In Bian Jing, Wanyan Zongmou's army was already at the gates of the city.
War horses neighed, their armor clanged. The Jin army's flag slowly moved. Li Gang stood on the city wall, gazing at the Jin soldiers swarming across the hills, his gaze unwavering. He knew that if Bianjing fell, the entire Song Dynasty would be doomed.
Imperial Palace, Wende Hall. Zhao Huan's face was gloomy as he stared silently at Cao Dongsheng, who was kneeling on the ground. Standing next to him was Zhan Yunpeng.
"Your Majesty, this is the situation outside the city. I saw Lord Li Gang already on the top of the city wall."
Zhao Huan waved his hand and Cao Dongsheng stood up.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty. I, the old minister Bai Shizhong, and Li Bangyan request to see you." Bai Shizhong's voice was heard outside the hall.
"Let them in." Zhao Huan finally spoke. He felt a headache when he heard the voices of these two people.
"Announcement, Left Prime Minister Bai Shizhong and Right Prime Minister Li Bangyan come to the audience."
Before the two men knelt, Zhao Huan lazily asked, "My dear ministers, what is the matter?"
The two exchanged glances. Bai Shizhong said, "Your Majesty, this is a matter of national importance. I believe Your Majesty should move the capital south now."
"Run?" Zhao Huan said coldly.
Li Bangyan saw that things were not going well and said, "Your Majesty, it is not a flight. Lord Li Gang has been left to guard the capital. The Jin army from the west has not yet arrived. Your Majesty can leave Hangzhou from the south gate. Once the danger to the capital is over, it will not be too late for Your Majesty to return."
Because Wanyan Zonghan's western army had not arrived and the Jin army was limited in strength, Wanyan Zongmou's 60,000 Jin soldiers only surrounded the two northwestern corners.
"I swear to live and die with Bianjing!" Zhao Huan was too lazy to argue with the two men. If he ran away, the people would be uneasy. Once the city fell, he would become an exiled emperor.
Bai and Li seemed to realize that they could not persuade Zhao Huan. At this time, Li Bangyan said: "Your Majesty, if you don't want to abandon the city, it's fine. I think the best strategy is to quickly send envoys to the Jin camp to negotiate peace."
"I will not go. If I cannot protect the ancestral temple and the country, I will die in battle in this city of Bianjing."
Bai Shizhong continued, "Your Majesty. In ancient times, Emperor Gaozu of Han sought peace at Baideng, and Emperor Taizong of Tang signed the Weishui Alliance. Now, we have Emperor Zhenzong of Tang signing the Chanyuan Alliance. Your Majesty can send someone to the Jin camp to seek an alliance. I think the eunuch Li Fen is eloquent and can send him to the Jin camp..."
"Yunpeng." Zhao Huan interrupted the two.
"What are your instructions, Your Majesty?" Zhan Yunpeng had already learned most of the palace rules in these days, so he stood up.
Zhao Huan pointed at Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan and said, "Throw these two away!"
Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan looked at each other, wondering if the emperor was a scoundrel.
Zhan Yunpeng only recognized Zhao Huan. He had long since grown displeased with these two spineless ministers. They had been coming here all day, nagging the emperor to seek peace, and he was already furious. Without a word, he picked up Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan, one in each hand, and left.
Zhan Yunpeng was a master of martial arts. He spoke of Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan as if they were nothing, like an eagle catching chicks.
Bai Shizhong was grabbed by the collar and thrown into the air. His face turned pale with fear and he said nothing. Li Bangyan, however, continued to scream, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please listen to me."
Zhao Huan rubbed his ears and finally felt a little quieter.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." A eunuch on duty in the harem came running over in a panic.
Zhao Huan frowned: "What's wrong?"
"Your Majesty, the Queen and the Prince are leaving the city and heading south."
"What? Get ready!"
Zhao Huan hurried to the harem, where the queen was directing the eunuchs and palace maids to pack up.
"This, this, and that soft pillow. Bring them all to me." Zhu Lian held Zhao Chen's hand and gave orders.
"Queen, what are you doing?"
"Your Majesty." Zhu Lian hurried over to greet Zhao Huan upon seeing him approach. "Your Majesty, I heard that the Jin army has entered the capital, and that the retired emperor has already left through the south gate with his concubines. We should hurry and follow them."
Zhao Huan was shocked: "The emperor ran away?"
Zhu Lian nodded and said, "General Gao arrived at the Daojun Palace of the Retired Emperor early this morning. Not long after, the Retired Emperor hurriedly fled with several concubines, claiming to be on a southern hunting expedition. Let's go on a southern hunting expedition as well."
"Gao Qiu, why didn't I crush you to death earlier?" Zhao Huan gritted his teeth in hatred.
Zhu Lian was still conscious. She stared at Zhao Huan with her beautiful eyes and said, "Your Majesty, let's go quickly."
At this time, a young eunuch ran in and said, "Empress, the phoenix sedan chair is ready, you can set off." When he saw Zhao Huan, he was so scared that he knelt down and said, "Long live the emperor."
"Li Fen, take Chen'er over there quickly." The queen took Zhao Chen's hand and walked over.
"Wait!" Zhao Huan said coldly, "Are you Li Fen?"
The eunuch lowered his head and said, "That's right, my humble servant."
The Queen was delighted: "It was this little eunuch who came and told me that the Emperor had packed up and fled. Thanks to this little eunuch, he is very clever."
Zhao Huan ignored him: "Bai Shizhong asked you to go to the Jin camp to ask for peace on my behalf?"
Li Fen hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Bai has approached me, but I'm unwilling to agree. I'm clumsy and poorly eloquent, and it's difficult for me to handle such a big responsibility. It's better for me to serve the Empress on her southern hunting expedition."
Zhao Huan was furious. Bai Shizhong praised such a cowardly guy for his eloquence.
"What is your relationship with Bai Shizhong?" Zhao Huan asked coldly.
Li Fen was startled: "Your Majesty."
"Speak!" Zhao Huan shouted.
Li Fen shuddered: "Madam Bai, the Bai Cheng family is, she is my cousin."
Zhao Huan didn't bother to care about their relationship and said to Cao Dongsheng: "Drag him away and beat him to death!"
Cao Dongsheng bowed: "As you wish!"
Li Fen was so frightened that he trembled all over. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am innocent."
The Queen was also startled: "Your Majesty, why is this happening?"
"You instigated the Queen's escape south, disrupting the army's morale. And you still dare to claim you're innocent? Drag her away!"
Li Fen was so frightened that his soul was about to be shattered, and he cried out that he was wronged. At this time, someone came and dragged him away.
Zhao Huan looked at the Queen and said, "As the Queen, the head of the six palaces, and the mother of the country, you should set an example. Yet, at this critical moment, you and your family fled south. Do you know what would happen if the soldiers knew you had escaped? They would throw down their weapons and surrender, and our Song Dynasty would be in jeopardy. How can I face my ancestors after my death?"
The queen was greatly embarrassed by Zhao Huan's scolding. Knowing she had done something wrong, she blushed and knelt down, saying, "I know I was wrong."
When the palace maids and eunuchs saw the queen admit her mistake, they all knelt on the ground and apologized.
"Hmph!" Zhao Huan flung his sleeves and left in anger, but he was secretly delighted. He wanted to give the Queen a warning, to make her realize her mistake and fear his authority. This way, he could find an opportunity to broach the subject of taking a concubine with her later.
Alas, I am still thinking about taking a concubine when my life is at stake. I should first think about how to deal with the Jin army that is at the gates of the city.
PS: Dear readers, please vote for my recommendation. Last night it was ranked fourth, but this morning I saw it dropped to fifth on the new book list. Please recommend it. Thank you for your support.
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