Chapter 31: There Is Real Substance

…

"Is there anything worth taking?"

"Your Majesty, if you truly dare to use Prince Shen's prescription to treat our Great Song, even if it doesn't cure the illness instantly, it can at least greatly alleviate our nation's grave ailments."

"The problem is, only an emperor like Qin Shi Huang, Han Wu Di, or Tang Zong could possibly use Prince Shen's prescription?"

Thus, faced with Zhao Xu's inquiry, Zhang Dun, Han Zhongyan, and Ceng Bu all remained silent.

Zhao Xu was no fool; seeing Zhang Dun and the other three hesitate and stammer, how could he not guess that the "Land Reform Memorial" contained real substance?

Zhao Xu said nothing, merely gazing quietly at Zhang Dun and the other three, waiting to see how long they would keep this from him.

Inside the grand hall, candlelight flickered, casting shadows over Zhao Xu's furrowed brows and the solemn expressions of the three chief ministers of the Zhao Song dynasty. The air hung heavy and deep, as if time itself had frozen in this moment.

Seeing that they could no longer avoid confronting the matter, Zhang Dun sighed lightly and broke the oppressive silence: "Your Majesty, Prince Shen's strategy strikes straight to the heart, pinpointing the very root of our Great Song's accumulated ills. Yet implementing this strategy is like throwing a boulder into a calm lake—waves will surge everywhere; without thunderous force, it cannot be controlled."

Han Zhongyan then took up the thread, his tone gentle yet resolute: "As Chancellor Zhang has said, land consolidation is a chronic disease of every dynasty, not one formed in a day. To eradicate it fully will inevitably strike at the interests of countless nobles and elites—its difficulty is self-evident."

Ceng Bu nodded slightly and added: "Moreover, the current situation is turbulent: external enemies surround us, internal suffering runs rampant. A single misstep could ignite a fire that consumes us, endangering the very stability of the state. Thus, though we fully recognize the benefits of this strategy, we dare not speak of it lightly—for fear of misleading Your Majesty, and worse, misleading the people of the realm."

Zhao Xu understood. He cut straight to the core: "Is Prince Shen's strategy viable?"

Zhang Dun and Ceng Bu remained silent.

Seeing this, Han Zhongyan—the one least eager to implement the "Land Reform Memorial"—could only openly oppose: "It is viable, but it cannot be enacted. Reforming land policy touches upon interests too vast; without a flawless plan, rushing forward will surely spark rebellion and plunge the court into chaos."

Zhao Xu could hardly believe it: "Could it be this severe?"

Han Zhongyan glanced at Zhang Dun—his meaning clear: "If you don't want political upheaval, speak up now and dissuade His Majesty from adopting the 'Land Reform Memorial.'"

The New Party was the ruling faction; as its leader, Zhang Dun certainly upheld the principle that stability outweighed all else.

So Zhang Dun also spoke in admonition: "It is not that we are timid or cowardly—rather, pulling one hair sets the whole body in motion. The court today is a tangle of entrenched interests; the great clans hold deep roots. A single misstep could lead to consequences beyond reckoning."

Only Ceng Bu, who aspired to become chancellor, offered a slight concurrence with Zhao Xu: "I believe that while we cannot immediately launch sweeping reforms under Prince Shen's strategy, we may proceed gradually. Why not begin with small measures—perhaps testing in remote prefectures and counties, accumulating experience slowly, while observing the reactions of all sides?"

Zhang Dun dismissed this without mercy: "In those remote prefectures, local officials are often colluding with regional gentry. Testing there would yield no results—only a waste of state resources." He then pressed further: "Land reform must proceed slowly, not hastily. Let us wait. The urgent task now is to strengthen the legal system, punish corruption severely, and restore proper order in court—as preparation for future reform."

Han Zhongyan sneered: "Corruption? Your real target is still our Yuanyou faction, isn't it?" He countered immediately: "We could also open channels for free speech, encourage scholars to submit memorials, gather wisdom from all sides—perhaps a more stable path to reform may emerge."

Ceng Bu spoke in vague platitudes: "Reform must have the people's support. We should enact benevolent policies, lighten the people's burdens, and win their backing. When the people are stable, the state is secure."

Soon, Zhang Dun and the other two began to argue, hurling accusations at each other.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu felt both fury and helplessness: "My three chief ministers—can't even match a retired prince! All you do is create problems, never solve them. What use are you?!!!"

Zhao Xu grew increasingly weary. He raised his hand to halt their bickering, and spoke slowly, his voice heavy with exhaustion and resentment: "Must our mighty Great Song simply watch helplessly as this chronic illness deepens, with no hope of relief?"

Zhang Dun and the other three knew what Zhao Xu wanted to hear—but if they spoke it, even with a chance of success, they would be declaring war on the entire class of high officials, scholar-gentry, and powerful clans. One misstep, and not only would they lose their lives, but the Zhao Song dynasty itself might collapse at once.

So they could not speak…

Outside the window, the night wind howled, rattling the window frames with a clatter—as if mourning the future of the Zhao Song dynasty.

Seeing Zhang Dun and the others powerless, Zhao Xu gazed toward the dark night beyond the hall, silently resolving that no matter how many obstacles lay ahead, he would carve a path to survival for the Zhao Song dynasty—even if that path was strewn with thorns.

Yet he did not yet know that time was running out for him…

…

Zhao Yu had hinted at Zhao Xu precisely to make him realize that he, Zhao Yu, was more fit to inherit the throne than Zhao Ji or Zhao Si. If history changed—if Zhao Xu did not die so suddenly—he might even willingly pass the throne to Zhao Yu, for only Zhao Yu could solve the Zhao Song dynasty's problems and ensure its survival.

As for the ministers' opinions?

Throughout history, in matters of appointing an emperor, the supreme decision-maker has always been highly vigilant against ministers, never allowing them any chance to interfere.

This phenomenon is rooted in over two thousand years of imperial autocracy.

The imperial power and the chancellor's power have always been in conflict.

Many ministers' highest aspiration was an ideal state: shared rule between chancellor's power and imperial power—this was the enduring dream of Confucian scholars in feudal times.

Yet every emperor and supreme decision-maker insisted that chancellor's power existed solely to serve imperial power, and must never oppose it.

Why did Yue Fei die? Part of the reason was that he meddled in the matter of naming the crown prince.

This is also evident from the fact that Chancellor Zhang Dun's statement—"Prince Duan is frivolous, unfit to rule the realm"—could not stop Zhao Ji from becoming emperor.

Precisely because he understood this, Zhao Yu would never side with the New Party or the Old Party—he would side only with imperial power, with Empress Dowager Xiang, the one who truly decided the emperor's succession.

Zhao Yu created the "Land Reform Memorial" to show Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Xu that he possessed the ability to safeguard imperial power.

Unexpectedly, this caused Zhao Xu to suffer sleepless nights, accelerating the depletion of his already failing body.

By the way, Zhao Yu also learned from Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu that Han Zhongyan had visited Empress Dowager Xiang to discuss Zhao Yu's political stance.

Empress Dowager Xiang spoke bluntly:

"Does only Prince Shen want reform? I want reform too!"

"The court can barely afford to pay salaries or military rations—if we don't reform, how can the Great Song survive?"

"If the skin is gone, how can the hair remain? If the Great Song falls, do you truly believe you alone will survive? I doubt it. Don't forget: 'The imperial streets are paved with the bones of nobles.' If the Great Song collapses, will there not be another Huang Chao?"

"Who among you doesn't know that to cure the Great Song's deep-rooted ills, land reform is the only solution? Yet you hesitate, fear every step, dare not touch this matter—and dare not even mention it to His Majesty."

"Prince Shen merely voiced what you dared not tell His Majesty—what fault is there in that?"

"If you think Prince Shen's strategy is unworkable, then produce a better plan to save the Great Song!"

"Han Shipu, go outside and listen—everyone is saying that you three chief ministers care only for internal squabbles and your own interests, doing nothing!"

"…."

"Prince Shen is merely a retired prince, not the emperor. Let him speak what he wishes—can he truly influence the situation, or stop your inaction?"

Han Zhongyan realized this was true. Why should he care what a retired prince's political stance was—especially since Zhao Yu did not oppose his Old Party? So he left, crestfallen.

Soon, those watching Zhao Yu noticed that he seemed only interested in selling soap to make money, completely ignoring court affairs. His earlier proposal of the "Land Reform Memorial" had merely been a reminder to Zhao Xu—not to keep him in the dark—and nothing more; harmless, really…

…

(End of Chapter)