"Your Majesty, the Jin army is approaching. The Jin envoys have already arrived in the capital. I think we should agree to their conditions so that they can withdraw their troops." The ignorant Bai Shizhong jumped out and said again.
Zhao Huan smiled and said, "Oh? Didn't I say that if anyone ever mentioned ceding land or paying compensation for women again, I would have his head."
"Your Majesty." Bai Shizhong knelt on the ground with a thud. "Your Majesty, this old minister is thinking about the Song Dynasty. War has always been dangerous. If we fight the Jin soldiers, we will destroy the foundation of our Song Dynasty. This old minister is risking his life to ask for your help. Your Majesty, please reconsider."
Bai Shizhong knelt on the ground and wept bitterly. He was afraid of the Jin soldiers and believed that peace could only be achieved through peace. It seemed that he was completely disappointed with the fighting ability of the Song army.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to die in advising Your Majesty to seek peace with Jin." Li Rui, a member of the Privy Council, stood up and knelt to make a statement.
"Minister Zhang Bangchang of the Imperial Court, Your Majesty! I second the advice of the Left Chancellor Bai."
"I, Zhao Ye, the Northern Circuit Governor, second this motion."
"I, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, Wang Xiaodi, second this motion."
"I, Minister of the Left, Cai Mao, second the motion."
A dozen more ministers stood up and said, "We second this motion."
There's something Zhao Huan can't understand: these ministers fear the Jin as if they were tigers, terrified of them. Yet, they're genuinely fearless of death, even as the emperor. They risk their lives to offer their advice, unafraid of losing their heads. It's truly bizarre. Last time, Bai Shizhong didn't dare broach the subject of peace, but now, upon hearing the Jin troops are approaching, he's bold enough to offer his advice. Does fearing the Jin mean he's not afraid of my chopping off his head?
In reality, not all of these ministers advocating peace were cowards. Some of them knew full well that the Song Dynasty's military might was no match for the Jin. They believed that peace talks were the only way out, and some even risked their lives to make such appeals.
"Aren't you afraid of losing your heads?" Zhao Huan sneered.
The ministers immediately knelt on the ground and said, "We are risking our lives to advise Your Majesty to negotiate peace with Jin."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." A man walked in tremblingly with a cane outside the palace gate. He was Li Bangyan, the Right Prime Minister.
Li Bangyan had not recovered from the beating he received from Zhao Huan yet, so he came here on crutches. Zhao Huan watched Li Bangyan walk to the prince.
"Your Majesty, I, Li Bangyan, pay my respects to you. Your Majesty, you must not fight a decisive battle with the Jin. Peaceful negotiations are the only good way to save the Song Dynasty."
Zhao Huan was already beyond wrath, but he calmed down a bit. He couldn't just chop off all these ministers, and spanking them wouldn't work. Seeing Li Bangyan getting spanked actually made him even more determined.
Li Gang looked at the ministers coldly: "You only know how to negotiate, but you don't know the shamelessness of the Jin thieves. You have no credibility at all. The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are a living example. When the Emperor and the Jin joined forces to destroy the Liao, did the Jin people keep the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun they promised to return? You are giving the Jin Dynasty silver and money now, but what if they ask for more? What if they are not satisfied with the silver and ask for more?"
During the Song Dynasty, by the time of Zhao Huan, there were as many as four Zhongshu Shilang. Another Zhongshu Shilang, He Li, stood up. He Li was the one who had cursed Cai Jing.
"Your Highness He Li agrees with what Lord Li Gang said."
"Minister of the Imperial Censorate Chen Guoting seconded the motion, Lord Li Gang."
The emperor's biggest fear was his subjects' unity. If Li Gang and the others also advocated peace, Zhao Huan would be helpless. The factions advocating peace and those advocating war were now each holding their own views, which was exactly what he wanted.
Bai Shizhong looked at Li Gang angrily and said, "Sir Li, the Jin people will certainly make exorbitant demands. As long as we argue with reason and don't argue with them, there will always be room for a turnaround. The Jin people are attacking only for money."
Li Gang sneered, "The Jin thieves are untrustworthy. Even if you give them money, what will they do if they come again?"
Bai Shizhong persisted: "Give them money and sign the Chan Alliance with them. If the Jin people attack again, we will have the support of the people and can then gather troops to stop them."
"Bai Zuocheng, even if you give them money and treasure, they still come and attack. Don't you think it's too late then? Li begs to differ!"
"you……"
The ministers below began to argue again. Some advocated peace talks, while others advocated compensation.
At this time, a man stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have a plan."
"Wang Shiyong, do you have any good ideas?" Zhao Huan recognized him as the Minister of Personnel.
"I believe that the Jin people are lustful. We can offer them money and goods and promise them young girls, and they will be satisfied."
Zhao Huan suddenly remembered. Historical records indicate that this was Wang Shiyong, the Minister of Personnel. He was the most instrumental in securing women for the Jin during the Jingkang Incident. He specifically plundered women and gave them to the Jin for their own enjoyment. He was known as the "Grandpa of the Jin."
Zhao Huan was filled with hatred at the thought. Besides Wang Shiyong, there was another person named Xu. Oh, that was Xu Bingzhe, the prefect of Kaifeng.
The more Zhao Huan thought about it, the angrier he got. Money was fine. But if anyone dared to mention my sister, she was his. If anyone dared to snatch her, I'd fight him to the death, even if it cost me my life.
"Where is Kaifeng Prefecture Governor Xu Bingzhe?"
Xu Bingzhe was standing in the corner. He was startled when he heard the emperor suddenly call him. He immediately stood up and answered: "I am here!"
Zhao Huan looked down at him, his chin slightly raised. "Xu Bingzhe, I want to ask you, is Wang Shiyong's plan feasible?"
Xu Bingzhe was stunned, thinking to himself: How did the emperor know that I had this intention? So he said happily: "I have had this intention for a long time and wanted to report it, but Lord Wang said it first." He glanced at Wang Shiyong.
Wang Shiyong was secretly annoyed: Damn it, you still want to take credit, I said it first.
Many officials sighed inwardly. Giving money and negotiating was fine, but offering beautiful women to the Jin people would only tarnish the reputation of the Song Dynasty, and how would future generations judge them?
Zhao Huan hesitated for a moment, then pretended to be embarrassed: "But where did we get this girl? We can't just rob ordinary people."
This was a signal, a signal that the emperor had such an idea. These old sly men, who had been in the officialdom for a long time, were very good at reading people's expressions. The fact that the emperor said this meant that he had such an idea.
Xu Bingzhe had just fallen behind, so he seized the opportunity to claim credit. Without waiting for Wang Shiyong to speak, he strode forward. Holding his tablet, which trembled with excitement, he spoke passionately, "Your Majesty, these are critical times. This is a golden opportunity for the people of the Great Song to serve their country. Sending their children to the Jin people will allow them to repay their loyalty to the Great Song."
Wang Shiyong was furious. This was my idea, and you bastard Xu Bingzhe is trying to steal the credit. He glared at Xu Bingzhe fiercely and then stood up: "Your Majesty, I think the court can provide some compensation to the families of these girls. In addition, the court should issue a decree. Those widows, women, and prostitutes who voluntarily go to the Jin camp will be rewarded handsomely."
Zhao Huan took a deep breath and said, "So, if those families send their children and wives to the Jin camp, the imperial court should provide them with generous compensation?"
Wang Shiyong and Xu Bingzhe were overjoyed: "That's right, this is your majesty's grace to them."
"Very well, I will grant you, Wang Shiyong, and Xu Bingzhe, mercy. I will send all the women in your families to the Jin camp, and I will provide you both with generous compensation to demonstrate my generosity."
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