The prince is more stable

Chapter 966 The Period of Growing Pains
The situation is very serious; a civil unrest could result in many deaths.

Zhao Xiaoqian was deeply skeptical of Li Huai's memorial because it contained many illogical points.

Zhao Xiaoqian did not know Liu Zening; he had been personally promoted by Li Qingchen. However, Zhao Xiaoqian trusted the promotion process for officials in the Censorate, believing that someone of questionable character could never become a Censor.

If Liu Zening's previous conduct and tests were all an act, and his true colors were revealed when he was sent down to the countryside, then Zhao Xiaoqian had no choice but to admire him.

Even if we follow this logic, and everything was an act by Liu Zening, it doesn't make sense that someone with such a resilient and patient nature would reveal his true colors on his first trip away from Bianjing to Nanjing, extorting money and embezzling, and causing the people to rebel.

After enduring so much in Bianjing, is it reasonable to go down there just to greedily take a few measly coins, and even drive the people into rebellion?

Therefore, Zhao Xiaoqian intuitively felt that there was a problem with Li Huai's memorial to the throne in Nanjing, a very big problem.

All the blame was pinned on Liu Zening, but unfortunately, Liu Zening was dead and had no way to prove anything.

Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but think of the monkey's rampage in the underworld, where he altered the Book of Life and Death, ultimately settling five hundred years of messy accounts in the underworld. The King of Hell and the judges wished they could worship the monkey as their ancestor.

Doesn't the current situation seem quite similar?
Unfortunately, Liu Zening was not a monkey, Li Huai was not the King of Hell, and Zhao Xiaoqian was not a foolish ruler; they would not truly believe him based on a single memorial.

Inside the Wende Hall, everyone's faces were solemn, and they looked at each other in silence.

The occurrence of a popular uprising in the Song Dynasty was extremely rare among emperors throughout history, and its impact on imperial power was extremely negative.

Regardless of the true reasons, all the people saw was the fact of a "popular uprising," which led to various speculations and ultimately questioned the authority of the government and the entire court.

More seriously, it shook all of Zhao Xiaoqian's previous plans.

Whether it was the officials of the Censorate forcing the people to revolt, or the result of the court's hasty implementation of the Equal Land Tax Law, both negated all of Zhao Xiaoqian's actions after ascending the throne.

The new policies and oversight agencies you've created have driven the people to this state. Shouldn't you reflect on this and abolish these inappropriate new policies and oversight systems?
Without a doubt, the court officials will submit a memorial stating this.

"Han Zhongyan, Li Qingchen, you two go to Nanjing personally and investigate this matter thoroughly," Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly said.

The two men were taken aback, then immediately stood up to receive the decree.

"The Council of State Affairs should reassure the court officials. The matter has not yet been fully investigated, so there is no need to rush to a conclusion," Zhao Xiaoqian said to Zhang Dun.

Zhang Dun rose to receive the imperial decree.

“Cai Jing, go and investigate the resume of Li Huai, the garrison commander of Nanjing, including who promoted him and who in the Bianjing court he relied on, etc.”

Cai Jing stood up, looked at everyone present with a hesitant expression, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, there is no need to investigate. I know a little about Li Huai."

"Talk about it."

"Li Huai was a Jinshi in the fourth year of the Yuanyou era. After passing the imperial examination, he first served as a Doctor at the Imperial Academy for a year. Later, he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel as the Registrar. He successively served as the Censor, the Assistant Minister of Rites, the Prefect of Luzhou, and finally in the second year of the Shaosheng era, he was transferred to Nanjing as the Garrison Commander."

Zhao Xiaoqian asked in surprise, "He's been promoted so quickly! What outstanding achievements has he made?"

Cai Jing slowly said, "When Li Huai was serving in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites, he was not particularly outstanding. Later, he was transferred to a local area and served as a prefect. During his tenure, he promoted water conservancy and encouraged agriculture and sericulture, which earned him a good reputation among officials."

Zhao Xiaoqian narrowed his eyes: "'The position of Nanjing Garrison Commander' is no small matter. Without outstanding political achievements and qualifications, one probably cannot obtain it. Who is behind Li Huai?"

Cai Jing glanced at Zhang Dun again and said cautiously, "Zeng Chongxing, the Right Vice Minister of the Council of State Affairs, was once Li Huai's mentor."

"When Li Huai was studying at the Imperial Academy, Zeng Chongxing was the supervisor of the Imperial Academy. He helped and guided Li Huai a lot. Later, after Li Huai passed the imperial examination and became a professor at the Imperial Academy, it was also through Zeng Chongxing's efforts..."

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly realized that Li Huai had such a powerful backer; the current vice prime minister was his mentor. No wonder he was appointed as the garrison commander of Nanjing in less than ten years after passing the imperial examination.

"One last question..." Zhao Xiaoqian held up a finger, looking at Cai Jing, and said, "Why do you always sneak glances at Mr. Zihou when you're saying these things? Does he owe you money that he hasn't paid back?"

Cai Jing was startled: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely not true!"

Zhang Dun said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, in the second year of Shaosheng, Li Huai was transferred to Nanjing as the garrison commander. It was Zeng Chongxing who proposed the appointment, and I agreed at the time. The appointment was finally confirmed by the late Emperor Zhezong."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and stopped pressing him for answers.

In officialdom, even a prime minister is sometimes not immune to worldly affairs.

Zhang Dun and Zeng Chongxing were colleagues in the Council of State Affairs, and they always had to give each other face and favors. Moreover, Li Huai probably had to do something behind the scenes to get Zhang Dun's approval.

Zhang Dun appears to be an incorruptible and selfless man, and his residence in Bianjing is quite shabby and destitute. However, according to the investigation by the Imperial City Guard, Zhang Dun is not poor; he simply doesn't flaunt his wealth.

Putting aside other things, when Zhao Xiaoqian led his army to capture Hejian Prefecture, Zhong Jianzhong opened the treasury of Hejian Prefecture, which was filled with mountains of money. Zhao Xiaoqian sent a portion to the bigwigs of the Bianjing government, each portion containing hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.

Li Huai's appointment as the garrison commander of Nanjing likely came at a considerable cost, as the matter could not be accomplished without the approval of the powerful Prime Minister Zhang Dun.

Given Li Huai's meteoric rise in officialdom, he could gain more experience in Nanjing for a few more years before being transferred back to Bianjing, where he might directly enter the Council of State Affairs.

Zeng Chongxing, Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel...

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded; he had remembered.

If Li Huai is innocent in this popular uprising, then all will be well. But if it is found that Li Huai was the instigator and mastermind, countless people will suffer terribly.

Such a serious and egregious incident, according to the laws of the Song Dynasty, must be punished along with others. Li Huai's fate is self-evident, and Zeng Chongxing and others will also be brought to justice.

"Let's let the facts speak for themselves. Right now, we're just waiting for the Imperial City Guard and the Censorate to investigate the facts and ensure that no one is wrongly accused or let off the hook."

Everyone nodded and then took their leave. Zhao Xiaoqian sat alone in the Wende Hall, smelling a faint scent of sandalwood, lost in thought.

Since ascending the throne, there have been many events, both large and small. In the end, these are all power struggles between the emperor and his ministers. After all, the new policies and changes implemented by Zhao Xiaoqian have affected the interests of too many people.

Zhao Xiaoqian would call this turbulent period "labor pains".

Changing or reversing the fate of a country inevitably involves growing pains, including bloodshed and killing.

The pain is still not subsiding; in fact, it is intensifying.

Are you wrong?
No, there isn't.

Zhao Xiaoqian's belief was unwavering.

The Song Dynasty needed to make changes, from the imperial court to the local governments, and it was urgent.

In real history, the reason for the fall of the Song Dynasty under Emperor Huizong was the southward invasion and capture of Bianjing by the Jin army. However, in reality, the Song Dynasty was already riddled with problems and on the verge of collapse. The Jin army was just the last straw.

The conflicts between rulers and ministers, officials and commoners, landlords and peasants, bureaucratic groups and merchant groups, and so on, have become extremely acute.

What Zhao Xiaoqian is doing now is to ease these conflicts. Whether it's establishing a supervisory office or implementing new policies, these are all ways to solve the problems.

Labor pains are present, and they may be prolonged.

But after the pain subsided, the sky cleared and the clouds dispersed. The Song Dynasty recovered from its ailing state to a healthy one, and then the golden age naturally arrived.

After reflecting on his actions, Zhao Xiaoqian reaffirmed his resolve.

Yes, I did nothing wrong.

Inside the vast and empty Wende Hall, Zhao Xiaoqian, with his eyes slightly closed, suddenly shouted, "Summon Zhao Xi to see me."

A moment later, the graceful Zhao Xi appeared in the Wende Hall.

Zhao Xiaoqian opened his eyes and looked at her, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes once again.

This woman really chose the wrong path. If she were willing to join his harem, Zhao Xiaoqian would break with tradition and grant her an additional concubine title.

She's clearly a born pretty face, but she insists on making a living with her talent—a talent that can kill.

Zhao Xi was a trump card in Zhao Xiaoqian's hand, a hidden card.

Few people knew of her existence, and Zhao Xiaoqian rarely used her. If he needed to use her, it meant that something serious had happened.

"Take your men to Yingtian Prefecture and investigate Li Huai, the garrison commander of Nanjing, and all the officials under the jurisdiction of Yingtian Prefecture. I want to know what these people have been doing in Nanjing."

"Also, while you're at it, look for the whereabouts of Liu Zening and Zhao Xin. Zhen Qing has already led men to search for them, but I feel he might not be able to find them. You can go and give it a try."

Zhao Xi didn't say a word, but simply knelt on one knee to receive the decree, and then silently left the palace.

"She's sparing with words, cold and ruthless—a true ice queen CEO! I like her even more now!" Zhao Xiaoqian stared at her retreating figure, his gaze anything but kind.

If one day I could take her into my harem and have her dance the window-wiping dance in front of me, what a contrast that would be, how wonderful that would be.

The premise is that this woman won't treat him like a disposable item, cutting him off after one use.

Over the years, her father has not dared to lay a hand on her, probably because of the same concerns he had.

It's like sleeping with a spiked club in your arms; you can sleep with it, but it's not recommended.

…………

Nanjing left-behind mansion.

The situation was getting serious, and Li Huai and a group of Nanjing officials panicked.

That's right, the popular uprising was secretly instigated by Li Huai. It's not difficult to instigate a popular uprising. All it takes is to secretly instruct some powerful landlords to bring their tenants and servants, and then the powerful landlords in the surrounding villages will respond, and the popular uprising will occur.

The tenant farmers and farmhands were mostly blind followers, and many of them were still unaware of what had happened until they followed the powerful landlords to occupy the county town.

But what about these powerful landlords? Did they not know the consequences of instigating a popular uprising?

Of course they knew, but they couldn't make ends meet either. Some had been given deadly leverage by officials, and some had their relatives and family members controlled. In short, in this era, it was not difficult to force some people to do something that could lead to execution; power could control everything.

Unfortunately, Li Huai, the garrison commander of Nanjing, had this power, so he had no shortage of people willing to risk their lives for him, whether they wanted to or not.

However, the situation is now beyond Li Huai's control.

Li Huai was too confident. He didn't realize that once the popular uprising occurred, it was no longer something he could control.

Those who are not in control of their own destiny, those who blindly follow the crowd, and those who are forced into things will eventually become true rebels when things get out of control.

They've already embarked on a path of no return, leading to the death of their entire families. In their eyes, the so-called "Nanjing defenders" are nothing at all.

Li Huai himself never expected that the popular uprising he secretly instigated would develop to such a serious extent.

(End of this chapter)