Chapter Ninety-One: Relieve the Emperor’s Burden

To bring about a man’s ruin, first drive him mad.

Xiao Fengxian and his clique had brought disaster upon the realm and misery upon the people, yet only that fool Emperor Tianzuo still cherished him as though he were a precious treasure. Dowager Empress Xiao had the will to root out the traitor, but could not get past her son’s stubborn obstruction, and so she had devised this stratagem.

From ancient times to the present, through every dynasty, reforms have never unfolded without bloodshed and turmoil, for they inevitably strike at the interests of a great many old and obstinate men of power, and these very men, maddeningly enough, command the strongest armies.

Thus the Dowager Empress Xiao had done all she could to urge Xiao Fengxian into presiding over the reforms. Once disorder broke out, the emperor could lay every crime at Xiao Fengxian’s feet, and to appease public fury, he would have no choice but to sacrifice him.

After Zhao Yu understood all this, he could only sigh inwardly. The dowager empress’s intentions might well have been good, but if things truly went that way, this country would likely perish all the faster.

What Zhao Yu had not expected was that, after seeing off the boisterous Dowager Empress Xiao and Emperor Tianzuo and the rest to the door, he was suddenly summoned again by the emperor.

"My dear brother-in-law! After discussing it with the empress dowager, I’ll give you three months. See whether you can bring your mother from Bianjing. During these three months, stay here in Youzhou. Afterward, I’ll assign you another task."

Happiness had come too abruptly. Zhao Yu felt as though his heart might leap from his chest, yet on his face he wore an unwilling look as he said, "I am deeply grateful for the emperor’s and the empress dowager’s kindness, but let us forget this matter. My father emperor could never allow my mother to leave the palace. Besides, there is still a mountain of affairs here."

Emperor Tianzuo patted Zhao Yu on the shoulder and smiled. "Where there is a will, there is a way. Besides, someone from Bianjing has come looking for you again. You should still go and see them."

Those last words made Zhao Yu suddenly understand. So this fellow had no kind intentions of letting him fetch his mother after all; he was probably testing him instead.

Someone had come again from Bianjing. Who would it be? Your information is certainly well informed...

Compared with the lively Spring Festival in Shangjing, the imperial palace in Bianjing was shrouded in gloom and despair.

It turned out that Fang La in Jiangnan had taken advantage of New Year’s Eve to launch a surprise attack on Hangzhou and succeeded. After occupying the city, his troops advanced toward Yangzhou and sealed off the Grand Canal.

The common people of Jiangnan, long oppressed by the disastrous burdens of the birth-date tribute, flocked to enlist once they learned that Fang La had seized Hangzhou. In an exceedingly short time, the rebel army swelled to more than one hundred thousand men.

One must know that seven or eight parts of Bianjing’s supplies came by canal transport. By severing the Grand Canal, Fang La had effectively seized the throat of the Great Song dynasty. If he could not be destroyed quickly, then even without a siege, Bianjing would be strangled to death.

At the same time, Song Jiang and his band were no less restless in Shandong, seizing cities and territories and making themselves extraordinarily active. Fortunately, they had not yet broken out of Shandong; otherwise, the imperial troops would have had even more to occupy them.

Emperor Huizong flew into a rage and sternly ordered the dawdling Tong Guan to turn his forces at once toward Jiangnan to suppress the rebellion, or face military law.

Earlier, including Emperor Huizong himself, no one had taken Fang La and the others seriously, never imagining they could stir up such a monstrous upheaval. Now they had no choice but to pay attention.

How could anyone be in the mood to celebrate the New Year under such circumstances? Even breathing too loudly was forbidden, for fear of offending the emperor’s temper.

"Where has Tong Guan reached? Why is there still no battle report? If he cannot destroy Fang La, then I will destroy his entire clan!"

The emperor’s near-hysterical roar echoed through the hall.

The civil and military officials beneath the jade steps crouched like quails, obediently prostrated on the ground, not one daring to make a sound.

Liang Shicheng was utterly crestfallen. The northern expedition under Tong Guan had been his ardent proposal, and now Tong Guan, still dreaming of being enfeoffed as a king, had delayed military action and allowed Fang La to grow powerful. If Liang Shicheng now spoke rashly, would he not be inviting trouble upon himself?

After venting his fury for a while, Emperor Huizong glared at Liang Shicheng, then turned his eyes to the crown prince and said coldly, "Crown Prince, Tong Guan was recommended by you as well. What do you have to say?"

"Your son... this..."

Zhao Huan was by nature slow of mind in moments of urgency. Under his father’s crushing pressure, he could not utter a single complete sentence. In an instant, sweat soaked the floor beneath him.

The emperor was growing more and more disappointed in this crown prince. He could not accomplish anything, nor handle anything; with so vast a realm, how could he possibly be entrusted with it?

"I think we should bring back Eighth Brother to pacify the rebellion!" Zhao Huan finally forced out this one sentence after great struggle, only to discover that it nearly made his emperor-father roll his eyes in anger.

Pointing at Zhao Huan with a trembling hand, he said, "You, you, you... get out of my sight!"

"Your Majesty, please calm yourself. In truth, what the crown prince says is not without merit. After all, the rebel Fang La has raised the banner of welcoming the King of Yi. We could announce to the realm that the court will send the King of Yi to lead the grand army in suppressing the rebellion."

At the critical moment, Li Gang stepped forward.

The emperor was already too enraged to think clearly. With Li Gang’s reminder, he suddenly understood, but what use was understanding now? Even if Zhao Yu agreed to return, it was likely already too late!

No one noticed Zhao Kai secretly exchanging a glance with Gao Qiu.

Gao Qiu gave a slight, unruffled nod, then said, "I report to Your Majesty: this minister has a plan that may relieve your burdens."

At such a crucial moment, indeed, one still needed one’s good brother.

The emperor looked at Gao Qiu with relief and said gently, "My dear minister, speak quickly."

"Grant Song Jiang amnesty, then send Song Jiang to suppress Fang La. Whether he succeeds or fails, it will at least buy time for the court’s armies. By then, with two forces converging, Fang La will surely be annihilated."

"Your Majesty, from what I know, when Song Jiang was in Jiangnan, he had already declared his willingness to serve the court. Yet after the King of Yi departed, he roamed into Shandong and raised the banner of rebellion. This is proof enough that he is a fickle and treacherous man, so this old minister does not recommend using him."

The speaker was Zuo Pushe Zhou Jinglong, the very man who had nearly become Zhao Yu’s father-in-law.

Seeing someone refute him, Gao Qiu’s face darkened at once. He said coldly, "With a great enemy at hand, does Lord Zhou have any better plan?"

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes Lord Li’s words are reasonable. First create an appearance to confuse the rebels, while at the same time dispatch the Xiong family of the northwest to strike at Fang La’s rear. Though Fang La’s rebel flames burn fiercely at present, most of his subordinates are nothing but a rabble. As for the court, we still have the natural barrier of the Yangtze. For the rebels to break through that line of defense in a short time, I fear it will not be so easy."

Though Zhou Jinglong had no authority over the army, what he said was clear and well grounded, and for a moment even the indecisive Emperor Huizong began to waver.

"Lord Zhou, your words are mistaken. Who does not know that the northwest Xiong family cannot be moved lightly? The Western Xia harbors wolfish ambitions. If they seize the chance to sneak attack our border cities while the Xiong family is deployed, who can bear the consequences?"

"Father Emperor, your son agrees with Grand Marshal Gao’s proposal. There are three advantages. First, it can delay the rebels and buy time for the court’s armies. Second, regardless of whether Song Jiang or Fang La wins, the court suffers no loss; one might even say the court will profit as the fisherman does from the two fighting fish. Third, it displays Father Emperor’s magnanimity."

Zhao Kai could no longer restrain himself and jumped up to speak. And indeed, these three points were all rather reasonable, especially the final lavish flattery, which instantly turned Huizong’s face from stormy to clear.

His third son was truly becoming more and more capable.

Thinking of this, and then glancing again at the eldest son, Zhao Huan, who stood there stupidly and blankly, an inward revulsion rose in his heart.

"Grand Marshal Gao, you will handle the detailed arrangements for the amnesty of Mount Liang. I only require that they march south at once to suppress the rebellion. You understand what I mean, do you not?"

"Your Majesty may rest assured. This old minister will arrange it at once."

After bowing in salute, Gao Qiu could not help but let out a silent breath of relief, then quietly exchanged a look with Zhao Kai...