Chapter 1 "Heard you were frightened by朕 last time?"

After removing the twelve-symbol imperial robe and changing back into everyday cotton clothes, Zhao Jiu, exhausted from a long day, rested for a while. He rose in the evening and had a light meal in the permanent military camp. After only a bowl of porridge, he had it taken away by his personal guards. Then, he looked at a notebook he had written himself, and while reading it, he suddenly spoke, not knowing who he was talking to.

"Absolutely not," Yang Yizhong, standing inside the door, immediately turned around and bowed, not feigning ignorance of which incident was being referred to.

"If there was no such thing, then why did you secretly dismiss the maids?" Zhao Jiu continued flipping through his notebook, not even raising his head. "And you didn't dare to send too many at once, dismissing three people over half a month, and giving each of them five strings of cash..."

"Your subject..."

"朕 doesn't blame you. You didn't know it that day, but haven't you understood it these past few days? What 朕 says must be done has nothing to do with you... Just asking casually, you misunderstood."

"Your subject understands."

"You understand shit?" Zhao Jiu didn't even raise his head. "If you really understood, you would know that some things, 朕 can only say to you... Who else outside of you would know that 朕 is actually afraid of personally managing the state affairs? Who else outside of you would know that 朕 has actually been avoiding those imperial relatives and nobles?"

"..."

"Why aren't you talking?"

"Your Majesty is still Your Majesty. Like at Yao Mountain, Your Majesty drew the bow and shot an arrow that missed, but that didn't stop Your Majesty from raising a hand and shooting down an eagle. So-called fear and avoidance are only temporary. Once that step is taken, great success will surely follow."

"And then?"

"And then, your subject is merely a fortunate subject, receiving grace to be ranked in the central government, and to control intelligence and the Imperial Guard, which is already a prominent position I wouldn't dare dream of... I should be more careful and restrained."

"A bit like Hu Quan, who wouldn't trade his editor position for a vice minister position?"

"Roughly, but..."

"But Hu Quan is much freer than you. You are like accompanying a tiger, is that what you mean?"

"..."

"Want to be sent out?" Zhao Jiu finally looked up. "If you want to be sent out, you can go to Han Shizhong or Zhang Jun's place as a deputy commander, or even be a prefect and transfer to a civil position..."

"..."

"How could 朕 possibly let you be sent out?" Zhao Jiu continued to chuckle. "If 朕 let you be sent out, 朕 wouldn't even have an easy way to find the *Renwang Huguo Jing* (Sutra of Humane Kings)."

Yang Yizhong remained silent.

"Almost done," Zhao Jiu reviewed the notes in his hand and finally stood up. "Have them all come to the central military tent to see 朕!"

Yang Yizhong bowed and obeyed, but hesitated before leaving. "Does Your Majesty want to change into the twelve-symbol imperial robe?"

"Change into what?" Zhao Jiu, already standing, shook his head repeatedly. "The old clothes of the Emperor of the Supreme Daoist Lord, if this wasn't the only one, 朕 wouldn't want to wear it out at all..."

As he said this, seeing the other party leave, Zhao Jiu hesitated, then took the notebook in his hand again, and then walked out grandly.

Outside the residence, it was already evening, the autumn cicadas chirping non-stop, and the setting sun had not yet faded. Zhao Jiu watched countless civil and military officials, nobles, Buddhist and Taoist dignitaries, and wealthy merchants enter the central military tent with their own thoughts... It was said to be a tent, but it had long been made permanent, a relatively crude but practical brick and wood structure hall... He waited for a while, until Yang Yizhong returned, before arriving here under the escort of the Imperial Guard.

At this time, although they had only gathered together for a moment, the officials, nobles, monks, Taoists, merchants, and commoners in the hall were already extremely uncomfortable.

Moreover, how could these people be comfortable with each other?

The regular officials who arrived today were all members of the Secret Pavilion. These people were the true superiors of the empire, and they looked at the others as if they were chickens and ducks. They stood upright and looked around, extremely arrogant. Among the nobles, monks, and Taoists, there were also different ranks. Those at the top, such as the two imperial fathers-in-law and a few idle scholars who had served as regular officials, were naturally at ease. Those at the bottom, such as the monks and Taoists who had just arrived, were uneasy, so they talked non-stop, trying to glean some information. As for the few wealthy merchants who everyone did not expect to appear here, their performance was the most consistent... These people, without anyone reminding them, obediently went to the most remote corners, each looking like a wooden chicken, not daring to make a sound.

On the other hand, the military generals in the camp were all beaming, talking to the monks and Taoists about the Five Vajra Mighty Bodhisattvas, the Five Thousand Great Divine Kings, the Twenty-Eight Mansions descending to earth, and the Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Star Lords accompanying the emperor, as if they knew about the monks' words in the afternoon and the Taoist temples' counterattack next door, and were now arguing about the settings.

Of course, everything became silent as Zhao, the official who had been the center of attention today, entered the central military hall. Everyone became solemn, and many monks, Taoists, and wealthy merchants who were seeing the Emperor for the first time did not know where to put their hands. Some even knelt down with a thud... but no one laughed.

However, Zhao, the official, did not look at the chaotic scene around him, but sat upright behind the military desk in the front with a stitched notebook in his arms. At the same time, nearly a hundred armored Imperial Guards, led by Yang Yizhong and Liu Yan, poured in from both sides, controlling the hall and lighting the countless braziers and lamps on both sides of the hall.

The sudden brightness made everyone instinctively awe-stricken.

Zhao, the official, looked around and, seeing the dense crowd, sneered. "Speaking of which, since 朕 started from the Huai River, 朕 has only lit a candle in the bedroom, and was laughed at by the Empress Dowager... Some people in the private sector also say that 朕 openly talks about utilitarianism, but is actually putting on a moral pretense. But today, suddenly being so extravagant, 朕 wonders if someone will say that even 朕's morals are fake."

Several chief ministers took the lead in offering flattering smiles, and then the Privy Councilor Zhang Jun stepped forward and said with a bow, "Your Majesty has always admired Wang Shu Wang (Wang Anshi). Little do they know that Wang Shu Wang's utilitarianism is also based on righteousness. How can morality and utilitarianism be contradictory?"

Zhao Jiu nodded slightly, and the chief ministers also nodded together. Even Li Guang had no reaction to this statement. However, among the crowd offering flattering smiles below, many people were already on alert.

"Today, 朕 has gathered everyone here because it is a rare grand sacrifice, so it would be good to take this opportunity to explain two things," Zhao Jiu said as the people below gradually quieted down. "The first thing is the establishment of the Public Pavilion; the second thing is to take advantage of the presence of everyone from the Public Pavilion and the Secret Pavilion to talk about the court's major policies and guidelines for the next few years... Minister Lü."

Lü Haowen was obviously prepared, and immediately stepped forward to explain the establishment of the Public Pavilion in general terms, which had been discussed long ago.

As the Duke Yansheng and his nephew, Han Xiaozhou, the head of the Plum Blossom Han family, the two imperial fathers-in-law, Zhao, the imperial uncle whose health had always been poor, the great scholar Hu Anguo, the nineteen abbots and Taoist masters selected this time, and some wealthy merchants who were unexpectedly but actually had formed countless kinship relationships with the Zhao family in the past century, and nominally were no longer merchants, as well as old officials such as Wang Shuzhan who were living in seclusion at home, stepped forward to express their gratitude one by one, the atmosphere gradually became peaceful.

Because everything sounded and looked like an act of bestowing favors after a grand sacrifice in the past. It was nothing more than this capricious official, in order to save trouble, throwing away all the previous practices and changing to a new way of playing... Moreover, many people here had paid money, so they were justified and confident.

Of course, those wealthy merchants who were nominally not merchants still aroused dissatisfaction in everyone's hearts. Only Wu, one of the two imperial fathers-in-law, and the imperial concubine Wu, whose origins were obvious, were difficult for everyone to say much about... Moreover, wasn't there a precedent of Wang Lun?

Therefore, after a series of awards, some people were indifferent and calm, some people were obviously a little disappointed, and some people seemed particularly excited... However, as Minister Lü declared that he would serve as the chief of the Public Pavilion, and then the Public Pavilion's deliberations would go directly to the Imperial Presence and the Department of State Affairs, the atmosphere still reached a predetermined small climax.

After all, there was still a bit of political status and theoretically existing political power... For many people who had never been exposed to political power before, and for people who craved political power to a certain extent, how could they not be happy?

Thus, the first matter ended so pleasantly amidst the officials' cold indifference and the military officers' lack of concern.

Then, there was the second matter... the so-called talk about major policies and guidelines.

"In the next few years, what should we do to ensure the promotion of the Northern Expedition within a few years?" Zhao, the official, flipped through his notebook and waved his hand in invitation. "Everyone present today can speak freely!"

There was silence below... Although that was said, the current chancellors, ministers, and vice ministers were all present. If they didn't speak, would they let the Duke Yansheng speak?

"Your Majesty!" As expected, Zhao Ding, the Prime Minister of the Department of State Affairs, stepped forward after a moment of contemplation. "The Northern Expedition is certain, but to mobilize a large army, there must be well-governed policies. And if we talk about the fundamentals of governance, one can follow the root, and the other can investigate the harm... Following the root means starting from the governance itself, and seeing what else can be done in terms of personnel, finance, laws, sacred studies, engineering, and military preparations; and investigating the harm means starting from the current problems and seeing how to solve them."

"Please elaborate, Prime Minister," Zhao Jiu blurted out.

At this time, many members of the Public Pavilion were secretly complaining in their hearts, feeling that they had come today to serve as a foil... Otherwise, how could this be? If the Emperor and the chief ministers had not communicated well, that would be nonsense!

Of course, what matter wouldn't require the Emperor and the chief ministers to communicate well?

Even the White Horse Shaoxing incident in the past, it was said that Zhao, the official, had reached an agreement with the chief ministers and the Censor-in-chief beforehand.

"Personnel, in fact, the practice of matching names with reality that Your Majesty is currently promoting is an excellent measure, which can be said to sweep away the various chaotic styles of official positions since the Five Dynasties, and also correspondingly improve efficiency." Zhao Ding stood tall and composed, facing each other calmly. Rather than discussing the problem, it was more like reporting on his duties together with Zhao, the official, and the several chief ministers. "As for laws, the court is now establishing a new *Huang Song Xing Tong* (Penal Code of the Song Dynasty), focusing on leniency, so as to appease the people's hearts..."

"Wait," Zhao Jiu said thoughtfully. "What about the matter that 朕 mentioned to you a few days ago?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Zhao Ding replied calmly. "Your subjects and the chief ministers first discussed it in front of the Emperor, then handed it over to the Secret Pavilion for public discussion, and then to the Ministry of Justice to formulate detailed rules. It has already been written, waiting to be reviewed by Your Majesty... But in any case, as Your Majesty proposed, we will abolish all the lowly slaves and servants, and change them to hired servants; we will abolish the reforms of Emperor Zhenzong, and any criminal matters involving the master and the hired servants will be punished according to the laws for good people; as for the matter of pawning wives, your subjects also believe that this matter violates human ethics, but such things cannot be cut off with one knife. Your subjects have set a three-year deadline, starting from the Yuan Day (New Year's Day) three years later, no more pawning or pledging of wives will be allowed; as for the release of some official prostitutes, Your Majesty issued an imperial decree earlier this month to handle it as a special case, so there is no need to say more."

Zhao Jiu nodded slowly.

In fact, these were the many basic-level or most direct incidents triggered by the prostitute incident that day... The conclusion of Yang Yizhong's investigation was very clear: it was meaningless to simply discuss prostitutes. The key was the liberation of people and the prevention of economic relations from endangering the basic human rights of the people at the bottom.

You must know that when the Song Dynasty was founded, a major progress was to replace the lowly slaves and servants of the previous Tang Dynasty with hired servants. The so-called lowly slaves and servants in the Tang Dynasty were like cattle and horses to their masters, while hired slaves were good people temporarily working for the master. The two sides were in an economic employment relationship, not involving basic personal ownership.

Of course, from the actual legal provisions and real-world circumstances, there were still a considerable number of lowly slaves and servants in existence. In other words, the liberation of people in the Great Song Dynasty was not thorough.

Not only that, with the passage of time, this actually existing relationship between good and lowly people still had the opposite effect on the law. During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, there were legal revisions such as reducing the master's crime by one degree in the event of a dispute between the master and the slave... This was a standard reversal of historical progress.

Moreover, this reversal was becoming more and more intense. By the present time, many articles had appeared that were detrimental to servants, and the folk customs were also becoming more and more unfavorable to slaves. Even in another time and space, after the Southern Song Dynasty stabilized, it took a big step forward in imposing various personal restrictions on slaves, to some extent restoring the system of good and lowly people... Therefore, Zhao Jiu's sigh and vigilance were not groundless.

Since he thought of this problem, he naturally persuaded the chief ministers to reverse this basic problem in the name of winning over people's hearts and alleviating the pressure on the bottom.

It was considered a complete abolition of the system of good and lowly people, guaranteeing the basic human rights of a considerable part of the people at the bottom.

As for the matter of pawning wives, which violated human ethics, there was no need to say more. It was naturally justified to abolish it together at this time.

Frankly speaking, this series of events had in fact affected the interests of the powerful, wealthy merchants, and even the monks and Taoists. But as the saying goes, what were you compared to the Emperor, the officials, and the army?

The people below, even if they had thoughts, only felt that they were going to be unlucky today. Who cared about this little thing?

"As for sacred studies, there is no need to say more. Your Majesty has reconciled Neo-Confucianism and New Learning, and promoted Original Learning. The alternation of the old and the new is naturally a scene of vigor." Zhao Ding continued to introduce after seeing Zhao Jiu nod. "In addition, Your Majesty's establishment of the Xiangguo Temple Artillery Workshop, the reorganization of the Military Equipment Supervisor, and the establishment of the Wheelboat Workshop are all timely measures. And militarily, there is no need to say more. Everyone knows it."

"So, 朕 and the various ministers have still done many things?" Zhao Jiu asked with a smile, taking his eyes off the notebook.

As soon as these words came out, many nobles below who were qualified to speak had already couldn't help but prepare to come up and flatter, while the Censor-in-chief Li Guang instinctively frowned, but stood solemnly and did not express any opinion.

However, seeing Li Guang standing still, the Privy Councilor Zhang Jun, who had already stepped forward, had no choice but to bow solemnly: "Your Majesty, be careful with your words! Since ancient times, one who travels a hundred *li* is only halfway there at ninety. Moreover, the country has not even completed half of its journey, so how can we be complacent?"

The nobles who were about to move immediately became solemn. Li Guang looked at Zhang Jun as if he had eaten a fly, while more ministers immediately realized that today's events would not be so simple... The Emperor and the chief ministers, and perhaps even the Censor-in-chief, had already reached a consensus on something to some extent, but it was obviously a major matter that required everyone here to endorse it.

Considering that this was a military camp, where the Emperor's execution power was the strongest; that it was a sacrificial ceremony, when the Emperor's authority was at its peak, and yet it was still necessary to do this, then it was probably another major event about to happen.

"Privy Councilor Zhang is right," Zhao Jiu said calmly. "What Prime Minister Zhao just said was a discussion of following the root, but we have not yet heard the words of investigating the harm..."

"Your Majesty," Liu Ji, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Department of State Affairs, suddenly stepped forward half a step and said with a wry smile. "The words of investigating the harm are actually extremely simple."

"Just say it."

"To let Your Majesty know," Chen Gui, the Vice Military Commissioner, who had stood up at some point, stroked his beard and sighed. "If we investigate the harm, according to the first hundred years of this dynasty, there has long been a fixed saying, which is nothing more than the three excesses... Excess troops, excess officials, and excess expenses... But times have changed. The Jingkang Incident, although the country's traditions remain, the Emperor's restoration is like building anew. The matter of the three excesses has been basically abandoned. But although the country has no three excesses, it has other drawbacks. One is the loss of territory in the Two Rivers, and the other is that Henan, Huaibei, and Jingdong Guanxi have also suffered from war. Therefore, this dynasty still has difficulties in terms of insufficient military strength and insufficient finances... Not to mention being poor and weak, it is still both poor and weak."

Li Guang reluctantly stepped forward, but said coldly, "Is it just finances? Shouldn't we also win over people's hearts?"

"People's hearts must indeed be won over," Zhao Ding finally interjected again. "But the greatest place for people's hearts is not elsewhere, but precisely in order to support the army and increase wealth, the increased taxes in the southeast, the increased levies in Jingxiang, and the advance payment of taxes in Sichuan. Eight hundred out of a thousand people's hearts are in this! So, in the end, it is still financial stress... If finances were sufficient, why would we have to set the quota of the Imperial Guard at 200,000 this large amount? Wouldn't it be better to support 300,000 troops? If finances were sufficient, why would the people in the south have to work so hard and remove the newly added taxes? If finances were sufficient, why would we have to issue national debt every time winter comes? If finances were sufficient, how could we have needed private donations to redeem the refugees in Hebei last time, and how could the Emperor have to sell palace buildings to redeem the official prostitutes this time? If finances were sufficient, how could we have such a grand ceremony, allowing the Emperor to wear the old imperial robe of the Emperor of the Supreme Daoist Lord, while the civil and military officials can only wear official robes for the sacrifice?! To investigate the harm at this time, saying too much, ten thousand is not too little, but to combine it into one word, it is money!"

The chief ministers sang in harmony, speaking so thoroughly that the wealthy merchants below were already cold at heart... Were they going to be targeted?

Even the monks and Taoists were mostly apprehensive.

However, the other civil and military officials, and even some nobles, were eager to try... If the Emperor and the chief ministers meant this, then they had no reason not to cooperate, right?

In fact, even without starting from dark psychology, truly for the sake of the country and the people, many scholar-officials in their positions could not help but be eager to plan for their government... Saying a thousand words and ten thousand words, it was wrong for the Emperor and the chief ministers to launch a surprise attack, but the problem was nakedly obvious, which was money.

"Your Majesty!" Lin Qi, the Minister of Revenue, stepped forward and earnestly advised. "Your subject has previously pondered over the finances... Now the financial revenue has reached its limit, and to increase it further would only cause the people to seethe; the profits from the exclusive operation of salt, iron, tea, wine, alum, and tin, although there is still room for improvement, but it is impossible to actively raise prices and destroy the hearts of the people in the cities, but should slowly wait for them to enrich themselves; in addition, if Jingdong is recovered and can be sincerely managed, an additional million *min* of income within a year or two would be ordinary; and Jingdong has always been developed in maritime trade, with smooth transportation to Goryeo and Japan, which may bring in another million *min*... And in addition, if you want to obtain wealth again, there is nothing more than *jiaozi* (paper money) and national debt."

Everyone was not surprised. In the Song Dynasty, the market economy was developed, and the exclusive operation of maritime trade and some commercial products was very mature. Like Zhao Kai's tea-horse reform in Sichuan, it was more that the court had previously restricted commercial and economic activities in the Sichuan area, which were now being released. However, there was no such situation of suppressed commercial potential in the coastal areas that the court could directly radiate.

For example, during the reign of Emperor Zhezong of Song, a maritime trade reward mechanism was established. Any maritime merchant who paid a lot of taxes would be rewarded with an official position, and things like maritime accident regulations were also established... On the other hand, Zhao Jiu, the time traveler, once allowed a very inadequate magistrate in Nanyang to abolish the ritual of eunuchs seeing off the fleet at sea in the southeast coast, in order to save the country some money.

In a word, Lin Qi's meaning was very clear. Since it was necessary to consider the hearts of the people, taxes could not be increased any further. And as an important part of the Song Dynasty's finances, although there was theoretically still room for squeezing commercial taxes, considering that commercial taxes were also related to the hearts of the people in the cities, which accounted for a large proportion of the Song Dynasty's population, it should not be forced to grow, but should be allowed to slowly recover on its own.

But then again, although waiting for it to slowly recover was the way of a benevolent ruler, was it not currently preparing for war, directly lacking money?

Therefore, Lin Qi simply stated that if he wanted to make quick money and did not want to lose people's hearts any further, then he could only consider national debt and *jiaozi*... This was an inevitable direction.

In fact, Zhao Jiu had rehearsed this statement of Lin Qi once before with the chief ministers. At that time, Liu Ji analyzed it that way, and Li Guang immediately refuted him.

"Your subject believes that what the Minister of Revenue said is superficial and may not be appropriate inside," Chen Kangbo, the President of the Imperial Academy, stepped out of the ranks and publicly refuted. "Although your subject is not good at financial matters, I know some fundamental truths... In the end, the wealth of the world is there, and the field taxes are issued from the fields, and the taxes are levied from the markets, all of which are traceable. And now the court's dilemma lies in the fact that the area north of the Huai River has been affected by the war, and it is necessary to support the army to plan for the north, so we have to increase taxes in the south, so that we have lost a certain number of people's hearts. Therefore, we must not play any tricks on the fields, nor should we play any tricks on the markets. And Goryeo, Japan, Dali, Tibet, and even Arabia are so big, and the annual income from trade cannot suddenly exceed expectations. Then your subject dares to ask Minister Lin, if we want to obtain wealth through national debt and *jiaozi*, there must be a place to obtain it, right?! Who are you preparing to take the money from?"

In the central military hall, which was illuminated like daylight by countless braziers, everyone was in a subtle state for a while. Some were nervous, some were eager to try, some were frightened, and some were thoughtful.

The opening remarks of the chief ministers, even if there was a suspicion of acting in *The Legend of the White Snake*, their high-level words were not problematic in any way. The country did have this financial problem.

And Lin Qi, the Minister of Revenue, who took over this topic due to his duties, his analysis was also not problematic in any way.

Even Chen Kangbo, the young leader of the pro-war faction, who had just been promoted to a regular position, was young and vigorous, and spoke directly and sharply, but he was also equally irrefutable... The logic was there.

So, which money did the Emperor and the chief ministers want to use national debt and *jiaozi* to seize?

"There are always some people in the world who do not engage in production, sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor. In times of national crisis, they are unwilling to contribute a hair. After the national crisis, they are greedy for wealth, seeking wealth, seeking official positions, seeking land, seeking profit," Chen Gongfu, the Minister of Personnel, suddenly walked out of the ranks, but did not look at the Emperor and the chief ministers behind him, but turned around and looked at the people below, and said loudly. "Now that the country is so difficult, every point of financial revenue must be used in the army, so that even the Emperor has to raise fish and plant mulberry trees in the harem. What are they doing, keeping them fat and full?! Are they just performing Buddhist ceremonies and filling the Public Pavilion?!"

"Namo Amitabha."

With the central government officials of the court revealing their true intentions layer by layer like this, Abbot Fahe, who recited a sentence of Buddha in his heart, even felt a little wronged... Wasn't it all good in the afternoon? I said you were a Bodhisattva, you said I was an Arhat, and it turned out like this in the evening?

Did they really want to kill the goose to get the eggs, collect all the land, and confiscate all the floating wealth?

If that was the case, it was no wonder that the people from the Mingdao Palace did not come... Their family had already been thoroughly searched by the Emperor four years ago, and even the golden body of the Taoist ancestor had been scraped.

In fact, not to mention these monks, Taoists, and merchants, hearing such murderous remarks, even the Duke Yansheng and others were somewhat uneasy... Could it be that even the sacrificial fields in Qufu would be confiscated? He hadn't committed any mistakes, right?

At the thought of this, many people instinctively looked at Zhao, the official, in the very center, but this official was just staring at a notebook on the desk in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking.

ps: Routine sacrifice, the sacred and intelligent wolf's new book *Ancient God Breeder*...