They say, when Zhao Jiu wept so unrestrainedly, countless people outside the tent, especially the common soldiers, were utterly moved. They felt the Emperor and Zhang Qilang were kindred spirits, just like in the operas. A common soldier risked his life and earned the Emperor's mourning; it was all worth it. The higher-ranking civil and military officials, however, were solemn yet could not help but secretly sigh at the Emperor's skill in winning hearts. Crying like this was even more sincere than when he ascended the throne in Nanjing (Shangqiu)... truly masterful!

Only Yang Yizhong harbored some strange suspicions and complex feelings, unlike the others.

Regardless, Zhao Jiu cried for a full quarter of an hour. Only when the sun had completely set did he emerge from the tent, and the crowd quickly gathered around.

Although Zhao Jiu had composed himself, traces of tears remained on his face. Standing outside the tent, he intended to speak personally, but found himself unable to. He could only wave his hand, signaling Yang Yizhong to announce the things they had discussed beforehand. These were nothing more than posthumous honors, promises, rewards, a grand burial, and the future bestowal of godhood upon the river.

However, given Zhang Yongzhen's status as a *zhunbei jiang* (preparing general) and the Song Dynasty's emphasis on civil over military affairs, no posthumous honor could be too high... The military official rank system had fifty-three levels. The highest, Grand Commandant (Taiwei), was impossible to posthumously bestow. However, the Horizontal Rank Envoy (Hengban Shi), the rank where Zhang Yongzhen was posthumously bestowed the title of Harmonious Loyalty Grandee (Xiezhong Daifu), was a key position for transferring to border states during his life. But as a posthumous honor, it was only a Senior Fifth Rank. The others who died on the same boat received similar honors, seemingly high ranks but were only posthumous bestowals from Senior Seventh Rank or Principal Eighth Rank.

As for the most important things, conferring nobility upon his wife and granting favors to his descendants, his wife was not present, so it was just empty talk and promises. Only one of the deceased's brothers was found in the army, promoted to Imperial Bodyguard, and given extra money as compensation.

In the end, the funeral and the conferral of godhood were the things that truly came to fruition.

After a whole night of fussing, since they were talking about bestowing godhood, they asked the Little Lin Academician to write a eulogy. Lin Jingmo naturally seized the opportunity to ask about Zhang Qilang's dying words, which everyone wanted to know.

Zhao Jiu remained impassive and responded calmly, "Zhang Qilang only said two things: one, he could not return home to see his elders in Yan'an; two, he could not defeat the enemy to wash away his shame with blood... Before his death, he kept calling out for home until his last breath!"

The Little Lin Academician paused, wanting to ask more, but seeing the Emperor's expressionless face and recalling the cries he had heard upon arriving, he swallowed his words. Then, as a Jade Hall Academician, he began writing the eulogy before Zhang Qilang's spirit tablet.

With the eulogy completed, Zhao Jiu personally went down and offered sacrifices to Zhang Yongzhen and the only soldier on the boat who had actively counterattacked and died in battle. He watched as they were hastily buried at the foot of Mount Bagong. He then exhorted Qiao Zhongfu and Zhang Jing before returning in somber spirits, heading up the mountain in the darkness.

Upon reaching the mountain, Zhao Jiu did not rest. He first passed the small stockade without entering, returning to his own imperial tent. He wrote down all the promises he had made that day in his small notebook. Only then did he leave again, heading towards the small stockade on the mountain peak to meet with Lü Haowen and receive a group of people... a group of refugees.

They say, Han Shizhong came from the east with the force of a gale. Although he had scared off Jin Wushu, he still chose to forego landing to make sure and instead deployed the fleet for defense, patrol, and resettlement… Those matters aside… Let's just say this Han Commander, while preparing for war in the Chu and Si prefectures, naturally encountered many fugitives from the Jingdong and Lianglu regions on the Huai River.

Ordinary civilians were allowed to pass without mention. The brave and strong among them were gathered to replenish the army, and even homeless women were married off to soldiers. But there was a group of people that Han Shizhong treated with great courtesy, transporting them directly on military vessels and sending them ashore at the first opportunity.

"Which one of you is Liu Hongdao, Prefect of Qingzhou?" Zhao Jiu entered the central hall of the small stockade, sat down, and without waiting for the people to greet him, he called out a name.

"This humble servant is Liu Hongdao." Under the lamplight, a man quickly rose and bowed. "This humble servant congratulates Your Majesty. Since the Jingkang Incident, our army has been repeatedly defeated. A single victory is hard to come by, but unexpectedly, we have achieved one today..."

"I thought Minister Liu would complain about me first, saying that I favor the military and belittle the civil officials, preferring to mourn for a coarse soldier than to see you!" Zhao Jiu seemingly had not recovered from the earlier events, but somehow his tone was still quite calm.

Regardless of his tone, these words coming from an Emperor made all the ministers in the hall, including Lü Haowen, uneasy.

Liu Hongdao, bearing the brunt of it, quickly bowed. "This humble servant lost territory and was defeated in battle, unable to die for his country. I should have covered my face and resigned, returning to the countryside. Receiving Your Majesty's favor and being summoned to the court, how dare I harbor resentment?"

"Good that you know." Zhao Jiu remained calm. "That is why I put the posthumous affairs of Zhang Yongzhen before meeting with you important officials, and why I called your name first... The present is not the past. The rules of old have long since accompanied the two Emperors on their northern journey. Did you see the documents I sent?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I saw them!" Liu Hongdao became even more cautious.

"As things stand, the Jin still pursue relentlessly, their desire to destroy the Song is clear for all to see, and there is no room for reconciliation between the Song and Jin. Therefore, from now on, all matters will be judged based on resistance to the Jin." Zhao Jiu glanced at Lü Haowen, who wanted to speak but hesitated, and continued calmly. "During the battle on the Huai River today, only Zhang Yongzhen stepped forward. Only that boat of people died facing north, and they almost turned the tide of the battle. Therefore, they are the most useful people in the cause of resisting the Jin. That is why I went to see them first! And you, Liu Hongdao, are the only one among this group of refugees who dared to fight against the Jin. That is why I came here and called you first to talk! Do you understand?"

"I understand..." Liu Hongdao paused before answering softly.

"Prefect Xu's memorial came from the south the other day, saying that the information received in the Guangnan area was delayed. Many people thought the Jingkang Incident was not over, so they donated their wealth to serve the Emperor. But when they led their troops to the Jiangnanxi Circuit, they learned that the nation had already fallen. Moreover, the traitor Huang Qianshan was in power at the time, and he actually regarded them as bandits, not allowing them to cross the river. They lost all direction." Zhao Jiu continued slowly. "I will retain all your previous official status and treatment, and give you the commission of Pacification Commissioner of the Jiangnanxi Circuit. Go there to recruit troops. Once you have troops in hand, first pacify some of the local security in Jiangxi, and then lead your troops to the Huai River to support the Imperial Court... Can you do it?"

"This is easy!" Liu Hongdao immediately felt relieved. "This humble servant will never fail Your Majesty's grace and forgiveness today."

"That's good." Zhao Jiu also felt relieved, and then suddenly sighed. "In truth, since ancient times, death has been the only difficult thing. The two Emperors could not die for their country, so why should you be forced to die for your country?"

The hall full of refugee ministers, plus Lü Haowen, all lost color.

But Zhao Jiu remained unmoved and continued to lament, "Even I fled from Nanjing (Shangqiu) all the way to the Huai River, how can I punish you for similar crimes?"

The ministers were slightly relieved.

Zhao Jiu's voice did not stop, but instead grew louder and louder: "However, when the nation was falling, there were still civil officials like Li Ruoshui and Zhang Shuye who dared to die for their country, and military generals like Zhang Yongzhen who dared to fight north alone... So, while living ignobly can be tolerated, it cannot be tolerated forever. And you and I, Emperor and subjects, should all know the right and wrong in our hearts, right? And we should all know what is shameful, right?"

The civil officials did not dare to be negligent and bowed again to confess their guilt.

"No need to confess your guilt." Zhao Jiu ignored them and continued, "This is why I am unwilling to retreat any further! It is also to remind you that since I am not retreating on the Huai River, and you have crossed the Huai River, anyone who dares to retreat again, even if a civil official, can still be killed! So there will be no next time!"

The atmosphere in the hall was tense, and Zhao Jiu simply stood up:

"Before we disperse today, I will give you a famous poem, said to be by Lay Buddhist Yi'an (Li Qingzhao), mocking you and me. I hope you will remember it well, using it as both a whip and an encouragement... 'Better to be a hero in life, than a ghost in death. Still I think of Xiang Yu, who refused to cross east of the river!'"

After speaking, Zhao Jiu ignored the others, including Zhao Mingcheng, Prefect of Zizhou, and simply brushed his sleeves and left.

As soon as the Emperor left, the others all looked at Zhao Mingcheng. Zhao Mingcheng's face was red, but he could only spread his hands and stomp his feet, saying, "There is no such poem! His Majesty must hate us for abandoning our territory, and is using this to satirize us!"

ps: Sorry, my parents are coming for the New Year, and I'm working overtime to adjust my leave, so the update is still rushed... Attached is the Shao Song reader group, 875387356