Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 915: Understanding Reason
As night fell, the sky was filled with stars like scattered silver fragments, stretching for more than ten miles. The campfires, like red dragons, meandered and illuminated the cold night.

The armored guards patrolled the camp incessantly, their boots clattering as they made their rounds; in addition, garrison troops stood in formation on the watchtowers, vigilant and alert, their spears gleaming in the firelight, their eyes like torches, fearing a night raid by the Song army.

Su Chen hosted a banquet for Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing. Inside a spacious tent, four tables and chairs were set up. Su Chen and Meng Yutong sat on the west side, while Zhao Dezhao and his sister sat on the east side. The four of them faced each other across the room, each sitting at their own table, pouring and drinking by themselves. The aroma of wine mingled with the smell of pine resin and fire, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Yongqing was still wearing the same blue robe she wore during the day, but she had removed her scholar's cap. Her black hair was tied up in a high bun like that of an unmarried girl, and she wore a plain jade hairpin. Under the lamplight, her skin was as white as snow, and she stood tall like a new lotus under the moon, her beauty indescribable.

Meng Yutong dressed as a man, her hair tied up, wearing a moon-white robe with wide sleeves that reached the ground, and a jade belt cinching her waist to accentuate her slender figure. Her eyebrows were lightly drawn, and her lips were tinged with rouge. From afar, she truly resembled a handsome scholar; but upon closer inspection under the lamplight, her snow-white skin and flower-like face, with her shimmering eyes, revealed a beauty that could topple cities, and how could she possibly conceal her feminine charm?

Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing glanced at Meng Yutong a few more times and quickly realized that she was a woman!
Are the women following Su Chen in his camp his female relatives?

Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing exchanged a glance, both realizing that this woman seemed to have an unusual relationship with Su Chen.

"We have a chef from Jiangnan in the army who has made some Jiangnan dishes. You can try them too. There is Dongpo pork, Nanjing vinegar fish, Mapo tofu, and spicy hot pot. Because Jiangnan has a port for foreign trade, we can import some chili peppers and other things from Southeast Asia, India and other places. You can't find this kind of flavor in your northern Central Plains."

Su Chen was telling the truth. In recent years, cargo ships had exported ceramics, tea, textiles, silk, and other goods, in exchange for a large amount of agricultural products, including two harvests of Lingnan rice, which brought rapid development to the economy of Jiangnan. Since the Tang Dynasty, the economies of the North and South had begun to diverge, with the South's economy starting to surpass that of the North.

In the past two years, the Wu Kingdom's economic output has exceeded that of the Northern Song Dynasty by two or three times. Whether it is grain production, business and trade level, currency storage, market circulation, or per capita household income, the Wu Kingdom is several times stronger than the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing began their meal. Although they were both princes and princesses, Zhao Kuangyin strictly controlled his children and was not usually too extravagant. He did not pursue perfection in food and had limited experience. Now, tasting Jiangnan cuisine for the first time, he found it quite novel.

Yongqing ate a few bites of the spicy dish. Although it was only slightly spicy, it was very delicious and suited the tastes of girls.

"Jiangnan cuisine really has its unique features," Zhao Dezhao commented.

“The South has changed a lot in recent years. Goods are plentiful, and people are well-fed and clothed. There are very few disaster victims who go hungry anymore. Their living conditions are generally better than those of people in the Central Plains.”

Su Chen spoke frankly, because after conquering Huaibei and Henan these days, he found that the living conditions of the people of the Song Dynasty were still very difficult. Rural farmers had very little food stored, and it was mostly cornmeal and millet. Rice and wheat products were scarce. They barely managed to avoid starvation, but if war, floods, locust plagues, or droughts occurred and affected the autumn harvest, there would be famine the following year. The economic foundation was very unstable.

Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing fell silent after hearing this. Both were members of the Song Dynasty royal family and had heard rumors about the wealth accumulation in Jiangnan. It seemed that this Su Lang of Jiangzuo was not only skilled in writing poetry and martial arts novels and leading troops with ingenious strategies, but also exceptional in governing the region and doing business. He was in charge of governing the Jiangzhe area, implementing unified planning, establishing official kilns and workshops, setting up seaports, facilitating export trade, stabilizing prices, setting reasonable tariffs, redefining the value concepts of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, and issuing a new currency for the Wu Kingdom, the Jiaozi silver note, which could be used in Wu, greatly stimulating commercial development.

After hearing about these things, they all felt that Su Chen was truly a man of both literary and martial talents, and that his ideas were unique; he was simply a genius.

Hearing him speak these words in person today, I felt even more disheartened; the development of the Song Dynasty was truly incomparable. "Come, raise your cups and toast the two envoys." Su Chen was outwardly polite as he toasted the two men. Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing felt flattered and quickly raised their cups to drink.

"We had long heard of Marshal Su's talent and ability in Bianjing. In fact, several years ago, your poems were circulating in the north. We had all read your poems. We recited many of these poems when we were studying at the Imperial Academy."

Zhao Dezhao couldn't help but praise him. He was six or seven years younger than Su Chen. When Su Chen transmigrated at the age of eighteen, Zhao Dezhao was only eleven or twelve years old, which was just the time when he was studying. He had been taught Su Chen's poems by a Hanlin scholar and remembered them vividly.

Now, the two of them are facing this figure who has stepped out of the ethereal and into reality, and the impact is still very strong. It's like an idol of many years suddenly coming to greet you, and even having dinner together, drinking and laughing. It feels a bit unreal.

“Those were all written when I was young to appear cultured. I rarely write them now, as I’m focused on national affairs. It’s indeed a bit boring,” Su Chen replied simply.

Yongqing looked at Su Chen and couldn't help but say, "This young lady also carries a book of Marshal Su's poems with her. If you could sign your name on it, it would fulfill my long-cherished wish."

Su Chen smiled and said, "That's easy. Meeting is fate, so signing an autograph is no problem."

Seeing that Su Chen was easy to talk to, Yongqing's face lit up with joy, and he felt happy too. He was pleased to chat with his idol and receive a polite response from him.

Zhao Dezhao said, "If Wu and Song become friendly and become as close as family, with trade between the north and south, and the people living in peace and prosperity, and there are no more wars, that would be the greatest wish of the people of both countries."

Zhao Dezhao wanted to take the opportunity to continue persuading Su Chen to agree to the peace terms, cease military campaigns against the Song Dynasty, and withdraw his troops.

Su Chen put down his wine cup and said calmly, "Actually, I don't like to wage war recklessly either, but attacking the Song Dynasty is just one part of Wu's strategy. The world has been in chaos for nearly a century. Wu is determined to save the people from suffering and bring peace to the world, freeing them from the pain of war. Back then, Qin Shi Huang, Liu Bang, Emperor Wen of Sui, and Li Shimin launched wars for the sake of unification. This is the general trend of history. I left Prince Zhao and Princess Yongqing behind because I wanted to talk to you about a cooperation that truly concerns the survival of the people of the Song Dynasty."

When Zhao Dezhao and Yongqing heard Su Chen speak so solemnly and mention the general trend of history, they both had a bad feeling.

“Marshal Su, please speak!” Zhao Dezhao replied.

Su Chen's eyes shone brightly as he continued, "I have long admired Emperor Taizu of the Great Song Dynasty. I know he was a man of great talent and ambition. In the past twenty years, he fought on all sides and governed the country with the demeanor of a wise ruler. I heard that he suddenly passed away a few days ago, which I deeply regret. However, I heard that there are other secrets behind this matter. The new emperor, Zhao Guangyi, may have been involved and used drugged wine to assassinate Emperor Taizu and seize the throne from His Highness the First Prince, Zhao."

"Now, this new emperor must also be eyeing you covetously and is very uneasy about you. How about this, Your Highness, join forces with Wu Jun to persuade the troops in Chenliu City to surrender. I can guarantee that not a single Song citizen will be harmed. All Song officials in the city will continue to be employed, and even the officials and royal relatives in Bianjing City will maintain their current salaries and benefits. Is Your Highness willing?"

Zhao Dezhao and Princess Yongqing were stunned when they heard this, never expecting Su Chen to say such a thing.