Daiqisi took a secret report from Huan Yi Yuan and handed it to him. "Although Han Tuozhou is nominally the head of all officials, some of his policies offended Jianshan Academy years ago, causing the officials of that faction to turn against him. On top of that, people like Jia Sidao, Shi Miyuan, and Xue Ji have never been on the same side as him, so he simply cannot mobilize many officials."
Song Qingshu accepted the report, and his expression immediately became quite colorful. It recorded Han Tuozhou's recent string of humiliations: Han Tuozhou had intended to send Xue Shusi, the Guang commander, to the front lines to command the Huai West forces, but Xue Shusi refused to take office. He then ordered Xu Jizhi, Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, to defend Jinling, but Xu Jizhi also refused the assignment. He transferred Qiu Yong to serve as Jianghuai Pacification Commissioner, but Qiu Yong declined the appointment...
Even through the sheet of paper, Song Qingshu could sense Han Tuozhou's embarrassment and fury. Yet there was nothing he could do. The Southern Song's civil officials excelled at playing word games; they could always find all sorts of absurd excuses to refuse an order while making it impossible to punish them. Besides, even dismissal or demotion was no great matter. With connections at court, they would soon be reinstated, and their previous ordeal would even earn them tremendous prestige, greatly benefiting their future promotions.
"Qiu Yong... That name sounds familiar..." Song Qingshu muttered, but he could not recall where he had heard it.
Daiqisi explained thoughtfully, "Qiu Yong serves in the Bureau of Military Affairs as Deputy Director. His son, Qiu Tongpu, married the second daughter of Lü Wende, the defender of Xiangyang. By that reckoning, he should be an official