Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 287 Establishing a New Ruler! Wanyan Kang!
To be honest, you've actually envisioned many possible future developments. These include launching an armed uprising to wage war against the Jin, directly instigating a rebellion in Xibi Xibi Kudeita to seize central power, and even suffering a crushing defeat and being forced to flee to the Southern Song or Mongolia for political asylum...

However, you never considered the current situation: you, still in the process of settling down, haven't even started anything yet, and your sworn brother is already going to become emperor!

What kind of plot twist is this?!

You are completely baffled by this unexpected turn of events, and at the same time, you can't help but wonder about the reasons behind it all...

[Your brother Wanyan, who's been as close as family, didn't hide anything from you this time. He told you the whole story in detail.]

The matter is quite simple: at the "Bojilie Assembly" in Zhongdu, where the emperor was acting as regent, an important decree was issued: it has been decided that this rising star of the Wanyan clan will become emperor!

As for the reason... the conference stated that because of his excellent military record against the Mongols, he displayed the might of the Jin Dynasty and the prestige of the Wanyan clan! Therefore, Marshal Wuzhu valued him highly!

[And coincidentally, the emperor was critically ill, and having no children, there was no one to inherit the throne. Therefore, after careful discussion, the Bojilie Assembly ultimately decided to give a young man a chance...]

As he spoke, Wanyan, who was not yet forty years old, couldn't help but feel excited and apprehensive: "Brother... if this is true, then it's naturally a good thing. Once I become emperor, we can govern the world freely!"

"But I also felt uneasy. After all, nothing comes for free. I... there has to be something wrong with this..."

You remained silent...

[There's a problem? Of course there is! Because although you don't know the intricacies of the Jin Dynasty's lineage, you personally witnessed that "Jin Emperor" in your past life!]

According to Zhao Gou, that was an indescribable, blind, and foolish god, therefore it had no concept of birth, aging, sickness, or death... But now, the Bojilie Assembly is actually using the excuse of "the emperor's critical illness and the state being without a ruler" to try and get your brother Wanyan to inherit the throne...

This is completely illogical; you can tell there's something wrong with it at a glance!

However… since you still need to conceal your identity, you didn't directly reveal the information you knew. Instead, you subtly asked Brother Wanyan: "Brother, how much do you know about the Emperor's affairs? Could you reveal a little something?"

The older brother hesitated for a moment, then sighed helplessly: "It's not that I'm unwilling to tell, but there really isn't anyone else who knows about this!"

Because the Jin emperor always stayed deep within the palace and was never seen by outsiders, only members of the imperial family and high-ranking officials, such as Marshal Wuzhu, were allowed to meet him. Therefore, outsiders knew nothing about the emperor, only that he was a true god on par with Zhao Gou of the Southern Song Dynasty…

As for distant members of the royal family like my elder brother, they weren't much higher than ordinary people in the eyes of Marshal Wuzhu and others, and they weren't qualified to know the secrets either...

[However, my brother isn't stupid. Although he didn't know anything about the emperor, the reason given by the assembly for the succession was still too absurd. They actually said that the emperor, who was supposed to be a true god, was critically ill, so they needed to find someone to succeed him... What kind of fool is that?]

So, although my brother really wants to go to Zhongdu and become emperor, he's also quite uneasy about it. That's why he wants to discuss it with you and hear your opinion: "Brother, do you think I should go to Zhongdu and try my luck?"

【"this……"】

You had hoped to glean some useful information from him, but he unexpectedly threw the conversation back at you, leaving you with no choice but to ponder...

To go or not to go?

[If you go, it will very likely put Brother Wanyan in danger, which is exactly the outcome you don't want!]

【After all, you have been sworn brothers for many years, and the bond you have built is incredibly deep. Although he is a member of the Jurchen royal family, his interests are aligned with yours. You are both dissatisfied with the current decadent state of the Jin Dynasty and hope to overthrow it and replace it.】

[Moreover, he has helped you a lot over the years, whether it was allocating supplies in the rear, writing up your achievements to help you get promoted, or even using his position to cover up your ideological guidance in the army. He has done everything meticulously... It can even be said that without his help, you would never have been able to climb so fast within the Jin Kingdom's system!]

To you, he is a political mentor and protector; to him, you are his capable and efficient top henchman. The two complement each other perfectly, and even your "One Heart Society" acknowledges his leadership!

So, of course you don't want him to take any risks...

However, a sense of anticipation wells up within you: although the journey is fraught with risk, the rewards are equally immense!

[Leaving aside whether he can succeed to the throne of the Jin Dynasty, this trip to the capital alone is enough for you to uncover many imperial secrets known only to members of the royal family and high-ranking officials!]

Therefore, you are quite hesitant about this...

[Ding! You are in a dilemma regarding whether to support Wanyan Laoge as emperor, so you choose: (?)]

[A: Absolutely not! You can tell there's a big problem with this succession. For everyone's safety, it's better for you to continue to prepare... Besides, your plan to overthrow the Jin dynasty and seize power has already been finalized. Even if he doesn't become emperor, you're confident you can achieve great things in the future!]

[B: I'm so eager to advance! Regardless of whether he becomes emperor or not, this intelligence-gathering trip isn't a loss... Besides, if he really does become emperor, wouldn't you, as his trusted and capable lieutenant, instantly rise to prominence, saving yourself countless hours of hard work?] ...

"Become the emperor?"

Even Zhou Liang outside couldn't help but frown:

If the Jin emperor was an immortal god, how could there be a situation where the former emperor was critically ill and about to die?
Was Jin Wuzhu deliberately lying to achieve some ulterior motive, or was there some secret about the emperor's affairs that he was not yet clear about?
After much deliberation, Zhou Liang decided to test the waters by getting close to Zhou Liang's face.
"What we lack most right now is information about the Jin emperor. If the simulation character continues to be developed step by step according to the plan, we may encounter some unexpected accidents later on, which could ultimately lead to failure."

"If we support that Wanyan prince to go to Zhongdu to succeed to the throne, although the risk is a bit high, it would also allow us to get close to Jin Wuzhu and other core figures of the Jin Kingdom, and even directly discover the secrets of the Jin emperor... It's worth a try!"

"System, choose B!"

[Ding! You chose option B. I'm so eager to improve! Regardless of whether he becomes emperor or not, this intelligence-gathering trip isn't a loss... Besides, if he really does become emperor, wouldn't you, as his trusted and capable lieutenant, instantly rise to prominence, saving yourself countless hours of hard work?]

【…】

Yes! I should support him becoming emperor!

[You made up your mind instantly, and said in a deep voice to your elder brother Wanyan, "Since ancient times, the imperial throne has been hard to come by. Countless heroes and great men have sought to become emperor but have failed... Now that you, elder brother, are fortunate enough to be valued by Marshal Wuzhu, then you must seize this opportunity!"]

"As for the risks... what's the point of backing down from risking one's life for the sake of becoming emperor?"

You bowed solemnly to him and said, "If you still have doubts, please take me with you to Zhongdu! Though I am not talented, I dare to protect you with my life. If there is any danger in Zhongdu, then I will die before you!"

"Good brother!"

Your words moved him to tears, and he immediately vowed: "If I truly attain the throne, I will treat you with the utmost sincerity, just as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei did in the Han Dynasty!"

[These words, in effect, are a promise of great responsibility: he is willing to treat you as Liu Bei treated Guan Yu and Zhang Fei!]

Once he truly becomes emperor, you will have absolute power in the blink of an eye, and whatever you choose to do will receive his support...

You naturally understand the significance of this, and you know he's not joking. Under such circumstances, even if you don't think he'll succeed you, you can't help but feel a surge of heroic determination to stand by him even at the cost of your life!

Well then, let's give it a shot!

【…】

In the 217th year of the Shaoxing reign of the Song Dynasty, Wanyan Laoge, who had risen to prominence on the battlefields against the Mongols and Jin, received a secret imperial edict from Zhongdu, ordering him to proceed to the capital to inherit the throne!

Although his anxious older brother was very excited about this, he still brought you, who had repeatedly distinguished yourself in battle, along with him to serve as his personal bodyguard.

So you boarded the official carriage and headed straight for Zhongdu City...

That year, you arrived in Zhongdu City and were treated with great courtesy by Jin Wuzhu!

[As it turns out, your worries seem somewhat unnecessary. The kind-faced Jin Wuzhu showered the young man with praise, commending his outstanding performance on the Mongol-Jin battlefield and declaring him a rising star of the Wanyan clan!]

Of course, while praising him, Jin Wuzhu also gave you a token compliment, but perhaps because of your Han Chinese identity, he seemed somewhat indifferent to you...

[You anticipated this, so you're not angry; you're just waiting for your brother Wanyan to ascend the throne.]

And this happened very quickly!

In the 217th year of the Shaoxing reign of the Song Dynasty, under the unanimous approval of the Bojilie Assembly led by Wanyan Wuzhu, Wanyan Kang, a rising star of the Wanyan clan who had recently distinguished himself on the Mongol-Jin battlefield, was successfully elected as the new emperor of the Jin Empire!

On the first day of the first lunar month of the following year, a grand enthronement ceremony was held in Zhongdu City, and Wanyan Kang officially ascended the throne as emperor!

Everything seemed to be going very smoothly, even too smoothly...

……

(End of this chapter)