When Xu Churen was alive, he constantly expressed his dissatisfaction with the Northern Expedition in the imperial court.

After he came to power, he clearly intended to fully support the Northern Expedition.

He said to the emperor in the court: "With the passing of Minister Zhong, the morale of the army in Youzhou is wavering. I request Your Majesty to personally come to the northern capital to stabilize the people's hearts."

His words were met with opposition from almost half of the people in the court.

Some even compared him to Liu Yanzong, openly denouncing him as a treacherous minister who misled the emperor and corrupted the imperial system.

They just replaced the Grand Chancellor, and now they're sending the Emperor to the Northern Capital. Isn't this just deliberately stirring up trouble?

But the emperor agreed on the spot.

The ministers were absolutely furious.

The Council of State Affairs has just changed its leadership, and there will inevitably be many issues to resolve. If the emperor is not present at this time, wouldn't things turn upside down?

Has the emperor lost his mind?!

Countless ministers complained that the emperor was too willful, actually having the mood to go to Youzhou at this time!

Five days later, Zhao Huan sat in his imperial carriage on his way to Youzhou.

Accompanying him were Tang Ke, the Vice Chancellor, Han Shizhong, the Marquis of Yongwu, and Zong Ze, the Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army.

Of course, there were also 30,000 elite Imperial Guards.

The emperor set off in a grand procession and arrived in Youzhou Prefecture ten days later.

Upon hearing that the Emperor himself was coming, the previously somber mood in Youzhou Prefecture was instantly lifted.

On a late autumn afternoon, outside Youzhou City, the well-disciplined Yan Yun Army, led by Xie Qian and others, was seen welcoming the emperor.

Others included Li Guang, the prefect of Youzhou, and Sima Junru, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial City Guard.

Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the entire army, Zhao Huan was ushered into Youzhou City.

The last time I visited Youzhou was ten years ago.

That time, Zhao Huan traveled back in time, facing the humiliation of Jingkang, and made a desperate move to go north, tricking Wanyan Zongpan into returning the Yanyun region.

This time, the goal is to destroy the Jin Dynasty.

Zhao Huan always felt that life was like a dream.

Over the course of ten years, he had become accustomed to his identity as emperor.

The Jin dynasty is doomed.

The black soil of Northeast China has abundant natural resources, which he must obtain.

On his first day in Youzhou, the emperor, in front of his generals and officials, deeply expressed his longing for Zhong Shidao and earnestly recalled Zhong Shidao's contributions to the Song Dynasty.

It is truly moving, and the sun and moon bear witness to it.

The speaker meant well, and the listener was moved to tears.

A deeply moving performance then unfolded between the emperor and his ministers.

The emperor's words were published the next day in the Youzhou office of the Song Dynasty's official gazette.

For a time, the soldiers and civilians of Youzhou were filled with indignation, and a letter requesting to fight also came from Juyong Pass.

In October, the weather had already turned cold, and the cold wind swept across the wilderness beyond the pass, giving the whole world a desolate atmosphere.

Wanyan Zonghan, who had thought he could finally catch his breath, felt unprecedented pressure.

His letter of surrender was not delivered to the capital, but was intercepted by the Imperial City Guard in the Yan-Yun region a month earlier and presented to Zhao Huan, who had just arrived.