Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 195 Slaughter the Wanyan Clan, Turn Their Bones to Ashes!

Seven days later, in Lin'an, the capital of the Song Dynasty.

"Since the Jingkang Incident, the court has fled south, the two emperors have been captured in the north, and the north has fallen into ruin. The people and soldiers of the whole country are all filled with resentment and hope that the court will revitalize the military, launch a northern expedition to the Central Plains, and return to the old capital."

"However, the northern barbarians are fierce and barbaric, and the imperial army's morale is low. The Longxing Northern Expedition resulted in the loss of tens of thousands and ended hastily. The Kaixi Northern Expedition suffered defeats on all three fronts, forcing the country to pay tribute and become a hegemon, thus losing sovereignty and national humiliation. The people and soldiers of the whole country lamented that there would never be a day to return to the capital, and never a time to avenge their shame!"

"Fortunately, Heaven has shown mercy, and our ancestors of the Great Song Dynasty have blessed us. Zhao Shuo has risen to power in the north, and in the Battle of Sanfeng Mountain, the elite troops of the northern barbarians were utterly wiped out. They surrendered their land and paid tribute to Zhao Shuo, and their leader became the King of Henan. This is truly Heaven bestowing upon our Great Song the old capital! And bestowing upon our Great Song the Central Plains!"

"Heaven's justice will prevail, and China will surely stand up for itself! With the people's hearts in accord, even the humblest man will avenge his grievances! I congratulate Your Majesty, I congratulate the Great Song Dynasty, and I congratulate all the soldiers and civilians of the world!"

In the main hall of the imperial palace, Ge Hong, with his white hair and beard, spoke in a booming voice, as if this eighty-year-old man could still serve the court for another twenty years.

"Old fox, quick to steal credit and run away!" Zheng Qingzhi cursed inwardly upon seeing this.

He knew perfectly well what kind of person Ge Hong was.

In the past year, Ge Hong has petitioned the court six times to retire.

Since Emperor Zhao Yun came to power, Ge Hong had always claimed to be "old and senile" when it came to important matters of the court, and had not offered the emperor any advice whatsoever.

Now, the meeting in the main hall had just begun when he hurriedly jumped out, delivering a prepared and impassioned speech.

Shouting the slogan "Restore the Central Plains and return the old capital" is always a safe bet.

As the prime minister of the time, the fact that he could actually achieve this goal after proclaiming it would undoubtedly be a significant event in history.

Please!

What were you doing all this time, you old fox?
The initial proposal of "allying with the Mongols to destroy the Jin" was put forward by me, Zheng Qingzhi, okay? What does it have to do with you, Ge Hong? Now you're trying to steal the credit?
Zheng Qingzhi was frustrated, but he still followed up, saying, "Prime Minister Ge's words are very true. The Northern barbarians now only have the land of Henan left, yet Zhao Shuo has made peace with them. This is Heaven bestowing Henan and Bianliang upon our Great Song! To refuse such a gift from Heaven is to suffer the consequences! Our Great Song should mobilize the entire nation's troops to destroy the Jin Kingdom and return to our old capital!"

Zhao Yun was also extremely excited. He had become emperor too easily, and his throne was extremely unstable. If he had the merit of restoring the old capital, who could say he was unworthy to be the emperor of the Song Dynasty?

Of course, no matter how much he wanted to launch a northern expedition, he dared not issue an edict lightly. After all, the one who truly held power in the court was not him, but Shi Miyuan.

Zhao Yun looked at Shi Miyuan and said, "Duke of Wei, what do you think?"

Shi Miyuan frowned slightly and said, "On the surface, it seems that our Great Song Dynasty is taking advantage of the weakness of the Northern Barbarians to seize Henan and restore Bianliang. It is all beneficial and without any harm. But in fact, it is not so."

"Why do you say that?"

"Zhao Shuo is demanding three million taels of gold and thirty million taels of silver from the Northern Barbarians. The Northern Barbarians will inevitably hand over the best and brightest parts of Henan, including Bianliang, to Zhao Shuo. Even if our Great Song defeats the Northern Barbarians, what will we gain?"

Zhao Yun asked doubtfully, "Then at least we can get the land and people of Henan! Isn't that a huge gain?"

Shi Miyuan smiled bitterly and said, "The Jin invaders have been waging war for years, and the people of Henan have long suffered. If the Song Dynasty were to fight the Jin invaders in Henan again, it would be like the bandits passing through a comb and the soldiers passing through a fine brush. The people would suffer even more. After the court takes over Henan, will it collect taxes? Will it provide relief?"

"I'm afraid not only will we need relief, but we'll also need to be exempt from taxes for three years."

"What about three years from now? Don't forget, Zhao Shuo only promised that he wouldn't attack our Great Song within five years of destroying the Jin. In just two years, the taxes we collect from Henan probably won't even cover the relief efforts. Moreover, Henan is flat and easy to traverse, perfect for cavalry. Aren't we essentially taking Henan for Zhao Shuo for free and restoring the livelihoods of the people there?"

Zhao Yun asked, "Does the Duke of Wei mean that he does not approve of sending troops?"

"Of course not. Now that the Northern barbarians are at their wits' end, it is the best opportunity to wipe away the humiliation of Jingkang. If the court doesn't even dare to send troops, what will the people and the soldiers of the world think of His Majesty? What will they think of the current prime minister? What will they think of the court?"

"On the contrary, if the court can restore the Central Plains and return the old capital, the people and soldiers of the country will be greatly encouraged, and the court's prestige will increase. Even if Zhao Shuo attacks in the future, our Great Song will be able to fight back with the united will of the people."

Zhao Yun was confused by Shi Miyuan and asked, "According to the Duke of Wei, should the court send troops or not?"

Shi Miyuan said, "I agree to send troops. However, there are three things to be agreed upon before we send troops. First, the troops sent must be the elite troops of the Great Song Dynasty, and we must strive for a complete victory. We must never repeat the old story of the Song-Jin alliance, where our Great Song Dynasty could not even withstand the remnants of the Liao Dynasty. Otherwise, we will be trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead."

Zhao Yun nodded and said, "Of course."

"Secondly, the court initially decided to select three stunning beauties from Jiangnan for Zhao Shuo under the guise of choosing an empress for His Majesty, in order to bewitch him. Now that the six-month period is almost up, His Majesty must hurry."

Shi Miyuan's power as a prime minister in the Song Dynasty was far less than that of prime ministers in other countries.

Since the selection of beauties was in the name of choosing an empress for the emperor, these beauties are naturally in the palace now, and Shi Miyuan really can't interfere.

After listening, Zhao Yun felt troubled.

Of all these beauties, his favorite was the daughter of Jia She, the former governor of Huaidong. She was only sixteen years old and possessed a captivating charm.

Such a beauty, why not make her your empress? Why give her to Zhao Shuo?

However, even though Shi Miyuan could not intervene in the inner palace, Zhao Yun still could not make complete decisions because there was also Empress Dowager Yang.

Empress Dowager Yang's preferred choice for empress was a woman named Xie Daoqing.

It is said that this woman originally had measles and suffered from an eye disease. Although she had a graceful figure, she was not considered exceptionally beautiful. However, since entering the palace, her skin peeled away, becoming as white as jade, and her eye disease was cured, making her exceptionally beautiful.

With such a miracle before her, Xie Daoqing seemed to be the destined empress.

However, Zhao Yun understood that Xie Daoqing was indeed exceptionally beautiful, but the legendary tales about her were not necessarily true.

This was probably Empress Dowager Yang's way of repaying a debt of gratitude.

Empress Dowager Yang was able to become Empress Ningzong thanks to the crucial support of Xie Daoqing's grandfather, Xie Shenfu, in the court. After Empress Dowager Yang came to power, in order to repay the political favors of the Xie family, she specially ordered the selection of women from the Xie family to enter the palace and participate in the competition for Empress.

Could it be that Xie Daoqing is really going to be made empress? And that Zhao Shuo will be given his favorite concubine, Lady Jia?

Zhao Yun was really not happy about it.

He said vaguely, "Of course I will take this matter seriously. Now, let me tell you about the third matter, Duke of Wei."

Shi Miyuan said, "The third matter is that although Zhao Shuo has plundered all of Henan's resources during this campaign, our Great Song cannot leave empty-handed. I request Your Majesty to issue a secret edict to the high-ranking officials at the front, ordering them to exact severe revenge on the Jurchens and plunder their children and wealth. The descendants of the Wanyan clan must be exterminated. And most importantly... the Jurchen tombs must be exhumed!"

"What? The Duke of Wei wants to steal graves and rob tombs?" Zhao Yun exclaimed in surprise.

Xue Ji quickly chimed in to support Shi Miyuan, saying, "How can this be called grave robbing? This is called scattering ashes to avenge the blood feud of our Great Song! During the Jingkang Incident, how many princes and grandsons were brutally murdered? How many princesses suffered humiliation? What were the tragic circumstances of Emperors Huizong and Qinzong after their capture in the north? How did they die? Has Your Majesty forgotten all of this?"

Xuan Zeng chimed in, "Furthermore, there's no money to be made in Henan now. If we don't excavate the tombs of Jurchen nobles, aren't we just losing money and making a lot of noise? Your Majesty, please consider this: since the founding of the Jin Dynasty, Henan has been the Jin's homeland, and Bianliang has been the Jin's capital. Over the past hundred years, how many Jurchen nobles have been buried here? That's all money!"

Qiao Xingjian, a handsome and upright gentleman, chimed in, "Besides, His Majesty issued a secret decree instructing all the generals to act. How would the people of the world know it was His Majesty who issued the decree? They will only think that the soldiers are loyal to the emperor and deeply resentful of the Jurchens, which is why they are acting this way. It won't damage His Majesty's reputation!" Zhao Yun then looked at Zheng Qingzhi and Ge Hong, and asked, "What do you two, Prime Ministers Zheng and Ge, say?"

The two bowed in unison and said, "Your Majesty, I second that proposal!"

Zheng Qingzhi even added: "If anyone attacks meritorious soldiers because of this matter in the future, I will fight them to the end."

"A brave warrior feasts on the flesh of the barbarians when hungry, and drinks their blood when thirsty; what is a few dead men's graves compared to that? This is how the brave warriors of our Great Song should act!" The old man Ge Hong, in a burst of youthful exuberance, patted his chest and said, "If I do not speak up for the soldiers in the future, may I be condemned to the hell of Mount Tai after my death, never to be reborn!"

It can only be said that the hatred between the Song Dynasty court and the Jurchens ran too deep.

It was one thing to be unable to defeat the Jurchens in the past, but now that we can, regardless of whether we are civil or military, or what faction we belong to, we are all of one mind: to give the Jurchens the deepest revenge.

In fact, Zhao Yun also thought it was a good thing to annihilate the Jurchens and obtain rich burial goods.

I was just shocked, not in disagreement.

Now that everyone is speaking with one voice, he feels no psychological burden whatsoever.

Zhao Yun said, "Very well, let it be as you all say. Secretly order the generals to slaughter the entire Wanyan clan and grind their bones to dust!"

Of course, it was completely unrealistic for Meng Gong to destroy the desperate Jin state with his less than 20,000 loyal troops and 50,000 elite soldiers from Lianghuai.

After the Song court made its decision, it still needed to mobilize the nation's elite troops to Henan and then take a decisive step to destroy the Jin dynasty, which would take a considerable amount of time.

Furthermore, it would take considerable time for the Jin state to offer land to Zhao Shuo and raise funds for his children and other gifts.

Now that the Song Dynasty is attacking the Jin Dynasty, what if Zhao Shuo's plans are ruined? Therefore, the final decisive battle between the Song and Jin Dynasties will not begin for at least three months.

Seven days later, in Bianliang, the capital of the Jin dynasty.

"Hurry! The imperial messenger has entered the city!"

"Be careful, that's a top-quality Jun porcelain vase, worth twenty taels of gold! If you break it, can you afford to pay for it?"

"Oh dear, what are you doing loading these clumsy things onto the truck? What won't we have when we get back to Shandong?"

……

Kong Yuancuo, the Grand Master of the Palace and Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was personally urging his servants to pack their bags, his face full of smiles.

Of course, Kong Yuancuo's most important identity was not Guanglu Dafu or Taichangqing, but "Duke Yansheng", concurrently serving as the magistrate of Qufu County, and a 51st-generation descendant of Confucius.

At the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, during the Jingkang Incident, the Jin army marched south. Kong Duanyou, who was then the Duke Yansheng, took a wooden statue of Confucius and followed Emperor Gaozong of Song to Quzhou, Zhejiang, thus forming the Southern Branch of the Kong family. His younger brother, Kong Duancao, stayed in Qufu to protect the ancestral property. Later, he was conferred the title of Duke Yansheng by the Jin Dynasty and became the ancestor of the Northern Branch of the Kong family.

Kong Duancao's son, Kong Fan, and his descendants Kong Zheng, Kong Su, and Kong Yuancuo successively inherited the title and presided over the sacrificial rites at the Confucius Temple in Qufu.

Later, when the Red Turban Army rebelled in Shandong, Kong Yuancuo felt he could no longer stay in Qufu, Shandong, and went to serve in the Jin Dynasty. The Kong family in Qufu was then handed over to his cousin Kong Yuanyong to manage.

However, being an official in the Jin Kingdom is not an easy job.

With the Jin Dynasty on the verge of collapse, and 2.4 million soldiers and civilians crowding into Bianliang City, why should he still be the Duke Yansheng of the Jin Dynasty?
Fortunately, perhaps it was a miracle from their ancestors, the Zhao emperor in the north ordered his prime minister Yelü Chucai to compile a list of talented individuals to request from the Jin dynasty.

After much deliberation, Kong Yuancuo realized that while the city of Bianliang could do without many talented individuals, it couldn't do without him, the Duke of Yansheng!

Whoever is in power, must they not uphold Confucianism? And must they not bestow favors upon this Duke Yansheng?
Think about it again. Zhao Shuo has been conquering Shandong for so many years, why didn't he appoint Kong Yuanyong as the Duke of Yansheng?

He just doesn't think much of Kong Yuanyong.

This Zhao official from the north probably intends for me to be his Duke Yansheng!

Therefore, upon hearing that Zhao Shuo's envoy had entered Bianliang, Kong Yuancuo hurriedly urged his family and servants to pack their bags and prepare to continue serving as "Duke Yansheng" under Zhao Shuo.

No matter how the emperors changed, the Confucian family remained steadfast!
Well, that's it!

That must be the case!
However, at that very moment!

Thump! ~~
With a loud bang, a group of Jurchen armored soldiers broke down the door and rushed into the courtyard.

The leader was a tall Jurchen Meng'an, around forty years old.

He called out loudly, "Where is Kong Yuancuo, the Minister of Ceremonies?"

"Yes! Yes! I'm here!"

Kong Yuancuo quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, and said, "May I ask what business this general has? Is Yuancuo on the list drawn up by Yelü Chucai? Has His Majesty decreed that I accompany King Zhao Shuo?"

"Your Majesty has shown me the greatest kindness, and I would gladly give my life to repay it. Now that the Great Jin Dynasty is in peril, how can I bear to leave Your Majesty?"

"However, now that the mandate of heaven has changed, King Zhao Shuo is in accordance with the will of heaven and the hearts of the people, and is destined to become the emperor of the Central Plains. As a descendant of a sage, I should also serve King Zhao Shuo, so that the world will not be ignorant and unaware of the mandate of heaven!"

"Oh dear! This is really putting Yuan Cuo in a difficult position!"

These words were the result of Kong Yuancuo's deep contemplation over more than ten days.

He couldn't appear too enthusiastic about Zhao Shuo, lest the world perceive him as a sycophant who had forgotten his former master, thus degrading the character of a descendant of a sage.

They couldn't help but be eager to join Zhao Shuo, lest word get out and displease him.

These words were impartial, showing that he did not forget his former master, and that he believed Zhao Shuo had received the Mandate of Heaven and should go to serve him.

Kong Yuancuo believed that his words were quite appropriate, and that they might even be recorded in history books in the future.

However, the Jurchen Meng'an sneered and said, "What? You're on Yelü Chucai's list? Duke Yansheng, give up on that idea! Yelü Chucai's list has twenty-seven people on it, but you, Duke Yansheng Kong Yuancuo, are not on it!"

"what!"

Kong Yuancuo's expression changed drastically. He said, "I'm not on the list? How could I not be on it? Then... then what exactly do you want from my residence?"

(End of this chapter)