Chapter 875: Zhao Siwan Falls into the Net

Youzhou, this great prefecture south of Yan, a strong city of Hebei, after years of stable development under the governance of Zhao Kuangzan, King of Yan, had achieved considerable recovery in politics, military affairs, economics, and culture. However, because it was situated in the remote north, bearing military pressure from Liao beyond the northern frontier, there was always a ceiling to its growth.

By the eleventh year of Qianyou, the city's population had barely surpassed one hundred thousand—for such a great city, this was hardly commensurate with its status. This was a city whose military significance outweighed everything else, and thus its defensive installations and troop deployments had been brought to a very complete degree of perfection.

In the words of Zhao Kuangzan, King of Yan: if enemies besieged the city, it would take no fewer than two hundred thousand men and a full year to break it. There might be some exaggeration, but from this confident declaration, one could glimpse the solidity and firmness of Youzhou's defenses.

In midsummer, Youzhou was dry and hot; fortunately, a sustained heavy rain washed away a restless agitation that had lingered among the city's populace. The common people all took shelter in their homes with doors tightly shut—not only to avoid the rain, but also because of an official prohibition.

Many people, peering through gaps in doors and windows, could see that amid the curtain of rain, quite a few fully equipped Yan army officers and soldiers were rushing about with menacing vigor, carrying out military orders. Everyone knew that something major had happened in the city, and that the entire city had been placed under martial law.

In fact, the prefectural city was only under martial law, while the several towns guarding Youzhou had fully entered a state of emergency. Under the military orders of the Yan Prince's residence, they had made preparations for defense against invaders.

The heavy rain continued to pour down. The clerks and officials within the Yan Prince's residence all carefully and solemnly held their posts, each attending to their own duties; the sound of rain seemed to become the accompaniment to their bustle. Figures coming and going were all damp with rain, wetting the clean main hall.

Rainwater ceaselessly beat against the green tiles of the eaves. Zhao Kuangzan, King of Yan, sat behind the main desk as two generals—one old, one in his prime—stepped into the hall and saluted him: "Your Majesty!"

The old general was named Zhang Cangying. In his youth he had been chivalrous, once stabbing a personal enemy to death in a busy marketplace, thereby becoming famous throughout Yan and Ji. He had been released by Zhao Dejun, Zhao Kuangzan's grandfather, who was then Military Governor of Lulong under the Later Tang. After the Later Jin ceded Yanyun, he also served as an official under Khitan rule, and his connection with the Yan princely line ran deep.

The middle-aged general was named Gao Yanhui, who had also once served the Khitan. He belonged to the military-bureaucratic landlord class of Youyan and had served under the former King of Yan, Zhao Yanshou. These two, unlike Zhao Siwan, harbored feelings of closeness toward the Great Han.

Therefore, over the past two years, Zhao Kuangzan had been adjusting the balance of power among the Yan army factions. Besides promoting promising young men, he also entrusted greater responsibilities to old and veteran generals who followed his political steps.

Now, of the two, Zhang Cangying served as Deputy Chief Commander of Youzhou's cavalry and infantry (the chief commandership being held personally by Zhao Kuangzan himself), and Gao Yanhui served as Patrol Inspector of You and Ji. They were themselves representative generals of the Yan army, so their rise did not provoke dissatisfaction—well, except from Zhao Siwan.

"Speak!" Looking at the two men, Zhao Kuangzan dispensed with courtesy and asked directly.

Zhang Cangying was already in his sixtieth year, with graying hair and beard. Though burdened with the air of advancing age, in times of upheaval he still gave people a reassuring feeling. He clasped his hands and reported to Zhao Kuangzan: "The 'Tattooed Army' has been brought under control, and Zhao Siwan's trusted officers have all been apprehended. By Your Majesty's order, the remaining soldiers have also voluntarily surrendered their weapons and are temporarily confined to their barracks, awaiting Your Majesty's disposition!"

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangzan breathed a sigh of relief. Up to now, the Yan army's regular forces totaled about twenty thousand cavalry and infantry, of which the Tattooed Army under Zhao Siwan's command numbered three thousand—two-thirds of them cavalry—and was indeed the most combat-effective and best-equipped unit in the entire Yan army. Being able to smoothly pacify and control them basically avoided the risk of internal rebellion.

The reason Zhao Siwan dared to make contact with Liao and confidently claim he could coordinate with the Liao army to break Youzhou—this Tattooed Army was his greatest source of confidence.

Of course, he prided himself on his tight control over his subordinates, with trusted confidants planted throughout the ranks, yet he did not know that Zhao Kuangzan would never allow the finest troops under his command to slip from his control. He had simply kept silent all along, outwardly using other Yan army units to draw attention, while secretly laying numerous hidden agents and contingency plans. Thus, when he learned of Zhao Siwan's rebellious intentions, he moved with thunderous force to swiftly seize and dismantle him.

Zhao Siwan's exposure had a certain element of chance to it, and the cause lay with an officer named Zhao Yan whom Zhao Siwan had killed that day. After returning to Youzhou, Zhao Siwan sent someone to notify the family of the bereavement and generously bestowed money and silk.

Zhao Yan's family had initially accepted this, but they requested to be told the location of the "fall," wishing to hold a memorial and search for the body. How could Zhao Siwan point them to a target? So he crudely refused.

Zhao Yan's family refused to accept this and came to his doorstep to appeal, which enraged Zhao Siwan. The violent-tempered General Zhao had no patience to wrangle with such small fry, and crudely ordered his guards to give them a severe beating.

As a result, Zhao Yan's family went directly to the Yan Prince's residence to lodge a complaint. At this time, news that the Liao army was raiding south toward Yanmen had already crossed the Taihang Mountains and reached Youzhou. As a local power bordering Liao and having long interacted with it, Zhao Kuangzan immediately sensed that the wind was blowing wrong. Though the enemy was employing troops in the west, he subconsciously raised his guard on his side as well.

In this treacherous and murky atmosphere, Zhao Yan's problem came to light. To minimize the impact, Zhao Kuangzan sent people to investigate—after all, Zhao Yan had been a mid-ranking officer of the Yan army, and dying an unexplained death required some accounting.

The investigation turned up problems. It was exposed by one of Zhao Siwan's personal guards, who had been on good terms with Zhao Yan and had been chilled to the bone by Zhao Siwan's brutality toward Zhao Yan's family. He secretly reported the details and also revealed the situation of Zhao Siwan privately meeting Xiao Husi to plot treachery. This directly alarmed Zhao Kuangzan and drew his grave attention.

Sensing the seriousness of the matter, Zhao Kuangzan remained outwardly composed, pretending to know nothing. He sent someone to rebuke Zhao Siwan, saying that the border situation was treacherous, and that at a time when they should be preparing to defend against the enemy, this matter must not be allowed to disturb military morale—he ordered Zhao Siwan to personally go explain himself to Zhao Yan's family and offer apologies.

At this time, Zhao Siwan was secretly in contact with Xiao Husi, with a great matter about to unfold, basking in his own visions of enterprise. Knowing that Zhao Kuangzan had always been lenient and generous, he did not want to offend Zhao Kuangzan over such a trivial matter at this critical juncture and arouse his suspicion.

So he personally went to Zhao Yan's home. The moment he stepped through the door, he was seized by the Yan Prince's personal guards who had been lying in ambush. Once Zhao Siwan was captured, the next steps proceeded on two fronts: one was the interrogation of Zhao Siwan and his confidants, and the other was the dismantling of his power base—especially his highly influential Tattooed Army.

As the interrogation and investigation deepened, the hidden circumstances and conspiracies behind the affair surfaced, and the situation in Youzhou shifted accordingly. When he learned of Zhao Siwan's scheme, even a man of Zhao Kuangzan's depth of cunning could not help but break out in a cold sweat.

He had always known Zhao Siwan was bold, but had only taken him for a man of brute courage—fierce but lacking in strategy. Though he knew Zhao Siwan harbored resentment from the suppression of the past two years, he had never expected that the man would quietly nurture such treacherous intentions, and moreover carry them out to such a degree.

Tracing the root cause, it lay in the central court having placed a lock and chain on that fierce beast, the warrior class, restraining them—which had also affected Zhao Kuangzan's side. What was overlooked was that Zhao Siwan was, after all, a warrior who had emerged from three generations of chaotic times; when things did not go his way, it was only natural for him to want to rebel.

The more he learned of the details, the more Zhao Kuangzan felt the lingering fear. After coming to his senses, he immediately arrested the Liao spies within Youzhou city, interrogated them about enemy intelligence, and made comprehensive preparations on all fronts based on his planning.

And control of the Tattooed Army was the foremost priority—otherwise, if these three thousand elite troops were to run amok, the consequences would be equally severe. Now, with Zhang Cangying's report, Zhao Kuangzan could finally rest easy.

After a moment's deliberation, Zhao Kuangzan instructed Zhang Cangying: "Zhao Siwan's confidants are to be held in custody for now. Notify everyone—I will personally go to the military camp to inspect the Tattooed Army soldiers and hear their grievances!"

Seeing this, Zhang Cangying hurriedly tried to dissuade him: "Your Majesty, with Zhao Siwan arrested, the Tattooed Army remains unstable. There may be stubborn traitors among them—fish that slipped the net. Your Majesty bears the great responsibility of Youzhou; you must not place yourself in danger!"

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangzan said: "Old General, these are loyal words, and I take them to heart. However, the Tattooed Army is the elite of the Yan army and also my subordinates. How can I despise an entire army for one man's crime? If we are to defend Youzhou and resist mighty Liao, we still need their efforts. Under the present circumstances, only by going in person can I soothe their hearts. Moreover, I treat them with sincerity—why should I fear they would harm me!"

Zhang Cangying felt admiration for Zhao Kuangzan's bold spirit and courage, and clasped his hands in petition: "If Your Majesty's mind is made up, though this old officer is aged, I am willing to personally take up my steel blade, guard Your Majesty's side, and accompany you into the camp!"

"Old General, you are truly a man of loyalty and integrity! I thank you!" said Zhao Kuangzan.

"This old officer does not deserve such praise!" Zhang Cangying replied modestly.

Zhao Kuangzan thought for a moment, then said to Zhang Cangying: "Zhao Siwan communicated with Liao—who knows how much of Youzhou's internal situation and city defense arrangements he sold out. Now that the situation has initially stabilized, the city's defenses should be adjusted. This matter will require the Old General's trouble!"

"Yes!"

Nodding, Zhao Kuangzan then said to Gao Yanhui: "The northern defenses as well. Since the Liao army has moved at Tanzhou, the defense of Shunzhou should be the top priority. General, you may personally go to Huairou to oversee the troops there. If the Liao army truly comes, hold the city and resist them, delaying their advance!"

"Orders received!" Gao Yanhui did not hesitate in the slightest.

Gazing outside, where the heavy rain was shifting from gentle to torrential, Zhao Kuangzan could not help but sigh: "Fortunately, this heavy rain has bought us considerable time and also delayed the Liao army's movements. Otherwise, had this erupted suddenly, the situation might have collapsed!"

"What Zhao Siwan plotted was an act against heaven—something heaven cannot tolerate!" Zhang Cangying could not help but reveal his contempt.

In the view of these old hands of the Yan army, internal contradictions could be resolved internally. Someone like Zhao Siwan, who purely for personal gain and desire colluded with a foreign state, was intolerable. Moreover, having once been compliant subjects of the Khitan, and now having submitted to the Central Plains for so long, in comparison they would rather be subjects of the Great Han.

And Zhao Kuangzan's sigh was merely one of reflection. In fact, even without the Zhao Yan affair, Zhao Siwan's chances of success were not very high. Not to mention the contingency plans arranged by the King of Yan—the court had its own precautions against Zhao Siwan. Previously, had it not been for Zhao Kuangzan's protection, Surveillance Commissioner Gao Fang would have long found an opportunity to scheme Zhao Siwan to his death.

After the two generals withdrew, a middle-aged official walked in. His face was gaunt and clean-shaven save for a few wisps of beard, and his bearing was composed. His name was Song Qi, currently serving as Chief Steward of the Yan Prince's residence. Compared to Gao Fang, this man was the foremost civil official assisting Zhao Kuangzan in handling civil affairs. This time, with Zhao Siwan's affair breaking out, Zhao Kuangzan had Song Qi take charge of the interrogation.

In his early years, this man had been a jinshi graduate under the Khitan and a subordinate of Zhao Yanshou. Speaking of it, the military and political resources Zhao Yanshou had left to Zhao Kuangzan could be called abundant.