Now, let alone the fact that the Song Dynasty had already defeated the Western Xia and Liao dynasties and regained its position as the top power in Asia, even if it had not, I am afraid that the common people would be looking forward to the Song Dynasty's resurgence and giving Li Yuanhao and Yelu Zongzhen a good slap in the face.
At this moment, everyone had reached the gate of Xihua. Zhao Zhen was not in a position to leave the palace, so he stopped where he was. There was a lot of noise outside. Although he could not hear clearly what the people were saying, he could always guess a little.
"The common people are watching. I believe they are also hoping that I can recapture Yanyun, let the Han people there return to their homeland, and make the Song Dynasty strong again!"
Zhao Zhen looked out from the palace gate and saw countless people leaning on the railings and talking in the restaurant outside the palace. He turned his head to Fan Zhongyan and said with emotion: "Duke Xiwen, this battle is entirely thanks to you."
"I will definitely live up to your Majesty's trust and the trust of the people!"
Fan Zhongyan bowed seriously.
"Be careful on your way and take care of yourself."
Zhao Zhen remembered that Wang Zeng had recently passed away and that Lü Yijian was still bedridden and might not live long. He shook Fan Zhongyan's hand with concern and said, "It's cold in Liaodong. Don't take any risks."
"Yes, I understand."
Fan Zhongyan raised his head, glanced at the sky and said, "It's almost dark."
He was about to say goodbye and leave.
Zhao Jun suddenly said, "Wait a moment, I have something to say."
"What's wrong?"
Fan Zhongyan was puzzled.
Everyone looked over.
Zhao Jun rolled his eyes and suddenly smiled, "I originally wanted to tell you a few words, but I think it would be more thought-provoking to tell you a joke from the Song Dynasty."
Hearing this, everyone's expression changed slightly, but Zhao Zhen said with great interest: "Grandson, tell me about it."
It’s not that Zhao Zhen is immune or has given up, but since the Song Dynasty defeated the Liao Dynasty and the Western Xia Dynasty, Zhao Zhen’s confidence has also increased.
In the past, the self-confidence of the Song Dynasty was shattered, not by the people, but by the powerful people at the top.
From ministers to emperors, everyone was terrified of the Liao Kingdom.
During the reign of Emperor Zhao Guangyi, a donkey cart drift destroyed the confidence of most of the upper class of the Song Dynasty. Even during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong Zhao Heng, if it were not for Kou Zhun, Zhao Heng would have moved the capital and fled.
But things are different now. The Song Dynasty has become truly powerful and has enough confidence to face the Liao Kingdom, which it once feared to death.
It’s like if you were very thin and weak before and were always bullied, then naturally you would become more and more inferior.
But you have been training hard in the gym for two years, and you have a muscular body. With a light push, you can push the person who bullied you three to five meters away. At this time, all you have left is your thriving self-confidence.
Therefore, Zhao Zhen's attitude towards the jokes about the Song Dynasty that had embarrassed him in the past gradually changed.
The joke about the Great Song Dynasty itself is a satire on the Great Song Dynasty.
But what you are satirizing is the Song Dynasty of the past. What does it have to do with the Song Dynasty of my present?
Only Yan Shu, Cai Qi, Song Shou and others still resisted the joke of the Song Dynasty.
It’s not that their self-confidence has not been raised, but this is a feudal society after all, and they have to consider the emperor’s feelings.
Scolding the emperor in front of him is always a suicidal act.
Sometimes, when an official hears your sarcasm towards him, he will just smile and not pursue the matter. That is magnanimity.
But once the government gets angry, sarcasm becomes a crime, and you won't even know how to die.
Serving the king is like serving a tiger.
But the good news is that the emperor is Zhao Zhen, and the even better news is that Zhao Jun has easily controlled Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Jun pondered for a moment and then said, "After the Song army recaptured Yanjing, an old Han woman from Youzhou watched Tong Guan's entry into the city and pointed at him and said he looked like her nephew.
Others scolded her: "What nonsense are you talking about? This is the Prince of Guangyang!"
The old lady asked: "What did he do to deserve to be crowned king?"
Others answered: "He drove away the Khitans."
The old lady asked anxiously, "Can he drive away the Song people as well?"
"Well, did you get what I wanted to say from this joke?"
Zhao Jun looked at Fan Zhongyan and said.
Fan Zhongyan paused for a moment, then said, "I know the three major disciplines and the eight points of attention."
"It would be best if we could make it into a simple and easy-to-learn song and spread it among the troops."
Zhao Jun said.
"I understand. I will make the Han people of Youzhou willingly return to their homeland!"
Fan Zhongyan looked serious.
The Han people of Yanyun have been away from their homeland for too long.
Now is the time to come back.
Since we are bringing our compatriots home, we should naturally treat them as we would treat them.
If we capture Yanyun, we will burn, kill, loot and commit all kinds of evil.
The result will definitely be disunity.
By then, the Han people of Yanyun will only say, "It's better not to come back."
Therefore, there is only one thing Zhao Jun has always emphasized - to maintain good military discipline and welcome compatriots home!
"Okay, I'm leaving! Your Majesty, I'm leaving!"
Fan Zhongyan bowed to Zhao Zhen again, then turned around and walked out of the palace gate, jumped on his horse, took a last look at the palace gate, and headed north into Yanyun.
Looking at his departing back, Zhao Zhen and many prime ministers of the Constitutional Council were reluctant to leave for a long time.
This time, Fan Zhongyan carried their hope of returning to their homeland of Yanyun, and it was also a scar that the Song Dynasty had been thinking about and unable to forget for decades.
Everyone was full of anticipation, looking forward to the day when Yan Yun would return.
And this day.
It's finally coming.
"Let's go."
Zhao Jun waved his hand, raised his head and looked at the distant sky. He said: "Our Great Song still has a long way to go. It's not just Yanyun. There will be more and more vast lands in the future. They will all be the territory of the Great Song. Our Chinese civilization will become more and more brilliant!"
(End of this chapter)
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