Upon hearing that the Western Xia army that attacked the naturalized people was annihilated and all the prisoners were buried alive, Li Ganshun was filled with both shock and anger.
The Mongolian army was invincible, and the Song army was victorious, so why was it that the Western Xia army was completely wiped out?
Li Ganshun couldn't understand why the Western Xia weren't as strong as the Song. In previous battles, they'd even won more than they lost. Yet, somehow, the Song seemed to be on a roll. They had reclaimed the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, invaded Zhongjing, and were now marching directly towards the Jin capital, Shangjing.
Killing in a pit, what a cruel method. The Golden Dog is indeed as ferocious as a beast.
The Western Xia state was small, impoverished, and its former glory fading. Therefore, Li Ganshun sought a patron, the Song Dynasty. However, when the three armies joined forces to attack the Jin, only his own army was severely defeated, exposing his weakness to the allies. The Western Xia desperately needed a victory to impress its allies.
Li Ganshun then assembled the main force of the entire Western Xia army, more than 20,000 men, hoping to fight Wanyan Gao again to turn the tide of the battle.
Li Ganshun hadn't anticipated the further consequences. The Jin soldiers fought back desperately. Wanyan Gao assembled a force of 50,000 men, including local garrisons, and incorporated them into his own army.
Wanyan Gao divided his troops into two groups. The 20,000-man army was led by Wanyan Zongjie, who was also preparing to counterattack the Western Xia. As long as the Western Xia army was defeated, the Song and Mongolians would lose an ally.
Wanyan Gao deployed another 30,000 men to defend the outskirts of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to prevent an invasion by the Song army. Wanyan Gao actively deployed his troops, concentrating his forces on fortifying the cities and occupying only a few important towns to prepare for an attack by the Song army at any time.
The people of Shangjing, the capital of the Jin Dynasty, were in a panic. They had suffered successive defeats on both the northern and southern fronts, and the country was on the verge of destruction. At this moment, a commotion broke out in the palace.
Wanyan Sheng cried, "Our Great Jin is finished. Why not send people to the Great Song to surrender?"
The ministers were horrified. Wanyan Zonghan angrily declared, "How can we destroy the empire built by our great ancestor, Aguda? If we surrender and live as prisoners, I would rather perish with you."
Wanyan Sheng also flew into a rage, pointing at Wanyan Zonghan and saying, "If it weren't for you generals who were so determined to fight, the Great Jin wouldn't have ended up like this! You are the culprits who harmed the Great Jin, you! You traitors!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers were in an uproar. Wanyan Sheng spoke without thinking and actually blamed all the ministers for the country's demise.
Ministers also criticized the situation. Prime Minister Zahan angrily said: "Your Majesty, this is wrong. If we don't invade Song, when the Song Dynasty grows stronger, we will be destroyed by it. It has always been the law of the jungle. We are not as skilled as others, how can you blame us!"
Wanyan Zonghan was furious: "Taizu fought so hard to conquer the world. Today, the territory of the Great Jin is countless times larger than when Taizu founded it. All this was earned by the sacrifices of our Great Jin soldiers. Now, Your Majesty wants to give up after such a small setback. How can you be worthy of Taizu's spirit in heaven!"
Wanyan Sheng was speechless after being rebuked by everyone, but the Song Dynasty had already occupied Zhongjing, and the entire Linhuang line in the north had become the territory of the Mongols. How could he not be panicked?
"I don't care! It's you traitors who are harming my Great Jin. I want to surrender, and no one can stop me! Even if I become a prisoner, it is better than enduring these endless news of defeat. When the Song people reach Shangjing, it will be too late to surrender. Pass on the order, I will write a letter of surrender to the Great Song, and I will pay tribute!" Wanyan Sheng did not listen to the advice at all.
"Your Majesty, how can you surrender and bring shame to me!" Minister of War Asero came out and said.
Wanyan Sheng kicked the table away and said, "Someone, someone!"
Two guards walked in from outside the hall.
Wanyan Sheng pointed at Aselo and said, "Drag him out and chop him up!"
The guards carried Aselo, and the other ministers tried to stop them. Wanyan Sheng's veins were exposed: "You all want to fight, you all want to make achievements. If the Song Dynasty invades, you can surrender and continue to serve as your officials. As for me! Don't even think of letting me take the blame for being the king of a fallen country. Drag him out and chop him off!"
Wanyan Sheng refused to listen to anyone's advice, so the guards had no choice but to push Aselo out and chop him to death.
The ministers wanted to stop him, but they were stopped by Wanyan Zonghan, who said in a deep voice: "Since Your Majesty is determined to surrender, then we will surrender."
"Marshal Zong Han!" Zahan was shocked.
Wanyan Zonghan waved his hand and said, "Your Majesty wishes to issue an edict of surrender. As your subjects, we can only agree. There is no need to discuss this matter further. However, why must we surrender to the Song Dynasty? We can also surrender to Mongolia."
Wanyan Sheng was surprised that Zong Han actually agreed, so he said, "The Mongols are brutal, the Song are loyal. I have made up my mind! Academicians, please bring me paper and pen! I want to write a letter of surrender!"
The ministers below looked at each other in bewilderment, some even beating their chests and stamping their feet. But what could they do when the emperor insisted on having his own way?
After the letter of surrender was finished, Wanyan Sheng hid it in a sheepskin tube and asked: "Who is willing to be the envoy of surrender to the Song Dynasty and go to the Song camp?"
None of the ministers responded, so Wanyan Sheng asked again: "Who is willing to go to the Song camp as an envoy to surrender to the Song Dynasty?"
After a while, a man stood up. The newly appointed Minister of Rites, Du Lieyan, said, "I am willing to go to the Song camp."
The ministers were furious and accused Du Lieyanzhi, calling him a traitor to the Jin Dynasty and a disgrace to the Jin people.
Wanyan Zonghan said, "I agree that Dulieyanzhi should go to the Song camp and beg for surrender."
In this way, under Wanyan Zonghan's insistence, the ministers were forced to acknowledge that Wanyan Sheng had presented a letter of surrender to the Song Dynasty.
After the court was dismissed, all the ministers sighed and lamented, saying that the Jin Dynasty, conquered by Emperor Taizu, would soon fall to the Song Dynasty, and that they would be ashamed to face Emperor Taizu in the afterlife.
The ministers dispersed with sighs, and Wanyan Zonghan called to Prime Minister Zahan: "Prime Minister Zahan, please stay."
Zahan rolled his eyes and said coldly, "What's the matter, Marshal Zong Han?"
Wanyan Zonghan whispered, "Your Majesty has been bewildered. If he submits to the Song Dynasty and pledges allegiance, our Great Jin will be finished."
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