Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

They then slandered Zhao Ji,

They framed Zhao Tingzhi.

Emperor Huizong of Zhao, this foolish ruler, couldn't even make up his own mind.

Previously, Zhao Tingzhi's merits were still remembered.

Gifts of official titles and money,

After listening to Cai Jing's slanderous words,

Issue an imperial edict immediately.

The posthumous official title bestowed upon Zhao Tingzhi was revoked.

The official positions of Zhao Tingzhi's family members were also revoked.

The once high-spirited Zhao Mingcheng was suddenly demoted to a commoner.

Cai Jing's henchmen are running rampant in Beijing again.

Zhao Mingcheng had no choice but to take Li Qingzhao back to live in the countryside of Qingzhou.

This stay lasted for more than ten years.

Until Cai Jing was dismissed this year,

After Wang Fu became prime minister,

All of Cai Jing's reform laws should be abolished.

However, Wang Fu relied on Liang Shicheng's silver influence.

Rise to prominence

He had no real power base in the court.

There were no capable helpers either.

Zhao Tingzhi, who once rose to the position of prime minister, had many protégés and former subordinates.

Therefore, Wang Fu allowed Zhao Mingcheng to serve in office again.

This would also be a good opportunity to win over Zhao Tingzhi's protégés and former officials in the court.

Chapter 1568 Zhao Mingcheng

After Zhao Mingcheng took office as the prefect of Zizhou,

He can be considered an honest and upright official.

This guy, however, has been fascinated by the study of metals and stones since childhood.

He was not very concerned with political affairs.

In the study,

Zhao Mingcheng was embracing a beautiful concubine.

The two of them looked at the letter sent by Li Qingzhao together.

After Zhao Mingcheng took office this time,

He went to his post alone.

Li Qingzhao was left in the countryside by him.

The concubine read in the letter that Li Qingzhao was coming to see Zhao Mingcheng again.

She couldn't help but twist her body in Zhao Mingcheng's arms and say coquettishly,

"My lord, please don't let her come."

This beautiful concubine was someone Zhao Mingcheng had just taken in after taking office.

He was only 18 years old at the time.

It is the most tender time.

Meanwhile, the talented woman Li Qingzhao...

But he was already thirty-six years old.

Zhao Mingcheng pinched his beautiful concubine's delicate, flawless face.

"Does this little beauty want to be the sole object of your affections?"

The beautiful concubine twisted her body and said in a coquettish voice,

"You've been married for over ten years,"

"She didn't even bear a son or daughter for the official,"

"It's already good enough that the husband hasn't divorced her,"

"How can we still indulge her?"

"I replied to her last time,"

"That puts her at ease living in the countryside,"

"But then another letter came, wanting to make a scene."

"Sir, you should reply and reprimand her,"

“If she continues to be unfaithful, then divorce her.”

Zhao Mingcheng was also somewhat annoyed by Li Qingzhao's lack of tact.

But thinking back on all these years of mutual support and companionship...

The days spent exploring poetry and studying epigraphy together,

He still shook his head and said,

"Don't talk nonsense, she is the legal wife my father arranged for me to marry,"

"How can you just divorce so easily?"

Upon hearing this, the newly acquired concubine...

She immediately snuggled into Zhao Mingcheng's arms, acting coquettish and silly.

Relentless entanglement.

Zhao Mingcheng was quite fond of his newly acquired concubine.

That's why I listened to her instigation.

I don't want Li Qingzhao to come.

Furthermore, his lack of children was also a source of pain for him.

Although none of his concubines bore him children.

But he never doubted that the problem lay with him.

Instead, they felt that those women were unproductive.

As Zhao Mingcheng was coaxing the beautiful concubine in his arms,

Suddenly, a constable burst in.

Zhao Mingcheng's face immediately darkened.

"Be bold!"

The constable saw Zhao Mingcheng embracing his concubine.

Both of them were disheveled.

He quickly lowered his head.

He shouted in a panicked voice,

"Sir, something happened!"

"The Liangshan bandits have entered the city."

Zhao Mingcheng also vaguely heard some shouts of killing at this time.

Startled, he quickly pushed the beautiful concubine away.

He then took off running outside.

Today, Liangshan is quite famous in eastern Beijing.

Especially among officials and wealthy families, their names were legendary.

This is because corrupt officials are now in power.

Many wealthy people are also ruthless and heartless.

The targets of Liangshan's righteous act on behalf of Heaven were precisely them.

The concubine saw Zhao Mingcheng abandon her and run away.

He hurriedly shouted,

"My lord, my lord, wait for me."

Zhao Mingcheng, however, did not turn his head back.

They kept running towards the outside of the government office.

The head constable of the yamen saw the prefect running out.

He quickly stopped them and shouted.

"My lord, there is chaos and turmoil outside,"

"Extremely dangerous!"

"It would be better to wait in the yamen for the city's troops to come to our rescue,"

"We can hold them off for a while."

Zhao Mingcheng originally intended to escape quietly by himself.

To avoid attracting the attention of the Liangshan forces,

Hearing this, I also felt it made sense.

He quickly said to the head constable,

"The Liangshan bandits have already breached the city gates,"

"How can we possibly hold out on our own!"

"Quickly! Protect me and get me out of the city!"

"Wait for the imperial reinforcements to arrive,"

"Let's retake the city."

This constable was also quite afraid of the Liangshan soldiers.

After hearing what Zhao Mingcheng said,

Naturally, he no longer had the will to fight.

He quickly gathered a dozen or so officers.

They escorted Zhao Mingcheng toward the west gate.

When Zhao Mingcheng arrived at the West Gate...

Immediately order the city gates to be opened.

They fled straight to Tokyo.

The soldiers guarding the city saw that the prefect had fled.

How could they possibly have the will to defend the city?

They immediately abandoned the city gates as well.