After a night of fighting, Wanyan Zongmou sounded the retreat, and the Song Dynasty defended against the first wave of night attacks from the Jin Dynasty, and morale was high.

Walking down the city wall, Zhao Huan saw civilians and officials gathered everywhere in Bianliang, waiting for news. He made a "yeah" gesture and said, "We lived up to everyone's expectations. Last night, our Song Dynasty won and killed two thousand enemies!"

"Ooooh, we win!"

"The Song Dynasty is mighty!"

"Your Majesty is mighty!"

"The soldiers defending the city are mighty!"

“…………”

The victory of the first wave of the Bianliang defense battle gave a lot of officials and civilians in the city a reassurance. The Jin soldiers' sudden night attack frightened many people so much that they dared not sleep all night, fearing that they would wake up to hear the news that Bianliang had been captured. After all, the Jin soldiers had been portrayed as heavenly soldiers and generals, and that they could capture cities and strongholds as easily as taking something out of a bag.

Yuwen Xu Zhong was an expert at propaganda. He had previously advised the retired emperor and secretly selected a group of eloquent political commissars to spread rumors in Bianliang City about the brutal murders and abductions of wives and daughters by the Jin army, inspiring the military and civilians in Bianliang City to unite against the enemy and defend their country.

The Song army had just won a small victory and their morale was high. It would be a waste not to take the opportunity to publicize it. So he squeezed through the crowd and came up to Zhao Huan, asking him in a low voice that this plan should not be made public.

His Majesty nodded with a smile, and Yuwen Xuzhong ran away in a flash. He, the writer, could show off his prowess in front of people again.

Zhao Huan pressed his hands down, and the crowd gradually quieted down. A smile crossed his face. "Among the Eastern Palace eunuchs, there are eunuchs who are responsible for recording meritorious service. Whether it's those who killed the enemy on the battlefield, provided support in the city, donated money and supplies, rescued the dying and the wounded, or sheltered refugees, you can all report to the square in front of the Bianjing Palace. After the Jin soldiers retreat, you will all be rewarded."

Twenty-nine days before the New Year, the eunuchs of the Eastern Palace set up a reward silver exchange office in front of the Bian Jing Palace, and neatly placed twenty large boxes full of copper coins and silver ingots. Many people saw that those who attacked the Jin people first received the reward silver, and shed tears of regret and envy. Now that the opportunity has appeared again, how can they not seize it.

"Your Majesty, I helped the soldiers defending the city carry stones yesterday. Does that count?"

"Okay!" Zhao Huan confirmed without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, I sent all the herbs from my home to the Imperial Medical Bureau yesterday. Does this count?"

"Okay!" Zhao Huan confirmed without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, I took in two young ladies who fled from the north. Does that count?"

"Count... count for nothing! You're trying to take advantage of the situation, right? It's clearly you who got the advantage!" Zhao Huan cursed, and the atmosphere became even more heated.

Everyone was talking at once, and in all these years, who has ever seen such an approachable Emperor? Even if it's not considered a merit, even if I'm scolded by His Majesty, it's good to have a bit of nobility.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Zhao Huan could only press his hand again to signal for silence: "The specific statistics of merits will be clearly calculated by the East Palace eunuchs. If anyone feels that it is unfair, you can come to me again."

Wang Zongchu stepped forward at the opportune moment and loudly pleaded, "Fellow citizens, please make way. Your Majesty has not rested for a day and a night. We don't know when the next siege will begin. Now, let Your Majesty rest well."

Upon hearing this, the people spontaneously made way for him. It was not easy to have such a good emperor, and they couldn't let him get tired.

I heard that Your Majesty had been practicing frugality, being close to virtuous ministers and staying away from villains when he was in the Eastern Palace, so Your Majesty has always disliked him. If the Jin army had not attacked the Song Dynasty, it is not certain who would have become the emperor.

Could it be that they should thank the Jin Kingdom for bringing them such a good emperor? This idea was too crazy. Thousands of people shook their heads in unison, apparently having the same idea.

In Funing Palace, Zhao Huan ate something and prepared to go to bed. Zhu Lian came over wearing cool clothes.

"Well, my dear, my husband has been up all night and can't take it anymore today."

Zhu Lian's pretty face flushed, her face as red as a peach. "What are you thinking, my husband? I am not such a rude person. My husband has been patrolling the city wall all night, and his legs and feet must be tired. The foundation of a person begins with the feet, and the fatigue of a person lies in the spirit. Healthy foot massage can strengthen the internal organs, relax the body and mind, and focus the spirit. Lian'er is here to give my husband a foot massage."

"Oh, that's good! That's good!"

After a while, Zhao Huan fell into a deep sleep.

It is true that foot massage can concentrate your mind, energy and spirit.

Zhu Lian glanced at the little Zhao Huan who was gradually becoming alert from his sleep, lowered his head and quietly approached him.

……………………………………………………………………………………

In the government hall, Yuwen Xuzhong looked at his own essay, which he had finished in one go, with satisfaction, and couldn't help but praise it: "The brushwork is elegant, the ink colors are brilliant. The spirit is vivid, and the style is unrestrained. The calligraphy is good, and the essay is even better. It's better than ever before."

Clang

The door was thrown open, and a middle-aged man in official uniform snatched the article from Yuwen Xuzhong's hand and said loudly, "What amazing work has the Grand Secretary written? Let me take a look."

"Yuan Zhen, you are still so rude."

"Shutong, I haven't seen you for a few years, and you are still so cunning and hypocritical."

The two of them gave each other a big hug, with smiles on their faces, and sat down.

Who is this Yuan Zhen? Why does he have such a good relationship with the Grand Secretary Yuwen Xu Zhong?

Zhao Ding, courtesy name Yuanzhen, passed the imperial examination in 1106 and was recognized as a Jinshi. Emperor Huizong of Song, upon reading his essay, praised him for his talent as a prime minister. However, Huizong's sentimental words sowed the seeds of disaster for Zhao Ding.

He had the talent to be a prime minister and was also a good official with a clean and upright character. He immediately caught Cai Jing's attention. The result was self-evident. After only a few years in the capital, he was sent to the local area to serve as a county magistrate on the pretext of something.

Speaking of Xu Wenxu Zhong and Zhao Ding, they took the same examination in the fifth year of Chongning, but Xu Wenxu Zhong failed. It was thanks to Zhao Ding's care during his three years of failure that Xu Wenxu Zhong passed the exam in the third year of Daguan (1109). Later, he served as a attendant and gradually became a Grand Secretary of the Zizhi Palace.

When Zhao Huan ascended the throne, he strongly advocated resistance against the Jin army. He asked Yuwen Xuzhong, Zongze and Li Gang if there were any untapped talents in the court. Yuwen Xuzhong reported the name of his good friend, who happened to arrive in the capital before the Jin army arrived in Bianliang City.

That is Zhao Huan, who was not familiar with the history of the Song Dynasty. The little memory he had of the Song Dynasty all came from the Biography of Yue Fei by the old artist Liu Lanfang. He did not know that Zhao Ding was the most wise minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, otherwise he would have asked Wang Zongchu to send people to welcome him long ago.

Zhao Ding took Yuwen Xuzhong's article and took a quick look at it: "This is a manifesto."

In order to win the battle between Song and Jin over the fate of the Song Dynasty, six elements must be possessed.

First, there is a court that can unite the people;

Second, a people with national pride and an indomitable spirit;

3. There are a large number of brave men who are brave enough to take responsibility;

Fourth, there are soldiers who are not afraid of death and dare to fight hard battles;

5. Have a certain material foundation and military strength;

6. Have a leader who is both virtuous, talented, wise and courageous.

These six points have been in place since we won the first wave of battle in Bianliang City yesterday. Everything is ready!