While it was raining, Zhao Guan Jia (the Emperor) had been very busy lately.

The Great Song Dynasty's system, where all matters were decided by the Emperor, perfectly guaranteed his power but also caused headaches.

One moment it was about the Maritime Trade Supervisorate's tax collection, the next it was about the troop staffing levels for the Pacification Commissioner at the front, then the plan to re-establish the Bureau of Construction in Nanyang, followed by adjustments to personnel compensation. No sooner had he arranged the bandit suppression work than he had to deal with unexpected incidents, such as the unhappiness of a frontline general... Finance, military affairs, military industry, personnel – which could he slack off on?

Not only that, but the wild pigeons outside the palace were increasing, and so were the people inside. The various sounds converged, enough to make one feel muddled.

Couldn't understand? You had to pretend to understand!

However, with the return of that letter brought back by Scholar Lin, Zhao Guan Jia finally perked up, having the right to openly slack off. Of course, this might sound absurd; matters of state and military affairs, situations of life and death, were inherently more important than anything else! But it was a fact that Zhao Guan Jia went to the military camp, issued orders, and then had a rare, delightful afternoon nap before drumming to gather the generals.

However, this drumming to gather the generals had none of the solemn atmosphere of TV dramas. It was unclear if it was due to the rain and the small number of people, or because these Central Army generals of the Imperial Guard were mostly seasoned veterans, showing no martial bearing before Zhao Guan Jia.

"Wang Qing also wants to request to be the vanguard?" The spirited Zhao Jiu stared at Wang De before him for a long time before coldly inquiring.

"Ah..." Wang De hesitated, forcing a rather awkward smile as he explained, "Wasn't it because all the generals requested to fight?"

"If all the generals requested to fight, you request to fight. If all the generals were commanders, why didn't you become a commander?" Zhao Jiu smiled, staring at the small beard under the other's chin. "Han Shizhong said you didn't have the ability of a marshal, so you gave up on yourself?"

Wang De hesitated, still somewhat unwilling: "Isn't it because Your Majesty has come to oversee the battle personally? With Your Majesty as the marshal, where is there a need for me to be a marshal? If that doesn't work, there's still Commander Wang... To let Your Majesty know, if you would allow me five thousand soldiers, I, I... cough, your subject! Your subject can certainly take Dengcheng for Your Majesty and break through Xiangyang! Your Majesty can oversee the battle from behind."

"I understand. Wang Qing's meaning is, you handle the matters on the battlefield, and I, this Emperor, can sit comfortably in the rear... is that what you mean?"

"Yes!"

"I'll decide after I've read these memorials."

"Yes..."

Wang De sought to be the vanguard in his capacity as Deputy Commander, but received no firm answer and instead found himself in an awkward position. Zhao Guan Jia also put on a stern face and lowered his head to read the memorials requesting battle before him. The central army tent, or rather the central army hall, was silent for a moment. However, after reading a few memorials, Zhao Jiu once again felt the same irritability as when he was reviewing memorials at the temporary palace... These generals' memorials were all the same, advocating going south along the Baihe River, directly attacking Dengzhou and Xiangyang, and uniformly requesting to be the vanguard. It was as if, recently, the central government was recruiting people, and the scholars employed by these generals had all run away, forcing them to ask the same person to write on their behalf.

One could only say that it was fortunate that Zhao Jiu had Liu Ziyu, Yang Yizhong, Liu Yan and others slightly arrange a rough plan before he came.

However, after finishing reading, Zhao Guan Jia suddenly felt a bit of interest again. He pressed down on the memorials in his hand, looked around at the several commanders present, and then suddenly chuckled: "Did I not issue a clear verbal order, asking you commanders to each write a military strategy memorial for this battle? Why have the two Commander Xins not submitted memorials?"

"Your Majesty! My brother and I originally had two memorials, but before the drumming just now, we had some new ideas about this battle, and there was really no time to write them into memorials..." Xin Xingzong immediately stepped forward with his younger brother and cupped his hands, taking the opportunity to bring up the matter he had discussed with Hu Hongxiu. "Therefore, your subject requests to remain in Nanyang to defend it, and requests to garrison Wuguan after the battle."

"Your subject requests to be a flanking force, attacking Niushou!" Little Xin quickly echoed.

"So, Commander Xin is being original."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing the Xin brothers' words, Zhao Guan Jia fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "Then so be it. Your request is granted, and Commander Wang's request is also granted... This battle will proceed with Deputy Commander Wang (Wang De) as the vanguard and Commander Fu (Fu Qing) as the deputy vanguard, setting off for Dengcheng together early tomorrow morning; with Commander Little Xin as the flank vanguard and Deputy Commander Liu (Liu Yan) as the flank deputy vanguard, also setting off early tomorrow morning, heading towards Niushou; and with Commander Great Xin as the defender; with all other units as the central army, carrying grain and supplies, advancing slowly with me tomorrow at noon."

After speaking, this Emperor actually didn't say much more to the generals, and directly left the central army hall with Yang Yizhong.

Leaving aside the central army, where Wang Yuan and Liu Ziyu, in their capacity as Imperial Guard Commander and Ministry of War's Cartography Department official, were coordinating military affairs, and Liu Yan also stayed behind to await orders due to receiving a task... on the other side, Zhao Guan Jia, after leaving the central army hall, had an uncertain and gloomy expression, causing anxiety among Yang Yizhong and others who followed behind.

"Leave two umbrellas for me, Zhenfu stays, and the rest may leave."

Zhao Jiu came to the corridor, and had already stepped one foot into the rain, but suddenly spoke again.

The surrounding eunuchs and guards did not dare to say much, and immediately went to the Emperor's military quarters, while Yang Yizhong immediately bowed and lowered his head, assuming a posture of obedience.

"I really don't want to be a suspicious Emperor." Zhao Jiu didn't look at Yang Yizhong, but rather sighed softly, looking at the semi-permanent camp in front of him, which had only recently been built. "I also know that these two incidents may just be coincidences... For example, the last time, involving palace privacy, was something that the common people liked to hear about, and it may have been caused by Prime Minister Lü's carelessness; this time, Xin Xingzong is, after all, a veteran of decades, and what you, Liu Ziyu, Wang Yuan, and Liu Yan can think of, he may not be unable to think of!"

"That's exactly what your subject was going to say..."

"But conversely, if someone really uses such despicable means as rumors to attack the Prime Minister, and someone really dares to privately reveal the results of discussions in the palace's Privy Council to the generals below, if I don't deal with it, it will lead to disaster." Zhao Jiu finally turned around. "This time, you will not accompany me on the expedition. Stay here and take the opportunity to re-establish the Imperial City Division..."

"Your Majesty, the Imperial City Division is supposed to be led by a Eunuch..."

"No need, it's you!" Zhao Jiu replied unhappily. "Don't forget, I climbed out of the well and forgot everyone. It's only been eight months. If you don't do this, who else can I find? If I look for Feng Yi, I've only known him for a little over a month!"

Yang Yizhong bowed slightly and did not retort.

"I still remember the words Feng Yi said when he proposed re-establishing the Imperial City Division." Zhao Jiu said slowly, as if lost in thought. "Three thousand people are too many, and it's not appropriate to put out the name of the Imperial City Division now, especially since we've just arrived in Nanyang, to avoid dissatisfaction from the Prime Ministers. The key is to first sort out the Imperial City Division's subordinate Investigation Division, two or three hundred people are enough... Don't use locals. You can gather honest people who have come south from the nearby refugees, or you can select from the army under the pretext of expanding the personal guard... Even this is not urgent. I just need to know the origins of these two matters when I return!"

"Yes!" With the task clear and unmistakable, Yang Yizhong had nothing more to say.

And Zhao Guan Jia, only wearing ordinary clothes and a leather belt, picked up an umbrella and stepped into the rain.

Moreover, for Zhao Jiu, the matter of the upper and lower levels having similar ideas at the military council was just an interlude and not a major event, because he also understood in his heart that the probability of this matter being problematic was actually not high... The reason was very simple. Fan Qiong's military arrangements were there. As long as one thought about them seriously, people of high skill would eventually arrive at the same conclusion by different routes.

However, the previous matter had really disgusted him, to the point that this Emperor, on the surface, waved his hand and forbade anyone from mentioning it again, but in his heart, he was still brooding over it, so he used the so-called name of military affairs to engage in secret service politics.

It was just like how he couldn't help but take notes even though he had been criticized by Censor Hu.

One could only say that some people's level was just like that.

Turning back to the matter at hand, the next day, the rain continued, but under the stimulation of military merit and Zhao Guan Jia's personal supervision, the various units of the Imperial Guard's central army set off on time as planned, heading south to quell the rebellion.

It was especially worth mentioning that, perhaps due to the recent re-issuance of military pay, no departure bonuses were given this time, which broke a record of many years for the Great Song's Imperial Army.

In fact, Zhao Guan Jia also wanted to see if the army of Great Song could fight steadily and safely with the proper issuing of military pay and honest training?

The result seemed to be no.

On the third day of the fourth month, Zhao Guan Jia personally led the expedition, and the entire army of over ten thousand set off directly in the rain. On the seventh day of the fourth month, Wang De and Fu Qing arrived at the city of Dengzhou, less than a hundred miles away. After easily sweeping the surrounding towns, they failed to conquer the city.

On the ninth day of the fourth month, in the intermittent rain, Zhao Guan Jia led the main force to the city of Dengzhou, but still failed to scale the city that day.

At this time, seeing the Emperor's dragon banner arrive, the city sent an envoy out of the city to surrender to the Emperor. The condition was naturally to ask for the pardon of the generals in the city. Zhao Guan Jia did not make things difficult for the envoy, but refused the other party as a matter of course.

The next day, the rebel army in the city braved the rain to raid the camp, but was easily defeated by the Song army generals under the city.

On the eleventh day of the fourth month, the weather temporarily cleared up. Fu Qing suggested taking advantage of the Baihe River's surge to flood the city, which was rejected by the Emperor, but the camp began to build siege equipment, and there were even signs of using trebuchets.

That night, the city sent out an envoy for the second time.

"We strayed into the wrong path for a moment, and we regret it very much." The person, after being thoroughly searched, was escorted into the tent, still kowtowing to the young man sitting in the seat. "The Jin people abandoned us as worn-out shoes, and we also know that we are unable to contend with the Emperor's heavenly soldiers. Now, we only ask to live..."

"Only ask to live?"

Amidst the croaking of frogs, Zhao Jiu, who was looking at some memorials sent from Nanyang, raised his head and said seriously. "In other words, as long as I promise you a life, whether you are filled as coolies or demoted to Lingnan, you are willing to accept it?"

"That is exactly what we mean!" The person continued to kowtow, ignoring the mud on the ground.

"Is it because Fan Qiong has not supported you either?" Zhao Jiu put down the memorial and sighed slightly. "Not only have the Jin people abandoned you as worn-out shoes, but even worn-out shoes have abandoned you..."

"We regret it very much, and when we surrendered to the Jin people that day, there was indeed a lot of blind obedience and coercion." At this point, the person paused slightly before continuing to kowtow and plead. "Your Majesty, to let Your Majesty know, the leader of the surrender to the Jin is the former Cai Prefecture patrol inspector Li Shang. If Your Majesty can graciously spare the rest of us... we can also tie this person up and bring him to the city gate for public execution."

Moreover, the rain had been falling for days, and the roads were muddy. The remaining ten thousand or so Jin rebels in the city were naturally abandoned by everyone and could not see a way out. However, the Song army, along with thousands of civilians, were also exhausted. The generals who had been eager to be the first a few days ago had lost all their spirit.

Therefore, at this time, hearing this person's earnestness, the generals around the tent, from Wang Yuan down, were all tempted, and even Liu Ziyu could not help but look at Zhao Guan Jia's attitude.

"Not allowed." Zhao Jiu put his hands behind the table, looked at the person in front of him with a straight face, and said directly.

"Your Majesty!" The person raised his head in grief and indignation. "In that situation, everyone thought that the country was going to perish..."

"Did it perish?" Zhao Jiu said coldly.

"Even if we don't talk about that day, just talk about now, why does Fan Qiong only punish the ringleaders, but we are not even allowed to talk about it here?"

"Fan Qiong didn't surrender to the Jin!"

"Is surrendering to the Jin so important?" The person stood up angrily, but was held down firmly by two soldiers. "If we talk about the actions and reasons, we are much more innocent than Fan Qiong... You must know that it was the Zhao family's incompetence that abandoned the country first!"

"Bold!" Wang Yuan shouted, and the surrounding generals drew their swords together.

"Let him speak." Zhao Jiu didn't care.

"How dare I not speak?" The person stood up, looked up, and saw that his hair and beard were all stained with mud, but his eyes were bloodshot. "The world must be the Zhao family's, but we, the people of Jingxi, were first abandoned by the Zhao family. When the Jin soldiers approached the city, you, this Emperor, did not know where you were, but our parents, wives, and children were by our sides. If we didn't surrender to the Jin, who would protect our families?"

"What you said is very reasonable. I am wrong, and the two Emperors are also wrong. If this battle really leads to countless casualties, I can issue a decree of self-reproach after the war, and I can also issue a decree of self-reproach on behalf of my father and brothers... Moreover, I also know that some of you are indeed wronged and innocent." Zhao Jiu replied calmly, as if he had already seriously considered this issue. "But I just cannot negotiate with Jin rebels! It's still the same words, if you come to surrender, then open the city and surrender, and then let me deal with you, only this."

"Your Majesty."

The person suddenly became calm again. "You must know that there are still thousands of households in the city..."

"Looking at your appearance, you seem to be a scholar." Zhao Jiu was not afraid. "Then you should know that there have been similar rules since the Han Dynasty. Those who coerce hostages will be attacked and killed regardless. If you really act like this, it will only make my punishment of you after the fact even more serious!"

The person stared blankly, and after a while, he asked again: "Your Majesty really doesn't want to leave us a way out?"

"I only want you to surrender unconditionally and let me deal with you." Zhao Jiu replied frankly. "That's all I have to say. If you have nothing else, then go back and convey it!"

The envoy sighed and turned away, also appearing decisive.

As soon as the person left, Wang Yuan bowed and said: "Your Majesty, this person was just making empty threats. You must know that the battle was urgent that day, and they followed Wanyan Yinshuke to Dengzhou, but their families were all left in their original places... With this reason, how would they dare to do such a heinous thing?"

Zhao Jiu nodded, but did not want to say more about this matter.

But there were plenty of people who were oblivious, and Liu Ziyu could not bear it, and asked: "Your Majesty, with such coercion, are you really going to bury tens of thousands of people in the city? This is not what a wise ruler does!"

"When did I say that I was going to bury tens of thousands of people?" Zhao Jiu said coldly. "Even if I punish them, I will at most behead the leaders and send the rest of the guilty ones to labor and become boatmen on the river for a few years. As for the rest of the innocent soldiers, how can they be punished for no reason? If I pick out the ones who are outstanding, I'll just use them. If there are young people, I'm afraid I'll give them money and food on the spot and let them go home."

"I also think so." Liu Ziyu breathed a sigh of relief. "Since that's the case, why not give a slight hint? As long as they understand, with the current situation, they will probably surrender immediately."

"It's just that I can't negotiate." Zhao Jiu sighed and continued to look at the memorials on the table. "This matter is not about how guilty they are, but about the fact that they cannot negotiate in itself... Because if we negotiate today, what will happen tomorrow? If Dengzhou negotiates, what will happen to the hundreds of military prefectures in the two rivers, the Central Plains, and Guanxi in the future? This is the rule of the Song-Jin war. Once it is shaken, it will make countless people have a fluke mentality when facing battle. Am I not forcing this matter?"

"Your Majesty is thinking rigorously." Liu Yanxiu then became solemn, but also felt slightly ashamed. "It is also because my vision is too low."

Zhao Jiu was too lazy to pay attention to the other party, but since he had said this, this Emperor could not help but put down the memorials and look around at the rather disheveled generals in the tent, taking the opportunity to explain:

"Did you understand what I said just now? The reason why I am not forgiving Dengzhou today is not because they surrendered to the Jin for two months and did so many bad things, but to use them to warn you surviving generals... There are thousands of things in the military, and the most fundamental thing is surrendering to the Jin. This matter is more intolerable than Liu Guangshi fleeing at the sight of the enemy! Not listening to orders and fleeing at the sight of the enemy is making the army empty and useless. I will at most kill the generals, and their units can still be reorganized and used. Moreover, if you really can't fight, it is normal to retreat or advance after reporting in advance. If there are mistakes in the middle, our emperor and ministers can always discuss it. Liu Guangshi also spoke to me in front of the imperial court before his death; but once you surrender to the Jin, you are enemies, not friends, and I can't even speak to them! I hope you will remember this!"

Wang De, Huyan Tong, and others were fine. They didn't have this option in their minds at all. Hearing this, they just casually cupped their hands to indicate their acceptance and then lamented the old story of Liu Guangshi. However, from Fu Qing down, they were quite awe-stricken.

Nothing happened that night. The next day, April 12, unexpectedly, Dengzhou City suddenly opened its four gates, and the rebel army abandoned all their weapons and armor and surrendered.

"Who were the envoys who came out of the city twice before, and where are they?" Zhao Jiu, hastily leaving his tent, looked at the kneeling officers in the mud in front of him, and couldn't help but think of someone.

"To let Your Majesty know, that person was Cai Prefecture patrol inspector Li Shang, and also the general appointed by Yinshuke, who led us to join Fan Qiong." Someone barely raised his head and replied. "After he came back yesterday, knowing that he could not escape punishment, he gathered the generals of all the units in the city, first surrounded and killed them, and then gathered us to let us surrender, and finally committed suicide himself. The highest-ranking officer who came out of the city today is only a captain."

Zhao Jiu stood with his hands behind his back, silently facing each other... He wanted to say, "If I had known this, why did I do it in the first place," but he didn't know where to start.

ps: The title is wrong... embarrassing