Southwest, the busy autumn passed, followed by a lively and prosperous winter. The winter of the tenth year of Wujian Shuo saw the people of the Chengdu Plain, fresh from a bountiful harvest, gradually settling down, their hearts filled with apprehension and curiosity as they grew accustomed to the novelty and tranquility brought by the Chinese Army.

The massive disaster relief effort during the autumn harvest, coupled with appropriate publicity, established a concrete image of the Chinese Army. The relatively strict and incorruptible law enforcement teams quelled unrest in the city, while mobile medical teams addressed the ailments that had previously been beyond the reach of many impoverished families. The deployment of veterans to various villages and towns brought a sense of iron and blood, offset by the Chinese Army's swift and decisive crackdown on numerous rogues and bandits. Occasionally, opera troupes would travel alongside the medical teams, drawing crowds of villagers wherever they went.

New workshops sprang up in various locations, providing employment for some of the homeless or families struggling with poverty. Trade between the major cities had recovered to its pre-summer levels, and by winter, new vistas were emerging.

As the Jurchens drew closer, the various clans and warlord systems of the Wu Dynasty felt immense pressure. They were secretly contacting the Chinese Army to purchase more weapons – a result, in part, of the Chinese Army's own lobbying. A tacit understanding between the two parties had been established by summer, and by late summer, large quantities of iron ingots, ores, saltpeter, and other formerly prohibited materials were openly entering the Chinese Army's territory, exchanged for newly produced, higher-quality iron cannons, landmines, and other weapons.

In addition, luxury goods and daily necessities produced by the Chinese Army, such as perfumes, glassware, mirrors, books, and clothing, began to open up external markets on a large scale, taking advantage of this blind-eye-turned arms trade. Some merchants, adhering to the principle of seeking wealth in danger and establishing new industries under the guidance of the Chinese Army, had already recouped their investments.

In November of that year, a team of over five hundred people set out from the distant Da-yang tribe of Tibet, and after more than half a month's trek, arrived in Chengdu. The general leading the team, as solid as an iron tower with one eye missing, was none other than Qin Shaoqian, the commander of the Chinese Army's Seventh Army. Simultaneously, a team from the Miao region in the southeast set out and arrived in Chengdu. This was a representative of the Chinese Army's Twenty-ninth Army, led by the long-unseen Chen Fan.

The Chinese Army's "World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament" was convened in Chengdu in December of that year.

This was the first large-scale sports meet held by the Chinese Army. Similar martial arts activities had been common within the Chinese Army, but this tournament was not only for internal members but also welcomed individuals from the *jianghu*, the martial arts world, and even representatives of prominent families from the Wu Dynasty. Of course, no official from the Wu Dynasty dared to participate in such an event for the time being.

The tales of the *jianghu* and the martial arts world were, a decade earlier, the various novels "copied" by Ning Yi, which had been spread by the storytellers of Bamboo Records. Those who listened to the stories yearned for the "martial arts tournaments" in the novels, but they naturally did not expect them to actually happen. Now, Ning Yi had expanded the Chinese Army's internal martial arts activities and begun to publicize and open them up to the public, creating a huge wave around Chengdu.

Within a radius of hundreds of miles around the Chengdu Plain, in areas that still belonged to the Wu Dynasty, a large number of *jianghu* figures flocked to sign up. They spoke of wanting to diminish the Chinese Army's spirit and called on everyone to go north and resist the Jurchens after participating in the tournament. As the heavy snow fell, the entire ancient city of Chengdu was crowded with outsiders. The previously ample inns and restaurants were now all full.

Despite the grand scale of the sports meet, the personal presence of Qin Shaoqian and Chen Fan, who respectively controlled the two ends of the Chinese Army, was certainly not just for entertainment. The great battle in Jiangnan continued, and the Jurchens' determination to destroy the Wu Dynasty in one fell swoop was unwavering. Whether the Wu Dynasty dragged down the Jurchen Southern Expeditionary Force or the Jurchens made a long drive forward, the eleventh year of Jian Shuo would be a turning point for the world situation. On the other hand, Liangshan was besieged by an army of over two hundred thousand, and Jin was also putting up a tenacious but tragic resistance. As the center and main body of the Chinese Army, a new round of high-level meetings to determine the next strategic direction was also about to be held.

At the same time, Qin Shaoqian's arrival from Da-yang was for another matter.

In May of that year, Lu Mingfang confirmed the whereabouts of Qin Shaohe's concubine, Wang Zhanmei, and her posthumous child in the north. He went to Liaoyang, rescued the mother and son, and then arranged for them to go south. At this time, the Central Plains had fallen into a raging war. Wang Zhanmei, whose health had been weakened by more than ten years of hardship, could not endure the long journey. The entire southward journey was very difficult, stopping and starting, sometimes even having to arrange for the mother and son to rest for a period of time.

On the way south, they passed Liangshan, which was constantly resisting by taking advantage of the marshes, and later encountered the troops of Liu Chengzong and Luo Ye, who were wandering in the southeast of Bianliang. Wang Zhanmei fell ill several times. During this period, she hoped that the Chinese Army's escort would leave her behind and send the child south first, so as to avoid any accidents on the way, but the child was unwilling to leave his mother. Thus, stopping and starting, they finally arrived in Chengdu at the end of November of that year.

Qin Shaoqian came to see the mother and son.

After the fall of Taiyuan City, they were captured and taken north. For more than ten years, no one asked about the mother and son's experiences. The staff in the north, such as Lu Mingfang, had naturally conducted an investigation, and Ning Yi had sealed it away after reading it.

Wang Zhanmei, who arrived in Chengdu, was only in her thirties, slightly younger than Ning Yi, but her head was already full of sparse white hair. Some areas of her scalp were obviously damaged, and only the white of her left eye could be seen – probably blinded. There was also a scar on her face where a knife had been twisted. Her back was slightly hunched, and her breathing was very weak. She had to stop and pant every few steps.

As for the child who followed her, he was thin and skinny, with a hint of Qin Shaohe's uprightness in his face, but also with prominent facial bones and large eyes due to his thinness. His eyes often showed timidity and vigilance, and his right hand only had four fingers – the little finger had been chopped off.

Seeing the mother and son, Qin Shaoqian, whose mind had become as firm as iron over the years, almost immediately burst into tears. Although Wang Zhanmei had experienced great suffering, her mind was not dark. After crying for a while, she even joked, "Uncle's eyes are really like a family member." Later, she dragged the child over and said, "This concubine has finally brought him back. The child only has a nickname, Shi Tou, Stone, and has not yet been given a formal name. That is uncle's matter... Being able to bring him back safely, this concubine... has lived up to my husband..."

The child, whose nickname was Shi Tou, Stone, was twelve years old this year. Perhaps he had seen the resistance of Liangshan and the great battles in the Central Plains, and coupled with the fact that there were many people in the Chinese Army who had come from difficult circumstances, after arriving in Chengdu, the child's eyes had a bit of outward-facing toughness. He had grown up in the Jurchen territory, and in his early years, this toughness must have been suppressed in his heart. At this time, it was gradually awakening. Ning Xi, Ning Ji, and other children occasionally asked him to play, and he was quite restrained, but if it was martial arts fighting, he watched with shining eyes. After a few days, he began to practice martial arts with the children in the Chinese Army. However, he was thin and weak, with no foundation. Whether it was his mind or his body, it would inevitably take a long process to achieve anything in the future.

For Ning Yi, among the many major events, there was also a minor matter that came with Wang Zhanmei and her son.

After Liangshan became the center of the war, Li Shishi, who had been forcibly sent out by Zhu Biao, Lu Junyi, and others, came to Chengdu with the southward team of mother and son in this winter.

Earlier, when the situation was dangerous, Shishi had a past with Ning Yi, and to some extent, had some affection for him. Outsiders with good intentions regarded them as a couple. When Li Shishi traveled everywhere with Lu Junyi's team, under the indulgence of Su Tan'er, this rumor spread wider and wider.

This rumor protected Li Shishi's safety, but also blocked her interaction with the outside world to some extent. Now, when Li Shishi arrived in Chengdu, Ning Yi was a little embarrassed in addition to his official duties.

He pretended not to know and was busy with meetings, sports meets, and various receptions these days, and asked Juan'er to "casually arrange" for the other party to be with Wang Zhanmei and others. It was not until the middle of December, at the site of the Chengdu martial arts tournament, that Ning Yi saw her again. Her eyebrows and eyes were quiet and dignified, and she followed Wang Zhanmei and others, looking at him with a smile that was not a smile.

After greeting Wang Zhanmei, this old friend could not be avoided. Ning Yi smiled and cupped his hands. Li Shishi leaned over and said, "I want a job from you."

"Huh?"

"In the past few years, I have been traveling with Big Brother Lu and Big Brother Yan, and I have been in contact with intelligence and networking matters. Big Brother Ning, if there is a place where I can do things, arrange one for me."

Her words were calm, but this "Big Brother Ning" made Ning Yi slightly dazed. Vaguely, in the Bianliang City more than ten years ago, she also had such a passionate heart and always wanted to help this and that, including the disaster relief and the tragic defense of the city. Looking at her eyes at this time, Ning Yi nodded, "I'll free up some time in a few days to discuss it properly."

"Okay." Shishi smiled and said nothing more.

On December 18th, nearing the Little New Year, the urgent news of the Jurchen Wuzhu crossing the river south and heading straight for Lin'an spread and exploded in front of Ning Yi, Chen Fan, Qin Shaoqian and others. After a few more days, many news from Lin'an came one after another, pushing the whole situation into a difficult state that they had not previously imagined.

On December 25th, Ning Yi, Qin Shaoqian, Chen Fan, Pang Liuan, Li Yi, He Zhicheng and other high-ranking officials of the Chinese Army met before the morning meeting. Later, Liu Xigua and others came over, looking at the intelligence with each other, not knowing whether to be happy or sad.

"We don't need to celebrate the New Year, we don't need to go back to celebrate the New Year," Chen Fan muttered, "If this goes on, we don't need to celebrate the Lantern Festival either."

"It's like no one can afford to feed you Lantern Festival," Xigua glanced at him.

"I'm talking about not being able to go back to accompany Qian'er. You dog couple are kissing and I don't understand how we feel when we are out." Chen Fan looked at Ning Yi and Xigua.

Ning Yi looked down at the intelligence and said, "You dog couple are kissing and I don't understand how men feel when they have to kneel down when they get home."

His words were calm and perfunctory, but after he finished speaking, everyone couldn't help laughing. Qin Shaoqian looked calm and moved the stool back, "There's going to be a fight."

Everyone booed for a while, but naturally it was impossible to really fight. After laughing and joking, everyone's faces were a little worried.

For the situation of the Wu Dynasty, the entire meeting has been extended for several days. Now, the situation is changing every day, so that the Chinese Army can only watch quietly.

In Lin'an - even in the Wu Dynasty - a huge chaos is brewing, and no one can grasp the direction in which it will go.

The beginning of the matter started from the first court meeting after Laba.

On December 10th, snow fell in Lin'an City. This day was a routine court meeting, which seemed ordinary and commonplace. At this time, the war in the north was still anxious. The biggest problem was that Wanyan Zongfu had cleared the Grand Canal waterway and stationed the navy and heavy troops near Jiangning, preparing to cross the river. However, even in crisis, the whole situation was not complicated. The prince had a plan, the ministers had a say. Although some people raised it as a major event, it was just a matter of following the steps and responding one by one.

The great officials of all factions in the court: Zhao Ding, Lu Yihao, Qin Hui, Zhang Jun... and so on, all had no intention of launching a dispute at the moment. War was certainly a first-class event, and there were many things in the Wu Dynasty's vast territory and near the end of the year. The peaceful and quiet response was a work of patience. Near the end of the Si hour, the last item on the agenda was the matter of appeasing the civil unrest in the southeast. The personnel of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War stated successively. After the matter was finished, Zhou Yong, who was above, asked, "Is there anything else?"

At this time, someone stood up.

This was bad news. Zhao Ding's spirit tightened up. Usually, there was a procedure for court responses. Most of the things that had to be reported to the court had to go through the prime minister first. It was natural to launch an attack in battle, but that was usually a manifestation of party struggles, political struggles, and desperate efforts, and it was also extremely taboo. No superior liked subordinates who randomly stabbed things on the top without saying hello. He glanced back, and it was a newly promoted censor.

But He Yong of the Censorate had not greeted him. Zhao Ding glanced at He Yong, and the other party's face was also serious and puzzled.

This newly appointed censor was named Chen Songxian, forty-five years old. He passed the *keju* examination for half his life and became the second place this year. Later, various operations kept him in the court. Zhao Ding did not have a deep impression of him. He sighed. Usually, these old scholars who had been struggling for half their lives were more peaceful. Perhaps they were taking such a risk for something big, but more likely they were dizzy.

Listening carefully, Chen Songxian followed the matter of amnesty in the southeast and filled his mouth with eight-part essays, saying things that were not new. For example, the current situation was critical, so the rebels could be given a wide berth, as long as the other party was loyal and patriotic, their side could consider the matter of being forced to rebel, and the court should also reflect on itself - anyone could say big words, and Chen Songxian said a lot of them. The truth was getting bigger and bigger and more and more superficial, and others were about to start yawning, but Zhao Ding was shocked. In those words, something bad vaguely flashed past.

"...Now the Jurchen's power is great, destroying the Liao Kingdom and swallowing the Central Plains, just like the sun is in the sky. To fight against it, it is necessary to have the will to cut off one's head, but the gap between the enemy and us must be opened and seen clearly... At this time, all available forces should be united..."

Speaking of this sentence "united together", Zhao Ding suddenly opened his eyes, and Qin Hui next to him also suddenly raised his head, then looked at each other, and then looked at Chen Songxian. This vaguely familiar remark was clearly from the Chinese Army's檄文. They listened for a while, and only heard Chen Songxian say.

"...Now there is a southwestern force, although it has old grievances with us, but in the face of the Jurchen's menacing approach, it actually has the intention to retreat and cooperate... Gentlemen, the battlefield situation is clear to everyone, the Jin State is strong, and the Wu Dynasty is weak, but in recent years, the national strength of our Wu Dynasty is also catching up. At this time, we only need a few years of respite, and the national strength of our Wu Dynasty will be prosperous, and restoring the Central Plains will no longer be a dream. However...how to survive these few years, we can't help but pretend to be naive, gentlemen--"

"Shut up! Traitor--"

Chen Songxian was shouting, when Zhao Ding turned around, picked up the笏in his hand, and smashed it on the other person's head!

In an instant, the court became a mess. Amid Zhao Ding's scolding, someone rushed up again. He Yong, a minister in the Censorate, had already turned red. At this time, he was already kneeling down while cursing: "Ignorant child, you are dizzy, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I don't know that such a crazy person has appeared in the Censorate, I have not been aware of it, I am guilty! I ask to immediately dismiss this bandit's position and send him to prison for strict investigation..."

Someone shouted: "Your Majesty, this bandit must be a southwestern bandit, we must investigate him, he must be colluding with bandits, and now he dares to disrupt the order of our dynasty..."

All kinds of shouts mixed together, Zhou Yong stood up from his seat, stomped his feet to stop him: "Stop! Stop! What kind of system! Stop--" He shouted a few times, seeing that the scene was still chaotic, he grabbed a jade Ruyi next to him and threw it down, smashing it on the golden steps with a bang: "Stop it all for me!"

In this way, everyone stopped. Chen Songxian was hit on the forehead by Zhao Ding, and at this time he was covered in blood. Zhao Ding returned to his original position, wiped his mouth and began to plead guilty. In the officialdom these years, one or two people have lost their minds for the sake of fame. Now this Chen Songxian is obviously one of them. After not being an official for half his life, he can now go to the court, and put forward his seemingly brilliant but extremely stupid remarks in the hope of ascending to the sky in one step... This thief's career has come to an end.

Zhou Yong started scolding people above: "You ministers, where do you still look like court officials... If you want to spread alarmist talk, just spread alarmist talk, I want to listen! I don't want to see fighting... Let him finish speaking, you are ministers, he is a censor, even if he is crazy, let him finish speaking--"

Chen Songxian, with blood on his forehead, knelt on the ground suddenly and began to state the suggestion that he should reconcile with the Black Flag, what "extraordinary things should be done in extraordinary times", what "the life of the minister is a small matter, the survival of the Wu Dynasty is a big matter", what "the public officials of the court are all deaf and dumb". He had already offended everyone, and he became even more direct in his words. Zhou Yong watched from above, still with an angry attitude until Chen Songxian finished speaking.

"He's finished! I said let him finish! Hitting people? What's it like! Where do you look like my prime minister! My ministers! The Jurchens are coming! Discuss it!" After saying this, he stood up suddenly: "Withdraw from the court! Go back and reflect on yourselves!"

The matter of reconciling the Black Flag was dismissed, and Zhou Yong walked away angrily. The rest of the courtiers glared at Chen Songxian. As they walked out of the Golden Luan Hall, He Yong grabbed Chen Songxian: "You will wait for your punishment at home tomorrow!" Chen Songxian was awe-inspiring: "The country is in danger, and Chen is not afraid of death, but it is a pity that you are short-sighted." He returned with a generous gesture.

Chen Songxian's words were not worthy of discussion, and Zhao Ding and others were already thinking about whether the other party was connected with the rebels of the Black Flag, and were considering putting the other party in prison. Unexpectedly, what happened the next day. On this day, Zhou Yong took the initiative to open the court meeting again, summoning everyone from their homes: "Yesterday's matter, I thought about it..."

Zhou Yong looked at everyone and said that he wanted to consider Chen Songxian's proposal.

Immediately, all the civil and military officials of the court were persuading him. Zhao Ding, Qin Hui, and others all knew that Zhou Yong had very little knowledge, and it was understandable that he was afraid and rushed to the doctor in a panic. Some ministers began to talk about the統, and some began to analyze for Zhou Yong in his shoes. Ning Yi killed the king, and if he could be forgiven, the emperor would be the most worried in the future. Who would respect the emperor? Therefore, anyone can propose to compromise with the Black Flag, but only the emperor should not have such an idea.

Zhou Yong hesitated, hesitated, but he refused to give up such an idea.

At this time, Zhao Ding and others realized something was wrong. They had been dealing with Zhou Yong for ten years, and at this time, after careful consideration, they realized a terrible possibility.

There was no court meeting on the 12th, and everyone began to try to persuade and admonish the palace. Qin Hui, Zhao Ding, and others each visited the eldest princess Zhou Pei, and Zhou Pei also entered the palace to persuade. At this time, the public opinion in Lin'an City had begun to fluctuate, and various forces and major families had also begun to put pressure on the palace. ,

There was also no court on the 13th. When the court meeting was held on the 14th, Zhou Yong seemed to finally realize the huge rebound and suppressed the topic in his throat.

Until the afternoon of the 16th, the scouts urgently reported the news that Wuzhu's cavalry had crossed the Yangtze River. Zhou Yong summoned Zhao Ding and others and began a new round of resolute requests, demanding that everyone begin to consider the matter of reconciliation with the Black Flag.

This time, the emperor was stubborn and determined. The surging discussion lasted for four or five days. Ministers, great Confucians, and families began to express their views. Some military generals began to write books. On December 20th, the students jointly wrote a book opposing such an idea of destroying my orthodoxy. At this time, Wuzhu's army was already on its way south, and Jun Wu urgently ordered 170,000 troops to intercept it.

On the 22nd, Zhou Yong had been insisting with a group of ministers in the court for seven or eight days. He himself did not have much perseverance. At this time, he began to feel scared and regretful, but after being the monarch for more than ten years, he had never been offended, and at this time he still had some anger in his chest. Everyone's persuasion was still continuing. He tilted his neck on the dragon chair and said nothing. In the Golden Luan Hall, Hou Shao, the Minister of Rites, straightened his clothes and then bowed for a long time: "Please Your Majesty think deeply!"

After he finished speaking, he suddenly exerted strength under his feet and rushed out. The guards in front of the hall suddenly pulled out their weapons - since Ning Yi killed the king, the security of the court had been strengthened - the next moment, there was a loud and terrifying noise, and Hou Shao crashed into a pillar next to him, with red and white objects splattering all over the ground.

Everyone was stunned, Zhou Yong stood up tremblingly, his body swayed, and then he "wow"ed and vomited.

It's over...

...

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