"What will happen to me?"
"Do you really want to know your fate?" Zhang Shixun confirmed with him again.
"Of course I want to know."
"A few years later, the Jin army invaded the Song Dynasty. The new emperor ascended the throne, and you were demoted and exiled. Once you, the great tree, fell, all the monkeys fell..."
Zhang Shixun stopped talking halfway when he felt something was wrong.
Cai Jing said calmly, "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter, right? You're embarrassed to say it, so I'll say it for you."
Zhang Shixun continued, "From then on, the Cai family was destroyed, some died, some dispersed..."
"Wait a minute." Cai Jing interrupted him and asked, "What does 'die die scatter scatter' mean?"
“That’s what it means.”
"Tell me more details."
"I've explained it in detail enough."
Cai Jing was silent for a while before waving his hand and saying, "Go on."
"...You and a Cai Xiu suffered from hunger and cold on the road to exile, and finally... Prime Minister Cai, do you really want to know your final destination?"
Zhang Shixun felt that it was inhumane to tell an old man how he died.
"You're so young, why are you so long-winded?" Cai Jing said impatiently, "I've lived to this age, and although my life has had its ups and downs, I've enjoyed all kinds of wealth and glory. I've experienced everything, and I can look at everything with an open mind. Just speak freely, don't hesitate."
"Well, since Prime Minister Cai says so, I'll tell you the truth." Zhang Shixun no longer hesitated and finally told his end: "You and Cai Xiu both starved to death in a dilapidated temple. When you died, you had countless gold and silver on you."
"This...this...Shixun, you can't even tell a lie." Cai Jingqiang smiled and shook his head. "How could you die of hunger if you had so much money on you? This is absolutely ridiculous and nonsense!"
"Prime Minister Cai, although I may speak without restraint, there is no need for me to lie to you."
Cai Jing carefully observed his expression and saw that he did not seem to be lying, so he asked, "Is there no one living around that dilapidated temple?"
"Yes! Not only that, but the population is not sparse."
"How could my father and I die of hunger when there are people here?"
Zhang Shixun sneered, "The reason is simple. Although you and your son carry countless money, you can't buy anything."
"Why?"
Cai Jing suddenly became a little angry.
"After the common people knew that you were Cai Jing, no one was willing to sell food to you and your son!"
Cai Jing slammed his cane to the ground, his rage finally erupting: "Zhang Shixun, you are going too far."
"Prime Minister Cai, please calm down! You and I have no grudges or hatred, no history, and we've never even met before. I have no reason to tease you... I risked divine retribution by revealing the secret to you, and instead of thanking me, you... Alas! It's hard to be a good person."
Zhang Shixun's face was full of grievance and resentment.
Cai Jing was stunned. He sat there motionless with his skinny hands on his knees, his eyes dull and unfocused, staring straight ahead.
After a long pause, Zhang Shixun felt sorry for him as he saw his distraught look, so he said, "Prime Minister Cai, your experience wasn't too tragic. Compared to the current emperor, your ending is already far better than the heavens."
"The emperor's fate?" Cai Jing was stunned and slowly turned his gaze to Zhang Shixun: "You... why didn't you mention it in front of the emperor just now?"
When Cai Jing asked this question, he revealed that he had already begun to believe Zhang Shixun's words.
"I can't say it in front of the emperor, but I can say it in front of you."
Cai Jing was worldly-wise after all, and he immediately understood his intention. He nodded and said, "Very good, go ahead."
"When you find out, don't tell the emperor," said Zhang Shixun.
"Your words are a bit redundant. Even you know the ins and outs of this matter, so how could I not know? Just tell me, I know the severity of it, and I will not tell the emperor."
"The official's fate is a hundred times more miserable than yours... no! A million times more miserable."
"Ah!" Although Cai Jing was mentally prepared, he was still shocked by Zhang Shixun's words.
"The city of Dongjing was captured and completely looted. The Emperor, the Crown Prince, and all the royal family were captured by the Jurchens and taken to Wuguo City. They also took away some ministers, princes, and the common people. The Emperor's life thereafter was miserable, and he suffered endless humiliation. In the end... Sigh! Never mind. This is not only a disgrace to the Zhao royal family, but also to the entire Song Dynasty."
“Dang!”
The teacup in Cai Jing's hand fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Cai Xiu pushed the door open and came in, "Dad, are you okay?"
Cai Jing raised his head and shouted, "Get out! You are not allowed to come in without my summons."
Cai Xiu looked at his father in surprise, and seeing his angry face, he quickly retreated.
Cai Jing turned his gaze back to Zhang Shixun and said with a sullen face, "Are all your words true?"
"That's absolutely true."
"Do you dare to swear to God?"
"Why not?" Zhang Shixun raised his right hand and said solemnly, "If I, Zhang Shixun, tell even a single lie today, I will be struck by five thunderbolts from heaven and fall into the endless hell after death, never to be reborn."
People in ancient times did not swear easily, and Zhang Shixun's oath was so serious that the cunning Cai Jing could not help but believe it.
"Okay, I'll believe it for now. But I have to warn you, even if everything you say is true, I can't let you do whatever you want."
Cai Jing finally believed it, but he still had reservations and was still a little wary of Zhang Shixun.
Zhang Shixun ignored him and said sternly, "Prime Minister Cai, what I have said today has come from my mouth and entered your ears. I hope this ends here. If outsiders were to know, it would be harmful to you and your descendants..."
Cai Jing waved his hand and said, "Why should you say more? I have lived to this age, so I know the importance of this matter. I will not reveal the secrets of heaven."
That’s good. Zhang Shixun leaned back in his chair and felt relieved.
I have a huge secret, and if I don’t tell it out, I’ll feel so suffocated!
Cai Jing asked: "Now that you know the cause and effect, how do you plan to break it?"
He was able to adjust his mentality and sort out his thoughts in such a short time, and he asked the key question in one sentence, which made Zhang Shixun admire him from the bottom of his heart.
"Prime Minister Cai, since the Jurchens are trying to conquer the Song Dynasty through force, let's fight them head-on and sharpen our swords. A forger must be strong himself."
Cai Jing was a wise man. "You are so focused on training troops, is this your purpose?"
"Yes, a tooth for a tooth, that's my intention, but..." Zhang Shixun smiled bitterly, "My power and ability are limited. Counting the old and weak in the First Army, there are only a few thousand people. Even if I train them, they won't be of much use."
"Then how do you continue to practice?"
"We should just do our best and leave the rest to fate. It's better to do something than nothing, don't you think?" Zhang Shixun asked back.
"It's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. You're overestimating your own abilities!"
"So, it all depends on Prime Minister Cai."
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