Chapter 87: Summons (Part 1) (Thanks to the Silver League Big Shot

In late February, on the Huai River, east of the Rushi Estuary at the junction of Caizhou, Guangzhou, and Shunchang Prefecture, a modest-sized fleet of boats was slowly making its way upstream. On both sides of the river, where trees were green and flowers red, tens of thousands of troops, some mounted and some on foot, were also winding their way westward along the banks.

At this time, on the northern embankment, the Imperial Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun, styled Deyuan, who had come out to inspect military discipline, was strolling and chatting on horseback with several subordinate Investigating Censors, recently arrived idle officials, and even a few commoner scholars.

"Shunchang Prefecture was originally named Yingzhou, and together with Caizhou to the west, though part of Jingxi, it has always been the heartland of Huaixi, almost a byword for the region. Grand Commandant Han, as the Huaixi Pacification Commissioner, residing here is truly fitting." Zhang Jun, at the head, spoke casually, then immediately fell silent, as if mindful of his own status and wanting to hear others' opinions.

Suffice it to say that although Zhang Deyuan was only thirty years old, after the tempering of the Jingkang Disaster and the twists and turns of the past year, having secured his position as the foremost confidant of the Zhao Sovereign in Hezhong, he had already begun to exude the bearing of a superior.

"What the Censor-in-Chief says is very true." An Investigating Censor, knowing that his superior had turned from foe to friend with Grand Commandant Han at Bagong Mountain and had been drawing closer to him lately, hinting at an alliance, and with two prominent Palace Censorships currently vacant, hurried to chime in. "And as for Huaidong and Huaixi, although Huaidong appears to govern more territory, Huaixi is closer to the temporary imperial residence. His Majesty would rather have Han and Zhang swap defense zones and have Grand Commandant Han come here, placed before him, specifically to clear out Huaixi, Jingxi, and Jingxiang, in order to open up a maneuvering space in Nanyang—this shows His Majesty's deep favor."

Zhang Jun stroked his beard and nodded slightly.

"How can 'deep favor' be such a contemptible term?" Just then, a middle-aged man at the rear suddenly reined in his horse and rebuked publicly. "Grand Commandant Han is a renowned general of the state. His Majesty appointing him to handle Huaixi affairs is for the sake of the grand strategy in the future—how could it be a willful appointment based on personal closeness?!"

The crowd turned to look. The man appeared to be around thirty, with an extraordinary countenance. Though dressed as a civil official, he had a long spear and a large bow hanging from his saddle, and his sleeves and waist were bound with the recently fashionable leather belts, giving him a somewhat incongruous appearance.

The Investigating Censor, rebuked in front of his superior, was naturally displeased, but precisely because his superior was present, he could not flare up. He could only suppress his anger and ask, "Who are you, sir? In which year did you pass the imperial examinations, and what post do you currently hold?"

"Liu Ziyu of Jianzhou. I passed no imperial examinations. I am merely a Court Counselor, without any assignment." The man, undaunted, replied directly and proudly.

The Investigating Censor thought for a moment and understood the man's background... Not a jinshi, yet at thirty years old reaching the fifth-rank civil titular office of Court Counselor—he must have come through hereditary privilege. And without any assignment, he must be one of those who hadn't caught up after the Jingkang chaos and had only now found the temporary court. So, gaining some confidence, he sneered in reply:

"So it's Young Master Liu, who only came seeking an official post upon hearing the temporary court was stable. I thought you were some talent!"

"During the Jingkang national calamity, my late father hanged himself, dying for the country. As the eldest son, I naturally had to escort his coffin home. And because of the national and familial hatred, irreconcilable with the Jin, I hurried here—how does that make me someone seeking comfort?" Liu Ziyu's expression changed. "And we were discussing the matter at hand—why His Majesty stationed Grand Commandant Han in Huaixi. How did it turn into an attack on my private background? The state is in peril, and the court's censors are now all of this caliber?!"

This remark essentially lumped everyone together, and since his words revealed that his father had just recently died for the country and must have been a well-known figure of the time, even Zhang Jun could no longer pretend to be deaf and mute. He took the initiative to clasp his hands and say, "May I hear your esteemed opinion!"

"I dare not trouble the Censor-in-Chief with a question." Liu Ziyu, seemingly not an old hothead, immediately returned the salute to the Censor-in-Chief, who was about his own age, and took the opportunity to step down. "You must understand, the subtlety of Grand Commandant Han's appointment lies fundamentally in the word 'Nanyang'..."

Zhang Jun recalled recent discussions before the throne, felt a stir in his heart, and couldn't help leaning forward slightly on his horse: "Please, sir, elaborate."

"This is simple." Liu Ziyu, reining in his horse on the embankment, also composed his expression. "Just think, Censor-in-Chief. His Majesty, to oversee the overall situation, is determined to establish the temporary capital in Nanyang. This is not wrong, because to restore the realm, one must have both the strong troops of Guanxi and the financial resources of the Southeast. But with the war not yet settled, from a military perspective, using Nanyang as an auxiliary capital will present two major difficulties in the future. One is finance—specifically, how to ensure that the wealth of the Southeast and Bashu is gathered in Jingxiang to support the great army. For this, His Majesty, with the weight of Minister Li, has placed the Empress Dowager and the imperial heir in Yangzhou—a clever move. And I am truly not a financial talent, so I won't say more... The other is how to defend!"

Zhang Jun's eyelid twitched.

"You must understand, Nanyang is known as a basin. On one hand, it is accessible in all directions; on the other, it is vaguely surrounded by mountains on all sides, all defensible. But in fact, on the northeast side of Nanyang, there is a huge gap, leading straight to the Central Plains through Yingchang Prefecture (the area of later Yancheng, Luohe, Xuchang). Through this flatland corridor, armies can march and cavalry can gallop without any hindrance!" Liu Ziyu continued calmly. "For this reason, besides setting up defense zones in the north with the three lords—Liu the Garrison Commander, Zhang the Dragon Diagram, and Zhang the Grand Commandant—forming a line as the forward defense, His Majesty has also used Grand Commandant Han as the backbone, based in Huaixi, overlooking this gap. This is to prepare for the worst, using Grand Commandant Han as the final reliance, either to hold off the enemy or to form a 'close the door and beat the dog' situation! Compared to this arrangement, things like clearing the periphery of Nanyang or opening up maneuvering space seem insignificant!"

After hearing this, the crowd either stroked their beards and nodded or looked unimpressed, all turning to look at the leading Censor-in-Chief Zhang.

But just as Zhang Jun was about to speak, he saw the large boat in the river suddenly veer toward the southern bank. Then several eunuchs and imperial guards took a small boat toward the northern bank. Spotting the Censor-in-Chief, they waved from afar.

Zhang Deyuan knew the Sovereign had summoned him, so he said no more. Instead, he dismounted, took a small notebook from the pack on his horse's rump, picked out a small piece of fine charcoal, spread it on the saddle, and while bending down to record, asked further: "Liu Ziyu of Jianzhou—may I ask your courtesy name? Your age? And your late father's name?"

"My courtesy name is Yanxiu. I am thirty-two years old. My late father was the former Grand Academician of the Hall for the Propagation of Governance, Liu Ge!"

Zhang Jun, crouching there, looked up in shock: "You are the eldest son of Liu Zhongyan?!"

Liu Ziyu was about to speak further when the eunuch's small boat from the river drew near. The Censor-in-Chief hurriedly put away his notebook, slung his pack on his back, and headed down to the riverbank. Just before reaching the water, he turned back and called out: "Brother Yanxiu, you are a great talent and the son of a loyal subject. Please be patient. When the opportunity arises, I will recommend you before the throne! I will surely find you a good assignment where you can display your abilities!"

With that, before Liu Ziyu could react, Zhang Jun boarded the boat with his pack and headed to the opposite bank to seek the Zhao Sovereign.

With Zhang Jun gone, and knowing Liu Ziyu was a man with a solid background, the group exchanged glances and then dispersed. But before leaving, they couldn't help dropping absurd remarks like "So the son of a Grand Academician is also seeking the Censor-in-Chief's patronage" or "So this is the one who made it onto the Censor-in-Chief's promotion list today."

Leaving aside these peripheral disturbances at the temporary court, that afternoon, the Zhao Sovereign suddenly halted the large boat and convened an impromptu court meeting on the southern bank of the Huai River, within Guangzhou's borders. But the atmosphere in this meeting, held in a tent in the wilderness, was clearly devoid of the earlier joy and peace.

The reason was simple: what Liu Ziyu had just called "insignificant" was now imminent.

"Let me inform you all, there has been a disturbance with Ding Jin ahead."

The first to speak and introduce the problem was Grand Councilor Wang Boyan. Since the decision to make Nanyang the auxiliary capital, he had become increasingly active, shedding his earlier caution. And whether it was an illusion or not, even as he introduced a troubling matter, his face seemed to glow, as if he were announcing something joyful. "Earlier, when His Majesty entered Guangzhou, the Bureau of Military Affairs summoned this man to the imperial presence. But he hesitated and dared not come easily. Finally, after His Majesty issued an open decree, he set out—but he brought thirty thousand troops to see the throne. He is now stationed at Zhugao Town, forty li ahead, as if trying to turn the tables."

"Ding Jin was never trustworthy."

After hearing this, the Grand Councilors naturally spoke first. And perhaps because Li Gang was not present, Lu Haowen, Lord Lu, seemed to have regained some energy. "He was a bandit who rose up in the chaos and was hastily forced to surrender before the war. Such behavior is not surprising."

"Correct." The third Grand Councilor, Xu Jingheng, also took the opportunity to speak. "If I recall correctly, this wretch was supposed to be stationed at Zhugao Town. Coming only after being summoned shows he had already retreated without authorization. It's clear that not all military men are like Zhang Jun and Han Shizhong; Yue Fei and Zhang Rong are even rarer..."

As the three Grand Councilors spoke some opening platitudes, the Imperial Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun, still carrying his pack, couldn't help squinting at the Zhao Sovereign, who sat motionless. His heart suddenly tightened... At this moment, the Zhao Sovereign, seated beneath a peach tree covered in falling blossoms, was utterly still, his expression calm. If not for his bright red robe, he might have been mistaken for some Daoist cultivator, seemingly oblivious to everything.

However, the perceptive Censor-in-Chief understood all too well: the Sovereign was waiting for someone to say something truly useful. What the Zhao Sovereign wanted was how to deal with Ding Jin, not what Ding Jin should have been!

But the Censor-in-Chief also knew that this time, the Sovereign's old habit had flared up—he hadn't understood what everyone was saying. Because the two Grand Councilors from the Eastern Administration had already clearly expressed their solution in their words. And now was the time for him to step forward and help the Sovereign clarify.

Yet, as Zhang Deyuan was about to speak, he couldn't help glancing at the silent Academician Lin, who remained motionless. Having dealt with this deeply calculating Hanlin Academician for some time, he always felt he might be acting too rashly...

Of course, human nature is hard to change. More importantly, the Censor-in-Chief knew that his position and power came from whom, so he dared not delay. Even as he hesitated, he had already stepped forward to inquire:

"May I ask the two Lords? Do you both feel that Ding Jin, a mere bandit-born military man, is not worth making a fuss over? That as long as he can be pacified and settled, he can still be of use? So there is no need to use force?"

The Zhao Sovereign finally showed a slight change in expression, as if he had just realized something.

"I am not saying this man is innocent, but rather that if we can control him with the court's authority and favor, why must we stir up trouble with him?" Xu Jingheng still seemed not to understand why the Censor-in-Chief was spouting such nonsense. But Lu Haowen, having spent much time recently before the Zhao Sovereign, suddenly caught on and turned to explain seriously to Zhang Jun and also to the Zhao Sovereign at the side. "Your Majesty, I believe Ding Jin can be treated with some leniency. Give him a few rewards and let him withdraw his troops. There are three reasons."

"Speak." Zhao Jiu finally spoke, looking thoughtful.

"First, the current priority for the temporary court is to reach Nanyang quickly and stabilize the people's hearts. Everything can wait until we are established in Nanyang. It is not advisable to get entangled in disputes on the road and waste time."

"Reasonable." Zhao Jiu nodded slowly.

"Second, Ding Jin still has thirty thousand troops, slightly more than the combined forces of the temporary court. Moreover, our army is split between the two banks, with the strongest troops all on the northern bank. Therefore, even if the temporary court wanted to deal with him forcefully, it might not succeed. And even if it did, if handled poorly, thirty thousand routed soldiers scattering into Guangzhou would bring disaster to the people."

"Also reasonable." Zhao Jiu continued to look thoughtful.

"Third, after the Jingkang Disaster, in Huaixi, Jingxi, and Jingxiang, around Nanyang, there are countless so-called bandits, righteous armies, roving bandits, local strongmen, routed soldiers, and those who are unstable after being pacified, just like Ding Jin. If we deal with Ding Jin today, how will we pacify all the bandits everywhere later? The key is, if we take harsh measures now, how will Fan Qiong, who holds Xiangyang with the court's elite troops, respond?"

"What Lord Lu says is indeed very reasonable." The Zhao Sovereign nodded for the third time.

"Therefore, I request that an envoy be sent to Zhugao Town with some rewards to ease his mind, and let him temporarily withdraw his troops and clear the way." Seeing the Sovereign repeatedly express agreement, Lu Haowen felt reassured and reiterated his opinion. "Once we pass Ding Jin's defense zone and reach Dingcheng, where we will rendezvous with Bureau of Military Affairs Director Yuwen and the generals Liu Zhengyan, Miao Fu, and Liu Yan, we can then make further plans."

"Do Lords Xu and Wang see it the same way?" The Zhao Sovereign continued nodding and then looked at the other two.

Xu Jingheng and Wang Boyan exchanged glances, both finding it acceptable, and bowed in agreement.

The Zhao Sovereign nodded again but did not issue an order. Instead, he looked directly at Zhang Jun.

The Censor-in-Chief's heart stirred, and he prepared to refute.

However, the Zhao Sovereign merely swept his gaze over Zhang Jun and Academician Lin, then, without turning his head, blurted out to Yang Yizhong at his side: "Have Han Shizhong and Wang De come in."

In a moment, Han and Wang appeared directly beneath the peach tree, to the astonishment of the assembled civil officials of the temporary court. It was clear they had been summoned earlier and were waiting nearby.

"The matter of Ding Jin was discovered by your scouts, so I won't go into details." Zhao Jiu casually excused them from formalities. "Just now, the Lords were discussing this and raised three difficulties. I'll ask you one by one... If I send you to pacify Ding Jin, can you finish it quickly without dragging it out?"

Han Shizhong and Wang De were both fierce generals of the time and both raised their heads to listen. But at this question, the difference between them immediately showed. Wang De hesitated, clearly without a plan or calculation, but Han Shizhong directly cupped his hands and replied: "Rest assured, Your Majesty. In as few as three days, or as many as five, I can settle this matter!"

Zhao Jiu nodded slightly and smiled: "This is why I keep Liangchen by my side... Second, Ding Jin's force has thirty thousand men, and they have previously plundered Guangzhou and Caizhou, so they are well-supplied and well-armed. The Lords worry that if things go wrong, routed soldiers will scatter into the surrounding areas and cause harm. Can you prevent that?"

"I will never let the mutinous army scatter!" Han Shizhong pointed to the sky and answered again with decisiveness.

"That should do it—two of the three harms are dealt with, enough to proceed." The Zhao lord smiled again. "Is there anything else to say?"

"I only ask for a trusted civil official from Your Majesty to go and trick Ding Jin into coming!" Han Shizhong replied bluntly, ignoring the bewildered expressions of the three lords and Wang De around him, yet he gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "However, if Your Majesty can still calmly send forth the imperial procession ahead, I will surely be faster and more steady…"

"I am willing to go see Ding Jin!" Before Han Shizhong had even finished speaking, Secretariat Drafter Hu Yin stepped out of the ranks and spoke boldly, startling both Zhang Jun and Academician Lin Jing beside him yet again.

It could only be said that ever since leaving Bagongshan, the lord had grown more and more skilled, more and more decisive—yet the lords above him kept increasing, and the brothers below grew harder to control. Difficult!

"Then let it be so. Let us not delay." The Zhao lord raised his hand in a gesture and actually stood up directly, as if he and the two chancelleries had already passed the resolution in harmony.

And at this moment, Lu Haowen and Wang Boyan were one thing, but the newly returned Xu Jingheng could no longer hold back and stepped forward to oppose: "Your Majesty!"

"Lord Xu!" Zhao Jiu, now standing, suddenly spoke while gripping his belt, cutting him off preemptively. "Today I am not asking only you, but all of you before me… Why was the realm in turmoil before, and how shall it be pacified in the future?"

Xu Jingheng and the others were all taken aback.

"In my view, the realm's turmoil lies internally in civil officials being idle and military officials indulging in pleasure, and externally in the people and soldiers clamoring to resist while the Two Sages surrendered before the realm could." Zhao Jiu spoke slowly, clearly having prepared his words long ago. "Thus, to restore peace to the realm, civil officials must not love money, and military officials must not fear death! And I myself shall strive to uphold the great policy, never wavering no matter the danger! What say you all?"

From Lu Haowen, Xu Jingheng, and Wang Boyan on down, including Zhang Jun, Lin Jingmo, and the many other civil officials of the provisional court, along with Han Shizhong and a few military men, all were solemn and quickly bowed to acknowledge the command.

"In truth, I could tolerate other matters," the Zhao lord said, blushing slightly as he offered a brief explanation after stealing a famous quote to command the scene. "But Ding Jin's behavior during the great battle at Shouzhou—wavering between sides and even fleeing at the first rumor, nearly causing a great disaster—that I truly cannot tolerate! You must understand, you and Lord Li before you all considered it acceptable as long as military men did not rebel, but for me, I can tolerate everything from military men except their retreating before battle! If we move to Nanyang this time and cannot take the opportunity to tighten military discipline and rectify the localities, not to mention how we will use this as a heartland to resist the Jin army in the future, wouldn't that be too unjust for Liu Guangshi, Grand Commandant Liu, up on Bagongshan?"

Below Lord Lu, many recalled the scene that night and even felt that the lord's current behavior was far more reasonable and proper… This was progress!

PS: Thanks to the Silver League big shot, Mr. Muir of Jamil… Yesterday I said two and a half league leaders weren't showing on the front page, and today it's directly a Silver League… I kneel! But I truly have no saved drafts… Ashamed to the point my blood pressure is acting up.