Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 222 He Really Became Wanyan Gou (Bonus Chapter by Silver Alliance Leader Nuanyang 1314)

‘Bang! ’

The rusty iron gate was roughly pulled open.

The Jin soldier, with a square face and dark skin, grinned, revealing large yellow teeth, and called out, "Eat."

The Jin soldier casually placed the ceramic bowl on the ground, turned around, and went out to lock the iron gate again.

Amidst the clanging of metal, Zhao Gou, with an iron chain around his neck, scrambled forward.

He was covered in filth, dressed in rags, and emaciated.

Her hair was a messy, matted mess, resembling a bird's nest.

This appearance is even worse than that of the beggars in Bianliang City.

It's really hard to associate it with the previously highly regarded Kangwang.

Zhao Gou picked up the earthenware bowl with his darkened hands, and a foul smell of spoiled rice wafted over him.

In the past, it would have been impossible for such a thing to be delivered to him.

But Zhao Gou did not hesitate at all, and reached out to grab the spoiled rice from the earthenware bowl and stuffed it into his mouth.

This was the first meal he had eaten in three days.

During the previous journey, he was escorted and detained, and often went hungry for nine meals in three days.

At this moment, Zhao Gou was like a starving wild dog, frantically swallowing spoiled food.

Prince Kang, Zhao Gou, who had been pampered since childhood, finally began to live a life of uncertainty and hunger.

"Fourth Prince!"

In the corridor outside the prison, Wendu Sizhong bowed to Wanyan Wushu and said, "The envoy who went to Bianliang City has returned."

"Their attitude remains unchanged."

"Like I said, we won't discuss it."

Wanyan Wushu's expression grew increasingly grim.

It's true what they say, fortunes change every thirty years, and the wheel of fortune turns.

Previously, it was the Khitans, Tanguts, and Song people who begged to make peace with the Jin Dynasty.

The Jin dynasty, through various maneuvers, was heading towards its annihilation.

Now the situation has shifted to the Jin dynasty seeking peace talks with the Song people.

The result was extremely embarrassing; there was simply no room for negotiation.

Actually, it's not that there's nothing to discuss.

Lin Dao's offer was still quite generous: ten million each of gold, silver, and silk, and one hundred thousand mules and horses.

The debts can be settled by discounting the value of the Wanyan brothers.

Even after looting the vast wealth of both the Liao and Song dynasties, the Jurchens still couldn't produce that much riches.

All the gold and silver in the world combined doesn't amount to more than ten million ingots.

As for the matter of using Wanyan as a bargaining chip, it is clear that the Jurchens had more backbone than the Song Dynasty's official court.

They would rather die in battle, rather return to Anchuhushui to continue fishing and hunting, than use the Wanyans as a bargaining chip.

That would be utterly humiliating!

"There's another piece of news."

Wendu Sizhong continued his report, "It is rumored that all the male members of the Zhao Song imperial family have perished..."

"Oh?"

Wanyan Wushu turned around abruptly, his eyes shining. "Really?"

"Nine times out of ten!"

Lost in thought, Wanyan Wushu turned back to look at Zhao Gou, who was wolfing down his food.

“I’ve been listening to those Han Chinese who have pledged allegiance to the Central Plains tell stories of ancient China.”

"The emperor I admire most is Qin Shi Huang."

His gaze was fixed on Zhao Gou. "There's a story about Qin Shi Huang, called 'a rare commodity is worth hoarding.'"

That's Ah Min's story!

It is clear that Wendu Sizhong knows more about the story of the Middle-earth.

However, he fully understood what the Fourth Prince meant.

With the male line of the Zhao Song imperial family dying out, Zhao Gou, the only surviving member, became a highly sought-after commodity.

"I just don't know~"

Wendu Sizhong looked uncertainly at Zhao Gou, who was licking the pottery bowl, and asked, "Is this person willing?"

"People who would rather hide in a doghouse than live." Wanyan Wuzhu said with a look of contempt, "What wouldn't such people do to survive?"

Wanyan Wushu strode forward and arrived outside the iron fence.

Zhao Gou, who was licking his bowl, heard footsteps, looked up and saw Wanyan Wushu.

"Fourth Prince!"

Zhao Gou suddenly slid to his knees and lunged forward, gripping the fence with both hands, pleading, "Spare me!"

He really suffered a lot before.

Not having food to eat was probably the mildest punishment; those Jurchens had many other ways to torment people.

Looking down at Zhao Gou from his high vantage point, Wanyan Wuzhu's gaze was filled with utter contempt.

'If all the people of Song were such incompetent fools, or if this person were the emperor of Song, how wonderful that would be.'

'What a pity~~~'

He only recently learned that when the Song people were no longer weak, their fighting power was in no way inferior to that of the Jin people.

Nianhan suffered a crushing defeat and lost the land east of the river.

Even renowned generals like Oriyan died on the battlefield.

Upon hearing the news, Wanyan Wushu could not believe it and repeatedly confirmed the information, yet he still refused to believe it.

It wasn't until the disheveled Nianhan fled back to Yanjing City that he truly believed it.

It was only at this moment that he finally believed what those Han Chinese who had served him had said about the glorious Han and Tang dynasties!

The Han people were not all as weak and helpless as the Song people.

When they truly stand up straight.

Even powerful groups like the Xiongnu and Turks were driven to the brink of collapse and annihilation.

So powerful it's chilling.

The Jin army suffered a crushing defeat, with both its eastern and western armies suffering heavy losses.

Only Wanyan Wuzhu won the battle, and his status among the Jurchens rose rapidly.

Especially after Wanyan Zongwang's death, the remnants of the Eastern Route Army were basically all under his command.

Although Wanyan Wushu is young, he is considered one of the decision-makers in the upper echelons of the Jin state.

Do you know?

Wanyan Wushu coldly said, "Your father and brothers have all been killed."

Zhao Gou's pleas abruptly stopped, and he stared blankly up at Wanyan Wushu.

A moment later, he started wailing at the top of his lungs.

"Father Emperor~~~"

"Royal brother~~~"

"Sanlang~~~"

"Fifth Brother~~~" Wanyan Wushu coldly watched Zhao Gou wailing, but after a moment he revealed a smile.

"We, the Great Jin, are willing to help you avenge your grievances and make you the emperor of the Song people."

Zhao Gou's crying stopped immediately, and his expression was remarkably controlled.

He stared at Wanyan Wushu in disbelief, his face filled with ecstatic joy.

"Really?!"

“It is true.” Wanyan Wushu laughed again. “I think you can marry Bojilie’s daughter as your empress.”

"Change your surname and join our Wanyan tribe."

"From now on, your name will be Wanyan Gou!"

Zhao Gou hesitated for a moment.

It wasn't that he was unwilling, but rather that he understood that the surname Zhao would be more useful to him.

However, right now, survival is the top priority.

He bowed respectfully, saying, "Wanyan Gou greets the Fourth Prince~~~"

Bianliang City.

Lin Dao, who came from the Chongzhen era, learned from the furious Zong Ze that Zhao Gou had succeeded to the throne of the Song Dynasty and changed his name to Wanyan Gou.

"It's such a shame!"

Zong Ze's face turned red with anger. "Wan Yan Gou? Wan Yan Gou!"

"How dare he! He's abandoned his ancestors!"

"People like this will only be wandering ghosts after they die."

"There's no need to get so angry." Lin Dao smiled. "At most, it'll just cause a little more trouble."

"The Jurchens were not yet civilized and did not understand the intricacies of this matter."

"I felt that making him change his surname to Wanyan was a nominal way of bringing him under control."

"This shows a complete lack of understanding of the rules of the Middle-earth."

"If he continues to call him Zhao Gou, it will really cause a lot of trouble."

“Even the most shameless local tyrants in various prefectures and counties would not respect someone with the surname Wanyan as emperor.”

Lin Dao waved his hand, "Yue Fei is about to lead his troops to Jundu Pass and head straight for Yanjing City. If we win, everything will be fine."

He then changed the subject, asking, "Why did Han Shizhong go to suppress bandits?"

Zong Ze was slightly taken aback, but told the truth, "There always needs to be someone in the local area to clean up and collect goods to exchange for food and military supplies from the Immortal Master."

"You have so many generals under your command, why did you choose Han Shizhong?"

"In ancient times there were Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, and in modern times there are Han Yue."

"Such a general should be sent to the front lines to fight the Jurchens. You are really a waste."

Zong Ze was shocked. "The Immortal Master actually gave Han Shizhong such high praise?!"

When I watched Kunlun Mirror before, I only saw some descriptions of Han Shizhong, since the protagonist was Yue Fei.

But Lin Dao's words almost broke Zong Ze's defenses.

To be on par with Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, that's Wei Qing and Huo Qubing!

Moreover, it's Han Yue, Han Shizhong is ranked ahead of Yue Fei?
"I was wrong."

Zong Ze immediately changed his tune, saying, "I will arrange for Han Shizhong to assemble a large army."

"Regarding military supplies and pay, is it possible to obtain them on credit?"

Chaos reigned everywhere, and collecting the goods needed for the forest trails was not easy.

Moreover, as the territory under their control gradually expands, the number of people they need to support also increases, and expenses skyrocket accordingly.

Zong Ze was also in a terrible predicament, and had sold everything he could.

However, he had no way of assembling an army comparable to Yue Fei's army for Han Shizhong in a short period of time, as he needed the necessary equipment, supplies, and military pay.

If the immortal is willing to accept it, Zong Ze would be willing to sell his 180-190 jin of meat.

"Loans on credit are rather troublesome."

Lin Dao proactively suggested to him, "You can try to find new sources of income."

Zong Ze immediately cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Please enlighten me."

"With the emperor gone, there's no point in keeping the palace."

Lin Dao gestured towards the palace, saying, "Many of the buildings over there are made of Phoebe zhennan wood and other precious woods."

"You can disassemble it and sell it to me; I guarantee a fair price."

Absolutely fair!

High-grade timber is very expensive in the modern world.

The industrial products that Lin Dao could exchange for these timbers were extremely cheap.

The products on both sides are nothing more than steel products such as weapons and armor, rubber products such as truck tires, and basic industrial products such as flashlights and lighters.

With back and forth between the two sides, Lin Dao really made a fortune.

"Demolish, demolish the palace?"

This suggestion startled Zong Ze so much that he was almost speechless.

That's the imperial palace.

"Yes."

Lin Dao nodded. "The palace is a symbol of imperial power."

"Since the emperor is gone, there's no point in keeping the palace."

"It's a good thing to dismantle them and sell them to meet urgent needs."

It was clear that Zong Ze was still unable to make up his mind.

Lin Dao wasn't in a hurry and continued to guide him.

"The main business of so many temples in Dasong is lending money at interest rates."

“The monks suck the blood of the people, and they are all fat and bloated.”

"It's like the Great Xiangguo Temple."

"Where gold can be used, silver should never be used."

"Where copper can be used, iron will never be used."

"If you have nothing better to do all day than research vegetarian cuisine, you're just bored out of your mind."

"With so many big, fat sheep, you'd better get to work quickly."

Zong Ze's face lit up with a look of sudden enlightenment.

"Thank you for your guidance, Immortal Master. I was truly blind to my own shortcomings."

The Xiangguo Temple was extremely wealthy, as were the Shaolin Temple and other wealthy families, who were essentially landlords.

I had genuinely forgotten about it before.

"What about the military supplies?"

Meeting Zong Ze's expectant gaze, Lin Dao, who had earned a lot of money in recent days, waved his hand.

"You can pay first, no interest required."

"However, there is still one condition."

Zong Ze bowed and said, "Immortal Master, please accept my words."

"We must completely annihilate the Jurchens and strike at their heart!"

(End of this chapter)