Sky Curtain: The Overlord Charges into Battle, Shocking Emperors of All Dynasties

"The state of uncle and nephew is a state where Zhao Shen used the dignity of the emperor to exchange for the dignity of the state."

Zhuge Liang sighed. He could feel how much pain and frustration Zhao Shen must have felt at that moment.

In the context of uncle-nephew states, this relationship was limited to those between emperors; at least between states, there was a degree of equality.

The concept of a ruler-subject relationship meant that the Song Dynasty would always be subordinate to the Jin Dynasty.

"The Northern Expedition launched after the young emperor ascended the throne ended in such a disastrous outcome. I wonder if Zhao Shen will never recover?"

Zhuge Liang knew that feeling, that feeling of being deeply defeated.

The bitter taste of disappointment from the previous failed Northern Expedition took him a long time to process.

Now it remains to be seen whether Zhao Shen can recover.

However, someone who can be called the only sage ruler of the Southern Song Dynasty shouldn't have such poor mental fortitude, right?

"The Kingdom of Uncle and Nephew..."

Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen, looked extremely displeased, and the court officials of the Song Dynasty also appeared somewhat displeased.

This country of uncle and nephew stirred up very bad memories for them.

The Treaty of Chanyuan stipulated that the two sides were brother states.

However, the problem is that Emperor Zhenzong of Song died many years earlier than Emperor Shengzong of Liao.

However, the lifespan of the Song Dynasty emperor did not seem very optimistic.

If this continues, the generational gap might widen further, and it's even possible that a Song Dynasty emperor would call a Liao Dynasty emperor his grandfather.

"Disgraceful, shameful!!!"

Zhao Xu thought of himself; now he actually had to call the Liao emperor his great-uncle.

Although the Liao emperor was forty-four years older than him,

But he is the emperor, and so am I.

How can emperors be distinguished by age?

"I, the emperor of the mighty Song Dynasty, am actually required to address barbarians as my ancestral uncle?"

"This is absolutely unheard of!"

Zhao Xu simply couldn't believe it. They had agreed to be brotherly nations, but now he had to call the Liao emperor his great-uncle.

The Southern Song and Jin dynasties had an agreement of a kinship ties, like uncle and nephew. What if the Jin dynasty also produced an emperor as capable of surviving as the Liao emperor?

Wouldn't that mess up the generational hierarchy?

The failure of the Northern Expedition was indeed a heavy blow to Zhao Shen, but he did not give up completely.

Zhao Shen focused his attention on domestic affairs, strengthening the military and political system, and accumulating national power to await the opportune moment.

The period of eliminating redundant officials, cracking down on corruption, regulating secret societies, and encouraging land reclamation is known in historical records as the "Rule of Ganchun".

In military affairs, Zhao Shen conducted a large-scale military review and reorganized the army. He appointed Yu Yunwen, who led the victory at Caishiji, as prime minister and sent him to serve as the Pacification Commissioner of Sichuan. He planned a strategy of launching a two-pronged attack from the east and west, and a joint northern expedition, agreeing to launch a joint expedition at the opportune time.

However, Yu Yunwen died young, the plan for a two-pronged northern expedition fell through, and there was no suitable commander-in-chief in the country to coordinate the two armies on the eastern and western fronts for the northern expedition.

The dream he had fought for his entire life had been dashed; it seemed that the Northern Expedition was already an unattainable luxury during Zhao Shen's reign.

The internal stability of the Jin Dynasty and the complacency of the Southern Song people were gradually eroding Zhao Shen's passion for the Northern Expedition.

He continued to train and review troops, and did not publicly abandon his ideal of restoration, but he no longer planned a large-scale Northern Expedition.

Moreover, Emperor Emeritus Zhao Gou, as the largest advocate of peace, continued to influence the court.

[Zhao Shen had to report to Zhao Gou on all matters of military and national importance, including major national decisions.]

[Especially regarding the Northern Expedition, Zhao Gou would exert influence at any time and place.]

Including the Longxing Peace Treaty, Zhao Gou forced Zhao Shen to agree to these terms.

Zhao Gou, with his status as the retired emperor, his filial piety, and the support of his court officials who advocated peace, was able to achieve his goals.

The triple shackles firmly bound Zhao Shen, rendering him unable to move.

Zhao Shen reigned for a total of twenty-seven years, while Zhao Gou served as the retired emperor for twenty-five years.

After Zhao Gou's death, Zhao Shen was already old and no longer had the energy to launch a northern expedition.

After reigning as emperor without any constraints for two years, Zhao Shen abdicated in favor of his son and became the Retired Emperor.

No emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty after Zhao Shen was as resolute in his stance on the Northern Expedition as Zhao Shen.

If Yue Fei had lived peacefully until Emperor Xiaozong ascended the throne, or if Emperor Xiaozong had ascended the throne earlier, the final outcome might have been different.

Good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years.

How could Zhao Gou remain the retired emperor for twenty-five years? Which retired emperor has lasted as long as him?

Moreover, he interferes in politics, which is no different from not abdicating.

Oh no, when Zhao Gou was emperor, he still had to consider political affairs, but after he became the retired emperor, he no longer needed to.

"I'm so angry! Seeing this makes me furious!"

"Zhao Gou should have been given a son like Li Shimin, so he could properly be the retired emperor and experience the love between father and son!"

"Emperor Xiaozong of Song was truly the epitome of filial piety!!"

Liu Che was so angry that he paced back and forth, stopping every now and then to hurl insults at Zhao Gou.

Having watched the heavens for so long, apart from Zhu Qizhen, he had never seen such a disgusting emperor!

Hu Hai, Zhu Qizhen, Zhao Gou!

From now on, the three of you will sit at the same table as the dog when you eat!

...

"Zhao Shen could never get rid of Zhao Gou in his life, after all, his throne was given to him by Zhao Gou through abdication."

"He's not like me, who earned the throne through my own efforts."

Li Shimin shook his head, somewhat regretful, but his words carried a hint of smugness.

He wasn't afraid of the retired emperor causing trouble.

The retired emperor can enjoy himself, but he cannot interfere in state affairs!

Yongle,

"I cannot think of a way for Zhao Shen to get rid of Zhao Gou's influence."

Zhu Di frowned slightly, pondering how Zhao Shen could escape from Zhao Gou.

However, including Zhu Gaochi, none of them seemed to be able to come up with a good solution.

Zhu Gaoxu pondered deeply,

He refused to believe that he couldn't come up with a solution himself.

Just as he was pondering, Zhu Di's thoughtful figure came into his view.

"Father, I've got it!!"

Zhu Di, Zhu Gaochi, and even Zhu Zhanji all looked curious, with a hint of suspicion.

What good methods could you, Zhu Gaoxu, possibly come up with?

"Zhao Shen can learn from you, Father, and follow the imperial decree to quell the rebellion!"

"What difficulties are you talking about? Does Zhao Shen even have any troops? I think you're completely brainless!"

Zhu Di gave him a severe scolding, and Zhu Gaochi lowered his head and muttered something, somewhat unconvinced.

"If there are no soldiers, why not just find someone who does?"

In the eleventh year of Shaoxing, in Zhuxian Town,

A long silence fell over the military camp as the generals lamented their ill-fated circumstances.

The twelve gold medals were still displayed before everyone's eyes.

Generals Yue Yun, Zhang Xian, and others stared at the gold medal, speechless with shock.

If the current emperor were Zhao Shen, he certainly wouldn't issue such a gold medal; instead, he would definitely offer a reward.

"Ah, if only the current emperor were Emperor Zhao Shen!"

I don't know who said it, but it seemed to express the feelings of everyone.

Zhao Jiu, the official, is a fictional character and never existed. However, Zhao Shen was a real person, and Yue Fei even met him.

"General Yue, please say something! What should we do?"

"Yes, Commander Yue, everyone is waiting for you to speak!"

Yue Fei stood up, looked around the tent, and saw many familiar faces.

Yue Fei, who had fought alongside his comrades against the Jurchens for over a decade, would rather die himself than drag them down with him.

The great cause of resisting the Jin invaders in the Northern Expedition, the loyalty of a subject to his emperor, the comrades who followed him to the death, and Yue Fei's innermost hope for a wise ruler.

That emotion churned within Yue Fei, throwing his mind into turmoil.

Isn't there a way to have the best of both worlds?

Yue Fei thought it over and over again, going through countless scenarios in his mind, and realized that no matter what he did, he couldn't avoid one person.

Zhao Gou!

Whether it was Qin Hui or the pro-peace faction, they were all backed by Zhao Gou.

Wait, there's also that treacherous minister Qin Hui!

After pondering for a long time, Yue Fei spoke, his voice trembling slightly:

"There are treacherous officials in the court who are hindering the great cause of the Northern Expedition against the Jin."

"I wish to purge the court of corrupt officials and quell the rebellion in accordance with Heaven's will!"

"What can you all teach me?"