"Here! Your subordinate was foolish, your subordinate was foolish!"
After wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Wang Jieru quickly turned and fumbled in his medicine chest for silver needles, starting to work.
After nearly fifteen minutes of work, Zhao Ji finally opened his eyes slowly again.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You are finally awake, you have scared this old minister to death!"
As soon as Zhao Ji opened his eyes, Yu Shen immediately knelt before the imperial bed.
Seeing his tearful, old face, Fan Zhengguo almost rolled his eyes to the heavens. This fellow was truly shameless!
Now that the house was on fire, he still had the nerve to put on such a pathetic act...
"I, I what happened? What is the situation in Hebei..."
Although his body was still very weak, Zhao Ji's mind was clear.
This was not an ordinary time. In the past years of peace, if he, the emperor, slacked off a little, the officials would pretend not to see it.
But now, if he slacked off again, it would truly be the end of the dynasty!
Although he was a foolish emperor, he did not want to be the ruler of a lost dynasty!
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Tong Guan abandoned his post, which led to discord between Tan Zhen and Guo Yaoshi, hence this great defeat in Hebei. Now the Jin people have broken through the Xiong Prefecture line and are heading straight for Zhending. What should be done? We must quickly make a decision!" Zhong Shidao was kind-hearted. Seeing the emperor's pale face, he could no longer hold back and immediately spoke.
"Damn Tong Guan! This scoundrel has ruined my Great Song!"
After hearing Zhong Shidao's words, Zhao Ji couldn't help but curse directly.
Seeing his annoyed expression, Fan Zhengguo, standing beside him, sneered.
If the emperor had been a little more resolute back then, he wouldn't have been so easily manipulated by Tong Guan!
If Tong Guan hadn't been secretly instigating discord and playing political games, even if Tan Zhen had lost, it wouldn't have been such a humiliating defeat!
However, it was too late to say anything now. He himself had no good ideas on what to do at this moment.
The situation had deteriorated too quickly, catching everyone off guard.
"My Lords, this is a time of national crisis. What should be done? You must still give me a plan!"
Knowing he was at fault, Zhao Ji, looking at the grim-faced Fan Zhengguo, finally spoke with thick skin.
After hearing his words, Fan Zhengguo really wanted to curse.
This emperor was too careless. It had come to this point, and he still had no idea what to do!
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subordinate believes we should prepare for both eventualities. On one hand, we should gather troops and strengthen the defenses of Bianliang City. On the other hand, we should quickly send people to inquire about the situation in Hebei. If Xu Churen can use the natural barrier of the Yellow River to stop the Jin people, then we will lead troops to quickly reinforce Hebei! If not, we must be prepared to fight to the death with the Jin people in Bianliang City!" Although he was very angry, Fan Zhengguo finally combined Zhong Shidao's opinion and proposed a plan.
"My Lords, what do you think?"
After hearing Fan Zhengguo's words, Zhao Ji quickly looked at the other chancellors and ministers beside him.
"Replying to Your Majesty, your subordinate believes that the Jin people are currently unstoppable. What Prime Minister Fan said is reasonable, but what if Bianliang falls? Your subordinate believes it would be better to ask Your Majesty to move to Jiangnan, gather the armies of the world to quell the rebellion, and victory will surely be achieved!" Seeing the emperor's pale face, Zhang Bangchang knew that this was his last chance. After taking several deep breaths, he immediately jumped out.
After hearing Zhang Bangchang's words, Zhao Ji was deeply moved and almost couldn't help but want to applaud him.
These chancellors had been talking about how to defend against the Jin people from beginning to end, but they had never thought for him, the emperor!
Only Zhang Bangchang's words truly touched his heart!
The 200,000 strong army was wiped out by the Jin people without a sound. Where would he, the emperor, dare to stay in Bianliang City now?
Although the emperor was moved, it was a different matter for the chancellors!
The first part of what he said had a tiny bit of reason, but what came after, gathering the world's armies to quell the rebellion, wasn't that nonsense?
Among those present, who hadn't studied hard for more than ten years to become such shrewd individuals?
After hearing Zhang Bangchang's words, everyone looked at Zhang Bangchang with displeasure.
They were all old foxes, so why pretend to be from Liaozhai!
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subordinate believes that Zhang Bangchang's words are inappropriate!"
Others might have been able to endure it, but seeing Zhang Bangchang saying such shameless words, Li Gang, with his hot temper, could no longer hold back! He directly spoke without even calling him "Prime Minister," addressing him by name!
"Audacious! I am a Shao Zai of this nation. What is your intention in calling me by my name so directly!"
In front of so many people, being scolded by Li Gang, the newly appointed Shao Qing of the Grand Court of Ceremonial, if Zhang Bangchang could tolerate this, he wouldn't be able to survive in the imperial court anymore!
"What is my intention? Bianliang is the capital of my Great Song, and Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven of my Great Song. At this time of national peril, you, as Prime Minister, instead of thinking about how to share the worries of your sovereign and father, are here misleading Your Majesty, asking Your Majesty to abandon the millions of soldiers and civilians in the city and go south alone. I must ask you, what is your intention?"
"Did I not make it clear enough? Your Majesty is only going south temporarily to gather troops, not that he will not return later..." Even as he spoke this half-truth, Zhang Bangchang himself found it hard to continue. First of all, he had already lost in terms of presence. How could he possibly fare well against someone like Li Gang when his spirit was low...
"Hahahaha, Bianliang City has been managed by my Great Song for hundreds of years. If even this place cannot be defended, then where else in the world can be defended? To gather the world's armies to quell the rebellion, a petty clerk with an imperial decree can do it immediately. Why would Your Majesty need to personally leave the city?" Li Gang had righteousness on his side, and as he spoke, his voice naturally grew louder and louder! By the end, with his hair and beard bristling, anyone would have thought he was about to fight Zhang Bangchang to the death...
After Li Gang's outburst, and seeing the sneers from those around him, Zhang Bangchang felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subordinate believes that Shaoqing Li is correct! If we want to gather the world's armies to quell the rebellion, a single imperial decree is enough! This fellow is misleading the sovereign to leave the city at this moment. Your subordinate believes he should be handed over to the relevant authorities for strict investigation to see if he has colluded with the enemy!" Seeing that Li Gang had already opened fire, Fan Zhengguo did not hesitate to follow suit.
"Your subordinate agrees!"
"Your subordinate also agrees!"
As Fan Zhengguo spoke, Nie Shan and Zhang Shaoyou also stepped forward without hesitation. Although their status was a level lower, their imposing manner was completely different.
"My God!"
Glancing at Zhao Zhen, who was about to speak, Zhang Bangchang was already cursing in his heart. He just wanted to take a small opportunity to get ahead, but how did it turn into treason?