Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

Beneath the Imperial Castle in Tokyo.

Cai Jing's troops have surrounded the imperial city. They have launched several attacks on the city in the past few days, and the city walls are now covered with traces of battle. Although the bodies have been disposed of, the bloodstains below the city have not been completely cleaned up.

Li Gang stood atop the imperial city wall, his brow furrowed.

Cai Jing's rebellion was truly unexpected. Even though Li Gang had made preparations in the capital city several days in advance and successfully identified Cai Jing's mole there, the pressure on Li Gang to defend the capital city was still immense, given that Cai Jing had already taken control of the entire capital.

He had done his utmost to defend the city these past few days, and it was already a very good result that he was able to barely keep the imperial city from falling. Now, the safety of the entire imperial family in the imperial city depended on Li Gang alone, which made Li Gang feel particularly pressured.

So when Cai Jing sent someone yesterday to say that they could discuss it, Li Gang immediately agreed.

We should fight one day less if possible, and give the imperial city garrison as much rest as possible.

"Li Gang! I'm here! Have you thought it through?"

Cai Jing emerged from the crowd and shouted at Li Gang.

"Cai Jing! Your treason is a fact! The most important thing you should do now is to take the initiative to plead guilty!"

Li Gang also saw Cai Jing, and thinking that the Song Dynasty was now in a state of near collapse under Cai Jing's control, Li Gang was furious.

"Apologize? To whom? To you?"

Cai Jing found it somewhat amusing: "Talking to you is a sign of respect, but it doesn't mean I'm afraid of you!"

"Of course, it's with the Emperor!"

"Zhao Ji is not in the capital, so where did you get this emperor from?"

"Although the Emperor is not here, we still have the Empress!"

"Empress? Hahahaha."

Cai Jing burst into laughter.

"Bring Zheng out, and I'll confess my crimes, but see if she dares to accept it!"

Cai Jing's words were full of disdain for Empress Zheng; he didn't take her, the empress, seriously at all.

“Cai Jing! You were once a minister of the Song Dynasty, and your family has been favored by the emperor for generations. If you had always been a loyal minister, you would surely have a good reputation in the history books of later generations. Why did you have to become a disloyal, unfilial, unrighteous, and traitorous rebel!”

Li Gang tried to persuade Cai Jing to back down based on morality, but Cai Jing mocked him instead.

"Li Gang, I don't need you to teach me how to be a Song subject. When I was your age, I had already devoted myself to the Song Dynasty!"

"As for what you're talking about in later historical records, I remember that you censors were all cursing me, calling me the greatest villain in the world. What good reputation do I have then? Who would believe your childish words now!"

Li Gang hadn't expected that Cai Jing would be so self-aware of his own reputation.

"Cai Jing! You know your reputation was bad before! You were practically a treacherous villain! Instead of repenting, you've become even worse! In the future, you will be reviled by thousands in the history books! You will be infamous for eternity! Other people with the surname Cai will feel ashamed because of you!"

"Hmph, Li Gang! No wonder you were able to become an imperial censor before, you are indeed quite eloquent! However, I no longer need the historians of the Song Dynasty to record my affairs! The Song Dynasty is gone! I have my own historians now! How the history books will record my affairs from now on is up to me!"

Perhaps speechless at Cai Jing's outrageous words, Li Gang was momentarily unable to refute them. He could only raise his hand, point at Cai Jing, and curse:

"Old, old thief! You, you can forget about it! Even if it costs me my life, I, Li Gang, will make you..."

"Li Gang! Do you really think I can't breach this imperial city? Or do you really think this imperial city is as hard as your bones?"

Li Gang was interrupted by Cai Jing before he could finish speaking.

"I only spared the emperor's life because I saw how difficult it was to build this imperial city and it would be a pity to destroy it. Do you really think I can't break through it? Do you believe I can burn the imperial city down?"

In response to Cai Jing's question, Li Gang sneered:

"Hmph, you old thief, then break it down! Burn it down! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking! When the imperial city was being built, the officials in charge were all your subordinates. I'm afraid you already had ambitions to usurp the throne back then!"

"You don't want to destroy the imperial city right now, not because you're afraid of harming the royal family, but because you're afraid of destroying the palace you prepared for yourself!"

You know what, Li Gang's words make sense!

Cai Jing's unwillingness to destroy the imperial city stemmed not only from the agreement reached with Gao Kan, but also from this other reason.

After Li Gang pointed it out, Cai Jing did not lose his composure; instead, he looked at Li Gang with some admiration.

"Li Gang, I'm starting to admire you a bit. Here's what we'll do: if you're willing to surrender to me, I'll forgive your past mistakes and even give you an important position!"

"In the Song Dynasty, the highest position you ever held was that of a mere censor. If you surrender to me, I can make you the Vice Censor-in-Chief and put you in charge of the three departments of the Censorate!"

It must be said that Cai Jing's offer was quite good, but Li Gang only sneered after hearing it.

"You old scoundrel! You're dreaming! I could never betray the Song Dynasty! I was born a Song citizen, and I will die a Song soul! In this life, I, Li Gang, will never betray the Song royal family and its people!"

"What a pity... Li Gang! I won't give you much time. If you remain obstinate, I will launch a full-scale attack on the capital and slaughter all the members of the Zhao Song imperial family within!"

Li Gang's refusal was within Cai Jing's expectations.

"If you open the gates of the imperial city and surrender now, I might consider sparing the Zhao Song imperial family!"

"Also, let me tell you something. Zhao Ji just arrived in the capital, but I've already driven him away. He didn't even have the courage to attack the capital. Is someone like that worth dying for?"

Cai Jing's words clearly dealt a significant blow to the morale of the Imperial Guards, who began to murmur amongst themselves. Seeing the situation was turning sour, Li Gang quickly shouted words to calm the troops down:

"You old scoundrel, don't think that by twisting the truth and belittling His Majesty here you can sway us!"

"When reinforcements arrive in the capital from all directions, it will be your end!"

"Huh, stubborn."

Seeing that Li Gang remained so firm, Cai Jing stopped arguing. He waved his hand, and after a commotion, his men dragged out hundreds of people who looked like commoners. Their hands and feet were bound with ropes, their mouths were gagged, and they all knelt outside the imperial city.

"Li Gang, didn't you say you were a good official, worthy of the Zhao Song imperial family and the people of Zhao Song?"

"Now, I'm giving you a choice! If you don't open the gate and surrender after one incense stick's time, I'll kill one civilian and then light another incense stick. If you still don't open the gate, I'll kill two more after the time is up, and so on, until all these people are killed. If you still don't open the gate, I'll capture another batch of people to kill!"

"You old scoundrel! You, you shameless bastard! How dare you take ordinary people hostage!"

After hearing Cai Jing's words, Li Gang once again launched into a tirade of curses!

"But! If you are willing to open the city gates, their lives can be saved, Li Gang. The lives of these hundred-odd people are now in your hands!"

This is exactly the effect Cai Jing wanted. Li Gang, what do you think you would choose?

"Should we protect the imperial family of the Song Dynasty, or protect the common people? Li Gang, now it's your turn to choose!"

After Cai Jing finished speaking, he instructed someone to light an incense stick, and then, for his own safety, he retreated back into the crowd.

"Grand Tutor, oh no, Your Majesty, are these people really citizens of Bianjing?"

Cai Jing's actions were indeed a bit frightening, so when he retreated, someone couldn't help but ask a question.

In contrast, Cai Jing was prepared. He stroked his beard and slowly said:

"Don't worry, these are all local thugs and ruffians from Bianjing. Each of them has a criminal record. I dressed them in ordinary people's clothes, painted their faces, and gagged them. No one in the capital would recognize them."

"Now it all depends on what Li Gang chooses. If he opens the door, then everything will be fine."

"If he doesn't open the door, we'll just kill a bunch of hooligans, what's wrong with that?"

……