【Zhao Heng was extremely generous. Upon receiving the Liao Dynasty's peace proposal, he instructed the peace envoy, Cao Li Yong, to agree to any Liao demands, as long as they didn't involve ceding land. Even if they asked for a million taels of silver, he would agree!】
【After Cao Li Yong departed, the Prime Minister, Kou Zhun, secretly warned Cao Li Yong, "Although His Majesty has a million, but if it exceeds three hundred thousand, I will chop off your head."】
【Cao Li Yong arrived at the Liao camp, and the two sides soon signed an alliance agreement. The agreement stated:】
【The Song and Liao Dynasties would henceforth be brother states. Because the Liao Emperor, Sheng Zong, was young, they would refer to the Song Emperor, Zhen Zong, as their elder brother. This would be the norm for future emperors as well.】
【The Bai Gou River would serve as the border between the Song and Liao Dynasties. The Liao Dynasty would relinquish the two prefectures of Ying and Mo. Both sides would withdraw their troops. After the withdrawal, anyone who crossed the border would be apprehended without exception. Both sides would maintain their existing fortifications, and neither would be allowed to strengthen their defenses or build new fortifications.】
【The Song Dynasty would annually provide the Liao Dynasty with "military expenses" of ten thousand taels of silver and two hundred thousand bolts of silk, which would be delivered to Xiong Zhou.】
【The two sides would open markets at Xiong Zhou and Ba Zhou, enabling trade between the two kingdoms.】
【When the treaty signing concluded, Cao Li Yong returned to the capital and met with Emperor Zhen Zong, Zhao Heng. Zhao Heng eagerly inquired about the terms of the treaty. Upon hearing that the total amount was only three hundred thousand, he was overjoyed, praising Cao Li Yong as a wise minister and greatly promoting him.】
【Afterward, both sides withdrew their troops, and peace was restored along the border. After the treaty was signed, there were no major wars between the Song and Liao Dynasties. The two sides enjoyed nearly a century of peace. The Song Dynasty used annual tribute payments to end the war, saving a significant amount of military expenditure and alleviating the tax burden on the northern Song border.】
【The only significant change in territory between the two sides occurred in the second year of Emperor Renzong's Qingli reign. The Liao Dynasty took advantage of the Song Dynasty's invasion of Western Xia to demand land. The Song Dynasty ceded ten thousand taels of silver and ten thousand bolts of silk to the Liao Dynasty.】
【Then, in the seventh year of Emperor Shenzong's Xining reign, the Liao Dynasty again used the pretext of building fortresses in the He Dong Dao region. The following year, the Song Dynasty signed another alliance agreement with the Liao Dynasty, using the Fen Shui Ling as the border, and further ceded territory.】
【Although the signing of the Treaty of Chanyuan brought about a century of peace and reduced the Song Dynasty's financial burden, it also led to the decline of the Song's Hebei Army and Imperial Guard. Only the Western Army remained capable. Military generals were sidelined, and civilian officials gained control of the Western Government.】
【At the same time, the signing of the treaty led to the neglect of military preparedness along the Song and Liao border, resulting in a rapid decline in combat capabilities. This laid the groundwork for the rise of the Jin Dynasty and the subsequent "Jing Kang Incident of Shame" for the Song Dynasty.】
…
Zhao Kuangyin and his court in the Kaiping dimension were dumbfounded, staring blankly at the inscription on the Golden Banner, their breaths quickening.
A gentle breeze rustled the map on the wooden table, producing a soft, rustling sound. This was followed by a thunderous roar from Zhao Kuangyin:
"Damn it! Good-for-nothings! A bunch of good-for-nothings!"
"How could you sign such a humiliating treaty with the Liao Dynasty? Zhao Heng has completely tarnished the reputation of our Zhao clan!"
Just recently, Zhao Kuangyin had praised Zhao Heng as a descendant of the Zhao clan. Now, it was a slap in the face!
How could this bastard be a descendant of the Zhao clan? This is pure nonsense!
"Bring me my Dragon-Suppressing Staff! I'm going to beat this disloyal son to death!"
A palace attendant handed Zhao Kuangyin a long staff, but the courtiers knew that Zhao Heng had not yet been born. Even if the emperor was angry, he had nowhere to vent his rage.
Sure enough, Zhao Kuangyin slammed his staff on the ground, his rage building, his eyes bulging as if they would pop out!
"Second brother, please don't harm your health because of Zhao Heng, this unfilial son!"
Zhao Guangyi quickly stepped forward, and Zhao Pu and the other ministers also pleaded in unison,
"Please think of the Song Dynasty, Your Majesty, and cherish your own health!"
"Nonsense! How can I be at peace with such a disloyal son?!"
Zhao Kuangyin was furious. The courtiers all knelt down in a flurry.
"Please take care of yourself, Your Majesty!"
The courtiers were terrified, afraid that Zhao Kuangyin would faint in anger. If that happened, the Song Dynasty would be in danger!
With the persistent urging of his ministers, Zhao Kuangyin calmed down somewhat, regaining some of his composure. He waved his hand and said in a dejected tone,
"Please rise, my loyal subjects. I understand."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
But before the courtiers could stand up straight, they heard the voice from the Golden Banner again, causing them to be startled once more.
【After the Treaty of Chanyuan, Zhao Heng believed he had accomplished a great feat. He was very excited and decided to use this achievement as a reason to perform a ceremony at Mount Tai!】
"Pu!"
As soon as the words "Mount Tai Ceremony" came out, Zhao Kuangyin spat out a mouthful of blood, his teeth clenched in fury. He fell off his throne!
【Then, in the fifth year of his Jingde reign, Zhao Heng claimed to have dreamt of a divine being. He used this as an opportunity for his court to perform a ceremony at Mount Tai in October of that year.】
【First, Zhao Heng took the "Heavenly Book" and performed a ceremony at Mount Tai. Then, he performed a ritual to the Earth God at Du Shou Mountain. He also went to Qufu to pay homage to Confucius. In the same year, he changed the era name to "Da Zhong Xiang Fu."】
【This ceremony was massive in scale, and the expenses exceeded eight million strings of cash. Subsequent events involved the expenditure of one thousand taels of gold and five thousand taels of silver. It was certainly lavish.】
【Since Emperor Zhenzong's Mount Tai ceremony, no subsequent emperors performed this ceremony at Mount Tai.】
…
Zhao Kuangyin had just been helped up by Zhao Guangyi when he saw the last line on the Golden Banner. His feet slipped, and if Zhao Guangyi hadn't held him firmly, he would have collapsed again!
"Well, well! Zhao Heng really impresses me! His achievements, his spending... truly surpass even my own!"
At this moment, Zhao Kuangyin wasn't angry anymore. He pouted and said loudly.
Even Zhao Guangyi beside him widened his eyes and stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to say.
As for the courtiers, led by Zhao Pu, they were completely bewildered by Zhao Heng's actions!
How could the Song Dynasty have such an absurd emperor in its future?
In the Song-Liao war, if they had listened to the advice of Kou Zhun and Yang Yan Zhao and taken the initiative to attack, they could have severely damaged the Liao army and even recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan Yun!
But in the end, because of Zhao Heng's fear of the enemy, they signed such a humiliating treaty. He even boasted that three hundred thousand was a great achievement. This man's audacity is truly boundless!
As if this wasn't enough, this fellow Zhao Heng didn't feel ashamed. He was even excited to go to Mount Tai to perform the ceremony?!
Before the Song Dynasty, the only emperors who had performed the Mount Tai ceremony were Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Guangwu of Han, Emperor Gaozong of Tang, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang!
Each of these emperors had achieved great feats and were renowned as wise and virtuous rulers in history!
Even the most mediocre of them, Emperor Xuanzong, had achieved the great feat of the "Kai Yuan Prosperity" before the An Lushan Rebellion!
Where did Zhenzong, Zhao Heng, get the audacity to do such a thing? Where did he find the courage?
Most importantly, even Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, hadn't dared to perform the Mount Tai ceremony. Zhao Heng, however, directly broke the precedent and then directly severed the national destiny of Mount Tai?!
The courtiers were stunned. They could only sigh and say nothing else.
At this moment, Zhao Kuangyin's gaze sharpened. He gripped the Dragon-Suppressing Staff in his hand more firmly and thought to himself,
This Song Zhenzong, Zhao Heng, is now on the same list as Song Huizong, Zhao Ji! He deserves to be punished by my "family law!"
…
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