New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

The conversation between the two in-laws seemed to be quite pleasant. Tang Huan, who had refused to say a word of remorse since being captured, actually told the Jin emperor that he could go to Guangling with the reinforcements to persuade his son to open the city gates and surrender.

“A true man should sacrifice himself for his country, but as a father, I do not want my own children to die on the walls of Guangling. Moreover, there is a seventh princess among them, and I do not want to see her become an enemy of the Great Jin, who gave birth to and raised her.”

Isn't this perfect?

Wanyan Wuqimai greatly appreciated Tang Huan's statement.

The Song Dynasty is almost gone, so why bother to remain faithful to it? Wouldn't it be better to spend your old age surrounded by your children and grandchildren?

To avoid any unforeseen complications, Tang Huan said he could set off immediately, and that he was confident he could persuade Tang Qian once he arrived in Guangling City.

Standing atop the city wall, watching Tang Huan's surrender-persuasion team leave the city to the west, Wanyan Wuqimai was quite pleased with himself.

As early as when he was trapped in Youzhou, Tang Qian had already shown his extraordinary talent under duress in order to protect himself.

If it weren't for the woodworking lathe he developed, how could Da Jin have manufactured millions of arrows in just six months?

If he could be persuaded by his father to join the Jin Dynasty, his lineage would be greatly strengthened, and he might even be able to completely take over the Jin Dynasty and transform it into a family-run empire.

When his eldest son officially ascended the throne of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Wuqimai did not mind giving his son-in-law from the Song Dynasty a seat in the Bojilie position.

Just as he stood atop the city wall, basking in the rising sun and envisioning a magnificent future, a eunuch rushed upstairs from below: "Your Majesty, Wanyan Xun, the commander of the Youzhou army, is outside Liaoyang City, awaiting Your Majesty's summons."

"Wanyan Xun?" Wanyan Wuqimai frowned slightly, then let out a cold snort. "Wasn't he unwell and recuperating in Youzhou? What is his purpose in coming to Liaoyang now?"

Sensing the emperor's displeasure, the eunuch shrank back, his fear evident in his eyes.

"Wanyan Xun's trip to the capital this time seems... seems to have come prepared."

Wanyan Wuqimai's gaze sharpened slightly, his face filled with astonishment. Then he let out a soft snort and a cold laugh: "What does this mean? Could it be that he is planning a rebellion?"

"Whether they are plotting a rebellion or not, I dare not speculate, but the other party is definitely not here with good intentions."

According to the laws of the Great Jin Dynasty, a border official could only bring a maximum of five hundred retainers when leaving his post. However, Wanyan Xun was accompanied by far more than five hundred followers when he went to the capital this time, and they were all fully armed.

"He really has a lot of nerve." Wanyan Wuqimai glared at him, and the oppressive aura emanating from him made the eunuch prostrate on the ground, too afraid to move. "He's courting death."

Although the main force of the Jin Dynasty went south for this campaign against the Song Dynasty, as the emperor of the Jin Dynasty, he had 8,000 imperial guards protecting him. These men were all elite soldiers who could fight ten men each. In addition, there was the Liaoyang Army stationed in the capital. The total defensive force of the capital was at least 20,000. It would be easy for them to wipe out the Youzhou Army, which only had 10,000 men.

How much audacity did Wanyan Xun possess to dare to take advantage of the court's weakened military strength and come to Liaoyang to cause trouble?

Just as Wanyan Wuqimai was about to descend the city wall to ask the other party what he wanted to do, Wanyan Xun outside the city seemed to be impatient to be summoned and rode up to the Yongqing Gate under the protection of his personal guards.

"Your humble servant Wanyan Xun greets Your Majesty the Emperor." Though he said he was going to pay his respects, Wanyan Xun, sitting astride his horse, merely placed his right hand on his chest over his heart and bowed slightly. Throughout the entire process, his gaze never left Wanyan Wuqimai, who stood atop the city wall, a smile playing on his lips, a look that was utterly mocking and irritating. "Your humble servant is clad in armor and cannot perform the proper ceremony. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

“Nephew, you are unwell and should stay in Youzhou. Returning to the capital without permission will be punished.”

Last year, when the plan to attack the Song Dynasty was being discussed, Wanyan Xun was summoned by the court, but he refused to go to the capital on the grounds of being unwell. Considering that the combat strength of the 10,000 Youzhou soldiers was limited, they could at most continue to serve as a supply corps to escort grain and fodder, which was really dispensable. Many generals were also unwilling for Wanyan Xun to regain control of the military, so Wanyan Wuqimai chose to turn a blind eye to his open disobedience.

Since there's no intention to bring Wanyan Xun back to the center of power, there's no need to make a big deal out of it.

But now Wanyan Xun has led his troops into the capital. Such an action is no different from treason, which is punishable by beheading. Could it be that this kid has gone mad?

"Your Majesty, I have returned to the capital this time only to ask you a question. The court is now almost entirely controlled by the Wanyan Zonghan clan, and all other members of the royal family have to rely on them. Why are they able to be superior to others, while I, as the son of the late emperor, can only be stationed in Youzhou? Even when summoned by the court, I can only get a sinecure as a grain transporter, and I have no chance to fight on the front lines. Are we destined to have no way to serve our country?"

Wanyan Xun's question made Wanyan Wuqimai roll his eyes. What kind of identity did this kid have? Didn't he know it?

Wanyan Xun's father was indeed Emperor Taizong of the Jin Dynasty, that much is certain. However, his mother was a genuine Liao woman. Even though the Jin Dynasty practiced a hereditary system, Wanyan Xun could not inherit the throne. Now that he has the title of Commander of the Youzhou Army and the authority to command 10,000 Youzhou soldiers, he should be grateful. Why does he still seem so dissatisfied and come to the capital to complain to me?

"The Wanyan Zonghan clan first assisted Emperor Taizu in establishing the Great Jin Dynasty, then destroyed the Liao Dynasty, and now they have destroyed the Song Dynasty. They have made great contributions to the Great Jin Dynasty's dominance over the grasslands, so they are naturally entitled to such a high position and great power. What virtue or ability do you, Wanyan Xun, have, and how dare you presume to be on equal footing with their clan?"

Wanyan Xun responded with a cold laugh: "Then I want to have the same status as them. I wonder if Your Majesty can grant this humble subject's wish?"

"Our Great Jin has always spoken with strength. If your Youzhou army can be invincible, what harm is there in giving you the throne?"

Wanyan Xun's eyes suddenly lit up: "Your Majesty said these words yourself. You must know that a ruler's words are not to be taken lightly."

"But do you have such strength? Let alone the Eastern Route Army led by Wanyan Zonghan, even my Imperial Guards could probably wipe out your more than ten thousand men without leaving a single one alive."

Wanyan Xun turned around and pointed behind him: "Your Majesty, I have brought all 10,000 Youzhou troops with me. If Your Majesty feels that our army is not strong enough, you may treat our army as a rebel army that has entered the capital to force the emperor to abdicate, and wipe them out outside Liaoyang City. What do you think?" "In other words, are you really planning to rebel?"