Chapter Forty-two: We Have No Way Out

The flags atop the Hanzhong city walls snapped sharply in the wind. Liu Chen stood upon the gate tower, watching the disciplined ranks of the Tiance Army slowly march out of the gates. Their silver armor shimmered with a cold, piercing light under the morning sun, resembling a winding silver dragon.

"Your Highness, the matters in Hanzhong are settled, but as for the situation in Chengdu..." Jiang Wei rode his horse to the foot of the tower, looking up at Liu Chen, his brow furrowed with hidden anxiety.

A cold smirk played on the corner of Liu Chen's mouth as he replied disdainfully, "Is the Great General worried about Qiao Zhou and his ilk?"

Jiang Wei nodded. "The noble families of Hanzhong must have already sent riders post-haste to Chengdu. Qiao Zhou’s disciples and associates are spread throughout the imperial court; I fear that..."

"It matters not." Liu Chen raised a hand to cut Jiang Wei off. "I am waiting for them to reveal themselves." He turned and strode down the tower, his black cloak billowing like clouds behind him.

Li Mi had been waiting at the gate for some time. Seeing Liu Chen approach, he stepped forward and bowed. "Your Highness, the household registrations of Hanzhong have been preliminarily compiled. We have uncovered over twelve hundred hidden households, totaling approximately five thousand people."

Liu Chen took the bamboo slips from Li Mi, scanned them briefly, and said quietly, "More than I anticipated."

He closed the slips and looked at Li Mi with burning intensity, instructing, "Master Li, I leave Hanzhong in your care. Remember, land must be distributed per capita; there must be no errors. The census of hidden households must continue. Anyone who dares to conceal them shall have their property confiscated and their clan eradicated!"

To expand one's strength, there is no way but to increase revenue and cut expenditure. If one cannot seize population from the outside, one must extract it from within. The populations hidden by the noble families, along with those of mountain tribes and ethnic minorities, must all be registered; they are the foundation of a revived Han.

Whoever dared to obstruct this was an enemy of Liu Chen.

Li Mi understood the implication and bowed deeply. "I shall not fail your trust, Your Highness."

"Boyue, you shall temporarily oversee Hanzhong. Your first priority is the mountain tribes entrenched in the Hanzhong and Wudu regions; transform them into citizens of Shu-Han as much as possible. The second is to have Commanders Liao Hua, Luo Xian, and others enter each commandery to re-survey the population and land. Any who dare to hide information and refuse to submit shall be executed without mercy."

"Understood." A shiver ran through Jiang Wei, yet he dared not object.

He had wanted to advise Liu Chen to be more lenient toward the noble families of Bashu, but it now seemed that the Prince was adopting an iron-fisted policy. Anyone who dared to defy him was his enemy.

What Jiang Wei did not know was that Liu Chen’s actions stemmed from his deep-seated resentment toward the great families of the Sichuan basin—families that had turned their hearts away from the Liu clan to align themselves with Sima Zhao.

Since that was the case, why should he bother to appease them? He would simply use the blade in his hand to command the region: those who submit shall prosper, and those who resist shall perish.

Liu Chen vaulted onto his horse and said to Deng Zhong and Zhuge Chong, "Pass the order: the entire army is to set out. Next stop, Zitong Commandery!"

The Tiance Army, like a silver dragon, wound its way south along the Shu roads. At every stop, Liu Chen would first summon the local officials to inspect the household registers before sending troops to surround the estates of the great noble families.

At the Li family estate in Zitong Commandery:

"Your Highness, the Li family is a prominent local clan. The family head, Li Fu, once served as a military advisor under the late Emperor, and his son, Li Feng, is currently a clerk in the Chengdu administration..." the Commandery Governor reported cautiously.

Liu Chen said coldly, "And so? Does that entitle them to hide three hundred tenant households from the records?"

With a wave of his hand, the Tiance Army stormed the estate, rounding up everyone from the Li household. The white-haired Li Fu was brought before Liu Chen, glaring with fury. "What is the meaning of this, Prince of Qin? I have shed blood for the late Emperor!"

"Precisely because of that, you should have set a better example. Concealing population and evading taxes is a crime punishable by confiscation. Out of respect for the late Emperor, I shall only seize the hidden population and the land, and hold no further charges against your family." Liu Chen remained expressionless, his voice icy.

Li Fu trembled with rage. "Grandee Qiao will not sit idly by!"

"Qiao Zhou? Let him come and find me." A cold glint flashed in Liu Chen's eyes.

The same scene played out in Guangyuan, Badong, Baxi, and Ba Commandery. Wherever the Tiance Army went, the noble families trembled. Those families that had once curried favor with Zhong Hui when he entered Shu were given special attention by Liu Chen.

"Your Highness, this is the seventh family," Zhuge Chong whispered as he watched the men, women, and children being led away. "I fear that in Chengdu..."

Liu Chen cut him off. "Order Luo Xian, Zhang Yi, and Liao Hua to continue the surveys in their respective commanderies. Tell them I only want results; I do not care about the process."

In the imperial palace at Chengdu:

"Your Majesty! The Prince of Qin is usurping power, disrupting the government, wantonly confiscating the property of noble families, killing the innocent, and throwing the provinces into chaos. If this continues, the nation will cease to be a nation!" Qiao Zhou knelt on the ground, weeping.

Liu Shan frowned; his desk was piled high with memorials impeaching Liu Chen. He turned to Huang Hao at his side and asked, "What does my loyal minister think?"

Huang Hao’s eyes darted around as he quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Qin is young and impulsive; his methods may be excessive, but investigating hidden households is also intended to increase the state treasury..."

"Nonsense!" Qiao Zhou retorted angrily. "He is clearly taking the opportunity to purge dissenters! Your Majesty, look: those whose homes were raided are all families who once had dealings with Zhong Hui. Although these people provided grain to Zhong Hui, at the time, his army was closing in on Jiange; they had no choice if they wanted to survive. The Prince’s actions are damaging your reputation as a sagacious ruler!"

"When will the Prince of Qin return to Chengdu?"

Liu Shan rubbed his temples.

"Reports say he has reached Mianzhu and will arrive in Chengdu within three days," Huang Hao replied.

"Issue an edict: have him come to see me immediately," Liu Shan sighed. "This matter must be clarified in person."

A sinister glint flashed in Qiao Zhou’s eyes. After the court session, he immediately summoned his disciples and associates for a secret meeting.

In the military camp outside Mianzhu, Liu Chen was reviewing reports sent from various regions.

"Your Highness, a secret letter from Chengdu." Zhuge Chong personally delivered a bamboo tube sealed with wax.

Liu Chen broke the seal, read it, and let out a cold laugh. "Qiao Zhou truly cannot sit still any longer. He has actually accused me of 'usurping power and disrupting the government' in open court. He might as well have accused me of treason."

Zhuge Chong was filled with worry. "Your Highness, His Majesty has issued an edict summoning you back to Chengdu for an explanation. Qiao Zhou’s disciples are spread throughout the court and the country. If they join forces..."

"What is there to fear?" Liu Chen tossed the secret letter into a brazier and said dismissively, "Do you think I care about such things? Once we return to Chengdu, the Tiance Army will immediately take over the city defenses and the guards of the imperial palace."

"Ah!" Zhuge Chong’s eyes lit up, his face showing shock.

"We have reached this point; I cannot retreat. If I retreat, Deng Ai, you all, and your families will die. Jiang Wei, Liao Hua, and the others will also die," Liu Chen said softly.

Zhuge Chong remained silent. He had already received news that Deng Ai and his family had entered Guanzhong and would soon arrive in Chengdu to reunite with him.

If Liu Chen truly failed, the surrendered generals like himself would meet a miserable end. The ministers of Shu-Han would not spare them, and Sima Zhao of the Central Plains would not spare them either.

The only thing left to do was to follow Liu Chen to the very end.