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

Chapter 278 Reminiscing about the past
[Damn it!]

Holding the battle report detailing the devastating losses, Zhao Gou nearly ground his teeth to dust...

He truly didn't expect you to be so resilient!

Over the years of war, the Song army has suffered heavy losses of its elite troops, the lives of ordinary people in Jiangbei have been almost completely destroyed, and the economic and population problems in Jiangnan have become increasingly severe...

In short, it boils down to four words: The Song Dynasty is doomed!

And yet, at this very moment, you, who always value the safety of the people more than your own life, remain completely unmoved...

[No, you can't call this indifference, because you've actually been actively advocating for war, eliminating hundreds of thousands of Jin soldiers over the past decade! A remarkable record!]

[Besides the military field, you also did your utmost in politics and people's livelihood issues, ensuring that people could still barely make ends meet even in the most difficult times...]

You've done your utmost, you've given it your all; you've practically pushed yourself to the limit. No one could find fault with you.

As for loyalty... after all this, who could doubt your loyalty?! You, Grand Tutor Zhou, have long been unwaveringly loyal!

However, the more you act this way, the less Zhao Gou understands you: What exactly are you trying to do?

If you truly wish to save the people, you should have entered the world of "Gouzi Literature" as soon as possible. After all, the current predicament can only be resolved after He regains His divine power; otherwise, the endless stream of Jin soldiers will eventually drive the Song Dynasty into the sea!

[If you want to preserve your dignity, you should have confronted him long ago. After all, he has never concealed his threats against you. What are you enduring if you don't confront him now?!]

[Even if you're just trying to save your life, then you shouldn't have let things get to this point. Because if things continue like this, what chance do you have of survival? Even if He lets you go, the Jurchens won't!]

In conclusion, your logic is utter chaos in His eyes; He has no idea what you're trying to do...

【but……】

"I'm not in a hurry!"

[Zhao Gou took a deep breath, then his eyes flickered: "Anyway, you can't possibly harm me. Rather than panicking, I'd better continue to observe and see if you're really that patient."]

He truly doesn't believe that you traveled all the way from the Ming Dynasty just to die...

Yes, patience is key!

【…】

[In the 260th year of Shaoxing, you continued your unwavering commitment to war and once again annihilated tens of thousands of Jin troops marching south at Xiangyang, achieving yet another major victory!]

[It's all over now. Looking at the battered Imperial Guards, far less formidable than ever before, you can't help but sigh...]

It'll be here soon, it'll be here soon.

The Song Dynasty's elite forces have been almost completely wiped out. This annihilation of 10,000 Jin soldiers was a result achieved only through the desperate efforts of the Imperial Guards... Perhaps next time, the Jin army marching south will completely crush the Song Imperial Guards and wipe out the Song Dynasty as well.

The day of national subjugation is not far off...

Thinking this, you couldn't help but look towards Xiangyang City not far away: some things, if you don't do them now, you'll truly never have the chance again.

[So you sighed deeply, then used illusion magic to conceal your presence and slowly walked into the city.]

【…】

In Xiangyang, the dilapidated market is far less bustling than you remember. From your perspective, it's more like an enlarged military fortress than a city.

Squads of Song soldiers patrolled the streets, maintaining order among the city's residents while searching for any potential Jurchen spies who might have infiltrated the city. Their expressions were solemn...

They didn't see you, concealed, and you didn't disturb them, simply walking along the familiar path with a look of reminiscence. Little by little, you approached an unassuming house—your home…

You have successfully met your parents. Although their physical bodies have long since passed away, their spirits have been able to remain in this world for some years, and thus still reside here.

After not seeing your parents for many years, you naturally want to talk to them a lot. You want to express your guilt for being away from home for so long, and you also want to hear about their daily lives over the years...

So you thought about it and then took the initiative to show yourself in front of your parents!

Although your parents hadn't seen you for many years and had never seen you look so old, they recognized you immediately when you appeared!

Surprise, delight... a flood of emotions overwhelmed them, causing them to embrace you and weep, questioning why you hadn't come back to see them for so many years.

Tears streamed down your face as you recounted all the experiences you had kept bottled up inside to your parents... You spoke of your official career, your professional life, and the injustices you suffered at the hands of the emperor.

These are things you can never tell anyone else, and you only talk about them with your parents.

Upon hearing this, the parents felt as if they were in a dream...

[His son has achieved great success, even becoming a Grand Tutor... This...]

After the initial shock, they were naturally overjoyed for you: not only had your long-lost son returned, but he had also risen to the highest ranks of officialdom, becoming Grand Tutor... it was as if your ancestors' graves were emitting auspicious smoke!

[But amidst their joy, they also inquired with concern about your current situation... and you concealed your impending doom, only saying that you were certain you would be protected by the authorities and your life was safe.]

Hearing that you only report good news and not bad, your parents breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing that your parents were no longer worried about your safety, you secretly breathed a sigh of relief: No matter what, you couldn't let your parents know about your danger and difficulties, because not only could they not help you, but they would also worry uncontrollably… That would be unfilial!

Therefore, you feel perfectly justified in lying.

However, you always knew in your heart that as long as Zhao Gou didn't take action, the Song Dynasty would eventually fall to the Jin army. And the Song Dynasty was already bound to you. When the Song Dynasty perished, it would be the day you died for your country...

【…】

You talked a lot, and your parents were very happy. They only said goodbye reluctantly when you left...

Yes, you didn't take them to a safer place than Xiangyang. This is primarily because they lack divine power. Even if their primordial spirits could remain in the world, they could only extend their lives by about ten more years. In this state, it wouldn't matter whether they left or not; their lifespan was already nearing its end.

Of course, the biggest reason is actually that they themselves don't want to leave: as people who have lived in Xiangyang for generations, they are unwilling to leave their hometown. Rather than spending their remaining years elsewhere, they would rather return to their roots.

Faced with your parents' words, you simply sighed and said nothing...

[After leaving your reluctant parents, you went to find the old residence of Commander Liu and Madam Pan... Of course, the reason you went to find them wasn't just for the two of them; the bigger reason was actually for your son!]

No matter how heartless you are, you still have an unbreakable bond with your son. If possible, you really want to move his whole family to a safer place.

But... you miscalculated.

The place was long deserted; you asked around and learned that they had been captured and taken to the Jin Dynasty long ago…

[They captured the Jin dynasty?!]

Your heart suddenly tightened...

……

(End of this chapter)