Grenade Fears Water
Chapter 266: Fish Soup
It could be said that the Song court was putting on as solemn a display as possible for the sake of a mere Jin Dynasty envoy.
However, this display did not make the Jin Dynasty envoy, Ulin Dazanmo, feel particularly honored… On the contrary, since receiving the notification from the Court of State Ceremonials, this experienced diplomat realized that his mission was likely to end here.
The reason was simple: if the Zhao Song Emperor really had any intention of negotiating peace, he would have had the Department of State Affairs, the Privy Council, the Ministry of Rites, and the Court of State Ceremonials thoroughly discuss the matter from beginning to end. They would have repeatedly discussed and formulated relevant terms before the formal audience, and even meticulously scrutinized the court etiquette and the format of relevant documents.
But such a swift and formal audience now basically meant only one thing: a brief meeting followed by dismissal.
However, it must be said that Ulin Dazanmo, as an important official of the Jin Dynasty, was well aware of the true intentions of the Jin high command and the purpose of his trip.
Therefore, he simply sighed, but did not feel particularly troubled.
When the two sides met, perhaps due to the impact of last year's war, Ulin Dazanmo did not cause any trouble with etiquette. He directly offered greetings according to the rites between subjects and sovereign. After the exchange of greetings, the ensuing conversation was extremely direct.
"What are Nianhan's conditions?" Zhao Jiu asked bluntly, without any expression on his face.
"Grand Marshal of the State Affairs (Nianhan), acting on the orders of the Emperor (Wugumai), is temporarily in charge of state affairs and military matters. Before this humble servant departed, he did say that the two countries have been at war for a long time, resulting in numerous casualties, and that Heaven cherishes life…"
"Just state the conditions," Zhao Jiu interrupted, his expression unchanged.
"There are no conditions," Ulin Dazanmo stood tall in the hall, facing him directly. "The Grand Marshal of the State Affairs believes that although there was indeed a victory and a defeat at Yaoshan, in essence, it only meant that the Great Song had defended Guanzhong. The situation where the Great Jin is strong and the Great Song is weak has not changed… At this time, the Great Jin is willing to negotiate peace unconditionally, which is already a great favor."
The five chief councilors each wore grim expressions, while the surrounding civil and military officials stirred, many of whom were about to step forward to refute.
"Well said." At this moment, the young Emperor on the throne took the initiative to nod. "The Jin is strong and the Song is weak, I quite agree… Your coming here to say this in person will also help some of the younger officials who are still immersed in the victory at Yaoshan to wake up. But Ulin Da… your name is Ulin Da, is it not?"
"It is," Ulin Dazanmo paused for a moment before bowing. "This humble servant is from the Ulin Da clan of the Jurchen."
"Minister Ulin Da… I deeply agree with what you said about strength and weakness, but is this the way to distinguish matters? Even if the Jin is strong now, is it stronger than it was four years ago? Even if I am weak, am I weaker than I was four years ago?" Zhao Jiu continued to respond calmly, without any expression. "I was unwilling to negotiate peace four years ago. Why would I want to negotiate peace with you now?"
Ulin Dazanmo frowned. "Then when does Your Majesty think we can make peace? Two great nations cannot keep fighting like this forever, can they?"
"It is simple to want peace. Let the Yanshan Mountains be the border, let the Jin become a vassal of the Song, return all the people and gold and silver looted from Bianliang, and execute Nianhan, Wushu, Talan, Xiyin, Huonv, Yinshuke, and Bali Su seven people to show sincerity… In this way, peace can naturally be achieved," Zhao Jiu said calmly. "The Jurchens are native to the Liao region. After all, we are all brotherly peoples, separated only by a narrow strip of water. Clean up the war criminals at the top, and I am still willing to accept you."
The hall was silent for a good four or five breaths. Not to mention Ulin Dazanmo, even the Song court was somewhat dazed. Only a few senior officials who had followed the Emperor for a long time glanced at his expression and became increasingly alarmed, their faces growing more serious.
"Your Majesty must not be joking…" Ulin Dazanmo forced down his anger. "The Great Jin respects Your Majesty's achievements in the past four years of hard work, and that is why we came to discuss peace. But what Your Majesty said is not the proper language of the sovereign of a country."
"This is precisely the proper language," Zhao Jiu said, his expression still unchanged. "This is my intention."
"Then I can only say that Your Majesty is daydreaming!" Ulin Dazanmo immediately protested.
"Precisely daydreaming," Zhao Jiu said, still not hurried or angry, not pleased or displeased. "However, if you had told us when you first came to this hall about Nianhan's intention to march south and conquer Bianjing, I am afraid that all the civil and military officials of the Great Song at that time would have also thought that Nianhan was daydreaming… But didn't Nianhan's dream come true? Then why do you say that the dream I am having cannot come true?"
"Your Majesty," Ulin Dazanmo sighed and said seriously, "The Great Jin is indeed sincere in this peace negotiation. Even if it cannot be achieved for the time being, why must we push the language to this point?"
"Minister Ulin Da's words show sincerity," Zhao Jiu said thoughtfully. "I also understand your meaning to some extent… You mean that after four or five years of entanglement after the Jingkang Incident, and after the Battle of Yaoshan, although the Jin Dynasty still has a military advantage, it is gradually declining. The people at the top of the Jin Dynasty also realize that there is no benefit in continuing to fight like this, so they are indeed showing signs of wanting to negotiate peace. Although Nianhan, who is in power now, is also clear-headed, he cannot easily show weakness due to the defeat of the Western Route Army and Wugumai's stroke. He can only sign a contract for an unconditional truce to avoid the embarrassment of whether or not to send troops after the autumn. And when the situation changes, or when Nianhan stabilizes the situation, or when Wushu's brothers, Wugumai, or Talan regain power, then perhaps there will be a peace treaty with actual benefits, is that what you mean?"
Ulin Dazanmo was originally Nianhan's family servant. How could he answer such a question? He simply stood still with his hands clasped, saying nothing.
"Minister Ulin Da," Zhao Jiu finally sighed. "Let me ask you again, when you came here on Nianhan's orders to make a maritime alliance and discussed with Wang Fu how to divide the borders of the Liao Dynasty, were you also so sincere?"
Ulin Dazanmo finally showed emotion, but he could not speak. And many of the surrounding civil and military officials also lost color.
"I thought that you and Wang Fu were extremely sincere at that time, but after Nianhan saw through the Great Song's flowery exterior, its fiery cooking oil, and its inner weakness, did he not still march south decisively?" Zhao Jiu sighed lightly, then put away his extra emotions and continued to narrate calmly. "So, what is the use of your sincerity today?"
"If Your Majesty says that, then this humble servant has nothing to say," Ulin Dazanmo also found it uninteresting. "This humble servant brought the conditions of the Great Jin, and the Emperor has opened new conditions for the Great Song. The disparity is so great that this humble servant does not need to go back to report… Of course, this humble servant would not dare to take that condition back to report… According to this humble servant's words, would it not be better to directly assert that this peace negotiation has failed?!"
"Perhaps so," Zhao Jiu nodded in agreement.
"Then this humble servant asks to take his leave," Ulin Dazanmo cupped his hands and saluted, but could not help but add, "But there is one word that I must speak before I leave…"
"It does not matter."
"Between the Song and Jin, the Great Song broke the agreement first!"
"I know," Zhao Jiu nodded in response. "The Great Song did break the agreement first, but the one who broke the agreement was the more cowardly and incompetent side… Therefore, the Supreme Daoist Emperor brought shame upon himself!"
The entire court of civil and military officials could not react in time and were stunned.
Next, Zhao Jiu was not flustered and did not give anyone a chance to speak. "But my advocating war today has nothing to do with Guo Yaoshi, Zhang Jue, or the Supreme Daoist Emperor… I am only concerned with the rivers of blood and irreconcilable hatred in various places since the Jingkang Incident."
Ulin Dazanmo did not know what to say, and could not say anything.
"I have a book here that records a small part of my grievances with you Jurchens… Take it back and deliver it." As Zhao Jiu spoke, Yang Yizhong, fully armed, walked directly from the side door to the hall holding something. "This is it. It is a newly copied *Tokyo Dream Record* that was copied overnight. Minister Ulin Da can read it slowly on the way back."
Ulin Dazanmo was stunned and only blankly took the book. All the officials below Zhao Ding, regardless of their rank, who had wanted to speak, lowered their heads and said nothing… Ulin Dazanmo did not know what the *Tokyo Dream Record* was about, but the Emperor's actions in the past few days were obvious. This book was widely circulated, and the more attentive senior officials already knew its contents.
And anyone who knew its contents would understand what the Emperor meant - return to me a bustling Tokyo like the one in the book if you want to negotiate peace!
"Now that things have come to this, I have one last question to ask you." After sending the book out, Zhao Jiu sat upright on the throne in his red robe and finally showed a hint of emotion. "Tell me the truth. Did Wugumai really have a stroke?"
Ulin Dazanmo was momentarily angry, but he could only hold the book and answer solemnly, "I am happy to inform Your Majesty, and I thank Your Majesty for your concern… Our Emperor did indeed go out for a horse ride in the spring, drank too much wine, and then had a stroke."
"I see. Go!" After listening, Zhao Jiu did not answer and directly waved his hand to urge him to leave.
Even though Ulin Dazanmo had expected the result of today's meeting, he was still unsure of what to say after being in the hall for less than a stick of incense. He could only bow and salute before walking out of the Wende Hall.
As soon as he left, the hall was filled with noise. After all, some of what Emperor Zhao had said was indeed excessive! But with the *Tokyo Dream Record* sitting there, no one dared to take the lead, for fear of being smeared in the face with hundreds of dish names and then demoted for no good reason.
Amidst the noise, the chief councilors, who were the heads of the hundred officials, and some other senior officials, each wore grave expressions and did not move or speak… For these people, it was not just a matter of worrying about being smeared in the face with hundreds of dish names. They had followed Emperor Zhao for a long time and knew his temper. How could they not know that today's matter was not over yet?
"I originally wanted to report the names of the dishes directly in front of the Jin envoy."
In the gradually quieting hall, Zhao Jiu looked at the civil and military officials and could not help but smile. "But after thinking about it, it would be demeaning. How could the Jurchens care that you will never be able to eat something again, and then resent it? But you, gentlemen, those with the inclination can buy a copy of the *Tokyo Dream Record* and look at it to see why I am unwilling to negotiate peace with the Jin… In the past few days, I have been following the book and found that most of the markets recorded in it have been restored, but when it comes to famous shops with signs and characteristics, it is remarkable if one out of ten shops still exists. I don't know what several hundred dishes taste like, and I can't find them, so I resent the Jin and drove Ulin Dazanmo away just now."
This was extremely clear. Even crude men like Wang De understood completely.
"Later, several eunuchs saw that I was unhappy and wanted to coax me, so they said that the food in the *Tokyo Dream Record* was not complete, and they had stayed in Tokyo for a long time and knew many old brands, so they volunteered to find the remaining old brands for me." Emperor Zhao continued to chatter in his red robe. "As a result, after searching for several days, they only found Song Wu Sao, who made fish soup. As a result, Song Wu Sao's residence and shop were burned down by mutinous soldiers long before Zong Zhongwu recovered Tokyo. After returning, they could not afford to build a house, so the elderly couple had to carry a pole and sell it… Yesterday, I met that sister-in-law. First, I spent money to buy her a shop in the Ma Xing Street, and then I told her that when the fish in my harem fish pond are released, they will be supplied to her first. You may as well patronize her business at that time… I can only say that the name *Tokyo Dream Record* is extremely well chosen. At least the author knew that the past is like a dream, ruined by the Jin people, and cannot be returned!"
Emperor Zhao spoke calmly and with a friendly expression, but the civil and military officials below were only flustered.
After all, how could everyone not understand what Emperor Zhao was referring to? Moreover, which of these officials had not experienced Tokyo before the Jingkang Incident? After the panic, many people became saddened.
After waiting for a moment, seeing that the Emperor had given a long speech, Lu Haowen sighed, and then led the hundred officials out of the ranks, gathered in the middle of the hall, and cupped their hands to apologize.
"What does it have to do with you? Isn't it all caused by the two sages neglecting state affairs and the six villains disrupting the country?" Zhao Jiu abruptly dragged the topic back to the two sages.
Some loyal ministers, who had just tried to ignore the previous words "brought shame upon himself," could no longer endure it and were about to speak.
But Zhao Jiu seemed to have expected this and did not allow these people to perform the ceremony. Instead, he suddenly raised his hand and ordered, saying something abrupt: "Close the doors!"
Hearing the Emperor's order, Liu Yan, who had been prepared at the door, immediately led dozens of armored soldiers to close the main door of the main hall. Not only that, but the side doors and some side windows were also closed… Although it was morning, the huge palace was completely closed, and there were no candles inside. The light immediately dimmed, and only dark shadows could be seen.
The civil and military officials gathered in the middle of the hall were terrified and panicked, but they did not dare to move rashly.
"Your Majesty!" In the darkness, several chief councilors questioned almost simultaneously.
"Do not panic. I have always wanted to be honest with you, but I also know that some things cannot be said face-to-face. If they are really said, there will be no room for maneuver between the monarch and his subjects." In the light that could not be called pitch black but was still dim, Zhao Jiu earnestly raised his voice from the throne. "Now, I want to imitate the story of King Zhuang of Chu breaking the tassel of his hat and make a clear distinction with you… First, take a few steps back collectively and disrupt the order in the middle of the hall."
There was obvious wavering and hesitation in the ranks of the officials, but under the leadership of the silent chief councilors in the front, they collectively retreated according to the Emperor's order and disrupted the order of their ranks.
"Stop!" Zhao Jiu said again at the right time. "At this time, let's not care about small details. Let's just talk about one major issue… Those of you who sincerely feel that we can negotiate peace unconditionally, bow your heads and go to the left. Those who feel that we cannot negotiate peace go to the right, but you are not allowed to stay in the middle… I will only look at the number and will not distinguish."
The officials instinctively looked up at the figure on the throne and saw only a rough outline, which shocked them.
After a moment, someone actually went to the left, and the rest hesitated slightly before rushing to the right.
"I see. Come back!" Zhao Jiu waited a moment and took the initiative to say again.
That person did indeed lower his head and return to the ranks.
"If the Jin people promise to return Shanbei and Jingdong and return all the land on the Yellow River side to us for peace… Those who think we can agree to this, go to the left."
This time, the scale of hesitation and commotion was even greater. Soon, under the lead of the previous person, a quarter of the people went to the left, and three-quarters of the people went to the right.
Regarding this, Emperor Zhao did not have any extra reactions, but immediately asked everyone to come back and then said, "If the Jin people promise to return the two sages and the captured dignitaries, women, sons, and brothers, those who think we can negotiate peace based on this, go to the left again."
The commotion was obviously even greater, and soon, without the need for that person to take the lead, the division was directly completed… One-third on the left and two-thirds on the right.
In other words, there were actually more people who agreed to negotiate peace under this condition than those who agreed to negotiate peace under the condition of returning land.
Zhao Jiu on the throne was also slightly silent… Obviously, he had underestimated the influence of filial piety on Confucian officials. In the end, the Emperor actually waited for several breaths before asking the obviously uneasy officials to come back together.
"For the last time, the Jin people's greatest possible concession is to return the two sages and other captives, hand over Jingdong, Shanbei, and the three prefectures outside the river, send Liu Yu and Zhe Keqiu back for disposal, and treat both sides as equals in name for peace… Who thinks this is acceptable?"
This time, because everyone was familiar with the process from the previous three times, many people did not hesitate and directly divided… The numbers on both sides were actually about the same.
Zhao Jiu fell silent again… not in surprise, but in emotion. He was touched by the instinctive desire for stability and peace in the bureaucracy, as well as the unconscious trend towards conservatism.
Zhao Jiu knew very well that if he opened the doors and let in the light, eight or nine out of ten of these people would choose "no peace," which meant aligning themselves with him, the Emperor. Even if there were a few who dared to openly choose "peace is possible," he would personally persuade them, and most of them would be persuaded, or at least would be willing to remain silent.
In other words, he could randomly pick out any one person from this collective, and there would be no problem. They would all be outstanding "trusted senior officials of the Emperor." But in reality, internally, this collective was undoubtedly tending towards conservatism.
The reasons were varied… For example, the financial difficulties. Most of the revenue was thrown into the Imperial Army, and the national debt issued last winter was clear proof of this. In this situation, it was normal for relevant officials who had contact with finance and had some sense of responsibility to want to reduce military spending through peace negotiations, thereby making improvements. Another example was the heavy tax burden on the common people in the south. If there were officials from the south, it was only natural that they would want to express their feelings out of an instinctive love for their hometowns.
Endure for the sake of the country! This phrase had been repeated for four full years.
Before the Battle of Yaoshan, the consequence of not enduring was to die without a burial place, so most people were willing to persevere. The corresponding resistance was largely due to objective conditions, and the other part was the "abandonment" faction that advocated retreating to the southeast, but these people had long been thrown into the dustbin of history, so let's not mention them.
And what about after the Battle of Yaoshan? After the war, the life-and-death problem of the country was solved. The corresponding resistance to this phrase came more from internal slackening and rebound.
Zhao Jiu had long thought of this, and he had always believed that this was normal and could be tolerated… Because anyone who had experienced four years of such tense days could slacken and rebound, and people should be allowed to slacken and rebound.
However, in the darkness, Zhao Guan Jia thought for a moment and suddenly smiled… Doesn't this all the more prove that he, the Emperor, is still irreplaceable?
Without the instinctive conservatism of the entire bureaucratic collective, how could his own foresight be demonstrated?
Thinking carefully, he had done many things in the past four years, and the times had changed a lot, but the sense of mission of that era had not diminished in the slightest.
Having traveled to this era and become the Emperor, should he not resist the Jin?
With this thought, Zhao Jiu simply stood up. "Everyone, return to your positions!"
Zhao Guan Jia did not break his promise. After a moment, the officials returned to their positions, and the doors and windows of the hall were opened, and the blinding sunlight shone into the hall, causing the officials to feel uncomfortable for a moment. After a long while, they realized that the Emperor on the throne had disappeared at some point.
The officials discussed it, but they could only be shocked and at a loss.
The chief councilors, whether it was the detached Lu Haowen or the administratively distinct Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun, were all surprised and suspicious.
The things that had just happened, whether it was Zhao Guan Jia not giving the officials a chance to interrupt and driving out the Jin envoy, or the middle part about "bringing shame upon himself," or the final "Story of King Zhuang of Chu breaking the tassel," were all extremely serious political topics.
But just as the chief councilors were trying to organize their words and prepare to discuss how to deal with this mess, a very loud voice suddenly came from behind them:
"Those who went to the left just now are all Jin spies! If it weren't for the Emperor's prior warning, I would have ruined your reputations!"
Everyone turned around and saw Hu Quan, the compiler of the Privy Council and the editor-in-chief of the Court of State Ceremonials' Gazette, who had rarely attended court today, said this angrily, his veins bulging, and then he flicked his sleeves and left, as if he was speaking from the bottom of his heart.
As soon as these words came out, many people showed expressions of horror and panic. The five chief councilors looked at each other, not knowing how to deal with it.