jdhmnovel Chapter 200: Treacherous Officials Engage in Court Intrigues, Huyan Receives Command at the Generals
Chapter 200: Treacherous Officials Engage in Court Intrigues, Huyan Receives Command at the Generals
Bianliang, the capital of the Eastern Capital, is the residence of the Grand Commandant.
In the main hall, there was originally a Persian glass cup, crystal clear and dazzling, which was Gao Qiu's favorite item, obtained from a Persian envoy, and was priceless.
At this moment, the cup had shattered into countless pieces, scattered on the ground, just like Gao Qiu's broken heart, and his precarious power, which could collapse at any moment.
Gao Qiu hunched over his desk, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably. His wailing echoed throughout the inner courtyard, each word dripping with blood and each sound filled with sorrow.
"Gao Lian! My brother!" He pounded his chest in anguish, tears streaming down his face.
The servants in the mansion were all silent, their faces ashen, as if they had fallen into an ice cave. They dared not even breathe heavily, for fear that they might incur the wrath of the Grand Commandant or become innocent victims of his wrath.
The air was thick with the sweet scent of ambergris from the incense burner, trying to mask the lingering anxiety and oppression, but to no avail; instead, it added to the eerie, decadent atmosphere.
Tong Guan sat diagonally in a rosewood chair, his face solemn, his long, narrow eyes gleaming with a restrained sharpness.
He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and found the tea bitter but sweet aftertaste, yet it paled in comparison to the turmoil in his heart at that moment.
"Grand Tutor Cai has also submitted a memorial, stating that the Liangshan bandits are becoming increasingly rampant and their momentum is unstoppable." Tong Guan spoke slowly, his voice low but clear, breaking the deathly silence in the main hall.
"With the fall of Jeju and the martyrdom of Prefect Gao, people like Li Hanxiao have become a major threat to the court. Their momentum has exceeded our expectations."
Gao Qiu suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, looking like a vengeful ghost. His face was as pale as paper, and the veins on his forehead bulged, like a coiled dragon.
"No! No!" he roared, slamming his fist on the table, his voice hoarse, like a trapped beast.
"This thief is the mortal enemy of my Gao family! He first bewitched my son, Gao Yanei, causing him to disappear without a trace, his fate unknown!"
When Gao Qiu recalled that day outside Fanlou, when Gao Yanei was captured alive by Li Hanxiao and has been missing ever since, a piercing pain shot through his heart, as if a piece of his flesh had been ripped out.
Moreover, there has been no news of Gao Yanei to this day. He has neither been seen alive nor dead, as if he has vanished into thin air. In fact, he suspects that Gao Yanei has been dead for a long time, otherwise there would be no news of him until now.
"Again, in broad daylight at the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion, he abducted the courtesan Li Shishi, disgracing the morals of our Great Song Dynasty and bringing shame upon all scholars!"
He recalled Li Shishi's stunning beauty and graceful figure, yet now she was in a den of thieves, being defiled by bandits. His heart ached, and his hatred was unbearable.
Moreover, Li Shishi was originally intended by Cai Jing to be enjoyed by Emperor Huizong of Song, so that she could influence the treacherous officials in the future. However, he failed to achieve his goal and was instead taken away.
This is the Song Dynasty version of "losing both wife and army"!
"The Zhu Mian family mansion was razed to the ground overnight, and all its treasures and artifacts were looted. A century-old foundation was destroyed in an instant!"
If Li Hanxiao heard about this, he would be furious. It is true that he made a scene at Zhu Mian’s house, but apart from a “miracle doctor” An Daoquan and a horse, he did not steal any property. How could he have robbed the Zhu family of everything and razed them to the ground?
It's a great injustice! A tragedy that has been witnessed for all time!
As Gao Qiu spoke, his hatred grew stronger, his chest heaving violently, and his breathing rapid, as if he were pulling a bellows.
"These villains are ruthless and cunning, far surpassing ordinary bandits! Their wicked intentions are truly unprecedented!"
His eyes were wide open, filled with boundless hatred and a chilling murderous intent.
"He not only killed my Gao family's blood relatives and harmed my Gao family's offspring, but he also undermined my Gao family's foundation and cut off my Gao family's lineage! If I don't avenge this, I, Gao Qiu, swear I will not be a man!"
"Grand Commandant Gao, please calm down." Tong Guan stroked his short beard, his gaze deep, and a barely perceptible sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Recently, there have been many incidents in the capital, causing turmoil in the court and among the people. His Majesty is unwell and restless."
He put down his teacup, leaned forward, lowered his voice, and spoke with profound meaning in every word.
"The Emperor intends to hand over the military power of the Western Army to us. However, those people in the Western Army are all unruly and always oppose us, repeatedly hindering us and causing us a great deal of trouble."
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Tong Guan's eyes, the excitement and calculation of a hunter spotting his prey.
“Li Hanxiao’s rebellion this time may be an opportunity. His Majesty is troubled by the bandits and is eager to quell the rebellion. I can take this opportunity to ask His Majesty for permission to allocate the Western Army to me to fight against the Western Xia.”
His tone was calm, yet it revealed a chilling murderous intent, as if he could already see rivers of blood flowing.
This eunuch, though physically disabled, harbored ambitions of becoming a marquis and prime minister. In fact, he did become a prince in history because he betrayed his country and exchanged part of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun with the Jurchens. According to Emperor Taizong's will, whoever recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun would be enfeoffed as a prince, even if he was not of the same surname.
He doesn't dare to attack the Liao Dynasty now, but he pins his hopes on the smaller Western Xia, hoping that it will allow him to achieve his goal.
Among the four treacherous officials, Gao Qiu, despite being a Grand Commandant, actually lacked the ability to command troops. Although both of them were soundly defeated in the original story when they attacked Liangshan, Tong Guan was generally much stronger than Gao Qiu, at least he wasn't captured alive.
"When I take command of the army, my first priority will be to reorganize the Western Army, eliminate dissidents, and eradicate all those old fogies who don't know what's good for them!"
Upon hearing this, Gao Qiu's anger subsided slightly, a flash of understanding appeared in his eyes, and his heart surged with renewed passion.
"What the Privy Councilor Tong said is absolutely right! This is a golden opportunity!" He slapped his thigh, his voice trembling with excitement.
"This bandit's firearms and psychological warfare tactics far exceed expectations, making him a major threat to the court. How can His Majesty sit idly by? In this way, we can use the pretext of suppressing the rebellion to carry out our own purge!"
A thought struck him, and after a moment's consideration, a sinister smile appeared on his face.
"If this man is not eliminated, how can the Gao family stand? How can we all live in peace? This is a brilliant plan that kills two birds with one stone!"
Tong Guan stood up, walked to Gao Qiu's side, patted his shoulder lightly, and looked at him with a hint of feigned comfort in his eyes.
"Grand Commandant Gao, rest assured, I will join hands with you to eliminate this traitor! Once we have control of the Western Army, none of those old scoundrels will escape!"
The next day, as the sun rose, the Zichen Palace was filled with incense smoke, solemn and dignified, yet exuding an inhuman coldness.
The civil and military officials stood in two rows, as silent as clay or wooden sculptures.
Emperor Huizong sat upright on the dragon throne, his face weary, with dark circles under his eyes, clearly having not slept all night.
Last night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep, captivated by the beauty he had recently acquired in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Despite his desire to pacify the world, he was restless and lost in worldly pleasures, becoming increasingly detached from politics.
After all, this guy was a licentious emperor in history who would sleep with seven virgins a week. I really don't know what kind of nourishing methods he has to withstand such torment...
Gao Qiu stepped out from among the officials, dressed in a scarlet robe, yet appearing as if he were wearing white mourning clothes. His steps were heavy, as if he were carrying a thousand pounds on his back.
He knelt down with a thud, his voice like tearing silk, filled with grief and sorrow, each word like a drop of blood, each sound tinged with grief.
"Your Majesty! Li Hanxiao, the bandit leader of Liangshan, is extremely vicious and wicked. He has been bewitching the people and plotting to overthrow the state. His intentions deserve to be punished!"
He beat his chest and stamped his feet, tears streaming down his face, acting like a madman. His performance was so convincing that it was almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
"My brother Gao Lian served the country loyally, shedding his blood on the battlefield, and was tragically killed by the traitors! He died with his eyes wide open in disbelief! I beg Your Majesty to do justice for my brother!"
Gao Qiu, shouting hoarsely and acting like a madman, twisted all of Li Hanxiao's actions into acts of rebellion.
"Li Hanxiao breached the Yellow River dike, claiming it was to save the people, but in reality he was destroying the Song Dynasty's water conservancy, causing devastating floods and making life unbearable for the people! This is an act against the will of Heaven, no different from the Yellow Turban rebels of yesteryear!"
"His policy of equal land distribution and tax exemption, ostensibly to benefit the people, is in reality a scheme to mislead the villagers, shake the foundations of the Song Dynasty, and attempt to emulate the likes of Wang Mang of the previous dynasty! This is an act of rebellion, known throughout the land!"
Gao Qiu's words were inciteful and venomous, portraying Li Hanxiao as an utterly wicked demon.
"Your Majesty! If we do not annihilate these traitors, how can we bring peace to the land and restore order to the court? I am willing to die for you. I beg Your Majesty to quickly dispatch a large army to annihilate the rebels!"
The treacherous officials and their cronies in the palace, seeing Gao Qiu putting on such a show, knew his intentions and stepped forward to echo him.
“Your Majesty! Grand Commandant Gao is absolutely right! The Liangshan bandits are guilty of heinous crimes. For the sake of our Great Song Dynasty, these bandits should be executed!” Cai Jing stepped out of the ranks, dressed in a magnificent purple robe. His voice was steady and powerful, yet carried an undeniable coldness.
"I have heard that Li Hanxiao has gathered fugitives from all directions, assembled bandits and outlaws, and declared himself king. His power is growing and he has become too big to handle! If such a person is not eliminated as soon as possible, he will surely become a great threat!"
"Your Majesty, please send a large army to quell the rebels, uphold the law, and restore peace to the land. Only in this way can we deter villains and safeguard the Song Dynasty!" Li Yan, Wang Fu, Tong Guan, and others also spoke up, their words filled with alarmist rhetoric, attempting to portray Liangshan as an unpardonable scoundrel in order to incite Emperor Huizong.
Emperor Huizong's face was ashen, his brows furrowed with worry, and he was filled with anxiety.
Just as he was about to grant permission, he suddenly saw Grand Commandant Su Yuanjing step out from the crowd of civil officials. He was dressed in a green robe, with a thin face and an open and honest demeanor, exuding a righteous and upright aura.
Holding a tablet, his voice boomed like a bell, resounding throughout the palace, as he refuted Gao Qiu.
"Your Majesty! I have heard that the account of the Liangshan Marsh expedition differs greatly from what Grand Commandant Gao said, and I fear there may be some bias involved!"
He bowed respectfully, looking directly at Emperor Huizong with neither servility nor arrogance.
"Your spies have reported that Li Hanxiao breached the dike to save the people because Yang Jian and his ilk, for their own selfish gain, enclosed land and blocked waterways, causing the Yellow River to overflow, leaving the people devastated and homeless. It was truly a tragedy!"
Su Yuanjing's words were forceful and pointed directly at the treacherous officials, showing no fear of their power.
"Li Hanxiao disregarded his personal safety and risked his life to breach the dike, saving countless people from floods and fires. This was an act of benevolence and righteousness, not a destruction of water conservancy, but a rescue of people from dire straits!"
He then changed the subject, mentioning the Liangshan banner, his tone earnest and sincere.
"Liangshan Marsh is using the banner of 'Acting on Behalf of Heaven.' Since ancient times, the emperor has been the supreme ruler, and the emperor is also considered Heaven. Acting on Behalf of Heaven is simply to worship His Majesty as Heaven. What they are doing is only to eliminate treacherous officials, clean up the bureaucracy, and restore justice to the world! This is an act of loyalty to the emperor, not treason. It is truly acting on behalf of His Majesty to uphold the Way of Heaven!"
Su Yuanjing took a deep breath, his tone becoming increasingly impassioned.
"Your Majesty! If such a capable person could be recruited and put to use by the court, he could wipe out all the villains in the world and deter foreign tribes. This would be a blessing for the country and a boon for the people!"
"In my opinion, rather than wasting military strength to annihilate them, it would be better to persuade them with reason and a combination of kindness and force, and then win them over. This would be a blessing for the nation and a merit for generations to come!"
As soon as Su Yuanjing said this, the hall erupted in an uproar.
Many civil officials nodded secretly, knowing that Grand Commandant Su's words made sense, and their hearts were stirred.
Among the military officers, several veterans showed thoughtful expressions and largely agreed with Su Yuanjing's words.
Upon hearing this, Gao Qiu was greatly alarmed. Su Yuanjing's words went straight to the heart of the matter and might shake His Majesty's resolve.
He immediately retorted sharply, his face contorted with rage, his voice shrill like that of a night owl.
"Grand Commandant Su! You are mistaken! Utterly wrong! You have nearly ruined the affairs of the state!" he shouted sternly.
"The ruler is Heaven, unique and unparalleled! Li Hanxiao acts on behalf of Heaven to punish, but who granted him this power? Where is the justice of Heaven? Since ancient times, if the ruler does not grant it, the subject will not accept it! This is the fundamental principle of morality and ethics, the foundation of the nation!"
Gao Qiu suddenly turned around, pointing directly at Su Yuanjing, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
"Such behavior is a disregard for imperial authority and a contempt for the emperor. It is an act of treason, a thousand times more heinous than rebellion! How could Grand Commandant Su be so foolish as to advocate for the bandits!"
He turned to Emperor Huizong, his voice sharp and his words inflammatory.
"Your Majesty! To grant amnesty to such an arrogant person is tantamount to raising a tiger to cause future trouble! Today he may act on behalf of Heaven, but tomorrow he may take his place! Your Majesty's virtuous rule cannot tolerate such a rebellious person!"