Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 373 Is this the will of Heaven?
It really came. Liu Yanqing stood on the city wall, watching the sky-covering northern horizon slowly appear...

Such a sight of cavalry like clouds was something Liu Yanqing had never truly seen before. Although he had lived to this age, he had only ever seen a force of about 30,000 cavalry. How many cavalry were there before him today?
There were as many as sixty or seventy thousand cavalry.

Liu Yanqing gasped, frowned slightly, and issued his first military order since becoming Vice Chancellor: "Send a troop of knights to meet the Prince of Yan. Once they arrive, tell him I wish to see my son..."

With his personal attendants by his side, he received the order and left with clasped hands.

It was not difficult to find the Prince of Yan's carriage; the great banner stood tall, embroidered with gold and silver threads on both sides, with dragons and pythons coiled around it, making it particularly eye-catching.

After traveling several miles, Liu Yanqing's personal attendants arrived before the Prince of Yan, respectfully paying their respects and exchanging pleasantries.

Liu Guangshi was standing to the side. He didn't speak immediately, but turned to look at Su Wu in front of him.

Su Wu glanced at Liu Guangshi, and without hesitation, nodded and said, "Brother Ping, you may go. But before you go, I have something to say to you!"

Liu Guangshi nodded: "Yes, sir!"

The army was setting up camp and preparing for the night. The two men rode off into the distance and talked for a long time. No one else could hear what they were saying, but they could see that Liu Guangshi's expression was becoming more and more serious.

After a long time, Su Wu rode back, while Liu Guangshi rode towards Tokyo.

All that could be seen was Liu Guangshi, accompanied by his father's entourage, galloping through a large residential area outside the city...

It is said that in the residential areas outside the city, teahouses and inns are still doing business...

The people showed no sign of panic; instead, crowds of onlookers thronged the streets, seemingly unconcerned about any fighting, killing, or arson...

Recently, news and events related to the Prince of Yan have been the talk of the town, with even ordinary people discussing them at length.

There were boatmen gathered in front of a tea stall, and one of them said, "I knew it. The Prince of Yan rose from humble beginnings, just like us. He wasn't a scholar-official, so he wasn't well-liked. What's the use of all his achievements? He can only be manipulated by those officials."

"Your understanding is superficial. I once heard a storyteller say that there's a phrase called 'merit that overshadows the ruler,' which means that one's merit is too great, even greater than the emperor's. That's why the emperor is unhappy..."

"Hey, that's a novel idea. So what's going on here?"

"What else could it be? Did you know the Emperor ran away? He ran away again. Last time the Jurchens came, he ran away, and this time the Prince of Yan came, and he ran away again, hahaha..."

"So... what exactly happened?"

"What else could it be? The Emperor is summoning the entire army to suppress the Prince of Yan!"

"Is a fight about to break out?"

"A fight is inevitable..."

"Then...who will win?"

"Prince Yan!"

“How come you see?”

"How do I know? Let me tell you something. I live in the outer wing of the west wing of the city, and many of my neighbors are soldiers from the Imperial Guards of the capital. I asked several of them who would win if a fight broke out, and they all said the Prince of Yan would win! I also asked what they would do if a fight broke out, and they said they wouldn't fight..."

"Then...then doesn't that mean a change of dynasty?"

"Who knows? Which emperor didn't pay taxes?"

"Hey, that's weird, if there's a war... we should run, right?"

"Why run? Who's coming? We'll have to haul big ships around Bianjing too! The Prince of Yan isn't a Jurchen, he can't possibly take your few copper coins, can he?"

The boatmen found it novel and interesting, and it also reflected the old saying: no matter who is the emperor, there will still be people to pull the big boats, otherwise what will the more than one million people in Bianjing eat, drink and use?
On the second floor of the teahouse next to the bridge, a few people who were dressed somewhat decently were also gathered together talking.

These people, though dressed in fine clothes, were not scholars, but rather business owners or shopkeepers from the surrounding area.

This person also said, "Sigh... What kind of mess is this? It's like the officials have been kicked in the head by a donkey, letting this matter turn out like this."

"Who can argue with that? After all, compared to the Prince of Yan, are the Jurchens more important? A few Jurchen envoys have brought things to this point; I don't know what His Majesty is thinking..."

"Let them fight, let them make a scene. If the Emperor wins, then naturally the Prince of Yan and many generals will die. But if the Prince of Yan wins... well, who knows..."

"If the Prince of Yan had won, things wouldn't have come to this..."

"Not at all? Naïve, ridiculous! Like a child..."

"How to say?"

"What else can we say? Why did the former Emperor Zhao stage a coup and usurp the throne? Was it a matter of one person? It involved hundreds of thousands of people. Now that things have come to this, do you think the Prince of Yan can just back down? If you were serving the Prince of Yan now, could you make him back down?"

"Oh, so that's how it is. Does that mean... it's really come to this unspeakable point?"

“Once the emperor makes the first move, there’s no room for maneuver. It’s like doing business: either you don’t pay a deposit or sign a contract, or once you’ve paid a deposit and signed a contract, it’s hard to back out…”

"Wasn't it said... it was the traitor Wang Fu?"

"Whether it's Wang Fu or not, you're the owner. Your manager handed over the contract and made the deposit. How could you possibly go back on your word?"

"Ugh……"

Why are you sighing?

"Isn't this ultimately a bad thing?"

"What's this talk of good or bad? The Prince of Yan isn't some barbarian Jurchen. How could his abilities be inferior to the Emperor Zhao's?"

"We... a new emperor, a new court; aren't our gentlemen still receiving their salaries?"

"The Prince of Yan's army consists mostly of soldiers. Do you think he doesn't need any officials? Do you think he can send all the officials home? The Three Departments and Six Ministries, the Two Offices and Three Departments, the Censorate and the Imperial Academy, all the various academies and temples, and all the prefectures and counties in the country, don't they need any people to do their jobs?"

"If you put it that way... then... sigh..."

"What are you sighing about? In our capital, which family has any grudge against the Prince of Yan? None of them..."

"Indeed, indeed. If the Emperor hadn't made this fuss, everything would have been fine. Besides, the Prince of Yan is truly innocent. How can he bear such an injustice? He's attacking the Jurchens, but they've come here anyway. Don't you see how the Jurchens ravaged Hebei and Beijing in the past..."

"Alright, have some tea, and watch..."

"Let's settle down quickly. With the city gates closed like this, how can we do business? And what about the people inside the city who need to eat, drink, and relieve themselves? Are they even going to survive?!"

"Look, a group of soldiers are coming. Looks like they want to talk... I wonder who's in charge in the city and who they're talking to. Hopefully, they can reach an agreement and open the city gates, or we'll really be starving..."

"Who says otherwise? Why did it have to turn out like this..."

"Let those officials argue, talking about the face of the nation, the emperor's promises, and that the emperor cannot go back on his word... I think the emperor just makes promises recklessly, using his own merits to punish others..."

"We businessmen can see through this little scheme, but you gentlemen can't?"

"This has nothing to do with whether you understand it or not; it's only related to the power struggles and infighting in the court, and it's only related to where you sit..."

"What about the nation and its people? In terms of the nation and its people, there must be a right and a wrong, right?"

"Right or wrong? If you only talk about right and wrong, how can you do business and make money? Why don't you open a charity? Why don't you go out and distribute porridge and meals to people every day?"

"Let's talk and argue, let's settle things quickly, open the city gates, and teach us how to do business!"

Just then, Liu Guangshi rode his horse across the bridge over the moat, and the basket on the bridge was slowly being lowered to hoist him up.

Upon reaching the top, father and son met. Liu Guangshi bowed deeply and asked, "Father, how are you?"

Liu Yanqing waved his hand: "There's no good or bad. Come with me, father and son. Let's go inside the city gate and catch up..."

Feeling grateful, Liu Guangshi bowed deeply and said, "Father, please come in!"

The father and son entered the city gate tower, but placed their entourage around them as a guard.

After entering, the two looked at each other and remained silent for a moment.

Liu Yanqing spoke first: "Will you speak first, or should I?"

“Father, please speak first…” Liu Guangshi replied.

“Very well, I’ll go first. So, what is the meaning of the question, Prince Yan?” Liu Yanqing’s face was also bitter.

"This..." Liu Guangshi didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"To put it bluntly... no matter what, I'm old, you're still young, and you have children. I don't understand things anymore..." Liu Yanqing stood with his hands behind his back, still displaying some of the imposing presence of an old marshal. "Father, before coming here, the Prince of Yan and I had a long and detailed discussion. One of his words was, 'Let me follow the dragon!'" Liu Guangshi's face was full of panic; he was truly at a loss, and he no longer concealed his true feelings in front of his father.

"So straightforward?" Liu Yanqing was surprised.

“He said…he said…If the emperor were still in the city, there would still be room for negotiation and discussion. But the emperor has already fled the city and is now deploying troops. He will no longer listen to us. There will only be a battle. If we fight…it has come to this point. Perhaps we will succeed, or perhaps we will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history.”

What Liu Guangshi said was indeed Su Wu's own words.

“The pillar of shame in history… This term is strange, but it’s also very apt.” Liu Yanqing shook his head repeatedly, finding it difficult to understand.

They also asked, "What do you think?"

“Son, come and see what your father thinks. Whatever your father thinks, I will think the same way…” Liu Guangshi replied, looking at his father. His father was the pillar of the family, and he himself could not make such a decision on such an important matter. He dared not!

"How I think... I originally thought the Emperor shouldn't have left. If he hadn't left, Su Wu, being a man who cares about his reputation, wouldn't have been in a good position. But the Emperor still left, and I couldn't say a word. Such is the power of a lowly person. I also thought that with the Crown Prince ascending the throne in Bianjing, the Three Departments and Six Ministries, the Two Offices and Three Departments would be the true source of power. He could then publicly repent in the name of the Retired Emperor, which would also put Su Wu in a difficult position."

Liu Yanqing was just telling the truth.

Liu Guangshi immediately asked, "What did the Crown Prince say?"

"Hmph... Never mind..." Liu Yanqing waved his hand and said, "Master Zhong is truly farsighted and resourceful. Let's learn from him..."

"Huh? What method? How do you learn it?" Liu Guangshi asked.

"I am old, I will serve the emperor. You are young, you have been with the dragon ever since. You and I, father and son, are now estranged after this meeting!"

After Liu Yanqing finished speaking, tears welled up in his eyes.

“Father, how can this be!” Liu Guangshi waved his hands repeatedly. If father and son broke off relations, wouldn’t that make them a laughing stock?

"Don't be alarmed, it's just a show. In this way, our Liu family can face everyone fairly, and we won't be cursed in the future... In the end, it's all about reputation before and after death. The Prince of Yan is not a man of indiscriminate killing. This city can be opened up as soon as it's opened. After all, the Prince of Yan is still the legitimate Privy Councilor. You can talk to the Prince of Yan in secret and have him issue the order with the seal of the Privy Councilor. Among the soldiers and generals in this city, there are those who are willing to follow the emperor. I won't see them. In this haste, just protect the Crown Prince and escape south as quickly as possible. We will go to find the Emperor. When you and I, father and son, meet again on the battlefield, it's settled!"

Liu Yanqing spoke slowly, wiping away his tears, unwilling to be sorrowful.

"Father, then..." Liu Guangshi couldn't process what he had just said.

“The day will come, a single battle will decide the fate of the world. If the son defeats the father, it will be the will of Heaven!” Liu Yanqing said again.

“Father, how can I face you on the battlefield!” Liu Guangshi blurted out.

"What nonsense are you spouting? What if it's tomorrow? Tomorrow you'll lead your army to attack the city from outside, while I'll fight to the death inside. What then? Do you think you can control it? Do you think I can control it? Do you think you and I, two soldiers, can control it? Can you make the Prince of Yan retreat? Or can I lead my army out of the city and defeat 70,000 cavalry? Which one of you can do it?"

Liu Yanqing was already agitated and scolding, and he was really angry. How could his son be such a blockhead?

The words were repeated several times, seemingly about making a choice, but was there really a choice?
If everyone is respectable, they will also be respectable in the future.

The reprimand was like a resounding bell in Liu Guangshi's ears. Indeed, who could he do anything about it?

Putting aside everything else, even Liu Guangshi's trusted troops outside the city were all under Su Wu's command and he couldn't take a single one of them away. Where was there any freedom to speak of?

Liu Guangshi was speechless for a moment, and was slightly stunned.

"Those gentlemen may not see clearly, but the Zhong family's lord seems to have sensed it long ago. We are soldiers, how could soldiers not see clearly? It's just war, war. How many battles have we fought over the years? The entire Song Dynasty only has about 100,000 troops. Right now, 80,000 or 90,000 of them are in Suwu, we, the families in the Northwest, will take 20,000, and perhaps another 10,000 or 20,000 from Jiangnan and Liangzhe. Whether Zhong Shidao comes, Zhong Shizhong comes, or Wang Yuan comes, I will go too. We'll all be tied together. If the Emperor wants to fight, then we'll fight for him... I wonder how many people are willing to fight across 20,000 li. Maybe it'll just be a few old men like us..."

Liu Yanqing may also have a certain kind of despair, a heart as cold as ashes.

Xu wasn't so resigned at first, but after the Crown Prince's words, his will to die died. After all, he was an old soldier and truly understood!

Liu Yanqing also knew that there would be no second or third battle or any stalemate in the future...

The decisive battle will surely take place in Henan!
Because the emperor would see his hundreds of thousands of Song troops, he would definitely go and fight to the death!
Liu Guangshi's mind was still filled with the image of a raging storm...

Liu Yanqing snapped again: "Say something!"

"I said... Father, what did I say?" Liu Guangshi didn't think about anything else, he only wanted to meet his father on the battlefield in the future, because his father was right about everything else, and there was no arguing about it.

Can they really hold this city? With the troops from the capital region?

I often read a principle in books: the general trend of the world is like rivers flowing into the sea, vast and mighty, beyond human control. I didn't understand it before, but now I truly understand it...

"Then just remember what I said, let's go..." Liu Yanqing raised his hand and waved.

"Father!" Liu Guangshi immediately knelt down.

“Alas… The words the Prince of Yan spoke to you were all meant for me. He was waiting for me to do this. If I didn’t do it, what else could I do? Now that you truly know what the Prince of Yan is thinking, you must make a choice. If you don’t, your brotherhood will end here! It’s not just his feelings for you, but the feelings of everyone around the Prince of Yan for you at this moment…”

Liu Yanqing has lived a long life; he understands everything.

"Father, your son..."

"Go, go!" Liu Yanqing raised his hand to shoo them away, adding, "The Zhao Emperor rose to power through a military coup, and declined through a military coup. Future generations will probably just laugh it off..."

As he spoke, Liu Yanqing walked out of the city gate. He looked around; to his left, the city wall and soldiers stretched as far as the eye could see, and to his right, the same was true…

The soldier on the left stared blankly, and the soldier on the right also stared blankly.

Liu Yanqing took a few more steps, not even looking to see if his son had come out, and headed towards the nearest military officer.

When the general saw the prime minister approaching, he quickly bowed.

The Grand Chancellor approached and asked, "What is your name?"

"This humble general, Miao Fu, pays his respects to Chancellor Liu Shu!"

This general was indeed imposing, tall and with a square face, looking like a tough guy.

"Which production are you from? Where are your ancestors from?" Liu Yanqing continued to ask.

"Your Excellency, I am currently the Commander of the Lower Army of the Japanese Army. As for my ancestors... I really cannot say much, for I have disgraced my family. My grandfather was the Commander of the Palace Guard..."

Miao Fu looked genuinely embarrassed.

"Oh? Miao Gong's taboo name is Shou?" Liu Yanqing was surprised.

"I am ashamed, I am ashamed..." Miao Fu bowed repeatedly.

"Nothing much, you're the one. Come with me, and I'll give you a fortune!" Liu Yanqing waved his hand and headed towards the city steps.

Miao Fu quickly followed!

Who was Miao Fu? The so-called Miao-Liu mutiny in history refers to Liu Zhengyan and Miao Fu. After the Jingkang Incident, the two staged a mutiny, arrested Zhao Gou, and forced him to abdicate in favor of his infant son...

As Liu Yanqing was leaving the city, he turned around and looked back at the city gate, where he saw Liu Guangshi wiping away tears as he came out of the gate.

Liu Yanqing didn't look at it much and just went down the steps.

Liu Guangshi chased after him a few steps, wanting to call out to his father, but before he could utter a sound, he saw his father walk away with firm steps.

Whether it was tacit understanding or coincidence, Liu Guangshi suddenly stopped at the city gate, looking left and right, observing the soldiers and civilians on both sides of the city, and gazing into the distance at the 70,000 mighty cavalry.

Ugh……

Liu Guangshi sighed, and with a sigh, he went back to where the hanging basket was...

He also knew that the city gates would open tomorrow, and Bianjing would still be that prosperous city...

Looking into the distance, to the east, countless banners were approaching. It was Wu Song coming, and the 30,000 infantrymen of the Jingdong Army were coming to decide the outcome.

I wonder what the Prince of Yan thinks, what those people say, those scholars and officials, and all the prefectures and counties under heaven...

Prince Xu Yan must have thought this through long ago... First, decide the war, and then scholars from the Jingdong region will come to the capital. Before the war is won, those high-ranking families from the Jingdong region will still say some random things, but once the war is won, those people, with their interests right in front of them, will probably immediately try to defend Prince Xu Yan...

And then there's Wang Fu, the emperor's most trusted advisor...

This country is strange!

However, Liu Guangshi himself had never thought about this matter, not even when he was in Datong City.

He wondered if the generals outside the city had already conspired with the Prince of Yan. Was he, Liu Guangshi, the only one who was slow to realize it?

Is this the will of Heaven?
(End of this chapter)