I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 167 Establishing a Crown Prince

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After six months of shallow advances, the Fuyan Army, with the help of the Shenji Vanguard Army and the Eastern Auxiliary Army, captured Longzhou of Western Xia and all the fortresses and strongholds near Longzhou. They also pushed the fortresses of the Zhao Song Dynasty to Xiazhou and captured many fortresses near Xiazhou through several battles. Xiazhou fell into the hands of the Zhao Song Dynasty, and now only an opportunity was needed.

Xia Prefecture was one of the birthplaces of the Western Xia regime. During the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang, Tuoba Sigong, the leader of the Dangxiang tribe, was appointed as the military governor of Xia Prefecture. For his meritorious service in suppressing the Huang Chao Rebellion, he was granted the surname Li and enfeoffed as Duke of Xia. His sphere of influence centered on Xia Prefecture, making it the core area of ​​the Dangxiang Qiang vassal state. Later, Li Yuanhao declared himself emperor and established the Western Xia dynasty, and the name "Xia" for the Western Xia dynasty originated from Xia Prefecture.

Xia Prefecture held a strategic geographical position, serving as a crucial barrier against northern and eastern regimes. Located on the southern edge of the Ordos Plateau, its rugged terrain facilitated military defense. Centered on Xia Prefecture, the Tangut people could effectively control the surrounding areas, offering both offensive and defensive advantages. During the long-term confrontation with the Song Dynasty, the existence of Xia Prefecture enabled the Western Xia to maintain a strong military presence on the border, resisting Song attacks.

The Xia Prefecture region boasts fertile land and abundant water and pastures, making it an important agricultural and pastoral production base. Its thriving animal husbandry provided the Western Xia with a large quantity of warhorses, cattle, sheep, and other supplies, supporting the Western Xia's military and economic development. Simultaneously, agricultural production was also relatively prosperous, able to meet the food needs of the local residents and army. Furthermore, Xia Prefecture's location at a crucial transportation hub made it an important link in trade between the Central Plains and the Northwest, resulting in frequent commercial activities that further boosted the Western Xia's economic prosperity.

As the region where the Tangut people lived and developed for a long time, Xia Prefecture nurtured a unique Tangut culture. It is an important place for the inheritance of Tangut traditional customs, language, script, and other cultural elements. Li Yuanhao created the Western Xia script here and issued the shaving-head edict, promoting the cultural characteristics of the Tangut people, making Xia Prefecture the center of Western Xia culture and profoundly influencing its formation and development.

At the same time, with the help of the Shenji Rear Army and the Western Auxiliary Army, Huanqing Army captured important towns such as Zangdihe City and Geniu City. Not only did they successfully penetrate deep into the heart of Western Xia, but they also advanced their fortified villages to Yanzhou. Through several battles, they captured many fortified villages near Yanzhou and will soon completely occupy this area.

Yanzhou is located at a transportation hub connecting seven counties in four provinces: Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia. It is described as "connecting Yuyan to the east, Gansu and Liangzhou to the west, Huanqing to the south, and the desert to the north. With its vast territory and long borders, it is a vital fortress in Shaanxi." It was an important hub connecting various regions of Western Xia and played a key role in troop movements and material transportation.

Meanwhile, Yanzhou, nestled against mountains to the south and bordering plains to the north, was well-suited for large-scale military operations. It served as a crucial eastern barrier for Western Xia, capable of defending against attacks from external forces such as the Song Dynasty and protecting the core region of Western Xia.

Furthermore, Yanzhou possesses salt lakes, a major production area for Qingbai salt. The Western Xia government monopolized salt production, and salt revenue was a vital source of income for the Western Xia treasury, providing a crucial material foundation for its economic development and military construction. If the Song Dynasty could seize the salt lakes, it could increase its annual salt revenue by at least 700,000 strings of cash.

At the same time, Lü Huiqing sent Wang Hou to lead the main force of the Xihe Army, the right wing of the Shenji Army, and the Beifu Army across the Yellow River to attack the direction of Xiliang Prefecture.

As a result, Wang Hou's troops encountered the elite troops of Li Chage, the Prince of Jin of Western Xia, and the two sides fought a tough battle outside Xiliang Prefecture.

Fortunately, the Divine Machine Right Army was strong enough, and Wang Hou brought a large number of troops with him this time.

Ultimately, the Song army decisively defeated the Xia army in a bloody battle, capturing Liangzhou, a key town of Western Xia, and outmaneuvering Western Xia from the rear.

At the same time, Zhang Jie ordered General Zhe Keshi to lead an army of 200,000, including the Jingyuan Army, the Shenji Central Army, and the Southern Auxiliary Army, to attack Western Xia again, starting from Xiaoguan Pass. After several fierce battles, the Song army achieved a great victory, successively capturing Yonghe Village and Geta City. Near Hengshan, they also severely damaged the main force of Western Xia, seizing important horse-breeding grounds and troop supply areas. The Song army advanced towards Xingqing Prefecture, the capital of Western Xia, causing great shock throughout the country.

This was the Song army's greatest victory since the start of the Song-Xia War, bringing them one step closer to completely annihilating Western Xia.

The Western Xia Dynasty is in grave danger!

Li Qianshun sensed that things were going badly. On the one hand, he had no choice but to bow down to the Zhao Song Dynasty, pay tribute, and try to end the war. On the other hand, he continued to send people to the Liao Dynasty to seek marriage and alliance, and for the first time expressed his willingness to establish a nephew-uncle relationship between Liao and Xia.

In fact, as early as the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Shengzong of Liao, Li Jiqian, the founding emperor of Western Xia, submitted to the Liao Dynasty. Emperor Shengzong married Princess Yicheng, a member of the Liao imperial family, to Li Jiqian and conferred upon him the title of King of Xia. Thereafter, Liao and Western Xia maintained a relatively close relationship, with certain exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, and culture, gradually forming a relationship similar to that of uncle and nephew.

Prior to this, the rulers of Western Xia had only tacitly accepted this relationship without explicitly defining this unequal relationship, which was characterized by subordination and humiliation.

Now that Western Xia is facing a life-or-death crisis, Li Qianshun can no longer care about saving face and simply confirms the uncle-nephew relationship.

In addition, Li Qianshun presented Yelü Yanxi with a treasure tent. This was a tent made of the finest animal hides, covered with jewels, warm in winter and cool in summer, both valuable and practical, especially for Yelü Yanxi, who loved hunting.

really!

After Li Qianshun did this, Yelü Yanxi's attitude softened.

At the same time, Xiao Sese and a group of loyal and capable ministers in the court took the opportunity to analyze for Yelü Yanxi the relationship of mutual dependence.

Therefore, Yelü Yanxi made up his mind to marry Yelü Nanxian to Li Qianshun, forming an alliance between uncle and nephew with Western Xia. At the same time, he deployed 300,000 troops at the intersection of Song, Liao and Xia in Yundi, making it appear as if he was going to attack the Zhao Song Dynasty or send troops to Western Xia to reinforce them, thus showing support for Western Xia.

On the other hand, Yelü Yanxi claimed that he would personally lead an army of 700,000 to the south to attack the Song Dynasty.

Yelü Yanxi then sent envoys to Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, to force Zhao Yu to stop attacking the Western Xia and to return the Western Xia territory he had conquered to Li Qianshun.

Faced with the Liao Dynasty's biased actions, Zhao Yu appointed Zeng Zhao, the Pacification Commissioner of Hedong Road and Prefect of Taiyuan, as the Hedong Military Commissioner, Zhang Yun as the Commander-in-Chief, and Zhe Kexing as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, to lead the Hedong Army and the prefectural and state armies to defend against the Liao Army.

Zhao Yu then withdrew the Shenji Vanguard Army, Shenji Rear Army, Shenji Right Army, as well as the Eastern Auxiliary Army, Northern Auxiliary Army, and Western Auxiliary Army, indicating that he intended to personally lead the expedition and fight Yelü Yanxi to the death.

Therefore, Zhao Yu even resolutely issued an imperial edict establishing a crown prince:
Since I ascended the throne by the mandate of Heaven, I have worked tirelessly day and night, worrying about countless affairs, wishing only for peace throughout the land, for the stability of the nation, and for my descendants to continue the dynasty for generations to come.

Now the Liao emperor is threatening our Great Song with his personal expedition. Why should I be afraid? I will personally lead the expedition to fight back and not let the barbarians laugh at our Great Song for having no one to fight.

To be on the safe side, and because the position of crown prince is related to the foundation of the country and cannot remain vacant for long, a crown prince was established.

Of all my sons, Zhao Shou is the most legitimate.

To consolidate the foundation of the nation, reassure the people, follow the teachings of our ancestors, and fulfill the hopes of the world, I hereby issue this decree to establish my eldest son, Zhao Shou, as Crown Prince, to enter the Eastern Palace. The Ministry of Rites is hereby ordered to select an auspicious day to hold the investiture ceremony, and all ceremonies must be meticulously prepared.

Announce it to the world, and the envoys will hear about it.

August, the day of Wushen in the second year of Hongwu reign of the Great Song Dynasty.

Although everyone knew that Jeong Hyeon-suk had given birth to Zhao Yu's eldest son and that he was very likely to become the crown prince, to be honest, no one expected that Zhao Yu would appoint him as crown prince so quickly.

In the secret room of Zhang Chun's residence, five pregnant women—Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Ye Shiyun, Ma Xiaojiao, and Yuan Qingcheng—were lying on a row of five rocking chairs.

Zhang Chun couldn't help but say sourly, "It's good that the Empress gave birth to a son. He became the Crown Prince before he was even out of his swaddling clothes. If Zhao Yu leads the army in person this time, Empress Zheng will probably have to rule from behind the curtain."

Ye Shiyun said from the side, "You should say less. After Zhao Yu leaves, we will all fall into Empress Zheng's hands. At that time, Zhao Yu will no longer protect us. Don't let your foul mouth ruin us."

Zhang Chun wanted to say, 'I'm not the kind of person who lacks discretion; would I say such things? Besides, at that time, Empress Zheng had replaced Zhao Yu in power. I was too busy currying favor with her to say anything careless. Who are you looking down on?'

But Zhang Chun swallowed the words back down.

After the last falling out, Zhang Chun has fully realized that some things really can't be said carelessly, even to Li Lin, Ye Shiyun, Ma Xiaojiao, and Yuan Qingcheng. After all, you can't see into someone's heart, and they aren't entirely on the same page as her.

So Zhang Chun said, "You're right. I really need to control myself. After all, Empress Zheng will be the empress in name and in fact in the future. If something happens to Zhao Yu during his personal campaign, she will be the supreme ruler of the Song Dynasty. At that time, if we want to achieve anything, we will have to try to please her."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Qingcheng's face immediately darkened. She bluntly said, "Don't talk nonsense. I don't want my son to be a posthumous child." Zhang Chunxin said, "Oh no, they've inserted it into Qingcheng's lung tube."

In response, Zhang Chun couldn't help but feel nostalgic for the days when she could say whatever she wanted. "Those were the good old days; whatever I said, they had to listen!"

Unfortunately, Yuan Qingcheng has already increased the overall grain production of the Zhao Song Dynasty by 20-30%, and has also cultivated a variety of fruits and vegetables to enrich the diet of people in this era. Crucially, his hybrid rice has made some progress.

Yuan Qingcheng is almost deified; she's far superior to Zhang Chun, who never even became empress.

Over there, Ye Shiyun also said, "You can't just say things like that. Don't blame me for not reminding you. If your words come true and something really happens to Zhao Yu, my child and I will have no future. I will never forgive you!"

Ma Xiaojiao chimed in, "Me too."

'I can't afford to offend either of them now.'

Not to mention that "Ye Shiyun's Medical Classic" saved countless lives, the forceps she "invented" alone have saved countless mothers and newborns from danger, greatly improving the maternal and infant survival rate in the Song Dynasty, earning her the reputation of "living bodhisattva" among the people.

It has even evolved to the point that whenever someone gives birth, they will bring out Ye Shiyun's portrait and kowtow three times and nine times, begging Ye Shiyun to bless the mother and child with a safe delivery.

As for Ma Xiaojiao?
Her inventions, such as the improved spinning machine, efficient irrigation tools, and the amazing preliminary models of the steam engine and electric motor, not only greatly promoted the industrial and agricultural development of the Song Dynasty, but also brought about a qualitative leap in the quality of life of the people of the Song Dynasty.

Moreover, Zhang Chun and Ye Shiyun had argued.

Zhang Chun believed that after Zhao Yu defeated the Western Xia, he should begin land reform, which would involve curbing land annexation and redistributing land ownership.

Ye Shiyun, however, did not think so. She believed that as long as they could find a way to implement the "officials and gentry pay taxes together", they should not consider redistributing the land.

Ye Shiyun's reasoning was that in this feudal society, land was important mainly because agricultural productivity was insufficient, and farmers needed to rely closely on the land to make a living. With Yuan Qingcheng's agricultural reforms and Ma Xiaojiao's invention of tools to improve production efficiency, agricultural productivity would definitely be greatly improved.

In this way, we won't need as many people or as much land to support the existing population.

Once the land becomes available, it can be used to grow cotton and other things that improve people's livelihoods.

The large amount of freed-up labor can then be used to develop industry.

Once farmers have other options, those who continue to engage in agriculture will see their treatment improve.

In this way, the problem of land annexation will naturally be alleviated, and may even collapse on its own.

After all, when agriculture is no longer the sole or primary source of livelihood, people's attachment to and competition for land will naturally diminish.

Zhang Chun felt that Ye Shiyun's words made a lot of sense.

Moreover, the deeply ingrained aristocratic and clan-based mentality of feudal society could not be eradicated overnight. Forcibly implementing land reform would only trigger severe social unrest and might even drag the country into civil war. A more prudent and effective strategy was to implement a system of "officials and gentry paying taxes together," thereby reducing the burden on the people, increasing national revenue, and gradually weakening the power of high-ranking officials, noble families, and wealthy clans, thus enabling a more equitable distribution of social wealth and land resources.

"Land reform is far-reaching, and the slightest misstep could offend too many vested interests. Even if it were suppressed, it would shake the very foundations of our Great Song Dynasty. The 'Equal Grain Payment by Officials and Gentry' policy, on the other hand, is relatively moderate. It demonstrates the court's impartiality and can gradually dismantle the privileged class, making it the best choice at present."

'And if an industrial revolution were to occur, the conflicts over land would undoubtedly be reduced considerably.'

Having figured all this out, Zhang Chun could easily see how important Ma Xiaojiao was.

'Jiaojiao's inventions were not merely technological innovations, but also had the potential to reshape the entire social structure of the Song Dynasty. If Jiaojiao's steam engine and electric motor models could be widely applied, it would mark the Song Dynasty's formal entry into the threshold of industrialization, and a completely new era would begin.'

Looking at it this way, the only one Zhang Chun can compare to is Li Lin.

But Zhang Chun didn't dare to complain to Li Lin.

Zhang Chun had a feeling that they had returned to their previous life; 'It seems like I've become the lowest-ranking among us again.'

Zhang Chun looked at Li Lin, the only one she might challenge: "Sister Lin, why aren't you saying anything?"

Li Lin said listlessly, "I'm afraid my pregnancy is ill-timed and I won't be able to go to war with Zhao Yu."

"?"

Zhang Chun immediately realized what was going on and hurriedly asked, "Did Zhao Yu agree to take you to fight against the Liao Kingdom?"

Li Lin said with some concern, "If I weren't pregnant, he would definitely take me with him. We've said that before, and he also appreciates my insights on military matters. But in my current condition, I can't ride a horse. If we encounter any unexpected situations on the battlefield, I might hold him back."

Ma Xiaojiao asked from the side, "Sister Lin, you can ride horses? When did you learn?"

Li Lin casually said, "I knew how to ride in my previous life. I played polo a few times with Zhao Yu at Mutuogang before, and I found that I hadn't forgotten."

"No, how come we didn't know about this?" Ye Shiyun asked.

“I’m with Zhao Yu every day, so it’s normal that things will happen that you don’t know about,” Li Lin said matter-of-factly.

“Isn’t Chun Chun the same? She helps Zhao Yu review memorials every day, so there must be things that happen that you don’t know about, right, Chun Chun?” Li Lin said again.

Hearing Li Lin say that, Zhang Chun felt a little better.

Just as Li Lin said, although they were not doing so well, they were able to stay by Zhao Yu's side, which was something that Ma Xiaojiao, Yuan Qingcheng, and even that lazybones Ye Shiyun could not compare to.

Crucially, inspired by Li Lin, Zhang Chun's eyes lit up. She thought, 'If Zhao Yu can take Li Lin with him on his personal military campaign, he can take me too. I can help him process the memorials.'

Thinking about it, Zhang Chun felt a little excited. 'It's been over three years since I transmigrated, and I haven't even left the palace yet! This is an opportunity!'

……

(End of this chapter)