[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-432":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},1558598,2024,"Chapter 432: Preservation","shao-song-chapter-432",432,"\u003Cp>The Zhao Emperor followed through on his word. After Li Qiong, Wu Lin, and the others withdrew in great strides with their prisoners and part of the army, and after Li Yanxian turned back to Taiyuan, the Emperor set the temporary court and the accompanying troops in motion down the Hutuo River, heading for Hejian Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, they passed through Dingzhou, Qizhou, and Shenzhou, pacifying the localities, inspecting the spring plowing, burying the dead, and appointing and dismissing officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was precisely during this eastward march of the Zhao Emperor that, as prisoners were sent south in droves and large numbers of troops pulled back, while Yue Fei's forces advanced to the old Song-Liao border, the impact of this battle finally erupted without any further hindrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most obvious sign of this, as it filtered back to Zhao Jiu, was that along his entire journey, he received a constant stream of congratulatory memorials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One battle crushed the great foe, and in an instant, the universe was at peace!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the offering presented by Mao Shuo, the newly subjugated Prefect of Dingzhou, when he came to pay homage to the imperial carriage. His desire for advancement was laid bare through those two words, \"universe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Slaughtering a million in an instant, a joy unmatched in a thousand ages.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a line from a memorial submitted by a certain famous scholar of Qizhou. It was an original quote from Grand Academician Su Shi's evaluation of the Battle of Kunyang. By citing the classics, it implicitly compared the Zhao Emperor to Emperor Guangwu, holding him up as a model for restoration—a piece of writing of excellent quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Zhao Jiu was truly lacking in learning. Among the seven or eight people who handled the memorials, only he and Han Shizhong had no idea that this phrase was a double allusion. As a result, not only did he fail to grasp the submitter's profound meaning, but he also very earnestly pointed out that the Battle of Huolu had only killed thirty or forty thousand and captured seventy or eighty thousand, clearly trying to maintain his persona of being practical and realistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Qixie, on the other hand, seemed to understand the Zhao Emperor's character. The memorial received just as they neared Hejian was rather plain and unadorned, and Zhao Jiu particularly liked one line in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the Battle of Huolu, His Majesty's might shook the realm; from this, the cause of restoration is settled!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, these things, along with the overwhelming gratitude and tears of Tian Shizhong, the Commandery Prince of Fengxiang, who came to meet them, could not conceal the Zhao Emperor's increasingly awkward and uneasy demeanor. The reason was simple: as Zhao Jiu traveled, everything in the rear was in order. The common people, especially in the central plains and the larger cities further south, had gradually shed their skepticism and were showing signs of encouragement. In cities of Dongjing's caliber, there was even a growing fervor. But at the same time, the clever backup plan the Zhao Emperor had previously boasted about had yet to materialize. Facing Yanjing, the Jin state was urgently deploying and fortifying. Garrison troops from beyond the passes and locally conscripted soldiers were assembling without pause. There was chaos, even rebellion, but never that feeling of collapse beyond control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no other choice, by the time they reached Hejian Prefecture, the Zhao Emperor finally had to set aside his persona of seeing through everything from a thousand miles away and directly issued orders, so as not to delay military progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Logically, I shouldn't interfere with your military decisions,\" Zhao Jiu said, pointing things out to Han Shizhong. \"But this time is different. When you go over there, if the Jin army shows a weakness, it's fine to swallow up these new Jin troops. But there's no need to rush into taking Yanjing. And if the Jin army doesn't show any major weakness, even though you have the authority to deploy the various units north of the Hejian and the two rivers, you should advance cautiously, apply pressure from three sides, and fortify step by step. Yanjing will fall sooner or later, but there's no hurry. Do you understand my meaning?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he not understand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besiege without attacking, apply full pressure, coordinate with whatever mysterious backup plan the Emperor was making a big show of to take the territory beyond the passes, wait for the enemy to be caught in a dilemma, and let them collapse on their own. The only serious issue was that after Huolu, arrogance in the army was bound to increase. Coupled with a few senior generals like Wang Sheng, who had missed their chance for battle and rewards, he, as the foremost military man, needed to strictly restrain them, avoid reckless fighting, and prevent them from capsizing in a ditch at the last moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, aside from this, there was also the intention of fulfilling a previous promise, to definitively deliver the honor of capturing Yanjing into the hands of the generals of the Hedong front, led by Han Liangchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Han Shizhong said nothing more and simply cupped his hands and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Han Shizhong and the army's generals had gone, the Zhao Emperor continued with his assignments. He formally established the temporary court in Hejian Prefecture, leaving Lu Yihao and Wu Jie in Hejian City to take over the civil and military affairs of the rear area on the Hebei front. Tian Shizhong's troops were tasked with the defense of the Hejian perimeter. Then, he himself, taking only a few close ministers, half of the imperial guard, and the Minister of Works, Hu Yin, headed for the Yellow River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They arrived at Jingcheng on the twenty-seventh day of the second month and even met with the Lu Prince, Zhang Rong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ruler and minister had not seen each other for a long time. Their conversation by the river was much more relaxed than before. But even Zhang Rong could not escape convention; he was quite uneasy and grateful about being enfeoffed as a prince, and it took Zhao Jiu considerable effort to calm him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Rong was not idle either. He had been waiting here specifically for the Zhao Emperor. After his audience, he set off again the next day, urging the navy to continue downstream to take Cangzhou and participate in the Yanjing campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, it would have been ridiculous for Zhao Jiu to survey the Yellow River's hydrology. Even if he wanted to repair the Yellow River now, it wasn't his place as an outsider to survey it. The trip to Hejian was essentially about meeting the Hebei field army and then overseeing the generals' advance on Yanjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So once Zhang Rong left, the Emperor found himself with absolutely nothing to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But perhaps it was precisely because he had just seen Zhang Rong that, bored out of his mind, the Emperor suddenly remembered that he had been neglecting his writing for quite some time. And so, he actually began to write by the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your subject presumes to ask... but why not *Water Margin*?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the last day of the second month, by the Yellow River, with the spring breeze stirring people's hearts, Hu Yin, who had come out from Jingcheng to greet the imperial carriage, took the manuscript handed to him by the Zhao Emperor from the low table in front of his seat. As soon as he looked at it, he found it strange. \"Or *Journey to the West: A Demon-Subduing Miscellany* would also be fine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do *Water Margin* and *Journey to the West: A Demon-Subduing Miscellany* have to do with me?\" Zhao Jiu stated firmly. \"It's just a short piece I wrote casually. Minister Hu is a learned man; why not take a look?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yin suppressed some kind of impulse, frowned, and read it seriously. But as he read, he didn't know where to start criticizing. Only when he reached the end did he finally sigh with emotion, roughly understanding the Zhao Emperor's intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that this short piece was called *The Jade Guanyin*. It was in the popular novel style of the time, one that carried on from Tang dynasty *chuanqi* tales and learned from the vernacular writing of the *Water Margin* and *Journey to the West: A Demon-Subduing Miscellany*—which a certain Emperor refused to acknowledge—while in reality, it echoed the increasingly prosperous and complex *zaju* performances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nowadays, the Imperial Academy students in Dongjing City liked to write this kind of script, trading them with monks and Daoist priests for pocket money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plot was also very conventional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nothing more than a clever, beautiful girl from a family of paper mounters. Because her family was poor, she was sold at a young age to be a maidservant for a certain Prince in Chang'an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also a standard popular opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who would have thought that the Emperor would subvert the trope? He wrote next that the Prince was a rough and heroic man. Because the girl handled her duties properly and neatly, and there happened to be a skilled and honest jade craftsman in the household, he decided to betroth them. Unexpectedly, the girl was naturally stubborn and wanted a good marriage. Since she didn't know the jade craftsman's character at first, and a captain of the Prince's personal guard had taken a fancy to her and slandered the jade craftsman, she absolutely refused. The Prince then dropped the matter, unwilling to bother further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as time passed and they grew closer, the girl gradually discovered that the jade craftsman was not only truly skilled but also had a good temperament, a handsome face, and was an honest man—exactly the kind of good marriage she wanted. So she came back around, and feelings grew over time. The jade craftsman used leftover jade to carve a Jade Guanyin as a token of their love, and they planned to elope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was discovered by the captain of the Prince's personal guard again. Consumed by jealousy, he reported it directly to the Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing that the couple had privately pledged their love and planned to elope after he had been refused the betrothal, the Prince felt his face had been slapped. In a fit of rage, he had them seized on the spot. He exiled the jade craftsman and had the girl beaten to death, burying her in the rear palace of the Prince's mansion in Chang'an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, years passed. The Prince grew older, his temper mellowed, and he recalled the events of the past. Feeling regret, he sent an orderly to find the jade craftsman to make some amends. The orderly followed the official documents and was astonished to find the girl and the jade craftsman in a small town by the Yellow River. The two were already married and had opened a shop in the town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orderly, panicked and bewildered, reported back to the Prince. The Prince thought it was a haunting and went to see for himself. It was true. But he dared not approach. Dejected, he returned to the mansion and ordered the spot where the girl had been buried to be dug up. There were no bones, only a shattered Jade Guanyin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, the story's plot was decent, among the best of the popular novels on the market. The contrast in the four characters' personalities was especially vivid: the girl was stubborn and beautiful; the jade craftsman was honest and dependable; the guard captain was gossipy and narrow-minded; the Prince was fiery and saw human life and marriage as nothing but weeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none of this was why Minister Hu was speechless. To put it bluntly, Minister Hu had seen many things; what was this? Earlier, to stabilize public morale in the rear and push the northern expedition, even the son of Chancellor Zhao had his marriage broken up by him and was forced into a match. What truly left Hu Yin speechless was that the Prince's initial title in Chang'an was the Commandery Prince of Yan'an, and later, when he repented, he had simply been promoted to the Qin Prince for military merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering Han Liangchen's usual forceful and rough style with his subordinates, as well as his past, which was full of every vice imaginable, one could almost directly say that this Prince was Han Shizhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty's intentions are profound,\" Hu Yin finally sighed after a long while, believing that this was indeed something Han Shizhong had actually done in Chang'an. \"This is out of fear that the Qin Prince might not be able to preserve himself in the future...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wasn't this prompted by Minister Hu's reminder?\" Zhao Jiu said dismissively. \"I've already thought it through. I'll write a series, one for each of the eighteen princes, tailored to their personalities. Han Shizhong is irritable and domineering, Zhang Jun is insatiably greedy, Zhang Rong indulges his old brothers... Yang Yizhong has one too, about being overly concerned with family reputation. In the end, they all come down to committing evil deeds without evil intent—just a thought, a moment of carelessness, a flaw in character, and they ruin common people's families, creating human tragedies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Throughout history, this is precisely how the powerful and noble do evil. It's fine if Your Majesty wants to warn your ministers,\" Hu Yin said, glancing at the bewildered and fearful Yang Yizhong before asking seriously, \"But how will you write Yue Fei? Has he done such things too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Being too harsh on his family and juniors, leading to a human tragedy?\" Zhao Jiu mused, sitting behind the low table. \"I can't just write seventeen of them and leave him out, can I? Wouldn't that make me, the writer, seem unfair and biased? And if they ask each other privately, it wouldn't be good for him to be the only one without one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's true,\" Hu Yin wanted to argue, how could one fabricate something from nothing? But upon hearing that it seemed to be for private distribution, he thought of Yue Yun's face and realized the Emperor was doting on his son-in-law. Still, he shook his head. \"Your Majesty, in terms of intention, I agree with the idea. But I don't quite agree with this method. And right after a great victory, is it appropriate to write these things? Might some people misunderstand when they receive them? Has there been some trouble over merit during the enfeoffment of the princes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not at all,\" Zhao Jiu shook his head. \"I just feel that, given the future situation, it would be ridiculous for me to have to endure as I did for the past ten years. For the sake of a proper relationship between ruler and minister, it's better to play the villain early and lay out the harsh words first. Besides, I'm going to send them to them privately anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's fine too,\" Hu Yin, who had originally believed these stories were all based on real events, became even more convinced upon hearing the mention of the past ten years. With the point about private distribution reaffirmed, he finally expressed his agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, although it was to be private distribution, Yang Yizhong, one of the eighteen princes and standing by the Zhao Emperor's side, had already become deeply uneasy. Seeing that this conversation was about to end, he was almost ready to step forward and confess his faults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, Hu Yin glanced at Yang Yizhong and couldn't help but press further: \"Your Majesty, was there truly no contention over merit this time? I seem to have heard vague rumors of some things. And looking at the final results of the enfeoffment, it seems to confirm them somewhat?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There were people contending for merit to gain a princedom,\" Zhao Jiu was silent for a moment before finally standing up, stroking the beard under his chin, and turning to face the river, his back to Hu Yin as he admitted the matter. \"But it wasn't so blatant. It was the earlier ones contending for the later ones. It was still quite dignified.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Mingzhong's expression remained unchanged, but he understood in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be known that after the Battle of Huolu, the one who had truly gained immense prestige and authority was none other than the Zhao Emperor standing before him, bored out of his mind and writing novels by the Yellow River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to him, the other generals and commanders were utterly insignificant. There was simply no merit that could be rewarded; the reality was only that the Emperor's authority was growing day by day, and he was exercising his power and favor as he saw fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was entirely imaginable that before the princedoms were announced, facing this Zhao Emperor with his distinct personality, it would indeed be very difficult for any low-level scrambling for merit and position to occur. No one dared to gamble with their own future and results. However, human desire is infinite, and it was impossible not to contend. So in the end, they simply changed the method of contention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, using the strength of a collective or a faction to contend, to make trades—not contending for oneself, but for one's subordinates, letting superiors and colleagues contend on one's behalf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This method of contending for merit effectively avoided the Zhao Emperor's personal dislike of the parties involved. Its main advantage was that one could use a big name as a banner, form cliques, and also gain a good reputation among one's peers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did the officials let them fight for it?\" Hu Yin came back to his senses, thought about the final outcome, and found it amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Most of them didn't.\" Zhao Jiu didn't turn his head, but his laughter came through. \"But there were two men even I couldn't stop, and they really did get what they fought for...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One is the Prince of Qin, and the other is...?\" Hu Yin was intrigued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One is Qu Duan, the Commandery Prince of Zhenrong, and the other is me.\" Zhao Jiu's words were startling. \"It has nothing to do with Han Shizhong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yin was rarely stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qu Duan lost too many men in the Imperial Guard Cavalry in this battle. From what I can see, his temperament has changed quite a bit... After the battle, when I looked at the casualty counts, I couldn't bear it. At first, I hesitated about whether to give him a Prince of the Blood, since he's a proper Commander-in-Chief with both military merit and seniority. But he also has some unsavory history. If I made him a Prince of the Blood, I wouldn't be able to justify it to Wang Shu. So I took the initiative to ask him if he wanted a Commandery Prince with a Grand Banner.\" Zhao Jiu didn't keep them in suspense, standing with his hands behind his back, explaining calmly. \"But Qu Duan himself proposed that instead of a Grand Banner, he hoped I would give Liu Qi a princedom instead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liu Qi's Commandery Prince was requested by Qu Duan?\" Hu Yin grew even more puzzled. He knew Qu Duan had refused the Grand Banner, but he hadn't known about the request for Liu Qi's princedom. \"Those two aren't exactly on good terms in the Imperial Guard Cavalry, are they? I thought Liu Qi's Commandery Prince was given by Your Majesty out of respect for Zhang Jun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, I was quite surprised myself at the time.\" Zhao Jiu nodded in agreement. \"But I thought about it for a while and decided it was for the best... Especially since Qu Duan has always had trouble getting along with his colleagues and has a history of being overly self-interested. Now that he's broadening his horizons, standing a bit taller, and learning to see the cavalry as a whole, it's something to encourage... Harmony between generals and ministers is always better than backroom scheming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's true.\" Hu Yin seemed thoughtful. \"But given Qu Duan's previous temperament, outsiders would probably still think Your Majesty was using Liu Qi to restrain him. They wouldn't expect it was his own request...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fortunately, that's how it turned out.\" Zhao Jiu finally turned around with a smile. \"I just said that the other man who fought for merit was me, and I also had my selfish motives... So Qu Duan's move made me suddenly see things clearly. I took the opportunity to use Xie Yuan to block Han Shizhong, Li Qiong's contributions with the Eight-Character Army to block Wang Yan, and Tian Shizhong to pacify Zhang Jun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yin stood with his hands clasped, looking at Zhao Jiu, who had turned to face him, and Yang Yizhong, who seemed uneasy beside him. His expression remained unchanged, but his mind was subtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He certainly knew where Zhao Jiu's selfishness lay—it was with Yang Yizhong and Liu Qi... The fact that these two could be ranked among the princes was precisely due to Zhao Jiu's personal favor. No wonder the official said that only he and Qu Duan had succeeded in their merit-grabbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This explained the somewhat odd arrangement of the later princes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the Imperial Guard Cavalry had a wide range of uses, and Qu Duan's remarkable turnaround was ultimately a good thing. Moreover, this man had also subtly shouldered the dissatisfaction of senior generals like Wang Yan and Wang De on behalf of Zhao Jiu, which was a double win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, if he hadn't taken on that extra dissatisfaction, a mere Grand Banner probably wouldn't have been enough to exchange for Liu Qi's Commandery Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Hu Yin suddenly realized something and quickly asked, \"Your Majesty, may I ask if you summoned me today, first to show me the novel and then to discuss this matter, because you had some other thought? Could it be that you were worried I might hate Qu Duan as much as Wang Shu does, and so you specially explained?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\" Zhao Jiu stood sideways, looking at him calmly. \"The matter of Qu Duan was just a casual mention. What I truly wanted to tell Mingzhong is about my own involvement in the merit-grabbing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yin remained silent, staring at the official without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one is a sage. Taking pride in one's achievements is as common as a blade or armor growing dull and rusty after long disuse... Mingzhong.\" Zhao Jiu spoke seriously. \"I asked you to come because I want you to organize people to write a story—pointing out my fondness for fame and eagerness for advancement—about how a Zhao Song official, after a restoration, enjoyed thirty years of prosperity and abundance, only to end up like Emperor Tang Minghuang, with the state collapsing and everything falling apart... The Eighteen Princes have already been written. In the future, I also plan to write the story of how Lü Haowen, Hu Yin, and Zhang Jun ruined the state... But I can easily write about ministers who brought about their own downfall. Who will write about my own downfall? I've thought it over. It's not just that you happen to be here; the key is that there are very few people who dare to write my story... So in the future, I will have to entrust my story to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand. Although I am not skilled with the pen, I am willing to try my best.\" Hu Yin first frowned solemnly, as if sensing something wrong, but as he listened, he couldn't help but smile, his expression softening, before becoming serious again. \"However, Your Majesty, setting that aside for now, earlier you confidently said that 'the news should have reached them and they should be moving,' and that you had the Prince of Qin pressure Yanjing without taking it. Were you counting on Goryeo and the Eastern Mongols to join forces and cut off the Jurchens' retreat? The Eastern Mongols should be waiting for the Goryeans, as per Your Majesty's instructions. But when will the Goryeans actually move? Do they really dare to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh...\" Zhao Jiu was a bit dazed, but he finally gritted his teeth. \"I believe that, given Goryeo's national situation, they will definitely send troops. It's just a matter of a few days, sooner or later. Minister Hu, you must understand that even without counting us, the Pyongyang yangban in Goryeo have always been staunch advocates of war with the Jin state. And although the head of the Kaesong yangban, Kim Bu-sik, is not a war advocate, he is a man who understands the situation and has a brain. So after the Battle of Huolu, there is absolutely no reason for them not to dare or not to want to send troops... I'm afraid the Pyongyang yangban and the Kaesong yangban are having a conflict among themselves, which is why there has been some delay... Let's wait a little longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yin did not argue... He knew full well that on this issue, he was certainly not as professional as Zhao Jiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enough of this digression; let's talk about Goryeo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Zhao Jiu's judgment was not wrong at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether in another time or the present, Goryeo's diplomatic posture toward the Jin state had always been very divided. Not to mention the mainstream policy of serving the great, the fierce attitude of waging war against the Jurchens had always existed, and the forces holding this attitude were very powerful within Goryeo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the two sides were neighbors, with much interaction and a deep understanding of each other. Even earlier, before the Jurchens had risen, Goryeans had helped the Japanese defeat and deal with Jurchen pirates who had drifted from the north to Kyushu Island, and this had greatly improved diplomatic relations between Japan and Goryeo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, whether from a cultural or military perspective, Goryeans had a psychological sense of superiority over the Jurchens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This led them, after being defeated during the Jurchen rise and subsequently becoming vassals to the Jurchens, to develop a sense of shame similar to the Great Song's Jingkang Humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scholar-officials, military officers, and even the common people had a desire and sentiment for war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, after the Jurchens rose, to ensure stability in their rear, they had early on fought a local war with Goryeo, seizing territory east of the Yalu River and in the northwest of Goryeo to establish an advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This so-called \"partial territory\" might seem laughable to the Jurchens, who later swallowed up vast lands, but for Goryeo—especially for the scholar-official landlord class of the western capital, Pyongyang—it was undoubtedly a blood feud akin to cutting off a piece of their own flesh... Just think about it: for the Pyongyang yangban, who controlled most of the wealth in the northern half of the country, losing a third of their territory was like having a third of their property cut away. How could they not hate it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, in another time, because of these matters, combined with their tradition of internal strife, the war-advocating Pyongyang yangban simply used \"attacking the Jin\" as an excuse to create a split and rebellion against the Kaesong yangban.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the present, this sentiment had been suppressed, first by the formidable military power displayed by the Jin state, and second, because the loss of wealth and interests had been compensated by the Song-Jin transit trade during the Jianyan era. Thus, Goryeo had maintained neutrality until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the tables had turned. Regardless of the situation, once the results of the Battle of Huolu reached Goryeo, combined with Zhao Jiu's stern diplomatic stance before the war, Goryeo—which already had a powerful war faction within and whose ruler was the very inventor of the \"serving the great\" policy—had no reason to remain neutral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why were the Goryeans reacting so slowly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For one thing, the sea route home had been blocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let's turn back to the beginning of this month. The decisive battle at Huolu was on the second day of the second month. On the fifth, the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Tian Shizhong's forces jointly pursued the enemy to the vicinity of Hejian. Before the tenth, Yue Fei's forces had advanced to Baosai (Baoding). By that time, the Goryeo \"trade mission\" stationed in Cangzhou had received Zhao Jiu's large stack of \"imperial decrees\" and had no more doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Song Imperial Navy and the Jin navy had been engaged in naval warfare. In the Bohai Bay, no one dared to set sail!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This situation continued until five days ago. When news came that Zhao Jiu was leading the army eastward and the Song army was likely to arrive by land, Li Qi, the Jin navy Vice Commander-in-Chief, hastily abandoned Cangzhou's naval base and fled north. The Song Imperial Navy also advanced the battlefield north to the Qingzhou area (south of modern Tianjin). Only then was the sea route restored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consequently, combined with unfavorable winds along the way, the Goryeans did not arrive in Kaesong until the morning of the day Zhao Jiu was writing his novel and making up stories about Han Shizhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as soon as they returned to Kaesong, they were immediately summoned by Kim Bu-sik, the Goryeo regent who had personally arranged this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've worked hard. Go and rest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, faced with such earth-shattering news, Kim Bu-sik, after reading all the decrees and proclamations, showed no intention of further questioning or verification. He simply nodded slightly and sent these people to rest early. His expression was calm, his demeanor unchanged, as if he had long expected a similar outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the \"trade mission\" members had left, Kim Bu-sik did not suddenly lose his composure either... The Goryeo Privy Councilor simply sat in his place, closed his eyes for a moment, then abruptly stood up, called for his attendants, and immediately set off for the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaesong was the meticulously constructed capital of Goryeo after its founding, with a circumference of nearly thirty thousand paces and twenty-two gates, roughly the same area as Japan's Heian-kyo. From the scale of its capital alone, one could see that Goryeo and Japan were indeed traditional strong states in East Asia, with culture, economy, and military representing typical high civilizations outside of China.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, this civilization was undoubtedly about to undergo another severe test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of which, the last test was during the Jingkang era. At that time, the young Goryeo king had just come of age and was gathering forces in the palace to eliminate the powerful minister Yi Ja-gyeom. However, Yi Ja-gyeom got wind of it and sent his partisans to surround the palace. In the end, after the entire royal palace was burned down by Yi Ja-gyeom's in-laws, leaving only three pavilions, the powerful minister ran to those pavilions, found the young king, and wept, claiming his unwavering loyalty while being suspected by the king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young king, left with only three pavilions, could only remain \"ashamed and speechless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is the news certain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the simple palace, the short-statured Goryeo king was actually only two years younger than the Zhao Song official. In fact, his original name was Wang Gou, but he had later taken the initiative to change it to Wang Kai. Upon hearing the news, he found it hard to believe and stepped down from his seat, but he was still a bit shorter than the bowing Kim Bu-sik. \"Sixteen Wanhu, one hundred and sixty Meng'an, all gone in an instant?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believe it is credible.\" Kim Bu-sik raised his head and replied calmly. \"Your Majesty, after the news came that Taiyuan and Yuancheng had fallen simultaneously after the New Year, I could roughly guess that this northern expedition would result in a great Song victory. I just never expected the Song army to win so thoroughly and so quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Kai took two steps back, standing on the steps, and nodded: \"No wonder Minister Kim began gathering troops in Kaesong early in the year, then inspected weapons and stockpiled provisions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let Your Majesty know that my actions were not purely in preparation for today.\" Kim Bu-sik smiled bitterly from below the steps. \"Because the Jin state is a neighboring country, while the Song state is across the sea... At that time, I was more afraid that the Song army would win but not be able to secure the situation decisively. Then the Jin state would still have strength left, and the Western Capital (Pyongyang) would inevitably use the Song victory to stir up trouble, seeking to attack the Jin... These troops gathered in Kaesong for preparation were only twenty percent intended for today's situation. Eighty percent were for preparing to rapidly dispatch troops to the Western Capital (Pyongyang) if necessary, to quell internal strife before it could take shape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Kai grew even more emotional: \"The minister is quite candid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not about being candid. If the country weren't so small, struggling to survive in the shadow of a vast empire, I wouldn't want to pay homage to those barbarians of the Jin, nor would I want to repeatedly go to the Great Song's Eastern Capital to be humiliated by that Zhao Song official, being called a fickle villain in the official gazettes.\" Kim Bu-sik remained earnest. \"But there's no choice. Who can blame Goryeo for being right next to China? A small state can only serve the great to survive... Today, after hearing the news, I came to see Your Majesty to urge you to declare war on the Jin. This is the same principle as when I heard of the Jingkang Incident in Mingzhou and immediately returned to urge Your Majesty to submit to the Jin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Kai was silent for a moment, clearly somewhat helpless, but after a while, he pulled himself together and asked formally: \"So, the only option now is to declare war immediately?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct.\" Kim Bu-sik also became serious. \"If we do not declare war quickly, first, after the war, the Great Song may border Goryeo. When that Zhao Song official comes with his three hundred thousand battle-hardened elite troops to hold us accountable, no one can withstand such thunderous wrath. Second, once the news spreads, even if Kaesong is unwilling to go to war, the Western Capital (Pyongyang) will not be able to hold back... There's no telling what kind of chaos might erupt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Kai nodded: \"Internal and external pressure, I... this king understands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed.\" Kim Bu-sik also lowered his voice. \"In the coming years, we should still be cautious internally. After all, we have not proclaimed ourselves emperor, so we should not overstep our bounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Kai nodded again, but lowered his voice and asked seriously, \"Not to mention this matter, even if we go to war, the Western Capital won't just let it go, will they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time it was Kim Bu-sik's turn to fall silent for a moment, but after only a few breaths of silence, he looked up and spoke sincerely: \"Your Majesty, for this campaign, I have three requests.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please speak, Chancellor.\" Wang Kai understood and immediately sat back down on the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, the troops must be dispatched swiftly, but in secrecy.\" Kim Bu-sik explained earnestly. \"Because Jin is a great power after all. Even if their main elite forces have been wiped out, just the troops in Liao territory and the rear are still more than Goryeo can contend with... So we must strike by surprise, and also lull the enemy into complacency. It would be best to let the Jin transfer as many of their troops to Yanjing as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... this king understands!\" Wang Kai listened carefully and nodded repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second, I ask Your Majesty to grant me the Marshal's seal, credentials, and ceremonial staff, allowing me to oversee this war as Chancellor and Marshal.\" Kim Bu-sik continued seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time Wang Kai remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third.\" Kim Bu-sik continued as if he hadn't noticed his sovereign's hesitation. \"I ask Your Majesty to issue me another clear edict, permitting me to select personnel in the Western Capital to dispatch as envoys to other states.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, seeing that Wang Kai was still silent, Kim Bu-sik offered a brief explanation: \"Your Majesty, these last two edicts are not meant for me to seize power, but rather as a strategy for my own self-preservation, and also to prevent internal chaos in Goryeo at this pivotal moment of heaven and earth turning...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why does the Chancellor say this?\" Wang Kai finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At a time like this, why pretend not to know, Your Majesty?\" Kim Bu-sik shook his head. \"Everyone in the country knows that the two factions of Kaegyong and the Western Capital (Pyongyang) are opposed, and I and Jeong Ji-sang are like mortal enemies... In the past, I, who advocated serving the greater power and submitting to Jin, suppressed Scholar Jeong, who advocated war with Jin, forcing him to claim illness in the Western Capital. Now the situation has reversed. Given Scholar Jeong's personal friendship with the Song Emperor, he is likely to soar to prominence and instead bring about my miserable death...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It won't come to that.\" Wang Kai quickly tried to console him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Between me and Jeong Ji-sang, it has already reached that 'come to that' point.\" Kim Bu-sik sighed slightly. \"That's why I want this method... I will personally lead the army to attack Jin, and then in the Western Capital, I will appoint Jeong Ji-sang as an envoy to go to the Song state to see the Song Emperor. He urgently needs to see the Song Emperor now and will have to accept... This way, first, I am making an effort to show goodwill and offer favors, seeking a path to reconciliation; second, I will be leading troops in Jin territory while he is on a mission in Song territory. The two of us will not meet, which will also save a lot of trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Kai nodded but did not agree, clearly knowing that what Kim Bu-sik said was true, yet still harboring some doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty.\" Kim Bu-sik knelt directly in the hall. \"This is not just a private matter between me and Jeong Ji-sang; it is also the nearly century-old feud between the two factions of Kaegyong and the Western Capital (Pyongyang)... If things go wrong, my death without a burial place would be the least of it. It could directly spark a civil war, from the Western Capital all the way to Kaegyong. What I am asking for today is hardly the Marshal's position for myself; it is clearly a path to survival for me, and a period of peace for Your Majesty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Kai took several deep breaths and finally nodded: \"I trust Chancellor Kim. I will follow your words, appoint you as Marshal, command the war against Jin, issue secret orders to the Jin border immediately, and permit the special appointment of envoys in the Western Capital!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kim Bu-sik kowtowed heavily. When he raised his head, his eyes were filled with tears, and Wang Kai was also moved for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, on the last day of February, the well-prepared Goryeo Chancellor Kim Bu-sik, upon receiving the belated battle report from Huolu, did not hesitate. That very afternoon, in the posture of a Marshal, he mobilized over twenty thousand troops that had long been prepared around Kaegyong and marched westward. In just six days, he force-marched to the Western Capital (Pyongyang). There, he displayed the ceremonial guard of a Chancellor acting as Marshal, took over the city's defense, and controlled the over ten thousand troops stationed there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, after a brief rest, on the morning of the sixth day of the third month, Kim Bu-sik issued numerous proclamations from the small town northwest of the city where his troops were stationed. He informed the somewhat wary factions of the Western Capital (Pyongyang) that the Song Emperor had won a great victory over the Jin army at Huolu, that not a single horse from sixteen Jin Wanhu units had returned north, and that the court had decided, based on the Song Emperor's edict from the previous year, to launch a surprise attack on Liaodong and participate in the war against Jin. He demanded that the Western Capital factions immediately report for military duty, prepare to receive their positions, and join the northern expedition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he specifically requested that Jeong Ji-sang come to receive his orders, prepare to go on a mission to the Great Song to express submission and discuss post-war matters, and that the monk Myocheong, who was particularly favored by the Goryeo king, also come to report the situation here to the king in Kaegyong... claiming the king had specifically requested to see the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the Western Capital was a large city painstakingly built by Goryeo. After the palace was burned down, there had been repeated discussions about moving the capital there, which was precisely why there was a century-long factional struggle between the Western Capital factions and the Kaegyong factions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This factional struggle was almost all-encompassing, from culture to foreign policy, to internal power struggles within the state, compounded by regional economic foundations. But because the capital was in Kaegyong, the Western Capital had always been at a disadvantage. Today, being able to use this foreign 'east wind' to force Kim Bu-sik, the very man who first initiated submission to Jin, to open war against Jin, and to force him to come to the city gates and invite his old enemy Jeong Ji-sang to a feast, was immensely satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Western Capital (Pyongyang) factions, initially caught off guard by Kim Bu-sik's sudden arrival with the king's edict, were overjoyed upon seeing this series of announcements. They immediately took their sedan chairs, mules, and horses, and in groups, left the city heading for the small town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By noon, some seventy to eighty people had all arrived. Kim Bu-sik, who ordinarily never drank, had to put on a stern face and host a banquet, distributing military positions to these people according to their seniority and official rank... Although their words carried a hint of defiance, their actions were completely subordinate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the news spread back, Jeong Ji-sang and the monk Myocheong, the two leaders who were still trying to put on airs, could no longer hold back and finally arrived, belatedly, together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You two have finally come!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the arrivals, Kim Bu-sik stood up in the small town's main hall, looking exasperated. \"Especially you, Jeong Ji-sang. Did I call for you? When the state needs your efforts, you put on airs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Jeong Ji-sang was not angry but instead stepped forward, pointing and laughing: \"Kim Ip-ji (Kim Bu-sik's courtesy name), if you had listened to me earlier, how could the state be in such a predicament today? A man like you, worthy of being Marshal? When I see the Song Emperor, and when Dharma Master Myocheong sees the king, we will surely persuade the Emperor and the king to severely punish you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kim Bu-sik sighed helplessly, then nodded: \"If that's the case, I shouldn't have had any expectations from the start.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeong Ji-sang laughed even louder. But before his laughter faded, he suddenly heard startled cries all around. Looking around, he realized that Kim Bu-sik had casually waved his hand, and his trusted generals led armored soldiers rushing out, some sealing the main hall's gate, others guarding 'Marshal Kim.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old villain... what do you intend to do?\" Jeong Ji-sang, having seen great scenes before, was the only one with a clear head while the surrounding monks and generals all panicked. \"If anything happens to me, how will you explain it to the Song Emperor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you still think so highly of yourself, even to your death?!\" Kim Bu-sik was speechless. \"Jeong Ji-sang... The Song Emperor showed you favor, intending to use you as a counterbalance within Goryeo, which is equivalent to applying pressure on me. And applying pressure on me is also equivalent to showing you favor... What does the Western Capital or Kaegyong, Kim Bu-sik or Jeong Ji-sang, really matter to a figure like him? All he wants is to pull Goryeo along, to force us to stab the Jurchen in the back when necessary! Do you really think your poetic talent rivals that of Grand Scholar Su Shi, that the Song Emperor has taken a liking to you? If that Emperor were that kind of man, even if Grand Scholar Su were still alive, I believe he would be forced to become a master of the Original Learning!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said this, without waiting for Jeong Ji-sang's reply, Kim Bu-sik turned around and ordered: \"Seventy-eight people, not one left alive. After we root out the weeds and pull up the roots, enter the city and confiscate their property to fund the army!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kim Bu-sik had been Chancellor for many years and enjoyed great prestige in the military. So as soon as he spoke, the blades in the hall flashed, and blood filled the room. In just a moment, the seventy-eight members of the Western Capital factions were cut down, and then each was finished off with another stab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, seeing Jeong Ji-sang, who had been slashed twice and was covered in blood, still struggling to lift his head and look at him amidst his wails, the Marshal Kim felt a surge of pent-up resentment from years past. Ignoring his age, he personally picked up a knife and stepped forward to finish him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Kim Bu-sik was over sixty after all; how could he really cut someone? When he got close, he didn't even know how to swing the knife. As he was fumbling around, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his crotch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking down, he saw that Jeong Ji-sang, fueled by a final burst of spite, had lunged forward. Through the folds of his official robe, one hand had firmly grabbed hold of one of Marshal Kim's testicles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this situation, the surrounding armored soldiers didn't know whether they should step in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Jeong Ji-sang, using his last ounce of strength, had succeeded in his lunge. He had intended to accuse the other of being jealous of his talent and his private friendship with the Song Emperor, and of taking revenge for personal reasons. But when he looked up and saw the other's face flushed bright red, all his resentment and thoughts vanished. Instead, with a grim and gleeful sneer, he said: \"Old scoundrel, you haven't drunk today, so why is your face so red?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The blood before me shines red upon my face!\" Kim Bu-sik, his face flushed red, replied while forcing himself to stand firm, at the same time stabbing fiercely at the other's back with his knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Jeong Ji-sang knew he was about to die. He only wanted to embarrass his old rival before the end, so he naturally refused to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did he not let go, but he also struggled to lift his head and continued to taunt through gritted teeth: \"Is your father's back hard enough?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not as hard as your father's balls.\" Kim Bu-sik, in severe pain from the grip, gritted his teeth and endured, unwilling to lose face in the final moment before his old rival's death. He insisted on standing still while desperately stabbing at the other's face and eyes with his knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several dozen stabs, Jeong Ji-sang died at some unknown point. Only that hand remained, which several armored soldiers struggled to pry loose and had to cut off with a dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this incident, there was silence for two days. Kim Bu-sik naturally rested in the small town for two days. Meanwhile, in the large city of the Western Capital, after the hasty confiscation of properties, the various military officers finally came to report again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Return to Kaegyong.\" Kim Bu-sik, having rested his testicles for two days, sat cross-legged and replied calmly. \"Coming here this time was ostensibly to quell the rebellion in the Western Capital, but the attack on Jin is not an empty promise either... However, when campaigning against Jin, we will inevitably have to deal with the various famous princes of the Great Song. The mere status of a Marshal is not of a high enough rank; we will likely be looked down upon. We must first return to Kaegyong and ask His Majesty to grant me the axe and halberd, allowing me to act on His Majesty's behalf in the war against Jin, only then will it be proper.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generals looked at each other in bewilderment. But after two days of confiscating property in the Western Capital, the entire army was already in the same boat as this Chancellor and Marshal. What else could they do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the generals all knelt down and declared they would obey orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kim Bu-sik knew what these military men were thinking but was too lazy to explain. He just sighed slightly, then struggled to stand up. But as he did, his crotch pulled, and the pain in his testicles flared up again. He couldn't help but sigh again... Why was it so hard to do something for his country in a small state?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only could he not preserve his reputation, but he couldn't even preserve his balls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to the big shots callmenoob, Ms. Vera, and shuhuanghehebuchucun for their support in becoming the 218th, 219th, and 220th patrons of this book. Also thanks to yizhianmiao for becoming the 11th patron!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, the Shaosong card game's release has been postponed to July 24th. The fan fiction event for the completed book will continue until the book is finished. The gifts for the first warm-up event have been sent out. Please check and feel free to share pictures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, I'd like to recommend a new book, \"I,\" and a book promotion account, \"The Great Book Drought's Thirty-Six Stratagems.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the matter of Kim Bu-sik is not in bad taste; there is actually a folk tale circulating about Kim Bu-sik and Jeong Ji-sang.\u003C\u002Fp>",8361,"2026-06-06T07:46:32.508Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","8019618a032eb06917d3121bf855892edce13558ea2857b1850134a54e86b085","shao-song-chapter-433","shao-song-chapter-431",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]