Guo Jing readily accepted the order, first driving the city guards off the city walls, then leading the divine soldiers onto the walls to fight. Moments later, the “magic spell” was completed, and Guo Jing opened Xuanhua Gate. Under the watchful eyes of Emperor Zhao Huan and his officials, he turned into a torrent and charged towards the Jin army.
Then, as expected, the divine soldiers were defeated by the Jin cavalry and drowned in the moat. Emperor Zhao Huan and his officials were horrified and hurriedly urged Guo Jing to personally engage in combat. Guo Jing then rode his steed alone, charging towards the Jin army, before suddenly turning around and disappearing into the vast crowd.
Before Emperor Zhao Huan and his officials could react, the Jin army took advantage of the open city gate and stormed onto the city walls. Thus, the outer city of Kaifeng fell.
After conquering the outer city, the Jin army wanted to take the opportunity to set the city ablaze. However, seeing that the Song Dynasty had opened its armory and the people knew the danger, they voluntarily took up arms, and in an instant, there were 300,000 combat-ready individuals in Kaifeng.
The Jin army was greatly alarmed and continued to send envoys to negotiate peace with the Song Dynasty.
The Song court was overjoyed once again, sending countless treasures, vessels, and beautiful women to the Jin camp. Then, Emperor Zhao Huan, along with Prime Minister He Li and others, left the city and entered the Jin camp to surrender. After they met, the cunning Jin people first demanded 10,000 fine horses from the Song court, leaving the city residents without horses and unable to escape.
Then, considering the 300,000 people, they ordered the confiscation of weapons. Only after these demands were met, did they open their mouths and propose their peace terms.
Gold: 10 million ingots; Silver: 20 million ingots; Silk: 2 million bolts; Young women: 1,500.
Emperor Zhao Huan and his officials dared not defy the order and further intensified the plundering of Kaifeng. This time, no one was spared, from high-ranking officials to commoners, their possessions were confiscated and sent to the Jin army.
Despite this, they only obtained 160,000 taels of gold and two million taels of silver, far from meeting the Jin army's demands. However, the Jin army understood that Kaifeng was now drained and worthless. So, they confined Emperor Zhao Huan and his officials to the Jin camp, stripped them of their clothing, and made them kneel alongside Emperor Zhao Ji and other palace concubines and officials, bowing to the Jin army's orders.
As the money did not meet the Jin army's demands, the Song court sent palace concubines at a low price to offset the gold and silver, and they were sent to the Jin camp.
Then, the Song Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, Princes, imperial vehicles, carriages, ceremonial guards, sacrificial vessels, legal objects, ritual scriptures, ritual maps, grand music, chariots, dances, instruments from the Music Bureau, music books, musical scores, sacrificial vessels, eight treasures, nine tripods, jade scepters, jade seals, armillary spheres, Tongren Kleigang, ancient artifacts, books from the three libraries of the Imperial Archives, and official copies of printed books—everything belonging to the court was taken as spoils of war by the Jin army.
In an instant, the vast city of Kaifeng became a wasteland, as if it had suffered a cataclysmic disaster, losing its century-long prosperity.
In light of the humiliation of the Northern Song Dynasty's demise, we hereby publicly announce the names of those captured by the Jin army, as a warning to all people under Heaven:
Among the princes, all except King Kang, Zhao Gou, were captured, including Prince Yun, Zhao Kai, Prince Su, Zhao Shu, Prince Jing, Zhao Qi, Prince Yi, Zhao Xu… a total of 23.
Among the princesses, including Princess Jiade, Rongde, Maude, Chengde, Xun de, Xiandde, Shunde, Yifu, Roufu... excluding the six who died young, a total of 21.
Among the imperial grandsons, including Crown Prince Zhao Chen, Prince Yun's three sons, Prince Su's two sons, Prince Jing's one son… a total of 16.
Additionally, there are 30 imperial granddaughters, 144 concubines and maids of Emperor Huizong, and 39 concubines and maids of Emperor Qinzong…
The number of children of other high-ranking officials and noblemen, and civilian women, is countless, exceeding a thousand. Even King Kang, Zhao Gou's mother and wife were captured. This is indeed a great shame for the Song Dynasty…
…
As the list of names on the golden plaque unfolded, all the emperors and officials from throughout history were stunned. They stared wide-eyed, frozen in place.
In the realm of Qin Shi Huang, outside the Xianyang Palace.
After a long while, Qin Shi Huang finally came to his senses. He licked his dry lips, his eyes cold and filled with rage, and said:
“Shame! This is not only the shame of the Song Dynasty, but the shame of all of China!”
Qin Shi Huang repeatedly pounded the table, his dragon's might shaking the heavens. The officials also came to their senses and all knelt down in a flurry!
It was too humiliating, too damn shameful!
This was the Song Dynasty? This was the Song Dynasty that ranked last?
The golden plaque listed either unified dynasties or dynasties that lasted for over a hundred years and were the legitimate rulers of China. Could such a pathetic Song Dynasty be considered the legitimate ruler of China? !
The kneeling officials felt a surge of resentment, resentment that soared to the heavens. Even the Confucian scholars who had opposed Qin Shi Huang's burning of books and burying of Confucian scholars back then showed discontent, clenching their jaws!
“Your Majesty, the Song Dynasty has suffered such humiliation, all thanks to the Xiongnu Jin! Your servant dares to ask Your Majesty to dispatch troops against the Xiongnu, to exalt the might of our Chinese nation!”
Meng Yi was also filled with anger, his teeth gritted as he stood up and spoke loudly.
Qin Shi Huang narrowed his eyes and glared fiercely at the golden plaque in the sky.
The Song Dynasty was a thousand years away from him. Even if his heart burned with anger, he couldn't do anything about the Jin. But now, the Xiongnu were in the north of the Qin Dynasty!
Since they were both foreign races, since they both roamed the northern grasslands, then they should die together!
“I grant it!”
Meng Yi was overjoyed, and everyone else cheered “Long live the Emperor!”
Yes, if the Jin of a thousand years later could destroy the Song Dynasty so easily, and humiliate China so severely, who could guarantee that the Qin Dynasty in the future would not be destroyed by the Xiongnu?
Therefore, Qin Shi Huang had to take precautions and absolutely would not give the Xiongnu this opportunity. He would absolutely not allow the Qin Dynasty to follow the path of the Song Dynasty to its downfall!
But as he finished speaking, Qin Shi Huang suddenly realized, his eyes narrowed in doubt, and he asked:
“Li Si, did the golden plaque mention sorcerers?”
Li Si was startled, his mind racing. Soon, he understood the answer and bowed, saying:
“Your Majesty, the golden plaque indeed mentioned it. Emperor Qinzong and his officials trusted the sorcerer Guo Jing, and that's how the Jin army was able to exploit their weakness and conquer Kaifeng!”
Hearing this, Qin Shi Huang was filled with killing intent. His eyes turned cold, his fists clenched tightly, making the officials tremble!
“Good, good, good…”
Qin Shi Huang said “good” three times in a row, his entire being radiating dragon's might!
But soon, Li Si figured out Qin Shi Huang's meaning.
The Song Dynasty was destroyed because it relied on sorcerers. And what about the Qin Dynasty now?
Wasn't His Majesty also trusting sorcerers, making them refine elixirs and seek immortality?
Could it be that His Majesty, because of the incident with Guo Jing of the Song Dynasty, had begun to doubt sorcerers and was preparing to launch a great purge?
Feng Quji and others thought the same way, lifting their eyes slightly, looking cautiously at the enraged Qin Shi Huang.
And in Qin Shi Huang's heart, he was constantly sneering!
Sorcerers, good sorcerers! They summon divine soldiers, and then they run away, leading to the downfall of the Song Dynasty!
Such treacherous individuals, how could they be allowed to live?
“Zhao Gao!”
“Your servant is here!”
Zhao Gao quickly bowed.
“Bring those sorcerers to see me. I need an answer!”
Qin Shi Huang's expression was calm, his voice ordinary.
“Yes!”
…
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