One Piece of Song Dynasty

In late December last year, after the Jin Army's East Route Army occupied Yanjing, they continued to gallop south along the Hebei Plain. Due to internal and external pressure and inner timidity, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty decided to take the Zen position. The day before his Zen enthronement, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty reactivated Zhongshi Dao and appointed him as the envoy of the Gyeonggi and Hebei roads. He also sent a special person to ask him to lead the Western Army to King Qin in Beijing.

Zhong Shidao has been living in Baolin Valley of Zhongnan Mountain since his retirement, living a leisurely pastoral life. After receiving the order from King Qin, he did not immediately go eastward. He thought that the Jin people would not dare to cross the river, let alone attack the capital. Later, although he set off on his journey, he could only travel thirty miles a day, "without abandoning the safari." On the way, he met the commander Yao Pingzhong who was returning from Yanshan with cavalry and infantry. Zhong Shidao took out the imperial edict of King Qin and asked Yao Pingzhong's army to obey his orders. Yao Pingzhong then went to the capital with him. On the way, they met Yin Tianhao, a young man from Kaifeng Prefecture who was sent by Song Qinzong to move reinforcements, as well as Pei Yi and Lu Shun, the chamberlains. They urged Zhong Shidao to march quickly. The capital was in danger, and the emperor was worried and restless.

When arriving in Luoyang, Xijing, Zhongshidao learned that Zongwang's army had arrived at the gates of Tokyo. At this time, someone suggested: "The enemy is strong, and if I attack it with light troops, I will be defeated. The troops of King Qin from all directions will be disintegrated. It is better to station in Si River in order to achieve complete victory."

Zhong Shidao replied: "No. Although I serve the king with a small force, if I return late and fail to advance, I will only be defeated. The enemy is alone and goes deep, and he is afraid that my reinforcements will arrive. If we go straight away now, he will be defeated." It is unpredictable. But as soon as you ride to the capital, the spirit of the capital will revive on its own."

So Zhong Shidao led his army to advance rapidly. They built a great momentum along the road. Wherever they passed, they posted posters saying: Zhong Shaobao led one million Western soldiers to serve the king. When approaching Tokyo, Zhongshidao selected twenty cavalrymen as the vanguard. They were fully armored and armed, carrying sealed wax books, and went to Beijing first to report.

The twenty cavalrymen galloped away, and when they arrived outside Tokyo, they happened to encounter the golden knights coming out. Undaunted, they immediately galloped to attack. The Jin knights knew that this was the arrival of the Western Army of the Song Dynasty, so they hurriedly retreated. Twenty cavalrymen then went to the bottom of the city, knocked on the city gate, entered the palace and presented the wax book to Song Qinzong.

When the citizens of the capital learned that King Qin's Western troops were coming, they all jumped for joy and enthusiasm. The morale of the officers and soldiers in the city immediately increased tenfold, and their fighting spirit was high.

After Zhong Shidao arrived in the west of the city, he led his army straight to the south of Bian River and forced the enemy camp to move down to the stronghold. The Jin people had long heard that the Western Army was the elite division of the Song Dynasty, and they also knew that Zhongshi Dao was famous and had defeated the Xixia army several times. The Jin people were afraid and their arrogance was somewhat restrained, so they moved the stronghold slightly north, built more forts, and guarded Moutuogang with all their strength for self-defense. The cavalry no longer dared to go out to plunder.

Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty was very happy after receiving the news. He immediately ordered the door to be opened, invited Zhong Shidao to enter the city, and sent Minister Youcheng Li Gang to greet him and express his condolences.

Just as Zhongshidao was about to leave for the city, he suddenly received an imperial edict from Prime Minister Li Bangyan, saying: "The imperial court and the Jinren have reached an agreement, and those who dare to speak out about war will be exterminated." This shocked Zhongshidao. He did not expect that the imperial court He negotiated peace with the Jin people so quickly. At this time, someone suggested to Zhongshidao: "The Jin people are going to the west of the city. Please be careful before entering the city again." People were worried that Zhongshidao would be attacked by Jin soldiers on the way into the city, so they asked for strict precautions. Add protection. Zhong Shidao smiled calmly and did not adopt it.

Zhong Shidao was old and suffering from illness, so he did not ride a horse, but entered the city in a carriage. As soon as he entered the city, he entered the palace with Prime Minister Li Bangyan and others to see the emperor.

Song Qinzong was waiting for them in Funing Hall. As soon as he saw Song Qinzong, Zhong Shidao reported: "I didn't know that the capital was in such a hurry. I once speculated that the Jin people would not dare to cross the river, so they arrived late. Now that I am here, Your Majesty does not need to worry."

These words made Song Qinzong feel warm in his heart. Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty repeatedly expressed condolences to Zhongshi Dao and asked: "The plan will be settled."

Zhong Shidao replied: "I think that making peace is not a plan. It is eighty miles around the capital. How can we besiege the city with a height of more than ten feet and several years of millage and be unable to attack it? If a stronghold is built on the city, and the outside of the city is severely If you refuse, wait for King Qin's troops for no more than ten months, and the enemy will be trapped. However, the peace has been made, and it cannot be annulled. If the gold and silver are insufficient, please use the numbers to fight with him. If he does not retreat, he will fight with him, and there are four towns. There is Baozhou in the land, which is where Seonjo’s mausoleum is located, so it is not appropriate to cede it.”

After hearing this, Song Qinzong thought it made sense, so he asked Zhong Shidao, Li Bangyan and other ministers to go to the political affairs hall to discuss the matter together.

When they came to Zhengshi Hall, Zhong Shidao asked Li Bangyan: "I am in the west, and I didn't know that the capital was so strong and high, so it was more than ready for defense. At that time, I would make peace no matter what happened."

Li Bangyan replied: "Because the country has no soldiers, we have no choice but to negotiate peace."

Zhongshidao said: "Defending and fighting are, of course, two different things. If the capital is insufficient to fight, there will be more to defend. Even though the people in the capital cannot fight, they can still be made to defend. But when there is no food, there is only enough food, and millions of people in the capital are soldiers. Also, what does it mean to have no soldiers?"

Li Bangyan argued sophistically: "I have never practiced martial arts, so I didn't know there was such a way."

Zhong Shidao smiled and said: "If you don't practice martial arts, why don't you hear about the past attacks and defenses?"

Li Bangyan was speechless.

Zhong Shidao added: "I heard that the residents outside the city were killed and plundered by the enemy, and most of the livestock and livestock were owned by the enemy. When I heard that the enemy was coming, why not order the people outside the city to evacuate their houses, move their livestock into the city, and then close the city gate. , why should livestock products be retained as enemy property?”

Li Bangyan explained: "In the rush, there was no time to take care of this matter."

Zhong Shidao smiled again and said: "I'm so panicked, so panicked." Everyone around Zhong Shidao laughed.

Zhong Shidao asked again: "The civil servants such as the public servants can't defend themselves with the gold belt around their waists. They all took off their belts and handed them over to the enemy. What if the enemy asks for the heads of the public officials?" Li Bangyan looked ashamed and was speechless.

Zhongshidao sighed with emotion and said: "The capital is so vast, and there are only tens of thousands of Jin soldiers. How can we surround it? Why are the four gates closed? This allows the Jin people to plunder, but our people are trapped."

That night, Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty appointed Zhong Shidao to concurrently serve as Shaobao Inspector and Privy Councilor Tongzhi, and soon appointed him as the envoy.

Zong Wang learned that the Western Army of the Song Dynasty had arrived at the city. The next day, he sent Wang Ru into the city to meet with the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. In name, it was to thank Song Qinzong for the reward, but in fact it was to observe and understand the situation in the Song Dynasty.

Wang Rui entered the palace, knelt down and bowed, expressing his gratitude to Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty for the agarwood, rhinoceros, tortoiseshell wine vessels, rare animals and birds, etc. The etiquette of Wang Ru's visit this time was "slightly less" than before.

Song Qinzong turned around and smiled at Master Zhongdao: "That's why he is afraid of you."

At that time, all the gates in the capital were closed. Zhongshidao ordered the eastern and southern gates to be opened, allowing citizens to come and go as usual, which made the people feel less at ease.