Chapter 829: Pacification

Zizhou, Yanting County.

After the Han army's powerful strikes and gradual elimination, the chaos around Chengdu's prefectures and counties was brought completely under control. The rebels within Zizhou's borders were comparatively tenacious, because a portion of surrendered Shu soldiers participated, giving them a certain combat capability, and they were chosen by Xiang Xun and Zhao Kuangyin as the final operational target.

Previously, the Huaide Army's Chief Commander Li Yan's pacification strategy was primarily to hold the cities firmly and ensure transportation routes, then strike at the rebel forces within the territory. In this way, it did give the rebels room to grow. But there were results—at least they hadn't spread outward to join up with other rebel forces.

By December 20th, the Zizhou rebels had become the last large-scale rebel force in Shu. As Zhao Kuangyin suppressed the other major rebel groups, his troops finally turned toward Zizhou, mobilizing a full 20 battalions of Han and Shu government troops to exterminate them.

After two battles of low intensity, they routed them, pursued the remnants into Yanting territory, and besieged them at Longju Ridge northwest of the county. Yanting County's terrain is mainly hills, but it is a transportation choke point—in ancient times it was the border between Ba and Shu, serving from north to south as a supplement to the Jinniu and Micang routes, leading straight to the Western Sichuan Plain.

At the height of the rebels' strength in Zizhou, they numbered over 15,000. The remaining remnants numbered only about 5,000, all hardcore elements—mainly Shu soldiers caught up in the chaos, local strongmen, and defeated troops from the Lang and Guo regions who had fled to join them. They could be called the cream of the rebels, with a very high degree of "disloyalty."

To be fair, these rebel troops' combat ability and will seemed even a bit stronger than the Shu army's had been.

The mountain ridge wound like a coiled dragon, and the locals called it Longju Ridge. However, when Zhao Kuangyin saw it, he was somewhat dissatisfied, feeling the name was not good—only because a bunch of rebels occupied the mountaintop; after the fighting ended, it should probably be renamed.

A winter rain halted the government troops' advance on the mountain. The icy rain dripped and the north wind howled, making the Han army, mostly northerners, feel the cold once again—not quite bone-piercing, but still hard to endure.

The Han army camped on all sides, with tents to block the wind, charcoal for warmth, hot soup to drink, and extra clothes to put on—naturally they could bear it. The rebel remnants on the ridge had no such treatment. A defeated army, stray dogs without a home—they lacked both food and cold-weather supplies.

Their camp was crude, too crude to withstand a single Han army charge, with only a few rows of abatis barely able to slow an attack. Inside the camp, rebels in mixed uniforms huddled together for warmth, shivering in the freezing weather, their morale already at rock bottom.

In fact, at this point, many people no longer knew what they were still holding out for. The passion of righteous gathering, pleading for the people, resisting the Northern Han's tyranny—it had mostly been worn away over these two-plus months.

If not for some rebel leaders on the Han army's death list still inciting stubborn resistance and spreading tales of Han massacres, they would have fallen apart long ago. Even so, collapse was not far off. For most people, they could still survive—even if as slaves, even if relocated from their hometowns...

In the center of the rebel camp, a simple shed had been erected, its sides covered with grass, wood, and branches to serve as a command tent. Outside the tent, guards watched with extreme strictness, as if on alert for something. Inside, a fire pit blazed, firewood burning with crackling sounds, emitting black smoke from incomplete combustion. A middle-aged man in military armor sat by the fire, his posture somewhat disheveled.

This man was named Lan Siwan. He had originally been the Prefect of Zizhou in Shu. When the Shu rebellion broke out, the rebels pushed him forward to lead, and he later became the overall commander of the Zizhou rebels.

Across from Lan Siwan sat a middle-aged man of considerable bearing, wrapped in an enviable fur coat, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth—utterly out of place with the heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

"Brother Lan, have you considered it? Given your current situation—short on clothes and food, low morale—can you really hold off the imperial army's attack? You must know the answer in your heart!" The middle-aged man said in a candid tone: "I have come on orders only because Commander Zhao harbors a kind heart, unwilling to cause more slaughter, giving you a chance to live. If you miss it, regret will be too late! I've said my piece—please consider it well."

Pausing, the middle-aged man added one more line: "Let me remind you once more—the rain has stopped, and the time left for you is not much!"

Having said this, he calmly watched Lan Siwan, waiting for his decision. This Han army envoy was named Quan Shixiong, originally the Prefect of Guo Prefecture in Shu. He had governed with merit, possessed authority and a notable reputation, and most importantly, had far-reaching foresight.

When the Shu rebellion erupted in full, officials at various levels across the region had different responses—some took the opportunity to rise up and join the rebels, some stayed neutral, and some actively cooperated with the Han army.

Quan Shixiong belonged to the latter category. By his original inclination, he hadn't wanted to wade into that muddy water, but when Liu Guangyi came to his door, he couldn't refuse. Once he took the first step of serving the Han army, the road ahead became easier—wider and steadier with each step. Quan Shixiong had great merit in pacifying the chaos in Guo Prefecture, and because of his example, he even influenced the choices of other old officials in the eastern Sichuan prefectures and counties.

By now, when Zhao Kuangyin was pacifying Zizhou, he heard of Quan Shixiong's reputation and specially summoned him to the army, secretly sending him into the rebel camp to negotiate surrender. For Quan Shixiong, there was some risk, but it was manageable, because he had a friendship with Lan Siwan.

Sure enough, once his identity was revealed, Quan Shixiong was warmly invited into the camp by Lan Siwan, who personally received him and conversed with him.

Hearing the persuasion to surrender, Lan Siwan showed a wistful expression and said: "Back then, when the old generals and strongmen rose in revolt, I originally did not wish to follow them, but I was compelled by the crowd, threatened with weapons, and pushed forward as commander—thus I stumbled, and regret is too late. Over these months, disaster has spread across prefectures and counties, my sins are grave—how could the court possibly forgive me?"

Quan Shixiong naturally sensed the meaning in Lan Siwan's words and couldn't help but smile, saying: "Your concerns, brother, are not a big matter. It is precisely because Commander Zhao understands your situation that he sent me here. Otherwise, if you were truly beyond redemption, why bother with this extra step?"

"Can you truly spare me? The Han court's edict states it clearly—I, as the chief culprit, deserve death!" Lan Siwan was deeply doubtful.

"Commander Zhao's reputation—you must have heard of it. Since he has promised to spare your life, there is no way he would go back on his word." Quan Shixiong shook his head and suggested: "Moreover, if you are truly uneasy at heart, you could render additional merit to reduce your crimes and find peace of mind!"

"Please speak, Lord Quan!" Lan Siwan immediately perked up with interest and asked expectantly.

Quan Shixiong sighed slowly and said: "The rebel leaders of Zizhou and its surroundings are mostly gathered here—people the court is determined to punish. If you can take their heads and then lead the masses to surrender, it would fully prove your sincerity!"

Hearing this, Lan Siwan's brows immediately knitted tightly. If he followed this advice, it would be more than just surrendering—it would mean betraying his "comrades," using their blood and heads to buy his own safety.

After pondering for a while, Lan Siwan suddenly gave a bitter smile and looked up at Quan Shixiong: "Do I still have a choice?"

It seemed to ask Quan Shixiong, but also to ask himself. Quan Shixiong merely remained silent.

Taking a deep breath, Lan Siwan clasped his hands and said: "Trouble Lord Quan to return and tell Commander Zhao that I am willing to pull back from the brink, lead the masses to surrender, and await his disposition."

Hearing this, Quan Shixiong shook his head instead and said: "The news of my arrival has probably already spread. The rebel leaders in the camp are likely watching you closely."

"What does Lord Quan mean?" Lan Siwan asked.

Quan Shixiong asked in return: "How many trusted soldiers can you command?"

Lan Siwan answered without hesitation: "I can't guarantee anything else, but the three hundred soldiers around me can be counted on for loyalty!"

"That's enough!" Quan Shixiong nodded and said decisively: "My meaning is this—you can summon all the rebel leaders under the pretext of 'discussing the Han envoy's surrender proposal,' and then kill them all!"

"Must it be so urgent?" Lan Siwan asked.

"There's no time to lose!" Quan Shixiong said.

The hesitation on his face did not last long. Lan Siwan rose abruptly and ordered outward: "Someone, pass my command..."

In the winter of the 10th year of Qianyou, on the night of December 24th, Lan Siwan, commander of the Zizhou rebels, lured and killed 46 rebel officers and leaders under his command, taking all their heads. That night on Longju Ridge, chaos first, then calm. The next morning, Lan Siwan led his men, discarding weapons and armor, down the ridge to surrender, binding himself at the Han camp to confess his crimes. The Han army commander Zhao Kuangyin personally released him.

The Shu rebellion was thus pacified.