I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

Chapter 115 We've been portrayed as traitors by Zhao Mingcheng

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) had been emperor for less than three months when one bad thing after another happened.

A messenger arrived from Ruzhou on the northwest side of Beijing, with an urgent report delivered over a distance of 600 li.

Local reports stated that Ruzhou suffered from drought last winter, followed by another drought this spring.

Rivers in Ruzhou are almost dry, wells and springs are depleted, last year's autumn harvest was already poor, and this year's spring wheat harvest is even worse. The land is barren for miles, and the first signs of starvation are appearing. There are signs that refugees are gathering and looting the granaries of wealthy households. We earnestly request the court to quickly allocate money and grain, and send capable officials to take charge of disaster relief, otherwise, we fear that a major disaster may occur.

Upon hearing the report, Emperor Huizong of Song, seated on his throne, immediately frowned and inwardly cursed, "What bad luck!"

He felt that he hadn't had a single peaceful day in the two or three months since he ascended the throne.

First came the national mourning, then the provocation from the Xia envoy, endless internal factional strife, and now this natural disaster and famine—it's truly one wave after another.

Zhao Ji subconsciously glanced at the gauze curtain behind him. The Empress Dowager's figure remained silent, but the invisible pressure seemed to grow even heavier.

The atmosphere of the court meeting suddenly became heavy and urgent.

The Minister of Revenue stepped forward first, and with a worried expression, he reported a series of figures, mentioning the floods in Hebei last year, the losses incurred in transporting grain across the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, and the fact that Emperor Zhezong was waging war in the northwest, leaving the national treasury already quite empty.

This spring, expenditures in various places have been huge, and it is really difficult to allocate a large amount of money and grain to relieve Ruzhou.

"In my opinion, the most urgent task is to ensure the availability of food!"

Zeng Bu frowned.

"Ruzhou is near the river, and the canal transport is still operational. We should immediately order neighboring provinces east and west of Beijing to quickly transfer grain stored in the Ever-Normal Granaries and transport it to Ruzhou via the Bian River! At the same time, we should order local officials in Ruzhou to open charitable granaries, encourage wealthy households to donate, and set up soup kitchens to stabilize the disaster victims and prevent unrest!"

"What Chancellor Zeng said is quite right, but it takes time to transfer grain, and the grain reserves in neighboring areas may not be sufficient." Another minister raised an objection, "It would be better to send a capable imperial envoy with imperial authority to take charge of the relief work, coordinate with the local areas, and suppress instability. This might be more effective."

"The selection of the imperial envoy is of paramount importance. He must be honest and upright, familiar with the people's conditions, and knowledgeable in economics—" People began to discuss the candidates.

"Integrity and uprightness? The most important thing right now is to get the grain! I think we should send the people from the Transport Office—"

"Nonsense! The Transport Commissioner is in charge of the grain transport; how can he overstep his bounds and handle disaster relief? He should be appointed as the Pacification Commissioner, overseeing all localities!"

Inside the hall, a lively debate erupted, with everyone offering their own opinions.

Some advocated for sourcing grain from nearby areas first, while others emphasized the need to send a high-ranking central official to oversee the operation. Some worried that sourcing grain would cause prices to skyrocket in neighboring prefectures and counties, while still others concerned that the imperial envoy's excessive power would hinder local efforts.

There was much noise and disagreement.

Ultimately, the problem stemmed from a massive shortage of funds and supplies, coupled with the urgency of the disaster. No one had a foolproof solution, and no one wanted to easily take on this hot potato.

Emperor Huizong sat on his throne, listening to the chaotic discussions below, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

He knew nothing about civil affairs, finance, and relief. In the past, he had only heard the gentlemen in the Prince's Palace talk about grand principles of "benevolent governance and love for the people." When had he ever really dealt with such a specific and thorny disaster?

Seeing his ministers arguing endlessly without coming up with a feasible solution, his frustration and helplessness grew stronger, and his face gradually darkened.

What bad luck! Of all times, it had to be this time!

Emperor Huizong could almost imagine how, if he mishandled the situation, the starving people would cause a popular uprising, or how the tragic scene of corpses lying everywhere would spread, and how the officials, censors, and even the people of the country would talk about him as the "new emperor."

Just as the debate over disaster relief measures was raging in the palace, and Emperor Huizong was feeling extremely agitated...

Left Censor Zou Hao, a former official known for his upright character and integrity, suddenly stepped out from the ranks, ivory tablet in hand, his loud voice temporarily silencing the clamor surrounding disaster relief: "Your Majesty! Empress Dowager! Disaster relief is indeed an urgent matter, but the discipline of the court and the public opinion of historians are even more crucial to the foundation of the nation and cannot be neglected in the slightest! Your subject, Left Censor Zou Hao, today impeaches Zhao Mingcheng, a compiler in the Secretariat, for abusing his power, abusing his authority to slander ministers, and disrupting the order of the court!"

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent instantly. Even the ministers who had been arguing about disaster relief looked at Zou Hao in astonishment, and then secretly glanced at Zhao Mingcheng, the official in a blue robe who had been standing quietly taking notes below the steps, seemingly unaffected by the argument.

Zhao Ji was also taken aback, then a glint flashed in his eyes.

correct!

He recalled that Zhao Mingcheng had said a few days earlier that he wanted to use historical records to launch a "proactive attack" on the old party.

It seems that Defu acted quickly, and the old party's reaction was just as swift.

Empress Dowager Xiang, behind the gauze curtain, seemed to move slightly as well.

Seeing that he had attracted everyone's attention, Zou Hao straightened his back and his voice became even more impassioned.

"Your Majesty! Empress Dowager! As a compiler responsible for compiling history, Zhao Mingcheng should write truthfully and impartially."

However, the calendar he recently revised records the previous court meeting on the matter of dealing with the Xia envoy. His intentions are despicable, and his pen is like a knife!

The arguments of Han Xianggong, Chen Gong, and your ministers, which advocate appeasement and pacification of the border regions and allow the people to rest, have been distorted and slandered to the extreme!

They actually portrayed us as "bending against the enemy," "cowardly fighting and harming the country," "disregarding the blood and sweat of our soldiers," and even used vicious words like "suspected of aiding the enemy and betraying the country" to attack us! This is not historical writing; this is using personal likes and dislikes to engage in factionalism and frame loyal officials!

Zou Hao became more and more excited as he spoke, his face turning red.

"Han Xianggong served three emperors and was a wise and experienced strategist. His words about 'peace and recuperation' were national policies set by the Empress Dowager and reflected the people's desire for peace and peace."

It is our duty, Lord Chen and your ministers, to fill in the gaps and make corrections! Zhao Mingcheng, based on his own merits on the frontier, regards those who advocate peace as enemies. He uses the power of compiling history to suppress dissent, hoping to suppress dissent in the court and block the channels of communication. His intentions are treacherous!

If this continues, who will dare to speak frankly for the country? Won't history books become Zhao Mingcheng's private tool for factionalism and suppression of dissent?! Your Majesty, I implore you…

The Empress Dowager, with keen insight, dismissed Zhao Mingcheng from his post as historian, destroyed his defamatory manuscripts, and appointed a more upright and honest historian to revise the history! She also punished him for falsely accusing ministers and disrupting the court!

This impeachment can be described as a full-scale attack.

Clearly, the old party still harbored resentment over the previous court assembly's humiliation caused by Zhao Mingcheng's disruption.

They are even more wary of his control over the discourse of "history writing". This time, by using Zou Hao's words to launch an attack, they want to bring Zhao Mingcheng down in one fell swoop and regain the high ground of public opinion.

The hall was completely silent.

Many eyes were focused on Zhao Mingcheng, some with concern, some with scrutiny, and some with schadenfreude.

Han Zhongyan's face was solemn, his eyes lowered, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Chen Guan stared intently at Zhao Mingcheng, while Zeng Bu frowned slightly and looked toward the throne.

Zhao Ji sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, turning his gaze to Zhao Mingcheng and speaking in a composed tone.

"Minister Zhao," Zhao Ji spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger, "Why did you make such a scathing statement in the calendar, as impeached by Censor Zou?"

All eyes instantly turned to Zhao Mingcheng in the corner.

Zhao Mingcheng remained calm and unhurriedly stepped forward, first bowing to the throne and the gauze curtain, then turning to Zou Hao in a measured tone.

"I cannot agree with what Censor Zou said. What I did was merely to fulfill my duty as a historian, to record the facts truthfully, and to offer some brief comments."

"Record the facts as they are?" Zou Hao laughed angrily. "Lord Han is concerned about the country and its people, and Lord Chen is loyal and outspoken. Their hearts are as clear as the sun and moon!"

In your writing, it's become a treasonous act? Is this your true intention?!

"May I ask, Censor Zou?"

Zhao Mingcheng looked at Zou Hao with clear eyes.

"During the previous court meeting, the Xia envoy demanded that our dynasty dismantle its fortresses and garrisons, return the Hehuang region, and increase annual tributes. His words were arrogant and contained implicit threats. Was that not true?"

"So what if it is? This is precisely what our dynasty needs to deal with carefully—"

"How did Prime Minister Han handle the situation so carefully?" Zhao Mingcheng interrupted him, his voice rising and echoing clearly in the hall.

"Chancellor Han said: 'The Hehuang region has only recently submitted to the Qing dynasty, and the Yi people are fickle. Stationing troops and cultivating the land, transporting goods over thousands of miles, is extremely costly and a heavy burden on the court. If this can truly bring an end to the fighting and secure long-term peace on the border—it might not be a bad deal.' Shouldn't Censor Zou verify this statement in the records of that day?"

Zou Hao was speechless, and Han Zhongyan's expression became even more unpleasant.

They did say that.

Zhao Mingcheng continued, "Chen Gong also said at the time: 'Since the new ruler of Xia has sent envoys to seek peace, even if their request is inappropriate, we should still try to persuade them gently, showing them the benevolence of the Celestial Empire, and proceed gradually. Such a hardline approach might provoke border conflicts—' Is this statement true?"

Chen Guan pursed his lips and did not refute.

Zhao Mingcheng surveyed his ministers, his tone growing increasingly somber.

"The Xia people forcibly demanded our territory and threatened us with military force. As the prime minister, Han Xiang Gong did not think of refuting them."

Instead, they called the Hehuang region, which our soldiers had won through bloody battles, a "burden" and regarded it as something to be traded with the enemy!

"As a censor, Chen Gong did not think of criticizing the enemy's arrogance, but instead accused the court of being too forceful in its proper response, which may provoke border conflicts!"

I ask you gentlemen, when faced with unreasonable extortion and military threats from an enemy state, how is advocating for abandoning land, increasing annual tributes, and avoiding conflict any different from "fearing the enemy" and "flattery"?

To place national territory and the hard-won achievements of soldiers in a bargaining position—how is this mentality any different from "aiding the enemy"? Under the enemy's military might, seeking only "gradual and slow action" and "avoiding border conflicts," while suppressing voices advocating war domestically—isn't this emboldening the enemy and conforming to the Xia envoy's demands? What is this if not aiding the enemy?

With each question Zhao Mingcheng asked, Han Zhongyan, Chen Guan, and the others paled a little more.

Zhao Mingcheng did not make baseless accusations, but rather closely adhered to their original words and interpreted them within the specific context of "enemy threat and the court's response."

This interpretation may be harsh, but it is logically difficult to completely refute.

"As for betraying the country,"

Zhao Mingcheng looked at Zhao Ji and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Perhaps my wording was a bit harsh, but the reasoning is correct. The responsibility of a historian is not only to record events, but also to distinguish right from wrong and to understand gains and losses."

If such remarks are recorded without pointing out their potential consequences—namely, showing weakness to the enemy, inducing them to take advantage; demoralizing the soldiers and weakening the resolve to defend the border; wasting the nation's wealth and nurturing potential threats—then that would be a dereliction of duty on my part!

Han Xiangong, Chen Gong, and others may have been acting in the best interests of the country, but the fallacies in their words and the direction they led could indeed have led the country to peril.

"I warn them that this might be considered treason," hoping that future historians will remember this: Territory should not be easily abandoned, dignity should not be yielded to. Unprincipled concessions and appeasement in the face of foreign aggression will not only fail to bring peace but will also invite greater disaster! This is my humble intention in writing this, and is by no means a personal grudge!

Finally, Zhao Mingcheng looked at Zou Hao, his tone turning indifferent.

"Zou Sijian, if you believe that my records are inaccurate, you may review all the original texts of the memorials and reports from the border regions and the official records of that day and verify them one by one."

If you believe my comments are inappropriate, you may offer your rebuttal.

However, if my historical writing touches upon someone's sore spot, and they accuse me of "slander" and "framing," or even try to dismiss me from my post and strip me of my historian's pen—I must ask further: is this truly upholding the principles of the court and the state, or is it suppressing free speech and advocating for inappropriate opinions?

Zhao Mingcheng's words were reasonable, well-founded, and measured.

He firmly occupied the high ground of "recording facts," "the duty of a historian," and "learning from history," rigorously examining the remarks of Han Zhongyan and others within the framework of national interests and the greater good of the nation, thus exposing the old party's true nature of "compromise" and "seeking peace."

Inside the Zichen Palace, there was complete silence.

Many officials, including some who were initially dissatisfied with the assessment that Zhao Mingcheng had "sold out the country," are now deep in thought.

Zhao Mingcheng's rebuttal was indeed difficult to refute.

Han Zhongyan, Chen Guan, and others looked ashen-faced. They could defend their original intentions, but they could not deny the negative impact of those words in that specific context.

Zou Hao opened his mouth, wanting to argue further, but found that no matter what he said, Zhao Mingcheng might steer him towards "blocking the channels of communication."

The trap of "protecting inappropriate speech".

This kid is a great debater.

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) took all of this into account.

Looking at the unpleasant expressions on Han Zhongyan's and the others' faces, and at Zou Hao's speechless state, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

Defu did not disappoint him.

This proactive attack not only defended its own historical record, but also cornered the old party's "peace-seeking" and "quiet" rhetoric in terms of morality and logic, greatly dampening their arrogance!

This pleased Emperor Huizong even more than simply dismissing a few officials.

Emperor Huizong coughed lightly, breaking the silence in the hall. His gaze swept over the assembled officials, finally settling on Zhao Mingcheng, and he slowly began to speak.

"The writing of history concerns the public opinion of future generations, and should therefore be handled with utmost care."

I have also read Zhao Qing's record. While there may be some criticisms of the remarks made by Han Qing, Chen Qing, and others, its core message is to emphasize the importance of national territory, the inviolability of dignity, and the need to avoid taking border affairs lightly.

As for whether the wording was appropriate, posterity will have its own judgment. However, recording facts and commenting based on reason is the duty of a historian and did not exceed the scope permitted by the system.

Zhao Ji glanced again at Han Zhongyan, whose face was pale, and then at Empress Dowager Xiang, who was silent behind the curtain, before finally making his decision.

"Now that the draft of this calendar has been completed, it will be archived accordingly."

If Han Qing, Chen Qing, and others believe that the account differs from the facts, they may submit a written petition for verification by the Imperial Historian. As for the matter of dismissing Zhao Mingcheng, let it not be mentioned again. Historians need integrity and courage to wield their pens; let this matter end here.

"Your Majesty!" Han Zhongyan wanted to say something more.

"Han Qing," Zhao Ji interrupted him, his tone slightly softening.

"The matter of disaster relief urgently needs to be resolved, and we need your continued efforts. Let's discuss this matter again later."

With a simple "we'll discuss it later," the debate over historical records was temporarily put aside, and everyone's attention was drawn back to the troublesome drought in Ruzhou.