Transmigrated to the Great Song Dynasty, I became Emperor Qinzong, Zhao Huan. I flogged the buttocks of civil officials with staffs and punished military generals with planks. I selected beauties t...
Zhao Huan said coldly, "Stand up."
Before the ministers could even stand, Bai Shizhong stepped forward. Holding a tablet in hand, he spoke in a long, drawn-out voice, "Your Majesty, the Jin army's western route has already invaded Taiyuan. The Jin army's eastern route is advancing even further. Guo Yaoshi has surrendered, the Song army's defenses at Yanshan Prefecture have collapsed, and they're attacking Zhending Prefecture and conquering Xinde Prefecture. They'll soon reach the capital."
Zhao Huan's mouth twitched in shock. "How could the Jin thieves' Eastern Route Army be so swift? How could I not know about it? How did you know, Bai Zuocheng?"
Bai Shizhong panicked, "Your Majesty, the memorial from the Jin army's western route arrived at the Council Chamber last night. The Minister of the Central Secretariat, He Jin, suppressed it for fear of disturbing the Emperor's rest."
With a "bang", Zhao Huan kicked over the golden-threaded soft stool under his feet. It was the footstool used by the palace maids to place the emperor's feet during the morning court session.
The ministers were shocked. The power of God is unpredictable.
"Where is He Jin?" Zhao Huan asked angrily.
Bai Shizhong said tremblingly, "He, He Jin was on duty at the Political Affairs Hall last night and went back to rest early in the morning."
Zhao Huan pointed at Bai Shizhong angrily and said, "Such an important memorial, reported urgently over 800 miles away. How dare you suppress it? Is my rest so important? Is it more important than the great Song Dynasty? Ah!"
Bai Shizhong shuddered all over: "Your Majesty, please calm down."
All the ministers knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down."
Zhao Huan gently closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his anger. "Issue an order. From now on, any urgent reports must be reported to Li Gang, regardless of the time. If it is a military emergency, it must be reported to me. I order the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, He Jin, to be severely beaten with twenty sticks and fined six months' salary."