[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-88":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},1558254,2024,"Chapter 88: Summons (Part 2)","shao-song-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>Now, Ding Jin had refused to come when summoned, and when he did come, he brought a large army with him, directly occupying a market town and refusing to leave, his suspicion and fear extremely obvious. This was the self-awareness of someone who had risen from banditry, a certain aftereffect of the Emperor having personally killed Liu Guangshi that day, and moreover, the first obstacle on this westward journey to Nanyang...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Emperor Zhao seemed unaware of these matters, not stopping at all. That day, the imperial procession continued westward for another seven or eight li before halting to settle. At this point, they were only thirty li from Zhugao Town, where Ding Jin was stationed—already dangerous enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn't all. The next morning, the imperial procession set out again by both land and water, continuing westward as usual, and even sent the customary envoy to summon Ding Jin again, as if they hadn't seen his previous transgressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the newly arrived civil and military officials in the procession naturally panicked, but the Emperor and the high-ranking officials paid them no heed. They could only follow the procession westward, trembling and helpless. Correspondingly, Ding Jin, ahead in Zhugao Town, was also backed into a corner!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be understood that men like Ding Jin existed in every dynasty. Some were military ruffians by origin, others were local magnates or wealthy households. Seeing the world in chaos, tempted by a power vacuum in their region, or having read some random historical novels, they harbored opportunistic ambitions—one couldn't really say there was a problem... Especially after the Jingkang Incident, when the Two Emperors were taken north and the entire Zhao Song imperial clan was nearly wiped out in one fell swoop. It looked like the great edifice was collapsing, the classic scenario of eighteen rebel forces rising up in smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, let alone men like Ding Jin, even many of the righteous armies that had originally come to the emperor's aid turned directly into bandits. How much more so those who were already bandits and couldn't get off the boat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, these \"heroes\" who stirred up trouble during the Jingkang and Jianyan years were also unlucky. They faced a Great Song that had died suddenly but been revived through cardiac resuscitation, and a Great Jin that was in a period of strong expansion. This made it extremely difficult for these so-called \"heroes\" to realize their \"ambitions\"... In this situation, Li Cheng actually showed more skill, knowing to waver back and forth in the tug-of-war between Song and Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was a lesson Li Cheng and those righteous armies and bandits from the Jingdong East Circuit had learned only after being brutally beaten by tens of thousands of regular Jin troops under Wanyan Wushu and Wanyan Talan at Linyi, losing countless men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the present, Ding Jin's current state was neither soldier nor bandit. He had failed once in trying to do something big, so he lacked courage. He wanted to give up his ambitions, but having tasted the flavor of power, he couldn't bear to let go. Holding tens of thousands of hastily gathered routed soldiers and civilian laborers, having plundered two or three large prefectures, they had combat effectiveness if you said so, but were also just a heap of loose sand if you didn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, he had it much harder than Emperor Zhao!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Zhao, after all, bore the surname Zhao. Now that he was pressing forward openly and boldly, this Huainan bandit either had to obediently go see Emperor Zhao, or simply lead his troops and flee, or steel his heart and risk everything to drag the emperor off his horse!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the probability of the last choice was too low, otherwise Ding Jin wouldn't have been hemming and hawing until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen up, all of you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the south bank of the Huai River, the eight hundred Beiwei Army and the twelve hundred Cuipian Army, who had secretly crossed the river last night and hidden among the central army of the imperial camp, were marching at the front of the column under the banner of Commander Fu Qing. Han Shizhong, wearing his jade belt, sat arrogantly on his horse beneath the large Fu banner, looking around and giving orders. \"I've seen plenty of little bandits like Ding Jin. With the Emperor's momentum like this, and the current situation, by the time that 'Confucius' reaches Zhugao Town, he'll definitely be able to coax this Huainan bandit to the imperial camp... Then we won't need to remind Wang De. Old Xie, you lead the Cuipian Army to fool them here. I'll take the Beiwei Army and ride lightly to Zhugao Town. Once there, we'll switch banners, go straight in to proclaim the edict and take over the entire army, kill the troublemakers, and win over those willing to submit. This matter will be settled! There's no way it can go wrong!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then all the money, grain, and military equipment Ding Jin has hoarded will be ours?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If so, how many of Ding Jin's thirty thousand troops can we get? If we take all the money and grain, will the Emperor give us fewer troops because of it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you thinking?\" Han Shizhong raised his head even higher, his disdain evident. \"Thirty thousand motley troops, how many are truly strong and useful? Maybe ten thousand? We'll pick them out first. As for the rest, if Wang Yecha and the others want them, I'll be happy to be generous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the two men asking questions were Cheng Min and Xie Yuan. The latter, due to his merits that day, was already the commander of the Cuipian Army, so we won't dwell on him. The former, as a close junior officer of Han Shizhong's in the Beiwei Army, had a few things worth mentioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically, Cheng Min had some connections with the newly appointed Pacification Commissioner Yue Fei and Liu Ziyu, who had only yesterday been added to Zhang Jun's promotion list... This man was originally from Hebei, a daring warrior. Like Yue Fei, he was a former subordinate of Liu Ge, Liu Ziyu's father who had died for the country during the Jingkang era. The three of them could barely be considered comrades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except that at that time, Liu Ziyu was not only the young master of the household but also, due to his military merits in defending Zhending, had been exceptionally granted a fifth-rank civil official's loose rank—so he was high and mighty—while the other two were just common soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the two common soldiers, Cheng Min and Yue Fei, their early life experiences were not much different. Both were brave men from Hebei, both had their families destroyed and homes lost during the Jingkang era, both became junior officers during the Jianyan era. Amidst the chaos, each had gathered a group of about a hundred or so cavalry around them. However, Yue Fei had joined the Grand Marshal's Office early on, and immediately upon arriving in Nanjing (Shangqiu), he wrote a thousand-character memorial impeaching Li Gang, thus beginning his legendary fate. Cheng Min, on the other hand, was a step late, only making up his mind to head south and join the imperial camp in the latter half of last year, becoming a subordinate of Han Shizhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because his martial skills were truly outstanding and he suited Han Shizhong's temperament, Han Shizhong thought highly of him, and he was soon given important duties... Of course, that was all it was—just being given important duties. Compared to his old comrade, and perhaps former junior, Yue Fei, it was nothing special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person's fate also depends on the times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, Han Shizhong, who had boasted of being \"the foremost under heaven\" after seeing the generals of the imperial camp in Nanjing (Shangqiu) that day, had become even more arrogant after the Battle of Shouzhou. Now, with only eight hundred cavalry, he intended to forcibly absorb Ding Jin's thirty thousand men—truly overbearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Han Shizhong's military ruffian nature, his habitual arrogance, did not mean he had no careful men under his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early that morning, Han Shizhong had just shown off his might before his own men. By mid-morning, the \"Confucius\" sent by the imperial court, dressed in a brand new red official robe and carrying the imperial envoy's regalia, came over from the Emperor's side, who had already gone ashore. He was about to go ahead... Watching this, Xie Yuan suddenly remembered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fifth Brother!\" Xie Yuan pointed at the man. \"How is it I remember that this 'Confucius' is quite valued by the Emperor, considered one of his close confidants? And he seems to be a sworn brother of Zhang Xiantai... If we follow your plan and get him killed, what then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How would he get killed?\" Han Shizhong, riding a tall horse but being exceptionally tall himself, replied dismissively. \"He's going to invite Ding Jin himself. What does that have to do with us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A man like Ding Jin, he might not dare not to come, but once he does, he'll definitely take that man as a hostage.\" Xie Yuan was speechless. \"If you, Fifth Brother, charge in too slowly, and Ding Jin's trusted men are watching him inside, won't he be dead?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I'll just charge in faster.\" Han Shizhong became even more dismissive. \"He volunteered for the mission himself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan was finally stunned: \"Then won't everyone know it was you, Fifth Brother, who got him killed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why so much nonsense?\" Han Shizhong was momentarily exasperated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the next moment, just as Xie Yuan was about to persuade his elder brother again, the two of them fell silent simultaneously, even looking at each other, each feeling a pang of guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because, as they were speaking, that \"Confucius,\" now changed into a red robe, was actively approaching them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand Commandant Han.\" Hu Yin reined in his horse by the roadside and directly cupped his hands in salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zi... Secretary Hu!\" Han Shizhong quickly returned the salute from his horse, at least managing not to call him \"Confucius.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am no longer a secretary.\" Hu Yin said solemnly. \"This morning, by the Emperor's grace, I was specially promoted to the seventh-rank Palace Censor. With this status, Ding Jin will have even less choice but to come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy. Han Shizhong's head swelled just hearing the word \"censor,\" let alone a Palace Censor, which was even more prestigious than other censors. So he became three parts more cautious: \"Then congratulations to Censor Hu first. To reach the seventh rank in the Censorate at this age, your future is bright. Of course, it's also deserved... Did Censor Hu come to find me, Old Han, for some instructions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally, there are some instructions.\" Hu Yin's expression was calm as he continued to salute. \"But before that, allow me to ask one more question. If I am not mistaken, Grand Commandant Han plans to wait for me to lure Ding Jin here, then ride lightly to Zhugao, charge in, and seize Ding Jin's central command, correct?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes... that was the idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Han Shizhong understood perfectly well that this man before him, though rumored to be somewhat stubborn, was in no way weaker than Zhao Ding, the Grand Commissioner who had become Han Shizhong's sworn enemy. So he didn't dare to bluff his way through. \"But how did Censor Hu know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's so hard to figure out?\" Hu Yin frowned slightly. \"This isn't a military campaign. A man like Ding Jin, only half a year into his rise, seems powerful, but it's three parts him holding himself up, two parts a few key subordinates, and the rest relying entirely on the times. Now that the times have changed, even his key subordinates are probably a heap of loose sand... Whether you, Grand Commandant Han, or we civil officials handle this, it's nothing more than a decapitation strike. Do we have to fight a battle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong was momentarily speechless. After a pause, probably knowing he couldn't avoid this, he simply asked back: \"Censor Hu, what exactly did you come to tell me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's like this.\" Hu Yin continued solemnly. \"Ding Jin is nine out of ten likely to obey the edict and come to see the Emperor. But he is also nine out of ten likely to trap me in Zhugao as a hostage. If so, I beg Grand Commandant Han, on no account consider my life. You must suppress Ding Jin's remaining forces swiftly and harshly to accomplish the great task... You must understand, the great affairs of state lie in Nanyang. This matter must be swift, not slow; harsh, not lenient. The Emperor's overall plan must not be delayed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Cheng Min, at Han Shizhong's side, coughed dryly and immediately rode his horse to the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong himself opened his mouth to speak but instead felt awkward. He could only cough dryly as well, then withdrew his gaze from Cheng Min, who had hidden behind him, and said in a low voice: \"How about I assign a few brave warriors to accompany you, Censor Hu? Among my Beiwei Army, there are several men as formidable as Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A true man entrusted with a mission in times of peril—how can he be so fussy?\" Hu Yin replied proudly. \"If Grand Commandant Han has the heart, just charge in faster when you enter the town!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, this Censor Hu said not another word, turned around, and returned to his group. He led his envoy's procession to set off ahead, going to lure the Huainan bandit Ding Jin with his own person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong was dumbfounded. He could only sit on his tall horse, staring at the dust kicked up by the envoy's procession, speechless for a long time. When he finally came to his senses and turned his head, he found his brother of twenty years, Xie Yuan, looking at him with contempt. He was so ashamed his face turned red, all his previous arrogance gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of Han Shizhong's shame, what was done was done. Thinking more was useless. By noon, Ding Jin received the formal edict conveyed by Hu Yin in the hall. After hesitating repeatedly, and discussing privately with several trusted military subordinates again and again, he was ultimately left with no choice. He finally led a hundred or so trusted cavalry eastward to see the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this man set off directly before leaving, without even notifying Hu Yin, who had been quartered somewhere in the town. It was exactly as Xie Yuan and Hu Yin had guessed—the scoundrel intended to take the imperial envoy as a hostage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, the two sides were only twenty li apart. Ding Jin galloped over and arrived in no time. Along the way, he carefully observed and saw that on the south bank of the Huai, there were only large banners bearing the characters Wang, Fu, Xin, Zhang, Qiao, and Huyan. The Han banner was still on the opposite bank of the river, which somewhat set his mind at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the vicinity of the imperial camp, he first met with a Grand Councilor. The two exchanged greetings on foot and chatted briefly on horseback, not mentioning the matter of the Palace Censor. This relaxed him another two degrees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a short while, a eunuch came with an edict, saying that Emperor Zhao would personally receive him in a tent set up by the roadside. Ding Jin had nothing more to say. He immediately left his hundred or so cavalry, took only three or five officers, disarmed, and entered the tent to kowtow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was at this moment that Ding Jin finally heard a sentence that made his heart sink, yet seemed to have been expected: \"Commander Ding, where is my Palace Censor? Why didn't he return with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Jin prostrated himself on the ground, stealing glances at the young, almost boyish Emperor Zhao seated in the tent, and awkwardly gave the excuse he had prepared: \"Reporting to Your Majesty, Your subject was so overjoyed at the prospect of meeting Your Majesty that I came directly, light and fast, and forgot to summon Censor Hu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's fine then.\" The Emperor Zhao, who today wore only a leather belt, sat there with a slight smile. \"Commander Ding, send someone to summon him back. You stay here for the banquet. When he arrives, we'll drink and discuss matters together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Jin had no choice but to kowtow in agreement. However, following their earlier discussion, he signaled to a trusted subordinate beside him, instructing him to return and carry out the plan—that is, go back, mobilize the troops, start a fire and create chaos in Zhugao Town, and threaten the imperial camp into releasing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around. Since that man had already left, the wine and dishes were served, and Ding Jin also entered the feast. But then the Zhao sovereign suddenly rose and immediately left the tent as well. Ding Jin and his two remaining trusted men dared not question him at all, and could only slowly eat their meal under the watchful eyes of a crowd of fully armored Imperial Personal Guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside how Ding Jin finished that meal, over there Zhao Jiu, escorted by Yang Yizhong, walked out of the tent. After no more than a hundred paces, he reached the edge of the woods where the tent was located. Seeing the assembled civil and military officials waiting there, he rarely erupted in anger: \"Originally, I wanted to heed Minister Xu's words and give him a way out, to set an example for others in the future. But I never expected that this man would actually dare to detain Hu Mingzhong as a hostage. Now there is no choice but to make an example of him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people facing him exchanged glances, and no one dared to advise the Zhao sovereign to show leniency anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leaving that aside, are there any other omissions besides this?\" Amid the commotion, the Zhao sovereign forced himself to clasp his hands behind his back and ask again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to Your Majesty, there should be no omissions.\" Imperial Camp Commander-in-Chief Wang Yuan quickly stepped forward. \"According to the previous arrangements, that man has already been intercepted, and those hundred or so cavalrymen are also properly surrounded. It can be seen that Your Majesty's plan this time is truly exquisite...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words faded, a single horseman galloped over from afar. The crowd looked and saw that it was Wang De, who should have set out long ago to quell the rebellion, and they all changed expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yecha rode up to them and immediately dismounted to bow, speaking indignantly: \"Your Majesty! Your Majesty must seek justice for your servant! That scoundrel Han Shizhong, relying on his eight hundred Beiwei Army cavalry, rode straight over as soon as Ding Jin entered. Your servant here kindly went to call him to go together, but was tricked by Jie Yuan into waiting until Ding Jin was captured here before proceeding would be safer... Fortunately, Commander Xin's troops ahead saw that reckless Han Wu had dispatched troops and specifically came to tell me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu suddenly laughed out loud, but it was unclear whether he was laughing at Han Shizhong or Wang De: \"If that's the case, you should quickly lead your troops to follow and surround Zhugao, to prevent the rebel soldiers from scattering. Why come to me to file a complaint? Go quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang De was stunned for a moment, then immediately cupped his hands in acknowledgment, remounted his horse in haste, and came and went as quickly as he had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the surrounding civil and military officials, except for Xu Jingheng, all knew that this sovereign usually had a blank expression and rarely showed anger or laughter easily. But today, first anger then laughter, followed by silence, immediately made all these clever people become cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, Your Majesty.\" After a long pause, seeing no one dared to speak, Wang Yuan, the theoretical chief executor of this plan, had no choice but to brace himself and respond carefully. \"Since Ding Jin has come, this matter is already accomplished. And Han Shizhong has always been impetuous, but your servant knows he is capable. Eight hundred cavalry are enough for him to act.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know Han Liangchen's abilities better than you do.\" Zhao Jiu spoke with his hands clasped behind his back, finally returning to his usual demeanor. \"But thinking back to yesterday's words, it is clear that the burden is heavy and the road is long!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assembled officials each had their own thoughts, clearly understanding which words from yesterday the sovereign was referring to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun was tilting westward. Wang De labored to lead eight thousand troops to Zhugao Town, then hastily ordered it surrounded. By this time, as everyone had expected, Han Shizhong had already pacified the chaos within the town!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no helping it. One truly couldn't think too highly of these bandits who had risen up only half a year ago and had never fought a proper battle. Everything happened as Han Shizhong had imagined. He led eight hundred cavalry to the outskirts of the town, then changed to his own banners and ceremonial gear, and suddenly rode in. The town showed no reaction at all, and he even had to ask where the command center was by lashing someone with his whip along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Han Shizhong, without killing a single person, easily captured all of Ding Jin's central army generals. After that, perhaps because not having killed anyone left him unsatisfied, he began systematically killing people in the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He started with Ding Jin's younger brother and clan members. After finishing the relatives, he killed the subordinate generals according to the central army roster... After all, the Zhao sovereign had said that Liu Guangshi could not be allowed to suffer an undeserved disgrace. By the time Wang De reached the outskirts, the town had already been more than half purged!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Hu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the killing was reaching its peak, Han Shizhong suddenly saw a man arriving with Cheng Min. He temporarily halted the executions, immediately rose, and rarely offered a formal salute with cupped hands. \"As long as Brother Hu is safe and well, that is good. Otherwise, I, your elder brother, would be uneasy for the rest of my life!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yin looked at the row of heads in the street and the group of trembling bandit leaders from Ding Jin's forces, furrowed his brow slightly, then stepped forward with cupped hands:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General Han, if we are to punish according to the crime of unauthorized retreat last time, only the officers should be executed. There must be no arbitrary involvement... and certainly no massacre of the town!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother is joking. With the sovereign right behind us, how could I easily massacre a town?\" Han Shizhong quickly agreed. Judging by his meaning, if the Zhao sovereign weren't not far behind him, he really would have carried out the massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But having received the promise, Hu Yin said no more. Instead, following Han Shizhong's invitation, he sat down on a chair that had been prepared in the street, side by side with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they were seated, General Han's enthusiasm did not diminish: \"Brother, yesterday I heard the sovereign say that civil officials should not love money, and military officers should not fear death. I was already shaken, and felt that if this were so, the world could be at peace. But I never expected that today I would actually see a civil official who does not fear death. It truly makes me, your elder brother, admire you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside how awkward Hu Yin, historically a founder of the Huxiang School, felt being called \"brother\" by a twenty-year veteran ruffian of the Western Army, when he heard these words, he found them so absurd that he frowned: \"Does General Han think that the sovereign means that since civil officials should not love money and military officers should not fear death, civil officials are therefore allowed to fear death, and military officers are allowed to love money?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong was slightly taken aback: \"Is that not the case?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If General Han thinks so, then I'm afraid you will only ever stop at this jade belt and Military Governor rank. Don't even think about being enfeoffed as a Commandery Prince like Guo Ziyi.\" Hu Yin replied coldly. \"Generals die in a hundred battles, and stalwart men return after ten years. Does that mean only the generals die? This is called intertextuality!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong was stunned and somewhat flustered. He protected his belt and asked seriously: \"What the hell is intertextuality?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It means that the sovereign believes civil officials should at the very least not love money, but if they can also not fear death, that is excellent. As for military officers, not fearing death is the bare minimum. But if they want to surpass those who love money and become a Commandery Prince, they had best also not love money.\" Hu Yin replied calmly. \"I ask General Han not to mislead himself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that what it means?\" Han Shizhong grew even more flustered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Hu Yin continued sternly. \"General Han, there are some words that, because I was originally a close court official, I was not in a position to say. But now that I am a Palace Censor, and having seen with my own eyes that you indeed have the makings of a famous general, I cannot help but speak... Have you, these past days, because of your great merit in the Shouzhou victory and because the sovereign holds you in especially high regard, become somewhat arrogant about your achievements and lost to frivolity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong opened his mouth to speak, but didn't know what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also, regarding today's spoils, I know that given the sovereign's deep affection for you, nine out of ten will go to you. But since the sovereign set the precedent in Shouzhou that spoils should be turned over to the public for unified distribution, if you dare to embezzle even half a share of today's spoils or make the slightest move in front of me, Hu Mingzhong, then when I see the sovereign, I will certainly submit a formal impeachment!\" Hu Yin grew more severe as he spoke, and by the end, he was outright warning him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And seeing him like this, Han Shizhong, who had grown increasingly unrestrained these days, somehow felt a chill of fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One more thing... Since you rode here lightly, why did Imperial Camp Central Army Vice Commander Wang De only just arrive outside?\" Hu Yin continued to sit there, asking coldly. \"Could it be that someone, in their struggle for merit, deliberately delayed the message? Do you think that just because Yuanzhen is not here, no one dares to report such matters to the sovereign?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was wrong.\" Hearing this, Han Shizhong could no longer sit still. He actually stood up directly and grasped the other's hands, but his strength was so great that he physically lifted the young Censor Hu out of his chair. \"If not for Censor-in-Chief Hu's guidance today, I would have nearly made a grave mistake! I beg Censor-in-Chief Hu to teach me how I can atone for my errors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's the difficulty in that?\" Hu Yin's face flushed red as he quickly said. \"General Han is a pillar of the state. As long as you voluntarily confess your fault to the sovereign, none of these things will be a problem...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong finally breathed a sigh of relief and let go of Censor-in-Chief Hu's hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, as the interrupted street execution was about to resume, one of Ding Jin's subordinate officers who had been waiting half the day without dying, and had instead listened to a bunch of nonsense, could no longer bear it. He shouted with all his might in public: \"General Han! Censor-in-Chief Hu! I beg you both to spare my life! If I can live today, though I dare not say I will not love money in the future, I will never again fear death on the battlefield!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong's mood had already changed. Hearing this, he showed no irritation, but instead became serious: \"Who are you? How dare you speak such big words?! You must know, by begging for mercy, you already look like someone who fears death!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My name is Wang Quan!\" The man kowtowed to the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face. \"Please hear me, General. It is not that I cannot die, but that I am unwilling to die without making my voice heard! I have practiced martial arts since childhood, hoping to earn merit on the battlefield. But because of that waste Ding Jin, I am to die so wretchedly in the street today. How can I bear it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong paused for a moment, stealing a glance at Hu Yin. Seeing no reaction from him, he suddenly laughed: \"In that case, let's see whether you truly value your life or not in the future!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said this, General Han completely composed himself. He took the gold tally and changed the military order: to pardon the rest, seal the treasury, and pacify the remaining soldiers. When Wang De led the main army into the town, he voluntarily handed over the gold tally, gave earnest instructions, and then, under Wang Yecha's almost incredulous gaze, invited Hu Yin to ride east with him, practically alone, to face the Zhao sovereign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached the temporary headquarters and saw the sovereign and the assembled civil and military officials waiting by the roadside, the sun had not yet set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Han Shizhong, following Hu Yin's advice, first voluntarily cupped his hands and confessed his fault, recounting in detail all his actions and petty schemes of the day, as well as Hu Yin's admonitions, to the Zhao sovereign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To this, the Zhao sovereign was naturally overjoyed... For one thing, Han Shizhong's words clearly indicated that he had indeed successfully pacified the main force of the Huaixi bandits in Zhugao Town. For another, as the saying goes, man is never satisfied. Before, the entire Imperial Camp had no one capable of fighting. Having one Han Shizhong who could fight, he naturally relied on him as his backbone. Now, if he could also listen to advice, slightly tighten military discipline, and reform those messy and annoying habits, then there was nothing more to be said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in his delight, the Zhao sovereign, besides allocating all of Ding Jin's forces to Han Shizhong's command as originally planned, also specifically ordered that all the captured gold vessels be bestowed upon him, all the books be bestowed upon Hu Yin, who had also been pleasantly surprising today, and the silver be used to supplement the salaries of the civil and military officials at the temporary headquarters, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, at this point, although the Ding Jin rebellion had had some twists and turns, it was pacified in a single day. Moreover, with Han Shizhong, who had recently grown increasingly arrogant and unruly, voluntarily examining his own conduct, everyone at the temporary headquarters, from the Zhao sovereign down, naturally felt relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case, do any of you have anything else to say?\" By the banks of the Huai River under the setting sun, Zhao Jiu looked around, feeling completely at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant, Palace Censor Hu Yin, still has a memorial of impeachment! But today was hasty, and it has not yet been written. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to state it orally!\" At this moment, Hu Yin, who had been the center of attention today, stirred up trouble again. \"This matter has long been in my heart, but before, as a close court official, I was not in a position to speak carelessly about right and wrong. Now that I am a Censor, I must speak!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister Hu, please speak.\" Zhao Jiu naturally had no reason to refuse, because as the man himself had said, he was now a Censor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant impeaches Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun for two major faults recently!\" Hu Yin's opening words left everyone at the temporary headquarters dumbfounded. \"First, because he knew that Your Majesty cherishes General Han, during the march, Censor-in-Chief Zhang, who was responsible for rectifying military discipline on both banks, repeatedly shielded General Han's Imperial Camp Left Army while being strict with the Imperial Camp Central Army, to the point that the people north of the Huai were greatly troubled, and the military morale south of the Huai repeatedly harbored resentment!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu looked at Zhang Jun, who was perhaps showing signs of panic before him for the first time, and inexplicably felt a trace of panic himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second, Zhang Jun, relying on imperial favor, calls himself a confidant. And because his recommendations for appointments are always approved, he has recently engaged in many absurd acts. He carries a white notebook and charcoal in his bag. When he meets someone he fancies, he casually writes their name and background in the notebook, and then inevitably says, 'I'll get you a good post.' To the point that everyone at the temporary headquarters calls it the 'Promotion Notebook'!\" Hu Yin said this, his indignation fully revealed. \"Your Majesty, I am not impeaching Zhang Jun for using the pretext of recommendations to form cliques and factions, making people know only the Censor-in-Chief and not Your Majesty. Because I have always known him to be frivolous and reckless. These actions, after a great victory, with frivolity everywhere at the temporary headquarters, are simply the result of his nature while away from court. But the key point is, how can the selection of talent for the state be so frivolous? Carrying a notebook all day, recording everyone's merits and faults everywhere, and then using that to decide people's futures—is this something a proper person does?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the roadside before the sovereign, there was dead silence for a moment. Zhang Jun, impeached by his own trusted brother and subordinate, had wanted to remove his cap and confess his guilt, but upon hearing the end, he no longer dared to step forward and admit his fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Zhao sovereign, perhaps because the setting sun was shining directly on him, had cold sweat beading on his forehead and a fluctuating flush on his face... After a long pause, he finally turned awkwardly to ask Yang Yizhong at his side: \"Is Ding Jin still eating?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong did not hesitate for a moment. He immediately stepped forward and replied solemnly with cupped hands: \"He awaits Your Majesty's disposition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",5815,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","a759a55c9570bfe789d33a470f69e53e935b13f6d4b5fea3c0eda3df16f811d3","shao-song-chapter-89","shao-song-chapter-87",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]