Chapter 92

Chapter 92

[Li Erfeng Becomes Wanyan Gou – 12]

At these words, Li Shimin stared blankly. A long while later, he suddenly cried out, “Aiya!” Tears poured down like rain. Clenching his fists, he hammered the ground and wailed, “Imperial Father! Imperial Elder Brother!”

He swept his gaze around, hair bristling with rage. “The Jin ravaged our land and caused my father and brother to die unjustly. As a descendant of the Zhao clan, I swear that within my lifetime I will march north to the Supreme Capital and dig up their ancestral temples, avenging Great Song’s Humiliation of Jingkang and the deaths of the Two Sovereigns!”

Empress Dowager Meng and the others behind him immediately knelt facing north. The surrounding officials joined them in grief and wept, their cries carrying for several li.

Yue Fei was wholeheartedly devoted to serving ruler and country, but the many absurd actions of Emperors Qinzong and Huizong had previously filled him with resentment toward them. Now, after hearing Empress Zheng and Noble Consort Cui recount what had happened after they went north and imagining the two emperors’ fierce resolve, his eyes burned and tears soaked his robes. He shuffled several steps forward on his knees and kowtowed. “Fei is willing to lead an army north, welcome back the sacred remains of the Two Sovereigns, and escort them to the imperial mausoleums for burial. I beg Your Majesty’s permission!”

Li Shimin raised a hand to stop him and said with reddened eyes, “The Two Sovereigns first issued an edict of self-reproach confessing their mistakes, then fiercely sacrificed themselves for the state. The great affairs of a state lie in rites and war. What matters most now is not marching north, but building cenotaphs for the Two Sovereigns and spreading their last words throughout the realm, proclaiming their deeds and their thorough repentance. Then we shall issue a denunciation of the Jin to every prefecture and commandery. If ruler and subjects unite to resist the Jin villains, our great undertaking can succeed!”

Yue Fei’s heart surged with passion, and grief-stricken tears fell. “This subject obeys Your Majesty’s command!”

The officials also declared one after another, “Your Majesty is wise!”

Li Shimin then welcomed Empress Zheng and everyone else who had returned south into the palace. He asked Empress Dowager Meng and Empress Wei to comfort the women, while he held a banquet in Jiying Hall for the returning officials. He questioned them about what they had witnessed in the north and discussed the Two Sovereigns’ funeral ceremonies and the future northern campaign.

Li Shimin had long discussed the handling of the women with Empress Wei and Empress Dowager Meng. After everyone reunited in the rear palace, Empress Wei explained the arrangements, causing another round of tears.

The women had suffered every hardship and humiliation after being captured and taken north. When they heard they could return home, delight mingled inevitably with fear. The closer they came to home, the more apprehensive they became. They feared the people of their homeland would despise them for being violated by the Jin and that, after returning, they would have to hang themselves with white silk to preserve the imperial family’s reputation.

The princesses and imperial clanswomen were one matter. The princess consorts and palace consorts felt even more anxious. Hearing Empress Wei’s words now, how could they not be profoundly grateful?

Empress Zheng, Noble Consort Cui, and Noble Consort Qiao also sighed with emotion. “His Majesty is not only an enlightened ruler but also a compassionate man. Heaven must have eyes. Seeing Great Song’s decline fully revealed, it sent him here to turn back the raging tide.”

After the evening palace banquet ended, Empress Wei returned to the bedchamber and finally showed some pity. She said to her husband, “At the city gates earlier, Empress Zheng and the women merely forced themselves to smile. Only after entering the palace, when mothers, daughters, and sisters reunited, did the true misery emerge…”

She removed her hair ornaments and faced the mirror to take off her earrings. Sighing, she added softly, “I also mentioned remarriage, but no one responded. Although the princesses will not be forced to shave their heads and enter religious life, I fear they will never wish to marry again.”

Li Shimin needed only to imagine what these pampered imperial women had endured after the Jingkang Incident to find breathing difficult. If a mere observer suffered simply from thinking about it, how much worse was it for the princesses who had personally experienced everything?

He sighed, placed a hand upon his wife’s shoulder, and said, “Let them choose for themselves. The palace can afford to support them, and they are all pitiful people. When you have time, comfort them properly.”

Empress Wei nodded, then asked softly, “Husband, at the city gates today, Empress Zheng said the Two Sovereigns entrusted even their last words to her and must already be dead. Can those words be trusted?”

Li Shimin smiled. “If those words cannot be trusted, what can? After the Two Sovereigns were captured and taken north, Empress Zheng and the Noble Consorts remained imprisoned with them. Would they lie?”

Empress Wei laughed. A trace of disdain entered her expression. “This concubine does not think the Two Sovereigns were such unyielding men. I fear they could not bring themselves to die for the state.”

“But none of that matters now.”

Li Shimin said, “Empress Zheng said they spoke those words and did those deeds. The Noble Consorts agreed, I nodded and accepted it, and Li Gang has already taken charge of constructing their cenotaphs. Therefore, they are dead. Even if they are still alive, they are dead!”

The Ministry of Personnel compiled a list of officials who had died for righteousness in the north. Under Li Gang’s urging, the Ministry of Rites swiftly drew up arrangements for the Two Sovereigns’ cenotaphs. At the same time, talented scholars worked through the night to compose a rousing denunciation of the Jin. After His Majesty and the chancellors reviewed it, it was circulated throughout the realm.

During court deliberations the next day, Li Shimin ordered posthumous titles granted to the officials who had died for righteousness. At the same time, he vigorously promoted young generals such as Yue Fei, Meng Gong, Wang Jian, and Yu Yunwen.

The name Yu Yunwen blasted Zhu Yuanzhang out of the space. He poked his head out to look. Seeing the man’s imposing appearance and extraordinary heroic bearing, he sighed. “One glance tells you he is a good child.”

Liu Che: “…”

Did being a good child have anything to do with appearance? Zhu Yuanzhang simply had a filter for anyone named Yunwen.

Li Shimin also sighed with emotion. He summoned Yu Yunwen closer and studied him carefully, then asked, “Are you Boshi’s descendant?”

Yu Yunwen privately wondered why His Majesty addressed his ancestor with such familiarity, but showed nothing unusual. He respectfully answered, “Yes. This subject’s ancestor, Lord Yu Shinan, was one of the Twenty-Four Meritorious Officials of Emperor Taizong of Tang’s Lingyan Pavilion. This subject is his descendant.”

Emotion surged through Li Shimin. Seeing a trace of his old acquaintance in Yu Yunwen’s face, he stood, patted the man’s shoulder, and encouraged him. “Boshi possessed five supreme qualities: virtue, loyalty and integrity, broad learning, literary talent, and calligraphy. You are his descendant. You must not disappoint me!”

Yu Yunwen: “…”

Yu Yunwen bowed. “Yes!”

After leaving Wende Hall, Meng Gong, who had been received with him, could not help asking, “Binfu, have you ever met the Reigning Emperor before?”
Yu Yunwen shook his head. “Never.”

“Then that is strange.” Meng Gong said in confusion, “From His Majesty’s tone just now, it sounded as though he knew your ancestor.”

Yu Yunwen: “…”

Yu Yunwen: “It must have been an illusion?”

Meng Gong: “Hahahaha, of course it was!”

Yu Shinan had lived during Great Tang’s Zhenguan era. How could His Majesty possibly know him?

While the denunciation of the Jin spread throughout the realm, the Jin envoys safely brought Zongfu and the other two to Zonghan. Because the three held extraordinary status, Zonghan personally led his deputy generals out to receive them. He waited in the cold wind for half a day, yet saw no people-only three battered rolls of dough.

Zonghan seized the envoy by the collar and lifted him, his face savage. “Where are the men?!”

With difficulty, the envoy pointed at the three battered figures beside him. “There.”

The wounds of Zongfu and the other two had received simple treatment. Now that they had reached Zonghan, military physicians naturally examined them again. Before long, one reported to Zonghan with a mournful expression. “The Third Prince and the others suffered puncture wounds beneath their tongues and cannot speak. They must avoid foods that are too sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, or salty, and should avoid alcohol entirely if possible. All their fingernails were pulled out, so their hands cannot touch water. Both legs are effectively crippled, and their internal organs have also suffered varying degrees of injury…”

Halfway through the report, Zonghan closed his eyes, veins bulging upon his forehead.

Wanyan Zonghan’s expression turned sinister, and he remained silent for a long while. Suddenly, an attendant came to report from outside. “Marshal, the Third Prince and the others want to see you!”

Wanyan Zonghan’s brows jumped. “Did the physician not say they cannot speak until the wounds beneath their tongues heal?”

Heavy pity filled the attendant’s face and voice. “They seem to have something extremely important to tell you. They do not care that their tongues are bleeding. Marshal, hurry and see them!”

Wanyan Zonghan delayed no longer and went to the command tent where Zongfu and the others were housed. The moment he lifted the flap and met their gazes, the three battered rolls of dough became agitated. They repeatedly mumbled a single word at him. But their injured tongues would not stop bleeding, and their pronunciation was impossible to understand.

Zonghan reacted quickly. “Stop speaking. Write it for me!”

Wanyan Xiyin painfully extended a finger stripped of its nail and slowly traced the character Qin upon the table, followed by kill.

Zonghan froze, then understood. “Are you saying a man surnamed Qin did this to you, and you want me to kill him?!”

Zongfu and the other two nodded vigorously!

Zonghan frowned. “But countless men are surnamed Qin. Do you know his full name?”

Wanyan Xiyin’s finger trembled as he traced Hui after Qin.

Wanyan Zonghan: “…”

Seriously, brother?

That was the agent he had planted in the Song.

Wanyan Zonghan swallowed with difficulty. “Could there be some mistake? I know this man. Though he is a Song subject, he defected to Great Jin long ago. I sent him back to Dongjing only recently so he could serve as our agent…”

Zongfu and the other two suddenly became wildly agitated. If comments could have floated above their heads, the air would certainly have filled with profanity.

Wanyan Xiyin’s entire body convulsed. Trembling, he traced four characters upon the table: betrayed Jin, joined Song. White foam sprayed from the corners of his mouth.

Wanyan Zonghan understood the unspoken meaning, and his expression instantly darkened.

Zonghan knew better than anyone what Qin Hui was. He was a useful dog, but possessed no loyalty or gratitude whatsoever. He could abandon his mother country. How could anyone expect such a man to remain devoted to the Jin?

He had called himself an agent, but in truth, after seeing the Song grow strong, he had simply defected back. He deliberately tortured Zongfu and the other two to prove himself to the Song. Given Qin Hui’s character, he was absolutely capable of such a thing!

After thinking for several moments, Wanyan Zonghan’s fury burned even hotter. He gently comforted Zongfu and the others, then ordered a letter sent to Dongjing demanding the immediate surrender of the Song official Qin Hui, courtesy name Huizhi, who had injured the three men. Otherwise, he would massacre every Song city in Hebei.

That morning, Li Shimin issued an edict of self-reproach in the names of Emperors Qinzong and Huizong. That afternoon, he and the court officials wept and offered sacrifices before the Two Sovereigns’ cenotaphs. The entire court burned with grief and desire for war. At that moment, Wanyan Zonghan’s letter arrived in Dongjing.

Li Shimin opened and read it once, then slammed the table, hair bristling with rage. “The Jin villains have gone too far!”

The letter circulated among the officials. From the chancellors down to fifth-rank officers, every face showed fury. Zong Ze, Han Shizhong, Yue Fei, and younger generals such as Meng Gong, Wang Jian, and Yu Yunwen all requested permission to fight.

When Qin Hui saw that Zonghan’s letter demanded him, cold sweat instantly covered his body. Then, seeing the attitude of the emperor and officials, he lowered his violently pounding heart back into his belly. Kneeling, he offered several pretty words about his willingness to sacrifice himself for state and family.

Zong Ze instead declared, “This subject requests permission to campaign and destroy that villain Zonghan for Your Majesty!”

Han Shizhong, Yue Fei, and the others also stepped forward. “We too are willing to offer our meager strength for the state!”

Li Gang and several others felt their eyelids twitch. They hurriedly stepped forward. Zhu Shengfei moved so forcefully that his backside knocked Qin Hui to the ground.

Qin Hui was wondering why the chancellors were so agitated when His Majesty’s eyes blazed above the golden hall and he thundered, “I shall personally lead the campaign!”

Li Gang: “…”

Zhu Shengfei: “…”

Zong Ze: “…”

The other officials of the war faction: “…”

Damn! A type of plant.

They knew this would happen!

Qin Hui looked around and saw the chancellors frowning deeply, unable to conceal their worry. They clearly disapproved, but faced with His Majesty’s unyielding attitude, they ultimately did not speak against him.

Indeed, Qin Hui also found it absurd.

His Majesty was only twenty years old, the Crown Prince still young, and the imperial clan’s male descendants all in the north. If anything happened while he personally led the campaign, would Great Song, which had only just begun recovering, not immediately collapse?

Honestly, was there still time to change sides again and defect back to the Jin?
Waiting online. Urgent.

Forget it. No point waiting. Zongfu and the others had cut the internet cable. What the hell could he still hope for?!

Qin Hui felt genuinely worried and sincerely hoped nothing happened to the young emperor. If His Majesty died on the battlefield, Great Song would collapse immediately afterward. Before Qin Hui could even catch his breath, he would be express-delivered to Zonghan’s tent. Then…

Qin Hui truly did not dare think further!

Li Shimin swiftly settled every matter concerning the northern advance and selected the generals and soldiers who would campaign with him. After eagerly preparing for a long while, his gaze suddenly fell upon Qin Hui. He addressed Qin Hui intimately by his courtesy name. “Huizhi? You shall accompany me as well. Together, we will strike the enemy and restore Great Song’s rivers and mountains!”

Qin Hui was merely a ministry gentleman in the Ministry of Justice. Receiving the grace of Heaven and accompanying the Reigning Emperor on a northern campaign was an honor obtainable only if one’s ancestral grave exploded. Naturally, he had no reason to refuse. Delighted, he immediately agreed and repeatedly praised the imperial favor.

After court ended and he returned home, Qin Hui told Lady Wang. She too was overjoyed.

“His Majesty says he will personally lead the campaign, but that is surely only to encourage morale and put on a show. You will remain beside him. What danger could there be?”

Lady Wang could barely contain her delight. “Clearly, His Majesty sees you. He deliberately severed your connections with the Jin earlier precisely so he could employ you heavily now. Otherwise, given your rank and seniority, how could such a wonderful opportunity to accompany His Majesty fall to you?”

Qin Hui was equally pleased. The breath he had held since returning south finally escaped him. “Exactly.”

Lady Wang asked, “Who else will accompany His Majesty?”

Qin Hui answered, “Only a low-ranking military officer named Yue Fei.”

Lady Wang asked, “Who is this man? What is his background?”

Qin Hui said disdainfully, “He was recommended by Zong Ze. Merely an obscure junior!”

Lady Wang thought no more of the man. She simply reminded her husband repeatedly to remain careful in the army and place His Majesty’s needs above everything.

Qin Hui naturally agreed.

Li Shimin entered the rear palace to bid farewell to the two Empresses Dowager and his wife. The next day, he led a vast force of generals and soldiers north, crossed the Yellow River, and faced Zonghan’s army from afar.

After three days of rest, once the army had recovered its strength, Li Shimin ordered his beloved horse, Saluzi, brought over. Long spear in hand and fully armored for battle, he turned and asked Qin Hui with interest, “Huizhi, what weapon are you skilled with?”

Qin Hui: “…”

Qin Hui looked at His Majesty in complete armor, then at Yue Fei silently donning his own. His head instantly swelled.

Were they going to fight?

They were actually serious about this??

The refined and scholarly-looking emperor was going to fight, and that pretty boy Yue Fei would personally enter battle too???

This was fake, right? A staged photo opportunity????

It had to be staged. His Majesty bore the fate of the realm. How could he truly enter battle?

Qin Hui calmed himself and forced a smile. “This subject is skilled with the saber.”

Li Shimin said, “Oh,” and immediately ordered the attendants to fetch him a fine saber.

The longer Qin Hui watched, the more something seemed wrong. He scratched his head uneasily and tentatively asked, “Did Your Majesty study military strategy in earlier years?”

“Does military strategy need to be studied?”

Li Shimin looked at him in confusion and asked, “When two armies fight, do you not simply charge forward and strike?”

Qin Hui: “…”

Sure enough, His Majesty had no intention of entering the battlefield!

Listen to the nonsense he was spouting!

Simply charge forward and strike… Military experts would laugh their teeth out!

Qin Hui breathed in relief, offered several flattering remarks, accepted the great saber presented by the attendants, and thought no more of it.

About half an hour later, Li Shimin spurred his horse out of the city. Yue Fei followed, and Qin Hui hurried after them.

The Song and Jin armies confronted each other beneath the walls. Blades gleamed, killing intent froze the air, and tens of thousands stood in disciplined ranks. The atmosphere of iron weapons and warhorses was chilling.

Qin Hui turned his horse and followed His Majesty forward. After the hoofbeats clattered for a while, he realized something was wrong. Was this not the front line between the two states? What was His Majesty doing here?

Even for a staged photo, this was too dangerous! Would someone please persuade him?!

Qin Hui turned and looked longingly toward Zong Ze.

Cold sweat prickled across his back. He completely failed to notice that Li Shimin had already completed the challenge ritual ahead. With a thunderous roar of “Attack!” Li Shimin spurred straight at the enemy formation. His valor surpassed all men of the age, and he moved as though no one could oppose him. “Zhao Gou, Zhao Deji, is here!”

Qin Hui: “???”

Qin Hui: “!!!”

Holy shit, His Majesty truly charged out!!!

Holy shit, His Majesty looked so refined and elegant. Why could he fight so well?!!!

Holy shit, was this emperor even real?!!!

Yue Fei gave a thunderous shout and charged after him. “Yue Fei, Yue Pengju, is here!”

Qin Hui: “???”

Qin Hui: “!!!”

Holy shit, the pretty boy Yue Fei charged too!!!

Holy shit, why could the pretty boy fight so well?!!!

Holy shit, was this pretty boy even real?!!!

Qin Hui sat dumbstruck upon his horse like a wooden chicken. Amid the fighting, Li Shimin found time to glance back and call cheerfully, “Huizhi, come quickly! There are tens of thousands of isolated Jin soldiers ahead!”

Yue Fei also said, “Brother Qin, hurry and fight beside me!”

Qin Hui: “…”

The moment the two finished speaking, the surrounding Jin learned he was Qin Hui, courtesy name Huizhi. Ferocity appeared simultaneously upon all their faces.

Qin Hui watched in terror. He was hesitating over whether to admit weakness and retreat when a crisp crack rang out. Zong Ze appeared from nowhere and lashed Qin Hui’s mount across the rump. Startled, the fine horse charged directly toward the distant Jin army.

Qin Hui: “!!!!”

Motherfucker, I am a civil official! I do not know how to fight!!!!