You have truly caused me great suffering!

Liu Qi rode over and was somewhat surprised to see Yang Yizhong.

After a moment's thought, he immediately realized that Yang Yizhong had already defected to the Dingnan Army.

This put him in a difficult position.

Liu Qi's father, Liu Zhongwu, is now the prefect of Weizhou, whose territory borders the Hexi area of ​​Dingnan Army.

"Brother Yang, we are both imperial guards of the capital. Why have you brought these people to surround Genyue?"

Yang Yizhong remained calm and said, "We want to rescue Minister Yuwen and return power to the emperor."

Liu Qi was stunned. He thought to himself, "Commander Zong has some impressive skills. It turns out he already has such a powerful ally."

Before he could answer, Yue Fei spoke up, "And who is this?"

He knew the armor of the Yinzhou soldiers all too well; he asked the question knowing the answer already, just to give Liu Qi a heads-up.

The new army of the capital has more than a thousand men on duty in Genyue tonight.

More than 800 of the Palace Guards came, but the rest did not come out at all.

They didn't come to get involved, even when Yao Youzhong went to summon them.

Guo Hao surveyed the area and understood the situation. With such a force, he was not afraid at all, even if they fought each other.

The Dingnan Army is currently bogged down on the battlefield, locked in a protracted stalemate, and its supplies are far too great to meet.

Therefore, it is necessary to break the deadlock, bring about change, and seek opportunities.

If we can help Cai Jing regain power today and allow him to utilize the resources of the Song Dynasty to supply the front lines, then we can fight a protracted war.

These principles were clearly stated in the letter from the military commander, and Guo Hao was also aware of the weight on his shoulders.

Cai Jing's sons are now in the hands of the military governor, so there's no fear of the old man turning against him.

If we succeed tonight, the situation of the Dingnan Army will become clear. He cleared his throat and said, "I am Guo Hao. Brother Liu Qi, how have you been?"

Liu Qi nodded in acknowledgment.

They were all from the Western Army and had trained under Old Zhong; who wouldn't know who?

Yue Fei was speechless. He was from Hebei and didn't know much about the ways of the Western Army.

Fortunately, Zong Ze and the others arrived just then.

He was overtaken by Li Gang halfway there. Ignoring his old age and frailty, he rode up behind Li Gang with two civil officials on horseback.

When they arrived and found that no fighting had started, they breathed a sigh of relief.

At least the situation has not yet reached the point of being out of control.

Once a situation arises where the two armies clash in the capital, things could get out of control.

Especially since the Dingnan Army was also among them.

They also had to consider whether this would give Chen Shao a reason to directly invade from the east and rebel.

The Jurchen invasion of the south caused such great destruction that the Dingnan Army fought them to a standstill. If things really got out of hand, the consequences would have been even more severe.

Moreover, if the Jurchens were to take the opportunity to invade southward again, the entire land of China might truly be lost.

The new army on the city walls and the troops below were all accompanied by countless torches flashing at that moment!

Beneath every spark of fire, there is a fervent face.

Everyone was thinking about how to turn things around from this shocking turn of events.

Yue Fei glanced at the situation. Although he was unaware of the intrigues that had taken place that night, judging from the troops alone, the Yinzhou soldiers who were poised to attack were not in the same league as the Palace Guard.

I'm afraid that in one round, the people of the Palace Guard will be completely destroyed.

To this day, the soldiers of Yinzhou still maintain their formation, which is a rare elite force. This quality can only be found in a team that is frequently in battle and has strict military discipline.

Before the two sides started fighting, Li Gang, Zong Ze, Wu Min, Yao Youzhong and Cao Meng from the Palace Guard saw the high clogs next to Guo Hao and felt as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed flies.

They gathered together, and when Gao Ji explained his demands, Li Gang became completely enraged.

We want the emperor to execute treacherous officials, and you all want to execute treacherous officials too, but in the end, you're just smearing Cai Jing out of the picture.

You, Cai Jing, have transformed yourself from a treacherous leader into a virtuous official, is that alright?

Such manipulative tactics truly make him a master of internal strife; Li Gang was momentarily at a loss for words.

Even Zong Ze, who is usually quick-witted, didn't know what to do.

They all felt like they had the strength but couldn't use it.

Their demands are the same as yours: to release Yuwen Xuzhong, return power to the emperor, and for the retired emperor to completely withdraw from the decision-making level and relinquish all power.

Aren't they all the same?

However, if this matter was accomplished by our own people, then the power and glory would naturally all belong to our faction.

Now that Cai Jing has intervened, and since they were the ones who initiated it, if it all comes to fruition, given Cai Jing's background and connections, he will likely dominate the court once again.

Li Gang quickly analyzed the pros and cons in his mind, but in the end he decided not to let Cai Jing succeed. He said with a stern face, "Even if we want to release Yuwen Shutong, we can't be so disloyal as to gather a crowd at the residence of the retired emperor to force him to abdicate."

"Such actions are no different from treason! You all leave immediately, and I will petition the Emperor not to pursue the matter. As for Yuwen Shutong, rest assured, I will naturally rescue him."

Gao Ji had many fears, but he wasn't afraid of these old clique members. After all, he had suppressed them for over a decade. Hearing this, he sneered, "Hand it over to you? I've given you so much time, have you accomplished anything?"
"His Majesty is a good emperor, leading us to repel the Jurchen Tartars. Now, the Retired Emperor intends to heavily rely on those treacherous eunuchs. I've heard that Wang Fu has secretly returned to the capital. If they continue their reckless actions, who knows where this beautiful land will fall!"

Li Gang cursed inwardly, "How dare you say such a thing? When you were suppressing the old party with Wang Fu, why didn't you mention that he was a treacherous villain?"

Cai Jing's move of joining forces when he couldn't win completely disrupted the old party's plans. They realized that if they gave Cai Jing such an opportunity, a large portion of the power in the court would be taken away.

Even more
Thinking of the unusual movements of the Dingnan Army a few days ago, Li Gang was extremely conflicted.

However, Guo Hao didn't give him a chance, and directly gave him a look, signaling Yang Yizhong to continue scoring.

On the city wall, people's hearts began to stir; it turned out that those below all shared the same goal.

So why are you hesitating?

Ironically, even these newly formed troops were not loyal to Zhao Ji.

The palace gates opened in a matter of moments, and the anticipated battle never occurred.

The crowd surrounded several important officials, though they were at odds with each other and even at each other's throats.

But tonight, they have come for the same purpose.

They found Yuwen Xuzhong, who was being held captive in Genyue. He was imprisoned in the guards' duty room and had not been mistreated.

Seeing a large group of people enter, especially Li Gang and others, Yuwen Xuxin felt relieved.

Although these people arrived later than I expected, they finally understood my good intentions.

He defied public opinion and openly killed Liang Shicheng, eliminating the last capable person in the Emperor's hands.

Isn't this what we've been working towards? To completely end the Emperor Emeritus's twenty-year rule over the Song Dynasty, to uproot this root of trouble, and perhaps the Song Dynasty can still be saved!

However, Yuwen Xuzhong quickly noticed something was wrong; Li Gang and the others' expressions immediately changed.

Then, he spotted high clogs in the crowd!

The man in high clogs stepped forward feigning concern, "Uncle Tong, I'm so sorry to have put you through this!"

Yuwen Xuzhong hurriedly went to check on Li Gang and Wu Min. Had Gao Ji defected to the old party?

Logically speaking, he was Cai Jing's most loyal confidant and would never betray Cai Jing, so why did he come?
Seeing the look in Yuwen Xuzhong's eyes, Li Gang and the others felt even more uncomfortable and helplessly pursed their lips.

A huge cheer erupted inside Genyue.

All the soldiers shouted and celebrated loudly. Regardless of any infighting at the top, their mission was accomplished.

These words pierced Zhao Ji's heart, chilling him to the bone.

His concubines and princesses were also in the bedchamber, and they all rushed over. Most of them were crying so hard that their hair was disheveled and their faces were pale.

Emperor Huizong of Tang had a sliver of hope, but that hope was shattered. Regardless of who was causing trouble, they had succeeded.

"To prevent any unforeseen complications, execute the treacherous traitors Li Yan, Wang Fu, and Zhu Mian, father and son, immediately!"

The man in high clogs shouted loudly.

Li Gang and the others then realized that they couldn't let them take all the credit for killing the treacherous officials.

He looked at Gao Ji and Guo Hao and the others, and sighed inwardly.

They came prepared; every step they took was planned and executed in an orderly manner.

Meanwhile, on my side, I've been led by the nose the whole time.

They could have used the new emperor to completely overthrow Cai Jing and his ilk, but after tonight, the situation in the court is uncertain!
Jinliang Bridge, Cai Jing's residence. Like the residences of other wealthy officials in Bianliang, Cai's residence was heavily guarded and locked.

The servants of the Cai family all lit torches and climbed onto the courtyard wall. The city of Bianliang was in chaos, and they had to be careful that someone might take the opportunity to assassinate Cai Jing.

After all, Cai Jing was old, and like Liang Shicheng, if he were killed, there would be no successor to take control of the resources he held.

Death solves everything.
This is the simplest and least costly countermeasure.

Cai Jing was naturally aware of this, so everyone in his residence was armed and on high alert.

Possessing armor in private is a serious crime of treason, so the Cai family did not have any armor. However, it was permissible for commoners in the Song Dynasty to keep bows and arrows, so dozens of powerful bows were drawn on the walls of the Cai family mansion, their arrowheads coldly pointed in all directions.

Most of the servants on the wall were born into the Cai family. Although they were all terrified, they managed to hold on and did not scatter and flee. They were still holding their posts.

Cai Jing himself was fast asleep in his residence.

That's right, after he made the arrangements, he went straight to sleep.

Now he's come to terms with it; nothing is more important than his own health, and how many days he can live is enough for him to do for future generations.

There was no hope left in relying on those sons.

Cai Jing had eight sons: You, Xiao, Tao, Tao, Fu, Shou, Shen, and Fu.
They all entered officialdom through their fathers' influence and each held an official position.

His most beloved eldest son and fourth son, Cai Tiao, were both in Chen Shao's hands.

It can be considered a procured instrument, or a bargaining chip for mutual trust.

At my age, what else can I covet? If I were young, I might have been willing to sacrifice my own son for power and position, but now, it's clear that I can't.

When people reach this age, they inevitably start to worry about what will happen after they die.

The saying "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings" is just a self-comforting phrase used by those who lack the ability to pave the way for their children and grandchildren.

Throughout history, those who have the ability to pave the way for their children and grandchildren will generally do their best to do so.

A few people are exceptions.
In recent years, the Song Dynasty has undergone dramatic changes, and the false prosperity that had lasted for a century has collapsed overnight.

Cai Jing lay on the bed, feeling drowsy and exhausted like never before.

He viewed everything that had happened in the Song Dynasty over the past few decades as if it were the lines on the palm of his hand.

He knows cause and effect, and understands everything.

But now everything is out of control, and he no longer has the energy to deal with what is about to happen.

The signs of the Song Dynasty's impending demise are already evident. Can the Cai family's glory over the years continue indefinitely?

All of this caused him great concern.

The Song Dynasty and Bianliang had enjoyed peace for over a hundred years, but Cai Jing was well-versed in history and knew that during the Five Dynasties period, Bianliang experienced upheavals and turmoil every few years.

During this period, there were many families even more illustrious than the Cai family, and those that were destroyed or wiped out were relatively few.

We must find a way out for our descendants!
Cai Jing suddenly opened his old eyes and sighed silently, unable to fall asleep.

He knew perfectly well that if he wanted to live a few more years, he needed to rest well, but he couldn't bring himself to be completely at peace.

Much later, someone came to his bedroom and whispered a few words.

Cai Jing breathed a sigh of relief and finally closed his eyes, able to get a good night's sleep.
-
Inside and outside Genyue, the flames stretched like the sea, and the torches formed a long dragon.

Countless faces were filled with excitement.

Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, there have been military coups and matters concerning the establishment of the nation's foundation.

However, there has never been a case of a military coup being used to participate in matters concerning the stability of the nation.

All the forces involved in the coup felt they had won.

At this moment, they were waving torches at the palace walls of Genyue, shouting until their throats were almost hoarse, and no one knew what they were shouting.

Everyone was so excited that their faces were contorted, and they didn't care what they were shouting anymore. They were celebrating with the different groups of people around them.

Everyone is thinking the same thing right now: let's end this turmoil as soon as possible and then start rewarding those who have contributed!

However, the people behind these soldiers certainly had their own joys and sorrows.

Gao Ji and the others, together with Li Gang and the others, arrived deep within Genyue.

Seeing the room filled with beautiful women, and knowing that everyone inside was a Song official, no one dared to go in rashly.

The man in high clogs, full of pride, shouted loudly from outside:

"Your Majesty! You have been confined to Genyue for too long. Open your eyes and see the world of the Great Song Dynasty now!"

"The chaos in Jiangnan is entirely due to Your Majesty's heavy reliance on people like Zhu Mian, which has spread chaos throughout eight prefectures, causing the deaths of millions!"

"The fall of Yan and Yun is entirely due to the Emperor's heavy reliance on Tong Guan! Repeated defeats have resulted in the loss of sovereignty and territory!"

"The war against Yan has led to a shortage of national funds and financial ruin. The war against Yan has even cost 60 million strings of cash!"

"Originally, the market tax was only one-tenth, but now it is three-tenths. Everything has become expensive. If we pay in cash, the value of the money will depreciate every day, and ordinary people will have a hard time making a living."

"However, the campaign against Yan continued to end in defeat! Of the 150,000-strong Western Army that set out, less than half returned home!"

"Your Majesty, by allying with the Jin to destroy the Liao, have now even incited the Jurchens to invade the south and wreak havoc on the capital region and Hebei!"

"The nation is in such dire straits that it is truly a matter of life and death. All the people of the world place their hopes on the upright officials in the court and on the current emperor."

"However, treacherous people surround Your Majesty, urging you day and night to depose the current emperor. The emperor, being a filial person, is unwilling to contend with you."

"I implore Your Majesty to consider the millions of people of the Great Song Dynasty and the hardships endured by Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong in establishing the dynasty. Please relinquish the imperial seal, reside peacefully in Genyue, execute the treacherous officials, and cease persecuting the Emperor. Then the world will be restored to its former glory, and great order will be within reach!"

Li Gang and the others watched him speak eloquently, and they were all somewhat apprehensive. Everyone said that Li Gang dared to speak frankly and directly, but no one had ever spoken so bluntly.

He showed absolutely no respect for the retired emperor with those high clogs.

Gao Ji swore with great satisfaction, even though the words were carefully chosen beforehand.

However, many of these were Gao Ji's true feelings, and getting them out of there felt incredibly refreshing.

As part of Cai Jing's ruling team, Gao Ji has spent countless efforts over the years trying to raise money for this philandering emperor.

No matter how hard everyone tries, this tyrant is like a bottomless pit, his desires can never be satisfied!
Just a few years ago, on the eve of the campaign against Liao, the Grand Tutor led everyone in reorganizing the Imperial Guards! What a grand gesture! This was a momentous event that should have been recorded in history and brought glory to future generations!
However, he took most of the money obtained from reforming the Imperial Guards and kept asking for money in various ways every day.

It's absolutely impossible to say that Cai Jing's team didn't harbor resentment. No one dared to complain before, but tonight Gao Jie let loose and vented his anger.

As Zhao Ji listened, his face turned ashen, yet he couldn't help but tremble.

He could no longer stand up, leaning limply against the couch. As he listened to the end, his whole body trembled uncontrollably, as if he could never stop.

The eunuchs huddled together, trembling like leaves, and had no time to attend to Zhao Ji.

On the contrary, some of the concubines, especially the younger ones, did not know the gravity of the situation and went forward to comfort him.

The only solution Zhao Ji could think of at this time was to summon Zhao Huan and have a heart-to-heart talk with his son.

If no one interfered, Zhao Ji was confident that he could keep his son in check.

After ascending the throne, he began to suppress the rightful crown prince, fearing that he might have inappropriate thoughts, and successfully turned this son into a good-for-nothing.

But it's clear that these people outside won't give him that chance.

Even Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) suspected whether his son was truly involved, or whether tonight's palace coup was simply a scheme launched by the ruthless ministers themselves.

After Gao Ji shouted, there was no response from inside for a long time, only the sound of a woman crying.

Gao Ji immediately gave a wink, and Guo Hao understood, waving his hand slightly.

A military officer beside him shouted, "Why waste words with him? Let's charge in and kill the eunuchs first!"

The crying and screaming inside grew even louder.

The voice sounded like that of a brute, and those around Zhao Ji had no doubt that he would come in and kill someone.

With a bang, I don't know if it was him, someone kicked the door.

Finally, the people inside helped Zhao Ji to his feet, and he said weakly, "I know I was wrong. Go and summon my son. I am willing to give him the imperial seal and the military tally of the new army in the capital."

There were also 30,000 new troops outside the city, the last bit of support that Gao Qiu had desperately left him.

But at this point, Zhao Ji also realized that he had no hope of regaining power.

This group of people will not allow him to control these troops.

At this moment, Guo Hao pretended to scold the military officer who had kicked down the door, saying, "Don't be so insolent, step back!"

In his final moments, Emperor Huizong's limp and powerless state was witnessed by countless people as the imperial authority of the Song Dynasty crumbled.

Especially the military officers present.
-
(End of this chapter)