Chapter 6: The Joyful Zhao Guangyi

“Your Highness, such a godsend opportunity must not be missed! I will immediately spread the news far and wide, so that everyone in the realm can witness just how clever the Prince of our royal house truly is. Once this matter is public, no one will be able to challenge Your Highness’s position as Crown Prince!”

Ma Shao’s voice was urgent, his excitement blatantly obvious on his face.

“Your Highness, I share the same sentiment. Heaven gives but one must not refuse; otherwise, one invites blame. This time, Zhao Dezhao has made a foolish mistake of his own. There is no need for us to embellish anything—simply disseminate the facts as they are. Let the people see what kind of character the royal son truly has, and the matter of succession will be settled!”

Cheng Dexuan quickly added.

Zhao Defang was still young, and the only real threat to the Crown Prince position held by the Prince of Jin was the adult Zhao Dezhao. Zhao Dezhao was already at a disadvantage when facing His Highness. Now, having committed such a fatal blunder, they could deal a decisive blow to his claim to the throne. The younger Zhao Defang was no cause for concern.

“No, this cannot be done,” Zhao Guangyi said after a moment's thought, shaking his head.

The two loyal aides, ready to spring into action, were stunned by this response. They clearly had not expected their Prince of Jin to make such a choice—to let such a golden opportunity slip away.

“Your Highness, I assure you, we will handle this matter flawlessly, ensuring that no one will ever trace this back to you,” Ma Shao said solemnly, bowing his head in earnest promise.

Zhao Guangyi seemed somewhat tempted but ultimately shook his head once more.

“This matter ends here. Absolutely no deliberate leaks to the outside world. My elder brother is a man of deep sentiment, especially regarding family ties. Dezhao and I are uncle and nephew. As an uncle, how could I cast him into the pit? This foolishness was his own doing—we need not add to it. My elder brother already knows. His knowledge is far more important than the world’s. There is no need to overdo it.”

In terms of understanding Zhao Kuangyin, neither Ma Shao nor Cheng Dexuan could compare to Zhao Guangyi. As for grasping the mindset of his elder brother, no one in the realm could rival him.

Hearing this, Ma Shao and Cheng Dexuan exchanged looks of sudden realization, bowing to Zhao Guangyi with sincere respect and acknowledging the wisdom of His Highness.

After their departure, leaving Zhao Guangyi alone in the room, the composed demeanor he had maintained slipped into a wide grin stretching to his ears.

How foolish! My great nephew is utterly incompetent. With such poor ability, he dares to compete with me? He cannot even fool a three-year-old, yet he believes in himself!

Just this one foolish act alone was enough for our elder brother to exclude him from succession. He has no grasp of the realm. The Crown Prince can only be me.

After this joyful thought, Zhao Guangyi’s smile faded, replaced by a trace of bitterness.

My elder brother is no better either. During the Chenqiao Mutiny and the donning of the imperial robe, I exerted no small effort within. At that time, Zhao Dezhao was young, and as his uncle, I helped stabilize the situation. Yet even now, my brother hesitates to formally appoint me as Crown Prince! Truly heartless and ungrateful!

After this mental tirade against his brother, a fire kindled within him once more.

A few days ago, during the solar eclipse, many said it portended the fall of Southern Tang and the end of Li Yu. But to Zhao Guangyi, it was a clear omen that he—the Prince of Jin, who had devoted over a decade of tireless effort to the Song—would ascend the throne, supplanting his elder brother as the sovereign.

His elder brother might not have long to live.

With his talent and methods, once emperor, he would undoubtedly usher the Song into unprecedented prosperity: compelling the Qian family of Wuyue to surrender, extinguishing the Northern Han, defeating the Khitan, and reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun.

From there, using Youyun as a forward base, conquering further north and destroying the Khitan would be but a blink of an eye.

To the south, he would recover Nanyue; in the northwest, seize the Western Regions, reopening the Silk Road and surpassing even the Han and Tang dynasties with ease.

Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, was a man given to empty boasting, proud of his minor achievements, yet still called the Heavenly Khan.

As for himself, in terms of strategy, ambition, and talent, he was no inferior to Li Shimin.

Achieving feats surpassing Emperor Taizong would be no great matter.

Moreover, Taizong was Taizong; he would succeed his elder brother and become Song Taizong. Both bearing the title Taizong, who could say which was superior?

Indeed, in terms of ambition and breadth of mind, Zhao Guangyi was destined to surpass many.

Lost in such thoughts, Zhao Guangyi straightened his posture, exuding pride as if he were already emperor, having far surpassed Emperor Taizong’s achievements.

…

On November 29th, in the Hall of Longevity, Zhao Kuangyin was distracted from state affairs.

He stood before a folding screen, gazing at the map painted upon it, his eyes lingering over Jiangning for some time.

Jiangning, historically a place of strategic advantage—a tiger crouching and dragon coiling—was separated by a great river, known as a fortress difficult to breach.

As the Southern Tang capital, the more urgently the army attacked, the more fiercely the enemy defended. Breaking through completely was no easy task.

Though he had long prepared for the conquest of Southern Tang, and soon after commencing the campaign had ordered a pontoon bridge built over the river, turning a natural barrier into a thoroughfare for troops and supplies.

The siege had lasted more than a month, yet Jiangning remained in Southern Tang hands.

Zhao Kuangyin knew that Li Yu was now cornered; the fall of Southern Tang was only a matter of time.

Within two weeks at most, the outcome would be decided.

But as the saying goes, “Nine-tenths of the way is the hardest part.” At moments like this, his heart grew anxious, fearing some unforeseen event.

After studying the map for a while longer, Zhao Kuangyin turned and sat at the imperial desk.

The desk was somewhat cluttered; atop lay not memorials but the latest reports from the front lines.

This particular report had arrived three hours prior, covering the 26th.

Cao Bin was meticulous in his duties, delivering daily updates, allowing the emperor to grasp the situation promptly.

The report stated that Li Yu was already desperate.

He intended to send his son, Li Zhongyu, to the court as a sign of surrender.

Yet the departure had been delayed, and by the 26th, no progress had been made.

Surprisingly, the poet-emperor Li Yu had even appeared atop the city walls to rally his troops’ morale.

According to the report, Li Yu and his men were trapped like frogs in a jar; the fall of Jiangning was only a matter of time.

However, taking the city on the 27th was impossible.

The next day’s report would arrive soon.

When it did, he would have the audacity to execute the brazen liar!

Eager to cleanse the stain on his family’s honor, Zhao Kuangyin absentmindedly picked up his jade axe and toyed with it.

His eyes narrowed slightly, a chilling murderous intent radiating from them.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a faint commotion arose outside.

The noise grew nearer and louder. Zhao Kuangyin frowned, preparing to send someone to investigate.

At that moment, the palace door was suddenly flung open.

A bitter wind swept in, carrying snowflakes like goose feathers.

Zhao Kuangyin tensed instantly, clutching the jade axe, ready for combat.

His caution was not paranoia; frequent regime changes had taught him to be wary.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Urgent report from the front!” Wang Ji’en shouted, his voice trembling.

An urgent report? The 26th’s dispatch had arrived only three hours ago. The 27th’s should not come until tomorrow around the same time.

How could it have arrived so early?

Just as the question formed, Zhao Kuangyin’s heart jolted violently.

One thought surged into his mind.

Could it be...

“Your Majesty! Jiangning has fallen! The army has entered the city! The Southern Tang ruler has formally surrendered!”