A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 450 The Top Scholar's Anger Shakes the Imperial Court
This was due to the Song-Song couple's governance of the city, and the fact that the Empress Dowager did not prevent Song Xuan from sentencing her in-laws to death.

Therefore, many court officials believed that Song Xuan was the Empress Dowager's man.

The earlier mention of establishing seven ancestral temples for the Liu family—if that were to actually happen, Song Xuan, a newly appointed scholar who was personally promoted by the Empress Dowager, would undoubtedly have a bright future.

But unexpectedly, Song Xuan used such a "violent" method to thwart those people's idea of ​​encouraging the Empress to take a further step.

As for the officials of the Academy of Rites, they breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that they hadn't offended Little Song Tai Sui.

He's really capable of getting physical!

As for those who stepped forward to accuse Song Xuan of misbehaving in front of the emperor and assaulting court officials in order to impeach him, no one did so voluntarily.

The people at the ceremonial academy had done their best and the ceremony was about to be completed, finally bringing them a moment of peace.

As a result, Fang Zhonggong, who was oblivious to his own mortality, came to cause trouble. Moreover, they were all from the Academy of Rites and hated the kind of thing that happened when Wu Zetian became empress, like a hen crowing at dawn.

They wished Song Xuan would just beat Fang Zhonggong to death.

Song Zhuangyuan was right to criticize him. He was indeed a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) with no real ability, yet he thought of taking the path of advancement through favoritism.

Many people had never participated in the imperial examinations, but the emperor would bestow upon them the title of "Tong Jinshi" (a high-ranking scholar), which was considered a symbol of honor.

Song Xiang was completely stunned and sat there for a long time, unable to come back to his senses.

He knew that Song Xuan had a history of practicing martial arts, but he never expected him to be so skilled!
We, the top scholars, usually present ourselves to the world with gentle and refined manners. How did such an oddball suddenly appear?
Liu Congde, however, wanted to clap his hands and laugh out loud.

You all used to think I backed down in front of Song Xuan.

That's an idiot!

Today, you will all have a good look at Song Xuan's prowess in the main hall.

Doesn't that show how incredibly clever I am?
Although Liu Congde was not very capable and liked to act recklessly, he knew who he could mess with and who he couldn't.

Moreover, if the eldest empress really goes that far, it will ultimately be the Liu family that is punished.

Especially since the two parties are not related by blood.

Liu Congde only felt that his family could remain wealthy and powerful in the Song Dynasty for generations to come.

What’s good about being an emperor?
It's pointless to not even be able to protect the woman you love.

They were also subject to control everywhere, whether it was the harem or the court officials.

Unlike him, who is so free.

He was favored by the Empress Dowager, and many court officials dared not offend him, and would even take the initiative to curry favor with him.

Only a fool would want to be an emperor who is restricted in every way.

Seeing that all the civil and military officials in the court had expressed their opinions under Song Xuan's influence, Zhao Zhen finally felt relieved.

He just wanted to put on a show and meet his biological mother, whom he had never known since childhood. Isn't that a bit much?

As a result, some people even took the opportunity to "usurp the throne," which is truly audacious.

Fortunately, Brother Twelve turned the tide and saved the situation.

Zhao Zhen looked at Song Xuan with great excitement in his eyes. Twelfth Brother is still the best!
Liu E was also extremely horrified.

After all, Song Xuan usually presents himself as truly gentle and refined, even courteous.

He also took great care of his daughter with great patience.

However, Song Xuan's "flying kick" just now really taught Liu E a harsh lesson.

An outburst of anger!
The scene set in this imperial palace was quite frightening.

Especially when Liu E saw Fang Zhonggong's miserable state.

Even if Qin Shi Huang were suddenly assassinated, he would be in a panic.

Let alone a woman?

Fortunately, Song Xuan only stopped there to reprimand Fang Zhonggong, as many officials stood up to hold Fang Zhonggong accountable.

Liu E finally calmed herself down. Her fingers, which were gripping the dragon throne, had turned slightly white, but her face remained composed.

As long as Song Xuan's words about disrupting the court and occupying the moral high ground prevented her from openly protecting Fang Zhonggong.

Moreover, judging from the way all the civil and military officials followed the group.

No one would agree to the establishment of seven temples.

Even if Liu E wanted it in her heart, she had to make a serious statement to sever ties with Fang Zhonggong in order to protect herself.

"I am but a woman, and I asked the prime minister whether it was permissible to establish seven ancestral temples for the Liu family because I did not understand. I did not expect that the top scholar Song would explain it this way, so I have no more doubts."

She tried her best to calm herself down:

“Scholar Song, your actions just now were a bit too extreme.”

Song Xuan bowed again:

“Your Majesty, Fang Zhonggong is nothing but a sycophantic villain. He wants to incite Your Majesty to emulate the old ways of the Wu Zhou dynasty.”

"This person just wants to gain merit by following the emperor. If we allow such people to run rampant in the court, then our Great Song Dynasty will cease to exist."

"Especially with many envoys from foreign countries here, once the news gets out, it's inevitable that some armies will make unusual movements!"

Many envoys from small countries noticed that Song Xuan pointed to himself.

How the hell would I dare to make any unusual moves?
We came to the Song Dynasty seeking refuge!
This guy surnamed Song is not only ruthless, but he's also incredibly vicious when it comes to framing people!

As for the Khitan envoys who were placed in an even more secluded corner, Yelü Gou'er and the others also felt that this was a blatant frame-up by Song Xuan.

The Song and Liao dynasties had signed an alliance more than twenty years ago.

When has the Liao Dynasty ever sent troops to attack the Song Dynasty?

Our Khitan Emperor is worried that after your young Song emperor ascends the throne, he will not know what is good for him and will want to break the alliance on his own!

They won't take the blame for this, but nobody cares.

Liu E saw that Song Xuan had given her a way out by mentioning foreign powers.

She didn't want to dwell on it too much; she just wanted to end the matter as soon as possible.

After all, if this gets back to our friendly nations, someone might actually have designs on it.

That was definitely not what Liu E wanted to see.

Because she also had concerns; if a problem really arose, she had no biological children.

How could those soldiers possibly entrust the lives and future of their entire clan to a "lonely old woman"?

Those elite soldiers during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period were always looking for someone with a successor.

Even if there isn't one, they still need to arrange for an adopted son to reassure people.

If you have no descendants, who will follow you in rebellion?
"good."

Wang Zeng immediately restarted the group purchase:
"Your Majesty, quickly order someone to treat Fang Zhonggong and find the mastermind behind this. If he is colluding with other countries, it will cause great trouble."

"Your Majesty."

Zhong Lijin hurriedly stepped forward and said righteously:
"Zhang Zhongfang is the Vice Prefect of Kaifeng. I request to personally interrogate this scoundrel!"

When Empress Liu saw that Zhongli Jin had stepped forward, she arranged for him to lead men to interrogate him, determined to give the world an explanation.

What was supposed to be a beautiful political performance of maternal love and filial piety came to an abrupt end.

Zhong Lijin immediately sent men to take Fang Zhonggong away, determined not to let him stand trial alive.

Under the arrangement of the academy, everyone left in an orderly manner.

Everyone bowed to Song Xuan, expressing their gratitude for his courage and decisiveness.

Wang Zeng stood in front of Song Xuan and smiled:

"Song Zhuangyuan is worthy of his title as Zhuangyuan. Today's events are truly gratifying."

"What my son-in-law does is none of your business to say it's gratifying."

Cao Liyong stood aside and looked at Wang Zengdao:
"I, Cao Liyong, have always been dissatisfied with you. On this occasion, you, as the prime minister, have not uttered a single word. Do you not deserve the title of prime minister at all?"

Lü Yijian's thumb was sticking up inside his sleeve.

Well said, Cao Liyong.

If the prime minister doesn't take the lead in speaking out about this kind of thing, how can everyone else follow suit?

It would be best to get Wang Zeng to resign!
Wang Zeng didn't take Cao Liyong's words seriously, only smiled at Song Xuan, and thought to himself:

“I knew you would step forward, but you stepped forward too soon.”

Wang Zeng also wanted to take this opportunity to purge and suppress Liu E's forces and thoroughly investigate the henchmen of the Seven Temples.

Song Xuan remained silent, as he was currently unsure of Wang Zeng's thoughts.

Wang Zeng then left on his own, and Lü Yijian patted Song Xuan on the shoulder:

"Well done, Song Wenwen. With such outstanding young talents, we can rest assured."

"Not bad."

Vice Chancellor Zhang Shixun stroked his beard and smiled:
"You have the same spirit as your father-in-law when he entered the camp alone, unafraid of the Khitans!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Yongli immediately puffed out his chest.

How could my son-in-law, Cao Li, not be as dashing as I was back then?
As for Cao Cao, the generals around him all expressed their admiration.

Yan Shu glanced at Song Xuan, who was surrounded, sighed inwardly, and turned to leave.

Once news of today's events spreads, even if the Empress Dowager doesn't make a scene in court, Yan Shu can foresee that Song Xuan will be sent on a foreign mission.

It's just a matter of how long it takes.

Surrounded by numerous officials, Yang Huaimin, with a trembling heart, invited Song Xuan over for a chat, saying, "The Empress Dowager invites you."

After exchanging greetings with his colleagues, Song Xuan followed Yang Huaimin and left.

Cao Liyong felt radiant with pride and clamored to go to Fanlou to celebrate, and someone readily agreed.

He wasn't worried at all that his son-in-law would get into trouble with the aunt.

Seeing Cao Li's magnanimity, Zhang Qi wondered if it was confidence in himself or confidence in his son-in-law.

The noisy sounds inside the main hall gradually faded away.

Yang Huaimin said with lingering fear:
“Scholar Song, you shouldn’t have acted so impulsively just now.”

"Impulsive?"

Others could not see Song Xuan's actions.

Yang Huaimin, with his keen eyesight, saw everything very clearly.

The top scholar of the Song Dynasty was already extremely strong, and with such a kick, Fang Zhonggong would probably have been half-dead, if not killed.

"Just speak properly."

Yang Huaimin led the way from the side:
"Song, the top scholar, is so refined and cultured, why is he angry?"

"If I had a knife, I would definitely cut off this scoundrel's head."

Song Xuan glanced at Yang Huaimin, who was walking with a stoop:
“Eunuch Yang, a man like him who wants to wreak havoc on the country, should be punished by everyone.”

"Do you really think that just because the Song Dynasty is now ruled by a different family, everything will remain the same?"

Yang Huaimin didn't dare to respond.

Because he didn't dare to think about such things. There were some things he knew in his heart, but he couldn't say them out loud.

If the Empress Dowager were to actually take that step, I'm afraid not many people would be willing to follow her.

Whether these imperial guards are willing or not is another matter.

Those border troops also want to come to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury, and there will surely be a series of major battles.

When they returned to Liu E's palace, Liu E was so exhausted that she could barely walk.

Madam Lin quickly helped her up and helped her sit down to catch her breath.

“Your Majesty, Song Xuan is truly arrogant. His actions in the main hall clearly show that he does not respect Your Majesty.”

"That ruthless look, as if it were about to devour someone, clearly indicated that it was questioning who was behind it all."

"He has failed the trust and guidance that the Empress Dowager had placed in him."

Mrs. Lin was gossiping on the side, mainly because her son hadn't returned yet, and she was heartbroken.

Liu E had no interest in listening to the noise from those around her; she was simply reviewing the events that had just transpired in the main hall.

Wang Zeng and his cunning companions deliberately remained silent, provoking Fang Zhonggong to make a second, loud request.

At that time, Song Xuan was in the distance, chatting with the people around him, and didn't hear a thing.

It wasn't until the music stopped and Fang Zhonggong spoke for the second time, and there was complete silence, that Song Xuan suddenly flew into a rage.

Having been frightened at first, Liu E quickly figured out the ins and outs of the situation.

Wang Zeng and others were not happy about the current situation where civil and military officials pay homage in the main hall, so when someone wanted to build a temple for the seven generations of the Liu family.

They all deliberately refused to cooperate, leaving the emperor alone in a panic.

Only after Song Xuan angrily stood up did they begin to follow and request punishment.

So now Liu E realizes why Wang Zeng and the others didn't speak at the time, but were waiting for someone to "speak first"!
But no one expected Song Xuan to speak in such a violent way.

Wang Zeng was certain that Song Xuan would not stand idly by, which is why he remained silent.
Liu E narrowed her eyes slightly. Was he trying to provoke my disgust for Song Xuan?

"Your Majesty, Scholar Song has arrived."

Just as Liu E was pondering, Yang Huaimin's announcement rang out.

So Liu E tidied up and let Song Xuan in.

"Your subject Song Xuan greets Your Majesty."

Liu E responded, but did not offer a seat as usual. This subtle difference was noticed by those around Liu E.

Madam Lin, in particular, harbored deep resentment towards Song Xuan for not bringing her son back, and was secretly hoping something would happen to him.

“Song Twelve, I don’t want to reprimand you in the main hall today, but you were too impulsive.”

"Your Majesty, I do not think I acted impulsively."

Song Xuan replied:
"The Empress Dowager does not understand the severity of this matter. Once this precedent is set, there will naturally be more opportunists who want to take credit for the success of the emperor's rise to power."

"Could it be that the Empress Dowager really intends to emulate the events of the Wu Zhou dynasty?"

When questioned by Song Xuan, Liu E firmly refused.

She must uphold the late emperor's wishes and diligently assist the current emperor to prevent him from being controlled by powerful ministers.

"This person not only sowed discord among the imperial family, but also tried to frame the Empress Dowager, going against the late Emperor's last wishes."

Song Xuan also gave feedback:

"The Empress Dowager is determined to kill this scoundrel to set an example and prevent the world from thinking that she has such intentions."

Liu E scrutinized Song Xuan. She had thought that by promoting Song Xuan so much, everyone around her would think that Song Xuan was one of her people.

But what happened today...

Liu E then discovered that Song Xuan was a royalist, just like Wang Zeng and his ilk.

Do you really think that way about me?

"Hahaha."

Song Xuan couldn't help but laugh at Liu E's habitual questioning.

Liu E didn't understand why Song Xuan suddenly started laughing.

Yang Huaimin and the others were also in a state of unease because of Song Xuan's laughter, not knowing what he meant.
Song Xuan felt he still needed to practice more in the future:
"Your Majesty, do you know anything about the past of the Wu Zhou dynasty?"

"of course."

Although Liu E was not well-educated, she had been taught by others.

"The reason why the officials of the Tang Dynasty tolerated Wu Zetian's ascension to the throne was because they all knew that no matter how irrational Wu Zetian was, if she passed the throne to her nephew, her aunt's memorial tablet would not be placed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

"If it were passed down to one's offspring, it would be worshipped by future generations, not to mention the Shenlong Coup that forced Wu Zetian to abdicate."

"If the Empress Dowager wants to follow suit, she has no kinship ties, no legitimate reason, and the Emperor is the Son of Heaven of the Great Song Dynasty. Being deposed without cause will inevitably arouse the anger of the court officials, as evidenced by what happened in the main hall today."

"Furthermore, the Emperor is the only living son of the Empress Dowager. How can a mother drive her own son off the throne? Is that the behavior of a mother?"

"Do we have to learn from a heartless and ungrateful person like Wu Zetian in order to proclaim to the world that the Empress Dowager's virtues are also like that?"

"I remember that Your Majesty issued an edict in the past, urging us to emulate the virtuous empresses of the previous dynasty. How can we be easily misled by some sycophantic and treacherous people?"

"Your Majesty should know how the Song Dynasty came to be."

“Once there is unrest, some people will inevitably follow suit. At that time, not only will the seven temples of the Liu family be gone, but even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor may be gone.”

Song Xuan's rapid-fire words left Liu E somewhat bewildered; her desire for power had been ignited today.

But Song Xuan's words really put her in a dilemma.

Few people knew about the fact that officials used surrogates to have children.

Liu E felt that even Song Xuan in front of her didn't know this, which was why she was so puzzled.

But this is also a good thing, indicating that the confidentiality measures are in place.

Many palace guards died in the past to cover up the news.

Liu E, however, directly blamed those around her:
"Don't you have any common sense? You've been talking for so long, don't you know to bring a chair for Scholar Song as is customary?"

Yang Huaimin quickly admitted his guilt and personally brought a chair for Song Xuan.

Madam Lin and the others saw that Song Xuan had regained the Empress Dowager's trust through his eloquent speech.

I couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

How could Song Xuan be forgiven for his blatant disobedience to the Empress Dowager?

If Lin Rong hadn't known the truth, she would have suspected that Song Xuan was the Empress's biological son.

However, when she thought about how Liu Congde had also received the same treatment, she lost her temper.

Whoever catches the eye of the Empress Dowager has the right to act recklessly.

pity.

Song Xuan didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly in the chair:

"Your Majesty, please think twice before you act."

"What's done is done. What do you think should be done?"

Song Xuan pretended to think for a moment before speaking:

“We should focus on the case of Fang Zhonggong’s treason, rather than on whether or not to build a temple for him.”

To put it bluntly, the idea was to make Fang Zhonggong take the blame and downplay the matter of establishing the temple.

Liu E also understood the meaning behind Song Xuan's words:
"This matter has been entrusted to Zhongli Jin, the Prefect of Kaifeng. He is newly appointed and full of ambition, so he will surely give a satisfactory answer."

Song Xuan, of course, wouldn't take the blame himself; he slightly cupped his hands in greeting.
"Your Majesty, such a joyous occasion today has been ruined by certain people. It has truly been a hardship for the Emperor's filial piety."

Song Xuan was paving the way for Zhao Zhen's request to visit the imperial tombs for worship, laying the groundwork for the event.

"Ah."

Liu E nodded.

If Fang Zhonggong hadn't come out, this unexpected event wouldn't have happened today.

Although this wasn't the idea she had when she was sitting on the dragon throne.

But who cares about the feelings of the scapegoat?

"If it weren't for Scholar Song stepping forward today, I'm afraid I would have been misled by someone."

Liu E first offered a word of praise, then feigned ignorance and asked:

"Scholar Song, you said that Prime Minister Wang and others, as high-ranking officials, all knew the reason for establishing the seven ancestral temples, so why didn't they tell me?"

Song Xuan feigned ignorance, then gasped in shock:
“What Your Majesty says is absolutely right. They were all sitting closer than me, didn’t they hear me clearly?”

"It shouldn't be."

Liu E shook her head:
“I asked them, but they didn’t answer. That’s why Fang Zhonggong gave his advice a second time.”

Seeing Song Xuan deep in thought, Liu E felt a sense of smugness.

After all, Wang had wanted to sow discord between her and Song Xuan so that she could be used by him.

But Liu E was determined to plant a seed in Song Xuan's heart: why didn't they step forward, but instead had to let you, this hothead, take the lead?
Have you ever wondered why?
Song Xuan pondered for a long time and shook his head: "Your Majesty, I have no idea."

"It's okay if you can't figure it out yet. Go back and think about it slowly. You'll figure it out eventually."

Liu E watched Song Xuan walk away.

She knew that Song Xuan was not a stupid person, and that he would probably figure out the reasoning behind it soon.

"Yang Huaimin".

"The minister is here."

Liu E swallowed her words.

There were some things she didn't need to explain, so she changed her words:

"Serve the meal. I'm hungry after all this fuss."

Yang Huaimin blinked and quickly acknowledged.

"Clap! Ladies and gentlemen, please hold on a moment. A shocking incident occurred in the Golden Hall today, one that caused a bloodbath!"

Wazili.

Naturally, some people began to stop in their tracks, having heard more about the story of the top scholar Song angrily rebuking the two treacherous officials.

Each side has its own explanation, but none are detailed.

Unexpectedly, such news also came from the Wazi Village today, so everyone stopped to listen to the whole story.

"In the main hall, the traitor Fang Zhonggong was gloating, trying to incite the current Empress Dowager to follow the example of the Wu Zhou dynasty and establish seven temples for the Liu family."

"The entire court was utterly horrified, but not a single person dared to utter a word to stop it."

"In the main hall, the musicians stopped, and all was silent."

"Just then, Little Song Taisui, who was sitting in the corner, roared with eyes wide open, making the palace tiles rattle.

"Fang-Zhong-Gong, I curse your ancestors for eighteen generations!"

The storyteller's palm strike caused his robes to flutter wildly:
"Among all the officials in the court, there stood a seven-foot-tall man who pointed at the official in the blue robe and began to hurl insults at him."

"You are nothing but a worthless scoundrel who only passed the imperial examination, yet you dare to bark and spit out those vile and treacherous words that bring disaster to the country and its people in the Zichen Hall?"

"Little Song Tai Sui is furious!"

"Tap tap tap."

The storyteller's footsteps echoed in rapid succession as he continued:

"Just as Fang Zhonggong was about to turn his head to find the source of the sound, he suddenly saw a golden goblet and jade cup flying towards his face!"

"It happened in the blink of an eye."

"Whoosh."

"Suddenly, Xiao Song Tai Sui leaped into the air, like an eagle pouncing on a rabbit, his official robes fluttering in the wind."

"A single 'Kui Xing Kicks the Dipper' carries the force of a thousand jun!"

Snapped.

The gavel fell silent once more, and everyone turned to look at the storyteller.

The storyteller, however, spoke slowly and deliberately:
“The sound of bones cracking could be clearly heard in this great hall.”

"This moment, just like that moment."

"Little Song Taisui's kick landed squarely on that scoundrel's heart, sending Fang Zhonggong flying three zhang high like a kite with a broken string!"

"With a bang, it crashed into the golden dragon pillar at the top of the main hall, and then rolled down the steps like a torn sack." "When the imperial guards rushed forward, they saw that the traitor Fang Zhonggong's face was ashen, and blood was gushing from his mouth like a spring."

"In less than three breaths, his soul had already returned to that Yama Palace!"

"The entire court was horrified, and no one dared to utter a single word."

"it is good."

The onlookers naturally cheered loudly.

This time, instead of waiting for him, his men went to bang gongs and beg for a reward.

Many copper coins then rained down on the storyteller from the air.

Cheers and applause rose and fell, never ceasing.

The storyteller immediately clasped his hands in thanks to those around him, and then the gavel struck again:

"What a loyal and courageous minister! Little Song Tai Sui stood tall, his voice like the clanging of metal, each word dripping with blood."

"Big-mother-mother."

"This call echoed through the palace pillars."

"This scoundrel is wreaking havoc on the court and is about to destroy the ancestral temples of the Song Dynasty, which have stood for a century."

The storyteller's five fingers, like hooks, swooped down and grabbed at the air:
"I request that we first dig into its roots and find out the mastermind hidden in the depths of hell."

The storyteller makes a sword with his hands:
"Little Song Tai Sui's sword is pointed at the relic of the Prefect of Kaifeng. This scoundrel should be escorted to the gate of Chenzhou and publicly executed, with his entire family punished, to set an example for all."

"The Kaifeng Prefect, Relic Monk, was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, practically wetting himself in fear!"

The storyteller once again made a gust of wind by fluttering his sleeves:

"When I saw the young Song Tai Sui again, he raised his head and stared straight at the imperial steps, his eyes flashing like thunder, his voice shaking the rooftops: How can this vast land of the Song Dynasty allow seven temples of other surnames to be built?"

Snapped.

The gavel struck again:
"Truly:"

"A treacherous official's reckless remarks will bring about unexpected disaster."

"The top scholar, filled with rage, shook the imperial court."

"The golden palace strikes at the heart, startling the imperial carriage."

"Loyal ministers sacrificed their lives to protect the imperial court."

"Since ancient times, loyalty and treachery have been difficult to reconcile."

"To be continued... Rifting Purple Chen!"

"Good~"

The crowd cheered loudly and threw copper coins at the storyteller again.

The storyteller quickly bent down to pick up the copper coins; this was enough for several days' worth of meals, and he couldn't delay any longer.

The audience continued to discuss the matter.

I just felt that what the storyteller said was really satisfying to hear.

People love this kind of drama where loyal ministers fight against treacherous ministers.

In the past, Little Song Tai Sui (a powerful figure in Chinese folklore) often vented the anger of the people.

Nowadays, in Kaifeng County, how many scoundrels and ruffians dare to make a scene?
Once everyone has taken him to the Kaifeng County government office and confirmed that he is indeed the right person, they will receive a reward.

It's like a perfect replica of the Chaoyang masses.

Let these scoundrels drown in the vast ocean of people; otherwise, the police force alone is far from sufficient to govern a county with hundreds of thousands of people.

"Twelfth Brother, I think this show is good for entertainment, right?"

Liu Congde said with considerable pride:
"Listen to what the storyteller says; it's much more interesting than what happened in the main hall that day."

This wasn't the first time he'd heard it. After listening, he immediately dragged Song Xuan over to listen, and made sure he changed into casual clothes.

Song Xuan's lips twitched slightly.

These storytellers exaggerate the facts.

It's become like a fantasy.

If Fang Zhonggong had kicked him as high as ten stories, he would have become a humanoid Gundam.

Let alone the fact that he could defeat Lü Bu in a one-on-one fight.

Even if Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, Guan Yu, Ma Chao, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Xu Chu, and Xiahou Dun all attacked together, Song Xuan felt that with his described strength, he could put up a fight against their combined attack.

If the two Xiahou brothers are killed first, then perhaps the top generals will be able to come forward and form a group to attack.

It's funny, but it's distorted.

Song Xuan didn't care.

Fang Zhonggong died before he could be interrogated at the Kaifeng government office due to the severity of his injuries.

As for the timing of his death, Song Xuan didn't know whether he was truly silenced due to serious injuries or was silenced because of them.

In short, shut up.

It's almost impossible to find out who his accomplices are.

However, Song Xuan knew the rules, and he gestured for Wang Bao to throw the reward money onto the stage.

Song Xuan mingled in the crowd, listening to the discussions among the people around him, and found that there was a great deal of praise.

They don't really care about distortion; they just feel that it's enjoyable to listen to.

Song Xuan and Liu Congde did not linger in the entertainment district.

This matter is impossible to keep secret, and it's not even allowed to be kept secret; the bigger the commotion, the better.

Let those opportunists who want to continue to encourage the Empress Dowager to ascend the throne and hope to gain merit for supporting the emperor extinguish this thought.

Liu Congde looked extremely excited:

"I don't know when I, Liu Congde, became so powerful in the mouths of storytellers."

"you?"

Song Xuan glanced at him:
"Liu Dalang, I'm not trying to discourage you, but your frail body can't even support an armor, yet you dream of kicking someone three zhang high and making the roof tiles of the palace rattle with your words. Stop daydreaming."

Liu Congde sighed:
"I've eaten all sorts of delicacies since I was a child, but I just couldn't become fat; I remained thin. What can I do about it?"

Song Xuan believed that Song Xuan's inability to eat effectively but remain thin was due to a problem with his digestive system, which prevented him from absorbing nutrients efficiently.

From a medical perspective, Song Xuan had no solution.

After all, Liu Congde didn't want to always be the "villain" in the storiesteller's mouth.

Liu Congde had heard plenty of these kinds of short stories that were turned into anecdotes.

During the Song Dynasty, urban culture was prevalent, and the Song imperial family was extremely tolerant of the common people.

They even dare to talk about royalty.

For example, Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the People's Republic of China, traveled all over the country in his early years and performed acts of kindness such as escorting a girl a thousand miles away.

At this point, the story was not yet fully formed; it was all in fragments.

Just like Journey to the West, before it was written, there were some discrepancies in each section. It was only later that Wu Cheng'en made it coherent.

Not to mention the gossip about Liu Congde behind his back; relying on the Empress's favor, he did quite a few things that people couldn't help but criticize.

In the local culture, it naturally occupies a very strong "villain" position.

Previously, that job was all done by "Ding Wei," but after Ding Wei fell from power, Liu Congde started to rise to the position of villain for many years.

Liu Congde also wants to improve!

In any case, someone has to be put in that position to oppose the "loyal minister," and in the end, the treacherous minister will be dealt with by the loyal minister.

They absolutely loved the idea of ​​the top scholar in the Song Dynasty kicking a treacherous official to death.

Nowadays, the common people of the Song Dynasty love to listen to this kind of popular opera.

Song Xuan's old anecdotes had also been compiled, but he rarely came to the city's entertainment district and heard them too little.

"Everyone's physique is different. Some people are small but very strong, while others are tall but weak. Is that absurd?"

Song Xuan's words of comfort did not make Liu Congde any happier; he also wanted to be capable.

Unfortunately, his father never taught him any skills from childhood to adulthood. He only told him to find a way to protect the Liu family's money and to take some gold home if the opportunity arose.

In this way, the Liu family was able to establish a firm foothold in Tokyo for generations, and their descendants would no longer have to worry about making a living.

"But is it the current Song Zhuangyuan?"

One person stood in front of them with a smile, even a fawning one.

He had thoroughly investigated just how formidable this top scholar, Song, was.

Before Song Xuan could step forward, Wang Baoxian stood in the middle, acting as a human shield.

"Who are you?"

Hearing Wang Bao's question, Cao Xianhui didn't pay any attention and continued to introduce herself:

“Scholar Song, I saw your brilliance in the main hall that day.”

"I am Cao Xianhui, the younger brother of the eighth Guiyi Army Military Governor. Emperor Zhenzong appointed me as the Inspector of the Ministry of War and the Imperial Guard Commander."

His elder brother was granted the title of King of Dunhuang by the Liao Dynasty and even personally went to the Liao Kingdom to pay homage.

Of course, one could not mention the title of King of Dunhuang in the Song Dynasty, nor could one mention that his elder brother changed his name to Cao Gongshun to avoid using the same character as Emperor Jingzong of Liao, Yelü Xian.

There is no mention of Cao Gongshun in the official investiture records of the Song Dynasty.

"The Guiyi Army?"

Song Xuan was somewhat unfamiliar with the Guiyi Army of today.

Moreover, some information he saw from the Privy Council indicated that the Guiyi Army only nominally retained this title.

Most of the people were no longer the surviving Tang people, but were gradually replaced by Uyghurs.

It can be said that only a very small number of people, such as those from "Chinatown", remain.

After the Cao family took control, they further promoted Uyghurization.

To be honest, they were weak. They once ruled eleven northwestern prefectures and controlled the Hexi Corridor, but now only the remnant of Guazhou remains.

Even after the Cao family replaced the Zhang family, the Tang soldiers still followed the old tradition of subordinates rebelling against their superiors, forcing the head of the Cao family to commit suicide and then pushing a member of the Cao family to become the leader.

At this time, the Cao family nominally controlled the Guiyi Army, but their control was extremely weak.

They also sought cooperation with the Khitan and the Song Dynasty, hoping to have a united front value and avoid being swallowed up by other forces.

Cao Xianhui had seen Song Xuan's imposing figure in the main hall and had been inquiring about him ever since the court session ended.

Both he and his father-in-law are incredibly capable.

In particular, his father-in-law was the number one military strategist in the Song Dynasty. If he could win him over, it would certainly provide the Guiyi Army with an extra layer of protection.

So after Cao Xianhui respectfully introduced herself, she asked if she could move to Fanlou for further discussion.

Song Xuan did not refuse.

Anyway, the two of them were going to Fanlou to discuss how to go to the Khitan.

When they arrived at the private room at Fanlou, Cao Xianhui wanted to show off her skills, but she didn't because the manager personally greeted her.

Dancers and singers played music on the sidelines.

Song Xuan and the others sat around a round table.

Cao Xianhui was puzzled that Song Xuan was eating at the same table with two personal guards, but she didn't dare to say anything.

Does this mean they don't take him seriously?

Song Xuan, however, did not take the Guiyi Army seriously. He remembered the information he had seen at the Privy Council.

Previously, the Zhang family had declined to the point where they only had two prefectures left. The so-called "White-Robed Emperor" caused many people to lose their homes and lives. In the end, they were defeated by the Ganzhou Uyghurs, recognized the Uyghur Khan as their father, and became vassals.

Several years later, the Cao family took over the mantle, continuing for a century from the Tang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, before declining again due to war.

The Song Dynasty emperor and his officials believed that they had little power, so they reluctantly granted them titles as a small consolation.

They wouldn't even grant him the title of Jiedushi (military governor), let alone the ambition to become king.

Don't underestimate the Ganzhou Uyghurs just because they can't defeat the Western Xia or Liao dynasties. They can easily beat the Guiyi Army.

Now, the Guiyi Army is only left in Guazhou.

"Envoy Cao has come from afar. Is he getting used to the climate of Dongjing City? We don't know what the weather is like in Guazhou."

Upon hearing Song Xuan's question, Cao Xianhui quickly put down her chopsticks:

"So that Scholar Song may know that it takes more than 5,000 li to get from Guazhou to here. I actually set off after New Year's Day."

Five thousand miles.

Song Xuan nodded slightly.

Let alone from Guazhou County in Gansu to Kaifeng, even if it were to reach Chang'an, it would be beyond the reach of the central government.

In this day and age, people either walk or ride horses. Carriages and horses are slow, and the time spent on the road is more than enough.

Liu Congde clicked his tongue twice: "Isn't this the furthest one?"

"It takes eight thousand li to get from Kucha to this place, and it's about the same distance from Khotan."

Cao Xianhui nodded, it seemed that Song Xuan had some understanding of the Northwest:
"So that the top scholar Song would know that the real Kingdom of Khotan has already perished."

"Oh, it was swallowed up by other forces?"

"Correct."

Cao Xianhui also said that Buddhists were extremely afraid.

Their forces in the northwest all had Buddhist followers as vassals who helped maintain their rule.

However, after the fall of Khotan, many Buddhists fled.

Song Xuan wasn't particularly interested in religious matters, but the Northwest was just that chaotic place, where people would fight each other because of their religious beliefs.

Although the doctrines often preach about guiding people towards goodness, when it comes to dealing with heretics, they are ruthless in killing people.

"So, the current situation in the Northwest is that the Uyghurs are divided, the Tibetans are declining, the Tanguts are rising, and the Khitans are moving eastward."

"Correct."

Cao Xianhui was convinced that Song Xuan truly knew something about the situation in the Northwest.

Although they had the title of Guiyi Army to unite people, they had become vassals of the Ganzhou Uyghurs and were extremely weak.

They wanted to become stronger and break free from the Ganzhou Uyghurs, but they had no hope of doing so on their own and could only rely on external forces.

At least the Guiyi Army was a remnant of the Tang Dynasty, and since the Song Dynasty inherited the Tang's territory, it was natural for them to extend a helping hand.

However, the Song Dynasty did not seem to have much interest in managing the northwest.

In addition, the Khitans were defeated by the Western Xia and the Ganzhou Uyghurs.

This dashed the Guiyi Army's hopes of using the Khitans' strength to seize power and establish themselves independently, prompting them to seek help from the Song Dynasty instead.

They pin their hopes on the last vestiges of the incense offerings from a century ago.

"From your perspective, what is the current situation in Northwest China?"

Cao Xianhui considered it for a moment:
"Scholar Song, to be honest, the Western Xia Tanguts have become the strongest force in the Northwest, and they have the ambition to become emperors."

Cao Xianhui dropped a bombshell: the Li family was nothing more than a bandit chieftain in the northwest, yet they dared to dream of being on equal footing with great powers like the Song and Liao dynasties, and even wanted to declare themselves emperors facing south.

This is absolutely not allowed.

Song Xuan nodded, picking up some food with his chopsticks: "Tell me something I don't know."

"what?"

Cao Xianhui was dumbfounded.

Liu Congde used alcohol to cover up his embarrassment at not knowing about the matter.

They were all surprised that Song Xuan knew about this. Could it be that his father-in-law, the Privy Councilor, had already suspected it and told him about it?
Cao Xianhui saw Song Xuan glance at him, signaling him to continue. He was a little flustered and quickly picked up his wine glass to calm himself down.

He thought that revealing such a shocking secret would surely incite the "upright" Song Dynasty scholar to righteous indignation and request the imperial court to intervene in the affairs of the Northwest.

This gave Cao's Guiyi Army the opportunity to grow stronger.

The Song Dynasty had no control over the northwest, so how could it govern it?

Even if we send troops to teach them a lesson, we still need to implement a policy of appeasement, and ultimately they are the ones who benefit.

After all, in the early years of the Song Dynasty, those cannibalistic generals terrified the Tangut people, preventing them from causing trouble for more than twenty years.

Later, the direct descendants of the Dingnan Army military governor also surrendered to the Song Dynasty. Li Jiqian was just a collateral descendant who gradually rose to power by relying on the Dangxiang talents in the five prefectures.

The Dingnan Army consisted mainly of leaders who came to the Song Dynasty to enjoy their wealth, while many of the remaining Tangut people stayed in their homeland to continue their work. Li Jiqian, with the Li family's reputation, was naturally able to gather his own troops.

Today, the Tanguts are on good terms with both the Song and Liao dynasties, and instead of expanding eastward, they intend to seize the entire Hexi Corridor, a route of wealth.

Coincidentally, Cao's Guiyi Army's territory was located at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, within the attack range of the Western Xia Tanguts.

"In the northwest are the Tibetans, Uyghurs, Tanguts, Tuyuhun, Tatars, and us."

Cao Xianhui coughed lightly:
“Song Zhuangyuan may not know this, but everyone thinks that my Cao family’s Guiyi Army’s territory is only Guazhou. In fact, my ancestors have learned from the Zhang family’s failure.”

"Therefore, our relations with these foreign regimes are quite good, and we have also stabilized the situation by forming marriage alliances with the Uyghurs of Ganzhou and Xizhou."

Song Xuan nodded and put down his chopsticks:
"I can understand your actions: actively restoring the relationship of subordination with my Great Song Dynasty in the Central Plains, accepting titles, and recognizing my Great Song Dynasty as the legitimate dynasty."

"At the same time, it uses the prestige of the former Tang Dynasty in the hearts of people of all ethnic groups to maintain its legitimacy."

"Internally, it absorbed prominent families from Guazhou and other ethnic groups to join the Guiyi Army regime, which was the only way to survive and develop."

"Yeah."

Cao Xianhui wiped the sweat from his brow, unsure of what Song Xuan knew and what he didn't.

"In this way, we also have control of Shazhou."

Song Xuan heard Cao Xianhui hold up two fingers, finally expanding the territory lost by the Zhang family by a small area.

"Envoy Cao, your policies are good, they can ensure survival, but now I'm afraid they're no longer as effective as your own arms and legs, are they?"

Cao Xianhui was startled and somewhat deflated, saying:
"Nothing can be hidden from the top scholar of the Song Dynasty. That's really true. It's almost like an old story from the Tang Dynasty."

“When powerful families within the family become too powerful, people will respect our word and we can carry it out. But if they don’t respect us, then we can’t carry it out.”

Liu Congde savored his wine, surprised to find that Song Xuan was also very knowledgeable about news from the Northwest and other regions.

These scholars must have read a lot of books.

Unlike myself, not to mention the various places in the Northwest, even the names of those foreign tribes I just mentioned.

He had never heard of any of them, let alone which characters they were.

"So what are your demands in coming to the Song Dynasty?"

Hearing Song Xuan's blunt question, Cao Xianhui felt that she didn't have the courage.

If they are not careful, the Cao family will be wiped out.

Introduce local forces to counterbalance those lackeys who kill their leader at the drop of a hat.

Nowadays, the descendants of the soldiers are not very obedient, and the local forces also have their own agendas.

The reason they weren't completely sidelined is because the Cao family has trained some soldiers themselves over the years.

"Actually, we just wanted the Song Dynasty to warn the Ganzhou Uyghurs that we didn't want to go to war with them."

"Hasn't the Ganzhou Uyghur forces already been defeated by the Tanguts?"

"They were beaten by the Tanguts," Cao Xianhui said with utter helplessness.

“The fleeing Uyghurs of Ganzhou have rapidly expanded in the Shazhou area and are fighting against our Guiyi Army. We do not have the strength to drive them away and are in danger of being swallowed up by them.”

"Oh, I see."

Song Xuan understood.

The Tanguts occupied the territory of the Ganzhou Uyghurs.

If they can't fight back, then they'll bully the weaker Cao clan's Guiyi Army and seize their territory.

The big fish eat the small fish, and the small fish eat the shrimp.

"The Song Dynasty sent troops to support the Khan of the Ganzhou Uyghurs. They are grateful to the Song Dynasty and want the Song Dynasty to mediate between them. They will surely listen to this request."

Song Xuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "So, Chief Envoy Cao, what is the price?"

"cost?"

Cao Xianhui's pupils contracted slightly: "What does Scholar Song mean?"

"We sent troops to help the Ganzhou Uyghurs, and they reciprocated in kind."

"I can talk too!"

Cao Xianhui said excitedly, "Scholar Song, we are of the same origin and are no less than the Uyghurs of Ganzhou."

Song Xuan looked at Cao Xianhui:
"The Uyghurs of Ganzhou trade warhorses with our Great Song Dynasty. Do you think your Guiyi Army can get such benefits just by talking without giving any money or offering a little tribute? That's obviously impossible."

For the countries that paid tribute during the Song Dynasty, the primary goal was to generate commercial profits, and they rarely bestowed gifts that exceeded the value of the tribute items.

If the emperor were to reward the envoys with some Song Dynasty copper coins, the envoys would be overjoyed and laugh heartily, indicating that even though the journey is long, they would be willing to come again next time.

With the Great Song Sword at our disposal, who the hell wouldn't want to come?

"No need to explain. The Khitans appointed your elder brother as the King of Dunhuang, and he even went there in person. I suppose you've made similar requests to the Khitans, but to no avail, right?"

Cao Xianhui was once again at a loss for words.

The attack on the Ganzhou Uyghurs by the Khitans was orchestrated by the Guiyi Army.

Unfortunately, the Khitans suffered heavy losses and failed to defeat the Ganzhou Uyghurs, which was a disgrace to the Khitans.

The King of Dunhuang of the Guiyi Army naturally dared not send anyone else, since there was still the Song Dynasty.

Or should we try approaching the Song Dynasty?
That's how this trip came about.

Cao Xianhui waved her hands repeatedly:
"That's not true, Scholar Song has misunderstood. We have always regarded the Song Dynasty as the legitimate dynasty."

"But the Khitans claim to be the successors of the Tang Dynasty's empire, and you also wave the old Tang banner, so what?"

Song Xuan stared at Cao Xianhui:
“I don’t think you’re being honest. You don’t seem like someone who’s genuinely here to solve problems. Why don’t we call your older brother over? You can’t make the decision yourself.”

Cao Xianhui couldn't possibly let her older brother come.

If his elder brother came to the Song Dynasty, he might be detained.

The Guiyi Army would not be able to withstand the Uyghurs launching an attack.

"What conditions does the Great Song Dynasty desire?"

Cao Xianhui pursed her lips:

"I can convey the message, but the states of Kuala and Saskatchewan are very small, with a population of only about 100,000. I'm afraid there's nothing of value there."

"Even warhorses, there aren't many of them."

Cao Xianhui knew that the Song Dynasty was short of horses, but the Guiyi Army was also short of horses.

If taxes are forcibly levied, the people will rebel without the Uyghurs even needing to fight.

This has happened more than once or twice.

"Then tell me, what does the Guiyi Army have to offer in its territory?"

Song Xuan picked up his chopsticks again:

"Either you think carefully about how to make up a lie that will fool me, or you offer some real benefits."

"Even if you invite the Khitans to send troops, it's not like they'll just do it after you ask, is it?"

(End of this chapter)