One Piece of Song Dynasty

Geng Nanzhong didn't know Zongze. After Zongze came to Beijing, Geng Nanzhong sent someone to bring Zongze for a talk. In fact, they wanted to test whether Zongze could take on the important task of being an envoy. During the conversation, Zongze said: "There will be no chance of surviving this trip."

Geng Nanzhong asked: "Why is this?"

Zongze replied: "It would be great if the enemy can repent and retreat. Otherwise, I can humiliate the emperor by humiliating the emperor's life by surrendering to Beiting."

Geng Nanzhong felt that Zongze was too strong and forthright to be a peace envoy. He reported to Song Qin Zonghui: "Zongze is unyielding and is afraid of harming the peace talks."

Song Qinzong then revoked the appointment of Zongze and appointed him as the magistrate of Cizhou.

At that time, officials of all sizes saw the situation very clearly. Sooner or later, the Jin people would launch an attack on the Hedong and Hebei areas, which would sooner or later turn into a battlefield of blood and fire. Therefore, officials who were appointed to take up posts in the Lianghe region tried their best to avoid taking up their posts for various reasons.

Zongze was very angry about this. He said: "It is not allowed to take refuge on a salary." On the day he was ordered, he rode on the road alone, followed by only a dozen old and weak soldiers.

After Cizhou was ravaged by the Jin soldiers last time, many people had fled and the official treasury was empty of money. After taking office, Zongze was not afraid of difficulties, organized the people to repair the city wall, dredge the moat, organize the equipment, recruit volunteers, and began to make preparations to defend the city.

Zongze said in the memorial: "If the five prefectures of Xing, Ming, Ci, Zhao, and Xiang each have elite troops, and the enemy attacks a county, then all four counties will respond. This means that one county often has troops. ." Song Qinzong was very happy after seeing this, and immediately appointed him as the general manager of the Hebei Volunteer Army.

Li Gang had been stationed in Huaiyang. He originally wanted to move the Xuanfu Shiguan to Longde Mansion, but he gave up because of the firm opposition of his staff. When he learned that Wu Min had been awarded a casual official position and was resettled in Fuzhou, he felt even heavier. The court said that Wu Min was a member of the Cai family and a confidant of Cai You installed in the court, which Li Gang could not accept. Li Gang believed that this must be Tang Ke, Geng Nanzhong, and Nie Chang who had fabricated the facts to confuse right and wrong and deceived the emperor. He suddenly had an ominous premonition. He felt that he might follow in Wu Min's footsteps soon.

Li Gang sighed secretly: "The matter can't be done anymore." So he submitted a memorial to Song Qinzong, begging to be dismissed from office.

In fact, since Xu Churen and Wu Min resigned as prime minister and Xu Han resigned from Tongzhi Privy Council affairs, Li Gang had already decided to leave. Because he was not only different from Tang Ke, Geng Nanzhong, Nie Chang and other prime ministers, but he was also incompatible with them in many aspects. Rather than being ordered to resign, it is better to resign on your own initiative.

However, Song Qinzong issued an edict and refused to approve Li Gang's request.

Li Gang did not give up. He continued to play, repeatedly complaining that he was not up to the task. He also said that he had recently suffered from a coma and that if he did not resign, he would definitely delay state affairs. He begged to give up his duties in the Privy Council and stay in his official position until he became an official. In his memorial, Li Gang also specifically mentioned the emperor's words before his bedside.

At the beginning, Song Qinzong wanted Li Gang to serve as the governor of Hedong, but it was too far to lead the troops to relieve the siege. He called Li Gang to his bed and promised Li Gang: "You can return to the court after you have inspected the border defense for me."

Li Gang requested: "If the court's decision is not firm, the minister should request to resign. Your Majesty should clearly monitor the loyalty of the minister to maintain the friendship between the monarch and his ministers."

Now, the imperial court's diplomatic policy towards the Jin Kingdom has changed from war of resistance to peace negotiation. The situation of "unfirm resolution" that Li Gang was worried about at the beginning has already appeared. Song Qinzong had no choice but to agree to Li Gang's request, and ordered Zhong Shidao to patrol the border as a member of the Privy Council with Tongzhi, and go to Huaiyang to hand over the duties of the Xuanfu Department to Li Gang. At the same time, Li Gang was ordered to return to Beijing to go to Que, and he was asked to inspect the defense preparations along the bank of the Yellow River.

After receiving the edict, Li Gang left Huaiyang and returned to Beijing. On September , he traveled to Fengqiu County and suddenly received Zha Zi from Shangshu Province, saying that the emperor had a decree to appoint him as a bachelor of Guanwen Palace and to know Yangzhou. He did not have to return to Beijing and could go directly to Yangzhou to take up his post.

There was a reason why Song Qinzong changed his mind and refused to let Li Gang return to Beijing. It was not until September th that Song Qinzong learned that Taiyuan Prefecture had fallen half a month ago. Song Qinzong believed that Li Gang deliberately concealed it and refused to report it, so he was furious. Because during this period, Li Gang made many memorials, but did not mention the fall of Taiyuan.

Li Gang was not surprised that the emperor suddenly changed his mind and refused to return to Beijing. He seemed to be mentally prepared. He also submitted a memorial requesting to be dismissed, arguing that he did not dare to take the responsibility. He said in the memorial: "The reason why I strive to be dismissed is not because I am afraid of the enemy. It is just because the matter is no longer possible, and it is difficult to accept the responsibility in vain.

Nowadays, the Xuanfu Division still has some troops and some anti-autumn troops stationed in certain places, but they have not been used. At first, the imperial court requested a certain amount of silver and silk, and the imperial court reduced it to a certain amount. Except for paying the officers and soldiers food and rewards, they are all now staying in Huaizhou. As for the gift in Beijing, the treasury has the registration, which can be tested and verified.

Now that I have left, I am afraid that some people who don’t know may think that I have lost my teacher and wasted money. I hope your Majesty will send an envoy to verify this. Although I think I am not talented enough, I hope your Majesty will choose a general to control the soldiers and defend them from the enemy. The people of Jin are cunning and have many plans, so they cannot rely exclusively on peace talks. Once the soldiers' morale is lost and they are unable to resist insult, the power of the world will be gone. From now on, I will no longer participate in national affairs and dare to offend you. "

Just when Li Gang was drafting a memorial to the emperor to request his resignation, Liu Jue, a member of the Zhongshu family, was in the Ruisi Hall to report to Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty, raising objections to the appointment of Li Gang as the bachelor of Guanwen Hall to know Yangzhou. How can he serve as a bachelor of Guanwen Hall to know Yangzhou? In the Renzu Dynasty, Han Qi used his bachelor's degree to manage Shaanxi. In the battle of Haoshui, Ren Fu and Liu Ping were both killed in the battle. Many soldiers died. Renzu did not know that this was because the generals violated Han Qi's control, which led to his defeat, but he still punished Han Qi and demoted him to an official position. During the Shenzu Dynasty, Han Jiang used his power to pacify the west and ordered his troops to go deep into the wilderness. The territory was finally disturbed and he suffered from battle wounds. The ancestors of the gods did not know that Han Jiang's recommendation was exhausted, but he still dismissed the prime minister and ordered him to go out to guard Dengzhou with his old rank. Gairenjunzhi surrendered to the courtiers, as if the sky had no intention. We know that his talents can be used and his loyalty can be relied on, but as long as he makes mistakes, he must be dismissed.

I secretly saw that Li Gang was brave enough to serve the country and was good at using troops. However, he listened to his orders without examining them, and was defeated several times. As a result, his morale became more and more depressed, and the Jin people became more arrogant. His crime was also obvious. His Majesty knew that Li Gang had no other intentions, so he was awarded the title of Bachelor of Guanwen Palace to learn about Yangzhou. It can be seen from this that Your Majesty is more generous in recording merits than in blaming faults. Li Gang's rescue of Taiyuan this time resulted in a defeated army and generals, which wasted money and exhausted the people. It was just like Han Qi's defeat at Haoshui and Han Jiang's defeat in the west. Could it be that he should not be deposed as punishment?

As His Majesty recorded in his memory of Li Gang's hard work the day before yesterday, seeing that Li Gang's defeat today was aimed at annihilating the bandits, it would be appropriate to depose him and demote him in order to appease the deceased and serve as a warning to him. He neither forgets his previous achievements because of today's losses, nor excuses his crimes and cruelty because of his previous efforts. Rewards and punishments are clear, just like God is selfless. When the generals hear this, they will all be grateful and think hard, and only when they fight off the invaders can they be defeated. That’s it. "