The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 457 They Argued Again

Zhao Gou is writing a letter!

He was extremely reluctant to write to the traitor, but he still had to bite the bullet and affectionately address him as "Seventeenth Brother" in the letter. "At this time of national crisis, Seventeenth Brother, it doesn't matter how much we brothers quarrel, but you must help me preserve the Song Dynasty. If the dynasty is lost, you will be just as heartbroken, right? Let's drive back the Jurchens first, and then we can slowly contend for the throne."

After writing the letter, Zhao Gou was so displeased he felt like he could fly away.

Just then, a kind voice rang out from not far behind: "Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing the voice, Zhao Gou quickly swept away all his displeasure, instantly replacing it with a smile. He turned around and humbly greeted her, "Auntie! What brings you here?"

It turned out that the person who came was none other than Empress Dowager Meng.

During the Jingkang Incident, it was Empress Dowager Meng who "gave" Zhao Gou the throne. It can be said that without Empress Dowager Meng, there would be no Emperor Zhao. Therefore, Zhao Gou still respects her very much and dares not neglect her at all.

Empress Dowager Meng sat down opposite Zhao Gou and sighed softly, saying, "I am an official and do not usually concern myself with politics, but this time I heard that the Jin army of 50 men is marching south to Jingzhou and Xiangyang, and Your Majesty has no choice but to write to Zhao Shi for help. I was saddened to hear this news."

Zhao Gou: "..."

Empress Dowager Meng said, "At such an important time, it is time to make Zhao Bocong the crown prince."

Zhao Gou: "Hmm?"

Empress Dowager Meng said, "Zhao Shi's actions have caused some ministers to become disloyal. Since you have no heir, the ministers are even more likely to have ulterior motives. If you quickly establish a crown prince, the ministers' hearts will naturally be at peace."

Empress Meng's words made sense, and Zhao Gou, upon hearing them, couldn't help but waver a little.

Empress Dowager Meng was, after all, a woman, and did not want to interfere in politics. She said that was enough, sighed, and took her leave.

Zhao Gou pondered the matter, unable to make a decision. Just then, a young eunuch entered and whispered, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Qin requests an audience."

Zhao Gou: "Eh? Qin Hui is here? Perfect timing! Quickly bring him in, I have something to ask him."

Soon, Qin Hui entered.

Zhao Gou immediately asked, "Minister Qin, Empress Dowager Meng has advised me to establish Zhao Bocong as crown prince as soon as possible. What do you think of this?"

Qin Hui: "Huh?"

He feigned surprise, then his facial muscles twitched rapidly, showing that he wanted to say something but dared not say too much.

Zhao Gou, of course, wouldn't miss his subtle expression: "What do you want to say but dare not? Right now, it's just the two of us, the emperor and his minister, here. Feel free to speak your mind, I won't blame you."

Qin Hui didn't move his mouth, but his hand moved, and he pulled out a tiger whip from behind his back in a flash.

Zhao Gou glanced sideways: "What do you mean by this?"

Qin Hui: "I happened to get some wild game today and came to present it to Your Majesty. I dare not say anything else."

He presented the tiger whip with both hands, then turned and left without saying a word.

Zhao Gou looked at the tiger whip on the table, his expression shifting between light and dark.

Although he was a coward, he wasn't stupid; he understood immediately upon seeing the tiger penis. "I'm still young," he thought. "If I nourish myself properly and eat more aphrodisiacs, perhaps I can regain my manly vigor? Then I can have a son of my own to be the crown prince—wouldn't that be wonderful? Why bother using Zhao Bozong, this 'other people's child,' as the crown prince?"
Qin Hui is loyal to me; what he wants is for my bloodline, Zhao Gou's bloodline, to become emperor.

The other ministers were always talking about the Great Song Dynasty, the fate of the nation, the world, the state, and the people, but not one of them cared about my well-being!
Only Qin Hui truly cared for me; he was a great and loyal minister!

Zhao Gou made a decision: I will try having another child; the matter of establishing a crown prince must not be rushed. As for Zhao Shi, who cares? What difference is there between Zhao Shi taking my throne and Zhao Bocong taking my throne? Neither of them are from my lineage!
Only if I give birth to a son myself will no one be able to take my family's throne.

"Give this tiger penis to the imperial physician and have him prepare a good medicine for me."

Zhao Gou no longer wanted to establish a legitimate heir...

However, the officials in the court didn't care about all that. Many civil officials who shared Empress Dowager Meng's ideas began to bombard the court with memorials.

Censor Lou Yinliang submitted a memorial, citing the precedent of the succession to the throne in the Song Dynasty, and suggested that Zhao Gou should quickly establish a legitimate heir.

Li Hui, Zhang Shou, Xue Huiyan, Liao Gang, and others submitted memorials suggesting that Emperor Gaozong clarify Zhao Bocong's status as crown prince and "proclaim it to the spirit of Emperor Taizu in heaven."

Qin Hui would not let them succeed, so he immediately mobilized all his cronies to jump out and argue fiercely with the faction that was establishing the heir apparent.

His group didn't mention the fate of the nation or the goodness of the Song Dynasty at all. Instead, they put on an act of thinking about the Emperor's best interests: "Zhao Bozong is only seven years old this year. What's the rush? What's the use of making such a young child the Crown Prince? The Emperor is still young and can live at least ten thousand years. The Emperor can have another son, raise him, and then make a Crown Prince later."

"That's right! His Majesty hasn't had any children these past few years because he's been too busy with state affairs to visit the inner palace. As long as you stop bothering His Majesty all the time, he'll naturally be able to have a son."

"We oppose making Zhao Bocong the emperor! We want to wait until the emperor has a biological son."

As a result, the pro-war and pro-peace factions no longer had a chance to argue, and the court became a battleground between the faction advocating for the establishment of the heir apparent and the faction opposing it.

Li Gang, a proponent of war, and Wei Liangchen, a proponent of peace, were instantly marginalized. They couldn't even get a word in edgewise and could only watch as the assembled civil officials argued about things that didn't get to the point.

Li Gang was furious: "The Jin army has 50 troops pressing in, and what are you all arguing about here?"

Xue Huiyan said, "The matter of establishing the heir apparent is also a major issue concerning the fate of the nation. Lord Li, you don't think that only resisting the Jin is a major issue, do you?"

Li Gang was considering calling the police!
Wei Liangchen sighed and said, "I don't care about you guys!" After saying that, he packed his things and hurried off to the Jin Dynasty to seek peace.
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Dengzhou! It is the northernmost of the six prefectures of Jingxiang, and it is the first place that would be attacked when the Jin army of 50 came.

Yue Fei's main force is currently stationed in Dengzhou.

Zhang Xian, as the second-in-command of Yue Fei's army, led his troops to be stationed in Jinzhou, while Gao Chong led his troops to be stationed in Junzhou.

After Yue Fei unfolded the map and examined it closely for a while, he shook his head and said, "The Jin army of 50 is coming from different directions. It is impossible for them to attack only one place. At least three routes will advance simultaneously. Currently, Dengzhou is defended by me, Jinzhou by Zhang Xian, and Junzhou by Gao Chong. They are all well defended. Only Tangzhou is really a bit worrying."

Yue Yun was actually stationed in Tangzhou, but he was not stationed on the northern border of Tangzhou. Instead, he was stationed in the Tongbai Mountains on the eastern border, confronting the Northern Song army. This made the northern edge of Tangzhou relatively weak, and if the Jin army attacked Tangzhou, it would be difficult to defend against them.

He was frowning, considering which general to send to guard Tangzhou.

Suddenly, a messenger rushed in from outside: "Marshal, Marshal Han Shizhong's reinforcements have arrived."

Upon hearing the name Han Shizhong, Yue Fei was overjoyed: "Quickly, invite him in!"

(End of this chapter)