Inheriting the Song Dynasty

In 1127 AD, the Northern Song Dynasty fell. Immediately, the ninth imperial prince, Zhao Gou, ascended the throne in Shangqiu amidst widespread anticipation, inheriting the Song imperial line and r...

Chapter 14: The True Strangeness

Zhao Jiu suddenly laughed. "But before we talk, you must know one thing, that is, I am the emperor of the Song Dynasty. Although I am at war with the Jurchens and I am a little poor, I am still the emperor of China, with a territory that is ten times that of Japan and a military force that is ten times that of Japan... I am not saying this to intimidate you, but to tell you that my words are binding and cannot be questioned! Ask him if he understands?"

Following the translation of the sea merchant, Na Ping Tadamori responded directly.

With this "Hayi", Zhao Jiu understood what the other party meant without translation, and finally became serious: "I will tell you a plan, come and listen..."

At this point, Emperor Zhao paused for a moment and nodded to Lu Benzhong beside him, who immediately handed him a written document... Ping Zhongsheng could not understand Chinese, but he could definitely read Chinese characters.

Emperor Zhao did not stop at all: "Let him read the text and listen to the translation. If he does not understand, he can ask directly... I have asked about some inside information these days and know what is going on in the central political situation in Japan. The emperor abdicated and became the retired emperor. The retired emperor became a monk and became the religious emperor. The religious emperor forced the new emperor to abdicate and become the retired emperor. It's a mess... I have no intention of these things, but I know that the so-called Shirakawa Religious Emperor has been dead for four years. Now it is Toba Religious Emperor who is in power, and Hei Qing is Toba Religious Emperor's confidant... Is this right or not?"

After waiting for the translation for a while, Ping Zhongsheng immediately nodded.

"Then my original intention was this." Zhao Jiu said seriously. "I no longer demand that Japan open its doors. Normal transactions between the people will be normal transactions. The Song Dynasty will no longer use warships for protection, and will not force transactions. But I think you should have read the court bulletin here, and you can understand it, and then you know that the Song Dynasty does have a military expenditure problem... So I hope to open up an official trade route, so that the Song Dynasty court can use the high-quality copper coins of the Song Dynasty to exchange for Japanese gold and silver, and get some sulfur as a bonus. Of course, other goods can also be traded if they want... This is good for both sides!"

Ping Zhongsheng looked at the words on the paper in front of him, waited patiently for the translator to finish, and was about to speak.

Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhao became a little impatient and continued speaking before the other party: "However, after meeting Pingqing, I have a new idea. From now on, for this kind of transaction, I am determined to let the royal family of the Song Dynasty and the royal family of Japan, specifically, the Toba Emperor, trade directly in my capacity as the Emperor of the Song Dynasty... In other words, only the two of us, the Toba Emperor and you, the Ping family, will benefit! Because from today on, Pingqing is the most noble person in the world, that is, me, and the most noble person in Japan, the Toba Emperor, the only person we trust! I specially allow the Ping family to be the only executor of this kind of transaction on the Japanese side! I will not recognize anyone else! This is my personal grace to Pingqing for your courage to cross the sea!"

Several important officials had different expressions.

The merchant was obviously stunned for a moment, and after a moment, he turned around and translated.

As for Taira no Tadamori, it took him a while to come back to his senses after listening to the translation, but he left his seat and kowtowed on the ground. It seemed that he agreed without hesitation... However, there were some problems in Japan when he came here, but he was willing to work hard to solve these problems after returning, and then persuade Emperor Toba to establish this special precious metal trade route between the two noble people.

"Give him a sword!" Zhao Jiu turned around and gestured to Yang Yizhong. "Then tell him that he can send a son to study martial arts and be my eunuch after he returns, just like he said before that his father was a guard for the White River Emperor... Also tell him that in a few days, I will hold a special ceremony for the Japanese delegation to let his entourage know that I look upon him differently."

After all the trouble, Ping Zhongsheng went back directly with gratitude, while the civil and military officials around him could only sigh at the methods of Emperor Zhao... Only Li Guang frowned slightly, and wanted to speak several times, but no one knew what he was thinking.

Just like that, after a few days, unlike the Koreans who were hastily driven away, the Japanese delegation indeed enjoyed super-class treatment.

Without mentioning this matter, the court subsequently made several revisions and debates, from the Secret Chamber to the Public Chamber, from the Stone Pavilion to the Wende Hall. In the end, with the strong push of Emperor Zhao and the support of the ministers, this package plan for Jiancai was passed.

On the first day of May, the relevant news was officially published on the front page of the official newspaper:

The stamp tax and excess land tax will be officially implemented in June. The special national debt for the Northern Expedition will be issued on a trial basis for 500,000 strings of cash. As in the past, the national debt will have all the previous national debt privileges.

Ten days later, another message was revealed at the end of the front page of the official newspaper:

The court will set up a maritime trade company. Both Emperor Zhao and the court will have shares. Important ministers of the cabinet and the outer cabinet, generals, military governors, and commanders and above will all have indefinite shares. Maritime merchants and cargo owners are welcome to participate.

On the first day of late May, the second edition of the newspaper mentioned another incident:

In order to raise funds for the Northern Expedition, Emperor Zhao decided to auction part of the royal collection in July through an open sale. At the same time, in addition to reserving half of the mansion that had been built in Jingyuan, Beidongjing City as a reward for important ministers, it would participate in the open sale.

Regardless of one's background, the highest bidder wins, and the first one to arrive wins. Everyone can be neighbors with Prime Minister Lu Gong, Prime Minister Zhao, and Prince Han, and live only one wall away from the residences of the two empresses dowagers.

On the first day of June, when the court began to implement the new taxes, the court gazette published the news that the Western Mongolian King had sent more than a dozen sons to serve the emperor. At the same time, the news that the sea flag and royal qualifications would be included in the public purchase also appeared half-hidden in the court gazette.

Before that, these two pieces of news had already spread through specific channels.

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