I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 243 Recruiting the Enemy, Using One Tiger to Devour Another

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When Tong Guan came to see Zhao Yu, he did not wear the military officer's robes that he had always worn in the Northwest, which showed his imposing and extraordinary status. Instead, he specially wore the eunuch's robes that he used to wear when he served Zhao Yu.

Tong Guan clearly wanted to use this method to tell Zhao Yu that no matter how time changes or how prominent his status becomes, his loyalty to Zhao Yu will remain unchanged.

Tong Guan slowly entered the hall, his steps light yet carrying an undeniable composure. His hands, which had once held swords and spears, now gently stroked the hem of his robes, as if smoothing away the vicissitudes of the past, just to remind Zhao Yu that he was still the old eunuch who had served Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu sat upright on the dragon throne, watching the familiar figure slowly enter the hall. He stared at the plain eunuch's robes that the figure had worn ten years ago in his Prince Xin's residence, and thought to himself, "Although the methods are clumsy, at least the intention is there."

Zhao Yu was well aware that Tong Guan was not a first-rate commander; his command ability was only about 70%, far inferior to that of Zhang Jie and Lü Huiqing.

However, it must be admitted that after Wang Hou's death, the military situation on the northwestern frontier of the Zhao Song Dynasty was mainly supported by Tong Guan.

Tong Guan has now become an indispensable and irreplaceable military pillar of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

At the same time, Tong Guan was meticulous and insightful, adept at discerning Zhao Yu's interests and intentions. Therefore, he always managed to get things done effectively, satisfying Zhao Yu's heart.

Moreover, Tong Guan enjoyed high prestige in the Western Army, and the soldiers of the Western Army were willing to obey his orders.

Besides job position and personality factors, two other points are also very important:

First, he was willing to spend money; the pensions he gave to fallen soldiers were very generous.

Secondly, he valued loyalty and righteousness. He adopted the sons of fallen generals as his godsons, providing them with food, clothing, shelter, and a good education, and arranging suitable jobs for them.

The Western Army is a formidable fighting force, but it must be said that they are a problematic legion; most people simply cannot control them.

More importantly, Zhao Yu did not need the most capable commander for this mission to quell the rebellion in Jiangnan. Given the fighting strength of Fang La's army of laborers, it was not worth sending Zhao Yu's most capable commander to deal with them.

What Zhao Yu wanted was a commander who could do the dirty work for him, a commander who would definitely listen to him and carry out his will.

This is where Tong Guan's advantage becomes apparent.

Upon seeing Zhao Yu, Tong Guan bowed deeply and said, "This old servant greets Your Majesty."

Zhao Yu looked at Tong Guan, who was nearly sixty but still very robust, and found that time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to him. Apart from adding a few fine lines at the corners of his eyes, it had not taken away his sharpness and shrewdness too much. In his deep eyes, there was still a deep desire for power and to achieve great things.

Zhao Yu couldn't help but recall the first time he met Tong Guan. Huang Jingchen had taken him to his Prince Xin's residence. Although he had been implicated by Li Xian and had been very frustrated, when he saw Zhao Yu, he told himself with his indomitable spirit that he had not given up on himself. He longed for the days when he fought in the Northwest, missed the clash of swords and the thunder of horses, and hoped to gain glory through military achievements so that he would not have lived in vain.

While Zhao Yu was sizing up Tong Guan, Tong Guan was also secretly looking at Zhao Yu.

Tong Guan looked at Zhao Yu, whose appearance had not changed much, but who had become more dignified and imposing because of his success in recovering Qinghai, Western Xia, and the eleven prefectures of Yanyun in the past ten years, forcing the Liao Kingdom to return the extorted tribute, and governing the Zhao Song Dynasty to a thriving state.

Looking at Zhao Yu, one could see the imposing imperial aura emanating from his brows. Compared to the young prince who had been patient and reserved in the Prince of Xin's mansion, he now possessed a greater sense of composure and depth. Meanwhile, he himself had risen from a lowly, unsuccessful eunuch to the powerful commander of the Western Army, thanks to Zhao Yu's patronage.

Tong Guan was filled with emotion.

Zhao Yu's voice carried a hint of warmth towards the old man beside him as he said, "No need for formalities, please rise. Have you had a tiring journey?"

Tong Guan hurriedly replied, "Since His Majesty has summoned me, how could this old servant dare to complain of hardship?"

Tong Guan stood up and deliberately bent his originally upright back a little to make himself appear more humble and submissive.

Instead of discussing what he wanted Tong Guan to do with him in the palace, Zhao Yu said to him, "Accompany me for a walk in the Imperial Garden."

The Imperial Garden was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and the scenery of the four seasons was cleverly blended together, as if time itself had been carefully sculpted here to preserve every beautiful moment. Only Zhao Yu and Tong Guan strolled one after the other along the winding path, with well-trimmed flowers and trees on both sides, and the occasional clear chirping of birds added to the tranquility and harmony.

“Song Jiang can be granted amnesty.”

Once they reached a place where no one could hear them, Zhao Yu uttered a shocking strategy that Tong Guan had never anticipated.

Tong Guan was startled. 'To offer amnesty to Song Jiang?!'

Tong Guan thought he had misheard.

He simply couldn't understand why Zhao Yu would choose to offer amnesty to Song Jiang, who had killed a large number of officials, gentry, and landlords in Jiangnan.

Furthermore, he didn't understand why Zhao Yu didn't suggest offering amnesty to Fang La.
Tong Guan paused involuntarily, a hint of astonishment and confusion flashing in his eyes, yet he maintained his humble demeanor and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Song Jiang has committed heinous crimes by rebelling in Jiangnan. If we grant him amnesty, it may be difficult to win over the people."

Zhao Yu said calmly, "I have my own plan. You just need to remember to appoint him as the military governor to help you suppress Fang La."

The position of "Commander-in-Chief" was initially a temporary post responsible for military deployment, the allocation of provisions and troops. They were often established on the border or during wartime. When defending against foreign enemies or suppressing internal rebellions, officials were given the title of "Commander-in-Chief" and were given overall command of the military affairs of a region.

Due to the expansion of their powers, some regional military governors also took charge of civil affairs, finance, and even regional economic management (such as the tea and salt monopoly). They were similar to local military and political officials like the Jiedushi. However, unlike the Jiedushi, the appointment and powers of the regional military governors were more controlled by the central government, and they were temporary officials.

In the early Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin consolidated local military power to strengthen central authority. The military commissioners were mostly temporary appointments, dismissed after their duties were completed, and not permanent positions. Now, according to the personnel rules of the Song Dynasty, Tong Guan estimates that Zhao Yu would appoint Song Jiang as the Pacification Commissioner of Jiangnan, commanding the suppression of the Jiangnan rebellion. If Zhao Yu also appoints a deputy Pacification Commissioner, Song Jiang would become the third-in-command in the Jiangnan war zone. If Zhao Yu does not appoint a deputy Pacification Commissioner, Song Jiang would be the second-in-command in the Jiangnan war zone.

In terms of actual power, Song Jiang's authority might even be greater than that of Commander Liu Fa, since Liu Fa was only in charge of military affairs and not civil administration or finance.

It is not difficult to see from this that Zhao Yu made great use of Song Jiang.

Tong Guan couldn't understand why Zhao Yu would value a rebel who had been killing officials on a large scale.

This was truly beyond Tong Guan's expectations. Was it merely because Song Jiang had amassed a considerable reputation among the people, or because the so-called Liangshan heroes under his command possessed formidable fighting prowess?
The key point is that in Tong Guan's mind, those treacherous officials who dare to challenge the imperial power and trample on the law should be severely punished to serve as a warning to others. How could they be easily appeased and entrusted with important responsibilities?

Although Tong Guan had many doubts in his heart, he dared not show them on his face. He simply lowered his head and obediently replied, "Your Majesty is wise, and this old servant obeys. However, Song Jiang is of a fiery temperament and holds a large army, so it may not be easy to grant him amnesty."

Zhao Yu said, "You don't need to worry about this matter. Someone will help you recruit Song Jiang. You just need to remember not to mistreat them. Reward them for their merits and punish them for their mistakes. Treat them all equally. Also, you can teach Song Jiang to be the main force in suppressing Fang La."

Tong Guan's eyes lit up, and he understood a little. Zhao Yu wanted Song Jiang's rebel army and Fang La's rebel army to wear each other down, so that the elite of the Western Army would not suffer too many losses, and the national strength of the Zhao Song Dynasty would not be greatly depleted.

Tong Guan pondered to himself that Zhao Yu's plan was indeed cunning and far-sighted. Using Song Jiang's troops to fight against the equally powerful Fang La was undoubtedly a strategy of sitting on the sidelines and watching the tigers fight. Once both sides were exhausted, the Western Army would then step in to clean up the mess. This would both preserve their own strength and quell the chaos in Jiangnan in one fell swoop, truly killing two birds with one stone.

Tong Guan looked up at Zhao Yu and saw that Zhao Yu's gaze was deep, as if he had already seen through the future situation. His composure filled Tong Guan with awe.

Tong Guan asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, if Fang La were to accept the offer of amnesty..."

Zhao Yu stopped and said slowly, "The Manichaeism cannot be allowed to remain."

Manichaeism incorporates elements of Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Buddhism. Its core doctrine is the "Two Doctrines and Three Periods," which posits that the world is composed of two forces, light and darkness, that struggle against each other at different times.

With the opening of the Silk Road, Manichaeism was introduced to China, first spreading in Xinjiang and the Uyghur region of northern Mongolia. During the reign of Emperor Daizong of Tang, it spread to the Central Plains and the Jianghuai region, where Manichaean temples were established. When Emperor Wuzong of Tang persecuted Buddhism, Manichaeism was implicated and turned into a secret religion, spreading among the common people.

Manichaeism underwent localization during its spread, and after being influenced by Taoism and other religions, it was renamed Mingjiao (明教). The doctrines of Mingjiao were summarized as "purity, light, power, and wisdom." Because it believed that darkness was about to pass and light was about to come, it had a certain inflammatory quality and was easily used by the lower classes as an ideological weapon to resist the rule of darkness.

Historically, in the late Northern Song Dynasty, not only Fang La launched a rebellion based on Manichaeism, but also Zhong Xiang spread Manichaeism in the Dongting Lake area shortly afterward, eventually launching an uprising in the fourth year of the Jianyan era of the Southern Song Dynasty, occupying most of the prefectures and counties around Dongting Lake.

The Manichaeism's concept of a Kingdom of Light, emphasizing equality, respect, and cooperation among all people, clashed with the hierarchical system and absolute power of the rulers under feudal autocracy. Its ideology easily incited discontent among the people regarding the existing hierarchical order, thereby threatening the very foundation of feudal rule.

Moreover, Manichaeism tends to encourage people to resist injustice and oppression, viewing the real world as a struggle between darkness and light. This ideology can inspire people to resist the irrationality of the existing rule, making them dare to challenge the authority of the ruling class and exacerbating social unrest.

Furthermore, Manichaeism had its own church organization and missionary network, which, in its development, could easily form a force independent of the official system. When this force grew to a certain extent, it would pose a direct challenge to the power of the ruling class and become a force opposing the imperial court.

As a feudal ruler, Zhao Yu certainly could not leave Manichaeism, this major threat, to continue as it has in history, endangering his and his descendants' rule.

With Zhao Yu's clear stance, Tong Guan immediately pledged his obedience: "This old servant will obey your command."

The two walked a few more steps forward, and Zhao Yu took the initiative to say: "When you arrive in Jiangnan, Song Jiang should have already removed the malignant tumor in the north of Jiangnan. You must remember to cooperate with the newly appointed officials of the court to implement the two new policies and restore grain planting and economic production in the north of Jiangnan as soon as possible. You must never let Fang La go north and destroy the grain planting and economic development of this place."

The northern part of Jiangnan has a subtropical monsoon climate with abundant rainfall, sufficient heat, and a long frost-free period, making it suitable for two harvests a year of grain crops such as rice (or rice-wheat rotation).

In addition, the Yangtze River and its tributaries (such as the Huai River and the Grand Canal) form a dense network of waterways, which not only provides ample irrigation water but also creates fertile alluvial plains (such as the Taihu Plain and the Jianghuai Plain) through siltation, resulting in fertile soil that is conducive to crop growth.

The region is mostly plains and low hills, with flat and open terrain, which is conducive to large-scale reclamation and cultivation, making it more suitable for large-scale grain production compared to the mountains and plateaus in the north.

Furthermore, since the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Jiangnan region has attached great importance to water conservancy projects. For example, Emperor Yang of Sui excavated the Grand Canal, connecting the Yangtze River and the Huai River, which not only facilitated the transport of grain but also provided a foundation for farmland irrigation. During the Song Dynasty, the court further dredged waterways and built dikes. For instance, the technology of building dikes and enclosing lakes to create farmland around Taihu Lake was mature. Through the system of "dikes, sluice gates, and ditches," floods were effectively prevented and irrigation was ensured, turning large areas of low-lying land into high-yield fields.

The Song Dynasty also established a special water conservancy agency in Jiangnan, formulated regulations to manage water use and maintain dikes, and spontaneous water conservancy cooperative organizations were formed among the people to ensure that water conservancy facilities could play a long-term role and reduce the threat of floods and droughts to food production.

At this time, the cultivated land area in the Jiangnan region accounted for about 15 percent of the national total, but its grain output accounted for more than 30 percent of the national total, and its per capita grain output far exceeded that of the North.

In the Taihu Plain area, there is a proverb: "When Suzhou and Huzhou are prosperous, the whole country is well-fed." Suzhou refers to Suzhou, and Huzhou refers to Huzhou, both located in the northern part of Jiangnan.

Jiangning Prefecture was the capital of many dynasties throughout history, and one of the reasons why it was chosen as the capital by so many dynasties was that its grain production far exceeded that of other regions.

Besides being a major grain-producing region, the northern part of Jiangnan also had a large population. Since the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, frequent wars in the north led to a large-scale southward migration, with northern Jiangnan being one of the main destinations. This trend continued during the Song Dynasty, with population growth providing ample labor. Statistics show that at this time, the population density of northern Jiangnan was among the highest in the country.

With sufficient grain and manpower, as long as the Song Dynasty could quickly restore order in the northern and southern regions of Jiangnan, this rebellion in Jiangnan would not cripple the Song Dynasty.

This is also why, even though Song Jiang's rebel army entered Jiangnan from Xiuzhou, they did not attack Hangzhou, which was nearby, but instead first massacred the Suzhou-Huzhou region and Jiangning Prefecture, and then swept through the entire northern part of Jiangnan.

Tong Guan knew the importance of the northern and southern regions of Jiangnan to the Zhao Song Dynasty, so he readily agreed.

Finally, Zhao Yu warned Tong Guan in almost blunt terms that he must restrain the soldiers of the Western Army and absolutely forbid them from burning, killing, looting, and plundering in the northern and southern regions of Jiangnan, and even more so, forbidding them from robbing civilians.

Tong Guan was quick-witted and immediately understood: Zhao Yu had allowed the Western Army to plunder whom...

……

(End of this chapter)