The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

The night was dark.

The Imperial City, the Imperial Study.

The hall was filled with the rich aroma of top-grade ambergris, but it couldn't suppress the almost solidified killing intent in the air.

Emperor Renzong Zhao Zhen sat behind his desk.

What lay open before him was the secret letter that Jiang Lin had sealed with sealing wax.

Snapped.

A crisp sound.

The purple-tipped brush in Zhao Zhen's hand was broken by him.

Crimson vermilion ink splattered onto the bright yellow report, spreading into a glaring blood-red hue.

"presumptuous."

The emperor's voice was low, revealing neither joy nor anger.

But the old eunuch standing by with his hands at his sides couldn't help but shiver.

He had served the emperor for decades and knew that this was the true nature of the emperor's wrath.

"They planted spies in the capital to gather military intelligence and even plotted to assassinate the headmaster of the academy."

Zhao Zhen's gaze fell on the words on the letter.

The Privy Council.

He picked up the list of Liao spies, and ran his fingernail across the words "Deputy Privy Councilor," leaving a deep mark.

He raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Lin standing below.

"Jiang Qing, are you sure it's him?"

Jiang Lin bowed.

"Your subject dares not make a rash judgment."

"The clues presented in the letter all point to this person."

"I humbly request Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly."

The Imperial Study fell into a deathly silence.

Only the occasional, faint crackling sound of the candle flame bursting open.

a long time.

Zhao Zhen slammed the list heavily onto the table.

Where is the Imperial City Guard?

Outside the palace gate, a person immediately emerged from the shadows and knelt on one knee.

"Your subject is here."

"Go immediately to the residence of Han Zhang, the Vice Privy Councilor."

Zhao Zhen's voice was cold and devoid of any warmth.

"Invite him to the imperial prison for questioning."

The residence of the Deputy Privy Councilor.

Han Zhang had just finished a bowl of bird's nest soup and was being served by his beautiful concubine who was wiping the corners of his mouth.

He was not entirely unaware of the unusual activity at those outposts in the east of the city.

But he didn't care.

They were just a few Liao spies; their deaths are no big deal.

As long as he remains in the Privy Council, this connection will never be severed.

Just now.

A series of soft but orderly footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Han Zhang frowned.

The door was pushed open.

A commander from the Imperial City Guard entered, wearing a businesslike smile.

"Vice Envoy Han, I apologize for disturbing you."

"His Majesty has urgent business to discuss with you. Please come with us."

Han Zhang's teacup wobbled, spilling scalding tea onto the back of his hand.

He was completely unaware.

"Your Majesty... summoned me late at night?"

The commander's smile remained unchanged.

"Yes."

at the same time.

Yuelai Inn, in the east of the city.

Wang Shao's figure appeared silently on the roof of the top-tier room, like a ghost.

He made a gesture.

Several guards who had been lying in ambush broke in through the windows from all directions.

The Liao scout known as "The Gray Wolf" inside the room reacted extremely quickly.

He kicked over the table, blocking the incoming crossbow bolts, and now he had a curved knife in his hand.

The light of the sword is sharp.

But even more people broke in.

Wang Shao descended from the sky, his short sword drawing a cold arc.

clang!

A crisp sound.

The scimitar in Canglang's hand was cut in half.

next moment.

The cold blade was already pressed against his throat.

The battle ended cleanly and decisively.

Meanwhile, at Han Zhang's residence.

The imperial guards had already found a secret letter that could only be revealed with a special potion, as well as a codebook used exclusively by the Liao Kingdom, in a hidden compartment of his study.

unambiguous evidence.

Canglang was pinned to the ground by two guards. He raised his head and showed Wang Shao a mouthful of bloody teeth.

"Kill me."

"More people will come."

"Your capital city of the Great Song Dynasty cannot stop them."

Wang Shao looked down at him, his eyes completely unmoved.

"Then let them come."

Imperial City Prison.

This is the darkest corner of the Song Dynasty, where the sun never shines and the air is filled with the stench of blood and decay.

Han Zhang, the once high-ranking Deputy Privy Councilor, was now kneeling on the ground in a sorry state, dressed in prison clothes.

His pride in his official authority and shrewdness were shattered in the face of overwhelming evidence.

He confessed to everything.

It all started five years ago with an inconspicuous border "trade".

Once the Liao people seized on his weakness, he became increasingly entangled.

Later, he voluntarily provided the Southern King of Liao with military intelligence in exchange for wealth and honor.

Impeach Jiang Lin.

Forged weapon blueprints.

Planning actions against the academy.

Everything stemmed from the Liao Dynasty's instructions.

When the confession was presented to Emperor Renzong, the emperor's expression was beyond ugly.

That was the stillness before a volcanic eruption.

"Han Zhang, dismiss him from his post and investigate him. He will be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review for prosecution."

"All Liaoning residents involved in the case will be severely punished."

"The Court of State Ceremonies is hereby ordered to immediately draft a formal letter and send it to the capital of the Liao Kingdom."

Zhao Zhen's voice echoed in the empty palace, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"I demand that they give the Song Dynasty an explanation."

The next day, the morning court session began.

The news that Han Zhang, the Deputy Privy Councilor, had been imprisoned for treason was like a magnitude 12 earthquake, shaking the entire court.

Among the court officials, several who were usually very close to Han Zhang turned pale.

Some people's legs went weak and they could barely stand.

Some people avoided eye contact, not daring to meet anyone's gaze.

At this time of widespread anxiety.

Ouyang Xiu, the Vice Chancellor, stepped forward.

He held a tablet in his hand and spoke in a loud voice.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to thoroughly investigate this matter."

"Severely punish all those who collude with foreign enemies and cleanse the court."

Emperor Renzong sat on the dragon throne, his face expressionless.

"allow."

One word.

It pronounced a death sentence on the old party forces.

Those officials who had once clamored to close the academy and impeach Jiang Lin now felt insecure.

They either feigned illness to ask for leave or proactively submitted a memorial requesting to resign.

The vast network that had been entrenched in the imperial court, targeting Jiang Lin and the Gewu Academy, crumbled in an instant.

Gewu Academy.

The students are in an uproar.

"Have you heard? The Deputy Privy Councilor has fallen!"

"It's not just that they've fallen; I heard their whole family has been imprisoned for treason!"

"The headmaster is amazing! He brought down a high-ranking official of the second rank with just one letter sent to the palace!"

Su Shi rushed excitedly to Jiang Lin's study.

"The mountain chief is mighty!"

"Your move to strike at the heart of the problem is truly a stroke of genius! Let's see how those old guard can remain arrogant now!"

Jiang Lin was reading the new report from the Institute of Physics that Shen Kuo had sent, and he merely raised his eyelids upon hearing this.

"Don't brag."

"The credit goes to the Imperial City Guard and Wang Shao; I just handed over a piece of information."

His fingertips tapped unconsciously on the table.

Who exactly was that man in black who delivered the intelligence late at night?

"To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, and to secure a destiny for the people."

Those words still echo in my ears.

"Master, you have rendered such a great service; surely the imperial court will reward you?"

Su Shi asked with an expectant look on his face.

Jiang Lin waved his hand dismissively.

"A reward?"

"Please don't."

"The more rewards I receive, the more trouble I'll cause. I just want to teach my books in peace and quiet."

Su Shi and the group of students watching at the door looked at each other in bewilderment.

Headmaster, with your constitution, are you really able to calm down?

Deep within the imperial prison.

The wolf was chained to a wooden cross, its body covered in wounds.

An interrogator from the Imperial City Guard looked at him coldly.

"Name all your associates in the capital."

The wolf coughed up a mouthful of blood, but a strange smile appeared on its face.

"These people are just an appetizer."

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried a chilling madness.

"You will soon find out what a real storm looks like."

"The Liao cavalry will trample everything here."

……

Inside the academy.

Shen Kuo rushed into Jiang Lin's study like a gust of wind, his face filled with unprecedented excitement and fervor.

He even forgot to bow.

"Headmaster!"

"It's done!"

Shen Kuo's hands trembled as he carefully held something in his hands.

It was a cylinder made of brass, with extremely smooth lenses inlaid at both ends.

"The student...the student has created an object!"