But writers who play politics always tend to overlook one thing.
All political rules are formulated under the control of hardliners who wield real power.
The ministers left behind by the older generation cannot shake off the deep-rooted influence of the past in their way of thinking, and believe that the balance of power in the court is very important.
But in Zhao Huan's view, his own safety was the most important thing.
Over the course of ten years, the imperial court implemented vigorous reforms, leading to unprecedented prosperity in commerce. The royal bank printed paper money day and night, and massive amounts of wealth flowed into the people under the guidance of the imperial court.
This will inevitably create a large number of top billionaires.
People's initial goals are very simple; they may just want to make money and improve their lives.
But people's hearts change.
Once you've made a lot of money, you'll want to make even more.
The desire to earn more money inevitably breeds a stronger desire, and one's attention begins to shift towards power.
Similarly, they wielded unprecedented power, and their boundless wealth grew rapidly through that power.
Initially, those in power also have good intentions, but as time goes by, and with the encouragement of those who have become wealthy and have developed ambitions, people can change.
The two began to merge, giving rise to a new interest group.
This new interest group, as it stands, does not appear to conflict with Zhao Huan.
They were a newly emerging merchant faction, a product of Zhao Huan's new policies.
They even helped Zhao Huan expand the empire's borders, transporting the Song Dynasty's economy to places the army couldn't reach for the time being.
Moreover, their influence was indispensable in Zhao Huan's imperial strategy for the next ten years.
In Zhao Huan's own judgment, they were the bourgeoisie.
During the ten years of reform, Xu Churen gradually became the leading spokesperson for the merchant faction in the imperial court.
This change was not permitted by the emperor.
Moreover, newly emerging private capital, in its quest for greater power in the Song Dynasty, has even begun to participate in the selection of the crown prince.
What are we supposed to do?
They've only just learned to walk, and they're already trying to cause trouble?
This undoubtedly touched a nerve with Zhao Huan.
What triggered Zhao Huan's outburst was a murder case that occurred in Yingtian Prefecture half a month later.
No matter how you look at it, this is a trivial matter, not enough to alarm the emperor of the empire.
But this happened to be a shooting.
The one who fired the shot was Zheng Yun, the third young master of the Zheng family in Yingtian Prefecture.
In Zhao Huan's mind, the gun was a powerful weapon of the state and an indispensable piece of equipment for the army.
The imperial court continued to manufacture more firearms and equip them for the army. In the future, the Song army would cross even wider lands and reach even more distant foreign lands.
But if the muskets fell into the hands of the common people, especially the powerful local families, it would be tantamount to telling Zhao Huan: I am going to kill you, the emperor!
Why did this matter involve Dazai?
Xu Churen was originally from Yingtian Prefecture, and his wife, Zheng, was the eldest daughter of the former head of the Zheng family.
In any case, Xu Churen cannot escape responsibility for this matter.
During the war to destroy the Jin dynasty, the emperor was willing to cause turmoil in order to dismiss Xu Churen, which shows how angry he was about the matter.
Even Zhao Huan, who suffers from paranoia, believed that the Zheng family was deliberately stirring up trouble.
They're trying to assassinate me!
According to the newly compiled Song Dynasty law by Zhang Shuye and Liu Yanzong, this was a capital offense punishable by death.
The legal process in this case was very fast; on the third day after the incident, Zheng Yun's head rolled off the ground.
The Zheng family was also implicated and their property was confiscated; all of their enormous wealth accumulated over the past ten years was confiscated and sent to the national treasury.
Although the Zheng family was the catalyst for Xu Churen's demotion, this matter was not brought to the forefront.
Xu Churen's crime was embezzlement.
The Zheng family handled the matter entirely in an official and transparent manner.
It may be many years later that the connection between the Xu Churen case and the Zheng family can be found in unofficial folk histories.
In any case, the emperor had already done everything he could for Xu Churen.
After all, during this period, Liu Yanzong went in and out without eating or drinking, all in an effort to kill Xu Churen.
The Censorate compiled a thick list of crimes, even bringing up the fact that Xu Churen, at his advanced age, had taken a concubine.
Liu Yanzong accused Xu Churen of having strange hobbies in the imperial court.
For example, he liked to drip wax on people and tie up his concubines with ropes.
He also developed a liking for the strange sounds his concubine made.
These words were spoken by Liu Yanzong in a grand and dignified manner in the imperial court where the emperor was discussing matters with his officials, and he did so without batting an eye.
Liu Yanzong's shamelessness naturally drew a lot of angry criticism.
This sparked another spectacular war of words in the imperial court.
It was only under the circumstances of this war of words and the overall situation that Xu Churen was demoted.
Judging from Xu Churen's demotion, the emperor wasn't someone who would turn his back on someone for everything.
At least, the emperor spared Xu Churen's life, and he even retained an official position, albeit a very minor and sinecure.
This offered some solace to the ministers.
Amidst factional struggles among various forces, Yu Yunwen has taken over the Council of State.
Few could have predicted that a power struggle in the Song Dynasty would unfold so swiftly.
The position of the head of the Political Affairs Hall was surprisingly given to a 27-year-old young man.
No one knows what this young man will do next.
When Yu Yunwen first entered the central government and served as Minister of the Navy, he presented the "Four Strategies for the South China Sea," which immediately made him famous for his strong leadership.
Under his leadership, the strategy for the Southern Sea region of the Great Song Dynasty achieved brilliant results.
Therefore, Yu Yunwen also has a group of supporters.
Yu Yunwen was a staunch advocate of war, even more so than Li Gang.
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