Chapter 204: The Spark Ignites the Path of Great Navigation, Grain Strategy Dawns to Secure the Border Prefectures

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It seemed heaven itself was helping Zhao Yu and his companions usher in the Age of Great Navigation.

Just as Zhao Yu and the five women agreed to first devise a way to build treasure ships and launch the Age of Great Navigation, the Liao Empire sent envoys to Dongjing Bianliang to request grain purchases.

Moreover, this time Liao did not ask for two million shi, but at least five million shi.

In the words of the Liao envoy, without five million shi of grain, Liao would surely face a great famine this year, leaving its people to suffer hunger, with corpses littering the land and scenes too horrific to behold; they begged Zhao Yu, in light of the two nations' already signed peace and their shared intent to coexist peacefully, to sell more grain to Liao.

Had the Liao envoy exaggerated?

Probably not.

Yan Yun's sixteen prefectures were crisscrossed by waterways and dotted with swamps, yet also contained the fertile Datong Basin and North China Plain, plus a warm, humid climate highly conducive to agriculture.

Thus, after acquiring Yan Yun's sixteen prefectures and seizing vast numbers of Han civilians, Liao gained extensive farmland, a large agricultural population, and advanced farming techniques, enabling its agricultural economy to surge rapidly—this region gradually became Liao's agricultural economic center and primary tax source.

But Zhao Yu's campaign seized a sizable territory in Yan, and would soon fully capture the Datong Basin.

Moreover, during his personal campaign last year, Zhao Yu seized considerable grain from Yan.

Under these circumstances, Liao's massive grain shortfall was perfectly normal.

Led by Zhang Dun and Cai Jing, a group of ministers argued this was a golden opportunity to weaken Liao: they should refuse to sell grain and blockade all trade routes with Liao—including smuggling—to further cripple Liao economically and through food sanctions, paving the way to reclaim the remaining five prefectures of Yan and the three prefectures of Pingluan.

Led by Han Zhongyan and Su Shi, another group argued that since Song and Liao had signed a peace treaty containing a clause obligating Song to supply Liao with grain, and since Song had enjoyed bumper harvests these past two years and could easily spare five million shi, it must honor the treaty to demonstrate great-nation virtue, establish the state on integrity, and instill awe in Liao to reduce border threats and ensure lasting peace.

Some ministers, chiefly the centrists led by Ceng Bu, argued that Song had not yet received the nine prefectures of Yun promised by Liao, and must not be the first to breach the treaty, lest Liao gain pretext to violate it.

Led by Xu Jiang, Li Qingchen, and Zhang Shangying, other ministers advocated that Song had just fought two major wars: though it seized much spoils, it had also suffered heavy losses; its urgent priority must be recuperation and assimilation of newly acquired territories, not reigniting war and further draining Song's national strength.

Notably, some ministers warned Zhao Yu that if the Liao people truly starved to extremity, they would ignore their court's orders, band together as raiders, and invade Song territory to forage; at that point, fresh friction—and even war—might erupt.

After careful consideration, Zhao Yu primarily viewed this as a divine opportunity to develop maritime transport and promote shipbuilding, so he decided to demand payment from Liao to establish a Maritime Transport Bureau, construct large ocean-going vessels, and deliver five million shi of grain to Liao as soon as possible.

In other words, Zhao Yu intended to make Liao pay for developing Song's ocean-going ships.

Simultaneously, responding to frontier officials' requests, Zhao Yu agreed to send one million shi of grain each to Hebei and the nine prefectures of Yun, both regions also affected by war.

These two grain shipments must be transported by sea; otherwise, costs would be too high.

With this pretext, Zhao Yu promptly issued an edict to build three super-large shipyards in Mingzhou, Wenzhou, and Fuzhou, manufacturing two-thousand-liao ocean vessels (the already-built Divine Ships), and developing five-thousand-liao treasure ships.

To this end, Zhao Yu specially promoted Chao Shuozhi, the paternal uncle of Chao Min, to oversee construction of these three shipyards, granting him three million guan in startup funds for Phase One.

—Chao Shuozhi was a literary scholar and poet, highly accomplished in literature and classical studies, and possessing considerable knowledge and ability in shipbuilding. Historically, Emperor Huizong once commissioned him to oversee the design and supervision of two larger Divine Ships to be built in Mingzhou for a diplomatic mission to Goryeo.

In truth, the regions of Song most devastated by war were not Hebei or Yun, but Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai (the new territories and names Zhao Yu assigned to Western Xia).

Last year, Song-Xia warfare was extremely fierce, forcing most of Western Xia's population to be conscripted by Emperor Li Qianshun and his ministers, severely disrupting spring planting and autumn harvests.

During Lu Huiqing's surprise attack on Western Xia, many Xia garrison commanders burned the grain stores within their cities.

Most importantly, Song intended to relocate two to three million Han civilians to Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai.

This required transporting vast quantities of grain to these regions.

Fortunately, Song had enjoyed bumper harvests these past two years and maintained substantial grain reserves; moreover, since these regions had been reclaimed, grain could now be transported via the Yellow River canal system.

Additionally, since Song had reclaimed Longyou, it could also use the Longyou–Hexi Corridor overland route: from Guanzhong, through Qinzhou and Lanzhou, northward along the Hexi Corridor to Western Xia's core territories.

Thus, with both water and land routes operational, Song should easily survive this year.

In short, Song's grain pressure this year remained substantial.

So, barely into the new year, Zhao Yu and his ministers had to budget meticulously, lest Song's own people suffer hardship.

But conversely, these grain shipments were not gifts: whether to Liao, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Yun, or Hebei, all must pay in cattle, sheep, and local specialties—there was no such thing as a free lunch.

Meanwhile, the court provided policy and transportation support to merchants, enabling them to trade in these newly reclaimed regions, rapidly reviving their economic vitality…

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When Zhao Yu returned victorious, Song and Liao signed the Yanjing Peace Treaty; yet at that time, apart from the Yi and Zhuoerzhou captured by Song forces, Liao actually ceded only Jinpo Pass to Song, while Song returned to Liao the territories it had seized—Wanping, Xijin, and others.

This meant that, in territorial concessions, Song had not gained any advantage over Liao.

The real test was only now beginning.

Suppose Liao promised to cede territory but refused to honor the treaty, and instead, ministers and troops held cities in resistance—then Song would have to launch another campaign to claim its rightful spoils.

This was one reason Zhao Yu agreed to sell Liao five million shi of grain.

Zhao Yu was essentially telling Yelu Yanxi directly: "I, Zhao Yu, have not breached the treaty; if you, Yelu Yanxi, dare violate it, do not blame me for launching another campaign against you."

All conditions for reclaiming Yun had been created; Zhao Yu left the rest to frontline ministers such as Su Zhe and Guo Cheng.

Su Zhe understood the gravity of the matter and dared not delay; before Zhao Yu departed, he immediately began negotiations with Liao.

The outcome, as expected, turned out unexpectedly.

As soon as Song troops withdrew, a group led by Yelu Hulawo submitted memorials opposing the cession of the nine prefectures behind the mountains to Song, arguing that Yun was Liao's vital grain-producing region; once surrendered, Song need not even fight Liao—its grain alone could strangle Liao.

Of course, Yelu Hulawo and others knew Song was currently powerful and Liao's situation precarious; directly breaching the treaty would invite Song's attack, so they proposed ceding only Wu and Shuo prefectures, delaying the rest to observe developments, and if forced to surrender eventually, extracting one final heavy toll from Yun.

Yelu Yanxi found Yelu Hulawo's arguments compelling: he had agreed to cede the nine prefectures behind the mountains, but not their population or wealth; before handing over the territory, he could first evacuate its people and plunder all valuables, leaving Song only empty land.

Acting on Yelu Yanxi's directive, Yelu Chun represented Liao: "Since the two courts have established amity and sworn oaths, our Great Liao shall faithfully uphold the treaty, with no breach intended. Yet the treaty only permits the cession of the Western Capital's territory—it says nothing about the people. Thus, the households of the Western Capital shall be relocated elsewhere by our court."

Su Zhe replied displeased: "If your court has promised to cede the Western Capital's cities and lands, how can you withhold its people? If we receive only empty fields without inhabitants, what use is it to us?"

Yelu Chun said: "Our court has governed the Western Capital for two or three centuries, making it populous and prosperous today. We now cede its land to your court—why should we not retain its people?"

Su Zhe, unmoved, said: "Since the two courts have sealed a covenant, we are as one family. Previously, you promised territory—this was clearly righteous. But to withhold the common households alone is not a complete solution. If both land and people are transferred to our realm, it would be a perfect virtue, demonstrating true goodwill—is that not preferable?"

Yelu Chun said: "Our court has already ceded land—our neighborly goodwill is complete. Now you demand the common households—what logic is this? Since ancient times, territory is the foundation of statehood, outweighing people; land has been surrendered, sincerity shown. Yet you now seek more—greed knows no bounds. Is this the conduct of a good neighbor?"

Su Zhe and Yelu Chun went to see Yelu Yanxi to explain the situation.

Yelu Yanxi said: "The Western Capital is vast. I have already fulfilled my promise to cede land—my benevolence and righteousness are complete. Yet your court remains unsatisfied, now demanding the population. Your Han people often accuse us Hu Ren of greed; yet look at your court's demands—how different is your greed? Moreover, the Western Capital is our vital region; I never intended to cede it. I did so only out of regard for our treaty. This intent is clear. If your court insists on taking the population, then only if your emperor increases tribute payments can we demonstrate mutual sincerity."

Su Zhe replied calmly: "Your court's present troubles stem from your ancestors' extortion of annual tribute—and you have not repented. Our emperor has just returned to the capital, and already your court reverts to old ways. At this rate, I shall return to the capital and request our emperor to come again to negotiate the population and property of the nine prefectures behind the mountains."

Here, Su Zhe's tone shifted, laced with threat: "But when our emperor returns, it will not be only the nine prefectures behind the mountains he demands. At that time, I hope you will not regret today's obstruction."

Fearing Zhao Yu would truly return to attack, Yelu Yanxi hurriedly explained: "Minister Su, you overstate matters. I merely proposed a solution—I have no intention of demanding tribute."

Yelu Chun, unwilling to let his emperor be pressured by Su Zhe, added: "The people of the Western Capital were born under our rule, bound to us as flesh and blood; they refuse separation—it is only natural. Why must Minister Su force them? Moreover, if the people of the Western Capital remain loyal to our Great Liao, it will hinder your court's governance of the region—is this not true?"

Yelu Chun's words were not without reason. If the Zhao Song dynasty reclaimed Yun territory, its people would repeatedly rebel, inevitably turning it into a prolonged war of attrition—bringing no benefit from the newly acquired lands, but instead plunging them into endless turmoil.

Su Zhe understood this well. He furrowed his brow and spoke slowly: "How long will your court need to relocate the people of Yun territory?"

Yelu Chun said: "The Western Capital region is vast and densely populated; relocation cannot be accomplished overnight…"

Su Zhe interrupted Yelu Chun: "Why not suspend the handover of the Nine States behind the mountains for now? Let our two armies fight on the battlefield. If your army loses, you shall hand over Yan's Wuzhou, Pingluan's Sanzhou, and all border passes to my court; if my army loses, I will not claim a single county or village—how is that?"

Xiao Fengxian quickly steered the conversation back, saying: "My court will gradually hand over the Nine States behind the mountains to your court within a year. Moreover, we may first hand over Wu and Shuo States to your court—how is that?"

Su Zhe spoke with an unyielding tone: "A year is out of the question. I may return and petition Your Majesty for six months. But one condition: during these six months, the farmland in the Nine States behind the mountains must not lie fallow. Otherwise, both our courts will face famine, harming the people's ability to recover and thrive."

The Liao court certainly had no intention of growing grain for the Zhao Song dynasty, and the people of Yun territory would never willingly do such a fruitless task.

After hours of further negotiation, no agreement was reached.

Su Zhe then returned to report to Zhao Yu.

After consultation with his ministers, Zhao Yu decided: the people of Yun territory who wished to leave for Liao may depart within a year; those unwilling to leave must not be forced by Liao, regardless of ethnicity.

As for the grain planted, Zhao Song will purchase it from the farmers at market price upon taking control—no deception, no discrimination. As for how the Liao court collects taxes from the farmers, Zhao Song will have no involvement.

After communication, the Liao court accepted Zhao Song's compromise. Both sides formally began the handover of Wu and Shuo States.

Meanwhile, under Zhao Yu's orders, frontier officials began disseminating news to the people of Yun territory, informing them of the terms agreed upon by the two courts.

Crucially, Zhao Yu bluntly ordered the Northern Auxiliary Army, Eastern Auxiliary Army, and Western Auxiliary Army to garrison in Yun territory, delivering a preemptive show of force to Liao.

Upon receiving Zhao Yu's orders, Sun Lu and Zhong Pu led the Northern Auxiliary Army to station east of Fengsheng Prefecture (Xinzhou); Zhang Xun and Wang Shan stationed south of Yingzhou; Fan Chuncui and Gao Yongnian stationed west of Hongzhou. The three armies formed a perfect triangular formation, locking down Yun territory alongside the Fuzhou Army and Hedong Army, forcing Liao—willing or not—to surrender the Nine States of Yun.

Seeing this, some in the Liao court did propose sending troops into Yun territory to protect Liao's interests.

But ultimately, Xiao Fengxian persuaded Yelu Yanxi to realize they could no longer provoke Zhao Yu over such petty gains—if Zhao Yu truly returned with force, disaster would follow.

Thus, the Liao court chose to turn a blind eye to Zhao Song's firm actions.

Seeing the Liao court's stance, clever individuals—such as Han Zheng, Military Commissioner of Shuo State; Su Jing, Military Commissioner of Yingzhou; and Chen Yi, local magnate of Weizhou—secretly sent envoys to Fengsheng Prefecture to contact the Pacification Commission, declaring their willingness to surrender their lands and return to Zhao Song.

Su Zhe rejoiced and accepted their surrender. The three states eagerly defected from Liao and submitted to Zhao Song.

Zhao Yu did not fail to reward those who voluntarily surrendered. Some were promoted, others given gifts; those willing to relocate to the interior received lavish promotions and rewards, fully embodying the spirit of paying a thousand gold for a horse's bones.

Seeing this, more and more people in Yun territory began to see the situation clearly, stirring with intent…

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(End of Chapter)