Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 387 From now on, I will not concern myself with matters concerning Tokyo...

Inside the city of Hanyang, the government office, which had been empty not long ago, was suddenly packed with people again...

The soldiers were all smiles, their hearts pounding with excitement, though they tried to hold back their emotions.

The men were bound together and standing to one side, while others were not bound, including Cheng Wanli and Liu Yanqing...

Su Wu sat down in the center, and his gaze swept across the crowd. Everyone fell silent and looked at Su Wu.

Su Wu raised his hand first: "Father-in-law, the Emperor is in the back office, please go and keep him company first..."

Cheng Wanli sighed, his face full of worry, and went to the back office. The back office was guarded by armored soldiers everywhere. Cheng Wanli knew what he had to do. What else could he do now that things had come to this?
It inevitably involves advice and reassurance...

In the courtroom, Su Wu, who had been serious all along, finally smiled slightly and raised his hand: "Remove the bindings. How can you gentlemen treat me so harshly?"

As soldiers rushed forward and hurriedly untied him, Qin Hui finally felt a complete sense of relief. As his highly tense mind relaxed, numbness and pain washed over his entire body...

Even after being bound, Qin Hui's arms were still difficult to move from behind his back to the front; every movement was painful. This pain was rather strange; it was a kind of aching, numb pain, not one that made people scream, but one that made them grit their teeth and endure it, their faces turning red...

I've never suffered like this in my entire life...

Su Wu once said: "The emperor has been reflecting on this matter countless times during this period, and he has also been deeply grieved by the river, intending to punish himself and the world!"

Among the soldiers present, someone exclaimed, "Good!"

Then the whole place erupted in shouts: "The King is mighty! The King is mighty!"

Su Wu raised his hand to press down, and was also stunned for a moment. What was going on?

Normally, as long as Su Wu raises his hand to press down, everything will immediately stop.

Today, they kept shouting, "The King is mighty! The King is mighty!"

Some people even jumped up and shouted, waving their arms and shouting...

The many men who had just been freed from their bonds were so frightened that they repeatedly lowered their heads...

Su Wu raised his hand again to press down: "Enough, enough... There are still many important matters to attend to, one by one!"

And so, the shouts of the crowd gradually subsided...

Like commander, like soldiers. Su Wu was actually a reserved person, so most of his generals were not reckless. Usually, only one or two people would act recklessly, namely Wu Song and Lu Da.

Of course, opinions vary. Some people see Su Wu as reserved and modest, while others see him as treacherous and cunning...

Su Wu got down to business: "We should quickly send men across the river to gather all the Jiangxia ships. The Ruan brothers should handle this..."

Just as the Ruan brothers were about to rise to receive the order, Su Wu pressed them down and continued, "Prime Minister Liu has one task: to pacify all the armies in Jinghu, ordering them to return to their hometowns and camps, and to keep them under control to prevent any banditry or disturbance. As for pacifying them, this is my suggestion. All past transgressions will be forgiven, and each person will receive three strings of cash..."

Liu Yanqing was about to speak, but Su Wu raised his hand to stop him again. There was too much to do, so let's simplify things. He continued, "Send a fast cavalryman back to cross the Han River and have Wang Fu come to Hanyang as soon as possible..."

Yan Qing didn't get up, but simply bowed and nodded.

Su Wu proceeded slowly, handling every detail meticulously...

In the inner palace, Cheng Wanli bowed deeply before the emperor.

The emperor himself didn't bother to look at him. He was angry, but he dared not confront Su Wu, though he certainly dared to confront Cheng Wanli...

Cheng Wanli said helplessly, "Your Majesty, this is not what I wish to see..."

"You still want to put on this pretentious act..." the emperor said.

Cheng Wanli could only sigh and say, "I would never wish to see the world in chaos and the people suffering..."

Cheng Wanli was extremely worried, because he knew that with the escape of Prince Zhao Gou, his concern was that Wang Mang would usurp the Han throne and Liu Xiu would rise again.

"You've become the emperor's father-in-law, so your son must be the emperor's brother-in-law too. He might even become the Minister of the Three Departments or the Minister of Revenue in the future. And your daughter? She's the empress... Hmph... Why are you still saying all this?"

Even if the emperor harbored some anger or hatred at that moment, he dared not reveal it; yet, this strange and ambiguous demeanor was unavoidable...

Cheng Wanli was suddenly taken aback, a complex and bewildered expression appearing on his face...

The emperor mentioned something: his daughter would become empress, something he had never imagined before…

only……

Looking back now, was it possible that the son-in-law had long since grown to dislike his daughter? Not because he disliked his beloved daughter, but because he disliked his father-in-law?
after all……

"What? You're not happy with such honor? You're not pleased?" the emperor continued sarcastically.

Cheng Wanli suddenly fell silent...

"Utterly hypocritical!" Seeing Cheng Wanli's demeanor, the emperor became much bolder.

"Your Majesty, alas... I don't know what to say. As long as the world remains peaceful, that would be the best outcome..."

Cheng Wanli was filled with complex emotions; many things were crammed together, and even an ultimate question lingered in his mind...

Did I do it right? Or did I do it wrong?
What did we do right? What did we do wrong?
The two, ruler and subject, didn't exchange many words for a moment; there was some disagreement and mutual misunderstanding...

After a long while, as the people in the front hall dispersed, several footsteps began to approach the back hall.

Cheng Wanli quickly stepped aside, and saw Su Wu stride in with the air of a dragon and the gait of a tiger. He had already taken off his armor and was wearing the python robe of the Prince of Yan.

Just look ahead, and the emperor suddenly stood up as well, making way for Su Wu, his subconscious action to offer him his seat.

Su Wu smiled and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, please sit in the center, and I will sit to the side."

"How could this be..." The emperor dared not, thinking that Su Wu was testing him again, and if things went wrong, he would have to drag him to the water's edge to float across the Yangtze River...

To everyone's surprise, Su Wu laughed heartily: "How can this be unacceptable? It is acceptable... After all, at this moment, Your Majesty is still the Emperor, and I am merely the Prince of Yan. This is how it should be; propriety cannot be disregarded!"

As he spoke, Su Wu reached up and pulled at the large iron clamp again...

There was no other way; the emperor sat in the center, and Su Wu sat on the left.

For a moment, the emperor was still somewhat uneasy, and on the large chair, he only sat on the edge...

But Su Wu suddenly asked, "Does Your Majesty truly not know how to float?"

Startled, Zhao Ji's buttocks sprang up from the edge of the chair, and he hurriedly replied, "I knew how when I was young. There was a pond at home where I could float and swim..."

"Oh, I see..." Su Wu nodded, having finally understood something. It was a very small matter, purely out of curiosity, with no other intention. Seeing that the emperor had stood up, Su Wu gestured for him to sit, saying, "Please sit, Your Majesty."

The emperor nodded blankly and sat down in a daze.

Suddenly, Su Wu spoke up again: "Why don't you go to the side room to rest for a while, Your Majesty? You must be tired today..."

The emperor had barely sat down when he bounced up halfway up his buttocks again, nodding repeatedly: "Very good, very good..."

As he spoke, the emperor walked out, and Su Wu waved his hand, signaling Yan Qing to make the arrangements.

Once the emperor left, Su Wu didn't move his seat, but his expression darkened slightly.

Cheng Wanli then stood up and said, "The escape of the Ninth Prince Zhao Gou this time is bound to be a great threat. We must find him... There are also many members of the imperial clan. We must find their family genealogies, name them one by one, and take charge of them one by one..."

Su Wu was somewhat surprised and looked at his father-in-law. This... was quite thoughtful.

As for Zhao Gou being a major threat, Su Wu didn't care much. He simply said, "Send Lu Da to Jiangnan and Liangzhe to find Wang Xun and have him take charge of the Jiangnan and Liangzhe region!"

With Wang Xun and Lu Da present, it would have been impossible for Zhao Gou to settle down in the Jiangnan and Liangzhe regions...

The only places Zhao Gou could go were even more remote and distant...

Fujian, the eastern and western routes of Guangnan, and even the mountainous areas of Yunnan and Guizhou...

In fact, Zhao Gou couldn't settle down in Fujian, because Lu Junyi had already gone there to do business, such as shipbuilding. This was an arrangement made long ago...

They were all accompanied by elite men.

Therefore, the only place Zhao Gou could go was to Guangnan and the other two routes, which were indeed places that Su Wu's influence had not yet reached at this time...

Thinking about it this way, it actually reveals something: Zhao Gou could not possibly establish another Southern Song Dynasty.

First, the emperor has neither died nor been lost, nor has he fallen into the hands of foreign tribes. He has no divine mandate and his legitimacy is insufficient.

Secondly, he didn't have that much influence, and he didn't have an elite Han army base around him, nor did he have anyone who could build up the imperial court system.

Third, and most importantly, he lacked a wealthy territory with abundant resources and manpower.

If he were to head towards Guangnan and the other two routes... where else could Zhao Gou go?

Jiaozhi or something like that? He probably won't go there; those are the mountains of Yunnan and Guizhou, and as for Yunnan... that's the Kingdom of Dali...

Thinking about this, it's understandable that plans are being made; doing it this way is actually a good idea...

As an independent state, Dali needed a legitimate way to be incorporated into the territory. Driving Zhao Gou to Dali would be like a pillow coming to someone who was sleepy.

Su Wu was also surprised that Zhao Gou had actually managed to escape ahead of time, and even suspected that this man might still harbor some ambition or thought...

Looking back now, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. Many things need a legitimate excuse, not just in Dali. Wherever he goes, there will inevitably be people who want to support him...

Once this matter has passed, the people of the area, the powerful clans and wealthy families, will be found guilty, since land is the most important means of production...

Today, most of the land in Yanyun is in Su Wu's hands. Hebei is actually easy to deal with; the wealthier the family, the more casualties and looting they suffer. It's not difficult to take control of it...

Guangnan East and West Roads, and even Fujian, are actually far from the emperor's reach and have a small population. When the time comes, they will follow the army to pursue and fight Zhao Gou. They will simply treat the wealthy and powerful as rebels and deal with them all...

The emperor is far away and can't cause much trouble. As long as the common people benefit, no matter how much or how little, there shouldn't be any major problems...

The truly difficult areas are the Northwest, the Nanjing region of Henan, the areas north and south of Jinghu, the Huai River region, Sichuan, and Hanzhong...

There are two more places I haven't mentioned: one is the Jiangnan region (Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces), and the other is eastern Jiangsu...

In the Jiangnan and Zhejiang regions, some places were easier to deal with. Su Wu had been acquiring large quantities of goods in areas once ravaged by bandits. The real big players were actually in a state of devastation, so they weren't difficult to deal with...

On the contrary, those places that had not been ravaged by bandits, such as Suhu...

This depends on Qin Hui and Wang Fu. Wang Fu is actually incompetent; he lacks both methods and ability. Qin Hui, on the other hand, is very resourceful...

Jingdong was Su Wu's stronghold, and many of the powerful families there were also his supporters... Jingdong could only be dealt with last. What to do? The strategy was to first let them gain huge profits beyond the land itself, and then semi-forcibly seize the land...

Therefore, a combination of slaps and sweet dates should work.

As for the capital region and Henan, let the people of Jingdong fight it out. Let them come to the capital and defeat the powerful families of the capital region, one by one, until they are ruined...

Therefore, we should first stabilize the Central Plains, and then gradually make our move.

Su Wu understood one thing deeply: as long as there was support from the common people, the country would never descend into chaos...

But now that we've arrived at Jinghu, we must get started.

Su Wu looked at Qin Hui and beckoned him: "Come closer, I have important matters to report!"

Qin Hui stepped forward, his heart filled with more anticipation than trepidation, and bowed, saying, "I will obey Your Majesty's orders!"

Su Wu said, "Go and compile a list of all the prominent families in the prefectures and counties of Jinghu. This shouldn't be too difficult, should it?"

Qin Hui nodded: "No problem at all. I will personally lead the team to make the trip and ensure that nothing is overlooked!"

"Alright, get started now. You'll remain the Censor-in-Chief, and we'll also transfer several hundred soldiers from the army to go with you..."

Su Wu waved his hand and said, "This is the first step. The second step is to have Qin Hui submit a memorial to the throne, pointing out which family or household has committed the crime of assisting the emperor in causing chaos in the country."

Yes, it's the crime of aiding the emperor in bringing chaos to the country. How could there be such a crime?

Even the emperor has confessed his sins, so how could they not be guilty?
If the emperor is guilty, they are even more guilty! The emperor is causing chaos in the country, and instead of thinking of being loyal to the country and offering honest advice even at the cost of their lives, they sit idly by and watch the emperor make mistake after mistake, even providing him with money and supplies to aid his tyranny. Is this loyalty and righteousness? Is this the teaching of the sages?
Those who are guilty must be punished!
Qin Hui will handle it!

When Su Wu said that past mistakes would not be punished, he meant that the soldiers would not be held accountable for their past actions, since they were not scholars but simply followed orders.

If a family of scholars, guided by sages and deeply understanding of righteousness, still makes mistake after mistake and aids the wicked, then their sins are unforgivable!
Of course, all of this is just a title. The real key to accomplishing this task is not anything else, but the overwhelming power of the army right now, which can quickly and decisively resolve the situation!
If one were to ask what the future holds, and Su Wu were to become emperor, and one day realize his mistakes, how could Qin Hui not be a traitor who brought disaster to the country and its people?

How could Su Wu not be a wise ruler who avenged countless wronged people?

It is inevitably still the mindset of an emperor.

Qin Hui, however, was overjoyed, wondering what the second and third steps would be. He only cared about getting the job done, so he bowed and said, "This humble official will certainly handle this matter properly!"

Su Wu waved his hand and said, "Go..."

Qin Hui quickly turned around and asked which soldiers were to be transferred from.

Five hundred soldiers from Jingdong, and another five hundred soldiers from various places were drawn from there. After all, having local people would make things twice as easy.

Su Wu gradually developed a sense of strategy. This country was complex, and the mess was difficult to clean up.

Some things need to be dealt with decisively, while others should be tackled gradually.

We have to sort this mess out somehow.

There are also official matters and military affairs, one after another, which inevitably puts immense pressure on one's body and causes one to frown for a time.

As for matters of officialdom, we should return to the capital to deal with them, employing a variety of methods.

Beforehand, summon Wang Fu and others, and have him work with the emperor to first produce the emperor's edict of self-reproach and distribute it throughout the country.

After Su Wu stabilized the situation in Hanyang, he had one more extremely important thing to do: to personally travel northwest to Xiangyang and meet with Zhong Shizhong.

With the Emperor's decree in hand, there was no time to lose. This was the final act of this war, and it also concerned the future stability of the entire Northwest.

As long as the matters in the Northwest are settled, there will be no worries.

Su Wu trusted Zhong Shizhong very much. As long as Zhong Shizhong nodded, Su Wu would never worry about anything in the Northwest again.

Even Xingqing Prefecture, the four prefectures of Hexi, the Hetao region, and the areas north and south of Yinshan...

This vast area really needs someone who can keep it under control.

Without hesitation, Su Wu led 5,000 cavalrymen to Xiangyang, not even spending the night in Hanyang, but traveling through the night.

Serving as a soldier for Su Wu was truly hard work, but the soldiers had no complaints and simply followed along at full speed...

……

Su Wu arrived in person at the foot of Xiangyang City, his banner bearing the character "Yan" fluttering in Zhong Shizhong's sight.

Zhong Shizhong stood atop the city wall, his face deeply lined with wrinkles, while Ma Qin beside him asked, "General, how did the Prince of Yan manage to come from the south?"

Zhong Shizhong uttered a single sentence: "It seems the matter in Hanyang is already settled..."

"A crushing defeat at Hanyang? What about the Emperor? Could he have been captured by the Prince of Yan? Or perhaps killed?" Ma Qin's face was filled with shock.

"What's the big deal? Didn't you expect this? Stop pretending!" Zhong Shizhong retorted directly...

Ma Qin gave an awkward smile: "This... is to be expected, but I wonder how the Emperor is doing..."

Just then, a swift cavalry came from outside the city. Upon reaching the city walls, they shouted, "Lord Zhong, this is an imperial edict from the Emperor! Please receive it!"

Zhong Shizhong sighed softly, "Continue..."

Ma Qin went to give instructions regarding the equipment in the hanging basket, then turned back to Zhong Shizhong: "General, the Emperor has been captured..."

"The imperial edict has arrived, how could I not know?" Zhong Shizhong's tone was truly unpleasant.

"Then..." Ma Qin wanted to ask many questions... but seeing the complicated expression on Zhong Shizhong's face, he dared not ask or say anything rashly...

The imperial edict had indeed arrived. Ma Qin retrieved it and respectfully presented it to Zhong Shizhong.

Upon opening the document, the content was simple and certainly not some declaration of surrender...

The emperor first exchanged pleasantries and inquired about Zhong Shizhong's health. Then, the emperor repented, admitting that he had made many grave mistakes. He then instructed Zhong Shizhong to open the city gates and negotiate peace with the King of Yan, urging him to never again engage in fratricide.

It really is the Emperor's own handwriting. This stroke of the pen is so distinctive, unlike anything seen before or since!
Slowly closing the imperial edict, Zhong Shizhong sighed, "Alas... the Emperor..."

Ma Qin asked, "Old Marshal, what should we do?"

"What else can we do? The imperial edict has already arrived, and you still want to fight?" Zhong Shizhong couldn't help but be sarcastic.

Ma Qin was still embarrassed: "Then I won't fight anymore, hehe..."

"You little rascal, you've finally gotten what you wanted... Oh well... it's just a pity that you won't get any credit for supporting the emperor..."

The seed master's heart wasn't exactly comfortable, but it wasn't unbearable either; in short, it was incredibly complicated.

"What does it matter? As long as my brothers haven't died in vain at our hands, and as long as our old commander remains strong and vigorous, I, your humble servant, will have my day to rise again..."

Ma Qin was also very straightforward in front of Zhong Shizhong. All that pretense and posturing was just an act for the old marshal's benefit. How could he not know who the old marshal was? Such a small trick wouldn't fool him at all…

He only hoped that these words would lessen the old general's guilt...

Zhong Shizhong looked at Ma Qin: "You are a skilled warrior, still young, and possess a sharp mind. You have a bright future ahead of you..."

"That's because the old marshal has shown me immense kindness and promoted me..."

“Alright, go open the door. I want to see the Prince of Yan…” Zhong Shizhong waved his hand.

"Alright!" Ma Qin flew off quickly.

Before long, two people stood on the city wall: Su Wu and Zhong Shizhong.

Zhong Shizhong murmured, "Back then, who would have thought that you would achieve such a great thing..."

"My lord knows that this is a last resort..." Su Wu sighed.

Zhong Shizhong waved his hand: "I'm afraid you've already made up your mind a long time ago..."

"That's true... Never mind, I really did have this idea all along. It's not that I'm disloyal or unjust, it's just that the world is truly in a state of utter chaos, beset by internal and external troubles. The Zhao emperor is no fit to be a ruler!"

It's time to be frank. Su Wu knows that sincerity will be exchanged for sincerity, and in return, he will be able to hold down the Northwest in his place!

Su Wu trusted the loyalty and righteousness of these people. Putting aside everything else, he was certain that he would not allow the Northwest to fall into the clutches of foreign invaders.

This is true loyalty and righteousness!

Zhong Shizhong sighed. He didn't comment on the emperor, so he didn't respond to Su Wu's words.

Su Wu continued, “The Northwest must not be thrown into chaos. We finally defeated the Dangxiang and destroyed their kingdom. We must not allow another barbarian state to rise in the Northwest. Therefore, the Northwest is of paramount importance. The Dangxiang tribes must be dealt with with utmost care, as well as the Yedu Gua of the grasslands and the tribes further west. We must not let them see the weakness of the Central Plains. We must let them see the prosperity of the Central Plains. Lord Zhong, it is our duty!”

Zhong Shizhong nodded and sighed...

Su Wu continued, “Now that we have the four prefectures of Hexi, we will also establish the Protectorate of the Western Regions in the future. This is the way of the Han and Tang dynasties. If we can accomplish this, we will truly be fulfilling the mandate of heaven, and we will be worthy of our ancestors and our descendants. No matter what the emperor’s name is, no matter where the mandate of heaven is, this is our duty!”

Zhong Shizhong slowly turned his head, looking at Su Wu, at Su Wu's face and eyes, for a long time...

Then he nodded: "You're right..."

"Alright! Enough said, my lord, please accept my bow!" Su Wu bowed respectfully, first standing up straight, then placing his hands in his pockets and bending forward at a ninety-degree angle.

Zhong Shizhong hurriedly came to help him up: "You must keep your word today. Even if I don't live to see that day, if you fail to do so, I will find you even in the afterlife!"

“It’s a deal!” Su Wu nodded.

Zhong Shizhong suddenly took two steps back, and just like Su Wu had done, bowed deeply: "Greetings, Your Highness, Prince Yan!"

Su Wu quickly stepped forward to help, saying, "The coffin of Old Master Zhong will arrive tomorrow; you can take it back with you!"

Upon hearing these words, Master Zhong immediately burst into tears...

Zhong Shizhong also said: "From now on, I will not concern myself with matters in Tokyo... I will only follow whatever imperial edict comes my way..."

"Alright!" Su Wu said nothing more, only nodded slightly...

The two stood together on the city wall, silent...

Just look at the vast, boundless earth...

(End of this chapter)