Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 681 Old fears linger, new anxieties arise.

Three ministers of the Jin state stood silently before a desk, facing several books and a letter, creating an odd scene.

Given their temperaments, these three people should have remained calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before them, but their hearts were still churning with turmoil, to the point that their faces showed signs of distress.

After a moment, Shi Ju forced a smile and said, "This is probably just Liu Dalang's threat; it doesn't count."

"Intimidation?" Zhang Shousu muttered to himself, still holding "On the Investigation of Things." "Is this intimidation?"

Pucha Shijie gritted his teeth and said, "It's obviously intimidation. That scoundrel Liu is using these absurd arguments to make us think wildly and throw us into disarray. His intentions are despicable!"

However, after saying this, Pucha Shijie also felt strange.

He understood that Liu Huai must have something in mind when he wrote the letter and sent the books, and he felt a sense of fear and panic, but he himself did not understand why he felt this way.

This strange feeling only made him feel more apprehensive.

Zhang Shousu finally recovered from the huge shock and said to Shi Ju, "Confucianism is about to flourish."

Shi Ju and Pu Chashijie were both taken aback by these seemingly random words.

That's a ridiculous statement. When has Confucianism never flourished?

However, Shi Ju was also a Confucian scholar, and he immediately realized that the book in Zhang Shousu's hands was very likely the key to further advancement of Confucianism.

Zhang Shousu was somewhat distraught. He stared at the cover of "On the Investigation of Things" for a long time with a complicated expression before suddenly bursting into tears. While Shi Ju and the other man stared in astonishment, he sobbed for a long time before finally saying, "This book... why... why did it have to be published in my old age? Life is short, life is so short!"

Seeing that Zhang Shousu was about to burst into tears, Pucha Shijie snatched the "Treatise on the Investigation of Things" from Zhang Shousu's hands.

However, this battle-hardened general did not have the courage to open the book. Instead, he threw it onto the table as if he had touched a hot coal, and took two steps back as if avoiding a plague.

Looking at the weeping old minister and the fearful general before him, Shi Ju finally sorted out his complicated feelings.

Pu Chashijie, panting heavily, asked in a slightly distorted voice, "Master Shi, what did Liu Dalang write in his letter? Why...why did he write to you?"

Shi Ju gave a wry smile and handed over several sheets of paper: "They are all methods of governing the people, and they even call me a like-minded comrade, which is absurd. Even if such a crude scheme to sow discord were presented to His Majesty, I would have something to say about it."

Pucha Shijie took the letter and read it eagerly.

Just as Shi Ju said, this letter contained no urging to surrender, no discussion of the current situation, and none of the debate between the Chinese and the barbarians that Liu Huai was most adept at.

In his letter, Liu Huai greeted his family with the same warmth and concern as an old friend he hadn't seen in years. He then spoke of Shi Ju's recent policies, offering a few words of praise before pointing out some shortcomings and discussing the situation in Shandong.

Finally, Liu Huai said in his letter that Comrade Shi Ju was still inexperienced, too young and naive, and should learn from someone else.

I happen to have a few internal reference books on Shandong's governance. You should take a good look at them. After all, your ambition is to stabilize the Han lands. You might as well start learning the right methods now, so you can avoid taking a few years of detours.

"This...this..." After reading the letter, Pucha Shijie mumbled for a long time but couldn't get a coherent sentence out.

If a military or political leader of one side says this to the prime minister of another regime, although the tone is somewhat condescending, it is still considered appropriate.

But it was rather strange that Shi Ju, who was over fifty, was told by Liu Huai, a young man in his twenties, that he lacked experience.

However, judging from Liu Huai's past achievements and the current state of Shandong, where the government is efficient, the people are harmonious, and everything is thriving, anyone who is given orders from a high position can only accept it with a bitter nose.

Shi Ju sighed and looked at Pu Chashijie and Zhang Shousu, who had regained consciousness, and said, "These are all threats made to us by that scoundrel Liu Dalang."

Pucha Shijie held the letter, his mind still somewhat clear, though he had grasped the gist of it: "I hope Lord Shi will explain clearly, how is this intimidation?"

Shi Ju sighed again and said, "Although Liu Dalang did not flaunt his military power or claim that his country was prosperous, he used a simpler method to directly explain his methods of governing the country and leading the army."

"This is a calculated move. He's clearly telling you this, and even making you learn the underlying principles. What can you do?" "He's just using his overwhelming power to pressure you. What can you do about it?"

Zhang Shousu wiped away his tears and said, "Sometimes I really wish I were a fool, unable to understand the meaning behind these documents."

Pucha Shijie remained silent for a moment before asking, "Isn't there any other way? Can't we govern Henan the way Liu Dalang did?"

Shi Ju scoffed: "General Pucha, don't think of Liu Dalang as some kind of military governor or commander-in-chief. He is the king of the newly rising Han dynasty, and he may very well become the emperor in the future."

"Therefore, he could do whatever he wanted on the land he had conquered and implement any policy he thought was right."

“General Pucha, although you are of Jurchen ethnicity, you are not of the Wanyan clan. We cannot simply copy Liu Dalang’s way of governing.”

"Moreover, I'm certain that this includes land distribution to Han people, the organization of Han soldiers, and the selection of Han officials. Even if it doesn't, it's not hard to find out. Governor Pucha, do you dare to use these methods?"

Pucha Shijie remained silent.

How could he possibly dare to use it?
When the general, officials, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants of Henan are all Han Chinese, Shi Ju can then declare himself emperor on the spot.

Shi Ju didn't expect Pu Chashijie to answer. He just asked a few questions in return and then turned his gaze back to the books: "If Liu Dalang is allowed to recuperate for another two or three years, then even if Henan can withstand the Song Dynasty, it won't be able to stop him from sweeping across the Central Plains."

Pucha Shijie felt a sense of despair when he thought about this prospect.

This was the overwhelming momentum. When Liu Huai crushed the Jin emperors with such momentum, the two Jin emperors might still have the power to resist, but the several prefectures in Henan could only become dust under the rolling wheels of history.

After Zhang Shousu recovered, he was in a much better mood than Pu Chashijie. Perhaps it was because he felt that "if one hears the truth in the morning, one can die content in the evening," he said directly, "Then we can't let Liu Dalang get away with it so easily. We have to do something."

Shi Ju nodded in satisfaction: "Indeed, we shouldn't be so dejected."

"General Pucha, your military strategy is the best. Afterwards, I will assist you in recruiting and training troops and help the Wujie Army expand rapidly. But you must guarantee that you will treat the Han Chinese army equally."

Pucha Shijie thought for a moment before nodding with difficulty.

"The Emperor of Bianliang is probably too weak to attack Shandong. The Emperor of Youzhou should still have some strength left, General Pucha, Minister Zhang..."

At this point, Shi Ju became serious: "Both of you are confidants of His Majesty in Bianliang. I have no intention of winning you over, but Liu Dalang from Shandong has become a thorn in everyone's side and must be dealt with."

"When the time comes, I will need the two of you to cooperate with His Majesty of Youyan to attack Shandong. You two must not refuse, and you must not use words like 'rebellion' to fob me off!"

By the end, Shi Ju's voice had become stern and harsh.

Pu Chashijie and Zhang Shousu first looked at the documents on the table, then exchanged glances, and finally nodded with difficulty: "Then let's do as Master Shi says."

Shi Ju was finally satisfied. With the help of Liu Huai, he had finally settled the priorities and put his mind at ease.

Actually, Shi Ju lied just now.

For Shi Ju, whether the Jin state could immediately attack Shandong was of no importance. What mattered most was whether he could establish a dominant position in the complex and unpredictable environment of Henan, the Han region.

With this position, Shi Ju would have a legitimate reason to do what he did afterwards.

Although there were some twists and turns, Shi Ju finally got what he wanted, and his mood improved accordingly. He read through Liu Huai's letter several more times, then personally ground the ink and spread out the letter paper on the table.

"Master Shi, what are you doing?"

Shi Ju smiled faintly: "It is impolite not to reciprocate. If we do not reply, wouldn't we lose face for no reason? Chief Steward Pu Cha, Minister Zhang, do you two have anything to say? Let's put it together."

The two men were initially worried that Shi Ju was colluding with the enemy, but when they heard that they were going to write this letter together, they were both thrilled.

(End of this chapter)