[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-6":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},1558172,2024,"Chapter 6: Idle Talk","shao-song-chapter-6",6,"\u003Cp>\"The Revenue Ministry says there's no money, the Imperial Camp says there's no troops, the Chancellor says there's no men, several Academicians say there's no harm in delaying, and the Censors... are all impeaching Li Gang, demanding he be prosecuted? And someone even suggests killing Zhang Bangchang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, as the rain gradually subsided, Zhao Jiu's first outburst since crossing over had successfully broken free of the isolation imposed by those five key officials, and by the evening of the second day he had formally come into extensive contact with the memorials of the civil and military officials at the temporary court. Yet the situation seemed unchanged, as if everyone were a surrenderist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interestingly enough, however, Zhao Jiu didn't seem too bothered by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let Your Majesty know, this is all the will of the people!\" Beside the lamplight, Kang Li, standing by the desk, hurriedly bowed his head and explained, his attitude far more humble than in previous days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who is Zhang Bangchang?\" Zhao Jiu asked curiously. \"I seem to have some impression.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang Li was utterly speechless and could only set aside the 'will of the people' for a moment to give a brief explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that Zhang Bangchang had been the Chancellor under the previous Song Qinzong, and could be considered the last legitimate Chancellor of the Northern Song. During the Jingkang era, he had mainly done the following:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, acting on Song Qinzong's orders, he replaced Li Gang in governing the court and went outside the city to oversee the surrender negotiations with the Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, probably because he spoke well and was handsome, and because the then-powerful Jin Marshal Wanyan Wolibu was not a cautious type, after the Jingkang Incident, when the Jin army withdrew en masse, they propped this man up on the imperial throne, hoping to make him the emperor of the Han Chinese as a vassal of the Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, as soon as the Jin left, the Great Chu Emperor Zhang Bangchang invited back Empress Meng (Empress of Song Zhezong, deposed twice), who had been living in seclusion as a Daoist nun, and used her name to return the throne to Zhao Gou, who had fled to Nanjing (Shangqiu) to observe the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu suddenly understood. He remembered this man; it seemed history books had mentioned him in passing, but only said he had opposed Li Gang during the Jingkang era and was a surrenderist, without mentioning what happened later. Of course, Zhao Jiu thought the same way now. As for Kang Li's endless chatter about Zhang Bangchang becoming emperor and then returning the throne, he didn't pay much attention... Calling this man a coward was fair, calling him incompetent was also fair, but at that time, from the Emperor on down, the entire Dongjing city had surrendered. With a knife at his throat, it was hard to say much. If you were going to kill people just for being weak-kneed, there would be no end to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if you insisted on killing him, there were certainly pretexts: one was that as a chief minister he chose to surrender, and another was that he had become emperor. But in any case, it should have been done at the very beginning. There was no reason to exile him for several months and then find an excuse to kill him. Otherwise, what would the other ministers who had fled from Dongjing think?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did I say anything to this bastard at the very beginning?\" Whether it was muscle memory or not, Zhao Jiu now found himself using all sorts of random vocabulary when he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You did,\" Kang Li composed himself and answered seriously. \"When Your Majesty ascended the throne, you promised him peace and prosperity, and gave him the position of Grand Chancellor...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why was he exiled later?\" Zhao Jiu found it increasingly strange. \"And in these past days, I've chatted a lot with the guards, and no one ever mentioned this bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang Li bowed his head and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chief Eunuch, speak frankly,\" Zhao Jiu couldn't help but frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be honest with Your Majesty,\" perhaps knowing he couldn't hide it, Kang Li lowered his voice and spoke a few truths. \"Back then, when Zhang proclaimed himself the false emperor, many advised Your Majesty to eliminate him. But even so, Your Majesty, mindful of his return of the throne, only had him sent to Tanzhou. It was only later, when Your Majesty learned of his affair with Lady Jinggong, that you became enraged. At that time, you told me to remember to remind you, after a while, when everything was settled, to issue an edict to kill Zhang Bangchang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lady Jinggong?\" Zhao Jiu was even more confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She was a person from the Retired Emperor's palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang Li's voice grew even softer, as if afraid the guards like Yang Yizhong at the door might hear. \"When Zhang Bangchang was the false emperor and entered the inner palace, the Jin bestowed Lady Jinggong upon him as his empress. Not only did Lady Jinggong repeatedly send him fruit, but it was also said they met in private, where she called him 'Your Majesty,' and engaged in some unspeakable acts. Even after Zhang withdrew from the inner palace, this Lady Jinggong held his arm to see him off and spoke words slandering the Retired Emperor. Now, this Lady Jinggong has been arrested and brought to the temporary court, awaiting a full confession so she can be executed along with him. But just then, Your Majesty fell into the well...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How absurd!\" Zhao Jiu, having just understood what was going on, suddenly slammed the table, startling Yang Yizhong inside the door and several guards outside to turn their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Truly absurd!\" Kang Li quickly bowed his head in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can you kill people over something like this?\" Zhao Jiu was clearly furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang Li nearly bit off his tongue, visibly swallowing some words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you were going to kill Zhang Bangchang, you should have done it openly at the start, on the grounds that as a chief minister he surrendered to the Jin. What could anyone in the realm say? Why change course over something like this?\" Zhao Jiu fumed. \"Besides, what did Lady Jinggong do wrong? In that situation, if Zhang Bangchang hadn't shielded her, what would have happened to a weak woman like her? Would being captured by the Jin have been a better outcome? Slandering the Retired Emperor and developing feelings for Zhang Bangchang is only to be expected, isn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang Li opened his mouth as if to speak, then stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Release that Lady and let her go find Zhang Bangchang!\" Zhao Jiu, having come to his senses, found it all distasteful. \"Zhang Bangchang can be killed, but killing him now serves no purpose. Let that Lady pass on a message: he is to be confined to Tanzhou for life, never to show his face again. Consider it house arrest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang Li was silent for a long time, until the Emperor turned his head and looked at him coldly, only then did he nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Kang Li agree, Zhao Jiu was about to look at the memorials again when he suddenly realized something: \"How many palace women are here at the temporary court?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not many, three to five hundred...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case,\" Zhao Jiu said slowly. \"Since the Two Sages have both been taken north, and they are truly innocent, and since many ministers and military officers who fled from Dongjing, Hebei, and Hedong have lost their families, bestow the palace women upon them... find the older, virtuous ones... it will be a perfect solution for both sides.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang Li again bowed his head in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does this mean?\" Zhao Jiu was tired of playing riddles with this man. \"If there's something I don't know, just say it directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Among them, one to two hundred were 'laundresses' that Your Majesty specifically sent people to find in Dongjing and Nanjing after your ascension...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... this Zhao Jiu... was I really that scummy?\" Zhao Jiu suddenly understood as the other spoke halfway, then exclaimed in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After ascending the throne, just a few months ago, right after the Jingkang Disgrace, where did this Zhao Laojiu get the interest?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those were all slanders against Your Majesty by Chen Dong and his ilk!\" Although he didn't understand what 'scummy' meant, Kang Li seemed to have grasped something of the Emperor's character and quickly explained. \"When Your Majesty ascended the throne, how could you do without palace women? For one thing, who would attend to Lady Pan and the imperial heir?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was Chen Dong killed for saying this?\" Zhao Jiu suddenly understood by the lamplight, then became utterly speechless. \"Forget it... keep twenty to attend to Lady Pan and the imperial heir, and keep some older, homeless ones for palace washing and laundry. Select all the rest, the young and attractive ones, and bestow them upon the young officers who have lost their families... but they can only be settled here at the temporary court, not taken on campaigns or followed into the army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty is wise!\" Kang Li nodded repeatedly, finally learning his lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after agreeing to this, seeing that the Emperor was about to continue reading the memorials, Chief Eunuch Kang slightly adjusted his mindset and finally returned to the main topic he had originally wanted to discuss:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speaking of which, Your Majesty may not remember, but the one who most wanted to kill Zhang Bangchang back then was none other than Chancellor Li!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How so?\" Zhao Jiu put down the memorial from Academician of the Zizheng Hall Lü Haoqiu and opened another from some Censor. As soon as he glanced at it, he couldn't help but frown slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are some rumors... First, naturally, Chancellor Li abhors evil and was furious at those who couldn't maintain their integrity. He wouldn't be satisfied until they were killed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And second?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second, some say Chancellor Li had a personal grudge against Zhang Bangchang. At that time, the court was newly established, and he wanted to use this to kill someone to establish his authority and stabilize the situation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there a third?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third, it is said that Chancellor Li helped Your Majesty rebuild the court, which was a great merit, but this man treats Your Majesty like a child, and his intention to seize power and control the court through this cannot be denied.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lamplight flickered, and Kang Li, standing with his hands clasped in the shadows, spoke slowly. \"Therefore, at that time, he had two major proposals in court. One was to move to Nanyang. On the surface, it was said that from Nanyang one could connect with Guanzhong to reassure the people of the Northwest. But in reality, whether he intended to use this to suppress Your Majesty's original trusted followers from the Grand Marshal's Office is hard to say. Because Chancellor Huang and the others had already decided to go to Yangzhou before Chancellor Li arrived. Even Vice Director Liang had already gone to the Southeast to raise funds... Your Majesty, it's not that we old hands from the Marshal's Office don't want to resist the Jin. It's just that the Central Plains have no natural defenses, and we've already made preparations in Yangzhou. It's not easy to change course lightly. Even Your Majesty yourself agreed with this at the time, which is why you dismissed Chancellor Li.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see... and then? What about Zhang Bangchang?\" Zhao Jiu continued to examine the memorial in his hand without looking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhang Bangchang... actually, according to the previous Nanyang-Yangzhou debate, Chancellor Li insisted on killing Zhang Bangchang. Some also say he was 'feigning one thing to conceal another,' wanting to use this to eliminate all the old Dongjing ministers. That way, while he was the sole Chancellor, he could fill the court with his own people and achieve total control over the government.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu suddenly laughed as he looked at the document in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty doesn't believe it?\" Kang Li was pleased rather than upset by this. \"If so, why not summon a few of the old Dongjing ministers to ask? Isn't Your Majesty just wanting to meet the court officials at the temporary court to inquire about Central Plains defense matters?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which old Dongjing ministers are there?\" Zhao Jiu turned his head and asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Academician of the Zizheng Hall Lü Haoqiu is a famous Neo-Confucian scholar. He had long since resigned as Vice Minister of the Right and was going to be Prefect of Xuanzhou, but the roads were unsafe and he was worried about Your Majesty's health, so he hasn't left yet. Attendant Censor of the Palace Zhang Jun is always upright... These two are both recognized moral figures, and both escaped from Dongjing. Why not meet them, Your Majesty?\" Kang Li quickly pointed to the memorials in the Emperor's hand and said with a smile. \"Besides, aren't these two memorials the ones Your Majesty has been reading the longest tonight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since Chief Eunuch Kang recommends them, I'll see these two tomorrow!\" Zhao Jiu stroked the memorial from Attendant Censor of the Palace Zhang Jun, laughing even more, seemingly still confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to book friends Huang Laojiu and Xianqi Ziji Qiong Hai Chou for their alliance, and thanks to many other friends for their tips and recommendation tickets... Thank you all for coming back.\u003C\u002Fp>",2250,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","debcfcab6dd95ad80817737825d3a5bbbbcfbb946479a3b44d0d6de4ba1c4996","shao-song-chapter-7","shao-song-chapter-5",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]