Resumo do episódio 45 de Swords into Plowshares
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When Xu Xuan stumbled back to Jinling of Southern Tang, the atmosphere in the main hall was exceptionally heavy. As soon as he entered the hall, he stumbled and fell to the ground, touching his forehead to the bricks, bitterly recounting how his gullibility in trusting Wuyue's promises had led to the ruination of the country. He felt ashamed before his ancestors who had founded the dynasty and had failed the vast land of Jiangnan.
Every sound he made was choked with sobs, and every word pierced Li Yu's heart. However, Li Yu clearly knew that, compared to Xu Xuan, his own fault was greater. He had erred by not heeding Li Yuanqing's advice, failing the armored forces, and even more, failing millions of common people. Born in a turbulent era, even as an emperor, he was like a helpless duckweed, unable to control his own destiny.
That night, Qian Jun accompanied Qian Hongchu in a casual chat, comforting him not to worry. Although the heir was not well-versed in military affairs, he was already diligent compared to those imperial relatives who indulged in pleasure and cavorted with female attendants all day long.
Qian Jun also cited Li Yu of Southern Tang as an example, stating that he could at least devote himself to literature and be considered refined and promising, but unfortunately, his ability to govern the country was insufficient. Qian Hongchu clearly understood that Zhao Kuangyin's 'relinquishing military power over a cup of wine' was merely a prelude, and the matter of Southern Tang was destined to solidify Zhao Kuangyin's determination for unification.
Therefore, he absolutely could not allow his generals to offer foolish loyalty and stubborn resistance. In the winter of 975 AD, the Song army and the Wuyue allied forces besieged Jinling. On the eve of the city's fall, civil officials such as Chen Qiao, Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and Scholar Zhong Qian, deeply felt the hopelessness of the nation and were too ashamed to face their compatriots again, subsequently committing suicide.
Li Yu originally intended to take poison wine to the imperial ancestral temple to end his life, but he lacked both the fierce bravery of Xiang Yu's suicide at Wujiang and the ruthlessness of Emperor Chongzhen's declaration "the monarch dies for the state."
Instead, he curled up amidst the bedchamber curtains, accompanied by a dance from Empress Dowager Xiao Zhou, grinding ink with tears of blood, and wielding his brush to write the poem "Po Zhen Zi," pouring all the prosperity and collapse of forty years of nationhood and three thousand li of land into the verses. At dawn, Li Yu, along with his ministers, surrendered. From then on, Southern Tang collapsed, and its twenty-two prefectures returned to the map.
Qian Hongchu witnessed this scene and felt boundless compassion in his heart. Because the Wuyue army entered Jiangning first, some Song soldiers were indignant. Commander Cao Bin strictly ordered suppression, warning all officers and soldiers not to harbor rebellious intentions, using this to test Qian Hongchu. Similarly, Qian Hongchu also had his own considerations; to avoid suspicion, he did not enter Jiangning city and appointed Supervisor Ding Deyu as the envoy for entry.
To this day, Li Yuanqing continued to offer stubborn resistance, leading several hundred surviving soldiers of the Hei Yun Du, hoarsely shouting: "Five thousand brave men march, bearing the banner of Hei Yun Du. Where there is life, there is death; their blood shall sacrifice for Tang Wu. Traversing three thousand li, overlooking fifty prefectures, Jiangnan has righteous men whom not even the Nine Tripods can subdue." He vowed to defend the last inch of Jiangnan's soil to the death.
After the Zhong Shun Du entered the city to quell the rebellion, Qian Weixun was enraged that Li Yuanqing was still alive and immediately ordered his pursuit and killing. Ding Deyu seized the opportunity to order a thorough search of the entire city. For a time, soldiers from various units broke down doors and trespassed into homes, plundering goods and wealth.
The once prosperous ancient capital of the Six Dynasties instantly became a scene of wailing across the fields, with fires and smoke rising everywhere. The common people felt as if they had fallen into an Asura's hell; women and children fled in panic through the streets, while the elderly prostrated themselves on the ground, weeping. The so-called "royal army's recovery" had turned into a catastrophe.
Qian Hongchu and Cao Bin, hearing the news, immediately led their personal guards into the city. Seeing the city reduced to scorched earth, Qian Hongchu was deeply distressed. He severely punished the violating soldiers on the spot and, in his rage, wanted to execute Ding Deyu. After repeated pleas from the generals, Qian Hongchu finally cut off Ding Deyu's right ear as a warning.
With the situation in Jiangning settled, Qian Hongchu returned to his capital, bidding farewell with a distant bow outside Jiangning city. Li Yu was escorted to Bianjing to confess his crimes and declare himself a subject. Ding Deyu harbored resentment towards Qian Hongchu and impeached him before Zhao Kuangyin in court, but was instead demoted to Fangzhou by Zhao Kuangyin.
After the court dispersed, Zhao Pu advised Zhao Kuangyin that the urgent task was to take Wuyue in one fell swoop. Zhao Kuangyi, however, believed it was not advisable to immediately deploy troops against Wuyue, and Cao Bin and Pan Mei also stated that a forced attack would inevitably lead to heavy casualties. Zhao Kuangyin deliberated repeatedly and decided to issue an edict, summoning Qian Hongchu to the capital for an audience.
At the same time, Guo Yue, the Chief Scribe of Fangzhou yamen, had been waiting by the roadside since early morning. Until a simple carriage arrived, kicking up dust, he immediately rose with other officials to greet it. A hundred paces away, under a tea stall, Li Yuanqing slowly put down his pottery bowl, revealing half of his weathered face.
