[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-2":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},1558168,2024,"Chapter 2: The Red Heart Company","shao-song-chapter-2",2,"\u003Cp>\"So, you're all refugees from Liaodong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the evening, in a patch of wilderness at the edge of the Mingdao Palace complex, on a ridge between freshly harvested fields, beside a campfire, the Zhao Emperor casually set down his earthenware bowl, wiped his mouth without any dignity, and continued pressing for answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to Your Majesty...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just call me 'Everyone,' and speak while sitting.\" One of the greatest advantages of being a time traveler was the ability to lower oneself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to Everyone.\" The burly man who had been sitting back on his camp stool with a bowl in hand—normally one of the few quick-tongued fellows in the camp—was now at a loss, stammering so badly his speech faltered. \"We weren't refugees originally, just ordinary folk from Liaodong... For instance, I used to be a horse trader... But when the Jurchen Emperor Wanyan Aguda rose up to fight the Khitan Emperor, the Khitan Emperor levied too much grain and money, leaving no way to make a living in Liaodong, so we became refugees. Later, when the Khitan couldn't beat the Jurchen, they recruited us Han refugees in Liaodong. Since they said we had no livelihood because of the Jurchen, they called us the Resentful Army. Later, a Xi man became emperor and changed the name to the Ever-Victorious Army. The eight hundred cavalry that came to the temporary capital now are all old hands from the Yanzhou camp among the original eight camps of the Resentful Army...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is Yanzhou?\" Zhao Jiu, momentarily curious, asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to Everyone, actually our Yanzhou's proper official name isn't Yanzhou, but Yanyuanzhou, bordering the old Liao Eastern Capital's Liaoyang Prefecture, with the sea to the south...\" Someone else couldn't help but interject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they were old-timers from Yingkou!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao Emperor, sitting there in his eye-catching round-collared red robe, suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly and even slapping his thigh in realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the Zhao Emperor nodded, his heart stirred, and his thoughts wandered... For one thing, he had been to Yingkou back then, which inevitably triggered a bout of homesickness; for another, he fully understood now—this was a \"Beggar Army\" with no ties or entanglements with anyone! Moreover, they were among the rare skilled cavalry in the temporary capital!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So naturally, he began to scheme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, seeing the young Zhao Emperor lost in thought, the old-timers from Yingkou assumed he, having only been a prince before, was unfamiliar with court affairs and puzzled over how they ended up here... They dared not stop, but instead continued laying out their history in full detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that after this army was formed, the camp's commander was named Liu Yan, while the overall commander of the Resentful Army, later the Ever-Victorious Army, was the famous Guo Yaoshi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yaoshi was one of the most legendary figures of the age... Not for his martial prowess or military brilliance, but because this Khitan remnant, after the fall of the Liao state, vacillated constantly along the Song-Jin border. He first surrendered to the Great Song, then, seeing the internal weakness of the Great Song, surrendered to the Jin army and directly advised the Jin Grand Marshal, Second Prince Wanyan Wolibu, to strike straight at Bianliang, effectively facilitating the Jin army's southern campaign and the fall of the Northern Song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he was one of the origins of the Humiliation of Jingkang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, among the eight camps of the Resentful Army, largely composed of Han people from Liaodong, later renamed the Ever-Victorious Army, the Yanzhou camp commander Liu Yan was a genuine Song man, apparently a scholar from the south, but for unknown reasons had ended up in Liao early on—there was some hidden story... So when Guo Yaoshi vacillated and most of the Ever-Victorious Army followed him back north, only this man led the Yanzhou camp to stay with the Great Song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Emperor Huizong at the time, to commend this unit's loyalty, specially bestowed the name: the Red Heart Company!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, this unit wandered and struggled, but always remained steadfast in its stance. During the Jingkang Incident, it was one of the few units that stayed active on the front lines against the Jin, and managed to preserve its organization and combat effectiveness after the war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Zhao Jiu heard, the more ideas he had, to the point of repeatedly exclaiming his luck... He had come here three parts out of curiosity and seven parts to avoid Yang Yizhong, but he had struck gold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And where was the gold?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely in the fact that this unit came from the Liao region!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You see, throughout history, both in China and abroad, when internal situations grow more complex and a ruler or general's position becomes unstable, they often use foreign troops as their personal guard. Because these troops have no vested interests in internal affairs, as long as the ruler or general ensures their treatment, such foreign troops become the most reliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, around this time, on the religious dividing line in the Western world, many minor lords' guards were precisely from the opposing side... North African Moorish warlords favored Christian guards; Spanish nobles favored North African guards—roughly the same principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Zhao Jiu wasn't some history buff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the contrary, most of his historical knowledge came from nine years of compulsory education and some basic popular science books, at most supplemented by high-end web novels like *Qin Li* or *Han Que*, and low-end games like *Total War*, so he didn't know these obscure facts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the principles of the world are universal, and Zhao Jiu happened to have a pressing need and situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, Zhao Jiu began to calculate in his mind how to win over this unit, so he could sleep soundly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, just as the Zhao Emperor was scheming, the old-timers from Yingkou, speaking one after another, gradually loosened up. The more they talked, the smoother and more detailed it became, with an increasing amount of information. They even mentioned a name that particularly caught Zhao Jiu's attention, making him think of someone else!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Back in Dongjing, we followed Camp Commander Liu under that Grand Commandant Liu. But that Grand Commandant Liu never changed his long-legged nature—from Gaolianghe to Dongjing, he still ran at the first clash! Our single camp couldn't do anything, so we were swept along by his ten thousand Guannexi troops fleeing outward. Before we could even settle, word came that Grand Commandant Liu had run too fast, ran headlong into the Jin at Gui'er Temple, and got himself killed. Then those ten thousand Western troops scattered in confusion...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A lot of those bastards took the chance to run, but we didn't. Still, three thousand men were down to a thousand. We asked Camp Commander Liu where to go. He said Dongjing was no longer an option, but we owed the Great Song a debt of gratitude and had to repay it. Since Your Majesty was in Hebei as the Grand Marshal of the Army, we came to find you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just as we crossed the river, we met Vice Marshal Zong, who had received Your Majesty's orders to rescue the Two Sages. So we followed Vice Marshal Zong to rescue them...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That Vice Marshal Zong was a real man. Despite his age and being a jinshi graduate, he was just like our Camp Commander Liu—not a hint of pedantry. Those years following him were the smoothest we ever had. Too bad he couldn't fight... Your Majesty had painstakingly assembled ten thousand elite troops, and they were wiped out in one go. We had no choice but to protect Vice Marshal Zong as we escaped. But by then, Hebei had no troops left, and Your Majesty had circled from Shandong to Nanjing (Shangqiu). We counted ourselves—only eight hundred men—so we followed Vice Marshal Zong across the river to Nanjing to catch up with Your Majesty...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You all have truly worked hard!\" The sky had gone completely dark, and the Zhao Emperor, snapping back to reality, sighed with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We dare not be called 'brother' before Your Majesty!\" The old-timers from Yingkou, sitting closest, jumped up in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why can't I call you that?\" Zhao Jiu laughed in response, using gossip he'd heard from that Pan Consort in recent days. \"You've been in Liaodong too long and don't understand Central Plains customs. From the imperial family down to street porters, in the Central Plains and Shandong, people casually call each other 'brother'... In Dongjing, even though I was a prince, everyone in the household called me 'Ninth Brother.' And a pear seller on the street, you or I could call him 'Little Brother.'\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cavalrymen finally settled down again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speaking of which,\" Zhao Jiu suddenly changed the subject, his face showing anticipation, \"when you were in Hebei with Vice Marshal Zong, did you ever know a man named Yue Fei?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Red Heart Company soldiers exchanged glances, and none of them knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May I ask Your Majesty, who is this Yue Fei, such a remarkable figure that Your Majesty can't forget him?\" The one who had been speaking boldly earlier asked, plucking up his courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yue Fei isn't any remarkable...\" Zhao Jiu was clearly deflated. \"Yue Fei is just Yue Fei. Seems he's from Hebei, courtesy name Pengju, fought alongside Zong Ze—that is, Vice Marshal Zong—...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Heart Company soldiers exchanged glances again, then shook their heads at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu was utterly helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, seeing the Zhao Emperor's spirits sink, as if he might turn back at any moment, and after a night of conversation that had made some people forget their place, one of them suddenly took the initiative to ask:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, I heard people say we stopped suddenly this time not because of bandits ahead, but because Your Majesty doesn't want to go south anymore. Is that true?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh...\" Zhao Jiu was momentarily dazed and almost blurted out, \"As for this, I do have that intention. But staying here, I have no idea how to resist the Jin army that could come any day. I'll probably have to go to Yangzhou.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding soldiers' faces changed slightly, but they said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Zhao Jiu realized he had misspoken and tried to change the subject. But before he could speak, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from the shadows behind him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, your servant has brought Lady Pan's snow cake as ordered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu stood up in surprise and turned around, only to find that Yang Yizhong had been standing behind him for who knows how long, holding a bowl of some milk cake dessert in both hands, looking respectful.\u003C\u002Fp>",1786,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","0bee62f31be27ca2591e3959f94000f2aa4af4463931fac27d8f5f469e2b4e97","shao-song-chapter-3","shao-song-chapter-1",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]