[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them":3,"chapter-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-30":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Transmigrated to the Northern Song with Them",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2318920,4535,"Chapter 30: The Retired Prince","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-30",30,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Zhao Yu wasn’t retaliated against by Liu Qingjing and the New Party after he fiercely rebuked her and publicly humiliated Zhao Xu was not only because Zhao Xu had restrained Liu Qingjing and the Empress Dowager and the Old Party were backing Zhao Yu, but also because of another crucial reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The “Memorial on Land Reform” had shown the New Party that Zhao Yu supported reform and wasn’t necessarily their enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Zheng Xiansu had drafted the “Memorial on Land Reform” for Zhao Yu; Zhao Yu then casually copied it by hand onto a piece of paper and, in an informal setting, presented it to Zhao Xu, saying: “Your Majesty may read it in your leisure—if you find it useless, discard it. But please don’t publicize it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu submitted the “Memorial on Land Reform” this way mainly to avoid violating the taboo of princes interfering in state affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zhao Yu wrote the “Memorial on Land Reform” merely to show the Empress Dowager and Zhao Xu—who held the power to determine the emperor’s succession—that he possessed the ability to resolve the current crisis of the Zhao Song dynasty, not to push for land reform immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Land reform, especially in the Song dynasty, involved too many vested interests; talking about it was harmless, but actually implementing it meant waging war against the entire class of high officials, scholar-gentry, and wealthy magnates. Before securing absolute power, Zhao Yu would never dare to step into this minefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu was, at his core, rebellious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Zhao Yu not adopted this attitude, Zhao Xu might never have read the “Memorial on Land Reform.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Yu’s demeanor of “Read it if you want, throw it away if you don’t” made Zhao Xu actually look forward to what Zhao Yu had written for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the “Memorial on Land Reform,” Zhao Xu confirmed that Zhao Yu was not part of the Old Party—that his fierce rebuke of Liu Qingjing was merely to protect the Empress Dowager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Zhao Xu had even less reason to punish Zhao Yu, lest Zhao Yu, in his recklessness, fully clash with Liu Qingjing and leave Zhao Xu utterly humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Zhao Xu’s focus shifted from Zhao Yu’s political stance to the “Memorial on Land Reform” itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having pursued reform for so many years, though he had solved minor issues, the more Zhao Xu reformed, the more powerless he felt—as if an invisible force constantly obstructed his reforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yuanyou period was the early phase of Zhao Xu’s reign, during which Gao Taotao ruled from behind the curtain. Gao Taotao appointed Sima Guang as chancellor and abolished all of Wang Anshi’s new laws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shaosheng period was Zhao Xu’s personal rule. Zhao Xu appointed Zhang Dun as chancellor and fully restored Wang Anshi’s new laws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu had once resolved to eliminate everyone who obstructed his reforms and devote himself entirely to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after years of effort, Zhao Xu accidentally obtained a painting titled \"The Map of Those Who Cannot Be Helped.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a chart documenting the official appointments of both the New and Old Parties in the court since Emperor Shenzong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chart had seven categories: chancellor, executive ministers, imperial attendants, censors and remonstrators, junior officials, academic halls, and schools. It was divided into two columns: the left for New Party members, the right for Old Party members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result: the right column was densely packed with names, while the left column held only a few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After viewing this chart, Zhao Xu realized that despite his father and himself reforming for so many years, the court’s power had remained firmly in the hands of the Old Party—and fulfilling his father’s unfinished reform mission was impossibly difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, the New Party was equally incompetent; their proposed policies were riddled with flaws, giving the Old Party ample grounds to launch fierce attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more disheartening, after years of reform, fully restoring the new laws, and ruthlessly suppressing the Old Party—exiling Su Shi, Su Zhe, Huang Tingjian, and others—the imperial treasury remained empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How empty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In last year’s Battle of Pingxiacheng, when the Little Liang Empress Dowager invaded, Zhao Xu had no funds for war and was forced to borrow over three million guan from six or seven wealthy merchants—money he still hadn’t repaid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utter humiliation!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu had been frail since childhood, even coughing up blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But had he not been bullied by Gao Taotao and the Old Party since youth, left despondent; and after taking personal rule, had to navigate such an extreme political climate with no hope in sight—how could his health have deteriorated so badly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put simply, during his years of personal rule, Zhao Xu clung tightly to power, working tirelessly every day—when officials slept, he was awake; when they rose, he was already at work. Like a patchwork artisan, he patched up the crumbling Zhao Song dynasty, all while living in constant dread that one morning he’d open his eyes to find the leaky, rotting ship of the state had suddenly sunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What left Zhao Xu most powerless was his profound confusion—he had no idea how to salvage the Zhao Song dynasty’s ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Court ministers also debated fiercely the starkly opposing policies of the Yuanyou and Shaosheng periods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ministers supporting Wang Anshi’s reforms and those opposing them—the New and Old Parties—accused each other in intense conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crucially, the Zhao Song dynasty had reached a point where reform was absolutely necessary—a consensus held from top to bottom, even among the Old Party; otherwise, the court couldn’t even pay officials’ salaries or soldiers’ rations, with catastrophic consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notably, precisely because the Old Party had shifted its stance—supporting reform but opposing Wang Anshi’s specific policies—Zhao Xu ceased suppressing the Old Party and appointed Han Zhongyan, their leader, as vice chancellor, hoping the two factions could unite to find a solution to save the state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet while reform had gained consensus, the two factions had argued for years over how to reform—and still had no direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, seeing the “Memorial on Land Reform,” Zhao Xu’s eyes lit up—he felt this might be a direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Xu couldn’t fathom: “Why does Prince Shen believe the problem lies in failing to curb land consolidation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu reread the “Memorial on Land Reform” repeatedly, growing more convinced that Zhao Yu’s views were extraordinary—but Zhao Xu, raised since childhood in the palace, trapped in an information cocoon, could not perceive the memorial’s true value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu ignored Zhao Yu’s advice to keep it quiet and summoned Zhang Dun, Han Zhongyan, and Ceng Bu that very night to explain it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the “Memorial on Land Reform,” Zhang Dun, Han Zhongyan, and Ceng Bu fell silent together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Dun and Ceng Bu thought: “Prince Shen truly dares to instruct His Majesty. If we follow his prescription to cure the Great Song, it will either be reborn or collapse entirely—there is no third possibility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Dun and Ceng Bu then realized:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Shen must know he is a retired prince with no authority over court affairs—no one cares what he says—so he dared to reveal this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Prince Shen were to lead reform, given his insight, he surely understands how severe the consequences of actual land reform would be. He’ll likely end up like us—going along with the tide, focusing only on economic, educational, and social welfare systems.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the “Memorial on Land Reform,” Zhang Dun and Ceng Bu knew Zhao Yu was no mere hot-headed Zhao Xu or Zhao Xu—he was a true man of insight, at least surrounded by wise advisors who told him the truth, so he truly understood the Zhao Song dynasty’s core problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, many others had already seen the root of the Zhao Song dynasty’s illness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As early as the founding of the Song dynasty—specifically during Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi’s reign—someone had declared: “Land has owners, yet some households have no fields. The rich own endless fields; the poor have not even a needle’s point of land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others pointed out this was caused by “no land system established” and “no suppression of consolidation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the so-called “peaceful” reign of Emperor Renzong, ministers explicitly stated: “Powerful officials and wealthy families occupy boundless land. Consolidation and fraud have become customary, and strict prohibitions cannot stop them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, the court had taken several measures to curb land consolidation: banning officials from leasing imperial land; restricting temples and Daoist monasteries from purchasing land; forbidding land purchases through loans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even so, by the eve of Wang Anshi’s reforms, conservative estimates by officials indicated that 70% of cultivated land was held by the privileged elite exempt from taxation, while self-cultivating peasants and small landowners together owned only 30%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Anshi also believed land consolidation was harmful and wrote a poem titled “Consolidation” to express his opposition. His policies like the Green Sprout Law and Labor Substitution Law were designed to curb land consolidation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But due to limited vision, Wang Anshi’s land reform measures treated symptoms, not the root cause, and contained many flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, they threatened too many vested interests and met fierce resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added to that, those implementing the policies paid lip service while secretly undermining them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, Wang Anshi’s proposed land reform remained all sound and fury—no progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Zhao Yu’s views were not novel at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, time and again, ministers had surfaced to raise land reform as an issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none had offered a truly viable reform method like Zhao Yu did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu’s noble status as a retired prince with no right to participate in court deliberations meant he could say anything—including pointing out why Zhao Xu’s reforms had failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Dun and Ceng Bu, as leaders of the ruling faction, had countless eyes watching them—they dared not speak freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhongyan was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet unlike Zhang Dun and Ceng Bu, seeing Zhao Yu also desired reform, Han Zhongyan thought:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Shen opposes Imperial Consort Liu merely to protect the Empress Dowager—it has nothing to do with my Old Party.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course—the imperial family truly wants to resolve the Great Song’s current crisis and ensure its eternal survival, not merely win political battles. Why would they fully support my Old Party in attacking the New Party?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t the Empress Dowager the same?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems reform is truly inevitable now—even a prince is anxious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But how exactly should we reform? Must we truly implement land reform? Is there no other way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhang Dun, Han Zhongyan, and Ceng Bu fall silent after reading the “Memorial on Land Reform,” Zhao Xu asked: “Does Prince Shen’s reform proposal hold any merit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1780,"2026-06-20T15:06:47.302Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3eb2d8380bc8e6ae4a404b15412000939d0eeb1a81eb4375834535abddac67cd","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-31","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-29",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]