Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 3 Deputy Capital Commander Han Tong

Chai Zongxun looked at the eunuchs and maids standing by and said:
"Mr. Tang stays, the rest of the people exit the hall!"

After all the eunuchs and maids came out of the palace, Chai Zongxun looked at Tang Qi, the chief eunuch in front of the palace, and said:
"Mr. Tang, how many years have you been in the palace?"

Tang Qi quickly saluted and said:
"Back to Your Majesty, I have been in the palace since the second year of Guangshun. I have served your Majesty in the first year of Xiande. It has been nine years since I entered the palace."

Chai Zongxun thought to himself: "Tang Qi entered the palace during the reign of Taizu, and was sent by his father to take care of me since he was a child. The possibility of being bribed by Zhao Da and Zhao Er is extremely low. There should be no doubt about his loyalty to me."

Chai Zongxun nodded slightly and said:

"Mr. Tang has worked diligently and loyally to me over the years, and he has lived up to his father's trust. I know this in my heart."

When Tang Qi heard this, he was so excited that he saluted and kowtowed: "I have received great kindness from your majesty and the late emperor. I dare not break my body to repay it!"

Chai Zongxun said: "Very good! Manager Tang, get up!

I remember that you are from Heyang Prefecture. Who else is there in your family now? "

Tang Qi got up from the ground and said respectfully:
"Your Majesty, this slave was born in poverty. Now in the Heyang Mansion, my father died in the "Yecheng Rebellion", and my mother, one brother and one sister are still living in the village."

Chai Zongxun became interested upon hearing this:
"Manager Tang, you are only seventeen years old this year, right? Aren't your brothers and sisters even younger?
Then isn't your mother's life very difficult in her hometown? "

Tang Qi was moved and said: "Back to Your Majesty, this slave has received His Majesty's holy grace and is now the steward of the palace. From time to time, I can send silver coins home to my mother's family.

Although it is not called the rich of Yin, it is still possible to live smoothly. "

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, decades had passed since the late Tang Dynasty when the world was in chaos. The country's economy was in decline and people's lives were in poverty.

Even the eunuchs, maids and other attendants in the Imperial Palace of the Zhou Dynasty generally had low salaries. Although Tang Qi was the eunuch in charge of Emperor Chai Zongxun's palace, his monthly salary was only ten taels.

His mother had a hard time raising her young son and daughter in her hometown of Heyang Prefecture.

Chai Zongxun said: "Mr. Tang has worked hard and made great achievements. I allow you to bring your family to the capital and give you a special house to facilitate you to take care of your family."

When Tang Qi heard this, he burst into tears of gratitude, saluted and said: "Your Majesty's kindness is as great as the sky, and it will be difficult for me to repay you in this life!"

Chai Zongxun nodded and said with a smile: "Manager Tang, there are still many things I want you to do for me in the future!
Now I want you to go to the Dianbao Office to collect some jewels and choose two outstandingly beautiful maids from the palace. "

Tang Qi was slightly surprised, feeling that the emperor spoke and acted very maturely today. Then I thought: Your Majesty is only 7 years old, why should you choose a palace maid with outstanding beauty?

Seeing Chai Zongxun's sharp eyes directed at him, Tang Qi quickly saluted and replied:

"This slave will obey His Majesty's will!"

Tang Qi immediately bowed out of the Qingshou Hall and went to make arrangements.

Chai Zongxun sat in the throne and meditated for more than an hour. Only when Tang Qi, several eunuchs holding several boxes of treasures, and two beautiful palace ladies returned to the Qingshou Hall did Chai Zongxun wake up from his meditation.

Chai Zongxun looked at the treasure in the box and the two maids aged 17 or 18. They were all rare and beautiful treasures in the palace, and he was quite satisfied.

After chatting with Tang Qi and others for a while, the time of application had arrived, and the eunuch outside the palace came into the palace to report: Han Tong, the deputy commander of the guards and the army, has arrived according to the order.

Chai Zongxun immediately announced that Han Tong would enter the palace.

Not a moment later, a tall and burly general, about fifty years old, with the air of a battlefield, followed the eunuchs and the imperial army and strode into the palace. When he saw Chai Zongxun sitting on the throne, he saluted and said:
"Han Tong, the deputy commander of the imperial guards and the army, is here to see your majesty!"

Chai Zongxun looked at Han Tonglai intently: he had a rough appearance, a heroic expression, and a rather weathered look on his face. Chai Zongxun said: "Commander Han makes Ping Shen!"

After Han Tong got up, Chai Zongxun continued: "Commander Han has followed his father in the north and south for many years, and his loyalty and bravery are unparalleled. I only know this when I heard my mother talk about it today.

Today I summoned Commander Han to come here to reward you well! "

Han Tong was overjoyed when he heard this. He felt that although the emperor was young, everything he said spoke to his heart.

Han Tong hurriedly saluted again and said: "The late Emperor and Your Majesty will repay your kindness to me. I can only repay you to the death!"

Chai Zongxun believed this. It turns out that in the history of time and space, after Zhao Kuangyin rebelled in the "Chenqiao Mutiny", among the senior generals of the Forbidden Army, only Han Tong raised troops to quell the rebellion.

Chai Zongxun waved his hand lightly, and Tang Qi, the eunuch in charge in front of the palace, quickly led six eunuchs and two gorgeous palace maids holding treasure wooden boxes, down the jade terrace, and came to Han Tong.

Chai Zongxun said: "My father passed away suddenly, and I became the emperor at a young age. I need loyal and brave people like Commander Han!"

I will reward Commander Han with these palace treasures and these two palace ladies! I hope Commander Han will live up to the late emperor and my expectations! "

Because Han Tong had a hot temper and was a heroic and straightforward person, he was often at odds with the ministers in the court and was often suppressed. In the Forbidden Army, he was far less able to win people's hearts than Zhao Kuangyin, and he was gradually being ignored by Zhao Kuangyin. In recent months, his heart I am extremely troubled.

I couldn't help but be deeply moved when I saw Emperor Chai Zongxun giving such a generous gift today.

Han Tong knelt down with a plop, looked at Chai Zongxun and said:

"Your Majesty treats me so kindly, I, Old Han, have no choice but to hand over my life and property to Your Majesty. As long as Your Majesty says a word, I, Old Han, will fight through mountains and seas of fire without even frowning!"

Chai Zongxun patted the armrest of the dragon chair and said:

"Okay! Commander Han, please speak quickly. It's to my liking! Please get up quickly!"

After Han Tong stood up like an iron tower, Chai Zong said:

"Commander Han, I want you to secretly replace the guards at the Qingshou Hall and the Queen Mother Baoci Hall with your confidants within five days. Is it possible for you to do it?"

Han Tong thought to himself: The imperial army is responsible for guarding so many palaces in the palace, as well as several palaces in the outer dynasty. It is just a matter of temporarily replacing the imperial army of the Qingshou Palace and Baoci Palace in the inner court with his own people. There is no problem.

At the same time, there was a faint suspicion in his heart that the emperor was about to make some move against Zhao Kuangyin.

Han Tong immediately said loudly: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will complete your Majesty's explanation within 5 days, and there will be no mistakes!"

Chai Zongxun was overjoyed and thought:

"I am the emperor, and everyone must listen to me in name. Zhao Da was able to usurp the throne in one fell swoop only after he created the perfect situation for the Northern Han and Khitans to invade and command all the elite imperial troops from the Dianqian Division and the Guards and Military Division.

The thief Wang Pu, the deputy prime minister of the court, has secretly taken refuge with Zhao Kuangyin. If he takes action in the court hall, he is afraid of long nights and many dreams, and unpredictable good or bad luck.

"Things come true with secrets", I might as well learn from Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty Yuwen Yong and Kangxi of the Manchu Qing Dynasty! "

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"My father once said: "It takes ten years to open up the world, ten years to support the people, and ten years to bring peace." He conquered the south and the north, and his martial arts were outstanding!
As the Son of Heaven, I must imitate the majesty of my father!
Commander Han, tomorrow you will select twenty young men around ten years old in the capital to practice martial arts with me every day! "

Chai Zongxun didn't even plan to tell Han Tong before taking action to remove Zhao Kuangyin.

(End of this chapter)