[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-93":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},1558259,2024,"Chapter 93: Fear","shao-song-chapter-93",93,"\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu did not deliberately finish this game of Gomoku with Liu Ziyu, which he had finally managed to teach the other. Instead, he immediately stood up and issued a series of orders:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Send out scout cavalry to quickly probe westward along both banks of the Ru River;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dispatch officials to the surrounding villages and towns to assist local authorities in leading the people into Ruyang;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Send messengers north to find Wang De and Han Shizhong, inform them of the current situation at the temporary court, and instruct them to act with caution and prudence, to avoid being surrounded and ambushed in the open countryside;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, because Yang Yizhong was absent, he issued a specific decree placing Hu Yantong, who was currently in the city, in overall command of city defenses, ordering careful vigilance, and incorporating the Imperial Personal Guard into the city garrison;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he naturally decreed the summoning of the four chancellors, along with Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun and Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp Wang Yuan, for an audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was at this moment, while the ministers had not yet arrived, that His Majesty Zhao Jiu called for someone to help him don his armor and asked his military staff officer Liu Ziyu beside him: \"Yanxiu, have I missed anything in these deployments?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ziyu had clearly been somewhat stunned by His Majesty's calm composure and methodical manner. Hearing this now, after a long pause, he finally cupped his hands and replied: \"Your Majesty is calm and self-possessed, with the bearing of a wise ruler of old. All the assignments and dispatches are proper. Your subject is truly astonished...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu sat under the eaves, letting the eunuch help him with his armor, and could not help but smile wryly: \"Habit becomes second nature. After sitting idle at the front for two months, even a fool would learn a thing or two.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Your Majesty,\" Liu Ziyu hesitated for a moment before speaking earnestly, \"Your subject believes there is no need for Your Majesty to don armor, to avoid creating unnecessary complications.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu was slightly taken aback, then immediately signaled the eunuch beside him to stop. He stared back at Liu Ziyu and asked, \"Why is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty... just now Your Majesty gave five orders. Your subject presumes to ask Your Majesty five questions as well,\" Liu Ziyu said with a serious expression. \"May I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First... is the city of Ruyang strong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course it was strong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young Academician Lin beside him had already caught his breath, and his old habit of mentally finishing people's sentences naturally followed... But for some reason, this time he only instinctively responded in his mind, without thinking deeply, and instead seemed somewhat dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course it is strong.\" His Majesty Zhao Jiu, with armor chains still draped over his arm, sighed slightly and answered seriously. \"Ruyang is a famous city under heaven. Although the ancient commandery was called Runan, this city clearly lies north of the Ru River, hence it is called Ruyang... The Ru River comes from the north, but at the city walls it curves southward and flows east, making the city surrounded by water on three sides and a high wall on one. If such a city cannot be called strong, then there are few proper large cities left under heaven.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly so.\" Liu Ziyu nodded repeatedly. \"In fact, if not for this, Grand Commandant Han would not have insisted that Your Majesty come here first when Caizhou was still in chaos... Then, may I presume to ask, with such a strong city, why was it easily breached by the Jin army before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally, because it was never defended.\" Zhao Jiu shook his head repeatedly. \"You forget, Sun Zhaoyuan, the Prefect of Henan, tried to recruit routed soldiers here, but the routed soldiers killed him instead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ziyu neither agreed nor disagreed, simply standing with his hands clasped, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That has nothing to do with it.\" Seeing this, His Majesty Zhao Jiu immediately changed his tune. \"In the end, it was because the entire Jingxi region collapsed completely, never able to muster any spirit. Under a great rout, nothing could be done... I have seen routed soldiers before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let me ask another question: Are the two thousand troops under Commander Hu Yantong and the Imperial Personal Guard in the city now the kind of routed soldiers who lose their nerve at the slightest sound?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu finally smiled wryly: \"I understand. Yanxiu means that this battle is not too dangerous, so military matters can be safely left to Hu Yantong. I should sit quietly in the city to reassure the people? Just like back on the Huai River, where all I had to do was sit on the city wall and keep others from interfering in military affairs—that was doing my utmost?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, but it is not only that.\" Liu Ziyu also showed a rare smile, but then cupped his hands and asked again. \"Your Majesty, I still have two more questions...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking, the courtyard outside became noisy. Zhao Jiu quickly pulled the armor chains off his shoulder and stuffed them under the chessboard. Feng Yi, who had been listening for half the day, without waiting for His Majesty to speak, drove the few eunuchs carrying the armor back into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sure enough, moments later, one of the four chancellors, Yuwen Xuzhong, was the first to appear in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no wonder they came so quickly; the temporary court was still on the move and had not considered Ruyang a proper stopping point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, His Majesty Zhao Jiu naturally stayed in the rear courtyard of the government office, with the front hall serving as the council chamber, and the entire compound serving as the temporary palace. The two chancellors of the Eastern Administration occupied the county office a street away. The two chancellors of the Western Administration in the Privy Council, for convenience, took over an empty private residence close to both. As for the Imperial Camp commanders, they simply followed His Majesty's fine tradition and seized a Buddhist temple in the city...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Xuzhong stepped into the courtyard, glanced at the still somewhat dazed young Academician Lin and the newly promoted close minister Liu Ziyu who was bowing to him, and without returning the greeting, hurriedly cupped his hands and asked: \"Your subject was summoned here, and on the way saw several dozen Imperial Guards suddenly gallop out of the Imperial Camp in all directions. May I ask if something has happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Something has happened, but it is not urgent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the spring morning sunlight, the tree shadows in the courtyard swayed gently. His Majesty Zhao Jiu, in casual clothes, sat cross-legged under the eaves, steadying the chessboard, and answered calmly, like a great scholar teaching a child the Three Character Classic: \"Let Chancellor Yuwen know that that Zhao Zongyin from Wuguan—the monk I mentioned before—went out of the pass to reinforce Fan Zhixu in Nanyang, but was defeated on the way and lost all his troops. Now he has fled all the way to Xiangyang. Academician Lin was forced to turn back overnight. I only sent word of this to Han Shizhong and Wang De, and summoned you all for discussion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Xuzhong nodded slightly, then after a moment's thought, sighed, clearly thinking of the consequences of losing Wuguan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, Wang Boyan, Xu Jingheng, Zhang Jun, and Wang Yuan arrived one after another. A while later, Chancellor Lu, who had been exceptionally busy lately, also arrived. It was a rare gathering of the key and senior officials of the temporary court, an informal meeting of the Council of State.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Academician Lin, when Chancellor Lu arrived, following a hint from His Majesty Zhao Jiu's eyes, set aside Liu Yan's warning and only spoke of the glorious deeds of that Monk Zongyin, saying nothing else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, the chancellors each expressed their own feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, the plan to annihilate this force has become a bubble in the dew?\" Chancellor Wang Boyan, who was said to have recently exchanged much with a few monks expelled from the temple, unconsciously used Zen-like language. Hearing this, he stomped his foot repeatedly, as if there had been a great loss. \"Wuguan is now empty. This man can easily return to Guanzhong from there and rendezvous with Wanyan Loushi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let it be, if we don't fight.\" Chancellor Xu Jingheng seemed relieved. \"It's good not to fight. Let him go... The land is in ruins everywhere; it's time to clean up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well!\" Lu Haowen, who had been in good spirits lately and was effectively the prime minister of the temporary court, thought for a moment and nodded repeatedly. \"This is actually good too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu opened his mouth to speak but didn't know what to say... Because judging by the attitudes of these chancellors, if Wanyan Yinshu really launched a surprise attack and arrived at the city walls, wouldn't they truly panic and abandon the city?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, His Majesty Zhao Jiu instinctively looked at the few young close ministers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their performance at this moment was also somewhat disappointing. Zhang Jun was only looking at Liu Ziyu, clearly worried and confused about the situation with only half an understanding, wanting only a definitive answer and a reminder. And young Academician Lin no longer had his previous eager, battle-ready demeanor, nor even his usual deep and calculating posture. After speaking, this Academician of the Jade Hall, who knew the inside story, fell into a dazed and detached state again, making people suspicious...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, considering that this academician had ridden all night to deliver the message, it was hard to demand more of him. He was, in fact, the one most deserving of leniency at the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked at Liu Ziyu. It was clear that this young official, who had grown up in military camps and had experienced almost the entire Jin-Liao war, was also somewhat disappointed with these people... Even though he had just reminded Zhao Jiu that, as the emperor, the best way to truly play a role in military affairs was to restrain certain people from interfering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that everyone was silent, Zhao Jiu was about to dismiss them and let the matter slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just then, a person His Majesty had overlooked suddenly spoke: \"Your Majesty, I presume to speak. Since Wuguan is now empty, Wanyan Yinshu has a clear path to retreat. Why would he easily go west? If I were Yinshu, I could naturally take Dengzhou, plunder Nanyang, and then leave! Or even turn back, using the advantage of cavalry to seek a battle. If I can win, I win; if not, I can still leave, right? After all, we can't catch up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone followed the voice and saw it was Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp Wang Yuan. They all fell silent... Clearly, most of these people were politically distrustful of Wang Yuan, but militarily, they still had some trust in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Lu Haowen's face was ashen. He opened his mouth to speak, but then, as if suddenly thinking of something, he paused: \"Yinshu? Who is that? Isn't it Nichuhe?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Majesty Zhao Jiu exchanged a glance with Liu Ziyu, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let Chancellor Lu know, in the past few days, while gathering the appointment documents of the various righteous armies in Caizhou, I happened to clarify some matters...\" Wang Yuan quickly reported. \"That 'Nichuhe' was a mispronunciation. The man who came is none other than the Jin imperial clan general Yinshu, who captured the Liao Emperor Tianzuo and Xi King Xiamo alive and participated in the Battle of Taiyuan! And I was thinking today, should I compile a proper translation glossary of Jin names to correct the record?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Haowen was immediately startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Never mind Jin Yinshu or Yin Yinshu!\" His Majesty Zhao Jiu suddenly spoke up. \"Our army has tens of thousands of troops stationed ahead. Are we afraid of him? As for Dengzhou and Nanyang, we can only do our best and leave the rest to fate... I have already sent Imperial Guards to inform Han Shizhong and Wang De of this. They are seasoned generals and will make their own judgments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty's arrangements are so proper; I was overthinking it.\" Wang Yuan sensed something amiss and quickly bowed in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right, just focus on making your translation glossary—that itself is a merit!\" His Majesty Zhao Jiu became increasingly irritable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is indeed necessary to inform Han Shizhong and Wang De as soon as possible.\" At this moment, Yuwen Xuzhong, who had been silent for a long time but had direct dealings with Jin noblemen, suddenly spoke. \"Because Wanyan Yinshu is no ordinary man. He is skilled in using cavalry and often takes unexpected actions... The Liao Emperor Tianzuo and Xi King Xiamo—some say Wanyan Loushi captured them, and that is true. But in fact, since the Jin army rose up, Yinshu was often Loushi's subordinate and deputy. The two often fought together. So, upon closer examination, Tianzuo and Xiamo were both captured by Yinshu's swift raids. He is truly a famous general. As for the Battle of Taiyuan, he followed Loushi to destroy the main force of the Western Army, two hundred thousand strong. His troops are also formidable. Therefore, I believe, based on this man's past experience, now that he has no worries behind him, he might not even look at Dengzhou. Instead, he might lead light cavalry toward Caizhou to probe the strength of the temporary court! I beg Your Majesty to prepare defenses early!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other chancellors and Zhang Jun were all startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhao Jiu, sitting cross-legged, sighed slightly and asked seriously in return: \"Chancellor Yuwen, you know that Yinshu captured Emperor Tianzuo and Xi King Xiamo alive, and that he had great merit in the Battle of Taiyuan. But do you know how he captured those two? And how he fought the Battle of Taiyuan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your subject...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the past six months, I have deeply felt the hardships of military affairs. I often eat and talk with the soldiers, and I have learned a great deal.\" Zhao Jiu spoke slowly. \"Emperor Tianzuo and Xiamo were exactly the same. Hearing that Yinshu was leading light cavalry on a swift raid, they fled alone—one abandoned his city, the other abandoned his army. Both were easily captured by the small elite units Yinshu had sent ahead to circle behind. As for the Battle of Taiyuan, the relief troops were pressured by the central command behind them to advance in multiple columns, but they had no unified command and their progress was uneven. So Yinshu and Wanyan Loushi calmly picked them off one by one around Taiyuan... Do you understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Xuzhong lowered his head and said nothing, clearly understanding. But the other chancellors were also clearly not understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, it would be safer to quickly issue a golden token summoning Han Shizhong and Wang De back to the city.\" As soon as the emperor stopped speaking, Lü Haowen earnestly addressed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps we could take shelter to the south in Guangzhou for a while.\" Xu Jingheng was also extremely tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhao Jiu was truly impatient. He let out a long breath, then suddenly flipped open one side of the chessboard, revealing the chainmail hidden beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard fell instantly silent, with only the swaying of flowering trees, shifting light and shadow, and black and white chess pieces scattered across the green ground. If not for a Son of Heaven who dared to kill losing his temper, it might have looked like a fine spring scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Must I say something unpleasant?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu stood up with a stifled anger, grabbed the chainmail, and paced under the eaves with his hands behind his back. Then he suddenly turned and spoke harshly. \"Do you truly think you understand military affairs?! If you did, how could Taiyuan have been lost so badly?! How could the Humiliation of Jingkang have happened?! I knew long ago that Yinshu Ke might come, and I was nearly in armor already. The reason I forced myself to act as if nothing was wrong was simply that I suddenly remembered there were people like you in the city who panic over trifles! If I had insisted on donning armor, it would only have thrown you into chaos! Let me make this clear to you today: the city defense is for Huyan Tong to handle—do not interfere! If you can play deaf and dumb on these military matters, it will be a blessing for the realm!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant is terrified, unworthy to be Chancellor, and begs to resign...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Resign what?\" Zhao Jiu grew even angrier and threw the chainmail to the ground. \"The Jin army could arrive any moment, and you want to resign over a little grievance... You feel wronged? Don't I? Every time we fight, I have to coax the front and soothe the rear—one moment worrying that the soldiers at the front have had their pay and rations intercepted by officers, the next guarding against you people meddling from behind, then reminding the front troops not to worry about my safety, and then wondering if your words carry hidden meanings... Do you think I wanted to be this emperor?! I want to resign too—will you allow it?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Haowen and the others stood in solemn silence, while the sole military officer, Wang Yuan, had already knelt down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, that's how it is.\" As if his anger had suddenly been spent, Zhao Jiu returned to normal and raised his hand slightly. \"Based on Yinshu Ke's past actions, I think he's nine out of ten likely to come. But the more so, the less we should panic... otherwise, we'll play right into his hands. Because this battle has two keys: first, we must not be intimidated by his reputation and abandon a strong city; second, we must not hastily summon Han Shizhong and Wang De here under the pretext of securing the temporary capital, lest we be besieged and our reinforcements ambushed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Haowen and the others had no choice but to exchange glances, suppress their inner anxiety, and bow in acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the councilors had left, even the Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun and the Imperial Army Commander-in-Chief Wang Yuan had to depart out of propriety, leaving only Academician Lin and Staff Officer Liu... Academician Lin was a Hanlin Academician, a close minister by right, while Liu, with his post in the Ministry of War's Bureau of Military Operations, had recently been retained at the emperor's side as a new close attendant, advising on imperial military affairs—commonly known as Staff Officer Liu, a fact known to all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty has worked hard...\" Once the others had gone, Liu Ziyu bowed and sighed, though his words were somewhat cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine, as long as it's useful. I'm used to it.\" Zhao Jiu sat back down under the eaves helplessly, shaking his head at the chess pieces scattered on the ground. \"Yanxiu, you had something else to ask earlier. Why not speak now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are two more questions. One of them Your Majesty knows better than anyone... I was just about to ask about Wanyan Yinshu Ke's past experience and abilities, to remind Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu nodded in understanding and began picking up the chess pieces from the ground alongside Feng Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, I do have one final question.\" Seeing the emperor stoop to pick up pieces, Liu Ziyu wanted to help but, with Feng Yi present, found it awkward to join in. He could only pick up the chainmail and stand to the side, continuing to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak freely.\" Zhao Jiu paused in understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I dare ask Your Majesty: in your heart, do you think this is the time to fight Wanyan Yinshu Ke, or not?\" Liu Ziyu inquired cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\" Zhao Jiu frowned slightly. \"Is it up to me whether Wanyan Yinshu Ke appears here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's not what I meant. I'm asking about Your Majesty's attitude...\" Liu Ziyu glanced at the flustered Academician Lin standing to the side, hesitated briefly, but still asked. \"Do you feel a certain relief, having a battle to fight with Wanyan Yinshu Ke here—at least having something to do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh: \"Do you think I should feel relieved? Or let me ask you instead, Liu Qing—do you think this is the time to fight Wanyan Yinshu Ke?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think not.\" Liu Ziyu answered bluntly. \"I know the strengths and weaknesses of both sides well. Now the temporary capital is unstable, the army is a motley mix, and systems are not yet established—truly not a good time for battle...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you think I'm looking forward to war, that after my gamble on the Huai River succeeded, I don't want to settle down properly?\" Zhao Jiu interrupted, holding a few chess pieces, and smiled back. \"Is that what you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I only said that circumstances are different, with no intention to belittle the achievements on the Huai.\" Liu Ziyu quickly explained. \"The Jin offensive was like a tide. Back then on the Huai, it was at high tide. If not for Your Majesty's success in that battle, the fertile lands of Huainan would likely have fallen to the same fate as Hebei, Jingdong, Jingxi, and Guanxi...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I've seen the Ministry of Revenue's ledgers. The two circuits of Huainan East and West alone can supply a million bolts of silk annually. Add taxes and grain, enough to support a hundred-thousand-strong army. The southeast can support two hundred thousand, Jingxiang once settled can support another two hundred thousand, and Bashu can support a hundred thousand...\" Zhao Jiu suddenly began reciting some recently popular nonsense in the temporary capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unless these regions also adopt the military governor system, they can't support that many.\" Liu Ziyu laughed. \"I estimate that in the end, we'll be lucky to raise two hundred thousand battle-ready troops, but that's enough... However, that's not what I wanted to say. I wanted to ask Your Majesty: now that the Jin tide has receded, why can't we settle down, establish systems, rest and recuperate—first defend, then attack—spend three to five years raising a two-hundred-thousand-strong army, and plan to restore the Two Rivers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu finally shook his head: \"Did you think of this yourself, or is it from Zhang Deyuan and the others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Both.\" Liu Ziyu grew serious. \"Zhang Xiantai feels that Your Majesty, having endured hardships to get here, acts with obvious unease—wanting to do things but not knowing how. And I, having been at Your Majesty's side day and night these past two days, feel that Your Majesty's demeanor stems from fear. But unlike others who fear battle, Your Majesty seems to fear peace—afraid that once the fighting stops, you won't know what to do... Let me inform Your Majesty: Zhang Deyuan has reservations; he keeps such thoughts to himself and dares not speak them to Your Majesty. I am a rough man, and I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A rough man?\" Zhao Jiu sighed and stood up. \"You and Zhang Deyuan are both clever men, and you're both right, but also both wrong... Let me put it this way: you people are all cleverer than the next, but you're often limited by your horizons, and you apply your cleverness in the wrong places.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ziyu was taken aback. This wasn't the first time someone had said his horizons were narrow—the irony was that the person who had said it before had now also become \"limited by horizons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For example, you people—those who advocate peace, those who advocate war, those who advocate defense—regardless of your stance toward the Jin, you always talk to me about systems and precedents, about established rules and family laws, as if once we stabilize and rebuild the systems, everything will be fine.\" Zhao Jiu stroked the chess pieces in his hand and spoke softly. \"But in reality, as I see it, just in military matters, the more thoroughly the Great Song's established rules, family laws, and systems are implemented, the more they only cause harm! Because the Great Song's military precedents, family laws, and systems were from the very beginning designed to guard against internal threats while neglecting external ones! Using your methods, the Great Song would perish even faster!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the words \"guard against internal threats while neglecting external ones,\" Liu Ziyu was struck as if by lightning. He opened his mouth to speak but didn't know what to say. Beside him, Academician Lin also seemed to come to his senses slightly, as if wanting to say something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, having reached this point, Zhao Jiu was like a sluice gate opened—he couldn't stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dropped the chess pieces, stood up from under the eaves, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked at the visibly flustered Liu Ziyu, speaking earnestly: \"Yanxiu, Zhang Deyuan is right—I am indeed uneasy. But the reason for my unease is not that I don't know what to do, but precisely that I know too well what needs to be done! You are also right—I do seem to fear the situation after the Jin withdrawal. But the reason is not that I enjoy war and killing, those barbaric things, but that compared to these matters, other things are far too difficult! In this dynasty, only Wang Anshi devoted himself wholeheartedly to those tasks, and he was nearly slandered as the chief culprit of the Humiliation of Jingkang. In truth, if we could scrape by with a hundred years of peace, would I be willing to do such things? But isn't it that time waits for no one, that I bear the expectations of so many, bear the Humiliation of Jingkang, bear the countless lives lost in the Two Rivers and the Central Plains, and am determined to be a good emperor, determined to act personally, determined to change heaven and earth? If I don't act, what then? And if I do act, how can I not be afraid?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ziyu and Academician Lin were both dumbfounded. Even Feng Yi's eyes darted around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And this is precisely why, even though I know that Chancellor Li and a few others are truly rare comrades who want to resist the Jin, I have placed him far away in the southeast.\" Zhao Jiu continued with a sigh. \"It would be fine to let him govern—perhaps after one or two decades, there might eventually be a general restoration. But since I am determined to act seriously, I cannot watch him go in circles and waste effort... Yanxiu, the Jin are not that strong, and I know the path forward. You need not worry! And tell Zhang Deyuan not to worry either!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant is terrified, unaware of Your Majesty's ambition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In truth, I've been holding this in for a long time. I've wanted to tell someone. Since you came on Zhang Deyuan's behalf, I simply took the opportunity to vent.\" Zhao Jiu suddenly smiled again. \"Don't take it too seriously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Liu Yanxiu not take it seriously?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the other hand, had Zhao Jiu truly spoken all his innermost thoughts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overall conservatism of Great Song's civil official politics; that the Jin would not leave the Song breathing room unless they exhausted their strength; the thorough corruption of the Song military; the potential crises after the Jin; and his personal ambition or aspiration to compete with Yue Pengju for merit... How could he pour all of that out to a Liu Ziyu he had only known for a few days?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nothing more than that this Zhao Jiu, from Hu Yin to Zhang Jun, had suddenly realized the concern his meager staff felt about his recent behavior, and thus used this man to pass a message to Zhang Jun, to reassure everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the rear courtyard of the Caizhou prefectural office fell silent again, before even the time it takes to burn an incense stick, and as Zhao Jiu was carefully counting the chess pieces, finding some missing and searching around, suddenly, the Imperial Army Commander Huyan Tong, who should have just received his orders, rushed in from outside in a panic. \"Your Majesty! The scouts just returned in haste—they report that bandits have appeared to the west!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's the panic?\" Zhao Jiu picked up two chess pieces he had finally found on the ground, placed them in the bowl Feng Yi was holding behind him, and then casually scolded. \"What's there to panic about? I'm not panicking! You, as the sole commander in the city, how can you show fear and panic?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huyan Tong was instantly mortified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: This is because Qidian is stuck, not my fault, right?! Also, the chapter title is wrong, but it doesn't affect reading—don't mind it, everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>",4836,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","bf701ba973952f46867b25c81cadb8ad12de68dc7fd5f67554e64e44de990861","shao-song-chapter-94","shao-song-chapter-92",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]