Chapter 73

In the imperial study, Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, smiled and waved his hand, saying, "General Chen, you may rise and be seated!"

A eunuch brought a brocade stool and placed it beside Chen Qing, who bowed and said, "Thank Your Majesty!"

He sat down, and Zhao Gou curiously asked with a smile, "General Chen, you are quite young! In which year were you born?"

Chen Qing, of course, could not say he was born in 1996. He was well-prepared and quickly replied, "I was born in the first year of the Daguan era."

"Which month?" Zhao Gou continued to ask with a smile.

"I was born in June."

Zhao Gou chuckled, "My dear minister, you are only one month younger than I am."

Chen Qing also laughed dryly, but the eunuchs nearby were quite surprised, as the emperor seemed to mention his birth date for the first time in front of a minister.

Zhao Gou then shifted the topic and said with a faint smile, "Actually, Chancellor Fan still does not understand military affairs. After the night raid failed, they immediately retreated, and the injured soldiers became lambs to the slaughter. The few who fought back were special cases and can be almost ignored. In fact, you could have brought the injured bandits back to the city for treatment, but you executed them all. I do not blame you, General Chen, but I want to know what you were thinking. You might as well speak the truth."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said, "If I tell Your Majesty a story, you might understand."

"Go on, I am listening."

"In Dachuan Village, Chun'an County, there were two clansmen, one named Jia Shude and the other named Jia Luer. When Fang La rebelled, Jia Shude joined the rebellion and became a leader, while Jia Luer's father refused to rebel and was killed by Fang La. His three sons were also killed, leaving only a teenage Jia Luer who escaped to the mountains and survived.

"After Fang La's rebellion was quelled, Jia Shude was released and soon became wealthy, buying hundreds of acres of good land and becoming a local gentry. Jia Luer's family was destroyed, and he became a tenant farmer for Jia Shude."

"Wasn't Jia Shude's wealth ill-gotten?" Zhao Gou interjected.

Chen Qing nodded, "He donated two hundred stones of grain to Zhang Kui and was arrested by me. During the interrogation, he admitted that he became wealthy by participating in Fang La's plunder of Hangzhou. He stole a lot of gold and silver, which he hid in a fish pond. After the war, he retrieved the gold and silver and became wealthy."

"Continue!"

"Your Majesty, the problem is here. When Zhang Kui returned to Muzhou, Jia Luer eagerly joined the bandits and became a leader under Zhang Kui. When I later interrogated Jia Luer, he told me that Jia Shude became wealthy as a bandit and faced no consequences, while he remained poor and destitute. He felt it was unfair. This is why I executed those bandits, to deter those who harbor侥幸 (侥幸 means '侥幸' in Chinese, which can be translated as '侥幸' in English, but in this context, it means '侥幸' or '侥幸'). I want to tell them that being a bandit will never end well."

Zhao Gou nodded slowly, "I understand your point."

"Your Majesty, I originally intended to tell Chancellor Fan that suppressing bandits requires both kindness and severity. While leniency and pacification are necessary, severe measures must also be taken to ensure that bandits pay a price. Even if they have not killed anyone, they must be punished for their choice to become bandits. This time, I released over a thousand bandits, but they must serve three years of unpaid labor for the government as the price for their crimes."

Zhao Gou smiled contentedly, "I will convey your message to Chancellor Fan!"

"Thank Your Majesty for your understanding!"

"I fully support your philosophy. Suppressing bandits requires both kindness and severity. Only by using severe measures can we show our compassion. However, I admire your achievements in the northwest even more. From now on, I will promote you to the position of Commander of the Western Army, Governor of Qin Prefecture, and grant you the rank of Zheng Shilang, with a reward of three thousand taels of silver!"

Chen Qing suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "I seized the Dingyuan Bow from Wanyan Lou, and I later learned it belonged to the Retired Emperor. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Xu Ning had told Chen Qing that the Dingyuan Bow was not a collection item of the Retired Emperor Zhao Ji but was used by him. Although he could not draw the bow, he always had a guard carry it for him during hunts.

This was a hidden danger, and Chen Qing had to resolve it.

Zhao Gou hesitated for a moment. According to tradition, the weapons of his father should not be given to a minister, but since his father's Zhanlu Sword had already been returned to him, a bow was not a big issue.

Zhao Gou smiled, "The Dingyuan Bow is now officially bestowed upon you by me, representing my father, as a reward for slaying Wanyan Lou. I hope you will use it to protect the Song Dynasty!"

"Thank Your Majesty, I will not let you down!"

......

After completing the promotion procedures at the Ministry of Personnel and the Military Council, Chen Qing returned to the camp in the afternoon.

Chen Qing stared at a piece of calligraphy on the table, a gift from Emperor Gaozong, which read, "Loyalty to the Emperor, Love for the Country, Recover the Lost Territory."

A bitter smile appeared on Chen Qing's lips. Perhaps the words "Loyalty to the Emperor" were what Zhao Gou truly meant!

The camp gate slammed open, and Huyan Tong and Zheng Ping rushed in like a gust of wind.

"Old Chen, you are really unfair. You killed Wanyan Lou and kept it a secret from me!"

Although he complained, the admiration in Huyan Tong's eyes made Chen Qing almost unable to bear it.

"Old Chen, I heard you got a promotion?"

Zheng Ping, with an excited look, asked, "Huyan said you became a commander. Is it true?"

"What's so exciting about that?"

Chen Qing smiled, "I was already a commander. For my achievements at Jianque Pass, the emperor promoted me to commander. Isn't that what I deserved? Besides, you will also get a promotion!"

"Exactly, it's what you deserved. So, are you going back now, no longer needing to study at the military academy?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "I must continue my studies. I can't always get promoted by breaking the rules! I lack the necessary experience, but with a degree from the military academy, future promotions will be more justified."

"Then aren't you going to Qin Prefecture?"

Chen Qing laughed, "Qin Prefecture is still under Jin control. The emperor has only drawn a pie in the sky. If you want to eat the pie, you have to make the dough yourself. Come on, let's go drinking. Invite Liu Qiong and Xiao Yi."

......

Chen Qing naturally invited them to the Tiger Mouth Tavern. He had just received three months' salary, so he was more financially comfortable. Soon, the Military Council's rewards would come, and he would receive another military merit reward, not to mention the silver reward from Emperor Gaozong.

It was indeed a great day. Not only did he thwart Fan Zongyin's impeachment in court, but he also gained the emperor's favor and a promotion to commander. Everyone was happy for Chen Qing.

Zhao Xiaoyi eagerly filled everyone's cups, and Chen Qing stood up, raising his cup with a smile, "Thank you all for your support. To our victory, let's drink to this!"

"To victory!"

Everyone raised their cups and drank. Liu Qiong then took the wine jug and refilled everyone's cups.

"Old Chen, any news from the Military Council?" Zheng Ping asked with a grin.

This was a concern for everyone, and four pairs of eyes looked at Chen Qing.

Chen Qing smiled, "After the court session today, I went to the Military Council. Li Zhishi said that the rewards for our bandit suppression will come in the next two days. I won't get a promotion, but each of you will be promoted one rank, and the rewards are substantial. All soldiers will receive a share, and the fallen will receive double compensation. The Military Council is being generous this time."

Everyone cheered, and Zhao Xiaoyi asked anxiously, "What rank will I get?"

"I saw the reward list in Nanzheng. Before the campaign, Zheng was a reserve commander with the rank of Deputy Eighth Rank. You are one rank lower, so you will be a squad leader with the rank of Ninth Rank. After the campaign, Zheng will be promoted to Deputy Seventh Rank, and you will be promoted to Eighth Rank."

Zhao Xiaoyi drank his cup in one go and said excitedly, "I never thought I would become an official!"

At this moment, Huyan Tong said resentfully, "What about Wang Bo? Should we deal with him?"

Chen Qing said calmly, "There's no need to deliberately target such a small person. When the opportunity comes, I will give him a lesson he will never forget. For now, Wang Huan will take care of him for us."

"Has Wang Huan been dismissed?"

Chen Qing nodded, "The Ministry of Personnel acted quickly and dismissed him this afternoon."

"Wang Bo is in for a rough time!" Huyan Tong couldn't help but laugh.

Chen Qing then asked Huyan Tong, "What does the rank of Zheng Shilang mean, and what is the position of Governor of Qin Prefecture?"

Before he finished speaking, someone at the door laughed, "I'll answer that for you!"

Everyone turned to see a middle-aged man, about forty years old, tall and fat, with particularly sharp eyes, walk in.

Huyan Tong was stunned and quickly stood up, "Uncle San, what are you doing here?"

"What kind of question is that? Don't I, your fat Uncle San, belong here?"

Huyan Tong quickly introduced Chen Qing and the others, "This is my third uncle, Huyan Zhengyan, who manages our family's business."

Chen Qing and the others hurriedly greeted him, and Huyan Tong introduced Chen Qing and the others to his uncle. Huyan Zhengyan smiled, "I know General Chen. The news of today's court session has spread throughout Lin'an. Chancellor Fan was thoroughly humiliated for the first time. General Chen, you are truly formidable!"

"Uncle San, you flatter me. Please sit down!"

Huyan Zhengyan, the third son of the Huyan family, held a nominal position as a military commander in Jianzhou. He was actually a businessman who had achieved great success in the business world. Although he was not in the government, he was well-informed about political matters.

Huyan Zhengyan sat down and smiled at Chen Qing, "Zheng Shilang is the highest rank of Langguan, just below the Seventh Rank Wu Yi Daifu. In fact, as a commander, you should be at the doctor level, but perhaps because you are still in the military academy, you have not been promoted further.

"Additionally, the position of Governor of Qin Prefecture, also known as the Qin Prefecture Governor, is essentially the governor of Qin Prefecture, with full military and political power. Of course, Qin Prefecture is currently under Jin control, so this position is currently nominal. When Qin Prefecture is recaptured, you can take up the post."

As he spoke, a tall, thin man poked his head in, "Mr. Huyan, please reconsider!"

Huyan Zhengyan firmly refused, "I told you, it's impossible. Find someone else to cooperate with!"