One Piece of Song Dynasty

The Jin envoys who came to negotiate peace this time were still Xiao Qing, Yang Zhen and Salu Mu. The last time they came, they repeatedly asked Song Qinzong to go out of the city to meet with the marshal, but they were rejected by Song Qinzong and He Li. Before leaving last time, Xiao Qing said to Mo Chou and others: "We still insist on asking the emperor to go out of the city to join the alliance. Otherwise, the siege army will never be lifted and the siege equipment will never be retreated. Before the city is attacked, if the emperor goes out of the city, two The commander should be responsible for the courtesy of his ministers; if the city is destroyed, there may be no courtesy for meeting each other. If you think that someone has spoken too much, please behead him, and he will not hesitate to die. This matter is a major matter related to the survival of your dynasty and the country. "

Mo Chou and others all replied: "I may not be able to comply with this matter."

Now, as soon as Xiao Qing saw Mo Chuan and others, he said: "Congratulations on this good business, and it is appropriate to celebrate early. The Prime Minister and the Prince Marshal asked: Is there something suspicious about the emperor's refusal to leave the city?"

Mo Chou replied: "I have no doubts. It's just that things are not going well."

Xiao Qing said: "When we came, the Prime Minister, Marshal Ling Qing and others informed the emperor that they no longer wanted the emperor to leave the city. As long as the ministers discussed it and the emperor's ministers and the prince were pledged, they would withdraw. After the land was cut off by the two groups, that is Send the prince back."

Mo Chou said: "The emperor will be notified immediately."

Xiao Qing added: "When we came, the two marshals also said that two-thirds of the one-mile-long moat at Chenzhou Gate had been filled, and there were siege vehicles, but they were not ordered to be pushed forward. Ruyi got the letter As it is said in the text, let me go back on the th, and the peace agreement will be concluded. Otherwise, the two commanders said: They will ignore the three of us and attack on the same side. If a soldier lands on the city, there will be no room for negotiation."

Mo Chou then introduced Xiao Qing and other gold envoys to Ruisi Palace.

Xiao Qing reported to Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty: "We don't have to worry about the emperor leaving the city. We only need Prime Minister He Li to go out to discuss matters." He Li was also present. Hearing this, his face suddenly changed.

Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty refused and said, "I will send ministers Feng Fu and Cao Fu to go."

Xiao Qing said: "Prime Minister He Li has no choice but to discuss matters. Feng Pu and Cao Fu are both old and timid ministers, and the marshal will never believe their words."

Song Qinzong said: "Feng Pu and Cao Fu are loyal ministers. They were appointed by me. If there is anything in front of the army, we can discuss it with them."

Xiao Qing disagreed and said: "Please let the emperor, the crown prince, the king of Yue, and the king of Yun come out of the city as hostages."

Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty said: "I am a human son, how can I let my father be a hostage and the prince is only a few years old? How can I reach the front of the army?"

Salu's mother interjected: "This matter can also be discussed. For example, the emperor and the crown prince do not need to go out, and only the princes and princes are asked to come out of the city as a pledge."

Song Qinzong said: "We will send our relatives and the royal family out of the city."

Mo Chou and Gao Shishang were outside the palace gate, and they heard all the conversation between the emperor and the envoy Jin. They felt that the Jin people had retreated from their demands and they should persuade the emperor to accept the Jin people's peace terms. They then asked for an audience. After they entered the palace, they urged Song Qinzong: "The Jin people no longer ask the Holy Master to leave the city, and their minds have changed, which is extremely difficult to get. The prime minister and the prince must be sent. The last time we were able to work together, we can't do it." When you get to the city, if you want the prime minister, your majesty will send Zhang Bangchang; if you want the prince, your majesty will send King Kang and King Su. Now that both armies have attacked the city, Nianhan is fierce and scheming, and he is incomparable to mediation. How can you not send the prime minister and the prince to fear I will regret it later." Song Qinzong remained silent.

Xiao Qing said: "Two ambassadors, please urge your court to send the prince out of the city as soon as possible. If you delay it any longer, you may miss important events."

After Mo Chou accompanied Xiao Qing and others back to Dutingyi, he suddenly received a royal note from someone sent by Song Qinzong, asking Mo Chou to explain to the Jin envoy again and again: There is only one prime minister in this dynasty, and he has to deal with court affairs every day. To deal with the military front, we can't do it temporarily. It has been decided to send the assistant ministers Feng Fu and Cao Fu, and everything can be discussed.

Mo Chou and Gao Shishang had no choice but to explain to Xiao Qing and others, but to no avail.

Xiao Qing said: "We must get He Li and the prince out of the city. Once the matter is over, the troops will retreat, otherwise we will decide to attack the city. If after the city is broken, I wonder if the minister can be a minister and the prince can be a prince. I will not be able to wait for him again." It’s coming.”

Yang Zhen then asked Cai Jing, Li Gang and other so-called violent people where they had gone. Mo Chou replied: "They have all been demoted to Lingnanhai, and they don't know whether they are alive or dead."

Xiao Qing said: "No one in the capital is willing to send troops, so they are so ruthless."

Since He Li became prime minister and presided over the government on the first day of November, he did not know whether it was to calm himself or to pretend to be calm to the officials. He drank several glasses of wine in the capital hall almost every day, talked and laughed calmly, and sometimes even He also sang Liu Yong's lyrics with great interest.

Once, several ministers were discussing peace in the capital hall. Some people speculate that the Jin people will definitely ask for vastness. He Li was drinking at the time. He shook his head drunkenly and said, "I'll spare you from asking for so much money, and I'll pay you for the land." Those who heard this were shocked. People couldn't believe that He Li, who was very resolute in resisting the enemy, could say such a thing.

Now, a group of officials came to the capital hall together. They hoped that He Li could agree to the conditions proposed by the Jin envoy Xiao Qing and go out of the city to negotiate peace.

He Li understood everyone's thoughts very well. After everyone sat down, He Li asked: "Second Chief, please make peace. Are you in a hurry?"

Li Pingxi, the Shaoyin of Kaifeng Prefecture, replied: "I promise it because of what I said. It is not a loss of dignity, so what?"

He Li waved his hands for a long time, counted his numbers, and said to the group of officials: "The thieves built many goose carts, ladders and other siege equipment today, but they were all repulsed by our army. They are about to leave, and they are already outnumbered. , so he sent people to the city to ask for peace. He comes to the city twice a year, and all matters for peace are brought up by him, and whether I can discord."

Seeing that all the officials were silent, He Li added: "After all, we must be peaceful, but we must be gentle." The officials remained silent and dispersed.

On November th, the weather suddenly changed, and heavy snow fell in the sky. Song Qinzong braved the wind and snow and climbed to the city again to inspect the city defense. When the three armies heard the news, they were greatly encouraged.

Song Qinzong came to the north wall of the city and saw that most of the dragon river outside the city had been filled in by the Jin army. The Jin army set up camps close to the north bank of the river, and they were connected continuously. A trace of sadness suddenly rose in Song Qinzong's heart, and he was deeply worried about the city's defense.

Zhang Shuye, who followed the inspection, said to Song Qinzong: "I am willing to lead the people out of the city to defeat it. If we only guard the empty city, the world will be in trouble." Zhang Shuye always believed that he could not sit passively and wait for death.

Song Qinzong did not agree to go to war. He only criticized Beibi Tijuan An Fu, scolding him for not caring about the city defense, and ordered him to be dismissed and replaced by Liu Tao.

Zhang Shu felt very unhappy when he saw the emperor's face full of sorrow at night. He felt that since the emperor valued him and gave him the important position of signing the Privy Council, he should share the emperor's worries and take measures to further strengthen the city's defense.

So Zhang Shuye sent someone to notify Fan Qiong, Li Shi, Zhang Xian, Pei Yuan, Meng Zao, Wang Qiong, Zhe Yanwen, He Zhonggang, Zhang Ju and other generals guarding the city, asking them to go to the city at noon to hold a meeting. .