In the Great Ming Hongwu realm, outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Looking at the list of flaws in the Song Dynasty’s ancestral system on the golden board, Zhu Yuanzhang first widened his eyes, then obediently shut his mouth, snorted coldly, and said nothing.
But by a stroke of luck, Prince Qi Zhu Fu was quite interested and shouted loudly:
“Father, elder brother, I think the golden board is right!”
“The Song Dynasty must have perished because of these civil officials!”
After Zhu Fu finished shouting, he found that no one was responding, and he immediately realized this, chuckling and saying:
“Actually, I think the ancestral system is important too...”
“Enough!”
Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and raised his hand to interrupt Zhu Fu’s words.
“Father, what does the golden board say?”
Zhu Biao asked with a smile.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, glanced at the Imperial Ancestral Injunction on the wooden case, his eyes narrowed, and he mumbled like a child who had done wrong:
“This Heavenly Dao old fellow actually makes some sense...”
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn’t refute this. As a person from the future, he did know the harm of the Song Dynasty’s ancestral system, but he wouldn’t admit it!
“So what? The Song Dynasty’s is the Song Dynasty’s, the Great Ming is the Great Ming, ours is different from that of Old Zhao’s family!”
“Old Zhao’s family wants to emphasize literature and suppress martial arts, but we don’t write it like that!”
Zhu Yuanzhang was smug, and Zhu Biao shook his head in wry amusement.
Although this was the case, Zhu Biao already knew in his heart that his father’s mind was already wavering!
If the Song Dynasty’s ancestral system could have problems, who could guarantee that the Great Ming’s ancestral system wouldn’t have problems hundreds of years later?
The reason why his father was so stubborn was just that he didn’t want to admit his mistakes in front of his sons and grandchildren…
But for Zhu Biao, this was enough. As long as his father’s mind was wavering, it was a good thing…
…
The Great Qing Qianlong realm, outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Hongli was bewildered and stared wide-eyed. When the golden board said that the Song Dynasty’s ancestral system led to the Song Dynasty’s downfall, Hongli was still full of disdain and doubt!
But now seeing the golden board’s eloquent listing, coupled with the previous expansion of civil officials and factional strife in the Song Dynasty, even the strongest emperor couldn’t help but lower his head and acknowledge the truth.
But if this was the case, wouldn’t it prove that the Qing Dynasty’s ancestral system might also have problems?
“He Shen, do you think the Qing Dynasty’s ancestral system also has problems…”
He Shen was startled. He didn’t expect the emperor to ask such a question!
But as Hongli’s trusted minister for many years, his mind quickly reacted, and he said with a smile:
“Your Majesty, if you say there aren’t any, you won’t believe it, but if you say it’s as serious as the Song Dynasty, this servant doesn’t think so!”
These words instantly aroused Hongli’s interest, his brows raised in question, he asked:
“How do you say that?”
“Your Majesty, look, the Song Dynasty was before the Qing Dynasty, the Great Ming was after the Song Dynasty, and our Great Qing inherited the Great Ming’s system. As descendants, no matter what system it is, it’s already been perfected.”
“Our Great Qing’s ancestral system is like this. There’s no factional strife, no expansion of civil officials, and now the people are prosperous. It’s like the prosperous eras of Han and Tang Dynasties, which proves that the Great Qing’s ancestral system has no problems!”
Hearing this, Hongli’s expression softened slightly, he nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile:
“You’re right, our Great Qing has already absorbed all the experience of previous dynasties, and our system is already incredibly perfect!”
Thinking this, Hongli smiled…
…
Perhaps because the golden board heard Zhao Kuangyin’s voice, as soon as Zhao Kuangyin finished speaking, the words on the golden board disappeared and were replaced by a new review:
【The matter of the Song Dynasty’s tribute originated from the Treaty of Chanyuan, the first emperor to sign it was Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng, and it gradually became a regular practice in the Song Dynasty!】
【In the first year of Song Zhenzong’s Jingde reign, Liao Empress Dowager Xiao and Liao Shengzong Yelu Longxu, under the guise of recovering the Waqiao Pass, launched a sudden attack southward, penetrating deep into Song territory.】
【Liao general Xiao Tailin first captured Suicheng and captured Song general Wang Xianzhi. Then he defeated Dingzhou and captured the Song Dynasty’s Yunzhou Observation Envoy Wang Jizhong. The Song Dynasty’s court was shaken, Zhao Heng was afraid of the enemy and wanted to move the capital south to flee. Hundreds of officials agreed, only Prime Minister Kou Zhun opposed it, advising Zhenzong to personally lead an expedition!】
【Zhao Heng, forced by circumstances, went north. Then the Song and Liao faced each other at Dingzhou. Because Liao had penetrated deep into Song territory, Empress Dowager Xiao feared being attacked from both front and rear, so she accepted Wang Jizhong’s advice and proposed peace talks with the Song Dynasty. Zhao Heng waved his hand and refused!】
“Hahaha! Zhao Heng did well, this is a true son of Old Zhao’s family!”
Zhao Kuangyin was overjoyed!
Originally, when he saw the Liao troops marching south and Zhao Heng was about to flee south, Zhao Kuangyin was furious and roared outside the palace, asking people to bring him the “Dragon-Coiling Staff”!
He was going to give this descendant of his a good lesson!
Unexpectedly, before his anger subsided, he saw Zhao Heng personally leading an expedition and even forcefully rejecting the other party’s peace talks, Zhao Kuangyin was overjoyed!
The officials and Zhao Guangyi also laughed along.
Look, look, the later monarchs of my Song Dynasty still have some skills!
【In November, the Liao army was defeated at Shuozhou. Then the Liao army concentrated its forces to attack Yingzhou. Yingzhou’s defending general Ji Yanwu defended the city for more than ten days, and the Liao army was unable to capture it. Then Xiao Tailin and Xiao Guanyinnu combined forces to capture Qizhou. Then they captured Jizhou, Beizhou, and Deqing, and surrounded Dazhou from three sides!】
Looking at the words on the golden board, Zhao Kuangyin frowned slightly, his expression changed, and he hurriedly waved his hand and shouted:
“Someone, bring me the map!”
“Yes!”
A palace attendant disappeared outside the palace in one step, and soon came back holding the map of the Hebei provinces of the Song Dynasty.
Zhao Kuangyin quickly unfurled the map, comparing it to the golden board and muttering to himself:
“Yingzhou, Qizhou, Jizhou, Beizhou, Deqing, Dazhou…”
Zhao Guangyi was also curious and came closer, and some ministers who understood military affairs also dared to approach and watch.
【Xiao Tailin, confident in his bravery, personally led dozens of horsemen to inspect the city of Dazhou. Unexpectedly, he was shot and killed by Song general Zhang Huan with a bed crossbow. The Song army’s morale soared, and Zhao Heng himself arrived in Dazhou. The emperor personally led the expedition, and the morale of the city soared, and there were hundreds of thousands of Song troops and civilians gathered there!】
“Bang!”
After a long while, Zhao Kuangyin slammed his hand on the wooden case, his eyes sharp, and he said calmly:
“We can fight! We can still fight!”
Zhao Guangyi also nodded slightly. “Second brother, Zhenzong personally led the expedition. The Liao army went deep into our territory. They won the initial battle, but as time passed, they were running out of resources. They will inevitably be weakened due to logistics, food supplies, and morale. If we continue to hold on, our army will surely win!”
“Yes, but if I were you, I would take the initiative to attack and catch the Liao army off guard!”
As soon as Zhao Kuangyin finished speaking, he saw the golden words appear on the golden board, leaving everyone in the hall stunned:
【Empress Dowager Xiao is indeed a rare and talented woman in Liao. Seeing that attacking the city was hopeless, and she had gone deep into enemy territory, she quickly sent envoys to the Song Dynasty to sue for peace.】
【And Zhao Heng was also happy to make peace with the Liao army. Prime Minister Kou Zhun knew about this and, together with General Yang Yanzhao, strongly advised Zhao Heng not to make peace, but to take the initiative to attack. They might even be able to launch a northern expedition to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, but Zhao Heng refused to listen, he was timid and afraid of the enemy, he only wanted to make peace!】
【Then the Song court sent envoys and quickly signed a treaty with Liao, known as the Treaty of Chanyuan…】
…
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