Chapter 247: Never Forget (Part 2) — Celebrating the First Birthday of Zhu Ayue's Daughter

It is said that on the third day after the great battle at Yaoshan, that is, at the beginning of the sixth month, as the rains ceased, the war situation also rapidly developed in the direction of a full-scale calming down.

Whether it was because they confirmed that Wanyan Wushu had fled to Hedong or that the remnants of the southern line had been surrounded and annihilated, the Jin army, having lost its commander, hesitated no longer. Under the leadership of Wanyan Huonü and Wanyan Balisu, they marched north in great strides, then successively abandoned Fucheng and the great camp at the mouth of the Beiluo River, and then it seemed they were about to discard the entire Danzhou and Fuzhou as well…

In response, the Song military commander Wu Jie dared not be negligent. He immediately dispatched troops on multiple sorties, carefully recovering lost territory while also monitoring and guarding against the main Jin force, which still possessed considerable combat power. He himself also moved to Fangzhou for the next phase of command.

And soon, as troops were sent north in batches, coupled with the transfer of most of the wounded to the Wei River plain in the rear and the dispersal of supplies, the great camp at Yaoshan was no longer a place where heavy troops were concentrated.

However, because the imperial banner of His Majesty Zhao Jiu had been flying here all along, this place remained the focus of the world's attention and was truly the heart of Guanxi.

For several consecutive days, Zhao Jiu, the Son of Heaven of the Zhao Song; Yuwen Xuzhong, the Grand Coordinator of Guanxi; Zhang Jun, the Fiscal Commissioner of the Five Circuits of Bashu; Hu Yin, the de facto person in charge of the original three circuits of Northern Shaanxi; along with Lin Jingmo, Academician of the Hanlin Academy; Liu Ziyu, Chief Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs; and a host of close court officials traveling west, all halted here.

Among them, His Majesty Zhao Jiu did not concern himself with other matters. Within those few days, he only performed sacrifices for the dead, transcribed the roster of the fallen, and granted extensive posthumous favors and enfeoffments to the war dead. The many grave military and state affairs of Guanzhong were still handled jointly by the three original high officials of Guanxi and the accompanying close court officials.

And here, one must specifically mention that this battle was truly brutal.

In fact, before Wanyan Loushi launched his assault, the casualties on both sides had remained at a normal ratio. The fighting between armored units was fierce, and there were losses, but both sides had to exert great effort to completely finish off an armored warrior from the other side. However, after Wanyan Loushi launched his assault, the troops of Jiao Wentong's unit, Li Yongqi's unit, the Xihe Circuit, and the Qinfeng Circuit suffered a genuine rout and wanton slaughter. Added to this was the large-scale trampling after the collapse. The troops of these two circuits and four units suffered heavy casualties… In the end, as the victorious side, they collected no fewer than ten thousand corpses, and the number of those disabled or too severely wounded to continue military service was probably no less than this figure.

Out of a hundred thousand troops, twenty thousand were lost in one battle!

Add to this the high-ranking generals who died in battle. If they had not finally succeeded in killing Wanyan Loushi, capturing Han Chang alive, and doing their best to surround and annihilate Wanyan Wushu's troops, even a victory would have seemed barely achieved.

With such brutal combat conditions, the post-war cleanup was naturally unavoidably cautious and heavy.

But this was not all. As the war tide continued to recede, another piece of news soon arrived, one that many had long anticipated but which was destined to shake the court and the public.

It is said that after crossing the Yellow River on a wooden raft and arriving at Hezhongfu, Wanyan Wushu recklessly did two things:

One was that he himself did not stop at all but immediately set out via small paths towards Huguan to pursue the twenty thousand Jin troops he had previously detached… This matter is not mentioned for now;

The other was that, on the eve of his departure, he urgently urged his elder brother, the Third Prince Eriduo, to quickly order the withdrawal of the Luoyang troops. This caused Li Yanxian's tentative actions to come to nothing. And with the withdrawal of the two generals Ali and Ebulbu, the situation in Luoyang was completely revealed, and some things were finally exposed—Pivot Minister Wang Boyan was confirmed to have committed suicide by fire in the old palace of the abandoned capital after Luoyang fell.

This was not the first high-ranking minister to die after the Jingkang Incident, but it was the first to die for the country after Jingkang, and its significance was self-evident.

Up to this point, among the Song and Jin armies, only the Hebei battlefield still had points worth discussing; the rest were gradually converging back towards the pre-war front lines.

And it was under these circumstances that, in mid-June, Vice Grand Councilor Xu Jingheng, who had long been prepared, traveled day and night along the main road on the south bank of the Yellow River, arriving in Guanzhong and reaching Yaoshan.

Yuwen Xuzhong and other high officials of Guanxi went out more than ten li from the camp to receive him. The two sides talked continuously. By the time they entered the camp, it was already noon. Once inside the camp, without resting, this Grand Councilor sought an audience with His Majesty of the Zhao Song.

After the formalities were completed, they did not mention other matters but first exchanged a few pleasantries, and then Zhao Jiu asked about the situation in Dongjing.

"Let Your Majesty know," said Xu Jingheng, sitting beside His Majesty Zhao Jiu in a shaded awning near the mountain at the rear of the camp, holding warm tea with added salt. Upon hearing the question, he also put down his tea and spoke with some emotion. "Dongjing this time was a close call but ultimately safe…"

"How so?"

Zhao Jiu, sitting under the awning, had long since stopped working on the documents on the table before him and turned specifically to face him, showing sufficient respect to Xu Jingheng and the civil and military officials of the Dongjing garrison command behind him.

"First, at Damingfu, Talan had tens of thousands of troops and made a sudden move, seeming to intend to cross the river from downstream and join forces with the puppet Qi. At that time, the Imperial Rear Army had not yet arrived, and the Imperial Forward Army's front line was extremely long, causing temporary panic in the capital…"

"We had already set up our defenses. With Talan's temperament, how would he dare to fight a hard battle?" Zhao Jiu sneered in response. "Even the current leaders of the puppet Qi wouldn't dare to act rashly. And Liu Yu alone, even if he harbored thoughts of avenging his son, wouldn't dare to go against both his superiors and subordinates to dispatch troops at the same time."

"Yue Pengju said the same thing," Xu Jingheng said with a smile. "And it was at that time that he proposed crossing the river northward to turn the tables…"

"Was there any obstruction to this matter within Dongjing city at that time?"

"Naturally, there was," Xu Jingheng replied seriously. "But it was suppressed by Grand Councilor Lü… Grand Councilor Lü said that matters must be prioritized by importance. His Majesty being in Guanxi was the true foundation. Yue Pengju's actions this time, as long as they could have any effect of tying down the Hedong Jin army, could be done."

"Grand Councilor Lü has not failed me, and the Secretariat has not failed me either," Zhao Jiu sighed. "And Grand Councilor Wang has also not failed me…"

Xu Jingheng was silent for a moment.

"What is it?" Zhao Jiu immediately sensed something.

"There are a few recent matters to tell Your Majesty…" Xu Jingheng became even more solemn. "The Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Rear Army, old Colonel Yang, in his haste to march rapidly to reinforce Dongjing, fell ill upon arrival and could not recover. When the Jin army withdrew from Luoyang, on the night before I departed, he passed away."

Zhao Jiu was also silent for a moment.

"Also, one of the defending generals of Luoyang, the elder of the two Zhai brothers, Zhai Xing, when the Jin army withdrew, handed over his troops to his younger brother, then led a small force out of Sishui Pass to pursue, and ultimately died by the banks of the Yellow River."

"He felt guilty and was repaying with his life… It was unnecessary."

"Yes…"

"The Zhai family troops are all clan soldiers recruited from the clan. Make a slight exception and let his son Zhai Cong inherit his position… Anything else?"

"Yes. Just now, when we spoke of Yue Pengju crossing the river northward, that was the plan at the time. But now it seems that the fall of Luoyang, Grand Councilor Wang's martyrdom, and Old Colonel Yang's death from illness may not be unrelated to the Imperial Forward Army's northern advance. Even the word 'tie down' seems somewhat insufficient…" Xu Jingheng continued gravely. "After all, didn't the Hedong Jin army still send a full twenty thousand troops from Longmen this time? I heard they nearly swayed the outcome of the decisive battle. As for the safety of Dongjing city, it was largely due to the timely arrival of the Imperial Rear Army, which divided its forces to block the Songshan and Sishui Pass. Therefore, before I came here, while the capital was elated over Your Majesty's great victory, public opinion vaguely hinted at blaming Yue Pengju for the deaths of Grand Councilor Wang and Old Colonel Yang, and even Grand Councilor Lü!"

Zhao Jiu nodded, not finding it surprising, but soon shook his head and formally stated his position: "In this battle, the victory in Guanxi, the defense of Shanzhou and Tongzhou, the loss of Luoyang, the stability of Dongjing and Huaidong, and the advance in Hebei are all one integrated whole. That we were finally able to drive the Jin back relied on unity of purpose from top to bottom, advancing and retreating together, gaining and losing together… If there must be someone to take overall responsibility, it is me. In fact, Yue Pengju's northern advance was known to me before I set out, and I gave my approval… How can victories all be attributed to me, and losses to certain Grand Councilors and military commanders? Moreover, this battle was fraught with danger from beginning to end. Even though Liu Ziyu previously advocated strongly for defense, after this battle, I also feel that his position at the time was very reasonable and that he fulfilled his duties."

"The Secretariat shares this view," Xu Jingheng said, glancing at the composed Liu Ziyu, not surprised by His Majesty's response. "When making decisions on the battlefield, how can one use hindsight gains and losses to calculate the judgments made at the time? Moreover, Yue Pengju's action did indeed tie down the Hedong army and rendered Talan at Damingfu almost ineffective. He has great merit and no fault."

Zhao Jiu nodded but seemed thoughtful. "Is there more to say?"

"There is," Xu Jingheng indeed continued, but he stood up, straightened his robes, and cupped his hands in a formal salute. "Your Majesty, although this battle was won, the Central Plains are now exhausted. The rebellion in Jingxiang has swept through over ten prefectures and armies, and there is also the barbarian rebellion in the Five Ridges region, which has gone unaddressed for four or five years… Under these circumstances, Henan, a land repeatedly ravaged by war, cannot possibly pre-collect next year's taxes from the people like Guanxi and Bashu, can it? Therefore, the Secretariat has sent me here: first, to congratulate Your Majesty on the great victory; second, to welcome Your Majesty's return to the capital; and third, to request that Your Majesty formally issue an edict ordering Yue Pengju to immediately withdraw his troops and return to Henan… Besides these, I heard of another matter on the road, which I wish to discuss with Your Majesty."

Zhao Jiu, seated, looked at the solemnly prepared Xu Jingheng and at Yuwen Xuzhong and the others who had risen with him. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly:

"I cannot agree to any of the four matters!"

Xu Jingheng was startled for a moment, but then immediately replied seriously: "Please speak frankly, Your Majesty, so that I may make a proper report."

"First, although this battle killed Wanyan Loushi, captured and killed Han Chang, annihilated over ten thousand enemies, forced back the Jin army, and preserved Guanzhong, making it the greatest victory for our dynasty since the Jingkang Incident, our army has suffered heavy casualties. Those who died for the country and in battle, from Grand Councilor Wang down, total over ten thousand… So-called great victory is also a bitter victory. I accept condolences, not congratulations!" Zhao Jiu said solemnly from behind the table. His words were earnest, and he simply opened the gauze cover that Xu Jingheng had closed upon arrival, revealing several thick stacks of rosters and similar documents.

Xu Jingheng was slightly startled, then stepped back a few paces and bowed respectfully: "I am ashamed, Your Majesty!"

"Second," Zhao Jiu said, covering the gauze again and continuing seriously. "Before the battle, I made a promise to the sons of Guanxi and the Imperial troops, to grant them land based on military merit… My word is as good as gold, and I absolutely cannot leave things unfinished. I will not return to Dongjing until this matter is properly settled!"

Xu Jingheng thought it over carefully, turned back to exchange a glance with Yuwen Xuzhong, and then nodded heavily: "Since this is the case, we have nothing more to say."

"Third, Yue Pengju, as a military commander on one front, is leading tens of thousands of troops deep into Hebei. We know nothing of the situation there, and he has the authority to decide whether to advance or retreat… I believe we should explain the difficulties in Henan to him clearly and let him decide for himself. There is no need to issue a specific edict in my name or in the name of the Secretariat or the Bureau of Military Affairs."

Xu Jingheng hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly: "If so, he has probably already received the intentions from Dongjing city. However, I would like to write a letter in my private capacity and send it by fast horse."

"Agreed," Zhao Jiu nodded in approval.

"And the fourth matter…" Xu Jingheng continued. "Your Majesty didn't even ask what it was before rejecting it?"

"Is it not about my sealing Han Shizhong as a Commandery Prince and letting Li Master inherit his father's title?" Zhao Jiu finally broke into a smile. "Or did I guess wrong? Did Grand Coordinator Yuwen not mention this matter to Grand Councilor Xu along the way?"

"It is indeed these two matters, specifically the matter of Li Master inheriting the title," Xu Jingheng replied seriously. "Your Majesty, we are not pedantic people. We are well aware of the agreement at Jingou. Han Shizhong's achievements on the Huai River, at Yanling, and in rescuing Your Majesty this time are outstanding. His loyalty and bravery rival those of famous generals of antiquity. Sealing him as a Commandery Prince is acceptable; it is still better than Tong Guan! But regarding Li Master's matter, I cannot agree, I'm afraid."

"Because of the system?" Zhao Jiu also became serious again.

"Correct," Xu Jingheng said in a deep voice. "Throughout the history of the Imperial Song, apart from the Chongyi Chai family, the Yansheng Kong family, the Sipu Prince (the original branch of Song Yingzong), and the Anding Commandery Prince (Zhao Dezhao, second son of Taizu), there has been no precedent for hereditary titles. Opening this precedent will inevitably give rise to many unnecessary troubles. If Your Majesty truly wishes to reward the Li father and son, why not posthumously confer upon the father the title of Duke of Nanyang Commandery, and then, according to normal military merit and military office, grant Li Master a proper Duke with a fief?"

"I am aware of this reasoning and precedent. Grand Coordinator Yuwen already spoke to me about this face to face that day…"

"But Your Majesty still did it?" Xu Jingheng was not like Yuwen Xuzhong; he interrupted His Majesty directly.

"Not bad." Zhao Jiu was quite frank.

"Why?" This Vice Premier Xu pressed on without stopping.

"I find it hard to say." Zhao Jiu laughed again, then turned the question back with a smile. "But judging by Vice Premier Xu's intent, does the Secretariat intend to reject this matter?"

At these words, the atmosphere in the awning cooled by several degrees.

To be fair, Yuwen Xuzhong was a somewhat weak-willed person, but he was still a councilor; Zhang Jun had always followed the Emperor's lead; Hu Yin was not one to haggle; and Liu Ziyu, who had just finished handling matters in Lantian, was even less so... But why had none of these men effectively blocked Zhao Jiu's irregular rewards and punishments at that time?

It was not that they were unwilling, but that they had come to the battlefield, helped the Emperor sort out post-battle affairs, helped him count the corpses, helped him handle military rewards and punishments, and witnessed firsthand from the post-battle rain just how fierce and earth-shattering that day's fight had been. Having undergone the shock and baptism of such a battlefield, even someone as senior as Yuwen Xuzhong or as stubborn as Hu Yin was momentarily subdued by a certain emotion and dared not forcefully refute the Emperor.

After that one battle, it was not just the Western Army vying to shoot eagles; the entire land west of the Pass seemed to dare not defy this Emperor in the slightest.

"Your Majesty!"

Xu Jingheng suddenly laughed. "Your Majesty, do you know that after the great victory at Yaoshan, when the news reached Dongjing, the entire city went almost mad with joy. They said Your Majesty defeated the Jin Army's two hundred thousand with four hundred thousand, that the Jin Army was completely annihilated, that this battle rivaled Guangwu's great battle at Kunyang, and that Your Majesty was Guangwu reborn..."

Zhao Jiu laughed along with him.

"By the time I reached Sishui Pass, people were saying that Your Majesty and Wanyan Loushi had an archery duel. Loushi drew his bow and nocked his arrow first; Your Majesty shot after him, but struck Loushi in the shoulder with a single arrow, forcing him to drop his bow... Just as the saying goes: 'Your Majesty's one arrow settled Yaoshan; the soldiers sang long songs to reclaim the Han Pass.'"

Zhao Jiu laughed so hard he could barely contain himself.

"Later, when I entered Tong Pass, the people along the way all spread the tale that Your Majesty was a true Son of Heaven, that you borrowed the power of the Yaoshan Mountain God. When Loushi advanced to the foot of the mountain, Your Majesty brought the full force of Yaoshan down upon him, causing tens of thousands of Jin troops to perish in an instant..."

Zhao Jiu suddenly stopped laughing.

"I know these are all exaggerations," Xu Jingheng also stopped smiling. "But I believe that Your Majesty's great victory, though a costly one, has ensured that the Imperial Song is no longer in mortal danger—no less than Guangwu's founding of his dynasty. Your archery duel with Loushi, though you did not hit him, showed a courage that will make the people of the world no longer fear the Jin cavalry—this is what is meant by the Son of Heaven's bow and arrow. And in a moment of crisis, descending the mountain as the supreme Son of Heaven to turn the tide is comparable to Mount Tai itself, bringing down the weight of a mountain! So after this battle, I dare ask Your Majesty: within the court, within the borders of the Great Song, who can truly stop you from doing what you want? A mere matter of inheriting a title, and only that of a Founding Duke—even if the Secretariat refuses, will it be ineffective?"

Zhao Jiu gave a dry laugh.

Then, Xu Jingheng indeed straightened his expression, cupped his hands, and said: "But as long as I am in the Secretariat, I will refuse for one day! Because this violates the system! And it is a chaotic decree with endless future troubles! If this precedent is set, the Great Song's system of noble titles, which has been error-free for over a hundred years, will be abandoned overnight."

Zhao Jiu gave another dry laugh: "Vice Premier Xu, please wait a moment."

Xu Jingheng cupped his hands in salute and stood solemnly to the side.

Zhao Jiu lifted the cloth covering the desk, solemnly opened the latest register, and personally picked up a brush to carefully add the names of Yang Weizhong, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Rear Army, and Zhai Xing, Commander of the Imperial Central Army. He did not close it hastily, apparently waiting for the ink to dry.

Just as Xu Jingheng expected Zhao Jiu to speak, the Emperor instead took two sheets of blank paper, rewrote the two names he had just written, and then rose directly with the two still-wet sheets, gesturing to Yang Yizhong beside him.

Yang Yizhong led the way; the Emperor followed closely behind. Yuwen Xuzhong and the others, knowing where they were headed, naturally followed solemnly. Even Xu Jingheng was pushed by Yuwen Xuzhong and followed the Emperor's party as they abruptly set out.

Before long, by afternoon, they arrived at a construction site on a mountain ledge platform not far from the rear gate of the military camp... With tens of thousands of laborers here and no shortage of materials, the wooden structure had long taken shape. At this moment, they were only applying paint to the building, while woodcarvers worked ceaselessly.

Upon arriving, even Xu Jingheng, who had been the only one with doubts, quickly understood—this was a temple, not much different from the Water God Temple on Mount Bagong in Huaishang. And soon, the Emperor's words confirmed this.

"This man is named Hou Dan, a fellow townsman, comrade-in-arms, and old acquaintance of Zhang Yongzhen from Huaishang. It was he who beheaded Loushi that day, and he died in battle shortly after. So I have enshrined him as the Yaoshan Mountain God." Stepping into the hall, Zhao Jiu pointed at the unfinished statue in the center and spoke slowly.

"This merit deserves this offering." Vice Premier Xu immediately nodded.

Just then, a young military adjutant with a scarred face stepped forward, cupped his hands, and paid his respects. He spoke with a Lingnan accent. Zhao Jiu paid it no mind and simply handed over the two sheets of paper he had brought: "Give these to the craftsmen. I need to speak with Vice Premier Xu alone..."

The scarred adjutant from Guangnan immediately bowed and withdrew. Yuwen Xuzhong and the others exchanged glances but could only step back. In a moment, the hall was completely empty, leaving only the sovereign and his minister.

But at this point, Zhao Jiu, who had said he wanted to talk, did not speak directly. Instead, he turned and walked behind the statue. It turned out that behind the statue there was another deep space. However, there was a skylight inside, providing ample light, so Vice Premier Xu, following behind, could see clearly. And precisely because he saw so clearly, the moment he turned the corner, he stood frozen in place, losing his composure and his words.

There was nothing else. What met his eyes were countless wooden plaques—tens of thousands at least—each inscribed with a military rank and a name, nothing more.

"Vice Premier Xu should know that I have never been fond of sacrifices," Zhao Jiu finally spoke. "But these days, I have come here I don't know how many times... On the Huaishang front, soldiers were gathered in haste; many died and left no names behind. Now, beneath Yaoshan, because the Western Army was organized by place of origin and the Imperial Army had already been registered, we have learned many names. But it is still not enough... So I thought, if one day we truly drive straight to the Yellow Dragon, why not erect a great stele in some conspicuous place?"

Vice Premier Xu exerted great effort to regain his composure, then spoke in a low voice: "What Your Majesty says has its reasons. But what does this have to do with Li Master inheriting the title of Founding Duke?"

"Of course it does." Zhao Jiu clasped his hands behind his back and laughed. "Vice Premier Xu, I cannot forget these people..."

"That goes without saying!"

"I often ask myself: for whom did I go through all this hardship and risk my life to preserve this realm? For the Zhao clan? But the Zhao clan are all in the north; only I remain. If I sought the pleasures of a single family or a single surname, I would have fled to the southeast to live out my days in comfort. Believe it or not, even though Imperial Consort Pan is pregnant, everything I have done has been for the many people before and behind me..."

"I believe you."

"Let me finish... From the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in antiquity to countless generations of descendants in the future; from my own private feelings within to the common people of the world without; from the curling blue sky above to the boundless yellow earth below... Whether for the public good or private sentiment, since I have become this Emperor, this Son of Heaven, this Sovereign, I do not seek an eternal dynasty, but I cannot be too disgraceful, can I?"

"..."

"After this battle, I have been unable to sleep day or night, thinking of all sorts of chaotic things... How to clean up the rebellions in the rear? How to pacify the people who have suffered years of exploitation by officials and harassment by soldiers and bandits? How to rectify the court administration? How to refine and train the army? Can we make waterproof gunpowder packets? Can we lay rail tracks along the Yellow River for troop transport? Can we build seagoing ships to harass Liaodong and Bohai? Can we distribute the official gazette throughout the realm? Can we stabilize the scholars and farmers while enriching the merchants and artisans?"

Vice Premier Xu tried to speak several times but stopped, while Zhao Jiu simply continued with his hands clasped behind his back:

"How many years until the Northern Expedition? How many years until we drive straight to the Yellow Dragon?"

"After the old lands of Yan and Yun are recovered, should we reclaim Xixia? Should we take back Jiaozhi? Should we deal with Dali? Are these not ancient Han territories?"

"After restoring the ancient Han lands, will something like the Xiongnu or Xianbei emerge again on the northern grasslands? Should we annex the Western Regions to pinch the northern desert? I hear Yelu Dashi has mobilized over ten tribes, claiming to restore his kingdom, but has instead fled west. Will we encounter him again? And what about Goryeo? They are fighting the Jurchens to the death—can we afford to ignore Goryeo?"

"These spirit tablets are not here to persuade me to cease military action and live in comfort. They are here to persuade me not to betray these men, not to forget them, and to ensure that we drive the enemy beyond our borders, so that the heartlands of our nation—Guanzhong, Luoyang, Henan, Huaishang—never again become such a scene of carnage! I have never hoped for an eternal dynasty, but can we not have Guanzhong suffer such military calamity again within a few decades?"

Vice Premier Xu sighed softly. He tried to speak several times but fell silent each time.

"Han Shizhong being enfeoffed as a Prince, bypassing the Duke rank, and Li Master inheriting a title—these are connected... I intend to establish substantive enfeoffments on the frontiers, targeting the Western Regions, Dali, and Jiaozhi." Zhao Jiu finally spoke the truth. "But can I say such things outside? Would it not be laughable? At this moment, the rebellions behind us are not even pacified. And whether substantive enfeoffment would be effective or correct, I truly do not know. But since these thoughts have occurred to me, I must have some ideas, must I not?"

Xu Jingheng finally managed to speak: "Your Majesty has grand ambitions..."

"It is not grand ambition. I am only in my twenties, and what I speak of is merely within the scope of the Han and Tang territories. It is just that the Great Song has been content with half the realm for over a hundred years, accustomed to cowardice and self-deception... For over a hundred years, the Han people of Yan and Yun no longer consider those in the south as their own kin! And Jiaozhi is even more so!"

Xu Jingheng's expression shifted slightly, but he still managed to respond: "But we must still pacify the interior before resisting external threats."

"I know!" Zhao Jiu immediately turned his head. "But if I take the Western Regions and Jiaozhi as limits and attempt hereditary titles, it may be improper, but can it be called stirring up trouble for no reason?"

Xu Jingheng nodded helplessly: "Although I do think it is somewhat far-fetched and perhaps not appropriate, if there is a reason for it, it may not be impossible to attempt discussion."

"But it is still the same old story." Zhao Jiu suddenly turned and fixed his gaze on the other man. "These things cannot be spoken aloud... Last time, when I spoke of unspeakable matters with the Imperial Uncle of the Imperial Clan, we could only hide in the Grand Buddha Hall. But Vice Premier Xu, how many temples and monasteries are there in this world for us sovereign and minister to slip into and speak of these things at any time?"

Xu Jingheng was silent for a moment. Zhao Jiu also said nothing. The sovereign and his minister stared at each other for a long time behind the statue surrounded by spirit tablets.

Finally, Vice Premier Xu cupped his hands: "After this campaign, when Your Majesty has settled the area west of the Pass and returned to Dongjing, will you recall the various Military Commissioners from the regions?"

"Yes." Zhao Jiu stood with his hands behind his back, facing the other man, utterly direct.

"After suppressing the rebellions, will you integrate the Western Army into the Imperial Army?"

"Yes!"

"Will you clarify the Old and New Factions and re-establish academic orthodoxy?"

"Yes!"

"Will you make the court a unified body, so that it moves at Your Majesty's command like an arm directing a finger, and implement the New Policies?"

"Yes!" Zhao Jiu was still crisp.

"In that case, I understand." Xu Jingheng straightened his face and bowed his head. "I wish to resign and yield to a worthier man."

"Finish the matter of granting land to the meritorious officers of the Imperial Camp in Henan for me, then resign on grounds of illness. We, sovereign and minister, must have a proper beginning and end." Zhao Jiu still stood with his hands behind his back, without the slightest hesitation. "Moreover, in terms of both merit and virtue, we are worthy of a proper beginning and end."

"I understand." Xu Jingheng's expression was as usual as he cupped his hands in reply.

Zhao Jiu nodded, then took the initiative to face him again: "Any other questions?"

"One question, one proposal." Xu Jingheng thought for a moment, then took the initiative to respond.

"Speak."

"Your Majesty, I presume to ask, what of Lord Lu?"

"Lord Lu's merits are outstanding; he should be a Grand Councilor, overseeing major military and state affairs!" Zhao Jiu did not hesitate in the slightest.

Xu Jingheng was immediately relieved, then cupped his hands in another bow: "That is good. One more word... Lü Yihao cannot be employed!"

Lord Zhao was stunned for a moment, said nothing, and directly turned to leave, while Lord Xu said no more and directly followed him out.

But when the two turned past the statue, walked through the hall, pushed open the main door, and were about to go out, Xu Jingheng suddenly seemed to think of something, and once again cupped his hands toward Lord Zhao just before he stepped over the threshold: "Your Majesty!"

"What?" Zhao Jiu stopped in surprise.

"What I just said in the thatched shed at the camp was not merely a joke to offer a veiled remonstrance; it was from the heart." Under the astonished gazes of the many officials at the foot of the distant steps, Xu Jingheng bowed deeply. "Your Majesty has already inherited the spirit of Zhaolie and achieved the merit of Guangwu, but in the future, I beg Your Majesty to be sure to preserve the virtue of Guangwu and the righteousness of Zhaolie... Not only have a proper beginning and end with your ministers, but also let yourself have a proper beginning and end."

"I will never forget Lord Xu's words today." Zhao Jiu was silent for a moment, then replied solemnly.

And so, the sovereign and minister came out of the door and walked slowly back to the camp. By this time, the sun had long since sunk in the west, hiding behind the back of Yaoshan, but the red rays of sunset, shooting through the mountains, still illuminated the military camp on the mountain and the yellow plateau battlefield below, both colorful and dazzling, making one gaze in reverie.

Zhao Jiu had intended to return to camp, but seeing this scene, he paused for a moment in contemplation.

Zhang Jun, seeing that Lord Zhao and Lord Xu both looked calm, knew that the two had somehow reached a resolution, and couldn't help stepping forward to add a pleasantry: "Has Your Majesty been inspired to compose a poem?"

"Indeed." Zhao Jiu couldn't help but smile. "Thinking of that great battle the other day, and seeing how the battlefield has already become desolate in just over ten days, I truly cannot help but want to compose a poem, but at the moment I am at a loss for words..."

Among those present, not only the several high officials, but also many close attendants and the accompanying *jinshi* among the guards were all connoisseurs. Hearing this, they initially thought to take the opportunity to compose a poem or two to suit the occasion. But then, thinking of those so-called 'old works of Yi'an Jushi' and that 'Green Jade Cup,' one by one they extinguished their thoughts of composing poetry, obediently standing with folded hands and saying nothing.

They merely accompanied this lord, gazing together at the colorful battlefield, lost in thought for a time.

Following Lord Zhao's eastward gaze, a thousand *li* or more to the east, at Anlijun Zhuren Mountain, there was also a man sitting in a pavilion on the mountain, gazing and sighing.

It was none other than Yue Fei, courtesy name Pengju, the fully armored Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp Forward Army, and beside him was none other than the cold-faced Commanding Officer Tang Huai.

"Elder brother, aren't you going to take a look?" Even though Tang Huai was usually stern and unsmiling, he couldn't help but speak up at this moment. "From this pavilion down the mountain, it's our Tangyin."

"Go for what?" Yue Fei, clad in full armor, glanced at the flat land east of the mountain, where countless troops were strictly marching south—it was the main force of the Imperial Camp Forward Army withdrawing from the west side of the old course of the Yellow River at Great Ming Prefecture. "Going would only bring heartache; a look is enough."

Tang Huai frowned upon hearing this: "Although the Central Plains are in difficulty and Jingxiang is in great chaos, the lords are urging us too hard. Da Lan is holed up in Great Ming Prefecture and dares not come south. Wushu has twenty thousand troops in Longde Prefecture (later Shangdang). If we could lure them out, we might win a great victory."

"It's useless. Wanyan Wushu came in haste precisely to stabilize these twenty thousand troops and prevent them from leaving the pass to fight." Yue Fei narrowed his eyes and sighed. "As for you saying the lords are urging us too hard, that's doing them an injustice... After Your Majesty's great victory, Lord Lu simply told me the difficulties and actively asked me how to handle them, without any urging."

"Then is this decree from the Secretariat a fake?"

"It's real!" Yue Pengju finally narrowed his eyes and looked at this trusted brother of his. "But it's the result of me submitting a memorial to both the Secretariat and His Majesty in the Guanzhong region..."

Tang Huai was incredulous: "You requested the withdrawal yourself, elder brother?"

"Correct."

"Why?"

"First, to resist foreign aggression, one must first pacify internal disorder. His Majesty won a great victory at Yaoshan, and the Jin army can no longer easily come south. It is precisely the time to turn around and extinguish the rebellion of Zhong Xiang and the Miao uprising in the Five Ridges, to restore the economy and people's livelihood." Yue Pengju answered calmly. "Second, to act in Hebei, one must first cut off its two wings, recover northern Shaanxi and Jingdong, to constrict its momentum. Third, to pacify Hebei and recover Yanyun, one must first take Hedong and recover Taiyuan, occupy Shanxi, hold Yanmen, rely on the Taihang Mountains, and sweep the North China Plain from a commanding height. Fourth, to strike directly at Huanglong, one must first pacify Yanyun, then restrain the Mongols and divide Goryeo, only then can success be achieved in one fell swoop!"

Tang Huai nodded: "Elder brother, is this a strategy for pacifying the Jin that you are presenting to His Majesty?"

"Correct."

"There is indeed reason." Tang Huai sighed slightly. "But elder brother, time and again you turn away from your hometown; are you truly not grieved?"

"How could I not be grieved?" Yue Fei gave a self-deprecating smile, but then immediately became solemn. "But there is another principle..."

"What principle?"

"The people of Hebei are my countrymen, and the people of Henan are also my countrymen." Yue Fei looked north and answered slowly. "Why should the people of Henan offer their blood and sweat to us, only for us to squander it in Hebei? Under the current situation, what meaning is there in fighting one or two battles in Hebei, or making one or two trips to our hometown? The Jin army in Luoyang withdrew in time, and the Jin army in Hedong can send reinforcements here at any time. If we end up caught between two Jin armies, won't we still have to leave?"

Tang Huai opened his mouth to speak, but finally said no more.

And so, as dusk fell, Yue Fei stood up, picked up his great spear, slung his bow and arrows over his shoulder, and was about to go down the mountain to follow the army south, when his heart stirred. He called for brush and ink, and on the whitewashed wall of the pavilion, his brush moved like a dragon and snake, writing a *ci* poem.

The poem read:

Returning to look at Hebei, beyond the desolate mist, so many cities and towns.

I recall those years, flowers shading and willows shielding, crimson towers and emerald pavilions.

Before Great Ming Prefecture, gold and jade swirled; within Zhending City, songs and music played.

But now, iron horsemen fill the outskirts, the wind and dust are vile.

Where are the soldiers? Their blades are stained. Where are the people? They fill the ditches and gullies.

Alas, the rivers and mountains are as before, a thousand villages lie desolate.

When will I take up the command, lead a sharp brigade, and once again whip my horse across the Qinghe to Shuobei?

Then return, to continue the old city tours, not failing my spear.

After writing, Yue Fei sighed softly, then threw down the brush, shouldered his spear, and without looking back, turned and went down the mountain.

It was already late. In the great camp at Yaoshan, Xu Jingheng finished writing a letter to Yue Fei, dispatched it by fast horse, and then turned to see Lord Zhao. But as soon as he entered the tent, he saw that all the personnel were there, but they were only discussing a few sheets of white paper, and Lord Zhao was nowhere to be seen.

When the many people saw Lord Xu arrive, they also greeted him one after another, and directly said that His Majesty, tired from consecutive days, had probably already gone to the rear tent to read by the lamp, but His Majesty had left a matter on the table as usual, for everyone to discuss and decide, and it was precisely for Lord Xu to make the final decision.

Xu Jingheng did not decline the responsibility. When he reached the table, he learned that Lord Zhao intended to outline the post-war disposition of the army, specifically to strengthen the Imperial Camp Rear Army and to establish an Imperial Camp Cavalry Army.

Among these, strengthening the Imperial Camp Rear Army probably meant making Wu Jie its Commander-in-Chief, and reintegrating various Western armies into it, while the original Imperial Camp Rear Army would be directly reorganized into the Imperial Camp Central Army... This was a complex and major affair, involving countless matters, and could not be discussed thoroughly in a short time.

As for the Imperial Camp Cavalry Army, His Majesty's general idea was to make Qu Duan its Commander-in-Chief, with Liu Qi and Li Master as Deputy Commanders-in-Chief... Among these, the rest were fine, but Li Master was too young, and some thought he should only be a regular Commanding Officer, which sparked a debate.

Xu Jingheng was a man of action. He immediately took the white paper, pinched it, and made a decision: given Li Master's great merit this time, he should be Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp Cavalry Army. This settled the matter with the consensus of sovereign and minister.

However, after settling this matter, when the many people spoke again of the complex matter of transferring the Western armies into the Imperial Camp, Lord Xu, sitting under the lamp and looking at the white paper in his hand, showed a somewhat strange expression. It turned out that in the blank spaces of the paper, there were traces of several lines of small characters, clearly His Majesty's handwriting, left as heavy impressions through the paper. When held up to the lamp, they appeared to be something like poetry.

Lord Xu, recalling the earlier incident, was momentarily curious and simply studied them carefully against the light.

But after reading back and forth, Lord Xu remained puzzled in his heart, because the scenes and objects described in them simply did not match the present situation. Only the artistic conception of the second stanza was extraordinary, directly touching the heart, leading him to conclude that His Majesty had been inspired by today's feelings and composed it.

The lyric says:

The west wind rages,

Wild geese cry in the long sky under the frosty morning moon.

Under the frosty morning moon,

The sound of horse hooves shatters,

The sound of bugles chokes.

The grand pass, they say, is truly like iron,

Yet now we stride over it from the start.

From the start,

The grey mountains are like a sea,

The setting sun is like blood.

This volume ends.