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

Chapter 734 Was it Prince Qi who killed Emperor Qinzong of Song? [1st Update]

Yan'an Prefecture.

"His Majesty has passed away?"

"The Grand Tutor has also passed away?"

Privy Councilor Wang Fu, Grand Commandant Zhong Shidao, Grand Commandant Su Yuanjing, and Imperial Censor Zhao Ding could hardly believe their ears.

But Zhang Jun's disheveled appearance and tattered clothes didn't seem fake...

Zhang Jun fled back to Yan'an Prefecture in one breath, and tearfully complained to these important court officials:

"Yes, they were all killed by the Liao soldiers..."

"I don't know where these tens of thousands of Liao soldiers came from, and they're all cavalry..."

"This humble general risked his life but failed to rescue His Majesty. He had no choice but to fight his way out and return to report the news..."

Wang Fu, Zhong Shidao, Su Yuanjing, and Zhao Ding were stunned as if struck by lightning:
Two emperors died within a year?
My Great Song Dynasty is doomed!
Su Yuanjing put forward a bold idea:

"Could these Liao soldiers be sent by the false emperor?"

"Just him?"

Wang Fu rejected it without hesitation:

"The false emperor is only fifteen years old, and the government is controlled by that old dog Cai!"
"Even if it's Cai Laogou, he can't conjure up tens of thousands of Liao soldiers under his command out of thin air!"

Well-reasoned and well-founded!

Zhong Shidao and Zhao Ding both agreed that Wang Fu was right; Emperor Gaozong of Song probably didn't have that ability.

Therefore, there is only one truth...

Zhao Ding put forward an even bolder idea:
"The King of Qi is the son-in-law of the Liao Kingdom!"

"I heard that after the fall of the Liao Kingdom, many Liao generals and soldiers defected to the King of Qi!"

"Could it be..."

"hiss--"

Wang Fu, Zhong Shidao, and Su Yuanjing all couldn't help but gasp in shock.
Is that even a bold idea?

If Cai Fu sent Liao soldiers to kill Emperor Qinzong of Song, how would they avenge him?

Zhong Shidao, with his strong and unyielding nature, said without hesitation:
"I will immediately lead my troops to Qingzhou to confront the King of Qi face to face!"

Are you crazy?

Wang Fu, Su Yuanjing, and Zhao Ding all panicked.

Su Yuanjing quickly advised, "Old Master Zhong, please wait!"

"This is merely our speculation. Without concrete evidence, how dare we wage war against the King of Qi?"

"Who else could it be but him?"

Zhong Shidao really couldn't think of anyone else with such great power.

He was a loyal minister with an upright and incorruptible character. Since he believed that Cai Fu was the mastermind, how could he not seek revenge against Cai Fu?
"Grand Commandant Su is right!"

Wang Fu quickly grabbed Master Zhong and said, "Old Master Zhong, the Prince of Qi is the son-in-law of the Great Song Dynasty!"

"Without solid evidence, if we mistakenly harm an innocent person, wouldn't that cause pain to our loved ones and joy to our enemies?"

"Humph!"

Zhong Shidao shook off Wang Fu's hand, angrily spun around twice, and shouted:
Where is Hu Cheng?

One of his commanders walked in from outside the door.

It was Hu Cheng, the only one who escaped when Li Kui massacred the entire Hu family.

Hu Cheng entered and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhong Shidao:

"The general is here!"

It turned out that Hu Cheng fled to Yan'an Prefecture and joined Zhong Shidao, where he was valued by Zhong Shidao and became one of Zhong Shidao's personal guards.

Zhong Shidao asked him, "Hu Cheng, you once told me that Qi Wang's confidante, Hu Sanniang, is your sister!"

"Is this true?"

Hu Cheng's heart skipped a beat. Zhong Shidao was asking a question he already knew the answer to; it seemed he wanted to take advantage of his relationship with Hu Sanniang. Hu Cheng had always believed that Hu Sanniang had joined Song Jiang's cause and become his accomplice.

Although Hu Sanniang later followed Cai Fu, it is common knowledge that Song Jiang was Cai Fu's top general, so how could Hu Cheng possibly contact Hu Sanniang?

It wasn't until later, when Song Jiang was granted amnesty by the imperial court and news of the raid on Qingzhou spread throughout the land, that Hu Cheng realized that Hu Sanniang was actually seeking revenge in a special way...

Zhong Shidao asked him if he wanted to go and seek refuge with Hu Sanniang.

At that time, Hu Cheng had not yet figured out how to face Hu Sanniang, and Zhong Shidao treated him very well, so Hu Cheng hesitated and did not leave.

Unexpectedly, Zhong Shidao brought this up in public, so Hu Cheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and say:
"How dare this humble general deceive your esteemed lord?"

Wang Fu and Su Yuanjing exchanged a delighted smile:
I never expected that Zhong Shidao had such a trump card in his hand!
What was even more unexpected was that Zhong Shidao finally came to his senses!

That is to say, by going through Hu Cheng and Hu Sanniang's back door, one can join the Prince of Qi. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?
However, to their surprise, Zhong Shidao grabbed Hu Cheng's shoulders with both hands, stared into his eyes, and said:

"In that case, use your sister's connections to find out for me whether it was Prince Qi who killed His Majesty!"

Hu Cheng was stunned: "Ah, this..."

Wang Fu and Su Yuanjing: (⊙o⊙)(⊙o⊙)
"Legends in the martial arts world say that Hu Sanniang was a disciple of the Prince of Qi, some say she was the sworn sister of the Prince of Qi's sworn brother, and others say she was the Prince of Qi's confidante..."

"But regardless of the legend, she had a close relationship with the King of Qi!"

Zhong Shidao patted Hu Cheng on the shoulder: "I believe you can definitely find out the truth!"
"If the Prince of Qi were to kill His Majesty, this would be a national and personal vendetta!"
"I will risk my life to avenge His Majesty!"

Hu Cheng: (_)
To be honest, he really didn't want to do this, but when he was desperate, it was Master Zhong who took him in.

How did he refuse Zhong Shidao?

……

Not long after Hu Cheng left, an imperial edict from Emperor Gaozong of Song was delivered to Yan'an Prefecture by Qin Hui, the Vice Minister of War.

"what?"

Zhong Shidao was stunned when he read the imperial edict:

"King Kang actually annihilated the Liao army and avenged His Majesty?"

Qin Hui said with righteous indignation, "His Majesty had already left."

"But hearing the deafening sounds of battle behind him, and realizing that something might have happened to Prince Ding, His Majesty returned without hesitation to save his elder brother!"

"In the end, it's brotherhood that's strong, blood is thicker than water!"

"Unfortunately, they arrived too late; Prince Ding still died at the hands of the Liao soldiers..."

The title of Prince Kang was originally bestowed by Emperor Gaozong of Song, and the title of Prince Ding was originally bestowed by Emperor Qinzong of Song.

Because neither side recognized the imperial throne, they had to use this as a substitute term when negotiating face-to-face.

Brotherly love? Blood is thicker than water?
Wang Fu, Su Yuanjing, Zhong Shidao, and Zhao Ding looked at each other in bewilderment.

Wang Fu stroked his beard and pressed on, "How did King Kang annihilate the Liao army?"
"It's not that we don't trust you, it's just that we want to broaden our horizons!"

Qin Hui had prepared for this question long ago, and he answered it without hesitation:
"This group of Liao soldiers has three generals, named Zhierfulang, Wulikean, and Qulichuqing respectively."

"Among them, Ulikoan was the first to die at the hands of Wang Bing."

"After His Majesty arrived, he promised Qu Lichuqing a high-ranking official position and generous salary."

"Qulichuqing then killed Zhierfulang and surrendered to His Majesty."

"His Majesty took him back to Jiangzhou and set up a trap at Green Willow Manor outside Jiangzhou City, where Qu Lichuqing was ambushed and killed."

"That is the truth. If you do not believe it, you are welcome to go to Jingnan Prefecture and Jiangzhou to see for yourselves!"

Seeing that Qin Hui spoke with such confidence, Wang Fu and Zhong Shidao looked at each other, both feeling that it didn't seem fake.

Zhong Shidao said, "So this group of Liao soldiers were just defeated soldiers who were chased into the territory of the Song Dynasty by the Jin army."

"Has nothing to do with the King of Qi?"

Qin Hui blinked his small eyes: "Well... I have no idea."

"By the way, His Majesty's edict states that the remains of Prince Ding, Privy Councilor Tong, and others have been taken back to Jiangzhou by our army to prepare for their funerals."

"If you all ride as fast as you can, you may still make it in time to see Prince Ding off on his final journey!"

(End of this chapter)