Zhao Huan was slightly puzzled. If it weren't for Zhao Ding's previous statement, Zhao Huan would have thought that Zhao Ding was going to aid Goryeo and Japan.

"Please tell me."

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, with wisdom as vast as the sea. Now, our Great Song Dynasty has countless famous generals, and Your Majesty has even crossed the Hengshan Mountains and crushed the Dangxiang!"

Zhao Ding first made sure to sing praises before getting to the point: "However, Goryeo and Japan are separated from the Great Song by sea, and our iron cavalry cannot reach them. The Great Song navy has only just been built, so we cannot easily cross the sea to punish the rebels. We can only proceed slowly!"

"Tell me quickly, how you plan to proceed gradually!"

"Your Majesty, our Great Song Dynasty is rich in resources from all over the world. In the past, Goryeo and Japan purchased large quantities of goods from our Great Song Dynasty. Your Majesty has become accustomed to this. Now that they are no longer buying from us, Your Majesty is somewhat unaccustomed to it. After all, there is a policy of converting farmland into mulberry fields in the Jiangnan region. Your Majesty is worried that we have silk, but they are not buying it. Wouldn't that be a waste?"

"In my humble opinion, it would be better for the Song Dynasty to purchase supplies from them in large quantities, creating a frenzy of supply in Goguryeo and Japan, and then suddenly cut off the trade."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan laughed.

Zhao Ding continued, "In the past, Guan Zhong used this strategy to weaken the State of Lu."

Zhao Huan had naturally heard how Guan Zhong had used economic warfare to deal with the State of Lu.

Furthermore, economic warfare is also a crucial element in his imperial empire.

"Minister Zhao truly lives up to his reputation as the head of the Imperial Bank of the Great Song Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty inspired me as well."

Zhao Huan did not expose Zhao Ding's sycophancy. Zhao Ding was indeed a very steady person, meticulous in his work, and would never say anything bad if he could say something nice.

What Zhao Huan was most satisfied with was that when he went to the front lines this time, the issuance of paper money was very stable due to the war preparation period.

Because of this incident, Xu Churen and Zhao Ding became enemies.

Zhao Huan nodded: "You shall discuss this matter with Tang Ke and give me a solution."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"How smoothly is the issuance of Jiaozi (paper money) in Jiaozhou?"

"Your Majesty, the twelve prefectures of Jiaoyun are now making every effort to promote the use of paper money, and Minister Zhang is also vigorously mining gold, silver, copper and iron."

"We need to find a balance in private lending policies."

"Your Majesty, I was just about to discuss this matter with you." Zhao Ding took out a scroll from his sleeve and presented it to you. It was the private lending plan that he had discussed with Zhao Huan last year.

Zhao Huan took it and examined it carefully, then said, "I will follow your plan, my dear minister."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Zhao Ding left, Zhao Huan went to find Consort Han.

Having not enjoyed a romantic encounter with Han Chenchen for a long time, Zhao Huan missed her dearly, and the two made love.

Han Chenchen suddenly said, "Your Majesty, my second brother, Han Feng, wrote a letter to me from Hangzhou."

“Your second brother misses you. Why don’t you ask him to take some time to go back to Tokyo so you can get together?”

"This matter can wait."

"What is it?"

"My second brother mentioned in his letter that the people he sent to Japan met a person there, and His Majesty knew this person."

Zhao Huan immediately became curious: "Who?"

“Shen Tu Xin, the former transport commissioner of Jiangning Prefecture, was a member of the imperial family.”

Zhao Huan was slightly taken aback, feeling somewhat surprised.

Shen Tu Xin actually fled to Japan!

We must send someone to bring that scoundrel back!

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Huan decided not to let Shen Tu Xin spoil his enjoyment.

He stroked Han Chenchen's long hair. The moonlight outside shone through the window, creating a poetic night.

"Consort Han, this is our world just the two of us."

Han Chenchen smiled happily.

The next day, early in the morning, as soon as Xie Dahai entered the palace, Zhao Huan asked, "How is the Imperial City Guard's deployment in the south going?"

"Your Majesty, the Imperial City Guard offices have been established in Jiangnan Second Circuit, Jinghu Second Circuit, and Guangnan Second Circuit."

"There are three thousand six hundred people, five thousand..."

"Alright, keep a close eye on this matter. Get the Imperial City Guard stationed in the town as soon as possible and have them conduct regular inspections in the countryside."

Since the rebellions in Hebei and Hedong last year, Zhao Huan has felt more and more that imperial power must reach the countryside, otherwise, people will not know what kind of shady dealings are taking place in places they cannot see.

He entrusted Xie Dahai with the overall management of the Imperial City Division, and temporarily placed Wang Kuian under the supervision of the Censorate. He also secretly placed the Qilin Guard in charge. For the time being, he was not afraid that the Imperial City Division would cause any changes due to its rapid development.

"Send a reliable person to Japan. I need to know why Japan suddenly closed its borders. Bring Shen Tu Xin back to me immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Xie Dahai didn't ask any more questions. He was the emperor's henchman, and he would do whatever the emperor told him to do.

After attending the morning court session, Zhao Huan left the palace and met Yang Xin in an abandoned temple in the south of the city.

"Send someone to Japan to find out why Japan is closing its doors to the world, and bring Shen Tu Xin back to me immediately!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The two used sign language.

After making the arrangements, Zhao Huan took the opportunity of leaving the palace to stroll around the city of Dongjing.

He leisurely returned to the palace in the afternoon.

Zhao Huan felt a great sense of accomplishment, after all, the present-day capital city of Tokyo was completely different from the past city of Tokyo; he had changed it.

This is just a microcosm of the Song Dynasty. Soon, even greater changes will sweep across the entire land of China like a spring breeze.

Upon returning to the palace, Zhao Ding and Tang Ke had already come to request an audience.

Regarding last night's events, they proposed a solution: the Song Dynasty should purchase large quantities of cloth from Goryeo and Japan!

Once the Song Dynasty purchases large quantities of cloth clothing from Goryeo and Japan, merchants from those two countries will stockpile large quantities of cloth clothing, requiring more people to produce it. After production, the cloth clothing will be sold to merchants in the Song Dynasty, loaded onto Song Dynasty ships, and transported back to the Song Dynasty.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!