Do you have the strength to force me to join the Liangshan bandits?

Chapter 715 Should both brothers-in-law provide dowries? [1st Update]

"Zhao Huan has ascended the throne?"

"Zhao Gou has also ascended the throne?"

Cai Fu received two imperial edicts in one day, and he could no longer contain himself:

Are these two guys having a showdown?

However, these two brothers were originally emperors, one being Emperor Qinzong of Song and the other Emperor Gaozong of Song.

Now that the order is gone, the two brothers are now "two suns on the same day," which makes things very difficult.

Because not only Cai Fu, but in fact all the prefects and governors of the Song Dynasty received two imperial edicts.

So here's the question: do you side with Emperor Qinzong of Song or Emperor Gaozong of Song?
This involves the issue of taking sides.

Originally, there was nothing to argue about between Emperor Qinzong and Emperor Gaozong of Song, as Emperor Qinzong was the crown prince and the legitimate heir.

However, firstly, Emperor Huizong of Song had passed away, leaving the Song Dynasty in ruins; secondly, Emperor Gaozong of Song was supported by Cai Jing.

The Song Dynasty was in ruins and its foundation was shaken, which led to lax laws and the question of whether or not legitimacy was recognized.

Emperor Gaozong of Song was supported by Cai Jing, who was the head of the four great traitors and had disciples and former officials all over the country.

The victor is king, the loser is a bandit.

If Emperor Gaozong of Song fails, Cai Jing will have made the wrong bet and will suffer the same fate as Emperor Gaozong.

This led to Cai Jing and Emperor Gaozong of Song being bound together, leaving them with no choice but to go down the same path to the bitter end.

Emperor Qinzong of Song had Tong Guan and Zhong Shidao on his side, and he also held the orthodox position, so he actually had a slight advantage over Emperor Gaozong of Song.

Therefore, it's really hard to say whether Emperor Qinzong or Emperor Gaozong of Song will have the last laugh, unless Cai Fu takes sides.

Cai Fu, as the Prince of Qi and his son-in-law, held control of sixty-six prefectures, making him the third most powerful figure in the Song Dynasty.

Whether it was Emperor Qinzong or Emperor Gaozong of Song, whoever won Cai Fu's vote would have a secure throne.

Therefore, Cai Fu also received two handwritten letters.

One letter was from Emperor Qinzong of Song, and the other was from Emperor Gaozong of Song.

"Your Majesty!"

Emperor Qinzong's envoy, Grand Commandant Su Yuanjing, said with a fawning expression:

"His Majesty said that the person he admires most in his life is you, his brother-in-law!"
"Starting from scratch, step by step, he rose to the rank of king!"

Cai Fu glanced lazily at Emperor Qinzong's handwritten letter and said:
"Let's skip the small talk and get straight to the point."

"If I support my brother-in-law in securing the throne, what benefits can he offer me?"

Rude!

A mere soldier!
Su Yuanjing cursed inwardly, but there was nothing he could do, after all, Cai Fu had already taken one-fifth of the Song Dynasty's wealth!

With a multitude of fierce generals and elite troops under his command, even Emperor Huizong of Song couldn't do anything about Cai Fu, so what could Emperor Qinzong of Song do?
"That's what the king said!"

Su Yuanjing could only say with a fawning expression:
"Your Majesty is willing to offer one thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, and one hundred thousand strings of cash..."

Cai Fu casually tossed Emperor Qinzong's handwritten letter onto the table:
Stingy!

No wonder he only reigned as emperor for two days before going to Five Kingdoms City to sit in a well and look at the sky!
Cai Fu's carefree attitude infuriated Su Yuanjing so much that his lips trembled, but he didn't dare to utter a single word.

He had personally witnessed how Cai Fu extorted Emperor Huizong of Song.

Fortunately, Cai Fu's attitude was within Tong Guan's expectations, and Tong Guan had already discussed countermeasures with Emperor Qinzong of Song.

Su Yuanjing had his attendant, the commander of the guards, bring out a map of the mountains and rivers and spread it on the table. He then began to sign a humiliating treaty with Cai Fu, a treaty that ceded territory and ceded national sovereignty.
"Your Majesty, please look, to the south of Yizhou and Mizhou in the State of Qi is Haizhou."

"South of Haizhou are Lianshui Army, Chuzhou, Taizhou, and Tongzhou."

"Across the river are Changzhou and Suzhou, the capitals of Qi."

"If Your Majesty supports His Majesty, His Majesty is willing to give the five military prefectures of Haizhou, Lianshui, Chuzhou, Taizhou, and Tongzhou to Your Majesty as a dowry!"

Another dowry?

Cai Fu thought about it and realized it made sense: after all, the previous dowry was given by his father-in-law!
Both morally and logically, the brother-in-law should also provide a dowry!
The key to these five military prefectures was that they allowed Cai Fu to connect Shandong and Jiangnan.

It still has great strategic significance.

There was only one question, and Cai Fu sneered:
"Are these five military prefectures in support of my brother-in-law?" Su Yuanjing quickly replied, "Support! Absolutely support!"

"As long as Your Majesty gives a definite answer, I have brought the imperial edict transferring these five military prefectures to Your Majesty!"

"most!"

Cai Fu nodded in satisfaction: "Bring me pen and ink!"

Su Yuanjing breathed a sigh of relief, put away the map of mountains and rivers, and then spread out the petition for Emperor Qinzong's accession to the throne on the table.

The petition was covered with signatures and stamps.

Cai Fu glanced at it briefly and saw names such as Tong Guan, Wang Fu, Su Yuanjing, and Zhong Shidao on it.

The prefects of those five military prefectures also had their signatures and seals affixed.

So Cai Fu also wrote his name on it, affixed the seal of the King of Qi, and the matter was settled.

Su Yuanjing left behind an imperial edict transferring the five military prefectures to Cai Fu and departed, completely satisfied.

Even Emperor Huizong of Song ceded eight prefectures to Cai Fu before Cai Fu forgave him!

This time, I only ceded five military prefectures, yet I managed to get Cai Fu to support Emperor Qinzong of Song. That was a brilliant move!

Emperor Gaozong's envoy, another Grand Commandant of the Palace Guard, Chen Zongshan, arrived half a day later than Su Yuanjing.

"Your Majesty!"

Chen Zongshan said with a fawning expression, "His Majesty said that the person he admires most in his life is you, his brother-in-law..."

Cai Fu didn't even bother to read Emperor Gaozong's handwritten letter; he just flipped through it once and tossed it onto the table.

It happened to be placed next to Emperor Qinzong's handwritten letter.

Cai Fu picked up his teacup, not even bothering to lift his eyelids:

"Let's get straight to the benefits."

Rude!

A mere soldier!
Chen Zongshan cursed inwardly, but had no choice but to lay out the agreed-upon terms:
"Your Majesty is willing to offer five thousand taels of gold, fifty thousand taels of silver, and five hundred thousand coins..."

"Ah wu——"

Cai Fu yawned.

Although Emperor Gaozong of Song was much more generous than Emperor Qinzong of Song, he was still not as invigorating.

Chen Zongshan understood Cai Fu's meaning, after all, he was also a witness to Cai Fu's extortion of Emperor Huizong of Song.

Chen Zongshan had his attendant, the commander, bring out a map of the mountains and rivers and spread it on the table. Then he began to sign a humiliating treaty with Cai Fu, a treaty that ceded territory and ceded national sovereignty.
"Your Majesty, please look, to the south of Yizhou and Mizhou in the State of Qi is Haizhou."

"South of Haizhou are Lianshui Army, Chuzhou, Taizhou, and Tongzhou."

"Across the river are Changzhou and Suzhou, the capitals of Qi."

"If Your Majesty supports His Majesty, His Majesty is willing to give the five military prefectures of Haizhou, Lianshui, Chuzhou, Taizhou, and Tongzhou to Your Majesty as a dowry!"

Another dowry?

Cai Fu thought about it and realized it made sense: after all, his father-in-law had given it, and his brother-in-law had also given it!

Both morally and logically, the brother-in-law should also provide a dowry!
Wait a minute! Something's not right!

Cai Fu suddenly came to his senses: "Which five military prefectures?"

"No, what are those two brothers up to!"

"Whose territory are these five military prefectures?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. These five military prefectures naturally belong to His Majesty, and will be Your Majesty's in the future!"

Chen Zongshan was completely bewildered and quickly spread out the petition for Emperor Gaozong's accession to the throne on the table.

The petition was covered with signatures and stamps.

Upon closer inspection, Cai Fu indeed found that the prefects of the five military prefectures also had their signatures and seals affixed.

Cai Fu was furious: "Can't you have any shame?"
Are they all betting on both sides?

(End of this chapter)