The next day, the fourth day of the first lunar month, Zhao Jiu had just sent the Imperial Secretariat drafter, Hu Yin, to Xi Cai City to inquire about the restoration of the inner ferry. He then saw Shi Wenbin, the Jin emissary, trembling with fear, and the surrender letter that he couldn't figure out what was in it.

Frankly speaking... Zhao Jiu was not moved in the slightest.

After all, he probably knew more about the tragic experiences of the two emperors than Wanyan Wushu did, because Wanyan Wushu had been fighting for half a year, while he knew that Emperor Qinzong of Song was likely trampled to death by runaway horses while playing polo... Did Wanyan Wushu know that?

Moreover, Zhao Jiu had no sympathy for these two at all. He couldn't even muster much sympathy for the entire clan and nobility abducted to the north, beyond mere humanism.

The reason was simple: the country was already destroyed, and millions of lives were lost in Hebei, Hedong, Jingdong, and Guanxi. How much of that wasn't caused by these Zhao Song nobles? As a normal person raised under the red flag and educated in class struggle, he should sympathize with these people... unless he, Zhao Jiu, was so stupid and ignorant as to think that those nobles who drove countless commoners to rebellion were qualified to represent the country and the nation.

In fact, after seeing this document that meant nothing to him, Zhao Jiu's first reaction was to selfishly look for classic anecdotes in Chinese history to continue his imitation show of being a sagacious and mighty king.

However, the strange thing was this—no matter how, whether by occupation or confinement, Zhao Jiu was now using Zhao Lao Jiu's body, and he was standing on his feet in this war-torn era because of it. Therefore, he had to abide by the rules attached to this body. And the rule was that even if Zhao Jiu had the urge to drown the 'two emperors' in a latrine right in front of them, he couldn't do it, at least not openly. Even if he did it secretly, he had to first cultivate a reputation like Qin Shi Huang or Emperor Taizong of Tang before considering the feasibility.

Otherwise, the people of the world would only see him as a madman, and a madman was not qualified to lead the people of the world to resist the Jin, nor was he qualified to become the guide and leader of this country and nation.

As the saying goes, even with a heart of pure red for the people, he must first play the role of a feudal emperor well in order to achieve the optimal solution... This made Zhao Jiu realize a new problem, a problem about responsibility and obligation, selfishness and public-mindedness. It could only be said that this document brought Zhao Jiu more thoughts than anyone could have imagined, whether it was Wanyan Wushu, who was smugly on the opposite bank of the river, or the civil and military officials of the Song dynasty who were crying and kneeling before the imperial tent.

Thus, not knowing how long had passed, the area outside the tent was still a mess. Seeing that the emperor still hadn't come out, and considering that the civil and military officials outside the tent were also a bit tired, they couldn't help but worry... After all, when he ascended the throne in Nanjing (Shangqiu), this master had once fainted in public from crying. And after falling into a well, although this emperor had gradually become less expressive and rarely did these things on the surface, in reality, seeing how he used a waistband to restrain the most unruly Han Taiwei, fed a salted duck to the gluttonous Zhang Taiwei, beheaded the highest-ranking Liu Taiwei with a single knife, and cornered the Censor-in-chief into tears with a few words, one knew that this one's skill was now becoming increasingly refined.

So, in this situation, who knew what this one would do?

"The Emperor has spoken!"

Just as the civil and military officials outside the tent were becoming increasingly suspicious, the Chief Eunuch of the Palace Secretariat, Lan Gui, suddenly lifted the tent curtain and spoke with a solemn expression.

The civil and military officials outside the tent were also startled and quickly stood at attention.

"The Emperor said," Lan Gui said expressionlessly, word by word. "Crying day and night, day and night, can you cry Dong Zhuo to death?"

"Cough!"

Hearing the name Dong Zhuo, Lu Haowen, who was in the front, almost choked, and the other ministers also lost their composure.

"The Emperor also said," Lan Gui considerately waited for Prime Minister Lu and others to recover before continuing with his hands clasped and speaking solemnly. "Regarding the matter of the two emperors being taken north and the discussion of welcoming them back, Prime Minister Li and the court had already made a correct judgment when they were still in Nanjing (Shangqiu): unless the country is strong and military power is brought to bear on Hebei, there is no possibility of success! Today's humiliation by the Jin, the ministers should keep it firmly in mind, then strive forward, and when the situation reverses one day, we will repay it!"

Having said this, Lan Gui paused slightly and then slowed down his tone to say:

"The Emperor said that after this decree is issued, the civil and military officials should stay at their posts and return to their respective teams. They must not fall for the Jin army's tricks in the face of war and reveal any flaws. He will not come out to see everyone off..."

As soon as these words came out, most of the people outside the imperial tent breathed a sigh of relief. Then, after crying out a few times or threatening Shi Wenbin a few words, they all saluted the imperial tent and took their leave... To put it bluntly, although the second year of Jingkang and the first year of Jianyan were the same year, after all, a new emperor meant a new court. Moreover, it was already the second year of Jianyan. Therefore, how many of the newly promoted officials really cared about the two emperors? It was just that the rules since ancient times and the common moral values of the world were there, and they had to consider the face of the new emperor, so they had no choice but to do so.

In short, the area outside the tent quickly became calm, leaving only a few key members of the central government and close attendants sitting idly in the curtain in front of the imperial tent.

Let me add here that although Emperor Zhao had never publicly stated that he would continue the previous Huai River defense war, it was obvious that he had this intention. This could be seen from the continuous construction of the Huainan camp in Mount Bagong.

In fact, after the rear supplies were escorted over, the entire Mount Bagong camp had been undergoing renovations in a permanent direction... During the New Year, Lu Haowen moved into a wooden house; after the New Year, the central army tent on the hilltop fortress and Emperor Zhao's imperial tent also had wooden supports added; and now, the fences of the various camps below were also adding earthen ramparts and trenches. A circle of wooden sheds had also been built around the curtain in front of the imperial tent! Even the huge dragon banner on the northernmost cliff of the northern peak had piles of stones and wooden stakes added to completely fix it on Mount Bagong!

In a word, Emperor Zhao's intentions were well-known, but no one said them publicly.

Returning to the present, after most of the court officials had dispersed to their respective tasks, a few important ministers and close attendants sat under the wooden shed in front of the imperial tent according to their ranks. Only Shi Wenbin stood in the empty central circle, trembling with fear, not knowing where his life lay today.

However, after a long time, the emperor still did not come out to give an immediate reply. Everyone gradually became impatient. If Emperor Zhao had not gained increasing prestige these days and the matter was not too sensitive, Lu Haowen and others would have almost rushed in to ask him in person. However, there was no need to do so at all. As the sun gradually set in the west, Hu Yin returned from the opposite bank of the river in a hurry, giving everyone a legitimate reason to request an audience.

Zhao Jiu, who had been lying in the tent for almost a whole day and had been lost in thought for the entire day, heard Hu Yin's request for an audience outside the tent. Knowing that he could no longer delay and that he did have some concrete ideas, he simply got up and took the initiative to come out of the tent.

"Your Majesty!"

Lu Haowen and the others stood up to greet him, with expressions of anticipation on their faces.

"The Jin people are barbaric and shameless. We cannot demean ourselves to be on par with beasts." Zhao Jiu glanced at the desolate figure of Shi Wenbin, too lazy to argue with him. "Who among you will take up the pen and write a letter to Wanyan Wushu, the fourth prince of the Jin, in my personal name, so that the emissary can take it back!"

Everyone looked at each other in silence, but Hu Yin, who had always been radical on this issue, regardless of whether the task he had been assigned had been completed, immediately spoke up: "I am a drafter of the Imperial Secretariat and presume to take up the pen for Your Majesty."

Zhao Jiu had no objections.

In any case, writing articles was still a basic operation for a person who had passed the imperial examination in the Song dynasty. Moreover, Hu Yin was a famous talent himself. Therefore, it was only a moment before he wrote it properly... According to the letter format of this era, the salutation and signature were all in order. The content was also in the style of four-six parallel prose, the language was gorgeous but not lacking in style, the allusions were abundant but not inaccurate, and there were no problems in terms of stance. It was to rebuke and condemn the other party's barbarism and shamelessness, and to demand that they return the two emperors in the position of a son, etc.

However, after the letter was written, Hu Yin recited it aloud in public. Everyone thought it was appropriate, but Zhao Jiu frowned for a long time... After all, his original intention was to directly say, "Please share a cup of the broth with me," so how could he be interested in this kind of document?

But he also knew clearly in his heart that such words were bound to cause big trouble. Not to mention that Lu Haowen, Zhang Jun, Hu Yin, and others would remonstrate with their lives, even Li Gang, who had just arrived in Yangzhou, might run over to settle accounts with him.

Therefore, after hesitating for a long time, Zhao Jiu finally gave up helplessly and could only suppress a burst of resentment, took the document, and turned to look at the Jin emissary: "Your name is Shi Wenbin?"

"Your... this humble foreign minister is indeed Shi Wenbin!" Shi Wenbin had been standing here for almost a day, not to mention that he had not eaten or drunk, but he had also been pushed and shoved by military officials and scolded and ridiculed by civil officials all day long. He had long been unable to hold on. Hearing this, he almost instinctively softened his legs and knelt down to declare himself a subject, but he realized it only after he had spoken... With his current actions and identity, he would never be able to become a Song person again in his life.

"Where did you hold office before?" Zhao Jiu did not know if he was not in a hurry at all or if he was unwilling to hand over this document. He took the opportunity to ask some idle questions.

"This humble foreign minister once served as the magistrate of Yuncheng County, and then as the vice-prefect of Weizhou. When I was about to serve my second term as vice-prefect, because Song Jiang, a former official of Yuncheng, rebelled and was defeated by Zhang Shuye, the Dragon Diagram, I was implicated afterward, lost my future, and was demoted for a long time. Last year, when Prime Minister Li was in charge, he recruited people to serve as the chief officials of the armies, prefectures, and counties of Jingdong. Only then did I return to being the magistrate of Yishui County. As a result, only a month after taking office, the Jin... Fourth Prince led his troops south, and the army passed south from Yishui. The prefect fled south, and this humble foreign minister... followed the vice-prefect and surrendered to the Fourth Prince." Shi Wenbin knelt on the ground, cautiously and intermittently, but under Zhao Jiu's strange gaze, he gave a rough account.

"So that's how it is." Zhao Jiu sighed after listening. "In fact, when the Jin army went south, Yishui County, where you were located, bore the brunt. Under the force of the military, I can't blame you..."

"This subject thanks Your Majesty for your understanding." Shi Wenbin actually shed tears upon hearing this.

"However, Magistrate Shi, understanding is understanding, but since you have already surrendered to the Jin and have come out to do things, then you will be an enemy and not one of us in the future. You should not have any extravagant hopes for the future." Zhao Jiu continued to sigh. "Otherwise, how can I, this emperor, face the kind of ministers like Zhang Shuye that you just mentioned? You are under the command of the Jin, and Zhang Shuye starved to death. He died of breathlessness when passing through the Song border. You should know whether it's true or false, right?"

Shi Wenbin did not say a word, but only kowtowed and shed tears incessantly.

Zhao Jiu felt weak and a little annoyed, so he was about to hand over the document to be done with it and then do what he wanted to do.

However, for some reason, just as Shi Wenbin got up to receive the document, suddenly, this Emperor Zhao made a move that surprised everyone—he suddenly sighed, then withdrew his hand, and in front of everyone, he angrily tore the document to pieces!

"Your Majesty!"

The surrounding important ministers and close attendants all lost their color. Even Yang Yizhong, who had been following Zhao Jiu today and had not said a word, was stunned on the spot.

"Your Majesty... is there something inappropriate in this subject's words?" Concerned about the importance of the matter, Hu Yin quickly bowed his head and apologized.

"It's not your fault." Zhao Jiu felt as if something was stuck in his throat. "I just feel that if this document is sent to the other side, it would be worthy of the two emperors, but how can it be worthy of Li Ruoshui, Zhang Shuye, and others? How can it be worthy of the people of Hebei who have lost their homes and families? How can it be worthy of the 30,000 soldiers of Xi Cai who are holding fast on the other side of the river?"

"This subject is ashamed!" Hu Yin was immediately speechless.

And Lu Haowen and others could only bow their heads and confess their shame.

"How about not replying at all?" After apologizing, the Censor-in-chief, Zhang Jun, gritted his teeth and suggested. "To show our determination."

"Not replying will only increase Wanyan Wushu's arrogance." Zhao Jiu shook his head repeatedly. "Trouble Mingzhong to write another letter, not on white paper, but on the silk used for imperial edicts. I will write the salutation, the content, and the signature myself!"

Now that things had reached this point, how could Hu Yin dare to be negligent? He immediately returned to the wooden shed and, with the help of the eunuchs, prepared it again in a moment. Then, he made way and invited Emperor Zhao to come forward.

Zhao Jiu walked forward, did not pick up a pen, did not use ink, and did not even think. Instead, he directly spat a mouthful of saliva that had been saved for half a day in the middle of the unfolded silk!

Then, in the stunned gazes of the civil and military officials, he picked up the pen and drew his signature 'Zhao Jiu of Cangzhou, Hebei' at the signature. Cangzhou was the ancestral home of the Zhao family. Then, this emperor did not call for Lan Gui, but went directly into the imperial tent and soon brought out the large imperial seal of the Song dynasty, which was not often used. He heavily stamped it on the silk under the wooden shed, almost covering half of the silk, completely covering the six-character signature.

After doing all this, Zhao Jiu folded the document and handed it to the Jin emissary Shi Wenbin without adding a cover or anything:

"That's enough, take it!"

Shi Wenbin wanted to cry but had no tears at this time. He could only bow his head and step forward, take the document with both hands, and then leave in a hurry.

Up to this point, throughout the entire process, there was not a single sound inside or outside the imperial tent.

ps: Continue to recommend books and offer sacrifices—"The Strongest Cook in the Tang Dynasty", a new work by a Feilu bigshot's transformation, a new book in the same period, everyone can go and take a look.

Then officially ask for leave, I am too tired today, mainly because a nobody like me is too excited after seeing the news yesterday, but I am worried about the photos, so I didn’t rest well, so there will be only one update today, I hope everyone understands, but at least I put together more than four thousand words, which meets the most basic investment needs, please be gentle.