"General Shenwei, don't blame me! Your contributions to the Song Dynasty will not be forgotten and will be remembered by the world. However, most of the military generals of the Song Dynasty are loyal to you, and most of the civil officials also follow you. Even if you neglect state affairs, your prestige among the people and in the officialdom is too great. The Song Dynasty is almost no longer ruled by the Zhao family. Only when you die will your achievements become legends, and only then will the Zhao family's rule be secure. You are only fit to become a legend that will not be seen in the future." Watching Wang Han drink cup after cup of wine, Emperor Huizong of Song sneered inwardly.
All the wine prepared for Wang Han had been laced with a large amount of colorless and odorless poison called "Immortal's Poison." It was specially made by someone to poison this god-like being. Not only was it colorless and odorless, making it impossible to detect by ordinary methods, but it was also extremely poisonous. A single drop could kill at least a hundred people.
Wang Han's methods and reforms did indeed make the Song Dynasty much stronger and allowed it to rest easy. However, drawbacks also emerged, or rather, they were part of Wang Han's plan. Most of the original civil and military officials had been replaced, the people were becoming more independent, and the imperial authority was declining. Compared to the emperor, the people were more willing to listen to Wang Han, the "Divine General," or this "deity." They believed that their good days were given to them by Wang Han, this "deity." Even many newly appointed civil officials were selected from among these people. Although each of them was talented, most of these new civil officials followed Wang Han's lead. In some cases, when making decisions, some civil officials even asked him whether they should consult the "Divine General."
Especially the military generals. Most of the veteran generals have been replaced, and the newly promoted generals are all those who rose through the ranks under Wang Han's new military merit system. Eight or nine out of ten of them are led by Wang Han. Although they are all proud and fierce generals with extraordinary strength, the emperor's words are mostly just empty talk to these generals. They deal with these proud and fierce generals carelessly and give them some face. The emperor has no power to make major decisions in battle. They only listen to the Divine Might General.
To put it bluntly, he was practically a puppet emperor. If Wang Han hadn't largely ignored state affairs, he would likely have been a completely powerless figurehead. He was also grateful that Wang Han neglected state affairs; he still had some say, some loyal ministers, and a chance. Now that external threats were gone, and Wang Han had announced his intention to go into seclusion again, as long as he did it discreetly, no one would suspect anything. The prestige of the Divine Might General would still be enough to intimidate the ministers and arrogant generals, preventing anyone from rebelling. This gave him time to regain control of his power, to control an even stronger Song Dynasty, and to become the greatest emperor of the Song Dynasty. And the Divine Might General would become a legend of the past.
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It was already past midnight. After rounds of toasts, Wang Han had already drunk more than a dozen jars of poisoned wine. Even many of the ministers who had been toasting him were drunk and lying on the ground.
"Emperor Huizong, I'm already quite drunk, so I'll take my leave!" Wang Han said to Emperor Huizong as he stood up, his movements unsteady and clearly intoxicated. Before he finished speaking, he coughed up a mouthful of black blood and collapsed against a pillar, utterly exhausted.
Seeing Wang Han leaning helplessly against a pillar, Emperor Huizong gestured to a minister.
"Great General Shenwei, are you alright?" At Emperor Huizong's signal, the minister approached Wang Han tremblingly and asked with concern, but his tone clearly showed that he was very afraid.
Wang Han did not answer Emperor Huizong's question. Instead, he pretended to form hand seals and exert his internal energy, which frightened Emperor Huizong and several ministers who were still sober. However, nothing happened, and Wang Han looked even weaker.
"Emperor Huizong, it was you who wanted to kill me!" After putting on a show, Wang Han asked Emperor Huizong through gritted teeth. As he spoke, blood flowed from his mouth, making him appear as if he were deeply poisoned and beyond saving.
"Hahaha..." Upon hearing this, Emperor Huizong of Song burst into laughter. His laughter was the signal, and more than a hundred imperial guards rushed into the hall and surrounded Wang Han.
“The General is a wise man. Now the Zhao family’s rule is almost no longer in the Zhao family’s name. Only by killing the General can the rule of the Zhao family continue.” Seeing that Wang Han really had no room for resistance, Emperor Huizong of Song said, “The General’s contributions to the Song Dynasty and the Zhao family will not be forgotten. The people of the Song Dynasty and the Zhao family will not forget the General’s great achievements. However, the General cannot continue to live.”
"General, you have lived for a thousand years, but the ruler of this world now is the Song Dynasty, not the Han Dynasty. It is time for you to step down from the stage of this world," Emperor Huizong of Song said, waving his hand to signal the imperial guards to deliver the final blow to Wang Han.
"Even if I die, I will not die at the hands of you weaklings," Wang Han said through gritted teeth, making the same gesture again.
"Kill him quickly!" Seeing Wang Han once again pretending to use magic, Emperor Huizong and his ministers hurriedly retreated. Emperor Huizong anxiously shouted to the imperial guards who had entered.
"Go!" Although they were afraid, these imperial guards were already ready to die. They rushed forward with their swords and spears, and fiercely stabbed down at Wang Han, who was leaning against the pillar and looked like he was about to die.
"Clang, clang, clang...!" The next moment, the sound of swords and spears striking wood rang out. All the spears and swords fell onto the pillar, and Wang Han had disappeared.
"Disappeared!" Emperor Huizong and his ministers were stunned as they watched Wang Han vanish.
"Hurry! The General has been poisoned and can't have gone far," Emperor Huizong ordered anxiously. Everyone was filled with fear; if Wang Han wasn't dead, they were doomed.
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