The rise of the late Song Dynasty reigns supreme

Chapter 645 No regrets in this life, smiling Jiuquan

"Second brother, why did you bring me to the Taoist temple?"

"My lord, even if it's a pilgrimage, it's not the time to come!"

Zhao Yougong smiled and said: "Here we are, you all know why you came here! After passing this mountain, the destination is ahead!"

Zhao Gou and Gao Chong reluctantly followed in Zhao Yougong's footsteps. The place they came to was more than a hundred miles away from Bianjing, which was the famous Taoist holy place - Longhu Mountain.According to legend, in the middle of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Daoling, the founder of Zhengdao, used to make alchemy here. It is said that "when the alchemy is made, the dragon and the tiger appear", and the mountain got its name.

Longhu Mountain has a huge area, and it is one of the blessed places of Taoism. The place where Zhao Gou and others went was not the Qing Palace on Longhu Mountain, but 'Guifeng'.Guifeng has a total of 336 peaks and eight landscapes. It was originally named "Guifeng", which is located between Sanqing Mountain, Longhu Mountain and Wuyi Mountain. It is named because the mountains and rocks overlap like turtles.

Zhao Gou, Gao Chong, and Zhao Yougong came to Longhu Mountain on horseback. They did not lead any guards or troops, and they were completely incognito and private visits.In addition, Zhao Yougong told Zhao Gou that their whereabouts must not be leaked, and Zhao Gou did the same, so he came here non-stop.

"Where is your honor going?"

"Looking for an old friend!"

"Please follow the poor way!"

Zhao Gou didn't say anything, just followed Zhao Yougong forward.When they arrived on the mountainside of Guifeng Peak, they met a Taoist priest in Taoist uniform. He was over 40 years old with benevolent features and eyes, and Zhao Yougong was very respectful to him, which surprised Zhao Gou.

Then, everyone followed the Taoist priest and walked up, Zhao Yougong continued: "How did the master know that we are coming?"

"The heavenly secret must not be leaked!" The Taoist priest smiled, looked at Zhao Gou again, and said, "Sure enough, among the dragons and phoenixes among people, he is much stronger than your father."

Zhao Gou asked doubtfully, "The priest knows me?"

"Today, the tenth emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, I don't know if the poor man is right?" The Taoist priest revealed the identity of Zhao Gou and others again, which surprised Zhao Gou. According to common sense, Zhao Gou is the emperor. And he is a Taoist priest of Longhu Mountain, and he should pay homage, but he has no intention of saluting. Instead, he looks at Zhao Gou like a junior, which makes him a little confused.

"Dare to ask the Changdao number?"

"Pin Dao Zheng Tian Shi Dao No. 30 Generation Tian Shi, named Zhang Jixian!"

"Mr. Xu Jing!"

Zhao Gou was taken aback. He looked at Zhao Yougong as if he had guessed it a long time ago. This made Zhao Gou even more curious, because the title of 'Mr. With the support of the imperial court, it can be said that all the celestial masters have been bestowed by the emperor.

However, Zhao Gou also knew that Mr. Xu Jing had been rumored to have become an immortal, and Zhang Chaoxian would inherit the No. 30 celestial master of Zhengyi Dao.

"Is the emperor surprised why I didn't die?" Zhang Jixian looked at Zhao Gou with a smile, and said, "The body is just a skin. If you take off this skin, you will become a feather, and you will be free and free. As for why I didn't die." , the emperor will know all the reasons when he sees that guest."

Zhao Gou nodded dully, followed Zhang Jixian, and asked in a low voice, "Second brother, did you know that he is Mr. Xu Jing?"

Zhao Yougong caught a glimpse of Zhao Gou's sneer, he shook his head hastily and said: "I don't know, but Dragon and Tiger Mountain hides dragons and crouching tigers, besides, the emperors of the Song Dynasty attached great importance to Dragon and Tiger Mountain. Teachers must also be respected, this is also the emperor's will."

Zhao Gou glared at Zhao Yougong fiercely, then continued walking forward without looking back.

"Your Highness, congratulations on successfully angering the Emperor!"

Gao Chong whispered in Zhao Yougong's ear, that triumphant smile really made Zhao Yougong dumbfounded, and it was difficult for him to say anything, in fact, he himself felt that those words were perfunctory words, he really knew Zhang Jixian, Otherwise, I would not have come to Longhu Mountain.

"A companion is like a tiger!" Zhao Yougong covered his face and cried out in pain, Gao Chong glanced at him contemptuously, but he didn't want to talk to Zhao Yougong and left directly, leaving him alone.

"Brother Dao, they are here!"

"come in!"

When Zhao Gou and Zhao Yougong heard the voice, they looked at each other, because the familiarity was so familiar, especially Zhao Gou was deeply touched, he pushed the door impatiently and came into view. It was that familiar yet unfamiliar face.

The Taoist uniform was worn on his body, and it was difficult to conceal his aura, but his eyes no longer had the majesty of the world, and some were just indifferent. This person was Song Huizong Zhao Ji, and sitting beside him was Zhao You Gong's father, there is another person here, that is Qinzong Zhao Huan.

"Father!"

"Father!"

"I see the Supreme Emperor!"

Zhao Gou shouted excitedly, but Zhao Yougong was not surprised at all as usual, while Gao Chong met the Emperor Huiqin as a courtier, but Zhao Huan was not wearing a Taoist uniform, but a monk's uniform. Zhao Gou was very surprised to be dressed in cassock and the Buddha around his neck.

Zhao Ji nodded slightly. He looked Zhao Gou up and down. The father and son hadn't seen each other for more than ten years, and Zhao Gou always thought that Zhao Ji and Zhao Huan really disappeared without a trace, but he didn't want them to stay in the house unscathed. In the territory of Song Dynasty, however, they didn't find out, and seeing Zhao Si's smiling face, Zhao Gou knew that all this was done by him, the thirteenth uncle.

"Get up!" Zhao Ji said with a smile, "I am no longer in the world, so there is no need for these etiquettes. Now Pindao is a Taoist priest practicing in Longhu Mountain, not an emperor. Now you are the emperor of the Song Dynasty. This is really true. It's unbearable!"

"Father... Father!" Zhao Gou wanted to call Father Emperor, but seeing the displeasure on Zhao Ji's face, he hurriedly changed his words, which made Zhao Ji very relieved, and said: "Father, you obviously have nothing to do, why don't you talk Baby, don’t you know that I’ve been looking for you all these years?”

"I know!" Zhao Ji replied, "But I can't contact you. If you know that the boss and I have not been captured and are still alive, you will have no excuse to become emperor, and you will have no excuse to attack the Jin Dynasty, let alone Let Da Song have such a grand occasion, these things neither of us have done, but you have done it, this is the reason."

"Why did it fall into the hands of the White Lotus Cultists in the first place? Could it be that it was fake?"

"It seems true, it seems false, everything is just a mirror image!" Zhao Ji laughed, "The White Lotus Sect disturbed Chao Gang, and I know it, your Thirteenth Uncle knows it, and even You Gong knows it. It is also a gamble, if you win, it will be the rise of Song Dynasty, if you lose, it will be the decline."

Zhao Gou said: "Is this gamble really worth it?"

"Presumably Yougong told you the reason, otherwise you wouldn't be enthroned and proclaimed emperor, so there is no need to say more about this!" Zhao Ji said, "Whether it is me or the boss, we are both deeply limited by our thoughts, It is difficult to shake the deep-rooted thoughts of the people, and to truly change this path of decline, one needs a reason, that is, a lever to wake everyone up."

"For this leverage, your Thirteenth Uncle and I planned everything in secret. Even the eldest brother's succession to the throne was part of the plan. It's just that the Boss did disappoint me and your Thirteenth Uncle. I thought he was somewhat capable, but didn't want to Listening to slander and not knowing people clearly, I just took this opportunity to do what we started planning."

"Everything is under the control of the two of us. The only unexpected thing is that the Jurchen army attacked the land of Yanyun and gathered more than [-] troops. At that time, you had too few troops and the boss did not support you. , this can be regarded as seeking danger in wealth."

"If you repel the golden soldiers, then you will definitely not allow anyone to disturb Chao Gang. At that time, Yougong had a conflict with your Thirteenth Uncle because of this matter, and was finally severely injured by your Thirteenth Uncle himself. Otherwise, he would never He will allow you to face such danger, so don't complain about it, he is helpless."

"If you want to resent, blame me for being cruel and merciless! Your thirteenth uncle opposed me from the beginning, and I forced you to do so in the end. Don't resent him. Your thirteenth uncle always thinks that you are more suitable for the throne. I feel the same way, but it’s a pity that you have repeatedly refused to accept it, and this is the only way to force you, otherwise you will never agree to bear the responsibility of Da Song Jiangshan with your temperament.”

"When you came back victorious, it was God's blessing, and it was also your strength. I knew it well until you returned to Beijing to prepare for the Qing Dynasty. You Gong told me about these things. I was very happy at that time. You finally made up your mind. But I knew it wasn’t enough, so I decided to add fire.”

"Is that a plan to have someone kidnap me?" Zhao Gou was a little resentful. He really couldn't figure out what his father thought. His son led an army to seize power, but he was very happy. Such an idea is really weird.

"That's right, it's the director's illusion of being captured by the golden soldiers!" Zhao Ji didn't deny it, and said bluntly: "There was no suitable candidate, but it happened that the Xuanwu envoy among the Bailian disciples tied me up for this favor. The only thing I'm sorry for is It is to implicate the boss, which is also part of the plan. Only the two of us are missing. With your influence in the court, the six ministries and the Privy Council are all members of you. In this way, you will naturally become the boss. Emperor Song."

"Everything is carried out step by step according to our arrangement, but we didn't expect that the Xuanwu envoy would not go by land, but by water. This is something we didn't expect. At that time, the emperor and the eldest two were bound. But the boss was scared out of his wits, and the emperor was also injured. I led a secret team to search continuously and finally stopped them when they were about to leave Dasong. In the end, a fight broke out at sea, and the ship was also destroyed. The three of us and drifted to a deserted island."

Zhao Yougong then said, "At that time, the three of us were all injured, especially when we came to an unnamed deserted island, just avoiding everyone. Whether it was the Han people or the Jurchens, the Xuanwu envoy unexpectedly came with us at the last moment. We all died together, so we had to abandon ship and flee."

Zhao Gou was surprised and said: "Uncle Thirteen, the desert island where you live is not a place with many poisonous snakes!"

"How did you know?"

"Because I also stayed on that deserted island!"

Zhao Yougong and the others were very surprised. They indeed encountered many poisonous snakes on that desert island, and sometimes poisonous snakes would attack them, but to be honest, it was fortunate that there were many poisonous snakes there, and there were also many herbs, which helped them heal their wounds. .

Immediately, Zhao Yougong and Gao Chong also remembered that Zhao Gou had disappeared for a while. After they all went out to search, they finally met Zhao Gou on that deserted island and brought him back.It's just that I didn't expect Zhao Ji and others to have stayed on that deserted island. It's really a predestined relationship.

"It's no wonder that the deserted island seems to be traces of people who have been there, but no one can be found when searching around!" Zhao Huan suddenly realized that these were all Zhao Gou's masterpieces, and they were made a long time ago.If it is really counted, that deserted island is really famous, and the three emperors of the Song Dynasty have stayed there.

"Father, how did you get out of trouble?"

Zhao Ji laughed and said, "I have to thank Daoist Zhang for this!"

"Mr. Xu Jing!" Zhao Gou turned his head to look at Zhang Jixian, he didn't understand how this matter was connected with him again.

Zhang Jixian replied: "It's a coincidence that this incident happened. After Pindao knew that they were captured, he decided to hide from the world and never enter the world. After that, he wandered around and happened to pass by the deserted island. When he met them, he came back together." gone."

"How did the Taoist priest know about that deserted island?" Zhao Gou pointed out the core problem straight to the point. Even if Zhang Jixian wanted to travel all over the world, he would not be able to go to that deserted island alone. It is really uninhabited and dangerous. If you have nothing to do, go there, unless you already know someone is there.

"As expected of the disciple of Patriarch Chen Tuan!" Zhang Jixian was stunned for a moment, and then continued: "It was your master who calculated that they would die, and he also understood their painstaking efforts, knowing that I have a good relationship with the emperor, so he asked me to accompany you. Then we went together."

"Master?" Zhao Gou was stunned for a moment. He hadn't seen Patriarch Chen Tuan for a long time. One must know that most of his status in martial arts today was bestowed by this master who has never seen the end of a dragon. He said hastily: "Master. Is he also in Longhu Mountain?"

"The old ancestor is wandering around, and I don't know where he is." Zhang Jixian shook his head and said, "But before the old ancestor leaves, let me tell you something. If you want to know the cause and effect, you have to go one step further. to be freed."

Zhao Gou was puzzled. He really didn't understand what his master said. It wasn't until more than ten years later that Zhao Gou really understood the meaning of the words left to him by Chen Tuan. After seeing Patriarch Chen Tuan, everything became clear.

"When I came back safe and sound, you have finally succeeded to the throne as we imagined, and we have also seen that you have brought hope to the people of Song Dynasty as the emperor these years, and we also know that all this is worthwhile, and it is because of you What we have done is what we cannot do, so that the Great Song Dynasty can rise completely."

Zhao Ji continued: "When both of us were captured by the Jin people, it was a great shame. With your temperament, you will never let it go, and you will not be easily decadent. It will definitely make you change the social atmosphere of the Song Dynasty more attentively, so that everyone The people of Song Dynasty lived a life of prosperity and peace for the country and the people, and now that you have achieved it, as a father, I am proud of you."

"Looking at the current Song Dynasty, we are really relieved. In fact, Yougong only recently found out that we are not dead, and we have been under your nose. Because you had plans to move the capital at that time, but you didn't formally raise it that time, and We know that too."

"Even if you broke through the Huining Mansion and never showed up after destroying the Jin Dynasty, it made you more determined to destroy the Jin Dynasty, and you didn't want to tell Yougong, because he was afraid that he couldn't help the joy in his heart and told Yu about it. You, will influence your decision-making."

"It wasn't until you wanted to move the capital to Youzhou that we contacted Yougong and asked him to explain the matter clearly to us. Then we asked him to bring you to meet us. It was also an end to your scruples. Back then we were captured , You almost fell into a demon, this matter is also clear, if you don't show up again, I'm afraid there won't be much time."

Zhao Ji was full of emotions, looking at Zhao Gou in front of him, recalling the appearance of the child in the past, but insisting on his own way, he was really pleased with such a son, and sighed: "Bianjing City is the place where Emperor Taizu established his capital. With Emperor Taizu, the Great Song Dynasty started today, and now your achievements even surpass Emperor Taizu, then you move your capital to Youzhou, and your elder brother and I will support you, you can do whatever you want, you Just remember one thing, you are the emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, you are different from us, so you don’t have to worry too much, just do whatever is beneficial to the people of the Great Song Dynasty and the country of the Great Song Dynasty!”

When Zhao Gou saw what his father said, it was like confessing his last words. He looked at it carefully and found that his father was a little pale, as if he was seriously ill. He felt the pulse of his father without saying a word, and said in surprise : "Father, you..."

"You found out, and I won't hide it anymore!" Zhao Ji smiled lightly and said, "Mr. Xu Jing also treated me. It's my destiny. It's my destiny. Even if it's your master, I can't do anything. If it wasn't for the fact that I don't have much time and I don't want you to leave any regrets, I would have met you last time. This meeting will be a farewell. From then on, you are the only emperor in Song Dynasty. Mind the mundane."

If Song Dynasty is still weak, Zhao Ji is not at ease, and he will not die with peace in his eyes.Now that the Song Dynasty is strong and powerful, it seems to have become the hegemony of the Central Plains, and the Quartet surrenders, Zhao Ji is at ease.He has long ignored life and death, and these years of cultivating Taoism have made his heart extraordinarily peaceful, and he has no fear in the face of life and death.

"father!"

Zhao Gou's eyes filled with tears, and the man did not flick his tears lightly, but he didn't reach the point of sadness. At this moment, Zhao Gou couldn't help but burst into tears. His heart was very bitter, because after he took the pulse, he found that his father was dying and could not be cured. This made him feel very painful, and he couldn't do anything.

"Looking at the current Song Dynasty, I have no regrets!" Zhao Ji gently wiped Zhao Gou's tears, patted his shoulder, suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly asked: "Gouer, how many years have I met?" There is a woman with a child, and the child looks exactly like you when you were young, could it be that he has something to do with you?"

"You mean the leader of the Manichean religion?"

Zhao Ji nodded. When he saw Fang Jinzhi, the leader of the Manichaeism, he thought it was the reincarnation of Nangong Yuluo. Both his appearance and figure were the same. Nangong Yuluo is more dignified and virtuous.

Moreover, there was a boy beside Fang Jinzhi, who looked similar to Zhao Gou when he was a child, which surprised Zhao Ji. Zhao seemed to be stunned when he saw their mother and child, and finally found out that it was the leader of the Manichaeism. The origin of her child was unknown, especially who her husband was, but he suspected that it had something to do with Zhao Gou.

At the beginning, when Zhao Gou gave birth to two daughters, Zhao Ji was a little disappointed because there were no successors in the Song Dynasty. Later, he gave birth to a pair of twin sons, which made Zhao Ji very happy, thinking that there were successors in the Song Dynasty.So, he went out with Zhao Yougong and Zhang Jixian for a wandering, and happened to come to the place where he met Nangong Yuluo in the past, and recalled everything.

At this time Zhao Ji and Zhao Yougong were both dressed as Taoist priests, Fang Jinzhi didn't say anything, especially Zhang Jixian was very famous outside, Fang Jinzhi also regarded himself as a junior, as for Zhao Ji and Zhao Si, they played with children.

Zhao Ji saw the jade pendant on the child, he had seen this jade pendant on Zhao Gou before, but Zhao Si was playing with the child and seeing his skills, he was actually very agile, and there was an internal force in his body, the moves were not handed down by the Song Dynasty royal family Only those of the royal family are qualified to practice the boxing technique, which made the two of them puzzled, but they couldn't get the answer.

"That child is Hai'er's eldest son!" Zhao Gou replied truthfully, without any concealment.

Zhao Ji was overjoyed, and laughed loudly: "I didn't fulfill my wish, but you did it for me, haha!... I feel relieved!..."

Back then, when Zhao Ji met Nangong Yuluo, he fell in love at first sight. Even if he was an emperor with 3000 beauties in the harem, his heart only belonged to Nangong Yuluo.Now Zhao Gou met Nangong Yuluo's daughter and even gave birth to a son, which made Zhao Ji really happy, and he no longer had any regrets in his heart.

"Ninth brother, as the eldest brother, I have never fulfilled the responsibility of the eldest brother. On the contrary, younger brother Gong has done it!" Zhao Huan stared at Zhao Gou, then looked at Zhao Yougong, and said lightly: "All along, I I thought you would compete with me for the throne, especially when I saw my father doting on you, I was very envious and jealous, and brother Gong is not my own son, my father also trusts him very much, only me, the eldest son, has never been favored."

"This idea has always been in my heart, and it has been lingering for a long time, so that when you were facing a crisis, I, as the emperor, never sent troops to help you, leaving you alone and helpless. Until you return to Beijing, let me be an idler. Your majesty, on the contrary, I see it more thoroughly than anyone else, and I have thoroughly thought out all the reasons."

"It wasn't until my father was captured together with me, and the dead thirteenth uncle appeared again, that I realized that everything was a hoax. That was because I hated my father, and I hated you even more. On that desert island, father, thirteenth uncle Uncle also told me the truth of the matter, I don’t trust you to make Da Song stronger, and then I realized that I was dazzled by anger when I saw it with my own eyes. If I don't compete with you for the throne, maybe there won't be so many things."

"Ninth Brother, do you still resent that I didn't rescue you back then? Brother Gong, do you still mind taking the opportunity to suppress it?"

Both Zhao Gou and Zhao Yougong shook their heads in unison, they had already let go, and they didn't care about these things at all.Now what Zhao Huan feels the most is the calmness and indifference of the Buddhist school, as well as seeing through the world of mortals.When Zhao Huan became a monk, he put aside all his past, wandered around, and lived a life of an ascetic monk. However, he saw the growing prosperity of the Song Dynasty under Zhao Gou's governance and the people's well-fed life. He really let go of the past. The obsession, since then there will be no Qinzong.

That night, Zhao Gou, Zhao Yougong, and Gao Chong stayed in Guifeng Mountain for one night. Even Gao Chong sat in the same seat. There was no identity problem here, and they sat and ate together like a family. meal.Everyone spoke freely, even Zhao Huan, who had shaved his hair and became a monk, and Zhang Jixian, the heavenly master, broke the precept to drink alcohol.

Zhao Ji also talked about the past to everyone, especially the encounter with Nangong Yuluo, and the appearance of Zhao Gou, Zhao Yougong, and Zhao Huan when they were young. There were bursts of laughter from time to time, letting go of all responsibilities and burdens, There were lots of laughter, Zhao Ji and Zhao Yougong were the happiest at this moment.

The next day, Zhao Ji passed away peacefully in his sleep, and Zhao Yougong also died of a relapse of his injury on the same day, and even Zhang Jixian became immortal on the same day.

Zhao Huan, Zhao Yougong, and Zhao Gou took care of their affairs for them. In order not to let others find out, Zhao Huan discussed with them and put their bodies in the coffin and sent them directly to the hanging coffin tomb in Longhu Mountain. Their bodies will not be destroyed.

The mystery of the hanging coffin in Longhu Mountain is an unsolved mystery, and the bodies of the three of them were preserved there.

After dealing with the affairs behind him, Zhao Huan bid farewell to them. As for where he went, no one knows.Since then, no news of Zhao Huan has been heard, and Zhao Gou, Zhao Yougong and others set off to return to Beijing.In addition, he also conferred the title of Mr. Tianshi in Shangqing Palace on Longhu Mountain, which can be considered as a reward for Zhang Jixian's care for his father and others.

(End of this chapter)