Chapter 62: Ninth Sister's Plea for Help, Yue Fei Enters the Capital

Minister of Personnel Mo Chou stepped out of the ranks and said, "Your Majesty, since the Jin bandits have retreated, we must urgently summon the various armies from Hebei and Hedong. For now, we can dispatch envoys across the Yellow River to deliver orders to Zhao Ye, Grand Director-General of Hebei, and Fan Ne, Pacification Commissioner of Eastern Hedong, commanding them to come to the capital to reinforce military defenses."

Even someone like Mo Chou now recognized the necessity of establishing defenses.

This demonstrated a clear reality: the officials of the imperial court no longer dared to speak of appeasement—at least not for the moment.

As for whether a faction would emerge later, advocating for peace once the defenses were in place, remains to be seen.

Regarding Zhao Gou, many individuals within Bianjing were still unaware that he had been appointed as the Grand Marshal of Hebei Military and Political Affairs.

After all, when Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, appointed Zhao Gou, he had issued a secret edict written on silk, smuggled out of the city by a trusted messenger.

Naturally, people were even more ignorant of the fact that Zong Ze was currently rallying hundreds of thousands of volunteer soldiers in Hebei, and consequently, they had no inkling that the main force of the Jin army was already looming directly before the walls of Daming.

Zhao Ning stated, "The matter of stationing troops in Hebei is something I shall discuss with Lord Shuye; you need not trouble yourselves with it."

With a single remark, the Emperor effectively blocked any subtle attempts by others to meddle in the newly formed Military and Political Affairs Office.

After all, everyone had barely recovered their senses when this Military and Political Affairs Office had suddenly materialized.

Because it pertained directly to military governance and held immense authority, naturally, certain individuals desired to intervene or even plant their own people within it.

As the Minister of Personnel holding partial authority over official appointments, Mo Chou was even less inclined to remain idle.

Uninformed of further developments at this crucial juncture, the officials refrained from pressing the matter further.

Yet, their minds began to churn with calculations: surely this Military and Political Affairs Office would require personnel, wouldn't it?

They must hurriedly seize the opportunity to insert their own followers.

While Dongjing Bianjing enjoyed a brief moment of tranquility, flames of war ignited once more in Beijing Daming.

Daming served as the Northern Capital of the Song Dynasty.

The Northern Song maintained four capitals: Nanjing Yingtian (Shangqiu, not Jinling), Beijing Daming, Dongjing Bianjing, and Xijing Luoyang.

At this very moment, Zhao Gou was residing in Beijing Daming.

His hundreds of thousands of troops could only be described as utterly decimated.

Those who didn't perish had fled.

A mere eighty thousand managed to enter the walled city of Daming to make a desperate last stand.

Wanyan Wushu: That familiar feeling of collapsing at a single blow has returned!

Wanyan Yinshuke: Fighting the Song troops here is still as exhilarating as ever!

On April 15th, Zhao Gou convened an emergency council.

Zhao Gou declared, "Lords, apply your minds swiftly and devise a strategy to drive back the enemy!"

Splendid. Originally an army raised to rescue the sovereign, they found themselves completely surrounded.

Huang Qianhan spoke up: "I said long ago that had we relocated to Dongping Prefecture in Shandong, none of this would have happened."

"There is no point in dwelling on that now! Devise a strategy to repel the enemy at once!"

If Zhao Gou had previously felt a mild terror and lingering fear, he was now gripped by sheer panic.

He had only just assumed the post of Grand Marshal of Hebei Military and Political Affairs and had barely tasted the sweetness of power, yet he was already besieged by the Jin army!

Once a man acquires wealth or power, his dread of death multiplies.

Wang Boyan suggested, "Grand Marshal, send someone to summon Zong Ze to our rescue."

"But Zong Ze is currently in Hebei preparing to relieve the capital. Will he send forces here?"

"He will. Zong Ze is the Deputy Marshal, subordinate to the Grand Marshal's府. Your command is a military order!"

"Yet last time I ordered him not to act rashly, and he did anyway. Will he obey my directives?"

"He will. Your Highness is in peril now; he dares not refuse to come."

Zhang Jun immediately interjected, "Precisely because Zong Ze defied Your Highness, and insisted on waging war against the Jin even after His Majesty had sued for peace, the Jin have redirected their wrath upon us!"

Zhao Ye chimed in, "Indeed, the responsibility for this must be borne by Zong Ze!"

Internally, Wang Boyan cursed them as fools. What time was it, yet they still expected others to rescue them while simultaneously shifting the blame onto their savior?

Even if one were to shift blame, it should wait until after the rescue!

Wang Boyan urged, "This matter is of grave importance. Zong Ze's unilateral actions defied the peace accord struck between His Majesty and the Jin. Once the Jin troops withdraw, we can submit a memorial for His Majesty's sagely judgment. Let us speak no more of this for now."

Nodding, Zhao Gou commanded, "Transmit my orders instructing Zong Ze to lead his army to our relief."

"Understood!"

In truth, everyone present knew that the peace negotiations between the Emperor and the Jin lacked an official conclusion—meaning no imperial envoy had arrived with formal decrees.

Yet, they collectively chose willful blindness and opted to believe it.

Why?

Because it provided an excuse to avoid direct conflict with the Jin.

Should the imperial court hold them accountable later, they could claim the situation was delicate, truth and falsehood were indistinguishable, and fearing damage to state affairs, they dared not act rashly while simultaneously dispatching agents to verify the reports.

As for whom they allegedly dispatched, they could easily find a scapegoat when the time came.

The distance from Daming to the vicinity of Huazhou, where Zong Ze was stationed, was less than three hundred li. With horses pushed to a gallop, the journey took barely half a day.

By evening, Zong Ze received the plea for reinforcements from Daming.

Liu Hao inquired, "General Zong, what shall we do now? The Grand Marshal orders us to raise our troops and march to Daming Prefecture."

"And Pengju, has he returned?"

"He has been out all day; he should be returning soon!"

A moment later, Yue Fei arrived.

Having been dispatched the previous afternoon with a small detachment of cavalry scouts to cross the Yellow River southward and ascertain the enemy's movements, he was only just returning.

"General!"

"Pengju."

Zong Ze's form of address for Yue Fei had shifted, signifying a profound change in his attitude toward the man.

For a marshal to address a junior officer by his style name meant that officer held an extraordinary place in the marshal's esteem.

Much like how Zhao Ning referred to Zhang Shujye not by his given name, but as "Lord Shuye," and Zhao Ding as "Lord Zhao."

"What is the situation?"

"Marshal, this general investigated the vicinity of the capital, and the Jin bandits have completely withdrawn!"

"Is that true?"

"Beyond a shadow of a doubt!"

Zong Ze continued, "How long will it take to determine from where the main force of the Jin army retreated?"

Yue Fei replied, "There are no current clues, but to investigate thoroughly would take only a few days."

With a worried expression, Liu Hao said, "General Zong, since the crisis at the capital has been resolved, Beijing Daming is now in imminent danger. The Grand Marshal's military order lies here; if you do not go, it will be construed as defying military commands and subject to military law!"

Yue Fei also stated, "Marshal, Commander Liu's words are sound. Even if our army ascertains the Jin retreat route, catching up will take time, and we cannot be certain of the exact strength of the retreating Jin forces. Furthermore, this subordinate fears the Jin bandits may have deliberately laid ambushes during their withdrawal."

Frowning in deep thought for a moment, Zong Ze said, "What you say makes sense. We shall go and lift the siege of Daming."

Immediately afterward, Zong Ze added, "Pengju, I dispatch you to the capital to report on the situation. You must gain an audience with the Emperor, deliver my report into his own hands, and set his mind at ease, assuring him that I shall rescue Prince Kang."

"Understood!" Yue Fei acknowledged.

Shortly thereafter, carrying Zong Ze's report, Yue Fei set out once more, heading toward Dongjing.

On April 20th, Zong Ze led fifty thousand troops in a rapid advance toward Daming.

Instantly, word spread across the prefectures and counties of Daming Prefecture that Marshal Zong was coming.

The previously crumbling morale was dramatically revitalized.

Meanwhile, bearing Zong Ze's report, Yue Fei entered the Eastern Capital.