[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-15":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},1558181,2024,"Chapter 15","shao-song-chapter-15",15,"\u003Cp>The news of the main Jin army suddenly appearing, from a distance of over six hundred li, nearly scared the wits out of every civil and military official in the provisional court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some wept and begged for an audience with Zhao Jiu, requesting that Li Gang be dismissed from his post as Grand Councilor, on the grounds that the Jin had clearly been drawn here by this war advocate Li Gang—otherwise, why had nothing happened in the previous two months?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others, throwing caution to the wind, demanded an immediate imperial expedition in person—not against the Jin, but that Zhao Jiu, in his majesty as the Son of Heaven, should personally proceed to Guangzhou on the upper reaches of the Huai River, to recruit Ding Jin on the spot, who was gathering troops there, so they could hurry on their way without even waiting for Han Shizhong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were also those who advised Zhao Jiu to turn back, but only as far as Mingdao Palace, because Han Shizhong was there; then the provisional court and Han Shizhong's forces could combine to a full thirteen or fourteen thousand men, abandon Ding Jin entirely, take a detour through Huaidong to the sea, and head straight south to Yangzhou, or even Hangzhou!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, the phrase \"showing one's true colors\" was perfectly apt at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To this, Zhao Jiu—who for some reason was exceptionally calm and unruffled—felt half worried and half pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What worried him was that, although he had been prepared, these civil and military officials usually seemed so proper and capable, each appearing both learned and martial, that he had almost believed their nonsense; but now that the Jin had truly come, they had finally reverted to their true selves. What pleased him was that it was only \"almost\"—there were still a few who had not lost their nerve, and some who had held their ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Gang went without saying; he was nearly the only one in the provisional court, along with Zhao Jiu, who remained calm. At the critical moment, this Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs temporarily dismissed several people, forcibly drove back those courtiers who had come weeping to Zhao Jiu, and, on the grounds that the Jin were still very far away, demanded that a meeting of the Council of State be convened the next day... In the end, under his son's care, he went straight to sleep in the main hall of the Buddhist shrine, and in the dead of winter, left the doors wide open for all to see, barely managing to steady people's nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Zhang Jun and the few young men he had recently recommended did not disappoint Zhao Jiu either. At the crucial moment, they did not cause any trouble but instead took a firm stand and chose to support Li Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What surprised Zhao Jiu the most was Yuwen Xuzhong. This Grand Secretary, who had been responsible for negotiating peace with the Jin during the Jingkang Incident, now displayed great restraint and dignity, though his stance remained unclear. Otherwise, Zhao Jiu would have wanted to immediately appoint him as a Grand Councilor in either the Eastern or Western Administration. Yuwen Xuzhong himself stated that, having been in charge of the peace negotiations that led to the two emperors being taken north and the nation nearly perishing, he often blamed himself. He therefore requested to go north, first to try to delay matters, second to see if he could persuade the enemy to withdraw, and third to see if there was any hope of bringing the two emperors back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu naturally refused, and then Yuwen Xuzhong, along with the others, was expelled from the rear hall by Li Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as the saying goes, you stand on the bridge looking at the scenery, unaware that you yourself are also scenery. Throughout the provisional court, since the commotion began the previous night, the one thing that surprised every civil and military official more than anything else was precisely Zhao Jiu's calmness!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with his earlier exchange with Zong Ze, where he had made the astonishing prediction that Jin Wushu would lead the main Jin army south, it was all the more startling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's so surprising about that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, at another imperial-before-the-Buddha-hall-Council-of-State meeting, Zhao Jiu remained perfectly composed, as numb as a Psyduck, and spoke with a blank expression. \"The Jin originated from a tribal hunting confederation. At that time, they knew nothing of luxury or frugality, nothing of power struggles, nothing of ruler and subject. In thirteen years, they rose rapidly, and though they quickly picked up these things, they remain extremely simple... You lords are not ignorant; you are overthinking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why Jin Wushu (Wanyan Zongbi)? Simply because he is Aguda's fourth son, nothing more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Consider that Jin Taizu Aguda was a man of his generation, who achieved great success and then died, with the throne passing to his brother Wuqimai. Yet his prestige as the founding emperor was so unassailable within the Jin state that even though the Second Prince Wolibu (Wanyan Zongwang) died, the Jin ruler Wuqimai and the Marshal Zhanhan (Wanyan Zonghan) could not shake the power of Aguda's sons in the slightest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Another point: the Jin's military arts are inherited from hunting, and dividing their forces into left and right wings has become a fixed pattern and tradition that cannot be easily changed. Aguda's sons are mostly young. With the Second Prince Wolibu dead, there are only three left. The Jin wield power through the Bogilie system. The eldest son, Woben (Wanyan Zonggan), must remain at the center to continue as Bogilie. The third son, Eriduo (Wanyan Zongyao), originally served under Zhanhan in the Western Route Army and has deep roots there. Whether he now breaks away to take command of the central army in Yanjing or not, he will never abandon his original base. Therefore, although Jin Wushu is young, he is the only candidate pushed forward by his brothers to inherit Aguda's direct line's authority in the Eastern Route Army!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this lengthy discourse, the Buddhist hall—from which the statue of the Tathagata had already been removed (to scrape off the gold leaf)—fell into utter silence. After a moment, someone let out a heartfelt exclamation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty sees with the clarity of fire and illuminates ten thousand li!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu remained expressionless, but inwardly he couldn't help grumbling—if you knew the answer, you could reverse-engineer this process too, and you might sound even more logical than me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Your Majesty, why were you so certain that the Jin army would immediately invade south again?\" asked Zhang Jun, the Censor-in-Chief, unable to resist pressing further. \"If we count from the sixth month, it's only been four months, and the Jin have already come and gone and returned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You lords came from Dongjing and have experienced far more than I have. Why do you still harbor any illusions about the Jin?\" Hearing this, Zhao Jiu finally showed emotion, sneering with undisguised sarcasm. \"The Jin cannot be called good or evil; they are merely savage and cunning, like wild beasts. Since when does a wild beast, having had a good meal of meat, not come back for more?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said this, Zhao Jiu turned his gaze to Yuwen Xuzhong and added in a heavier tone: \"And unless you beat the wild beast until it hurts, there is no point in reasoning with them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Yuwen Xuzhong aside, many of the ministers in the hall swallowed the words they had been about to speak. They finally confirmed that, for now, this sovereign was unlikely to abandon his war advocacy stance... Of course, if the Jin army truly arrived at the city gates, that would be another matter—there were precedents, after all. They would wait and see a little longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having rarely lost his temper, Zhao Jiu noticed Li Gang, Lord Li, staring at him with some surprise, so he quickly composed himself, sat upright beneath the lotus throne from which the Buddha statue had been removed, and resumed his wooden-carving act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Gang was silent for a moment, then turned back. When he opened his mouth, his voice was no longer as resonant as before... It turned out that, to calm people's hearts the previous night, he had deliberately slept here, leaving the hall doors open and lighting braziers. A night of cold wind had given him a chill, leaving his voice hoarse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have already made a decision on this matter!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Gang's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was low, but the moment he spoke, everyone in the hall immediately became serious, even more so than when the sovereign had spoken. \"The repeated fast-riding military reports from yesterday leave no doubt: the main Jin army is advancing south, at least fifty to sixty thousand men... But judging by the Jin's standing Eastern and Western Route armies, there will surely be reinforcements. In the end, a main force of one hundred thousand is certain. And this time, they are likely targeting the two Jingdong circuits (present-day Shandong Province), so they should not threaten the provisional court... There is no need for excessive worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have a different opinion on this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, someone tactlessly interrupted Lord Li's composed briefing, drawing angry glares from everyone. When they realized it was the sovereign himself who had spoken, they quickly adjusted their expressions and looked on with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What different opinion does Your Majesty have?\" Li Gang frowned more deeply. Although this sovereign had been obedient lately, there was still the precedent of past behavior, and in the past month or two, he had shown a remarkable talent for winning people over, gathering a group of close attendants and military officials around him—something that could not be ignored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Jin cannot possibly take only the two Jingdong circuits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the gravity of the matter, Zhao Jiu could not be bothered to consider the old minister's loyal heart or whether he was ill. He stated his concern directly. \"Earlier, Zong Ze said that the Sishui Pass was under pressure, which may not be false. It seems Zhanhan might also send troops south!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Gang was silent again, then coughed to clear his throat. After a moment, he replied with difficulty: \"Your Majesty speaks sense. If Zhanhan sends the Western Route Army south, he will surely aim for Luoyang, Shanzhou, and even Guanzhong...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assembly was instantly horrified... If so, not to mention two hundred thousand Jin troops advancing south again, the key issue was that, according to the original plan, the provisional court was heading from Nanyang to Luoyang or Chang'an—wouldn't that be walking straight into the tiger's mouth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then the Jingkang Incident would repeat itself?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then how about we stop at Nanyang for now and wait and see?\" someone suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That could work... If things really go wrong, why not head south from Nanyang into Xiangyang?\" another proposed, even more conservatively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can't we just fight a battle?\" Zhao Jiu was unusually talkative today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the Buddhist hall fell into dead silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for anyone else to speak, the number one war advocate, Li Gang, let out a soft sigh and, for once, used his hoarse voice to gently advise the sovereign:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, the whole world knows that I have always been a firm advocate of war. If there were even one or two forces in the Central Plains capable of fighting, how could I possibly let Your Majesty go to Nanyang? Even now, setting aside Guanzhong, in the two Jingdong circuits, there are only Liu Guangshi's ten thousand or so men. The rest are bandits, local prefectural troops, and newly recruited able-bodied men and archers. Based on my assessment of Jin military strength, I fear that by the end of the year, everything north of Mount Tai will have fallen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that's the case, then there's no point in thinking about where to go,\" Zhao Jiu sighed as well. \"If the Jin can break through the two Jingdong circuits so easily, they will immediately learn the true situation and location of the provisional court. Why wouldn't they pursue us then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Gang was about to comfort Zhao Jiu when the sovereign continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Li, I said earlier that the Jin are like wild beasts. Tell me, if a wild beast sees its prey turning its back and fleeing, can it hold back? This situation has nothing to do with your decision. It was sealed the day the provisional court pulled up stakes in Nanjing (Shangqiu) and headed south. Once the Jin break through the Jingdong defense line, learn the true state of the Central Plains, and see the provisional court fleeing south, Jin Wushu—young, aggressive, newly in command of a large army—will inevitably grow contemptuous. Eager to achieve unparalleled merit and rival Zhanhan, he will very likely abandon everything and come straight after me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what does Your Majesty think should be done?\" Li Gang frowned even more deeply. Whether it was an illusion or not, he seemed to lack energy, needing to frown and clench his jaw to stay alert, as the two stiff wings of his headdress visibly trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have been thinking about this for days. There is only one response: if we can fight, then fight. I do not seek a great victory, only a small one to boost the people's morale and the army's spirit—that will be enough to comfort the realm. If we cannot fight, then defend. Deploy troops as best we can, hold the enemy at the network of rivers in Jianghuai, and ensure the safety of the rear. As for if we cannot defend...\" Zhao Jiu, in his round-collared red robe, stopped there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But everyone in the hall, well-versed in the classics, understood immediately. They knew this was Sima Yi's old discourse on military affairs: if you can win, fight; if you cannot fight, defend; if you cannot defend, flee; and if you cannot flee, then it is either death or surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Gang considered this for a moment, then shook his head: \"Your Majesty, I understand your meaning, but as I said, the Central Plains truly cannot be fought in. However, Zong Ze is in Dongjing, and Liu Guangshi is at Mount Tai. Perhaps we can still hold out for a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whether we can fight or not, Lord Li, is not for you to decide,\" Zhao Jiu said, showing a clear tendency to lock horns with Li Gang today, which made many in the hall stir with interest. \"You yourself once submitted a memorial stating that you know nothing of military affairs...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because the enemy was at the gates, or because Zhao Jiu's stance was ultimately good, or because he was ill, Li Gang did not get angry or lose his temper. He simply rebutted earnestly: \"If I, knowing nothing of military affairs, am not the one to decide, then who is? Your Majesty, you also know nothing of military affairs and have never been on a battlefield...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know I don't understand warfare. That is why I believe the question of whether we can fight should be asked of Han Shizhong!\" Zhao Jiu finally revealed his true aim for the day. \"Han Shizhong is a famed general of the realm. Has not the nation's decline to this point been precisely because military matters were not asked of generals, but were instead decided by civil officials at the center, thousands of li away? In my view, if four military governorates had been established in Hebei in the early years, how could the Jin have ever watered their horses at the Yellow River and brought about the Jingkang Incident?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This topic was extremely sensitive, but Li Gang responded immediately: \"The nation is in chaos. Your Majesty may use military men, but you must not let them hold power. What you said today is even more absurd! As for the lesson of civil officials at the center deciding matters from thousands of li away, I am well aware of it. That is why we appointed Zong Ze and Zhang Suo as military commissioners at the front, to command the generals in battle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu did not argue further. He simply composed himself and replied: \"But from now on, should we not at least consult the frontline generals on military matters?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The civil officials in the hall murmured among themselves, while the few military officers attending the court remained utterly expressionless, as if the debate had nothing to do with them. Li Gang made a slight concession: \"If it is only consultation, Your Majesty may summon them privately or call them before the Grand Councilor for inquiries. But as for your earlier talk of military governorates and the distinction between civil and military, I beg Your Majesty to mind your station and say no more. The way of using civil officials to control military ones is the very foundation of national stability... If that restriction is lifted, given the lack of virtue among military men, they might even become accomplices to evil. Then, unable to stop the Jin, they would only ruin the greater situation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having obtained Li Gang's permission, Zhao Jiu naturally refrained from further provocative words and simply nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the sovereign and Lord Li each withdrawing their respective \"divine powers,\" the remaining matters proceeded smoothly. Soon, the hall agreed on a strategy—or rather, passed Lord Li's strategy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, since Zhang Suo could no longer reach the two Jingdong circuits in time, they could only send fast riders to inform Zong Ze and Liu Guangshi to carefully arrange defenses in their respective areas. Far water could not quench a near fire; they could only treat it as a dead horse and give them the authority to handle things as they saw fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, although the Jin army was still six or seven hundred li away and its spearhead was aimed at Qingzhou, Zizhou, and Qizhou, with the provisional court having the Jin army to its rear and bandits to its front, it was better to immediately move into a prefectural city to calm people's hearts. Since there had been a minor rebellion in Chenzhou to the north, and it was difficult to persuade the civil and military officials of the provisional court to go north, while the southwest was heavily occupied by rebel forces, it was immediately decided to head southeast to Shunchang Prefecture (later Fuyang, originally Yingzhou) as a temporary refuge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third, regardless of whether the Jin troops pursue, the bandit Ding Jin ahead in Huaixi must be dealt with immediately and swiftly... To this end, the Temporary Court settled on a decisive and bold strategy: on one hand, sending local-born officials to offer amnesty and enlistment; on the other hand, using the originally appointed Liu Zhengyan as commander, leading three thousand elite troops, plus the combined four thousand or so soldiers from Miao Fu and Liu Yan's own units, to directly cross the Yingshui River and advance behind the envoys. If the surrender offer fails, they will immediately switch to military action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doing this was of course very bold, but not in reference to Ding Jin's side—rather, it meant that once this was done, the Temporary Court would have a short window of vulnerability here, with only Yang Yizhong leading a few hundred Imperial Personal Guards for protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, no one objected, because do not forget—today was already the second day of the eleventh month. The vanguard of Han Shizhong's troops had definitely already entered the Jingdongxi Circuit area. Even if the Temporary Court actively relocated to Shunchang Prefecture (formerly Yingzhou, later Fuyang), whether early today or late tomorrow, he would surely be able to reach the Temporary Court to protect His Majesty and all the civil and military officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, even if Liu Zhengyan led his troops away, the Temporary Court would still be under the circular protection of the two most reliable Imperial Encampment units—just a bit farther away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, although Minister Li kept saying that military officers lacked virtue, he still trusted Han Shizhong quite a bit... which was also obvious—if even Han Shizhong couldn't be trusted, who could be trusted in the current situation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this strategy also had a little unspoken consideration, which Zhao Jiu didn't understand and no one else mentioned: since they were entering the prefectural city, it was best not to bring too many troops inside, otherwise chaos would ensue. The best plan was for the Temporary Court's civil and military officials to enter the city first, and then Han Shizhong would lead his troops to encircle and guard the city walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the matter was settled, with Minister Li's swift and decisive style, it was immediately put into action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the various complexities aside—anyway, it wasn't the Zhao Emperor's concern—and that afternoon, Zhao Jiu began moving again. Having grown accustomed to riding horses, he didn't mind it at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, on the evening of that day, the Temporary Court, now reduced to only a few hundred Personal Guards and a few hundred civil and military officials and their families, traveled south along the Yingshui River. After a long journey, they temporarily stopped at Shuishibu Town (later the northern part of Taihe County). Just as they were preparing the evening meal, someone suddenly arrived from the northeast... It was none other than Zhao Ding, one of the two Palace Censor-in-Chiefs who had been sent that morning, after the strategy was decided, to welcome and contact Han Shizhong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Zhao Ding, covered in mud and utterly disheveled, had barely jumped off his horse when he brought a thunderbolt-like piece of news to the numb and unfeeling Zhao Emperor:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, that scoundrel Han Shizhong has rebelled!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao Emperor, who had just picked up a bowl of rice, was stunned, unable to speak for a long time... Even Han Shizhong rebelling—how could that be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: A five-thousand-word chapter celebrating the emergence of a new group—Shaosong Book Club... Welcome to come and chat.\u003C\u002Fp>",3676,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","10d9d2f46b5c8405f4e99bdb1a539f9b62ea7a1b017283c48e92a303ad73ca9d","shao-song-chapter-16","shao-song-chapter-14",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]