A product of wealth and nobility

  One hundred lashes were still not enough, Song Jiu's sweat was like rain as he loudly shouted: "Your Majesty, this is wrong."

  "What's wrong?"

  "When the Tang Dynasty obtained the world, Wei Zhengxian had merit in the Tang Dynasty and became more arrogant. Emperor Taizong of Tang held a banquet in the imperial palace to entertain his ministers, and Wei Zhengxian also returned to the capital to attend the banquet. At the table, he saw someone sitting above his seat and was furious, saying, "What merits do you have to sit above me?" Li Daozong, who was seated below him, repeatedly tried to persuade him, but Wei Zhengxian became even more enraged and beat Li Daozong, almost blinding one of his eyes. Emperor Taizong was extremely displeased and said to Wei Zhengxian, "I have read the history of the Han Dynasty and seen that few of its meritorious officials were able to preserve themselves. I have always been concerned about this. Since I have occupied the throne, I have constantly wanted to preserve my meritorious officials so that their descendants would not be cut off. However, you have repeatedly violated the laws and regulations while in office. Now I understand why Han Xin and Peng Yue were punished - it was not the fault of the Han ancestors. The great affairs of state are only governed by rewards and punishments; favors that go beyond what is deserved cannot be repeated. You should reflect on your actions and avoid future regrets." From then on, Wei Zhengxian reformed himself, and the ruler and his ministers were able to maintain a harmonious relationship from beginning to end."

  Li Daozong is just a defensive general and will not be a match for Wei Gao.

  Song Jiudao told this story, saying that they were Pan Mei's children, you are the emperor's younger brother, Pan Mei went to Hunan to clean up the mess for the court, and you should have taken more control, so as not to harm Pan Mei.

  Zhao Kuangyi said slowly and calmly: "That is Your Majesty's responsibility, what does it have to do with this official?"

  Song Jiu looked at Zhao Kuangyi and thought to himself, "It seems that this Second Emperor still doesn't have any ambitions. Without ambition, this trick won't work." Song Jiu then came up with a second plan, turned his head and looked at Pan Mei's two sons, saying: "Two young masters, I'll make it up to you, how about I compose a short poem for your father?"

  "You're still giving orders!" Pan Mei's second son, Pan Weigong, raised his fist to strike.

  "It's good, it's good, I'll make your father famous for all eternity. Don't you want your father to be famous for all eternity?"

  "Who are you kidding?"

  "Pan Er Lang, just listen to him this once." Zhao Kuangyi stopped him.

  However, Song Jiu also saw some things, thinking that the Song Dynasty had just been established for a few years, and its system was still in its infancy, with lax rules. A situation like today's would be unimaginable if it were to happen decades later. A strict system is cumbersome, but it also inspires awe, while a loose system is easy to implement, but it also makes it easy for people to find loopholes. Moreover, it does not inspire fear. Song Jiu took a deep breath and read aloud in a clear voice: "Drunk, I light the lamp to look at things, my dream returns, and I blow the horn to connect with the camp. Eight hundred miles of troops are deployed under my command, fifty strings of bows are turned outside the pass. The autumnal equinox is the time for reviewing the troops on the sandy field.

  Ma Zuo's flying arrow, the bow is like a thunderclap and the string is shocking. He settled the affairs of the king and the world, and won his reputation in life and after death. What a pity for the white-haired old man."

  The word originally came out for the convenience of singing, and the melody of this "Pozenzi" is from the Tang Dynasty's Kizil tribe's "Qin Wang Po Zhen Le" part of the rhythm. Xin Qiji's lyrics are not very standard and not easy to sing. Can be read aloud.

  Pan Mei's eldest son, Pan Weide, said discontentedly: "Nonsense! My father is only forty years old, what white hair!"

  "This is a metaphor, the height of the heavenly platform is 48,000 zhang, if it were to collapse, would Mount Tianya really be that high?"

  Zhao Kuangyi, however, took it seriously. Military affairs were his weakness, but since the Song Dynasty had not yet unified the world and wars continued unabated, this poem somehow resonated with him deep down.

  He slowly said: "Song Jiu, this short poem of yours is rough but it's a good work. Pan Dalang, Pan Erlang, you two don't need to argue. I'll tell you a story."

  "Ten years ago, shortly after Emperor Taizu of Song came to power, the Northern Han and Khitan joined forces, with the brave general Yang Guan leading 10,000 cavalrymen and 50,000 infantrymen, gathering at Jinyang to attack Luzhou. Emperor Taizu ordered Fu Yanqing to cut off the Northern Han army's rear route, Wang Yanbao's army marched east to pincer them, while Fan Ai, He Hui, and Xiang Xun led a frontal assault on Zezhou. Due to the urgency of the situation, regardless of the law, Emperor Taizu set out with only a small contingent of troops, among whom were Your Majesty, Pan Mei, and one other person."

  "When Zhou Shizong arrived at Luzhou, he found that the Later Han army was not there. He sent out scouts to investigate and only then learned that the Northern Han and Khitan armies had already marched south towards Kaifeng. Zhou Shizong hastily led his troops to Gaoping, where they blocked the Northern Han army. At this time, his troops were not yet assembled, and the soldiers who arrived were also exhausted. Zhou Shizong decisively launched a preemptive attack, not expecting that the Later Han army would collapse at the first touch. Zhou Shizong then gave chase, pursuing the enemy to Bapu Plain, where he suddenly saw a vast expanse of enemy troops. To the east was Zhang Wuji, the invincible vanguard general of Northern Han; to the west was Yang Guo, the commander-in-chief of Khitan; and in the center was Liu Chong, the emperor of Northern Han."

  "Is it settled?" Song Jiu asked involuntarily.

  "It was a miscalculation, but Zhou Shizong indeed issued an order, letting Bai Chongyu and Li Chongjin form an array against the Khitan army of Yang Guangyuan, while Fan Ai and He Hui formed an array against Zhang Yuanhui's army. He led Shi Yanchao, Shi Xunxian, and Zhang Yongneng to form an array in the center. Just as the wind direction changed, becoming a south wind, blowing dust towards the Later Han army, Zhou Shizong's side thought it was a good omen, but the Later Han launched a counterattack instead. First, it was Zhang Yuanhui; Fan and He were no match for him, and they didn't have much loyalty to Zhou Shizong either, so they immediately collapsed, leaving over 1,000 soldiers surrounded, who surprisingly shouted "Long live the Emperor of Northern Han" and surrendered with their spears. Originally, Zhou Shizong had very few troops in his hands, and with them shouting "Long live the Emperor" and surrendering, the entire army's morale was shaken for a time."

  The situation was extremely dangerous at the time.

  Song Ji was thinking of one thing, wasn't Yang Guan the father of Yang Ling Gong? How did he become the commander-in-chief of the Khitan people. But Yang Guan was indeed a great general of the Khitan, and also had a Khitan name, called Yelü Di Lu, if we put the Yang Guan in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms on the historical Yang Guan's body, it would make Song Ji very disappointed.

  At this time, Emperor Taizu of Song did not retreat. He did something that made everyone's eyes widen in shock. With fifty attendants, he charged forward alone, breaking through the layers of people, and rushed towards the enemy's central army, killing his way to Emperor Liu Chong of Northern Han.

  In the face of Emperor Taizu's bravery, the entire battlefield was thrown into chaos. Many thought that Emperor Taizu would definitely not escape this disaster. At this time, His Majesty captured Zhang Yongde and said, "General Zhang, take your men and rush to the left slope to shoot arrows. I will lead my troops to attack the enemy's right wing." It was precisely because of His Majesty that the rear army did not retreat.

  At this time, Emperor Taizu gradually broke into the enemy's camp. Facing the increasingly close approach of Emperor Taizu, Liu Chong did a shameful thing - he fled in fear. This flight became the beginning of the great victory at Gaoping. In this battle, Emperor Taizu's bravery was admired by all, and the bravery of his fifty attendants was also admirable.

  It wasn't just Chai Rong who charged into the enemy's central army alone. How difficult it was! This victory was won by the sacrifice of fifty-one brave warriors.

  Zhao Kuangyi continued: "Pan Dalang, Pan Erlang, at that time your father was a Shigong official under Emperor Taizu of Song, among the fifty riders. He also had a subordinate among those fifty riders, named Song De. Although he was promoted due to his merits, it was in that battle that he suffered multiple injuries on his body. A few years later, because of this accumulated injury, he passed away. Song De, he is the father of Song Jiu, your father's subordinate."

  It can be said that it was these fifty-one brave warriors who risked their lives to launch a fierce attack, which saved the fate of the Later Zhou and also saved the fate of the entire Song Dynasty.

  Zhao Kuangyi valued literature over martial arts, but there was also a violent streak in him; otherwise he wouldn't have endured two arrows from the Khitan people later on. When speaking of this period of history, his eyes shone with light.

  "Ah." Pan Mei's two sons were stunned. What kind of relationship was this? It was a matter of life and death! The two brothers stared at each other, unsure of what to do.

  Zhao Kuangyi said in a low voice: "You two get out of here. I don't want to lose face in front of your father, one of you continues to be arrogant and the other continues to fight."

  The three of them walked out in a daze, scratching their heads.

  The sky outside is blue and clear.

  Song Jiu's heart was heavy with worry. Since coming to this world, almost all the neighbors and streets mentioned his father with praise, including himself, who was highly valued by the community. His older sister mentioned his father with a complex expression, having regret, disdain, admiration, and disappointment.

  It turned out there was such a thing.

  Song Jiuxing had never been to the battlefield, nor did he want to go to the battlefield, but that didn't stop him from imagining. In the movie, there were some scenes where thousands of arrows flew and horses galloped, what kind of courage would it take for a single person to charge into tens of thousands of enemy troops?

  It was probably that war, after which Father's heart was also heavy with sorrow, and he did not allow himself to learn martial arts, changing from military to literary pursuits, hoping to be at peace as a civil official. Pan Mei was probably the same, looking at his several sons, all of whom were tall and handsome in appearance, but he did not let them directly enter the army. On the other hand, Cao Bin had not experienced such a brutal war, and later his several sons successively entered the military, including the famous general Cao Wei.

  "Kid, for the sake of your father's face, we won't make a big deal out of this, but you have to apologize to my second sister and give her some compensation." Pan Weide slapped him hard on the back several times and said loudly.

  It was agreed that no grudges would be held, but these few slaps were really vicious, slapping Song Jiu so hard he almost spat blood, his body swaying several times before stabilizing.

  Got it, these few brothers are better off not being provoked, said: "Good."

  "Tomorrow afternoon!" Several people chased Song Jiu, that little girl didn't know whether to chase or not, Lao San also ran away, there was still an old and young one at home who wanted to come out, Pan Weide didn't agree, so it could only be tomorrow.

  "Where?"

  "At my doorstep."

  Song Jiuren reluctantly agreed. Pan Mei was a meritorious general of the Zhao brothers, a trusted and powerful general. At that time, the Song Dynasty could only be said to have just begun to attach importance to civil governance. According to his observations, the status of military generals was not as low as later written by Song Dynasty scholars. The Pan family couldn't afford to offend him, considering their past friendship, which was now a thing of the past. Ten years ago, during the Later Zhou Dynasty, they were close friends, but now that they had risen to prominence, they no longer acknowledged each other, especially given the superior-subordinate nature of their relationship.

  ……

  Behind the imperial palace of the Song Dynasty was the Yu Garden, northwest of which was the Tianbo Gate, and to the right of the Tianbo Gate was the Jinshui River. There were not many commercial districts or handicraft industries on both sides, mostly residential areas, so the scenery was beautiful and the environment was quiet. Many high-ranking officials and nobles lived here, including Pan Mei's mansion.

  The Pan residence is located on the south bank of the Jinshui River, with a lake, but it's different from Song Jiu's memory. Although there is a lake, it's very small and definitely not the Longjing Lake in his memory. As for the Yang Mansion of Tianbo, it's now just a joke.

  Not far from the Pan residence was a teahouse, where several people had just arrived and gone up to the second floor's elegant room. From here, they could see the gate of the Pan residence, and even hear the sounds of conversation at the entrance.

  However, the identity of the person who came was very noble, and it was Zhao Kuangyin's brother. The private outing of Zhao Kuangyin and Song Huizong were different in nature. With just the Panlong stick in his hand and a set of Taizu Long Fist, he didn't know how many heroes had to bow down. Moreover, the two men's self-discipline was vastly different.

  Several guards dispersed to stand watch, the eldest brother brought up tea and fruit, then retreated. The eunuchs tasted each one before retreating to stand aside. Zhao Kuangyin took a sip of tea and said: "Second Brother, don't worry about my feelings, can this little guy be used?"

  "Your Majesty, it's not quite right to say, yesterday I asked Cai Si Zi and then sent a yaya to ask some people who teach qigong, the West does have knowledge of mechanics and so on, but these qigong practitioners don't quite understand either."

  "That's right, I was also wondering. But how much of what he knows is learned and how much is thought of?"

  "His Imperial Highness refers to..."

  "Even if two-tenths of it were his own ideas combined with Chinese knowledge, this son can be used."

  "Your Majesty's brother, that man has left. It's not easy to verify this, but I heard from the officials that in the Western Regions, there are many countries, some of which have a level of civilization no less than that of China."

  "Then don't think about whether he is learned or innate, can this child be used?"

  "Your Imperial Highness, this young man has many good qualities, but also lacks even more. He likes to show off and I often stifle a smile when talking to him. However, in my humble opinion, he is still young, only 19 years old, so there's no need to rush. Since all four siblings are in the capital, they can't escape anyway. Why not observe him for a while longer? If you're worried that people will think the imperial court doesn't value talent, you could grant him an eighth or ninth rank scattered official position, which would also cover up his three shameful questions."

  "This method is good." Zhao Kuangyin said, looking at the Pan Mansion, where many young people were standing at the gate, all of whom were second-generation descendants, and more than half of whom Zhao Kuangyin could recognize. They were all smiling and chatting, enjoying the excitement. However, Zhao Kuangyin fell into deep thought. If it had been in the past, this situation would have been what he wanted to achieve. His father was a famous general, and under their guidance, his son would easily grow up to be a famous general as well. The son would be a famous general, the grandson would be a famous general, and the family's prestige would become higher and higher, eventually threatening the imperial court's rule. However, Song Jiu's words made him feel like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat. At that time, there were many famous generals in the imperial court, all of whom had been forged through battles. If they were to be gradually stripped of their military power, what if the country encountered an emergency? Who would lead the troops into battle then?

  Zhao Kuangyin's headache worsened as he thought about it, and finally said: "Wait a moment, I'll summon him. He wants to drink tea with me and have a heart-to-heart talk, doesn't he? I'll give him one chance."

  The eunuch standing beside him smiled and said: "Your Majesty, he will die beautifully."

  Zhao Kuangyi said: "Not necessarily, this scoundrel is very bold. Ah, Imperial Brother, he has arrived."

  Zhao Kuangyin looked up and saw Song Jiu walking towards the Pan Mansion, seemingly worried, with a sly and cunning expression on his face. Zhao Kuangyin thought hard, trying to recall some memories of Song De, but after a long time had passed and not many words were exchanged, he could only think of a few impressions. He said gloomily, "Are they still father and son?"

  "Brother, don't worry, don't be deceived by his superficial appearance, just take a look."

  Song Jiulang arrived at the Pan family's gate and spoke with several members of the Pan family. The eldest son and second son were chatting with Song Jiulang, while the third son clenched his small fist and kept making threatening gestures. More than a dozen other descendants of the Pan family were chattering away in a cacophony of voices, but it was impossible to make out what they were saying. Suddenly, Song Jiulang loudly shouted towards the interior of the house: "Pan Xiaoniang, I was wrong!"

  The people inside were dissatisfied, and a maid ran out, saying something unknown. Song Jiu scratched his ears and cheeks, suddenly singing a song. Hearing the song, Zhao Kuangyin almost spat out tea water.