I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 213 Harem Storm
...

Zhang Dun, Cai Bian, and Su Shi went to the Chuigong Hall with Zhao Yu, where Zhao Yu told them in detail how he, Zhang Chun, and Ye Shiyun had planned to promote the unified tax payment system for gentry and the integration of land tax and poll tax.

When Zhang Dun and the other two heard about the idea of ​​a stamp duty, their eyes lit up.

They never expected that Zhao Yu would come up with such a brilliant idea as the stamp tax, which could achieve great results with minimal effort.

Undoubtedly, this move will greatly reduce the difficulty for them in implementing the unified tax payment system for gentry and the land tax system.

Next, Zhao Yu proposed that the Longyou Protectorate be the first pilot area, and the newly recovered Ningxia, Qinghai, Gansu, Yundi Jiuzhou, and Yizhuo Erzhou be the second pilot areas.

Longyou was the first region recovered by the Zhao Song Dynasty, which had a very stable rule there. Moreover, the traditional gentry class in Longyou had been swiftly eliminated by the Zhao Song Dynasty. Although some new gentry classes were beginning to emerge in Longyou, their meager resistance was not a threat. What's more, Longyou had already passed its tax exemption period, making it a perfect testing ground for the integration of gentry and land tax into the land tax system.

Although the newly recovered Ningxia and other areas had their gentry class ruthlessly eliminated by the Zhao Song Dynasty, these areas currently have a one-year tax exemption period. Therefore, even if the policy of requiring gentry to pay taxes in the same way as the land tax and the poll tax were implemented in these areas now, it would be ineffective.

After a year, the tax exemption period in the newly recovered Ningxia and other areas will expire, which will be the perfect time to continue the pilot program in Longyou.

If we have three years of successful experimental experience, then we can promote the integration of gentry and commoners into the land tax system. We will have both successful experience and a reason to promote it. We can also use these three years to accumulate enough grain and money to cope with any risks.

Seeing that Zhao Yu had considered things so thoroughly, rather than acting impulsively and forcefully pushing for the gentry to pay taxes together and the land tax to be merged with the poll tax, Zhang Dun and the other two felt much more at ease.

Next, the emperor and his ministers began to discuss the specific implementation plan and improve the policy of integrating the gentry and officials into the land tax system...

……

Meanwhile, Yelü Nanxian, the royal daughters and members of the imperial clan of Western Xia, and the hundreds of beauties that Tong Guan had collected in Western Xia had already been sent to the harem.

Having given birth to a son with her third child and firmly securing her position as Empress, Zheng Xiansu did not personally greet and settle the Western Xia women. Instead, she entrusted the matter to Consort Wang Yisu, who led Guo Ting, Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Xiao Sese, and the three Khitan princesses to greet and settle the Western Xia women.

This doesn't mean that Zheng Xiansu had any thoughts about Zhao Yu having so many women.

When Zhao Yu returned in triumph from Yan last time, he had already brought back hundreds of Liao beauties.

Prior to this, when Lü Huiqing and his men had swept through Western Xia and besieged Xingqing Prefecture, Tong Guan had already sent over two hundred Western Xia beauties.

Furthermore, the Song Dynasty first recovered the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, then the Western Xia, and finally defeated the Liao Dynasty to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, making it famous throughout the Western Regions. This led many states in the Western Regions to pay tribute to the Song Dynasty, requesting to establish vassal states and trade with it. It is very likely that the Kingdom of Kucha set a bad precedent, as these small states in the Western Regions who came to pay tribute to the Song Dynasty offered beautiful women to Emperor Zhao Yu, and some even sent princesses to him for marriage alliances.

—Even the newly crowned king of Gaochang Uyghur, the current hegemon of the Western Regions, Bilege, married his own sister Ayinar to the Zhao Song Dynasty, and brought fifty beauties from the Western Regions as part of her dowry.

Now, Zhao Yu's harem already contains more than three thousand beauties.

In this situation, what difference would it make whether there were a few hundred more or fewer beauties, especially for Jeong Hyeon-su, who was not lacking in Zhao Yu's favor?

In Zheng Xiansu's view now, her most important tasks are twofold: first, to help Zhao Yu manage this very complicated harem, and second, to help Zhao Yu cultivate Zhao Shou as the crown prince.

As for showing off, let others have it.

Besides, the Western Xia dynasty was already gone. To put it bluntly, Yelü Nanxian and her group were spoils of war with no background whatsoever. Why would Empress Zheng Xiansu of the Zhao Song dynasty personally welcome them? Sending Wang Yisu with Guo Ting, Zhang Chun, and Li Lin to welcome and settle Yelü Nanxian and her group was already Zheng Xiansu's way of showing goodwill. Otherwise, it would have been enough for Zheng Xiansu to simply send Yelü Beixian to welcome and settle Yelü Nanxian and her group.

Thus, Wang Yisu and other women welcomed the Western Xia women, led by Yelü Nanxian.

Upon meeting, Wang Yisu and the other women immediately perceived four words in these Western Xia women: unruly and rebellious.

The Western Xia Dynasty had several instances of empress dowagers wielding absolute power.

For example, Empress Dowager Meizang. With the support of her brother Meizang Epang, Empress Dowager Meizang controlled the Western Xia court. She lived a life of extravagance and indulged in debauchery. In order to consolidate her position, she did not hesitate to use various means, even having affairs with ministers, completely disregarding traditional moral norms and court etiquette.

Then there were the two Empress Dowagers, Liang and Liang, who, in order to protect their own and their families' interests, constantly provoked wars with the Zhao Song Dynasty to divert domestic conflicts and consolidate their own rule. During their time in power, they were ruthless, suppressing dissent and firmly controlling the political situation of Western Xia.

Because of the presence of so many strong female politicians, Western Xia women had a tradition of participating in politics and even military activities. In the Western Xia army, there were specialized female units called "Ma Kui." These female soldiers displayed bravery and tenacity on the battlefield. They received rigorous military training just like their male counterparts, participated in various battles, and sometimes performed no less impressively than men.

In the social life of the Western Xia Dynasty, women also enjoyed a relatively high status and a certain degree of autonomy. They could participate in commercial activities, buying and selling in markets, and playing a role in the economic sphere just like men. At the same time, in family affairs, Western Xia women were not entirely subordinate; they could express their opinions on family matters and even play a key role in some family decisions.

Regarding marriage, although arranged marriages existed in Western Xia, women had a certain degree of opportunity to express their own wishes, unlike women in the Central Plains who were strictly bound by traditional etiquette. Furthermore, Western Xia women could even elope after marriage. If, after eloping for a while, they found their current husbands inferior to their former ones, they could return. Their former husbands were not allowed to reject them and had to continue living with them.

In short, due to their specific historical, cultural, and social background, Western Xia women were different from women in other regions and were very difficult to subdue.

Zhang Chun knew more than others. Historically, after conquering the Western Xia, Temujin took the Western Xia queen, Gurbelejin Guowohatun, into his harem. Gurbelejin Guowohatun harbored hatred for the destruction of her country. During their time together, while Temujin was intimate, she bit off one of his vital parts, causing him to die from the injury.

Although Zhang Chun disliked Zhao Yu's philandering, she didn't want him to suffer the same fate as Temujin. Even if Zhao Yu died, she and her son would be finished. Even if Zhao Yu were injured, she would be forced to live a life of widowhood; having tasted the sweetness of love, she couldn't bear such a life.

Therefore, as early as when Zhao Yu returned in triumph and was preparing to invite a few Western Xia beauties to play with him, Zhang Chun had reminded Zhao Yu not to easily touch Western Xia women.

Fearing that Zhao Yu would lose control of what was in his crotch, Zhang Chun went to Zheng Xiansu to tell him about the special characteristics of Western Xia women.

After listening, Zheng Xiansu smiled slightly and said confidently, "Disciplining him for a period of time will suffice."

The next day, Zheng Xiansu handed over the two hundred-plus Western Xia beauties to Pei Sui for discipline.

Pei Sui neither beat nor scolded the two hundred-plus Western Xia beauties; she simply made them serve as lowly palace maids according to the rules.

Whoever performs well will be "promoted and given a raise," with improved benefits.

Those who made significant contributions were recommended to serve the emperor in bed. As for those who refused to cooperate with the "reform," they were sent to places like the laundry room, where shrewish women would watch them wash clothes from morning till night.

Moreover, this is a case of collective punishment, meaning her relatives and friends will also be punished.

Still not giving in?
Nothing.

Then they were sent to the latrines, where they had to empty chamber pots, wash chamber pots, and so on, not to mention wiping the bottoms of the high-ranking concubines.

Sometimes, when Pei Sui was in a good mood, she would arrange for women who were originally high-ranking, such as noblewomen or even royalty, to serve Zhao Yu's favored women who had performed great deeds but were originally of low status, perhaps just maids of the royal or noblewoman, in their urination.

If you still won't give in after all this, then you might as well be banished to the cold palace.

The Cold Palace had fallen into disrepair over the years, its buildings dilapidated and its facilities rudimentary. The women living there suffered from extremely limited and coarse food supplies, barely meeting their basic needs. They also faced discrimination and bullying from other palace women, enduring immense mental anguish and pressure. Their movements were severely restricted; confined to small spaces, they had virtually no freedom, isolated from the outside world, unable to know what was happening there, and had little chance to change their fate. Furthermore, without anyone to care for them, they rarely received timely and effective treatment if they fell ill, jeopardizing their safety.

Going through this process means either complete surrender or death; there is absolutely no third possibility.

Take those two hundred or so equally unruly Western Xia women as an example. Now, while they may not all be tamed, and Zhao Yu can do whatever he wants with them, the vast majority have submitted. Only a handful of stubborn women are pleading for another chance in the cold palace.

Therefore, seeing the hostility in the eyes of these newly arrived Western Xia women, Wang Yisu and the other women said nothing and did not bother with them, because someone would teach them manners.

Wang Yisu said to Yelü Nanxian, who was leading the group, "You have come at the right time. The Qunyu Palace has just been built. It has many rooms and a pleasant environment, which is perfect for you to live in."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Yisu advised Yelü Nanxian and the others: "Lady Huarui wrote in her poem 'On the Fall of the Kingdom': 'The king raised the surrender flag on the city wall, how could I, in the deep palace, know? One hundred and forty thousand men laid down their arms, not one of them a true man!' The rise and fall of a nation is a matter for men, what does it have to do with us women? Now that you have entered the palace of my Great Song Dynasty, you should forget the past and live peacefully. The past is like smoke, there is no need to mention it again, it will only add to your sorrow. Among you, although some of you were once princesses, county princesses, or daughters of nobles, times have changed, and what is this world now? You all must start anew."

To the surprise of Wang Yisu and the other women, Yelü Nanxian bowed gracefully to them in the manner of the Han people and said, "Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty. We, these sinful women, understand that our Western Xia has perished and we are all guilty. To be granted a place to live by His Majesty, to comply with the will of Heaven, and to settle down and make a living, is already an act of great imperial grace. How dare we ask for anything more?"

After hearing what Yelü Nanxian said, Zhang Chun looked at Li Lin and said to her with his eyes, "Another formidable woman has arrived."

Li Lin nodded, thinking to herself, 'The ancients were just born earlier than us, not dumber. If it really came down to a battle of wits, we might not be their match!'

Zhang Chun and Li Lin were not mistaken.

In just a few words, Yelü Nanxian won the favor of Wang Yisu and Guo Ting, the two women of the highest status among them. When she learned that Guo Ting was the daughter of Guo Cheng, the famous general of the Zhao Song Dynasty who had defeated the Liao and Western Xia, she said with great admiration, "So Your Highness is a daughter of a military family. No wonder you have such an extraordinary temperament. I have long admired your father's reputation. It is truly an honor to meet Your Highness today."

Yelü Nanxian also showed great respect to Zhang Chun and Li Lin, whom Wang Yisu, Guo Ting, and Xiao Sese—the three Khitan princesses—who clearly acted according to their wishes. However, she was still unaware of Zhang Chun and Li Lin's background and therefore did not approach them rashly.

Yelü Nanxian also introduced Li Qianshun's concubines, such as Liang, Cao, Mozang, and Yeli, as well as the most senior of them, the Empress Dowager Moyi, the wife of Prince Jin Lichage, Mozang, and the legitimate daughters of Western Xia noble families such as Momu, Duluo, Renduo, Pochou, Weimu, Wang, Feiting, Wangli, and Pochao, to Wang Yisu and the other women.

In short, the atmosphere of the first meeting between the two sides was quite good, and all the Western Xia women tried their best to restrain their wildness.

Next, Wang Yisu led the female generals, including Yelü Nanxian, and other Western Xia women to the Qunyu Palace.

Although these Western Xia women were mostly daughters of the Western Xia royal family, imperial clan, and nobles, the harsh and cold land of Western Xia was vastly different from the prosperous and wealthy Central Plains. While the Qunyu Palace was not the most luxurious of the imperial palaces, in the eyes of these Western Xia women, it was like entering a fairyland, with pavilions, towers, carved beams and painted rafters, and exotic flowers and plants—a breathtaking sight.

This put these Western Xia women at ease, and the wildness in their eyes faded somewhat.

After arranging accommodations for the Western Xia women, Wang Yisu had ten large copper pots brought in. At the same time, eunuchs from the imperial kitchen delivered dozens of lambs that had just been slaughtered and sent from Western Xia.

After everything was ready, the beauties from Western Xia who had been sent to the palace by Tong Guan helped Yelü Nanxian and the others prepare the dipping sauce and taught them how to eat it.

Wang Yisu then said to Yelü Nanxian and the others, "This is a gift from the Empress to you. You may enjoy it to your heart's content."

The Western Xia people had never eaten such a delicious hot pot before. The key point is that they had been eating military rations all along the way, and had never had a decent meal. More importantly, the mutton was boiling in the hot copper pot, and the aroma filled the Qunyu Palace. The dipping sauce was spicy and fragrant, making one's mouth water just by smelling it.

So, under Yelü Nanxian's arrangement, a group of Western Xia women sat around the stove and began to eat.

Before long, their initial reserve and wariness melted away under the temptation of the delicious food. They either took small bites of the mutton, savoring it carefully, or ate heartily, their satisfaction evident in their expressions.

Seeing this, Zhang Chun whispered to Li Lin, "Having tasted such good days, how many people could withstand hardship again? Our Empress is still so shrewd; her tactic of first being courteous and then resorting to force is something I could learn from for years."

Li Lin said leisurely, "It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. If we were asked to go back to being lowly palace maids, we wouldn't be able to handle it."

Before long, Wang Yisu handed the place over to Xiao Sese, asking her to take the three Khitan princesses to entertain the Western Xia women, and then they left.

Yelü Nanxian understood that Wang Yisu was giving her a chance to connect with Xiao Sese and her relatives and friends, and also to let Xiao Sese and the others reassure her and these Western Xia women.

Yelü Nanxian generously thanked her, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Wang Yisu nodded, everything understood without words. She felt that Yelü Nanxian was very sensible and knew the rules, and planned to say a few good words for Yelü Nanxian to Zheng Xiansu later.

Zhang Chun gave Yelü Nanxian a meaningful look. She knew very well that Yelü Nanxian was a person who cared deeply about her homeland. Historically, she and her son Li Ren'ai, whom she had with Li Qianshun, had repeatedly urged Li Qianshun to send troops to rescue the Liao Kingdom. Later, because Li Qianshun stopped sending troops to rescue the Liao Kingdom, Li Ren'ai died of grief and indignation, and she starved herself to death. How could such a woman be so easily tamed?

really!

No sooner had Wang Yisu and the women left than Yelü Nanxian invited Xiao Sese and the three Khitan princesses to her residence, and then bluntly asked, "How is this place? Among us, is any one of us fit to be empress?"

……

(End of this chapter)