Chapter 109: Returning to the City

Let us speak of this: having sent the young Academician Lin to issue an edict to stir up trouble against Li Gang, the Emperor Zhao went to rest. However, nothing happened that night, and Zhao Jiu, in this dwelling that held who knew how many wronged souls, indeed found it hard to sleep all night.

Of course, thankfully it was only one night.

The next day, after assigning Qiao Zhongfu to garrison Xiangyang and Zhang Jing to garrison the key route to Hanzhong at Guanghua Army (present-day Laohekou), the Emperor Zhao hastily sent a letter to Liu Ji, ordering him to come immediately to take up his post, and then ordered the entire army to withdraw... Of course, to ensure stability, a large number of surrendered troops that had not yet been digested and reorganized were also taken along, to be counted and assembled at the Nanyang Yushan Grand Camp. Liu Ziyu was left behind to oversee the expansion of Qiao and Zhang's two units and to bring back troop rosters. Even Wang Jun was taken back for "reporting duties" and rewards, to be released only after Liu Ji had settled things there.

In the final analysis, Zhao Jiu had to respect certain "fine traditions" of the Song Imperial Army and also had to acknowledge the reality that this was an era of chaos. So he never expected to establish army supervisors down to the squad level all at once, but he still wanted to reclaim some power bit by bit and try to make some beneficial changes to this army as much as possible.

However, whether it was the generals of the Imperial Guard Central Army, who were feeling somewhat constrained by the Emperor's power tactics, or the Emperor himself, who was somewhat unsettled by the naked scenes of beasts devouring men, or even the directly involved young Academician Lin, they all gradually relaxed their postures during the return march.

After all, no matter how you looked at it, from any angle, this campaign was a great and swift victory... In just over ten days, without consuming many supplies, they had won easily—how efficient was that? And with the majestic imperial army pressing forward, tens of thousands of rebels had crumbled—how inspiring a process was that?

It must be known that the posture of subduing the enemy without fighting perfectly matched the values of this era.

But the most important point was that after this battle, Xiangyang was taken, which completely opened up a space for maneuver behind Nanyang. The southeast, Bashu, and Jingxiang—all the major financial and tax regions of the Song south of the Yangtze River—could now be continuously transported to the vicinity of the auxiliary capital through the natural artery of the Yangtze River... The Yangtze plus the Han River, and also the Baishui—this waterway was far superior to any canal or the Bian River!

This was a strategic victory.

Of course, regarding opening up the situation, recovering Xiangyang clearly had another meaning that everyone tacitly understood: once the Jin launched another major advance, sweep, and pincer offensive like the previous three, if the Central Plains truly could not hold out and Nanyang was in danger, the Emperor Zhao and the temporary court could always retreat to the famous city of Xiangyang and hold out a while longer.

Nanyang and Xiangyang were always one entity anyway. The military strength comparison between Song and Jin was what it was—nothing to be ashamed of.

Returning to the present, setting aside these future topics for now, let us only speak of the Emperor Zhao leading his army back to Nanyang. He was caught somewhat off guard upon arrival, because Nanyang in late April was far more bustling than it had been a month earlier.

"We do not recall when the central government acquired so many officials?"

East of Nanyang city, by the banks of the Baihe River, the Emperor Zhao dismounted and, looking at the auxiliary capital's officials and commoners who had come out who knew how many li to welcome him, could not help but laugh. "Lord Lu, you didn't drive everyone out of the city, did you? This is not the time for extravagant celebrations. Ordinary people should absolutely not be brought out of the city for such things, only to neglect their work."

"Let Your Majesty know," Lu Haowen quickly replied seriously. "Your servant would never dare to deceive Your Majesty. The truth is that these past few days have coincided with the gathering of talented individuals selected from various regions in Nanyang, all awaiting Your Majesty's personal inspection... And most of these people have attendants, friends, or local government escorts accompanying them. Upon hearing of Your Majesty's victorious return, they naturally poured out. And Your servant believed that this matter was of the utmost importance after Your Majesty's victory, and should not be obstructed from them seeing Your Majesty. So I temporarily arranged them into official ranks according to civil or military status, integrity, source of recommendation, and age, and brought them all here."

Zhao Jiu understood in his heart, knowing that this was one of the notes he had left before the campaign, so he did not press the matter further.

Then, before the Emperor Zhao could say anything more, Yang Yizhong, who was following beside the various lords, suddenly stepped aside, and Feng Yi led forward an armored soldier of unremarkable build. The soldier carried a tray on which was placed a cup, its mouth as wide as a lotus root joint, filled to the brim with wine... The soldier came directly before Zhao Jiu, knelt on one knee, and presented it, without spilling a single drop.

The Emperor Zhao looked down at it, then turned his head to look at Feng Yi.

Feng Yi quickly lowered his head and said with a low laugh: "Your Majesty, this is yellow plum wine sent a few days ago from the Empress Dowager in Yangzhou in the southeast. Your servant consulted with the various lords before bringing it to celebrate Your Majesty's victory."

Zhao Jiu, still in his armor, gave a faint, ambiguous smile and looked over at Yang Yizhong.

Yang Zhengfu, seeing the Emperor look at him, gave an almost imperceptible nod, then immediately lowered his head.

The Emperor Zhao sighed, then took the cup. He saw a clear yellow plum at the bottom, brought it to his nose and smelled it—a pure fragrance assailed his nostrils...

But unfortunately, the Emperor Zhao did not feel like drinking so much wine today. He merely sniffed it, took a tiny sip, then turned around and, in front of who knew how many officials and soldiers, gently poured the wine onto the ground before him, and then raised his voice, speaking with conviction:

"By the grace of the Empress Dowager, let this be an offering to the souls of the Imperial Guard who died in battle at Dengzhou!"

Feng Yi dared not say a word, while Lu Haowen and the other three lords hurriedly bowed in salute, prompting everyone around, civil and military, noble and lowly, to bow as well.

And once the wine was poured out, with the yellow plum still stuck to the cup, the Emperor Zhao, while everyone's heads were still bowed, simply pinched it out and put it in his mouth, then placed the cup back.

A small interlude, not worth mentioning. The Emperor Zhao put the cup back, and Lu Haowen led the assembled officials to rise. There were other procedures for Zhao Jiu to go through here. After finally finishing these tedious processes, Wang Yuan and Wang De led the Imperial Guard Central Army toward the Yushan Grand Camp, and the Emperor Zhao also changed his clothes... But as he stepped out of the tent, preparing to return to the city, Lord Lu raised a suggestion that the Emperor Zhao found hard to refuse.

"Your Majesty," Lu Haowen said solemnly. "Your Majesty has labored hard on the campaign, the roads are muddy, and you are travel-worn and weary. You should rest. But among the talents who came out to welcome you today, there happens to be a retired scholar. He fled the chaos from west of the Pass to Junzhou in the Jingxi circuit, was first recommended by the local county magistrate as a man of integrity, and upon arriving in Nanyang, was especially appreciated by Wang Shuzhan, the Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, who went to examine him. He then submitted a memorial to the provincial government specifically recommending him, saying he has strategies for relief and governance... The key point is that this man is already over sixty. Why doesn't Your Majesty grant him an audience here publicly, observe his character and learning, and then bestow an official post upon him, to show your respect for the elderly and love for talent?"

Zhao Jiu naturally had nothing to say to such a matter and immediately ordered this "retired scholar" to be summoned.

In a short while, a man with graying hair came forward to meet the Emperor Zhao. His attire was prosperous, his bowing was meticulous, and his demeanor was composed—he seemed like an old man who had seen the world.

To this, the Emperor Zhao naturally spoke with gentle words and a kind tone. He personally stepped forward to help the man up, then cautiously asked: "May I ask your surname and given name, sir, and what are you skilled at? Whether civil, military, artisan, or farmer, if you have but one talent, We will not be stingy with rewards."

The old man raised his head and replied solemnly: "Let Your Majesty know, this commoner's surname is Wang. I have lived in seclusion for many years and have forgotten my given name. I am skilled in alchemy."

Zhao Jiu, holding this Old Wang's hand, was momentarily stunned.

PS: Thanks to An Miao's double alliance and Xiao Feitan's alliance—the latter should be the fifty-fourth alliance... I'm ashamed.

Everyone, go to sleep quickly. I'll keep writing; it should be out by three or four.