Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 916 False Peace Negotiations, Real Marriage Alliance

Zhao Dezhao realized what was happening and said with a hint of anger, "Isn't this making me a traitor to the Song Dynasty? How can I face our ancestors!"

Su Chen looked at him with a hint of pressure and said, "The Song Dynasty has only been in power for thirteen years. It was seized from the orphaned and widowed Chai family of the Later Zhou Dynasty. The Song Dynasty was established through the Chenqiao Mutiny. This country was stolen from the beginning. Where does your pride come from?"

Zhao Dezhao was speechless after hearing Su Chen's retort. What Su Chen said was true; this was how the Song Dynasty came to power. Zhao Kuangyin, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, was originally Chai Rong's most trusted general of the Imperial Guards, entrusted with the care of the young emperor and empress dowager. In the end, however, it was he who seized power.

“Even so, as a descendant of the Zhao family, I cannot help outsiders seize our own country,” Zhao Dezhao retorted.

Su Chen said truthfully, "Without your help, at worst we can continue to attack Chenliu City tomorrow. With the current morale and weaponry of the Wu army, they are strong and well-equipped. They may be able to take Chenliu within seven days. At that time, it would be lucky if half of the 100,000 Song soldiers survived. The people in the city will also suffer some consequences. Is this what you want to see?"

"Can't we just coexist peacefully?" Zhao Dezhao couldn't help but ask.

Meng Yutong sneered and said, "When your Great Song Dynasty was at its peak, did you ever think of letting the Southern Tang Dynasty off the hook, or letting the Later Shu Dynasty off the hook?"

She stared coldly at Zhao Dezhao, her eyes filled with hatred and icy coldness.

Su Chen looked at Zhao Dezhao and his sister and asked, "Do you know who she is?"

Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing shook their heads blankly. Although they had never met her before, they could feel the coldness and hatred in her eyes.

"She was the princess of Later Shu. When your Song army invaded Shu, it was her royal family and her clansmen who perished. They were either captured by your Song army and taken to Bianjing, or they died in the chaos of war. Shu made concessions and paid tribute time and time again, but unfortunately, your father did not let Later Shu go!" Su Chen said coldly.

Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing looked on in surprise, never expecting that this woman was actually a princess of Later Shu, whose country had been destroyed by the Song army.

Meng Yutong's words carried a hint of coldness: "Back then, my Shu Kingdom continuously paid tribute to the Song Dynasty and ceded cities, yet it was still destroyed by the Song army in the end. Moreover, the Song army burned, killed, looted, and plundered in Shu, abusing women and committing countless atrocities. They allowed their soldiers to do as they pleased for three months, and countless innocent people died in the ravages of war. All of this was done by your Song Dynasty. Now, karma has come full circle, and it has finally turned into the Song Dynasty's own doing. Do you think you are innocent?"

Zhao Dezhao was somewhat speechless, because it was a fact that the Song Dynasty had destroyed the Later Shu. At the time, they felt that this was the glory of the Song Dynasty and something worthy of praise and celebration. Now, facing the princess of the destroyed country, they still felt somewhat ashamed.

Meng Yutong continued to question: "Among Marshal Su's many wives and concubines, there was also a princess of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Before the Song army captured Jinling, she was forced to become a nun. The Li Tang royal family was captured by the Song army and taken to the Central Plains, where they met with misfortune. This was also due to the Song army. Do you think she hated the Song Dynasty? Do you still think you are innocent?"

"I'm sorry!" Yongqing couldn't help but wipe away his tears and apologize.

Seeing the shame on Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing's faces, Su Chen seized the opportunity to advise them: "The affairs of the world, after a long period of division, will unite; after a long period of unity, will divide. Since the Huang Chao Rebellion at the end of the Tang Dynasty, warlords have carved up the Central Plains, and numerous large and small states have been established, with constant warfare. It is time for unification. Your father previously thought the Song Dynasty was capable, but now the Wu Kingdom is rising in fortune and is more in line with the conditions for unifying the world. I advise you not to be stubborn and reluctant to give up your royal status. Originally, the throne was not meant for you anyway, and you are even in danger of being assassinated by the new emperor Zhao Guangyi, with your lives threatened. Rather than that, it would be better to submit to the Wu Kingdom, so that you can avenge your father and protect the people of the Song Dynasty from harm." Zhao Dezhao hesitated because Su Chen was telling the truth. He also felt that there was something fishy about his father's death. He had secretly discussed it with Yongqing and others and felt that it was very likely that his second uncle had harmed his brother in order to seize power. Zhao Dezhao's life was also in danger because he was the one who had the best chance to threaten the throne. Only if he died could his family and sisters be safe.

However, to stand on the opposite side of the Song Dynasty and give up one's royal status certainly requires great courage, and for a time, it was a difficult decision.

Su Chen said, "Our Wu Kingdom aims to achieve unification, end the war, and allow the people of the world to live a good life. This is the inevitable trend of history, and it is difficult to change. If you are worried about your own status, I can promise that your Zhao family's title will be passed down through generations, and you will never lack wealth and honor. We can even grant you a pardon, just like the Song Dynasty did for the Chai family, allowing the Crown Prince's lineage to inherit the title of Duke in perpetuity!"

"Let me think about it some more!" Zhao Dezhao was somewhat tempted by what he said.

Because this empire no longer belongs to him, but has passed to his second uncle Zhao Guangyi's lineage, it is expected that the Song Dynasty will be inherited by his second uncle's descendants generation after generation. Zhao Dezhao, the prince who was once closest to the throne, will likely be purged and suppressed until he is completely cut off from inheriting the throne.

Rather than living in constant fear, under the watchful eyes of his second uncle Zhao Guangyi's men, it would be better to change to a new environment where he could retain a certain level of prestige and receive a promise that the people of the Song Dynasty would be protected from invasion, refrain from robbing them of their grain and wealth, and from massacring them and indulging in debauchery. This would be the maximum protection for the people of the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Dezhao suddenly said, "I have another condition, which is that the marriage alliance remains unchanged. My younger sister, Yongning, has long admired Marshal Su. In order to obtain the promise of protection, our Zhao royal family asks Marshal Su to marry my younger sister, Yongqing. Her status will not be lower than that of a concubine. If you become emperor in the future, she will become a noble consort."

Su Chen was stunned upon hearing this, not expecting such an additional condition. It seemed that a marriage alliance was unavoidable. He smiled bitterly and said, "I promised to keep my word and never break it. There's no need to use a marriage alliance to bind us. The main issue is that I only met your sister today. She may not truly like me as a person. Without feelings, I'm afraid I will let her down in the future."

Zhao Dezhao glanced at the younger sister beside him and sighed, "She likes you a lot, but she's too shy to admit it."

"Your Majesty." Yongqing was extremely embarrassed and ashamed. He had just been lamenting the impending doom of the Song Dynasty and felt sad. Now that the topic of marriage alliance had come up, he felt deeply ashamed.

Su Chen looked at Yongqing and could see that she was stunningly beautiful and elegant. He just didn't know what her personality was like or whether she was easy to get along with. He had quite a few wives and concubines, and they were relatively harmonious for the time being. He had no intention of expanding his family. After all, he had deep feelings and experiences with all his wives and concubines, and they were not bound by momentary impulses or interests.

Yongqing was worried that Su Chen might think she didn't like him enough, so she said, "I can recite all your poems. I have always wanted to meet you. If I am fortunate enough to be married to you, in exchange for the peace and safety of my people, I am willing to marry Marshal Su."

Yongqing didn't hesitate. She knew very well that if she didn't seize this opportunity now, she might miss it for the rest of her life. Emotionally, after meeting Su Chen, she seemed to have no interest in any other man in the world; she only wanted to marry him. From a practical standpoint, marrying Su Chen would guarantee the future safety and status of the Zhao family.

Su Chen hesitated for a moment, but seeing that things had come to this point, he couldn't refuse. After all, disagreeing on this point would make the negotiation seem insincere. He also understood the other party's concerns and their desire for an extra layer of security, so he said, "We can settle it first. If we can reach an agreement, we can get married!"

Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing breathed a sigh of relief when they heard him agree. This was a decent consolation in the worst-case scenario.

Meng Yutong also felt relieved. This outcome was very beneficial to her husband, Su Chen, and she was happy to see it. Although she didn't like the Zhao family, she still had a broad perspective and wouldn't be jealous or obstructive in this matter; after all, she was a woman destined for great things.