A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

"Guo Rong?"

Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou?

This was the last emperor of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and also the most capable one.

Unexpectedly, the person Liu Zhiyuan sent to deliver the message was him.

Li Rui came to the outside of the tent.

It can be seen from afar.

Zhao Kuangyin, whom he had demoted to a lowly gatekeeper, was staring at Guo Rong.

Upon seeing this scene, Li Rui couldn't help but laugh.

These two people do not know each other.

However, in the original history, Zhao Kuangyin followed Guo Rong in his campaigns in the south and north.

It was under Guo Rong's command that Zhao Kuangyin earned his reputation and enjoyed a successful official career.

Before Guo Rong died, he promoted Zhao Kuangyin to Commander of the Palace Guards, which was equivalent to entrusting him with the most elite troops.

She hoped he would assist her young son.

As a result, the Chenqiao Mutiny occurred, and he was forced to wear the yellow robe.

Zhao Kuangyin usurped the throne and established the Song Dynasty.

Although he treated Guo Rong's family extremely well, he still left behind some controversial reputations.

However, none of these things should happen.

"Let him in."

After a while.

Zhao Kuangyin kept a close eye on Guo Rong and went forward to meet Li Rui.

Guo Rong bowed with his hands clasped.

"This humble official, Guo Rong, the clerk of the Han troops of the Hedong Prefecture, greets Li Taiwei, the military governor of Hebei!"

Upon hearing this, Li Rui roughly understood Liu Zhiyuan's attitude.

First, Liu Zhiyuan acknowledged his position as the military governor of Hebei.

Although the Great Jin Dynasty existed in name only, Liu Zhiyuan's position as the military governor of Hedong was still bestowed by imperial decree from the Great Jin.

If he does not acknowledge Li Rui, it would also be a challenge to his own legitimacy.

Second.

The person Liu Zhiyuan sent was Guo Rong.

Guo Rong was Guo Wei's adopted son, and Guo Wei was Liu Zhiyuan's confidant.

The fact that Guo Rong came is enough to show that Liu Zhiyuan was interested.

What makes your heart flutter?

Of course, it's about becoming emperor!

Yes.

Li Rui made it very clear in his letter to Liu Zhiyuan.

The Great Jin Dynasty has fallen, and the world is without a ruler.

Now you have the ability to enter the Central Plains and become the emperor.

There were only two people.

Yelü Deguang and Liu Zhiyuan.

As for Zhao Yanshou and Du Chongwei...

These two men were promised by Yelü Deguang that he would make them emperors after conquering the Central Plains.

There's absolutely no chance!

If Yelü Deguang could become the emperor of the Central Plains, he would have done it himself!

How could I possibly give it to someone else?

Therefore, the only one who can currently compete with Yelü Deguang is Liu Zhiyuan.

In Li Rui's letter to Liu Zhiyuan.

We strongly recommend Liu Zhiyuan to conquer the Central Plains!

As soon as Liu Zhiyuan made a move, he immediately supported Liu Zhiyuan as emperor in the name of the Hebei military governor.

This is a meritorious act of following the dragon's lead.

Liu Zhiyuan was initially hesitant.

After all, Yelü Deguang was powerful, and once he left Hedong, it was not certain that they could defeat him.

But now.

In his letter, Li Rui told him that there was no need to fight.

Just wait!

Yelü Deguang was a non-Han Chinese, and he couldn't understand how a non-Han Chinese could become an emperor in the Central Plains!

Those Khitan barbarians only know how to burn, kill, and plunder; they have no idea how to govern a country.

Even if Han Chinese are appointed as officials, it won't solve two problems.

First, food supplies; second, public support.

When the Khitans came, all they did was plunder grain; they had no intention of helping the people become wealthy.

When the people have no way to survive, they will inevitably rebel.

With the people's hearts turned against him, Yelü Deguang's dream of becoming emperor of the Central Plains could no longer be realized.

At that time, as long as Liu Zhiyuan prepares a large amount of grain, the people of the Central Plains can get through the years of war.

Everyone will support him as the new emperor.

Liu Zhiyuan was deeply moved by Li Rui's words!

His former superior, Shi Jingtang, started his career in Taiyuan and established the Great Jin Dynasty.

Now that I'm in Taiyuan, why can't I be the emperor?

Therefore, Liu Zhiyuan wrote a reply and had Guo Rong deliver it to him personally.

After Li Rui opened it, he skipped the initial pleasantries.

Looking back, one understands Liu Zhiyuan's meaning.

"That old bastard, he's really shrewd!"

Li Rui chuckled and cursed, making Guo Rong's eyelids twitch.

This letter is several hundred words long, but the rest is all nonsense; there's only one truly useful point.

Equivalent exchange.

Li Rui used his reputation to fully support Liu Zhiyuan's ascension to the throne.

After all, how famous is Li Rui? Need I say more?

If he publicly supports it, who knows how many people he might gain support from!

in exchange.

After Liu Zhiyuan ascends the throne, he will, in the name of the new dynasty, once again appoint Li Rui as the military governor of Hebei and grant him real power!

Although the specific territory could certainly not span across the four major military regions.

But the territories of the Yiwu Army and the Chengde Army are now 100% secured.

Li Rui remained outwardly calm and spoke to Guo Rong.

"Very well, I agree to your General's terms."

Actually.

Li Rui was already overjoyed!

Even without his reputation, Liu Zhiyuan could still become emperor.

A few months later, Yelü Deguang was forced to leave.

In the entire north, only Liu Zhiyuan had the strength to secure the emperor's position.

If he doesn't want to take the job, plenty of people will beg him to take it!

Where is Li Rui's support needed?

Therefore, Li Rui repeatedly performed a series of operations.

The main focus is on information asymmetry!

They managed to extract the territory of two towns without any investment!

How can you get promoted and seize territory by killing enemies normally, compared to using political means?

So, are all those who play politics cunning and manipulative?

And so.

At a time when the world's attention was focused on Yelü Deguang's southward journey.

Li Rui has secretly reached an agreement with Liu Zhiyuan.

He and the Divine Sword Army also passed through Tianjing Pass and entered the territory of Hedong.

……

On the first day of the first lunar month of the fourth year of Kaiyun, the north wind was biting.

The Khitan army was arrayed north of Bianliang, with banners stretching across the fields and armored cavalry like clouds.

Yelü Deguang, dressed in full military attire, finally arrived.

He was surrounded by a group of generals including Zhao Yanshou, Xiao Han, and Yelü Jieli.

Knowing he could not escape his fate, Shi Chonggui ordered his men to draft a surrender document, in which he referred to himself as "Grandson, Minister Chonggui".

They also planned to follow ancient customs and lead a sheep by carrying a jade disc.

He personally went to the outskirts of the city to welcome the Khitan ruler and perform the ceremony of accepting surrender after the fall of his kingdom.

But Yelü Deguang refused.

"I entered Bianliang not to accept surrender."

Left with no other choice, Shi Chonggui led the princes and their families out of the city on foot through Fengqiu Gate.

Arriving in the countryside, they waited to pay their respects to Yelü Deguang, hoping to apologize in person.

On the outskirts of the city, the Khitan cavalry stood in a ring, their swords and spears menacing.

Shi Chonggui, dressed in plain clothes and looking dejected, stood frozen in the cold wind when he saw the Khitan emperor's banner in the distance.

However, Yelü Deguang refused to meet with him.

Shi Jingtang was his adopted son, and Shi Chonggui should be his adopted grandson.

In addition, there was the name of a fallen kingdom.

Yelü Deguang's impression of Shi Chonggui was already extremely poor, and he couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.

Therefore, he only sent an interpreter to convey the message.

He ordered Shi Chonggui to take the members of the Jin royal family to Fengchan Temple for accommodation and not to approach his military tent.

Shi Chonggui stood frozen in the wilderness, filled with humiliation, yet utterly helpless.

They could only go to Fengchan Temple.

at the same time.

All the civil and military officials of the Jin Dynasty changed into plain clothes and gauze hats and prostrated themselves by the roadside in the suburbs.

They prostrated themselves, awaiting punishment from Yelü Deguang.

Yelü Deguang reined in his horse and stood at the front of the formation, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling Jin officials on the ground, and slowly spoke.

"The ruler of Jin has betrayed me; what crime have his ministers committed?"

In a single sentence, all officials were exonerated.

He ordered all officials to rise, retain their official positions, and continue to perform their duties, thus appeasing the people of the Central Plains.

Just as Li Rui said.

When Zhang Yanze enters Bianliang, he will inevitably burn, kill, and plunder.

Yelü Deguang's arrival in Bianliang will surely appease the people.

However, Yelü Deguang only went into the city for a short while before leaving to stay in the army camp.

Beware of unrest within the city.

Several days later, Yelü Deguang officially entered the palace.

Simultaneously.

An imperial edict was issued to dismiss Shi Chonggui, demote him to the title of Marquis of Ingratitude, and exile him to Huanglong Prefecture.

That is, the harsh and cold Northeast.

Later, when asked why Empress Feng Yao and Princess Shi Lingxian were not among Shi Chonggui's family members, they were asked why.

Shi Chonggui replied that the two had already committed suicide out of fear of being humiliated.

Yelü Deguang investigated the matter but left it at that.

This is the end.

In 936, Shi Jingtang established the Great Jin Dynasty, which was destroyed by Shi Chonggui in 947.

The dynasty lasted eleven years, spanning two emperors before its demise.

February of the same year.

Yelü Deguang declared himself emperor in Bianliang and ascended to the throne of the Central Plains.

The reign title was changed to the first year of Datong.

The name of the country was Liao.

however.

The newly established Liao Kingdom was already on the verge of collapse! It was beset by crises!

The nation's fate is hanging by a thread!