[{"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-7":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},2318897,4535,"Chapter 7: Straightforward Strike","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-7",7,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant has heard that the problems of the Great Song’s land system have become deeply entrenched: the wealthy own fields stretching endlessly, while the poor have not even a corner to stand on—this is truly a concern for the state. To reform abuses and promote benefits, the following measures should be enacted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, survey all land throughout the empire. Dispatch capable officials to every prefecture and county to meticulously examine landholdings and clearly distinguish public from private property. Those who conceal land or evade registration shall be punished by law, their land confiscated by the state to become public fields. The revenue from public fields may both increase tax income and serve as reserves for famine relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, implement a land-holding cap. Set land limits according to official and civilian ranks. For example, a first-rank official’s household may hold no more than fifty hectares; common households may hold no more than twenty mu per capita. Those exceeding the limit may retain a modest portion for ancestral rites and hereditary land; the remainder shall either be sold to landless peasants or purchased by the state at fair price and resold to the poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third, encourage reclamation of wasteland. Allow civilians to freely cultivate idle land, exempt from taxes for three years. After cultivation, taxes shall be levied as usual. Officials and powerful clans who successfully lead their people in reclaiming wasteland shall be rewarded with titles, stipends, or tax reductions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth, establish land deed laws. Regulate land transactions to ensure civilians possess stable property with clear ownership. All land sales must be registered and taxed by the state; otherwise, they are illegal. Strictly prohibit forced buying or selling, and land consolidation through coercion or influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If these measures are enacted, they may somewhat alleviate the Great Song’s land consolidation crisis, ensuring tillers own their fields, land taxes become equitable, agriculture and sericulture flourish, and the foundation of the state is secured—great fortune for the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet during reform, one must guard against resistance from the powerful. Only if the court upholds justice and enforces strict laws can success be assured…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This “Memorial on Land Reform” was not written by Zhao Yu—it was written by Zheng Xiansu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the content was dictated by Zhao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhao Yu presented his ideas, Zheng Xiansu felt his phrasing was too blunt, inappropriate, and might backfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, with Zhao Yu’s consent, Zheng Xiansu began polishing his “Memorial on Land Reform.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xiansu’s lovely face resembled spring blossoms in full bloom, pleasing to the eye; her intellect, like a radiant pearl, shone brilliantly in every exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xiansu was always humble, courteous, composed, and refined, speaking and writing with perfect restraint—she possessed the qualities of a virtuous empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xiansu was not merely destined to become a virtuous empress—she would surely become one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Historically, when Zheng Xiansu became Empress to Zhao Ji, his harem was filled with thousands of young women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, the Liu consorts dominated the court, Consort Qiao and Consort Cui vied for favor, and the Wang consorts competed in beauty—Zhao Ji’s harem was undeniably filled with beauties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, Zhao Ji frequently left the palace to seek pleasure, visiting brothels and courtesans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a vast, turbulent harem should have been rife with chaos and bitter rivalries, yet under Zheng Xiansu’s careful management and harmonizing influence, it remained astonishingly peaceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without exaggeration, every consort, female official, and maid in Zhao Ji’s harem performed her duties without intense jealousy or resentment; they never troubled Zhao Ji, allowing him to focus entirely on his pursuits or personal whims.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Zhao Yu became emperor, having Zheng Xiansu as empress would satisfy him completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crucially, Zheng Xiansu could offer tangible help in Zhao Yu’s ascension to the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I make her my empress?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu did not know that, even as he considered making Zheng Xiansu his empress, she was beginning to view him with new respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Zheng Xiansu had merely thought Zhao Yu’s filial piety commendable, with no other outstanding qualities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even believed Zhao Yu was impulsive and unwise—he dared offend both the emperor and the crown princess, showing political immaturity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now she saw differently. From the “Memorial on Land Reform,” it was clear Zhao Yu was far more complex than she had assumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For years, the Zhao Song court had been mired in factional strife between the New Party and the Old Party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their central debate: Should the Zhao Song dynasty reform at all—and if so, how?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The New Party, led spiritually by Wang Anshi, sought to enrich the state and strengthen its military through radical reforms, aiming to dispel the dynasty’s chronic poverty and weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They advocated comprehensive fiscal reform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Green Sprout Law, designed to provide low-interest loans to farmers during lean seasons, also increased state revenue;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Market Exchange Law sought to strengthen state control over commerce, stabilizing prices and markets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Militarily, the Baojia and Jiangbing systems operated in tandem, hoping to revive the Song military’s strength and combat effectiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Party, represented by Sima Guang and others, feared rapid reform might trigger social upheaval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their view, ancestral laws, though flawed, had been refined over time and were deeply woven into the social fabric of the Zhao Song dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, in implementation, some local officials enforced the Green Sprout Law coercively to meet quotas, forcing farmers into debt and worsening their plight; the Market Exchange Law also provoked fierce resistance from wealthy merchants, disrupting the previously stable commercial order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Party believed reform should proceed gradually, respecting tradition, resolving state problems through gentle improvement, and prioritizing social stability and the preservation of order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, in court, the two factions clashed endlessly, and policies swung wildly with each shift in power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the New and Old Parties had reached a state of irreconcilable hostility—there could be no coexistence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao Song dynasty limped forward amid their tug-of-war, its fate slowly drifting into uncertainty within this endless vortex of factional strife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, common people struggled to survive amid these turbulent court politics, yearning for a path that would ensure long-term stability and prosperity for both state and people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Zheng Xiansu, the New Party had reformist zeal but lacked proper methods; Wang Anshi’s policies themselves contained grave flaws, yet they refused to acknowledge them, obsessed only with defeating the Old Party and forcing through these deeply flawed reforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu’s “Memorial on Land Reform,” however, appeared practical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crucially, Zhao Yu proposed testing the law for three years in the capital region first—if successful, then expand; if not, identify problems, correct them, and only expand once proven viable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This showed Zhao Yu desired reform and wished to strengthen the Zhao Song dynasty, yet also embraced the Old Party’s principle of gradual, moderate change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xiansu glanced at Zhao Yu without expression: “He possesses both the bold vision and courage to reform landholding, and the prudence to pilot the reform locally before nationwide implementation, balancing competing interests and ideologies. If Prince Xin were emperor, the New and Old Party conflict might vanish; court intrigue would gradually fade—and ministers might then unite their efforts toward making the Great Song truly prosperous, rather than sinking deeper into factional mud…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over an hour later, through their joint efforts, the “Memorial on Land Reform” was completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu praised without restraint: “Your literary skill is superb—I am in awe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xiansu replied humbly: “Your Highness flatters me. If I have not hindered Your Highness’s great cause, I am content.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu waved his hand: “No need for modesty, Lady Zheng. I’ve injured my wrist, not my mind—I can see your talent clearly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu’s blunt praise unsettled Zheng Xiansu, yet thrilled her deeply! She had studied classics and history for years—wasn’t it to gain the admiration of the powerful and be elevated by them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Zhao Yu held little power, he was still a genuine prince, capable of influencing matters concerning the imperial family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu had already drawn Empress Xiang’s attention—he might soon become her favorite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, Zhao Yu’s recommendation would surely benefit Zheng Xiansu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the primary reason Zheng Xiansu chose to aid Zhao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Zhao Yu’s words proved he admired her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Zheng Xiansu never expected Zhao Yu to suddenly shift tone and speak outright:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Zheng, you understand my heart. Seeing you, how could I not rejoice? I wish to petition Empress Dowager for a marriage decree—make you my princess consort. What is your reply?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1418,"2026-06-20T15:06:47.302Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","78e4de72311b16e6f60d68ba13a8269a17647176539d253cd1429984154f4604","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-8","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-6",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]