Zhao Huan's words left Geng Nanzhong speechless. Knowing he was doomed, he no longer hesitated: "Your Majesty, why not negotiate peace for now, minimize the damage, and proceed gradually? Although our Great Song is no match for the Jurchens in military equipment, in terms of trade, the Great Song is far superior. Even if I die, I believe Your Majesty can negotiate peace militarily and deepen trade, making it impossible for the Jurchens to leave the Great Song, thus controlling them economically."

"You're half right. I had the same thought, but you don't understand. A weak nation has no diplomacy. The Jurchens can't compete with your economy. They can simply not play the game and come down to plunder!"

Geng Nanzhong, shameless as ever, continued, "Your Majesty, I believe that if they want to rob, let them rob. The Jurchen Kingdom is small and sparsely populated; how much can they possibly rob? The Celestial Empire is vast and rich in resources. There is no need to harm the nation's dignity for such petty gains! The greater good is paramount. Your Majesty rules the four seas; why should you compete for profit with small, barbaric countries?"

Damn it! Zhao Huan really had the urge to slap this old bastard to death!

Damn it! Since it's not like we're stealing their stuff, we can just rob them however we want?

Holy crap! If all my ministers are like this, it seems I'll have to sharpen my knife!

Zhao Huan felt that continuing the conversation would only be self-destructive. There was no point in discussing such matters with someone whose brain was already broken. This further solidified Zhao Huan's belief when he first transmigrated: Whoever dares to betray the country, I will exterminate their entire family!

Zhao Huan left in a huff, and soon after, an imperial edict was issued to the world, announcing Geng Nanzhong's crimes, with the charge of ordering someone to beat the old woman to death in the street being listed first.

The announcement caused an uproar in Tokyo. Soldiers, civilians, and the general public all condemned Geng Nanzhong's crimes, deeming him the root cause of the country's calamity and the people's suffering!

Geng Nanzhong was sentenced to death by a thousand cuts, or slow slicing! His entire clan was exiled to Lingnan, which, in Zhao Huan's words, was to replenish the population of Lingnan and contribute to the construction of a harmonious new Lingnan.

When news of the fall of Tokyo reached the Jin army, Wanyan Zongwang's expression turned ashen. He was not angry that Song officials like Geng Nanzhong had been executed, but that Liu Yanzong had been captured by the Song emperor, and that he had lost a rare talent.

That's strange. Didn't everyone say that the Song emperor fainted from crying on his first day on the throne? Wasn't Zhao Huan supposed to be a coward? How come he suddenly became so assertive?

Wanyan Zongwang was filled with doubts and couldn't help but wonder if his solo southward expedition was too risky.

However, being a seasoned general, his doubts were fleeting, and he quickly regained his resolve to continue the siege.

Wanyan Zongwang can be considered one of the most outstanding commanders of the Jin Dynasty at that time.

Wanyan Zongwang made invaluable contributions to the Jin dynasty's conquest of the Liao dynasty.

This campaign against the Song Dynasty was also the first one proposed by Wanyan Zongwang in the Jin court.

Tactically, Wanyan Zongwang differed from Wanyan Zonghan. While Wanyan Zonghan fought a fierce battle with the Song garrison in Taiyuan, Wanyan Zongwang advanced rapidly to Bianjing. In orthodox history, Wanyan Zongwang forced Emperor Qinzong of Song to negotiate peace and pay reparations, ceding the three important towns of Taiyuan, Hejian, and Zhongshan, essentially handing over the land north of the Yellow River.

Wanyan Zonghan saw that Wanyan Zongwang had succeeded in Bianjing, so he quickly sent troops south, hoping to get a share of the spoils in Bianjing as well.

However, the course of history has changed with the rebirth of a new emperor.

The peace faction was completely suppressed, Li Gang was given important responsibilities, and the emperor's determination to fight was beyond question.

However, Wanyan Zongwang was determined to extort the Song Dynasty. He believed he had the confidence to do so. Although Liu Yanzong had been captured, the Jin army's fighting strength was completely superior, even overwhelming.

The Song army was like a child compared to the Jin army.

The responsibility lies entirely with the army commander. As the saying goes, "A bad soldier is a bad soldier, but a bad general makes a bad army." This is the principle at play. As Wanyan Zongwang marched south, few Song generals dared to resist him.

Now that the political offensive has been thwarted, let's launch an even stronger siege!

Zhao Huan had just finished his exercise for the day when he received news that the Jin army was attacking the city again. This time, the Jin army was the largest in number and the largest in terms of troop strength in the past ten days.

"It seems that Wanyan Zongwang is getting restless. Hehe, let him come. I want to see what he can do next!"

"Get the car ready!"

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

"I want to go to the city wall!"

"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable! The Jurchen invaders are about to attack the city."

"How could this be unacceptable? Prepare the carriage immediately! By the way, convey my imperial decree: all court officials must arrive at the city gate. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the imperial prison!"

News of the Jurchen invasion spread throughout Tokyo once again. Groups of soldiers and civilians were running in formation on the streets, while others were transporting supplies to the city walls. Everyone was actively preparing for war, and even the emperor's procession passed by without attracting much attention.

Zhao Huan was quite satisfied with this situation: Look! My people are much more reliable than those damned ministers!

When Zhao Huan arrived, the ministers were already waiting on the city tower. The thunderous roar of the Jin army could be heard outside the city, which was quite awe-inspiring.

Zhao Huan led his court officials up the tower, and the emperor, surrounded by guards from the Imperial City Guard, came up. At a glance, all he could see were people in iron armor and silver helmets.

The Jin army was neatly arranged and had a solemn military appearance.

Although Wanyan Zongwang's southward march was hasty, the supply train behind him still brought siege equipment such as cannons, siege carts, ladders, and siege bridges, but in limited quantities. There were only ten cannons in total, and only twenty ladders including the siege ladders.

This shows how much Wanyan Zongwang looked down on the Song army and the Song emperor. With such a force, how could they possibly conquer Bianjing (Kaifeng)?

Zhao Huan glanced at it and thought to himself: No wonder the orthodox history books say that the Jin army did not capture Tokyo when they first besieged it.

Let's look at what preparations Li Gang made: he actively organized the military and civilians to prepare for war, repaired watchtowers, hung felt tents, installed artillery positions, set up crossbows, transported bricks and stones, set up torches, hung logs, prepared oil, and prepared sufficient defensive equipment.

Furthermore, they prepared ample amounts of thunderbolts, which are extremely powerful and very useful for defense.

Zhao Huan thought to himself, "Damn it, the Song Dynasty's equipment is so advanced and complete, how did those two brain-dead emperors manage to lose their country? A brain is a good thing, but unfortunately, Emperor Qinzong and Emperor Huizong of Song didn't have one!"

Upon seeing His Majesty the Emperor arrive with his court officials, the morale of the Song soldiers defending the city soared, and they shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Great Song Dynasty!"

The sounds grew louder and louder, as if they were about to scatter the clouds on the horizon, and their momentum was instantly no less than that of the Jin army.

There were precedents in the Song Dynasty for emperors to personally go to the battlefield. For example, Emperor Taizu, who conquered the country on horseback, was a famous military strategist. Another example is Emperor Taizong of Song, who was ambitious but lacked talent. Although he squandered his brother's inheritance, he had also served in the army.

After these two, Emperor Zhenzong of Song also visited Tanyuan, but he was forced to go by Kou Zhun.

But this official was different. Hearing that the Jin bandits had arrived, and that this time there were the largest number of them, he immediately appeared on the city wall.

If the emperor is not afraid of death, how could the soldiers possibly back down?

The emperor's words echoed from the city tower: "I have said that I wish to live and die with Tokyo!"