I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 152 Zhao Gou, I am your father!
...

Zeng Bu and Zhang Jie inspected the grain depots and armories of Yongxing Army Road and Jingyuan Road. The results confirmed that Zhang Jie was still cautious. Although the grain and weapons here were not particularly abundant, they were enough to fight several major battles.

This relieved Zeng Bu and made him feel that they had made the right choice in appointing Zhang Jie as the commander-in-chief to recover Western Xia.

Subsequently, Zeng Bu went to Qinfeng Road, listened to You Shixiong's report at Fengxiang Prefecture, and personally inspected the military grain warehouse and armory of Qinfeng Road.

The war preparedness of Fengxiang Prefecture is also quite good, better than that of Fuyan Road and Huanqing Road.

Zeng Bu asked You Shixiong the reason, and You Shixiong said that he bought some grain from Xihe Road to fill the military food warehouse.

Zeng Bu eventually went to Xihe Road.

To Zeng Bu's utter surprise, the military grain depots in Xihe Road were full, and although the armory was not full, it still had more than the other five routes.

Zeng Bu asked Lü Huiqing, puzzled, "Jifu, why do you have so much money and grain here?"

Lü Huiqing laughed and said, "Thanks to His Majesty's wisdom, the Longyou Protectorate was completely recovered, which is why our Xihe Road has sufficient food and supplies."

Then, Lü Huiqing took the initiative to say, "If Your Majesty recovers Western Xia, I will not need the court's support in terms of money and grain. I can even share some with Qin Feng Road, so that the court will not have to allocate funds to my two routes, which would be time-consuming, laborious, and wasteful of resources for the people."

This is good news.

It should be understood that if grain were to be transported from Jiangnan to the six routes to the northwest, the transportation costs along the way could often amount to more than ten or even twenty shi of grain just to transport one shi of grain.

Transporting grain from the Jingxiang region to the six northwest routes was extremely costly.

Even the transportation of grain from Sichuan and Hedong to Shaanxi via the six routes resulted in significant losses along the way.

Therefore, being able to source food locally, especially to achieve self-sufficiency, is absolutely the most ideal outcome.

"Your Majesty's decision to send Jifu to Xihe Road is extremely wise," Zeng Bu said.

"It is not my achievement, but His Majesty's plan to eliminate the Tibetan nobles and chieftains. Otherwise, how could the Longyou Protectorate have given back to our Great Song? On the contrary, it is only natural," Lü Huiqing said sincerely.

Next, Lü Huiqing explained the situation of Xihe Road to Zeng Bu in detail.

According to Lü Huiqing:
Last year, the Longyou Protectorate had a bumper harvest. If the grain obtained was used solely to feed the people of the Longyou Protectorate, it would be enough to feed them for three years.

This year, the Longyou Protectorate is poised for another bumper harvest.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the entire Xihe Road area will no longer experience food shortages in the near future.

Furthermore, because the Silk Road inevitably passed through the Longyou Protectorate and the Xihe Road, commerce flourished there. They made a fortune just from the toll fees, filling their treasuries, and the people also profited considerably.

This made this place, especially the Longyou Protectorate, a bridge connecting the East and the West.

Now, the people of Longyou Protectorate, whether Han or non-Han, have all tasted the benefits of being governed by the Zhao Song Dynasty. They are afraid of being occupied by the Western Xia again, becoming slaves of the Western Xia, and regressing to a life of slavery. Therefore, they especially support the rule of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

In short, Lü Huiqing stated that apart from the lack of military equipment, which required time to prepare, he possessed all the necessary conditions to reclaim Western Xia. Moreover, if the Zhao Song Dynasty were to launch a war to reclaim Western Xia, he could provide at least 200,000 laborers.

Incidentally, it was precisely because he was clear about the situation in Xihe Road that Zhang Jie felt there was hope for the recovery of Western Xia, and thus agreed to the war to recover Western Xia.

It is worth mentioning that Lü Huiqing suggested that in the future, when recovering Western Xia, the successful model of the Longyou Protectorate could be replicated.

Although Zeng Bu believed that what Lü Huiqing said was definitely true, he still went to the Longyou Protectorate in person.

Upon seeing this, Zeng Bu realized that Lü Huiqing had been conservative in his assessment.

This land, once ravaged by war and eroded by sandstorms, now radiates unprecedented vitality. Golden waves of wheat ripple across the fields, heralding another bountiful harvest; people of all ethnicities toil in the fields, their faces beaming with satisfaction and happiness. In the villages, wisps of smoke rise from chimneys, a scene of peaceful tranquility.

Zeng Bu then arrived at the core area of ​​the Longyou Protectorate – formerly Qingtang City, now Xining City.

Here, the streets teem with merchants, a dazzling array of goods from both East and West, weaving together a vibrant tapestry of trade. The sounds of camel bells and horses' hooves filled the air as envoys and merchants from various countries paused, exchanging their cultures and products. It was as if the entire world had converged in this ancient city, witnessing together the prosperity and openness of the Song Dynasty.

The people of Xining, whether scholars in Hanfu or non-Han people in felt hats, all wore expressions of contentment and joy. They were either busy trading in the market or sitting in teahouses, enjoying the peace and prosperity brought by the peace. Children played and chased each other in the streets and alleys, their laughter echoing through the ancient city, adding endless vitality to this land.

Accompanied by Wang Hou, Zeng Bu strolled through the streets and alleys of Xining City, his heart filled with emotion. He said to Wang Hou, "The destruction of the nobles and powerful families of Tubo and the restoration of the Longyou Protectorate have truly opened up a new territory for our Great Song Dynasty, expanding our land by thousands of miles; it has also brought about a new era for this land, giving us a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for prosperity. From now on, the land will be abundant and the people will be prosperous, and all things will be revitalized."

Wang Hou exclaimed:

"Since I joined the army, I have long been exposed to the dangers of war. Looking back, the past was filled with the flames of war, and I never expected that I would be able to witness the changes in this land in my lifetime. In the past, Qinghai suffered repeated ravages of war, the people were impoverished, the people were displaced, and the dead starved to death everywhere."

Today's Xining is vastly different. Located at a crucial point on the Silk Road, it is a bustling metropolis with a constant stream of merchants and travelers. The markets are teeming with activity. People of different ethnicities live together, and Eastern and Western cultures blend here. Chinese and foreigners converge here, and all kinds of goods are sold in abundance. It is truly a prosperous metropolis.

Witnessing this scene, I deeply feel that it is a sign of the prosperity of our Great Song Dynasty and the well-being of our people. May our Great Song Dynasty enjoy eternal peace, and may this land always remain prosperous. I, your humble general, should also devote myself wholeheartedly to defending our country…

This trip to the Northwest convinced Zeng Bu, who had previously hesitated about recovering the Western Xia, to finally decide to support its recovery.

This can be considered as unifying the thinking on the recovery of Western Xia.

Of course, this excludes the conservative old guard in the court. They certainly wouldn't support launching a war against foreign powers.

With the major matter settled, Zeng Bu, along with Han Shizhong, whom he had been with since Fuyan Road, as well as relevant witnesses and evidence, went to the Jingzhao Prefecture to deal with Tong Guan's crime of negligence.

Previously, Tong Guan had followed Wang Hou in recovering the Qing Tang region. For his military achievements, Zhao Yu promoted Tong Guan to Jingfu Palace Envoy and Commander of Lizhou Prefecture, while still serving as the Inner East Gate Guard.

Later, Zhao Yu established the Shaanxi and Western Xia Pacification Commission and appointed Tong Guan as the judge of the Commission. Tong Guan was mainly responsible for handling specific documents and government affairs, providing decision-making references for the Pacification Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, and participating in the planning and execution of military and political affairs. His power was second only to Zhang Jie and Lü Huiqing, making him the number three person in the Pacification Commission.

Moreover, since Zhang Jie was stationed in Jingyuan Road for a long time, and Lü Huiqing was stationed in Xihe Road for a long time, Tong Guan, who was stationed in the Xuanfu Division, was, to some extent, the highest-ranking official of the Xuanfu Division.

It is not difficult to see from this that Zhao Yu placed great importance on Tong Guan.

However, shortly after Tong Guan took office, Han Shizhong made a mistake, leaving him with no way to deal with it.

The evidence is conclusive, and Tong Guan couldn't defend himself even if he wanted to.

Moreover, the fact that Zhao Yu sent Zeng Bu to handle this matter personally indicates that Zhao Yu is determined to pursue the matter, making it impossible for Tong Guan to conceal it.

Tong Guan was quite tough. Faced with overwhelming evidence, he simply said, "It was my poor eyesight that I did not expect there to be such a young hero as Han Shizhong in this world. Before he even came of age, he was already the bravest in the army and had made great contributions. Therefore, I have committed the crime of inspection, failed His Majesty's trust, and am ashamed of the Emperor's grace. I am willing to accept the punishment."

After saying this, Tong Guan kowtowed three times in the direction of Bianliang City, the capital of Tokyo, and then received twenty strokes of the military rod in front of everyone without uttering a sound.

Immediately, Zeng Bu, representing Zhao Yu, demoted Tong Guan from a second-rank official to a fourth-rank military commander; and promoted Han Shizhong, who had no rank, seven ranks to a ninth-rank official, Zhongxun Lang, making him a low-ranking military officer.

Following Zhao Yu's instructions, Zeng Bu informed the entire army of the outcome of the incident and called for similar cases to be investigated, so as to exonerate those who had been wronged and restore morale in the army.

To Zeng Bu's surprise, there were many similar cases in the Western Army. Some brave men were buried because of their humble origins, and some with outstanding achievements remained unknown because no one recommended them. Even worse, some warriors were wronged and their ambitions were thwarted because their superiors were greedy for credit.

In short, in the Western Army, without connections or recognition, it is very difficult to get promoted.

Zeng Bu reported the matter truthfully to Zhao Yu.

Emperor Zhao Yu was furious and ordered a thorough investigation into the matter, decreeing that whoever was involved should be severely punished.

As a result, most of the generals in the Western Army were demoted and fined copper coins. General Miao Lü, for example, was demoted nine ranks and fined 150 jin of copper coins.

Fortunately, Zhao Yu's actions this time were merely a warning to others. He allowed these people to temporarily assume their original positions to atone for their crimes, without actually punishing them severely, and it did not affect the overall combat effectiveness of the Western Army.

At the same time, a large number of outstanding soldiers like Han Shizhong, who had been overlooked, received the promotion opportunities they deserved.

Later, Zhao Yu simply established a special office in Jingzhao Prefecture to handle such cases, aiming to curb the influence of powerful military families within the Western Army and create more opportunities for ordinary soldiers without connections to advance. As the Privy Councilor, the third-ranking official in the Zhao Song Dynasty, Zeng Bu could not remain in the Northwest indefinitely.

After the autumn harvest was over and the six northwestern routes had generally reaped a bumper harvest, Zeng Bu returned to the capital to report to Zhao Yu.

After hearing Zeng Bu's report, Zhao Yu breathed a sigh of relief. The situation in the six routes of Shaanxi, especially the Xihe route, was far better than he had imagined. This further strengthened his determination to recover Western Xia.

Zhao Yu instructed Zhang Dun and Zeng Bu not to change Zhang Jie's plan to recover Western Xia, but to transfer grain and supplies to the six northwest routes as he requested.

As the saying goes, soldiers and horses move forward before food and grass are used.

If we want the soldiers at the front to recapture Western Xia, how can we do it without providing them with sufficient food and supplies?

Emperor Zhao Yu issued a special imperial edict, paying the laborers who escorted grain and supplies to the front lines one-third higher than the market price. His main idea was that a generous reward would surely attract brave men, ensuring that the grain and supplies were delivered to the front lines in full.

Officials and generals whom Zhang Jie deemed unsuitable were immediately replaced according to his wishes.

Finally, Zhao Yu granted Zhang Jie the power to make decisions on his own initiative, so that he would not have to submit memorials for instructions on every matter. Zhao Yu even delegated the power to wage war against Western Xia to Zhang Jie.

From Zhao Yu's decisive actions, it's clear that he deeply understood the governing principle of trusting those he employed and not employing those he didn't trust. He also knew that the battlefield was ever-changing, and if every decision required the monarch's approval, it would not only miss opportunities but also dampen the morale of the soldiers at the front. Therefore, he not only provided Zhang Jie with ample support but also completely freed the hands and feet of the most capable military strategist of the Northern Song Dynasty, allowing him to fully utilize his military talents.

At the same time, Zhao Yu ordered Zhang Dun and Zeng Bu to accelerate the construction of the Four Auxiliary Army, which must be completed this year and then rotated to the front lines next year for actual combat training.

After returning to the inner palace, Zhao Yu instructed Li Lin to accelerate the construction and recovery of the Shenji Army's combat strength, and at the same time prepare for sending the new army of the Four Auxiliary Army to the front lines next year for actual combat training...

……

Zhao Yu was a man who couldn't stay idle.

However, Jeong Hyeon-suk was pregnant and unable to accompany Jo Yu.

Therefore, during the time Zhao Yu stayed in Kunning Palace, Zheng Xiansu would arrange for someone to attend to him every night.

This benefited many women in Kunning Palace. The number of women who were favored in her palace soon surpassed that of the women in Zhang Chun Palace and Cai Xuan Palace.

Among the women in Kunning Palace who were favored by Zhao Yu was Lady Qiao, whom Zheng Xiansu valued highly.

It must be said that Qiao was not only beautiful, but also a stunning beauty, and more importantly, she was incredibly clever and quick-witted. No matter what skills Zhao Yu taught her, she could learn them instantly, making her a truly fascinating woman.

Historically, Lady Qiao bore seven sons for Emperor Huizong of Tang, making her the woman who gave birth to the most princes among all of Emperor Huizong's consorts.

For a man who wants a son, such a woman is a precious treasure.

Although Emperor Zhao Yu had many sons, he would never have thought he had too many. The New World was fifteen times the size of the current Song Dynasty; how could he govern it if he didn't have more sons?
Based on this, Lady Qiao was one of the few women whom Zhao Yu would repeatedly favor.

That night, Zhao Yu again had Yan Zhengyi, the palace official recommended by Qiao Shi and Zheng Xiansu, come to serve him in bed.

After the three fought for a round, Zhao Yu, who had entered a state of enlightenment, suddenly lost interest.

Yan Zhengyi, perhaps because she didn't want to serve the emperor but was forced to by Zheng Xiansu's orders, remained unsmiling, uncooperative, and neither cried nor made a sound throughout the entire process, leaving Zhao Yu feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Of course, this kind of solemnity also gave Zhao Yu a different experience.

After all, the dignified woman gave Zhao Yu a sense of being a teacher.

Therefore, Zhao Yu, who was seeking a variety of experiences, did not waste any words and had Yan Zhengyi also chiseled away.

However, because of Yan Zhengyi's "passive" attitude, Zhao Yu was neither willing nor in the mood to try again.

As for the Qiao family, Zhao Yu has been playing with them too often lately, so much so that they've lost their novelty.

So Zhao Yu prepared to go to sleep.

Seeing that Zhao Yu hadn't had enough fun, Lady Qiao whispered in his ear, "I have a close friend who is eight feet tall and extremely beautiful. Why don't I call her over so that you can have a look at her?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu immediately thought of Zhao Gou's mother, Lady Wei.

Historically, Lady Qiao was favored by Emperor Huizong of Tang and was made a Noble Consort. She recommended Lady Wei to Emperor Huizong according to the original agreement. Out of consideration for Lady Qiao, Emperor Huizong allowed Lady Wei to serve him in bed once. Lady Wei was thus favored and gave birth to Emperor Huizong of Tang.

During the Jingkang Incident, both Lady Qiao and Lady Wei were captured and taken to the north. Later, the Southern Song Dynasty negotiated peace with the Jin Dynasty, allowing Lady Wei to return south, but Lady Qiao was unable to go with her. Before Lady Wei left, Lady Qiao gave gold to Gao Ju'an, asking him to escort her back to Jiangnan, and sadly expressed that she would never return, eventually dying in the northern deserts. In reality, Lady Qiao wanted Lady Wei to rescue her and bring her back to the Southern Song Dynasty. However, after returning to the Southern Song Dynasty, Lady Wei did not attempt to rescue Lady Qiao.

It is not difficult to see from this that the Qiao family was actually much better than the Wei family.

Furthermore, Wei's image became even more tarnished because she failed to help Zhao Huan plead with Zhao Gou to rescue him, which led to her blindness, and because she plotted to kill Princess Roufu to silence her for the sake of her reputation.

But upon closer reflection, Lady Wei was also a victim of the tragedy of her time. Against a complex political and historical backdrop, her fate was filled with helplessness and turmoil. Her only grievances lay with Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji), Emperor Huan (Zhao Huan), and Emperor Gou (Zhao Gou), just as Lady Huarui wrote in her poem "On the Fall of a Kingdom": "The king raised the surrender flag atop the city walls; how could I, in the deep palace, have known? One hundred and forty thousand men laid down their arms; not one was a true man."

The key point is that Lady Wei was Zhao Gou's mother and also Zhao Ji's empress, which made her a tempting figure.

More importantly, the thought of becoming Zhao Gou's father filled Zhao Yu with a strange excitement.

"When that time comes, I'll beat you up eight times a day!!!"

Zhao Yu slapped Qiao's bottom and said, "You really are loyal, but does your friend deserve all this help?"

Madam Qiao quickly replied, "It's worth it! She's so good to me!"

Zhao Yu thought to himself, 'This silly girl... she's really innocent and adorable.'

At that moment, Zhao Yu decided that he would spend more time with Lady Qiao in the future, as this woman deserved more of his favor.

So Zhao Yu said to Qiao Shi, "Go and call her here."

Upon hearing this, Qiao, without even putting on her clothes, went to call Wei, her bottom bare.

At this moment, Lady Wei was actually lingering outside the door. She was waiting for Lady Qiao to recommend her to Zhao Yu.

Clearly, the Qiao family and the Wei family had already planned this day's events.

Qiao ran to the door and said to her maid Qingyao, "Quickly go and call Imperial Attendant Wei to come and serve you in bed!"

Zhao Yu smiled as he looked at Qiao Shi, who was enthusiastically introducing his friend.

What Zhao Yu and Qiao Shi didn't see was the fleeting look of annoyance on Yan Zhengyi's face.

It turned out that Yan Zhengyi wasn't unwilling to serve the emperor, but it was her first time, and she was too nervous and shy. Also, because she had been in the palace for so long, she had developed a dignified demeanor, which led Zhao Yu to misunderstand.

In fact, Yan Zhengyi also wanted Zhao Yu to have her seduce several more times so that she could become pregnant with the emperor's child and rise to prominence, instead of remaining a disliked palace lady.

Now, the chance to serve the emperor in bed is being given away by the Qiao family to others.

The key point is that the chances of getting pregnant on the first try are too small.

So, Yan Zhengyi gritted her teeth, suppressed her nervousness and shyness, and disregarded everything, flipped over and straddled Zhao Yu...

……

(End of this chapter)