Chapter Thirty-Nine: Mending the Sheepfold After Losing the Sheep

It is often said that your greatest enemy is the one who knows you best, and the relationship between Zhao Guangyi and Zhao Pu serves as a textbook example of this truth.

Having dealt with Zhao Pu for so many years, Zhao Guangyi could practically predict his every move; the moment Zhao Pu lifted his tail, Zhao Guangyi knew exactly what he was about to deposit. Thus, when Zhao Pu recommended that he lead the Northern Expedition against Northern Han, Zhao Guangyi immediately realized that Zhao Pu had malicious intent. He instantly deduced that this was a calculated move to pull the rug out from under him.

Under the current circumstances, Zhao Guangyi absolutely could not leave Bianliang. He could not afford to relinquish the real power he held as the Magistrate of Kaifeng. If he did, Zhao Pu would certainly seize the opportunity to stir up trouble. Furthermore, Zhao Dezhao, who had recently emerged as a formidable rival, might take advantage of the power vacuum to infiltrate the Kaifeng government, plant his own partisans, or even maneuver to replace Zhao Guangyi entirely—a plausible scenario, given the tradition during the Five Dynasties period where the capital’s local official was typically the heir apparent.

Precisely because of this, the moment Zhao Pu finished speaking, Zhao Guangyi smiled and replied, "Minister Zhao, you jest. I have never experienced the rigors of the battlefield; how could I possibly shoulder the heavy responsibility of commanding the Northern Expedition against Jinyang and defending against the Khitan?"

Zhao Guangyi soon realized that his nephew was just as cunning as he was. Without so much as batting an eyelash, Zhao Dezhao picked up the conversation and said respectfully, "Uncle, you are the one jesting. Since ancient times, who was born knowing how to fight? The primary duty of a commander-in-chief is to reward and punish fairly, appoint the virtuous, and inspire the troops. These are your strengths, Uncle, and so I am also willing to recommend that you lead the northern campaign in person."

Seeing Zhao Dezhao catch on so quickly, Zhao Pu was secretly delighted and hurriedly added, "His Highness is absolutely right. Our Great Song does not lack fierce and skilled generals; what we lack is a commander-in-chief with sufficient status, prestige, and seniority to lead the army and inspire the men. These are precisely the strengths of the Second Prince."

Having said this, Zhao Pu shot a glance at his close ally, Wang Pu. Wang Pu, who had defected to Zhao Pu’s faction following the "Chenqiao Dressing Room" incident, did not dare delay and chimed in, "Your Majesty, I also believe the Second Prince is capable of this duty. Having assisted you in Bianliang for so many years, it is time for the Second Prince to gain experience in the military and share some of your burdens regarding military affairs."

Surprisingly, Zhao Kuangyin found himself somewhat moved by these words. He mused inwardly, "Should I give Guangyi this opportunity to gain experience? Our Great Song is surrounded by enemies—the Khitan Liao Dynasty in the north watches like a tiger, while the likes of Li Yu, Liu Chang, and Qian Chu in the south remain defiant. We could be fighting on two fronts at any moment. If Guangyi can achieve something in the military, he could truly be a great help to me."

With this thought in mind, Zhao Kuangyin asked directly, "Guangyi, what do you think? Would you like to gain some experience on the battlefield and strive to share my burdens in military affairs in the future?"

Zhao Guangyi’s reaction was a profound disappointment to Zhao Kuangyin. Without a moment’s hesitation, Zhao Guangyi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. It is not that I am unwilling to share your burdens, but I truly know nothing of military affairs. To take on such a heavy responsibility rashly would only risk the important affairs of the court."

With that, Zhao Guangyi shifted the focus, adopting the stance of recommending the virtuous without avoiding his own kin. "Your Majesty, perhaps we should let my nephew, Dezhao, try? His tactical suggestion of besieging a city to strike reinforcements, as well as his strategy for gradually weakening Northern Han and the Khitan Liao, drew your praise just moments ago. This proves that Dezhao has a natural talent for military affairs, and thus, I believe he is the one who should gain more experience in that field."

The light in Zhao Kuangyin’s eyes dimmed slightly. He forced a smile and said, "Nonsense. Dezhao is only seventeen. If I were to make him commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition, which general would submit to him?"

"You misunderstand, Your Majesty," Zhao Guangyi said, continuing to divert the fire with a reasoned tone. "I am not suggesting Dezhao be made commander-in-chief. I am merely proposing that he be sent to the army to gain experience, perhaps as an army overseer. This would allow him to help you urge the troops to fight bravely while gaining practical military experience for future service."

Zhao Dezhao, sensing the shift, grew anxious and interjected, "Father, it is not that I am unwilling to share your burdens, but as you know, the paper currency I have been testing for the court has just been issued. There are many matters that require my attention, and I truly cannot get away. I hope you will understand my difficulties."

The light in Zhao Kuangyin’s eyes dimmed further, but he still managed a forced smile. "Of course, I understand your difficulties. There is no need for you two to keep deferring to each other. As for who will lead the campaign against Northern Han and resist the Khitan, I will consider it carefully. You two just need to ensure the supply of provisions and military needs. We shall end here for today."

All of them were as shrewd as monkeys. Sensing that Zhao Kuangyin was in a foul mood, Zhao Guangyi, Zhao Pu, and the others dared not linger. They quickly paid their respects and withdrew. Zhao Dezhao, who was also adept at reading the room, did the same. However, just as he was about to exit the Wende Hall, he noticed Zhao Kuangyin slumped on the dragon throne, motionless, with a complex expression on his face.

After leaving the palace, Zhao Dezhao returned directly to the De-Ji Bank, which he controlled. Fortunately, despite his long absence, the bank’s operations had quickly returned to normal. Not only were many officials looking to curry favor by depositing money, but ordinary merchants were also starting to visit to take out loans, make deposits, and exchange paper currency for trade.

Because of this, it was not until nightfall that Zhao Dezhao, Liang Zhouhan, He Huaipu, and the others finally sat down to rest and hold a celebratory dinner. Only then did Liang Zhouhan and the others ask about the meeting with Zhao Kuangyin.

He Huaipu and Huyan Zan, both short-tempered, asked impatiently, "Your Highness, what happened later? Did His Majesty decide to let you join this Northern Expedition?"

Zhao Dezhao shook his head decisively and smiled. "My second uncle did recommend me, wanting me to go north as an army overseer or something, but I didn't agree. I declined immediately."

"Why didn't you agree?" He Huaipu pressed. "Northern Han is weak; victory should be easy. Even if we can't take Jinyang, the Song army is unlikely to suffer any losses. Why turn down such a sure-win opportunity?"

"Uncle, can I get away?" Zhao Dezhao lamented. "The bank has just opened, and the currency has just been issued. With countless matters to attend to, how could I dare leave the capital?"

Upon reflection, He Huaipu realized the logic and fell silent. Zhao Dezhao added with a smile, "In this matter, Minister Zhao set a trap for my second uncle, intentionally recommending him as the commander-in-chief to get him out of the capital and weaken his control over Kaifeng. I saw through his goal immediately, so I intentionally played along and recommended my second uncle to Father as well."

"The Second Prince would surely not fall for that," Song Qi sneered. "His roots are in the Kaifeng government. If he dares to leave the capital, Minister Zhao will pull them up immediately!"

"Master Shubao is right. A man as shrewd as my second uncle would never fall for such a trick," Zhao Dezhao said with a smile. "Seeing my uncle and me desperately pushing the responsibility onto each other, Father finally ran out of options and told us both to go home and rest while he considered other candidates."

To Zhao Dezhao’s surprise, no sooner had he finished speaking than the new top scholar, An Shouliang, who had been listening quietly, suddenly asked, "Your Highness, may I be so bold as to ask: what was His Majesty’s reaction at the time?"

Zhao Dezhao was caught off guard by the question but replied honestly, "He was a bit unhappy. Although Father didn't say much, I could tell he was displeased."

"As I expected," An Shouliang nodded and said quite frankly, "Your Highness, forgive my lack of respect, but I feel that in this matter, you failed in your filial duty and hurt His Majesty’s heart."

The words struck home. Only after hearing An Shouliang’s comment did Zhao Dezhao’s heart sink. *Indeed,* he thought, *My uncle and I were so focused on fighting for power and plotting against each other that I completely forgot to consider Zhao Kuangyin’s feelings. At a critical moment, neither his own brother nor his own son was willing to step up and share his burdens. How could he not feel hurt?*

An Shouliang, also skilled in observation, saw the remorse on Zhao Dezhao’s face and continued, "His Majesty is busy with state affairs and handles a thousand tasks a day. He surely hoped someone would step forward to share his burden. Even if that person couldn't do much, the mere fact that they had the heart to try would bring His Majesty great comfort! Therefore, I believe that the mutual evasion between you and the Second Prince today was not a wise strategy—it was a grave mistake."

Zhao Dezhao was a man who could listen to harsh truths. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded and said, "Shouliang is right. I was too foolish today, thinking only of my own interests and neglecting Father’s feelings, wounding his heart."

The room fell silent. After a long while, He Huaipu forced a smile and said, "Dezhao, don’t blame yourself too much. You had no choice; your bank just opened, and there are countless things to do. You really couldn't get away, so your father must understand."

"General He, forgive my bluntness, but that is not correct," An Shouliang insisted. "No matter how important the bank is, can it be more important than the affairs of the state? Moreover, given your status, Your Highness cannot openly manage the bank’s operations while staying in the capital. Since that is the case, why not simply become a hands-off manager, entrust the bank to others, and prioritize the affairs of the nation?"

He Huaipu had no retort. Zhao Dezhao, feeling even more regretful, asked, "Shouliang, in your opinion, how should I make up for today’s blunder?"

"Better late than never," An Shouliang said calmly. "I believe you should go to the palace tomorrow, express your desire to prioritize state affairs, and volunteer to join the army, asking His Majesty to allow you to share his military burdens."

"But what if His Majesty actually agrees?" Song Qi asked, worried. "Your Highness has only just risen in the court; your footing is not yet stable. Can you afford to be away from the capital for a long time at this moment?"

"But Shubao, if His Highness continues to stay in the capital, is it really all gain and no harm?" Liang Zhouhan finally spoke up. "Since March, you have risen rapidly in Kaifeng and impressed everyone many times. But can this situation be sustained? Have you not noticed that if you do not find a new path, you will likely face a period of stagnation?"

Liang Zhouhan’s reminder had its effect. Upon calm reflection, Zhao Dezhao realized that if he continued on this path, he would indeed face the danger of hitting a plateau.

The reason was simple: in his position as an Inspecting Censor, it was becoming increasingly difficult to achieve anything truly astonishing. Even if he uncovered cases like the one involving old man Peng or Wang Zhao’s corruption, he would merely be repeating himself, with little chance of drawing the same level of attention. Breaking through the bottleneck would be extremely difficult.

More importantly, his greatest rival, Zhao Guangyi, had learned his lesson. Ever since the case of Wang Zhifa stealing and selling sugar, Zhao Guangyi had adopted a strategy of immediate retreat at the first sign of trouble. Later, regarding the maintenance of order at the bank, Zhao Guangyi, already spooked, had stayed far away. Thus, if they continued to struggle like this, no matter how many schemes Zhao Dezhao had, it would be hard to achieve his goals as easily as before.

Considering these points, Zhao Dezhao hesitated no longer. He stood up and said, "Thank you all for your counsel. You are right. As a son, the greatest filial duty I can fulfill is to do my utmost to share my father’s burdens! I will go to the palace immediately to volunteer and beg Father to allow me to join the northern campaign!"

"Your Highness, it is late. The palace gates are closed. Let’s wait until tomorrow."

Liang Zhouhan tried to dissuade him, and Song Qi added kindly, "Your Highness, there is no need for such haste. Looking at the weather, it might start raining soon. Wait until tomorrow to volunteer before His Majesty."

"No!" Zhao Dezhao refused decisively. "Better late than never, but the sooner, the better! The more urgent I am to admit my faults and volunteer, the more my sincerity will be shown!"

With that, Zhao Dezhao headed out. Liang Zhouhan and the others had no choice but to give up. He Huaipu and Huyan Zan, however, did not stand on ceremony and shouted, "Your Highness, if His Majesty agrees to let you participate in the Northern Expedition, remember to bring us along!"

Zhao Dezhao agreed without looking back, boarded his carriage, and headed straight for the Imperial City. As Song Qi had feared, halfway there, a torrential rain began to fall. The carriage driver, Ma Laifu, noticed the situation and said, "Your Highness, the rain is too heavy. Shall we find a place to take shelter?"

"No, keep going!" Zhao Dezhao refused, insisting on continuing to the palace. He added to himself, *The heavier the rain, the better, don't you understand?*

Thus, through the pouring rain, Zhao Dezhao insisted on arriving at the Xuande Gate to request entry. Thanks to his status, and seeing him arrive in the dead of night through the wind and rain, the palace guards dared not delay and quickly sent the message to the inner palace.

Zhao Kuangyin had clearly already retired, so Zhao Dezhao waited in the wind and rain for over half an hour before finally receiving the imperial summons. When he arrived at Zhao Kuangyin’s sleeping quarters, there was not a dry spot on him. Drenched from head to toe, he looked like a drowned rat.

Seeing his son in such a sorry state for the first time, Zhao Kuangyin asked without hesitation, "What happened? Why are you in such a state?"

"Father, I have come to confess my sins." Zhao Dezhao knelt and bowed, his tone utterly sincere. "I was too selfish today. I only considered my own interests and forgot my filial duties, let alone the principles of ruler and subject. I refused to join the northern campaign to share your burdens. My crime is unforgivable. Please, Father, punish me as you see fit."

"All this for such a small matter? Was it necessary to get into this state?" Zhao Kuangyin was torn between laughter and frustration.

"Father, this is no small matter!" Zhao Dezhao replied. "You are busy with state affairs, working day and night, racking your brains. As a son, my duty is to share your burdens, yet I have been unfilial. Today, I thought only of myself and hurt your heart. Upon reflection, I am filled with shame, and that is why I have entered the palace in the dead of night to beg for your forgiveness."

There is no father who does not appreciate a filial and sensible son. Seeing Zhao Dezhao repent to such an extent, the unhappiness in Zhao Kuangyin’s heart vanished. Moved, he hurried forward to help Zhao Dezhao up and said with a smile, "With this heart of yours, I am already satisfied. Be a good boy, go dry yourself off and put on some clean clothes. We can discuss the rest later."

*I hope someone is told to prepare ginger tea so I don't catch a cold,* Zhao Dezhao thought to himself, *and make sure there are pretty palace maids to help me change.*