Wang Zeng retorted, "So all we need to do is defeat Zhao Yuanhao and show Yelu Zongzhen our strength. He will then retreat. If we can then send an envoy to the Liao Kingdom and persuade Yelu Zongzhen to join us in the war against Zhao Yuanhao, we might be able to use him to eliminate this beast."

Lü Yijian sneered, "You think Yelu Zongzhen is a fool. Putting aside the fact that Yelu Zongzhen and Zhao Yuanhao are related by marriage, with his daughter, Princess Xingping, married to him as his empress. But when two tigers fight, one must be injured. Why would Yelu Zongzhen resort to military action against Western Xia when the Song Dynasty is watching closely? Isn't he afraid that the Song Dynasty will sit on the sidelines and watch the tigers fight?"

"hehe."

Wang Zeng responded with a cold sneer, "People are always after profit. Xixia is a small nation with a weak population. The Liao Dynasty might as well covet Zhao Yuanhao's territory. Furthermore, the Song Dynasty has long been seen as weak and incompetent by those border invaders. Otherwise, how could Zhao Yuanhao have the audacity to establish his own kingdom? Yelu Zongzhen would surely think that the Song Dynasty wouldn't dare send troops."

You talk as if you idiots really dare to send out troops?

If Zhao Jun was here and knew that he had traveled to the Song Dynasty, he would probably raise his middle finger and curse fiercely, saying that the border bandits don’t have to think you are cowardly and incompetent, you are just a bunch of cowards and incompetent!

However, it must be said that Wang Zeng did have strategy. History has evaluated him as a resourceful and decisive strategist.

Because Zhao Jun did not actually tell everyone about the Liao-Xia War, Liao Xingzong had just ascended the throne and his position was not stable. He was also fighting with his mother, Empress Dowager Xiao, causing turmoil in the domestic situation.

To do this, he had to stabilize the situation and emphasize his status as the big brother among the Liao, Song, and Western Xia. So he sent troops to the border to threaten the Song Dynasty, and after the Song-Xia War ended, he immediately sent three armies with 100,000 elite soldiers to attack Western Xia directly.

In this way, he forced Zhao Zhen to sign the "Chongxi Increased Currency" in the Song Dynasty in the south, and beat up the Western Xia in the west. He could establish his authority in the country, severely strike those opponents, consolidate his position, and consolidate his imperial power.

Unfortunately, he succeeded in bullying the Song Dynasty, but was defeated by Western Xia and severely beaten by Li Yuanhao. He fled back in disgrace, which actually helped Li Yuanhao establish his country and become emperor.

Therefore, Wang Zeng was able to make such an accurate judgment without knowing these things, which can indeed be said to be very strategic.

However, the quarrel between the two men made Zhao Zhen very angry.

A powerful enemy is about to arrive, and there is still party strife here. So what difference does it make whether Zhao Jun said the future or not?

He slammed the table in anger and shouted, "Enough! What are you still arguing about? All you do is fight over factions all day long. Can't you get anything done? The enemy is almost at our doorstep, and you're still arguing here? What use do I have for you!"

This roar immediately made the whole room silent.

Everyone's face looked different, with expressions of surprise, shock, worry, and silence.

The emperor had never been like this before. He was the kind of person who couldn't bear to remind a palace maid when she forgot to serve tea, fearing that she would be blamed by the eunuchs.

He was also an emperor who would just smile awkwardly and not get angry at all when someone spit on his face.

But now, he sat on the chair and roared fiercely at the prime ministers in the room.

Everyone knows the reason.

The Song-Xia War, the Three Changes of the River, and the future Jingkang Incident that led to the demise of the Song Dynasty were like swords hanging over the emperor's head, deeply irritating his nerves.

Zhao Jun.

It is really changing the officialdom of the Song Dynasty!

(End of this chapter)

2015