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

Unlike Yue Fei, who defeated the Jin army and secured the strategic location of Xizhao, the 20,000 troops led by Yang Min and Wang Fang, the garrison commanders of Guangling County, were utterly defeated by a surprise attack by 500 cavalrymen from Wanyan Zongqing's vanguard and retreated back to the Guangling stronghold, where they held their ground.

Inside the Guangling Kangwang Palace, nine-year-old Zhao Gou sat alone on the royal chair, quietly gazing at the assembled officials in the hall.

Unlike Emperor Huizong and his son Emperor Huan, the young Zhao Gou possessed a level of shrewdness and cunning beyond his years.

"Your Highness, Wanyan Zongqing's 20,000 troops have completely surrounded Guangling County. The Jurchen cavalry are swift and agile."

Our Song soldiers are utterly outmatched in foot combat. I suggest we reach an agreement with the Jin as soon as possible to confirm our borders.

The speaker was named Huang Qianshan. He was originally the chief clerk of the Privy Council in Bianjing. Because he advocated surrendering to the Jin people, he was ostracized by the pro-war faction at the time. So, when Ye Fan launched his northern expedition, he was dismissed from his post and joined Prince Kang, Zhao Gou. Now he serves as the Left Chancellor.

"Yes, Your Highness. The Song Dynasty has fallen. The country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Your Highness should inherit the throne in order to appease the people."

Standing beside Huang Qianshan, the Right Chancellor Wang Boyan was also a staunch advocate of surrender, arguing that only by submitting to the Jin dynasty as soon as possible could half of the Song dynasty's territory be preserved.

Zhao Gou glanced at the two men, then rose and replied, "I know that a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, but now the capital has fallen, and my father and brothers have been captured by the Jurchens and their whereabouts are unknown."

How could I possibly ascend the throne at this time? Wouldn't I be ridiculed by the world?

Huang Qianshan hurriedly said, "Your Highness need not worry. The Great Song Dynasty is currently without a ruler. Only by inheriting the throne as soon as possible can the people of the world feel at ease."

Wang Boyan: "If Your Highness does not ascend the throne, the Great Song Dynasty will surely perish. I urge Your Highness to ascend the throne for the sake of the country and the people."

"Your Highness, please ascend the throne!"

"Your Highness, please ascend the throne!"

The other officials followed Huang Qianshan and Wang Boyan's advice and collectively performed the etiquette between emperor and subject to Zhao Gou.

"Ah~"

Zhao Gou sighed helplessly.

"My lords, it is not that I am unwilling to ascend the throne, but the current situation is not the best time for me to become emperor. Please do not force me."

After saying that, he shook his head and left the main hall.

After Zhao Gou left, Huang Qianshan frowned and said to Wang Boyan, "Prime Minister, His Highness is unwilling to ascend the throne. What should we do?"

Wang Boyan said, "It seems Your Highness still has some concerns."

Huang Qianshan: "What does he have to worry about? So many powerful families support him. Once he ascends the throne, he can become emperor directly. What is there to worry about?"

Wang Boyan gave a bitter laugh: "Because so far, Your Highness has not heard any news of the Jin army's defeat; all the military reports that have been delivered are of defeats."

If he were to inherit the throne now, the people might not be loyal. Therefore, to ensure his peace of mind when ascending the throne, he must defeat the Jin dynasty.

Huang Qianshan: "However, the Jurchens are barbaric and fierce, and they also have a cavalry force renowned throughout the land."

"Our Song army consists of new recruits who have barely trained for a few months. How can we possibly defeat them?"

Wang Boyan sighed: "Yes, that's why the young prince doesn't dare to ascend the throne rashly."

Compared to the two emperors who were captured and taken to the northern border, this Prince Kang truly possessed the demeanor of an emperor.

"Then what do we do now? The Jurchens have been undefeated for ten years. Does that mean Prince Kang will not become emperor for ten years? Wouldn't that mean we..."

"Don't worry, there will always be opportunities. If all else fails, we'll create one."

"What do you mean? Explain it more clearly."

Just then, someone came to report.

"Report, Left and Right Cavalry Ministers, the Jin army launched a fierce attack on Xizhao County three days ago, but was defeated by the defending troops inside the city. They chased the Jin army for more than 20 miles and fled back to Gyeongjong's headquarters. Only less than a thousand men remained."

Huang Qianshan and Wang Boyan were shocked upon hearing this.

"You mean the Jurchens were defeated by the defenders of Xizhao?"

Are you sure you're not mistaken?

Faced with their questions, the scout immediately took out a battle report from his pocket and handed it over.

"This was witnessed by General Shi himself. The garrison commander of Xizhao is named Yue Fei. He was originally a captain in the Dare to Fight Battalion of our Great Song Dynasty. I don't know why he has appeared in Xizhao County now."

“I remember now, wasn’t Xizhao County being defended by Wang Tan? When did it become Yue Fei?”

"That's unknown."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Boyan said to the scout, "Go to Xizhao County immediately, gather as much information as you can, and report back as soon as possible."

"Yes!"

After the scouts left, Wang Boyan smiled and said to Huang Qianshan, "Perhaps we can use this Yue Fei to help His Highness ascend the throne with peace of mind."

Huang Qianshan thought for a moment, then his pupils lit up: "The Right Chancellor means..."

Wang Boyan sneered: "This is called using someone else's flowers to present to Buddha."

"Hahaha……"

The two good-for-nothings laughed without restraint.

Now, as long as Zhao Gou is willing to ascend the throne, then the two of them will inevitably be the ones who call the shots in the court and among the people.

……

Xizhao County, Provisional General Staff Headquarters.

Lin Fei sat in front of the sand table, a charcoal pencil tip between his teeth, staring at the terrain on the sand table without saying a word.

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he immediately took out his notebook and began to write with a charcoal pencil.

After finishing his official duties, Yue Fei rested his head on his hand in front of the desk and couldn't help but doze off.

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door.

Lin Fei's ears twitched, then he closed the booklet, stood up, and silently walked out the door, stopping a messenger.

"The captain hasn't slept for three days. Let him get some sleep. Tell me what's wrong."

The messenger immediately lowered his voice and handed the letter to Lin Fei: "Chief of Staff Lin, this is a letter from Guangling County. They say they have something to discuss with the brigade commander."

"Understood, I will pass it on to the captain. You can go back now."

"Yes."

After the messenger left, Lin Fei opened the letter and glanced at it.

"Ha, he actually wants to recruit an independent brigade. I wonder what Zhao Gou is thinking."

Lin Fei pondered for a while, then turned and went into the house.

Just then, Yue Fei also woke up.

"Staff Officer Lin, what's the matter?"

Lin Fei handed the letter in his hand directly to Yue Fei: "This is a letter from Wang Boyan recruiting you in the name of Prince Kang. What are your thoughts, Commander?"

Yue Fei glanced at the contents of the letter and immediately frowned.

Lin Fei ignored his expression and continued to focus on the layout of the sand table.

"Staff Officer Lin, what's your opinion?"

After reading it, Yue Fei did not make a decision immediately, but instead asked Lin Fei for his opinion.

Before he left, Shen Lang told him that if he encountered any difficult problems, he should listen to Lin Fei's advice.

Lin Fei: "That depends on what the Brigade Commander is thinking. Wang Boyan's purpose in inviting the Brigade Commander to pledge allegiance to Prince Kang is obvious: he wants to ascend the throne and inherit the throne."

The reason they've come to discuss this is because they've noticed the Independent Brigade's victory over the Jin army. If the Independent Brigade could stand by their side in Guangling County, it would create a huge impression.

Yue Fei frowned: "The fates of the two emperors are still unknown, and he's already in such a hurry to ascend the throne?"

Lin Fei remained silent; his silence conveyed everything he wanted to say.