[History of the Song Dynasty Palace] [49] [Author: Xu Muxi]

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Chapter 49: Increased Annual Tribute, Fu Bi Presents Lyrics and Music, Liu Yong is Reprimanded
. It is said that Xia Song, who had been guarding the border in Shaanxi for two years, always suffered defeats when enemy troops came. When questioned by the court, he was indecisive and lacked any strategy. Instead, he kept concubines in his camp, indulging in wine and women all day long, neglecting border affairs and showing no concern for the soldiers and civilians. Therefore, Yuan Hao knew of his incompetence and greatly despised him! He deliberately posted a reward for Xia Song's head: "Whoever brings the head of Xia Song, the Pacification Commissioner and Military Governor of Shaanxi, will be rewarded with three thousand coins." This reward was displayed everywhere along the Song border, in all of Xia Song's jurisdiction, as a sign of humiliation.
Xia Song knew of this, and although he was furious, there was nothing he could do. The people on the border all became the subject of ridicule! When the news reached Bianjing (Kaifeng), Zhang Yunping, the Censor, submitted a memorial impeaching Xia Song, stating: "Song has been the commander-in-chief for three years. Whenever the army goes out, it suffers defeat; whenever the enemy comes, they wreak havoc.
What use is such a commander? I request that another commander be chosen to strengthen the border defenses." Emperor Renzong, after reading the memorial, reassigned Xia Song to govern Hezhong and Chen Zhizhong to govern Jingzhou. He also consulted with his court officials, dividing Qinfeng, Jingyuan, Huanqing, and Fuyan into four routes. Han Qi was appointed governor of Qinzhou, overseeing Qinfeng; Fan Zhongyan governor of Qingzhou, overseeing Huanqing; Wang (氵公) governor of Weizhou, overseeing Jingyuan; and Pang Ji governor of Yanzhou, overseeing Yanyan. Each was concurrently appointed as a military commissioner and pacification commissioner. Of these four, except for Wang (氵公), all were former officials of the Song dynasty, responsible for repairing cities and fortresses, recruiting refugees, and pacifying the people. The Qiang and Han people feared and obeyed, daring not to disobey. The Qiang people especially revered Zhongyan, calling him "Old Master Longtu" because he had once served as a scholar-official in the Longtu Pavilion. From then on, the border generals captured prisoners, and defenses gradually strengthened. Yuanhao, realizing the difficulty, retreated and dared not cause trouble again.
However, just as the west had begun to pacify, the Khitan suddenly sent envoys Xiao Temo and Liu Yunfu to reclaim the land south of the pass and inquire about the reasons for launching a campaign against the Xia and for dredging rivers and increasing garrisons along the border.
The court appointed Fu Bi, the Imperial Edict Drafter, as the receiving envoy, accompanying the imperial envoys to the capital to greet them. Upon their meeting, the imperial envoy was to convey an imperial decree of condolence. Xiao Temo refused to bow, and Fu Bi protested, "The Northern and Southern Dynasties are called brothers. Our emperor is equal to your emperor. Now that an imperial decree of condolence has been issued, how can you not bow?" Xiao Temo feigned illness and could not perform the ceremony. Fu Bi said, “I once served as an envoy to the north. I was ill in my carriage, but upon hearing of your king's decree, I still managed to rise and pay my respects.
How can you be so disrespectful simply because you are ill?” Xiao Temo had no answer and could only rise and bow. Fu Bi then led them into the embassy and spoke frankly with him. Xiao Temo was very pleased and explained the purpose of the Khitan king's envoys. Fu Bi refuted them with reason. Xiao Temo secretly told Fu Bi, “Your country may agree if it is permissible; if not, you may increase your tribute or arrange a marriage alliance, which is also acceptable.” Fu Bi then led the two envoys, Xiao and Liu, to the court of Emperor Renzong and reported Xiao Temo's words to him. Emperor Renzong said, "That's excellent. We can simply increase the annual tribute, or follow the ancient practice of marriage alliances and select a member of the imperial clan to marry his son. However, we need to send a messenger to report the matter, and have Lü Yijian recommend someone capable of the task to go to the north." Lü Yijian, who was at odds with Fu Bi, said, "Fu Bi has previously served the Khitan and is quite experienced. If we send him this time, he should not fail in his mission." Emperor Renzong nodded and ordered Fu Bi to report to the Khitan. When the imperial edict was issued, the court officials were all worried for Fu Bi! Ouyang Xiu, a scholar of the Jixian Academy, even submitted a memorial saying, "Fu Bi is just a scholar, without the strength to even kill a chicken. If he is treated like Li Xilie of the late Tang Dynasty who detained Yan Zhenqing, Fu Bi is not worth regretting! But wouldn't he be jeopardizing the affairs of the state? The memorial was submitted but not reported." Fu Bi, however, generously volunteered to go, telling Emperor Renzong, "The emperor's worry is the subject's shame. I will not grant any favors other than the annual tribute." Emperor Renzong was deeply moved upon hearing this and immediately appointed Fu Bi as a Privy Council Academician. Fu Bi refused, saying, "When the country is in trouble, I should not hesitate to work hard. How can I accept titles and rewards first?" Emperor Renzong praised him again, and Fu Bi bowed and withdrew. He then went to the Khitan with Xiao Temo and others to pay homage to the emperor.
At this time, the Khitan emperor Longxu had died, Empress Dowager Xiao had also died, and his son Zongzhen had succeeded to the throne. After exchanging greetings, Fu Bi began by saying to Zong Zhen, "The emperors of two dynasties, father and son, have maintained friendly relations for over forty years. Why do they suddenly demand the cession of territory?" Zong Zhen replied, "The Southern Dynasty first broke the agreement, blocking Yanmen Pass, increasing the water level of the canal, repairing the city walls, and strengthening the army and civilians. What was the purpose of all this?
Our ministers had long wanted to raise an army to march south, but I did not agree. Therefore, they sent an envoy to inquire about the situation and demand the return of the land south of the pass. If they do not agree, they will raise an army again." Fu Bi said, "Has the Northern Dynasty forgotten the great virtue of my Emperor Zhangsheng, also known as Emperor Zhenzong? In the Battle of Chanzhou, our soldiers fought against him. If Emperor Zhangsheng had followed his advice, none of the Northern soldiers would have survived. Moreover, there is one more thing I must say to you. When the two countries make peace, the benefits go to the nation. If war breaks out, the benefits go to the subjects. The Northern Dynasty is now trying to start a conflict. I suspect that the subjects are only concerned with their own safety and disregard the well-being of the ruler." Upon hearing this, Zong Zhen was surprised and asked for an explanation. Fu Bi said, “This principle is self-evident. In the past, Emperor Gaozu of Jin deceived Heaven and rebelled against the emperor, and the last emperor was incompetent and chaotic. The territory was small and the people were divided and rebellious, which allowed the Northern Dynasty to advance into the Central Plains. But ask me, did the gold and coins obtained really go to the public? The country spent a lot of money on military expenses and lost many soldiers and horses, which only enriched private individuals and ruined the government. Now, China has a vast territory, a million elite soldiers, clear laws, and a united people. It is far superior to the Jin Dynasty. If the Northern Dynasty were to wage war, could it guarantee victory? Even if it were to win, the war effort would be exhausting and the losses would be enormous. Would the subjects or the country suffer? If the friendly relations continue, the annual tribute would belong entirely to the country, and the subjects would not receive a share. Naturally, they would be very unwilling and would urge the emperor to wage war.” Zong Zhen listened, stroking his beard with one hand, and nodded repeatedly. Fu Bi then said, “If you say that our dynasty blocked Yanmen Pass to guard against the Western Xia; that the dredging of the dikes was done before the establishment of friendly relations; and that the repair of the city walls and the training of militia were merely to make up for previous vacancies, how can you say that we have breached the contract?” Zongzhen said, “As you say, I have wronged the Southern Dynasty. But the land is what my ancestors originally owned, and I beg you to return it!” Fu Bi said, “The Jin Dynasty bribed the Khitan with Lulong. Emperor Shizong of Zhou reclaimed the land south of the pass; these were all matters of the previous dynasty. If both countries demand land, Youzhou and Jizhou, which were once under Chinese control, should also be returned.” Zongzhen had no reply and dismissed Fu Bi. Liu Liufu led Fu Bi to the embassy and said, "My lord is ashamed to accept gold and coins and is determined to demand ten vassal states south of the pass. Why doesn't the Southern Dynasty grant temporary leniency?" Fu Bi replied solemnly, "Our emperor often says, 'To defend the land for our ancestors, we dare not give away even an inch of land. What the Northern Dynasty desires is nothing more than rent and taxes. I cannot bear to see the people of both dynasties suffer from war again, so I would rather increase the annual tribute to replace rent and taxes. If the Northern Dynasty insists on demanding land, it is intentionally breaking the alliance. The Northern Dynasty should be the leader of the rebellion; the blame does not lie with our dynasty.'" Liu Liufu said, "The emperor of the Southern Dynasty is so benevolent. We should certainly help to restore peace between the two emperors." That day, a banquet was held, and the banquet ended happily. The next day, the Khitan ruler Zongzhen went hunting and invited Fu Bi to go with him. Zongzhen, leading a horse, whispered to Fu Bi, "If the Southern Dynasty agrees to cede territory, I swear to be grateful for their kindness and maintain lasting peace." Fu Bi replied, "The Northern Dynasty considers gaining territory an honor, while the Southern Dynasty will certainly consider losing territory a disgrace. Since we are brothers, how can we allow one to gain honor and the other to lose?" Zongzhen remained silent. After the hunt, Liu Liufu immediately came to say, "Our lord was quite moved by the words about honor and disgrace. Let's set aside the land south of the pass for now and wish to make peace with the Southern Dynasty. I believe they will agree." Fu Bi said, "A peace treaty can easily create discord. Besides, when our princess surrenders, the tribute is only 100,000 strings of cash. How can that compare to the great benefit of receiving annual tribute?" The next day, Zongzhen summoned Fu Bi and said, "You may return to your country and retrieve the oath. When you return, I will make a pact on one matter." Fu Bi took his leave and returned south. Upon meeting Emperor Renzong, he reported the details of the debate to him. Emperor Renzong then dispatched Fu Bi with the oath to the Khitan, ordering him to receive the oral transmission from the Grand Councilor. Fu Bi, having just arrived in Leshou, suddenly had a thought and said to his deputy Zhang Mao, "When I received the official letter, I didn't personally read it. If the oral transmission differs from the letter, how can I gain their trust? Wouldn't this jeopardize important matters?" He then opened the letter and, indeed, found it inconsistent with the oral transmission. He immediately rode back to the capital; it was already afternoon, and court had adjourned. Fu Bi knocked directly on the palace gate, requesting an audience. Emperor Renzong summoned him, and Fu Bi presented the letter, saying, "The Grand Councilor intends to frame me; he deliberately wrote this letter, which differs from the oral transmission. I would not regret my death, but what about the affairs of state?" Emperor Renzong also became suspicious and summoned Yan Shu to inquire about the error in the letter. Yan Shu said, "As a minister, Lü Yijian is not so muddle-headed. Perhaps there was an error in the transcription." Fu Bi replied, "Yan Shu is treacherous and an accomplice of Lü Yijian. Naturally, he would protect him. He has deceived Your Majesty to your face. What crime should he be punished for?" Emperor Renzong then ordered Yan Shu to revise the official letter and give it to Fu Bi to depart.
Upon arriving in Khitan, they did not discuss a marriage alliance, but rather annual tribute. The Khitan ruler, Zongzhen, said, "Since the Southern Dynasty is increasing its annual tribute, it should be called 'offering'." Fubi replied, "The Southern Dynasty is the elder brother; how can an elder brother offer tribute to a younger brother?" Zongzhen said, "If we don't use 'offering,' let's use 'accepting' instead." Fubi still refused. Zongzhen angrily said, "Hundreds of thousands of taels of gold and silk are already being handed over to me; what do I care about a mere word? If you anger me, I'll lead my troops south, and you'll regret it!" Fubi said, "Our emperor, out of consideration for the lives of both the north and south, has humbly increased the tribute, not out of fear of the Northern Dynasty. If war is unavoidable, the truth will be revealed; who will win and who will lose is beyond the envoy's prediction." Zongzhen said, "Don't be so stubborn; there have been precedents in ancient times." Fubi said, "In ancient times, only Emperor Gaozong of Tang borrowed troops from the Turks, which was called 'offering'. Later, Jieli was captured by Emperor Taizong; is there any precedent for that now?" His voice and expression became increasingly stern. Zong Zhen, knowing he couldn't sway the emperor, said, "You can't make the decision either; I'll send someone else to negotiate." He left behind a written oath to increase the tribute and dispatched envoys Yelü Renxian and Liu Liufu, carrying the oath, to accompany Fu Bi to discuss the terms "offering tribute." When Fu Bi first entered the court, he reported, "I have vehemently refused the term 'offering tribute.' Your Majesty, please do not grant it lightly." Emperor Renzong agreed and later adopted Yan Shu's suggestion, allowing the use of the term "offering tribute," increasing the annual tribute by 100,000 taels of silver and 100,000 bolts of silk. He sent Liang Shi, a drafter of imperial edicts, carrying the oath, to accompany Renxian and the others. The Khitan also sent envoys to reiterate the oath. From then on, the Song Dynasty and the Khitan maintained peace. When
Fu Bi first went to the Khitan, his daughter had died, and he didn't inquire about her. On his second trip, he heard of a son, but he didn't have time to visit him. When he received a letter from home, he didn't open it and burned it as soon as it arrived. When asked why, Fu Bi replied, "I read the family letters, but they only serve to confuse me. State affairs are not yet settled; how can I have time to concern myself with family matters?" At this time, the peace treaty had been concluded, and Emperor Renzong reinstated him as a Privy Council Academician. Fu Bi strongly declined, saying, "Increasing tribute was not my intention. The Khitans are cunning, and even their oaths cannot be relied upon. I urge Your Majesty to endure
hardship and not forget to revise the treaty. How dare I accept this reward?" Emperor Renzong greatly appreciated this and soon reassigned him as an Academician of the Zizheng Hall. Meanwhile, although Yuanhao had repeatedly defeated the Song army, many soldiers had died, and his troops had suffered heavy losses. Moreover, the Western Xia territory was experiencing drought and famine, with both soldiers and civilians impoverished, and they were gradually showing signs of submitting to the Song. Pang Ji, the prefect of Yanzhou, reported this to the Song court. Emperor Renzong ordered Liu Zheng, the prefect of Bao'an Army, to convey an edict to Yuanhao's close ministers, the brothers Ganglangling (translated as Yeli Ganglila) and Yuqi (translated as Yaqi), ordering them to submit and granting them the title of Xiping. Gang Langling, a cunning man, ordered his subordinates Langmai, Shangqi, and Meiniang to feign surrender in Yanzhou. Zhong Shiheng, the judge of Fuzhou, suspected a ruse and kept them in the camp, pretending to employ them. Gang Langling then sent the training officer Li Wengui to report the surrender date, but Zhong Shiheng also detained him. Yuan Hao invaded Zhenjie Army again. Wang (Gong) sent his deputy commander Ge Huaimin to fight, but Ge Huaimin was intercepted by Yuan Hao, suffered a crushing defeat and died, and his entire army was wiped out. Yuan Hao pressed his advantage and advanced directly to Weichuan. East of Jingyuan, war raged. Fan Zhongyan, the prefect of Qingzhou, led Han and non-Han troops to the rescue. Only then did Yuan Hao retreat.
Initially, Emperor Renzong ordered Hanlin scholar Wang Yaochen to pacify Shaanxi. After returning to court, Wang Yaochen reported that Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan both possessed the talent of generals and should not be left in exile. Emperor Renzong was not entirely convinced, but after Ge Huaimin's defeat and death, fear gripped the court and the people! Emperor Renzong then appointed Wen Yanbo as the military commander of Jingyuan and intended to transfer Fan Zhongyan to Weizhou to replace Wang (Duke). Zhongyan, deeming Wang (Duke) useless, submitted a memorial requesting to be stationed in Jingzhou alongside Han Qi. Emperor Renzong accepted Zhongyan's suggestion and appointed Han Qi, Fan Zhongyan, and Pang Ji as the Pacification and Military Commissioners of Shaanxi, establishing their prefectures in Jingzhou, each responsible for specific duties. He recalled Wang (Duke), and ordered Wen Yanbo to guard Qinzhou, Teng Zongliang to guard Qingzhou, and Zhang Kang to guard Weichuan. After receiving their orders, Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan worked together diligently to defend the border, maintaining strict discipline and managing their soldiers well. The Xia people feared them and dared not invade. The border people composed a four-line folk song: "With Han in the army, the enemy trembles at the mere mention of his name; with Fan in the army, the western bandits are terrified." However, Na Shiheng, because Gang Langling had sent someone to feign surrender, was determined to use this pretense to eliminate him and prevent him from becoming a confidant of Yuanhao. Coincidentally, there was a monk named Wang Guangxin, a man of great wisdom and resourcefulness. Zhong Shiheng recruited him as a subordinate and recommended him for a temporary post in the third rank, ordering him to change his name to Wang Song. He was sent with a letter to persuade Ganglangling and Yuqi to surrender. Ganglangling received the letter, opened it, and read that the court knew of his intention to submit to the emperor and had appointed him as the military governor of Xia Prefecture. He was urged to come quickly. At the end of the letter, there was a drawing of a jujube and a tortoise. Ganglangling looked at it, puzzled.
Wang Song explained, "The word 'jujube' sounds like 'early,' and the word 'tortoise' sounds like 'return.' This is an invitation for Your Majesty to return to the court as soon as possible." Ganglangling and Yuqi both belonged to the Yeli clan. Yuanhao had married a woman from the Yeli clan as his fifth consort, who was their younger sister. Therefore, the two were deeply favored by Yuanhao, were very capable, and held great power. The Xia people all called them "Great King," so Wang Song also called him "Great King."
Gang Langling, ever cunning, sneered, "Whom does Lord Zhong take me for, to play such a mystery?" He ordered his men to seize Wang Song and present him, along with the original book, to Yuan Hao.
Upon seeing Wang Song, Yuan Hao slammed his fist on the table in fury and ordered him beheaded. Wang Song, utterly unafraid, laughed loudly, "People say you Western Xia people are cunning, but I didn't believe it. Who knew you were so deceitful?" Yuan Hao, hearing this, couldn't help but shout, "Are you still going to say more? This is clearly a counter-espionage plot; do you think you can fool me?" Wang Song said, "King Gang Langling, if Langmai hadn't surrendered, Commander Zhong wouldn't have sent this letter without reason. Now Langmai and the others are still in Fuzhou, and Li Wengui has already given them an important position. Our dynasty has also appointed King Gang Langling as the Military Commissioner of Xiazhou. Who among the Qiang and Han people doesn't know this? To change such a reliable matter is surely evidence of the Western Xia people's cunning! Fine, my death is worthwhile; Li Wengui and the other four are there to pay for it." Yuan Hao, hearing this, was greatly surprised! He then asked Gang Langling why Li Wengui and the others had gone to their place. Gang Langling had previously sent Langmai and others to feign surrender, without informing Yuan Hao beforehand. Now, questioned, they found themselves unable to answer. Yuan Hao, seeing this, was greatly alarmed and suspicious! He immediately ordered Wang Song's sentence to be suspended and temporarily imprisoned, while simultaneously questioning Gang Langling. Gang Langling hurriedly explained the situation in detail. Yuan Hao, still somewhat doubtful, kept Gang Langling in his tent and sent someone, posing as Gang Langling's envoy, to see Zhong Shiheng. Shiheng had already anticipated that it was Yuan Hao's envoy and deliberately played along, treating him exceptionally well and agreeing on a date for Gang Langling and Yu Qi's surrender. The envoy returned and reported the situation to Yuan Hao. Yuan Hao was furious and immediately summoned Gang Langling and the envoy for a confrontation. Before Gang Langling could even defend himself, Yuan Hao killed him with a single sword stroke and imprisoned Yu Qi. Upon hearing of Gang Langling's death and Yu Qi's imprisonment, Zhong Shiheng laughed, "That Yu Qi fellow can't be spared either; we must eliminate him as well." He then composed a eulogy, saying that the Gang Langling brothers had intended to surrender to the Song Dynasty but had tragically met their demise—a truly lamentable end! This eulogy was extremely poignant, and it was secretly thrown into Xia territory. Someone found it and presented it to Yuan Hao. Yuan Hao then beheaded Yu Qi. However, Yuan Hao was also a man of considerable courage; even a mediocre scholar would recognize Zhong Shiheng's counter-espionage scheme. How did Yuan Hao fall into this trap and have his own allies clipped? It was because Yu Qi's wife, Meizang, was exceptionally beautiful and charming, and had a sister-in-law relationship with Yuan Hao's fifth concubine, Yeli, and frequently visited the palace. Upon seeing her, Yuan Hao was captivated by her beauty and desired to seduce her. However, he hesitated to act rashly because of Yu Qi and Gang Langling, both highly capable and powerful men. Just as he was at a loss, Zhong Shiheng cleverly used a counter-espionage scheme. Yuan Hao seized the opportunity, killing the Gang Langling brothers and then luring Mo Zangshi into the palace. Through intimidation and bribery, he succeeded in his plan. Having achieved his goal, Yuan Hao released Wang Song from prison, treated him with courtesy, and ordered him to write a letter to Zhong Shiheng expressing his desire for peace with the Song Dynasty. Zhong Shiheng informed Pang Ji, who then sent Li Wengui to negotiate. Yuan Hao was overjoyed! He immediately ordered Li Wengui and Wang Song to go to Yanzhou with the letter to negotiate peace.
Pang Ji received the letter and rushed it to the Song court. Emperor Renzong ordered Pang Ji to reply, agreeing to peace but instructing him to be respectful. Pang Ji obeyed the order and sent Li Wengui with the letter. Yuanhao sent He Congxu, the Sixth Envoy of the Palace, with a letter. In the letter, He Congxu identified himself as Nanbang Nidingguo Wuzu Nangxiao, and addressed the letter to the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty. Pang Ji, upon reading it, asked, "Why do you call yourself Nidingguo Wuzu Nangxiao?" He Congxu replied, "Nangxiao is my lord's newly adopted name. Nidingguo means 'establishing a state,' and Wuzu is the title of the ruler." Pang Ji said, "So, your lord still refuses to submit to our dynasty. How can this letter be presented to the emperor?" He Congxu said, "Even if we address each other as father and son, it is the same as the relationship between ruler and subject.
If the emperor does not permit it, we will consider other options." Pang Ji said, "In that case, you must go to the capital and explain yourself." He Congxu readily agreed and was escorted to the capital. Pang Ji reported that Yuanhao's letter was not properly written and that he should be ordered to acknowledge Yuanhao's submission before peace negotiations could begin. Upon reading the memorial, Emperor Renzong summoned He Congxu and instructed him: "If your lord truly wishes to submit, he should follow the format of the Han language, acknowledging his allegiance and swearing an oath. He must not use terms like 'muddy state' or 'dumb army.'" He Congxu kowtowed and replied: "Since the Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty has commanded me to submit, I should return to my country to discuss this further. However, the Celestial Dynasty's benevolence is far-reaching; each year, a certain amount should be bestowed upon me, which I can then report back to my lord." Emperor Renzong said: "I will send an envoy with you to finalize the agreement." He then ordered Shao Liangzuo, Zhang Shiyuan, Zhang Zishi, and Wang Zhenglun to accompany He Congxu to discuss the matter with Yuanhao. Upon
arriving in Western Xia, the four men were unable to reach an agreement due to Yuanhao's excessive demands for annual tribute. Yuanhao then sent envoys, such as Ru Dingyu (translated as Ru Dingyushe) and Zhang Yanshou, to Bianjing to discuss the matter again. They finally agreed that Yuanhao would bestow 100,000 bolts of silk and 30,000 catties of tea annually, and that the Xia ruler, Yuanhao, would submit and swear an oath of eternal loyalty.
The Xia envoy immediately submitted his oath, and Emperor Renzong replied with an imperial edict. A year after the Xia envoy left, Emperor Renzong dispatched Zhang Zishi, a junior official in the Ministry of Rites, as the envoy to formally recognize Yuan Hao as the ruler of the Xia state. In addition to the annual gifts, he bestowed upon Yuan Hao a pair of robes, a gold belt, a silver bridle, a horse, 20,000 taels of silver, 20,000 bolts of silk, and 30,000 catties of tea. From then on, peace was established between the Khitan and Western Xia, and the two northwestern border regions were finally at peace. Emperor Renzong was overjoyed! Besides spending his days in the palace singing, dancing, drinking, and indulging in pleasure with his concubines and beauties, he would also compose poems and songs in his spare time, set them to music, and order the palace women to sing them to accompany his drinks. It is said that when the emperor has a liking, the people will follow suit. Since Emperor Renzong enjoyed lyrics, scholars and writers naturally poured their hearts and souls into composing numerous lyrics and songs, hoping to please the emperor and gain wealth and power. At that time, there was a local official named Liu Yong, originally named Sanbian, later changed to Yong, courtesy name Qiqing, a native of Chong'an. In the first year of Jingyou (605 AD), he passed the imperial examination and was most skilled at composing lyrics and music. His lyrics were melodious and graceful, with appropriate meaning, perfectly capturing the peaceful atmosphere. He was appreciated for using the tune of "Yu Lin Ling" to write a poem about parting in autumn: "The cicadas chirp sadly, facing the long pavilion at dusk, the sudden rain has just stopped. Drinking at the city gate, I have no mood, just as I linger, the orchid boat urges me to depart. Holding hands, we look at each other with tearful eyes, speechless and choked with emotion. Thinking of the thousand miles of misty waves ahead, the twilight deepens and the Chu sky is vast. Since ancient times, love has been wounded by parting, how much more so on this desolate autumn festival. Where will I be when I wake up from my drunken stupor tonight? On the willow bank, in the morning breeze and under the waning moon. In the years to come, all the good times and beautiful scenery will be in vain. Even if I have a thousand kinds of feelings, with whom can I speak?"
This poem, elegant and flowing, spread far and wide, and everyone in the capital recited it fervently, praising the poet as "Liu Yong, the Gentleman of the Morning Breeze and the Waning Moon." It even entered the imperial palace. Emperor Renzong, upon hearing of it, also deeply loved the poem. At every banquet, he would order his attendants to sing it; whenever the emperor decreed that Liu Yong's poem be sung, everyone knew it would be "The Gentleman of the Morning Breeze and the Waning Moon." Although Liu Yong was a talented writer, he was also ambitious and eager for advancement. Hearing that Emperor Renzong loved his poems and often sang them, he hoped to use this opportunity to advance his career, but he had no chance and could only patiently wait. Coincidentally, that autumn, the imperial astronomer reported that the star "Old Man" had appeared, signifying peace and prosperity for the country and a long reign for the emperor. Emperor Renzong was overjoyed! It was also the Mid-Autumn Festival, the sky was clear, and the moon was as bright as day. Emperor Renzong was delighted and held a banquet in the palace. Liu Yong, who had been in contact with a palace attendant, seized the opportunity to secretly inform Liu Yong, asking him to compose a new poem and present it to Emperor Renzong, hoping for a chance to succeed. Liu Yong was overjoyed at this opportunity! He hastily stretched out his brush, exhausted from grinding paper, and composed a poem titled "Drunken Penglai," subtly alluding to the clear skies of Mid-Autumn Festival, the appearance of the Old Man Star, and the enduring prosperity of the nation. He then had a eunuch present it to Emperor Renzong. The poem reads: "Leaves gradually fall on the riverbank, clouds fly over the mountain peaks, a clear autumn day. The magnificent palace is in the sky, locking in the verdant auspicious air. Tender chrysanthemums are deep yellow, frost-resistant red is light, near the precious steps and fragrant steps. The jade palace is dust-free, golden stems are covered with dew, the blue sky is as if washed. In this time of peace and prosperity, all affairs of state are at leisure, the night is clear and bright, the water clock drips slowly. In the Southern Star, the Old Man Star presents auspicious omens at this moment, where are the imperial princes? The sound of pipes and strings is crisp, the Taiye Lake ripples, the fragrant curtains are rolled up, the moon is bright and the wind is gentle."
Liu Yong composed this poem and presented it to Emperor Renzong, who thought it magnificent, timely, and full of praise. He believed that Emperor Renzong would surely reward him greatly and promote him to a higher rank. Emperor Renzong, upon reading the poem and seeing the first character "渐" (jiàn, meaning gradually), was already displeased! Reading "宸游凤辈何处" (Cényóu fèng bèi hé, meaning "Where are the phoenixes on their journeys?"), which was identical to a poem he had previously composed for Emperor Zhenzong, he became even more displeased! Upon reading "太液波翻" (Tàiyè bō fān, meaning "The waves of Taiye Lake churn"), he said, "Why not use the words '波澄' (bō chéng, meaning 'clear waves')? This shows Liu Yong is a fickle person." Saying this, he threw the poem on the ground and refused to look at it. Seeing the emperor's displeasure, the eunuchs dared not say anything more. Later, Emperor Renzong discovered that
Liu Yong had colluded with the eunuchs to present the poem, and he despised Liu Yong's character even more, dismissing him from office for misconduct and never to be reinstated. While Liu Yong was dismissed for his poem, Song Qi, however, gained Emperor Renzong's favor through his own poems. Song Qi, also known as Song Zijing, was originally from Anlu in Anzhou, but later moved to Yongqiu in Kaifeng Prefecture. During the Tiansheng era, he and his brother Song Jiao both passed the imperial examinations, with the Ministry of Rites ranking Song Qi first and Song Jiao third. When Empress Dowager Liu was ruling as regent, she said, "Song Jiao is Song Qi's elder brother; the younger brother cannot precede the elder." Therefore, she ordered Song Jiao to be ranked first. Song Jiao later changed his name to Xiang, and rose through the ranks to become Vice Chancellor, Grand Councilor, and Privy Councilor, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Ju. Song Qi was a man of exceptional talent and eloquence, particularly skilled in writing lyrics. He composed the poem "Yu Lou Chun" on a spring day, which reads: "The eastern city gradually feels beautiful, the ripples on the water greet guests. Beyond the willow smoke, the morning clouds and red apricot blossoms on the branches are bustling with spring. Life is short, and joy is fleeting; who would value a thousand pieces of gold over a light smile? I hold up my wine cup to the setting sun, urging it to linger a while longer among the flowers.
" This poem became widely known in the capital, and Song Qi was called "Minister of Springtime Bustle on Apricot Blossoms." Emperor Renzong also deeply appreciated the beauty of his lyrics, frequently summoning him to the palace and treating him with great favor. At that time, due to the peace on the border, in the eighth year of the Qingli reign, on the Lantern Festival, Emperor Renzong, in order to ensure a peaceful occasion for all subjects, issued an edict in advance, decreeing that the Lantern Festival be celebrated with great festivities. Once this edict was issued, who in Bianjing dared disobey? Officials, needless to say, displayed lanterns of various shapes and sizes, while even commoners hung colorful and unusual lanterns in front of their doors. It was truly a grand feast for every household, overflowing with jewels, silver flowers, and dazzling lights. The sounds of flutes and drums filled the air, and brocade and embroidery adorned the streets. That night, the imperial guards did not enforce the curfew, joining the people in their festivities. The bustling streets of Bianjing were packed with people, so crowded that it was impossible to pass. Just then, several embroidered carriages flew in from the west of the street; an official traveled in a sedan chair from the east. As they approached each other, the crowds of lantern viewers jostled them, and they bumped into each other.
Who were these two people? We shall find out in the next chapter.

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