Chapter 342: Stimulation

After the Lantern Festival, as spring plowing began, perhaps because the author's backlog had run out, the serialization of *Water Margin*—whose setting and authorial background were both too sensitive—finally slowed down. But the series of incidents it sparked at court were just beginning.

Among these, the first to make a targeted response, or rather the first to jump out, was somewhat unexpected to everyone—it was actually the Attending Censor Li Jing.

And the point Li Jing targeted was also extremely interesting.

During the spring plowing period, the cuju matches were suspended as usual. So the cuju match sheets, which had been used as the vehicle for serializing *Water Margin*, also changed. The match information disappeared, *Water Margin* moved from the back to the front, and the back reverted to advertisements for the liquor and takeout of various established restaurants.

"Guang'er Gaozhi" (Public Notice) was, of course, the work of His Majesty the Emperor. It had appeared on the back of cuju match sheets very early on, usually with those established restaurants boasting that their liquor was the purest, their scenery the best, and that even the takeout-ordering Chancellor said it was good... Instead, the previously unattributed *Water Margin* had somehow muddled along and replaced these advertisements.

However, it was precisely these advertisement sheets—which had long been attached to the cuju match sheets and now completely replaced them—that triggered the first upheaval at court during the spring plowing period.

In the latter half of the first month, Censor Li Jing suddenly submitted a memorial for impeachment, claiming that these flyers, half advertisements and half fiction, violated the laws of the state.

Li Jing's logic was very simple and very direct:

According to him, the previous cuju matches were semi-official group activities involving Kaifeng Prefecture. Under those circumstances, distributing flyers that explained the situation of the opposing sides and marked match dates and seats had an official announcement nature. The advertisements and the novel, taking advantage of the blank space on the back of the flyers, were a harmless parasitic act.

But now, without the cuju matches, these flyers composed of advertisements and a novel no longer counted as cuju sheets. And since they weren't cuju sheets, they lacked the nature of official printed materials. They were privately distributed, prohibited publications.

This kind of thing couldn't be allowed to appear just because it was currently harmless. Otherwise, unscrupulous people would surely exploit the loophole, using it in the future to spread rumors and deceive the public.

It had to be said that after serving as a Censor for many years, Li Jing had finally learned to be clever. This impeachment had a clear and flawless logic, directly leaving many people—including His Majesty the Emperor, who was diligently updating his novel—speechless.

At the same time, it forced everyone to confront the real crux of the issue—whether or not to lift the ban on private newspapers.

After all, as early as before the New Year, Li Jing's elder brother, Li Gang, had publicly submitted a memorial requesting the lifting of the newspaper ban. And once the ban was lifted, the biggest beneficiaries would undoubtedly be the Neo-Confucian academies in the south and the large number of retired officials from the south, as only they could currently maintain a widely circulated and influential private newspaper alongside the official gazette.

Correspondingly, even if the scholar-officials of the Central Plains had the will, with one official gazette already in existence, starting another private newspaper would be somewhat beyond their strength. Meanwhile, the regions of Guanxi and Bashu had never really amounted to much.

Therefore, the court had consistently refused to discuss this topic. Coupled with His Majesty the Emperor's direct departure for the military, the matter had been shelved.

Turning back to the present, if we only talk about the novel, there were still many methods. For example, creating another official flyer, or simply changing the venue to formally print and publish the book. These were all very feasible. But you can dodge the first day of the month, but not the fifteenth... The issue of the newspaper ban had to be faced eventually.

And this time, His Majesty the Emperor did not evade it. He openly forwarded Li Jing's impeachment to the Department of State Affairs, and without needing Li Jing or Li Gang to submit another memorial to point out the issue, he directly ordered the Department to discuss the newspaper ban based on this memorial.

The debate was very intense, but the result reached was extremely simple.

By now, the role of the official gazette was beyond question. Not only did the Song people read their own gazette, but even the Jin people read the Great Song's gazette, and even the Khitans read it—there were rumors that when Yelu Dashi set out from Lanzhou, he specifically sought out the local Prefect within the city to request almost all previous issues of the gazette, and specifically ordered their officials stationed at the Lanzhou market to copy the gazette and send it thousands of miles westward.

It could be said that all literate people under heaven had become accustomed to obtaining official Great Song news from the gazette.

Not only that, but any poetry, song, or fiction published in the gazette would become the subject of literati discussion, and the author would immediately become famous throughout the land. Need it be said that a poet recognized by the gazette was a true poet?

The experiments in "Original Learning" published in the gazette would be personally demonstrated and studied by His Majesty the Emperor, and would be replicated during the Imperial Lectures. There were even rumors that in the coming years, questions on "Original Learning" experiments would be added to the Imperial Academy and even the Palace Examinations. What did this mean?

Therefore, when someone wanted to create a "New Official Gazette," they were met with unanimous opposition from the central government officials... Not only the more radical "Wood Faction," represented by the Western Administration Chancellor Zhang Jun, but even the "Water Faction," which usually sympathized with the retired officials in the south, represented by a large number of cautious officials led by the Department of State Affairs Chancellor Zhao Ding, expressed formal and serious opposition.

Even the Chief of the Censorate, Censor-in-Chief Li Guang, after listening to the advice of several other censors and the opinions of several close friends among the senior officials, developed a clear disagreement with Li Jing.

There was no help for it. This was the instinct of central government officials under a centralized system. Despite their internal disagreements, even severe ones on specific issues, when facing a more peripheral political structure, they instinctively refused to cede any power or allow any situation they couldn't control.

You could establish the Secret Pavilion and the Public Pavilion within the central government, and run the official gazette under the Court of State Ceremonial—no problem there. But if you wanted the court to share power with the localities? Sorry, bring an imperial edict... Bring it for what? To find fault and get His Majesty to withdraw the decree.

This characteristic made the opinions and strength of a few people like Ma Shen and Li Jing seem utterly insignificant.

Of course, the Department of State Affairs was competent. They quickly produced a watertight, tactful opinion for handling the matter:

First, the Department redefined the scope of the "newspaper ban." Only flyers and similar items that published serious topics like government decrees, classical studies, and current affairs were strictly prohibited.

Second, categories like poetry, songs, and fiction, as well as shop advertisements and match schedules, when printed and distributed regularly, were not considered to fall under the newspaper ban... provided the former contained no prohibited content and the latter no false information... They were simply treated as privately printed booklets issued separately.

Finally, the Department left some leeway—the so-called strict prohibition did not mean they could never appear. With the Emperor's permission, review by the Department of State Affairs and the Bureau of Military Affairs, and registration with the Court of State Ceremonial, new newspapers could indeed be established.

In the first round, Li Jing, Ma Shen, and the entire southern Neo-Confucian faction suffered a major defeat.

However, immediately afterwards, the price of paper in Dongjingcheng, which had already been somewhat expensive, truly became costly. After the Department's explanation of the newspaper ban was published in the new official gazette at the end of the first month, the established restaurants, warehouses, and commercial firms that had previously benefited from the cuju sheets quickly formed their own "little newspapers"... Although the Department said these weren't newspapers, the people of Dongjing still habitually called them that.

Among them, the newspapers of warehouses and commercial firms were relatively neat, distributed internally, and used to regularly record commercial information like where there was heavy rain or where roads were difficult. The newspapers of the various established restaurants, however, were inevitably quite absurd. Some directly printed *Water Margin* in the style of the cuju sheets, with only their own exclusive advertisements on the back. Some simply compiled *Miscellaneous Notes on the Journey to the West Subduing Demons*, again with their own ads on the back. Others simply used Tang poems or the *Thousand Character Classic* as a vehicle, which actually had a better effect.

Apart from these, there were also some serious publications. For example, Lu Benzhong came out and started two little newspapers... one dedicated to discussing poetry, and the other to interesting news about geography and customs. Whether this had any connection to His Majesty the Emperor was unknown.

Finally, of course, there were the monks and Daoists. *Mulian Rescues His Mother* paired with Buddhist sutras, *The Legend of the White Snake* paired with Yin-Yang and the Eight Trigrams—truly a succession of ingenious tricks.

And it seemed this trend would soon spread, with the Jiangnan region quickly coming up with its own tricks.

But this situation was absolutely something that Li Jing, his brother, Ma Shen, and the other instigators could never have imagined.

After the Neo-Confucian faction's assault on the newspaper ban failed, the second round began quickly. This time, the ones who jumped out were the Vice Chancellor of the Department of State Affairs, Liu Ji, and the Prefect of Kaifeng, Yan Xiaozhong.

Liu Ji submitted a memorial through the Department, suggesting that after the spring plowing, the technology of mulberry-fish ponds combined with chicken raising, which His Majesty had implemented in the rear palace, be promoted on a large scale in Kaifeng Prefecture.

This time, they finally hit His Majesty's sweet spot. The Emperor, who had been behaving himself and staying in the rear palace writing books since returning to the capital, issued a special decree ordering all the chief ministers and the Prefect of Kaifeng, Yan Xiaozhong, to come to the stone pavilion in the rear palace for discussion.

It was now the end of the first month. Spring wasn't fully warm yet, but flowers were already blooming. The tense political atmosphere triggered by the three major cases of the previous winter finally showed signs of loosening, and a climate of political unity seemed about to return.

"Your subject opposes this."

Censor-in-Chief Li Guang spoke with righteous indignation, arguing seriously. "This action will waste labor and money, and ultimately bring no benefit."

His Majesty the Emperor sat steadily, unmoving. Among all those present, from Chief Chancellor Zhao Ding on down, half frowned and half looked solemn when facing this Censor-in-Chief.

"Chancellor Liu, Original Learning emphasizes seeking truth from facts. May I ask, have you clearly calculated whether this matter, once promoted, will benefit the people's livelihood?"

Before the stone pavilion, where a faint southern breeze was beginning to stir, Li Guang, completely disregarding the reactions of those around him, continued to interrogate Liu Ji with head held high:

"His Majesty plants mulberries, raises fish, and feeds chickens here. How much manpower does it take daily? Have the clothing, food, rewards, and salaries of the hundred or so eunuchs been factored into the cost?"

"The chickens and fish from the rear palace, even at fair prices, are snapped up by the established restaurants on Maxing Street outside Donghuamen as soon as they come out, to the point where bribing the inner palace officials is necessary, isn't that so? Can ordinary people sell their produce as smoothly as the palace does?"

"And this large open space—the rear palace could be cleared for it. Which ordinary family has this kind of open space and wouldn't plant crops on it?"

"Furthermore, digging ponds and transplanting mulberry trees—doesn't that take time and effort? Doesn't it cost money and materials? How can an ordinary family handle this properly?"

"More importantly, the rear palace doesn't have to pay taxes. If ordinary people do this, will they have to pay taxes or not?"

After this series of questions, His Majesty the Emperor still sat steadily, unmoving, and the other chief ministers also remained expressionless.

Of course, having been questioned directly, Liu Ji had to turn and respond calmly: "Censor-in-Chief Li, do you think we are unaware of what you've said? Does His Majesty not understand this principle? If it were otherwise, why would His Majesty have only introduced the mulberry-fish pond system in the rear palace a few times in the official gazette over the past three years, without issuing a direct imperial decree? And why have we only brought it up today?"

Li Guang finally faltered slightly and instinctively glanced at His Majesty the Emperor. The Emperor just smiled at him: "Minister Li, you missed one more disadvantage... That is, sericulture is of great importance to the state. Although the mulberry-fish pond system in the rear palace was adapted from certain manor layouts in the cramped southern lands, whether it can be successfully implemented in the north still needs verification. Otherwise, if it's promoted and fails to adapt to local conditions, that would be a real disaster... However, over these past few years, with stable production from the rear palace and a few local wealthy families successfully imitating it, regardless of other factors, we can at least conclude here that this method of combining chickens, mulberries, and fishing along the Yellow River line is feasible."

Li Guang looked slightly embarrassed but still held his ground and nodded, then quickly turned his head to look at Liu Ji, who put less pressure on him.

"Censor-in-Chief Li." Unexpectedly, the next person to confront Li Guang was Chief Chancellor Zhao Ding. "When the Department of State Affairs brought up this matter today, it was based on a concrete plan, not an act of flattery... First, regarding the open space you mentioned, it is indeed hard to find near the capital. However, along the Yellow River line, due to previous military tensions, apart from the official military and civilian colonies, few people were willing to settle there, leaving quite a bit of available land. Even in various parts of the Central Plains that have experienced war, after only three years, there might not be a lack of available land."

Hearing this, not only Li Guang but also His Majesty the Emperor was slightly intrigued, and he was reminded of the ice-breaking matter Zhang Rong had mentioned.

"Secondly, regarding the costs and taxes you mentioned, Censor-in-Chief Li, that is somewhat demanding perfection. Consider this design: is it not more clever and labor-saving than simply planting mulberries, raising fish, or feeding chickens separately? If so, then it is something more economical than many current farmsteads, rather than a forced comparison with the rear palace." While His Majesty's mind was wandering, Zhao Ding had already continued. "Moreover, since it is to be promoted along the Yellow River line, if there is a surplus of chickens and fish beyond personal use, they can be sold to the military camps to improve the soldiers' diet and strengthen them. And since the military colonies likely house many retired soldiers, and the land granted to meritorious soldiers is also there, the military camps probably won't resort to extortion."

"If that's the case, if it can be restricted to the line along the Yellow River, around the military and civilian agricultural colonies, then it's not entirely impossible." Li Guang, after being refuted point by point by Zhao Ding, chose to concede at the right moment. He had already realized that this matter was likely led by His Majesty and Zhao Ding, with Liu Ji and Yan Xiaozhong merely acting as frontmen and executors.

"Moreover, whether it's the Secretariat or His Majesty, how could anyone be as bold as the Censor-in-Chief? The Yellow River line absolutely cannot be promoted directly." Just as Li Guang was thinking of Yan Xiaozhong, the short-statured Yan Xiaozhong suddenly sneered and interjected. "The memorial clearly states that it should start from Kaifeng Prefecture, as a pilot project. If Kaifeng succeeds, then move on to Zhengzhou and Huazhou. If Zhengzhou and Huazhou succeed, then go for Luoyang and Jingdong... Furthermore, if we start from Kaifeng, we can have His Majesty appear in person at Xuan De Tower, just like when selling national bonds, to directly issue low-interest or even interest-free green sprout loans, so that the military and civilian colonies along the river can come according to their settlement villages for dedicated loans and dedicated use! Why must Censor-in-Chief Li find fault with everything?"

Li Guang had originally been prepared to abandon the argument on this matter, but seeing Yan Xiaozhong's attitude, his old habit flared up again, and he immediately felt a sense of resistance, then promptly retorted: "If loans are to be made primarily to villages, wouldn't this kind of thing also have to be done primarily by villages? How can we be sure that cunning clerks and local bullies won't exploit the situation for personal gain?"

"That is indeed a concern."

His Majesty, seated over there, interjected again at the right moment. "But the military and civilian colonies along the river are mostly villages that were uniformly resettled after the court returned to Dongjing in the second and third years of Jianyan. They contain many military personnel, so there are fewer bullies and tyrants. Moreover, compared to this concern, these settlement points are mostly composed of mixed surnames, with no clan activities to speak of. They have no place for annual ancestral rites or Mid-Autumn grave visits. This is not a good thing; at the very least, cults like the Vegetarian Demon Sect often take advantage to infiltrate, leading to disasters. Therefore, my intention is that if this matter can be accomplished, we can use interest-free loans as an incentive, allow them to decide for themselves, and see if we can imitate the clan estates of the south, specifically setting up some village properties with this kind of mulberry-fish pond system..."

Upon hearing this, everyone present fell into thoughtful silence. Li Guang also suddenly came to a realization, but he forced a smile and said: "If that's the case, then it was I who was inconsiderate! I believe this matter is feasible, and the Censorate can dispatch two censors to patrol along the river, specifically to oversee this affair."

Zhao Jiu nodded with satisfaction.

To be honest, the last thing Zhao Jiu mentioned was what truly struck the vital point for these bureaucrats—namely, village collective property and the corresponding village collective activities.

It must be understood that no matter how advanced the so-called urbanization of the Great Song Dynasty was, the Great Song at this time was still a typical medieval imperial society based on agriculture. And like everywhere else, due to limitations in productivity and organizational advancement, the terminal structure of imperial power could not reach the lowest common people—this is the so-called 'imperial power does not reach the countryside.'

And this situation breeds problems.

First, the fragility of the small-scale peasant economy made the grassroots populace utterly defenseless against the exploitation of usury and land rent. This fragility, in turn, allowed religions like Manichaeism, which offered mutual aid insurance for the poor, to infiltrate, unstoppable. The final result was the people living in misery, the proliferation of heretical cults, and ultimately, rebellion.

But at the same time, another absurd reality was that if imperial power forcibly entered the villages and communities, it would cause even greater chaos and damage—because in the age of imperial power, compared to the government, any monk, Daoist, or landlord might as well be a pure white lotus!

In fact, the very reason those monks, Daoists, and landlords could exploit the people, sucking them dry, was largely due to their evil deeds done under the shelter of imperial power.

This situation would be difficult to change even eight hundred years later.

Therefore, at such a time, a moderate grassroots organizational form was needed—one that could both obey the rule from above and provide reassurance to those below.

Historically, the entity that occupied this position was none other than the clan.

For a clan to play a practical role, it largely needed an economic foundation. Hence, the importance of clan property was beyond doubt.

So who invented the institutionalized clan property?

The answer is Fan Zhongyan.

After Fan Zhongyan invented clan property, it immediately received strong recognition and promotion from the Great Song court, rapidly sweeping across the entire Chinese realm, and subsequently causing the power of clans in small villages and communities to expand quickly.

There was no other way. Although clan property and clans would become synonymous with backwardness in later eras, at the present time, facing the imperial power above, the temples and monasteries within the villages, the landlords, the usurers, and the pervasive heretical sects at the very bottom, this was already a relatively very progressive form of village collective economic organization.

Returning to the present, for Zhao Jiu, the problem of a lack of grassroots organization was also a pressing reality.

In fact, His Majesty faced a great many problems. He wanted to launch a northern expedition, which required strong troops and horses, money and grain, but also internal stability and a pacified rear. However, since he personally began to participate in governance, he had gradually developed some ideas of his own.

For example, after coming out from Zhang Rong's place, recalling Zhang Rong's interrogation, he had been ill at ease, always wanting to do something for certain groups, as if not doing something would make even the northern expedition lose its meaning... In fact, this was also one of his original intentions in joining forces with Zhao Ding to launch this matter.

Promoting the mixed agriculture of mulberry-fish ponds and specifically building a grassroots collective economy was precisely one of his experiments.

As a time traveler, Zhao Jiu certainly knew the backwardness represented by feudal clans. But after six years as His Majesty, he also realized that feudal clans could become the dominant force in Chinese rural society for the next eight hundred years because they had their rationality and progressiveness. At the very least, they were milder than the yamen runners of the feudal era and more stable than the self-help of heretical cults.

Moreover, what he was promoting now was a non-clan collective economy based on civilian and military colonies, imitating clan property. This seemed to have a bit of idealistic progress compared to clan property. This thing might collapse in the future and be replaced by clans again, or it might, like feudal clans, degenerate into a synonym for conservatism and backwardness. But at the very least, in the present, in 12th-century China, it still seemed to have its advanced nature.

In fact, even someone like Li Guang had keenly sensed the implications behind this matter. Faced with the goals of directly eliminating heretical cults and internally improving the stability of grassroots people's livelihoods—even if only potential benefits—it was still enough to convince these scholar-officials to unconditionally support such a measure.

The only thing that caught many off guard was that many had thought His Majesty would first stir things up regarding the northern expedition, but he ultimately brought this matter to the forefront first.

Li Guang immediately changed his stance, causing this matter to be passed in the form of a supreme resolution... Indeed, a supreme resolution. The chief ministers discussed it before the throne, and even the Censor-in-Chief raised both hands in support. No political resolution could be smoother or more exalted than this.

The discussion on this matter was concluded.

Then, seeing the relaxed and complacent expressions on the faces of Zhao Ding, Liu Ji, Yan Xiaozhong, and others, and His Majesty also seeming to smile for the first time in months, after some hesitation, Privy Councilor Zhang Jun suddenly strode forward and, right in front of the pavilion, cupped his hands and addressed the assembly:

"Your Majesty! Your subject recently read 'Water Margin' and was moved to compose five proposals! Today, with Your Majesty present, all the chief ministers assembled, and even the Censor-in-Chief here, it is the perfect time to present them, requesting Your Majesty's imperial judgment and my colleagues' critique."

Zhao Jiu, who had rarely felt a moment of relaxation, was slightly startled, then smiled and replied: "Minister Zhang is a distinguished Privy Councilor. Speak freely... What did you see in 'Water Margin'?"

"Just five matters."

Zhang Jun bowed in acknowledgment, then raised his head and, before the assembled chief ministers, academicians, secretaries, and even the chief eunuch of the Inner Palace Service and the two commanders of the Imperial Guard, spoke out boldly, in the style of the current official gazette:

"First, expand the army! The Imperial Command should, within the limits of the current court finances, slightly expand the army to two hundred thirty to two hundred forty thousand men, and establish Imperial Command reserve military stations in Lanzhou, Xingqing Prefecture, and Yinshan, to be prepared for emergencies, facilitating the conscription of scattered tribes of Tubo, Tangut, Khitan, and Mongols into the army!"

"Second, form alliances! Since Your Majesty has convened a grand alliance of all the Xia states at Jinhepo to jointly discuss attacking the Jin, you should increase communication and discussion. Summon envoys from Dali, Nanyue, and Goryeo to the capital for consultation and joint deliberation. Accept hostages from the two Mongol tribes, the various Western Regions states, and the various Tubo tribes into the court. The young should enter the Military Academy and the Imperial Academy, while the adults should join the Imperial Guard."

"Third, pacify the rear! In the Jiangnan region, Fang La and Zhong Xiang had previously swept through the Southeast and Jingxiang. Since Yue Fei suppressed the rebellion, the bandits in Qianzhou have risen again, and Jiangxi Circuit is once more in turmoil. The famous ministers Quan Bangyan and Guo Zhongxun were originally pillars of resistance against the Jin. Now that Quan Bangyan has returned to court after mourning, he is just the right person to be the Grand Coordinator of Jiangxi Circuit. Guo Zhongxun can be appointed as the Imperial Command Reserve Commander-in-Chief, to go to Jiangxi Circuit and train ten thousand reserve troops, with half the pay of the Imperial Command... While pacifying the rear, if necessary, they can also form an army and march north to assist the northern expedition!"

"Fourth, rectify names! The shame of the Jingkang Incident is a source of shame and anger for all scholars and common people under heaven. In the past, the Six Traitors were executed, yet there was still the chaotic governance of Jingkang. We should request the Retired Emperor Daojun and the Retired Emperor Yuansheng to personally write, narrating the various causes of the defeats in the Xuanhe and Jingkang eras, to set the record straight! Furthermore, the loss of the Two Rivers is not a matter of financial or material calculation. For the dynasty to recover the Two Rivers concerns the very foundation of the state, whether it is upright or crooked. It concerns whether Your Majesty, from the top down, and all of us, including the two retired councilors Li Gang and Lü Haojian, and countless ministers in charge of the state, stand upright or not. We request Your Majesty to issue a clear decree in the official gazette, reiterating that Song and Jin cannot coexist! That the bone-deep enmity makes peaceful sleep impossible!"

"Fifth, build finances! Since the northern expedition cannot be delayed, and the national strength remains strained, we should request the Ministry of Revenue to formulate a plan, whether for three years or five, on how to raise funds, how to relieve the people, how to accumulate resources. Whether through national bonds, exchanging titles, or the jiaozi bureau, even if it somewhat loses the face of a great power, it is not inappropriate to present it openly and honestly, so that the Son of Heaven's sincerity and the dynasty's determination are made known to all under heaven. Let the whole world know that what the dynasty takes from the people is truly for the united will of the myriad people, solely for the use of the entire nation's northern expedition!"

To be honest, when Zhang Jun spoke of the first two points, the Son of Heaven, the chief ministers, and the civil and military officials near and far within the stone pavilion did not have much reaction. They simply thought that this Privy Councilor Zhang, seeing the close cooperation between His Majesty and the Secretariat, was momentarily jealous and couldn't help showing off.

After all, expanding the army and forming alliances were precisely the matters that the West Bureau should consider and then do. The West Bureau should have been preparing these things for a long time; he just couldn't hold back and brought them up today.

But when Zhang Deyuan got to the third point, about pacifying the rear, everyone became somewhat surprised and serious. Because this move subtly suggested sending radical elements from Hebei to directly suppress public opinion in Jiangnan. And it had to be admitted that although this move had some discordant implications, it was destined to be a direct and effective method, and also a major counterattack against opponents like Ma Shen.

It was truly a ruthless move, so ruthless it didn't seem like Zhang Deyuan's style.

Of course, Li Guang and some of the courtiers present from Jiangnan origin immediately felt the urge to refute it.

However, as Zhang Jun continued to his fourth point, everyone present changed color, and for a moment, no one even thought about the third point... Because this West Bureau councilor told everyone in a straightforward manner that the shame of the Jingkang Incident must be directly confronted, and the recovery of the Two Rivers must be insisted upon. Otherwise, from His Majesty Zhao Jiu seated in the pavilion to the retired councilors, all components of the ruling group since the Jianyan era would face an interrogation of their own legitimacy to govern!

Instead of covering up and letting the common people talk about guarding against fathers and elder brothers, it was better to clearly tell the world that it was precisely those two 'fathers and brothers' who lost the realm, and these two people no longer had any qualifications to enjoy state treatment! And the current Jianyan Son of Heaven and his civil and military subordinates did not rely on any continuation of the previous court to be the rulers, but on holding the Two Huai, on recovering the Central Plains, on repelling the Jurchen invasion!

However, this point was still somewhat subtle. The key was that Zhang Jun wanted to clearly remind all those still holding official positions: without a northern expedition, this state and this court would lack proper legitimacy and upright standing! This was not a matter of economic accounting! It was a matter of the state's foundation. To put it bluntly, if Your Majesty does not launch a northern expedition, on what grounds do you hold the position of Son of Heaven? Wouldn't it be more in line with ritual law to let the Retired Emperor Yuansheng take the throne?! And you ministers, if you do not support the northern expedition, what qualifications do you have to sit in the court as chief ministers and ministers, dreaming of high offices? A bunch of opportunists who rose to the ranks of chief ministers and ministers in three to five years—shouldn't you yield your positions to those famous Daoist scholars from the south?!

As for the last point, setting a timeline and openly displaying the progress of preparations for the northern expedition—this was to make the court publicly issue a political commitment! This was even more unprecedented.

Therefore, by the time they heard the end, the area inside and outside the pavilion had long fallen into dead silence.

However, after a pause, it was His Majesty Zhao Jiu, who had been staring intently at Zhang Jun, who was the first to shake his sleeves and laugh from his seat: "Deyuan, did you really get all this from 'Water Margin'?"

Zhang Jun nodded calmly: "Exactly so! But it was not my realization alone!"

Zhao Jiu also nodded immediately. Then, under the almost suffocating pressure from the others, he shook his sleeves and stood up, walked forward, grasped the still somewhat astonished Zhao Ding with one hand and the unperturbed Zhang Jun with the other, and declared loudly:

"Emperor Taizong of Tang had Fang Xuanling to plan for him and Du Ruhui to make decisions. Although I, His Majesty, am not as good as Emperor Taizong of Tang, I have Councilor Zhao to secure my wings and solidify my rear, and Councilor Zhang to charge forward without hesitation. Since this is the case, although the road ahead is difficult, what do we have to worry about? These past days, I have been overthinking."

Having said this, without waiting for the two councilors to respond, Zhao Jiu turned solemnly to the several academicians and secretaries beside him and issued an imperial decree: "First, issue an edict to promote the mulberry-fish pond system as village property after the spring plowing. In a few days, once this matter begins, publish today's court discussion in the official gazette to stir the realm! Let us see who is dissatisfied, who is uneasy, and who has something to say, and what they can do!"

Li Guang and everyone around the stone pavilion fell silent for a moment, with only the new green mulberry leaves swaying and rustling.