Chapter 6: Resolute Commitment to War

Zhao Ning sat down and motioned for someone to bring a chair for Zhang Shuye.

In the Song Dynasty, official etiquette dictated that officials remain standing during formal occasions. For instance, at morning court, ministers stood to pay their respects; the practice of kneeling was introduced later by the Mongols and subsequently retained by the Ming and Qing dynasties. In fact, during the Tang Dynasty, the emperor and his ministers would sit together to discuss state affairs. Of course, highly prestigious Song officials were often granted seats during private audiences—figures like Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Fu Bi, and later, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang.

There is a famous painting from later eras depicting Emperor Huizong of Song playing the zither while Cai Jing sits nearby, listening. This reflects the relatively close relationship between the sovereign and his ministers during the Tang and Song periods. The divide only truly widened after the Mongol conquest; by the Ming Dynasty, the gap had become so vast that even a minister daring to meet the emperor’s gaze was considered a grave act of disrespect.

Zhang Shuye clearly had not slept well for a long time; his face was haggard. Zhao Ning, calm and composed, gestured for Wang Huaiji to pour tea. It was the matcha most popular in the Song Dynasty—yes, the very same matcha now popular in Japan, which was introduced there from the Song.

"Minister Zhang, you have worked hard these past few days," Zhao Ning said.

A Song emperor could not call a minister "Aiqing" (Beloved Minister). In the Song, that term was reserved for men addressing courtesans in brothels; for example, when Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji visited the famous Tokyo courtesan Li Shishi, he would call her "Li Aiqing." Tang and Song emperors referred to their ministers as "Qing," preceded by their surname.

Zhang Shuye replied, "With the Jin thieves besieging the city, it is a subject’s duty to defend the sovereign to the death."

"Do you have a strategy for defending the city?"

Zhang Shuye was visibly moved. "Your Majesty, the hearts of the people are with us; the populace desires to fight. As long as we are united in purpose, we can certainly hold Tokyo!"

"I am asking if you have a strategy for defense."

Zhang Shuye spoke with full confidence: "The walls of Tokyo are as solid as metal, and the battlements are well-equipped. As long as the soldiers perform their duties and Your Majesty remains steadfast in the resolve to fight, we need only hold for a few months. The reinforcements will surely arrive. The Jin thieves have penetrated deep into our Great Song's heartland and dare not stay for long. I believe that if we hold out for a few more months, the Jin will retreat just as they did last year!"

"Good! You are right!"

Zhao Ning agreed with Zhang Shuye’s assessment. The Jin had pushed deep into the Song interior, but the regions of Hebei and Hedong had not yet abandoned their resistance. If Tokyo could hold, the Jin would eventually face problems with logistics and supplies, as well as the rising tide of anti-Jin sentiment. They would soon find themselves surrounded by the armies and people of the Song. Even with their superior combat prowess, the Jin could not swallow the entire Song Empire with such overextended supply lines.

If the Jin were truly capable of total conquest, they would have continued south or attacked other cities after breaching Kaifeng during the Jingkang Incident in history. Instead, they chose to retreat rapidly to the northeast. This was because once a war enters a protracted phase, it is no longer just about tactics—it is about resources.

Zhao Ning understood the current state of the Song military clearly. The Jin army was powerful and sought a quick victory, wishing to avoid a long war.

*Then I shall force them into a long war!*

"I am placing you in charge of coordinating the defense of Tokyo," Zhao Ning said. "No one else’s word shall count; only yours will."

Zhang Shuye was shocked and quickly stood up to bow. "Your Majesty, I will defend the capital with my life. However, Prime Minister He Li is currently in charge of the defense. If Your Majesty appoints me now, the chain of command will become unclear, leading to chaos. I believe this is unwise."

Zhang Shuye was indeed Zhang Shuye; he understood the stakes. The Song emperors’ favorite tactic was to assign multiple people to a single task, creating mutual checks and balances to prevent any one individual from monopolizing power. After all, Zhao Kuangyin had seized the throne by donning the yellow robe, and the House of Zhao was naturally wary of ministers doing the same. While this prevented one-man rule, it meant that when crises arose, no one held the final decision-making authority, leading to buck-passing and constant delays.

Even now, Prime Minister He Li was the coordinator, but Sun Fu was the Defense Commissioner, and Liu Ge was also tasked with overseeing the four walls. In essence, there were four people in charge of the city's defense. Zhang Shuye and Liu Ge had both fought in the Northwest and possessed extensive military experience, yet their official ranks were lower than those of He Li and Sun Fu. He Li and Sun Fu were nothing but fools; the disaster involving Guo Jing was entirely their doing.

Zhao Ning said calmly, "Sit down first. Sit."

Zhang Shuye sat back down.

"I am not saying I want to appoint multiple people to coordinate. I am appointing you alone. No one is permitted to interfere. As for He Li, I will handle him; you need not worry."

Zhang Shuye did not hesitate. "I accept the imperial decree."

If one person were in charge, things would be much easier. At the beginning of the year, when the Jin first besieged Tokyo, the entire defense had been coordinated by Li Gang. The advantage of a single commander was that it avoided endless debate, allowing orders to be transmitted rapidly. In such times, this was the absolute best strategy.

"Early tomorrow morning, I will announce this to the court. I am committed to the war!"

The Jin had arrived very quickly this time, and reinforcements could not arrive immediately. They had to hold Tokyo at all costs to force the situation into a war of attrition.

What was most important for Tokyo right now? Was it military equipment? No, the Great Song already possessed quite a bit of advanced military technology. What was truly essential? It was the Emperor’s attitude! It was the unwavering resolve to fight!

At present, the court was filled with pro-peace and surrender factions, order in the city was in shambles, and all sorts of demons and monsters had crawled out of the woodwork. Guo Jing was a prime example. As the saying goes, when a nation is about to perish, evil omens arise—and these "omens" were not supernatural creatures, but the unscrupulous, small-minded people seeking to profit from the nation’s tragedy. There were many far more detestable than Guo Jing.

In history, Emperor Qinzong of Song had swayed back and forth, ruining a perfectly good situation. Therefore, the Emperor had to stay the course!

"Go back and get some rest," Zhao Ning said.

The Emperor’s tone was firm and steady, providing a sense of reassurance that Zhang Shuye found unexpectedly jarring. He felt as though the Emperor had suddenly changed.

After Zhang Shuye departed, Zhao Ning ordered the attendants to notify the ministers of the morning court session for the next day. At the same time, he sent for someone else.

Who?

The former head of the Imperial Guard, the shining superstar of the Song football world, the King of Ball, Gao Qiu!

While waiting for Gao Qiu to arrive, Zhao Ning pulled out the financial records of the Song Dynasty from the past few years. The financial office of the Song, known as the Three Departments—the Salt and Iron Department, the Revenue Department, and the Census Department—managed the total income and expenditures. The Emperor had copies of these documents.

Zhao Ning scanned them rapidly, and the more he read, the more alarmed he became.