Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

It belongs to the Western Army, Yongxing Military Circuit, and Jingzhao Prefecture.

This is currently the capital of the Western Song Dynasty, where Emperor Huizong and others reside.

"Daban, news has come from the north: the Liao Kingdom is gone."

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) was often idle and neglected his duties, which made Yang Jian the most worried person in the entire Western Song Dynasty.

Moreover, he was truly dedicated to his work, bringing out all the spies he had trained over the years. The spies were also very professional, uncovering a shocking piece of news: the Liao Kingdom was gone.

"Why not?"

Yang Jian almost dropped the teacup in his hand. That was the Liao Kingdom! Could it just disappear like that?

"It was done by the Yi Kingdom's Western Expeditionary Army. Princess Dalibo of Liao Kingdom is dead, and not a single adult member of the royal bloodline remains."

"Did Ren Yuan go in person?"

Yang Jian continued to ask.

"No, the leader is Guan Sheng."

"Guan Sheng? Why does that name sound so familiar?"

Yang Jian felt like he had heard this name before.

"That's the descendant of the Guan family, who was captured by Liangshan along with the Prince Consort."

"So it was him. Wasn't he just a lowly inspector back then? Now he's a commander-in-chief?"

Yang Jian then remembered that Guan Sheng's incident was quite a big deal in the court back then, after all, Xuan Zan, the former Prince Consort, was also involved, and the Prince was so angry that he almost died.

"Our Great Song Dynasty has so many talented people, yet that scoundrel Ren Yuan has benefited from them."

Yang Jian shook his head helplessly. Now that the Liao Kingdom has been annexed by the Yi Kingdom, the Yi Kingdom's strength will become unprecedented, and the Song Dynasty will be in even greater danger!

"Master, should we tell the Emperor about this?"

"His Majesty is extremely busy with state affairs, so let's not tell him."

Yang Jian shook his head. What good would it do for Zhao Ji to know? Besides impotent rage, what else could he do? It would be better not to tell him at all.

"Then, shall we tell the Crown Prince?"

The scout suggested that since this was the Zhao family's territory, shouldn't we inform someone with the surname Zhao?

"Prince?"

Upon hearing the words "Crown Prince," Yang Jian's eyes suddenly lit up.

Yes! And the Crown Prince too!

That's right, I'm talking about Zhao Huan.

This crown prince is no ordinary man. When the Lai Kingdom was destroyed, he managed to escape from the Yi Kingdom's army with his intelligence and fled westward to Yongxing Army Road. This is enough to prove that the crown prince's talent is better than the emperor's!

Of course, this is all on the premise that everything Zhao Huan said is true.

However, Yang Jian felt there was no need to lie, since Zhao Huan was Zhao Ji's crown prince. It was impossible that Ren Yuan had captured him and then deliberately released him to act as a spy.

Why would someone be so foolish as to give up a perfectly good position as crown prince to become a spy?

Moreover, after Zhao Huan returned to Jingzhao Prefecture, he did indeed assume the important responsibility of overseeing the country. Zhao Ji basically entrusted all matters to Zhao Huan, while he himself indulged in the gentle pleasures of women in the Three Qin regions every day, and did not care about anything at all.

Although Zhao Huan did not do particularly well, at least he had the attitude of learning, as well as perseverance and determination, which was enough to make the officials of the Western Song Dynasty look at him with new respect.

"Let's go find the Crown Prince."

Yang Jian acted decisively and immediately led his men to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace to let Zhao Huan make a decision.

At this moment, in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, Zhao Huan sat properly at his desk, while an elderly man with gray hair stood quietly in the center of the hall, reporting something to him.

"Your Highness... This is the current state of military preparedness in the Song Dynasty. This old minister is weary and wishes to retire. I beg Your Highness to grant my request."

After saying a lot of things, the old man finally revealed his purpose: he had come to resign from his official post.

"General Liu?! Why is that! Did Zhao Huan not do a good enough job?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan was greatly alarmed. He knew that the old man in front of him was no ordinary person; he was the soul of the Western Army. Without him, those ambitious individuals in the Western Army would likely cause trouble immediately.

"Your Highness, I am old."

Liu Fa pointed to his full head of white hair and said with a wry smile:

“Ever since Your Majesty came to the capital, this old minister has been working tirelessly day and night, and my hair has turned white faster than before. Recently, this old minister has felt that his energy is insufficient and he can hardly continue. I hope Your Highness will allow me to request retirement.”

If it were just a few individuals, Zhao Huan would have simply made a show of agreeing, but Liu Fa couldn't do that!

"General, this matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by me. Without the Emperor's decree, I dare not agree to your request."

Zhao Huan said, "The Dayi army hasn't even attacked yet. If you leave now, what if the others drive me out? How can I complete the task assigned by Prince Ren? If I fail to complete the task assigned by Prince Ren, how will I obtain my title in the future?"

"Then please inform the Emperor and ask for his approval, Your Highness."

Liu Fa was determined to leave, and his attitude was very firm.

"General, what exactly happened that made you so determined to retire and return to your hometown?"

Zhao Huan said, "Your Majesty, you must give me a reason, otherwise I won't be able to explain it to my father!"

"Does Your Highness know of the Liao Kingdom?"

Liu Fa suddenly asked Zhao Huan.

"The Liao Kingdom? Of course I know about it, old general. Are you making fun of me?"

Zhao Huan said that he was not stupid, how could he not even know about the Liao Kingdom?

"Does Your Highness know that the Liao Kingdom has already ceased to exist?"

"Ah? General, is this really true?"

Zhao Huan stood up excitedly. The Liao Kingdom was gone? Great! That's wonderful!

Zhao Huan had lost count of how much the Song state had suffered at the hands of the Liao state; he only knew that his ancestors had always hoped to one day get justice.

But what he didn't expect was that the Liao Kingdom would be gone first. Hahaha, his ancestors must have done a lot of work down there!

"Does Your Highness know who destroyed the Liao Kingdom?"

"This...could it be Ren Yuan from Shandong?"

In truth, Zhao Huan was already eight or nine parts certain that it was his own Prince Ren who had done it, but in front of Liu Fa, he had to pretend that he was not familiar with Ren Yuan.

"That's right, it's him, or rather, just a detachment under his command."

"This is just too...too much of a boost to the morale of the Han people!"

Upon confirming the news, Zhao Huan was very excited. "Your Highness is so capable! If I had led the Western Army to surrender earlier, would my status have been even higher?"

He was so excited that he almost cheered for Ren Yuan in front of Liu Fa, but luckily he reacted quickly and corrected himself.

"Yes, he has fulfilled the wish that has been unfulfilled for generations... Your Highness, it seems that this old minister is truly getting old."

Although Ren Yuan was a traitor to the country, it is a fact that he destroyed the Liao dynasty and boosted the morale of the Han people, which is in stark contrast to a certain monarch who was so frightened by the Liao army that he abandoned his troops and ran back home.

Liu Fa was both happy and disappointed. Under the influence of these two emotions, he really didn't want to continue. He, Liu Fa, couldn't bring himself to lay a hand on the Han heroes who had destroyed the Liao Kingdom!

"General, the Song Dynasty still needs a pillar of the state like you. I think we should discuss this again. How about this, I'll give you a month's leave. Take this month to rest and recuperate. What do you think?"

Zhao Huan said, "Your request is really beyond my capabilities. I'll grant you leave for a month so you can have a good rest."

As for resigning and retiring to one's hometown... why don't you talk to the prince about it later?

……