Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 53 Using Hegemony to Subdue Kings

Heroes can resonate with each other.

Zhao Dezhao borrowed a quote from the great man, which made Zhao Kuangyin burst into laughter, feeling genuinely happy that his son had such ambition.

If it were any other emperor, a prince would certainly not dare to say such things in front of the emperor.

Because the power of the crown prince is actually in opposition to that of the emperor.

But this era was different, and Zhao Da was ultimately different from other emperors.

Unlike many emperors, he had high hopes for his son, so even if Zhao Dezhao performed exceptionally well, he would not be alarmed but would feel genuinely pleased.

"After the rebellion of Li Jun is quelled, you should study the ways of governing the country diligently. When you are of marriageable age and have your own household, your father will allow you to enter the court and participate in politics."

"If you perform well, I will reserve the position of Prefect of the Capital for you!"

After laughing, Zhao Kuangyin stood up and looked at Zhao Dezhao, his eyes full of expectation.

Prefect of Jingzhao!

These four words carried extraordinary weight in the political landscape of the court at that time.

Since the time of Zhu Liang, if a prince could achieve the position of Prince of the First Rank and Prefect of the Capital, then that prince could be considered the de facto crown prince!

In other words, from this moment on, Zhao Kuangyin officially recognized his son from the bottom of his heart!

However, Zhao Dezhao, who should have been overjoyed, remained silent.

His brows furrowed slightly, a hint of unspoken sorrow lingering between his brows, revealing no trace of joy.

"What's wrong? You seem a little unwilling?" Zhao Kuangyin saw through his son's thoughts at a glance, his brows furrowed, and his tone became more serious:

"Don't be overly ambitious. The way of the emperor cannot be understood without personal experience."

"Since the late Tang Dynasty, any prince who aspires to become emperor must personally experience all matters of state, large and small, and gradually take charge of the court's reports in order to understand the merits and demerits of governance, gain insight into the true feelings of the people, and thus establish the government of the country."

"Among the various positions in Kaifeng, the Prefect of the Capital is the most important."

"If you truly aspire to change the world, and are skilled in government affairs, then becoming the Prefect of the Capital is the path you must take!"

"With Bianjing in our hands, there is nothing to worry about in the world! You should know this principle."

After speaking, Zhao Kuangyin paused slightly, looking at his son's still furrowed brows, and softened his tone, speaking slowly again:

"Since the time of the Zhu Liang dynasty, soldiers have run rampant. If the emperor has no military power, he is naturally just a puppet. I know what your concerns are."

"But there's no need to have these concerns!"

His tiger-like eyes narrowed slightly, a flash of cold light passing through them, carrying an undeniable domineering aura: "If you truly possess the potential to become a dragon among men, I will personally clear away all obstacles for you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao let out a soft sigh.

What Zhao Kuangyin said was indeed an irrefutable fact since the end of the Tang Dynasty.

The An Lushan Rebellion marked the transition from the height of the Tang Dynasty to its decline, and a significant reason for this rebellion was the Tang Dynasty's military structure of "emphasizing external affairs over internal ones."

The border governors held considerable military power, while the central government's forces were depleted, ultimately leading to disaster.

Learning from the past is something every political being does.

"Defend the interior and weaken the exterior" was a famous policy in the Song Dynasty, but in fact, the prototype of this policy was not created by Zhao Kuangyin; Zhao Kuangyin was the one who perfected it.

As early as the Zhu Liang period, a slight trend of "defending the interior and neglecting the exterior" had already emerged.

This is what is known as the "royal way".

The "inner" in "guarding the inner and neglecting the outer" usually refers to the capital city of Kaifeng.

Because this trend has been strengthening, starting from the reign of Emperor Zhu Liang, the position of Prince and Prefect of the Capital became a symbol of tacitly accepting the position of Crown Prince.

In Zhao Kuangyin's view, since Zhao Dezhao's change of status, he seemed to have become enlightened. Whether it was his study of military strategy, his splitting rocks to clear a path in the Taihang Mountains, or his utterance of "I wish to change the world," all of these were enough to prove it...

Zhao Dezhao possesses the qualities of a ruler.

As long as his son follows the path he has paved, he will surely be able to secure the throne of the Song Dynasty in the future!

Zhao Kuangyin's idea was not wrong, because historically, Zhao Guangyi followed the path of a prince and governor of the capital before finally reaching that position.

The key point is that Zhao Dezhao was unwilling to do so.

Once he embarks on this path of "defending the interior while neglecting the exterior," he is destined to become a staunch supporter of this policy.

When this policy becomes an established system, a large number of vested interests will inevitably emerge both in and out of government and the public.

At that time, if he wants to reverse this situation, it will be as difficult as climbing to the sky!

More importantly, the policy of "defending the interior while neglecting the exterior" was one of the root causes of the Song Dynasty's weakness for hundreds of years to come!

Is this really the only path to take in the world?

If Zhao Dezhao were unaware of the various humiliations the Song Dynasty had suffered throughout its history, then that would be one thing.

If Zhao Dezhao hadn't been strongly influenced by nationalism in his previous life, then so be it.

But Zhao Dezhao is not one of them!

Since we've decided to change the world, let's do it completely!

Let's completely overturn it!

Now that he has become Zhao Dezhao in this life, the name of the weak Song Dynasty must never be allowed to exist again!

He wanted the name of the Great Song Dynasty to shine brightly throughout the long history of China!

Thinking of this, Zhao Dezhao's eyes suddenly became incredibly firm. Meeting Zhao Kuangyin's surprised gaze, he also stood up and bowed deeply to his father:

"Your Majesty is willing to plan for the long term for your son. Your son is deeply grateful and moved to tears. I am filled with trepidation."

"However, after hearing Father's words, I thought of Zhu Youwen, Li Congrong, Shi Chonggui and others."

"They all used this system to successfully ascend to the throne back then."

"But I would like to ask Father, have they managed to protect the empire?"

Zhao Dezhao stopped there, but his meaning was quite clear.

I don't want to go down that same old path!

Having decided to speak frankly to his father, Zhao Dezhao had no intention of hiding anything anymore.

No matter how wise and powerful my father was, he was not a person of the future and could not predict what would happen a hundred years later. Naturally, he did not know how much of a hidden danger the policy of "defending the interior and neglecting the exterior" would bring to the Song Dynasty.

If Zhao Dezhao wanted to point this out, he could only use those princes and prefects of the capital as examples to criticize their predecessors.

Then, before his father could speak again, Zhao Dezhao brought up another example of a successful person:

"My father was once a close friend of Emperor Shizong of Zhou, so he was naturally aware of Shizong's experiences."

"When Guo Rong, the Emperor Shizong of Zhou, was young, he was carefully cultivated by Emperor Taizu of Zhou. He was appointed as the Prince of Jin, the Prefect of Kaifeng, and received a last will and testament. The path that Emperor Taizu paved for him was smooth."

"Moreover, Emperor Shizong of Zhou was praised for his talent and virtue in every position he held."

"But what happened next?"

"During the Battle of Gaoping, if it weren't for my father and others risking their lives to protect it, the Great Zhou Dynasty would have perished in the dust of history that year!"

"If the Prince and the Prefect of the Capital could ensure the survival of the nation, then the world should have been unified long ago. How could it have fallen into such chaos!"

"Therefore, I believe that the way of a prince and governor of the capital is by no means the way of an emperor to achieve long-term stability!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Kuangyin was stunned and fell into a long silence.

As someone who personally experienced the Battle of Gaoping, Zhao Kuangyin naturally knew that his son was not speaking nonsense.

During the Battle of Gaoping, the Zhou army had more troops than the Northern Han army, but as soon as the two armies clashed, the right flank of the Zhou army collapsed without a fight.

If it weren't for their desperate fighting, and Emperor Shizong of Zhou's own desperate attempt to survive, the Zhou army would not have been able to turn defeat into victory.

After the Battle of Gaoping, Guo Rong, still shaken, executed dozens of imperial guards generals in one fell swoop, demonstrating just how critical the situation was.

Although the outcome of the Battle of Gaoping was good for the Central Plains regime, should the survival of the Central Plains regime be attributed to the word "fortunately"?

Looking at his son, Zhao Kuangyin felt a slight wavering and doubt for the first time regarding his long-held policy of "defending the interior and weakening the exterior."

After a long silence, Zhao Kuangyin suddenly smiled. He sat back down, gestured for his son to sit down as well, and then slowly began to speak:

"What do you want? Just say it."

It's not hard to tell from Zhao Dezhao's words that his son doesn't want to follow the path to becoming an emperor that he paved for him.

He was quite curious about what his son was thinking.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao, who had just sat down, stood up, poured his father a cup of tea, and said softly:

"Father, I believe that since ancient times, those who wish to become emperors have only followed two paths: kingship and hegemony."

"In these chaotic times, with order broken and people's hearts in turmoil, the rule of tyranny must come first!"

"Continue," Zhao Kuangyin said, picking up his teacup and gently blowing away the foam, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

Encouraged by Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Dezhao immediately expressed his thoughts:

"What is hegemony? In short, it is the power of the military."

"The world is in chaos, the order has collapsed, and war has broken out everywhere. Military power is the very foundation of an empire! The world is in turmoil, benevolence and righteousness have lost their foundation, and propriety and law have fallen into disarray. Only military force can determine the fate of the nation!"

"If there are no elite troops outside the tent, even if one possesses gold and jade, one will still be fish and meat; if the banners do not flutter, even if one has a legitimate claim, one will ultimately perish."

"Therefore, without military force, one cannot stand; without it, one cannot survive; this is the root of chaos in the world!"

Zhao Dezhao's words caused Zhao Kuangyin's tiger-like eyes to narrow slightly. He took a sip of tea, then suddenly smiled, but his smile carried a hint of scrutiny.

"So...you want to seize military power?"

Although Zhao Kuangyin was smiling when he said this, Zhao Dezhao suddenly felt a chill in his heart for no reason, as if he were being stared at by a bloodthirsty tiger.

He knew all too well that the words "military power" were the most sensitive topic in his father's mind!

Whoever moves, dies.

Even Zhao Guangyi in history, who inherited the system of princes and prefects of the capital, never extended his reach into military power!

Until the night before Zhao Da died, all the troops in the world were still in Zhao Da's own hands!

His words undoubtedly touched a nerve with the emperor.

"right!"

Even though his heart trembled slightly, there were some things Zhao Dezhao still had to say.

He met Zhao Kuangyin's scrutinizing gaze, his eyes growing even more resolute:

"In today's world, warlords are vying for power, people's hearts are yearning for change, the social order has collapsed, and the inferiors are overthrowing the superiors."

"The chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty is just like today, but back then, the King of Qin played a song to break through the enemy lines, and from then on, the Tang Dynasty flourished throughout the land!"

"The princes and prefects' strategies for defending the country can, at best, only achieve a partial peace in a small corner of the land, thus securing the stability of a small state!"

"But if one wishes to pacify the world, one must act as a hegemon!"

After saying this, Zhao Dezhao was actually a little uneasy.

Because some of the people and words mentioned were somewhat disrespectful, he couldn't be entirely sure that his father wouldn't be angry about it.

Just as Zhao Dezhao was feeling uneasy, Zhao Kuangyin suddenly put down his teacup and asked a meaningful question:

"You just mentioned Emperor Taizong of Tang. Are you perhaps intending to emulate him?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao was stunned. Looking at his father's meaningful gaze, he was unsure what his father meant by "imitating".

It couldn't possibly be the Xuanwu Gate Incident, could it?

What kind of person did they take Zhao Dezhao for?

Just as Zhao Dezhao was still pondering his father's thoughts, Zhao Kuangyin seemed to see through Zhao Dezhao's inner unease. He suddenly smiled and said:

"Emperor Taizong's strategies can certainly serve as a model for you."

"However, if one chooses to embark on this path, it will inevitably be like walking on thin ice, trembling with fear, and the slightest misstep will lead to falling into the abyss and never recovering."

"As my eldest son, if you adopt the benevolent way, things will go much more smoothly in the future."

Have you thought about this matter carefully?

Zhao Kuangyin was telling the truth.

In chaotic times, heroes abound, but even those with exceptional talent may not survive to the end.

For example, Li Cunxu and Guo Rong may not have been as good as Emperor Taizong, but they were still worthy of the title of "hero"!

However, Li Cunxu was domineering and indulged in pleasure too early, which eventually led to the Xingjiaomen Incident.

Guo Rong died young, his ambitions unfulfilled, and a brilliant talent fell from grace.

The road is treacherous; how many people in this world can successfully reach the other side?

However, Zhao Kuangyin's words also reminded Zhao Dezhao of the Song Dynasty in history.

Redundant officials, redundant soldiers, and redundant expenses are all products of the so-called policy of "preserving the interior while neglecting the exterior."

Yes, the internal rebellion was quelled very quickly.

But similarly...

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun and the Hexi Corridor became an unresolved regret throughout the Song Dynasty!

And then there's the Treaty of Chanyuan... the humiliation of Jingkang, all of which are shames that the entire Song Dynasty could not erase!

"Father, a broken and incomplete peace is not what your son desires!"

"The road ahead is long and arduous, but I am willing to give it my all!"

Upon hearing Zhao Dezhao's words, Zhao Kuangyin's gaze became extremely complex, as if he were meeting his eldest son for the first time.

Silence fell over the tent for a moment, with only the flickering candlelight.

After a long silence, Zhao Kuangyin stood up, turned around, his back to Zhao Dezhao, and sighed softly:

"Since you insist on this, I will not try to persuade you any further."

"In the end, you have to walk your own path, especially in matters of the military, where I can't offer you much help."

"I will give you a chance, but how far you go is entirely up to you..."

Zhao Dezhao couldn't see his father's expression, but his father's words had already made his eyes shine. He suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to his father's back.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty!"

"Step down."

Zhao Kuangyin waved his hand, seemingly feeling slightly tired.

"Your subject takes his leave."

After Zhao Dezhao's figure disappeared into the tent, Zhao Kuangyin remained silent for a long time before taking out the letter in Empress Dowager Du's handwriting from the table again and reading it carefully several times.

Then, he took a blank imperial edict, paused for a long time, and then slowly wrote a line:

"The Emperor hereby appoints his younger brother Zhao Guangyi as the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, and he shall assume office immediately to oversee all affairs in the capital region."

Promoting Zhao Guangyi to the position of Prefect of Kaifeng was something Zhao Kuangyin had already considered.

He knew that his younger brother was mediocre in military strategy, but capable in civil administration.

Transferring him to the position of Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture would allow him to utilize his strengths, assist him in handling domestic affairs and stabilizing the rear, and also appease the Empress Dowager.

Why not kill two birds with one stone?

Zhao Dezhao's previous words prompted him to make this decision immediately.

There must be a trustworthy person in charge at the rear.

Since Zhao Dezhao was unwilling, the only other person who could be Zhao Guangyi was Zhao Dezhao.

After finishing writing, Zhao Kuangyin put away the edict, looked up at the outside of the tent, and his gaze seemed to fall on Zhao Dezhao, who had just returned to his own tent.

Suddenly, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

"To defend the interior while weakening the exterior, thus achieving hegemony over the king?"

"I'd like to see just how far you can go..."