April, Bianliang City saw countless people starve to death, the stench of corpses filling the city.

Tang Ke was being carried in a sedan chair through Bianliang City, returning to his residence from the Imperial Palace.

The sedan chair swayed gently, and from beyond the swaying curtains, came a faint stench and the sound of weeping. Along the roadside were dead bodies and emaciated figures, resembling corpses, barely clinging to life.

Few people walked the streets anymore.

The old man inside the sedan chair was neatly dressed, his face blank and yet somewhat indifferent. He stared at the curtain in front of him, motionless.

As one of the highest-ranking officials currently maintaining the Wu Dynasty court, he still had servants to carry his sedan chair, and guards to protect him on his journeys to and from the court. This was to prevent him from being assassinated by evildoers. However, in recent times, the number of evildoers wanting to assassinate him had gradually decreased. In the capital, there had even been cases of parents exchanging children to eat. Starved to this extent, those who would assassinate for the sake of righteousness had already died of hunger.

This was already a city that had been drained dry. It was hard to imagine the desolation of a place that had housed a million people just a year ago. But it was precisely because of that million-person gathering that, when it became a place to be wantonly kneaded by foreign enemies, the scene that unfolded was all the more desolate.

Half a year ago, the Jurchen army approached the city. The court, on the one hand, urgently appointed Tang Ke, Wu Min, and other pro-peace factions, hoping that they could minimize losses through compromise. On the other hand, it hoped that the military generals could resist the Jurchens. During this period, Tang Ke was the most pessimistic. Even before the Jurchens besieged the city, he had advised the emperor to flee south for safety. However, this time, his opinion was rejected. Emperor Jingping decided to die with the state, and soon after, he heavily relied on the Taoist priest Guo Jing.

The court's intention in appointing Tang Ke and others was to have someone to negotiate before the fighting and, preferably, after the fighting as well. But the facts of the past few months proved that compromise without power was meaningless. After the farce of the Six Armor Divine Soldiers, Bianliang City, even when faced with the most unreasonable demands, no longer had the right to say no.

For months, the man once regarded as the Son of Heaven was now being treated like a pig or dog in the Jurchen camp outside the city, being amused at. The once noble wives and daughters were being wantonly violated and killed in the camp. At the same time, the Jurchen army continued to make various demands on the Wu Dynasty court. Tang Ke and others had no choice but to agree to each of those demands, either sending their wives and daughters or sending their gold and silver, step by step helping the enemy to drain this entire city dry.

Not long ago, the Jurchens, already preparing to leave, made another demand. They were not going to return the Wu Dynasty's Jingping Emperor, but someone had to manage the Wu Dynasty's foundation. Thus, they ordered Grand Tutor Zhang Bangchang to inherit the throne, change the era name to Great Chu, and guard the Tiannan region for the Jurchens, forever as a vassal.

At this time, almost all of the Zhou imperial family in Bianliang City had been either captured or killed by the Jurchens. Zhang Bangchang, Tang Ke, and others tried to refuse, but the Jurchens warned that if Zhang Bangchang did not ascend the throne within seven days, they would slaughter all the court officials and massacre Bianliang City.

This day was already the last day of the deadline.

In the imperial court, led by Song Qiyu, Zhang Bangchang was recommended as emperor. Half an hour earlier, Tang Ke, Wu Min, Geng Nanzhong, and others had signed their names on the imperial edict.

Zhang Bangchang ascended the throne with the expression of someone who had swallowed arsenic.

As the sedan chair left the court, Tang Ke sat inside, thinking of many things from years past. The once spirited Wu Dynasty, thinking it had seized an opportunity and wanting to launch a northern expedition, the appearance of Qin Si Yuan and other pro-war factions, the Black Water Alliance, even though Qin Si Yuan had stepped down, the unwavering confidence in the northern expedition.

After that, Bianliang was a city of singing and dancing, a time of great prosperity.

Merchants from north and south gathered here, confident literati and artists gathered here, and martial artists seeking fame and fortune gathered here. The court officials could decide the affairs of the world with a single word, and a word or step in the palace could affect the rise and fall of thousands of families. The high officials debated endlessly in the court, constantly scheming against each other, thinking that success or failure stemmed from this. He had also argued with countless people, including Qin Si Yuan, with whom he had always had a good relationship.

He was an unadulterated pessimist, but he was only cautious. At many times, he had even thought that if people like Qin Si Yuan were given some opportunities, perhaps the Wu Dynasty could also seize an opportunity. But in the end, he hated himself for seeing the obstacles along the way too clearly.

His pessimism had never played any role. People didn't like pessimism. In most political ecosystems, radicals were always more popular. People could easily advocate for war, but few soberly strengthened themselves. People used advocating for war to replace self-strengthening itself, blindly thinking that as long as they were willing to fight, as long as they were fanatical, they were not cowards. But few were willing to believe that this world was impersonal, that the world only spoke of reason, that strength and weakness, victory and defeat, were the reason.

So, he actually understood in his heart that he might not be able to stand at the high levels of the court in this life, and even if he did, he wouldn't be able to do anything. But in the end, he still tried his best.

He at least helped the Jurchens to cripple Bianliang City. It was like facing a too powerful opponent, he cut off his own hands, cut off his own feet, bit off his own tongue, hoping that the other party could at least leave something for the Wu Dynasty. He even sent out his granddaughter. He couldn't win, so he could only surrender. If surrendering wasn't enough, he could offer wealth. If only offering wealth wasn't enough, he could give up his dignity. After giving up his dignity, he hoped that he could at least preserve the Wu Dynasty's sovereignty. If he couldn't preserve the sovereignty, he hoped that he could at least preserve the lives of these people in the city who had nothing left...

He knew clearly what posterity would think of him.

He had thought about many things during these days, some that could be said, and some that couldn't be said. He occasionally thought of that scene, in the last day of the Jinghan era a few months ago, the situation in the Golden Luan Hall. Qin Si Yuan was dead. Like the end of every previous political struggle, people went to court as usual, rejoicing that they had been spared. Then, the emperor was thrown into the blood, and the young man sat down on the golden steps holding a knife, slapping the back of the emperor's head with the knife.

In his life, the old man had seen many great figures, Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Qin Si Yuan, and even every influential court official tracing back earlier, some flamboyant and arrogant, spirited, some steady and profound, with inner depth like the sea, but he had never seen such a scene. He had also seen the emperor countless times, but he had never discovered in any of those times that the emperor was like an ordinary person this time.

Everyone in the court was cursing loudly. At that time, Li Gang's hair was standing on end, Cai Jing was stunned, Qin Hui was scolding like thunder, and Yan Zheng was screaming in horror. Countless people cursed or swore, or cited scriptures, stating the other party's rebellious and unforgivable behavior. He also rushed up. But the young man just pressed the head of the wailing emperor with a steel knife, and from beginning to end, only said one sentence, which only some people in front heard.

In these days, some people have recalled that rebellious scene, but no one has ever mentioned this sentence. At the moment of writing his name today, Tang Ke suddenly wanted to say this sentence to all the ministers: "..."

On that day in the court, the young man, facing the scolding and reprimands of the court, did not react at all, but only swept his gaze over everyone's heads and said, "...a bunch of trash."

For everyone, this was perhaps a slap in the face heavier than killing the emperor. No one could speak of it.

Of course, the old man did not say this sentence. He left the palace, the sedan chair passed through the streets, and returned to his residence. The entire Tang residence was also lifeless at this time. His wife had already passed away, and most of his daughters, granddaughters, and concubines had been sent to the Jurchen military camp. The remaining ones, awed by Tang Ke's recent ruthless authority, lived a life of feast or famine in the Tang residence, and mostly dared not approach him. Only an old concubine who had been with him for many years came over, took away his clothes, and brought a basin of water for him to wash his face. Tang Ke washed his face meticulously as usual.

He returned to his study, tidied up the messy bookshelves that had been flipped through these days, and tidied up the paper and brushes on the desk. The winter cold had gradually passed, and the lazy sunlight shone in from the window. It was already the season of late spring and early summer. There was nothing left in Bianliang City, he thought. The Jurchens should be leaving.

Not long after, when the elderly concubine came over, Tang Ke, Tang Qinshou, had already taken poison and was sitting quietly in the chair in the study, dying quietly.

**************

The collapse of the dynasty was like exploding and fleeting fireworks. In the collision between the Jin Dynasty and the Wu Dynasty, the aftermath rushed towards the surroundings. In the half-year since the Jurchens went south, the situation on the entire land had been in violent turmoil and change.

North of the Yellow River, the Jurchens' convoy escorting prisoners north was like a long dragon, crossing mountains and ridges, with no one daring to stop them. The former Tiger King Tian Hu was carefully expanding and consolidating his power in places that the Jurchens had not taken care of. To the east and north,一支支teams that had risen up in the name of resisting the Jin in defense of the king began to delineate their respective spheres of influence, waiting expectantly for the development of things. The scattered remnants of the Wu Dynasty's defeated armies either reorganized on the spot or meandered south, seeking their respective ways out. Many large families in the north were also anxiously looking for their way out in such a situation.

In the northwest, a land with a fierce folk customs, the Western Xia people had once again swept in. The territory of the Zhong family army was almost completely destroyed. Zhong Lie, Zhong Shidao's nephew, led the Zhong family army in a bitter battle with Wanyan Chang in the south, and after escaping north, he was defeated by the "拐子马" (Guai Zi Ma - a special cavalry formation) in the northwest. At this time, the Zhong family army that could still be gathered was less than five thousand people.

Zhe Keqiu of the Zhe family had already returned his troops, but he was equally unable to rescue the Zhong family, and had to shrink back to Fuzhou, maintaining a precarious peace. After the fall of large cities such as Qingjian City and Yanzhou, countless refugees fled towards Fuzhou and other places. The Zhe family took in the remnants of the Zhong family, expanded its power, and deterred Li Gan Shun. It was also for this reason that Fuzhou was not greatly impacted.

That rebellious team, which had once fallen into everyone's eyes, was temporarily calm and shrinking back in such a mighty era. In this time when everyone was preoccupied with their own affairs, very few people could pay attention to their movements. Some people even rumored that they had been swept away by the Western Xia army in the cold winter, leaving no trace.

In the south, equally intense turmoil was brewing. The middle class of society, who could receive information, were fiercely and excitedly patriotic. But for the army, the previous hard fights with the Jurchens proved the fact that the army could not fight. The high-level power holders suppressed the last of the troops, consolidated the defense line south of the Yangtze River, and suppressed the spread of information. It was also for this reason that many people spent the winter and the spring of rejuvenation in the still prosperous atmosphere, although they were worried about the safety of Bianliang City, but the real atmosphere was no different from when the Jurchens attacked Yanmen Pass and Taiyuan.

Jiangning, Kang Prince's Mansion.

The young prince hummed a little tune, trotting through the corridors of the mansion. When he rushed back to his room, the sun was shining brightly. In the young prince's study, various strange drawings and books occupied half of the room. He went to the table, took out a book from his sleeve and looked at it excitedly, and then found several drawings from the table, comparing them to each other. He occasionally clenched his fist and knocked on the surface of the desk.

A figure appeared at the door at some unknown time. The young prince looked up and saw that it was his sister Zhou Pei. He was in a good mood and smiled at her, "Sister, how is it? You've met the old lady of the Wang family and those sisters, right? They are truly from a family of scholars. Mr. Wang Qisong was loyal and heroic, his family is respectable."

Zhou Pei's gaze was a little cold, and she narrowed her eyes slightly as she walked in, "I have met them. The Wang family is indeed loyal and heroic, and the Wang family's widows are also admirable. But they are involved in that matter after all. You are secretly active in bringing them over. Are you trying to put yourself on the fire as well? Do you know how unwise this move is!"

"They are treasures." Zhou Junwu was in a very good mood and said mysteriously in a low voice, then looked outside the door. Zhou Pei also tilted her head, and let the accompanying maids go down. When only the two siblings were left, Junwu jumped up with the book on the table, "Sister, I've found the key! I've found it! Do you know what it is?"

Zhou Pei frowned. She was already dissatisfied with the ingenious skills that Zhou Junwu studied, and she hated them even more at this time. But she saw Junwu excitedly say, "Old... that person is a genius! I originally thought the key was in the cloth, and I couldn't find a suitable one after searching for a long time. Every time that large Kongming Lantern was burned. Later, I carefully investigated what he did in Bianliang during the last period, and then I discovered that the key was in the pulp... Haha, sister, you can't guess it at all, the key is actually in the pulp! If you don't want to be burned, you have to apply pulp!"

"During his time in Bianliang City, the Wang family had been helping to make the paper workshop all the time. The Su family made the cloth. Only when both are taken into account can you find that the flying Kongming Lantern needs to be brushed with pulp so that it can expand and not be breathable! So, the Wang family is a treasure. I should save them."

Ning Yi had a good relationship with the Wang Shan Yue family in Bianliang. When he rebelled and left the city, the Wang family was absolutely unwilling to follow. So Zhu Biao went to rob the Wang family girl who was engaged, and even almost beat the Wang family's old lady. The two sides broke up. But the matter of弑君 (Shi Jun - Killing the Emperor), how could it be so simple to clear the suspicion? Even if Wang Qisong still had some relationship left in the capital, the Wang family's situation would not be good. They almost went to prison as a family. When the Jurchens went south, the young prince Junwu contacted some forces in the capital and tried to bring these poor women over.

If it weren't for this, the entire Wang family would have been sent to the Jurchen army and suffered humiliation and death in the Bianliang disaster.

In the capital, Jue Ming Monk, who was ordered by Zhou Zhe to think about his mistakes in the temple after Qin Si Yuan was imprisoned, was the one who helped with this matter. This Qin Mansion's guest was originally a member of the royal family. After Zhou Zhe's death, the situation in the capital changed. Many people were quite afraid of Qin Mansion's guest, but they were unwilling to offend Jue Ming. He was able to infiltrate some power from the temple to help the poor Wang family widows. When the Jurchens besieged the city, the outside of the city had already been cleared, and the temple was destroyed. Jue Ming Monk may have gone south with the refugees. At this time, he was only hiding behind the scenes, doing some of his things.

Zhou Pei was skeptical about what Junwu said, "I know that you admire him a little bit. I can't tell you what to do, but the situation in the world is tense at this time. Our Kang Prince's Mansion is being watched by many people. You'd better not mess around and bring great trouble to the family."

She pondered for a while, and then said, "Do you know that the Jurchens ordered Zhang Bangchang to ascend the throne in Bianliang and change the era name to Great Chu. They are about to withdraw their troops to the north. The adults in this Jiangning City don't know what to do... When the Jurchens withdrew to the north, they took away all the Zhou imperial family in Bianliang City. Seriously speaking, the Wu Dynasty's sovereignty is dead... This has to be counted on him..."

"Hmph." Junwu snorted coldly, but raised his eyebrows and put down the notebook in his hand, "Sister Wang, you are putting such a big thing as the Wu Dynasty's sovereignty on him, which is a bit self-deceptive. If you don't do things well yourself, you toss around the people who can do things, thinking that everyone can only endure it, anyway... Hmph, anyway, the Wu Dynasty's sovereignty is dead. I'll just say one sentence, this sovereignty..."

"Shut up!" Zhou Pei's eyes were stern, and she took two steps closer, "How can you say such rebellious words! You..." She bit her teeth, calmed her mood, and said seriously, "You know that our dynasty governs the world together with the scholar-officials. How rare is the atmosphere of harmony in the court. With this one thing, it will be difficult for the emperor and the ministers to be of one mind in the future. At that time, they will be wary of each other. The emperor goes to court, and hundreds of guards follow him, always be careful of someone assassinating him. What kind of system is that... He is now the leader of the rebels in the north, the originator of the trouble. Do you think he will have no descendants?"

Speaking of that person, Zhou Pei's emotions were often intense. The two had many disputes during this period. From the initial unwillingness to answer to the final tit-for-tat, it could be considered that Junwu's patience had been exhausted. He pouted at this time, "What's the harm in having hundreds of guards follow? Xunzi said, 'Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.' The person who is the ruler bears the lives of thousands of people. He only wants to be carried? The more afraid you are of the danger of capsizing, the more you can do things well. The more the ruler worries, the more benefits the millions of people will get. Is the trouble of hundreds of guards following not worth the benefits of the millions of people? For the sake of system? The benefits of the millions of people are not worth a system?"

He was quite proud because he thought of words to refute, "I now have hundreds of people under my control, and I can't sleep a bit at night. I'm thinking all day long, have I neglected any master? Which one is more capable? Even so with hundreds of people, when there are millions of people under my control, I don't even want to worry? If things are screwed up, I will be scolded. If I can't beat people, I will be beaten. The current situation in Bianliang is clear. What's the use of just having a system? I have not revitalized the Wu Dynasty. What reason do I have for you to talk to the Jurchens!"

Zhou Pei stared at him, and the room was quiet for a while. This conversation was rebellious, but on the one hand, the sky was high and the emperor was far away, on the other hand, the royal family of Bianliang was completely destroyed, and thirdly, it was the spirit of the young people that made them talk like this in private, but after all, it could not continue. Junwu was silent for a moment, and raised his chin, "Several months ago, Li Gan Shun in the northwest attacked, and several cities in Qingjian and Yanzhou were broken. The Wu Rui Camp sent people to fight with the Western Xia people several times in that kind of narrow space, saving many refugees. This is what a real man does!"

Zhou Pei frowned even more at this moment, and looked at him sideways, "Why would you know this?"

Junwu raised his head, "I have hundreds of people under my control. If I really want to find out something, what's so strange about knowing it?"

Zhou Pei sighed. The expressions of the two were calm again at this time. After a while, Zhou Pei took out several pieces of information from her clothes, "The information of Bianliang, I originally just wanted to tell you, since that's the case, you can take a look too."

She turned and walked towards the door, and stopped at the door again, tilting her head and saying, "Do you know that he fought a few small battles with the Western Xia people in the northwest. Perhaps the Western Xia people can't do anything to him for a while. But the world north of the Yellow River is in chaos. Now it's the flood season, and the refugees in the north are scattered. Before long, people will starve to death on his side. He 弑杀君父 (Shi Sha Jun Fu - killed the ruler and father), and we will never share the same sky. I... I just sometimes think, if he hadn't been so impulsive at that time, but had returned to Jiangning, until now... how great it would be..."

After returning from Bianliang, Zhou Pei came into contact with various complex things under the guidance of Princess Chengguo. Her relationship with the Prince Consort was not smooth, and she put her whole heart into these things, and sometimes she had become a little cold. Junwu did not like such a sister, and sometimes they were tit-for-tat, but in general, the relationship between the siblings was very good. Every time he saw his sister's leaving back like this, he actually felt a little lonely.

He was smart since he was a child, but he did not think carefully about his sister's words at this time. He looked at the information about the tragedy in Bianliang City. As a young man, it was still difficult for him to have complex sighs. Even as someone who knew the inside story, he felt that the tragedy in Bianliang was somewhat self-inflicted. This kind of cognition made his eyes more firm. Not long after, he threw the information aside and concentrated on studying the technology to make the hot air balloon take off.

The sparks of the old era dissipated. In the mountains of the northwest, that rebellious army was also struggling hard in the muddy situation.