Both Kang Yaban and Zhao Guan Jia (the Emperor) had an air of confidence, little did they know that they were merely engaging in a low-end and laughable squabble, like sparrows pecking at each other.
Kang Yaban secretly congratulated himself, thinking that these memorials had all been carefully selected during the day, and everyone recommended was one of his own, so it didn't matter whom he recommended. However, he didn't know that his every move and action had been reported to Zhao Guan Jia in detail by Yang Yizhong from the very beginning.
As for our Zhao Guan Jia, despite his seemingly brilliant and sagacious demeanor, the real reason was not that he held all the cards, but that he had never counted on these memorials in the first place. His smugness stemmed solely from the lingering victory of yesterday.
To put it bluntly, this fellow was young after all. After suppressing himself for many days, winning even half a round made him express his joy and anger openly.
In simpler terms, he was simply carried away by his success.
As for the matter of the ladies and those palace women, it was just a normal modern person's confidence bursting forth, leading to a humanitarian impulse taking advantage of the situation.
And the matter of Lü Haowen and Zhang Jun's memorials was even more ridiculous.
The reason our Zhao Guan Jia noticed these two memorials was that the former had a pleasing name and a high official position (having just resigned as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works with the title of Academician of the Zizheng Hall). Moreover, Zhao Jiu's body still retained some mechanical memory, allowing him to understand the text. He immediately recognized that the writing was excellent and the tone was gentle, so he naturally paid attention. As for the latter, Zhao Guan Jia's historical knowledge was rather limited, and he initially mistook this censor for Zhang Jun, the well-known Grand Commandant of this era... However, that Grand Commandant Zhang was already in his forties and had long been the commander of the Rear Army of the Imperial Guards, enjoying great prestige in the military. Yang Yizhong and three-tenths of the Imperial Guards came from his command, and he knew that Zhang was still outside suppressing bandits and hadn't returned. After reading for a long time, Zhao Guan Jia couldn't help but realize that he had mistaken the person and made a blunder?
Returning to the present, Zhao Guan Jia, no matter how foolish, knew that if these memorials could be sent to him, he couldn't expect the submitters to have any positive stance.
It was only to be expected.
First of all, everyone here was a genuine refugee from a fallen kingdom, facing objectively difficult conditions. Many were indeed discouraged and lacked the will to fight. Secondly, the previous struggle in Nanjing inherently involved a kind of purge of the pro-war faction.
Under such circumstances, even if there were genuinely pro-war individuals, it would probably take time to dispel their doubts before they would come forward, right?
But regardless, in late August, as the sky slightly cleared, Zhao Jiu, who had been in this era for more than a week since emerging from the well, received two important ministers of the temporary capital for the first time in his capacity as Zhao Guan Jia, finally breaking through the five-person fence that had surrounded him.
The two sides met in the rear hall, with Kang Lü and Yang Yizhong in attendance. The ceremony was completed, and greetings were exchanged, without any drama. Then, Lü Haowen, in his capacity as Academician of the Zizheng Hall and with his experience as Minister of War and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, took the lead in questioning, starting with some random small talk.
It must be known that this small talk, though seemingly pointless, was necessary.
Because since Zhao Guan Jia fell into the well, he had rarely contacted outside officials under the pretext of recuperating from his injuries. Furthermore, his sudden request for civil and military officials in the temporary capital to submit memorials discussing defense against the Jurchens vaguely gave rise to rumors that the Emperor had suffered head injuries and forgotten some people and events. Therefore, Lü Haowen's visit clearly had a political mission to observe the Emperor's physical condition on behalf of the outside officials. Zhao Guan Jia needed to contact outside officials to regain power, and the outside officials had to roughly verify the legitimacy of this Son of Heaven.
In the current situation, one couldn't really expect a Song Hui Emperor, right? Of course, if he really turned into a Song Hui Emperor, there might be no choice.
Fortunately, Zhao Guan Jia spoke clearly and fluently, with a composed demeanor. After a round of small talk, Lü Xue Shi (Scholar Lü), at least, was completely relieved – this Emperor was not a fool!
At this point, Zhao Jiu also learned some details about Lü Haowen, such as the fact that this person's 'Daoism' (道学) was not the Dao (道) of this Mingdao Palace (明道宫), but the Daoism (道学) of the famous Confucian school in history. Moreover, Lü Haowen came from a distinguished family. His great-great-uncle Lü Mengzheng, his great-grandfather Lü Yijian, and his grandfather Lü Gongzhu, were all prime ministers.
At the same time, Zhao Jiu also understood why Kang Lü was willing to recommend this person to see him, namely because this person had previously resigned as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works (deputy signer of the prime minister) due to Li Gang's suppression of Tokyo refugee ministers in the court – this person had participated in Zhang Bangchang's puppet regime in Tokyo Bianliang (汴梁) but was also the first to persuade Zhang Bangchang to return the throne.
However, it was clear that this Daoist gentleman was very different from the Daoist gentleman in Zhao Jiu's impression. He was gentle and refined, answering every question, but neither took the opportunity to attack Li Gang nor said much about the policies of Huang Qianshan and Wang Boyan, simply advising Zhao Jiu to act within his means in a gentle manner, just like the words in his memorial.
Through this, Zhao Jiu also learned some hidden information.
"I see many people saying in their memorials that there are no troops in the north. Are there really no troops in Hebei and the Central Plains?"
"There are troops, but they are mostly disorganized troops and militia. Even if they are recruited, they cannot withstand a field battle against the Jurchens." Lü Haowen replied frankly. "The scholars and people of Hebei have suffered greatly from the Jurchens and have a strong desire to fight, but they lack weapons and armor, so they can mostly only rely on the mountains and fields for combat. The Central Plains are filled with unruly armies, numerous in number and equipped with armor, but they are mostly defeated regular troops who have retreated from the Jurchen front, and they dare not fight the Jurchens at all, instead, they can only wreak havoc on the local population... If it were not so, Li Boji's courage would not have led him to have Guan Jia travel through Nanyang. Traveling through Nanyang was hoping to connect with the Northwest there and bring the 200,000 Western Army into his hands."
"I understand." Zhao Jiu sighed slightly, which was very similar to what he knew, and it should be the truth. "To truly resist the Jurchens, one needs the wealth of Jiangnan and Sichuan, the troops of the Northwest, and a gradual recovery of morale in various places, is that the meaning?"
"Yes."
"You advise me to go to Yangzhou because Yangzhou is the starting point of the Grand Canal and the gathering point for the transportation of wealth from the Southeast, with the intention of using this as a foundation to gradually plan for the future?"
"Yes."
"But if I go south, how can the Central Plains be defended?"
"With Zong Ze as the commander of Tokyo and a great general sent to the area around Mount Tai and the Yi River..."
"If the main force of the Jurchen army suddenly attacks, can they hold it?" Zhao Jiu raised his eyebrows slightly. Facing the real difficulties, he no longer had the petty smugness of last night.
"..."
"I understand." Zhao Jiu slightly adjusted his mentality and barely managed to maintain a calm expression. "Then, if the Jurchen army disregards both and directly goes south through Bozhou from Nanjing to pursue the traveling capital, what then?"
"Rely on the Huai River to defend, waiting for reinforcements from all directions, and rely on Tokyo and Shandong to flank their rear."
"If the Huai River cannot be defended, and Shandong and Tokyo cannot be relied upon, what then?"
"Abandon Yangzhou, go to Jiangnan, and defend the Yangtze River."
"If the Yangtze River cannot be defended either?"
Lü Haowen was silent again.
"I understand." Zhao Jiu sighed slightly. "I have something to say to Lü Xue Shi. I fell into a well before, and although my body is fine, I have forgotten some people and events due to the illness, causing turmoil among the people in the traveling capital... Therefore, Lü Qing (Minister Lü) should not go to Xuanzhou. Restore your position as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works and stay in the traveling capital for consultation. This is also to use your experience to appease the people."
Kang Lü, who had been silent all along, looked up in astonishment, instinctively wanting to interrupt, but suddenly realized that although these two people in the hall shared similar positions, they were not his political allies at all. According to the rules, he, as an eunuch, was not qualified to speak at this time.
Of course, after the storm of the past two days, Kang Lü no longer demanded perfection. Although Lü Haowen was honest, he was ultimately a supporter of going south, so what else could he do?
Therefore, Kang Da Guan (Grand Eunuch Kang) immediately shut his mouth and somewhat realized why Guan Jia had been so confident all along yesterday... It was ridiculous for ministers to try to seize power from Guan Jia.
On the other side, Lü Haowen hesitated for a moment and wanted to decline slightly according to the rules.
"With the country broken and the family destroyed, it is pedantic to still learn the custom of declining three times." Zhao Jiu naturally understood the other party's meaning and simply said. "In the future, for such appointments, accept if you can, and decline if you cannot... The country is in ruins, the court is in exile, and we, as the core of the country, are putting on airs here, not knowing that the paper and ink wasted by declining several times can be exchanged for money and food to save several lives in the chaos."
This was a moral kidnapping of the moral gentleman, and Lü Haowen, who was being kidnapped, did not dare to say more, and could only bow his head and accept the order. Kang Lü also dared not neglect and quickly sent a message to a reliable Hanlin Academician to write the imperial edict in the side room... After sending this message, Kang Da Guan's mood became even lower. The Song system was in place, but as long as Guan Jia had the intention to seize power, what could people like him do to resist? Only in these few days of collusion with the prime minister had he held power in his hands. Kang Da Guan could only feel a pang in his heart when he thought that he would no longer be able to wield such great power in the future.
"Lü Xue Shi... Prime Minister Lü, please sit." Seeing that the other party had accepted the order, Zhao Jiu felt greatly relieved and basically had no more thoughts when he looked at the other person. "Censor Zhang..."
"I request a private audience!"
Zhang Jun, the Palace Censor who had been standing still and was probably in his thirties, whom Zhao Jiu had never counted on, suddenly did something that caught everyone off guard.
"What is the meaning of a private audience?" Zhao Jiu, coming back to his senses, was momentarily bewildered. "Isn't this a private audience?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty." Lü Haowen, who had just sat down, immediately stood up. "Prime ministers and censors often have precedents for private audiences, either to impeach the prime minister, hold ministers accountable, or recommend important figures... I request to take my leave."
"Where is there a need for a private audience?" Zhao Jiu came to his senses, being wary in his heart while smiling lightly on his face. "Not to mention that there are not many people here, Prime Minister Lü is a trustworthy person, and I have also heard of Qing (Minister) Zhang's name. It is said that Li Boji, Prime Minister Li, was dismissed twice due to your impeachment, and yesterday your memorial was also to punish Prime Minister Li, with words so激烈 (jī liè, vehement) that they left a deep impression on me..."
"If not, how could I have been granted an audience?" Zhang Jun, the young man who had not even brought his ivory tablet for the private audience, directly raised his head and cupped his hands. "But never mind... Your Majesty, I, Zhang Jun, Palace Censor, impeach the Prime Minister Huang Qianshan, the Privy Councilor Wang Boyan, and the Eunuch Kang Lü, Chief of the Palace Service, for isolating the inside from the outside and plotting treachery. I request the recall of Li Gang, Academician of the Guanwen Hall, and Zong Ze, Commander of Tokyo. I request the recall of the various commanders of the Imperial Guards, temporarily returning to the traveling capital to reassure the people."
The entire hall was silent. Not to mention Kang Da Guan, who was trembling in his legs, even our Zhao Guan Jia was stunned... Are there so many clever people?
ps: Sorry, I really have no more drafts. This chapter was written during my lunch break.