At the official reception at the court meeting, Zhao Kuangyin only politely expressed his condolences on the recent situation of the Southern Tang Dynasty and reaffirmed the friendship between the two countries. Li Congshan expressed his respect for the Zhao and Song dynasties, and brought Li Yu's assurance that he would never take the opportunity to make a move.

Xiao Zuo, as the deputy envoy, has never had the opportunity to speak, but he doesn't know much about this kind of formal diplomatic occasion, so he has been standing silently aside, and Zhao Kuangyin looked at him from time to time during the questioning.

After the official courtesy reception, Zhao Kuangyin will host a banquet in Jiying that night to entertain the envoys of various countries. Xiao Zuo kept frowning, thinking in his heart, when did Zhao Er plan to make a move?

After the dispersal of the dynasty, Xiao Zuo got rid of Li Congshan on the grounds of seeking pleasure and quietly followed the king of Jin. Zhao Guangyi took Xiao Zuo and walked straight towards Zhao Kuangyin's bedroom, Funing Palace.

Zhao Kuangyin wanted to see Xiao Zuo and get to the bottom of it, one was to observe Xiao Zuo's character, and the other was to find out the mind of the Southern Tang Dynasty lord by the way.

Xiao Zuo followed King Jin into the Funing Palace, and Zhao Kuangyin was reviewing the folds. As the emperor's younger brother, King Jin did not need to be summoned to enter and leave the palace.

"Brother of the courtier, see Brother Huang. ”

"The villain Xiao Zuo saw the emperor. ”

Zhao Kuangyin glanced at the two kneeling on the ground, and said lightly: "Get up." ”

Xiao Zuo's heart was a little apprehensive, he stood aside crampedly, waiting for Zhao Kuangyin to ask. But Zhao Kuangyin has been watching the music seriously, and the two of them are cold.

Zhao Guangyi knew that his imperial brother was very diligent after becoming the emperor, and he would bow down to everything. Do things in an orderly manner, with a beginning and an end, and if the things at hand are not done, he will not pay attention to the people around him.

After about a quarter of an hour, Zhao Kuangyin finally finished reading the recital in his hand, and looked at the two of them with a pleasant face, "Guangyi, you go down first." ”

"Brother obeys. Zhao Guangyi knew that his brother wanted to personally inspect the young man in front of him, so he bowed down and retreated.

As soon as Zhao Guangyi left, Zhao Kuangyin said lightly: "Your name is Xiao Zuo, right?" ”

"Back to the emperor, it is below. ”

Zhao Kuangyin stood up, walked to Xiao Zuo's side, looked at him carefully, and said, "I'm curious, why do you know that the history of the song was written by me." You must know that I made that poem in private, and not many people know about it. ”

Zhao Kuangyin said very vaguely, in fact, his purpose in writing that poem was originally to prepare for framing Lin Renzhao. The only people who know about it are Zhao Guangyi and a few people who were directly involved in the portrait.

Xiao Zuo actually knew that this made Zhao Kuangyin both surprised and surprised. He felt that he couldn't see through the young man in front of him, could it be that there was really a ghost and god in this world?

As for Xiao Zuo, when he heard Zhao Kuangyin say this, he was almost not scared to death, he didn't expect that he was smart for a while, and he actually lifted a stone to shoot himself in the foot. A cold sweat broke out on his back, his brain thought quickly for a while, and he stabilized his mind and said, "Back to the emperor, the villain was guessing at the time. ”

"Oh?" Zhao Kuangyin thought that Xiao Zuo would pull on the ghosts and gods, although he was not very satisfied with his answer, but it was better than fooling himself with some nonsense. "On what basis?"

Any speculation cannot be untargeted, and there will probably be a certain basis. If it's speculation, it's rather than speculation.

Xiao Zuo replied unhurriedly: "The villain first read Bixia's poems, probably the momentum of the world. Such a proud work, looking at today, the Jiangnan countries have been in peace for a long time, the Northern Han Dynasty vassal Khitan, and the Khitan has been the power of the Central Plains to the south, only Bixia, only have such courage to dominate the rivers and mountains, so there is this speculation. ”

These words are reasonable, although it is inevitable that there is a suspicion of sycophancy, but it is indeed the current general situation. Although the world is divided, except for the Central Plains, which has been fighting for many years, the countries have always been very tacitly at peace with each other.

After five generations, the Central Plains has been in turmoil and people's livelihood, and its financial resources are not stronger than those of the countries south of the Yangtze River. But at the same time, for the Jiangnan states that had not stopped fighting for a long time, the new Zhao and Song dynasties had a great advantage in military equipment, coupled with Zhao Kuangyin's determined reform, put an end to the situation of local military self-respect, although a part of the imperial power was sacrificed, but it was to stabilize the rule of the dynasty. With such a concerted mind, as long as a smart person with a little sense of the overall situation, he can see Zhao Song's determination and confidence to dominate the world.

Zhao Kuangyin was very satisfied with Xiao Zuo's answer, and the corners of his mouth hooked up with an imperceptible smile, "I listened to King Jin's words and you want to serve under his command?"

The emperor's words were very level. Xiao Zuocha once again felt that dealing with the emperor could be scared to death at any time if he had a bad heart. Previously, Xiao Zuo expressed his heart to Zhao Guangyi and wanted to take refuge in Zhao Song, but he wanted to stay in Jinling to do intelligence work. And the direct boss of the intelligence department of Bianliang who stayed in Jinling was Zhao Guangyi.

Zhao Kuangyin didn't say that you are Xiao Zuo who wants to take refuge in me, but Zhao Guangyi, which is not bad. But when this is said, it is inevitable that there will be ambiguity. What the emperor fears most is that his subordinates form a party for personal gain, and this problem made Xiao Zuo unable to understand Zhao Kuangyin's mind for a while.

Judging from the history that Xiao Zuo knows, the Zhao brothers have always been brothers and sisters, and they have no secret suspicions, at least before Zhao Kuangyin's death, they did not suspect that their younger brother had a heart of disobedience. Moreover, Zhao Kuangyin's mother, Empress Dowager Du, said on her deathbed that the alliance of Jin Kui was the last brother of the imperial throne. With such a talisman to protect, Zhao Kuangyin will not be suspicious of his brother.

But Zhao Kuangyin asked in front of him, could it be that he saw Zhao Guangyi's ambition? Xiao Zuo was embarrassed and weighed it, and Zuihou had to say: "The villain only does his part to unify the world and end the troubled times as soon as possible." ”

Xiao Zuo felt that whether it was loyalty to Zhao Kuangyin or Zhao Guangyi, this was a very unfavorable thing for him. He peeked at Wang Jien, the head of the chamberlain standing at the door, and then at Zhao Kuangyin, before he reluctantly said such a lofty reason.

If he shows that he is only loyal to Zhao Kuangyin at this juncture, it is not good to be listened to by Wang Jien, who is likely to be bought by Zhao Guangyi, and Zhao Guangyi will inevitably settle accounts with himself when he becomes emperor in the future; if he follows Zhao Kuangyin's words, it is likely to arouse his suspicions. Xiao Zuo realized that he had a noble master, so that he could have a flash of inspiration, and he thought of such an answer to block Zhao Kuangyin's mouth.

Zhao Kuangyin was noncommittal after hearing this, and did not continue the topic, "Xiao Zuo, what do you think about Yu Lin Renzhao's matter." ”

Xiao Zuo secretly complained in his heart, knowing that Zhao Kuangyin wanted to use his attitude towards Lin Renzhao to test himself. He didn't expect that it would take less than a quarter of an hour to enter this hall, and Zhao Kuangyin gave himself three difficult questions that ordinary people could not answer. Sure enough, those who can be emperors are not ordinary people.

From the standpoint of those in power, it is understandable to use counter-tactics to get rid of an enemy general, but from the standpoint of Xiao Zuo, a foreign minister who has just surrendered, this question is too difficult to answer. If the emperor uses your strategy well, it will inevitably leave an impression in Zhao Kuangyin's heart that he is a traitor to seek glory, after all, Xiao Zuo was a courtier of the Southern Tang Dynasty before, and Lin Renzhao was still a minister in the same palace as him; if the emperor you used this plan a little unauthentically, the consequences would be even more serious, and it is estimated that he really has no future in Zhao Song.

"Playing Bixia, the villain thinks that Bixia is a very clever plan. Xiao Zuoqiang pretended to be calm and said through gritted teeth.

"How can you see it?" Zhao Kuangyin's eyes flashed with a hint of imperceptible discoloration, and he couldn't help but have some doubts about Xiao Zuo's character.

It just so happened that Xiao Zuo secretly looked up and saw the different color on Zhao Kuangyin's face, and couldn't help complaining in his heart, do you say that Lao Tzu is easy, don't say so, if you don't keep it, you will immediately turn your face and kick me out.

"Bixia's plan can be described as seamless, but the villain thinks that in order to clear the obstacles of the Southern Tang Dynasty, it is not necessary to get rid of Lin Renzhao. Xiao Zuo carefully considered the words and said cautiously.

"Really?" Zhao Kuangyin asked very blandly, unable to see joy or anger.

Xiao Zuo thought about it carefully and felt that this was not an opportunity to save Lin Renzhao, so he decided to let it go and no longer care about Zhao Kuangyin's reaction, so he boldly said: "Your Majesty, Lin Renzhao is a rare general. Fang Today, the enemy of my Great Song Dynasty is not the Jiangnan Kingdoms, nor the Northern Han, but the Khitan of the alien race. Since ancient times, the northern nomads have been eyeing the prosperity of our Central Plains and have great ambitions. The matter of the sixteen states of Yanyun is a great shame for me in China. The unification of the world by the Great Song Dynasty is an inevitable choice of history, and the rise of the Khitan cannot be underestimated, and it will be a great enemy in the future. ”

Seeing that Zhao Kuangyin's face was solemn and did not interrupt himself, Xiao Zuo put his mind at ease and continued to talk, "Therefore, the villain feels that what I need to do now in the Great Song Dynasty is not only to end the pattern of fragmentation since the end of the Tang Dynasty, but more importantly, to reserve talents and repair troops to prevent Khitan." ”

Zhao Kuangyin, who was born as a general, once followed Chai Shizong to conquer the Khitan, and was well aware of the powerful threat brought by the Khitan iron cavalry to the Central Plains. Xiao Zuo said that he had always been worried about it, so he formulated the strategic policy of first the south and then the north, and after preparing to unify the south of the Yangtze River, he was ready to attack the Northern Han, and then gather momentum to clean up the Khitan once and for all.

But for Lin Renzhao, Zhao Kuangyin is not unappreciative, but he sees it very thoroughly, this is a person who cannot be used for himself. Especially Lin Renzhao's exhortation to Li Yu not long ago strengthened his determination to get rid of Lin Renzhao.

"I am even Lin Renzhao a rare general, but his pedantic spirit is very heavy, and he has nothing to do with my Great Song Dynasty. Zhao Kuangyin sighed, and didn't think that Xiao Zuo could have any good ideas to make Lin Renzhao surrender.

"Bixia," Xiao Zuo saw Zhao Kuangyin's firm tone, and knelt down with an ordinary voice, "The villain has a word, I don't know if he can be gifted to the emperor." ”

"Say it. Based on Xiao Zuo's Khitan threat just now, he already said the bottom of Zhao Kuangyin's heart. The current Xiao Zuo, in his eyes, has basically passed his own investigation, and he is not a sycophant and a sloppy person.

Although Lin Renzhao is foolish and loyal, his loyalty is based on the existence of the Tang State, and as long as the Tang State is destroyed, he will have no support. At that time, as long as time is passed and emotions are moved, Lin Renzhao will definitely be able to be used by Bixia. ”

"But if Lin Renzhao doesn't get rid of it, it will be a big obstacle for me to go south to the south of the Yangtze River. ”

"Bixia, the villain is not very talented, but in Jinling, he can also borrow the hand of Li Yu to relieve Lin Renzhao of his military power and idle it, which clears this obstacle for Bixia. ”

Since deciding to save Lin Renzhao, Xiao Zuo has been thinking a lot about how to persuade Zhao Kuangyin not to do it. At this time, he made this suggestion to Zhao Kuangyin, which was the result of weighing his current ability and his scruples about Zhao Kuangyin's thoughts.

Sure enough, Zhao Kuangyin's eyes lit up when he heard it. If someone else had said this to him, he would have provoked his scorn. But Xiao Zuo is different.

First of all, Xiao Zuoming's identity on the face was the deputy envoy of the Southern Tang Dynasty, although the official positions of other Jinling were not obvious, but the person who could take this position must have won Li Yu's trust, which was the basis for Xiao Zuo's success in confusing Li Yu to give up Lin Renzhao; second, after some temptation just now, Zhao Kuangyin believed that Xiao Zuo had the ability to bewitch Li Yu.

It's just that Zhao Kuangyin still has a little bit of anxiety, that is, Xiao Zuo's loyalty to himself.

"How can I believe you?" There was no more temptation, Zhao Kuangyin bluntly said what he thought in his heart.

"The villain does not seek fame, does not seek profit, this time he votes in Bixia, one is to know that Bixia will dominate the world in the future and become a generation of Ming Jun, and secondly, the villain went to Bianliang this time, just to save one person. ”

"Who to save?" Zhao Kuangyin looked at Xiao Zuo in confusion, and his eyes wanted to see him through.

"Lin Renzhao. Xiao Zuo replied lightly.

Zhao Kuangyin smiled and smiled heartily. And Xiao Zuoxin also let go completely, he knew that he had won Zhao Kuangyin's complete trust, and since then, a bright road has unfolded in front of his eyes, waiting for him to embark on the journey.