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Chapter 20 200 Li Gangshou Tokyo

After Jin Taizong destroyed the Liao Dynasty, he used the excuse that the Song Dynasty took in a fleeing general from the Liao Dynasty, and divided his troops into two groups to attack the Northern Song Dynasty.The west was led by Zonghan (also known as Nianhan) to attack Taiyuan; the east was led by Zongwang (also known as Wolibu, woyin wo) to attack Yanjing. The two armies agreed to join forces in Tokyo. Emergency documents from the front line flew to the Northern Song court like snowflakes.Jin Taizong sent envoys to Tokyo to coerce the Northern Song Dynasty to cede territory and become a vassal.The civil and military ministers of the Manchu Dynasty were so frightened that they didn't know what to do. Only Taichang Shaoqing (the official in charge of rituals, music and sacrifices) Li Gang insisted on resisting the Jin soldiers.

The Jin soldiers on the West Road captured Yanjing, and Song General Guo Yaoshi surrendered.Jin Jiang Zongwang asked Guo Yaoshi to be his guide, and led his troops southward to Tokyo. Seeing the danger of the situation, Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty was angry and anxious. He took a minister's hand and said, "Oh, I didn't expect the Jin people to treat me like this." .The ministers hurriedly helped him up, and invited the imperial physician to give him medicine for first aid, and finally revived him.He asked the left and right attendants for paper and pen, wrote the imperial edict of "passing the throne to the East Palace", and announced his abdication.Soon, he fled Tokyo with 20,000 soldiers and took refuge in Bozhou (now Bo County, Anhui).

Prince Zhao Huan came to the throne, that is, Song Qinzong.Song Qinzong promoted Li Gang to be the Minister of the Ministry of War, and issued an edict to personally crusade against the Jin soldiers. In fact, Song Qinzong was not much better than his father. He made a lot of superficial feats, but he had no idea in his heart. The Song army was defeated one after another on the front line, and Tokyo became tense. The prime ministers Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan persuaded Song Qinzong to flee, and Song Qinzong was also shaken. When Li Gang heard the news, he immediately asked Song Qinzong to see him, and said: "The Supreme Emperor (referring to Song Huizong) passed on the throne to the emperor, just hoping that His Majesty can stay in the capital. How can Your Majesty leave?"

Before Song Qinzong could speak, Prime Minister Bai Shizhong spoke up first, saying, "The enemy army is so powerful, how can we hold it?" Li Gang retorted: "There is no city in the world stronger than the capital. Besides, the capital is the center of the country, and all civil and military officials are concentrated here. As long as the emperor leads the war of resistance, there is no reason why it cannot be defended?" An eunuch next to him also muttered that the city of Tokyo was not strong enough to withstand the Jin soldiers' attack.Song Qinzong asked Li Gang to inspect the city.Li Gang went there for a while, then came back and said: "I have inspected it. The tower is tall and strong. Although the moat is shallower and narrower, as long as there are elite troops and strong crossbows, it will not worry about being unable to defend it." Then he also proposed many defensive measures. Qinzong asked Qinzong to unite the army and the people, stand together, and organize a counterattack when reinforcements from various places arrive.

Song Qinzong hesitated a bit, and said: "Then, who can take on the important task of defending the city?" Li Gang glanced at the ministers and said: "The country usually uses high-ranking officials and generous salaries to support officials, so that everyone can contribute in times of crisis. As prime ministers, Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan should take on the responsibility of guarding the city." Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan listened and rolled their eyes anxiously.Bai Shizhong shouted angrily: "Li Gang, you speak well! Can you fight?" Li Gang said calmly: "If Your Majesty doesn't think I'm incompetent and sends ministers to lead troops to guard the city, I'm willing to repay the country with my life!"

Song Qinzong saw Li Gang's resolute attitude, so he assigned him to be responsible for the entire line of defense. Bai Shizhong and a group of eunuchs did not give up, and when Li Gang left, they secretly persuaded Qinzong to escape.Early the next morning, when Li Gang went to court, he saw the Imperial Army lined up on both sides of the palace, and the guards of honor were all ready, waiting for Qinzong to get on the car and set off. Li Gang was greatly annoyed, and said sharply to the soldiers of the Imperial Army, "Are you willing to defend the capital, or do you want to escape?"

The soldiers replied in unison: "I am willing to defend the capital!" Li Gang entered the palace together with the generals of the Imperial Army, and said to Song Qinzong: "The families of the officers and soldiers of the Imperial Army are all in Tokyo, and they don't want to leave. If they are forced to leave, if they flee halfway and the enemy chases them, who will protect the emperor?" Song Qinzong fled when he heard this. There are also risks, so I have to stay. Li Gang immediately went out of the palace and announced to everyone: "The emperor has decided to stay in the capital, and anyone who mentions running away in the future will be executed."

The soldiers cheered excitedly after hearing this. Li Gang stabilized Song Qinzong, and actively prepared for defense. He deployed a strong force on all sides of the capital, equipped with various defensive weapons; he also sent an elite army to protect the granary outside the city to prevent the enemy from attacking. Three days later, the golden soldiers led by Zong Wang had arrived at the city of Tokyo.They used dozens of fireboats to go downstream from the upper reaches, preparing to attack Xuanzemen with fire.Li Gang recruited 2,000 death squads to defend the city.As soon as the golden gunship arrived, the soldiers hooked the enemy boat with a hook so that it could not approach the city wall.Li Gang sent soldiers from the city to throw big stones at the fire boat. The stones poured down like hail, sinking the fire boat, and the gold soldiers fell into the water one after another.

Zong Wang saw that the defense of Tokyo was strong and could not be attacked at once, so he sent someone to notify the Northern Song Dynasty and agreed to make peace.Song Qinzong and Li Bangyan wanted to seek peace for a long time, and immediately sent envoys to Jinying to negotiate the terms of peace. Zong Wang put forward harsh conditions to the Northern Song Dynasty, while stepping up the siege.Li Gang personally boarded the tower and commanded the battle.The Jin soldiers attacked the city with ladders, and Li Gang ordered the archers to shoot arrows, and the Jin soldiers fell down one after another.Li Gang sent hundreds of warriors to hang down the city along the ropes, burned down the ladders of the Jin army, and killed dozens of Jin generals.Countless Jin soldiers were killed or fell into the water and drowned.

Just as Li Gang commanded the soldiers to resist desperately, Song Qinzong's envoy brought the terms of the Jinying peace negotiation.
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