Swords into Plowshares Episode 7 Recap
> Swords into Plowshares Recaps
Soon, Zhang Yanze led a large army to besiege the city. Refugees outside the city swarmed like ants, rushing to the city gates to seek survival. Morale collapsed, and it was a matter of time. Sang Weihan, from a realistic perspective, advocated closing the city gates.
His reasons were sufficient: it was difficult to guarantee that no spies were mixed among the refugees, and their large numbers, once inside the city, would not only consume precious food supplies but also potentially trigger internal strife, endangering the city's defenses. Fan Zhi, however, held a different view, genuinely unable to bear the slaughter of tens of thousands of common people. The two argued, each sticking to his own words, but Feng Dao didn't listen at all.
He called Zhao Kuangyin to prepare the cavalry, repair the city defenses, and get ready for a bloody battle. In contrast, the vast Kaifeng Prefecture office, once bustling with clerks, was now empty. The bailiffs had long sensed the danger and each found a way to flee home for refuge, leaving only Judge Xue Juzheng and Judicial Inspector Lü Yin forlornly guarding the empty hall.
Seeing Lü Yin's composure in the face of danger and his extraordinary courage, Xue Juzheng exceptionally promoted him to Registrar-Advisor. Even with only the two of them, the duties of Kaifeng Prefecture could not be abandoned; they would hold out for as long as possible and protect as many as they could. To control the situation, Zhao Kuangyin personally led elite cavalry out of the city and encamped by the walls outside Xuanyang Gate.
Guo Rong then proposed incorporating the refugees into the city's defense, assisting in guarding the city, which would both calm the populace and strengthen their forces. Zhao Hongyin strongly opposed, but Feng Dao approved this move and meticulously inquired about the deployment strategy. Zhang Yanze dispatched persuaders to infiltrate the crowds and enter the city, intending to sow discord and lobby.
Unexpectedly, Feng Dao, without even raising an eyelid, ordered them to be expelled and sent to Kaifeng Prefecture on charges of fraud. Coincidentally, other persuaders sought out the Wuyue envoy delegation, speaking eloquently and exerting all their persuasive powers. Qian Hongchu and his brother Qian Hongyou, however, merely calmly sipped their tea. To alleviate his anxiety over the empty prefectural treasury, Xue Juzheng bravely sought help from the Wuyue envoy delegation.
He did not resort to clever words, but spoke plainly of the people's suffering with earnest words, which moved Qian Hongchu. Qian Hongchu immediately decided to lend one hundred thousand taels of silver and silk for relief. However, after this generous act, Qian Hongchu couldn't help but regret it. After all, the amount was substantial, and he secretly wondered if Xue Juzheng might be a swindler.
Shuiqiu Zhaoquan understood clearly and reminded him that since he had already made a decision, there was no need to repeatedly hesitate. That night, Feng Dao convened civil and military officials of the third rank and above, as well as envoys from foreign states, for a discussion in the Jiangwu Hall. Guo Rong was the first to step forward, speaking passionately and declaring his firm resolve never to surrender to treacherous traitors.
His statement represented the voice of a considerable number of those who still possessed courage. Feng Dao deeply agreed and ordered a ten-day steadfast defense, intending to demonstrate through bloody battle to Yelü Deguang, the Khitan lord, that Zhang Yanze and his ilk were tyrannical and unjust, unfit to rule the Central Plains. Immediately after, Feng Dao conscripted grain, fodder, and troops, and leveraged the power of the Southern Tang and Wuyue envoy delegations.
Xu Xuan, the Southern Tang envoy, was still hesitant and prevaricating, while Shuiqiu Zhaoquan readily offered troops. Feng Dao's attitude towards the two parties was also distinctly opposite: he repeatedly heeded the suggestions of the Wuyue envoy delegation but was almost hostile towards Southern Tang, showing no goodwill, implying, "If you don't give me troops, I will take them by force." It was precisely with Feng Dao presiding over the Central Secretariat and Council of State that everyone coordinated effectively.
Zhao Hongyin was given full authority to command the capital's defenses. Yao Yuanfu reorganized honor guards, elite soldiers, and household retainers from various mansions, selecting three thousand young able-bodied men to form a reserve team. Sang Weihan was reinstated as the Governor of Kaifeng Prefecture. Guo Rong was entrusted with the crucial task of appeasing the refugees. He personally arranged accommodation for them within the Imperial City and promised to personally provide for their parents and wives.
However, early the next morning, chaos erupted during the distribution of limited food within the city. A refugee, disregarding order, rushed forward to snatch food. Guo Rong killed him without hesitation, enforcing discipline with swift and decisive action. This bloody scene was witnessed by Qian Hongchu, who had come to inquire about the joint defense. In his eyes, Guo Rong's act of establishing authority through bloodshed was no different from treating human lives as worthless, which enraged him.
He stepped forward and sternly reprimanded Guo Rong. Guo Rong, based on the severe realities of wartime and the necessity of maintaining overall stability, insisted that his handling was appropriate. With differing stances, the two erupted in their first fierce conflict since they had known each other. Meanwhile, Shuiqiu Zhaoquan strictly enforced military discipline, encouraged his soldiers, clearly defined rewards and punishments, and promised generous rewards for courageous fighters and severe penalties for those who retreated.
He ensured this allied army would exert its maximum combat power, both to assist in defending Bianliang and to earn Wuyue trustworthiness and reputation among all the lords of the realm. Zhao Kuangyin, encamped by the city, sent someone to bring back new information: Zhang Yanze's large army was expected to fully arrive at the city walls and launch an assault by dusk. They had to await a bloody battle that would decide the fate of the Central Plains and various states.
