowered his head and said: "General Bai, I know full well the gravity of my crimes. I am willing to obey the edict and go to pay homage to the Son of Heaven, awaiting judgment. Only, I beg that my family not be harmed. There is some family wealth in the mansion—the General may take it as he pleases..."

Sun Xingyou wore a resigned expression, and his attitude was quite cooperative. Bai Chongzan immediately smiled: "General Sun worries too much. I came bearing the imperial edict, and I act only according to its contents, doing what my duties require. As for anything else—the Great Han's military discipline is strict, and I would not dare violate it or test the law myself!"

Hearing Bai Chongzan say this, Sun Xingyou unconsciously let out a sigh of relief and cupped his hands in gratitude.

Bai Chongzan then waved his hand and passed the order: "Listen well—all soldiers, withdraw from the Sun mansion. There shall be no intrusion of any kind!"

"Yes!"

Sweeping his gaze over the scene inside the Sun mansion, noticing among the packed luggage, bundles, and chests—even a disassembled bed frame placed in the central courtyard—Bai Chongzan could not help but remark in surprise: "General Sun, are you planning to move? By the looks of it, you intend to strip this entire mansion bare!"

Meeting Bai Chongzan's amused gaze, Sun Xingyou only said calmly: "You flatter me, General Bai!"

Perhaps seeing that matters had already reached this point, and having cast aside all his worries, Sun Xingyou regained some composure. After all, he had once been a fierce warrior who fought alongside his brother against the Khitan, and he had plenty of blood on his hands—he was not so weak as to fall apart completely.

Over at the field headquarters, on the morning of the next day, Liu Chengyou received the report from Tang County. The summer morning air felt crisp and refreshing; after washing his face, he felt considerably more energized.

Taking his time with his morning ablutions, Hu Zai reported by his side: "General Bai and Prefectural Administrator Li marched their troops with haste, covering the journey in four and a half hours to reach Tang County. Bearing the imperial edict, Dingzhou Army Supervisor Yao Jineng ordered the gates opened to admit them, after which they swiftly seized control of the city gates, government offices, barracks, and granaries."

"That smooth? No resistance at all? And Sun Xingyou—what was his reaction?" Liu Chengyou seemed somewhat surprised as well.

Hu Zai reported: "After entering the city, General Bai personally went to the Sun mansion to proclaim the edict. At the time, the Sun household was packing up their valuables, preparing to relocate. Upon hearing that Your Majesty's edict had arrived, Sun Xingyou voluntarily disarmed and obediently accepted the decree. From start to finish, not a single blade was drawn."

"After securing the garrison at Tang County, General Bai personally led men to Wolf Mountain last night, and sent others north to take over the defenses of Feihu Fortress, to guard against any contingency. Prefectural Administrator Li has convened the officials of Dingzhou and posted proclamations to reassure the people and steady public sentiment."

"Sounds like the two new officials have done a fine job of things!" Liu Chengyou smiled.

"Your Majesty, Sun Xingyou has arrived along with the report from Tang County—he is currently kneeling at the camp gate, begging for an audience!" Hu Zai reported.

"Summon him!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand and gave the order.

Soon, a nervous figure crept inside and immediately threw himself to his knees with a thud: "Your guilty servant Sun Xingyou, paying respects to Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengyou observed Sun Xingyou with interest—his complexion was sallow, his beard and hair wild and unkempt, his skin rough. His features bore some resemblance to his elder brother Sun Fangjian. He looked utterly exhausted, likely from traveling through the night.

Noticing his cowering, uneasy demeanor, Liu Chengyou said leisurely: "So you are Sun Xingyou. What a rare occasion—this is the first time I have laid eyes on you!"

"Your guilty servant is ashamed—I failed to come pay homage before. I beg Your Majesty to punish me, and I shall harbor no complaint!"

"You and your brother have guarded Dingzhou for many years, resisting the Khitan and protecting the people of the region. You have rendered meritorious service to the court—how could I possibly hold this against you?" Liu Chengyou smiled slightly.

"Do you know why I summoned you here?" Liu Chengyou asked lightly.

"I do!" Sun Xingyou said.

"Then tell me!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand.

However, Sun Xingyou found himself at a loss for words. He stammered a few syllables but seemed unsure where to begin. A thin sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead, and he suddenly knocked his head against the ground: "Your servant is poor of speech. I know I have violated the regulations, and I beg to be punished. I have nothing else to say!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou laughed: "There is no crime to speak of. If I were to punish you, would that not be executing a man without cause?"

"Your servant... your servant would never mean such a thing!" Sun Xingyou grew somewhat flustered.

Observing his expression, Liu Chengyou asked: "I hear that when Bai Chongzan arrived at Tang County, you were preparing to retreat to Wolf Mountain with your family, troops, and the wealth from the treasury—is that true?"

"It is!" Sun Xingyou kept his head lowered as he said: "I felt my crimes were grave, and my heart was ill at ease. I only wished to return to Wolf Mountain to protect myself—I never harbored any intention of rebelling against the court!"

"Ha!" Liu Chengyou laughed: "If your heart held no ill intent, why would you take such rebellious actions? Protect yourself? How—by fortifying Wolf Mountain and defying the court?"

"Your servant... I was momentarily confused, my judgment clouded, and that is why I took such a foolish, reckless action!" Sun Xingyou knocked his head again and said: "Now that matters have come to this, I know I have violated the laws of the state, and my crimes are unforgivable. I ask for nothing else—only a swift death to atone for my sins. I only beg that, in consideration of my brother's and my slight merits to the Great Han, all punishment fall upon me alone, and that my family be spared!"

Sun Xingyou's attitude was quite sincere—tears had even welled up in his eyes. As a man past fifty, this scene was rather pitiful to behold.

However, Liu Chengyou's heart had always been as hard as iron and stone.

After a moment of deliberation, Liu Chengyou waved his hand and asked Sun Xingyou: "Are you aware of the court's policies regarding the Buddhist faith?"

"Your servant is aware!" Sun Xingyou said.

"I hear that this so-called divine nun—her body incorrupt, having attained Buddhahood in the flesh—is still celebrated to this day, enshrined by you at Wolf Mountain, with the common folk flocking to worship and gaze upon her visage. Spreading falsehoods to deceive the masses and delude the people—do you know what crime that is?" Liu Chengyou said coldly.

"She was the clan mother of my brother and me, whom we have always revered. In our early years, though we held Wolf Mountain, our position was precarious and weak. We could only amplify her name to rally the people, to resist the Khitan and protect our homeland. But by now, the false claims have grown so grand that the spilled water cannot be gathered back. I knew the harm of it and wished to change course, but I lacked the power—I could not stem the tide of popular sentiment. I know I have violated the court's policy taboos..." Sun Xingyou spoke with genuine candor.

"Enough!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand to cut him off: "I am well aware of the matters in Dingzhou!"

"Rise!" he ordered, then paced a few steps before Sun Xingyou and sighed leisurely: "The offenses you have committed—if judged by the laws of the state, sentencing you to death would not be excessive!"

"Yes!" Sun Xingyou felt a chill run down his neck.

"However!" Liu Chengyou continued, "I recognize that you were momentarily blinded and made a misstep, but in the end, you did not cause any great calamity. The problems in Dingzhou were also due to the court's failure to supervise strictly, to provide lessons and guidance, which allowed old abuses to persist and their poison to linger to this day.

Though your conduct has been reckless, in Dingzhou you did not harm the people. This time, you have also shown a sincere attitude and reined in before going over the cliff. I will not impose heavy punishment—I will spare your life!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Sun Xingyou was overjoyed at these words and knelt prostrate in a swift bow.

"But your previous titles and offices are all stripped. You will contribute a portion of your family property to repair Anxi City and Feihu Pass! Take your clan and leave Dingzhou—return to Mozhou!" Liu Chengyou thought for a moment, then continued, "Do you accept this?"

"Your servant has no complaints!" Sun Xingyou kowtowed.

"Furthermore, that clan matriarch of yours—I have heard of her as well. She may have been a distinguished nun of her generation, but you spread false legends about her, indulged her followers, and used heretical words and evil doctrines to delude the masses. Not only did this ruin her pure reputation, it has left endless harm behind!" Liu Chengyou said coldly, "Go personally to Wolf Mountain, burn her corpse before the public, and let the common folk see with their own eyes whether she is truly indestructible or not! In addition, cooperate with the authorities to demolish the fortress on Wolf Mountain and disperse its followers!"

"Yes!"