Traveling back to the Northern Song Dynasty: Picking up a princess as my wife

Within the ancient city of Anyang, the deafening sound of gongs and drums resounded through the sky, as if even the heavens were shaken by this joy. Countless citizens of the Han Kingdom spontaneously flocked to the streets and alleys, their faces beaming with indescribable jubilation, celebrating the glorious victory of the Han army on the northern frontier.

The Jin Dynasty, in its heyday, was like a ferocious tiger hanging over the hearts of the Han Chinese people, its power so great that it instilled fear in all. The iron hooves of the Jin soldiers were like a sharp blade hanging over everyone's heads, causing them constant unease, fearing that one day this sharp blade would mercilessly fall, ending all peace and hope. This fear, like a huge boulder, weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, lingering for a long time.

Now, with the fall of the Jin dynasty, the long-standing sword hanging over the heads of the Han people has finally vanished. A great weight has been lifted from the hearts of the people, and the long-suppressed fear and unease have dissipated. They look at each other and smile, their eyes sparkling with the relief of surviving a calamity and boundless hope for the future, as if the whole world has become bright and warm at this moment.

Inside the Han Kingdom's imperial palace, Li Zhen was convening a meeting with several high-ranking generals and ministers.

Li Zhen spoke slowly, his tone calm and thoughtful: "Although we have successfully captured the Jin capital and the dawn of victory has just appeared, the road to governance remains long and fraught with challenges. The Northeast is vast and sparsely populated, and the Jin people are not skilled in agriculture, leaving that expansive land like a sleeping giant, waiting for us to awaken it, cultivate it, and give it vitality."

Even more troublesome is that the defeated Jin army, like stray dogs, scattered and fled into the vast mountains and forests, transforming into bandits who wreak havoc in the region. This force, though no longer as powerful as before, is like an undercurrent, posing a considerable threat to our future rule. If we do not address it promptly, the consequences could be dire.

Therefore, we gather here today to discuss important matters and find a sound and efficient way to solve these pressing problems. Now that the agenda is set, we must pool our wisdom and work together to overcome these difficult times.

As Li Zhen finished speaking, Yue Peng, unable to contain his thoughts, broke the silence. He smiled and looked around, then slowly rose, bowed slightly to His Majesty, and said, "Your Majesty, during my recent journey to the northeastern frontier to personally command the war, I made an unexpected discovery. Within the Jin Kingdom, the Jin people are not a monolithic entity; they are riddled with divisions and divided into several factions. Particularly noteworthy are those tribes that yearn for our Han Kingdom. I dare to suggest that we seize this opportunity to recruit people from our populace and relocate them to the northeast, while simultaneously inviting those northeastern tribes willing to submit to our rule to migrate into our Han Kingdom. Given time, through cultural exchange and the integration of daily life, we might be able to gradually assimilate these tribes, making them an indispensable member of our Han Kingdom family."

Bu Liang nodded in agreement, saying, "That's a good idea, but that's not enough. We not only need to migrate people to the Northeast, but we also need to learn from the Tang Dynasty's military garrison system so that our people in the Northeast can protect themselves."

After a long day of discussion, they finally came up with a policy regarding the aftermath of the Jin dynasty's collapse.

In the afternoon, sunlight slanted into the courtyard as Li Zhen welcomed Wanyan Qin, who had traveled a long way from the north. He waved his hand gently, signaling his attendants to remove the heavy shackles binding Wanyan Qin's legs. Then, with a faint smile on his lips, he ordered someone to bring over a carved wooden chair and gestured for Wanyan Qin to sit down.

"We are meeting for the first time today, yet your brother Wanyan Ping and I are old friends. Talking about this matter is quite amusing; the two brothers have such different appearances, each with their own unique charm, it's truly breathtaking." Li Zhen's words contained a hint of amusement, his gaze lightly sweeping over Wanyan Qin's face, as if he were savoring something.

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Qin's face turned deathly pale, and a surge of anger welled up within him. "Lord Li Zhen," he said, his voice trembling, yet his tone was unwavering and brooking no disrespect, "a scholar can be killed but not humiliated! I, Wanyan Qin, would rather die than live in dishonor! If you wish to take my life, then so be it. Do not further humiliate me with such words!" His words were firm, each one like a sharp blade, revealing his indomitable pride.

Seeing the other party's overly intense reaction, Li Zhen couldn't help but sigh softly, continuing with a hint of helplessness and teasing in his tone, "Hey, what's all the fuss about? Didn't you realize I'm trying to get closer to you? Alright, I won't beat around the bush. Kill you? That's out of the question. On the contrary, I'm planning to bestow upon you the title of prince. However, you can forget about going back to the Jin Kingdom. Just stay here in my Anyang Prefecture and be a carefree prince. What do you think of that idea?"

Wanyan Qin had already resigned himself to death, but at that moment, an incredulous light suddenly flashed in his eyes. His voice trembled slightly as he almost murmured, "You... truly have no intention of taking my life?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhen smiled gently and looked at Wanyan Qin with tender eyes: "What reason have I ever had to take your life?"

As night fell, the Han Kingdom's imperial palace was ablaze with lights. Li Zhen had meticulously prepared a grand banquet, its splendor enough to illuminate the stars in the sky. This grand feast was not only to entertain the envoys from various powers who had traveled from afar, but also to honor the newly crowned King of Jin—Wanyan Qin—and the Jin Kingdom's civil and military officials who had surrendered with her.

Initially, the Jin officials and generals harbored resentment towards these elaborate rituals and the solemn atmosphere deliberately created by Li Zhen, their brows furrowing with barely concealed resistance. However, after Wanyan Qin's heartfelt and earnest persuasion, their resentment gradually subsided, transforming into resigned acceptance. After all, times had changed; they had gone from being the former rulers to prisoners of the Han state, their fate now firmly in Li Zhen's hands, and a single misstep could lead to their deaths.

In this magnificent palace, where candlelight flickers, every dish being passed around and every laugh seems to silently tell a story of power shifts. Wanyan Qin and her ministers are caught in the torrent of history, carefully searching for their own place.

Meanwhile, across the vast lands of the Han Kingdom, a spontaneous surge of enthusiasm for traveling to the Northeast quietly began. Local governments responded swiftly, with officials stepping out of their offices and into the streets and alleys, using the simplest of words to describe to the people the beautiful vision of that magical land in the Northeast.

An official in full robes stood in the center of the bustling market, his voice booming like a bell: "Fellow countrymen, listen to me! The Northeast is a boundless paradise of abundance. It is said that with just a light touch of a hoe, the land will gleam with oil. Even more exciting is that His Majesty, in His compassion for the people, has issued a special decree: every member of any family that voluntarily migrates to the Northeast will receive a gift of one thousand Chinese coins, and for three years, all taxes will be waived!"

These words immediately caused a stir among the crowd, who began to discuss them animatedly, their eyes sparkling with anticipation and longing for the future.