Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 244 Zhao Shuo is so vicious, giving money to the people!
Ten days later, in the Lianghuai region, in Luzhou City.

The Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty, Qiao Xingjian, the Military Commissioner of Lianghuai, Zhao Fan, the Military Commissioner of Huaixi, Zhao Kui, and the Military Commissioner of Huaidong, Du Gao, gathered together to discuss the future of Lianghuai.

"King Zhao Shuo issued a 'Letter to the People and Soldiers of Jiangnan,' saying that Meng Gong's mother had been murdered by the court, and that Meng Gong had resolutely turned against the regime and abandoned the darkness for the light. He advised the generals of the Song Dynasty not to forget the lessons of Yue Fei and Meng Gong, and to continue to serve the Song Dynasty."

"The imperial court also issued an edict to support the emperor, saying that Meng Gong was cowardly and plotted a rebellion. Wei Liaoweng then acted decisively and killed his mother. Now, because of Meng Gong's surrender, Zhao Shuo's troops have crossed the Yangtze River and captured Ezhou. The imperial court is in imminent danger and is calling on the people to support the emperor."

"We military officers are not well-educated and do not know what is going on. We beg Lord Qiao to enlighten us."

Zhao Fan then laid out a long and rambling speech that he had prepared beforehand, and showed it to Qiao Xingjian.

“Yes! We rough men have no idea what happened in Xiangyang! Now that things have come to this, what should we, the generals of Lianghuai, do?” Zhao Kui quickly chimed in.

If possible, Qiao Xingjian really wanted to slap Zhao Fan and Zhao Kui both across the face.

What military general is not well-read?
Your father, Zhao Fang, was not only a renowned general in Jinghu, but also a grand master of Neo-Confucianism. With such a distinguished family background, how could you two be anything less than accomplished?

Zhao Kui, in particular, was renowned throughout the world for his mastery of both calligraphy and painting.

Now, which of you two hasn't been granted the title of Jinshi by the imperial court?

At this point, why pretend to be a boor?
Oh, so the Song Dynasty ruled with scholar-officials, and you two demanded the imperial examination degree. But Zhao Shuo ruled with military men, and you two became uncultured bumpkins, right?
Furthermore, if you were truly loyal subjects of the Song Dynasty, how could you not believe the court's words but instead believe the enemy's? And why are you even putting this matter on the table for discussion?

No need to ask, you two have already harbored rebellious intentions!

Of course, the handsome old man Qiao was, after all, a prime minister with the demeanor of one of the most outstanding figures in the Song Dynasty. Although he was furious inside, he remained outwardly calm.

"Ah……"

Qiao Xingjian chuckled lightly, neither confirming nor denying, and said, "I don't know the specifics of what happened in Xiangyang, so there's no need to discuss it further. But now that His Majesty has issued an edict to come to the aid of the emperor, what exactly do you, the Zhao brothers, as subjects of the Song Dynasty, intend to do?"

Zhao Fan said, “This is what I think. Both the Northern and Southern Emperors are surnamed Zhao, and when it comes to their blood relationship with Emperor Taizu, it’s hard to say who is closer and who is less so. Now, the struggle between Prince Zhao Shuo and His Majesty is, to put it bluntly, just like the struggle between Crown Prince Jiancheng and Prince Qin Li Shimin during the Tang Dynasty. We, the subjects, are truly in a difficult position!”

Zhao Kui shook his head and said, "Brother, you are mistaken! What's so difficult about this? If King Zhao Shuo's army comes, since we are paid by His Majesty, we might as well risk our lives to hold them off. But King Zhao Shuo is preparing to take Lin'an directly. Why should we rush into this mess? Back then, Li Jing didn't take sides between the Prince of Qin and the Crown Prince, but that didn't stop him from capturing Khan Jieli later!"

“That’s true. King Zhao Shuo is a man of great integrity and has a magnificent presence, perhaps even surpassing Emperor Taizong of Tang. If we don’t help either side, he shouldn’t blame us when he finally conquers the world.”

Qiao Xingjian almost laughed at the brothers' banter, and said, "If Meng Gong had stopped Zhao Shuo in Xiangyang, you would certainly be saying something different. Now that things have come to this, there's no point in saying more. I'll just ask you, if our Great Song Dynasty had won this time and defended Lin'an, how would you two have planned to conduct yourselves?"

Zhao Kui straightened his neck and said without hesitation, "If His Majesty is unwilling to forgive us, we will of course submit to any punishment we may receive!"

Judging from his expression, he seemed completely fearless and not worried about the possibility at all.

"Hmph! I'm afraid even if that day comes, you brothers won't be at the mercy of the court, but will instead surrender to Zhao Shuo!"

After Qiao Xingjian snorted coldly, he looked at Du Gao, the military commissioner of Huaidong, and said, "Du Gao, you are a civil official, aren't you? The imperial court has been supporting scholars for two hundred years, what do you have to say about that?"

Du Gao said, "Although I am a civil official, I once fought alongside King Zhao Shuo's Mongol army. Not only did the cooperation go smoothly, but I also have a deep understanding of the Mongol army's fighting strength. Prime Minister Qiao, listen to my advice, there is no chance! Even if all the elite troops of Lianghuai are dispatched, we cannot protect the court. Why should we let those Lianghuai men shed blood in vain for the Zhao family's affairs?"

"Okay, I see."

Qiao Xingjian pondered for a long time before saying, "What are you going to do with me? Are you planning to use me as a gift to King Zhao Shuo in the future?"

Zhao Fan shook his head and said, "I wouldn't dare. Master Qiao is overthinking it. If you wish to stay in Lianghuai, we would certainly welcome you. If you wish to return to Lin'an, we can also see you off."

Du Gao said, “The court originally had five prime ministers. Now that Prime Minister Wei is dead, and Prime Minister Zhen is far away in Sichuan, Prime Minister Shi fell ill with worry after hearing the news of Meng Gong’s rebellion and the fall of Jinghu. He is unable to attend to state affairs, leaving only Prime Minister Zheng to assist His Majesty. I am afraid that he cannot hold the line alone. If Prime Minister Qiao wants to return to Lin’an to assist His Majesty, it is only right.”

"So you want to send me out of the country politely? Fine!"

Qiao Xingjian stood up, sighed deeply, and said, "Confucius said to achieve benevolence, and Mencius said to uphold righteousness. At this critical moment for the nation, as the Prime Minister, I have no reason to shirk my duty. Though there may be thousands, I will go!"

The following day, Qiao Xingjian led 500 imperial guards and 36 attendants from Luzhou toward Lin'an, unable to transfer a single soldier from the Huai River region.

……

……

Sichuan, Chengdu, Sichuan Military Commissioner's Office.

"The imperial court has treated Commander Yu very well! You are neither a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) nor even forty years old, yet you have risen to the high position of Commissioner of Sichuan. Even if you cannot be called the most powerful official, you are not far off. Now that the imperial court is in danger, we cannot but send troops to its aid!"

Prime Minister Zhen Dexiu earnestly advised Yu Jie, the ambassador to Sichuan.

Jin De-soo is so disgusting these days.

In the Song Dynasty, civil officials were valued more than military officers, yet he, as prime minister, commanded troops in Sichuan. While he couldn't be said to have complete control over the army, he still exerted a significant influence on the Sichuan forces.

However, after news of the mess Wei Liaoweng had made reached Sichuan, Zhen Dexiu's prestige rapidly declined.

Yu Jie also began to be very wary of him.

Without Yu Jie's approval, Zhen Dexiu simply cannot mobilize the Sichuan army.

Not to mention what Wei Liaoweng did to Yu Jie.

Zhen Dexiu's only leverage in Sichuan right now is Cao Youwen, the defense commissioner of Meizhou.

Back then, Cao Youwen collaborated with Gui Huaruyuan, the former Sichuan governor, and mobilized the Sichuan army to prevent Zhao Shuo from using the route to attack the Jin dynasty.

As a result, Zhao Shuo taught them a lesson, not only ceding Hanzhong but also paying reparations and signing the most miserable tribute treaty in history.

After the war, Gui Ruyuan naturally bore the greatest responsibility and was dismissed from his post. However, Cao Youwen benefited from the misfortune and was recognized as a talented individual by Shi Miyuan, who then gave him an important position.

Cao Youwen's current duties are Meizhou Defense Commissioner and Left Valiant Guard General.

Today, Cao Youwen and Zhen Dexiu came to see Yu Jie and persuaded him to send his elite troops from Sichuan to defend the emperor in Lin'an.

Cao Youwen followed closely behind Zhen Dexiu and earnestly advised, "Yes! As the old saying goes, 'If you treat me as a national hero, I will repay you as a national hero.' The court has shown us immense kindness; how can we stand idly by in this time of crisis?"

Yu Jie smiled bitterly and said, "Not at all, you two have really misunderstood me! It's not that I don't want to save Lin'an, it's just that I can't!"

What do you mean by that?

"Our Sichuan forces are mostly infantry. If we march by land, by the time we reach Lin'an, the city will have already fallen. Wouldn't that be a pointless offense to King Zhao Shuo? If we advance by water, Zhao Shuo's inland river fleet, along with Meng Gong's Xiangyang fleet, has already cut off the Yangtze River. How can our Sichuan navy possibly be a match for them?"

Cao Youwen shook his head and said, "As far as I know, there are nearly 20,000 cavalry in Sichuan. Although it is not many, it can still alleviate the worries of the emperor and father."

"It's no use. Zhao Shuo's Eight Banners Han Army is all cavalry, and each soldier has at least three horses. What good can less than 20,000 cavalry do?"

Zhen Dexiu frowned, displeased, and said, "Whether these 20,000 cavalrymen are useful or not, we can't figure it out by just arguing here. How about this, you, Commander Yu, can stay in Sichuan and observe the outcome, while Cao Youwen and I will lead 20,000 cavalrymen to defend the emperor, what do you say?" Yu Jie was even more defiant, spreading his hands and saying, "It seems that you, General Zhen, believe that I, Yu, am a coward. Fine! Go ahead and ask those cavalrymen, whoever is willing to go with you can leave Sichuan to defend the emperor, I will not stop them."

This means that it's impossible for him to order troops to come to the aid of the king. However, he wouldn't stop any cavalrymen who are willing to follow Jin Dexiu and Cao Youwen.

Cao Youwen and Zhen Dexiu exchanged a glance, knowing this was the best outcome, and nodded, saying, "Very well. Sichuan has plenty of loyal and righteous men. As long as we explain the greater good to them, even if we can't get 20,000 cavalry, we can still get 10,000."

Yu Jie sneered, "I'm afraid even your ten thousand cavalry wouldn't be able to get it!"

As he spoke, he took a scroll of documents from the table and said, "Look, what is written on this?"

"what?"

Zhen Dexiu examined the scroll closely, and in the blink of an eye, a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He said, "How ruthless Zhao Shuo is! He actually gave money to the people!"

After taking the official document and glancing at it, Cao Youwen's expression changed drastically. He exclaimed, "The finest copper coins are being distributed to the poor! Zhao Shuo, this is an attempt to uproot our Great Song Dynasty!"

It turned out that this urgent document was sent by Yu Jie's spy in the Jinghu area.

After Zhao Shuo incorporated Meng Gong's Jinghu army, a significant problem arose before him.

It turns out that when Zhao Shuo fought against the Song Dynasty, he only captured prisoners. Not killing them was already a great act of kindness. How could he dare to negotiate with Zhao Shuo?
However, it goes without saying that Meng Gong surrendered voluntarily.

Meng Gong, acting on Zhao Shuo's orders, personally persuaded the people of Ezhou to surrender.

The officers and soldiers then asked, "Surrendering to King Zhao Shuo is of course no problem. However, since we are innocent, even if we dare not ask for rewards, we cannot afford to suffer significant losses, can we?"

How was the payment of currency issued to us by the Song Dynasty calculated?
Upon learning this, Zhao Shuo readily agreed to exchange the paper money currently in circulation in the Song Dynasty at the market price.

In other words, one string of coins (交子) could be exchanged for two hundred copper coins (文).

It wasn't just these soldiers; commoners with assets below fifty strings of cash could exchange their property for the full market value. Those with assets between fifty and five hundred strings could exchange it for 80% of the market value. Those with assets between five hundred and five thousand strings could exchange it for 50% of the market value.

Those with more than 5,000 strings of cash were uniformly exchanged for 1,000 strings of copper coins.

From now on, newly printed paper money of the Song Dynasty will not be redeemed, and the people should not accept it. Of course, given the current state of the Song Dynasty, it is impossible for it to issue new paper money—who among the merchants and common people would accept it!

In addition, Zhao Shuo encouraged informers to report on others. Anyone who concealed their family property or tried to exchange more copper coins in any way would be treated as a traitor, and all their family property would be confiscated and their entire clan would be exterminated!

The news was met with cheers from the Jinghu area.

The areas surrounding Jinghu were also in turmoil. This news will likely reach Sichuan very soon.

The Jiaozi (paper money) of the Song Dynasty were divided into two types: one was the national Jiaozi, which could only be issued outside of Sichuan; the other was the Sichuan Jiaozi, which could only circulate within the Sichuan region.

Originally, in the Song Dynasty, one string of Jiaozi could be exchanged for one string of cash.

However, by the time of the Kai Xi Northern Expedition, it could only be exchanged for seven or eight hundred coins.

When Shi Miyuan was in power, he worked hard to stabilize the value of the Jiaozi (paper money). In Lin'an, it was stabilized at around one Guanqian to six hundred Wen, while in other areas it was about three or four hundred Wen.

After Shi Miyuan's death, the value of Jiaozi (paper money) was depreciated again on a large scale. Now, one string of Jiaozi is worth about two hundred coins, and it is depreciating rapidly.

Sichuan Jiaozi (paper money) is in a worse state than the rest of the country. Now, one string of cash can't even be exchanged for one hundred coins, and it's depreciating even faster than Jiaozi nationwide!

"Have you all seen it clearly? Ever since King Zhao Shuo issued the 'Decree to Annihilate the Song Dynasty,' the imperial court has been unable to issue new paper money. If Zhao Shuo redeems these old paper money, the annihilation of the Song Dynasty will not only not harm ordinary people in the slightest, but will also bring countless benefits."

Yu Jie said with a wry smile, "Right now, countless people are eagerly awaiting King Zhao Shuo's army to reach their location! You must know, King Zhao Shuo exchanges paper money at the market price. Every day King Zhao Shuo's army arrives late, they lose money for a day!"

There were two more things he didn't say.

Zhao Shuo's acceptance of the paper money issued by the Song court further demonstrates that it is a matter of lineage. This struggle for the Song dynasty's throne is a Zhao family affair; what business is it of anyone else's?

The loyalty and righteousness of the Song Dynasty officials were even less inclined to resist.

There's something even more crucial.

Zhao Shuo has plundered countless amounts of gold and silver from the West, so he no longer needs paper money. However, Zhao Shuo's goal is undoubtedly to establish an unprecedentedly prosperous nation.

There will inevitably be times when gold, silver, and copper coins are insufficient, which is known as a "coin shortage."
Issuing paper money was imperative.

It's even quite possible that before long, Zhao Shuo will begin issuing his own paper money, or even directly exchange the new dynasty's paper money for Song dynasty paper money at a certain ratio. This way, he won't have to spend much real gold and silver, nor will he have to scramble to find a solution when he runs out of gold, silver, and copper coins.

If Zhao Shuo were to exchange the Song Dynasty's paper money for the new dynasty's paper money, wouldn't the credibility of the new dynasty's paper money be established?
Zhao Shuo was willing to exchange the paper money of the Song Dynasty, let alone the paper money of the new dynasty.

If Zhao Shuo were to collect seigniorage in the future, wouldn't that mean mountains of gold and seas of silver?

Of course, historical records show that when Kublai Khan destroyed the Southern Song Dynasty, the value of Jiaozi (paper money) was depreciated to one ten-thousandth of its original value. Kublai Khan exchanged all of them at the market price, which ensured the credibility of the Da Yuan Baochao (Great Yuan Treasure Notes) he issued. Da Yuan Baochao circulated throughout the country for thirty or forty years, giving Kublai Khan enough money to build great achievements. Later, due to excessive issuance, the Baochao became worthless again at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Yu Jie did not know about this.

All he knew was that if this "paper money" was used properly, it could be a gold mine or a sea of ​​silver. If used improperly, it would be used to oppress and exploit the people.

Cao Youwen and Zhen Dexiu were both outstanding figures of their time, and they both realized the terrifying nature of Zhao Shuo's move.

Cao Youwen pondered for a long time, gritted his teeth slightly, and said, "Even so, His Majesty has shown me the greatest kindness, and I cannot stand by and watch him die."

Zhen Dexiu also said with a sigh, "As the current prime minister, it is my duty."

"Then please make yourselves at home."

Having already gone this far, and with two fools still going to their deaths, Yu Jie didn't want to stop them.

Ten days later, outside Chengdu.

"More than two thousand cavalrymen! I never imagined that such a vast province as Sichuan could only muster a little over two thousand cavalrymen to relieve Lin'an. Is the Song Dynasty truly doomed?"

Cao Youwen looked at the more than two thousand cavalrymen in front of him, feeling extremely desolate.

The dilapidated house was further aggravated by a night of continuous rain.

Wow~~
With the sound of bells from a horse's jacket, a rider galloped in from afar, saying, "General Cao, something terrible has happened!"

"What happened?"

"The truth is that you left home in a great hurry today, and your horse stumbled and broke your leg. I'm afraid you won't be able to accompany you to Lin'an to defend the emperor!"

(End of this chapter)