I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 403 Flower Protector

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When the Song Dynasty began demanding the return of the Jin Dynasty's royal family, imperial clan, nobles, and Jin officials left behind, such as Wanyan Zongpan and Wanyan Zongjun, they felt only bitterness, not surprise.

Not to mention that they did the same thing when they conquered the Upper Capital, Middle Capital, and Eastern Capital of Liao. Even if they conquered a small city, they would abduct the people living there, making the men slaves and the women playthings or livestock to be exchanged for money.

As for the Liao dynasty's royal family, imperial clan, and nobles, they were the spoils of war that they fought tooth and nail for. Sometimes, they would even draw their swords against each other in their struggle to seize the daughters of the Liao royal family, imperial clan, and nobles.

If they allow the Jin people to do things on the first day of the lunar month, then naturally they will allow others to do things on the fifteenth.

In other words, this is to be expected; it would be strange if it didn't happen.

Faced with this, the Jin ministers who remained behind had no choice but to obediently comply.

In fact, these Jin ministers did not intend to give all of the Jin royal family, clan members, and nobles to the Song Dynasty. They actually wanted to hide some of them.

However, Song Jiang and his men had long been on guard against this move by the Jin ministers. When Hu Zhiru and Xiao Rong first entered the city, they not only retrieved all the Jin's registers, but also captured all the eunuchs.

Crucially, Song Jiang and his group possessed the records of the Bojilie meeting and the tribal household registers. Jin Ting needed these registers to distribute "dividends" and "pay wages" to these "shareholders" and their families.

The Song Dynasty demanded people based on this list, and then had these eunuchs identify them. Not a single member of the Jin Dynasty's royal family, imperial clan, or nobles could escape.

Therefore, when Wanyan Zongpan, Wanyan Zongjun, and other Jin ministers who remained behind saw the list that the Song Dynasty was demanding from them, they were all dumbfounded. The Song Dynasty not only knew the Jin royal family, imperial clan, and nobles inside and out, but also included these Jin royal family members, imperial clan members, and nobles who remained behind, as well as their wives, daughters, and even mothers, in the list they were demanding.

Of course, Wu Yong and his men also promised that as long as they cooperated obediently and made amends for their crimes, it would only be a formality for them and their families. Once they arrived in the Song Dynasty, they would be rewarded according to their merits and their families would be returned to them.

Frankly, at this moment, conservative Jin ministers like Wanyan Zongpan and Wanyan Zongjun couldn't help but feel some regret! They couldn't help but think, 'If we had resisted to the end, wouldn't we have at least some power to resist?'

But what good is regret now? Things have come to this point. If they don't cooperate obediently, the Song Dynasty will definitely send someone else to take charge of these matters.

In fact, Song Jiang had already dispatched twelve ministers of the Song Dynasty, including Wu Yong, Hu Zhiru, Fan Zhixu, Lü Haowen, Mei Zhili, Wang Shiyong, Xu Bingzhe, Xiao Rong, Han Fang, Liu Yanzong, Shi Li'ai, and Xiao Zhonggong, to "help" Wanyan Zongpan and Wanyan Zongjun manage the important affairs in the Jin capital.

Wu Yong brought Zhao Yu's imperial brush to meet Wanyan Zongpan, Wanyan Zongjun, and others.

Emperor Zhao Yu's imperial calligraphy reads as follows:

"I have heard that the ways of Heaven are clear and retribution is infallible; human relationships are orderly and there is a constant cycle of good and bad."

The Jurchen people were originally a subordinate tribe of the Liao Dynasty. They received the Liao's favor for generations and were able to live and multiply in the area between the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River.

However, you are wolves in sheep's clothing, betraying your sovereign and ungrateful. Taking advantage of the decline of the Liao dynasty, you raised an army without cause, broke through Shangjing, captured Zhongjing, and destroyed Dongjing. You slaughtered the royal family, abducted children, and nearly cut off the Liao imperial genealogy. The people of Liao suffered terribly.

Having destroyed the Liao Dynasty, you do not think of pacifying the people and securing the country. Instead, relying on your military strength, you covet the Central Plains and repeatedly provoke the might of our Great Song Dynasty by taking advantage of your strength in conquering Liao.

Such rebellious acts are abhorrent to heaven and earth, and deserve the condemnation of both gods and men!
Today, our Great Song army marches north, its banners pointing in unison, sweeping all before it, and will strike directly at the heart of your Jin dynasty's capital, Shangjing. When the city falls, you will be utterly helpless, and only then will you realize that the retribution for your past evil deeds has arrived.

By the grace of Heaven, I, the Emperor, have come to relieve the people's suffering and punish the guilty. I hereby issue the following edict: The entire Jin state must surrender unconditionally! Immediately hand over the Imperial Seal and the Jin court's seals, and hand them over to all members of the royal family, imperial clan, and nobles. They must not be concealed or transferred. All troops shall be laid down and returned to their fields, and officers and soldiers shall await investigation. All officials of the prefectures and counties within the territory must submit memorials of surrender and await the judgment of my Great Song.

If any of you dare to disobey my orders, or if you conceal or delay in the slightest, I will order my royal army to massacre the city and wipe out the mansion, and repay the suffering your Jurchen people have inflicted on Liao a hundredfold!
The cycle of karma is ever-present and never fails. You should all take heed and not say I did not warn you!

Admire this! "

When Wanyan Zongpan, Wanyan Zongjun, and other Jin ministers who remained behind heard Wu Yong relay Zhao Yu's imperial edict, they cried out in despair, as if they were about to die.

That evening, Wanyan Zongpan, Wanyan Zongjun, and other Jin ministers who remained in the city held a secret meeting for a long time. Ultimately, due to the current situation, they decided to follow the Song Dynasty's request and send the Liao Dynasty's royal family, imperial relatives, nobles, and concubines out of the city the next day.

They didn't want to agree either.

But Wu Yong made it clear: "My lord, the Pacification Commissioner, has ordered that if any members of the royal family, the imperial clan, or nobles do not leave the city by Shenshi (3-5 PM) tomorrow, troops will be allowed to enter the city from all sides and kill them."

Faced with the threat of the Song Dynasty's attack on the city, early the next morning, Wanyan Zongpan, Wanyan Zongjun, and others, under the watchful eyes of Wu Yong and his companions, began to search for the location according to the map.

Fearing that these members of the royal family, imperial clan, and nobles would be unwilling to leave the city, thus angering the Song army and causing them to storm the city and plunder it, Wanyan Zongpan and Wanyan Zongjun tricked these members of the royal family, imperial clan, and nobles into leaving the city to beg the Song Dynasty to forgive the people in the Jin capital.

Soon, all the members of the royal family, the imperial clan, and the nobles in the capital of Jin were brought to the palace.

There must have been many Jurchens who didn't want to venture out of the city, because they knew very well that if they went out this time, they would most likely not return, and their fate would be unimaginable.

Many Jurchens, relying on their status or their age, insisted on refusing to leave the city.

Seeing that the situation might get out of control, Wang Shiyong said to Wanyan Zongpan: "If something goes wrong, the Wolf Lord will be implicated. It will be difficult for him to surrender to our Great Song and protect his family. We should use swift and decisive measures to force them to leave the city. If this matter goes smoothly, I will speak well of the Wolf Lord and make sure he is also highly valued in our Great Song."

Father died, mother remarried, everyone looks after themselves.

The Jin Dynasty was already on the verge of destruction and there was no way to save it. Under such circumstances, it was already quite good that Wanyan Zongpan could save himself and his wife and children. How could he care about others?

Therefore, Wanyan Zongpan summoned Wanyan Zongjun, explained the situation to him, and asked him to use force to compel the Jurchens to leave the city.

Wanyan Zongjun couldn't care less about anyone else now. Of course, he also wanted to redeem himself and save his own life, so he agreed without hesitation.

Before long, Wanyan Zongjun arrived at the palace gates with several hundred Jin soldiers armed with clubs, and addressed the Jin royal family, imperial clan, and nobles in a cold voice:

"Now that our Great Jin Dynasty is gone, it is imperative for us to leave the city. If trouble arises, not only will we be unable to save ourselves, but we will also bring disaster to all the people in the city. The Grand Marshal of the Great Song Dynasty has limited patience. If we cannot leave the city before Shenshi (3-5 PM), not a single chicken or dog will be left alive. For our sake and for the sake of the people in the city, leaving the city is imperative."

Upon hearing Wanyan Zongjun's words, the Jurchens, who had previously harbored a glimmer of hope and attempted to defy orders based on their status and position, instantly turned deathly pale. They knew full well that Wanyan Zongjun's words were not empty; under the iron hooves of the Song army, how could they possibly have any room for resistance? Moreover, Wanyan Zongjun held military power that could determine their life or death.

For a moment, murmurs and sobs mingled together, but no one dared to openly oppose it anymore. Some of them, having come to terms with reality, left the palace in bamboo sedan chairs, leaving the city in tears. The princes, empresses, and other officials also traveled by carriage in turn.

Upon seeing this, Wanyan Zongjun's lips curled into a cold smile. He then waved his hand, signaling the Jin soldiers to step forward and "escort" those members of the royal family, imperial clan, and nobles who refused to cooperate out of the city.

Upon receiving the order, the Jin soldiers immediately sprang into action, forcibly dragging up those who hesitated or tried to delay, and shoving them toward the city gate. Along the way, cries and curses filled the air.

But in this atmosphere of despair, it seemed particularly powerless.

Meanwhile, Wu Yong, Hu Zhiru, and other Song Dynasty officials stood by, observing everything with detached indifference. Their faces showed no pity, only a calm assessment of victory and a precise grasp of the future situation.

In the evening, almost all the members of the Jin royal family, clan, and nobles arrived at the Song army camp.

Song Jiang ordered that the men and women be separated and imprisoned.

To everyone's surprise, early the next morning, Song Jiang sent Yang Zhi and Lin Chong with 10,000 light cavalry to escort the daughters of the Jin royal family, the imperial clan, and the nobles to Yongming City. From Yongming City, they were then transported by boat to Bianliang City (Kaifeng) to be presented to Zhao Yu.

As for Wanyan Wugumai and the royal family, clan members, and nobles of the Jin Dynasty, Song Jiang did not send them back.

This was because Song Jiang needed bait. The Song Dynasty had already decided to besiege the Jin capital, Shangjing, and force Wanyan Aguda to return with his troops. If they didn't have any leverage, why would Wanyan Aguda and his men come back to their aid?
Leaving Jin men like Wanyan Wugumai as bait was enough to distract the Jin army—as members of the Jin royal family and core members, they were crucial to the Jin army's rescue efforts, and news of their capture was enough to stir up the Jin army's morale, making them far more effective in luring the enemy back to their aid than others.

There was no need for Jin women to remain in the military camp.

First, soldiers need to focus on combat effectiveness when marching and fighting, and the presence of female relatives will distract them and increase management difficulties;
Secondly, military supplies are already precious, and providing additional support for female relatives would only waste resources and increase the logistical burden.

Furthermore, mixing men and women in military camps could easily breed trouble and affect military discipline, thus becoming a burden on the Song army's marches and battles.

Most importantly, these daughters of the Jin royal family, the imperial clan, and the nobility were gifts to curry favor with Zhao Yu. Of course, they were given to Zhao Yu as soon as possible to secure their position and gain this great merit and favor, lest they lose it and displease Zhao Yu.

It is worth mentioning that what Song Jiang and his men wanted to give to Zhao Yu were not only the daughters of the Jin royal family, the imperial clan, and the nobles, but also beautiful women from both official and commoner families.

That is, the three thousand beautiful virgins that Song Jiang and his men had asked the Jin people for.

Generally speaking, giving gifts is relatively easy, but giving gifts to people is really difficult, especially to women. Just thinking about it makes me think it's not a good idea.

However, human potential is limitless, especially when life is threatened.

At that time, fearing that the Song army would sweep through the city, Wanyan Wuqimai ordered that all the beautiful virgins in the palace be sent to the Song Dynasty. He also ordered all the Jin royal family, clan members, and nobles to gather their beautiful virgins and send them to the Song Dynasty.

However, this only managed to scrape together a little over a thousand.

Later, Song officials Wang Shiyong and Xu Bingzhe suggested to the Jin people that they select women from laundries and brothels. These women were not only young and beautiful, but also skilled in music, dance, or poetry. As long as they were virgins, they could basically be selected.

But that's not enough.

Therefore, the Jin dynasty's high command dispatched eunuchs and soldiers to search house to house, offering a large reward. For each qualified beautiful virgin found, the reward was ten strings of cash and a bushel of grain.

Let's not talk about the money.

In this chaotic world, its value is greatly diminished.

But grain, at this time and in this place, is absolutely the hardest form of currency.

It's important to know that after the Song army captured the Jin capital, all the granaries in the city were seized by the Song army and became their military rations. These rations were the most important thing for the Song army to protect, because they might play a decisive role in the subsequent decisive battle between the Song and Jin armies.

That is why these grains only come in and never come out.

As the Song army maintained its siege on the city for an extended period, food supplies in the Jin capital, Shangjing, became increasingly scarce. Many households that had previously stored limited grain were now running out of food.

It is conceivable that if the Song Dynasty's grain had not been delivered in time, the Jin capital would have faced a food shortage.

Therefore, how could the people in the capital of Jin not be eager to obtain food to save their lives?

In fact, many families didn't even wait for others to come and catch them; they took their own daughters to register.

Of course, many women from the Jin Dynasty were unwilling to leave their homes. They were disheveled, unkempt, and pretended to be sickly, hoping to be spared.

However, the Jurchens still had a way. They purchased many hairpins, crowns, and fine clothes, which the women then bathed and dressed in. Once they were dressed and made up, they offered them to the Song Dynasty in exchange for grain.

After Yang Zhi and Lin Chong returned from sending the daughters of the Jin royal family, the imperial clan, and the nobles to Yongming City.

By this time, the three thousand beautiful virgins had already gathered.

These three thousand beautiful virgins didn't mean that Song Jiang and his men would accept whatever the Jurchens offered them.

Song Jiang took this matter very seriously and even specially found a group of madams to screen the beautiful virgins sent by the Jurchens.

First of all, she definitely can't be a non-virgin.

Secondly, those who are not good enough in terms of figure or appearance, or who have physical or facial defects, are definitely not suitable.

After rigorous screening by these madams, three thousand beautiful virgins were finally selected.

Song Jiang said to Yang Zhi and Lin Chong, "I won't trouble you two brothers with this matter. Please make another trip to escort these three thousand beauties to Yongming City. The journey is long, and although the Jin people have been defeated, there is no guarantee that there will be any remaining forces that try to plunder. You two must be careful and make sure that nothing goes wrong."

Yang Zhi clasped his hands in a fist and said, “Brother, rest assured, we two will certainly not fail in our mission and will deliver these three thousand beauties safely.”

Lin Chong echoed, "Brother, please rest assured. With the two of us here, even if there are a thousand difficulties and dangers, we will definitely be able to protect them."

And so, Yang Zhi and Lin Chong once again became protectors of the flower...

……

(End of this chapter)