As Shi Wenbin departed after the scandalous affair he orchestrated, Zhao Jiu showed no intention of halting the imperial council. On the contrary, having spent the entire day in the imperial tent, his mind teeming with ideas, he was now ready to address serious matters.

Indeed, as the sun began to set, several eunuchs, under Zhao's personal decree, brought out several chairs and benches, arranging them within the curtained area in front of the imperial tent, inviting the central officials and close advisors to take their seats.

Zhao Jiu himself, still dressed in his round-collared red robe, returned to the tent only to emerge wearing a hard-winged hat that Prime Minister Lü had long coveted. He sat upright in a grand chair, its back facing the tent entrance. By now, given a Song official's political acumen and sensitivity, Lü had no time to dwell on the hat.

As expected, once Zhao Jiu settled in, a long list of official titles rolled off his tongue, further solemnizing the atmosphere:

"Prime Minister of the Eastern Secretariat (Lü Haowen), Prime Minister of the Western Secretariat (Wang Boyan), Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate (Zhang Jun), Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard (Wang Yuan), Grand Director of the Palace Attendants (Lan Gui), along with several Secretariat Drafters and Palace Gate Attendants (Hu Yin, Yang Yizhong), and Scholar Lin (Lin Jingmo), recently inducted into the Jade Hall (Hanlin Academy)... Most importantly, there is also We, the Son of Heaven of Great Song. Prime Minister Lü?"

"Your subject is present," Lü Haowen replied, standing immediately from his seat on the left.

"Prime Minister Lü, less than half a year ago, We were but an ordinary prince, and even more recently, We fell into a well..." Zhao Jiu paused, seemingly lost in thought, surprised that half a year had already passed. "In any case, We are still somewhat confused about the Song Dynasty's official system and titles. But even in Our confusion, We understand that this gathering of ours is, at the very least, a proper central government, isn't it?"

"Your Majesty's words are true," Lü Haowen answered gravely, not daring to show any negligence. "The Song Dynasty follows the Tang system. Though there have been many discussions on reform, the basics of governance have never changed. The Emperor issues decrees from the center, and the chancellors of the Political Affairs Hall deliberate matters before the Emperor. Although there are vacancies and absences in various positions, the Eastern and Western Secretariats and key posts within the palace are all staffed with proper officials attending Your Majesty. Therefore, this place before the imperial tent is undeniably the seat of the central government and can issue commands..."

Lü Haowen became even more solemn, pausing before continuing, "However, Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li (Li Gang) and Grand Councilor Xu (Xu Jingheng) are not present. If there are important decrees, why not wait a while? Even if we cannot wait for Prime Minister Li, Grand Councilor Xu and Zhang, the Pacification Commissioner (Zhang Que), are in Huaidong and Huainan and can be summoned quickly by horse!"

Hearing this, some officials sneered inwardly, while others felt helpless.

Among them, the others mattered less, but Lin Jingmo, the former Prefect of Shouzhou who had recently and unusually skipped the position of Transport Commissioner to enter the Hanlin Academy, was almost contemptuous.

The petty Scholar Lin, who had experienced some of the Emperor's machinations, saw it clearly: the Emperor clearly wanted a central government without so many powerful ministers, one with a pliant figurehead like Prime Minister Lü, one that could act according to his will. Wasn't this proposal laughable?

Moreover, as the only Eastern Secretariat Prime Minister currently in favor, while the Western Secretariat Prime Minister had committed a major offense, this should have been the time to seize power. Yet, Prime Minister Lü found himself in such a state. Didn't he find it shameful?

In fact, considering the Emperor's obstinacy these days, every civil official in this central government should feel ashamed!

But then, the petty Scholar Lin suddenly paused, realizing that since he was also present and had failed to stop the Emperor's reckless actions, didn't that mean he was also quite shameful? It seemed that he hadn't even managed to secure the task of drafting documents! He was a proper Jade Hall Scholar!

"There is no time."

While the petty Scholar Lin was caught in his complex emotions, Zhao Jiu, with a serious expression, directly rejected the suggestion and continued to speak eloquently. "We mean that the rest is fine, but you who are present here, who have been following Us, probably already understand..."

The central officials, both civil and military, remained silent and unresponsive.

"Our original intention was to block the Jurchens here, boost morale, and then stabilize the situation in Nanyang or Yangzhou, issue commands, rebuild the momentum, and redefine the country!"

Seeing this, Zhao Jiu raised his voice. "However, in these few days on Mount Bagong, We have seen people like Liu Guangshi fear the enemy like a tiger, presumptuously guessing Our intentions, falsely accusing Us of being as shameless and fearful of death as he is. Furthermore, the morale of the troops on Mount Bagong and in Xiacaicheng has been shaken, and many soldiers even think that We, the Emperor, and all of you in the central government are merely escapees. And today, Wanyan Zongbi came to bully Us, seemingly treating Us like Our weak and easily bullied brother... This is intolerable!"

Hearing the last two sentences, Lü Haowen and others felt their eyelids twitch. Lü Haowen, in particular, could not avoid it and had to brace himself to ask, "Then what does Your Majesty intend to do?"

"Immediately issue an edict to inform the world!" Zhao Jiu, still expressionless in his grand chair, remained unmoved. "There is no need to wait to go to Nanyang or Yangzhou, nor to wait for Prime Minister Li and Grand Councilor Xu. Here on Mount Bagong, We will proclaim Our intentions to the world!"

"May I ask what Your Majesty's intentions are?" In the silence, Lü Haowen continued to press on.

"Firstly, to clearly define the relationship between Song and Jin as one of enmity and war! And since war has begun, We shall call upon all parts of the country to fight for the Emperor and resist the invasion! Regardless of age or location, north or south, all who consider themselves Song people must fight to defend their land when encountering the Jurchens!"

This was actually something that was expected. Now that the Emperor was so formal, it could only be something of this nature. However, the Eastern Secretariat Prime Minister, Lü Haowen, despite having anticipated it, could not help but remain silent for a moment, glancing hesitantly at his theoretical political enemy, the last banner of the pro-peace faction in the court, the now practically catatonic Prime Minister Wang Boyan.

It was as if he hoped that the prime minister would come out and share the responsibility with him!

Interestingly, Wang Boyan, meeting Lü Haowen's gaze, immediately and decisively rose to his feet and declared loudly, "Your subject agrees!"

Of course, he agreed!

The petty Scholar Lin, observing everything, almost shouted it in his heart. The Emperor's intentions had been clear since he recalled Prime Minister Li months ago, and now they were even more evident on the front lines. His determination to resist the invasion was absolute! And the only proper chancellor who could restrain the Emperor, Prime Minister Li, although not present, was an even more well-known advocate of war than the Emperor. What was there to hesitate about?

Even if one feared that the Emperor would cause trouble again, this was not the time to be afraid! Moreover, as a dignified chancellor, regardless of one's position, how could one be afraid of responsibility at this moment?!

Lü Haowen, look at Wang Boyan!

However, just as the petty Scholar Lin was filled with a thousand emotions, Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun, Commander-in-Chief Wang Yuan, and even several Secretariat Drafters, led by Hu Yin, had already stepped forward to agree! The petty Scholar Lin paused slightly, realizing that besides himself, only Yang Yizhong and Lan Gui, two people who should not speak, had not spoken out and stepped forward! Even when he looked up, he met the Emperor's questioning gaze... Therefore, Lin Jingmo also quickly jumped out, the last to agree.

ps: To be continued