Swords into Plowshares Episode 47 Recap
> Swords into Plowshares Recaps
When Qian Hongchu woke up in the Wansui Palace, he was astonished to find Zhao Kuangyin's outer robe draped over him. Zhao Kuangyin waited for him to finish washing, then personally led him to the Daqing Hall for the imperial court meeting. As soon as they entered the hall, he publicly ordered the palace attendants to set up a place of honor, intending for Qian Hongchu to sit beside him.
Qian Hongchu felt it was inappropriate and insisted on standing in front of the assembled officials. Zhao Kuangyin did not force him, but instead sternly scanned the officials, warning them that anyone with something to say must present it in person, and if anyone were to frame Wuyue behind their backs again, they would be severely punished without mercy. Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu was the first to step forward, requesting to extend Qian Hongchu's stay in the capital.
This seemed like a warm invitation but was in fact a house arrest. Zhao Kuangyin saw through Zhao Pu's scheme. Seemingly inadvertently, he brought up the wicked deeds of Zhao Pu's son, Zhao Lu, who had forcibly occupied civilian land and allowed his slaves to injure people, thus pointedly redirecting the accusation towards Zhao Lu.
He then issued an imperial edict to strip him of his position as Grand Academician of Zhaowenguan and reassign him as the Military Commissioner of Heyang's Three Cities, a promotion in name but a demotion in reality. Immediately after, Zhao Kuangyin issued a second imperial edict, not only generously rewarding Qian Hongchu's family with grain, silk, and a fiefdom, but also, exceptionally, enfeoffing Sun Taizhen as the Queen Consort of Wuyue.
Facing the suspicions and jealousy of some court officials, Zhao Kuangyin sternly rebuked them, strongly defending Qian Hongchu's reputation for loyalty. Qian Hongchu prostrated himself in gratitude for the appointment. That night, Sun Taizhen combed Qian Hongchu's hair, and the two discussed their daughter's marriage. Previously, Qian Hongchu had rejected many marriage proposals, simply wanting to keep his daughter by his side for a couple more years. Now, times had changed; long spears and halberds might not guarantee her safety.
For lasting peace, she would ultimately need to be entrusted to someone steeped in morality and scholarly wisdom. Sun Taizhen was filled with mixed emotions, lamenting that decades had passed as if in a dream. More than a month later, as the return date approached, Qian Hongchu entered the palace to have an audience with the emperor before his departure. Zhao Kuangyin summoned him alone to meet in the Jiying Hall.
Inside the hall were portraits of Guo Rong and various elder statesmen. Zhao Kuangyin ordered a palace attendant to display an old banner, which was precisely the yellow robe he had worn during the Chenqiao Mutiny. He revealed his true feelings, and together they gazed upon the stele erected for Guo Rong. The knot in their hearts, which had persisted for many years, was finally untied. Li Yuanqing lived in seclusion in Ninghai, Taizhou.
His student Fan Yong (father of Fan Zhongyan) attended to him, mentioning that a letter from home urged him to go to Xifu to take the "Zheneng Academy" examination. However, his aspirations lay in nature, and he felt quite hesitant. Li Yuanqing observed the myriad of surnames in the world and decided to revise the "Baijiaxing" (Hundred Family Surnames) to correct their origins, prominently placing the character "Li" at the very beginning.
At the same time, Zhao Kuangyin wrote to Qian Hongchu, expressing his ambition for unification, and bestowed a return gift, which held profound meaning. Qian Hongchu, moved by his sincerity, gathered his officials to discuss the matter. Shen Yin asserted that this was merely a delaying tactic, and that the demise of Wuyue was likely imminent. Listening to Shen Yin's words, Qian Hongchu was angered that he should question Zhao Kuangyin.
Seeing that Qian Hongchu would not heed his advice, Shen Yin resigned from office and retired to a reclusive life. Although Qian Hongchu regretted it, he still generously rewarded him and allowed him to leave. Before leaving, Shen Yin learned that Li Yuanqing had gone blind and instructed Ge Qiang to personally deal with him.
Ge Qiang, seeing Li Yuanqing's humble and steadfast adherence to his principles, and his preference for death over serving in office, suddenly felt compassion and secretly allowed him to escape into the deep mountains. Inside the Wansui Palace in Bianliang city, a once-in-a-century blizzard suddenly descended. Zhao Kuangyi brought hot wine to Zhao Kuangyin, who was intensely staring at Dali and Taiyuan on a map.
With Northern Han still occupying Taiyuan and the southern territories unsettled, Zhao Kuangyin lamented his old age and the incomplete empire. He then entrusted the crucial task of recovering Taiyuan to Zhao Kuangyi, handing him the apricot-yellow banner that had been taken from Taiyuan years ago, indignantly declaring that this banner was "stained with the blood of all people under heaven." Suddenly, Zhao Kuangyin's expression became frenzied.
He handed an axe to Zhao Kuangyi and commanded him to chop Taiyuan on the map. Zhao Kuangyi was drenched in sweat, terrified and unable to comply. By dawn the next day, Zhao Kuangyin walked out of the hall alone, treading through the snow. He suddenly felt dizzy, murmured the words "King of Jin," and collapsed. Amidst the startled cries of the palace attendants, a generation's heroic ruler met his end. The historical enigma of "the shadow of the candle and the sound of the axe" has since shrouded the early Song court.
