The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 361 Anti-Rightist Campaign
On the 26th day of the third month of the first year of Guanghua, Li Zan, Li Renmei and other troops escorted the prisoners to Bian.

After the Bian army was defeated at Tongguan, some of them followed Zhu Youyu and wanted to go south of the Yangtze River.

This group has been annihilated in the Yi River, with over 7,000 captured.

The remaining troops were scattered all over the ground.

The two Lis traveled along the Shaanxi, Henan, and Zhengzhou routes, suppressing and pacifying the enemy, and recruited more than 50,000 people.

There are still many rebel soldiers who have not accepted the offer of amnesty or have not received the news. But they are no longer a concern; once the rule extends into the central plains and counties, they will naturally disappear.

The army approached Suanzao Gate.

When the local people and defeated soldiers gathered around recognized some of the Bian soldiers with different unit numbers in the ranks, they angrily threw clods of dirt and stones at them.

Since the start of the war, which family hasn't been forced into labor or had people kidnapped?
The current state of being riddled with problems is both a result of the actions of the Zhu family and their sons, and also a consequence of your willingness to be used by them and aiding and abetting their tyranny.

Along with the soldiers, there were also many officials and generals being escorted.

The generals and soldiers pressed their heads down hard, trying to avoid being hit in the face, as the prison carts held them in place.

What should have been a 15-minute journey took a full hour with the tacit approval of the two Lis.

It wasn't until the army stopped outside Suanzao Gate that countless people finally couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You dog! If you weren't so incompetent, how could the Great Liang Dynasty have fallen to this state?"

"Who was it that led the young marshal to commit patricide and regicide? Who was it that fought amongst themselves in Luoyang, wreaking havoc? And who was it...?"

"You fart!"

"Look, what's hanging from the city gate? Isn't it Dalang?"

"It's rotten, no one would recognize it."

"Wasn't he going south?"

"They caught Emperor Li so quickly?"

"That man in green upstairs looks so familiar, it's Emperor Li!"

Swish swish!
A sharp crack of a whip interrupted the pot-dividing meeting, and bloodstains immediately appeared on the heads of the disheveled people.

"Quiet down, all of you! You're driving me crazy, you'll kill me!"

The soldiers had whipped them quite a bit along the way, and everyone knew how severe the beating was, so they reluctantly shut their mouths.

"Get into formation and sit down!" The soldiers walked through the crowd, relaying the order.

Li Zan and Li Renmei dismounted and quickly entered the city, climbing the steps.

On the gate tower, a saint in green robes stood with his hands behind his back.

"General of the Holy Tang Dynasty and Military Governor of Tian'an Army, Li Renmei, pays his respects to the Great Sage!" Li Renmei removed his armor and bowed, saying in awe, "The Emperor ordered His Majesty and his ministers to join forces to attack Liang and pursue Zhu Da. We were to take Bianzhou, but we did not expect that the Great Sage had been in Bianzhou for so long after eliminating the traitors. We have only just arrived."

“It’s normal for a large army to move slowly,” the sage said, turning around. “Please sit down.”

"Thank you, Great Sage."

"Are Henan Prefecture and Zhengzhou safe?"

Li Renmei has a history of answering questions.

"Yang Shouliang hasn't made any moves, has he?"

Li Zan sneered, "That fellow has the heart of a thief, but not the guts. We left 10,000 troops to keep an eye on him, and they're very obedient."

"Very good." The emperor felt somewhat relieved and nodded.

We can deal with this person later; the most urgent task is to pacify the Central Plains.

"How much will be surrendered?" the sage asked again.

“More than 50,000.” Li Zan thought for a moment and said, “After a rough screening, more than half of them were civilians recently recruited by the rebels and local militias from various prefectures who were brought to Bianliang in the past two years. It didn’t take much effort to incorporate them.”

"Release the new recruits and militia on the spot." This was something he had planned long ago. As the situation shifted from seeking survival to seeking order, continuing the old policy of high-pressure tactics against prisoners was no longer feasible. The sage said, "Let the warriors, as is customary, be let three out of three die. I estimate there will still be about ten thousand left. After I reorganize the captured Bian army, we can combine them into one army."

“Great Sage,” Li Renmei hesitated, “the people of the Central Plains have long been alienated from me. If it weren’t for the Great Sage, I fear the world would have already been usurped by Zhu Wen. It doesn’t seem right to make an exception like this.”

Li Zan agreed, saying, "Among these people, many were indeed forcibly conscripted, but quite a few volunteered for the army. The Zhu family has wreaked havoc on the world, and these unruly people, instead of seeking revenge against Zhu, have repeatedly rebelled against us. If we don't teach them a lesson, they'll think we're weak and helpless! If we wipe them out completely now, we can prevent future troubles and serve as a warning to all."

“Among ten households, there must be some who are loyal and trustworthy.” The sage patted the two men on the shoulder and laughed, “There are also those who are loyal and righteous but are coerced into following him. How can we kill them all? According to you, we might as well kill all the people in the Central Plains. After all, they have all done their part for the Zhu family.”

It is only right to punish the worst and most unruly, and to reform those who can be redeemed.

"Your Majesty is kind and benevolent." Li Renmei bowed and said, "Then what about the generals and officials—"

"Lock up the civil officials and clerks first, and let them handle it when the imperial court arrives."

The imperial court is already on its way, but it is moving slowly because it is surrounded by its concubines and children.

After saying this, the sage glanced at a corner of the city. Zhang Hui should already be carrying out the purge, right?
The purge of the Bian army was planned long ago. Considering that there were still a large number of prisoners under the command of the two Lis, today was the day for the purge.

"Generals...those of ten or above shall be sent to the Green Bamboo Training Ground."

"According to the order."

……

The Green Bamboo Training Ground was located in the northwest of Bianliang City, adjacent to the inner city. It was originally one of the garrisons of the Changzhi Army, responsible for Zhu Wen's safety. It was a large courtyard surrounded on all four sides, with twelve gates for quick entry and exit. In the center was a large open space made of rammed stone bricks. Along the surrounding walls were guardhouses, armories, and a straw shooting range. It was named Green Bamboo because of the bamboo grove outside the east wall.

Early this morning, the drill ground was bathed in the warm glow of spring.

At the end of March, between spring and summer, the heat had already intensified. The vast area had few shady trees, which, although necessary for fire prevention and defense against spying, would cause intense heat waves under the sun, making it unbearable to stand.

But now it's packed with people.

Before dawn, Shui Wusheng, under orders, led several hundred soldiers into the drill ground through one of the west gates and seized control of the west wall. Hao Zuo, Yang Gui, and others arrived one after another from the other gates. Finally, the surrendered soldiers and generals captured at the Yi River were summoned.

Wang Yanzhang surveyed the entire area and saw a forest of people, but the surrendered soldiers were not wearing armor or carrying weapons, so they did not appear to have much of an imposing presence.

Generals Zhang Xian and Murong Zhang were directly in front, surrounded by a group of armored soldiers. Many officers on mules were shouting and going in and out, reporting military affairs.

The scene seemed familiar. Wang Yanzhang recalled that a few years ago when he was still a junior officer in the government office, he often watched from afar as Pang Shigu and Zhang Cunjing went to war, displaying a far more imposing demeanor than this.

But now, Wang Yanzhang was just looking at Zhang Xian and the others, no longer feeling any awe.

Just then, the east gate rang.

Then a group of female Taoist priests and scribes escorted the Celestial Immortal Lord into the room. The scribes were all dressed in pure white round-necked robes, looking capable and efficient, like ministers. They must have been Emperor Li's close confidantes and attendants, assigned to the Celestial Immortal Lord.

Although those female Taoist priests were all fake female Taoist priests kept in the deep palace by Zhu and his son for their own and their subordinates' pleasure, they were all graceful and colorful, with pink lips and exquisite makeup. They were still wearing Taoist robes of various colors and walking with light steps, exuding a fairy-like charm.

The women stepped onto the reviewing stand, spread out their positions, and revealed themselves to be celestial goddesses.

She wore a Taoist robe with a red outer layer and a blue inner layer, with a tube top underneath. Her hair was piled high, with two large strands hanging down her neck. Her wide sleeves hung down, and her hands were clasped together below her chest. Even from this distance, one could almost see the coldness, the dazedness, and the melancholy on her face.

Sure enough, she was different from the group of glamorous and cheap women around her.

Wang Yanzhang stared blankly at the cleavage revealed by the outfit—at this time, female Taoist priests also wore strapless tops, but their deliberately seductive and alluring style was intended to please others and themselves.

"Alas," Wang Yanzhang lamented, at a loss for words.

I also felt a deep sense of regret.

The once pure and conservative goddess is now dressed like this. How can this be!

It's all the saint's fault for turning the Empress into this shameless person!
I hate!

The generals on Murong Zhang's side all bowed in salute, and the surrendered soldiers were also in a stir of surprise. They thought they were going to be lectured by some minister or emperor, receiving a lecture on gratitude, but instead they met Zhang Hui.

But it's even better.

Although the group wasn't familiar with her, she was always very kind to people.

Before long, Huangfu Lin rushed over and said, "The Celestial Immortal Lord wants you to come over."

Wang Yanzhang mounted his horse and followed Huangfu Lin.

Upon reaching the bottom of the platform, since Zhang Hui had no official title, the two dismounted and stepped forward to bow slightly to the generals, which was considered a gesture of respect.

Zhang Hui calmly walked to the makeshift prayer mat and knelt down.

Huangfu Lin bowed his head obediently and jogged forward.

Zhang Hui glanced sideways and whispered a few words.

Huangfu Lin walked to the edge of the platform and shouted, "All officers and generals of the army, and above, come forward and listen to my instructions."

A row of soldiers shouted twice more in unison.

The qualified warriors stepped forward one after another and gathered at the reviewing stand.

At the same time, Zhang Hui waved his hand, and a martial artist wearing shackles and a sign hanging around his neck was brought onto the stage.

It was Liu Chongxin, Zhu Youyu's chief bodyguard.

Many of the generals on the field had seen him before, or at least recognized him.

A sudden buzz of noise rose from the crowd.

The generals looked around, their faces filled with ruthlessness, and their eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

The Bian army surrounding them also changed their expressions, becoming menacing.

“…You!” A strong sense of foreboding welled up in Liu Chengzhi’s heart, and he shouted at the stage: “Since the King of Wu has already pardoned us, why does the sage go back on his word? Is he not afraid of causing an uproar?”

There are still many remnants of the Bian army on the defense lines of Yanzhou, Yunzhou, Xuzhou, Caizhou, and Huaihe River!
"You traitors and rebels, attempting to overthrow the Tang Dynasty, should have expected this day to come. Do you think accepting amnesty and surrendering is like two armies fighting for supremacy or two nations vying for power? Losing means serving your respective masters, not causing harm. Since ancient times, rebellion has meant death, and given your status, you deserve to die even more!" Murong Zhang said sternly.

"Fuck your mother, Murong Zhang!" Liu Han rushed out of the crowd and cursed, "Weren't you Zhu Wen's lackey back then?"

He pointed and gestured around, his finger sweeping over Wang Yanzhang and the others: "And all of you, who isn't a henchman of Zhu Wen?" "You filthy bitch Zhang Hui, you're the Empress of Civilization of the Great Liang! Shouldn't you be torn to pieces even more!"

Zhang Hui remained expressionless.

"Hmph." Murong Zhang snorted coldly and laughed, "Back in Hezhong, knowing that things were hopeless, I led my troops to defect. And Tianxianjun, General Wang, and others immediately went to court to plead guilty after Zhu Wen was beheaded. How can we compare them? Since the beginning of our difficult times, the Holy Dynasty has always been lenient towards those of us who were forced to join the rebels but turned back in time, hoping to reform us. But you, you have struggled until you were completely exhausted. The Holy Tang has never been lenient towards such people."

The noise from the front quickly reached the back.

The soldiers were in an uproar.

They were now completely surrounded, the courtyard gate was tightly closed, and powerful bows and crossbows were poised to fire on all four walls, making escape virtually impossible.

They simply couldn't believe it—Zhang Huihui, whom everyone had always trusted, and who at least had a basic level of credibility within the military…

We've been scammed!

"Zhang Hui betrayed me! Zhang Hui betrayed me!"

"I told you long ago that Emperor Li ruined her body and made her mentally unstable. Look at her clothes, you can't trust her at all!"

"Oh, oh, oh! Didn't the King of Wu speak so kindly? Waaah..."

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die!"

"May Murong Zhang's whole family die, and may your whole family die sooner or later!"

"Help me! Someone please help me!"

Zhang Hui stood up and said loudly, "Zhu Wen died, and soon after, rebel soldiers stormed the palace to rape me. When Zhu Dalang first succeeded to the throne, the court showed its intention to pardon him. Why did you all refuse to turn back and insist on following the traitor? Since you were unjust and vicious first, don't blame me and the Emperor for betraying you later."

"Zha Zhu was just a minor military officer in Taiyuan Prefecture. Now he is a general. Wu Xiong once defended Wang Xingyu against the royal army... Is it that the sage is not lenient enough towards those who are willing to repent? Is it that the Holy Tang Dynasty is not benevolent enough towards surrendered officials?"

"Hmph!" Zhang Hui swept his gaze across the audience below: "Even disregarding that, some of you eat human livers and suck women's blood. Some lead troops, leaving no one alive in their wake. Some have raped thousands of women. Some spend their days and nights plotting rebellion with Zhu Dalang. Some openly talk about digging up Zhaoling, burning Chang'an, and slaughtering all the officials..."

At this point, she raised an eyebrow, her fierce gaze blazing: "How can these people be forgiven? The only ones who can forgive you are people like Shi Hu, Zhu Can, and Zhu Wen. Your only fate is to go to hell."

“What you say is absolutely right, Madam.” Huangfu Lin and the other generals were awed.

"Liu Chengzhi!" Zhang Hui searched around and called out, "I know you have never participated in the rebellion, you are a kind person, and you took the initiative to surrender and kill Zhang Jilong, helped the royal army to capture the city, and captured the Zhu family members. The emperor said that your official rank and title will remain the same. Come to me quickly, lest you be beheaded by the wrong person later."

Liu Chengzhi's emotions shifted from initial shock and anger towards the court and Zhang Hui, to resentment towards the wicked soldiers after being reprimanded by Zhang Hui, who had implicated him and made him believe he was doomed. He was pondering how to seize a knife and break out of the encirclement when Zhang Hui singled him out and spoke to him. His feelings were like a rollercoaster ride.

Upon seeing Liu Chengzhi, known for his bravery in the army, being singled out, Liu Han and others, who had intended to organize the surrendered troops to break through the siege, hurriedly said, "Liu Chengzhi! That bitch and Emperor Li are in cahoots, don't believe her!"

Although Liu Chengzhi was hesitant, he was still willing to believe in that sliver of possibility. He immediately sneered and ran towards Zhang Hui.

"You worthless dog!" Liu Han was furious and chased after him to beat him.

The news spread like wildfire, from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred, and the army rioted on the spot, with shouts shaking the heavens on the drill ground.

Zhang Hui glanced sideways at Murong Zhang.

With a wave of their hands, the generals sent a large contingent of soldiers running up the courtyard wall, shouting, "Don't move! Don't move! It's none of your business!"

Zhang Hui also shouted to the generals below the stage: "Those whose names I call, come here to me."

"Shi Qing, the Third Commander of the Right Wing of the Jiama Army."

"Treading on the left flank of the White Army, Commander Liang Zhan."

"Liu Yanzheng, First Commander of the Imperial Cavalry."

"Wu Tingjian, one of the ten generals of the Changzhi Army".

"..."

In the chaos, Zhang Hui called out more than 140 people in one go.

These people rushed up quickly, full of gratitude, shouting "Long live the saint!" At this moment, Wang Yanzhang saw Zhang Hui looking around as if searching for something, but not finding it, and finally his slightly disappointed gaze fell on him.

Wang Yanzhang noticed that Zhang Hui's cold eyes held not only disappointment, but also melancholy and fear.

He could guess how she was feeling at that moment.

He was flustered when he first executed an enemy prisoner, let alone now that a woman was ordering the killing of his own people.

The Empress was disappointed, perhaps because she couldn't find the figure of the Sage.

If he were here, perhaps she would be better off. Or perhaps she wanted the saint to witness her loyalty, and was using emotional blackmail on him—look, for your sake, I killed those who trusted me.

But myself...

Seeing that he was useless, it was inconvenient for him to say more in this situation.

Wang Yanzhang gave Zhang Hui an encouraging and comforting look—Don't be afraid, they deserve to die.

Zhang Hui didn't hesitate for long.

He paused for a moment, then said, "General Murong, you are the Sage's right-hand man, so take it down for the Sage."

After saying that, he turned away from her face.

The remaining generals below the stage began to shout loudly.

"Zhang Hui, you lied to me, you lied to me!"

"I'm innocent! I'm a good person."

"Gentlemen!" Murong Zhang, who was standing on the platform looking down at them, laughed loudly, "We were once colleagues, so don't make a fuss. We'd like to give you a quick death."

Liu Han and his men were unwilling to be killed, but they were no match for the swords and arrows that rained down upon them.

Piles of minced flesh, streams of blood, and the cries and curses still echoed in my ears.

Zhang Hui's face was completely bloodless, and her mouth, chest, and legs were all trembling, but she was trying her best to maintain her posture.

But besides this reverence for life and the moral guilt for ordering the killing of so many people, she found a sense of satisfaction in her heart.

It's even more satisfying than being criticized by a saint.

She hated the warrior.

Now she feels like she understands her ex-husband, her current husband, and the vast majority of military leaders a little better. She guesses they all hate military men as much as she does, and therefore enjoy killing them—because it feels good?

Zhang Hui suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said solemnly, "The war is over, but the evil and its pernicious influence must be eradicated. We must give justice to the people, and give an explanation to the soldiers who fought and the civilians who were harmed. Now that the evil has been eliminated, the rest are all good people and good officials, and will be the trusted henchmen of the Holy Tang Dynasty in the future. The court will soon issue a general amnesty decree, so everyone can rest assured. Men, distribute the wealth bestowed by the Emperor to you all."

"The sage is wise!" The shouts rang out, and the generals, still shaken, calmed down a little, but were not happy.

The treatment of the surrendered soldiers needs no further explanation.

The prisoners captured from Bianliang and Yishui totaled more than 10,000. After releasing the local militia, new recruits, and those forcibly conscripted, the remaining nearly 5,000 were quickly eliminated using the old method of one-third conscription, ultimately resulting in more than 1,000 soldiers.

When the prisoners of the two Lis were brought in, the soldiers escorting them pushed open the courtyard gate and saw the blood mist floating throughout the courtyard, and they immediately gasped in horror.

"Another massacre of Yuncheng by Cao Hua!" a military officer hissed.

"Mistress, how come so many people are dead here?" a surrendered general exclaimed in shock.

Zhang Hui didn't even glance at him. Not wanting to stay a moment longer, she gathered all the survivors, gave some instructions to Murong Zhang, and then rode off with Wang Yanzhang and more than ten generals and over a hundred soldiers, carrying the heads of Liu Han and others to Yuande Hall.

Although it was indecent, she didn't want the price she paid for her actions to go unseen by the saint.

Liu Chengzhi and the others naturally followed, waiting to meet the emperor.

On March 27th, an imperial edict was issued to organize the troops in the eastern suburbs.

Based on the nearly 10,000 surrendered soldiers who had been reorganized, the Fenghua Army and the Xiongjie Army were formed by drawing troops from various armies as the backbone. The two armies had a fixed number of 8,000 men each. The shortfall would be filled by selecting "heroes from all over the country" the following year, which meant recruiting soldiers from all over the country.

In addition, the sage planned to assign two thousand auxiliary cavalry to each of the two armies. These could be from the Liangzhou tribes, the Hexi tribes, or the Lingxia tribes.

Given the terrain of the Central Plains, whether it's a future eastward expedition to Qi and Lu or a northward expedition to Yan and Zhao, it's essential to enhance the mobility of all armies.

There is also a navy.

Of course, he had no idea how to handle this matter yet—he would deal with it after the Central Plains were pacified.

Ge Congzhou of Yuncheng, Yuan Xiangxian of Yanzhou, Niu Cunjie of Songzhou, Wu Ziling and Wang Jingrao of Caizhou—these are all powerful figures. Meanwhile, the various military leaders of Xuzhou are currently sweeping through the Yanzhou-Xuzhou region with the rebellious armies led by Shi Tai, and there are still many enemies to be dealt with.

We need to carefully consider our next strategy.

On the first day of the fourth month, the court officials escorted the imperial concubines to their arrival.

The imperial court took over the metropolis.

Under the supervision of the Censorate, a large number of officials and powerful figures were expelled from prisons and mansions and tried one by one. The most heinous and key figures were executed, the gentry who sided with the rebels were beheaded, those who acted as accomplices were exiled, and officials and clerks who committed minor crimes were demoted to various prefectures and counties in the Western Regions and sent to all corners of the country to promote the royal rule of the Holy Tang Dynasty.

The palace in Bianliang was also filled with wailing and lamentation.

A large group of imperial censors stormed into the Yuande Hall, intending to take away Consort Li, Consort Liu, Chen Jinfeng, Zhu Chacha, and other women to be executed. The Emperor tried every means to pull them away, even deploying his trusted female attendants and imperial censors.

Finally, after repeated promises that they would never be given a formal status and would definitely be sent to a Taoist temple to become nuns, they were saved.

The death penalty was spared for the majority in order to stop the war. But in the eyes of most ministers, these women were intolerable.

After Huang Chao's defeat, what about the wives and concubines of him and his followers, including many princesses and noble ladies?

They dragged him to the palace gate, pinned him to a wooden block, and chopped him down.

Why do we think there were many virtuous women in the Tang Dynasty when we look at history? Because their own punishments were harsh.

At this point, the liquidation process is essentially complete.

After the cleanup was completed, the officials entered the Yuande Hall to see the emperor, where they sat together to discuss state affairs.

"With the two traitors beheaded, this war of pacification should be put to a close and the matter concluded! The true nature of the ruler and his subjects will be revealed in the annals of history at this moment."

The courtiers were solemn, all holding the same thought, yet for a moment they felt somewhat lost and dreamlike.

What should we do now?
(End of this chapter)