[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-21":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},1558187,2024,"Chapter 21: His Majesty Has Finally Seen Reason! (Happy Birthday, Pikachu (Perfunctory...))","shao-song-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>\"State affairs really have to be asked of a military man now...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if the war situation is dire and we must consult frontline generals, why not summon Han Shizhong to the Council Hall and ask him openly before the two chancelleries, the academicians, the censors, and the heads of the six ministries?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This Han Shizhong is unreliable! You don't know, that fellow's nickname is 'Brawler Han Wu.' Aside from his deceased first wife, his current wife and concubine were both prostitutes... He's nearly forty and still has no son, so he has to take his wife along on campaign day and night to pray for one...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why bring up his private conduct? Han Shizhong being unreliable and untrustworthy isn't about his private morals—what need do military men have for private morals? The key is that incident at the start of the month... If His Majesty hadn't shown such great wisdom and courage, mixing favor with authority, and personally gone to intimidate that Han Shizhong, we'd probably all be dead at Shuizibu Town already. If you ask me, this Han Shizhong might not be as reliable as Liu Yu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough talk... The crucial thing now is where to go from here. What use is there in saying all this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't we all understand that? Isn't this all because His Majesty won't listen to us but instead listens to a military man? You don't know how much His Majesty favors that scoundrel—he personally tied the imperial jade belt on him, and His Majesty only came back wearing a leather belt. What kind of decorum is that? Not to mention talk of making him a Commandery Prince!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A Commandery Prince is one thing—there are precedents in this dynasty. If Han Shizhong really can hold off the Jin army's two hundred thousand iron cavalry in the Central Plains for His Majesty, then he'd truly be a reincarnation of Guo Ziyi, and giving him a Commandery Prince would be no issue. What I fear is that His Majesty is young and naturally warlike, and has been momentarily bewitched by that Han Shizhong, actually intending to stay in the Central Plains to resist the Jin. This Great Song dynasty would truly...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch your tongue!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You and I came from Dongjing. After what we've been through these past two years, what is there to hide? If you ask me, it's fate... What was that Huainan bandit Ding Jin anyway? If he'd shown up two months earlier, he'd have been pacified long ago; two months later, he might have even slowed down the Jin army. But he had to appear just when Minister Li finally decided to head to Nanyang! First he delayed Minister Li's arrival, and now he's blocked our escape route!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the main hall of the Shunchang Prefectural Office, the assembled high ministers of the Great Song, having somewhat restored proper decorum, were all talking at once, anxious and frantic. They seemed divided in opinion and stance, but in truth they were all of one mind—clearly, every faction, whether hawk or dove, elder or junior, from Yangzhou or Nanyang, had reached a consensus: they could delay no longer. They had to persuade His Majesty to go to a safe place first!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, once the Jin army broke through Liu Guangshi's Jingdong West Circuit defense line, they could truly launch a three-hundred-li surprise raid on Shunchang Prefecture in five days. And then His Majesty's best outcome would be no better than emulating Han the Illustrious Marquis of Zhaolie's flight to Dangyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what of the court officials in the temporary capital then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His Majesty has returned!\" Lan Gui, the chief eunuch of the Palace Domestic Service, rushed in from outside to announce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Silence!\" Lü Haowen, the Vice Director of the Chancellery, who had been sitting with eyes closed in silent meditation, suddenly opened them and barked loudly. \"Where is the Censor of the Palace? Prepare to correct court discipline!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to correct court discipline. Upon hearing that His Majesty had returned, the assembled officials had already fallen silent, holding their breath as they waited for His Majesty to ascend the 'hall,' ready to risk death with their remonstrance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, as Yang Yizhong led the Imperial Guard to halt before the hall's entrance, the long-absent Zhao Jiu finally entered from outside. He went straight to the dais and sat down. The ministers below, led by Lü Haowen and Wang Boyan, stepped forward one by one, bowed their heads, and performed the ritual. When the formalities between ruler and subjects were complete and they faced each other, the ministers realized that the Zhao Jiu who had shown a few days of lively expression had reverted to the wooden-faced ruler of before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this a blessing or a curse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at this moment, facing this expressionless sovereign, they inexplicably found themselves missing that coarse, soldier-like Minister Li... After all, Minister Li was still a subject, wasn't he? And a subject who could restrain His Majesty!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless, things had come to this. The safety of the Great Song hung by a thread. They could hold nothing back any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a strange silence, just as Lü Haowen, as Vice Chancellor of the Eastern Administration, was about to step forward to preside over the meeting, explain the situation, and present the consensus of the hundred officials at this critical moment, Censor of the Palace Zhao Ding stepped out first. With a grave expression, he spoke first and got straight to the point. \"The situation is urgent. Your servant requests that Your Majesty make a tour of inspection to the Huai River region, temporarily relocating to Yangzhou!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Lü Haowen immediately swallowed the words he had been about to say... He was never one to seize power, and although Zhao Ding's eagerness to show loyalty was a bit too hasty, it was ultimately in line with everyone's intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu sighed softly upon hearing this. \"I recall that you, Zhao Qing, always said that peace with the Jin was impossible, and that we must recover the rivers and mountains...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let Your Majesty know your servant's true heart. Even today, your servant says the same.\" Zhao Ding's words grew more earnest, even somewhat undignified. \"Your servant is from Hedong. When the Jin army came, my entire family was displaced. My aged wife and young children fled from Hedong to Dongjing, then followed me out of Dongjing, wandering and suffering to reach this place. I have never for a day forgotten my homeland in Hedong, nor have I ever wavered in my resolve to resist the Jin! But Your Majesty, to resist the Jin, we must first have the strength to do so, a foundation to build upon... In recent days, I have had the fortune to attend Your Majesty and know that Your Majesty is concerned for the people of the Central Plains, fearing they will suffer the same fate as the scholars and commoners of Hebei, and worried that this retreat will lose the hearts of Hebei and the Central Plains entirely...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that not the case?\" Zhao Jiu's tone was flat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is the case,\" Zhao Ding replied immediately. \"But if Your Majesty and the temporary court suffer any mishap, and the realm reverts to the fragmented pattern of the Five Dynasties and late Tang, then I dare ask Your Majesty: who would be left to organize the half of the realm south of the Yangtze, in Bashu, Jingxiang, and Guanzhong, to face the Jin's two hundred thousand iron cavalry? Besides, has the nation fallen to this state—the loss of the Two Rivers, the lack of troops in the Central Plains—is that Your Majesty's fault?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu's expression shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, just as Zhao Ding finished speaking, Wang Yuan, the nominal head of the military officials in the hall—who had been excluded from the core circle for months—suddenly stepped forward and burst into tears. \"Your servant has received Your Majesty's great favor, rising from a mere soldier to this position. I never forget Your Majesty's grace. Today, I risk death to speak: I beg Your Majesty not to harbor any illusions of luck at this moment! You must understand that since the Jingkang era, our army has suffered defeat after defeat, with scarcely any troops fit for battle. We are like a piece of rotten wood. Meanwhile, the Jin army, fresh out of Hebei with sharpened vigor, is like an arrow already loosed from the bow... If we force a confrontation, we will only be pierced through! But if we can retreat to the southeast, setting up layered defenses, then even rotten wood can stop a long arrow. Once we have time to prepare and reorganize, we can turn and face them again! At that time, restoring the Central Plains, and even Hebei, is not an empty boast!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu stared at him for a moment without speaking, then suddenly raised his head and swept his gaze across the other civil and military officials in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing His Majesty like this, how could the seasoned court officials not understand? His Majesty was not going to wait for them to step forward one by one—he wanted everyone to state their position outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, from Lü Haowen, Vice Director of the Chancellery of the Eastern Administration, down to Wang Boyan, Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and Wang Yuan, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp, they stepped forward in order of precedence. Even the young Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun, after a moment's hesitation, carefully lowered his head and stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the remaining officials no longer hesitated. Led by the most senior official, Yuwen Xuzhong, Grand Academician of the Zizheng Hall, they all stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Lü Haowen bowed his head and spoke: \"Your Majesty, as Censor Zhao said, the situation has reached a point of division and fragmentation. Your Majesty must not hesitate any longer. A temporary retreat now will allow us to plan for the greater future... As for whether to turn to Nanyang or Xiangyang after reaching Yangzhou, that can be discussed later. I only beg Your Majesty to make a decision now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I beg Your Majesty to make a decision!\" After Lü Haowen, Wang Boyan immediately gritted his teeth and followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I beg Your Majesty to make a decision!\" After Wang Boyan, all the high ministers in the hall echoed the plea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand your intentions,\" Zhao Jiu said, still with a stern face. \"But I have one more question... What does Minister Li have to say? Though he is ill, he is still the reigning Chancellor, and he has not lost his wits. Have you consulted him on this great matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We have just asked him,\" Lü Haowen replied, prepared. \"Minister Li said that if he could rise and govern, he would have his own views and plans. But since he is bedridden and unable to move, and since Your Majesty is wise and martial, with the spirit to pacify a chaotic age, if Your Majesty has already made up his mind, he is willing to temporarily set aside his own views and follow Your Majesty's decision!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu was briefly taken aback, then slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, he had sensed Li Gang's 'setting aside his own views' long ago, ever since their meeting at the Mingdao Temple... That Minister Li, who had been blocking court affairs and grasping both personnel and military matters, had never touched the Censorate and Remonstrance Bureau—the system that posed the greatest threat to him personally and was also Zhao Jiu's trusted tool. By doing so, he had essentially handed a knife to Zhao Jiu. From that point on, there had been a certain tacit understanding between ruler and subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, even so, at this critical moment, Zhao Jiu was deeply grateful that the other party could once again 'set aside his own views.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, I just went to ask Commander Han if he could fight...\" Zhao Jiu snapped back to attention and, without letting the ministers below return to their positions, made his formal response. \"As it turns out, even he said that the flatlands of the Central Plains make a battle difficult, and advised me to prioritize preservation and temporarily move to the Jiang-Huai region.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slight stir arose in the hall, followed by a wave of relief, and then, with a light cough from Lü Haowen, silence fell again as everyone waited for His Majesty's next words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have also thought it through. The disaster today was ultimately caused by my own indecision. As they say, a fall into a pit, a gain in your wit... I can no longer be so irresolute!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu sat upright on the dais, expressionless, and spoke calmly with such firm resolve that even Yang Yizhong, standing by the hall's entrance, couldn't help but steal a glance—it seemed he had truly made up his mind. \"My decision is made. Minister Li, Consort Pan Xianfei, and the imperial heir, along with the elderly and children of the temporary court, will depart tomorrow for Yangzhou to settle there and join the Empress Dowager (Meng). As for the military situation, it is urgent. I have already sent Han Shizhong ahead to the Si and Chu regions of Huai East to deploy, ordering him to join Zhang Jun in setting up defenses along the Huai River, forming a pincer with Liu Guangshi to the north against any enemy that may come. Then I, together with all of you, will first gather the able-bodied men, treasury, and weapons of Shunchang before making a tour of inspection to Shouzhou, approaching the Huai River to prepare for battle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Shouzhou was the foremost stronghold on the Huai River. Another veteran general, Zhang Jun, Commander of the Imperial Camp's Rear Army, whose reputation was even greater than Han Shizhong's, should already be there deploying defenses. And though His Majesty's words were still evasive, speaking of going to the Huai River region to resist the Jin, hadn't he said the same thing months ago before falling into the well? This was merely a pretext to allay the concerns of the people between the Yellow and Huai Rivers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, with the imperial heir, the chief chancellor, the imperial heir's birth mother, and the families of the temporary court all heading to Yangzhou, could His Majesty possibly not go? At most, he would assess the situation on the Huai River. If the Jin army did not pursue, he could turn back; if they attacked, he could retreat calmly to Yangzhou, or even the southeast, relying on the great rivers for protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, by the grace of the founding ancestors, after nearly half a year of turmoil, His Majesty had finally seen reason! He was finally going to Yangzhou! And this time, even that brute Li Gang had nothing to say!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this thought, many of the veteran officials in the temporary court were moved to tears. Even some of the hawks felt a sense of relief, as if all the tension had been drained from their bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Merry Christmas to everyone, happy birthday to Pikachu! Happy birthday to Big Brother! And happy birthday to the King of Swapping who suddenly brought double alliances (regardless of when you two actually celebrate your birthdays)!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I really wonder, why are you all so happy at the end of the year? It seems like there's a constant stream of holidays, birthdays, and celebrations, while my life is so dull and monotonous?\u003C\u002Fp>",2589,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","178c125f84ac3573d9843a28a76c18903847b8586c806c24de2555d317a1cc6f","shao-song-chapter-22","shao-song-chapter-20",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]