dognovel Chapter 245 Qin Hui's Scheme
Chapter 245 Qin Hui's Scheme
In Lin'an, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, sunlight dappled across the cobblestone path in a quaint and elegant courtyard, adding warmth to the tranquil space. Suddenly, a streak of white streaked across the sky; a homing pigeon with full plumage gracefully swept past the bamboo grove in the courtyard, making a few soft fluttering sounds before elegantly landing in the center, like a messenger carrying news from afar.
A servant, dressed in coarse cloth and with a simple face, was busy in the courtyard. Upon seeing the pigeon, he quickly put down his work and tiptoed towards it. His eyes were full of caution and reverence, as if he deeply understood the weight this small life carried. The servant carefully reached out and gently pressed the pigeon down, his movements revealing an indescribable tenderness. Then, he skillfully untied the thin rope from the pigeon's leg, and a bamboo tube wrapped with thin paper quietly fell into his palm.
The servant didn't rush to unfold the note containing the unknown information. Instead, he clutched it tightly in his hand as if it were a rare treasure, then turned and hurried towards the study. His steps were steady yet urgent, each one seemingly proclaiming the importance of the message and a deep respect for the master within. Deep within this mansion, a conversation about family, country, destiny, or simply everyday trifles awaited to be quietly initiated by this single, delicate piece of paper.
In the heart of the ancient city of Lin'an, Qin Hui's grand mansion stands silently, seemingly capable of swallowing up all the noise of the outside world. At this moment, he sits upright in the dim light of his study, gently holding a secret letter that has just been quietly presented to him by a servant. The envelope, plain in appearance, seems to bear an immense weight.
Qin Hui's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, slowly swept over every detail of the envelope. Finally, he carefully tore open the seal and pulled out the neatly folded paper inside. As the paper slowly unfolded, lines of writing came into view, and his expression grew increasingly solemn, as if each word silently told of untold secrets and simmering conspiracies.
After a long while, Qin Hui finally could not contain his anger. He slammed his fist on the table, and his angry shout echoed in the hall: "Luo Mingjing, you incompetent fool! You actually let 60,000 or 70,000 elite troops besiege a mere Tangyin City. Not only did you fail to capture it after a long siege, but you also lost them all in that tiny place. It's outrageous!"
This secret letter, delivered discreetly by spies from the Imperial City Guard of Anyang Prefecture, contained a set of irrefutable facts, seemingly leaving no room for negotiation. However, fate is unpredictable, and Li Zhen's actions unexpectedly reversed the situation. Upon hearing the news, Qin Hui's heart tightened, knowing the matter was of utmost importance. He hurriedly straightened his clothes and prepared to enter the palace to meet the Emperor.
Along the way, he was extremely anxious, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how to explain the matter to Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou. He needed to explain the intricacies of the situation while trying his best to clear himself of any involvement, which was an extremely difficult task.
Through a quick-witted eunuch's whispered announcement, Qin Hui was finally able to enter the depths of the palace. Inside the solemn and silent Hall of Diligent Governance, Zhao Gou was engrossed in a mountain of memorials, his pen flying across the paper as he tirelessly reviewed them.
In terms of diligence in governing the country, Zhao Gou certainly surpassed his father, Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, who was so engrossed in calligraphy, painting, and entertainment that he almost forgot his heavy responsibilities as emperor. Zhao Gou, on the other hand, although he occasionally indulged in sensual pleasures and indulged in debauchery, ultimately he personally handled matters of state, dealing with those important issues concerning the nation and its people, thus not entirely failing the weight that the imperial robes bore.
Zhao Gou slowly closed the memorial in his hand, his movements gentle yet composed. A warm smile appeared on his lips as he turned his gaze to Qin Hui, his tone gentle yet authoritative: "My dear minister, you seem to be in a hurry today. Has there been any urgent military situation on the border?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Hui's expression became slightly flustered, and his lips trembled as if he found it difficult to speak: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report that there has indeed been an urgent report from the border. General Luo Mingjing's army of 60,000 men suffered a heavy defeat at Tangyin City. Not only did General Luo die a heroic death, but all 60,000 of his warriors were also killed in action, with none surviving."
"Clap!"
The brush in Zhao Gou's hand suddenly slipped, its light body drawing an irregular arc in the air before finally landing with a thud on the bluestone floor. The full tip of the brush greedily spat out ink, spreading a deep black, as if silently whispering an ominous message.
"You mean, all 60,000 elite troops are gone?" Zhao Gou's voice was low and trembling, his eyes flashing with disbelief.
Qin Hui's body trembled slightly involuntarily, his throat was dry, and his voice carried a trace of undisguised fear: "Yes, yes, Your Majesty, the 60,000 troops were all surrounded and annihilated by the Li family army, and not a single one survived."
Zhao Gou, who had been as gentle as a spring breeze, suddenly changed his expression and was burning with rage. He slammed his hand on the table, and the table piled with memorials seemed unable to withstand his anger. The top memorial shot towards Qin Hui like an arrow, narrowly missing his cheek.
"Didn't you assure me that Luo Mingjing was a general with the talent to lead an army? How long has it been, and yet 60,000 troops have vanished so easily?" Zhao Gou's tone was filled with anger and disappointment. He knew that at this critical moment when he was locked in a stalemate with Zhao Heng's forces, such a defeat was undoubtedly adding insult to injury.
Inside the entire hall, the air seemed to freeze, leaving only Qin Hui's trembling body and Zhao Gou's suppressed rage echoing in the empty space, like a silent storm foreshadowing the impending tempest.
Half a day passed quietly, and Zhao Gou's mind finally returned to tranquility. He slowly sat down on the carved wooden chair, his expression revealing a trace of weariness and helplessness, and sighed softly:
"Qin Hui, my great Song Dynasty is currently beset by internal troubles and external threats. In this situation, do you have any good strategies to relieve my worries?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Hui remained silent for a moment, then said gravely, “Your Majesty, Li Zhen’s power is at its zenith. Our dynasty alone is unlikely to be able to shake him in the slightest. This incident has not only caused setbacks for our dynasty, but even a powerful nation like the Jin has suffered a major defeat at the hands of Li Zhen, with its sixth prince personally leading his troops. It is said that the Jin army suffered heavy casualties. Why not seize this opportunity to join forces with the Jin and plot against Li Zhen? As for that…”
At this point, Qin Hui paused intentionally or unintentionally, as if weighing whether his next words were appropriate, and a subtle tension filled the air.
Qin Hui: "Although the Northern Song army currently holds the advantage, we have already allied with the Tibetans and the Western Xia. Once their armies attack the Northern Song army from the rear, we can put in a strong push, and that false emperor Zhao Heng will be no match for Your Majesty."
After listening to Qin Hui's report, Zhao Gou gently rubbed his temples, a hint of weariness and helplessness showing between his brows.
"Let's proceed as you suggest, my dear minister. I am truly exhausted today. You may step down and make the preparations." Zhao Gou's voice carried a hint of weariness, yet it did not lose its imperial majesty.
Upon hearing this, Qin Hui was overjoyed. He quickly bowed and left the palace. Night had fallen, and the stars were twinkling, but he had no intention of returning home. Instead, he hurried into the city to discuss important matters with several important ministers.
The streets and alleys were deserted, save for the occasional beat of the night watchman's drum and the sound of horses' hooves, adding a touch of mystery to the tranquil night. Qin Hui paid no heed to these sounds; his heart was filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming execution of his plan.
Soon, several ministers arrived one after another. They sat around the table in the dim candlelight and began to discuss in detail every aspect of Qin Hui's proposal. Inside the room, the flickering candlelight reflected their focused and solemn expressions, as if this small room held the fate and future of the Song Dynasty.