Xie Dahai was drenched in sweat; it was a close call indeed.
After the morning court session, when the ministers shouted "Long live the Emperor!", Zhao Huan said, "If there is anything to report, please do so; otherwise, the court may adjourn."
Seeing the ministers standing on both sides, Zhao Huan felt... great!
This is the beginning of doing whatever you want!
"Your subject has a report to make." Li Bangyan immediately stepped forward, looking quite pleased with himself.
He had already recounted what he had seen with Zhao Huan the previous night to Cai Jing and the others. At least the scholar-officials in the court, except for Li Gang, were already convinced that the emperor wanted to negotiate peace. Today, the matter of peace negotiations was to be finalized, and envoys were to be selected. It would be best if they set off north today to avoid any unforeseen complications.
When Zhao Huan saw that it was indeed that bastard Li Bangyan who stepped forward, he was secretly delighted. He thought to himself, "I was worried that you bastard wouldn't step forward today, but I didn't expect it to be so quick!"
Zhao Huan underestimated the fear of war these people had. Li Bangyan's cowardly and timid behavior really opened Zhao Huan's eyes.
"What do you have to report, Minister Li?"
"Your Majesty, the Jurchens have already crossed the Yellow River and are heading towards Kaifeng. I believe that we should send envoys to negotiate peace."
Upon hearing this, Li Gang immediately stepped forward and interrupted Li Bangyan, saying, "Your Majesty, you must not! The Jurchen invaders bully the weak and fear the strong. The more our dynasty fears the Jurchen invaders, the more they will take advantage of us!"
"Your Majesty, the Jurchens have long lived in the cold and harsh northern lands. Their southward march is merely to seek food for the winter. Our dynasty has no need to wage war against them. We only need to provide them with money and provisions, and they will surely withdraw their troops!"
"His Majesty……"
Li Gang was about to speak again when Tong Guan interrupted him: "Your Majesty, the Great Song Dynasty is a celestial empire, the richest country in the world. Why should we bother with foreign barbarians? I also believe that we should negotiate peace!"
Wang Fu said, "I second that opinion!"
Upon seeing this, Zhao Huan was immediately delighted: Sure enough, these guys were indeed notorious traitors in the late Northern Song Dynasty.
Take Tong Guan for example. He commanded the Imperial Guards for twenty years and rendered the entire Imperial Guards of the Song Dynasty useless.
But he's a master at claiming credit.
In the fourth year of Xuanhe, after failing to conquer Liaodong, he begged the Jin invaders to attack Yanjing. He then redeemed Yanjing and other empty cities with a million strings of cash and returned home, but he boasted about his achievements.
This year, the Jin invaders marched south and attacked Taiyuan. As the Privy Councilor, the highest military and political official in the country, he abandoned his entire army and fled south, causing chaos and a disastrous defeat for the Song army's western forces.
As for Wang Fu, he was even more out of the question. During the Fang La Rebellion, he whitewashed the situation and concealed the truth, which led to a major disaster in the south.
Zhao Huan looked at these shrewd ministers, each with their own ulterior motives.
What does "doing whatever you want" mean?
It means that everything is up to me!
Zhao Huan shouted, "Where is Xie Dahai of the Imperial City Guard?!"
But then a burly man in military uniform walked in, his eyes icy cold and his whole body exuding a chilling aura, making the entire court feel cold.
Li Bangyan immediately shouted angrily, "You audacious brute! This is the imperial court, the place where the Holy Emperor and his ministers discuss matters. How dare you bring a knife in! Guards! Drag this man out and execute him!"
It must be said that the scholar-officials of the Song Dynasty wielded considerable power. Li Bangyan dared to rebuke the emperor in such a way. Of course, afterwards he would surely kneel on the ground and say things like, "I am guilty and reckless. For the safety of the emperor, I would gladly die."
Li Bangyan's words reflected the thoughts of other scholar-officials. So what if Xie Dahai was a member of the emperor's personal guard? Even the emperor's personal guards were not allowed to carry swords into the palace; this was a major taboo. Moreover, military men were already several ranks lower than civil officials.
Zhao Huan angrily said, "Li Bangyan, how dare you! Who is the emperor, you or I?"
Li Bangyan had already prepared himself. He hurriedly knelt down, trembling, and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your humble servant was worried about Your Majesty's health and risked death to be disrespectful!"
Risking his life? Before Emperor Qinzong, the Song Dynasty had never killed any scholar-officials. This was an ancestral rule of the Song Dynasty. Even if Li Bangyan did this, he must have known that Emperor Huan would not kill him.
Not only will it not, it will also leave a good impression on the emperor.
A good impression? You should show that kind of good impression to the King of Hell.
Zhao Huan smiled, revealing his bright white teeth: "Minister Li, you are indeed risking your life. Since you are so eager to die, I will grant your wish."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
