Those officials in various prefectures, counties, and garrisons who are unable to provide relief or compensation due to floods, droughts, disasters, or other natural disasters, or who impose excessive taxes, heavy levies, or unfair punishments, and who are thus driven to theft, are truly pitiful.
Except for the ringleaders Liu Liu, Liu Qi, Qi Yanming, Yang Hu, and others who cannot be pardoned, the other coerced accomplices who are able to abandon their armor and weapons and surrender will be sent back to their hometowns by the responsible officers with reason and justification, and indiscriminate killing is prohibited.
Those who voluntarily disband and break away from the rebels are not allowed to be killed or reported for their merits by the authorities along the way. Instead, they are given clothing, food, and supplies to send them back to their hometowns. The authorities in their place of origin will provide them with cattle, tools, and seeds.
Land that has been encroached upon must be returned to its rightful owner.
If they remain incorrigible and continue to steal, they will bring punishment upon themselves and will not be spared.
If any government office dares to fail to comply with orders or continues to be negligent and perfunctory as before, the governor-general and other officials will report the matter and severely punish the offenders.
The combination of kindness and severity quickly yielded results.
Even the renowned Ma Zhongxi had his home ransacked and was imprisoned, let alone other local officials.
Those local officials who originally only thought about escaping had to suppress their fear and try every means to drive the bandits to other people's territories.
...
After news of the Bazhou earthquake spread, Liu Liu, Liu Qi, and their men all panicked.
They followed him around roaming and robbing, but their parents, wives and children mostly still lived in their hometown of Bazhou.
Exhausted from being chased by the border troops these days, they were also tired of this kind of life and longed to return to their hometown to see if their families were safe.
Although the Liu brothers had lost all their relatives in Bazhou, they could still understand the feelings of their subordinates.
He immediately ordered: Return to Bazhou!
...
Meanwhile, the left and right wings on the grassland also took the opportunity to fight fiercely.
Dayan Khan led his elite troops to defeat the right-wing army, and the right-wing tribal leaders Yibula and Mandulai fled to the shores of Qinghai Lake.
Fortunately, the Liangzhou border troops were not to be underestimated, and they routed the steppe Tatars who were harassing the border.
Lu Xingjian sighed with regret.
"If it weren't for Liu Qi and his gang of bastards causing such a ruckus, we could have made Dayan Khan suffer a crushing defeat and never recover this year!"
Gu Ziyu clinked glasses with him. "Dayan Khan can't escape. After this great battle, the Tatars have been severely weakened and will not have the strength to invade the border for at least several years. It's a good thing."
Just as the two were enjoying themselves, Meng Yue, pale-faced, came over with a memorial to the throne.
"Ye County in Henan Province has fallen, and the rebels have killed more than 3,000 people!"
Lu Xingjian and Gu Ziyu's expressions changed drastically, and they stood up.
This is the second large-scale massacre since the massacre in Zaoqiang County, Shandong Province.
"brute!"
"Was it Liu Qi who did it?!"
Meng Yue shook his head. "Liu Qi is still in Shandong and is planning to go to Bazhou. He is another bandit leader called Liu San."
Lu Xingjian, his face expressionless, walked to the enormous sand table and asked, "Where is Yang Hu now?"
"Yang Hu is dead, but Zhao Sui is good at keeping it a secret and still claims that Yang Hu is alive. He led his troops to break through Suqian County. Liu Xiang, the prefect of Huai'an, blocked their way at Xiahekou, but was defeated and captured. Zhao Sui did not kill him and released him."
Lu Xingjian's eyes flashed with murderous intent. "Get the news of Yang Hu's death out as soon as possible."
People like Yang Hu are the epitome of evil.
Many counties surrendered almost without a fight, driven by the fear of a massacre.
Only when the world knows that Yang Hu is just an ordinary mortal, easily killed and eliminated, will the local governments rise up in resistance.
As for Zhao Sui, that devil, he understands human nature all too well.
If those who surrendered after defeat were not killed, many local officials who were trying to control the bandits would likely have been lenient, leaving themselves a way out.
The combination of Yang Hu and Zhao Sui is the most terrifying.
...
The Su family's impeachment of Li Dongqian and his cronies has entered a new phase.
This time, Liu Zhong, a henchman of Li Dongqian in the cabinet, could not withstand the pressure and retired to his hometown.
Because Liu Xiang, the prefect of Huai'an who was released by Zhao Sui, was his nephew.
Yang Hu, Zhao Sui, and others had visited Suqian and Huai'an before, and Liu Xiang was suspected of colluding with the enemy.
Li Dongqian, on the contrary, remained completely unscathed.
Su Wanwan then bestowed upon Li Dongqian another honorary official position and showered him with various gifts and banquets.
This made Li Dongqian feel very uncomfortable.
His reputation among the people is hard to describe.
"Now that the people are suffering, he, the Grand Secretary, does not relieve their worries but only knows how to flatter the emperor, receiving multiple salaries and being granted imperial edicts and banquets. He is truly a parasite on official power!"
"Does anyone know if he has anything to do with the massacre of 3,000 people in Ye County?"
"It's quite possible that there's a connection; Zhao Sui was once a guest of honor of Chief Minister Li!"
Time flies and it's already December.
Tensions have risen again in the Gyeonggi region.
The bandits who had fled from Shandong returned to Beizhili.
All the officers and soldiers of the Beijing Garrison were mobilized and trained for days in preparation for battle.
...
When Zhang Yong presented his latest memorial to the emperor, Su Wanwan was asleep on her desk.
He didn't wake her; he just stood there quietly watching from a distance.
She really didn't need to work so hard.
The task can be delegated.
Her diligent attitude reminded Zhang Yong of Emperor Xianzong.
Emperor Xianzong was capable and resourceful; he managed to turn a chaotic court into a peaceful and prosperous nation.
He died young.
It's regrettable.
Now that the emperor hardly cares about anything, he has become the man she relies on most.
Zhang Yong enjoys his current state.
When the young emperor ascends the throne and she becomes the Empress Dowager, he will stay by her side like this until she grows old.
It wasn't until dark, when a palace maid came in to light the lamps, that Su Wanwan woke up. A little embarrassed, she asked, "How long have you been waiting, Master?"
“Just arrived.” Zhang Yong said calmly. “Pingjiang Earl Chen Xiong was just appointed to guard the nine gates of the capital when someone impeached him for being unfit for the post.”
"Does your wife have any capable candidates to recommend?" Su Wanwan frowned.
Zhang Yong was overwhelmed with emotion.
After Su Wanwan gave him a slight warning last time, he thought she would become wary of him and gradually distance herself.
Unexpectedly, she asked him to recommend someone else.
At this critical juncture, with the bandits having already entered Beizhili and potentially attacking the capital at any moment, the importance of the commanders guarding the nine gates of the capital can be easily imagined.
She's putting her life and fortune in his hands!
"The current Commander-in-Chief of Ningxia and Earl of Xianning, Qiu Yue, is both brave and resourceful. When the Prince of Anhua rebelled, it was he who turned the tide and successfully quelled the rebellion in just eighteen days."
Su Wanwan nodded.
With a hint of earnestness, she said, "My lord, when I was young, I always heard Empress Dowager Xiaosu praise Eunuch Liu Ma'er for his unwavering loyalty. He served six emperors and seven reigns, and his favor never waned. Even now, his adopted son, the Earl of Ningjin, and his lineage are still highly valued."
"I only hope that the Grand Chamberlain can also be as outstanding as Liu Ma'er and become a celebrated story of the emperor and his minister in this dynasty."
Zhang Yong's eyes welled up slightly.
Throughout history, very few powerful eunuchs have met a good end.
The Empress had already planned out his future and reminded him to stay true to his duty and not let desire cloud his judgment, lest he follow the same path of no return as Liu Jin.
Once you reach his position, it becomes very difficult to maintain your original intentions.
You need the trust of those in power, but you also need to be pragmatic and know how to conduct yourself appropriately.
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