The Jin army crossed the Yellow River and advanced towards Bianjing. News continued to reach Bianjing, and the palace was in chaos. Emperor Huizong was frightened and frightened, and he was completely out of control. The ministers in the court usually talked loudly and had the spirit of being inferior to the most talented and powerful people in the world. But at this time, they all lost their sharpness and appeared panicked. They had no master and were in panic all day long.
Zhao Ji lay on the hospital bed in shock. Cai Jing, Wang Mian, Liang Shicheng, Zhu Meng, Li Bangyan and other treacherous ministers and traitors rushed to the palace to visit Huizong Zhao Ji and decide their own actions based on Huizong Zhao Ji's movements. Zhu Meng was dismissed by Emperor Huizong in order to alleviate public dissatisfaction because he caused the Jiangnan civil uprising. After the Jiangnan civil uprising was suppressed, Huizong Zhao Ji healed his scars and forgot about the pain, and began to harvest rare stones and herbs again, so he used Zhu Meng again. At this time, Zhu Meng had become an important minister in the court.
These treacherous ministers and traitors stood in front of Zhao Ji's bed, terrified. Zhao Ji wept bitterly and said to several treacherous officials and traitors: "I did not befriend the Jurchens because of their lowliness and help them liberate themselves from the Khitan rule. But now I have betrayed my faith and invaded the Song Dynasty. I even marched to the capital city and watched Bian. If Beijing is not protected, what should I do?"
Several traitors and traitors looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.
Zhao Ji looked at Cai Jing. Cai Jing hurriedly approached Zhao Ji's bed. Zhao Ji stretched out his hand, grabbed the lapel of Cai Jing's clothes, and asked with sobs: "Old Master, you are highly respected, knowledgeable, and experienced. Please tell me, what should I do?"
Cai Jing knelt down in the room and said with tears: "Your Majesty! I am guilty of causing the Holy Majesty to be so frightened. My Majesty! In my opinion, the thirty-sixth stratagem is the best one. Walking is the best strategy. Keep the green hills and don't worry about running out of firewood." Burn. All the land in the world is not the king's land, and the shores of the land are not the king's ministers. In the Song Dynasty, the country is thousands of miles away, and the world is rich. Where is the residence of the Holy One? I and other old ministers will follow the Holy One to the death and be loyal and filial to the Holy One."
When Cai Jing said these words, he had already seen the situation clearly. If the Jin soldiers attacked Bianjing City, whether the Holy Emperor could save it or not, he himself would definitely not be able to save it. Not to mention that all the property in the mansion was robbed, and even his life would not be saved. No. To be killed by the Jin soldiers was to be killed by the soldiers and civilians of Bianjing. Therefore, Cai Jing suggested that Zhao Ji give up the city and go to the south.
When Huizong saw it, he was very sad.
Several traitors and traitors cried together and shouted: "Your Majesty."
Huizong said: "My lords! I am really the lord of a country and the parents of the people. How can I just leave? What will happen to the country and the country when I leave?"
Cai Jing knelt on the ground and cried, "Your Majesty! Given the current situation, we have no choice but to give in to the princes temporarily."
Cai Jing did not say whether he would abdicate the throne to the prince or to some other prince, such as the third prince Zhao Kai, because he was not sure whether Huizong was willing to abdicate the throne? I am not sure if Huizong is willing to abdicate the throne, to whom will he abdicate?
At this time, Huizong was still reluctant to abdicate the throne. Huizong did not respond to Cai Jing's suggestion, but simply asked: "Where is Privy Tong?"
Cai Jing and others quickly replied: "Your Majesty, Privy Tong is now in Jinyang, east of the river."
Huizong asked again: "How is the situation in Jinyang, east of Hedong?"
Wang Fu reported: "Your Majesty, it is reported that Jinyang, east of Hedong, is in the hands of the army, and the Jurchen soldiers and horses led by Nian Meihe are blocked north of Jinyang."
Huizong started crying again and said in sobs: "I have no choice but to lead the Jurchen soldiers and horses to attack Bianjing. Bianjing falls. What should I do?"
The monarchs and ministers were crying and whimpering again. After a while, Huizong waved his hand and said: "My lords, please step back first. Your lords, please do not leave the capital. Please listen to my orders at any time."
Several treacherous ministers and traitors replied in unison: "Yes! I will obey the imperial edict." Then they stood up and quietly exited the palace.
In fact, what Cai Jing said just now still touched Emperor Huizong. Although Emperor Huizong didn't say anything and was reluctant in his heart, he still thought about it seriously. If it were normal, it would be absolutely impossible for this throne to be abdicated, but now is different from usual. Now it is full of dangers, and he may become the king of subjugation at any time. At this time, it may be best to abdicate this throne. The only way is to abdicate this throne. Only when you go out can you put the responsibility on others, and then you can rub your feet and run away. At that time, no one can stop you. You can go wherever you want, wherever you are safe, and you can be free and free. Happy but not doing it?
Huizong thought of abdicating, but he still couldn't bear it in his heart. Huizong was thinking again, could he not give in? Let the prince come forward to take charge of the defense of the capital and take refuge outside?
Huizong Zhao Ji was wavering in this hesitation.
Ministers from the DPRK and the Central Government entered the palace one after another to visit Huizong.
Taichang Shaoqing Li Gang followed some ministers into the palace to meet Emperor Huizong. Emperor Huizong's eyes lit up when he saw Taichang Shaoqing Li Gang. A few days ago, in response to the Jurchen invasion, Emperor Huizong summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures. Cai Jing, Wang Fu, Li Bangyan, Liang Shicheng and other senior ministers all advocated moving to the south. Only Li Gang tried his best to stop it, and his performance was particularly resolute, leaving Emperor Huizong with a message. Deeply impressed. Now, the Jin soldiers and horses have crossed the Yellow River and are about to attack the capital. What should we do now? Huizong wanted to hear the opinion of Taichang Shaoqing Li Gang.
When all the ministers said goodbye and left the palace, Huizong said: "You gentlemen, please retreat, Li Shaoqing stays." Hearing this, Li Gang was secretly surprised, so he stood aside, waiting to hear Emperor Huizong's order. After the ministers exited, Emperor Huizong glanced at Li Gang and said, "Li Shaoqing, sit down." He pointed to the cotton pad beside the sickbed. That was where the princes sat when they visited Emperor Huizong. When Li Gang saw this, he was startled. He knelt down on the ground and said in panic: "Your Majesty, how dare I sit on the ground in front of Your Majesty? I'd better kneel down." Huizong raised his hand and said in a weak voice: " Li Shaoqing is different from others, but it doesn't matter if he sits." Li Gang still didn't dare to make a mistake and kept kneeling. Huizong said: "Please don't be too polite. We, the monarch and the ministers, sit down and talk to each other." After Emperor Huizong said this, Li Gang got up, and with fear, he sat half of his buttocks on the cotton cushion, leaned forward, and looked at Emperor Huizong said, "Your Majesty, I am being unreasonable." Huizong waved his hand and said, "Very good, how can you, your Majesty, speak sincerely?"
Huizong was lying on the sick bed and said to Li Gang intermittently: "Your Majesty, not long ago, the Jin soldiers invaded for the first time. All the ministers advocated that I move and take refuge, but you insisted on not doing so. You advised me to stay in the capital and lead the resistance against the Jin. Now, The Jin army has crossed the Yellow River and is approaching the city. Bianjing is in danger. Under this situation, what should I do according to your wishes?"
Li Gang heard the words and replied truthfully: "Reply to Your Majesty, under this situation, Your Majesty had no choice but to move to the south for refuge." Huizong was secretly happy when he heard this. After all, Li Gang also agreed with him to move to the south. It seems that taking refuge in the south has been formed. Consensus. Huizong further tested Li Gang and said: "Your Majesty! Not long ago, you have not advocated that I move to the south. Now, how can you advocate that I move to the south?" Li Gang said: "The body of a saint with thousands of weights cannot tolerate a little bit. It's wrong." Huizong was overjoyed and said: "You are a loyal minister! I move south, what should I do with the country?"
After Li Gang heard the words, he pondered for a moment and said: "Return to your Majesty. Not long ago, the Jin army made the first attack. I urged the Holy Majesty to stay in the capital in order to stabilize the morale of the army and the people and resist the invasion of the Jin soldiers. But now, the situation has changed. Your Majesty We must move away from the capital. Holy Lord, I will speak frankly."
Huizong said: "It doesn't matter if you say so." Li Gang said: "Your Majesty, today's situation is all given by your Majesty. In the beginning, your Majesty should not have joined forces with the Jin Dynasty to destroy the Liao Dynasty, thus destroying the friendly country and attracting the wolf of wealth." Huizong argued: "When Zhao Liangsi proposed the proposal, Privy Tong, Wang Taifu, Cai Taishi, Gao Taiwei and others all said it was feasible, so I approved it. I was also fooled by them."
Li Gang said: "Your Majesty, you cannot look back on the past, and the established facts cannot be changed. In the past, Your Majesty was fond of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and was keen on sensuality, dogs and horses, so that there were many complaints and the people's resentment boiled. In the beginning, fashion can play a role in stabilizing the hearts of the emperor and the people. , now it has no effect. Holy lord, I risk my life to say it bluntly. Under the current situation, the holy lord can only calm the people's resentment and encourage the soldiers and civilians to resist the invasion of the Jin invaders and defend the country. The capital will not be lost." After saying this, Li Gang left his seat, knelt down on the ground, kowtowed three times and said: "I am guilty of the above, and I deserve death. However, I really care about the country and the country, and I can't bear to see the great rivers and mountains belong to his surname. Please, Your Majesty, think twice.”
When Huizong heard this, he trembled on his bed. Huizong did not expect that he would be such an image in the eyes of his ministers, and that now that he was in office, he would actually affect the defense of the capital, which shocked Huizong Zhao Ji. Huizong had to take Cai Jing's suggestion, which was to abdicate, surrender the throne to the princes, and let them clean up the situation. Only in this way can the people's hearts be stabilized and the longevity of the country be ensured.
Huizong suddenly lost his energy and said in a low voice: "You are so loyal that I will commend you. In fact, I also want to abdicate the throne to the princes, but I have no reason."
Li Gang was shocked when he heard that Huizong said that he also wanted to abdicate the throne to the princes, but he did not say which prince he would abdicate the throne to. Li Gang knew that Huizong liked the third prince Zhao Kai, but disliked the crown prince Zhao Huan. Huizong said this now, even if he had not yet decided which prince he would pass the throne to, he might also be thinking of passing the throne to the third prince Zhao Kai. .
Therefore, Li Gang pretended to be pleased, looked up at Huizong and said: "The Holy Emperor's plan to meditate on the crown prince is the only correct way to solve the current difficulties of the imperial court. After hearing this, I was very pleased. Jiangshan Sheji has been saved."
Huizong said: "You have misunderstood. I said that the Zen should be placed on the princes, but I did not say that the Zen should be placed on the prince."
Li Gang pretended to be confused and asked: "After hearing what the Holy One said, I didn't mean to abdicate the throne to the prince. I respectfully ask the Holy One, to which prince are you going to abdicate the throne to?"
Li Gang secretly estimated that Huizong would definitely abdicate the throne to the third prince Zhao Kai.
Sure enough, Huizong really wanted to abdicate the throne to the third prince Zhao Kai.
