"Could it be that a Liao spy is spreading rumors?"
Fan Zhongyan asked.
This is a very crude counter-espionage plot, but some people believe it. From the Warring States Period to the Qin and Han Dynasties, and to the present day, such counter-espionage plots have emerged one after another in all dynasties.
But it is understandable. After all, the generals led the troops outside and held great power. The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period was a scene of military generals seizing power every day. Even if the enemy did not spread rumors, those generals who held military power would be suspected by the imperial power.
Isn’t this how Emperor Taizu of Song Dynasty gave up his military power with a cup of wine?
"Exactly."
Zhu Yunzhong said, "The Imperial City Division followed the clues and destroyed several dens of Liao spies. They captured over a hundred Liao spies, including dozens of Han people who had been bribed by them."
Fan Zhongyan sighed, "The Liao people are treacherous. They are trying to learn from the Qin King's strategy."
"But don't worry, sir. The Magistrate specifically asked us to bring the imperial edict to the front of the camp and read it out. This is to tell the world that you are deeply trusted by the emperor and the Magistrate."
Wang Su said, "Once the news spreads, the Liao people's conspiracy will naturally be crushed."
"Um."
Fan Zhongyan nodded with a serious expression.
Although it is very touching to be trusted like this, the attacks from within are still chilling. At least those who wrongly accuse him only think about the great power he holds, but do not care whether he is truly loyal to the emperor and patriotic.
Of course, these were just differences in perspective. Perhaps in his position as a court official, he had witnessed so many tragedies during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and when he suddenly saw someone holding military power, he couldn't help but want to impeach him.
Wang Su continued, "This time, besides declaring to the world the court's trust in you, I have another purpose."
"What is it?"
Fan Zhongyan was puzzled.
Wang Su pointed to a middle-aged official in the imperial guards, wearing a seventh-rank official uniform, and said, "Sir, please look."
When Fan Zhongyan looked over, the middle-aged official quickly stood up and said in a thick Youyan northern dialect, "I am Liu Sangu (gu), honored to meet you, Mr. Fan."
"Who is this?"
Fan Zhongyan was puzzled.
Wang Su smiled and said, "Liu Fengli is now the Minister of Ceremonies of the Imperial Household, but he also has another identity."
Fan Zhongyan looked at him quietly, waiting for what to happen next.
Wang Su said, "Liu Fengli is from the Changping Liu family. Liu Liufu, the current prime minister of the Liao Kingdom's Northern Palace, is his younger brother."
"oh?"
Fan Zhongyan looked over in surprise.
Liu Sangu bowed to him with a slightly wry smile.
Between the Liao and Song dynasties, many Han people from the Song border state could not bear the high taxes and fled to the Liao state, but few Liao people fled to the Song state.
This was because the Liao Kingdom was powerful, and its domestic taxes were not high. In addition, any Han people from the Liao Kingdom who fled to the Song Kingdom would be repatriated by the Song Kingdom. As a result, the Han people in Youyan lost the support of the people of the Song Kingdom and no longer trusted the Song Dynasty.
Officials from the Liao Dynasty, in particular, basically would not come. Therefore, it was indeed a rare thing for an official from the Liao Dynasty to come to the Song Dynasty.
In fact, this is true.
The reason why Liu Sangu fled south was that he was persecuted by the powerful.
She is said to be a powerful person, but in fact she is his wife.
As a prominent family, the Changping Liu family often intermarried with the royal family and the empress's wife.
The wives of his brothers were basically women from the Yelu or Xiao families, which served as a bond for marriage with the royal family.
Liu Sangu's wife, Princess Tongchang, Yelü Bage, was the daughter of Emperor Shengzong of Liao and the sister of Yelü Zongzhen.
However, Princess Tongchang was not born of a legitimate wife, but of a concubine, and her status was relatively low.
But even if she was born out of wedlock, she was still a princess of the Liao Kingdom, so one can imagine Liu Sangu's family status.
Unable to tolerate his wife's fierceness, Liu Sangu secretly took a concubine and had an illegitimate child.
When Yelu Baguo found out, he was furious and threatened to kill his concubine and illegitimate son. So Liu Sangu took his concubine and son and secretly ran away to the State of Song.
Historically, after Liu Sangu arrived in the Song Dynasty, in order to prove his worth, he leaked many secrets of the Liao Kingdom to the Song Dynasty, including many military secrets, including the situation of the Liao Kingdom's garrisons in various places.
However, the Song Dynasty was weak and incompetent. Under pressure from the Liao Kingdom, Zhao Zhen adopted Du Yan's suggestion and sent him back.
"History of Liao" records that after Liu Sangu was sent back, he was immediately beheaded by Yelu Baguo himself, and his concubine and son were all executed as well. It was quite pitiful.
But the Song Dynasty will no longer be like this.
It was the middle of the Qingli period at that time. Liu Sangu had just secretly fled to the Song Dynasty at the beginning of this year. The Liao Kingdom didn't even know where he had gone. In the second half of this year, he was arrested by the Imperial City Administration because he had smuggled in and had no ID card.
After the Constitutional Council learned of his situation, they sent him to the front line with the Imperial Guard.
Firstly, we can obtain some secrets of the Liao Dynasty through him.
Secondly, he said that he could try to incite the Liu family of Changping to rebel. If successful, it would be a counter-espionage plan against the Liao Kingdom.
Wang Su briefly explained the situation to Fan Zhongyan, then said, "The prefect said that since the Liao people are using sowing discord against us, we can do the same to them. The Liao Kingdom is now in decline. I believe that Liu will understand the meaning of "a man of insight is a hero."
"He who knows the times is a hero."
Fan Zhongyan rolled his eyes at him, then smiled and said, "This is called returning to one's roots. The Han people of Yanyun have been away from their homeland for far too long, and this is where the Song Dynasty has failed in its duty. Now we must uphold justice, eliminate evil, recover lost territory, and allow the Han people of Yanyun to return to the embrace of the Song Dynasty."
Liu Sangu was deeply moved by these words and looked at Fan Zhongyan with gratitude. After all, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were ceded from the Later Jin Dynasty. They had been under the rule of the Liao Kingdom for over a hundred years and were actually Liao people.
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