Zhao Zhen said this and could only smile bitterly.
If he hadn't seen the army with his own eyes, even he wouldn't have believed that the forbidden troops in the southeast of the imperial court had become so rotten.
Not only was there a lack of military supplies, but the number of soldiers on the payroll was shockingly high.
After all, the men he had gathered along the way, even the old, weak, and sick, numbered no more than two hundred thousand. Yet, on the court's roster, their numbers reached over 350,000!
"Now that the Hangzhou incident has occurred, what are your plans, Your Highness?"
After a moment of silence, Han Mo asked directly.
"Of course, the specific matters of warfare will be handled by Old General Zhong. Hangzhou Prefect Zhao Ting abandoned his post and fled. My intention is to dismiss him from his post immediately and never re-employ him..."
"That's it?"
Han Mo looked at Zhao Zhen with some confusion.
"What does Brother Han mean?"
Zhao Zhen originally wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat and he swallowed them back.
"What I mean is, Your Highness must act decisively now..."
Seeing Zhao Zhen's hesitant expression, Han Mo smiled bitterly and spoke his hidden concerns for him.
"Act decisively..."
Hearing Han Mo's words, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"The first matter is that the Hangzhou Prefect Zhao Ting had a duty to defend his territory, yet he abandoned the city and fled without a fight. According to the law, he should be executed!"
"Isn't that a bit too harsh..."
Zong Ying quickly said in a low voice after hearing Han Mo's statement.
"At this point, if Your Highness can't clearly reward and punish, will anyone in the remaining prefectures dare to defend them?"
"Brother Han is right about this matter. I was shortsighted!"
After a moment of silence, Zhao Zhen said directly.
"The second matter is that Your Highness should act decisively now, abolish the Yingfeng Bureau in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and thoroughly investigate all officials in the Yingfeng Bureaus of the southeastern circuits. Anyone who preys on the common people or deceives superiors will be severely punished!"
Seeing that Zhao Zhen agreed to the first matter, Han Mo spoke again.
"This might be a bit difficult, and didn't you also say..."
The matter of the Yingfeng Bureau had been going on for a long time, not just for a day or two.
The most crucial point was that the person in charge of the Suzhou and Hangzhou Yingfeng Bureau was Zhu Mian and his son!
The father and son enjoyed great favor from the Emperor, and they had been operating in the southeast for many years. It could be said that their influence had already been firmly integrated with the entire southeastern officialdom.
If they were to be dealt with at this moment, it would likely cause unrest throughout the southeast.
"This is different from that time. If Hangzhou city had not fallen, everything would have been salvageable. But now that Hangzhou city has fallen, they can no longer be kept! Why did the people of the six southeastern circuits rebel? Wasn't it because they were pushed to a dead end?"
"That's true, but they are deeply entrenched in the southeast. If we clear them out so publicly at this time, will they..."
After listening to Han Mo, Zong Ying could only smile bitterly.
"The officialdom will indeed be in chaos for a while, but Your Highness, don't forget how those rebels treated the remaining officials! If they dare to join the rebels, then let them go! It's good that the trial procedure can be skipped, and those rebels can be skinned and thrown into a pot of boiling oil to be dealt with cleanly!"
Han Mo was actually more confident about the potential chaos.
Before coming to the southeast, Han Mo still held some illusions about this Fang La Rebellion.
But after hearing the comparison of forces from both sides, Han Mo realized that he had indeed thought too simply.
Even with the 50,000 elite troops led by Zhong Shidao, and the cooperation of over a hundred thousand imperial forbidden troops and auxiliary troops from the surrounding areas, if the root cause of the rebellion was not resolved,
Even if this suppression was successful, it was likely to flare up again soon. For every Fang La who died, more Fang La would emerge.
This matter had nothing to do with right or wrong. When people had no way to survive, they could only fight to the death.
If Han Mo were in the same situation, the outcome would likely be the same.
Moreover, Han Mo's methods might even be more brutal.
"I will write a memorial to the Emperor..."
After hesitating, Zhao Zhen stated his position again.
"It's too late. Your Highness must act decisively now and immediately order the abolition of all Yingfeng Bureaus in the southeastern circuits, and then send people to investigate Zhu Mian and his son thoroughly!"
"Brother Han, the father and son are acting under imperial decree. If we arrest them directly, will it be..."
"I know what you mean, but if we don't do this, more people will respond to the rebellion! Only by letting the common people see the court's determination to quell the rebellion, and by shifting all the blame onto the father and son and those corrupt officials, can the rebellion in the southeast possibly be pacified!"
Han Mo interrupted Zong Ying before he could finish his sentence.
"Let's do as you say. I will order people to arrest Zhu Mian and his son immediately!"
After careful consideration, Zhao Zhen had to admit that it seemed to be just as Han Mo had said.
The situation had reached this point. By the time he finished his memorial and sent it to Bianliang City, waited for the Emperor's approval, and then sent the imperial decree to the southeast,
This round trip would take at least half a month. The Hangzhou incident had sounded the alarm for him. If he couldn't come up with any effective measures during this half month, it was likely that more prefectures would fall before long.
"The people who arrest the father and son must be trustworthy. This matter must not leak any wind, otherwise, if the father and son escape, the consequences will be endless!"
"Then I ask Elder Zong to make a trip!"
After hesitating, Zhao Zhen took a token from his desk and handed it to Zong Ying.
"I will go and inform my father immediately!"
As a staunch supporter of Zhao Zhen, Zong Ying accepted the token without hesitation and turned to walk out.
"The third matter is that Your Highness should immediately discuss the recapture of Hangzhou with Old General Zhong. Hangzhou cannot be lost. Not only Hangzhou, but none of the coastal cities are allowed to be lost!"
"Are you afraid that..."
"Although this possibility is unlikely, Your Highness must guard against it! Now that the imperial armies of all routes are surrounding them, we must not give them a chance to escape. Once they spread to other places, it will be endless trouble!"