Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 414 Murder, murder, and more murder!
Zhao Ji was clearly flustered, and said again, "Your Majesty is wise, I... have nothing to do with this matter! I... I have been busy thinking about the sale of calligraphy and paintings by the Academy of Painting and Calligraphy, and I am so preoccupied that I have not thought about anything else!"

Su Wu also took a good look at Zhao Ji. Sometimes, Zhao Ji was quite admirable. He could maintain his composure and adaptability even in the face of a huge change in circumstances. That was a skill in itself.

Su Wu suddenly asked, "Have you been practicing Taoism lately?"

Zhao Ji shook his head: "I have been very busy lately, handling all matters inside and outside Genyue, and thus have neglected my cultivation... Your Majesty is truly wise to see this, for I know absolutely nothing about the affairs of Lingnan..."

"Yes, I believe you. Time flies so fast, you won't have enough time. Even if you have connections, it might be a month or two before you can go. However, the person who wants to secretly contact you is already on their way to the capital..."

Su Wu knew perfectly well that Zhao Ji neither had the time nor the ability to do so...

But people like Cao Cheng also needed Zhao Ji's name or something similar; they would definitely try to find a way to use secret edicts or secret letters...

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji's face was already as if he were about to cry. He simply waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, if any bandits come looking for me, I will report to the Imperial City Guard immediately!"

Su Wu also thought that it was true that after Zhao Ji was captured by the Jurchens in history, he was able to live, eat, sleep, and reproduce...

Su Wu suddenly said, "Hey, you just said that the calligraphy and painting academy is having difficulties selling calligraphy and paintings?"

Zhao Ji's face, still looking like he was about to cry, suddenly froze, and the crying expression vanished. He simply nodded, "This matter is indeed causing me great distress. His Majesty said that the Academy of Painting and Calligraphy should be self-sufficient and should also hand over its surplus to the court. However, it's not that there aren't any scholars and literati in Bianjing, but those who could afford to pay the price have all been killed by the mutinous soldiers in Yingzhou, haven't they? It's truly... how should I put it... I am incompetent..."

Su Wu finally understood: there were no buyers for the calligraphy and paintings, and certainly no buyers with the taste to appreciate them. Countless people in the calligraphy and painting academy were still struggling to make ends meet, and even Zhao Ji's family seemed to be living frugally...

Su Wu was also waiting for the calligraphy and painting academy to make money... How could art not make money?
Su Wu immediately replied, "Very well, I'll give you a plan!"

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!" Zhao Ji was genuinely anxious. Regardless of what the future held, whether Zhao Jiu was capable or not, those things were still far off. Right now, meals and tea, and the purchase of elegant items all cost money. His son needed to study, his daughter needed to learn a trade, and his wife needed cosmetics and perfumes...

Which one is free?

"You mean, an art exhibition—how should I put it? It's an exhibition of paintings, or even a book exhibition, like a refined gathering, like the imperial painting and calligraphy exhibitions held by the royal painting and calligraphy academy. They send people from the academy to Jiangnan, to the east of the capital, and even to the capital city to hold these elegant exhibitions. They can also hold them in the capital. The works exhibited are, of course, carefully selected… In that case, the matter will be clear…"

In Su Wu's view, finding the right customers wasn't difficult at all...

Emperor Huizong was also pondering how to organize this exhibition of calligraphy and paintings and how to sell the paintings.

Seeing that Zhao Ji was still pondering, Su Wu continued, "Borrow some soldiers and men from the city to escort the paintings and calligraphy to those places. Once they arrive, first choose an elegant pavilion or garden, and you personally decorate it. Then send out invitations to all the prominent and scholarly families in the city to come and view them... As for how to sell them, you don't need to worry about that. Just find a clever shopkeeper. Paintings and calligraphy are sold for their reputation. As long as you go to a place, people will flock there. You can also take this opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery. How wonderful would that be? Later, we can also hold auctions in the name of the Royal Academy of Painting and Calligraphy. We'll talk about that later..."

Su Wu was genuinely worried, no doubt about it. The cultural market has never been small, and it will only grow larger in the future...

They also need a share of the pie. How could the imperial auction house, or the auction house directly under the Royal Academy of Painting and Calligraphy, not be a big business?

It's possible to make a fortune...

Zhao Ji understood, and thought the matter was feasible. He also thought the emperor's methods were truly brilliant. However, he was surprised and asked, "Does Your Majesty mean that I can leave the capital?"

Su Wu nodded in agreement: "How about this, our first stop will be Chang'an, the capital..."

"Then I really am leaving the capital?" Zhao Ji still couldn't believe it.

"Why not? Isn't this also serving the country? The court's expenditures are huge these days, and next year we will launch a large-scale expedition to the west to open up the Western Regions. In the eyes of those who know their value, which of those elegant objects in the Royal Academy of Painting and Calligraphy is not priceless? If the Western Regions are truly opened up in the future, won't the Academy of Painting and Calligraphy also have a share of the credit?"

Su Wu was serious!

Emperor Huizong was in a state of confusion. His son was still conquering cities and seizing territory in Lingnan, yet he was actually allowed to leave the capital.
What kind of operation is this? It can't be a conspiracy, can it?

Zhao Ji's subconscious thought wasn't entirely unfounded; Su Wu always preferred to capture and kill as many people as possible...

In the capital city of Tokyo, such a person is truly hard to find, but the capital prefecture might be a different story...

It just so happens that the emperor has left the capital, which makes it easier for the rebels from the south to make contact. What happens to Zhao Ji is a minor matter; let's see if there are any truly restless individuals among the people in various regions and around Zhao Ji...

If he didn't have it, Su Wu wouldn't be happy; he had to have it, he absolutely had to have it.

This kind of thing is beyond the reach of most people, and ordinary citizens certainly don't have the qualifications to participate. It's only for people with some connections or influence...

Even traitors are selective; Zhao Gou and Cao Cheng are probably waiting for the banners of righteous rebellion to rise up across the land...

Whether it's entrapment or law enforcement, we'll have to see what Yan Qing's methods are...

Yan Qing was clearly trusted by Su Wu.

Of course, making money is also a primary concern, and the cultural market is even more so.

While Zhao Ji was still hesitant, Su Wu asked, "What is it? Is there anything you're worried about?"

Zhao Ji quickly waved his hand: "Your Majesty's plan is extremely brilliant. I will act according to Your Majesty's wishes!"

"Alright, then help with one more thing: write a good letter to Zhao Gou. Just like before, make sure the writing is neat and the words are sincere... Once this is done, you can go out of the capital to take up a post at the Academy of Painting and Calligraphy."

"It is my duty. A subject who has disobeyed should be disciplined. The mighty Yan army is invincible, and the world is at peace. The borders are secure. This is the beginning of a golden age. Your Majesty is creating an unprecedented great undertaking. How can I allow my rebellious son to ruin Your Majesty's rule? He deserves to die!"

Zhao Ji spoke with utmost sincerity!

Su Wu never intended to use Zhao Ji to humiliate or insult him. Humiliating or insulting Zhao Ji would not bring Su Wu any pleasure, and Su Wu's ambition lay elsewhere.

But Zhao Ji was truly skilled at it...

I have no idea where Zhao Ji learned it from, or how he became so good at it...

Or was it the immense terror of facing life and death that forced Zhao Ji to learn it?
Or perhaps it was the pressure of supporting his family that bent this man's back?
Su Wu nodded: "Alright, let's leave it at that. You can go ahead and do what you need to do!"

Zhao Ji quickly rose and bowed deeply again: "May the Great Yan Dynasty prosper forever, for thousands of generations; may Your Majesty enjoy long life and immortal achievements!"

Su Wu nodded, but seeing Zhao Ji's attitude, Su Wu was actually quite unhappy; this whole thing had become...

Looking at Zhao Ji again at this moment, Su Wu truly felt a pang of pity...

Zhao Ji naturally left. After leaving the main hall, he walked for a long time before letting out a long sigh of relief. He had clearly been very nervous inside the hall...

After meeting with Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji), he still had to meet with others, including Zong Ze, Zhang Shuye, Liu Yanqing, Zhao Sicheng, and others...

There are so many civil officials...

It's nothing, just setting the tone and stabilizing the situation and mindset.

In the Funing Palace, Su Wu said, “My lords, there is nothing else to say. This time, the Jurchens have already submitted, and the tribes of the grasslands have also been pacified. When the world is unified and the four seas are at peace, it is the time for the people to live and work in peace. The flames of war should not be reignited, nor should our great land be ravaged again. I will personally lead the expedition. You all in the court, do your best!”

Most of the people nodded in agreement. The emperor in front of them was actually very powerful and often did not allow others to say anything.

However, Su Wu changed the subject and said, "But there is one thing I must clarify first. We did not seriously rectify the officialdom before. Now that the Jurchens have been pacified, the matter of rectifying the officialdom is urgent. The national laws exist, but in the past, punishments were mostly not applied to the scholar-officials. This is the law of the Song Dynasty, not the law of the Great Yan. From now on, punishments will be applied to the scholar-officials. Punishment will be based on the crime. If someone deserves to be imprisoned, they will be imprisoned; if someone deserves to be executed, they will be executed!"

Everyone nodded in agreement...

Su Wu also knew that few people really took it seriously. There was no point in just talking about it; the only meaning was to say, "Don't say we didn't warn you."

Anyway, Su Wu said it today, he said it seriously...

Now, Yan Qing's "Intelligence Division" is slowly taking shape and has a basic form.

It's better not to take it seriously, so that when it's time to kill someone in the future, there will be someone to kill. It doesn't matter how many people are killed, the more the better, so that there will be a deterrent effect.

We'll have to do it eventually, so let's talk about it today. That way, we won't feel so bad when we start fighting tomorrow...

Su Wu looked up to scan the area. Where was the cruel official?

Standing at the front, Su Wu said, "From now on, all matters of administration will be handled by Prime Minister Qin!"

Qin Hui nodded, stepped forward, and bowed: "Your subject obeys the decree! The administration of officials is the foundation of governing the country. Your subject will do his duty to the utmost, even at the cost of his life!"

Qin Hui's slogan was thunderous, but needless to say, when it came to actually carrying it out, this matter would be difficult to handle, and Qin Hui probably wouldn't take it so seriously.

But the Intelligence Division has its methods, and Su Wu has his own ways.

Whatever information the intelligence department receives, it should immediately pass it on to Li Gang, the Censor-in-Chief, who will then report it to Qin Hui.

Let's see what Qin Hui does. If he knows what's going on, he'll know what to do. If he doesn't, Su Wu will have to give him a good talking-to again!
Murder, murder, and more murder!
Qin Hui always managed to understand...

and even……

Even with the most cunning imperial mindset, Su Wu wouldn't care so much about being wrongly convicted...

It was only when he truly became emperor that Su Wu gained this perspective. In many cases, the emperor clearly didn't care about wrongful convictions, the fate of officials, or personal prospects.

From the emperor's perspective, it's really not worth anything...

Sometimes, killing is even done in front of the world, for the common people to see...

Because sometimes, the grievances in this world have no definite cause, especially for ordinary people. When life is not going well for many people, when they complain about their fate, they need an outlet for their anger, and they need to find a reason outside of themselves...

It is the wickedness of the world, the wickedness of people's hearts, the corruption of officials, and the injustice of Heaven...

Very well, the emperor will imprison people, confiscate their property, and kill them in front of you. Those who were once high and mighty will now face imprisonment or death, their heads rolling before your eyes, their property confiscated, and their families sold off...

How could this not be a source of joy for the people? How could this not be a testament to the emperor's wisdom? How could this not be a reflection of the nation's flourishing prosperity?
When Su Wu became emperor and suddenly understood all this, he was actually quite surprised!
How can such logic exist?

And this logic is actually quite good for Su Wu personally!
This world cannot be perfectly clear, cannot be completely fair and just, and cannot ensure that no one is wronged...

Therefore, there needs to be an outlet for emotions, a channel to soothe people's hearts, or, to put it more elegantly, a channel for channeling public opinion...

Suddenly, I also thought of the Song Dynasty. It was because I had destroyed this channel that the Song Dynasty was the most notorious for its rebellions throughout history!

I don't know if it's right or wrong. Su Wu himself couldn't say whether this logic was right or wrong, or whether it was just or not.

But at this moment, Su Wu truly attained enlightenment!
Moreover, this occasional ruthlessness can facilitate social mobility and, to some extent, slow down the rate of class solidification...

For a moment, Su Wu remembered a phrase, though it was a distorted interpretation, but he did remember it: "Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs."

The emperor, the son of heaven, seems truly suited to this ruthless and heartless way.

what?
If you say there really are wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice, and if such a case really comes to light, officials will be outraged and the people will be cursing.

Isn't Qin Hui one of them?

Could this wrongful conviction have been handled by the emperor himself? It must have been the work of the treacherous minister Qin Hui…

Execute Qin Hui to set things right and restore order to the court!

There will always be a day like this, and I hope Qin Hui lives a few more years, otherwise finding the next person like him will be quite difficult... Now that Su Wu has attained enlightenment, he can't help but think that throughout history, both in China and abroad, any country that has abolished martial arts in this matter has certainly not fared well...

Of course, this matter must be done in moderation. If it really turns into a bloody court, then it will go too far and cause trouble.

Therefore, Su Wu had to grasp the right balance.

The historical perspective of those who truly rise to power is vastly different from that of ordinary people.

At this moment, Su Wu was no longer the Su Wu of the past; he had truly become a machine-like figure.

Philosophical speculation is involved here...

Never mind...

Su Wu couldn't help but wonder if, in the future, when he had the time, he should really publish a secret... detailed... tutorial on how to be an emperor.

To tell future generations how to be a good emperor, and what perspective an emperor should have on politics.

The court assembly continued, and Su Wu was lost in thought...

After everyone had left, Su Wu walked back to Yanfu Palace...

These questions are still on my mind...

Human nature and human emotions—Xu Zhen most wants to see those who are high above fall to the ground, and he most wants to see the story of "watching someone build a tall building, watching someone entertain guests, and watching someone's building collapse"...

The problem with human nature is that it's about why some things you don't have while others do...

Everyone is like this, without exception!

Su Wu wasn't criticizing or despising anything; he was the emperor, so he didn't need to criticize these so-called evils of human nature.

What he wanted was to find a way to utilize, control, and make good use of these evil aspects of human nature...

Suddenly, Su Wu, lost in thought, looked up and around, and noticed that within the imperial city, it seemed that there were more people, and more eunuchs...

Su Wu didn't know the exact amount, but he sensed that there was a significant increase; he hadn't even noticed it yesterday...

Su Wu's first thought was that Wu Yong must have orchestrated this...

My second thought was, no, Wu Yong went to fight in the war, so it couldn't be him...

Who is that?
Su Wu wasn't actually angry; he just wanted to know who was so capable as to persuade the Empress, Cheng Xiaoniang, to comply...

He went straight into Yanfu Palace, where the Empress was already waiting, anticipating Su Wu's return from court...

They need to come back to rest and have something to eat before going to the Funing Palace to work. If they don't come back, they need to send someone to deliver food to the Funing Palace.

Throughout history, it seems that no one has ever truly used the main hall as an office; Su Wu was perhaps the first.

One good thing about this is that all kinds of official documents and materials can be piled up against the wall, and you can get whatever you need. It also allows for joint office work by multiple departments, all for the sake of efficiency.

Of course, matters of privacy can be discussed in the secluded side hall.

When Cheng Xiaoniang saw Su Wu return, she went to greet him and said, "Your Majesty, you've had a long journey..."

Su Wu nodded, stepped forward and sat down, casually asking, "How many more people are there in the harem?"

Cheng Xiaoniang answered bluntly, "There are about a hundred more eunuchs and seventy or eighty more palace maids..."

"Who arranged this task?" Su Wu asked after settling down. He hadn't noticed any extra palace maids along the way, only extra eunuchs.

Why? Because those who went around doing official business were mostly eunuchs.

"It was my father who said... that we should give the palace more maids, that the emperor's family should have many descendants, so that the country can be at peace in the future..."

Cheng Xiaoniang herself clearly agreed with this principle, even if she was unwilling, she truly felt that it was for the greater good.

Su Wu frowned slightly. This father-in-law rarely expressed his opinions in court or the Hall of State Affairs, yet he had done this...

Only he could actually accomplish this...

This father-in-law... or... is quite clever? Clever in politics and in interpersonal relationships.

What man doesn't like women? Su Wu certainly did too...

There's no need to pretend on this point, but I simply can't care about that right now...

Then Cheng Xiaoniang continued, "Father personally selected them, saying that most of them are relatives of scholarly families, and some are relatives of military families..."

Su Wu didn't say much, but suddenly asked, "Then why are there so many more eunuchs?"

"Originally, it was only to add palace maids, but with more people, there's more work to be done. The capital is so big, we simply can't keep up. Those eunuchs who were driven out of the palace aren't having an easy time either. After several rounds of selection, we've chosen mostly young people to fill the positions. I've also selected a few for Your Majesty, so they can travel around with you..."

Cheng Xiaoniang is truly acting as the Empress, and she's trying her best to be a good one...

Su Wu wasn't angry, nor could he be. He only said one thing: "From now on, don't add any more people. This is how things are in the harem..."

"Yes, I would never dare to make such a decision on my own again," Cheng Xiaoniang nodded and said softly.

"Has that tunnel been repaired?" Su Wu suddenly asked.

What tunnel? The tunnel through which Emperor Huizong of Tang (Zhao Ji) once left the palace to meet Li Shishi…

"It's been repaired. I personally oversaw the repairs, and Third Sister was also watching... Xiao Yi led the men to do the job, and they blocked it up completely, adding even more gravel and stone slabs to block it!"

These are all minor matters...

With the trivial matters settled, food was served, and Su Wu simply went to eat...

Having married such a man as Su Wu, Cheng Xiaoniang was lost in thought. She didn't eat much, only watching Su Wu wolf down his food. She knew that once Su Wu finished eating, he would get up and head to the Funing Palace...

He would only return home late at night, and by then he would be completely exhausted...

Let alone Meng Yulou and Hu Sanniang, even Cheng Xiaoniang could barely exchange a few words with Su Wu...

Sure enough, Su Wu wolfed down his food several times, rinsed his mouth with a cup of tea, and then got up to go again...

Returning home late at night...

Upon his return, a tub of water was already prepared for his bath. Su Wu said little, took off his clothes, and began to soak, closing his eyes to rest...

Actually, countless things were on my mind. The idea of ​​imperial power extending to the countryside was a very troublesome matter...

The Han dynasty had a pavilion chief, but Su Wu wanted something more: a township-level government office. If the office were too large, it would be too expensive to manage, but it still needed to be fully functional...

This is a troublesome matter...

I've been weighing the pros and cons all day, it's so hard to decide...

Even Su Wu was thinking of extending the official ranks further, to twelve levels, which would be the twelfth rank...

Su Wu wanted a large government and a large court.

Tax laws need to be reformed, mainly commercial taxes and import/export taxes; these need major overhauls!
However, one should not underestimate the import and export trade of this era. Even before the Western Regions were opened to trade, the trade prosperity in Guangzhou and Quanzhou was unimaginable.

The number of non-Han people in these two places, especially the permanent non-Han people, is in the tens of thousands, particularly in Quanzhou, where there are probably more non-Han people than Han people within the city walls...

Don't mistake Fujian for some uncivilized barbarian land. During the Song Dynasty, Fujian was a place of great literary and artistic development, and there were countless officials from Fujian. That's absolutely true.

Guangzhou is a bit lacking...

These import and export tariffs are therefore of paramount importance.

"Your Majesty..." a gentle voice whispered in his ear.

"Hmm?" Su Wu turned his head to look.

"The moon is full today... Although it's not Mid-Autumn Festival, it's still the fifteenth... I wonder..."

At this point, Cheng Xiaoniang seemed a little uneasy and paused.

How could Su Wu not feel guilty? He nodded and replied, "Yes, perfect, perfect for moon gazing. Come, help me get dressed."

Cheng Xiaoniang lowered her head slightly, secretly delighted. She didn't know how long it had been since she had experienced something like this.

The moonlight, like water, flowed across the bluestone pavement, creating a shallow pool...

Su Wu took Cheng Xiaoniang's hand and walked into the courtyard...

An old osmanthus tree had long since shed its fragrance, which was scattered on the ground, unswept away, casting sparse shadows, like jade plates shimmering and dancing on the ground...

Su Wu gently raised his hand and pulled the delicate shoulder into his arms. He looked up at her and then spoke, "The Rongguo Duke's family has selected several women. If you have time, you can summon them to meet you..."

"Yes, good! It's time for my brother to get married..."

"Would you like a drink?" Su Wu whispered in his ear.

Cheng Xiaoniang subtly tried to avoid the ticklish sensation brushing against her ear, and softly said, "I'd like to have a few drinks..."

Su Wu raised his hand in a gesture of invitation... and the wine arrived quickly...

The two men sat side by side, raised their glasses, and whispered a few words to each other...

Someone wrote the lyrics; it wasn't Su Wu, it was Cheng Xiaoniang.

The poem reads: Cloud-like hair, jade mat, a bright moon hanging on a clear silken thread. Twin shadows, fragrant mist filling the courtyard, fireflies flitting from a round fan. Laughing, pointing to the sparse stars of the Milky Way, whispering of bygone days of drunken revelry. The wind and dew chill through the night, yet I still hold her close, half-length sleeve, tenderly cherishing her.

No one is singing... but I'm thinking of it in my heart, and I'll remember it tomorrow.

How can you say that lyrics are bad?

After a few drinks, her face flushed, she was at the peak of her beauty, and I swept her up in my arms and carried her into the house…

(End of this chapter)