ps3027, Great Song.
Wuguocheng.
The Jurchens originally lived in the lower reaches of the Songhua, Heilongjiang, and Ussuri rivers. They established five major tribes: Yuelijian, Aolimi, Pouali, Pennuli, and Yuelidu, historically known as the Five Kingdoms.
Yilan was the Yuelijian city, the first city of the Five Kingdoms, and the site of their alliances, hence it was called Wuguocheng, also known as Guotoucheng.
After the Jin dynasty conquered the Northern Song in 1127, they escorted Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong north. In July 1130, they arrived at Wuguocheng and imprisoned them within the city.
Now, the Northern Expeditionary Army, after continuous battles, finally arrived at this place that the Song Dynasty high command deeply resented.
The Jurchens in the city had long fled at the mere sight of them. When the army arrived, it had already become an empty city.
Upon entering the city, Yue Fei immediately led his men to search for the Retired Emperor Zhao Huan.
"None in the south of the city!"
"None in the north of the city either!"
"General Zhang, found him!"
Yue Fei's heart leaped at the words. He quickly turned to the soldier reporting to him and said, "Lead the way!"
A group of them hurried towards the city.
In the center of the city stood a row of low buildings, resembling dilapidated government offices, with several Yue family soldiers guarding the entrance.
Seeing Yue Fei approach, they quickly stepped forward and said, "Commander, the person is inside!"
Upon entering, they heard singing and the sound of string and wind instruments.
"Hahaha, my concubine, how about I make you a noble consort when we return to the capital?"
"Your Majesty, what about our child?"
"How about granting him the title of a prince? Prince Zhenbei, what do you think of that title?"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Hahaha, then hurry up and serve me?"
"Yes, Your Majesty~"
"Gurgle gurgle~~~"
Yue Fei, who had just reached the doorway, stopped abruptly upon hearing the conversation from the inner courtyard.
"Why did you stop?" Li Shimin, who had accompanied him, looked at him curiously.
"Your Majesty Taizong, it might not be appropriate to enter at this moment," Yue Fei replied with an embarrassed expression.
Li Shimin raised an eyebrow. "What? Even at this point, do you think those Jurchens would dare to leave assassins behind?"
Yue Fei stammered, unsure how to answer.
Seeing his reaction, Li Shimin waved his hand. "Little Zhongzhong, kick the door open!"
"Yes!" Han Shizhong quickly stepped forward and kicked the door open with a bang, revealing the scene inside to everyone.
Three beautiful women, nearly naked, were clinging to each other, looking at them in terror.
A scream and a curse came from within.
"Ah~~~"
"Presumptuous! Who dares to disturb my pleasure!"
Then, a man emerged, wearing a woman's outer garment around his waist.
"Your subject, Yue Fei!"
"Your subject, Han Shizhong!"
"We pay our respects to the Retired Emperor. We beg for your forgiveness for arriving late and failing to save you!"
Upon recognizing his appearance, Yue Fei and Han Shizhong quickly bowed.
"Bang!" Zhao Huan, far from showing any joy, instead glared with a dark expression and rebuked, "You have the audacity! You arrived and didn't wait outside, yet you dare to barge into my sleeping quarters! Who gave you the courage!"
As he spoke, he suddenly raised his leg to kick Han Shizhong's head.
But before he could land the blow, a gunshot suddenly rang out, and then a searing pain shot up his leg.
"Ah~~~ Guards, guards!"
He clutched his leg, rolling on the ground, and continued to yell at Han Shizhong and Yue Fei.
"Guards? What kind of guard are you?" Li Shimin walked up to him, casually playing with the Big Black Star, and said with disdain.
Zhao Huan, completely unaware of the situation, shouted with a ferocious expression.
"You, you, you dare to rebel!"
"Come, come, someone, take him down! I want to flay him alive!"
However, his words did not elicit the desired response.
Han Shizhong slowly stood up and cupped his fists towards him.
"Retired Emperor, please forgive your subordinate for not obeying your command!"
He then retreated to Yue Fei's side.
"You, you, what do you want to do!" Zhao Huan was stunned.
He had always fantasized about the day when the imperial army would reach Wuguocheng, rescue him, his wife, and three concubines, along with the children born in Wuguocheng.
At that time, the Jurchens would no longer be a threat, and he could ascend the throne again.
But he never imagined that when the day came, he would face a situation where he would not be obeyed.
Li Shimin's gaze swept over the women in the room, and he said with a playful smile.
"As the ruler of a nation, after being captured, instead of contemplating the enemy's weaknesses and transmitting information to assist in defeating them."
"You are instead engaging in daylight debauchery and constant revelry!"
"Is your head filled with nothing but kidneys?"
"Tell me, how many children have you father and son born here?"
As he spoke, the pistol had unknowingly been pressed against Zhao Huan's forehead.
The still-warm barrel seared his forehead red. Zhao Huan cowered. Just moments ago, this thing had opened a bloody hole in his leg!
He quickly replied, "The late Emperor fathered a total of fourteen children, six sons and eight daughters. I only have four~~"
Li Shimin was stunned. Fourteen children in fourteen years of captivity, one per year. This man could reproduce even more than he could!
"Heh~ pui!"
It had to be said, this number truly shocked him. He spat a mouthful of phlegm onto Zhao Huan's face, then casually drew a dagger and threw it at him.
"With your kind of behavior, being alive is a desecration of the imperial title!"
"You, commit suicide!"
Zhao Huan: ???
They had fought all the way to Wuguocheng just to have him commit suicide?
"No, I, I am the Retired Emperor. After returning to Bianliang, I will be enthroned again!"
"You, you can't kill me!"
"Bang!"
Li Shimin kicked him, sending him rolling like a gourd, and said contemptuously, "You, ascend the throne?"
He then looked at Xie Bian'an beside him. "Are there any wild chickens caught on the way here?"
Xie Bian'an nodded repeatedly. "Yes, your subordinate will have someone bring them over immediately."
Soon, a robust wild chicken was brought over. Li Shimin casually broke its legs and wings, then flung them at Zhao Huan's face.
"You want to ride a chicken, fine, I'll satisfy you!"
"After you're done, commit suicide quickly!"
Zhao Huan: ...........
The poor wild chicken: ........
Zhao Huan died, not by the dagger, but by taking his own belt from the bed and having his wife and three concubines help him strangle himself to death.
Yue Fei and Han Shizhong said nothing about it. If Li Shimin had not been present, they might have suggested taking Zhao Huan's body back for a proper burial.
But since Li Shimin said nothing, they dared not bring it up.
The Northern Expedition thus concluded, and the army returned grandly towards Kaifeng.
When the news was transmitted back to Linjie'an via radio, Zhao Guangyi and Zhao Xu, father and son, also got busy. Relocate the capital!
Move the capital back to Kaifeng!
Little did they know that the days they could remain in the Great Song were numbered.