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

Inside the Funing Palace, the aroma of medicine wafted through the air.

It is now late summer, but the doors and windows inside the hall remain tightly closed, with only a few ventilation windows at the top letting in a little bit of daylight.

On the imperial couch, Zhao Xu leaned against a brocade cushion, covered with a light yellow quilt.

His complexion was an unhealthy paleness, with an abnormal flush on his cheekbones, and his lips were dry and chapped.

Recently, his condition has started to fluctuate again.

Hao Sui, the head eunuch of the Imperial Pharmacy and the head of the Inner Palace Attendants Bureau, carefully held a bowl of freshly brewed, still steaming hot medicine and knelt before the bed, gently advising her.

"Your Majesty, it's time to administer the medicine. The imperial physician said that this medicine should be taken while it's hot to help disperse the pathogens."

Zhao Xu opened his eyes, his gaze somewhat unfocused, before finally settling on the bowl of dark brown medicine.

He didn't speak, he just waved his hand wearily.

Hao Sui dared not offer any further advice, so he handed the medicine bowl to the eunuch beside him, indicating that it should be simmered in warm water. He then got up and quietly retreated to stand outside the curtain.

“Cough… cough…”

After the coughing subsided, the hall fell silent again, save for Zhao Xu's slightly heavy breathing, which was sometimes punctuated by phlegm.

Physical discomfort is secondary.

What truly troubled Zhao Xu and made him restless was the increasingly tangled mess in the northwest frontier.

Last month, Wang Shan successfully conquered Qing Tang.

This was the greatest victory since the Yuanfu era began, enough to bring comfort to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and be recorded in history.

When the good news arrived, Zhao Xu was unusually invigorated, repeatedly saying "good" at the court meeting, and placing even more emphasis on Zhang Dun's "ambition and drive".

Expanding territory and restoring national prestige.

This was precisely the goal that Zhao Xu had been striving for, carrying on Emperor Shenzong's legacy and enduring his ailing condition.

But before they could fully savor the joy of victory, they were thrown into chaos by a barrage of accusations, attacks, and infighting.

Wang Shan and Wang Min began tearing each other apart.

First, Sun Lu, the military commissioner of Xihe Lanhui Road, submitted a secret memorial. The memorial was evasive and accused Wang Shan of "being arrogant because of his merits and disobeying orders."

Next was Wang Min.

This general, Wang Min, who marched alongside Wang Shan and was originally his deputy, submitted a strongly worded impeachment, directly accusing Wang Shan of "arbitrarily seizing credit, greedily claiming rewards, embezzling government funds to enrich himself, and being harsh and tyrannical in managing his subordinates, nearly inciting a mutiny."

They recounted each and every incident in great detail, even including "testimonies" from several junior officers.

Sun Lu then submitted a memorial, citing the need to "pacify the army and verify the facts," and temporarily relieved Wang Shan of his military command, ordering him to "return to Xizhou to await further investigation."

Wang Shan, who had just distinguished himself in battle, was certainly not satisfied.

His petitions for redress came like snowflakes, denouncing Wang Min for "being jealous of merit and framing him" and Sun Lu for "being biased and believing only one side." He also confessed that "after fighting a bloody battle to capture the city, he was instead suspected." Every word was filled with tears and every sentence was filled with grievances.

On one side is Wang Shan, a meritorious general who first captured Qinghai and expanded the territory by thousands of miles;

On one side was his deputy and superior, Wang Min, who accused him of corruption, tyranny, and lawlessness, and nearly instigated a mutiny.

Who's telling the truth? Who's lying?

Or is it a mix of truth and falsehood, with each person harboring their own ulterior motives?

Thinking about all this, Zhao Xu felt a splitting headache.

He struggled to sit up, and Hao Sui quickly stepped forward to help him, placing a soft pillow behind his back.

"Has Lord Zhang arrived?" Zhao Xu asked in a hoarse voice.

"Your Majesty, Minister Zhang has been waiting outside the palace for quite some time," Hao Sui reported in a low voice.

"Announce."

"Summon Zhang Dun, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, to an audience—"

Zhang Dun strode into the hall, but his brows also showed the solemnity and anxiety of dealing with border affairs reports for days.

"Your subject Zhang Dun humbly pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Zhang Dun knelt down a few steps before the imperial bed and paid his respects with great ceremony.

Even though he was a close advisor to the emperor, he maintained impeccable etiquette in front of the ailing emperor.

"Rise, Minister Zhang, please take a seat." Zhao Xu raised his hand, his voice weak. "Have you read all the reports from the Northwest?"

"I have read it carefully." Zhang Dun sat down on the embroidered stool brought by the eunuch, his back straight and his eyes bright.

"What do you think of the handling of Wang Shan, Wang Min, and Sun Lu?" Zhao Xu asked, coughing softly as he spoke.

Zhang Dun waited until Zhao Xu's coughing subsided before speaking in a deep voice, his tone resolute and leaving no room for negotiation.

"Your Majesty, this is a common occurrence among frontline generals vying for credit and shifting blame, engaging in infighting. It is neither surprising nor a cause for serious concern! At this time, we must not let petty matters cause us to lose sight of the bigger picture and destroy our own defenses!"

Seeing that Zhao Xu was listening intently, he continued.

"Although Wang Shan is suspected of being arrogant and his military tactics may have been too hasty, his merit in taking Qingtang first is clear to heaven and cannot be forgotten! With the fall of Qingtang, the gateways to the three prefectures of Huangshan and Kuo were opened, and the military might of our Great Song Dynasty was pointing directly to the source of the Yellow River. The various Tibetan tribes were terrified. This is an unprecedented achievement in expanding the borders since the reign of Emperor Shenzong!"

Who is Wang Min? A mere deputy general! Seeing his commander achieve merit, he harbored resentment, fabricating incidents and framing others—such tricks are common in the army. Sun Lu, as the military commander, instead of trying to mediate, listened to only one side and rashly seized the commander's power; this was truly unwise and nearly ruined the entire situation!

Zhang Dun's attitude was to strongly support Wang Shan, believing that Wang Shan's actions were trivial matters in the important matter of expanding the borders.

But Zhao Xu didn't think so.

"Zhang Qing,"

Zhao Xu spoke slowly, his fingers unconsciously twisting a corner of the quilt.

The accusations made by Wang Min in his memorial, such as "embezzling government funds" and "being harsh and tyrannical in managing his subordinates," may not be entirely unfounded.

"Upon hearing your report, it is confirmed that after Wang Shan entered Qinghai, he did indeed allow his troops to plunder... This could incite a greater resistance from the remaining Tibetan people, which would be detrimental to pacification. As the military commander, it is Sun Lu's duty to control the generals, mediate, and investigate."

"Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing Zhao Xu's words, Zhang Dun couldn't help but lean forward slightly, somewhat excited.

"In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken! Expanding the borders and advancing the nation is the foundation of the country and the top priority! What is wrong with rewarding the soldiers with some wealth to boost their morale?"

As for the remnants of the Tibetan people, they fear power but do not reciprocate kindness. They need to be pacified by a large army, and given time, they will naturally submit. How can we allow the so-called "benevolence" and "pacification" theories of pedantic scholars to bind the hands and feet of our generals and cause us to miss opportunities in battle?

At this critical juncture, we should fully support generals like Wang Shan who are courageous and capable in battle, consolidate Qing Tang, and advance towards Huangshan. If we were to weaken ourselves over trivial matters and demoralize the soldiers at the front, then this excellent situation would likely be lost!

Zhang Dun himself didn't realize how strong his words had been.

Hao Sui and the others who were standing in the hall all lowered their heads instinctively, not daring to make a sound.

Zhao Xu remained silent.

He understood Zhang Dun's words perfectly well.

The contribution of expanding the borders is indeed more important than anything else.

Even if Wang Shan is wrong, he cannot be touched at this time.

But deep down, Zhao Xu always felt a vague unease.

Were Wang Min's accusations truly all fabricated? Was Sun Lu's accusation entirely motivated by personal gain? Did the soldiers at the front really turn against each other simply because of unfair rewards, as Zhang Dun claimed?

Zhao Xu was worried that if what was said in the memorial was true, and that Wang Shan was too arrogant and indulgent towards his subordinates and did not adopt a policy of appeasement, the Tibetan tribes would become dissatisfied, leading to terrible consequences and possibly even affecting the overall situation.

Zhao Xu wanted to ask more, but a more violent cough suddenly struck, causing him to lean over the bed, coughing so hard his face turned red.

"Zhang Qing...cough...cough cough...cough..."

Hao Sui hurriedly stepped forward, gently patted his back, and handed him warm water.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Dun's eyes held a complex expression, revealing considerable concern.

He shut his mouth and waited for the official to catch his breath.

Zhao Xu caught his breath and leaned against the pillow, feeling weak all over, even his strength to speak was diminished.

He waved his hand wearily.

"I understand what you mean, Minister Zhang. Wang Shan certainly needs to be appeased. However, Wang Min and Sun Lu also need to be reprimanded to prevent them from becoming disheartened. As for the specific measures, you should discuss them in detail with the Privy Council and the Ministry of War, and come up with a plan."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Zhang Dun cupped his hands, and seeing the emperor's listless expression, he knew that the discussion could only end here today, so he said.

"Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance. Please take care of yourself. Although border affairs are numerous, your subjects will share the burden. I take my leave now."

"Go." Zhao Xu closed his eyes.

Zhang Dun bowed again, turned and strode away, the hem of his purple robe drawing a clean line in the dimly lit hall.

After Zhang Dun left, the Funing Palace was once again filled with the smell of medicine and silence.

Zhao Xu could no longer sleep peacefully.

Zhang Dun's resounding words, "Expanding the borders is the most important thing; everything else is irrelevant," still echo in my ears.

The logic is sound, but why do I still feel uneasy?

"Hao Sui," he suddenly said.

"This servant is here."

"Previously... that Zhao Mingcheng wrote two articles, one titled 'Refuting the Defeat of the Country by Opening the Borders' and the other 'The Appropriate Balance of Leniency and Severity.' I read them at the time and still have some impression of them. Go and find them; I want to read them again."

"Your Majesty, are you referring to... the essay by Imperial College student Zhao Mingcheng?" Hao Sui had an excellent memory and immediately recalled it. "This servant will go to the document pavilion to find it right away."

Before long, Hao Sui returned with two neatly bound copies and carefully presented them to Zhao Xu.

By the light of the glass lamp beside the couch, Zhao Xu reopened the article he had read several times before.

At the time, I admired the sharpness of his writing, as well as the rare vigor and sense of responsibility that came with his youth.

Looking back now, my state of mind is completely different.

His gaze swept past the macro-level arguments about "the advantage of opening up the borders lies in long-term control of trade routes and taxes" and "immigrants to strengthen the borders can turn burdens into motivation," and lingered on a few analyses that seemed quite novel at the time, but now struck him as alarming:

"...However, the difficulty in opening up the borders lies not in defeating the enemy, but in managing the aftermath. Defeating the enemy is a temporary military achievement; managing the aftermath is a long-term cultural and political achievement."

If we rely solely on military might to conquer cities and seize territory without considering how to appease the remaining people, rectify official corruption, and streamline taxes, then the land we gain will not be territory, but rather a burden.

The soldiers at the front are fighting bloody battles, while the people at the rear are exhausted from transporting supplies. If this continues, resentment may arise, leading to internal and external troubles that will ultimately backfire...

"When border generals fight bravely, the emperor should be generous in rewarding them to boost morale. However, the power of reward and punishment must be exercised by the emperor himself and made clear and fair."

If generals are allowed to engage in private bribery, or even falsely report battle achievements and embezzle rewards, military law will be undermined, and soldiers will lose heart. Today's greed for a single soldier's reward may lead to the loss of a city tomorrow. Your Majesty must be vigilant.

"The way to govern generals is to combine leniency with severity. While using their courage and strategy to defeat the enemy, it is also necessary to restrain their arrogance and establish rules. If one indulges them without regard for anything else, thinking that their ability to fight is enough, then an overbearing army will be formed, which is neither a blessing for the country nor the end of a good general's career..."

Zhao Xu's gaze lingered on the lines: "Fear of resentment arising, internal and external troubles," "Military law is in disarray, soldiers are disheartened," and "Cultivating an arrogant army."

Each word gently pierced the most uneasy spot in his heart.

Wang Shan's "unauthorized actions" and "embezzlement," Wang Min's "framing," and Sun Lu's "bias"...

Isn't this the beginning of "military law being violated"?

Zhang Dun insisted that "expanding the borders is the top priority, and everything else is irrelevant."

Isn't this just "indulging them blindly, thinking that as long as they can fight, that's enough"?

How could Zhao Mingcheng, a student of the Imperial Academy who had never personally experienced battle, see things so clearly?

It's almost as if they foresaw Qing Tang's current predicament after his victory?

Zhao Xu recalled the two previous times he had summoned Zhao Mingcheng.

One time, he was asked about the pros and cons of opening up the border, and he answered calmly with detailed data; the other time, the Zhao family was caught up in the storm.

In both instances, Zhao Mingcheng handled the situation calmly, demonstrating exceptional insight.

This young man always seems to be able to step outside of specific disputes and see things at a deeper level, things that are more about the fundamental pros and cons.

It does not engage in empty talk about benevolence and righteousness, nor does it blindly follow utilitarianism. It emphasizes "a balance between leniency and severity" and "clear calculations."

Perhaps... we should listen to his views on the current situation in Qing Tang?

In Zhao Xu's view.

Zhao Mingcheng, being an outsider with no connection to the border generals and no ties to either faction in the court, might be able to offer some different perspectives.

Once this thought arose, it spread like wildfire through Zhao Xu's troubled mind.

He knew that, given Zhao Mingcheng's age and status, there was absolutely no way he could participate in central decision-making.

But at this moment, Zhao Xu was like a person who had lost his way in the fog, and all the sounds he heard seemed to carry their own intentions and echoes.

He longed to hear a relatively pure voice, one that was based solely on facts and reason.

Even if it's just for reference, it's fine.

"Hao Sui." Zhao Xu put down the memorial, his voice still weak, but with a hint of determination.

"This servant is here."

"By imperial decree, tomorrow... no, the day after tomorrow, at 9:00 AM, summon Zhao Mingcheng, a senior student of the Imperial Academy, to the rear pavilion of the Chuigong Hall for an audience with me, and have him... inquire about the matter of Qingtang."

Hao Sui was startled.

The rear pavilion of the Chuigong Hall was where the emperor routinely summoned close officials and discussed important matters, making it a more formal and intimate setting than the locations of the previous two audiences.

Despite being ill, the Emperor summoned the young Imperial Academy student for the third time, specifically addressing the "Qingtang affair"!

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will obey your command and immediately send someone to inform the Imperial Academy and Zhao Mingcheng."

Hao bowed in response and quickly withdrew to make the arrangements.