[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-19":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},1558185,2024,"Chapter 19: Holding the Waist (Happy Birthday to the Seven-Year-Old Big Shot Too)","shao-song-chapter-19",19,"\u003Cp>Hearing this method of pacifying a rebellion, even Zhao Jiu, who had been mentally prepared, was momentarily speechless, and then found himself at a loss for how to continue questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How were the rebels dealt with?\" Yuwen Xuzhong, quick to seize the moment, interjected to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to Academician Yuwen, I was anxious to return and report to His Majesty, so I dared not act rashly. I only had the central army temporarily surround that Baichi Town...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ding, whose clothes were unmistakably stained with mud, could not help but let out another cold snort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you asked clearly why they shot the imperial censor sent by the court?\" Only then did Zhao Jiu fully come back to his senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your subject is ashamed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was an illusion or not, Han Shizhong, with his thick Guanzhong accent, spoke with obvious vigor when addressing Yuwen Xuzhong, as if he were facing Han Wu, the Grand Commandant, himself. But when facing Zhao Jiu, he always seemed subdued and timid, like a meek daughter-in-law, not even as bold as Lady Liang had been in their recent conversation. \"I asked around a bit. It seems there was a rumor first, saying that the army's spoils were to be handed over to the temporary court. Those thieving bastards didn't understand the greater good and were reluctant to part with them, so they were already in a foul mood when they came. Then, when their vanguard reached Wanshou County, the city refused them entry and didn't even offer them cattle and wine. They were only told to station themselves in Baichi Town, which the county had already stripped bare. That stirred up more resentment... But at the root of it, these men were mostly rebels who had surrendered. They had already rebelled once and were used to being thieving bastards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu nodded repeatedly. This made much more sense, and a sense of relief spread through the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after understanding the reason did the Emperor's mind turn. He wanted to ask about the fate of the people of Jingou Town and discuss military discipline, but he knew deep down that some things were simply impossible in these times, so he forcibly swallowed his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong, looking up and catching a glimpse of Zhao Jiu's hesitant expression and less-than-pleasant countenance, misinterpreted his thoughts and quickly volunteered his loyalty: \"Rest assured, Your Majesty. Your subject knows that the roads here to the temporary court are cut off, with no income. Even the gold leaf on the statues of the Dao Ancestor and the Buddha has been scraped off. The civil and military officials and those thieving birds... those thieving bastards of the Right Army haven't received their salaries or rewards for months. The spoils from this campaign should rightfully be offered to Your Majesty to share your worries! Your subject will not be the least bit reluctant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not about that!\" Zhao Jiu waved his hand repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Your Majesty worried about how to deal with those rebels?\" Zhao Ding, being the direct victim, was the first unable to hold back. \"Grand Commandant Han, let me ask you this: your troops, right beside the temporary court, killed a censor without authorization, forcing His Majesty to come find you almost alone. If this matter cannot be dealt with to the end, what is the value of the state's laws and institutions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing the gravity of the situation, Han Shizhong dared not evade any longer. Ignoring his armor, he bowed as deeply as he could, his head lowered in supplication. \"At most, this was some officers being greedy and losing their tempers. Your subject will investigate thoroughly in the next few days and ensure no one escapes punishment. But those two thousand men of the vanguard army—how can they be easily dealt with as rebels all at once at a time like this? It will cause chaos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ding, indignant, rose to formally impeach him, but Zhao Jiu raised his hand to stop him... What time was this? Hadn't they just agreed to recognize this was a chaotic era? How could his mind heat up just because things had settled slightly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Zhao Ding had personally experienced the incident, so there were reasons for his actions, and it was hard to blame him too harshly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I trust Minister Han in this matter,\" Zhao Jiu said, voicing the solution he had already thought of—perhaps the most helpless, yet the only feasible one. \"Minister Han is the commander of an army. You can handle the internal discipline within your own forces. But you must give an explanation to the civil and military officials here at the temporary court who were frightened.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong was momentarily moved to tears of gratitude, swearing oaths repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just then, Yang Yizhong, who had relaxed, caught a glimpse of something with his sharp eyes... It was Zhang Jun, the Censor-in-Chief, who had been silent all along, suddenly reaching behind to tug at the dirty green robe of his close friend and subordinate, Zhao Ding, the Palace Censor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yang Yizhong quickly averted his gaze, pretending not to notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ding, understanding the signal, spoke out again with renewed fervor: \"Your Majesty! Your subject objects! If the excuse is that there are too many mutinous troops to deal with and the times are difficult, then I have nothing to say! But Grand Commandant Han is only one man! As the commander of an army, how can he go unpunished when his subordinates commit such an outrage? If he is not punished, will these military strongmen ever have any respect for the court's authority and institutions in the future?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong immediately glared at Zhao Ding with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, this Grand Commandant Han had been stunned by the Emperor's shout in the street earlier today, and he naturally submitted to the Emperor's authority. But how could he be afraid of some damned censor? If he were afraid of some damned censor, would he still be the unruly Han Wu? Even this hasty pacification was done for the Emperor, not to vent the anger of some old pedant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, even as Han Shizhong glared from his position in the central army's inn, Zhao Ding stood unafraid, not even deigning to look at him. Instead, he directed his formal impeachment at Zhao Jiu, who sat calmly at the head of the makeshift table: \"Your subject, Zhao Ding, Palace Censor, hereby impeaches Han Shizhong, Commander of the Left Army of the Imperial Guard and Commissioner-in-Chief of the Dingguo Army, for failing to govern his troops, harboring filth and corruption, and bringing the state to the brink of upheaval... I request that all his titles be stripped! Let a worthy minister be found to replace him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong grew even more furious. If Zhao Jiu were not right in front of him, he would have straightened up, grabbed this escaped censor, and thrown him into the latrine in the back courtyard to finish him off once and for all... He, Han Shizhong, had struggled for twenty years to become an army commander. Was that easy? And this man dared to impeach him at the drop of a hat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, despite the dramatic thoughts running through his head, the moment he turned back and saw Zhao Jiu sitting there in a daze, silent, he became frantic. And, surprisingly, he dared not throw a tantrum. He could only bow his head again and plead for mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhao Jiu looked around the hall. He saw the disheveled civil officials of the temporary court, the panic on Han Shizhong's face, and the worried expressions of the Han family officers and soldiers in the inn, including Lady Liang, who had retreated to the side... He then held his waist and let out a soft, helpless laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The laughter was not loud, but the moment it sounded, Han Shizhong dared not make another sound, and Zhao Ding stood in solemn silence. The hall fell completely quiet, everyone waiting for the Emperor to speak and render his judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What Censor Zhao says is reasonable,\" Zhao Jiu said, his expression unchanged, still smiling gently. \"The more the state declines and the weaker the central government becomes, the more we must adhere to institutions. Otherwise, we are only courting disaster... Minister Han, you will have to bear some grievance today!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Han Shizhong, his head still bowed, felt a pang in his heart like a knife twisting. His voice even carried a sob: \"If Your Majesty says so, your subject dares not feel wronged!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's good,\" Zhao Jiu said slowly. \"Han Shizhong, for failing to control his subordinates, who killed a censor without authorization and disturbed the temporary court... You are stripped of the title of Commissioner-in-Chief and the post of Commander of the Left Army of the Imperial Guard. You are hereby appointed Acting Commander, still temporarily leading the Left Army of the Imperial Guard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the others, watching from the sidelines, had mostly expected it. But Han Shizhong, the man directly involved, felt a mix of half joy and half worry... Joy, of course, because the Emperor understood his worth and knew his abilities, and had not stripped him of his military command. An Acting Commander was still a commander. Worry, because as a man who fought and killed for a living, his goal was to be enfeoffed a marquis ten thousand li away and to shine before others. After half a year of hard work suppressing bandits, he had finally earned the grand title of Commissioner-in-Chief. Now it was gone. The unruly Han Wu had become Grand Commandant Han for only half a month before turning back into the unruly Han Wu! How much effort would it take to become Grand Commandant Han again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, besides this, there was also a third of anger, directed at the older Censor Zhao and the young Censor-in-Chief sitting to the side, making small, pointed gestures... He, Han Shizhong, was the bravest in the three armies, especially skilled in archery. With his eagle eyes, he could see everything in this inn's main hall clearly, except he dared not stare at the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless, returning to the present, Han Shizhong, after hearing this judgment, bowed his head to thank the Emperor for his grace. The entire hall of civil and military officials, including Lady Liang, who had long retreated to a corner, all breathed a collective sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when everyone thought this rebellion drama had come to an end, our Emperor suddenly spoke again: \"I am timid. That severed head is truly gruesome. I haven't dared to go near it. Minister Han, come forward!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong, not understanding why, still took two large strides forward and hastily bowed his head again before the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liangchen, stand up straight and lift your head,\" Zhao Jiu said, reaching out to support him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong, still confused, straightened up and raised his head, but still dared not look at the young Emperor before him. He just stared blankly at the staircase to the second floor ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was only then, under the firelight, that Zhao Jiu, sitting still in his seat, got a clear look at the man's detailed features... How to describe it? Aside from everything else, at a single glance, he felt that the man's bone structure was exceptionally prominent. In the history books, one would surely praise him as having a majestic and imposing bearing. Then there were his eyes, which flashed like lightning and looked as sharp as an eagle's, truly remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liangchen,\" Zhao Jiu said with a sigh after observing him for a while, speaking a heartfelt truth he had kept to himself. \"From now on, don't bow to me anymore... Because the reason I can stand up straight is that Minister Han has always been the one to hold my waist and give me courage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, as the entire hall stared in stunned amazement, the Emperor took out the jade belt he had somehow unfastened. Then, right there in his seat, in full view of everyone, he personally began to fasten it around the waist of Han Shizhong, who had not yet reacted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong had just returned from killing people, still in his armor. The blood on his waist was sticky, appearing as a dark, brownish-black patch in the firelight, reeking of gore. The jade belt the Emperor wore was, of course, a standard treasure long stored in the temporary palace at Nanjing (Shangqiu). As it was hurriedly wrapped around, it gleamed brilliantly for a moment before being instantly stained by the blood and grime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Han Shizhong, who had been looking down, snapped back to reality. Flustered and embarrassed, he quickly reached out with his hand to stop the Emperor. But his grip was incredibly strong, like iron pincers, and he squeezed Zhao Jiu's hand until the Emperor's face turned red... When Han Shizhong realized what he had done, he could only awkwardly let go, at a complete loss for what to do, looking utterly discomposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liangchen, you have rendered meritorious service in pacifying the rebellion. You deserve a heavy reward. But as you can see, the temporary court is empty, and I possess nothing. Fortunately, now that you have returned to the temporary court, I no longer need this wide belt to bolster my courage from time to time. It is fitting to give it to you. Do not refuse...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because his hand hurt too much, Zhao Jiu, clumsily fastening the belt, could only speak slowly to buy time. \"As for a mere Commissioner-in-Chief, why dwell on it? Since you and I, sovereign and subject, have met, it all comes down to success or failure. If we fail, so be it. But if we truly succeed in the future, do you think I would be less generous than the Tang Emperor was with Guo Ziyi? Would I not bestow a Commandery Prince title upon Liangchen to hold?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong was still in a daze, barely able to hear the words clearly. But beside him, Zhao Ding, Zhang Jun, and Yang Yizhong heard it all, and their eyes turned red with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: A few extra words. Xiaoxiao and Qisui are two female administrators of our book. Xiaoxiao has been helping since the last book, and Qisui has been an admin since the 'Movie Emperor' period. I've known them both for several years... Today is Xiaoxiao's birthday, and Qisui's birthday was a few days before the book was released. I must say happy birthday to both of them. I wish the former becomes more and more beautiful, and the latter becomes younger and younger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, I was thinking about it when I saw them chatting during Qisui's birthday before the book was released, and I even jotted it down in my manuscript outline... Yesterday, I was thinking it would be best if I could code out a chapter by midnight to send my blessings, but I'm getting old, and I just couldn't stay awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's really awkward, but I don't think the blessings will mind being a little late.\u003C\u002Fp>",2535,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","1a81db360c14087c342299c195af828a5142cccab4c32a4c2ec937d4c0c98a77","shao-song-chapter-20","shao-song-chapter-18",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]