Fan Zhengguo spoke as he handed the envelope in his hand directly to Zhao Zhen.
Watching Zhao Zhen take the envelope, Fan Zhengguo immediately focused all his attention on him, trying to discern something from his expression.
"My husband also received one?"
After glancing at the contents of the envelope, Zhao Zhen suddenly exclaimed.
"What do you mean?"
Hearing him say that, Fan Zhengguo was startled. Could it be…
Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Zhen also took out an identical letter from his embrace and handed it to Fan Zhengguo.
Seeing the same handwriting on it, Fan Zhengguo was momentarily stunned.
"Was the messenger also this person?"
After swallowing hard, Fan Zhengguo hurriedly found the portrait drawn based on the servant's description on his desk.
"Not that one, but the handwriting on the letter looks exactly the same. It should be from the same person…"
After comparing the handwriting on the two letters, Fan Zhengguo's brows furrowed even tighter.
"Your Highness, have there been any recent messages from Hebei?"
Even if the handwriting on the letters was identical, unless they could find the person who wrote them, these things would be worthless to them.
After just a few glances, Fan Zhengguo lost interest and looked back at Zhao Zhen.
"My husband is worried that this news is true?"
"It's better to be safe than sorry!"
As he said this, Fan Zhengguo's face was filled with bitterness.
Although the court had been sending reinforcements to Hebei, the memory of their previous battles made Fan Zhengguo's head ache.
So many men fighting against tens of thousands of Liao troops, only to be utterly defeated, even losing two generals. If the Jurchens really attacked south, could such an army stop the Jurchen cavalry?
"My husband! There's an imperial envoy at the door, saying that the Emperor has summoned my husband and His Highness to the palace immediately!"
While they were both lost in their own thoughts, a servant from Fan's household rushed in to report.
"Did they say what it was about?"
After hearing the servant's words, Fan Zhengguo's heart sank. Could there really be some bad news?
"They didn't say, only that it was a matter of utmost urgency and that my husband and His Highness should hurry to the palace!"
Hearing the servant say this, neither Zhao Zhen nor Fan Zhengguo could afford to delay any longer. They exchanged a glance and then walked out of the door side by side.
When they arrived at the imperial palace, they found that all the important officials of the court were already present.
Even Li Gang, who had just reported to the Ministry of Personnel as the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was among those summoned to the palace.
"What exactly happened?"
As everyone looked on in confusion, Fan Zhengguo suddenly saw Liang Shicheng approaching. At this critical juncture, he didn't care about propriety and stepped forward, grabbed Liang Shicheng's sleeve, and asked in a low voice.
"The Jurchens are marching south, and Daizhou has fallen…"
Looking around to ensure no one else was nearby, Liang Shicheng couldn't hold back and quickly lowered his voice and said.
"What did you say?"
Upon hearing this news, Fan Zhengguo felt his head buzz, and his body swayed, nearly collapsing to the ground.
"Minister Fan, you must hold on at this moment!"
To be fair, Liang Shicheng had a good impression of Fan Zhengguo.
Even though Yu Shen was the current prime minister, in Liang Shicheng's eyes, in such a crisis, the only useful people seemed to be practical individuals like Fan Zhengguo!
"Thank you, Grand Commandant!"
After taking several deep breaths, Fan Zhengguo managed to straighten his body.
"Your Excellencies, His Majesty is waiting in the main hall. Please proceed!"
Seeing that everyone had arrived before the hall, Shun Xi quickly gestured for them to enter.
As soon as they entered the hall, they saw the sand table placed in the center of the hall and Zhong Shidao standing beside it.
"Your subjects greet His M…"
"You may dispense with the formalities!"
Seeing the Emperor seated on the dragon throne, Yu Shen immediately stepped forward to pay his respects. However, before he could finish, Zhao Ji, whose face was ashen, interrupted them.
"Minister Zhong, perhaps you should explain."
Glancing at the ministers standing in the hall, Zhao Ji listlessly pointed to the sand table in the middle and gave an order.
"Yes!"
"Your Excellencies, we have just received news that seven days ago, 200,000 Jurchen soldiers, divided into two routes, marched directly towards our Great Song. One route out of Xijing, heading for Taiyuan, and the other route from Yanjing, heading straight for Hebei. The city of Daizhou has already fallen…"
After Zhong Shidao finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.
Even Yu Shen, the prime minister, was completely stunned and speechless.
"Why aren't you speaking! Didn't you all say we should be tough? Didn't you say the Jurchens wouldn't dare to march south? Speak! Why are you all silent!"
Seeing that the ministers who had been so confident were now all silent, Zhao Ji felt a surge of anger.
"Your Majesty, Hebei is heavily garrisoned, and Taiyuan city is a formidable stronghold with a large defending force. Even if the Jurchens gain an initial advantage, they will be blocked at the walls of Taiyuan!"
As Yu Shen spoke, Zhao Zhen, standing beside him, let out a cold laugh and interjected.
"This, this…"
"At this point, is this the time to assign blame? What I need now is a solution!"
Hearing Zhao Zhen's words, Zhao Ji, who was sitting on the dragon throne, had a very unpleasant expression.
After Zhao Zhen returned to the capital, he had repeatedly submitted memorials requesting that the elite Western Army be returned to their original places. This was due to Yu Shen's underhanded maneuvering, even personally submitting a memorial to the Emperor, which ultimately led to those elite Western Army soldiers being transferred to the Palace Guard.
Although Yu Shen's shadow was present throughout this matter, in the end, if the Emperor had not had this intention, no matter how much he said, it would not have been accomplished.
Now that Zhao Zhen had brought this up, even the Emperor felt a burning sensation on his face.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the current plan is to immediately send reinforcements to Taiyuan, and at the same time, order Grand Commandant Tong to hold Xiong Prefecture firmly, ensuring that the Jurchens cannot cross the line of Xiong Prefecture and Bao Prefecture!"
Seeing that the Emperor was getting angry, Fan Zhengguo quickly stepped forward again.