Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 11 Entrapment

The city gates were wide open, and Zhao Dezhao followed Li Chuyun and Pan Mei to the top of the city wall.

Upon closer inspection, when they confirmed that Zhao Dezhao was indeed wearing the Crown Prince's robes, Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi exchanged glances, and the same thought immediately came to mind as Zhao Pu and the others.

This must have been done at the behest of the Grand Commandant!

Having thought this through, the two of them no longer hesitated and bowed in unison:

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

"Uncles, there's no need for that. In my heart, you are both my uncles. Why are you being so distant with me?"

Zhao Dezhao grinned, pounced on Shi Shouxin with his left arm and Wang Shenqi's right, swaying back and forth, muttering:

"It's been a few days, haven't you two uncles missed your nephew?"

"Hahaha, Your Highness, what are you saying? Of course I want to!"

Zhao Dezhao's actions made the two of them burst into laughter, and they were very pleased.

Of course, Zhao Dezhao was not naive enough to think that he could win their support simply by wearing a crown prince's robe and acting cute.

These people are all ruthless individuals who have survived the chaos of war. Don't be fooled by their current respect and affection for him; it's only because of his father, who commands the world's most elite troops.

Behind their backs, they are all ruthless and bloodthirsty criminals; how could they possibly look at a nine-year-old child like me?

He did this simply to leave a preconceived impression on the two of them.

— Zhao Kuangyin intended to make his son the heir apparent.

With this impression in mind, even if his good uncle tries to win over the two of them later, Shi and Wang will think twice.

This is why he insisted on returning to the capital, and why he donned the crown prince's robes before arriving in the capital.

After exchanging information, Li Chuyun, Pan Mei, Shi, and Wang decided to split into three groups.

Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi continued to control the city's defenses and the city gates.

Li Chuyun then led a thousand armored soldiers to escort Zhao Dezhao back to the capital's headquarters, and then protected the Zhao family.

Pan Mei went to the palace alone and announced Zhao Kuangyin's ascension to the throne in the court, reassuring the court officials in preparation for Zhao Kuangyin's return.

……

"Steamed buns, steamed buns, freshly baked Da Lang steamed buns... five coins each!"

"Steamed buns, big steamed buns with thin skin and generous filling... If you don't like them, you don't have to pay!"

Although it was early morning, Kaifeng was like a giant beast awakening, gradually exuding vitality.

"Lanterns lined up, illuminating thousands of doors and households. Spreading throughout the nine streets, the fragrance of silk and brocade wafted gently in the breeze. This Kaifeng city... is even more prosperous than I imagined."

Having long since taken off his crown prince robes, Zhao Dezhao followed Li Chuyun, leading his horse, and couldn't help but sigh.

He had only been here a short time and hadn't had a proper chance to explore Kaifeng. Now, seeing this scene, he felt that the ancient city was much more prosperous than the original owner had remembered.

Li Chuyun glanced at Zhao Dezhao in surprise before smiling and saying, "During the reign of Emperor Shizong, there were many talented people. As the Great Zhou Dynasty prospered, Kaifeng naturally flourished as well."

Having said that, he swept his gaze across the bustling crowd and declared confidently, "After His Majesty ascends the throne, this city will only become more prosperous!"

Zhao Dezhao didn't reply, but simply gave a soft "hmm".

As a historical fiction author in his previous life, he certainly knew the stories behind this ancient city.

From the Jin, Liao, and Han dynasties to the Zhou dynasty.

In just over a decade, this ancient city has changed hands four times, and this time will be the fifth.

After that, this ancient city will usher in the most prosperous and peak period of its life.

But after the utmost prosperity...

It is the sigh of "The warm breeze makes tourists drunk, mistaking Hangzhou for Bianzhou" that is so poignant.

"Your Highness, where shall we go next?"

Li Chuyun's words brought Zhao Dezhao back to his senses. Of course, he knew that Zhao Dezhao would not obediently return to his residence.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao tilted his head, looking thoughtful. After a moment, his eyes lit up, as if he had already come up with an idea:

"Come on, Uncle Li, let me show you how to get a great reward!"

"Then, we'll go get the Imperial Seal of the State!"

……

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

After parting ways with Li Chuyun and the others, Pan Mei went straight to the palace without stopping.

Along the way, many guards at the palace gates saw Pan Mei in full armor and carrying a sword, walking in a hurry, and assumed he had some urgent battle report, so they let him pass.

Passing through several palace gates, Pan Mei could hear the orderly chanting coming from the direction of Chongyuan Hall from afar.

"Haven't finished the morning court session yet? You've come at just the right time, saving you from having to come knocking on our door one by one."

When they arrived outside the main hall, Pan Mei looked up at the magnificent building, but there was no trace of awe in his eyes.

In chaotic times, no matter how magnificent a palace is built, whether it can inspire awe and submission depends on whether the one sitting on the supreme throne inside is a true dragon!

Pan Mei withdrew his gaze, straightened his armor, and charged straight into the court with his sword.

At this moment, the hall was filled with civil and military officials, who were arranged on both sides according to their rank. The civil officials in charge were the three prime ministers, Fan Zhi, Wang Pu, and Wei Renpu, while the military officials in charge were naturally Han Tong, the Grand Commandant and Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard.

The young Emperor Guo Zongxun sat on the dragon throne, looking around restlessly, while Empress Dowager Fu beside him had a worried expression.

The hall was filled with a noisy commotion, as if they were discussing the war with the Liao Kingdom.

When Pan Mei, dressed in full military attire, armor, and carrying a sword, stormed into the hall, the entire hall fell silent.

"General Pan! Has something changed in the war with the Liao Kingdom?"

Chancellor Wei Renpu spoke first. Before the army set off, he had felt uneasy, and now Pan Mei's sudden appearance amplified this unease.

Upon hearing this, all the court officials were startled and turned their inquisitive gazes toward Pan Mei.

Pan Mei remained expressionless and did not reply immediately. Instead, she strode forward with her head held high until she stopped in front of the ninth-level steps.

Then, he turned around, meeting the astonished and uncertain gazes of the entire hall, and said in a clear voice without changing his expression:

"Your Majesty, gentlemen, please take note: a mutiny broke out when the army reached Chenqiao Post Station. The soldiers of the three armies have enthroned Commander Zhao as Emperor, and the army has now returned to Kaifeng!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Empress Dowager Fu's face turned pale instantly.

The thing I feared most has happened.

"Traitor... traitor!!"

Chancellor Fan Zhi trembled with rage, pointing at Pan Mei and shouting, "That scoundrel Zhao Kuangyin received great favors from Emperor Shizong, how could he commit such a treasonous act!"

Faced with Fan Zhi's rebuke, Pan Mei remained silent, simply placing her hand on the hilt of her sword and staring at him expressionlessly.

Who is Pan Mei?

If Zhao Kuangyin is likened to a fierce tiger capable of devouring enemy generals, then Pan Mei is like a wolf showing its sharpness for the first time under the tiger's command!

He was regarded by later generations as a pillar of the early Song Dynasty.

Stared at like that, an ordinary person would have been trembling with fear, and even a high-ranking official like Fan Zhi was so frightened that he couldn't utter a second word.

A civil official is, after all, just a civil official.

Apart from Fan Zhi, no one else in the hall dared to step forward.

The people here are undoubtedly old foxes. The fact that Pan Mei entered the palace with his sword without being announced is enough to prove many things.

Moreover, there have been too many precedents for this kind of thing before, and some older ministers have even experienced it more than once.

What they fear is only their own future.

Pan Mei's next words completely dispelled their concerns. He first bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager Xiao Fu beside the throne, speaking humbly but not obsequiously:

"Empress Dowager Fu, His Majesty has said that if you are willing to lead the Zhou ruler to surrender, His Majesty will still serve you as the Northern Emperor, and the Zhou ruler will be granted the title of King, ensuring his lifelong peace and stability."

Then, he turned to the assembled officials and ministers again: "Gentlemen, you can rest assured that if you are willing to surrender, your positions will remain unchanged!"

After these words were spoken, most of the court officials in the hall blinked slightly, then lowered their heads and remained silent.

In a matter of moments, people's hearts made a choice between Zhao Kuangyin and the child Guo Zongxun.

Chancellor Fan Zhi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly grabbed the arm of another chancellor, Wang Pu, and shouted angrily:

"Our hasty dispatch of troops is our fault!"

Because he used so much force, Wang Pu's arm was scratched until it bled from his fingernails, and he looked at him with a mixture of resistance and disbelief.

"You... just say it, why are you grabbing me!"

He hadn't yet fully enjoyed his wealth and status, and he didn't want to die in vain.

Empress Dowager Xiao Fu, standing to one side of the dragon throne, looked at Fan Zhi with delight, as if he were a lifeline or a ray of light in the dark night.

Even now, Fan Zhi's performance has been impeccable, making him worthy of being called the last loyal minister of the Great Zhou.

Pan Mei's face turned cold, and killing intent surged, but at that moment, Fan Zhi, who had just been acting as if he would rather die than submit, suddenly changed his tone and sighed helplessly:

"Now that things have come to this, there is no way to stop the collapse of the heavens. To protect the people in the city, I can only bear the infamy for eternity."

After saying this, Fan Zhi seemed to have shed some burden from his heart. He bowed to Pan Mei and said, "Please inform the General that when His Majesty returns to the capital, we will certainly welcome him with great ceremony!"

Immediately afterwards, Fan Zhi, with an expression that said, "I'm thinking of you," bowed deeply to the stunned Empress Dowager Fu and advised:

"Your Majesty, there is an ancient custom of abdication, and it can be done now as well. If Your Majesty accepts the abdication in accordance with the proper rites, you should treat Your Majesty as your mother and raise the young emperor as your son. This way, both things can be accomplished. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

After Fan Zhi finished speaking, Empress Dowager Xiao Fu was completely stunned.

Just a moment ago, she was marveling at Fan Zhi's unwavering pride and stubbornness, truly worthy of being the minister entrusted with the care of the late emperor.

As a result, she and her son were betrayed by Fan Zhi right away?

I'm only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, and you want me to be that fat, dark-skinned man's mother? Did you even ask me?

For a moment, Empress Dowager Fu was at a loss for words.

Only Pan Mei's expression remained unchanged, as if the scene before her was nothing unusual.

He had seen far too many civil officials like this, and had even killed quite a few. What was so strange about that?

Seeing that all the officials had submitted, and noticing the questioning gaze from Pan Mei, Empress Dowager Xiao Fu's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only let out a sigh and turned her head away.

"Let's do as Prime Minister Fan says..."

"good."

All the officials in the hall watched this scene with smiles, as if it were something that everyone had been looking forward to.

There was only one person.

He remained silent throughout, watching everything with cold disappointment.

This person is Han Tong!

From the moment Pan Mei donned his armor and entered the palace, he sensed something was amiss. He quietly retreated to a spot not far from the side gate, silently observing everything.

After Empress Dowager Xiao Fu reluctantly agreed to abdicate, his gaze turned slightly cold, and then, taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, his figure disappeared into the palace.

……

Even though the situation outside the imperial city was now under the control of Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi, there were still many imperial guards inside the city who supported the emperor, and these guards were under the command of Han Tong.

There were only a hundred of them.

After sending a dozen or so men to Chongyuan Hall to rescue the emperor, Han Tong immediately led the remaining dozens of soldiers out of the palace on horseback.

He knew that Zhao Kuangyin's power was already established, and he alone, with his small army, could hardly turn the tide.

To strike a snake, you must strike its vital spot, and for Zhao Kuangyin, that vital spot was his family!

"If we can take down the Zhao family, we can use them as leverage! Perhaps we can secure a glimmer of hope for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor..."

Having made up his mind, Han Tong charged towards the Inspectorate of the Inner City without hesitation.

However, at that moment, one of his soldiers rushed in to report: "Reporting to the Grand Commandant! I have received intelligence that Zhao Dezhao, the eldest son of the traitor Zhao, and his mother are currently offering incense at Dingli Temple in the city!"

Upon hearing this, Han Tong's eyes narrowed: "Is this true?"

"Reporting to the Grand Commandant! It is absolutely true, and many people have witnessed it firsthand: that child, dressed in the crown prince's robes, paraded through the streets!"

"How many guards does he have?" Han Tong asked again in a deep voice.

"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, according to eyewitnesses, it seems there was only a mother and child present, without any guards..." The scout was now somewhat uncertain.

Upon hearing this, Han Tong hesitated for a moment, then sneered, his face showing decisiveness. He immediately ordered his troops to turn around and march towards Dingli Temple.

……

Dingli Temple.

Located on the east side of the inner city of Kaifeng, Dingli Temple was the site of Emperor Shizong's large-scale persecution of Buddhism. Many Buddhist temples in Kaifeng were destroyed, but Dingli Temple was spared because of its thriving incense offerings. Emperor Shizong only took away the bronze Buddha statues and did not destroy the temple itself.

The bronze statue has been replaced with a wooden one, but the incense at Dingli Temple continues to burn brightly, with a constant stream of people coming to offer incense.

Today, however, the entire Dingli Temple was unusually deserted. Only two figures, one tall and one short, sat in the courtyard, gnawing on lamb legs with their mouths full of grease, chatting idly.

"Your Highness, with such an obvious trap, would that old scoundrel Han Tong come?" Li Chuyun asked vaguely, taking a big bite of meat.

"meeting."

Zhao Dezhao was much more refined. He gently tore off a piece of meat and put it in his mouth, saying confidently, "Because Han Tong had no choice."

"With the men under his command, he has no way to save the Great Zhou Dynasty except by using my mother and me to threaten my father."

"So even knowing it's a trap, given his reckless and impulsive nature, coupled with his loyalty to the Great Zhou, he would still rush headlong into it."

Li Chuyun feigned sudden realization and laughed loudly, "As expected of my nephew, he has such keen insight into people's hearts; he truly possesses the qualities of a ruler!"

Zhao Dezhao glanced at him.

That's incredibly poor flattery.

He didn't believe that Li Chuyun, a veteran of countless battles, would be unable to understand this point and would deliberately ask it, clearly to flatter him.

Li Chuyun chuckled, seemingly unfazed by the awkwardness of being seen through.

Just then, a loud shout suddenly came from outside the door:

"You little thief! Prepare to die!"