The news that Li Gang, who stayed behind in Bianjing, was dismissed from his post, was immediately known to the people, soldiers and civilians in Bianjing. As long as Lord Li is there, the city is there; if the city is there, then fate is there. What if the city is breached without someone to defend it? Upon hearing that Li Gang had been dismissed, more than 100,000 people gathered outside the palace to petition for Li Gang's reinstatement and meet their trusted master, Daozhong.
That day, before dawn, the soldiers guarding Xuandemen in the imperial city saw shadowy people gathering towards the palace from the four streets, east, west, south, north and eight alleys. The biting cold wind in the early morning made people shiver.
More and more people gathered, the corners of their robes were blown by the wind, and frost formed on their eyebrows. These thin scholars, poor people, and excited soldiers all have solemn faces and resolute eyes, like the stars that have not receded in the morning sky.
As the sky grew brighter, the soldiers gradually saw clearly that the leader was about forty years old, not tall, with thin lips and thin beard, fair skin, his brows were twisted into a knot, and his eyes seemed to be spitting out fire.
Some of the soldiers recognized him. His name was Chen Dong, a native of Danyang, and the leader of the students. A while ago, he kept writing letters, and finally forced Qinzong Zhao Huan to devalue Cai Jing, Wang Fu, Liang Shicheng, Zhu Meng, Zhao Liangsi and others, demote them, exile them, and kill them.
The soldiers of the Royal Forest Army also admired Chen Dong very much and were unwilling to move forward to drive away or beat Chen Dong.
Chen Dong, who was in the crowd, climbed up to a high platform and faced the hundreds of classmates who lived together day and night as well as the densely packed civilians, soldiers and civilians in front of him. He raised his arms and said loudly: "Dear classmates, civilians, soldiers and civilians! The Jin Kou occupied our country in the Song Dynasty. The people who wanted to kill me, the people of the Song Dynasty, are now approaching the city. Thanks to Mr. Li Gang and Li, who struggled to maintain the situation, they were able to withstand the soldiers and horses of the Jin invaders. Now reinforcements from Zhong Shidao and other adults have arrived, and the rest of King Qin's troops are also arriving one after another. However, Li Bangyan and Bai Shizhong were treacherous ministers and sycophants who deceived the saints and betrayed the country for glory. The court was stupid and incompetent and feared the enemy like a tiger. They actually dismissed Mr. Li and Mr. Zhong from their posts and investigated them, and begged for surrender and mercy from the Jin people. Let's read the book of sages. , in order to govern the country and bring peace to the world, today we gathered in the imperial city to write a letter to the imperial court, requesting the reinstatement of Li Gang, Zhong Shidao and other adults to their posts, to investigate and deal with the treacherous ministers and traitors, and to resist the Jin invaders to the death!"
Hundreds of imperial students were furious and shouted together: "Investigate the traitorous officials and fight to the death against the Jin!"
The common people, soldiers and civilians behind the Imperial College students also shouted loudly: "We listen to the Imperial College students and firmly demand that the treacherous ministers and traitors be investigated and punished, and we will resist the Jin invaders to the death."
Chen Dong said loudly: "Okay! With everyone's concerted efforts and unanimous consent, we will definitely get the imperial court to abolish the old order, resume the duties of Master Li and Master Zhong, and lead us to fight against the Jin invaders!"
After speaking, Chen Dong turned around again, facing Xuandemen, took out the memorial written overnight from his arms, raised it high above his head, and knelt on the ground. The hundreds of imperial students behind him also knelt down, and everyone's eyes were firmly fixed on the palace. The civilians, soldiers and civilians behind the Tai students also knelt down. The crowd outside the palace was filled with willing people.
Someone had already passed the news to Qinzong Zhao Huan.
Qinzong Zhao Huan was greatly panicked when he heard the report. In fact, Zhao Huan didn't sleep all night, and he couldn't sleep either. The golden man and the lion opened their mouths and demanded five million taels of gold, fifty million taels of silver, one million pieces of silk, and ten thousand cattle and horses. They also wanted to cede the three towns of Taiyuan, Zhongshan, and Hejian. Now, Zhao Huan has a profound understanding of what it means to be "dead and cold". The Liao Kingdom was still there, but it was still able to contain the Jin people; now, as soon as the Liao Kingdom was destroyed, the Jin people immediately came to attack the Song Dynasty, showing no credibility at all.
In his heart, Zhao Huan hated Zhao Liangsi and others who advocated joining forces with Jin to destroy Liao! Zhao Liangsi, Wang Fu, and Cai You have been executed, but Tong Guan is still at large. Tong Guan, Qin Zong has ordered him to return to the capital. Why hasn't he come back yet? In his heart, Qinzong had already decided to kill Tong Guan, but because Tong Guan was beside the Supreme Emperor, he could not do it.
Last night, Qinzong had been thinking about these things and how to fool the Jin people out of the country. Li Gang stayed behind in Bianjing, determined to fight, and recommended Yao Pingzhong. Yao Pingzhong also vowed to hijack the Jin camp, capture Wanyan Zongwang, snatch back King Kang and Dazai, and surround and annihilate the Jin people. However, he was plotted by the Jin people, and he himself did not know where he fled.
Qinzong was also eager to fight against the Jin people. He hoped to determine victory or defeat in one battle to resolve the current crisis in Bianjing and the court. Who knew that Yao Pingzhong's combat power was so poor! Well now, the Jin people are coming to investigate, what should we do? Besides agreeing to the Jinren’s conditions for withdrawing, what else can we do! Qinzong not only hated Zhao Liangsi, Tong Guan, Wang Fu, Cai You and others who advocated joining forces with Jin to destroy Liao, but he was also anxious about the crisis situation at hand. Under the pressure of Bai Shizhong, Li Bangyan and others, Qinzong had to dismiss Li Gang from his post, but this caused trouble among the imperial students and the common people, soldiers and civilians in Bianjing City.
Qinzong Zhao Huan was already thin, but now he looked even more pale and frail, with even his lips without a trace of blood. Zhao Huan took Chen Dong's petition and frowned while reading it. The imperial court's decision is based on comprehensive considerations, and these imperial students know this very well! Who doesn’t want to fight against the Jin invaders? The question is, can it be resisted? If they can resist, can the Jin invaders attack Bianjing City? ! Looking at the situation, either the fish and the net are broken, and the Jin people fight head-on to drive the Jin people out; or the Jin people attack the city, and by then, even themselves will be captured. How can this be done? ! If I were captured, let alone five million taels of gold, fifty million taels of silver, one million pieces of silk, and ten thousand cattle and horses, I would cede the three towns of Taiyuan, Zhongshan, and Hejian, and even the entire imperial court and Jiangshan clan would be ceded. Gone!
Qinzong was not moved by Chen Dong and the Tai students' petition, but instead strengthened his determination to pay compensation to the Jin people as soon as possible and cede the three towns of Taiyuan, Zhongshan and Hejian.
Zhao Huan called the palace official and whispered to him: "Go around the outside of the palace to welcome the imperial students and the common people, soldiers and civilians, and quickly summon the two prime ministers Bai and Li into the palace. Tell the two prime ministers Bai and Li that when they enter the palace, tens of millions Don’t let the Tai students find out.”
The palace official left the palace according to the order and went to summon Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan.
Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan heard the summons, put on robes and cotton hats, covered their faces tightly, and quietly entered the palace. Entering the hall, Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan knelt on the ground, shouting: "Long live your Majesty! Long live! Long live!" Qin Zong said: "Now is extraordinary, some cumbersome etiquette will be dispensed with. Sirs, please hurry up. Get up and quickly arrange for King Shiyong and Xu Bingzhe of Kaifeng Prefecture to pay compensation to the Jin people and cede the three towns of Taiyuan, Zhongshan and Hejian."
Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan replied: "Your Majesty is wise! It's just the group of imperial students at the gate of the palace, especially the leader Chen Dong. How do you plan to deal with it? Can you order the soldiers to kill them?"
Zhao Huan waved his hands tiredly and said: "No, no, no, we in the Song Dynasty do not kill scholar-bureaucrats or those who write petitions. The students just yell a few words, and just yell. Can they yell more fiercely than Taiwan's remonstrance?" How can hundreds of students become so successful? That Chen Dong is still a loyal minister. Don't worry about such trivial matters. It's more important to deal with the important matters of peace as soon as possible. The two ministers should leave the palace separately. Don't let the imperial students get entangled. ”
Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan then left the palace through the east and west gates respectively.
After Li Bangyan left the palace, he saw more and more people gathering outside the palace, tens of thousands of people. The imperial city has strengthened its defenses, and the Royal Forest Army is standing ready with spears and spears standing in a row to prevent everyone from moving forward.
Li Bangyan felt guilty and wore his cotton hat lower to cover his face.
Li Bangyan lowered his head in fear and walked away from the crowd. Unexpectedly, Chen Dong's sharp eyes saw Li Bangyan. He couldn't help but get angry and shouted loudly: "Li Bangyan, you traitor, did you just incite the emperor to negotiate peace again?" ?!”
Li Bangyan was stunned: "No, no, no, this is absolutely not the case!"
The crowd was excited, yelling and shouting loudly. Some people rolled up their sleeves and rushed forward. Li Bangyan was so frightened that he ran back. Seeing that he was about to run back to the palace, everyone gathered materials on the spot. Branches, tiles, and stones were thrown at Li Bangyan like a rainstorm. Even though he was light and had long legs, he was not immune to being attacked.
Li Bangyan rolled and crawled, and ran into the palace with the rescue of the Imperial Guard soldiers.
Li Bangyan met Zhao Huan again with a disgraced face and reported: "I am going to report to you, Your Majesty. The people in the city were deceived by Chen Dong and gathered outside the palace. The ministers will not go out."
Zhao Huanjian said that he had no idea.
Zhao Huan pondered for a while, then returned to the dragon chair, picked up Chen Dong's letter from the imperial case, and read it: "Of the ministers in the court who are brave enough to take the most important position in the world, Li Gang is also..."
Outside the palace gate, Chen Dong and others gritted their teeth when they saw Li Bangyan sneaking back. While there was a lot of discussion, a decree came from the palace:
"Li Gang failed with his troops and had no choice but to give up. When the Jin people retreated a little, he was reinstated."
This made it clear that he refused everyone's requests and insisted on deposing Li Gang to please the Jin people in order to sue for peace.
Chen Dong turned pale with anger and said to the imperial students: "We are dedicated to serving the country, but we didn't expect that the imperial court would be so cowardly and stupid. Master Li cannot be reinstated, and we, the Song Dynasty, are hopeless!"
Some of the hundreds of imperial students had their eyes broken and some were in tears.
"If the court does not agree to our request today, we will definitely not leave."
After saying that, Chen Dong knelt down again.
College students also knelt down.
I don't know who shouted: "Come into the palace!" The crowd was like a sea, and there was a commotion.
Chen Dong hurriedly stopped him and said: "Please wait a moment, please don't rush into the palace. This is a serious crime!" But people were so excited that no one could care so much. Tens of thousands of people gathered around him, and Chen Dong was pushed forward by the crowd.
The crowd broke through the palace restrictions and rushed outside the court. Seeing the Dengwen drum complaining about grievances, someone picked up the drumstick and started beating it. Some people clapped with their hands, some smashed with their fists, the drums were beating loudly, and the crowd was roaring, like a fierce tiger.
Qinzong Zhao Huan was so frightened that he hid in the inner court and did not dare to show his face. After hearing the news, Wang Shiyong and Xu Bingzhe, the prefects of Kaifeng, came with soldiers from the Royal Forest Army. When Wang Shiyong saw that the leader was an imperial student, he angrily rebuked: "You are eating the emperor's salary. Not only do you not share the emperor's worries, how dare you threaten the emperor? Get out of here!"
Everyone looked at Chen Dong. Chen Dong saw that his emotions were overwhelming. He had to shoulder this burden, so he raised his head and said seriously: "We are indeed threatening the emperor today, but if we, loyal people, come to threaten him, aren't we better than those who are willing to shoulder the burden?" Is it okay for the treacherous villain to coerce him??"
As soon as Chen Dong finished speaking, there was thunderous applause. The excited people, soldiers and civilians actually wanted to arrest Wang Shiyong and Xu Bingzhe. Chen Dong quickly led the Tai students to stop the citizens and shouted: "Everyone must not break the law."
Wang Shiyong and Xu Bingzhe saw that the situation was not good and quickly took the opportunity to escape.
