Chapter 210

…

"The sun shines on you, but not on me!"

If anyone else—Zhao Ji, Zhao Huan, Yelu Yanxi—had said this, Zhao Yu would have merely sneered.

But the one who said it was Li Qianshun, and Zhao Yu dared not be overconfident.

——A powerful enemy is worthy of respect. The stronger he is, the stronger you become by defeating him.

Historically, Li Qianshun ascended the throne at age three, seized personal power at sixteen by eliminating the Liang clan, and under his diligent governance, the Western Xia flourished politically, administratively clean, with its society and economy thriving.

During Li Qianshun's leadership, Western Xia endured the fall of the Northern Song and the founding of the Southern Song, while simultaneously witnessing the collapse of the Liao and the Jin's dominance over the entire north.

At the time, Western Xia was not strong—it nearly got reclaimed by the Northern Song dynasty.

Yet Li Qianshun, through skillful diplomacy and shifting alliances, survived that most perilous period, ensuring Western Xia's survival, seized vast territories from both the Northern Song and Liao, elevated the weak Western Xia to its peak strength, and by subtly courting the Southern Song, intimidated the greedy, cunning, and brutal Jin, securing a long era of peaceful development for Western Xia.

Later, Li Qianshun gradually severed ties with the Southern Song.

Crucially, during this period, Western Xia and the Jin had no fixed border in Shaanxi; though the Jin repeatedly broke promises regarding territorial concessions, infuriating the Western Xia, Li Qianshun's formidable strategic patience allowed Western Xia to outlast the Jin's peak power and pass on a relatively stable, relatively strong, and geopolitically favorable Western Xia to his son.

Li Qianshun was unquestionably Western Xia's most outstanding monarch and one of its greatest statesmen.

Even Zhang Chun gave Li Qianshun the evaluation: "Of noble character, prudent in conduct, a worthy keeper of the throne."

But Li Qianshun had the misfortune of encountering Zhao Yu, who was blessed with divine advantage.

Moreover, Li Qianshun inherited a Western Xia exhausted by the rule of the Liang Empress Dowagers, especially the Young Liang Empress Dowager.

Zhao Yu inherited the Zhao Song dynasty, which was also riddled with problems, but to be fair, Emperor Zhao Xu and his ministers had already cornered Western Xia.

Li Qianshun's ally was Yelu Yanxi, one of history's most notorious fools.

Zhao Yu should not have defeated Li Qianshun and destroyed Western Xia so easily.

Thus, Li Qianshun's declaration, "The sun shines on you, but not on me," is understandable.

Unexpectedly, while Zhao Yu understood Li Qianshun, the court's ministers all stepped forward to rebuke him:

"Talking ice to a summer insect! The Li clan were originally Song ministers. Yet Li Jiqian was fickle—betraying Song, surrendering to Liao, raiding borders, scheming for personal gain, inciting war and causing the people to suffer. Li Yuanhao was cruel and ambitious, indulging in wine and lust in his later years, deposing his empress and killing his sons, triggering palace chaos. Li Liangzuo, after assuming power, behaved licentiously, seduced the wives of ministers, and pursued reckless military campaigns. The Elder Liang clan monopolized power, purged dissenters, waged endless wars, straining relations with our Great Song and weakening the state. The Young Liang clan imitated her aunt, seized control of government, launched frequent wars against our Great Song, plunging Western Xia into internal and external crisis. The rise and fall of Western Xia is not determined by heaven's will—it is entirely the result of human action!"

"An ancient saying goes: 'He who follows heaven prospers; he who defies it perishes.' The Li clan act against heaven, daring to resist our Celestial Empire with their remote borderland—this is utterly absurd. Had it not been for their remote, rugged terrain and Liao's support, our Great Song would have long since eradicated them."

"The Li clan seized power illegitimately; their dynasty's survival was mere chance, not merit. Meanwhile, our Great Song now enjoys Your Majesty's enlightened leadership, restoring order, striving for excellence, filling the treasury, strengthening our army and horses, and ensuring the people live in peace. The facts prove: reclaiming Western Xia is but a snap of Your Majesty's fingers. Li Qianshun, a defeated general, has no right to resist. His words, 'The sun shines on you, but not on me,' are merely the desperate gasps of a dying man, an attempt to mask his incompetence."

"… "

The entire court, one after another, voiced contempt for Western Xia, expressed unwavering faith in the Zhao Song dynasty, and lauded Zhao Yu.

Slowly, those praising Zhao Yu grew in number.

Many ministers genuinely admired Zhao Yu from the heart.

In truth, praising Zhao Yu was not new today. Since Zhao Yu's triumphant return from campaign, the entire Zhao Song dynasty—from top to bottom—had been singing his praises, even cultivating a cult of personality around him.

This made Zhao Yu realize why so many rulers were obsessed with war, even eager to lead campaigns in person.

Indeed, any ruler's power stems not merely from bloodline and status, but from the prestige accumulated in reality—and the fastest way to build prestige is through military achievement.

Qin Shi Huang became China's first emperor of a thousand generations because he unified the Six Kingdoms and founded the Qin Empire.

During the war to destroy Qin, Liu Bang was always the main commander; during the defeat of Chu, though Han Xin was more capable, Liu Bang remained the absolute core. After establishing the Han Empire, Liu Bang personally led every campaign to suppress rebellions—clearly, his empire was his own conquest.

Han Wu Di Liu Che's life was always controversial, yet because he forged the mightiest Han dynasty, forged the backbone of the Chinese people, forged the great Han Empire that "always perished in weakness, yet Han alone perished in strength," and forged the Han ethnicity, he remains one of China's greatest emperors.

Li Shimin needs no elaboration: during Li Yuan's uprising in Taiyuan and march toward Chang'an, Li Shimin was the main force, sweeping through the Wei River north. After founding the Tang Empire, Li Shimin personally destroyed Xue Ren'gao, Liu Wuzhou, Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, Liu Heita, and other warlords of the chaotic age—two-thirds of the Tang Empire's territory was actually won by Li Shimin. This was the foundation for his coup at Xuanwu Gate and his ascension as Tang Taizong.

Compared to those great unified dynasties, the Zhao Song dynasty had no outstanding emperors—even its founder, Zhao Kuangyin, merely seized the throne from an orphaned widow.

Finally, Zhao Yu appeared: he reclaimed Western Xia, the Zhao Song's greatest obstacle, after nearly a century of loss; he personally led campaigns that forced the Liao, long a northern rival, into retreat; he recovered not only the tribute payments extorted by the Liao for over a century, but also eleven of the sixteen Yan-Yun prefectures that no previous Zhao Song emperor had ever reclaimed. And even this was due to Zhao Yu's caution—he did not wish to drag the Zhao Song into the abyss of war, preferring gradual progress. Otherwise, Zhao Yu could have seized all sixteen Yan-Yun prefectures in one stroke, and even captured Pingluan, completing the great unification.

Without doubt, Zhao Yu is the Zhao Song dynasty's most martial emperor, and the one most likely to rival Han Wu Di and Tang Zong, even surpass them as a thousand-generation emperor.

No wonder Zhao Yu's prestige now blazes like the midday sun, soaring to the heavens; court and realm alike revere his valor and wisdom, sing praises of his glorious military achievements—even common folk, in their idle talk over tea and meals, speak only of how Zhao Yu deployed troops, appointed the virtuous, planned strategies, and won victories from afar.

Such Zhao Yu could naturally ignore Li Qianshun's defiance, especially now that Li Qianshun had been utterly defeated and could never rise again.

So Zhao Yu sat upon the dragon throne, gazed thoughtfully at the commotion for a moment, then raised his hand slightly.

Instantly, the hall fell utterly silent.

Zhao Yu looked at Li Qianshun, who remained silent—as if too disdainful to argue with the ministers and tarnish his imperial dignity, or perhaps merely awaiting death—and said casually: "I've changed my mind. Given the Li clan's myriad crimes, executing you with the axe would merely be indulging evil. Hmm… You and your entire clan shall be imprisoned indefinitely, until not a single member remains. This will atone for your sins, manifest heavenly authority, and serve as a warning to others."

Death is easy—even the cruelest execution brings only days of pain, then eternal release.

But imprisonment is a long, cruel torment: it strips away freedom, forcing one to waste away in endless waiting and despair, especially for Li Qianshun and the Western Xia Li clan, who once reigned supreme in luxury. To fall from the clouds into the dust, imprisoned in a lightless cell, day after day, year after year, awaiting one's own death and the extinction of one's bloodline—this is a punishment far more cruel than death.

Some ministers felt pity and wished to beg Zhao Yu to grant Li Qianshun and the Li clan a swift end, yet recalling the Li clan's atrocities, they understood why Zhao Yu condemned them to live in agony.

Others thought Zhao Yu too merciful—that he should have executed them by a thousand cuts, not spent imperial funds to keep them alive.

Yet whether they deemed Zhao Yu too cruel or too lenient, none dared oppose him on this matter.

The Zhao Song dynasty now fully occupied Western Xia, having used Lei Ting and even cold-blooded methods to exterminate nearly all Western Xia's officials, scholar-gentry, wealthy clans, and merchant magnates, and having liberated all its slaves—leaving the Li clan with no foundation for rule. Even if they escaped back to Western Xia, they could never stir up significant rebellion.

Thus, whether Li Qianshun and the Li clan live or die no longer matters.

Of course, this is only true for Zhao Song's ministers.

For Li Qianshun, still dreaming of becoming Goujian, as long as he lives, there is hope—even if that hope flickers like a firefly's glow in endless darkness—he will never abandon it.

Li Qianshun immediately abandoned his defiance, fell to his knees with a thud, and performed three full prostrations and nine kowtows: "Thank Your Majesty's great grace! Your servant and his entire clan are eternally grateful!"

Zhao Yu disliked false words. He knew well: Li Qianshun intended to emulate Goujian, endure hardship, and stage a comeback. He also knew clearly: though Li Qianshun spoke sweetly, inwardly he wished to carve Zhao Yu into a thousand pieces.

'You want to be Goujian? Fine. But don't think I'll be Fuchai. I spare you not out of mercy—I spare you because if you die, your women lose their tether, and then I won't be able to claim those fierce women, like the one who starved herself to death—Yelu Nanxian…'

Zhao Yu waved his hand bluntly, ordering Li Qianshun taken away.

After Li Qianshun left, Zhao Yu subtly glanced at a young censor, barely in his twenties, at the end of the list of remonstrators.

The young censor showed no reaction until the eunuch cried, "If you have matters to report, speak now; if not, the court is dismissed," when he suddenly stepped forward and said solemnly: "Minister Chen Gongfu has urgent matters to submit."

Historically, Chen Gongfu ranked first in the Shangshe examination (during the Northern Song, the 'Three She' examination system was used; 'Shangshe' was the highest tier, and its top scorer was equivalent to the Zhuangyuan of the imperial examination; his former residence's 'Zhuangyuan Pond' was named for this), entering officialdom.

Soon, Chen Gongfu became a censor. He was upright, refusing to flatter even the most favored ministers and chancellors—Cai Jing, Wang Fu, Zhu Mian, Li Bangyan, Wu Min, Li Gang, Zhao Ding—and even dared to criticize Wang Anshi during the New Policies era. He was truly a man of principle, loyal, blunt, and unswayed by others' favor.

Zhao Yu thought: 'This is a true statesman—barely twenty, so composed. Good, good. Only such a man can handle great affairs.'

Zhao Yu set aside his distractions and asked, "What matter do you wish to present?"

Chen Gongfu spoke loudly: "Your servant Chen Gongfu, trembling with awe, humbly petitions for the reform of the tax system and the equalization of corvée and levies:

The Book of Documents states, 'The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is firm, the state is at peace.' Yet the accumulated abuses in today's land taxes are shocking to behold. Seven out of ten acres of land in the realm belong to meritorious nobles and gentry; they either exploit hereditary privileges or wield coercive power, hoarding fertile lands while concealing their holdings—so that those who own land pay no tax, while those without land bear the burden. The taxable land recorded in state registers amounts to only two or three tenths of the total; imperial revenues have sharply declined, while the common people suffer under heavy exactions—this is truly a dire threat to the state's very core!

Now, I dare to propose the policy of 'Scholars and Gentry Pay Grain Like Commoners': all imperial clansmen, noble kin, and gentry families must pay taxes on their landholdings exactly as common households do, with no exemptions; establish a dedicated office to verify landholdings using fish-scale land registers to eliminate concealment and tax evasion. Thus, taxes will be equitable, state finances will be sufficient, and the people's burdens will be light—this is truly the way to strengthen the foundation and nurture vitality.

Worse still, the current household head tax system is riddled with flaws. Taxes are levied per household; poor families find having children a crushing burden, leading some to drown infants or abandon them, others to flee en masse—resulting in population decline and a growing tide of displaced people. Moreover, wealthy households buy away head taxes, while the poor have no heads to sell, deepening the inequality of taxation. This system does not fill the state treasury—it has become a blade cutting into the people's livelihood!

Therefore, I humbly petition to implement the 'Merge Head Tax into Land Tax' method: merge the head silver into land tax collection, taxing solely by acreage, regardless of household size. Thus, landless poor peasants are relieved of their heavy burden, while wealthy households with vast lands pay more—this aligns with the principle of 'taxing according to capacity,' encourages reclamation of wasteland, and stabilizes displaced populations. Tax collection becomes simpler, clerks lose their means of extortion, the people live in peace and prosperity, and the state treasury naturally grows rich.

Now, Your Majesty, wise and mighty, if you resolutely enact these reforms, you will surely bring clarity to taxation, win the hearts of all people, and restore the glory of a golden age…'

……

(End of Chapter)