Li Xiuxuan was overjoyed because he was about to utterly defeat Han Shizhong, become a famous general of the Song Dynasty, and have his name recorded in history.
In a certain month of a certain year, Li Xiuxuan, the commander of the Imperial Guards, sat in his military camp, strategizing and winning battles from afar, defeating the lowly henchman Han Shizhong so badly that he was utterly humiliated.
Li Xiuxuan was just as happy as Shi Wenxuan, the commander of the Jianchang Military Camp in Jiangnan West Road; Shen Hailong, the commander of the Nankang Military Camp; and Xia Yuncheng, the commander of the Linjiang Military Camp.
These three imperial guards were stationed in Jiangnan West Road, forming a barrier from south to north. They guarded key locations and prevented the emperor's new army stationed in Jiangling Prefecture from advancing eastward.
Most people don't have the guts to rebel, but once they start, they get excited because they feel they're about to do something big and become a great hero who will change the world.
These three imperial guards, seemingly on steroids, have been doing only three things lately: 1. Conscripting men; 2. Drinking; 3. Sleeping with women.
When conscripting men, one can feel a sense of accomplishment in saving the world.
When drinking, people can brag so much they'll make a mess of things.
The woman's legs went weak from sleeping.
During the turbulent period in the south, Prince Kang, Zhao Gou, was taken to Jiangning Prefecture and moved into the old palace of the Southern Tang Dynasty.
Li Xiuxuan scurried over to Shentu Xin, who was playing the zither, and said, "Shangguan Shentu, the Prince Kang has moved into the palace. Can he ascend the throne now? You can become the prime minister, and I can become the Grand Councilor. Let's start the Northern Expedition and kill that bastard in Dongjing!"
Shen Tu Xin sometimes really wanted to slap him a few times. How could Li Xiuxuan be so stupid? Did he have his brain on his neck just to make him look taller?
He's still serving as Privy Councilor!
Your whole family are Privy Councilors!
To ascend the throne now? Isn't that just asking for trouble?!
Now that you've ascended the throne, what do you want to do? Give the dog emperor a legitimate excuse to punish the traitor?
"It's not the right time yet."
Li Xiuxuan was puzzled. Wasn't it agreed that he would ascend the throne after bringing Prince Kang over? Why is it not the right time again?
We promised to overthrow the dog emperor and bring peace and order to the world, so why isn't it the right time?
"Are the merchants and landlords willing to pay?"
Li Xiuxuan shook his head like a rattle drum.
Do you know why you're unwilling to pay?
"Because those bastards are broke."
Shen Tu Xin felt that if he stayed with an idiot like Li Xiuxuan for any longer, he would become an idiot himself.
"Because the dog emperor lowered the commercial tax, those idiots believed it."
"Damn! This emperor is so kind, he actually lowered their taxes?"
"You actually believed that damned emperor!"
Shen Tu Xin continued, "If merchants and landlords are unwilling to pay, you will have no military funds. You can't openly rob them either, otherwise the dog emperor will win the hearts of the people again."
"To kill someone, you must first destroy their spirit. Don't always think that you can solve problems with just a knife. That brain-dead emperor only used knives to solve problems, which is why the South no longer submits to him!"
"Shentu Shangguan, what should we do now?"
"Of course, we want to find ways to give all the big merchants in Jiangnan East Road, Jiangnan West Road, and Liangzhe Road more opportunities to make money. We will allow them to mine the mines that the court previously refused to mine, and tell them that this is the will of Prince Kang, Zhao Gou."
Shen Tu Xin's move was truly insidious. The emperor was legitimate and the people's hearts were with him. He would not be swayed by the opinions of a few local officials or imperial guards.
The Zhao family are the rightful heirs, destined by Heaven.
So, even if they were unwilling, they still had to send this good thing to Zhao Gou.
Firstly, it would allow Zhao Gou to quickly gain the support of landlords and wealthy merchants. Once they supported Zhao Gou, they would naturally stop supporting the corrupt emperor.
Secondly, if Zhao Gou plays the good guy in the south and wins the hearts of the people, that brainless dog emperor in Dongjing (Kaifeng) will definitely not sit still and will inevitably want to kill his own brother.
As a result, Zhao Gou was forced to protect himself and had no choice but to become emperor.
As long as Zhao Gou becomes emperor, a centripetal force will form in the south, giving them the means to confront the young Zhao Huan.
The wealthy landowners and merchants in the south are all granted titles; why worry that they won't contribute money?
What more could a businessman want once he has money?
Of course, it's the name!
After listening to Shen Tu Xin's explanation, Li Xiu Xuan blinked repeatedly. He heard a lot of things, but he didn't understand a word of it.
However, I think these intellectuals are too damn insidious; they're all bad people.
Oh well, whatever, let that scheming Shen Tu Xin think about it. I'm going to go drink and mess around with women!
Not long after Li Xiuxuan left, a carriage stopped in front of Shentu Xin's house, and a middle-aged man got out.
The middle-aged man was dressed casually and looked like an ordinary small businessman from the south, with no fame or status.
Shen Tu Xin sat alone in his study, with fallen leaves covering the ground outside the window and a cool autumn breeze blowing.
The middle-aged man walked in, sat down, and drank a cup of tea.
Shen Tu said, "What? Is the Prime Minister willing to send troops?"
"As long as Shentu Shangguan takes the first step, the Prime Minister will surely be able to use the internal strife in the Song Dynasty to suppress Wanyan Zongpan and others in the court. At that time, the Jin army will march south into Yanyun, and Yanyun will be nothing more than a piece of cake!"
"Once Yanyun is breached, the Jin army will march straight into Kaifeng, and the dog emperor's life will be over!"
If this were to happen, Zhao Huan wouldn't even have a chance to escape south, as the area south of the Yangtze River is Shen Tu Xin's territory.
Then the situation will directly return to the orthodox history. In 1027 AD, Kaifeng fell, and the Northern Song royal family was captured and taken north. Only Prince Kang, Zhao Gou, escaped south, established the Southern Song Dynasty in the southeast!
Shen Tu Xin found this very tempting. As long as the Jin army marched south, the dog emperor would be attacked from both sides, and prices in the capital city of Bianjing would skyrocket. Beset by internal and external troubles, those in the Central Plains who hated the emperor would surely seize the opportunity to rise up.
That damned emperor, he'll have no chance of surviving!
However, the Jin court is no longer ruled by Wanyan Gao alone. In the past six months, with the support of the Jin emperor, Wanyan Zongpan has gained a firm foothold in the court.
As a proponent of peace, Wanyan Zongpan would never allow a pro-war faction like Wanyan Gao to gain power.
This is not for the sake of national interests, but merely for personal gain and loss.
Rumor has it that Wanyan Zongpan has now taken over half of the domestic affairs and has gained considerable influence in military and political matters.
It seems that the Jin court will only react if there is a major upheaval within the Song Dynasty. At that point, it won't be Wanyan Zongpan trying to restrain Wanyan Gao from sending troops, but rather the Jin Emperor Wanyan Sheng not letting the opportunity pass.
At worst, he could send his own son to fight alongside Wanyan Gao.
"It will be soon, in less than two months. Go back and tell the Prime Minister that, starting today, two months from now, we can send troops!"
"Is Shentu Shangguan so confident?"
"I wouldn't dare to rebel against that dog emperor if I didn't have confidence. Just say what I say."
"After the matter is accomplished, the Prime Minister intends to promote Shen Tu Shangguan to the position of Vice Chancellor. I would like to congratulate Shen Tu Shangguan in advance."
At the same time that Shen Tu Xin met with the Jin envoy, Zhao Huan also received a letter from his father-in-law, Han Lixian, reporting on the recent situation in the Jin court.
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