"The golden man has crossed the river!"

A cry full of fear exploded on the streets of Zhenjiang! After just a moment of silence, the bustling street market suddenly exploded! The men's inquiries one after another, the shocked screams of the women and children rang out, and only the children were still ignorant and pulled the corners of the adults' clothes and asked, what is a golden man?

Zhenjiang City was in chaos, and the people outside rushed home, not caring about the family business they had worked so hard to place, but only cleaning up some soft things, helping the old and the young to leave home, and going straight to the city gates. When the officers and soldiers guarding the city saw the crowd rushing over, they hurriedly closed the city gate, and the soldiers lined up into a wall, holding spears to block the crowd from approaching. This move allowed the frightened people to find a place to vent. People shouted and cursed! Pushing! Conflict inevitably broke out!

Although the soldiers were ordered to prevent the people from leaving the city, no one ordered them to aim their swords at the civilians. As soon as he saw the crowd crashing over, he could only cross the barrel of the gun and use his body to block it.

"These thieves are with an army! What is the reason for not killing the golden dog, but to prevent us from escaping! Rush over! "Someone was agitated emotionally.

The people were like the waves of the sea, wave after wave, crashing against the human wall of flesh and blood of the soldiers. The officer carried a knife and shouted that it was useless, and the instinct to survive made people lose their minds...... The chaos is out of control, and the city gates of Zhenjiang Mansion are overcrowded! Those with well-off families have cars and horses, while ordinary families carry burdens, hold children, and protect the elderly, constantly impacting and pushing in front of the city gate! Screams, yelling, cries, intertwined...... The palace in the forbidden middle seems to have been affected by the outside, and there are palace attendants and heavily armed soldiers everywhere. A group of officials in court clothes hurriedly entered the palace from the Xuande Gate, not only the officials and military ministers, but they were all in a hurry, discussing something fiercely as they walked. From time to time, officials joined the ranks, and they all invested in the government palace.

"Zhao Ding!"

An official shouted! Many officials went to seek prestige, and they saw Zhao Dingzheng, the political secretary of the political council who acted as the prime minister, and He Guan, the "secretary of the imperial camp department", coming from behind. At the moment, most of these dozens of officials stopped, and even turned around and rushed towards the two of them!

He Guan saw that the momentum was not right, and hurriedly stepped forward to block Zhao Ding, facing the surging crowd! He stretched out his hands early to make a gesture of dissuasion, and said loudly: "Colleagues, ...... have something to say" Before he finished speaking, the angry officials had already swarmed up and squeezed the two of them to the ground!

"Zhao participates in politics! On that day, Geng Xiang and I persuaded the official's family to evacuate, it was you! Influence the official family! Now the Jin people have crossed the river, and the line is in danger! What else do you have to say! A thief who misleads the country and the king! ”

"How can you serve yourself and have the merit of supporting! As a military minister, he has always been high-flying! Make waves with Zhao Ding and others! Blinded Holy Hearing! ”

"I'll wait for the official family to be dismissed and interrogated by these two thieves!"

"That's right! And the Privy Envoy Zhi Zhonggu! As the head of the Western Mansion, he is in charge of the world's military affairs, and he is so stupid! A tide of anger is coming, even a character like He Guan and Zhao Ding can't resist it!

Zhi Yanzhi and several officials such as Cheng Qin Hui in the imperial history happened to enter the palace, and they saw a group of people huddled together from a distance, and they didn't know what they were arguing about. Qin Hui glanced at it from afar, and suddenly changed color: "Fold, the signs are wrong!" I'll go the other way! ”

Zhe Zhonggu fixed his eyes and found He Guan first, and then saw Zhao Ding again. The two of them were squeezed into the middle, and the officials were furious, and they were all scolding the two of them.

With a sinking face, the young privy envoy said, "Why do you want to change course? I am the head of the Western Mansion, and I act above board, so why am I afraid of slander? If you are afraid, you will go your own way! After finishing his words, he strode forward. At that time, several people followed him. Qin Hui stood in place, his brows furrowed, and he followed after a while.

"The national disaster is at the head! If you wait for yourself to fight among yourself first, is it the way of a minister! "Zheyan was born in Jiangmen, and the people who practice martial arts are full of energy! This roar, like a storm crashing on the shore, pierced the clouds with rocks and clouds, suddenly made the chaotic scene gradually subside.

But "sincerely" treating them as "traitors" who misled the country and the monarch did not give him face, and the spearhead was immediately aimed at him. Seeing the emotionally out of control officials rushing over, several colleagues in the Privy Council hurriedly blocked in front of him, and Zhi Yanzhi pushed them away, facing a group of colleagues without fear!

"Fold the Privy! The city has been spreading wildly, saying that the gold people have crossed the river! What can your father ask for? Where is the water master in the river? Where are your three lines of defense? ”

"It's still a loss! It's just rhetoric! We've all been deceived by him! ”

Zheyan is gentle and elegant, but at this moment, he is not at all as concessionary as He Guan and Zhao Ding. Instead, he protested and shouted: "Which of you has seen the Jin people cross the river with their own eyes!" Stand up for me! ”

"The whole city is full of rumors, how can there be a fake! The defenders of Guazhou broke and fled across the river, isn't it true? At this point, you still want to quibble! ”

"Guazhou crosses the canal estuary, and if this place is lost, what else can you rely on!"

Zhi Zhonggu shouted loudly: "The water master in the river is the palm of his own hand!" Until this moment, the Privy Council has not received the news that the Jin army has entered the river! You are waiting for rumors to spread nonsense, what is your intention! Do you want to make an internal response for the golden people! ”

His refusal to give in has aroused the blood of some ministers of the main battle faction, and they have spoken out to help. For a time, on the square in front of the palace, a scene that had not been seen in the founding of the Great Song Dynasty for more than 100 years appeared. The Manchu courtiers were almost distinctly divided into two factions, fiercely accusing, questioning, and even scolding. Only a few people stood away from the crowd and shook their heads...... The news flew into the ban, and Emperor Zhao Huan was shocked when he heard the news! Immediately send the chamberlain to summon the ministers to the palace to face the king. At that moment, the group of angry ministers scolded as they walked, and they all invested in the political palace.

This palace is the place where the Son of Heaven summons hundreds of officials, receives foreign envoys, and exchanges state letters, and is a symbol of the highest power center of the country, how solemn is it? But after the Manchu Dynasty civil and military entered the palace, it still didn't stop, and the noisy palace was like a mule and horse market!

Zhao Huan came out from behind the screen and walked all the way to the throne, and the hall full of civil and military forces was still noisy! The chamberlain tried to stop him several times to no avail, so angry that Zhao Guanjia picked up an inkstone and smashed it on the imperial case!

A bang! Finally brought the noisy ministers back to their senses! In an instant, the needle drop in the temple could be heard!

"Qing and others are the pillars of the country! Why is it the state of the market? The dignified court officials are like the scoundrels in the streets, what kind of system has they become! Zhao Huan said with a rare anger.

Zhao Ding, acting prime minister and head of the government, took the lead in accusing him: "The ministers have no complaints, disturb the saints, and hope to beg for forgiveness." ”

"Hope for forgiveness of sins!" The ministers echoed.

Zhao Huan didn't have the time to be angry, and after sitting down, the hundred officials were about to push the gold mountain, pour the jade pillar, and make a big salute. But he waved his hand impatiently and said, "The ceremony is waived!" Why are you arguing? ”

Geng Nanzhong walked out of the class and said, "Official! Zhenjiang is full of wind rumors, and the Jin people have crossed the river. At this moment, the people are in turmoil, and they all want to take the city and flee! ”

Zhao Huan's face suddenly turned pale! The Jin people have crossed the Yangtze River! Isn't this about to come to Zhenjiang City!

Zhe Yanzhi was robbed of a head by Geng Nanzhong, and he didn't dare to hesitate at this time, and hurriedly went out of class and said: "Your Majesty! The rumors are not to be believed! The minister is in charge of the water division in the river, and has not received the news that the golden people have entered the river! It can be seen that it is indeed a rumor! ”

"Fold the Privy! In front of the Son of Heaven, you are still covering up! Let me ask you, did the defenders of Guazhou give up the ferry and flee to Jiangnan? Geng Nanzhong said loudly.

Zhi Yan's expression did not change, and he nodded: "It is true, but ......"

"As soon as Guazhou is lost, the golden man will cross south in the blink of an eye! Please, Son of God, evacuate quickly! Geng Nanzhong got his words and immediately played to Zhao Huan.

"The minister seconded the proposal!" "The minister seconded the proposal!" "Seconded!"

As soon as he took the lead, many ministers echoed him, and they all asked Zhao Guanjia to leave Zhenjiang Mansion as soon as possible to avoid trouble! If the Son of Heaven and the Manchu Dynasty are trapped in this city, if it falls into the hands of the Jurchens, personal life and death, honor and disgrace are small, the country has no owner, and the army has no leader!

So many people advocated an immediate evacuation, but Zhao Ding, Zhi Yanzhen, He Guan and others, who had strongly opposed it in the past, did not argue on the basis of reason. I don't know if it's because I'm afraid of the anger of many ministers, or for other reasons.

Zhao Huan was sitting on pins and needles at this time, and when he saw that Zhao Zhe and the others did not speak, he knew that the situation must have deteriorated. It's just that in this hurry, where to escape? Moreover, this departure also means that Jiangnan will also be looted by the Jurchens, and the Great Song Dynasty has already lost Lianghe, Shandong, and the Central Plains, and if it is lost, there will be no place!

But if you don't leave, once the Jin people cross the river, Zhenjiang Mansion will definitely not be able to hold it, and then will you be like the Liao Emperor Yelu Yanxi to be the prisoner of the Jurchens? Knowing this, why didn't he get invited by Li Gang and others to set up a line in Guanzhong? There are fierce and heroic Western Army, and there are generals such as Xu Yao who can fight and are accustomed to fighting, at least they will not be beaten under their noses!

At this time, the ministers of that group are all bitterly admonishing the emperor to make an idea as soon as possible, and it will be a disaster if it is too late!

"The situation is so critical, if you want to withdraw, where will you withdraw?" Zhao Huan asked anxiously.

Geng Nanzhong had obviously thought of a way out in advance, and said: "The ministers and others support the official family, retreat to Hangzhou first, depending on the situation, and then make plans!" ”

Hundreds of officials rushed up and agreed, that formation, whether to force the emperor to make a decision in the palace! The matter is serious, but Zhao Huan did not agree immediately, the hundreds of officials in this hall are noisy, and it is really inconvenient to discuss. At that moment, he ordered the hundred officials to retire temporarily, and immediately opened a detailed meeting to discuss with the ministers.

Time was pressing, and all the monarchs and ministers were even exempted from going to the forbidden Zhongshu Province, and they discussed behind closed doors in the palace of senior ministers. The civil and military officials refused to leave the palace, and they all gathered in the square in front of the senior administration hall to discuss, waiting for news from the highest decision-making level.

In the hall, Zhao Ding, Zhe Yanzhi, He Guan, Qin Hui, Huang Qianshan and other ministers are all there, but Geng Nanzhong, who has already dismissed the prime minister and lost the qualification to attend the detailed discussion department, is also impressively listed.

Zhao Huan ordered the chamberlain to set up the throne in the hall, and several important ministers sat on both sides. Everyone has their own thoughts, and they are all worried.

"Zheqing, He Qing, Guazhoudu is indeed lost?" Being so troubled by the Fang Cai Palace, Zhao Huan looked a little tired.

Zhi Yanzhi arched his hand: "Official, according to the report of the defenders of the ferry who retreated across the river, the Jin people attacked the ferry, and the soldiers lost Yangzhou and the ferry was difficult to preserve, so they crossed the river and fled. ”

Zhao Huan closed his eyes in pain and muttered: "Once Guazhou is lost, there will only be a big river in front of the Jin people......"

Hearing this, Zhi Yan exchanged glances with Zhao Ding, He Guan and others, and then said: "Your Majesty, there are still sailors in the river, and there are hundreds of large and small warships. On the south bank, there are 30,000 elite soldiers of the Imperial Battalion Division, and more than 20,000 troops of the Central Plains that have recently been collected. In addition, tens of thousands of troops were recruited from neighboring provinces and states......"

"Zhe Shumi, until now, are you still thinking about blocking the gold people in Jiangbei?" Geng Nanzhong looked directly at him and asked.

The general hung his head slightly and said, "It is true that there is still a fight." ”

"Well, as the Privy Counsellor said, it is still possible to fight. But there is no certainty of victory or defeat, may I ask, what is good in case of defeat? Geng Nanzhong asked again.

Orihiko really can't answer, because once defeated, the consequences are obvious. Now, he no longer has the confidence to ask the official family to emulate the story of Emperor Sizong who personally went to the city to supervise the war in Lanzhou. He really didn't expect that Zhao Dian, the original Qin Fengshuai, led the elite Qin Fengjun, would end so quickly...... Seeing him like this, Zhao Huan already knew it in his heart, so he turned to Zhao Ding and said, "Zhao Qing, what do you mean?" ”

Zhao Ding also felt very passive, a few days ago, he and Zhi Yan He Guan bitterly advised the Son of Heaven to stay and never retreat, but now. And he knew in his heart that once the official family decided to evacuate, he would not be far from the resignation. Even if the emperor did not remove him, he could only take the blame and resign, and had no other choice. The same end, I'm afraid there is also the folding of the privy.

"Minister......" Zhao Ding didn't know where to start for a while. After a while, he said helplessly, "The situation is already like this, if the official family is still in Zhenjiang Mansion, it is too dangerous." That is to say, he also agreed with the emperor to run away.

Now that the representatives of the main battle faction have spoken, of course the others have no reason to insist anymore, at the moment, all the detailed divisions have passed, and the resolution is to evacuate Zhenjiang Mansion!

But then the question arises, where to retreat? Is it really as Geng Nanzhong said, evacuate to Hangzhou? So what if the Jin army chases after Hangzhou?

"In that case, where do you think I will go?" Zhao Huan asked in a deep voice.

Geng Nanzhong looked left and right, and saw that his colleagues didn't speak, so he immediately said: "Go to Hangzhou first, if the Jin army chases, then retreat to Mingzhou!" If you come back, take a boat to the sea! The sea is vast, even if the Jin army wants to chase, it can't catch up! ”

Zhao Zhe was a minister, he couldn't raise his head at first, but as soon as he heard this, he seized the opportunity to fight back. Zhi Yanzhi immediately said: "If the Son of Heaven goes to sea, dare to ask, who will cut off all kinds of military and political affairs?" Do you ignore the military and people of the world? ”

"Each place has its own commanders, and all armies have commanders to guard them, and at this juncture, you can only invite loyal people and forget about yourself." Geng Nanzhong raised his head and said.

"Once the Son of Heaven withdraws from the master, what will happen to this business?" Zhao Ding also asked.

Geng Nanzhong actually smiled: "Zhao Xiang has always resolutely supported the promotion of Jin, and this is the time for the Prime Minister to serve the Son of Heaven." After the official family evacuated, how about asking Zhao Xiang to lead the military and civilian resistance war? ”

Zhao Ding's color changed: "Ding is a scholar, how can he ever know the soldiers?" ”

Geng Nanzhong looked at Zhi Yanzhi again: "The privy minister was born in the general's house, and he is an all-round talent in civil and military affairs, and it is his duty to protect the bank. ”

Deputy Prime Minister Huang Qianshan also said: "If the official family evacuates, someone really needs to preside over it in Hejiangfang, and the privy minister is really the best candidate." In the past, when Xu Shao was the privy envoy, he moved south, and he also stayed in Tokyo. ”

Zhi Yan stared at the two of them, knowing that they were playing on the topic, sneered, and then bowed to the Son of Heaven: "I am afraid that this matter is not determined by the minister, and it must be decided by the Son of Heaven!" "He, along with Yao Pingzhong, Xu Wei, Liu Yanqing and others, are all representatives of the Shaozhuang faction ministers personally promoted by Zhao Huan, and they have always been trusted by the emperor.

Unexpectedly, when his voice fell, Zhao Huan asked, "Zhonggu, are you willing to stay here?" ”

Zhi Yanzhi was choked by this sentence and didn't know how to deal with it, and was stunned for a long time before he said: "The official family has an order, and the ministers all obey it." "What else can he say?

"The wind knows the strength of the grass, and the country is difficult to show loyalty." Huang Qianshan praised. Zhi Yanzhi was silent, since he was born in Jiangmen, of course he knew how much impact the emperor would have on the morale of the soldiers and civilians on both sides of the Yangtze River once he left. If he is really left to stay here, I am afraid that he will really have to make up his mind to sacrifice himself and promise the country.

At this time, the noise outside became louder and louder, so that the hall could no longer discuss matters. Zhao Huan learned that the hundred officials gathered in the square in front of the palace and refused to disperse, in order to stabilize the people's hearts, he decided to announce the resolution of the detailed discussion department to the civil and military officials.

When the door of the senior administration hall was slowly pushed open, the noise outside suddenly disappeared, and hundreds of eyes brushed over in unison, waiting for the final result.

The emperor stepped out of the palace under the protection of the ministers, and Zhao Huan saw that hundreds of officials in the square were gathered, and he didn't know how to speak for a while. Since he ascended the throne, he first abandoned the old capital of Tokyo, and now, he has to give up Zhenjiang Xingzai, and it is really not a glorious thing to retreat again and again.

Geng Nanzhong followed him in the East Palace for ten years, and of course he understood the Lord's thoughts, and whispered on the side: "Rong Chen will make an announcement on his behalf." ”

Zhao Huan was in the middle of the favor and nodded in agreement. Geng Nanzhong cleared his throat and said loudly: "The Holy Lord will gather the ruling committee, and the detailed council will agree that in order to protect the cornerstone of the country and the foundation of the imperial court, it is decided to temporarily evacuate the line!" ”

As soon as the words fell, there was a burst of cheers in the square, and the ministers all shouted long live. Zhao Ding and Zhi Yan glanced at each other, what is this? It seems like a happy event!

Zhao Huan waved his wide sleeves: "Qing and others have to prepare for each time, wait for the edict." ”

The civil and military officials bowed again, and when they were about to leave the palace, they heard a voice in the crowd saying: "Hey, the emperor? ”

Hearing the words "Emperor Taishang", I felt very sudden. It's just that in the past few years, the Emperor Taishang has lived in a simple house, except for his birthday and major festivals, the emperor's hundred officials went to congratulate, and at other times, he never showed up.

Everyone looked and saw the east head of the senior palace, and the emperor Zhao Ji was only leading an inner servant and was coming quickly.