Empress Zhangsun's sigh did not surprise anyone in the Hall of Zhenguan.
Back in the days of the Prince of Qin's residence, who did not know how close this couple was? They treated each other with mutual respect, and among the closest ministers, Fang Xuanling in particular knew very well that whenever His Majesty faced a difficult decision, he would sometimes privately consult Empress Zhangsun.
More often than not, her opinions were sharp, precise, and carried their own weight.
Fang Xuanling even believed privately that if the Empress had not passed away early, and if His Majesty himself were not such an extraordinary ruler, Empress Zhangsun might very well have become a political figure remembered by later generations, much like Empress Dowager Xiao.
Because of this, her soft sigh did not cause discomfort. Instead, it sparked discussion.
Even Pei Xingjian could not help but speak up.
"That Song emperor's virtue is this thin. How could he ever be compared to His Majesty?"
The hall burst into laughter.
For Pei Xingjian, being sent into the Hongwen Pavilion by His Majesty was already a great favor.
First crushing the Turks, then pacifying Tuyuhun, seeking to restore the Western Regions without burdening the people with extra taxes.
Even though he still did not fully understand what this light screen truly was, Zhao Er's deeds were clear enough to him.
In his mind, the logic was simple.
A ruler like this deserved loyalty to the death. How could that Song emperor be mentioned in the same breath?
The relaxed mood did not last long, however.
Soon, names Pei Xingjian had never heard before began to appear in the discussion.
Wang Zhongsi. Feng Changqing. Gao Xianzhi. Geshu Han.
Even His Majesty sighed, and the two chancellors also wore expressions of regret.
This left Pei Xingjian puzzled. How could such famous generals be unknown to him?
While he was still lost in thought, Li Jing suddenly turned and asked, "If Shouyue were this Cao Bin, what would you do?"
Li Shimin also looked over.
Fortunately, Pei Xingjian did not disappoint.
"Sunzi says: there are armies that must not be attacked, cities that must not be assaulted, land that must not be contested, and even orders of the ruler that must not be followed."
"Commanding in the field, one must unite the army and execute those who disobey, so that from top to bottom all are of one heart. Only then can one fight."
The light screen continued.
[Lightscreen]
[If the Battle of Gaoliang River squandered all that Zhao Da had built, then the Yongxi Northern Campaign truly burned even the last pair of trousers.
Despite repeated defeats, Zhao Er's mood was not too bad.
Because two years before the Yongxi campaign, Zhao Tingmei, who had been demoted to Duke of Fuling County, died of fear and anxiety.
The final successor named in the Golden Casket Alliance was gone.
The dead elder brother's two sons were also both gone.
The succession threat had been completely erased.]
"Not me!"
"I did not do it!"
Zhao Guangyi shrieked inside the hall, only to be brutally suppressed by Zhao Kuangyin.
The palace attendants watched as the Prince of Jin was firmly pressed into the chair, unable to move.
The jade axe that had earlier been used as a plaything now rested at his neck, its cold gleam unmistakable.
"Good little brother," Zhao Kuangyin said coldly. "The light screen has not even finished speaking yet."
"Let us see whether both of your nephews truly died young, just like Deshao and Delin."
Zhao Guangyi's face went pale.
Zhao Kuangyin stood behind him, arms locked tight, silent.
The light screen continued.
[Lightscreen]
[Back then, Zhao Pu had lost favor under Zhao Da. Later, after being squeezed out in Bianliang, he returned to his old trade in desperation.
He presented Zhao Guangyi with the Golden Casket Alliance, giving him a barely passable source of legitimacy for his succession.
The story was simple.
When Empress Dowager Du was gravely ill, she summoned Zhao Pu to record her final instructions.
She argued that Zhao Da had succeeded in the Chen Bridge mutiny because Chai Rong left no adult heir.
Thus, she urged that after Zhao Da death, the throne should pass to his younger brother.
Zhao Da, facing his mother's final wishes, dared not refuse.
Zhao Pu wrote the oath, sealed it, and placed it in the golden casket.
Hence, the so called Golden Casket Alliance.
For this great service, Zhao Pu was rewarded with the position of chancellor after ten years of political exile.
But in truth, this was only a pleasant surprise for Zhao Guangyi.
Because before this, Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Defang had already died in very timely fashion.
Zhao Dezhao's death was recorded most clearly.
During the Battle of Gaoliang River, Zhao Guangyi fled too quickly, leaving the army leaderless.
The troops pushed Zhao Dezhao forward as temporary commander.
They fought and retreated, finally reaching Zhuozhou.
But instead of rewards, Zhao Dezhao was met with Zhao Guangyi's scolding, as the emperor had already returned ahead of them in a donkey cart.
After returning, the army was furious.
They had taken Taiyuan with their lives, yet still no rewards were issued.
Zhao Dezhao foolishly went to Zhao Guangyi to ask for rewards on behalf of the soldiers.
Zhao Guangyi exploded in rage.
"When you become emperor yourself, then you can give rewards."
Because of this, Zhao Dezhao died of fear and anxiety, at least according to polite historical wording.
In reality, given Zhao Guangyi's usual pattern, what followed would have been accusations of rebellion, fabricated evidence, and total destruction.
Zhao Dezhao did not die of fear.
He understood too clearly.
So he had no choice but to die.
Zhao Defang, lacking both seniority and prestige, left only a few brief lines in the records.
"He fell ill and died at twenty three."
In the same year, Zhao Guangyi received the Golden Casket document from Zhao Pu.
He was both pleased and worried.
Pleased that his legitimacy was secured.
Worried because yet another person now had to be dealt with.
He even pretended to hesitate and asked Zhao Pu, "Then should I pass the throne to my brother Zhao Tingmei later?"
Zhao Pu answered bluntly, "Your brother already made one mistake letting you ascend. Would Your Majesty make another?"
Thus, Zhao Guangyi moved decisively.
The same script unfinished with Zhao Dezhao was fully played out on Zhao Tingmei.
Accusations of rebellion followed.
Zhao Tingmei was first moved to Luoyang.
Officials accused of associating with him were punished, exiled, or executed.
He was confined to his residence, then demoted to Duke of Fuling, and sent far away to Fangzhou.
The local officials were even paid silver to "supervise" him.
One year later, Zhao Tingmei "died of fear and anxiety."
At this point, Zhao Guangyi's succession became unassailable on paper.
Since the Song dynasty, scholars have endlessly debated whether the Golden Casket Alliance was real or fake.
But one fact is certain.
No one in official history ever actually saw the golden casket or its contents.
Nor is there any record of Zhao Guangyi presenting it for all ministers to examine.
If it were real, why not present it on the very day of accession, instead of six years later?
There is also another key point.
After Zhao Tingmei's death, Zhao Guangyi publicly claimed that Zhao Tingmei was not born of the same mother.
If that were true, then the Golden Casket Alliance automatically became meaningless, since no one would have worried about a concubine born son inheriting the throne.
If they truly were full brothers, then regardless of whether the alliance was real, Zhao Guangyi slandering his own mother and brother was beyond dispute.
His character would be indefensible.]
[Server Chat Log]
[Li Shimin: "Zhao Da, two beatings are enough. Do not go too far."
Zhang Fei: "Right. If you beat him to death, where will you find someone to beat again later to vent your anger?"]
Zhao Guangyi finally understood the true meaning of despair.
Tears and snot streamed down his face.
"Brother…"
Zhao Kuangyin released him and tapped his shoulder with the jade axe.
"I shared wealth and honor with you for the sake of brotherhood."
"But you, a useless glutton, treat your brother as an enemy, kill nephews, harm your brother, and slander your own mother. How are you any different from pigs and dogs?"
The blow was not light.
Zhao Guangyi cried out and slid to the floor clutching his shoulder.
Zhao Kuangyin stepped forward calmly.
Seeing that playing pitiful earned no sympathy, Zhao Guangyi jumped up and shouted.
"Your two sons are alive and well. What more do you want?"
Zhao Kuangyin laughed coldly.
"You harbor sorcerers to preach destiny, collude with palace eunuchs, and plot assassination."
"The Prince of Jin plots rebellion, and you ask me what more I want?"
"I did not do this!" Zhao Guangyi shouted.
Zhao Kuangyin shook his head.
"When you succeed, you will order historians to rewrite everything."
"Better that I discipline you in Father's stead. Strip your title. Exile you far away. Let local officials supervise you, so you may reflect."
Zhao Guangyi's face turned red.
Escape was impossible.
The palace was sealed, the guards everywhere, and his own martial skill was far inferior.
For a moment, despair settled in.
Then he looked up at the shifting images of the light screen and rage surged.
He kicked out violently.
"Damn thing, ruining my foundation!"
"If I had three more years, destroy Northern Han first, then slowly deal with Liao. How could I not unify the realm and match Tang and Han?"
Zhao Kuangyin reacted faster than thought.
A thunderous shout filled the hall.
Zhao Guangyi felt his leg explode in pain and crashed sideways to the ground, screaming.
The jade axe lay where it had struck.
Zhao Kuangyin dragged him aside and sneered.
"You truly think later generations will praise you?"
"Gaoliang River's dead. Yongxi's fallen. Jingkang's humiliation. Ceding land, selling people for peace."
"The descendants will only feel contempt for you."
Zhao Guangyi, in pain, could only mutter weakly.
"What does the future have to do with me?"
Zhao Kuangyin said calmly, "The one who begins it bears the blame."
At that moment, the guards reported back.
The small eunuch slipped back into the hall, head lowered, voice careful.
"Your Majesty."
Zhao Kuangyin did not turn. "Speak."
"Cheng Dexuan was taken without resistance. He was brought under guard."
Zhao Kuangyin gave a faint snort. "Useless."
The eunuch continued, "Ma Shao agreed to come at first, then seized the chance to flee. The Imperial Guards are already searching for him."
Zhao Kuangyin narrowed his eyes. "Let him run. As long as he is still in Bianliang, he will not escape."
"And Wang Jien?"
"He was summoned by edict and arrested inside the palace. He did not even know what he was being taken for."
A soft laugh came from Zhao Kuangyin's throat, cold and humorless.
"The palace is not his shelter anymore."
The eunuch hesitated, then added, "As for the Prince of Jin's residence, reports say there is the sound of armor and weapons inside. The guards have surrounded it, but have not entered yet. Both sides are facing each other."
At this, Zhao Kuangyin finally turned.
"Good."
"Seal it tight."
"Not a single person is to leave."
"If anyone dares to break out, treat them as rebels on the spot."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The eunuch hurriedly withdrew.
Zhao Kuangyin looked down at Zhao Guangyi.
"Your people are already in chains."
"Your house is already sealed."
"Do you still think this is a game?"
Zhao Guangyi's lips trembled, but no sound came out.
For the first time, he truly understood.
This was not pressure.
The net was closing.
Zhao Kuangyin gave a cold smile.
"Leave him here."
"Let him watch."
"Let him see how later generations judge him."