Chapter 772: Aftermath Arrangements

Tong Pass.

A torrential rain washed the entire fortress clean. Beyond dispelling the scorching summer heat, it was like a thorough catharsis and release—the tense atmosphere that had hung over the pass had also faded considerably.

The clouds dispersed, bright light returned, and a faint rainbow arched across the sky. Within the pass headquarters, Emperor Liu Chengyou sat quietly, his expression somewhat complicated—melancholy tinged with a trace of sorrow.

In his hand was a memorial, its lines stained with faint traces of dried blood. Though the blood had long since dried, it only added to the document's weight. This was the posthumous memorial submitted by Hu Zai.

Hu Zai—that man of dazzling literary talent—had ultimately failed to survive the summer, passing away at the field headquarters at Tong Pass. Before his death, he had forced his ailing body upright, brushed his trembling brush lightly across the paper, and composed a prose piece, entrusting his final brilliance and loyalty to this memorial.

Between the lines, Hu Zai's literary talent was visible to the naked eye. The diction remained ornate, but at the moment of death, it had gained a measure of genuine emotion. Yet upon reading his posthumous memorial closely, one could discern that it recorded Hu Zai's evaluation and reflection on his own brief life, along with the journey of his heart since falling gravely ill. And of course, a large portion was devoted to gratitude for Liu Chengyou's kindness in recognizing his talent, and wishes and hopes for the Great Han. Indeed, it emphasized a single character—"flattery"—and flattery delivered with abundant emotion and extraordinary literary flair.

Slowly closing the memorial, he pondered for a moment, then picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote three characters on the cover: "Fu of Entrusted Feelings." He then handed it to Zhang Dejun and instructed: "Hu Zai died young—a pity. My heart truly mourns him. Circulate this memorial among the court to spread word of his talent and loyalty. Have his body encoffined and sent back to his hometown. Grant his family two hundred strings of cash, fifty dan each of rice and millet, and twenty bolts of silk. Also, have Tao Gu write Hu Zai's epitaph!"

"Yes!" Zhang Dejun acknowledged. "Your Majesty treats Lord Hu with such generosity—even in death, he must have departed with comfort, dying without regret!"

Whatever Hu Zai's fate in the original course of history, in Liu Chengyou's era, he was now assured of a place in the annals. The generous arrangements for his funeral, the "Fu of Entrusted Feelings" that Liu Chengyou had designated a work to be passed down through generations, and the hundred-odd imperial edicts and documents drafted by Hu Zai's hand during the northern inspection tour—all of these were enough to secure his fame...

For Hu Zai, who had long suffered from an incurable illness, the past half year surpassed the thirty-odd years before it. Indeed, one could truly say he died without regret.

Before long, Guo Tong entered to pay his respects, his steps light, his expression carrying joy. Clutching a memorial in his hands, he said: "Your Majesty, the unrest in Guanzhong has been quelled. The rebel leader Wang Shun is dead. This is the detailed report—please review it, Your Majesty!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou's face showed no delight. Instead, he seemed listless, waving a hand: "No need to read it for now—just tell me yourself!"

"Yes!" Guo Tong paused briefly but quickly recovered, cleared his throat, and reported: "On the twentieth, Chief Commander Zhao Hongyin, after pacifying the unrest in Yueyang and Weinan, led his forces in a rapid westward advance and stationed at Xingping. During this process, Generals Murong Chengtai and Ma Renyu had already led two thousand southwestern iron cavalry, cornering Wang Shun's rebel force of over four thousand in Xuelu Town, west of Jingzhao.

On the night of the twenty-second, the rebels, sensing their desperate situation, scattered under cover of darkness. Using the coerced Han civilians as bait, they sent them north to draw our army's attention, while concentrating their Shu captives for a breakout southward. However, Generals Murong and Ma detected this and annihilated them on the northern bank of the Wei River.

The cunning rebel leader Wang Shun, seeing escape was difficult, again used the bulk of his forces as bait while personally leading a small band of close followers to slip away in the chaos, taking a different route, secretly crossing the Wei River, and infiltrating Zhouzhi County.

Yet no matter how cunning the rebels were, they had not anticipated that the authorities, once news of the Wei River unrest spread, had long been prepared. The rebels thought themselves hidden, but their movements had already been exposed. County Defender Gao Qiong, without alarming them, anticipated their route and ambushed them at Taiping Town at the mouth of Zhongnan Mountain. From Wang Shun on down, all the rebels were captured or killed!"

"This Wang Shun did have some cunning after all!" Liu Chengyou remarked, his expression one of faint derision.

"Throughout the unrest, over four thousand rebels were killed, and more than two thousand six hundred were captured..." Guo Tong continued.

"Of these, how many were former Shu army captives?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"Approximately half!" Guo Tong replied.

"What were the losses in the afflicted counties? How many people died? How much property was damaged? How many fields and crops were destroyed?" Liu Chengyou pressed.

"To answer Your Majesty, these are not yet known—they still require tabulation!" Guo Tong answered honestly.

"Send an order to Chang'an. Tell Li Shaoyou that I want the definitive results as soon as possible!" Liu Chengyou instructed, then asked: "What is the current situation in Guanzhong?"

"With Wang Shun's rebel army—the greatest scourge—annihilated, the unrest has essentially been declared pacified. Even if remnants stir, they are not a concern. At present, Chief General Zhao still has men sweeping up scattered rebel forces to prevent lingering harm. The circuit administration is also making arrangements—people are returning home, the authorities are organizing relief efforts, repairing the damage, and harvesting the summer grain. Before long, the situation should be fully stabilized!" Guo Tong said.

Seeing Liu Chengyou nod, Guo Tong further reported: "Your Majesty, the military command requests instruction—how should the captured rebels be dealt with?"

"All Shu captives who participated in the rebellion—execute them all. As for those coerced Han civilians, they must be carefully screened and examined. Those who took advantage of the chaos to commit evil or colluded with the rebels—they too shall be sentenced to death. I do not believe they are all innocent. Have the Guanzhong Judicial Commission conduct thorough interrogations!" Liu Chengyou said coldly.

"Yes!" Guo Tong acknowledged, then said cautiously: "Your Majesty, yesterday, Judicial Commissioner Shen Gou passed away from illness while in office!"

Liu Chengyou raised an eyebrow, his expression darkening slightly, then said: "Send a dispatch to the Eastern Capital. Have that Sun Fangxi come west to take over as Guanzhong Judicial Commissioner. He did well when he investigated the Huainan case before!"

Guo Tong noted this down and continued: "Additionally, Chief Commander Zhao Hongyin and former Administration Commissioner Hu Yanke have both submitted memorials, accepting responsibility for the military and administrative failings that led to the unrest in Guanzhong, and requesting that the court punish them!"

"These two are at least being proactive!" Liu Chengyou muttered, then after a moment of deep thought, said: "The causes and responsibilities for this unrest—the court will render its own judgment! Send it back to the Eastern Capital and let the chancellors deliberate. I imagine the ministers in the Eastern Capital are also concerned about the situation in Guanzhong."

Before the unrest, the three senior officials of the Guanzhong circuit—Hu Yanke had already been hastily replaced by Li Shaoyou, Shen Gou had died of illness, and Zhao Hongyin was awaiting punishment after quelling the rebellion. The changes were already significant enough. Who bore responsibility seemed to have a conclusion already, perhaps even a result...

As for Yunyang, the birthplace of the unrest, its government offices had been almost entirely slaughtered. The dead were gone—no point in pursuing further. As for the other prefectures and counties that had held their cities and protected the people, they would still need to be rewarded for their merits.

After thinking it over seriously for a while, Liu Chengyou looked up at Guo Tong and said: "Write this down. Report the results of the Guanzhong unrest to the Eastern Capital, and have the relevant court authorities deliberate on the follow-up.

First, rewards for those who rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion.

Second, the reassignment and replacement of officials in the various Guanzhong counties.

Third, deliberations on tax exemptions for the people of the afflicted prefectures and counties.

Fourth, the resettlement of the remaining Shu army captives in the various prefectures."

"Understood!" Guo Tong acknowledged.

Rising, Liu Chengyou strolled out of the hall and gazed at the washed sky—azure and clear—feeling a sense of release in his heart. After considering for a moment, he gave an order: "Transmit the decree—the imperial procession departs westward tomorrow. I am going to Chang'an."

"Yes!"

"Notify the prefectures and counties along the route in advance—no need for welcomes. The great unrest in Guanzhong has just been settled; everything must prioritize calming the people and maintaining order!" Liu Chengyou added: "Also send an order to the southwestern front—have Xiang Xun bring the southwestern generals and army commanders to Chang'an to meet with me!"

Originally, Liu Chengyou had no intention of going to Chang'an. After three months of touring, he was already eager to return home. Had it not been for the Guanzhong unrest, he would likely have been nearing the Eastern Capital by now.

However, with the Guanzhong unrest at hand—prefectures and counties devastated, the people suffering—as the Emperor so near at Tong Pass, it would hardly be proper not to make a circuit and see for himself.

Of course, with the imperial procession arriving in person, the Son of Heaven's presence to comfort the gentry and common folk would also benefit the cohesion of hearts and the restoration of order. Moreover, since the founding of the dynasty, he as Emperor had never been to Guanzhong or seen Chang'an—this would be his first time.

On the other hand, he also needed to personally look into the southwestern armies and the military preparations for the campaign against Shu. It must be said that this rebellion of captives in Guanzhong had deeply shaken Liu Chengyou. He began to imagine what would happen if the two "Shu armies" of Huaiwei and Huaide were to rebel, began to reconsider whether the deployment of the southwestern forces carried too great a hidden risk, whether too much authority had been delegated, and whether Xiang Xun, after years away from the capital managing the southwest, remained as loyal as ever......