Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 269 He's CPUing you!
[Is the Jin army marching south?]

[“This is impossible!”]

Upon hearing the news of the Jin army's southward advance, you were immediately thrown into turmoil: How could the Jin army possibly be heading south?!

This isn't because you're unwilling to accept reality; it's simply that the whole situation is unreasonable!

According to Han Shizhong, the reason the Jin army hadn't invaded the south for over two hundred years wasn't because they loved peace, but because Zhao Gou's divine power protected the border. The Jin army feared this divine power, which is why they hadn't invaded.

[It was precisely because you knew the inside story that you made the decision to reduce the number of troops in the important border towns: since the Jin army wouldn't march south, why maintain so many border troops?]

Furthermore, if the Jin army were to launch a full-scale southward invasion, even with a large number of ordinary soldiers, the Song Dynasty would be unable to provide effective defense... Rather than wasting money and resources, it would be better to cut them in half to save expenses for the local areas!

So, this is actually a good thing in itself, but...

But the Jurchens really did invade the south!

[These Jin troops, who would otherwise never have invaded the south, suddenly marched south, not only harming the border residents in various places but also disrupting your reform plans... More importantly, it immediately put you and your reform policies in the spotlight!]

Although everyone understands why the Jin army wouldn't invade the south, and you have sufficient reasons to dismiss the useless troops in each town, the Jin army quickly conquered all the dismissed towns... On this basis, no matter how many reasons you have, you can only swallow your pride and bear it.

Therefore, you and your new policies must take the blame...

[Therefore, with mixed feelings, you first issued the order to send troops to meet the enemy, ordering Yue Fei to lead 30,000 former Imperial Guards to recapture Xiangyang, ordering Han Shizhong to lead 30,000 former Imperial Guards to recapture Lianghuai, and ordering Liu Guangshi and Zhang Jun to lead troops to recapture Hanzhong, and to ensure the annihilation of the invading enemy!]

After the order to engage in battle was issued, you drafted two confessions overnight: one for the officials and the people, and the other for Zhao Gou alone...

[Regarding the following document, you must first honestly admit your mistake of excessive layoffs, then ask for everyone's forgiveness, and let everyone believe that you are a leader who can admit mistakes and correct them.]

Regarding the above document, you should sincerely apologize to Zhao Gou, saying that you have failed both the emperor's trust and the people's expectations, and therefore request to be demoted as punishment, etc.

As the saying goes, "When you're about to be beaten, stand up straight." You were originally a favored retainer with very little legitimacy, and in order to salvage some reputation, you absolutely cannot say that you were not wrong. So even if you don't think the responsibility lies with you, you can only bow your head and beg for forgiveness...

However, before your confession essay could even be published, an imperial edict of self-reproach was issued from the palace!

In this sudden edict of self-reproach, Zhao Gou first explained why the Jin army had previously dared not advance south: "The reason is that my divine power has enveloped the Song Dynasty, and the Jin army fears this divine power, which is why they dare not advance south!"

After briefly explaining these points, He then spoke of the reason for the Jin army's southward invasion: "The reason is simple: My divine power has weakened..."

In the text, Emperor Zhao, who had ruled the country for over two hundred years, sincerely apologized to the people: "It's all because I've been too arrogant! My divine power has been weakening day by day, to the point that I can't even protect the people... This is all my fault, and has nothing to do with the Grand Tutor's reforms and layoffs! If you want to criticize someone, criticize me! Don't criticize the Grand Tutor, he has already tried his best for the people..."

[It's all because I've been too arrogant! I wish I could dismiss myself!]

[Thus, a self-accusation edict, voluntarily taking the blame and exonerating you, is placed before you...]

After reading this, you couldn't help but fall silent: What does it mean to have weakened divine power? Could it be that Zhao Gou, like Chongzhen, was also experiencing a decline in divine power?

[That can't be right. There haven't been any problems in the past two hundred years, so why am I having problems right away? Isn't this a bit too much of a coincidence?]

Thinking this way, you can't help but feel a little suspicious of Zhao Gou, wondering if he was deliberately trying to frame you...

However, when it comes to pranks, the goal is always to push people down; nobody willingly takes the blame for the person they've pranked.

[Looking at Zhao Gou's words of exonerating you in every way, you felt both suspicious and moved: no matter what, he was voluntarily taking the blame for you... He took the blame once before, and now he's doing it again. Even if you still have many doubts about him, you can't help but feel grateful!]

[...] Soon, Yue Fei and his men, who had gone to meet the enemy, encountered the southward-bound Jin army head-on and engaged them in battle!

Ultimately, although the Jin soldiers were powerful mutated monsters, veteran generals like Yue Fei led their old troops to defeat them... Within a month, the Song army wiped out over 100,000 Jin soldiers in Xiangyang, Lianghuai, Hanzhong, and other areas, and recovered all the enemy-occupied territories!

The people, who had been worried about the brutality of the Jin soldiers, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this joyous news… But in their relief, they couldn't help but complain: "Marshal Yue and his men were doing a good job, why did Grand Tutor Zhou replace them?!"

[It's better to maintain a large garrison in the major cities than to be attacked by the Jin army... Therefore, you and your new policies are bound to be the subject of complaints.]

But just then, the Emperor Zhao's edict of self-reproach was issued!

[After seeing Emperor Zhao's words of taking responsibility, everyone has at least shifted their anger away from you, this sycophant... However, this doesn't mean everyone has forgiven you; it only makes them sigh at your relationship with the Emperor: Damn it! If you hadn't betrayed us, it would truly be a miracle!]

[It's always been the ministers who take the blame for the emperor; this is truly the first time I've seen an emperor voluntarily issue an edict of self-reproach to help his ministers take responsibility...]

【…】

In short, the matter was thus resolved. Although the Jin army looted and destroyed various occupied territories, causing enormous losses to the local people's livelihood and economy, at least the situation was brought under control...

Faced with this devastation, you could only grit your teeth and begin reconstruction. While funding the resettlement of the people, you reluctantly reinstated Yue Fei and others as frontline commanders, ordering them to continue garrisoning the border with their former troops.

[We have no choice but to do this, because if we do it once, we'll do it again: since the Emperor Zhao's divine power has weakened to the point that he can no longer resist the Jin army's southward advance, then if you don't station a large number of troops to defend the border, there will truly be no peace on the border forever!]

But were Yue Fei's garrison truly effective?

Recalling the mutated Jin soldiers you witnessed back then, a sense of unease crept into your heart: no matter how strong Yue Fei and his men were, they could never change the enormous gap in hard power between the Jin and Song dynasties, and this passive defense by the disadvantaged side could hardly truly ensure border stability...

After much deliberation, you still couldn't give up and asked Zhao Gou if there was a way to restore your divine power.

[Zhao Gou sighed deeply, stating that if he wanted to regain his divine power, there were only two paths: one was to restart the Northern Expedition, using the casualties of the expedition to achieve the sophisticated pleasure of "invading the Jin Dynasty"!]

The other one...

[He didn't speak, no matter how urgently you asked, He remained silent, and since He wouldn't speak, you could only helplessly retreat...]

[Then you fell into deep thought: Should we really restart the Northern Expedition?]

To be fair, you don't want to see a meaningless Northern Expedition, because that would be sending people to their deaths!

Faced with the overwhelming military might of the Jurchens, you had no choice but to adopt one of the only two effective measures...

No! We cannot launch a northern expedition!

Sitting alone in a quiet room, you frowned and pondered for a long time. Gradually, Zhao Gou's hesitant second suggestion surfaced in your mind: no matter how difficult, it couldn't be more unacceptable than a northern expedition!

Whatever the method, you must find out the details, then grit your teeth and implement it, no matter how difficult it is...

Meanwhile, Zhao Gou, in the palace, seemed to see your struggle and determination, and couldn't help but reveal a strange smile...

……

(End of this chapter)