Chapter 1 The Beginning

During the New Year festival, a heavy snow fell just in time, truly a propitious snow promising a year of abundance.

But perhaps because it was the Emperor's initial return, the political atmosphere was still somewhat tense, and everyone was being cautious. The city of Dongjing was eerily quiet... In a nutshell, this was still a backward, feudal, monarchical era, and the Emperor was still the Emperor.

However, after the grand court assembly on the first day of the New Year, with the sudden appearance of a book entitled *Water Margin*, signed by Wu Yong, in the official gazette, replacing the original *Miscellaneous Records of Subduing Demons in the Western Journey*, a clear stirring began within the capital.

Everyone, from top to bottom, knew who was behind this new so-called 'novel,' but that only made it seem more absurd and bizarre. Because the book opened with the rags-to-riches story of Gao Qiu!

Good heavens, how many years had it been since Gao Qiu died? Although Gao Qiu's sons had been dealt a blow, they were all still alive, weren't they?

And then there was the blatant mention of Prince Duan. Did they need to explain who Prince Duan was?

The person involved was still around! And they were already adapting his story into a novel?

Fortunately, Prince Duan's transformation into the Daoist Emperor was just a fleeting mention. Immediately following was the story of Wang Jin, who, persecuted by Gao Qiu seizing an opportunity, fled with his old mother, encountering a Shi Dalang. Then Shi Dalang learned martial arts, befriended the three from Shaohua Mountain, and was also forced to run, which in turn introduced Lu the Intendant...

The story started off incredibly random, and within a single day, countless people were inquiring about who Wang Jin was. How did Shi Jin, Shi Dalang, sound so familiar? And who was this Lu the Intendant who came from the Zhong family?

In the end, it was Zhang Jun, Grand Commandant Zhang, still in the capital and having just left the New Year's grand court assembly, who spoke up, clearly telling several acquaintances who asked that there was absolutely no Lu the Intendant, or he would have found him long ago. Moreover, he was very certain that the Emperor had heard the story of this Lu the Intendant from someone at the Xiangguo Monastery long ago, and had even recounted it to Zhang Rong, Grand Commandant Zhang, with a source... As for Zhang Rong, Grand Commandant Zhang, who was on the Yellow River north of the capital, later having people read the gazette and verifying this claim, there was no need to mention it further.

Not only that, but in the following days, this *Water Margin* was updated extremely quickly and frequently, all focusing on this Lu the Intendant, from him killing the Guanxi Town bully with three punches, to becoming a monk on Mount Wutai, to causing a ruckus in Peach Blossom Village, burning down Tile Jar Temple, and finally arriving at the Xiangguo Monastery to uproot the weeping willow. It all flowed smoothly along the way.

The story was incredibly exciting. Quickly, after the New Year holiday, the storytellers in the reopened taverns directly incorporated the story of the Flowery Monk Lu Zhishen into their performances, and it was even said that related plays were also being adapted... This treatment and speed were enough to make countless code-writing dogs of later generations envious.

Returning to the main topic, these vulgar developments also conveniently relieved many people of their political burdens. By this point, many people truly believed that Emperor Zhao was simply bored during the New Year holiday and preparing to serialize a good hero story he had heard, with no other intentions. Even the few who felt that Emperor Zhao was doing something that violated the country's legal system, upon seeing the background involving the Supreme Daoist Emperor, fell silent.

But... next, as the New Year holiday ended and the popular character Lu Zhishen went offline, with Leopard Head Lin Chong officially appearing, the imperial court was gradually stunned.

First of all, everyone with any sense knew that Gao Qiu had three biological sons, but no such adopted son who was fond of women, so everyone also realized that Gao Qiu was just an introduction. Who told the Gao family's cook to throw a sheep's head and shout 'If Gouzi'? If not disgusted by you, then who? Moreover, Gao Qiu, as a close minister of the Supreme Daoist Emperor, while not among the Six Traitors, couldn't be said to be exempt from being included in a list of Seven or Eight Traitors.

No one cared about the reputation of this down-and-out household.

Secondly, Leopard Head Lin Chong and Chai Jin of Cangzhou, their backgrounds were written so clearly that a little inquiry revealed that they were clearly fictional characters like the Flowery Monk... And at this time, those with extensive knowledge and a good memory had already found some names from a common rebellion put down by Zhang Shuye, and roughly determined that Lin Chong and Chai Jin, like Shi Dalang, seemed to be leaders under the bandit Song Jiang... This further illustrated one thing, that the story was just a story, and Emperor Zhao had probably just seen the names on some memorial and used them randomly.

Furthermore, there was the appearance of Liangshan Marsh. From beginning to end, there was only one leader on the marsh, Zhang Rong, Grand Commandant Zhang. How could there be some White Clad Scholar, even taking a name, Wang Lun, the same as a friend of Li Bai?

It was nothing more than Emperor Zhao being familiar with only Liangshan Marsh as a jianghu stronghold, and using it casually. As long as Grand Commandant Zhang himself didn't care, no one else could say anything.

However, even knowing that the background was fictional, the content was made up by the Emperor, and the names were randomly plucked, as the plot of Lin Chong unfolded, watching a well-behaved, law-abiding military officer being forced step by step to the Mountain God Temple in the snow and onto Liangshan on a snowy night just because his wife was beautiful, everyone could no longer sit still.

Because anyone with a little literary knowledge could see what this Emperor meant. Wasn't it just officials forcing the people to rebel?! Officials forcing the people to rebel was one thing, but this Wu Yong behind the scenes was clearly the dignified Emperor! Could the Emperor also jump out and say that officials were forcing the people to rebel?

And he wrote the story so captivatingly? So full of twists and turns?

It made the common people think it was real, making it so that the Gao family couldn't even buy ginger sauce after the New Year!

And so, starting from the wave of Instructor Lin going to Liangshan on a snowy night, which was also the first ten days of the court resuming normal operations, strange memorials appeared:

First, the two Gao family brothers who still held official positions requested to resign and return to their hometowns;

Then, Minister of Justice Ma Shen submitted a memorial, saying that the gazette published unfounded stories, damaging people's reputations, but also proposed in another memorial that prisons should be appropriately cleaned up to reduce unjust cases, and finally submitted another memorial to plead guilty, confessing his misbehavior in the palace that day, etc... After all, he had been grilled for two months, and with this wave of officials forcing the people to rebel, he couldn't bear Emperor Zhao's little temper;

And as Yang Zhi sold his knife, someone impeached Yang Yizhong for abusing his power;

Even, immediately after Red Haired Ghost Liu Tang introduced Chao Gai, someone impeached Chao Gongwu, a direct attendant, saying that his family in Jizhou had a history of misconduct?

Poor Chao Gongwu, having only returned to the capital for two months, received the first impeachment of his life, and it was so inexplicable, it was simply a bolt from the blue.

Wouldn't it be better to impeach him for not reporting his knowledge of Zhang Jun's maritime trade activities?

Of course, at this time, Emperor Zhao also realized the problem. This kind of story of officials forcing the people to rebel was really not suitable for publication in the official gazette, because many ordinary people really didn't understand that it was a story... And so, he accepted Ma Shen's suggestion as if flowing with the current and immediately reprimanded Hu Quan, who was responsible for gazette affairs, and *Water Margin* was removed from the gazette from then on.

However, just when everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the citizens of Dongjing were shocked to discover that although *Water Margin* had been removed from the gazette, it had not stopped being serialized, but was instead printed in block form and distributed together on the back of the Dongjing city cuju league opening notice.

Everyone, of course, knew whose industry the Dongjing city cuju league was, so they naturally understood that this was a genuine version being distributed through pirated channels... That would have been fine! The key was that, seeing Liang Yangzu, Chancellor Liang's father, who had recently retired, becoming Cai Jing's son-in-law in a muddled way, and then sending Cai Jing, Chancellor Cai, a birthday gift of one hundred thousand strings of cash, which was then swiftly robbed, everyone in Dongjing who had anything to do with politics could no longer sit still.

Because by this point, everyone realized that the Emperor was indeed trying to express certain specific messages through this *Water Margin*! This *Water Margin* was indeed implying something!

But no one submitted memorials or personally reported to the Emperor, not because such actions would make them seem ignorant, but because since it was being implied in this way, it was probably something that was not appropriate to say publicly, otherwise why would Emperor Zhao use this method? Wouldn't a clear decree be better?

For a time, Chancellor Zhao first took advantage of his work to privately summon several ministers, vice ministers, and court administrators for several consecutive days during lunch breaks to inquire about work in related fields. Then, Grand Councilor Zhang finally couldn't hold back and hosted a banquet for a group of old friends and colleagues on his day off at the end of the month.

This was a proper banquet. It was said that because the Emperor had left the capital before, Grand Councilor Zhang and several other chief councilors had taken turns guarding the palace, so the full moon celebration for his eldest son had been delayed. Now, it was being made up... So, many people came, even Chancellor Zhao came in person, but left again in a grand manner after the afternoon's banquet.

Following him were over ninety percent of the guests, including the other two chief councilors, leaving only about a dozen people still remaining at the Grand Councilor's residence.

Of course, after Chancellor Zhao played such a move, it was already very good to have a dozen people left, especially since there were actually two ministers, Liu Ziyu and Lin Jingmo, a vice minister, Lu Zhi, and Qu Duan, the commander of the Imperial Guard cavalry, who had only just returned to the capital after the New Year to report for duty.

In reality, after a few casual conversations, the group separated again, and Grand Councilor Zhang and several high officials stepped into the inner hall, while the others, such as the newly promoted red figure, Attendant Mei, who had come with his uncle to broaden his horizons and pay respects, were the kind who couldn't make it to the table and could only stand guard outside with Xiahou Yuan, Qu Duan's personal guard commander, and Liu Zihui, Liu Ziyu's younger brother.

Fortunately, Xiahou Yuan was also half-civilian and half-military, a *tongnian* (same year graduate) who had accumulated military merits and passed the palace examination to become a fifth-rank *jinshi* (successful candidate), and Liu Zihui was even more learned in his family's tradition, so they were able to chat.

However, let's not talk about what was happening in the front hall for now, but only say that after the people in the back hall were seated, before the host Zhang Jun could speak, Commander Qu Duan couldn't help but sneer:

"Grand Councilor Zhang, the people are still the same as they were back then, but after only two or three years, you have to put on such airs, and even specially enter the inner hall to rank seats? If it reaches the Emperor's ears, will someone laugh at us?"

If it reached the Emperor's ears, who would laugh at them?

The two ministers and one vice minister all looked at Commander Qu, and Zhang Jun didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "If that's the case, why did Commissioner Qu still come in?"

"Because the Emperor will only laugh at putting on airs, but won't kill me for it." Qu Duan replied with his head held high. "But being a subject and not being able to share the Emperor's worries is a great disaster! Otherwise, what does Grand Councilor Zhang think I'm here for? Am I here to snatch a chair?"

Everyone was stunned, and then had different thoughts:

Zhang Jun and Liu Ziyu both smiled, Lu Zhi remained expressionless but sneered in his heart - Commander Qu was known in the court for his sharp tongue, but wasn't he here today to break through the sky because he had supported Wan Qixie's reassignment in the court, and couldn't continue to be the reliable lonely minister of the past, so he had come to pay respects to the powerful? But he didn't expect this fellow to be so thick-skinned that he could say it himself on the spot, first avoiding embarrassment, which could be considered a feat.

But Minister Lin Jingmo carefully looked at Commander Qu again, and then sat down again.

"Commissioner Qu, you're better off in the army." Zhang Jun came back to his senses and smiled bitterly again. "From the point of view of sharing the Emperor's worries, we are more difficult..."

"How is it better?" Qu Duan continued to reply with his head held high. "I haven't been to the capital for a long time, and when I encounter this kind of thing, I have to figure it out, right? How about this, all of you superiors just take me as if I only brought a pair of ears... You speak, and I'll listen... Let's not waste time."

"Ahem!"

Zhang Jun coughed upon hearing this, and indeed felt that there was no need to put on airs, so he went straight to the point. "Have you all read *Water Margin*?"

"I have!"

Commander Qu, who had only brought a pair of ears, quickly took out a bound collection from his arms, then spread it on his lap, flipping through it as he spoke. "Before Chancellor Liang's father gave gifts to Cai Jing, the old fox, he was reading handwritten copies on the road. The latest is that Leopard Head Lin Chong clashed with White Clad Scholar Wang Lun, which was read from the cuju match list... All of you superiors, what do you say, is there any implication in this clashing, or what?"

Zhang Jun was stunned again, and then seriously asked: "What is Commissioner Qu's opinion?"

"I heard many rumors when I came from Guanxi, saying that after the pacification of Western Xia, the two Saints (referring to the retired Emperors) and some birds in Nanyang and Yangzhou were restless, and then some Daoist scholars bullied the Emperor in the court, forcing the Emperor to leave the capital and flee to the army... Grand Councilor Zhang, is this because you people are incompetent in guarding the home, so that treacherous ministers have risen in the court, or is there simply a Leopard Head Lin Chong hidden by the Emperor's side, thinking about clashing day and night, forcing the Emperor to speak like this?" Qu Duan pressed down on the copy and seriously asked. "Couldn't it be that Yang Yizhong or Liu Yan was bought and bewitched by the two Saints?"

Everyone from Zhang Jun down was dumbfounded.

And after a moment, Zhang Deyuan finally became annoyed: "How can Commissioner Qu be so absurd? How could these two be bought by the two Saints? What would the two Saints use to buy these two?"

Liu Ziyu was also exasperated: "It's indeed absurd! Commander Qu, even if you were bought, Yang and Liu would not be bought!"

"What if it's absurd, aren't we all just guessing?" Qu Duan said indifferently. "Even if Yang Yizhong and Liu Yan are fine, the four words 'officials forcing the people to rebel' in this *Water Margin* are also what the Emperor has in mind, right? It can be seen that in the Emperor's eyes, the officials of the Supreme Daoist Emperor's time have absolutely nothing to do with him, the Jianyan Emperor! Even the Imperial Song before Jianyan is only nominally related, and doesn't concern him at all... The Emperor has always had the intention of abandoning the old Song and Shao Xing the new Song, and should have said it publicly and clearly, right? Is that also wrong?"

Zhang Deyuan and Liu Ziyu were speechless, and the others were also silent.

Because as Qu Duan said, although his words were a bit absurd, the meaning he pointed out was not far off... Since Emperor Zhao returned from the Huai River, possibly out of reflection on the Jingkang Disaster, he has always had a rebellious heart towards the ancestral family law.

And if it can be said that in the first few years, because of political inertia and obvious resistance, he could still cover it up a little, then in these years, as the military achievements of the Imperial Guard system have been laid out and the state's restoration has been revealed, the Emperor's military and political power has gradually been gathered, and there are no more extra scruples.

In fact, the increasingly serious differences between Emperor Zhao and those Daoist and Neo-Confucian officials ultimately led to the White Horse Shao Xing Change, which was almost a political coup... To a large extent, this was the reason, and it was probably more than just the original learning.

Even the Emperor's promotion of original learning itself should also have this factor of dividing the past.

"Commander Qu is right."

After a moment, Liu Ziyu, who had regained his composure, said in a deep voice in his seat. "The meaning of officials forcing the people to rebel is definitely there, but at this time, the Emperor's main thoughts are not necessarily on this. It must be known that since returning from the Huai River, the Emperor's mind has been on restoring the country and wiping out the past shame, and to put it bluntly, it is to destroy the Jurchens and recover the lost territory. And since the Jurchens retreated to the other side of the Yellow River after the Yao Mountain battle, the imperial court wants to eliminate the puppet Qi and then take advantage of the momentum to sweep across Guanxi, and there is also the trend of the Jinhe Bo Alliance. Under such a big picture, there will only be one crucial matter in the future. That is..."

Speaking of this, Liu Ziyu paused slightly, not knowing if he remembered the grievances between Ma Kuo and his father and sons, his face tightened slightly, and then continued, his tone becoming shorter and more severe: "That is to accumulate soldiers, horses, and provisions in preparation for the Northern Expedition! And our discussion should start from here!"

"Minister Liu is absolutely right." Lu Zhi, the vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel, who was prepared for this, echoed upon seeing this. "And I have gained something here..."

Zhang Jun immediately turned his head to look at Lu Zhi upon hearing this: "What Anlao (Lu Zhi's courtesy name) says must be golden words! The strategy for pacifying the Jin that he presented earlier coincided with Commissioner Yue's, and the country's current strategy is precisely following the steps outlined by the two, which can be described as a great strategy in the chest!"

Lu Zhi smiled triumphantly and did not decline Zhang Jun's praise, but directly stroked his beard and said: "I believe that everything should be viewed from a high place. For example, in *Water Margin*, there is no point in getting entangled in Lu Zhishen or Lin Chong. According to the book's thread, more characters may appear next... The key lies in the gathering of heroes!"

"Gathering?" Zhang Jun's heart stirred slightly.

"It seems that the Grand Councilor has gained something." Lu Zhi continued with a smile upon seeing this. "Speaking of the Emperor's experience with gathering, it is nothing more than the ten commanders privately forming an alliance, which led the Emperor to have a grand gathering at Heyin that day. Therefore, for the Emperor, this gathering should refer to the formation of the Imperial Guard. And this matter is also in line with the current situation... If you want to launch a Northern Expedition, you must accumulate soldiers and horses and improve combat power. Therefore, the first thing to do is to expand the Imperial Guard!"

Everyone became serious.

"And if you want to expand the army rapidly, there are several things that make it difficult for the Emperor to speak... One is that expanding the army will ultimately be somewhat costly to the people and strain the finances; the other is that if you want to quickly form combat power, you will inevitably have to recruit old soldiers from the Tanguts, exiled Khitans, and even small Mongolian tribes, which will definitely cause discussion." As he spoke, Lu Zhi himself became serious. "Therefore, some words and some things must be said by us, the ministers... Grand Councilor, what I mean is that the Privy Council must stand up and take the initiative to come up with a plan to expand the army, and the matters of the barbarians must also be sorted out in advance, and we must also block the pedantic views of those who measure things from a long-term perspective for the Emperor."

"There is some truth in what Vice Minister Lu said!" After listening, Qu Duan was the first to shake his head and sigh. "When I expanded the army in the Yinshan and Xingling areas, I also knew that there were constant impeachments from the court, all saying that there were too many barbarian soldiers in the Imperial Guard cavalry, and that the cavalry was stationed near the capital at the Yuetai camp, which would inevitably cause trouble in the future... But to tell the truth, when it comes to cavalry, if you pull out a barbarian and a Han Chinese, it is definitely more convenient for a barbarian who has been accustomed to riding and shooting since childhood to quickly form combat power... How can you ask me to choose?"

Zhang Jun nodded seriously, and Liu Ziyu also nodded.

But it was at this time that Minister Lin Jingmo, who had been silent, also spoke: "Does the Emperor have any implication of wanting to rob the rich and help the poor?"

The others were stunned at first, and then became solemn.

"The reasoning is simple."

Although everyone seemed to understand instantly, Minister Lin still spoke softly and explained slightly. "If the country wants to launch a Northern Expedition, the Northern Expedition requires expanding the army, refining military equipment, drilling soldiers, and storing provisions and wealth... All of these ultimately require spending money and materials. But the country's finances are where they are now, and if you want to do things, I'm afraid you still have to work hard to open up some new sources of income to keep up, and if you want to open up new sources of income, the people have already reached their limit. According to the Emperor's temperament, he will never squeeze the bottom people at this time, so he can only seek money and food from the rich and wealthy... So, is that what the Emperor means?"

The hall was silent.

After a long time, it was Qu Duan who sneered: "I think what Minister Lin said is smarter... Isn't it robbing the rich and helping the poor? Moreover, if you really want to talk about the Emperor's unspoken intentions, robbing the rich and helping the poor is more in line with the path."

"In fact, what Commander Qu said earlier is also very reasonable." Lin Jingmo replied solemnly. "If you want to launch a Northern Expedition, it is not only a matter of expanding combat power and accumulating provisions, but also of making the inside and outside one body, and the top and bottom one heart... At this time, it is necessary to abandon the old and establish the new, and even make some arrangements for the two Saints and the emperors of Nanyang and the empress dowager of Yangzhou when necessary."

From Zhang Jun down, Qu Duan, Lu Zhi, almost all nodded solemnly together... Liu Ziyu hesitated for a moment, and also nodded heavily.

"But speaking like this, are we thinking too much?" After barely nodding, Liu Ziyu suddenly raised his eyebrows. "It's just a story, after all, it's just a good story. Even if the Emperor has some thoughts in it, why would he imply so many things? In fact, some people say that the Emperor's temperament is still a bit jumpy, he just wanted to write a story about going to Liangshan on a snowy night to mock Minister Ma and vent his anger, and he has no other intentions?"

"I've also thought about it." Qu Duan also smiled while holding the story on his lap. "The Emperor may not even know what *Water Margin* is about, or what he really wants to talk about is still behind... We're all just guessing."

"Although that's the case, the things we talked about today are all serious matters that should be paid attention to." Zhang Jun shook his head. "The abandoning the old and establishing the new behind the officials forcing the people to rebel, the expanding the army behind the gathering of heroes, and the opening up sources of wealth behind robbing the rich and helping the poor, are themselves the urgent tasks of the country... As important ministers of the country, we can't not do them because the book may or may not have that meaning! We must share the Emperor's worries and accomplish great things!"

Lin Jingmo's heart stirred again, and finally, after the others nodded, he said: "In fact, on the way to the Grand Councilor's residence today, because of a question from that nephew in the front hall, I have had an idea in my mind."

The other four all looked over.

And Minister Lin was not flustered, but calmly said: "The matter is simple. My nephew asked me, saying that as a minister of a department, a top minister in the world, I could properly establish myself, how could I want to be suspected of forming a faction and come here to meet with the Grand Councilor and others? I answered at the time that since the Emperor has such obvious implications, it is precisely for us to put down these superficial decencies and suspicions, and find out what he means. Therefore, at this time, there is no need to worry about the suspicion of forming a faction."

The people in the seat were all moved, and Lin Jingmo also continued to speak frankly: "At that time, I had an idea, and after Commander Qu entered and said those words, I was even more moved. By the time we discussed this matter, I had a direct guess... That is, the Emperor's original intention may not be aimed at a specific matter, but more to use the sensitivity of the *Water Margin* background to make all of us, the courtiers who were promoted by the Emperor, become alert, all move, and pool our wisdom and efforts for the country's Northern Expedition strategy, instead of doing those messy and pretentious postures before!"

Speaking to this point, the important ministers present had long been convinced, and Minister Lin also looked around and said in the end: "The *Water Margin* itself may or may not have specific allusions, but once this book is thrown out, the court, which had been stiff for a long time and had made many inappropriate things, has directly rolled up, reborn with vigor, which itself is already very worthwhile!"