I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 53 The Prince is Sick
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People can't afford to be early if they don't have any advantage.

Zhao Ya stated that no matter how many glass products Cai Jing helped him sell, he would give him a 10% commission.

Cai Jing was short of money to maintain his official career and enjoy his life, so how could he miss this opportunity to make a lot of money easily?
Besides, Zhao Ya was very sensible in his actions. He did not sell military equipment such as telescopes. He sold glass windows, glass mirrors, glass crafts, and glasses, a black technology that was born a hundred years earlier.

As for the high pricing?
Although Ma Xiaojiao's method is very scientific and the skilled craftsmen recruited by Huang Jingchen are skilled enough, the output of glass, especially colorless glass, is still not high. Without raising the price, the supply cannot be guaranteed.

The key point is that these glass products are not positioned for the poor, but as luxury goods specifically for the rich.

You know, Zhao Ya had specifically ordered that the first thing to focus on when making these glass products was exquisiteness.

For example, glass crafts and glassware were all made by craftsmen who originally made official porcelain for the royal family and were retrained by Ma Xiaojiao.

Zhao Ya believed that some extravagant people of this era, such as Zhao Ji, would definitely be willing to pay for these glass products.

In short, Zhao Ya and Cai Jing hit it off, and Zhao Ya's glass products would soon enter the most complete and largest sales channels of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

When Zhao Ya saw Cai Jing off, Cai Jing hesitated for a moment before probing him: "If the Song Dynasty wishes to eradicate poverty, enrich the nation and strengthen its military, we must resolutely reform the system. Otherwise, it will be impossible. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Zhao Ya said calmly, "I also know that only reform can bring about a revival. Unfortunately, I am a prince, and I have no power to help."

Cai Jing sighed and said goodbye...

……

During this period, Zhao Xu was very proud!
First, Concubine Liu gave birth to a son for him, solving the problem of succession of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

At the same time, the Song army first defeated the Xia army, establishing a strategic advantage for the Zhao Song Dynasty. They also captured Qingtang, established Shanzhou and Huangzhou, and appointed the Longyou Jiedushi, further consolidating the Zhao Song Dynasty's control over the Hehuang region.

After a series of defeats, Western Xia was forced to seek peace with the Zhao Song Dynasty.

During this process, the Western Xia sought help from the Liao Kingdom. In order to maintain the three-way balance between the Song, Liao and Xia, Emperor Dao Zong of Liao, Yelü Hongji, sent envoy Xiao De Chong with jade to Bianliang City, demanding that the Zhao Song Dynasty stop using military force against the Western Xia.

Zhao Xu sent Cai Jing as his representative to strongly refute the Liao Kingdom's interference in the country's internal affairs, emphasizing that Western Xia was a vassal of the Zhao Song Dynasty. The Liao envoy returned empty-handed.

It can be said that during this period, the Zhao Song Dynasty temporarily suppressed the Western Xia and intimidated the Liao Kingdom through military victories and diplomatic games, achieving a rare highlight moment since the founding of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

In addition, Cai Jing only made a preliminary inventory of the treasuries of the various departments in the imperial city and led people to estimate the price of the accumulated old materials, and he came to the good news that these "junks" could be sold for at least 10 million strings of cash.

The key point is that this money is not counted as the fiscal revenue of the Zhao Song Dynasty and can be flexibly used by Zhao Xu. It doesn't matter whether he uses the money to fight wars or do other things.

Because of all the good news, Zhao Xu has been in a state of excitement for a while, and the unhealthy blush on his face is getting more and more serious.

But Zhao Xu not only did not feel anything wrong, but also worked even harder to handle state affairs.

At the same time, Liu Qingjing was not a pushover. As soon as she left the confinement period, she desperately asked Zhao Xu for money. She wanted to have another son and buy insurance.

Zhao Xu also felt that having only Zhao Mao as his son was not a guarantee, so despite his physical discomfort, he was still working hard, hoping that Liu Qingjing, who had already made a contribution, could make another one.

Runjiu month Jiazi.

Zhao Xu got off Liu Qingjing panting.

A flash of disappointment flashed across Liu Qingjing's eyes.

Although he was very dissatisfied with Zhao Xu's performance, Liu Qingjing still praised Zhao Xu's vigor and strength insincerely and encouraged Zhao Xu to rest for a while before fighting again.

At this moment, the palace maid who was taking care of Zhao Mao came to report: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is sick!!!"

Zhao Xu, who was extremely nervous about Zhao Mao, broke out in a cold sweat on the spot!
But how could Zhao Xu care about such a small matter?
He quickly got out of bed, took his nightgown from the maid, and hurried towards the side hall where Zhao Mao was, shouting, "Quickly call the imperial physician!!!"

Liu Qingjing was no different, rushing to the side hall where Zhao Mao was in dishevel. Soon, a group of imperial doctors on duty came to treat Zhao Mao.

Soon, all the imperial doctors who had gone home to rest were summoned back to the palace to hold a consultation for Zhao Mao.

Soon, the news that Zhao Mao was ill reached Cide Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiang felt a tightness in her heart!
In her experience, young children rarely get sick before they are six months old.

If a young child becomes ill during this period, it may be dangerous.

At this time, Zhang Chun came to Empress Dowager Xiang and said in a low voice, "Empress Dowager, make preparations early."

As soon as Zhang Chun said this, Empress Dowager Xiang immediately remembered what Zhao Ya had told her before. Zhang Chun deduced that within ten days, something major would happen that would determine the life and death of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

What major event could have such an impact on the destiny of the Zhao Song Dynasty?
Crown Prince? !!!
Empress Dowager Xiang's pupils shrank. She suddenly looked at Zhang Chun and asked in a very serious manner, "Crown Prince..."

Zhang Chun nodded affirmatively.

Empress Dowager Xiang was horrified: "The prince will die young?!!!"

If this is true, it would be a huge deal.

This means that the Zhao Song Dynasty will no longer have its most legitimate heir.

If this is true, who is suitable to be the crown prince?

The first person that flashed through Empress Dowager Xiang’s mind was Zhao Ya.

However, according to past cases, if the emperor had no son, he would adopt a son to inherit his throne.

For example, the fourth emperor of the Zhao Song Dynasty, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen, had three princes, but all of them died young. In the end, he adopted Zhao Zongshi, the thirteenth son of Pu Wang Zhao Yunrang, as his adopted son, who later became Song Yingzong.

"If the Crown Prince dies young, Your Majesty, being in the prime of life and having just had a son, will not immediately adopt him, but will continue to attempt to give birth to a prince until there is no hope, and only then will you take this path."

"At this time, I should wait and see what happens. I must not act rashly, or I might end up in trouble."

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Xiang did not listen to Zhang Chun's advice to make preparations, but acted as if she didn't know that Zhao Mao was going to die, and even her expression did not change.

——"Mount Tai collapses in front of her but she remains calm, a deer appears on her left but she doesn't blink" describes the Empress Dowager Xiang at that time.

Seeing that his words were in vain, Zhang Chun was very depressed. "No, this is your reaction to such a big thing? You won't do anything, or discuss it with me? Otherwise, you can just be shocked!"

Who would have thought that Empress Dowager Xiang not only had no intention of discussing the matter with Zhang Chun, but also waved her hand, signaling Zhang Chun to go down.

Zhang Chun walked out while complaining in his heart:
"This old witch is so annoying! She didn't give me any room to perform at all. It's a pity I've been preparing for several days!"

"Luckily, I kept a trick up my sleeve. I only told her that Zhao Mao would die, but I didn't tell her that Zhao Xu would die too. Humph!"

"Well... although this old witch can hold onto power for a few days, she's stubborn and stubborn, and she won't listen to my advice. The key is, she doesn't have much longer to live. She's destined to be a flash in the pan. It's not worth wasting my time on her at all."

"Zhao Ya is still the best. He is gentle, considerate, magnanimous, and willing to listen to advice. He is a thousand times better than this old witch. Forget it. When Zhao Ya ascends the throne, I will go to Zhao Ya's side."

At the same time, Li Yan, who had spies throughout the palace, also received the news that Zhao Mao was ill.

To be honest, Li Yan did not take the news too seriously, but he still followed Zhao Ya's instructions and reported the news to Zhao Ya as soon as possible.

After hearing this, Zhao Ya thought to himself: "I have to ban Zhao Ji..."

……

(End of this chapter)