Chapter 2: Carrying Surrender to the End

So that's how it is, now I can rest assured. The mountain has finally not fallen, and Han Zhen can finally breathe a sigh of relief as he sits in the chair beside the sickbed as instructed by Jia Sidao. Jia Sidao first ordered all the personal soldiers in the rear tent to leave, and then asked Han Zhen: "Han Zhen, let me ask you, how is the current situation of our Song army and the Mongolian army? Could you give me an overview of the troop strength and the deployment of the armies?"

Note 1: The position of the Chief of Staff in the Song army is equivalent to that of a military advisor.

Each person received forty military sticks and is currently recuperating in the military prison tent. Those two individuals are quite stubborn, still cursing the envoy for surrendering and betraying the country within the prison tent. Han Zhen answered truthfully. Jia Sidao's eyes shifted again as he beckoned Han Zhen and Liao Yingzhong to come closer, whispering instructions in their ears: "Listen carefully, arrange for someone to quietly deliver some medicinal supplies to them, so that their injuries heal sooner—but do not inform them that the medicine was sent on my orders. Then, tomorrow morning, in front of Ahema, have someone take them out to be executed. Afterward, send their heads as a gift to Kublai Khan, demonstrating our determination for peace negotiations." After saying this, Jia Sidao added with concern: "Remember, this matter must be kept confidential; send reliable people to make arrangements, and absolutely do not let others know—including Song Jing!"

"Agreed! How could one disagree?" Jia Sidao raised his head, his delicate long eyes darting around, and spoke in a sinister tone: "Isn't it just a place called Huhuangzhou? If Kublai Khan wants to station there, let him do as he pleases. Our Great Song will save the trouble of sending another army to garrison there, thus avoiding wasteful military expenses"

The physician mentioned that the illness of the Prime Minister is quite peculiar, likely due to excessive fright causing him to forget past events, which is why he does not recognize any of us. However, fortunately, the Prime Minister's health is not compromised, and he has now returned to normal. Liao Yingzhong explained to Han Zhen according to the words of that yellow-green physician in the army, and continued: "During this recent period, I and Lord Song have already provided a brief introduction to the Prime Minister about his past and current situation. Upon hearing that the three of us are his most trusted individuals, he called you over as well, wanting to ask you some questions about the past and present to assist him in regaining his memory"

So it is like this, truly complicated. Jia Sidao murmured as he fell into deep thought. Han Zhen then cautiously asked: "Your Excellency, the Mongolian envoy Ah He Ma is still waiting in the tent, and he requires your response tonight regarding whether you agree to Kublai Khan's treaty or not"

"My lord, the Prime Minister has awakened again and requests your presence to respond." As night fell, Han Zhen exerted tremendous effort to invite Ahema into the tent for a temporary rest. Upon returning to the main tent, he had not even had a sip of water when an aide from Jia Sidao came to summon him to the rear tent. Han Zhen, the most trusted aide of Jia Sidao, did not dare to delay and hurriedly went with Jia Sidao's aide to the rear tent. As soon as they entered, Han Zhen saw Jia Sidao already sitting up on his sickbed, while Jia Sidao's other two trusted aides, Liao Yingzhong and Song Jing, were sitting beside the bed, quietly speaking to him. Upon seeing Han Zhen enter, Liao Yingzhong quickly said to Jia Sidao: "My lord, this is Han Zhen, Lord Han, who has been with you since you took office as the Chief of the Military Equipment Supervision, for a total of twenty years. He is now a councilor in our army's Department of Military Affairs and your deputy."

Kehuhuangzhou serves as a barrier for Ezhou, and that place has been controlled by Kublai Khan. If Kublai Khan were to change his mind in the future, our natural defense along the Yangtze River would become ineffective. Enxiang, this matter is of great importance, so you must consider it carefully. Han Zhen was taken aback and quickly reminded Jia Sidao. Liao Yingzhong also strongly opposed Jia Sidao's actions, while only Song Jing repeatedly nodded in firm support of Jia Sidao's decision. Jia Sidao waved his hand, sighed deeply, and said: 'What can we do if we disagree? Can our Song Dynasty army defeat the Mongolian army? Can we retake Kehuhuangzhou, which is already under Mongolian control?'

Have you heard? Lord Jia has encountered an incident! He suddenly fainted during negotiations with the Mongolian envoys, and when he regained consciousness, something was amiss—he seemed possessed, as if he had become a different person. Even the esteemed officials such as Song Jing, Han Zhen, and Liao Yingzhong, who went to visit him, were unrecognized by him. He shouted in confusion about how he had returned to the Song Dynasty. He kept insisting that his surname was not Jia, but He, and his name was Kang, and while he was shouting, he fainted again

On the afternoon when Jia Sidao was frightened to the point of fainting by the Mongolian envoy Ahama, a rumor quietly spread within and outside the central tent of the Song army's Huanggang camp. This forced Han Zhen, who temporarily took over military affairs in place of Jia Sidao as the councilor of the Zhi Zhi Si, to issue orders prohibiting the rumor. Anyone spreading rumors about Jia Sidao was to be executed, and it took considerable effort to temporarily suppress the rumors. At the same time, Han Zhen had to concern himself with Jia Sidao's health while dealing with the aggressive Mongolian envoy Ahama, who demanded an immediate response from Jia Sidao, making him exceedingly busy.

"Oh, so it's Han Zhen. Please, take a seat," Jia Sidao nodded and casually pointed to a seat in the tent. However, Han Zhen was taken aback and hurriedly asked Jia Sidao's aide, Liao Yingzhong, "Mr. Liao, what exactly is the condition of the Prime Minister? How could he not even recognize me?"

Han Zhen and Liao Yingzhong were at a loss for words. If it were a naval battle, the Song army would indeed have the strength to confront the Mongolian army, but in land battles and sieges, the Song army was no match for the Mongolian forces. Seeing that Han Zhen and Liao Yingzhong no longer opposed him, Jia Sidao commanded, "Then it shall be done. Song Jing, you go draft the treaty and then present it to Han Zhen for sealing. We will sign the treaty tonight." Overjoyed at the prospect of surrendering to the Mongols, Song Jing hurriedly set about preparing as instructed by Jia Sidao. Jia Sidao then turned to Han Zhen and asked, "Han Zhen, just now Liao Yingzhong told me that two generals in the army opposed my signing a treaty with the Mongols at noon today. What has become of them now?"

"En Xiang, what exactly are you planning to do?" After Jia Sidao finished making arrangements, Han Zhen and Liao Yingzhong's eyes had widened to twice their size as they asked Jia Sidao in unison. Jia Sidao smiled ambiguously, "What am I planning to do? Of course, it is to express the determination for peace talks. Those two ungrateful little officers have accused me of surrendering and betraying the country, right? Since it is surrender, then I will carry the surrender through to the end!"

Yes. Han Zhen responded and introduced one by one: "Currently, the Mongol army consists of 200,000 troops, with 180,000 stationed at Qingshiqi between Ezhou and Huanggang, personally led by the Mongol Prince Kublai. There are over 1,000 warships, with nearly 100 large ships capable of carrying more than 800 people; additionally, there are 20,000 troops stationed at Huhuangzhou to the east of Ezhou, led by the traitors Zhang Jie and Yan Wang, who are restraining our forces in Ezhou city. As for our Song Dynasty forces, there are more than 30,000 troops in Ezhou city under General Gao Da and General Lü Wende, while on the Huanggang side, you, Sir, are personally leading 130,000 troops, with ample warships available, ready to descend the river and retreat to Lin'an at any time.

Wasn't Kublai Khan supposed to attack Ezhou? How could he allow the main army to be stationed at Qingshiqi? Wasn't the intention to reinforce Ezhou? Why then are they stationed in Huanggang? Jia Sidao posed a question that nearly caused Han Zhen and others to faint. Considering that Jia Sidao had lost his memory, Han Zhen patiently explained: "Your Excellency, we actually entered Ezhou City in September. After nearly four months of hard fighting, we managed to hold Ezhou City, during which General Zhang Sheng, the original defender of Ezhou, sacrificed his life. Later, Kublai Khan threatened to attack Lin'an and moved the main forces to be stationed at Qingshiqi. In order to protect Lin'an, you ordered our main army of the Song Dynasty to leave the city and relocate to Huanggang to prevent Kublai Khan from advancing down the river to attack Lin'an." Han Zhen continued to explain patiently: "Your Excellency, we actually entered Ezhou City in September. After nearly four months of hard fighting, we managed to hold Ezhou City, during which General Zhang Sheng, the original defender of Ezhou, sacrificed his life. Later, Kublai Khan threatened to attack Lin'an and moved the main forces to be stationed at Qingshiqi. In order to protect Lin'an, you ordered our main army of the Song Dynasty to leave the city and relocate to Huanggang to prevent Kublai Khan from advancing down the river to attack Lin'an."