Swords into Plowshares Episode 11 Recap
> Swords into Plowshares Recaps
The Lady of Chu, a fragile woman, even with a weapon in hand, only slightly wounded the soldier. The other party was completely unafraid; instead, he called his comrades to surround her and carried out a brutal violation. Zhang Yanze watched with cold eyes throughout.
The next day, he ordered Mrs. Ding's body to be hung in the streets for public display and loudly announced to the surrounding soldiers and civilians: "This woman deeply understood righteousness, voluntarily offered herself to relieve the fatigue of the soldiers, and should be a model for all noblewomen in Bianjing."
He then issued a military order: "From this day on, until the Khitan Emperor enters the city, one female member of an official's family will be chosen daily to enter the camp to comfort the army." For a time, the news spread everywhere.
Qian Hongchu sought out Feng Dao and pleaded with him to intervene and stop it, arguing that even if they had designs to change the world, they should not use the purity of women as a stepping stone. Feng Dao did not respond, instead questioning whether Qian Hongchu was innocent.
Qian Hongchu stated directly that as a Prince of Wuyue, he also received sustenance from the people, and thus had an undeniable responsibility towards state affairs and the well-being of the populace. Subsequently, Fan Zhi was ordered to go to Chigang Grand Camp; he had neither credentials nor a military tally, only a message Feng Dao instructed him to convey: "Lead all officials to respectfully welcome the Khitan ruler at Mingde Gate."
After dawn, Feng Dao led all officials and envoys from various states to stand solemnly outside Mingde Gate. They performed a bow but did not kneel, displeasing Zhang Yanze. Feng Dao handled the situation with tact and offered a reasonable explanation. Yelü Deguang secretly marveled and greatly admired him, not pursuing the matter further, and held his enthronement ceremony in Chongyuan Hall.
In contrast, the streets of Bianliang presented a desolate and tragic scene: Mrs. Ding's body hung high, while her relatives and elderly mother crawled and wept in sorrow. Zhao Kuangyin stood in the crowd, knowing that Zhang Yanze's perverse actions had already provoked universal indignation. Now the capital was like a giant cauldron, and public resentment was like boiling soup, just waiting for the moment to erupt.
At the grand court assembly, all officials knelt; only the envoys from Southern Tang and Wuyue, as well as Feng Dao accompanied by Zhao Hongyin and Fan Zhi, did not kneel. Qian Hongchu stepped forward from the crowd and vehemently denounced Zhang Yanze's atrocities, resolutely declaring that Wuyue was willing to pay tribute according to old customs, but would never pledge allegiance to wolves. Enraged, Zhang Yanze threw his court tablet at Qian Hongchu.
Fortunately, Shuiqiu Zhaoquan timely swung his sleeve to block it. Prince Yongkang, Yelü Ruan, intended to intervene and punish him, but the ministers rushed forward to mediate. Li Yuanqing and others pretended to break up the fight, but were actually secretly restraining Zhang Yanze. Qian Hongchu seized the opportunity amidst the chaos to draw his dagger and stab Zhang Yanze directly. Unfortunately, the leather armor slightly impeded the dagger's force, and the other party only sustained a minor injury.
Everyone knelt outside the hall, awaiting the outcome of the judgment. Shuiqiu Zhaoquan hoped Fan Zhi would offer assistance. Fan Zhi believed that since Qian Hongchu had brought a blade into the hall to assassinate today, even immortals would find it hard to save him. Inside the hall, Feng Dao calmly analyzed that Sang Weihan had been loyal to the Jin ruler, and Mrs. Ding had preserved her integrity despite humiliation.
These two incidents had become central to the popular sentiment in Bianliang, and if Yelü Deguang handled them improperly, his foundation would surely be destroyed; if handled appropriately, he could win the hearts of the people across the land.
Finally, Feng Dao lightly pointed out that while the Khitan cavalry was indeed peerless, governing agricultural cities ultimately required people who understood how to measure land and calculate taxes; fierce generals who commanded troops were easy to find, but talent for governing in peaceful times was hard to come by. As expected, Yelü Deguang was swayed.
Yelü Ruan and Yelü Wuzhi by his side seized the opportunity to suggest appointing Feng Dao as Grand Tutor to oversee the military affairs of Tokyo and stabilize the court. Feng Dao declined three times, only accepting the appointment after Yelü Deguang personally promised to pardon Qian Hongchu from the death penalty.
When Qian Hongyou and Shuiqiu Zhaoquan returned to the inn, they expressed their support to Guo Rong for enthroning Liu Zhiyuan as emperor, with the Han army, to restore the land. Zhao Hongyin led his personal guard to quickly take over the city defenses, reorganized the Yexia troops, and secretly took control of the situation. Zhao Kuangyin brought this news to Shuiqiu Zhaoquan and the others. The group discussed their next steps.
Now Guo Rong had become a hidden danger that the new Khitan ruler and his vassals were eager to eliminate. Wanted posters were plastered everywhere; however, the person in the portrait had been slightly altered by Shuiqiu Zhaoquan and the others, appearing as a burly man with a thick beard and round eyes, completely unlike Guo Rong's actual appearance.
Zhao Kuangyin urged Guo Rong to leave the capital, but Guo Rong insisted on staying, pleading with everyone to delay Yelü Deguang to buy time for Liu Zhiyuan to declare himself emperor in Hedong. Feng Dao questioned Guo Rong about the sentiments of the people under heaven, and Guo Rong nobly expressed his willingness to take responsibility for the common people. Zhao Kuangyin was ordered to go north to Jinyang.
Before his departure, he met with Feng Dao, who earnestly advised Zhao Kuangyin: "No matter how the situation changes in the future, you must adhere to the principles of a general: cherish loyalty and righteousness, administer justice fairly, do not kill indiscriminately, and do not oppress the people. The chaos of war must eventually cease, and the way to cease war lies in the hands of those who understand warfare."
