The Eagle Shooting Heroes: From Golden-Knife Prince Consort to Emperor Guangwu of the Great Zhou Dyn

For Li Ping, this was an unacceptable outcome.

In her heart, the destruction of the country and the loss of her family were equivalent to the destruction of her family.

She suddenly looked at Guo Liqing and said, "I've long thought that my son and I would have a hard time returning to the Song Dynasty safely. In fact, I've already prepared myself to be buried in the desert."

"Jing'er, I know you are filial. You must have stayed in Mongolia to serve the Great Khan to protect my life, right?"

"Yes and no!" Guo Liqing looked at Li Ping and said, "Mother, you committed suicide in the desert, and I died for my country in Xiangyang, but these things are nothing..."

"No!" Li Ping said resolutely, "Jing'er, if you can defend Xiangyang for more than ten years, you can protect the people for more than ten years. At the very least, you will be worthy of the name of the Guo family ancestors and the entire family of loyal martyrs!"

"A family of loyal martyrs?" Guo Liqing was stunned. He felt that feudal ethics were truly deadly!

Guo Liqing suddenly stood up and said, "A name of loyalty and valor? Do you want me to give up the opportunity to save the people of the Song Dynasty for an empty reputation?"

Do you know what became of my Han dynasty in the end?

Under Mongol rule, we Han Chinese were even inferior to the Khitans and Jurchens; we were the fourth lowest class of people!

At this point, Guo Liqing even became somewhat indignant.

If it weren't for the saying "the barbarians have no luck for a hundred years," my land would probably be like our neighbor India, where the lower castes would never have a chance to rise up.

Li Ping stood there, stunned. The Han people have always valued reputation above all else.

Guo Liqing said that she could neither agree with nor understand the concept of "empty fame".

"Jing'er, although I haven't had much schooling, I know that starving to death is a small matter, but losing one's chastity is a big matter."

"By submitting to a foreign race, you are betraying your master for personal gain. Having lost your integrity, how can you talk about saving the people or the world?"

"A foreign race?" Guo Liqing seemed to have discovered the root of the problem: in this era, the distinction between Chinese and barbarians still existed.

Guo Liqing said, "Mother, there is no such thing as a foreign race! I can be husband and wife with Huazheng and brother with Tuolei. We are all essentially the same. The so-called ethnicity is just a difference in lifestyle."

Before the Spring and Autumn Period, the Central Plains was surrounded by the Eastern Yi, Western Rong, Northern Di, and Southern Man, all of whom were foreign tribes.

But looking at it today, the Eastern Yi were in Shandong, the Western Rong were in Shaanxi, the Northern Di were in Yan and Yun, and the Southern Man were in Jing and Chu!

Are the people in these places still considered foreigners today?

The Han Chinese people have never been a nation that is closed off from the world, but rather a nation that is constantly developing and inclusive.

If a barbarian wears Chinese clothing, speaks Chinese language, and practices Chinese culture, then he is not a barbarian.

The Jurchens entered the Central Plains but did not govern with benevolence and righteousness, nor did they care for the people. Therefore, the Jurchen state was destined to perish soon.

The same applies to Mongolia.

They don't discuss etiquette and moral education, nor do they talk about cultural inclusiveness; they only emphasize ethnic antagonism...

Guo Liqing took a deep breath and said, "Mother, people who say such things are truly despicable!"

Although Li Ping was shocked by Guo Liqing's remarks, she still said, "According to you, it wouldn't be impossible for the Mongols to rule the Song Dynasty one day?"

"No!" Guo Liqing shook his head. "In Mongolia today, whoever has the biggest fist calls the shots. They haven't learned about Chinese culture yet. If we let them rule the south, it will be a disaster."

Someone like Ögedei Khan actually said he would conquer large tracts of land in the south, turn the fields into grasslands, and let them graze their livestock!

How many people can one acre of farmland support? How many people can one acre of grassland support?

With such limited understanding, how can one govern the world?

Genghis Khan today is the same; he was a powerful ruler, but not a wise one!

This was not Guo Liqing's own evaluation, but rather an evaluation from later generations of teachers.

Genghis Khan was an emperor on par with Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Emperor Taizu of Song.

However, Genghis Khan, the proudest of his generation, only knew how to bend his bow and shoot eagles!

Whether it was the Jurchens or the Mongols, they were good at conquering the world, but they lacked the ability to govern it, and that was the root of the troubles.

Thinking of this, Guo Liqing said again, "Mother, this time I conquered Samarkand for the Great Khan. The Great Khan wants to massacre people in the city to intimidate them."

However, the Khan promised in advance that whoever captured Samarkand first would be rewarded with the wealth and possessions of the city's inhabitants!

I saved half of the soldiers and civilians in the city by claiming that the people in the city were my property!

Mother, why do you think I attacked the Song Dynasty for the Mongols? To obtain a promise from the Great Khan?

My only thought is that if I were to attack the Song Dynasty one day, I could do so to the greatest extent possible to protect the people of Song.

Guo Liqing spoke at length, and although Li Ping was just a woman, she understood the meaning behind his words.

"Mother, do you understand? If there's anything you don't understand, please feel free to ask!"

"I understand, you want to save the people of the Song Dynasty this way! But..." Li Ping still needed time to process all of this, but the deeply ingrained ideas were still impacting her. "I know you have a heart to help the world and bring peace to the people, but why in Mongolia, and not in the Song Dynasty?"

Guo Liqing sighed softly and said, "Back then, the Jurchens occupied the north of the Song Dynasty, and all the Han people lived under their swords."

Later, Yue Fei launched a northern expedition, striking directly at the heart of the enemy's capital. Just as he was about to achieve victory, he was recalled by Zhao Gou with twelve imperial edicts!

Zhao Gou killed Yue Fei to seek peace with the Jin Dynasty and submitted a memorial to the emperor acknowledging his submission.

From then on, no one mentioned the Northern Expedition again!

Do you know why Zhao Gou wanted to kill Yue Fei?

Li Ping looked bewildered and said, "Wasn't it the treacherous minister Qin Hui who killed Prince Yue?"

"Qin Hui was just a scapegoat! The real culprit was Emperor Zhao Gou! He was afraid of Yue Fei! He would rather give half of the country to the Jurchens than see Yue Fei's achievements overshadow his own!"

Why?

Because Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin was a military general who usurped the throne!

Therefore, the Zhao family was always wary of military generals becoming too powerful.

If military generals do not become powerful, the military will be weak.

The Song Dynasty was previously oppressed by the Khitans, now by the Jurchens, and will soon be oppressed by the Mongols. Even the tiny Western Xia dared to bully them.

This is the crux of the problem.

If I go south, I will have no power; how will I fight the Mongols?

Speaking of Yue Fei, he is a source of pain for the entire Song Dynasty.

When Guo Xiaotian was alive, he often discussed this matter with Yang Tiexin.

Only then did Li Ping nod. "I understand. If you want to do it, then do it! Even if you face criticism, it doesn't matter!"

"Infamy? Where did this infamy come from?"

Li Ping shook her head and said, "Serving the Mongols as a Song citizen is disloyal. Repaying the Song Dynasty with the kindness shown to you by the Mongols is also disloyal. Even if you save the people of the Song Dynasty in the future, the name of disloyalty you, Guo Jing, will likely never be erased!"

When Yue Fei was mentioned, Guo Liqing became quite excited. But seeing Li Ping's conflicted expression, he realized something.

In this era, to facilitate their rule, monarchs instilled the idea of ​​"loyalty to the monarch" in the people. This was a fundamental code that the monarch set for the people.

Even Guo Liqing, who came from a thousand years in the future, has a loyal heart.

Loyalty is usually tied to the monarch's favor.

But for Guo Jing and his mother, it was a separation.

They were indebted to Genghis Khan, but the "underlying code" required them to be loyal to the Song emperor they had never even met!

Li Ping had previously said: "You have received the Great Khan's favor and become his son-in-law, I have no objection."

Li Ping knows how to be grateful.

However, if the way to repay a debt of gratitude would trigger her "underlying code," then the "underlying code" should be prioritized.

Understanding the logic behind this, Guo Liqing looked at Li Ping and said, word by word, "Mother, don't worry! Your son is not a disloyal person! My loyalty is not to any particular ruler, but to all the people of the world! My choice is solely based on whether the people of the world are safe and well!"

These words, though profoundly impactful, were still difficult for Li Ping to fully comprehend.

However, the "underlying code" of the Han people is not just one thing; another idea, "the people are more important than the ruler," quietly emerged in Li Ping's mind.

Guo Liqing looked at Li Ping with deep emotion. He wanted this woman, who had worked hard all her life, to enjoy her old age in peace, and the first thing he had to do was to remove the thorns from her heart.

Guo Liqing continued, "Mother, dynasties have risen and fallen throughout history, and emperors have always taken turns sitting on the throne. Since the Zhao family can't protect this country, what's wrong with changing to another family?"

"Shut up! This is utterly treasonous!"

Guo Liqing's words were too blunt, touching on Li Ping's "underlying code".

It is evident that the traditional hierarchical relationships between ruler and subject, father and son, have become deeply ingrained in people's minds and are difficult to change.

Guo Liqing looked at Li Ping, whose gaze was fixed on Guo Xiaotian's memorial tablet.

This is a traditional woman who has always believed that the wife is the head of the household. Perhaps she can find a way to persuade Guo Xiaotian.

Guo Liqing stood up, looked at Guo Xiaotian's memorial tablet, and said to Li Ping, "Mother, do you know who my Guo family's ancestors were?"

Li Ping pondered for a moment and replied, "Your father once said that the Guo family's ancestors held high positions, but he didn't go into specific details!"

Guo Liqing clapped his hands and said, "That's right! Father is right! The Guo family ancestors did indeed hold high positions, and... very high ones!"

"Stop beating around the bush, just tell me!"

"My ancestor, Guo, had a single name: 'Wei'!"