The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 477 The Jin Kingdom's Poisonous Scheme

The Jin army has been utterly defeated!

When the three commanders-in-chief, Talan, Jin Wuzhu, and Nie Erbojin, reunited in Kaifeng, they couldn't help but sigh inwardly: It's over!
They couldn't defeat the Northern Song Dynasty, and now they can't even defeat the Southern Song Dynasty.

Tartar, who had long since become a proponent of peace, couldn't help but complain, "See? I told you long ago that the Song Kingdom was a behemoth and should not be easily destroyed. You didn't believe me and insisted on fighting. Now, the Song Kingdom is divided into the Northern and Southern Song, and both have become tough nuts to crack. Neither of them can be broken."

Jin Wuzhu had always disagreed with Talai's appeasement ideology, but now he finally realized that he might have been wrong.

The State of Song does not seem to be a country that can be easily defeated in a single battle!

"What should we do now that things are like this?"

Talan: "Stop using your brain and just attacking! You should use some strategy."

Jin Wuzhu: "What plan do you have? A feigned attack? A feigned defeat? An encirclement?"

Talan said irritably, "These are all tactical approaches. The real strategy lies outside the battlefield."

Jin Wuzhu had no choice but to humbly ask for advice: "How can we employ strategies outside the battlefield?"

Talan: "Our scouts report that the Southern Song Dynasty is currently embroiled in a struggle over the succession."

Jin Wuzhu nodded: "I have heard about that, but what does it have to do with us?"

Talan: "It's a huge deal! Zhao Gou hasn't appointed a crown prince yet, and the court is in turmoil. The faction that he should be the rightful heir is arguing with the faction that opposes it, and they've sidelined the war faction and the peace faction. They seem to have forgotten one thing: the rightful crown prince of the Song Dynasty is still in the hands of our Jin Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Jin Wuzhu suddenly realized: "You mean, Zhao Chen?"

Zhao Chen was the eldest son of Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, and Empress Zhu. He was born in the seventh year of the Zhenghe era (1117). He was the grandson of Emperor Huizong of Song. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, no emperor had ever had a grandson. Emperor Huizong was overjoyed and liked this grandson very much.

In the first year of the Jingkang era (1126), Emperor Qinzong of Song ascended the throne, and Zhao Chen was promoted to Junior Guardian, Military Governor of Zhaoqing Army, and Prince of Daning. He was further promoted to Junior Tutor and Military Governor of Ningguo Army. In April, he was made Crown Prince by imperial decree.

To be fair, Zhao Chen is the rightful Crown Prince!
If it weren't for the Jingkang Incident, how would Zhao Gou have had the opportunity to ascend the throne? It wouldn't have been his turn at all! The throne should have been passed from Zhao Heng to Zhao Chen.

However, during the Jingkang Incident, the Song Dynasty's royal family was captured by the Jin Dynasty, and this rightful crown prince was also taken away by the Jin.

Jin Wuzhu said, "Uncle, why don't we send Zhao Heng back?"

Talan shook his head and said, "You don't understand the Han people at all. Since Zhao Gou has already ascended the throne, the civil and military officials have won his heart. Sending Zhao Heng back at this time is useless. He will only be honored as the retired emperor and then left aside. No minister will stand on Zhao Heng's side, and he won't be able to make any waves. However, sending Zhao Chen back is different, because Zhao Gou has no children and has not established a crown prince. If Zhao Chen is sent back now, this rightful crown prince will receive the support of many ministers."

Jin Wuzhu: "Are the Han people really this outrageous?"

Talan: "As long as we send Zhao Chen back, it will immediately cause political turmoil in the Southern Song Dynasty. In addition to the pro-war faction, the pro-peace faction, the faction that will support the rightful heir, and the faction that opposes supporting the rightful heir, we will create another faction based on Zhao Chen! If the Zhao Chen faction can win this political struggle, it will be equivalent to the Southern Song Dynasty being handed over to our Great Jin."

He wasn't talking nonsense. Zhao Chen had been kept in captivity by the Jin state for many years and had long since become like the Jin state. If Zhao Chen could eventually ascend the throne, the Southern Song Dynasty would become the second puppet state of Qi.

Jin Wuzhu said, "Then I will immediately write to Wuguo City and tell them to make preparations and make up some reason to send Zhao Chen back to the Southern Song Dynasty."

The two were chatting happily when they noticed a maidservant behind the screen, responsible for serving tea and water, tiptoeing behind the screen, then to the back of the house, into the kitchen, and whispering a few words in the cook's ear...

The cook nodded, quickly left the kitchen, and went to the side of the backyard. He waited there for a long time until a man delivering firewood arrived. The cook whispered a few words in the man's ear...

The woodcutter immediately dropped his firewood and ran away. The news spread like wildfire, layer by layer…
-
In Nanyang, Yue Fei, dressed in military attire, was inspecting the city walls. Generals such as Yue Yun and Zhang Xian accompanied him. Everyone was in high spirits. After their great victory over Jin Wuzhu, the Jin army had clearly lost its will to fight and had not dared to provoke them for a long time.

The Jin army's plan to quickly destroy the Southern Song Dynasty with 50 troops has clearly failed.

Yue Fei said, "We are no longer afraid of the Jin army's Iron Pagoda and Hooked Cavalry. If we fight a few more battles and turn our confidence around, we can recover the old capital of Kaifeng in one fell swoop and restore the national prestige of our Great Song Dynasty."

All the generals nodded in agreement.

Just then, a fast horse galloped up and arrived in front of Yue Fei, saying quickly, "Marshal, something terrible has happened! Our scouts have found out that the Jin Kingdom plans to release Crown Prince Zhao Chen."

"what?"

Yue Fei was greatly surprised.

Yue Yun, being young and naive, asked curiously, "Father, isn't it a good thing that the Jin Kingdom released the Crown Prince? Why do you seem so surprised?"

Yue Fei had no time to explain to his son. He asked anxiously, "Where is the Emperor? Where is the Emperor now?"

Zhang Xian stepped forward: "After our great victory, the Emperor has announced the success of his personal campaign and is planning to return. It seems he has only just set off. Perhaps we can catch up now."

Yue Fei said urgently, "Prepare the horse, I'm going to catch up with the Emperor."

He mounted his horse and galloped away...

When he reached the Baihe River, he saw the imperial boat preparing to set sail. Yue Fei shouted at the river, "Do not set sail yet! I have urgent business to report to the emperor."

The imperial boat stopped, waiting for Yue Fei to board.

Zhao Gou smiled broadly: "What's the matter, Minister Yue? You've come in such a hurry, you're out of breath."

Yue Fei said urgently, "Something terrible has happened! My scouts have reported that the Jin Kingdom plans to release Crown Prince Zhao Chen."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gou's face instantly darkened.

Yue Fei was also extremely anxious. His mouth moved faster than his brain, and he said urgently, "This humble general dares to ask Your Majesty to immediately establish Zhao Bocong as the crown prince. As long as Your Majesty has a crown prince, the Jin Kingdom's vicious plan will surely fail."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gou's expression darkened even further.

Qin Hui, standing nearby, said sarcastically, "The Emperor is still young."

Zhao Gou said coldly, "Governing a large army abroad is not something you should be involved in."

Yue Fei, with utmost sincerity, didn't think much of it and stubbornly retorted, "This humble general is truly thinking of Your Majesty's best interests."

Zhao Gou: "I understand. You may leave now. Don't block the imperial boat from setting sail."

Only then did Yue Fei realize something was amiss. Zhao Gou seemed somewhat angry and didn't intend to immediately resolve the Jin's treacherous plot; instead, he appeared dissatisfied with Yue Fei's advice. Wait, why? Does the Emperor not intend to deal with the Jin's insidious scheme?

Qin Hui sneered inwardly: "Heh! Yue Fei, you're quite wary of the Northern Song Dynasty, and you'll definitely be their enemy in the future. I've always wanted to get rid of you, but you have the Emperor's favor, so I couldn't do anything about it. Now it's different. You've offended the Emperor, and you've lost his favor. It will be easy for me to bring you down. Hehehe, just watch as I help the Northern Song remove this thorn in their side."

(End of this chapter)