Half a month later, it was already late autumn.

Zhao Huan summoned Wanyan Dan, intending to let him leave.

It would be best if Wanyan Dan could go to the grasslands, giving those barbarians who have the desire but not the courage to do so a glimmer of hope, so that they would come looking for trouble, and Zhao Huan could then draw his sword and kill them.

Upon hearing that Zhao Huan wanted to send him away, Wanyan Dan immediately knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, wishing he could cling to Zhao Huan's legs: "Your Majesty, please don't send me away! Please!"

Zhao Huan was somewhat taken aback: "I'm letting you return to your hometown, not exiling you."

"Your Majesty, Tokyo is better than anywhere else. I don't want to go anywhere else."

He's right. There's no place on this planet more bustling, more prosperous, or more interesting than Tokyo.

Here you'll find cuisine from all over China, as well as foreign delicacies, people from all over the world, and a variety of interesting activities.

Examples include football, basketball, poetry competitions, opera houses, storytelling, and various outdoor games and competitions.

You can have delicious food delivered to your door without leaving home.

There are countless fascinating things here.

This place is simply paradise on earth.

Wanyan Dan used to think that the capital city was the most prosperous city in the world, but it wasn't until he arrived in Tokyo that he realized what prosperity and life were.

Who needs the emperor's position if they can live in a place like this?

"Get up first."

"Your Majesty, I beg you to take in this sinful subject. I am willing to serve you like a beast of burden."

"You may step back."

"His Majesty……"

"Step back!"

After Wanyan Dan left, Zhao Huan fell into deep thought.

Wanyan Dan was so happy that he forgot about Shu (modern-day Sichuan) because Tokyo (Kaifeng) truly had something that attracted him.

When material goods and entertainment become more abundant, people are more willing to enjoy a good life; this is human nature.

If the people of the Song Dynasty wanted to live and work in peace and contentment, they needed more cities like Bianjing (Kaifeng).

The four vice presidents have all developed in recent years, but each of them is managed in a loose and free manner.

For example, Youzhou, because it bordered the Jin Dynasty and was located on the front line of war, had a backward entertainment industry but a developed manufacturing industry.

There are many wealthy people in Youzhou, but their lives are not very happy, and because the industry is relatively singular, the gap between the rich and the poor is still very large.

Many wealthy people have begun to move to Tokyo in pursuit of a better life.

Zhao Huan summoned Yu Yunwen and Chen Yang and told them his thoughts.

Yu Yunwen was impressed by the emperor's sharp vision and unique insights in business.

Yu Yunwen and Chen Yang returned to the Hall of State Affairs and, following Zhao Huan's ideas, began to make minor adjustments to the industrial plans of other prefectures. It seems that the year-end super conference will be held this year.

In the afternoon, Gao Qiu, the Vice Director of the Song Dynasty Football Association, suddenly came to request an audience with the Emperor.

The emperor was a great lover of sports, including football.

Gao Qiu had always been considered one of the emperor's favorite ministers.

However, Gao Qiu was usually taciturn in court and had little presence in political discourse.

After all, he came from a background of street thugs; if you really asked him to contribute to national plans, his brain wouldn't be up to the task.

However, when it comes to football, Gao Qiu is an absolute veteran.

Football originated from Cuju, a game played by the emperor.

Cuju was widely loved by the people of the Song Dynasty. After the emergence of football, this sport required a larger field and was more intense, and it quickly became popular in the capital city of Bianjing.

"Minister Gao, what business do you have with me?"

"Your Majesty, I heard from Wanyan Dan that Your Majesty intends to have him leave the capital, Dongjing?"

"That is indeed the case. I was worried that he would be homesick, so I let him go back."

I actually wanted to let him go back, give him a chance to rebel, and then I would have another reason to mobilize a large army to the grasslands to crush those barbarians who were eyeing the Song Dynasty!

"Your Majesty, I have a request that is against my will."

"You want to keep Wanyan Dan?"

"Your Majesty, I intend to appoint Wanyan Dan as the head coach of the Royal Football Team."

Zhao Huan was quite surprised, as the head coach of the Royal Football Team was the main player.

Gao Qiu is currently the Vice Director of the Cuju and Football Department of the Great Song Dynasty, and also serves as the head of the Royal Football Team.

This guy actually wants to step down and hand over the reins to someone more capable.

What is your intention in doing this?

"Wanyan Dan's skill in football is greater than mine."

Zhao Huan couldn't help but chuckle; this was damn interesting.

That guy was a terrible emperor and a terrible warman, but who would have thought he had such a hidden talent?

There are no small matters when it comes to national entertainment.

Moreover, sports like football and basketball are good for physical health and also beneficial to one's mental well-being.

Zhao Huan had told Yu Yunwen and Chen Yang that morning that every prefecture should build recreational facilities such as football fields and Cuju fields.

I can't just do something against my conscience this afternoon, can I?

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Huan said, "It's alright. Since Wanyan Dan is unwilling to leave, you can make the arrangements."

Zhao Huan was, after all, the emperor. He had many important matters to attend to every day, so there was no need for him to dwell on this matter.

Wanyan Dan was unwilling to leave. Even if he were forced to leave, he would probably hide his identity and run to a city in the north to continue living in the Song Dynasty.

After all, having witnessed the prosperity of a great era, who would want to go to a barren, desolate place like the grasslands?

The shadow of the Guangnan East Road riots quickly dissipated in Tokyo City.

Polo has been quite popular lately.

To meet the growing demand for entertainment, Tokyo now boasts over thirty polo fields.

Polo also became a compulsory course at Hanlin Academy.

The talents of the Song Dynasty were clearly categorized.

For example, engineering talents focus on science and technology. After graduation, very few of them enter the Royal Academy of Sciences, while some choose to work for private trading companies.

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