"Guo Jing? Who is this person? How have I never heard of such a figure in Bianliang City?"
After reading the letter handed over by Han Shizhong, Li Gang asked with some confusion.
"My lord, you have truly stumped me..."
Hearing him say this, Han Shizhong also felt a wave of embarrassment.
Li Gang, after all, had served as an official in Bianliang City for over a decade, while he himself had spent no more than a few months in Bianliang City in total.
If Li Gang didn't know of someone, how could he possibly know them?
"This is my fault. Alright, I have this matter in hand. I will have someone look for this person!"
With a self-deprecating smile and a shake of his head, Li Gang finally agreed.
"Yes!"
"I have a handle on both these matters. I will consider them carefully. Come back again tonight, and I will write a reply, which you can then have delivered to him directly!"
"Yes!"
After sending off Han Shizhong, Li Gang returned to his desk.
Looking at the vast map of the Song imperial territories, he once again fell into silence.
In his letter, Han Mo not only asked him to find someone named Guo Jing but also urged him to prevent the court from sending aid to Taiyuan in a suicidal manner at this juncture.
As for finding Guo Jing, Li Gang could easily find an excuse to handle it himself. However, preventing the court from sending troops to rescue Taiyuan presented him with a dilemma.
The location of Taiyuan was far too important. No matter what, they could not afford to lose the city of Taiyuan!
According to the feedback from various sources, the entire city of Taiyuan currently had less than ten thousand defenders.
If they did not provide assistance at this moment, and Taiyuan were to fall, who would bear the responsibility?
To not save Taiyuan was to fear its fall, but to save Taiyuan was to fear the Jin forces laying siege and waiting for reinforcements. Even Li Gang was indecisive at this moment.
"Someone!"
After hesitating for a long time, Li Gang finally called out to the outside.
"What are your orders, my lord?"
"Have the carriage prepared. I am going to pay a visit to the old Prime Minister Zhong!"
"This..."
Hearing Li Gang's words, even his personal attendants were taken aback.
Zhong Shidao was indeed one of the most senior generals in the current court. However, even at this critical juncture, the Emperor stubbornly refused to employ Zhong Shidao.
This in itself explained a great deal. For Li Gang to visit Zhong Shidao at such a sensitive time was clearly defying the Emperor.
If this matter were to reach the Emperor's ears, even his closest attendants began to worry for him.
"What is this 'this and that'? Speak if you have something to say!"
"My lord, the Emperor does not favor old Prime Minister Zhong. Your visit at this time is tantamount to slapping the Emperor's face! Geng Nanzhong and Tang Ke are currently so eager they wish to plant spies outside our manor. For you to go at this time..."
"Where do all these fallacious arguments come from? No matter what, Zhong Shidao is an official of the court, and a rare military talent. What problem could there be in me seeking his opinion on city defense? Stop talking such nonsense and prepare the carriage!"
Frowning, Li Gang directly rebuffed his attendant, completely dismissing his concerns.
However, Li Gang himself did not expect that as soon as he entered Zhong Shidao's manor, Geng Nanzhong and Tang Ke would immediately report him to the Emperor.
"Are you two ministers speaking the truth?"
"Your Majesty, Li Gang is still at Prime Minister Zhong's residence. If Your Majesty does not believe us, you can send someone to find him directly!"
Seeing the Emperor's expression darken, Geng Nanzhong immediately said.
"Even if they go, it won't prove anything, will it..."
After a moment of silence, Zhao Huan finally spoke.
However, though his words were magnanimous, the murderous intent in his eyes betrayed him.
"Your Majesty, Prince Xin now holds heavy troops, yet he has not engaged the Jin forces. Instead, he allows the Jin to besiege Bianliang. You cannot be soft-hearted at this time! It is better to kill the wrong person than to let one go!"
Tang Ke had been by his side since he was the Crown Prince. After so many years, Tang Ke knew exactly what the Emperor feared most at this moment.
Therefore, in just a few words, he immediately stirred the deepest and darkest aspects of the Emperor's heart.
"But he is, after all, a contemporary prime minister, and currently the Grand Prefect of the Eastern Capital. Changing generals on the battlefield is inappropriate..."
Even though Zhao Huan now desperately wanted to expel everyone associated with Zhao Zhen from the court, he had to admit at this moment that Li Gang's position was irreplaceable.
It was not that Li Gang was too outstanding, but rather that he was surrounded by incompetent teammates.
Even the two masters he highly valued, standing before him, could not shoulder the task of defending the city at this moment.
After such a long period of activity, the Jin forces had already completely surrounded Bianliang.
Even if he, the Emperor, wanted to escape, he could not do so at this time.
At this very moment, only one path lay before him: to defend this city!
"Your Majesty, the court is full of talented individuals. How could there not be anyone to defend the city? This old minister believes that Grand Councilor Sun is already capable of defending the city! Moreover, there is Yao Pingzhong to assist below!"
Li Gang was too formidable. With him in power, the Emperor's previous attempts to reinstate Geng Nanzhong had all been rejected by Li Gang on the grounds of filial piety.
Seeing an opportunity to overthrow Li Gang right before him, how could he let it slip away?
"Someone, send someone to Prime Minister Zhong's manor and invite Prime Minister Li to come!"
Looking at the determined gazes of Geng Nanzhong and Tang Ke, Zhao Huan finally wavered again.
Zhao Zhen held a hundred thousand elite troops, yet at this crucial moment, he remained inactive in Hebei.
This matter was like a thorn in his heart.
Today, this thorn was once again pricked by Geng Nanzhong and Tang Ke, and the suppressed rage within Zhao Huan flared up.
"Yes!"
After hearing Zhao Huan's words, a young eunuch quickly hurried out of the hall.
Regardless, the first step had been taken. Hearing that the Emperor wished to summon Li Gang, both Tang Ke and Geng Nanzhong rejoiced in their hearts!
"Brother Yi Shu, listening to your words is truly more enlightening than ten years of study!"
In Zhong Shidao's manor, after hearing his judgment on the situation in Hedong, Li Gang's mind was suddenly enlightened.
"If it were just this matter, you could simply find a captain and ask. By coming here, you are likely to get yourself into trouble again..."