Wang Shixiong nodded, thinking: "No wonder Xifu said it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity..."

"It's not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Wu Yi shook his head again and again. "I first worked in the Honglu Temple for three years, then went on a diplomatic mission to Japan, and then came to mediate the dispute between Dali and Vietnam. Finally, I stayed in Dali for three years. After thinking about it over and over again, I only understood one thing... That is, in the world, it is the most difficult thing to live a stable life and prosper steadily. The so-called small country is in chaos and is becoming increasingly decadent. It is normal to live as long as you can... You are used to living a peaceful life in the country, so you think it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! In fact, the situation in our country in the past seven or eight years is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"It's all the Holy Emperor in the court." Wang Shixiong responded quickly.

Wu Yi still shook his head but was unwilling to say more… It was not because they were not close enough, nor because he despised Wang Shixiong's military background, nor did he want to deny his words. It was because he knew that even if one read thousands of books and traveled thousands of miles, it would be impossible to feel this from the bottom of his heart without personal and long-term contact with the conditions of these small countries.

While the two kings of Wu were talking nonsense from a high position, the uncle and nephew of the Gao family below had to engage in some crucial discussions concerning the rise and fall of the country and the survival of the family.

"Zhenshou, I heard from people in the Song Dynasty that a centipede is still alive even after death. Even though our family has been around for hundreds of years and has had some inappropriate things, our family is deeply rooted and has flourished. If we want to decline, our family must commit suicide before we can be completely defeated... Now, just to save face, you actually bring that Zhao Song official into the game. Isn't this going to ruin the overall situation of my Gao family?" Gao Liangcheng stood beside the jade disc, looking helpless.

"Uncle, why do you have to be so grand?" Gao Zhenshou sneered. "The Gao family's overall situation has long been ruined by you... You did it on the first day, can't your nephew do it on the fifteenth? Besides, without the Zhao Song government, our two clans would not fight? Would you be able to keep Bu Xie's position?"

"Even if I can't keep Bu Xie's position, I can't let you live in peace." Gao Liangcheng finally turned cold.

"That's why I brought Emperor Zhao in." Gao Zhenshou was not afraid. "Gao Liangcheng! No matter what, our Northern Sect is the legitimate bloodline, and I am the legitimate grandson of the late Duke Zhong! Even the other branches recognize me! Now that I am older and more powerful, you should abdicate and let others take over!"

"What if I don't give in?" Gao Liangcheng also became ruthless. "I have led the Southern Sect to manage Wei Chu for decades. Unless a large army is sent to take it, who can destroy my foundation? Although the Song Dynasty has hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers, they are not acclimatized to the local climate and the road is difficult. They may not be able to overthrow me!"

"Then I won't expose it." Gao Zhenshou remained calm. "Duan Heyu's sons fought for the throne, and the country was in chaos. I opened the way from the north, led 5,000 Zhao Song soldiers into the capital, deposed and appointed Bu Xie on my own... If you want to be Bu Xie of one of your counties in Weichu, then go ahead and do it. What does it have to do with me? Even if you call yourself the Buddha of Wuliang Mountain, the official in Yanjing might be happy to give you the title... They are happy to give titles to even a stone, let alone your uncle, a living person who is in charge of a county?"

Gao Liangcheng was stunned, and then he argued: "I still have Shanchanfu (Kunming)."

"It's rare to find a flat land in Shanchan Prefecture, and the east is full of black barbarians who are dissatisfied with the Duan family and our Gao family... As long as I open the road and lead the Song army in, can you defend Shanchan Prefecture? Don't you know that the black barbarian Yang family has been recognizing their relatives in the north and asking to be conferred the title of duke?" Gao Zhenshou sneered even more.

"Zhenshou, you are inviting a wolf into the house." Gao Liangcheng lowered his voice. "The Song Dynasty has come in, and the Yang family and the Black Barbarians have risen again. What good will it bring to our Gao family? It's just a waste of Shanchan Prefecture... Moreover, as time goes on, the Zhao Song Dynasty will sooner or later annex the Duan family, and Bu Xie's position will be in vain."

"In this case, uncle, why don't you hand over Shanchan Prefecture and the position of Buxie to me, your nephew?" Gao Zhenshou thought it was ridiculous. "In this way, I will naturally not let the wolf into the house again."

Gao Liangcheng could only sneer.

Seeing the other party's attitude, Gao Zhenshou also looked lonely:

"Uncle! The current situation is that you have Weichu, but no matter what, you can only keep the Weichu Prefecture at most in the future! And I originally only have Tongmou Prefecture, and no matter what, it won't be less... Why shouldn't I fight for it?"

"Of the same clan..." Gao Liangcheng was helpless and tried his best to sound earnest.

"Same clan! Same clan! You're letting the wolf into the house? You're talking as if Weichu and Shanchan have been part of our Northern Clan for decades!" Gao Zhenshou was getting more and more impatient. "You Southern Clan are even worse than the wolves in the north. They at least trade fairly and treat us with courtesy, and they even let my second brother pass the imperial examination and be appointed as the governor. But you Southern Clan have been treating us Northern Clan like thieves for decades... The Southern and Northern Clan are no longer one! And this is all the result of you being born in a branch but clinging to power!"

"We can't just talk about the clan's private interests, we have to talk about national affairs." Gao Liangcheng tried to make his last effort. "If you do this, what will happen to Dali's national situation?"

"That's about it!" Gao Zhenshou was completely fed up. "You're talking as if we didn't allow you and Duan Heyu to do great things... When Jiaozhi was in turmoil, you supported Weng Shenli, and you threw weapons, money, and food at him like water, emptying the national treasury. Did it work? Did our Northern Sect fall behind? The accumulation of tea and copper traded with the North for many years was all emptied by you!"

Gao Liangcheng sighed, then sat down with the help of the Wuliang Jade Disk that had just been conferred, not caring at all about the water splashing on his body.

"Uncle, there are some things we can only say here."

Seeing this, Gao Zhenshou also became depressed. "Why did you support Weng Shenli regardless of the century-old diplomatic relationship between Dali and Jiaozhi? Do you really think I don't understand? Isn't it because the might of the Zhao Song Northern Expedition and the Song-Jin decisive battle shocked you? Isn't it because you watched the Liao Dynasty fall and the Song Dynasty rise from the ashes, and you have some thoughts in your mind..."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!