Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 23 Three Knives

Deep within the Qionglin Garden of the Bianjing Palace, the Baojin Tower stands majestically.

Zhao Kuangyin sat alone atop a high building, gazing at the distant city of Kaifeng. The midday sun softened the otherwise resolute features of his face.

He remained silent, as if he were thinking about something.

A moment later, Zhao Pu arrived in a hurry, bowed silently, and then stood by his side with his hands at his sides, like a silent stone statue.

I don't know how much time passed.

Zhao Kuangyin gradually came to his senses, his gaze falling on Zhao Pu, his tone calm and even:

"How did Zhao'er perform today?"

"Return to your majesty, your highness..."

Zhao Pu bowed respectfully, but hesitated slightly before speaking.

He wanted to tell the truth about what had happened that day, but then he remembered Zhao Dezhao's words before they parted: "Please keep this a secret for me, Uncle Zeping," and he felt uneasy.

However, he hesitated for a moment before giving a fair assessment: "Your Highness's performance was acceptable."

Although he didn't know why Zhao Dezhao wanted to hide his talents from His Majesty, the strategist's intuition told him that this was a very important matter.

"It's alright... It's already quite good that you can say those two words."

Zhao Kuangyin was quite satisfied. Knowing Zhao Pu as he did, he knew that it was no small feat for Zhao Pu to utter those two words.

Then, he picked up a letter from the stone table and handed it to Zhao Pu: "Take a look at this."

Zhao Pu took the letter, read it carefully for a moment, and his lips twitched slightly as if he were smiling: "Your Highness is still young and it is normal for him to retain some childlike qualities."

The letter was about Zhao Dezhao, along with Li Jilong and others, assaulting and framing Wang Chengyan this morning.

"You don't need to say anything good about him."

"Wang Chengyan spied on the palace maids, intending to commit indecent acts... How could that kid even think of such a thing?"

Although Zhao Kuangyin said this, there was a hint of a smile in his eyes, indicating that he was not angry.

He paused, and seeing that Zhao Pu did not respond, he continued to himself, "However, this kid did accidentally hand me a knife."

As he said this, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, like a sharp blade being drawn from its sheath.

Learn from the mistakes of the past to guide the next.

Since he ascended the throne, these arrogant and powerful generals have become a major concern for him.

"Your Majesty, the time is not yet ripe; it is not advisable to launch a major attack," Zhao Pu said softly, bowing slightly.

The country has only just been founded. If we rashly take action against these founding generals who have made great contributions to the country's establishment, it may cause a rebellion.

"I understand, of course..."

The cold glint in Zhao Kuangyin's eyes gradually faded. He stood with his hands behind his back by the railing again, his gaze passing over the palace walls to the distant horizon, as if across thousands of mountains and rivers, seeing Luzhou and Yangzhou a thousand miles away:

"Li Yun of Luzhou and Li Chongjin of Yangzhou are still eyeing me covetously. The new dynasty is not yet stable, and it is indeed not advisable to rush into action against these people..."

Li Jun, the military governor of Luzhou, was a confidant of Emperor Shizong, while Li Chongjin, the military governor of Yangzhou, was Guo Wei's nephew and had even competed with Emperor Shizong for the throne in the past.

Now that he has seized the throne of the Great Zhou, these two men are bound to be dissatisfied. Moreover, they hold military power. If they attack from both the north and south, the newly established Song Dynasty will be in grave danger.

At this critical juncture, it is indeed not advisable to launch a major internal offensive.

But then, Zhao Kuangyin abruptly changed the subject, sighing softly, "But if I were to simply shelve the knife that Zhao'er handed me, I would be somewhat unwilling..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not try to persuade him further.

He believed that since His Majesty had said those words, he must already have a plan in mind.

Just then, a eunuch bowed and hurried upstairs: "Your Majesty, Li Chuyun, the Envoy of the Northern Court of the Xuanhui Palace, requests an audience with his son."

Li Chuyun?

And he brought his son with him?

Zhao Pu and Zhao Kuangyin exchanged a glance, both recalling the words Zhao Dezhao had used to praise Li Jilong in the letter they had just received, and a smile involuntarily crept onto their lips.

"I really want to see what this 'future greatest general of the Song Dynasty' that Zhao'er mentioned looks like."

Zhao Kuangyin laughed loudly and instructed the eunuch, "Summon them."

A moment later, Li Chuyun, accompanied by his son Li Jilong, ascended Baojin Tower and bowed to Zhao Kuangyin, who stood with his hands behind his back.

"Your subject, Li Chuyun, brings his son to pay respects to Your Majesty!"

"You may dispense with the formalities, my dear minister."

Zhao Kuangyin raised his hand in acknowledgment, his gaze sweeping over Li Jilong. Seeing the boy timidly hiding behind his father, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but he smiled nonchalantly and said:

"It's noon, my dear minister. What brings you here all of a sudden? Perhaps you're here to beg for a meal?"

"Your Majesty, I have come to see you to ask you for a favor..."

Li Chuyun stood up, looked at the tall figure standing in front of him with his hands behind his back, and sighed with mixed feelings.

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, his imperial aura has become increasingly powerful, like a dragon soaring into the sky and looking down upon the world!

He was just standing there with his hands behind his back, and I felt uneasy, as if I couldn't breathe properly.

"Please speak freely, my dear minister."

Upon hearing this, Li Chuyun snapped out of his daze, quickly bowed again, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a son who, though skilled in archery and horsemanship, is not well-versed in the essentials of military strategy and is unlikely to achieve great things."

"After much deliberation, I find that no one in the world can surpass Your Majesty in military strategy. I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant me guidance in military matters, so that my son may gain insight into Your Majesty's teachings and serve Your Majesty in the future..."

As he spoke, Li Chuyun pulled his son out from behind him and kicked him: "Kneel down right now!"

Li Jilong knelt down with a thud. Although his eyes still showed some fear, his childish voice was filled with determination: "Your Majesty, please teach me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu, who was standing beside Zhao Kuangyin, glanced at Li Chuyun in surprise.

He had assumed that Li Chuyun had brought his son to apologize for the incident where his son had assaulted Wang Chengyan, but he hadn't expected it to be because of this.

Zhao Kuangyin remained silent for a moment, then slowly sat down in front of the stone bench. Looking at Li Chuyun and his son, he felt a surge of interest.

He wasn't interested in Li Jilong, but rather in his son, Zhao Dezhao.

This morning, right after the incident, Li Chuyun impatiently asked him to tutor his son, clearly knowing what Zhao Dezhao had said to Li Jilong.

That's not the key point. The key point is that Li Chuyun actually believed what others thought was just childish banter!

Li Chuyun may seem rough and straightforward, but he is actually very meticulous. Otherwise, he would not have entrusted Li Chuyun with such an important task during the Chenqiao Mutiny.

This is why Zhao Kuangyin was so surprised and suspicious.

Given Li Chuyun's personality, the fact that he dared to risk coming to him for guidance of his son suggests that there must be some hidden reason he was unaware of.

Moreover, he could also take this opportunity to see if Zhao Dezhao had the ability to judge character.

Thinking of this, Zhao Kuangyin smiled meaningfully and said gently:

"I can teach him."

Li Chuyun's eyes lit up with joy, and he was about to kowtow to express his gratitude when Zhao Kuangyin changed the subject:

"However, I also have a matter that I need your help with."

Li Chuyun was slightly taken aback, then without hesitation prostrated himself and said, "If Your Majesty commands, I will gladly die for it!"

Zhao Kuangyin did not reply immediately. Instead, he first ordered the eunuch to take Li Jilong away. Only when the emperor and his minister remained in the building did he speak slowly:

"I have a knife here, and I want you to stab me..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

PS:

The biography of Li Jilong in the History of Song clearly records: "Jilong was appointed as a court attendant at a young age due to his father's influence. Emperor Taizu knew of his bravery and often summoned him to the palace to learn military strategy. He personally taught him battle formations and ordered him to practice with the imperial guards, repeatedly testing his abilities."

The appendix to the biography of Pan Mei in the History of Song states: "Only Ji, who had studied archery and horsemanship in the palace under Emperor Taizu, was knowledgeable in military strategy. Emperor Taizu often said to Pan Mei: 'Your son is teachable; he will surely become a great general in the future.'"

Therefore, at the beginning of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin would teach the sons of military families how to study military strategy.