The young emperor stood in the wind and snow, his fingers frozen white, but he looked at his subjects with a resolute gaze.
A deafening roar erupted all around: "Long live the Holy Emperor! Long live the Holy Emperor!"
After a short while, Zhao Huan said to Wang Kui'an, "Read it!"
Wang Kuian took out the imperial edict and proclaimed loudly: "I have been blessed by Heaven: I wield the divine weapon and rule the nine provinces, and should bring blessings to all people. However, the Jin invaders have marched south, the front lines are in dire need, winter has arrived, and a million soldiers are still fighting valiantly. Their hearts are as clear as the sun and moon, and I am deeply moved. I regret that I cannot join the soldiers of Hebei in repelling the Jin invaders. Therefore, I hereby establish the Shrine of Loyal Martyrs. All those who have sacrificed their lives for the country, regardless of rank or title, may enjoy the incense offerings in the Shrine of Loyal Martyrs! All those who have sacrificed their lives or been wounded for the country will receive a pension, the specific amount of which will be subject to the announcement by the Ministry of Revenue!"
The imperial edict was written in very plain language, because many of the people present were illiterate.
When all the soldiers heard the imperial edict, they were momentarily stunned into silence.
What? Isn't the Martyrs' Shrine only for kings and generals? We lowly soldiers can also enter the Martyrs' Shrine and enjoy the incense offerings?
Li Gang was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected the emperor to set up a shrine for ordinary soldiers, and not only that, there would also be pensions!
Such treatment was only available to officials or military generals of a certain rank. The emperor's current intention is that anyone who sacrifices their life for the country can enjoy it.
Li Gang couldn't help but shout, "Your Majesty is wise!"
"Your Majesty is wise! Long live the Emperor!"
The ordinary people who came to watch also felt that this newly enthroned young emperor was truly a wise ruler!
Zhao Huan said, "My lads, rise up! You protect our country and deserve respect!"
The emperor's words brought tears to the eyes of countless soldiers. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, this was the first emperor to show such respect for military men and soldiers.
After visiting Xuanhua Gate to offer his condolences, Zhao Huan returned to the palace.
The snow fell heavier and heavier. Back in his palace, the fire in the stove was burning brightly. Zhao Huan sat at his desk, and his tense heart relaxed a little.
According to the orthodox historical trajectory, Wanyan Zongwang's army would be at the city gates in half a month. At this time, Wanyan Zongwang was probably already preparing to cross the Yellow River and wait for Wanyan Zonghan's western army to join him.
However, Wanyan Zonghan was held up by the Taiyuan garrison at this time and could not go south to the Yellow River to meet up with Wanyan Zongwang for the time being.
Thinking of this, Zhao Huan thought of Taiyuan in Hedong.
Taiyuan was the capital of the Northern Han during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and in the Song Dynasty, it was the capital of Hedong Circuit.
The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun have never been recovered, and Tokyo is located in the plains south of the Yellow River, with no defensible position except for the Yellow River.
Therefore, the imperial court established three important military towns in Hebei: Taiyuan, Zhongshan, and Hejian.
These three strategically important military towns became the Song Dynasty's northern military strategic defense line and an important line of defense protecting the capital.
That year, the Jin army split into two routes. The eastern route was led by Wanyan Zongwang. The garrison commander Guo Yaoshi surrendered. Wanyan Zongwang marched south, but avoided Hejian and Zhongshan. He headed straight for the Yellow River and went deep into the Yellow River, intending to cross it to the south.
However, Wanyan Zonghan of the Western Route Army faced a very different situation. He besieged Taiyuan, intending to take down this important military stronghold of the Song Dynasty in Hedong.
Thinking of this, Zhao Huan clenched his fist.
The biggest difference between the Song and Ming dynasties is that although the Song dynasty is known to later generations as a weak dynasty, many people in the Song dynasty were indeed very tough and had great integrity.
Take the current defense of Taiyuan as an example. Zhang Xiaochun and Wang Bing defended the city and held out for more than half a year under the siege of the Jin invaders, until finally there was not a single grain of rice left in the city.
Many tragic events occurred during this period. For example, Taiyuan City, which had been held for two months, was not breached. The Jin army was exhausted, and the soldiers and civilians throughout the city were in high spirits and fought to the death to defend the city. However, in return, they received a letter of surrender from Emperor Qinzong of Song, who agreed to cede territory and pay reparations, thus giving up Taiyuan.
Wang Bing immediately rebuked Emperor Qinzong's edict: "Subjects should be loyal to their emperor and love their country, but the emperor should protect the country and its people. Our Taiyuan city has been besieged for more than two months, and all soldiers and civilians have sworn to defend it to the death, refusing to surrender to the Jin invaders. Now the court has abandoned the soldiers and civilians of the three towns; how can it face the people of the world?"
Therefore, they refused to accept the imperial edict. The neighboring towns of Zhongshan and Hejian, like Taiyuan, also rejected this humiliating imperial edict.
After being refused, all the soldiers and civilians continued to resist and refused to surrender!
Even with such a group of indomitable soldiers and civilians, the Song Dynasty emperor still managed to lose the country!
Zhao Huan took a deep breath: Now that I have traveled back in time, I must not let the scandal of peace negotiations happen again. There are many loyal and courageous people in this world, how can I let them down? Soldiers and civilians of the three towns, you wait, once I win the current battle to defend Tokyo, I will definitely not let you suffer any injustice!
I will not only drive the Jurchen invaders beyond the Great Wall, but I will also eliminate future troubles so that the Jurchens will never have the chance to rise again. I will create unparalleled achievements for China and ensure that the Chinese people will never suffer from war again!
Empress Zhu Lian arrived at Zhao Huan's study and said, "This concubine greets Your Majesty."
When Zhao Huan saw that it was the Empress, his furrowed brows relaxed slightly. Zhu Lian was a tragic empress in history. She was captured by the Jin invaders and taken to the north after serving as empress for one year and two months. Unable to bear the humiliation, she committed suicide.
She is a very virtuous woman.
"Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities."
"Your Majesty, I heard that you were furious in court today and then left the palace. Your Majesty is not in good health and should not be easily angered. Moreover, the wind and snow outside are heavy, and you may have caught a cold. I have prepared some nourishing soup. Please drink it while it is hot."
"Your Majesty is so kind." Zhao Huan took the tonic soup. This was the first time he had felt warmth since he returned from his time travel, and his tense mood relaxed a little.
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