"I really don't know..."

"Then I'll ask more clearly." Snowflakes fell, the brazier at the ferry swayed, but Zhang Jun, standing on the wooden planks at the ferry, had no intention of letting go. "Why did the emperor have to kill Liu Guangshi himself? Why did he have to deal with the deserters himself? Why did the emperor have to hold on to the Huai River when the situation was already so bad and Xiacai was hopeless? What was the point? And this time, why did the emperor have to take the risk to go to the other side? Didn't the emperor know that once Zhang Jun had evil intentions or he couldn't control his subordinates, the country would be in danger of overthrowing? And why did the emperor have to do it anyway?"

"I still don't know." Zhao Jiu shook his head again. "Deyuan, I know you mean well and are sincere, but there are some things that don't have answers."

Zhang Jun shook his head and said nothing, with no intention of loosening his grip, as if he was dissatisfied with this answer... In fact, since the Chief Censor had the courage to come this far, it would be useless if he could not give him an explanation.

"But I can understand Deyuan..." Zhao Jiu laughed when he saw the other party's expression. "You always use Guangwu to encourage me these days. Speaking of Guangwu, before the battle of Kunyang, everyone said that they should give up Kunyang, but Guangwu insisted not to. Then he took only thirteen people out of the city to seek reinforcements. I think some people would ask why the general insisted on doing it. In fact, I also want to ask Deyuan, you are very knowledgeable, why do you think Guangwu insisted on doing it? According to the situation at that time, wouldn't it be better to retreat to Xiangyang? Why didn't he want to retreat?"

Zhang Jun was slightly startled.

"Speaking of Wang Mang, I would also like to ask, Wang Mang was a Confucian role model for half of his life, so why did he do evil things in the second half of his life?"

"Why did Fuchai let Goujian go? Why did Goujian take 18 years to destroy Wu?"

"Why did Qin last for six generations of wise rulers, advance step by step, and annex the world? And why did it perish in the second generation?"

"Why did the officials of Chu jump into the river and leave? Even though there were only three households in Chu, why did Chu have to be the one to destroy Qin?"

Zhang Jun gradually lost his composure, and even Yang Yizhong who was standing behind Zhao Jiu was stunned.

"And the Emperor Zhaolie that Li Xianggong used to encourage me, Liu Xuande was defeated and fled to Dangyang, his wife and children were separated, and his life was in danger, why did he insist on taking the people across the river?" Zhao Jiu continued to ask seriously, with a hint of awe. "Why did Zhuge Wuhou go to Qishan six times in vain?"

Hearing this, Zhang Jun thought of the story that night and almost lost all his strength.

"And why did Zhang Xun insist on defending Suiyang? Why did the King of Chu refuse to cross the Yangtze River even if he died? Even Wanyan Aguda, why did he start a rebellion against Liao?"

At this point, Zhao Jiu easily took away the other person's hand on the food box. "Deyuan, don't you understand yet? Do you think I have been doing these things for no reason these days? Haven't I privately asked myself why I am so stubborn? And what I asked you today is just a small part of my wild thoughts. You may not know Alexander, Hannibal, and Caesar; it is even more ridiculous to talk about Zhu Yuanzhang and Napoleon... But no matter how much I think about it and ask more questions, I still don't know why! I can only comfort myself that things have been done, why ask so many questions?"

After saying that, Zhao Jiu, dressed in formal attire, finally got on the boat with his food box in his arms. He was about to order Yang Yizhong to start the boat quickly, but he suddenly remembered something and asked Zhang Jun, who was standing on the wooden plank at the ferry:

"By the way, what happened to Li Ruoshui that Deyuan told me about last time in Xiacai City? You know, I really can't remember many things."

"Dead." Zhang Jun replied blankly, almost blurting out. "He was captured during the Jingkang period, and the Second Saint was humiliated in the Jin camp. He started to curse the Jin people, but was cut off by Nianhan. He couldn't curse with his mouth, so he glared at them and pointed at them with his hands. He was also gouged out of his eyes and cut off his hands, and finally died by pieces..."

"Look, that's it." Zhao Jiu sighed slightly. "Li Ruoshui was an envoy to the Kingdom of Jin in his early years. From what you said that day, I know that he knows better than anyone how barbaric the Jin people are. But why did he still curse?"

Zhang Jun could no longer bear it, so he knelt down in the snow on the wooden plank beside the boat, then grabbed the boat's side and cried like rain: "Your Majesty, I beg you to cross the river to Xiacai on your behalf!"

"If you can go, I won't say so much." Zhao Jiu waved his hand helplessly. "But under the current situation, I am the only one who can protect General Zhang! If you really want to, go back to the Imperial Camp and control the situation for me. Try to keep it a secret. It would be best if you don't find out until I come back."

Having said this, Zhao Jiu still brushed away Zhang Jun's exhausted hands, and asked Yang Yi Zhong to start the boat quickly. Yang Yi Zhong no longer dared to hesitate... In a moment, heavy snow fell all over the sky. On the New Year's Eve, the dignified Zhao Song official actually took a light boat to cross the Huai River to the north in the snow.

PS: Good night everyone…that’s all.