Song Xiu

Chapter 51 It is good to do it, it is good to do it

If it were a cold-blooded political figure like Qin Shi Huang or Emperor Wu of Han, seeing their eldest son choking up, they would have reprimanded him in various ways.

Fortunately, Zhao Kuangyin was not.

While Zhao Kuangyin possessed remarkable political abilities, he was not cold-blooded.

Zhao Dexiu's benevolence and filial piety greatly increased Zhao Kuangyin's paternal love for him.

Zhao Kuangyin did not respond to Zhao Dexiu's words. Instead, he took Zhao Dexiu's hand and led him to the steps a few steps away.

After pressing Zhao Dexiu down to sit on the steps, Zhao Kuangyin also plopped down on an even higher step.

The sight of the emperor and his ministers sitting together terrified the eunuchs in the distance, who knelt down and dared not look directly at them.

Zhao Dexiu also felt it was inappropriate. He was about to get up when he was stopped by a single sentence.

"From now on, call me Father."

From this moment on, in the cold hall symbolizing supreme power, two people, father and son, took their seats.

"It's not that I don't cherish myself, but living in this purgatory, how can I protect you if I don't fight?"

Because he was sitting in front of Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Dexiu could not see Zhao Kuangyin's expression, but Zhao Kuangyin's tone was full of helplessness.

Circumstances create heroes, but which hero is born willing to live in a chaotic world?

"I have walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood step by step. Because I have been through it, I don't want you to go through it again."

Zhao Kuangyin expressed his views on Zhao Dexiu's decision to "go to war in his father's place" in a fatherly tone of concern.

Zhao Dexiu knew that while his filial piety might move Zhao Kuangyin's fatherly love, it wouldn't be so easy for Zhao Kuangyin to agree to his request.

After appealing to emotions, one should continue to reason with them.

Since Zhao Kuangyin asked him to address him as father, he would then offer his opinion on the transformation of family into state:
“Father, I want to go to the battlefield myself, not only for your health, but also for the sake of the entire Zhao family.”

After saying this, Zhao Dexiu did not hear any response from Zhao Kuangyin.

Fortunately, one of the most important reasons why Zhao Dexiu supports the personal expedition today is to lay the foundation for what follows.

Zhao Dexiu carefully chose his words and continued:

“I know that my father wants to lead the army personally, firstly because he feels it is his duty to take charge of the world, and secondly because he does not want military power to fall into other hands.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin reached out and gently patted Zhao Dexiu's shoulder, signaling him to continue.

Seeing that Zhao Kuangyin had reacted, Zhao Dexiu continued:

"Father is the emperor. It is possible for the emperor to personally lead an expedition once, but such a thing is not a long-term solution."

"If military power falls into the hands of someone of a different surname, the consequences will be dire. Therefore, at the beginning of his reign, my father appointed my uncle as the Commander of the Palace Guards."

"However, my uncle is not entirely satisfactory when it comes to military strategy."

Leaving aside horsemanship, archery, and swordsmanship, my grandfather once tested my uncle when he was alive, asking him how he would behave if he were to lead troops into battle in the future.

His uncle responded by saying he would devise a battle formation to guide his men.

They had lived together since childhood, and Zhao Dexiu knew a lot about some of Zhao Guangyi's dark past.

Zhao Dexiu still remembers how dark his grandfather Zhao Hongyin's face turned when Zhao Guangyi answered with the answer about setting up a battle formation.
Upon hearing Zhao Dexiu mention this past event, Zhao Kuangyin let out a sigh.

Aside from this incident, Zhao Kuangyin also recalled many other unpleasant things.

Zhao Guangyi had been by his side since he was eighteen years old.

At that time, he almost had absolute power in the Imperial Guard. As his younger brother, Zhao Guangyi was important to the Zhao family. How could he not give Zhao Guangyi a great deal of influence?
Unfortunately, even after several years of being given the opportunity, Zhao Guangyi's military rank remained on the verge of being at a lower-level military academy.

Zhao Guangyi's current position as Commander of the Palace Guards was something he had practically secured for the safety of the Zhao clan; it was only because there was no one else in the imperial clan who could have done so.
There was no one there before, but what about now?
"I dare not say that my abilities are necessarily better than my uncle's, but I am willing to give it a try for the Zhao family."

In today's world, without military merit, even the highest military rank is like a castle in the air.

"Your son wishes to go to war in your father's place, hoping to achieve military merit and restrain the fierce Imperial Guards that threaten the Zhao family. I hope Father will understand."

In the past, Li Siyuan's heir apparent, Li Congrong, was given the title of "Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Realm, in charge of the military affairs of the Six Guards" by Li Siyuan, which on the surface meant that he held a tight grip on military power.

In the end, Li Congrong's entire family was wiped out by five hundred soldiers!
Even after Zhao Kuangyin's vigorous reforms, when Zhao Guangyi's fate was uncertain during the Battle of Gaoliang River, the generals still considered supporting Zhao Dezhao as emperor.

If Zhao Dexiu were to fall ill and be bedridden for a few days after succeeding to the throne, would the Imperial Guards also support Zhao Guangyi and stage a coup?
Everything that needed to be said has been said; now it's up to Zhao Kuangyin to make a decision.

In his heart, Zhao Dexiu believed that Zhao Kuangyin was very likely to agree. Firstly, there was a precedent in the Five Dynasties period for princes to accompany their fathers on military campaigns, and secondly, the father and son lived in a chaotic era.

Zhao Dexiu's words reminded Zhao Kuangyin of his younger self.

Given Zhao Hongyin's connections in the military back then, it would have been easy for him to obtain a rank in the Imperial Guard when he was young.

Why didn't he stay by Zhao Hongyin's side back then?
He knew from a young age that military power earned without one's own hard work was utterly useless.

Looking at his eldest son waiting for his reply, Zhao Kuangyin couldn't help but feel that the world was full of strange things.

The father and son of yesteryear are just like the father and son of today.

Zhao Kuangyin, worried that Zhao Dexiu might underestimate the battlefield, did not show his joy. Like Zhao Hongyin had done years before, he deliberately spoke in a somber tone:

I'm only giving you one chance.

During the campaign against Li Jun, I will carefully observe whether you possess any military talent or strategy.

Seeing that he had successfully persuaded Zhao Kuangyin in the first place, Zhao Dexiu smiled.

Although he couldn't see Zhao Dexiu's expression, Zhao Kuangyin, being an experienced person, knew that Zhao Dexiu must be happy.

"Marquis of Taiyuan".

Upon hearing the official title, Zhao Dexiu immediately rose and bowed to Zhao Kuangyin on the imperial steps.

Since it is an official title, the relationship between the ruler and his subjects should be discussed.

"The minister is here."

When Zhao Dexiu bowed, Zhao Kuangyin gazed at him quietly for a long time.

Then a majestic figure stood up and came to Zhao Dexiu's side.

When the topic turned to the relationship between ruler and subject, Zhao Kuangyin's imposing aura made Zhao Dexiu quite nervous.

“The military is not like the imperial court. Military law is strict. If you break military law, I will not make an exception.”

Nowadays, emperors and generals who want to live pay great attention to fairness in the military.

Putting aside other things, at least no one dared to withhold the rations and pay of the lower-ranking soldiers, otherwise their entire families would easily be sacrificed to the heavens.

After hearing the king's admonition, Zhao Dexiu, as a subject, became solemn and kept it in mind.

"Wei Renpu is a man of great strategic talent. After I personally lead the expedition, I will appoint him as a Councilor of State Affairs."

With him, Zhao Pu, Lü Yuqing, Guangyi, and others staying in the capital, I feel more at ease.

Zhao Kuangyin's arrangement gave Zhao Dexiu a pleasant surprise.

Zhao Kuangyin made this arrangement mainly to prepare for two scenarios, so that if he performed poorly on the expedition, he wouldn't have to start all over again when he returned to Kaifeng.

This arrangement suited Zhao Dexiu's wishes perfectly.

With Zhao Pu and Lü Yuqing, who were close to him, in Kaifeng, Zhao Guangyi, who had no power to oversee the country, was unable to cause much trouble.

With the addition of Vice Chancellor Wei Renpu to Kaifeng, Zhao Guangyi's ability to avoid drowning during his stay in Kaifeng is truly remarkable.

After speaking, Zhao Kuangyin waved for Zhao Dexiu to leave.

Seeing this, Zhao Dexiu turned and walked towards the palace gate.

But before Zhao Dexiu had gone far, he heard another call.

Zhao Dexiu turned around and looked at Zhao Kuangyin in surprise.

The next moment, Zhao Kuangyin's powerful voice echoed in the deep hall:
"It's good to do it, it's good to do it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dexiu bowed respectfully to show that he would never let his expectations down.

As for Zhang Dejun, who was kneeling on the ground, he was overjoyed.

　Yesterday's chapter sparked some questions among readers, mainly because some readers were not familiar with the Five Dynasties period.

　　We cannot simply transplant ideas from other eras into this one.

　　Discussion is normal, but the use of abusive language by a very small number of readers is going too far.

　　Please give this book more time. Thank you so much!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)