I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 331 Private Visit on Weibo
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After experiencing many things alongside Zhao Yu over the years, Zhang Chun gradually realized that she might not be able to become Empress Dowager.

This empress dowager is not that empress dowager.

If she were to be an ordinary empress dowager, with a filial and wise ruler as her son, Zhang Chun felt confident that she would be able to handle the role without any problems, and that she would be better than any other empress dowager.

Zhang Chun was not confident in becoming an empress dowager like Empress Lü, Empress Liu, or Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled a country; in other words, he was not confident in becoming the supreme leader of a country.

Zhang Chun gradually realized that coming up with ideas was not difficult; taking risks and making decisions were the most difficult.

Take Zhao Yu as an example:

Whenever something happened, especially a major event, Zhao Yu was surrounded by ministers and advisors who would offer him advice. Sometimes there were dozens, sometimes hundreds of people. Even when there were only a few, there were always three options for Zhao Yu to choose from: superior, medium, and inferior. The key point is that their suggestions to Zhao Yu were not only varied but also sometimes contradictory. The crucial point is that they all seemed to make perfect sense.

This means that Zhao Yu must choose the truly correct one from among so many suggestions.

If the right choice is made, the ministers and advisors will be rewarded for their contributions.

If he made the wrong choice, especially a terrible one, Zhao Yu would have faced certain death and the extermination of his clan. He might have ended up like Zhao Ji during the Jingkang Incident, where he was captured and imprisoned by the enemy, along with his descendants and clansmen. His concubines, daughters, daughters-in-law, and the wives, daughters, and daughters-in-law of his clansmen would all become playthings of the enemy. Not only would he, his children, grandchildren, and clansmen suffer humiliation, but his courtiers, artisans, entertainers, palace maids, and eunuchs would also be captured by the Jurchens and taken to the north to suffer the pain of national subjugation. In the end, he would be nailed to the pillar of historical shame, never to be removed.

More importantly, they always had more options than Zhao Yu. If they felt Zhao Yu was incompetent, they could simply pack up and find another wise ruler. For example, Xun Yu said Yuan Shao was "a hero among commoners, capable of gathering people but unable to use them," and then turned to Cao Cao. Chen Ping initially followed King Wei Jiu, but after King Wei Jiu's defeat and suicide, he decisively joined Xiang Yu, and finally switched allegiance to Liu Bang during the Chu-Han Contention. They were like wise birds choosing their trees; if things didn't go their way, they left, without having to pay the price for their former lord's mistakes.

Take Zhang Chun for example. If Zhao Yu were to suffer the humiliation of the Jingkang Incident and she were taken away by the Jurchens, she would be confident that she could persuade the likes of Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang to give her an important position.

Zhao Yu, on the other hand, had no room to switch sides. He was the "tree" that held the power. His civil and military officials, strategists, concubines, the people under his rule, and the foundation he built were all vines clinging to him. He could only carry on. If he won, he would receive the greatest reward when everyone was rewarded for their contributions. But if he lost, everyone could scatter like birds and beasts, and he would have to bear the worst consequences.

Ultimately, Zhang Chun and his group relied on their "intelligence," while Zhao Yu relied on his "courage and sense of responsibility."

Zhang Chun and his team could deduce countless possibilities on the sand table, while Zhao Yu had to choose one path from those possibilities and then gamble everything on it to move forward.

The world is not short of people who can come up with ideas, but it is very short of people who can turn ideas into action and dare to take responsibility for those actions.

Furthermore, although Zhao Yu did not possess the same foresight as Zhang Chun, who could predict the future a thousand years in advance and a thousand years in the future, Zhao Yu was undoubtedly an outstanding politician. In addition to his decisiveness and courage, Zhao Yu also had exceptional resource integration and management abilities, as well as extraordinary personal charisma. He was able to bring together people with different temperaments, even those who disliked each other, to work together.

Just as Liu Bang was able to unite street urchins, noble descendants, and surrendered enemy generals to fight his way to Xianyang; Zhu Yuanzhang was able to gather fellow townsmen from Huaixi, strategists from Zhejiang, and former officials of the previous dynasty to establish the Ming Dynasty; Li Shimin was able to balance the forces of the Guanlong Group, Shandong gentry, scholars from humble backgrounds, and elites from other ethnic groups, and seize the throne at the age of twenty-eight through the "Xuanwu Gate Incident," and then ushered in the "Reign of Zhenguan."

This relies on a profound understanding of human nature and politics.

To put it bluntly, a successful emperor must be a top-tier political monster.

After so many years of deep engagement with politics, Zhang Chun had to admit that she was not that kind of political monster.

Zhao Yu, on the other hand, could indeed be compared to Liu Bang, Zhu Yuanzhang, and Li Shimin.

It was precisely because he had seen and understood more that Zhang Chun increasingly appreciated Zhao Yu, who had done a truly remarkable job over the years, and grew to like and love him more and more.

Perhaps Zhang Chun saw her ideal self in Zhao Yu.

Of course, Zhang Chun did not underestimate herself, because although Zhao Yu did not completely obey her, he adopted many, many, many suggestions from her. In fact, it could be said that she was the one who contributed the most effective suggestions to Zhao Yu, which shows how much influence she had on him.

This is why Zhang Chun always felt that Zhao Yu was someone she had trained.

Not long after Zhao Yu decided to return to the capital in triumph, he led the Central Army and the Right Army of the Divine Machine Army on their journey back to the capital.

Because Zhao Yu had ordered the Grand Canal to be re-dug long ago, and recently even extended it all the way to Beijing, Zhao Yu could travel by boat all the way back to Bianliang, the capital of the Song Dynasty.

Incidentally, the Grand Canal redesigned by the Song Dynasty was actually a reconstruction of the Sui and Tang Grand Canal by "straightening the bends". Its route bypassed the Luoyang and Kaifeng areas and directly connected Beijing and Hangzhou, mainly flowing through the provinces and cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang in later generations.

However, this does not mean that the original Sui and Tang Grand Canal was abandoned. Instead, both canals were used together to maximize the efficiency of water transport.

Moreover, there are several intersections between these two canals, allowing ships to transfer or adjust their routes when necessary.

This design not only preserved the historical legacy of the Sui and Tang Grand Canal, but also fully utilized the economic and strategic value of the new canal, making the exchange of goods between the north and south more convenient and injecting new vitality into the prosperity of the Song Dynasty.

When Zhao Yu returned to the capital this time, he led the Shenji Vanguard Army and the Shenji Central Army to the rear, while he himself led a small fleet to return to the capital discreetly. He did not require local officials to receive him along the way, and he ate and slept on the boat.

It's convenient, fast, and safe.

Of course, the local authorities still needed to be notified, since they would have to send people to coordinate the route and make other ships give way to Zhao Yu's fleet.

During the journey, they passed through a village in Jining. Zhao Yu suddenly wanted to visit the small village and take a break from the long journey.

Therefore, Zhao Yu led Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Liang Hongyu, Liang Damei, Liang Xiaomei, Empress Qinxian (Heshilie clan) and Consort De (Pusan ​​clan) of Wanyan Aguda, Princess Huizhao (Pucha clan) of Wanyan Zongjun (who was also the mother of Emperor Xizong of Jin, Wanyan Dan), Princess Ai (Tudan clan) and Empress Cixian (Da clan) of Wanyan Zonggan (who was also the stepmother of Emperor Hailing, Wanyan Liang), Princess Tangkuo (Tangkuo clan) of Wanyan Zongwang, Princess Pucha (Pucha clan) of Wanyan Zongfu, Li Hongyuan, and Wang Shunchen and three hundred other guards, each capable of fighting a hundred men, into the village.

Upon seeing a house with its bamboo door half-open, Zhao Yu knocked and entered.

There was only an old woman at home, so Zhao Yu started chatting with her. The old woman asked Zhao Yu his surname, and Zhao Yu replied, "My surname is Zhao. I live in Tokyo. I'm returning from a trip and preparing to reunite with my wife and children."

The old woman looked at Zhang Chun, Li Lin, and the other women and asked, "Who are you ladies?"

Zhao Yu smiled and said, "Concubines and mistresses."

Seeing that Zhang Chun and the others were all beautiful and graceful, with some even possessing exotic charms, the old woman complimented them, saying, "My lord, you are truly blessed."

Zhao Yu asked, "How have you been these past few years?"

The old woman smiled and said, "Okay."

Without Zhao Yu pressing for answers, the old woman continued, “After His Majesty ascended the throne, he married Consort Yuan, Consort Ma, and Consort Ye. Consort Yuan reformed agriculture, increasing yields per mu several times over. Consort Ma invented many kinds of farming tools and machinery, making farming much easier. Consort Ye created the ‘Ye Shiyun Medical Classic,’ teaching us poor people that there are ways to treat illnesses, so that minor illnesses don’t turn into major ones, and major illnesses don’t leave us to die. His Majesty also ordered the reconstruction of water conservancy projects and the dredging of waterways, so that our fields are no longer afraid of droughts and floods. He also implemented two new policies, abolishing the poll tax and frequently reducing our taxes, allowing us to do side jobs to supplement our income. Life is so much better than before.”

As the old woman spoke, a satisfied and happy smile spread across her face. That smile reflected her appreciation for the present moment and her firm expectation for a better future.

Hearing the old woman only mention Yuan Qingcheng, Ma Xiaojiao, and Ye Shiyun's names, and not mention the two girls at all, Zhang Chun and Li Lin felt a little annoyed.

The five of them traveled through time together and married Zhao Yu together. Over the years, the two of them worked very hard, even more so than Yuan Qingcheng, Ma Xiaojiao, and Ye Shiyun. But in the end, no one knew their names, or even that Zhao Yu had married them.

Zhang Chun thought to herself, 'I can tolerate others, and although Yuan Qingcheng and Ma Xiaojiao haven't worked as hard as Lin Jie and me over the years, to be fair, they've accomplished a lot. But Ye Shiyun, that lazy bum who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun, has had a monument erected and a shrine built for her simply because she memorized a copy of "The Barefoot Doctor's Manual"—that's just too unfair!'

To be honest, Zhang Chun and Li Lin have actually done the most work over the years.

Over the years, Zhang Chun has been working like a man possessed, devoting himself to helping Zhao Yu with government affairs every day, even more diligently than Zhao Yu himself.

Li Lin, on the other hand, devoted himself wholeheartedly to military affairs, keeping an eye on every army and every military matter of the Song Dynasty for Zhao Yu. Li Lin was definitely the biggest contributor behind the scenes to the Song Dynasty's military strength becoming so strong.

Unfortunately, despite Zhang Chun and Li Lin's immense sacrifices, almost no one except Zhao Yu knew about their contributions.

Zhang Chun and Li Lin were well aware that in the future, history books would mostly only record the names of Ma Xiaojiao, Ye Shiyun, and Yuan Qingcheng. At most, they would be recorded as Zhao Yu's imperial concubines, Zhang and Li, without even their own names being mentioned.

Hmm... Li Lin also has the Li Lin cannon and the Li Lin gun, so perhaps she can leave a mark on military history by inventing firearms.

If Zhang Chun hadn't become Zhao Yu's empress, there probably wouldn't have been much of a record of her in history books, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that her time travel was in vain.

This was one of the reasons why Zhang Chun so desperately cultivated her sons. If any of them were to become successful and ascend to the throne as the next emperor of the Song Dynasty, she would certainly become Zhao Yu's empress. Even posthumously, she would be granted the title of empress, just like when Zhao Gou became emperor, his mother, Lady Wei, even though she was disliked by Zhao Ji and had given birth to two sons for Wanyan Zongxian, still became one of Zhao Ji's empresses.

If that day ever comes, perhaps Zhang Chun's efforts over the years will finally leave a mark on history.

However, even if she does get her wish, Zhang Chun estimates that her fame will be far less than that of Ma Xiaojiao, Ye Shiyun, and Yuan Qingcheng, and may even be less than that of Li Lin.

To this, Zhang Chun could only helplessly mutter to herself, 'Choices are truly more important than effort!'

Zhao Yu had no idea what Zhang Chun and Li Lin were thinking, nor did he care what they thought. With so many women in his life, if he had to guess their every thought, he wouldn't have anything else to do.

One could even say that Zhao Yu would rather guess the old woman's thoughts than try to guess Zhang Chun and Li Lin's. 'This old lady speaks so well, could someone have taught her beforehand?'

It's no wonder that Zhao Yu had such thoughts. After all, even though the emperor is at the pinnacle of power, he is often the most isolated from information. Layers upon layers of human hearts and interests always weave an invisible net, isolating the real world from the outside world and presenting only a carefully embellished "peace" to the emperor.

Throughout history, there have been countless examples of this.

Emperor Hui of Jin, Sima Zhong, famously asked, "Why don't they eat meat porridge?" This phrase has become a classic example of an emperor detached from reality. When the people were starving and forced to dig up grass roots and eat clay, he was perplexed, asking, "If there's no grain, why don't they drink meat porridge?" Behind this lies a breakdown in information transmission—the hardships of the common people were filtered through layers of officials, failing to reach the emperor's ears. This left him completely unaware of the real plight of the people, and he could only rely on his experience within the palace walls to utter absurd words.

During the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Juzheng implemented reforms such as the Single Whip Tax System, intending to reverse the dynasty's decline. However, when these reforms affected many vested interests, various slanders and false information flooded the Wanli Emperor's court. Local officials, in order to protect their own interests, concealed the reforms' effectiveness, exaggerated the difficulties in implementation, and aroused public resentment. Over time, the Wanli Emperor's understanding of the reforms gradually deviated from reality, ultimately leading to the failure to fully consolidate the reforms' achievements and the inability to completely eradicate the Ming Dynasty's deep-seated problems.

The emperor was surrounded by layers of people, who, for their own protection or personal gain, intentionally or unintentionally filtered and altered information, forming a solid information cocoon.

This meant that what the emperor heard was mostly flattery, and what he saw was mostly a deliberately constructed illusion.

As a time traveler, Zhao Yu had access to secret service agencies such as the Imperial City Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. No one could easily fool Zhao Yu.

However, this doesn't mean that no one dared to try and deceive Zhao Yu. After all, faced with the lure of enormous profits, some people will always take the risk.

At least Zhao Yu had to be wary of this, lest he be kept in the dark.

Based on this, Zhao Yu asked the old woman, "Is everything good? Are there any shortcomings or things that need attention?"

The old woman thought for a moment and said, "There is indeed something that His Majesty may not know, or something great may happen..."

……

(End of this chapter)