[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-303":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},1558469,2024,"Chapter 303","shao-song-chapter-303",303,"\u003Cp>After the Mid-Autumn Grand Sacrifice, the matter of Lu Haowen, Lord Lu, resigning as Grand Councilor and Chief of the Secret Pavilion was smoothly announced, but it did not cause much stir in the court or among the public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were three reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the court's actual revival of the \"Green Sprouts Law,\" coupled with the national grand sacrifice and the grandiose declarations in the official gazette about shifting from defense to offense, somewhat overshadowed this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, the position of Grand Councilor, also known as the Overseer of Major Military and State Affairs, was itself detached from the Central Secretariat and did not interfere with routine administration. It was originally an extraordinary post, specifically designed to accommodate virtuous and elderly ministers, and whether it could function depended entirely on the emperor's own intent... In other words, Lu Haowen's previous tenure in this role inherently carried a political posture of transitional leadership and appeasing veteran ministers. Now that he had spent over a year in this transitional role, and with the shift from defense to offense imminent, it was time for him to step down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third, Lu Haowen himself was nearly seventy, and he had never been one to crave power and profit. This move was not unexpected... Moreover, anyone truly familiar with the Lu family's circumstances would understand even more that, even from the selfish perspective of pursuing political prestige, Lu Haowen should seek a clean retirement rather than continue wielding power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason is admirable: from the founding of the Great Song to the present, there have been a total of six Overseers of Major Military and State Affairs, in order: Lu Yijian, Wen Yanbo, Lu Princess, Cai Jing, Li Gang, and Lu Haowen... Among them, the three surnamed Lu are from the same family: Lu Princess was Lu Haowen's biological grandfather, and Lu Yijian was the father of Lu Haowen's biological grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention Cai Jing's disgraceful end, nor the delicate relationship between Li Gang and the current emperor, but consider the Lu family: from the time of Lu Yijian's uncle, Lu Mengzheng, who rose to the position of chief minister, over a hundred years passed until Lu Haowen's generation. It truly seemed that \"the grace of a gentleman ends after five generations.\" In fact, after experiencing the Jingkang Incident, Lu Haowen was utterly disheartened and had already sent his son Lu Benzhong to buy a house in Guangxi, intending to refuse all official titles from the court and die there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who could have imagined that a single fall into a well at the Mingdao Palace would force out five generations of dukes and three generations of grand councilors?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Han Xiaozhou, who was thoroughly reviled, Lu Haowen, even just to achieve a family milestone, should have withdrawn early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, it must be emphasized here that outsiders might think Zhao Jiu gave Lu Haowen the position of Overseer of Major Military and State Affairs precisely because of this Lu family tradition. But in reality, the Zhao Emperor was not that erudite... It was because of Cai Jing's position as Overseer of Major Military and State Affairs that he gave Li Gang the same, and because of Li Gang's position that he gave Lu Haowen the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Essentially, it was for the smooth transition of the court situation. How could he have imagined that this would involve Lu Haowen's family achievement points?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, after such a long time, Zhao Jiu could not remain so ignorant forever. Although he was initially unclear, he should now understand with just a hint... After the sacrificial ceremony, he returned to Dongjing, originally intending to give his legitimate lord a good title. But upon checking the records, he realized that Lu Haowen's titles and ranks were all already prepared, and there was no way to change them, because his ancestors had all held the same titles and ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the Zhao Emperor had previously wondered why Lu Benzhong, with his dissolute demeanor, still had the title \"Little Mr. Donglai\" in academic circles. Now, looking at the books, he understood: the Lu family had a hereditary title of Marquis of Donglai Commandery!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the head of the Lu family wore a purple robe, they were destined for the title of Marquis of Donglai Commandery. Once they became a chief minister, they were destined for the retired title of Duke of Shen, a hereditary Duke of Shen. Even in a semi-retired state, they had the hereditary position of Overseer of Major Military and State Affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, given Lu Haowen's merits and the special circumstances of the current period, the rewards were certainly increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, an imperial decree soon came down, citing Lu Haowen's great merit in supporting the dynasty, specially enfeoffing him as Prince of Shen, adding the title of Grand Preceptor, and retaining his position as Chief of the Public Pavilion as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This treatment of being enfeoffed as a prince while alive was clearly a notch above Xu Jingheng's Prince of Danyang Commandery... Of course, since it was a retirement treatment, it might not necessarily be stronger than Han Shizhong's Prince of Yan'an Commandery, plus Junior Guardian, plus Military Governor of three towns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless, seeing this result, everyone could only say that the current emperor was indeed generous in personnel matters: giving power and substance to those in office, and giving titles and positions to those leaving office. At the very least, he would not be mocked like King Xiang, who clutched official seals and was reluctant to give them away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back to the present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three consecutive days of sacrifices on the Mid-Autumn Festival, two days later came the Grand Court on the 21st of the eighth month. From early that morning, an autumn rain began to fall steadily, and the chill was setting in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this day, the Zhao Emperor naturally did not go to the Martial Academy shooting range to practice archery. The Grand Court was also uneventful, with the chief ministers backing it and the Secret Pavilion officials having given prior approval. The comprehensive fiscal plan of national bonds, paper currency, and the new Green Sprouts Law was formally passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after the court session, the Zhao Emperor did not return to the inner palace to cuddle his little daughter and play with cats and dogs. Instead, he went back to the Nameless Stone Pavilion for a brief rest, conducting his routine \"Mulberry and Fishing Activities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not because the emperor was deliberately putting on a show of diligence, but because the so-called \"Mulberry and Fishing Activities\" had long since evolved into a reference to other matters after the fish pond and mulberry grove had taken shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, Yang Yizhong would give his daily intelligence report here; Liu Yan would deliver military secret memorials that had arrived the previous day but lacked urgent markings; the chief eunuch of the Inner Palace Service, Lan Gui, along with the duty academicians of the Jade Hall, would compile briefs on the Central Secretariat and court affairs; finally, if the next day was a regular gazette day, the Zhao Emperor would also read the draft of the next day's gazette here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overall court situation, major military and state affairs, commodity prices in the capital, public opinion across the land, military personnel matters and rumors—he basically had to listen to all of it. It was just that today's Grand Court had caused some delay, so it was a bit later than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, although Zhao Jiu had not deliberately studied the daily work routine of some great American president of later generations, he had objectively achieved a daily workflow similar to that of a later American president... This was fine, after all, sitting in the White House office listening to intelligence briefings—there was Roosevelt, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, it is worth noting that perhaps great people always have things in common. Although Zhao Jiu could not post on Twitter, he had picked up another habit from that figure—he liked to interrupt and ask questions during intelligence briefings, make random complaints, and interfere with the staff's normal work in a very low-level way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this how the Xixia envoy understands it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the sound of drizzling rain, Zhao Jiu, now dressed in thicker clothes, suddenly interrupted Yang Yizhong's report, frowning. \"He sees everything as a precursor to war? Lord Lu's resignation is me wanting to get rid of veteran ministers to start a war? Enfeoffing him as a prince is me wanting to use high titles to silence him? Reviving the Green Sprouts Loan, issuing paper currency, and selling national bonds is me disregarding the people's livelihood and desperately raising money for a gamble? The just-passed Mid-Autumn Grand Sacrifice and the sacrificial texts and commentaries in the gazette are also meant to stir up morale for battle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\" Yang Yizhong replied crisply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then is me not going shooting today also about conserving energy, preparing to exchange arrows with Wanyan Wushu across the Yellow River?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did the Imperial City Department directly obtain this memorial from Gao Shouyi to Li Qianshun?\" Zhao Jiu suppressed his urge to complain and asked about another matter. \"So accurately?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To report to Your Majesty, this man had his memorial transcribed by someone else and even had a scribe who sought out literary talent for him. He was a Guanzhong Confucian scholar who fled to Xixia to avoid the Jingkang Rebellion and was easily bribed by us.\" Yang Yizhong answered clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For such a confidential report, why didn't he write it himself?\" Zhao Jiu pressed further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let Your Majesty know, Li Qianshun likes to affect refinement. Except for some military officers, most ministers' memorials require literary flair. The Gao family of Gao Shouyi is a famous clan among Xixia's Confucian officials. His cousin Gao Shouzhong is a minister in charge of Xixia's national school for nurturing talent, a veritable master of Xixia's Sinology. His father-in-law, Xue Yuanli, is even a chief minister and the driving force behind Li Qianshun establishing Sinology as the national doctrine... Therefore, although Gao Shouyi is a scion of privilege with little literary ability, he dared not lack literary flair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand.\" Zhao Jiu nodded repeatedly, then sighed. \"So, no wonder this Gao Shouyi showed his hand... Eunuch Lan, copy this matter into a note and send one copy each to the chief ministers and Lord Lu's household. Tell them that even the Xixia people are so particular, the Great Song cannot fall behind. Even if the sons of chief ministers are incompetent, they must not be ignorant of Original Studies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lan Gui, who was attending nearby, was stunned for a moment before he understood, then quickly responded and went to the side office to find the duty drafter to write the note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anything else?\" After Lan Gui left, Zhao Jiu continued to press.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also, Gao Shouyi repeatedly mentioned in his letter the strength of the Great Song's Imperial Camp Army, the martial prowess of commanders like the Prince of Yan'an Commandery and Commander-in-Chief Yue, and the emperor's undiminished will to fight. Then, citing Xixia's previous loss of thirty thousand elite troops at Yinshan to Wanyan Loushi, he argued that Xixia was now powerless to meddle in the affairs of the two great states, and that the two great states' hatred was hard to dissolve. He advised Xia ruler Li Qianshun to properly handle border matters and avoid attracting the attention of the two great armies...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu's heart stirred slightly, and then he asked seriously: \"I feel like this Gao Shouyi is trying to scare Li Qianshun?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong was slightly taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Jiu, the more he thought about it, the more he felt it was right: \"Think about it, Gao Shouyi is not young anymore. No matter how much of a privileged scion or Confucian official he is, as a Xixia minister, how could he lack military common sense? If I were really to send troops, the deployment of troops and provisions would be impossible to hide. How could he not know that I have no intention of starting a war immediately?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's true.\" Yang Yizhong also nodded slightly in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, if I'm not mistaken, this fellow is essentially doing the opposite—exaggerating both Song and Jin to a certain extent to prevent Li Qianshun from rebuilding a field army.\" Zhao Jiu sat in the pavilion, folding his hands and sneering. \"Wasn't it said before that Xixia currently has two major factions, the Han faction favoring civil governance and the Fan faction favoring military affairs? Given Gao Shouyi's identity, he is clearly a core member of the Han faction, right? All crows are black. Since Li Qianshun followed the Confucian officials and adopted Sinology, he deserves to suffer the backlash from such people...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Xixia envoy's return this time is, of course, due to the death of Zhanian and the temporary uncertainty in the north.\" Zhao Jiu continued his analysis. \"But essentially, it's because our battle at Yaoshan proved that we could match the Jin army... And Xixia cannot truly turn against the Jin just because of internal turmoil within Jin. I'm afraid Li Qianshun will continue to be duplicitous and play both sides, just as he did with the Khitans and the Great Song in the past.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong still said nothing... because he knew in his heart that this kind of talk was essentially Zhao Jiu talking to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, let me help this Xixia envoy a bit.\" Zhao Jiu thought for a moment and spoke seriously. \"If we can really scare Li Qianshun, even if it's just reopening the Hengshan trade route to replenish some Fan cavalry, that would be good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May I ask Your Majesty, how do you intend to scare him?\" Yang Yizhong finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to write a note to Li Qianshun.\" Zhao Jiu thought for a moment, looking out into the rain, and replied seriously. \"Go hurry Eunuch Lan, have our Three Illuminations Academician come here to write.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong naturally dared not delay and immediately went to the side office to find Lan Gui and the duty Hanlin Academician. Shortly after, he returned with Lan Gui and Fan Zongyin... The latter, after Lu Haowen's formal retirement, had formally advanced to Inner Drafter, becoming a Hanlin Academician, commonly known as a Three Illuminations Academician, evolving from a Three Illuminations Secretary. Today was his first time on duty as an academician.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was his first time as an academician and his first day on duty, despite the cold rain, Fan Zongyin was still full of ambition, eager to write some serious official documents. But he never expected his first task to be writing that kind of inexplicable private note to the chief ministers, which naturally dampened his spirits somewhat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, upon hearing that the emperor wanted to write a letter to the Xixia ruler, this newly appointed Jade Hall Academician was both surprised and delighted. Ignoring his \"jade face\" being wet by the rain, he stepped forward into the pavilion, cupped his hands, and spoke earnestly: \"Does Your Majesty intend to boast of military might in a private letter? What format and word count are required? How should the Xia ruler be addressed? Your servant will write it immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, not a letter, just a note. No need for an address, just write a couple of lines casually.\" Zhao Jiu sat upright in the pavilion, hands folded, and replied seriously. \"The note only says two things. First, before the Battle of Yaoshan, Lord Yuwen sent an envoy to see him, and he pretended to be deaf and dumb. I am very displeased...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Zongyin was speechless and helpless inside, but he endured it and nodded in acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second, I heard that he admires Sinology and has even written songs and rhapsodies, so I specifically went to look at that piece of his, the 'Song of the Ganoderma.' It's just a piece of terrible literary talent. You should know, I didn't even dare to inscribe my 'Green Jade Cup' on a stele, yet he actually had his 'Song of the Ganoderma' carved into stone. It's a disgrace to literature... Tell him to destroy the stone inscription immediately upon receiving the note, or I will publicly mock his literary level in the gazette, letting the whole world know that Li Qianshun is a monkey in a cap and gown.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you understand?\" Zhao Jiu, hands still folded, looked up and urged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Fan Zongyin had no choice but to nod again. \"Your servant will write it now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Write it just like that, and after you finish, I will affix my signature...\" Zhao Jiu thought for a moment, then added something more. \"Also send him a copy of the Records of the Grand Historian, and tell him I'm afraid he can't find the source of 'a monkey wearing a hat.'\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Zongyin seemed about to speak, but in the end merely cupped his hands and accepted the instruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: My heavens, Zero Fox Nine has appeared, An Zong seventh cutest, I'm going to move the train station over third cutest... No wonder yesterday's sales ranking was still second in history even though I didn't update.\u003C\u002Fp>",2878,"2026-06-06T07:46:04.529Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","13b7869f272c706418cf05a4b180cf4fdec2189ef30f10fad75025363a662270","shao-song-chapter-304","shao-song-chapter-302",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]