gnovel Chapter 4 Master Math, Physics, and Chemistry, and You'll Be invincible anywhere in the world.
Chapter 4 Master Math, Physics, and Chemistry, and You'll Be invincible anywhere in the world.
After having an unpleasant breakfast with Han Tong, Han Tong asked the steward to arrange for the two of them to stay at the Han residence. And that was the end of it; Han Tong didn't say anything about how he would arrange their accommodations.
"Are we now, inexplicably, his retainers?" Wang Jun asked.
"Um."
Wang Lu climbed out the window and looked around; there shouldn't be anyone eavesdropping on their conversation.
"You said that Han Tong's entire family was killed in the Chenqiao Mutiny, so what about us... killing the whole family and slaughtering the entire clan shouldn't be the same thing, right? Emperor Taizu of Song was a benevolent ruler, he certainly wouldn't kill innocent people indiscriminately, right?"
Wang Lu looked at Wang Jun and smiled bitterly: "On the day of the Chenqiao Mutiny, when Han Tong heard that Zhao Kuangyin had rebelled, he led his personal guards to attack Zhao's residence, intending to capture Zhao Kuangyin's entire family as hostages. Fortunately, Shi Shouxin led troops to protect the residence, and they failed to break in. Zhao Kuangyin's vanguard had already entered the city."
"Han Tong hurriedly returned home, but on his way there he encountered Wang Yansheng, Zhao Kuangyin's vanguard who was leading the way into the city. Wang Yansheng killed Han Tong and slaughtered his entire family."
"Afterwards, when Zhao Kuangyin entered the city, he was very dissatisfied with Wang Yansheng and severely reprimanded him, saying that all of this was Wang Yansheng's doing and that he should be punished so that he could never be a military governor for the rest of his life."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "This guy wasn't qualified to be a military governor anyway."
"This is the whole story of the Chenqiao Mutiny and the death of Han Tong's entire family. Whether Han Tong's entire family included us retainers is not recorded in the history books. What do you think?"
Wang Jun turned pale upon hearing this. He didn't know much about history, but he did know that if it was an official edict to kill someone, given Zhao Kuangyin's benevolence, or at least his feigned benevolence, there might still be a glimmer of hope. But if it was a random killing amidst the chaos of war, then there was no guarantee of success.
Moreover, having become associated with Han Tong's retainer, even if they survive, what good will it do them in the Northern Song Dynasty? Will they have any chance of a career in government? Let alone reaching the rank of first-grade official.
Wang Jun paced on the ground, then suddenly gritted his teeth: "You said there's still about six months until the Chenqiao Mutiny, right? Six months, you can do a lot of things, right? Isn't it possible that the one who ultimately reaps the rewards isn't necessarily Zhao Kuangyin?"
"So, Dad, what do you mean?"
"Aren't we time travelers? Shouldn't time travelers change history? You know, this Han Tong, wasn't he also a finalist who narrowly lost?"
"So do you think that if he had received our careful assistance over the past six months, could he have turned his fate around, and the one who staged the Chenqiao Mutiny and was crowned emperor could have been Han Tong?"
Wang Lu thought about it seriously, then shook his head: "No chance, Han Tong can't beat Zhao Kuangyin."
"Why? Didn't he say that he had complete control over the military power inside and outside Kaifeng? Shouldn't he be in a stronger position than Zhao Kuangyin now?"
Wang Lu knew that his father didn't know much about history, especially the Five Dynasties and early Song period, so he carefully analyzed it for him, saying:
"The Later Zhou imperial guards were divided into two branches. One was the Palace Guard, whose commander was Zhao Kuangyin. The other was the Imperial Guard, whose commander, Li Chongjin, was far away in Yangzhou. The military power was in the hands of the deputy commander, Han Tong."
"Before his death, Chai Rong appointed Han Tong as the Chancellor of the Secretariat and gave him the power to deploy troops in and out of the capital. All military matters were discussed with Han Tong by Chancellors such as Fan Zhi. So at first glance, Han Tong now has great power and is the number one person in the Great Zhou court."
Wang Jun: "Why is it only at first glance?"
Wang Lu thought for a moment and said, "Zhao Kuangyin's deputy in the Palace Guard, Murong Yanzhao, is his family friend and brother. The Palace Guard Commander, Shi Shouxin, is his right-hand man. The entire Palace Guard, from top to bottom, is his people."
"Han Tong's personal guard commander, Han Lingkun, was Zhao Kuangyin's childhood friend. The cavalry commander Gao Huaide and the infantry commander Zhang Lingduo were also Zhao Kuangyin's brothers. In the future, one will be his brother-in-law and the other will be his third brother's father-in-law."
Wang Jun smiled wryly: "So you mean that although Han Tong and Zhao Kuangyin are the top leaders of rival units, the second, third, and fourth leaders under Han Tong are all Zhao Kuangyin's men? Being the top leader must be quite difficult."
Wang Lu: "Moreover, Zhao Kuangyin's military achievements are outstanding. He is the number one general in the world. In terms of foundation, prestige, ability, popularity, and reputation, Zhao Kuangyin is above Han Tong. He is only inferior to Han Tong in terms of official position. Chai Rong made this arrangement before his death... tsk."
Wang Jun: "No wonder, no wonder Han Tong was so sensitive. He actually knew that he was unworthy of his position, but since he knew that, why didn't he just step down? Why did he insist on competing with Zhao Kuangyin?"
Wang Lu sighed, "Yes, why doesn't he step down? I also want to know why he doesn't step down. If he had known the difficulty and retreated, his whole family wouldn't have died, and we wouldn't be so worried now."
"But even so, it's not entirely without a chance to turn things around. If the top leader wants to purge or sideline the second, third, or fourth leaders, it's still possible."
Wang Lu thought for a moment, then shook his head: "No, besides his foundation, there was another reason why Zhao Kuangyin was able to don the yellow robe, which Han Tong could not compare to."
"What is it?"
Wang Lu sighed and said, "Zhao Kuangyin's coup was probably based on the tacit approval or even support of the King of Wei."
Who is the King of Wei?
"Fu Yanqing, the biological father of the Empress Dowager and the maternal grandfather of the young emperor, was known as the most perfect man in the world and the perfect general of the Five Dynasties. He was the military governor of Tianxiong Army, the strongest vassal state in the world. His prestige, foundation, seniority, and reputation were unmatched. In other words, Guo Wei was raised under his watch."
Moreover, he has nine brothers, eight of whom are military governors, and five are still alive. Their children and relatives by marriage are also in the army, making his network incredibly deep and powerful. If the Empress Dowager were to issue an edict summoning him to the capital with the Tianxiong Army to assist in governing, following in the footsteps of Yang Jian, who could stop him?
"But he is sixty-five years old this year. His capable eldest son died young, before Chai Rong. He has two sons left, one is mediocre and the other is a spendthrift and a complete waste. What use is this empire to him now that he is so old? And his youngest daughter married Zhao Kuangyi, who will become the future Empress Yide of the Song Dynasty."
"The precondition for the Chenqiao Mutiny was that false news of the Khitan invasion of the south came from the border, forcing the court to order Zhao Kuangyin to lead troops into battle. And when Chai Rong died, it was Fu Yanqing who was ordered to guard Tianxiong Pass on the Song-Liao border! So how did this false news come about?"
After Zhao Kuangyin donned the yellow robe, Li Jun of Hedong colluded with the Northern Han to rebel against him, Li Chongjin of Yangzhou colluded with the Southern Tang to rebel against him, and Guo Chong of Zhenzhou almost rebelled against him as well.
So many people are dissatisfied with Zhao Kuangyin, how come Fu Yanqing, the young emperor's maternal grandfather and the most powerful regional governor in the land, did nothing, and Zhao Kuangyin had no suspicion of him at all? Who would believe that the two of them didn't collude beforehand!
"Han Tong, you also have a younger brother who married the daughter of the King of Wei? If you want to help him ascend the throne, you should first ask this most perfect man in the world if he agrees. Do you really think the Empress Dowager and the young emperor are orphans and widows?"
As he spoke, Wang Lu complained, "Dad, why did you agree to make medicine for him? You agreed too hastily."
Wang Jun glared at him: "What do you think? You saw how scary Han Tong is. How could I dare to refuse him? If I refuse him, I'm afraid I won't even last six months until the Chenqiao Mutiny, when Zhao Kuangyin kills me, and we'll both die on the spot."
"You know history, don't you? Quick, think of a way. We two have to jump off this pirate ship. Otherwise, after half a year in this world, we won't have made any money, won't have become officials, and won't even be able to go home. Dying at the hands of chaotic soldiers would be too frustrating."
Wang Lu shook his head: "It's probably unlikely that we can jump ship, but we can do the opposite."
"What do you mean by going against the grain?"
"If a ship is going to sink, all the people on board will drown. But what if the people on board were not people, but a golden Buddha statue?"
Dad, didn't you always say that if you master math, physics, and chemistry, you can go anywhere in the world without fear? It's time to show some real skills. Wei Zheng was Li Jiancheng's chief strategist, yet he was still highly valued by Emperor Taizong of Tang. The key is whether you are of value to him. Dad, are you of value?
Upon hearing this, Wang Jun lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.
"Is it difficult?"
"It's not a matter of difficulty, but rather I'm thinking about what technology would be appropriate, useful, and not too shocking, so as not to frighten Han Tong and Zhao Kuangyin."