The next morning, although the sky was already bright, the autumn wind of the previous day and night had brought a slight chill, followed by a gloomy, rainy atmosphere.

At this time, our battered Zhao, the Emperor, who had spent a sleepless night in dejection, emerged from his tent with dark circles under his eyes.

In contrast, Yang Yizhong, tall and imposing, seemed tireless. He stood fully armored, his hand on his saber, squatting outside the tent. His eyes were bright and alert. Seeing Zhao Jiu emerge, he immediately rose and bowed respectfully:

"Your Majesty! I must inform Your Majesty that although Tongzhilang Liu Yan has been pardoned, he is still uneasy. However, Your Majesty retired early and I dared not disturb you, so I kept him waiting in another tent... Does Your Majesty wish to see him?"

"Wasn't he supposed to release the people and be done with it?"

Yang Yizhong bowed his head in silence.

"Alright, I'll see him." Zhao Jiu, yawning, reluctantly agreed. Although he couldn't fully empathize, he understood Liu Yan's fear. And now, he did need to win over such a military leader.

After all, even if he hadn't eaten dog meat, he'd seen dogs run. After watching so many TV dramas and reading so many novels, Zhao Jiu still had some sense. He knew very well that in a chaotic world, the person most likely to take his life as an emperor on the run was definitely not some prime minister or eunuch. At most, those people would prop him up and prevent him from doing anything. The greatest threat was precisely people like Liu Yan and Yang Yizhong, who directly controlled dozens or hundreds of soldiers.

Liu Yan was about thirty years old, looking more like a civil official than a military general. In fact, it was said that he had passed the imperial examination in the Liao Dynasty, and Tongzhilang seemed to be a civil official rank, apparently much more prestigious than Yue Fei's Wuyilang!

Well, why say "seemed" and "apparently"?

The reason was that Zhao Jiu really didn't understand. You must know that according to the rules of the Great Song Dynasty, official rank was official rank, post was post, and the actual assignment was the assignment. Moreover, official rank was divided into honorary rank, substantive rank, and graded rank, and further categorized into civil and military... Anyway, there was no way a twenty-one-year-old college student with normal intelligence could figure out all these intricacies in a matter of days.

Even Yang Yizhong, this something-or-other attendant who followed him every day, Zhao Jiu was confused about, because he had other attendants who were eunuchs specifically to help him find clothes.

Of course, a thousand words, ten thousand words, just as Yang Yizhong was feared by Zhao Jiu because this imposing, tall figure was always wearing armor and carrying a knife to monitor him, Liu Yan's most practical position at this time was still the leader of the eight hundred Chixin (Loyal Heart) troops. Everything else was just for show.

Besides, with the situation as it was, the Great Song Dynasty was about to fall. Who still cared about that? During the Jingkang period, someone had openly proposed establishing a semi-independent military commandery in Hebei. As for those chaotic official systems, if Zhao Jiu ever got the chance to take power, he would definitely abolish them all and replace them with something straightforward.

"What's Liu Qing's courtesy name?" After thinking for a moment, Zhao Jiu, in a bad mood and afraid of exposing his ignorance, decided to cut to the chase.

"My name is Pingfu," Liu Yan said, ashamed and不敢抬 (bù gǎn tái - didn't dare to raise his) head.

"Pingfu,朕 (zhèn - imperial 'I') know you are uneasy. Well then, pack your things." Zhao Jiu, standing in front of the tent door, put on a serious face and said solemnly. "From today onwards, fifty riders will be selected from the Chixin troops to serve in front of the 御前 (yùqián - imperial presence), and they will receive the same treatment as the Zhuban (imperial guards)... Anyway, the Zhuban seem to have been rebuilt, so let's just call it a new Zhuban! This will show that 朕 (zhèn - imperial 'I') do not doubt you or the Chixin troops. And Pingfu, you'll have to work harder, taking care of both the 御前 (yùqián - imperial presence) and this place... The sky is overcast, so hurry up and start a fire, don't delay everyone's meal."

As soon as these words were spoken, not only Liu Yan and the several Chixin troop officers behind him were overjoyed, but even Yang Yizhong was stunned, his mind churning.

A little later, Liu Pingfu naturally busied himself with the task. But Yang Yizhong, who had become more talkative this day, couldn't help but sigh with emotion:

"Your Majesty's actions today and yesterday truly have the heroic spirit of the Han and Tang dynasties!"

Zhao Jiu had been listless. After appeasing Liu Yan and the Chixin troops, he felt a bit more energized because of the overcast weather and slightly lower temperature in the wilderness. But when he suddenly heard the so-called "heroic spirit," he felt his teeth ache... What kind of heroic spirit was this? If he really had that kind of heroic spirit, he would have directly ordered Liu Yan to kill Yang Yizhong right here, then led the eight hundred cavalry into this Mingdao Palace and wiped out Kang, Huang, Wang, and Wang in one fell swoop.

Did he need you to come here and talk about heroic spirit? What era was this? Did he need to shake his tiger body?

Of course, Yang Yizhong was tall and imposing, fully armed, and looked like he was not to be trifled with. And it was said that he came from a military family and had a good reputation among the imperial guards. Zhao Jiu, a college student who had transmigrated not long ago and had only killed chickens and beaten cats, really didn't dare to make that decision to use a knife against such a person... What if he could resist a kingdom within five steps?

Thinking of this, he could only shake his head in silence. Last night, he had been thinking wildly again. To resist the Jin, he first needed power; to get power, he had to effectively control the remaining half of the country and establish his own great power base; and to establish his own great power base, he first had to break through the isolation of Kang, Yang, Huang, Wang, and Wang in front of him to gain control of the court and personnel; but to break through the isolation of these five, he first had to win over his own small power base.

This incident today, being able to win over Liu Yan while contending with Yang Yizhong, could be considered a blessing in disguise.

"Your Majesty treats Liu Pingfu so generously, is it because you value his cavalry advantage?" Seeing that Zhao Jiu had not reacted, and taking advantage of the surrounding chaos and inattention, Yang Yizhong, standing upright, asked again. "And the Liaodong soldiers have no connections with the various places in the行在 (xíngzài - temporary capital)?"

Zhao Jiu finally stared at Yang Yizhong, or rather, he finally realized the abnormality of his personal bodyguard, but he still didn't understand the reason.

Did he see that he was deliberately mixing in sand and dividing his power in the forbidden palace, so he was warning him?

That was the logical explanation, but obviously, the other party's abnormality had started last night, which was even more intriguing.

"What does Yang Qing mean?" In any case, Zhao Jiu became somewhat vigilant.

"I just want to remind Your Majesty." In front of the tent door, Yang Yizhong bowed slightly, his hand on his saber. "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, you don't need to be so wary of your officials."

This was almost equivalent to openly revealing the unspoken confrontation between the two, and it seemed to be quite well-intentioned.

But this still didn't put Zhao Jiu at ease, because he didn't know what kind of person Yang Yizhong was. Who knew if the other party would "punch the emperor three times and leave" in the next second? Who knew if he would kill himself with a knife and then take his head to join the Jin?

Was this a traitor or a loyal minister, did he surname Wang or Jiang, what was his attribute, Zhao, the Emperor, was completely clueless?

In fact, as a transmigrator, Zhao Jiu repeatedly ran into walls but still kept looking for those 'historical figures' he knew, not only because of their outstanding abilities, but often because the character and position of these 'historical figures' were known to him early on, which would give Zhao Jiu a sense of control... It would give him a sense of security!

But he knew who Li Gang, Zong Ze, and Yue Fei were, but who was Yang Yizhong? Zhao Jiu really didn't know.

"Your Majesty need not worry."

In the early morning, the autumn wind was blowing, and the sky was becoming more and more overcast, with signs of autumn rain. Yang Yizhong also put down the hand holding the saber, took half a step forward, and continued to speak to Zhao, the Emperor, who was thinking a thousand thoughts in his heart but remained silent on his face. "Firstly, the world is in turmoil, but Your Majesty is the only legitimate ruler in the world today, you are what the people want, and under the general trend, no one here can shake Your Majesty's throne; secondly, the Song Dynasty's system dictates that all matters are decided before the emperor, and no one can be a powerful minister... Among them, the 学士 (xuéshì - academician) can communicate important documents, the翰林 (hànlín - Hanlin Academy scholar) can enter the forbidden palace to serve, the御史 (yùshǐ - censor) can dismiss the宰执 (zǎizhí - prime ministers), and the generals of the 御营 (yùyíng - imperial army) are directly under Your Majesty, from the 都统制 (dūtǒngzhì - supreme commander) to the ordinary soldiers, all of them are decided by Your Majesty's word... Even I was transferred from Grand Commandant Zhang (Zhang Jun) at Your Majesty's request to rebuild the imperial guards. I have no roots in the forbidden palace, and Your Majesty can send me back with a single sentence."

Standing in front of the tent, Zhao Jiu was surprised. He understood what Yang Yizhong meant, even if he was confused.

The first sentence was telling Zhao Jiu not to worry about his personal safety and the throne, because at least here, which had inherited the overall framework of the Great Song Dynasty, he was irreplaceable; the second sentence directly pointed out the weak points of Kang, Huang, Wang, and Wang, and even Yang Yizhong's!

Use people with the title of academician to seize power!

Specifically, use Hanlin Academy scholars to suppress Kang Lü!

Use censors to restrain the prime ministers!

As for him, Yang Yizhong, and that Wang Yuan, they were not worth mentioning at all, because the Song Dynasty's system was in place, and Zhao, the Emperor, could find a public occasion and decide the advancement and retreat of these military men with a single sentence.

In other words, Yang Yizhong was unconditionally defecting!

"Why are you telling 朕 (zhèn - imperial 'I') this?" Looking at the busyness and excitement of the Chixin troops not far away, Zhao Jiu turned his head slightly and squinted his eyes. "Just because 朕 (zhèn - imperial 'I') pardoned those few people yesterday, slept here for one night, and promoted Liu Yan, there is some heroic spirit of the Han and Tang dynasties?"

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven!" Yang Yizhong bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Then why didn't you say it yesterday?" Zhao Jiu regained his senses and pressed on relentlessly. "Why didn't you say it the day before yesterday?"

"If Your Majesty insists on getting to the bottom of it, I only have four words to answer!" Yang Yizhong finally raised his head completely in front of Zhao Jiu.

And the two, who were similar in height, faced each other at close range, and Zhao Jiu noticed for the first time that the person in front of him had a young face hidden under the armor, rather than simply the image of a monitor.

"What four words?" After a long pause, Zhao Jiu asked.

"National hatred and family vengeance... that's all!" Yang Yizhong's face was expressionless.

Zhao Jiu was stunned and speechless. He certainly knew that this was a sentence he had said last night from the perspective of Zhao Gou's body in order to silence Yang Yizhong.

In all fairness, this was originally a perfunctory remark, but he did not expect that it could hit this person right on target!

It should be said that Zhao Jiu was not unaware that there must be a deeper reason for the other party's defection - for example, the sentence 'Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven' may be the most fundamental reason, because even if these people are suspicious, they dare not deny that this body is that Zhao, the Emperor, and as the Emperor, he naturally has authority; and this Yang Yizhong, as an attendant in the forbidden palace, seems to have a noble status, but his status in that five-person group is the lowest, and he is even vaguely an appendage of Kang Lü. Enduring like this is far less promising than defecting and gambling.

But regardless, Zhao Jiu was now filled with curiosity and shock about the four words "national hatred and family vengeance."

"I remember some guards said that you came from a military family..." Zhao Jiu clasped his hands slightly and stood still, but turned his head to look elsewhere. "You should also know that after falling into the well, 朕 (zhèn - imperial 'I') don't remember some things very well."

"I naturally know."

Yang Yizhong stood upright and faced him frankly. "During the Jingkang period, my father, Yang Zhen, was the magistrate of Jianning Fortress in Linzhou and died at the hands of the Jin; my grandfather, Yang Zongmin, was the commander-in-chief of the Yongxing Military Circuit at that time and died in the Jin's battle formation... I was twenty-three years old at that time, my family was destroyed, but I could not die for my country, so I had to go east to Hejian, where I met Grand Commandant Zhang and went to Xinde Prefecture together, where I was taken in by Attendant-in-Waiting Liang (Liang Yangzu) before reaching the Marshal's Mansion... National hatred and family vengeance are also a deep pain for me!"

"Your grandfather's name was Yang Zongmin?" Zhao Jiu turned his head in a daze. "Of the 'Zong' generation."

"Yes."

"Then what is your family's relationship with Yang Ye, Yang the Invincible?"

"During the founding of the dynasty, my great-great-grandfather Yang Ye stayed in Jin for a long time and did indeed have a slight reputation, but the title of 'Invincible' is unheard of," Yang Yizhong still said everything as it was.

"Are you a direct descendant of the Yang family?" Zhao Jiu was finally dumbfounded. "A genuine Yang family general?"

"I can't say I'm a direct descendant, and as a military family of the Great Song, I dare not call myself a family general." Yang Yizhong's face, which seemed to have never changed, finally looked黯然 (ànrán - sad). "However, my family has been in Hedong for a hundred years and has been generals for six generations. Naturally, we have some fame in the Western Army, but since the Jingkang period, the family has been scattered. Only four of my brothers have survived, and the whereabouts of the rest are unknown. And here, I am probably the only adult who has entered officialdom. As things stand, even if there are so-called Yang family generals, I am probably the only one left."

Then it seems that Yang Kang is probably not your grandson, but your grandnephew... In a daze, Zhao Jiu actually thought of this ridiculous thing.

However, as a drop of autumn rain fell, he quickly reacted, then took a step forward: "What is Yang Qing's courtesy name?"

————— I am the dividing line to thank the sudden large number of rewards —————

ps: Thank you to the bigwigs for the rewards... Yiyun, Nastasia, Director, Old Dao, Duke of Kherson, Abbei, Real Madrid, Uncle Bear, Boss Xiang Yu, Ayue, Seven Years Old, Lucius Ring, Masked Superman Mr. Wang, elrath, and the seabed, July and so on etc etc... (Feels like I'm padding the word count)

Many are acquaintances, after all, a book with only three chapters is not qualified to ask for an alliance leader, they all came from the old books... I asked Xiao Jiu to bow to everyone, thank you very much.

By the way, the manuscript ends here, from today onwards, be a person who writes words every night.