[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-100":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Shao Song",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1558266,2024,"Chapter 100: Nanyang (Part 2)","shao-song-chapter-100",100,"\u003Cp>Leaving aside how overwhelmed Liu Ji was, Lu Haowen had already opened the fourth slip of paper, and upon looking at it, saw the words \"Guansi\" written on it. Not daring to be negligent, he immediately handed this slip to Yuwen Xuzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming to Nanyang was precisely to secure the strong troops of Guansi, but Guansi had been cut off from the temporary court for a long time. Aside from the fall of Chang'an and the deaths of all key officials in the entire Jingzhao Prefecture, what was the situation there now? How many troops were left? Had it devolved into warlord separatist regimes? Had the Jin forces taken it all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had to go and find out these things, then formulate corresponding countermeasures and arrangements... As always, matters of state and military affairs required someone to take responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Yuwen Xuzhong said nothing and directly took this heavy slip of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Lord Lu finally opened the fifth, and last, slip of paper. Looking closely, he saw the words \"Military Marriage.\" Recalling the promises the Zhao Emperor had made to those soldiers on Bagongshan back then, Lord Lu understood immediately—this meant combining the land registration to sort out the refugees, encouraging remarriage, and finding wives for the soldiers of the Imperial Guard Central Army... He quickly clutched this slip of paper in his hand, preparing to personally handle this difficult and important matter in his capacity as Chief Minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the other four lords, each was startled for a moment, but they were too lazy to argue about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every matter is urgent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five men stood on the empty main hall, silent for a moment together. Finally, Lu Haowen, as the Chief Minister of the temporary capital, felt duty-bound. \"But at this moment, all ministries, courts, offices, and directorates are severely understaffed. Therefore, I believe that while doing these things, we must simultaneously fill the personnel vacancies...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His Majesty issued an edict back in Caizhou for all regions to recommend worthy talents, but due to road conditions, they haven't arrived yet, or perhaps haven't even received the edict. Even the local recommendations from Jingxi only began after Yinshu retreated. And the accompanying officials of the temporary court have mostly been used to fill positions in Jingxi.\" Yuwen Xuzhong casually reminded him. \"At this moment, to fill the central government, what people can we use?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Lu was immediately left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, under Lan Gui's watchful gaze, the five lords stood cold for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. After hesitating for a moment, thinking it over, they finally decided to each return first, gather their own staff, friends, students, and familiar officials... Anyway, this work couldn't be done alone. They could only scrape together what they could, roughly draft a memorial, and wait until His Majesty returned from who knows where, then make a general report before discussing anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as the five lords turned around together, preparing to leave this place, amidst the \"cooing\" sounds from the forest outside the hall, the Chief Eunuch Lan Gui couldn't help but clear his throat: \"My lords, please stay!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five men's heads ached in unison, but they had to turn back together. Finally, Lu Haowen had no choice but to steel himself and speak: \"Chief Eunuch Lan, does His Majesty have further instructions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not His Majesty's instructions. We in the Palace Domestic Service discussed it yesterday, and there is a matter we need to tell the Chancellors.\" Lan Gui said cautiously. \"My lords, His Majesty is twenty-two this year, in the prime of his life, yet he only has one imperial heir. And Lady Pan must both care for the imperial heir and fulfill His Majesty's filial duties before the Empress Dowager...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lan Gui could finish, the five men suddenly realized—well, they had forgotten this matter. After the Zhao Emperor pawned his wife and children off to Lord Li of the Southeast, there wasn't a single woman by his side!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the five men understand, Lan Gui clasped his hands by the imperial desk and sighed: \"Normally, His Majesty has repeatedly and strictly ordered that local women not be sought, and that palace women not be arbitrarily increased. With Kang Lü's precedent as a warning, we eunuchs know the consequences and shouldn't speak out of turn. But before, it was just the bumpy travel of the temporary court, and His Majesty was mostly in the military camps, so it was passable. But now that we've come to Nanyang and entered the temporary palace, a dignified emperor has no reason to have no lady or wife by his side, right? If this continues long-term, improper rumors might spread outside... We are truly helpless and can only seek help from you lords.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to wait for the long term—I personally heard rumors on Bagongshan before that His Majesty was impotent... Lu Haowen wanted to say this, but couldn't bring himself to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to put this matter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was very necessary, because as Lan Gui said, whether it was to increase the number of imperial heirs, to create a healthy image of a proper emperor, or even to make His Majesty settle down and stay more in the palace, they had to find some bed companions for His Majesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this kind of thing should have been hinted at privately by His Majesty, then carried out by the eunuchs, while the outer court ministers conveniently impeached and admonished. Everyone would do their own job, and all would be well. But why did His Majesty explicitly forbid it, and then the Palace Domestic Service pass the hot potato to the Chancellors?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could a Chancellor do such a thing? The Chancellor was the head of all officials, tasked with handling matters of state and military, deciding policy directions, smoothing over conflicts among officials, and harmonizing the principles of yin and yang. How could he possibly go find women for His Majesty?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what else could be done? Let His Majesty remain a bachelor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn't they seen that the temporary palace Liu Ji built even had quarters for consorts and ladies? And if His Majesty still didn't touch a single woman in Nanyang, wouldn't that be a sign of the Chancellors' irresponsibility?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several Chancellors could already imagine the impeachment rhetoric from those censors and idle men: \"So-and-so Chancellor has several wives and concubines, several sons and daughters, yet lets His Majesty live like a widower...\" To be dismissed from the Chancellorship over this would be too embarrassing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, onto the next topic: who would take responsibility for this matter that was destined to draw criticism?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a spotted dove flew into the hall, continuing to coo, four of the five lords simultaneously fixed their gazes on one among them. Lu Haowen had no choice but to turn back and nod in response: \"Chief Eunuch Lan, rest assured. As Chief Minister, I will not shirk this duty. I will find a way!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lan Gui was relieved. The five lords remained silent, each hurrying away from the hall as if fleeing. For a time, only the cooing sounds filled the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Begin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, outside Nanyang city, at the foot of Yushan Mountain, by the banks of Baishui River, amidst the green trees, fragrant flowers, and bustling crowds, the Zhao Emperor, now wearing a new leather belt, sat upright on the general's platform in the military camp with several trusted key officials. He pointed with great interest at the two men before him and said: \"Since you two have the same words, I won't play the villain. You will wrestle and fight here. I, along with Commander Wang (Wang Yuan) and the others, are all here to witness. The winner will fill this position of Reserve General... But you must accept the outcome and not pursue the matter afterwards!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two young officers, both under Qiao Zhongfu's command, cupped their hands in salute, then turned and glared coldly at each other. Amidst thunderous jeers, they immediately went back down the platform to remove their armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, the two came back up wearing only loincloths, revealing their tattoos and muscular bodies. The surrounding noise grew even more deafening, but as they both bent down and closed to within one body length of each other, the previously boisterous camp fell silent for some reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as one of them suddenly lunged forward with a kick, a wave of sound once again swept through the entire camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: It's actually one chapter that should have been posted together. My hand slipped; please forgive me, everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>",1441,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","b27f0b999d3a6c5dc2f235b048839e0213a54c4ac4cff6e663c60fadae3f4c38","shao-song-chapter-101","shao-song-chapter-99",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]