Chapter 470: Doujin 21: The Last Warrior — Little Wolf Furry

Doujin 21: The Last Warrior — Little Wolf Furry

Written before the text: I don't know much about Song dynasty history, so there may be many errors and omissions in the text. Of course, considering that the overall timeline of this text is nearly a hundred years after Zhao Jiu's death, it can also be considered history altered by Zhao Jiu, different from the history of this original timeline.

Additionally, the "Jianyan Founding Ancestor" in the text is a special title for Zhao Jiu, promoted by the Privy Council Lord to consolidate the legal basis of his own governing authority.

Imperial Song, Jingyan Sixth Year, Yanfu Palace

Liu Yu followed the eunuch ahead of him through the apricot grove. It was late autumn, and no flowers or leaves could be seen on the trees. The scene of "apricot blossoms filling the sky," famous throughout the Great Song, was now nothing but desolation. Counting carefully, Liu Yu hadn't seen that longed-for sight for a full four years.

No, that wasn't right. When he came here four years ago for an audience with the Emperor, it was also late autumn, yet it was much more vibrant than this time. Liu Yu's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he smiled bitterly. Last time he came, his clan had high hopes for him, and even His Majesty had earnestly encouraged him to spread his grand plans and serve the country. Yet in just four years, he had fallen from

the clouds into the mud. Not to mention his official position, even his own Imperial Guard Right Army might have its establishment reduced again.

That was right. Since the late Emperor's time, the Imperial Guard's establishment had been shrinking. When the late Emperor first ascended the throne, the Imperial Guard still had a full establishment of nearly 500,000. By the time the current Emperor ascended, it was only 200,000. And the current Emperor was even harsher. In just six years of his reign, he had slashed the Imperial Guard's establishment by 100,000. The Imperial Guard, which once intimidated the world and deterred petty

barbarians, could no longer sustain a large-scale war.

Starting from the Jianyan Founding Ancestor's thorough purge, the Imperial Guard was broadly divided into three war zones, responsible for campaigns in the northeast, northwest, and the Western Regions respectively. For these regions, they even had the right to initiate battle first and then petition afterward. But in recent years, as the establishment shrank, the various war zones were gradually disbanded, and the Imperial Guard's

strength diminished again and again. And today, it might shrink once more!

At root, it was all the fault of those fawning sycophants!

The angrier Liu Yu got, the more he could only stare fixedly at the eunuch walking ahead. It was these petty men!

He didn't know how long he had walked when the eunuch ahead finally stopped. A hundred or so paces ahead stood a pavilion set in the apricot grove. It was in this pavilion that the Jianyan Founding Ancestor had completely established the Privy Council's status and nearly transferred part of the governing power. Legend had it that the Founding Ancestor had bestowed here the golden cup exclusive to the Privy Council Lord, which later became nearly

the symbol of the Lord's governing authority. Hence, the common folk called this pavilion the "Golden Cup Pavilion."

Liu Yu was still thinking about how the pavilion looked so different from before, but he didn't notice the eunuch ahead had stopped and bumped straight into him.

"Marshal Liu, please pardon me. A while ago, Commander Yang changed the rules. Now, before an audience with His Majesty, there must be another body search."

Looking at the eunuch who had turned around and was smiling at him, Liu Yu felt anger rising in his heart.

"Is that so? It seems I am ignorant. I heard nothing of this on the road to the capital."

"Marshal Liu, please forgive me. It truly was a rule changed just a few months ago." A young man had walked over from the pavilion before the two had even stopped, picking up Liu Yu's words. "A while ago, some incidents occurred. Someone tried to plot treachery using the opportunity of an audience with His Majesty, so the rules were changed."

Liu Yu sneered inwardly. This excuse could only fool a three-year-old child. Who among those who could come to this pavilion had the reason or the guts to do such a thing?

"It naturally wasn't here." The young man seemed to see what Liu Yu was thinking. "It was... Hebei."

Liu Yu looked at the man before him with growing disbelief. The implications behind those two words were too great. According to the official gazette's data, across the ten thousand li of Imperial Song, Hebei was the region most supportive of His Majesty. For such an incident to occur in this heartland, it was only natural to be on guard against everything.

"Acting according to regulations, Marshal Liu, please."

Looking at the young man before him, whose face was full of spring breeze, Liu Yu felt increasingly disgusted. That this had happened was true, but using this opportunity to give him a show of power was also true. He had been entering the palace for so long, and the eunuch before him hadn't mentioned a word. Coming here, it was both to tell him that he no longer enjoyed imperial favor, and

to see if he still had any connections to learn of this matter.

This trip was likely fraught with peril.

"My lord, no need for excessive courtesy. Let's speak plainly." The Emperor before him put down the scroll in his hand. It was a copy of the *Veritable Records of the Jianyan Founding Ancestor*. Nowadays, thanks to the movable-type printing technology vigorously promoted by the Shaoxing Founding Ancestor back then, books were becoming more and more numerous. Coupled with the Founding Ancestor's legendary experiences, this book was now not

only in the hands of every court official, but even among the middle class and farmers. Many people simply used this book as a textbook in their schools.

That was right. This was another of the Founding Ancestor's achievements. In the later period of his governance, he vigorously developed culture and education. Basically every major city had government-run schools, which provided basic education for only a small fee. It was a great benevolent policy.

Turning back to the Emperor before him, this one had been on the throne for six years and was universally acknowledged to admire the Founding Ancestor, to the point of imitating him in everything — from how he treated people to how he delegated authority. Except for leading troops in battle, he imitated almost everything. And he had quite a bit of the Founding Ancestor's spirit, making him another wise ruler.

Doujin "Your servant has suffered a great defeat in the Divine Mechanism Army. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!" Liu Yu knelt directly and admitted his fault.

"I haven't said anything yet. I've read the report on this exercise. Since you say so, my lord, does that mean you concede to the Divine Mechanism Army?"

"Your servant does not concede!" Liu Yu raised his head and argued, "The rules of this exercise were favorable to the Divine Mechanism Army in every way. If we talk about soldier bravery, strict discipline, marching and fighting, in actual combat we would certainly not be inferior to the Divine Mechanism Army..."

"And then?" the Emperor prompted gently.

"And the military budget for the capital's seven armies far exceeds that of the Imperial Guard. If the Imperial Guard had the same funding, we could have a million soldiers to protect the ten-thousand-year reign of our Imperial Song!"

"Yes, I trust you, my lord. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you lead the Imperial Guard Right Army. But I have already granted you the four-year agreement, and I am willing to accept defeat. If the Imperial Guard had truly been able to defeat the Divine Mechanism Army, that would have been fine. But the Imperial Guard lost after all. If you lose, you must accept the consequences."

"If that is the case, your servant has nothing more to say. Within next year, the Imperial Guard will cut another thirty thousand infantry and twenty thousand cavalry." Liu Yu's heart was bleeding.

"Good, then you may withdraw. I will continue reading."

"Your servant takes his leave." Liu Yu stood up and shot a venomous glare at the young man standing behind the Emperor, then cupped his hands and withdrew.

Just as he was about to leave the pavilion, he heard the Emperor behind him speak up again: "My lord must know, the rules of this exercise had already weakened the Divine Mechanism Army!"

Who knew where he had gotten to in his reading!

"Jianyan twenty-first year: Since the Founding Ancestor recovered Hebei, there were few people who froze or starved to death. Wild grain gradually grew, and granaries gradually filled. It is said: Great order."

*Veritable Records of the Jianyan Founding Ancestor*