The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 442 Better to Feed a Tiger

As the snowstorm subsided, the thick city walls of Zhenzhou City appeared even more somber under the leaden sky.

After Xiao Yan ordered the Jin army and Dingzhou army to be escorted to the outskirts of Zhenzhou City, tens of thousands of soldiers had their armor and warhorses confiscated and were stationed in a temporary camp set up by the Zhenzhou soldiers.

Compared to the exhausted Jin army and the Dingzhou army, which resembled frightened birds, the Zhao soldiers displayed a kind of obedience and efficiency as if they had survived a catastrophe. In just one day, they used the terrain and rudimentary materials to erect makeshift camps that barely provided shelter from the wind and snow in the biting cold wind, surrounding the two unarmed so-called friendly forces on three sides and keeping them under close surveillance. The air was filled with an atmosphere of humiliation, exhaustion, and unease.

In contrast to the oppressive atmosphere outside the camp, the Zhao army camp at its core was heavily fortified. Xiao Yan's hundred cavalry did not rush into the city but instead stationed themselves there. Qin Wang Yi Cong had already donned over a hundred sets of fine heavy armor, assembled by the Zhao state with all its might, guarding the central command tent. The campfires flickered in the cold wind, and wisps of smoke rose, creating a stark contrast between the somber atmosphere and the silence outside the camp.

As dusk settled, a large troop of weary riders broke through the last rays of light and galloped to the camp gate. Leading the way was a man in his thirties, none other than Feng Dao, the Sima of the Tiance Prefecture and concurrently the Pacification Commissioner, Agricultural Commissioner, and Transport Commissioner of Hebei Province, and the Acting Military Governor of Yingzhou. This trusted confidant, who had followed Xiao Yanshang since his time in Youzhou, and for the past four years had silently overseen Yingzhou, coordinating the finances, provisions, and military supplies of the north and south, was escorted by two scouts and a thousand elite cavalry, having traveled day and night.

As soon as Feng Daofu dismounted, he didn't even have time to brush off the frost and dust covering his body before hurrying towards the commander's tent. Seeing the Qin King's retinue standing solemnly outside the tent and the large banner with the character "Xiao" fluttering in the wind, there was not a trace of relief on his face after arriving.

After the announcement was finished, Feng Dao immediately lifted the curtain and entered, only to find Xiao Yan also walking out, apparently intending to personally greet him. Seeing this, Feng Dao had no time to hesitate. He lifted his robe and bowed deeply, his forehead striking the cold ground heavily, his voice hoarse from the long journey and filled with heartfelt self-reproach.

"Your subject, Feng Dao, deserves ten thousand deaths. I was stationed in Yingzhou, overseeing Hebei, yet Your Highness risked your life, venturing into perilous territory, where a mere hundred cavalrymen halted the fighting. This is all due to my inadequate planning and ineffective measures. I failed to share Your Highness's burdens, instead causing you to face danger. I... deserve ten thousand deaths! I beg Your Highness to severely punish me!"

Silence fell over the tent. The crackling of the charcoal fire was clearly audible.

Xiao Yan's gaze fell on Feng Dao's travel-worn figure. This former junior official, whom he had casually promoted based on a single mention in the historical records, had become much thinner in the two years since they last met. Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment, but did not immediately order him to rise.

“Ke Dao (Feng Dao’s courtesy name),” he simply smiled faintly, “raise your head.”

Feng Dao looked up as instructed, his face covered in dust and his eyes bloodshot, clearly having rushed here from Yingzhou day and night after hearing the news.

"It has been almost three years since we, ruler and subject, parted ways in Yingzhou."

"Indeed." A hint of reminiscence appeared on Feng Dao's face, and his voice became slightly lighter. "In June of the third year of Kaiping, Your Highness pacified the Yan region and subdued the tribes of the northern deserts. At such a young age, you achieved unparalleled feats and returned to Bianjing in triumph as the Marquis of Champion. At that time, the land was ravaged and everything needed to be rebuilt. I was ordered by Your Highness to stay in Yingzhou to handle the aftermath. Your Highness summoned me before your departure and gave me earnest instructions, which I still remember to this day."

He paused briefly, as if returning to that scene of high spirits and heavy responsibilities, and then clearly recounted:
"His Highness said at the time: 'Your journey here will reveal that the Yan region has long suffered from war, and its people are exhausted, like seedlings parched by a drought. While war may secure borders, to win the hearts of the people and solidify the foundation, the only way is through recuperation and development. Your primary task in Yingzhou is not to expand the army and display military might, but to bring peace to the people. Distribute surplus grain from the treasury to relieve famine, encourage refugees to return to their fields, and reduce taxes and corvée labor to alleviate their suffering. The governance of officials is especially crucial; eliminate redundant officials, dismiss corrupt officials, and select honest and capable ones, so that the people know the joy of life and have laws to follow. When the elderly and children can all sleep peacefully, and the granaries and treasuries gradually accumulate reserves, then the foundation of Hebei will be solid, and we will have the leisure to look east and west.'"

At this point, Feng Dao looked at Xiao Yan with only emotion and respect in his eyes.

"Although Your Highness was young at the time, you understood the essence of order and chaos, and had the well-being of the people in your heart, which was beyond the reach of ordinary rulers. Your subject has followed your wise instructions and worked diligently day and night for three years. Your Highness has also lived up to our expectations, pacifying the borders and stabilizing the south. In one fell swoop, the tyrant was forced to abdicate, and within half a year, the rebellion in Qin Chuan was quelled. Furthermore, you promulgated benevolent policies and issued an edict to exempt the country from taxes for one year... The army's hearts were won over, and the people supported you..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's gaze deepened, and he did not immediately accept the praise. He slowly walked to Feng Dao's side, raised his hand and gently placed it on Feng Dao's shoulder, the pressure particularly steady.

"You may think I'm all about maneuvering in Bianjing and Qin Chuan, but do you know that my audacity in using such ruthless methods stems entirely from my roots in Hebei?"

Feng Dao's heart skipped a beat, but then he heard Xiao Yan's voice continue: "If it weren't for your tireless efforts in Yingzhou, supplying grain and fodder, pacifying the people, eliminating redundant officials, and consolidating the foundation, so that the granaries in Yan were gradually filled and the people's hearts were won over, how could my tens of thousands of iron cavalry under my command have been able to travel day and night to reach the walls of Bianliang, force the traitor Zhu to abdicate, and establish the dynasty?"

"If it weren't for you and Ziming (Wang Yanzhang's courtesy name) guarding Hebei, like pillars in the middle of the river, deterring Hedong and pacifying the northern frontier, how could I dare to devote all my efforts to the east to reorganize the Imperial Guards? Let alone personally lead a large army to travel far into Sichuan to pacify the two Sichuan regions?"

He stood with his hands behind his back, chuckling softly. Though his voice was not loud, it carried an overwhelming and unstoppable aura that echoed in the tent.

"The peace of Hebei is the peace of my heart; the wealth of Hebei is the foundation for my struggle to contend with the world. It can be said that the achievements of these three years are not limited to Yingzhou, but are the cornerstone for my current foothold and command of the four directions. You said you were 'working day and night without rest,' and I believe you. However, I am also well aware of the hardships involved."

Feng Dao listened with his head down, and when he heard this part, his shoulder trembled almost imperceptibly.

Three years of tireless dedication, enduring wind, frost, rain, and snow, countless sleepless nights, the loneliness of being away from the central command—all of this was now weighed down by the weighty words 'foundation'. A surge of emotion welled up in his eyes, and his nose stung with uncontrollable tears. He had always been open-minded, low-key, and pragmatic, but now he felt as if something was tightly choking his throat.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and was about to bow heavily again: "Your Highness—!"

Xiao Yan laughed heartily and steadily supported his elbow.

“Therefore,” Xiao Yan said calmly, “this situation is not your fault, nor is it the fault of Han or Jing. The Jin state meticulously planned and used the will as bait to lure Ba Ge into their trap, and then, under the pretext of pursuit, deployed troops across the border to force the Zhao state to make a statement. Their intention was to create chaos, not just regarding the will, but also to sow discord between Liang and Zhao and test my bottom line. This insidious scheme is intricately linked, and pulling one thread can affect the whole situation…”

Xiao Yan's voice deepened, "In this situation, unless I personally intervene and use overwhelming force to intimidate them and thwart their treacherous schemes..." He glanced at Feng Dao's suddenly tense face and did not continue.

At that moment, Feng Dao's mind raced like lightning. Xiao Yan's unfinished words instantly revealed the crux of the matter. Cold sweat instantly poured down Feng Dao's forehead and back. He abruptly looked up, his eyes devoid of any self-reproach, only filled with shock and sudden realization:

"Your Majesty, I am foolish," Feng Dao said, his voice trembling slightly. "Jin's plan is utterly insidious. Regardless of whether Zhao tries to stop it, once a conflict breaks out, Your Highness's painstakingly constructed strategy for the Northern Front will crumble instantly. At that time, Zhao, fearing Your Highness's reprimand, might secretly side with Jin and collude with them. Perhaps even Wang Chuzhi will harbor disloyal intentions and seek to protect himself by establishing a separatist regime. Such a situation..."

He sighed deeply and uttered the conclusion with difficulty: "Apart from His Highness's personal presence, which instantly intimidated the battlefield with his overwhelming power, causing the two Lis, Wang Rong, and Wang Chuzhi to be terrified, and preventing tens of thousands of arrogant soldiers and fierce generals from making any rash moves... who else can resolve this crisis? Even if General Ziming were here, the only option would be to lead troops into a fierce battle, resulting in mutual destruction."

Feng Dao knew that Xiao Yan's words were true. With the national policy of sharing weal and woe with the people in mind and the overall situation in the north in mind, if Xiao Yan had not come in person, and if his fierce power and unparalleled deterrent force had not extinguished the raging fire in the blink of an eye, the Zhao region would have been in turmoil.

This is not due to the incompetence of the subjects, but rather a crisis that can only be resolved by the majesty of the monarch.

"Your Highness's wisdom is profound and far beyond the reach of our foolish and dull minds." Feng Dao's voice trembled, his self-reproach still lingering, but with a greater sense of understanding and lingering fear. "However, as your trusted advisors, we have failed to share your burdens and have instead caused you to take risks. We have failed in our duty. I am filled with trepidation."

"Rise," Xiao Yan's voice softened slightly, but his hand remained firm. "You handled the Yingzhou matter well, which greatly pleases me. Now that Zhao has just been pacified, everything needs rebuilding, and we are in dire need of capable people. Perhaps we will still need you to draft the defense plan for Zhenzhou and the post-war arrangements for Zhao." "Thank you for your leniency, Your Highness." Feng Dao rose with Xiao Yan's help, his movements slightly unsteady. He took a deep breath and carefully took out a document wrapped in thick oilcloth from his bosom, presenting it respectfully.

The dossier was heavy, clearly prepared in advance. It detailed everything, covering all aspects of the Zhao state's military and political takeover, taxation, official performance evaluation, and resettlement of households. It was the result of the person's painstaking efforts.

Xiao Yan took it, flipped through it briefly, and a barely perceptible hint of approval flashed in his eyes. Then, he turned to the Qin King's retinue standing at the tent entrance, as straight as javelins.

"Summon Tian Daocheng, Commander of the Palace Guards; Li Si'an, Commander of the Iron Cavalry; Wang Jingren, Military Governor of Xingzhou and Anguo; Luo Shaowei, Prince of Ye and Military Governor of Weibo; Yan Bao, Military Commissioner of Mingzhou; Le Congxun, Prefect of Xiangzhou; and He Delun, Prefect of Beizhou, to enter the tent immediately for a meeting."

Of these seven men, apart from Tian Daocheng, Li Si'an, and the so-called Prince of Ye, Luo Shaowei, all were military commanders and generals of the Liang Dynasty who held significant military power in the heart of Hebei. Their gathering in Zhenzhou was itself the strongest signal.

The handling of the Zhao state has formally shifted from military deterrence to a substantive transfer of power and territorial integration. A silent annexation is about to be finalized in this command tent.

------

The leaden-gray sky pressed down heavily, and the Prince of Beiping's mansion in Dingzhou was shrouded in a depressing silence.

"Report—" The sound of hurried footsteps shattered the deathly silence of the Prince's mansion.

The scout practically rushed into the hall, shouting urgently, "Your Majesty, urgent report! Liang... Liang Qin King Xiao Yan, personally leading a hundred cavalry, arrived in Zhao Prefecture last night. There has been a palace coup in Zhao, and Zhang Wenli has been beheaded and his head displayed to the public. The Zhao... the Zhao army has switched sides!"

"What?!" Wang Chuzhi suddenly jumped up from his seat, and the jade Pixiu he was playing with fell to the ground with a "thud" and shattered into pieces.

His face turned deathly pale instantly, as if all the blood had been drained from him. He staggered back a step, crashing into the heavy table, making the teacups clatter. Then, his voice filled with disbelief, horror, and fear, he exclaimed, "A hundred cavalry... a hundred cavalry into Zhao Prefecture? Wang Rong... that good-for-nothing Wang Rong!"

The lobby was deathly silent for a moment, then erupted into chaos.

"Your Majesty, this is a golden opportunity!" Dingzhou's Chief Clerk and Zhao Xun suddenly stepped forward, their voices booming. "Xiao Yan has entered this dangerous place with only a hundred men. Zhao has just submitted, and its people are not yet settled. Moreover, the Crown Prince has already led elite troops to Zhenzhou according to Your Majesty's secret orders, which can be coordinated with him. I urge Your Majesty to quickly dispatch the elite troops of Yiwu Town, join forces with the Crown Prince and the loyal men of Zhao, and launch a night raid on Zhao Prefecture to capture and kill Xiao Yan! Once Xiao Yan is gone, the crisis in Hebei will be resolved immediately, and Dingzhou can become the leader of the three towns!"

"Absolutely not!" Liang Wen, the chief secretary of the military governor, retorted urgently, his hair and beard trembling. "Xiao Yan is a brilliant strategist; how could he be unprepared? What if the hundred cavalrymen entering Zhao Prefecture are bait? The fact that the Zhao army changed flags in an instant is clear proof. This is a trap to lure the enemy into a trap. The Crown Prince's rash advance was already a risky move; if Dingzhou makes another move, it will play right into their hands. We should quickly send an envoy to recall the Crown Prince, prepare generous gifts, and have him apologize to the King of Qin and submit to his rule. This is the only way to ensure his safety."

"Recall the Crown Prince? Apologize? It's too late." Zhang Song, the cavalry commander, sneered. "Xiao Yan conquered Qi and destroyed Shu. How can we, the vassal states of Hebei, remain in peace? If we don't fight today, we'll be at their mercy tomorrow. Your Majesty, we should contact Li Cunxu of Taiyuan and raise the banner of resistance against Liang together. If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. Jin will not sit idly by. The Crown Prince's troops can serve as the vanguard and internal support."

Wang Chuzhi's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently. His eldest son, Wang Yu, had been sent to the border of Zhenzhou, a move he had secretly laid to profit from the conflict between Liang and Jin, but now it had become a hot potato.

The pro-war faction wanted to seize the opportunity to fight, the pro-peace faction advocated retreat, and the pro-Jin faction wanted to drag Jin into the conflict. Xiao Yan was only a hundred miles away; how could he possibly contact Jin? How could such distant water quench immediate thirst? His gaze swept over the arguing ministers, finally fixing on Zhang Song. He slammed his hand on the table, sternly silencing the commotion: "Enough! All of you, give it to me..."

Before he could finish speaking, the commander of the personal guards, his face ashen, carrying a heavy sandalwood box, strode into the hall and knelt directly before Wang Chuzhi, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty... this is from Zhenzhou... they say it's a New Year's gift from the Prince of Zhao to you..."

A chilling sense of foreboding instantly gripped everyone. Wang Chuzhi stared intently at the box, his fingers trembling uncontrollably, and then, under everyone's gaze, he abruptly lifted the lid.

Wang Yu's astonished and terrified head, his hair and beard covered in frost, was clearly visible among them. His once arrogant eyes stared blankly, frozen with the shock, anger, and resentment of his dying moments.

"..." Wang Chuzhi's throat bobbed, emitting a hoarse sound as if his neck had been choked. His body swayed, almost falling over. He suddenly drew the sword hanging behind him, its cold light reflecting on his face, which twisted instantly. All the surprise and fear in his eyes were swallowed up by rage and deep-seated hatred.

"Your Majesty..." Zhang Song shouted, "The Liang bandits have gone too far! How can we..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chuzhi, who had been staring intently at the head of his beloved son in the box, suddenly looked up, his gaze sharp as a knife, and finally fixed on Zhang Song, whose expression had suddenly changed drastically.

"Zhang Song!" Wang Chuzhi's voice was as cold as the depths of hell, carrying a murderous intent that could destroy everything. "You have repeatedly slandered me, inciting me to ally with Jin against Liang, and putting my own son to death! You even wanted to incite the three towns to re-establish chaos in Zhao and Yan, thus putting me in an unjust position! What use is there in keeping such a traitorous dog like you alive?!"

"Your Majesty! This humble general is utterly loyal..." Zhang Song was terrified and was about to defend himself.

"Slash!" Wang Chuzhi didn't give him a chance to say anything more. With a piercing sound, he swung his sword down fiercely.

"puff--"

Hot blood splattered, splashing onto the clean and tidy lobby. Zhang Song's head rolled to the ground.

The hall fell into a deathly silence; you could hear a pin drop. Both the pro-war and pro-peace factions were trembling with fear, utterly stunned by Wang Chuzhi's thunderous blow and the brutality born of his grief over the loss of his son.

Wang Chuzhi's chest heaved violently, not even glancing at the corpse on the ground. As if draining all his strength, he slammed his sword to the ground with a piercing thud. He grabbed the royal seal from the table and shoved it into the arms of his other son, Wang Du, who was pale and trembling beside him, his voice strained with barely suppressed emotion.

"Depart immediately. Strip yourself of the title 'Prince of Beiping' and change your title to Military Governor of Dingzhou... Go in person. Carry this royal seal and bind... bind yourself with thorns to plead guilty... send you as a hostage to Bianliang. Hurry—! If you are even a step too late... my thirteen counties... will all be reduced to dust!"

Wang Du scrambled out of the city.

Wang Chuzhi staggered, and in front of all the ministers, threw a silk scroll, secretly signed with the State of Jin, into a raging fire. The flames greedily devoured the silk, the flickering light illuminating his pale, distorted face. Facing the flames, or rather, facing the last vestiges of hope and overwhelming hatred within himself, he hissed and whispered, like the mournful cry of a trapped beast:
"Xiao Yan is a ferocious tiger that devours bones... Li Cunxu is a headless wolf... Better to feed a tiger... Better to feed a tiger... at least... I can still catch my breath..."

(End of this chapter)