Since the founding of the Daheng Dynasty, Xichuan had been a region of warlord separatism, difficult to communicate with the Central Plains.
The Huichun Cult, absorbing remnants of the Great Zhou Imperial Clan and colluding with Xichuan warlords, managed to establish a foothold and spread its teachings there.
Initially, the Huichun Cult's doctrines were similar to Buddhism, but as followers grew, its teachings became increasingly fanatical and powerfully persuasive.
Led by the Xichuan Sword Clan, along with factions like the Ghost Valley lineage and the Shi Clan, these groups recognized the harm caused by the Huichun Cult and united to suppress it.
However, due to the region's remoteness and the cult's backing by warlords, they gradually gained the upper hand.
The various clans of Xichuan began to falter, their members persecuted, with many casualties. They were forced into hiding but never abandoned their resistance against the Huichun Cult.
First, the Ghost Valley lineage was nearly wiped out. Then, the Sword Clan's settlement was discovered by the Huichun Cult, and only Jian Nanfeng narrowly escaped death. The Shi Clan subsequently suffered, while other smaller families were forced to flee Xichuan, ushering in an era where the Huichun Cult and warlords jointly oppressed the people of Xichuan.
Each year, at least a thousand Xichuan civilians disappeared without a trace, secretly handed over by warlords to the Huichun Cult as sacrifices for blood rituals.
Despite this, countless righteous individuals in various parts of Xichuan rose in rebellion, shedding blood and sacrificing their lives to expose the Huichun Cult's atrocities to the world, preserving the flame of resistance for the people of Xichuan.
Meanwhile, the Daqian imperial court, plagued by internal strife and external threats, and with the Dugu family monopolizing the Ministry of War, vehemently opposed any campaign into Sichuan, citing the immense cost of a protracted war. The weakened Daqian army was also incapable of suppressing the warlords and could only maintain a facade of peace.
Liu Fan, steeling himself, said, "Marshal, the Helian family has over a dozen children, three of whom are still infants…"
Liang Xiao replied, "Take the children old enough to understand to the capital to be raised, under long-term surveillance. The innocent, unknowing children will be secretly sent to various regions and entrusted to civilians for upbringing. Shadow Guards will record their details, and the adoptive parents must not be informed of their origins."
Nan Jiyun then submitted records of the former garrisons in Xichuan.
Excluding the over ninety thousand who surrendered in Beitou, Jian'ge, there were still fifty thousand troops stationed in various parts of Xichuan, totaling over one hundred and forty thousand.
Xichuan's military grain reserves were sufficient for one hundred and forty thousand men for a year, but there was no guarantee these men would not rebel again.
After careful consideration, Liang Xiao stated, "Send word to the garrisons in all regions, paying them the same salaries as regular Daqian soldiers. If any soldiers wish to return to their rural homes, they will be registered. If their numbers do not exceed seventy thousand, their wish will be granted. If there are too many, select the elite troops, leaving seventy thousand. They will primarily be used to guard the southern, central, and eastern parts of Sichuan, guard against incursions from the southwest, and prevent the resurgence of the Huichun Cult. If necessary, after Xichuan is stabilized, General Nan will lead the army to pacify the Southern territories."
The Nan territories also required pacification, but Xichuan was newly subdued and in a state of recovery. It was also summer, the Nan territories were sweltering, the northern soldiers were weary and homesick, and the Xichuan soldiers had yet to be integrated, making it an unsuitable time for a military campaign.
The current Daqian nation employed a combined conscription and voluntary enlistment system, with the prerequisite that soldiers clearly pledge their loyalty to the central government, not local commanders.
The population census was another arduous task that required the urgent efforts of his subordinates.
Local warlords and influential families in Xichuan had monopolized official positions. Following their pacification, a large number of these positions became vacant.
Liang Xiao had foreseen this early in the conflict and had already mobilized various regions. Talented individuals and officials were to enter Hanzhong from the Shu Road and Yangtze River areas, arriving soon.
Out of gratitude to the court, a large number of scholars from Xichuan enthusiastically volunteered to assist Liang Xiao's subordinates in handling basic administrative affairs.
The common people, grateful for the rescue by the Daqian soldiers and finding that they did not harass the populace, were even more thankful.
"Xichuan is in a state of recovery. Marquis Anguo is working hard to improve people's livelihoods. We hope all citizens will cooperate, strictly abide by the law, and report any matters to the authorities."
Through the propaganda disseminated by Liang Xiao's bookshops, everyone behaved lawfully and dared not cause trouble for Liang Xiao.
As long as the military and civilians of Xichuan endured this most difficult month, everything in Xichuan would return to its proper course!
Xichuan civilians who had fled were also eligible to return and receive land distribution, but they had to provide proof issued by the government of their place of exile.
At the beginning of the war, the imperial court had already made such records for the displaced Xichuan citizens, to be used when needed.
The prefecture closest to Jincheng received the news first, and the people rejoiced.
The news of Liang Xiao's pacification of Xichuan also spread rapidly to Jiangnan, the Western Regions, the Northern Regions, and the capital…
The entire nation was filled with joy!
While conquering Xichuan was indeed uplifting, achieving it primarily through surrender allowed the populace to accept the nation more readily and cemented Liang Xiao's already soaring status.
People's joys and sorrows are not interconnected. The vast majority of people, limited by their education and preoccupied with making a living, found it difficult to concern themselves with the fate of the Xichuan populace.
However, some far-sighted individuals, particularly scholars, deeply understood the significance of pacifying Xichuan.
With Xichuan stabilized, the southwest of the Daqian nation would be secure, with no fear of betrayal.
With the people living and working in peace, the imperial court would eventually see increased revenue from Xichuan, making a significant contribution to the overall stability and prosperity of Daqian.
"When one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. The pacification of Xichuan ultimately benefits all the people of the nation!"
As more and more people, after explanations from those around them, finally understood, they prayed for the Xichuan people, hoping for their early stability.
Ultimately, the world is populated by the majority of the foolish, and even in this modern era of enlightenment, this situation has not entirely changed.
Yet, the ignorance of the masses is not without its simplicity. They do not need to grasp grand, abstract principles. As long as they see that their lives are improving and there is hope for the future, they will naturally support the regime, even willing to lay down their lives for it.
If they cannot live well, or even guarantee basic sustenance, how can they be expected to believe in national sentiment?
Liang Xiao understood this principle well, which is why all policies of the Daqian nation prioritized the welfare of the people.
Xiao Qing, who was pregnant, was overjoyed. However, as the capital had only received some pigeon messages, they had to await Liang Xiao's formal dispatches before official decrees of rewards could be issued.
Nevertheless, Xiao Qing waved her hand and ordered the Northern Army to transport livestock from the Qilian Mountains to Sichuan, along with dried meats and other provisions, to reward the Xichuan soldiers.
After arranging the rewards, Xiao Qing said to Wang Canghai and Zhuo Zifang, "I intend to merge Xichuan and Hanzhong and re-establish 'Yizhou.' What do you two think?"
"Feasible!" the two elders said in unison.
Now, Xiao Qing was only waiting for Liang Xiao's dispatches. It was possible that Liang Xiao might recommend a prefect, and the central government would not need to dispatch one.
For example, Liu Fan was a capable military and political talent.
Xichuan's registered population was previously two million, but Liang Xiao knew the actual population was at least double that.
Jincheng alone, despite its impoverished populace, still had a population of five hundred thousand.
This also indirectly indicated that the landlords and influential families of Xichuan had controlled a large number of unregistered and hidden households, profiting immensely. The Helian family's fortune of tens of millions of taels became understandable.
The Jiaozhou region, not far from Xichuan, also quickly received news of Liang Xiao's pacification of Xichuan.
The Brocade Robe King, Xiao Feng, Iris, and Master Longyue, along with many other rebel leaders, finally fled together to Jiaozhou.