The next two days passed without Yelu Mawu returning, and Wanyan Yinshuke was nowhere to be seen.

Emperor Zhao dispatched a newly appointed Ban Zhi army officer, Zhai Biao, a Chengxin official nominally ranking as a minor envoy. He was tasked with crossing the Ru River to its opposite bank, leveraging his local connections to gather intelligence. However, Zhai Biao returned swiftly, bringing with him messengers from Han Shizhong, Wang De, and others.

Combining the information from these messengers, the provisional court reached a simple and direct conclusion:

Wanyan Yinshuke had indeed advanced to Zhongyang Mountain, less than a hundred *li* from Ruyang, some days ago. However, after his initial attack failed and realizing that Ruyang had received significant reinforcements, he decisively changed his route. Leading only his main force from Taiyuan, he headed north, taking advantage of the cavalry's mobility while Han Shizhong and Wang De cautiously mobilized their forces to return. He bypassed Yingchang Prefecture from the east of Fangcheng Mountain, then captured Yexian County in Ruzhou, and continued north.

Based on the route, Wanyan Yinshuke was likely heading to join his brother Wanyan Balisu, and then retreat together to Hezhong Prefecture (the Hedong region, around later generations’ Linfen), returning to his old base in Taiyuan.

However, this conclusion seemed too easy, arousing suspicion and hesitation within the Ruyang provisional court.

But soon, as more and more messengers arrived from Han Shizhong, and Wang De himself returned to Ruyang, the central authority accepted the fact that Wanyan Yinshuke had retreated. After Wang De swiftly led the main force of the Imperial Guards back, Emperor Zhao himself, disregarding all doubts, directly ordered the provisional court to continue west.

By mid-March, the provisional court arrived outside Fangcheng, at the foot of Fangcheng Mountain, the northernmost part of Tang Prefecture. Due to its strategic location at the junction of Dengzhou, Ruzhou, Caizhou, Yingchang Prefecture, and Tang Prefecture, the provisional court settled temporarily at the foot of Fangcheng Mountain and immediately summoned all surrounding vassals to assemble.

Summoned, Han Shizhong, who had made careful arrangements in the north, hurriedly returned with Liu Yan, Yang Yizhong, Hu Yin, and others. Several key officials from Nanyang also came to welcome the court. As information from all sides converged, the provisional court extracted an incredible, yet enlightening, piece of military intelligence - just days earlier, in early March, Li Yanxian had almost single-handedly, with the remaining troops that Fan Zhixu had left behind in Shanzhou, recovered Shanzhou.

Shanzhou was located between Xijing Luoyang and Jingzhao Chang'an, holding a prominent strategic position. If Wanyan Yinshuke had learned of this while at Zhongyang Mountain, his retreat would have been perfectly logical.

However, Emperor Zhao did not directly acknowledge Li Yanxian's great achievement. He waited two more days before allowing Grand Councilor Yuwen Xuzhong to publicly report it, after which Emperor Zhao finally bestowed honors and rewards.

"Appoint Li Yanxian as the Shanzhou Pacification Commissioner ( *Zhenfushi*)!" Under the late spring sun, Emperor Zhao, clad in a scarlet robe, spoke decisively without even frowning. "The Privy Council and Imperial Guards are to immediately discuss the relevant ranks and rewards, and send them quickly!"

Yuwen Xuzhong, dressed in a purple robe, stood motionless before the throne. Another purple-robed official, Grand Councilor Wang Boyan, and Wang Yuan, the fully-armored commander of the Imperial Guards, immediately stepped forward. After a brief pause, seeing no one object to the appointment of the Pacification Commissioner, they solemnly accepted the order and returned to their respective ranks.

This meeting held at the foot of Fangcheng Mountain was not an ordinary meeting of the Political Affairs Hall, but a grand assembly of all civil and military officials of the provisional court, Imperial Guards generals, and remaining civil and military officials of western Henan!

In fact, this event should have been held after the Emperor arrived in Nanyang, only a hundred *li* away, and within the temporary palace painstakingly built by Liu Ji (the Transportation Commissioner of western Henan). There, everyone could wash away the dust, refresh their spirits, and achieve greater efficiency.

But for some reason, following the Emperor's proposal, this long-awaited grand assembly was held in the wilderness at the foot of Fangcheng Mountain, enclosed only by a simple curtain. The Emperor even declined to ascend the famous Golden Peak of Fangcheng Mountain, to hold the meeting in the temples and Taoist monasteries atop the mountain, and refused the suggestion to enter the city.

However, the more than ten thousand Imperial Guards armored soldiers accompanying the court were deployed, proudly showcasing their might. Arranged according to their divisions, they nearly filled the wilderness at the foot of Fangcheng Mountain, presenting an imposing sight from the small hill where the meeting was held.

There was much discussion about this matter within the provisional court. Some idle people naturally attributed it to the Emperor's willfulness and impatience. But discerning individuals believed that the Emperor was using the wilderness and the armed soldiers to remind the court officials that although Nanyang was within reach, the country was still in danger and required a sense of crisis.

However, a very small number of people believed that the Emperor, who always valued military affairs, simply felt that he should respect the frontline generals and avoid delays, so he held the court assembly directly in this strategically located place, with no other considerations.

Returning to the present, after Li Yanxian's great achievement was decided, Grand Councilors Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng stepped forward in turn to present various matters.

"Various places in western Henan, including Ruzhou, Caizhou, Yingchang Prefecture, Henan Prefecture (where Xijing Luoyang is located), and Shanzhou and Jingzhao Commanderies in Guanzhong, all have vacancies. We have drafted appointments for these places, and request the Emperor to review them." Lu Haowen, naturally wearing a purple robe and winged hat, took out a document from his sleeve and stepped out of the ranks for the fourth time with a serious expression.

"I trust you, Grand Councilors."

The Chief Eunuch of the Palace Secretariat, Lan Gui, hurried down to receive the document. Emperor Zhao opened it, then closed it, and returned it to Lan Gui for safekeeping. "But I have one thing to say… Such appointments must consider the opinions of the Commanders-in-Chief, Regional Commanders, and Pacification Commissioners. They are facing the enemy on the front lines and should have the right to make appointments. You must not arbitrarily replace those currently in charge. And if there are indeed conflicting appointments, you must arrange appropriate positions for those who are replaced and appease them… You must know that at this time, everything must be focused on resisting the Jin, and the rear must not easily contend with those on the front lines."

"Your subject understands the benefits and dangers of this." Lu Haowen waited quietly for the Emperor to finish speaking before solemnly accepting the instructions and slowly withdrawing back into the ranks.

As Lu Haowen retreated, it was not Grand Councilor Xu Jingheng who followed, but Zhang Jun, a probationary Investigating Censor, dressed in a scarlet robe, who stepped forward and declared: "Your Majesty, the Censorate has a comment… When the Jin invaded western Henan, many prefectures fell, and some officials failed, lost territory, and abandoned the people. More than a month ago, at Mount Bagong in Shouzhou, Your Majesty issued a clear decree that, as long as Your Majesty and the provisional court did not retreat, officials were not allowed to retreat either. Now, we ask how this should be handled, and request Your Majesty to issue clear instructions!"

Upon hearing this, several scarlet-robed officials behind the four councilors, even including one purple-robed official, changed color and became anxious. However, Yan Xiaozhong, the prefect of Tang Prefecture, whose 'loss of territory and capture' was definite, had a dark complexion that made it difficult to tell if he had 'changed color'.

However, Emperor Zhao's expression did not change, and he spoke without hesitation, as if a decision had already been made privately: "My decree has two limitations. One is geographical… Since I have not retreated, officials must not retreat. Where I am, retreat in front of me is tolerable, but retreat behind me is not tolerable. Therefore, I pardoned the escapees in Shandong and killed Ding Jin. Applying this to the present situation, since I have traveled west from the Huai River to here, western Henan can be pardoned, but southwestern Henan cannot. The other is time… Since I issued this decree at Mount Bagong, the decree must be followed after it arrives. But if they had already failed before the decree arrived, it would not be fair to be overly critical."

Hearing this, those officials who had changed color almost simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. However, some people who had heard certain rumors were suspicious when they saw the Palace Attendant Censor Hu Yin standing expressionlessly below Zhang Jun's vacant position.

"However," Emperor Zhao paused slightly, and then continued sternly, "Leaving aside the decree, in the past, when Prime Minister Li was in office, he often said that those who were excessively unfaithful or incompetent should be severely punished to rectify the morale of the officials. Yesterday, Palace Attendant Censor Hu Yin also suggested that those who hold high positions and decide the life and death of the masses with absurd decisions should never be forgiven… I agree with this! Where is Academician of the Zizheng Hall and Prefect of Dengzhou, Fan Zhixu?"

A purple-robed official, whose position was second only to the four councilors, turned pale upon hearing this. He stepped forward trembling, bowing and wanting to speak, but was momentarily speechless… lacking the demeanor of a great official.

"Academician Fan," Emperor Zhao frowned slightly upon seeing this. "I have heard that you were promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works fifteen years ago, effectively ranking among the councilors. You have been stationed in important positions and large prefectures, making you one of the most prominent officials in the world. How can you be so incompetent that you can't even speak?"

"Your subject… your subject is a civil official. Please, Your Majesty, judge me according to the ancestral laws and do not compare me to people like Liu Guangshi. I would be grateful if Your Majesty would grant me the same outcome as Zhang Bangchang." In his panic, Fan Zhixu lost his composure as a civil official and directly removed his hat and knelt down, causing an uproar among the many civil and military officials standing in solemn attendance.

From his words, it was clear that he knew this Emperor dared to kill officials, so he was afraid of death.

Emperor Zhao was silent for a moment. He had debated this matter fiercely with several councilors and close officials for the past two days… but no one except Hu Yin supported his desire to ‘pacify the nation’. Emperor Zhao also understood that with the provisional capital established, people were longing for peace. But the front lines were still struggling. If he really killed Fan Zhixu at this time, it would provoke collective dissatisfaction among the civil officials and could lead to serious consequences.

Especially now, the civil officials of the provisional court were already showing signs of uniting against him, Emperor Zhao, because of his drastic actions. And there was legal basis for not killing top scholar-officials… After the fall of Dongjing, Emperor Taizu's Three Admonitions carved in stone at the Imperial Ancestral Temple had gradually spread… He, Emperor Zhao, certainly did not care about this, but he could not stop the civil officials from using this as a basis to oppose him.

It must be known that no matter how high Liu Guangshi's position was, he was only a military official. Killing him was simply unprecedented and inconsistent with the system, but this matter had explicit restrictions.

And in the current situation, Emperor Zhao really needed the civil officials to exert their efforts for him.

However, Emperor Zhao also felt that killing a person could be done without rushing, and did not require public execution… especially since this person could not be publicly executed.

While Emperor Zhao was thinking乱想 in silence, not only Fan Zhixu, but also the several councilors, the Investigating Censor Zhang Deyuan who had stepped forward, and the other officials were already in a state of confusion. How could they not know that Emperor Zhao was still filled with murderous intent?

"Very well!" Emperor Zhao suddenly sighed. "Confiscate all his literary titles since his birth and demote him to be relocated to Zunyi Army…”

Almost everyone below breathed a sigh of relief… Since they could save their lives, they naturally did not care about Emperor Zhao's temporary change to such a severe punishment. After all, this Emperor had just truly been filled with murderous intent. However, after Fan Zhixu hurriedly thanked the Emperor and a Ban Zhi soldier stepped forward to publicly remove his official robes and drag him away, almost everyone became confused again… What kind of place was Zunyi Army?

"Does any official have anything else to report?" Emperor Zhao watched Fan Zhixu being dragged out of the tent before continuing to ask.

The only official standing in the center, Investigating Censor Zhang Jun, was about to retreat upon hearing this, but suddenly remembered something. It seemed that the debate over Fan Zhixu had been too intense in the past two days, and everyone had forgotten about it in the rush.

However, just as Zhang Deyuan was about to take the opportunity to make a report, he raised his head and met Emperor Zhao's expressionless face. His heart stirred, he avoided speaking, and directly turned back… It could only be said that since receiving that slap from his closest younger brother Hu Yin, this Emperor's number one confidant had become much more stable, but he was still far better than others at understanding the Emperor's thoughts.

However, this person used to like to cater to the Emperor, but now he preferred to respond in a roundabout and passive way.

However, as soon as Zhang Deyuan returned to the ranks, Hu Yin on his side and Yan Xiaozhong, the prefect of Tang Prefecture, on the opposite side stepped forward simultaneously. At the same time, Liu Ji, the Transportation Commissioner of western Henan, who was diagonally opposite him, was also eager to move, but he did not immediately step out due to a subtle mentality.

Upon seeing this, the Investigating Censor became uneasy again—how could he not understand that he had made a huge mistake? He should have known that with civil and military officials gathered, it was no longer Mount Bagong, where he only needed to watch Zhao Ding, who was overflowing with energy, and pay attention to the deeply scheming Junior Academician Lin, to deal with everything!

This was Fangcheng Mountain!

Mount Bagong only had tombs and military camps, while Fangcheng Mountain had more than a dozen Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries alone!

Without mentioning Zhang Jun's self-control, which had only lasted for a month, began to stir, Hu Yin and Yan Xiaozhong stepped forward together. Their eyes met, and they each paused for a moment, neither concealing their appreciation for the other, nor yielding to the other.

At this moment, Liu Ji, the Transportation Commissioner of western Henan, dressed in a purple robe, could no longer bear it. He directly bypassed the two of them, cupped his hands, and faced the throne: "Your Majesty! Your subject ventures to ask, now that Fan Zhixu is gone, who can take charge of Dengzhou? And since Your Majesty is determined to make Nanyang the secondary capital, should Dengzhou be promoted to Nanyang Prefecture, following the old example of Kaifeng Prefecture?"

Emperor Zhao smiled slightly, and actually stood up from the throne, came to Liu Ji's side, and took his hand.

Poor Liu Ji, a man in his forties or fifties, was meeting this Emperor for the first time and did not know his temperament or habits. How could he bear this? His face immediately turned red.

Seeing this, Lu Haowen and the others knew that Liu Ji would either be greatly promoted or suffer a great loss… However, even so, they were still somewhat envious, because they had followed the provisional court diligently, traveling east and west for more than half a year. They had worked hard even if they had not achieved any merit, but they never seemed to have had their hand held by Emperor Zhao.

Not only that, which of these intelligent people was not well-versed in ancient and modern times? Seeing that Liu Ji's face turned red as soon as the Emperor shook his hand, and then tears began to fall, they suddenly realized—at this moment, Emperor Zhao's handshake with Liu Ji was not a simple and crude bestowal of favor, but an extremely clever bestowal of favor!

It should be known that the story of a handshake and friendly conversation occurred between Emperor Guangwu and his founding meritorious official Li Tong, and the location was near Nanyang.

Among them, Emperor Guangwu's qualifications for restoration were perfectly matched with Emperor Zhao, who was currently in exile. And what was the opportunity for this event to occur? It was precisely when Liu Xiu was being pursued and had no place to stand that Li Tong went to find Guangwu and placed him in his home in Nanyang.

Therefore, Emperor Zhao's performance was not improvised. With just this one handshake, he lightly attributed the primary credit for the preservation of Nanyang to Liu Ji. And Liu Zhifu had always sought fame. During the Jingkang era, he almost committed suicide for his country. When Dengzhou was defeated a few days ago and Nanyang was in the most danger, he also said that he would die to show that "the Great Song also had a Transportation Commissioner willing to die for the country".

Such a person, receiving this handshake on this occasion, would probably be carried away. It could only be said that a capable person had recently come to the Emperor's side. Otherwise, with Emperor Zhao's level of historical knowledge, he would never have thought of this method!

With this thought, although they understood that the Emperor was performing and winning people's hearts, the other key officials were still uneasy. The other civil officials of the provisional court who did not have appointments were almost red with jealousy… It was only people like Han Shizhong, who wore a jade belt and often looked down on scholars, who were now standing tall and looking around at the scenery, so they did not understand what was happening.

Perhaps this Grand Commandant Han even thought that Liu Ji's crying was unseemly.

"The preservation of Nanyang is entirely due to Minister Liu's merit," Emperor Zhao said slowly, holding his hand. "I had previously thought about the matter of Nanyang Prefecture, and that was to simply combine Dengzhou and Tangzhou, restore the scale and old system of Nanyang in the Han Dynasty… And at that time, I thought that Minister Liu was the only one qualified for the position of Prefect of Nanyang."

Upon hearing these words, Grand Councilor Wang Boyan could not help but sigh, disregarding the occasion… It should be known that back in Hebei, when this Emperor was still the Grand Marshal, he, Wang Boyan, had personally carried a bow and led troops to protect him. At that time, when it was generally believed that the capital should be moved to Chang'an, the Emperor also held his hand and said, "When I see the late Emperor, I will surely make you the Prefect of Jingzhao”… In the blink of an eye, it had been more than a year.

As things stood now, he could only borrow a wonderful line from the Lay Buddhist Yi'an, "Everything is the same, but the people are different!"

However, after the sigh, based on just this sentence, Wang Boyan instantly determined that Liu Zhifu had a bright future and might enter the central government to replace him and the others as Grand Councilor in the future. But the highly respected and important position of Prefect of Nanyang would certainly have nothing to do with him.

"But I thought about it later, Minister Liu's ability to transfer and manage construction is truly outstanding. There is a crucial point that is far more important than Nanyang, and I must rely on Minister Liu, and can only rely on Minister Liu." Emperor Zhao continued earnestly, holding Liu Ji's hand. "I hope that Minister Liu will concurrently serve as the Pacification Commissioner of Southwestern Henan and know Xiangzhou, stationed in Xiangyang, to oversee the transfer of materials from Sichuan, the Southeast, Jing, and Xiang from the Yangtze and Han Rivers… You must know that Minister Liu is a person like Xiao He. I need you to oversee everything behind me, so how can I use you to be a mere prefect?"

Liu Ji was in tears, and immediately responded repeatedly, almost vowing to die for the Emperor.

"Let Minister Yan, the Prefect of Tang Prefecture, temporarily manage the affairs of Nanyang Prefecture!" Emperor Zhao said casually after seeing Liu Ji agree, making Yan Xiaozhong, who had stepped forward and was preparing to inquire about this matter, turn red in the face.

"Your Majesty," Hu Yin, the Palace Attendant Censor beside Yan Xiaozhong, could not help but remind him, "Fan Qiong, the garrison commander of Xiangyang, has not yet arrived, and he is harboring the criminal Zong Yin. His intentions are punishable!"

And a few steps away, Junior Academician Lin, who had been uneasy recently, also suddenly thought of something – in this way, wouldn't the old officials of Nanyang be completely cleared out in one morning?