When Hong Qiwei was dragged down by the soldiers, Lu Shikui still didn't believe that Gao Changshou really dared to behead him.
It should be noted that when Hong Qiwei led the Zhenjiang Prefecture to surrender, the Song army had not yet been defeated in Lugang. This surrender was the first of Song officials to surrender. If he were to be killed today, in the eyes of the people of Jiangnan, it would mean that the new court treated the surrendered officials harshly.
Who else is willing to submit in the future?
Li Xia may dare to do such a thing that harms people's hearts, but Gao Changshou may not be able to shoulder this responsibility.
"It's just to scare people." Lu Shikui sneered slightly in his heart, somewhat contemptuous of such tactics.
Outside, Hong Qiwei kept shouting: "It's the city I dedicated that is lost, you can't kill me for this. Even if you want to punish the crime, you have to ask Your Majesty..."
Suddenly, the shouting stopped.
Lu Shikui thought, it would not be so quick to punish the criminal. Gao Changshou acted very realistically to scare people.
The next moment, soldiers rushed in carrying a bloody human head.
"Commander, Hong Qiwei has been crowned."
"Hang his head to rectify military law."
"Here."
Gao Changshou then turned to Lu Shikui and said: "We are still in wartime, and I have the power to deal with it as the opportunity arises."
Lu Shikui was not a timid person, and he was shocked when he suddenly heard these words.
He thought again that Gao Changshou had almost convicted him of "robbing a common girl" before, and he couldn't help but secretly feel happy.
Gao Changshou turned to Li Tingzhi and said: "I have found out that you are not suspected of collaborating with the enemy. However, you still dare to use the Zhao and Song Dynasty titles, and you are also guilty. You have nothing to do with the war, so I apologize to His Majesty."
Li Tingzhi quickly accepted.
~~
A few days later, the news reached Kaifeng, and Li Xia immediately received the memorial to impeach Gao Changshou.
Li Xia understood the cause and effect, issued an order to reprimand Li Tingzhi and fined him three months' salary, but did not pursue Gao Changshou.
Afterwards, he summoned Yuan Yan.
"Have you heard about Hong Qiwei?"
"Your Majesty, I heard about it." Yuan Yan responded: "I'm afraid this matter will have an impact on winning over the people in Jiangnan. Will I publish some content in the newspaper about your Majesty's kindness to obedient ministers?"
"No. I called you here today. I want you to write a "Letter to Obedient Ministers", which contains a warning to them."
Yuan Yan was slightly startled and glanced at Li Xia secretly. He felt that this young Majesty was majestic and rigid, and he didn't know how he managed to coax Zhang Wenjing back then.
She still remembered that Zhang Wenjing repeatedly praised this man as "very interesting".
"Please give your Majesty's instructions."
"Now that the king's army has gone south, officials in the south of the Yangtze River have surrendered. It is a good thing to abandon the dark side and join the bright side, but some people mistakenly think that serving in the new court is as easy as serving in the Song Dynasty. The country has been divided for hundreds of years, and the people of Li have been bullied, but they enjoy the food and clothing of the common people.
The worshiper cannot resist the enemy externally, but internally he only knows how to impose exorbitant taxes, and is full of private schemes. Is he worthy of being an official? He is worthy of being an official of Zhao and Song Dynasty, but not worthy of being my minister."
At this point, thinking of the virtues of the obedient ministers described in Gao Changshou's letter, Li Xia secretly thought that it is no wonder that Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely harsh on corrupt officials after the founding of the country.
First, the Zhao family was afraid of losing the throne and tried its best to win over civil servants and suppress military generals. Then, the Meng Yuan Dynasty neglected to govern. In fact, some scholar-bureaucrats in the world were pampered to the point of disgrace.
"Let me tell the world that if anyone who submits today wants to be an official, he must first think of himself as a superior person. He must be loyal to his family and country, loyal to the people, honest and honest, and loyal to his duties..."
~~
Lin'an.
On the bank of the Qiantang River, on the wall of Jiahui Gate, the soldiers of the Song Dynasty guarding the city suddenly saw a ship approaching from upstream.
"Are they the troops of King Laiqin?"
"Look at the flag image."
"What words did you write?"
"Jiangnan West Road, what state... I can't pronounce that word."
"We really came to King Qin, but why is there only this small boat?"
When the ship approached the city wall, they saw a civil official walking up to the bow of the ship and shouting to the top of the city: "I have heard about the affairs of Ganzhou, Yun Sun, and I have summoned King Qin to please open the water gate."
"Send over the letter and edict for verification!"
The defenders at the top of the city whispered while checking, "There really is only one ship, and there are less than two hundred people, right?"
"What's the point of coming to King Qin here?"
"Report it."
A few people were laughing and joking, and joked: "No matter how small a fly is, it is still meat."
…
The water gate in the south of the city slowly opened.
Hearing that Sun Yun had entered Lin'an, he turned around and saw a white-haired old man standing on the pier. It was actually Wang Yao, who was responsible for Pingzhang's military and state affairs, who came to greet him in person. He hurriedly rushed forward to greet him.
After exchanging pleasantries, Wang Yao was in high spirits and walked and talked with Wen Yunsun.
"Not long ago, Zhang Shijie came to guard Lin'an. I told him that now a loyal and capable man can finally rule the dynasty, and the revitalization of the Song Dynasty is in sight. Today I saw Song Rui coming. It seems that what I said is true."
"I'm just willing to do my little bit for the country." Wen Yun Sun responded, "I dare not ask for more."
Wang Yao laughed loudly and said: "It's time to be excited. Now the situation has been reversed. Zhang Shijie sent a battle report a few days ago. Not only did he recover the cities of Pingjiang, Anji, Guangde, and Liyang, he also recovered Zhenjiang Prefecture."
"real?"
"I can still lie to you." Wang Yao said, stroking his beard: "Zhang Shijie has built a fort in Jiaoshan and is preparing to fight the Tang army. His memorial said that he ordered his warships to put stone anchors and anchor in the Yangtze River. If Do not lift the anchor without an order to show your determination to fight to the death."
Sun Sun was also pleased to hear that, "Since the beginning of the war, I have only heard of generals being defeated and fleeing, but now there are finally generals who dare to fight to the death."
Wang Yao nodded and finally asked: "Jiangnan West Road has not been affected by the war. With Song Rui's ability, he must be able to gather tens of thousands of troops, right? But they are still outside?"
Hearing that Yun Sun stopped and said: "Excluding the soldiers who were registered in Ganzhou, excluding the troops who were recently mobilized and the old, weak and sick, the remaining 376 people have all joined the guard in Lin'an."
Wang Yao was slightly stunned and said: "The official issued an edict to King Qin with the intention of recruiting righteous men from all over the world."
"Pingzhang Gong, the summer harvest is coming soon. If ten thousand people are recruited, and these ten thousand people have parents, wives and children, the livelihood of tens of thousands of people will be cut off in the end..."
"What does Song Rui mean?" Wang Yao interrupted Wen Yunsun and asked, "You only brought 300 people here. Do you really want to save Sheji?"
"Now the Tang army took advantage of the victory, broke through the Yangtze River defense line, and approached the capital. Even if they came with a mob of more than ten thousand people, it was no different from driving a herd of sheep to fight a ferocious tiger. Can they save the country?"
"Then why are you here?!"
"Eating the king? It's a matter of loyalty to the king."
Wang Yao was already angry and said: "You didn't come here seeking success, but came seeking fame?"
Hearing this, Sun Chang bowed to the ground and responded: "Students seek right and wrong, and seek a clear conscience."
"That's enough, don't say any more."
Wang Yao was heartbroken, threw down his sleeves, and left.
Wen Yunsun straightened up and looked up at the sky for a while, his eyes still calm.
~~
That night, the right minister Liu Mengyan came forward to place this small reinforcement force.
"Wang Yao is too demanding. How many people came after his King Qin's edict came out in January? Song Rui's more than 300 people were already the first troops to come to the aid of Jiangnan West Road, and they were armored officers and soldiers, not ordinary people. The people are strong."
As Liu Mengyan spoke, he didn't realize that his demeanor had become impetuous and frivolous, and he shook his head with a sneer.
"I think Song Rui is right about this matter. The rise and fall of the Song Dynasty are determined, and the Song Dynasty has enjoyed 310 years of power. The one in the north is a descendant of Li Tang and is reviving the world... As ministers of the Song Dynasty, we will do our best.
"
"Ping Zhanggong said that I didn't come to seek success." Wen Yun said, "But I did come to seek loyalty."
"I know I know."
Liu Mengyan patted Wen Yunsun's shoulder perfunctorily and stood up.
"Song Rui, please take a break. I'm busy with official duties, so I'll take my leave."
Upon hearing this, Sun stood up and saluted and said: "Your Majesty, walk slowly."
"Oh, what right prime minister? Wealth and honor are not my wish, and the imperial homeland cannot be expected." Liu Mengyan smiled casually and said, "Song Ruimo gave it away."
He walked out of the inn, looked back, took out the lime from his sleeve, and made a mark on the wall.
~~
That night, Wen Yunsun read "Five Classics of Justice" for a while before blowing out the candles and lying down. Suddenly he heard a sound from the window.
He turned over and saw a figure passing by the window. He quickly went over and opened the window, but a letter fell down.
When he picked it up and saw the handwriting, Wen Yunsun was shocked.
His expression became solemn, he lit the candle again, and without opening the letter, he immediately put it on the candle to burn.
The flames had just started, but he put them out anyway, opened the letter, and sat down by the candlelight.
"We said goodbye to Lin'an. We haven't seen each other for ten years. At that time, I discussed current affairs with you on the banks of the Qiantang River. You stayed on the right path, and I was rebellious. Now that I have ascended the throne, I will drive out the bandits from the north and regain control of the Central Plains. I just want to clear up the world.
To bring the world back to the right track, we need people to determine the right path. The country is like a house. The foundation of Zhao and Song Dynasties has long been broken, and the beams and pillars have long been destroyed. Repairs and twists and turns, but you want to find a horizontal and vertical position in it, how can you ask for it?
Yes? I will simply overturn this house and rebuild it. I just need you to measure the horizontal and vertical levels. The so-called king's law, justice, and even the prosperity of the country and peace for all ages. Everything you want is also what I want. Because I have learned it since I was a child.
, it’s exactly where you are…”
Seeing this, Wen Yunsun squinted his eyes and saw that the next column of words had been erased.
He lifted the letter and leaned closer to the candlelight, and could vaguely see something like "It's exactly what you left behind". There seemed to be the word "character" in it, but the rest could not be seen clearly.
So he skipped the modified part of the column.
"I was born here like you, grew up here, studied the same sages, and we should have the same ambition. I deeply hope to work with you to uphold the great righteousness of the country and the nation. But I don't know what reason to refuse, Yu Zhong?
"
Wen Yunsun put down the letter, raised his head and looked at the house where he lived, as if he was looking at himself in the land of the Song Dynasty.
Afterwards, he found pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and sat alone late at night, grinding ink, meditating while grinding.
The ink is getting thicker and thicker.
Wen Yunsun finally picked up the pen.
"The country is like a house, it has not yet collapsed."
After writing eight words, he stopped writing again, not knowing what to say.
~~
That same night, Li Xia suddenly woke up.
He dreamed that he was wearing an ermine robe, dressed like a Jurchen, and ordered several civil servants to be executed amidst the cries that filled the sky.
"Who has never died since ancient times? Leave a loyal heart to illuminate history."
"What did Brother Li say?"
"Suddenly I remembered a poem."
"Eat cooked food...I want to eat too..."
The person next to the pillow muttered a few words, but the sound fell silent again.
Li Xia sat there alone, thinking that it would be a pity if there was one less poem and one less loyal martyr in the world.
In the end, he thought, one less story about a short-tempered hero would be one less story.
He still hopes that there will be one more Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui in the world.
Isn't the purpose of fighting bravely in this life just to change the original world?