In late March, the weather grew increasingly hot. That afternoon, Emperor Zhao was in the lakeside pavilion of the rear palace, reading Ouyang Xiu's "New History of the Five Dynasties." Besides the erudite Scholar Lin, who was there for consultation, Prime Minister Lü Haowen was also present.

During the Jingkang Incident, the Jin people focused their looting efforts on gold and silver, even disregarding copper coins. However, this did not mean that the royal library escaped plundering, especially with the presence of Wanyan Xiyin. While others were seizing gold and women, he was busy taking books and documents, determined to become their Xiao He.

Of course, Xiyin's destructive impact was ultimately limited. He couldn't force his subordinates to abandon gold and silver in favor of books. Thus, much of the loss of books and documents came from the subsequent warfare and cannot be considered a systematic loss. Moreover, the flourishing literary atmosphere of the Song Dynasty meant that many books had multiple printings and circulations in various regions, making them relatively easy to find.

This was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

In fact, some officials at court had already suggested collecting and organizing the surviving books, correcting errors, and re-establishing an official version. The reason being that many books were scattered and held by people who were using poorly printed and error-ridden texts to mislead students.

However, such matters were irrelevant to Emperor Zhao's reading experience, as the "New History of the Five Dynasties" was a privately written historical work. Ouyang Xiu stated from the outset that he was disgusted by the collapse of moral principles and ethics during the Five Dynasties period. So he intended to emulate the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' style to write a historical book criticizing those 'shameless' individuals. In other words, the "New History of the Five Dynasties" focused more on literary and artistic value, as well as ethics and morality, rather than historical research and factual accuracy.

Even people of the Song Dynasty said that Ouyang Xiu only knew how to 'lament' and write 'second-rate articles', meaning that even well-written online novels were still just online novels and could not be considered literature.

Therefore, Zhao Jiu was simply reading it as a novel to pass the time... He and Lü Haowen were waiting for Han Xiaozhou, who was due to return to Tokyo today.

However, they waited from noon until afternoon. Emperor Zhao had hastily read through several 'dynasties', but Han Xiaozhou still did not appear. Finally, as the sun began to set, and the Emperor was bored enough to read about Feng Dao, Yang Yizhong led a middle-aged official in purple robes. Zhao Jiu then put down his historical book and composed himself.

He knew that the visitor had to be Han Xiaozhou, because someone had told him that Han Xiaozhou had only just entered official service as a mere Sili of Kaifeng Prefecture when he was spotted by the frivolous Taishang Daojun Emperor, who, after asking his name and family history, directly granted him the position of Shaobao of the Guards and specially bestowed upon him a third-rank purple robe... Thus, he became a rare purple-robed prefect.

Indeed, the person who arrived was Han Xiaozhou, who was twice the Emperor's age but a generation younger in rank.

After they exchanged greetings, Emperor Zhao, who had been waiting impatiently, frowned and said, "Official Han, you have traveled far. But your tardiness in entering the city is perplexing. Why has it taken you nearly half a day to reach Tokyo?"

Han Xiaozhou was somewhat bewildered by the rebuke, but he managed to explain, "Your Majesty, I arrived at Qingcheng, south of Tokyo, last night. My paternal uncle informed me there of Your Majesty's decree. So this morning, when I set out to meet Your Majesty, I had to abandon my horse and take a mule cart instead, which caused some delay..."

His words created a silence in the pavilion. Zhao Jiu was clearly stunned and asked, "When did I issue a decree to your uncles, and when did I ask you to enter the city in a mule cart?"

Perhaps it was the heat, but Han Xiaozhou was sweating profusely and did not know how to respond.

"Your Majesty did indeed issue such a decree, although not a specific one," Prime Minister Lü Haowen interjected at the appropriate moment, seeing Han Xiaozhou's bewilderment. "Earlier, when Your Majesty was on the Huai River, you issued a decree forbidding officials from riding in sedan chairs due to the perilous state of the nation. Later, in Nanyang, you issued another decree forbidding officials from using strong horses as mounts and women from riding in ox carts, as the army lacked warhorses and the common people lacked oxen for plowing..."

"That is correct," Han Xiaozhou quickly added. "My uncles told me the same, saying that the civil officials in the capital were all riding donkeys and mules. I had some trouble finding a mule cart, which caused a slight delay. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Looking at the man's fearful and deferential manner, Emperor Zhao suddenly felt at fault. After a long silence, he awkwardly skipped the topic: "Regardless of this matter, do you know what to do after crossing the river?"

"I will certainly not fail my mission!"

Han Xiaozhou, clad in his purple robe, disregarded etiquette and prostrated himself on the ground. Scholar Lin, Yang Yizhong, and Lan Gui retreated several steps in surprise, while Lü Haowen quickly stood up to avoid him. When the purple-robed prefect raised his head, his eyes were already red-rimmed. "Before I left Jiangzhou, my mother told me that our family had received the nation's grace for generations and that I should obey orders, without being disrespectful or losing integrity. Even if I face death nine times over, I must ensure the safe return of Empress Dowager to the capital... My mother said, my mother said, 'Do not let her old age be a concern!'"

As he finished speaking, tears streamed down his face.

Emperor Zhao was visibly taken aback and swallowed the words and dissatisfaction he had been holding back. He said carefully, "Please rise, Official Han... Since the old lady has already given you instructions, I will not repeat them... I remember your father died as the Prefect of Xiangzhou?"

"Yes," Han replied.

"Fortunately, you have a wise mother," Zhao Jiu turned to Lü Haowen. "What is the highest rank that can be bestowed upon such a wise mother?"

Lü Haowen was somewhat surprised and replied succinctly, "Guo Fu Ren. Last year, Your Majesty bestowed the title of Ning Guo Fu Ren on the mother of Marshal Yue Fei."

Zhao Jiu immediately turned to Han Xiaozhou. "The title of Rong Guo Fu Ren shall be bestowed upon your mother! Rise quickly!"

Han Xiaozhou was even more grateful and rose. Zhao Jiu then gave him some more instructions and allowed him to return to his residence in Tokyo to rest. He would receive the assignment of Envoy of Welcome tomorrow and travel north with the Jin envoys.

Thus, watching Han Xiaozhou come and go, Emperor Zhao sat silently for a full quarter of an hour before turning to Lü Haowen, who was still standing beside him. "Prime Minister Lü, I heard that you are related by marriage?"

"Yes," Lü Haowen replied carefully. "The grandmother of Grand Administrator Han is my aunt..."

"So, our lord-vassal relationship is not so far apart in terms of generation..."

Zhao Jiu muttered to himself. Those around him pretended not to hear.

After a pause, the Emperor looked around, and seeing only a few guards, Scholar Lin, and Lan Gui beside him, he directly asked Lü Haowen, "Prime Minister Lü, do you think your in-law is feigning ignorance and acting foolish?"

Lü Haowen was slightly taken aback and slowly shook his head, not knowing whether he agreed, disagreed, or simply couldn't tell.

Emperor Zhao sighed and spoke his mind. "I will not hide it from you, Prime Minister Lü. Ever since Wanyan Wushu sent that letter, I have felt that something was amiss. Han Xiaozhou's request to go north and Wushu's letter arrived at the same time. It is too coincidental..."

Lü Haowen was helpless and finally forced himself to say earnestly, "Your Majesty, Han Xiaozhou's family has received the nation's grace for generations. It is impossible for him to collude with foreign enemies."

Emperor Zhao frowned.

"Your Majesty..." Scholar Lin also understood and bowed, speaking carefully. "Grand Administrator Han's father passed away early, so it is difficult to say. But his grandfather, Duke Yiguo (Han Zhongyan), was known as a benevolent gentleman when he was Prime Minister... I believe Han Xiaozhou is very similar to his grandfather."

"A benevolent gentleman" meant someone who was useless and incompetent, which seemed to match Han Xiaozhou's performance today.

However, Zhao Jiu glanced at the somewhat embarrassed Lü Haowen and slowly shook his head. "Actually, I do not suspect him. Because if I think about it carefully, how could Han Xiaozhou in Jiangzhou communicate with the north across thousands of miles and the natural barrier of the Yellow River defense line? So, from the beginning, I thought that Han Xiaozhou's self-recommendation to go north must be because the people's hearts, both above and below, believed that the north and south were stable and that exchanges could be resumed. But Wanyan Wushu's actions seem to be too accommodating to our people's wishes."

Lin Jingmo was thoughtful and then fell silent.

Lü Haowen was helpless and could only say seriously, "What does Your Majesty think is going on?"

"I naturally believe that Wanyan Wushu has other plans..." Zhao Jiu said calmly. "I will not hide it from you, Prime Minister Lü. I called you here today not just to have you accompany me to meet Han Xiaozhou. I actually wanted to tell you that I have always suspected that the Jin kingdom's actions are intended to use the Empress Dowager to disturb my mind and cater to the hearts of the Song people, in order to conceal something! Han Xiaozhou is leaving tomorrow, so I am telling you this now."

Lü Haowen sighed slightly and asked in return, "May I ask Your Majesty, then what should we do?"

Zhao Jiu also sighed... As Lü Haowen said, what should they do?

Actually, Zhao Jiu had originally relaxed, but Wanyan Wushu's deliberate attempt to lull him made him see a glimmer of something. However, he did not know how to respond.

This was the danger of not having military initiative. Even though he had suspicions, he could not prove anything and could only passively wait for the situation to unfold. In recent days, he had thought about it for a long time, but he realized that he could not even dispatch troops in advance to support them, because all the troops were in their respective positions. Once they moved, they would create a huge opening. And Han Shizhong in Caizhou was already in the best position to provide support.

Not only that, but reason told him that conjecture was just conjecture. Forcing the people and soldiers to be more vigilant would only exhaust them. When the Jin people really came, they would be even more vulnerable. Or the Jin people might not come at all, and this futile effort would cause him to lose prestige. So he couldn't even openly discuss it in his edicts to the officers... He could only ask them to defend carefully and not to relax their vigilance because of the summer heat.

"So be it." After thinking for a long time, seeing Feng Yi and Feng Erguan peeking from afar, Zhao Jiu stood up, abandoned the matter, and took his leave from Lü Haowen. "Respond to changes with actions, Prime Minister Lü may depart, I also have matters to attend to..."

Lü Haowen immediately took his leave.

However, just as Lü Haowen had turned and taken four or five steps, Zhao Jiu looked at something on the table in the pavilion. His heart moved, and he stood up and called out to him, "Prime Minister, please wait."

Lü Haowen turned back in surprise.

"I give this to Prime Minister Lü." Under Scholar Lin's silent gaze, Zhao Jiu folded a corner of the "New History of the Five Dynasties," which he had been reading for half the day, and walked out of the pavilion to hand it to Lü Haowen.

Lü Haowen did not understand, but he bowed his thanks and took the book with both hands. He then left the rear palace accompanied by Lan Gui.

As the Prime Minister and the Grand Supervising Attendant of the Palace Secretariat turned a corner, they saw Feng Yi leading someone standing by the roadside, hurriedly bowing to them. Lü Haowen found the latter familiar and nodded slightly before walking past. As he turned another corner, he suddenly remembered that it was Hanlin Medical Officer Pan Yongshou, the father of Consort Pan.

This incident caused some ripples in the Prime Minister's heart.

Regardless of how Lü Haowen went back to read, that day in the palace was sweltering. That evening, Zhao Jiu routinely rested at Consort Pan's place... Since returning, he had spent most of his nights there, and today was no exception.

But that night, around the third watch, Lan Gui and Yang Yizhong called out together outside the door.

Zhao Jiu suddenly woke up and put on his clothes. He was not at all panicked. "Have the Jin people finally moved?"

"No." It was Lan Gui, not Yang Yizhong, who bowed and handed over a memorandum. "Your Majesty, the Privy Council urgently forwards a joint report from Liu Ji, the Defender-in-Chief of Xiangyang, Ma Shen, the Commissioner of Jinghu North Circuit, and Liu Hongdao, the Commissioner of Jiangnan West Circuit, reporting that Zhong Xiang in Dongting Lake has rebelled!"

Zhao Jiu was stunned and did not take the memorandum.

After several breaths, the Zhao Song Emperor frowned and said, "Why didn't he rebel two years ago? Why didn't he rebel last year? Why is he rebelling this year?"

Yang Yizhong and Lan Gui looked at each other, of course, without saying a word. It was not their place to speak.

"Two years ago, Your Majesty was personally in Nanyang, only a few hundred miles away. Zhong Xiang dared not rebel. Last year, Your Majesty won a great victory and bestowed many empty official titles on him to appease him. He was happy and content and no longer wanted to rebel. But according to the reports, Hubei suffered severe floods this spring, and the harvest is expected to fail. Moreover, the land tax was increased last year, causing widespread discontent among the people. His close associates felt that this was their last chance, and if Zhong Xiang still wanted to be his Grand Saint Grandpa, he could only rebel. Your Majesty need not have any doubts..." Grand Councilor Wang Boyan, who had just entered the palace, spoke first under the hastily lit lamps in the Chongwen Hall. He did not seem to take it seriously.

"That's right." Grand Councilor Xu Jingheng was also quite composed. "In my opinion, the Dongting Lake area had already formed societies for self-protection during the Jingkang Incident and did not listen to government orders. It was only a matter of time before they rebelled. The land tax increase last year and the disasters this year made rebellion inevitable. It's not just a matter of whether Zhong Xiang wanted to or dared to rebel... If Zhong Xiang didn't rebel, others would rebel, and they would definitely rise up in Dongting Lake and rely on that society!"

Under the lamplight, Zhao Jiu looked at Xu Jingheng, who was talking eloquently, and then turned his gaze to Lü Haowen, who looked slightly tired and worried. He was completely awakened.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, it is actually a good thing that he is rebelling now. We should take this opportunity to send troops to cut off this diseased tissue!" Chen Gui, who was from Hubei, spoke with conviction and rare enthusiasm. "Han Shizhong is in Huaixi. Let him go south to suppress the rebellion directly. We can also call upon several reliable naval commanders from Liangshan Marsh to quell this matter."

"That's right. If Zhong Xiang had raised his army when the Jin people attacked, we would have had to take it seriously. But in the current situation, it is merely a minor ailment!" Xu Jingheng was in a good mood today.

Zhao Jiu slowly nodded, almost word by word. "Your remarks are truly insightful, making me feel as if I have been struck by a club, and you have the demeanor of a great minister... That's right, when things reach a certain point, it's not about who wants to do it or who doesn't want to do it. Some things are inevitable, and we should face them head-on!"

Seeing the Emperor's cooperation, Xu Jingheng stroked his beard with rare satisfaction. "In that case, we should formally dispatch Han Shizhong to the south to suppress the rebellion."

"Agreed!" Zhao Jiu stood up proudly. "However, this concerns military affairs, and the situation is urgent, so we need not be constrained by formalities... We will divide our forces into two groups. On one hand, the Department of State Affairs and the Privy Council will issue an official edict, ordering Liu Ji, Ma Shen, and Liu Hongdao to organize volunteer troops, defend the prefectures and counties, and try to surround Zhong Xiang. On the other hand, I will directly issue a personal edict to the Imperial Guards, ordering them to take it to Han Shizhong on fast horses. He must act as swiftly as lightning, with the element of surprise!"

Xu Jingheng hesitated. Lü Haowen, who looked tired, simply bowed and said, "I agree."

Without waiting for the other grand councilors to respond, Zhao Jiu nodded and simply turned and left.

That night, countless edicts and gold tablets were sent out on countless fast horses. The city gates remained open all night, shocking the entire city.

The next day, when they learned that a rebellion had broken out in Dongting Lake in the south, they were slightly relieved.

That day, Envoy of Welcome Han Xiaozhou also returned north with the Jin envoy Gao Jingshan.

Two days later, as soon as Han Shizhong's army received the personal edict, they turned to Nanyang. Interestingly, the other Imperial Guard troops also showed signs of movement. But at this moment, the Taihang Mountains suddenly sent intelligence with all their might: the Meng'an-Moukes of Hebei had begun to mobilize and gather on a large scale!

When the news arrived, the high-ranking officials in the capital were alarmed. The news even leaked, causing unrest in Tokyo for days. Only Zhao Jiu remained unmoved, acting as usual.

Five or six days later, just as Tokyo, which had restored military control, had taken a breath, three pieces of news from different directions arrived almost simultaneously:

First, at the same time that the Meng'an-Moukes in Hebei began to mobilize, Wanyan Loushi launched troops again after two months. Before the end of March, he launched a large army of no less than 60,000 troops from the western route, crossed the Yellow River from Yan'an Prefecture, and all of Fuzhou and Danzhou were in critical condition... Considering the delay in the news, perhaps one of the two prefectures, or even both, had already fallen.

Second, the Meng'an-Moukes of Hebei, the core troops of the Jin's eastern route army, were mobilizing and gathering in two directions: half were heading towards Daming Prefecture, and half were heading towards Taiyuan. At the same time, the remaining troops of the western route army were also fully mobilized, but they were clearly gathering towards Yan'an in northern Shaanxi.

Third, Han Shizhong, who was supposed to turn to Dongting Lake in the south after arriving in Nanyang, suddenly showed his subordinates a new personal edict when he reached Nanyang. He abandoned Hubei and headed west towards Wuguan, requesting Nanyang Prefecture to transport the stored grain to Guanzhong through Wuguan. Yan Xiaozhong, the Prefect of Nanyang, was stunned and could only watch Han Shizhong leave while sending fast horses to Tokyo to inquire... Why did the edicts of the Department of State Affairs and the Privy Council contradict the personal edict?

Of course, no one in Tokyo cared about Yan Xiaozhong's surprise and doubts at this time. The two people Yan Xiaozhong wanted to ask, including the Emperor himself, had already fully armed themselves and were preparing for a personal expedition to Luoyang. At the same time, the officials of the Department of State Affairs of the Chongwen Hall, who had received the news temporarily through the report of Recorder Yu Yunwen, hurriedly gathered and, led by the four grand councilors, blocked Emperor Zhao in front of the Yi'you Gate between the rear palace and the front palace, trying to stop his willful action... No one was in charge of the Department of State Affairs of the Chongwen Hall anymore.

After all, the situation was very clear: the Jin people had previously used the repatriation of the Empress Dowager to paralyze Zhao Jiu and the attack during the New Year to paralyze the world. This time, they had been planning meticulously. They had gathered the armies of the entire nation to head west... Of the 200,000 troops, perhaps only 50,000 or 60,000 were used to contain the eastern front, and the remaining 150,000 or 160,000 were gathering in the Guanzhong area, clearly intending to annex the entire Guanzhong, and even Sichuan.

What a dangerous situation with such a force! What if the Emperor went alone and met with an accident?

"I am only going to Luoyang to oversee the situation." In front of the Yi'you Gate, Zhao Jiu, wearing armor and carrying a bow, was calm and composed. Looking at the dozens of senior officials led by the four grand councilors, he smiled. At the same time, Yang Yizhong, Liu Yan, Lin Jingmo, and other close officials stood inside the gate. It seemed that someone had been waiting here specifically. "Why are you all here?"

"Does Your Majesty think we will believe that?" Xu Jingheng was the first to be furious. "Since the Jin people want to annex Guanzhong, what is the use of Your Majesty going to Luoyang? Moreover, Your Majesty has always regarded us as enemies and has made secret preparations. Han Shizhong has probably already reached Wuguan, right?"

"How could I regard you as enemies? I regard all of you who have come here today as confidants!" Zhao Jiu stood on the steps in front of the Yi'you Gate, looked around at the people who had rushed over, and shook his head repeatedly. "Today, those who have come here are either my close officials or senior officials whom I have promoted since Nanyang... In this city, if I cannot trust you, then I truly have no one to trust!"

Xu Jingheng was also stunned.

At this time, Wang Boyan took the opportunity to step forward and earnestly persuaded, "Your Majesty, since Your Majesty knows that we are loyal, you should also consider it a little... Going to the front line is really dangerous!"

"Isn't this unavoidable?" Zhao Jiu was still not in a hurry. "If we abandon the two rivers, do we also have to abandon Guanzhong? If Guanzhong is gone, can the Central Plains be protected?"

Wang Boyan and Xu Jingheng were speechless. Many people simply shed tears. But soon, everyone looked past Chen Gui, who had little experience, and focused on another grand councilor, the Prime Minister Lü Haowen, who had already established considerable prestige.

Lü Haowen, with bloodshot eyes, slowly stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Zhao Jiu on the steps in front of the Yi'you Gate. "Your Majesty! The battle must be fought, but Your Majesty's safety is linked to the peace of the world. And now we are not as destitute as we were in the Mingdao Palace that day. We already have some troops and a foundation. Why not leave the Guanzhong war to Grand Councilor Yuwen and Han Shizhong? In any case, Your Majesty should not risk yourself..."

"Emperor Taizong of Tang personally led his troops to conquer the world." Zhao Jiu shook his head repeatedly. "How can we win if I don't go to the front line?"

This statement was somewhat abrupt. Lü Haowen thought that the other party would quote the reasons previously proposed by Qu Duan. But he instinctively retorted, "Your Majesty cannot be compared to Emperor Taizong of Tang, right? Throughout history, there is only one Emperor Taizong of Tang."

As soon as he said this, Lü Haowen himself felt that something was wrong.

"This time, it is actually not so dangerous. Although the Jin people are acting unexpectedly, they are ultimately going against the will of heaven. If we can rely on the terrain of northern Shaanxi to delay them for a while, and wait until the summer heat, our army will have rested enough to strike again, and we can crush them like Mount Tai crushing an egg." Zhao Jiu continued to argue, but it sounded somewhat boastful.

"Your Majesty is not the Tai..." Lü Haowen almost blurted out.

Before he could finish, the Prime Minister finally realized what was wrong with the conversation between the Emperor and him... The Emperor was deliberately using a passage from *The Biography of Feng Dao* to induce him.

And *The Biography of Feng Dao* was exactly where the folded corner of the *New History of the Five Dynasties* that the Emperor had gifted him was located.

After realizing what was going on, Lü Haowen smiled bitterly. "Is Your Majesty comparing himself to Emperor Shizong of Zhou? Or is he treating me as Feng Dao?"

It was not just Lü Haowen. Every official who had rushed to Yanfu Palace after hearing the news was erudite. Even the youngest, Yu Yunwen, had passed the imperial examination. So everyone realized... The Emperor and the Prime Minister were imitating the words of Emperor Shizong of Zhou, Chai Rong, and Feng Dao before the decisive battle with the Khitans in the *New History of the Five Dynasties*.

Among them, Emperor Zhao was playing the role of Emperor Shizong of Zhou, Chai Rong, and was the inducer, while Lü Haowen was clearly being treated as Feng Dao.

However, after understanding, everyone's expression was even worse.

After all, although Emperor Shizong won that battle and established the foundation for the Later Zhou, the fates of the two characters in the story were not auspicious... Feng Dao not only had a very bad reputation, but he also died directly after that battle. And the outcome of Chai Rong was even worse.

Returning to the present, Zhao Jiu saw that Lü Haowen had realized it and sighed. He took two steps forward, down the two steps, and took Lü Haowen's hand. Then he earnestly said, "Prime Minister Lü, I am treating you as Feng Dao, but I am treating myself as Shi Jingtang, the Later Jin Gaozu..."

Everyone was suddenly stunned, unable to grasp what was going on. Lü Haowen swayed slightly and became dazed.

But soon, the other ministers who were familiar with the allusion also realized it, and then became terrified or suspicious. But amidst the terror and suspicion, there were actually some who were instinctively delighted.

It is said that Feng Dao served ten emperors, including Shi Jingtang, the Later Jin Gaozu. The most famous story between Shi Jingtang and Feng Dao was Shi Jingtang's entrustment to Feng Dao before his death... Shi Jingtang was a famous puppet emperor, but he may also have been the emperor who most respected and trusted Feng Dao. When he was alive, he entrusted all political affairs to Feng Dao. Before his death, he gave his infant son to Feng Dao to entrust him with his care.

Feng Dao took Shi Jingtang's son and promised to fulfill his trust. But after Shi Jingtang died, he used the excuse that "the nation relies on a senior ruler" and turned around to establish Shi Jingtang's adult nephew.

"When I read the *New History of the Five Dynasties*, I thought that Ouyang Xiu's writing was outstanding, but the other aspects were too inferior... For example, Ouyang Yongshu greatly ridiculed Feng Dao for being disloyal and immoral in the matter of Shi Jingtang entrusting his son to him." Zhao Jiu held Lü Haowen's hand and spoke slowly. When he said this, he suddenly smiled. "I didn't feel this deeply before. I even thought that Feng Dao had let Shi Jingtang down. But since I came back this time and learned that Concubine Pan was pregnant, and I could barely call myself a 'father' again, I suddenly realized that Feng Dao's actions were truly his best effort to repay Shi Jingtang's kindness! And Shi Jingtang didn't say a word before his death. He just had someone hand his young son to Feng Dao. He wasn't asking for the throne for his young son. That's not something a father should do! Because in the chaos of the Five Dynasties, forcibly supporting an infant in the cradle would be sending him to his death! And Feng Dao's actions were truly worthy of Shi Jingtang's trust. Actually, if I remember correctly, Shi Jingtang's son lived well until the fall of the Later Jin. He simply died of illness."

"Your Majesty..." Tears welled up in Lü Haowen's eyes. He had already guessed what Zhao Jiu meant.

"Prime Minister Lü, all of you." Zhao Jiu continued to hold Lü Haowen's hand, but suddenly turned to the senior officials, speaking solemnly. "Let me tell you something from my heart today... I was waiting for you here today. I wouldn't be so rash as to leave without making military arrangements, and I wouldn't treat you, these trusted ministers, as nothing."

Most of them were silent, apparently already aware of this. More and more people began to cry like Lü Haowen.

"Since you are confidants, I have something to say. Although I know that saying it will make you resent me, if I cannot say it to you, I will not be at peace even in death." Zhao Jiu looked at them sincerely. "You should have seen it long ago. I hate the two sages! But I especially hate the Taishang Daojun Emperor! Because during the Jingkang Incident, he abandoned the people as emperor, abandoned his officials as king, abandoned his son as a father, and abandoned his wife as a husband! He was not worthy of being a ruler, a father, or a husband! But the more I hate him, the more I cannot repeat his mistakes at this time... You say, how can I abandon the millions of people of Guanzhong now that I am about to have children? If I were to survive in such a way, how would my children look at me in the future? Even now, how could I really leave you without saying a word and just walk away? This time, like before, there are reasons why I have to go! I hope you understand!"

The first half of these words, if spoken in court, would probably cause all the civil and military officials to abandon their posts and leave... But today, speaking as a father and son, in light of the urgent military situation, coupled with the news of Consort Pan's pregnancy, and the Emperor's sincere attitude, especially considering Zhao Jiu's special status as a son and a father, it seemed treacherous, with a touch of humanity.

It was enough to prevent these senior officials from saying anything reproachful on the spot.

Even so, everyone, including Yang Yizhong, Lin Jingmo, Liu Yan, and the other instigators hiding behind the Yi'you Gate, lowered their heads, pretending not to hear.

"Prime Minister Lü." Zhao Jiu finally turned to Lü Haowen and addressed him as Prime Minister. Then he said the words that were on the verge of being spoken, obviously not just to Lü Haowen. "To be honest, this battle, I am determined to go to the front line today, because this battle cannot be avoided. But as you said, this battle is dangerous! And we, lord and vassal, have been together for so long. I have only one request of you... That is, if I really meet with an accident, and Consort Pan happens to give birth to a prince, please do not imitate Zhuge Wuhou, but treat this child like Feng Dao... In the name of the Empress Dowager, for the reason that the country relies on a senior ruler, choose a decent one from the sons of the Great Clan to be the emperor, and summon Li Gang to be the Prime Minister. Reappoint Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, Zhang Rong, and Li Yanxian. The country may not be unable to recover. As for my children, please take their mother and them to the southeast to be idle members of the imperial family... In this way, although I, Zhao Jiu, am dead, I will be grateful beyond words! And it will not be in vain for us to be lord and vassal!"

As he spoke, Zhao Jiu held Lü Haowen's hand and bowed.

Lü Haowen was already in tears. As for the rest of the officials, although their reactions varied, they no longer knew how to stop the Emperor.