"Why did you do this?"

Hearing Old Su's question, Xu Yun was momentarily at a loss for words.

Indeed.

Why?

A strange emotion suddenly surged in Xu Yun's heart.

Anger.

Confusion.

And shame.

Perhaps in future generations, in that changed era.

Every compatriot of Huaxia, with similar experiences as mine, would choose the same path after coming to this dynasty...

Perhaps it could be called...

A common Huaxia person's national sentiment?

Then Xu Yun glanced at Old Su, his gaze lingering on his somewhat withered left hand for a while, and said to Old Su:

"Sir, would you like to hear a story?"

Old Su was silent for a moment, then answered:

"Go on."

Xu Yun nodded to him, took a deep breath, and said slowly:

"A few years ago, I had a dream."

"In the dream, my name was Wu Fan, and I was just an ordinary person selling milk a thousand years later."

"A thousand years later?"

Upon hearing this, Old Su was suddenly a little interested:

In ancient times, due to technological productivity, most people's thinking was limited, and their vision was quite narrow.

But this does not mean they never fantasized about the future.

One typical example was Shen Kuo, who lived in the same era as Old Su.

Although Shen Kuo's character was somewhat questionable, as he was the one who reported Su Shi during the Wutai Poetry Case, his abilities were undoubtedly those of a great master.

In his writings "Mengxi Bi Tan," he recorded many speculations about the future.

For example, he believed that petroleum would be very useful in future generations, and even speculated about its connection to 'engines':

"This substance will inevitably be widely used, starting with me. Petroleum is abundant, born from the earth and inexhaustible, unlike pine wood which will eventually run out."

Of course.

The 'engines' here do not refer to modern machinery but rather wooden devices like waterwheels.

Moreover, Liu Bowen from the Ming Dynasty once wrote a poem:

"Thousands of rivers in Jiangnan, mountains in Yun Gui by the thousands. Five hundred years later, Yun Gui surpasses Jiangnan."

In a sense, this is also a prediction of what might happen a few hundred years later:

He believed that after five hundred years, the resources in Yun Gui's countless mountains would be developed and utilized, making Yun Gui even more prosperous than Jiangnan.

And then there's "New Era" by the owner of Bihe Hall in the Qing Dynasty, which belongs to a rather fanciful imagination:

It speculates that by 1999, the Qing Dynasty's population would reach a trillion, with an army of six million—who knows where this ratio came from.

In short, the strength of the Qing Dynasty arouses suspicion and joint resistance from white nations.

At the same time, conflict arises between the descendants of the Xiongnu and Euro-Caucasians within the Xiongyelv Country in Europe, leading to internal strife.

So, the yellow-skinned Xiongnu king seeks assistance from the Qing Emperor, and the Qing Dynasty promptly dispatches troops to faraway Europe, challenging the white powers, ultimately forcing them to sign a peace treaty.

Thus, the war ends.

The Qing Dynasty enters the "New Era" as the victor.

By the way.

Four years after the publication of "New Era," the Great Qing collapsed.....

Truly a New Era.

So in hearing Xu Yun's mention of the 'future,' Old Su indeed showed some interest:

"What did you see?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yun paused for a moment, saying:

"Some memories in the dream are unclear, seemingly consisting of many high-rise buildings reaching into the clouds and various strange devices."

"There were also many oddly dressed men and women, with seas calm and rivers clear, and the nation stable."

"But what impressed me the most was a history book I read, titled 'Shao Song'."

"A history book?"

Old Su seemed to guess what Xu Yun was about to say, adjusted his posture, and asked:

"What did the book say?"

"The book said tonight don't wait.... oh no, it recorded the final history of our dynasty."

Xu Yun raised his eyes to glance at Old Su, wondering whether to prepare some nitroglycerin for him, and continued:

"According to the book, our dynasty will fall in just over twenty years."

Upon hearing this, Old Su was first stunned, then shook his head:

"Over twenty years? I don't believe it."

Xu Yun gave a dry laugh, explaining:

"...After all, it's just a dream. Anyway, according to the book, although there are many reasons for the fall of our dynasty, the most direct one is some foolish... bewildering actions by the officials."

"For example, procuring 'Flower Stone Gang' from the south and constructing 'Genyue' in Bianjing, causing great hardships to the people and widespread uprisings."

"Then, when foreign enemies invade, they push all the way to Bianjing, where General Lao Zhong and Captain Wang fight to the death....."

".....Later, before the loyalist army reaches the Capital City, the officials open the city gates, voluntarily surrendering to the invaders, and then are taken to the enemy camp, leading to the fall of our dynasty..."

"Enough!"

Old Su's brows furrowed deeper as he listened, and finally, he slapped the desk and stopped Xu Yun.

After all, he was a former Prime Minister, and hearing such an outrageous end for his country from Xu Yun, only showing some restraint in his words indicated high self-restraint:

"Brother Wang, do you know what your fate would be if these remarks left the mansion?"

"To be honest with you, being torn apart by five horses would be lenient!"

"Moreover, these are just what you saw in your dream, and you make such changes based on such groundless speculations? Do you take me for a three-year-old child?"

Xu Yun remained silent.

In fact, he really wanted to tell Old Su.

That what he said is not a figment of his imagination, nor a dream, but actual history that had occurred.

He was not dreaming of the future but truly someone from the 21st century.

However, due to system constraints, he could not say these words, only able to briefly sketch the history through the so-called dream.

But no matter how real you describe a dream, it is ultimately an illusion, and it is very difficult to completely convince someone.

Unless you brought Old Su to the 21st century, took him to a library, and showed him that heavy "Song History," then everything might be proven.

But obviously, that is impossible.

Therefore, the question Old Su raised may never ever find an answer...

But on the other hand.

Xu Yun had no expectation of persuading Old Su so easily; he merely tried his best within his capabilities to let Old Su accept reality.

The current situation is already set, the Black Wheat Erguotou... or rather Guo Jing over there, has already ignited the boiler completely.

Regardless of whether Old Su believes his words or not, it cannot affect the direction of certain events.

And opposite him, Old Su, who stopped him from speaking further, now had an expression of skepticism and uncertainty.

Because he suddenly realized...

As Xu Yun finished narrating that 'dream'.

The absolute rationality within him remained, but emotionally, he felt a slight trust in these words.

Was it because Xu Yun previously showed too much oddity, making his words subconsciously highly credible in one's mind?

Or perhaps it matched the personality of Prince Duan he knew, something he indeed could do?

Or could it be a combination of both?

It is akin to a lottery pool in later generations where the probability of drawing an SSR is one in a million, theoretically normal people cannot win.

Yet many people are rationally aware of this, but emotionally cannot help but speculate in that direction; it's an instinctual human trait.

In summary.

Once this slight doubt appeared, Old Su would unwittingly have a thought:

If... only if, Xu Yun's words were true, then what would the Great Song do?

This thought is like a wooden splinter in the flesh, insignificant from a broader perspective.

However, from an individual's emotional viewpoint, it provokes a gnawing dilemma.

Then Old Su thought of the current situation in Bianjing, feeling a wave of powerlessness.

He felt like a lone boat on a vast sea, seemingly capable of 'water manipulation,' but in reality, being manipulated by the water, unable to change the overall situation.

Why would it be like this...

It's only been half a year...

But as he thought more, something suddenly seemed off to Old Su.

Even though Xu Yun described his dream and mentioned that the Great Song would fall, he never directly explained why he deliberately plotted against Old Li.

Not to mention celestial phenomena, earthquakes, and Prince Jian...

Wait?

Prince Jian?

In an instant.

A clear map of connections suddenly surfaced in Old Su's mind.

The initial point of the map was the Imperial Palace, representing Xu Yun's sowing of Guo Jing, a seed through Emperor Huizong's firm belief in ghosts and spirits.

Then, two lines extended downward from the Imperial Palace.

The first line slants to the lower left, ending with Old Li's name:

This line implicates him with treason through the microscope scheme, landing him in prison.

Under Old Li's name, another vertical line appears, ending with...

Yuanyou Faction:

Starting from Old Li's identification with the Yuanyou Faction, it extends through letters exchanged by several officials, magnifying the event and implicating the Yuan You Faction whom Zhao Ji already dislikes.

Imperial Palace—Old Li—Yuanyou Faction, let's call it the ministers' line.

Returning to the initial Imperial Palace, the other line extends vertically downward, connecting celestial phenomena and earthquakes.

Words below the line end with...

Prince Jian.

Using celestial phenomena and earthquakes to pin the crown of immorality, it imprisoned Advisor Deng Duo on charges of treason, pushing Prince Jian to the edge of a cliff.

Nicely put, it's called a passive situation; harshly, life and death lie on Emperor Huizong's whim.

Imperial Palace—Celestial phenomena and Earthquakes—Prince Jian.

This is called... the prince line.

Then Old Su thought of Wang Hou and Old Zhong whom Xu Yun had met before.

Mentioned earlier.

Old Zhong and Wang Hou have long been at odds with Cai Jing, and not long ago, Xu Yun claimed illness through Prince Jian to pass the Steel Refining Technique to Old Zhong...

If Xu Yun makes an issue out of this... no, he certainly will make it an issue.

This is the third line, let's call it the Border Commander's line.

Remember.

This coincides with the Western Army's triumphant return, over one hundred thousand Western Army soldiers await rewards, while most of the Capital Imperial Guard are stationed at the Imperial Mausoleum...

In this case....

An equation emerges:

Ministers + Imperial Family + Border Commander = ?

No, no.

At this point, Old Su shook his head:

Now half of the Yuanyou Faction officials are imprisoned, and Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo, Lv Gongzhu and others have passed away; the ministers' line lacks a leader.

This line lacks cohesion, too scattered to balance with the other two lines.

This line is incomplete, it lacks a central axis.

Central axis...

Could it be.....

Is it Zhang Dun who resigned outside the Temple?

No, Zhang Dun is not from the Yuanyou Faction; quite the opposite, he belongs to the Yuanfeng Faction.

Or perhaps Fan Wen Zheng's second son, Fan Chunren?

As Old Su pondered.

Outside the room, Mr. Xie's voice hurriedly echoed:

"Master, a general outside the main entrance bearing Prince Jian's royal waist tag said he's sent by Prince Jian inviting you and Brother Wang to the manor for an urgent discussion!"

Bang—

Hearing these words.

Inside, Old Su accidentally dropped the teacup onto the ground.

After a moment.

He smiled bitterly at Xu Yun, with a complex expression more intense than ever.

Indeed.

In today's Northern Song, there is one more candidate.....

This person has served four reigns without ever engaging in factional disputes, yet sat in the Prime Minister's position.

His prestige in the court is highly regarded, being one of the highest-rated Prime Ministers in the past hundred years after Sima Guang and Lv Gongzhu.

He is called...

Su Song.

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