Swords into Plowshares Episode 42 Recap
> Swords into Plowshares Recaps
In 974 AD, Li Yu sent the renowned minister Xu Xuan as an envoy to Bianliang for a final mediation. Xu Xuan prostrated himself before the steps, weeping and pleading, offering to renounce his imperial title and cede fourteen prefectures north of the Yangtze River, only asking to preserve the ancestral temple's lineage. However, Zhao Kuangyin was determined to unify the realm, and indifferently cast down the remark, "How can one allow others to snore beside their bed?"
These words not only completely rejected the piteous pleas but also thoroughly crushed the Southern Tang's illusion of temporary peace. When the news reached Jinling, the Southern Tang court immediately fell into chaos. Some advocated emptying the treasury for bribes, while others knelt, baring their shoulders, to beg for forgiveness. Amidst the clamor, Li Yuanqing remained silent, seemingly feigning sleep.
After the court session, Li Yuanqing presented three strategies: The best strategy was to cede all territory in exchange for the safety of the imperial clan; the middle strategy was to use the navy to launch a surprise attack on the Song army's supply lines, fighting for a slim chance of survival; the worst strategy was to cede six prefectures east of the Yangtze River to form an alliance with Wu-Yue, creating a pincer movement to temporarily resist the Central Plains.
Li Yu ultimately chose the worst strategy, allying with Wu to resist Song, which was indeed a risky move, attempting to use the Wu-Yue alliance to delay the Song army's advance. At this moment, within Bianliang City, preparations for the southern expedition were in full swing. Zhao Kuangyin and the key ministers of the Bureau of Military Affairs planned day and night, mobilizing troops and gathering provisions, appointing veteran general Cao Bin as commander-in-chief and Pan Mei as his deputy.
He also issued an edict for Qian Hongchu to assist in the war, requiring the preparation of three million hu of military provisions. Qian Hongchu gathered his key ministers to discuss strategy.
Shen Yin recommended Qian Weizhi to serve as the deputy envoy accompanying the army, but Cui Renji believed that Qian Weizhi was inherently capable and should remain in charge of supervising the state in the western prefecture (Xifu), while the position of deputy envoy could be given to the crown prince Weijun. Qian Hongchu did not adopt this suggestion but instead promoted Qian Weizhi to Deputy Commissioner of Transportation, overseeing all logistics.
Li Yuanqing personally went to Hangzhou to seek an alliance. Qian Hongchu ordered Qian Weizhi to handle the negotiation on his behalf. During the conversation, Li Yuanqing stated that he would offer the Southern Tang imperial clan as hostages and cede six prefectures east of the Yangtze River in exchange for Wu-Yue's assistance.
Qian Weizhi decisively refused, proposing instead three million hu of grain and rice from Southern Tang and Chongming Town as conditions for exchange, suggesting that the alliance might still be negotiable. Afterward, Qian Weizhi reported back to Qian Hongchu, calmly explaining that his demand for Chongming was to control the gateway to Jiangyin Prefecture, which Southern Tang would surely not easily relinquish.
Therefore, if Sun Chengyou, the maternal uncle of the state, were to step forward and demand it, the matter might succeed. On the other side, Qian Weijun wanted to see Qian Hongchu, but was stopped outside the door by Ma Youcheng and Jiang Duoxun. Because he had not gained his father's significant trust, he had to turn to his mother, Sun Taizhen. But Sun Taizhen advised him to communicate directly with his father.
Later that evening, Sun Taizhen spoke to Qian Hongchu about Qian Weijun. Qian Hongchu pointed out Qian Weijun's many past follies and said he still needed more experience. He ultimately agreed to let Qian Weijun participate in court affairs, and before the personal expedition, he appointed Shen Yin as his Grand Tutor to keep him in check. Shen Yin initially wanted to refuse, but under Qian Hongchu's persuasion, he reluctantly bowed and accepted the order.
During the second negotiation, Qian Weizhi reminded Li Yuanqing not to miss this good opportunity. Three million in money, grain, rice, and silk could transform an age-old enmity into an alliance, which for Southern Tang would be a truly profitable deal with no loss. Li Yuanqing did not respond, thinking Qian Weizhi was toying with him. He then turned to Sun Chengyou to inquire about the true situation.
Sun Chengyou revealed the key point to him: even if Wu-Yue were tempted, they would never openly accept these six prefectures, because accepting ceded Southern Tang territory would be tantamount to openly rebelling against Bianliang. However, the desire to "stand together against a common enemy" was not necessarily absent. Li Yuanqing understood after hearing this, and decided to bypass Qiantang and negotiate with the Yellow Dragon Society to borrow troops and supplies.
After Li Yuanqing returned to Southern Tang, he passionately and earnestly remonstrated before the emperor, stating that although Chongming Town was a small strip of land, it was the throat controlling the river mouth. If Southern Tang abandoned this natural stronghold, it would be like opening the door to invite thieves, and the foundation of the state would surely be shaken.
In the past, Yang Wu established its state by relying on the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, entirely depending on the layered defenses of the Yangtze River; if they now destroyed their own defenses, they might follow in the footsteps of the Gao family of Jingnan.
However, Zhang Ji once again strongly advocated for another plan, firmly believing that if ceding territory could gain Wu-Yue's support to jointly resist the Northern Song, it would be a pragmatic strategy of "losing something in the east but gaining it in the west" (a temporary loss for a greater gain). Two individuals, two different proposals, concerning the fate of the nation. Li Yu pondered for a moment, and ultimately disregarded Li Yuanqing's earnest pleas, yielding Chongming.
