Chapter 231: Li Shishi Comes of Age

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'No destruction, no creation?'

'No turning back once the bow is drawn?'

Zhao Yu thought for a moment and understood: Zhang Chun meant that even if Jiangnan was reduced to ruins and the Zhao Song dynasty temporarily weakened, they must never indulge this foul habit of the Jiangnan gentry clique.

Zhao Yu fell silent for a while.

Didn't Zhao Yu and the other transmigrants know that the land tax stolen by the gentry could be recovered through vigorous commercial development and foreign trade?

How could that be?!

Zhao Yu and the other transmigrants knew the full course of historical development—how could they not understand the immense potential of commerce and foreign trade? How could they not know that land tax would eventually be abolished entirely? They were fully aware that if commerce and foreign trade flourished, the revenue from land tax would be less than a fraction of the income from commercial and customs duties.

Yet despite this, after discussion, Zhao Yu and the other transmigrants still believed they must implement the Two New Policies.

It goes without saying that the gentry cannot be allowed to monopolize all the benefits, causing local strongmen to grow richer and stronger while the court grows poorer and weaker—ultimately leading to a strong periphery and weak center that will destroy the Zhao Song dynasty.

Just consider this: only by implementing the Two New Policies—especially the latter, abolishing the head tax—can the common people truly gain freedom: they can enter factories if they wish, become merchants if they wish; otherwise, they remain bound by the head tax to their native places, unable to go anywhere.

At present, the Zhao Song dynasty lacks the financial strength to abolish the head tax all at once.

If Zhao Yu and the others still wish to free the people and redirect the vast labor force toward industry and commerce, they must first shift this heavy burden onto the gentry, who can bear the pressure.

Later, once the Zhao Song dynasty completes its transformation and industry and commerce thrive, they can gradually reduce land taxes.

Zhao Yu's goal is to abolish land tax entirely within his lifetime.

Throughout history, the two heaviest mountains pressing upon China's masses have been the head tax and the land tax.

If Zhao Yu and the others can help China's masses remove these two mountains, even if the gentry later smear Zhao Yu's name, when the information cocoons open a thousand years from now, someone will surely clear his name.

One could say that by transmigrating once, Zhao Yu and the others have eliminated the head tax and land tax nearly a thousand years ahead of schedule—they haven't transmigrated in vain.

Beyond this lofty ideal, Zhao Yu and the others insist on implementing the Two New Policies for another very practical reason: they must defeat—no, crush—the Jiangnan gentry clique.

Zhao Yu and Zhang Chun know well that in later dynasties—the Southern Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing—rulers all tread carefully around the Jiangnan gentry clique.

The Jiangnan region is economically developed; its gentry own vast tracts of land and wealth, controlling the local economic lifelines. Through land consolidation and commercial operations, they accumulate enormous fortunes, yet to protect their economic interests, they often evade taxes by underreporting land and delaying payments, damaging the court's fiscal revenue.

Meanwhile, the Jiangnan gentry's monopolies and unfair competition in commerce severely disrupt the court's economic order and fiscal income.

On the other hand, Jiangnan gentry families wield immense power, intermarrying and forming alliances to create local political forces. They also enter officialdom through the imperial examinations, forming interest groups within the court that influence state decisions.

Moreover, Jiangnan gentry collude with local officials to interfere in regional governance, making it difficult for court policies to be effectively implemented in 'their territories.'

Furthermore, Jiangnan gentry enjoy high prestige locally, playing vital roles in mediating civil disputes and organizing public welfare projects, earning the people's trust.

Thus, when court policies threaten gentry interests, Jiangnan gentry often incite the masses to resist, triggering social instability.

—Put simply, the Jiangnan gentry have united into a bloc that interferes heavily in politics. In Jiangnan, the gentry are far more effective than the Emperor.

If the Jiangnan gentry clique is not curbed, the imperial authority may be in danger.

Take the early Southern Song as an example.

After Qin Gui gradually seized power in the court, he allied with the Jiangnan gentry clique to consolidate his position.

—In official appointments, Qin Gui favored promoting officials from Jiangnan gentry families or those closely tied to the Jiangnan gentry clique; these officials protected the gentry's interests locally and followed Qin Gui's lead in court, forming a political interest community.

With the Jiangnan gentry clique's support, Qin Gui, during his tenure as chancellor, filled key positions with his cronies through monopolizing governance and eliminating rivals, gaining substantial control over the Southern Song court's decision-making—even Emperor Zhao Gou feared Qin Gui to some extent.

It is said that after Qin Gui's death, Zhao Gou remarked: 'Today, I am finally free from knives hidden in my boots.'

This saying stems from Qin Gui's autocratic arrogance and overwhelming power. He served as chancellor for years, forming cliques, purging opponents, and exerting immense control over court affairs, even threatening imperial authority.

But consider carefully: without the massive support of the Jiangnan gentry clique, how could Qin Gui alone have threatened Zhao Gou?

Some even claim that the peace negotiations with the Jin were secretly pushed by the Jiangnan gentry clique, and Yue Fei was killed by them because Yue Fei's land reforms in the north threatened their interests.

Of course, this claim has the scent of whitewashing Zhao Gou.

Yet undeniably, the Jiangnan gentry clique possesses formidable power and profound influence; their tentacles are deeply rooted in every inch of Jiangnan's land and every strand of its economic veins, even seeping into the high walls and deep courtyards of the court. They are like hidden whales beneath the current—unseen, yet capable of turning the tide at critical moments and swaying court politics.

Zhao Yu knows that if the Jiangnan gentry clique is not restrained and allowed to grow, even if they dare not threaten his own imperial authority, they may well threaten his descendants' rule.

Crucially, to develop commerce and foreign trade, Zhao Yu cannot bypass wealthy, geographically advantaged Jiangnan—and unless he crushes the Jiangnan gentry clique, his reforms will merely enrich these local tyrants, making them an even greater threat to the Zhao Song dynasty and to him and his descendants' imperial power.

More critically, the Jiangnan gentry clique refuses to cooperate with the court's implementation of the Two New Policies; Jiangnan has fifty million people, yet cannot supply the labor force the reforms require.

Precisely because of these considerations, Zhao Yu and the others are willing to 'raise bandits' to implement the Two New Policies—one aim being to break the Jiangnan gentry clique's monopoly and obstruction, release Jiangnan's vast labor force, and open Jiangnan, the Zhao Song dynasty's most vital market.

In short, the Jiangnan gentry clique is not only a hidden threat to the Zhao Song dynasty, Zhao Yu, and his descendants' imperial power, but also a stumbling block to the dynasty's development and Zhao Yu's reforms—an absolute thorn in their side.

What angers Zhao Yu and Zhang Chun even more is that the gentry dare to band together and resist the court's Two New Policies; even with the threat of Song Jiang's rebel army and public opinion, they remain obstinate, acting as if the court cannot touch them.

This is why Zhang Chun advocates: better to reduce Jiangnan to ruins and severely drain the Zhao Song dynasty's strength than compromise with the Jiangnan gentry clique.

To be honest, Zhao Yu finds Zhang Chun's proposal deeply appealing. The Jiangnan gentry clique is too arrogant; unless they suffer a bone-deep lesson, they won't learn—and might even grow bolder due to Zhao Yu's retreat, continuing to interfere in politics, stealing wealth from the Zhao Song dynasty and the people, and obstructing the dynasty's progress.

Moreover, it is Hongwu Sixth Year, 1106—nearly a decade before the Jin's rise. The Zhao Song dynasty's greatest former enemy, the Western Xia, has already been eliminated by Zhao Yu; the Liao have been crippled and dare not consider southern invasion. The Zhao Song dynasty currently faces virtually no external threats; thus, even if a massive upheaval like Fang La's rebellion were to devastate its strength, the dynasty would have ample time to recover without jeopardizing its fate.

Furthermore, by exposing and excising the dynasty's internal rot now, when the Jin rise and the Liao-Jin war comes, the Zhao Song dynasty's strength should have recovered—and if all proceeds smoothly, it may become stronger, even tenfold stronger.

Zhang Chun likely considered this too, which is why she urged Zhao Yu to strike decisively and wipe out the Jiangnan gentry clique in one blow.

This matter does not require an immediate decision.

After all, Zhao Yu must first implement the Two New Policies in the Central Plains, then Hebei, Hedong, and the northwest; only after the entire north is reformed can he launch a full-scale offensive southward—and that's still soon enough.

Zhao Yu explained his thoughts to Zhang Chun.

Zhang Chun strongly supported him, saying: 'When the people of the north enjoy the benefits of the New Policies and their lives improve, their rumors will collapse on their own; at that point, the people will pressure the gentry to accept court reforms, and the court can then proceed smoothly—success is assured.'

Zhao Yu grunted: 'Even so, letting them delay my Great Song by one or two years is still unforgivable.'

Zhang Chun smiled: 'If they still refuse to see reason, clinging to their wealth even at the cost of their lives, let Song Jiang and others lead the troops south to seize their ill-gotten wealth for the state treasury—it should make up for the court's losses.'

Zhao Yu sighed softly: 'If that day ever comes, it will be my subjects who suffer.'

There is no help for it—the wheel of history rolls forward, and someone must bear the pain of transformation.

Zhao Yu knows that for the state to achieve lasting peace and prosperity, he must courageously confront and resolve deeply entrenched problems, even if the path is thorny and accompanied by suffering and sacrifice.

Zhao Yu gazed at the night outside the window; moonlight flowed like water, filling the entire room, as if even this cold radiance silently spoke of past and future.

Seeing Zhao Yu still burdened with worries, clearly still anxious about the Zhao Song dynasty's future, Zhang Chun's eyes flickered and she said: 'Your Majesty, shall I send Shishi to attend you? Help you relax?'

Zhao Yu froze: "Shishi? Li Shishi?!"

In Zhao Yu's memory, Li Shishi was still a girl with a touch of baby fat—how had it come to this, talk of serving his bed?

Zhang Chun knew Zhao Yu wasn't pretending; he had countless beauties around him and didn't lack women, and since Li Shishi often appeared by his side, he had never noticed her changes.

Zhang Chun smiled and said, "She's been in the palace nearly seven years—she's long since grown into a young woman. If she doesn't serve your bed now, the palace will start gossiping. This Empress of mine isn't doing her duty well."

When Zhao Yu heard Li Shishi had been in the palace nearly seven years, he realized she was no longer a girl.

This really needed to be handled quickly—otherwise, it might truly harm Li Shishi.

Xiduo was a perfect example.

Two years ago, one day, Xiduo came to Zhao Yu with red eyes and said, "Your Majesty, do you still remember your promise to me?"

Zhao Yu was stunned—what promise had he made her?

Fortunately, just as he was about to ask, he remembered: he had promised Xiduo that when she grew up, he would take her.

Zhao Yu immediately changed his tone and said, "How could I forget? But you're still too young."

Xiduo pouted and said, "I'm sixteen—I'm old enough to serve your bed. Besides, where am I small?"

Saying this, Xiduo thrust out her already well-developed chest, showing Zhao Yu she wasn't small at all.

Zhao Yu glanced at her chest and realized she wasn't lying—she truly wasn't small.

Seeing Zhao Yu speechless, Xiduo went on, "Yet Your Majesty has never once summoned me. Now everyone laughs at me, saying I'm delusional—that Your Majesty has forgotten me, and I should stop dreaming. I can't bear this unjust slander—I've come to ask Your Majesty to keep your promise."

What could Zhao Yu say? For Ma Xiao Jiao's sake, he set aside one evening and took Xiduo.

From Xiduo, Zhao Yu learned that among the palace maids, sixteen was the ideal age to serve the bed—though earlier was fine, it couldn't be too late. If a girl hadn't served by eighteen, she was already an old maid; if still untouched by twenty, her life was essentially over, with little chance of reversal. After all, if she hadn't served by twenty-five, she'd be sent out of the palace.

Precisely because of Xiduo's reminder, from then on, whenever Zhao Yu sought new women to serve his bed, he prioritized those over twenty, determined not to let worthy virgins leave his harem.

So for these past two years, Zhao Yu had not taken any of the young women who had just come of age—like Li Shishi, Zhao Yuannu, Wang Zhongduan, and Xu Poxi from the Five Great Courtesans, or Empress Liu Mingda of Emperor Zhao Ji's historical harem.

Xiduo had a bold, thick-skinned nature; when her time came, she came to Zhao Yu herself. But Li Shishi and the others were different—they were shy. If he didn't take them, they might truly be ruined by his neglect.

Zhao Yu thought: "It's time to take them all."

With this thought, Zhao Yu said to Zhang Chun, "Tomorrow night—I'll tell the Bed Service Official not to assign anyone else. I'll give her the entire night."

Though Zhao Yu had already been busy tonight, he certainly had room for one more night with Li Shishi.

But no matter what, Li Shishi was Zhang Chun's personal maid, and had been with Zhao Yu for so many years—like Xiduo—he had to give her a proper first night, elevate her properly.

Zhang Chun, hearing this, thanked on Li Shishi's behalf: "Thank Your Majesty for your kindness to Shishi…"

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(End of Chapter)