Song Dynasty: Yuan Dynasty, you didn't expect this, did you? I'm still alive.

The 23rd year of Cheng'an (1421).

The initial construction of Nanjing City has been completed.

The Song Dynasty moved its capital to Nanjing.

Xinxiang was designated as the secondary capital.

This was Zhao Xi's second time setting foot in the Central Plains, and the feeling was different from the first time.

At first, he seemed more like a guest.

This time, he is the master.

The civil and military officials who moved here with him felt as if they were floating on air, enjoying the pure, unadulterated air of Nanjing.

Indeed, moving the capital was the right decision.

Xu Zheng, the Minister of Works, expressed his feelings in this article.

"Recently, I have frequently visited Tsinghua Academy to observe the most cutting-edge Taoist discoveries. After more than ten years of development, Siemens' efficiency in converting mechanical energy into electrical energy has reached 70%."

"Not long ago, the first commercial thermal power plant was built in the suburbs of Xinxiang, which can supply electricity for all the incandescent lamps in the city."

Lu Heng, the Vice Minister of Works, who was standing nearby, understood the implied meaning and said, "Although the electricity of the electric motor comes from the steam engine, which means that its overall efficiency cannot exceed that of the steam engine, it has a unique advantage: its energy can be transferred over a very long distance."

"In other words, a power plant can be built in the suburbs of Nanjing to provide power for all the factories in the city."

"In this way, we can ensure that Nanjing's environment is not polluted by exhaust fumes to the greatest extent possible."

Minister of Works Xu Zheng laughed heartily, "In that case, let Nanjing vigorously promote electricity."

Xu Zheng's words carry immense weight.

Zhu Ge, an elder statesman who was active in politics during the Zhao Yu era, has finally come to the end of his career.

According to convention, the next Right Chancellor will most likely be Xu Zheng, the Minister of Works.

The promotion of electricity in Nanjing can be decided by the Taoist school of thought.

The power industry then entered a period of rapid development.

The application of new technologies has enabled the Central Plains to develop at a much faster pace than Southeast Asia. Coupled with the hard-working spirit of the people of the Central Plains, it is hoped that the gap between Southeast Asia and the Central Plains, which has been hundreds of years, can be closed in forty years, or one generation.

Deep within the palace, Zhao Xi sat under the lamp in the imperial study, facing a blank imperial edict on the table, having remained silent for a long time.

He is sixty-seven years old this year.

No matter how much he takes care of himself, how much he cultivates his character, or how much he practices Tai Chi every day, the aging of his body is irreversible.

My knees sometimes hurt, my eyes sometimes blur, my back aches after sitting for a long time, and my back hurts after lying down for a long time.

He didn't say it, and those around him didn't mention it either, but everyone knew in their hearts—the official was getting old.

Logically, he should be happy.

With peace prevailing throughout the land, the hearts of all people turn to you.

Those white barbarians in Europe have already been thoroughly harassed by the merchants of the Song Dynasty. In a few decades, they will probably become a source of white slaves, and it will take them several hundred years to recover.

Needless to say, Mongolia is barely clinging to life, having reached the point of being a useless place for "singing and dancing."

The Song Dynasty no longer had any external enemies.

Without external enemies, one will perish from within.

This is an iron law of history. From the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties to the Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties, which dynasty didn't follow this pattern?

Zhao Xi thought about it for a long time.

The reason for the downfall of dynasties throughout history can be summarized in one thing: the rulers were not benevolent.

If a ruler is not benevolent, he will impose heavy taxes, undertake large-scale construction projects, favor treacherous officials, and treat the people like dirt.

The higher-ups set an example, and the officials followed suit, corrupting the entire country from top to bottom. Then one day, a man named Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, or Huang Chao stood up and shouted, "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?" Hundreds of years of foundation were gone in an instant.

Zhao Xi considered himself a benevolent ruler.

During his twenty-three years on the throne, he never raised taxes, never built a single palace (the one in Nanjing was built with funds allocated from Xinxiang, and he didn't get involved), and never killed anyone he shouldn't have.

But what about the son?

Where is the grandson?

What about the great-grandson?

He knew the Zhao family's bloodline better than anyone else.

His father, Zhao Yu, the Jingwu Emperor, committed over 100 million murders in his lifetime. He was a powerful figure, far from being benevolent.

His crown prince, Zhao Chang, still plays with penguins in Antarctica and has no interest in politics. He is the kind of Buddhist successor who thinks, "If you give it to me, I won't do it; if you don't give it to me, I'm happy to be idle."

What would happen if this kind of person became emperor?

To be honest, Zhao Xi didn't know either.

Perhaps if he hadn't made any trouble and had ruled by doing nothing, the Song Dynasty would have continued to prosper.

Perhaps he was misled by treacherous officials, and ruined the once prosperous country.

Who can say for sure?

Zhao Xi ordered Zhu Ge to be invited into the palace.

Zhu Ge was the Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Pavilion, and he was an old man who had served him for many years.

Though they were called subjects, they were more like friends.

When two people are together, they don't need to beat around the bush when they talk.

"Grand Secretary Zhu," Zhao Xi said bluntly, "how do my achievements compare to those of Zhu Yuanzhang?"

Zhu Ge was taken aback.

He had thought about this question before, but he didn't expect Zhao Xi to ask it directly.

He looked up at Zhao Xi's face and made sure he wasn't joking—this emperor of ours has never been one to boast or be ambitious. In the twenty-three years since he ascended the throne, this is the first time he has ever taken the initiative to compare his achievements with others.

"Far superior," Zhu Ke said.

"Then how does my position relative to future generations compare to Zhu Yuanzhang's position relative to Zhu Di?"

Zhu Ge thought for a moment.

What did Zhu Yuanzhang leave for Zhu Di?

He left behind the "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty," the system of enfeoffing princes, and an impregnable empire.

Then Zhu Di rebelled, dragged his grandson off the throne, and sat on it himself.

Zhu Di did not follow a single one of Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestral precepts.

"Zhu Yuanzhang is far inferior to the Emperor," Zhu Ke said.

This sentence has two meanings.

First level: You are better than Zhu Yuanzhang, and you have left your descendants a greater fortune.

The second point: Zhu Di did not follow Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestral instructions, not because the instructions were poorly written, but because he felt he had the right not to follow them.

Your descendants, however, should not have the courage to do so.

After all, there will never be another piece of the Central Plains that future generations can reclaim.

Zhao Xi understood these two layers of meaning.

He paused for a moment, then said what he truly wanted to say.

"If I were to leave behind an ancestral precept, would my descendants abide by it?"

Zhu Ge did not answer immediately. He straightened up and looked into Zhao Xi's eyes.

"I dare not guarantee it. But I am willing to defend Your Majesty. I believe that the officials of the Great Song Dynasty are just like me."

Zhao Xi nodded.

He picked up his pen, spread out the blank edict, and began to write.

His handwriting was very neat, each stroke deliberate and unhurried, like an old gentleman carefully writing.

After finishing writing, he put down his pen and handed the imperial edict to Zhu Ke.

"Grand Secretary Zhu, please take a look and see if there's anything else that needs to be changed."

Zhu Ge took it with both hands and read it aloud, word by word.

After reading it, he put the edict back on the table, stepped back three steps, and bowed.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Song Dynasty, January of the 23rd year of Cheng'an

I have heard it said: Starting a business is easy, but maintaining it is difficult. Our Holy Ancestor Emperor founded the dynasty overseas, braving wind and rain, persevering through countless setbacks, and the throne has been passed down to me for five generations. Today, the world is unified, and all under heaven submit, which is truly due to the blessings of our ancestors, not to my own efforts alone.

However, I have observed the reasons for the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history, and their decline invariably began with excessive taxation, while their demise invariably began with the collapse of their systems. Excessive taxation breeds public resentment, and the collapse of systems breeds suspicion among officials. When there is mutual suspicion between superiors and inferiors, even the wisest person cannot salvage the situation.

I am unworthy and unable to plan for the peace and security of my descendants for ten thousand generations. However, I have one word that I wish to share with future generations.

First, the tax system.

The taxes levied on the Song Dynasty were intended to support officials, soldiers, scholars, and the people. However, the increase or decrease of taxes was not a private matter for the ruler alone, but a public matter for all the people. Future generations were not allowed to arbitrarily increase taxes. If there were major national events that required tax increases to be effective, the increase must be agreed upon by more than two-thirds of all officials, doctors from the Imperial Academy, Daoists from the Gewu Academy, and masters from the Tsinghua Academy before it could be implemented.

Those who violate this rule will be attacked by the whole world.

Secondly, the design of the Wenhua Pavilion.

The Wenhua Pavilion was established by our ancestors to broaden channels for public discourse and to select virtuous and capable individuals. The selection of cabinet ministers is not based on the personal will of any one person, but on the collective opinion of the people. Future generations may not abolish the Wenhua Pavilion, abolish the election system, or reduce the scope of elections. If they wish to expand the scope of elections, it must be agreed upon by more than two-thirds of the people before it can be implemented.

Those who violate this rule will be attacked by the whole world.

Alas! The laws of our ancestors were established to care for the people, secure the nation, and bequeath them to future generations. It is not that I desire to make changes, but I have witnessed the rise and fall of previous dynasties and dare not fail to inform them. You, my descendants, shall respectfully uphold them without negligence or dereliction of duty.

Emperor Cheng'an of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Xi

Made in the eighth month of autumn in the twenty-third year of Cheng'an

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Later historians praised Emperor Cheng'an, saying: "Emperor Cheng'an established the Ancestral Instructions, placing taxation power under public opinion and appointing cabinet ministers by popular vote, thus first and foremost locking down imperial power through institutional reforms. From then on, the emperor ruled with minimal intervention, and governance remained within the bounds of literature. Although there was no revolutionary upheaval, it truly paved the way for constitutionalism, a change unprecedented in China's three thousand years of history."