After their conversation with Liu Suzhi, Liu Yao wasted no time moving forward with their plan. Swift as the wind[1] was in and of itself a strategy, leaving their opponents with little time to prepare for retaliation.
Thus it was that even before the hunting party had reached the capital, word had reached his officials that Great General Pan had been pardoned and sent back to the north under supervision to atone for his 'lack of oversight on his subordinates' by defending the borders indefinitely.
Whilst still a punishment, this was hardly more than a slap on the wrist, considering that the emperor had faced assassination. Why, before the passing of the previous emperor, Great General Pan had also received an edict commanding him never to return to the capital without imperial permission, although that was for very different reasons…this time, His Majesty had chosen to pick it up heavily but set it down lightly[2].
