Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 4 The Theory of Destiny

The seventh year of the Xiande era of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the second day of the first month.

As dawn broke, a force of tens of thousands of elite imperial guards from the Great Zhou Dynasty set off in an orderly fashion from Aijing Gate, heading towards the northern lands a thousand miles away.

The howling wind made Zhao Dezhao tighten the cuffs of his armor, his face turning red from the cold.

Seeing this, Li Chuyun, standing to the side, curled his lips into a smug smile:

"You insisted on coming, huh? How's it going? Not a pleasant experience marching, is it?"

From that day on, his relationship with Zhao Dezhao became much closer, and the previous formality and distance between them disappeared.

Zhao Dezhao pursed his lips, ignoring these words, and instead carefully observed this fierce and powerful army.

Despite the biting cold, tens of thousands of soldiers, under the command of officers and soldiers at all levels, remained calm and composed, gripping their weapons tightly despite the severe cold, forming a dense forest of ranks with the ferocity of wolves and tigers.

Indeed, this was the case. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, which emphasized the supremacy of military force, the Great Zhou Imperial Guards were almost invincible in battle and conquered every city!

"All the soldiers were highly skilled, and as a result, the military's strength and equipment were unparalleled in modern times!"

This sentence in the historical records is the most apt evaluation of this army.

It can be said that in this world, whoever can completely control this Imperial Guard means that, at least within the Great Zhou territory, that person has the power to turn the world upside down!

Now, this army is in the hands of Zhao Kuangyin!

In the Five Dynasties period, a time when military might reigned supreme, how could a seven-year-old child possibly secure the throne?

"When I had no military power, you called me 'subject' and I didn't argue with you. Now that I command 100,000 imperial guards and the entire capital is under my control, tell me, what should you call me?"

"Those who say Zhao Da bullied orphans and widows, if you were in charge of a large army, would you still be willing to kneel on the ground, obediently awaiting orders?"

As he secretly thought to himself, and seeing that he was getting closer and closer to Chenqiao Post Station, Zhao Dezhao began to feel a strange emotion rising in his heart!

—Excitement!

An epic drama, one of the most significant in history, is about to unfold before him!

Zhao Dezhao raised his rosy cheeks, looked at the dark, inky sky, and slowly murmured:

"The weather is getting colder; it's time to treat myself to a new outfit!"

……

After marching for about two hours, Zhao Dezhao clearly felt that the pace of the troops had slowed down.

"The first act of this epic drama has begun!"

Knowing what was about to happen, Zhao Dezhao curiously stood on tiptoe. Although he was short, he was riding a horse and could barely see what was happening in the distance.

He was only nine years old, and his height was just over four feet.

Given his height, if he hadn't been serving as a personal guard for Li Chuyun, who was the Chief Censor, he would probably have encountered quite a few troubles.

There stood a middle-aged man in a green robe, looking up at the sky, seemingly lost in thought. His neck was stiff as a wooden stake, and he remained motionless.

"It's Miao Bansian!" someone exclaimed in a low voice.

Zhao Dezhao naturally recognized the man in the green robe.

He was Miao Xun, a military officer in the Palace Guard.

This man was quite an extraordinary figure in the camp. It was said that he could observe the stars and predict good or bad fortune, and he was known as "Miao the Half-Immortal".

"Zhao'er, do you believe in this concept of destiny?" Li Chuyun suddenly asked abruptly.

As one of the participants in this grand spectacle, he naturally knew what was going on regarding celestial phenomena, but he had not explained this in detail to Zhao Dezhao, which is why he asked the question.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao blurted out without hesitation, "I don't believe it!"

"Oh? Why is that?"

A flicker of interest rose in Li Chuyun's eyes.

Many people in the world revere ghosts and gods. If Emperor Shizong had not persecuted Buddhism in the past, there would probably be countless Buddhist temples throughout the nine provinces of the world today.

Even so, those who seek Buddha or immortality are still as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Only these fierce generals who fought their way out of the battlefield understood that there was no such thing as destiny; in chaotic times, all one could rely on was the sword in one's hand!

So he was very surprised that Zhao Dezhao, who had never been on the battlefield, did not believe in destiny.

"Uncle Li, from ancient times to the present, which emperor gained the throne through some so-called divine mandate?"

Zhao Dezhao scoffed, his still-childish face full of disdain, and said coldly:

"Emperor Wu of Song, Liu Yu, was originally a shoe seller and mat weaver, a mere soldier in the Northern Garrison of Jingkou. If we're talking about destiny, where is it in his hands? He was able to gain the empire by leading from the front, winning countless battles, and fighting his way to victory amidst the clash of swords!"

"Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, was merely a village headman. If he truly upheld the Mandate of Heaven, why would he have endured so much fleeing, pursuit, and near-death experiences?"

"Furthermore, what does Qin's unification have to do with destiny? It was the result of the accumulated efforts of six generations that enabled Qin Shi Huang to conquer the six states and unify the world—a feat of unparalleled achievement!"

At this point, Zhao Dezhao paused, his gaze sharp as he looked directly at Li Chuyun and said, "Uncle Li, answer me! If these emperors were truly ordained by Heaven, why would they need to fight countless battles and risk their lives?"

These words came crashing down on Li Chuyun, leaving him momentarily stunned and unsure how to respond.

Then, before Li Chuyun could speak, Zhao Dezhao continued, "Uncle Li, have you ever heard a saying?"

"What did you say?" Li Chuyun asked instinctively.

Zhao Dezhao smiled slightly, the innocence in his dark pupils vanished, and his eyes suddenly sharpened like knives. He raised his hand and pointed to the snowflakes gradually falling from the sky, and said arrogantly:

"Heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river, but only those who can emerge from the wind and snow are truly exceptional."

"It has never relied on fate, nor on anyone providing a protective umbrella!"

Li Chuyun was completely stunned.

Zhao Dezhao's voice was clear and loud, like a thunderclap in a clear sky, which shocked Li Chuyun and made him want to clap and shout!

In a daze, he seemed to see an emperor, braving the blizzard, coming with his sword in hand!

What is the demeanor of a ruler?

He's seen it all today!

"My nephew, Dezhao, has the makings of a ruler!"

……

While these ruthless individuals who had fought their way out of the chaos of war scoffed at the idea of ​​destiny, the ordinary soldiers held celestial phenomena and prophecies in great awe.

"Brothers! Miao Banxian has observed a celestial phenomenon: another day will pass under the sun, and a dark light will linger for a long time. This is a celestial change!"

"Each day overcomes the previous one, the new sun replaces the old, and destiny has already been ordained!"

When Chu Zhaofu spoke these words aloud in front of everyone, the entire marching team immediately erupted in chaos!

There were two suns in the sky, and they were emitting black light. This is a situation that most violates common sense about celestial phenomena!

In other words, this means a change of dynasty is imminent!

"If you ask me, Commander Zhao should be the emperor. The rumors about the Inspector General being the emperor have already spread throughout the camp!"

"The Mandate of Heaven belongs to Commander Zhao!"

Someone shouted first, and then the soldiers of the Central Army Guard Battalion took the lead in responding, and the sound grew louder and louder like a snowball rolling downhill!

"Are they really going to change dynasties?" A newly enlisted young soldier was suddenly stunned. "That's a capital offense..."

"behead?"

An old soldier spat, his eyes fierce and his expression agitated: "What do you know!"

"This is our real opportunity! If we truly support Commander Zhao to become emperor, we'll all be credited with helping him rise to power! Why worry about future wealth and honor?"

These words struck a chord with many, causing a stir among the soldiers, their eyes trembling slightly.

In this chaotic world, the idea of ​​changing dynasties is as common as eating and drinking. Some soldiers who have served in the army for more than ten years have even experienced it more than once!

Each time, some lucky individuals profit from it, rising rapidly in rank and enjoying endless wealth and glory!

Therefore, they were not afraid of such a blasphemous act; on the contrary, they were eager to try it!

"Damn it! Heaven's will has already revealed itself, what's there to be afraid of!"

Just as the soldiers were in high spirits, the unrest in the army suddenly subsided.

"By order of Commander Zhao! Continue the march north!"

"By order of Commander Zhao! Continue the march north!"

"..."

The officers and soldiers shouted loudly, their words like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone.

The soldiers were all dumbfounded.

They thought to themselves, "We were all prepared to rebel against Commander Zhao, so why did Commander Zhao do this?"

But with orders in place, they had no choice but to suppress their restless thoughts and continue marching in formation.

But the fire of ambition in his heart burned ever brighter!

"The Inspector General is destined to become Emperor; the Mandate of Heaven truly belongs to Commander Zhao!"

"As Master Miao said, there are two suns in the sky, the new sun covering the old one. Such is the celestial phenomenon; what is there to fear!"

Rumors began to spread like a plague within the ranks!

At this moment, Zhao Kuangyin's prestige in the army played a crucial role!

In the hearts of every soldier, a burning ambition is raging. As time goes by, this fire will eventually intensify and, when the time is right, will burst open and spread like wildfire!

Soon, the time came.

As dusk fell, the army encamped at Chenqiao Post Station.

The time has come, the grand show is about to begin!