Fu Wenchang's words struck everyone like a thunderclap once more.
With less than two thousand soldiers and insufficient grain, less than five thousand shi, could this Zhen Ding city truly be defended?
"What about the armaments?"
Despite hearing two pieces of dire news consecutively, Li Mao still turned his head to look at a subordinate beside him.
"Answering your excellency, we still have a batch of armaments that have not been handed over to Lord Tan. It is enough for thirty to fifty thousand men!"
Hearing this news, Li Mao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, fate had not completely abandoned them!
If they truly lacked even armaments, that would be true despair!
"Gentlemen, we have now reached a moment of life and death. I thank you on behalf of the suffering populace for standing here!"
After a moment of thought, Li Mao stood up, straightened his robes, and bowed solemnly to his subordinates.
"Your excellency is too kind. We receive the nation's salary, and we should repay the country with our lives!"
After Li Mao finished speaking, Wang Yuanji immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Li Mao.
"Duke Wang is correct. Although we are scholars, a true man faces death with courage. What fear do we have of these Jin barbarians!"
With Wang Yuanji taking the lead, Fu Wenchang also stepped forward.
"We are willing to perish with Zhen Ding!"
"We are willing to perish with Zhen Ding!"
Soon, everyone stepped forward, expressing their resolve.
"Very good! Although we are short of soldiers, there are still 200,000 common folk in Zhen Ding city! Lord Fu, I command you to draft a proclamation immediately and begin organizing manpower overnight to inform all military and civilians in Zhen Ding city of the current situation! Tell everyone that all officials in Zhen Ding city, from myself downwards, are willing to perish with Zhen Ding city! However, we are short of soldiers defending the walls. Those willing to assist in defending the walls may gather outside the prefectural office tomorrow morning!"
"As for the matter of money and grain, I have three thousand guan of copper coins and five hundred shi of grain in my own residence. I will have them sent to the granary shortly. For the remaining shortfall, tomorrow morning, we will ask people to borrow from the wealthy households in the city!"
"Yes! Your subordinate receives the order!"
After Li Mao finished speaking, Fu Wenchang stepped forward, took a command token from Li Mao, and turned to walk out.
"Wang Yuanji!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You will return to the city walls now. I will select two hundred veteran soldiers from among all the soldiers. Tomorrow morning, they will be responsible for receiving the laborers in front of the prefectural office and organizing them into units!"
"Yes!"
After listening to Li Mao's words, Wang Yuanji also stepped forward, took a command token, and turned to walk out the door.
The Song and Liao had been at war for so many years. Although the Song imperial army had become increasingly corrupt, the martial spirit of the Hebei region had grown more robust.
Basically, all able-bodied men would practice some form of martial arts and archery during their leisure time.
These men might not form a cohesive army in open battle, but the situation was different when defending a city.
With a little training, they could become a fresh force in urban defense!
Moreover, their families were all within Zhen Ding city.
The cruelty of the Jin people had long been demonized throughout the Hebei region. With them now outside the city, what other option did these people have but to fight desperately?
"Everyone, after tonight, it will be our true test. I hope you can act according to your conscience! Of course, if we can overcome this hurdle together, I will certainly request merits for you from His Majesty!"
"Thank you, Your Excellency!"
Although everyone knew in their hearts that the hope of defending this isolated city was still very slim...
Yet, at this moment, they had no other way out. Everything was left to fate!
Under Li Mao's leadership, the entire Zhen Ding city began to mobilize rapidly. Countless commoners, with red eyes, began preparing battle robes for their sons and nephews.
The Jin were now outside the city. Once the city fell, endless suffering awaited them...
Even though they knew that this path might lead to eternal separation, they had no other choice...
Three days later, as Li Mao was personally overseeing the training of troops, Tong Guan, who had gathered an army of 100,000, finally arrived back in Bian Liang city, weary from his journey.
"Tong Guan! As the Pacification Commissioner of the four circuits of Hebei, Hedong, and Shaanxi, you abandoned your post and fled from the battlefield. What punishment do you deserve!"
As soon as Tong Guan entered the palace gate, the fiery-tempered Fan Zheng Guo pointed at him and began to berate him.
"You, you..."
Although Fan Zheng Guo's words were harsh, Tong Guan had no courage to argue with him at this moment.
As Tong Guan's face turned red and he didn't know how to defend himself, Shun Xi rushed out from the palace gate.
"Both gentlemen, His Majesty has issued a decree, requesting Grand Councilor Tong to see him immediately!"
"This subject, receives the decree!"
"Such a scoundrel, why bother seeing him!"
Tong Guan, with a flushed face, was about to follow Shun Xi into the palace when he was once again stopped by Fan Zheng Guo.
"My lord, this servant is acting under imperial orders. I beg you not to make things difficult for this servant..."
Seeing Fan Zheng Guo blocking his path, Shun Xi's heart sank.
"You go ahead with your business. Zi Yi, I have something to say to you. Come with me for a moment!"
Just as Fan Zheng Guo was about to say something more, Yu Shen suddenly walked over from the side and pulled Fan Zheng Guo aside.
"Prime Minister Yu, why are you stopping me? Do you also intend to protect him?"
Although Fan Zheng Guo was still extremely unwilling, Yu Shen was, after all, his nominal superior. He could only retreat to the side with Yu Shen.
"Do you know who else His Majesty summoned just now?"
Looking at Fan Zheng Guo's indignant face, Yu Shen said with a wry smile.
"Who?"
"Zhang Bangchang and the Crown Prince!"
"You mean!"
After hearing Yu Shen's words, Fan Zheng Guo's eyes widened.
It had only been a few days since the Emperor last summoned Zhang Bangchang privately, and today he summoned him again. At this critical juncture, he had also summoned that scoundrel Tong Guan!
Furthermore, besides the two of them, the Crown Prince was also brought along this time. This was clearly an attempt to shift the blame!
"Where are you going?"
Just as Fan Zheng Guo was about to turn and leave, Yu Shen quickly stopped him.
"What else can I do? Of course, I'm going to stop His Majesty! The Crown Prince is weak in character. At this time of national crisis, abdicating to the Crown Prince is not disregarding the Song dynasty's empire!"
After speaking, Fan Zheng Guo threw off Yu Shen's hand and headed towards the Fu Ning Hall.
Only after he had walked far away did Yu Shen reveal a meaningful smile...
A gentleman can be deceived by appearances. The ancients did not lie to me!