Song Xiu

Chapter 7 New Mission
Like many people in later generations, Zhao Dexiu was not very familiar with the history of the early Song Dynasty.

Aside from some famous events such as the "Chenqiao Mutiny and the donning of the yellow robe," most of the history of the early Song Dynasty was quite unfamiliar to Zhao Dexiu.

But when Zhao Dexiu heard Pan Mei's name, she became quite interested in the handsome middle-aged man.

Zhao Dexiu may only have a vague understanding of the lives of other generals in the early Song Dynasty, but thanks to some dramas in later generations, he had specifically researched Pan Mei's life in his previous life.

Judging from Pan Mei's historical performance, the phrase "pillar of the Song Dynasty" is most appropriate to praise him.

Because of his natural affection for Pan Mei, Zhao Dexiu responded humbly when Pan Mei gave him a kind smile.

A two-way approach always allows two people to become familiar with each other very quickly.

At least that's how it looks on the surface.

When Zhao Dexiu rode his horse and followed three thousand elite cavalrymen galloping towards Kaifeng, he already affectionately called Pan Mei Zhongxun.

The three thousand elite cavalrymen moved at a very fast speed.

Chenqiao Post Station was only a few dozen miles away from Kaifeng City. In addition, the area around Kaifeng City was a hundred miles of plains where cavalry could gallop. So, as dawn broke, Zhao Dexiu, riding on his horse, could already vaguely see the magnificent city of Kaifeng in the distance.

It should take no more than half an hour for this cavalry force carrying an important mission to reach the city of Kaifeng.

Throughout the march, Zhao Dexiu kept pondering a question: what was Zhao Kuangyin's intention in ordering him to return to the capital with Pan Mei?

Zhao Dexiu was not so naive as to think that his father was deliberately giving him the opportunity to befriend high-ranking military officers.

His father was the emperor, and one who seized power through a coup. Such an emperor would certainly be very sensitive to the loyalty of the military.

Moreover, even if Zhao Kuangyin didn't mind this, Zhao Dexiu didn't believe he could attract Pan Mei simply because of the title of the eldest son of the emperor.

Zhao Dexiu knew that the main reason Pan Mei treated him with respect was because he had a father who commanded the most elite troops in the world!
Unable to immediately guess Zhao Kuangyin's intentions, Zhao Dexiu temporarily put aside his doubts.

Remaining calm and waiting for the right moment to act may be the best course of action going forward.

As the three thousand elite cavalrymen, returning from Chenqiao, sped toward Kaifeng, two generals were patrolling the vast eastern city wall of Kaifeng all night long.

These two generals were Shi Shouxin, the Commander of the Palace Guard, and Wang Shenqi, the Commander of the Palace Guard.

From their official titles, we can tell that they were both high-ranking officers in the Imperial Guard of the Palace Guard, which also means that they were Zhao Kuangyin's confidants.

Since Zhao Kuangyin led tens of thousands of imperial guards on the expedition yesterday, Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi, following Zhao Kuangyin's secret instructions, personally led the imperial guards to garrison the east gate of Kaifeng.

In order not to delay important matters, Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi ordered their soldiers to stand in formation and wait for dawn even when night fell the previous night.

As the sky gradually brightened, Shi Shouxin couldn't help but frown.

Even in the dead of winter, when it gets light later, it will be fully light in about half an hour.

Why hasn't the Grand Commandant's vanguard returned yet?

Because Zhao Kuangyin had not been the supreme commander of the Imperial Guards for long, he was unable to fully control all the Imperial Guards inside and outside the city. Otherwise, there would have been no need for Zhao Kuangyin to launch a coup outside the city.

Within Kaifeng, there was still a portion of the Imperial Guards that were not under Zhao Kuangyin's control.

In Zhao Kuangyin's original plan for Shi Shouxin, after the successful coup, he would first send a force of several thousand elite troops back to the capital. Once those troops returned, they would take control of the imperial city and important government offices.

In this way, Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi's troops would be able to free up their forces to suppress any potential resistance.

Compared to Shi Shouxin's slight impatience, Wang Shenqi became much calmer.

In Wang Shenqi’s view, as long as the Chenqiao Mutiny succeeds, what does it matter if some of the Imperial Guards in the city rebel to protect the capital?
They have already taken control of the East Gate's defenses and can let tens of thousands of the city's most elite imperial guards into the city at any time.

Once that horde of wolves and tigers enters the city, we can then attack and capture the imperial city.

With this in mind, Wang Shenqi jokingly said to the eager Shi Shouxin:
“When the vanguard returns, you should start addressing the commander as Your Majesty.” Wang Shenqi’s words were both a joke and a reassurance.

Sure enough, after hearing Wang Shenqi's words, Shi Shouxin's face showed anticipation—the merit of supporting him was enough to elevate his clan to a new level.

Despite his anticipation, Shi Shouxin still had a worry at this crucial moment: "Zhongbao, have you forgotten?"
Wei Renpu sent me a letter last night, but I declined temporarily due to illness.

But given Wei Renpu's competence, he may have already realized something.

He was not like those two ignorant Confucian scholars in the Chongyuan Hall.

Upon hearing Shi Shouxin mention Wei Renpu, even the usually composed Wang Shenqi's expression became somewhat serious.

Thanks to the two prime ministers, Fan Zhi and Wang Pu, who temporarily removed Wei Renpu from the Council of State Affairs, the initial phase of this plan would not have gone so smoothly.

Just as Wang Shenqi was considering whether to send troops to capture Wei Renpu, Shi Shouxin, who turned his head again to look outside the city, finally saw the scene he had been longing for.

A force of several thousand elite cavalrymen is rapidly approaching the east gate.

When the thousands of elite cavalrymen arrived at the city, Shi Shouxin immediately recognized the two familiar comrades at the head of the group.

The return of Pan Mei and Wang Yansheng signifies the success of the Chenqiao Mutiny.

An excited Shi Shouxin immediately ordered his soldiers to open the city gate, but at this moment Wang Shenqi, who was standing to the side, asked in surprise: "Isn't that Liu Ge'er?"

How did he end up in this elite cavalry unit?

Wang Shenqi's words made Shi Shouxin look to the side, and only then did he finally see a slightly thin-looking boy below the city.

"It really is my nephew!"

The boy seemed to realize that Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi were watching him, and he waved familiarly towards the city wall.

Hey, you two good uncles, open the door quickly, your nephew is back!

Soon after, Zhao Dexiu followed Pan Mei to the top of the city wall.

After Pan Mei met up with Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi, they quickly exchanged the latest information.

After learning that Zhao Dexiu's presence by Pan Mei's side was Zhao Kuangyin's intention, Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi wisely gave up their interest in asking further questions.

One should not presume to know the emperor's will.

Zhao Dexiu thought that he might have free time next, but Pan Mei led him aside and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has an imperial edict for you."

Oral instruction?

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dexiu immediately perked up.

It's good to have a father who dotes on you. The merits of supporting the emperor haven't even faded yet, and he's already being given new credits to accumulate.

Zhao Dexiu bowed solemnly to Pan Mei and said, "Your subject accepts the imperial edict."

"If you're bored, go and capture Wei Renpu."

Pan Mei quickly recounted Zhao Kuangyin's first oral instruction, and the sentence did indeed sound like Zhao Kuangyin's usual tone when speaking to Zhao Dexiu at home.

Normally, if Zhao Kuangyin assigns a task to Zhao Dexiu, Zhao Dexiu would be very happy to do it.

The question is, who is Wei Renpu?

Compared to capturing Wei Renpu, he wanted to capture Chai Zongxun even more!
(End of this chapter)