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

Chapter 756 Sima Guang Says It Was Emperor Gaozong of Song Who Killed Emperor Qinzong [2 Updates]

"An ominous sign?"

Cai Fu was slightly taken aback, then realized that he was still looking at the problem from a modern perspective.

All the stray dogs in the city died overnight, and people would only assume that someone had poisoned them.

But who knows how many supernatural stories the ancients would have imagined if they had seen this!
Zhong Shidao was already considered quite insightful among the ancients, yet he still became superstitious because of this matter.

Cai Fu asked him, "Old Master Zhong, in your opinion, what kind of ominous sign is this?"

"Ah this..."

Zhong Shidao hesitated for a moment before speaking:
"It is recorded in the Zizhi Tongjian compiled by Princess Sima Wen—"

"During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, dogs in Chang'an City died suddenly, and the following year, the An Lushan Rebellion broke out!"
"I overheard people at the night market saying that there might be a lot of trouble tomorrow when His Majesty's funeral is held..."

Seeing that Zhong Shidao seemed to be holding back and had much to say, Cai Fujian raised an eyebrow:
"What major trouble?"

Pressed by his questions, Zhong Shidao leaned close to his ear and whispered:
"King Kang has lost his virtue; misfortune may befall him!"

"Well……"

Cai Fu frowned. To be honest, this rumor... was actually quite plausible!
The rumor is almost becoming a prophecy!
But isn't this better?
Cai Fu put his arm around Zhong Shidao's shoulder as they walked and said:

"If something ominous happens tomorrow..."

"Is Mr. Zhong mentally prepared?"

Zhong Shidao gritted his teeth and glared: "Your Majesty, this humble general has already made up his mind!"
"If His Majesty was indeed killed by Prince Kang, I will risk my old life to send Prince Kang to see His Majesty!"

"nice!"

Cai Fu patted Zhong Shidao on the shoulder:

"Don't worry, I will definitely stand on the side of justice when the time comes!"
"Even if Prince Kang is my brother-in-law, I will not show any mercy if he does something unjust!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for upholding justice!"

With both of them having laid their cards on the table, Zhong Shidao felt reassured and bowed deeply to Cai Funa.

Cai Fu helped Zhong Shi up with both hands and said, "Old Master Zhong, go back and have your men prepare for a showdown."

"The truth will be revealed tomorrow."

Zhong Shidao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir!"

……

night market.

A handsome young man singing on the street, holding an iron flute, was quietly playing cricket tunes with several burly middle-aged women.

"All the stray dogs in the city have suddenly died; this must be an ominous sign!"

"Exactly! It's such an ominous sign!"

"What he said is too far-fetched..."

"What's so mysterious about him? He's so handsome, and he can sing and talk. Do you think he could fool an old woman like you?"

"It makes sense!"

Several burly middle-aged women discussed among themselves, all agreeing that the handsome young man was right.

An older woman pressed for details: "Iron horn, what kind of ominous sign do you think it is?"

The handsome young man, Tie Jiaozi, said mysteriously:
"This matter involves a huge secret!"

"I'm only telling you this, so don't tell anyone else!"

Several burly middle-aged women: "Save it, save it!"

Tie Jiaozi lowered his voice and said, "You've all heard of Sima Guang, right?"

"Never heard of him? It's Sima Guang!"
"Now you know who smashed the water jar and later went against Wang Anshi, right?"
"He was the chief editor of the Zizhi Tongjian, which recorded that during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, all the dogs in Chang'an died overnight, and then the An Lushan Rebellion broke out!"

"So, I'm afraid tomorrow's funeral will be..." Several burly middle-aged women: "Oh—"

After parting ways with Tie Jiaozi, the burly aunties spread what they had heard.

Thick-chested Aunt A: "Do you know that all the stray dogs in the city died tonight?"

"Tomorrow's funeral is going to be a disaster!"

"This involves a huge secret, I'm only telling you, but you mustn't tell anyone..."

Thick-chested Aunt B: "Have you heard? Sima Guang recorded it in the Zizhi Tongjian!"
"If all the dogs in the city die overnight, the country is doomed!"

Thick-chested Aunt C: "Sima Guang made this prophecy while he was alive!"
"If all the dogs in the city die overnight, the country will perish!"
"Whose fault is it? Blame the emperor! Maybe he's the one who killed his elder brother!"

The burly aunt Ding said, "Sima Guang said that if all the dogs in the city were dead, the one who killed the Northern Emperor would be the Southern Emperor..."

After spreading the rumors, Tie Jiaozi was so tired that his mouth was dry, so he sat down in a teahouse and ordered a pot of hot tea.

After taking a sip of hot tea, Tie Jiaozi felt much better about his throat. Just then, he heard the tea server talking to someone:
"I heard that Sima Guang say that the one who killed the Northern Emperor was the Southern Emperor, and that all the dogs in the city died overnight, which is a very bad omen!"

"Tomorrow is the Northern Emperor's funeral; I'm afraid Heaven will punish the Southern Emperor..."

"puff--"

Tie Jiaozi spat out a mouthful of tea: "Old man, do you know Sima Guang?"

Tea vendor: "I don't know him. It was my neighbor's nephew's mother-in-law who overheard him saying that..."

Good guy!
Iron Whistle never expected it to have such an effect, but it's good, the more rampant the rumors spread, the better!

I hope I can lend Your Majesty a hand tomorrow!
Suddenly, his vision blurred, and a large black rat sat down next to him, unceremoniously picking up his tea and taking a sip.
"Iron-Called Man, Jiangzhou is in turmoil right now, could it be..."

Tie Jiaozi chuckled: "Yes."

"Shezha!"

The big black rat patted Iron Whistle on the shoulder:

"In that case, whatever happens tomorrow will be divine punishment!"
"Your Majesty is acting on behalf of Heaven!"

Iron-Called Boy chuckled, about to say something modest, when Big Black Rat told him another earth-shattering secret:

"Something just happened. King Kang and the King were assassinated. There are spies sent by the Jin Kingdom in the court..."

"It might be Cai Jing, it might be Qin Hui, it might be Chen Zongshan, or it might not be a spy sent by the Jin Dynasty at all!"

"Actually, it was Prince Kang who infiltrated the scheme, intending to use the name of a Jin spy to kill the King..."

Tie Jiaozi suddenly understood: "This humble general understands!"
"Before dawn, news will surely spread throughout Jiangzhou that Prince Kang has personally entered into this scheme to kill the King under the guise of a Jin spy!"

Big Black Rat patted Iron Whisper on the shoulder, drank the tea in one gulp, got up and disappeared into the night market.

After finishing his tea and paying the bill, Tie Jiaozi went out to find a lively place to sing a little tune called "Eighteen Touches," and struck up a conversation with a few burly aunties:
"This matter involves a huge secret!"

"I'm only telling you this, but don't tell anyone else..."

……

As dawn approached, Emperor Gaozong of Song was finally able to move. He patted Cai Jing, who had fallen asleep crying on his body.

"Lord Zhong, wake up!"

Cai Jing is old, and his cold hadn't gotten better yet. He stayed up half the night crying and eventually fell asleep without realizing it.

After being awakened by Emperor Gaozong of Song, Cai Jing hurriedly knelt down:
"Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

"You are innocent!"

Emperor Gaozong of Song waved his hand weakly, feeling numb all over, and wondered if it would affect the performance of today's funeral.

At this moment, Chen Zongshan arrived and asked Emperor Gaozong of Song to prepare for the funeral procession before dawn.

For some reason, Chen Zongshan seemed preoccupied...

(End of this chapter)