Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 954 Song Emperor's Killing Intent

Zhao Dezhao, who was cursing angrily for a while, vented a lot of the sullenness in his chest, sat down, looked at the only important official in the court whom he could fully trust kneeling in front of the imperial court, and couldn't help apologizing, and said: "Mr. Lu, I feel unhappy and feel wronged." You're here, come and give me a seat!" The terrified servant quickly moved up to the brocade stool and placed it in front of Lu Yuqing.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Lu Yuqing struggled to get up from the ground, straightened his robes, and sat down on the brocade bench sideways.It has been almost two years since Zhao Dezhao ascended the throne, and he also served Zhao Dezhao as a loyal political advisor for two years, but in the past two years, it can be said that every step has been difficult, and the imperial power of the Song Dynasty has long since disappeared. Power and influence, there is the threat of the Xiangfu Kingdom outside, and Zhao Pu, the powerful minister inside, controls the government affairs, and the power in the hands of the emperor is extremely restricted. With the help of his Lu Yuqing, His Majesty forcibly passed Zhao Pu's hurdle in the way of Zhongzhi, and went out of the capital to the local government, but some local officials had to act according to Zhao Pu's wishes, which were not implemented at all.He, Lu Yuqing, was trembling and exhausted all kinds of means to barely maintain the majesty of the royal family, but he was powerless to resist Zhao Pu's imperial court.Seeing that His Majesty's imperial power is not as good as every month, and Zhao Pu's power is growing day by day, especially when he gradually intervenes in military affairs, Lu Yuqing is very worried, but there is nothing he can do.

"Your Majesty calm down, I have carefully thought about Dangjin's past deeds, and I should not dare to have second thoughts about Your Majesty. This memorial may..."

Before Lu Yuqing could finish speaking, a servant came to Zhao Dezhao and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang Dongzhang will see you."

Zhao Dezhao's eyes lit up, and he said, "Quickly declare him an audience."

Lu Yuqing knew that this Zhang Dong was His Majesty's eyes and ears.He also knew that Zhang Dong was originally an envoy of the Nanfu Department under Liu Jinyuan, a confidant of Huaxia Weifu Ye Chen. At that time, when Liu Jinyuan was ordered to lead the Nanfu forces to evacuate from Jiangnan to overseas, this Zhang Dong was sent by His Majesty He bribed and brought some people from Huaxia Weifu Nanfu to betray Liu Jinyuan and Ye Chen. He was appointed by His Majesty as the chief envoy of Song Weifu Nanfu in name, but in fact he only took orders directly from His Majesty.In the past two years, I have obtained a lot of useful information for His Majesty, and gradually gained His Majesty's trust.

Not long after, a middle-aged man with flashing eyes came down to the Chongzheng Hall under the leadership of a servant, and after saluting Zhao Dezhao, Zhao Dezhao couldn't wait to ask: "Zhang Aiqing, have you found out about the Northwest Party's advance?"

Zhang Dong said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I entered the palace to report this matter to Your Majesty."

Zhao Dezhao was overjoyed when he heard the words, and said, "Tell me quickly if that old man Dangjin has colluded with Zhao Pu."

Zhang Dong said: "Your Majesty, I have captured a palace eunuch named Hou Wengang in Suzhou."

Zhao Dezhao was stunned for a moment, and said, "Hou Wengang? Isn't he already dead? Why is he in Suzhou?"

Zhang Dong said: "Your Majesty knows clearly, this Hou Wengang is pretending to be dead to deceive the emperor, he is the secret son of Prime Minister Zhao Pu'an planted beside His Majesty."

"Bang!" Zhao Dezhao was so angry that he trembled all over, he swung the jade ax on the imperial case to the ground and broke it in two.

"Old Zhao Pu, you are too deceitful. One day, I will destroy his whole family." Zhao Dezhao gritted his teeth, and the murderous intent in his heart was like sea water.

"Your Majesty, quench your anger!" Lu Yuqing, Zhang Dong, and the servants in the palace all knelt down.

"Zhang Dong, tell me what's going on, and tell me the ins and outs of this matter." Zhao Dezhao didn't want to lose his composure in front of his confidants, suppressed his anger, and said in a deep voice.

Zhang Dong said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I have already found out that Zhao Pu instructed this Hou Wengang to falsely pass on His Majesty's will and let the party commander send troops to provoke Huangwan Pass, the border gate of Xiangfu Kingdom. According to my judgment, it was Zhao Pu who failed to win over the party commander. The commander-in-chief regards it as a serious problem and wants to get rid of it, and the purpose of this fake report is to drive a wedge between the monarch and the ministers between your majesty and the party commander, so that your majesty will have suspicions about the party commander, and use your majesty's hand to get rid of the party commander."

"What an old Zhao Pu thief! Has Hou Wengang confessed? I want to punish Zhao Pu for the crime of deceiving the emperor with a false imperial decree and kill him." Zhao Dezhao said clearly through his teeth, the murderous intent on his face was shocking. .At this moment, Zhao Dezhao's hatred for Zhao Pu has even surpassed his hatred for Ye Chen.After all, although Ye Chen insulted him in front of civil and military officials, it was indeed intolerable for the emperor, but it was even more intolerable for Zhao Pu to make him a puppet emperor.

Lu Yuqing's body was also shocked, and there was a frightening light in his eyes, and he looked at Zhang Dong.

But Zhang Dong's answer disappointed the two of them.Zhang Dong shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, I am incompetent. I didn't expect that Hou Wengang had a poison pill in his mouth. When my people found him, he bit the poison pill and committed suicide. What I said just now is that I came along with Hou Wengang." The previous traces of Suzhou were traced all the way, and it was found that he had been to Qingzhou in the northwest, and falsely passed on His Majesty's secret decree to the party commander. Therefore, all this is just my conjecture. Although I can guarantee that it is absolutely consistent with the facts, Zhao Puruo He refuses to admit it, but there is no conclusive evidence."

Lu Yuqing sighed, Zhao Dezhao was even more disappointed, he gritted his teeth and said, "Is there no way to bring down the old thief Zhao Pu?"

Lu Yuqing thought for a moment, then suddenly said: "Your Majesty, I know that one thing may be used as a breakthrough to bring down Zhao Pu."

Zhao Dezhao cheered up, and said, "What's the matter, tell me quickly."

Lu Yuqing said: "Your Majesty, there is a capable general named Tang Xingwu in the Ministry of Security of Xiangfu State, who served in the Song Dynasty. This person is a direct descendant of the Tang family in Jianghuai Chuzhou, and this Tang family has an in-law relationship with Zhao Pu. We can To punish the Tang family for the crime of collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country, and putting the Tang family in prison. Zhao Pu is corrupt and perverts the law. Presumably Mr. Zhang will be able to find evidence of Zhao Pu's corruption, bribery, buying and selling officials, and even fornicating Xiang Fu from the mouth of the Tang family. .”

The murderous intent in Zhao Dezhao's eyes was not concealed, and he said: "I remember that the Tang family is also a big family in Jianghuai, and three members of the Tang family are still court officials. Today, Tang Liwen, the magistrate of Chuzhou, is the eldest son of Tang. Hmph! They are all the minions of the old thief Zhao Pu. This Tang Xingwu? When did the Tang family have such a powerful talent, why didn't they hear about it before?"

Lu Yuqing smiled slightly and said: "At the end of last year, according to His Majesty's order, I went to the Qingzhou border to negotiate with Xiangfu Kingdom. After learning that Tang Xingwu was the deputy envoy of Xiangfu Kingdom, I sent someone to investigate him, so I knew his origin. Speaking of which, this matter is still a scandal in the Tang family, this Tang Xingwu is the concubine son of Tang Liwen, the magistrate of Chuzhou, and his mother is a maid in Tang Liwen's study."

Zhao Dezhao understood it as soon as he heard it, and said, "It must be another drunken disorder, and he became interested in sex."

Lu Yuqing said: "Exactly, Tang Xingwu's concubine came out. At that time, Tang Liwen was married to the Zhao family, that is, Zhao Pu's niece did not have any sons, but only one daughter. The Zhao family was very jealous. The Tang Xingwu mother and son had a miserable life in Tang Liwen's mansion. Five years later, the Zhao family had a son, Tang Xingsheng, Tang Liwen's son-in-law. However, the Zhao family still did not let Tang Xingwu's mother and son go. He strangled Tang Xingwu's mother to death. Tang Xingwu avenged his mother, but was almost killed by someone sent by the Zhao family. Later, he escaped and ran away angrily. , went to Xiangfu Kingdom last year and accidentally cracked the case of the assassination of Concubine Yu Gui of Xiangfu Kingdom by Liao Kingdom, and made a great contribution. Later, it is said that he made great contributions in the battle between Xiangfu Kingdom and Yinzhou of Liao Kingdom. Now he is the intelligence department of the Ministry of Security of Xiangfu Kingdom He is the envoy of the Ministry of Analysis, and was awarded the title of Baron by Ye Chen."

Zhao Dezhao sneered and said, "Zhao Pu is so domineering, I never thought his niece would be so vicious."

Zhao Dezhao resented the Tang family for being Zhao Pu's minions. Hearing about the scandal of the Tang family, he couldn't help being overjoyed, and said, "Aiqing's plan is good, so I started with the Tang family. Jianghuai and Chuzhou can barely be regarded as the south. As Zhang Aiqing It is reasonable for the chief envoy of the Nanfu of the Song Weifu to take down the Tang family. This matter will be handled as soon as the two lovers go down."

The two said yes respectfully, and Lu Yuqing said again: "Your Majesty, how should the party respond to this memorial?"

Zhao Dezhao said: "Since Dang Jin is loyal to me, I can't treat him badly. The battle with Xiangfu Kingdom this time is not bad compared to the past. I passed on my will to praise Dang Jin, but I ordered him not to treat him without authorization. Xiangfu country is provoking."

At this moment, a servant hurried into the palace, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess entered the palace and said that there is something urgent to see Your Majesty."

Zhao Dezhao looked surprised. Since Zhao Defang's death, his younger sister had never been in the palace. I heard that she stayed in Wuyue Palace all day. Even if the eldest princess gave birth to a son last year, he gave his only relative, the eldest princess, a reward. A large number of items, the eldest princess did not enter the palace to thank you.Of course he knew that his sister was angry because she killed Zhao Defang, but Zhao Dezhao had always been extra merciful to the eldest princess.Unexpectedly, the eldest princess suddenly entered the palace today.

"The eldest princess entered the palace, do you know why?" Zhao Dezhao asked.

The servant immediately said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the villain just heard from the Eldest Princess that the young prince of Wuyue King was robbed by thieves, the Eldest Princess may want His Majesty to help order the local government and Song Weifu to find the young prince of Wuyue King. "

On August [-]th of the second year of Tianding, Wuquan Mountain in the southwest of Lanzhou City.

A large number of Tubo soldiers and the Han people in Lanzhou who were captured by the Tubo people are busy along the road from Wu Shengjun of Anduobu to Lanzhou. The heavy soldiers flowed back and forth continuously.

(End of this chapter)