You have truly caused me great suffering!

The Forbidden City of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Funing Hall.

This was where the emperor usually lived, but Zhao Huan did not live here.

He personally preferred the Donghua Palace, which was where he lived when he was the crown prince.

In addition, since he didn't have many concubines, he lived in the Donghua Palace.

Emperor Huizong of Song moved to Genyue more than a decade ago, causing the place to be abandoned for a long time.

Although there are people cleaning and sweeping, a place where no one lives is inevitably somewhat desolate.

After Chen Shao ascended the throne, the palace servants came to clean for several days. Although the reddish-brown wood on the sloping corridor was a bit old, the bricks and stones on the ground also had marks worn into arc shapes.

Fortunately, the building materials were of good quality, and the place was kept very clean.

The ground was spotless, giving a clean and tidy impression; the surrounding wooden pillars had clearly been carefully wiped clean, and now they gleamed faintly in the sunlight, with an excellent texture.

Chen Shao was waiting here; the furnishings inside the hall were very simple.

After passing through a partition, on the north side there is a large chair, an imperial desk, and several bookshelves and other furniture.

Besides that, there were only a few newly moved potted plants, which were said to have been ordered by Li Shishi.

Chen Shao casually flipped through a book on the table, reading with great interest.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Looking up, I saw Maode walking towards me, her long dress trailing behind her, her arms crossed in front of her stomach.

There was no particular expression on her face; she was just staring at Chen Shao with a strangely intimidating expressionless face.

Chen Shao quickly put down his book and said with a smile, "You've arrived."

Suddenly, Maode's knees buckled, and he knelt unsteadily on the ground.

Chen Shao quickly stepped forward and, without warning, lifted her up.

Feeling his understated yet powerful strength, Maud was caught off guard and suddenly felt a warmth in his heart, his nose tingled and he almost cried.

"What are you doing?"

Maode pursed his lips slightly and said, "You did this for me, didn't you? I always doubted that you cared about me, but I never imagined you would go to such lengths for me. How can I ever repay you?"

Hearing her so moved, Chen Shao was stunned, but the cunning man didn't immediately deny it.

He also mimicked Maud's initial expressionless demeanor, letting her continue speaking on her own.

Maode said, "When you were still in Taiyuan, the prince consort often told me that you were going to usurp the throne. In the future, my father and brothers will definitely be killed, and I will not escape death either."

"What else did he say?" Chen Shao asked irritably.

He also said that if I died, he wouldn't live on alone.

"This scoundrel is quite devoted to love."

Maode sobbed, "This time, for my sake, you preserved the Zhao family bloodline. I will definitely pray for you and chant sutras for you every day from now on, so that you may live a long and healthy life."

Chen Shao hadn't expected her to come to the palace for this matter, and inwardly cursed the prince consort for being so talkative.

Although this grandson doesn't know about Maode and his affair, he probably doesn't have a good impression of him.

When Cai Jing sent him to Youzhou, this guy refused to go, causing Cai Jing to misunderstand Cai Jing's intentions, and Cai Jing also misunderstood him.

I don't know how many important things have been delayed.

He held Maode in his arms, watching her cry her heart out. He couldn't help but reach out to wipe her tears, and suddenly, following her collar, he saw her incredibly fair and delicate cleavage.

Although Maode is beautiful in every way, there are two things that are most precious to it. One is its whiteness, and the other is its tenderness.

Her skin was exceptionally beautiful, smooth as satin, white as jade, and incredibly radiant, as if only an ethereal woman could possess such beauty.

It is only because she was born in such a prosperous city as Bianliang, within the most luxurious palace, and happened to be born to Emperor Huizong of Tang, who was not greedy for money, that she was able to raise such a daughter.

When Maode noticed his gaze, he was touched, but also a little embarrassed, and said, "You have such sharp eyes. Didn't you already see that?"

Chen Shao coughed lightly and said, "Don't worry, I won't go back on my word and will absolutely guarantee their safety."

Maode struggled to her feet, knelt down, and said, "This humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your mercy."

Chen Shao lifted her chin and said, "Should I find an opportunity to bring you to the palace?"

“I grew up in the palace and really don’t want to go back to the palace. I’m more at ease outside, Your Majesty. As for that prince consort, he’s impotent.”

Mao De recounted the whole story, and Chen Shao clicked his tongue, surprised that Geng Nanzhong was so ruthless.

You didn't die unjustly.
Maode laughed and said, "Why doesn't Your Majesty refer to yourself as 'I, the Emperor'?"

"It's because I haven't gotten used to it yet."

The two lingered in the hall for a while. Maode had been resentful that he hadn't come to see him, and he had been feeling quite resentful these past few days.

So he became exceptionally uninhibited and very passionate. Chen Shao also felt a special thrill in having sex with the most beautiful princess of the Song Dynasty within the imperial palace.

This battle was truly exhilarating.
February, the first year of the Jianwu era of the Great Jing Dynasty.

Upon hearing that the Central Plains had changed hands, the Jin state held discussions and felt that there would definitely be people who were dissatisfied. If they went south, they might be able to incite internal strife in the Central Plains.

So he gathered the Shiwei, Wugu, Dilie, Zubu and other miscellaneous Hu tribes from the northern desert, claiming to have 200,000 men, and divided his forces into three routes to march south.

Zonghan went out of Gubeikou, Zongwang went out of Yanshan, and Wanyan Ang went to Liaodong.

Chen Shao did not react much to this; he had already made thorough plans for deploying troops in Liaodong and Youyan.

We'll wait until next autumn when the horses are fat and strong, avoiding the muddy season and the cold winter, and then launch a direct northern expedition.

Chen Shao ordered Yue Fei to guard Tanzhou and appointed him as the Governor of Yanshan and concurrently the Prefect of Tanzhou; Qu Duan was to guard Yanshan, and Zhang Shuye was to guard Liaodong.

The troops recalled to Bianliang were not sent to the front lines, but remained stationary.

An even bigger storm is brewing, and in Chen Shao's eyes, this matter is far more important than the war in Youyan.

Because of the size and strength of the Jin Dynasty, it was no longer a threat.

The reason Chen Shao did not immediately launch a northern expedition was that he did not want to set off in such unfavorable weather, giving the enemy an opportunity. At this time, he valued the lives of the veterans on the border.

After fighting for so many years, and with victory seemingly within reach, dying now would be a terrible loss.

His priority was to minimize casualties.

Let Yue Fei hone his skills in border defense battles, and then set up a stage for the Northern Expedition next year to see if he is up to the task.

Chen Shao is optimistic.

When capable people hold positions of authority, those below them can benefit from them. Soldiers who encounter a good commander have a much higher chance of survival.

After finishing his official duties, Chen Shao felt that there was no significant difference from usual.

It's simply a matter of handling reports in a different place.

The memorials were also renamed to "Memorials," and sometimes the emperor would forget to refer to himself as "I, the Emperor," but those around him didn't seem to care much.

The palace was much larger than Zhaodefang, so it was a bit difficult to wander around to the courtyards of other concubines. Sometimes, they would come to my place instead.

Because of the Jurchen invasion, it was quite late when I finished reading the memorials, so I didn't send anyone to inform them, but there were still people in my own palace.

Chen Shao knew what was going on, and when he went inside, it was indeed Chun Tao.

Chen Shao stepped forward with a smile. The palace maids were all his former maids. Chen Shao always prioritized safety and security when employing people.

Back then, the maids in the Marshal's mansion were all dark-skinned girls from Fuyan Road, which led people to believe that he was not interested in women.

Who doesn't like a beautiful maid? But the fear is that she might be planted as an accomplice by someone with ulterior motives.

Later, they used young ladies and heiresses from wealthy families like Li Yumei as maids. You don't care whether she can serve people or not, at least you can trust her.

The Great Jing Dynasty followed the harem system of the Northern Song Dynasty, which consisted of one empress, four consorts, and nine concubines. Chun Tao was granted the title of Wan Yi, one of the nine concubines (rank one). She herself did not care much about it.

Zhong Lingxi was Chen Shaoming's lawful wife and had given birth to his eldest son, making her the undisputed empress.

Fourth concubine:

The Imperial Concubine was Li Shishi, who was Chen Shao's biggest financial backer when he rose to power. She was his companion for the longest time, and Chen Shao's character would certainly not let her down.
Consort Shu is Jin Mo'er. Even if it's just for the sake of Old Zhu, the three little Jin and Li should at least occupy one of the positions.
Consort De was Li Yumei. She was the representative of the Hedong faction in the harem. Back in Taiyuan, she also cultivated a lot of connections for Chen Shao. In fact, she took on the role of a princess to a certain extent.
Consort Xian is Zhai Rui. Originally, Zhang Yinghan was the first to become pregnant and give birth to a prince, so she could have competed for the position of the Hexi faction in the harem.

However, the right of Buddhist monks to interpret scriptures seems to be becoming increasingly important.

Although Zhai Fengda's contributions to Chen Shao were not publicly acknowledged, Chen Shao was well aware of them. Zhang Yinghan also had merits in Qing Tang, and after careful consideration, she was granted the title of Shuyi, one of the Nine Concubines.
-
Early in the morning, Chen Shao stretched.

Seeing that Chun Tao was still sleeping, Chen Shao pinched her cheek. He was about to get up and do some work, and he felt uncomfortable seeing others sleeping in.

Chun Tao rubbed her eyes, having just woken up. Her voice was different from usual, soft and sweet as she asked, "Brother Chen, what's wrong?"

"Get up, get up! What time is it? Still sleeping?"

Chun Tao sat up straight, wrapped in a brocade quilt, and stared blankly for a moment before immediately becoming full of energy, her eyes becoming clear and bright.

Chen Shao sometimes envied her energy.
Sometimes, the simpler and more naive a person's mind is, the happier they will be.

People who don't hold grudges in their hearts often live long lives.

After finishing his breakfast, Chen Shao thought to himself that he didn't have to attend court today, but there would definitely be a lot of things to do.

He summoned Cai Jing and Yuwen Xuzhong to the palace together, as he was about to begin planning some important matters.

"I have to go review the memorials," Chen Shao sighed.

Chun Tao asked with a grin, "Brother Chen, can I go with you? I promise I won't say a word."

"No."

As they walked out of the Funing Palace, Da Hu, dressed in armor, immediately followed.

Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse. Da Hu, dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard Commander, looked much more dashing. These days, Chen Shao was getting increasingly distant from Da Hu, and he found it very difficult to adjust.

Sometimes I even feel insecure.

But he definitely can't enter the harem unless he's ruthless enough to castrate Da Hu.

Chen Shao was truly at ease with Da Hu in charge of the Imperial Guards; anyone who could bribe him would be truly respected.

Even if we assume that Da Hu was indeed bribed, the Imperial Guards wouldn't have any problems.

At this time, the main body of the Imperial Guard consisted of Chen Shao's personal guards from the Lingwu Camp, and most of them were soldiers from the Meizang tribe. The Meizang tribe and Chen Shao were essentially bound by a shared honor and disgrace.

Chen Shao refused to ride in the emperor's palanquin and insisted on walking; this kind of exercise was still necessary.

Upon arriving at the Chuigong Hall, Cai Jing and Yuwen Xuzhong stood up and exchanged courtly greetings.

A short while later, Wang Yin also came in and stood next to Chen Shao.

Chen Shao said with a smile, "I obtained this throne from the abdication of the Zhao Song dynasty. Having inherited their empire, I also have to inherit some of their chronic problems."

"When the Song Dynasty was founded, Emperor Taizu said that wealthy families should be allowed to live in abundance and protect the country's wealth. At that time, there may have been some truth to that, but now the world has changed and the situation is different."

"Today, the rich own vast tracts of land, while the poor have nowhere to stand, and the national treasury is insufficient!"

Chen Shao had just begun when Cai Jing suddenly said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Without a proper land system, land annexation is rampant, and the gap between rich and poor is widening, which is a great calamity for the country."

Yuwen Xuzhong secretly glanced at him, thinking, "Who doesn't know that you, Cai Jing, own the most land in the Song Dynasty?"

Cai Jing continued, "Emperor Renzong of the previous dynasty once issued an edict that 'officials of the rank shall not occupy more than thirty qing of land,' but it was not effectively implemented. Wang Wengong's new laws, which surveyed land, verified tax burdens, and cracked down on hidden land, also encountered backlash and suppression from the gentry and were eventually abolished."

“Farming is a major issue for ordinary people. If this issue is not resolved, even with a wise and virtuous ruler in power, some ordinary people will still starve to death.”

Seeing that Cai Jing was so cooperative, Chen Shao felt much more at ease, as his chances of success had greatly increased with Cai Jing's support.

Fortresses are always conquered from within.

Cai Jing was the number one landowner in the country. If he stood with me, it would be a devastating blow to the gentry and landowners.

Because this person is truly resourceful.

After Cai Jing sat down, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Without military merit, one would have to be willing to risk everything to gain a foothold in the new dynasty.

The assets accumulated by the previous generation are used as the foundation for the new dynasty, which is not a loss.

Otherwise, with so much land, one's descendants would certainly not be able to keep it after death; handing it over oneself or having it seized by the officials are two different outcomes.

Whether the Cai family can establish itself in the new dynasty depends on this one event.

This matter had always been a big deal for Chen Shao, and he had been thinking about it for a long time.

The land annexation in the Song Dynasty was so severe that it made it impossible for the poor to survive, but there were also some benefits.

Displaced farmers flocked to towns and cities in search of other ways to make a living, which spurred the development of the commodity economy.

It fostered the most prosperous commodity economy and urban culture in ancient China, but it also sowed the seeds of social division, popular uprisings, and the depletion of national strength.

Chen Shao would certainly not implement the equal distribution of land, but he must curb land annexation.

Cai Jing didn't know what methods Chen Shao had, but he had already thought out many key details for Chen Shao.

As long as Chen Shao speaks, Cai Jing can prove his worth with just one word.

I wonder if the new emperor has the same unique insights into this matter as he does into other things.

Cai Jing is still looking forward to it.

He was trained by Emperor Huizong to never feel tired of serving any emperor.

Even if you're difficult to please, can you really compare to Emperor Huizong of Tang?

Chen Shao stood up, pacing back and forth as he said, "No matter what new policies are implemented, the first step is to survey the land throughout the country, draw up land registers for each prefecture and county, and keep them in archives!"

This one is actually very difficult and requires a large number of mathematical talents.

But we have to do it, and we have to do it big, and measure the land as early as possible.

Sure enough, Cai Jing frowned slightly when he said this.

The current dynasty has repeatedly attempted to survey the land, but these efforts have met with tremendous resistance.

Chen Shao said, "I mobilized troops for this very reason; we didn't send them back when the Jurchens marched south. As for the lower-level officials, they will be drawn from the Northwest!"

The economy of the fortified villages in the Northwest did not require the annexation of land, so the officials there were unlikely to collude with the large landowners in the Central Plains.

As for how to ensure that his subordinates are not bribed, Chen Shao also had a plan. He said, "This matter must be handled strictly. Those who conceal land should have all their land confiscated and beheaded as a warning to others!"

Special times call for special laws.

Cai Jing said, "The meritorious officials of this dynasty have only been granted titles, not rewards. It would be best if they were to do it."

Chen Shao nodded and said, "This is a very insightful argument."

Cai Jing immediately added, "If Your Majesty wishes to prevent land annexation in the long term, there is another plan."

"tell me the story."

Cai Jing chuckled, “We can implement a progressive tax system. For self-cultivating people, those with less than 50 mu of land should be taxed at an extremely low rate; those with more than 50 mu but less than 300 mu should be taxed at a medium rate; those with 300 mu to 5,000 mu should be taxed at an extremely high rate; and those with more than 5,000 mu should be taxed at the majority rate!”

"This old minister proposes that a Land Reclamation Bureau be established within the Ministry of Revenue to specifically handle this matter," Cai Jing said. "Land that has not been cultivated for two consecutive years should be repurchased by the imperial court at 60% of the market price."

"At the same time, within three years, gentry will be allowed to sell their land to the court. With such a high tax rate, they will certainly be willing to sell. The government can grant fertile land in various parts of the Central Plains, such as Jinghu, Jiangnan, and Hebei, to the soldiers of the Dingnan Army."

Chen Shao nodded repeatedly. After these soldiers obtained land and settled down in the Central Plains, they solved the problem of their unstable foundation in the Central Plains.

There would be hundreds of thousands of respectable families who would be his direct descendants.

Moreover, it will branch out and grow stronger.

Cai Jing, holding onto the armrest of his chair, stood up again, bowed, and said, "This old minister has 500,000 mu of fertile land in his family, and is willing to be the first to respond to Your Majesty's new policies!"

Chen Shao felt a chill run down his spine. "You old bastard."
You're really greedy, and you're really daring to give it away.

Cai Jing is incredibly clever; those 500,000 mu of land in his hands are definitely a hot potato.

If he doesn't take it out, he probably won't rest in peace even after he dies.

Chen Shao said, "With your loyalty to the emperor and your dedication to the country, I will never fail you!"

Cai Jing chuckled and said, “Your Majesty rose to power in the Northwest and made great strides in Hedong. This old minister has made no contribution whatsoever, yet I have received Your Majesty’s great favor. How dare I not devote myself wholeheartedly to repay Your Majesty’s boundless grace?”

Chen Shao laughed and said, "I am not trying to plunder the local tyrants, nor am I trying to seize the land of the gentry. It's just that the land of the previous dynasty has already been substantially destroyed."

"I want the gentry to see that they don't have to keep their eyes fixed on the land!"

Cai Jing laughed and said, "That's right. The Emperor has already opened up the Silk Road and vigorously developed the sea trade. Before long, people all over the world will see the wealth in it, which will be even greater than farming."

Chen Shao was truly convinced.

He was able to serve as Zhao Ji's prime minister for more than ten years, which shows he was truly capable.

It seems he had anticipated this meeting between the emperor and his ministers.

Cai Jing did indeed see through Chen Shao's intentions; given his knowledge, this was not a difficult task.

Cai Jing knew perfectly well how much money maritime trade could generate, and the Maritime Trade Office was one of the key tools that kept the Song Dynasty's finances from collapsing over the years.

It's a pity that he was messed up by Liang Shicheng, Wang Fu, and his eldest son Cai You in the past, otherwise he could have made even more money.

Since Cai Jing had such insight, Chen Shao decided not to hide anything from him.

"My dear minister, do you know that the ships I have sent out are not just for trade? There are many gold, silver and copper mines overseas. I have already discovered many veins and expect to be able to bring back ship after ship of real gold and silver soon. At that time, the court will use this as proof that I will issue paper money to the public to make trade even more prosperous."

Cai Jing's eyes lit up. He was used to working under Zhao Ji and had seen many emperors who dragged him down.

This was the first time he had ever seen an emperor like this.

How fortunate it is to be prime minister to such an emperor!

"No wonder the emperor is conquering Jiaozhi; could the mineral veins be in the southern wilderness?"

Chen Shao nodded. "The conquest of Jiaozhi was not solely for this matter, but there was indeed a reason for it. There are mineral veins in the Southern Wilderness, Korea, and Japan. As for the quantity, it far exceeds our imagination. I can only say four words—a continuous supply."

Cai Jing sighed inwardly. The Emperor truly possessed grand strategies and plans. No wonder he wasn't in a hurry to declare himself emperor; his ambition extended far beyond mere imperial power.

Today is a day for a heart-to-heart talk between the emperor and his minister.

Cai Jing saw Chen Shao's vision and ability, as well as his grand ambitions; Chen Shao, on the other hand, saw Cai Jing's ability and wisdom.

The two felt as if they had met too late in life.

Chen Shao felt a little regretful. After all, Cai Jing was too old. He should just use him for another year as long as he could.

Cai Jing felt even more regretful. If he had passed the imperial examination in his youth and encountered such an enlightened ruler, his name would probably have been recorded in history.

Yuwen Xuzhong, standing beside him, was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

The fact that I was summoned here today clearly means that I am to occupy a very important position in this earth-shattering change.

What have I done to deserve this?

How ridiculous my past plans and painstaking efforts seem now.

Instead of serving such a powerful ruler, he actually thought about maintaining the dynasty's fate. If he actually succeeded, he would be a sinner!

Now that I have the honor of participating, I must dedicate myself wholeheartedly, even unto death! (End of Chapter)