In the Song Dynasty, there was no law or order.

In the ninth year of Qingli in the Great Song Dynasty, all parts of the country were full of vitality and everything was flourishing.

The northwest Song army, led by Di Qing, captured Xixia and was eyeing the Western Regions.

The developed maritime trade in the southeast has prompted a large number of Middle Eastern merchants to gather here.

The central government is highly centralized and carries out infrastructure construction work across the country.

Among the neighboring countries, the Song Dynasty exerted a high degree of control over Japan and Vietnam. Except for Goryeo and Dali, only the Liao Kingdom was still lingering.

And the Liao Kingdom was basically on the verge of collapse, because the Song Dynasty sold a lot of weapons to various tribes in the northeast of the Liao Kingdom.

These tribes were originally dissatisfied with the rule of the Liao Kingdom. In addition, the Liao Kingdom was defeated by the Song Dynasty many times and was severely weakened. They realized the serious decline of the Liao Kingdom and rebelled for a while.

The result is that the Liao Kingdom is now in chaos. The Mongol tribe in the northwest wants to suppress it, the Nüzhi and Bohai tribes in the east want to suppress it, and the Shiwei tribe in the north is also restless.

Under such circumstances, the Song Dynasty was unprecedentedly powerful. It was very possible to send troops to sweep across the Liao Kingdom and capture the entire East Asia region.

However, just when the voices within the Song Dynasty court were getting louder and louder for the annihilation of the Liao Dynasty, not only the young and strong factions, but also the older generation were also waving flags and shouting, the Political Yuan poured cold water on them and ordered not to continue going north to annihilate the Liao Dynasty.

This puzzled both the government and the public. There were noisy calls from the people, but they were suppressed by the Constitutional Yuan, preventing people from taking to the streets to demand that the imperial court send troops to destroy the Liao Dynasty and dominate East Asia.

"The work of the Constitutional Yuan is not easy to do. You have to be the main combatant when everyone in the government and the opposition is afraid, and you have to be the main peacemaker when everyone in the court wants to send troops."

On June 12, just after midnight in the morning, Zhao Jun was sitting behind the desk in Yuanhe Hall, reviewing his papers.

He has walked through most of Youyan Road, and the next step is to go to Yunzhou, which is Datong, Shanxi.

Then go south to Taiyuan, east to Hebei, and then inspect Henan, Shandong, Huainan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Then we completed the inspection around the country according to the route we took for the first time.

However, before leaving Youyan Road, all the work that Youyan Road should have reported to the Constitutional Yuan had to be sent to him, so there were still a lot of things going on.

While looking at Youyan Road's work report and giving instructions, he threw the instructions aside and said: "Look, I have only been in Youyan Road for a few days, and how many generals from Youyan Road have written letters? I hope I will send out troops."

"There are also many letters sent from the court, and there are loud voices among the people who want to continue the war."

Wang Anshi was sorting out documents and said with a smile.

"When the enemy comes to our home, we must fight to the death because we want to protect our home."

Zhao Jun shook his head and said: "But if we go to the enemy's home, there are too many things to consider. How can we come to a conclusion so easily?"

"Zhiyuan."

Yang Cha said curiously: "Now that the Song Dynasty is as powerful as the Han Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty, it is easy to destroy the Liao Kingdom. Even considering logistics, supplies, etc., it should be more than enough."

Zhao Jun smiled and said: "But you didn't consider politics and economics."

Politics, economics?

Everyone looked at him curiously.

Are there any accounts to be settled in there?

"Politically speaking, the Liao Kingdom no longer poses a threat to the Song Dynasty like the Huns of the Han Dynasty or the Turks of the Tang Dynasty. If we attack further north, it will only weaken the country's power, and it will also be a huge trouble for subsequent governance."

Zhao Jun said: "Economically speaking, let's not talk about how much food is consumed by the war. Simply speaking, the war will cause business decline, and the sharp decline in trade between the two countries will inevitably have a great impact on Youyan Road, especially now in the Song Dynasty. At a time when China needs to concentrate its efforts on development, once a war breaks out, the focus of industries including steel, textiles, food, etc. must be on the war. We still lack long-distance transportation. Using horses and mules will always be inefficient and a waste of money and food. ”

Li Xiaoji asked: "Doesn't that mean that the Liao Kingdom can continue its reign?"

Zhao Jun smiled and said: "It won't last long. If we don't send troops to destroy the Liao Dynasty now, the benefits will be out of proportion to the effort. Didn't I just say that? What we lack is long-distance transportation. When the railway is built to Youyan Road, the Liao Kingdom will be on the verge of destruction. Not far away.”

As he spoke, he said softly: "Sometimes when fighting, you can't just look at whether you can win, but also look at many things. If you can't take a long-term view, then in the end it will just delay your own development process."

The far-sighted prime ministers of the Constitutional Yuan were like this. The soldiers on the front line felt that their military equipment was strong, and they clamored all day long to go north to destroy the Liao Kingdom, but the prime ministers in the rear had many things to consider.

Fighting requires money and food, but what about the losses along the way? Going deep into the northern grasslands, the vast forests of the Northeast, logistical supplies, weapons and ammunition, which one does not require the court to raise materials to supply the front line?

Obviously we could build the railway to the Northeast in ten years and go to war by train, but we had to go there on horseback.

Once conquered, you still have to govern and be harassed by various local uprisings and rebellions, and you have to invest manpower and material resources to suppress them.

Doesn’t the imperial court know that it can destroy Liao, Japan, and Vietnam?

Of course they know.

But do these military officers care about what will happen after the fight and the process of fighting?

Ultimately.

In essence, the current national power of the Song Dynasty is only a little beyond the peak of the previous feudal dynasties, the Han and Tang Dynasties.

The industry is not strong, and the development has just started, entering the initial stage of the first industrial revolution.

Even if all the surrounding countries are conquered, the cost will certainly be very high due to factors such as natural environment, geographical location, traffic conditions, transportation tools, etc.

So in simple terms, the Song Dynasty can indeed destroy all the surrounding countries now.

But there is no need.

When the industry develops further, railways and steamships are built.

Even with internal combustion engines, it will be more cost-effective to replace steam power with internal combustion engine trains and ships to destroy the surrounding countries?

This political account must be settled, and the economic account must also be settled. It is impossible to act brazenly just based on the opinions of the military and the people.

Zhao Jun is very clear that sometimes you can't just care about public opinion, but pay more attention to the future.

"By the way, didn't I give those families a deadline before? Is there a result?"

Zhao Jun finished dealing with today's government affairs and thought of this matter.

He had already completed all the tasks he should have explained on June 8th. The reason why he continued to stay here was to deal with the problems of the Youyan Road family.

In fact, he did not kill all these people. Those who were willing to migrate south were often given official positions and other rewards.

Just like the surrendered Xixia dignitaries and Qingtang high-level officials, even if they had no real power, they would be given money and honorary positions to support them, so that they would not be full of thoughts of killing if the other party did not cooperate. Only when the other party refused to be persuaded would they raise their knives.

As for those who were unwilling to migrate south, it was not impossible to let them stay in the local area. After all, it was difficult to leave their hometown, and it was indeed inhumane to let people leave their hometown, so some compromises could be given.

For example, they had to hand over a large number of fields and tenants under their names, weakening their control and influence in the local area, etc.

Moreover, those who were willing to go south often had certain compensation, such as real power quotas and grace quotas. But those who were unwilling to go south only had empty positions and no grace. After two or three generations of continuous suppression and weakening, these Youyan families disappeared completely.

After a set of combined punches, even if the Youyan family was not completely eliminated in this trip, it was also seriously damaged.

The final deadline was the 15th, which gave the Youyan family seven days. Now four days have passed, and there are still three days. Even if some people have not responded, some people should have taken action.

Is it that I have no deterrent power? Do you really think that I can't lift a knife?

Zhao Jun thought to himself.

"I didn't see the note sent by Yang Zhuanyun today."

Wang Anshi and others flipped through the official documents.

"Could it be that Yang Zhuanyun wanted to kill someone with a knife and deliberately suppressed it?"

Yang Gao said whimsically.

"Don't be so conspiratorial, is he so bold? So fearless of death?"

Yang Cha laughed.

"That's true."

Yang Gao also laughed: "Who dares to provoke the prestige of the prefect?"

"The prefect."

At this time, it seemed that Cao Cao had arrived.

Yang Ting walked in and bowed, saying, "Just now, Liu Siduan from the Liu family, Ma Quan from the Ma family, Zhao Yuanlang from the Zhao family and more than ten others came to me, hoping to see the court."

These Youyan aristocratic families were all high-ranking nobles in the Liao Kingdom before, and it was not difficult for them to meet the Liao emperor.

But after returning to the Song Dynasty, their status dropped sharply. Even Liu Liufu, who was the best, was only a fourth-rank appeasement envoy, and the rest of the ranks were basically between the seventh and ninth ranks. How could they be qualified to see him?

So in a way, the reason why the Youyan family secretly confronted the court was also due to the psychological gap of this plummeting status.

It's just that each generation of emperor has its own ministers. In the past, the Liao people valued them, which was the Liao Kingdom's business.

Now that the king of the Song Dynasty has returned, he must abide by the rules of the Song Dynasty.

Hearing Yang Ting's words, Zhao Jun nodded slightly and said, "There are still some who are afraid of death. Let them come in."

"Yes."

Yang Ting agreed and went out immediately.

After a long while, Liu Siduan and other people who were waiting outside the palace finally entered the palace.

These people were persuaded by the Liu family and finally chose to obey.

The major families of Yanyun not only intermarried with the powerful people of Liao, but also intermarried with each other. For example, the Huailai Zhang family intermarried with the Yutian Han family, and a Zhang family daughter married Han Yu of the Han family.

The Yanjing Liang family intermarried with the Changping Meng family, the Yilu Ma family married the daughter of the Xingtang Wang family, the Lulong Zhao family and the Yuhe Feng family were in-laws, and so on.

Their Changping Liu family was even more exciting, with marriages with the Yelu royal family, the descendants of the Xiao family, the Anci Han family, the Huazhou Li family, the Lulong Zhao family, the Hejian Xing family, the Bohai Sun family, the Huailai Zhang family, etc.

Liu Liufu's three wives were all from the Anci Han family, and some of the Liu brothers also married Liao princesses, and the Huazhou Li family was the Li Chuwen family.

According to historical records, "the great families in Yan are weak because of their aristocratic families, and the people of the time are comparable to Cui and Lu in Tang Dynasty".

It can be seen that the Youyan aristocratic families of Liao Dynasty relied on the complicated political marriages to form a community of interests, which is comparable to the top aristocratic families in the Jin Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty.

But unfortunately, it is a new era.

The Liao Dynasty changed overnight, and these powerful aristocratic families in Liao Dynasty were also phoenixes with feathers falling, which were worse than chickens, and could only be lambs to be slaughtered.

These aristocratic families are all close relatives of Liu. In addition to the three super first-line aristocratic families of Changping Liu, Yilu Ma and Lulong Zhao, there are also four or five first-line aristocratic families and more than ten second-line families.

At this moment, as family representatives, the group, led by Yang Ting, stepped into the Yuanhe Hall and met the rumored Zhiyuan.

I saw that he didn't look fierce, and he wasn't that old. He was about thirty years old, with an elegant face. When he saw them coming in, he showed an easy-going smile.

"Your Majesty, please visit the Imperial Academy!"

Everyone had official status. When they came to the palace, they quickly bent down and saluted Zhao Jun.

Zhao Jun nodded and said, "No courtesy."

"Xie Zhiyuan!"

Everyone straightened up and stood there.

There are many desks around, and behind the desks are Wang Anshi and others, looking them up and down.

On the outside is a soldier with a musket, standing upright.

Zhao Jun said in a deep voice: "Many people in the Song Dynasty say that you have forgotten your ancestors and your identity as Han people. They say that you are traitors and white-eyed wolves."

When these words came out, everyone's expressions changed slightly, but no one dared to speak.

I heard Zhao Jun continue: "At this point, I don't think so. Sometimes people can't help themselves. Some of your ancestors are local Han people in Youyan, and some are Han people who migrated from other places. In essence, they are all Forced, the general trend is no one’s fault, so there is no such thing as a traitor, it’s just that everyone is their own master, it’s just that you happen to be in the Liao Kingdom.”

"Thank you, Zhiyuan, for your understanding!"

Liu Siduan quickly raised his hand and thanked him again.

The others also followed suit and said, "Thank you, Zhiyuan, for your understanding."

"alright."

Zhao Jun waved his hand.

He really didn't think so at this point.

The main reason was that the Song Dynasty was forced to collapse.

Before the Chanyuan Alliance, many Han people from the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun went south to join the Song Dynasty.

At that time, the policies adopted towards these people were still very open and accepting, such as Yu Yanchao, the military governor of the Khitan Heavenly German Army.

However, after the Chanyuan Alliance, the covenant stipulated that "any thieves and fugitives who cross the border from now on will not be allowed to stay in each other."

Those Han people who fled south were classified as fugitives, and the Song Dynasty did not dare to violate the covenant. They were afraid that the Liao Kingdom would find excuses, so they stopped accepting them.

During the Tiansheng period, it was clearly stipulated that if Han people fled south, they could turn a blind eye. But if he was an official in the Liao Kingdom and fled south, he would have to be sent back.

The most typical example is Liu Siduan's third brother Liu Sangu, who was forced to flee south to the Song Dynasty because he was persecuted by his princess wife.

That is to say, the Song Dynasty now defeated the Liao Kingdom.

Otherwise, his ending in history would be to be repatriated and then killed as soon as he arrived in Liao Kingdom.

Therefore, it is not that many people do not want to flee south, but that if they flee south, they will be sent back and face a dead end. Since then, the Han people in the Liao Kingdom have become less and less sentimental towards the Song Dynasty.

But it's one thing not to blame them, it's another thing not to allow them to stay and become local overlords.

Zhao Jun continued: "However, the Yanyun family is deeply entrenched, and you must also understand the reason why the court is worried. There are no aristocratic families in the Song Dynasty nowadays. There are two generations of prime ministers in Lu Yijian's family. If the descendants are unworthy, they will not be able to enter the official career. ”

"I'm not saying that I have to force you to split up your tribes and families, but I want to tell you that everyone in the world is Han. Since we are Han, we should not have two voices. The same goes for Yanyun, only the imperial court Sound can come from here!”

He looked around and said: "What the imperial court wants is to keep your word. What it wants is for orders to be issued from above, and orders and prohibitions to be implemented immediately below. Instead of saying one thing and doing another, you still need local aristocratic families to mobilize the local people. This is It will never be allowed to exist.”

The expressions of everyone below changed again. This magistrate was really tough, and his words seemed not to be tactful and polite at all, which made each of them feel very uncomfortable.

But no matter how uncomfortable I feel, I dare not say anything.

"Of course, as I just said, the imperial court will not be unreasonable. Unless you stubbornly resist and do not obey the imperial court's will."

Zhao Jun saw that everyone was standing honestly and no one dared to say a word, so he added: "Families that are willing to accept the conditions of the court will enjoy certain preferential treatment, rewards, favors, and become officials in the Song Dynasty."

"Soon you will understand that a mere Liao Kingdom means nothing. The Song Dynasty was so powerful that it would be easy to destroy a Liao Kingdom. The Song Dynasty will be even more prosperous in the future."

"As for your own future and the rise and fall of your family, it will naturally become more glorious than it is now with the strength of the dynasty."

"Because the Song Dynasty has always been a country that does not look at family background, only ability. As long as you have the ability, the children of the family can pass the Jinshi examination in the Song Dynasty imperial examination, win the top three rankings, and have outstanding political achievements along the way, and have been promoted repeatedly. Even entering the Constitutional Yuan and becoming prime minister is not impossible."

"In the final analysis, what the imperial court wants is for talents from all over the world to come together to make suggestions for the future of the Song Dynasty and the Han people. It does not need all kinds of local constraints. The imperial court is full of children from powerful families. Do you understand?"

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and stared at everyone with a sense of oppression.

A paragraph contains threats, pictures, and deep meanings, but more directly tells these Yanyun families why the imperial court is doing this and what the imperial court needs you to do.

As for whether they will agree or not.

It depends on their own choice.

"I am willing to obey all orders from the imperial court!"

Liu Siduan was the first to speak: "Xiaoguan knows that the imperial court must have motives for doing this. As a Han Chinese, Xiaguan could not serve and contribute to the Song Dynasty before. Now that he has returned to the Ming Dynasty, he will naturally obey the imperial court's arrangements."

"I am willing to obey all orders from the imperial court!"

The people from the major aristocratic families who came with Liu Siduan were all people who were persuaded by him, and they all accepted him.

"Very good!"

Zhao Jun nodded with satisfaction and said, "Many of you have migrated from the Central Plains, so I will arrange for you to return to your hometown, which can be regarded as a glorious return to your hometown, and as for the rest of the rewards, there will be an imperial decree in due time."

"Thank you, Dean!"

Everyone agreed again, and the resettlement of some Youyan families was completed.