You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 12 Liao Traitors and Song Traitors

When Chen Shao and the other two returned, they were all reeking of alcohol.

Li Xiaozhong was the first real friend he ever made.

It was already night, and there was some light in the courtyard. After the three opened the door, they found a soldier standing in the courtyard.

"Commander Xuan requests that you come to his residence tomorrow to meet him."

Chen Shao's drunkenness vanished instantly, and he asked seriously, "What time is it?"

"It will be almost dawn; we await Commander Xuan's summons."

Yin hour?

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Understood."

After everyone left, Chen Shao complained a few times, saying that Tong Guan's rules were too strict; the hour of Yin was only three or four in the morning.

He himself doesn't know when he'll be free, but he must make sure that when he is free, he can show up immediately.

This rule is even more important than the emperor's!
However, he had finally gotten his chance. No matter what job Tong Guan gave him, it was a great opportunity for promotion.

I don't have much time left, and I don't have enough money.

"Zhao He, Zhao Shan, you two don't sleep tonight. Wait until 3 AM to wake me up, and then you can sleep after we leave."

After giving the instructions, Chen Shao immediately washed up and went back to his room to sleep.

He had to ensure he was in a good position to deal with Tong Guan, since his position with Tong Guan was built on lies.

Tong Guan was a shrewd man; he couldn't afford to give himself away.

The next day, before the rooster crowed, Chen Shao was already up.

After getting dressed, he and Dong Dahu rode to a mansion in the city.

At the outer gate, Dong Dahu was stopped. Chen Shao was also stopped by several guards and brought to the outer courtyard to have his name checked, his waist tag examined, and his body searched.

After everything was done, Chen Shao was led to the flower hall to wait.

They waited for half a day, until noon, when someone finally came to call them.

Fortunately, someone brought tea, snacks, and a few meat pies during this time.

Chen Shao straightened his robes and, following the guards in front, passed through the front courtyard square, along the corridor, past two ponds and gardens, winding around until he was almost dizzy, when suddenly he arrived in front of a spacious main house.

Chen Shao thought to himself, "You, Tong Guan, have served Zhao Ji for several years and have picked up all his hobbies."

Are you cut out for this?

You're just being pretentious!

Inside the main room, it was warm as spring, with all four windows open for ventilation, and a gentle breeze still caressed my face.

The windows were covered with satin cloth, a circle of pretty maids stood on the ground, and a tiger skin was spread on the chair.

Tong Guan looked up and glanced at him. Chen Shao stepped forward, bowed, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Chen Shao, the commander, pays his respects to the esteemed commander."

Tong Guan hummed in agreement and said, "Gu Zhi, this person is Chen Shao, whom I told you about."

Chen Shao then noticed a middle-aged scholar sitting on a chair next to him.

He had a fair complexion, a short beard, and looked very kind.

He smiled and said, "You're Chen Shao? I heard you have some connections with Wanyan Aguda?"

Chen Shao nodded.

Tong Guan introduced from the side: "This is Li Liangsi, courtesy name Guzhi. He was originally the Minister of the Imperial Household Department of the Liao Dynasty. In the early years of the Zhenghe era, His Majesty sent me as an envoy to the Liao Dynasty. When I passed through Lugou Bridge, Guzhi came to meet me at night and told me about the strategy of destroying Liao and attacking Yan. It was exactly the same as what you said, Chen Shao!"

Speaking of this past event, Tong Guan's eyes still shone, clearly a source of great pride for him. Upon hearing this, Chen Shao immediately understood the man's background.

This guy's original name was Ma Zhi. He came from a prominent Han Chinese family in the Liao Dynasty and rose to the position of Guanglu Qing (Minister of the Imperial Household Department). However, he felt that Emperor Tianzuo of Liao was too incompetent, so he chose to secretly surrender to the Song Dynasty.

Later, he went on a diplomatic mission to the Jin Dynasty and personally concluded an alliance with the Jin people to jointly attack the Liao Dynasty.

Emperor Huizong bestowed upon him the surname Zhao and appointed him as Guanglu Dafu, a first-rank official.

In April of the first year of the Jingkang era, Imperial Censor Hu Shunzhi impeached Li Liangsi for causing border troubles, destroying the century-old friendship between the Khitan and the Khitan, leading to the invasion of the Jurchens and bringing disaster to China, and requested that he be beheaded and his head displayed to the public.

At that time, Li Liangsi had already been exiled to Chenzhou. Li Shengzhi, the deputy transport commissioner of Guangxi, was ordered to go to his residence, cut off his head, and exile his wife to Wan'an Army.

In fact, Chen Shao felt that he was quite wronged. Many people in later generations said that he was the biggest criminal who caused the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Because it was he who presided over the alliance with the Jin dynasty to attack the Liao dynasty.

Was it really wrong to ally with the Jin to attack the Liao?
Has the Liao Dynasty been destroyed? Is this a good opportunity to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun?

The Song Dynasty itself failed to seize this opportunity and was bitten back by the dying Liao Dynasty. To blame Li Liangsi for this is simply shifting the blame.

Moreover, the Jurchens of the Jin Dynasty were a bunch of wild beasts. After they destroyed the Liao Dynasty, would they stop their invasion and hunting?

"Chen Shao knows a great deal about the Jurchens, and he also has some connections with Wanyan Aguda. How about making him your deputy?"

“Perfect, perfect!” Li Liangsi said with a smile.

If such a person truly exists, he would undoubtedly be a great help to him.

As for whether Chen Shao was lying, Li Liangsi didn't think much about it, because he didn't believe anyone could fabricate something so convincing.

Only those who have actually visited the Jurchen tribes in Liaodong can know those secrets.

"Chen Shao," Tong Guan called softly, and Chen Shao quickly responded.

"I'm giving you a nominal position as a military commander. This time, you and Gu will go to the capital, where the Emperor will summon you. When you meet His Majesty, don't be afraid. Just share your insights with him."

"His Majesty is the most sagacious of men, and he will surely grant you a noble birth in due time."

Chen Shao made no mention of the emperor, but simply said loudly, "I am very grateful for your patronage, Commander!"

Tong Guan said with a smile, "There are treacherous officials in the court who cannot bear to see me achieve meritorious deeds or His Majesty expand the territory, so they are doing their utmost to obstruct the alliance with Jin to destroy Liao. This time, when you go to Bianjing, how do you plan to persuade His Majesty?"

Li Liangsi pondered for a moment and said, "What do you think of this explanation?"

"The Liao Dynasty is doomed. Your Majesty, mindful of the suffering of your people, desires to restore China's former territory and, acting on behalf of Heaven, condemns this calamity to quell the rebellion. When your royal army marches forth, we will surely welcome you with open arms. However, if the Jurchens gain the upper hand, they can strike first, leaving us vulnerable to attack later."

Tong Guan nodded and said, "Excellent. In recent years, His Majesty has shown a strong desire to expand the territory."

As a favored minister and close advisor, understanding the emperor's thoughts was Tong Guan's skill for making a living.

It is no exaggeration to say that people like Tong Guan and Liang Shicheng probably understood Zhao Ji better than he did himself.

Since Tong Guan said so, Zhao Ji must have had this idea.

In Chen Shao's memory, Zhao Ji was an absolute coward; he never expected that he had once had lofty ambitions.

Perhaps he was so flattered by Cai Jing and others that he felt he was the chosen emperor, and that everything would fall into place naturally.

That bastard has truly enjoyed decades of good life.

He enjoyed himself for decades, but caused half of China to suffer because of him. It is no exaggeration to say that he committed a heinous crime.

The thought of Zhao Ji and Tong Guan about to start a hellish dungeon made Chen Shao feel a sense of urgency.

Fortunately, I'm about to reach the threshold of power.

(End of this chapter)