Chapter 52: The Battle of Pingzhou (4)

  In the beginning of 1126 AD, Emperor Huizong of Song saw the Jin army approaching and the court in danger. He hastily abdicated the throne to his son Zhao Huan and then fled from Bianjing to Nanjing after attending the ceremony.

  The escape of Emperor Huizong of Song caused a considerable stir, but the new emperor ascended to the throne, and the morale of the imperial guards in Bianjing did not waver. They were all preparing for battle and determined to fight the Jin people at Bianjing.

  Originally becoming an emperor was a dream come true for many people, but at this time Zhao Huan was crying and wailing as he ascended to the throne. This was because Song Qinzong knew that Song Huizong had passed on the throne so quickly in order to leave Bianjing himself. However, at this time Song Qinzong was also being forced into a difficult situation, and could only think of getting through the immediate crisis first.

  In the first year of Jingkang, Emperor Qinzong of Song ascended to the throne and immediately granted a general amnesty, reinstating Li Gang and other capable officials. For a time, both the court and the people were filled with confidence in defeating the Jin people.

  Within days, tens of thousands of Jin troops arrived near Bianjing, causing a stir in the imperial court. The surrender faction led by Cai Jing immediately suggested that Emperor Qinzong of Song seek peace with the Jin, while the war faction led by Li Gang strongly opposed it, leaving Emperor Qinzong in a dilemma and unable to make a decision.

  "Your Majesty," Li Gang said, "I think our army should immediately go out of the city and defeat these few hundred Jin soldiers to dampen their morale."

  "No, Your Majesty, if we send troops out now and provoke the Jin people, they will strongly attack our Bianjing. What can be done when the people are killed? Moreover, what if this is a trap set by the Jin people? Our army will fall into an ambush if we hastily launch an attack." Cai Jing hurriedly came forward to advise.

  Li Gang angrily said: "I am a great Song Dynasty, yet I have been surrounded by hundreds of Jin people in the city, what face do I have to live on in this world."

  Report!!

  A eunuch stepped forward, holding a white cloth in his hand, and knelt down to report: "I beg to report to Your Majesty, today those Jin people shot dozens of arrows wrapped in white cloth into the city, please take a look."

  An eunuch stepped forward quickly, took the white cloth from the imperial guard's hand, and swiftly returned it to Song Qinzong's hand. Song Qinzong unfolded the white cloth in his hand.

  "It is written in small characters above: 'The million-strong Golden Army has already swept in, and the city of Bianjing will soon be surrounded. From the overall situation of the war, it can be seen that there are a hundred disadvantages and no advantages for us to continue fighting. We Khitans admire Han culture and do not want to destroy ancient relics and famous sites. Although our Golden Army is extremely severe and unforgiving towards those who resist, we will treat innocent civilians and Song Dynasty soldiers who do not intend to fight with leniency and will not harm them. If your army wants to continue fighting, Bianjing will inevitably suffer from the disaster of war, causing a thousand years of culture to be reduced to ashes, and ten years of efforts to become a bubble. Therefore, on behalf of General Wanyan Zonghan, commander-in-chief of the Western Route Army, we advise the Song army not to dig their own graves. As long as the Song court pays 5 million taels of gold and 50 million taels of silver coins, and cedes the three towns of Zhongshan, Hejian, and Taiyuan, our army will immediately withdraw. Otherwise, on the day the city is broken, Bianjing will be filled with blood, and we hope you will think thrice."

  Song Zhenzong was already frightened by the Jin people, and after seeing this letter, his face turned pale, his expression was disheartened, and he exclaimed in panic: "What should we do? All of you, take a look and think of a solution for me."

  The eunuch took the cloth from Song Huizong's hand and stepped forward a few steps to present it to Cai Jing. Li Gang suddenly stepped forward, snatched the white cloth out of his hand, and Cai Jing was furious, staring at Li Gang with angry eyes. If looks could kill, Li Gang would have died hundreds of times, but he treated Cai Jing as if he were air, unfolding the white cloth in his hand to examine it.

  "Your Majesty, since the Jin people are demanding that our Great Song Dynasty cede Taiyuan and other territories, it means that Taiyuan City has not yet been breached. The Jin people despise us, and if we yield this time, they will become even more greedy and will eventually come back to kill again. I beg Your Majesty to order the preparation of military strength to support Taiyuan City and engage in a decisive battle with the Jin people. Even if it means sacrificing my own life, I am willing to repel the Jin people."

  Cai Jing hastily stepped forward, snatched the white cloth, unfolded it and took a quick look. He immediately knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, this is not possible. The two main armies of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty will arrive in Bianjing soon. Even if Taiyuan has not fallen, if our army is intercepted by the Jurchens halfway, the consequences would be disastrous. It's better for Your Majesty to agree to the Jurchens' demands first and let them retreat. Once our army is well-prepared, we can retake Taiyuan later."

  "Cai Jing, our troops and civilians in Taiyuan are fighting bloody battles against the Jin people, but you utter such treasonous words. The heavens are clear and just, how can you be a minister?" Li Gang shouted with anger, his eyes wide with rage.

  Tong Guan immediately knelt down and said: "It must be that Zhang Xiaochun has colluded with the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty, wanting to establish himself as king. Now he is surrounded by the Jin army. I recall that unintentionally, I saw a yellow dragon robe hidden in his mansion. At that time, I was confused and accepted his 100,000 taels of white silver, which made Zhang Xiaochun secretly pleased. In fact, this person has long had an insincere heart."

  The emperors of the Song Dynasty were most taboo about wearing yellow robes, although Emperor Taizu of Song was established in this way in Northern Song. Because of this, the emperors of the Song Dynasty were very wary of generals, and privately storing dragon robes was not allowed. At this time, Emperor Qinzong hated that the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty did not quickly capture Taiyuan City, how could he send troops to rescue them.

  "Where is Lu Yundi?" Song Qinzong's eyes were filled with rage, ironically, the target of this rage, Zhang Xiaochun, was fighting desperately in the bloody battle for Taiyuan City.

  "A humble subject is present." A somewhat thin middle-aged scholar responded and stepped forward.

  "Take the imperial edict and hurry to Taiyuan to persuade them to surrender. I have decided to cede Zhongshan, Hejian, and Taiyuan to them. You must set out immediately, do not let the Jurchen people surround Bianjing."

  "Your humble servant has received your orders." Although Lu Yundi supported Li Gang's actions in his heart, as a subject, he had to obey orders and act accordingly.

  "Your Majesty, it can't be like this. If so, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Taiyuan City will surely die at the hands of the Jin people. I beg Your Majesty to quickly dispatch troops to rescue Taiyuan." Li Gang pleaded.

  "Prime Minister Li, withdraw at once. My mind is made up. The court is dismissed." Song Huizong turned away with a hint of displeasure.

  Li Gang sighed in his heart, Taiyuan City is done for.

  Actually, Jin army didn't have a large troop coming, Wanyan Zonghan had already received the news that Wanyan Zongwang was defeated by Song army, in his heart he scolded Wanyan Zongwang for being useless, at the same time he began to prepare the army to retreat, when leaving, Wanyan Zonghan sent out a large number of cavalry to plunder nearby villages and towns, what they couldn't take away was burned down.

  Wanyan Zonghan had also thought of bypassing Taiyuan City and heading straight to Bianjing, but Wanyan Zonghan did not have the courage to break his cauldron and sink his boat. If he went to attack Bianjing without success, and was intercepted by the Song army on his way back, the arrival of the Song reinforcements would surely lead to the destruction of the entire army. A large army advancing deep into enemy territory without supplies is a great taboo in military affairs, and Wanyan Zonghan understood this point.

  But Wanyan Zonghan knew that the Emperor of the Song Dynasty was frightened by the Jin people, so he let hundreds of riders take a long detour to reach Bianjing. As the saying goes, "the way of war is cunning", this time the Jin people were indeed able to defeat the enemy without fighting, Wanyan Zonghan mobilized his army to launch a fierce attack on Taiyuan City and captured it before the arrival of the Song Dynasty's reinforcements.

  A few days later, Lu Yundi arrived in Taiyuan City, dusty and exhausted. He was immediately captured by the Jin people and brought into Wanyan Zonghan's camp. At that time, Wanyan Zonghan was embracing two young and beautiful Song Dynasty women, taking advantage of them. The two women were not very old, their bodies stiffened in endurance, not daring to resist in the slightest. Wanyan Zonghan was cruel and bloodthirsty. A few days ago, a woman had fiercely resisted and scolded Wanyan Zonghan, who then cut off her four limbs and hung her on the school grounds, bleeding to death.

  Lu Yundi shook off the golden armor beside him, gazing calmly at Wanyan Zongwang. Wanyan Zongwang didn't pay attention to Lu Yundi, his hands continued moving without stopping. Lu Yundi said in a low voice: "I am an envoy of the Song court, I came here to persuade the commander of Taiyuan to surrender."

  Wanyan Zonghan was taken aback, it seemed that the Song people had been deceived. Wanyan Zongwang casually waved his hand, and the two women immediately got up in a flurry and withdrew from the tent.

  Wanyan Zongwang smiled and said: "It turns out to be the Song envoy, I'm sorry for not welcoming you from afar and still hope to redeem my sin." Although he said so with his mouth, Wanyan Zongwang did not have any intention of apologizing.

  Wanyan Zonghan thought for a moment, then ordered the guards beside him: "Go and let the Song envoy through, send them to the city gate." Lu Yundi snorted coldly and turned around, leaving the camp.

  At this time, Wanyan Zonghan was overjoyed and didn't mind Lu Yundi's disrespect. Since the Song court had sent a high-ranking official to Taiyuan to persuade him to surrender, it meant that the Song court had already given up on Taiyuan City and would not send reinforcements. He could surround Taiyuan without attacking, starving the defending army to death, capture Taiyuan City, and then see Wanyan Zongwang's defeated appearance. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but burst out laughing loudly.

  In front of the two armies, Wang Bao stood on the Kaiyuan Gate in the south of the city and patrolled back and forth. He was still wondering why the Jin army did not attack the city today. Suddenly, he saw that a small path had been cleared in the Jin army's formation, and an official dressed as a Song Dynasty civil servant came forward with several attendants. Wang Bao was startled and immediately sent someone to invite Zhang Xiaochun to come over.

  Before long, Zhang Xiaochun arrived at the city gate. As an official for many years, he recognized Lu Yundi at a glance and said to Wang Bin beside him: "That is Lord Lu of Bianjing. Could it be that Bianjing has fallen? This is impossible! Quickly, send someone to use a pulley basket to lift Lord Lu into the city."

  Lu Yundi had not yet stood firm, Zhang Xiaochun hastily pulled Lu Yundi and asked urgently: "Lord Lu, has Bianjing been attacked by the Jin army? When can our imperial army arrive?"

  Lu Yundi felt a bit awkward and sighed, saying: "General Zhang, please accept the imperial edict." Although Zhang Xiaochun was anxious in his heart, he still knelt down to receive the edict. All the civil and military officials on the city wall also knelt down to listen to the proclamation.

  On the Kaiyuan Gate in the south of the city, Lu Yundi took out the imperial edict he had been carrying with him and read it aloud to Taishou Zhang Xiaochun, General Manager Wang Bing, and the defending soldiers and civilians, who looked slightly embarrassed: "By the grace of heaven, the emperor decrees that the great army of the Jin people is pressing on our borders. I have decided to cede the three towns of Zhongshan, Hejian, and Taiyuan to the Jin people, allowing them to retreat their troops, so as to avoid the suffering of the common people. The entire garrison of Taiyuan city shall surrender and lay down their arms. Let this be known."

  Wang Jin immediately stood up with his sword and angrily said: "The ruler should protect the country and love the people, the minister should be loyal to the ruler and defend justice. Now the military and civilians of Bianzhou take the great Song Dynasty as their priority, they would rather die than become a puppet of the Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty. The court has abandoned its people without regard, how can it face the people under heaven? The military and civilians of Bianzhou firmly refuse to obey, and will defend to the death."

  The soldiers and civilians on the city wall all grasped their weapons, raised their arms and shouted: "We are willing to follow General Wang to defend Bianzhou, share life and death with the city, and never retreat!" They glared at Lu Yundi and his entourage, Lu was filled with shame, and climbed down the city wall.