Swords into Plowshares Episode 28 Recap
> Swords into Plowshares Recaps
He Chengxun knelt and presented the line "When the ruler is troubled, his subjects are disgraced; when the ruler is disgraced, his subjects die." This completely eroded the king's psychological defense. Qian Hongzong was already blinded by the power struggle, and actually regarded He Chengxun's words as loyal advice. He decided to use the Lantern Festival palace banquet to make a move against Hu Jinsi.
He secretly ordered He Chengxun to hide ax-men in the side hall, waiting only for him to throw his cup as a signal, to spill blood in the splendid hall. When the palace banquet began, attendants served roasted beef, and silence immediately fell upon the hall. It was known that since the Rites of Zhou, oxen were fundamental to agriculture, and successive laws explicitly prohibited their consumption. Tang law even deemed the private slaughter of oxen a serious crime.
The expressions of veteran officials like Yuan Dezhao suddenly changed: the king's action not only violated a thousand-year-old precedent but also seemed to disregard the very foundation of agriculture. Qian Hongzong explained that the ox had broken its leg the day before, and it would be a waste to discard it, so he simply slaughtered it to entertain the guests.
He then looked at Hu Jinsi, specifically mentioning the latter's old business of butchering and selling meat, directly revealing his humble origins, intending to provoke him. However, Hu Jinsi remained calm and composed. He openly admitted that he had indeed taken the imperial examination in his early years, and only after failing in poetry and prose did he open a butcher shop to make a living.
But then he changed the subject, stating that if the Tang dynasty had not declined and the world had not been in turmoil, the ancestors of the Qian family would still have been mere salt peddlers. How then could they have seized the opportunity during chaotic times to carve out a foundation of thirteen prefectures in the southeast?
This understated remark not only belittled his own origins but also subtly mocked the royal family's foundation, and moreover, highlighted the mutual reliance between ruler and subject. The entire hall fell silent. Qian Hongzong was provoked by the other party's veiled yet sharp counterattack, his veins bulging. Just as he was about to give an order, Qian Hongchu suddenly feigned drunkenness, stumbled forward, and loudly urged them to drink.
It turned out that earlier, when he had left his seat, Qian Hongchu unexpectedly discovered He Chengxun leading his personal guards ambushed in the shadows. He immediately returned and informed Shuiqiu Zhaoquan. Shuiqiu Zhaoquan understood immediately. At the crucial moment, he went to the side hall, falsely conveyed the king's order, and commanded He Chengxun to quickly lead his armored soldiers back to camp, nipping a coup in the bud.
He Chengxun, considering Shuiqiu Zhaoquan's identity, had no choice but to depart grudgingly, hatred already brewing in his heart towards him. After the palace banquet, Shuiqiu Zhaoquan earnestly offered advice. He stated that the original phrase "When the ruler is troubled, his subjects toil" was in fact an ancient idiom from the Spring and Autumn period.
In the past, when King Goujian of Yue was defeated by Fuchai, Fan Li and Wen Zhong used these words to express their aspirations, ultimately helping Goujian restore his state and avenge his shame. However, once the birds were gone, the bow was put away; Wen Zhong was granted death by Goujian, and Fan Li roamed the Five Lakes.
To such an unrighteous and unjust ruler, the person who could utter those words to Qian Hongzong must also be indirectly humiliating him. Therefore, Shuiqiu Zhaoquan quoted Mencius, admonishing Qian Hongzong not to trust the slanders of petty men and thus destroy his own "Great Wall." He Chengxun did not give up. He secretly met Qian Hongzong again, alarming him with dire warnings, emphasizing that the powerful minister Hu Jinsi's influence was growing, making him a serious threat.
If he was not eliminated soon, it would inevitably affect royal authority. Qian Hongzong, being young after all, under the burning influence of fear and lust for power, finally hardened his heart and decided to take this dangerous step. He ordered He Chengxun to go directly to Hu's mansion and personally convey the king's intention to execute him, specifically as an extremely risky test.
Subsequently, He Chengxun entered the mansion as ordered, truthfully recounted the assassination plot at the Lantern Festival banquet, and falsely claimed that this plan was presented by Shuiqiu Zhaoquan. Knowing he was in a desperate situation, Hu Jinsi decided to strike first. He quickly gathered his personal guards and household retainers, donned armor and wielded weapons, and rushed straight to the royal palace under the cover of night.
At the same time, Ge Qiang and Lu Yanzhu analyzed the military coup that night. The two then escorted Qian Hongchu to a side hall, quietly observing the developments, with the sole task of protecting their own master. In contrast, He Chengxun betrayed Hu Jinsi and personally opened the palace gates for him. Hu Jinsi led his personal guards to militarily control the royal palace.
Only at this moment did Qian Hongzong realize that he had trusted the treacherous official wrongly. Hu Jinsi stood before Qian Hongzong, holding a blade, and stated that his body was inherently unstable. If he were to truly suffer an illness, he would have no words to face the three generations of former kings after his death. Therefore, he found an excuse and publicly announced the dethronement of Qian Hongzong, replacing him with Qian Hongchu as "Luohou."
