Chapter 419

Shi Jingtang's death had a considerable impact, the greatest of which was that it once again laid bare the cruelty of this age.

As the greatest warlord of this chaotic era — the Emperor of the Central Plains — from the Later Liang to the Later Tang, and now to the Later Jin, Shi Jingtang was only the second emperor who could be said to have met a good end.

And the previous emperor who had met a good end was none other than his father-in-law, Li Siyuan, Mingzong of the Later Tang.

In the thirty-four years since Zhu Quanzhong destroyed the Tang and set himself up as emperor in 907, opening the chaotic era of the Five Dynasties,

the three emperors of the Later Liang and the four emperors of the Later Tang met fates that were, by and large, much the same.

Zhu Wen, Taizu of the Later Liang, was murdered by his son Zhu Yougui.

The deposed emperor Zhu Yougui was in turn overthrown and killed by his younger brother Zhu Youzhen.

And the last emperor, Zhu Youzhen, before Li Cunxu of the Silver Spear Effectively-Serving Army entered Bianliang, ordered his trusted follower Huangfu Lin to kill him.

And the Later Tang, which had destroyed the Zhu Liang, did not escape this fate either.

Zhuangzong Li Cunxu, because of the political rot of his late years and his attempt to use actors and palace eunuchs to seize military power from the regional commanders, was besieged by rebel troops and finally died atop the Xingjiao Gate.

Then came Li Siyuan's son, Min of the Later Tang, Li Conghou, who was rebelled against by Li Siyuan's adopted son Li Congke, who raised troops at Fengxiang, and was finally murdered.

Li Congke was the one whom Shi Jingtang brought the great Khitan army south against; before they captured the Eastern Capital, he burned himself and his entire family to death atop the Xuanwu Tower.

And even for Li Siyuan and Shi Jingtang, who did meet good ends, those good ends must be marked with a very large question mark.

For Li Siyuan died of grief and shock after the Prince of Qin, Li Congrong, failed in his armed seizure of power and was killed.

And Shi Jingtang was even more aggrieved: he was battered in turn by Yelu Deguang, Liu Zhiyuan, and Zhang Zhao, yet he could do nothing to any of them, and could only die in despondency — one could say he was angered to death.

Only by sorting through the miserable fates of these Five Dynasties emperors can one see clearly the cruelty of the present situation — cruel to every single person.

By the time of the Later Zhou, the political situation began to stabilize. To be sure, part of the reason was the great talent and bold vision of men like Chai Rong and Zhao Kuangyin.

But an even greater reason was that even the military men, the wave-riders of this age, had grown weary of this endless slaughter and this life of never knowing if they would see the next morning.

Once a true enlightened lord appeared, everyone seemed to rush to pledge loyalty to him — this was the beginning of the people's longing for peace.

Although the Eastern Capital, Kaifeng Prefecture, was thousands of li away from Liangzhou in Hexi, the news of Shi Jingtang's death was still delivered to Hexi at the first possible moment.

This was not something Shi Chonggui had specially ordered; rather, it was because Empress Li had misunderstood Shi Jingtang's meaning before his death. She thought Shi Jingtang wanted to see Princess Yongle one more time.

So the moment Shi Jingtang breathed his last, she dispatched riders at full speed to Liangzhou to summon Princess Yongle back to the Eastern Capital, Kaifeng Prefecture.

Of course, this message was not delivered first to Murong Xinzhang and Princess Yongle; it was delivered first to Zhang Zhao's desk.

After all, in the Hexi of today, Zhang Zhao was the man whose word was law. No one dared to go over his head and report any news from the Later Jin court to anyone — not even Murong Xinzhang.

Lady Cao Sanniang, her belly slightly rounded, brought Zhang Chao a bowl of chicken soup.

At Lady Cao Sanniang's age, Zhang Zhao had originally not intended to let her become pregnant again.

In this age there was no cesarean section, nor any Down syndrome screening or the like. Sanniang was already thirty-five this year — even in later ages, she would firmly count as an older expectant mother.

But continuing the family line was, one could say, the most important work of a woman in this age — bar none.

Lady Cao Sanniang was utterly unwilling, while she was still of childbearing age, to give up the right to bear children.

In her view, a woman dying in the birthing chamber was the same as a man dying on the battlefield — that was simply her fate!

The female perpetuates the offspring; the male uses every means to guarantee the offspring's right to survive — this was the truest truth of this age.

Zhang Zhao reached out and handed the letter sent by Empress Li's messenger to Lady Cao Sanniang. Sanniang took it and looked it over; only after a long while did she shake her head with deep feeling.

"The Lord of Jin was already one of the few Sons of Heaven of the Central Plains since the fall of the Great Dynasty to meet a good end. So why do I still feel that he lived so miserably?"

Zhang Zhao curled his lip in a silent smile. How could it not be miserable?

These military men, ever since the An Lushan Rebellion, had been running wild, thinking that with the blades in their hands they could do anything.

But what they never realized was that armed force is precisely the most unstable order in this world.

Once armed force is lost — or even before that, once there is no basic moral and legal restraint — no one is a beneficiary.

All those who appear glorious, whether you are the Son of Heaven or a Military Governor, must bear this terrible backlash.

Zhang Zhao stated his views concisely, and Lady Cao Sanniang nodded repeatedly as she listened.

"So is this why Erlang behaves so cautiously in this regard — to guard against falling into the same dreadful cycle as the Sons of Heaven of the Central Plains?"

Zhang Zhao nodded as well, discussing these matters with Lady Cao Sanniang without the slightest taboo.

"That is indeed so. Right now I use loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness to bind my own hands — it may look a little foolish, but in truth I am also using loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness to bind the hands of those below me.

We would rather take slower steps than fall into this dreadful cycle again.

Back then, Li Yazi of the Tang's Zhuang Temple was such a hero, yet even he ended with not a bone left intact atop the Xingjiao Gate — that is warning enough for me."

Lady Cao Sanniang nodded in agreement. Even more than Zhang Zhao, she hoped to break free of this dreadful cycle.

Because if Zhang Zhao ever fell to that state, for him it would at worst be death — but for his consorts and children, they would likely suffer fates far more miserable than death.

"Then should we still notify Xinzhang and Yongle of this matter?"

After all, it concerned her own son and daughter-in-law, and Lady Cao Sanniang still kept the matter in mind. Shi Jingtang was, however one put it, her son's brother-in-law.

Zhang Zhao turned his head, took Lady Cao Sanniang's hand, and asked her.

"Sanniang has always been a heroine among women. Do you think I should send someone to offer condolences?"

What Zhang Zhao asked about was offering condolences, not whether to notify Murong Xinzhang and Princess Yongle.

Because in his view, notification was a certainty — there was no need to hide it, and it was nothing shameful. It was just that he had contributed greatly to the matter of angering Shi Jingtang to death.

Lady Cao Sanniang, who had known Zhang Zhao for many years, did not suspect that Zhang Zhao was using these words to test her. She nodded lightly and said,

"When the Great King first founded his state and sent his proclamation to the world, his words toward the Lord of Jin were so resolute. Yet as this slave sees it, the Great King's final intent was still to reconcile with the Jin state.

After all, if we provoked the Central Plains court into throwing its full strength against our Hexi, the loss would outweigh the gain. Better to divert their anger toward the Khitan.

But if we send someone to offer condolences, then after the Great King's earlier proclamation was so firm, to now go pressing close again would likely earn us the world's ridicule as fickle and inconstant.

And on the Jin side, one cannot say whether the now-enthroned Prince of Zheng, Shi Chonggui, would even be willing to accept our condolences.

But if we do not go, I fear the world's criticism will be even greater, saying the Great King still wants to contend with a dead man. And if Shi Chonggui feels he has been slighted by the Great King, then the enmity will grow very deep indeed."

Lady Cao Sanniang was, as always, analyzing the pros and cons for Zhang Zhao, while Zhang Zhao merely chuckled.

"Sanniang, you've said so much — I can tell you must already have a plan. Why not share it with me?"

Lady Cao Sanniang smiled at this, walked around behind Zhang Zhao, and began kneading his shoulders as she said unhurriedly.

"The Jin sovereign and Empress Li raised Yongle with their own hands. To her, they are no different from her own parents.

And since Yongle married into our family, she has been virtuous, gentle, and kind. Why not let Xinchang and Yongle go to Kaifeng in the Eastern Capital in a private capacity to pay their condolences?

While there, they can also meet and confer with Prince of Zheng Shi Chonggui, and sound things out in advance of Your Majesty's envoy."

Zhang Zhao nodded. It seemed workable. It was indeed not appropriate for him to send an envoy to the Eastern Capital right now, but letting Murong Xinzhang and his wife go back was fine.

Murong Xinzhang's residence was quite far from the Yongxun Palace — this was one of the things Zhang Zhao most appreciated about Murong Xinzhang.

Originally, according to Zhang Zhao's wishes, his residence was to be granted nearby, right beside the Yongxun Palace.

After all, he needed to enter the palace at any time, and it would also be convenient for Lady Cao Sanniang to go out and see him now and then.

But Murong Xinzhang had insisted on choosing the farthest residence, a full several li from the Yongxun Palace.

The ostensible reason, of course, was that he liked to go out hunting and sightseeing at any time, so he chose one near the city wall. But the most direct reason, Zhang Zhao knew very well.

Murong Xinzhang's position was now somewhat special. Although Zhang Zhao trusted him, there were still certain situations that required caution.

For instance, living close would indeed make it very convenient for the two of them to meet. But at times, that could also be understood as facilitating other things — such as bringing troops into the palace more quickly.

And so, because of the distance, by the time Murong Xinzhang arrived, the pregnant Lady Cao Sanniang had already gone off to rest, unable to hold off her drowsiness.

After Murong Xinzhang read the letter, no joy or sorrow showed on his face, but he was still deeply moved.

He had lived in Kaifeng in the Eastern Capital for over half a year, and Shi Jingtang had treated him, one could not say, ungenerously.

The woman he married was merely a princess of the fallen Tang, yet he had still received the title of Commandant of Consorts.

He had also successively held symbolic military offices such as General-in-Chief of the Left Feathered Forest Army and General-in-Chief of the Left and Right Dragon-Soaring Armies.

Shi Jingtang had in fact very much wanted to keep Murong Xinzhang by his side, but in the end, due to Zhang Zhao's strong demands and Murong Xinzhang's own opposition, he could only let him leave.

But allowing Princess Yongle to leave with him was a great exception. Since ancient times, no man who had married a princess had ever been treated as he was.

"Feeling a little sorrowful?" Zhang Zhao asked calmly.

Murong Xinzhang hesitated briefly, then nodded.

"A little. The Son of Heaven was actually a pitiable man. He was pushed step by step to this point."

"A pitiable man must have his detestable side! And Shi Jingtang's actions were far too extreme.

He could have achieved his goal of bringing Khitan troops south simply by serving the Khitan as a father and giving them more gold, silver, silk, and brocade.

But instead he cut away the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan-Yun in one stroke, all to achieve a goal that no one could imitate.

Had he ceded even a few prefectures fewer, he would not have fallen into such a plight, nor would the Khitan's power have swelled so rapidly.

And all of this, in the end, will require the blood of our brave soldiers to repay the debt he alone incurred."

Zhang Zhao knew that Murong Xinzhang would certainly harbor some fondness for Shi Jingtang's kindness, so he had to make this point clear. He could not let Murong Xinzhang go to the Eastern Capital to pay condolences with such a mindset.

Murong Xinzhang thought for a moment, then nodded. "Father is right. Shi Jingtang may be pitiable, but that does not cover the harm he brought upon the realm.

Without the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan-Yun, the Khitan would be nothing to fear. With the land of Yan-Yun, we will need the blood of tens of thousands of brave warriors to win it back."

Zhang Zhao walked over and patted Murong Xinzhang on the shoulder. "It's good that you think this way. One matter is one matter.

Take Yongle and go to Kaifeng in the Eastern Capital at once. You should also make contact with Prince of Zheng Shi Chonggui, and listen carefully to what your sister Empress Li has to say."

At this, Zhang Zhao hesitated slightly. "Zhang Liecheng is in the Eastern Capital right now. He controls our covert network there.

Go find him, and turn some of his covert lines into overt ones. Under your and Yongle's names, establish a permanent presence in the Eastern Capital.

As for those disciples you once took on, find an opportunity for Xianghaier, Wang Shenqi, and the others to make a trip to Hexi."

A troubled expression appeared on Murong Xinzhang's face. "The Brocade Guard envoys are Father's trusted confidants. Would it not be inappropriate for your son to approach them like this?"

Zhang Zhao glared at him. "What's inappropriate about it? I'm the one sending you."

With that, Zhang Zhao stroked his chin. "On the Hedong side, you must continue your contact with that Murong Yanzhao. You may also openly make contact with people like Bai Chengfu.

I imagine Shi Chonggui would be quite pleased to see you go and feel out Liu Zhiyuan's temper. But don't promise anything.

Bai Chengfu is a man of mediocre ability, flattered by all sides. He is not very reliable."

"Your son understands! But since I'll be traveling so far, Hutou will have to be sent to the palace. Father, please look after him for me."

Murong Xinzhang said this with a grin. Zhang Zhao waved his hand, telling him to go down and prepare for departure at once.

Hutou was the son of Murong Xinzhang and Princess Yongle, now just a little over one year old.

Murong Xinzhang's words, though partly motivated by the fact that the journey was too long to bring Hutou along, also carried the possibility of giving Zhang Zhao a measure of reassurance.

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