I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 304 Zhao Yu: You are putting me in a position of being unrighteous and immoral.
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Emperor Zhao Yu was about to personally lead the expedition, and he had many things to explain to Zhao Yu.

After all, this journey would be long and arduous, with no certainty of when he would return, and the Song Dynasty had a host of other matters to attend to.

Moreover, although Crown Prince Zhao Shou has always appeared very composed, he is still not yet fourteen years old and is not yet capable of shouldering great responsibilities.

Fortunately, Empress Zheng Xiansu was capable and composed; putting aside his character, Prime Minister Cai Jing's ability and experience were beyond question; Su Shi's character and loyalty were reliable; and the younger generation, including Tang Ke, Li Gang, Zhao Ding, and Lü Yihao, were all capable of shouldering great responsibilities.

Overall, the conditions for Zhao Yu's personal campaign this time were actually much better than the last time.

Of course, the last time Zhao Yu personally led an expedition, he was able to have the iron-fisted prime minister Zhang Dun in charge, which allowed Zhao Yu to travel for several months, defeat the Liao Kingdom, recover the eleven prefectures of Yan and Yun, and reclaim the annual tribute before returning.

As for why Zhao Yu chose to personally lead the expedition instead of sending people to reclaim the five prefectures of Yan, the three prefectures of Pingluan and Ying, and the passes such as Juyong Pass, thus completing the unification of the Zhao Song Dynasty, it was because Zhao Yu clearly understood that one must be strong to succeed. As long as he was strong enough, he would not fear external enemies from afar or internal traitors up close, and would never be doomed.

Zhao Yu, who was well-versed in history, knew very well that every powerful minister in history, before explicitly turning against his former ruler, was in a state of being both Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi.

I won't say much about Zhuge Liang.

He captured Meng Huo seven times, launched six expeditions to Qishan, and devoted himself to the cause until his death, a model of loyalty.

Sima Yi was actually quite capable before he defected.

A veteran of four dynasties, he fought against Shu Han, pacified Liaodong, suppressed rebellions, and was entrusted with the care of the young emperor twice. At first glance, he was undoubtedly a pillar of the Wei Dynasty and a pillar of the state, no less than Zhuge Liang.

But who could have imagined that this old man, at the age of seventy-one, would launch the Gaopingling Incident, living out the prime of his life when others should be buried.

The Duke of Zhou feared rumors, and Wang Mang was humble before his usurpation.

Had I died then, who would know the truth of my life?

Zhao Yu was able to view people from a certain omniscient perspective, but let's not forget that people change with time, status, environment, and experience. Historically loyal ministers may not have been immune to the corrupting influence of power; and who can guarantee that humble ministers wouldn't reveal their ambitions when Zhao Yu offered them more temptations?
In reality, there aren't that many multiple-choice questions; there are more open-ended questions where the answer changes depending on the given conditions.

Zhao Yu knew that the human heart was like the sea, unfathomable, and only by personally taking the helm could he stabilize the course in this turbulent political ocean.

Furthermore, Zhao Yu's adoptive father, Emperor Shenzong of Song, Zhao Xu, left behind the saying: "Whoever recovers Yan and Yun will be king."

If Zhao Yu had allowed someone else to reclaim Yan and Yun, would you have rewarded the living king of a different surname, or would you not have rewarded him?
Therefore, it would be best for Zhao Yu to personally handle the task of completely recovering the Yan-Yun region and completing the unification.

In this way, Zhao Yu's military achievements as a ruler of a country can be highlighted, while avoiding future suspicions and disputes caused by ministers whose achievements overshadow the ruler.

After handing over all other matters and dismissing the chief ministers such as Cai Jing and Su Shi, Zhao Yu asked Xiao Puxian and Xiao Sese, "Have you chosen the Liao official to be sent to Yanjing?"

Xiao Puxian replied, "I already have someone in mind. If nothing unexpected happens, he can lead his people north tomorrow."

Zhao Yu did not ask Xiao Puxian who she had chosen, but only reminded her: "This person is very important. If he is truly capable, I can recover the entire territory of Yan and Yun without a fight and complete the unification."

Xiao Puxian said, "I know what is important. If this person can accomplish what I have said, he should be the most suitable person."

As soon as Xiao Puxian finished speaking, her maid suddenly came to the door and gave her a gesture indicating that the matter was settled.

Seeing this, Xiao Puxian smiled and said to Zhao Yu, "Your Majesty, I have arranged for several palace maids to see you off. I hope Your Majesty will rest in my palace tonight."

Xiao Sese, standing to the side, sensed that Xiao Puxian's arrangement for Xiao Puxian to serve her in bed this time was definitely not so simple.

It should be noted that before Zhao Yu personally led his troops on a campaign, unless there was something particularly important, he would always rest at Zheng Xiansu's place.

This is an unspoken rule that everyone understands: none of the women in the harem, not even Zhang Chun's five daughters, would compete with Zheng Xiansu at this time.

The key point is that Xiao Puxian is going north with Zhao Yu this time, and there will be plenty of opportunities for her to be with Zhao Yu in the future.

The crucial point is that Xiao Puxian was pregnant and it was inconvenient for her to serve Zhao Yu.

Xiao Puxian insisted on arranging for palace servants to see Zhao Yu off. If you said there wasn't something fishy going on, Xiao Sese would definitely not believe it.

Xiao Sese stood there quietly, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the dark patterns on her cuffs. Her mind was perfectly clear: Xiao Puxian's move was cunning, but now was not the time to dwell on such matters. Yelü Aoluwo had just secured his position as Emperor of Liao through her mediation, a crucial moment when he desperately needed the support of the Song Dynasty. If she were to make a slight misstep, offending Zhao Yu, or causing him to deem her and her son unsuitable for this task, her efforts could easily fail.

Xiao Sese glanced at Xiao Puxian, whose face held a perfectly gentle smile, revealing no sign of anything amiss.

Looking at Zhao Yu again, he raised his eyebrows slightly, seemingly also finding the invitation somewhat sudden, but ultimately said nothing, only replying lightly, "I know."

Xiao Sese's doubts were instantly suppressed. 'Whatever her intentions, as long as it doesn't involve my son's ascension to the throne, let her do as she pleases.'

Whose palace the emperor visits tonight, or what undercurrents are swirling in the harem—these are all insignificant compared to Xiao Sese's core interests. Her only thought now is to ensure that Yelü Aoluwo can firmly sit on the throne of the Liao Dynasty; only then can she truly breathe a sigh of relief.

……

night.

Zhao Yu arrived at Xiao Puxian's palace.

The lights in Xiao Puxian's palace were much brighter than usual, as if to welcome an important moment.

Hundreds of palace maids, some plump and some slender, stood with their heads bowed, every detail exuding an unusual allure.

As Zhao Yu stepped into the palace, his gaze swept across the courtyard and quickly landed on the two beautiful women, Xiao Puxian and her companion, standing to his left and right.

The beautiful woman to Xiao Puxian's left had a mutton-fat jade hairpin in her hair that reflected a faint light, but it couldn't hide her simple and plain appearance—no gold ornaments, no fragrant scent, just like a wisp of breeze leaking from the eaves, blending into the crowd of people welcoming the emperor, inconspicuous.

When Zhao Yu arrived, she knelt down with the others, her eyelashes drooping even lower, concealing her inappropriately clear and sharp gaze completely in the shadows of her sleeves, as if she were just a silent shadow in the corridor, separated from the surrounding splendor and clamor by an invisible veil.

She stood there like a magnolia tree forgotten in a corner, only half her face visible in profile. Her eyebrows were light, like distant mountains shrouded in mist; her eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, yet her pupils were calm, like inkstones immersed in water. Her nose was straight and delicate, making her lips appear even softer, a natural light pink, with a shy curve when she pursed them. Her skin was as white as snow, and when the corridor breeze blew, it resembled a pear blossom just beginning to bloom, so pure that one dared not look at it for too long. The beautiful woman to Xiao Puxian's right had naturally curved eyebrows, naturally dark without any makeup, and her eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, yet full of warmth, like obsidian immersed in a clear spring, shining softly. Her nose was straight and delicate, her lips full, and she wore a moon-white palace dress embroidered with magnolia flowers, with fine silver thread trimming the collar and cuffs, shimmering faintly in the lamplight.

She stood with her hands at her sides, not vying for attention with the palace servants around her, but rather like a white plum blossom softened by the moonlight, quietly exuding fragrance.

At the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, she has shed her girlish naiveté and gained a layer of just the right amount of gentle warmth, like a ripe dewdrop that is so delicate that you'd be afraid to touch it for it to melt.

Although these two beautiful women were trying to keep a low profile, their innate elegance was like stars in the dark night, and even when they tried to hide behind the clouds, their brilliance could not be concealed.

Zhao Yu knew at a glance that these two beautiful women were definitely the main course for today.

Looking at the two beautiful women and the seven or eight beautiful girls behind them, Xiao Puxian said to Zhao Yu, "They are women from Xiao Fengxian's family. Xiao Fengxian specially sent them to Your Majesty. I recommended Xiao Fengxian so that he would serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly. Your Majesty must cherish them."

At this point, Xiao Puxian looked at the two beautiful women and said to Zhao Yu, "Especially those two."

Zhao Yu and Xiao Puxian had a tacit understanding; she slightly emphasized her words, and Zhao Yu realized that the two beautiful women must be extraordinary.

After a moment's thought, Zhao Yu vaguely guessed that the two beautiful women must be Xiao Duoli Lan and Xiao Guige.

Zhao Yu quickly realized that Xiao Fengxian had offered the Liao Empress Xiao Duoli Lan and Consort Xiao Guige to him under the pretext of offering women from his family. In effect, Xiao Fengxian was giving him the benefits while he would bear the infamy. More importantly, this would completely cut off Xiao Fengxian's escape route, forcing him to rely on him wholeheartedly.

This move was both ruthless and ingenious.

Moreover, Zhao Yu realized that it was not only Xiao Fengxian who had pledged his allegiance, but also Xiao Puxian's daughter.

Afterwards, Xiao Puxian will definitely shoulder this responsibility together with Xiao Fengxian, cutting off her own escape route as well.

As a result, Xiao Puxian could only be loyal to the Zhao Song Dynasty; otherwise, she might very well be purged by the Liao people in the future.

In fact, Xiao Puxian's pledge of allegiance was not very meaningful, because in the eyes of the Liao people, her status as the Eastern Empress Dowager was neither reasonable nor legal. She was simply a person who represented Zhao Yu in temporarily ruling the Liao Kingdom, and this was an unchangeable fact.

Therefore, there is no problem with Xiao Puxian not submitting this pledge of loyalty.

Despite this, Xiao Puxian still resolutely submitted this pledge of loyalty to Zhao Yu, to tell him that she was willing to give everything in exchange for his absolute trust and reliance.

Looking at the woman before him, a woman of profound thought and extraordinary courage, Zhao Yu felt a complex mix of emotions. He knew that Xiao Puxian's actions had undoubtedly bound her completely to his cause, ensuring that their fates would be intertwined, with no way out.

Zhao Yu didn't say anything, because words would be meaningless. He would show Xiao Puxian how much support he had for her through his actions.

Xiao Puxian had already arranged all of this for Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu then went along with it, pretending not to know the identities of Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige, and led them into the bedroom.

The night breeze stirred the gauze curtains on the window, and the candlelight flickered gently in the bronze stand, casting a hazy glow throughout the room.

Soon, the sounds of Zhao Yu chatting and laughing with some beautiful girls could be heard in the room.

Zhao Yu, with his extremely rich experience, really knows how to flirt with girls.

Before long, Zhao Yu had amused many of Xiao Fengxian's beautiful young ladies, making them giggle and laugh, thus bringing them closer together.

Even Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige, who originally only wanted to get by, were gradually won over by Zhao Yu's gentle yet domineering methods.

The candlelight gradually dimmed, casting the shadows of Zhao Yu, Xiao Duolilan, Xiao Guige, and a group of beautiful young women from Xiao Fengxian's household on the wall, making them appear longer and shorter.

The stars outside the window dimmed a little, the incense in the corner of the hall burned out, and the last wisp of orchid fragrance drifted over the table and wrapped around the hanging curtains.

As dawn approached, the east began to lighten, and a faint glimmer of light peeked through the cracks in the window, falling on the robes scattered around the bed.

Xiao Duoli, who was in Zhao Yu's arms on the left, lay on her side, a jade hairpin hanging diagonally from her temple, covering half of her face. Her exposed shoulder was as white as newly melted snow.

Xiao Guige, who was in Zhao Yu's arms to the right, was backlit, her long hair spread out on the pillow like a piece of black satin, her breath as light as the wind brushing across the surface of a lake, creating only a very faint ripple.

A group of beautiful young women from Xiao Fengxian's household surrounded Zhao Yu, lying haphazardly on the bed.

Feeling refreshed and invigorated, Zhao Yu slept among these beauties.

The next morning, Zhao Yu, who had rested exceptionally well, got up with the help of the beautiful women who had served him the night before, Xiao Duoli Lan, Xiao Guige, and other newlywed young women, as well as a group of palace servants. He then had breakfast with them, practiced some health preservation techniques with a group of Taoist priests, and finally went to the Chuigong Hall to handle official business.

Just as Zhao Yu arrived at the Chuigong Hall, Xiao Puxian and Xiao Fengxian came to apologize with thorns on their backs.

Moreover, Xiao Fengxian truly did bare his chest and carry thorns on his back.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu naturally cooperated and asked, "What are you two up to?"

Xiao Puxian reported: "Your Majesty, yesterday Xiao Fengxian asked my brother to find me, saying that he is willing to submit to our Great Song Dynasty, to serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty, and to offer his daughter to Your Majesty. Considering his sincere desire to serve our Great Song Dynasty, I helped him to accomplish this."

After a pause, Xiao Puxian continued, "Unexpectedly, when the time came, he said that Empress Xiao Duolilan of Liao and Consort Xiao Guifei of Liao were also his daughters, and he was willing to offer them to Your Majesty. I think what he said is true. Xiao Duolilan and Consort Xiao Guifei are indeed his sisters. It is understandable that he wants to sever ties with Liao and offer his sisters to Your Majesty. So I took it upon myself to have Xiao Duolilan and Consort Xiao Guifei serve Your Majesty last night."

"I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

After speaking, Xiao Puxian and Xiao Fengxian adopted an attitude that they would obey Zhao Yu's orders, whether he wanted them killed or tortured.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Yu said in a very "angry" tone, "How dare you two make such a big decision on your own?!"

Then, Zhao Yu said with great distress, "You are putting me in a position of being unrighteous and immoral..."

……

(End of this chapter)