You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 113 Two Innovations (A Long Chapter of 10,000 Words)
He had just entered the Grand Commandant's mansion.

The old steward of the Cai family took out the gift list from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

The Gao family's butler accepted the gift with some trepidation, unsure whether he should take it or not.

Cai Jing hadn't been this polite to anyone in a long time.

This also shows his determination to reorganize the imperial guards for the emperor.

If this had happened a few years ago, the idea that Grand Tutor Cai would give gifts to others would have been utterly absurd.

Cai Jing is a man of action. Regardless of whether what he does is right or wrong, his ability to take action is beyond doubt, and he will never sit idly by.

What is most remarkable is that although Cai Jing had reached the pinnacle of scholar-officialdom, he did not possess the inexplicable arrogance often associated with scholars of that era.

Since we need people, we have to ask them for help.

Gao Qiu was the Palace Commander, independent of the Prime Minister's authority, so despite serving in the same court for so many years, he and Cai Jing didn't actually have much of a relationship.

The purpose of this visit is clear to everyone: to seize the funds of the Imperial Guards.

The national treasury had actually collapsed. Although Emperor Huizong of Song was fond of pleasure, beauty, and extravagance, he was not stupid.

If no one had given him hope, it wouldn't have mattered. But Chen Shao's appearance, which blocked the Western Xia, led Tong Guan to consider joining forces with Cai Jing to help him regain power and raise money for his campaign against the Liao.

Cai Jing was originally not optimistic about Tong Guan's campaign against Liao, but now that the problem of Western Xia had been solved, the court could fully mobilize the Western Army, which gave him hope.

That's why he dared to defy public opinion and take the initiative to come out of seclusion, wanting to help the emperor make one last effort to fill the Song Dynasty's coffers.

Remove the biggest cancer from this dynasty.

The current system of the Song Dynasty always seems very cumbersome, cumbersome here and there, as if it is leaking air everywhere.

However, this system is full of mutual restrictions, and the layers upon layers of restrictions can always bind those who have the will to do something tightly, no matter whether their will is good or bad... you can forget about getting anything done.

We, the scholar-officials of the Great Song Dynasty, are quite satisfied with the status quo. Anyone who dares to change the rules established by our ancestors will, while they won't lose their heads, be scolded and forced to leave Bianliang.

Reform is extremely difficult. Cai Jing is nominally still part of Wang Anshi's faction. He is taking advantage of the emperor's determination to crack down on the Imperial Guards and the fact that he is still able to cause trouble!
If the reforms succeed, he will naturally return to the top of the Song Dynasty's power pyramid!

Looking at Cai Jing, Gao Qiu naturally understood his ambitions, but by putting himself in Cai Jing's shoes, he felt only endless despair.

The Imperial Guard is a bottomless pit; it can never be filled.

Any reform seems weak and powerless in its presence. The imperial guards are deeply entrenched and deeply rooted. He may be able to control them now because of the emperor's favor, but when he grows old and passes away, his family's wealth will be squeezed out of the imperial guards and gradually seized.

Because all those profitable businesses were firmly controlled by the deeply entrenched families of the Imperial Guards, he, as the Palace Commander, could only receive a share of the profits according to the usual practice.

To put it bluntly, you can join temporarily, but if you're not from a family with a long history in the Imperial Guards, don't expect to live off this golden opportunity for generations like them!

If you want to earn this kind of income, your ancestors didn't get to drink the wine that the Great Ancestor relinquished military power to!
Now, the one who's going to smash the bowl has arrived.

"Grand Commandant, we are both of advanced age, so I won't waste my energy on idle chatter."

Upon hearing this, Gao Qiu couldn't help but sit up straighter and said, "Please speak freely, Prime Minister Cai. I am all ears to your teachings."

"No, no, I wouldn't dare. It wasn't that I took the initiative to inspect and organize the Imperial Guard's finances. It was Tong Daofu who first discussed it with the Emperor, and after the Emperor gave his permission, he came to me."

Gao Qiu nodded inwardly. It was indeed Tong Guan. Cai Jing was getting old, and it was really a bit of a stretch for him to take on this task.

It should be understood that inspecting and organizing the finances and accounts of the Imperial Guards was not something that could be accomplished without facing difficulties and dangers.

If it were up to me, no matter how great the benefits, I wouldn't want to get involved.
Cai Jing's ambition for officialdom was greater than his own, and then Gao Qiu realized that Cai Jing was also more capable than him.

Even if one were willing to participate, it would be impossible. However, with Cai Jing taking action, people both inside and outside the court, more or less held a glimmer of hope.

"...The Imperial Guards of the Great Song Dynasty have been passed down from the Later Zhou Dynasty to the present day, spanning over a hundred years. The annual military expenses of the state for the three military commands alone amount to tens of millions of strings of cash."

The implications are too deep and far-reaching. How could the prime minister of the capital, who had served the Song Dynasty for more than ten years, not know them well?
However, the country is currently embroiled in many troubles and its finances are strained. Although the Liao Dynasty is weak, the Jurchens are rising in succession. Although they are now allied, they will surely become formidable enemies in the future. The Xia rebels are also like centipedes, which do not die easily; the unrest in Jiangnan is another bottomless pit... Moreover, with so many troubles in the country, the national expenditure is only increasing.

The imperial court spends tens of millions of taels of silver every year to support hundreds of thousands of imperial guards who cannot fight. If this continues, what will become of them?

Cai Jing, having received special favor from the emperor, had little involvement in the affairs of the capital. Yet, disregarding the threat of execution, he resolutely committed this act that would condemn countless criminals.

Gao Qiu wholeheartedly agreed. Although Cai Jing said that the Imperial Guards of the Capital, which he had commanded for more than ten years, were useless and had not a single soldier capable of fighting, he felt no anger or offense.

This is common knowledge throughout the world. The Imperial Guards are just for show, and it's even hard to say whether they even exist.

Those empty shells can at least still appear. Of the hundreds of thousands of positions, how many are for no one, and how many are for private slaves of the Imperial Guard families? Nobody knows for sure.

The military has been bloated for so many years, and the accumulated problems are not solely Gao Qiu's fault.

Grand Commandant Gao said from the bottom of his heart, "Chancellor Cai is the pillar of the country. Without Chancellor Cai, Gao Qiu dares not imagine what the Song Dynasty would be like today."

Cai Jing waved his hand and said, "These days, after receiving my orders, I have reviewed many files. In the Jingji Road and Jingxi South Road, there are 1,577 cavalry and infantry commanders stationed in the Imperial Guards, with an actual number of 619,507 soldiers and more than 37,800 horses and mules."

In addition, the list of craftsmen, laborers, and minor officials stationed with the Imperial Guards also includes more than 35,200 individuals.

The annual military supplies consist of over 2.6 million shi of grain, over 594,000 shi of horse feed, and millions of bundles of hay.

The money was distributed under various categories, including military pay, rewards, clothing, salt and vegetables, official expenses, taxes, labor service fees, and river works fees, totaling over 31.35 million strings of cash. Additional funds were allocated for crafts materials, transportation, labor service fees for minor officials, and warehouse fees, totaling over 4.92 million strings of cash annually…

The Privy Council's archives are filled with a vast amount of documents, which have changed frequently over the years. The people in charge are all different, and I have only come up with this rough estimate by comprehensively reviewing them. As for the truth of the matter, the Grand Commandant probably doesn't know either.”

Gao Qiu's eyes widened, and he stood up abruptly, his eyes even showing a hint of fear.

Is this old man over seventy?
A seventy-year-old man from a certain family managed to thoroughly investigate the Imperial Guards in just a month or so.

It should be noted that in addition to its bloated military, the Song Dynasty also suffered from a bloated bureaucracy. The meticulousness of this bureaucratic rule far surpassed that of previous dynasties and even exceeded that of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Any bureaucratic rule means an abundance of incredibly detailed and tedious paperwork and forms, enough to frighten anyone. Letting Gao Qiu tinker with all that stuff is worse than killing him.

Even directing subordinates to investigate is an extremely difficult and tiring task.

Cai Jing must have some unique bookkeeping methods.

Gao Qiu was utterly impressed, astonished by the genius. The imperial guard families had also devised a plan, deliberately breaking down the expenditures of many personnel into thousands of detailed categories. He couldn't even know how many men he had; only someone with an absolute understanding of the Song Dynasty's bureaucratic system could have the opportunity to unravel the intricacies, meticulously calculating every detail.

Gao Qiu had seen the shady ledger, and his account was not much different from what Cai Jing had said.

Cai Jing smiled and said, "Grand Commandant, sit down and let's talk."

Gao Qiu sat down sullenly and said, "Minister Cai is truly a divine man."

"When I came here today, I said I would be frank and open, so I will speak frankly. Grand Commandant, as the commander of the palace guards, you do not have a deep-rooted foundation, but are merely favored by the Emperor. Your family is not a family that has been passed down for generations, but has only continued to exist in the Imperial Guards."

The Grand Commandant has held immense power over the Three Military Commands for over a decade. Because of the Emperor's trust in him, the powerful families of the Imperial Guards can only bow before him. But do you think they are truly sincere? Will the Gao family's descendants still receive this treatment in the future?

Gao Qiu shook his head. In front of Cai Jing, he felt completely led by the nose.

I felt as if I had lost the ability to think for myself, and was only thinking along with Cai Jing's words.

"Grand Commandant Gao, we are both old now. What are we fighting and scrambling for? It's nothing more than leaving some legacy for our descendants. It's not an exaggeration to say that after we pass away, the Gao family descendants will be driven out and suppressed by the Imperial Guards."

Gao Qiu sighed helplessly. This was indeed the case. He didn't even need to live to see his own death; as soon as he was no longer in power, he would see the fate of his descendants.

It's hard to say how much of the favor the emperor still owes him now.

After Tong Guan conquered Youyan, how many meritorious officials would be rewarded? Would he still have a place?

After a brief silence, the two looked at each other.

Gao Qiu felt that Cai Jing was right at least when he came; he was old and hadn't said a single nonsense all night.

Gao Qiu sighed, his voice very slow, as if reviewing his life story. "Prime Minister Cai, I was originally a lowly person, promoted by Your Majesty from humble beginnings. As for my skills, I can't say I have anything special, I just know how to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football).

I am truly unworthy of the position of Palace Commander. Over the years, I have worked diligently and conscientiously. Although I have amassed some wealth, my loyalty to the Emperor has always been unwavering and can be proven by heaven and earth.

"Whatever His Majesty asks of me, I will do my utmost. Success or failure is secondary; I would never dare to deceive him. Now that His Majesty intends to reorganize the Imperial Guards, I, Gao Qiu, will go all out. My faction may be insignificant within the Imperial Guards, but I am willing to cooperate fully with Chancellor Cai to help His Majesty usher in a golden age of revival!"

Cai Jing nodded; the fact that he could say such things showed his sincerity.

Gao Qiu was certainly loyal to the Emperor, after all, he was indeed promoted to that position by the Emperor himself.

Throughout history, countless talented and virtuous people have strived their entire lives but never achieved such a high-ranking official position.

However, his expression did not lighten up much; there was still far too much to do to dismantle the Imperial Guard.

Cai Jing already has a complete plan.

Now, it remains to be seen whether the Emperor's mind is truly so resolute.

At this time, in the Northwest, just like in Bianliang, which was imprisoned by outdated bureaucracy, a transformation was also underway.

But there, life was vibrant and full of vitality, a place where everything flourished!
The official road in Youzhou is flat on both sides, with occasional undulating hills dotting the fertile fields.

Sunlight, like a golden rim, surrounded the dark clouds in the sky, evoking the image of a lone plume of smoke rising straight from the desert, and the setting sun casting a round glow over the long river.
The land was peaceful and lush, with wisps of smoke rising from the nearby villages and towns. The villages were mostly inhabited by Tibetan tribes, while the towns were Han Chinese settlements.

Beside the yellowing rice paddies, several farmers were heading towards the official road, watching a group of cavalry galloping by. In the distance, a young woman from the Tibetan tribe was cutting hay. Everyone lived harmoniously on this fertile land, abundant with water and grass, and suitable for cultivation.

Chen Shao has already ordered that all refugees who have come here, regardless of whether they were originally from Western Xia or Song, will be given wasteland and exempted from taxes for three years.

Fan Zhongyan also used this tactic, but it was difficult for him to implement at that time because the situation was unstable. If they divided the land today, the Western Xia people would come and massacre all the people tomorrow.

Now Chen Shao can use it with ease.

Then, he summoned the chieftains of the various tribes, opened up the salt and iron monopoly quota, and allocated 20% of the profits to be shared with the various Qiang and Hu tribes, thus controlling the trade of salt.

Then, one out of every three able-bodied herders from each tribe was selected to form a light cavalry archer unit; and Han Chinese from the border regions were selected to form a heavy infantry regiment.

That's how newly established powers operate; any decree can be issued without hindrance.

There aren't that many vested interests interfering.

When Chen Shao returned to his territory, he felt as if the world was still peaceful and nothing had happened.

But whenever I close my eyes at night, I always remember the tragic scene in Jiangnan.

If Jiangnan is like this, then what about Hebei in the future? What about Kaifeng? What about Beijing and the surrounding areas? Where isn't it hell?
He had already done a lot, and the strength of the Dingnan Army was visibly increasing, but Chen Shao still felt it wasn't enough.

Chen Shao, who was riding his bicycle, suddenly turned around and asked, "Why haven't Yang Cheng and the others arrived yet?"

Wang Yin, who had already integrated into the system, urged his horse forward slightly and said, "Reporting to the commander, Yang Cheng entered the city this morning covered in mud. I met him briefly, and he asked about the commander's whereabouts. After I finished speaking, he left the city. I don't know where they went or where they went, and I can't find them either."

Since arriving here, Wang Yin has felt one word: speed.
Everything here moves quickly; at the commander's command, everyone is busy.

Everyone was rushing around, working non-stop, and I wasn't used to it at first.

Chen Shao nodded and said, "I asked him to dredge the Wuding River and connect it to the Song Dynasty's canal to transport our salt out. He kept complaining about the difficulties here and the blockages there. I was about to dismiss him from his post when this bastard got all worked up again and stopped complaining. He just got to work and is probably on the riverbank now."

The Dingnan Army is now thriving, full of vitality, and has countless opportunities.

The temptation that you have a chance to be promoted as long as you work hard is deadly.

Once they adapt to this rhythm, someone as capable and ambitious as Wang Yin will find it enjoyable.

Chen Shao rode to several military camps and, seeing that the recruitment of soldiers was going very smoothly, felt relieved.

Back in the city, in his own mansion, he felt a great sense of fulfillment despite the long day.

If it weren't for the threat from the Jurchens, I could have just developed here slowly, which would have been quite satisfying.

When a man's career is thriving, everything he sees is exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

Take his own residence for example, Chen Shao thought it was exceptionally beautiful. He was a proper Han Chinese, and he had no resistance to the ancient and elegant architecture and the aesthetics of his ancestors.

The eaves are gracefully curved, and the carved and painted surfaces are magnificent. A thin mist hangs in the air after the rain has cooled, creating a tranquil and refreshing atmosphere. The light mist swirls among the partially obscured carved railings and painted beams, making everything hazy and dreamlike.

The land beyond the Great Wall is like a paradise! Even better than the Jiangnan region!
Even though Chen Shao had long suppressed his fear of the Jingkang Incident, he found that enjoying every detail of life made the days less unbearable.

Upon returning to his residence, Chen Shao first went to Huanhuan's courtyard and chatted with her for a few moments.

Although the couple were not very familiar with each other, Chen Shao knew that as the leader of a certain force, his marital problems were definitely not a private matter.

He must live in harmony with his wife, who comes from a wealthy family!
Zhong Lingxi was reading in her room, engrossed in her book, with a porcelain bowl beside her.

"Huanhuan, what are you looking at?" Chen Shao asked.

Seeing Chen Shao come in, she smiled and said, "Here, have some." With that, she scooped a spoonful of cheese from the bowl and held it to Chen Shao's lips.

Chen Shao took a bite, then picked her up and held her in his arms as they watched together.

I don't know whose collection of poems it is; I've never heard of Chen Shao before, so he probably wasn't a great poet.

Thinking about how she herself had written it, and how Chen Shao had found out last time and even angered her, Chen Shao couldn't help but laugh.

As long as Chen Shao didn't hurt her, Zhong Lingxi really enjoyed being close to him. She felt even more comfortable reading in Chen Shao's arms.

Chen Shao gently lifted the little bottom. Hmm, the little girl's buttocks have gotten quite a bit fatter lately, and they feel nice to the touch.

"Oh right, my stepmother said she misses me and wants me to go back home."

Chen Shao's heart skipped a beat, and he said jokingly, "I told you I missed you?"

“You wrote to say you missed us, so why not just be polite and include you in the letter? We’ve lived together for years, nominally mother and daughter, but like sisters. What do you know?”

"Oh, then let her come and stay for a while. It's so boring to stay there all the time."

“Great! Great!” Zhong Lingxi’s eyes lit up. She had lived in that house for more than ten years and it was indeed boring.

Here, I can even take my stepmother horseback riding! I can also show her the deer I raised. It sounds incredibly fun.

Thinking of Zhe Shi's alluring figure and the white rabbit he had pinched purple, Chen Shao suddenly bent over.

Zhong Lingxi, who had been poked, jumped up like a cat with its fur standing on end. Her face turned red and she didn't say a word, but pushed Chen Shao away.

"Get out of here, you bad thing!"

Chen Shao pointed to his face, and Zhong Lingxi blushed and kissed him before he smiled and left.

If you don’t leave me here, you will have my own place to stay.

His concubine wouldn't let him touch her, but Commander Chen didn't care at all; he had other places to go.

Soon, Chen Shao was sitting in Li Shishi's room.

As if knowing he was coming, Li Shishi, with her delicate, slender hands, presented him with a white porcelain bowl with blue and white decorations, saying softly, "I noticed you've been sleeping late these past few nights, and I was worried you might be drinking too much tea and not sleeping well. Luckily, I had some white fungus from the mountains, so I made a bowl of soup." "Shishi is so thoughtful," Chen Shao said, taking the bowl and taking a small sip; half the bowl was gone. The texture was smooth, the sweetness subtle—it tasted like white fungus soup, a flavor he knew well. However, he knew that white fungus couldn't be artificially cultivated at this time and was very expensive.

Li Shishi sat beside him, resting her chin on her hand and looking at him with gentle, tender eyes.

As he drank, he chatted with her, sometimes telling her about his policies, sometimes about funny stories about his subordinates, and sometimes about gossip he had heard from them.

Li Shishi smiled, her eyes seemingly sparkling, and occasionally chimed in with a few words. Her voice was melodious and pleasant to listen to; simply hearing her speak and laugh was a pleasure.

Chen Shao knew that what truly made him feel superior wasn't the taste of the white fungus soup he was tired of drinking, but rather the invaluable emotional connection he felt in this boudoir, where a beautiful woman served and listened to him with complete devotion.

After a long day, what more could one ask for than this gentle comfort?
-
June of the second year of Xuanhe.

The Genyue Garden is vast and magnificent, surrounded by covered walkways on all sides. Exotic flowers and plants are interspersed with strange rocks and peaks collected from Jiangnan. A pond draws water from outside the city and is filled with lotus flowers and lotus pods. When a breeze blows, the water ripples and fish swim around.

Inside a waterside pavilion overlooking the pond, Emperor Huizong of Song, dressed in a dark blue Taoist robe, sat on a couch.
This dashing emperor, in his forties, possessed clear features and an elegant demeanor. While seated on his couch, Zhao Ji's posture wasn't particularly upright, yet it added a touch of carefree ease to his air.

He was somewhat displeased at this moment, and the surrounding close advisors could all see it, so none of them dared to speak.

Everyone knew why he was unhappy: because the emperor had no money for entertainment.
The annual fiscal revenue of the Song Dynasty was nearly 100 million strings of cash, but there was a difference between the internal and external treasuries. He could not move all of this fiscal revenue into the imperial treasury.

Almost all of it had to be spent, and it was often still not enough. The more than one million soldiers and hundreds of thousands of officials listed in the military registers consumed at least 80% of it.

Redundant troops and officials accumulate over the years, snowballing and becoming a bottomless pit of expenses.

Including other expenses, the deficit was made up for every year by issuing and paying incense.

The Song Dynasty governed the country jointly with the scholar-officials, and never dared to skimp on the bureaucratic system.

Bianliang was a place with no natural defenses, so the only way to protect it was by using troops. Therefore, the Imperial Guard system never dared to embezzle funds.

In addition, there are various exorbitant rewards, resulting in a deficit every year. And this is even before going to war, just living a normal life!
The emperors of the Song Dynasty in the past lived ordinary lives. You could say that the emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty were mediocre and incompetent, but very few of them were extravagant and dissolute.

When Zhao Ji arrived
It's a complete explosion.

When he was Prince Duan, he was extremely greedy and indulged in pleasure.

Once he became emperor, his personal expenses were all covered by the money he had made by the favored people he had promoted.

Cai Jing's financial management and the Zhu-Mian Southeast Tribute Bureau essentially turned Jiangnan into a huge imperial estate; Yang Jian expanded the land... Wang Fu, Cai You, and Liang Shicheng all did the same.

However, Cai Jing's financial management and currency system could not be sustained. Zhu Mian had already fallen, and after Fang La's uprising, the Southeast Financial Bureau dared not continue operating. If another rebellion were forced in Jiangnan, the Song Dynasty would truly be unable to sustain itself. Other sources of income were always limited.

In addition, a large-scale war against Xia was fought, and once troops are used for fighting, the expenses are ten times that of usual!

Moreover, there's the upcoming campaign against Liao! This is even more serious. After the campaign, Yanshan Prefecture will be established in the Youyan region, which will also be a huge expense.

Five years have passed since Tong Guan launched the Battle of Hengshan, which has thoroughly exposed the Song Dynasty's devastation and weakness. Many things urgently need to be rectified, such as the Imperial Guards of the Capital.

But this will cost a lot of money.

He reinstated Cai Jing partly because of his ambitions and wanted Cai Jing to provide funding for his campaign against the Liao. Secondly, he genuinely hoped Cai Jing could provide financial assistance in his immediate crisis, ensuring he had money to spend.

As for Wang Fu, Zhao Ji had already decided to dismiss him from his post as prime minister. The reason was simple: this fellow had no skills and only knew how to issue excessive amounts of paper money, so he really couldn't sustain the situation any longer!
Since the start of the war against Xia, Zhao Ji felt that he had been spending much less than usual, to the point that he often felt aggrieved.

Fang La's rebellion and the peasant uprising in Jiangnan led to the loss of the Southeast Tribute Bureau, a huge private treasury.

It is no longer possible to indulge in unrestrained consumption, extravagant creation, and excessive rewards as before.

After the war against Yan, there were many things that had to be done, and there were places to spend money everywhere. However, it was difficult to make enough money to maintain the daily operation of the Song Dynasty. Where could we generate income?

"You gentlemen are usually so talkative, why are you all mute today?" Zhao Ji looked around at his close ministers with annoyance, feeling that none of them could share his worries.

Emperor Huizong of Song often complained to his concubines in private, saying things like "the emperor is too rich and powerful, and he doesn't care about the consequences."
Now I am practically a poor, destitute man!

His reason for reforming the Imperial Guard was actually quite simple: it wasn't for conquering Liao, nor for restoring Yan.

The most important driving force was that he was out of money. Zhao Ji, who had been spoiled by Cai Jing, could no longer endure a day of poverty.

Driven by his own desire for pleasure, he displayed a courage that previous Song emperors had never shown before, and he was determined to reorganize the Imperial Guards!

As for why the Imperial Guard was targeted for rectification, rather than the equally redundant bureaucratic system, that remains to be seen.

It was because Emperor Huizong himself knew that only Cai Jing had this ability.

Cai Jing, on the other hand, was a pillar of the scholar-officials of the time, and he would never reform himself for his own sake.

At this moment, Wang Fu suddenly said, "I know Your Majesty's troubles, but there's nothing I can do about it. However, Tong Guan's men have recently quelled a rebellion in Jiangnan, and I've heard that the bandit leader looted a considerable amount of gold and jewels. We can have them temporarily transport them to the capital."

Tong Guan's face turned ugly.

All the gold and jewels in Jiangnan have been exchanged for grain tribute, and now they are in Chen Shao's hands.

Could such a thing be spoken of? Of course not, but Wang Fu spoke of it publicly.

He has broken the tacit understanding that everyone has always had.

Outsiders all know that we are called the Six Thieves. Can't you see that there's a limit to our infighting, or we'll all die together?
Thinking of this, Tong Guan disregarded everything else, jumped up with a shout, and punched Wang Fu on the head.

"what are you doing!"

Wang Fu, being young, immediately rolled up his sleeves and prepared to fight Tong Guan.

He was driven to desperation by the pressure. He saw that he had only been in the position of prime minister for a few days when Tong Guan contacted Cai Jing to remove him from office. He was filled with hatred for this eunuch.

Zhao Ji snorted coldly and said, "Stop right there, all of you!"

Wang Fubai took a punch and sobbed, his neck stiff. Tong Guan was old and not as strong as he used to be. He jumped up and punched Wang Fubai, but he couldn't take it. He clutched his waist and kept groaning.

Zhao Ji grew angrier the more he looked at him. Just as he was about to explode in anger, he suddenly noticed Gao Qiu sitting to the side, seemingly lost in thought, muttering to himself without making a sound.

He felt a surge of warmth, remembering how this old servant had served him for so many years, and how he was probably terrified by his actions of mobilizing the Imperial Guards.

I really didn't mean to target him. Normally, emperors would not explain to their ministers, but Zhao Ji was a kind person to his subordinates, especially his close ministers.

He said softly, "Minister Gao, what are you thinking about?"

Gao Qiu stood up, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, the court’s finances are in such a sorry state, causing Your Majesty great worry. As the saying goes, ‘When the ruler is worried, the minister is disgraced; when the ruler is disgraced, the minister dies.’ Although I am dull-witted, I have been working day and night to come up with some shallow and foolish suggestions, hoping to share Your Majesty’s worries.”

"Oh?" Zhao Ji was somewhat surprised and touched. "Tell me about it."

"I propose that, starting this month, the shortfall in military pay should be directly allocated by the Three Departments and transferred to a joint account managed by the Ministry of Revenue and the Privy Council, and the old, weak, and vacant Imperial Guards should be eliminated!"

Gao Qiu raised his voice, thinking of the kindness and favor shown to him over the years, and how everything he had was given to him by the emperor. He knelt down with a thud and said resolutely, "Although I am foolish, I have been favored by Your Majesty and appointed as the Palace Commander. I dare not shirk my duty. I am willing to preside over this matter for Your Majesty, even at the cost of my life!"

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) stood up abruptly, looked at Gao Qiu, and said gently, "You have indeed lived up to my expectations."

The close advisors standing nearby were all stunned.

In their eyes, Gao Qiu had always been an honest and simple man, but they never expected him to be so courageous this time!

The imperial guards were deeply entrenched and powerful families, so powerful that even formidable officials like Wang Anshi and Fan Zhongyan couldn't defeat them. Yet Gao Qiu was about to take them on—
As usual, Chen Shao first did some morning exercises with his soldiers, and then went to the riverbank.

After working for half a day until the afternoon, he would read the official gazette sent from Bianliang and then chat and laugh with the military officers for a while.

His mansion contained beautiful wives and concubines, as well as sisters from other ethnic groups, but Chen Shao rarely lingered there during the day.

Before his time travel, he had never held a high position or held any power, and had no experience as an official.

However, based on his limited historical knowledge, he believed in one person's teaching: if one is out of touch with the masses for too long, even the most capable person will be unable to control the situation.

This is not some empty theory, but a truth that can be easily proven.

Looking further back, the reason why the state of Jin was divided into three states during the Spring and Autumn Period was that powerful ministers controlled specific affairs for a long time.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was a wise ruler with both civil and military talents. He performed very well in his early years, but later he felt exhausted and spent a long time in seclusion in the inner palace. He tried to use checks and balances to "hand over" all the complicated affairs to others, but he also failed miserably.

Emperor Wanli did not attend court for thirty years, openly abandoning his duties, and everyone said that the country was destroyed by Wanli!

Therefore, even though Chen Shao was a general who could relax and enjoy himself, and there was no war going on for the time being, he still often hung out with his soldiers.

Recently, he carefully selected some soldiers to serve as his personal guard.

Most of the guards were rough men, many of them constantly using vulgar language, including profanities and female relatives. Most of them had dark, rough skin, and some were quite ugly.

Chen Shao spent a lot of time playing with them, which was certainly not as fun as spending time with beautiful women.

However, he believes it's not time for him to relax yet!
When I returned to my study, the rough laughter of the warriors, the clanging of metal, and the explosions of training firearms still echoed in my mind.

The five prefectures of Dingnan, especially Yanzhou and Youzhou, are rich in iron ore.

Unlike previous foreign tribes that always purchased ironware from the Central Plains, the iron mines and smelting technology of the Western Xia were actually quite advanced.

They also attached great importance to firearms, and even the Khitans followed suit in the research and development of firearms.

Chen Shao sat down in the chair, feeling dizzy and disoriented. He opened the newly delivered official gazette and unexpectedly discovered some intelligence.

These weren't delivered together; they were just stacked together.

Chen Shao had long ago sent people to the Khitan to gather intelligence and inquire about the Jurchens' progress in destroying the Liao.

At this time, the Jurchens had already reached the Central Capital of the Liao Dynasty. Wanyan Aguda appointed his younger brother Wanyan Gao (Wanyan Xieye) as the commander-in-chief of all the inner and outer armies, Wanyan Yu (Wanyan Pujianu), Wanyan Zonghan (Wanyan Nianhan), and others as deputy commanders-in-chief, and the surrendered general Yelü Yudu as the vanguard, leading the army south to attack the Central Capital.

The Liao people had no fighting spirit. Before the Jin army even arrived, they burned their fodder and grain, preparing to relocate and flee.

It was only a matter of time before the Jin dynasty completely occupied Zhongjing.

The key is that the Khitan territory is too vast; just one Zhongjing Prefecture is enough for the Jurchen Tartars to plunder for a year.

In Zhongjing Prefecture, all the Khitan people will become slaves of the Jurchens.

They would risk their lives and freedom to delay the Song Dynasty for another year or two.

The Jurchens would show absolutely no courtesy or pity to the Khitans, for their ancestors had been humiliated and abused by the Khitans for generations.

The Khitan nobles, especially during the reign of Emperor Tianzuo, forced the Jurchens to go to sea and capture gyrfalcons in order to obtain precious pearls.

Every year, the Liao Dynasty would send a team of thousands of "silver-plated angels" into the Jurchen territory to levy taxes in the name of the government.

The "Silver Medal Angels" entered the Jurchen tribes with their retinue of soldiers and falconers, using the pretext of falconry to forcibly requisition supplies and labor, and even allowing their troops to plunder, causing the various Jurchen tribes to "suffer from both public and private grievances."

The "Silver Angels" used their position as eagle hunters to force Jurchen tribes to provide unmarried women for "nights together," which later evolved into "not caring about marital status or social standing, but only taking the most beautiful women," and even abducting women to provide entertainment for Khitan nobles.

It's no wonder that Emperor Tianzuo and Zhao Ji were destined to meet in Wuguo City. His sending people to oppress the Jurchen tribes was very similar to how Zhao Ji sent Zhu Mian to Jiangnan.

The difference is that one requires pearls and falcons, while the other requires rare stones and flowers.

One forced the Jurchens to rebel, and the other forced Jiangnan to rebel.
After reading it, Chen Shao sat there without saying a word or doing anything, lost in thought for a long time, trying to calm his restless mind.

Spending some quiet time alone each day allows one to better reflect on and examine their goals and gains and losses.

He became somewhat agitated whenever he encountered news about the Jurchens.

Historically, it was these people who enslaved the land north of the Yangtze River in China. It wasn't until Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, successfully launched his northern expedition that the enslavement rule by foreign tribes came to an end.

Thinking of this, Chen Shao got up, walked to the wall, took down his sword, drew it, exhaled a breath, and took out a handkerchief to wipe it.

Looking at the gleaming sword, Chen Shao felt a surge of heroic spirit.

Now that we have a strong army and plenty of time to develop, why can't we fight them?

When I emerge from quarantine, I hope I can change all of this!
Outside Youzhou City, a group of riders galloped in. When they reached a place far from the city gate, the riders dismounted.

Chief Zhu Lingling of Hengshan waved his hand, tossing the riding whip to his men, and instructed them: "When we get here, be smart. The commander is strict now, so don't offend him and make an example of him."

After saying that, he added with a touch of pride, "You know what they mean? Better safe than sorry!"

Old Zhu recently discovered that Chen Shao is not the kind of short-lived grassland overlord; he is gradually getting on the right track.

The desire for his daughter to give birth to a grandson with Chen Shao's bloodline gradually faded.

The desire to follow him and accomplish great things only grew stronger.

He recently invited several impoverished Han Chinese scholars to advise him and teach him some Han Chinese allusions and military strategies.

The more Zhu Lingling learned, the more she felt that this thing was really amazing, simply wonderful.

He even started practicing calligraphy.

The principles that I had previously been confused about suddenly became clear after listening to the explanations of the Han people.

Upon arriving at Chen Shao's residence, Zhu Lingling waited obediently for the summons, without even going to see her daughter.

When Chen Shao's personal guards led him to the study, Zhu Lingling saw Chen Shao again.

He felt that Chen Shao was more manly than before, and said with his hands clasped, "Greetings, Commander!"

Upon hearing this form of address, Chen Shao felt something was amiss and waved his hand, saying, "Sit down. What brings you here this time?"

Zhu Lingling laughed and said, "General, I have invited all the leaders of the Qiang tribes in Hengshan to Yinzhou City. They eat our grain and share our money. If they dare to touch their original tribes, I will make sure their heads roll."

"General's strategy of dividing and conquering is truly brilliant! Separating these clan leaders and their people is like removing the firewood from the stove, leaving them completely cold!"

Chen Shao looked up at him and smiled, "You've been reading a lot lately, haven't you?"

Old Zhu scratched his head and laughed, "The commander-in-chief figured it out?"

"I can tell. You didn't come here just to flatter me, did you?"

Zhu Lingling laughed and said, "Of course not. I have recently discovered that our Hengshan warhorses, because they are born in the mountains, have sufficient endurance but are slightly lacking in charging power. If they go beyond the pass in the future, they may suffer in battle. It would be better to make plans early and trade with the Uyghurs for Ferghana horses to crossbreed and breed heavy armored warhorses at the Yinzhou ranch."

Chen Shao was now truly impressed.

So the saying "a scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days of separation" really does hold true.

"Do you have any skilled horse feeders in Yokoyama?"

"Countless as hairs on a cow."

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Alright, you'll handle this matter. If you do a good job, I won't hesitate to reward you."

"General, what are you saying? This is all my duty!"

(End of this chapter)