The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 507 Who Believes You

The battle has progressed to this point, even a fool could see the outcome.

Jin Wuzhu stopped arguing and quickly jumped onto his four-hoofed Snowfire Dragon Steed. Escape was his forte. As a famous general, his best skill was running away. In just a moment, he disappeared without a trace.

The defeat was swift and devastating; the combined forces of Jin and Qi, numbering over 100,000, collapsed...

Yue Wenxuan shrugged: "Alright, that's all! Everyone, let's go take over Kaifeng."

At this point, the civil and military officials from the Southern Song Dynasty were completely dumbfounded.

The military officers were a little better off, as they were somewhat familiar with the fighting style of the Northern Song Dynasty.

However, most of the civil officials were witnessing the battle of the Northern Song army for the first time, and they were utterly astonished after seeing just this one battle.

This group of civil officials were all staunch advocates of war; if the pro-peace civil officials had been present, the entire Southern Song Dynasty might have knelt down on the spot.

Li Gang murmured, "I never expected... I really never expected... Kaifeng City... to fall so easily. I thought it would take at least a few months to win."

Lu Zai and other civil officials shook their heads and sighed: "This is amazing! So this is how wars are fought now, but we were completely unaware of it. We thought wars were still like before, with people riding horses and wielding swords."

"The Northern Song Dynasty was truly terrifying!"

Thirty-two eunuchs weaved through the crowd, chuckling at the civil officials: "Are you scared? These new weapons and tactics were all brought by Young Master Yue."

Li Gang, Yue Fei, and others couldn't help but look at Yue Wenxuan, thinking to themselves: No wonder this man could become the mastermind behind the Northern Song Dynasty. With the new weapons and tactics he brought, how could the people of the Northern Song Dynasty not be loyal to him?

Thinking about this, some ministers who had a more far-sighted perspective couldn't help but think: After overthrowing the Jin Dynasty, we'll have to discuss with him what should become of the Song Dynasty. At that time... if he wants to become emperor, what should we do? Fight him? How can we possibly win?
Forget it, don't think that far ahead!
We've recaptured Kaifeng, shouldn't we celebrate?

"Hahaha! We won!"

"Kaifeng has been recaptured!"

"The capital has been recaptured."

The soldiers' cheers began to rise and fall...

The city gates opened, and large groups of Song soldiers began to enter the city.

The group of civil and military officials from the Southern Song Dynasty who came to observe accompanied the fake prince's "imperial entourage" into the city. At the city gate stood Wu Jialiang, the Minister of War, with a group of soldiers beside him, who shouted loudly to the army entering the city: "After entering the city, it is strictly forbidden to enter civilian houses or plunder the people. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

The Northern Song soldiers raised their heads and laughed loudly: "We know! This is an old military regulation that has been around for many years, there's no need to emphasize it again."

Wu Jialiang cursed irritably, "I'm afraid you'll make a mistake and end up being beheaded after a great victory. Wouldn't that be terrible? I'm just trying to warn you, and you think I'm being nosy. Believe me, I'll beat you bastards to death."

Li Gang broke out in a cold sweat: "Is this something the Minister of War should say?"

Han Shizhong chuckled: "That's somewhat like my speaking style."

Yang Zaixing: "I also feel that the name sounds familiar."

Li Gang turned around and glared at the two men, thinking to himself: You two, one is a seasoned soldier and the other is a reformed thief... How can the Minister of War be like you?
Just then, Yue Wenxuan suddenly took two quick steps and walked to Li Gang and Yue Fei's side, smiling slightly, "After you two entered the city, did you notice that the atmosphere in the city was strange?"

Li Gang had noticed it long ago, but he didn't say anything. Now that Yue Wenxuan had asked him, he said somewhat awkwardly, "Not a single person in the city came out to cheer."

Yue Fei nodded and said, "All the houses in the city are tightly shut, as if they are guarding against us like we are thieves. Alas."

The two of them certainly knew why...

Although it was the Song army that entered the city, the people did not feel "liberated" but were worried about the discipline of the Song army.

Li Gang: "Has the Song Dynasty lost the hearts of the people to this extent? We have clearly liberated the capital, yet all we get in return is silence from the people?"

Yue Wenxuan: "This brings us to the last few officials the common people encountered." Upon hearing this, Li Gang's face turned awkward, and he almost wanted to disappear into the ground.

During the Jingkang Incident, the last emperor was Zhao Huan, but he only reigned for two days, and the people didn't feel much for him, so that doesn't count.

Going back one more, that is Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji!

He served in office for a long time, and the people of Beijing were most familiar with him.

This book won't waste ink introducing what kind of emperor he was; in any case, the common people suffered terribly under his rule, extremely terribly, utterly horrific.

Yue Wenxuan said in a serious tone: "Over the years, the pseudo-Qi Kingdom has been plundering the people under its rule in order to make money for their Jin Kingdom father... I'm sure Prime Minister Li and Marshal Yue are aware of this."

Li Gang and Yue Fei nodded: "We understand."

Yue Wenxuan suddenly revealed a strange smile: "But as far as I know, the methods of the pseudo-Qi Kingdom to plunder the land were actually not as ruthless as those of Zhao Ji. During the years of the pseudo-Qi Kingdom's rule, the Han people in the Central Plains actually had a certain chance to breathe, and social productivity recovered to some extent."

Li Gang: "!!!"

Yue Fei: "!!!"

This is extremely exaggerated and hard to accept.

Li Gang's hands trembled: "Young Master Yue, where did you get this idea from... is it true?"

Yue Wenxuan shrugged: "History will give a fair evaluation."

Li Gang: "How...how to resolve this?"

Yue Wenxuan: "We can only take it slowly! Winning the hearts of the people is not something that can be done overnight. We need to let them see the goodness of the court over the next few years and rekindle their trust in the Song Dynasty through a lot of benevolent policies. This will depend on the strength of the civil officials."

Li Gang remained silent, unsure of what to say for a long time.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he whispered, "It wasn't the late emperor's fault, it was the six traitors who caused it!"

The so-called Six Traitors were: Cai Jing, Wang Fu, Tong Guan, Liang Shicheng, Zhu Mian, and Li Yan.

These are the six most notorious traitors, the main culprits who brought disaster to the country.

Yue Wenxuan turned his head and said with a sly smile, "Qin Hui is just like the Six Traitors, isn't he?"

Li Gang: "That's right!"

Yue Wenxuan: "So the question comes back again: who was backing Qin Hui?"

Li Gang: "..."

Okay, we discussed this issue last time, and Li Gang knows the answer.

He just doesn't want to admit it.

He suddenly became a little frantic and said angrily, "What you've been saying all along is that you want me to speak ill of the Emperor, to make me admit that the Emperor is a tyrant, so that you can find a legitimate reason to rebel, ascend the throne, and usurp the country."

Yue Wenxuan laughed heartily: "You're wronging me. I will never ascend the throne and become emperor, never."

Li Gang glanced sideways: "Who would believe you?"

"We all believe it!" Gong Erniangzi, Zhang Yong, and other veteran generals from the Northern Song Dynasty, who were walking beside him, suddenly spoke up in unison, supporting Yue Wenxuan: "What's the point of being an emperor? Young Master Yue would never look down on that old emperor's broken dragon throne."

(End of this chapter)