When the Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji came to Huiji Bridge, there was news that the Jin army had arrived at Bianjing City, and a Jin soldier was chasing the Supreme Emperor. The soldiers and civilians who followed the Supreme Emperor to flee south were panicked when they heard the news that a Jin army was pursuing them. They rushed to the Huiji Bridge and rushed to cross the bridge to escape. The scene was a mess.
The Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji was even more anxious when he heard the report, and urged Tong Guan to cover the royal family members across the bridge. Tong Guan became anxious when he saw the chaos in front of the Huiji Bridge. The people, soldiers and civilians were vying for the first place, crowding in front of the bridge and blocking the bridge deck, making it impossible for the Supreme Emperor and his family members to cross the bridge. Tong Guan stood on his horse and ordered loudly: "Soldiers, order the people to get out of the way quickly. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed on the spot." The generals and soldiers of the Imperial Guard shouted at the people around Huiji Bridge. The common people are concerned about their lives. Who cares whether you are the boss or not? Just squeeze on the bridge. Seeing this, Tong Guan ordered his elite soldiers to kill many civilians, soldiers and civilians who were rushing to cross the bridge with swords, swords and spears. Some civilians, soldiers and civilians were chopped down into the river under the bridge. The Emperor and his family were able to cross the bridge.
After crossing the bridge, the Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji could not care about the soldiers and civilians behind him. Under the protection of Tong Guan and more than a thousand elite soldiers, he fled southward. As they were marching, they suddenly saw dust flying behind them, and a horse army was chasing them quickly. Tong Guan and the Supreme Emperor were shocked, thinking that Jin soldiers were chasing them. Tong Guan hurriedly ordered his personal soldiers to escort the Supreme Emperor. He turned his horse's head and led hundreds of imperial guards and horse troops to face the pursuers.
When he met the pursuers, Tong Guan recognized that the general leading the pursuers was Gao Qiu, the commander-in-chief of the palace. Gao Qiu also recognized Tong Guan. Gao Qiu pulled the reins tightly on his horse. The white horse stood up in the air, neighed, dropped its front hooves and stopped on the ground. Gao Qiu on horseback said loudly: "Privy Tong, I apologize for the inconvenience of saluting on horseback. I ask, where is the Supreme Emperor? Tell me quickly!" Tong Guan was overjoyed when he saw that Gao Qiu had arrived. He hurriedly said: "Captain Gao arrived in time. I really escorted the Emperor to Bozhou. Now that Commander Gao is here, please follow me to see the Emperor." Gao Qiu said loudly: "Let's go quickly!" Then Tong Guan led him. He followed Gao Qiu and galloped to the throne in front of the emperor's sedan chair.
Gao Qiu got off his horse, crawled on the roadside, and cried loudly. Tong Guan reported to the sedan: "Report to the Emperor, Captain Gao has come to escort you." Zhao Ji in the sedan heard that it was Gao Qiu and Captain Gao who came to escort him. He felt sad and happy, so he hurriedly opened the curtain of the sedan and got down from the sedan. When Gao Qiu saw Zhao Ji getting off the sedan, he cried louder. He hurriedly bowed his head and cried: "The Supreme Emperor! I am guilty. I heard that the Supreme Emperor went to Bozhou to offer incense. I was afraid of being harassed on the way, so I took more than a thousand elite soldiers and generals with me. , came from Jeju to escort the Supreme Emperor."
The Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji stepped forward, leaned down, took Gao Qiu's hand, and cried, "You are one of my own family members. I feel relieved when you are here. You are tired from driving and riding. You have worked hard. Please get up quickly." He helped Gao Qiu get up. Gao Qiu cried and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. How can I be so virtuous and capable as to dare to help the Supreme Emperor?" Zhao Ji said, "You are a member of your family. Don't be too polite. Please get up quickly." Gao Qiu then crawled from the ground to take care of you. He got up, cried and said to Zhao Ji: "Don't worry, the Supreme Emperor. Even if there is a great danger, I will never let the Supreme Emperor suffer any harm." Zhao Ji felt sad and happy, patted the back of Gao Qiu's hand, and said repeatedly: "Qing Nai Loyal minister, I am very relieved to have you here." Gao Qiu then asked Zhao Ji to get on the sedan. He and Tong Guan, with more than 2,000 elite soldiers, escorted Zhao Ji to Bozhou.
At this time, Jin Bing had arrived at the northern suburbs of Bianjing City. In the city of Bianjing, there was even more chaos. The soldiers and civilians were frightened and ran around in the streets. Those with money and connections tried to escape south. Those without money and connections, although they could not leave the city, had to inquire about the situation everywhere.
In Xinghua Tower, Master Li was also filled with joy and sorrow.
For several days, the Supreme Emperor has not been to Master Li. Li Shishi is also waiting for news from the Supreme Emperor. Taishang Huangchan is located in the crown prince, and Master Li heard about it. Master Li thought that after the Supreme Emperor gave his Zen throne to the Crown Prince, he would become a free man. The Supreme Emperor would definitely take refuge in the southern area. If the Supreme Emperor chooses to take refuge in the south, he will definitely take him with him. Therefore, Master Li was waiting quietly in the Xinghua Tower, waiting for the Supreme Emperor to take him to the south for refuge.
Yan Qing also stayed in Bianjing because Li Shishi refused to leave Bianjing for a while. Yan Qing stayed in Bianjing City and inquired about the Jin soldiers' invasion to the south. As the Jin soldiers approached Bianjing, Yan Qing became anxious and eager to take Li Shishi away from Bianjing. Yan Qing went to see Li Shishi several times, but Li Shishi refused to leave Bianjing with Yan Qing on the grounds of waiting for the emperor's news. A few days later, Yan Qing found out that the Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji had left Beijing and went south. He thought that Master Li would have no hope now, so he would follow him to the mountains to take refuge.
So, Yan Qing hurried to Xinghua Tower, met Li Shishi, and told Li Shishi the news that the Supreme Emperor had left Beijing and went south. After Master Li heard about this situation, he felt a mixture of sadness and joy. Master Li was sad that the Supreme Emperor left Beijing and went south without telling him or taking her with him; he was happy that the Supreme Emperor finally left Beijing safely and there was no danger at all.
Seeing that Li Shishi was addicted to it, Yan Qing advised: "Shishi, the Emperor has left the capital. It is quite risky for you to stay in Bianjing City. Pack your things quickly and follow me to Dayu Mountain for safety." Li Shishi heard this and said, Looking at Yan Qing, he said: "Xiao Yi, the Supreme Emperor has left Beijing, and the Holy Emperor is still in Bianjing City. As long as the Holy Emperor is in Bianjing City, the people in Bianjing City will be safe. Xiao Yi, the top priority is not to escape from Bianjing City. Beijing, but to defend Bianjing. You should assist the officers and soldiers in guarding Bianjing and make immortal achievements. When the Supreme Emperor returns to the capital in the future, you will also earn glory and wealth, so as to honor our ancestors."
Yan Qing felt very sad when he heard this, and said with a wry smile on his face: "My sister, how stupid you are! If Xiao Yi was greedy for wealth, he would not leave without saying goodbye when Fangla was victorious in the southern expedition. Xiao Yi's Therefore, we give up fame and wealth in order to be free and easy." Master Li said: "When the country is facing a crisis, how can a man only care about his personal wealth and life? My sister is not a man. If she were a man, she would definitely gallop on the battlefield, fight for the court, and fight for the imperial court. The Supreme Emperor is loyal, and he is not worthy of being a man." Yan Qing said: "Sister, now is not the time to be impulsive. If the city of Bianjing is destroyed, the golden soldiers of the Tiger and Wolf Division will definitely massacre the city. It will be too late to leave by then, and I am afraid that a disaster will come. .”
Master Li was unmoved by Yan Qing and said calmly: "Xiao Yi, if you are greedy for life and afraid of death, just go alone and don't worry about my sister. Anyway, my sister must wait until the Emperor returns safely."
Yan Qing saw that Master Li was determined not to leave. Although he was anxious, he had no other better way, so he had to stay in Bianjing City to see how the situation would develop before making a decision. Yan Qing thought that apart from himself, Master Li had no relatives. If Bianjing City was captured, he would risk his life to take Master Li out of Yanjing City.
The Supreme Emperor left Beijing, and Li Shishi lost his protection. Yan Qing was afraid that Li Shishi would be intruded, so he lived in Xinghua Tower to protect Li Shishi from intrusion.
As the Jin soldiers advanced towards Bianjing City, the main war faction and the main peace faction in the court were also at loggerheads, leaving Zhao Huan without a master and indecisive, not knowing what to do.
The new emperor Zhao Huan was very angry because Emperor Zhao Ji ignored the overall situation and took the lead in leaving the capital when the situation was critical. He then issued an order to abolish all the more than 6,000 maids gathered by Emperor Zhao Ji in the palace, and ordered the Imperial Guard to remove 6,000 maids. The remaining maids immediately drove out of the palace.
The officers and soldiers of the imperial guards received the order and rushed into the palace. They did not care about anything and just drove the maids out of the palace. The smarter guards generals and soldiers took the opportunity to bring some homeless palace maids to their homes and give them to their wives or concubines.
Originally, Zhao Huan wanted to expel Li Shishi from the capital as a warning; however, that Li Shishi was Concubine Li Ming who was canonized by the Supreme Emperor, and she was well-known. Zhao Huan did not want to let the Supreme Emperor lose face, so he kept Li Shishi as Concubine Li Ming. Because of his reputation, the soldiers surrounded Xinghua Tower and did not allow Master Li to go out, nor did they allow outsiders to harass Master Li.
When the soldiers were ordered to surround Xinghua Tower, Yan Qing was in Xinghua Tower, so he was also surrounded by the soldiers. Yan Qing himself had no intention of leaving Xinghua Tower, he just wanted to protect Master Li in Xinghua Tower, so he waited for him calmly.
After Zhao Huan finished dealing with the affairs of the maids of the Supreme Emperor, he issued another imperial edict, declaring martial law in Bianjing. The common people were not allowed to go to the streets or leave the capital without any reason. After the martial law order was issued, the previous order in Bianjing City was restored. General Liu Yanqing was temporarily appointed as the defense envoy of Bianjing and was fully responsible for the defense of Bianjing. Liu Yanqing received the order and began to arrange troops and horses to build fortifications in Bianjing City and strengthen defense on the city walls of Bianjing to protect Bianjing.
Although everything had been arranged, the new emperor Zhao Huan was still worried. After all, the troops of the Jin Kingdom were about to advance to Bianjing City. If Bianjing fell, it would inevitably be captured by the Jin Kingdom. Qinzong Zhao Huan had to take this reality seriously.
Zhao Huan then summoned some close ministers such as Geng Nanzhong, Bai Shizhong, Li Bangyan, Zhang Bangchang, etc. to discuss countermeasures. These people were all surrender and peace factions. When discussing major issues with Zhao Huan, they all advocated making peace with Jin, or letting the city leave, choosing another driver, and then heading north to the Central Plains to recapture Bianjing.
In the main hall, Geng Nanzhong suggested that Qinzong move to Xiangyang. Geng Nanzhong said: "Your Majesty, this is an emergency and we must do something extraordinary. The Jin army is advancing rapidly and is about to reach the city of Bianjing. The situation is very critical. Your Majesty's safety is a matter of great importance. Your Majesty, please inform us of the defense of Bianjing City. It can be handed over to the generals, and the Holy Spirit should move south, initially to the Xiangyang area. The mountains and rivers there are steep and the products are rich enough to hold on for a long time. To say the least, if Xiangyang is not protected, it can also be moved to Huguang. Ancient language , The lake is vast and mature, and the world is sufficient. Your Majesty, take a step back to open up the sea and the sky. The purpose of retreat is to advance. I hope your Majesty will adopt it."
Geng Nanzhong was the teacher of Qinzong Zhao Huan. When Zhao Huan was the crown prince, Geng Nanzhong had colluded with Wang Fu and others to depose the crown prince Zhao Huan and support the third prince Zhao Kai as the crown prince, but he failed because of his scruples. Despite this, Zhao Huan still trusted Geng Nazhong and was willing to listen to Geng Nazhong. Coupled with the noise from Bai Shizhong, Li Bangyan and others, Zhao Huan decided to move to Xiangyang.
