The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 156 Legitimate Eldest Son
The case of Sun Shangde implicated many people, and Zhao Fu personally ordered the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to jointly investigate the case.
However, to everyone's surprise, Yu Chaosheng, the Minister of Justice, was excluded from the investigation and was not allowed to participate in the trial of the accused officials. After some thought, people quickly realized why: in the nineteenth year of Kaiping, Yu Chaosheng had been serving in Xingzhou!
The Xingzhou case was an old case from seventeen years ago, involving many people. Resolving it thoroughly would not be easy. Two months passed quickly, and before the Xingzhou case could be concluded, trouble broke out in the Northwest.
On the sixth day of the third month of the thirty-sixth year of Kaiping, a small force of thirty-eight soldiers from the Northwest camp launched a surprise attack on Liao territory, capturing nearly a hundred Liao soldiers and ambushing a supply route used by the Liao army. Under the cover of night, while the Liao soldiers were still asleep, Grand Marshal Zhou dispatched thirty thousand troops to charge into enemy territory.
That night, the clash of weapons and the thunder of hooves shook the earth.
The Liao soldiers were still deep in their dreams when the sentries on the city walls sounded the alarm. The Liao soldiers scrambled to put on their armor and grab their weapons. By the time they rushed to the city gates, the Song army had already breached most of the defenses.
Speed is crucial in warfare. The sudden arrival of thirty thousand troops at the city gates caught the Liao army off guard. Despite their reputation for bravery and skill, they were utterly defeated.
However, this city on the border between Song and Liao, which had been Song territory decades ago and was named Jiaozhou, had been renamed Datong Prefecture by the Liao. Datong Prefecture was surrounded by mountains on three sides, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even though the Song army had nearly taken the city gates, the Liao soldiers quickly rallied and held their ground.
The Liao general defending the city, Xiao Han, was furious. He sent a messenger back to Dading Prefecture: "Go quickly and inform Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding that the Song army has invaded! They dare to wage war against us! This is the perfect opportunity to retake their territories like Youzhou and teach these Song people a lesson."
"Yes."
The Liao soldiers held the city gates, while the Song soldiers prepared for battle.
The two sides were locked in a stalemate at Datong Prefecture for three days. Xiao Han, the defending general, was not worried. Although he was not a famous general, defending Datong Prefecture was well within his capabilities. But on the fourth day, the expected shipment of military provisions did not arrive through the secret supply route. Only then did Xiao Han realize something was wrong.
"Damn it, has something happened to the supply route?"
On the other side, Li Jingde, carrying a heavy helmet under his arm, strode into the marshal's tent. It was March, and the Northwest was still bitterly cold, but Li Jingde was drenched in sweat. He wiped the sweat from his brow and then saluted with a military bow, "Li Jingde reporting to the Grand Marshal. Following the location revealed by the Liao soldier, I led troops and captured two more Liao supply convoys."
Grand Preceptor Zhou's stern face broke into a rare smile. He shouted, "Well done! Was it you who made the Liao soldier talk?"
Li Jingde scratched his nose. He was an honest man and wouldn't take credit for something he didn't do, "It wasn't me. It was... Minister Su Wenyun from Qinzheng Hall. That guy used to be the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He's really good at making people talk."
Grand Preceptor Zhou glanced at him, "I was just starting to think you were shaping up. That's Su daren, not 'that guy.'"
Li Jingde chuckled.
A military advisor nearby sighed, "Four years ago, we discovered the Liao army's secret supply route but kept it hidden, waiting for the right moment. Finally, the time has come. Marshal, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
Soon, several other generals from the Northwest entered the marshal's tent to discuss strategy.
Meanwhile, in Youzhou City, the Second Prince, Zhao Shang, had been in a daze for days, unsure of what to do!
Grand Preceptor Zhou's surprise attack on Datong Prefecture had been kept completely secret from Zhao Shang. It wasn't until the next morning, when his advisor burst into his room in a panic, that Zhao Shang was jolted awake from his sleep. His eyes still heavy with sleep, he opened the door to find his trusted advisor looking terrified, "It's rebellion, rebellion! Your Highness, the Grand Preceptor has attacked Liao, torn up the peace treaty, and started a war!"
Zhao Shang felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He was wide awake now.
With the war in the Northwest, Youzhou City was immediately placed under lockdown, enforced by Li Jingde himself.
Hearing that Li Jingde had returned to the city, Zhao Shang immediately went to find him, but he was too late. Li Jingde had already left.
From then on, Zhao Shang spent four days in a daze within the city. Neither he nor his advisor could understand where Grand Preceptor Zhou had found the courage to launch a surprise attack on the Liao army! Even if he managed to take Datong Prefecture, once the Liao army regrouped and counterattacked, the Song army would surely be the ones to suffer a crushing defeat.
The peace treaty signed between the two nations in the tenth year of Kaiping had been hard-won by Grand Preceptor Zhou after ten years of bloody warfare!
How could he now tear up that precious treaty with his own hands?
Zhao Shang was utterly baffled, and even his advisor couldn't provide an answer. On the fifth day, Zhao Shang's eyes were glazed over. He even began to think that his trip to Youzhou might end in his death. But then, unexpectedly, someone from the Northwest camp arrived at his residence. Zhao Shang's eyes lit up, "Quick, let them in!"
A young general in silver armor saluted him with a fist-and-palm bow, "This humble soldier greets Your Highness. I have been sent by the Grand Preceptor to escort you to the camp."
Zhao Shang was overjoyed. Had Grand Preceptor Zhou finally remembered his existence?
But before he could speak, his advisor pulled him aside and said with deep concern, "Your Highness, the Grand Preceptor's actions are unpredictable. The Northwest camp might be a trap. Your life could be in danger if you go."
Zhao Shang was jolted back to reality. "You're right. Grand Preceptor Zhou suddenly attacking Liao—could he be planning a rebellion? But what can I do? He's sent someone to fetch me. Who in Youzhou City dares to disobey the Grand Preceptor's orders?"
The advisor was about to suggest, "Why don't you go, and I'll stay behind to support you," but before he could speak, he saw the intense look in Zhao Shang's eyes. He sighed inwardly, knowing that no matter what, he couldn't escape. Zhao Shang would never allow him to leave alone. If he suggested it, it would only damage their relationship and lead to certain death. If he didn't, it would still lead to certain death.
After a long moment of thought, the advisor said, "Your Highness, please write a letter immediately. I will arrange for someone to try to sneak it out of Youzhou City."
Zhao Shang's eyes reddened, "Is that the only option?"
The advisor gritted his teeth, "It's the only option."
Zhao Shang, "Then I can only trouble you, to accompany me on this journey."
The advisor's eyes filled with tears as he clasped Zhao Shang's hands.
The two were escorted by four soldiers to the Northwest camp. By the time Zhao Shang met Grand Preceptor Zhou that evening, he was so weak with fear that he couldn't utter a single word.
"Your Highness," Grand Preceptor Zhou saluted briskly.
Zhao Shang, "Grand... Grand Preceptor."
Grand Preceptor Zhou silently studied him for a long time. Though his expression was unreadable, Zhao Shang inexplicably felt that the Grand Preceptor was deeply disappointed in him. Before Zhao Shang could figure it out, Grand Preceptor Zhou said, "The decision to go to war is not mine alone. Here is an imperial decree, and you, Your Highness, are the one to announce it." With that, he handed the decree to Zhao Shang. "The declaration of war between Song and Liao will be made by Your Highness."
Zhao Shang's legs trembled, and he was on the verge of tears, too afraid to take the "fake decree."
Grand Preceptor Zhou let out a heavy sigh, no longer hiding his disdain and disappointment, "This is a genuine decree, stamped with the imperial seal by His Majesty himself before I left the capital last year!"
Zhao Shang: "Huh?"
Zhao Shang was utterly shocked. He had never imagined that when Zhao Fu sent him to Youzhou a year ago, it was for this very moment—the war between Song and Liao!
The situation on the battlefield changed rapidly. The clash between the two nations unfolded in just a few short days.
Winning against Liao was no easy task for the Great Song. They had to seize the critical moment. The Northwest had been preparing for years for this opportunity. But if they had to send someone to Shengjing to request the emperor's decree, it would take at least six days for a round trip. Those six days could very well lead to a devastating defeat for the Song army. Therefore, Zhao Fu had written the decree a year ago and entrusted it to Grand Marshal Zhou, authorizing him to start the war at any time.
But a decree alone was not enough. Having a prince personally announce the decree would make it more official and silence the critics.
When Grand Preceptor Zhou asked the emperor for this person, Zhao Fu was still bedridden with illness. Leaning against a large, soft pillow, he gazed calmly at the golden silk quilt. After a while, he asked, "Grand Preceptor, which of my three sons do you think has the potential to be the crown prince?"
The Grand Preceptor's voice was firm, "The matter of the throne is for Your Majesty to decide."
Zhao Fu said, "Between teacher and student, there should be no distance. Grand Preceptor, please speak frankly. I am sincerely asking for your opinion."
Grand Preceptor Zhou looked down at the aging emperor for a long time. Finally, he sighed and said, "This old subject will follow Your Majesty's decision."
Zhao Fu smiled and said, "Indeed, my three sons are all mediocre, none of them capable."
Grand Preceptor Zhou did not respond.
Zhao Fu also fell silent.
The prolonged silence was an unspoken understanding between the emperor and his subject.
In the stillness, Zhao Fu murmured, "Zhao Shang, he is my eldest son."
Now, as Zhao Shang held the decree, he felt a sense of unreality. This trip to the Northwest camp was not at all what he had expected. When he returned to his tent in a daze, his advisor, who had been waiting anxiously, listened to his account of what had happened. The advisor's eyes widened in shock, and then he exclaimed with joy, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Regardless of the outcome of this war, you are now the leading candidate for the crown prince!"
Only then did Zhao Shang snap out of his stupor. He laughed heartily, feeling as if he had finally emerged from hardship into sweet reward.