Song Xiu

Is Chapter 80 really that abrupt?
After the initial surprise, Liu Jun's expression quickly turned to suspicion.

Lu Zan was Liu Jiye's military supervisor. In the past, he would always submit written reports when there was something to report. Why would he need to use a secret report this time?

As this question arose in his mind, Liu Jun recalled the terrifying rumors that had been circulating in the city recently.

The combination of these two factors caused Liu Jun to shiver involuntarily, even on a hot day.

"Quick, bring the package up!"

Urged by Liu Jun, the eunuch hurriedly handed him the secret report.

Liu Jun's hands trembled slightly as he received the secret report.

After unfolding the secret report and quickly browsing its contents, Liu Jun could no longer hold back his last bit of composure.

Beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Filled with doubt and fear, he lost control of his body and collapsed onto the throne behind him.

As Liu Jun slumped to the ground, the secret report in his hand fluttered down to Zhao Hua's feet.

Liu Jun's behavior was too unusual, and Zhao Hua no longer cared about the proper etiquette between ruler and subject.

He decisively picked up the secret report from the floor and began to read it carefully, while Duan Hengyi moved closer to him.

After reading the secret report, Zhao Hua was overjoyed.

As he expected, Zhao Dexiu did not place all his hopes on Lü Qiu Zhongqing.

Even though she was on the front lines, Zhao Dexiu still keenly realized that Lu Zan was a breakthrough point.

Although he admired Zhao Dexiu in his heart, Zhao Hua outwardly displayed an angry demeanor.

Zhao Hua looked at Liu Jun with a mixture of surprise and anger and said:

"What Supervisor Lu said in his letter was all what he had seen with his own eyes, and Liu Jiye's ambition to hold military power and rely on himself was obvious!"

Has Your Majesty forgotten the late Emperor's fears on his deathbed?

As one of the few ministers entrusted with the care of the young emperor, Zhao Hua knew many secrets.

Zhao Hua's words made Liu Jun, whose thoughts were becoming increasingly confused, recall what Liu Min had said to him before his death:
"Liu Jiye was a man of great strategy and loyalty, a true general."

However, since his close relatives all serve the Central Plains, we must be wary!

Recalling that day, the phrase "must be guarded against" kept echoing in Liu Jun's mind like a curse.

Seeing that Liu Jun was still hesitating, Duan Heng could no longer stand still.

If he hesitated any longer, he didn't want his whole family to be buried with Liu Jun when things really got out of control.

Duan Heng stepped forward, his face filled with anger, and advised:
"What are you still hesitating for, Your Majesty!"

If Zhao Hua hadn't held him back, Duan Heng, a powerful minister, would have spat directly onto Liu Jun's face.

Seeing Duan Heng's anxious appearance, Zhao Hua began to suspect that he might be in cahoots with him.

Under Duan Heng's angry questioning, the gentle Liu Jun barely managed to stop the chaos in his mind.

"Changing generals in the middle of battle is a major taboo."

Completely at a loss, Liu Jun stammered out these words.

Liu Jun did not fully trust Liu Jiye, and the reason he hesitated was because of this.

Liu Jun's indecisiveness nearly made Duan Heng break the tablet in his hand.

"Between two evils, choose the lesser. Our army has the numerical advantage, so the Song army will certainly not dare to make any rash moves!"

Changing generals on the eve of battle is a major taboo. Did King Zhao Qian not consider this when he replaced Li Mu?

The reason why King Zhao Qian acted knowingly was not because he was stupid, but because he believed that not replacing Li Mu would bring him greater danger.

During the Warring States period, the concept of survival and continuation of the lineage was emphasized. In times of war, massacres of entire cities were common occurrences.

Who would dare take that risk!

Moreover, in Duan Heng's view as a scholar, the advantage of military strength outweighs everything. Would the Song army dare to rush out of the city?
Under Duan Heng's stern advice, Liu Jun felt reassured and no longer hesitated.

"Draft an imperial edict immediately!"
The emperor appointed the Prefect of Taiyuan as the Military Governor of Shizhou, and sent him with the imperial insignia to comfort the various armies.

Liu Jiye was dismissed from his post, bound in the army, and his fate would be decided upon after he returned to Taiyuan. Having regained some composure, Liu Jun roughly recounted the contents of the imperial edict.

The Taiyuan Yin named Liu Ji'en, whom Liu Jun mentioned, was Liu Jun's adopted son.

Taiyuan City was not without experienced generals, but given how the situation had developed, Liu Jun dared not hand over military power to someone of a different surname.

Upon hearing that Liu Jun was appointing Liu Ji'en to take command of the military, Zhao Hua strode forward, took out a brush from the imperial desk, and began writing rapidly on the blank imperial edict.

Others, seeing Zhao Hua's urgency, would only assume that he was worried about national affairs.

After writing the imperial edict at the fastest speed he had ever done, Zhao Hua placed the still-wet edict in front of Liu Jun.

"Stamp it immediately!"

Zhao Hua stared intently at Liu Jun, his heart filled with anticipation.

Under the watchful eyes of the powerful ministers Duan Heng and Zhao Hua, Liu Jun took out the imperial seal and pressed it heavily onto the imperial edict.

The moment the imperial seal was affixed, Duan Heng and Zhao Hua both breathed a sigh of relief.

Duan Heng was relaxed, and it was finally possible to prevent a mutiny from happening.

The 20,000 elite troops commanded by Liu Jiye were not his own troops; most of them were local men from Hedong.

As long as Liu Jiye does not strike first and create a situation of coercion, it will not be difficult for Liu Ji'en to take over military power on the day the imperial edict arrives.

As for Zhao Hua relaxing his mind:

"If you do the math, the ten-day period hasn't even arrived yet."

Thank goodness!

After leaving the palace and returning to his residence, Zhao Hua poured out his grievances to Lu Qiu Zhongqing in response to his questions.

"Liu Jun is no fool, and with Duan Heng interfering, this trip into the palace is fraught with danger."

After complaining about his grievances, Zhao Hua began to take credit.

"Although Liu Jun was persuaded, he originally intended to send Feng Jinke south. It was only because I strongly recommended Liu Ji'en that Liu Jun finally accepted the suggestion."

After complaining and boasting, Lü Qiu Zhongqing knew that Zhao Hua's words could not be entirely trusted.

However, Lü Qiu Zhongqing did not care about this; what he cared about was Liu Ji'en.

"I will certainly report back truthfully on the sacrifices made by Lord Zhao for the sake of the Marquis."

I wonder what Liu Ji'en's abilities are?

When Lü Qiu Zhongqing asked the crucial question, Zhao Hua stroked his beard and smiled, saying:
"Since I am serving the Marquis, why would I recommend someone with ability?"
Liu Ji'en is rash, unprepared, ungrateful, and easily manipulated!

Upon hearing this, Lüqiu Zhongqing and Zhao Hua exchanged a smile.

Easy to draw, then draw it!

Upon receiving the imperial edict and the emperor's staff, Liu Ji'en set off from Taiyuan without hesitation.

As Liu Jun's only son, even though Liu Ji'en has not yet achieved the status of "Prince and Prefect of the Capital", he has long regarded himself as the crown prince of the Han Dynasty.

As the crown prince, Liu Ji'en could not tolerate anyone harming the Han dynasty.

Liu Ji'en, who had always been criticized by Liu Jun as mediocre, was inspired by his own initiative and traveled day and night since setting off from Taiyuan, fully demonstrating his excellent work ethic of "not sparing any hardship".

Within a few days, Liu Ji'en arrived at the Han army camp outside Huguan City.

Liu Jiye was quite surprised to hear of Liu Ji'en's arrival, while Lu Zan was filled with joy.

Liu Jiye, unaware of Liu Ji'en's purpose in coming, personally led his men to greet him outside the camp.

Unexpectedly, upon seeing Liu Jiye, Liu Ji'en raised the imperial edict in his hand and angrily rebuked him:
"The late emperor's kindness to you was as heavy as a mountain, yet you intend to betray the country?"

Upon hearing Liu Ji'en's words, Lu Zan nearly jumped up.

Even if the intention was to strip Liu Jiye of his military power, why be so abrupt?

(End of this chapter)