June 25th, outside the East Gate of Xi'an.
The sun was blazing.
A troop of dusty cavalrymen escorting several prison carts appeared at the end of the official road.
The leader, a man of wiry build and sharp, eagle-like eyes, was none other than Shen Qian, the commander of the Night Watch.
They escorted Yang Yan, the leader of Jiannan—who was now a cold corpse—along with dozens of his staunch resistance fighters, and after nearly a month, finally arrived in Xijing.
The city gate guards had already been notified. After verifying the gate's seals, they immediately allowed passage and sent someone on horseback to the palace to report.
An hour later, in the side hall of Zhanghan Hall.
The charcoal fire was warm, and the aroma of tea wafted through the air.
Yinji specially summoned Shen Qian here to show his appreciation to the soldiers at the front.
Shen Qian, still clad in armor, knelt on one knee, his voice slightly hoarse from the long journey:
"This humble general, Shen Qian, has been ordered by the General to escort the traitor Yang Yan and his cronies to the capital and to report on the military situation in Jiannan. I humbly request Your Majesty's wise consideration."
"Commander Chen, you've worked hard. Rise and take a seat," Yin Ji said gently. The eunuch immediately brought over a brocade stool.
Shen Qian thanked the emperor and sat down, taking the hot tea offered by the eunuch and drinking it all in one gulp. He then began to give a detailed report:
"...Lord Tang Yanhai and I, working together from within and without, launched our attack on the night of Yang's birthday banquet, capturing and killing this scoundrel in one fell swoop."
"With Chengdu pacified, Lord Pang Qing, carrying His Majesty's edict of pacification and the Grand General's order, contacted the officials who had defected in various prefectures. Within ten days, the thirteen prefectures of Jiannan were pacified by the proclamation."
"At present, Lord Tang Yanhai will be stationed in Chengdu to oversee military and political affairs, while Lord Pang Qing will assist in civil administration and pacify the local area."
"Excellent! Tang Yanhai, Shen Qian, and Pang Qing have rendered great service to the country!"
Yinji clapped his hands in praise, then asked with concern, "How are the people's livelihoods in Jiannan? Is the morale of the army stable?"
Shen Qian's expression turned slightly solemn: "Your Majesty, Jiannan is a self-contained region. Yang Yan levies exorbitant taxes to support his army, causing great hardship to the people."
"In addition, the roads to Shu are difficult and news is scarce, so the people know very little about the new policies of the court and have many doubts."
"In the army, although most of Yang Yan's former subordinates have surrendered, they are deeply entrenched and require a capable minister to oversee them in order to gradually untangle the mess and completely assimilate them."
"Lord Tang and others are skilled in military and political affairs, but governing a region, especially a complex place like Jiannan, is probably not their forte."
"Therefore, Lord Tang specially ordered me to inform His Majesty and the court that it is urgent to dispatch a high-ranking official with a long-standing reputation and familiarity with government affairs to Jiannan to take charge of the overall situation."
Yinji nodded; what Shen Qian said was exactly what he had been thinking.
Jiannan has been pacified, but the key is how to truly integrate this land into the Great Yin Dynasty, turning it into a stable rear rather than a potential threat.
What suggestions do you gentlemen have?
He looked at Fan Nan, Pei Lun, Huang Chang, and the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Du Wenqian, who had been specially summoned for the meeting.
Du Wenqian was originally an official in the Prince of Jin's palace. He was outstanding in his abilities and did not take sides in the debate over moving the capital. He was promoted by Yinji.
Du Wenqian spoke first: "Your Majesty, Jiannan has just been annexed, and the selection of the military governor is of paramount importance. He must be virtuous and talented, able to pacify the region for the court, and also... have a good relationship with the Grand General to avoid military and political hindrance."
He used careful wording, but his meaning was clear—Jiannan was conquered by Zhao Muyun's men, and the men sent there had to be able to get along harmoniously with Zhao Muyun's system.
Pei Lun stroked his beard and pondered: "This person must have prestige to command respect from the officials and people of Jiannan; must be knowledgeable in government affairs and adept at managing finances; and must be knowledgeable in military matters to maintain morale among the troops. There are very few people in the court who meet these criteria."
A glint flashed in Fan Nan's eyes, and he suddenly said, "I recommend someone who may be able to take on this important task."
"Whom did Minister Fan recommend?"
“Zhao Wen!” Fan Nan said slowly.
A slight silence fell over the hall.
Zhao Wen, Zhao Muyun's uncle, once served as the prefectural governor and had an outstanding political record.
Pei Lun immediately understood Fan Nan's intention: "Zhao Wenming has an excellent reputation for both politics and political integrity, and is a prudent person. He is indeed a suitable candidate."
"More importantly, he is the general's uncle. With him in charge of Jiannan, the general's soldiers will surely be convinced of his loyalty, and the military and political affairs of Jiannan can be seamlessly connected, which is conducive to stability."
Huang Chang added: "In recent years, Zhao Gong has been known for his kindness in caring for displaced people and developing water conservancy projects in the local area, which makes him very suitable for improving the livelihood of people in Jiannan after the war."
"Moreover, he is of high seniority and has extensive experience, which is enough to intimidate those old officials in Jiannan who are hesitant."
Yinji's mind raced.
Sending Zhao Wen would have obvious advantages: it would quickly stabilize Jiannan, Zhao Muyun's side would have no objections, and Zhao Wen would be capable of governing that area well.
What are the potential risks? Will the Zhao family's power become too excessive as a result?
But then I thought, if Zhao Muyun really had ulterior motives, how could Jiannan alone control him?
The court now relies heavily on Zhao Muyun, so it's better to show him trust than to be suspicious. Besides, Zhao Wen is indeed a virtuous and upright man.
Yinji made a decision: "Issue an imperial edict to promote Zhao Wen to the position of Military Governor of Jiannan Circuit, with the additional title of Acting Minister of Rites, and bestow upon him a purple-gold fish-shaped pouch, ordering him to take up his post immediately."
"Furthermore, Tang Yanhai is appointed as the Deputy Military Commissioner of Jiannan Circuit, and Pang Qing is appointed as the Observation and Disposal Commissioner of Jiannan Circuit, to assist Zhao Wen. Shen Qian!"
Shen Qian stood up: "Your subordinate is here."
"Your merits this time are outstanding. You are hereby promoted to Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guard. You will remain in Xijing for rest and recuperation. I have other appointments for you."
"This humble general thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!" Shen Qian knelt down again, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
The Eagle Guard is the emperor's personal army, and the Lieutenant General is already a high-ranking military officer. This trust and honor is extraordinary.
However, he was a trusted confidant of Wang Tiezhu, the commander of the Night Scouts.
However, the Night Scouts were established by Zhao Muyun and Wang Tiezhu.
What was the emperor's intention in trying to win him over?
"The matter of Jiannan is settled then." Yinji breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered something else, "General Shen, how is the Grand General in the capital? When will he return to the capital?"
Shen Qian hurriedly replied, "The General is well and is doing his best to appease the capital and handle the aftermath."
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