Chapter 009 As long as the Jin soldiers do not come, the amount of annual currency is of no concern

However, despite the tears, Zhao Huan's head was still clear, and he understood that the most important thing at this moment was to force his father, Zhao Ji, to continue as the emperor

This statement is naturally meant to comfort Zhao Ji

What? The first month of next year! Zhao Ji became even more frightened upon hearing this, "Today is already the twenty-third day of the twelfth month..."

"Good!" Zhao Ji nodded repeatedly, "The Treaty of Chanyuan is good, we should quickly establish a new one... Sanlang, after you head north, do not only focus on fighting, but also seek opportunities to engage with the Jin thieves. The world is in turmoil, and ultimately, it is the common people who suffer. If we can spend some annual tribute to buy peace, it would also be a good thing"

Is this like spending money to buy peace? Zhao Kaixin said: You foolish monarch are daydreaming again

However, due to the aftereffects of time travel, he felt dizzy and disoriented. Moreover, he had little experience in matters such as sending troops to seize the palace, and he actually forgot to dispatch soldiers to seal off the Crown Prince's residence, nor did he send trusted aides to secure the six gates of the imperial city

The moment Zhao Huan thought that the sword might stab him, he burst into tears uncontrollably

As long as we can defend Tokyo on the southern front and cut off the retreat of the Jin thieves on the northern front, achieving a new alliance akin to the Treaty of Chanyuan will not be a difficult task! I believe that the Jin thieves are moving south primarily for wealth. If they were after our land, they should be slowly nibbling away at Hebei, rather than advancing so rapidly.

So he cried and shouted: "Father Emperor, you are only 44 years old, in the prime of your life, how can you abdicate? Moreover, I am young and lacking in fortune, timid and weak, with neither literary talent nor military prowess. In this time of national crisis, how can I dare to take the throne? If I were to become the emperor, the Song Dynasty would surely perish!"

However, Zhao Kai still readily responded, "I, your subject, will obey your command and will certainly find a way to negotiate with the Jin bandits as soon as possible."

At this point, everyone looked at Prince Zhao Kai and found him frowning as he scrutinized Zhao Huan. It turned out that Zhao Kai, this Song Dynasty version of Li Shimin, had not mastered the skills; he had only learned to pressure his father but had yet to learn to kill his brother

"Father Emperor," Zhao Kai said, "My humble opinion is that peace is achieved through war... First, there must be war, and only then can there be peace! My strategy for war is to defend the solid cities around the capital, Kaifeng, on the southern front, and to carry out a campaign to clear the wilderness. At the same time, I will personally go to Hebei to set up defenses and clear the wilderness along the route that the Jin invaders are sure to take on their way back, cutting off their retreat..."

Although Zhao Ji's abdication and escape have already failed, the challenge of resisting the Jurchens has now been placed before Zhao Kai. He must seize the opportunity to finalize the major strategy for resisting the Jurchens. At the same time, he needs to secure the positions of the military commanders for the eastern and western routes of Hebei, as well as obtain the powers to establish offices, appoint officials, and control the military and administrative finances of the various prefectures and counties in Hebei, including the authority over the transport officials in Hebei. In essence, he aims to consolidate all nominal military, political, and financial powers in Hebei into his own hands.

Zhao Kai actually never intended to negotiate. However, he was also aware of Zhao Ji's cowardly demeanor; if he did not give him a glimmer of hope for treason and begging for mercy, it was possible that as soon as he headed north, Zhao Ji would flee right after him

Furthermore, today we must also decide on the major strategy against the Jin. My humble suggestion is to defend the south while disturbing the north, seeking peace through warfare

Oh! Is this not His Highness the Crown Prince? Remarkably, he is still alive! What is going on? Could it be that "Li Shimin" forgot to kill "Li Jiancheng" at the Xuanwu Gate?

If Zhao Huan has committed no grave offenses, then those officials who are close to Zhao Huan need not worry about being implicated. They can leisurely watch how the Zhao family, consisting of father and two brothers, treat the imperial throne as a game of cuju, kicking it around. Such a spectacle is indeed rare!

As long as Zhao Ji remains the emperor, I still have hope of becoming a wealthy and contented gentleman. If Zhao Kai were to become the emperor, even if he did not grant me a single cup of the finest wine, he would still have to banish me far away to a place of poverty and suffering.

How to achieve reconciliation? Please speak quickly!

After being prompted by Zhao Kai, the ministers who were watching the performance finally reacted. Led by Li Bangyan and Cai Yao, the two heads of the Eastern Palace, they quickly knelt before Zhao Ji and collectively exclaimed: "We humbly request Your Majesty to prioritize the legacy of our ancestors and the welfare of the people, and personally lead the royal army to firmly defend the Eastern Capital, in order to protect the Song Dynasty and the lives of the people!"

Additionally, Zhao Kai must also assemble a makeshift team to guard the city of Tokyo, and they are to quickly formulate a strategy for the defense of the city. Currently, the Eastern Army of the Jin soldiers is approaching the capital of Kaifeng at an alarming speed, and it is estimated that by the first month of next year, a large contingent of Jin soldiers will cross the frozen Yellow River and reach the outskirts of Kaifeng!

Zhao Kai, upon seeing Zhao Huan's tearful demeanor, could only let out a sigh. Although he had never contemplated killing Zhao Huan, he also did not intend to allow him to continue his antics. Instead, he aimed to force Zhao Ji to issue an edict to depose the crown prince and then send Zhao Huan far away, either to Sichuan or Guangdong. In any case, he should not remain by Zhao Ji's side, lest this cowardly official, after his own northward campaign against the Jin, would leave the mess for Zhao Huan and escape himself.

Zhao Kai also noticed the high-ranking officials of the Song Dynasty who were watching the commotion, and he exclaimed: "You all are the pillars of the state, the trusted aides of my father, the emperor. If you do not speak now, do you intend to wait until the Jin bandits invade the capital before you take action?"

Seeing Crown Prince Zhao Huan rolling and crawling into the Chongzheng Hall while crying loudly, most people, including Zhao Ji, were taken aback

Moreover, it seems that Zhao Ji, this irresponsible official, is not going to escape. He will not flee...! ... The Song Dynasty will not be destroyed anytime soon, and the wealth and nobility of these individuals will be assured!

Indeed, Zhao Kai said, "Therefore, we should not delay any further; let us finalize the grand plan to resist the Jin today!"

"Father Emperor," Zhao Kai said, "What clever plans could I possibly have? I merely suggest that Father Emperor make a resolute decision today and issue an edict to establish the Tokyo Imperial Camp and the Hebei Marshal's Office, to respectively command the defense of Tokyo and its surrounding areas, as well as the resistance against the Jin in the eastern and western routes of Hebei.

"What is the grand plan?" Zhao Ji asked, "What brilliant strategy does Sanlang have to repel the enemy? Speak quickly!"

Zhao Ji nodded and looked at his third son, "San Lang, look, your elder brother wants you to take on the official position, why don't you give it a try..."

As for how much power and military force Zhao Kai can actually seize, it will depend on his abilities and fortune

"Father Emperor," Zhao Kai reported to the somewhat dazed Zhao Ji, "the Eastern Route Jin bandits are advancing south at an astonishing speed, likely covering more than a hundred miles a day. I estimate that by the first month of next year, the Jin army will reach the outskirts of Dongjing."

Zhao Huan also saw Zhao Kai, and just a glance made him fearful...! ... He looked too fierce! Clad in armor and helmet, sword in hand, this is a sign of intent to kill!

The six gates of the imperial city are certainly under the control of the Imperial City Department, overseen by Zhao Kai. However, the majority of the personnel working there are office workers from Kaifeng. The only ones truly capable of assisting Zhao Kai in significant matters are the few hundred elite troops from the Fifth Command under Huang Wuji, who were selected from the Western Army. Most of them have been on the battlefield and are willing to risk their lives for wealth and honor. Moreover, most of their families are not in Kaifeng, so even if things go awry, they can escape. If Zhao Kai were to dispatch dozens of elite officers from the Fifth Command to guard the six gates of the imperial city, then the Crown Prince would be unable to enter the Chongzheng Hall at all! He would have to obediently wait at home for his exile.

Inside the Chongzheng Hall, the court meeting is still in session

Father Emperor! I, your son, cannot take on this imperial position!" Zhao Kai was unwilling to accept this mess and quickly shook his head, saying, "In these times of national crisis, resisting the Jurchens is the foremost matter that our family must consider. Therefore, I implore you, Father Emperor, to refrain from contemplating abdication; otherwise, both the military and the people's morale will falter, and the Song Dynasty will face destruction!

... ...

Upon hearing his words, the ministers close to Zhao Huan in the court all breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Kai's mention of "father, son, and brother" indicated that he would not kill Zhao Huan for the time being, nor would he hold Zhao Huan accountable for the "crime of rebellion".

"Good!" Zhao Ji said, "Then I shall appoint you as the envoy for peace and the commander of the Hebei military forces... The peace envoy shall come first, and the military forces shall follow. Do you understand?"

If the Kaifeng Prefecture had not made adequate preparations before the arrival of the Jurchen army, then even if Zhao Ji, the emperor, had not fled, the situation of the war would likely not have been optimistic

If Father Emperor must abdicate, then let it be passed to Third Brother. Third Brother's literary and martial prowess far surpasses that of his son, and he will surely be able to repel the enemies and protect the nation

Upon hearing the words "peace negotiations," Zhao Ji immediately felt much better.