Chapter 444: Great Affairs Are About to Unfold

The war against the Western Xia finally ended; several major cities had been besieged by the Western army for over a month, only surrendering as the year drew to a close. Every place had loyal ministers who refused to yield, every place had stubborn elements unwilling to relinquish their power—these individuals often possessed formidable strength, and even in the twilight of the dynasty, they retained the right to control others' lives and deaths.

During this month-plus period, life within each city was anything but peaceful. Some killed their wives and children, others looted wealth, some sought to surrender their cities, while others resisted and prevented it; several internal firefights erupted. Faced with an uncertain fate, human nature revealed itself in full, turning every place into a terrestrial hell.

The outcome, of course, was the complete absorption of Western Xia's territory, population, and all manner of cattle, sheep, and horses—earning Song a modest windfall that offset its earlier war losses.

As for population integration tensions, although Western Xia's map looked vast, its actual population was small—formerly around three million, now, after war and internal strife, fewer than two million remained. Compared to Song's population measured in hundreds of millions, these people posed little trouble.

Zhao Ji adopted Wang Yan's resettlement proposal: all former Western Xia subjects, regardless of ethnicity, were to remain in place; adult males were screened, those qualified enlisted into the army, those unqualified sentenced to ten years of labor to atone for their role in provoking Song's military campaign; women, children, and the elderly continued their traditional herding and farming. Meanwhile, two million people were relocated from across Song's territories to settle alongside the Western Xia people, farming and herding together, while schools were established for children of school age. Additional policies were to be enacted to ensure Western Xia subjects would not be brutally oppressed by Song citizens.

Oppression was unavoidable, especially for Western Xia civilians, now conquered and reduced to war spoils of Song. Everyone carries national and ethnic pride; now that Song was strong and had destroyed a nation, it was only natural to feel pride—and to oppress Western Xia civilians. Not only did Song citizens do so, but Western Xia civilians themselves naturally believed their defeat meant they were inferior, stripped of rights; if abused, they could only endure in silence, for if they protested too loudly, even officials might not defend them—and might even hasten their deaths.

Oppression was habitual: initially born of the victor's pride, it later twisted into something darker. Left unchecked, it would deepen Western Xia resentment toward Song, fostering nostalgia for their lost homeland, and under the incitement of schemers, rebellion would follow. Early rebellions could be easily suppressed, but after quelling them, one must still pacify, must offer Western Xia people the benefits they crave.

Thus, a dangerous precedent was set: whenever Western Xia people felt aggrieved, they would rebel to claim their desired rights, and rebellions would become frequent. Soon, Western Xia would become a tributary enclave, and who knew—perhaps another Li Yuanhao would rise.

Therefore, to prevent these outcomes, a series of policies guaranteeing Western Xia people's rights was essential.

But since the postwar season was deep winter, relocation could not begin; only grain and supplies were sent ahead to help them survive the winter, leaving the court ample time to bicker and arrange details.

The postwar rewards were naturally the top priority of court quarrels. Such a feat of national conquest demanded great rewards, yet the rising power of the military must also be curbed—a tricky matter. And then there was Wang Yan, the primary contributor; how to handle him was another problem.

Zhao Ji wanted to elevate Wang Yan, but all court ministers united in firm opposition. This was not factional strife—it was self-preservation. The court was filled with the empire's sharpest minds; no fools here. From past events, all knew Zhao Ji had changed, sensed his hostility toward them. Wang Yan had been the main force behind the downfall of Gao Qiu and Cai Jing; Zhao Ji's intent in elevating Wang Yan was obvious.

They all moved in the same circles, and Wang Yan had stood unshaken for a decade. Though they called him a sycophant, they knew he was no easy man to deal with. Over the years, too many officials from Shandong and Hebei had been purged. Moreover, he was both literary and martial: literarily, he stabilized and prospered regions; militarily, he led armies to conquer nations. If he became a fellow minister, serving as Zhao Ji's sword, how could they hope for peace?

Though Zhao Ji wished to press ahead alone, the civil officials' power was too great—he dared not act, feared them deeply. Even though the Rebuilt Northern Army and some Western Army troops had returned to Bianjing, he dared not confront the entire civil bureaucracy. Killing them would only provoke greater backlash.

So the idea was abandoned—but in the process, Wang Yan's actual command of the Rebuilt Northern Army, Song's strongest force, was solidified. Beyond that, leveraging this conquest, his civilian rank was raised to General of the Agile Cavalry, his noble title elevated to Marquis, and he was granted the honorary title of Grand Marshal. All these were empty honors, freely bestowed; his real power extended only over the fifty thousand troops of the Rebuilt Northern Army.

Wang Yan cared nothing for court affairs, but Zhao Ji had already hinted he must act—he could not avoid involvement. So he gathered dirt on several regional officials, submitted memorials denouncing them, and let the court's filth remain their own problem.

Now that he held actual command of fifty thousand Rebuilt Northern Army troops, he had no intention of being polite. Ignoring court squabbles, he once again began replenishing the Rebuilt Northern Army's ranks.

This time, it was far easier than building from nothing: over a year of campaigning abroad had returned over ten thousand men; those previously sent back, plus the six thousand heavy cavalry held as reserve, totaled over twenty thousand. Add the several thousand who had trained for years in camp but failed to meet the elite standard, and the force already reached thirty thousand.

The newcomers, after training alongside veteran soldiers, would be influenced by them. With veterans leading by example, their combat effectiveness would not suffer.

Of course, all this followed clear protocols; he need not oversee every detail. He turned instead to the long-prepared major undertaking.

With Western Xia conquered, Song's frontier had stretched further. Not only did it now border Liao over a wider expanse, but it also had to guard against the Uyghurs. Though Western Xia's terrain was poor, and its few million people spread over vast empty lands—dozens of miles without habitation—Song had no intention of abandoning hard-won territory. Thus, they deployed troops to defend the entire extended frontier.

To defend it, a massive redeployment of border forces occurred: half of the victorious Western Army remained stationed to guard Liao, the other half returned to Hebei; the weaker Northern Army saw half transferred to the former Western Xia–Uyghur borderlands to hold the line. This arrangement was simple and clear: to eventually seize Youyun's Sixteen Prefectures, drive Liao and Lu Zhishen's forces out beyond the Great Wall, and prevent them from venturing beyond Yugu Pass. This was the next goal after absorbing Western Xia's spoils and resting for several years.

This plan was not just Zhao Ji's dream—it haunted every minister. Since the puppet emperor Shi Jingtang ceded Youyun's Sixteen Prefectures over a century ago, reclaiming them in this reign would immortalize them in history, granting eternal glory. No one could resist such temptation; all cared for their legacy.

Moving hundreds of thousands of troops over thousands of kilometers was no quick task. Seizing this opportunity, Lu Zhishen's forces, stationed at Xijin Prefecture, suddenly deployed southward and confronted Song's Northern Army.

Before this, as early as the start of Xuanhe 4, Wang Yan's secretly cultivated troops had begun moving. Estates across the empire had received orders: at what time, what to do. Of course, not many knew the full truth—after the Huang Jin Uprising, secrecy was paramount. Only regional commanders were informed first; they prepared the estates under their control, revealing the full plan only at the appointed time.

Troops in Liaodong had long ceased hostilities with Liao and Jin; publicly, they engaged in trade and development; secretly, twenty thousand men were withdrawn, shipped from Dengzhou, and over months, quietly transported via merchant caravans to the outskirts and within Bianjing. In a metropolis of a million souls with massive foot traffic, ten thousand arrivals stirred not even a ripple.

Wu Song was also ready; recently, under the guise of suppressing bandits, he had been touring the various Fucheng of Jingdong Xilu. Other cities' merchant guilds had also received notices.

Over ten years, preparations had been meticulous. In truth, with current strength and launching an internal rebellion—not an external assault—even if rumors spread now and the plan leaked, it mattered little: it would merely mean a battle. By now, regional garrison troops could not reach the capital in time to rescue the emperor.

With all preparations complete, Lu Zhishen began probing attacks, pressuring the stationed Northern Army. Zhao Ji issued an edict summoning Wang Yan to the capital—he trusted him, knew he was strategic and capable, and wished to hear his counsel.

After seeing off the eunuch bearing the imperial decree, Wang Yan strolled slowly, hands behind his back, toward the courtyard: "Everything arranged?"

The old steward nodded: "Rest easy, Master. Zi De has prepared everything. On the first day of the fifth month, five days from now, our men embedded in the Northern Army will coordinate with Lu Zhishen to seize the rest. Then, as you instructed, we will reorganize the troops and pacify the people, launching the northern campaign against Xijin Prefecture."

As a trusted confidant, Wang Ming'an, the old steward's son, was not sent to Cangzhou for nothing. Governing the region was secondary; the main goal was to infiltrate and sway civil and military officials, ensuring that Wang Yan's domestic rebellion would not delay the northern military campaign. He could directly control border military and civilian affairs, safeguarding national defense.

As for the Western Army, though he had agents there, he did not act. Except for the portion Zhao Ji recalled for safety, the rest remained stationed abroad defending the frontier; even if they wished to rush to Bianjing's aid, they lacked the means. Moreover, his regime change would be swift, and border armies depended on central supply lines—this gave him a natural advantage. Should anyone attempt to declare himself king or launch a counterattack, looting the countryside, his head would be severed—no chance to rebel.

Wang Yan nodded: "Good. Fu Shu, you take charge of Shandong's overall situation. Once things settle, come to the capital."

"Master, you jest. This is my duty. Our Wang family is about to glorify our ancestors—how could I call it hard work? I'm merely serving my own household. Master, rest assured: we control Shandong most deeply of all these regions. If any scoundrels stir trouble, they'll work themselves to death. When we meet again, you'll be His Majesty…"

Laughing, the would-be emperor clapped the old steward on the shoulder: "Enough. Go do your work."

Watching the old steward, legs spry, practically bouncing as he walked, Wang Yan couldn't help shaking his head—power over men's eyes is intoxicating…

"Da Guanren, are we heading to the capital again?"

In the rear courtyard, Wang Qinghan, the youngest, was chasing butterflies, her tiny feet darting across the ground; she looked at Wang Yan with reluctant fondness.

"Not just us—we're all leaving."

Zhao Yupan, heavily pregnant, thought quickly and blurted: "Da Guanren, will we settle permanently in Bianjing?"

"Settle in Bianjing?" Jin Lian frowned: "Where's the peace of our estate? Da Guanren, is the Emperor ordering us to go?"

"No. Just for convenience. If you want an estate, we'll build one outside Bianjing." Wang Yan waved off Jin Lian's further protest: "Enough. My decision is final. When Hu San Niang returns, tell her—pack your belongings, take what you wish. Fu Shu has arranged everything. We depart the day after tomorrow. No rush on the road; Yupan is pregnant—take it slow, enjoy the scenery. The imperial envoy still waits. The Emperor summons urgently—I must leave now."

These family members could have been brought to the capital only after everything ended, but Zhao Yupan's condition demanded caution. If news reached her too late, it might harm the child—worse, endanger her health. After all, she was a Princess of Zhao Song, daughter of the Emperor. Her husband was rising in rebellion against her father—her fear and anxiety were unpredictable.

Though Zhao Ji was a fool, Wang Yan had no intention of killing him—or any other Zhao Song royal. As long as they behaved, he would not target them; he would only remove those who had committed great crimes over the years. The rest would simply be reduced to commoners. He would not even bar Zhao Song royals from commerce, officialdom, or military service—if they had talent, they could rise. He had that much magnanimity.

Thus, Zhao Yupan and the others would enter the capital slowly. When they arrived and saw Zhao Ji, their mother, and their siblings—all alive and well—they would be reassured, sparing much trouble.

As for safety on the journey—never an issue. If he couldn't handle this, what use were his hundreds of thousands of troops? He might as well quit.

The two women nodded obediently. Jin Lian helped Zhao Yupan change into black riding attire. Without further words, they mounted the horses already prepared, accompanied by over twenty men dressed in varied Song military uniforms, and galloped away from the Wang estate along the road to the capital…