My father Zhao Kuangyin

On the third day of the seventh lunar month, to encourage agriculture and sericulture, the Emperor and Empress visited Yujin Garden. The Emperor was very pleased to observe the wheat harvest, while the Empress took the opportunity of personally handling silkworm farming to demonstrate her solid skills as a woman.

Zhao Dezhao was also in this group, which also included his fourth brother Defang and his youngest brother Dechong.

Unlike the three Zhaos who had previously angered the emperor in front of the emperor, the three Zhaos who now stepped into the fields and worked alongside the officials who had been dismissed and turned into farmers were somewhat ironic.

It was mainly Zhao Dezhao. Not long after Yimai arrived, he saw Liu Ao, the former military advisor and confidant of his third uncle.

"What does Liu Lang think about tilling the fields in the imperial garden?"

Upon hearing Zhao Erlang's cheerful greeting, Liu Ao lowered his head, turned away, and neither responded nor responded.

For the sons of officials, going to the fields was a way to experience life, but for him, it was different. He became a government tenant, which was no different from a life sentence, and he would probably work there until he died.

Of course, if... if his lord were to usurp the throne, he would still have a chance to turn things around...

The current unfavorable situation is all thanks to Erlang, who is still showing off his power in front of us, which is really too much.

"Just how good has your uncle been to you that you'd be willing to die for him?" Zhao Dezhao asked calmly as he looked down at the wheat.

Liu Ao recalled the past events, his heart trembled, and he turned his head away.

"Leaving aside the saying 'a scholar will die for one who understands him,' when our lord was the heir apparent and the foundation of the state, is it a crime for us to assist the new emperor of the Song Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao smiled slightly and looked at Zhao Defang in another field.

"People are alive, rules are dead. The Prefect of Kaifeng is a metaphor for a successor, but having it doesn't mean it's a done deal. Who knows, one day my uncle might drag me down with him and let my fourth brother take over."

Liu Ao's originally fair skin was now dark, and his expression was unreadable. He remained silent for a long time.

"Do you know that even the officials under Prince Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty, after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Emperor Taizong forgave the virtuous men under his command?"

"How could I not know..." Liu Ao paused, his expression hardening, and asked, "What does my lord want to say?"

"I know that many officials in Kaifeng Prefecture joined their uncles to support the new emperor. You are paid by the Song Dynasty, and loyalty to the emperor is not wrong. However, the current emperor is the Emperor, your father. Is it a miscarriage of justice to accuse you of usurping power?"

Seeing Liu Ao remain silent, Zhao Dezhao beat around the bush before finally saying, "My uncle appointed you because you, like Chen Congxin, are talented. I'm not here to persuade you, but simply to speak my mind."

At this point, Liu Ao could easily understand that Erlang was taking advantage of his current predicament to try and win him over!

Liu Ao, still possessing some backbone, immediately retorted, "How do you know, my lord, that you will do better than our lord in the future?"

Why was I able to do what Emperor Taizong did so well?

Zhao Dezhao had pondered this question since the beginning of his life.

Zhao Guangyi was not good at martial arts, but he was quite capable in civil administration.

Looking at myself, although I despise Gaoliang Cheshen in my heart, if I were to actually go to the battlefield and face the swift and indestructible Liaodong cavalry, I might not fare much better.

From another perspective, being fast is also a good thing. If someone had been "hunted north" like Emperor Yingzong and become a student studying abroad, the Song Dynasty would have been doomed.

At this point, Zhao Dezhao frankly told him.

"I have no idea."

Liu Ao was stunned.

He had clearly considered how to refute and denounce Erlang's boastful words with various arguments, and even had a way of responding to his humble and yin-yang rhetoric, but unfortunately he was too... straightforward.

"The emperor cannot be made overnight. Consider the talents of Pei County and Jingkou, how many of them are among the founding heroes?" Zhao Dezhao said, "Even if I were an incompetent ruler, I would still know what virtue is. This is my father's teaching."

"Don't worry, if you have committed no crimes against the people, in time, without your uncle, I will exonerate you."

After saying this, Zhao Dezhao picked up the wheat without waiting for a reply and walked out of the field.

As for Liu Ao, he remained silent and unresponsive. If it weren't for the verbal reprimands from officials, he would have remained sitting there in silence for who knows how long.

...............

Liu Mansion.

Seventy-one-year-old Mr. Liu leaned back in his recliner, swaying gently in the breeze, as if floating in the clouds.

When Liu Mengzheng, the eldest son who was over forty, walked over happily, his expression changed when he saw that there was no movement in the pavilion.

When he got close to the recliner, he looked at it for a while and was so surprised that he couldn't bear to reach out and check its breath.

A moment later, her white eyebrows twitched slightly, and her closed eyes slowly opened as she glared angrily away.

"Aren't you getting impatient?"

"Father...you're joking."

Liu Meng sat down sullenly, completely lacking the composure expected of a middle-aged man.

It really depends on the person.

For example, ministers like Liu Xigu and Zhao Pu, when in front of the emperor, were like virtuous women and shrewish women, speaking to people in a human way and to ghosts in a ghost way. Liu Mengzheng, who had served as a court official for many years, was already well aware of this principle.

The title of "official" is both a category and an official title. The emperor was pleased to see a prime minister with such bravery and strength. He was originally a palace attendant, but was later promoted to the position of official, thus being able to accompany the emperor at times.

"Unlike the southern expeditionary navy, the emperor accepted Erlang's suggestion to build war chariots, large chariots that could accommodate ballistae and crossbows, and thus establish a chariot division to resist the Liao cavalry."

Liu Xigu chuckled and asked, "Will Wei Pi do it?"

"Just as Father predicted."

"It's not that I didn't expect it, but manufacturing cars involves wood, so we need to be careful about this."

"The Emperor said that once the chariots are completed, he wants me to lead a force of five hundred men to conduct trial drills at the Martial Arts Pool."

"That's a good thing," Liu Xigu said. "The Book of Han and the Book of Song contain many records of this. You should take some time to read them carefully and not go fishing when you have nothing to do."

Liu Mengzheng smiled and said, "Fishing is nothing special. Father, are you aware of Minister Zhao's acceptance of seafood?"

"It's been like this for so many years, it's become commonplace."

The rivalry between the two Zhao families didn't begin with Zhao Erlang's gender reassignment. Before that, they had been through thick and thin, sometimes peaceful and quiet, but the current situation inevitably brought turmoil.

"Did your father retire for this reason?"

"Am I such a coward?" Liu Xigu glanced at him and said, "I'm just old and useless. It's good that I'm retiring; it'll save me from all the trouble."

Upon hearing this, Liu Mengzheng was in a dilemma.

"Father, if it were Erlang..."

Before the eldest son could finish speaking, Liu Xigu interrupted him, saying, "If Your Majesty isn't in a hurry, why are you?"

Liu Mengzheng paused, speechless.

Soon after, he asked again.

"Son, there is one more thing."

"Speak quickly."

"At the archery banquet a few days ago, His Majesty and the generals gathered together and discussed the southern expedition. I have been serving as the official in charge of the imperial court for a long time..."

"Want to improve yourself?"

Liu Mengzheng nodded without hesitation.

"What's so difficult about that you need to ask me? Go if you want, I won't stop you."

"I see... that Erlang also has the same idea."

Liu Xigu's face was covered with mottled spots and wrinkles.

"What do you mean?"

"If Erlang goes on the southern expedition with the army, I'm afraid I'll find it hard to protect myself."

"The government will not agree to this."

Liu Mengzheng did not deny it, and then asked, "What if His Majesty agrees?"

It's not unusual for a prince to serve as a military supervisor, but Zhao Dezhao's position is tantamount to tacitly approving the pursuit of fame and even military power, which is extraordinary.

This was clearly a brilliant move.

It should be known that the core and elite troops who went on expeditions throughout history were invariably the soldiers of the Imperial Guard.

The various armies of the Palace Guard, the Imperial Guards, and even the navy that had been training for over a year, all belonged to the "Central Army".

In ancient times, there were Grand Generals-in-Chief both in the central and foreign regions. Nowadays, among the brave soldiers in the outer and garrison troops, those who are brave are promoted to the central army. The rest are mostly weak, with only the border garrisons being somewhat better.

Naturally, when the royal army marched south, money, provisions, and supplies all came from Kaifeng, as did the troops.

Compared to the opportunity to become the Prefect of Kaifeng and the Mayor of Jingzhou, it is obvious which is more important.

After pondering for a long time, Liu Xigu let out a sigh of relief, lay back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

"If you agree, then... the position of Crown Prince will be decided. You should assist Erlang diligently and not harbor any disloyal thoughts."