Song Xiu

Chapter 41 There is a Sister Xiao in the North

While the selection of concubines for Zhao Dexiu was in full swing in Kaifeng, the capitals of various countries across the land were also receiving official letters from the newly established Song Dynasty.

In the distant Chengdu Imperial Palace, there is a Maha Pond, surrounded by many ornately decorated canopies.

The Shu ruler Meng Chang was leaning against a curtain, covered with a lotus-colored Shu brocade robe wrapped with gold thread, each fold of the robe gleaming like pearls.

Meng Chang held a piece of cheese between his fingers, but he was too lazy to eat it. He just stared blankly at the jade feet of the dancers that were faintly visible outside the tent.
A dozen or so scantily clad girls were twirling on the white jade ground. The coral beads and glass shards on their skirts collided with each other, emitting a bewitching light that made even the moonlight over Maha Pond pale in comparison.

Having just finished favoring a palace maid, Meng Chang was still immersed in the alluring light, and felt a restless stirring in his lower body.

"Your Majesty, this is the newly made Ruilong Pill."

Inside the tent, an imperial eunuch noticed Meng Chang's change and promptly and considerately offered him a specially made aphrodisiac from Sichuan.

Without any hesitation, Meng Chang took the pill from the eunuch's hand and swallowed it.

Feeling the heat gradually rising in his lower abdomen, Meng Chang couldn't help but ask, "Is Lady Huarui not yet allowed to serve you in bed?"

The mere thought of that stunning beauty made Meng Chang feel as if the flames within him were about to burst forth.

When Meng Chang inquired about Lady Huarui, the eunuch bowed and replied, "Lady is unwell and will need a few more days."

After hearing the eunuch's report, Meng Chang frowned deeply.

He was very dissatisfied with this answer.

But the fire in his lower abdomen was growing stronger and stronger, and Meng Chang was about to lose control of himself.

Meng Chang quickly and casually pointed to a young girl outside the tent. Soon after, the girl removed all her clothes, revealing a whole expanse of snow-white skin and a slender body, and entered the tent.

Those who served Meng Chang were all beauties chosen from among the best in Shu.

When the warm, fragrant woman entered his arms, Meng Chang excitedly tore open his golden dragon robe and casually tossed it into the air.

As the golden dragon soared into the sky, Meng Chang vaguely saw a young man diligently reviewing memorials in the main hall.

That was him when he was young.

Back then, he only had an oil lamp on his desk and ordinary pine soot ink ground in his inkstone. How could he have enjoyed such a beautiful scene today!

Meng Chang quickly shook his head to clear his mind of distractions. A moment later, he heard the sound of water and a refreshed expression appeared on his face.

"What good is being diligent in governing? Who can save this chaotic world?"

After having this thought, Meng Chang had no other thoughts in his mind.

What he didn't know was that when his dragon robe hit the ground, it covered the official letter sent from Kaifeng.

The water clock had just dripped its fifth time in the middle of the night, but the candlelight in the west chamber of Chengxintang remained bright.

Li Congjia, the Prince of Wu of the Southern Tang Dynasty, sat on a rosewood chair, the cuffs of his black brocade robe hanging over the table, his gaze fixed intently on an open scroll of the "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion".

Legend has it that the original copy of the "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion" was taken to the mausoleum by Emperor Taizong of Tang. The current scroll is a copy made by Li Congjia, who spent a great deal of effort to imitate his predecessor.

Looking at his newly completed masterpiece, Li Congjia wore a somewhat arrogant expression.

How many people in the world can surpass him in writing skills?

The air inside the pavilion was filled with the fragrance of ink, mingling with the scent of books from the celadon vase on the table, which captivated Li Congjia for a long time.

"Your Highness, a letter from the Central Plains has arrived!"

At this exclamation, Han Xizai, a minister of the Southern Tang Dynasty, rushed into Li Congjia's west pavilion.

This exclamation startled Li Congjia from his reverie of books. Looking at Wu Wang Fu Han Xizai, who was now standing in front of him, Li Congjia's eyes showed displeasure.

Due to the urgency of the situation, Han Xizai disregarded Li Congjia's feelings and hurriedly presented him with the official letter from the Song Dynasty.

Several years ago, Emperor Shizong of Zhou personally led an expedition to Huainan, defeated the main force of the Tang army, and seized fourteen prefectures north of the Yangtze River in one fell swoop, which basically wiped out the Southern Tang's power in the north of the Yangtze River.

After that battle, Emperor Li Jing of Tang relinquished his imperial title and became the ruler of the state, and submitted to the Zhou dynasty as a vassal state, paying tribute.

Later, Li Jing enfeoffed Li Congjia as the Prince of Wu and moved into the Eastern Palace, effectively assuming the responsibility of overseeing the country as the Crown Prince.

The Song Dynasty inherited the legal system of the Zhou Dynasty, and the content of this letter was to make the Southern Tang Dynasty recognize the Song Dynasty's new status as their tributary state.

After reading the official letter, Li Congjia did not show any sign of panic.

"At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, how could the Song emperor have time to look south?"

Moreover, the Central Plains were often embroiled in conflict, with dynasties lasting only a dozen years. Zhao Kuangyin, by using his position as a subject to coerce the emperor, was bound to cause uprisings by regional warlords in the Central Plains.

Our country should observe the situation calmly before deciding on our next course of action.

In just a few words, Li Congjia expressed his opinion.

After discussing state affairs, Li Congjia turned his attention to literature.

"Han Qing, I have recently composed a new poem. Why don't we take a look at it together?"

Having said that, Li Congjia eagerly took out a piece of paper, on which most of a poem, "Yu Lou Chun," was already written: "Her evening makeup is finished, her skin is as white as snow, and the palace ladies line up like fish in the spring palace."

As Li Congjia proudly recited his new work, he watched his wife gracefully enter the pavilion, and casually placed the letter from the Song Dynasty aside.

"Before the flames of war are lit, why not indulge in some romance and beauty?"

Most of the southern kingdoms indulged in comfort and ease, while in the northern wilderness, there was a powerful and domineering nation. As the first rays of dawn swept across the peaks of Konoha, the roof ornaments of the imperial city of the capital were already gilded with golden light.

On the walls of the imperial palace, fourteen enormous wolf-tooth flags fluttered in the morning breeze, the bloodthirsty wolf head totems embroidered on them seeming ready to burst forth at any moment.

Outside the palace, a bustling scene unfolded.

Caravans from the Western Regions were selling glass goblets, the camel bells of Persian merchants mingling with the jade pendants of Bohai people, and the market in the "Han City" of the capital was bustling with people.

Han Chinese from Yanyun push wheelbarrows to sell rice and grain, Jurchen herdsmen carry lambs through the streets, and cunning Sogdian merchants weigh copper coins on scales.

Outside the entire market, a group of strong Khitan soldiers stood guard, watching everyone inside with predatory eyes.

Outside the capital city, the Khitan elite "Pishi Army" was conducting drills.

Tens of thousands of armored cavalrymen, arranged in three wings—left, right, and center—charged wildly across the open fields with overwhelming momentum, unleashing roars that shook the heavens.

Many years ago, it was this very army that defeated 100,000 Tang troops at the gates of Yunzhou and presented the map of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, which was presented by Shi Jingtang, to the capital city.

Xiao Siwen, a high-ranking Khitan official, rode his horse through the streets, observing everything he saw.

Han Chinese, Jurchens, Western Region people, Persians
They are all now in this great capital city. Such a scene of all nations coming to pay tribute was previously only seen in Chang'an and Luoyang, the capital of the Han people.

Now the Han people have declined; they are no longer worthy of the honor of all nations paying tribute. This honor should belong to the Great Khitan!

At this point, Xiao Siwen couldn't help but burst into proud laughter.

Behind Xiao Siwen was a noblewoman riding a pony.

This noblewoman had a pair of slender, almond-shaped eyes that held both the heroic spirit of a nomadic woman hunting on the grasslands and the delicate elegance born of wealth and honor.

She was Xiao Siwen's most beloved daughter—Xiao Chuo, whose nickname was Yan Yan.

Xiao Chuo was just eight years old, but after hearing Xiao Siwen's words, a thoughtful look appeared on her face.

Xiao Siwen continued on his way with Xiao Yanyan until they arrived outside the Imperial Academy. He then stopped his horse and led Xiao Yanyan into the academy.

In the Imperial Academy, Khitan noble children were learning Han classics, while Han Confucian scholars were lecturing on the glorious history of China.

"My greatest achievement in life was advising the late emperor to establish the Imperial Academy in the capital city."

People in the court often said that the Great Khitan gained the world through archery and horsemanship, and should therefore defend the world through archery and horsemanship as well.

But the foolish Huns and Turks have already proven that one cannot dominate the world with sheer military might alone!

To completely conquer the Han people, we must first understand them, learn their culture, and transform their strengths into the strongest armor for the Great Khitan.

"In order to govern the Han people well, we must implement the imperial examination system so that their talents can feel our sincerity and get them to help us tame the Han people at the bottom."

We should also encourage agriculture.

There is a saying among the Han people: "Farming is the foundation of war." With abundant food, our Khitan warriors can fight without worry.

With more farmland, the Han people of Yan and Yun were able to settle down and willingly serve us.

Once the situation in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun is completely stabilized, our great Khitan warriors can then seize the opportunity and, like tigers, devour the vast fertile lands of the Central Plains!

As Xiao Siwen said this, a smug look appeared on her face.

His political philosophy was to "govern the Khitans with the state system and treat the Han people with the Han system."

Xiao Yanyan followed Xiao Siwen past another church, where she heard about Sun Tzu's Art of War and other knowledge.

Perhaps because she is too young, Xiao Yanyan cannot fully comprehend Xiao Siwen's political ideas, but today's teachings have planted the seeds of Sinicization in her heart.

As Xiao Siwen led Xiao Yanyan out of the Imperial College, a Khitan warrior hurriedly approached him and reported on the major events that had recently occurred in the Central Plains.

"Has the emperor changed again in the Central Plains? Good, the more chaotic things get, the better."

"What a pity for that precious land of the Central Plains! Since the passing of the Heavenly Khan, what right do the Han people have to occupy that land again!"

Having also learned of the changes in the Central Plains, Xiao Yanyan gradually developed an idea:
"My Lord, will we have a delegation going to the Central Plains next?"

Upon hearing Xiao Yanyan's question, Xiao Siwen smiled and said, "It's customary to have it."

Despite his disdain, Xiao Siwen understood the importance of knowing oneself and one's enemy after studying "The Art of War".

"I want to go there too!"

Xiao Yanyan looked up at Xiao Siwen and said decisively.

After hearing Xiao Yanyan's request, Xiao Siwen burst into laughter.

If Xiao Yanyan were among the Han people, her requests would mostly be ignored.

But she was born into the Khitan people, a group of people who lived by hunting and gathering.

"Okay! Father agrees."

After laughing, Xiao Siwen picked Xiao Yanyan up in one swift motion:

“This is the kind of good woman of my great Khitan.”

"Then you will help the Great Khitan see if all the heroes in the south have been wiped out!"

(End of this chapter)