Huangming

Chapter 434 A combined approach of suppression and appeasement, troops march on Xuanfu

Qianqing Palace.

The sleeping quarters.

Summer had already arrived.

In the silver basin beside the emperor's bed, the newly replaced ice chest was emitting wisps of cold air.

On the dragon bed.

The brocade half-covered Yu Peizhen's figure; her skin was like solidified cream, and her long hair was spread out on the pillow.

now.

She was awakened by the noise coming from the outer hall. Her eyelashes were still a little sleepy. She groggily looked up at the outside of the tent, her voice soft and sweet from just waking up:
"Your Majesty, what has happened?"

Zhu Youxiao had already lifted the brocade and sat up. He was only wearing a moon-white undergarment, the hem of which hung down to the side of the couch, making his figure appear even more upright.

He glanced back into the tent, his tone softening:
"It's alright, you should rest now."

After saying that, he stepped barefoot onto the ground and walked towards the outer hall.

As soon as he stepped out of the inner palace, the four palace maids waiting under the corridor rushed forward.

The head maid held a bright yellow casual robe, while the other three carried a jade belt, black boots, and a headscarf, respectively.

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand and let the palace maid drape a robe over him.

At the same time, his gaze swept over Wei Chao, who was bowing and standing respectfully below the steps. His voice was so steady that there was not a trace of panic, only a slight furrow in his brow:

"Wang Guoliang has really rebelled? Zhang Heming is really gone? Please explain the whole story."

Wei Chao quickly bowed and stepped forward, holding the neatly arranged military report in both hands, and said:

"Your Majesty, Ma Shilong's urgent report says that the day before yesterday, outside the Zhenguo Mansion, Zhang Heming was confronting Wang Guoliang when he was shot and killed by a stray arrow. The archer was Wang Guoliang's brother-in-law, Hei Yunlong."

Afterwards, Wang Guoliang rebelled in Xuanfu City. Ma Shilong led 700 remnants of the Beijing garrison to break through the siege and is now stationed outside the city. He has sent people to contact three military commanders in Xuanfu who are willing to surrender and requests the court to quickly dispatch the troops of Qi Jin and Chen Ce of the Jizhou garrison to provide assistance.

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly, as if deep in thought, but there was no trace of panic in his eyes.

If things were still unsettled in Liaodong, the rebellion in Xuanfu would likely keep him up all night.

But now that Huang Taiji is dead and the Jurchens have been destroyed, the Beijing Garrison still has 50,000 elite troops, and Jizhou and Shanhaiguan are heavily guarded. A mere Xuanfu Commander-in-Chief cannot stir up any storms that can shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.

He's just a pity.

I had just discussed with the cabinet a few days ago that once the nine border regions were pacified, we would send troops south to reorganize the canal transport in Jiangnan, and then send the navy to Fujian to teach those Western barbarians who harassed the coast a lesson. Unexpectedly, things have fallen apart in Xuanfu, and the whole plan is about to be disrupted.

"Your Majesty, the full text of the urgent report is here."

Seeing the emperor deep in thought, Wei Chao quickly brought the report closer.

Zhu Youxiao reached out and took it, then began to examine it closely:
The details of Zhang Heming's assassination attempt, Wang Guoliang's decision to close the three gates of Xuanfu, and Ma Shilong's warnings about Datong and Shanxi Town's potential response are all listed.

The further he read, the more his brows furrowed, and a hint of coldness finally crept into his voice:

"This Wang Guoliang is truly audacious. Does he think that killing an imperial envoy will bring down my Great Ming Dynasty?"

At this moment, the palace maid had already tied his black boots and handed him a black gauze winged hat.

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand to put on the crown, letting the palace maids adjust it for him. His gaze turned to Wei Chao, and his tone suddenly became decisive:
"Xuandong is only four hundred li away from the capital, and it can be reached by fast horse in a day or two. This matter cannot be delayed."

Go immediately and deliver the imperial decree:

He summoned Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, Second Grand Secretary Liu Yizhu, and other Grand Secretaries Ye Xianggao, Sun Ruyou, Zhu Guozuo, Minister of War Wang Zaijin, and Minister of Revenue Li Ruhua to the East Warm Pavilion for an immediate meeting.

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Wei Chao quickly kowtowed in agreement, turned around and hurried away. His footsteps faded into the distance on the empty palace road and soon disappeared into the night.

Zhu Youxiao stood under the corridor, looking up at the night sky.

The starry sky was exceptionally bright on this summer night, with the Big Dipper clearly visible. A gentle breeze brushed against his clothes, bringing a touch of coolness.

He took a deep breath, and the contemplation in his eyes gradually turned into determination.

Although the plan to appease the nine border regions was interrupted, as long as reinforcements are quickly dispatched to quell Xuanfu and then used to intimidate the other border towns, order in the nine border regions can be restored sooner or later.

As for the matters concerning Jiangnan and the Western Barbarians, it's just a matter of waiting a little longer.

After getting dressed, Zhu Youxiao went to the East Warm Pavilion.

While waiting for his ministers, Zhu Youxiao looked at the map of the nine border regions of the Ming Dynasty and began to think of a plan.

"Your Majesty, your strong tea is ready."

at this time.

Wei Chao walked in quietly, carrying a Ru kiln sky-blue glazed teacup. The teacup contained a bright green tea soup with fine tea foam floating on top, and wisps of steam rose up, carrying a rich tea aroma.

Zhu Youxiao reached out and took it, then took a small sip.

The tea soup was slightly bitter at first, but then a sweet aftertaste spread down my throat. A warm feeling rushed from my lower abdomen to the top of my head. My thoughts, which were muddled from the moment I woke up, gradually became clear as if brushed by a gentle breeze, and even the wrinkles on my brows relaxed a bit.

He put down his teacup, his gaze returning to the map, his finger resting on the post road between "Xuanfu" and "Datong," lost in thought.

In Zhu Youxiao's original plan, all that was needed was to appease the Nine Borders.

By having the generals of each town confess their crimes and pay back the embezzled funds, and by also paying back some of the owed wages, the situation could be stabilized temporarily, freeing up resources to reorganize the canal transport in Jiangnan and deal with the harassment from the Western barbarians in Fujian.

However, Wang Guoliang's murder of the imperial envoy and his rebellion in the city seemed like an unexpected "opportunity".

If we take this opportunity to thoroughly investigate the vacancies in the nine border regions and eradicate the persistent problem of exploitation by military families, wouldn't that be a permanent solution?
The thought had barely crossed his mind when he gently shook his head.

The total number of troops officially registered in Xuanfu, Datong, and various towns in Shaanxi is nearly 400,000. Even if half of them are empty rosters, there are still over 100,000 who are actually capable of fighting.

If they are truly forced to unite in rebellion, the 50,000 elite troops of the Beijing Garrison, plus the Liao army, may be able to quell the rebellion, but they will also suffer heavy losses.

If the northern border is left undefended, and the remaining Tartar forces take the opportunity to move south, the consequences will be unimaginable.

"The main approach should be appeasement, with suppression as a secondary measure."

Zhu Youxiao muttered to himself.

"But Xuan Da must be reformed. Wang Guoliang killed the imperial envoy. If he is not punished, where will the dignity of the court be?"
Wouldn't all the generals of the nine border regions follow his example and disregard the law?

Just as I was pondering this, a series of orderly footsteps sounded outside the pavilion, accompanied by an announcement from a palace attendant:

"Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, Second Grand Secretary Liu Yizhu, and other Grand Secretaries Ye Xianggao are here!"

Zhu Youxiao looked up and saw a group of officials dressed in scarlet and blue robes filing in. The one in the lead, Fang Congzhe, was unsteady on his feet, with some night dew still clinging to his white beard, his face was sallow, and his eyes were somewhat unfocused.

He was over seventy years old and was woken up from a deep sleep in the middle of the night, which was really hard for him to handle.

Ye Xianggao, who followed closely behind, stood up straight. Although he also looked tired, his eyes were sharp, indicating that he had clearly sorted out his thoughts on the way here.

Minister of War Wang Zaijin, Minister of Revenue Li Changgeng, and others also displayed various expressions, some solemn, some anxious, but all stood respectfully in the pavilion and bowed in greeting.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you eternal peace and good health!"

"I am well, you may dispense with the formalities."

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand, his voice steady.

He didn't mince words and went straight to the point.

"Wang Guoliang, the general of Xuanda, plotted a rebellion and murdered Zhang Heming, the imperial commissioner in charge of pacifying the border. Ma Shilong has led his remaining troops to break through the encirclement and is in dire need of reinforcements."

This matter concerns the safety of the nine border regions, so I summoned all my ministers overnight to devise a solution.

Please feel free to speak your mind.

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

The ministers exchanged glances, all understanding the gravity of the matter.

If the assassination of the imperial envoy and the rebellion of the border generals are not handled properly, the entire border region may be engulfed in flames.

All eyes were on Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe.

As the Grand Secretary, he is expected to be the first to answer when His Majesty seeks his advice.

Fang Congzhe slowly straightened up, his voice hoarse but still relatively clear:
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the matter should be handled in four steps:"
First, an imperial edict should be issued immediately, convicting Wang Guoliang of "murdering the imperial envoy and plotting treason," and proclaiming this to all the garrisons along the nine borders, so that the generals of Xuanfu would know that colluding with the rebels would result in the extermination of their entire clan, thus extinguishing any hope of his followers.

Secondly, a capable and experienced general should be quickly selected to lead troops to reinforce Xuanfu and quell the rebellion as quickly as possible to prevent the chaos from spreading.

Thirdly, Zhang Heming was an imperial minister appointed by the court to pacify the border regions. His affairs after his death need to be handled properly, including posthumously granting him official titles and honors, and ensuring the well-being of his descendants, so as to comfort his loyal soul and reassure the court officials.

Fourth, dispatch Imperial Guards to Datong and Shanxi to closely monitor the movements of each town. If any general dares to collude with Wang Guoliang, they can be executed first and reported later, preventing problems before they arise.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Xianggao stepped forward, cupped his hands, and added:

"What the Prime Minister said is generally comprehensive, but I would like to add a few details."

Beyond conviction, mercy is also needed.

If any of the generals in Xuanfu are unwilling to join the rebellion and secretly contact the court, the court must promise to "exonerate them and reward them".

Even those who have already rebelled should be forgiven if they abandon their allegiance to the light, surrender cities, or capture traitors. Only in this way can Wang Guoliang's followers be divided and his support cut off.

As for the troops to quell the rebellion, it would probably not be enough to just mobilize the Sichuan and Southern troops under Qi Jin and Chen Ce.

Jizhou should also send 10,000 men, led by General Liu Qu, to quell the rebellion.

The Beijing garrison is closer to Xuanfu, so a contingent of its elite troops can be sent ahead to form a pincer movement with the Liao army, ensuring a swift victory and denying Wang Guoliang time to coordinate with other garrisons.

"What Elder Ye says is absolutely right!"

Minister of Revenue Li Changgeng quickly echoed this sentiment.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to immediately allocate provisions and requisition supplies from the surrounding prefectures and counties of Xuanfu to ensure that the reinforcements have sufficient provisions."

In suppressing the rebellion, supplies are paramount; we must never allow our soldiers to fight on empty stomachs.

Other officials also spoke up, some adding details about troop deployment, others suggesting ways to appease the military households in Xuanfu. In just a few words, the general strategy for dealing with the Xuanfu rebellion gradually became clear:

With "suppression and appeasement" as the core strategy, the plan was to first convict and announce the rebels to divide them, then send the Beijing garrison and Liaodong troops to quickly defeat them, while simultaneously monitoring the outer towns and ensuring food supplies, and finally properly handling the affairs after the imperial envoy's death.

Zhu Youxiao listened silently from the side.

These people were all pillars of the Ming Dynasty's central government, and the plan they had just proposed was quite comprehensive. However, in Zhu Youxiao's view, it still lacked a certain degree of control over the overall situation.

After the discussions in the hall gradually subsided, Zhu Youxiao slowly spoke.

“What you ministers have said is all reasonable. However, in the matter of suppressing the rebellion, we need to balance speed and stability. I have a few points to add and would like to discuss them with you.”

"Firstly, I intend to appoint Xiong Tingbi as the commander-in-chief to suppress and pacify Xuanfu."

Xiong Tingbi had just pacified Liaodong, and his Liaodong army consisted of elite soldiers who had fought countless battles. He was ordered to immediately lead 10,000 Liaodong soldiers and 20,000 guest soldiers, a total of 30,000 men, southward.

Chen Ce, who has already arrived at Jizhen, can serve as the vanguard and lead his troops to Xuanzhen to join forces with Ma Shilong and stabilize the situation.

Xiong Tingbi excels at overall planning, while Chen Ce excels at tackling key objectives. Their combined efforts ensure the army's ability to advance and retreat with precision.

Upon hearing this, all the ministers nodded secretly.
Xiong Tingbi's methods in suppressing the rebellion in Liaodong were evident to all. He was able to enforce strict military discipline and also knew how to appease the people. With him in command, he was indeed able to keep the situation under control.

The Sichuan and Southern soldiers under Chen Ce's command were known for their bravery, making them perfect for the vanguard.

"Secondly, all grain and fodder supplies were allocated from the Taicang granary in the capital, and were escorted by special personnel dispatched by the Ministry of Revenue to Chen Ce's army camp."

The people of Xuanfu have long suffered from the exploitation of border generals and are already in dire straits. If grain is to be requisitioned from the local area, it could easily incite a peasant uprising. Originally, it was just a general plotting rebellion, but if a peasant uprising is added to the mix, the situation will only become more complicated.

This matter is entrusted to Grand Secretary Li. The grain and fodder will be inspected tomorrow; ensure that the front lines are not short of supplies.

Li Ruhua quickly bowed and replied:
"The minister obeys the order!"

He secretly admired him.
Your Majesty not only considered suppressing the rebellion, but also took the people's livelihood into account. This thoughtfulness is far beyond that of ordinary emperors.

"Thirdly, envoys need to be sent to Datong and Shanxi to appease them with my imperial edict and supplies for the troops."

Zhu Youxiao's gaze fell on the two places "Datong" and "Shanxi" on the map, and his tone became serious.

“Wang Guoliang will definitely send people to win over the two towns, and we cannot let him succeed.”

The edict must clearly state:

If the soldiers of the two towns can strictly guard the border and not collude with the rebels, the imperial court will surely reward them after the rebellion is quelled.

Any general who dares to betray the country will be punished the same as Wang Guoliang, and their entire family will be executed!

Ye Xianggao stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty's plan is brilliant! By rewarding the troops with supplies, you can reassure them, and by issuing edicts, you can deter them from taking action. This will ensure that nothing changes in the two garrisons!"

Zhu Youxiao looked last at the "capital" on the map, his tone becoming increasingly resolute:

"Fourth, three thousand cavalrymen from the capital garrison and two thousand from the Shenji Battalion were transferred, with Cao Wenzhao in command of the cavalry and Cao Wenyao in command of the Shenji Battalion, to rush to Xuanfu immediately."

The Cao brothers had long served in the Beijing garrison and were familiar with cavalry raids and firearms warfare. They could contain the Xuanfu rebels from the flanks and prevent them from expanding outwards.

The Beijing garrison is close to the capital and can depart tomorrow, arriving close to Chen Ce's vanguard.

The soldiers of the Beijing garrison were all trained by the brothers Cao Wenzhao and Cao Wenyao.

Although neither of them had ever led troops into battle, their tactical prowess was evident in several military exercises held in the capital.

The former was skilled in cavalry raids, while the latter was an expert in the use of firearms by the Shenji Battalion. Everyone felt that the appointment was appropriate.

With troops from Liaodong, foreign troops, Sichuan and southern armies, and troops from Jizhou, plus the cavalry of the Beijing Garrison and the Shenji Battalion, the forces sent to quell the rebellion were a veritable gathering of elites, enough to suppress the Xuanfu rebels.

"Your Majesty's strategic planning and meticulous attention to detail leave us humbled and ashamed of our own inadequacy!"

Fang Congzhe was the first to bow in respect, his tone full of admiration.

He was somewhat groggy from being woken up late at night, but after hearing the emperor's supplementary strategy, he felt his mind clear up and most of his fatigue dissipated.

The other ministers also bowed and praised, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand.

Zhu Youxiao had never been interested in such flattery.

"There's no need for such flattery."

The longer the Xuanda Rebellion drags on, the more likely it is to change course.

If Wang Guoliang gains a foothold and then colludes with other border towns, pacification will only become more difficult.

The strategy agreed upon today must be implemented immediately:

The Ministry of War swiftly issued mobilization orders, the Ministry of Revenue prepared provisions, the Ministry of Rites drafted imperial edicts and documents for the envoys, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard cooperated with the envoys to escort the supplies for the troops...

"The army tasked with suppressing the rebellion must set off as soon as possible!"

"I will obey your orders!"

The ministers responded in unison, their voices strong and clear.

After a while.

All the officials dispersed to make arrangements for suppressing and pacifying Xuanzhen.

As imperial edicts were issued from the Qianqing Palace, the Ming Dynasty's war machine was already running at full speed:
Inside the Ministry of War, clerks worked through the night to copy transfer orders, and one fast horse after another galloped out of the office, heading straight for Jizhou, Liaodong, and the capital garrison.

Outside the Ministry of Revenue's granary, soldiers were busy loading grain sacks onto horse-drawn carts, the light of torches illuminating the night sky.

In the Jingying camp, bugles suddenly sounded, waking the soldiers from their sleep. They quickly put on their armor and prepared to assemble.

the other side.

Baoanzhou New Town.

This small town is only a hundred miles away from Xuanfu City. The city wall was just repaired three years ago, and the traces of rainwater washing are still left on the gray brick wall. The beacon towers at the corner of the city stand tall, and the smoke from the lookout point on the top of the tower rises in wisps.

What should have been an ordinary twilight in the border town was made tense by a troop of cavalry galloping in.

"It's the banner of Deputy Commander Ma!"

The sentry on the city wall shouted loudly.

In the distance, a troop of cavalrymen clad in blood-stained armor galloped along the official road, led by Ma Shilong.

His warhorse was nearly exhausted, foaming at the mouth and nose, and the arrow holes in its armor were still stained with dried dark red. The remaining troops of the Beijing garrison behind him, though exhausted, still maintained their formation, their hands gripping their swords and spears without letting up.

The garrison commander Jiang Wu had already received the report from the scouts and personally led the yamen runners and garrison soldiers to wait inside the city gate.

He was about forty years old, slightly overweight, and usually lived a comfortable life in Bao'an Prefecture. Seeing Ma Shilong in such a disheveled state, his face was filled with awe and confusion. He quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"This humble general, Jiang Wu, the garrison commander of Bao'an Prefecture, respectfully welcomes Vice Commander Ma! I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly..."

"No need to be polite."

Ma Shilong dismounted and then said to Jiang Wu:

"Xuanfu City fell, and Wang Guoliang murdered the imperial envoy and plotted a rebellion. I led my troops to break through the siege and arrived here."

Now that I have taken over the state of Bao'an, I hereby issue the following order:

The entire city's garrison assembled, and the military registers and supply ledgers were presented!

Jiang Wu was shocked. Although he was alarmed by the Xuanfu mutiny, he dared not disobey.

Ma Shilong was a deputy commander-in-chief appointed by the imperial court, whose rank was far above that of the garrison commander.

He nodded in agreement and turned to instruct his personal guards to gather the garrison troops, while he led Ma Shilong toward the garrison headquarters.

Before long, 819 soldiers of Baoan Prefecture lined up in the open space in front of the government office.

Ma Shilong personally inspected the troops and incorporated the strongest among them into the remnants of the Beijing Garrison. He also sent his trusted confidants to take over the city gate guards and the granary keys.

Although Jiang Wu still held the title of garrison commander, he had been completely sidelined and could only obediently follow orders from the sidelines.

By the time these things were finished, it was already late at night.

Inside the main hall of the garrison headquarters, candlelight flickered.

Ma Shilong held a bowl of hot tea, but had no appetite for it.

A soldier who had escaped from Xuanfu had just reported to him what Wang Guoliang had been doing these past few days.

They captured and beheaded the garrison eunuch Liu Kun, opened the treasury to provide relief to the people, reissued rations to the military households, and even shouted the slogan "Xuanfu people govern Xuanfu".

"What a clever way to win people's hearts!"

Ma Shilong clenched his fist tightly, the teacup trembling slightly in his hand.

"The lower-ranking soldiers only care about their pay and rations, and the common people only want peace and stability. Wang Guoliang has simply replaced the title of 'rebel' with the pretense of 'speaking out for the people'!"

The more he thought about it, the heavier he became. He had originally thought that Wang Guoliang was only forced to rebel, but he did not expect that the other party would have such means.

If the soldiers and civilians of Xuanfu are truly won over, it will likely take an even greater price to quell the unrest.

Just as he was feeling troubled, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the government office.

Two weary messengers entered, one of them clutching two letters, his face beaming with excitement.
"General! Lieutenant Generals Zhou and Zhao have replied! They are willing to obey your orders!"

Ma Shilong quickly took the letter and read it carefully by candlelight.

In his letter, Zhou Tong, the military commander of Yongning, wrote:

"Wang Guoliang murdered the imperial envoy and plotted rebellion; he shall be condemned by both Heaven and man!"
This humble general is willing to lead three thousand troops, departing immediately from Yongning, to Bao'an Prefecture to await orders and jointly punish the traitor!

The letter from Zhao Chengye, the military advisor of the Southern Route, was even shorter, but his attitude was resolute:

"Shunshengchuan East City has prepared its troops, which will arrive within three days. We are willing to follow the general to quell the rebellion!"

"Good! Good!"

Ma Shilong said "good" twice, and his tense expression finally eased a little.

Zhou Tong and Zhao Chengye each led 3,000 soldiers, plus the remnants of the Beijing garrison and the garrison of Bao'an Prefecture, bringing their total strength to 8,000.

Although not exactly a gathering of elite troops, they still had the confidence to confront Wang Guoliang.

He looked up at the window; the night didn't seem so dark anymore.

"But this Wu Qian..."

Thinking that Wu Qian, the Right Guard Commander of the Upper West Route, had not yet replied, his brows furrowed slightly again.

"They're probably still observing; we need to send someone to inquire further."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the postal bell rang again outside the government office. A rider dressed as a "postal worker" galloped up, nearly falling as he dismounted, holding aloft a document stamped with the Ministry of War's wax seal:

"Vice Commander Ma! Urgent report from the Imperial Court!"

Ma Shilong strode out to greet him, took the document, tore open the wax seal, unfolded it, and his eyes instantly lit up.

It's clearly written in the document:
His Majesty appointed Xiong Tingbi as the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu pacification campaign, leading 10,000 Liao troops and 20,000 guest troops southward.

Chen Ce led the vanguard, commanding 10,000 troops from the south, Sichuan, and Jizhou.

Three thousand cavalrymen from the Beijing Garrison and two thousand from the Shenji Battalion were also transferred, to be led by the brothers Cao Wenzhao and Cao Wenyao, and rushed to Bao'an Prefecture to join them.

Including his own 8,000 men, the total number of troops in the pacification army was 63,000, all of whom were elite Liao troops, elite troops of the Beijing Garrison, and veterans of the Jizhou Garrison!

"Sixty-three thousand people..."

Ma Shilong murmured to himself, feeling completely at peace.

Xiong Tingbi's reputation spread far and wide after he quelled the Jurchen rebellion in Liaodong. With him in command, the rebel army in Xuanfu was intimidated.

Chen Ce's Sichuan and Southern soldiers were brave and skilled in battle, while Cao Wenzhao and Cao Wenyao's Beijing garrison, especially the Shenji Battalion, were equipped with new firearms and cannons.

This troop deployment is more than enough to deal with Wang Guoliang's hastily assembled rebel army.

He walked to the open space in front of the government office, looking at the soldiers preparing in the distance, the ring-pommel sword at his waist gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

"Wang Guoliang!"

Ma Shilong's eyes flickered.

"Do you think that by killing the imperial envoy and winning over the hearts of the people, you can seize the city and start a rebellion?"
Now that heavenly soldiers have gathered, I'll see how you stop them!

This time, he will make Wang Guoliang pay the price.

He was to assist Xiong Tingbi in thoroughly reforming Xuanfu.

If Xuanfu is not restored to a bright and clear world, the stain of the imperial envoy's death will never be washed away from him!

He didn't want his political career to end in Xuanfu!
(End of this chapter)