Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 871 Appeasement and Conquest

This urgent report came from Liangshan Prefecture.

Sun Haohan, the former Right Supervisor of the Lin'an Association, arrived in Liangshan Prefecture in early February last year.

Then, following the wishes of Emperor Zhao Qi, he began sweeping reforms.

Sun Haohan was a member of the faction of Li Duhuan, the former official of the Eastern Palace and Left Censor.

After Zhao Qi assumed power, he secured this lucrative position through Li Duhuan, serving as the supervisor of the mint in Liangshan Prefecture of the Song Dynasty and the mining supervisor of the Green City gold and silver mine.

Although it's a bit far and much more desolate than Lin'an, this job is incredibly lucrative.

If he stays in this position for ten years, even if he's not particularly greedy, he can still amass a fortune that he can squander.

However, the purpose of Supervisor Sun's voluntary trip from Lin'an to such a distant place was certainly not limited to this.

He wants money, he wants official positions, he wants fame and fortune—he can't do without any of them.

Therefore, he first took control of the mint.

According to the rules previously established by Yang Yuan, the expenses of the army guarding the mines were paid directly from the currency minted by the mint.

After Supervisor Sun took office, the military pay was changed to be allocated by the Ministry of Revenue of the Imperial Court.

As a result, in September of the year before last, the imperial court issued two urgent imperial edicts to stop Yang Yuan from continuing his military operations in Shaanxi and ordered the army to withdraw.

When the army returns, rewards must be given based on merit, and pensions must be allocated.

The Ministry of Revenue was suddenly in a tight spot.

Following that, at the beginning of last year, Zhao Qi took personal control of the government.

However, after a few months, the Sichuan-Shaanxi War was restarted.

Unfortunately, the Jin state had already recovered by then, while on the Song army's side, because Zhao Qi had sent many of his confidants to try and seize credit and power, veteran generals such as Shi Han and Gao Gan were naturally unwilling to risk their lives.

As a result, the 180,000-strong army was cut off from its retreat and trapped in Shaanxi.

If it weren't for the sudden emergence of a righteous army in Shandong, which made quite a splash...

Moreover, the uprising took place in Jinan Prefecture, which is very close to Yanjing (Beijing), forcing the Jin court to reduce its military strength and focus on suppressing the bandits.

Only under these circumstances could half of the troops break through the encirclement and escape back to Dasanguan.

With the loss of over 90,000 soldiers, so many fallen officers and soldiers certainly need to be compensated.

The imperial court was short of funds and didn't take the Liangshan Prefecture Mining Protectorate seriously, given that the emperor was far away and the protectors were newly enlisted.

As a result, the payment was often delayed.

They protected the mines, watching gold and brass being refined every day, and the mint casting them into bright yellow coins. Yet, they were owed military pay. One can only imagine the grievances of the officers and soldiers.

After nearly a year of sorting out various affairs and taking control of the Minting Bureau, Sun Haohan was ready to strike again, this time targeting the Greentown Mine.

He wanted to take over the privately-run mine and turn it into a government-run one.

He kicked out all the Wumeng Seven Barbarians, Liangshan Twelve Tribes, and the white gloves held on behalf of Empress Gao of Dali Kingdom; he wanted to play by himself.

This really stirred up a hornet's nest.

The leaders of the twelve tribes in the twelve counties of Liangshan Prefecture took the lead in instigating their tribesmen to strike and cause trouble.

With a large army at his command, Sun Haohan remained fearless.

As soon as the mine guards went up, they were utterly defeated, abandoning hundreds of tiger-squatting cannons and fleeing in disarray.

Most of them have settled down and started families locally, and they no longer even return to the barracks; instead, they go back to their wives and enjoy the warmth of their homes.

They left only the officials and servants of the Minting Bureau in Green City.

Then, the Seven Barbarians of Wumeng took action, cutting off the roads, allowing bandits to run rampant, and cutting off supplies.

Once things get heated, passion takes over and rationality disappears.

As a result, Sun Haohan and his gang of mint officials were beaten to death and hung on high poles.

The twelve counties of Liangshan have rebelled!

Liangshan Prefecture became part of the Song Dynasty under Yang Yuan's rule, which was essentially a "political achievement project" for him.

Moreover, this land, which was originally thought to be barren, actually contained rich mineral resources, which made the imperial court very interested in it.

Now that Liangshan Prefecture has rebelled, Yu Zeping naturally dared not neglect his duties and immediately sent the report to Yang Yuan's desk.

Yang Yuan arrived at the Hall of State Affairs early in the morning and saw the secret letter sent by Yu Zeping, the Secretary of the Ministry of State Affairs. After reading it, he set it on fire and burned it as if nothing had happened.

Immediately afterwards, the young emperor Zhao Dun saw the memorial.

Zhao Dun was furious.

Although the eldest brother has stepped down, he still had his moments of glory.

Look at how the three leaders of the Western Army were disciplined and became obedient when their elder brother was in power.

The Dali Kingdom ceded Liangshan Prefecture.

The Western Xia was incorporated into the Song Dynasty.

They seized Tianshui and Baoji in Shaanxi, and then plundered Shaanxi from north to south.

As for me, I had just ascended the throne when Liangshan Prefecture was gone.

Zhao Dun immediately summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.

The Prince of Jin refused the imperial edict and did not come, saying that he was still ill.

In the Hall of Diligent Governance, Right Chancellor Yang Yuan, Left Chancellor Chen Kangbo, and chief ministers Zhang Jun, Chen Junqing, Qian Duanli, Chen Weiqing, and Ma Chongyuan were present.

There are four new faces among them.

Yang Yuan was the Right Chancellor who replaced Wei Liangchen.

Qian Duanli rose from the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, having been granted the title of Jinshi by Zhao Dun, to become Vice Privy Councilor and concurrently Vice Chancellor.

Zhao Dun bestowed the title of Tongjinshi upon three people at once. Fan Jiang and Wang Yiran were also granted the title of Tongjinshi by Lao Qian.

Then these two gentlemen returned to the Censorate, transforming from their original positions as office director and logistics manager into two prosecutors.

There were also two new faces: Chen Weiqing, the "Grand Chancellor," and Ma Chongyuan.

Yang Yuan glanced at it, nodded slightly, and said, "Hmm... the advantage is mine."

Next was Privy Councilor Zheng Yuandong.

Zheng Yuandong and Yang Yuan have a special bond.

But Yang Yuan didn't dare to fully trust him, as the two had only known each other for a short time and she wasn't entirely clear about his stance.

However, Qian Duanli is now the Deputy Privy Councilor, and Liu Shangqiu is now the Chief Secretary of the Privy Council and the Director of the Decision-Making Office.

In this way, Yang Yuan could rest assured about the Privy Council.

There are also a few new faces in the six departments.

Qu Mo, the former Minister of Rites and the father-in-law of the Prince of Jin, has retired. The current Minister of Rites is Wang Shenzhi.

The Minister of Revenue, Xi Zhe, had already retired to his hometown. Because he was a staunch advocate of peace, Zhao Yuan disliked him greatly, and Zhao Qi sent him away before he abdicated.

However, the position of Minister of Revenue remained vacant thereafter.

Originally, the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue were handled by the Left and Right Vice Ministers. Now that the Right Vice Minister Qian Duanli has been promoted, the Left Vice Minister Huang Xu has taken charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue and also attended the meeting.

On the Ministry of Personnel side, the Minister is named Xiao Cezhi. In recent years, the Ministry of Personnel has been the most unstable, and he has not been in office for long.

The other three, such as Cheng Zhen, Minister of War; Zhang Fangxun, Minister of Justice; and Hou Keyi, Minister of Works, were familiar faces.

"My lords, the natives of Liangshan Prefecture have rebelled, murdered imperial officials, and seized imperial mines. How should the court respond?"

Zhao Dun lacked confidence, not because he was worried that Liangshan Prefecture was in a state of chaos and beyond repair.

Rather, it was because his position was obtained so unexpectedly that he still felt like he was dreaming, and looking at the ministers present, he felt quite unsure of himself.

Especially when facing the Right Chancellor Yang Yuan.

As he asked the assembled officials questions, his eyes had already drifted toward Yang Yuan.

Upon seeing this, Chen Kangbo's brows furrowed slightly. Yang Yuan now held absolute power in the court, a very unfavorable situation.

If the emperor continues to develop the habit of relying on Yang Yuan for everything, then who will ultimately rule this country – the Zhao family or the Yang family?

Left Chancellor Chen Kangbo immediately cleared his throat and said, "Your Majesty!"

Zhao Dun turned his gaze to Chen Kangbo, who cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, the natives of Liangshan Prefecture are uncivilized and barbaric by nature. Now they have dared to kill ministers and seize mines. If they are not severely punished, wouldn’t that only embolden them?”

Zhao Dun asked, "Does Chancellor Chen mean that we should send troops to suppress this?"

"good."

Qian Duanli glanced quickly at Yang Yuan, and seeing that Yang Yuan was sitting with his legs crossed, his eyes lowered, and absentmindedly wiping the tea leaves with the tea lid, he knew that Yang Yuan didn't care about this.

In a situation like this, there's no reason for the eldest to go first.

Besides, this eldest brother is also her future son-in-law.

Qian Duanli immediately said, "Weapons are instruments of misfortune, and should be used with caution. I disagree with Chancellor Chen's rash words about sending troops."

Zhao Dun immediately looked at Qian Duanli and asked, "Then, what does Master Qian think we should do?"

Qian Duanli had no idea what to do; Yang Yuan hadn't even offered his opinion yet.

However, it was clear that Yang Yuan disagreed with sending troops.

Qian Duanli then said, "The natives of Liangshan Prefecture have the advantage of favorable timing, location, and popular support. Even the soldiers guarding the mines are no match for them."

A hasty troop deployment, if successful, is fine; but if defeated, it will only embolden them further.

Qian Duanli added, “Your Majesty, the Western Xia Road has only just submitted, and Tianshui City is struggling to survive.”

If the situation in Liangshan Prefecture is not resolved properly as soon as possible, and if Xixia Road and Tianshui City follow suit, then…

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dun's expression became somewhat tense.

Zhang Jun said calmly, "Master Qian, you are an expert in financial management. But when it comes to military affairs..."

Zhang Jun smiled wryly. Qian Duanli was an official appointed through hereditary privilege, and his current status as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) was bestowed by the emperor, not something announced outside the Donghua Gate. In his eyes, he was ultimately not a person of importance.

Chen Junqing said, "Just now, Master Qian also said that Xixia Road has just submitted, and Tianshui City is struggling to hold on, and an accident could happen at any time."

Therefore, the matter in Liangshan Prefecture must be resolved immediately with swift and decisive action.

Only in this way can we deter the ambitions of the wicked and achieve the goal of conquering one region and pacifying three others.

Yang Yuan didn't expect the two prime ministers who had signed the seal to be of any help, but it would be enough if they clearly took sides after expressing their opinions.

Currently, only Qian Duanli is taking the lead, so Yang Yuan naturally cannot let his father-in-law face the three prime ministers, Chen, Zhang, and Yang alone.

When it comes to financial management, Qian Duanli can proudly say, "Everyone here is trash," but when it comes to issues that confuse military and political matters, Old Qian is certainly not an expert.

Yang Yuan cleared his throat and put down his teacup.

Yang Yuan coughed, and the hall fell silent. Qian Duanli, who was about to retort, stopped talking, and the others also looked at Yang Yuan.

Yang Yuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, esteemed ministers, Liangshan Prefecture has been incorporated into the territory of our Great Song Dynasty for more than two years since it was incorporated two years ago."

Why didn't the Twelve Tribes of Liangshan rebel the year before last, or last year, but only now? What is the reason?

He glanced at the crowd and said calmly, "Emperor Taizong of Tang once said that governing a country is like treating an illness. Now, Liangshan Prefecture is sick, but have we figured out the root cause of this illness?"
Or is it to treat the symptom, not the cause, without considering the underlying cause? That's no different from being a quack doctor.

Huang Xu, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, immediately retorted sharply: "In chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary; for a serious illness, drastic medicine is needed! The twelve tribes of Liangshan have already killed officials and rebelled. What's the point of investigating the reasons?"

Yang Yuan said, "Of course it's meaningful. Only by finding the root cause of the problem can we prescribe the right medicine. Otherwise, if we use the wrong medicine, it's already a serious illness, and all medicines have some degree of toxicity. Wouldn't that just make things worse?"

Chen Kangbo smiled and said, "Then, what does Minister Yang think is the root cause of the rebellion in Liangshan Prefecture?"

Chen Kangbo said, “They are naturally the native Rong people, who do not submit to the teachings of the king. They are barbaric and fear power but do not cherish virtue. The strong will become bandits and the weak will become subservient. Since they cannot be educated, they must be suppressed by force.”

Yang Yuan shook his head and said calmly, "Wasn't it the court that broke its promise to the barbarians first?"

Huang Xu said, "Thunder and rain are both blessings from Heaven. The court governs according to circumstances. Does something that has happened in the past mean it can never be changed?"

Yang Yuan said, "As we all know, the southwest is desolate, and Liangshan Prefecture is one of the most desolate places among the prefectures of Dali."

After Liangshan Prefecture came under the rule of the Song Dynasty, the twelve tribes of Liangshan built a city at Luhu Lake and mined in the mountains, using all their able-bodied men to build the Lucheng Gold and Copper Mine, which continuously produced gold and copper, thus changing Sichuan's history of exclusively using iron coins.

Now that profits have just begun to materialize, the imperial court, disregarding public opinion, has seized the gold and copper mines for its own use. What kind of favor is this?

Upon hearing this, Ma Chongyuan suddenly had a flash of inspiration and quickly added, "The other day there was a report that a dragon had risen from the ground in western Sichuan, destroying hundreds of houses. Could this be a celestial warning?"

Yang Yuan glanced at him and said, "This child is teachable!"

Wang Shenzhi, the Minister of Rites, frowned and said in a deep voice, "Minister Ma, don't be alarmist. We are both disciples of the sages, how can we speak lightly of ghosts and gods?"

Ma Chongyuan is now a Vice Chancellor, a higher official than Wang Shenzhi, but he couldn't help but feel embarrassed after being told that.

Another prime minister, Chen Weiqing, who was also involved in the matter, couldn't sit still any longer. He immediately chuckled and said in a sarcastic tone, "Minister Wang is right. When discussing state affairs, why resort to invoking ghosts, gods, or divine will?"

But this imperial favor was first proposed by Vice Minister Huang of the Ministry of Revenue.

Before Wang Shenzhi could launch another attack, Yang Yuan interrupted, "Alright, let's not talk about ghosts and gods, let's talk about people instead."

The ruler treats the people like weeds, and the people treat the ruler like an enemy. If the court fails to bestow its bounty on the people and instead exploits and oppresses them, then isn't the behavior of the twelve tribes of Liangshan today a clear example of treating the ruler as an enemy?

Chen Kangbo asked bluntly, "So, Minister Yang doesn't approve of sending troops?"

Yang Yuan said, "I simply disagree with the policies toward Liangshan since last year, and that is the root of all the problems!"

The debate among the ministers quickly reached a fever pitch.

The statement here is that sending troops is driven by a desire for grand achievements and is an act of militarism and exhaustion.

They say that appeasement and concessions will leave endless troubles, and people in Xixia Road and Tianshui City will surely follow suit.

Sending troops here is seen as a waste of resources and a way to provoke conflict and gain credit.

They said that leniency is indulgence, and if the remaining evils are not eliminated, trouble will follow.

The six ministers also each had their own factions.

Zhao Dun had just ascended the throne and had never seen such a scene before. He was inclined to favor Yang Yuan, but the voices of the prime ministers and the six ministries were very strong in support of sending troops.

Moreover, Zhao Dun himself was actually eager to try.

If he sends troops and wins, wouldn't that enhance his prestige?
The imperial council meeting that day ultimately failed to reach a conclusion.

After the meeting ended, the officials dispersed, naturally forming two factions: one centered around Yang Yuan, and the other around Chen Yi and Chen Yuan.

On the other side of Chen and Zhang, Huang Xu said excitedly, "Battles on the battlefield involve strategic planning and frontier officials. The success or failure of military campaigns will inevitably lead to political reckoning."

Yang Yuan's prestige stemmed from his military campaigns in the south and north. This time, we must seize the initiative in our military campaign; only then can we maintain control, advance step by step, and win at every turn!

On Yang Yuan's side, Qian Duanli walked beside Yang Yuan and said in confusion, "Master Yang, the twelve tribes of Liangshan are fierce, and the mine guards are no match for them."

Since they insist on using force, why not let them do it?

Once they have suffered heavy losses, wouldn't it be more justifiable to punish them?

Yang Yuan said with deep concern, “That is certainly the reason. However… I can resolve this matter with a single proclamation, but instead I have to go through the trouble of sending troops and wasting resources, sacrificing many lives. Even if it greatly benefits my career, how can I be at peace with myself?”

Upon hearing this, Chancellor Chen Weiqing and Ma Chongyuan immediately clapped their hands and sighed, praising Yang Yuan's noble character and integrity.

But flattery is just flattery; it doesn't help anything.

After leaving the Hall of Diligent Governance, Vice Minister Huang of the Ministry of Revenue went to the Hall of State Affairs and held a long private discussion with several high-ranking officials before returning to the Ministry of Revenue's office for signing documents.

Sending troops was key to gradually gaining control of the military, and also key to undermining Yang Yuan's prestige.

After all, Liangshan Prefecture was taken over by Yang Yuan, and it was Yang Yuan who designed the business model for the Liangshan Prefecture gold and copper mines.

By using military force to recapture the chaotic Liangshan Prefecture and reorganize it according to the imperial system, Yang Yuan's political career was effectively over.

However, Yang Yuan refused to use troops. Although he did not have many allies in the ministers' ranks, he was still able to influence the situation, which made the ministers even more wary.

Therefore, it is imperative to send troops.

And now, he is the one who orchestrated this mission.

After much deliberation, Vice Minister Huang finally found a breakthrough, and a strange smile slowly crept onto his lips.

Yang Yuan, Yang Yuan, now that I've made this move, how will you respond?

(End of this chapter)