"I am truly sorry, General Wanyan, for the indiscretion last night after drinking..."
The next morning, as Wanyan Xuanzong just got up, Yelü Zhenghuan arrived at his door to apologize.
"Hahahaha, it's just a few women, what does that matter? Since the General fancies them, I'll give them to you!"
Seeing Yelü Zhenghuan's respectful demeanor, Wanyan Xuanzong burst into laughter.
"You make me laugh, General. I don't have many hobbies, but on this matter, I am truly ashamed to speak of it..."
"What's there to be ashamed of? Oh, right, I received a carrier pigeon from the Prime Minister this morning. His Excellency has also agreed for you to accompany me on this expedition. You should go back and prepare!"
Since he had made up his mind, Wanyan Xuanzong didn't waste any more time on this matter.
Wanyan Sheng had only given them ten days, and they didn't have much time to squander.
"Thank you, General!"
Seeing that the man had finally agreed, Yelü Zhenghuan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that his efforts had not been in vain.
"If you're thanking me, then I should be thanking you. Regarding the naval operations, I'll need to rely on your advice. Since there's still some time, you should go back and prepare. We'll set off in an hour!"
"Understood!"
After a secondcknowledgment, Yelü Zhenghuan, without further delay, bowed to Wanyan Xuanzong and turned to leave.
Just as the Jurchen navy was preparing to mobilize, in the city of Bianliang, looking at the blueprints of Bianliang's construction spread before him, even Li Gang felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
Bianliang was the capital of the entire Northern Song Dynasty, and theoretically, its buildings should be the safest in the land.
However, as he began to erect fortifications, he discovered that the city of Bianliang was truly riddled with vulnerabilities.
Since Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin first planned Bianliang, the city walls had undergone one modification. Legend had it that the original blueprints were personally designed by Prime Minister Zhao Pu. The initial circumference of Bianliang was forty-eight li and two hundred twenty-three bu.
In the sixth year of Zhenghe, Emperor Huizong, during his extensive palace renovations, also beautified a portion of the city walls.
The uneven sections were straightened, and the city was significantly expanded. The circumference of the entire Bianliang city reached fifty li and one hundred sixty-five bu.
The inner city alone had twelve gates, and coupled with the twelve land gates and eight water gates of the outer city, these twenty-odd gates, large and small, indeed looked magnificent.
During normal times, the flow of goods in and out was incredibly convenient. But now, when it came to defending the city, the situation was entirely different.
Every additional gate meant another weak point on the city walls. It was no easy feat to defend these twenty gates without a single gap.
Emperor Huizong, when building the city walls, had never considered them for defensive purposes. Now that the enemy had reached the city gates, this mess had all landed on Li Gang's shoulders.
"How many of the one hundred and eighty-two watchtowers you were instructed to build have been completed?"
Taking a deep breath, Li Gang could only cast aside his impractical thoughts and looked up at his deputies.
"Reporting, sir, we have mobilized five thousand carpenters from Bianliang city and they are working day and night. However, it will likely take at least another ten days..."
Upon hearing Li Gang's question, one of the deputies quickly replied in a low voice.
"Ten more days? If there aren't enough men, find more. If there isn't enough material, have them find a way at the Ministry of Revenue. I don't care if they dismantle civilian houses or government offices, these things must be gathered. You have five days. If they are not built within five days, then come see me with your heads!"
The so-called watchtowers were essentially towers on the battlement platforms. On one hand, they could protect the attacking soldiers, and on the other, they could allow soldiers to shoot arrows further.
"Understood!"
Hearing his words, the official in charge, with a grimace, turned and walked away.
Emperor Huizong, in his construction of the city walls, had never considered that Bianliang might be attacked. Therefore, for the sake of aesthetic appeal, he had not taken such matters into account at all.
Naturally, no foundations were laid for such structures. Now, attempting to build watchtowers on already constructed walls, and without affecting the main structure of the walls, was truly a difficult task.
However, with the enemy already at their doorstep, no matter how difficult the situation, they could only endure it now.
"The watchtowers are being handled. What about the moat? What's the situation at Fanjia Gang?"
"Sir, repairing the moat is not something that can be done in a few days. Thousands of laborers have been mobilized, but the progress..."
Upon hearing Li Gang's question, Zhang Shaoyou, forcing himself, began to speak.
The task of repairing the moat was incredibly complex. After much deliberation, Li Gang had entrusted this matter to Zhang Shaoyou. Yet, after working for many days, Zhang Shaoyou discovered it was a bottomless pit!
It was summer, and the rivers near Bianliang were in flood season. Repairing the moat was no easy feat.
It was the same issue: after the city walls at Fanjia Gang were repaired, the officials of the Ministry of Works had never considered defense. Moreover, the cronies of Cai Jing and Wang Fu were all insatiable scoundrels. How could they miss such a good opportunity to line their pockets?
The moat, which should have been at least eight chi deep, was now less than knee-high. How could deepening the moat be accomplished in just a day or two?
"What about the city walls? That section of the wall..."
After hearing Zhang Shaoyou's report, Li Gang did not pursue his responsibility too much. After all, unlike the construction of watchtowers, repairing the moat required draining a significant portion of the moat's water. In peacetime, such an action would be justifiable, but now, even if Zhang Shaoyou wanted to do it, he would not agree...
"That section of the wall indeed has some problems. People have already been assigned to reinforce it..."
"Sir, there is something I do not know whether to speak or not..."