Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 325 Nostalgia in Spring

"You're right."

Song Xiang nodded slightly and said, "Meicang Ebang murdered the former ruler and installed the young emperor. Although his position is prominent, his foundation is not stable. There are probably quite a few members of the Xia royal family and tribal leaders who harbor ulterior motives. If he can seize land and benefits from our dynasty by provoking trouble abroad, he can use this to publicize his military prowess and consolidate his power. Even if he cannot, he can shift the blame for the border tensions to our dynasty's 'border invasion' and 'tyranny' to incite the people's hatred of the enemy and divert dissatisfaction with his usurpation of power."

"Therefore, the second group of Xia envoys came here ostensibly to contest land, but in reality, it was an act of extortion, intended to test the bottom line of our dynasty."

Lu Beigu continued, "In my opinion, the court's current strategy should first be to see through their trickery and stabilize the situation. Pang Jinglue's avoidance of battle is not out of cowardice, but rather because he does not want to fall into their trap. While our court certainly needs to demonstrate its determination to defend our territory, it should focus even more on thwarting their schemes."

To put it simply, it means trying to avoid a conflict of uncontrollable scale and cost, at a time and place chosen by the enemy, and in a manner desired by the enemy.

Song Xiang tapped his fingers lightly on the table and pondered, "In your opinion, how should the court deal with the arrogance of the Xia envoy and its encroachment on the border? We can't just keep giving in and let them take an inch and a mile."

“Of course not,” Lu Bei replied. “Militarily, we should follow General Pang’s advice and strictly order all fortresses to strengthen their defenses and increase the frequency and scope of patrols. Although we will not conduct a large-scale sweep across the river for the time being, we must strike at any small groups of Xia troops that attempt to plunder across the border, to demonstrate our determination to defend our territory. As for any action taken outside the city, we must be swift and decisive. Regardless of whether we succeed or not, we should not linger in battle and should return to the city as soon as possible. This will serve as a small punishment to deter them and dampen their momentum, without triggering a large-scale battle.”

"In diplomacy, the best approach with the Xia envoy is to employ delaying tactics. We can repeatedly debate the historical evolution of the border, citing classical texts and arguing our point of view, but never close the door to negotiations. At the same time, we can imply that if the Xia Kingdom persists in its course and undermines the peace agreement, our dynasty will consider further reducing the size of the border markets or even temporarily closing them, and strengthening our military deployments along the border. The Xia Kingdom relies heavily on trade with our dynasty, which is its weakness. The key is to make Mezang Epang realize that his risky behavior will not only be difficult to profit from, but may also come at a real cost, and will not allow him to gain a greater advantage in the Xia Kingdom's court."

"Furthermore," Lu Beigu added after a moment's thought, "perhaps we could try the strategy of 'using barbarians to control barbarians.' I've heard that not all tribes in the Hexi and Hengshan areas are truly loyal to Western Xia, especially some tribes that have been constantly encroached upon by the Tanguts. Could the court secretly send envoys, or through reliable merchant caravans, to secretly contact these tribes, offering them gold, silk, and official positions, so that they can create some trouble in the rear of Xia, which would also distract Mozang Epang's attention."

After listening, Song Xiang stroked his beard for a long time before slowly saying, "Avoid the strong and attack the weak, consolidate the foundation and wait for the right time, and occasionally disturb their internal affairs to control them through trade. Although this insight is still lacking, it has merit in judging the overall situation and analyzing the advantages and disadvantages. In particular, your understanding of Mo Zang E Pang's intentions is quite reasonable. It seems that you have also paid attention to border affairs and the situation of foreign tribes in addition to studying the classics and history."

"Sir, you are so complimentary."

Lu Beigu asked curiously, "So what is the Privy Council's current strategy?"

"Han Qi is in charge of defense, and Jia Changchao is in charge of offense."

Seeing Lu Beigu's astonishment, Song Xiang explained, "Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan rose to prominence through their involvement in the Xia war and are not ignorant of military matters, hence their agreement with Pang Ji on this matter. However, although Jia Changchao has contributed to the suppression of the rebellion of Wang Ze in Beizhou, he has never personally presided over border affairs. On the one hand, he does not know much about border affairs and is quite dismissive of the Xia army; on the other hand, since he has already entered the game and is in the central government, he cannot help but disagree with Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, and Han Qi."

Song Xiang's analysis was thorough, and Lu Beigu understood immediately after hearing it.

Although Jia Changchao was the Grand Chancellor, after his important ally Chen Zhizhong retired, he became the weaker party in the central government. It was precisely because of this disadvantage that he needed to take the initiative to attack more frequently.

He returned to power because of his opposition to Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi in the Liutahe case, so he wanted to repeat the same trick in the Quyehe boundary demarcation issue.

Otherwise, if Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi were to recover from the huge failure of the Liutahe case, Jia Changchao would not have a good time.

After all, the two sides have officially broken off relations since this incident.

As for Song Xiang, who has not yet entered the game, he would be happy to see either side win or lose.

Because Song Xiang's relationship with both sides was actually not good, or rather, as the leader of the small circle in the second year of Tiansheng, Song Xiang originally represented an independent faction in the imperial court. If Ye Qingchen and Zheng Jian were still alive, their power would be no less than that of Wen Yanbo, Wang Yaochen, Han Qi, Bao Zheng and their group in the fifth year of Tiansheng.

However, Song Xiang was not without allies in the central government. Zeng Gongliang, who had just entered the Council of State Affairs, was his classmate and had been recommended by Song Xiang. They used to have a very close relationship, but in the years after Song Xiang was dismissed from his post as prime minister, their relationship had become less close.

As the saying goes, there are no permanent friends, especially in the halls of power, where all relationships change with changing status.

However, as long as Song Xiang, whose students and former officials are spread throughout the court and the country, becomes prime minister for the third time or serves as privy councilor for the third time, the relationship between the two sides will naturally become close again.

All of this is predicated on the fact that someone in either government has fallen from power in this incident.

"But doesn't Jia Changchao know that our army has almost no chance of winning a large-scale field battle with the Xia army on the eastern front?"

Lu Beigu remained quite puzzled by the internal divisions within the Privy Council.

He certainly didn't think that Jia Changchao, who could rise to the position of Privy Councilor, was a fool. After all, even if he, as Privy Councilor, didn't understand whether the war could be fought or not, wouldn't the professionals below him understand?
Therefore, since the main attack plan was proposed, it must have its feasibility. Lu Beigu could only assume that there was still information he did not know.

"Some messages will not appear in the official documents of the Secretariat."

Pointing to the document, Song Xiang revealed the hidden story: "In the first month, the Xia army set off from Xingqing Prefecture with about 10,000 cavalrymen, heading east from Hengshan to Quye River. They are currently lingering on the west bank of the Quye River. The intelligence obtained by the Privy Council indicates that the cavalry's provisions can only last until April at most. Jia Changchao's so-called main attack plan is targeting a region south of Yincheng Village and east of the Quye River. The road to this area near Linzhou is narrow and treacherous, with dense fir and cypress trees and numerous hills. A flat and fertile farmland is surrounded by this area, and it is also irrigated by the Quye River. It is suitable for growing millet and wheat, so the Dangxiang people seem unwilling to give it up and have built several small fortified villages to guard the perimeter."

Sure enough, if he wasn't very confident, even if Jia Changchao knew nothing about military affairs, he wouldn't have chosen to go out into the field and risk his life.

"So you mean Jia Changchao plans to wait until the main force of the Xia army's cavalry retreats before sending troops to reclaim the occupied territory on the east bank, and then claim credit for it? This would allow him to secure his position as Privy Councilor, or even advance further?"

"That's right. Now guess why Han Qi prefers to defend?"

Song Xiang appeared quite relaxed at this point. After asking the question, he leaned back in his chair and smiled without saying a word.

Lu Beigu frowned. If it were truly a freebie, why would Han Qi insist on defending? Even if Han Qi had suffered losses at Haoshuichuan before, he shouldn't be so cowardly. Could there be a trap here?
"Could this intelligence be a deliberate slip by the Xia army, and this place also be bait? Their intention is to feign a withdrawal and then hide on the west bank of the Quye River, waiting for our army to leave the city to recapture the area south of Yincheng Village and east of the Quye River before crossing the river for a field battle?"

“That’s right, Han Qi’s main concern is this.”

Song Xiang was quite pleased to see Lu Beigu react so quickly; he really didn't want to deal with people who were too stupid.

"Jia Changchao's move is a gamble, just like betting that the Liuta River will collapse, betting that he can recover this land on the east bank of the Quye River that has been occupied by the Dangxiang people. However, he has also found a way out. He suggested that the army be dispatched from the east bank of the Yellow River to cross the river instead of using the local troops of Linzhou. In this way, even if the Xia army has an ambush, the army can calmly retreat back to Linzhou City and defend it together with the Linzhou garrison."

Lu Beigu asked in detail, "How far is this place from Yincheng Village? How far is it from Linzhou City?"

"It is 60 li away from Yincheng Village and more than 100 li away from Linzhou City."

Upon hearing this number, Lu Beigu's blood pressure rose slightly.

"Then I'm afraid we won't be able to get back."

This wasn't the first or second time that the Song army had been surrounded by the Xia army while reinforcements watched from inside the fortified city.

Because the Song army's field combat capabilities were really insufficient, and those responsible for defending the city were often even less capable, even if the two armies were only a few dozen miles apart, they could not be relieved once reinforcements were blocked, and could only watch helplessly as their allies who came out of the city were surrounded and annihilated.

"So Jia Changchao's idea is to wait until the Yellow River and Quye River are no longer frozen and the ice jam season is over before launching an attack. In this way, the Quye River will swell, making it difficult for the Xia army's more than 10,000 cavalry to cross the river quickly and easily, thus increasing the chances of recovering the lost territory on the east bank."

Those who can become prime ministers of two different offices are certainly not fools.

Although Jia Changchao's move was risky, the risks of this plan seemed to be manageable, and it could easily bring him a lot of political capital. No wonder he was so eager to launch an attack.

"And what is the Emperor's opinion?"

"The Emperor has no opinion."

Song Xiang said meaningfully, "Even when answering questions in the palace examination, you must remember one thing: for the Emperor, reform or conservatism, war or peace, offense or defense are just means. The Emperor has no opinion on these matters, nor can he have any opinion. How to make a decision is simply a matter of changing with the times and using what is in one's heart."

Song Xiang's words were like the sun breaking through the clouds, giving Lu Beigu a deeper understanding of the power struggles within the imperial court.

The emperor stands aloof, looking down upon his ministers who are divided by political views, factions, and interests. This division and balance of power is itself a manifestation of the emperor's mind.

Jia Changchao's "offensive" and Han Qi's "defensive" may not have been a simple matter of right or wrong in the eyes of the officials, but rather two strategies that could be chosen, or even leverage to check and balance each other and prevent one side from becoming too dominant.

As for the success or failure of battles, and the gains or losses of cities and territories, to put it bluntly, from Li Jiqian to Li Yuanhao, how many battles did the Song Dynasty suffer? How many soldiers did it lose? How many cities and fortresses did it lose?

So, is it still a piece of land on the east bank of the Quye River, or a force of tens of thousands of troops that we need?

Putting aside the fact that wars always involve wins and losses, it's not necessarily true that we can't win this time. Even if we do lose, the government isn't in a position to be unable to accept defeat.

Therefore, the fundamental factor influencing the final decision in this matter is still not military, but political.

"The student has learned a lot," Lu Beigu said sincerely.

For him, who was about to embark on his official career, this advice was far more valuable than simply analyzing border affairs.

Song Xiang nodded slightly, seemingly quite satisfied with Lu Beigu's comprehension. He then asked, "In your opinion, setting aside the court's infighting and focusing solely on border affairs, is it better to wait and see and strengthen the city's defenses, or to take a risk and reclaim the lost territory on the east bank?"

Lu Beigu pondered for a moment before cautiously replying, "Sir, I still believe that the best course of action is to observe the situation and remain calm while waiting for the enemy to act. Jia Shuxiang's strategy may seem ingenious, but in reality, it has handed over the initiative to the Xia army. Our army's movements depend on the Xia army running out of food and retreating, as well as on the rivers thawing. We are subject to the weather and the enemy's situation at every turn, and there are too many variables."

"If the Xia army is indeed setting up an ambush, they must have a plan to deal with the rising water, such as building dams upstream or preparing rafts for crossing. We must be wary. Furthermore, the army has been mobilized from the east of the Yellow River, which is laborious and costly. If in the end they only 'recover' a disputed area without inflicting heavy damage on the enemy, it will not be of much benefit to the overall situation. On the contrary, it may provoke a larger-scale retaliation from the Xia state, which is exactly what Mo Zang E Pang wants."

After listening, Song Xiang neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply said indifferently.

"War is a matter of vital importance to the state; it is a matter of life and death, a road to survival or ruin. He who has more strategic plans will prevail."

His words clearly indicated that he acknowledged the military risks that Lu Beigu had identified, but for Jia Changchao, the gamble was more about political "momentum." If successful, the political gains would be enough to cover the military risks.

Song Xiang himself was happy to observe the situation unfold. As for changing the Privy Council's decisions? Now that Song Xiang was no longer in office, he naturally could not interfere in its affairs.

At this moment, an old servant quietly entered the study and whispered, "Sir, a visiting card has been sent from the Zeng family, inviting you to visit tomorrow."

A knowing glint flashed in Song Xiang's eyes. He took the visiting card, glanced at it, and said to Lu Beigu, "Alright, what you said today is only what I heard. Do not spread it outside. Border affairs are of great importance, and the court will handle the matters. Your priority right now is to focus on preparing for the exam. However, if the palace examination essay does involve this matter, you should be prepared. Write down your thoughts after you go back today, and I will review them tomorrow."

"Yes, the student understands."

Knowing that today's lessons were over, Lu Beigu bowed respectfully and left the study.

For him, the most important thing is still the imperial examination that will be held next month.

Having already tasted the benefits of accurately predicting exam questions in advance, Lu Beigu also plans to prepare thoroughly for the question on "the demarcation of the Quye River".

It was still not dark when we left the Song residence.

Lu Beigu is attending a gathering of fellow townsmen from Sichuan tonight. Many of them failed the provincial examination for the Ministry of Rites and will be returning home after the gathering. After this parting, it is unknown when they will meet again, so those who can attend will try their best to do so.

At the same time, this is also a good opportunity to connect with others and build relationships.

After all, although they were both from Sichuan, Sichuan is a very large place. They probably didn't know each other while in Sichuan. It was only after arriving in Kaifeng, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, that they banded together for mutual support because of their hometown.

Meanwhile, early spring in Kaifeng was already showing signs of warmth, with willow tips sprouting new green and ice melting away.

As the evening drum sounded, the donkey cart hired by Lu Beigu stopped in front of a restaurant in Dongyulin Lane.

But before the tavern, the gardenia lanterns were just lit, and the ink-written character "Shu" looked warm and inviting in the twilight. The new leaves of the bamboo hanging under the eaves swayed gently in the evening breeze.

This is a very famous restaurant in Kaifeng that specializes in Sichuan cuisine. People from Sichuan living in Tokyo often come here to reminisce about the taste of their hometown.

The shop assistant had obviously been instructed beforehand. As soon as he approached, he bowed and led the way, saying in Chengdu dialect, "Sir, please go upstairs."

Inside the "Jinjiang Pavilion" private room by the window on the second floor, warmth mingled with the familiar aromas of food.

The silver-boned charcoal was burning brightly in the exquisite bronze animal-shaped basin, making a soft "crackling" sound.

Su Xun, who was hosting the dinner today, was wearing a dark crane cloak. As the eldest person, he sat in the main seat, his face slightly reddened by the glow of the charcoal fire.

The brothers Su Shi and Su Zhe sat on either side of each other. Su Shi was covered with a thicker blanket than the others. Although his complexion was still pale, his spirits were clearly healthy.

Lu Beigu cupped his hands in greeting to everyone.

"I'm late."

"It's not too late, it's not the right time yet."

Su Xun smiled and waved his hand: "However, since I'm hosting today, you, young scholar, should have a couple more drinks!"

Everywhere you look, you see familiar faces. Cheng Jianyong is busy rearranging plates of tea and fruit, while Cui Wenjing and Yang Yaozi are huddled together, quietly checking the slips of paper covered with dish names, and tasting the dishes one after another.

Meanwhile, other familiar scholars from Sichuan warmed the wine and served tea on the side.

On the long table, a dazzling array of exquisite tea snacks, such as pastries, crystal soaps, and fragrant fruits, were laid out.

What is particularly eye-catching is a three-legged bronze cauldron in the center, which is bubbling with hot water. Inside the cauldron is a broth made with spices such as dogwood, ginger, garlic, and konjac sauce. Next to it, a celadon plate holds thinly sliced ​​fish, fresh winter bamboo shoots, cabbage, and other ingredients, which are obviously ready to be cooked in hot pot at any time.

A similar way of eating hot pot existed in the Song Dynasty, called "Bo Xia Gong" or "Sheng Cuan", but it was still quite different from the modern hot pot.

Su Shi then added fuel to the fire, saying, "If Brother Lu doesn't come soon, Brother Yang will steal and eat all the meat seasoned with konjac sauce."

Yang Yaozi immediately protested, "Don't wrong me! I was just testing the saltiness!"

Amidst the laughter and chatter, some time passed, and all the familiar scholars from Sichuan had arrived.

After a few rounds of drinks, everyone started talking about funny stories.

Yang Yao filled a circle with Pi Tong wine and recounted what happened after the imperial students petitioned the emperor.

Su Shi, however, said with no small amount of pride: "Our Shu region is full of outstanding people and has a long literary tradition. Even if we don't reject the Imperial Academy style, our rankings may not be low."

Su Xun frowned slightly and handed over a bronze hand warmer: "Speak less and get some rest."

He turned to look at Lu Beigu, his expression gratified, and said, "Beigu's fame this time is not only an honor for himself, but also brings glory to his hometown. In the past, Wen Weng transformed Shu and his teachings flourished in the western border; today, we have gathered in the capital, and we should encourage each other and work together to promote culture."

After several rounds of drinks, as they warmed up, their homesickness grew stronger.

Cheng Jianyong suddenly tapped his cup with his chopsticks and began to sing: "Chengdu opens up from the nine heavens—"

Su Shi immediately replied loudly: "Ten thousand households and a thousand gates enter the painting!"

Most of the people present are scholars; how could they not know the lines from Li Bai's "Ten Songs of the Emperor's Western Tour to Nanjing"?
Immediately, someone joined in reciting: "The grass, trees, clouds, and mountains are like brocade; can the Qin River Valley compare to this place?"

The tone gradually increased from slow to fast, from low to high. By the time the line "The Jin River flows eastward around Jin City, and the Xing Bridge hangs northward like a star in the sky" was reached, the entire audience was speaking in unison, their loud local accents piercing through the window paper.

Several young people trembled slightly; having never left their hometown before, their eyes involuntarily reddened.

At this point, Cheng Jianyong chimed in, "These poems about reminiscing about one's hometown were written by Li Bai, so why can't we write them?"

"That's right, come on, let's drink and compose a hundred poems!"

Everyone burst into laughter, then drank heartily and picked up their pens to compose poems.

Some were well-written, and some were poorly written, but nobody cared.

When it was Lu Beigu's turn, he went to the long table by the window where he had placed his brush and inkstone, spread out a piece of plain paper, pondered for a moment, and then picked up his brush and wrote.

After finishing writing, Lu Beigu smiled and said, "Today's gathering is too precious to leave unrecorded. I've just come up with a simple verse to amuse you all."

The crowd gathered around to look, and saw that the paper was covered in ink stains.

"Springtime Nostalgia"

Snow blankets the traveler's body in Bianliang, yet by the fireside, he still recalls the spring of Jinjiang.

Do not say that Mount Emei is far away; outside the Donghua Gate, there are old friends.

Someone recited Lu Beigu's poem "Spring Day Nostalgia." Su Xun listened with a smile, but his gaze shifted between Su Shi and Su Zhe, and he suddenly sighed heavily.

The room gradually quieted down, and a complex expression appeared in the old scholar's eyes. He raised his wine cup and slowly recited: "Don't say that passing the imperial examination is easy; for me, it's like climbing to heaven."

He then drank it all in one gulp and poured himself another glass.

He paused for a moment, looked at his two sons, and said with a hint of satisfaction, "Don't say that passing the imperial examination is difficult; it's as easy as picking up a mustard seed for my sons."

After finishing his drink, he ignored Su Zhe's dissuasive gaze and poured himself another cup.

Looking at the wine, Su Xun's voice was slightly hoarse, and as he swallowed, his expression still carried a hint of self-mockery: "Twenty years of wasted time in the imperial examinations, still wearing my blue robe, but with prematurely gray hair. Enough, enough, I will never take the exams again!"

Su Shi said softly, "Father—"

Su Xun waved his hand to stop him from speaking. After finishing the last cup of wine, Su Xun laughed loudly: "Although I have failed to achieve fame and success, seeing you all rise to prominence makes me far happier than if I had passed the imperial examination myself."

He raised his glass again and looked around at everyone: "Today, the talents of Sichuan have gathered. In my life, I have been able to pass on my literary works to you and befriend the wise. What more could I ask for?"

Lu Beigu solemnly raised his glass and said, "Mr. Mingyun's writings are unparalleled. Although Mr. Jin Ke did not take the exam, his works 'Heng Lun' and 'Quan Shu' are already widely circulated among scholars. How can academic fame limit him?"

Cheng Jianyong quickly chimed in, "Exactly! I saw a student from the Imperial Academy reading Mr. Mingyun's 'Heng Lun' just yesterday!"

Everyone chimed in, and the atmosphere warmed up again.

Then, taking advantage of the break, Lu Beigu took out the letter he had written to his sister-in-law Pei Yan from his pocket and entrusted it to Yang Yaozi. He also gave Yang Yaozi the address in detail, saying that Yang Yaozi and Cheng Jianyong would definitely pass through Hejiang County when they returned to their hometown.

Just then, from the private room next door, it seemed that they could hear their loud conversation, and suddenly someone with a Hanzhong accent started reciting a poem loudly.

"Xia Song was never awe-inspiring, and Han Qi was nothing special. The entire river is filled with imperial carriages, yet they still talk about military strategy!"

The Jinjiang Pavilion fell silent instantly.

By this time, everyone was quite drunk, and since they were generally young, almost instantly someone shouted, "Who are you? Judging from your voice, you are from Lizhou Road. How can you recite such a poem to boost the morale of the Xia Kingdom and diminish the prestige of our Great Song?"

The person next door didn't say anything.

Everyone assumed the other side had backed down, but suddenly a flurry of footsteps approached, and the door to the private room was opened.

A middle-aged man appeared before them, and behind him were several foreign warriors with shaved heads and bushy beards, dressed in fur coats.

Upon seeing this person's face, Lu Beigu was taken aback.

He had seen this person before.

If I remember correctly, he got stuck in traffic near the Imperial Street once before the Lunar New Year, which was caused by the arrival of the Western Xia delegation in Kaifeng.

This middle-aged man was a Han Chinese in the Western Xia delegation, and his name was said to be Xu Shunqing.

Previously, all that was known was that he was a scholar who betrayed the Song Dynasty and joined the Xia Dynasty, but no one knew that he was actually from Hanzhong.

"Although I was born in Lizhou Road, I am not a Song person, but a Xia person. How can I not recite this poem?"

Xu Shunqing smiled and asked instead, "Moreover, if it weren't for Zhang Zhongshu and us, which prevented the Song emperor from rejecting true heroes in the palace examination, would you really be able to eat and drink here in peace even after passing the Song Ministry of Rites' provincial examination? In a way, you should thank me! Isn't that right?"

(End of this chapter)