Emperor Sutoku turned pale with fright and planned to immediately lead the nobles and officials out to surrender.

But Taira no Tadamori beat him to it. He led his men to the city gate, intending to hand over the surrender document to Li Bao, but Shen Lang stopped him.

"Li Jundu, His Majesty has decreed that the small country of Japan disrespects the Celestial Empire and colludes with the Jurchen invaders, and should be severely punished. He orders you to execute all its princes and nobles!"

After saying that, he said to Li Bao, "Kill Taira no Tadamori and support his fourteen-year-old son."

Since it was the emperor's order, Li Bao naturally complied.

No sooner had Ping Zhongsheng's surrender letter been returned than Cai Rixin led a thousand-strong artillery battalion to surround Ping Zhongsheng, and then riddled him and his more than one hundred men with muskets.

The gunshots stunned the surrounding Japanese civilians, who stared at what was happening in a daze and with fear.

Hunger made them lose their energy and spirit.

When Emperor Sutoku surrendered at the city gate with his ministers and a group of nobles, he ordered that half of the imperial treasures be brought out by cart, intending to present them to Yi Bao.

Chongde personally stepped forward, handed over the letter of surrender, and begged His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty for forgiveness.

He had barely finished speaking when Li Bao suddenly drew his knife and slashed at his head.

Emperor Sutoku was slightly taken aback. Before he could dodge, Li Bao chopped off his head in front of everyone.

Blood spurted from the headless corpse's neck before it collapsed to the ground.

His head rolled several times on the ground, his eyes wide open, his face still showing the terror and despair of the moment before he died.

Chongde's head was picked up by a Song soldier, put in a box, and quickly handed to a soldier before galloping towards the Osaka ferry crossing.

The ministers and nobles were terrified and all knelt down, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Li Bao gave the order: "Execute them all on the spot!"

Cai Rixin's musket team loaded their guns, and hundreds of muskets were aimed at the princes and nobles. As the gunfire rang out, all the princes and nobles of Heian-kyo were executed on the spot.

Not a single one survived.

Song Jun's decisiveness and ruthlessness immediately shocked all the Japanese.

People in Japan have always admired the strong.

If you are better than him, he will fawn over you.

Therefore, the only way to deal with the people in this place is through absolute military suppression, sending all those with disloyal intentions to meet their maker.

Zhao Huan wouldn't mind wreaking havoc here and wiping out all those who attempted to rebel.

Sure enough, after Li Bao killed all the princes and nobles, not a single one dared to resist, not even a single person dared to speak up.

Next, the Song army took control of Heian-kyo (Kyoto).

The remaining few nobles in Heian-kyo immediately rushed over to fawn over them.

News of the Song army's capture of Heian-kyo quickly reached Bianjing (Kaifeng), and Chongde's head was brought back. The emperor was overjoyed and bestowed lavish rewards upon the Song navy.

He also promoted Li Bao, the naval commander, to the rank of major general and to the position of commander of the local army, officially making him a military leader on par with figures like Zhe Keqiu.

News of the fall of Heian-kyo (Kyoto) in Japan had not yet reached Goryeo, nor was it known to the Jin Dynasty.

However, the Imperial Palace in Tokyo had another joyous occasion: the Imperial Noble Consort gave birth to a son.

Zhao Huan was so excited that he didn't attend court for several days.

But some people couldn't sleep.

The emperor was already thirty years old, but had not yet formally appointed a crown prince.

The eldest son, Zhao Chen, was in a very awkward position. Especially after the last conflict between the emperor and the eldest prince due to the case involving the imperial clan, there were rumors that the emperor planned to have Consort Han give birth to a son and make him the crown prince in the future.

Many people were already anxious when Queen Han was pregnant, hoping that she would give birth to a princess.

But to my surprise, I actually gave birth to a son!

For a time, the Song Dynasty's imperial court was rife with intrigue and turmoil.

A month later, news of the fall of Heian-kyo (Kyoto) in Japan finally reached Goryeo and the Jin Dynasty.

This immediately caused panic among some Goryeo nobles.

King Wang Gae of Goryeo summoned his ministers Sang Myo-cheong, Jeong Ji-sang, and Kim Bu-seok to the palace.

Wang Kai said, "Now the emperor of Song has proposed to station troops in our country and demand that our country use paper money for trade. What do you think?"

Shang Miaoqing said, "Your Majesty, I think it's feasible."

What do you mean by that?

"If the Song state stationed troops in our country, we can use the Song army to launch a northern expedition against the Jin state, causing the Jin and Song armies to wear each other down, and continuously conquer Jin territory. In this way, Your Majesty can declare yourself emperor and establish a new reign."

Kim Boo-seok said, “Your Majesty, you must not do this. If Song troops are stationed in our country permanently, it will be a great threat to us. They will never be able to attack the Jin Kingdom. Moreover, if we fully implement the paper money system, the issuance of paper money will be controlled by the Song court. This means that the prices of our country will be controlled by the Song court. This is a matter of people’s livelihood. Please think it over carefully, Your Majesty.”

Shang Miaoqing said, "It's not as serious as you make it out to be. It's certainly a good thing that the Song Dynasty is willing to send troops to us."

Kim Boo-seok angrily retorted, "It was you who wanted to establish the textile bureau on a large scale in the first place, and now we are facing a food shortage!"

Shang Miaoqing said, "We have money, we can buy grain from the Song Kingdom, there is no food shortage at all!"

"The State of Song is unwilling to sell us grain now!"

"That's because there are people like you who are bewitching the king!"

"You! Shang Miaoqing! You treacherous minister!"

"Jin Fushi, you're getting senile. The Song Dynasty is a celestial empire and the legitimate successor of Chinese civilization. What makes you think we can oppose the Song Dynasty? Cooperating with them is the best way!"

Before Jin Fushi could speak, Shang Miaoqing continued, "Your Majesty, it would be wonderful if the Song Kingdom were willing to station troops in our country. We could use the Song army to launch a northern expedition against the Jin Kingdom and complete Your Majesty's imperial ambitions!"

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