Song Xiu

Chapter 14 Zhao Kuangyin's Worries
As night fell, Zhao Kuangyin emerged from Empress Dowager Du's palace.

Following behind Zhao Kuangyin was only Zhao Pu.

It turned out that Zhao Guangyi was worried that Empress Dowager Du would have trouble sleeping at night due to the unfamiliar environment since she had just entered the palace, so he earnestly requested Zhao Kuangyin to allow him to stay in the palace tonight to accompany Empress Dowager Du.

Although Zhao Guangyi was Zhao Kuangyin's younger brother, he had come of age and had a wife several years ago. In addition, he held an official position, so it was not proper for Zhao Guangyi to stay overnight in the palace.

Zhao Kuangyin was not unaware of this principle, but upon seeing Empress Dowager Du's pleading gaze, his heart softened and he agreed to Zhao Guangyi's request.

As for Zhao Guangyi's overstepping of his bounds once again, Zhao Pu still chose not to offer any advice.

Knowing Zhao Kuangyin's character, Zhao Pu followed behind him without saying a word, heading towards a high platform inside the palace.

As the two rose higher and higher, all the eunuchs around Zhao Kuangyin were dismissed.

After Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Pu ascended the high platform, there was no one else by their side.

From Zhao Kuangyin's arrangement, it's easy to see that Zhao Kuangyin had some things on his mind to say to him.

As expected, under the dim light of the high platform, Zhao Kuangyin, his expression shifting, spoke first:

"This is not the first time I have climbed this tall building."

Last year, after Emperor Shizong of Zhou returned from his northern expedition, I accompanied him to this place.

That day, it was just me and Emperor Shizong.

Upon hearing Zhao Kuangyin mention Emperor Shizong of Zhou, Chai Rong, Zhao Pu, who was standing behind Zhao Kuangyin, unconsciously lowered his head slightly.

Despite his past relationship with Zhao Kuangyin as brothers, Zhao Pu knew from the moment the coup succeeded that many things had fundamentally changed.

When a brother confides in you, it means he trusts you.

What if it were an emperor?

Zhao Pu felt no sense of honor, only fear.

As the monarch, Zhao Kuangyin didn't care what Zhao Pu was thinking. Seeing that Zhao Pu didn't respond, Zhao Kuangyin continued speaking to himself:

"On that day, in the sweltering heat of summer, Emperor Shizong told me that he felt very cold."

At that time, I thought it was because Emperor Shizong was ill.

But now that I stand in the same position and at the same height, I understand the profound meaning behind Emperor Shizong's words.

On that day, King Sejong felt fear.

Since Emperor Shizong ascended the throne, the power of the Great Zhou Dynasty has been growing stronger day by day. He conquered Huainan, forced Bashu, and attacked the Khitan. Every single thing Emperor Shizong did amazed the world.

Many people in the world at that time believed that he would personally end the chaotic era.

Even the most brilliant and powerful emperors can feel fear one day.

Emperor Shizong feared that after his departure, the Central Plains would once again fall apart, and the descendants of the Chai family would suffer the same fate as the Zhu, Li, and Shi families.

The entire clan was wiped out; not a trace of their remains remained!

When he spoke the last sentence, Zhao Kuangyin was deeply moved, and his tone became heavy.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu wanted to say something, but after thinking about it carefully, he still didn't say anything.

Perhaps what Zhao Kuangyin needed now was simply a listener.

Zhao Pu thought he only needed to listen attentively tonight, until he heard this sentence:

"Zeping, do you think I will follow in Emperor Shizong's footsteps and that the Song Dynasty will become a second Zhou Dynasty?"

Upon hearing Zhao Kuangyin's question, Zhao Pu knew he had no way to escape anymore.

A panicked Zhao Pu immediately knelt down and clasped his hands in reassurance to Zhao Kuangyin:
Why does Your Majesty have such thoughts?
Your Majesty is in the prime of your life, and the new Song Dynasty has just been established, full of vitality.

The Song Dynasty will surely last for ten thousand years!

"Ten thousand years?"

Since ancient times, there has never been a dynasty that lasted for ten thousand years.

In today's chaotic world, even the most powerful dynasty is considered a luxury if it lasts for twenty years.

Such pessimistic thoughts were not due to Zhao Kuangyin being overly pessimistic. Having grown up during the chaotic Five Dynasties period, Zhao Kuangyin personally experienced the downfall of many dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era.

In the past, Zhao Kuangyin was a great general, and he probably felt more regret and lamentation about the fall of many dynasties.

After becoming an emperor, while enjoying unparalleled honor, Zhao Kuangyin faced the tragic facts of the dynasty's downfall in his mind. What he felt more was a kind of fear that was personally painful—like that of Emperor Shizong of Zhou, Chai Rong.

He is indeed in his prime now, but wasn't Chai Rong also in his prime when he passed away?
As a skilled military general, Zhao Kuangyin had a certain understanding of his own body.

In his early years, he suffered many injuries in order to make achievements, and some of these injuries could not be fully recovered.

It's always good to be prepared for many things.

How can we prevent the Song Dynasty from becoming a second Zhou Dynasty, or a dynasty like Liang, Tang, or Jin?
Having his own thoughts, Zhao Kuangyin turned around and helped up Zhao Pu, who was covered in cold sweat from fear.

"There is something I need you to do for me."

When Zhao Kuangyin's words reached Zhao Pu's ears, they greatly dispelled the fear in Zhao Pu's heart.

"Your Majesty, please speak. I am willing to go through fire and water!"

How could Zhao Kuangyin not sense Zhao Pu's fear and anxiety?

To be honest, he said these things to Zhao Pu tonight entirely out of trust.

Unfortunately, after he became emperor, none of his confidants could remain as close as before.

"It's just a small matter, no need to go through fire and water."

After calming Zhao Pu down a bit, Zhao Kuangyin asked him:

"Do you know why I ordered Liu Ge'er to personally devise a plan to capture Wei Renpu?"

Zhao Pu was naturally aware of the matter Zhao Kuangyin mentioned.

Previously, Zhao Pu thought that Zhao Kuangyin's arrangement was partly to show his regard for Wei Renpu, and partly to give his eldest son a chance to grow.

Judging from Zhao Kuangyin's tone at the moment, his arrangement seems to have other deeper meanings.

Seeing that Zhao Pu dared not speak rashly due to doubt, Zhao Kuangyin turned and looked towards the distant Yande Palace, saying:

"Wei Renpu is a righteous man. After Pan Mei entered the city, only Wei Renpu and Han Tong thought of resisting after they noticed something was wrong."

As for Wei Renpu's political and military talents, there's no need to elaborate; currently, there are only a handful of people in the court and among the people who can compare to him.

Zhao Pu largely agreed with Zhao Kuangyin's assessment of Wei Renpu.

Just when Zhao Pu thought Zhao Kuangyin was expressing his affection for Wei Renpu, Zhao Kuangyin's next words made Zhao Pu instantly realize the key point.

"If Wei Renpu can serve the Song Dynasty, my great cause of unifying the world will surely be twice as effective with half the effort."

However, this is not what I value most about him.

Emperor Yin of Han was licentious and tyrannical. After executing his minister Yang Bin, he thought of taking advantage of his power to eliminate Emperor Taizu of Zhou.

When Emperor Taizu of Zhou learned of the news, he was completely at a loss.

In that extremely dangerous situation, it was Wei Renpu who planned day and night for Emperor Taizu of Zhou, and finally enabled Emperor Taizu to turn the crisis into safety and establish the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In his later years, Emperor Taizu of Zhou found himself in a predicament of having no heir to succeed him, as all his sons had been killed by Emperor Yin of Han.

At that time, Li Chongjin, who was the nephew of Emperor Taizu of Zhou, colluded with the powerful minister Wang Jun in an attempt to seize the throne, which once tempted Emperor Taizu of Zhou.

When Emperor Shizong of Zhou saw no hope of becoming the heir apparent and decided to lead his troops westward, it was Wei Renpu, who came from a humble background, who devised a plan for Emperor Shizong, which led to the demotion of the powerful minister Wang Jun.

Thus, Emperor Shizong's position as heir apparent was finally determined.

When Chai Rong was alive, Zhao Kuangyin, as his confidant, knew many secrets that were unknown to others.

Some of the secrets that Zhao Kuangyin mentioned earlier were completely unknown to Zhao Pu beforehand.

However, Zhao Pu was ultimately a wise man, and he quickly grasped a key thread from Zhao Kuangyin's words:
Wei Renpu had twice helped Emperor Yingming ascend the throne. His Majesty specially ordered the eldest son of the emperor to capture Wei Renpu.

After unraveling this deeply hidden crucial thread, a significant conjecture surfaced in Zhao Pu's mind:
"Does His Majesty intend to establish the eldest son as the heir apparent?"

(End of this chapter)