Traveling back to the Northern Song Dynasty: Picking up a princess as my wife

The unscrupulous man quietly entered the depths of the county government office, into Li Zhen's simple yet elegant study, his steps carrying a subtle but heavy weight.

He said softly, “My lord, the scout who returned from the Five Kingdoms City in the north has quietly completed his mission. According to his account, after some twists and turns, he miraculously made contact with an old eunuch who had experienced many hardships and served Emperor Huizong of Song. All of this was done quietly without revealing his true identity.”

After he finished speaking, the room seemed to be enveloped in a faint atmosphere of mystery. Upon hearing this, Li Zhen's gaze narrowed slightly, revealing a profound wisdom. He slowly turned around, his eyes filled with both expectation and caution, and replied softly, "Oh? This matter is of great importance. The details need to be explained in detail."

Seeing this, the unscrupulous gentleman knew that Li Zhen had grasped the significance of the matter, so he continued to recount the story in detail, maintaining the secrecy of the intelligence while remaining vivid and organized: "The spy, with his extraordinary courage and wisdom, maneuvered in a foreign land and finally obtained this opportunity. Although the old eunuch was old, he still remembered the old palace affairs vividly and had a deep affection for Emperor Huizong of Song. The spy skillfully maneuvered without revealing any flaws, winning the old eunuch's trust by posing as an ordinary merchant."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhen's eyes immediately lit up. This news was like a spring breeze, injecting a strong dose of energy into his listless spirit.

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) was not only his father-in-law, but also an indispensable guiding light on his journey to achieve his dreams and wealth. Imagine the significance of successfully rescuing Zhao Ji from danger; it would be far more profound.

Each piece of calligraphy and painting by Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) is an artistic treasure that transcends time. They are not merely black and white or vibrant colors on paper, but bridges connecting the past and present, containing boundless cultural value and market potential. Under the dazzling lights of modern society, these precious paintings and calligraphies are sure to spark fierce competition, their immense value enough to make them highly sought after.

With this in mind, Li Zhen felt an unprecedented surge of excitement and determination. He knew that this was not only a redemption of family ties, but also a golden opportunity to rewrite his destiny and realize his self-worth.

So he clenched his fists and vowed to do everything in his power to bring Zhao Ji back safely, and at the same time, to awaken the art treasure that had been dormant for thousands of years to the world.

Li Zhen: "Mr. Bad Guy, given our current strength, how do you think we should secretly bring the old emperor back?"

When Li Zhen’s incomprehensible order reached Bu Liang’s ears, he had already secretly pondered his master’s profound plans, but he never expected that this game would be played at the eye of the storm—the return of the former emperor of Song, Zhao Ji.

Emperor Huizong of Song, once the supreme ruler of the Song Dynasty, is now caught in a web of conflicting forces. He is surrounded not only by the formidable guards of the Jin Dynasty's iron cavalry, but also by countless undercurrents of power. Some of these forces covet his life like hungry wolves, while others silently protect him like shadowy figures, each harboring their own secrets and serving their own masters.

Li Zhen's move was tantamount to dancing on the edge of a knife. His courage and boldness are admirable, and his ingenious plan is also chilling, making people worry about the unpredictable consequences.

Bu Liang knew that this idea not only concerned his own life and death, but also affected the delicate balance of the world situation. Every step had to be taken with utmost care in order to open up a way out for Li Zhen on this intricate chessboard, or rather, to rewrite the trajectory of his fate.

Putting aside everything else, the one in the south certainly didn't want Zhao Ji to return to the Southern Song Dynasty.

After pondering for a long time, he spoke: "My lord, it is not difficult to bring back the old emperor. The difficulty lies in how you will defend against the attacks from various forces. Although you currently occupy a county, you only have less than 30,000 troops at your disposal. Once the old emperor arrives here, Tangyin City will become the center of the war between the Song and Jin dynasties."

Deep down, Li Zhen was fully aware of the risks and considerations posed by the rumors. However, his deep concern for Zhao Ji was like a wildfire, impossible to suppress. Not to mention, for Zhao Yingluo's pure hopes and reliance, he was willing to step into this unknown abyss, even if the road ahead was full of thorns, he would forge ahead without hesitation.

Looking at Li Zhen's resolute and unyielding face, one could see that what shone in his eyes was not only determination, but also unwavering commitment to his beliefs.

He sighed softly, his tone filled with helplessness and a hint of barely perceptible relief: "Fine, I know your mind is made up. Actually, during my recent wanderings, I met a traveling physician who gave me a few miraculous pills called 'Panacea Pills.' After taking this pill, a person will fall into a state of suspended animation, and will wake up as usual after six hours. Perhaps, this can be our glimmer of hope."

The air seemed to freeze at those words. A glimmer of hope flashed in Li Zhen's eyes—a yearning for life, and a careful consideration of his plan. He knew this was not only a test of courage, but also a contest of wisdom and strategy. They exchanged a smile; no words were needed, for the unspoken understanding and trust were deeply etched in each other's hearts.

Once a thought takes root in a person's mind, it's like a churning sea of ​​clouds in the night, impossible to calm, keeping them awake at night, tossing and turning with countless thoughts swirling in their mind.

Fortunately, Zhao Yingluo was not by Li Zhen's side at this moment. Otherwise, her gentle yet firm gaze would have turned into a thousand tender feelings and worries, and she would have tried her best to dissuade Li Zhen from venturing into the perilous northern land, so as not to let him risk his life and embark on this journey of no return.

In this quiet yet turbulent night, Li Zhen's decision seemed particularly courageous. His desire to explore the unknown was like a candle flame in the wilderness, faint yet persistent, illuminating his path forward.

Within a few days, Li Zhen had quietly completed his plan, and silently summoned Yue Peng back from the mountain stronghold hidden in the embrace of the mountains, as if it were a secret migration under the cover of night, leaving no trace.

This time, Li Zhen took a gamble, entrusting every brick, tile, and blade of grass in the mountain stronghold to Yue Ying and Fang Bucun. Now that Zhao Yingluo is about to give birth, it can be said that Li Zhen has handed over his entire rear base to them.

As for Tangyin County, it remained perfectly orderly, as if the turmoil of the outside world had never touched this tranquil place. Wang Changdao, the city's guardian, who, though unassuming, was known for his unwavering steadfastness, was entrusted with the heavy responsibility of maintaining order and protecting the city. Though he performed no earth-shattering deeds, his composure and resilience were enough to deter any villains who might attempt to invade this place.

This arrangement not only demonstrates Li Zhen's far-sighted strategic vision, but also reflects his accurate grasp and trust in the talents of each of his subordinates.

Finally, on a winter morning, Li Zhen led Bu Liang and Yue Peng, along with a team of thirty elite men, on their journey to the north. They disguised themselves as merchants, and carried no weapons at all. Li Zhen's mysterious space contained countless weapons and equipment, and he wouldn't risk hiding them in the carriage, knowing that the Jin soldiers along the way were very strict in their inspections.