[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-32":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},1558198,2024,"Chapter 32: Beheading (Part 1)","shao-song-chapter-32",32,"\u003Cp>Now then, although His Majesty the Emperor had not caused the high ministers in the temporary court to be overly alarmed this time, and had instead even fostered a somewhat cooperative and pleasant feeling, under the chaotic circumstances, even with ruler and ministers united in purpose, how easy was it to pacify tens of thousands of troops, especially the three thousand of the Western Army's main force who felt aggrieved for Liu Guangshi?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an hour of fussing, the imperial decree of rewards had finally spread through the army. Following a burst of cheers, a fierce argument broke out over who should receive their rewards first and who last. By the time Lu Haowen and Zhang Jun had gathered the most active troublemaking officers, His Majesty had already finished rewarding the various palace guard units. After giving a few brief instructions, he personally led Yang Yizhong toward the small camp at the mountain's summit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, before he even reached the main tent in the center, Zhao Jiu heard a clamor inside, clearly indicating that Lu and Zhang were unable to control the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\" Yang Yizhong, seeing Zhao Jiu about to stride directly inside, panicked for a moment and immediately sidestepped to block his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine. If they wanted to rebel, they would have done so long ago. Making a fuss now means they either want more rewards or are scheming to flee south to avoid battle. They have no intention of targeting me!\" Zhao Jiu replied calmly. Then, taking a step forward, he walked straight in between two palace guards who had just received their rewards and were now hastily bowing in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong had no choice but to follow in trepidation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now then, Zhao Jiu, wearing a round-collared red robe, a hard-winged black gauze hat, and having specifically changed into a golden belt, felt a wave of hot, chaotic air rush toward his face as soon as he entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group of unruly Western Army veterans in the tent had initially maintained some semblance of order. But with Lu Haowen being good-natured, Zhang Jun being young, and Qiao Zhongfu and Zhang Jing not yet present to prepare the rewards below, after several rounds of testing, egged on by some, the atmosphere in the tent had gradually deteriorated, with everyone now in various states of disarray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless, the sudden appearance of a young man dressed in such a manner, especially one whose face many recognized, sent a chill surging in from the tent entrance, and they all fell silent one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it now the military custom that when you see the Son of Heaven, you do not even offer a salute?\" Zhao Jiu fanned away the hot air, sat down heavily in the seat of the hastily rising Lu Haowen, and then asked calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was the legitimate Son of Heaven. Seeing this, how could the assembled Western Army officers dare to continue their nonsense? Led by a few more seasoned officers, they lined up according to rank, bowed, and paid their respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rise.\" Zhao Jiu raised his hand in a gesture, only allowing them to stand, with no intention of letting them sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many officers exchanged glances, secretly alarmed. Some, not understanding the protocol, turned to sit down but quickly turned back and stood at attention. However, this fright soon faded away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because His Majesty, seated upright there, expressionless, spoke seriously and got straight to the point:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today is almost the New Year, but not quite yet. I am only twenty-one. In ordinary times, I would be nothing more than a young master in the Eastern Capital, galloping about and drinking. But because the state has suffered this great calamity, I have no choice but to become this Emperor. So I truly do not understand your twists and turns. Today, I will speak plainly... Gentlemen, with a great enemy before us, what exactly are you trying to achieve by making such a ruckus? If you don't make it clear, how can I possibly know your intentions? Is it because you were chased relentlessly by the Jin, hastily crossed the river, and lost your accumulated wealth? Or are you protesting on behalf of Liu Guangshi? Or have you been so frightened by the Jin that you no longer wish to serve in the army?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tent fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One by one. None of you can escape.\" Zhao Jiu pointed casually at the man in the front, the one he remembered was gesticulating wildly at Zhang Jun when he entered. \"What is your name, your rank, where are you from? Why did you stir up trouble and refuse to listen even when the Chancellor and the Censor-in-Chief came to persuade you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant's name is Zhang Yongzhen!\" The man, over thirty years old and extremely tall, revealed the tattoos on his hand as he cupped his fist, gritting his teeth and raising his head to speak. \"I am a Reserve General directly under the command of His Excellency Liu... Colonel Liu of the Imperial Camp! From Longyou! As for... as for stirring up trouble here, I am the chief culprit, caught red-handed. If Your Majesty wants to kill or flay me, your servant has nothing to say!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I asked you why you stirred up trouble, not who I should kill or flay!\" Zhao Jiu sat motionless, his expression unchanged. \"Was it for money and goods, for Liu Guangshi, or were you afraid of the Jin and just wanted to run away?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant... your servant has a bit of every reason.\" Forced into a corner, Zhang Yongzhen could only stiffen his neck and reply stubbornly. \"I was originally in Yan'an Prefecture. My wife and children were there. I'd been in the army for over ten years and earned a middling rank. Then, at the end of last year, the Jin came and it was all gone in an instant! I... your servant followed Colonel Liu to Hebei to find Your Majesty. From then on, we retreated south all the way, getting farther and farther from home. I don't know what things are like in the west, whether the Jin have attacked Yan'an Prefecture, or if my wife at home has abandoned the children and remarried. Anyway, we just kept retreating south. The further south we went, the more I worried! I finally managed to scrape together some belongings by suppressing bandits, but I lost it all again fleeing south this time! After crossing the river, in just one night, Colonel Liu, whom I'd followed for so long, was killed by Your Majesty... Now I don't even know where my future lies. That's why I couldn't help but argue with the ministers and such!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand.\" Zhao Jiu stared at the man, silent for a long time before speaking, his tone much gentler. \"To be honest, don't I also long for home? Last night, before I killed Liu Guangshi, I even dreamed of the past! But the situation is what it is. If we truly can't go back, what can we do? And as for killing Liu Guangshi, when it comes down to it, wasn't it also because I missed home too much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three men standing beside Zhao Jiu in the tent—Lu, Zhang, and Yang—were all intelligent and pondered his words. As for the Reserve General named Zhang, although he didn't understand the connection between killing Liu Guangshi and missing home, hearing the Emperor's sincere tone, he could only bow his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I also understand your meaning.\" Zhao Jiu continued, his expression slightly sobering. \"You have three reasons: homesickness, desire for wealth, and grievance for Liu Guangshi... Am I right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\" Zhang Yongzhen came to his senses and gritted his teeth in admission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since you miss home, that doesn't mean you want to abandon your post and run south, does it?\" Zhao Jiu suddenly asked again. \"You haven't been scared witless by the Jin, have you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not!\" Zhang Yongzhen immediately replied. \"Although I am indeed a bit afraid of the Jin, that's because I know we can't beat them. It's not to the extent that Your Majesty implies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see. Sit down.\" Zhao Jiu pointed casually, and the bewildered Zhang Yongzhen obediently sat down on one of the seats in the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then His Majesty pointed at another man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so it went. There were nearly seventy or eighty officers in the tent, with vastly different ranks. At first, some dared not show any displeasure before Zhao Jiu and admitted their faults throughout. But later, seeing that the Emperor was indeed sincere and that admitting things had no consequences, they gradually spoke their true feelings, their reasons being quite varied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost everyone cited the loss of their belongings during the flight and river crossing. More than half admitted to protesting for Liu Guangshi. Two or three out of ten mentioned missing their hometowns in Guansai. A dozen or so admitted they wanted a sum of money to leave the army and settle down in the south. A few even said they had been lifelong bachelors, without wives for decades, and having heard that His Majesty had previously bestowed palace ladies upon the palace guards, they thought they might stir up trouble to beg for a wife from His Majesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu listened attentively to all of this without any further reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This process seemed tedious, but the questions and answers were simple and direct. By the time all seventy or eighty men had finished speaking and sat down, only about a quarter of an hour had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, two things.\" Zhao Jiu spoke only after everyone was seated. \"Everyone wants wealth and goods. I have prepared them for you, more generous than for the common soldiers. After you leave, you can all go to Lord Lu to collect them... This was agreed upon earlier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Led by Zhang Yongzhen, the officers began to rise to thank His Majesty and the Chancellor, but Zhao Jiu raised his hand to stop them: \"Let me finish... As for those who want wives, I won't hide it from you. There isn't a single palace lady here at Mount Bagong. Even the laundry is done by eunuchs. If you don't believe me, you can go and see for yourselves after today. There's nothing to hide. So, regarding the matter of asking for a wife, I cannot grant a single request.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, although there was no laughter in the tent, a sense of relief spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for those pleading for Liu Guangshi, I have something to say first... I know Liu Guangshi was usually generous and good at caring for his men. But on this matter, I have absolutely nothing more to say. Whoever just now spoke up for him, go first to Lord Zhang, the Censor-in-Chief, and receive ten strokes of the rod!\" Zhao Jiu's tone suddenly turned severe. \"Otherwise, there will be no rewards at all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tent immediately became solemn. Although many secretly exchanged glances, no one dared to speak privately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Happy New Year, everyone! Wishing you all great wealth in the new year!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finished typing at 11:40. I hope that by the time you see this chapter, I'll already be eating.\u003C\u002Fp>",1870,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","b42dc6ec63076ed192c035b80b6f5443ef49285c695b827842db5a71ce1dcfd5","shao-song-chapter-33","shao-song-chapter-31",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]