I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 81 Servant Li Shishi

...

When Zhang Dun heard Zhao Ya mention the money, he fell silent.

This is a realistic problem that cannot be avoided.

Moreover, as the prime minister of the Zhao Song Dynasty, Zhang Dun had to face this difficult problem directly.

It is no exaggeration to say that the memorials asking for military funds almost buried Zhang Dun. Zhang Dun's cousin Zhang Yu wrote him letter after letter urging him to pay for military funds and rewards for the Battle of Pingxia City.

Now, as Zhao Ya said, the emperor does not want hungry soldiers. If the previously overdue military pay and rewards are not paid before the army sets out, how can the soldiers on the front line serve the Zhao Song Dynasty?
But the question is, where does this money come from?
This year's fiscal revenue has long been spent, and we still owe a lot of foreign debt, and next year's fiscal revenue has not yet been collected.

Moreover, since most of the land of the Zhao Song Dynasty was in the hands of dignitaries, prominent families, and wealthy families who did not have to pay taxes, even if the two taxes were collected, they would not be much.

The only hope now is commercial tax, but that won’t be collected until next year.

Besides, next year’s finances will have next year’s uses. If we spend all of this year’s money in advance, how will we survive next year?
At this stage, the Zhao Song Dynasty was maintained by the money Cai Jing earned from selling discarded items.

It was fortunate that Zhao Ya came up with this brilliant plan for the court when he was a prince, otherwise Zhang Dun would not know how he had gotten through this period of time.

It is worth mentioning that it was precisely because Zhang Dun personally experienced the benefits that Zhao Ya brought to the Zhao Song Dynasty that he "betrayed" Zhao Xu, who had been kind to him, at the last moment. For the future of the Zhao Song Dynasty, he chose Zhao Ya, who was more likely to save the Zhao Song Dynasty, as the new emperor.

To be honest, Zhang Dun was very disappointed with Zhao Ya's performance after he ascended the throne, because not only did Zhao Ya fail to completely kill the old party, loosen his shackles, and let him devote himself to reform, but he also recalled all the old party members that he had driven away with great difficulty back to the court, showing signs of revival of the old party.

Zhang Dun also knew that this was not Zhao Ya's intention, but the intention of Empress Dowager Xiang who helped Zhao Ya become emperor.

However, Zhang Dun still believed in his ability to judge people. With Zhao Ya's insight, it was impossible for him not to see that if the Zhao Song Dynasty did not resolutely embark on the path of reform, it would be over. If they wanted to resolutely carry out reform, they could only rely on their new party, and those old parties who pretended to obey but actually disobeyed were the biggest obstacle to reform.

Also, although Zhao Ya was now restricted because of Empress Dowager Xiang, he was still trying his best to plan for the Zhao Song Dynasty. The three strategies he came up with were ironclad evidence.

By the way, the reason why Zhang Dun praised these three strategies so much just now was not only because he was trying to stabilize Zhao Ya and prevent Zhao Ya from turning to the old party, but also because he really felt that these three strategies were very ingenious and should be able to relieve a lot of pressure on him.

However, although these three strategies are ingenious, none of them can make money immediately.

Zhao Ya, who is the best at making money, has tried his best, but there is still no military funding. What should he do?
Seeing that Zhang Dun still wouldn't respond, Zhao Ya could only give him a further warning: "The other day, Sima Guang and his ilk gave the territory conquered by the previous emperor and his ministers to the Western Xia, disregarding the efforts of the previous emperor and his ministers and wasting the blood of the soldiers on the front lines. Whenever I think of their treasonous behavior, I wish I could confiscate their property and interrogate their clans. But, at that time, I was just a child and was powerless. What could I do..."

……

Not long after, Zhang Dun came out of Chuigong Hall.

Zeng Bu, Cai Bian, Cai Jing and other New Party ministers came forward to greet him and asked, "What is your Majesty's intention?"

"Your Majesty supports Yao Bing." Zhang Dun said.

Cai Bian was delighted, Zeng Bu frowned slightly, and Cai Jing remained calm.

"However, Your Majesty is worried about military expenses and asked us to find a solution. Otherwise, even if he supports us, it will be useless." Zhang Dun said again.

This time, Zeng Bu's brows relaxed, Cai Bian's brows were furrowed, and Cai Jing remained calm.

"Are you sure that His Majesty supports Yao Bing?" Zeng Bu confirmed.

Zhang Dun originally did not want to pay attention to the traitor Zeng Bu, but now that the old party has returned, Zhao Ya has promoted the two brothers Su Zhe and Su Shi to be prime ministers. If Su Song and Fan Chunren were not too old and refused Zhao Ya's "re-employment", the court would have been even more lively.

Under such political circumstances, Zhang Dun was forced to unite the conservatives in the New Party, namely Zeng Bu, An Tao, Li Qingchen and others, otherwise it would be difficult to suppress the Old Party.

But after bringing Zeng Bu and others over, there was a problem. The conservatives in these new parties were too unsteady in their political stance and always questioned him.

Suppressing his antipathy towards Zeng Bu, Zhang Dun said, "When your Majesty mentioned the matter of Sima Guang returning the land, you were filled with righteous indignation and wanted to confiscate his property and interrogate his clan. Unfortunately, your Majesty was only a child at the time and was powerless to do anything."

When Zhang Dun said this, the expressions of Zeng Bu, Cai Bian and Cai Jing all froze.

When Zhang Dun saw this, he also realized that Zhao Ya was a child at that time, but not now. So what Zhao Ya meant was... to settle accounts with these people?
"Sir, this is a God-given opportunity." Cai Jing reminded Zhang Dun.

They have all been in the officialdom for decades, so how could they not know what Cai Jing meant?
Now, it is obvious that the enterprising emperor Zhao Ya was stumped by money, so he "tried every possible means to cure his illness".

For the ministers, Zhao Ya's idea was actually very dangerous.

Because things change over time, who can guarantee that they will not lose power one day?

You have to know that when Sima Guang was in power, he was in great glory. He was a capable general of the New Party and a provincial governor. He could do whatever he wanted to anyone. But now he might have his property confiscated and his family investigated.

And if everyone defends the principle of not punishing literati and officials, and even constantly brainwashes the emperor to make him insist on not punishing literati and officials, then even if everyone loses power in the future, at least they will not end up in a miserable situation.

Take Sima Guang, for example. Zhao Xu clearly hated him, but didn't he still leave him with some dignity? Isn't Sima Guang still an official now? Even Sima Guang's descendants, such as his adopted son Sima Kang and his grandson Sima Ji, are still officials now?
Once the struggle escalates to the point of confiscating property and questioning the clan, if you fail in the struggle, you will also suffer the same fate.

But then again, although there is no house search and family investigation now, Sima Guang and others did a lot when the old party had the upper hand before. They sent these new party members into exile one after another, tossing them from east to west, from west to north, and from north to south, torturing them to death or making them suffer.

Moreover, as long as you lose power, your descendants will never be able to make a name for themselves. Your political enemies will definitely suppress your descendants and make it impossible for them to make a name for themselves. You can't let them keep a tiger as a threat and wait for your descendants to retaliate against them or their descendants, right?
Therefore, the consequences of failure in political struggles have always been extremely tragic, even if there is a bottom line that scholars and officials should not be punished.

Cai Jing saw this clearly, so he advised Zhang Dun to take advantage of Zhao Ya's desperate attempt to overthrow the old party and realize their political ambitions.

Zhang Dun, who was originally a hardliner, was tempted.

What Zhao Ya wanted to settle accounts with were the ministers who advocated giving up territory at the time and labeled them traitors.

At that time, with Sima Guang coming to power, New Party leaders such as Cai Que, Zhang Dun, and Han Zhen were successively banished from the court. The court's debate at that time shifted from whether to give up territory to which places to give away.

Fan Chunren and Fan Chuncui advocated abandoning the four villages of Jialu, Mizhi, Futu and Anjiang.

Su Che, Liu Zhi and others advocated that Lanzhou could also be abandoned.

Sima Guang and Wen Yanbo believed that the entire Xihe Road could be abandoned.

Later, An Tao, Lü Gongzhu, and others objected. Lü Gongzhu pointed out that Lanzhou was Xifan territory, not originally part of the Xia people, and that the Xia and Rong people were insatiable, so giving it away would only encourage them to invade. Sun Lu, who had previously served in Shaanxi, also presented a map pointing out the dangers of giving up Lanzhou. Only then did Sima Guang give up his insistence on ceding the entire Xihe Road.

In the end: Sima Guang and other old party members finally ceded the four villages of Jialu, Mizhi, Futu and Anjiang to Western Xia.

From this perspective, it is possible to expel Su Che, who had just been summoned back to the court by Zhao Ya, from the court again.

Not to mention that most of the old party members who were in charge of the government at that time supported giving up territory. If we seize this opportunity and pursue them relentlessly, even if we cannot drive all of the old party members out of the court, we can still deal a heavy blow to the old party.

Seeing Zhang Dun's eyes becoming increasingly determined, even surging with murderous intent, Zeng Bu advised: "We need to think twice before acting on this matter. After all..."

Before Zeng Bu could finish, Cai Bian strongly supported him, saying, "This opportunity is fleeting. If we allow them to win, we will be the ones to suffer. Furthermore, have you ever considered that since Your Majesty has such intentions, there's no guarantee they won't exploit this and turn the tables on us."

After Cai Bian’s reminder, Zeng Bu felt nervous!
Yes! If the New Party is too soft-hearted, those in the Old Party who have no bottom line will rush to provide Zhao Ya with a batch of piggy banks from the New Party.

You know, there are also many people in the New Party who abuse their power for personal gain, and are extremely corrupt, both from top to bottom.

What Zhao Ya wants is to get military funds. Who can he get it from?

Moreover, the old party now has the protection of Empress Dowager Xiang, whom Zhao Ya respected, so it may not be impossible for them to take this opportunity to severely damage their new party.

In this case, it is not a question of whether the new party will deal with the old party, but if the new party does not deal with the old party, the old party may deal with the new party.

What should I do?
It is better for me to die than for my friend to die.

Zhang Dun made up his mind: "Quickly draw up a list."

……

In the harem.

After Li Lin and her other daughters teased Zhang Chun, the fifth daughter went to Pei Sui together to ask for a maid.

Pei Sui knew that Zhao Ya doted on the five girls very much. Often, when Zhao Ya met with the five girls, he would not allow anyone to accompany him.

Moreover, when serving Zhao Ya, Pei Sui had hinted at Zhao Ya's attitude towards Ma Xiaojiao. Zhao Ya's response was that he must be polite to Ma Xiaojiao and her four sisters, not to provoke them, and as long as they did not act too abnormally, he should leave them alone.

Later, Pei Sui asked Zheng Xiansu how to treat the five daughters and told him about Zhao Ya's attitude towards the five daughters. Zheng Xiansu told Pei Sui to listen to Zhao Ya first and that he would personally handle matters related to the five daughters after she got married.

With the explanation from Zhao Ya and Zheng Xiansu, how could Pei Sui possibly make things difficult for the five girls?

So, when Pei Sui learned that the five girls had come to ask for maids with Zhao Ya's approval, he was very tactful and called all the potential maids over and let the five girls choose for themselves.

After experiencing the mistake last night, Zhang Chun reflected on it and concluded: the reason why she was taken advantage of by the two palace maids who served Zhao Ya in bathing was mainly because she had no maid.

If she had a smarter maid, how could she have let Zhao Ya escape? It is even more impossible for her to be eaten by two low-class palace maids.

So, before coming, Zhang Chun had made up her mind that she must pick two maids who could help her today.

Moreover, Zhang Chun was well aware that maids played a crucial role in competing for favor in the harem.

Let's put it this way, if she had a seductive maid, Zhao Ya would definitely go to her more often. Even if one day, her maid was taken as a concubine by Zhao Ya, she would be her natural ally and a natural helper in her harem political struggles. It can even be said that the more successful her maid is, the greater her power will be.

Based on this understanding, Zhang Chun's criteria for selecting maids is that they must not only be smart but also beautiful, worthy of her training, and able to become capable subordinates under her in the future.

"Please raise your heads and teach the ladies how to choose."

Following the female official's order, hundreds of palace maids raised their heads together.

In an instant, Zhang Chun's eyes were fixed on a little palace maid who was about ten years old.

Although this little palace maid wore exactly the same palace maid uniform and had the same sparse bun as the other palace maids, she still looked very different. It was a difference in her graceful and elegant demeanor that was completely beyond her appearance.

"That's you!"

Zhang Chun took a liking to this little palace maid at first sight.

But before Zhang Chun could open her mouth, Ye Shiyun took the lead and pointed at the little palace maid and said, "I want her, yes, that's you, come here quickly, sister."

After hearing what was said, the little palace maid stepped out of the line and walked towards Ye Shiyun.

Seeing the two steps taken by the little palace maid, Zhang Chun was shocked to find that every step of this little palace maid could reach the heart of a man, with precise sniping, and her small waist was slender and when she twisted it, it was not a waist at all, but a deadly knife.

'Oh my god, this is a little girl in her teens? ! ! !'

"Compared to her, Ye Shiyun is nothing but a worthless fairy!!!"

Soon, the little palace maid walked in front of Ye Shiyun.

Ye Shiyun pinched the little maid's flawless face and said, "You are so beautiful. I want you."

Zhang Chun quickly stopped him: "I like her too, please give her to me."

Ye Shiyun rolled her eyes: "Why?"

Zhang Chun rolled his eyes and said, "If you give her to me, I'll write off all your experience as my maid and never mention it again. How about that?"

Ye Shiyun was a little moved.

Although Ye Shiyun did not admit that she had been a maid for Zhang Chun, she was actually quite grateful to Zhang Chun.

You know, during that period, not only did Zhang Chun not let her do anything a maid should do, but no matter what delicious food Zhang Chun got, he would bring her a portion. If he got less, Zhang Chun would rather not eat it himself and would give it to her.

Moreover, Zhang Chun has been protecting and taking care of her.

Judging from this experience, she really owes Zhang Chun.

So, seeing that Zhang Chun was offering to erase that experience as a condition, and in exchange for nothing more than a maid, Ye Shiyun said, "Okay, it's a deal, no regrets allowed."

Zhang Chun was too lazy to pay attention to Ye Shiyun. She waved to the little palace maid and said, "Come here quickly."

After hearing this, the little palace maid looked at Ye Shiyun politely.

Ye Shiyun patted the little maid's head apologetically: "I'm sorry."

The little palace maid then came to Zhang Chun.

Zhang Chun said to the young maid happily, "From now on, I am your master. We will share honor and disgrace, and advance and retreat together."

The young palace maid bowed and said, "I, the servant Li, will obey you from now on."

Zhang Chun said happily, "Get up." Then he casually asked, "What's your name?"

The little palace maid replied: "My servant's name is Shishi..."

……

(End of this chapter)