The forced departure of Grand Councilor Zhang Jun from the capital to oversee military operations in the south was widely regarded as a resounding victory for Chief Councilor Zhao Ding's faction within the imperial court. However, Zhao Ding himself remained tight-lipped about the matter, even severely reprimanding those who attempted to capitalize on the situation or curry favor with him.

Regardless of Zhao Ding's stance, Zhang Jun embarked on his southward journey with a mix of frustration and resentment. The typically fiery young Grand Councilor viewed this assignment as a profound humiliation. Nevertheless, he understood that he was undertaking a serious political mission. He knew that the fate of the nation hung in the balance, and that to turn the situation around, his oversight must yield immediate results. He needed Yue Fei to achieve a swift and decisive victory.

Thus, as he traveled south, reaching Nanyang, Zhang Jun temporarily put aside the affairs of the capital and focused his attention on the southern war front.

However, starting from Nanyang, the further south he went, and the more he learned about the war's complexities, the more uneasy Zhang Jun became. Yue Fei's performance was, to put it mildly, disappointing.

This apprehension and doubt reached their peak when Zhang Jun arrived in Xiangyang, where he met with Xi Yi, the new Transport Commissioner of Jingxi Circuit following Liu Ji's summons to the capital, and Ma Shen, the Pacification Commissioner of Hubei Circuit, who had proactively come north to greet him.

"Does Grand Councilor Zhang believe I am merely quarreling with Commander Yue?"

The parties met in the Xiangyang government office. After only a brief exchange of pleasantries, the conversation turned to the war effort. Zhang Jun had barely begun to defend Yue Fei when Ma Shen, the Pacification Commissioner of Hubei Circuit, glared at him and rose to his feet in rebuke. "Or does he think I am vying for credit, deliberately slandering him? Grand Councilor Zhang, as a Grand Councilor, you must possess a Grand Councilor's fairness. Do not think that because you protected him in the central government, you can disregard reason in the provinces and unilaterally defend him!"

Helpless, Zhang Jun could only rise to face him, offering gentle persuasion and respectful treatment.

He had no choice. Ma Shen was a senior official with exceptional political capital. During the Jingkang Incident, when the Jin forces had captured the capital and detained the imperial clan, effectively leading to the Song Dynasty's surrender, Ma Shen, as a representative of the remaining officials in the fallen capital, had penned a remarkably firm letter demanding the Jin release the Zhao imperial family and allow the Song Dynasty to continue. Though unsuccessful, this act had significantly isolated Zhang Bangchang. Regardless of whether it could be considered a merit, it was a considerable asset compared to those who fled to the Imperial Academy like Zhao Ding, Zhang Jun, and Hu Yin.

Notably, Qin Hui, Ma Shen's superior at the time, did not directly send this letter to the Jin. Instead, he rewrote it with softer language. He was later taken to the Jin camp for this letter and earned the favor of Nianhan, never to return... In hindsight, it's debatable whether Ma Shen's or Qin Hui's letter was more effective, but their contrasting personalities were evident in these two documents, similar in purpose but different in tone.

"I am aware that Yue Fei has been overly cautious, and I understand the difficulties in Hubei, Jiangxi, and Jingxi Circuits," Zhang Jun finally managed to persuade his counterpart to sit down, but was forced to carefully continue his defense. "But judging from his words and intentions, his ultimate goal is to minimize casualties and prioritize pacification. His Majesty has always said that since the imperial clan has been taken north, he considers the common people as his kin and the nation as his family. The Emperor's benevolence must also be taken into account."

Ma Shen sneered. "I am, of course, aware that he relies not only on your, Grand Councilor Zhang's, protection, but also on the Emperor's favor."

Zhang Jun was at a loss for words. Xi Yi seized the opportunity to cough softly.

Ma Shen understood. He realized that he had implicitly criticized the imperial carriage and subtly mocked the Emperor's favoritism towards military men. He simply stopped speaking. His purpose in coming north to meet Zhang Jun was solely to exert pressure, to urge Yue Fei to advance quickly through Zhang Jun. Now that his message was delivered, he had nothing more to add.

"Grand Councilor," Seeing the awkward silence, Transport Commissioner of Jingxi Circuit Xi Yi rose from behind Zhang Jun. "The chief officials of the various prefectures and counties in Hubei, Jiangxi, and even Jingxi, have all submitted memorials impeaching Yue Fei. It is impossible that they all harbor malicious intent... In reality, Yue Fei and his Imperial Vanguard Army are known for their discipline, and Yue Fei himself has a reputation for loyalty and courage. Initially, the officials and people in the three circuits were overjoyed to see him come to quell the rebellion. When his progress was swift in the early stages, they praised him even more. If the Grand Councilor does not believe me, you can examine the memorials submitted by the three circuits at that time. Even after he proposed pacification, and the central government approved, the complaints gradually increased, but not to the current level. There are simply some things that are difficult to express openly."

"Speak plainly," Zhang Jun urged, frustrated.

"This is merely my personal conjecture," Xi Yi sighed. "Commander Yue's actions in Jiangling Prefecture suggest a tendency to 'play with the enemy'."

"What is 'play with the enemy'?" Zhang De Yuan frowned, genuinely puzzled. "If you were to say he was releasing the enemy or nurturing them, that would be one thing, but what is 'play with the enemy'?"

"'Play' is the perfect word!" Ma Shen laughed from his seat before Xi Yi could explain. "If he had been defeated, there would be nothing to say. It is precisely because of this 'play' that he has incurred the resentment of the three circuits."

Xi Yi sighed again, then proceeded to tell Zhang Jun a representative story of Yue Fei's pacification efforts.

It began after Yue Fei swiftly swept through the rebel forces north of Dongting Lake and promptly requested permission for pacification.

During this period, his main force was stationed primarily north of Dongting Lake. Specifically, aside from Baling (later Yueyang), the capital of Yuezhou, which was strategically important and garrisoned with three thousand soldiers, most of the troops were stationed in Huarong of Yuezhou and Anxiang of Lizhou.

About thirty miles south of Huarong, near Dongting Lake, was a water stronghold established by Zhong Xiang, called Goulou Stronghold. The commander of the stronghold was Yang Guang, a member of the pseudo-Chu Marshal Yang Yao's clan. Given the shallow waters in winter, Goulou Stronghold was largely exposed on land, essentially indefensible and a piece of meat hanging right in front of the Imperial Vanguard Army.

Therefore, as expected, Yue Fei's pacification efforts began here. The results were immediate. Yang Guang, seeing that he was indeed trapped, promptly chose to surrender.

Correspondingly, Yue Fei did not disarm Yang Guang's troops or occupy Goulou Stronghold. Instead, he bestowed upon him a military title in his capacity as a military commissioner, provided him with valuable logistical supplies and weaponry, and allowed him to continue garrisoning Goulou Stronghold with his original troops.

This act was exceptionally generous. While the surrounding military and local officials were unhappy, they couldn't openly complain. After all, one must spend a fortune to attract talent, right?

However, only two days later, as Yue Fei continued to pacify the water strongholds west and south along the western shore of Dongting Lake, Yang Guang, the first to surrender, received the official army's money and title, and then, whether he contacted Zhong Xiang and Yang Yao on the southern shore of Dongting Lake, or it was premeditated, or he was never sincere to begin with, suddenly chose to raise his banner again and openly rebelled.

Yang Guang's sudden betrayal caused many of the large and small water strongholds that were in contact with Yue Fei in the west of Dongting Lake to hesitate and immediately cease contact with the official army.

So far, there was still nothing wrong... This kind of thing was too common, and no one could fault Yue Fei for it.

However, Commander Yue's subsequent actions were incomprehensible.

Upon hearing the news, Yue Fei immediately mobilized his troops with lightning speed, personally leading a large army to Goulou Stronghold in a single day and night. Overwhelmed by the swift and furious advance, Yang Guang had no choice but to surrender again, and Yue Fei actually agreed to it. Without sending troops into Goulou Stronghold or even speaking to Yang Guang face to face, he directly accepted his surrender and returned to Huarong.

Not only that, but upon returning to Huarong, he issued another military commission to Yang Guang, with an even higher rank. Along with the commission, a new batch of supplies, money, and silk arrived at Goulou Stronghold.

Hearing this, Zhang Jun was somewhat weary, but he could only smile bitterly: "I imagine that Yang Guang rebelled again later? If so, Commander Yue's actions are indeed absurd. A dignified national general being toyed with by a petty thief."

"Four times," Xi Yi suddenly held up four fingers.

"What?" Grand Councilor Zhang was clearly confused.

"Within two months, Yang Guang was pacified four times and rebelled three times," Xi Yi said calmly. "Commander Yue granted him military commissions four times, each time higher than the last, with more and more supplies and money, and each time without occupying Goulou Stronghold... I must confess, among the three circuits, especially in the state schools that were resettling refugees, there have been wagers as to when Yang Guang would rebel for the fourth time."

Zhang Jun was dumbfounded.

"If that were all, it would be fine!" Ma Shen, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly interjected. "He is a marshal in command of an army and has his own considerations for military affairs. Whether for personal face or to imitate the story of Zhuge Liang capturing Meng Huo seven times to demonstrate sincerity, it is ultimately his decision... Since the Jingkang Incident, what kind of military men have we not seen? Only as the Pacification Commissioner of Hubei, I have watched his tens of thousands of soldiers waste months on a small stronghold and a Yang Guang. Zhong Xiang's rebels have established a total of forty such lakeside strongholds! Not only that, but for the lake west strongholds, he has been in talks for over a month, but because of Yang Guang's constant betrayals, not a single stronghold has surrendered. Instead, they constantly demand money and goods! According to private rumors among the strongholds in the west of the lake, if those chiefs hadn't been defeated by Yue Fei of Hubei before, they would almost think of this dignified commander and national marshal as a fool!"

Zhang De Yuan was already too weak to respond.

"Not only that, in recent days, although the rebels led by Zhong Xiang and Yang Yao have lost all their territory in Hubei, they have taken the opportunity to expand greatly on the land in Hunan," Xi Yi continued calmly beside him, before Zhang Jun could respond. "Zhong Xiang calls himself the Grand Holy Grandpa and has resumed the title of King of Chu. His son is called the Crown Prince, and Yang Yao is called the Marshal and advocates for wealth equality, eliminating officials. Wherever they go, they kill officials, kill clerks, kill scholars, kill monks, and kill Taoists, then divide their land and exempt the local population from land taxes and grain levies. It is truly demagoguery..."

"They rebelled because of the increased taxes in the past," Zhang Jun was already weak. "It is normal for them to take such measures, and it is impossible for them to really have no taxes, or where would the troops and money come from?"

"That is certainly the case," Xi Yi said, still unhurried. "But how would the common people know that? They only know that there are no taxes in Hunan and that land is being distributed, while in Hubei, they have to sell their pots and pans to supply tens of thousands of troops and provide labor... Before, during the winter, we could turn a blind eye to some things, but now, during the recent spring planting season, some things have become apparent, and the local officials have no choice but to complain."

Zhang Jun remained silent. Although he lacked experience as a local official, he knew that spring planting and agricultural production were the biggest indicators of a local official's performance. Therefore, the wave of impeachments against Yue Fei by the local officials of the three circuits after the New Year was entirely understandable - they wanted the central government to acknowledge that the large-scale disruption of spring planting was caused by Yue Fei's reckless actions, not their own negligence.

But ultimately, it was indeed Yue Fei's fault. He held tens of thousands of troops and simply 'played with the enemy,' delaying the central government's national strategy and disrupting local spring production, while the senior local officials caught in the middle had to bear the pressure of the war situation and could not interfere with the Emperor's beloved general without going through the central government.

Therefore, whether from the perspective of officialdom logic or basic political and military responsibility, Yue Fei's impeachment and siege were not unwarranted.

"Grand Councilor," Xi Yi continued, pouring more cold water on Zhang Jun. "There is another important matter... The spring planting season has passed and cannot be recovered. According to experience, the spring floods will arrive as soon as the second month comes. At that time, the water level of Dongting Lake will rise, making it twice as difficult to launch a punitive expedition, and Zhong Yang's rebels will have greatly increased confidence. Even if we want to pacify them at that time, I am afraid it will be difficult."

Zhang Jun was completely speechless and could only nod in surrender: "I am fully aware of Yue Fei's various misdeeds. I will immediately go south to Huarong and demand that Yue Pengju give me a deadline for quelling the rebellion!"

Ma Shen and Xi Yi exchanged glances and sighed... This was their ultimate goal for this trip. Otherwise, what else could they do?

Thus, Zhang Jun, in his capacity as Grand Councilor, hurriedly arrived in Xiangyang. After only a brief conversation with the two local dignitaries in the city, he completely realized the awkwardness and difficulty of the situation. Without even staying overnight, he immediately left the city again and headed south. Ma Shen, as the Pacification Commissioner of Hubei, also went south, while Xi Yi, the Transport Commissioner of Jingxi Circuit, who had been organizing logistics in Xiangyang, did not need to continue following them.

It was this same Xi Yi, who, after seeing the other two off outside Xiangyang City, watched as they mounted their horses, preparing to rush south under the escort of the Imperial Bodyguard, couldn't help but sigh: "Grand Councilor, I have one last thing to say..."

Despite only meeting him once, Zhang Jun had formed a good impression of Xi Yi. He naturally nodded from horseback: "Commissioner Xi, please speak."

"The situation is still precarious. The Jin are still in Hebei, watching menacingly with their strong army. The Two Emperors are still in captivity to the north, and the pseudo-Qi is still lurking by our side," Xi Yi sighed from below. "Therefore, the Emperor treats his marshals and generals favorably and, in fact, separates the civil and military officials, personally controlling the marshals and generals from within. But many civil officials do not realize this. They believe that after the Battle of Yaoshan, the world is tending towards stability and that we should restore the old ways. So, they often view the military men with the mindset from before the Jingkang Incident, intentionally or unintentionally trying to urge the court to take back the power of the various marshals... They do not know that His Majesty, in the palace, has a heroic and martial spirit and will not allow such things to happen. As Grand Councilor, you are positioned between the Emperor and his ministers, between the civil and military officials, and you will inevitably have to face this kind of thing. Please be sure to be prudent, fair, and impartial so that you can report to the Emperor above and appease the officials below."

Upon hearing these words, Ma Shen's expression changed drastically on horseback, while Zhang Jun, after some thought, dismounted immediately, took the reins of his horse, and bowed to Xi Yi.

Subsequently, Ma Shen also bowed slightly from his horse.

But that was all. With the military situation urgent, the two men finished their greetings and hurriedly reined their horses south. Arriving at Jiangling Prefecture, Ma Shen went into the city to handle official duties, while Zhang Jun had to continue south with the Imperial Bodyguard cavalry.

However, as soon as he entered the territory of Yuezhou, Zhang Jun began to panic. Spring thunder was rumbling incessantly, and spring rain suddenly began to fall. The so-called spring flood seemed to have arrived.

In fact, by the time Zhang De Yuan and the Imperial Bodyguard cavalry arrived at the Huarong camp, they were already in a state of utter disarray. Those who had never witnessed the power of the rain in the Yangtze River basin had completely experienced the saying "spring rain is as precious as oil." Their magnificent purple robes and armor were covered in mud, the warhorses had fallen and been injured, and everyone looked like a mud-covered chicken who had fallen into water. While the Bodyguard’s disarray was expected, no one expected them to fight, Grand Councilor Zhang, however, felt a chill in his heart because of this spring rain.

He didn't know what kind of promise Yue Fei could give him in this situation, and how he should face the Emperor, the central government's political rivals, and the local officials of Jingxiang?

"I have finished speaking."

In the Huarong camp, Zhang Jun, covered in mud, did not take a bath or eat. As soon as he arrived at the military camp, he directly sat in Yue Fei's position in the central military camp and repeated the situation in the capital and the words of Ma Shen and Xi Yi to Yue Fei and the generals of the Imperial Vanguard Army. "Is there anything untrue in what they said?"

"No," Yue Fei and all the officers in the camp bowed in response.

"Do you have anything to say in defense?" Zhang Jun asked again with a hint of expectation.

"No," Yue Fei thought for a moment and continued to bow in response.

"I do," Zhang De Yuan, covered in mud, suddenly changed his expression in public. "I don't know what you are thinking or what your plans are. But the world is not just about military affairs, and the people of the world are not just your subordinates and the rebels in front of you. There are also civil and military officials, the relationship between ruler and subject, and colleagues. As a marshal, you must not only fight, but also report to the Emperor and take care of your colleagues and superiors... Now that things have reached this point, even if you have great plans and see through the enemy's situation, you have already stirred up a hornet's nest! What is it worth that I alone risk the lives of over a hundred members of my family to guarantee your success? The Emperor's strategy of separating the civil and military officials to prepare for great use has been ruined by you. Ten Dongting Lakes cannot recover from this! Do you think this is still the chaotic world before the Battle of Yaoshan?!"

Even though Zhang Jun was young and his personality was unstable, he was still the Grand Councilor, the chief executive of the court, and theoretically the superior of all military officials. Therefore, when he became angry, all the officers of the Imperial Vanguard Army, from Wang Gui downwards, changed color in the drizzling rain.

Only Yue Fei remained silent with his head bowed.

"I will only ask you one thing now. How many days will it take you to quell Zhong Xiang and Yang Yao?!" Zhang Jun's temper gradually calmed down, but his true intentions were revealed. "I want a deadline, down to the exact day!"

Yue Fei was silent for a moment, then finally raised his head, revealing those distinctive eyes: "Please, Grand Councilor, rest here in Huarong and give this subordinate ten days."

Zhang Jun looked down at the mud on his body and laughed in anger: "Ten days?"

"Yes," Yue Fei narrowed his eyes, speaking firmly. "Within ten days, this subordinate will definitely pacify the forty strongholds of Dongting Lake, as well as the four prefectures and seven counties of Hunan and the west of the lake, giving an explanation to His Majesty, the chief executives of the central government, the Grand Councilor, the colleagues of the three circuits, and the people of the two lakes... This subordinate is not joking, nor was I deliberately playing with the enemy before. My original intention was to take advantage of the spring floods to secure Jingxiang."

Outside the central military camp, the sound of the rain became more intense, mixed with the rumbling of spring thunder.

Zhang Jun stared intently at the man in front of him, and after a long time, he laughed again coldly: "Yue Pengju, now that things have come to this, I don't bother to ask you the details... Perhaps you are simply boasting, a lucky Zhao Kuo; perhaps you are a true famous general like Han Xin or Wei Qing, whose talents have never been fully realized... But it doesn't matter. I am only thirty-four years old this year and can still ride a horse with the army. Within ten days, I will not say a word, but will only follow your central army's movements. Wherever you go, I will go! Four prefectures, seven counties, plus forty water strongholds. Let's see how you defeat the enemy!"

ps: Thank you to the Maybe Future Boss for the double cute! Thank you to Aytchzee for the cute! Thank you to sneakkk for the cute! This book has already reached 113 cute!