The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 240 Prefect of Kaifeng, Garrison Commander of Tokyo (Seeking monthly votes)

Before long, it was the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, and the city of Tokyo was filled with a festive atmosphere.

This year is different from the past. The imperial court has launched military campaigns abroad, expanding its territory and conquering a territory equivalent to more than half of the Western Xia.

Although such things do not bring much practical benefit to the people, and even war can be costly and wasteful, a strong nation leads to a strong populace, and a strong populace leads to a powerful nation; they are mutually reinforcing.

With the imperial court ruling over the six directions and receiving tribute from all sides, and governing various foreign countries, the people felt more confident and assertive. Few dared to bully them when they went to foreign lands. As a result, they spread the word and bought extra money for New Year's goods.

Qinghai-Tibet and Longyou are geographically long and narrow, but their area is not small. They border the Western Xia to the north, the Gaochang Uyghurs to the west, the Tubo states to the south, and even have a corner in the southwest that borders the Karakhanid Khanate.

That corner was the land of four kingdoms. Taking over Longyou was not just a matter of expanding territory for the Song Dynasty; it had great strategic significance.

Moreover, the long border to the north led directly to the Western Xia, thus the Western Xia lost all its original geographical advantages, and its disadvantages of a small population and insufficient manpower became apparent at this moment.

The Liao Dynasty bordered the Song Dynasty to the south, while the Tibetan Empire was to the east. Originally, the Western Xia Dynasty was located on the southeastern border, opposite the five northwestern routes of the Song Dynasty.

But now, the Western Xia is connected to the Song Dynasty on the southeast, south, and southwest sides, and most of its territory is surrounded by the Song Dynasty, thus losing its geographical advantages.

Yang Jian had not yet returned. He and the generals of Xihe were setting up defenses in Qingtang City and the westernmost Jiezhan City. After all, this battle not only defeated the Tubo Gusiluo regime, but also destroyed or drove out some miscellaneous Uyghurs and the Nine-Surname Tatars.

However, although Yang Jian did not return, he sent people to escort the Tibetan royal family of Qingtang, as well as the princes and princesses of the former Khotan who were living in Qingtang, to the capital.

In addition, there were countless jewels and jades. Qingtang City has always been known as the Pearl City and the Treasure City. The gold and silver treasures that the Song army seized from the Qingtang Royal Palace in the city filled more than a thousand large boxes, and they still could not be contained.

Hundreds of beautiful women from the Western Regions, the finest horses selected from among the hundred best warhorses of Qinghai, a large quantity of spices, furs, and various unique handicrafts were all sent to Tokyo.

Zhao Xi ordered Zhang Dun to settle the captured people. Instead of imprisoning them, he gave them a name and told them to settle down in Tokyo.

Most of the items went into the Ministry of Revenue's inventory, while a small portion was brought into the palace. As for the warhorses, they were all distributed as rewards to the court officials.

Zhao Ti was also given a horse, which was more than three inches taller than an ordinary Qing Tang warhorse. It was brownish-red all over and faintly shone with a dark gold light in the sunlight.

On the morning of the last day before the New Year, Zhao Ti led everyone in his household out to buy New Year's goods, and did not return until evening.

On the thirtieth day of the month, the Prince's mansion was bustling with activity. A New Year's banquet was held, and all the unmarried subordinates were invited to come and drink and socialize. Many red envelopes were also prepared and distributed to everyone.

From the morning of the 30th of the lunar year until the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the sound of firecrackers in Tokyo never stopped. Every household replaced the old peachwood charms with new ones. People wrote the names of the two gods, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, on peachwood boards and hung them by their doors to signify the renewal of everything.

Around noon on the first day of the lunar new year, a light snow began to fall from the sky. The third year of the Shaosheng era officially arrived amidst this festive atmosphere.

Zhao Ti entered the palace in the evening and first paid New Year's respects to his mother, Consort Xing. Consort Xing's residence was bustling this year, crowded with many of Emperor Shenzong's concubines, including Consort Zhaorong, Consort Wanyi, and Consort Jieyu.

A mother's status rises with her son's. Not to mention the many princes in the Song Dynasty, few held real power. And among those who held real power, only Emperor Taizong had ever held military power since the founding of the dynasty.

The concubines didn't leave when they saw him arrive. Instead, they chatted about their families. The Song Dynasty palace was the closest imperial palace had ever been to the homes of ordinary people. There were few rules and regulations, and the terms of address were similar to those used in ordinary families.

As the conversation turned to Zhao Ti's marriage, Consort Xing, knowing her son's independence, couldn't help but ask, "My son, the inner quarters shouldn't be empty for too long, and the position of Princess Consort shouldn't remain vacant for too long. Do you have someone you're interested in?"

Zhao Ti was speechless upon hearing this. Xiao Lin Zhaorong, who was standing next to him, laughed and said, "If the Prince of Yan has no one in mind, he might as well send over a portrait of a suitable person so that he can take a look and perhaps be moved."

The other concubines also offered suggestions, and some even recommended their nieces, nephews, or family members.

Zhao Ti's head was spinning. He hurriedly got up to say goodbye to Consort Xing and walked out. Laughter came from behind him. Someone joked, "The Prince of Yan can't escape this matter. If it goes on too long, the Imperial Clan Court will come knocking on the door. They'll be pressing you urgently then. It's better to have time to choose now."

Zhao Ti's lips twitched, and he strode out, heading straight for Zhao Xu's Funing Palace. He drank tea and chatted about everyday matters, without discussing military affairs, before returning to his residence.

The grand court assembly will begin in a few days.

This court assembly was different from the normal court assembly. All the prefectures and states had to send people. Some officials were in the capital to report on their duties, while most of the rest sent envoys to participate. All officials of all ranks in Tokyo had to attend.

The palace's Daqing Hall was so crowded that people lined up outside the hall.

This grand court assembly did not end in one day, but lasted for three days. The length of the assembly was not strictly regulated, but depended on the amount of matters to be discussed.

Some major festivals and celebrations, such as the coronation and investiture ceremony of a new emperor combined with a grand court assembly, often last for a longer period of time, with ceremonies and activities, including sacrifices, court ceremonies, banquets, and other events, taking several days.

The first day of the grand court assembly in the third year of the Shaosheng reign was spent handling government affairs, local political matters, and receiving congratulations. The second day, the topic shifted to military affairs.

They first discussed Longyou, since acquiring Longyou was already a significant achievement in expanding territory. After discussing it for a while, the second half of the day focused on the frequent incursions of the Western Xia into the border, harassing and slaughtering the people, and plundering their wealth and food. They decided to send troops to punish them, and all the ministers applauded in their approval.

Then on the third day, Zhao Xu immediately announced that he would personally lead the army to fight the enemy. The Daqing Hall fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

The ministers of the two prefectures, Zhang Dun, Cai Bian, and Zeng Bu, remained silent, clearly indicating that Zhao Xu had previously discussed the matter of the emperor's arrival and personal campaign with them, and all preparations had been made. This was merely a formality to announce it.

The Six Ministries, along with the Vice Minister of the Privy Council and others, although they did not personally participate in discussing such secrets, had heard some rumors and were prepared, so they remained silent.

Only the Censorate was outside and had never known about this matter. The head of the Censorate was the Vice Censor-in-Chief. Before the Yuanfeng reforms, the Grand Censor was the nominal highest-ranking official of the Censorate, but he was usually not actually appointed and was only given to other officials as an honorary title.

After the Yuanfeng Reforms, the position of Grand Censor was abolished, and the Vice Censor-in-Chief became the de facto head of the Censorate, in charge of all affairs of the Censorate, supervising all officials and maintaining discipline.

At this moment, the Imperial Censor Huang Lü's expression changed drastically. Seeing that no one spoke, he stepped forward with his ceremonial tablet in hand and said loudly, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable!"

Zhao Xu glanced at him from the dragon throne and said, "Minister Huang, why can't you speak?"

Huang Lu glanced at the crowd and saw that no one came forward to support him. The ministers and officials were either expressionless or deep in thought with furrowed brows. He immediately said, "Your Majesty must have been misled by treacherous officials to have this idea. How can Your Majesty leave the capital to go to the enemy's territory? There are many dangers there. Your Majesty is of noble health and must not take such a risk."

Zhao Xu said unhappily, “Since the founding of the Song Dynasty by Emperor Taizu, we have pacified the Northern Han, destroyed the Southern Tang, conquered the Later Shu, quelled the Southern Han, swept through Jingnan, eliminated Wuping, and annexed Wuyue, ending the chaotic period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. How could we not have military achievements? Although Emperor Taizu received the throne from the Later Zhou, he fought hard to conquer all the places afterward, and he personally led most of them. If we had not taken risks, where would we have the peaceful and prosperous era of four hundred military prefectures?”

Huang Lü was taken aback when he heard him mention the Later Zhou dynasty. This was a major taboo, something that was never discussed in the imperial court. He hadn't expected the other party to bring it up.

He immediately retorted angrily, "Your Majesty, founding the country is founding the country, and now is now. When the founding emperor established the country, he used a single golden staff with a coiled dragon to defeat four hundred prefectures. How can Your Majesty compare to him now? The founding emperor was a master of martial arts, a military man, and his archery and horsemanship were extraordinary. He could protect himself in danger. Can Your Majesty compare to him?"

Zhao Xu sneered, "In the chaotic world of the Five Dynasties, once the clouds parted and the sky returned, both Emperor Taizong and Emperor Zhenzong personally led military campaigns. Emperor Taizong goes without saying, but could Emperor Zhenzong's martial arts compare to Emperor Taizu's? Could he really protect himself?"

Huang Lü found it increasingly absurd. Didn't you know how Emperor Zhenzong personally led the expedition? Did he go willingly? He didn't want to go, but you, on the contrary, held a grand court assembly and volunteered to go.

There were still some court officials in the hall, who were trying to find the right words to persuade Zhao Xu about this matter. But when they saw that the Later Zhou Dynasty had been mentioned and that Emperor Taizong and Emperor Zhenzong had personally led the expedition, their expressions changed and they immediately gave up the idea.

"Your Majesty, how can they be the same? They are completely different things." Huang Lü thought to himself. Even if those two personally led the expedition, they still couldn't win. The lessons of the past are right there. Do you think you can win just by personally leading the expedition?
Zhao Xu asked, "What's the difference?"

Huang Lu's beard trembled. It was not appropriate to say that even if the emperor personally led the expedition, victory was not guaranteed. To say such a thing would not be advice, but rather an act of defiance against the court.

He said, “It is different. When Emperor Taizong personally led the expedition, the Crown Prince was in charge of the country. Moreover, Emperor Taizong was already in his forties at that time. Your Majesty is just over twenty years old and has no heir. Therefore, it is important to stay in the capital to preside over the government and ensure the continuation of the imperial line.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu slowly said, "What about Emperor Zhenzong? If I remember correctly, Emperor Zhenzong did not have any children when he personally led the expedition. At that time, he was the Prefect of Kaifeng and Prince Yong, who was in charge of the country and appointed as the Governor of Tokyo."

"This..." Huang Lü was speechless. When Emperor Zhenzong personally led the expedition to Chanzhou, he indeed had no children, let alone a crown prince overseeing the country.

At that time, Emperor Zhenzong's eldest son, Zhao Ti, had passed away, and his second son, Zhao You, had also died the year before. His third, fourth, and fifth sons had not yet been born, and the only surviving son, Emperor Renzong Zhao Zhen, was born six years after he personally led the expedition.

At that time, Prince Yong, Zhao Yuanfen, was appointed as regent and left to govern. Zhao Yuanfen, originally named Zhao Deyan, was the fourth son of Emperor Taizong and served as the Prefect of Kaifeng. Moreover, he was the biological grandfather of Emperor Yingzong and the great-great-grandfather of Zhao Xu. The current imperial lineage was from Zhao Yuanfen's lineage. "But Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Huang Lü was at a loss for words. He said it was dangerous, but the other party wouldn't listen. He said it was rare for the emperor to personally lead an expedition. The other party cited Emperor Taizong and Emperor Zhenzong as examples, saying that there was no crown prince to oversee the country. The other party said that his own great-great-grandfather had overseen the country when he was the regent, but he was not the crown prince. So, if that's the case, who do you want to appoint as regent?

Zhao Xu then said from above, "Minister Huang, there's no need to say more, and the other ministers need not try to persuade me. I have already discussed this matter with the other ministers, and the Western Army has already sent a secret decree. My personal expedition cannot be changed. As for the matter of overseeing the country... Prince Yan."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti sighed inwardly. He had originally considered making a trip to Western Xia himself if all else failed, even if it was tiring. He never expected that his sixth brother would insist on going in person, but instead left him with an even more arduous task: overseeing the country. Is overseeing a country so easy? Overseeing the country is no easier than going on a campaign, and there is no freedom involved.

He stepped forward and greeted the emperor with a salute: "Your Majesty."

Zhao Xu looked at him from above for a few moments: "Prince of Yan, since I am going on a western expedition, you should stay behind to oversee the country."

Zhao Ti said, "Your subject... obeys the decree."

At this moment, everyone in the hall looked at Zhao Ti. When Emperor Zhenzong had no heir, he led a northern expedition against the Liao Kingdom, leaving his younger brother, Prince Yong, Zhao Yuanfen, to oversee the country. In fact, his intention was already very clear: if he could not return, Zhao Yuanfen would inherit the throne.

Zhao Xu said, "Prince Yan, I hereby appoint you as the Prefect of Kaifeng and the Garrison Commander of Dongjing, in charge of all political and military affairs, awaiting my triumphant return."

At this time, Kaifeng Prefecture had a Prefect, who was called the Acting Prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture. However, the nominal head of Kaifeng Prefecture was the Prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture. But since Emperor Taizong, the Prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture was mostly appointed as the Prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture. The Prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture was a nominal position held by the royal family to show that they controlled the capital region.

Zhao Tili replied, "Your subject... will certainly perform his duties diligently and wholeheartedly, and will not dare to be negligent in the slightest."

"Alright." Zhao Xu nodded slightly on the dragon throne, looking relaxed.

At this moment, Zhao Ti suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, if something happens in the north and I have no choice but to go out, then who in the court can take responsibility?"

The ministers were all taken aback by these words. Why would the regent speak out of necessity? What could possibly happen in the north? But then they thought of the Liao Dynasty. The Liao and Western Xia had always been in dire straits, and their expressions changed drastically.

Zhao Xu smiled and said, "I have already considered this. If, by any chance, something happens in the north and the Prince of Yan wants to make a move, then Prime Minister Zhang will take over the administration."

If Zhao Ti had no choice but to leave, then Chancellor Zhang Dun would temporarily take charge of the affairs of state. This was not unexpected. Chancellors taking charge of state affairs was not uncommon in history. However, this was just a precautionary measure. Under normal circumstances, the Prince of Yan would not leave the capital again.

Zhang Dun stepped forward and saluted. Zhao Xu then said, "Now that the order has been decided, there will be no more discussion or back-and-forth. I will only discuss military matters."

Then he began to issue various orders for the logistics and supplies of the six ministries. With the emperor personally leading the expedition, who would dare to be negligent? The ministers of each ministry stepped forward one after another, each with a solemn expression.

Normally, there are three types of supplies during a military march. One type is to replenish supplies on the spot where the enemy is fighting, by burning, killing, and looting to provide for military needs. This is not common in general, but is more common in chaotic times, and is used by light cavalry to penetrate deep into enemy territory.

The remaining two types are local logistical support and central government support. When the scale of the war is ordinary, local support is usually provided directly, and the imperial court will allocate additional funds.

However, when the scale of the war is large, the local areas are simply unable to supply the full amount, so the imperial court will directly send various things over, such as food, armor, and weapons. But often the various departments are slow to operate, which is why there are often shortages of food and fodder, or damaged equipment that cannot be replaced.

With the emperor personally leading the expedition, the six ministries dared not slacken their efforts. At this moment, the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries all spoke up, almost as if they were about to sign a pledge.

Then they continued to discuss military matters, and issued an edict to all the transport offices, especially the special transport commissioners, emphasizing the importance of this war and that no effort should be made to neglect the transportation of various supplies to the capital or directly to the west.

The discussion lasted until dark before it ended. Although the grand court assembly was over, Zhao Xu did not call some of the court officials away, but continued to discuss matters in the imperial study.

It was almost midnight when Zhao Ti returned to his palace. Zhao Xu's departure for the expedition was scheduled very hastily; he was to leave the capital in three days.

In addition to the two vice ministers, the Privy Councilor Zeng Bu also accompanied the entourage. Thirty percent of the military officials of the seventh rank and above were taken away, but the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries were left behind, and one official from each ministry was taken away. The remaining officials from the nine temples and five directorates were also taken away.

Some of these officials were entirely civil servants, whose duties had nothing to do with warfare. They were in charge of people's livelihood, education, and agriculture. This was already a plan for the succession after the destruction of the Western Xia.

In addition, 30,000 imperial guards from the capital region were taken away to protect the emperor, while the remaining troops came from the five northwest routes and the Hedong route. The three major general families in the northwest—Zhe, Zhong, and Yao—along with dozens of other minor general families, all participated in the battle.

The number of troops mobilized reached nearly 500,000, and when local militia were included, the total number approached 700,000.

This is even more than when Emperor Shenzong launched the Five-Route Campaign against Xia. During the Five-Route Campaign against Xia, there were nearly 400,000 troops and 200,000 local militia, totaling no more than 600,000.

If we win this battle and destroy the barbarian Xia, our glory will last for eternity, and our name will be sung by future generations. The fate of the Song Dynasty will surely reach a new level and usher in a new era.

If this battle is lost... it will be difficult to recover for several years, unlike after Emperor Shenzong's five-pronged attack on Xia, when he could continue to recuperate. If this happens once, it will inevitably cause turmoil in the Northwest, and the impact on the fate of the nation is unpredictable.

Zhao Ti pondered the court again. With so many people gone, taking over the affairs of the court would be very difficult. Not only were there political affairs, but also logistical support in the Northwest. Moreover, the Privy Council was without a chief official, the Palace Guard was without a chief official, and there were also a lot of military affairs to deal with. Just thinking about it made his head spin.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and on the eve of the expedition, after discussing the matters of the personal expedition in the imperial study, all the ministers left. Zhao Xu kept Zhao Ti behind and said, "Prince of Yan, I am going west tomorrow, and I have something to tell you."

Zhao Ti asked, "What matter has Your Majesty entrusted to me?"

Zhao Xu's expression was strange, several different auras constantly shifting across his face. He said slowly, "I have left something in Fu Ning Palace. If this western expedition goes poorly and something goes wrong... Prince Yan can ask Tan Zhen to take it to see. Inside is my decree and important items related to the Song Dynasty's royal family. Once Prince Yan sees it, he will know the secrets within. If the pacification of Xia goes smoothly, then Prince Yan should not remember this matter, as remembering it will not be good for his conscience."

Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes upon hearing this: "Why does Your Majesty say such a thing? Your Majesty will surely achieve a great victory and return victorious from the Xia Dynasty. I have no desire to, nor will I, look at, that thing."

Zhao Xi smiled upon hearing this, a hint of melancholy on his face: "Actually, not watching is a good thing for Prince Yan, while watching is a bad thing. How fortunate it is to be as free and unrestrained as Prince Yan. After my father told me about this matter years ago, I deeply regretted it, fearing that I would be entangled for life. I wished I could escape from the palace and run far away, but I couldn't..."

Zhao Ti remained silent upon hearing this, wondering if it was about the Taizu Long Fist.

What secrets does this fist technique hold? It's missing the final move, yet emperors throughout history have gone to great lengths to deduce it. They say it's because of the power of the martial art, but that's impossible. As the supreme rulers, with the entire world at their fingertips, the power of martial arts wouldn't be that appealing. Besides, if they deduce it incorrectly, they would suffer backlash, deplete their qi and blood, and risk their lives. Why would they practice it for no reason?

What else could it be but the power of martial arts? Why did this Sixth Brother say he regretted it so much, fearing he would be entangled with it for life? This doesn't seem to have much to do with boxing techniques.

Zhao Ti said, "I would rather not know. I will wait for Your Majesty's return to celebrate the victory."

Zhao Xu sighed, "I would naturally like to do the same, but I'm just being thorough. Just remember this matter; consider it an imperial decree."

Zhao Ti remained silent for a few moments: "Your subject obeys the decree..."

After that, there were no further words. Zhao Ti left the palace and returned to his residence. The next morning, he went to the west gate of Tokyo to see off the expeditionary force.

Not only were all the court officials present, but many people from Tokyo also rushed over upon hearing the news. The Emperor was personally leading the expedition; what an important event! Everyone came to see him off.

As dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight streamed down, the Mansho Gate, one of the four gates of the western city of Tokyo, slowly opened, its heavy sound carrying far and wide.

The dragon banners fluttered in the wind, various slogans seemed endless, horns sounded deep and powerful, and war drums beat incessantly, their sound reverberating in all directions.

Tens of thousands of soldiers stood in neat formation, their banners surging like the sea. Red banners with black characters, Song Dynasty flags, and the generals' flags fluttered wildly in the wind. The soldiers wore armor of various ranks and held long spears and sharp blades, their cold light dazzling the eyes.

As orders were issued, the army set off in a mighty procession, the sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps mingling together. On both sides of the road, people saw them off, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Their voices shook the heavens.

Under the sunlight, the procession stretched westward like a magnificent dragon, slowly moving into the distance, and it took almost half an hour for it to disappear from sight.

Zhao Ti, along with the officials left behind by the court, stood outside the city, watching. The imperial expedition had been gone for a quarter of an hour, yet they remained motionless.

Zhang Dun, standing beside him, whispered, "Your Majesty, let's return to court."

Zhao Ti nodded, turned the Black Rose around, and headed back into the city.

(End of this chapter)