Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

Han Qi's execution marked a turning point in the Song Dynasty. The event sent shockwaves throughout the officialdom, with many officials hastily withdrawing their resignation requests and returning to work. The Audit Office, responsible for Han Qi's execution, became the most feared and respected bureau in the dynasty. Meanwhile, Jia Chang Chao was sent to Yan'an Prefecture to take charge of the Yongxing Army's strategic pacification. Other officials, including Pang Ji, Tang Jie, and Zhao Bian, also left the Western Capital. Wen Yan Bo remained steadfast, but his position was precarious. Wang An Shi submitted a memorial titled "One Hundred Years of Peace in Our Dynasty," which pointed out the crisis in the Song Dynasty lay in "redundant officials," "redundant soldiers," and "redundant expenses." He called for comprehensive reform, including the implementation of the examination system to prevent officials from being inactive. Zhang Fang Ping, the Deputy Censor, submitted a memorial that summarized the experiences from handling cases in Yizhou. He pointed out that the court was overly focused on taxation while neglecting oversight and proposed increasing the number of censors to oversee every budget. Sima Guang, the Minister of the Three Offices, submitted a memorial that focused on financial management. He suggested introducing a banking accounting mechanism, enforcing financial discipline, and strengthening the officials of the Three Offices to enhance budgeting capabilities. The memorials from Wang An Shi, Zhang Fang Ping, and Sima Guang complemented each other perfectly, outlining the framework of the new reforms. The people of the world finally caught a whiff of change, and the court was serious about reform. Outside the city, soldiers were busy with their drills. Zhao Zhen, accompanied by Wang Ning An and Di Qing, walked among the troops and discussed the future of the Song Dynasty. Di Qing proposed a plan to eliminate external threats by training 50,000 elite soldiers and allocating 80,000 horses to the northwest. Wang Ning An supported the plan, and Zhao Zhen was determined to conquer Qing Tang within two years and destroy the Western Xia within five years. The chapter ends with Zhao Zhen receiving a memorial from the Ministry of Rites, which reported on the situation with Qing Tang. The notorious hero, Gu Su Luo, had passed away, and his third son, Dong Zhan, had inherited his position and sent envoys to the Song, hoping to confer titles and gifts. Zhao Zhen was not interested in agreeing to the request.

Full content