I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 373 Zhao Yu's Three Imperial Edicts

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The joys and sorrows of life are not shared by all, even in times of national subjugation.

Unlike Wang Kai, Li Ziqian, and Jin Fushi, who were also traveling to the Song Dynasty, Zheng Zhichang, who had made great contributions in the capture of Kaesong, watched thousands of Song Dynasty ships returning laden with spoils and prisoners. Thinking that his own journey would allow him to meet Zhao Yu, a great emperor who ranked among the greatest in his time and even in history, he was filled with emotion and composed a poem:
A thousand whale-shaped ships pressed down on the vast ocean, and the smoke from the old capital dissipated as supplies were plentiful.

The prisoner in purple robes embarked on a long and sorrowful journey, while his official rank and fame descended upon the Han capital.

Looking afar from the clouds, the imperial palace seems near; on the surging tide, I recall the clang of iron spears.

This journey will not fail my ambition to pacify the barbarians; I intend to offer my praises to the Emperor.

On the largest and safest treasure ships of the Song Dynasty, the royal daughters, clan daughters, and noble daughters of Goryeo were imprisoned.

When the country was destroyed and the family perished, it was undoubtedly a catastrophe for these royal princesses, because they were the spoils of war that many victors wanted to seize.

This is not because their appearance surpasses that of other women, but because their special status easily gives the victors a sense of conquest.

For example, I can talk about which queen or princess I've played with, and it's something to be proud of.

They are, in fact, the most vivid and lifelike medals of honor for men.

It was common knowledge throughout the land that Emperor Zhao Yu had a penchant for taking in women of this kind.

On the night the Jin army occupied the capital city of Gaegyeong, Wanyan Wule immediately sent people to "protect" all the royal family, clan members, and nobles of the Goryeo Dynasty in the capital city. In order to please Zhao Yu, she focused on "protecting" the daughters of the Goryeo royal family, clan members, and nobles.

These concubines, princesses, and wives of the imperial family, who were confined within the high walls of the imperial city and revered by all, enjoying wealth and luxury, had once been granted endless glory and a life of ease by their noble status. However, their very existence also sealed their fate, destined to make them mere playthings of the victor, Zhao Yu.

They were well aware of this.

That evening, Wanyan Wule recited Lady Huarui's poem "On the Fall of the Kingdom" in front of them: "The king raised the surrender flag on the city wall, how could I, a concubine in the deep palace, have known? One hundred and forty thousand men laid down their arms, not one of them was a true man!"

This was not only Wanyan Wule's heartfelt sentiment, but also their shared, heartfelt words.

Many of them undoubtedly resented Wanyan Wule. If the Jurchens hadn't seized control of the Goryeo capital and arrested all the Goryeo royals, clansmen, and nobles, as well as their husbands, fathers, and sons, they and their closest relatives wouldn't have lost their last chance to escape.

On the other hand, anyone who can calm down and think things through will understand that under those circumstances, even if the Jurchens hadn't surrendered the city, someone else would have.

To be honest, it was fortunate that the Jurchens acted swiftly and decisively, preventing the flames of war from breaking out in the capital; otherwise, they might have died in the fighting.

—You must know that when a country is destroyed, the enemy may kill them. To prevent them from being humiliated and to avoid disgracing themselves, their closest men, such as their husbands, their fathers, or even their sons, may also lay a hand on them. There are too many such records in history.

Therefore, some daughters of the Goryeo royal family, the royal clan, and nobles were grateful to Wanyan Wule.

For example, Empress Dowager Wenzhen, née Wang.

Queen Dowager Munjeong (née Wang) was the third queen of King Yu.

Don't be fooled by her title of "Empress Dowager" into thinking she's an old woman. In fact, she's not even twenty yet, or to be precise, she's not even nineteen.

On the very day she married Wang Yu, the Goryeo court received news of the Jurchen invasion. As a result, Wang Yu rushed out to discuss countermeasures even after entering the bridal chamber.

Next, Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang's offensive was unstoppable. Wanyan Zongwang, in particular, would attack any city along the way he could, and if he couldn't, he would simply bypass it. In addition, Goryeo's territory was too small. In just a few days, Wanyan Zongwang reached the gates of Goryeo's capital, Gaegyeong.

During that period, Wang Yu was so busy that he was overwhelmed with work day and night. How could he have time to go to the bridal chamber?
Especially after Wanyan Zongwang led his army to the gates of Kaijing.

Crucially, not long after, under the coercion and enticement of the Jin people, Wang Yu went to the Jin camp, where he was detained and later taken directly to the Jin state, where the emperor was held hostage to command the other lords.

Thus, Empress Dowager Wenzhen, née Wang, was left to live alone in Yongzhen Palace as a virgin, having been widowed for more than two years.

When she first entered the palace, Empress Dowager Wenzhen (née Wang) did not receive the title of empress. Wang Yu had promised her that she would be made empress after entering the palace, but unfortunately, circumstances changed drastically, and he was ultimately unable to fulfill his promise.

When Wang Yu was captured outside the city, he instructed her that when he returned, he would make her the Queen of Goryeo.
A year ago, after Wang Kai ascended the throne, considering her tragic situation, having no children, and because her father, Marquis Jinhan Wang Yu, was the son of King Munjong of Goryeo, she was not only Wang Kai's stepmother but also his aunt (Wang Yu actually married his own cousin). In addition, Wang Yu was still serving as the Grand Minister of Revenue, Grand Minister of Works, Grand Minister of Agriculture, Grand Pillar of State, Grand Duke of Kang, and had a fief of 300 households, giving him considerable influence in the Goryeo Dynasty. He was someone that Yi Jagyeom, Kim Bu-sik, and others wanted to win over. Therefore, he had Wang Kai appoint her as queen on behalf of his father, Wang Yu. Later, he found an opportunity to elevate her and his mother, Queen Sundeok, to the position of Queen Dowager.

But what use is an empty reputation?

She has been living in an empty room since she entered the palace at the age of sixteen, and her heart has been filled with resentment for a long time.

She wanted to escape this suffocating situation, but was firmly bound by feudal shackles, leaving her powerless to resist.

Now that Goryeo has fallen, these shackles have finally disappeared. Even knowing that she might end up as a plaything in Jo Yu's harem, she felt it was better than being alone in an empty room.

It is said that Zhao Yu was extremely fond of women and had thousands of children. She was not afraid at all, but rather looked forward to it.

Later, Wanyan Wule said to them, "People should rely on themselves. I will take you to Song. From now on, your fate is up to you."

Lady Wang whispered to her close friend, Consort Cui, the Princess of Changxin Palace, "I no longer need to remain a widow."

Cui was in shock and confusion when she heard these words and was taken aback.

Then, she saw that there was no sadness in Wang's eyes, only expectation. Although she wanted to scold her for saying such things, she thought again that Wang was only nineteen years old and her wonderful life had just begun. How could she be willing to live like a walking corpse in the cold Goryeo palace? So she gradually understood her thoughts.

Moreover, the current situation is clear: those who are sensible can still enjoy wealth and luxury, while those who are blind to the dangers may face unimaginable consequences.

Thinking of all this, Cui Shi thought again. She was only twenty-five years old and was the concubine of Wang Yu. Her father and brothers were famous ministers in Goryeo. She was not bad in terms of age, appearance, figure, status and family background. She might as well have a chance to be favored.

Then Cui thought, 'I have been married and had sons, after all. It's hard to guarantee that His Majesty the Emperor of the Song Dynasty won't hold a grudge. Hmm… I could join forces with my daughters to serve him. They'll be entering the palace anyway, so perhaps my Cui family might have a chance to revive…'

On another treasure ship, nearly a hundred women from the Incheon Lee clan sat together. These women had one thing in common—they were beautiful.

Regardless of age, they are mostly beauties. Even those who are older still retain their charm. The fine lines around their eyes reveal the gentle grace that comes with age. It is not hard to see that they were once stunningly beautiful in their youth.

Moreover, they were not only beautiful, but also carefully nurtured from a young age, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, poetry and prose.

They are the biggest trump card, the biggest bargaining chip, and the reason for the enduring success of the Lee family in Incheon.

Of the five women in the lead group, four were arguably the most beautiful among the Incheon Lee clan daughters.

The four of them were Li Ziqian's four daughters, namely Wang Yu's two concubines and Wang Kai's two concubines.

Among them, Yi Ja-gyeom's second daughter, Queen Sundeok of Goryeo (for a time, because Wang Yu was afraid of Yi Ja-gyeom's power, he found a pretext to demote her to Princess Sundeok and married his cousin, Queen Munjeong Wang. Not long after Wang Kai ascended the throne, he helped her regain her position as queen, and later she and Queen Munjeong Wang were promoted to Queen Dowager of Goryeo).

Li Ziqian's third daughter was once Wang Kai's queen, but was later replaced by Wanyan Wule.

As for the other leading woman, she was Lady Tuo, the second wife of Li Ziqian, who was the younger sister of Tuo Junjing, a powerful minister in Goryeo.

These women from the Incheon Yi clan felt a mix of emotions as they prepared to enter Jo Yu's harem.

On one hand, the pain of national subjugation and family destruction pierced the hearts of every daughter of the Incheon Yi family like needles. They recalled the family's former glory in Goryeo—the patriarch, Yi Ja-gyeom, once held immense power in the court, with the Empress Dowager and Empress as his family members, always accompanied by a retinue of ceremonial guards, and his residence constantly filled with guests. But now, Goryeo had fallen, the entire family had been captured, and their former prestige had vanished like smoke. They didn't even know if their ancestral hall still existed.

Several of the younger daughters of the Li family, thinking of their relatives who were far away and whose whereabouts were unknown, clutched the hem of their clothes and silently shed tears. Afraid of being seen, they quickly wiped away their tears and only dared to sob secretly in a corner where no one was around.

On the other hand, they couldn't help but think about what it would be like to enter Zhao Yu's harem, harboring the idea of ​​finding a way out for their families.

Empress Dowager Shunde gently stroked the old lotus pattern embroidered on her cuff with her fingertips, thinking to herself: "The Song emperor is not only fond of sensual pleasures, but also likes to take women from various states as concubines. As the Empress Dowager of Goryeo, my status is secure. If I can gain his favor, I can establish myself in the harem. When I find a good opportunity in the future, I can speak on behalf of my Li clan. Even if I cannot protect them all, I should at least preserve some of their bloodline, which may allow the Li clan to re-establish its foundation in the Song Dynasty."

Her younger sister, Princess Yande, who was also the former Queen Wang Kai, nodded in agreement and whispered, "What you say is very true, sister. If we enter the harem of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty together and help each other, and if we can gain His Majesty's favor, our Li family may have a chance to be restored."

She thought again of her young husband, her young nephew, the little man she had raised, and thought to herself, 'If I have the chance, I will rescue him…'

Meanwhile, the daughters of the Incheon Yi clan, who were also thinking about their own future, were all considering how they could win Zhao Yu's favor.

As for Ms. Tuo, she looked at the calm sea outside the cabin and thought about how, although she enjoyed wealth and honor after marrying into the Li family, she lacked the proper married life because of the old man and the young wife. Now that she has a different man, can she be a real woman?

Although these women from fallen kingdoms had different thoughts, their journey thousands of miles to the Song Dynasty and entry into Zhao Yu's harem was ultimately an unchangeable fate.

……

A few days later, all the Goryeo prisoners and their valuables were escorted to the Song Dynasty.

The Song Dynasty held a grand ceremony to announce the arrival of the emperor to the temple.

Wang Kai, representing Goryeo, formally presented the letter of surrender and the imperial seal to Jo Yu.

Based on the advice of his ministers, Zhao Yu abolished Goryeo from the list of kingdoms and renamed it Jidi. The northern part of Goryeo was renamed the Four Commanderies of Han: Lelang Commandery, Xuantu Commandery, Zhenfan Commandery, and Lintun Commandery. This completely incorporated Goryeo into the territory of the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Yu issued three more imperial edicts:
The first imperial edict was that the imperial examinations of the Great Song Dynasty were about to begin, and people from the entire Ji region (including the southern part of Ji region) were allowed to participate in the examinations. This time, there was no distinction between Goryeo nobles, Goryeo commoners, and Goryeo slaves. Anyone who was willing to accept the Great Song system could take the exams. However, there was one condition: all those who took the exams had to come to the Great Song Dynasty to take the exams. Of course, all expenses would be borne by the imperial court.

— Zhao Yu wanted these Goryeo people who would later participate in the governance of Giji to experience the culture of the Song Dynasty, to develop a longing for the Song Dynasty, and ideally, to feel a sense of belonging.

The second imperial edict abolished the Goryeo script (also known as the official script) and mandated that people grow their hair long and wear Song Dynasty clothing.

There's nothing more to say; to truly incorporate a piece of land into the map and make it an inherent part of the territory, the key is to completely abolish the local script and eradicate its cultural roots.

Because written language is the cornerstone of civilization, and culture is the soul of ethnic identity. As long as these two things remain, local people will have a sense of spiritual belonging, and it will be difficult for them to truly submit from the bottom of their hearts.

Therefore, if conquerors cannot destroy the other side's writing system and sever their customs, they will ultimately face only two outcomes: either they will be assimilated by the culture of the conquered, or they will be overthrown and driven out.

In the past, our Central Plains region was successively ruled by the Jurchens and Mongols, but the Chinese character system was never interrupted, and the system of Chinese civilization was deeply rooted in people's hearts. No matter which ethnic group came to power, they were eventually either assimilated by Chinese culture or overthrown by the people. No one has ever been able to completely subjugate the Chinese people, and this is the most obvious proof.

Ultimately, the core of governance is to make the ruled truly submit, both spiritually and emotionally.

There have been no exceptions throughout history.

Looking at those successful long-term rule regimes in history, they invariably first abolished the local script, causing the ruled people to lose their historical memory and sever their cultural roots, and then used the ruler's civilization and education to infiltrate and permeate the region. Only in this way can long-term stability be achieved.

To put it simply, defeating Goryeo and plundering its wealth and resources are easy things to do; but to truly turn Goryeo into a separate territory and completely incorporate it into the Song Dynasty's territory is something that cannot be accomplished in a short period of time.

Of course, Goryeo's official script was also Chinese characters, which saved Jo Yu and his ministers a lot of effort. But those unique Goryeo scripts and cultures still had to be abolished.

The third imperial edict was to abolish all currencies in Jidi and fully implement the currency of the Great Song Dynasty in Jidi.

There are many indicators of ruling a region, but controlling the issuance of currency is undoubtedly the most crucial one.

Once a region controls the issuance of its currency, it is tantamount to controlling its economic lifeline: the pricing rules for local commodity trade will be influenced, the direction of industrial development and the focus of development will be dominated, and even the scale of government fiscal revenue and the allocation of military and defense expenditures will ultimately be controlled by it.

In other words, to some extent, controlling the currency of a region is almost equivalent to actually controlling that land; if one can control the currency of the whole world, then it is equivalent to controlling the whole world.

In fact, King Jo Yu and his ministers formulated numerous supporting policies regarding how to govern Goguryeo. However, all these policies ultimately aimed at the same goal—to completely strip Goguryeo of its original identity and transform it entirely into the territory of the Song Dynasty…

……

(End of this chapter)