A few days ago, Li Gang, a proponent of war, advised the Emperor, who is now the retired Emperor, to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Zhao Huan. Emperor Huizong, that coward, immediately agreed.

The new emperor was close to Li Gang, and the ministers in the court were all speculating that the new emperor was going to give Li Gang an important position to start a war. Everyone was worried. What if the Jin people really captured Tokyo? Their gold, silver and women were all in Tokyo.

This won't do, absolutely not!

Therefore, at the instigation of Cai Jing and others, Li Bangyan came to see the new emperor that very night, demanding that the new emperor immediately send envoys to negotiate peace.

Since its founding, the weak Song Dynasty had a fine tradition of negotiating peace and paying reparations to foreign powers. For example, in the Treaty of Shanyuan, the weak Song Dynasty won the war but still negotiated peace and paid reparations!

For example, in the year the Jin invaders besieged Kaifeng, Zhong Shidao and Li Gang repelled the Jin invaders several times, achieving an absolute victory, yet they were still dismissed from their posts.

If the Tang Empire won, it would say to its opponent, "You better behave yourself from now on, or I'll wipe out your entire clan and make sure you pay tribute every year!"

If the weak Song dynasty won a battle, it would say to its opponent, "Oh, look, I've won! Don't I deserve to negotiate peace? Don't I deserve to pay tribute? What? I deserve it? Wow, that's wonderful!"

Tang Zhe, a person from later generations, couldn't fathom what was going on in the minds of those pathetic emperors of the weak Song Dynasty.

Even dog poop wouldn't work like that!

Li Bangyan hadn't expected the new emperor to think the same way, and his heart, which had been in his throat, finally found a place to settle down.

He was a typical coward who clung to life. When war was mentioned, only these words came to mind: peace talks! Surrender! Territory cession! Reparations!

"In my opinion, it is most appropriate to send Minister Tong Guan."

Zhao Huan smiled, but thought to himself: "Suitable my foot! With Tong Guan's character, he'd definitely beg for peace if he went, and he'd sell out the entire country."

"This is a matter of great importance. How about we hold an early morning court session and have the ministers discuss and decide on it?"

Upon hearing the emperor's words, Li Bangyan assumed that Zhao Huan was determined to negotiate peace and exclaimed excitedly, "Your Majesty is wise!"

After saying this, the emperor said he never wanted to see Li Bangyan's face again and dismissed him with a few words.

After Li Bangyan left, Zhao Huan showed a tired smile.

In his previous life, he had it bad enough. He couldn't afford to get married, his wife ran off with someone else, and he was never promoted or given a raise.

In this life, at least I transmigrated into the body of an emperor, but I never expected it to be the hellish period at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, the most tragic Emperor Qinzong of Song.

I'm just a lowly clerk. How am I supposed to save the situation at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty? Aren't you just trying to kill me?

But then I thought about it again, and in my past life I had to be mindful of other people's feelings in everything I did, but in this life... it seems like I don't have to anymore!

In just a few seconds, Zhao Huan felt he had begun to save himself.

Peace talks? If anyone dares to propose peace during the morning court session, I will kill them.

The weak Song dynasty was too lenient with those hypocritical scholars. Not killing scholars was an ancestral rule, and emperors of all dynasties abided by it.

Unfortunately, Zhao Huan was a time traveler, so ancestral rules didn't apply to him. Military power in the Song Dynasty was directly in the hands of the emperor. Moreover, there were 10,000 Imperial Guards in the capital city of Kaifeng, all of whom were at the emperor's command.

As for Emperor Huizong of Song, during his reign, he did nothing but paint and write calligraphy; everything was handled by Cai Jing and others.

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) had no idea, nor did his ministers, that someone was planning to break all their rules.

"Someone, bring Li Gang to see me."

Upon receiving the report, Li Gang went to the palace that very night.

"Your subject Li Gang kowtows to Your Majesty, wishing you eternal peace."

"Please rise quickly, Li Qing."

Li Gang stood up, and Zhao Huan saw that Li Gang's face was pale and his eye bags were large. He knew that Li Gang could not sleep at night, which must be due to worrying about foreign troubles. However, his eyes were still bright, which showed that he was determined.

If the Zhao family emperors had been even slightly ruthless, why would the weak Song dynasty have fallen entirely into the hands of the Jin invaders?

Why then did the people of northern China suffer humiliation at the hands of foreign tribes?

Li Gang has been quite depressed lately. Now that the Jurchens are about to march south, most of the officials in the court want to negotiate peace. He is the only one in the court who advocates war, but he is isolated and helpless.

The retired emperor abdicated, the new emperor fainted from grief, and everyone in the court was filled with anxiety.

Seeing the worry on Li Gang's face, Zhao Huan naturally knew what he was thinking.

Zhao Huan stood up, walked up to Li Gang, and took Li Gang's hand.

My Lord Li, what's with that expression? I'm not gay, don't misunderstand. I just want you to feel that I value you.

Zhao Huan said in a very sincere tone, "The Jin invaders have marched south. I rule the entire land, and now the country is in peril. I dare not compromise and wish to fight the Jin invaders to the death. This battle will depend on you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Gang was immediately moved to tears.

Those who don't know the situation might think something was going to happen between these two.

Zhao Huan thought to himself: In fact, the situation at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty was not so bad that it was beyond saving. At least the officials in the court were not all as cowardly as they were during the Chongzhen era. Li Gang was a loyal and righteous man.

Not to mention Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, Zong Ze, and others.

Zong Ze was a pillar of the Northern Song Dynasty at the end of the dynasty, but unfortunately he was already old. At this time, Yue Fei, the leader of the four generals who restored the dynasty, was only 24 years old. He had not yet met Zong Ze, but was already a passionate young man, and no one knew where he was.

Thinking about this, Zhao Huan felt that the situation was not as bad as he had imagined. Moreover, as long as Li Gang was used well and Zhong Shidao was sent back to the capital to defend the emperor, and if the historical trajectory was followed normally and all the peace faction was killed, the Jin invaders would not be able to break through Tokyo.

"Minister Li, I ask you, what is the most pressing issue to be resolved now? Just tell me, and I will help you solve it."

"Your Majesty, the court is now led by Chancellor Cai, and everyone is advocating for peace, which has led to no one in the capital daring to confront the enemy head-on. I believe Your Majesty should express your determination to the entire nation to defend the country to the death!"

Li Gang was known for his uprightness, and Zhao Huan had witnessed it firsthand today. Only he dared to say such things; the likes of Li Bangyan must have advised him to flee south for refuge long ago.

The Zhao family emperors lacked courage; their cowardice caused the entire country to become cowardly.

There's no cowardice they can't even imagine, no cowardice they won't commit.

Zhao Huan nodded and said in a very gentle tone, "Very well, Minister Li, I understand. I will make my statement at the morning court session!"

Li Gang was so excited he couldn't express it. What he feared most was not the Jurchen invasion of the south, but the emperor's insistence on seeking peace.

"With the Holy Emperor above, your subject will brave fire and water!"

With Li Gang's words, Zhao Huan felt much more at ease. He also expressed his determination to Li Gang that he would fight to the bitter end, even at the cost of his life.

After leaving the palace, Li Gang was excited all the way. Upon seeing Zhao Huan today, he felt that Zhao Huan seemed somewhat different from before.

After Li Gang left, Zhao Huan pondered the matter.

The Northern Song Dynasty was riddled with problems: land issues, civil servant issues, military issues, financial issues—it had problems everywhere.

But the most urgent task now is to solve the problem of the Jin invaders moving south. Otherwise, Zhao Huan will be captured and taken to the north to live a miserable life. How will he then realize his ambitions?

Tang Zhe didn't actually have any grand ideals or ambitions; his previous life was filled with frustration and setbacks.

His greatest ideal is to do whatever he wants.

So what if you're an emperor? Does that mean you can do whatever you want?

Yes, the emperor really could do whatever he wanted.

At least, Tang Zhe intended to be such an emperor.