Volume 1: Zhu Xian Town Crisis Chapter 90: The Secret Meeting of Three Political Enemies (Part 1)

  "Who is the mastermind behind this? I must get him out!" Qin Hui paced back and forth in his own hall, extremely indignant.

  This "Zhongyuan Minzhong Qiu Yuantuan" is a complete mess, not only has it exposed his policy of surrender and appeasement to the whole world, but also brought resentment from the people of Lin'an towards him. Even his servants dare not say they are from the Qin household when they go out to buy things, otherwise the merchants will not sell them anything and they will be scolded.

  This also caused the people of Zhao Ding and Zhang Ju's two parties, who were oppressed by him, to regain their strength. They began to jump up and down in the court, strongly advocating that the imperial court should continue to pursue victory at this time, and could not withdraw halfway, let alone negotiate with the Jin people.

  Just as Qin Hui was getting annoyed, he heard a cold shout from outside the door: "What? A group of slaves have got you, sir, at your wit's end?"

  Qin Hui looked up and saw a middle-aged woman in her fifties walking into the study with quick steps. She was wearing a golden eight-treasure hairpin on her head, a gold hairpin inserted, a red gold necklace around her neck, a crimson satin dress embroidered with gold thread, and a five-color silk skirt underneath, dressed to the nines in a dazzling display of jewels and finery.

  The woman was rather plain in appearance, with high cheekbones and a number of wrinkles on her face. A pair of triangular small eyes sparkled with cunning light.

  Qin Hui saw the woman and felt a sense of relief in his heart. He sighed and said, "Alas, madam, I've been worried about the recent events in Lin'an City... I don't know who came up with this scheme, but it's really made me lose face. I've already sent someone to inform Hui'er to hurry back with Wei Liangchen and Xiao Yi, taking advantage of the current situation before things change. We should sign the treaty as soon as possible and make concessions where we can. If we delay, who knows what might happen!"

  This woman was Qin Hui's wife, Wang Shi. She and Qin Hui returned to the Southern Song from the Jin State together. Cunning and sinister, she often discussed important matters with Qin Hui.

  Wang listened and rolled her eyes, saying coldly: "Master, I think this matter is probably the work of that Yue Fei. I have already sent someone to secretly investigate, and these over 200 people are all merchants and scholars from the Henan area, mostly from Yingchang, Yancheng, and Zhuxiantown. And according to the investigation, they were organized by a young scholar named Wang Tong, with the famous painter Zhang Zeduan of the previous emperor's time serving as the leader, and this petitioning group is said to have set out from Zhuxiantown to Lin'an."

  "Zhu Xian Town?" Qin Hui also came back to his senses at this time. "Isn't that where Yue Fei is currently stationed?"

  "Yes! That's why I thought this must be secretly manipulated by Yue Fei, he must have received guidance from a superior person. Only then could such a big commotion be stirred up! To the extent that it was taken advantage of by both Zhang Jun and Zhao Ding's parties." Wang said with an expressionless face.

  Qin Hui nodded and said thoughtfully, "Could it be that our plan has leaked out and let Yue Fei know that we are going to deal with him, so he came to set up this array first?"

  Wang shook his head and said, "I don't think so. This matter has been conducted with such secrecy, and those who know about it are all trusted confidants of ours and the imperial court. If Yue Fei can find out about it, then wouldn't he already be in control of all our plans? He should have rebelled by now and marched on Lin'an."

  Qin Hui thought for a moment and couldn't help but chuckle, embracing Wang's slender waist: "After all, madam has seen through it clearly, I was just being overly cautious!"

  Wang's expression softened as he said, "Sir, I'm actually worried about the attitude of the Jin State at this point. This Yue Fei has refused to withdraw his troops, and it won't be easy to explain things to the Fourth Prince. After all, we did promise him that all the Song armies would retreat."

  Qin Hui listened and didn't think so, he twirled his chin whiskers and said: "Hui'er should be meeting with Xiao Yi and Wei Liangchen in Chuzhou now. I've already told him to inform Xiao Yi of the bottom line for negotiations, reminding him not to make excessive demands on the court of Lin'an, or else the talks will be difficult to proceed. Alas! The timing is also not right now, if we wait another year, let me remove the military power of Yue Fei, Zhang Jun and Han Shizhong, and expel Zhao Ding and Zhang Zhuo's party members from the court, what's to worry about the negotiations not succeeding?"

  Wang listened and flipped his eyes, saying: "Do you think the Fourth King didn't think of this? It's just that Yue Fei is near Bianjing and refuses to withdraw his troops. The Fourth King is worried that he will be attacked by him and shake the foundation of the Fourth King in the Jin Dynasty court. Giving the remnants of Wanyan Zongbi a chance to take advantage of it. So, they had no choice but to request immediate negotiations."

  Qin Hui's face was also filled with anger, and he coldly snorted: "This Yue Fei is really not taking the military orders of my Secretariat seriously. The imperial edict has been issued, the twelve golden plaques have been sent out, and yet he still dares to stay put and not withdraw. I'll give Tian Shizhong, the governor of Xiangyang, another secret order, and let him not transport a single grain of food up there. Let's see what his soldiers will eat? He can just squat in Zhuxiantown with an empty stomach and not move?"

  Just as Qin Hui finished writing the secret order and handed it over to his trusted aide to take to Xiangyang, he heard a report from the doorman outside: "Your Excellency, Wang Gonggong has arrived."

  Qin Hui's face showed a look of astonishment as soon as he heard this, the eunuch Wang was the most trusted leader of the imperial family, and it was rare for him to come over personally, so it must be something important that required a secret meeting with himself.

  Wang heard this and smiled slightly: "I'm afraid the officials are worried about the people's petition. They want to discuss it with Master."

  Qin Hui was taken aback, and exclaimed in surprise: "My lady, why do you seem pleased? This matter is extremely troublesome and difficult to handle. I'd rather avoid it if possible."

  Wang listened and gently pressed his finger on Qin Hui's forehead, smiling slyly: "Old master, you are really confused. The official summoning you is precisely to show that he still trusts you deeply and has not been swayed by the rumors in the city. If the official had summoned Zhao Ding or Zhang Jun at this moment, that would be truly worrying."

  Qin Hui thought for a moment and shook his head: "This matter is very difficult to handle, I can only follow the circumstances."

  After a pause, he ordered the servant outside the door in a loud voice: "Bring me my clothes and hat, I'm going to enter the palace to pay homage..."

  In the imperial study of Lin'an Palace, Zhao Gou sat upright on the dragon throne, his face filled with worry as he spoke to Qin Hui, Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun: "My three beloved officials, I have summoned you in the middle of the night, and it is not without necessity. Today, the leader of the 'Central Plains People's Petition Group', Zhang Zetian, was originally a famous painter by the side of the previous emperor. He handed me a petition at the palace gate, which I have read through. The main content is that they request the withdrawal of the imperial army and allow them to pack up their belongings before returning south to the Song Dynasty. I have promised to give them an answer within three days. However, this matter is extremely thorny. Just looking at the number of civilians returning south, according to the petition, there are already over 200,000 people, and it's still increasing. How do you think we should respond?"

  Qin Hui looked at Zhao Gou, who was more than ten years younger than him, and couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Since he took office as prime minister again two years ago, the imperial court had almost never summoned Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun alone. This time, he originally thought that only he would be summoned, but unexpectedly, the imperial court also summoned Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun, with whom he had been fighting for seven or eight years, to come together. It was surprising that the imperial court could think of letting three political enemies gather together to discuss matters.

  Zhang Jun and Qin Hui were of similar age, he had also been a prime minister, it was less than three years since he left the position, there were still many officials in the court who were his disciples and former subordinates, only recently under Qin Hui's suppression, the situation was becoming increasingly difficult, he now held a high-ranking position but with no real power as the Minister of the Board of War, perhaps one day he would be demoted to a remote place as an idle official. This time, however, the "mass petition event" gave him hope for a turnaround.

  He immediately bowed and said: "We as officials should dispel worries and difficulties for the imperial court, it is our duty to do our best. In my humble opinion, these people from the Central Plains have their own grievances, and they are loyal to the Great Song. If we refuse them, I fear it will chill the hearts of the people. Why not let them return to the Great Song?"

  As soon as Zhang Jun's words fell, Qin Hui sneered coldly on the side: "Mr. Zhang said it lightly, let them come back? I also want to let them come back, after all, I am also a southerner. However, the current court is financially strained, and the soldiers who have been withdrawn from various routes have not yet been rewarded, and there are still more than 100,000 refugees in the recovered Jianghuai area waiting for resettlement. There was also a flood in Jiangxi, and all places urgently need money. I would like to ask Mr. Zhang, how can we resettle these tens of millions of people from Central Plains? How to solve their food, clothing, and housing?"