Chapter 185: The Benevolent Must Tremble (Continued)

May was about to pass, June was approaching. Given that Pan Xianfei had hinted more than once to His Majesty that she wanted another child... the first time or two, His Majesty naturally felt quite moved; the third and fourth times, he couldn't help but feel it was merely for romantic effect; the fifth and sixth times, he found it somewhat tiresome; and by the seventh and eighth times, it instead became rather irritating.

And so, at the end of that month, His Majesty formally issued an edict, placing both princesses together under the care of Pan Xianfei, who had already borne children... The effect was excellent—Pan Xianfei finally stopped talking about it.

Beyond this, His Majesty also formally received the Goryeo envoy, Kim Bu-sik. This man, who historically initiated the political ideology of *sadaejuui* (serving the great) on the Korean Peninsula for over a millennium, was also likely the most accomplished historian on the peninsula (he systematically organized the histories of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje, unifying the Three Kingdoms under Goryeo's legitimate chronology, and produced the first official history commissioned by the Goryeo court). A statesman who had helped three generations of Goryeo monarchs navigate various internal and external crises, he was unquestionably an exceptional talent.

However, the meeting between such an exceptional talent and His Majesty was remarkably uneventful. Both parties behaved with a maturity bordering on perfunctory. The host and guest were entirely pleased, merely emphasizing the long-standing traditional friendship and the necessity of civilian trade, after which the matter was dropped.

In the final analysis, since His Majesty understood that this Kim Bu-sik was a pragmatic man, he had no intention of seeking any advantage from him... Although there were cracks within Goryeo, to be honest, it was too early to discuss them now. Keeping a watchful eye for future use would suffice.

As for what Kim Bu-sik thought on his side, that was not entirely clear.

However, according to Wang Lun, Kim Bu-sik was probably not as calm as he appeared on the surface. Because before entering the palace, after inquiring about some events since the Jingkang Incident, his assessment of His Majesty was reportedly already very high. This Goryeo high minister and renowned historian believed that His Majesty still had his flaws, but they were measured against a 'sage ruler'... For instance, compared to Emperor Guangwu, he could already be considered a Guangwu with a seventy-thirty split.

Not only that, but this Ambassador Kim also held His Majesty's literary and artistic level in particular esteem.

That poem "Green Jade Cup" went without saying. As for those "former works of Yi'an Jushi," Kim Bu-sik had reportedly made a meticulous collection and arrangement. And after reading the prose piece "A Discourse on Fine Horses" at the Department of State Affairs—polished by Academician Lin and signed by His Majesty and Yue Fei—he copied it on the spot, saying he would take it back to show his own king.

Yet, after entering the palace, faced with the entire overgrown and desolate court, this Goryeo envoy and state minister, who had previously lacked expression regarding Wang Lun's words about "His Majesty's frugal hardship," instead fell into a strange silence. His subsequent meeting with Zhao Jiu was even more unremarkable.

Not to mention that the Goryeo envoy came and went in haste... after all, some results were achieved, to a certain extent... And the Zhao Song Emperor's monotonous life continued.

As time entered June, sudden news about the war finally arrived, but its source was rather bizarre—Shi Bin, a former remnant of the rebel Song Jiang, the one called Shi Dalang, suddenly appeared in the Xingyuan Prefecture (Hanzhong) region, then openly declared himself emperor and led troops in an attempt to capture the prefectural seat of Xingyuan.

Shi Dalang had originally surrendered to the court along with Song Jiang. After Song Jiang died of illness, he served as a general under Zhang Shuye. Later, when the Jingkang Incident erupted, Zhang Shuye led troops to the emperor's aid, becoming the only minister to break through the Jin army's blockade and enter Dongjingcheng. It was essentially certain that Shi Dalang had returned to his old trade during this great chaos, becoming a military bandit.

But who would have thought that this fellow would have drifted all the way to the Guansi or Shangyong region, only to suddenly appear today in Xingyuan Prefecture, and even dare to openly declare himself emperor?

This matter was one of the few things that caused His Majesty to sigh with emotion... One need only hear Shi Bin, Shi Dalang's background and alias to know he was the standard prototype for the Nine-Dragoned Shi Jin. This was even more fitting than the wife of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Forward Army, Ma Gao, who was called One-Foot Green, or Li Bao, nicknamed Sick Guan Suo. And Nine-Dragoned Shi Jin was undoubtedly the life idol of His Majesty's third-grade elementary school years. Who would have thought he would come to know his idol's existence in this way?

However, knowing was one thing; His Majesty made no response whatsoever.

There were three reasons:

First, this was merely a rebellion of no great significance. Aside from Shi Dalang's act of declaring himself emperor being somewhat shocking, his other actions were no different from ordinary military bandit uprisings. Moreover, considering the delay in transmitting news and the isolation of the Hanzhong region, it was likely just a ripple effect from Liu Yu declaring himself emperor or the loss of Shanbei. There was truly no need to make a fuss.

Second, Zhao Jiu had just established the leadership structure of Yuwen Xuzhong, Zhang Jun, and Hu Yin for Guansi, and this could serve as a suitable test... In fact, as this emperor had been on the throne for nearly two years, many people had gradually come to grasp some of his temperament. His fondness for being a hands-off manager was undoubtedly a major virtue in the eyes of his ministers.

Third, although life in Dongjing was monotonous, His Majesty was also very busy. Matters like receiving the Goryeo envoy—things that could be considered useful or useless depending on perspective—were constantly arising.

For instance, recently, Zhao Jiu had been inspired by the issue of Goryeo monks, and coupled with the fact that he was truly impoverished, he conceived the idea of going to temples to beg for alms.

He first led Pan Xianfei, Lady Wu, and the two little princesses, Zhao Shenyou and Zhao Foyou—in other words, the entire Zhao Song imperial family—on a visit to the Great Xiangguo Temple, which was located within Dongjingcheng... However, they ultimately returned greatly disappointed. Because the Jin army's plundering during the Jingkang Incident had targeted the entire city and the Zhao Song central government, extracting wealth from afar. This level of plundering was too sophisticated. The Great Xiangguo Temple could not escape simply because the Jin people respected monks. Thus, the temple's century of accumulated wealth had long since been cleanly transferred into Jin pockets through the hands of the Great Song court.

To be fair, the Great Xiangguo Temple nowadays, much like the Zhao Song imperial family, essentially had only its vast ancestral property left as something of economic value.

However, the monks of the Great Xiangguo Temple, unlike the Zhao Song Emperor who could travel all over the realm, were also more diligent—they never stopped weeding. So the Xiangguo Temple, located east of the Imperial Avenue and covering a vast area, was still in excellent condition. Its real estate development value was presumably higher than that of the Zhao Song imperial palace.

Therefore, adhering to the principle of not leaving empty-handed after a visit, His Majesty decided to forcibly requisition the Xiangguo Temple, which had plenty of vacant land and rooms, as a military equipment workshop. It would be dedicated to providing Chen Gui, the Prefect of Kaifeng, with a place to manufacture various city-defense weapons and equipment. Meanwhile, the monks of the Great Xiangguo Temple should also put their culinary skills to use, cooking meals and boiling water for the laborers and soldiers.

Of course, seeing the abbot's panicked expression, Zhao Jiu did not go to extremes. He only said that the nation was in crisis, and Dongjingcheng might face another siege, so everyone must exercise mutual forbearance for the country.

He said that one day, when the Two Rivers were recovered, he, Zhao Jiu, would naturally return the usage rights of the Xiangguo Temple. He even suggested they might open a branch temple in Yanjing to expand their business scale, and so on... He even left behind a signed document bearing his personal seal.

At the end of the document, the four characters "Zhao Jiu of Cangzhou" were looking better and better.

What else could the abbot of the Great Xiangguo Temple do? He could only hold the document with an awkward expression, recite a few Buddhist sutras, and then recount the Zhao Song imperial family's century-long reverence for the Xiangguo Temple.

Of course, these words were certainly meant to express a determination to live or die with the nation, not to remind His Majesty that the Buddha could not be deceived. What else could they be?

One must understand that Dongjingcheng was now much livelier than last year, but the total number of able-bodied men among the commoners was definitely less than the two hundred thousand troops of the Imperial Guard.

Moreover, there were already tens of thousands of Imperial Guard troops stationed near Dongjingcheng.

Not to mention, after all, the emperor had promised a branch temple and given a document, hadn't he?

And so, that evening, His Majesty, turning the natural order upside down, personally rang the famous morning bell of the Great Xiangguo Temple. After that, both host and guest were entirely pleased. Zhao Jiu's family enjoyed a world-renowned vegetarian meal at the Xiangguo Temple, and then departed contentedly.

After leaving the Xiangguo Temple, probably feeling that the alms collected there were insufficient, His Majesty set out again the next day. This time, he took only Lady Wu, who was convenient for travel, and left Dongjing, heading continuously westward. He then turned slightly south within the Western Capital's territory, clearly heading for the ancestral home of the Chan Buddhist sect—the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng.

Incidentally, unlike the unfortunate Great Xiangguo Temple, the Shaolin Temple was located in the Shaoshi Mountains, and many in the Jin army were Buddhists, so it had not suffered systematic burning, killing, or looting.

Not only that, but one could even say the opposite was true. The Shaolin Temple had gradually risen since the Tang dynasty, continuously growing, and by now had reached its peak. It possessed over ten thousand mu of farmland, with the temple grounds alone covering five hundred and forty mu. It had thousands of buildings, towers, pavilions, and pagodas, and several thousand monks.

As early as the Renzong era, the Shaolin Temple had even taken the initiative to open a branch in Dongjingcheng, attempting to compete with the Great Xiangguo Temple.

Moreover, the temple had a long-standing tradition of martial arts practice and countless tenant laborers. Ordinary military bandits and thieves, either fearing religion or the Shaolin Temple's formidable strength, mostly found it too troublesome to deal with. Additionally, the Shaolin Temple was highly adept in its methods. During the chaos of war, it had people handling secular affairs in Dengfeng City. Whether dealing with monks or laypeople, Song or Jin, whenever troops passed through, they had a certain posture and expression, so they rarely even encountered harassment.

Therefore, when His Majesty came to pay his respects at the mountain this time, the several thousand soldiers surrounding the area—including the two Commanders Niu Gao and Big Cui, plus Yang Yizhong personally leading the Imperial Guard—naturally alerted the temple's abbot and many monks early on. They hurriedly rushed out of the mountain gate to welcome him, while also feeling anxious and fearful.

After all, no one was a fool. This emperor had scraped gold powder from Daoist statues in the Mingdao Palace, confiscated a temple for military use at the Xiangguo Temple, and there were earlier rumors of him sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall in the palace. They had long since transferred their activities from Dengfeng into the Shaoshi Mountains.

Furthermore, it was common knowledge that the court was facing severe financial difficulties due to military expenses. Even though grain and silk from the southeast had arrived, the court's civil and military officials were still receiving only half salaries... So, which eminent monk would not harbor great caution?

Sure enough, when the two sides met, the Shaolin Temple monks knelt to welcome His Majesty into the temple. Before they even entered the mountain gate, the abbot proactively expressed his intention to share the nation's burdens.

Upon detailed inquiry, he was actually offering tens of thousands of shi of accumulated grain, plus three large chests of gold and silver, and nearly two hundred thousand strings of cash and other valuables!

Such a gesture, such decisiveness, naturally filled His Majesty with emotion. No wonder this was the number one temple under heaven, capable of lasting for fifteen hundred years. This foresight, this finesse, and this decisiveness seemed even three parts stronger than Kim Bu-sik's!

It made him feel too embarrassed to scrape gold powder.

Of course, to protect such an ancient temple, His Majesty continued to make demands before the mountain gate. He requisitioned two hundred martial monks to be incorporated into the army, took five thousand mu of farmland outside Dengfeng City along with its tenant farmers for military colonies, and also required the Shaolin Temple to do its utmost to guarantee basic rations for the refugees from Hebei passing through Dengfeng City.

After all, according to His Majesty, the military and the people were one, monks and laymen were a single family. Only when the Great Song was strong in troops and horses, and its people prosperous, could it better protect the Shaolin Temple, this precious common property of the Great Song.

To this, several masters of the Shaolin Temple, though somewhat dazed, still did their best to express understanding and recognition from a Buddhist perspective.

And so, host and guest were once again entirely pleased.

However, the next day, just as His Majesty, out of consideration for the grain, money, and fertile fields full of crops, was about to light a stick of incense for the Buddha in the Great Buddha Hall, one of the accompanying noble ministers finally could no longer contain himself.

"Your Majesty!"

Zhao Shi?, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, who had recently returned from Yangzhou and had insisted on accompanying this trip, suddenly stepped forward solemnly, clearly having waited for this opportunity. "How can it be that when we arrive at the Western Capital, you do not first go to pay respects at the imperial mausoleums, but instead come to worship the Buddha?"

Zhao Jiu was slightly taken aback and began to explain: "Wasn't this matter discussed with the Imperial Uncle yesterday?"

"Your Majesty's words yesterday were all evasions, and your minister knows Your Majesty's thoughts," Zhao Shi? continued, facing him sternly in the hall. "Your minister knows that this trip is to seek funds for the nation... But is it not also to avoid the grand ceremony? A few days ago, Chancellor Xu of the Department of State Affairs and Minister Zhu of the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial, requesting that since you have returned to Dongjing, you should restore the old system, hold a supplementary grand ceremony, inform the ancestors, and pray for the safety of the Two Sages, so as to reassure the people. Yet Your Majesty prevaricated, then personally went to the Great Xiangguo Temple, and now comes here! May I ask Your Majesty, why must you personally do what could be accomplished with a single edict? And why do you make excuses to avoid what you should personally do? Why is the weight of importance in Your Majesty's eyes so utterly different from that in ours?"

Zhao Shi continued to face him sternly in the hall. "Your subject knows that Your Majesty's trip here is to seek wealth for the state... but is it not also to avoid the grand ceremony? A few days ago, Vice Chancellor Xu of the Secretariat and Minister Zhu of the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial, saying that since we have returned to the Eastern Capital, they requested Your Majesty to restore the old system, make up for the grand ceremony, and at the same time inform the ancestors, while also praying for the safety of the Two Sages, so as to calm the people's hearts. Yet Your Majesty changed the subject, and then personally went to the Great Xiangguo Temple, and then came here! Dare I ask Your Majesty, for matters that could be done with a single decree, why must you act in person? And for matters that should be done in person, why do you make excuses and delay? Why is the importance in Your Majesty's eyes so utterly different from what it is in our eyes?"

Zhao Jiu's expression had long since returned to normal. He stood upright in the Great Buddha Hall, beneath the Buddha's lotus throne, smiling with his hands clasped: "These words... especially the last two sentences—the Imperial Uncle has wanted to say them for a long time, hasn't he?"

Zhao Shi? came to his senses and was also somewhat dejected. He cupped his hands and replied: "Your Majesty, this old minister has no intention of rebuking you. It is merely out of public-mindedness. Nor do I intend to harm Your Majesty's authority to bestow favor and wield power. Otherwise, I would not have waited until now, in such a remote place beyond the secular world, to offer this remonstrance."

This was the truth. At this moment, those who could enter the Great Buddha Hall were, besides His Majesty and the Imperial Uncle, Lady Wu disguised as a man, Academician Lin, and a few motionless Chan Buddhist eminent monks... The two generals Niu Gao and Big Cui were stationed inside and outside the mountain gate, and Yang Yizhong was only standing at the hall's entrance, hand on his sword.

Of course, more importantly, this was, after all, a religious site, naturally possessing a kind of political shielding and concealment. After everyone finished speaking, they could pretend it didn't count once they stepped outside.

"I know, and that is precisely the problem." Returning to the front, Zhao Jiu heard this and replied in a low, somber tone. "Everyone acts for the public good, but each person's 'public good' has become utterly different. Why is that? In truth, my Imperial Uncle has been in Yangzhou for over a year, and I have been elsewhere for over a year. We have experienced different events, and our thoughts and ideas have long since diverged. Now that we meet again, we ought to have spoken clearly about this. This is my failing."

"Your servant humbly awaits Your Majesty's instruction." Zhao Shi lowered his head and responded solemnly.

In truth, it was not only Zhao Shi; everyone else in the hall, from the young Academician Lin to Lady Wu, who was disguised as a man, all pricked up their ears… Of course, the eminent Shaolin monk who specialized in Chan meditation surely disdained to listen to such court secrets.

"During the Jingkang Incident, I lost all my parents, brothers, and sisters. While wandering in exile, I saw the common people and scholars suffering similar hardships, and gradually I developed a heart of empathy. I came to regard the common people and scholars as my parents, brothers, and sisters. As for my Imperial Uncle and the others, although they also lost their sovereign, father, and kin, they still cling to empty shells as if they were their sovereign, father, and kin. They even wanted me to play the part of a puppet to substitute for certain people, without the slightest regard for the living people before them… This is the fundamental reason why there have always been conflicts between us since your return to the capital."

"Your old servant… your old servant still does not quite understand." Zhao Shi responded with difficulty.

"If you insist on plain speaking, that's fine too… I once swore an oath that in this life I would restore the Two Rivers, annihilate the Jin state, plow their courts and sweep their lairs, and unify the realm under one rule… Has my Imperial Uncle heard of this?" Zhao Jiu's expression remained unchanged, and his smile did not falter.

"I have heard a little of it." Zhao Shi immediately replied.

"Then may I ask my Imperial Uncle, since I intend to undertake such an enterprise… if I succeed, I should at least be comparable to Emperor Guangwu, shouldn't I? And to accomplish such an enterprise, I ought to learn from the sage rulers of antiquity above Emperor Guangwu, correct?"

"That is only natural."

"Then why do you not want me to learn from Emperor Guangwu, but instead want me to learn from those mediocre types who, for over a hundred years, could not recover Yanyun, pacify the Western Xia, and then unify China?" The Imperial Majesty's expression remained as calm as ever. "Not to mention, there are even those who want me to learn from the sort who ruined their clan's rivers and mountains, went on a northern hunt themselves, yet brought humiliation to the realm! Even if I were willing to debase myself, how could I do such a thing? Pray for peace, pray for blessings—do they even deserve it?!"

Zhao Shi was dumbfounded, then could not help lowering his voice and speaking earnestly: "Your Majesty, your realm was originally the realm of your ancestors, fathers, and elder brothers; your throne was originally the throne of your ancestors, fathers, and elder brothers!"

"The ancestors' realm was a realm offered up by the hearts of the people under heaven; the ancestors' throne was a throne offered up by the hearts of the people under heaven!" Zhao Jiu still did not grow angry; he could even manage a smile in response. "And now the people's hearts have all been lost by my father and elder brother. The Zhao Song realm and throne, when they reached me, were already tottering. I must naturally restore the people's hearts… Besides, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Has my Imperial Uncle never read the classics?"

Zhao Shi was utterly stunned.

"My Imperial Uncle," Zhao Jiu said slowly and calmly, continuing, "You did not remonstrate with me publicly in Dongjing for the sake of my dignity, and I am deeply grateful. And for the sake of your dignity, I have given you a sincere reply here in this place apart from the world… But once we step outside this door, I will not acknowledge some of these words, to avoid causing further discord among the Grand Councilors and Ministers… I ask for your understanding."

Having said this, the Imperial Majesty turned around. In the midst of utter silence, he snatched the incense stick from the somewhat dazed abbot of Shaolin Temple, then roughly waved it toward the dignified gilded wooden statue before him before casually inserting the incense into the burner in front of him.

Then he let out a long breath.

It must be said, being a solitary ruler was sometimes quite satisfying… No wonder Zhao Ji had degenerated to such a degree?

He must take this as a warning.

Thinking of this, the Imperial Majesty pressed his palms together again, bowed slightly to the wooden statue, then composed his expression, turned, and walked out of the hall, his face as expressionless as a carved wooden figure.

PS: Good night… and happy holidays?

Having not slept for twenty-one hours, allow me to sink into slumber and not rise.