Жан Чунь - Глава 10
"The western border already has Wang Shao in command, why send another member of the imperial family to assist? I truly don't understand the Emperor's reasoning for this decision. The borderlands are desolate and treacherous, hardly a place for a prince to linger. Moreover, Mu Zheng is eyeing us covetously, and could launch an attack at any moment. If Hao goes there and actually engages in battle, wouldn't his life be in danger?" Princess Shu, who always loved her brothers dearly, was most concerned about her younger brother's fate. Thinking of her worries, she wiped away tears with her sleeve and said, "Alas, the Emperor has always been considerate of Hao..."
Upon hearing this, the princess's husband, Wang Shen, coughed to signal her to stop. He then turned to Wang Pang and said, "Your Highness is deeply worried about Prince Qi. You feel that since the Emperor trusts Wang Shao so much, there is no need to send Prince Qi to assist him. If assistance is truly needed, there are capable generals and ministers available. Prince Qi lacks experience in leading troops and may not be the best choice. Please inform your father of this situation, and be sure to ask him to inform the Emperor and request that he rescind his order."
Wang Pang smiled but did not answer. Instead, he turned to Zhao Hao and asked calmly, "Does His Highness Prince Qi also wish for the Emperor to rescind his decree?"
"
Zhao Hao exchanged a glance with him, their understanding unspoken. He simply shook his head at the princess and her husband, saying clearly and firmly, "My sister and brother-in-law have gone to great lengths for me, but I am very willing to go to the western border to win over the Western barbarians and share His Majesty's burdens."
Zhao Hao knew that there was an unfathomable chasm between him and his emperor brother, a chasm he could not cross, because it was a distance drawn by his brother and deliberately maintained.
His elder brother had doted on and cared for him deeply when he was young. Sometimes he would reminisce about those carefree childhood days, when they would study together, ride horses and shoot arrows together, and even sneak into the imperial kitchen late at night to steal food instead of eating dinner. Sometimes they would even team up to fight with other princes of the same age. How loving and united they were then! They shared the same father and mother, their blood ties were the closest. Zhao Hao always believed that this was a warm relationship, destined from the moment of their birth, and that this kinship would never disappear until the day they died. This was something his mother often taught him: before realizing he was a prince of the royal family, the first thing he had to remember was that they were family, and they should live a peaceful and happy life together.
He wasn't quite sure when his brother's attitude towards him began to change, but he gradually realized that when his grandfather, Emperor Renzong, his father, Emperor Yingzong, Empress Dowager Cao, or his mother, Empress Dowager Gao, praised him, he could detect a hint of displeasure in his brother's eyes. This look became increasingly intense after his father ascended the throne. They began to drift apart.
At first, he didn't pay much attention to or analyze the reason for his brother's unhappiness. He thought that people are always a little unhappy when they hear others praising them, especially when their knowledge and talent are no less than the person being praised. Yes, he didn't think he was better than his brother. They received the same education and their grades were similar. If there was any difference, it was that he always remembered what his teachers taught him and understood the meaning behind it, while his brother was different. He would often think of the shortcomings of these sages' proverbs first and then argue with the teacher about them. Although he was often criticized, he always persisted. Hao didn't think this was a flaw. He even admired his brother's approach. He was intelligent and thoughtful. He wasn't satisfied with just learning existing knowledge but was more willing to use his imagination and explore new unknown territories. Moreover, as the eldest son, he had more right than any of his brothers to inherit their father's throne. One day, he would succeed their father as a wise ruler, which was only natural.
So he never knew that his older brother might be jealous of him. Until one day, his younger brother, Yun, who was not yet ten years old, ran up to him and said mysteriously, "Brother Hao, I know why Brother Xu doesn't like you."
Then, for the first time in his life, he heard the following words: "Brother Xu never listens to Grandmother, Father, and Mother, so they don't like him. They like you because you are filial and obedient. Father doesn't want to make Brother Xu the crown prince; he hopes you will study more now and learn the ways of governing the country, and then make you the crown prince. Brother Xu knows this, so he dislikes you."
"Don't talk nonsense!" he immediately rebuked. "Where did you hear that?"
He winked slyly and said, "I won't tell you!" Then he ran away in a flash.
He carefully recalled the attitudes his grandmother, father, and mother had always had towards him and his brother, and only then did he begin to understand that what Yun said was not simply a reason that the child had subjectively imagined. It was very likely that Yun had overheard these royal elders discussing the matter of establishing a crown prince.
No wonder they looked at him with much gentler eyes than they looked at his brother, and in some ways, it could even be said to be full of hope. No wonder the Emperor's health had always been poor, yet he had been reluctant to appoint an heir apparent.
Upon realizing this, Hao felt conflicted. The sudden realization that he had a chance to ascend the throne naturally brought him a surge of joy, but the thought of his brother's situation and feelings immediately overwhelmed his joy with deep worry.
He spent a short time pondering this question, and finally concluded that rather than deliberately vying for the throne and causing his brother to hate him and lead to fratricide, he should yield at every turn, allowing his brother to inherit the throne and realize his wish for a prosperous and powerful country. Besides, he didn't have much ambition for the throne to begin with; he was basically used to being content with the status quo and finding joy in simple things.
Their father's gaze often lingered on the two brothers. Emperor Yingzong, Zhao Shu, had never been a decisive person, and naturally hesitated on such a momentous matter as choosing an heir. Hao was gentle and conservative; if the throne were passed to him, he would surely govern cautiously, seeking the opinions of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager before making any decisions, carefully controlling the direction of the nation. Xu, on the other hand, was more like a fire; you never knew whether his next move would illuminate the entire world or burn down all the resources for survival.
In November of the third year of the Zhiping era, under the threat of his increasingly dire health condition, Emperor Yingzong was forced to make a final decision.
By then, he was ravaged by illness, reduced to skin and bones, barely clinging to life. Chancellor Han Qi reported, "Your Majesty is unwell and unable to attend court. This inevitably causes alarm and suspicion both within and outside the court. We urge Your Majesty to establish a Crown Prince as soon as possible to reassure the people and secure the state." Emperor Yingzong nodded in agreement. Han Qi immediately summoned the scholar Zhang Fangping and ordered him to draft an edict. Zhang Fangping entered and handed over paper and pen, requesting Emperor Yingzong to write the Crown Prince's name in his own hand. Emperor Yingzong reluctantly accepted and slowly wrote a few words with trembling hands. Han Qi took a look and saw "Establish the Great Prince as Crown Prince," understanding that it referred to the eldest prince, Zhao Xu. He himself favored the second prince, Zhao Hao, and felt quite disappointed. However, thinking that he might have misunderstood, he replied, "I wonder if it refers to Prince Ying, Xu. Please write it clearly in your own hand." Emperor Yingzong picked up the pen again and added the three characters "Prince Ying, Xu" beside it. Zhang Fangping immediately picked up his brush and drafted the edict, but left a blank space for the crown prince's name, presenting it to Emperor Yingzong for him to fill in again. Emperor Yingzong reluctantly agreed. Upon finishing, he threw down his brush, tears streaming down his face. He knew this was a gamble, the stakes being the fate of the nation. At that moment, the face of his beloved second son, Hao, flashed into his mind, causing him immense pain that nearly made him faint.
The following day, Han Qi and others presided over the ceremony to establish the Crown Prince, and a general amnesty was granted, with all people celebrating. Emperor Yingzong lay alone on his sickbed, listening to the long, resounding drumbeats, feeling that life was but a dream, and that there was nothing left to cherish. Suddenly, he felt someone approaching, and upon closer inspection, he saw it was the Second Prince, Zhao Hao. He personally brought over a bowl of medicine and gently invited his father to take it.
Hao was just eighteen years old at that time, but he had already grown into a handsome and imposing man with an extraordinary bearing. Every move he made exuded the demeanor of a royal king, yet his gaze was always so calm and peaceful, as if he had no desires or wants.
Emperor Yingzong was moved to tears upon seeing this, and holding Hao's hand, he asked, "Hao'er, don't you resent your father?"
Hao was taken aback, then asked, "Why should I resent my father?"
"I have appointed your elder brother as Crown Prince."
Hao smiled and said, "That's excellent. Father's decisions are always wise. Brother will certainly live up to your expectations and become a good emperor."
When Hao heard that his elder brother had been named crown prince, he was somewhat disappointed, but he quickly let it go. His personality determined his open and peaceful state of mind. He had always been a good child and a good younger brother, and he would not always worry about things that others said did not belong to him.
Emperor Yingzong remained silent, only holding Hao's hand in quiet contemplation, tears streaming down his face until he lost consciousness.
In fact, he was unable to speak from that day on, and finally died in the first month of the following year. He reigned for only four years and died at the young age of thirty-six.
In the fourth year of the Zhiping era, after Emperor Shenzong Zhao Xu ascended the throne, on the day of Wuchen in the first month, Hao, who was then titled Prince of Dongyang, was promoted to Prince of Chang, and Yun, Duke of Hu, was promoted to Prince of Le'an. Hao was well aware that his elder brother, Yingzong, was hesitant about choosing an heir and couldn't help but harbor resentment and be wary of him. Therefore, on the day of Bingchen in the third month, he requested the emperor to remove his titles and ranks, allowing him to observe long-term mourning for Yingzong. However, Hanlin Academician Zhang Fangping and others firmly opposed this, arguing that mourning should follow the established system, with mourning periods changing from days to months, from the emperor down to civil and military officials, and based on the precedents of previous dynasties. "Prince Chang should be treated the same as members of the imperial clan, and should not be treated differently based on personal favors." Therefore, Zhao Xu did not grant his brother's request. Instead, shortly afterward, he transferred Hao to the title of Prince of Qi, and Yun to the title of Prince of Gaomi. On the day of Renshen in the second month of the fourth year of the Xining era, Yun, Prince of Gaomi, was further promoted to Prince of Jia.
However, Hao could sense that his brother's bestowal of titles upon them was merely a show of favor to the two empress dowagers and the world, while the chasm between them could not be bridged by such favor. Sometimes Hao would try to bridge this chasm with his loyalty and obedience to his brother, but Zhao Xu was unmoved, as if Hao's efforts to bridge the chasm were solely for the purpose of reaching his throne and replacing him.
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Shooting Willow
Not every courtier could perceive the conflict between the emperor and Prince Qi. On the contrary, many believed that they were truly brothers with deep affection and unwavering love. If the emperor could not listen to the opinions of some ministers, he should be willing to accept the suggestions of his younger brother, who was born of the same mother. As a result, some old party ministers regarded Prince Qi as their spokesperson, and would ask him to convey any opinions against the reform to the emperor.
This situation resulted in Prince Qi, Hao, becoming a victim of Zhao Xu's venting of his dissatisfaction with the old faction ministers. Every time his younger brother mentioned the drawbacks of the reforms, Zhao Xu would fly into a rage. Once, in a fit of fury, he berated Hao, saying, "You didn't see it with your own eyes, how do you know things are really as they say? From a young age, you've only ever obeyed others without considering whether their words or actions are reasonable. You're good at learning but don't know how to think, which means you'll spend your whole life picking up scraps thrown at you, never understanding that you should actively seek out the best food and throw away the leftovers. You only know how to watch the sun rise today, grieving its inevitable temporary descent at dusk, never thinking that it will rise again in the east the next day, brighter than you've ever seen before." "The concept of truth doesn't exist in your heart at all. You equate truth with the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, or anyone they've made you trust. You believe them and every word they say without principle or reservation, willingly becoming their pawn. You even came to me to plead that the reforms infringed upon their interests, yet you fail to realize how pathetic your fate is, manipulated by them. Others say you are kind and benevolent, but a ruler needs qualities more important than kindness and benevolence, such as a clear mind, keen judgment, and foresight. Without these, a royal's kindness and benevolence are almost tantamount to stupidity. Therefore, the one sitting on the dragon throne today is me, not you!"
After listening, Hao remained silent for a long time, and before bowing and taking his leave, he only replied with one sentence: "The reason why I unconditionally trust the Empress Dowager is because she has watched the sunrise and sunset for many years. She knows whether tomorrow's sun will be brighter than today's. I have decades less experience than her, so I choose to trust her."
From then on, he became even more silent, rarely speaking to Zhao Xu about political affairs, and would not express his opinions unless asked by the emperor. Zhao Xu later asked him about his views on the reforms once or twice, but the results still displeased him, so he stopped asking altogether.
The reason why Hao recently displeased his elder brother, the emperor, was still related to the reform.
Two days ago, when he went to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Cao, he found her with a deep frown. He hurriedly asked her why, and the Empress Dowager handed him a secret letter from a local official in Shanxi, saying that the Baojia system was not being implemented smoothly in Shanxi, and that many poor people who could not bear the burden had fled to become outlaws, and even gathered together to shout slogans of rebellion.
Zhao Hao asked the Empress Dowager, "Is my brother aware of this situation?"
The Empress Dowager sneered, "He thinks I'm too long-winded, and hasn't come to pay his respects these past few days. I sent people to invite him, but he refused, making up all sorts of excuses."
Seeing his grandmother so worried, Hao felt sad. Moreover, he had heard before about the drawbacks of the Baojia system, which affected the normal lives of poor households. Now that it had led to calls for rebellion, it was a matter of great importance. Therefore, he decided to risk being scolded by his elder brother again and go to the emperor to remonstrate directly.
He waited for two hours in front of the emperor's sleeping quarters but was not allowed to enter. It wasn't until the afternoon that Zhao Xu came out wearing a tight-fitting outfit with narrow sleeves and upturned shoulders. He glanced at him and ordered, "Go change your clothes and come to the South Imperial Garden to see me." Then he mounted his horse and left.
The Southern Imperial Garden, located in the southeast of the inner city, was a royal garden for practicing archery and horsemanship. It was spacious and flat, with a circumference of twelve li (approximately 6.5 kilometers). Built in the early years of Emperor Renzong's reign, it was planted with various exotic flowers and rare herbs, and housed many rare birds and animals. It also featured lakes, islands, and verdant hills, with exquisitely designed pavilions and terraces, showcasing the grandeur of a royal garden. The archery range was approximately 500 zhang (approximately 150 meters) long and 300 zhang (approximately 150 meters) wide. Originally a place for Emperor Renzong to occasionally enjoy riding horses, it was later renovated and decorated by two successive emperors, with trees and grass added, transforming it into an archery range. At the top of the archery range stood ten targets, each 1.5 zhang (approximately 3.7 meters) high, with green bodies and red faces, each painted with a black profile tiger head, with the tiger's eye as the bullseye. On the third day of the first month of the year, Emperor Zhao Xu practiced archery here, inviting ambassadors from the Liao, Goryeo, Uyghur, Khotan, Yuege, Dali, Abbasid Caliphate, Srivijaya, Jiaozhi, and Western Xia kingdoms to observe. At that moment, amidst the resounding horns and drums of dozens of horns, he rode out in his sturdy armor, galloped to the firing point, calmly drew his bow, and released an arrow that struck the tiger's eye. The onlookers were filled with admiration and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" This display of power and prestige of the Song Dynasty emperor was a grand spectacle before the envoys of various countries, showcasing the might of a great nation that the envoys had previously scorned. For Zhao Xu, it was naturally an experience of immense pride and honor, which is why he liked to come here, reliving that glory to stimulate and maintain his ambition and determination to build a strong nation.
Zhao Hao, dressed in riding attire, arrived shortly after on his fiery red horse.