"Sir, you treat me with such kindness, I am deeply moved. I beg you to accept a bow from me!"
What Zhang Bangchang did not expect was that Zhao Huan, the emperor, was actually moved to tears.
Setting aside whether he was trying to win people over or deliberately acting,
This approach had already filled Lin Ling Su's heart with wild joy. At this point, he could finally relax.
"Your Majesty is too kind. The Former Emperor bestowed great kindness upon this old Daoist. I merely did what was within my humble abilities and do not deserve such a grand gesture from Your Majesty!"
Lin Ling Su was originally a man of great social skill. Before, he had the scheming Han Mo by his side to advise him.
After Han Mo supplemented his most lacking aspect, his foresight, his entire demeanor had suddenly become more imposing.
As soon as these few words were spoken, Zhao Huan, who was already prone to tears, cried even harder!
"Sir, if all the ministers in this world were like you, how could I be in such difficulty!"
Under the awkward gazes of several chancellors, Zhao Huan directly stepped down from the dragon throne and reached out to grasp Lin Ling Su's arm.
"Your Majesty!"
"Sir!"
...
While their master and minister were being overly affectionate, in the Shangjing city of the Jin people, Wanyan Aguda was in a fit of rage.
"Useless! A bunch of trash! Where is Wanyan Xuanzong? Why doesn't he go die!"
Fighting on their own territory, they had actually been defeated almost to the last man.
Except for a few small boats, five to six hundred ships had been sent to the bottom of the sea.
This left him, the founding emperor who had destroyed the entire Liao Dynasty, in a state of utter humiliation...
"Replying to Your Majesty, he, he has not yet returned. I suspect he might have..."
Wanyan Xuanzong's actions this time were too disgraceful. Even Wanyan Sheng himself felt too embarrassed to speak on his behalf any further.
"My navy! My navy! Over six hundred ships, gone just like that. Tell me, if the Song people come again, who will defend us? Who will defend us! What will we use to defend ourselves!"
Under Wanyan Aguda's rapid-fire, life-threatening questions, all the officials in the hall lowered their heads.
Compared to the losses of this time, this was their biggest problem now.
The previous actions of Yue Fei and his men had fully demonstrated the strategic intentions of the Song army.
Before, with the navy, the Song army had reservations, and yet they had still caused them sleepless nights.
Now that the navy was gone, who knew how they would ultimately deal with the Jin people.
As the true master of this Great Jin nation, he knew exactly how much wealth and resources they possessed.
Although the Great Jin nation had now been established, the opposition from the Liao people had not been completely eliminated.
Besides the three hundred thousand troops outside, the remaining manpower they could mobilize would not exceed one hundred and fifty thousand.
These one hundred and fifty thousand men were to defend the cities along this long coastline. This looked like an impossible task!
Moreover, there were always thousands of days for a thief but never thousands of days for a guard.
"Your Majesty, why don't we first seek peace with the Song people?"
Seeing that everyone dared not speak, Wanyan Sheng could only brace himself and step forward.
Although they did not want such an anticlimactic end, what Yue Fei and his men had done in Suzhou and Yuguan truly terrified them.
Without a navy, it meant they could only be beaten. Judging by the current balance of power between the two sides,
It would not be easy for them to defeat those Song people in a short period.
It was summer, so it was still somewhat manageable. If it dragged on for another month or two, into the autumn, and if the Song people occasionally set fires in the mountains, it would not take long for the entire Great Jin nation to be in turmoil!
"Seek peace! If I seek peace at this time, will I still have any face?"
Wanyan Aguda rejected Wanyan Sheng's idea without even thinking.
The war was started by them, and they had even arrogantly sent their marching routes to the Song people.
After such a big fuss, running to seek peace now would be a slap in his face!
"Your Majesty, I believe seeking peace at this time is not appropriate. Why not order the two marshals to seize the opportunity and attack the city, forcing the Song people to sign a treaty under the city!"
After Wanyan Sheng was rebuffed, Liu Yanzong immediately stepped forward.
"Proceed as you say. Tell those two that if they do not show the might of our Great Jin, then do not blame me for not showing them respect!"
Even though he was unwilling, Wanyan Aguda could only place his hopes on his two armies now that things had come to this.
At this moment, he could only gamble, betting that his men would succeed before the Song people inflicted fatal damage, and that the Song emperor himself would collapse first.
"Yes!"
Upon hearing that the emperor had accepted his suggestion, Liu Yanzong's mood also lightened considerably.
Wanyan Xuanzong was chosen by Wanyan Sheng himself. Now that such a thing had happened, although the emperor did not directly punish him,
He could still hear the emperor's dissatisfaction with Wanyan Sheng from his previous words.
One of them held the support of a large number of Jurchen generals, while the other held the support of a large number of Liao nobles.
They usually fought like jealous crows. Now, seeing his old rival in trouble, his heart was filled with immense joy!
"Report!"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Song navy has raided Laizhou. In one night, five cities along the coast were attacked, thousands of soldiers and civilians were killed or injured, and two cities were burned to the ground by the Song people!"
Liu Yanzong had just finished speaking when several eunuchs outside the door, supporting a dust-covered soldier, rushed in from outside. As they spoke, they quickly raised a message tube above their heads.
"Scoundrel!"
Upon hearing this news, Wanyan Aguda, who was furious, directly overturned the table in front of him.
But he was old, and after years of fighting, he had many hidden injuries. In his anger, his vision suddenly went black, and he fainted.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
As he collapsed, the officials in the hall were thrown into a state of panic.
"Quickly summon the imperial physicians!"
It was already two hours later when Wanyan Aguda's eyes opened again.
The other officials had already dispersed, but as chancellors, Wanyan Sheng and Liu Yanzong naturally had to remain by his side!
"Your Majesty, you are awake? You scared this old subject to death!"
Seeing that he had finally opened his eyes again, Liu Yanzong knelt on the ground and began to cry.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
Seeing his tearful appearance, Wanyan Sheng felt a wave of nausea.
This old scoundrel played too dirty. If one didn't know better, they would think the person lying on the bed was his brother!