One Piece of Song Dynasty

Li Gang judged that the Jin army would definitely launch an attack at night. He did not dare to slack off and kept patrolling various defense areas on the city wall. Sure enough, the Jin army began to attack the city that night. They first attacked Xishui Gate, that is, Xuanze Gate. They held torches and rode dozens of large boats down the Bian River one after another.

Li Gang came to the scene to command the battle in person. He deployed all the two thousand death warriors he had recruited under the city of Guaizi. When the enemy ship approached, the soldiers hooked the ship with long hooks and pulled it to the shore. At this time, the Song army threw large rocks at the ship and smashed it. At the same time, Li Gang ordered the soldiers to set up wooden fences in the middle of the river, and arranged for men and horses to go to Cai Jing's house to carry rockery stones and throw them into the river to block the enemy ships.

In the end, at the Battle of Xishui Gate, the Song army won a complete victory and captured more than a hundred Jin men from boats in the water. The Jin army's first attack was repulsed. Until dawn, the Jin army did not dare to attack Xishuimen again.

In the early morning of the eighth day of the first lunar month, Zheng Wangzhi and Gao Shize quietly left Dutingyi with Wu Xiaomin and other gold envoys. They entered the palace from Xuande Gate and came to a row of temporary tents erected outside Chongzheng Hall to wait for their audience.

Song Qinzong first summoned Zheng Wangzhi and Gao Shize in Yanhe Hall to understand the situation. Zheng Wangzhi wrote down his exchanges with Wu Xiaomin, as well as what he saw and felt about Wu Xiaomin and the Jin people through his own observations. Song Qinzong said nothing after seeing it, and then moved to Chongzheng Hall to receive Wu Xiaomin and other gold envoys.

Wu Xiaomin and another Jin man, led by the chamberlain, went to the palace and knelt down to play. Wu Xiaomin said: "Prince Langjun intercepted the pardon letter on the way, and then we knew that the emperor had ascended the throne, and the emperor had already abdicated. I came here to negotiate peace, and Prince Langjun I want a minister to come over."

Song Qinzong agreed to send ministers to the Jin camp to negotiate peace, and asked the Jin envoys to retreat and wait. So, under the guidance of the chamberlain, Wu Xiaomin and another Jin man returned to the tent under the corridor of Chongzheng Hall to wait.

Song Qinzong looked at Li Bangyan, Zhang Bangchang and other ministers and asked: "Who can go to Jin camp to negotiate peace?"

The governors were silent. You looked at me and I looked at you. No one answered.

At this time, Li Gang stepped forward and said: "I beg you to go."

Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty disagreed and said: "It is not possible for Qing to manage the army."

Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty saw that no one except Li Gang was willing to take the initiative to ask for an order, so he ordered his colleague Li Qi, the minister of the Privy Council, to serve as envoy, and Zheng Wangzhi and Gao Shi followed him.

After resigning from the court, Li Gang stayed behind. He asked Song Qinzong why he didn't send him to Jin camp to negotiate peace. Song Qinzong replied: "You are too strong-willed to go there."

Li Gang analyzed: "The enemy is now very powerful. We have not gathered all our troops, so we cannot be at odds with each other. However, we must have a strategy for peace. If we have a strategy, China's situation will be at ease. Otherwise, the disaster will be over and the clan and society will be in danger. I am here to help you." I am worried that Li Chunrou may be cowardly and interfere with state affairs."

Then, Li Gang further analyzed the situation and repeatedly emphasized that no territory should be ceded and no excessive promises of gold and silk should be made. Li Gang said: "The Jin people are greedy in nature, and the Yan people are planning for them. However, the Yan people are always cunning. They will make loud noises and make excessive invitations to gauge China's reaction. If the court does not take action, appropriate measures will be taken. , they should restrain themselves and retreat; if the court is frightened and agrees to everything they ask for, they will know that China has no one, and they will covet it even more. In this case, the worries will not end. First, don't panic, you must have determination, and then you can deal with the safety crisis I hope your Majesty will review the opportunity." Song Qinzong nodded in agreement.

Li Gang also suggested that the chief ministers should be arranged to be promoted to the four sides of the city wall to supervise the battle to boost morale. Song Qinzong then ordered Cai Mao to serve as the envoy to guard the four walls of the capital. Li Gang then left Chongzheng Hall and went to inspect various parts of the city.

Wu Xiaomin was a little anxious waiting in the tent outside Chongzheng Hall. When he saw Zheng Wangzhi approaching, he hurriedly stepped forward and asked: "The ministers who negotiated the peace in the past decided that we must leave the city gate as soon as possible so that we can go back and resume our orders. "

Zheng Wangzhi replied: "Although it has been confirmed that I will go with Privy Li, I have not received the order and cannot leave immediately. Now let's go to Dutingyi and have breakfast with the Grand Master and others. After dinner, Li and I The Privy Council has to go back to the palace to give a speech before he can go out."

Soon, Zheng Wangzhi and Li Zhe entered the palace again to play duel. Song Qinzong expressed his position: "If we talk about ceding land and cannot agree, we can agree to give annual coins. It is okay to increase it by three to five million."

Zheng Wangzhi said: "Three to five million is a lot, but in addition to fixed taxes, the country can also earn million from tea and salt money every year. If there are no other expenses, there is still some leftover to complete this matter."

Then, when talking about the amount of gold and silver that could be promised to reward the army, Song Qinzong said: "You can also promise three to five million taels of silver."

Song Qinzong also asked Li Zhe to bring taels of gold and some wine and fruits to give to the Jin army commander Zong Wang himself.

Wu Xiaomin repeatedly asked Zheng Wangzhi to leave the city quickly, but it took some time to prepare gold, wine and fruits, and it was not until evening that these things were gathered together. By the time they rode on the road, it was already long after sunset. About a mile or two after walking out of Wansheng Gate, it was already dark.

On the way, they suddenly encountered two or three Jin cavalry patrolling the road. The Jin soldiers did not know that they were envoys, so they drew arrows and shot at them randomly, killing one of the followers and injuring the other four followers. By the time they arrived at Moutuogang Breeding Prison, it was already midnight.

Li Zhe, Zheng Wangzhi, Gao Shize and other Song envoys followed Wu Xiaomin to a large Jin camp tent to see Zong Wang. Zong Wang sat facing south, while Li Zhe, Zheng Wangzhi and Gao Shi were waiting to "bow to the north again and kneel forward". Zong Wang sent a message through the translator Wang Ru, blaming the Song Dynasty for not violating the alliance, not accepting returned officials, and not giving the edict to Zhang Jue of Pingzhou to kill the Jin people. He only said these three things and said nothing about the peace talks.

Zong Wang finally said: "It's late now, let's see you tomorrow."

Li Zhe said: "Here are ten thousand taels of gold given by the emperor, as well as some wine and fruits."

Zong Wang nodded and said: "Order Wu Xiaomin to deliver it."

That night, Li Zhe, Zheng Wangzhi, Gao Shize and others were arranged to stay in the breeding prison. Not long after they arrived and sat down in the tent, Xiao Sanbaonu, Yeluzhong, and Zhang Yuangong walked in. Xiao Sanbaonu mentioned Zhang Jue and other matters again and said: "It is for these reasons that the Jin Kingdom raised its troops. Not long after entering the country, he heard that the emperor had enthroned Zen, and the emperor had ascended to the throne. The prince Lang Jun wanted to withdraw his troops, but he blamed the Southern Dynasty for not doing so. Send messengers to seek peace.”

Zheng Wangzhi said: "The imperial court has sent Li Ye to the incident. I don't know where he met the Dajin people, and I have no news about him."

Xiao Sanbaonu said: "Li Guishi was sent by the emperor. He cannot represent the current emperor. Prince Langjun said that he does not know what the current emperor's will is."

Zheng Wangzhi replied: "It has only been more than ten days since your Majesty took the throne. Your Majesty is already south. The imperial court was so hasty that your troops have already arrived at the city before they can send envoys." Zheng Wangzhi paused for a moment and then said: "Jurchen is originally a Small country, at the beginning, you used your strength to destroy the Khitan, but in the end, you can be on good terms with China through courtesy and justice. Isn't it a good thing?"

put this rack