I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 324 Moving the Capital
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Once the north was somewhat pacified, Zhao Yu made a decision that caught everyone off guard—to move the capital.

In other words, he wanted to move the capital of the Song Dynasty from Bianliang to Yanjing.

In the early Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin established his capital in Bianliang, which was essentially a passive inheritance of the political legacy of the Five Dynasties, rather than a result of proactive planning.

From the Later Liang Dynasty onwards, Bianliang had served as the capital of four dynasties across five dynasties (excluding the Later Tang). After decades of development, it had established a relatively complete administrative system, transportation network, and resource reserves. For Zhao Kuangyin, who had just usurped the throne from the Zhou Dynasty through the Chenqiao Mutiny, rashly moving the capital meant breaking the existing power balance—the imperial guards and bureaucratic groups in Bianliang and its surrounding areas had long been accustomed to the ruling environment there, and moving the capital could trigger severe political turmoil.

Moreover, after the Sui and Tang dynasties, China's economic center gradually shifted south, and the Jiangnan region became the financial hub of the Central Plains dynasties. Bianliang, relying on waterways such as the Bian River and the Yellow River, could quickly connect Jiangnan with North China through canal transport, delivering millions of shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain and supplies annually to meet the capital's enormous needs.

In contrast, Chang'an had lost its economic support capacity due to the desolation of the Guanzhong Plain and the difficulties in canal transport; although Luoyang had a strategic location, its canal system was not as well-developed as Bianliang's, making it difficult to support the operation of a capital city with a population of one million.

Although Zhao Kuangyin realized that Bianliang was indefensible, he planned to move the capital to Luoyang in the west, and even envisioned eventually moving it to Chang'an. However, this was opposed by a group represented by his brother Zhao Guangyi.

Zhao Guangyi's argument that "virtue, not strategic advantage, is the foundation of power" was actually based on the fact that the imperial guards and bureaucratic network in Bianliang had become the basis of his power.

After "releasing military power over a cup of wine," Zhao Kuangyin urgently needed to stabilize his internal rule and ultimately had to abandon the plan to move the capital.

This compromise became a crucial turning point that influenced the fate of the Song Dynasty.

The geographical and military conditions of Bianliang exposed potential defense risks from the very beginning of its establishment as the capital.

Bianliang is located in the heart of the North China Plain, surrounded by flat land with no mountains or passes to serve as natural barriers.

Once the northern nomadic tribes broke through the Yellow River defense line, they could besiege the city within days.

To compensate for this deficiency, the Song Dynasty had to station hundreds of thousands of imperial guards around Bianliang year-round, forming a military layout with a strong central government and weak regional forces. This not only consumed a large amount of financial resources (the cost of maintaining the army accounted for more than 70% of the national treasury), but also resulted in a weak border army.

Furthermore, Bianliang (Kaifeng) was located next to the Yellow River and the Bian River, and historically it was frequently plagued by floods. The Yellow River repeatedly breached its banks, inundating the city and its surroundings, not only destroying the livelihoods of its inhabitants but also directly threatening the safety of the capital. The Song Dynasty court had to invest enormous amounts of manpower and resources every year to manage the river channels, yet it was never able to eradicate the hidden dangers. This predicament of "competing with water for land" continuously consumed the Song Dynasty's governance resources.

As the capital, Bianliang lacked an outer buffer zone. Once the border was in danger, the enemy could advance unimpeded and directly threaten the central government. This "capital as the front line" situation caused the Northern Song Dynasty to repeatedly find itself in a passive position in its wars against the Liao and Jin dynasties.

During the Jingkang Incident, the Jin army captured Bianliang from the Yan-Yun region in just one year, which was a concentrated outbreak of this weakness.

Therefore, Bianliang was not actually suitable as a capital city.

As the capital of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties in history, Yanjing's main difference from Bianliang lies in its strategic location and defense functions.

Yanjing (modern-day Beijing) is situated with the Yanshan Mountains to the north, the Taihang Mountains to the west, and the Yongding River to the south, forming a strategically important military location with mountains to the back and water to the front.

If northern nomadic tribes wanted to move south, they had to break through dangerous passes such as Juyong Pass and Shanhaiguan Pass, which provided multiple layers of buffer for Yanjing (Beijing).

When facing threats from the north, Bianliang had almost no natural defenses and could only rely on man-made city defenses and a large garrison.

Located at the junction of agriculture and animal husbandry, Yanjing served as both a frontline against nomadic tribes and a crucial hub for controlling Northeast China and the Mongolian Plateau. Establishing the capital here allowed for direct coordination of defenses in the northern frontier and rapid response to border conflicts.

Bianliang was far from the northern frontier and had weak control over the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. The Song Dynasty had to deploy a large number of troops in Hebei and Shanxi all year round, but the command center was far away and therefore inefficient.

Although Yanjing was far from the Jiangnan economic zone, it could still transport goods via the Grand Canal and also served a military defense function.

—Yanjing also has Jizhou Port, which can also be developed for maritime transport.

Although Bianliang was convenient for economic transportation, it had to sacrifice national defense security, resulting in a distorted structure of "emphasizing the economy and neglecting national defense".

This difference is particularly evident in the historical confrontations between the Song and Liao dynasties and the Song and Jin dynasties—the Liao dynasty, with Yanjing as its capital, was able to control the Yan and Yun regions and deter the Northern Song dynasty; while the Northern Song dynasty, with Bianliang as its center, was always in a passive defensive posture.

Why did Zhu Di, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, decide to move the capital of the Ming Dynasty from the bustling city of Nanjing to the distant city of Beijing?

Some might argue that Zhu Di, having usurped the throne from his nephew Zhu Yunwen, must have felt uneasy living in Nanjing and would have preferred to return to his familiar fiefdom of Beijing, where he had once been in his sphere of influence, thus finding greater peace of mind.

However, to attribute Zhu Di's decisions solely to this would be to underestimate this historically accomplished emperor.

In fact, Zhu Di knew very well that since he already possessed the empire, why would he be afraid of the troubles caused by a few stubborn elements?
In fact, Zhu Di, as a seasoned emperor, knew that the greatest threat to the Ming Dynasty came from the Mongol Yuan regime north of the Great Wall. Those nomadic peoples on the grasslands had always been a major concern for the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Di chose Beijing as the capital of the Ming Dynasty precisely because of his profound understanding of this threat. He understood that establishing the capital there would allow for a more effective defense against invasions from nomadic tribes from the grasslands.

Throughout history, every ancient feudal dynasty has concentrated all its resources—political, economic, military, and population—in its capital region to facilitate the emperor's rule and administration.

From Yanjing (Beijing) to the front line of resistance against nomadic tribes on the grasslands—the Badaling Great Wall—the entire journey is only 140 li (approximately 70 kilometers).

In an era of poor transportation, such a distance was a unique advantage. It greatly facilitated the deployment of the garrison and logistical support, enabling the rapid transport of both troops and supplies.

Imagine if a cavalry unit set off from Yanjing (Beijing), galloping at full speed, and could reach the Badaling Great Wall in less than half a day.

Such a rapid response is undoubtedly a major advantage in war.

Moreover, this was extremely low-cost, allowing the imperial court to utilize resources more efficiently.

More importantly, once nomadic tribes from the grasslands invaded, beacon towers at places like Badaling and Juyongguan would light up with smoke signals. On clear days, one could observe the battle situation at the front lines from within the city of Yanjing. This real-time update allowed the imperial court to mobilize the most resources, organize troops and logistics, and launch a counterattack in the shortest possible time.

With the emperor stationed in Yanjing, so close to the front lines, it was tantamount to leading an expedition in person.

This will undoubtedly greatly boost the morale of the soldiers on the front lines, making them even more courageous in fighting the enemy.

In comparison, choosing Kaifeng, Luoyang, Chang'an, or Nanjing as the capital would be far less advantageous. While these places boast a long history and rich cultural heritage, they are all quite far from the front lines. Once news arrives, the process of reacting, mobilizing troops, gathering provisions, coordinating the deployment of soldiers, and then transporting the troops, provisions, and supplies to the front could easily take more than a month.

The nomadic tribes of the grasslands are known for their swift horses and curved swords; once they enter the heart of the Central Plains, they move as if they own no land. At that point, forget about fighting them; you'll even have to search for them to find where they've gone. By the time you find them, they might have already plundered enough food, wealth, and women, and returned home satisfied.

Therefore, Zhu Di spared no expense and mobilized a large army to build an even larger city, Beijing, on the foundation of the Yuan capital. He used this city as a forward outpost, maximizing the various advantages of the Ming Dynasty, concentrating his forces to resist the nomadic tribes of the grasslands, and ensuring the eternal stability of the Ming Dynasty.

Although they belong to different worlds, the principles are the same.

Zhao Yu was well aware that, setting aside future territorial expansion, the greatest threat to the Song Dynasty at this stage did not come from the south, but from the north.

The Khitans, Jurchens, Mongols, and Manchus were the external forces capable of destroying the Song Dynasty, and also the external enemies that Zhao Yu and his descendants needed to defend against the most.

This may not be the struggle of one generation, but the goal of generations to come.

Of course, Zhao Yu certainly hoped to eliminate all these barbarian tribes in his lifetime.

But the objective fact is that nomadic and hunting peoples, if they can't win, they run away. When you're no longer viable, they come back, and the cycle repeats itself endlessly, like a stubborn plaster.

If Zhao Yu is unable to resolve the threat of the Hu barbarians in his own generation, he must at least leave a foundation for his descendants to resist or even resolve the threat of the Hu barbarians.
If Zhao Yu could have completely resolved the threat from the nomadic tribes during his lifetime, and with a global perspective, he could have changed the capital again, for example, by moving it to Nanjing, where sea transport would have been more convenient.

By then, the Song Dynasty's railways should have become extremely developed, so moving the capital to Nanjing would not have affected its control over the grasslands.

However, at this stage, making Yanjing the capital should be the best choice for the Song Dynasty.

Furthermore, the situation in the Yanyun region is far more complex than imagined.

The population living here includes many ethnic groups such as Khitan, Xi, Bohai, Zubu, Jurchen, and Shiwei, and not all of them are Han Chinese.

Even among the Han Chinese, the Han Chinese here are different from those in the interior. They have a special name here—Han'er (Han people).

The term "Han'er" was originally used by ancient ethnic minorities to refer to the Han people, and it was not intended to be complimentary or derogatory.

However, after the Liao Dynasty acquired the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and especially during the confrontation between the Liao and Song Dynasties, the names used by the Liao and Song Dynasties for the Han people belonging to their respective territories began to change.

The Liao people referred to the Han people within the territory of the Song Dynasty as "Southern People," while they referred to the Han people within their own territory (mainly the Yan-Yun region) as "Han Children."

The Song people also referred to the Han people within the Liao territory as "Han'er" and sometimes even cursed them as "Fanren" (foreigners).

This change in terminology reflects the distrust that the Liao, Song, and even the Jin dynasty, which later occupied the Yan-Yun region, held towards the Han people of that area.

Historically, Song people even openly insulted the Han people of the Yan-Yun region by calling them "barbarians." Furthermore, due to the inaction of Emperor Huizong and his ministers, there was a severe lack of mutual understanding between the Song people and the Han people of Yan-Yun, with the Song people harboring a strong sense of alienation towards the Han people. This sentiment prevented the Han people of Yan-Yun from finding a sense of belonging among the Song people. Consequently, they began to harbor rebellious intentions, seeking opportunities to betray the Song and defect to the Jin. Ultimately, the Jin, which lacked the strength to destroy the Song, was able to realize its ambitions, and with the help of the Han people, the Jingkang Incident occurred.

Even in the later Song-Jin War, it was largely a civil war between Han Chinese and Han people.

During the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, a four-class system was established, which led to a complete division among the Han people.

If it weren't for Zhu Yuanzhang, a Han Chinese, the Han ethnic group might have been completely divided into two.

Therefore, if Zhao Yu wanted to completely recover the Yan-Yun region and avoid the division of the Han people, it would be best to build the capital in Yanjing and implement appropriate ethnic policies.

Only in this way can we completely win back the hearts and minds of the people in the Yan-Yun region and stabilize the Song Dynasty's rule.

When the ministers of the Song Dynasty, including some members of the imperial family and clan, heard that Zhao Yu wanted to move the capital from Bianliang to Yanjing, they all opposed it. They submitted memorials to Zhao Yu, offering some far-fetched reasons, such as:

"We have heard that Your Majesty wishes to move the capital to Yanjing, but we humbly believe this is unwise. Bianliang has been developed by the Song Dynasty for a century since the Five Dynasties period. Its city walls are magnificent, its treasury is full, and its people live in peace and prosperity. It is a capital city made in heaven. Yanjing, on the other hand, is isolated in the northern border region. It has suffered repeated wars, its city walls are dilapidated, and its food supplies are running low. If we abandon the fertile land of the Central Plains and move to a harsh and cold region, we fear that it will shake the foundation of the country and is not a blessing for the nation."

"Yan and Yun have long been shrouded in the dust of the barbarians, with Han and Yi people living together, and their customs differing from those of the Central Plains. If Your Majesty were to move the capital here, Your Majesty's commands might not be universally obeyed; the will of the people is uncertain. Moreover, the barbarian cavalry in the north are constantly on the lookout, and the beacon fires are frequently lit. When the imperial carriage stops, the safety of the emperor hangs by a thread, and we, your subjects, cannot sleep soundly."

“Since ancient times, when sage kings established their capitals, they always chose places with fertile soil and deep waters, where tributes were paid from all directions. Bianliang is located in the heart of China, with waterways connecting all directions. Grain from the Yangtze and Huai Rivers can be transported upstream, and troops from Guanzhong and Longxi can be delivered by express courier. Yanjing is located in a remote place in the north, with treacherous waterways and transportation costs ten times that of Bianliang. How can the people bear it?”

"Our ancestors' tombs are all in the Central Plains, and their coffins have been laid to rest for generations. If we move the capital, it will be difficult to carry out the annual sacrifices, and the filial piety of our descendants will be neglected. This is an act that goes against the will of Heaven and disregards ancestral rules. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to reconsider."

"..."

Zhao Yu knew perfectly well that these reasons, which seemed to concern the national economy, people's livelihood, and the safety of ancestral systems, were actually mostly pretexts.

Bianliang and the Central Plains were the strongholds of powerful families and bureaucratic groups, where their land, shops, and residences were concentrated, and their protégés, former officials, and networks of interests were deeply intertwined.

If the capital is moved to Yanjing
Firstly, the economic, political, and cultural center of the Song Dynasty was bound to shift, which would inevitably affect its vested interests.
Secondly, being far from their homeland, their family's influence would be difficult to extend, and their control over the government would inevitably be weakened.

Thirdly, Yanjing is adjacent to the border regions and needs to strengthen its military. This will inevitably reduce the allocation of resources to some civil officials. These people are afraid of losing their wealth and status, so they use "security of the country" as a pretext to "protect their private interests".

However, Zhao Yu was not the same Zhao Kuangyin who had just ascended the throne and was inevitably hampered by others. He was an emperor who had completed the unification of China and was known for his toughness both domestically and internationally. He had even dealt a heavy blow to the deeply entrenched gentry group. If he wanted to move the capital, who could stop him? Who would dare to stand up and try to stop him?

Zhao Yu didn't waste words with these opponents. Instead, he directly issued an imperial edict to his ministers, including Cai Jing and Su Shi, ordering them to quickly unify their thinking, mobilize personnel and resources, and hire 500,000 artisans and 3 million laborers from across the country at wages 30% higher than the market rate to come to Yanjing to build a new city and palace.

To avoid trouble and controversy, and not wanting his "large-scale construction" to leave ammunition for those scholars who didn't actually like him to record in history books, Zhao Yu generously decided that all the money for building the new Yanjing city and the new palace would come from his own pocket, without using a single penny from the national treasury.

Furthermore, in order to find a powerful political slogan for his relocation of the capital, Zhao Yutian, on Zhang Chun's advice, shamelessly proclaimed, "The emperor guards the nation's gates, the monarch dies for the state," placing himself on the moral high ground and forcing the opposition to shut their mouths in silence...

……

(End of this chapter)