You have truly caused me great suffering!

A group of minor officials from the Northwest, looking at the majestic city of Bianliang and walking on the smooth and wide roads of Tokyo, all felt somewhat restrained.

Fortunately, they came in a group, so they could support each other and offer some pointers.

However, the common people on the streets of Bianliang dared not laugh at them for being country bumpkins.

With their Kansai accents, their group of companions, and the fact that they were all riding horses, it was clear they were newly rich and powerful figures from the Northwest, where the Emperor rose to power.

The leader, Yang Shixin, was the Tongpan of Youzhou. The group consisted of capable officials transferred from various prefectures!
The kind of person whose performance is consistently rated as outstanding.

Xu Jin specially selected more than one hundred people from the Northwest, and the selection criteria were extremely strict.

He coughed lightly and said, "Everyone, stop looking around. I've heard that Tokyoites have high standards and always look down on people from other places. Let's all be more alert and not let others look down on us."

The group quickly stopped looking around and, escorted by their guards, rode their horses toward the imperial city.

From the very beginning, Chen Shao wanted to use officials from the Northwest, not because he looked down on people from the Central Plains.

On the contrary, Chen Shao knew better than anyone that there were plenty of capable people in the Central Plains.

Among these people were many who sang his praises, but Chen Shao dared not employ them.

In his simple understanding, when it comes to hiring someone, you shouldn't look at who speaks nicely to you or who greets you with a smile.

Instead, you need to see if this person or group of people shares your interests!

Among the officials in the Northwest, including the 100,000 soldiers he was about to send to the fertile Central Plains, there were certainly bad people and those who were dissatisfied with him, but overall they shared the same interests as Chen Shao and were "one of their own".

Only by using them can we ensure the smooth implementation of our policies.

Interests are always the strongest adhesive for allies.

It's important to understand that the enemy they're dealing with this time isn't a villain in the traditional sense. Unlike the Jurchen Tartars, who are absolute villains for their murders and arson, this gentry can be considered a positive figure.

In the local area, wealthy and powerful families do not exploit the people as they imagine, but rather oppress and bully the locals.

Most of the gentry, on the contrary, were charitable, repairing bridges and roads, and providing relief to the poor.

It was common practice for scholars to seek travel expenses from wealthy local families before taking the imperial examinations.

What if they get accepted?

For example, Jia Yucun often received financial assistance from Zhen Shiyin.

The novels of the Ming and Qing dynasties actually depicted the lives of ordinary people more closely than historical records.

There are indeed corrupt officials, but not that many.

In the Water Margin, Yun Ge, who sells pears, lost his mother and sold fruit to support his sick and weak father. He "often received some travel expenses from Ximen Qing."

It is evident that even a morally flawed tycoon like Ximen Qing knew how to help the poor in his territory.

But if one day you suddenly realize that there are thousands of acres of fertile land and abundant harvests in this county and township, where did all these poor people come from who are starving to death?
Then don't ask. The answer is that my family has been gentry for three generations, and all of this is the result of hard work.

Therefore, it is actually very difficult for Chen Shao to start a war with this group of people now. They are much more difficult to deal with than those snarling, notorious gentry.

Once the land survey was completed and the progressive tax was promulgated, that was when the most intense resistance began.

As long as we withstand this round of pressure and take back most of the land we have, we will win!
These gentry were forced to sell their land to the imperial court. They suddenly had so much money from selling land, but they couldn't continue to buy land, so they would try to invest it in other places.

Kiln firing, mining, shipbuilding, coal washing, coking, papermaking, and textiles.
These will become their targets, or at least the targets of some people. With a little guidance from the imperial court and the implementation of paper money, commerce will flourish.

This is Chen Shao's idea and his goal. Although it has just started, it is progressing steadily.

This trend had already existed in the Central Plains, but it was interrupted by two invasions by foreign tribes, especially in the Song Dynasty, where commerce and handicrafts were already highly developed.

When Yang Shixin and his group entered the palace, they actually felt a sense of relief.

In their minds, it was normal for the imperial city to be magnificent, but this imperial city passed down from the Song Dynasty was not as splendid as they had imagined.

But the prosperity of Tokyo was something they had never expected, and something they could never have imagined.

The surrounding soldiers were all from the Lingwu Army in the Northwest. Seeing the familiar armor, everyone relaxed even more.

Upon arriving outside the Chuigong Hall, Yang Shixin couldn't help but feel excited. A few years ago, he would never have imagined that he would have the opportunity to come to the palace.

The other minor officials, on the other hand, were not as excited as he was.

Because he had served as a sub-prefect, he knew how difficult it was to climb the ranks, while the others who were recruited this time were all very young.

Young people are fearless in their ignorance; they always feel that anything is possible in the future, and they are always ambitious, believing that they can create a great career.

As one struggles more in middle age, one realizes that simply surviving is incredibly difficult, and the ambitions of youth are long buried deep in one's heart.

Many people only remember their youthful ambitions when they look back on their lives before they die.

They did not have to wait long before they met the Emperor.

A young official clapped his hands and exclaimed, "It's the Emperor! And he's still so young!"

A group of people quickly stepped forward to pay their respects, but Chen Shao waved his hand and said, "I have a big task to do, and I don't trust outsiders to handle it, so I've transferred you all here!"

This simple sentence excited and thrilled the hundred or so people present.

Chen Shao discovered that he had a talent for igniting other people's entrepreneurial passion.

Han Shizhong adopted the phrase "sharing wealth and honor" back then, and that scoundrel is still using it now.

Chen Shao recounted the land survey across the country, especially the land confiscated from wealthy landowners, and then ordered them to undergo training.

Chen Shao initially planned for the training to last two months, after which they would learn through practice.

The official remained as approachable as ever, sitting with everyone and speaking in a way that he could understand perfectly well.

We must thoroughly investigate the land holdings of wealthy landowners in fertile areas, and those with more land should pay more taxes in the future.

They also bought most of the land from them and distributed it to those who had made contributions to the founding of the nation.

His words were substantial and targeted.

Having spent a long time in officialdom, Yang Shixin had long since developed an iron-faced demeanor. Knowing what expression to use for whom was almost a muscle memory.

But his heart was burning with passion and far from calm.

Finally, Chen Shao stood up and instructed them, "Health is the foundation of everything. When you go out on assignments, remind each other to wear more clothes and eat more."

Yang Shixin's eyes suddenly reddened. Chen Shao had already turned and taken a few steps away when Yang Shixin suddenly clasped his hands and said, "We are willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty without hesitation!"

Chen Shao paused for a moment, then turned around and laughed, "If I don't trust you, who else can I trust?"
-
Back in the Funing Palace, Chen Shao sat down in a chair, with the map he had drawn himself behind him.

Chen Shao has a habit of hanging a map of whichever area he is currently focusing on in the place where he spends the most time.

If it were according to his habits from previous years, the area behind him should be a map of Gubeikou and Liaodong.

But Chen Shao didn't put his mind to it at all.

After the Battle of Baigou River, the Jurchens were forced to retreat from Youyan, and they no longer had the ability to move south.

It has to be said, the Baigou River is indeed something special.
After the Battle of Baigou River, the God of War, Donkey Cart, also completely lost the opportunity to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun.
Li Jinglong was defeated at Baigou River, and Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen also lost the opportunity to defeat Zhu Di.
After Tong Guan's defeat at the Battle of Baigou River, the Song Dynasty lost its chance to personally reclaim Youyan.
A single defeat here can often alter the fate of an entire nation.

Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zonghan were also formidable figures of their time, but after their defeat here, they lost the right to compete with themselves.

They left the table.

Chen Shao sat in his chair, tapped twice on the armrest, and noticed Li Wanshu pacing outside the hall. "What is it?"

After Li Wanshu entered, she gathered her skirts and said, "Your Majesty, there are officials outside requesting an audience. This servant noticed that Your Majesty is tired."

She rarely saw Chen Shao like this; he wasn't dealing with any memorials, but seemed lost in thought, sitting alone in his chair for a long time.

Chen Shao smiled and stood up, saying, "I'm not tired at all. I'm just thinking about things. Who wants to see me?"

Since the person was able to be summoned to the Emperor, he must be a very important person. Chen Shao actually really enjoys seeing his old subordinates now.

He wanted to see if his brothers were still united with him; some things couldn't be done behind closed doors.

You must communicate with your team and advance and retreat together in order to accomplish great things.

Today, upon meeting the officials from the Northwest, he didn't need to test them at all; he could feel their affection for him.

His name is Zong Ze.

"Zong Ze?" Chen Shao frowned slightly. This wasn't his old subordinate.

Chen Shao originally intended not to meet, but when he thought of his childhood, when he learned about crossing the river by shouting three times, even though he didn't quite understand it, he still felt a sense of frustration in his chest.

Later, when I was older and more mature, I often shed tears when I looked at it again.

For the sake of this integrity, it wouldn't hurt to meet.

He got up and went to the Chuigong Hall, where a palace servant went to announce his arrival.

Zong Ze was very thin, with a hunched back, and could no longer straighten his back.

It seems he truly did not want to see the Song Dynasty perish.

Several elderly people I know, such as Zhong Shidao and Cai Jing, are getting more and more energetic.

It was as if he were the panacea for these old ministers.

Zong Ze bowed slightly and said, "Zong Ze greets Your Majesty."

Unexpectedly, he was so responsive. Chen Shao laughed and said, "Someone, bring a seat for Minister Zong."

Perhaps he was truly exhausted, Zong Ze didn't stand on ceremony and sat down, supporting his knees, saying, "Your Majesty, Zong Ze is old and frail, and not one of Your Majesty's former subordinates. I have come here to pay my respects, but I thought Your Majesty would not see me."

"I never expected Your Majesty to bestow such favor. Since that is the case, I have some heartfelt words to say, and I hope Your Majesty will listen to them."

Chen Shao sneered inwardly. Zong Ze still held an official position, but he had not submitted to the emperor.

Let him be.

I don't care.

"Since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty by Emperor Taizu, none of the northern barbarians have been as fierce and savage as the Jurchens. Now that the Jurchens are invading, Your Majesty is withdrawing the main force south. I fear the calamity of the Jin army advancing south will be repeated!"

It turns out that the old man thought his withdrawal of troops was to consolidate his imperial power, and he disregarded the situation on the front lines.

In your eyes, am I, Chen Shao, that kind of person?
Chen Shao smiled and said, "In the first year of Chonghe, my cousin Liu Guanglie returned from the front line. I had a drinking party with my cousin in Fuzhou, and we rode back drunk. It has been eight or nine years since then."

Zong Ze hadn't had much contact with Chen Shao, so he was a little puzzled when Chen Shao suddenly started talking about his youth.

Chen Shao continued, "At that time, the sun was setting in the west, and dusk was falling on the fields. What was I thinking about on horseback? Does Zong Rulin know?"

Since you refuse to acknowledge me as your subject, I will no longer be your ruler, and Chen Shao will no longer address you as my beloved minister.

Zong Ze shook his head.

Chen Shao raised his voice and waved his hand, saying, "I am thinking of a plan to destroy the Jurchens!"

Chen Shao wasn't exaggerating; back then, he was already thinking about how to prevent the sinking of China and the humiliation of the Jingkang Incident.

"At that time, I already knew that the Jurchens' destruction of Liao was unstoppable and they would inevitably move south in the future. Therefore, I resolutely joined the army. It was from that year that I first served under Tong Guan. In the Battle of Hengshan, I held off Richard for seven days and gained Tong Guan's trust."

"Thus, I was able to serve as the vanguard, attacking the Xia rebels in Yanzhou, then conquering the four prefectures of You, Yan, Hong, and Long, then taking Yinxia, ​​attacking Lingwu, and finally destroying the Western Xia."

"I have mobilized all the troops in the Northwest and stationed them at Nuanquan Peak. We have formed an alliance with Fugu and agreed that the day the Jin army marches south will be the day we leave the pass."

"If it weren't for my 100,000 iron cavalry, do you think you could have stopped the Jin army from marching south?" Chen Shao laughed. "Now you suspect me of not resisting the Jin and instead using my troops for internal strife?"

When Zong Ze came, he was convinced of his own judgment and was prepared to die to offer his advice.

He was stunned.

Chen Shao laughed and said, "Lord Rulin is old and should enjoy his remaining years. I am not the foolish and incompetent ruler of the previous dynasty! Since the people of the Central Plains have made me emperor, I will not allow the Jurchens to march south on horseback. Moreover, I will soon send troops north to destroy the Jurchens."

After saying that, Chen Shao didn't stand on ceremony with him, turned around and left without even looking at Zong Ze's expression.

Zong Ze's deeds once moved his past self.

But it's clear they're not one of our own.
I don't have the energy to argue with them, nor do I care about their attitude. History will judge right and wrong.

After returning to Funing Palace, Chen Shao quickly put the matter out of his mind, whether it was Li Gang or Zong Ze.

None of that matters anymore; my own great cause is the most important thing.

Li Wanshu brought over a bowl of medicinal food, saying it was sent by the Imperial Concubine.

As she served herself with a spoon, Chen Shao asked, "Has your household purchased property in Jinling?"

Li Wanshu nodded. "My parents have already moved to Jinling."

Chen Shao knew that many government offices in Bianliang were preparing to head to Jinling.

During the Southern Tang Dynasty, Jinling was the capital of the Southern Tang, and was called Jinling or Jiangning.

In the eighth year of the Kaibao era of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty destroyed the Southern Tang Dynasty and renamed Jinling as Shengzhou.

In the second year of the Tianxi era, Emperor Zhenzong of Song, having once been enfeoffed in this area, upgraded Shengzhou to Jiangning Prefecture.

In March of the first year of the Jianwu era of the Dajing reign, Chen Shao issued an edict to change Jiangning Prefecture back to Jinling and place it among the five capitals.

Many caravan organizations have quietly settled in Nanjing, and ports everywhere are being expanded.

The waterways had already been dredged several times due to the conscription of people from Jiaozhi, and now many more canals and waterways have been built.

Li Wanshu held the medicinal meal, carefully scooped up a spoonful, blew on it before handing it to Chen Shao.

She no longer feels any aversion to serving others.

She is now increasingly aware of how precious her position is. Every time her clansmen see her, they look at her with respect, and even her uncle, who has been granted the title of Duke, treats her with great courtesy.

Seriously speaking, these women were the closest to the emperor.

In Dream of the Red Chamber, Xue Baochai went to the capital only to choose a palace maid or a companion for a princess.

However, her brother killed someone, which tarnished his reputation and disqualified him from being selected.

Chen Shao looked at her bent-over, gentle and obedient appearance and felt very fond of her. He stroked her waist and hips and said, "I have already asked Xiao Ting to select some houses, all not far from Jingyang Palace. I will bestow one of them upon your household."

Li Wanshu quickly expressed her gratitude, and Chen Shao smiled and said, "Since you live nearby, you can go back to visit your relatives occasionally."

"I dare not."

"Parental relations are a matter of instinct; what is there to be afraid of? From now on, all palace maids and eunuchs will have ten days of leave to visit their families each year, and they can be assigned to these duties as needed." (End of Chapter)