Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 441 I thank Your Majesty for your magnanimity and benevolence!

If we really want to conquer Qinghai and Tibet, there is actually a shortcut. This shortcut is not about where to go, but about who to go.

There are two difficulties in dealing with Qinghai-Tibet: one is the vast and distant land, and the other is the high altitude and cold weather.

Who is the most suitable to go?
In fact, they are soldiers from the grasslands. The grasslands are also part of the plateau. Although the altitude of the grasslands is much lower than that of the plateau, compared to soldiers from the inland areas, soldiers from the grasslands live on the plateau and adapt much more easily.

Moreover, grasslands are also high-altitude and cold regions.

There's even more to it than that the grasslands are inhabited by nomads, and the plateaus are also inhabited by nomads. For nomads to fight each other is truly their comfort zone.

All you need to do is gather the troops from the grasslands inside and outside the Yin Mountains, and then go down the Hetao region to the plateau from Xihe Lanhuang of the Great Yan. The road is actually not far, and logistics and supplies are extremely convenient.

This was the "shortcut" in Su Wu's mind. The number of people didn't need to be too many; 30,000 grassland soldiers would be enough. Su Wu himself would send another 5,000 men, including 3,000 cavalry, a hundred or so cannons of various sizes, and some grenadiers, making a total of 5,000. Of course, auxiliary soldiers and laborers were not counted.

This was enough to sweep away all the Tibetan tribes in Qinghai. Now, the plateau is a disorganized mess, no longer the prosperous Tang Dynasty it once was.

This plan isn't large, and it won't cost much...

The first thing to do was to bestow rewards upon the various tribes of the grasslands in the spring.

Money, grain, supplies, cloth, salt, tea, and wine were all provided to all the tribes, and some cattle and sheep were even given as rewards.

Firstly, it was to reward them for their strong support of the Heavenly Khan; secondly, it was to reward them for sending troops from their respective tribes to serve the Emperor; and thirdly, it was to let them know that as long as they did things for the Emperor, there would be benefits, thus paving the way for deploying troops to fight against Qinghai and Tibet in the summer.

They will be ready to come when the emperor summons them in the summer. After all, the emperor will reward his soldiers for their meritorious service.

Once the imperial edict was issued, preparations were made for the transportation of supplies, and various ministries were instructed to send people to Hetao or Datong to receive them.

It's bound to be a large project, and it will keep us very busy.

In the midst of their busy work, Wu Song and Wu Yong returned, which also meant that Zhao Gou returned.

Summoned by the emperor, Zhao Gou was brought before the emperor in the Funing Palace, bound hand and foot.

Zhao Gou's face was full of terror. He had obviously been quite frightened on the way here. He knew that returning to Bianjing this time would mean certain death. It was just a matter of how he would die.

He had arrived at this place at this moment, a place he was very familiar with, which was also the end of his path to survival.

He was dragged to the palace, where the soldiers threw him to the ground, grabbed his arms, and shouted, "Kneel down and pay homage to His Majesty the Emperor of Great Yan!"

Zhao Gou was kneeling with his hands tied behind his back. He was pressed down and could only keep his head on the ground to maintain stability.

They hadn't even had a chance to see His Majesty the Emperor's face.

But then he heard the Emperor's voice: "Remove the bonds..."

The armored soldiers stepped forward and quickly bound Zhao Gou, allowing him to support himself on the ground with his stiff hands and slightly raise his head to glance at His Majesty the Emperor.

His Majesty the Emperor sat halfway up the steps of that high platform. He was not wearing the imperial dragon robe or any crown, but simply dressed in a blue robe, holding a stack of papers in his hand and reading them…

He was also familiar with His Majesty the Emperor, having met him many times in the past.

His Majesty the Emperor did not look up, but said only, "Where is the other bandit leader?"

"Your Majesty, the bandit leader Cao Cheng is right outside the palace!" Wu Yong replied. How could someone like Cao Cheng be qualified to enter the palace at will?

The emperor did not raise his head, but kept staring at the document in his hand, and said softly: "Hmm, behead him and display his head to the public!"

"As you command!" Wu Yong bowed respectfully.

Zhao Gou was shocked. He had beheaded the person without even seeing or asking any questions?
Cao Cheng was alright...

What is it, at least?
The leader of over 100,000 bandits? A renowned figure in the martial arts world?

Ravage across hundreds of prefectures and counties?

How can the emperor seem to completely disregard such a great thief?
Suddenly, Zhao Gou cried out, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me! This sinful subject deserves to die ten thousand times over!"

Upon hearing this shout… the emperor put away the stack of papers in his hand, got up and descended the steps, walked a short distance in front of Zhao Gou, and then sat down on the ground…

To put it simply: "This world originally belonged to your Zhao family. Your actions for the sake of your ancestors' legacy are truly filial. At this moment, you should absolutely not beg for mercy and cling to life. You should face death without fear! This is a virtue! You are worthy of being a son of the Zhao family! If this is passed down to future generations, they will not only laugh and mock you, but also feel a sense of regret and pity..."

These words startled Zhao Gou, who then turned pale and knew in his heart that he was doomed!

Suddenly, a feeling of fear spread from my limbs to the top of my head, and I felt cold all over, so cold that I shivered.

Then the emperor spoke again: "Since that's how it is, then there's no rush. Let's talk. A dying man has nothing to hide. Speak..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gou's courage was truly aroused, and he said in one breath: "How can the affairs of the world be like this? Military generals plot rebellion, and the whole world follows suit, while civil officials in various places remain silent. Scholars throughout the land bow their heads and do not listen. Is this such a great crime for my Zhao family to rule the country?"

Zhao Gou's words were somewhat untrue, but from his perspective and feelings, they seemed to be true.

Su Wu nodded slightly: "There's an old saying, 'Born in hardship, die in comfort.' You're not unaware of your father's actions, nor are you ignorant of the rampant corruption in the court. You just feel that the country hasn't reached the point of collapse yet. There's another matter: from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, from Qin to Han to Tang, great powers throughout history have established themselves through military might. Yet, with your Zhao family, military might has been completely lost. This is truly a grave sin..."

After saying this, Su Wu added, "You have committed a great crime, while I have made a great contribution, so the mandate of heaven has changed."

Su Wu answered very seriously: This land of China has always been like this, and will continue to be so for thousands of years to come. Only by establishing military might can the nation's fortunes be on the right track.

But over thousands of years, and even beyond, many countries in the world, without establishing military power, still became nations. These countries were definitely not good. All countries can be categorized into this category, without exception.

The law of the jungle still applies in the world, and it has never changed. This is not about anything else, but about the fact that the organization of the nation was formed so that all people could come together and use force and manpower to resist all the hardships and difficulties of survival in the world.

However, many people, having enjoyed good days and comfort for too long, come to believe that everything in the world is no longer governed by the law of the jungle, but is a product of so-called civilization. Little do they know that civilization is brought about by force, and even more so, protected by force...

Zhao Gou lowered his head slightly, as if he was pondering something...

After a long silence, Zhao Gou spoke, saying, "Your Majesty's military might is unparalleled, surpassing even the Han and Tang dynasties. In the past, I fled in panic and had no choice but to entrust my safety to Cao Cheng. I beg Your Majesty's mercy, for I am willing to devote myself wholeheartedly to serving the Great Yan!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wu stood up, habitually patted his backside, and said, "We were acquaintances in the past. If you truly come here to beg, so be it. I have never been a heartless person. You choose. If you maintain your dignity, the Zhao family will indeed have some respect in the history books, and future generations will likely not ridicule you. If you don't want this dignity and truly seek to live a wretched life, the history books will inevitably record a line: 'The Ninth Prince Zhao Gou was captured in the palace, weeping bitterly, prostrating himself on the ground begging for his life. The Emperor, in his benevolence and righteousness, granted it…' Think about it yourself, choose for yourself..."

Su Wu wasn't joking; if Zhao Gou were truly given the choice, he would choose the final fate of the Song Dynasty and its last historical place.

Just like in the history books, during the Battle of Yamen, the last young man of the Zhao Song Dynasty jumped into the sea. How could later generations say a disrespectful word when they saw this? Who wouldn't feel deep sorrow?

In the end, Song was respectable, and at least the Zhao family was respectable!
Su Wu added, "I still remember the day when the Jurchens besieged the city and demanded hostages, it was you who went... Whether you went willingly or reluctantly, it was you who went..."

Zhao Gou was not entirely without merit; at least in this matter, Su Wu had some respect for him…

Zhao Gou suddenly sighed deeply, slowly raised his head, lifted his knees, and sat down in the main hall instead of kneeling.

He wants to choose for himself...

How do I choose?
How does this teach people to choose?
Zhao Gou also looked up at the emperor, who indeed turned his head away, sat back down on the steps, and picked up the stack of papers to continue reading. Looking around, he saw many people; Wu Yong and Wu Song were obvious examples, but there were also many officials, and even a few he had seen before…

Everyone was looking at him, their expressions complex.

Clearly, everyone knew that Su Wu was not humiliating Zhao Gou, but was genuinely giving himself an option.

Who else is in the main hall?
Su Wu deliberately included Yue Fei (Yue Pengju) in the scene, so that he could also witness the final fall of the Song Dynasty.

After a long while, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the faint rustling of the emperor turning the pages of paper...

Finally, he spoke: "The fall of the country is the fault of my father and the crown prince, not my fault!"

After these words, a soft rustling sound filled the hall. No one spoke, but it was clear that many had forgotten they could still move. Now, the only sounds were the rustling of clothes, people picking up paper and pens...

Look at Yue Fei, his face is incredibly complex, perhaps it's hard to describe what kind of emotion it is...

Is it a pity? Or a lament? Or perhaps a pitiful yet laughable situation? Or maybe just a tiny bit of relief...

Su Wu looked up and nodded: "Alright, here's the plan. Yue Fei will be on a western expedition this year, to Hexi, to the Western Regions, to the Pamir Mountains, to a vast land that is where the Han and Tang dynasties were located. You can serve as a clerk under him and accompany him on this western expedition. Firstly, it will be to serve the country, and secondly, it will be to see how vast the world is!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you for your boundless grace! I am willing to serve the Great Yan with my life and die without regret!" Zhao Gou knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

Su Wu wasn't surprised. If Zhao Gou wanted to die, Su Wu wouldn't be surprised either. In Su Wu's mind, Zhao Gou should have some courage...

It's not surprising that Zhao Gou pleaded for his life; in the public's stereotype, he was supposed to be a cowardly and weak person...

"Go, go home and see your father and brothers..." Su Wu waved his hand, and that was the end of the matter.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your magnanimity and benevolence!" Zhao Gou shouted.

He thought to himself, "The country wasn't destroyed by me. People who lost their country can live well in the capital, enjoying high positions and generous salaries. Why should I die for the sake of the deposed monarch?"
When Zhao Gou left, this time he was not bound or escorted by armored soldiers; only a guide led the way.

Upon exiting the main hall, not far from the entrance, there was a person bound and gagged; this was none other than Cao Cheng.

Zhao Gou glanced at him, just once, and walked past without looking at him again.

Cao Cheng was extremely anxious and said, "Your Highness, have you pleaded for me? I am willing to die for the Great Yan without regret!"

Cao Cheng had just heard Zhao Gou's shouts and now saw Zhao Gou walk out of the hall unharmed.

Zhao Gou remained silent and did not turn back, continuing to walk forward.

Wu Yong stepped forward, accompanied by several armored soldiers, and pointed, ordering, "Take these people away and behead them!"

Cao Cheng quickly spoke up: "My lord, my lord Wu, I am also willing to die for the Great Yan. I am skilled in martial arts and will surely be brave and invincible in battle for the country. I am willing to die for the Emperor!"

Wu Yong frowned, glanced at him sideways, and said, "Take him away!"

The armored soldiers had already come forward to pull him away, but Cao Cheng continued to shout, so they punched him with their fists, hitting his cheeks and mouth, until he was soon silenced.

Su Wu heard the shouts outside the hall and muttered, "There's no doubt that Zhao Gou is ruthless and heartless..."

It's likely that when Zhao Gou returned home, he would have encountered Yang Zaixing right at the gate.

Yang Zaixing was indeed assigned by Su Wu to be a guard for the Zhao family.

I wonder what Yang Zaixing will think if he hears about what happened inside and outside the main hall today.
Zhao Gou truly wanted to return home, but he had nowhere else to go in the capital. How could he not go to the Zhao family?
When he returned home, his father, brothers, wife, and children all came to greet him at the door...

Zhao Gou kept a straight face and kept going inside, ignoring everyone, including his father.

As for feelings, there wasn't much genuine affection. Emperor Huizong had too many children in his life, and Zhao Gou was an illegitimate son, the ninth in line. His maternal family was also poor, so Emperor Huizong didn't take much care of him. There was hardly any affection to speak of.

Ethics and morality should exist, but for some reason, they are absent today.

The others were also puzzled, but followed Zhao Gou inside. Upon reaching the hall, Zhao Gou immediately said, "Serve tea, serve food, prepare warm water, and new clothes..."

The journey back was actually quite arduous.

Someone will prepare it.

Emperor Huizong of Song stood to the side, his face covered in tears, wiping them constantly, and sobbing, "My son is suffering! My son is suffering!"

Zhao Gou sat down on his own, glancing at his elderly father with a sidelong glance. He had indeed aged considerably, losing his former air of otherworldly wisdom and bearing many more gray hairs and wrinkles on his face... as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant...

Zhao Gou's tone was unfriendly: "The country was destroyed by you, not by me..."

Clearly, Zhao Gou was also unhappy. He knew that he had lived a life of ignominy and that people would laugh at him for begging for his life. So he needed an emotional outlet and a reason to calm himself down.

“It is because your father is incompetent…” Zhao Ji replied earnestly, tears streaming down his face.

Nowadays, they're no longer from the imperial family, but ordinary families, fathers and sons, an old father with many children, adults and children...

Now that his son has grown up, the old father is too weak to continue...

When his son throws a tantrum, the father can only try to calm and comfort him...

Hearing his father's words, Zhao Gou seemed to feel much better, and said in one sentence: "This year I will follow General Yue on his western expedition, to Hexi, to the Western Regions, to fight..."

"My son is suffering, it is because I am incompetent!" Zhao Ji said again. What could be done?
Zhao Gou waved his hand and said, "It's alright. I'll go and make a name for myself. If we lose the empire... it would never have been mine anyway, and it's not my turn to have it. I will follow the example of the Han and Tang scholars, go beyond the Great Wall, make a name for myself, and return in triumph. I will have a family fortune, and I might even become rich and noble. But wealth and nobility are secondary; I might even be remembered in history! In this way, I will have dignity!"

After saying these words, Zhao Gou felt completely relieved. As for whether he could achieve great things, that was not important at this moment.

Anyway, my father is no longer the emperor, and he has no empire to inherit. As for the family business... with so many people, there's probably not much left. If I lose my temper, he can't punish me, so I just let it out, and that makes me feel good!
Zhao Kai, who was standing nearby, suddenly showed a different expression upon hearing this…

Just listen to what the old man is saying: "My son has ambition, good, very good!"

The old father felt truly guilty, not for not taking better care of his son in the past, but for the fact that in the very end, it was his son who was raising an army and risking his life, and that he was making his last effort for the Zhao family.

It's guilt, and it's shame...

If he gets angry, just let him vent...

When the tea was served, Zhao Gou drank it without hesitation; when the food was served, he devoured it even more ravenously. Everyone watched, waiting for Zhao Gou to rise and ask, "Where shall I bathe? Where shall I stay?"

"Good son, come with your father..." Zhao Ji personally led the way for him, because he felt that among all his sons, Xu Zhen was only outstanding, and Xu Zhen would have to rely on him when he got old.
They are making arrangements for Zhao Gou here.

Over there, Zhao Kai got up and went out, taking an attendant with him as he left...

Where are we going?
Go to the left side gate and kneel to beg for the Emperor's favor!

(End of this chapter)