Chapter 167: Establishing the Crown Prince

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After six months of gradual advances and fortification, the Fu-Yan Army, with the aid of the Divine Machine vanguard and the Eastern Support Army, seized Longzhou and all surrounding fortresses of Western Xia, pushed Song Dynasty fortresses to Xiazhou, and captured numerous nearby fortresses through several battles—Xiazhou now fell into Song hands, leaving only one opportunity needed.

Xiazhou was one of the birthplaces of the Western Xia regime. During Emperor Xizong of Tang, the Tangut chieftain Tuoba Sigong was appointed Military Commissioner of Xiazhou; for his role in suppressing the Huang Chao Rebellion, he was granted the imperial surname Li and ennobled as Duke of Xia, with his power base centered on Xiazhou, making it the core region of Tangut military authority. Later, Li Yuanhao declared himself emperor and founded his state, taking "Xia" as its name, derived from Xiazhou.

Xiazhou held strategic geographic importance as a vital barrier against northern and eastern powers. Located on the southern edge of the Ordos Plateau, its rugged terrain favored military defense. From Xiazhou, the Tanguts could effectively control surrounding regions, advancing when needed and retreating when necessary. During prolonged standoff with the Song Dynasty, Xiazhou enabled Western Xia to maintain strong military presence along its border and resist Song offensives.

The Xiazhou region boasted fertile land and lush pastures, serving as a crucial agricultural and pastoral production base. Its thriving livestock industry supplied Western Xia with vast quantities of warhorses, cattle, and sheep, supporting its military and economic development. Agriculture was also prosperous, meeting the food needs of both local populations and troops. Moreover, Xiazhou lay on a key trade route, acting as a vital hub between central China and the northwest, fostering frequent commerce and boosting Western Xia's economic prosperity.

As a long-term homeland of the Tanguts, Xiazhou nurtured a unique Tangut culture. It was a vital center for preserving Tangut traditions, language, and writing. Li Yuanhao invented the Tangut script here and issued the balding decree, promoting Tangut cultural identity, making Xiazhou the cultural heart of Western Xia and profoundly shaping its formation and development.

At the same time, the Huan-Qing Army, aided by the Divine Machine rear guard and the Western Support Army, seized Zangdihe City, Geniu City, and other key towns, penetrating deep into Western Xia's interior, pushing Song fortresses to Yanzhou, and capturing numerous nearby fortresses through several battles—this region would soon be fully occupied.

Yanzhou sat at a transportation nexus linking Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia's seven counties: "to the east connects Yu-Yan, to the west links Gan-Liang, to the south borders Huan-Qing, to the north rests against desert, its vast territory and long frontier make it a critical stronghold of the Three Qins." It served as a vital hub connecting Western Xia's regions, essential for troop movements and supply transport.

Moreover, Yanzhou's southern hills and northern flat sands were ideal for large-scale military operations. It was a key eastern barrier of Western Xia, capable of resisting offensives from external forces like the Song Dynasty and protecting Western Xia's core territories.

Additionally, Yanzhou contained salt lakes, the primary source of green and white salt. Western Xia's government monopolized salt production, and salt revenues formed a major pillar of its state treasury, providing vital material support for economic and military development. If the Song Dynasty seized the salt lakes, it could alone gain at least 700,000 guan annually from salt alone.

At the same time, Lu Huiqing dispatched Wang Hou to lead the main force of the Xi-He Army, the Divine Machine right guard, and the Northern Support Army across the Yellow River to attack Xiliang Prefecture.

Wang Hou's troops encountered the elite forces of Prince Li Lin of Western Xia, and a fierce battle erupted outside Xiliang Prefecture.

Fortunately, the Divine Machine right guard was sufficiently powerful, and Wang Hou brought ample troops.

Ultimately, after a bloody battle, the Song army crushed the Western Xia forces, seized the Western Xia stronghold of Liangzhou, and encircled Western Xia's rear.

Simultaneously, Zhang Jie ordered General Zhe Keshi to lead 200,000 troops—the Jing-Yuan Army, the Divine Machine central guard, and the Southern Support Army—out from Xiao Pass to attack Western Xia again. After multiple intense engagements, the Song army achieved a decisive victory, capturing Yonghe Fortress and Geta City, inflicting heavy losses on Western Xia's main forces near Hengshan, and seizing Western Xia's vital horse-breeding and conscription grounds. The Song army advanced steadily toward Western Xia's capital, Xingqing Prefecture, sending shockwaves throughout Western Xia.

This was the greatest victory the Song army had achieved since the start of the Song-Xia war, bringing them within a single step of total annihilation of Western Xia.

Western Xia was on the brink of collapse!

Li Qianshun sensed dire trouble and could only bow his head to the Song Dynasty, offering tribute to seek peace, while simultaneously sending envoys to Liao to seek marriage alliances—and for the first time, he openly proposed that Liao and Xia become uncle-nephew states.

Indeed, as early as the fourth year of the Tonghe era under Emperor Shengzong of Liao, Western Xia's founding ancestor Li Jiyuan had submitted to Liao; Emperor Shengzong had married a royal clan daughter to Li Jiyuan, ennobling her as Princess Yicheng, and granted Li Jiyuan the title King of Xia. Since then, Liao and Western Xia maintained close relations, exchanging in politics, economy, and culture, gradually forming a relationship akin to uncle and nephew.

But until now, Western Xia's successive rulers had merely tacitly accepted this relationship without explicitly acknowledging its subordinate and humiliating nature.

Now, facing existential peril, Li Qianshun no longer cared for face—he openly cemented this uncle-nephew bond.

Moreover, Li Qianshun presented Yelu Yanxi with a hundred-jewel tent. This was a tent sewn from the finest animal hides, studded with precious gems, warm in winter and cool in summer—both valuable and practical, especially for Yelu Yanxi, who adored hunting.

Indeed!

After Li Qianshun's actions, Yelu Yanxi's stance softened.

Meanwhile, Xiao Sese and a group of loyal and capable ministers seized the opportunity to explain to Yelu Yanxi the principle of "when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold."

Thus, Yelu Yanxi resolved to marry Yelu Nanxian to Li Qianshun, formalizing the uncle-nephew alliance, while stationing 300,000 troops at the tri-border region of Song, Liao, and Xia, creating the appearance of preparing to attack the Song Dynasty or reinforce Western Xia, offering support to Xia.

On the other hand, Yelu Yanxi declared he would personally lead 700,000 troops south to invade Song.

Yelu Yanxi also dispatched envoys to Dongjing Bianliang to demand Zhao Yu halt his attack on Western Xia and return all captured Xia territories to Li Qianshun.

In response to Liao's biased interference, Zhao Yu appointed Zeng Zhao, Military Commissioner and Prefect of Taiyuan in Hedong Circuit, as Commissioner of Hedong, Zhang Yun as Commander-in-Chief, and Zhe Keshi as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, ordering them to lead Hedong Army and Fuzhou Army to defend against Liao forces.

Zhao Yu also recalled the Divine Machine vanguard, rear guard, right guard, and the Eastern, Northern, and Western Support Armies, signaling his intent to personally lead the campaign and confront Yelu Yanxi in decisive battle.

For this purpose, Zhao Yu resolutely issued an edict establishing the Crown Prince:

I, by Heaven's mandate, ascended the throne and have risen early and retired late, toiling over myriad affairs, solely wishing for peace across the four seas, the state's eternal stability, and an unbroken lineage to my descendants.

Now, the Liao ruler threatens my Great Song with personal command—I fear nothing; I shall personally lead the army to resist, and not let the barbarians laugh at Great Song for lacking men.

To guard against all contingencies, and since the heir's position concerns the very foundation of the state, it cannot remain vacant—therefore, I establish the Crown Prince.

Of my sons, Zhao Shou is the most legitimate.

To solidify the state's foundation, calm the people's hearts, honor ancestral teachings, and fulfill the world's expectations, I hereby decree that my eldest legitimate son, Zhao Shou, shall be Crown Prince and take residence in the Eastern Palace. The Ministry of Rites shall select an auspicious day to hold the investiture ceremony; all rites and protocols must be meticulously prepared.

Proclaim this throughout the realm, so all may know.

Hongwu Second Year of Great Song, Eighth Month, Wu Shen Day.

Although everyone knew that Zheng Xiansu's birth of Zhao Yu's eldest son would likely make him Crown Prince, frankly, no one expected Zhao Yu to name him so quickly.

In Zhang Chun's private chamber, five rocking chairs held five pregnant women: Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao, and Yuan Qing Cheng.

Zhang Chun could not help muttering bitterly: "The Empress's son is lucky—he hasn't even left the cradle and is already Crown Prince. If Zhao Yu leads the campaign personally, Empress Zheng will surely take the regency."

Ye Shi Yun said beside her: "Say less. Once Zhao Yu leaves, we'll all be entirely in Empress Zheng's hands—then Zhao Yu won't protect us anymore. Your loose tongue could doom us all."

Zhang Chun wanted to say, "I'm not that reckless—I wouldn't speak carelessly. Besides, when Empress Zheng replaces Zhao Yu's position, I'll be scrambling to flatter her, not saying anything foolish. What are you implying?"

But the words died on her lips.

After the previous falling-out, Zhang Chun had fully realized some things simply couldn't be said—even to Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao, and Yuan Qing Cheng—after all, hearts are hidden behind bellies, and they weren't fully aligned with her.

So Zhang Chun said: "You're right—I really must control myself. After all, Empress Zheng will truly become Empress. If Zhao Yu dies in this campaign, she'll be the supreme ruler of Great Song. Then, if we want to act, we'll have to curry favor with her."

Yuan Qing Cheng's face darkened instantly. She spoke bluntly: "Don't speak nonsense—I don't want my son to be a posthumous heir."

Zhang Chun thought, "Damn, I hit her nerve."

She couldn't help longing for the days when she could say anything: "Back then was better—I said what I wanted, and they had to listen!"

Too bad, now Yuan Qing Cheng had already raised Song Dynasty grain yields by two or three tenths, cultivated multiple new fruits and vegetables to enrich the people's diet, and made significant progress on her hybrid rice.

Such a Yuan Qing Cheng was nearly divine—far beyond Zhang Chun, who hadn't even secured the Empress's position.

On the other side, Ye Shi Yun said: "Don't speak recklessly. Don't blame me if I didn't warn you—if your words come true and Zhao Yu meets misfortune, and my child and I lose our security, I'll never forgive you."

Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao added: "Me too."

"I can't afford to anger either of them now."

Not to mention the Ye Shi Yun Medical Canon, which had saved countless lives—just her "invention" of the obstetrical forceps had saved innumerable mothers and newborns, drastically improving Song Dynasty maternal and infant survival rates, earning her the popular title "Living Bodhisattva."

Now, whenever a family gave birth, they would hang Ye Shi Yun's portrait and bow three times and kowtow nine times, praying for her protection of mother and child.

As for Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao?

Her inventions—the improved loom, efficient irrigation tools, and the astonishing early models of steam engines and electric motors—had dramatically advanced Song Dynasty industry and agriculture, and elevated the people's living standards to a qualitative leap.

Moreover, Zhang Chun had argued with Ye Shi Yun.

Zhang Chun believed that after Zhao Yu defeated Western Xia, he should initiate land reform—curbing land consolidation and redistributing land ownership.

But Ye Shi Yun did not think so; she believed that as long as the "Equal Taxation for Officials and Gentry" policy was implemented, there was no need to reconsider land redistribution.

Ye Shi Yun's reasoning was that in this feudal society, land mattered primarily because agricultural productivity was low, forcing peasants to cling tightly to land for survival; but with Yuan Qing Cheng's agricultural reforms and Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao's inventions that boosted efficiency, agricultural productivity would rise dramatically.

Thus, fewer people and less land would be needed to feed the current population.

Once land was freed up, it could be used to grow cotton and other goods to improve civilian livelihoods.

The large surplus labor force could then be directed toward industrial development.

And once peasants had other options, those who continued farming would enjoy better conditions.

In this way, the problem of land consolidation would naturally ease, perhaps even dissolve on its own.

After all, when agriculture was no longer the sole or primary means of livelihood, people's obsession with and struggle over land would inevitably weaken.

Zhang Chun found Ye Shi Yun's argument highly reasonable.

Moreover, in a feudal society, the deeply entrenched gentry and clan mentality could not be eradicated overnight; forcibly pushing land reform would only trigger violent social upheaval, even dragging the state into the abyss of civil war. A safer and more effective strategy was to implement the "Equal Taxation for Officials and Gentry" system—to alleviate the people's burdens while increasing state revenue, gradually weakening the power of high officials, scholarly elites, and wealthy clans, allowing wealth and land resources to be distributed more evenly.

"Land reform touches too many interests; a single misstep could stir too many powerful elites. Even if suppressed, it would shake the very foundation of our Great Song. The 'Equal Taxation for Officials and Gentry' policy, by contrast, is relatively mild—it demonstrates the court's impartiality while gradually dismantling privileged classes, making it the optimal choice for now."

"And if an industrial revolution were launched, the tensions over land would surely diminish further."

Once she understood this, Zhang Chun could no longer ignore Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao's importance.

"Jiao Jiao's inventions are not merely technological breakthroughs—they hold the potential to reshape the entire Zhao Song dynasty's social structure. If Jiao Jiao's steam engine and electric motor models could be widely adopted, it would mark the Zhao Song dynasty's formal entry into industrialization, and a new era would begin."

Looking at it this way, the only one Zhang Chun could still match was Li Lin.

But Zhang Chun dared not nag Li Lin.

Zhang Chun felt a strong sense of déjà vu—as if they had returned to their previous life: "I feel like I'm once again the lowest among us."

Zhang Chun turned to the only person she might challenge: "Lin Jie, why aren't you speaking?"

Li Lin replied listlessly: "I'm afraid this pregnancy isn't timely—I won't be able to accompany Zhao Yu on campaign."

"?"

Zhang Chun immediately realized and pressed: "Did Zhao Yu promise to take you to fight the Liao?"

Li Lin said with concern: "If I weren't pregnant, he'd definitely take me—we've discussed this before, and he values my military insights. But now, I can't ride a horse; if emergencies arise on the battlefield, I might hold him back."

Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao asked from beside her: "Lin Jie, you can ride horses? When did you learn?"

Li Lin replied casually: "I could ride in my previous life. I played polo a few times with Zhao Yu at Mutuo Gang—I found I hadn't forgotten."

"Wait, how come we never knew about this?" Ye Shi Yun asked.

"I'm with Zhao Yu every day—of course there are things you don't know. Isn't that normal?" Li Lin said matter-of-factly.

"Zhang Chun is the same—she helps Zhao Yu review memorials every day; surely there are things you don't know too, right, Chun Chun?" Li Lin added.

Hearing this, Zhang Chun felt somewhat reassured.

Just as Li Lin said, though they fared slightly worse, they were the only ones who stayed constantly by Zhao Yu's side—something Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao, Yuan Qing Cheng, and even the lazy Ye Shi Yun could never match.

Inspired by Li Lin, Zhang Chun's eyes lit up: "If Zhao Yu takes Li Lin on his imperial campaign, maybe he'll take me too—I can help him with memorials."

The thought excited her: "I've been here over three years and have never left the palace—this is my chance!"

……

(End of Chapter)