I am Emperor Shizu of Song

Chapter 173 Changing the Era Name and Planning the Northern Expedition

The first day of the first lunar month in 1129.

The harsh winter cold had not yet subsided, and the city of Bianjing was shrouded in a desolate and bleak atmosphere.

Everyone in the world already knows that Emperor Zhao Huan will abdicate on this day, and the new emperor Zhao Zicheng will also ascend the throne and change the era name on the same day—at least the people of Henan and Hebei know this, while it may take some time for the news to spread to remote areas.

In theory, the Jin people on the north bank of the Yellow River must have known this, but the Jin state was completely powerless to make any effective disturbances and could only watch as the highest power of the Southern Dynasty was smoothly transferred.

In fact, the Jurchens had tried before, but they failed at first and lost some men. So they didn't dare to be reckless afterward. About seven or eight days earlier, on the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Jurchen garrison and patrol forces in Huazhou, Hebei, carried out a probing armed harassment under the planning of the local garrison commander.

They wanted to cause trouble for Zhao Zicheng, and also to test the strength of the Song army and see if the Song side had become lax in its border defenses because it had focused all its energy on preparing for the coronation.

The probing resulted in a crushing defeat for the Jurchen cavalry, who were routed. The Song army, united in purpose, maintained high morale and tight security for the enthronement ceremony of the Regent Prince Xiu. Any Jurchen attempts to disrupt the proceedings were decisively repelled.

The Jin army did not provide sufficient support to the frontline commanders from the rear, and so the matter was dropped.

Some might wonder: why did the Jurchens in the rear completely ignore and not spare any effort to harass Zhao Zicheng on such a momentous occasion as his ascension to the throne?

The fact is that the power struggle within the Jin dynasty itself happened to be at its most acute stage, leaving them with no time to attend to other matters.

Wanyan Wuqimai's injuries worsened, and he was already unable to get up by the beginning of winter that year.

The harsh winter environment already increases the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and other illnesses. Meanwhile, the Jin dynasty's high command has entered a life-or-death struggle for power.

Wanyan Dan was only eleven years old; in such a turbulent time, it was certainly not his turn to ascend to the throne.

Wanyan Zongpan wanted to take advantage of his status as the eldest son of Wanyan Wuqimai to succeed to the throne, and he even urged his father to announce the imperial edict while he could still speak.

However, Wanyan Wuqimai hesitated. He knew that if he forcibly broke the oath he had made that "after his death, he must return the throne to the line of Emperor Taizu," he would definitely suffer a backlash.

Historically, the reason he ultimately had to pass the throne to Wanyan Dan was because Wanyan Dan was Aguda's eldest grandson, while Aguda's eldest son had already died.

However, Wanyan Dan's youth gives him an excuse not to pass the throne to him, but to continue using the excuse of "when the country has an older ruler" to establish another older one.

Wanyan Zongpan then advised his father: "Since that's the case, why not consider passing the throne to him first, and then have him make a vow that he will definitely pass the throne back to the direct descendants of Emperor Taizu in the future?"

In other words, Wanyan Zongpan's pretext for legitimacy in ascending to the throne was this: it wasn't that Wanyan Zongpan necessarily wanted to be emperor, but rather that his nephew Wanyan Dan was still too young, so he would "temporarily" act as emperor for his nephew for life. He was the uncle, much older than Wanyan Dan, and by the time he passed away, Wanyan Dan would certainly be an adult, at which point he could make him emperor.

Wanyan Zongpan even devised a system of checks and balances: as long as his father passed the throne to him, he could directly declare Wanyan Dan as the crown prince and then ascend the throne. In this way, it would not be considered that the Taizong lineage had violated the oath, but rather that "due to unavoidable practical reasons, the fulfillment of the oath by a generation was delayed."

The problem is that the other sons of the founding emperor's concubines are not stupid.

Everyone knows that Wanyan Wugumai had only been in power for a few years and was unable to penetrate every corner of the Jin Dynasty with imperial power. There were still many forces in the Jin Dynasty that checked and balanced the emperor, so others could still use the "oath made by Emperor Taizong when Emperor Taizu was dying" to force him to return the throne after his death.

But if Wanyan Zongpan were to ascend to the throne again, he would still be young. He could rule for at least several decades, and by then, the opportunity would be lost, and all those who opposed him would surely be eliminated. Who would remember being a "descendant of the founding emperor" then?
Nobody would believe such a vow that is often postponed for decades!
Therefore, Aguda's eldest son by a concubine, Wanyan Zonggan, and fourth son by a concubine, Wanyan Zongbi, decided to unite completely and use force to purge the court of corrupt officials.

Finally, in the twelfth lunar month of that year, on a day when Wanyan Wuqimai was seriously ill and bedridden, Wanyan Zonggan and Wanyan Zongbi, having heard that Wanyan Zongpan had entered the palace to serve his father's medicine and to cut off news from inside and outside the palace, felt that Wanyan Zongpan was definitely going to forge the imperial edict and take action.

Wanyan Zonggan and Wanyan Zongbi, unwilling to sit idly by and await their doom, finally decided to strike first. They surrounded the imperial palace in Yanjing with their troops and launched a surprise attack to purge the court of corrupt officials and kill the treacherous officials who were trying to isolate the emperor from the outside world.

Wanyan Zongpan was shocked and led the imperial guards in a desperate resistance.

The Jurchen elite force, totaling nearly 30,000 men, actually engaged in a fierce civil war within Yanjing city and inside and outside the imperial palace.

After a brutal massacre, thousands of palace guards loyal to Wanyan Zongpan and even Wanyan Wuqimai were killed.

The attacking forces of Wanyan Zonggan and Wanyan Zongbi numbered over 20,000. Although they achieved a complete victory by overwhelming the enemy with superior numbers, they also suffered nearly 2,000 casualties.

The combined number of Jurchen elites killed in battle was well over five thousand, and many more were wounded.

Furthermore, Wanyan Zongpan was accused of forging an imperial edict and plotting a rebellion, and his direct descendants and relatives were also purged. Thousands more members of the royal family, nobles, family members, and servants were killed.

If we include the number of Jurchen people killed, and add them to the soldiers who died in battle before, the total number of deaths has exceeded 10,000.

Don't be put off by the large number; for an internal power struggle for the throne, this number of deaths is perfectly reasonable.

The Jin people had also experienced such great turmoil, which explains why they were powerless to care about Wanyan Zonghan's life or death, nor were they able to send troops to cause trouble for Zhao Zicheng when he ascended the throne.

For now, let the Song and Jin dynasties each mind their own business.

……

While the Jin people were preoccupied with their own troubles, Zhao Zicheng's side had finally reached a point where everything was ready.

On New Year's Eve the day before, Zhao Huan, who had not yet abdicated, finished his last duties as emperor.

Zhao Huan first officially lifted the coffin of his father, who had been lying in state for many days, and prepared to move it to Yong'an Army, where the imperial tombs of the Song Dynasty were located, for burial.

Yong'an Army is the later Gongyi of Zhengzhou, located between Zhengzhou and Luoyang.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, Gongyi was chosen as the location of the imperial mausoleum. This place is located in the middle between Bianliang (Kaifeng) and Luoyang (Luoyang), and it also has a strategic location. It is close to the Beiman Mountain, where Han and Tang emperors were buried in large numbers, and it is located on the easternmost edge of the Beiman Mountain range.

The core area of ​​Beiman Mountain was almost full because so many emperors from previous dynasties had been buried there. The Song Dynasty then moved the burials eastward, reaching the very edge of the mountain range. This situation sometimes makes later generations sigh with regret. If the Song Dynasty hadn't fallen, and subsequent dynasties had continued to establish their capitals in the Heluo region, who knows what open space would still be available on Beiman Mountain a thousand years later.

Before Zhao Ji's coffin was erected, Zhao Huan held a formal ceremony to present the captives. He dragged Wanyan Zonghan, who had been captured for many days, to Zhao Ji's coffin, poured wine as a libation, and publicly dismembered Wanyan Zonghan, as if to avenge the destruction and massacre of Bianjing.

However, during the Song Dynasty, the practice of slow slicing was not yet perfected, and there was no such thing as being sliced ​​for three consecutive days.

To avoid the punishment being delayed until after the New Year, it had to be completed within a day, requiring only 360 cuts.

Even so, the public display of Wanyan Zonghan's execution by slow slicing still attracted countless onlookers, making it arguably the most spectacular execution since the founding of the Song Dynasty.

Although the population of Bianjing once fell below 200,000, after several months of recovery, with many refugees returning from surrounding areas and the addition of imperial troops, there are now more than 300,000 people living in Bianjing.

Of the more than 300,000 people, nearly 300,000 came to watch the execution by slow slicing, accounting for almost 70-80% of the city's population.

It can be said that apart from the elderly who are unable to walk, young children, and people with disabilities, everyone else who could come came.

There were even people who came from surrounding prefectures and counties to witness the spectacle of the Jin general who had captured the capital being slowly sliced ​​to death.

With each cut the executioner made, a cheer erupted from the crowd. In half a day, there were a total of 360 cuts, resulting in 360 rounds of cheers, one after another. Many people's voices became hoarse from shouting, yet they remained enthusiastic, ignoring the freezing weather, and stubbornly watched for half a day.

Fortunately, the large crowds made it easier to stay warm, and the well-ventilated outdoor environment meant there was no need to worry about oxygen deficiency. The imperial court also specially arranged for hundreds of bonfires to be set up on many streets near the state bridge, with soldiers guarding them to prevent any trouble.

After the execution, many people were moved to tears, and Zhao Zicheng's prestige and the people's shared hatred of the enemy reached their peak.

...The next morning, at dawn on New Year's Day, the ceremony for Zhao Huan's abdication and Zhao Zicheng's ascension to the throne was held immediately after Zhao Ji's coffin was lifted.

Since it was a succession by one's own brothers, not an abdication by someone of a different surname, there was no need to build a special high platform.

The abdication ceremony was held in the palace and was not open to the general public, but civil and military officials were required to come and offer their congratulations.

In front of all the officials, Zhao Huan placed the imperial seal on a tray and personally handed it to Zhao Zicheng.

Zhao Zicheng then ascended the steps, sat on the dragon throne, and received the homage of the officials.

After Zhao Huan withdrew, he immediately changed his clothes into the attire of a Taoist hermit and began a period of quiet contemplation, reflecting on and regretting the earlier episode in his life where he fought for power with his father.

After receiving the homage of all the officials, Zhao Zicheng granted the civil and military officials exemption from the formalities. He then had an eunuch read out the imperial edict, changing the era name to Jianyan, with the intention of restoring the lost territories and reclaiming Hebei.

"Now that I have ascended the throne and changed the era name, I should take the responsibility of governing the country as my own. Today, in front of all my officials, I swear that I will lead my generals to recover Hebei, including Yan and Yun, drive out the Tartars, and protect our China."

After the oath, Zhao Zicheng bestowed numerous titles and honors.

He first conferred the title of Empress on Lady Murong, and Lady Wang, Lady Zhang and other concubines were also made Noble Consorts, with several other concubines in addition.

The five-year-old eldest son, Zhao Bocong, was made crown prince (historically, he was adopted by Zhao Gou and renamed Zhao Shen).
The other sons and daughters were also granted the titles of princes and princesses.

Among them, Murong Qiu's biological daughter, who was switched with her concubine Zhang to conceal the truth, also received extra preferential treatment. She received the highest treatment among all the princesses, in order to reassure the Murong sisters.

The rest of the court officials, including civil and military officials, were also placed in key positions in the Three Departments, Six Ministries, and various departments of the Privy Council. Among the civil officials, Zhang Shuye, Li Gang, and others rose to high positions. Chen Guoting, Huyan Qing, Zhao Liangsi, and other civil officials who had previously worked with Zhao Zicheng also received significant promotions.

During Zhao Zicheng's time as a civil official in Liangzhe and Denglai, those core loyalists and old ministers were all placed in important positions in the court, mostly as ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries.

For example, Wei Xian, Zhao Zicheng's former superior in Suzhou and a former vice-prefect of Suzhou, has now been promoted to the Censorate. Zhao Yue, an important colleague of Zhao Zicheng's from Hangzhou, has also been promoted to the Ministry of Justice.

As for military generals, Yue Fei was exceptionally granted the title of Prince Xiang by Zhao Zicheng because of his previous merits in directly attacking the capital and welcoming back the two emperors.

Liu Guangshi, Han Shizhong, and other loyal military generals who had previously made great contributions to the recovery of lost territories were also temporarily granted the title of Duke of the Founding State, and there is still room for them to be promoted if they make further great contributions in the future.

Generals like Guan Sheng, Yang Zhi, Lin Chong, and Huyan Zhuo, who had served him for many years, all received titles ranging from Duke of the Founding State to Marquis of the Founding State based on their actual military achievements. Their military leadership positions were also promoted. In reality, they each obtained the authority to command troops ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 men, or as few as 10,000 to 20,000 men.

After all the bestowals and rewards were completed, Zhao Zicheng announced a general amnesty and granted officials in the capital a holiday, which was celebrated by all.

From the first day of the first lunar month to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth, court officials usually have at least five days of rest and vacation. This time, they were given a half-month break from the first to the fifteenth of the first lunar month, with each department only having officials on duty in rotation to handle necessary emergencies.

Zhao Zicheng was not in a hurry to implement any governing measures, so he let everyone have a peaceful two weeks.

Only after the Lantern Festival did they begin to discuss the specific timetable for the Northern Expedition.

When the court assembly began, most of the civil officials were somewhat worried, fearing that the new emperor was ambitious and eager for quick success.

But no one believed they could truly withstand the emperor's might.

After all, the newly enthroned emperor before him was the strongest in terms of personal combat power among all emperors throughout history, while Xiang Yu never became emperor.

Who could stop someone who rose through the ranks of the royal family to the throne by relying on a series of military achievements?
Therefore, even the most prudent civil officials only dared to humbly beg Zhao Zicheng to show some compassion for the people's plight.

Wei Xian, the Imperial Censor who had been acquainted with Zhao Zicheng, was not very knowledgeable about military affairs, but he was quite compassionate towards the people. Relying on their past relationship, he tactfully said:

"Your Majesty, please understand that the previous recapture of Henan was smooth sailing, but that was largely because the people of Henan were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the royal army, and the will of the people was irreversible. The Jin people were also embroiled in internal strife and seized power, which created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

But now I hear that the Jurchens have established a new ruler, Wanyan Zonggan's position is secure, and they have moved their capital to Yanjing. If the imperial army were to march straight into Hebei again, it would likely provoke the entire Jurchen people to fight to the death.

As for the people of Hebei and Yanyun, they have never truly accepted the Song Dynasty. They have been subjects of the former Liao Dynasty for nearly two hundred years. The events of the Xuanhe era have already proven that the local people do not expect the Song Dynasty's imperial army.

As for the rest of Hebei's prefectures, due to years of war, droughts, floods, and locust plagues, nine out of ten households were deserted. Even if there were Han Chinese people in the heart of Hebei who were loyal to the Song Dynasty, there weren't many left. Moreover, when they attacked Henan, it was at least under the pseudo-rebel rule of Zhao Gou. Now, Hebei had been directly governed by the Jin Dynasty, and the Jin people could very well relocate Han Chinese from Yan and Yun, as well as other ethnic groups under their control, to Hebei for settlement and cultivation.

When the time comes, with a long and arduous expedition and no supplies available, it will be the turn of our Great Song army to suffer from food shortages and exhaustion—Tong Guan suffered from this very problem back then.”

The other civil officials nearby, hearing Wei Xian inappropriately mention Tong Guan when giving his example, became even more worried for him. But there were also those who coveted his position as Vice Censor-in-Chief, secretly hoping to see him make a fool of himself and be disliked by the emperor.

That old codger is really arrogant. He's just relying on the fact that he was the emperor's superior when the emperor was a local official in Suzhou, and he's acting all high and mighty.
Just when some of his colleagues were worried for him, Zhao Zicheng made a statement, which greatly surprised everyone.

"My ministers need not worry. I am aware of the people's suffering and I am also well-versed in military strategy. An army must move its supplies before it can move its troops. The situation in Hebei is very different from that in Henan. Nine out of ten houses there are empty and the fields are barren. The royal army cannot procure supplies locally or obtain them from the enemy. Therefore, we cannot act rashly."

Moreover, I have only been on the throne for half a month, but during my investigation of the capital region, I have discovered some pitiful situations among the people. In recent years, due to the war, the Yellow River has not been repaired. Downstream from the capital, several sections of the dikes are beyond repair and may even change course beyond human control.

I have instructed the Ministry of Works to conduct a survey as soon as possible and come up with a plan that will not cause hardship to the people or waste their resources, nor harm innocent civilians. Now, the old lands of Hebei East Road are almost empty, which is a tragedy, but the court must also find a way to take this opportunity to implement some benevolent policies that will benefit future generations.

A northern expedition is inevitable, but it can be postponed for a few years if it proceeds along the Hebei Plain. I will choose an opportunity to send elite troops north by sea to harass the Yan-Yun region and even the coastal areas of Liaodong, so that the Jin people cannot attend to both ends.

To achieve this goal, all coastal prefectures and counties across the country should, according to local conditions and resources, expand shipyards, research and improve ship designs, and enhance the maritime transport capabilities of the imperial navy. Once maritime transport is mature, some grain transport should be diverted from the Grand Canal to the sea to save manpower and reduce transportation costs.

Zhao Zicheng had no intention of hiding anything, nor was he afraid of being spyed on by the Jin people. He was simply playing his cards openly, telling the Jin people that he would focus on harassing the coast in the next few years to weaken their national strength.

While we're at it, let's also take advantage of this time to reform and strengthen maritime transport, manage the Yellow River to deal with any possible course changes, and clean everything up. That will be the day the Jin dynasty falls!
Tong Guan's Northern Expedition failed because of poor logistics in the Hebei Plain, which prevented the army from procuring food locally. The army was no longer capable of waging a protracted war and could starve to death.

Agricultural production in Hebei Province was already severely damaged by the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, and it will only get worse now.

Zhao Zicheng knew that in the second year of Jianyan in history (the first year of Jianyan in the book is actually the third year of Jianyan in history), the Yellow River breached its banks at Huazhou, which led to the Yellow River diverting into the Huai River and flowing into the sea for more than 600 years. It was not until the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty that the Yellow River breached its banks again and flowed north.

However, after more than 600 years, the mouth of the Huai River had been completely silted up by the Yellow River, forcing the Huai River to flow into the Yangtze River and then into the sea via the Hangou Canal. The northern Jiangsu region in the lower reaches of the Huai River had also become a poor land plagued by floods and droughts year after year.

Of course, historically, the Yellow River changed its course in the second year of the Jianyan era due to both natural disasters and human factors. During the chaos of war, no one repaired it, and local officials even attempted to divert the water to block the enemy. Now, thanks to Zhao Zicheng's butterfly effect, none of this has happened yet.

Today, the Yellow River is still in a state of extreme disrepair, like a suspended river, and could explode at any time.

Zhao Zicheng believed that the Yellow River should not be allowed to flow south and divert into the Huai River for military purposes. Instead, it was better to respect the laws of nature and allow the Yellow River to find another river as its main channel on the Hebei Plain. For example, the Daqing River, which later became known as the main channel of the Yellow River, was a suitable option.

However, the Song Dynasty rulers in history dared not do this because of considerations for military defense. After the Yellow River diverted its course to the Huai River, the Huai River became wider, making it easier for the Southern Song Dynasty to defend it.

Zhao Zicheng has no such concerns at all. So what if the Jurchens have cavalry? If they dare to come to Bianjing, Zhao Zicheng will engage them in open battle and defeat them once again!
A country's security does not depend on the dangers of mountains and streams.

The Hebei Plain is now almost deserted, especially in the eastern parts of the Hebei Plain, such as Cangzhou and Hejian. The repeated tug-of-war, famine and war, coupled with Zhao Zicheng's migration and rescue efforts, have left the area almost empty.

In that case, planning a new river channel in advance, and then moving the people back after the Yellow River changes course, would be a way to make full use of the situation and minimize the damage.

These matters are more important than a direct northern expedition; a more cautious and methodical approach is entirely possible.

(End of this chapter)