Zhao Huan pointed at the young man named Shi Ziming and said to Xie Dahai, "Investigate this person. Keep an eye on him, but don't disturb him or let him find out."

"yes!"

Zhao Huan then ignored the two scholars and looked at Li Bangyan, Tong Guan, and Wang Fu kneeling in the snow outside the Five Dynasties Gate. The wind and snow hit their faces, which were already frozen white.

The executioner took the command token from the container and shouted, "Execute!"

As the command arrow fell to the ground, the strong executioner raised his broadsword, and with a swift stroke, heads fell, blood splattering everywhere. The heads of the three prime ministers rolled onto the snow.

The onlookers shouted in unison, clearly indicating that they had long ago decreed that the three prime ministers should be killed!

Amidst these shouts, Zhao Huan felt even more at ease. For him, who had traveled from the future, nothing was more powerful than having the support of the people!

On his way back to the palace, Zhao Huan said to Wang Kui'an, "Send the heads of those three men, as well as Cai Jing's head, to the North Gate. I'm going there to comfort the soldiers guarding the city!"

Zhao Huan hurriedly returned to the palace, his heart gradually calming down. He changed into his dragon robe, took his guards with him, and Wang Kui'an accompanied him. They rode in the emperor's carriage and headed towards the north gate.

In the Song Dynasty, in order not to cause inconvenience to the common people, the emperor would minimize the number of attendants when traveling, and Zhao Huan also kept everything simple.

Before Zhao Huan arrived, the heads of four prime ministers were already hanging high at the north gate. Li Gang and all the generals and soldiers guarding the city were at the north gate to welcome the emperor, and naturally, there were many onlookers.

Although it was snowing today, the entire city of Tokyo was unusually excited. The reason was simply that the new emperor had just ascended the throne and had already executed four treacherous ministers, whose reputations among the people were already utterly infamous.

When the news of the prime minister's execution spread from the palace, many people did not believe it. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, scholars had never been killed, let alone the prime minister of the current dynasty. At most, they would be exiled.

Even after being exiled, he still held official positions and enjoyed wealth and honor.

It wasn't until Li Bangyan, Tong Guan, and Wang Fu were paraded through the streets that the common people realized it was all true!

Earlier, when the beheading took place at the Five Dynasties Gate, many people had excitedly gathered around. After the execution, the common people cheered and praised the new emperor as a holy Son of Heaven.

Now, hearing that the new emperor had left the palace to visit and comfort the soldiers guarding the city at the north gate, many people headed towards Xuanhua Gate in the north, hoping to catch a glimpse of the emperor's face.

It was only upon hearing that the emperor was coming that the outer city wall to the north of the city was heavily guarded, and ordinary people were not allowed to approach.

Sitting inside the imperial carriage, Zhao Huan parted the curtain with his hand to look outside and called Wang Kui'an over: "Why can't we see a single person in the outer city?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, today Your Majesty executed four treacherous ministers. The people all praise Your Majesty as a holy emperor. Hearing that Your Majesty came to Xuanhua Gate to comfort the soldiers, everyone wanted to come here to see Your Majesty's face. Lord Li Gang was worried about Your Majesty's safety, so he ordered that a restricted area be marked out."

"No need. Remove the restricted area. The people are my people. If they wish to see me, why can't they see me?"

"this……"

Seeing Zhao Huan's gaze, Wang Kuian shuddered and quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Before long, the restricted area was removed.

Li Gang rode up to Wang Kui'an and said, "Wang Zhongguan, the emperor's carriage is not allowed to be approached by ordinary people. What is the meaning of this?"

Wang Kui'an smiled wryly: "Lord Li, this is the Emperor's will."

Li Gang was slightly taken aback, and then fell silent.

Zhao Huan thought to himself: In ancient times, there was a distinction between the ruler and his subjects, and the ruler and the people were worlds apart. Even an official like Li Gang, who loved the people like his own children, would draw a line when welcoming the emperor. This is good, I will just do more good deeds!

Li Gang thought to himself, "It seems that this emperor is indeed a wise and virtuous ruler, with the wisdom of Yao and Shun!"

Originally, Li Gang was worried about Zhao Huan's killing of four prime ministers today. Historically, Li Gang had agreed to kill Li Bangyan, but now the emperor had killed four prime ministers in one go. Li Gang could not adapt to this way of handling things, so he couldn't help but have some thoughts about Zhao Huan's actions in court today.

But judging from the reaction of the people in Tokyo to the killing of the four prime ministers, Cai Jing and his accomplices did the right thing!

Before long, Zhao Huan arrived at Xuanhua Gate. Li Gang and the generals guarding the city were waiting for him at the gate, and some common people also began to come from the surrounding area.

Zhao Huan stepped down from the imperial carriage. The cold wind made his cloak flutter, and the snow fell heavier and heavier, as if Heaven itself was testing this monarch.

Zhao Huan was physically weak, but his gaze was very resolute, and he exuded a sense of strength.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The soldiers and the surrounding people shouted in unison, their voices seemingly capable of shaking away the snowflakes falling from the sky.

Zhao Huan strode forward with his back straight and helped Li Gang to his feet: "Minister Li, no need for formalities!"

"My good sons, my subjects, all of you may rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Looking at the four heads hanging on the city wall with their eyes closed, Zhao Huan shouted, "You must all be shocked! Today I have killed four prime ministers of the current dynasty. This has never happened since the founding of the Song Dynasty!"

It was quiet all around, except for Zhao Huan's voice, and countless eyes were on the young emperor.

Zhao Huan looked at everyone, his face slightly flushed, perhaps from excitement, but mostly pale and sickly: "The Jin invaders are advancing south! In the north, countless soldiers of my Great Song are fighting valiantly, sacrificing their lives! And these four, upon hearing of the Jin army's southward advance, are all as cowardly as mice, running to me to beg me to send envoys to negotiate peace! To cede territory! To pay reparations! And to offer up my people! To serve the Jin invaders as beasts of burden, to be slaves for life!"

His voice grew louder and louder, his face flushed red as he almost roared, "How can the souls of those soldiers who sacrificed themselves to stop the Jin invaders from advancing south rest in peace! If I were to negotiate peace, if I were to pay reparations, I would be handing you over to the Jin invaders as slaves! How could I face those heroic souls! How could I face the millions of people of the Great Song Dynasty!"

Xie Dahai, standing to the side, was filled with fervor as he listened, roaring inwardly: "Your Majesty! We are but lowly commoners, yet we are honored by Your Majesty's favor. I will dedicate my life to Your Majesty, even unto death!"

The other soldiers defending the city were also moved to tears.

The status of military men in the Song Dynasty was extremely low, but they were also human beings. They had feelings, wives, and children. When the Jin invaders marched south and the north fell, countless brave men were buried far from home. Behind this, countless families were broken, children lost their fathers, wives lost their husbands, and old mothers waited at the door day and night for their sons to return.

When His Majesty praised the fallen soldiers as heroic souls, some soldiers could not hold back their tears, which welled up in their eyes.

When have these lowly warriors ever received such praise?

"If I do not kill these four, it would be an outrage against Heaven!"

After saying this, Zhao Huan drew his sword, forcefully planted it in the snow, and roared with all his might: "Anyone who dares to speak of peace again, I will hang their heads on this city wall, so they can see how the warriors of my Great Song kill the Jin invaders!"

After a pause, he continued, "I wish to live and die with Tokyo!"