Chapter 247

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Zhao Yu can't shake off the blame for his obsession with women.

Alright.

The world has not wronged Zhao Yu.

In ten years on the throne, Zhao Yu's harem already numbered over four thousand beauties, rendering the phrase "three thousand palace beauties" inadequate to describe the sheer number of women in his harem.

Even so, Cai Jing, Accompanying Tong Guan, and other corrupt ministers continued to scour the land for more beauties for Zhao Yu.

At the beginning of last year, Cai Jing claimed that the excessive number of Hu Ren women in Zhao Yu's harem harmed the imperial Han bloodline, and thus gathered three hundred Han women nationwide to fill the palace.

Accompanying Tong Guan, however, cared nothing for the purity of Han blood; he regularly sent Zhao Yu Xiangxiang beauties, steppe beauties, and Western Region beauties, even paying high prices to foreign merchants to collect women from Da Shi, Tianzhu, and even the far West—all to let Zhao Yu sample different kinds of women.

—Accompanying Tong Guan even somehow procured two exquisitely beautiful black pearls for Zhao Yu.

A saying now circulates in the Song dynasty: Cai Jing, Accompanying Tong Guan, and their ilk are favored by Zhao Yu precisely because they understand how to cater to his tastes.

Many corrupt ministers, like Wang Fu and Cai You, have imitated them, competing to present beauties to Zhao Yu.

Song Jiang and Wu Yong had heard of this, so they believed Wen Xuzhong's suggestion was sound.

But the problem was, as they marched under the banner of "Acting on Heaven's Mandate," they could not plunder women—and thus had none to offer.

More importantly, Zhao Yu had seen every kind of beauty; ordinary women would not even catch his eye.

Seeing Song Jiang's furrowed brow, Wen Xuzhong said: "If you have something, it adds luster; if not, it does not hinder your audience with the throne. From what I know, His Majesty never refuses a minister's goodwill, yet never demands beauties. His harem is overflowing—he lacks no beauties. Thus, even if you offer none, His Majesty will not blame you."

Song Jiang thought: 'His Majesty lacks no beauties—but none of them were sent by me. How can I stand out among countless ministers and leave a deep impression? This audience concerns not only our future, but our very fate—we cannot act carelessly.'

Night deepened; moonlight spilled like water over Song Jiang's rebel camp, a quiet stillness settling as Song Jiang's brow tightened, his thoughts swirling. He rose and paced slowly outside the tent, gazing at the endless mountains in the distance, pondering inwardly.

Though Wen Xuzhong said it was harmless, Song Jiang knew that in the game of power, details often decided victory or defeat—any slightest oversight could lead to total ruin.

"Brother, it's late. Why not rest? Tomorrow, Secretary Hou will come to offer amnesty," Wu Yong said softly, having appeared beside Song Jiang without notice.

Song Jiang turned and said slowly: "His Majesty has been exceptionally kind to us. If I do not prepare a fitting gift for this audience, my heart cannot rest."

Wu Yong knew the true source of Song Jiang's unease was not Zhao Yu's kindness, but the fact that they had killed countless officials—and feared Zhao Yu would hold them accountable.

Wu Yong did not expose Song Jiang, for he shared the same fear.

This hurdle Song Jiang must cross—pass it, and both he and his rebel army would secure a bright future; fail it, and the consequences were unthinkable.

Under these circumstances, presenting Zhao Yu a gift that could truly move him would greatly ease Song Jiang's mind and help him surmount this obstacle.

Song Jiang sighed again: "We have no roots in court. Without some extraordinary trick to make His Majesty remember us, we will never stand out among the sea of ministers."

Wu Yong said: "I believe presenting gifts is important, but it pales beside actual merit. Hangzhou has been seized by Fang La, bringing shame and loss to the court. If, after amnesty, we reclaim Hangzhou for the court, that great achievement alone will earn His Majesty's favor—even if you bring no gift at all."

He paused, then added: "Moreover, Qiantang's beauty has been famed since ancient times. Its rivers and lakes embrace it, its climate mild and gentle, its seasons harmonious, its mist and rain ethereal. The waters of West Lake, the light of Lingyin Mountain—imbued with the spirit of heaven and earth, nurturing daughters of exquisite grace. The women of Hangzhou have skin like congealed fat, postures like tender willows, natural elegance. Could we not find a suitable beauty for His Majesty by taking Hangzhou?"

Though Wu Yong spoke partly out of personal ambition—to become the true Prefect of Hangzhou—his words were undeniably sound.

After all, for a minister, merit is the firmest foundation—far superior to any gaudy gift.

Crucially, though Zhao Yu loved beauty, as a wise ruler he weighed benefits and harms; he would naturally favor generals and ministers who secured his realm and stabilized the court.

Moreover, Song Jiang had no beauties—but Hangzhou might. Perhaps after capturing Hangzhou, they would find one worthy of presenting to Zhao Yu?

Thus, Song Jiang resolved: once granted amnesty, he would lead his troops to seize Hangzhou, then return to the capital for audience.

The next day, Secretary Hou Meng arrived from Xiuzhou and set up an incense altar before Song Jiang's camp.

Yellow banners fluttered; drums and horns blared; Song Jiang, Wu Yong, Lu Junyi, and other rebel leaders knelt to receive the imperial decree.

Hou Meng unrolled the bright yellow edict, his voice thunderous:

"By the mandate of Heaven, I, the Emperor, uphold the welfare of my countless subjects, rising before dawn and retiring late, solely to ensure peace across the land. I have heard that chaos must give way to order, and evil cannot triumph over righteousness. Song Jiang and his righteous men, though gathered in mountains and forests, have always cherished loyalty and justice, striving to act on Heaven's Mandate. Moved by the people's suffering and the peril to the state, I now pardon your past offenses and welcome you into the imperial fold.

I appoint Song Jiang as Regional Commissioner of Jiangnan, bestowing upon him a python robe and jade belt, granting him the authority of the imperial scepter to command all armies of Jiangnan, with full discretion over all prefectural and county officials, revenues, and taxes. Wu Yong is appointed Department Magistrate of Hangzhou, concurrently overseeing land reclamation and water conservancy, ensuring the people's livelihood and the smooth flow of commerce.

I also grant you one hundred blank commissions; Song Jiang may appoint officers according to military merit, conferring ranks below Grade 7 Senior. All military equipment and grain supplies shall be provided by the Jiang-Zhe Transport Commission.

Fang La now occupies Muzhou, Shezhou, and Hangzhou, committing acts of disloyalty and devastating the people. I command Song Jiang to lead his forces and crush him without delay, hastening victory. Upon success, you shall be promoted and honored, your descendants blessed; if you slacken, the law shall not spare you.

Ah! Where the imperial army marches, the four seas turn their hearts; loyal and righteous men, their names etched in history. Obey my decree, hasten your great achievement! This edict is issued—let it be known!"

When the edict ended, Song Jiang and his men kowtowed, shouting "Ten thousand years!" and received the decree and commissions.

Hou Meng then ordered wine, meat, gold, silver, and brocade brought to reward the troops. That night, Song Jiang's camp held a grand feast, music and song echoing through the night.

Soon after, Accompanying Tong Guan's command arrived, ordering Song Jiang to swiftly capture Hangzhou.

With Accompanying Tong Guan came Yao Pingzhong and Liu Guangshi, each leading three thousand cavalry.

Clearly, these were Accompanying Tong Guan's reinforcements for Song Jiang.

Song Jiang ordered the Song army banners raised, then summoned his officers to plan how to defeat Fang La's rebels and retake Hangzhou.

Yao Pingzhong and Liu Guangshi attended the war council.

Frankly, as scions of established military families, Yao Pingzhong and Liu Guangshi looked down on Song Jiang, a rebel leader of humble origins.

Yet Song Jiang had won Zhao Yu's favor, becoming one of the top three leaders of the Jiangnan theater (and possibly not even third), commanding a real force of 170,000 troops.

This forced the two hotheads to obey his orders.

At the start of the meeting, Wu Yong explained: "Fang La has a Taixue student named Lü Jiang, who advised him to seize Jin Ling, issue proclamations to subdue all southeastern prefectures, collect taxes, establish a firm base, then gradually plan conquests—worthy of a legacy for a hundred generations. But Fang La is stubborn and rejected this sound strategy, instead dividing his forces. One army heads north toward Xiuzhou, where we are; another heads south toward regions south of Muzhou. Fang La himself holds Hangzhou with the main force."

He paused, then added: "The southern army—we need not concern ourselves; Hangzhou blocks our path to intercept them. The northern army splits into two: the eastern force, over sixty thousand strong, led by Fang La's brother Fang Qi, advances north along the eastern shore of Taihu, targeting Chongde and Xiuzhou, and will soon face our main force. The western force, led by Fang La's sister Fang Baihua and a young woman named Chen Shisì, numbering fifty to sixty thousand, has reached Xuanzhou and will soon clash with Lu Junyi's troops…"

Yao Pingzhong and Liu Guangshi had not expected Song Jiang's rebels to know Fang La's forces so thoroughly.

This would give the Song army a tremendous advantage in this battle.

Clearly, the court's amnesty of Song Jiang's rebels was a wise move.

After Wu Yong finished describing Fang La's forces, Song Jiang said: "Commander Tong has ordered us to defeat Fang La and retake Hangzhou. I plan to concentrate our forces and confront Fang Qi in Xiuzhou. What do you all think?"

Though he asked everyone, Song Jiang's gaze rested chiefly on Hou Meng, Yao Pingzhong, and Liu Guangshi—the non-rebel officers.

Hou Meng spoke first: "Before I came, His Majesty instructed me to handle only the amnesty and to oversee the Jiang-Zhe Transport Commission's delivery of provisions to the Tiger Guard (the name Zhao Yu gave Song Jiang's rebels). All other matters are beyond my purview."

He paused, then added: "The court has provided the Tiger Guard with six thousand fine northern horses, one hundred thousand long spears, twenty thousand bows and crossbows, two hundred thousand arrows, armor, siege engines, twenty thousand sets of uniforms, and countless tents, canteens, and other military supplies—all to be delivered soon from Xiuzhou Port. These will not hinder the Tiger Guard's battle against the rebels."

In their days as mountain bandits, Song Jiang's rebels had swords and spears forged by local blacksmiths, some even wielding bamboo lances or wooden clubs; their total number of bows and crossbows was under ten thousand, mostly inherited from surrendered Song soldiers, and arrows tipped with iron-wrapped bamboo were treasures they dared not waste; armor was scarce—only surrendered Song soldiers had crude armor, and most soldiers lacked even complete clothing, let alone armor.

Now that they had accepted the court's amnesty, Song Jiang's rebel army had exchanged their old guns for cannons, their equipment completely renewed, and every soldier's heart surged with excitement and high morale.

What Song Jiang's soldiers could never have expected was that the court had also sent them a ship full of military rations.

These military rations were newly developed by the court as wartime supplies, containing beef, mutton, and various dried vegetables, sealed in tin cans and treated with special techniques to remain fresh for months.

Liu Guangshi told Song Jiang that even his Western Army had only just received these supplies, having never seen them before; they were apparently rations reserved only for soldiers on the front lines.

The leaders of Song Jiang's army opened some cans, tasted them, and found the flavor extraordinarily delicious—the meat tender and soft, the taste rich and deep—nothing like the coarse, dry rations they had eaten before.

Many of Song Jiang's leaders praised the food, saying they had never tasted anything like it in their lives, and marveled that the court truly had vast wealth and showed meticulous care for its frontline soldiers.

Dressed in the Song army's cotton uniforms, wearing the Song army's thousand-layer soled cloth shoes, fastening the Song army's leather belts, and carrying steel canteens marked with numbers, many of Song Jiang's soldiers felt they had never looked so spirited in their lives.

When they received the weapons issued by the court, Song Jiang's soldiers were further invigorated. The spears gleamed with cold light, the bows and crossbows were finely crafted and sturdy, the arrows were new and razor-sharp, the armor thick and solid—each item revealed the court's profound resources. Holding these new weapons, their eyes sparkled with unprecedented determination and confidence, as if with these tools, they could crush all enemies and break through any defense.

What surprised and reassured Song Jiang's soldiers even more was that officials from the Ministry of War had arrived with the supply ship—they were here to register and record every soldier.

These Ministry of War officials meticulously recorded the name and details of every Song Jiang soldier: where their families lived, who they were, and to whom the pension would be paid if they died in battle.

This seemed minor, but it deeply convinced Song Jiang's soldiers of the court's sincere intent in granting amnesty. They realized they were no longer the outlaws once dismissed as bandits, but true subjects of the Great Song, its soldiers, now bearing the heavy responsibility of defending their homeland and quelling rebellion.

This feeling of acceptance and recognition was like a ray of winter sunlight—warm and bright—illuminating the hearts of every Song Jiang soldier.

Yuwen Xuzhong said to Song Jiang and the rebel leaders: "Your Majesty holds great regard for you and your army. All these measures were personally ordered by him. He once told his attendants: 'Do not let Song Jiang and his men shed blood and then tears. Now that they have accepted amnesty, they must be treated equally—no neglect allowed.'"

Upon hearing this, even the former opponents of amnesty—Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Ruan Xiaoqi—could not help but be moved, their hearts filled with complex emotions.

Lu Zhishen rubbed his bald head and laughed heartily: "I've long heard the Emperor is wise; today I see it's no exaggeration. If this is the case, then this amnesty was worth it!"

Wu Song nodded: "Then serving the court is only right."

Ruan Xiaoqi agreed: "We were overly suspicious. With an Emperor like this, no corrupt minister will dare harm loyal subjects."

Seeing that even the former opponents of amnesty had been won over by Zhao Yu, Song Jiang's spirit soared.

Song Jiang ordered immediate uniform changes and rest, and three days later, they would march south to engage in battle against Fang Qifu's Liang Shan rebel force, Fang Baihua's Liang Shan rebel force, and Chen Shisì's Liang Shan rebel force…

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(End of Chapter)