Someone stepped up to do the dirty work, and the Emperor was content with being a bystander. He originally wanted to reward only in title, but eventually, the reward was an official position in Xiangyang. Xiangyang was wealthy, but the land was vast. It was remote, and few people inhabited it.
In order to save himself from embarrassment, the Emperor specially rendered aid by dispatching 1,000 imperial guards and 500 deniers of rations. He ordered his close subordinate, Secretary Huang, to read the edict.
Huang Tan was Huang Song's god-grandfather.
Huang Tan sat down. He massaged his cold feet and remarked, "I have to admit that I am old. The youngsters nowadays are so radical."
After the earthquake, Shangjing was mostly a heap of ruins. The Emperor, in his anger, ordered the beheading of many highly ranked individuals.