 Fearing the approaching Jin army , Song emperor Huizong planned to retreat south . The emperor <unk> the capital would have been viewed as an act of capitulation , so court officials convinced him to <unk> . There were few objections . <unk> an empire in crisis from destruction was more important than preserving the rituals of imperial inheritance . In January 1126 , a few days before the New Year , Huizong abdicated in favor of his son and was demoted to the ceremonial role of <unk> Emperor . The Jurchen forces reached the Yellow River on January 27 , 1126 , two days after the New Year . Huizong fled Kaifeng the next day , escaping south and leaving the newly enthroned emperor Qinzong ( r . 1126 – 1127 ) in charge of the capital . 
