Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

During Zhang Dun's diplomatic mission, the Song Dynasty faced a crisis marked by a severe drought and subsequent frost, leading to crop failures and a locust plague. The emperor, Zhao Shu, was pressured to eat fried locusts as a show of leadership, which he reluctantly did after discovering that his future empress, Wang Qing, had already eaten them. As the locusts were controlled through collective efforts, relief measures were initiated, including the introduction of beet cultivation to mitigate food shortages. Despite some areas still suffering from the plague, the overall food supply remained stable, although futures market prices began to rise. Zhang Dun also worked with the Land of Wa, convincing them to attack Gao Li with the support of the Song Dynasty. He arranged for ships and financial aid, leading to a trade agreement that favored the Japanese, who were eager to seize the opportunity. Zhang Dun's manipulative strategies aimed to exploit the situation for the benefit of the Song Dynasty, as he prepared to profit from the impending conflict.

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