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Wanyan Zongpan was also frustrated, as the local nobles and gentry left over from the Liao Dynasty were quite powerful in the Jin Dynasty.

This posed some resistance to his reforms in the Jin Dynasty, as the policies of the Jin court were not issued in a typical manner.

For example, he wanted to emulate Zhao Huan's tax reform by abolishing corvée labor and reducing taxes, but once such policies left the capital, they were like a lump of mud thrown into the sea.

He also established the Dajin Bank, but due to the immaturity of printing technology, counterfeit paper money flooded the market.

He wanted to release wealth to the people through infrastructure construction, and for this purpose, he established the Ministry of Commerce to specifically manage commerce.

Furthermore, this Ministry of Commerce also has a Department of Commerce Affairs, which is responsible for recruiting and managing emerging trading companies.

However, all those recruited were trading companies established by local nobles and gentry, which resulted in a large amount of wealth falling into the hands of these people.

The social structure of the Jin Kingdom has not changed much in recent years, and the allocation of resources is the same as before. The only difference is that the total social wealth has increased.

Social contradictions and unrest are becoming increasingly intense.

As local nobles and gentry grew increasingly powerful, they began to use various means to circumvent the Jin court's surveillance of the regions, resulting in a severe information gap.

Even Wanyan Zongpan himself was unaware that many local businesses were firmly attracted by the trade arrangements made by Zhao Huan.

This has led to a contraction in basic industries related to people's livelihoods.

The Han Chinese minister, Shi Ling'ai, had raised this issue with him several times, but he chose to ignore it.

Wanyan Zongpan stirred up trouble in the Jin Dynasty with his ostrich-like spirit.

In order to groom Wanyan Zongpan as the crown prince, Wanyan Sheng trusted him immensely, handing him almost all administrative power, making him a figure similar to the prime minister of a Han Chinese state.

He is second only to the emperor and above all others.

It had far more power than the prime minister of the Song Dynasty.

However, this time Wanyan Zongpan fell into a trap.

With Yelü Dashi's northward retreat, the pressure on the Jin Dynasty's western front eased while the pressure on its southern front increased. Some ministers in the court advised Wanyan Sheng to recall Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zonghan from the western front.

These two men were Wanyan Gao's capable generals and obstacles to Wanyan Zongpan's control of military power.

However, Wanyan Zongpan's reforms are not going smoothly. The new policies of the Jin state have not only failed to enhance the overall national strength of the Jin state, but have also given the Song state an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

Wanyan Zongpan's prestige in the court was challenged, and the traditional nobles, led by the Jurchen nobles, began to speak out in the court.

Under pressure from the court, Wanyan Sheng recalled Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zonghan from the western front.

Furthermore, some people even went to visit Wanyan Gao without permission.

This is a contest between Han Chinese and non-Han Chinese.

Under Wanyan Zongpan's new policies, the majority of the beneficiaries were Han Chinese nobles and gentry.

Because neither the Jurchens nor the Khitans could compete with the Han Chinese in trade.

The traditional aristocracy, seeing the Han people making a fortune under the new policies, had long wanted to restore the old system.

This is also why Shi Ling'ai has always been unwilling to discuss the drawbacks of the new policies with Emperor Wanyan Sheng of Jin alone.

But now the conflict can clearly no longer be concealed.

While Shi Lingai was reforming the Jin Dynasty's trade, the old nobles whispered in Emperor Wanyan Sheng's ear, hoping that Wanyan Gao could return to Shangjing.

As the Southern Song Dynasty grew stronger and posed a significant threat to the Jin Dynasty, the pro-war faction within the Jin Dynasty, which had previously been active in the war, re-emerged during Wanyan Zongpan's defeat.

Calls for Wanyan Gao to return to the center of power are growing louder.

The recall of Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zonghan was the first step in Wanyan Sheng's adjustment of the power structure in the Jin Dynasty.

On this day, Wanyan Sheng summoned Han Chinese ministers, including Shi Ling'ai and Han Qixian.

"My esteemed ministers, the Song Dynasty is growing ever stronger, and there are many voices in the court advocating for a southward invasion. What do you think we should do?"

In fact, Wanyan Sheng also had the idea of ​​sending troops to attack the Song Dynasty.

Now that the conflicts in the Jin court have suddenly become acute, he wants to use the campaign against the Song Dynasty to divert internal conflicts and temporarily stabilize the situation.

Shi Ling'ai said, "Your Majesty, I believe that now is not the best time to attack Song."

"What do you mean by that, my dear minister?"

"Due to trade with the Song Dynasty, the people's livelihood has shrunk and food is in short supply in many places. If war breaks out with the Song Dynasty, given the nature of the Song emperor, it will inevitably be a protracted war. Our country's food reserves are not sufficient for a protracted war at the moment."

Wanyan Sheng couldn't help but nod. He had to admit that the Song Dynasty at this time was no longer the Song Dynasty of the past.

It was no longer realistic for the Jin dynasty to annex the Song dynasty.

It seems that, given the current situation, the only option is to follow the example of the Liao Kingdom and stand on equal footing with the Song Kingdom.

Wanyan Sheng somewhat regretted transferring Wanyan Gao away from the central government. If the war against Song had been launched a few years earlier, the situation might have been completely different.

It's too late to regret it now.

Han Qixian said, "Your Majesty, as long as we reduce trade with the Song Dynasty, the new policy will be entirely beneficial."

Wanyan Sheng fell into thought.

The Han Chinese officials naturally hoped for the new policies, since the Han Chinese were the biggest beneficiaries of the Jin Dynasty's new policies.

Wanyan Sheng also realized at this time that although the new policies of the Jin state were modeled after those of Zhao Huan, they were still effective.

However, the national conditions were completely different from those of the Song Dynasty.

The contradiction in the State of Song was between the common people and the powerful and wealthy. The emperor of Song was redistributing social resources between the powerful and the common people.

However, the contradictions within the Jin Dynasty were between Han Chinese and non-Han Chinese.

Ministers like Shi Ling'ai and Han Qixian wouldn't consider whether the Jin court's new policies were beneficial to the people or the Jin state; they would focus more on whether they were beneficial to the Han people.

However, Wanyan Sheng had to consider the overall situation.

He needs to balance the overall situation, as the power of the Han people has clearly grown too great.

The new policies could indeed increase the court's revenue, but the Han people had too much influence over them, and the tax revenue in between was likely to be suppressed.

Wanyan Sheng held these Han Chinese ministers in high esteem. He knew that to make the Jin Dynasty stronger, it had to rely on the Han Chinese.

"Minister Shi, the Song state is currently stationing troops against Goryeo, indicating its ambition to use Goryeo to counterbalance our Great Jin. What good strategies do you have?"

"Your Majesty, our dynasty has reduced trade with the Song Dynasty, which is a good opportunity to start trade with Goryeo."

Han Qixian said, "Your Majesty, the Song Dynasty has stationed troops in Goryeo, which the King of Goryeo is naturally unwilling to accept. If he does not want to be annexed by the Song Dynasty, he must cooperate with us."

Wanyan Sheng nodded and said, "Minister Han, I entrust this matter to you."

"yes!"

Han Qixian was overjoyed, because the new policy had affected most of the trade between the Jin and Song dynasties, and the Han people in the Jin dynasty suffered the greatest losses.

If the Jin dynasty were to open trade with Goryeo now, those Han Chinese nobles could be arranged to travel with Goryeo.

Although Goryeo's trade needs were not as great as Song's, at least it wouldn't be completely empty.

"With you all, my beloved ministers, I have no worries."

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty."

While appeasing these Han Chinese ministers, Wanyan Sheng also ordered Wanyan Gao to be brought back to the court, thus creating a balance between Wanyan Sheng and Wanyan Gao.