flstandardbreds Chapter 255 Li Zhen's Ambitions
Chapter 255 Li Zhen's Ambitions
After returning home, Li Zhen considerately let Zhao Yingluo and her group settle in first, while he took the opportunity to drive to the company and specifically seek out Fang Zhen.
Li Zhen easily made his way to his office, took out a large quantity of gold and antique calligraphy and paintings from the mysterious space, and only after doing so did he call Fang Zhen over to give him instructions.
Li Zhen said softly, "Some of this gold belongs to Northern Industry. They should send someone to collect it within the next day or two. As for the remaining gold and those precious paintings and calligraphy, you and Cao Hua are to handle them properly. Remember, do not rush to sell them all at once, lest you cause unnecessary trouble."
Fang Zhen paid little attention to this familiar scene, simply glancing at it indifferently. Afterward, he succinctly outlined several crucial recent matters for the company. Having dealt with these trivial matters, Fang Zhen rushed back to his small apartment, his heart filled with anxiety. Since his time travel back to the modern era, nearly half a month had quietly passed. During this time, a heavy weight had been on his mind, fearing some unforeseen event in the Song Dynasty. Therefore, he was eager to travel back again to find out what was going on.
After a flash of white light, Li Zhen led Zhao Ji, Zhao Yingluo, and the others back to the familiar Song Dynasty. Looking at the familiar furnishings and objects before them, Zhao Ji couldn't help but sigh, "Alas! They say one can live two lives, and now I truly understand that."
Then, he slowly turned around, his gaze landing on Li Zhen with gentle yet firm eyes, and said softly, "My dear son-in-law, although I do not know the origin of your supernatural powers, since Heaven has bestowed this ability upon you, you must shoulder this heavy responsibility. I fully support you in expanding your business empire, hoping that one day, the common people of the Song Dynasty can also enjoy the peace and prosperity you have described for future generations."
During this period, Zhao Ji quietly absorbed a wealth of cultural knowledge while navigating the modern world, including historical records that meticulously documented the vicissitudes of various eras in Chinese history. He seemed like a traveler traversing time and space, glimpsing the outline of his original destiny and the epic history of the Song Dynasty's rise and fall between these yellowed pages.
The book not only gave him a profound understanding of the trajectory of his own destiny, but also shocked him with the fact that the Song Dynasty's final fall was not, as he had known, due to the Jin Dynasty's iron hooves trampling its land, but rather an unexpected demise at the hands of a group of barbaric tribes from the distant grasslands. This historical turning point exploded in his heart like a thunderclap, filling him with complex emotions and reflections on the past and the future.
Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) was suddenly struck by the realization that since the Song Dynasty, the wheels of history had rolled ever forward, spanning the rise and fall of several dynasties. Upon first hearing this, he was inevitably shaken and found it difficult to accept this monumental change that transcended time and space. However, under the gentle guidance of his father, Li, the fog in his heart gradually dissipated, and he finally accepted this unimaginable reality.
While accepting the offer, Zhao Ji secretly harbored a few unique ideas. He pondered that rather than letting the foundation painstakingly built by his ancestors wither away in the hands of his incompetent descendants, it would be better to entrust this vast land to Li Zhen. In this way, Zhao Ji might be able to erase the image of Emperor Huizong of Song, who only knew how to indulge in wine and women and wasted his time in the annals of history, and leave behind an extraordinary legend.
With a smile on his lips, Li Zhen said softly to Zhao Ji, "Old Zhao, you should just enjoy your leisurely retirement. Putting aside whether I have any ambitions to turn the world upside down, given the current situation, I should focus on taking care of my own little world and managing it steadily."
Seeing that Zhao Ji seemed to have something else to say, Li Zhen quickly waved his hand and used this as an excuse to step out of his house and into the solemn council hall in Tangyin City.
At this moment, Bu Liang was engrossed in a mountain of official business. When Li Zhen entered, he quickly stood up and bowed respectfully, saying, "Bu Liang greets my lord. May I ask what important matter my lord needs me to attend to?"
Li Zhen waved his hand gently, gesturing for the slightly nervous delinquent beside him to sit down first, his words carrying a hint of composure. He slowly rose, took the antique teapot from the table, poured himself a cup of warm tea, and took a sip, as if he could taste a few traces of the vicissitudes of life within it.
"I've brought back quite a few treasures this time, which will surely impress everyone." A faint smile appeared on his lips, and his eyes sparkled with anticipation for the future.
"You should send someone to inform all the brothers that we will meet here tomorrow to discuss the preparations for the Li Family Army. In the battles with the Jin and Song armies these days, I have increasingly realized that although our Li Family Army is brave, it also faces many problems that urgently need to be solved. Now that we have seen through these problems, we cannot sit idly by. We must pool our wisdom and come up with a good plan together."
After speaking, he gently put down his teacup. The rising steam from the tea seemed to be telling of the impending changes and challenges, and the air was filled with an atmosphere of anticipation.
Having said all he needed to say, Li Zhen slowly rose from his seat, strolled leisurely to the window, and gazed gently through the windowpane at the leisurely white clouds floating in the azure sky. He spoke softly, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility: "Bad boy, in your eyes, what kind of world is this nowadays?"
Upon hearing Li Zhen's question, his unsavory eyes suddenly lit up, like a glimmer of light flashing in the dark night. He stood up lightly, walked unhurriedly behind Li Zhen, and spoke slowly and deliberately in a calm tone.
"In terms of power and influence, the Jin Dynasty undoubtedly reigns supreme. However, despite its strength, its cultural foundation is as shallow as paper, and its social hierarchy reveals numerous flaws. Looking at the Song Dynasty, this fertile land has been divided in two by the two Zhao emperors, the Northern and Southern Song standing side by side. The Northern Song inherited the old ministers of Emperor Huizong, while the Southern Song was established by a new force led by Qin Hui and others. The Song Dynasty's military strength is well-known, but with the passage of time, its fighting power has withered like autumn leaves, gradually declining, and it has become one of the weakest forces. As for the Western Xia and the Tibetan Empire, they are merely a few small fish occasionally leaping on the surface of the river, incapable of achieving great things and ultimately unable to shake the overall situation."
"My lord, are you aiming to conquer the world? If so, I am honored to serve as your vanguard."
Looking at the arrogant look on the delinquent's face, Li Zhen couldn't help but smile and gently patted his shoulder.
“You are truly wicked. We have meticulously prepared the Li family army precisely for the impending upheaval. I have come to realize that clinging to a corner of the world is nothing but a precarious plan. Recently, both the Jin and Song dynasties have regarded us as a threat that must be eliminated. Rather than spending our days exhausted on defense, we should take the initiative to strike first, cutting off these shadows that are disturbing the world, and restoring peace and tranquility to all people!”