Jingzhou finally settled into peace, but two men found themselves busier than ever.
One was Hu Xiezhi, who began dealing with every aftermath of the Prince of Badong's rebellion: recording merits and crimes, investigating cases, and making arrests. Wave after wave of people came to see him every day, nearly sparking a panic at first.
But Hu Xiezhi was willing to take money, knew how to speak prettily, and, most importantly, brought Le Zhan, Yin Tancan, and other local Jingzhou officials who had "returned to the rightful side" into the screening, deliberations, and final judgments. Clearly, he had no intention of casting a wide net of guilt by association.
Apart from a handful of diehard rebels who had leaped about waving banners and shouting their support, none of those swept along were implicated, regardless of rank. All retained their posts, allowing many a heart hanging in suspense to settle back into place.
The other busy man was Wang Yang.
Though he did not shoulder Hu Xiezhi's burdens, an endless stream of people came looking for him too.
First, Wang Yang now commanded tremendous respect. Everyone knew that although he had stepped down as Military Commander, his words carried great weight. He moved comfortably among Hu Xiezhi, Wang Yi, Liu Tan, and the other men from the capital's circles, while maintaining close ties with Jingzhou's leading officials. Whether they feared punishment, faced difficulties, sought information, or wanted advancement, they all hoped to make use of his connections.
Second, although Jingzhou's armies had returned to their respective units, several forces remained stationed outside Jiangling. Some officers even had homes inside the city, so former subordinates often came to visit Wang Yang.
Seated among the company, Jingzhou's Military Commissioner Xi Gongmu sighed.
"I was past forty before I first took part in military