Chapter 1: Time Travel

Overview

The eighth year of the Yuanyou era, a watershed moment

The highly esteemed Empress Dowager Gao, known for her resemblance to the legendary figures Yao and Shun, will pass away at the end of this year, while Emperor Zhezong Zhao Xu, renowned for his political retribution, will assume power at the end of this year in the history of the Song Dynasty

Despite the numerous hidden concerns during this period, the Song Dynasty was still largely in a prosperous state. If the civil and military officials could unite in purpose, the Jingkang Incident decades later would never have occurred. However, Zhao Xu's experience as a shadow emperor in his youth destined him to face difficulties in smoothly taking over the reins of power. Beginning in the second year of Shaosheng, countless renowned civil officials were exiled or even died far from home, while the ministers in court were mired in factional struggles, leaving them no time for practical affairs. It can be said that from this year onward, the seeds of the decline of the Song Dynasty were sown.

Under the name of Gao Qiu, Yang Jianfeng began his journey this year. How far can he truly go

The man in the hospital clearly could not accept the words spoken by Yang Jianfeng, and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. "That Liu Daguoren is intent on taking my life; how could he possibly leave me a way out? Moreover, I have no money to hire a doctor. Hahaha, I, Gao Qiao, prided myself on being clever, yet I have ended up in such a situation. It is truly lamentable and pitiful!"

Oh heavens, you are truly unbelievable. At least let me say goodbye to my parents; now I will surely become a missing person. And what about Xiao Jing? We have only been in a relationship for three months...

Yang Jianfeng awoke to find himself lying on a cold, damp floor, momentarily bewildered and unable to comprehend his situation. He struggled to sit up, his eyes scanning the surroundings, but the sight before him gradually darkened his mood. ... A dilapidated house, mottled walls, an ancient statue in the shrine ... ? ... Everything felt so unfamiliar and suspicious. Had he been kidnapped?

He glanced at his reflection in the river, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief within. It is worth noting that even in the twenty-first century, it is still quite rare for men to have long hair. If it weren't for losing a bet with Zhou Tao, he would certainly still have a buzz cut. At this time of year, if he were to walk down the street with a buzz cut, not only would he fail to impersonate Gao Qiu, but he would also likely be mistaken for a suspicious person and turned over to the authorities. It seems that everything is destined.

Heaven's transgressions can still be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins are unforgivable. Father, I am sorry for what I have done..." Gao Qiu shouted hoarsely, and then fell silent.

The man raised his head in confusion and murmured, "Ambulance? Police? What are those?" However, when he clearly saw the attire and facial features of Yang He and Tu Shijian, his expression changed dramatically, and he repeatedly asked, "Where do you come from, brother? Why do you resemble me so closely, yet wear such strange clothing?"

Seeing Gao Qiu spitting out blood in large mouthfuls, it was evident that he was breathing out more than he was breathing in, leaving Yang Jianfeng even more perplexed. Who was Gao Qiu? He was the notorious first-rate villain in "Water Margin," the infamous father of Gao Yanei. Observing that this person appeared to be no more than twenty years old, could it be that he was truly dying so young? What would happen to the future of the High Commander Gao? Would Lin Chong still perform the scene of storming the White Tiger Hall with a sword? It was all in chaos, completely in chaos! What would happen to the future of the High Commander Gao? Would Lin Chong still perform the scene of storming the White Tiger Hall with a sword? It was all in chaos, completely in chaos!

There was no one around, and his clothes were perfectly intact; his ring and watch were still on him, and even the lighter in his pocket was there. Yet he distinctly remembered sitting in the dormitory just a moment ago, chatting with his friend, and now he had inexplicably woken up here. Wasn't this situation rather bizarre? Could it be that he had been kidnapped by bandits?

The man who called himself Gao Qiu slightly frowned, yet answered calmly: "Today is the ninth day of the first month in the eighth year of the Yuanyou era of the Great Song Dynasty. The current emperor has been on the throne for nearly eight years. How is it that you are unaware of this matter?"

Cautiously stepping outside to investigate, Yang Jianfeng soon discovered that snowflakes were drifting in the air. He found himself in a dilapidated mountain god temple, surrounded by desolation, yet behind the temple flowed a small river that had not yet frozen. He washed the bloodstains from Gao Qiu's clothing in the river until the marks appeared less conspicuous. Only then did he hang the clothes to dry on a tree and search the temple for an iron candlestick to begin digging a pit.

Using the down jacket, he filled his stomach with the compressed biscuits from the bag. After the clothes dried, he changed into Gao Qiu's garments, dressed the corpse in his own clothes, and buried them both deeply together. He also found a place to hide the watch and lighter, carefully marking the location.

"Hey, wake up, wake up..." No matter how Yang Jianfeng shook him, he could not awaken Gao Qiu, and his heart sank into an abyss. Although Gao Qiu is considered a thoroughly wicked character in "Water Margin," the person before him seemed to have passed away at no more than twenty, which was historically inconsistent. For some reason, the term 'butterfly effect' suddenly came to mind, making him even more anxious. It is important to note that the Jingkang Incident, which has caused countless compatriots to lament, occurred in this era. If his time travel were to cause some unpredictable shift in history, would he not be risking his life for it? For some reason, the term 'butterfly effect' suddenly came to mind, making him even more anxious. It is important to note that the Jingkang Incident, which has caused countless compatriots to lament, occurred in this era. If his time travel were to cause some unpredictable shift in history, would he not be risking his life for it?

Just as he was filled with uncertainty, a sudden uproar erupted outside, accompanied by the sounds of scuffling and clashing. Yang Jianfeng had no time to think further and hurriedly got up to hide behind the shrine. He believed that if something truly was happening, even gaining an extra minute would be beneficial. He was not foolish enough to confront others head-on without understanding their intentions and background.

Gao Qiu, rest assured, if I achieve success in the future, I will definitely return to give you a grand burial. By the way, I will also take care of your family, and I hope my parents can be a bit more understanding! Although I have little confidence in being able to deceive the heavens and cross the sea, Yang Jianfeng stood before the slightly raised mound and the book, still resolutely declared, "From today onwards, I am Gao Qiu!"

At his command, countless sticks rained down mercilessly upon the head and face of the man from earlier, the sound of flesh being struck was truly alarming. The man, however, was quite resilient; despite his muffled groans, he did not cry out for mercy, which even made Yang Jianfeng marvel at his toughness. The group continued their assault for a full meal's time before finally stopping. The leader of the group, seemingly still unsatisfied, lifted the man with one hand, spat on him with a loud 'puh', and angrily cursed, 'Hmph, today you have gotten off easy. If I ever see you loitering in front of my house again, I will surely take your life!'

Xiang Xiang? Yang Jianfeng focused his attention, and although the man before him had a bruised and battered face, the general contours of his face were indeed strikingly similar to his own, to the extent that one could say they were carved from the same mold. However, he was an only child and had no brothers at all. With a hint of jest in his mind, he deliberately squinted and said: "As the ancients said, all men are brothers within the four seas; perhaps you and I are fated to be so. You are seriously injured and cannot be delayed; I will take you to the hospital."

Hearing the words "the eighth year of the Yuanyou era," Yang Jianfeng's face turned ashen. If he remembered correctly, Yuanyou was the era name of Emperor Zhezong of the Song Dynasty, certainly not from the twenty-first century. No wonder the environment felt unfamiliar, no wonder the clothing and speech were archaic; he had unexpectedly awakened to find himself transported back a thousand years! What to do, what on earth to do? His mind was in chaos, and he no longer had the time to pay attention to the half-dead figure on the ground. However, in just a moment, the corner of his garment was firmly grasped by someone.

"Gao Erlang and the library, this time you have nowhere to escape, right?" The burly man struck heavily on the shoulder of the person and shouted sternly, "Over the past two years, you have swindled me out of countless riches and have had an improper relationship with my wife. Today, I shall take my revenge!"

What place is this

Gao Qiu! Yang Jianfeng felt a shiver run through his entire body, as a chilling cold crept up his back. He struggled to calm his mind and asked with a trembling voice, "You say your name is Gao Qiu? Is it this character 'Qiu'?" He traced the character 'Qiu' in the dirt with his finger, and upon seeing the man nod slightly, he felt as if struck by lightning. After a long while, he finally asked, "What year and month is it now?"

Yang Jianfeng watched a group of people disperse while cursing, and his confusion deepened. From their words, it seemed they spoke with a strong Henan accent, and their phrasing and sentence structure had a distinctly ancient style, quite different from modern language habits. Although he could not see clearly while hiding behind the shrine, he could discern their clothing, which was definitely not something that could be dismissed as mere Hanfu. Could it be that, as he had jokingly mentioned to his friend earlier, he had truly experienced a time travel?

I, Gao Qiu, have only cared for my own enjoyment in the past, and this outcome is indeed deserved. However, I still have an elderly father and younger brother at home, and as the eldest brother, it is difficult for me to take care of both. If I were to perish today, I earnestly hope that you, my brother, would inform my family so that they may bury my remains. I would be immensely grateful! My home is located just outside the Zhuque Gate in Bianjing

After standing in a daze for a moment, he suddenly held his head and burst into wild laughter towards the sky. Just a moment ago, he had mentioned something about time travel, and now he found himself transported to the Song Dynasty. It was truly the most ridiculous occurrence under heaven. Could it be that the heavens truly possess an all-seeing eye and unpredictable might? In his own era, countless people were queuing up for such good fortune, yet why was it that he alone had encountered it?

"Speak slowly, don't rush. You, you won't die so early!" Yang Jianfeng was in a flurry, his speech somewhat disjointed; after all, witnessing a 'celebrity' die before his eyes was not an easy feeling to accept.

He had just concealed himself when a staggering figure rushed in, only to stumble and fall to the ground after just a few steps, his head and face covered in blood, looking quite terrifying. At that moment, several burly men armed with clubs followed closely behind, surrounding the man menacingly.

However, upon seeing the man lying on the ground, groaning incessantly, he immediately dispelled this absurd thought from his mind. Earlier, his reluctance to intervene could be attributed to a concern about being outnumbered, but now, to stand by and watch would be a classic case of failing to render assistance in the face of danger. He swiftly leaped out from behind the shrine, approached the man in a few steps, and quietly asked, "Hey, are you alright? Do you need me to call an ambulance and the police?"

Having vented his anger with loud roars, he glanced at the corpse on the ground, then looked down at his own "eccentric attire." A bold thought crossed his mind. Unlike those predecessors who could traverse time and space and achieve anything, he did not dare to hope that a kind-hearted person would take in a homeless wanderer of unknown origin. In the late Northern Song Dynasty, the most important thing was how to survive, so there was only one way to get through the current crisis. Since fate had made him look exactly like Gao Qiu, he could not be blamed for his ruthlessness. In the late Northern Song Dynasty, the most important thing was how to survive, so there was only one way to get through the current crisis. Since fate had made him look exactly like Gao Qiu, he could not be blamed for his ruthlessness