You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 213 Spare His Life

After months of torment, I finally settled into a peaceful life.

Zhao Huan was extremely satisfied.

He diligently attended court every day, but he always found the lectures confusing, only feeling that the officials below him were arguing every day.

They couldn't understand what they were arguing about.

Sometimes when he wanted to ask someone, all he got was another round of insults at his political enemies, and no one could explain it to him clearly.

Over time, Zhao Huan began to feel a bit tired of attending court.

This feeling of fatigue is very similar to that of students in later generations who are tired of studying. He just can't sit still, and every time the court assembly starts, he looks forward to the end.

He was becoming increasingly unwilling to listen to what the ministers were saying.

Only when he occasionally heard about the Jurchens' southward migration would he perk up and ask a few questions.

It's simply a matter of how strong the current forces are and whether they can hold them off. Even after receiving countless answers, he still asks to put his mind at ease.

There was no way around it; growing up in the flower-filled city of Bianliang, Wanyan Zongwang had left him with too much of a shadow.

Hearing today that the Dingnan Army had resumed fighting the Jurchen Tartars in Weizhou made him extremely nervous, so he summoned his former imperial tutor, Geng Nanzhong, to the palace to inquire.

Geng Nanzhong is currently riding high, with the strongest military force outside having his backing, and the current emperor being his student.

He felt that he had connections on both sides and was a well-deserved cornerstone of the court, and that he could finally realize his ambitions!
The only pity is that old dog Cai Jing still controls the finances.

"Master Geng," Zhao Huan asked cautiously, "How is the battle in Weizhou going?"

"Good news keeps coming!" Geng Nanzhong said with a smile, "Your Majesty can rest assured. I have been preparing for this battle since last year, and it is absolutely foolproof."

He boasted here, not afraid of being exposed at all, because no one knew the inside story of the Dingnan Army.

In fact, this kind of decision could only be made by Chen Shao alone.

"In Weizhou, most of the people are Han Chinese, and they all have their hearts set on our Great Song. When the royal army arrived, the locals welcomed us with food and drink, and the matter was settled with a single proclamation. However, after Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang joined forces, their army was simply too large, and now it is freezing cold, so a decisive battle has not broken out."

Zhao Huan nodded repeatedly, but seemed somewhat bewildered. After a long while, he continued to ask, "Then the Tartars won't go south again, will they?"

"Heading south?" Geng Nanzhong sneered, "It won't be long before we completely annihilate them, capture their leader Wanyan Wuqimai, and escort him to Bianliang to present our victory!"

Shao Chengzhang frowned repeatedly, clearly extremely dissatisfied with Geng Nanzhong's boastful claims.

Are you treating the government like fools?
However, Shao Chengzhang dared not think too deeply about it, because Emperor Zhao Huan had already revealed a happy expression.

Was he being taken for a fool, or was it the official?
Alas, what a misfortune for the nation! What a fine emperor, to be so fooled by these wicked ministers!
Oh, Great Song Dynasty! How come after just one generation of treacherous officials, another ruthless minister has emerged?

Even that Minister Li, in Shao Chengzhang's eyes, was someone who did not observe the proper etiquette of a subject and would often glare and berate the Emperor.

This is why the current emperor is benevolent and magnanimous. Would you dare to do that if it were during the time of the retired emperor?

After receiving the news he wanted to hear from Geng Nanzhong, Zhao Huan felt better and then issued an edict to reward the army.

He wanted to take some money from his own treasury to use for military purposes and reward the soldiers on the front lines in Weizhou.

The news had barely reached the Privy Council when it sparked another round of debate, and Li Gang was furious.

What's the situation now? Does Your Majesty really not understand?

Half of the imperial court's funds have already been used for the battlefield in Yunnei. If you don't use the money to train the new army, how will you protect yourself in the future?
-
At the Weizhou front, Hu Yantong led several of his men toward Han Shizhong's camp.

He was no longer the scout captain he once was, but the commander of two hundred heavy armored soldiers, the elite of the elite, specially selected to break through the heavy armored infantry formations of the Jurchen Tartars.

Because of his outstanding performance during the initial exploration in Weizhou, he was immediately promoted to such an important position.

There are countless people in the military who envy him!
Such promotions that bypass rank are a unique advantage in Dingnan Army.

The Dingnan Army is still expanding and building up its strength. As long as you have the ability and make military achievements, they will have the power to promote you. There are not so many entanglements of powerful military families.

Any man with ambition, who would not be willing to risk his life to serve such a lord?
After all, not everyone gets to encounter such an opportunity.

Hu Yantong and Han Shizhong were in the same squad when they were in the Western Army, and both served under Xin Xingzong.

Therefore, they were quite familiar with each other, and Hu Yantong was rather unreserved and didn't show much respect to Commander Shangguan.

After all, back in the day, when you, Han Wu, got into fights in brothels and gambling dens, weren't your brothers always there to stand up for you?

Even if you're stripped naked and thrown out of an alley, your brothers will still come to pick you up and take you back to camp.

However, Han Shizhong was somewhat dissatisfied, especially since Hu Yantong had no sense of propriety and often talked about his glorious deeds in the camp.

Huyan Tong arrived at the central command tent with a heavy sigh, lifted the curtain and went in without letting his guards announce his arrival.

"Han Wu! We've broken through the Tartars' defenses, and the opening we've created is bigger than your hook, Han Wu! Why don't you charge! Putting everything else aside, with dozens of riders lined up side by side, we should be able to break through!"

Han Shizhong's face turned ashen, and his hands trembled. "Keep your beak shut! If you say another word of that nonsense, get out of here!"

The thought that this guy was always so rude seriously affected his own dignity made him feel inadequate.

Hu Yantong was just grumbling; when ordered to withdraw, he waved the flag and withdrew.

Seeing that Han Wu was annoyed, he remained silent and sullen.

Han Shizhong's eyes darted around, and he suddenly said a lot of extremely harsh words, full of barbs and sarcasm, to provoke this brute.

This time, Hu Yantong really couldn't take it anymore.

"Well, you, Han Wu, everyone says you're a filthy person who has forgotten your roots. I didn't believe it at first, but you scoundrel back then—" Before he could finish speaking, Han Shizhong, unable to bear it any longer, jumped over and struck him: "Arrogant! If it weren't for our past friendship, I would have already court-martialed you!"

The two began to wrestle inside the tent, and no one around dared to step forward.

Hu Yantong is indeed formidable; he is not at all inferior to Han Shizhong.
-
In Taiyuan Prefecture, Chen Shao frowned as he looked at the two reports before him.

Han Shizhong sent a letter saying that Hu Yantong should be executed because he had repeatedly violated military discipline. He should have been executed directly, but because Hu Yantong was personally promoted by Chen Shao, he was escorted back to Taiyuan and handed over to Chen Shao for disposal.

In Hu Yantong's letter, he said that Han Shizhong was afraid of the enemy and missed the opportunity to fight.

Looking at Hu Yantong's bruised and swollen face, clearly having suffered many beatings, Chen Shao's eyes turned cold.

"Military law is merciless. No matter what Han Shizhong was like in the past, he is now a commander-in-chief. You beat him up, and you still think you're in the right?"

Huyan Tong shouted, "General, you are wise! Our brothers have broken through the Tartar army's formation. We just need to charge in and kill them!"

"presumptuous!"

Chen Shao grabbed an inkstone and threw it violently, hitting him squarely in the chest.

“The military has strict rules and regulations. If everyone acted like you, rebelling against superiors, how could we fight a war!” Chen Shao turned and asked, “How should this be dealt with according to military regulations?”

A staff member beside him said, "According to the law, anyone who disobeys orders or defies the commander's command on a whim shall be executed!"

"Take him out and execute him."

Several military officers nearby quickly stepped forward to persuade him: "Now is the time when we need manpower. Although he was rude, he did not disobey orders or disobey commands, and he was still withdrawn. Please, General, have mercy and spare his life."

Chen Shao glanced at Hu Yantong. He had ventured deep into Weizhou alone and established many secret outposts. He was indeed a fierce general.

However, the poor discipline of the Western Army's troops has been a long-standing issue and needs to be rectified.

When Hu Yantong heard that he was really going to be executed, he panicked a little. It would be too humiliating to die here.

Chen Shao glanced at him and said, "Do you know your crime?"

"General, I know my crime. I beg you to give me a chance to die on the battlefield."

"He may be spared the death penalty, but he will not escape punishment," Chen Shao said. "Give this man twenty lashes and remove him from all his military posts."

Upon hearing this, Hu Yantong was overjoyed. As long as he didn't die, it didn't matter if he was a lowly soldier.

With so many battles raging now, earning merit is very easy for him.

Chen Shao yelled, "Pick up the inkstone for me!"

Hu Yantong quickly picked it up for him, and then saw Chen Shao grind the ink and write a letter on the paper.

"Once this dries, take it to Longshou Mountain and find Zhu Lingling. You can work there from now on."

Zhu Lingling has extremely high emotional intelligence and is better at managing people than I am.

Qu Duan was able to be reformed to a great extent under his guidance. Although he still couldn't help but criticize others, it was already quite remarkable that he didn't make deadly enemies with his colleagues.

It's important to know that historically, Qu Duan's enemies were the kind who wished he were dead.

Zhang Jun, as the Pacification Commissioner of Sichuan and Shaanxi, was Qu Duan's superior. The two had significant strategic differences, and Qu Duan repeatedly disobeyed Zhang Jun's orders and spoke rudely.

Finally, Zhang Jun fabricated charges against Qu Duan, dismissing him from his post and demoting him, ultimately imprisoning him in Gongzhou.

In prison, Qu Duan suffered cruel persecution. Kang Sui, Zhang Jun's confidant, had been whipped by Qu Duan and harbored resentment.

He ordered people to cover Qu Duan's mouth and nose with paper, and then set a fire to roast him, calling it "covering his mouth and burning him with fire." In the end, Qu Duan died of thirst and suffocation at the young age of forty-one.

This manner of death was extremely gruesome, revealing just how much hatred he was accused of. The people and soldiers of Shaanxi were mostly indignant upon hearing the news, and some even defected to the Jin dynasty because of it.

In fact, Qu Duan did have some merit, and to be honest, a lot of it. With proper training, such a person might be able to change his destiny.

Zhu Lingling did a great job. Although Qu Duan was arrogant, he was very impressed with him.

Hu Yantong's symptoms were much milder than Qu Duan's. He was sent to have Old Zhu teach him how to do things and see if there was any hope for him.

As for why Han Shizhong didn't expand the war, that was his own arrangement. He was instructed to control the scale of the war because, according to his intelligence, Wanyan Zonghan and Zongwang had likely joined forces to deal with him.

At this time, you must not fall for the enemy's trap.
-
Inside the Cai family courtyard.

Maode led Li Qingzhao to his sister-in-law's courtyard, which was much better than his own.

When Song met Li Qingzhao, she was also somewhat surprised, and they exchanged a few pleasantries.

Princess Maode then briefly explained why Zhao Mingcheng had been arrested.

Song knew less about the political situation in the court than the two women did.

"Sister-in-law, please help them. Go and ask Chen Shao. He has a lot of power now, maybe he can help."

Song's face flushed slightly, and she felt a little unhappy. Why didn't Maode keep this matter from people?

But she was kind-hearted and embarrassed to refuse, so she lowered her head and said, "I don't know if it will work, I'm just asking for you."

After saying that, she hurriedly went into the room to change her clothes.

Before long, Madam Song was ready and, accompanied by her servants, traveled lightly to Chen Shao's residence.

(End of this chapter)