"Is that so?"

Zhao Jiu, dressed in a scarlet robe, paused slightly. "The Ten Commanders are imitating Emperor Taizu's sworn brotherhood?"

"Your Majesty!" Ma Gao, the leader below, was anxiously prostrate on the ground. "To tell Your Majesty the truth, our ten brothers' sworn brotherhood is just a common act of brotherhood among commoners, seeking our own righteousness. It's a common thing in the Jianghu world. How dare we say we're imitating Emperor Taizu? And how can we say we harbor ulterior motives?"

"Your Majesty, to tell Your Majesty the truth, this matter is truly unforgivable!" Wan Qixie stood there condescendingly, not even looking at Ma Gao, but merely pointed at him and continued sternly, "After the Ten Commanders formed their sworn brotherhood, they became a single entity. From then on, if one of them disobeys, all ten will follow. They share both honor and disgrace. Consequently, the tens of thousands of soldiers in the Tokyo Garrison Command are essentially uncontrollable... With such figures gathering a large army inside and outside Tokyo, wouldn't they be holding Your Majesty and the court's safety in their hands, manipulating them at will?"

"We have absolutely no intention of rebellion, and how dare we manipulate Your Majesty?!" Ma Gao grew increasingly frightened as he listened, but then he looked to Yue Fei, Yue Pengju, to his left front. "Grand Commandant Yue, please save us, the brothers of the Tokyo Garrison Command! You must know we are innocent!"

Yue Fei opened his mouth to speak... He was familiar with these people, had a certain camaraderie with them, and according to Zhao Jiu's arrangements, the Tokyo Garrison Command was about to be disbanded and merged with his Jizhou Pacification Commissioner's Office to form the Imperial Vanguard, making them his subordinates.

As their superior, he should have spoken in their defense.

However, the problem was that Yue Pengju was half a scholar, and he knew from the start that this sworn brotherhood of the Ten Commanders would cause huge trouble. If they were truly wandering the Jianghu, that would be one thing, but since the Emperor was unifying the forces, no emperor could tolerate his Imperial Guard generals engaging in such behavior. But the men kneeling before him almost represented eighty percent of the Tokyo Garrison Command's strength, the greatest legacy left by Zong Ze, and they had just fought hard for months, risking their lives for the country. How could he not save them?

These complex thoughts flashed through Yue Fei's mind in an instant. After that instant, Yue Fei gritted his teeth, rose to his feet, clasped his hands towards the Emperor behind him, and spoke with seriousness:

"Your Majesty, to tell Your Majesty the truth, these people's sworn brotherhood was indeed ill-considered, but they mostly come from humble backgrounds and act rashly. To say they harbor ulterior motives is perhaps too severe. Please, Your Majesty, consider their merits in the Battle of Changshe and punish them leniently..."

Yue Fei was, after all, a newly promoted commander, highly favored by the Emperor, and those truly in the know understood that he was from Hebei, specifically chosen by Zhao Jiu to take over the Tokyo Garrison Command, this group of Hebei exiles (i.e., the so-called Ten Commanders kneeling before him), and his position was extremely secure.

He was one of them!

In fact, if it were not for this reason, how could the court have tolerated a Grand Commandant who was only twenty-six or twenty-seven years old? Even Li Yanxian's rejection of Yue Fei would certainly not have stopped there.

Therefore, once he spoke, many people were slightly moved, preparing to observe the situation in order to curry favor.

However, below the Emperor, the ministers remained seated and unmoved. Grand Commandants Han Shizhong, Zhang Jun, and Li Yanxian simply watched this scene coldly, without any expression... Especially Han Shizhong, as the one who was trapped in Changshe, as one of the commanders of that battle, and as the leading general in the army at the moment, any discussion would have to involve him, but this Grand Commandant Han simply remained still! He just coldly watched Yue Pengju, who was eager to protect the troops before even having them under his command!

And with the civil and military officials silent, who dared to speak up?

"Your Majesty," Wan Qixie waited for a moment, and seeing that only Yue Fei had risen to offer a word of advice, he felt relieved and sighed. "I believe Grand Commandant Yue's words are truly laughable... because are some things to be judged by their intentions? The world judges actions, not intentions! I also believe that perhaps eight or nine out of ten of the Ten Commanders are loyal, but one must know that Emperor Taizu was also a loyal minister of the Chai family, but why did the Song Dynasty replace the Zhou Dynasty? Wasn't it because a group of brothers in the army put the yellow robe on him?"

The situation had reached a deadlock. Not to mention that those among the Ten Commanders who knew a little about history felt a chill in their hearts, even Yue Fei felt he had been too young and impulsive... because he had long thought that things would be steered towards this statement, had long known that Ma Gao and others had truly committed a great taboo, and had even guessed that the current situation was most likely deliberately created by Zhao Jiu to rectify this matter, but he still couldn't help but rush in.

But why?

Yue Pengju asked himself, and quickly came to a conclusion. First, it was his own nature; second, with the deaths of Zhang Suo and Zong Ze, two superiors whom he regarded as half-fathers, they left him with a psychological barrier that he couldn't overcome for the moment; and third, Zhao Jiu's performance over the past few months had left him with an extremely good impression, making him forget that this young man in the scarlet robe, with no expression when he didn't speak, was actually the Emperor, the Son of Heaven.

And an Emperor surnamed Zhao!

Leaving aside what the people below were thinking, Zhao Jiu, with his expressionless face, almost couldn't hold back his laughter when he heard the phrase "Emperor Taizu was also a loyal minister of the Chai family"...

One should know that Wang Shan and Wan Qixie were both brought by him from Tokyo, but to prevent things from backfiring, he only prompted Wang Shan, letting this military general who had pledged allegiance to him at Zong Ze's funeral come forward and expose himself, in order to bring up this topic and then use it as a pretext to his advantage. But he had not instructed Wan Qixie to play the villain, only telling the Junior Academician Lin to beat the drums when necessary, but this fellow jumped out on his own and even went this far.

Is it true that every emperor likes treacherous officials?

And was Zhao Da really a loyal minister of the Chai family?

Can the logic of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms be applied to this era?

How lacking in confidence must the Song emperors be that, even after their country has prospered for one or two hundred years, they are still repeatedly shaken to their core by this statement?

Of course, Zhao Jiu certainly couldn't understand, because although he was surnamed Zhao, he was not of this Zhao family's lineage. Zhao's engineering dog has his own ridiculous logic.

And finally, as this Emperor Zhao thought along these lines, he actually laughed out loud... and upon hearing this laugh, the ministers and grand commandants who were just maintaining serious faces, along with the civil and military officials, plus the dozen or so people involved, couldn't help but feel complicated.

The fearful became more fearful, the impatient became more impatient, the delighted became more delighted, and the bewildered became more bewildered.

"I believe that everyone's words have their reasons."

Emperor Zhao put away his smile, and his opening words were a bit absurd. Even if everything made sense, how could everything "have its reasons"? Now that it had been brought up, could there still be a good outcome?

"I truly trust General Ma, and I know that the Ten Commanders had no rebellious intentions when they formed their sworn brotherhood. Otherwise, why would they have disregarded life and death and gone to help at Yanling? I also believe that what Yue Qing said is extremely true. In the battles of Yanling and Changshe, the various commanders contributed to the nation, and I must remember this and try to preserve them as much as possible. But Wan Qing's words also make a lot of sense... Since ancient times, how have there been military generals who form sworn brotherhoods without authorization, breaking away from public order and establishing their own private systems? If this matter is not dealt with, they will sooner or later come to a bad end. But if we are to deal with it, with such a crime, whether they are killed or dismembered, no one can say anything if we search through history." Emperor Zhao spoke a lot of nonsense, but it made many people below feel frightened.

After all, these words, in the end, still led to "killed or dismembered"!

"However, before his death, Grand Commissioner Zong left instructions for me, asking me to properly handle the various armies of the Tokyo Garrison Command." Speaking of this, Zhao Jiu couldn't help but sigh faintly. "Gentlemen, you are either ministers of the court, famous generals of the nation, scholars with vast knowledge, or experienced veterans. Is there no one who can come up with a plan that satisfies both sides? That can eliminate the risks of this matter without a trace, and also preserve the various commanders, so that the meritorious officials are not left feeling disheartened?"

This seemed to have come full circle again, seemingly still wanting to seize military power with a cup of wine. If that was the case, everyone was more than familiar with it, and they could definitely come up with all sorts of schemes.

As expected, after a slight pause, the Drafter of the Secretariat Fan Zongyin stepped forward. After saluting, he spoke with a solemn expression, "Your Majesty, I believe that based on their special merits in Yanling, the ranks of the Ten Commanders can be additionally increased, and then they can be divided into three or two as Pacification Commissioners, dispatched to the Southeast, Jingdong, Jingxiang, Guangnan, and Sichuan, to take on the task of pacification."

Objectively speaking, this was a good idea. Granting promotions and titles, then removing them from the main combat sequence, and then scattering these ten people, also establishing a hierarchy between them, while also increasing the local security forces. It was clearly an enhanced version of "seizing military power with a cup of wine," with characteristics of the times.

One can only say that Fan Zongyin, despite not having any strong qualifications or merits, was able to become a Drafter of the Secretariat at such a young age (just thirty this year), and was highly praised by those above and below Nanyang. Even Zhang Jun once wanted to recommend this person to Emperor Zhao as the Censor-in-Chief before he went to Sichuan... He had his reasons.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhao hesitated slightly, but still slowly shook his head and made a conclusion: "Inappropriate. This is putting the cart before the horse!"

This was a bit serious. Fan Zongyin paused slightly and immediately looked towards the direction of the ministers.

Prime Minister Lü Haowen had no choice but to rise to his feet and step forward, out of a desire to protect promising young talents: "Your Majesty, we truly do not understand Your Majesty's thoughts. If such a disposition is inappropriate, then how can it be said that it is putting the cart before the horse?"

"The matter is simple." Seeing that the ministers had finally come forward, Zhao Jiu simply revealed his bottom line. "The so-called victory today is only a matter of stopping the Jin army's offensive. The mere desperate attack at Yanling and Changshe only destroyed more than ten thousand bandits. The overall situation in the world has still not been shaken. And as long as the Tartars are not completely eliminated, then the most important thing in the world for one day will be resisting the Jin. And the Ten Commanders are now temporarily lost in their ways, but they do not harbor any malicious intentions..."

Speaking of this, Zhao Jiu smiled slightly before continuing, "In fact, not to mention that they have no malicious intentions, even if they really had malicious intentions, given the current situation, I could tolerate it, as long as they can resist the Jin! Therefore, today's disposition should only be to preserve the combat power of the Ten Commanders and their troops as much as possible, in order to plan for the future. How can we destroy our own Great Wall? I am counting on them to drive out the Tartars and welcome back the Two Emperors for me in the future!"

The earlier words were still acceptable, but the last sentence, "welcome back the Two Emperors," made the various ministers who had just arrived and come into contact with this Emperor think that the Emperor was promoting filial piety, but those who had been in contact with this Emperor for a long time, especially those civil and military officials who were quite familiar with him, knew very well... these words from this Emperor had a hint of savage intent.

Therefore, Lü Haowen and others immediately became alert. Zhao Jiu probably already had a plan in mind.

Realizing this, Lü Haowen simply clasped his hands and said, "If Your Majesty has an idea, why not speak it directly? We have no objections."

Well, before Emperor Zhao even spoke, the Prime Minister had directly expressed no objections. The several civil officials below, who had a bit of backbone, looked at each other, but were helpless... This was only because a bunch of things had not yet been resolved, and this was only the current situation. If it were in the Shenzong or Zhezong eras, such a Prime Minister would probably not be able to hold his position for three days.

However, on the other hand, since Emperor Zhao had "fallen into the well" and then expelled Huang Qianshan and killed Kang Li, this Prime Minister had been steadfast from being a mere temporarily appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of War to this day, almost two years... This length of time would be considered valuable in ordinary years, let alone the fact that he had risen a level to become a full Prime Minister, and even the actual Prime Minister before the Emperor.

Why?

"I also just thought of it." Seeing that Prime Minister Lü was so easy to handle, Zhao Jiu immediately smiled and said, "The biggest mistake of the Ten Commanders' sworn brotherhood is to create a private system outside the public system. If this continues for a long time, no matter how pure their initial intentions are, they will sooner or later end up like Zhang Yu. The so-called 'one must not easily test people's hearts' is the meaning of this..."

The ten people, including Ma Gao, who had been kneeling on the ground for a long time without speaking, also felt great fear again upon hearing the name Zhang Yu, but also had a trace of expectation.

"In that case, why not turn the private into the public?" Zhao Jiu suddenly said with a solemn expression.

"What is turning the private into the public?" Lü Haowen truly did not understand.

"Enlarge the private system a little, to the same size as the public system, and wouldn't the public and private merge into one?" Zhao Jiu patiently guided.

Hearing these words, Wan Qixie below and a few of the Ten Commanders who were quick-witted had already been dumbfounded, but people from prominent families and scholarly backgrounds like Lü Haowen and Fan Zongyin, who had worn purple robes for generations, were clearly still somewhat difficult to understand.

Seeing this, Zhao Jiu no longer concealed his intentions, but simply revealed the mystery: "How about this? Today, among the various armies of the Imperial Guard, except for the Rear Army, which is still in the Southeast, the main force of each unit has gathered here, along with the main officers of the various armies. As long as they actually lead several thousand soldiers, eighty percent of them are here right now... What I mean is, since the Tokyo Garrison Command values loyalty and forms a united front through sworn brotherhood, why can't the entire Imperial Army also value loyalty together? The various commanders on the stage, as well as those who are temporarily serving as commanders, should come out together. Right here in Heyin, let the various ministers and grand commandants act as witnesses, and then swear a great oath to me. Wouldn't that be turning the private into the public?"

This time, not to mention Lü Haowen and Fan Zongyin, everyone in the audience, civil and military officials alike, were dumbfounded.

"Your Majesty, this is inappropriate, right?"

After a long while, as Zhao Jiu waited patiently, just as he had expected, Lü Yihao, the more temperamental of the two Vice Ministers of the Department of Military Affairs, actually refrained from stepping forward to refute him. Instead, Xu Jingheng couldn't help but rise directly from his seat to refute him.

"I know it's inappropriate." Sitting on the throne, Zhao Jiu sighed slightly towards Xu Jingheng. "But is there a better way? Before his death, Chancellor Zong entrusted the Tokyo Garrison Command to me, stating clearly that these troops came from military bandits and local outlaws, and must be controlled, but he also said that in times of national difficulty, they cannot be left unused... To sacrifice a little bit of the court's dignity in exchange for the ten commanders and their tens of thousands of troops to serve the country with peace of mind, what's there to be unwilling to do? This deal is worth making!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Vice Minister Xu was about to speak again when Wan Qixie prostrated himself on the ground, shouting in response. "I was limited by my horizons and narrow-minded, and I even had the petty thoughts of separating civil and military affairs. I am truly ashamed! I did not know that resisting the Jin is the priority at the moment, and naturally everything should be based on military affairs!"

Xu Jingheng widened his eyes and turned his head to look at Wan Qixie... Speechless and also somewhat enraged.

Not just Vice Minister Xu, but Wang Boyan, Lü Yihao, Liu Ziyu, and other important officials of the Department of Military Affairs almost all looked at this acquaintance... In Nanyang for so long, how had they not discovered that such a figure was hidden in their Department of Military Affairs?

Moreover, where did he suddenly get the confidence?

Was it given by the Emperor? Or did he find it himself?

Of course, regardless of their thoughts, Wan Qixie's words still choked the several ministers and everyone who wanted to object.

On the reviewing platform, there was silence once again.

After a moment, Emperor Zhao solemnly called out, "Commander Ma, what do you think of my method?"

"We naturally have nothing to say, only gratitude." Ma Gao, who had come to his senses, repeatedly kowtowed on the ground.

"That's good. I thought you were嫌弃 I wasn't qualified to be the person who swears the oath for this gathering..." Zhao Jiu said, then looked again at the dumbfounded Imperial Guard Left Army, Right Army, and Central Army commanders on his right. "What do you have to say?"

"Your subordinate..."

Some people, whether because of their background or their actions, actually looked down on their colleagues. Hearing the Emperor's inquiry, they instinctively wanted to rise and decline, but hearing the previous words, they couldn't help but feel their scalps tingle, and immediately changed their words. "Your subordinates believe that this matter is extremely appropriate."

"What do you think, 良臣?" Seeing this, Zhao Jiu went on to ask Han Shizhong.

"Your Majesty's thoughts are truly ingenious." Han Shizhong quickly rose and clasped his hands. "It's just that if the commanders swear an oath to Your Majesty, what should we do? If we also swear an oath to Your Majesty, wouldn't we be messing up the generations?"

Han Shizhong's focus was always a bit unpredictable, but Zhao Jiu had no intention of involving them, so after being stunned for a moment, he immediately shook his head:

"You are naturally court officials, and should abide by the court's laws. You don't need to swear an oath... If there are fathers and sons or uncles and nephews among those seated, you can only take the elder to swear the oath."

"Then I think it's feasible." Han Shizhong simply responded. "Your subordinate is willing to be the witness."

"Your subordinate also thinks it's feasible." Yue Fei quickly followed. For him, although this matter was also somewhat absurd, if it could prevent Ma Gao and others from being abandoned and the troops of the Tokyo Garrison Command from being dismissed and left idle, then it would be the best option.

"Your subordinate agrees." Zhang Jun quickly followed.

Seeing this, Li Yanxian looked around... In fact, he was extremely displeased with this matter, because it was too degrading for the court. Moreover, he considered himself to have made great contributions and was from a proper Western Army background, and had always adhered to loyalty and righteousness. He was naturally disapproving of these people who had repeatedly been military bandits... But helpless, all the commanders above, below, left, and right agreed, and after yesterday's lesson, he couldn't disobey the Emperor again, so he rose silently and stood in attendance, considered to be standing in the same rank as the commanders.

With Li Yanxian rising, Wang Yan, Wang De, and Lü Jing all rose to stand in attendance. With the seven commanders rising, the various commanders and leaders below no longer hesitated, and in a hubbub, immediately rose from their seats, came to the center, and knelt with Ma Gao and others towards Emperor Zhao. Wan Qixie also quickly dragged Fan Zongyin away from here.

Zhao Jiu raised his hand to signal, and Yang Yizhong naturally stepped forward to identify and call out the names of the generals present.

So-called:

Independent commanding generals of the Imperial Guard Left Army - Xie Yuan, Cheng Min, Wang Sheng, Wang Quan, Yue Chao, Xu Shian, Zhai Chong, totaling seven people;

Independent commanding generals of the Imperial Guard Right Army - Liu Bao, Tian Shizhong, totaling two people;

Independent commanding generals of the former Tokyo Garrison Command - Wang Shan, Li Qiong, Ma Gao, Sang Zhong, Zhang Yong, Cao Cheng, Liu Wenshun, Li Hong, Ma You, Xu Yan, Qi Fang, Liu Zhong, Li Bao, totaling thirteen people;

Independent commanding generals under the former Jizhou Pacification Commissioner: Zhang Xian, Tang Huai, Li Kui, Fu Xuan, totaling four people;

General Niu Gao, under Lü Jing, the former Infantry Commander of the Three Yamen of Xijing: one person;

Independent commanding generals of the former Imperial Guard Central Army: Huyan Tong, Fu Qing (the latter escorting the ministers), totaling two people;

Independent commanding generals of the former Wang Yan's Eight Character Army: Meng De, Jiao Wentong, totaling two people;

Independent commanding generals of the former Li Yanxian's army in Shanzhou: Zhai Xing, Zhai Jin, Shao Long, Shao Xing, Shao Yun, totaling five people...

In total, there were definitely many people who could not make it in time... For example, the several Central Army commanders left behind in Nanyang and Xiangyang, and Hu Cheng and Wang Gui, who were confronting each other with Jinan Prefecture on the eastern front, were also like this. And although Yang Yizhong and Liu Yan's official positions were equal to these people, they were condescending and clearly not considered to be among them... But regardless, roughly speaking, the core main forces of the various armies of the reorganized Imperial Guard, except for the Rear Army, were roughly all present, totaling thirty-six people.

"How did you swear your oaths in Fugou?" Amidst the incredulous gazes of the several ministers and most of the civil officials, Emperor Zhao asked about the professional process without panic. "Did you worship Guan Yu, burn incense?"

"To tell Your Majesty the truth, we did not worship any deities at that time, but made a blood oath." Ma Gao answered with a stiff upper lip. "Ten people cut their palms, let blood into the wine, then held the wine and swore an oath, and finally drank the blood wine together, and that was considered done."

"That's easy to handle." Zhao Jiu raised his hand to signal. "良臣, go and personally bring a jar of imperial wine from under the stage..."

For some reason, Han Shizhong also began to panic, but since things had come to this, he did not dare not go... And after a moment, the wine was brought, and Emperor Zhao stood up, took a dagger from Yang Yizhong's waist at his side, and then spoke before his seat: "Everyone, raise your heads!"

The thirty-six generals raised their heads together, and saw the Emperor Zhao in the red robe under the dragon banner directly holding the knife in his bare hand, slightly rubbing it, and then publicly dripping several drops of blood into the wine jar in front of him, and then put away the dagger, signaling to pour the wine. It seemed that these people below did not need to mix blood and drink the wine together... And seeing this scene, the civil and military officials above and below all became solemn, because they realized that this Emperor was not just messing around, at least not treating this matter with a messing around mentality.

After a moment, following the Emperor's decree, the seven commanders took turns pouring wine and holding bowls, offering blood wine to the thirty-six generals below, and Yang Yizhong and Liu Yan also removed the desk in front of the Emperor, so that there was no longer any separation between the Emperor and these generals.

"Gentlemen, when I returned to Tokyo, looking at the desolation before me, I only felt that the former prosperity and grandeur had all turned into a spring dream." Zhao Jiu had already sat back in his seat, but looked at his still bleeding palm and sighed slightly. "At that time, Grand Commissioner Zong was running out of oil, but he was afraid that I would have a compromising and peace-seeking attitude in the future, and even at the point of death, he forced me to swear an oath to restore the Two Rivers. But I didn't know at that time that a mere oath was not enough to express my ambition... The hundreds of prefectures and armies and millions of people in the Two Rivers have blood feuds like the sea, and how can a few oaths express the anger in my heart? But conversely, what can express my heart in the situation at that time and now, except for a few oaths? Therefore, today, the Ten Commanders have formed a sworn brotherhood without authorization, causing a great disaster, but I have absolutely no harsh attitude. As long as you express your ambition to resist the Jin and save the country, then everything I can tolerate!"

Speaking to this point, the upper and lower levels were already silent. Many indignant civil officials had also quieted down, and Zhao Jiu looked around, but he was solemn and said, "Everyone, stand up and hold your bowls!"

The thirty-six commanders and leaders stood up together, carefully holding their bowls.

The seven commanders did not dare to be negligent, and also stood solemnly on the right side; the ministers looked at each other without speaking... Now that things had come to this, they had no choice but to lead the civil officials on the left side to stand up solemnly.

"I will say a sentence, and you will repeat it!" Zhao Jiu spoke solemnly from his seat. "Today, my Imperial Guard generals, thirty-six in total, swear together on behalf of the two hundred thousand soldiers of the Imperial Guard..."

There was a moment of confusion below, and no one spoke for a moment.

But at this moment, Yang Yizhong suddenly squeezed the dagger, led Liu Yan together, stepped forward half a step to the left and right, and then raised his voice and said, "Today, my Imperial Guard generals, thirty-six in total, swear together on behalf of the two hundred thousand soldiers of the Imperial Guard!"

"Today, my Imperial Guard generals swear together!" The thirty-six generals paused slightly, then immediately repeated and followed with concerted effort.

"Drinking this blood wine, paying homage to the Son of Heaven, forming brotherly ties, entrusting each other with life and death, saving each other from good and bad fortune, sharing each other's blessings and disasters, and supporting each other in times of difficulty." Zhao Jiu spoke without hesitation, clearly having had a draft before today.

"Drinking this blood wine, paying homage to the Son of Heaven, forming brotherly ties, entrusting each other with life and death, saving each other from good and bad fortune, sharing each other's blessings and disasters, and supporting each other in times of difficulty." With Yang Yizhong's repetition, this time the words below were no longer uneven, but gradually became as neat as if they were coming together.

"Pointing to this life, wiping out the humiliation of the Jingkang Incident, reviving the Song and destroying the Jin, helping the people and saving the country, with absolutely no ulterior motives!" Zhao Jiu continued to lead the oath, but his eyes were somewhat cold, because he knew that these people below were his absolute hope, but it was also precisely these people, most of whom were just a group of thugs, military bandits, and so-called righteous soldiers who caused chaos among the people, fought for merit, and shirked responsibility, with extremely bad habits. His road was both blocked and long.

"Pointing to this life, wiping out the humiliation of the Jingkang Incident, reviving the Song and destroying the Jin, helping the people and saving the country, with absolutely no ulterior motives!" The generals also continued to swear their oaths, and now that things had come to this, the originally chaotic thoughts were each put away.

"If there are those who disobey orders in battle;

"If there are those who disobey orders in battle;

"Those who abandon their brothers due to factionalism or personal gain;

"Those who abandon their brothers due to factionalism or personal gain;

"Those who cause chaos among the people and implicate the innocent;

"Those who cause chaos among the people and implicate the innocent;

"Those who harbor selfish intentions in national affairs;

"Those who harbor selfish intentions in national affairs;

"We must all punish them together, making them wish they had never been born, and their deaths like the remnants of corpses under the steps!"

"We must all punish them together, making them wish they had never been born, and their deaths like the remnants of corpses under the steps!" Speaking to the last sentence, the generals below were already panic-stricken. Some truly believed this, while others sensed some of the Emperor's resolve from these oaths.

And the civil and military officials to the left and right were even more solemn. Han, Zhang, Li, and others were all flushed and alert... They did not swear the oath, but this was definitely Emperor Zhao's warning and restraint to them.

"Drink it!" Zhao Jiu paused slightly before speaking. "But you must think carefully. After drinking this wine, you will be brothers who have fought together on the battlefield, sworn an oath, and made a vow of life and death. And since I have become the oath-taker for you, I will not leave you alone... From today onwards, the generals of the Imperial Guard, those who swear the oath today and the commanders who are not here, if they encounter unfair matters in the army, local disputes, or private difficulties, can all write a memorial and send it by flying horse to Yang Yizhong, the oath-taker and Commander of the Imperial Guard, who is also in charge of the Imperial City Division. He will directly send your words to me..."

Hearing the last sentence, the several great commanders Han, Zhang, and Li felt a chill in their hearts. Lü Yihao and Xu Jingheng were even more shocked, but how could they speak at this time? And none of the thirty-six generals below would be foolish enough to hesitate in this matter. As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, they all raised their heads and drank the bowl of blood wine, which had no taste of blood but did not know what taste it had.

Then, they all lowered their heads, bowed their heads, and showed the bottom of the bowl to the Emperor above.

"Smash them!" Zhao Jiu, sitting there, finally laughed. "After smashing them, let's be unrestrained today, drink from big bowls and eat big chunks of meat. Otherwise, where will the spirit of gathering righteousness come from?"

There was a roar below for a moment, but the rammed earth platform was not necessarily able to break. People as refined as Li Kui, Niu Gao, and Zhai Chong simply picked up the unbroken wine bowls and hid them in their sleeves, preparing to take them home as objects.

After a moment, the banquet reopened. The military officers below, and even those lower-ranking civil officials, were mostly relieved, while the several ministers and several commanders mostly became frightened.

But regardless, as the Emperor's desk was brought up and fresh wine and meat were placed on the table, the atmosphere quickly became lively again.

Seeing this situation, taking advantage of the liveliness, the always taciturn Junior Academician Lin took the initiative to lean over and pour a cup of wine for the Censor-in-Chief Hu Yin, who was in front of him.

The latter withdrew his gaze from the imperial desk and turned around with a complicated expression, only to see the Academician Lin calmly holding his cup in response: "Today, the clouds are light and the wind is gentle in Heyin, but the road ahead will be long and difficult. Fortunately, the soldiers have the same idea of serving the country, and the nation will obviously be able to gain temporary stability. This is a good thing. Why doesn't Censor Hu drink a few more cups?"

Hu Yin was silent for a moment before raising his cup in response: "As Academician Lin said, it is certainly a good thing that the country can gain a moment of peace and the soldiers can be revitalized."

After speaking, the two drank it all in one gulp, and after the two drank, Hu Yin ultimately could not hide a sigh in his heart... The road is long and difficult. With today's situation, why doesn't everyone in the world feel this way?

Poem:

The Han family has a hundred prefectures in Hebei, the surviving people look south and hope.

Ask you, why is the northern bandit insignificant, sitting and defending the painted land like the impoverished?

Incompatible with the heavens is this hatred, I will not rest until I kill the thief in life or death.

The gentlemen can only plan for their own safety, without even a bit of heroic spirit.

Therefore, many scholars are drunk, and never speak of current affairs again.

I respectfully admire the Emperor's heavenly courage and wisdom, with a clear ambition to avenge his life.

The spring color fills the thousands of riders on the flat field, looking at the dragon banner moving in the pavilion.

The six armies pay their respects and call out ten thousand years, wanting to repay their kindness and have no business of their own.

The south wind is gentle and the sky is cloudless, the ivory collar is coiled on the mound, worrying about the yellow twilight.

Even the commoners can pay homage to the Son of Heaven, why do the brave men worry about the vermilion gate? It is a pity that the Jing and Wei rivers are divided in their hearts.

I wish to rise up as Zhuge in Mianyang and be my great Song's Flying General.

(End of this volume)