Li Gang's Chancellorship and Resistance to Jin

Timeline

1. 1127The temporary capital (Yingtian Prefecture) · HenanAfter the Jingkang Incident, officials and commoners widely called for Li Gang's recall. After Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, in May of the first year of Jianyan he appointed Li Gang as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and concurrent Vice Director of the Secretariat, entrusting him with chancellor's duties in hopes of stabilizing the situation and organizing resistance to Jin.
2. 1127Southern Song temporary capital · ChinaAfter taking office, Li Gang proposed ten measures for resisting Jin, advocating strict punishment of surrendered generals, resettlement of Hebei soldiers and civilians, repairing walls and armor, selecting generals and training troops, and opposing wholesale flight southward. His policies were forceful and offended close pro-peace courtiers such as Huang Qianshan and Wang Boyan.
3. 1127The temporary capital · ChinaHuang Qianshan, Wang Boyan, and others slandered Li Gang as 'solely bent on war, alarming the imperial carriage.' Emperor Gaozong issued an edict removing Li Gang from the chancellorship and appointing him instead as prefect of Yangzhou. The war party was set back, and the court's southward relocation route was further consolidated.