Quick Wear: I and the Female Match Share the Battle Shirt

Zhao Zhen was also worried because disaster relief would cost money, but there was not much money left in the national treasury.

Since Zhao Zhen ascended the throne, especially after he took power, earthquakes, floods, droughts, locust plagues and other disasters occurred frequently throughout his reign. The cost of disaster relief plus the military expenses in the northwest border to deal with the Western Xia was so high that according to Su Shunqin's later memorial, the expenses of the three departments in charge of finance in the first year of Baoyuan (1038) alone were "twenty times that of our ancestors", and the country was seriously short of money.

The history of the Song Dynasty generally does not try to whitewash itself, it records what is actually recorded, so as early as this year, the national finances were already in crisis.

Just when Zhao Zhen was in a state of panic, good news came from the palace: his first child was born. [Note: Because Yu Chongyi's child died at birth, the historical records of the Song Dynasty generally regard Princess Fukang as Renzong's first child.]

This child is the Princess Fukang in history who was driven crazy for a while due to an unhappy marriage and eventually died young.

Everyone in the yamen was happy for the emperor.

"After so many years, the emperor finally has his own child. It's a pity. It would be better if it was a little prince."

Yang Shanjun had been with Zhao Zhen for many years and was naturally loyal to him, so it was not surprising that she said such words.

After all, in the eyes of people in this world, only men are orthodox.

"The official family is still young, and there will always be children."

"Yes, even if there is none, isn't the deputy commander still being raised by the queen?"

Everyone spoke one after another.

The deputy commander was Zhao Shu, the future Emperor Yingzong of Song, now Zhao Zongshi, who was granted the title of deputy commander of the Zuojianmenwei when he entered the palace. Zhao Zhen had been childless in his early years, and was urged by court officials to have no choice but to choose Zhao Zongshi from the royal family as his adopted son.

Yang Shanjun sighed and said, "An adopted son is always an adopted son. He can never be as good as his own biological son."

What Yang Shanjun said was indeed correct. Zhao Zongshi was truly an ungrateful person.

Zhao Zongshi went in and out of the palace several times like a dog, and was led around by Zhao Zhen from 1035 to 1062, when he was finally made the crown prince. It is estimated that he held a grudge against Zhao Zhen's family because of this incident.

Soon after he ascended the throne, he wanted to recognize his biological father, which was known as the "Pu Yi Dispute" in later generations. He also did not treat Zhao Zhen's wife and daughters well. As soon as Zhao Zhen died, he drove all the concubines and daughters to the Xian Palace and allocated the vacant palace to his own children.

It was probably because of his immoral behavior that he was punished by God. He died of illness after only a few years as emperor.

However, Zhao Zhen could not be happy for long, because since the beginning of summer, reports of disasters from various places were sent back to the capital one after another, either asking for money or food.

It was also at this time that Li Yuanhao's small actions on the border became more frequent.

Since the summer, all the people in the court who reported disasters from all over the country have focused their energy on disaster relief and have not been able to pay any attention to the military situation in the northwest.

Although she was ridiculed last time, Lu Changqing still did not give up. She continued to collect information about the Tangut invasion of the border from the memorials as before.

Yang Shanjun looked at Lu Changqing with a puzzled look, "Do you really want to go with me to meet the emperor?"

Lu Changqing nodded firmly.

"The emperor is worried about the flood in Lingnan right now. Wouldn't it be bad luck for him if you go over and tell him about the situation in Shaanxi?"

"I know you are doing this for my own good, but I must inform you of this."

"Okay." Yang Shanjun said helplessly: "I also know that you are thinking about the court. If the emperor blames you, I will try to plead for you."

Zhao Zhen still had an impression of Lu Changqing after not seeing him for more than half a year. After reading the memorial Lu Changqing handed over, he threw it aside impatiently and ordered, "Shan Jun, don't let her be in charge of the documents of the Privy Council from tomorrow."

Lu Changqing was speechless, but pretended to be anxious and said, "Your Majesty, this cannot happen! I have observed for half a year that the Tanguts have been harassing the border more and more frequently. There may be some big conspiracy behind this."

Zhao Zhen looked at Lu Changqing with a headache and said, "It's just a minor incident. You're worrying too much."

"Besides, there are nearly 200,000 soldiers stationed in the four routes of Qinfeng, Jingyuan, Huanqing and Fuyan. Even if the Dangxiang people come out in full force, what is there to be afraid of?" Zhao Zhen said confidently.

Oh my God, who gave him the confidence?

He has been the emperor for nearly twenty years, but he has no idea how to manage his own soldiers!

The Western Army of the Northern Song Dynasty was indeed powerful, but it was later "trained" by the Western Xia. If the Northern Song soldiers went out now, they would be defeated by Li Yuanhao.

Lu Changqing's goal had been achieved. She just wanted to show her military acumen in front of Zhao Zhen.

As for convincing Zhao Zhen to listen to her now, step up military training, and strengthen the defense of the six routes in Shaanxi? Haha, impossible, let alone Zhao Zhen, no one in the court took Li Yuanhao seriously.

The slap in the face came too quickly. On October 11, Li Yuanhao proclaimed himself emperor, named the country Daxia, and changed the era name to Tianshou Lifa Yanzuo.

In the first month of the second year of Baoyuan (1039), Li Yuanhao sent envoys to the Song court as a minister to recount and praise the relationship and contributions of his ancestors to the Central Plains dynasty, explain the legitimacy of his founding of the country and his enthronement, and demand that the Song Dynasty formally recognize his title of emperor.

Only then did the Song court realize that Li Yuanhao had rebelled. Zhao Zhen got angry in the court and had the envoy detained.

The Song court still did not take Li Yuanhao seriously, thinking that he could never accomplish anything.

After discussion, it was finally decided to issue an edict to "strip the official titles and rank granted to Li Yuanhao" and stop the trade. Zhao Zhen even ordered a notice to be posted on the border between Song and Xia, offering a large reward to high officials for the capture of Li Yuanhao or for his head to be presented.

Of course, Lu Changqing, who knew the subsequent developments from a God's perspective, wanted to laugh when she saw Song Ting's actions, but she was now using the identity of a Song person, so she couldn't laugh, or her head would fall off.

To be honest, no one wanted to fight this war except Li Yuanhao, otherwise Zhao Zhen would not have used economic sanctions first, but would have led his troops to charge directly.

When Li Yuanhao was the crown prince, he married Princess Xingping of Liao, a member of the Liao royal family. At that time, he had a good relationship with Emperor Xingzong of Liao, and in the eyes of Emperor Xingzong of Liao, the threat from the Song Dynasty was much greater than that from the Western Xia.

Therefore, the Liao Kingdom was very much hoping that the Song and Xia would fight, watching the fight from afar, hoping that both Song and Xia would suffer heavy losses so that the Liao Kingdom could reap the benefits.

This is also what the Song court was afraid of. They were afraid that once a war broke out, the Liao Kingdom would turn against them and help the Western Xia send troops to harass border cities.

The Song court thought that this would intimidate Li Yuanhao, but it turned out that Li Yuanhao was not at all weak.

If you engage in economic dictatorship, I will directly break off diplomatic relations. Not only will I break off diplomatic relations, I will also incite your subjects on the border to submit to Daxia.

Lu Changqing knew that she couldn't wait any longer. With less than a year left, she had to find a way to go to Yanzhou and replace the scumbag Li Shibin in Jinmingzhai, otherwise the Battle of Sanchuankou might happen again.