You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 117 Entering the Capital to Suppress the Rebellion
In Youzhou, Chen Shao met with Zhe Yanye, a member of the Zhe family from Fugu, at his residence.

Upon arriving at the flower hall, Zhe Yanye immediately bowed and said, "It is my great honor to meet the General today."

After he finished speaking, he nodded slightly to Wei Li beside him, "Mr. Yuanjue is here too."

Wei Li nodded slightly. Chen Shao thought to himself, "The Zhe family truly lives up to their reputation as the pinnacle of social connections; they even know Old Wei and the others."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Please take a seat," Chen Shao said with a smile.

Zhe Yanye took a sip of tea, and felt the refreshing tea soothe his mouth and nose, which made him feel a little more relaxed. The fact that Chen Shao brought out this quality tea to entertain guests showed that Chen Shao valued him and Fugu.

This military commander looked very young, but Zhe Yanye did not dare to underestimate him because of his age, after all, he had already established his own territory.

This territory is even larger than Fugu.

He smiled slightly and said, "The nation's recent financial reforms and the commander's righteousness are truly admirable. To be honest, our Fugu also has some carriages, horses, and ships."

"Welcome!" Chen Shaoba couldn't wait to bring more people onto the vehicle. As long as this route was secured, it would be convenient for him to transport grain in the future.

As for others trying to get a share of the pie and make some money, Chen Shao didn't care much.

In fact, Fugu's position is now quite awkward.

They were stationed on the eastern side of Xia Prefecture, which was the front line against the Western Xia. In order to keep them in place of the Western Xia, the Song Dynasty tacitly accepted the fact that Fugu was a separatist state.

The Zhe family of Fugu was a unique presence even within the Western Army.

They were essentially regional military governors with extremely high levels of autonomy.

Now, however, all of these lands have been taken over by Chen Shao.

Now that Fugu has become part of the interior, the Zhe family will definitely have to find a way to deal with it; they can't be unaware that the imperial court will reduce the power of the regional military governors.

Such aristocratic families have a very long-term vision.

Historically, the Zhe family surrendered to the Jin dynasty and was transferred to Shandong, leaving behind their hard-earned home in Fugu, after which their glory faded.

However, you can't say that the Zhe family wronged the Song Dynasty. They genuinely resisted the Jin Dynasty, but they were simply outmatched and eventually surrendered.

The current head of the family, Zhe Keqiu, was poisoned after surrendering to the Jin dynasty; Zhe Yanzhi fled south and became an important official in the Southern Song dynasty, marking the end of the era when his family held power in various prefectures and counties.

The Zhe family realized that this was a joint effort between the Emperor and Cai Jing to reorganize the Imperial Guards. They had no connection with the Imperial Guards and were not afraid of them, but it would be extremely beneficial to befriend both the Emperor and Cai Jing.

Therefore, they took the initiative to visit Chen Shao and offer to participate in his efforts to support Bianliang with a caravan.

Chen Shao knew that the soldiers of Fugu were actually quite capable fighters, and the Zhe family was full of talented people.

It might come in handy in the future.

The two sides quickly reached an agreement. Zhe Yanye picked up his teacup, took another sip, and then put it down. He said, "This time, the military commander's actions are truly beneficial to the country and the people, and are worthy of our utmost admiration."

He wanted to subtly inquire whether Chen Shao had gone on his own initiative or had been invited by Cai Jing.

How to get along with this neighbor, who now controls five prefectures including Xinding and Nan, is of paramount importance to Fugu.

Unfortunately, Fu Gu didn't know much about him; his rise to power was too rapid.

If he wanted to take over the Western Xia, then Fugu could still serve as a fortress to defend against enemies in the northwest, thus retaining its current status.

The only difference was that the enemy changed from Western Xia to Chen Shao.

If he were wholeheartedly loyal to the emperor and patriotic, then Fugu would be in danger.

Of course, there is another possibility: if he wants to establish a separatist regime like Fugu, then the two sides can cooperate closely, just like the relationship between the Yang family of Linzhou and Fugu back then.

Chen Shao could probably sense what he meant, but he was too lazy to care what the Zhe family thought.

They are obsessed with establishing their own independent regimes because they don't know what the future holds. In a few years, the Jurchens will come, and then you people will understand my thoughts, Chen Shao.

When a formidable enemy looms overhead, Chen Shao becomes less concerned with immediate gains.

No matter how much land and assets you acquire, if you lack the strength to resist the Jurchens when they arrive, you'll only be doing all the work for someone else.

Emperor Huizong of Zhao had enough power, didn't he?
His wife, daughter, and daughter-in-law all became someone else's slaves.

Therefore, Chen Shao did not follow Zhe Yanye's lead, but instead said to himself, "The Imperial Guards of the Capital are a malignant disease of our Great Song Dynasty. All the wise rulers and virtuous ministers of our dynasty have discovered this problem, but the time was not right and they were unable to eliminate it. Now that Prime Minister Cai is using his methods to mend the heavens, it is truly a blessing for the country, and we should give our full support."

"The Dingnan military caravan is not under my command, Chen Shao. We are just business partners. So it's not like I'm helping Cai Xiang. I'm just stating the facts. Those who have the country in their hearts will naturally do their part."

Upon hearing this, Zhe Yanye immediately bowed in submission and echoed his sentiments, indicating his complete agreement.

But judging from his expression, he probably didn't think so.

Chen Shao shook his head inwardly. He felt that the words of the ancients were particularly easy to understand after arriving in ancient times. At this moment, he truly understood what it meant to say: "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together."

At this moment, Zhe Yanye was probably thinking something like 'that sounds nice'. Chen Shao looked at him carefully and noticed that his expression was very subtle. Although he seemed expressionless at first glance, his expression was constantly changing.

This is a new skill that Chen Shao has recently learned: observing subtle changes in other people's expressions. He must master this skill because he has gradually discovered that when his position is high enough, there are many things that others will not tell you; you have to see for yourself!

Zhe Yanye talked about Fugu again, but did not mention cooperating with Chen Shao to jointly resist the Song Dynasty's policy of weakening the regional powers.

However, there are both overt and covert hints that they are similar in position and need to advance and retreat together.

Chen Shao smiled, appearing all ears. He already knew that the fact that the Zhe family hadn't fallen all these years meant they had their merits. He had no reason to oppose the Zhe family, but there was absolutely no reason for him to cooperate with them.

Because what I am planning is not to establish a separatist regime.

Finally, Zhe Yanye stood up, clasped his hands in farewell, and took his leave. Chen Shao, who was about to see him off, heard Zhe Yanye say with a smile, "General, please return. I heard that my aunt is here, so I must visit her before I leave."

"Please help yourself."

After leaving the flower hall, they entered a carriage. Once Zhe Yanye was seated, the old man sitting next to him suddenly asked, "How is it?"

"He's younger than I imagined, but I can't tell what he's really thinking."

The old man nodded and said, "As expected. This man's actions all have a strange quality, making it impossible to tell what he's up to. But I think there must be a reason why Old Zhong was able to arrange a marriage with him."

Zhe Yanye said, "Fourth Uncle, why does he dare to meddle in everything? Isn't he afraid that in two or three years, those people in Bianliang will take action against him?"

"I see him as a mystery too. Logically, someone who has built such a empire in such a short time shouldn't be so short-sighted."

After seeing Zhe Yanye off, Chen Shao returned to his study and sat down, thinking about something.

The fact that the Zhe family knows so much about themselves indicates that they have their own intelligence system, which is quite important for a powerful force.

I have not established such an organization myself.

Chen Shao's intelligence mostly came from official gazettes and military reports, which were issued by government offices.

However, the foundation has already been laid. Intelligence is about transmission and collection. The information transmission agency I set up between Yinzhou and Bianliang is similar to a private post station. With a little development, it can collect and transmit intelligence for me.

But who should be assigned to take charge?
Chen Shao was in a bit of a dilemma.

After taking charge of the Dingnan Army, he didn't actually promote many of his trusted confidants.

Cui Lin went to Bianliang and became the deputy director of the Beijing Liaison Office.

Da Hu remained his personal guard, never leaving his side when they went out.

Zhao Shan and Zhao He have limited abilities, but they are still around and can run errands for me, which is satisfactory.

It wasn't that he didn't want to be close to his subordinates, but rather that he lacked the conditions and the opportunity.

Chen Shao always felt that once he reached this position, it was very unreliable to try to control his subordinates by relying on personal relationships.

As one's status rises, money, wealth, and power can all cause one to change their heart.

Only when interests are intertwined can a relatively solid nexus be established.

His method of ruling the Dingnan Army was essentially based on binding interests.

This system was sufficient in the early stages, but as the Dingnan Army expanded its territory and increased its strength, it needed to have its own core group of loyal followers.

Arranged marriages are a set of tactics. For example, the Hengshan Zhuling tribe naturally had a closer relationship with Chen Shao because of the Jin Mo'er sisters.

When they encounter problems, they also consider their relationship with themselves.

Chen Shao then listed the names of some of the officials and military officers he had promoted on a piece of paper, including both non-Han and Han people.

Wu Jie, Mei Zang Pang Ge, and Wei Ming Li Tong, who quelled Fang La's rebellion, all performed well, and Wang Yin, whom they subdued, was also a talented individual.

Among them, Wu Jie and Mei Zang Pang Ge have better backgrounds. Wu Jie was a defeated soldier of the Xihe Army who was taken in by his own fortress in Hengshan. He can be said to have a clean background and no connections. He was promoted by himself and can be trusted.

Meicang Pangge was a minor leader of the Meicang tribe. Their tribe was the first to follow him in resisting the Western Xia. They played a crucial role in capturing Yanzhou and could no longer be tolerated by the Western Xia.

Wei Minglitong has the bloodline of the Western Xia royal family. He was captured by Han Shizhong on the battlefield, so he cannot be given too much trust for the time being, at least not too much military power or important positions.

Mei Zang Pang Ge led the barbarian cavalry in several battles, all of which were quite remarkable; Wu Jie defended Muzhou and eventually captured Fang La.

It would be best to train these two to lead troops, so they can fight the Jurchen Tartars with you in the future.

Let's go with Wang Yin then.
He had worked his way up from the bottom, and he was capable; he was even one of the few people in Fang La's camp who could see that he was not fit to enter Hangzhou.

Chen Shao looked down and circled Wang Yin's name, already having made up his mind.

The head of this organization is Wang Yin, but the best agents inside are the young men brought from the three fortified villages of Hengshan.

They came to Dingnan Army with me, and as an outsider, they had to rely on me to gain a foothold.

"Someone, bring Wang Yin to me."

While Chen Shao was waiting for Wang Yin in his study, someone came in and said that the sand table he had ordered was ready.

The study door was wide open, and several guards carried in a sand table. Chen Shao glanced at it and told them to place it next to the desk against the wall, and to hang a map on the wall as well.

Looking at the newly made sand table, one can almost see the vast land of Dingnan Five Prefectures, with its crisscrossing rivers and canals, fertile fields stretching for miles, rolling grasslands, and undulating mountains.

When the smoke of war recedes from this place, soon the fields will be teeming with cattle and sheep, and herds of horses will roam freely. This fertile land will become his foundation, and with this vast land, he will have ample opportunity to make his mark.

Chen Shao tore off a piece of paper with Wu Jie's name written on it, rolled it up, and stuck it near the salt pond.

He planned to transfer this young general to the front line at Yanchi, a place bordering Western Xia, where friction often occurred.

On the contrary, Xiazhou, which was the most unstable at the beginning, is now relatively peaceful because it is backed by desert.

The nomadic tribes from the grasslands, who were not yet called Mongolians, came to us wanting to do business.

Chen Shao then found a piece of land near Xia Prefecture and prepared to fence it off and build a market.

When Jin He'er brought in the tea tray, Chen Shao was standing in front of the sand table, looking around with an air of superiority and high spirits.

This is indeed a treasure land. It would be even better if we could destroy the Western Xia. At that time, I would plunder the strong horses of the Tibetans in the west, gather the elite troops of the Huihe in the north, and gain the bravery of the Qiang people of Hengshan in the east. Moreover, I would have Han soldiers to serve me.

"Sir, would you like a cup of tea to soothe your throat?"

She held the teacup with both hands, took a small sip herself, and then presented it to Chen Shao.

Chen Shao chuckled and pinched her cheek. This little girl was different from her sister. Jin Mo'er looked flirtatious and charming, while Jin He'er looked innocent, but in reality, she was quite the opposite.
-
Wang Yin was very excited. After being in the Northwest for so long, he was finally summoned by the military governor again.

These days, he serves as a captain in the Imperial Guard and has been looking for opportunities to prove himself, but he hasn't had a chance.

When Fang La attacked Hangzhou, Wang Yin opposed it, but he still dared to brave arrows and stones to dig at the city walls.
He is a person who is eager to make progress, eager to achieve success, and has a strong sense of career ambition and self-interest.

Upon arriving outside Chen Shao's study, Wang Yin straightened his captain's robes, and after confirming that everything was in order, he adjusted his helmet and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

The study of the military commander was personally decorated by Li Shishi, and it was decorated in a simple and elegant style.

At this moment, a pretty young Qiang girl in a white dress was kneeling in front of the table, carefully arranging the tea set with great concentration, and a delicate fragrance wafted over.

Jin He'er was very focused on boiling water and making tea, and she didn't even look up when someone came.

Wang Yin quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Commander."

"sit."

Chen Shao waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

Wang Yin was somewhat flattered, but he did not refuse. He walked to the chair, sat down, and placed his hands on his knees, ready to stand up and reply at any time.

"I plan to establish a new battalion, and you will be its commander."

Wang Yin was somewhat excited, and he made no attempt to hide it on his face.

He stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Your subordinate is willing to go through fire and water for the General, even unto death!"

Chen Shao told Wang Yin his plan, and the more Wang Yin listened, the more excited he became. This was to do dirty work for the military governor, who was the most trusted of his confidants!
opportunity finally arises!
-
September.

Countless mules, horses, vehicles, and boats from the Northwest purchased various supplies from different prefectures and transported them to Kaifeng Prefecture.

It has boosted the livelihoods of countless towns and villages along the way; no one can count them all.

Along the way, bridges were repaired, roads were repaired, and waterways were dredged. Local officials at all levels received imperial decrees instructing them to cooperate as much as possible.

This project was actually not as large as the Huashi Gang (a large-scale project involving stones and flowers), but it did not harm the people and was actually beneficial to them. Local governments were happy to see them come to repair bridges and roads.
Once these supplies arrived in Bianliang, the Imperial Guards' first economic card had become ineffective.

The basic livelihood of Bianliang was guaranteed.

Cai Jing listened to his subordinates' report with his eyes closed, somewhat surprised.

He was surprised by Chen Shao's efficiency.

The fact that he was able to accomplish this in such a short time shows that his control over the Northwest, especially over the Dingnan Army, is deeper than the court thought.

Cai Jing carefully considered the situation in the Northwest and felt slightly uneasy.

However, considering that this battle in the capital city of Bianliang was of paramount importance, far surpassing matters at the border, he was temporarily unwilling to expend his energy on the northwestern frontier.

Let's settle the important matters in the court first!
In the eyes of these Song Dynasty scholar-officials, there were no trivial matters within Bianliang and no major matters outside Bianliang.

Even someone as wise as Cai Jing cannot escape this way of thinking.

What's the movement of the Imperial Guards outside the city?

Gao Ji laughed and said, "Not yet, but I heard that He Guan has been going to the military camp frequently lately."

Cai Jing nodded and said, "It's alright."

He knew He Guan; he was brave but reckless, and stubborn.

He couldn't even unite the Imperial Guards, so how could he fight against himself?

“Tell Tong Guan to get ready,” Cai Jing said calmly.

At this moment, several of his close confidants were so excited that their faces turned red.

These few words carry a very heavy meaning.

Cai Jing was also somewhat pleased with himself.

The inspection of the Imperial Guard's finances was merely a carefully orchestrated pretext to break the temporary stalemate in the court. From this point on, various figures would gradually become involved, until everything in the central government of Bianliang was completely affected.

However, what Cai Jing painstakingly planned and schemed was not merely the financial and economic affairs of the Imperial Guard.

He wanted to do what previous generations of famous ministers had wanted to do but were unable to.

Let future generations know that it was Cai Jing who extended the life of the Song Dynasty!

The Imperial Guards of the capital were a festering sore, a sore that had grown into the very heart of the Song Dynasty.

No matter how many good medicines are injected, it's useless. Even if some flesh and blood are healed, it will quickly become infected again.

We must be determined to eradicate it completely!
From the very beginning, what Cai Jing wanted to rectify was not the finances of the Imperial Guards, but the Imperial Guards themselves.

Previously, hundreds of thousands of imperial guards occupied the capital, and no one dared to make a move. Now, Tong Guan's campaign against Liao has brought an army of 100,000—this is the best opportunity yet!
Chenqiao Town is located directly north of Bianliang (Kaifeng), and is the birthplace of Emperor Taizu, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty.

More than a hundred years ago, 100,000 elite imperial guards roared out and stopped here.

In the dead of night, the entire army suddenly erupted in commotion, and the generals and soldiers went straight to Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and presented him with a yellow robe.

The army turned back and forced the orphaned mother and son of the Zhou family to abdicate, thus seizing the throne from the Later Zhou dynasty.

From then on, they conquered Shu and destroyed Tang, and Wu and Yue surrendered their territories, thus establishing the foundation of the Song Dynasty for more than a hundred years.

The past is gone, and the truth of that mutiny will forever remain unknown. Whether it was premeditated or a sudden mutiny is no longer important.

More than a hundred years later, Chenqiao Town has become somewhat deserted, but its name, consisting of only three characters, is forever etched in history books.

However, it remains a crucial crossroads connecting Bianliang to the various routes of Hebei and Hedong. South of Chenqiao Town, a large cluster of dark and somber inn buildings testifies to its importance as a transportation hub. The Hebei region was devastated after Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi's campaign against Yan, and it has yet to fully recover.

Hebei was originally one of the most important territories under the rule of the Central Plains dynasties.

However, it became a discarded pawn when it came to the Song Dynasty.

As autumn draws to a close and winter approaches, the north will soon be swept by howling winds and heavy snow, making travel between the north and Bianliang even more scarce.

This strategic location north of Bianliang was unusually deserted at the moment. There was no market day in Chenqiao Town, and hardly any market noise. At the nearby Chenqiao Post Station, only a few old soldiers were either sweeping or basking in the sun outside, lost in thought.

Recalling the exciting scene from over a hundred years ago, with tens of thousands of troops clamoring and torches flying like dragons, escorting the newly crowned Emperor Taizu back to Bianliang and ushering in a new dynasty, those who passed through this place must have felt as if they had lived through another era.

Because this place was close to the capital, the post stations near the city gates naturally fell under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Guards. Under the control of the Imperial Guards, everything developed into a business opportunity, and everything could be made profitable.

The same applies to this post station.

Therefore, when the Western Army came to Hebei, they avoided these post stations.

Because the Western Army had two characteristics: first, they were poor, so poor it was heartbreaking.

The second problem was the poor military discipline; it was so bad that they were like convicts.

To save money, the army avoided going to Chenqiaoyi.

It was nearly dusk when a group of people came from the north. Wang Bing spurred his horse forward, wanting to speed up the group and set up camp far away from Chenqiao Town to avoid attracting too much attention.

Just as he was urging the men in the group to quicken their pace, one of his personal guards pointed ahead and said excitedly, "General, isn't that Commander Tong Xuan waiting ahead?"

Wang Bing was startled and looked up.

Sure enough, on a desolate hill not far ahead, two riders stood on horseback.

Immediately, a slender and handsome man appeared. Even from this distance, one could almost feel his sharp features. Who else could it be but Tong Guan, who had served as the border governor for over a decade?

Beside him was another military officer, but Wang Bing did not recognize him.

The autumn wind was strong, and the evening wind lifted Tong Guan's cloak high, casting a long shadow on the ground as the setting sun shone on it.

Regardless of how Tong Guan treated others, he was absolutely kind to Wang Bing, having personally promoted him.

This time, he strongly guaranteed that he would serve as the vanguard general in the campaign against Liao, which will be another glorious achievement in his future record!
Indeed, from Tong Guan to Wang Bing, and down to the soldiers below, very few people thought they would fail in their campaign against Liao.

In their eyes, the Liao Dynasty was just a dilapidated house; they could just kick it and it would collapse.

Wang Bing pulled on the reins, and the horse galloped off like the wind, with more than a dozen personal guards following closely behind. Although the large entourage was not allowed to leave the marching column without orders, they all whispered excited words.

"Commander Xuan has arrived; something important must have happened!"

After Wang Bing approached, he clasped his hands in a fist salute from his horse and said, "Commander Xuan, what are your orders for summoning us here?"

Tong Guan smiled and waved his hand without saying a word, then took out a yellow cloth from his sleeve.

Once he had it in his hand, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by cold indifference. He shouted:
"Your Majesty, I receive the imperial decree!"

Wang Bing and the others quickly dismounted, knelt on one knee, clasped their hands, and received the imperial decree.

"The Provincial Privy Council urgently reported that He Guan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards in the capital, was secretly forming cliques and plotting to overthrow the emperor. I was shocked and horrified upon hearing this, as if I were standing on the edge of an abyss."

Those who guard the palace are the pillars of the state, whom I have always trusted and relied upon. How could such treacherous villains betray my grace and dare to harbor such wicked intentions? If these people are not punished, how can the ancestral temples find peace!

Your loyalty shines as bright as the sun and moon, and your courage is awe-inspiring, both Chinese and barbarians. You once quelled the Xia bandits at Hengshan, and now you are tasked with pacifying the capital region.

He was specially granted the Tiger Tally and was given command of the Palace Guard and the Imperial Guards; all troops and soldiers in the capital region were at his disposal.

We may act expediently, and punish the rebellious chieftain as a warning to others. In the prefectures and counties we pass through, provisions and weapons shall be supplied immediately; anyone who dares to delay shall be punished according to military law.

I hereby decree that you shall sever the giant turtle and establish the dynasty, swiftly eradicating the evil influences. Upon your success, you shall be granted land and a noble title; I will not hesitate to bestow upon you rewards!
Therefore, this imperial edict is hereby issued, and the journey should be undertaken swiftly. This is to inform you.

A surge of passion welled up in Wang Bing's blood, and he could hardly contain his excitement. He rose, mounted his horse, and drew his sword: "Brothers, let's march to the capital and quell the rebellion!"
-
In Bianliang City.

The Bian River flows swiftly, entering Bianliang through the West Water Gate, passing Jinliang Bridge, the Old Zheng Gate, Longjin Bridge, Xiangguo Temple Bridge, and finally exiting through the East Water Gate.

Beside the waterway outside the East Water Gate, there is a ruin of an old, dilapidated riverbed, where the Bian River flowed hundreds of years ago.

Over the centuries, the landscape has changed dramatically, leaving only remnants of the earthen dikes built back then.

This is an artifact left over from the Sui Dynasty, and the scene here is quite famous in the vicinity of Bianliang City.

As the Bian River flows through this area, every autumn, a faint sobbing sound can be heard, as if it too is mourning the past.

The Autumn Sounds of Bian River has long been considered one of the forty-eight scenic spots near Bianliang. Every autumn, when the weather is clear and the forests are ablaze with color, people flock here to enjoy the scenery, hold banquets, or simply stroll through the autumn landscape.

After several expansions, Bianliang had become a densely populated area along the Sui Dike. The villas of wealthy families lined the Bian River, capturing almost all the essence of this place with its unique autumn scenery.

Every autumn, these villas are filled with banquets and parties every day, with few days off. As things gradually settle down in Bianliang City, with winter fast approaching and little autumn scenery remaining, the banquets and parties here become even more frequent, as if they can hold onto the last vestiges of autumn.

Suddenly, a large group of people appeared and guarded several of the houses.

Everyone looked sideways.

The guarded areas were the residences of the princes.

Now that the emperor has moved out of the Forbidden City and into Genyue, he rarely returns to the palace.

Most of the princes also left the palace and had their own residences.

For so many years, the Song Dynasty had emphasized civil affairs and suppressed military affairs, so the people in Bianliang City were not afraid of these soldiers.

They all stood up and started pointing and commenting.

Some with sharp eyes noticed that the armor and banners of these people were clearly those of the victorious army that had entered the city a few days earlier.

Cai Jing was well-versed in history and knew that he needed to prevent the powerful families of the Imperial Guards from resorting to desperate measures at crucial moments.

If they really dared to rebel, they wouldn't openly declare it a rebellion; they would simply support a prince as a figurehead and find some excuse like "purging the court of corrupt officials."

Therefore, he had Tong Guan surround the crown prince, princes, and even imperial relatives in advance.
-
At this very moment, in Genyue, they were surrounded by the victorious army.

Wearing a crimson gauze robe and a gauze hat, Zhao Ji sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression unreadable.

Below him was a group of trusted advisors, huddled together, discussing matters in hushed tones.

One of the men, a tall man with a white beard, was seated below; this was Cai Jing. The other man, standing closer to Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji), was Liang Shicheng.

These days, Liang Shicheng has kept a very low profile. Compared to Cai Jing's bold and frequent actions, Liang Shicheng has practically disappeared.

The Imperial Guards repeatedly pleaded with him, but Liang Shicheng always feigned illness to avoid seeing them.

Cai Jing's true intentions were too complex for outsiders to discern. As for Liang Shicheng, he was simply seeking to lay low. All his power stemmed from the emperor, so regardless of whether it aligned with his own interests, Liang Shicheng had to support Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) on crucial matters!
As for close advisors like Wang Fu and Cai You, it was only today that they learned what major plans the Emperor, Chancellor Cai, and Tong Guan were plotting.

They took the recent turmoil as nothing more than the fire of factional strife finally reaching the Imperial Guards, and frankly, they didn't take it seriously.

They were only thinking about how to make a quick buck from it.

As for why Zhao Ji was able to muster such determination, it was not because he had lofty ambitions to surpass his father and brothers.

It was simply that he really wanted to continue spending lavishly, but he also knew that the imperial court was out of money. Not only was it out of money, but the premature printing of paper money had also blocked this avenue for making money.

Cai Jing used to make money by robbing Peter to pay Paul; but when Wang Fu came to power, it was like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Moreover, Wang Fu ate the eggs himself, leaving himself only the shells.

Once he ran out of money, Zhao Ji naturally started thinking about his own enjoyment, and he felt extremely uncomfortable. He hadn't maintained his palaces and temples for a long time, and Zhao Ji was uneasy every day, fearing it would hinder his path to immortality.

I really want to spend a sum of money!

Therefore, he displayed a boldness that no previous Song emperor had shown, determined to completely eliminate the Imperial Guards!
If the Imperial Guards were wiped out, the money saved each year would be enough for him to squander.

They could even have the money to conquer the Liao and Xia dynasties, reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and enjoy themselves while also being remembered in history for all time!

The matter was already a done deal, but as the moment approached, Zhao Ji became somewhat worried.

The Imperial Guard was said to number a million, but in reality, it was estimated to be between three and five hundred thousand.

What an enormous force this is!

What if things escalate into a commotion?

Seemingly seeing through his thoughts, Tong Guan laughed and said, "Your Majesty, once the arrow is released, there is no turning back. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards of the Capital Garrison have been riddled with holes by those parasites over the years and are no longer as brave and fierce as they were at the founding of the country."

Emperor Huizong nodded and said, "I am not worried."

At this moment, Tong Guan was indeed the most courageous among this group.

Having commanded troops for over a decade, he was knowledgeable in military affairs, and in his view, the fighting capacity of the Imperial Guards was utterly incompetent.

Moreover, you routinely exploit soldiers, siphon off their blood and embezzle their pay, treating them like less than human beings. How can anyone be expected to risk their life for you?

If Wang Bing successfully captures He Guan, and then arrests the key figures of the military families according to the list he provided, and the Imperial Guards of the capital are transferred out of Bianliang, then he will have won completely.

Next, Cai Jing, the world's most financially savvy strategist, will take charge of the nation's finances, and his grand plan to conquer the Liao Dynasty will proceed smoothly.
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Inside the Crown Prince's study in the Eastern Palace, a gloomy atmosphere prevailed, with a tense and strained ambiance.

The ground was covered with broken porcelain shards, caused by the Crown Prince's anger when he knocked over the decorations.

For the usually composed Crown Prince, such behavior was extremely rare. It seems that his resentment had reached its peak.

Indeed, the crown prince cannot be blamed. When he woke up in the morning, he found that his Eastern Palace was surrounded!
Throughout history, those who have occupied this position have always found themselves in the most awkward position. They must be extremely careful not to incur the wrath of their father, the emperor.

They had to be even more apprehensive, wary of their brothers, both overt and covert. One wrong move and they would lose not only the most tempting power in the world, but also their own lives.

He thought he had been careful enough, but even though he hadn't made any mistakes, he was still surrounded by people.

He could only live in constant fear, completely unaware of what was happening outside.

For this crown prince, his inner turmoil was already heavier. Zhao Huan's position as crown prince was not very secure. He had a third brother, Zhao Kai, who was handsome and refined, literate, and favored by their father. In every aspect, he surpassed Zhao Huan.

His only advantage was his status as the eldest son of the legitimate wife. Faced with his younger brother's aggressive advance, Zhao Huan had no choice but to carefully maintain his composure and dare not make any mistakes.

But he kept watching his father constantly showering his third brother with favors. Every time his father showed favor, it made his heart clench, and he couldn't sleep for days.

The Crown Prince, who had been living in constant fear of being replaced by another heir, secretly changed his usual dignified and taciturn nature for several days. He held a banquet and indulged in revelry for a few days, displaying a somewhat manic attitude. The reason was simple: he was living a life that was too stifling, and he would go completely insane if he didn't vent his frustrations.

This torment and forbearance finally erupted today. He felt that the siege of the Eastern Palace meant that his father was going to depose him as crown prince!

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside, startling Zhao Heng.

But as the eunuch announced that it was his trusted confidant who had arrived, he quickly straightened his clothes and went out.

Geng Nanzhong, Yuwen Xuzhong, and Wu Min entered together, first bowing to Zhao Huan, and then immediately asked, "Your Highness, have you heard about this?"

"what?"

"The Imperial Guards have rebelled! His Majesty has dispatched General Wang Bing to the capital to quell the rebellion!"

Zhao Huan couldn't quite describe his feelings; he just felt a buzzing in his head.

The good news is that the Emperor's move to surround the Eastern Palace was not directed at him personally; it was to protect him.

The bad news is that the 600,000 Imperial Guards have rebelled.
What if they actually invade?
Upon hearing the news, the three rushed to the Eastern Palace almost immediately, and the Victorious Army did not stop them.

They don't care unless it's the Imperial Guards.

Yuwen Xuzhong immediately said, "Your Highness, this is a golden opportunity. Your Highness can summon the guards of the Eastern Palace to participate in suppressing the rebellion. The Shengjie Army soldiers outside can also be bribed with gold and silk to serve Your Highness."

Wu Min said, "That's right! Who doesn't want to achieve great things? They'll definitely listen to Your Highness!"

Zhao Huan was taken aback, genuinely fearful, and unwilling to face the rebels.

"Since I have not led any troops, how can I repel the enemy? If I am captured by the rebels, it will only become a means for them to threaten my father. I should stay here."

The group looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

Just then, the eunuch outside came in and announced, "Your Highness, Li..."

Before he could finish speaking, a tall scholar strode in. "Your Highness! The Emperor and Cai Jing are about to attack the Imperial Guards! This is a golden opportunity! Your Highness, quickly grab a sword, we'll protect you as we capture He Guan!"

Several people turned their heads to look.

The visitor was Li Gang, also known as Li Boji, a prominent figure in their faction. He was renowned for his literary talent from a young age, and people at the time predicted that he would one day enter the Council of State and assume a high-ranking position.

In the second year of the Zhenghe era, when he was twenty-nine years old, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. In just three years, he rose to the position of Supervising Censor and Acting Palace Attendant Censor.

His rapid promotion was rare even in the Song Dynasty, and people at the time believed that he had a bright future ahead of him.

When he turns forty, he will surely become a prime minister!
However, as soon as Li Gang submitted a memorial criticizing the mistakes of the court, he was immediately dismissed from his post.

At that time, Zhao Ji had been on the throne for more than ten years and his position was secure, so he began to reveal his true nature.

Cai Jing, who was then in power, also fueled the movement under the guise of "prosperity and abundance." He oversaw the construction of palaces, established the "Flower and Stone Tribute," and set up twenty-six ranks of Daoist officials... countless novel and bizarre initiatives were introduced.

At that time, Cai Jing in the court used a monument to the Yuanyou Party members to suppress the old party members, so the old party members pretended not to see it.

This was also a tradition of factional strife in the Song Dynasty: when out of power, one should keep a low profile, but when in power, one should be unrestrained and arrogant.

Only Li Gang, who had only been an official for three years, dared to submit a memorial to the throne, directly slapping Emperor Huizong in the face. The intensity of his words was so strong that even the officials of his faction were terrified upon seeing it, and unsurprisingly, Li Gang was expelled from the court.

Everyone felt sorry for him, especially the old party members who were considered upright and honest. They felt that it was a loss for their party that he had such a bright future and had just lost it.

At least Li Gang wasn't stripped of his official rank after his first dismissal, and he still retained the right to hold office. Three years later, he was finally reinstated and given a sinecure as Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and compiler of the national history.

Since you always speak frankly and recklessly as an imperial censor, making people dislike you, then go and compile the national history and see what kind of trouble you can cause.

Logically speaking, your first dismissal from office shows that you, Li Gang, still have passion and a strong sense of responsibility for the world. Now that you've been reinstated, you should be working diligently to build up your seniority and make up for the time you lost.

When he reaches fifty, he might still have a chance at the Council of State. After all, he has a literary reputation and a good name, which is what the Song Dynasty values.

Emperor Huizong dismissed him for three years but then recalled him, thinking that once the man's temperament had been tempered, he could put him to good use.

Unexpectedly, less than two years after his reinstatement, in the first year of the Xuanhe era, Li Gang submitted another memorial, stating that although the Song Dynasty appeared prosperous and thriving, it was riddled with problems and harbored immense hidden dangers.

They even listed out all these internal and external troubles one by one, as if afraid that Zhao Ji wouldn't see them clearly, and each one was a direct insult to Zhao Ji.

He said that the punishments imposed in the southeast were so cruel that the people of Jiangnan could not bear it.

The court's finances were in dire straits, with expenditures difficult at every stage. In the first year of the Xuanhe era, a major flood from the Yellow River caused the Bian River to breach its banks, the reason being that the Three Departments (the central government offices) could not allocate funds for the annual river repairs!
The military affairs of the Song Dynasty were in disarray, and apart from the various circuits in Shaanxi, the local militias were completely useless.

Meanwhile, the various Western armies in Shaanxi were gradually becoming too powerful to control and had to be brought under control.

Li Gang also keenly observed the war between the Liao and Jurchen states in the north, predicting that the Jurchens would inevitably become a future calamity for the Song Dynasty.

Measures must be taken in Hebei and Hedong Road to prepare for the future. These places are all in dire need of money, while the court is in dire straits. The root cause lies in Emperor Huizong's extravagant spending. We request that Emperor Huizong abolish the tribute to the southeast, stop the tribute of flowers and stones, abolish the Genyue Garden, dismiss the officials in charge of the circuits, and strengthen civil and military affairs to prepare for future changes.

Ministers criticizing the emperor was a common occurrence among previous Song Dynasty emperors. While past emperors could tolerate it, Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) wielded such immense power that he could not be indulged. Upon reading the memorial, Zhao Ji was undoubtedly enraged.

To be honest, Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) felt somewhat aggrieved. The talk about halting the tribute of flowers and stones, abolishing the Genyue Garden, dismissing officials, and stopping palace construction was all common gossip. It was as if if Zhao Ji had simply done these things, the Song Dynasty would have instantly become well-governed, the country peaceful and stable, and distant peoples would naturally come to submit. As long as these things weren't explicitly stated, Zhao Ji always pretended not to hear them.

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) was indeed extremely extravagant with his spending. The "Southeast Imperial Tribute" and the "Flower and Stone Tribute" disrupted the financial lifeline of the Song Dynasty in the southeastern regions. Furthermore, his appointments and actions were erratic and arbitrary, often bypassing a well-established bureaucratic system and acting independently. This disrupted the normal functioning of the Song Dynasty's ruling system, preventing even high-ranking officials from taking full responsibility for important national affairs, ultimately leaving them to be decided by Zhao Ji based on his personal whims. While his imperial power was unprecedented in the Song Dynasty's century-long history, it undermined the very foundation of the Song Dynasty's rule. These are all facts.

However, purely in terms of money, even with Emperor Huizong's extravagant spending, the annual royal expenses amounted to only seven or eight million strings of cash. Furthermore, a reward was issued from the imperial treasury every three years to reward the people, and whenever there was war on the border, the rewards for soldiers were also mostly paid for by the imperial treasury. Whenever the Three Departments of Finance faced difficulties, they would appeal to Emperor Huizong to use funds from the imperial treasury, and Emperor Huizong would provide whatever amount he could, no matter how small.

He's not stupid. The world is his; as long as money keeps coming in, he can spend it as he pleases. Why would he hide all that money in the inner treasury just to count it for fun every day?

It's true that he's more extravagant than previous dynasties, but which of you scholar-officials, or even the military families of the Imperial Guards, isn't extremely wealthy? How many people are clinging to him for bribes, all for the position of Southeast Attendant? Zhu Mian isn't just attendant to the emperor; who in the court hasn't taken bribes from him? Do you think I don't know?

Moreover, according to custom, the imperial court bestows rewards upon its officials every three years, and you civil officials and scholars accept them without hesitation.

No one understood the court's financial difficulties or showed any magnanimity, saying they didn't want it!
Why are they fixated on me, the emperor, over this money?
The various problems of the Song Dynasty were the result of systemic flaws accumulated over more than a century. Coupled with the increasingly fierce factional struggles after the mid-period, it was not solely the fault of Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji).

These deeper matters were naturally not as clearly understood by Emperor Huizong as they were by later generations.

However, he also had a way to deal with it, which was to double his extravagance, spend more money, and promote the idea that the present era is a golden age.

Wearing the Emperor's New Clothes of the Song Dynasty, he talked to everyone about the wealth and prosperity of the Song Dynasty. He would not tolerate anyone who tried to burst the bubble.

Li Gang once again ran into this line of fire, and Zhao Ji didn't hold back either, saying, "You don't need to retire and return to your hometown to live a leisurely life."

Go to this remote and desolate place, Shaxian County in Nan Jianzhou, to supervise the taxes!

Tax supervision involves a lot of complicated and trivial matters, and the responsibilities are heavy.

Although Li Gang was a local from the vicinity of Nan Jianzhou, for a scholar-official of the Song Dynasty, especially one who had served in the central government of Bianliang, being demoted to this place was already an extremely severe punishment!
His second demotion and expulsion from Bianliang finally brought him great fame.

A few days ago, the capital was flooded and his uncle unfortunately drowned. Li Gang returned to attend the funeral and unexpectedly encountered such a major event, which made him extremely excited.

He came to find the Crown Prince with his sword in hand.

After all, the Crown Prince is now their only hope, the only hope for the old faction. They are counting on him to turn things around.

(End of this chapter)