Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

When the garrison on the walls of Xiangzhou mutinied, the people inside the city remained calm, believing it to be a battle between the soldiers and the enemy.

When they saw panicked National Protection Army soldiers everywhere on the streets, they remained calm, believing it to be a tactic devised by the National Protection Army soldiers.

When these National Protection Army soldiers ran out of the south gate, the people finally began to have some doubts.

But soon, a big shot stepped forward and pointed out: "This is the tactical arrangement of the National Protection Army soldiers. They plan to start from the back door, outflank and annihilate the Jin soldiers in one fell swoop."

Soon, after a reasoned and well-founded analysis by the experienced and knowledgeable expert, the people regained their optimistic and cheerful attitude.

Even when the city gates were smashed open by the Jin army and a rapid sound of horses' hooves echoed within the city, the people still believed that the National Protection Army was planning to trap them like turtles in a jar.

However, when the Jin army began to smash doors from house to house, the people of Xiangzhou finally realized that something was wrong.

Where did the invincible National Protection Army go?

In less than half a day, Xiangzhou City was back in the hands of the Jurchens. Only then did the people realize that the garrison had all fled.

"Take them all to the square!"

At the command of the Jin people, all the people of Xiangzhou who were staying at home, regardless of age or gender, were brought to the square.

Meanwhile, their homes were ransacked by groups of soldiers who searched every available treasure.

Many people in the square were still in a daze.

Those who were pontificating in the teahouse yesterday are now looking at each other in bewilderment, unsure of what's going on.

"Brother Su, what exactly is going on?"

"Don't panic, trust the National Protection Army, they are definitely trying to find a way to rescue us."

"Really? But didn't you say yesterday that the National Protection Army was invincible? Why has it turned out like this now?"

"Don't rush, let's wait for the turn of events. I believe in the National Protection Army, and I believe that the Song Dynasty will not abandon its people."

Just then, a Jin general stepped onto the high platform, cleared his throat, and shouted loudly: "Two months ago, because my Jin state was busy with internal affairs, the Song people took advantage of the situation."

Now, Xiangzhou Prefecture has returned to the hands of my Great Jin, while you people, who have long been within the territory of my Jin Kingdom, still think of helping the Song people against us Jin people.

To prevent a similar incident from happening again, Commander Wanyan said that you would all be transported to Jianzhou as slaves to prevent you from continuing to collude with the enemy!

These words immediately caused an uproar among the crowd.

At this moment, they finally realized that Xiangzhou City had fallen, and they had become prisoners without even a chance to escape.

"No, I don't want to go to Jianzhou to be a slave, I don't want to go!"

A scholar immediately squeezed through the crowd and climbed up the platform, crying.

"Stop right there! Do you hear me?!"

Unfortunately, before he could even touch the steps, he was stopped by two burly Jin warriors.

But the scholar still pleaded, "Please, General, my roots are in Xiangzhou City. I really can't go to Jianzhou with you. I've heard that Jianzhou is extremely cold, and my body can't handle it."

The Jin general's eyes turned cold as he slowly walked up to him, revealing a ferocious expression: "You really don't want to go?"

The scholar shook his head repeatedly: "I won't go, General. Going there would be no different from dying. Please spare me."

"Okay, then let's not go."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Jin general drew his sword and slashed his neck.

puff-

With a hiss, the scholar clutched his bleeding neck and collapsed in disbelief into a pool of blood.

"Anyone else who doesn't want to go, just step forward!"

The Jin general raised his blood-stained curved sword and questioned everyone in the square.

The scene was completely silent as the body lay on the steps.

"Let's set off now!"

As the sound of whipping rang out, 250,000 Song citizens, regardless of age or gender, were escorted north to Jianzhou City.

This journey has been fraught with hardship and displacement; who knows how many people will perish along the way?

The relocation operation lasted for three full days before all the Song people in Xiangzhou City were driven away.

Looking at the empty Xiangzhou Prefecture, Wanyan Loushi nodded in satisfaction: "Leave 10,000 soldiers here, and bring their families over. From now on, Xiangzhou Prefecture will be a military town."

The remaining soldiers continued their advance towards Bianzhou Prefecture, aiming to join forces with the Iron Pagoda under the Fourth Prince of Wanyan within a month.

"Yes!"

Wanyan Qingzong accepted the order and left.

……

At this moment, inside the main hall of Bianzhou Prefecture, after learning that the Jin army had captured Xiangzhou and that the defending soldiers had collapsed without a fight, the emperor and his ministers were arguing fiercely about the matter.

This time, however, the voices of the pro-war faction dominated the court, and everywhere there were calls for retaliation against the Jin Dynasty.

The fall of Xiangzhou Prefecture was just an unexpected minor incident, and even Zhao Huan thought so.

After all, Xiangzhou was too close to the border of the Jin Kingdom. It had only been recovered for two months and there had been no time to strengthen the city's defenses, so its fall was not a big deal.

The only point of contention is that the collective annihilation of over a hundred martial artists caused Ye Fan some loss of face.

However, no one knew that the fall of Xiangzhou Prefecture was just the beginning.

Soon, reports of defeats arrived in the capital one after another.

From March to April, in less than a month, the Jin army advanced with unstoppable momentum, directly threatening the north bank of the Bian River. The Song army along the way dared not fight, either hiding in the city and refusing to fight, or surrendering the entire city.

At the second day of the fourth month, the vanguard of the Jin army, Wanyan Loushi's five thousand iron cavalry, was less than a hundred miles away from the Song army camp on the north bank of the Bian River.

Upon learning this news, Zhao Huan immediately convened a meeting to discuss how to resist the Jin army.

Ye Fan: "Your Majesty, the Jin army is currently at its strongest. If we rashly launch an attack, we will play right into their hands. The most urgent task is to hold the camp and wait for the enemy to tire before launching an attack."

Upon hearing this, Xue Congli immediately stood up and asked, "Then may I ask Prime Minister Ye, if the Jin army launches an attack on the main camp on the north bank of the Bian River, how should we respond?"

Since the war between the Song and Jin dynasties began, reports of defeats have been constant, and Ye Fan's status in the court has gradually declined.

Now, he has reached the point where the entire court is laughing at him, and even Emperor Zhao Huan no longer trusts him as much as before.

Ye Fan replied, "The 100,000 troops guarding the Bianhe camp are all elites from the capital. They have no way to retreat because they are backed by the Bianhe River. If the Jin army attacks, we can fight with our backs to the river and survive."

"A desperate battle?" Xue Congli shook his head with a smile, too lazy to pay any more attention to Ye Fan, and said directly to Zhao Huan, "Your Majesty, I believe that the most urgent task at present is to invite the armies from all directions to enter the capital to defend the emperor."

The best course of action would be to send envoys to negotiate with the Jin state, and simultaneously dispatch someone to the Yan state immediately to request their intervention and mediation.

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan was very displeased: "Minister Xue, you are in charge of the Ministry of War, how can you surrender before even fighting?"

Xue Congli: "Then we'll have to ask Prime Minister Ye. Didn't you say that the National Protection Army was invincible and the hope of our Great Song? Why are they so vulnerable now?"

Ye Fan was immediately speechless, so he could only turn his head to the side.

Zhao Huan took a deep breath and slammed his hand on the table in the palace: "Just as Minister Xue said, first send someone to the Jin army camp to negotiate, and at the same time notify all local armies of the Song Dynasty to rush to the capital to protect it."