The emperor's question was very direct. He didn't care whether Liu Yanzong knew about what had happened that day. If Liu Yanzong still didn't know, he would probably be scolded to death by the emperor.

Liu Yanzong was secretly relieved that he had run into Qin Hui at the door and learned some information from him. Otherwise, if the emperor asked him now, he would be completely confused and would not be able to answer.

Liu Yanzong appeared calm and composed, much like Zhuge Liang, except he was given a feather fan.

"Your Majesty, the southeast is prosperous, with fertile fields, mines, well-developed river transport, and a large population. Most importantly, it is a coastal area and a key gateway for the Song Dynasty's maritime trade. Your Majesty also intends to build the Eastern Capital in Hangzhou. Therefore, the southeast must be under Your Majesty's absolute control. However, the Qian family is powerful, and the various powerful clans in the south are far from the Emperor and are suspected of being uncontrollable. Moreover, many of them have ties with important officials in the court. If Your Majesty wants to implement new policies in the south, Your Majesty must eliminate the Qian family."

"Qian Yu has been committing all sorts of evil deeds in the capital, oppressing the people, showing no regard for the law, insulting the emperor, and criticizing the new policies. Your Majesty should take this opportunity to first depose the Qian family and severely suppress the morale of the powerful clans in the south. Once the Qian family is deposed, the powerful clans in the south will surely be restless. If they dare to make any rash moves, accuse them of a thousand crimes and order Yue Fei to arrest them. Anyone who disobeys will be killed without exception!"

Zhao Huan said, "Do you mean that the South cannot achieve victory without bloodshed?"

“Your Majesty, I understand that Your Majesty is reluctant to do so. The South is prosperous, and if war breaks out, it will be a huge loss to the Song Dynasty. However, when faced with two evils, we must choose the lesser one. Only by completely eliminating the threat can we implement new policies.”

"I understand your meaning. You may now step down and go and deal with today's matters properly."

"Your humble servant takes his leave."

As Liu Yanzong walked out of the Wende Hall and was about to leave the palace, he saw Yang Shi and the others kneeling at the palace gate. Liu Yanzong sighed inwardly. These people were all to be tried by his Censorate, and the outcome of the trial had already been decided.

Qin Hui entered the Wende Hall: "Your subject kowtows to the Emperor."

"What do you think should be done about the situation in the south?"

"Your Majesty, Qian Yu insulted the Emperor and criticized the new policies in Tokyo, so he deserves to die a thousand times over. However, the Qian family is very prestigious in the Southeast. This prestige is different from that of the Fu and Lü families in Luoyang. The Fu and Lü families are prestigious among the scholar-officials, while the Qian family is prestigious not only in the court but also in the countryside. When Emperor Taizu pacified the Central Plains, the Qian family dominated the Southeast. Not wanting the people of the Southeast to suffer from the war, they took the initiative to submit and join the Song Dynasty. For more than a hundred years, the Qian family has won the hearts of the people in the Southeast."

Zhao Huan frowned slightly. There are two things an emperor must control: the hearts of the people and the army.

The emperor would never allow local powerful families outside the emperor to control the hearts of the people and the army. Therefore, from any perspective, the Qian family had to be deposed. However, as Qin Hui said, the Qian family could not be dealt with simply by killing them with swords.

That would not only fail to achieve the effect Zhao Huan desired, but would also cause the emperor to lose the hearts and minds of the people in the southeast, at least some of them.

"What good plan do you have?"

"Your Majesty only needs to pretend you know nothing. The only thing you know is that Qian Yu committed a capital crime in Tokyo. Execute him first and see how the Qian family and the South respond. If the Qian family dares to openly defy the court because of a rebellious son who has committed numerous evils, they will lose the hearts of the people, and Your Majesty will then have a legitimate reason to act."

"If the Qian family is smart, they will take the initiative to confess their crimes to the court. Your Majesty can take this opportunity to list the Qian family's crimes, strip them of their titles, confiscate their land, and exile them to the frontier."

"Once the Qian family is deposed, the powerful clans in the south will be restless, and the court will have a legitimate reason to take action, thus paving the way for His Majesty to reclaim wasteland and develop maritime trade in the south."

Zhao Huan nodded in agreement; Qin Hui's suggestion was clearly more advisable than Liu Yanzong's.

It's not that Liu Yanzong was less intelligent than Qin Hui; it's just that Liu Yanzong was in a different position and had a different perspective. Qin Hui was an outsider in this case and viewed the issue from an outsider's point of view, while Liu Yanzong was a censor in the Censorate. He had to carry out the task immediately, so naturally he had to provide the emperor with the most brutal and direct method to complete his mission as quickly as possible.

"I understand your meaning. You may leave."

"Your humble servant takes his leave."

Tang Ke had just run all the way to the Wende Hall, and despite it being the middle of autumn, he was drenched in sweat.

In fact, before entering the palace, Tang Rui took Qian Yu to see Tang Ke first. When he learned of what had happened that day, Tang Ke, the privy councilor who was eating and drinking at home, jumped up and said: "Foolish! The old master is wise all his life but foolish for a moment. He actually sent that scoundrel Qian Yu to Tokyo! I will write a letter immediately and send it to Hangzhou by express courier. The Prince of Kang is on good terms with the Qian family. Tell the Prince of Kang not to make any rash moves and to stay in Hangzhou obediently. Do not write to the Emperor, otherwise the court will definitely cause trouble again. I will go to the palace to see the Emperor!"

Just as Tang Ke finished giving his instructions, Wang Kuian arrived at his residence and summoned him to the palace.

Throughout the journey, Tang Ke's mind was racing.

The emperor didn't arrest Qian Mu, the emperor didn't arrest Qian Mu, the emperor didn't arrest Qian Mu...

This sentence kept lingering in his mind. Had the emperor forgotten it?

The Qian family in the southeast had done his Tang family a great favor, and at this critical juncture, Tang Ke could not stand idly by, otherwise the Tang family's reputation would be completely ruined.

If you can save them, then save them; if you can't, don't blame me.

Tang Ke sighed inwardly. These are turbulent times, and the Qian family just had to court disaster at this crucial moment.

Tang Ke steadied himself and entered the Wende Hall, only to find that there was no one else there except the emperor.

"Your humble servant kowtows to the Emperor."

No need for formalities.

"Minister Tang, tell me, how should we deal with Qian Yu? And how should we deal with the Qian family?"

The reason for summoning Tang Ke was that Tang Ke was from Jiangnan, and the Tang family was a prominent family in Jiangnan with close ties to the Qian family. The emperor naturally wanted to hear Tang Ke's opinion on this matter. Tang Ke was also the Minister of Commerce, in charge of the Ministry of Commerce of the court.

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