Chapter 434: Marrying the Princess

Wang Yan pondered for a moment before speaking: "Your Majesty, this battle against Western Xia, while not achieving total victory, has successfully curbed their development. According to intelligence gathered by my merchant caravans traveling to the Western Regions via Western Xia, the four years of war have left their people in dire straits. In my view, they will have no strength to wage war again within five years. Now that the Liao, Jin, and Lu Zhishen are vying for dominance in the north with no intention of looking south, this is the perfect opportunity for our Great Song to restore the people's livelihood and recuperate after the war."

"I personally believe we should rebuild the hard-surfaced roads from Bianjing to Hebei to speed up the mobilization of troops and the transport of grain and supplies, while simultaneously launching large-scale water conservancy projects beneficial to the people. Furthermore, having secured the horse farms and captured so many warhorses, we should begin training cavalry units. Once our national strength is restored and the cavalry is battle-ready, our Great Song can launch a northern expedition to recover our lost territories and save our Han people."

The situation was clear now; anyone who wasn't a fool knew it was time to restore the economy and reorganize the military. Zhao Ji certainly knew this too, but he merely wanted to hear many people echo the same opinion.

After the previous battle against Western Xia, Wang Yan had no expectations left for the Great Song's monarch and his officials. Truth be told, they all knew what needed to be done to make the country better and more prosperous. But they wouldn't do it, or rather, they wanted to but lacked the ability. Just like the reforms of Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi before, those who were being reformed knew clearly that if they complied, the country would become stronger. But they saw no benefit to themselves if the country grew strong, while the knife cutting into their own flesh meant real losses. So, what did the country's strength have to do with them?

Hearing Wang Yan's empty words that amounted to nothing, Zhao Ji nodded: "You are right; I think so too. But regarding this training of field cavalry you mentioned, who should oversee it..."

"Your Majesty's holy heart is decisive; you naturally already have a candidate in mind. I have spent these many years focused solely on business and do not know many civil or military officials in the court. Your Majesty, please do not make things difficult for me."

【A novel app that has been running stably for many years, the source-changing app that old readers are using, huanyuanapp. com】

Master Wang gave a wry smile and shook his head, his face pleading for mercy.

In truth, Zhao Ji knew all his connections—people like Wu Song, Lu Junyi, Dong Ping, and various local civil officials, some of whom were even recommended by him. Of course, he only recommended two types of people: those who got things done, and those who had the ability to get things done.

Those who got things done were well-versed in the sages' books, truly taking the salvation of the world as their own responsibility. They were absolute men of action, the type to tackle anyone they encountered. Such people were mostly upright, poor, and held low positions. They hated corrupt officials to the bone but were powerless to change anything. He helped these people move up a tier, giving them the authority to act. Of course, such people could never reach high office; after all, they offended people every single day. Most were local working-level officials, considered middle-tier local leadership.

Those with the ability to get things done were the ones who didn't actually do the work. They possessed political wisdom, offended no one, were cautious, and focused entirely on making money and climbing the ladder. He sent these people up to serve as high-tier local leadership, acting as shields for the former group of doers.

Truth be told, while he had no power in the court, he did have some people in the provinces, especially in Shandong and Hebei—not many, but some.

Zhao Ji knew Wang Yan wouldn't speak; the man was sensible and quick-witted. Before, he might have just been good at making money, but now he was simply a rare treasure of a money bag—he spoke pleasantly and handled matters reliably, which was truly rare.

He didn't continue the topic, turning instead to say: "Ziyan, I recall you only have two concubines and have yet to take a legal wife, is that correct?"

"That is correct."

"You are skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possess a vast fortune. I imagine the threshold of those seeking to act as matchmakers for you must have been worn down. Why have you never married?"

Wang Yan cupped his hands: "Your Majesty, I will speak the truth. All those who come to me as matchmakers are families plotting to get their hands on my imperial favor and wealth. I do not wish to be entangled in that. Not to mention others, even the natal families of my two concubines have used my name to act tyrannically, bully the good, and ruin my reputation. How could I dare to marry daughters from such families? Thus, I have rejected them all. With my current imperial favor and assets, finding a match of equal status is extremely difficult, so I simply decided not to marry. My two concubines get along well, we have seven children, and my second wife is six months pregnant. I am content."

"You are content with this? You are a dignified Fourth-Rank General of Loyal Martial Arts; having no legal wife in your household will inevitably invite ridicule."

Zhao Ji waved his hand, smiling as he looked at the bewildered Master Wang: "I have known you for eight years, and I know your character well. You are skilled in both literature and martial arts, love your country and people, and what is even rarer, you have a heart to help the commoners. Although I have never been to Yanggu County, I have seen the changes there every year. In eight years, Yanggu has gone from a medium county to a prosperous one, paying the highest taxes in the Great Song—this is entirely to your credit. Furthermore, you earn me over a million strings of cash every year and are even planning the balance between the Liao, Jin, and that Lu Zhishen to exhaust their national strength."

"Such merit—if I only promoted you in rank, other meritorious officials would inevitably feel disheartened. Your talent and merit are worthy of marrying one of my imperial daughters. It just so happens that my eldest daughter, Jiade, is eighteen this year and ready to be married. I intend to betroth her to you as your wife. This way, you need not worry about anyone using your name to ruin your reputation, and you will avoid being ridiculed for having no legal wife. What is your opinion?"

I want to rebel and usurp the throne, but you want to be my father-in-law?

"Your Majesty, this..." Wang Yan appeared hesitant. Seeing Zhao Ji's slightly narrowed eyes, he quickly got up and knelt on one knee: "I, Wang Yan, thank Your Majesty for your holy grace."

In truth, he had anticipated this. Although he hadn't deliberately tried to understand the Great Song princesses, he had some impressions. Just like this Princess Jiade, Zhao Yupan, whom Zhao Ji was now deciding to marry off to him—at an age where people married at thirteen or fourteen, this eldest princess should have been married long ago. But he had never heard any news, and he had wondered back then if she was being saved for him.

Now that she had reached eighteen, he was pretending to bring it up casually. In fact, Zhao Ji was prepared, because Wang Yan's role was irreplaceable. Not many people knew the full production methods and formulas for those products. If he really killed Wang Yan, that huge enterprise would be ruined. Of course, it would still make money, but making hundreds of thousands of strings of cash versus millions—could they be the same?

Perhaps Zhao Ji had considered Wang Yan's past and saw that he hadn't sought out young girls of fourteen or fifteen, so he had waited until she was eighteen—quite comprehensive.

Speaking of age, although Master Wang had done plenty of messy things, he really couldn't bring himself to touch an underage girl of fourteen or fifteen. Besides, that wasn't his area of expertise...

Now that Zhao Ji was making him marry the princess, as a Great Song princess marrying a player like him who already had two concubines and seven and a half children, there was no room for refusal. Besides, she was the eldest princess, born to the Empress. The first princess of the royal family to be married off was falling to him, Master Wang—this was a great honor. Since he couldn't refuse, he would naturally accept the father-in-law.

"Good, good. Ziyan, from now on we are family, no need for such formalities." Seeing him agree, Zhao Ji waved his hand happily, telling him to rise: "I think your wedding should be expedited. Jiade is already eighteen; we cannot delay any longer. It would be best to marry before the end of the year."

"I have neither parents nor relatives; only Your Majesty is my sovereign and father. Everything shall be decided by Your Majesty."

"Good, good, good. Then it is settled. You marry soon, and I can rest easy. You don't know, I've racked my brains over Jiade's marriage. She said the ones I introduced to her were mostly mediocre; it's because I took a fancy to you. You have good fortune!"

"Everything I have today is bestowed by Your Majesty."

Zhao Ji's words were just something to listen to. Royal daughters had no choice; if the Emperor said to marry, who dared to disobey? It was just Zhao Ji talking up Zhao Yupan.

Zhao Ji nodded with a smile, musing: "You are skilled in both literature and martial arts. I hear your household guards and the people of Yanggu County are well-trained, and your guards are even men who can fight ten. This matter of training the new army... should you oversee it?"

Wang Yan was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: "Your Majesty, I have already amassed quite a fortune through business, and now I am to be a son-in-law. If I were to hold military power as well, I fear I would be envied by the court officials. For this new army, Your Majesty should choose another capable general."

If he became a son-in-law, according to custom, he could no longer serve as an official, leaving only the path of eating and waiting for death. So in the Song Dynasty, good men absolutely did not become sons-in-law, and people didn't look highly upon them. Fortunately, the Song Dynasty didn't have many restrictions on sons-in-law; they basically lived like normal couples, and were allowed to take concubines. Even visiting prostitutes wasn't out of the question.

His refusal was a reminder to his father-in-law, Zhao Ji, that he had money and resources, and now he would have military power—it was bad, and easily led to trouble.

"I know what you're worried about. Even a eunuch like Tong Guan can lead an army on an expedition; why can't my son-in-law? I know your talent; how can I not use it? Besides, I only want you to train the troops; I didn't say I wanted you to hang the commander's seal and go on an expedition. Even if you wanted to, I wouldn't be willing." Zhao Ji shook his head and laughed: "I've heard that you spend your days at home either fussing over children or hunting in the mountains; you're truly too idle. This can be considered finding you something to do."

"The cavalry training will be outside Bianjing City. Open a new camp and select those skilled in archery and horsemanship from the various armies to fill it, with a fixed quota of fifty thousand. This way, you can stay in Bianjing for a longer time, so I won't be unable to find you when I miss you."

"I thank Your Majesty for your great love. Since that is the case, I will not decline." Wang Yan cupped his hands: "But Your Majesty, I have many affairs in Yanggu County. Although I appear idle, there are many urgent matters in the letters coming and going every day. If one thing is delayed, the loss could be tens of thousands of strings of cash. So if you ask me to oversee the new army's training, I may not be able to attend to everything at all times. I ask Your Majesty to appoint a few generals to take charge."

"I know all this; why do you need to say it?" Waving his hand to suppress his prospective son-in-law who was about to apologize, Zhao Ji laughed: "Then it is settled. I will discuss it with the court officials at tomorrow's morning audience; you just wait."

What else could Wang Yan say? Naturally, he nodded in agreement. After chatting for a while longer and making an appointment to meet Princess Jiade on the evening of the 15th, he sauntered out of the palace, taking his usual small stroll through Bianjing City.

Zhao Yupan was Zhao Ji's daughter, and he was Zhao Ji's son-in-law. Li Shishi was Zhao Ji's mistress kept outside, and he was sneaking off at night to steal her fragrance—interesting...

As for the matter of having him train the cavalry, this was likely the most correct decision Zhao Ji had made in his life, and also the most wrong.

Correct, because he was truly professional at training troops. As long as the Great Song's logistics could keep up, they would absolutely be the world's number one field cavalry. The Jurchens' "ten thousand are invincible" could also be dealt with; it was no big deal. It was all cavalry charges; who was afraid of whom? Moreover, his industries were already there, and he could forge weapons and equipment for the cavalry—all mass-produced. At the same time, other meat and medicinal materials could be mobilized to ensure the cavalry's training consumption. Of course, this had to be paid for by the Great Song treasury; there was no reason for him to give it away for free.

Wrong, because he was an ambitious man plotting to rebel. This cavalry force was being delivered directly into his hands. Although it was said he was only in charge of training and nothing else, he could intervene directly—it was perfectly justified; it was basically a free gift.

Anyway, regardless of why Zhao Ji let him take charge of the cavalry training, Zhao Ji was digging his own grave.

Strolling until evening, he ate something casual outside and returned to the residence at Xihua Gate to rest.

Late at night, naturally, it was off to Yuxiang Pavilion to steal that fragrance again. Shishi, who missed her lover, was always as passionate as fire. In this regard, she surpassed Jinlian and Hu San Niang by more than a notch—perhaps it also had to do with the fragrance of a wild flower.

Of course, he also mentioned the matter of becoming Zhao Ji's son-in-law. Li Shishi didn't care; after all, she might never even enter the Wang family's door in this life. Whether he took a wife or not, what did it have to do with her...

In the blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival, with its brilliant lights. On the high tower of Xuande Gate, Zhao Ji led his officials, watching the beautiful lights on the Imperial Street, full of joy.

In a corner on the tower, Wang Yan looked at the young girl before him—eyebrows like a new moon, large eyes with double eyelids, a pert nose, thin lips, and a face that was plump and youthful. Because of the bitter cold, there was a hint of rosy color on her cheeks, and her figure was tall. This was Princess Jiade, Zhao Yupan.

The genes improved by the royal family over several generations were not for nothing, and Zhao Ji also had an eye for beauty. Although Wang Yan had never seen the Empress, her bearing was certainly not poor. Zhao Yupan, a combination of the two, was naturally better looking than most people, on the same level as Li Shishi and Jinlian.

Born into an imperial family and having received a palace education since childhood, the noble aura she carried added a sense of untouchable nobility. Compared to Jinlian's lack of culture and Li Shishi's talent as a courtesan, Jinlian lost out, despite having studied for many years. However, compared to Li Shishi, she was not inferior; this princess had a different kind of charm.

"What do you think of me?"

"Quite good." Zhao Yupan shook her head and smiled: "Father's word is final. Since he has bestowed the marriage, what can I do if it's not good?"

The little girl was quite sharp... Master Wang asked with a smile: "Do you know everything about my situation?"

"I know."

"That's good." Wang Yan nodded, glanced at the officials in the distance who were constantly peeking over, and said: "Alright, since we've met, I won't say more. That group of old fogies over there is watching; it's never good to spend too much time together before marriage. Tomorrow I'll have someone send you some food and items; you can decide how to distribute them among your brothers and sisters. I'm leaving."

Zhao Yupan gave a soft "um," watching Wang Yan leave to join the group of officials. She turned and went to where the other palace ladies were enjoying the lights...

Princess Jiade's situation was the same as Jinlian's—no talk of love, just waiting for the day to get married. So now it was just meeting to see what the other looked like; cultivating feelings would be a matter for after marriage. Besides, he didn't have the heart to flirt with an eighteen-year-old girl now. If he were eighteen, like when he first arrived, he might have had some thoughts. Now that he was twenty-six again, his mindset was different.

He tried to do what was appropriate for the time and age. Otherwise, with his mindset of having lived for several hundred years, even if his "living father" made him return to one year old, he wouldn't be able to be happy with that experience. A long life brought countless experiences, and one always lost a lot of interest, or rather, those interests had long been experienced, and there was less freshness. What he did was try his best to please himself in a life without fresh things. But that didn't include flirting with an eighteen-year-old girl at the age of twenty-six. But if the location changed to the bed, he would be very interested, but that was a different matter...

Returning to the officials, he didn't stay long on the city wall. Those officials were there improvising poems; he didn't like being with a group of old guys, so he excused himself and went out to wander. No one found it strange; he was a lone official with no teammates, so staying there was just asking for discomfort.

But it was another Lantern Festival. The "Yuanxi" poem he had 'written' for Shishi before had long since spread. Every year at this time, people brought it up. Many people had pretended to be the original author, but they had all been debunked. By now, it had become a legend, and enthusiastic storytellers had compiled a beautiful love story of a talented scholar and a beauty, which was widely circulated and envied.

He walked in the crowd. According to custom, he guessed a lantern riddle and held a lantern in his hand, dealing with thieves who dared to strike at him and human traffickers who dared to steal children in front of him. He killed a few every year. With the crowd so dense and him being fast, accurate, and ruthless, there were several unsolved cases every year, making the Kaifeng Prefect very uncomfortable.

These kinds of thieves and child-stealers couldn't be eradicated by crackdowns; it was the greed of human nature. After all, even in the civilized modern era, petty theft was common, and human trafficking remained an industry. As long as there was money to be made, it was unavoidable.

Unknowingly, he wandered back outside Xihua Gate.

Just as he arrived, he saw someone in front of Yuxiang Pavilion suddenly brandishing an axe and shouting: "Let Grandpa in, let Grandpa in! Song Jiang, get out here! I want to settle the score with Song Jiang. Song Jiang, get out here!"

A group of people were pulling and blocking the man shouting with the axe. People around, seeing that these men were armed, screamed and scattered.

Before long, two men rushed out of Yuxiang Pavilion, one of them glaring at the man wielding the axe, wishing he could kill him.

It was also at this moment that a dense sound of footsteps and horse hooves rose in the distance, accompanied by shouting and cursing, charging over recklessly.

"Big Brother, the government troops are here, run, run!" someone shouted in alarm, pulling one of them and wanting to run.

The man looked up at the Yuxiang Pavilion sign above, his feet as if rooted, unwilling to leave. Finally, under the pulling of those beside him, he turned and ran away.

Master Wang naturally understood this scene—it was the "Lantern Festival Chaos in Tokyo" from the show... ===== CHAPTER 435 =====