Chapter 1454 - 1362: Quelling the Rebellion

Zhao Hanzhang was still in her usual attire, smiling as she walked over, but her gaze swept across his face before moving to the other side.

Li Yue stiffly turned his neck to follow her gaze and saw his father stumbling forward with support.

The remaining color in his face finally faded away, replaced by resentment and indignation in his eyes.

It was all because of Father, all because of him!

Clearly, all of this should have been his, why, why give it to Li Ban, why give it to Zhao Hanzhang?

Seeing his son and former good friends pressed to the ground, Li Xiong restrained his complex emotions and respectfully knelt before Zhao Hanzhang, bowing his head, "I am incompetent and lack virtue; unable to restrain my subjects above, and unable to educate my descendants below. I am truly guilty, please, Your Majesty, pass judgment!"

"Endless war ravages the land, your brother embraces righteousness, with his focus solely on the people of the world. Human energy is limited, and it is not your sole fault that your descendants are neglected in their upbringing," Zhao Hanzhang stepped forward to help him up, saying, "People are born between heaven and earth, beyond learning from their parents the ways of the world, they must also learn to comprehend this world."

"Brother is upright, loyal and frugal, setting an example, yet your nephews failed to learn even a fraction from you, which shows it is not your fault, but theirs."

Upon hearing these words, Li Xiong’s anger and sadness transformed into grievance, tears gushing forth uncontrollably; he could only tightly grip Zhao Hanzhang’s hand against his forehead as a sign of reverence and closeness, sobbing, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty... I truly do not know how to teach them, truly do not know how, I have no way left..."

Li Xiong was sobbing uncontrollably, holding her hand while slowly kneeling to the ground, and behind him, Cheng Country’s ministers and soldiers followed suit, kneeling down, feeling the powerlessness Li Xiong felt towards his descendants.

Li Xiong’s voice was poignant amidst the roaring flames, intermittent, "I am merely fortunate; my kin around me have died in war, famine, and cold, supporting each other step by step, today’s reach is only hoping that those within sight can survive, survive..."

"I never wanted to be emperor, I was pushed to this position by noblemen and brothers, not as a ruler, but for shared governance, with the aim to let the people of Ba Shu live on. Since Your Majesty appeared from the Divine Land, my wish has become to let Ba Shu’s people follow Your Majesty to live well and live happily."

"I taught them repeatedly, Cheng Country is not the Li Family’s Cheng Country, but Cheng Country of Ba Shu’s people, yet they just won’t listen, won’t listen..." Li Xiong cried, "I am but one man, merely relying on the benevolence of fathers and brothers to have so many followers, only then did I have today’s glory, why they don’t understand, don’t listen..."

Like a wronged child, Li Xiong wailed, unwilling to rise no matter how Zhao Hanzhang supported him, eventually crying until he lost strength and collapsed to the ground.

Zhao Hanzhang’s heart was also troubled, inheritance education and character issues are also the biggest problems she faces, and might be a huge national problem long-term.

Already a parent, Zhao Hanzhang empathized with him, sighed, finally turning a full glance at Li Yue and Li Qi pressed to the ground, scoffing, "Your only merit in life was to be born to a good father."

Zhao Hanzhang spared the two men, ordered them taken away, then turned her gaze to Li Huan and others.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Above, failing to be loyal to the sovereign and love the people; below, failing to advise the ruler; lacking virtue and ability, for King Cheng’s sake, I spare your families."

Upon hearing their families were spared, Li Huan and others sighed in relief, did not resist, obediently pulled away by soldiers; soon, a few sounds, heads fell, the scent of blood wafted over, some ministers secretly looked over to see the ground not far away stained crimson.

The court soldiers, seemingly intentionally, did not pull them far, executing nearby, the ground was vacant; regardless of intent, anyone present could see by merely lifting their head.

All hearts shuddered, even Xun Fan, following Zhao Hanzhang, slightly turned his head to evade the sight of red.

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression unchanged, she gently yet persistently helped Li Xiong up, "King Cheng, rest assured, I know your heart, your righteousness and love, I also know."

Finishing her words, Zhao Hanzhang convened a court meeting through the night to handle these matters.

Beneath the sprawling Ba Mountain Range, a grand circle lit up, viewed from above, resembling a massive volcano crater on Earth glowing with orange-red light.

In the darkness, this one spot was dazzlingly conspicuous, lit throughout the night.

Zuo Min and Li Tian subdued the rebellious soldiers, only then appearing in the tent, where Cheng Country’s rulers learned Zhao Hanzhang brought not just Zeng Yue but two generals, hidden all along, unknown to anyone.

Yuan Li quietly stepped to Zeng Yue’s side.

Zeng Yue glanced over, Yuan Li seemed to smile subtly, nodding slightly; they grew up training together, emotions ordinary yet familiar, instinctively knowing the outside was all settled, thus reported to Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang, though sparing Li Huan and family’s lives, did not let it end there.

The problem with Cheng Country is commanders and ministers abusing their accomplishments to seize positions and people’s money, believing their protection of the people grants entitlement to extract from them.

Logically correct, yet without legal restraint, unlimited extraction, treating people as serfs and followers, free to take, this is wrong.

This is not government, but banditry.

Resolving this requires law reconstruction and relocating these people, keeping them from local influence, then increasing schools, focusing on education, dispersing this ethos over years.

Thus Zhao Hanzhang planned to relocate Li Huan and the ministers’ families, additionally blaming Cheng Country’s commanders and ministers who neglected duty, being indifferent this time.

For Li Xiong’s sake, she did not kill them, merely dismissed or reassigned them, relocating their families from Shu.

According to their local influence, deeds, and errors in this event, Yuan Li’s intelligence became crucial.

Reviewing the dossier in her hands, Zhao Hanzhang swiftly announced judgment.

Wang Gui didn’t expect inclusion, hearing Zhao Hanzhang assigning him to Jizhou as Sima, commanding him to bring his family, he realized Zhao Hanzhang had seen through his covert plots.

His heart trembled, instinctively looking to King Cheng.

Li Xiong was stunned.

Wang Gui was the talent he left for Li Ban, deeply trusted, primarily because he never associated with those rebellious sons, acting modestly and courteously, how could he...

But upon meeting Wang Gui’s discreet gaze, he instantly understood, face turning beet red.