I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

...

After Zhao Yu regained power, he did not change the development path of the Song Dynasty and the world established during Zhao Shou's reign, nor did he touch the people arranged by Zhao Shou, including Qin Changjiao and others who had "forced the emperor to abdicate" at that time.

Originally, Qin Changjiao and his group were worried that Zhao Yu would settle scores with them later because they dared to "force the emperor to abdicate." Some of the cowardly ones even committed suicide.

As a result, Zhao Yuli ignored them completely.

Qin Changjiao and the others quickly interpreted this as Zhao Yu giving them a chance to redeem themselves.

After seeing through Zhao Yu's deeper intentions in not killing or punishing him, Qin Changjiao and other supporters of Zhao Ziwen, who were living in constant fear, decisively severed ties with Zhao Ziwen.

Then, the fear of losing power and being destroyed transformed into extreme action, enabling Qin Changjiao and others to firmly grasp the overall national policy set by Zhao Shousheng before his death, and to push the various strategies to the extreme in execution and expansion with a do-or-die mentality.

Specifically, they closely followed the logic of the industrial foundation established in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of maritime trade during the Age of Exploration, thus laying out a development pattern that swept the globe.

Qin Changjiao and others personally oversaw the reform of the port system in the coastal territory. They ordered the deep excavation of the harbor basins of all the core ports in the Song Dynasty, the widening of stone wharves, the construction of moisture-proof storage and cargo distribution workshops, the designation of exclusive berthing areas for ocean-going merchant ships, and the improvement of pilotage, maintenance, and supply facilities. This completely broke the old pattern of scattered and inefficient ports and laid a solid land base for global maritime trade.

Qin Changjiao and others also reorganized the regulations of the Maritime Trade Office, eliminated redundant and harsh taxes, and formulated unified and transparent trade tax rules and inspection procedures. With the strategy of low taxes to benefit merchants and heavy military escort, they attracted merchant ships from foreign vassal states to flock to the area.

At the same time, Qin Changjiao and others also requested the court to send people to sort out the key waterways in the South Seas, the Indian Ocean, and the Western Ocean, establish permanent escort and inspection stations and trade outposts, finalize the sea route passage agreement, connect the scattered maritime trade routes into a global sea route, open up all maritime trade channels, and enter the initial stage of large-scale operation.

Driven by the need for maritime trade expansion, Qin Changjiao and others also propelled the Song Dynasty into a stage of intensive industrial development during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution.

They relaxed the ban on the establishment of workshops, encouraged private capital to jointly establish large-scale workshops for iron smelting, steelmaking, shipbuilding, textiles, porcelain making, glassmaking, and rubber, and promoted water-powered, coal-fired, and even electric-powered machinery to improve production efficiency and output. This enabled the Song Dynasty's traditional commodities and core export goods, such as light and heavy industrial products, to be produced in batches to meet the huge demand of ocean trade.

Qin Changjiao and his men never dared to slack off in the slightest, and all their strategic efforts were devoted to the implementation and upgrading of Zhao Shou's old strategy.

They knew that only by allowing industry, maritime trade, and commerce to flourish in an irreversible manner, and by continuously increasing the national strength of the Song Dynasty, could they preserve their own power and lives.

This extreme implementation, initially intended as a means of atonement, inadvertently aligns with the development patterns of the nascent industrial era and the Age of Exploration, propelling the Song Dynasty's development onto an unprecedented fast track.

All of this was under Zhao Yu's cold and indifferent control, becoming a key driving force for the rise of the Song Dynasty.

At the same time, under Zhao Yu's leadership, other officials of the Song Dynasty were also dredging inland waterways, repairing and widening land post roads and railways, accelerating the research and development of industrial products such as trains, automobiles, ships, airships, and even airplanes, cracking down on bandits and officials' exploitation on trade routes, ensuring the efficient flow of goods within and outside the country, realizing the smooth flow of goods and the full utilization of resources, supporting maritime trade exports with industrial production, and using foreign trade profits to support industrial development, forming a closed-loop economic growth model.

To solidify the foundation of commercial development, Li Gang personally oversaw the unification of weights and measures and the circulation of currency worldwide, improved commercial contract laws, and clearly stipulated the rights, responsibilities, transactions, and dispute resolution details of private commerce, eliminating merchants' concerns about business operations and stimulating the enthusiasm of private capital investment.

As a result, countless wealthy merchants abandoned the old ideas of prioritizing agriculture and suppressing commerce, shifting their assets from farms to workshops and fleets, forming joint ventures to build ocean-going merchant fleets, applying for voyage permits, or joining the imperial court's major railway plan, throwing themselves into the wave of global maritime trade.

The rapid rise of commercial power became the core force supporting the national economy and people's livelihood of the Song Dynasty.

The national treasury was filled with taxes from maritime trade and industrial workshops, and the people's livelihood gradually improved due to the prosperity of commerce. The economic structure of the Song Dynasty was quietly transforming into a new model dominated by industry and commerce and centered on maritime trade.

By this time, land tax accounted for less than 20% of the Song Dynasty's fiscal revenue.

During this period, Zhao Yu did not forget to select and cultivate his successor.

After careful consideration and comparison, Zhao Yu gradually selected his successor.

This person is Zhao Di, the first son born to Zhao Yu by Ma Xiaojiao.

To be honest, Zhao Di can't be considered a polymath; he's too focused on martial arts.

This is actually somewhat inconsistent with the fact that the Song Dynasty, which has already conquered the whole world, is now focusing on civil administration.

Zhao Yu did not initially intend to choose Zhao Di as his successor.

However, two years ago, the remnants of the holy war forces in Central Asia secretly colluded with the remnants of the old world forces in Central Asia and even the Western Regions, hoarding weapons and intercepting the commercial trains of the Song Dynasty. Even worse, they raised the banner of "restoration" in the Pamir Mountains, not only shaking the Song Dynasty's vassal states in Central Asia, but also intending to shake the foundation of the Song Dynasty's homeland in the western frontier.

After this incident, many conservative ministers advocated using the traditional methods of the Song Dynasty for dealing with internal strife, namely, offering amnesty.

Frankly speaking, the Song Dynasty's strategy of pacifying rebels and then using them to suppress other unrest was the essence of governance honed over two hundred years of national history.

Historically, during the more than 300 years of the Northern and Southern Song dynasties, a total of 434 peasant uprisings and rebellions were recorded in historical records, averaging 1.4 times per year. These uprisings occurred one after another, but none of them were able to shake the foundation of the country or overthrow the state. The Northern Song dynasty perished in the Jingkang Incident, and the Southern Song dynasty was destroyed in the Battle of Yamen. Both were destroyed by foreign cavalry and never died due to internal strife or peasant uprisings.

Its core lies in this sophisticated approach of combining appeasement and suppression, and using rebellion to control rebellion.

Upon closer examination, this approach is ingenious in several ways: first, it leverages the familiarity of those who have been granted amnesty with the terrain and local conditions, achieving twice the result with half the effort; second, it allows the rebel forces to weaken each other, preserving the court's elite troops; and third, it transforms centrifugal forces into a garrison, turning enemies into subjects and chaos into stability.

This method has long been the only way for the Song Dynasty to deal with internal turmoil, proving effective time and again and remaining as stable as a rock.

At this moment, war broke out in Central Asia. The policy of appeasement proposed by the conservative court officials was not entirely out of cowardice and avoidance of war, but rather an attempt to quell the unrest in Central Asia by using this method of pacification that had been effective for two hundred years since the Song Dynasty.

At this moment, Zhao Di stepped forward and said frankly: The situation in Central Asia is very different from that in the Song Dynasty. It is thousands of miles away from the Central Plains, separated by deserts and with different customs. The court is too far away to reach it. The old methods of appeasement and suppression of rebellion used by the Song Dynasty have become ineffective.

In Zhao Di's view, surrendering to the emperor could only temporarily quell the turmoil, but could not eradicate the hidden dangers. Those who surrendered today might rebel again tomorrow, and repeated harassment would eventually drag down the governance of the western frontier and cause endless troubles in the future.

Zhao Di believed that only by thoroughly eradicating the rebellious forces with swift and decisive measures, and by establishing authority through iron-fisted suppression, could all the fiefdoms and vassal states be deterred, making them revere the might of Heaven and dare not harbor any disloyal thoughts, thus ensuring long-term peace and stability across the global territory.

Zhao Yu agreed wholeheartedly, abandoned the idea of ​​appeasement, and decided to rely solely on military force to suppress the rebellion.

Zhao Yu appointed Zhao Di as the overall military and political leader of the Western Regions, mobilized elite firearms and the advantages of railway troop transport, and rushed to Central Asia to carry out a comprehensive extermination campaign. He left no room for surrender or any chance for compromise, and annihilated all those who resisted.

After receiving the order, Zhao Di immediately mobilized the Shenji Vanguard Army, the Shenji Left Army, and 30,000 cavalry, along with sufficient military supplies, and marched 3,000 li by train.

When the army arrived, they used hundreds of Li Lin cannons to bombard the ancient castle where the Ping Sheng War forces were stockpiling food and supplies, cutting off their supply lines.

Within three days, the rebel leader was bound and surrendered by his subordinates. The holy war forces in Central Asia and the old powers in Central Asia were terrified and surrendered one after another.

At this time, Zhao Di summoned the various vassal states of Central Asia and dispatched troops to join the imperial army in suppressing the bandits. In just over a month, all the rebellious forces were wiped out. Zhao Di ordered the casting of ten-year-old mounds of skulls to deter troublemakers, and the western frontier returned to peace.

Soon after, European vassal states, under the guise of "autonomy," arbitrarily closed ports, obstructed the Song Dynasty's maritime trade, and even plotted to assassinate trade envoys.

Zhao Di, who had just returned from Central Asia, was ordered by Zhao Yu to lead the Song navy to join forces with the Song vassal states in Europe to suppress these rebellious forces.

Zhao Di personally led the Song Dynasty's naval fleet to blockade the Strait of Gibraltar and bombard its coastal fortresses; at the same time, the Song Dynasty's vassal states in Europe dispatched their armies to rapidly transport troops by rail and directly attack its headquarters.

On the day the city fell, all the men who participated in the rebellion were executed, while the women were distributed among the various vassal states that had sent troops. The rebellious territory was divided into two vassal states by Zhao Yu and granted to the princes who had rendered meritorious service in the battle.

After these two battles, no one in the world dared to defy the Song Dynasty's orders.

Zhao Yu considered that the Song Dynasty had just unified the world, and the world was not yet completely stable. It was indeed necessary to have an iron-fisted emperor to stabilize the world.

Therefore, Zhao Di and other sons and grandsons with iron-fisted military prowess, grand governance strategies, and an open vision became important criteria for Zhao Yu in choosing his successor.

In this way, Zhao Di came into Zhao Yu's sights.

However, Zhao Di also had his shortcomings, namely, he was rigid in nature and lacked the gentleness and civility to govern.

Fortunately, Zhao Di had a good son.

Zhao Zichi was not only skilled in martial arts, but also kind and gentle, good at recognizing and employing people, stable in governing, and considerate of the people's livelihood. He had the potential to be a wise and virtuous ruler who could maintain the status quo.

One of Zhao Di's strengths was that he was open to advice, especially that of Zhao Zichi.

Under the tutelage of Zhao Yu and with the assistance of Zhao Zichi, Zhao Di realized that "one can conquer the world on horseback, but cannot govern it on horseback." He then widely promoted the Three-Tier System globally, recruited scholars and talents from both China and abroad, and imparted Central Plains culture and modern knowledge.

He respected culture and treated artisans well, which led to the rapid development of poetry, calligraphy, painting, crafts, and various skills. The civilization of the Central Plains spread like a spring breeze and rain, permeating the world.

In terms of personnel selection, Zhao Di was unconventional, employing people regardless of their background, ethnicity, or region, and only selecting those with talent.

In addition, Zhao Di was extremely diligent in his duties, reviewing memorials until late at night every day. Whether it was a disaster in a distant place or a matter concerning people's livelihood, he personally took charge and made decisive decisions without any hesitation.

The key point is that Zhao Di knew that the policies set by Zhao Yu and Zhao Shou were sound, and he was willing to follow their lead.

In conclusion, although Zhao Di was not a polymath skilled in both literature and military affairs, he was brave and decisive, and deeply understood that in chaotic times, harsh measures were necessary. He knew how to quell rebellions and stabilize the borders with iron-fisted might, and how to intimidate the surrounding barbarians with his formidable military might, so that no one in the world would dare to openly disobey orders or rebel. He was able to stabilize the most important foundation of the Song Dynasty, and should be considered a great ruler who could carry on the legacy of the past and usher in the future. He was also a key emperor who could steadily push the Song Dynasty to its peak.

After selecting his heir, Zhao Yu did not cling to the throne.

Soon, Zhao Yu issued an edict:

Three years have passed since the death of Empress Zheng, and the empress's palace has been vacant for a long time, which has always troubled my heart.

The female ruler is the mother of the nation, and the country cannot be without a central palace.

Consort Ma, a woman of wisdom and intelligence, was a master of mechanical engineering. For years, she devoted herself to creating hundreds of inventions, making significant contributions to industry, agriculture, and transportation. Her creations, such as steam engines, textile machines, and agricultural machinery, saved the people's labor, boosted various industries, and ushered in an unprecedented industrial era for the Song Dynasty, benefiting the people and the nation.

She possesses both talent and virtue, and is qualified to be the mother of the nation, harmonizing the yin and yang. Therefore, we hereby appoint Lady Ma as Empress, placing her in the central palace, and proclaim this to the world so that all may know.

This is it.

Not long after making Ma Xiaojiao empress, Zhao Yu issued another imperial edict, appointing Zhao Di as the prefect of Beijing and bestowing his own jade belt upon Zhao Di.

In addition, Zhao Yu also allowed Ma Xiaojiao to choose two palace maids, who were then given to Zhao Di by Zhao Yu to become his concubines.

At this point, Zhao Yu's signal that he intended to make Zhao Di the crown prince was very clear.

Three months later, Zhao Yu ordered his men to take out the imperial edict he had prepared from behind the plaque of "Upright and Bright," clearly indicating that Zhao Di was to be made crown prince.

At this time, Zhao Di was over forty years old and a very politically mature crown prince. There was no possibility that he would be unable to handle state affairs independently.

Therefore, Zhao Yu only served Zhao Di for a year before abdicating his throne to Zhao Di and becoming the retired emperor.

To Zhao Di's and many others' surprise, no sooner had Zhao Yu abdicated the throne to Zhao Di than he took his concubines and children who were not yet of marriageable age to live in the Chengde Mountain Resort, and made it clear that the Song Dynasty should not come to him for any further matters.

—After Zheng Xiansu passed away, Zhao Yu not only began to build his own imperial mausoleum, but also sent people to build a summer resort in Chengde for his retirement.

This time, Zhao Yu left very gracefully, even handing over military power to Zhao Di.

In addition, Zhao Yu handed over three of the four major secret service departments of the Song Dynasty to Zhao Di, leaving only the Embroidered Uniform Guard to serve him.

—Since Zhao Di had just ascended the throne and didn't have much money, these intelligence agencies were currently being funded by Zhao Yu.

Not long after Zhao Di ascended the throne, he personally went to the Summer Palace to meet Zhao Yu and celebrate Zhao Yu's sixty-third birthday.

During this time, the father and son had a private chat.

Upon returning, Zhao Di issued an imperial edict appointing Zhao Zichi as the crown prince.

From then on, the Song Dynasty entered the reign of Zhao Di and his son Zhao Zichi.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yu began his retirement life...

...(End of this chapter)