The emperor was displeased. If he had acted according to his temperament from ten years ago when he first transmigrated, he would have cursed him out on the spot.

What a load of bull! We've been fighting this long and arduous battle for ages!

If we don’t eradicate those barbarians who are always thinking about how to harm China, the world will never be at peace!

Zhao Huan was extremely excited to have reached Shenzhou and wanted to push all the way north, preferably all the way to the shores of Lake Baikal.

But in just a moment, Zhao Huan began to reflect on his actions.

The winters here are no joke.

His own soldiers, mostly men from the Changcheng region, were not yet accustomed to the harsh cold of Liaodong.

Despite having artillery support, defeats due to the cold and excessively long battle lines have occurred in later history.

Zhao Huan's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a tightness in his chest.

This feeling is really fucking awful.

I was just getting excited and thought I could do whatever I wanted, but after calming down and realizing the truth, a huge sense of disappointment swept over me.

However, Zhao Huan quickly composed himself.

Remind yourself: Qin Hui always judges people by their mood, so you can only believe half of what he says.

Zhao Huan nodded and said, "In that case, if I wish to destroy Shangjing after next spring, what do you think?"

Tang Ke pretended not to hear; how could he answer such a question so casually?

He pretended not to hear and assumed that the emperor was asking Zhong Shidao a question.

"Minister Tang, I'm asking you."

"Your Majesty, it may not be possible next spring. Winter has already arrived, and the army's provisions and supplies are being transported from within the pass at a rapid pace. Even after spring, we will need some time to build the Shenzhou area into a key town on our front line. Otherwise, even if our army approaches the capital, the rear battle line will be too long, which may lead to chaos."

"I intend to take Shangjing next year!" Zhao Huan said in an unquestionable tone. "Minister Tang, I need you and Marshal Zhong to make a detailed plan."

Holy crap!

Tang Ke's heart skipped a beat. "Emperor, you brought me to the north just so I could carry a pot on your back, didn't you?"

Seeing Tang Ke's somewhat surprised expression, Zhao Huan asked, "What does Minister Tang think?"

"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's mercy; I would gladly die for you."

Although the temperature inside the tent was higher than outside in the dead of winter, it was still very cold, and Tang Ke was sweating profusely.

He always felt that things weren't that simple.

From the moment the emperor brought him to the front lines, he felt something was amiss.

Logically speaking, as a Vice Minister of State Affairs and Minister of Commerce, someone involved in commerce and trade, he should have stayed in the capital, Tokyo.

In the emperor's mind, trade was a matter of even greater importance than war.

If anything goes wrong, it will affect people's livelihoods.

The emperor couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

They just changed the prime minister, and now they're transferring the vice-minister...

Thinking of this, Tang Ke felt as if he had been struck by lightning!

What the hell!

Your Majesty, you are too ruthless!

Your Majesty has gone to great lengths to pave the way for Yu Yunwen!

Just as Tang Ke was lost in thought, Zhao Huan's voice came to his ears again: "Minister Tang, Liaodong should be completely submitted to the Great Song. If the hidden dangers in Liaodong are not eliminated, the Great Song's military will not be able to advance westward for even a day."

"Therefore, I promote you to Left Minister and order you to personally oversee this area. You must be careful!"

"Yes! Your subject will do his utmost."

Tang Ke secretly groaned, "Left Minister?"

This official position disappeared after the current emperor ascended the throne and purged a number of court officials.

Now the emperor has come up with another one, which is clearly just empty promises.

A promotion in name only, a demotion in reality.

Tang Ke was heartbroken. It seemed that returning to the beautiful city of Tokyo would be fraught with difficulties.

If the emperor hadn't also granted him the position of Left Minister, Tang Ke would have almost thought he had offended the emperor and been demoted.

Liaodong is a bitterly cold place. He, a deputy prime minister, was inexplicably sent here. He originally thought he would go back after the war, but now it seems that there is no way he can go back!

Tang Ke astutely perceived a greater political shift from the emperor's arrangement.

As dawn broke, the last resistance of Shenzhou City was shattered.

Every corner of Shenzhou City was controlled by the Song army.

After breakfast, the emperor led his generals into Shenzhou.

The original palace of Wanyan Dan was cleared out and became the temporary palace of Zhao Huan.

In the morning, people outside were busy cleaning up the corpses, and General Zhong presented a map of Shenzhou.

The map of Shenzhou includes maps of Shenzhou City and twenty surrounding cities, and is of great military and economic value.

This map was drawn by the Former Liao dynasty.

Zhao Huan was intently studying the map.

A moment later, Li Chongguang arrived with his men to request an audience.

"This humble general pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"No need for formalities!" Zhao Huan returned to his seat, took a sip of tea, and said, "What business does Commander Li have with me?"

"Your Majesty, this humble general has captured Wanyan Dan."

Zhao Huan's hand visibly trembled—a tremor of excitement. He abruptly raised his head, put down his teacup, and raised his voice: "Bring the person to see me!"

"yes!"

Li Chongguang hurriedly went out, and a few soldiers brought in a man shortly afterward.

The man was dressed in tattered clothes and looked disheveled.

Due to hunger, cold, and prolonged nervous tension, Wanyan Dan looked haggard, his face as pale as paper, his eyes sunken, and he had no spirit at all.

He is completely different from before.

A Jin general who had surrendered pointed out that this person was undoubtedly Wanyan Dan.

Zhao Huan walked over, circled Wanyan Dan twice, and said, "Wanyan Dan, you don't kneel before me?"

"Emperor of Song, we are emperors at the same time, I do not need to kneel before you."

Zhao Huan's sword-like eyebrows immediately rose. He glanced at Han Shizhong, who stepped forward and kicked Wanyan Dan in the back. Wanyan Dan's spirit went limp, and he immediately knelt down.

Wanyan Dan was originally a strong man, but he had been suffering from hunger and cold for some time and his body had become very weak. How could he withstand Han Shizhong's kick?

He was in so much pain that he almost cried.

Zhao Huan returned to his seat and said calmly, "How dare these barbarian chieftains claim the title of emperor alongside me?"

Wanyan Dan was so angry he was about to explode. He had thought he would be treated with respect as the emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty, but he was beaten as soon as he entered.

This is fucking ridiculous!

That emperor of the Song Dynasty is a complete freak!

Wanyan Dan gasped in pain, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me..."

"I can spare you, but you must immediately write a letter of surrender to me, have it sent back to the capital, and then have Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang tie you up and kneel obediently before me. Otherwise, what use are you to me!"

Although Zhao Huan knew that Wanyan Dan had been dealt with by Wanyan Zonghan and was now an emperor in name only, the emperor's position itself was the greatest political resource.

At least the emperor of the Jin Dynasty is still Wanyan Dan.

The ministers in the capital still recognized Wanyan Dan.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Wanyan Dan was so frightened that he became somewhat incoherent.

He knew he couldn't command Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang, but at least his name was still useful to this dog emperor, allowing him to survive for the time being.

"As long as Your Majesty spares my life, I am willing to do anything."

"As long as you do things right for me, I will not only spare your life, but also promote you to a higher rank and title."

Wanyan Dan immediately kowtowed.