dognovel Chapter 125 The Power Struggle Between Zhao Heng and Zhao Gou
Chapter 125 The Power Struggle Between Zhao Heng and Zhao Gou
自古以来，岁月悠悠，历朝更迭，但凡触及土地之根本，举措之推行无不步履维艰。这片广袤的华夏大地，是农耕文明悠远而深沉的摇篮，每一寸土地都镌刻着先民们汗水与希望的印记，那份对土地的深厚情感，宛若血脉相连，非外族所能轻易体察。
于是宋代这些富人们有了囤积土地的习惯，绅士与富户间悄然兴起了一场无声的比拼，不比金银珠宝之奢华，不较奇珍异宝之罕见，唯以土地之广袤为尺，衡量各自财富之丰饶。他们围炉夜话，谈及最多的，莫过于名下良田千顷，沃野无垠，那份对土地的执着与骄傲，如同秋日里金黄的稻穗，沉甸甸地挂在心头，熠熠生辉。
After leaving Wangjiazhuang, the local gentry and wealthy families discussed the day's events in their respective circles. Among them were intelligent people like Wang Juren, but many others chose to continue to observe. After all, not many years had passed since Wang Anshi's reforms, and they did not believe that the Song emperor would allow Li Zhen to run rampant like this without any intervention.
After conveying his reform ideas, Li Zhen sent Yue Peng in an armored vehicle to Anyang Prefecture, leaving the affairs there to Bu Liang and Qian Dazhuang. Li Zhen was going to Anyang Prefecture to do something big: open a border trade market.
Normally, border trade markets are managed and arranged by the official imperial court, but in the territory of Anyang Prefecture, Li Zhen is the government official.
At the entrance of Anyang Prefecture, Manager Sun and Cui Dake were already waiting there. After Li Zhen let them get into the carriage, he drove straight towards the prefectural government office.
Li Zhen asked Cui Dake, "How are things going with your discussions with the Jin people? Will they send someone to attend this trade fair?"
崔大可好像有些晕车，但是他强忍着不适回答：“我专门跑到中都找的小王爷，他倒是非常支持我们开设边贸，就是提出来我们的商品太单一了，最好多弄一些物资过来，他表示会使用黄金和马匹等物资来进行交易。”
孙掌柜也开口道：“我这边将中粮油几乎所有的库存都弄了过来，除了粮食生意交给崔大可外，其余的酒水和油盐酱醋茶等生活物资一应俱全，完全可以应对这次边境商贸。”
Li Zhen: "Hahaha...Good, this time I will also lift the commercial tax in Anyang Prefecture and exempt merchants from commercial tax and toll fees from trading with us. I don't believe such a good policy can't attract them. As long as we revitalize the commerce of Anyang Prefecture, the whole of Anyang Prefecture will benefit."
Li Zhen's actions this time were vastly different from before, a complete transformation. Holding the imperial edict personally issued by Emperor Zhao Gou of the Song Dynasty, he seemed to have been endowed with a supreme authority to control the political landscape of Anyang Prefecture, possessing a solid backing for independent governance in this land. As long as he remained cautious and did not easily raise the banner of rebellion against Zhao Gou, he would be the undisputed supreme ruler of Anyang Prefecture, his word carrying immense weight, and the people's hearts devoted to him.
At this time, Zhao Gou had no time to care about his brother-in-law, because his situation in Lin'an was very precarious.
Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Heng, unexpectedly returned to Chuzhou. Instead of following the planned route to Lin'an, he lingered in that ancient land, a move like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. The Imperial City Guard's spies, like ghosts in the night, moved through the cracks of power, bringing back chilling news—Han Shizhong and Yue Fei's warriors had all sworn oaths of loyalty to Zhao Heng, and the scales of loyalty seemed to be quietly tipping.
Further afield, the regional military governors, each holding their own territory, were no longer at peace. Their minds were stirring with ambition, as if every eye was eyeing the throne, yearning for supreme power. Zhao Gou, the emperor who had once sat firmly on the dragon throne, could now clearly feel that the foundation beneath his feet was crumbling, and his once unshakeable rule was facing an unprecedented challenge.
Qin Hui was bowing as he reported the situation at the front to Zhao Gou: "Your Majesty, the garrison on the western route of Lizhou has repelled two large-scale attacks by the Tibetan army. Although they have won, the garrison on the western route of Lizhou has suffered heavy losses and has sent an urgent report requesting support."
Zhao Gou rubbed his aching head and said, "Aren't there still quite a few troops in the eastern route of Lizhou? Order them to support the western route of Lizhou. We don't have any war with the Jin Kingdom in the north for the time being, so send them there quickly. Also, select a capable civil official and send him as an envoy to Tibet to see if we can avoid a major war with the Tibetans."
After speaking with Qin Hui, Zhao Gou then asked Chancellor Zhang Jun, "Have you received any replies to the transfer orders for Han Shizhong and Yue Fei?"
Zhang Jun: "Your Majesty, we have already dispatched three groups of men, but so far there has been no reply."
赵构：“那就再派，我倒要看看这两个人敢不敢反叛出去！”
刚开始韩世忠和岳飞其实内心挺矛盾的，一个是新皇帝，一个是接受正统的旧皇帝，两人似乎都是大宋的最高统治者，但两人也都有着各自的问题。最好还是韩世忠替两人做了决断，他决定力挺赵恒，因为靖康之耻是宋国武人集团的耻辱，如今赵恒平安返回了宋国，那他们就要一雪前耻，重新效忠报效大宋，要学习宋太祖赵匡胤武力强国。
Thus, through Han Shizhong's vigorous mediation, generals from all over the Song Dynasty flocked to Zhao Heng's side. Some did not come in person, but sent letters of oath and pledges written in blood. The current situation was very favorable for Zhao Heng, but he was also deeply worried. After all, he had been away from the Song Dynasty for several years, and he didn't know whether he or Zhao Gou had the support of the people.
Han Shizhong reported to Zhao Heng, who was dressed in a yellow dragon robe: "Your Majesty, we received letters today from the naval forces of Fuzhou and Quanzhou. They expressed their full support for Your Majesty and said they would obey Your Majesty's orders unconditionally should the situation change. In addition, the number of troops we have gathered in Chuzhou has now reached 150,000. With these troops, Your Majesty's great cause will be accomplished soon."
Zhao Heng glanced in the direction of Lin'an in the south, sighed and said, "I don't know if returning to the Song Dynasty this time was the right thing to do or not. Sometimes I think that it would be quite good if Ninth Brother were the emperor. At least he held off the Jin army's iron cavalry from continuing to march south and protected the most important Jiangnan region of the Song Dynasty."
Han Shizhong became anxious upon hearing this, because he and Yue Fei had already made their choice. If the person in front of them were to go back on his word now, wouldn't they both lose their lives?
“陛下三思，虽说您有被金人俘虏的过往，但是毕竟您才是大宋最合法最有权威的皇帝，如今您既然回来了，你觉得南边的那位会这么轻易地放过你吗？”
赵恒知道韩世忠说的是实话，他沉思良久后缓缓开口：“去找懂礼法的官员，查看一下黄历，找个时间昭告天下吧。你说得很对，我才是大宋真正的主人，等平定了大宋内部纷争后，实在不行就让我这个九弟当个闲散王爷吧。”