: In the end, all the officialdom is in vain; the past is but a dream.

Was Wu Yong's ability lacking? In Song Jiang's opinion, he really wasn't! Although he didn't quite reach the exaggerated level of having a million soldiers hidden in his belly as Song Jiang and Chao Gai had initially claimed, Wu Yong certainly had his own unique strengths!

Many people may think that Wu Yong is a villain who does nothing but scheme and plot, or that he is on the path of ruthlessness and never looks back. If we're talking about being ruthless, no one can rival Wu Yong!

But to be fair, Wu Yong was truly exceptional at understanding people's hearts. He could find out the flaws and weaknesses in the character of any person and then take action against them!

As the saying goes, war is based on deception! Song Jiang didn't mind using tricks, but he was very wary of using tricks on good people!

At the very least, Song Jiang wouldn't use the young magistrate's life to get Zhu Tong to join the bandits, or use Lu Junyi's rebellious poem to cut off his escape route! These were Song Jiang's bottom line and his conscience!

A knife can protect oneself or kill. Song Jiang believed that as long as he did not condone Wu Yong's evil but instead guided him to walk the path of conscience, Wu Yong would definitely become a great help to him!

Song Jiang laughed and said, "Your abilities are beyond the comprehension of others, how could I not understand them? It's truly a waste of your talents to be a schoolteacher in the village!"

Wu Yong sighed, "The scholar has long regarded fame and fortune as fleeting clouds and wealth as dust. He only wishes to spend his life in the countryside, teaching and educating people, and has no other thoughts!"

It turns out that Wu Yong was a failed scholar, not because he was incompetent, but because during the provincial examination, he was disliked by the examiners simply because his name Wu Yong sounded like "useless". They bluntly said that since he was useless, he would never pass the examination in his life and wrote down the four characters "never to be employed"!

Wu Yong had great ambitions, but because of a name, he was unable to enter officialdom for the rest of his life. Disheartened, he returned to Dongxi Village to make a living by farming.

Chao Gai and Wu Yong had been friends since childhood. However, Chao Gai did not want Wu Yong to give up on himself. Therefore, he suggested that Wu Yong set up a school and open a private school to teach the children in the village to read and write, so that his talents would not be hidden in the village!

Chao Gai had told Song Jiang about this before Song Jiang arrived, so Song Jiang naturally knew about it!

Song Jiang shook his head and said, "Sir, you are mistaken. A true man born in chaotic times should wield a three-foot sword and achieve unparalleled feats, so as not to have lived a life of glory and triumph. Why should you give up on yourself? You should know that Han Xin also suffered the humiliation of crawling between someone's legs, yet in the end he was able to help Liu Bang defeat the Chu army, achieve fame and fortune, and become a king and general. Goujian was defeated by Fuchai, yet he endured hardship and humiliation, leading three thousand Yue soldiers to conquer the Wu Kingdom and become a regional lord. Is this all you have to be willing to do, sir? Just for passing the imperial examination, you give up on yourself. Have you not been worthy of your parents' kindness in raising you, and of King Chao's good intentions?"

It must be said that Song Jiang's words were extremely inspiring. Not only Wu Yong, but also Chao Gai and Liu Tang were stirred up by Song Jiang's words and couldn't wait to roll up their sleeves, get to work, and fight!

Wu Yong felt somewhat ashamed, moved, and even tempted by what Song Jiang said!

He truly did not expect Song Jiang to compare him to Han Xin and Goujian, and Song Jiang's words about establishing unparalleled achievements with a three-foot sword made his long-sealed heart slowly untie the shackles!

To be honest, Wu Yong had never met Song Jiang before, but for some reason, Song Jiang gave him a very familiar and close feeling, as if the two had known each other for a long time and were sworn brothers!

Of course, Wu Yong also had a vague sense of unease, feeling that Song Jiang's words were implied, as if he wanted to drag him onto his "pirate ship".

Thinking of this, Wu Yong smiled and asked, "Scholar, may I inquire about the clerk's aspirations?"

Song Jiang made no attempt to hide his true intentions, stating bluntly, "I dare to change the world!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Yong's hand holding the feather fan trembled, and the feather fan fell to the ground with a "thud"!

Chao Gai's expression was somewhat unnatural, but Liu Tang didn't react much. It was unclear whether he was truly a tiger, only knowing how to charge forward, or if he was too uncultured to understand the meaning of Song Jiang's poem!

Wu Yong quickly picked up the feather fan, inwardly apologizing for his rudeness. Suppressing the turmoil within him, he feigned composure and said, "Your words, sir, are truly extraordinary. Such treasonous talk should be carefully considered. If others were to hear it, you would be finished!"

Song Jiang replied nonchalantly, "All of you here today are my brothers. What do I have to fear?"

Although it was risky for Song Jiang to say such things, he still believed that none of the men, whether it was Chao Gai, Liu Tang, or Wu Yong, were content with a mundane life, especially Wu Yong. So Song Jiang was taking a gamble!

Of course, more importantly, Song Jiang only recited a poem. He neither wrote it down in his own hand nor was anyone else present. Even if someone wanted to sue him in the county government, there was no evidence. Song Jiang could counter-sue him for slander. After all, he and Shi Wenbin were like best friends, and Zhu Tong and Lei Heng were also his brothers. With so many advantages, what did Song Jiang have to fear?

Upon hearing Song Jiang call him his brother, Wu Yong laughed and said, "Sir, you're speaking too soon. Aren't you afraid the scholar will go to the Yuncheng government office and accuse you of treason?"

Song Jiang laughed and said, "Sir, please don't test me. Since you say so, I certainly won't go. More importantly, in Yuncheng, I wouldn't dare say I have absolute power, but I'm still a figure who can make a difference. Your words are baseless; you'll be the one who suffers!"

Wu Yong gave a wry smile and said, "This matter is of great importance; I urge Clerk Rong to reconsider!"

Song Jiang didn't want Wu Yong to refuse, or rather, Wu Yong's current attitude was related to Chao Gai's attitude and subsequent plans. Song Jiang couldn't give Wu Yong too much time to think. After all, this wasn't child's play. The sooner Wu Yong expressed his opinion, the better. Otherwise, if he had too many concerns and ultimately refused, it would greatly affect Song Jiang's future plans!

Song Jiang earnestly said to Wu Yong, "Sir, you have always aspired to be like Zhuge Liang in your life. The opportunity is right in front of you, so why can't you be like Zhuge Liang?"

Wu Yong sighed, "Thank you for your kind words, clerk. The scholar is as different from Kongming as the vast starry sky and a grain of sand."

After thinking for a moment, Wu Yong continued, "Moreover, internally, the Song Dynasty is now powerful, its economy is prosperous, and its people live in peace and contentment. Externally, the Western Xia is now doomed, and the Liao Dynasty no longer dares to be as arrogant as before. With internal and external stability, rebellion would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, or a moth to a flame—a suicide mission! In the end, it would only result in the confiscation of property and the extermination of one's clan, implicating one's own people, while we would suffer the fate of being slowly sliced ​​to death and leaving a lasting stain on our reputation!"

Song Jiang laughed and said, "Sir, there are three errors in your statement, which I intend to point out. I hope you will forgive me!"

Wu Yong's eyes widened in surprise. "Three mistakes?" he exclaimed.

Song Jiang nodded and said, "Three. The first is that the people live in peace and prosperity! You should know that in recent years, natural disasters have been frequent. The Yellow River has breached its banks, and many people on both sides have been forced to leave their homes and cannot even get a bowl of porridge. Meanwhile, the Emperor only appoints treacherous officials, causing public resentment to boil over. Corrupt officials and exorbitant taxes are as numerous as hairs on a cow, and the people are living in dire straits!"

Song Jiang paused and said, "Secondly, although the Song Dynasty appears to be powerful, the Imperial Guards are actually not very strong. Only Tong Guan's Western Army is decent. The court claims to have 800,000 Imperial Guards, but at least half of that is a false number, just for corrupt officials to embezzle funds, without any regard for the oppression of foreign tribes!"

Song Jiang sighed and said, "As for the third point, we don't call it a rebellion, but an uprising, also to save the people from their suffering. The court seems to be thriving, but the truth is that it is not far from destruction!"

These words were so shocking that everyone was in an uproar!

After a long silence, Chao Gai finally spoke, "Gongming, these words are truly astonishing. Isn't it too unbelievable? The court is doing just fine; how could it possibly perish?"

Wu Yong chimed in, "Sir, your words are far too alarmist! Although the Emperor is incompetent, our Great Song still has many loyal ministers and capable generals. For foreign barbarians to think they can destroy our Great Song is nothing but wishful thinking. I wonder what makes you say such a thing, Sir?"

Chao Gai's words were a little more polite, but Wu Yong's were not. After all, no matter what, they were both citizens of the Northern Song Dynasty. Hearing Song Jiang say such things for no reason would shock anyone, especially since Song Jiang was so serious and didn't seem to be joking at all!

After Song Jiang and the other man finished speaking, he slowly asked, "Have you ever heard of the Jurchens?"

Chao Gai had never heard of them before and shook his head blankly. Wu Yong, however, laughed and said, "They must be the nomadic people near Changbai Mountain in Liaodong! I've heard they've been at odds with the Liao Kingdom and often fight with them!"

Song Jiang laughed and said, "Indeed, sir, you are indeed learned and knowledgeable. It is true that the ones who destroyed our Great Song Dynasty were none other than the Jurchens!"

Wu Yong frowned but remained silent, his heart filled with skepticism about Song Jiang's words.

Song Jiang asked, "Sir, if the Jurchens and Khitans continue to fight like this, who do you think will ultimately win?"

Wu Yong pondered for a moment, then revealed a confident smile and said, "The Liao Kingdom has a strong army and a vast territory. In contrast, the Jurchens are like a drop in the ocean compared to the Liao Kingdom in terms of both territory and population. If the Liao Kingdom were to really get serious, the Jurchens would probably be as small as a bullet and would not be able to resist the Liao army at all!"

"Alas!" Song Jiang sighed and said slowly, "Sir, you are mistaken. Wanyan Aguda, the leader of the Jurchens, is a man of great talent. In just a few years, he was able to unite the various Jurchen tribes and transform them from a nomadic people who could only herd horses, sheep, and hunt into an elite army that could hold its own against the Liao Kingdom, with both sides experiencing victories and defeats."

"In contrast, Yelü Yanxi of the Liao Dynasty was incompetent and tyrannical, favoring sycophants and alienating loyal and virtuous officials. The Liao Dynasty gradually declined, and with the Liao Dynasty's rise and fall, it was only a matter of time before it was defeated by the Jurchens!"

After hearing Song Jiang's words, Wu Yong was speechless for a moment, and Chao Gai also frowned, seemingly lost in thought!

Song Jiang continued, "Sir, if you had a choice, to cooperate with the Jurchens, and while the Jurchens and Liao were fighting, the Song Dynasty could take the opportunity to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, would you be willing to form an alliance with the Jurchens?"

Song Jiang's words today were so shocking that Wu Yong hadn't even fully digested them before Song Jiang threw out another one!

Without hesitation, Wu Yong said, "If we can truly reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, cooperating with the Jurchens wouldn't be out of the question!"

Wu Yong's vision was too limited, and his perspective was ultimately bound by the constraints of his time. Of course, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun have always been a source of pain for the Song Dynasty. If they could take this opportunity to reclaim them, many people would probably share the same thought as Wu Yong!

Song Jiang knew these Jurchens too well. Compared to the Western Xia and Liao dynasties, the Jurchens were undoubtedly much more brutal. The enemies of the Northern Song Dynasty were never the Western Xia and Liao dynasties, but these ruthless Jurchens.

That humiliating and dark history, those national heroes who either died in despair or were unjustly accused, are all worthy of being remembered and commemorated by future generations. In contrast, the corrupt court is despised; otherwise, there wouldn't have been so many righteous men who were full of passion but had no ambition and ultimately lived with regrets.

Thinking of this, Song Jiang said, "The Jurchens are tigers and wolves. To ally with them is like asking a tiger for its skin. In the end, we will fall into the tiger's mouth. I think you must know this, sir! Can you be sure that the Jurchens will sincerely ally with the Song Dynasty? If they take advantage of the situation to seize the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, how will they be any different from the Liao Dynasty? If the Jurchens' ambitions are not extinguished and they continue to advance and invade our Song Dynasty's Bianliang, then our Song Dynasty will not be far from destruction."

"Bang!" Liu Tang slammed his hand on the table, and Wu Yong and Chao Gai's expressions also turned sour!

Wu Yong pondered for a moment, then asked, "Is the imperial army so easily defeated by the Jurchens?"

Song Jiang smiled without saying a word, while Wu Yong sighed, knowing full well that he himself felt uneasy about what he was saying!

Three points: the court lacked courage, the army was seriously embezzling funds and its combat power was severely insufficient, and most importantly, loyal ministers and good generals were not given important positions. Instead, corrupt officials and incompetent and immoral people controlled the government. Compared with the ruthlessness and unity in the hearts of the other side, the difference was obvious. Anyone with a little insight would know that the Song Dynasty was doomed to defeat!

After a long silence, Wu Yong finally spoke, "What are your thoughts, Clerk?"

Song Jiang laughed and said, "A golden opportunity is right in front of us. Although the risks are considerable, I believe that the two are mutually exclusive. It all depends on what you all think!"

After pondering for a long time, Wu Yong finally smiled wryly and said, "It seems that I have no choice but to comply, Clerk!"

Song Jiang smiled slightly and looked at Chao Gai, saying, "Brother, I won't force you!"

Chao Gai smiled slightly and said, "I have no wife or children, I am all alone, at most I will be infamous for ten thousand years!" Chao Gai's words had already made his stance clear!

Finally, Liu Tang nodded firmly and said, "I don't understand any grand principles, but the word 'righteousness' is crystal clear to me. Even if my two brothers have to go through fire and water, I, Liu Tang, am just a single life!"

Song Jiang laughed heartily and said, "Good brother, I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

Song Jiang then looked at Wu Yong and said, "I've heard that you and the three Ruan brothers from Shijie Village are old friends. Why don't you let them join forces?"

Wu Yong nodded and said, "I know the abilities of those three. With them joining us, we're one step closer to achieving great things. It's a bit late today, how about tomorrow?"

Song Jiang agreed, saying, "I have some preliminary plans now. If you gentlemen are willing to trust Gongming, then stay by his side. One day, we will surely make your names resound throughout the land."

No one spoke; at this moment, everything was understood without words!

Song Jiang remained silent, looking at the three people before him, and thought to himself, "Even if the uprising fails, at worst I can still ensure you live a peaceful and prosperous life. But since I'm here, I'm determined not to fail, otherwise I wouldn't deserve to be a time traveler."

After sitting for a while, Song Jiang and the other two bid farewell to Wu Yong. When they parted at the village entrance, Song Jiang solemnly bowed to Chao Gai and Liu Tang!

Chao Gai also bowed. The road ahead would surely be full of hardships and difficulties, but the destination would definitely be bathed in sunshine and the earth would be reborn! In order for the people to no longer be treated as cattle and horses, no longer be exploited, and no longer be oppressed by foreign tribes, there are some things that Song Jiang must do!