Chapter 33: Prelude to the Great War

During the Song Dynasty, the Qixi Festival was far more lively and significant than in later ages. Almost everyone would don their finest attire, bring out their best food and wine to enjoy, and hold various rituals and celebrations; the festive atmosphere could almost rival that of the Lunar New Year.

Such was the case among the common people, let alone within the palaces of the Northern Song. When Zhao Dezhao and He Huaipu arrived at the Funing Hall—the site of the banquet—with Huyan Zan, the hall was already teeming with people. Every individual gathered there was a high-ranking official or noble of sufficient status in Bianliang. Not only were envoys from various nations present, but even top-tier veterans like Shi Shouxin and Gao Huaide, who had long since ceased to involve themselves in politics, had come to the banquet. The grandeur of this event was evident from this alone.

Precisely because of this, seeing so many high-ranking officials and nobles present, even He Huaipu, who was determined to seek revenge for his son, could not help but feel anxious. Finding an opportunity, he whispered to Zhao Dezhao, "Dezhao, are you truly going to let this Huyan Zan fight for you? With so many of your seniors present, as well as envoys from other countries, if he loses, you will lose a great deal of face."

Huyan Zan, who had long felt his talents were unrecognized, showed a nervous expression, fearing that Zhao Dezhao might lose his nerve and retreat, causing him to miss another chance to make a name for himself. However, to Huyan Zan’s pleasant surprise, Zhao Dezhao replied with a firm attitude: "Uncle, there is no need to worry. I believe General Huyan will not let us down! I treat him as a scholar of national caliber, and he will surely repay me in kind!"

Hearing this, Huyan Zan, who had been deliberately suppressed by other superiors for years, nearly shed tears. With a slightly trembling voice, he bowed to Zhao Dezhao and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your trust. In this wrestling match, if this subordinate does not emerge victorious, I am willing to pay for my failure with my life!"

"There is no need for that," Zhao Dezhao patted Huyan Zan on the shoulder and smiled. "It doesn't matter if you truly cannot win. After all, those you are facing are professionals who make their living by wrestling, including Wang Hanzhong, a master already famous throughout the capital. I will not blame you if you cannot win against them. We can find a way to settle the score when another opportunity arises."

A glimmer began to shine in Huyan Zan's eyes. Afraid of losing his composure, he did not dare to speak, only nodding repeatedly to show he understood, his heart filled with extreme gratitude toward Zhao Dezhao.

In fact, it was already too late for Zhao Dezhao to back out. Just after encouraging Huyan Zan, Wang Ji'en, the Director of the Inner Palace, arrived with a beaming smile and said, "Your humble servant greets Your Highness. May I ask, is this the General Yu you recommended to His Majesty? He is indeed a man of outstanding appearance!"

"Director Wang, I am truly sorry, but due to some special circumstances, I have had to change my choice."

Zhao Dezhao gave a wry smile, briefly explaining the reason for his forced last-minute change of personnel, and introduced Huyan Zan to Wang Ji'en. Wang Ji'en continued to smile brightly and said, "It does not matter, it does not matter. With Your Highness's ability to recognize talent, even a last-minute selection must have extraordinary martial arts skills. Come, men, lead General Huyan to change his clothes and rest, and prepare him for today's wrestling competition."

Other eunuchs agreed and hurried over to lead Huyan Zan away for pre-match preparations. Having already suffered in the past, Zhao Dezhao was now more cautious. He quickly pulled Huyan Zan aside and whispered in his ear, "Watch your diet. It is best not to touch any food or drink that others have not consumed."

Huyan Zan nodded repeatedly to show he understood. However, at that moment, Zhao Dezhao noticed a detail out of the corner of his eye: when his own trusted eunuch, Wang Zhifa, went up to pay his respects to Wang Ji'en, Wang Ji'en deliberately ignored him, his expression one of disdain, as if he held deep contempt for Wang Zhifa.

Having watched countless palace intrigue dramas, Zhao Dezhao understood very well how much indirect influence the Director of the Inner Palace had over the Emperor. Therefore, after Wang Ji'en took his leave and Zhao Dezhao was being led to his seat by other eunuchs, he seized an opportunity to whisper to Wang Zhifa: "Zhifa, what is your relationship with Director Wang? Why does he seem to have a grudge against you?"

"Your Highness is wise. The truth is this," Wang Zhifa said with a tone of helplessness. "The foster father I served after entering the palace was a mortal enemy of Director Wang. If I hadn't been lucky enough to leave the palace in your service, after my foster father fell from power, it would have been a major question whether I could have survived until now."

Zhao Dezhao suddenly realized the situation and thought to himself, *I must find a way to resolve this. Otherwise, not only will it be difficult for me to gather intelligence from the inner court, but I might also be implicated by Wang Zhifa and push this old eunuch, Wang Ji'en, into the camp of my second uncle.*

Pondering this problem, he reached his seat. Because there were too many high-ranking court officials nearby that he needed to court and win over, Zhao Dezhao had to set this matter aside for the moment and devote his main energy to exchanging pleasantries with everyone. It was only then that Zhao Dezhao realized his seat was quite far forward. Besides his two uncles, the only people sitting above him were officials of the rank of Chancellor, such as Zhao Pu and Wang Pu. Even Song Wo, the biological father of the current Empress, was seated opposite him in the ranks of military officials.

*It seems Zhao Kuangyin is indeed valuing me more and more. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? When a vessel is full, it spills over. Should I keep a low profile and appropriately restrain my brilliance?*

Just as he was subconsciously contemplating this question, an elderly man in the official robes of Southern Tang walked directly up to Zhao Dezhao and bowed, saying, "This humble guest, Xu Xuan, greets the Prince of the Great Song."

"Senior, please, there is no need for such formalities. Today is a banquet in the palace, not a formal court session; you need not be so polite, Senior Xu."

Zhao Dezhao was hypocritically humble. Unexpectedly, Zhao Guangyi, not far away, suddenly spoke up with a grin: "Dezhao, since your poetry is so outstanding, surely you have heard of the great reputation of the Cavalier-in-Chief Xu? He is the very senior standing before you. Just a few days ago, he arrived in Bianliang to pay tribute on behalf of the Southern Tang monarch."

*Cavalier-in-Chief Xu? Never heard of him. I know plenty of famous figures from the Song Dynasty, but I've never heard of this 'Cavalier-in-Chief Xu'.*

Zhao Dezhao muttered to himself, vaguely feeling that his cheap second uncle’s initiative to introduce Xu Xuan’s background seemed ill-intentioned. Therefore, Zhao Dezhao decided to be blunt and gave a wry smile: "Second Uncle, you overestimate your nephew. I am merely a bookworm who buries his head in study; where would I have the opportunity to hear of such a great scholar from the Southern Tang?"

To Zhao Dezhao’s surprise, as soon as he finished speaking, Xu Xuan, who was standing before him, immediately picked up the conversation: "My meager reputation is naturally unworthy of Your Highness's ears. However, I have a curiosity: may I ask Your Highness, was the remaining couplet of the poem by the Emperor of the Great Song—'Not yet leaving the seabed, a thousand mountains of ink; only just reaching the mid-heaven, ten thousand nations of light'—truly completed by Your Highness in the blink of an eye?"

"Senior Xu, you even know about this?" Zhao Dezhao asked in surprise.

"It was the Emperor of the Great Song himself who told me when he summoned me," Xu Xuan answered very frankly, then added, "To be honest, Your Highness, I previously came to Bianliang as an envoy of the Southern Tang to pay tribute. Because I have a small reputation, the ministers of your noble country played with words with me. In the end, it was the Emperor who brought out the first half of this poem, which stumped me."

Having never heard of this situation, Zhao Dezhao was naturally at a loss. Fortunately, his third uncle, Zhao Tingmei, who was relatively kind, was also present. He beckoned Zhao Dezhao over and whispered in his ear: "It is indeed true. Because this Xu Xuan is exceptionally talented, the last time he came to Bianliang, your father deliberately allowed his ministers to compete with him in talent. As a result, no one could defeat him. Your father had to bring out the first half of this poem to barely stump him and preserve the dignity of our Great Song court."

*There was actually such a thing?*

Surprised by the chaos of the early Song Dynasty, Zhao Dezhao first thanked Zhao Tingmei for his guidance and then turned to Xu Xuan, saying: "Senior Xu, I did not expect there to be such an origin to this poem of yours and my father's. At the time, I was at home, closed off from the world and studying, so I was indeed unaware."

"That is fine," Xu Xuan shook his head and asked with a smile, "Your Highness, may I dare ask one more question: was the second half of the Emperor of the Great Song's poem truly completed by you in the blink of an eye?"

Zhao Dezhao did not stand on ceremony and immediately said, "To be honest, Senior, that is indeed the case."

"Really?" Xu Xuan’s expression was full of doubt. "I dare not deceive Your Highness. After being stumped by this poem in your country's palace, I have spent many sleepless nights searching for words to complete it. My younger brother Xu Kai, my good friend Han Xizai, and the literati of Jiangnan have all been at their wits' end regarding this poem. You are so young; can you truly possess such high learning?"

"Senior Xu, why is this strange?" Zhao Dezhao said with a smile, not blushing in the least. "I had a sudden flash of inspiration and completed my father's poem in one breath. Although it was a coincidence, it is not strange, is it?"

Clearly unwilling to believe that Zhao Dezhao had the ability to complete a poem that had stumped even him, the famous contemporary literary giant Xu Xuan was still full of suspicion. Zhao Guangyi seized the opportunity to interject: "Dezhao, since the Cavalier-in-Chief Xu does not believe you have such learning, why don't you have a poetry competition with him right now? Let the Cavalier-in-Chief see if you truly have genuine talent."

With one person calling, everyone responded. Once Zhao Guangyi made this suggestion, his henchmen and accomplices present naturally echoed it, all encouraging Zhao Dezhao and Xu Xuan to compete on the spot. Xu Xuan, clearly having intended this all along, immediately nodded and said, "I truly wish to seek instruction from Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will condescend to compete with me in poetry here and now."

Eager for his wicked nephew to make a fool of himself, Zhao Guangyi naturally took the lead: "Cavalier-in-Chief, rest assured! I will agree on behalf of my nephew Dezhao! Someone, bring pen and ink! Let us appreciate the talent of the Cavalier-in-Chief and my nephew Dezhao!"

Everyone knew whose side the Director of the Inner Palace, Wang Ji'en, was on in history. So, after Zhao Guangyi spoke, Wang Ji'en acted without waiting for formal orders, immediately ordering people to fetch the four treasures of the study to help Zhao Guangyi make Zhao Dezhao look foolish.

Seeing this, Zhao Dezhao made up his mind, thinking to himself: *What's the point of keeping a low profile? Even if I keep a low profile, can I be more low-profile than the original Zhao Dezhao? And what was his end? Since I have chosen to go against my "Car God" second uncle, I can only face the difficulties head-on and not yield an inch. That way, there is at least a glimmer of hope for keeping my head!*

Having made this decision, Zhao Dezhao first gestured for everyone to be quiet and then said loudly to Xu Xuan: "Senior Xu, since you insist on instructing me in poetry, I cannot refuse. How about this: we do not need to compete with set topics. I will write down three poems I composed in my spare time. If you can change even a single character in them, I will admit defeat!"

The scene fell into a sudden silence. Xu Xuan was so shocked he opened his mouth wide and asked in disbelief, "Your Highness, what did you say? If I can change even one character in the poems you write, you will admit defeat?"

Zhao Dezhao nodded solemnly, confirming it again. Zhao Guangyi was delighted upon seeing this and quickly said, "Good, then let it be a match! Bring the pen and ink quickly, let Dezhao write his poems!"

A young eunuch hurried over with a tray containing the four treasures of the study. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhao Dezhao stood calmly, prepared to take up the brush, and then said aloud: "Senior Xu, last year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, when I was returning home after visiting my father, I had a sudden inspiration on the road and wrote a 'Shuidiao Getou'. Please offer your corrections, Senior."

After speaking, Zhao Dezhao put down his brush and, using the muscle memory left by the previous Zhao Dezhao, wrote neatly on the snow-white rice paper: "When will the moon appear? With wine in hand, I ask the blue sky..."

As a famous literary giant of this era, although Xu Xuan was somewhat competitive in nature, he was destined to be a connoisseur. Before Zhao Dezhao had even finished half of this 'Shuidiao Getou'—plagiarized from Su Dongpo—Xu Xuan’s complexion had already changed drastically. His body trembled slightly, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. Wang Pu, Liu Wensou, and others nearby were all dumbfounded, so nervous they almost forgot to breathe.

Finally, after writing the last line, 'May we all be blessed with longevity, though far apart, we still share the moon's beauty,' Zhao Dezhao raised his head and asked Xu Xuan with a smile: "Senior Xu, how is this 'Shuidiao Getou' of mine?"

Hands trembling as he picked up the completed 'Shuidiao Getou', Xu Xuan recited it in a low voice, then muttered to himself: "Not a single word can be changed! Not a single word! To change even one character would be to ruin a masterpiece! To boil a crane and burn a lute!"

Wang Pu, Liu Wensou, and other famous literati nodded repeatedly, agreeing with this view from the bottom of their hearts. Zhao Guangyi’s expression was stiff, and he kept thinking to himself: *Am I dreaming? Does this little beast really have such great learning?*

"The next one is a poem for the Lantern Festival, which I wrote on a sudden impulse while visiting Zhuque Avenue during this year's Lantern Festival."

Nonsensically inventing the origin of the poem, Zhao Dezhao casually wrote the second piece: "The east wind blows open thousands of flowers at night, and then blows down..."

Xu Xuan’s reaction this time was even more exaggerated. Before Zhao Dezhao had finished this poem, turbid tears were already flowing from his eyes. And when Zhao Dezhao wrote the famous line, "Searching for her in the crowd a thousand times, suddenly I turn back, and there she is, where the lanterns are fading," Xu Xuan burst into sobs. He picked up the poem written in Zhao Dezhao's own hand, recited it aloud, and wept, choking with sobs: "I can die without regrets! I can die without regrets! To have read such brilliant and exceptional poetry in my lifetime, I can die without regrets!"

"Your Highness, since you had already written such poetry, why didn't you bring it out earlier for us to admire?" Liu Wensou stomped his feet, feeling incredibly regretful that he could only see such poetry now.

"It was just a sudden inspiration, I did not dare to bring out something so crude," Zhao Dezhao said with hypocritical humility, then added, "Why don't we skip the third poem? My father should be arriving soon; we must not delay the celebration!"

"No—!"

Liu Wensou, Wang Pu, and countless other literati shouted at the same time. Xu Xuan even knelt before Zhao Dezhao, hugging his leg and begging: "Your Highness, please, you must write it! You must! If I cannot admire your third poem, I will surely die with my eyes open!"

Pretending to sigh, amidst the entreaties of countless court officials, Zhao Dezhao sat down again, took up his brush, and wrote Yue Wumu's 'Man Jiang Hong'—though he changed 'Jingkang's shame' to 'Yanyun's shame'.

When Zhao Dezhao finally put down his brush, the whole hall was in an uproar. Xu Xuan once again knelt on both knees before Zhao Dezhao, kowtowing desperately, his face covered in tears, and repeatedly begged for forgiveness: "Your Highness, please forgive me. I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. I did not know of Your Highness's heaven-spanning and earth-encompassing talent. I am blind and have offended Your Highness. Please, Your Highness, forgive me. Please, I beg you to forgive my offense."

"His Majesty arrives—!"

At that moment, a long cry from a eunuch echoed from the rear hall. Immediately after, Zhao Kuangyin walked into the Funing Hall himself, accompanied by Empress Song and his second son, Zhao Defang. After only a rough glance, Zhao Kuangyin asked in surprise: "What has happened? Cavalier-in-Chief Xu, you are a man who does not even kneel before me. Why are you kneeling before my son today?"

"Imperial Brother, there is a reason."

Zhao Dezhao’s third uncle, Zhao Tingmei, hurried forward and gave Zhao Kuangyin a rough account of what had happened, and had the eunuchs present the three poems Zhao Dezhao had just written for Zhao Kuangyin to see. However, to everyone's astonishment, after quickly reading the three poems, Zhao Kuangyin’s expression changed, and he roared angrily:

"Dezhao, you little rascal, get over here!"