Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 877 The Chaos of Tongchuan
Yu Zeping rushed to the Hall of Diligent Governance and waited for a while before the young Emperor Zhao Dun slowly walked in.

Although Zhao Dun was also eager to know the situation at the front, he still had to maintain his proper demeanor.

"Your subject Yu Zeping greets Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities, Yu Qing..."

As Zhao Dun finished speaking, the faint smile on his face suddenly froze.

He was watching Yu Zeping's expression.

Yu Zeping's expression didn't seem like that of someone coming to report a victory.

But didn't we say that the army, upon its arrival, fought a fierce battle and captured the Oasis Stone City?
With tens of thousands of elite soldiers, how could they not deal with a bunch of barefoot natives carrying bamboo bows and spears?
Zhao Dun was puzzled, but remained outwardly calm, and asked, "Minister Yu, is there any urgent news to report?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, memorials have been submitted from Tongchuan Road and Chengdu Road..."

As Yu Zeping spoke, he took out two memorials from his sleeve. The eunuchs in the hall stepped forward to take them and presented them to Zhao Dun.

Yu Zeping said, "The Tongchuan Road pacification army was attacked and defeated. Of the 14,000 soldiers, less than 1,500 fled to Xuzhou to rest and regroup. Nine out of ten were gone."

If nine out of ten die, that's practically a death sentence.
Zhao Dun slumped down onto the dragon throne.

Yu Zeping said, "Shen Xuzhong, the Pacification Commissioner of Tongchuan Road, has personally come to Xuzhou City to comfort the soldiers and apologize to the court."

Zhao Dun turned pale upon hearing this, and Yu Zeping added, "Furthermore, because of the defeat in Liangshan Prefecture, the news has spread and the Sichuan and Shaanxi regions are in turmoil."

This resulted in a significant decrease in the number of copper coins circulating in the market. For a time, money became heavy while goods became light, and those who wanted to sell could not, while those who wanted to buy could not afford to.

The situation was most dire on Chengdu's Fulu Road, where all industries were in ruins, countless shops had closed, and the streets and alleys were filled with homeless people and beggars.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dun flew into a rage and slammed his fist on the table, saying, "Qiao Zhen is incompetent. Of the four routes in Sichuan and the Three Gorges, Chengdu is the most prosperous."

But he was the first to succumb. What was this good-for-nothing doing?

Yu Zeping opened his mouth, intending to explain the basic principles of economics to Zhao Dun.

However, upon looking up and seeing Zhao Dun's face contorted with anger, he realized that explaining things now would only enrage the young emperor further, so he remained silent.

Zhao Dun, frustrated and angry, suddenly realized that as an emperor, he was not calm and collected enough.

He let out a long sigh, calming his tone: "I understand. You may leave now."

After Yu Zeping withdrew, Zhao Dun thought for a moment and then ordered, "Someone, go and invite the two Chen ministers, the Zhang minister, the Zheng minister, and the Huang vice minister."

The eunuch immediately agreed and hurriedly left the Hall of Diligent Governance.

No sooner had the eunuch delivering the imperial decree left than a palace maid delivered the message to the Inner Ministry of Personnel.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs then forwarded the message to the Ministry of Palace Attendants, and a senior eunuch relayed the message out of the palace.

Before the imperial edict could be fully delivered to Chen Kangbo, Chen Junqing, Zhang Jun, Zheng Yuandong, and Huang Xu, Yang Yuan already knew about it.

Yang Yuan had already read the contents of Shen Xuzhong and Qiao Zhen's memorials, and now he had received news from the Inner Palace Secretariat.

The news said that the emperor wanted to summon Chen Yizhang, Chen Chen, and Zheng Huang.

The Inner Secretariat was equivalent to the emperor's secretariat in the palace.

The Inner Palace Service Department includes the Inner Palace Service Department and the Inner Palace Service Department.

The Inner Palace Attendants Department, also known as the "Emperor's Department," was responsible for the personal services of the palace attendants. Although they were all eunuchs, they also held official positions.

There are twelve ranks of positions, such as Duduzhi, Duzhi, Fuduzhi, and Yaban.

The Inner Attendants Department, also known as the "Front Department," was responsible for miscellaneous tasks such as serving and cleaning in the main hall of the imperial palace.

It can be said that the Inner Secretariat, the Inner Attendants' Secretariat, and the Inner Attendants' Secretariat together formed a vast network within the imperial palace.

They were all-encompassing and all-forgiving; it was difficult for the emperor to escape their notice and surveillance.

Unless the emperor is so alert that he dismisses his attendants in everything he does.

But in that case, no one would know what the emperor did.

But everyone could guess that the emperor must have some important, clandestine plans to make.

After reading the message, Yang Yuan smiled faintly, stroked Qiao Aman and Qing Tang's smooth, silky hair, and said reproachfully, "It's none of your business, don't get distracted."

Aman rolled her eyes at him playfully.

He wasn't daydreaming at all; he was clearly choking and couldn't breathe.

Aman snorted softly in protest, then bowed her head to Qingtang in a manner that was both cooperative and competitive.

Yang Yuan leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes slightly, pondered for a while, and then smiled faintly.

He wanted to see what kind of idea those people could come up with.

……

The two Chens, one Zhang, and five other ministers, Zheng and Huang, were summoned to the palace. When they arrived before the emperor, they were shocked to learn of the events that had occurred on Tongchuan Road and Chengdu Road.

Zhang Jun, a man knowledgeable in military affairs, said with a grave expression, "The reason why the native soldiers are so difficult to deal with is mainly because they take advantage of the mountains and forests, appearing and disappearing without a trace, making them impossible to deal with."

The imperial court, however, prioritizes its military supplies and cannot afford to waste time fighting them.

However, it is extremely rare for them to be able to defeat our imperial army head-on.

"I have never heard of my army suffering such a defeat."

Chen Junqing disagreed, saying, "Didn't Shen Xuzhong also say in his memorial that the imperial army underestimated the enemy, which is why they fell into the trap of the natives?"

Zhang Jun shook his head: "Underestimating the enemy is only one aspect."

Chen Kangbo said, "Could it be that Minister Zhang believes that the local people's fighting strength has soared and is now sufficient to directly confront the imperial army?"

Zhang Jun shook his head again: "It's not that the natives have become stronger, but that the imperial army has become weaker."

The defeat in this battle was not necessarily due to the local inhabitants, but rather to the loss of morale and the will of the people of Sichuan.

Zheng Yuandong listened and seemed to be deep in thought.

Among these people, he is the most neutral.

However, he was not satisfied with Yang Yuan's immense power, which even surpassed that of the emperor.

Even if your actions do not harm the country or the nation in the slightest.

In his view, for a subject to overstep his bounds and presume to act above his sovereign was already a transgression and a great disrespect.

Therefore, he was more inclined to side with the scholar-officials.

However, this does not mean that he would blindly oppose Yang Yuan because of his stance, regardless of right or wrong.

Therefore, at the last imperial conference, when the ministers discussed whether or not to send troops, the other ministers stood up and spoke eloquently.

But he did a difficult pose, his buttocks hovering over the seat, neither sitting nor standing.

He wasn't being opportunistic; rather, he was also hesitant.

Seeing Zhang Jun's analysis and self-reflection, Zheng Yuandong deeply agreed, and so he also said with a heavy expression:

"After Yang Yuan went to Sichuan, he made many changes to the military affairs in Sichuan, but he still faced many obstacles."

The Battle of Xuzhou decisively silenced the opposition to his military reforms. Afterwards, he relieved the siege of the Seven Barbarian Tribes of Wumeng and forced the Dali Kingdom to cede Liangshan Prefecture, thus establishing his unparalleled prestige in Sichuan.

In particular, the series of victories in the northern expedition against the Jin Dynasty and the western campaign against the Xia Dynasty made the morale of the army as sharp as a knife.

After Shen Xuzhong arrived in Sichuan, he carried out another reform of the military system in Sichuan in accordance with the court's wishes, but it was still too early to implement it.

Amidst the transition between the old and new regimes and the instability of morale, the Liangshan prefectural mining troops suffered a crushing defeat, further diminishing their fighting spirit and leading to this disastrous loss.

Huang Xu could no longer contain himself and said bluntly, "Prime Minister, now is not the time for self-criticism and reflection, but rather for the court to decide what to do next."

Zheng Yuandong glanced at him and said indifferently, "If you don't know the reason for the defeat, how can you determine what to do next?"

Huang Xuqi surged forward: "So, now that the Grand Chancellor has analyzed the reasons for the defeat, what does the Grand Chancellor think we should do?"

Zheng Yuandong was momentarily speechless.

How to do?
It's easy, just let Yang Yuan take charge of the affairs in Sichuan and the Three Gorges.

This guy's prestige in the Sichuan-Guizhou region is now frighteningly high.

If he were willing to step forward, and said something like, "Tomorrow I will open the gates of heaven with my sword and grant you immortality," those ignorant men and women from the Sichuan-Gorge region would probably believe it.

It wouldn't be easy for him to clean up this mess.

He slaughtered so many of the Mahu barbarians that only his name remains, a fearsome figure still remembered by the people.

At this point, with Zhang Yang in charge, the Sichuan-Gansu region would still be under Yang Yuan's supervision, and the rebel forces of the twelve tribes of Liangshan would likely surrender at the mere sight of him.

The problem is, if that happens, will anyone be able to control Yang Yuan?

Therefore, even though Zheng Yuandong knew the correct answer, he could only remain silent.

Seeing that he did not answer, Huang Xu couldn't help but smile arrogantly, turned to Zhao Dun, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your Majesty, our Great Song Dynasty is rich and powerful. Since we have acquired the advantage of firearms, recruiting soldiers is a matter of only a day or two, and it is very easy."

However, the loss of just over 10,000 people is actually insignificant and has not fundamentally damaged the central Sichuan region.

If the imperial court needs to recruit soldiers, it's simply a matter of issuing an imperial decree; there's no need to panic.

Zhao Dun's expression brightened: "What plan does Vice Minister Huang have in store?"

Huang Xu said, "Hasn't Shen Xuzhong already gone to Xuzhou to comfort the wounded soldiers? Tell him to regroup and send troops out again."

Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war; a single defeat is nothing to worry about.

Chen Kangbo frowned. It's easy to say, but if we lose again, how will we explain it to the world?

Chen Kangbo quickly tried to salvage the situation, saying, "Your Majesty, you can order the Kuizhou Road to send troops to assist in the battle. Previously, when Yang Yuan was suppressing the rebellious forces, he sent troops from Liangshan Prefecture, and he was also assisted by troops from Kuizhou Road and Chengdu Prefecture."

Seeing that things had come to this point, Zheng Yuandong said, "Let Zhang Wencheng of Kuizhou Road send Yang Xuan of Bozhou to lead troops first."

The soldiers of Bozhou were skilled in jungle warfare, making them the nemesis of the soldiers of Liangshan.

Zhao Dun clapped his hands in delight: "Excellent! Let's draft the decree accordingly."

Zheng Yuandong then cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have a message from the express dispatch office."

Shen Xuzhong sent a letter to Qiao Zhen, the prefect of Chengdu, asking him to procure provisions, but Qiao Zhen made excuses and did not take it seriously.

Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Huang said indignantly, "Your Majesty, although the troops sent to quell the rebellion in Tongchuan Prefecture underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, they were ambushed and almost wiped out."

Even though Qiao Zhen had prepared provisions early on, it was to no avail.

However, Qiao Zhen disregarded the imperial court, treating matters of national importance as trivial, and even went against the grain regarding such crucial matters as military supplies and provisions. He should be severely punished.

Chen Junqing frowned and said with some disgust, "Chengdu Prefecture is now facing a cash shortage. I don't think Qiao Zhen has any good solutions, which has led to economic depression and people's livelihood. He should be severely punished."

Zhang Jun pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Among the four pacification commissioners of Sichuan and the Three Gorges, only Qiao Zhen has completed two terms. It's time to make a change."

This is the downside of "non-stick pans".

If something happens to someone else, it won't affect you.

But if something happens to you, no one will speak up for you.

If someone else or someone else's friend wants to take the lead and you get in their way, they might even kick you when you're down and try to sabotage you.

At this point, when Qiao Zhen was mentioned, not a single person in front of the emperor spoke up for him.

Even those who understand economics know that the remedial and emergency measures Qiao Zhen is taking are the best measures available under his authority.

Seeing that many ministers also had reservations about Qiao Zhen's policies, Zhao Dun felt reassured and said in a loud voice:
"I have long felt that Qiao Zhen is a mere figurehead, only knowing how to secure his position and not a good choice for a minister to guard the borders."

Then let's do it this way: let Shen Xuzhong mobilize the troops of Tongchuan Road to once again suppress the rebels.

He ordered the Kuizhou Road to provide full support, and first dispatched the Yang clan's local troops from Bozhou to fight.

As for Chengdu Prefecture Road, Qiao Zhen was transferred back to the capital and reassigned.

Choose a virtuous and capable person to take up the important post in Chengdu.

"Whom do you all think is suitable for this task?"

Upon hearing this, the ministers exchanged bewildered glances.

It wasn't that they couldn't come up with suitable candidates, but rather that they suddenly realized that despite the lively discussions about sending troops and replacing regional officials,...

Yang Yuan isn't here.

With Yang Yuan absent, and everyone discussing it so enthusiastically, will it actually work?
The Hall of Diligent Governance immediately fell silent.

Zhao Dun suddenly realized what was happening.

He first summoned his trusted confidants, intending to discuss a countermeasure together.

Then, Yang Yuan was brought in. Everyone had reached a consensus, making it much easier to persuade Yang Yuan.

Unless it means a complete breakdown in relations, Yang Yuan cannot disregard the common interests of the Emperor and his ministers and act arbitrarily.

How come Yang Yuan hasn't even arrived yet, and the imperial decree has already been issued?

Zhao Dun's face flushed. Just as he was about to order the eunuch to go to the Prince of Yan's residence to invite Yang Yuan to the palace for a meeting, a palace eunuch entered the Hall of Diligent Governance with a memorial in his hand.

"Your Majesty, Yang Yuan has a memorial to present."

Zhao Dun was alarmed when he heard this. Yang Yuan himself wasn't coming; what kind of memorial was this?

Zhao Dun hurriedly ordered it to be presented, and all the ministers craned their necks to look at the emperor's desk.

Wow! It's quite thick!

Zhao Dun opened the memorial and saw that it was a leave request.

Upon closer inspection of the attachment, it turned out to be a certificate issued by the Imperial Medical Academy.

Yang Yuan said, "I am sick. In the sweltering summer, I took ice to cool down, but it caused an abdominal ailment. I am so weak and exhausted that I cannot attend court or manage affairs. I request a half-month sick leave from the emperor."

During this period, all matters concerning the Right Chancellor were handled by the Left Chancellor and other ministers, and the Emperor was asked to grant leave.

Zhao Dun was overjoyed upon seeing this. This was exactly what he wanted!
(End of this chapter)