[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-355":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Shao Song",{"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},1558521,2024,"Chapter 355: Without Incident (Happy New Year, Everyone)","shao-song-chapter-355",355,"\u003Cp>Although many things happened in the seventh year of Jianyan, and even the Zhao Emperor went to every extreme to plug the fiscal hole, exhausting himself into illness, those matters were mostly complicated affairs from the perspective of the ruler. At most, they made the Emperor and the high ministers of the central government feel weary, and made the top nobles feel apprehensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for the vast majority of Great Song commoners south of the Yellow River, and even for a considerable number of grassroots officials, including those hundreds of thousands of Imperial Camp soldiers, this year was undoubtedly a very relaxed and comfortable one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because there were no large-scale wars this year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside border skirmishes, the only two battles that could be called organized engagements were, first, when the Imperial Camp Navy, which had absolute water superiority, fought a probing Jin Jun navy that had emerged on the Yellow River in the middle of the year, achieving a meager victory; and second, after the autumn harvest, Li Yanxian, acting on instructions, organized forces to emerge from the Zhongtiao Mountains and launch a probing attack on Hezhongfu, a key city controlled by the Jurchens. The attack had great momentum, but after Jurchen reinforcements from Taiyuan arrived, he chose a full retreat, returning without any gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But compared to previous years, which involved the deployment of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of troops, the conscription of hundreds of thousands or millions of laborers, and casualties in the thousands or tens of thousands, these actions were utterly insignificant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, aside from the official gazette, not many people even mentioned them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zhao Jiu himself knew that the purpose of fighting these two battles was more about the act of war itself—to tell the world that Song and Jin were still at war, that they were irreconcilable, and that they would inevitably fight their way north sooner or later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, according to this Emperor's intention, they would have to continue fighting next year, and on a larger scale and with greater frequency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong's and Wu Jie's forces, including part of the Imperial Camp Central Army, would all have to participate in the Hezhongfu campaign… Pinglu City and the Zhongtiao Mountains region in Shanzhou, north of the Yellow River, were the only Hebei salient the Song army still held. Their strategic importance could not be overstated. Hezhongfu, as the natural first landing point for any future Northern Expedition, needed to be thoroughly understood. Large-scale troop movements across the Yellow River under varying river conditions needed to be as practiced as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the same logic, in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, due to specific historical reasons, there were many old river channels… These old channels were certainly not as wide or smooth as the main trunk that flowed into the sea through Shandong. But the problem was that during the summer flood season, they could still accommodate large ships. They were natural routes for the Imperial Camp Navy to attempt infiltration around Damingfu, and even more so, they were direct channels for the future advance of the Imperial Camp Forward Army and Right Army into Hebei. There was no reason to give up the struggle for control of this complex water area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, although the Imperial Camp Navy was newly established, currently only at the stage of scouring for sea vessels and recruiting pirates, it was on the same amateurish level as Li Qi, the maritime general of the puppet Qi who had been taken away by the Jurchens… For this reason, a few young officials who advocated for using the navy to harass the Jurchens' rear had even been reprimanded by their more cautious superiors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, due to some superstition formed in his later life, Zhao Jiu, though he said nothing, firmly believed in his heart that with his support and the backing of maritime shipping policies, the Imperial Camp Navy would grow rapidly and become another breakthrough point to the north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But, as always… none of this changed the fact that the entire seventh year of Jianyan saw no major battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, although Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun constantly engaged in small maneuvers against each other, they overall maintained and presented what was perhaps the most clear and upright period of Great Song politics in forty or fifty years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, everything was waiting to be done, full of vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Zhao Emperor's marrow-sucking, bone-gnawing efforts to amass military funds did not stop this aging empire from taking great strides toward recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The political situation grew increasingly stable, production gradually recovered, the population began to show slight growth, and a baby boom started to appear… It was even said that the son of Chancellor Zhao Ding was starting to look for a wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This spontaneous healing of the entire society proceeded at a speed and scale far beyond the estimates and judgments of politicians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the Imperial Academy political inquiry, when the Ministry of Revenue conducted its year-end inspection based on that thick fiscal policy document they had formulated, they were astonished to find that the speed of fiscal recovery was still faster than imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those collapsed porcelain kilns were being rebuilt much faster than expected; at the transportation hubs next to those burned-down markets, small-scale trading fairs spontaneously formed; cities that had been completely slaughtered and burned quickly regained their proper luster after just a few years of peace… Luoyang and Nanjing (Shangqiu), which had been reduced to barren land, were the most obvious examples. In just a few short years, they had recovered into metropolises with populations over one hundred thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And without a doubt, Luoyang would continue to recover rapidly; this city had too much potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the fiscal revenue figures showed that many new things emerging in various places were also unforeseen when they formulated that fiscal policy at the beginning of the year… Ministry of Revenue officials expressed cautious optimism about Western Region trade. The existence of the Lanzhou market was indeed within their considerations. But at the same time, they had no ideas about the Yinshan region, treating it merely as a pure entry point for horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about it, with a population of only one or two million… perhaps even less, no matter how large the grassland area, what could it amount to? Could it be more useful than the millions of acres of fertile farmland on the Xingling Plain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, facts proved that the commercial taxes collected at Keyimen in just this one year alone amounted to a figure so large it was somewhat frightening… It wasn't noticeable in the first half of the year, but starting in the latter half, all sorts of strange goods from all over Guanxi and Bashu would pass through here heading north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Directors and Assistant Directors of the Ministry of Revenue would never believe that a place where even the king couldn't afford to support several dozen sons could consume so many fine porcelains and Shu brocades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the amounts of tea and medicinal herbs were excessively large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, everyone knew in their hearts that it must be flowing into the Jurchen side… The nobles over there had plenty of gold and silver with nowhere to spend it. The so-called Mongolia was essentially just another Goryeo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was quite possible that Khabul Khan, whose position had once been shaken by the Jin state, had finally sent his son, and this was also related to the explosion of this trade in the latter half of the year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This unexpected transshipment trade route was undoubtedly a double-edged sword—the Zhao Emperor was wary of Khabul Khan because of his surname, the Khitans had their own judgments based on the geographical advantages of the Mongolian Plateau, and the Great Song officials keenly smelled from Khabul's actions the ambition and unruliness that this first khan in Mongolian history could not properly conceal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for the time being, everything was for the Northern Expedition, and the first priority of the Northern Expedition was to raise money… If everything had to be subordinated to this overall situation, the court could only turn a blind eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Ningxia Circuit had collected several hundred thousand strings of commercial taxes in just half a year!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A circuit that was considered relatively remote even in the northwest, having been in hand for only a year, its commercial taxes already matched half of the Jiangnan West Circuit! And its location, combined with the irrigation system of the Xingling Plain, meant its grain was destined to become the lowest-cost, highest-quality military rations supply point during the Northern Expedition… The destruction of Western Xia and the establishment of the Ningxia Circuit played a far greater role in the great cause of the Northern Expedition than imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its assistance was comprehensive, not only in military and geographical terms, but also in economic, logistical, and even diplomatic aspects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight million, seven hundred and thirty-one thousand, four hundred and twenty-seven strings, and seventy-three cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the total extra revenue generated beyond the original fiscal budget in the seventh year of Jianyan, encompassing everything from stamp taxes to lotteries, to the Zhao Emperor selling flags, calligraphy, paintings, and palaces, as well as the various results of lowering himself to vigorously develop foreign trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Chongwen Institute, Zhao Jiu, standing with his hands behind his back in front of the Secret Pavilion, turned around and shook his head with a wry smile at Lin Jingmo, the Minister of Revenue, who stood before him. \"There's also the one million strings I just extorted… Minister Lin probably hasn't included that yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This remark was too frivolous, but Lin Jingmo's expression did not change. He was momentarily startled, then immediately nodded solemnly: \"Exactly so. But has Your Majesty's national debt actually sold a full million strings?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right.\" Zhao Jiu spoke frankly to the many high ministers before him, right there in the Chongwen Institute. \"At first, I only prepared a quota of three to four hundred thousand strings, all five-year terms. And because many people in the capital had already bought large amounts of national debt before, the sales here weren't actually very good… But then someone asked if they could buy some for a mutual friend in Yangzhou. I thought, 'Convenience for others is convenience for myself,' so I directly agreed. Who would have thought that this person's friend would be so generous? They bought tens of thousands of strings at a time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jingmo and the several ministers around him all remained silent… The Yuan You Empress Dowager had already moved here, likely spending the New Year on the road. A descendant of a meritorious noble and the Director of the Inner Palace Service Bureau had been dragged into the street by the Imperial Guard and beheaded in public. A famous scholar of the Southeast Dao had his property confiscated and was exiled… Under these circumstances, the friend in Yangzhou, who hadn't bought large amounts of national debt many times before, would naturally be generous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But calculating it this way.\" Zhao Jiu exhaled a white breath of air, looking up at the clear blue winter morning sky and sighing. \"It's still just over nine million strings, still less than ten million… Besides, everything has its basic principles. These people are willing to buy large amounts of national debt today, but they might not be willing next year. The same goes for the Jingyuan houses. These are windfalls of hundreds of thousands or millions of strings.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But things like maritime trade, stamp taxes, and lotteries are growing steadily… Your Majesty need not worry.\" Privy Councilor Zhang Jun quickly offered comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well said.\" Zhao Jiu immediately laughed, hands behind his back, addressing his most trusted senior minister under the expressionless gazes of many officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there is always someone who likes to overturn the table. Just as Zhang Jun was about to speak again, Minister of Works Hu Yin could no longer restrain himself. He stepped forward and said seriously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has Your Majesty forgotten that many of this year's measures were only gradually implemented from mid-year? In your minister's opinion, while it is indeed impossible to have such large gains in the next two years—windfalls of millions of strings like those from Jingyuan, maritime flags, imperial auctions, and today's large-scale national debt cannot be repeated so smoothly—calculated over a full year, it will definitely exceed ten million strings… Why does Your Majesty pretend to be deaf and dumb?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd suddenly understood, or rather, many pretended to suddenly understand. Led by Zhao Ding, they all cupped their hands in congratulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Zhao Emperor finally showed a smug expression, rare for him, looking around the courtyard with satisfaction and laughing briefly before waving his hand in response:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I almost forgot that this was the result of only half a year… But regardless, this is all the result of your hard work, your achievement. It's just that for the next two years, I will still have to trouble you all to continue tightening your belts with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, from Chancellor Zhao Ding of the Capital Secretariat and Privy Councilor Zhang Jun on down, the countless civil and military officials gathered in the Chongwen Institute felt that their year of hard work had not been in vain. Yet, not daring to be negligent, they all bowed in salute in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao Emperor finally stopped putting on airs. He walked directly through the crowd of ministers with his hands behind his back. \"Today, at the Imperial Academy, we will explain matters to the realm. Then this year will truly be without incident… Everyone, work hard for this last day, then go home and have a good New Year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd responded with a roar of assent. They all followed the Zhao Emperor out of the Chongwen Institute, turned through Xuande Gate, set up the imperial procession, and proceeded in a grand and mighty manner along the Imperial Street towards the Imperial Academy… It turned out that today was indeed the day of the last major event of the year, the Imperial Academy political inquiry ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after today, regardless of the gains and losses of the past few years, the major political changes that might come in the next few years, or the victory or defeat of the Northern Expedition, they could finally be temporarily set aside… Because, truly, as the Emperor said, for this one year alone, it could finally be considered without incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to the big shot Linghu Erzhong for the alliance, and to Linghu Erzhong's tenth brother, the big shot Linghu Shizhong, for the alliance. Also thanks to the big shot Qian Shuiting Street for the alliance, and to the big shot Wo Shu Xie De Bu Hao Ni Hai Meng Le for the alliance…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wish everyone a happy New Year!\u003C\u002Fp>",2493,"2026-06-06T07:46:04.529Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","c0c1c45c520999c017450f96bad4767b560a26ff714c0240b20dbb7da492de8e","shao-song-chapter-356","shao-song-chapter-354",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]