“Zhong Qing, you are getting old and it is inconvenient for you to travel, so you should stay in Tokyo.”
"Your Majesty, this old minister is willing to travel north with Your Majesty. Otherwise, I will have worries, which will be bad for my health."
"Since you insist on going, then come with me and fight the enemy together!"
The news that the emperor was going to personally lead the expedition spread throughout the entire city of Bianjing (Kaifeng) immediately. Now, the city was abuzz with discussion about the matter. The emperor's personal expedition was no small matter. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, the only emperors who had ever personally led an expedition in the true sense were Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong. Emperor Zhenzong's personal expedition was far from being a serious affair.
The people all praised the current emperor for having the great talent and strategy of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong.
After this news spread, other ministers also came to feign resistance, but were rejected by Zhao Huan and left in tears.
In ten days, Zhong Shidao selected 20,000 elite troops from the Imperial Guard camp in Tokyo, with Yao Pingzhong as their commander, to accompany the emperor northward.
The Imperial City Guard had a thousand men accompanying the emperor.
Since returning from the time travel, Zhao Huan has been choked by a curse of one year and two months in history, a curse imposed on him by the Jin army in the north. If he does not change anything, his fate will inevitably be as tragic as that of Emperor Qinzong of Song in history.
Therefore, Zhao Huan was willing to try any method that could drive the Jin army back to the Northeast, even if it meant personally leading the expedition.
An army marches on its stomach; Li Gang had already begun preparing the supply train when he decided to personally lead the expedition.
After the emperor's entourage crossed the Yellow River, they soon arrived at Huazhou, where they joined forces with Zhong Shizhong and Yao Gu's army.
It wasn't until the emperor arrived in Huazhou that the news of his personal expedition was announced. After receiving the news, everyone in Hebei was excited.
Zhongshan, in particular, the only major town that was not yet besieged, was still being defended by Zhan Du.
On this day, he had just finished training the soldiers and civilians when he received a special envoy from the emperor, who informed him that the emperor was personally leading an expedition. He was so excited that he ran around Zhongshan City for half an hour.
As night fell, a waning moon hung in the sky, and then it began to snow.
He Liming rushed to Fencheng, where Zhe Keqiu and Lin Jinfeng were both.
Zhe Keqiu was so frustrated he was about to vomit blood. He had been stationed in Fencheng for nearly two months, watching Wanyan Zonghan launch a fierce attack on Taiyuan while he himself was unable to move. He was going crazy day and night, but the emperor's decree prevented him from advancing even a single step in Fencheng.
And that damned Imperial Guard Lin Jinfeng followed him closely, as if afraid he would run away.
That evening, unexpectedly, another Imperial Guard arrived.
Zhe Keqiu had just come out to receive the imperial edict when he learned of it from He Liming, and was greatly shocked: "What! The Emperor has personally led the expedition!"
"Where is the Holy Emperor at this moment? Quickly, let me lead troops to protect him! The Jurchen bandits are rampant in Hebei and Hedong!"
"General Zhe, the Holy Emperor is currently in Huazhou, protected by Zhong Shidao, Zhong Shizhong, Yao Gu, Yao Pingzhong, and others. General Zhe, do not panic!"
"The Zhong brothers and the Yao father and son are no match for my Zhe family army!"
He Liming was at a loss for words, but he didn't want to embarrass Zhe Keqiu, so he said, "General Zhe, please read His Majesty's edict first."
Zhe Keqiu hurriedly opened it, thinking the emperor wanted him to go south to meet up. But when he looked at it, he saw the following: "Minister Zhe must guard Fencheng and await my orders. You must not disobey!"
Zhe Keqiu sighed, looking somewhat dejected, but Lin Jinfeng said, "General Zhe, don't be disappointed. The Emperor naturally knows that General Zhe is the most elite Iron Army of the Great Song Dynasty. The Emperor must have his reasons for placing General Zhe here at this time."
Who is Zhe Keqiu? He's the leader of the Zhe family army, and he's been fighting for decades. Doesn't he know who he is?
He was simply eager to go to the emperor's palace to protect him.
He put one arm around He Liming and Lin Jinfeng: "Brothers, come on, let's go have a drink together and warm up!"
Several days earlier, Wanyan Zongwang had arrived in Hejian and begun to besiege and attack the city. Although Hejian was also a military stronghold, it was much easier to attack than Dongjing City.
However, Chen Gou, the garrison commander of Hejian at this time, was also a ruthless character, turning Hejian into an impregnable fortress.
Upon reaching Hebei, not far from Yanjing, Wanyan Zongwang had no more worries about his rear and boldly attacked Hejian. After several days, both sides suffered heavy losses.
Wanyan Zongwang then began to surround Hejian, cutting off its food and water supplies to threaten the defending troops.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the north wind cut through the mountains like a knife.
In the main camp in Huazhou, the emperor sat in the middle, surrounded by all the high-ranking generals. A military map of Hebei and Hedong was spread out on the table.
The commander-in-chief this time was Zhong Shidao, while the emperor sat silently to the side, and Zhong Shidao spoke.
"Zhong Shizhong, I hereby grant you 20,000 troops. Head north immediately to Zhongshan. If my prediction holds true, the Jin invaders will soon surround Zhongshan. It is through your cooperation with the Zhongshan garrison commander Zhan Du that the Jin army will be attacked from both inside and outside. You must defeat the Jin invaders! Otherwise, you will have to answer to me with your head!"
The 66-year-old Master Zhong replied firmly, "Yes, sir!"
He took the military token and stepped aside.
Zhong Shidao then said, "Yao Gu and Zhang Hao, listen to my command!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"I hereby order you to lead an army of 40,000 to Taiyuan, first to pacify Longde Prefecture, and then, seven days later, to join forces with Zhe Keqiu's Western Army in Liaozhou!"
"Yes, sir!"
At this moment, Zhao Huan stood up and said, "Minister Yao, Minister Zhang, after the army marches into Liaozhou, it must not act rashly. Wait for me to come in person, and then we will fight Wanyan Zonghan to the death!"
Zhao Huan spoke his last few words with a powerful and resounding voice, which ignited the passion of the soldiers in the room.
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