[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-113":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},1558279,2024,"Chapter 113: An Outing (Part 1)","shao-song-chapter-113",113,"\u003Cp>In late April, the people of Nanyang City were restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: the news of Han Shizhong's defeat at the Western Capital could not be concealed in the still rather informal Nanyang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, on this day, as the weather suddenly turned hot without any delay, detailed military intelligence from Han Shizhong's side was immediately reported. From His Majesty on down, once everyone in the central government roughly understood the situation, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that the cause of this battle still lay with Li Yanxian. Li Yanxian had crossed the Yellow River, used Mount Zhongtiao as his base to recover Jiezhou, and reopened communications with Wang Yan's Eight-Character Army. This greatly shook the Jin, who regarded Hebei as their heartland, because this action had enormous political and strategic significance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, compelled by circumstances, Wanyan Gushan (also known as Wanyan Xiyin), the highest Jurchen commander still in the Western Capital Luoyang area—the inventor of the Jurchen script, the actual planner of the so-called 'Two Emperors' Northern Hunt,' and, along with Wanyan Loushi, one of the two arms (one civil, one military) of Wanyan Zhamian's faction—made a prompt decision, ordering the entire army to withdraw to Hebei and abandon the Western Capital Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with this situation, perhaps Han Shizhong was again jealous of Li Yanxian's military achievements (such matters were too common), or perhaps the two Zhai brothers and Lü Qing had already fought the Jin to the point of bloodlust in the Western Capital area, developing blood feuds between them... In any case, after obtaining unanimous agreement from all levels within his army, and just before Wanyan Gushan and Yelu Yudu were about to withdraw their troops, Han Shizhong, in conjunction with the two Zhai brothers and Lü Qing, launched a multi-pronged joint surprise attack against Wanyan Gushan's forces, attempting to make a big splash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as the three routes set out simultaneously, they did not expect that Wanyan Gushan was also gathering his forces at the same time to prepare for crossing the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consequently, the result was that Lü Qing's force encountered the rebel Yang Jin, who had surrendered to the Jin, on the way. The two sides clashed hastily on the road, fighting bitterly with no clear outcome. Meanwhile, Han Shizhong's main force also encountered Yelu Yudu's Khitan troops. In the end, only the two Zhai brothers, leading righteous armies like Niu Gao, reached the predetermined battlefield, facing the Jurchens directly. Naturally, they suffered a disastrous defeat... If Han Shizhong hadn't managed to repel Yelu Yudu and come to their support, the two Zhai brothers and Niu Gao would likely have all perished on the banks of the Yellow River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the post-battle situation was not as bad as imagined, because after his great victory, Wanyan Gushan still chose to turn back and cross the river together with Yelu Yudu's Khitan troops, effectively abandoning Henan and Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, according to the meaning in Han Shizhong's urgent memorial, Yelu Yudu, this former Liao imperial general, had clearly held back his strength during the battle, and there might be some possibility of manipulating him in the future. As for the rebel Yang Jin, there was even less need to mention it—he had clearly exerted all his strength... Summoned at the time, he probably thought Wanyan Gushan was going to take him along too... yet he was still abandoned, isolated and without support in Henan, left standing on the Yellow River's bank, bewildered by the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Grand Commandant Han in his memorial almost swore an oath, roughly establishing a military pledge to hang Yang Jin by the Yellow River within half a month; otherwise, he said he wouldn't return to Huaixi, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he would definitely have to return; if he didn't return, how could he rest and reorganize, how could he expand his troops and prepare for battle? His Majesty the Emperor couldn't help but issue an edict to comfort him kindly, and requested that after defeating Yang Jin, Han Shizhong return early to Huaixi to rest and reorganize, and also supplement the forces of the two Zhai brothers and Lü Qing with Yang Jin's troops, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, the matter was somewhat of a false alarm. Moreover, in these times, everyone was used to losing battles. Could Zhao Jiu, just because he had given Han Shizhong a belt, forbid him from losing a battle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after the 'crisis' of Han Shizhong's defeat at the Western Capital was removed, only His Majesty the Emperor felt a great weight lifted from his heart, and subsequently slept soundly even during his afternoon naps. Yet within Nanyang City, the people remained restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: too many people, too many affairs. And with all sorts of incidents laid out before them, the relative importance of these matters was completely different for different people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, for the unique His Majesty the Emperor, frontline military intelligence was naturally the most important. Because in Zhao Jiu's eyes, everything in the rear was ultimately for the sake of victory over the Jin on the front lines. This was his main life value for the next ten or even twenty years, and also a matter concerning his life and family. This point had become even more unshakable since he refused to go to the Southeast and came to Nanyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, this Emperor would be extremely excited about Li Yanxian's great victory, even going so far as to confer upon him the title of Grand Coordinator of Yongxingjun Circuit overnight, then issue an edict overnight to comfort Han Shizhong and inquire about the battle situation, and finally completely relax after confirming the situation was stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it bluntly, in His Majesty the Emperor's eyes, compared to frontline military intelligence, everything else was nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relatively speaking, for the local residents of Nanyang, after confirming that the Jin wouldn't come, the most important matter was the rumor about a possible large-scale renovation of the city defenses. This matter would inevitably affect their travel and even the preservation of their own houses; this was truly a major issue concerning their livelihoods and survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another example: the talents gathered in Nanyang from various places recently would discuss everything, but discussion aside, the palace examination a few days later was itself the biggest matter... Whether they harbored a desire to serve the country and save it from hardship, or held the utilitarian ambition of advancement, they all needed to become officials first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the old bureaucrats caring that the Yuanyou faction partisans hadn't been rehabilitated in time, the Ba-Shu artisans caring that they would be diverted to settle in Xiangyang, and the merchants caring about the restoration of smooth transport on the Jiang-Han route—that was even more natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the same token, it was also natural that over these past two days, Imperial Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun had become increasingly anxious... Because very early on, as the court administration unfolded methodically, he had keenly sensed his awkward position within the court. And as many matters were implemented and occurred over these days, he became increasingly restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Difficult.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing his close friend Liu Ziyu, who had just returned from Xiangyang, Zhang Deyuan sat on the ground by a small river west of Nanyang City, under a green tree. Taking advantage of the wine cooled by the river's flow, he rarely opened his heart, just as he had previously done when accompanying the court in its wanderings, facing Zhao Ding and Hu Yin. \"Ziyu doesn't know. Outsiders see me, Zhang Jun, as Imperial Censor-in-Chief, a position considered half a councilor, and the foremost among His Majesty's trusted confidants. I should be fully satisfied. But being in this position, I am neither high nor low, neither ahead nor behind; everything is difficult to do...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ziyu grabbed a pear, took a crunching bite, but did not speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yanxiu, don't disbelieve me.\" Zhang Deyuan probably understood the other's mindset, but he spoke seriously to explain. \"I only ask you one thing. You say this place has bright sunshine, red flowers, and green trees—it's the peak of early summer scenery. It should be a time for scholar-officials to engage in elegant literary gatherings by the winding stream. Why are only you and I, two proper court officials, sitting idly here? You have just returned from meritorious service, specially granted leave by His Majesty. What about me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Liu Ziyu put down the pear and speak thoughtfully: \"Deyuan means that everyone else has work duties and cannot afford leisure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally.\" Zhang Jun gave a derisive laugh, then raised his cup and drank it all in one go, before raising his hand to enumerate. \"Let me imitate our His Majesty's manner and list them from beginning to end... The top four Councilors naturally need no mention. His Majesty sends notes every day, assigning matters one by one to the Councilors. If a matter is completed, he puts a checkmark on the note and hangs it in the hall. If a matter is not completed, he puts a cross and still hangs it in the hall. And if a matter is delayed, His Majesty will pat the table every day after ascending the hall and publicly ask a certain Councilor if he still has several notes unsubmitted today... The accompanying capital was hastily established; the main hall, the Council Hall, the Secretariat, and the Bureau of Military Affairs are all in one place. Everyone above and below is watching. Which Councilor dares not to go all out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I knew about this matter back in Xiangyang.\" Liu Ziyu shook his head and smiled upon hearing this. \"Councilor of the Three Departments Lü Haowen; it is said that Councilor Lü's daily tasks are to open notes, distribute notes, and report on notes, almost stealing the job of the chief clerk. Councilor of the Piled Notes Xu Jingheng; all difficult political matters are passed to him by Councilor Lü, to the point where he has accumulated a pile of notes in his bosom, with very few able to be submitted. Councilor of the Guanzhong Region Yuwen Xuzhong; he exclusively handles the affairs of the Western Army, but the situation in Guanzhong has never been completely settled, so his notes are often crossed, and they fill the hall. The Complacent Councilor Wang Boyan; he is responsible for other military and state affairs, and he often handles them efficiently, so his notes are all checked, also filling the hall. Lately, he has been riding high.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jun shook his head even more. \"That may be so, but who wouldn't want to hang up their own notes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed.\" Liu Ziyu also became serious. \"You and I are just joking privately. If we really talk about it, who wouldn't want to work like those Councilors? Just as you said, aside from a slight hint of mockery towards Councilor Lü, the other Councilors, whether they have many checks, many crosses, or many tasks they can't complete, the people of the world seem to know that these Councilors are handling matters one by one, not just occupying positions without doing work. But Deyuan... you are only thirty-one years old!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jun slowly nodded, but then slowly shook his head. \"Yanxiu, if it were only that, then I would naturally be insatiably greedy. But now, among the close ministers, I am the only one left idle...\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1913,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","b25f9637f62ea47488265f5d2ef115357902b38d375f202f17b1bd68e764e968","shao-song-chapter-114","shao-song-chapter-112",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]