Tang Ke and Geng Nanzhong are happy, content and content.
He had prevented a war, allowing the Jin troops to safely cross the river. The Jin soldiers were immensely grateful, not only gifting them gold and silver but also promising everlasting peace with the Song. If he reported this to the emperor in Beijing, he would likely receive no praise. Of course, the gold and silver incident must not be mentioned.
An express report arrived in the capital over 800 miles. When Zhao Huan saw the battle report from the front, his hands trembled slightly.
When the ministers in the Purple Palace saw the emperor's serious expression, the entire hall fell silent.
Zhao Huan waved the battle report in his hand: "Battle report from the front. Zhong Shizhong surrounded Wanyan Zongwang, and his entire army was killed in the battle. No one survived."
The faces of the ministers below changed color and they began to whisper to each other.
Bai Shizhong stood up and said, "Your Majesty, we have already negotiated with the Jin people. Why would the Qinfeng Army want to go to war with the Jin again? Isn't this just trying to provoke war? I believe they should be held accountable."
Zhao Huan ignored him and looked at Li Gang: "Li Gang!"
Li Gang stepped forward and said, "I am here!"
"Tell this to my ministers."
Li Gang turned his head and said, "Your Majesty, enduring humiliation and negotiating peace with the Jin is actually a delaying tactic. Your Majesty wants to paralyze the Jin soldiers. Under the guise of peace talks, you want the Zhong family army, who are escorting the Jin soldiers, to annihilate the Jin bandits on the south bank of the Yellow River!"
The ministers below were stunned, whispering among themselves, wondering what the emperor was up to. The ministers who advocated peace were especially dumbfounded.
"Your Majesty, why don't you let us, your subjects, know about such a big event? If we are not careful, my 100,000-strong army of Zong Shidao will be annihilated by the Jin people again. Then our Song Dynasty will have no soldiers left to fight." Li Bangyan said, holding the tablet.
Zhao Huan looked at Li Bangyan coldly: "If I tell you, my ministers, someone will definitely inform the Jin thieves. The Jin thieves will definitely take precautions, and that army of 100,000 will be in jeopardy. Yao Pingzhong's raid on the camp failed. I have already found out that someone informed on him. Sooner or later, I will find out who is behind this, and then I will kill all your clans."
The ministers were shocked that there was a Jin spy in the hall.
Bangyan wiped the sweat off his forehead in fear, and some people in the hall were also scared.
"Here is another battle report, also from Zong Shidao. The Qinfeng Army fought a bloody battle in Xiongzhou, holding back 60,000 Jin bandits and preventing them from crossing the river. The Qinfeng Army bought time at the cost of their lives, allowing the Zong family army to rush to Xiongzhou in time. The Zong family army annihilated more than 10,000 enemies, and the Jin bandits were defeated. Captain Zong Hong killed Wanyan Zongwang with his own hands, and the Jin bandits' eastern army was crippled. Only Wanyan Ang led the remaining troops to break through." Zhao Huan threw another battle report on the ground.
"Boom!" The ministers were in an uproar. Everyone's face was filled with joy. Even those who advocated peace were congratulating each other.
Zhao Huan angrily slammed the dragon throne, and the ministers immediately quieted down.
Zhao Huan stood up and coldly looked at the ministers below: "As far as I know, the reason why the Qinfeng Army was completely wiped out was because someone leaked the secret to the Jin thieves. I don't understand why there are so many spies in the Song Dynasty. You eat the emperor's salary, and I don't expect you to be loyal to the emperor. But some of you dare to be traitors!"
Having said this, Zhao Huan knelt down straight.
"Your Majesty!" The ministers knelt down in fear.
Zhao Huan had tears in his eyes: "I! I apologize to these 7,000 Qinfeng soldiers!" Then Zhao Huan knelt on the ground and bowed again.
"Your Majesty, we are guilty of a thousand deaths!" The ministers hurriedly followed suit and knelt down.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty. I have an urgent matter to report!"
Tang Ke and Geng Nanzhong rushed in from outside the hall in a panic.
Tang Ke ran ahead. As soon as he finished speaking, he found Zhao Huan and the ministers kneeling together. He was stunned. Fortunately, this emperor often acted unexpectedly, and he was used to it.
Zhao Huan saw that these two people were so fast.
When I returned to the capital, there were many things about the war on the front that I needed to learn about, so I stood up.
"Your Majesty, something bad has happened. Zong Shidao wants to go to war with the Jin people." Tang Ke ran in in a panic without even taking his tablet.
Geng Nanzhong refused to lag behind, so he also walked in empty-handed: "Your Majesty, Lord Tang and I heard that the teacher was building fortifications on the south bank of the Yellow River, intending to start a war with the Jin people. We tried to dissuade him, but to no avail. The teacher is extremely arrogant..."
Tang Ke interrupted him, "Your Majesty, that Shi Dao even claimed to be following Your Majesty's orders. He wanted to encircle and annihilate the Jin troops right here on the Yellow River. We, your servants, have already negotiated peace with the Jin, considering the dangers of this fierce battle. But Shi Dao ignored our advice and was determined to fight the powerful and brutal Jin. Therefore, Lord Geng and I had no time to return to the capital to report to Your Majesty. We had no choice but to risk our lives to enter the Jin camp and tell Wanyan Zongwang to retreat westward."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the ministers looked at Tang and Geng angrily, which made Tang and Geng feel uneasy. They didn't understand why these ministers looked at them so angrily.
Tang Ke, seeing the situation was dire, dared not say anything more. Geng Nanzhong, however, ignored him and continued chattering, "Fortunately, Yan Zongwang was very happy. He didn't hold Zhong Shidao responsible for his unauthorized actions, but instead sent his men to pay tribute to us. He also said..."
"Enough!" Zhao Huan shouted, and Tang Ke and Geng Nanzhong were frightened into silence.
Zhao Huane glared fiercely at Tang Geng and the others below him: "So it was you two who leaked military secrets to the Jin thieves, which led to the annihilation of my entire Qinfeng Army. Even if you two die a hundred times, it will be difficult to atone for your sins!"
Tang Ke and Geng Nanzhong were confused and stood there in a daze.
Before Zhao Huan could continue speaking, Li Bangyan walked over and slapped Tang Geng and the other one hard in the face.
Li Bangyan angrily declared, "Your Majesty ordered Zhong Shidao to stop the Jin bandits, yet you two dared to tip them off. As a result, all of our Qinfeng Army perished in the decisive battle with the Jin bandits, and you two deserved death. And you even dared to come to this palace to seek credit and reward. I beg you to behead them as a token of my gratitude to the world!"
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