"Isn't this a bit against the rules?"
Seeing that Zhang Bangchang remained silent, Sun Fu could only brace himself and step forward.
If Li Gang were to take a high position, all of them would suffer.
Li Gang's temper was well known throughout the court; he was someone who would dare to confront even the emperor when he was stubborn.
Moreover, it was foreseeable that at least until the current siege was over, Li Gang would be the most unyielding among all the chancellors.
If Zhang Bangchang already rode roughshod over him, and then Li Gang was added, he truly doubted if he could remain in the court.
"Rules? Chancellor Sun, do you think the procedures and rules were followed when you took office? In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. Don't you even understand this? Is it the rules that are more important, or the Song dynasty's empire?"
Before Sun Fu could finish speaking, Li Ruoshui immediately launched into a barrage of accusations.
"Your humble servant Li Gang pays his respects to His Majesty!"
As the two were speaking, Li Gang finally entered from outside the door.
"Lord Li, there is no need for such formality. You come to see me at this time, is there something you need?"
Seeing Li Gang enter, Zhao Huan quickly cleared his throat and asked.
"To His Majesty, your humble servant has heard that someone is still trying to persuade His Majesty to leave the city at this moment, so I have come specifically to prevent it!"
"Your Majesty, the Jin cavalry is currently outside the city, and the imperial guards within Bianliang city, apart from a few elite Western troops, if they were to fight in the open outside the city, the chance of victory would be less than thirty percent!"
"Leaving the city at this time is clearly disregarding Your Majesty's safety. I implore Your Majesty to see clearly!"
After hearing Li Gang's words, even Han Jiayan couldn't help but want to applaud him.
This fellow had really learned his lesson this time. He didn't launch into a lengthy discussion about whether it was appropriate to leave the city at this moment.
Instead, he directly laid out the dangers of leaving the city to the emperor. Although the words were still a bit euphemistic,
But when it was put this way, even a fool of an emperor should understand at this time that leaving the city would be like offering oneself as food to the Jin.
What kind of treatment a country's emperor would suffer if he fell into the hands of the enemy, Li Gang didn't need to elaborate further.
"My dear minister is indeed a pillar of the nation. I understand. Does my dear minister have any other matters to discuss?"
After glaring at Zhang Bangchang, Zhao Huan put on a smiling face again.
"Indeed, there are some other matters. Your humble servant has already written a memorial for Your Majesty's perusal."
As Li Gang spoke, he took out a small booklet from his sleeve.
"Your Majesty, your humble servant believes that not only do the outer city walls need repair, but the inner city walls of Bianliang also need to be renovated. We must make thorough preparations. As long as we can hold out until the reinforcements arrive, the Jin will be defeated without a fight!"
Although these words were still somewhat euphemistic, they made the emperor's heart tremble.
The battle had not yet begun, and now the inner city walls needed to be repaired. Did this not, from another perspective, indicate the peril of this situation?
"My dear minister speaks with reason. Everything will be done according to your wishes!"
Looking at the timid Zhang Bangchang standing aside, and the shifty-eyed Sun Fu, and the sickly Li Ruoshui, Zhao Huan's mind was made up.
In the entire Bianliang city, there was probably only Li Gang who had the spirit and the ability to take on the responsibility of defending the city.
From any perspective, a position as chancellor was inevitable.
To repair the inner city walls and to sort out the possible Jin spies throughout Bianliang city, without the position of chancellor, Li Gang, no matter how capable, would not be able to manage it.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your humble servant has other matters to attend to on the city walls. I shall take my leave!"
"My dear minister, go ahead!"
After bowing to Zhao Huan again, Li Gang strode out of the Fu Ning Hall.
"Chancellor Li, I approve of your petition!"
Although this position was originally intended for Geng Nanzhong and Tang Ke, given the urgency of the situation, Zhao Huan could no longer afford to be so particular.
The position of Minister of the Right would indeed save Li Gang a lot of trouble.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Seeing that Zhao Huan had agreed, both Li Ruoshui and Han Jiayan, Zhao Si, had expressions of ecstatic joy.
On the other hand, Zhang Bangchang was truly miserable this time.
The advantage he had painstakingly built up had vanished in such a short time, making him grit his teeth in hatred.
But no matter how miserable he felt, he could only endure it now, lowering his head in silence.
Emperor Zhao Huan was too emotional, or rather, too easily manipulated by others.
Zhang Bangchang could manipulate him, and others could do so as well!
He was now a double-edged sword, and the hilt was in someone else's hands. Even Zhang Bangchang, the Grand Chancellor, could only temporarily avoid its edge.
"Chancellor Zhang, we must think of a solution to this matter!"
After leaving the Fu Ning Hall, Sun Fu approached Zhang Bangchang and quickly asked in a low voice.
"Think of a solution? What solution?"
The thought of this made Zhang Bangchang wish he could dismember Wu Min on the spot.
How incredibly stupid could this fellow be to say those words in front of those fools!
"I..."
Being retorted by Zhang Bangchang, Sun Fu could only swallow the words that had reached his lips.
"Let's wait. Let's wait until Tang Ke and the others arrive."
Seeing that he had no hope for now, Zhang Bangchang could only take a deep breath and place his remaining hope on Tang Ke.
However, whether Tang Ke and the others would have the courage to risk entering the city was uncertain!
What if he didn't come, or didn't arrive in time, then this matter would truly be troublesome!
Just as Zhang Bangchang and the others failed in their attempt to instigate the emperor to leave the city, Zhao Zhen's army of one hundred thousand had already halted within the borders of Kaide Prefecture.
Although Daming Prefecture was just ahead, Zhao Zhen remained in Kaide Prefecture for three full days.
All the generals in the entire army were surprised by Zhao Zhen's choice, and rumors began to spread throughout the army.
"Your Highness, are you hesitating?"
It wasn't until the evening of the third day that Zhao Zhen still showed no intention of sending troops. Qin Hui could no longer hold back and quietly went to Zhao Zhen's tent.
"What do you want to say?"
Upon hearing Qin Hui's words, Zhao Zhen's pupils suddenly contracted.
"The city walls of Bianliang were built by the Retired Emperor. They are beautiful, but there are no watchtowers on the walls. The Yanfeng Granary's moat is less than knee-deep, yet it contains forty thousand piculs of grain! Outside the city, at Moutuo Ridge, there are over twenty thousand imperial horses, these things will fall into the hands of the Jin..."