The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 086 Sons Of Great Song
In ancient times without firearms, tigers and wolves were truly fearsome beasts. The gap between human physical capabilities and those of animals was immense. For instance, a tiger's swipe could exert a force of nearly a ton, with reaction speeds three to four times faster than a human's. Tales of ordinary people defeating tigers are mostly fictional and unlikely to have occurred in reality.
However, though Tang Shen said so, Li Jingde actually went along with it. The Third Prince of Liao, Yelü Han, burst into laughter, completely dismissing their words. He sneered, “Do all Song people boast like this? Even the best men of Liao dare not challenge a white-striped tiger. Song people are all talk—I have no respect for you!”
Just as Tang Shen was about to speak, Li Jingde, already understanding his intent, stepped forward and declared, “That’s because your Liao lacks real heroes!”
Yelü Han's eyebrows shot up in fury. “A mere Song official dares to provoke me?”
Nearby, Yelü Qin of the Han Office frowned in displeasure.
Before he could intervene, Yelü Han waved his hand, summoning his most trusted guard to teach Li Jingde a lesson. “Zhigulu, deal with this arrogant Song man.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
A burly Liao soldier stepped forward confidently. He strutted toward Li Jingde, who smiled in satisfaction. "I’ve been waiting for you." The two locked eyes before roaring in unison. Zhigulu lunged, his feet pounding the ground with enough force to shake it, grabbing at Li Jingde’s belt.
Zhigulu gripped Li Jingde’s waist tightly and tried to lift him off the ground with all his might. But to his shock, Li Jingde remained immovable, his legs rooted like ancient pine trees.
Zhigulu realized too late: This man is a trained fighter.
Li Jingde grinned. “My turn!” Mirroring Zhigulu’s approach, he grabbed his opponent’s belt. With his powerful arms and tensed core, Li Jingde bellowed, lifting Zhigulu off the ground with brute strength.
Zhigulu cursed in Liao dialect—words Tang Shen didn’t understand, but Li Jingde did. Offended, Li Jingde flung him to the ground. Zhigulu scrambled to his feet, throwing a punch at Li Jingde, who dodged nimbly and countered with a sweeping kick. The two clashed fiercely.
In the courtyard of the guesthouse, the fight escalated. Li Jingde’s crushing punch to Zhigulu’s stomach sent the latter stumbling backward until he fell heavily, spitting blood. Furious, Yelü Han berated Zhigulu in Liao, calling him useless. He then ordered another guard to step in.
But Yelü Qin intervened in Liao, advising, “Your Highness, do not be provoked by these Song men. That six-rank official is no true civil official but likely a military one. We came as envoys, not to engage in petty fights with minor Song officials.”
Yelü Han protested, “But he attacked my man! Should we let it go?”
Yelü Qin replied, “Your Highness, beware of falling into a Song trap. Our mission is to meet the Song Emperor, not to quarrel with these small-time officials.”
Yelü Han’s anger simmered as he glared at Li Jingde, who smirked defiantly in the courtyard. Instantly fueled by rage, Yelü Han declared, “Yelü Qin says that we Liao people came to the Song as envoys and didn’t bring along any true Liao warriors. Well, you’re wrong about that. I am the true number one warrior here! My royal father personally bestowed upon me the title of General Stonebow!"
Yelü Qin cursed internally, thinking, how did we end up with such a reckless fool like you?
But he said aloud, "Your Highness, with your esteemed status, how could you compete with that Song official? What qualifications does he have?"
Yelü Han responded, "You need not say any more."
Yelü Qin had no intention of letting him fight Li Jingde. Just as he was about to speak up to stop him again, a Liao official with a face full of thick beard walked in from the backyard. The bearded man, upon seeing Yelü Qin, snorted disdainfully, gave him a sidelong glance, and couldn’t even be bothered to look at him further.
His presence alone shifted the atmosphere. The Liao delegation, initially humiliated by Zhigulu’s defeat, straightened their backs, emboldened by the newcomer’s arrival.
The bearded official stepped before Yelü Han and addressed him in Liao, “Your Highness, Yelü Qin is correct. Why should you lower yourself to spar with a Song man?”
Yelü Han hesitated, “But…”
“Your Highness.”
Yelü Han relented, “As the Grand Guardian says.” (TN: title for a very high official in ancient China)
After the envoys of the Liao State had privately reached an agreement, the bearded Liao official turned around and looked at Li Jingde. His gaze lingered on Li Jingde for a long time before finally shifting to Tang Shen. “You are the Song official assigned to receive us?”
Tang Shen, startled, stepped forward and saluted respectfully. “This lower official is Tang Shen. May I address you as the prince, Grand Guardian Yelü Yin?”
Yelü Yin snorted, acknowledging his identity.
Tang Shen continued politely, “Our Liao guests have just arrived in Song. After your long journey, this lower official would not dare disturb your rest. Today, I merely wish to extend my greetings. Tomorrow, I shall accompany you through the splendid capital of Shengjing to showcase our great Song’s prosperity.”
Yelü Yin smirked. “There will be plenty of time for sightseeing in the future.”
Though the comment seemed harmless, Tang Shen and Li Jingde knew better. The phrase had been uttered many times on the battlefield, a veiled threat implying, once our Liao cavalry conquers Song, we’ll enjoy all its beauty at leisure.
This blatant arrogance made Li Jingde clench his fists. Remaining composed, Tang Shen smiled and responded evenly, “We have a saying in Song: ‘One cannot see Mount Tai with a leaf in the way.’ If you don’t lift the leaf yourself, how will you ever witness our glorious mountains and rivers?”
Yelü Yin snorted dismissively and no longer bothered with Tang Shen.
The Song delegation turned and left the guesthouse together. On their way out, some Liao officials tried to provoke Tang Shen and the others, but a single glare from Li Jingde made them shrink back, pulling in their necks, too intimidated to act arrogant.
Apart from the Third Prince, Yelü Han, the strongest warrior among the Liao present was Zhigu Lu. Yet, under Li Jingde’s hand, he couldn’t even withstand a single move. If this mighty Song official were to go to Liao, he might very well be appointed the top warrior of the Liao State by the emperor himself.
On their first day in the Song capital, Tang Shen used Li Jingde to severely dampen the Liao people's arrogance, forcing them into temporary submission.
After the Song delegation left, Yelü Yin shot a sideways glare at Yelü Qin and said coldly, “You’re just a Han Office official. Mind your own business. Do you think you can command the Third Prince? Do you think you can stop him from doing what he wants?”
Yelü Qin lowered his sinister eyes to the ground and replied submissively, “Understood. Thank you for the reminder, Grand Guardian.”
Yelü Yin didn’t spare him another glance and left with Yelü Han.
Once alone, Yelü Yin’s face darkened, and he addressed Yelü Han, “Third Prince, we came to the Song State for a reason. Others may not know why, but surely you do? Before we departed, the Grand Preceptor instructed us to find out how the Song people managed to hold out in Youzhou for so long—where their supplies and military provisions come from. Is it really connected to the official road they built two years ago, or is there another secret?”
Yelü Han defended himself, “Grand Guardian, how can we, proud sons of Liao, endure such humiliation?”
“And what about the Grand Preceptor’s orders? Are we to ignore them?”
At the mention of the "Grand Preceptor," Yelü Han immediately fell silent. Bowing his head, he replied weakly, “I will follow your guidance, Grand Guardian.”
After parting ways with the Liao officials, Tang Shen didn’t return home. Instead, he went directly to the Ministry of Rites.
Minister Meng Lang wasn’t at the Qinzheng Hall today but was in the Rites Ministry. Upon meeting Meng Lang, Tang Shen recounted the events of the day but concealed Li Jingde’s identity, simply stating that he had brought along a Song guard who defeated the Liao officials.
After hearing this, Meng Lang said, “Yelü Yin is the Grand Guardian, a northern official. The Liao court is divided into northern and southern factions. The northern officials hold power in the court, while the southern officials handle dealings with the Han. From what you’ve said, it seems Yelü Yin indeed looks down on the southern officials, including Yelü Qin. However, the northern and southern courts have always been at odds.”
After a pause, Meng Lang chuckled, “Tang daren, you are truly a pillar of the nation. Every time the Liao people come to our Song State, they are arrogant and overbearing. Today might be the first time they’ve suffered a setback.”
Tang Shen bowed and replied, “Meng overpraises me; I am humbled and fearful.”
“What’s there to fear? Others might say you’re just the junior brother of Wang daren, but after today, Wang daren will likely be known as your senior brother!”
The excessive flattery inexplicably brought Tang Shen a small sense of satisfaction, making him wonder if the day would come when Wang Zifeng would have to sing his praises. But then Meng Lang quickly turned the tables, saying, “Tomorrow, this task will still be yours, Tang daren.”
Indeed, nothing in the world comes free, not even compliments.
Tang Shen sighed, realizing he couldn’t escape the assignment. He accepted the order and left.
Meng Lang assumed that Tang Shen would have no choice but to lean on Wang Zifeng to complete the task. What he didn’t expect was that Tang Shen, after leaving the Ministry of Rites, quietly made his way to Qinzheng Hall. There, he saluted Li Jingde, who was sitting in the courtyard enjoying a large slice of melon.
“General Li, your bravery and prowess is unparalleled. I deeply admire you. If not for your presence today, we Song officials would have been humiliated by those Liao people.”
Li Jingde tossed the melon rind aside and clapped his hands. “Those Liao brutes are nothing more than brawny fools. What’s there to fear?”
Tang Shen thought to himself, you’re not much better than they are.
“Will the general be coming again tomorrow?”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I?”
Suppressing a smile, Tang Shen bowed and said, “I shall await the general’s arrival at Qinzheng Hall.”
Although with Li Jingde to hold the front, with his position as a second-rank marshal, covering any incident, Tang Shen couldn’t simply shirk his responsibilities entirely. After returning home, he pondered how best to handle the Liao delegation the next day.
As he was thinking, Tang Huang knocked and entered, holding a ledger. He handed it to Tang Shen—it was the Tang family’s quarterly account book.
Tang Shen quickly reviewed it.
Tang Huang reported, “Brother, after sending out those flyers you suggested, our Baibao Pavilion’s business improved by another ten percent! Shopkeeper Lu was full of praise today.”
Tang Huang mimicked Shopkeeper Lu’s voice and tone, saying, “If the little boss didn’t serve as an official and focused on business instead, our Tang family’s trade would have already spanned the entire Song Empire!”