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

Early the next morning, Renzhong sent several detachments of troops to plunder the villages to the east and south.

Once the troops that were to be abandoned had gone far away...

Renzhong immediately broke camp and rose up.

Bypass Huanzhou

Heading towards Western Xia.

Xue Sichang was taking stock of his wealth in the city.

He also knew the king's hatred for traitors.

It would be a miracle if they didn't kill him.

He will absolutely not be given an official position again.

Xue Sichang carefully examined a jade carving.

He imagined himself living the life of a wealthy man in the future.

He served as an official for many years.

The court was rife with corruption, with officials like Cai Jing and Gao Qiu leading the way.

He was no exception.

They had accumulated quite a bit of private property.

Even if the Liang court does not reward him

His wealth was enough to ensure his affluent later life.

Collect some calligraphy and paintings,

Buy a few more beautiful concubines.

No need to worry about politics,

No need for intrigue,

It's quite pleasant.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

Xue Sichang placed the jade carving in his hand on the table beside him.

Sit upright.

Di Kun, the militia commander of Huanzhou, strode in, clasped his hands in greeting, and said...

"My lord, the Western Xia troops outside the city have suddenly broken camp."

Xue Sichang suddenly stood up and said, "What?"

"Didn't they just come to report that..."

"Did the Western Xia send many troops to plunder in all directions?"

Di Kun nodded and said, "We did indeed send out quite a few troops earlier."

"But just now, the entire army in the camp has broken camp and risen up."

"They've headed north; there are still many supply wagons."

"The troops that went out to plunder haven't returned either,"

"Could it be that Renzhong abandoned them?"

Xue Sichang thought for a moment, then slammed his hand on the table and said,

"This is bad; Renzhong has most likely abandoned a portion of his troops."

"The elite troops have been preserved."

Upon hearing this, Di Kun asked, "Then what should we do?"

Di Kun was Xue Sichang's confidant.

Previously, Xue Sichang had defected to the Western Xia.

They also followed Xue Sichang and surrendered to the Western Xia.

Xue Sichang was a traitor.

They weren't much better off.

After the Liang army defeated the armies of Cha Ge and Li Qianshun,

They were also terrified.

They were afraid that the Liang dynasty would settle scores with them later.

After the general of Huanqing Road learned that Renzhong had decided to withdraw his troops...

They all resigned from their official positions.

A fast horse galloped to Huanzhou.

They prepared to flee to Western Xia with Renzhong's army.

To avoid being cleared out by the main beam.

Xue Sichang, however, felt that the Western Xia had lost Li Qianshun and Chage.

They lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

It has already suffered a severe blow.

However, the Liang dynasty came with overwhelming force.

They feared that the Western Xia would offer them up.

They sought peace with Daliang.

Therefore, he did not want to go to Western Xia with Renzhong.

That led to the subsequent negotiations with the Liang Dynasty.

Di Kun also knew the terms that Xue Sichang had negotiated with the Liang court.

Huanqing Road can only stop Renzhong's army.

Let the Liang army surround Renzhong's army.

Only then can their mission be considered complete.

Only then will the Liang Dynasty pardon their crimes.

Not only will Xue Sichang not be reappointed,

Even these high-ranking officials from various states and prefectures will be dismissed from their posts.

However, being dismissed from office is better than losing one's life.

Originally, Renzhong's army had set up camp outside the city.

The people in the city cheered and jumped for joy.

Just stay for a few days

The Liang army arrived soon after.

Perhaps without the combined forces of Liang,

Renzhong's army was cut off from supplies and collapsed.

Their mission was successfully completed.

It wouldn't be bad for them to go back to their hometown and become wealthy men.

They were also aware of the harsh treatment the Liang dynasty imposed on its officials.

Anyone who covets even a single coin will be executed.

Whether they are officials or low-ranking clerks.

It had only been a little over two months since the founding of the Great Liang Kingdom and the capture of Tokyo.

The number of officials executed exceeded that of the Song Dynasty by several decades.

One reason is that the Song Dynasty had always treated its officials well.

Officials were rarely executed.

Those who embezzle and amass wealth are almost never prosecuted.

Especially after Zhao Ji became emperor,

The court officials employed every means at their disposal.

They amassed wealth on a massive scale.

Cai Jing's birthday every year

Birthday tributes offered in various places amounted to millions of strings of cash.

Zhu Mian used the "Flower and Stone Tribute" to amass wealth.

Gao Qiu used the Imperial Guards to amass wealth.

Yang Jian amassed wealth through land expansion.

Liang Shicheng sold official positions and titles.

It can be said that the high-ranking officials in the court were all pioneers in accumulating wealth.

Emperor Huizong of Song simply laughed off all of these matters.

As a result, corruption became rampant among officials across the country.

Although after the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty

Various regulations were then promulgated.

However, officials who are accustomed to accumulating wealth inevitably use their power to seek personal gain.

Once the spies and censors throughout the Great Liang Dynasty discover this...

All were beheadings, without exception!

Chapter 1922 Your Excellency is Wise

It can be said that Song Dynasty officials were completely unsuited to the Liang Dynasty's system.

Even if they were allowed to continue serving as officials...

They might make a mistake at any time.

He lost his head.

It would be better to go back to your hometown and become a wealthy man's insurance agent.

Therefore, the officials of Huanqing Road were very satisfied with the decision to surrender to Daliang and be dismissed from their posts to become commoners.

It concerns one's life and fortune.

Xue Sichang was also quite anxious.

He got up and paced a few steps.

How many troops are heading north?

Di Kun said, "No less than 100,000."

"Even if we leave the city, we probably won't be able to stop them."

Xue Sichang shook his head and said, "Perhaps this is a scheme of benevolence and loyalty but treachery."

"If we leave the city and fall into their ambush,"

"They broke through Huanzhou,"

"Then they will have no shortage of food and provisions."

"And we can't stop them either."