Chapter 43: The Document (Part 2)

The next day, the morning of the fourth day of the first month, Zhao Jiu had just sent off Secretariat Drafter Hu Yin, styled Hu Mingzhong, to Xiacai City to inquire about the matter of repairing the inner ferry when he saw the trembling Jin Jun envoy Shi Wenbin and received that letter of persuasion whose intent was utterly unclear.

To be fair... Zhao Jiu was of course not the least bit moved.

After all, he probably knew the tragic fate of those "Two Emperors" better than Jin Wushu himself, because Jin Wushu had at least been out campaigning for half a year, while he knew that historically, Song Qinzong was very likely trampled to death by a stampede of horses while playing polo... Did Jin Wushu know that?

Moreover, Zhao Jiu felt no particular sympathy for those two, and could not even muster much compassion beyond basic humanism for the entire imperial clan and nobility taken captive to the north.

The reason was simple: the state had fallen, and in the Two Rivers (Hebei and Hedong), Jingdong, and Guanxi, lives were vanishing by the hundreds of thousands. How many families had been ruined, if not by these Zhao Song nobles? As a normal person who grew up under the red flag and received a roughly class-based education, if he was to sympathize with anyone, it should be these people... unless Zhao Jiu was foolish and ignorant enough to believe that those nobles who had driven countless commoners to rebellion could represent the nation and its people.

In fact, upon seeing this document that held no flavor for him, Zhao Jiu's first reaction was to selfishly search Chinese history for classic anecdotes to continue his imitation of a sage emperor and heroic king.

However, the paradoxical thing was this—whether by occupation or constraint, Zhao Jiu was currently using Zhao the Ninth's body, and it was through this that he survived and stood firm in this chaotic era. Thus, he had to follow the rules attached to this body. The rule was that even if Zhao Jiu had the urge to drown those "Two Emperors" in a cesspit face to face, he could not do it, at least not openly. Even if he did it secretly, he would first need to build up prestige like Qin Shi Huang or Tang Taizong before studying the feasibility.

Otherwise, the world would only see him as a madman, and a madman was not qualified to lead the realm in resisting the Jin, nor to be the guide and leader of this nation and people.

As the saying goes, with a red heart clearly toward the people, he must first play the role of a feudal emperor well to achieve the optimal solution... This made Zhao Jiu realize a new problem, one about responsibility and duty, selfishness and public spirit. Suffice it to say, this document brought Zhao Jiu far more reflection than anyone could imagine, whether it was Jin Wushu, smug across the river, or the assembled civil and military officials of the Great Song's traveling court, who had wept and prostrated themselves before the imperial tent.

And so, after who knew how long, with the area outside the tent still in disarray, and seeing that the Zhao official still had not emerged, and the officials outside were somewhat tired, they could not help but grow anxious... After all, when he had ascended the throne in Nanjing (Shangqiu), this lord had fainted from crying in public. And after the well incident, although this official had gradually shown no joy or anger on his face and rarely did such things, in truth, seeing how he had used a belt to rein in the most unruly Grand Commandant Han, a salted duck to feed the most greedy Grand Commandant Zhang, a knife to cut down the highest-ranked Grand Commandant Liu, and a few words to reduce the Censor-in-Chief to tears, one could tell his skill had become ever more refined.

So under such circumstances, who knew what this lord might do?

"The official has an oral decree!"

Just as the civil and military officials outside were growing suspicious, the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Attendants Department, Lan Gui, suddenly lifted the tent flap and emerged, speaking with a solemn expression.

The officials outside, their hearts pounding, quickly composed themselves.

"The official said," Lan Gui recited expressionlessly, word by word. "Crying from day to night, and night to day—can you cry Dong Zhuo to death?"

"Cough!"

At the words "Dong Zhuo," Lu Haowen, at the front, stumbled and nearly choked. The other ministers of the traveling court also lost their composure.

"The official also said," Lan Gui waited considerately for Lord Lu and the others to recover before continuing, hands clasped, speaking gravely. "Regarding the Northern Hunt of the Two Emperors and the theory of welcoming them back, Lord Li and the traveling court, when still in Nanjing (Shangqiu), had already established the correct position: unless the state strengthens itself and imposes military might on Hebei, there is absolutely no feasible way! Today's humiliation by the Jin must be firmly remembered by all ministers, who shall then press forward with determination. When the day comes that the tide turns, we will naturally repay it!"

At this point, Lan Gui paused briefly, then softened his tone and said:

"The official said that after this decree is issued, the civil and military officials should each attend to their duties and return to their posts. With battle ahead, they must not fall for the Jin army's schemes and reveal weaknesses. He will not personally see everyone off..."

With these words, most of those outside the imperial tent breathed a sigh of relief. Then, some cried out, some threatened Shi Wenbin, and all bowed to the tent and took their leave... To put it bluntly, although Jingkang 2 and Jianyan 1 were the same year, after all, a new court brings new ministers, and now it was already Jianyan 2. So most of the newly promoted ministers did not truly care about the Two Emperors. It was merely the ancient customs and the moral views upheld by the world that forced them to act, along with consideration for the new official's face.

In short, the area outside the tent soon calmed down, leaving only a few key central officials and close attendants sitting idly in the curtained shelter before the imperial tent.

One more word here: although the Zhao official had never publicly stated his intention to continue the previous Huai River defensive campaign, it was clearly on his mind, as could be seen from the ongoing construction of the Huainan main camp at Bagongshan.

In fact, after the rear supplies were delivered, the entire Bagongshan camp had been undergoing permanent renovations... During the New Year, Lu Haowen had moved into a wooden house. After the New Year, the central command tent at the small summit camp and the Zhao official's imperial tent had also been reinforced with wooden supports. Now, the palisades of the various lower camps were being augmented with earthen ramparts and ditches, and a circle of wooden sheds had been erected around the curtained shelter before the imperial tent! Even the huge dragon banner standing on the northernmost cliff of Libeiluan had been fixed with stone blocks and wooden stakes, firmly anchored to Bagongshan!

In a word, the Zhao official's intent was clear to all, but no one said it openly.

Returning to the present, after most of the traveling court's civil and military officials had dispersed to their duties, a few key ministers and close officials sat beneath the wooden sheds according to rank, while Shi Wenbin alone stood in the empty central circle, trembling and quaking, unsure where his life would end that day.

But after a long time, the official still had not come out to give an immediate reply. The crowd grew impatient. Had it not been for the Zhao official's growing prestige in recent days and the extreme sensitivity of the matter, Lu Haowen and the others would have almost charged in to ask directly. However, there was no need for that. As the sun gradually slanted westward, Hu Yin returned hastily from across the river, giving them a legitimate reason to request an audience.

Inside the tent, Zhao Jiu had lain for nearly the entire day, his mind wandering. Hearing Hu Yin request an audience outside, he knew he could delay no longer. Moreover, he had indeed formed some concrete ideas, so he simply rose and came out of the tent on his own.

"Your Majesty!"

From Lu Haowen on down, they all rose to greet him, their faces full of expectation.

"The Jin are barbaric and shameless. We must not lower ourselves to the level of beasts." Zhao Jiu glanced at the forlorn figure of Shi Wenbin and could not be bothered to argue with him. "Who will take up the brush and write a letter in my personal name to reply to that Fourth Prince of the Jin state, Wanyan Wushu, so that the envoy may carry it back?"

The crowd exchanged silent glances. Hu Yin, always radical on this issue, ignored the fact that he had not yet reported on his own mission and stepped forward: "Your servant is a Secretariat Drafter. I presume to take up the brush for Your Majesty."

Zhao Jiu had no objection.

In any case, writing essays was basic for a Jinshi graduate of the Great Song, and Hu Yin was a famous talent. In but a moment, he had finished writing... Following the letter format of the time, with heading and signature complete, the content was in parallel prose, elegant yet dignified, rich in allusions yet accurate, and flawless in stance—rebuking and condemning the other side's barbarism and shamelessness, and demanding, as a son, the return of the Two Emperors.

However, after the letter was written, Hu Yin read it aloud to the crowd. Everyone found it fitting, but Zhao Jiu frowned for a long time without speaking... In the end, his original intent had been to say directly, "Share a cup of broth with me," so how could he be impressed by such a document?

Yet he also knew that such words would inevitably cause great trouble. Not only would Lu Haowen, Zhang Jun, Hu Yin, and others remonstrate unto death, but Li Gang, who had just arrived in Yangzhou, might well come to settle accounts with him.

So, after hesitating for half a day, Zhao Jiu finally relented, suppressed a mouthful of resentment, took the document, and turned to the Jin envoy: "Your name is Shi Wenbin?"

"Your servant... the foreign servant is indeed Shi Wenbin!" Shi Wenbin had stood there for nearly a day, without food or water, pushed and shoved by military officials, berated and mocked by civil officials the whole time. He was already at his limit. At the question, his legs almost instinctively gave way, and he knelt, ready to call himself a servant, but realized only after the words were out... Given his current actions and status, he could never again be a Song man.

"Where have you served before?" Zhao Jiu, whether unhurried or unwilling to hand over the document, took the opportunity to ask some idle questions.

"The foreign servant was once County Magistrate of Yuncheng, then transferred to Vice Prefect of Weizhou. While serving as Vice Prefect for the second time, because Song Jiang, a former subordinate from Yuncheng, rebelled and was defeated by Zhang Shuye, Lord Zhang Longtu, I was implicated afterward, lost my prospects, and was demoted for a long time. Before the New Year, Lord Li, the Chancellor, was governing and recruited personnel to serve as chief officials for the prefectures and counties of Jingdong. I was thus reinstated as County Magistrate of Yishui. But only a month after taking office, the Jin... Fourth Prince led his army south, passing through Yishui with a large force heading south. The prefect fled south, and I... I followed the Vice Prefect in surrendering to the Fourth Prince." Shi Wenbin knelt on the ground, speaking cautiously and haltingly, finally giving a rough account under Zhao Jiu's strange gaze.

"I see." Zhao Jiu sighed after hearing this. "In truth, when the Jin army marched south, your Yishui County bore the brunt. Under the pressure of military force, I cannot blame you..."

"Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your understanding." Shi Wenbin actually shed tears at these words.

"But Magistrate Shi, understanding is one thing. Since you have already surrendered to the Jin and come out to serve, from now on you are the enemy, not a friend. Do not harbor any hopes for the future." Zhao Jiu continued with emotion. "Otherwise, how would you have me, as the official, treat a subject like Zhang Shuye, whom you just mentioned? You were in the Jin camp. Zhang Shuye starved himself to death, expiring as he crossed the Song border. You must know whether that is true or false, right?"

Shi Wenbin said nothing, only kowtowing and weeping without cease.

Zhao Jiu felt powerless and somewhat irritated. He was about to hand over the document and be done with it, so he could attend to the real business he wanted to do.

Yet, for some reason, just as Shi Wenbin rose to receive the document, the Zhao official suddenly did something no one expected—he let out a heavy sigh, withdrew his hand, and angrily tore the document to pieces before everyone's eyes!

"Your Majesty!"

The surrounding key ministers and close officials all lost color. Even Yang Yizhong, who had been at Zhao Jiu's side all day without a word, was stunned on the spot.

"Your Majesty... is there something improper in your servant's wording?" Given the gravity of the matter, Hu Yin quickly bowed his head to confess fault.

"It has nothing to do with you." Zhao Jiu felt a lump in his throat. "It's just that if this document is sent to the opposite shore, it may satisfy the Two Emperors, but how can it satisfy Li Ruoshui, Zhang Shuye, and the others? How can it satisfy the ruined families of the Two Rivers' scholars and commoners? How can it satisfy the thirty thousand soldiers holding out alone in Xiacai City across the river?"

"Your servant is ashamed!" Hu Yin was immediately at a loss for words.

Lu Haowen and the others could only bow their heads in shame as well.

"Then perhaps we should not reply at all?" After confessing fault, Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun gritted his teeth and stepped forward to suggest. "To show our resolve."

"Not replying would only inflate Jin Wushu's arrogance." Zhao Jiu shook his head. "Mingzhong, trouble yourself to write another. Don't use white paper; use the silk used for imperial edicts. I will write the heading, content, and signature myself!"

With things at this point, Hu Yin dared not delay. He immediately returned to the wooden shed, and with the help of the eunuchs, quickly prepared everything anew. Then he stepped aside, inviting the Zhao official to come forward.

Zhao Jiu stepped up, but did not pick up the brush or use ink. Without even thinking, he spat a mouthful of saliva he had been holding for half the day directly onto the center of the spread silk!

Then, as the civil and military officials stared in shock, he picked up the brush and drew a signature mark at the bottom: "Zhao Jiu of Cangzhou, Hebei" — Cangzhou being the ancestral home of the Zhao clan. Then, without calling for Lan Gui, he turned directly into the imperial tent. In a moment, he personally brought out the Great Song Emperor's Seal, which was quite large and rarely used, and pressed it heavily onto the silk under the wooden shed, covering nearly half the silk and completely covering the six-character signature.

After doing this, Zhao Jiu folded the document, did not add a cover or anything, and held it out to the Jin envoy Shi Wenbin:

"This will do. Take it!"

Shi Wenbin, wanting to cry but having no tears left, could only bow and step forward, take the document with both hands, and then hurry away.

From start to finish, throughout the entire process, there was not a single sound inside or outside the imperial tent.

PS: Continuing to recommend and dedicate a book — The Strongest Firearm Chef of the Great Tang, a new work by a veteran author from Feilu, a concurrent new release. Everyone can go take a look.

Then formally requesting leave. I'm too exhausted today. Mainly because, petty and triumphant as I am, I was too excited after seeing the news late last night, yet I couldn't stop brooding over the photos, so I didn't rest well. Today I'll only have one chapter. I hope everyone understands. But at least I managed to piece together over four thousand words, meeting the most basic investment requirements. Please go easy on me.