Chapter 241: History Is Written by the Victors

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The inner palace, the Grand Secretariat.

After reading the memorial from Yuwen Xuzhong, delivered via secret channels, detailing how Song Jiang's rebel army had slaughtered indiscriminately in the south, Li Lin cast an unobtrusive glance at Zhang Chun, then walked out of the Grand Secretariat.

Zhang Chun understood and followed her out.

The two walked to a secluded spot, one behind the other; Li Lin immediately berated Zhang Chun: "You were told not to meddle—yet you had Yuwen Xuzhong deliver Shi Nai'an's fabricated poems of Song Jiang to him. Now look: Song Jiang truly believes he's Huang Chao. No—he clearly wants to surpass Huang Chao. He's on a rampage to exterminate every official, scholar, and landowner in the south!"

"Isn't that exactly what we wanted? If Song Jiang and his men wipe out all the officials, scholars, and landowners in the south, the court can surely implement the Two New Policies there."

"At that point, land taxes and head taxes across the entire south will be firmly under the court's control, shattering the scholar-gentry's monopoly on land and resources. The state treasury will grow steadily, the people will be freed from oppression, and national strength will rebound from its lowest point."

"Though Song Jiang's actions will cause short-term chaos, in the long run, this is a two-fold victory: it weakens regional powers and strengthens central authority. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, and the people will share in the ensuing peace and prosperity."

Knowing she couldn't convince Li Lin, Zhang Chun brought up Zhao Yu, the one thing Li Lin feared: "The Emperor agrees with this. Why else would he allow Song Jiang and his men to run wild?"

Li Lin glared at Zhang Chun:

"Don't you dare use the Emperor to silence me. Am I talking about Song Jiang killing scholars and landowners? I'm talking about him killing officials."

"If you hadn't steered Song Jiang toward the Song Jiang of Water Margin, would he have slaughtered officials without a second thought?"

"The Emperor only tacitly approved Song Jiang killing scholars and landowners—but now he's killing officials without restraint."

"How is the Emperor supposed to amnesty Song Jiang and his heroes later? Will the court ministers tolerate them? Worse—if anyone finds out Song Jiang was sent out by the Emperor, and he's slaughtering officials like this, won't that breed fear among the officials? Won't they feel 'when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves; when the animal perishes, its kind mourns'? The Emperor's throne might even be in danger."

But Zhang Chun shrugged indifferently: "Song Jiang already explained: eliminate evil thoroughly. The Two New Policies can't be implemented in the south precisely because officials collude with scholars and landowners, pretending compliance while secretly resisting reform, embezzling, and oppressing the people—they're the greatest pests of the state. Unless they're eradicated, peace cannot be secured."

Li Lin frowned: "That may be true, but killing officials and killing scholars and landowners are entirely different matters! Scholars and landowners are local strongmen—kill them, and the court can clean up the mess. But officials are the foundation of the state apparatus. Song Jiang's indiscriminate slaughter has thrown the entire southern bureaucracy into panic; officials are begging for transfers north, and prefectural governors have jointly petitioned the court to send troops to suppress Song Jiang and Fang La. Worse, censors have begun covertly impeaching, accusing the court of deliberately allowing bandits to murder loyal ministers!"

"These censors are so annoying—everything gets blown out of proportion. Just tell the Emperor: whoever keeps nagging, replace them. We already have too many officials in Great Song. Do you think the Emperor won't demote them to death?"

"I'll tell you this: many scholar-officials have no backbone. During the Yuan and Qing dynasties, when faced with foreign cavalry, how many so-called upright Confucian scholars had knees softer than water?"

"When the Yuan cavalry marched south, Wen Tianxiang fought bloody battles on the frontlines, yet in the court, dozens of Han ministers rushed to submit petitions of submission, crying 'Heaven's Mandate has shifted!'—all to preserve their caps and wealth, gladly becoming hounds for foreign rulers."

"In the Qing dynasty, once the queue order was issued, how many scholar-officials who had spent their lives preaching 'loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness' immediately shaved their heads and changed their clothes? Some even helped the Qing suppress their own people's rebellions, calling it 'following the tide of history.'"

Zhang Chun kicked a stone at her feet hard: "These scholar-officials talk grandly day after day, claiming to be the pillars of the state—but the moment their privileges are threatened, they toss aside honor and loyalty like trash."

"Now that we've merely touched their privileges, they're wailing and crying, screaming 'murder of loyal ministers.' In truth, they're protecting nothing but their own privileges!"

"I dare say, if the Emperor truly used force to push reform, these spineless cowards would kneel faster than anyone else—no need for all this trouble!"

"In the end, this whole mess stems from officials, scholars, and landowners caring only for their own interests and resisting the court's reforms. Why else would they invite this slaughter? If they've shed so much blood and still haven't learned, it means they haven't bled enough. Then there's no choice—keep killing, until they awaken… or vanish completely."

"This is a struggle over Great Song's fate. There's no room for feminine weakness."

Li Lin was once again persuaded by Zhang Chun's twisted logic.

Zhang Chun added: "Don't worry—as long as the Emperor holds tight to military power, these scholar-officials can't stir up much trouble. Haven't you heard? Scholars rebel, and even after three years, they accomplish nothing."

Seeing Li Lin's resolve waver, Zhang Chun leaned close and whispered: "Look at Zhu Yuanzhang exterminating Hu Weiyong's entire clan—over thirty thousand implicated. Every official in court lived in terror—but did the Great Ming collapse? No! Kill a batch, promote a new batch from the poor scholars studying in their cold windows, and the Six Ministries still run flawlessly."

"When Zhu Di launched the Jingnan Campaign, how did Fang Xiaoru's refusal to yield matter? Candidates from across the land fought tooth and nail to enter the Hanlin Academy. As long as the Emperor offers them a path to glory, who won't serve the court?"

Zhang Chun plucked a withered leaf from a branch, crushed it into fragments, and tossed them into the air: "Over the years, Great Song has expanded the imperial examinations and increased enrollment at the Imperial Academy. How many poor scholars are waiting desperately for vacancies? One edict from the Emperor, and the entire court can be replaced overnight. If Zhang the butcher is gone, do we stop eating pork with hair on it?"

Li Lin thought it over—and agreed.

So many people want to be officials—how could the Emperor ever lack men willing to serve Zhao Yu? Even if the south is now a hell, once Song Jiang and Fang La are crushed, it'll still be a place officials fight to be posted to.

Li Lin remembered: just two days ago, the Ministry of Rites had delivered this year's imperial examination list—over three thousand poor scholars from the south alone had applied. Many of their policy essays openly declared: "Willing to emulate Shang Yang's laws, eradicate entrenched evils." Clearly, these poor scholars understood Zhao Yu's determination to reform and sought to break into officialdom through this.

So Zhang Chun was right: every scholar in the land dreams of "rising from a peasant in the morning to standing before the Son of Heaven by night." There's no need to fear scholar-officials quitting—their positions will be filled by countless others eager to become the new scholar-officials.

"Scholar-officials believe in 'wise birds choose their trees.' As long as the Emperor offers them rank, salary, and hereditary privileges, many will gladly continue serving him—even if their relatives, disciples, or former patrons died in this purge."

Li Lin was fully convinced. She thought: "The world has no shortage of clever people. As long as the Emperor remains on the throne, even if he were the reborn King Zhou of Shang, men would still compete to be Bi Gan and Fei Zhong!"

Seeing Li Lin no longer pursued the matter of turning Song Jiang into Huang Chao, Zhang Chun exhaled softly and whispered further:

"Most scholar-officials aren't foolish enough to openly defy the Emperor. Even if they suspect he's encouraging Song Jiang, who would dare be the first to speak out? The censors in the Censorate always quote classics and twist their words when impeaching the Emperor, terrified of provoking heavenly wrath."

"During the Yuanfeng era, when Emperor Shenzong implemented the Green Sprout Law, Sima Guang opposed it fiercely—but he dared only write ten memorials from Luoyang. Did he dare return to the capital and confront Emperor Shenzong face-to-face? No—he waited until Emperor Shenzong died before he dared speak up."

"The same will hold true for the Emperor. As long as he lives, no one dares criticize him. After he dies? Who cares if the floods rise?"

"Besides, after this great purge, the Two New Policies will surely be implemented. Then we'll ignite the Industrial Revolution, forge an army far beyond this age's capabilities, and help the Emperor reclaim Yan Di Wuzhou and Sanzhou to complete the great unification. If that's not enough, we'll reclaim Manchuria, the Mongols, and the Western Regions. If still not enough, let the Emperor emulate Genghis Khan and march into Europe."

"With such civil and military achievements, even after his death, no one will dare rise to condemn him."

Li Lin agreed with this. Han Wu Di and Tang Taizong had countless scandals; Genghis Khan slaughtered countless lives—but did that prevent them from becoming legendary emperors? Didn't they command reverence in life and adoration after death?

Zhang Chun continued: "Also, have you considered? The Emperor is only twenty-five—younger than most officials—and he's extremely careful with his health. Which of these officials will outlive him? Once the Emperor outlives this generation, what will the new officials care about this? At that point, won't it be entirely his word against theirs?"

Zhang Chun concluded: "Remember: history is written by the victors."

Li Lin was fully persuaded by Zhang Chun.

Only then did Li Lin ask: "So what do we do about Song Jiang?"

Zhang Chun said: "Let the Emperor decide. If all else fails…"

Zhang Chun drew her thumb across her long neck.

Li Lin frowned, silent.

Seeing this, Zhang Chun asked: "You don't want the Emperor to kill his own meritorious subjects?"

Li Lin nodded.

Zhang Chun understood.

In the eyes of Zhao Yu's women, Zhao Yu was nearly flawless—except for his excessive lust for women. Li Lin didn't want Zhao Yu stained with the taint of killing loyal generals, for fear it would tarnish his image in her heart. That was only natural.

After all, Li Lin had grown increasingly feminine, and expecting something from her partner was simply the nature of a woman.

Zhang Chun said casually: "Then don't kill him. Song Jiang is just a minor figure—his death or survival matters little. Hmm… then again, if we keep him alive, he becomes the most powerful living proof of the failure of feudal exploitation and class rigidity. Better to keep him."

Li Lin nodded: "Then let's tell the Emperor later—try not to kill Song Jiang. Don't ruin his reputation."

Zhang Chun smiled: "You're worrying over nothing. Do you still think the Emperor is the young ruler he was when he first ascended—bound by Empress Dowager Xiang above and factional strife below, with no prestige or achievements? He now holds absolute power, his accomplishments surpassing every emperor of Great Song since Zhao Kuangyin. How could such a brilliant ruler be troubled by this?"

…

(End of chapter)