Prime Minister

Chapter 1367 The Palace and the Crown Prince

Chapter 1367 The Palace and the Crown Prince

Midnight.

The candlelight flickered red as Chen Shidao, dressed in a blue robe, sat at the table.

Outside the window, the night rain pattered down. On the table lay the old regulations, with the "three-stage reporting" system outlined in red ink.

"Brother Chen, is what you say true?" The official opposite him trembled as he held his teacup. "Now that the capital council deliberates on matters jointly by the three departments, why is the practice of having officials present their cases in shifts, as was the case with the late emperor?"

Holding a teacup in one hand, Chen Shidao said, "Gentlemen, the prosperity of the Han and Tang dynasties was all due to the censors' courage to speak out!"

"The fact that the three provincial privy councilors are discussing state affairs together seems grand, but in reality..." He suddenly fell silent, noticing a figure flashing past the window.

Chen Shidao then picked up the teapot and poured tea: "Gentlemen, look at this—in the past dynasty, when the three classes of officials presented their reports, the Secretariat drafted the edicts, the Chancellery rejected them, and the Ministers executed them, each performing their duties. How unlike now, when an imperial edict leaves the capital, even the signature of the eunuch becomes a mere formality!"

Someone in the room changed color: "Watch your words!"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Chen Shidao looked out the window and said, "There are powerful ministers in the court."

While everyone remained silent in fear.

Chen Shidao, however, said loudly: "Sikong has rendered great service to the world, but it is our ambition to make the ruler like Yao and Shun and to restore the purity of customs—gentlemen, the word 'make' here means to offer honest and upright advice!"

……

On the first day of the third month of the second year of the Yuan You era, in the imperial city of Bianjing.

Bells and drums sounded in unison.

The dawn light pierced through the clouds, passed over the towering Xuande Gate, and shone on the glazed tiles of the Daqing Hall, making it look like a celestial palace.

The Daqing Hall stands in the center of the Bianjing Imperial City. It has nine bays across the front and is as deep as an abyss, capable of accommodating more than 20,000 people.

The jade steps leading to the hall are towering, with carved railings on both sides encircling coiled dragons and fierce-looking stone lions. The hall itself is extremely spacious, with more than two thousand officials standing solemnly within, their purple robes and jade belts forming a forest, and their crimson, purple, blue, and green robes spreading out like a rainbow, yet it still feels empty.

The imperial guards, clad in imposing armor, stood guard at the corners of the palace, halberds in hand.

The domed ceiling is painted with the sun, moon and stars, the beams are decorated with gold-lacquered cloud patterns, and the blue bricks on the ground are like a mirror, reflecting the figures of officials.

At that moment, Zeng Bu, the Minister of Revenue, stepped across the threshold, holding a memorial in yellow silk.

The officials' eyes were fixed intently on the scroll that symbolized the number of people in the world, and a solemn atmosphere filled the hall.

"Your Majesty," Zeng Bu's voice boomed, "at the end of the first year of the Yuan You era, the total number of households in the empire was 20,096,000, with a population of over 45 million—this is the first time since the founding of the nation that the population has exceeded one hundred million!"

The hall vibrated violently.

The emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, his crown tassels swaying gently.

The ministers were all shocked.

The ministers knew that today's occasion was special, so for the first time, the Empress Dowager did not participate. Instead, she allowed the emperor, who had not yet assumed power, to receive the congratulations of the officials in the palace.

Empress Dowager Xiang is gradually transferring power to the emperor.

Wen Yanbo deliberately said, "During the Jiayou era, the number of households in the empire was no more than ten million, but now it has more than doubled?"

"Your Majesty is truly worthy of celebration!"

Huang Lü stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is unprecedented in history!"

Zhang Yue, dressed in purple robes and a jade belt, stood beside the jade steps. Upon hearing this, he bowed to the Emperor and said, "This is all due to Your Majesty's virtuous influence. The expansion of Xihe has brought in three million people, along with five hundred thousand more from four prefectures. Eight hundred thousand people from Huguang have been registered and transferred to civilian residence. Furthermore, thanks to the extensive cultivation of rice in the Jianghuai region, we have benefited greatly."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Song stepped forward and said, "Times have changed. After the Minister of Works reformed the corvée labor system, the number of households in the fifth class who were exempted from paying taxes and were allowed to resume their businesses increased by 300,000 in the Liangzhe Circuit alone."

Zhang Yue was delighted that this time, during the Yuan You reign, the number of households exceeded 20 million.

Of these, 45 million are adult males aged 16 to 60. Adding women, children, and the elderly, each household has an average of more than five people, bringing the total population to over 100 million.

This is the first time in history.

This historical record was broken in the third year of Emperor Huizong's reign (Daguan era), mainly thanks to Champa rice.

This was achieved in the second year of the Yuan You era.

The first chapter describes how, under Yue's rule, he conquered Lingzhou of the Dangxiang people, expanded the territory of Xihe Road, and added five to six million people to the border of Huguang.

Secondly, there was the reform. In the ninth year of the Xining era, Shen Kuo, the Commissioner of the Three Departments, discovered that the number of registered households had dropped sharply. This was because, according to Wang Anshi's original exemption from corvée labor law, people in the fifth class of households not only had to perform corvée labor but also had to pay exemption fees.

Local authorities either concealed the true status of fifth-class households or they fled, leading to a deterioration of public order. It wasn't until the Yuan You era, when Sima Guang abolished the exemption from corvée labor law, that the system was reinstated.

Therefore, in another historical timeline, the total population recorded by the Yuanfeng court was consistently declining. As the Minister of the Three Departments, Shen Kuo was obligated to report this to the court. For the court, the loss of registered residents meant the loss of a source of tax revenue and labor service.

The court officials advocated for a thorough search of the population, similar to the Sui Dynasty's large-scale search and inspection system, and the Tang Dynasty's household registration system, to re-register the population and severely punish those who had fled. Later, when they saw that this approach was ineffective, they proposed even pardoning those who had fled their homes and allowing them to return to the household registration system.

It was Zhang Yue who reformed the corvée system during the Yuanfeng era, exempting the five classes of households from corvée labor, which led to a resurgence in the number of registered residents on the books.

The population has now exceeded 100 million, reaching its historical peak.

The emperor's face showed joy.

High-ranking officials came out one after another to offer their congratulations, creating a wave of applause.

After a moment, Zhang Yue stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is indeed gratifying, but also worrying."

The ministers wondered to themselves, "Why did Zhang Yue say that?"

In fact, the ministers had long known about the fact that the population of the Song Dynasty had exceeded 100 million. Zhang Yue's mention of this in the court meeting today was clearly not just to celebrate the emperor's achievement, but rather a targeted statement.

Then Lü Gongzhu stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the population of our dynasty is even greater than that of the Western Han dynasty at its peak; although the territory of the Sui and Tang dynasties was vast, their population was still somewhat lacking.”

"This is due to the great virtue of the late Emperor and Your Majesty. I wonder where the trouble lies?"

Zhang Yue said: "Looking at the changes in the tax system between the Tang and Song dynasties, the Tang dynasty changed from the rent, labor service and tax system to the two-tax system, which was caused by the failure of the equal-field system. People fled, resulting in the loss of household registration. The reason for changing to the two-tax system and collecting taxes based on land was that people would flee, but the land would not be moved."

"The Tang dynasty did not allow the buying and selling of land, but the current dynasty did not establish a land system. However, land annexation has not been as severe as in the Tang dynasty. Why? Because the poll tax in the current dynasty is light while the land tax is heavy."

“At the beginning of the dynasty, all industries were thriving, and the number of fields and people was fixed, so taxes were naturally equitable. However, over the centuries, from the reign of Emperor Taizu, the population has increased from 30 million to over 100 million today. This is because the tax revenue has been exhausted and there is no way to increase it. In my memorial to the throne in the sixth year of Jiayou, Emperor Renzong lamented that ‘profits have been dredged up, but extravagant expenses have become more and more widespread.’”

In game theory terms, there is no room for Pareto improvement.

The land area remains the same, but the population has tripled, leaving only one-third of the resources for each person.

Even land reclamation can lead to a point where there is no land left to reclaim.

The land is nearing its carrying capacity, a phenomenon known as the Malthusian trap. If not addressed promptly, the empire will inevitably decline, repeating the fate of the late Han and late Tang dynasties. Only after the population has drastically decreased to a certain level can it gradually recover.

The emperor asked, "Then how can we break this deadlock?"

Huang Lü stepped forward and said, “I believe there are two ways to break the deadlock: one is to restrain ourselves from further depletion, such as re-measuring the fields and pursuing hidden households; the other is to expand our territory. However, the former is not a good strategy. It is like a room where everyone is fighting for food, which will eventually lead to scarcity. Every time we divide the land, not only will the losses increase, but we will also affect the interests of powerful people and cause more trouble.”

Upon hearing Huang Lü's words, Zhang Yue thought to himself that the other party truly understood his intentions. To break free from the Malthusian trap, ancient dynasties had only two paths: one was to remain inward and exhaust themselves (the so-called involution), and the other was to expand outward.

Involution alone is definitely not enough; the law of entropy increase tells me that the internal circulation of a closed system will eventually lead to stagnation.

It's like re-slicing a cake. With each slice, the total amount of cake decreases slightly in an inconspicuous place—that's the result of internal friction. Not to mention you're also infringing on other people's interests.

Therefore, we need to expand outwards.

Of course, the best solution is technological advancement. Increased productivity changes production relations, leading to structural adjustments both internally and externally. However, productivity cannot be increased at will, especially for someone like Zhang Yue, who has only a smattering of a science background.

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, the wealth of the empire is like drawing water from a deep spring."

"Only by taking a two-pronged approach can we break this deadlock!"

After Zhang Yue finished speaking, the ministers murmured amongst themselves. They all believed that with the Song Dynasty's population exceeding one hundred million, it was truly a case of "a light boat having already passed ten thousand mountains," the beginning of a golden age. Little did they expect that what Zhang Yue said was actually "about to climb Mount Taihang, where snow covers the mountain," a crisis was imminent.

Zhang Yue's intentions were already quite clear.

Zhang Yue, dressed in purple robes and wearing a jade belt, stood beside the jade steps, loudly analyzing the hidden worries of this prosperous era, his words as sharp as metal striking the ground.

The entire Daqing Hall seemed to be a microcosm of the hundreds of military prefectures and counties of the Song Dynasty.

After the court session adjourned, the ministers were abuzz with discussion. This court meeting was merely the beginning of a ripple, but everyone knew that what followed would be a hurricane that would sweep across hundreds of prefectures and counties of the Song Dynasty.

……

After leaving the main hall, Zhang Yue boarded a sedan chair.

All the officials along the way gave way and bowed in respect.

Zhang Yue closed his eyes to rest in the sedan chair, considering the upcoming meeting at the capital.

On the way, Peng Jingyi knocked on the side of the box and handed in a note.

Zhang Yue opened his eyes and glanced at the note. He saw that Chen Shidao, a professor at the Imperial Academy, had said at a gathering of officials the previous night that he wanted to restore the system of three separate classes for reporting matters, as was the case in the previous dynasty.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Yue felt a surge of anger. Who was this Chen Shidao? His background was indeed quite impressive; he had been recommended by Zeng Gong. Years ago, when Zhang Dun was in power and wanted to recruit him, Chen Shidao had said, "A scholar who does not offer gifts to become a minister will not be seen by princes and dukes."

Later, Su Shi recommended him as a professor at the Imperial Academy. Zhang Yue also read his articles and found him to be truly talented and insightful.

Given Zhang Yue's position, he was naturally eager to find talented individuals. Upon seeing this talent, he had already taken notice and placed him on his watchlist.

Now that Chen Shidao has actually said such a thing, Su Shi really wasn't strict enough in selecting people.

Or perhaps Su Shi never thought that way at all; he was used to being free and unrestrained, so the people he introduced were also like that.

Zhang Yue thought to himself, ordinary political matters can be discussed, and occasional inappropriate remarks are not a major problem. However, the foundation of power must never be questioned or challenged. Otherwise, if the superiors set a bad example, what will become of the established order? 'A fragrant orchid growing at the gate must be uprooted.'

Zhang Yue then ordered, "Have Cai Yuandu find a pretext to dismiss him from his post and banish him from the capital!"

"Should we explain this to Scholar Su?"

Zhang Yue said, "No need."

"Yes."

Upon receiving the message, Peng Jingyi immediately left Zhang Yue's sedan chair and disappeared into a small gate beside the palace wall.

More than a hundred of his entourage still surrounded Zhang Yue's palanquin as it continued to travel through the palace.

……

The chief ministers gathered in the capital.

After the Yuanfeng reforms restored the Three Departments system, the Ministry of Personnel was established on the site of the former Palace Guard Office. From the offices of the Left and Right Vice Ministers down to the residences of subordinate officials, there were over four thousand rooms. The architecture was magnificent and splendid, almost comparable to the Zichen Hall and other palace buildings within the Forbidden City. This demonstrates the immense power and authority of the prime minister since the Yuanfeng era.

In addition, the palace also has two other departments: the Secretariat and the Chancellery.

The Secretariat (Menxia Hou Sheng) was headed by four Attendants-in-Ordinary, one Left Attendant-in-Ordinary, one Left Grand Counselor, one Left Censor-in-Chief, one Left Remonstrator, one Palace Attendant, and two Seal Attendants. The Chancellery (Zhongshu Hou Sheng) was headed by six Palace Attendants, one Right Attendant-in-Ordinary, one Right Grand Counselor, one Right Censor-in-Chief, one Right Remonstrator, and one Palace Attendant. The Attendants-in-Ordinary and the Palace Attendants were the core officials of the Secretariat.

The council meetings are held daily, with a major meeting every five days. Today is the major meeting. Left Chancellor Zhang Yue and Right Chancellor Lü Gongzhu sit facing south, one on the left and one on the right. The Grand Councilors of Military and State Affairs, Feng Jing and Wen Yanbo, sit on the left and right sides respectively. Officials of the Ministry of Personnel sit on the left, in order: Vice Minister of the Chancellery Su Song, Vice Minister of the Secretariat Li Qingchen, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Huang Lü, and Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Xu Jiang. Officials of the Privy Council sit on the right, in order: Privy Councilor Shen Kuo, Deputy Privy Councilor An Tao, and Deputy Privy Councilor Lü Dafang.

After the Yuanfeng reforms, the power of the three ministries was significantly enhanced. Previously, when Wang Gui served as the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, his power was weak because the power of the Chancellery to reject and review cases was actually in the hands of the emperor. Therefore, Wang Gui had little say, while Cai Que, who had the power to request imperial orders, held considerable power for a time.

The current emperor has not yet assumed personal rule, and most political affairs, large and small, are decided by Zhang Yue, thus highlighting the power of the Secretariat.

While the Privy Council's power has largely been transferred to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel, it still holds a high position and wields considerable influence. This is because the Privy Council can participate in and discuss major military and national affairs of the court. This power allows it to be among the highest-ranking deliberative bodies, and no one dares to disrespect it. Every word and action during its meetings is recorded by its clerks and presented to the Emperor. The subject of the discussions, the stance taken, and the votes cast are all meticulously documented. This system is precisely designed to prevent powerful ministers from obscuring the Emperor's hearing and acting arbitrarily.

The decision to involve the Privy Council in the Capital Council meeting was made by Empress Dowager Gao, demonstrating her keen insight into the issue of checks and balances of power.

The clerk presented the meeting log, and after Zhang Yue and the others affixed their seals, the meeting began. Huang Shang, a supervising secretary, sat at a nearby table, specifically responsible for recording the speeches of the ministers. A scribe simultaneously copied the logs for comparison.

Zhang Yue cleared his throat and said, "This time, Zhang Zhi is leading the campaign against Jiaozhi, Zhang Dun is managing Huguang, and Wang Hou is rushing to the aid of Hexi. All of them need to mobilize troops."

"The imperial court needs to dispatch imperial guards from the central government to take turns guarding the garrison."

Zhang Yue thought to himself that the court's most urgent task was to reduce the number of redundant troops, but such reductions needed a justification, otherwise they would easily incur public wrath. Therefore, the imperial guards were to be conscripted to fight in Jiaozhi, Huguang, and Xihe Road. If they won, they would be rewarded; if they lost, well… there would be consequences. However, this intention could not be openly stated.

"Furthermore, if the court intends to implement the equal land taxation law, it should first thoroughly investigate the hidden land of the imperial family and officials as an example before the prefectures and counties can implement it in accordance with the law. This matter also needs to be discussed and decided today."

Wen Yanbo and Feng Jing listened from the side. Having spent decades navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, they were well aware of Zhang Yue's intentions. This was a pretext for external military campaigns to carry out internal reorganization.

Wen Yanbo and Feng Jing exchanged a glance, both recalling what Feng Jing had said to him and Lü Gongzhu before the court meeting: "The Song Dynasty today is quite similar to the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Those who advocate for a northern expedition are mostly power-hungry ministers trying to consolidate their power and establish their authority."

"Looking across the entire Eastern Jin Dynasty, how many people, both in and out of the court, truly cared about recovering the Central Plains?"

"It's nothing more than using this pretext to seize power. And now, Zhang Du's use of Jiaozhi, Huguang, and Hexi for military operations is probably not motivated by a desire to control the territory."

"Although the scale of the battles was not very large, it was enough for him to take overall control of the situation, accumulate military achievements and prestige, and make his position more secure and unshakeable."

At this point, Wen Yanbo recalled Feng Jing's heartbroken expression at the time: "We must not allow Zhang Du to follow the example of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing!"

Wen Yanbo also opposed it. His family not only owned land in Xihe Road, but also extensively in Hebei and Luoyang, much of which was hidden land. Local officials had never dared to inquire about it, let alone investigate it. If Zhang Yue were to conduct a land survey, Wen Yanbo would be the first to be targeted.

Wen Yanbo cleared his throat and said, "The current population of the court has exceeded one trillion, and the world is at peace. It is no exaggeration to call this a golden age. Why bother to attack Hexi, conquer Guangyuan, and attack Meishan again, only to create more trouble?"

"Is this unnecessary?"

Su Song chimed in, "The Minister of Works has already made it clear in court today."

"A population exceeding 100 million is a sign of a prosperous era, but it is also the beginning of a crisis."

"If we do not strive to explore new frontiers, and instead become complacent and stagnant, it will be too late to regret it!"

Huang Lü responded, “Exactly! ‘As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement.’”

"The imperial court spends a huge sum of money every year to support the imperial guards, yet the army is large but unable to fight. What benefit is there in such a waste?"

"The Tang dynasty's military system combined soldiers and farmers, and the court's annual expenses could still support it. Now, with the recruitment of soldiers, the costs of providing them with food, clothing, and lodging are far greater, yet their combat effectiveness is not as good as before. Why is this?"

Li Qingchen said, "This brings us back to Fan Zhongyan's old saying about redundant soldiers, redundant officials, and redundant expenses."

"If the long-standing abuses could truly be eradicated during the Qingli era, why would the Xining Reform have occurred?"

Wen Yanbo said, “Indeed, we must trace the origins and evolution of things. The late emperor once said, ‘Those who cause chaos in the world are mostly rogues and unruly people. When Emperor Taizu (Emperor Taizu) pacified the world, he recruited all the rogues and unruly people from all directions to serve as soldiers.’ ‘If these people are restrained by the system, they will not dare to do evil. Instead, they can use this to make a living and become good citizens. Therefore, the world is peaceful and there are few rebellious people. This is truly rare since ancient times.’”

All the ministers agreed with Wen Yanbo's statement.

Zhang Yue wondered to himself, how did Fan Zhongyan's problem of redundant troops come about?

Wasn't it because Emperor Taizu used the imperial military system to contain those 'rogues and unruly people' in order to prevent them from causing trouble?

Isn't the same true of redundant officials? The imperial court uses official positions to win over the intellectual class.

Feng Jing said, "Han Feizi said: 'Scholars use literature to disrupt the law, and knights use martial arts to violate prohibitions.'"

"The problems of redundant soldiers and officials are inherent, but this is the price the court pays for enjoying peace and prosperity."

"We should take the example of Fan Zhongyan's failure as a warning."

Fan Zhongyan saw that the financial pressure was too great, so he dismissed the redundant soldiers and officials. What were the consequences of this?

Now that Zhang Yue wants to reduce the Imperial Guard and investigate the hidden lands of powerful officials, isn't he just going back to Fan Zhongyan's old ways?

Zhang Yue thought to himself, "That's right, the path taken by Emperor Taizu is feasible. The Song Dynasty's ruling system has always been very stable, but every good thing has its bad side, and the result is that the financial burden is too great."

The people suffered greatly.

Therefore, although the fiscal revenue of the Song Dynasty was far greater than that of the Tang Dynasty, it was all used to support the army and officials.

Later, Wang Anshi and Cai Jing both tried different methods to maintain this system.

Wang Anshi at least reduced some of his staff. After the Yuanyou Reforms, Cai Jing did the opposite. In order to prevent the old party from making a comeback, he increased the size and scale of the system, making it too big to fail.

If you dismiss them, you'll incur public wrath. That way, I can more legitimately collect money from the people.

Therefore, Cai Jing put forward the slogan "Abundant Prosperity and Great Expansion," and carried out unrestrained fiscal expansion. Historically, Cai Jing's reforms, such as issuing ten-cash coins and salt administration, were no different from outright robbery of the people, completely ruining the credibility of the entire country.

Therefore, even before the Jurchens moved south at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, large-scale uprisings led by Fang La and Song Jiang had already occurred, revealing the signs of the country's impending doom early on.

In another timeline, when Cai Jing was being demoted, someone asked him, "With your intelligence and wisdom, couldn't you have foreseen that the country would fall to this state?"

Cai Jing said he wasn't unaware of the situation, but simply thought it wouldn't happen to him.

Lü Gongzhu said, "Cultivating virtue and bringing peace to the people is also a form of continuous self-improvement!"

"After just conquering Lingzhou, the court should have allowed the people to rest. Why not let things settle quietly instead of deliberately causing trouble?"

"The Great Song Dynasty now has a vast territory, and what it lacks is not land. What use is this? Take Qingtanghexi as an example. It is fifty or sixty days' journey by horse from Bianjing. How will it be managed in the future? What if the people turn their backs on the Han? How will we deal with this?"

Huang Shang, a censor, recorded everything in writing.

Shen Kuo said to Wen Yanbo and Lü Gongzhu: "The situation in the Northwest has eased slightly, but Aligu's previous signs of rebellion have already been revealed. Although the Dangxiang have surrendered, they are not convinced in their hearts, and we must continue to wage war."

"Qingtang has been attacked by Aligu for many years and is plotting revenge."

Shen Kuo said, "That's right. Sikong once said that in warfare, one should accumulate small victories to achieve a great victory."

"The numerous Tibetan tribes in the Northwest Qinghai are like a heap of loose sand, always attaching themselves only to the strong. In recent years, we have been able to win them over with the benefits of cotton and mulberry, and with our army's successive victories, we have finally stabilized. If the offensive slows down, these Tibetan tribes that were originally attached to us will waver again and turn to the Dangxiang or Aligu."

"Moreover, after conquering Hexi, we still have the banner of the Guiyi Army under the Cao family, which is enough to command our old troops and appease the Han people. We can say that our cause is justified!"

Xu Jiang also said, "Jiaozhi is also crucial for stabilizing the south. We have calculated that the combined cost of military operations here would be 3.5 million strings of cash. Even if there are any mishaps, it will not exceed 5 million strings of cash. Last year, the cost of pacifying Lingzhou was only 10 million strings of cash, while the imperial treasury spent 20 million strings of cash. If we use the remaining 10 million strings of cash to pacify Jiaozhi, Hexi, and Huguang, why not?"

"There is still a surplus of five million strings of cash."

Lu Gongzhu said, "I'm afraid that five million strings of cash won't be enough, and there might be some unforeseen circumstances."

"What if the Liao Kingdom were to invade from the south?"

Shen Kuo chuckled and said, "Last year's battle has already instilled fear in the Liao Kingdom. Now that they have lost the strong support of the Dangxiang, they will certainly not dare to act rashly. Moreover, peace talks between the two countries are currently underway."

Although Wen Yanbo, Feng Jing, and Lü Gongzhu all intend to curb Zhang Yue's power, it is feared that once things move, it will cause trouble for all parties.

However, since Zhang Yue is only causing minor trouble, it's fine as it is.

They could also say that I made my point beforehand, and I'm not just being wise after the event.

Ultimately, Sima Guang also did this to elevate himself to the level of political correctness. In the Song Dynasty court, achieving success was difficult, while causing harm was easy. Most officials simply followed the prevailing winds.

With the added prestige from before, everything in the capital was decided according to Zhang Yue's wishes.

Zhang Yue also knew that Wen Yanbo and the others were only superficially opposed, but in reality, they agreed.

In officialdom, victory is temporary, but the struggle is long.

He, who used to oppose powerful ministers, is now being attacked as if he were a powerful minister.

Your position has changed, and so have your interests. You don't even know who your next enemy will be.

Seeing that no one else had any objections, Zhang Yue stood up and resolutely said, "My mind is made up: the Guiyi Army Commandery will be re-established west of the former Liangzhou territory!"

"Employ the descendants of the Cao family as military governors!"

With the banner raised, one can imagine the scene of the Guiyi Army standing tall in Hexi once again, and the homeland of the Han people returning to their embrace.

……

Inside the capital, the ministers and officials were initially excited, but as the meeting was about to end, an official rushed in and shouted, "Urgent report! The Liao army has launched another major southward offensive and has captured Xiongzhou! Liao cavalry has also appeared outside the city of Hejian! Li Xian, the Pacification Commissioner of Hebei, and Zhang Heng, the Military Commissioner of Hebei Circuit, have jointly submitted a memorial, imploring the court to send reinforcements immediately!"

Everyone was shocked. Zhang Yue was simultaneously waging war against Jiaozhi, Hexi, and Huguang. Although the scale of the campaigns was not large, Hexi mobilized less than 20,000 troops under the command of the Xihe Road Military Commissioner, Huguang mobilized only more than 10,000, and Jiaozhi mobilized only around 30,000 troops at most.

However, the Liao Dynasty disregarded peace negotiations with the Song Dynasty and once again launched a massive southward invasion.

"Yelü Hongji has clearly not learned from last year's lesson!" Shen Kuo said indignantly, though his face was flushed—he had just asserted that the Liao Kingdom would not dare to invade the south, but the harsh reality had shattered his prediction so quickly. At this critical juncture, no one cared about or mocked his misjudgment anymore.

Wen Yanbo's eyes flashed, and he immediately asked, "Prime Minister, how should we deal with this?"

Zhang Yue knew perfectly well that the Liao Kingdom would never allow him to be so comfortable before launching a full-scale annihilation of the Tanguts. Besides, he had already been humiliated by the Liao Kingdom.

Zhang Yue noticed that the ministers all looked panicked.

Zhang Yue said, "Gentlemen!"

"Even if the situation is dire, is it any less dangerous than when the Khitan and Tangut forces joined together to press on our border last year?"

The ministers nodded, and Shen Kuo also calmed down a bit.

Now that the Tanguts have surrendered, Zhang Yue was about to free up his hands to deal with Aligu, Huguang and Jiaozhi, but unexpectedly the Liao Kingdom once again marched south.

However, this was foreshadowed, as negotiations between the two countries had been stalled and details could not be finalized.

The debate over the issue of the annual tribute remains unresolved, but people are still discussing it.

But the Liao Kingdom's sudden southward march was somewhat unexpected even for Zhang Yue, yet it was also within reason.

……

After the meeting in the capital dispersed, Cai Jing hurriedly went inside and bowed to Zhang Yue.

"Negotiations with Liao are your business, how could such a mistake have occurred?"

There was absolutely no warning.

Cai Jing had already received the news beforehand and knew that Zhang Yue would definitely question him, so he had already thought of a countermeasure along the way.

Cai Jing said solemnly, "The Liao Kingdom did indeed intend to negotiate last year, but something must have gone wrong."

"The most important matters for the Liao Kingdom are the border markets and the annual tribute. Now they are using the war as an excuse to negotiate terms." "I have already contacted officials in Goryeo and asked them to negotiate with the Liao Kingdom. Goryeo is willing to mediate and also does not want us to fight with the Liao Kingdom."

Zhang Yue said, "You want our dynasty to negotiate peace with Liao? When their army is at the gates?"

Cai Jing said, "Right now, we must negotiate peace with Liao and avoid further warfare. At least this year."

"Sikong can also calmly implement his grand strategy."

Cai Jing continued, "Although it is somewhat shameful to have Goryeo negotiate peace with Liao, it is a flexible and adaptable approach."

"We will have to settle accounts with Liao sooner or later, but we cannot do so now."

"It is precisely because we are not afraid of the Liao Kingdom that we dare to take the initiative to extend an olive branch to negotiate peace."

Zhang Yue pondered for a moment: "Very well. We should not fight recklessly without a sure victory. The outcome of the battle against Liao is probably fifty-fifty."

"The reduction of redundant soldiers, the investigation of hidden land, and the measurement of land will certainly take time. Let's wait two or three years before making any decisions."

Cai Jing said, "Minister Sikong, the same applies to the Liao Kingdom. Many of its court officials do not wish to wage war against our country."

"The best course of action is for the imperial court to simultaneously send troops to reinforce Hebei and dispatch envoys to negotiate peace."

"However, I have heard that someone in the palace is urging His Majesty to personally lead an expedition north to meet the Liao army!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue wondered to himself, "Who is it that is encouraging the Emperor like this?"

Cai Jing said, "I've heard that Li Xian's adopted son is Tong Guan."

Zhang Yue said, "It is Tong Guan, who has just returned from his mission to the Liao Kingdom."

“Yes.” Cai Jing’s gaze turned cold.

After a moment, Cai Jing said, "Although the emperor is young, he is quite like the late emperor in his prime, with the ambition to accomplish great things."

"It's also not good if there are petty people around encouraging it."

Zhang Yue thought to himself, there's a saying that's not that it's scary for rich kids to squander money, but that it's scary for them to work too hard and start their own businesses. Although Emperor Zhezong in history was relatively reliable, his reign was short, and he didn't have the kind of wealth that Zhang Yue has built for him in this timeline.

Zhang Yue joked, "That's good, you guys will finally have a chance to use your skills."

Cai Jing smiled apologetically and said, "That would require Sikong's assistance."

Cai Jing lowered his voice and said, "Minister, I have another matter to report!"

Zhang Cheng and Zhang Gen, who were sitting to the side, understood and got up to leave.

“The Prince of Suining has been frequently visiting Baoci Palace and Longyou Palace lately,” Cai Jing whispered.

Prince of Suining?

Zhang Yue frowned. This Prince of Suining was born in the fifth year of Yuanfeng. He was the eleventh son of the late emperor and the son of Consort Chen. Legend has it that when the late emperor viewed the portrait of Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty, in the Secretariat, he was amazed by the elegant appearance of the portrait.

She then gave birth to the Prince of Suining.

This child is also a prodigy. Although he is only seven years old, he has an extraordinary talent for calligraphy, painting, horseback riding, archery, and football. He also has a strong interest in rare flowers, stones, birds, and animals.

He has shown extraordinary talent, especially in calligraphy and painting.

This Prince of Suining was very clever and had a sweet tongue. He was quite popular with Empress Dowager Gao, Empress Dowager Xiang, and the women of the harem.

There were even rumors circulating in the palace that his intelligence surpassed that of the current emperor.

If the Prince of Suining is of similar age to the Emperor, then the throne will surely fall to him.

Of course, this Prince of Suining also has a more famous name in history—Emperor Huizong of Song.

Zhang Yue thought to himself, it was one thing for the Empress Dowager Gao to like Prince Suining, but it was truly unexpected that even Empress Dowager Xiang liked him so much.

From a legal and ceremonial standpoint, the Prince of Suining is quite close to being the first in line to the throne. Although the Prince of Suining has a son named Zhao Bi, Zhao Bi suffers from an eye ailment. Furthermore, the Emperor's younger brother, Zhao Si, is younger than him.

How many memorials did the emperor have to review every day? Even a normal person's eyes would get tired from reading them. Wouldn't having an eye ailment mean losing power?

Therefore, Zhao Bi's successor was this son.

Zhang Yue said, "The Prince of Suining must be about to graduate and begin his studies soon."

Cai Jing said, "The Prince of Suining is not the crown prince after all, so he won't be leaving the palace to study so soon."

Zhang Yue said, “You can’t say that. Although the Prince of Suining is not the crown prince, he should still receive Confucian education from a young age. How can we let him play with things like painting, horseback riding, archery, and football? As for rare flowers, exotic stones, birds and beasts, those are the hobbies of spoiled brats.”

Cai Jing thought to himself, "The term 'spoiled brat' shows that even though we haven't met, Sikong already dislikes this Prince of Suining."

Zhang Yue said to Cai Jing, "Let the prince go out to study, and ask upright ministers in the court to discipline him strictly."

People can be changed through education; this was true for Emperor Huizong, and it was also true for Cai Jing.

Zhang Yue said to Cai Jing, "Yuan Chang, I heard that at the last palace banquet, His Majesty held a jade cup and thought it was too extravagant. But you said that when you were an envoy to the Liao Kingdom, the jade cup was still an item from the Jin Dynasty."

"Your Majesty should enjoy the offerings of the entire nation; this is in accordance with propriety."

Upon hearing this, Cai Jing felt a cold sweat break out. This wasn't the first or second time he'd tried to curry favor with the emperor by bypassing Zhang Yue.

Cai Jing said, “Sikong Mingjian, I have no other intentions. Your Majesty governs the country on behalf of all the people, and serving Your Majesty is serving all the people. Now that a wise ruler and a virtuous minister are working together in the court, we can enjoy this moment.”

Zhang Yue thought to himself that Cai Jing was the smartest person he had ever met, but he just didn't use that intelligence for the right things.

Therefore, Zhang Yue decided to punish him.

Zhang Yue said, "You've done a good job these past few years. Besides having storytellers recount court stories, you've also published three tabloids, which have given you a lot of insight into palace secrets. You can even manipulate public opinion in the capital."

Cai Jing blushed upon hearing this.

To be honest, Zhang Yue found these tabloids in the capital quite annoying, as they were full of jokes about court officials.

Some of these stories are true, some are false. For example, the story of Quan Xiangzhang falling in love with me, who works in a brothel, surprisingly garnered a large readership in the capital.

Do all the beautiful, well-educated young ladies in the capital enjoy reading stories with such plot twists?

It seems the female protagonist of the following story will be changed from a courtesan to a middle-aged divorced maid in the Prime Minister's mansion.

Zhang Yue solemnly said, "From this day forward, you shall hand over all of them to the Ministry of Rites, and you shall not interfere again."

Cai Jing, sweating profusely, replied, "Yes."

Cai Jing knew that he could not show any dissatisfaction at this time.

After a moment, Cai Jing said, "Some court officials have requested that these tabloids that spread rumors and cause trouble be banned, and that the official gazette be used instead. I wonder what the Minister of Works thinks?"

Although Zhang Yue was annoyed by the tabloids that spread rumors about him, he could talk about those things, but there was no room for discussion about Chen Shidao's matter.

He was now ranked as Minister of Works, and the Three Dukes and Three Masters were on equal footing with the emperor, like Grand Tutor Wen in the Investiture of the Gods, who was almost on par with King Zhou. Later, as imperial power grew stronger, the Three Departments replaced the Three Dukes.

The Secretariat and the Privy Council replaced the Three Departments. In the Ming Dynasty, the prime minister came from the emperor's secretariat, while in the Qing Dynasty, the Grand Council replaced the Grand Secretariat.

However, the emperor has not yet assumed personal rule, and the power and dignity of the prime minister must not be challenged.

Therefore, Chen Shidao must be severely punished.

Zhang Yue said, "Let's leave the matter of the tabloids for now."

"As for Tong Guan, who instigated His Majesty to personally lead the expedition, you should inform the Empress Dowager and find a pretext to send him away to a distant post."

Cai Jing was taken aback; he didn't know why Zhang Yue had entrusted this matter to him.

To get rid of Tong Guan, Zhang Yue only needed to tell Li Xian a word; it was a simple matter.

However, Cai Jing was at odds with Tong Guan, who was very close to Su Zhe, who had previously served as an envoy to the Liao Dynasty. Cai Jing and Su Zhe had never had a good relationship, so Cai Jing wanted to use Zhang Yue to eliminate Tong Guan.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yue caused Cai Jing to take action.

What is the intention behind this?

……

Several days later, at Zhang Yue's residence.

Tong Guan knelt down before Zhang Yue.

"Please, Lord Sikong, have mercy! In consideration of my past service, spare me this time!"

In front of Zhang Yue, Tong Guan was in tears and snot.

Seeing Tong Guan's expression, Zhang Yue feigned surprise and asked, "What is the meaning of this?"

"I don't want to embarrass you. Get up and talk to me first."

Upon hearing this, Tong Guan wiped away his tears and said bitterly, "That's because Cai Jing was jealous of me and had someone slander me in front of the Empress Dowager."

“Minister, I have led troops in the Northwest, and Your Majesty seems to share the ambition of the late Emperor to pacify all directions. What is wrong with me telling him some stories of my campaigns in the Northwest?”

"But Cai Jing just couldn't stand seeing scoundrels being favored by the emperor and sabotaging his Tongliao project."

Zhang Yue said seriously, "You mean Cai Jing is in Tongliao?"

Tong Guandao said, "His close relationship with the Liao envoy was not a recent development."

"During my years of imprisonment in the Liao Kingdom, I managed to make contact with several Han Chinese ministers who cherish their homeland."

“They told the villains that Yelü Hongji’s reforms had caused widespread suffering and soaring prices, and that they were willing to help the Song Dynasty recover Youyan.”

Zhang Yue narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "You bastard, Tong Guan."

Seeing Zhang Yue's slightly cold expression, Tong Guan hurriedly explained, "Reporting to the Minister, it was my fault."

"I wish to report this to Your Majesty privately in order to gain Your Majesty's favor. Besides, these people are risking their lives and the extermination of their clans to assist the Great Song Dynasty. I dare not reveal this lightly."

Zhang Yue said, "Even I, the Prime Minister, cannot know?"

Tong Guan said, "I deserve to die. I will now report this to the Minister of Works."

After speaking, Tong Guan took the letter from the boot pages and placed it on Zhang Yue's desk.

Tong Guan said, "I have also made contact with the various Jurchen tribes through these Han people from Liao."

"They have suffered for too long, and have been bullied because of the Eagle Road incident."

"I once suggested to Cai Jing that we put pressure on Korea to allow our dynasty to communicate directly with the Jurchen tribes, but Cai Jing refused."

Why wasn't this matter reported to me earlier?

Tong Guan was sweating profusely: "This villain was blinded by greed and wanted to steal the credit for Heaven's work. Now I know I'm guilty!"

"Now I know I was wrong."

Zhang Yue thought to himself that he hated it most when someone bypassed him to speak to the emperor, but Tong Guan was a eunuch and Li Xian's adopted son. He was the emperor's confidant and there was no need for him to go through him in everything.

"Who else knows these things besides you?"

Tong Guan said, "And the villain's godfather."

Zhang Yue nodded and said, "Tell me the truth about what you know."

"No secrets are allowed."

Tong Guan's expression hardened, and he immediately told Zhang Yue everything.

According to Tong Guan, Zhang Yue would not believe that Cai Jing had allied with Liaodong. Historically, Cai Jing at least had some integrity in this respect.

Zhang Yue nodded slowly and said, "You can't stay in the capital. You and Zizhan should go on another mission to Goryeo."

"We must force Goryeo to change its policy of annexing Liao, otherwise... our dynasty will sever maritime trade with Goryeo."

As is well known, Goryeo urgently needed the cotton cloth and other products of the Song Dynasty, and with the help of maritime trade, it began to rely on the economy of the Song Dynasty.

"Let Zizhan in."

Zhang Yue knew that Su Shi must be furious because of Chen Shidao's matter.

After Zhang Yue demoted all the historical figures associated with the Shuo faction, namely Liu Zhi, Wang Yansou, and others,

The Shuo faction no longer holds any sway in the court.

However, there were two other factions within the old party: one was the Luoyang faction led by the Cheng brothers, Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, and the other was the Shu faction led by Su Shi and Su Zhe.

Su Shi's Shu Party advocated that "the benevolence and kindness of Emperor Renzu" would lead to officials becoming lazy and indolent, while "the diligence and hard work of Emperor Shenkao" would make officials become harsh.

The Shu faction aimed to take a middle ground between the Yuanyou and Yuanfeng eras.

However, compromise has never succeeded in officialdom. Neither the new party nor the old party will consider you one of their own; instead, you will offend both.

Therefore, Su Shi's Shu faction was constantly attacked by the Luo faction. Cheng Yi wrote a poem to satirize the Shu faction's obsession with poetry, saying: "To compose five words, one must exhaust one's entire life's energy."

Even Cai Jing and his brother Cai Bian disliked the Shu faction.

If it weren't for Zhang Yue's insistence on protecting them, the Shu faction would have been expelled from the court long ago, but now this Chen Shidao incident has occurred.

Su Shi made many other puzzling moves, but what Zhang Yue found most incomprehensible was how he could maintain a friendship with Jiang Zhiqi for so many years. Perhaps he, like Aristotle, believed in "I love my teacher, but I love truth more."

Su Shi stormed in, but Zhang Yue greeted him with a beaming smile.

Su Shi knew his temperament all too well. The angrier you got at him, the more defiant he became. But if you treated him with a smile and showed him enough respect, the big problems would be resolved and the small problems would be forgotten.

If you are of a higher rank than him, you must never put on airs towards him, even if you have done him a favor in the past; if you are of a lower rank than him, he may not blame you if you get angry at him, and he may even generously forgive you if you hurt him.

However, Su Shi now holds the official position of Hanlin Academician, and there are not many people in the court who hold a higher official position than him.

Zhang Yue stepped forward, grasped Su Shi's hand, and said with a smile, "Zizhan...you've come at the right time. I have a very important matter to ask of you."

Su Shi was taken aback by these words, momentarily forgetting his purpose in confronting Zhang Yue, and instead asked, "What is it?"

……

Inside the palace.

Seven-year-old Prince Zhao Ji of Suining was excitedly running towards Longyou Palace, holding a flower and bird painting he had drawn himself.

He was born with striking features and a lively demeanor; though still young, he was exceptionally intelligent.

"Empress, look!"

Emperor Huizong presented the painting to Empress Dowager Xiang as if it were a precious treasure.

The painting depicts a kingfisher perched on a branch, its feathers rendered with exquisite detail, bearing a striking resemblance to an authentic work by Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang dynasty, which was treasured by the late emperor.

Empress Dowager Xiang took the painting, her eyes flashing with surprise, and said, "Eleventh Prince's skill surpasses that of the late Emperor."

The palace maids around him praised him, but Zhao Ji pretended to be humble and lowered his head, though he couldn't hide the smile on his lips.

He was intelligent from a young age and knew how to please people.

Empress Dowager Gao liked his obedient and sensible nature, while Empress Dowager Xiang favored his talent. In contrast, the taciturn current emperor and his half-brother Zhao Si seemed dull and uninteresting.

Empress Dowager Xiang gently stroked Zhao Ji's head and sighed, "If you were about the same age as His Majesty..." She realized her mistake as soon as she spoke and smiled, "Have you finished your lessons today?"

Zhao Ji blinked and said, "I have memorized the Analects that the teacher taught me, but my archery instructor always says that my wrist strength is insufficient."

Empress Dowager Xiang chuckled and said, "You, you're so engrossed in calligraphy and painting all day long, you can't even draw a bow properly."

Just then, a palace attendant rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, the remonstrating official Lin Xi has submitted a memorial proposing that the Prince of the County be allowed to leave the palace to study."

Empress Dowager Xiang frowned slightly. Zhao Ji immediately noticed this, knelt down on her knees, and said sweetly, "Your son only wishes to serve Your Majesty's side forever."

Empress Dowager Xiang, with a soft heart, patted his back and said, "The censor's opinion is also intended to help you improve." She then whispered, "If you truly wish to stay with me... that would be fine too."

Empress Dowager Xiang had gradually relinquished political power, as she could not ultimately control the emperor. With the emperor's birth mother, Consort Zhu, present, there was a barrier between them, and the emperor was naturally closer to Consort Zhu.

Among the princes in the harem, Zhao Si and the current emperor were both born to Consort Zhu. Because of Consort Zhu, Zhao Si might not be as close to Empress Dowager Xiang.

However, the birth mother of the Prince of Suining, Consort Chen, was of low status, far inferior to Consort Zhu, and therefore needed to seek support in the palace. It was for this reason that the Prince of Suining, under Consort Chen's tutelage, deliberately tried to win the favor of Empress Dowager Xiang.

Empress Dowager Xiang knew this, but deep down she also felt that Prince Suining was more to her liking than the Emperor and Zhao Si.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Xiang gradually relinquished power not because she truly wanted to be a wise and virtuous empress dowager, but because she was forced to do so.

But while she was willing to relinquish power, her attendants, her family, and the forces behind her might not be so willing to do so. So she looked at the Prince of Suining and thought to herself that if he were the emperor, he would certainly be closer to her and more willing to listen to her than the current emperor and Zhao Si.

The court officials wanted to send the Prince of Suining out of the palace to study. She knew that Lin Xi was Cai Bian's confidant, and this was probably his intention, but Cai Bian was also Zhang Yue's man.

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Xiang stroked Zhao Ji's head and thought to herself, "If only you were my own son."

Just as Empress Dowager Zhangxian Liu E refused to tell Emperor Renzong the truth about his birth mother until her death, without this connection, she would not have dared to follow Empress Dowager Zhangxian's example.

But that doesn't mean she didn't have ambitions to seize power.

……

At this moment.

Zhang Yue met with the emperor in the palace.

"Your Majesty, I have served as an official for many years and have seen that most officials use their power in an all-encompassing manner."

"Therefore, the emperor should prioritize etiquette and the selection of talented individuals. If Your Majesty can discern talented individuals, the world can be governed with ease."

"Having served in the officialdom for many years, I have seen those who dared to compete with the Market and Exchange Bureau for business. The worst offenders were exiled, and the worst were whipped. No punishment was spared."

"Those who have power should restrain their power; Your Majesty, please keep this in mind."

"Your subject, in the Ministry of Personnel, examines the transport commissioners of all routes throughout the empire, and the transport commissioners of all routes examine the prefects of all prefectures."

Zhang Yue meticulously imparted his political insights to the emperor in every word and conversation.

Finally, Zhang Yue addressed the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, if a ruler is not discreet, he will lose his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he will lose his life; if important matters are not kept secret, they will lead to disaster."

"Your Majesty must not tell anyone outside the court what I have said to you."

The Emperor said with emotion, "I understand. Minister Zhang spoke frankly, and I am deeply grateful."

The emperor then said, “I have something I must say. The late emperor’s virtue and achievements surpassed those of all ages, and the current dynasty’s systems were all established in accordance with the Yuanfeng era.”

"The laws and regulations of the previous dynasty were indeed incomplete, but after the Yuanfeng era, the ministers appointed by the Empress Dowager suddenly changed the rules and regulations, altering the system from the mother to the son. I am really not happy about this."

"Why bother trying to appease those around you and let these people fill the court?"

Zhang Yue then said, "What Your Majesty says is my fault, it is because I failed to discern people."

"I believe that laws should not be new or old, but should be for the benefit of the people. People should not be divided, and their talents should be used accordingly."

The Emperor said, "I did not mean to criticize you."

"Your Excellency seems quite wary of these old-timers in your governance, and has no choice but to fill the court with them. The reform ministers below the court are also privately discussing that Your Excellency is getting too close to these old-timers."

Zhang Yue thought to himself that the emperor was gradually developing his own political views, which he had already made public and even discussed with him. This time, he was questioning the proposal to reconcile the old and new parties.

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, I am not simply going along with your wishes, but if Your Majesty banishes these people from the capital, will there truly be no one in the court to discuss this?"

"Your Majesty, I have always believed that it is better to place those who oppose the late Emperor's policies in a visible place than in a hidden place."

The official nodded.

Just then, a palace attendant announced that the Empress Dowager was hosting a banquet in the rear garden and invited Zhang Yue to go with the Emperor.

The emperor and Zhang Yue then went together to Yaojin Pavilion in the rear garden.

This pavilion was built under the supervision of Song Yongchen.

Song Yongchen and Yang Yan specially moved a pavilion from Qiantang and dug a new pond, placing the pavilion on it.

The late emperor looked at the pavilion and said, "It is beautiful, but it's a pity there are no lotus flowers."

Song Yongchen said, "Please, Your Majesty, enjoy the lotus blossoms tomorrow."

The late emperor said, "You're joking again. What if there are no lotus flowers?"

Song Yongchen said, "I am willing to be executed by Your Majesty."

The next day, the late emperor went to the pond and saw that it was indeed full of lotus flowers. It turned out that Song Yongchen had bought all the lotus flowers in the entire city of Bianjing in one night.

The late emperor was overjoyed and ordered his court painter, Guo Xi, to paint a picture on the spot.

When Zhang Yue and the emperor arrived, they saw that the spring scenery beside Yaojin Pavilion was just right.

The vermilion balustrade of Yaojin Pavilion was still covered with morning dew, and the golden tiles and eaves were already bathed in the pale blue light of the sky.

The two weeping crabapple trees in front of the steps are in full bloom.

From afar, two or three palace maids carrying gilded incense burners walked through the covered walkway, their hairpins fluttering in the spring banners as they went. Zhang Yue walked along the covered walkway by the pond, and saw that where the surface of the pond was shimmering with gold, several imperial red carp were chasing and biting the falling petals.

The Empress Dowager has already set up a curtain at Yaojin Pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, a child in fine clothes was playing music and singing in front of the curtain. Zhang Yue looked closely and realized that this person was none other than the Prince of Suining—Emperor Huizong of Song in history.

Zhang Yue looked closely. Who would have thought that such a handsome and intelligent child would bring about the downfall of the Song Dynasty?

Behind the curtain, the Empress Dowager's gaze was also fixed on Zhang Yue.

PS: Some viewpoints in this chapter are from the book "The Prosperous Song Dynasty".