Chapter 32: Peace Negotiations Are Not for the Jin Army to Dictate

Of course, not all officials were looking to seize this opportunity to negotiate peace terms with the Jin. Did Mo Chou not send a secret memorial to Zhao Ning just yesterday, proposing that they capitalize on their recent success to launch an active offensive? Based on the fundamental nature of political infighting within the Great Song court, this was no isolated incident; there was naturally a faction that thought the same way. One can only say that toward the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, after being manipulated by Emperor Huizong, Zhao Ji, for decades, the ranks below were infested with opportunists.

Do not ever believe their deceitful talk. The previous Emperor Qinzong had tried such things before. When the city of Tokyo was first besieged, Zhong Shidao led an army of one hundred thousand to relieve the capital, and the situation in Tokyo was looking very promising. At that moment, a man who considered himself quite formidable—a fellow named Yao Pingzhong—jumped into the fray. He volunteered to launch a surprise attack on the Jin army; Zhong Shidao’s objections were overruled, and Emperor Qinzong, Zhao Huan, gave his consent. As it turned out, the news leaked before the attack even began, and Wanyan Zongwang set up his battle lines, waiting for the Song army to arrive, only to crush them. At that point, Yao Pingzhong turned and fled at breakneck speed, disappearing in an instant. According to historical records, during the Southern Song period, a monk in a remote temple in Sichuan claimed to be Yao Pingzhong. This man earned the title of the most capable fleeing general in history, and there is no runner-up.

After such a debacle, the peace-seekers and capitulationists inside the city immediately raised their heads and began to attack in swarms. Therefore, one must not engage in reckless maneuvers. Steadfastness is everything. Do not trust the solemn oaths of that crowd, either; these people have lived in times of peace for so long that they suffer from a common ailment: they speak without thinking.

Early on the morning of the second day of the twelfth lunar month, just as Zhao Ning finished his breakfast, Gao Qiu hurried over. "Your Majesty, word is spreading everywhere that the Jin are looking to negotiate peace with us, and some say the imperial court has already agreed."

"Oh? Is it being talked about much?"

"Quite a bit, though some also say the court will not negotiate." Aside from delivering his report, Gao Qiu’s primary intent was to gauge the Emperor's true attitude.

"How do the Jin want to negotiate?"

"They say we should send envoys to discuss it."

"And what is the prevailing opinion among the common people right now?"

"They are against negotiating."

Zhao Ning shifted the topic. "How is the investigation into the grain reserves of the common households coming along?"

"I inquired with three hundred families yesterday; they still have three months of grain stored."

"Very well, I am aware. You may withdraw."

Gao Qiu, unable to fathom the Emperor's thoughts, replied, "I take my leave."

Three months—this brought a measure of pressure back upon Zhao Ning. It was now early in the twelfth month, meaning they could hold out until the third month of the second year of Jingkang. By the third month, temperatures would have risen, and the various relief armies from across the provinces should have arrived. The Jurchens were deathly afraid of heat; they would never fight in the summer. Although the third month is still spring, the Jin army could not hold on much longer either. If Wanyan Zonghan insisted on fighting to the bitter end, they would simply have to hold out alongside him. If it came to that, the toll on the city of Tokyo would be immense.

At present, with the Jin having failed to take the city, and given Wanyan Zonghan’s temperament, he would never let the matter rest; he would certainly build more trebuchets. Therefore, Zhao Ning had to ensure he was prepared with sufficient defensive equipment.

Throughout the morning, the city buzzed with discussions regarding the Jin's intentions for peace. Soon, the latest front page of the *Tokyo Daily* was released and snatched up instantly. People were now very attentive to the *Tokyo Daily*; even the women, who usually took no interest in state affairs, began to pay attention. Surprisingly, today’s headline was a commendation and tribute to the soldiers who had fallen in battle the previous day. This caught everyone off guard. After all, the status of military men in the Great Song Dynasty was extremely low. In the past, rewards for soldiers were limited to the basics: military merit bonuses, salaries, and pensions. Public commendation and praise for warriors were simply unheard of.

Take, for instance, the famous Northern Song general Di Qing from the reign of Emperor Renzong; he was formidable enough, wasn't he? Whenever the Western Xia heard the name Di Qing, they wished they could dig a hole and bury themselves on the spot. Di Qing spent his life on the battlefield with glorious military achievements. Yet, when Renzong wanted to promote him to the Privy Council, the civil officials berated the Emperor so fiercely that he nearly hanged himself. In the words of the bureaucrats, the Privy Council was a place for the ministers of the two offices, a sanctum of state military and political affairs; how could a lowly brute of a soldier be allowed to enter and defile such a sacred place? Of course, Di Qing was eventually promoted to Privy Councilor, but throughout his tenure, he was attacked by these officials at every turn. Even a great literary giant like Ouyang Xiu despised him. In the end, Di Qing was demoted and died of depression. It could be said that a famous general like Di Qing was a tragedy, strangled by the collective effort of the Northern Song scholar-officials.

Praising soldiers? That was a slap in the face to the civil officials! There is a Northern Song poem that says, "The hall is filled with the noble and crimson-clad, all of them men of letters." This was no mere jest. In the Great Song, the saying "Good men do not become soldiers, good iron is not used for nails" was deeply rooted in the heart. Soldiers had to be tattooed on their faces, which people viewed as a mark of inferiority. The entire society looked down upon those in the military. Consequently, in the later years, a significant portion of the Northern Song Imperial Guards were either displaced refugees or beggars.

The *Tokyo Daily* represented the voice of the Emperor, and today’s praise for the fallen soldiers clearly signaled a change in the Emperor’s attitude toward military men. Furthermore, the article was very clear: there is no home without a country, and soldiers are those who protect both; they have sacrificed their lives, and we should respect them. For people in the 21st century, this is an unremarkable realization, but for the people of the 12th-century Song Dynasty, it was revolutionary.

In fact, the embryonic concept of a "nation" began to form in China during the Song Dynasty. Why? Before the Song, there was only "All Under Heaven" (*Tianxia*); the Emperor was the sovereign of all, and there were no clear boundaries. Even during the Three Kingdoms period, there were no fixed borders; after the three factions declared themselves emperors, each considered itself the legitimate ruler, viewing the others as rebels and usurpers.

However, by the Song Dynasty, following the Treaty of Shanyuan, the Great Song and the Liao Dynasty established clear borders. This shattered the concept of "All Under Heaven." It further influenced the ideological realm, making intellectuals more passionate about the distinction between the civilized and the barbarian, and strengthening defenses against the "barbarians." This in turn further drove the formation of the nascent concept of a "nation."

The current grim situation, in the worst-case scenario, could lead to the fall of the country and the destruction of families, but in a better light, it provided Zhao Ning with an opportunity to consolidate internal unity. It played a certain role in his shaping of the concept of a "nation." Take today’s headline—it resonated with many. Clearly, many were beginning to realize the importance of military men and no longer discriminated against them as they had in the past. What Zhao Ning wanted was to gradually transform people's thinking; if one wants a strong military, one must ensure that soldiers are respected by society.

On the third day of the twelfth month, the Jin army did not receive news of any peace negotiations. On the fourth day, there was still no news. At this time, in a luxurious mansion, the former Junior Chancellor Tang Ke met with the former Left Minister Geng Nanzhong. Geng Nanzhong was not merely the Left Minister; he was also the tutor of Emperor Qinzong, Zhao Huan. He was an even more shameless capitulationist.

"Chancellor Geng."

"Chancellor Tang, you have come to me so suddenly; might I ask what is the matter?"

Tang Ke sighed. "Chancellor Geng, you must be aware of the events that have transpired recently, right?"

"I am."

"What is your take on it?"

Geng Nanzhong replied, "The Emperor has ascended to the throne; he will always have his own ideas."

"Having just successfully defended the city, and with the morale of the Jin somewhat dampened, the Jin have taken the initiative to request peace, yet the Emperor remains non-committal. I heard that yesterday, the Ministry of Rites was still busy with something called the Shrine of Loyalty and Martyrdom, honoring those fallen soldiers—is this not pure folly?"

Upon hearing of the Shrine of Loyalty and Martyrdom, the wily Geng Nanzhong’s face darkened. Praising and singing the virtues of soldiers in the *Tokyo Daily* was one thing, but to actually build shrines for those grunts?

Tang Ke continued, "You are the Emperor’s tutor. The Emperor’s current behavior is an overreach. He rashly executes officials, the Imperial City Guard acts more and more lawlessly, and he is elevating the status of military men without restraint. If this continues, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Do not be anxious."

"How can I not be anxious? Even Feng Xie has been dismissed from his post, and the Emperor ignores the peace overtures from the Jin!"

"Let me ask you, does the Emperor currently hold the support of the people?"

"This... I do not know."

Geng Nanzhong set down his teacup and said, "Do not forget that the Retired Emperor is still in the palace. If the Emperor loses the hearts of the people, the Retired Emperor will not sit idly by."

Tang Ke was slightly startled. "What do you mean by that?"

"Chancellor Tang, the situation has reached a point beyond our control. The Emperor’s path is narrowing, and when everyone is dissatisfied, the hearts of the people will naturally turn toward the Retired Emperor."

The Retired Emperor he referred to was Emperor Huizong, Zhao Ji.