Martial Arts Crossover: It All Started with Hijacking Li Canghai

This Jia Sidao is like a venomous snake; he's usually silent, but once he opens his mouth, he's sure to bite.

"Minister Jia, what do you have to say?" Zhao Gou softened his tone when he saw that it was his confidant.

"Your Majesty," Jia Sidao bowed and said slowly, "I believe that the most urgent matter is not to argue endlessly here, but how to deal with the Qin and Han dynasties in Sichuan."

"Nonsense!" Zhao Gou said irritably, "Of course I know! But how should we deal with it? Should we offer amnesty or launch a campaign? You give me a suggestion!"

These words immediately divided the court into two factions.

The pro-war faction, led by Han Tuozhou, immediately jumped out.

"Your Majesty! This scoundrel Qin Han has killed officials and seized land, which is tantamount to treason! If we do not send troops to conquer and wipe him out, how can our Great Song Dynasty save face?"

Where is the law of the court? I request that the army in the capital region be mobilized immediately, joining forces with the troops from Jinghu and Liangguang, launching a three-pronged attack that will surely pacify Sichuan in one fell swoop!

"Absolutely not!"

Officials from Cai Jing's faction immediately refuted this.

"Lord Han, you are mistaken!"

"Although the Mongols have signed a temporary non-aggression pact with our Southern Song Dynasty, the Western Xia and Tibetans are also restless. Our Song Dynasty's military strength is already stretched thin."

If we were to send hundreds of thousands more troops into Sichuan, it would inevitably be a protracted war, and if something were to happen in the north, the consequences would be unimaginable!

"So, in your opinion, are you just going to let the Qin and Han dynasties grow too powerful in Sichuan?"

"Of course not. I think it would be better to send another envoy to offer him amnesty and promise him high-ranking positions and generous rewards, to appease him first, and then plan for the future. As the saying goes, winning hearts and minds is the best strategy, while attacking cities is the worst."

"What a joke! Qin Han had an army of 300,000, have you forgotten that he just killed the imperial envoy he sent? Why would he care about the official position you promised? This is the view of a woman, it will only make you raise a tiger to cause trouble!"

"Are you fucking trying to argue with me...?"

"Please refrain from using foul language in court and maintain proper decorum."

"I'll fuck your mother..."

Seeing that the two factions were about to start arguing again, and even about to come to blows, Zhao Gou was in a real bind.

Just then, Jia Sidao, who had been silent all along, spoke up once again.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, neither conquest nor appeasement is the best course of action."

All eyes were once again focused on him.

Even Zhao Gou, sitting on the dragon throne, showed a puzzled expression, clearly not expecting Jia Sidao to say such a thing.

"Oh? Then, in your opinion, Jia Aiqing, what is the best course of action?"

Jia Sidao's lips curled into a subtle smile as he slowly said, "Your Majesty, the current situation of our Great Song Dynasty is one of powerful enemies abroad and internal troubles..."

At this point, he glanced at Cai Jing almost imperceptibly.

Cai Jing seemed oblivious to the meaning behind those words, remaining calm and composed.

"Although Qin and Han were commoners, they repelled Wanyan Zongbi's 150,000-strong army in Shu and protected our southwestern gateway. This is an indisputable fact."

"He has merits, but he has also committed crimes! How can his merits and demerits offset each other?"

Han Tuozhou snorted coldly.

"Han Xiang, don't be hasty." Jia Sidao glanced at him and continued, "I am not trying to exonerate him. What I want to say is that since he is capable of fighting and has occupied the Shu region..."

Why don't we go with the flow, give him a title, and let him guard this southwestern gateway for us?

"What?!"

These words shocked everyone in the room.

Give him a proper status?

Doesn't this just acknowledge the legitimacy of his separatist rule over Sichuan?

"Jia Sidao! Have you gone mad?!" Han Tuozhou roared. "It is an ancestral rule that those of different surnames cannot be kings! Qin and Han clearly wanted to make him a king. What virtue or ability does he have to be worthy of being made a king and appointed a general?"

"That's right! This is absolutely unacceptable! If this precedent is set, the whole country will follow suit, and our Great Song Dynasty will be in grave danger!"

The court officials all opposed it.

Zhao Gou's face also darkened. He was already extremely wary of military generals, let alone uncontrollable "warlords" like Qin and Han.

Jia Sidao, however, seemed oblivious to the reactions of the crowd and remained calm and composed.

"Your Majesty, Your Excellencies, please hear me out."

His voice rose a few decibels.

"The Qin and Han dynasties have now become powerful, and to conquer them would be time-consuming and exhausting, with the outcome uncertain."

He might not accept amnesty, as evidenced by his disdain for the Marquis of Zhongyong. Continuing our stalemate will only make us a laughingstock to the surrounding barbarians.

"But if we bestow upon him the title of king, giving him a legitimate status, firstly, it will appease him and allow him to continue guarding the southwest for our Great Song Dynasty, resisting the Jin and Liao."

Secondly, this also places him under the law of the court. If he harbors rebellious intentions in the future, we will have a legitimate reason to launch a military campaign against him, and the people of the world will have no grounds for objection.

"This...this is called 'using barbarians to control barbarians'?"

One of the ministers seemed to be deep in thought.

"Not so." Jia Sidao shook his head, a mysterious smile on his face. "This is called a temporary measure."

After a pause, he dropped an important bombshell.

"According to the latest information I have received, Qin Han seems to have already made contact with the Liao Kingdom. The new Liao emperor, Yelü Hongji, even intends to marry his princess to him."

"What?!"

"He's even colluded with the Liao Dynasty?!"

Even Han Tuozhou was speechless.

If the Qin and Han dynasties had truly joined forces with the Liao dynasty, the nature of the matter would have been completely different.

A warlord entrenched in Sichuan was already difficult to deal with; if the Liao Kingdom were added to the mix, it would be a disaster that could even lead to the downfall of the Song Dynasty!

Zhao Gou's face turned extremely ugly.

"Moreover..." Jia Sidao added unhurriedly, "Recently, it seems that even the Jin Kingdom has envoys secretly requesting an audience with Qin Han. If we hesitate any longer, forcing him to completely side with either side..."

Jia Sidao didn't finish his sentence.

But everyone present understood what was meant.

If the Qin and Han dynasties had allied with the Liao or Jin dynasties and led the northern army into Sichuan, the consequences would have been...

It's unthinkable!

The entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

After a long while, Zhao Gou seemed to have all his strength drained away. He slumped onto the dragon throne and waved his hand wearily.

"Let's do as Minister Jia says and bestow upon him the title of king..."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Jia Sidao immediately knelt down and shouted.

"You will be in full charge of this matter." Zhao Gou looked at Jia Sidao with a complicated expression. "Draft an edict to confer upon Qin Han the title of... well, King of Shu, and give him overall command of the military and political affairs of Sichuan."

"My lord, I obey your order!"

Jia Sidao kowtowed and accepted the order.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in the depths of his eyes, unnoticed by anyone.

……

After the court session ended.

Instead of returning to his own residence, Jia Sidao took a sedan chair directly to Ningrong Street, a famous gathering place for nobles and officials in the capital.

His destination was Ningguo Prefecture.

The Jia family of today is no longer the empty-headed, decadent tycoon depicted in "Dream of the Red Chamber".

Under the leadership of Jia Sidao, a shrewd and ruthless patriarch, the Jia family's influence in the court grew increasingly powerful, showing signs of becoming the most prominent clan in the capital.

The original head of the Ningguo Mansion, Jia Jing, was obsessed with Taoist cultivation and indifferent to worldly affairs, while his son, Jia Zhen, was a good-for-nothing who only knew how to enjoy himself.

The actual control of the entire Ningguo Mansion had long since fallen into the hands of Jia Sidao.

Inside the study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Jia Sidao sat upright in the grand master's chair, his usual respect and composure in the court completely gone.