A Kingdom Under Siege

As the dust settled from the retreating Mongol cavalry in the northwest frontier, Emperor Xuanzong of the Jin Dynasty wasted no time convening his second grand court debate since ascending the throne. The agenda was singular and urgent: Should the capital be relocated for safety? And if so, where?

This was no new consideration. As early as 1212, during the Chongqing era of the deposed Emperor Wei Shao, advisors had proposed abandoning Zhongdu (modern Beijing) when Mongol forces first threatened the city. But by then, with enemy troops already at Shunyi, escape routes had been cut off. Now, after six months as a virtual prisoner behind fortified walls during the recent siege, Xuanzong longed to regain control from a more secure position.

The Imperial Decree That Divided a Court

On April 18, 1214, the emperor issued a watershed proclamation: all capital officials were commanded to submit written proposals regarding relocation. The response revealed deep fractures within Jin leadership.

Traditionalists like Prince Huo Congyi argued vehemently against abandoning the ancestral capital: “Our imperial tombs, temples, and governance institutions all reside in Yanjing (Zhongdu) – how can we desert them?” Left Chancellor Dandang Li voiced military concerns: “The moment the imperial carriage moves, we lose our northern territories.” Their faction advocated stockpiling supplies and making a stand.

The relocation camp, including prominent figures like Grand Academician Zhao Bingwen, proposed divergent destinations:
– Henan: “The central plains to command all directions”
– Shandong: “Rich lands with sea routes to Liaodong”
– Shaanxi: “The natural fortress of China’s ancient heartland”
– Even Liaodong was suggested as the Jurchen homeland

Why the Emperor’s Mind Was Made Up

Two critical factors swayed Xuanzong toward relocation. Strategically, Zhongdu’s vaunted position – traditionally praised as “leaning against northern mountains while overlooking the central plains” – became a liability against Mongol mobility. Recent campaigns proved no natural barriers could stop their cavalry from reaching the capital within months.

Logistically, feeding the besieged city had become impossible. The war had devastated agricultural lands while swelling Zhongdu’s population with refugees. Canal systems for grain transport lay in ruins. Even the emperor admitted: “Yanjing cannot feed our officials and armies.”

A bizarre omen sealed the decision. After spotting two red foxes – considered ill portents – casually crossing palace grounds and even “dancing before the Xuanhua Hall,” a shaken Xuanzong declared: “With such signs appearing in our palace, how can we delay departure?”

The Road to Kaifeng

After rejecting unstable options (Shandong was embroiled in rebellion; Liaodong had sworn allegiance to the Mongols), Nanjing (modern Kaifeng) emerged as the only viable choice. Its advantages included:
– Natural defenses with the Yellow River and Tong Pass
– Existing luxurious palaces built by Prince Hailing
– Functional administrative infrastructure

On May 11, 1214, the relocation decree was issued. What historians would later call the “Zhenyou Southern Migration” began three days later amid torrential rains – an inauspicious start to a journey that would take six weeks.

The Great Migration

The scale of relocation stunned contemporaries:
– 30,000 carts just for documents and books
– 2,000 carriages in a single provincial reception
– 4,000 boats to cross the Yellow River

Some treasures had to be abandoned, including the astronomical clock captured from the Song decades earlier – too complex to disassemble. Yet most cultural artifacts made the journey, prompting ironic observations from Song observers about “the return of Xuanhe-era treasures after ninety years” – a bitter reminder of the Jin’s own looting of Kaifeng during the Jingkang Incident.

Historical Crossroads

Contemporary opinions were scathing. Jin loyalist Liu Qi later lamented: “Moving to Daliang (Kaifeng) was strategic folly.” Qing scholar Li Ciming called it “a grave miscalculation.” Modern historians still debate whether this decision prolonged the Jin Dynasty by thirty years or hastened its demise.

The truth lies beyond simple judgment. Unlike chess where moves can be analyzed in isolation, historical decisions unfold in complex contexts we can never fully reconstruct. What’s undeniable is that this moment marked the Jin Dynasty’s transition from middle game to endgame in its mortal struggle with the Mongols – a pivotal chapter in the dramatic reshaping of 13th century Eurasia.

As the imperial procession finally entered Kaifeng in July 1214, few could foresee that this “temporary” capital would become the Jin’s final stronghold until its fall to Mongol forces in 1234. The great migration had preserved the dynasty, but at what cost? The answer would unfold in the coming decades of resistance, adaptation, and ultimately, transformation of East Asia’s political landscape.