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

Chapter 291 The Great Disaster of 1240 Tests the True Colors of Zhao Shuo's Khanate!

Yao Shu can be considered a remarkable figure among the Chinese, possessing a clear understanding of both China and the Zhao Shuo Khanate. Although Kublai Khan was a Mongol and did not have Yao Shu's profound understanding of China, he readily accepted advice and dispelled any thoughts of exploiting Zhao Shuo's brutal killings for political gain.

However, some down-on-their-luck, pedantic literati in Jiangnan did not see it that way.

Fengle Tower, outside Yongjin Gate in Hangzhou, on the shore of West Lake.

Zhao Shuo disliked the name "Lin'an" as too unlucky, and has now restored the city to its original name, Hangzhou.

Fenglelou is the largest restaurant in Hangzhou.

"To lead beasts to devour men, is that not the act of a tyrant?"

"His cruelty towards Fusang surpasses even that of Jie and Zhou of the Xia and Shang dynasties!"

"No wonder he never declared himself emperor; he must have known he wasn't worthy!"

……

In a private room on the third floor, four former Southern Song officials dressed in blue robes were drinking and talking in hushed tones.

These four people are: Bie Zhijie, the former prefect of Taiping Prefecture in the Song Dynasty; Zheng Cai, the Imperial Censor; Wang Boda, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; and Dai Qingke, the Right Grand Counselor.

Bie Zhijie is the eldest, and he is sixty years old this year.

Dai Qingke is the youngest, at thirty-nine years old this year.

If the State of Song still existed, given their age and official positions, they would likely have become prime ministers in the future.

Even if one cannot become a prime minister, wouldn't it be better to enjoy high office and generous salary in the State of Song?
However, Zhao Shuo led his army to attack. They felt that Zhao Yun had no future and refused to follow him. They also resented Zhao Shuo for taking their land and privileges and were unwilling to go to the west to make a name for themselves.

So he stayed in Hangzhou, this bustling metropolis, to enjoy life and make a living by collecting rent from the shops he had previously bought.

This kind of life is, in theory, much better than that of ordinary people.

But compared to the past, it was like heaven and earth. These four men inevitably harbored resentment and often gathered to discuss state affairs. They nitpicked and ridiculed the various missteps of Zhao Shuo's Khanate.

In their view, it was a grave sin for Zhao Shuo not to respectfully invite such a "great sage" as himself to serve as an official.

They were especially hoping that Zhao Shuo would come to bad luck!

When Zhao Shuo issued the "Decree to Annihilate the Japanese Pirates" and decided to send troops to Japan, they thought that the vast ocean was not easy to conquer.

They even compared Zhao Shuo's expedition across the sea to Japan with Emperor Wen of Sui's expedition to Goguryeo, saying that it was better if it was all in vain, as probably less than one in ten would return.

Bie Zhijie even considered publishing an article in a Hangzhou newspaper to express this viewpoint.

There's no need to worry about retaliation from the government.

With a concern for the country and its people, he offered advice to the court, urging it to act cautiously and not to easily wage war. Was there anything wrong with that?
A nation, however large, will perish if it is fond of war.

War is a matter of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road to survival or ruin; therefore, it is imperative to examine it carefully!

However, for a newspaper to sell, it has to publish what people want to read. Who wants to read such discouraging words? No newspaper would be willing to publish it for him.

Later, the Zhao Shuo Khanate implemented media control, so publishing became even more out of the question.

Bie Zhijie was furious.

Later, Zhao Shuo's expedition to Japan ended, and the various processes and results were published in major newspapers.

Bie Zhijie was initially secretly glad that he hadn't published that article, otherwise he would have been embarrassed now.

However, the public's reaction that followed was simply unacceptable to him.

Firstly, the price of sulfur plummeted. Besides being used in gunpowder, sulfur also has medicinal uses, treating skin diseases. It can be used in workshops for preservation and bleaching.

As large quantities of sulfur were transported from Japan to China, the prices of sulfur in pharmacies and various fireworks plummeted.

How could people not be happy when there are cheap things to buy?
Secondly, with the news of Japan's huge gold and silver reserves, not only did bills of exchange begin to circulate on a large scale, but merchants and workshop owners were also greatly encouraged, and the market in Hangzhou became increasingly prosperous.

It's a very simple principle; the cash shortage problem has been almost completely solved.

Throughout history, severe damage to productivity has led to soaring prices. However, if productivity is high but there is a shortage of currency, a money shortage will occur. Without a general equivalent, goods cannot be sold even at lower prices, resulting in losses.

For example, during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty, a money shortage occurred. To alleviate the shortage, the court ordered that no one should accumulate brocade. Brocade could be used as currency at that time. If wealthy families accumulated too much brocade, wouldn't that exacerbate the money shortage? The infamous cruel official Hou Sizhi was beheaded for privately hoarding brocade.

In fact, the Southern Song Dynasty was economically developed and already faced a "money shortage" problem.

The Southern Song court issued an edict strictly prohibiting the export of copper coins abroad.

The reason is simple: Song Dynasty didn't have enough copper coins, while foreign countries needed a lot of Song Dynasty copper coins. Why not prohibit the circulation of copper coins abroad?

As the saying goes: "Copper coins are forbidden from leaving the country, and it is said that they are allowed to circulate freely along the borders without being checked. From now on, those who pay less than five strings of cash will be punished according to their crimes; those who pay more than five strings of cash will be sentenced to death."

In other words, anyone who smuggles more than five strings of copper coins abroad will be sentenced to death!

Would the Southern Song court have issued such a decree if it hadn't been driven to desperation?
It is fair to say that the problem of money shortage has consistently constrained the continued development of the Southern Song Dynasty's economy.

The Zhao Shuo Khanate is now increasingly prosperous, and it can still sustain itself with the gold, silver, and copper plundered from the West, so this decree has been abolished.

Who knows how long the gold, silver, and copper of the Zhao Shuo Khanate can last?
Merchants and workshop owners were somewhat apprehensive and had considerable doubts about expanding production.

Now that the Zhao Shuo Khanate has such huge reserves of gold, silver and copper, how could it possibly experience a money shortage?
Even if gold, silver and copper cannot be mined out for the time being, the imperial court can use the mines as reserves to issue paper money, which merchants would be happy to see!

People weren't unwilling to accept paper money; they were just afraid that the government would over-issue it.

Although the common people did not understand these principles, they clearly felt that there were more and more places in Hangzhou that needed manpower.

As long as you have hands and feet, you won't have to worry about not having food to eat!
As long as you're willing to work hard, you won't have to worry about not having a good life!

Oh, and women too.

If you can't afford a Han woman, you can buy a Japanese woman! Every soldier in the Eastern Expedition received three young Japanese women.

Many of them were sold immediately after returning to China.

After all, the Han army was short of women. Suddenly having three more women in the house would be difficult to manage. Besides, there was also the matter of the shrewish wife from Hedong.

For ordinary people, a simple life with a wife, children, and a warm bed is all they need!
In addition, Zhao Shuo abolished the exorbitant taxes and levies of the Southern Song Dynasty and exempted half of the corvée labor in Jiangnan for one year...

The people of Hangzhou could never have imagined such a life before, and they constantly praised Zhao Shuo.

Thirdly, and what Bie Zhijie and others find most unacceptable, there is a heated discussion in the newspapers recently: the world will enjoy peace for at least a hundred years, or even forever!

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Huaxia people were invaded by the northern nomadic tribes.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, the Xiongnu rose to power.

Later, the Northern Wei Dynasty faced the Rouran, and the Tang Dynasty faced the Turks and Khitans. It seemed that enemies in the north kept emerging and could not be eliminated.

why?
People now understand.

The grasslands of northern China are connected to the Kipchak Steppe in the west. Killing one group only leads to more migrating from the Kipchak Steppe. It's an endless cycle of extermination. But now, Zhao Shuo, together with the Mongols, has completely controlled the Kipchak Steppe, and the northern threat has vanished.

The Mongol and Han peoples are closely connected; even the Mongolian script, which Zhao Shuo helped create, bears the imprint of Chinese characters. Today, many Mongolians speak Mandarin, understand Han characters, and wear Han clothing. Similarly, many Han people speak Mongolian, understand Mongolian characters, and appreciate Mongolian attire. Over time, even if the two ethnic groups cannot become one, they will remain connected by blood.

Zhao Shuo committed numerous atrocities in Japan, significantly reducing its population. In the West, Zhao Shuo implemented a similar strategy, reducing the local population and influencing Han Chinese migration to alter the local demographic balance.
What's so difficult about a century of peace and tranquility?
Even if China's fortunes decline one day, most of the world's territory will likely have become the homeland of the Han and Mongols. Even if another great war breaks out, internal strife will surely result in far fewer deaths than fighting against foreign tribes.

Such discussions further enhanced Zhao Shuo's reputation!

Seeing the growing prestige of the imperial court and Zhao Shuo, the four of them, as disillusioned individuals abandoned by the new era, naturally became increasingly depressed.

Since Zhao Shuo cannot be attacked from other angles, one can only say that he is cruel and ruthless, and has killed too many people.

However, only Bie Zhijie, Zheng Cai, and Dai Qingke spoke today.

Wang Boda just kept drinking without saying a word, seemingly lost in thought.

"Ok?"

Bie Zhijie said, "Brother Wang, what's wrong with you today? Why haven't you said a word? Do you think, like those common people, that Zhao Shuo's massacre in Fusang was justified? Humph, I've only ever heard of welcoming the royal army with food and drink, but I've never heard of slaughtering women and children wherever the royal army goes!"

"That's not it."

Wang Boda looked at the three men and then said seriously, "Do you believe in the interaction between Heaven and man? When a ruler is virtuous, the world is at peace and the weather is favorable. When a ruler is immoral, Heaven sends down calamities and the people are displaced."

Bie Zhijie said, "Of course we..."

He meant to say "I don't believe it," but he immediately swallowed his words.

For Confucian scholars, it is still necessary to outwardly appear to believe in this.

It wasn't out of superstition, but rather to use this to restrain the monarch.

The monarch theoretically has unlimited power, so how did the Confucian scholars restrain him? They promoted the concept of the interaction between Heaven and humanity.

For example, if the king's mother falls ill, or if a major disaster strikes a certain place, the king can claim that it is a problem with his moral character and use this opportunity to achieve his own political goals.

As a seasoned veteran of the Song Dynasty's officialdom, Bie Zhijie naturally had a very clear understanding of this.

However, upon further reflection, he realized that Wang Boda wouldn't ask this question without a reason; there must be something behind it.

Moreover, Wang Boda is no ordinary person; he is very capable.

Twenty-three years ago, famine struck the prefectures of Taizhou, Quzhou, Wuzhou, Raozhou, and Xinzhou in Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces.

At that time, Wang Boda was appointed as the prefect of Linjiang Army while serving as the director of the Imperial Academy. In order to ensure that the relief funds and grain were delivered to the disaster victims, he specially established the Famine Relief Bureau, hired knowledgeable people, studied ancient and modern relief methods, cleaned up the household registration, and classified the disaster level with red, yellow, black and white as the marks. The disaster level was then posted publicly, which made the relief work both fast and effective, saving the lives of many disaster victims.

The disaster victims, grateful for his virtue, composed a folk song that went: "Red, yellow, black, white rings, A, B, C, D households. If it weren't for Wang Zhijun, countless people would have starved to death." Thirteen shrines were built in his honor to commemorate Wang Boda.

Immediately, Bie Zhijie had a sudden thought and said, "You mean, we can take advantage of this year's drought? We can spread the rumor that it's because Zhao Shuo killed too many people in Japan?"

Since the beginning of this year, Zhejiang and Fujian have experienced drought and little rain, resulting in large-scale crop failures of summer grain.

However, due to the implementation of the equal-field system, the people had some savings, and the government also transferred some grain from the north, so there was no major upheaval in society.

Even grain merchants are too lazy to hoard and speculate.

Besides, natural disasters happen every few years or even every ten years or so, and people are used to it.

Wang Boda shook his head slightly and said, "What is this drought now? The government can provide as much assistance as it needs. Even if a hundred or two hundred people starve to death, what does it matter?"

Dai Qingke said, "So what you mean is..."

Wang Bodao said, "What we're seeing now is just a minor disaster, but major disasters follow a pattern, occurring roughly every thirty or forty years. Considering the current harvest, it's about time. Think about it, it's summer now, and this drought shows no signs of abating. What if this drought were a major disaster, not only continuing but also expanding in scope?"

"And most importantly, a prolonged drought is bound to be followed by locust plagues. What if a locust plague and a drought come together? What if Fujian and Zhejiang suffer complete crop failures, and other places also suffer greatly? Wouldn't Zhao Shuo be overwhelmed with worry, and wouldn't the people be filled with resentment?"

Snapped!
Upon hearing this, Zheng Cai slammed his fist on the table in excitement and said, "And there's more! In order to conquer Fusang, Zhao Shuo transferred a large amount of grain from Jiangnan. I'm afraid the government's reserves for disaster relief are running low! If there really is a major disaster, and this is linked to his excessive killings in Fusang, I wonder where he'll put his face! If famine strikes and people attack cities and seize territories, that would be even better!"

Wang Bodao said, "Regardless of whether there is a drought in the second half of the year, we should be prepared! I'll open a grain shop and stock up on rice! When the time comes, not only will I be able to watch Zhao Shuo make a fool of himself, but I can also make a fortune!"

“I already have two grain shops, and I do the same thing,” Zheng Cai chimed in.

Dai Qingke said, "Besides opening a grain shop, I also want to write letters to relatives and friends to stock up on grain together! Anyway, I won't lose much money, but if I gamble right, I can make a fortune."

"Ok, deal!"

Wang Boda sneered, "Can Zhao Shuo seize the world on horseback and govern it on horseback? He established a new dynasty but doesn't need us. This time, he might suffer a great loss!"

Bie Zhijie chimed in, "That's exactly right! Zhao Shuo conquered Japan and got money, but he can't turn it into food. Let's see what he does this time."

……

……

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace of Zhongdu City.

"Actually, there were signs of drought in Fujian and Zhejiang last year and the year before, as well as small-scale locust plagues. It's just that Father implemented the equal-field system and reduced the heavy taxes in Jiangnan, so the people felt that life was better than before."

"We cannot take the drought in Fujian and Zhejiang this year lightly!"

Zhao He reminded him with a serious expression.

In the first half of this year, Zhao Shuo was still in Japan. Zhao He was in charge of the drought relief efforts in Zhejiang and Fujian.

After all, Wang Boda and the others were only hearing rumors from Hangzhou.

The disaster situation in Zhejiang and Fujian is much more serious than they realized.

However, Zhao He and Yelü Chucai handled the situation well, provided timely disaster relief, and distributed enough grain seeds, causing almost everyone to underestimate the power of the drought in the first half of the year.

Zhao Shuo wasn't a historian before he traveled through time, so he wasn't sure whether the disaster this year would continue to worsen.

In fact, according to historical records, the drought in the first half of this year alone was enough to overwhelm the Southern Song court, and Zhao Yun issued an edict of self-reproach.

The disaster situation was even more severe in the second half of the year.

In Lin'an, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, "the hungry snatched food from the roadside, thieves kidnapped and sold people for profit from hidden places, and people were killed in the market to sell." "Before dusk, there were no pedestrians on the road."

If Lin'an is in such a state, one can only imagine the devastation in other places.

However, it's always better to be prepared.

Zhao Shuo had already prepared for the worst.

He nodded slightly and said, "Our country is so big, over time, it's almost inevitable that large-scale natural disasters will occur."

"However, there is no need to worry too much. Yu the Great's flood control is one of the foundations of China. If the court handles major disasters properly, it will not only not diminish the court's prestige, but will also enhance the country's cohesion."

"If a rare and devastating disaster does indeed occur this year, then let's face it calmly. It's a good opportunity to test the strength of the imperial court and let the world see the true worth of the empire I've built!"

(End of this chapter)