Chapter 84

Chapter 84

[Li Erfeng Becomes Wanyan Gou – 4]

After ascending the throne, Li Shimin immediately appointed Li Gang Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Vice Director of the Secretariat-in other words, right chief minister. He also restored many officials from the war faction, issued decrees encouraging the relief armies to resist the Jin, and called upon all subjects beneath Heaven to unite against the invaders.

The move stirred a thousand waves. Chief Censor Yan Qi immediately argued, “The Jin hate Li Gang. He should not be chief minister.”

Fan Zongyin, Right Remonstrance Grand Master, agreed. “Li Gang’s reputation exceeds his ability, and his prestige threatens the sovereign. He cannot serve as chief minister.”

Vice Director of the Secretariat Huang Qianshan and Chief Minister Wang Boyan were even more anguished. Devoted to peace, they loudly advocated moving south to Yangzhou and making no preparations to fight or defend.

Notably, Wang Boyan had a student named Qin Hui.

Li Shimin read their memorials in sequence and nearly laughed three times. With a hall full of officials like these, would there be any justice if the Great Song did not fall?

Song officials who served and flattered the Jin had already seen their entire families executed. Some had held offices as high as chief minister, and there had been more than one!

The realm never lacked loyal ministers or brave warriors. But Emperors Qinzong and Huizong had behaved like sieves, filtering out all the true gold and leaving behind cockroaches, bedbugs, and dung beetles. How could the successor not fly into a rage?

Li Shimin concealed his anger and summoned the four men. Sighing repeatedly, he said, “Years of war have unsettled the people. I have long wished to avoid further conflict. If we could move the capital to Yangzhou or Hangzhou and escape war forever, that would be good.”

Wang Boyan was delighted. The young emperor had finally realized that the Jin daddies were not easily provoked. He knelt. “Your Majesty speaks with great wisdom. Such thoughts are the blessing of the people and the state!”

He even shed several convincing tears. “We advocate peace not to preserve ourselves, but for the realm and the Song court! Years of war have ruined livelihoods. The realm cannot endure more turmoil, and the people must not suffer again! Li Gang and Zong Ze pursue fame and profit, using a northern campaign to gain reputation beneath Heaven. They are traitors and must not be indulged!”

Yan Qi, Fan Zongyin, and Huang Qianshan knelt as well and tearfully pleaded, “Precisely. We beg Your Majesty to accept this advice!”

Li Shimin looked deeply moved and choked up with them. “My ministers speak reasonably. I have decided to move south. But the Jin are brutal and may attack Yingtian Prefecture at any moment. What if they strike while we are halfway south?”

Wang Boyan had not expected events to proceed so smoothly. Days ago, the young emperor had energetically demanded resistance; today he had yielded.

After brief thought, he said, “Your Majesty may first issue a decree calling for resistance to stabilize morale, then invoke filial duty and send the Empress Dowager, Empress, princes, and princesses south. Once Yangzhou is secure, Your Majesty and the officials may follow. Meanwhile, order Li Gang, Zong Ze, and their faction to defend the rear. This plan cannot fail!”

Li Shimin wiped his tears and shook his head. “Li Gang and Zong Ze are traitors. How could I employ them? Minister Wang, recommend worthy men instead.”

Wang Boyan choked. After considering, he said, “Zhang Suo and Fu Liang possess modest reputations and may serve.”

“Unsuitable.” Li Shimin shook his head. “They are also dogs of the war faction. I will not employ them.”

Wang Boyan’s face stiffened. He felt as though the young emperor had slapped him publicly, yet wondered whether it was his imagination.

He looked around. His companions appeared awkward and uneasy. Suddenly, he felt his impression was correct.

Yan Qi recommended several generals to defend the rear against the Jin. Every one belonged to the war faction, and Li Shimin rejected them all.

After several repetitions, the four finally sensed something wrong.

Huang Qianshan forced himself to ask, “Since Your Majesty considers the war faction unfit for this responsibility, do you already have a capable general in mind?”

Li Shimin’s gaze passed over their faces, making their skin crawl. Finally, he laughed, left his seat, and warmly clasped Wang Boyan’s hand with an expression of complete trust. “The war faction harbors wicked intentions, and I will not use them. Such an important national task must be entrusted to a veteran like Minister Wang, who has served three sovereigns. Only then can I rest easy.”

Wang Boyan’s facial muscles stiffened. He tried to pull his hand free, but the young emperor’s grip was like iron pincers and left not the slightest gap.

Li Shimin ignored his struggle and said solemnly, “Record an edict. Appoint Right Vice Director Wang Boyan vanguard against the rebels, with Yan Qi, Huang Qianshan, and Fan Zongyin as deputies. They shall immediately proceed north to the Song-Jin front and defend the rear of my southern tour. There must be no delay!”

“…” Wang Boyan: “????”

“…” The other three: “????”

Was His Majesty serious?

Wang Boyan finally understood the burning sensation of being slapped. He immediately knelt and declined. “This subject is old and cannot bear such a responsibility…”

With one exertion of his arm, Li Shimin easily helped the old official rise. He smiled. “Minister Wang is mistaken. That rebel Zong Ze is sixty-nine and can still fight. Upon hearing the two emperors were captured, he marched a hundred li overnight and attempted to cross the Yellow River to cut off the Jin retreat. Minister Wang is only fifty-eight, in the prime of life. Why fear what he does not?”

His kindly gaze swept over the other three ministers, who were streaming cold sweat. “These three beloved ministers need even less explanation. Young and capable, they should contribute their strength to my southern tour!”

Wang Boyan tried to speak again, but Li Shimin’s face turned cold. “Do my ministers intend to obstruct my southern tour and escape from danger? For your own petty interests, you would hinder peace beneath Heaven and the people’s welfare?! How could I employ ministers so disloyal and unrighteous?!”
The four men were like mutes forced to swallow bitter herbs, knowing their own suffering but unable to express it. They wished to defend themselves, but Li Shimin had no interest in listening. “I do not wish to remain in Yingtian Prefecture another moment. When can I begin my southern tour? The Jin may attack at any time, and I can neither sit nor sleep in peace! Do not linger in Nanjing or bring your families. Upon leaving the palace, proceed north immediately and defend my rear. There must be no delay!”

“Men!” he called. “Carry out my decree. Send these four north immediately, on the fastest horses!”

Wang Boyan still wished to speak, but Li Shimin released his hand and shoved him outward. The Imperial Guards caught him, seized his arms, and dragged him away. The other three received identical treatment.

The horses had long been prepared. Press each man into the saddle, crack a whip, and they could depart. Escorts followed behind to deliver them to the front where Song and Jin armies confronted each other.

Run away? Impossible.

Surrender to the Jin upon arrival?

Do not forget where their families remained!

Actually fight the Jin?

If they could fight, would they have joined the surrender faction?

The four men suffered indescribably.

That was precisely what Li Shimin wanted.

The Jin had invaded, devastated the people, and left ruins everywhere. Yet some men stood aside making glib remarks and crying for peace. Clearly, the blade had never fallen upon their own bodies, so they did not know pain.

How should one deal with such men?

Simple. If they did not understand pain, send them straight to the Song-Jin front and let them experience it personally.

Perfect.

Fan Zongyin rode poorly. Within several dozen li, he fell from his horse several times. When they stopped at a post station that evening, his legs trembled and his body was covered in savage bruises.

The others were civil officials accustomed to luxury and fared little better.

Fan Zongyin forced himself to tell the Imperial Guard escorting-or imprisoning-them north, “My riding is truly poor, and the jolting causes great suffering. Could we travel more slowly?”

The guard glared. “Insolence! This is an imperial decree. If you delay His Majesty’s southern tour, can you bear responsibility? What place do the people and their welfare hold in your heart?!”

Fan Zongyin: “…”

Wang Boyan was fifty-eight, which made him a standard old man of this age. He could not compare physically with a military man like Zong Ze. After eating dust in the saddle all day, his waist and back ached.

The guard sneered. “Great men are truly forgetful. Everything north of the Yellow River has been scoured by the Jin. Where am I supposed to find you a carriage?”

Wang Boyan bullied the weak and feared the strong. Seeing the man’s ferocity, his voice softened further. Pointing timidly outside, he said, “I saw a donkey cart outside the post station. Find someone to drive it, and it should not slow us much.”

“Yes,” Fan Zongyin agreed. “A donkey cart would still be better than jolting on horseback.”

Yan Qi and Huang Qianshan chimed in. “A donkey cart will do. With a competent driver, it will not be much slower than a horse.”

The guard’s brow darkened. He stared at them in disbelief and fury. “How dare you!”

Fan Zongyin: “????”

The other three: “????”

The guard suddenly drew his saber, seething with indignation. “As Song subjects, you dare use a donkey cart to insinuate insults against Emperor Taizong!”

“…” Fan Zongyin: “????”

The other three: “????”

“We did not! We would never!”

Fan Zongyin argued loudly, “The matter of donkey carts cannot be generalized! Emperor Taizong riding one then and us riding one now are entirely different…”

The guard roared, “You still dare say it! Fan Zongyin, do you intend to rebel?!”

The Imperial Guards stationed around the post station heard the commotion and instantly surrounded them, their expressions arrogant and fierce. “What happened?!”

The first guard pointed at the four men and indignantly recounted the affair.

“Rebellion! As Song subjects, they dare slander Emperor Taizong this way! Send word to Yingtian Prefecture and inform His Majesty immediately!”

“Yes!”

With a sharp crack, Li Shimin slammed his palm upon the table. “The four traitors are outrageous! They dare insult my ancestor so rebelliously. Why not kill them at once?!”

The Imperial Guards accepted the order. The next day, a rider returned to Nanjing, Yingtian Prefecture, reporting that the four traitors were dead and buried locally.

All four had been leaders of the peace faction. When the news spread, court and countryside shook. The peace and surrender factions were furious. Their anger, suppressed since the new emperor’s accession, finally erupted. They knelt outside Qingming Hall and refused to rise.

Wang Boyan’s son knelt at the front in mourning clothes, weeping as he denounced his father’s unjust death. “My father was always respectful. How could he dare insult Emperor Taizong? Moreover, there was neither witness nor physical evidence. How can anyone believe the accusation?”

Li Shimin looked sorrowful and seemed stumped. Covering his face with his sleeve, he replied somewhat guiltily, “Though the written record is unclear, perhaps such a thing occurred.”

The crowd exploded in fury. “Your Majesty, how can the words ‘perhaps it occurred’ convince the realm?!”