You have truly caused me great suffering!

The autumn night in Bianliang was not yet very cool, and the chirping of insects filled the Zhaodefang area.

Chen Shao had drunk a bit too much and couldn't fall asleep, tossing and turning. He listened to Da Hu's snoring on the bed not far away and remembered a line from Su Shi: "Huai Min is also not asleep."

"Big Tiger." Chen Shao walked over and kicked his bed leg.

Da Hu opened his eyes, still groggy, and blurted out the old address, "Master, what's wrong?"

"Come for a walk with me."

"Okay." Da Hu fell asleep quickly and woke up quickly as well. He put on a coat and was no longer sleepy.

Chen Shao always felt that Da Hu could live to be a hundred years old without having any worries in his heart.

They fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, wake up easily when called, eat and drink well, and are very active.

Back in Bianliang, after he killed someone for the first time, he went to sleep like this every night.

On his first battlefield experience in Hengshan, Chen Shao vomited violently after killing someone for the first time. Da Hu, wielding two copper hammers, killed countless people, yet still fell asleep immediately.

In fact, the hammers used on the battlefield are not very big. Because fighting is a long and physically demanding task, often lasting for several hours, carrying excessively heavy weapons would be utterly foolish.

The sight of Da Hu wielding his hammer immediately caught Li Xiaozhong's eye. He later repeatedly lamented that such a promising general could not fight because he had to protect Chen Shao, which was a real pity.

Chen Shao didn't feel regretful. He knew in his heart that his own safety was more important than anything else.

After strolling around the courtyard, Chen Shao suddenly remembered something.

Back then, someone was hunting down Chun Tao, and the killer remains a mystery to this day. After all, Chen Shao's influence in Bianliang was not significant.

"Da Hu, do you still remember the time when Shi Shi's parents were killed?"

Da Hu nodded. "When Brother Cui went back, he talked to me once. At that time, he had some people in Bianliang and wanted to help Madam investigate, but he didn't find any clues."

Although Chen Shao loved Li Shishi very much, he knew very well that Li Shishi harbored resentment towards her parents and had never even thought of taking revenge.

He wasn't very close to his only younger sister either.

"Tomorrow I'll go and tell Wang Yin to send someone to investigate, just in case we can find it."

Bianliang has undergone so many major changes.

The most illustrious figures of that time, such as Liang Shicheng, Wang Fu, and Tong Guan, have long since turned to dust.

Their power has largely vanished.

The real culprit may never be found, and even if they are, they may already be dead.

But Chen Shao still wanted to investigate.

Even if Shishi felt she didn't care, these were still her parents, and she didn't know when she might soften her heart.

Moreover, Chun Tao was the woman he loved.

Regardless of his status as the Prince of Dai and the leader of the Dingnan Army, Chen Shao was also a person.

Everyone has feelings, and these two sisters were ranked very high in Chen Shao's heart.

After speaking, Chen Shao thought about his current status, where every move he made would be magnified infinitely.

It would be bad if too much manpower were spent on the investigation, causing a great uproar.

He added, "Just tell him to send a few people to investigate, don't make a fuss or cause too much of a scene."

Da Hu simply said "oh," indicating that he wouldn't delve into the details; he would simply relay the words to Wang Yin verbatim.

Thinking that he would have to meet the emperor the next day, Chen Shao forced himself to go to sleep after relieving himself of his water.

Chen Shao didn't wake up early in the morning. In the past, Li Shishi would prepare a hangover soup for him after every banquet.

After a quick wash and dressing, Chen Shao asked Cui Lin beside him:
"Is everything ready?"

Cui Lin said, "Everything is ready."

According to intelligence, Zhao Huan was a person who valued family very much.

Of course, his family did not include his father; it consisted only of the empress and his son and daughter.

Chen Shao highly regarded Zhao Huan's qualities.

He might be bad, but he's not a bad guy; he's definitely better than his dad.

Therefore, Chen Shao had gifts prepared for the Empress, the Crown Prince, and even the one-year-old princess.

Regardless of whether Zhao Huan was acting in self-preservation, his cooperation with Dingnan Army inadvertently saved the army countless expenses.

His status determines that he has the power to save his career countless troubles.

From this perspective, he has made a significant contribution to the entire Chinese nation.

So as long as he continues to cooperate, Chen Shao is happy to give him more face.

When they set off from Zhaodefang, it was already close to noon. Emperor Zhao Huan specially ordered that the meeting be changed to Chuigong Hall, and that a banquet be held for Prince Chen Shao of Dai.

The emperor usually held banquets in the Zichen Hall, while only close officials would hold banquets in the Chuigong Hall or the Jinming Pond.

Chen Shao was dressed very formally, a rare sight indeed. He wore a gold and jade belt around his waist, a Jinxian crown on his head, and a brocade sash around his waist.

Upon arriving at the Chuigong Hall, the emperor personally came out to greet them.

This was also the first time Chen Shao had met Zhao Huan. Although they had been exchanging letters for several years, this was their first time meeting in person.

To Chen Shao's surprise, Zhao Huan, whom he had always thought was honest and timid, was actually quite handsome.

In recent years, without the suppression of Zhao Ji or the threat of the Jin army, and with no attachment to the throne, he has lived a very comfortable life.

Upon seeing Chen Shao approach, he became somewhat nervous. After rubbing his hands together, he grinned, but his smile seemed a little unnatural.

"Your subject Chen Shao greets Your Majesty." Chen Shao bowed slightly with his hands clasped.

Zhao Huan quickly stepped forward and helped him up, saying, "Prince of Dai, there's no need for such formalities."

Although it was their first meeting, they became acquainted after exchanging so many letters.

Generally, when a banquet is bestowed upon an emperor, close officials such as Hanlin scholars and imperial drafters, or members of the imperial clan and retired senior officials are invited to accompany him.

But Zhao Huan didn't invite anyone; it was just him and Chen Shao, each with a small table in front of them.

“The Prince of Dai doesn’t come to Bianliang often, so please try the imperial chef’s cooking.”

Although Zhao Huan's imperial power is not great, he is extremely wealthy. He has amassed a fortune that he intended to use to pay reparations to Wanyan Zongwang, but he never managed to do so.

He was an emperor who only took in money and never spent it, so his imperial treasury was very well-stocked.

This banquet was an extravagant display of delicacies from land and sea, including tributes from all over the world.
Chen Shao listened to Zhao Huan's introduction without saying a word, focusing entirely on enjoying the food.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Chen Shao smiled and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty."

"It is only right that the Prince of Dai works hard for the country." Zhao Huan wiped his hands and said without any hesitation in front of the palace maids and eunuchs, "To be honest, when the northern barbarian Wanyan Zongwang led his troops into the capital region, although I appointed Prime Minister Li and gave him my full support, I was no match for him. Fortunately, it was the brave warriors under the Prince of Dai who drove out the barbarians, which allowed me to sleep peacefully for the past two years."

Chen Shao thought it was time to get down to business. “Your Majesty, the Tartars in the north have been driven out, but another group has emerged in the south. The small state of Jiaozhi, whose current ruler, Li Qiande, launched an invasion during the reign of my Emperor Shenzong.”

"At that time, Emperor Shenzong was magnanimous and forgave him, hoping that he would know his mistakes and correct them. Who knew that this scoundrel not only did not restrain himself, but became even more arrogant and rampant. For forty years, he has been encroaching on our borders year after year, causing our border people to suffer repeated killings and unspeakable suffering."

Zhao Huan didn't even want to be emperor anymore, so he didn't want to bother with these matters at all. He simply said, "Your Highness, just mobilize the troops. I will listen to Your Highness."

"Our superior nation of China should first be courteous and then resort to force. We urge Your Majesty to send someone to hold Li Qiande accountable, order him to punish the culprits, and make him swear an oath never to repeat the offense."

"I will send someone there immediately."

Seeing that he was so indifferent, Chen Shao knew that there was no point in talking to him about these things, so he stopped talking about Jiaozhi.

After the banquet ended and Chen Shao left, Shao Chengzhang came in with the gifts Chen Shao had given him.

Zhao Huan looked at the list with great interest and saw that it contained many gifts for Empress Zhu Lian, the Crown Prince, and the Princess. He couldn't stop smiling.

Although he had long known that the emperor had no great ambitions, Shao Chengzhang still felt somewhat sorry for him.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty."

"what happened?"

"I have been feeling unwell lately and am afraid I can no longer serve Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to grant me permission to return to my hometown to live out my old age."

Zhao Huan was silent for a moment, then looked at the gift list with delight and said, "If you want to leave, my dear minister, I can't stop you."

Shao Chengzhang bent down and kowtowed to Zhao Huan. When he turned to leave, tears were streaming down his face.

Like the former emperor, the emperor appears benevolent, but in reality, he is quite cold-hearted.

Where he couldn't see, Zhao Huan looked at Shao Chengzhang's back and frowned slightly.

These old ministers, thinking themselves loyal, are all the same! For their own reputation! For their own loyalty! They act like this in front of me.

It's as if I, the emperor, can turn the tide.

Do I have to die with you all to be worthy of our ancestors?
Given the current situation, preserving our bloodline and offspring, and preventing the extermination of our clan, is the greatest act of filial piety towards our ancestor.

Before Liu Shan was content with his homeland, why was he so determined to launch the Northern Expedition? It was because he had his regent, his father.

What do I have?
Li Gang and his ilk, didn't I give them a chance? What a dismal record you've delivered! How can I trust you?
He felt absolutely no goodwill or respect for these people; on the contrary, he found them utterly despicable.

They all want me dead.

What crime have I committed?
-
After leaving the imperial city, Chen Shao sent someone directly to the Cai residence at Jinliang Bridge.

Although he hadn't made an appointment with Cai Jing, Chen Shao knew that Grand Tutor Cai was aware of the situation.

As expected, the Cai family had already made preparations.

Upon entering Cai Jing's study, Chen Shao saw the old Grand Tutor once again.

He did look older than before, but his spirits were just as good.

Historically, Cai Jing also died before reaching the end of his life. He died this year on the way to exile in Tanzhou at the age of 80. The cause of death was starvation at Chongjiao Temple on his way to exile in Lingnan.

He survived being exiled all the way, lacking food and clothing, until he finally starved to death in Hunan, which shows that the old man was not seriously ill.

Not to mention that with the pressure greatly reduced now, and with proper rest and recuperation, it wouldn't be surprising if they could live a few more years.

Cai Jing was dressed casually, with a white headband wrapped around his head, and said with a smile, "This old man pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Although Cai Jing did not make a move, Chen Shao still offered a gesture of support, saying, "Grand Tutor, what are you doing? Please sit down quickly."

The Song Dynasty's finances could only be managed effectively under Cai Jing's guidance. With Cai Jing, Chen Shao didn't have to start from scratch and destroy everything. While ensuring the frontline soldiers had provisions and supplies, Chen Shao was also able to dig canals.

Whether someone is a treacherous villain or a capable minister depends entirely on who employs them.

Li Linfu, who served Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji), and Cai Jing, who served Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji), were both typical examples of people with extremely high abilities but questionable character.

In their eyes, governing a country is not a difficult task; they can handle it incidentally while fighting amongst themselves.

Cai Jing looked at Chen Shao and couldn't help but sigh again, thinking that the Prince of Dai was really too young.

As long as he doesn't die prematurely, he will definitely achieve great things.

After the two sat down, Chen Shao looked at Cai Xing behind Cai Jing and said with a smile, "It's really different when the Grand Tutor personally trains you. You look much more energetic than I have seen you in just a few days."

This counts as half of my son.

Cai Xing cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty flatters me."

Chen Shao and the official chatted about nothing but food, local customs of Bianliang, and everyday family matters.

When they talked to Cai Jing, it was all practical information. When he mentioned the campaign against Jiaozhi, a hint of confusion flashed in Cai Jing's eyes.

But he didn't say anything else, he just nodded and started thinking seriously.

This is something that Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) developed: regardless of whether he agrees with his lord's requests, he will find a way to fulfill them.

No opposition, no questioning, no mention of difficulties!

Otherwise, how could he have served as prime minister six times under a power-hungry animal like Emperor Huizong of Song?

Emperor Huizong valued imperial power more than his own life, yet he had to relinquish the power of the prime minister to Cai Jing, and he was reluctant to replace him.

It's because Cai Jing used it so skillfully.

Upon hearing that Chen Shao wanted to mobilize troops from the Northwest to conquer Jiaozhi, Cai Jing shook his head and said, "Jiaozhi is mostly mountainous and forested, teeming with mosquitoes and plagued by miasma. I'm afraid this is not a good strategy."

Chen Shao said, "I already have a way to deal with the miasma."

Cai Jing swallowed the rest of his words.

He actually did not approve of conquering Jiaozhi, as now was a crucial time to replace the Song Dynasty.

Although it seemed foolproof, the fact that the Prince of Dai still had the mind to conquer Jiaozhi at this time showed that he was indeed extraordinary.

Cai Jing was thinking about how great the temptation of the throne was, and how the Prince of Dai could still think about other things when he had the chance to touch it.

He didn't understand Chen Shao. He didn't know that in Chen Shao's heart, although the throne was important, it was just a tool for him to realize his ambitions.

Becoming an emperor, especially an emperor who unifies the country, is the ultimate goal for many people.

But not for Chen Shao.

Life is short, only a few decades. I am already over twenty years old. Even if I were to sit on the throne, I would only enjoy it for fifty or sixty years.

The pleasure one can enjoy from indulging in food, drink, and sex is all limited.

But the joy that comes from realizing his ambitions and leading his nation to take a solid step forward is immeasurable.

Within three to five years, he must accomplish two tasks: conquering Jiaozhi and going to Southeast Asia.
-
Just as Chen Shao settled in Bianliang and began to plot his ascension to the throne.

Good news finally started coming in from Qu Duan's side.

Seeing that Liaoyang was besieged and that Guo Yaoshi of Pingzhou was powerless to resist the Dingnan Army, people from all over Liaodong chose to surrender.

Finally, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, local officials from Liaodong, together with the military and civilians, opened the city gates.

Zhang Shuye led his troops into Liaoyang City and took control of all the families of the Ever Victorious Army.

Autumn is here, and the horses are fat and strong; the frost-heating period caused by the torrential rains has basically ended.

Zhu Lingling ordered an attack on Luanzhou.

From the city gate to the drawbridge over the moat, large groups of laborers came and went.

More people went up to the crenellations of the city wall to stand guard, and officers of the Ever Victorious Army paced back and forth at the city gate with their hands on their swords, looking cautious and wary.

Clearly, they had already learned that the Dingnan Army was coming to attack the city.

Zhen Wuchen, who had retreated from the Ji River, had a solemn expression on his face.

He had seen the Dingnan Army's new weapons before. If they were to use them in a siege, could he still hold Luanzhou?
In fact, Zhen Wuchen had already gone to see Guo Yaoshi, hoping that his elder brother would surrender, because there was really no way to fight him.

But Guo Yaoshi, who had surrendered his whole life, suddenly became ill and refused to surrender this time no matter what.

Perhaps he also knew that this time was different from before.

Regardless of which side they sided with, they always wanted him to lead the Ever Victorious Army and continue to command troops.

Moreover, each time he surrendered, he would be given a higher official position and greater power!
He had grown accustomed to the taste of power.

Once he surrenders to the Dingnan Army, he'll be lucky to save his life; leading troops is out of the question.

Luanzhou has been a formidable city since the Five Dynasties period, with high city walls, a deep and wide moat, and an extremely long drawbridge.

Each bridge plank was made by hammering together several large pieces of wood from start to finish and then binding them together with iron hoops.

In wartime, they can be dismantled and reassembled, and can also be used to reinforce city gates.

A victorious army was guarding the drawbridge. At this time, news of the capture of Liaoyang Prefecture had not yet spread. Only a few people knew about it and were ordered not to leak the news.

But paper cannot cover fire.

Once news of the fall of Liaoyang Prefecture spreads, how much fighting spirit will his men still have?

Zhen Wuchen sighed, his face growing increasingly grim.

Suddenly, several scouts came galloping back from a distance. Judging from their appearance, Zhen Wuchen knew the reason.

A large army must be coming.

Shizhou City is adjacent to Luanzhou City, and there are no obstacles along the way. The Dingnan Army is entirely composed of cavalry, so they are naturally fast.

The guards at the city gate rushed into the city in a chaotic manner.

The soldiers guarding the crenellations had already drawn their bows and arrows, nocking them on the bowstrings, ready to pull the bows and shoot at any moment.

In the blink of an eye, the main force of the Dingnan Army arrived at a place not far from the city and began to attack the nearby military camp.

The shouts and chaotic sounds of fighting erupted like thunder from all around the city, reaching straight into the sky.

The shouts and cries quickly spread from west to east, sweeping across the entire city, and the Ever Victorious Army on the city walls echoed them in a chaotic chorus.

Zhen Wuchen kept his eyes on them, and sure enough, a group of artillerymen pushed bronze cannons forward from behind the Dingnan Army.

This thing was beyond their firing range, so Zhen Wuchen could only watch from the city wall as the Dingnan Army fixed their cannons.

He was now certain that this was definitely not a Thunderclap Cannon.
Their range and power are incomparable.

The shouts, filled with murderous intent, swept in from all directions, shaking the hearts of everyone on the walls of Luanzhou and leaving them bewildered.

As the fuse was lit, bangs rang out, and the sound of cannons boomed like spring thunder.

The fire raged, and black smoke billowed into the sky.

The auxiliary city of Jiazi Fort outside Luanzhou was blasted open with a huge hole, and cries of agony and despair could be heard everywhere.

The gunner then began loading again.

Zhen Wuchen was almost in despair. He really had no way to deal with this thing, especially when defending the city.

The city walls of Luanzhou might be able to hold them off, but the surrounding auxiliary city military camps would be in trouble.

After the auxiliary city and the city's defensive camp were captured, Luanzhou became an isolated city.

It was only a matter of time before it was taken over.

There were indeed some tough guys in the Ever Victorious Army, who, even at this point, were still shouting to defend the city's fortified camp.

When the Dingnan Army reached the camp, Zhen Wuchen also began to select his vanguard to attack.

After selecting a group of men, he mounted his horse himself, clearly intending to lead the attack.

His subordinates and personal guards urged him to come down and take command from the city wall.

But Zhen Wuchen remained unmoved, "Open the city gates!"

Defending a city is never just about defending your own city; it's about engaging in various battles around the city.

Zhen Wuchen had already foreseen defeat, but he did not back down.

Amidst the chaos and panic, the city gates burst open, and Zhen Wuchen, brandishing his spear, shouted, "Follow me and kill them!"

Behind him, Zhen Wuchen's personal guards and attendants also shouted along with him.

Seeing that Zhen Wuchen had risked his life to personally lead his troops to provide support, the Changsheng Army on the Jiazi City Guard camp was immediately invigorated.

The commander guarding the stronghold, Zhao Heshou, wielded a long-handled spiked club in his left hand and a long-handled heavy axe in his right. He swung them across the city wall, sweeping away those who stood in his way.

He was also a veteran of the Ever Victorious Army, and now he was filled with fighting spirit. The number of Ever Victorious Army soldiers around him was decreasing rapidly, and people were falling off the city wall from time to time.

Near the arrow tower where fierce fighting had taken place, within the small area of ​​the stockade wall, flesh and blood had congealed into a solid mass, making it slippery to walk on.

But the Dingnan army continued to surge forward desperately.

Finally, the moment Zhao Heshou raised his hand, a spear pierced through his armor from under his ribs.

Zhao Heshou yelled, his face contorted in a ferocious expression, and a large knife slashed down on his head.

The armor blocked the blow with a dull thud; although it didn't penetrate, it was clear that the bones in the neck were broken.

He fell unwillingly, and soon the military camp was attacked.

Even though Zhen Wuchen was determined to lose, he didn't expect that the Jiazi military camp would be captured so quickly.

He's considered a veteran.

I have fought countless battles of siege and defense in my life, but this is the first time I have ever seen a fortified village breached so quickly.

The Dingnan army erupted in a huge cheer.

Then a large contingent of cavalry began to surround them.

Zhen Wuchen held his gun horizontally. With the military camp lost, there was no point in the vanguard attacking; the only option was to retreat.

However, he did not want to go back, and after a moment's hesitation, his retreat was cut off by cavalry.

Luo Qinghan, his face covered in blood, gripped the reins and shouted, "Five ministers, there's no chance anymore, let's fight our way out!"

"Kill!" Zhen Wuchen shouted, holding his gun in one hand, and charged towards the Dingnan Army that was flanking him from behind.

Behind them, a general from the Dingnan Army, covered in blood and gore, brandished a large spear and led his soldiers to close in.

He was also a fierce general. In front of him, the Ever Victorious Army was invincible, and in the blink of an eye, two or three of them were cut down.

Zhen Wuchen suddenly remembered what his elder brother had said when he went to see him and tried to persuade him to surrender:

My brothers and I, are we to just find any place and spend the rest of our lives powerless and powerless? Even a village head can come to our door with his head held high and boss us around, while we can only meekly agree and submit... and finally die a lowly old age on our beds?

I would rather die on the battlefield than do that.

Zhen Wuchen tilted his head back slightly and clenched his teeth tightly!

Brother, you're right. A real man who can't live a life of vengeance and roam the world is nothing more than a walking corpse, even if he survives by chance!

I'm going now!

As he charged, hordes of Dingnan Army knights surged forward from all directions.

Like torrents, they will engulf all the enemies in front of them.

A fierce battle ensued instantly.

The ever-victorious general Luo Qinghan was knocked off his horse by a single spear thrust, and immediately six or seven cold spear tips pierced the ground beneath him.

Zhen Wuchen tried to save her, but his horse's hoof was slashed off. He lost his balance and was shot in the chest before he hit the ground.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood and was about to fight back when several more spears pierced him from behind.

Looking at the exposed tip of the gun on his chest, his eyes widened, and he finally slowly fell down.

Before he died, he only heard one sentence: Kill them all! (End of Chapter)