Resumen del episodio 21 de Swords into Plowshares
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When Qian Hongchu and others rushed to Shanyue Society, Cheng Zhaoyue had already set herself on fire, leaving behind only a suicide poem. The poem implicitly mocked Qian Hongzuo, comparing him to Chen Shubao and Emperor Yang of Sui, which enraged Qian Hongzuo. At that time, inside Guo Wei's mansion, young children clapped their hands and sang Huang Chao's "Ode to Chrysanthemums After Failing the Imperial Examination."
Wang Pu, as the secretary, was responsible for their education; he immediately called Guo Dong, Guo Wei's second son, and reprimanded him for failing to supervise his younger siblings as an elder brother, intending to punish him. His third brother, Guo Xin, stepped forward to take the blame. Coincidentally, Guo Wei came to look for Wang Pu.
As he approached the study, he heard Wang Pu recounting old stories from the late Tang dynasty, analyzing the true meaning of "rebel" and "revolution." In times of turmoil across the land and national chaos, raising arms might not necessarily mean being a rebel. Only those who oppress the people, poison the populace, impose harsh governance, and plunder others' wealth are true rebels.
Conversely, if one can quell chaos and bring peace to the people, rescuing the common folk from dire straits, that is a revolution in accordance with heaven's will and human aspirations. Subsequently, Guo Rong summoned Wang Pu and Zhao Kuangyin to discuss the letter from Wuyue requesting a reduction in their annual tribute. The reason was that the previous battle in Fuzhou had ended in defeat, costing soldiers and provisions.
And this year, five or six prefectures in Liangzhe suffered from severe rainstorms and disasters. Relief expenditures were like a giant whale absorbing water, capable of emptying Wuyue's treasury, accumulated over half a century, in an instant. Zhao Kuangyin naturally believed that Qian Hongchu was not lying. However, the central court was already financially strained, and a deficit of 200,000 taels of tribute silver caused Guo Rong concern.
Turning to Hangzhou's side, Hu Jinsi, citing the many incidents in recent years and the hardships of the soldiers, openly demanded generous rewards for the army. Qian Hongzong, being young and hot-headed, retorted on the spot, and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense. Hu Jinsi suddenly singled out Qian Hongchu, insisting that he should plead for merits for the soldiers. Unexpectedly, Qian Hongchu also spoke out against Hu Jinsi.
Qian Hongzuo, seizing the opportunity, ordered Qian Hongchu to be demoted to Taizhou. This appeared to be a family quarrel, but in reality, Qian Hongchu had voluntarily offered to go, both to protect his seventh brother, preventing him from a direct conflict with the powerful minister, and also to use the name of "demotion" to effectively "enter the tiger's den" and rectify the accumulated malpractices of local powerful families.
Currently, Qian Hongzuo was frail and ill, eating little and burdened with many affairs. He still forced himself to summon his younger brother, Qian Hongzong, stating that the demotion of Wu Cheng today and the posting of Qian Hongchu to an external position was to use their prestige to appease the military's sentiments. He said that the root cause of the Wuyongdu mutiny years ago was nothing more than "money and provisions."
Not to mention Wuyue, even Liu Zhiyuan in Chongyuan Hall in Bianliang dared not break this rule of "military supplies being paramount." In troubled times, weapons are easy to acquire, but grain is hard to accumulate. Whoever cuts off military pay and provisions is digging his own grave. As expected, this strategy yielded immediate results. Hu Jinsi sent word to Shen Chengli that demands for rewards would be halved from now on.
However, Cheng Zhaoyue's fire burned down not just the buildings of Shanyue Society, but also a secret financial source. The huge deficit left by the major corruption case in Taizhou would ultimately still fall upon the common people. Qian Hongzong sought answers and clarification from Wu Cheng, who revealed the truth behind the court turmoil, making him suddenly understand his royal brother's painstaking efforts.
Turning to Qian Hongchu again, he prepared to leave for his post in Taizhou with a simple entourage. He specifically entered the palace to bid farewell to Qian Hongzuo. Before his departure, Qian Hongchu made a final plea, saying that Taizhou was currently like a boiling cauldron; if further delays occurred and this year's spring plowing was missed, there would be no harvest in autumn. At that time, starving people would be everywhere, inevitably leading to a popular uprising.
Upon hearing this, Qian Hongzuo's heart was filled with mixed emotions. He deeply understood how heavy this burden was: he had to stabilize internal unrest before it erupted, respond to the central court's expectations, and now was further constrained by natural disasters. Hongchu took the opportunity to recommend Shen Yin to go to Taizhou to rectify administrative affairs. Qian Hongzuo gladly agreed. The two brothers had a heart-to-heart talk, understanding each other implicitly.
One was relieved to see his younger brother becoming increasingly capable, while the other harbored secret worries about his elder brother's ailing health and the affairs of the state. After Qian Hongchu left with Sun Taizhen, Qian Hongzuo's decree was issued: Wu Cheng was dismissed from his position as Chancellor and reassigned as Jiedushi of Weiwu Army, overseeing Fuzhou affairs, with the person in charge to implement it. After the grand court assembly concluded, Yuan Dezhao returned to the Department of State Affairs and directly punished two officials who only knew how to flatter and did nothing practical.
