Chapter 55

Emperor Zhao Zhen was flipping through the memorial submitted by Yan Prefecture.

Li Liangzuo was growing up and becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Miezhao Epong. To control Li Liangzuo, Miezhao Epong married his daughter to him as the empress. In retaliation, Li Liangzuo began an affair with Liang, the wife of Miezhao Epong's son. During the day, he handled state affairs, and at night, he secretly met Liang with his attendants.

Miezhao Epong's son, Miezhao Dui, could no longer tolerate this and incited his father. They planned to ambush Li Liangzuo when he met Liang, hiding soldiers near Liang's bedroom and then bursting in to kill him.

However, Liang overheard the plan and secretly informed Li Liangzuo.

Li Liangzuo summoned Miezhao Epong to the palace, brought him to a secret room, and had the guards capture and kill him there. He also killed Miezhao Epong's son, brother, and other relatives.

This incident occurred in April, but it was not until June that Yan Prefecture received the news from Wang Wenliang, a slave of the Miezhao family, who had fled there. The news was then reported to Emperor Zhao Zhen.

As Zhao Zhen read the memorial, his face was filled with regret.

Without Wang Ju, the Song Dynasty had no Liu Bowen or Zhuge Liang to handle such matters. If the opportunity was missed, it was missed.

However, when Wang Ju parted ways with Zhao Niannü, he mentioned this matter. He suggested that if someone were sent to inform Miezhao Epong to be cautious about his son's wife, Western Xia would be finished.

Zhao Niannü returned to the capital with mixed feelings and reported this to Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen was also skeptical but immediately instructed Cheng Kan to investigate.

Cheng Kan soon reported back. It was true that Miezhao Epong and Li Liangzuo were at odds, and Liang was indeed a real person, a young girl of thirteen or fourteen who had just married into the Miezhao family. However, it was not yet known whether Li Liangzuo had a secret affair with Liang.

This indicated that the information had a source and was not just idle talk. Therefore, Zhao Zhen took two actions: he ordered the Imperial City Office to investigate Wang Ju, not just for rewards but to confirm the information. He also instructed Cheng Kan to send spies to investigate Liang in more detail.

First, Shi Gan reported that Wang Ju had been involved in various matters, even causing a blunder in a secret memorial. The Zhu family had a high-level advisor who helped them command the battle at Heiao Ridge and resolve the treasure crisis.

This news gave Zhao Zhen a headache, and he summoned his daughter.

The problem lay with Zhao Niannü.

After returning to the capital, Zhao Niannü believed Wang Ju's strategy and caused a great commotion, even almost forcing Sima Guang to resign in shame.

Therefore, Zhao Zhen was hesitant to speak openly and did not dare to send the two people who had met Wang Ju to Yan Prefecture, fearing that Zhao Niannü's affairs might be leaked. After all, Cheng Kan had already seen them once, and another visit might raise suspicions.

Thus, the situation was unclear on all sides.

Zhao Niannü recounted the situation again, looking at the secret report with excitement. "Father, summon him to the capital and give him an official position. He is a talent."

Zhao Zhen dismissed her, saying it was not that simple. He then issued a secret order for others to return to the capital, leaving Shi Gan to continue monitoring. He waited for Cheng Kan's report, which finally came at the New Year's Festival, confirming that Li Liangzuo indeed had an affair with Liang.

Zhao Zhen then summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.

However, this was where the mistake was made. If he had only called the two chancellors, it would have been fine, but Zhao Zhen, thinking it might be a major issue, also summoned other important officials, including Sima Guang, the censor.

Sima Guang immediately objected, saying that Miezhao Epong's tyranny did not constitute treason and that it was wrong for the emperor of China to teach someone to kill their father or for a king to teach his minister to kill the king for personal gain.

This enraged Zhao Zhen.

With someone leading the way, other ministers also raised questions. The first was how to make Miezhao Epong believe them.

Such a significant matter, what could a young girl of thirteen or fourteen do?

If Miezhao Epong intended to kill Li Liangzuo, would he allow Liang to overhear the plan?

... Various reasons were given.

They concluded that it could not be done. If the news leaked, it would be a laughingstock for generations. Moreover, Sima Guang was right; how could one teach a minister to kill their lord?

At this point, Zhao Zhen was not the same as he was a few years ago. His health was deteriorating, and he quickly became dizzy and confused by the ministers' arguments, so the matter was dropped.

Now, with the news, Zhao Zhen felt bitter, more bitter than gall.

Do not think that Zhao Zhen lacked wisdom. On the contrary, if not for the military constraints, he was already close to the legendary state of governance without action. Even in military matters, it was not entirely his fault. The Song Dynasty had not fought a war for decades, and Zhao Zhen did not have a golden finger to know who was capable. Without Zhao Zhen, how could Di Qing have achieved the great victory at Kunlun Pass?

Looking at the intelligence, he immediately realized that it was not Liang who overheard the plan but that Liang had bribed a servant of the Miezhao family, who then informed her. Do not ask about her age; there was a young man in Yan Prefecture of similar age, equally extraordinary!

If he had followed Wang Ju's advice, it would have been difficult to implement, but with determination, it could have been done. It would not have led to the immediate disintegration of Western Xia, but Miezhao Epong would have supported another member of the Tuoba Li family, not a descendant of Li Yuanhao. This would have led to disputes and, combined with dissatisfaction with Miezhao Epong, the decline of Western Xia.

A single strategy could be worth more than a hundred thousand troops!

However, he had missed the opportunity.

He put down the memorial and said to the eunuch, "Summon Shi Gan from the Imperial City Office."

Shi Gan soon arrived, and Zhao Zhen said, "Tell Me in detail about Wang Ju."

Shi Gan did not hide anything, including how Wang Ju had brainwashed people, and recounted everything.

"Is Zhang Kang still in Xuzhou?"

Shi Gan rolled his eyes; the young man was right; he should not have been involved in military affairs. "Your Majesty, Zhang Kang passed away in Xuzhou. His death caused a great stir in the border regions, especially in Linfu Road, where he defeated Li Yuanhao, saving tens of thousands of lives. People built shrines and dared not call him by name, only referring to him as 'Lord Pavilion.' Upon hearing of his death, countless people wept, saying, 'We have lost our father.'"

This was because Wang Ju had mentioned Zhang Kang several times, so Shi Gan paid attention.

There were things Shi Gan did not know. Zhang Kang had once served in Jingyuan Road, and wherever he went, people were so grateful for his benevolence that they would block the road, crying and begging him to stay, causing him to be delayed for days. Even Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan could not achieve this. Such a talented official, and yet the Song Dynasty had ignored him when the Miezhao family was encroaching on the Quye River.

"Did I really make a mistake?"

Shi Gan was frustrated; how could he dare to comment on the emperor's actions?

Zhao Zhen turned to the eunuch and asked, "What was the name of that Imperial City Office guard from last year, the one with the surname Shi?"

The eunuch understood and whispered, "Your Majesty, was it the guard who escorted the princess back?"

"Exactly."

"His name is Shi Huang."

"Summon him."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Shi Huang was soon brought in, and Zhao Zhen said, "You and Shi Gan will go to Yan Prefecture to confirm if it is that young man."

After extracting the truth from his daughter, Zhao Zhen immediately summoned Shi Huang and gave him some rewards and a position, but due to Wang Ju's "incitement," Zhao Niannü had lived a very eventful half-year. The matter was significant, so Zhao Zhen also issued a gag order. Rewards were given, but if the information leaked, he would not show mercy.

Thus, Shi Gan was confused.

"Shi, do you remember My words?"

"I will always remember them, Your Majesty."

"Good. Shi Gan seems to have found that young man. Go to Yan Prefecture with him to confirm. If it is him, bring him to the capital."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Just as they were about to leave, Zhao Zhen said, "Wait."

He could not summon the young man immediately.

His health was poor, and the palace was in chaos. Liu had previously given him a green hat, and the whole city was now spreading the news. If not for Han Jiang, he would still be in the dark.

If he immediately summoned this young man, the news would spread quickly. People would wonder why the emperor was summoning a young man from the border region. They would dig into Wang Ju's background.

If it were a normal time, it would be fine, but the recent sensational cases in Yan Prefecture were all related to this young man.

He understood, as Shi Gan and Shi Huang had reported, the suffering of the border region's people. But he had no choice. Just like how, years ago, he had wanted to exempt Qiong Prefecture from a thousand guan in salt duties, only to see the region's expenses increase by over ten thousand guan that year. He had to pretend not to see it. Could he issue an edict to exempt Yan Prefecture from military service and labor duties? Or encourage the smuggling of salt?

He could only issue a vague edict to Cheng Kan to reduce the people's burdens.

But how many ministers would understand? After their meddling, who knew what the situation would become, like his daughter's ordeal. If not for the young man's advice, she might have been ruined by Sima Guang and others!

He could summon the young man, but only after the dust settled.

He then said, "After you confirm, do not rush to bring him to the capital. I hear he is studying?"

"Your Majesty, that is correct. He seems to be very learned," Shi Gan replied.

"Then you will leave tomorrow. Today, I will personally select some books for him. Bring them and tell him that they are a gift from Me. Encourage him to study hard and succeed in the autumn examination. I will wait for him in the capital. However, this trip must be kept secret. Do not leak any information, and instruct him to do the same. This is an oral and secret order."

The two left, and Zhao Zhen also tacitly approved Cheng Kan's decision to shelter Wang Wenliang. The brothers Shan were a pain in his heart... It was not too late to realize this. It was this sheltering that led Weiming Shan to defect to the Song Dynasty. However, the Song Dynasty did not make good use of Wang Wenliang, mistaking him for the brothers Shan, which led to another major incident...

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