Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 874 Minister Huang Digs a Trap

Upon receiving the memorial from the Western Xia, Zhao Dun immediately summoned his ministers and convened another imperial conference.

Chen Junqing spoke eloquently, saying, "The imperial court has been too lenient towards the places that have submitted."

Excessive benevolence leads to a loss of reverence, which is why he repeatedly provokes the imperial court.

The same applies to Liangshan Prefecture and Xixia Circuit.

Your Majesty, I believe that the rebels in Liangshan Prefecture should be severely punished with swift and decisive measures to serve as a warning to others.

Zhang Jun nodded slightly; he was also not entirely satisfied with Yang Yuan's actions.

It is true that Yang Yuan seized Liangshan Prefecture, and it is also true that Yang Yuan conquered Western Xia; these were indeed his achievements.

However, in order to pacify these areas as quickly as possible, Yang Yuan was too lenient with the local indigenous tribes, which led to endless troubles.

If a place is not conquered by force, not seized through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, then there is a big problem.

Because the old forces had not been thoroughly defeated, they also lacked sufficient respect for the imperial court.

In such situations, it's easy to cause trouble over minor dissatisfaction.

Take Liangshan Prefecture for example. Before copper and gold mines were discovered, were the twelve tribes of Liangshan living better lives than they are now?
Why are they so dissatisfied that the imperial court wants to nationalize this large mine?
They are all used to it!

They must be suppressed by force to bring them to their senses.

This was especially true of some ministers, such as Huang Xu.

A powerful emperor was something the scholar-officials did not want to see.

But now the emperor is not powerful, and a Prince of Yan who is even more powerful than the emperor has emerged.

The Prince of Yan, in his capacity as Right Chancellor, is effectively acting as regent and traitor. What else could he be but a rebellious minister?
However, Yang Yuan now enjoys great prestige and has the Three Imperial Guards under his command, making him unshakeable for the time being.

To revitalize this situation, we must look to external sources.

The imperial guards of Lianghuai are still basically reliable; the biggest hidden danger lies in the western region, which was once managed by Yang Yuan.

During Zhao Qi's reign, he planted several spies, but the forces closely associated with Yang Yuan still wielded considerable influence in the Sichuan-Gansu region.

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the campaign against Liangshan Prefecture, unify the local military and political forces, and completely eradicate the lingering influence of Yang Yuan.

Therefore, Huang Xu immediately reported: "I believe that Shen Xuzhong, the Pacification Commissioner of Tongchuan Road, should be appointed to preside over the campaign against Liangshan Prefecture."

Zhang Wencheng, the Pacification Commissioner of Kuizhou Circuit, was appointed as a reserve officer, while Qiao Zhen, the Pacification Commissioner of Chengdu Circuit, was put in charge of grain and supplies.

In this way, the rebellion in Liangshan Prefecture can be quelled in one fell swoop.

Once the rebellion in Liangshan Prefecture is quelled, those in Xixia who are plotting against us will surely be silenced.

In this way, the border troubles can be quelled.

"Um……"

Zhao Dun gave a soft "hmm" but didn't nod, his eyes already glancing discreetly at Yang Yuan out of the corner of his eye.

Yang Yuan didn't nod; he lacked confidence.

Upon seeing this, Chen Kangbo was immediately enraged.

I vaguely remember that the last time such a scene occurred was when Qin Hui was in power.

Is the Song Dynasty about to fall into the nightmare of a treacherous prime minister ruling again?
Qin Hui controlled the government for nearly twenty years, and in the end, a minister even submitted a memorial requesting that Qin Hui be granted the Nine Bestowments.

Yang Yuan is younger than Qin Hui was back then, and his talent is even greater. Given time, it's not impossible that he might be awarded the Nine Bestowments.

We must break his spirit.

Chen Kangbo immediately stood up and said, "I second that proposal!"

Immediately, Zhang Jun, Chen Junqing, Xiao Cezhi, Wang Shenzhi, Cheng Zhen and others stood up to second the motion.

Ministers such as Qian Duanli, Chen Weiqing, Ma Chongyuan, Zhang Fangxun, and Hou Keyi couldn't help but look at Yang Yuan.

Interestingly, Cheng Zhen, the Minister of War, was a staunch advocate of war when Zhao Gou sued for peace with the Jin.

At that time, he and Yang Yuan were comrades-in-arms who shared the same ideals and stance.

At this moment, however, the two have opposing positions and have become adversaries.

However, Zhang Fangxun, Minister of Justice, and Hou Keyi, Minister of Works, performed as consistently as ever.

They remain staunch advocates of peace.

Former adversaries have now become Yang Yuan's allies.

Zheng Yuandong was half-standing, half-squatting in a horse stance, his attitude particularly subtle.

Zhao Dun coughed lightly, and said somewhat nervously, "What does Minister Yang think?"

Upon seeing so many court officials supporting him, Huang Xu's spirits soared, and he said in a deep voice, "Does the Right Chancellor intend to disregard public opinion and act arbitrarily?"

Yang Yuan cleared his throat and slowly said, "I still believe that whether it is Liangshan Prefecture or Xixia Road, the crisis can be resolved without resorting to force."

If we resort to force, and the war goes poorly, the effort required to win back the hearts of the people and stabilize the region will be ten times greater than it is now. However…

Yang Yuan turned to Chen Kangbo and the others: "Since all the ministers insist that it should be suppressed by force, and given my sensitive relationship with Liangshan Prefecture, it is naturally inconvenient for me to comment. I beg Your Majesty to make the final decision."

Zhao Dun secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Yang Yuan's words.

If Yang Yuan persists in his opinion, he will not dare to overturn it easily.

But that also meant that, on such a grand occasion, with all the important ministers present, the emperor yielded to the right prime minister.

This would cause him to lose face and all his prestige.

Seeing that Yang Yuan no longer insisted on his opinion, Zhao Dun immediately said, "Since that's the case, I hereby appoint Shen Xuzhong, the Pacification Commissioner of Tongchuan, as the Grand Marshal of the Army to Punish Liang, and Shen Xuzhong will be in charge of the Kui and Cheng routes to suppress the rebellious forces!"

……

After the imperial meeting ended, Huang Xu, who was about to become the acting Minister of Revenue, did not leave.

Emperor Zhao Dun had just solved a major problem and returned to the Hall of Diligent Governance from the Hall of Selected Virtue with a sense of relief.

Before he could even settle into his seat, a personal eunuch came to report that Huang Xu, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was requesting an audience.

Is he busy?

Why didn't you say that just now?

Zhao Dun immediately ordered someone to summon him.

A moment later, Huang Xu entered the hall and, upon seeing Zhao Dun, bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, regarding the pacification of Liangshan Prefecture, I still have some doubts and wish to present them to Your Majesty privately."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dun waved for the eunuchs in the hall to leave.

Zhao Dun said to Huang Xu with a gentle smile, "What concerns do you have, Minister Huang? Please speak freely."

Huang Xu said, "Your Majesty, Liangshan Prefecture became part of our Great Song territory under Yang Yuan's rule."

Yang Yuan's distribution of the profits from the gold and copper mines in Liangshan Prefecture to local powerful families inevitably raised suspicions of him trying to win over the hearts and minds of the people.

Yang Yuan still maintains a policy of appeasement towards the rebellion in Liangshan Prefecture, and he has been cultivating Tongchuan for many years, with numerous followers in the Sichuan-Gorge region.

If the imperial court sends troops to quell the rebellion, and some people outwardly comply but inwardly resist, making excuses and obstructing the process, the army may be defeated, leading to a major disaster.

Zhao Dun was, after all, only sixteen years old, and was immediately flustered by his words. "Then, Minister Huang, what do you think I should do?"

Huang Xu said, "The Emperor has appointed Shen Xuzhong as Grand Marshal of the Army, in charge of Tongchuan Road, Kuizhou Road, and Chengdu Road."

With three armies and provisions, it would be enough to conquer the Liangshan prefecture.

What I'm worried about is that the soldiers and officers will outwardly comply but inwardly disobey, and merely go through the motions.

Therefore, we request Your Majesty to bestow upon Shen Xuzhong the Emperor's Sword, granting him the authority to execute first and report later, so as to ensure that orders are strictly enforced during the suppression of the rebellion.

"Okay, I agree."

The imperial court has already decided on the general policy of suppressing the rebellion, so it is normal to strengthen the authority of Shen Xuzhong as the Grand Marshal of the Army.

Zhao Dun was willing to make his own decisions, so he readily agreed.

Zhao Dun looked at Huang Xu and said with pleasure, "Your loyalty to the country and your painstaking efforts are fully appreciated by me."

I have instructed Xiao Cezhi of the Ministry of Personnel to begin preparations, and an imperial edict will be issued soon appointing you as the Minister of Revenue.

"Minister Huang, you must manage the Song Dynasty's treasury for me."

Huang Xu bowed deeply and said excitedly, "I will devote myself wholeheartedly to Your Majesty and to the Great Song Dynasty."

After a slight pause, Huang Xu continued, "I have another matter to report to Your Majesty."

"Please speak freely, Mr. Huang."

"In my opinion, Li Xianzong of Huaidong, Shao Hongyuan of Huaixi, Zhang Wencheng of Kuizhou, Shen Xuzhong of Tongchuan, Qiao Zhen of Chengdu, and Liu Qi of Longyou are all loyal and upright ministers of the court..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dun's eyes narrowed slightly, an instinctive reaction as if he had realized something.

The Song Dynasty's military strength was mainly concentrated in these northern routes.

And these roads to the north, from east to west, are home to these same few people.

No, one is missing.

Of the seven military regions, Jinghu is still missing, Li Dao!

Sure enough, Huang Xu continued speaking.

"As for Li Dao, the commander of the Jinglu North Route, he was first stripped of his military power, and it was only through Yang Yuan that he regained it."

Moreover, he has a past relationship with Yang Yuan, and they have long regarded each other as brothers. The court must be wary of him.

Zhao Dun said with a grim expression, "Li Dao was appointed by me as the Commander-in-Chief of Jinghu North Circuit after I ascended the throne."

How much time has passed? On what grounds am I stripping him of his official rank?

Huang Xu smiled slightly and shook his head, saying, "Your Majesty, what I mean is not to suppress or demote him."

"Oh, so you mean..."

"Li Dao had four sons, but only one daughter, named Li Fengniang, who was exceptionally beautiful and was loved like the apple of his eye."

Li Fengniang had previously participated in the selection of concubines for the deposed emperor and was the most outstanding among all the women. However, for some reason, she was not selected to enter the palace.

Your Majesty should not wait for the court to hold a selection of consorts; you should issue an edict directly to appoint her as Empress.

In this way, the armies of Jinghu will surely be utterly loyal to the Emperor.

Zhao Dun frowned upon hearing this, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant.

"Does Huang Qing not know that the Prince of Jin has already recognized her as his sworn sister?"

Zhao Dun knew Li Fengniang; not only did he know her, he had also met her.

Zhao Qi missed out on a beautiful woman and held a grudge ever since, complaining to his two younger brothers about it.

Out of curiosity, Zhao Dun found an opportunity to meet Li Fengniang.

Li Fengniang was living in the Prince of Jin's mansion at the time. He was the Prince of Jin's nephew, so if she wanted to see him, she could always find an opportunity.

Because I had seen it before, I was deeply moved.

For a boy just beginning to experience romantic feelings, the allure of a beautiful, elegant, and charming young girl is almost irresistible.

He was unaware that, in the original history, Li Fengniang was his empress.

However, he couldn't tame this fierce little mare, and was later tormented to the point of near death.

Upon hearing Huang Xu's words, Zhao Dun was greatly moved.

The frustrating thing is that the Prince of Jin has already recognized her as his adopted sister, which means she is a generation above him and has become his aunt. How can he bring her into the palace?
Huang Xu smiled slightly: "Has the Prince of Jin recognized her as his sworn sister? Has she been formally registered? Has she been granted the title of Princess? Has this been announced to the world?"

Zhao Dun was taken aback.

Huang Xu added, "There are none at all, so this matter cannot be confirmed."

What harm would it do if the Emperor begged the Empress Dowager to intervene and persuade the Prince of Jin to rescind the marriage proposal?
Your Majesty, did Emperor Taizong of Tang take his brother's wife, Lady Yang, as a concubine simply because she had "jade-like face and snow-white skin, and eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting"?

It's all because she came from the Yang clan of Hongnong, a prominent family in Guanzhong.

By accepting one of them, we can gain the assistance of the Yang family of Hongnong.

As for his identity, did it affect Emperor Taizong's place in history?

Besides, Li Fengniang is merely a sworn sister whom His Highness Prince Jin has verbally acknowledged.

"Um……"

Zhao Dun was immediately tempted.

He didn't really care about Li Dao or anything like that.

Li Dao may not have been that loyal, but he wouldn't have rebelled against him.

But Li Fengniang is truly unforgettable!

If they were to ask the Empress Dowager to intervene, surely Prince Jin's uncle wouldn't be able to go against his sister-in-law's wishes?

Seeing that Zhao Dun was interested, Huang Xu added, "In addition, there is the Qian family of Qiantang."

The Qian family had a daughter named Xingruo. Her elder sister was chosen as a concubine of the deposed emperor last year.

Xingruo was a year younger than the other contestants and did not participate in the selection of imperial concubines last year.

It is said that her beauty surpasses that of her sister, and the Emperor may issue an edict to bestow upon her the title of Imperial Concubine.

With the Qian family in Jiangnan and the army's morale restored in Jinghu, all sides are as stable as Mount Tai. What need is there to fear that trouble might arise in the central command tent?

Old Qian has already spread the news of his proposed marriage alliance with the Prince of Yan.

Emperor Zhao Dun was unaware of this matter, but Vice Minister Huang had already heard about it.

This suggestion to Emperor Zhao Dun was originally intended to be malicious.

However, Zhao Dun had no idea that Vice Minister Huang was setting a trap for him.
With two beauties and two powerful allies, it's definitely worth a try!

Even if it can only be described as a marriage, that would be good!

(End of this chapter)