Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

On the 25th day of the eighth month of the sixth year of Xuanyuan, in Jinling Street.

Clack clack—

A fast horse galloped towards Weiyang Palace.

When passersby saw the scout on horseback with three feathers stuck in his back, they quickly parted the road.

Only when they reached the palace gates did the intelligence officer on horseback stop his horse and turn to show his identity and imperial edict to the guards at the gate.

"I want to see Commander Jiang of the Northern Garrison."

A quarter of an hour later, Jiang Chaoyun hurried into the Xuanzheng Hall.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report from the State of Song."

"explain."

Shen Lang flicked his sleeve and poured Jiang Chaoyun a cup of tea, inviting him to sit down and talk.

After Jiang Chaoyun took his seat, he placed the urgent report from the Song Kingdom on the table.

"Your Majesty, we have just received an urgent report that Bianjing has been breached by the Jurchens."

The group included Zhao Ji and his son Zhao Huan, along with the Song imperial family, concubines, and officials of all ranks, totaling several thousand people.

Along with 300,000 men and women from the city, they were escorted to the northern border of the Jin state.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang picked up his teacup, blew on it to cool it down, took a small sip, and asked, "What is the current situation in Bianjing?"

"We have just received news that Bianjing is temporarily being guarded by Wanyan Loushi. Wanyan Zongbi negotiated peace with Zhao Huan without obtaining permission."

Suspected by Wanyan Lie, he left Bianjing and returned north on August 14th.

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Shen Lian's deep pupils.

Jiang Chaoyun took a sip of tea and then whispered, "With the fall of Bianjing, our Chu merchants have also been greatly affected. Doesn't the Regent intend to make a fuss about this?"

"That's all?"

Shen Lang countered with a question.

"Two emperors of the Song Dynasty were captured by the Jurchens, but the regional princes did not respond?"

"Yes," Jiang Chaoyun put down her teacup. "After the news of the fall of Bianjing spread, the vassal states and powerful families in various regions turned to support the nine-year-old Prince Kang, Zhao Gou, to succeed to the throne."

The troops originally sent to defend the emperor began to gather in Guangping County, seemingly intending to fight the Jin army to the bitter end.

"Thinking too much."

Shen Lang directly rejected Jiang Chaoyun's analysis.

"Guangping County is strategically located, easy to defend and difficult to attack. As long as we hold this place, the southern half of the Song Dynasty's territory south of the Bian River will have a solid barrier."

Although the Jin cavalry was formidable, they were absolutely weak in siege warfare. If the Jin army failed to achieve their objectives after a prolonged siege, they would eventually make peace with the Song Dynasty and formally demarcate the territorial boundary.

Jiang Chaoyun: "Does the Regent mean that the Song Kingdom intends to abandon Bianjing like this?"

Shen Lang laughed and said, "Actually, from the moment the Jurchens began besieging Bianjing, the local gentry of the Song Dynasty had already completely abandoned Zhao Ji and his son."

Bianjing was besieged for a full six months. Apart from the Liang King Zhao Yu's force that broke into Bianjing, what did the other royal armies from various regions do?

They were simply observing the situation. Now that Bianjing has fallen, these opportunists naturally won't waste their efforts on a situation that's already a fait accompli.

Under limited conditions, it is imperative to quickly cultivate a prince who can be controlled, thereby maximizing our interests.

"Zhao Gou is too young; he's probably the most suitable candidate," Jiang Chaoyun suddenly realized. "As long as someone uses Zhao Gou's name to launch a northern expedition to recapture Bianjing, everyone will respond."

At that time, forced by circumstances, Zhao Gou became the spiritual anchor for the people of Song, and the fall of Bianjing became a stepping stone for them to pursue their own interests..."

At this point, Jiang Chaoyun couldn't help but shudder and gulped down the tea in his cup.

At that moment, he seemed to have figured something out.

"It's so dark, it's really too dark."

"Using national crisis as a tool for personal gain is so dark that there is not a glimmer of hope."

Shen Lang, however, seemed to have seen through everything. After listening to Jiang Chaoyun's words, he simply said, "In the face of interests, what are national sentiments and patriotism? They are nothing more than tools to gain personal status."

Centuries later, no matter how dark the historical records may be, there will always be a group of self-proclaimed experts who are actually just as sophisticated and self-serving fools who will defend them.

After all, as long as one says that history is written by the victors, all the sacrifices and suffering experienced in that era can be denied. Throughout history, how many times has this happened?

How many heroes have been questioned, and how many villains who should have been condemned and vilified have been hailed as saviors of an era?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chaoyun felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly said to Shen Lang, "Regent, what you're saying is making me feel uneasy. Isn't that a bit too pessimistic?"

Shen Lang smiled and poured himself a cup of tea, saying, "I'm just stating the facts. After all, the cost of ruining someone's reputation is just too low."

In the mouths of learned scholars, tyrants can be portrayed as benevolent and wise rulers, and blood-stained invaders can be sung as saviors of the people.

Especially scholars born in times of peace, who boast of their knowledge of history and ancient texts and dare to pontificate on current affairs, treat right and wrong merely as tools for personal gain and fame.

Jiang Chaoyun wiped the sweat from his forehead: "In that case, we should learn from Wu Zhao Kingdom and prohibit the common people from reading and writing, raising the educational threshold so that the people can be better controlled?"

"Hmm? Learning martial arts from Zhaoguo?"

Shen Lang frowned.

Jiang Chaoyun: "Yes, as Emperor Wuzhao said, 'When people are well-fed and clothed, they think of lustful desires.' Only by keeping the people in ignorance and endless labor can we eliminate all other thoughts."

By preventing the people from learning to read and write, the imperial court gains control of the so-called discourse.

Shen Lang was immediately curious: "Wu Zhao banned literacy among the common people?"

"No, on the contrary, the Wu Zhao national policy states that all other pursuits are inferior, only studying is superior."

It was meant to encourage the common people to acquire knowledge and serve the court, but very few were actually able to receive an education.

After all, the cost of education was indeed outrageously high, and local governments had significantly increased the prices of paper, inkstones, and writing brushes, making it unaffordable for ordinary people.

"That's absurd; anyone who tries to imitate it will be utterly destroyed."

Shen Lang shook his head: "Forget it, there's no use talking to you about this now. Didn't Wu Zhao Kingdom send another invitation to His Majesty to study there?"

"Let's discuss it with His Majesty later, and go see for ourselves. By the way, is there any news about Ye Fan?"

Upon hearing the name "Ye Fan," Jiang Chaoyun's expression turned somewhat strange.

"Ye Fan, along with his fellow disciples, was also taken into the northward migration. He collaborated with the Jurchens to betray the Song Dynasty, but in the end, he was still outmaneuvered by them."

Perhaps this is the fate of traitors, and also the only thing I think the Jurchens did right.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang chuckled and said, "Send someone to the Ye residence and ask Prime Minister Ye if he wants me to step in and rescue Ye Fan."

Jiang Chaoyun asked in surprise, "The Regent still intends to save Ye Fan? Didn't Prime Minister Ye remove him from office?"

Shen Lang: "I don't want to, I just want to confirm one last time whether they still have any father-son relationship."

Oh, and there's one more thing you should tell Lin Yunxiu.

Langyue was in the Jurchen army's returning north procession. If she wanted to avenge the disciples of Jinyun Manor and Zhou Xianwu, this was her last chance before the procession reached the capital.

Jiang Chaoyun: "Lin Yunxiu is no match for Langyue at all; their cultivation foundations are not even on the same level."

Shen Lang: "As long as Lin Yunxiu is obsessed with revenge, she will definitely be able to kill Langyue. Just pass on my words to her."

After saying that, Shen Lang took out a transparent pill.

"This Yi Jing Pill was given to me by His Majesty for self-defense in times of crisis."

After taking it, one's cultivation level can increase several times within seven days.

However, the consequence was that after seven days, he lost all his cultivation and only had one day left to live.

Give it to Lin Yunxiu and tell her that whether she takes it or not is her own choice; no one is forcing her.

Jiang Chaoyun was stunned, looking at the Yi Jing Pill with disbelief.

So he put away the Yi Jing Dan and asked, "How should we negotiate with the Jurchens about the Chu people who died in Bianjing?"

Shen Lang: "No need for negotiation, maintain the status quo."

But I will make all the elite members of the Jin state pay the price for the deaths of my Chu people.”

With a single, understated sentence, the fate of the Jin dynasty was sealed.

Jiang Chaoyun silently bowed and withdrew.

As soon as the others left, someone else came to report: "Your Majesty, Yue Pengju is requesting an audience outside the palace gates."

"Bring him in to see me."

"Yes."

As if he had already anticipated Yue Pengju's arrival, Shen Lang was not surprised.

Before long, Yue Pengju arrived at Xuanzheng Hall.

Before he could speak, Shen Lang interjected, "Pengju, I understand why you've come. I suppose you're also aware of the current situation of the Song Kingdom."

I won't advise you on how to make a decision now; I just want to ask you one question: are you fully prepared?

Yue Pengju immediately saluted Shen Lang and said, "Your Majesty, I am ready! Please grant my request!"

"Very good, sit down and talk."