The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 578 The Tragedy of a Powerful Family
After Jia Xu received his order and withdrew, Qin Shou stood alone before the map, his gaze deep and thoughtful. His slender fingers lightly traced the various prefectures of Hebei, finally stopping at Ye City, his fingertips applying slight pressure.

"Cui Jin, you really couldn't hold back after all."

He turned back to his desk and took out a secret letter from a hidden compartment. The letter detailed all the movements of the Cui family over the past three months—including their secret contacts with the remnants of the Black Mountain tribe.

"Your Majesty, Commander Jia Mu of Qin Feng requests an audience," came the report from outside the hall.

“Xuan.”

Jia Mu strode in and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, a message has been sent by carrier pigeon from Ji Province. The Cui family has dispatched three more groups of men today, heading to Changshan, Zhongshan, and Hejian prefectures respectively."

A glint of light flashed in Qin Shou's eyes: "Can you identify the contact person?"

"Changshan Commandery is ruled by the chivalrous leader Zhao Heizi, Zhongshan Commandery by Liu Hu, a remnant of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and Hejian Commandery—" Shen Lian hesitated slightly, "is ruled by Zhou An, the Prefect of Hejian Commandery."

"What a fine Prefect of Hejian!" Qin Shou sneered. "He draws a salary from the imperial court, yet serves as a lackey for powerful families. Order Wei Yan to secretly lead three thousand elite cavalry south under the pretext of going to the capital."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Jia Mu was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. "Your Majesty, there is one more matter. The Gao family of Bohai has been secretly purchasing grain and fodder in unusual quantities recently."

Qin Shou tapped his fingers lightly on the table and calmly instructed, "It seems they're serious. Tell Li Ru to focus his investigation on the location of the Gao family's granaries."

After Jia Mu withdrew, Qin Shou walked to the window. The city of Chang'an was bathed in the twilight, its lights just beginning to twinkle, a picture of peace and tranquility. But his gaze seemed to pierce through a thousand miles, seeing the beacon fires about to be lit at the foot of the Taihang Mountains.

"Powerful clans, I'd like to see whether your backbone is harder or my blade is sharper!"

Half a month later, on the outskirts of Changshan County.

The wandering swordsman Zhao Heizi, along with more than twenty men, was in an abandoned kiln, counting the weapons sent by the Cui family. The sharp ring-pommel swords gleamed coldly in the torchlight.

"Brother, the Cui family is really generous this time!" A scarred man excitedly stroked the brand-new armor. "Enough to equip three hundred men!"

Zhao Heizi sneered, "Lord Cui said that as long as we make a scene, we'll get another hundred taels of gold. Pass down the order: rob the tax grain of Yuanshi County in three days!"

Just then, a scream suddenly came from outside the cave. Before anyone could react, a sharp arrow pierced the air and struck the scarred man squarely in the throat!
"The soldiers are here!" someone shouted, and chaos erupted inside the cave.

Zhao Heizi grabbed a steel knife and rushed to the cave entrance, only to be forced back by a battle sword. In the moonlight, a red-faced general in a black robe stood on horseback, followed by a dark mass of cavalry.

"Wei Yan is here! Traitor, surrender at once!"

Meanwhile, at the Cui residence in Ye City.

Cui Jin was reviewing secret reports from various regions in his study when his steward rushed in, panicked: "Master! Something terrible has happened! A large number of government troops have appeared outside the city!"

"What?" The bamboo slips in Cui Jin's hand clattered to the ground. "Who is leading the troops?"

The banner bears the character 'Zhang'.

Cui Jin's face turned deathly pale instantly. He knew all too well what the name "Zhang" meant: Zhang Liao, one of the most famous generals of the Tang Dynasty, and Qin Shou's most formidable and fierce general in attacking fortified positions!

"Quickly! Order all secret passages to be closed! Have Shen Le and the others do it immediately."

Before the words were finished, a deafening roar of battle cries erupted outside the mansion. Cui Jin rushed to the window and saw the night sky illuminated by countless torches. The walls surrounding the Cui mansion were now covered with black-clad warriors. A chilling voice echoed in the courtyard: "Lord Cui, what a refined pursuit! Still handling 'official business' so late at night?"

Cui Jin looked closely and almost lost his soul—standing in the courtyard was none other than Commander Jia Mu of Qin Feng! And beside him, bound hand and foot, was none other than Cui's trusted confidant who was supposed to contact the mountain bandits today!
With a wave of his hand, Jia Mu summoned the Imperial Guards into the various rooms like a tidal wave. Before long, all the maps and secret letters in the secret room were found, and even the weapons and armor hidden in the cellar were seized.

Cui Jin slumped to the ground, his face ashen. Only now did he realize that his every move had been observed by the imperial court.

"Hmph, in this vast world, what can possibly escape His Majesty's notice?"

It was dawn at the Chang'an Imperial Palace.

Qin Shou put on his robe and stood up, taking the urgent message from Jia Xu. He unfolded it and read it, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Your Majesty, General Zhang Liao has taken control of Ye City, and all thirty-eight leaders of powerful families, including Cui Jin, have been captured. General Wei Yan has also wiped out the bandit strongholds in Changshan and Zhongshan."

"Very well." Qin Shou closed the report and coldly snorted, "Issue my decree: the Cui family's treason is well-documented; the principal offender shall be executed immediately, and the accomplices shall be exiled to the Western Regions. The other participating noble families may be spared death by surrendering 70% of their land."

Jia Xu cautiously asked, "What about the new policies in Hebei?"

"Proceed as planned." Qin Shou's eyes shone brightly. "Order Zhang Liao to establish military settlements in Ji Province immediately. Anyone who resists the new policies will be punished as a traitor!"

As dawn broke, messengers sped out of Chang'an.

Standing atop the city wall, Qin Shou gazed at the receding dust and murmured to himself:

"This world belongs to the common people. The powerful clans should withdraw from the stage of history."

Liangzhou, Jincheng County.

Inside the Qiang tent, the firelight flickered. The Qiang chieftain, Cheliji, reclined on a tiger-skin chair, toying with a jewel-encrusted dagger in his hand. Dozens of Qiang warriors stood to the left and right of the tent, each with a curved sword at their waist and a stern expression.

"Report—" A Qiang soldier rushed into the tent and knelt on one knee. "Chief, the envoy of Lord Kebineng of the Xianbei has arrived!"

A glint of light flashed in Cherridge's eyes, and he sat up straight: "Bring him in."

Before long, three Xianbei envoys dressed in fur robes entered with their heads held high. The leader was tall, with a prominent scar on his left cheek. He placed his right hand on his chest and bowed slightly: "The Xianbei warrior Chiliyun, on the orders of my master, has come to pay homage to Chief Cheliji."

The Qiang generals in the tent were in an uproar upon hearing this. Chiliyun was a fierce Xianbei general who had risen to fame on the grasslands in recent years, and had once single-handedly killed three Xiongnu chieftains.

Cherigi narrowed his eyes: "Why did Kebineng send you here?"

Chiliyun took out a roll of sheepskin from his robes and presented it with both hands: "My master has heard that Qin Shou, that brat, has been suppressing the powerful families in Guanzhong and is now extending his reach to Hebei. Such a tyrant will sooner or later try to seize Liangzhou. My master is willing to form an alliance with the leader to resist the tyrannical Tang!"

Cheriji took the parchment scroll and unfolded it to examine it closely. It detailed the Tang army's actions in Hebei and the various measures Qin Shou implemented in his new policies. Finally, the conditions for the alliance were written in both Xianbei and Qiang scripts: Kebineng would contribute 50,000 troops, the Qiang would contribute 30,000 troops, and after the success, Longyou would be divided equally.

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became heavy. Qiang general Ehe Shaoge couldn't help but step forward: "Chief, the Tang army is powerful, we..."

"Shut up!" Cheriji suddenly roared, slamming his fist on the table and shattering it. He coldly sneered, "Qin Shou seized my pasture and killed my people! This is an irreconcilable hatred!"

(End of this chapter)