Chapter 123: In Collusion

Liu Ju looked at Xu Wei's despairing eyes, having already guessed a thing or two, and could not help but feel anger welling up.

Although he had anticipated something, the betrayal of Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi truly disregarded his trust.

He took a deep breath, striving to calm himself.

After a moment, he decisively said: "Even so, I cannot indulge wickedness. Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi have committed such great crimes; they must receive due punishment. Come, seize them first—I want to see what tricks they can still pull."

"As for the progress of the Southern Development and the court's talent issues, I will find a way to resolve them. I cannot overlook a person who has done much evil just because of these difficulties; otherwise, how would I answer to the people under heaven? How could I face those innocent victims he persecuted?"

"Minister Wei, effective immediately, you are promoted to Minister of Works, taking over Sang Hongyang's role in overseeing the Southern Development overall situation."

Minister Wei readily accepted the order.

At this moment, Xu Wei was already moved to tears, continuously kowtowing to Liu Ju in gratitude.

However, when the Feathered Forest Guard arrived at Sang Hongyang's residence, they found he and Jin Ridi had already fled southward, taking a large amount of weapons and equipment, clearly a premeditated move.

Upon hearing this, Liu Ju became even more furious.

His eyes filled with anger and resolve, he clenched his fists until his nails almost dug into his palms, saying: "Sang Hongyang, Jin Ridi, do you think fleeing to the south will let you escape my punishment?"

Immediately, Liu Ju ordered the vindication of Xu Wei's wrongful accusation and the purge of Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi's partisans in the court.

Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi were like bereaved dogs, fleeing in panic all the way, they arrived at Yu Province Pei Commandery in the south without choosing a path.

In Yu Province Pei Commandery, the gentry clans' power was deeply entrenched, intertwined like tangled roots.

Some of the local gentry had long been dissatisfied with the many policies implemented by the court.

During Emperor Wu's reign, heavy taxes continually drained their wealth, and the court's gradual restriction of local power further inflicted severe damage on their interests.

They had long hoped for an opportunity to vent their grievances and regain the power and status they once held.

Upon entering Yu Province Pei Commandery, Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi quickly contacted some local gentry, relying on their deep connections and high prestige accumulated in the court.

They frequently went in and out of various gentry mansions, holding secret talks with them.

Sang Hongyang, Jin Ridi, and several influential local gentry representatives sat together, each face showing varying degrees of worry and vigilance.

Sang Hongyang broke the silence first, his eye sockets slightly red, voice trembling with tears: "Esteemed elders, you may not know, the court now appears strong but is internally rotten to the core. Liu Ju is obstinate, listens to slander, and those around him are nothing but flatterers."

"The policies he enforces utterly disregard the lives of us local gentry. Moreover, the court's tightening grip on local power is stripping away our authority bit by bit; soon we may not even qualify to be masters of our own lands. If this continues, our family glory will vanish, and our descendants will become vassals of the court."

Jin Ridi echoed from the side: "Exactly, we have devoted ourselves to the court all these years, attending to its every need, yet what have we received? Ruthless repression and exclusion."

"Now we have reached a dead end; if we do not rise in rebellion, our only fate is destruction. And, gentlemen, would you really watch your families decline like this?"

A young gentry member rose somewhat agitatedly, saying: "But once we rebel, we will bear the name of traitors, despised by all under heaven."

Sang Hongyang snorted coldly, saying: "Rebellion? That's merely a charge the court has forced upon us. The true rebel is Liu Ju, who disregards the people's lives and acts recklessly—he is the sin of the world. We fight for justice, for our families, for our future. United, what do we have to fear from the court?"

One clan elder still rose, voicing his concern:

"The current emperor is abundantly martial, with new equipment and training methods constantly emerging; have you forgotten the fates of the Xiongnu and Wusun, and those rebel princes? If we rashly raise arms in rebellion, it will surely bring more misfortune than fortune."

Upon hearing this, Sang Hongyang's face slightly changed, a flicker of displeasure flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained composure.

He stepped forward, arms crossed, forcing a smile, and soothed the elder: "Elder, I understand your worry, but you only see the surface. The emperor's new equipment and training methods are indeed somewhat intimidating, but we are not without a chance of victory."

"Don't forget, I once served as Minister of Works, knowing the manufacture of every weapon like the back of my hand. These years I have secretly prepared, bringing a batch of excellent weaponry sufficient to rival the court."

Jin Ridi also quickly echoed, standing up, his eyes revealing a hint of ruthlessness: "Elder, Lord Sang's words are quite right. I once served as Minister of Personnel, fully understanding the court's organizational structure and training methods. We have long grasped their strengths and known their weaknesses inside out."

"In just a few days, I can train an invincible army that conquers all attacks and wins every battle."

The elder listened to their words, his eyes brightening slightly.

Sang Hongyang seized the moment: "Elder, Yu Province Pei Commandery has complex terrain, with rivers and hills crisscrossing, forming our natural barrier. The court's troops, coming from afar, are unfamiliar with this landscape, whereas our forces can move through it like fish in water."

Jin Ridi's eyes flashed with ruthlessness: "Furthermore, although the court has new equipment, its troops are scattered across the regions; gathering a large army to deal with us also takes time."

"And these gentry brothers who rise with us each possess abundant resources and connections; as long as we unite wholeheartedly, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome."

"Just as the two lords have said!"

The elder was finally convinced by the two, nodding heavily.

In the ensuing conversation, Sang Hongyang, voice choked with tears, accused the Liu Ju court of myriad "misdeeds," blaming all his own crimes and failures on the court's injustice and oppression.

Under their incitement and manipulation, some gentry who originally harbored dissatisfaction with the court had their anger fully ignited.

They all declared their willingness to follow Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi in rebelling against the Liu Ju court.

Soon, Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi organized a sizable rebel force, recruiting troops, buying horses, stockpiling grain and grass, preparing for a life-and-death struggle against the court.

To demonstrate their so-called "resolve" to the court, Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi made an extremely cruel decision.

They set their sights on the King of Chen.

Although the King of Chen held little actual power locally, his identity carried great symbolic significance.

One midnight, Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi led a group of followers, stealthily infiltrating the Chen King's residence.

Like ravenous wolves, they launched a bloody massacre against the Chen King and his family.

The Chen King was startled awake in his sleep, and before he could react, he was killed.

In this bloody massacre, the Chen King's young son fortunately escaped harm.

Sang Hongyang and Jin Ridi captured him and installed him as the Chen King, to rally the local gentry and populace.

Moreover, relying on their familiarity with the court's Southern Development project, they traveled along the Grand Canal, contacting local gentry all the way.

Wherever they went, they widely spread rumors, manipulated hearts, and fabricated various negative news about the court.

Many gentry and common folk who did not know the truth, under their manipulation, eagerly joined the ranks opposing the court's army.

As their power grew, their arrogance swelled, even claiming they had seized the Liu imperial clan's ancestral lands, and that the Chen King they held hostage was the true orthodox ruler of all under heaven.

Such treasonous rhetoric, once spread, immediately caused an uproar throughout the Great Han.