Chapter 11: I’m Just the Kind of Man Who Likes Giving People a Hard Time

Xu Bingzhe said, “Now is not the time to go to war.”

“Do you mean to seek peace?”

“That is exactly my intention,” Xu Bingzhe declared confidently. He thought to himself, with the two leading hawks already imprisoned, isn’t the tide of opinion clear by now? The emperor desires peace but cannot publicly admit it, so as his minister, I must help lighten his burden! See, am I not a loyal subject? An extremely loyal subject! Moreover, most officials in the court favor peace; by standing with the majority, I avoid being implicated by He Li. Truly, I am quite the cunning fox!

“I believe the Jurchens are barbarians, coveting only wealth. Our Song Dynasty is prosperous across all lands; giving them some money will suffice. Once they receive the funds, they will retreat,” Xu Bingzhe continued, though the surrounding ministers were already inwardly cursing his shamelessness.

Zhao Ning asked, “Where will the money come from? The imperial treasury is strained.”

Xu Bingzhe replied, “We can borrow from the common people. The court’s aim is to preserve their safety; the people will have no objections.”

“No objections?” Zhao Ning’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, icy expression, his tone sharpened. “I will be the first to confiscate all your family’s wealth, Xu Bingzhe. Are you willing?”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I am merely considering ways to repel the enemy,” Xu Bingzhe said, though momentarily taken aback by the emperor’s sudden change in attitude.

Originally, some peace advocates had intended to echo his views, but the emperor’s shift startled them, causing them to retreat hastily.

The Song Dynasty’s taxation system was notoriously burdensome, loaded with countless petty levies. It felt as though the people had to pay tax even for breathing. Officials wracked their brains daily to squeeze more from the lower classes.

Xu Bingzhe’s proposal epitomized this—bleeding the peasants dry to hand over funds to the Jurchens, while he himself would contribute nothing.

Confronted with the emperor’s abrupt demeanor, Xu Bingzhe was momentarily stunned.

Your Majesty, you have already dismissed the leading hawk He Li. Surely you support peace! So if we seek peace, providing money is only logical. I have said nothing wrong, have I?

Zhao Ning’s face darkened. “Fine. Even if you give the Jurchens money, what if they do not withdraw?”

Cold sweat broke out on Xu Bingzhe’s palms as he stammered, “Your Majesty, the Jurchens will surely…”

“I ask you again: if we give money and the Jurchens do not retreat, what then?”

Wang Shiyong was about to intervene, and the peace faction stirred as well.

Zhao Ning’s wrath flared suddenly. “Speak! If the Jurchens do not withdraw after receiving money, what will you do?”

Was he truly furious?

Not at all. His outburst was a calculated move to stop more peace advocates from speaking up.

With He Li’s downfall, the peace faction was gaining ground. If they all stood together today, the situation would become difficult to control.

Therefore, Zhao Ning sought to strike first before Wang Shiyong and others could act.

The emperor’s voice echoed through the Dianguang Hall.

Wang Shiyong began, “Your Majesty, I—”

“Silence! I asked Xu Bingzhe. Do you not understand the order of proceedings between sovereign and ministers? Interrupting my question so casually is disrespectful!” The emperor’s words sent a chill through the court.

Wang Shiyong immediately knelt, trembling. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I am terrified.”

Song officials did kneel under certain circumstances—during grand ceremonies or when facing charges.

Other ministers shivered in fear.

What was happening?

Hadn’t He Li just been dismissed?

Why this sudden change?

Was His Majesty now favoring war?

For a moment, everyone was bewildered.

No one could grasp what the emperor truly intended.

Zhao Ning swept a cold gaze over the ministers. Those about to speak recoiled at the emperor’s reprimand and dared not utter another word.

Only Xu Bingzhe stood in the center, utterly confused and trembling.

Unable to maintain his composure, he collapsed to the floor, burying his head.

Zhao Ning felt a measure of anger. These men spoke recklessly, ignoring consequences and the broader situation, thinking only of themselves and their political ambitions.

The Northern Song once had many capable and principled civil officials.

Men like Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Fu Bi, then later Wang Anshi, Sima Guang—somewhat—and Zhang Jie, who nearly wiped out the Western Xia.

Even the famed Western army general Zhong Shidao, and at this time, the loyal and brave Zong Ze, who was organizing forces in Hebei to resist the Jurchens, were all from civil backgrounds.

During the Northern Song, civil officials had not yet degenerated into the shamelessness seen in the late Ming.

But after over twenty years of turmoil under Emperor Huizong, the central ministers had become increasingly absurd, turning the political atmosphere into a chaotic smog.

This mess was the rotten legacy left by Huizong.

Of course, Zhao Ning had no immediate plans to reform this chaos.

After all, the most urgent matter was resisting the enemy; anything else was distraction.

Once the Jurchens withdrew, he would address the rest.

Politics must be handled with patience, like slicing through with a knife, cut by cut.

He looked coldly at Xu Bingzhe. Since you stepped forward, I must make an example of you to honor your misguided loyalty.

So what does serving the defense of the realm truly entail?

It is simple.

First, dismiss useless hawks like He Li.

Second, publicly execute a peace advocate to silence that faction.

Third, seize their assets and make some profit.

Zhao Ning stared at Xu Bingzhe, his voice icy. “Why remain silent?”

Xu Bingzhe trembled violently, but his mind raced.

He could not fathom what the emperor truly intended.

Still, so many in court favored peace; standing with the majority, he must be right.

Even if the emperor opposed peace, what then?

Could the emperor change the current situation?

With that thought, Xu Bingzhe braced himself and said, “Your Majesty, peace is the only path. I do this to preserve Your Majesty’s realm and the Song Dynasty’s lands.”

Zhao Ning sneered, “Did everyone hear that? He says it is to preserve my realm! I asked him: if we give the Jurchens money and they do not withdraw, what then? He replies it is to preserve my realm!”

“Listen carefully! This is Xu Bingzhe answering my question. A mere acting prefect of Kaifeng, when questioned by me, evades the point! This is my acting prefect! This is my trusted minister! Does he often evade the point when discussing affairs below?”