Chapter 1 After the Nameless Tablet

Behind the nameless tablet were slightly smaller ones, escorted by groups of about three people. The names of Zhang Shuye, Li Ruoshui, Liu Ge, Zhong Shidao, Wang Bing, and other well-known martyrs from the Jingkang era began to appear, but the procession didn't pause at all because there were too many tablets. Soon, they became wooden plaques, only the width of a palm, held by a single person.

Up to this point, the first few dozen tablets still bore the names of well-known figures, but the names on the later ones gradually became strange… Zhang Bao, Wang Jin, Han Xiang, Sang Ji… Anyone could tell that these people were unlikely to be associated with famous scholars or ministers. They were probably just ordinary soldiers recorded in documents, or ordinary people who had once resisted.

Moreover, as the number of tablets increased, duplicate names began to appear. Just the name Li Bao, which was also the name of the Imperial Naval Commander, appeared three or five times, it seemed.

But surprisingly, a sense of 'solemnity' gradually began to permeate the scene.

Frankly speaking, when the large blank wooden tablet appeared, the rulers and dignitaries on the Yue Platform could still understand a little of its political meaning. In addition, due to the ceremonial system, when Zhao Guanren (official title for the emperor) who was wearing a twelve-patterned imperial robe, rarely seen, withdrew his seat and stood solemnly, everyone on the Yue Platform immediately stood up with professional spirit.

After the names of some people appeared, many on the platform were moved and saddened, probably because they recognized them or were even related to them.

However, the common people of Dongjing watching the ceremony below did not have this awareness. They were still watching the spectacle, still making noise… They didn't know that the nameless large wooden tablet referred to people they once knew. They felt a slight sense of emotion for the places that appeared in the form of place names, but they only said that those places were now occupied by Hebei refugees, and the best farmlands had been taken back by the government, and so on.

After the names of people like Zhong Shidao appeared, the topic turned to the idea that if the two emperors had listened to the words of the old Zhong Jinglue Xianggong (official title), the Jin people might not have succeeded; how majestic Li Xue Shi was, daring to rebuke Nianhan (Jin official); Zhang Longtu took his last breath at the moment the carriage happened to pass the old Song-Liao border, probably becoming the local land god, and so on.

However, after the wooden tablets with names copied from the list of those who died in the Yaoshan battle appeared, for some reason, the original commotion and noise gradually subsided. There was still discussion, but it couldn't suppress the sound of armor clanking as the Imperial Guards moved around without stopping.

"Two young scholars."

In the viewing area, where the atmosphere was gradually becoming strange, a young woman wearing a veiled hat suddenly walked to the edge of the viewing area's isolation barrier and called out to two young men who were talking with their hands behind their backs. They were a student from the Imperial College and a student from the military academy.

The two students turned their heads to look at the same time. Although the other party was wearing a veiled hat, it couldn't hide her beautiful face and graceful figure. Moreover, the other party's clothing was expensive, the accessories were exquisite, and the hairstyle was trendy, all of which were conspicuous. Not to mention how prominent the scent of perfume on her body was among the group of commoners. Even behind her, there were two strong servants and a young maid following her.

The two also instantly realized that this was most likely a 'courtesan' from a Zhengdian (high-class brothel) in the east of the city.

And the two were just energetic young men. As soon as they heard this, they immediately became a little restless. The military academy student blushed and cupped his fist solemnly: "What does the young lady want to say?"

"Greetings, Young Master Wang." The woman glanced at the three characters Wang Zhongfu on the other party's chest badge, gave a hasty blessing, obviously a little impatient, but didn't delay her from looking at the chest of the young Imperial College student again, and then gave a slight salute to the Imperial College student who was almost a teenager and called Wu Yi. "Greetings, Young Master Wu… I'm being abrupt, can you let me pass over there?"

Wang Zhongfu originally wanted to agree directly, but how could he do such a thing in front of Wu Yi, so he immediately showed a huge palm and pushed the other party away: "According to today's rules, you can't!"

"If the young lady wants to go, go around from behind. It's just a circle, but you can't mess up the rules." Wu Yi also solemnly reminded from the side.

The young lady glanced back at the procession of tablets, feeling anxious and impatient. She took something from her sleeve, grabbed Wang Zhongfu's huge palm, and stuffed something wrapped in a handkerchief into his hand: "Please, you two young scholars, do me a favor. I seemed to see a wooden tablet with my brother's name on it, and it's about to pass by…"

Wang Zhongfu and Wu Yi looked at each other, but directly broke free from the other party with one hand and threw the jewelry wrapped in the handkerchief to the maid behind the young lady, and then stood with their hands behind their backs, still serious: "According to the rules, you can't."

"Indeed, you can't!" Wu Yi repeated it again.

However, the next moment, just when the young lady was about to cry, Wu and Wang each took a step back, then turned their backs together… Wang Zhongfu also took the opportunity to pull the two duty soldiers back half a step.

Seeing this situation, the young lady didn't have time to thank them. She hurriedly passed through the space between the two and continued to chase after the tablets with her maid and attendants. Wu and Wang turned around and shook their heads at the same time.

For no other reason than that the young lady obviously had a local Henan accent, and with the identities of the two, they already knew that most of these names were from Guanxi (area west of Hangu Pass), mostly just the same name.

Just the same name.

Moreover, according to the saying of the idlers in Dongjing, the tablets that Zhao Guanren 'invented' in Bagong Mountain or Yaoshan numbered more than 15,000. It took more than a month, hundreds of craftsmen, and cost Zhao Guanren a full 50,000 strings of cash to make them, so that most of the troops under Wang De, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards in charge of transporting the tablets, needed to return to the Yue Platform camp to carry a second batch.

The dense mass of tablets, constantly being moved out of the camp, formed a continuous iron stream between the soldiers holding them and the sea of people above and below the Yue Platform. The visual shock was no less than the flames that had soared into the sky before, nor was it less than the helmets piled up like mountains.

But unlike those things, this almost never stopped.

Moreover, the setting of one soldier holding one tablet was also reminding everyone that those who died, just those with names, numbered so many! It was after so many people died that others could watch the spectacle in this post-autumn harvest festival, could think about the Imperial College competition and the palace examination after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and could extravagantly talk about what to defend and what to attack.

However, it is worth mentioning that Zhao Jiu's feelings may be a little different, even more extreme… For example, he knew very well that those artillery vehicles were actually firing stone bullets. While firing stone bullets, someone lit the gunpowder buried in the tunnels, otherwise, where would such power come from? Was this being made into an animated propaganda film, with trebuchets destroying everything?

If it really reached this power, he could now lead his troops across the river and bombard Daming Prefecture first.

Right now, it was just to make a noise for the envoys from Goryeo, Western Xia, and Dali who were attending in the crowd, and then to boost morale and intimidate some people.

The spoils of war were also a bit fake. Except for the flags, which had been truly preserved, most of the spoils of war were captured by Yue Fei from the Jingdong battlefield. As for the spoils of war after Yaoshan, of course, there were many, but the helmets, armor, and the like had long been repaired and distributed. Where could they be used at this time?

Even the things piled up at this time would have to be sent to the Military Equipment Supervision Department for good use afterward.

So, for Zhao Jiu, only these tablets were real, only this iron stream was real.

The autumn sky was clear and the air was crisp. The miscellaneous noises became smaller and smaller, and in the end, only the sound of the wind blowing the flags and the sound of the armor clanking remained… This iron stream could not yet achieve uniformity of pace, but the combination of the rumbling sounds was enough to compare to thunder.

Finally, after a full half an hour, the tablets were placed in the rear of the huge, ladder-shaped Yue Platform.

It was hard to imagine that the tablets, which were so shocking to transport, only occupied such a small area when gathered together, not even more than a third of this high platform that had existed since the Warring States period.

After the tablets were transported, Zhao Jiu began to perform the sacrifices according to the ceremonial system… This time, this Guanren didn't need to ask people on the spot as he did at the Yue Platform last time. Officials from the Ministry of Rites had already taught him in advance and rehearsed it many times in private.

Of course, it was unlikely that the common people watching the ceremony across from the Yue Platform could see clearly how conscientious Zhao Guanren was. There was even a slight murmur rising again. However, on the platform, many people were almost in tears when they saw Zhao Guanren so obediently and earnestly fulfilling the basic responsibility of a Guanren.

After all, no matter when, an emperor willing to cooperate with everyone to do something that everyone thought the emperor should do, even if it seemed ineffective individually, was still a great cooperation and respect for the bureaucratic system and the Confucian system.

And the sacrifice, especially this time sacrificing to both Heaven and Earth and the dead, made everyone feel a different kind of security.

Back then, Emperor Renzong came out of the city to pray for rain. Although people still starved to death in Jingdong afterward because the lack of rain led to crop failure, just Emperor Renzong coming out of the city with his chubby body received unanimous praise and recognition from the court and the public.

The so-called Emperor Renzong could do nothing, only be an emperor, was probably like this.

In comparison, Zhao Guanren, who was diligently doing various complicated actions, was not very good at being an emperor. He could fight wars, win over chancellors and commanders, write *Xi You Xiang Mo Za Ji*, kill ministers, dig fish ponds, only have two imperial concubines, order the merger of the three provinces into the Department of State Affairs, be true to his name, establish the Imperial Army, issue national debt, supervise the construction of more powerful artillery vehicles, and guide the making of gunpowder packs… But he just didn't do a good job of being an emperor.

The eulogy was written very well. It was drafted by several academicians of the Jade Hall and drafters of the Imperial Secretariat. It was written in parallel prose, with elegant and unrestrained writing. Although Zhao Guanren didn't understand the allusions, he had read it many times these days and could recite it fluently.

At this time, this Son of Heaven of the Zhao Song, who claimed to be Shao Song (reviving the Song), was wearing a twelve-patterned imperial robe, facing away from his civil and military officials and the people of the capital, surrounded by monks, Taoists, and the Imperial Guards, facing so many tablets, holding a white silk with the eulogy written on it, speaking eloquently.

To tell the truth, this scene had moved many people—in any case, at this moment, roughly speaking, this young emperor still looked like a good emperor.

After reading the eulogy, under the guidance of Zhai Ruwen, Minister of Rites, Duke Xiang (honorific title) Lu Haowen stepped forward to offer the smoldering flint, and Zhao Jiu burned the eulogy and prayed in the incense burner that he had personally inserted the incense into at the beginning.

So far, the prayer process was roughly over… According to the setting that he personally participated in and Duke Lu Xiang announced, next, he, the emperor, should take the initiative to withdraw, and the monks and Taoists would activate the two great formations. All civil and military officials below, regardless of scholars or commoners, even servants and laborers, could freely go to the platform to burn incense and pay their respects.

But for some reason, after Zhao Guanren finished burning the eulogy, he actually felt a little unsatisfied, something was stuck in his heart, and he had to say it out. It wasn't necessarily that the eulogy was bad, it was just that Zhao Guanren wanted to say it himself.

"Where is Hu Quan, Compiler of the Secretarial Council and Chief of the Residence News?" Since the twelve-patterned imperial robe was really inconvenient to move around in, Zhao Jiu, unable to turn his head, could only turn his entire body to face them, and then spoke.

Hu Quan, dressed in a green robe, immediately came out of the queue at the end, almost at the back half of the Yue Platform steps, and hurriedly came to the emperor to salute. His address was also particularly solemn: "Your Majesty, your servant awaits your orders."

"Tomorrow's eulogy, change the signature to a joint signature of me, the chancellors, and the important ministers of the Secretarial Pavilion." Zhao Jiu ordered with his head held high, immediately eliciting the joy of many civil and military officials present.

"Your servant obeys." Hu Quan, of course, had nothing to say about this.

In fact, at this moment, no one could stop the emperor's oral decree. Even Duke Lu Xiang, who had recently shown the majesty of a Duke, could not interrupt… In this occasion, at this time, Zhao Guanren's authority received further addition.

"Also, in my personal name, that is, the name Zhao Jiu of Cangzhou, issue a simple commentary on the eulogy." Zhao Jiu continued to order loudly from above the ladder-shaped Yue Platform.

The surrounding civil and military officials were all nervous, and Hu Quan was also slightly stunned before bowing his head: "Your servant obeys. May I ask Your Majesty, what is the commentary?"

"All these words, in the final analysis, are just a few sentences… First, in the national war between Song and Jin, we Song people are protecting our country and people, resisting aggression, which is right and not biased! It is righteousness and not violence!" Although he knew that even the people on the Yue Platform might not be able to hear all his words clearly, Zhao Jiu still tried his best to speak, and calmly encouraged himself in his heart—the cause I am doing now is just.

"Your servant respectfully obeys the imperial decree!" Hu Quan, who was standing with his head bowed, did not raise his head, his face flushed instantly, and then he raised his voice sharply.

The civil and military officials nearby also became solemn.

"Second, this war has lasted for seven years, from the seventh year of Xuanhe to the fifth year of Jianyan. Although the Great Song has suffered countless casualties and still lost thousands of miles of land, in the end, Song will win and Jin will lose! We will survive and the enemy will perish!" Zhao Jiu continued to say loudly—victory will definitely belong to us.

"Your servant respectfully obeys the imperial decree!"

"Third, despite all the difficulties and obstacles, this heart will not change. We will not stop until we have raided Huanglong! Let these words be shared with the world!" Zhao Jiu's tone softened—although the road will definitely be tortuous.

"Your servant respectfully obeys the imperial decree!"

This time, Duke Xiang Lu Haowen was the first to respond, and he disregarded tradition and knelt down directly from the side, performing a kneeling salute that was theoretically only performed when taking office as chancellor.

The civil and military officials were flustered for a moment, but soon, under the leadership of Zhao Ding Zhao Yuanzhen, the Chief of the Department of State Affairs, and Zhang Jun Zhang De Yuan, the Chief of the Privy Council, they knelt down together. Even the two envoys knelt down in a panic after hesitating for a moment. As for the Dali envoy, he knelt down immediately… This was not humility, nor flattery, nor was it being intimidated by so-called heroic spirit. It was because at this moment, in this occasion that simultaneously sacrificed to Heaven, Earth, and Man, the words issued by a legitimate emperor with military power and achievements added, at the end of the sacrificial ceremony, were in themselves the most indisputable and absolute authoritative words of this era.

Under this system, Zhao Guanren at this time was speaking on behalf of Heaven.

Although there was no such subjective intention, everyone knew that no matter how many miscellaneous noises and undercurrents there were before, at this moment, this Guanren's imperial authority had reached an unprecedented peak… What being good or not at being an emperor, he was the emperor!

ps: This chapter should have been posted together with yesterday's chapter… or only half of yesterday's chapter was posted, and the last bit was separated and posted together with today's chapter… but I'm used to posting wherever I write, and I had a cold yesterday, so I really couldn't write anymore… I apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused to your reading.