[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-116":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},1558282,2024,"Chapter 116: An Outing (Continued)","shao-song-chapter-116",116,"\u003Cp>\"This is just writing, and what makes Grand Academician Su peerless is far more than just his writing?\" The Emperor seemed to have been thoroughly blocked by Minister Xu, truly just sitting there discussing literature and elegance exclusively, which was actually a good sign. \"Everyone says Tang poetry and Song ci—Li Bai of Tang poetry and Su Shi of Song ci—both have the bearing of immortals; even with just poetry, Grand Academician Su is enough to be called unparalleled in this dynasty; beyond that, there are painting and calligraphy—among Su, Huang, Mi, Cai, the ones I study are Su and Huang... Through the ages, there have been many sage rulers and famed ministers, but only a few have established virtue and merit, yet that doesn't hinder Grand Academician Su from establishing his words. It's only been a few years since Academician Su passed away, but the three characters 'Su Dongpo' are probably enough to be called immortal, aren't they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd naturally sighed in admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bring it here.\" Zhao Jiu sighed along with them for a while, and seeing that the atmosphere was just right, he waved his hand in signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the startled gazes of the others, Feng Yi respectfully carried something over—it was a scroll of some calligraphy or painting. And as Feng Yi and Yang Yizhong carefully unrolled the scroll, the crowd stirred at the Emperor's words: \"Gentlemen, come and look—this is the authentic work of Academician Dongpo, the 'Former Ode to the Red Cliff'...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd could no longer restrain themselves; even Xu Jingheng could no longer stand still and hurried forward to look, all of them sighing in awe. But after the four ministers had looked for only a moment, the several academicians and ministers grew impatient, wishing they could immediately shove those four aside and look for themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Zhao Jiu seemed completely unaware of these people's postures, and instead suddenly asked a baffling question: \"Is Ma Xingzu done?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd was bewildered, but then they saw the chamberlain Feng Yi call a eunuch at his side to carefully take over the authentic 'Former Ode to the Red Cliff', and then personally run off into the distance. Moments later, he returned with several people coming over from a small slope in the distance, and the leader was none other than the recently arrived court painter and master from Nanyang, the younger of the 'Big and Little Ma', Ma Xingzu—everyone was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How is the painting?\" Zhao Jiu asked with a smile from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have not failed the mission.\" Ma Xingzu came before him, bowed his head, and spoke with a slightly excited tone. \"It is mostly complete, only awaiting mounting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, several more eunuchs carefully carried a long table over, on which lay a long scroll of painting with ink still not fully dry... The officials on the riverbank could not help but stamp their feet repeatedly—how could they not realize that their own ugly postures while eating fish had been tricked by the Emperor into being painted by this Ma Xingzu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, this was them not understanding the Emperor's good intentions. At this time, the setting sun was in the west, casting light from that direction, illuminating the riverbank cleanly and sharply. With good lighting, everything looks good. Ma Xingzu, sitting facing west and looking east to make this painting, had caught the perfect moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if anyone was painted ugly, the Emperor wouldn't care either... He hurried to look at the painting, first saw that his own posture was still neat and prominent, then relaxed and began to appreciate it seriously... However, after looking for a long time, Zhao Jiu couldn't tell good from bad, only felt it had quite a bit of flavor, especially the misty Baihe River with plenty of blank space in the distance, contrasting delightfully with the tiny figures in various poses on the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And while the others were each feeling anxious, the Emperor, after looking for who knows how long, suddenly picked up a brush on the table, and then, in the blank space at the corner of the painting, slowly wrote a passage using the Su-style calligraphy his body was accustomed to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It read: The river flows with sound, the sheer bank a thousand feet; the mountain high, the moon small; the water recedes, the rocks emerge. How many days and months have passed, yet the rivers and mountains can no longer be recognized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four ministers around watched quietly, each falling silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing writing, the Emperor called out to another person: \"Su Dan, is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The commoner greets Your Majesty!\" Su Shi's eldest grandson hurried forward and knelt to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rise. Today you are the guest of honor.\" Zhao Jiu laughed lightly and sighed, then pointed at the table with his hand. \"You gifted me the 'Former Ode to the Red Cliff', and I am deeply grateful but have nothing to repay, so I can only give you this painting, 'The Riverside Outing at Baihe', and then inscribe the 'Latter Ode to the Red Cliff' as a return gift.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Dan was uneasy and anxious, clearly not understanding the Emperor's intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Lu Haowen simply couldn't bear to watch anymore, so he quickly reminded him: \"Hurry and thank His Majesty for his grace. With this painting and these characters, along with today's discussion of the Eight Great Masters by His Majesty, how can you still fear that Grand Academician Su won't be rehabilitated?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Dan suddenly understood, and knelt again to bow, tears streaming down his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhao Jiu sighed, then turned his head and forced a smile: \"Minister Lu, I won't hand you a note today. I'll issue an edict: completely abolish the party ban on the Yuanyou faction!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant thanks Your Majesty for his immense grace.\" Hearing this, Lu Haowen actually prostrated himself and kowtowed in thanks, and around him, no one raised any objection. On the contrary, Ye Mengde and several others all followed suit, performing the great ritual of obeisance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu was not flustered either, but lightly helped Lu Haowen up... He knew that Minister Lu's ancestors were also on the Yuanyou faction stele.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after helping up his chief minister and having the painting carried over to the Su brothers, the Emperor shook his head and laughed again: \"I still don't understand. My chief minister is a Yuanyou faction member, and the Yuanyou party ban has long been a dead letter. Why are you still pressing so hard?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\" Seeing that Lu Haowen was satisfied and still unwilling to say much, Xu Jingheng hesitated for a long time, then once again solemnly cupped his hands and spoke. \"In the court, the matter of right and wrong is of great importance. As the saying goes, if the name is not correct, the words will not be smooth...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu forced another smile: \"This is what I fear... Minister Xu, must we distinguish right from wrong? If we follow your meaning, once the Yuanyou faction is unbanned, should the Yuanfeng faction be banned again? If so, then Minister Li Gang's own father and Minister Zong Ze were both promoted by Lü Huiqing—should they be driven out together?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jingheng's face was pained, and he could only bow his head and reply: \"I absolutely have no such intention. As long as Your Majesty can posthumously honor the Yuanyou faction and clarify right and wrong, we can let bygones be bygones with the Yuanfeng faction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Haowen hesitated for a moment beside him, then also cupped his hands and said: \"I believe what Minister Xu said is very correct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu almost stopped smiling, but still forced a smile: \"Two ministers, today I fished for you, painted for you, and even inscribed words through Grand Academician Su—can't I exchange all this for you being muddle-headed just once? The nation is in such peril, why can't you two ministers yield just a little?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng exchanged a glance and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Zhang Jun, still under the influence of wine under the tree nearby, suddenly spoke up: \"Your Majesty, they are not fighting a court struggle, but a scholarly struggle. The Luo School and the New School are irreconcilable... Back in the Jingkang era, when the nation's peril had reached its extreme, they still wanted the Abyssal Sage (Song Qinzong) to lift the Yuanyou party ban, stirring up conflict. Today, with the Jin forces having retreated slightly, how could they not seize the opportunity to ask Your Majesty to establish the Luo School as the orthodox doctrine and demote the New School as heresy? And in my view, the two ministers have already shown you considerable respect, because during the Jingkang era, even a gentle man like Minister Lu would not let the Abyssal Sage eat over these matters. Today, even Minister Xu can tolerate Your Majesty eating and inscribing—isn't that already a great deal of concession?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng's hearts both sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sure enough, the Emperor sneered: \"Is that so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have no intention of neglecting state affairs.\" Xu Jingheng, before Lu Haowen could speak, took off his soft cap and said solemnly. \"Your Majesty, I believe that only by settling right and wrong can state affairs be properly handled... As for the Censor-in-Chief impeaching me for pressing Your Majesty too hard, I am willing to follow precedent and submit my resignation to prove my innocence!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhang Que is about to die.\" Zhao Jiu suddenly said. \"Today, I adjourned the morning court early for this matter, and I summoned you here for this reason... Do you think I softened up today for nothing? Wasn't it to make you all forbear for the nation and maintain stability in the court?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ziyu, still nursing a headache, glanced at Zhang Jun, but the latter already regretted his impulsive words under the influence of wine. As for Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng... Minister Lu was one thing, but Xu Jingheng, who was practically a sworn brother to Zhang Que, suddenly looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't it that you insist I give you a verdict?\" Zhao Jiu forced a smile and said. \"I'll give it to you today... Just now, Minister Ye asked me why I ranked Prince Wang Shu before Ouyang Xiu. Because, in my private estimation, Prince Wang Shu is truly the foremost figure of this dynasty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Haowen also raised his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not talking about scholarship, but about governance and being a minister. Grand Academician Su established his words, while Minister Wang established both merit and words.\" Zhao Jiu continued with a smile. \"If not for the repeated reversals of the Old Faction, which delayed the eradication of the chronic ailment of Western Xia, how could today's calamity have come about? As for villains like Cai Jing, who falsely claimed to be of the New Faction, outwardly implementing the New Policies but actually plundering and harming the people—such people would have harmed people in the Old Faction too. What does that have to do with Prince Wang Shu? Though I am young, I can still distinguish the root of right and wrong... So, I'll speak plainly today: I can pardon and employ the Old Faction, but if you want me to denigrate the New Faction and exalt the Old Faction to settle some right and wrong, I will absolutely not comply!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Haowen closed his eyes and sighed; Xu Jingheng's eyes were full of incomprehension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, someone who had been silent for a long time suddenly raised his voice to remind: \"Your Majesty! You were established by the Yuanyou Empress Dowager!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, who knows how many people drew in a sharp breath of cold air, yet in their hearts they all said in unison—finally, someone has said those words!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be known that if not for this sentence, the Emperor's trusted confidants would have long since jumped out to besiege Minister Xu—how could they have let the situation deteriorate to this point?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finally, someone has said those words.\" The Emperor, hearing Ye Mengde's remark, was surprisingly not angry. \"I know what you're all thinking! When I was in exile, I even exiled the person who proposed stripping Wang Anshi of his princely title to Lingnan, yet you still came one after another... Isn't it just because you think that I was established by the Yuanyou Empress Dowager, and the Yuanyou Empress Dowager was established by Empress Dowager Xuanren (Gao Taotao)? So you think that I will eventually come around—that if I cannot carry on the lineage and exalt the Old Faction, I am being rebellious, and I am not fit to rule the nation... Is that it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I absolutely have no such intention.\" Ye Mengde, having struck a fierce blow but not reaped the expected result, was already flustered. Hearing the Emperor's heavy words, he hurriedly took off his soft cap and bowed his head in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What 'absolutely no such intention'?\" Zhao Jiu laughed again at the sound. \"Ministers Lu and Xu today just didn't give me face, but Minister Ye has stripped my skin bare—how can you still say you have no such intention?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister Ye spoke rashly...\" Lu Haowen forced himself to plead for leniency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let Minister Ye go out to be Prefect of Yangzhou.\" Zhao Jiu said dismissively. \"Let Yangzhou Prefect Lü Yihao come here to be Minister of Works... When Minister Ye arrives in Yangzhou, he might as well ask the Empress Dowager face to face whether I can be deposed for not exalting the Old Faction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Mengde's face turned ashen; he could no longer stand, and could only prostrate himself and kowtow. Lu Haowen could only follow the example of Xu Jingheng beside him and take off his soft cap as a gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Emperor continued: \"Do you think I exalt Prince Wang Shu for no reason? Why can't I just prop up the Old Faction?! Isn't it because I need to resist the Jin?! If I follow your meaning and honor Sima Guang and Su Shi... should I honor Sima Guang for returning the Western Xia territories, or honor Su Shi for his 'Wei Qing the slave'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty.\" Xu Jingheng's face also turned ashen, but he was the last one on the riverbank to try his utmost. \"Grand Academician Su was not mocking Wei Qing; he was mocking those who gained favor through sycophancy at that time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know!\" Zhao Jiu sneered in response. \"And I believe that with Grand Academician Su's benevolent heart, if he could have witnessed the shame of the Jingkang Incident with his own eyes and lived again, he might well have become a military official and expanded the borders in Hehuang! But didn't he not witness the shame of Jingkang? Can he not live again? If I greatly honor Su Shi and posthumously grant him something like Grand Preceptor, then when Han Shizhong and the others see 'Wei Qing the slave', won't they think that the Emperor calls them his heart and guts on the surface, but actually regards them as slaves?! Minister Xu, how many times must I tell you? In the world today, resisting the Jin is the one priority... I don't demand that those who follow me prosper and those who oppose me perish; I only ask that those who follow me rise and those who oppose me lie low—yet you cannot even do that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We also, seeing the Jin forces retreat slightly, took the opportunity to discuss this matter. We absolutely had no ill intent...\" Xu Jingheng's voice was already weak. \"The Old Faction and the Luo School are not so foolish as to deliberately neglect military preparations or disparage military strategy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You indeed have no ill intent, nor are you foolish—it's just that habit has become second nature.\" Zhao Jiu laughed ruefully. \"Let me teach you one more thing... In the first year of Jingkang, the Jin forces came south for the first time, withdrew in the second month, and soon the Two Sages in court began to quarrel. As a result, the Jin forces came again in the eighth month. In the fourth month of the following year, the Jin forces captured the Two Sages. I ascended the throne in Nanjing in the sixth month, and Huang Qianshan and Li Gang immediately began to quarrel. As a result, the Jin forces came south for the third time in the tenth month. Now it is the second year of Jianyan. Jingdong, Jingxi, and Guanzhong have all collapsed. The Jin forces also withdrew in the fourth month... I only ask you, gentlemen, ministers, and academicians: when do you think they will come this year? At a time like this, you insist on stirring up trouble—what exactly are you after?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Haowen, Xu Jingheng, and the others all felt a tightness in their chests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll say it directly today: no resignations, no leaving office without cause, no unauthorized claims of illness, no unauthorized requests for retirement, and no more discussion of the New versus Old faction struggle...\" Zhao Jiu rarely put on a stern face. \"This is because the state is in difficulty, and Song and Jin are still at war. In two months, the Jin forces might come south again. And today, I went through all this trouble and was finally forced to say these unpleasant things. So if anyone stirs up trouble at this time, in my eyes, they will be betraying the nation just like Liu Guangshi. If anyone is dissatisfied, please go find Grand Prefect Ye and jointly petition the Empress Dowager to depose me. Then you can do as you please—that's all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng exchanged a glance, each putting on their soft caps with shame, while Ye Mengde completely collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, I request that Ye Mengde, for his presumptuous talk of deposition and succession, be demoted and placed under house arrest in Lingao, Qiongzhou.\" Just then, Hu Yin, who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped forward to impeach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing these words, Lu, Xu, Wang, and Yuwen, along with Imperial Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun and many other ministers, all reacted at once, then nearly simultaneously jumped up from the embankment to face each other, expressing their agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu looked at Hu Yin, then at his ministers who were rarely in such accord, and suddenly laughed: \"Then let it be so!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Ye Mengde felt completely relieved and could not help but feel tearfully grateful toward Hu Yin... If not for Hu Yin, his only way out would have been to jump into the Baihe River and drown himself tonight, whereas going to Lingao meant he might return someday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky gradually darkened, and everyone dispersed with their own thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention what the ministers were thinking, the Imperial Majesty rarely did not ride a horse but instead rode back to the city in a carriage with Lady Wu. Midway, seeing the Imperial Majesty frowning deeply, Lady Wu wished to console him but dared not touch upon state affairs. After thinking it over, she suddenly leaned against his shoulder and asked with a smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, you said earlier that if Grand Academician Su were to see today and then be reborn, he might go to open up borders in Hehuang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then if Your Majesty were Emperor Shenzong, how would you arrange for Grand Academician Su?\" Lady Wu asked curiously. \"Would you also send him to open borders in Hehuang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not.\" Zhao Jiu, who was thinking about something, blurted out. \"I would have exiled him a few years earlier... As the saying goes, literature resents a smooth fate—if he hadn't been exiled for half his life, how could he have written such excellent essays and poems? As for sending him to open borders, he might well die on the battlefield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wu was momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop the carriage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Majesty did not say more to Lady Wu but suddenly gave the order. When the carriage stopped in the middle of the road, he directly got off and had someone unroll the scroll of the *Former Ode to the Red Cliff*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wu understood and immediately helped hold up a lantern, while Feng Yi also hurried forward to offer brush and ink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu took the brush and ink, and by the light of the lantern, he wrote a passage directly on the back of the *Former Ode to the Red Cliff*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give this to Lord Xu behind me, and have him bestow it on behalf of me to the family of Lord Zhang Que, Zhang Xianggong.\" After writing this passage, Zhao Jiu threw the brush to the ground, simply gave Feng Yi this instruction, and then directly boarded the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Yi dared not be negligent. Carefully holding this precious scroll, he came to Lord Xu's carriage, which was not far behind the Imperial Majesty's carriage, and explained the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jingheng had been full of worries, but upon hearing this, he perked up slightly, personally got off the carriage to receive it, and thanked the Imperial Majesty on behalf of Zhang Que.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriages of Lu, Wang, Yuwen, and Zhang Jun were all nearby. Hearing that the Imperial Majesty had bestowed the *Former Ode to the Red Cliff* upon Zhang Que with an inscription, they also hurried over, each raising their lanterns to read the content of the Imperial Majesty's inscription.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after each of them read it in turn, they fell silent in turn. Not only that, but after the Imperial Majesty's carriage had gone far, countless academicians, ministers, and secretaries came to look at it in turn, and most of them were also speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that these few lines of small characters were clearly written, in the Su style that the Imperial Majesty had learned, but the content came from a famous piece by Wang Shuwang (Wang Anshi), *Record of a Journey to Mount Baochan*, which had been the subject of great controversy that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if one's strength is sufficient to reach it yet one does not, then others may mock it, and one will have regret in oneself; if one exhausts one's will but still cannot reach it, then one can have no regret—who can mock one then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Good night, everyone... I did my best.\u003C\u002Fp>",3744,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","3de1448aa418d2574e2db6589ad03c25095ac7deea417709c5af6e929949843e","shao-song-chapter-117","shao-song-chapter-115",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]