Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 2 Uncle, you didn't want this to happen either...

Big event tomorrow!

These four words startled Li Chuyun!

As one of Zhao Kuangyin's trusted generals and one of the main driving forces behind the upcoming drama, he certainly knew what major events would occur tomorrow!

But how could Zhao Dezhao, a mere nine-year-old child, possibly know about such a top-secret matter?!

Even Inspector Zhao wouldn't tell him about this.

Li Chuyun narrowed his eyes slightly, suppressed his emotions, and asked calmly:

"What important event tomorrow? Zhao'er, tell your uncle honestly, did someone tell you something?"

Meeting Li Chuyun's probing gaze, Zhao Dezhao smiled and stated directly:

"The Chenqiao Mutiny, the donning of the yellow robe... Uncle, do you need me to explain it more clearly?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the study fell into an eerie silence!

Li Chuyun's fist clenched slightly, cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes, and his heart tightened suddenly.

How could Zhao Dezhao know such confidential matters so clearly?

Children speak without thinking; could he have told others about this?

No! The most urgent thing is to notify Inspector Zhao immediately, in case things change!

The matter was of great importance, and Li Chuyun immediately prepared to get up and find Zhao Kuangyin. Just then, Zhao Dezhao suddenly smiled and said:

"Uncle Li, don't worry. I overheard this by chance outside my father's study, and I haven't told anyone yet."

"Is Zhao'er telling the truth?"

Li Chuyun was slightly taken aback.

"Of course," Zhao Dezhao nodded.

Upon hearing this, Li Chuyun breathed a sigh of relief, but he still dared not let his guard down and planned to find Zhao Kuangyin to explain the matter. However, at this moment, he paused slightly as he stood up.

He suddenly realized that he seemed to have overlooked a problem.

Why did Zhao'er approach him immediately after receiving this news?

and……

He felt that Dezhao was acting strangely today, as if he were a completely different person from usual!

Thinking of this, Li Chuyun glanced at Zhao Dezhao with a hint of confusion.

Zhao Dezhao grinned, revealing an innocent-looking smile.

Seeing this, Li Chuyun felt a strange, inexplicable feeling. A thought struck him, and he tentatively asked:

"Zhao'er, you just said you came to see Uncle Li today because of something important tomorrow. In that case, Zhao'er, why don't you tell me what you came to see Uncle Li about?"

That's exactly what I've been waiting to hear!

Zhao Dezhao's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he said, "I would like to ask Uncle Li to take me into the army camp tomorrow and go on the expedition with the army."

"Nonsense!"

Li Chuyun frowned: "A large-scale military expedition is no child's play! Besides... in short, this is absolutely impossible! Even Commander Zhao would not agree!"

Tomorrow's events are extremely crucial; no mistake can be tolerated in any aspect.

Moreover, Zhao Dezhao is the son of Commander Zhao. If something were to happen to him in the army... even if he is Commander Zhao's confidant, he would still be severely punished!

After all... if it succeeds, this is the future eldest prince!

"Uncle Li, please grant my request. After all..."

As if guessing what Li Chuyun was thinking, Zhao Dezhao grinned, a sly glint in his dark eyes. He took a few steps closer, staring intently at Li Chuyun, and whispered:

"After all, Uncle Li, you wouldn't want tomorrow's incident to become common knowledge, would you?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chuyun was completely stunned, then couldn't help but laugh in anger: "You brat, are you threatening me?"

Are you kidding me? Are you threatening me with this?

Your father and I are in the same boat. If things are exposed, do you think your father and even your entire Zhao clan can escape punishment?

"Yes, Uncle Li is right, I am threatening Uncle Li."

Zhao Dezhao's youthful face was filled with seriousness and solemnity. He stared intently at Li Chuyun, his eyes flashing with madness, and said, word by word:

"Or, Uncle Li can help me sneak into the army camp."

"Or, everyone involved in this should have their entire family, including nine generations of their relatives, executed!"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the study instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Looking at his nephew, who seemed quite unfamiliar to him, Li Chuyun's smile vanished completely. He didn't say anything, but stared intently at Zhao Dezhao with eyes like an eagle.

This was the first time he had abandoned the kindness and gentleness he had shown as an elder, and instead treated Zhao Dezhao as a stranger... an enemy!

Even his eyes were already faintly revealing a hint of murderous intent!

As Zhao Kuangyin's trusted general, he had also fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and the number of lives on his hands was countless. Ordinary people would tremble and dare not look him in the eye with just one glance.

However, to his surprise, Zhao Dezhao not only did not avoid his gaze, but raised his neck and looked back at him quietly with his dark, grape-like eyes, refusing to be outdone.

"Even if Uncle Li kills or imprisons me, it won't matter. If I disappear, within an hour, tomorrow's events will be the talk of the town!"

These words left Li Chuyun somewhat bewildered and uncertain.

For the next full half-incense stick's time, there was no sound coming from the study.

The two people, one big and one small, stared intently at each other.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Li Chuyun was defeated, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

No matter what, Zhao Dezhao was the son of Commander Zhao.

He knew Zhao Dian Shuai's temperament well. Even if it involved that important matter, Zhao Dian Shuai would at most order people to keep Zhao De Zhao under guard, and would not really intend to kill him.

As for imprisoning Zhao Dezhao?

The matter was of great importance, and he believed that even if Zhao Dezhao was imprisoned for several days because of it, Commander Zhao would not blame him afterwards.

However... he dared not gamble on whether what Zhao Dezhao said was true or false. After all, ever since they boarded that boat, they were all in the same boat, and if the boat capsized, no one would escape unscathed.

After all, once the arrow is released, there's no turning back; getting on the boat is easy, but getting off is difficult.

Moreover, he was also very curious about Zhao Dezhao's motives for wanting to infiltrate the military camp.

Thinking of this, Li Chuyun sighed helplessly again and looked at Zhao Dezhao tentatively, asking:

Why?

"Now that you know about this, you should understand that you will only cause trouble for your father in the army. You should stay in the capital and wait for things to be done, then you will be..."

Originally, he just wanted to hear Zhao Dezhao's reasons, but by the end, Li Chuyun had a hint of disappointment in him.

Over the years, he had practically watched Zhao Dezhao grow up, and because of Zhao Kuangyin, he naturally felt a certain amount of affection for Zhao Dezhao.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao, mimicking Li Chuyun, shook his head and sighed like a little adult.

"Uncle, I'm heartbroken..."

He knew what Li Chuyun wanted to say.

Indeed, given his status as the eldest son and heir apparent, as long as Zhao Kuangyin succeeds in his great cause, even if he has not made any contributions, he is very likely to become the crown prince of the new dynasty.

But things weren't as simple as Li Chuyun thought.

Unlike many eldest sons in history, he had an uncle who was extremely shrewd and cunning, whose methods and schemes were above average. More importantly, his uncle was full of ambition!

According to historical developments, the second emperor after the establishment of the Song Dynasty was not from the lineage of Emperor Taizu...

And his eldest son, in the end, only met a tragic end, committing suicide out of fear!

Therefore, since he transmigrated into the body of Zhao Dezhao, he has had no other choice!

If you want to live well and inherit everything Zhao Kuangyin will have in the future, then you must be his enemy and gain enough power and prestige!

Power means merit.

The Chenqiao Mutiny was crucial to the establishment of the Song Dynasty. Historically, not only his uncle, but also many others gained unimaginable benefits from this mutiny!

Therefore, how could he sit idly by and watch?

He naturally missed out on the Best Actor award in this earth-shattering epic drama, but he felt he still had a chance to compete for the Best Supporting Actor award!

And the first condition for doing all this is... to go on a military expedition!

This is one of the reasons why he approached Li Chuyun.

"Uncle Li, you don't know this..."

Thinking of this, Zhao Dezhao's young face contorted into a bitter expression. He pursed his lips, shook his head, and sighed.

"Uncle Li, think about it, since the current emperor ascended the throne, why has the court and the country been in turmoil? Why has my father, and even all of you uncles... attempted to change the world?"

"Why was it that during Emperor Shizong's reign, even with frequent wars throughout the land, the Great Zhou remained impregnable, with no one daring to harbor any disloyal thoughts?"

"In the final analysis, all of this is because the current emperor is still young, has no power or prestige, and therefore finds it difficult to win the hearts of the people."

At this point, Zhao Dezhao paused, then said seriously, "As for me, although I am my father's eldest son, I am still young..."

"If I want to secure my position in the future, I must accumulate sufficient military power and prestige; otherwise... who can guarantee that I won't be the next Guo Zongxun?!"

"In these chaotic times, whoever holds military power will rule the world!"

"With such a great upheaval ahead, how can any ambitious man stand idly by?"

After speaking, Zhao Dezhao straightened his robes, a seriousness unprecedented in his youthful face appearing on his face. He then bowed deeply to Li Chuyun and solemnly said:

"Therefore, I would like to ask Uncle Li for your help!"

"Once my father's great enterprise is accomplished, and I am in power in the future, I will ensure that the Li family enjoys lasting wealth and honor!"

"..."

After Zhao Dezhao finished speaking, Li Chuyun remained silent for a long, long time...

Looking at Zhao Dezhao in front of him, he felt an unprecedented sense of unfamiliarity.

"In these chaotic times, whoever holds military power will rule the world!"

"With such a great upheaval ahead, how can any ambitious man stand idly by?"

"Once my father's great enterprise is accomplished, and I am in power in the future, I will ensure that the Li family enjoys lasting wealth and honor!"

"..."

If these words had come from an emperor or a nobleman of high rank, he would not have been so shocked. But Zhao Dezhao in front of him was just a nine-year-old child!

Could a mere nine-year-old child really say such a thing? No one would believe it if word got out!

Suddenly, Li Chuyun thought of several names that sounded quite legendary.

Gan Luo of Qin became prime minister at the age of twelve, and without losing a single soldier or horse, he captured eleven cities of Zhao for Qin!

Xiang Tuo of the Spring and Autumn Period became Confucius's teacher at the age of seven and left behind the name of the Sage Duke.

The child prodigy Cao Chong was exceptionally intelligent and perceptive. At the age of five or six, his wisdom and intellect were comparable to that of an adult.

Such a prodigy with almost supernatural wisdom is extremely rare throughout history, and Zhao'er's ability to utter these words is no less remarkable than that of these three.

"You and Commander Zhao are already in the same boat!"

"With Zhao'er's status as the eldest son and his extraordinary intelligence, as long as Inspector Zhao succeeds in his grand plan, that position will be his sooner or later!"

"Infiltrating the military camp is not difficult. Even if Commander Zhao finds out later, with his merit in following the emperor's rise to power, plus Zhao'er pleading on my behalf, he will only get a few scoldings..."

"It's just a small favor, yet it brings benefits to Jilong and the Li family... No matter how you look at it, it's a worthwhile deal!"

Thinking of this, Li Chuyun took a deep breath, his face solemn, as if he had made a major decision.

Then, he stood up, putting aside all his contempt and the tone of an elder, and solemnly bowed deeply to Zhao Dezhao, saying in a respectful voice:

"I am willing to lend you a helping hand, young master!"

……

With the sun high in the sky, Zhao Dezhao and Li Chuyun had a private conversation that lasted for several hours in the study of the Li residence.

Through this, Zhao Dezhao learned the details of this epic drama, and a plan slowly began to take shape in his mind.

Since he had decided to take credit, he should take the lead in supporting the establishment of the regime; otherwise, it would be a waste of all the effort he had put in! Zhao Dezhao thought to himself.

It was almost noon, and Li Chuyun rubbed his temples and said:

"It's getting late. Since everything has been settled, young master, would you like to stay for lunch? I've already sent someone to Zhang Shoumei's restaurant to bring you your favorite oil painting, Mingzhu."

Perhaps he himself didn't realize that his tone and the way he addressed people had subtly changed.

"I'll listen to Uncle Li."

Zhao Dezhao reverted to his obedient demeanor, revealing an innocent and harmless smile: "Uncle Li, please don't stand on ceremony. Just call me nephew as before."

"In my heart, you will always be my uncle."

Hearing these words from Zhao Dezhao pleased Li Chuyun greatly. He narrowed his eyes and laughed heartily:

"Then please, Zhao'er."

"Uncle Li, please go first..."

The two chatted and laughed as they entered the hall.

In the hall sat a boy of about ten years old, whose brows bore a striking resemblance to Li Chuyun's bold spirit. When he saw Zhao Dezhao enter, his eyes lit up, and he winked at Zhao Dezhao, saying:

"You didn't even say you were coming. Are you going to go hang out with that kid Defeng after dinner?"

The Defeng he mentioned was the son of Murong Yanzhao, Zhao Kuangyin's sworn brother, and also came from a family of generals.

"Snapped!"

Just as Zhao Dezhao was about to reply, Li Chuyun, who was standing next to him, seemed to remember something and strode forward to slap Li Jilong on the back of the head!

"Playing, playing, playing! All you do all day is loaf around. How many volumes of military strategy have you read? Have you finished your homework for today? How many times have you practiced riding and archery? All you do is play!"

Seeing his father's disappointed look, Li Jilong was dumbfounded.

Didn't you say that I should spend more time with Dezhao?

How come it's now my fault?

Dad, what's gotten into you?

"Slap!" Li Jilong slapped him again.

"What are you looking at! Go and call your mother over for dinner!"

Seeing his son's bewildered expression, and recalling Zhao Dezhao's extraordinary courage and wisdom just now, Li Chuyun couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

They're both teenagers, how come there's such a big difference between them...?