Chapter 304

Zhao Kuangyin's vengeful edict, brimming with bone‑deep hatred, was like throwing ice water into boiling oil—it instantly set the court ablaze.

Translation: Zhao Kuangyin's vengeful edict, filled with bone-deep hatred, was like ice dropped into boiling oil—instantly exploding the Great Chen court.

set the court ablaze

Thus: Zhao Kuangyin's vengeful edict, filled with bone-deep hatred, was like ice dropped into boiling oil—instantly setting the Great Chen court ablaze.

Even before the edicts could leave the palace, the civil and military officials who had learned of them were already in an uproar.

Translation: Before the orders to all circuits had even left the palace, the civil and military officials who had heard the news were already in an uproar.

The atmosphere at the next morning's court was so grave it felt almost tangible, as if water could drip from it.

Translation: At the next morning's regular audience, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed almost to drip water.

In the Purple Hall, incense drifted lazily, but it could not dispel the tension and agitation filling the air.

Translation: In the Purple Hall, the imperial incense curled, yet it could not dispel the intense agitation pervading the air.

Chen Wen sat high on the throne, his ceremonial beads hanging low, calmly observing the officials below who could no longer contain themselves.

Translation: Chen Wen sat high upon the throne, his crown beads hanging down, calmly gazing at the officials below who could no longer restrain themselves.

He knew a storm was unavoidable.

Translation: He knew a storm was unavoidable.

Indeed, as soon as the ceremonies ended, a scarlet‑robed, stern‑faced censor stepped forward, ivory tablet in hand, his voice booming like a bell.

Translation: Indeed, as the rites ended, a censor in scarlet robes, stern-faced, stepped forward first, holding an ivory tablet, his voice booming like a bell.

"Your Majesty! I, Inspector Censor Liu Bing, have a memorial to submit!"

Translation: "Your Majesty! I, Investigating Censor Liu Bing, have a memorial to present!"

"Speak."

Translation: "Speak."

Liu Bing took a deep breath, raised his voice, and his words reverberated across the spacious hall.

Translation: Liu Bing drew a deep breath and spoke loudly; his voice echoed through the vast hall.

"The western frontiers seethe with evil vapors; the phantom court in the mirror; Zhao the traitor, Kuangyin, has brazenly assumed a title and issued this raving edict, insulting Your Majesty, scorning Heaven's mandate, and treating our great Chen as if it were nothing!"

Translation: "Demonic mists in the western borders, the false Song in the mirror, the traitor Zhao Kuangyin, arrogantly assuming a title, even daring to issue this mad-barking edict, insulting Your Majesty, scorning heavenly might, treating our Great Chen as nothing!"

"Such a heinous humiliation is unprecedented!"

Translation: "Such utter disgrace has never been seen in ages!"

"I believe they depend on dark arts, using these sinister tricks; they look terrifying, but are actually weak at heart."

Translation: "I believe they rely on evil arts, playing these ghostly tricks; though they seem fearsome, they are actually strong outside, weak within!"

"Our Great Chen is newly founded, our forces are keen, our soldiers fight loyally, and Your Majesty is divinely gifted in war—how can we tolerate this marauder's arrogance?"

Translation: "Our newly established Great Chen has sharp troops, devoted soldiers, and Your Majesty, heaven‑endowed martial prowess—how can we allow this villain to run rampant?"

"Let us emulate Your Majesty's former thunderous strike against the lairs: immediately raise the nation's army, march west beyond the Light Curtain, plow the courtyard and sweep the den, in one fell swoop crush the false Song, seize and kill Zhao the rebel, and end the threat forever."

Translation: "Let us emulate Your Majesty's former thunderous sweep of lairs, immediately dispatch the nationwide troops, go west out of the Light Curtain, plow their courts and sweep their lairs, in one strike pacify the False Song, seize and kill Zhao the traitor, to eliminate future trouble!"

"Raise our nation's prestige and fulfill our heavenly mandate!"

Translation: "Exalt our nation's prestige, uphold our heavenly mandate!"

Hardly had he finished speaking when a number of generals and eager young officials echoed his words in unison.

Translation: Before his words faded, several generals and vigorous young civil officials chorused their agreement.

"Inspector Liu's words are absolutely right!"

Translation: "Investigating Censor Liu's words are absolutely correct!"

"Your Majesty, I wish to lead the vanguard and will surely bring back Zhao Kuangyin's head as tribute."

Translation: "Your Majesty, I, the lowly general, wish to be the vanguard—I will surely bring Zhao Kuangyin's head to present!"

"The fledgling false Song is still weak; now is the moment to press forward and crush it in one strike."

Translation: "The False Song has just been founded, its foundations unsteady—now is the time to strike with one burst and crush them before breakfast!"

The warhawks' voices rang high and fierce, imbued with the vigor of a newborn dynasty and an unassailable sense of dignity.

Translation: The war faction's voice rose high and fierce, carrying the vigor and inviolable dignity of a newly established dynasty.

Yet a steady, composed voice promptly rose, overriding them.

Translation: Yet another steady voice immediately rose, suppressing it.

"Your Majesty, I, Minister of Revenue Zhang Cheng, hold a different view."

Translation: "Your Majesty, I, Minister of Revenue Zhang Cheng, hold a different view."

Zhang Cheng grasped his tablet, stepped forward slowly, his brow heavy with worry.

Translation: Zhang Cheng held the tablet, stepped forward slowly, his brow furrowed with deep worry.

"Inspector Liu's loyalty and courage are admirable, yet war is a grave state affair, a matter of life and death, that demands careful scrutiny."

Translation: "Investigating Censor Liu is loyal and brave, commendable, but military affairs are the state's utmost concern, a matter of life and death—cannot be neglected."

"First, the Light Curtain is mysterious and impenetrable; how can our forces get through? If they cannot, stationing the nation's army at the frontier would merely waste supplies and achieve nothing."

Translation: "First, that Light Curtain is mysterious and impregnable—how can our army pass through? If we cannot, deploying the nationwide troops at the border would waste grain and labor in vain;"

"Second, even if we could breach it, we lack any knowledge of the enemy's geography, forces, dispositions, or popular mood—a grave strategic blunder, akin to a blind man riding a blind horse toward a deep abyss."

Translation: "Second, even if a way exists, we know nothing of the enemy's terrain, troop strength, deployments, or popular sentiment—this is a major military taboo, like a blind man riding a blind horse at night approaching a deep pool;"

"Third, just as crucial—the national treasury."

Translation: "Third, equally vital—the treasury."

He raised his eyes to the throne, his voice grave.

Translation: He raised his eyes, gazed toward the throne, his tone heavy.

Last year's massive battle at Jinzhou drained huge funds; the new Hebei policies demanded heavy spending; postwar relief and reconstruction throughout the realms also incurred substantial costs;

Translation: Last year's Battle of Gold Prefecture consumed vast sums; the new policies in North River required great investment; post‑war relief and reconstruction across the regions also entailed considerable expense;

Though the treasury is not bare, its reserves have dwindled.

Translation: The treasury is not empty, yet reserves are already scarce;

If we were to mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops for a western campaign now, where would the provisions, arms, rewards, and laborers come from?

Translation: If we now launch another several‑hundred‑thousand‑strong western expedition, provisions, armaments, rewards, laborers… where will the grain and money come from?

Or… must we levy extra taxes on the populace?

Translation: Could it be… that we must levy extra taxes on the people?

His final remark, posed with extreme caution, hit many hearts like a heavy blow.

Translation: His final question, asked most cautiously, yet struck many hearts like a heavy hammer.

"Minister Zhang, you are wrong!"

Translation: "Minister Zhang's words are mistaken!"

Another official stepped forward, the Deputy Minister of War.

Translation: Another official stepped forward—namely, the Vice Minister of War.

"Have you not heard the saying, 'How can one tolerate another's snoring beside one's bed'? The false Song and we are already locked in a mortal struggle."

Translation: "Have you not heard 'How can one allow others to snore beside one's bed'? False Song and we are already in a life‑and‑death struggle;"

"If we do not root it out now, once its strength grows and it allies more closely with the remnants of the Iron Crow army, it will become a grave internal menace."

Translation: "If we do not eliminate it today, once its wings are full, it will ally more deeply with the remnants of the Iron Crow Army, surely becoming a grave threat!"

"We can find ways to raise money and supplies, but if we delay until the enemy grows strong, the expense could be ten times greater than now."

Translation: "As for provisions and funds, we can find ways to raise them; but if we wait until the enemy's power grows great, the cost will likely be ten times today's."

"How could we raise the funds?"

Translation: "Raise funds? How to raise them?"

An aged official spoke, his voice trembling.

Translation: An elderly official trembled as he spoke.

"Raise taxes? The people have only just begun to recover; how could we burden them again?"

Translation: "Levy extra taxes? The people have just caught their breath—how could we impose further extortion?"

"Are we to resort again to levies and loans? That path leads to ruin—we have witnessed the former dynasty's collapse plainly before our eyes."

Translation: "Could it be that we intend to implement conscription and advance borrowing again? This is the path to ruin; the previous dynasty's mistakes are plain to see!"

"Are we to just stand idly by while the false emperor raves and grows stronger, merely because our coffers are low?"

Translation: "Is it merely because of financial difficulty that we should sit idly by while that false emperor rants, letting him develop and grow?"

"We certainly cannot stand by, yet we must not rush into war."

Translation: "Of course we cannot sit idly by! But we also cannot rashly raise troops!"

"Our immediate task is to secure domestic stability, build up our strength, and at the same time dispatch envoys to learn the enemy's true situation before deciding on further action."

Translation: "The urgent priority should be to stabilize domestic affairs, accumulate strength, and simultaneously send envoys to ascertain the enemy's reality, then plan thereafter."

"What good would sending envoys do? The edict is written in blood and tears, leaving no room for compromise; it would only bring us shame."

Translation: "Send envoys? That edict, every word blood and tears, clearly leaves no room for reconciliation—what use is sending envoys? Only to suffer humiliation!"

Instantly the court divided into clearly opposed factions.

Translation: At court, it instantly split into clearly distinct factions.

The warhawks spoke with fervor, urging an immediate thunderous strike to crush the threat while it was still in its infancy.

Translation: The war faction, impassioned and fervent, advocates immediately employing thunderous force to nip the threat in the bud.

The cautious elders, steady and grave, stressed the unknown risks and limits of our strength, urging prudence and first shoring up our foundations through investigation.

Translation: The stability faction, mature and prudent, emphasizes unknown risks and limits of national strength, advocates a cautious response, first to investigate and consolidate the foundation.

Moreover, a few suggested trying to make contact with that 'Song'; even if it failed, it could still reveal the enemy's true state.

Translation: Moreover, a few suggest whether we might try to make contact with that "Song", even if unsuccessful, we could still gauge its reality.

Both sides quoted scripture and clung to their positions, arguing until their faces flushed.

Translation: Both sides cite classics, each holding to their own argument, debating until faces red and ears flushed.

Within the Purple Hall, it suddenly became as clamorous as a marketplace.

Translation: Within the Purple Hall, for a moment it was as noisy as a market.

On the dragon throne, Chen Wen stayed silent, quietly listening to the officials' debate.

Translation: Upon the dragon throne, Chen Wen remained silent, quietly listening to the officials' debate.

He understood the warhawks' anger and urgency, as well as the caution and concern of the prudential faction.

Translation: He understood the war faction's anger and urgency, also grasped the stability faction's concerns and prudence.

Each of their positions had its own validity.

Translation: Their viewpoints each have merit.

But none of that was the answer he was looking for.

Translation: But none of these is the answer he wants.

His eyes slowly swept across the arguing officials, finally settling on the copy of the Vengeful Edict left abandoned in the corner of the imperial desk.

Translation: His gaze slowly swept over the arguing officials, finally landing on the copy of the Vengeance Edict set aside in the corner of the imperial desk.

The icy text, the bone‑deep hatred, and the faint, lurking shadow of the Iron Crow army behind it.

Translation: Those icy words, that bone‑deep hatred, and behind them the faint shadow of the Iron Crow Army.

All of this clearly points to a fact—this is not a conflict that can be resolved by luck or a brief assault.

This will be a protracted, all‑directional contest that tests the comprehensive national strength and will of the two states.

When the argument subsided slightly, everyone's gaze involuntarily gathered again on the throne.

Chen Wen finally spoke.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried a peculiar penetrative power that instantly calmed all the agitation in the hall.

"All of your words have merit."

He rose slowly, and the jade beads on his crown gently clicked with his movement.

"Imperial Censor Liu is loyal and brave, wishing to wipe away the nation's shame; I am greatly pleased by this;"

"Minister Zhang plans for the state, considering the long term; this too is the words of an elder."

He first affirmed the core motives of both sides, easing the originally opposed atmosphere somewhat.

But immediately afterward, his tone shifted sharply, becoming keen and resolute.

"Yet you all only see the surface, not the root."

He picked up the "Vengeance Edict," his gaze icy.

"Zhao Kuangyin is merely a puppet;"

"Although his hatred is genuine and his resolve firm, the force driving this False Song forward is absolutely not his personal grudge alone."

"It is that hidden mastermind behind the scenes, who seeks to forcibly correct the world with the so‑called 'script,' the lord of the Iron Crow Army!"

"Do you think this war is merely a clash between our Great Chen and that False Song?"

His question rang out like a thunderclap in everyone's ears.

Many officials showed signs of contemplation.

"Not so!"

Chen Wen asked and answered himself, his voice decisive and unyielding.

"This war is the 'reality' forged by the millions of soldiers and civilians of our Great Chen, with flesh and blood and spirited resolve;"

"and the confrontation with the lord of the Iron Crow Army, who seeks to impose a cold 'script' through sorcerous replication!"

"It is a clash of two paths, two destinies!"

His gaze was like a torch, sweeping over the entire assembly.

"If we follow the war‑hawks' counsel and rashly raise troops to pierce the curtain and fight, the outcome remains uncertain, which is secondary;"

"If we fall into the trap of the hidden mastermind behind the curtain, luring our main force into his preset battlefield, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

"If we follow the steadfast‑defense counsel and merely hold fast, watching him develop his 'script,' accumulate strength, wait until his power matures and he allies with the four quarters, our dynasty will become even more passive!"

He paused, then gave his decision.

"Therefore, my resolve is set——"

All the officials held their breath and focused.

"Against the False Song, strategically despise it, tactically value it!"

"Do not lightly provoke arms because of its barking, nor relax vigilance because it is newly established!"

"This is not a temporary, local expedition; it is a prolonged contest of national destiny!"

His voice rang clearly into every official's ears.

"Effective immediately, the entire nation shall enter a state of 'extraordinary readiness'!"

"Internally, led by Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru, we will accelerate new policies, encourage agriculture and sericulture, develop waterworks, prosper industry and commerce, fill the treasury, unite the people—this is to strengthen the foundation and nurture the essence, accumulating Fortune Momentum!"

"Externally, led by the Privy Council and Ministry of War, we will organize and train troops, refine soldiers, update armaments, using the Western Border Governor's Office as the core to build a solid defense line, and actively seek ways to penetrate and counter the light curtain!"

"With Qian Gui's Jing'an Office as the lead, we will tightly monitor the interior, eradicate spies and traitors, and spare no expense to infiltrate False Song territory to obtain every possible intelligence!"

"With Lao Nian Zhao's Ministry of Works as the lead, we will fully research the secrets of Yin energy and Fortune Momentum, striving to achieve breakthroughs in equipment and armaments, thereby creating a generational advantage!"

He laid out each point, incorporating the reasonable parts of both sides' arguments into this grander, more patient strategic framework.

"What I desire is not a hasty victory;"

"What I desire is a Great Chen that utterly overwhelms the opponent in politics, economy, military, popular sentiment, and technology—flawless and supreme!"

"When our dynasty's foundations are deep, the treasury full, weapons sharp, and we can perceive the enemy's reality and illusion……"

Chen Wen's gaze turned once more to the west, his tone solemn, carrying an undeniable confidence and dignity.

"Then the False Song and its hidden manipulator shall meet their beginning of destruction!"

"This is the way to break the impasse, and also the path to certain victory for our Great Chen!"

The hall fell silent.

Both sides of the earlier debate carefully savored the emperor's lofty decision.

It discarded the rash adventure of seeking quick success and also denied the passive conservative retreat.

It pointed to a more arduous yet more solid contest, with firmer foundations, a comprehensive competition.

"Your Majesty is sagacious!"

Zhang Cheng led the bow, heartfelt and sincere.

"Your subjects shall faithfully obey your edict!"

"Your Majesty is sagacious!"

Wang Ru, Qian Gui, and other senior officials, even the former war‑hawks like Liu Bing, all bowed in unison, speaking with one voice.

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

The court's dispute is settled here.

The great vessel of Great Chen, under his helm, adjusted its course, sailing toward a deeper, more turbulent and perilous unknown waters where it will engage in an all‑directional contest of national destiny with the "mirror" arch‑enemy and its hidden mastermind.