novelhk Page 1732
Page 1732
Chapter 1762 The Cowardly Southern Song Dynasty
The officials and common people of the Southern Song Dynasty preferred that these powerful figures continue to harm the common people.
This also demonstrates that they would live and die with the Southern Song Dynasty.
But they suddenly turned to good.
This shows that they also did not think the Southern Song Dynasty could withstand the Great Liang Dynasty.
They believed that the Great Liang would eventually unify the world.
They were afraid of being punished later.
When the Liang army besieged the city,
They naturally wouldn't put up a full-scale resistance.
It's not just the wealthy who think this way.
The people under the jurisdiction of various prefectures in Jiangnan all shared this view.
Although the Southern Song Dynasty strictly prohibited the dissemination of information about the Great Liang Dynasty,
However, due to the infiltration of spies from the Great Liang,
The great achievements of the Liang dynasty continued to spread throughout Jiangnan.
Even many members of the Song Dynasty royal family who could not escape felt that they could not resist the Great Liang.
.....
Zhao Zicheng, who became emperor in a muddle-headed manner,
When summoning the civil and military officials of the Southern Song Dynasty to discuss how to resist the Great Liang,
Some even directly suggested surrendering to the Great Liang.
Avoid war.
Save Zhao Zicheng's life.
After all, the Liang King of Daliang had a precedent of killing Li Qianshun, the ruler of Western Xia.
Once the war begins,
After the victory of the King of Liang,
It's not impossible that they won't kill Zhao Zicheng.
Zhao Zicheng was indeed somewhat tempted.
Although he was a direct descendant of Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin,
But previously he was just a leisurely member of the royal family.
Even the descendants of Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi,
They arrived at Nanjing Yingtianfu.
They lived off the income from the royal family's land.
The emperor initially allocated a considerable amount of land to members of the imperial family in Nanjing and Xijing.
However, with the large number of births among the imperial family members in Nanjing and Xijing,
These lands have to support an ever-growing population.
Many royal families without other sources of income fell into poverty.
In previous years, members of the royal family were not allowed to hold official positions.
With no future, the royal family could only shut themselves away and focus on having children.
Every year, a large number of royals are born.
In order to make money, members of the Tokyo imperial family were forced to marry merchants.
The imperial families of Nanjing and Xijing were even less valuable.
Very few businessmen are willing to pay a high price to marry into their families.
Zhao Zicheng was one of the royals who barely made ends meet.
Therefore, Zhao Zicheng did not have much affection for the Song Dynasty.
Because he did not enjoy any of the privileges of royalty,
Instead, they were bound by many rules and regulations of the royal family.
Often, he envied the lives of ordinary people.
Nanjing Yingtian Prefecture declared its submission to the Great Liang Dynasty.
They also sent troops to arrest members of the Nanjing royal family.
However, Zhao Zicheng was not an important figure.
They managed to escape the city.
Heading south,
Originally, he intended to escape the executioner's blade of the Great Liang Dynasty.
He will live in anonymity from now on.
However, when they fled to Jiangnan, they ran out of money.
Just then, Tong Guan posted notices seeking members of the imperial family who were heading south.
Zhao Zicheng then took the initiative to approach him.
Unexpectedly, he became the emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty.
At first, Zhao Zicheng thought it was Emperor Taizu of Song's blessing.
They made him emperor.
But he soon discovered that he was just a puppet.
Tong Guan controlled all government affairs.
Fearing Tong Guan's power,
He could only obediently play his role as a puppet.
Later, Tong Guan's personal guard collapsed.
Zhao Zisong, a member of the same clan, went south and invited Zong Ze and Jiang You to serve in government.
Tong Guan was forced by the situation,
He could only agree to share some of his power with Zong Ze and Jiang You.
Thanks to the efforts of Zong Ze and Jiang You,
The Southern Song Dynasty quickly won back some popular support.
Just when Zhao Zicheng felt that Emperor Taizu of Song was still protecting him,
The Western Army surrendered to Daliang.
News of the Great Liang's annihilation of the Western Xia then began to arrive.
Zhao Zicheng felt as if he were sitting on a volcano.
The volcano below could erupt at any moment and burn him to ashes.
Chapter 1763 Even the Emperor Wants to Surrender
Zhao Zicheng also learned that the Liang dynasty had bestowed upon Zhao Ji the title of Duke of Hunde.
He had no worries about food and clothing; this was exactly the life he had always wanted.
Born into a chaotic era, one's royal status is most likely to bring about death and calamity.
It's already a rare privilege to live out the rest of one's life without worrying about food and clothing.
Therefore, he was particularly tempted when he heard a court official suggest surrendering.
However, Zong Ze, Jiang You, and others immediately stepped forward to refute the surrender faction.
They demanded that the Southern Song Dynasty resist the Great Liang with all its might.
Zhao Zisong was also unwilling to see his ancestors' legacy go to waste.
They strongly support Zong Ze and others.
The only one who could rival them was Tong Guan.
Although most of Tong Guan's personal guards had dispersed,
However, before Zhao Zisong went south,
He then cultivated many followers in Jiangnan.
If it weren't for Zong Ze and others later taking advantage of the opportunity to recruit new soldiers...
He seized a lot of military power.
It seems that Tong Guan still holds absolute power.
With a formidable enemy at hand,
Zong Ze and others cannot engage in infighting with Tong Guan.
Therefore, the Southern Song Dynasty was divided into two factions.
One faction was led by Zhao Zisong, Zong Ze, and Jiang You.
They can be considered loyal ministers and generals of the Song Dynasty.
One faction was led by Tong Guan.
He can be considered a treacherous official of the Song Dynasty.
However, both factions share a common goal.
That is to preserve the Southern Song Dynasty.
Loyal ministers and generals serve to fulfill their loyalty.
The treacherous officials, on the other hand, were trying to protect their own power.
Although the Great Liang pardoned their crimes
However, it is impossible to appoint them to official positions again.
This is hard for those who have tasted power to accept.
Therefore, the two groups worked together towards a common goal.
Tong Guan led troops for more than ten years.
They were also unwilling to easily give up the rights they held.
At that time, no one voiced opposition to Zong Ze and others' suggestion to resist the Japanese invasion.
Although Zhao Zicheng wanted to surrender,
But no one supported it.
Even if I say it, it will be rejected.
Therefore, they agreed to the request to resist Japan.
In terms of both experience and power,
The person most qualified to lead troops in the Southern Song Dynasty to resist the Japanese invasion was undoubtedly Tong Guan.
However, Tong Guan was unwilling to lead his troops to the front lines.
Finally, Zong Ze volunteered to lead troops to Runzhou to fight against the Liang army.
Although Tong Guan was unwilling to lead troops,
However, they did not hesitate to use their troops.