Chapter 76: Zhang the Great Strategist (First 10,000-Addition Bonus!)

…

After ascending the throne, Zhao Yu inherited the crumbling Zhao Song dynasty, with all systems in disarray.

But Zhao Yu knew he still had time, so he did not rush, instead focusing first on securing his imperial position.

Moreover, although Zhao Yu had begun personal rule, out of respect for Empress Dowager Xiang and for the sake of a smooth transition, he consulted her on major matters, even seeking her advice.

In personnel matters, Zhao Yu made no major changes.

As for the reforms many had expected him to lead before taking power, Zhao Yu now never mentioned them; when others brought them up, he gave no clear response.

Of course, not responding was itself a stance—it indicated Zhao Yu was still walking the path of supporting reform.

Yet at the same time, Zhao Yu pardoned the old faction members who had been toppled by Zhao Xu and Zhang Dun, even recalling them to court for appointments, giving the old faction hope.

Thus, whether the new faction felt threatened or the old faction sought to turn the tide, both were fawning over Zhao Yu, hoping he would side with them and help destroy the other.

Zhao Yu used this to gradually solidify his imperial position…

Yet this could stabilize Zhao Yu's throne but not solve the Zhao Song dynasty's problems.

Although Zhao Yu already had some plans for resolving the dynasty's issues, he still wished to hear the views of his five wives from his past life, who had been far more successful than he.

Zhang Chun wanted to impress Zhao Yu, to use his hand to intervene in politics—how could she not cherish the opportunity he gave her?

So the moment Zhao Yu dropped the subject, Zhang Chun bit:

"Internally, Your Majesty's handling has been most appropriate; I dare not speak rashly."

"Externally, I believe we should publicly adopt the advice of Chancellor Zhang and other ministers, responding to Liao and Xia provocations with firmness, not yielding an inch."

"Xia was already cornered and forced to seek peace; only because the late Emperor passed away and Your Majesty has just ascended, with our court still unstable and Liao supporting them, did they shift to a hardline stance to coerce peace, attempting to turn danger into safety and extort annual tribute—truly not worth worrying about."

"As for Liao, their ruler is nearing seventy, and their state faces a major succession crisis; their crown prince is ambitious but incompetent, unfit to rule, and their internal problems are deep-rooted and irreparable—they cannot possibly wage war against our great Song. Their troop displays near Xincheng are surely bluffing, aiming only to increase annual tribute."

"This is a heavenly opportunity for our great Song to destroy both barbarian states, yet our own state is also riddled with problems; if we rashly launch war, we cannot guarantee Liao and Xia will not panic and unite against us."

"At such a time, our great Song may struggle to respond."

"Thus, we should openly prepare for war while secretly seeking peace…"

Zhang Chun's meaning (including what she did not say aloud) was:

Xia is purging its maternal relatives, its politics unstable; having waged continuous wars against the Zhao Song during Empress Xiao Liang's rule, its treasury is empty and its troops exhausted—it is a paper tiger, utterly unworthy of attention.

Liao is also at the end of the dynasty, burdened with countless problems; Yelu Hongji has barely a year left to live—how could he possibly wage war against Zhao Yu?

After Yelu Hongji dies, the successor will be Yelu Yanxi, the last emperor of Liao, who led seventy thousand troops yet lost to Wanyan Aguda's twenty thousand, chased from north to south and east to west, until his state was half-swallowed by Wanyan Aguda's conquest, his wife and children divided among the Jin, and he himself captured, kept like livestock alongside Zhao Ji and Zhao Huan.

Thus, whether feigning war or waging it truly, Zhao Yu need not fear Yelu Hongji or Li Qianshun.

But Zhao Song's own problems are equally severe: no money, no elite troops; Zhao Yu has just ascended, his throne still unsteady—whether he could even defeat one enemy, let alone two, remains uncertain.

Thus, the best response is to appear firm, then negotiate peace once Liao and Xia soften their stance.

In short, Song, Liao, and Xia are all rotting, none capable of waging total war.

Based on this grand trend, Zhao Yu can freely issue threats, as long as he does not lose his head and actually wage war against both Liao and Xia at once—well… best not to fight either now; let them all just trade words, maintain the status quo, and compete in development.

Once Zhao Yu resolves Zhao Song's internal problems, he can then launch western campaigns and northern expeditions.

Zhao Yu had to admit that Zhang Chun's insights, grounded in historical trends, held some merit.

Yet whether Zhang Chun's plan would suit local conditions, Zhao Yu still needed to discuss it with Zhang Dun and other chancellors before deciding.

Next, Zhang Chun suggested Zhao Yu establish a Deliberative Bureau within the Department of State Affairs, select talents from across the realm, appoint officials to specific duties, deliberate on matters, promote benefits and eliminate abuses, and appoint Cai Jing as supervisor.

Establishing the Deliberative Bureau would signal Zhao Yu's resolve to pursue reform.

Zhao Yu felt Zhang Chun was moving too fast, so he told her: "I have already agreed with Empress Dowager to change the era name to 'Jianzhong'—I cannot break my word to her."

Zhang Chun thought: Empress Dowager Xiang had barely a year left to live; once she died, no one could restrain her and Zhao Yu—then reform could proceed without restraint. So she said: "If so, this matter need not be rushed."

At this moment, Zhao Yu turned to Ye Shi Yun: "The court's finances are empty; soldiers' pay and officials' salaries have been long overdue—do you have any advice for me, Shi Yun?"

The Zhao Song dynasty's most obvious problem now is the Three Excesses.

The Three Excesses are: excess officials, excess troops, excess expenditures.

Excess officials: the bureaucracy is bloated, positions overlap redundantly, many officials hold posts without performing duties, draining court salaries while achieving extremely low administrative efficiency. A decree from the court, passing through layers of bureaucracy and cumbersome procedures, reaches the localities long after the optimal moment has passed.

Excess troops: soldiers recruited in large numbers vary wildly in quality; military training is performative; frequent troop rotations prevent cohesion between officers and men. In wartime, commands are inconsistent, command chaotic; facing foreign invasion, they collapse at the first strike, unable to form effective defense. Maintaining such a vast army consumes treasury funds like flowing water for provisions, equipment, and pay.

As for excess expenditures: beyond massive spending on officials' salaries and military costs, there are the enormous annual tributes paid in humiliating peace treaties, turning the court's finances into a bottomless pit. With revenues insufficient to cover outlays, the state's poverty deepens, the people's tax burden grows unbearable, and the vitality of the civilian economy is severely stifled.

The Three Excesses intertwine like a heavy chain, tightly choking the Zhao Song dynasty, causing it to grow impoverished and weak.

This is why the Zhao Song dynasty has always sought reform.

Now, Zhao Yu wishes first to stabilize his rule, unwilling to launch reform before his foundation is secure.

That is, Zhao Yu cannot cut expenditures now.

Since he cannot cut expenditures, Zhao Yu must first find ways to increase revenue.

Thus, naturally, he must turn to Ye Shi Yun—the economics Ph. D., top financial livestreamer, expert in monetary principles, familiar with all economic policies ancient and modern, who invested on her own and amassed over a hundred million in assets within three years.

Seeing Zhao Yu call her name, Ye Shi Yun, chewing on a swimming crab, said: "This matter is easy…"

…

(End of Chapter)