"Your Majesty, Qian Yu's crime deserves immediate execution, but Your Majesty must not immediately turn your anger on the Qian family, otherwise you will surely fall into the trap set by those with ulterior motives."

Zhao Huan frowned: "Who dares to set a trap for me!"

"Your Majesty, the powerful clans in the south have long had reservations about the new policies. The patriarch of the Qian family has always adhered to the family precepts and been loyal to the court. He is also very popular in the local area. When the head of the family, Qian Zhengchun, was critically ill, Qian Yu came to Tokyo and overstepped his bounds. It must be because someone instigated him to put the Qian family in opposition to the court. In my opinion, these people dare to do this because they have made up their minds to confront the court."

Zhao Huan was instantly enraged, but he restrained himself and asked, "What brilliant plan do you have?"

"Your Majesty, Liangzhe and Chengdu Prefecture are both silk-producing areas, and Jiangling Prefecture is a high-yield grain-producing area of ​​the Song Dynasty. It already has mineral resources and river transport. Jingdezhen in Jiangnan West Circuit produces ceramics. The court is about to vigorously develop commerce and also wants to reclaim wasteland for farming in the south. If we launch a military campaign at this time, it will inevitably cause huge losses. I believe that Your Majesty should proceed slowly and first stabilize the powerful families in the south. The Qian family should be punished, stripped of their titles, and fined heavily, but it is not advisable to eliminate them directly. Otherwise, no one in the southeast will be able to control them, and the situation will become even more chaotic."

Zhao Huan had considered all of Tang Ke's points. The north of the Song Dynasty had been basically destroyed, and the Central Plains were stagnant, no longer possessing the glory of the Tang Dynasty. The south was now the most prosperous region, and he was very reluctant to wage war against it.

"You may step down."

Not knowing what the emperor was thinking, Tang Ke said, "This humble subject takes his leave."

Zhao Huan sat alone in the Wende Hall for a while, clearing his mind, before his eyes blazed with fury: "Take it slow? I can't wait that long!"

Just as the emperor finished discussing the matter, Zhou Chao, the Minister of the Three Departments, rushed into the palace: "Your Majesty, the autumn and winter grain transported from the south this season is 50,000 shi less than in previous years!"