When the city of Kaifeng was destroyed, why didn't Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty order the generals of the Yang family to defend against the enemy?

In the first month of the second year of Jingkang (1127 AD), Jin generals Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zongfu led the Jin soldiers to attack Kaifeng Mansion, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, captured Huizong and Qinzong, and ordered 3,000 Northern Song ministers, harems, etc. The remaining people went north, and the Northern Song Dynasty perished. So, at such a critical moment, why did Song Qinzong not order the generals of the Yang family to resist the Jin soldiers, but chose to surrender without mercy?

First of all, in the late Northern Song Dynasty, the talents of the Yang family generals were becoming less and less. Although Yang Jiye, Yang Yanzhao and others fulfilled their duties to the Northern Song Dynasty, they repelled the Liao soldiers' attacks many times. Yang Jiye was deeply respected and appreciated by the Liao people because of his extraordinary martial arts. But since the Yang family followed Yang Yanzhao, there were not many generals who could lead troops to fight. Although the female generals of the Yang family are all heroes among women, female generals cannot always be sent into battle. In fact, by the late Northern Song Dynasty, only one Yang Zhi could be said to be an outstanding general of the Yang family. In order to survive, Yang Zhi had no choice but to sell his ancestral sword. This can also show the decline of the Yang family.

Secondly, after the Northern Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom reached the Chanyuan Alliance, there was almost no war between the Northern Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom for decades. In the past few decades, the Yang family has been unable to fight for a long time, so their martial arts has gradually become commonplace. When the Jin State attacked the Northern Song Dynasty, even if Song Qinzong issued an edict and ordered the Yang family generals to defend against the enemy, they could not withstand the Jin soldiers' attack.

Finally, because the emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty attached great importance to civil servants, this trend became more prevalent after the war stopped. The Yang family generals were also marginalized as a result, and it was difficult for them to return to the DPRK and assume important responsibilities.

Therefore, it makes sense that Song Qinzong did not issue an edict to order the Yang family generals to resist the Jin soldiers. But that’s all for later.