Chapter 195: Bastards, I'm Here! (Silver Alliance Leader Nuan Yang 1314 Bonus Chapter)

Lead clouds hung low, as if stained with ink.

The cold wind rose, and heaven and earth grew slightly cool.

"The Jin are here, even the weather has turned foul."

Raising his head to glance at the gradually darkening sky, Lin Dao stopped his electric bicycle.

The cluster of buildings on one side of the road caught his attention.

Left Treasury.

This was where tributes from all directions were received; it was the National Treasury.

The Northern and Southern Song were probably the most economically developed dynasties in all of history.

Their tax collection ability was also excellent, with annual revenue reaching tens of millions of strings.

Of course, this was a conversion of various goods such as grain, cloth, and copper coins together.

"Strengthen the trunk, weaken the branches."

Lin Dao walked toward the Left Treasury. "All the wealth in the world is gathered into the capital."

"As a result, when the enemy army breached the city, a century of accumulation became someone else's war spoils."

"The Northern Song was like this, and the Southern Song did not learn the lesson; they still made a Hangzhou."

"Hangzhou~ Wanyan Gou is not in the city."

"He's lucky."

The Deputy Commissioner of Left Treasury led the Warehouse Guards to stand guard here.

Seeing armored men coming over, he immediately stepped forward to block them.

"The Left Treasury is a vital area; no unauthorized entry!"

The response to him was a large foot.

The Warehouse Guards were greatly alarmed, brandishing clubs, knives, and spears as they swarmed forward.

"You are truly brave."

Lin Dao also praised them. "Daring to go up against armored men; this courage is far better than the Imperial Guards."

Facing more than ten Jin cavalry, the Imperial Guards were frightened into collapse; it's not easy, but so be it.

Punches and kicks; in just a few breaths, a group of Warehouse Guards were knocked to the ground.

By this point, the Warehouse Guards farther away retreated in fear one after another, and no one dared to come up again.

Opposite them, blades and spears could not penetrate; how could they fight?

The Left Treasury was a vast complex of buildings.

Inside, courtyard walls stood in rows, with many checkpoints.

Many large and small Ku Fang stored various tax grain sent from all over the world.

"You."

Coming before the pale-faced Deputy Commissioner, he said, "Take me to the Gold and Silver Treasury."

The Deputy Commissioner's lips trembled slightly. "This is a capital crime."

"Yamen Runners and soldiers looting and plundering in the outer city, robbing the wealth of the subjects." Lin Dao said in a muffled voice. "I want to see if the Imperial Court really has no money, running off to plunder the common people."

The Deputy Commissioner remained silent, his expression resolute.

"He is a rare one who is loyal to his duty."

Lin Dao smiled, turned around, and found a Warehouse Guard. "Take me to the Gold and Silver Treasury."

Not everyone was as loyal to their duty as the Deputy Commissioner.

Before the Gold and Silver Treasury, looking at the thick copper-clad Da Men, looking at the chains as thick as an infant's arm.

Lin Dao looked at the Warehouse Guard leading the way. "Keys?"

"Stop dreaming."

The Deputy Commissioner, who had struggled to his feet and followed, shook his head repeatedly. "The keys to the treasury are only with the Commissioner."

He followed with a laugh. "The Commissioner long ago doesn't know where he ran off to."

"If you can find him back, that would be a good thing."

There must be spare keys, but there is no time to look for them now.

Lin Dao's figure suddenly disappeared.

Everyone was shocked!

The Deputy Commissioner rubbed his eyes hard, tried to widen his eyes and look around, but could not find Lin Dao's trace.

"Ghost~~~"

The Warehouse Guards panicked, scrambling and crawling away in flight.

The Deputy Commissioner was also frightened, trembling legs wanting to run.

The next moment, the figure of the Iron Armor person appeared again.

In his hand, he held a Portable Metal Cutter.

Starting the Portable Metal Cutter, amidst the humming sound, the rotating wheel pressed against the chain.

'Zizi zi~~~'

Firelight scattered in all directions.

Looking at the very thick chain, it was gradually cut deeply into.

The smelting technology of this era was average; the metal quality was far from comparable to later generations.

The iron chain fell along with the lock, and the heavy Da Men of the Gold and Silver Treasury was slowly pushed open.

To prevent theft, in such Ku Fang, there are usually only very small ventilation windows.

At this time there was no light inside.

Lin Dao put down the cutter on his side, took out a flashlight, and walked inside.

Row after row of iron shelves stood empty.

The gold and silver accumulated by the Northern Song over a hundred years had vanished without a trace.

"A few days ago."

The Vice Commissioner, after his fright, followed him inside: "The Court is being held in the Jin camp."

"The gold, silver, silk, and satin stored in the Left Treasury and Inner Treasury have all been sent to the Jin camp, to ransom back the Court."

"Such a ruler of a doomed nation." Lin Dao hummed twice. "Save him for what?"

Zhao Ji and Zhao Huan, father and son, were truly of the same worth—both Foolish Rulers of a doomed nation.

"How, how bold~"

The Vice Commissioner was shocked and angry: "How dare you slander the Court~"

Lin Dao ignored him, turned around, went out the door, picked up the cutter, and sent it back.

When he appeared again, he left straight away.

"This one."

The Vice Commissioner chased after him, panting: "May I ask how to address you?"

Lin Dao paid no attention and kept moving forward.

"If you are an Immortal," the Vice Commissioner shouted, "please use your divine powers to save Great Song from fire and water~~~"

Lin Dao finally stopped, turned his head, and looked at him.

"Why should I?"

"A court that plunders the wealth of the common people, ties up their wives and daughters with ropes, and sends them to the Jin as tribute—why should I save it?"

"A court that dares not resist when the enemy besieges the city, and only wants to surrender—why should I save it?"

"A handful of people who have destroyed the lives of millions—why should I save it!"

"If I save people, I will only save the common people."

"As for your Great Song, it should be swept into the garbage heap of history!"

"I will make your Court and your ministers shatter and be buried together!"

Seeing that the Vice Commissioner could still remain loyal to his duties in such chaos, Lin Dao, for once, said a few more words to him.

This was praise for his work attitude, but nothing more.

Brushing aside his snow-white cloak, Lin Dao walked on.

The helmet plume on his helmet swayed in the wind, dashing and heroic.

The Vice Commissioner slumped to the ground, covering his face and weeping.

"Even an Immortal is unwilling to save Great Song~"

"It's over, it's all over~"

The electric bicycle moved along Imperial Street, straight to Xuanhe Gate.

Xuanhe Gate is Xuan De Lou.

Originating from Qianyuan Gate of Bianzhou in the Tang, it was renamed Xuan De in the second year of Mingdao.

The main city gate has five gateways, with towers built on both sides.

Xuanhe Gate is grand and imposing, majestic and magnificent, a symbol of imperial power.

This is the main gate of the Imperial City; entering it leads to the Great Interior.

In the past, this was where generations of Zhao Song Courts interacted with the people of Bianliang City.

Many great ceremonies all took place here.

It was always bustling with carriages and horses, filled with voices, a popular check-in spot in the Jingkang Spacetime.

Now, Lin Dao rode his bicycle all the way here; apart from occasional patrols, there was no sign of common people.

The shops and residences along the street all had their doors and windows tightly shut.

The Golden Spear Squad guarding the palace gate saw Lin Dao and hurried forward to block him: "The palace gate is a place of great importance~~~"

'Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat~~~'

Lin Dao, riding the electric bicycle, drove with one hand and fired an AUG with the other, sweeping fire; before Xuanhe Gate, people and horses fell in chaos.

Six or seven Palace Guards were swept down, and the rest scattered in a panic.

The Palace Guards, composed of children of military aristocrats and meritorious nobles, imperial relatives and wealthy families, and even those who bought their positions with money, were all mere ornaments—where was there any fighting power or courage?

If the true Imperial Army and Palace Guards from the early founding of the Northern Song were still here, they would have taken Huanglong Prefecture long ago.

The Archery Squad on the City Gate Tower just watched with wide eyes.

They watched Lin Dao ride his electric bicycle into the Great Interior, yet not a single arrow was loosed.

Being able to stand guard was already not bad.

No rewards given—who would fight desperately?

Lin Dao stopped the vehicle, bent down, and picked up the magazine that had fallen to the ground.

He had wanted to change the magazine with one hand, but unfortunately his skill was lacking and he dropped it on the ground.

No choice; he had to stop and change it.

"I need to practice more in the future."

Looking at the palace gate and the great hall ahead, Lin Dao calmed his breath.

"Bastards, I'm here!"

Inside Daqing Hall, the Court and the Retired Emperor, along with a host of civil and military officials, were all anxiously waiting.

"That scoundrel Fan Qiong handles affairs far too clumsily!"

"No matter what the Jin people say or demand, a message must at least be sent over."

"He is but a mere military man; how can you expect him to understand any rules of propriety."

"The wealth and goods raised are insufficient; I wonder if the Jin people will be satisfied."

"Alas~ I only hope the Jin people will depart swiftly."

The whole assembly of ministers all deeply feared the Jin people.

The matter of receiving the Jin envoys — no one dared step forward, so they simply shoved it onto the military man Fan Qiong to handle.

Yet for a long time no word came back, and everyone's hearts could not help but be in turmoil, panic-stricken.

The expressionless Retired Emperor sat there, like a statue.

Since he abdicated, his power had waned day by day.

Especially after Cai Jing and the others were killed, Gao Qiu and the others died of illness, causing his trusted core ministers to be swept clean in one go, leaving him a lone commander.

He had now become a true figurehead.

One reckoned that after the Jin people went north and left, he would simply fade away without incident.

Zhao Ji glanced at his son Zhao Huan, likewise expressionless.

'When he was Crown Prince, he was modest and respectful, timid and cowardly — he acted the part remarkably well!'

'Had I known early on you were a wolf-hearted, dog-lunged wretch, I should have had you plastered against the wall back then!'

He had originally thought Zhao Huan was a timid, incompetent sort.

Abdicating to him, he could still keep holding the reins of power, while the black pot would be carried by Zhao Huan.

Never expected~ did not expect~

He actually turns out to be one who plays the pig to eat the tiger!

Zhao Huan paid no heed to the ministers' quarreling, and even more did not notice the Retired Emperor's secret curses.

In his heart, he kept thinking of the terrifying scene from days past when he was detained in the Jin camp.

He truly dared not even sleep, it was too terrifying.

'If the Jin people find the gold and silver insufficient, then search the whole city — not just the commoners, the mansions of the wealthy and meritorious nobles must also be raided; whatever it takes, the gold, silver, and wealth must be scraped together.'

'If they are displeased with the women, then simply send over all the princes, high ministers, and the palace womenfolk!'

'Whatever happens, the Jin people must be sent away~~~'

'Only then can I sleep a sound sleep.'

'Only if the Jin people are willing to swear a brotherhood alliance can I truly sit secure on this throne.'

'If the old thing can be handed over to the Jin people to be taken away, that would be best of all.'

While everyone's thoughts differed, they faintly heard clamor rising from outside the hall.

Geng Nan Zhong, serving as Imperial Preceptor, frowned in displeasure.

"What hour is it already, yet still raising a ruckus here — truly they have no sense of propriety!"

The crowd all fell silent.

After the treasury was emptied, even the Palace Guard could not collect their stipends.

Their discontent and trouble-making is entirely understandable.

Rioting for pay — the forbidden troops have often done such things in the past.

He had originally thought the uproar outside would soon settle down; never expected the commotion only grew larger.

Intermittently, there were even sounds like firecrackers exploding.

Geng Nan Zhong in his purple robe flew into a rage, tucked his audience tablet into his belt, and strode forward to push open the hall door, intending to scold those troublesome Palace Guards.

The heavy hall door was slowly pushed open.

Before Geng Nan Zhong could step out, a continuous string of firecracker bangs erupted outside.

Everyone saw Geng Nan Zhong's whole body tremble, shaking like a sieve without cease.

The next moment, he fell straight backward onto the gold bricks.

A great gush of fresh blood spurted out, staining his noble purple robe red!

(End of Chapter)