It is said that Zhao Huan and Wanyan Zonghan had been at odds for some time. At least the ice and snow were slowly melting and were no longer as cold as they had been a few days ago. One day, after a heavy snowfall, the bright sunshine shone on the earth, illuminating the mountains and rivers and reflecting the magnificent landscape of the Song Dynasty.
Han Chenchen followed Sima Junru all the way, and finally arrived at the territory controlled by the Song army.
On the way, Han Chenchen thought countless times about what kind of person her future husband would be. She had heard that the emperors of the Song Dynasty were all very frugal and ate simple meals. Moreover, Bianjing was warm, so they were different from the emperors of the Jin or Liao Dynasties.
Furthermore, because the Zhao family ruled the country with civil officials, the emperors were surrounded by civil officials from a very young age and read the classics. As a result, the emperors of all dynasties were refined and benevolent.
While being refined and benevolent is commendable, as an emperor, he always lacks a certain domineering presence, Han Chenchen muttered to himself.
When he brought Han Chenchen into Zhao Huan's camp, Zhao Huan was intently studying a strategic map at his desk, with a stove burning brightly beside him, making the air inside much warmer than outside.
Han Chenchen glanced over and saw a man who was eight feet tall and slender, wearing a black dragon robe with nine five-clawed golden dragons embroidered on it. He wore a white undergarment underneath and a gold and white jade belt around his waist. On the table was a straight and slender knife.
Zhao Huan had lived in the palace for many years, enjoying a life of luxury. His skin was fair and smooth, and he inherited good genes. He had a straight nose, sword-like eyebrows, and deep-set eyes. In addition, his recent physical training and the baptism of the battlefield had made his aura even sharper, and his every move exuded a dignified and appropriate air.
"This humble servant pays his respects to the Emperor!"
After saying that, Sima Junru pulled Han Chenchen, who was staring at Zhao Huan in a daze, and said, "Before the Emperor, you should pay your respects."
Zhao Huan didn't even raise his head, his gaze sweeping across the map, and waved one hand, saying, "No need."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
This is the emperor of the Song Dynasty! So handsome!
This was Han Chenchen's first impression. She imagined the emperor to be fat and greasy because he was pampered in the palace every day. She even thought that when she came in, the emperor would have a slender beauty on his left, gulping down a cup of wine, and then gnawing on a big chicken leg, his mouth full of oil!
If I had known he was so handsome and cool, I wouldn't have worried at all along the way!
Han Chenchen was lost in her fantasies, her girlish thoughts blossoming like spring flowers.
After Zhao Huan finished looking at the strategic map, he finally looked up and saw Han Chenchen, the third sister of the Han family.
"Consort Han, come to me."
Han Chenchen was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected the emperor to be so familiar with her. His very first words upon meeting her made it sound as if they had lived together for many years.
Han Chenchen didn't feel good about this feeling. It was a girl's natural wariness acting up. But he was the emperor. If he asked you to come over, would you not go?
Han Chenchen walked up to Zhao Huan, who smiled and pointed his long sword at Yanjing, saying, "There is a rich iron mine here. I plan to acquire it and hand it over to your mother for mining!"
Han Chenchen cleverly grasped the emperor's meaning. By offering to send mines at their first meeting, she had already expressed her regard for the Han family. However, this was on the premise that the Song Dynasty would conquer Yanjing, and the conquest of Yanjing would also be inseparable from the Han family's mediation.
Han Chenchen stole a glance at her handsome husband, her heart filled with vigilance, and she couldn't help but sigh inwardly: This really is a political marriage of convenience!
No sooner had Han Chenchen arrived at the Song army camp than a secret report arrived, delivered by express messenger.
Sima Junru took Han Chenchen to their resting place and then presented the secret report to the emperor.
Upon seeing the secret report, Zhao Huan's smile melted away. This was the very report that Han Lixian had sent through his spies. Inside was a letter from Han Lixian expressing his loyalty, and another letter was a personal letter from Wanyan Zongpan of the Jin Dynasty.
This letter initially claimed that the Jin Dynasty and the Song Dynasty shared a common ancestor. It's unclear where this genealogy came from, but it forcibly linked the Jin Dynasty to the descendants of Yan and Huang, suggesting that the Jin Dynasty and the Song Dynasty were of the same origin.
It turns out that the war was a misunderstanding. We are willing to form an alliance with the Song Dynasty, maintain good relations for a hundred years, and work together for future development.
In his letter, Wanyan Zongpan reprimanded Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang, blaming them for their cruelty and tyranny, which plunged the people into misery and made them sinners for all time. He said that only by valuing harmony can one achieve the way of the sage.
Furthermore, it made it even clearer that it would no longer provide assistance to Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang, and would report their crimes to the Jin Emperor.
At the end of the article, Wanyan Zongpan emphasized that the two countries should treat each other as brother states, engage in mutual trade, and hoped that the Song Dynasty would provide economic and strategic support to the Jin Dynasty.
It was euphemistically called providing support to the Jin Dynasty, but in reality, it was providing support to Wanyan Zongpan to help him ascend the throne of the Jin Dynasty.
Zhao Huan couldn't help but admire that Wanyan Zongpan's letter was far superior to Wanyan Zonghan's, and that future public relations professionals should take note.
Liu Yanzong was having fun with young and beautiful girls in a brothel in Liaozhou Prefecture. He had already drunk several cups of wine when the door was suddenly kicked open. Just as he was about to lose his temper, he saw Sima Junru's cold and stern face.
Liu Yanzong quickly put on a smile, thinking to himself, "That emperor really knows how to pick his time." He reluctantly followed Sima Junru to the emperor's camp, where there was no one else.
Zhao Huan showed the letter to Liu Yanzong and said, "Minister Liu, this is a top secret letter. Even Zhong Shidao hasn't read it. Analyze it for me carefully."
Liu Yanzong spat inwardly: Bah! You shameless dog emperor, talking as if you trust me so much. Why don't you show it to those military men and see if they can come up with any good strategic ideas for you? You're such a young emperor, yet you're already a master of imperial politics!
Although he was unhappy that Zhao Huan had interrupted his romantic moment with the young and beautiful woman, he outwardly appeared respectful and deferential to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, Wanyan Zongpan is ambitious but lacks talent; he should be supported and promoted!"
"How should we do it?" Zhao Huan asked. "I want to take back Yanjing, but I'm afraid Wanyan Sheng won't agree, and there's no guarantee that another war will break out."
Liu Yanzong, who was good at reading people, knew from the emperor's words that Zhao Huan was determined to take back the Yan-Yun region, without question. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been asked to come and offer advice. The key point was Yan-Yun.
"Your Majesty, Yan Yun was purchased by the Song Dynasty. Since he proposed that the two countries should form a brotherhood, we should treat him with sincerity. I believe that Wanyan Zongpan will understand this principle. As long as Your Majesty defeats Wanyan Zonghan this time, Yelü Dashi will not be idle either. I believe that Wanyan Zongpan's voice will be more confident in the Jin court!"
Liu Yanzong continued, "As long as we delay Wanyan Zongpan from sending reinforcements and supplies, by then Your Majesty will have defeated Wanyan Zonghan, and Yelü Dashi will be putting pressure on the Jin Kingdom in the west. Your Majesty can then break off all pretense and march into Yanyun. If they refuse to give us supplies, we can take them back by force!"
Holy crap! Liu Yanzong, you bastard! You're truly my confidant!
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