Apparently rising but secretly falling
At the same time as Yue's army withdrew, Han Shizhong also received an imperial edict ordering him to withdraw immediately.
After receiving the imperial edict, Han Shizhong gave it to Liang Hongyu. He was puzzled as to why the emperor ordered the troops to withdraw at this time. A few days ago, he received the news that Yue Fei had defeated Wanyan Zongbing, and Yue's army was about to approach Bian Jing. He was leading the Han army on the way to provide support, but suddenly received the imperial edict to withdraw.
After reading the imperial edict, Liang Hongyu frowned and fell silent. She had a bad premonition, as if something big was about to happen.
Seeing Liang Hongyu's silence, Han Shizhong anxiously asked, "Hongyu, please speak up! Why is the emperor ordering a withdrawal now? Yue Fei is about to reach Kaifeng, and the recovery of our territory is just around the corner."
Liang Hongyu handed Han Shizhong the news of Yue Fei's retreat that Qiu Feng had sent him today. "The emperor issued twelve golden orders urging Yue Fei to withdraw his troops. The Yue Family Army has already withdrawn."
"Has the emperor gone mad? The day of recovering the lost territory is nigh. If we retreat, the Jin will surely strike back. Are we just going to give up the lost territory we fought so hard to recover?" Han Shizhong was practically furious. "We fought so hard to build this kingdom for the Zhao family, and that Zhao guy doesn't want it anymore."
"Sir, please don't talk nonsense. Be careful, there are ears on the other side of the wall." After Liang Hongyu said this, she looked outside the tent vigilantly.
"What are you afraid of? If anyone eavesdrops, I'll stew their ears and eat them."
Liang Hongyu found it funny when she heard this, but she couldn't laugh out loud at this moment. The bad premonition in her heart had not yet dissipated.
She smiled bitterly and said, "It's better to let the soldiers withdraw as soon as possible."
After Han Shizhong withdrew his troops, all the generals on the front lines were recalled, and Caizhou, Zhengzhou, Huaining and other places occupied by the Song Dynasty fell into the hands of the Jin people again.
Inside the Jin army tent, the autumn sunset softly poured in, brushing against Wanyan Zongbing's profile, making his face, which looked exhausted from the recent series of battles, red.
At this time, a Jin soldier came to report: "Marshal, the Song army has withdrawn from all fronts."
Originally, Wanyan Zongbing was somewhat puzzled by the withdrawal of Yue Army. However, after hearing the battle report, Wanyan Zongbing finally understood. Before, when Zhao Gou was King Kang, he still respected him as a man. After so many years of confrontation with the Song Army, he gradually understood Zhao Gou's temper. He was basically a coward. For his own interests, he would not hesitate to sacrifice his capable ministers, his people, and even his own country. If he did not treat such a person harshly, he would really not live up to the reputation of the Jin Army.
In the first month of the eleventh year of Shaoxing, Wanyan Zongbing led his army south again.
Zhao Gou also sent generals such as Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, Zhang Jun, and Yang Yizhong to resist, and the Song Dynasty regained a large amount of lost territory.
Inside Han Shizhong's tent, Liang Hongyu had already asked her attendants to pack her bags.
Hu Yantong pointed at the attendants and shouted, "Damn it! This battle is like a joke. As soon as Zhao saw that we had driven the Jin soldiers away, he ordered us to retreat. You should pack up quickly. The imperial edict to withdraw will arrive soon."
Liang Hongyu smiled upon hearing this and said, "You should be thankful that you are still useful now. Wanyan Zongbi will probably not attack us again after this battle. We, the generals, will probably be liquidated by the government."
"Sister-in-law, what do you mean?" Hu Yantong asked with wide eyes.
Han Shizhong sighed and said, "When the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked. Once the Jin people are driven away and peace is reached, the military generals will become the most feared thorns in the eyes and flesh of the emperor. What do you think he will do?"
"Get rid of us all." Hu Yantong said this without hesitation, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He looked at Liang Hongyu for help, "Sister-in-law, you have the best solution. So how should we deal with this?"
Liang Hongyu walked over and patted his shoulder, saying, "I'm afraid the people the emperor wants to settle accounts with aren't just you small-time soldiers and generals." She raised her chin towards the commander's chair, "but the several great marshals who command a large number of troops."
Han Shizhong, who was sitting on the commander's chair, said in a deep voice, "Madam, tell me how I should respond."
Liang Hongyu raised her eyes slightly, "Of course I will lower my attitude to the lowest level. At worst, I can just retire and go home to farm."
Upon hearing this, Hu Yantong immediately retorted, "Marshal, you're just going to give up the military achievements you risked your life for just like that?"
Liang Hongyu nodded and said, "If not, with the emperor's suspicion, I'm afraid my life will be in danger."
Liang Hongyu was once Zhao Gou's close associate, so she naturally knew Zhao Gou very well. He seemed to have a kind face, but he would reveal a sinister and selfish side to those who touched his interests. Perhaps this was the heart of an emperor, ruthless, indifferent, and suspicious.
Upon hearing this, Han Shizhong stood up and walked to Liang Hongyu, took her hand, and said, "I will listen to my wife and be a leisurely couple, traveling in the countryside."
Hu Yantong was so shocked by the scene that he covered his eyes and hurried out of the tent, muttering, "When I get home, I'll get married right away. Then we'll see how you guys can still show off in front of me."
After Wanyan Zongbing was defeated in these battles, he truly realized the strength of the Southern Song army. He knew very well that the Jin Kingdom was no match for the Southern Song Dynasty, and it would be easier to hand over these generals to Zhao Gou to deal with than to fight them himself.
In the eleventh year of Shaoxing, the Jin Kingdom prepared to negotiate peace with the Song Dynasty again.
Wanyan Zongbi wrote a letter to Qin Hui: "You have been begging for peace, while Yue Fei is trying to seize Hebei and even killed my son-in-law. This hatred must be avenged. Yue Fei must be killed before peace can be achieved."
In the imperial study, candlelight flickered as Qin Hui stood before the dragon-shaped table, presenting a secret letter with both hands.
"Your Majesty, the reply letter from the Jin Kingdom has arrived." Qin Hui's voice was low and cautious.
Zhao Gou took the letter, his fingertips trembling slightly. He carefully read Wuzhu's letter, his expression gradually darkening. After a long pause, he sighed helplessly and gently placed the letter on the desk.
A glint of pride flashed in Qin Hui's eyes. "Your Majesty, be advised. The Jin army has retreated, yet the generals still hold their troops in their hands, boasting of their own might and arrogance. They refuse to obey orders even from the emperor."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowered, "If this situation is not dealt with strictly, the court will be unable to mobilize troops, and the safety of the country will be directly endangered."
Zhao Gou frowned, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the dragon table: "What's your plan?"
Qin Hui's eyes flashed, "Why not reward the generals for their achievements in Zhegao and bring their troops back to the imperial court, so that Your Majesty can command them directly? Wouldn't that be wonderful? As for Yue Fei..." Qin Hui's eyes flashed with ferocity, "First, take away his military power, and then kill him with one strike."
The study was silent for a moment, the only sound being the crackling candlelight. Zhao Gou gazed at the dancing flames. Years of war had ravaged the Song Dynasty, and the army was no longer bound by the imperial court. Yue Fei's Yue Family Army, Han Shizhong's Han Family Army, Zhang Jun's Zhang Family Army—none of them obeyed the imperial court's orders completely, especially the Yue Family Army. "It's easy to shake a mountain, but it's hard to shake Yue Family Army," was the adage attributed to Wanyan Zongbing. With an army loyal only to Yue Fei, how could an emperor sleep peacefully?
Zhao Gou thought for a long time before nodding: "As you say."
He suddenly raised his eyes and looked directly at Qin Hui, his gaze sharp: "And when you act, you must be cautious to prevent your generals and subordinates from becoming attached to their master and causing trouble."
"I obey your order." Qin Hui bowed and hid the smile on his face.
The next day, the emperor issued an edict, summoning the three generals to return to the capital to be rewarded according to their merits.
That morning, in the imperial court, civil and military officials sat on either side. Three generals knelt to listen to the imperial edict. When they heard the words, "Three generals are specially appointed to the Privy Council; Zhang Jun and Han Shizhong are promoted to Privy Envoys, and Yue Fei to Deputy Privy Envoy," Yue Fei suddenly looked up, a look of disbelief in his eyes.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The three responded in unison, but each had their own thoughts.
After leaving the court, Zhang Jun could not wait to write a letter: "I have been ordered to serve in the Privy Council. I am willing to present the tiger talisman and hand over my military power."
Zhao Gou read the memorial, smiled slightly, and ordered an imperial edict to be written. The edict used the examples of Li Guangbi and Guo Ziyi in the Tang Dynasty as examples, praising them openly and warning them secretly, suggesting that Generals Han and Yue should follow Guo Ziyi's example and hand over their military power, otherwise disaster would come.
A few days later, Zhao Gou summoned the three men and said gently, "When I appointed you as provincial envoys, your military authority was limited. Now, I appoint you as heads of the Central Privy Council, with much greater authority. You should all work together and not be divided. Then, with your combined forces, you will be invincible. For example, even the Jin general Wanyan Zongbi can be easily defeated."
The three men nodded in agreement and accepted their orders to the Privy Council. However, as they left the palace, Yue Fei glanced back at the towering palace, his eyes filled with worry. He quickly caught up with Han Shizhong and said, "General Han, can you come with me to the restaurant for a drink today? I have something to tell you."
Han Shizhong understood, thinking that he must be discussing the promotion with him today, so he replied, "Very well, I will be waiting for you at Zuixian Tower at 5 pm today."
"That's great."
In Zuixian Tower, Liang Hongyu had already asked Qiu Feng to prepare the banquet and was waiting for Yue Fei to arrive.
In the elegant room of Zuixianlou, with the windows half-closed, Liang Hongyu personally held the pot and poured wine. Han Shizhong and Yue Fei sat opposite each other, and after three rounds of drinks, both were silent.
"General Yue, what do you want to say today?" Liang Hongyu was the first to break the silence and pushed the warm wine in front of Yue Fei.
Yue Fei's fingers, gripping the cup, turned slightly pale. "Deputy Privy Councilor... what a high-ranking official! General Han, did you know that Taizu was just as gentle and kind when he released his military power over a toast?"
Han Shizhong raised his head and drank the entire glass, then put it down heavily. "Promotion in name only, demotion in reality. The emperor is trying to imitate Taizu and seize the military power of us generals!"
"If it were just a simple reduction of power, it would be fine." Yue Fei pulled a copy of the imperial edict from his bosom and pushed it onto the table. "The edict specifically mentions that Guo Ziyi surrendered his military power and had a good end, while Li Guangbi refused to hand over power and was eventually suspected. They're using the old story of the Anshi Rebellion to warn us."
Liang Hongyu slammed the table and stood up. "How dare Qin Hui! He's clearly comparing you generals to the powerful feudal lords! He doesn't realize that the real threat to the country is the generals commanding the troops, or the treacherous officials who wield power within the court!"
Han Shizhong held his wife's arm and said in a deep voice, "The emperor's words today are even more interesting. The phrase 'united forces are invincible' clearly means that the various armies will be broken up and reorganized. If that is the case, the Northern Expedition..."
"Northern Expedition?" Yue Fei suddenly sneered, his eyes bloodshot. "General Han, do you still think you can launch a Northern Expedition? After the victory at Zhegao, the Jin army withdrew, and the court thought the world was at peace. Little did they know that Wanyan Zongbing was regrouping on the banks of the Yellow River!"
The three of them were silent for a moment. Outside the window, a drizzle began to fall, hitting the green tiles with a patter.
"Zhang Jun has already surrendered his military command," Han Shizhong suddenly said. "When we left court today, he deliberately accompanied me, saying, 'He who understands the current situation is a hero.'"
Yue Fei suddenly looked up and asked, "General Han, what do you want to do?"
"Me?" Han Shizhong stroked the lines on the wine glass. "Most of my men in the Han army are from Jianghuai. If we disobey the order, I'm afraid it will bring disaster to our families. But if we hand over our military power..." He suddenly lowered his voice. "General Yue, do you know what the first military order the Privy Council received today was?"
Before Yue Fei could reply, Liang Hongyu interrupted, "But are we going to transfer Yue's army to garrison Jiangzhou, and Han's army to Tanzhou?"
Han Shizhong nodded solemnly. "That's right. Once the rotation is complete, all generals at all levels will be reappointed. By then... the Yue Family Army will no longer be the Yue Family Army, and the Han Family Army will no longer be the Han Family Army."
Yue Fei suddenly stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the hazy Imperial City shrouded in rain. "What a tactic: divide and conquer. First, transfer the commander-in-chief from the barracks, then rotate the troops, and finally replace the generals. In three steps, there will be no Yue Family Army left in the world."
As the rain intensified, Liang Hongyu suddenly recited Wanyan Zongbi's comment: "It's easy to shake a mountain, but difficult to shake Yue Fei's army... Now, it seems the most difficult task is to convince the court that some mountains should have been the Song Dynasty's most solid defense."
Yue Fei turned around with a determined look in his eyes: "General Han, Madam Han, tomorrow I will submit a letter to resign from my position as Deputy Privy Councilor."
"No!" Han Shizhong hurriedly stopped him, "That would just confirm the charge of possessing an army for your own benefit!"
"I'm not resigning from my official position." Yue Fei's eyes were sharp. "I'm resigning from my military post. I'm willing to retire and return to the countryside with the veterans of the Yue Family Army to farm in Tangyin. This way, I can fulfill the duty between the monarch and his subjects, and..."
Before he could finish his words, Liang Hongyu suddenly interrupted: "General Yue, you are foolish! If you leave, the Yue Family Army will be at the mercy of others! Besides, how can Qin Hui allow you to return home safely?"
The sound of rain suddenly mingled with the clatter of horse hooves in the streets. The three fell silent, their only resemblance to the clanging of armor and armor coming from downstairs. Qiu Feng hurriedly knocked on the door and entered. "General, the patrol troops from Lin'an Prefecture have suddenly increased, and they've secured the intersections in front and behind Zuixianlou."
Han Shizhong and Yue Fei looked at each other and saw awe in each other's eyes.
"It seems..." Han Shizhong slowly stood up and put his sword to the sword, "someone won't even let us finish this wine in peace."
Yue Fei suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter tinged with sadness: "What a saying, 'You all should be of one mind'! So this 'of one mind' actually means guarding against one's own generals like a thief!"
Before his laughter faded, he had already opened the window. In the rain, the figures of armored soldiers were faintly visible at the end of the long street.
Raindrops slanted down, and the lanterns of Zuixianlou swayed in the wind. Han Shizhong kept his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes scanning the street like a hawk.
"They're not patrol soldiers from Lin'an Prefecture," he said in a low voice. "Judging from the pattern of their armor, they're imperial guards from the Palace Front Department."
Liang Hongyu's face changed: "The Palace Front Department is directly under the government, this is..."
"This tells us that everything is under the watchful eyes of the Holy One." Yue Fei took over the conversation, his tone terrifyingly calm. He slowly closed the window, blocking out the solemn and murderous scene outside.
The wine is cold and no one wants to drink it.
Han Shizhong suddenly sneered: "Qin Hui is very cunning. On the surface, he's promoting us, but secretly he's mobilizing troops to surround the tower. He's trying to force us to make a decision now."
"Choice?" Yue Fei raised his eyes. "General Han, do you think there is still room for choice?"
Suddenly, there was a commotion downstairs. Qiu Feng knocked on the door hurriedly: "General, there are soldiers coming upstairs to search. They say they are chasing a fugitive!"
The three of them looked at each other, knowing full well that this was a test.
Yue Fei straightened his clothes and was the first to go out, followed closely by Han Shizhong and his wife.
The staircase was blocked by soldiers, led by a young, arrogant general. "We are under the order of the Privy Council to apprehend these Jin spies! Please, my three lords, give us some assistance."
Yue Fei looked straight ahead and asked, "When did the Privy Council start taking charge of apprehending spies? Does Privy Councilor Zhang Jun know about this?"
The general's face changed slightly, but he forced himself to remain calm: "This is the order from Prime Minister Qin..."
"Prime Minister Qin?" Han Shizhong stepped forward and thundered, "When did the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty take direct command of the Imperial Guards? Were you the one who falsely passed on the order, or was Qin Hui overstepping his authority and usurping power?"
The shout made the floor creak, and the officers and soldiers involuntarily took a half step back.
Suddenly, the sound of galloping horses could be heard from outside. A messenger rushed in, holding a golden medal high. "The Imperial Edict has arrived—!"
Everyone knelt hurriedly. The messenger unfolded a yellow silk scroll and read aloud: "The Emperor's order: Ministers Han and Yue have worked hard and made great contributions. They are granted a jar of imperial wine and ordered to return home immediately to rest. No private gatherings are allowed."
After receiving the imperial edict, Yue Fei bowed to the two and said, "I am leaving now, and I am afraid we may not see each other again. I hope you and your wife take care of yourselves."
Han Shizhong and Liang Hongyu also bowed and said, "We hope General Yue will take care of himself."
Liang Hongyu looked at Yue Fei's disappearing back, and always felt that behind that upright figure, there was endless desolation hidden.
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