Chapter 139: Five Transmigrants Were Wiped Out by a Single Native

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"I don't envy mandarin ducks, I don't envy immortals—I only envy Zhao Yu every single day!"

Upon Zhang Chun's words, Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, and Ma Xiao Jiao unexpectedly resonated strongly with her.

Think of the five of them: even setting aside their status as transmigrants, just in their past lives, which one wasn't a net celebrity with millions of fans?

Yuan Qing Cheng, in particular, was a super net celebrity with over ten million fans.

Moreover, Li Lin was a Ph. D. in military science, a visiting professor at the First Army Academy, a special expert at the Center for Strategy and Security, a military affairs specialist, and a special military commentator; Ye Shi Yun was even a Ph. D. in economics from China's number-one university, a top-tier financial anchor, fluent in monetary principles and familiar with all economic policies throughout history and across the world.

With their status, their looks, their figures—in their past lives, which one didn't have priority in choosing a partner?

They had even obtained the transmigration right that others could only dream of, and they transmigrated smoothly into the Northern Song.

And yet?

The four women looked at each other, and they had all been made pregnant by the same native.

Worse, they had willingly done so. Some had even resorted to any means, sunk to any low, sacrificed everything, just barely managing to conceive this native's child.

It was too shameful to even think about what they had done.

Even more shameful to think about the fact that they were transmigrants.

Now, even the sole survivor among them was on the verge of collapse.

It looked as if the five transmigrants were about to be wiped out by a single native.

What made it angriest was that this native had not only seduced them all and gotten them all pregnant, but also kept a whole harem of other women, living in daily ease and pleasure!!

Those who didn't know would think this native was the transmigrant, and that they were stuck with the side character script.

That's precisely why Zhang Chun envied Zhao Yu.

In fact, Li Lin and the other women also envied and resented Zhao Yu, wishing they could swap lives with him.

Li Lin suppressed her envy and jealousy and said: "Stop staring—Qing Cheng has only just taken this step; if we scare her into retreating again, we'll lose all our progress, and Qing Cheng might truly leave our circle."

Hearing this, Zhang Chun and the other three women withdrew their gazes and continued their own conversation, pretending not to see Zhao Yu's hand slipping into Yuan Qing Cheng's bosom…

Soon, Yuan Qing Cheng was flushed and breathless from Zhao Yu's teasing.

Zhao Yu whispered into Yuan Qing Cheng's ear: "My beloved, will you serve me tonight?"

Yuan Qing Cheng hesitated!

It wasn't that she refused to serve him.

—Yuan Qing Cheng knew clearly that she could never leave the harem, and within the harem, Zhao Yu was the only man; moreover, she didn't dislike Zhao Yu—no, she actually liked him very much, and he liked her too; thus, it was inevitable that they would eventually take this step.

But she feared that once she served him, their "romance phase" would end too hastily.

In her past life, to maintain her highly Eastern and pastoral composite persona as a net celebrity, Yuan Qing Cheng had lived in a rustic countryside courtyard, surrounded by mountains, rivers, and idyllic fields, following a life of rising with the sun and resting with the sunset, far from urban noise, immersed in nature, enjoying simple and tranquil living, constructing an ideal pastoral lifestyle model for modern urbanites, satisfying their longing for poetic dwelling.

Such a Yuan Qing Cheng could not possibly date, nor had she ever had the chance to.

To put it bluntly, if she had ever been linked to even a whisper of scandal, her years of painstakingly built unique persona would instantly vanish.

This was undoubtedly a great regret for Yuan Qing Cheng.

Now that she had a chance to make up for this regret, she certainly hoped this period could last as long as possible, for she had heard that a woman in love was the happiest.

Zhao Yu saw through her little thoughts; he kissed her cheek again and said: "Since my beloved wishes to wait a little longer, then wait a few more days."

Zhao Yu was truly not in a hurry.

—Since last year, when the three hundred beauties selected by the Ministry of Rites gradually entered the palace, and after Empress Dowager Gao Taotao's death, when Zhao Yu fulfilled his earlier promise and took all the women from Ci De Palace, he already had nearly a thousand women, most of whom were still virgins; he truly had no shortage of women to satisfy his physical needs—how could he possibly lack just one Yuan Qing Cheng?

Besides, after eating meat every day for over a year, occasionally having a touch of freshness didn't seem so bad.

Seeing Zhao Yu so doting and accommodating toward her, Yuan Qing Cheng felt even sweeter inside and sincerely said: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhao Yu and Yuan Qing Cheng exchanged tender whispers for a while longer before Zhao Yu entered the chamber, while Yuan Qing Cheng summoned palace maids to serve the dishes…

Taking this opportunity, Zhao Yu asked Zhang Chun: "My beloved, who do you think should serve as the Imperial Mausoleum Director?"

Zhang Chun knew Zhao Yu was testing her, not asking for advice.

'This is indeed a fine exam question.'

Choosing the Imperial Mausoleum Director was no trivial matter.

It was customary in the Zhao Song dynasty for a former chancellor to serve as Imperial Mausoleum Director.

For example, during Emperor Taizong's funeral, the nominal director was his fourth son, but in reality, Chancellor Lü Duan guided the funeral procession.

The Imperial Mausoleum Director was essentially the overall supervisor of funeral affairs: responsible for all matters related to the funeral of the deceased emperor or empress, including the procession of the coffin, and the entire series of rituals such as Qi Zou, Qi Dian, Zu Dian, and Qian Dian, as well as overseeing the planning and construction of the imperial mausoleum.

The Zhao Song dynasty followed the ritual of "burial within seven months"; the Imperial Mausoleum Director had to complete the funeral within this period and observe mourning regulations, holding appropriate ceremonies at each stage.

After completing the imperial funeral, the Imperial Mausoleum Director was, by convention, barred from re-entering court and had to resign from his chancellorship, becoming a tool for the new emperor to remove old officials and for ministerial power struggles.

The most prominent example was:

After Gao Taotao died, Zhao Xu appointed Lü Dafang, chancellor under Gao Taotao, as Imperial Mausoleum Director, removing him from court; by the time Gao Taotao was buried, Zhao Xu and Zhang Dun had already purged Lü Dafang's old faction.

Also historically, Zhao Ji used the appointment of Zhang Dun as Imperial Mausoleum Director for Zhao Xu to remove Zhang Dun, appointing Han Zhongyan and Ceng Bu as left and right chancellors; Zhao Ji then appointed Ceng Bu as Imperial Mausoleum Director for Empress Dowager Xiang, and used this opportunity to remove Ceng Bu, appointing Cai Jing as chancellor.

When Zhao Yu ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Xiang and the old faction had hoped Zhang Dun would be appointed as Imperial Mausoleum Director for Zhao Xu, intending to remove him.

But at that time, Zhao Yu protected Zhang Dun, Ceng Bu, Cai Bian, and Xu Jiang, preventing them from becoming political casualties after Zhao Xu's death; instead, he appointed Lin Xi—the former chancellor who had betrayed Zhang Dun due to Ceng Bu's framing—as Imperial Mausoleum Director for Zhao Xu.

Precisely because of this, the new faction had wholeheartedly embraced Zhao Yu and helped him resist the old faction under Empress Dowager Xiang's protection.

Now, Empress Dowager Xiang had also passed away, and Zhao Yu faced another choice.

This time, Zhao Yu's decision would certainly not be whether to appoint Zhang Dun as Imperial Mausoleum Director.

Just days ago, Zhang Dun's granddaughter Zhang Nan gave birth to Zhao Yu's seventh son.

Moreover, Zhao Yu and Zhang Dun had agreed on the strategic plan to "recover the Western Xia within three to five years."

How could Zhao Yu possibly abandon Zhang Dun?

Should he, as in history, appoint Ceng Bu as Imperial Mausoleum Director for Empress Dowager Xiang?

Ceng Bu was the Chief of the Privy Council, in charge of military affairs.

But now, Zhang Dun's hand has stretched too far, often bypassing Ceng Bu to directly command frontline military officers and even generals.

This has created deep tensions between Zhang Dun and Ceng Bu, and their responsibilities now overlap significantly.

Under these circumstances, Zhao Yu's decision to remove Ceng Bu from court seems quite reasonable.

Yet as Emperor, even the most trusted minister must be watched.

For Zhao Yu, that means even if he trusts Zhang Dun and Cai Jing, he must still keep an eye on them.

Ceng Bu was a staunch supporter and key assistant during the early phase of Wang Anshi's reforms, actively promoting their implementation.

However, in the later stages of the reforms, Ceng Bu diverged from Wang Anshi on specific policies and personnel appointments.

For instance, on issues like the Market Exchange Law, Ceng Bu's views differed from Wang Anshi's, causing their relationship to gradually drift apart.

In fact, viewing Ceng Bu's entire political career, his stance toward the reforms shifted over time—he cannot be simply labeled a "traitor" to Wang Anshi. He later actively supported the restoration of the reforms under Zhao Xu's personal rule, proving he still held some conviction and commitment to the reforms themselves, merely disagreeing on implementation details and personal interests.

To the true New Party—particularly Zhang Dun and Cai Bian's factions—their view is that Ceng Bu is a traitor within the New Party, and the New Party will never trust him again.

On the other hand, Ceng Bu is undeniably part of the New Party and cannot be accepted by the Old Party.

Under these circumstances, Ceng Bu can only serve as an Imperialist, a solitary minister.

Indeed, Ceng Bu was among the first to pledge allegiance to Zhao Yu; at the outset, Zhao Yu relied on Ceng Bu's strength to establish balance between the New and Old Parties, ultimately securing his imperial authority.

Notably, Ceng Bu excels in politics, economics, and military affairs alike—he is a first-rate all-rounder. Thus, whether Zhang Dun falters or Cai Jing falters, he can step in immediately.

Moreover, though Ceng Bu is of the New Party, he belongs to its conservative, or pragmatic, faction. Often, he acts as an anchor: one eye watches the radical Zhang Dun for Zhao Yu, the other watches the even more radical Cai Jing—with him in place, Zhang Dun and Cai Jing dare not act recklessly.

Therefore, Zhao Yu cannot abandon Ceng Bu.

The remaining New Party ministers and chancellors are the ones who actually get things done; they perform well in their respective fields, and Zhao Yu should not abandon them.

Thus, the only option left is to appoint an Old Party member as the Imperial Tomb Commissioner.

Previously, Zhao Yu had sent the New Party chancellor Lu Huiqing to govern the newly reclaimed Qingtang region in Xihé Road and prepare for war against the Western Xia; meanwhile, before Empress Dowager's death, she had ordered Zhao Yu to promote Fan Chunli to chancellor.

This shift has reversed the balance of power between the New and Old Parties in the central court.

In other words, the Old Party's strength in the central court has recently become too great.

This is detrimental to reform.

Furthermore, the Old Party's Left Censor Ren Boyu submitted one hundred and eighty memorials in the past six months, primarily targeting Chancellor Zhang Dun, followed by chancellors Ceng Bu, Cai Jing, and Cai Bian.

Ren Boyu stubbornly believes talent should not be divided into factions, yet history has never seen a state thrive when virtuous men and wicked men were appointed together. Virtuous men, unattached to power, easily withdraw; wicked men, hard to remove, cling to office. When both are appointed together, the result is inevitably the virtuous men leaving and the wicked men remaining.

Ren Boyu cites Emperor Dezong of Tang as an example, claiming his exile and flight resulted from this very cause.

Coincidentally, "Jianzhong" was also Emperor Dezong's reign title.

Ren Boyu hopes Zhao Yu will take this as a warning.

There are many other Old Party members like Ren Boyu, self-righteous and obstinate.

They delight in opposing Zhao Yu, completely ignoring the actual conditions of the Zhao Song dynasty.

They need to be reined in.

So Zhang Chun said: "What if we appoint Han Zhongyan as Imperial Tomb Commissioner?"

Zhang Chun's meaning: since we must reprimand the Old Party, we should strike the biggest target—after all, Han Zhongyan cannot control these censors, so he deserves punishment.

Zhao Yu tapped her forehead: "You're so clever."

Seeing she guessed right, Zhang Chun couldn't help but look triumphant.

But Zhang Chun did not know—she had only guessed half right.

As for the other half, Zhao Yu only intended to scare Han Zhongyan and the Old Party; he had no intention of actually removing Han Zhongyan—and he did not tell Zhang Chun.

Then Zhao Yu turned to Li Lin and said: "I plan to establish a new Divine Mechanism Forward Army, a Divine Mechanism Central Army, and a Divine Mechanism Rear Army. Officers will be drawn from the Divine Mechanism Left and Right Armies. I've ordered the Ministry of Personnel to recruit supervisors from the Imperial Academy. For troops, I'll send the Ministry of War to recruit five thousand from Guanzhong, five thousand from Hebei, and five thousand from the south. What do you think, my beloved?"

The Divine Mechanism Army differs from other armies in that every five men form a squad led by a squad leader, every ten men form a platoon led by a platoon leader, and every fifty men form a company with both a company commander and a junior supervisor—implementing a dual-command system.

This has attracted numerous scholars from humble backgrounds, of high moral character and strong sense of honor, who serve as instructors, political officers, and commissars akin to those in later armies.

This was specifically emphasized by Li Lin when she designed the Divine Mechanism Army.

Now, as the Divine Mechanism Army expands, Zhao Yu has immediately tasked Li Lin with assembling the entire supervisor cadre.

This clearly shows Li Lin's system works well.

However, unlike before, when Li Lin only recruited northern troops, Zhao Yu now also wishes to recruit five thousand southern troops to form a separate unit.

Li Lin understands: Zhao Yu fears that if trouble arises in the south, northern troops will struggle to adapt.

Moreover, northern troops are poor at naval warfare, while southern troops are often strong swimmers and more effective in specialized battlefields.

Li Lin thought for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, I've heard the farmers and miners of Yiwu are physically robust, hardworking, brave, resilient, and highly obedient…"

Zhao Yu immediately understood: Li Lin was proposing to follow the model of Qi Jiguang's army.

Zhao Yu fully supported this.

Thus, the expansion of the Divine Mechanism Army was settled…

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(End of Chapter)