Explore Chapter 41 of '水浒新传' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Now, the Song court, with Emperor Qinzong and his ministers, since the Jin troops had withdrawn, could leisurely discuss post-war affairs. Unexpectedly, the Jin marshal Wolibu, having seized the gold and silver delivered by the Song court, was resentful that Zhong Shidao and other loyalist troops were arriving one after another, unable to cope. Suddenly, he received an urgent message from Nianmohan at Taiyuan. It said that he was stuck under the city walls of Taiyuan, unable to advance an inch for half a month, and requested Wolibu to turn back and rescue him. Wolibu secretly calculated. Although he had stationed a hundred thousand troops under the walls of Eastern Capital, it was a deep penetration with isolated forces, violating military taboos. At this moment, he sent an envoy into the city to see Emperor Qinzong. The envoy said that the gold, silver, and silk had been delivered, and the two countries were now at peace. The Jin troops would withdraw northward that very day. Upon hearing this, Emperor Qinzong immediately reported it to the Retired Emperor and informed Li Bangyan and others. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this news. However, Li Bangyan memorialized Emperor Qinzong, requesting an edict for Zhong Shidao to halt his advance slowly to avoid hindering the peace negotiations. Emperor Qinzong complied with everything. The next day, Wolibu again sent an envoy to see Emperor Qinzong. The envoy said that the maps previously demanded should be delivered. He also requested the Song court to send a prince to escort the Jin troops across the river. Seeing that the Jin troops had not yet moved, Emperor Qinzong feared offending them again and agreed to everything. He ordered Zhang Bangchang to accompany Prince Kang Zhao Gou to the Jin camp personally to deliver the maps. Needless to say, Li Bangyan forced Emperor Huizong to sign in the deep palace.
The next day, while Prince Kang and Zhang Bangchang had not yet returned from the Jin camp, Wolibu sent another envoy. The envoy said that although the gold, silver, and silk had been clearly delivered, there was still a shortage of fifty thousand taels of gold and five hundred thousand taels of silver. This must be made up before the troops could withdraw. Although the amount was huge, the Song court and its ministers took it lightly. The Retired Emperor gathered gold and silver vessels from the deep palace to make up the difference at a discounted price. Fearing that the prolonged stay of the Jin troops might lead to trouble, Li Bangyan dispatched a large number of carts, mules, and horses in Eastern Capital to transport the gold and silver out of the city overnight. Once Wolibu obtained the gold and silver, he took Prince Kang Zhao Gou as a hostage and broke camp to retreat northward. Hearing that the Jin troops had withdrawn, Emperor Qinzong finally felt at ease. He issued an edict for Zhong Shidao to lead his troops to guard the Yellow River. He also ordered Zhong Shizhong and Yao Pingzhong to advance and intercept the retreating Jin troops. Yao Pingzhong was a general with more courage than wisdom. He had long resented Li Bangyan for persistently advocating peace and not allowing him and his brothers to fight Wolibu. Now that the Jin troops had retreated and there was an edict for him to pursue, he led his seven thousand troops to rush after the Jin troops day and night. However, upon receiving the order to guard the Yellow River, Zhong Shidao instructed his brother Zhong Shizhong to station troops in Zhengzhou and remain inactive. He let only Yao Pingzhong's force pursue the Jin troops.
Yao Pingzhong caught up with the rear of the Jin troops. Wolibu had already learned of this through spy reports. Having failed to capture the city earlier, he was truly frustrated. He personally took the rear guard to lure a Song force into battle. Seeing that the Jin rear guard was small, Yao Pingzhong personally supervised the fight at the front. The two armies faced off. Yao Pingzhong saw the Jin banner gates open, and a general on a tall horse, wielding a long spear, galloped back and forth. Impatient by nature, Yao Pingzhong did not exchange words. He brandished his wolf-tooth club, spurred his horse forward, and charged straight at him. That Jin general was none other than Wolibu. Seeing Yao Pingzhong coming fiercely, he urged his horse and raised his spear to meet him. Yao Pingzhong wished to knock the Jin commander off his horse with a single blow. He exerted all his strength and struck at Wolibu with his club. Wolibu blocked with his spear shaft. A clanging sound echoed, sparks flew everywhere, and Wolibu's arms went numb from the shock, nearly throwing him from his horse. He was secretly startled. He thought, "I didn't expect the Southern Dynasty to have such a brave general." Not daring to prolong the fight, he turned his horse and fled. Yao Pingzhong refused to let him go and chased closely behind. On the Jin formation, seeing their commander defeated, the troops all retreated together. Yao Pingzhong waved his men forward and pursued in triumph. They had not gone ten li when suddenly whistles sounded from the woods on both sides. Left and right, two groups of Jin troops, about three to five thousand men, charged at the Song army's flank. Wolibu in front also led the retreating Jin troops to turn back and fight. Seeing the Jin ambush, Yao Pingzhong knew he had fallen into a trap. He directed his troops to fight sideways, cutting a bloody path through, and retreated to the northeast corner. Of his seven thousand men, more than half were dead or wounded. They fled in disarray. Knowing that a defeated general would not be forgiven upon return, Yao Pingzhong simply abandoned his remnant troops. He escaped alone into the deep mountains, shaved his head to become a monk, and was never heard from again.
Zhong Shidao reported Yao Pingzhong's defeat to the capital. Upon hearing this news, Li Bangyan thought it the perfect opportunity to slander Li Gang. He memorialized Emperor Qinzong, saying, "I have long known that the Jin's peace offer was insincere. But Li Gang insisted on holding firm, and Zhong Shidao advocated interception. In my opinion, since the peace negotiations are not yet settled, why engage in reckless battle? Now Yao Pingzhong lightly pursued the enemy with his troops and was utterly destroyed. This shows that the Jin troops cannot be underestimated. Currently, Wolibu has not gone far. If he learns that our pursuing force has been defeated and returns with renewed vigor, how shall we defend against him? All this is due to Li Gang's mistaken advocacy of war, which harms the state. I hope Your Majesty will investigate clearly." Emperor Qinzong said, "What does Yao Pingzhong's defeat have to do with Privy Councillor Li?" Li Bangyan replied, "Li Gang serves as Privy Councillor and holds military authority. If he had not hinted to Yao Pingzhong to seize the chance for merit, how would Yao Pingzhong dare to act on his own? Moreover, our court has been exhausted by years of war and depleted finances. It is time to rest. Li Gang insists on using military force, emptying the state treasury. If the Jin return, how shall we cope? I beg Your Majesty to dismiss Li Gang from his post to appease the Jin, so that the peace agreement may be preserved." Upon hearing this, Emperor Qinzong fell silent in thought. Zhang Bangchang, standing by his side, bowed and memorialized, "When the Retired Emperor abdicated, he personally instructed Your Majesty to entrust state affairs to Li Bangyan. Now Li Bangyan has repeatedly strategized for the state, and the Jin troops have complied. He is truly experienced in governing. Li Gang holds a scholar's view, insisting on military action, which is not beneficial to the state. If Your Majesty does not dismiss Li Gang, not only will the Jin criticize, but it may also displease the Retired Emperor." Since Li Bangyan was a favorite of Emperor Huizong, Emperor Qinzong dared not offend him. Hearing Zhang Bangchang's words, he softened and said, "You may withdraw for now. Let me consider it."
The next day, Li Bangyan gathered several cronies and entered the palace to tell Emperor Qinzong of Li Gang's many faults. Emperor Qinzong then issued an edict dismissing Li Gang from his post as Military Affairs Commissioner and transferring him to Hedong Circuit as Pacification Commissioner. This decree shocked all civil and military officials at court. Because when the Jin troops first retreated, it was entirely due to Li Gang's leadership that Eastern Capital was preserved. Now dismissing Li Gang clearly showed the court no longer wished to employ him. The Imperial University student Chen Dong, whose previous petition to reinstate Li Gang had been adopted, saw that Li Bangyan and Zhang Bangchang remained in power as before. Now Li Bangyan requested Li Gang's dismissal to flatter the Jin, which greatly upset him. He gathered over a thousand fellow students and assembled outside Xuande Gate to submit a petition urging Li Gang's retention. The memorial roughly stated: "Li Gang fights bravely without regard for himself, a minister of the state. Li Bangyan and others specialize in ceding territory, traitors to the state. Your Majesty's dismissal of Li Gang has caused turmoil at home and abroad, as if losing limbs. We beg to reinstate Li Gang and expel Li Bangyan and others, handing them over to justice to appease the world." In the palace, Emperor Qinzong read Chen Dong's memorial and was somewhat moved. But due to the Retired Emperor's protection of Li Bangyan, he dared not decide and merely kept the memorial without response. After waiting a day without action, Chen Dong gathered tens of thousands of Eastern Capital citizens and assembled outside Xuande Gate. Their shouts shook the earth as they demanded an audience with the Son of Heaven. Hearing this, Emperor Qinzong grew fearful and sent a eunuch to announce an edict. It said that Li Gang had been dismissed and could not be reinstated. He ordered the scholars and commoners to disperse quickly to avoid punishment. Chen Dong stepped forward and said to the eunuch, "We petition with loyalty and righteousness for Li Gang's reinstatement, not to rebel. What crime is there? If we do not receive Your Majesty's clear edict to reinstate Li Gang, we would rather die than leave." Upon hearing this, the citizens shouted together, "We would rather die than retreat!" At that moment, outside Xuande Gate, a sea of heads surged, and the human roar was like a tidal wave. Just then, Li Bangyan emerged from court dismissal. The people saw him and surrounded him, pointing and cursing, "You traitor who harms the state, all you know is ceding territory and seeking peace. Today we must beat you to death." As they spoke, they raised fists and struck like rain. Seeing the danger, Li Bangyan covered his head and scurried away like a rat, fleeing into the court gate. The gate guards, fearing the people would rush in, closed the main gate. Unable to enter, the people brought forth the petition drum and beat it with a thunderous roar. Hearing this in the palace, Emperor Qinzong panicked and issued an edict summoning Li Gang to court. Li Gang obeyed the summons and arrived. Emperor Qinzong then comforted him with kind words. He reinstated Li Gang that very day as Right Vice Director of the Secretariat and Warden of Eastern Capital, concurrently serving as Vice Military Commissioner. He also ordered Li Gang to go out and announce the edict to the people. Li Gang went outside the palace and read the edict to the people, who finally cheered and dispersed. The next day, upon resuming his post, Li Gang requested Emperor Qinzong to punish Li Bangyan and Zhang Bangchang. However, due to the Retired Emperor's influence, Emperor Qinzong only dismissed Li Bangyan as chancellor and sent him to govern Henan Prefecture. Zhang Bangchang remained heavily employed. This move became a joke among the people of Eastern Capital.