Song Xiu

Chapter 6: A Rapid Return to Beijing
Despite the deafening cries of "Long live the Emperor!" around him, Zhao Kuangyin's gaze was not fixed on the tens of thousands of imperial guards with their fervent expressions.

He was staring intently at Zhao Dexiu with a scrutinizing gaze.

Because of Zhao Dexiu's act of "donning the yellow robe" to him, Zhao Kuangyin's gaze towards Zhao Dexiu at this moment carried a different meaning.

In the original plan, the person who would "don the yellow robe" for himself should be someone whose name would not be recorded in history books, or someone who could be discarded at any time.

Because the act of "donning the yellow robe" played a decisive role in today's great upheaval.

In a coup d'état to install a new emperor, someone made the decisive move, and such merit can be called "the greatest contribution to the enthronement"!
The merit of supporting someone's ascension to the throne is already something that most people can hardly achieve in a lifetime, let alone the first merit.

Zhao Kuangyin never intended to give this credit to any of his confidants, including his younger brother Zhao Kuangyi.

Otherwise, in the face of such great achievements, any of his confidants might become arrogant and uncontrollable, which was something Zhao Kuangyin, who aspired to become emperor, could not accept.

But what if this person is Zhao Dexiu?
Zhao Dexiu was born the year after Zhao Kuangyin married his first wife, Lady He. At that time, Zhao Kuangyin was still a young and ambitious man, living a quiet and unassuming life at home.

Zhao Dexiu was born as the eldest son. As a father, Zhao Kuangyin, like most ordinary fathers, personally helped Zhao Dexiu urinate when he was still an infant.

Even when Zhao Dexiu was an infant and frequently ill, Zhao Kuangyin often held the crying Zhao Dexiu and coaxed him to sleep.

Even today, whenever Zhao Kuangyin dreams of his first wife, Lady He, he recalls the blissful scene of holding Zhao Dexiu in his arms, filled with the sweet scent of milk, more than a decade ago.

If it weren't for this kind of kinship, how could Zhao Kuangyin have so easily agreed when Zhao Dexiu begged Zhao Kuangyin to give him another chance tonight?
With such kinship, would Zhao Kuangyin be wary of Zhao Dexiu at this time?
Not only would he not be afraid, Zhao Kuangyin would actually feel gratified!
The advice to "give way out of this situation" demonstrates Zhao Dexiu's courage.

Zhao Dexiu's keen observation of changing situations and his ability to make quick decisions about who would take the lead in the succession demonstrate his resourcefulness.

With both courage and shrewdness, the newly established dynasty needed an eldest son like him, especially in a chaotic world where dynastic collapses were commonplace.

If you want this honor, then your father will give it to you.

The scrutinizing gaze was fleeting, quickly replaced by Zhao Kuangyin's increasingly pleased look—the eldest son was a promising prospect.

At this point, no one knew what Zhao Kuangyin was thinking, but under Zhao Dexiu's provocation, some people really dared not delay any longer.

Seeing that the distinction between Zhao Kuangyin and the tens of thousands of imperial guards had been established, Zhao Kuangyi, who was below the platform, gave Zhao Dexiu a deep look and then took the lead in rising from among the tens of thousands of people to the high platform.

Upon reaching the high platform, Zhao Kuangyi bowed and addressed Zhao Kuangyin, saying, "Now that the throne is secured, the recapture of the capital is of utmost urgency!"

Zhao Dexiu, who had just been helped up by Zhao Kuangyin, happened to hear Zhao Kuangyi's advice.

The word "restoration" that Zhao Kuangyi uttered almost made Zhao Dexiu burst out laughing—who exactly was the rebel?

No wonder his uncle was so trusted by Zhao Kuangyin in history; his linguistic skills alone were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

However, what Zhao Kuangyi said is indeed the most urgent matter at present.

As soon as Zhao Kuangyi finished speaking, several senior generals rushed up to the stage and helped Zhao Kuangyin to a well-prepared horse.

After Zhao Kuangyin mounted his horse, many generals surrounded and protected him. The tens of thousands of imperial guards who had been shouting loudly also fell silent under the command of the generals.

Tens of thousands of people looked at Zhao Kuangyin, waiting for him to issue his first imperial edict after becoming emperor.

The fate of the young emperor in Kaifeng, and the safety of the tens of thousands of people in the city, would be decided in the first imperial edict that Zhao Kuangyin was about to issue.

Just as Zhao Kuangyin was about to speak, Zhao Dexiu, who had been by Zhao Kuangyin's side, quickly stepped forward, took the reins of the imperial horse, and offered his advice:
"All officers and soldiers, if you rely on your merits to carry out plunder and bloodshed, causing the people to suffer terribly, this will not be in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people, and will also cause the new dynasty to lose the hearts of the people. I urge Your Majesty to make a vow before proceeding!"

Compared to his earlier impassioned urging from the high platform, Zhao Dexiu's tone was now calm and composed.

However, the sudden lowering of his tone startled Zhao Kuangyin's confidants.

After hearing Zhao Dexiu's words, Zhao Pu, Shen Yilun, Wang Renzhan and other strategists couldn't help but look at Zhao Kuangyin.

Regardless of Zhao Dexiu's performance on stage, they all believed that everything was pre-arranged by Zhao Kuangyin.

Zhao Kuangyin wanted to award the merit of the dragon's head to Zhao Dexiu, so that he could initially accumulate a certain reputation and lay some foundation for Zhao Dexiu's future entry into the court.

The merit of the dragon's head has always been a sensitive matter, and officials would rather not take credit for it. The only one who could take credit for it without suffering any repercussions in the future is Zhao Dexiu.

Zhao Pu and others understood Zhao Kuangyin's arrangement.

But things are different now!
Now is the time for Zhao Kuangyin to issue his first imperial edict after becoming the new emperor. It is clear that this first imperial edict will be the political program for the early period of the new dynasty.

When Zhao Dexiu offered his advice at this time, it was hard not to wonder if the new emperor intended to involve his eldest son in politics now. Not only Zhao Pu thought so, but Zhao Kuangyi, who succeeded Zhao Pu, also had a similar idea in his mind almost instantly.

This idea made Zhao Kuangyi's eyes narrow slightly.

Because of past prejudices, Zhao Kuangyi believed from the bottom of his heart that every word Zhao Dexiu said today was a deliberate arrangement by Zhao Kuangyin.

The thought of this caused a surge of resentment to rise within Zhao Kuangyi's chest:

Just because he is his own son, does the elder brother have to forcefully support a useless son?

Regardless of what Zhao Pu, Zhao Kuangyi, and others thought, Zhao Kuangyin himself knew everything.

Seeing that Zhao Dexiu had the political insight of "controlling tigers and wolves and stabilizing the people's hearts," even though this political insight was not comprehensive, it at least showed that Zhao Dexiu had a promising future in politics.

Unable to contain his joy any longer, Zhao Kuangyin pointed at Zhao Dexiu with his riding whip from his horse and said, "The prince is benevolent and virtuous; this is a blessing for the country!"

After uttering this praise, Zhao Kuangyin stood up and looked at the tens of thousands of imperial guards around him.

Surrounded by tens of thousands of tigers and wolves, Zhao Kuangyin remained calm and composed, his tone authoritative:

"I have given you an order; will you obey?"

Zhao Kuangyin's voice was as loud as a bell. As soon as he finished speaking, all the generals on horseback bowed and replied:
"His Majesty has given the order; we shall obey even unto death!"

After receiving a positive response from his generals, Zhao Kuangyin quickly followed the example of Liu Bang's three-point law and issued his first imperial edict to tens of thousands of imperial guards:
"I serve Empress Dowager Zhou and the young emperor with utmost respect; you must not disturb or offend them!"

All the ministers of Zhou are my equals, and none of them shall dare to bully me!

The imperial treasury and the homes of officials and commoners must not be plundered!

Those who obey orders will be richly rewarded; those who disobey will have their entire families executed.

Zhao Kuangyin concluded his three-point agreement with a profound admonition.

After initially establishing the political program for the early period of the new dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin then shouted:
"Wang Yansheng, where is Pan Mei?"

As soon as Zhao Kuangyin finished speaking, two generals stepped forward and stood in front of him.

"Your subject respectfully accepts the order."

Looking at his two beloved generals in front of him, Zhao Kuangyin quickly said, "I order you two to lead three thousand elite cavalry to rush back to the capital first."

It is imperative to secure the city's defenses before the news reaches the capital.

Furthermore, on my behalf, announce to the people within the city that I have become emperor.

Zhao Dexiu listened attentively to every order issued by Zhao Kuangyin.

As one of the most famous military coups in Chinese history, the Chenqiao Mutiny offered him a wealth of valuable lessons to learn.

Of course, it's just digestion.
At this time, every order issued by Zhao Kuangyin was almost identical to those in history. Just as Zhao Dexiu was still diligently studying them, a majestic voice called out to him:

"Dexiu!"

Upon hearing Zhao Kuangyin's summons, Zhao Dexiu immediately stood beside Pan Mei.

"My son is here."

Zhao Dexiu didn't know why Zhao Kuangyin had suddenly summoned him. Just as Zhao Dexiu was pondering this, a new order from Zhao Kuangyin made him exchange a glance with the beautiful Pan Mei beside him.

"You will return to Beijing with Zhongxun (Pan Mei)!"

As their eyes met, Zhao Dexiu saw Pan Mei facing him, trying her best to force a kind smile.

Pan Mei was one of the outstanding generals in the early Northern Song Dynasty.

Father, are you implying something to me?

(End of this chapter)