[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-250":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},1558416,2024,"Chapter 250: Self-Inflicted Disturbance","shao-song-chapter-250",250,"\u003Cp>Autumn leaves had not yet fallen, and the flames of war had already ceased to burn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the late summer and early autumn of the fourth year of the Jianyan era, the war between Song and Jin came to a complete halt. As Yue Fei's Forward Army of the Imperial Camp escorted a large number of displaced people from Hebei south across the river, the battle lines of both sides fully returned to their pre-war positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, but as the two armies withdrew to their respective safe zones, almost as if by unspoken agreement, Song and Jin immediately began a mutual, orderly de-escalation along the border.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Large numbers of field troops were methodically withdrawn from the front lines; auxiliary soldiers and civilian laborers were disbanded. Both sides tacitly agreed to leave only garrison forces at a few key locations for surveillance and necessary precautions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same was true in the rear: military units shifted to garrison duty, and civil officials began to reassert control over local administration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for this tacit understanding was twofold. First, the recent battle had left both sides severely weakened, and each had a host of internal problems and troubles—so obvious they could be listed with eyes closed—that needed addressing, making them unwilling to expend further energy on each other. Second, after this battle, nearly every perceptive person realized that the strategic balance between the two sides had truly shifted. For a period of time, neither country could possibly deliver a fatal blow to the other... The Jin army no longer had the strength to destroy Zhao Song or seize large swaths of its territory, and it was equally unlikely that Zhao Song, after five or six years of being on the defensive, could suddenly turn from defense to offense... The long-heralded strategic standoff between Song and Jin along the Yellow River was now formally established.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, only Zhang Rong's Riverine Army of the Imperial Camp was granted permission for \"free movement.\" As for the other areas, it wasn't that large-scale skirmishes couldn't happen—they simply weren't necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, as the old saying goes, matters have their priorities—or, to put it another way, to resist foreign aggression, one must first pacify internal unrest. With the strategic balance achieved, the priority of certain matters had finally been adjusted upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the seventh month, the weather was still scorching. Though autumn had clearly arrived, the summer heat showed no sign of abating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this day, a procession of donkey carts and mules arrived at the ruined capital of Luoyang and headed straight for the site of the old palace ruins. The soldiers and their families living in the garrison quarters built against the city walls had long since grown accustomed to such sights. Lately, anyone who was an official—civil or military—as well as traveling scholars and merchants passing from Dongjing to Guanxi or from Guanxi to Dongjing, would make a pilgrimage to the place where Lord Wang had died for his country, burning incense and composing poems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this man, who could muster so many donkey carts and mules, along with attendants and followers in the current season, was clearly a proper civil official—so this stop was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was due to their ignorance. Unlike those passersby who came to bask in Lord Wang's reputation, the Censor Moqi Xie passing through today was no charlatan. He had been a true colleague of Lord Wang's; indeed, Lord Wang could be considered his \"gracious mentor.\" After receiving his official appointment that day in the Nanyang Hall, Moqi Yuanzhong had served in the Bureau of Military Affairs as a direct subordinate of Wang Zhongmu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, though exhausted and pressed for time on this journey through Luoyang, Moqi Xie insisted on going to the old palace ruins to offer incense and candles to Lord Wang and perform a grand bow of respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after shedding a few lines of turbid tears, Censor Moqi should have, as was customary for traveling scholars and officials, composed a elegiac poem on the freshly whitewashed broken eaves and walls. Yet, for some reason, when he picked up his brush and dipped it in ink, he found himself utterly unable to write. Instead, he was abruptly reminded of the lines the Zhao Emperor had once inscribed for Luoyang: \"Broken and incomplete\"—the very words of the poem: \"Ten thousand palaces have turned to dust; rise, the people suffer; fall, the people suffer.\" In the end, he could only abandon his brush, cover his tears, and leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, but after leaving the ruined capital of Luoyang, Moqi Xie continued westward, traveling the Xiaoshan-Mianchi ancient road, passing through Shanzhou, entering Tongguan, and following the Wei River westward without pause. Yet he remained perpetually gloomy, and this gloom weighed heavily on his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Moqi Yuanzhong was a man of great insight, and he clearly understood his own mind: this gloom stemmed from what he had witnessed before and after the battle. First, he had crossed the river with the Forward Army of the Imperial Camp and seen the \"thousands of villages desolate\" in Hebei. Then, upon his return, he had heard of his gracious mentor's actions, and after the memorial rites, the gloom naturally set in. As for the unbearable feeling, it came from his constant frustration at being unable to shake off this mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must understand that Moqi Xie had spent his middle years in obscurity, only gaining officialdom through a gamble at Nanyang. His ambition was simply to be a good official, a high-ranking one, and he ordinarily had no qualms about his reputation before or after death. This wasn't to say he couldn't feel such gloom—after all, humans are not made of wood or stone; who can be without emotion? But the problem was that, for some reason, time and again, as his official rank grew higher, these pointless emotions became more frequent, and this time, they were especially pronounced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was what made his heart so unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Moqi Yuanzhong was no ordinary man. Though his heart was troubled, his face never showed it. That evening, when he arrived at a courier station outside the city of Linwei and heard that someone had come to call, knowing that his westward journey to meet the Emperor was for important matters, he immediately put on an aloof demeanor:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoever it is, tell the visitor that I am a Palace Censor, a capable official of the court, and a close minister of His Majesty. On this westward journey, before I meet the Emperor, I will not engage in private dealings with anyone...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant, a retired veteran of the Forward Army of the Imperial Camp, naturally went out to deliver the message properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after a moment, the attendant returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The visitor claims to be an old acquaintance from Shanbei?\" Moqi Xie hesitated for a moment. \"Civil official or military officer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He brought no attendants. Judging by his clothes, he looks like a civil official, but he's powerfully built and rides an extremely sturdy horse. His speech is also a bit strange and sarcastic...\" The attendant, who had only begun serving Moqi Xie after this campaign, reported everything in detail, clearly not recognizing the visitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the attendant could finish, Moqi Yuanzhong let out a dry laugh and went out personally to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the visitor was none other than Censor Moqi's \"old acquaintance from Shanbei\"—Qu Duan, who had rendered extraordinary service in the recent Battle of Yaoshan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they met, Qu Duan immediately curled his lips and said, \"Censor Moqi, have you come to Guanxi this time to emulate Yang Zhen and be a 'gentleman of the four knowledges'? Why don't you find a bronze mirror and take a look at yourself? Do you really think you can become a 'Three Dukes in three generations'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie said nothing in response. Only after returning to the small courtyard where he was staying did he stroke his beard and sneer, \"Whether it's 'four knowledges' or 'five knowledges,' at this juncture, it's a good thing you, Qu Da, are still stuck in the military. If you had actually transferred to a civil post and still dared to come and bother me, I would have shouted 'Thief!' in front of everyone first...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging a few barbs, they finally sat down in the courtyard, and Qu Duan's expression turned serious: \"If that's the case, Censor Moqi, you're not wary of military officers this time, but rather of civil officials? What's the reasoning behind that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What reasoning could there be?\" In the seventh month, the days were hot, but the evenings had gradually turned cool. Moqi Xie sat with his hands tucked into his sleeves, making no attempt to hide his thoughts. \"After this battle, doesn't His Majesty have each and every one of you military commanders firmly in his grasp? His Majesty wants to reorganize the Western Army here. Liu Xi was dismissed with a single word. As for the three big commanders—one is you, Qu Da, one is Wu Da, and the other is Liu Er—do any of them truly dare to argue?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Under the institutions of our dynasty, the Son of Heaven has always been able to manipulate military commanders at will.\" Qu Duan shook his head and sighed. \"It's just that this particular Emperor can shoot a bow on horseback, so he's especially conspicuous... But if that's the case, why are you wary of civil officials and not military officers? First, reorganize the army—transfer tens of thousands of Western Army troops into the Imperial Camp, properly deploy the forces, have several tens of thousands of elite troops to keep order, and then distribute the idle fields in Guanzhong as rewards. Who would dare to cause trouble? Who could cause trouble?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie let out a scornful laugh and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Duan was momentarily stunned, then suddenly understood, and laughed scornfully as well: \"I get it... Lord Wang died for the country, and Lord Lu was just promoted to Grand Councilor. Both the Secretariat and the Bureau of Military Affairs have genuine high positions vacant. The various honorary councilors and senior officials below are glaring at each other like fighting cocks. You've set your heart on being a sycophant, and you absolutely don't want to be seen as someone's man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie shook his head repeatedly: \"Qu Da, Qu Da, you're capable in both civil and military affairs, truly a talent. It's a pity you were born with that mouth of yours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What of it if I have a mouth? The post of Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp Cavalry is still mine.\" Qu Duan replied proudly. \"The imperial decree came down a few days ago!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that so?\" Moqi Xie was slightly taken aback, then shook his head. \"Then why are you here? Just to argue with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is actually something.\" Qu Duan finally turned serious. \"I've gotten myself into a legal dispute... Does Censor Moqi know Guo Cheng?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course I know the old General Guo Cheng. He was already a famous general during the Shenzong era's campaign against Western Xia.\" Moqi Xie said thoughtfully. \"For many years, he served in rotating posts in Huanqing and Jingyuan—that is, the Shanbei region. And Shanbei is where you and the Wu brothers got your start. If you have a dispute between you, I can guess without you telling me: it's either that his military command was taken from you, or his descendants were pushed aside by you, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I hadn't been able to gather the troops from those useless men back then, how could I have gotten anything done?\" Qu Duan frowned in response, frankly admitting the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then just tell His Majesty that...\" Moqi Xie said dismissively. \"Since His Majesty has given you the appointment, he still values you in his heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The key point is that Guo Cheng is about to die.\" Qu Duan's frown deepened. \"He's a veteran of four reigns, always with military merits. After Grand Commandant Yang passed away this time, he became the most senior figure in the Western Army. But he's been in poor health for years, just waiting to die in a fortified village on the Huanqing circuit. I've been contending with his son Guo Hao for many years, and I gained the upper hand by taking advantage of the chaos a couple of years ago. Out of respect for the old general, I never went for the kill. But unexpectedly, today he suddenly emerged in person... Two days after the decree appointing me Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp Cavalry came down, Guo Cheng, still nursing his wounds and waiting for death in a border fortress on the Jingyuan circuit, sent a memorial to the imperial presence, publicly impeaching me on ten major crimes committed in Shanbei two years ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only ten major crimes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In truth, I had more than twenty major crimes back then, but what's the point?\" Qu Duan said dismissively. \"If we're really talking about crimes, that idle poem and the matter of Wang Shu would be enough to kill me. Where would Guo Cheng or Guo Hao come into it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's true. So what are you afraid of?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't it that His Majesty is about to reorganize the entire Western Army into the Rear Army of the Imperial Camp? And since the army is to be reorganized, it stands to reason that some appeasement should be given to the military families of the Western Army. If His Majesty, thinking to give face to a dying old general, were to slow down my appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp Cavalry, what then?\" Qu Duan finally got to the crux of the matter. \"And I won't hide it from you: Guo Cheng and his son Guo Hao are from the same hometown as the Wu brothers. I'm also afraid that those two thieves, Wu Da and Wu Er, might be involved in this. I was just getting agitated when I heard you had arrived, so I personally rode Iron Elephant to meet you, hoping to get your advice on this matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie finally laughed again: \"You're too concerned about this—it's clouding your judgment...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\" Qu Da finally perked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me ask you.\" Moqi Yuanzhong stroked his beard as he faced him. \"Guo Cheng is a dying man. Why would he impeach you on his deathbed? Doesn't he know you're His Majesty's favored candidate? Isn't he afraid you'll take revenge on his son after he's gone? For a veteran of such seniority to sacrifice his final dignity and his son's future—is it just to vent a grudge? If you were in Guo Cheng's shoes, would you do the same?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Da laughed scornfully for a moment: \"If I were in his shoes, I would certainly do the same.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie's face darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Qu Duan continued with a smile: \"But I also understand what you mean... It's because Guo Hao didn't distinguish himself in this campaign, and with the Western Army about to be reorganized, his father swallowed his pride and did this to remind His Majesty not to forget the loyalty of the Guo family across two generations and four reigns. He wants His Majesty, out of respect for him, to give his son a future... As long as Guo Hao is granted a position, this whole matter will vanish like smoke.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly.\" Moqi Xie finally stroked his beard and nodded, but then asked curiously, \"But Guo Hao is in his prime and holds a proper military post on the Huanqing circuit. Why didn't he earn any military merit in this campaign?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because I was the one who transferred troops to the northern fortresses on the Huanqing circuit at the time. I've always found that bastard annoying, so I specifically summoned only his troops and left him behind to look after his father.\" Qu Duan waved his hand casually, as if he were talking about Iron Elephant having mated the day before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try to be a decent person for once!\" Moqi Xie tugged at his beard, momentarily exasperated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I were as good at being a person as Wu Da, how would I have ended up mixed up with you?\" Qu Duan remained unconcerned. \"Wu Da is also your old acquaintance from Shanbei. Did he come to see you today? You probably don't know yet, but Wu Da has hit it off with Liu Ziyu. Add in the former support of Grand Coordinator Hu, and between Zhang, Hu, Liu, and Wu, they've practically got a stranglehold on all the major and minor affairs in Guanxi. Even Lord Yuwen is just a figurehead...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as the saying goes, fish seek fish, shrimp seek shrimp, and turtles seek turtles... Crude as it sounds, some things really are just like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Yuanzhong knew his own shortcomings. He had set his heart on being a sycophant, and his past actions had already subtly drawn the ire of the proper ministers at court... Under these circumstances, who with any legitimate connections would come to associate with him? He had finally managed to find a path through Wang Shuzhan and the Imperial Uncle Zhao, only to have the misfortune of encountering the \"entrustment of the orphan\" at the Yiyou Gate. After that, the Imperial Uncle Zhao was doomed to have no further political influence, and Wang Shuzhan and his son had also suffered considerable embarrassment. Indeed, it was only Qu Da, with his extra mouth, who was his greatest political companion at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after fuming for a while, Moqi Yuanzhong had a change of heart and began to laugh... Because regardless, Qu Duan had come to see him and spoken so bluntly—the intention to form a partnership was very clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And though both of them were outliers, one a Palace Censor and the other a Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp Cavalry, they were enough to support each other and stand firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even that lawsuit—with his \"both civil and military\" cleverness—he had likely seen through it long ago, merely using it as an excuse to come see me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to that, letting this fellow gain a little verbal advantage was trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, Moqi Xie stroked his beard and sighed, showing rare candor: \"I see now—what Qu Duan cares about isn't the Guo father and son, but the Wu brothers...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you saying you don't care about Liu Ziyu, Hu Yin, and Zhang Jun?\" Qu Duan retorted coldly. \"These people band together, linking left and right—the empire's high officials and military commanders are nearly one body. Where is there room for us? All over Guanshan they're saying that the day His Majesty returns to Dongjing is the day Zhang Jun receives his ministerial appointment!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your insight is still shallow.\" Moqi Xie grew even more candid. \"It's possible Zhang Jun will advance to the Chancellery, but whether we can survive depends on His Majesty, not them. To put it another way, even if this group gains power and makes trouble for us, we need only avoid them for a while, because though they may hold the upper hand temporarily, they cannot hold it forever...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two points... one is that what unites must eventually divide, and the other is that no flower blooms for a hundred days.\" Moqi Xie was truly speaking from the heart today. \"By 'what unites must eventually divide,' I mean that although these people are now united, it's only because the senior ministers were there before, making them appear cohesive. Once they handle state affairs themselves, they will inevitably clash over age, political views, background, and habits, and then they will split. As for 'no flower blooms for a hundred days,' it means His Majesty is in his prime, with many years ahead and many tasks to accomplish. These men—some lacking talent, some poor in temperament—how can they keep pace with such a divinely martial sovereign?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Duan raised an eyebrow and blurted out: \"If they can't keep up, can we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie shook his head repeatedly, filled with emotion: \"What does it matter if we can't keep up? In this chaotic age, meeting such an enlightened ruler, if we give our utmost and accomplish deeds and achievements, won't our posthumous reputations surpass even those of peace-time chancellors? Even setting us aside, those who died before—were their lives worthless? Why must we always seek the highest position?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as these words left his mouth, even Moqi Xie himself felt a moment of dazed distraction, and Qu Duan, who had meant to mock him, ultimately said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, leaving aside how a treacherous minister and an arrogant general privately conspired, the next morning Moqi Xie continued westward. The day after, he entered Chang'an and met His Majesty. He was ordered, in his capacity as Palace Censor, to survey land ownership around Jingzhao Prefecture in Yongxing Army Circuit during the autumn harvest, in preparation for granting land after the Western Army's meritorious reorganization... This was an expected heavy responsibility. Other important ministers who had arrived earlier were either reorganizing the army or surveying land—there was no third major task in Guanshan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Moqi Xie naturally had nothing to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only, after receiving his orders, as he was about to take his leave, Zhao Jiu called him back in front of everyone: \"Guanshan has been repeatedly ravaged by Wanyan Loushi, with years of military chaos. In some places, powerful families, relying on their fortified manors and able-bodied men, have been arbitrarily seizing unclaimed land. Among them, the Jingzhao strongmen are the most numerous and powerful. Minister Moqi, keep this in mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie certainly understood... His Majesty wasn't warning him about fortified manors—in Guanshan, even with such manors, who would dare make a sound under the watch of tens of thousands of troops? His Majesty was demanding he be strict, and seize this once-in-a-millennium opportunity to break up some large landowners and properly distribute the fertile fields around Jingzhao, perhaps the richest in all the land... How could he not understand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Moqi Yuanzhong repeatedly bow in acknowledgment, Zhao Jiu knew the man was a \"sycophantic minister\" who understood his intentions, and was naturally satisfied. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he smiled and asked: \"I heard Qu Duan came to see you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie was quite frank. \"Your servant and Commander Qu had a certain exchange in Shanbei in the past... His subordinates first imprisoned me, and later I escorted him to Dongjing—it made for an unusual friendship.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's truly an ironclad friendship.\" Zhao Jiu laughed even more. \"Did he just come to reminisce?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not exactly. After he arrived, he first asked me how to handle Guo Cheng's impeachment... I told him to be magnanimous and recommend a future for Guo Hao.\" At this point, Moqi Xie hesitated visibly, but after glancing at Hu Yin and Academician Lin standing to one side, he continued. \"Later he confessed his real concern—that the Wu brothers, Director Liu, Grand Coordinator Hu, and Commissioner Zhang were linking up on all sides, and would oppress him in the future... So I comforted him a bit more, telling him to focus on his duties with peace of mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu smiled and nodded, offering no further opinion: \"I understand. The Jingzhao land survey will require your hard work, Minister Moqi... But rest assured, I am here to support you. Once this matter is settled, we will return to Dongjing together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moqi Xie dared not say more, bowed, and took his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Moqi Xie left, Zhao Jiu looked directly at Hu Yin: \"Mingzhong, Qu Duan says you're forming a faction. Do you have anything to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Mingzhong stepped forward calmly: \"Qu Duan is usually unruly and judges others by himself—a petty man troubling himself!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu nodded, then continued calmly: \"Let's set that aside. I ask you again—after this business is done, have you considered returning to Dongjing to become a Chancellor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yin was visibly startled, but immediately shook his head seriously: \"A Chancellor governs the realm. Your servant's capacity and talent are insufficient for such a charge. I humbly request to remain in Guanshan as a local official.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu nodded again, then asked casually: \"Then do you think Zhang Deyuan could be a Chancellor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yin fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu looked at him for a moment, understood, and nodded a third time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to the 104th Patron, Erdan Meicuo... Who is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 105th Patron, Lianyun Tongxue... Thank you all for your tolerance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then I offer up a new book—\"My Senior Brother Is a Sword Immortal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",4110,"2026-06-06T07:46:04.529Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","c9db8a50e9a8bb0e4479c7caa38d93fd741c8112bad7d5a15ced1eded11beca4","shao-song-chapter-251","shao-song-chapter-249",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]