Chapter 262: New Policies Stabilize the South, Northern Frontier Fires Rise

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The greatest problem with the rebel army lies in this: as long as their living conditions remain unchanged and their spiritual leader is not eliminated, they can endlessly incite the people to join them, like wildfire spreading across the prairie, impossible to contain.

Conversely, if their spiritual leader is eliminated—especially when the faction has only one unique spiritual leader—it is like removing the firewood from under the cauldron; though embers of the rebellion may still smolder, they can no longer achieve anything.

For the spiritual leader of such a rebellion is often the embodiment of the people's heart and will; once he falls, the rebel army becomes a dragon without a head, morale collapses, like autumn winds sweeping fallen leaves—their cohesion shatters instantly, turning into scattered sand, and worse, internal strife may erupt over争夺 a new leader.

This is the perfect moment to cleanse the remnants with iron and blood, restoring peace to the realm.

History is replete with such examples: Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose in revolt, their momentum surging like wind and clouds—but once Chen Sheng died, their power greatly weakened, failing utterly to shake the foundations of the Qin Empire. Hong Xiuquan gathered countless followers by his own strength, ignited the Jintian Uprising, sweeping forward like a breaking wave; yet after Hong Xiuquan's death, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom collapsed with a thunderous crash, its internal factions fractured and turned on each other, the flame of rebellion gradually extinguished in the long river of history.

Fang La's rebellion was no different.

Historically, Fang La ignited the fury of the Jiangnan people under the banner of "equalizing wealth and poverty"; at once, supporters gathered like clouds, followers streamed like rivers; wherever the rebel army marched, imperial troops fled in terror, the people brought food and wine to welcome them, as if the entire world trembled at his call—like a magnet drawing countless discontented commoners into Fang La's rebellion.

Thus, Fang La was not merely the commander of Fang La's rebel army—he was their faith, the beacon in darkness, guiding their path, unquestionably the spiritual leader and banner of Fang La's rebel army.

Under Fang La's leadership, his rebel army advanced like a breaking wave, capturing city after city, leading the people to believe they could truly overturn heaven and earth; thus, all rushed to join Fang La's rebel army, which surged past one million in mere days—Song Shi even records that at its peak, Fang La's rebel army numbered two million.

But when Fang La was captured by Han Shizhong and ultimately executed in Jingcheng, the news struck like a thunderclap, shattering the hearts of Fang La's soldiers. They lost their leader and their direction; their once-firm beliefs began to waver, morale plummeted. When the people saw that even Fang La had been captured and killed by the court, they naturally dared not join a rebellion with no hope left.

After that, Fang La's rebel army without Fang La became like a pack of wolves without a wolf king—still fierce, but lost their former unity and默契. They began acting independently, vying for power and profit, internal contradictions intensifying daily.

The Northern Song court then seized the opportunity to crush the remnants of Fang La's rebel army with iron and blood; the once-mighty Fang La uprising faded gradually into the long river of history under the sweeping force of autumn winds.

Now, though the one who captured Fang La has changed from Han Shizhong to Lu Zhishen and Wu Song, the effect is the same.

When Song Jiang learned that Lu Zhishen and Wu Song had captured Fang La, he was overjoyed; they immediately began planning how to completely eradicate Fang La's rebel army.

At this moment, Chen Gutong stepped forward voluntarily and said: "Your humble servant begs to go and persuade them to surrender."

It was Chen Gutong's great merit that enabled the imperial army to defeat Fang La's rebel army so smoothly and capture Fang La.

Thus, Song Jiang already trusted Chen Gutong deeply, and now revealed his true intentions to him: "Your Majesty understands the Moni Sect thoroughly—he knows it is a sect that teaches rebellion; thus, he has issued an edict ordering us to eradicate the Moni Sect."

Song Jiang made his meaning clear: he too wished to recruit Fang La's rebel army, so as to spare his own Tiger Guard from further costly clashes with them.

Remember, the Tiger Guard now numbers only about 120,000 to 130,000.

Crucially, vast numbers of Fang La's rebel army remain uncrushed.

By the end, the Tiger Guard may be reduced to no more than 70,000 or 80,000.

Though this is inevitable—everyone knows the court, no matter how wealthy, could never sustain so many troops of rebel origin with weak combat effectiveness—Song Jiang, as supreme commander of the Tiger Guard, naturally wished to retain as many troops as possible.

This is human nature.

By the way, the defeated Song Jiang's rebel army was treated well by Zhao Yu. With so much land confiscated from landlords and gentry now available for distribution, the court grants substantial compensation to all who die or are wounded; those who survive are even better off—promotions, wealth, glory to their ancestors, titles for their wives and children, their fates transformed.

Thus, though all know the court employs the strategy of "using a tiger to devour a wolf," because the court's compensation is exceptional and the granted merit lands are fertile fields in their home regions or in Suzhou, Changzhou, and other Taihu areas, the soldiers of Song Jiang's rebel army willingly serve the court—even if they die on the battlefield, they do so without regret.

This is the court's brilliance: understanding the people's hearts, winning them over with grace, making soldiers willing to brave fire and water for it.

Now back to the matter.

Song Jiang certainly preferred to subdue the enemy without fighting, but Zhao Yu's imperial decree left him no choice.

Chen Gutong replied: "Your Majesty's caution toward the Moni Sect is understandable—it does teach rebellion; if left unchecked, it will poison the realm and bring great disaster. But now, the rebel army has lost its leader and is in chaos—this is the perfect moment to guide them back to the right path. As for the harm of the Moni Sect, I have a method that may eradicate it."

Song Jiang asked: "What method?"

Chen Gutong said: "Forge statues of the Moni Sect's Buddhas, force them to take turns spitting on and urinating on them. If they comply, they will never again believe in the Moni Sect; if they refuse, execute them all."

Song Jiang, upon hearing this, brightened—he thought this might well be a good idea.

What if Zhao Yu disagrees?

By then, Chen Gutong would have already lured Fang La's rebel army down the mountain; if he then reneged, he would merely damage his reputation—but a little acting could smooth it over.

Crucially, Song Jiang reflected: though Zhao Yu despises the Moni Sect, his true aim is to stabilize imperial power and prevent the people from being misled by heretical sects, which could spark unrest. If Chen Gutong's plan truly turns Fang La's soldiers away from evil and abandons such rebellious beliefs, Zhao Yu might not stubbornly oppose it. After all, peaceful transformation of the people's hearts is more virtuous than bloody suppression, demonstrating the court's magnanimity and broad-mindedness.

Thus, Song Jiang nodded: "Go ahead, Mr. All consequences rest upon me alone."

After Chen Gutong departed to recruit the remnants of Fang La's rebel army, Song Jiang immediately submitted a memorial to Zhao Yu, explaining the advantages: if Chen Gutong's method succeeds, it will reduce imperial casualties and demonstrate Zhao Yu's and the court's combined benevolence and authority—truly the superior strategy; he begged Zhao Yu to issue a final decree…

Chen Gutong personally climbed the mountain to find Bao Kang and others.

These men had once been Fang La's capable generals, but now they were like fallen leaves in autumn, lost and helpless. They sat huddled in a crude cave, firelight illuminating their weary, bewildered faces—their former grand ambitions shattered by the cruelty of reality.

Chen Gutong entered the cave, exchanged a few pleasantries with Bao Kang and the others, then spoke slowly: "Gentlemen, the Holy Lord has been captured and is now being publicly escorted to the capital for execution."

Bao Kang and the others already knew this; thus, when Fang La's rebels heard the news from Chen Gutong, they showed no surprise—only dejection.

Seeing this, Chen Gutong did not dwell on the topic but changed tone: "Our rebel army's fate is sealed—this is Heaven's will, beyond human挽回. Yet the court, recognizing you all were driven to rebellion by desperation, has sent me here to offer you a path to life."

Bao Kang and the others frowned with suspicion. They knew the court's methods all too well; this sudden "mercy" naturally raised their guard.

Crucially, they knew the court intended to eradicate the Moni Sect.