Chapter 18: Laying Out the Money to Distribute Salaries

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Just moments ago, Zhao Ning was still thinking that winning the people's hearts and promoting unity at this moment would surely secure the city of Dongjing. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he was proven wrong!

“Your Majesty… we have also received orders from above to requisition grain.”

Requisition grain?

Do you really think I don’t know the difference between requisition and robbery?

You call this requisitioning grain?

Zhao Ning glanced at Zhang Shuye, who calmly replied, “Your Majesty, I have not yet issued any orders to collect grain from the common people.”

In truth, the government was indeed short on grain; issuing an edict to the people to gather grain seemed like the best method.

But it only seemed so.

Gathering grain is not a matter of simple arithmetic, nor is it a matter of calculating figures and people and expecting grain to appear regularly.

This is not a game, where clicking a few buttons yields a fixed amount of grain.

It’s not a math problem but a sociological one.

Once the court publicly orders the collection of grain from the people, a host of officials and military officers will inevitably take advantage of the chaos to plunder.

For example, if your edict says each household must provide only 20 catties of grain, believe it or not, those scoundrels will immediately come up with a hundred different excuses to double the collection per household.

In the end, they’ll tell you, “Your Majesty, the people are poor; each household can only give 10 catties. I have done my best!”

Just like the scene before us.

Now, while defending the city, if the internal populace is first squeezed dry, even if the Jurchen do not break through, the people will revolt first.

Consider how Emperor Chongzhen met his demise.

His “three levies” were the last three great burdens that crushed the camel’s back.

Therefore, the court must not issue arbitrary orders to collect grain.

What then?

What else is there but to buy it with money!

This is the essence of money: to standardize, to be registered, and to be subject to review.

One of the palace soldiers said, “It was Captain Zhang. Captain Zhang notified us to collect grain.”

Zhang Shuye hurriedly asked, “What is the name of this Captain Zhang?”

“Zhang Jingwen. We belong to the Tianwu Army.”

The Northern Song’s palace troops were divided into upper, middle, and lower armies.

The upper army included the four elite units: Pengri, Tianwu, Longwei, and Shenwei, almost all stationed in the capital region.

Zhang Shuye said, “Your Majesty, I will investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Zhao Ning was too tired to ask further. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, “Take these eight men to the southern city gate and have them beheaded. Display their heads throughout the city as a warning!”

Hearing this, the eight men panicked and kowtowed repeatedly, “Your Majesty, spare us! Your Majesty, have mercy!”

Jing Chao thought: Goodness, does the Emperor have a taste for beheading? Oh well, I’m just a tool for executing orders.

Without hesitation, he immediately had the men bound.

After the last execution outside the Chuigong Hall when Xu Bingzhe was beheaded, Jing Chao felt as if a new world had opened before him.

Everyone around applauded enthusiastically.

Soon, they arrived at the southern city gate, where a few days ago Guo Jing had been executed.

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As the emperor’s procession arrived, the guards at the southern city gate immediately perked up.

Commander Zhang Bofen promptly greeted, “Your Majesty, may you be well.”

“I am well,” Zhao Ning replied.

Arriving atop the city wall, he loudly addressed the troops: “Soldiers, you have worked hard. In this weather, standing guard here is not easy! Today I personally come to distribute your pay!”

At the emperor’s words, the crowd erupted.

A young man of seventeen or eighteen suddenly laughed excitedly and shouted, “Long live our emperor!”

His shout sparked a chorus around him: “Long live our emperor! Long live!”

The volume swelled wave after wave, instantly lifting the atmosphere atop the city wall.

Many with frostbitten faces smiled joyfully.

Some older men thought to themselves: At last, I can buy a few more catties of rice for my family.

Zhao Ning raised his hand to quiet them, and his voice gradually settled.

He strode forward, took the axe from Zhang Bofen, and swung it at the lock on a wooden chest.

He exerted nearly all his strength, breaking the lock free from the chest.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he opened the chest.

Then he said, “This is what you deserve. I assure you, the court will no longer delay your wages!”

To ensure basic morale, one must first guarantee the basic living needs of the workers.

After the emperor’s display, the loyalty of the people was boosted tremendously.

Next, Zhang Shuye arranged for the guards to come up one by one and receive their wages.

Palace soldiers, whose social status was extremely low, were experiencing such treatment for the first time.

After payment was complete and goodwill established, it was time to assert authority.

Combining kindness and severity—that is the way of emperors!

Zhao Ning glanced coldly to the other side, where the eight men were dragged up, kneeling at the southern city gate and wailing miserably.

The city guards all watched in surprise.

Zhang Shuye stepped forward and loudly declared, “These eight men, taking advantage of chaos to plunder the people's grain within the city, shall be executed according to military law!”

His voice echoed atop the city wall.

At Jing Chao’s command, the palace guards raised their blades and struck swiftly. Five heads rolled to the ground, while three were only halfway severed; the men were not yet dead.

A swift finishing stroke sent the heads tumbling, blood spraying everywhere.

“Display these eight heads throughout the city as a warning!”

“Yes!”

Special personnel took the eight heads to the city's four gates, publicly announcing their crimes to all soldiers.

For a time, many dubious characters were shocked.

“Gao Qiu.”

“Present, Your Majesty.”

“Dispatch the Imperial City Division to investigate the city and root out any other soldiers unlawfully plundering the people's grain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured. I will see to it immediately.”

Since entering his second spring, Gao Qiu’s waist no longer ached, nor did his legs. Last night he even dreamed that after the Jin army retreated, he returned to the field, commanding the game with glory once more.

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After Gao Qiu left, Zhao Ning looked once more towards the Jin army’s main camp from the city wall.

He asked, “When was the last time the Jin army attacked the city? I have forgotten.”

Zhang Shuye replied, “Your Majesty, the last siege was five days ago.”

Five days ago?

Zhao Ning said nothing further. He observed the guards on the city wall; indeed, their spirit was somewhat different from a few days prior.

At least now, everyone’s morale had been lifted: they had received care, collected their wages, and had just witnessed the deterrent effect of the executions.

Each stood noticeably straighter.

After exchanging pleasantries with the soldiers atop the wall, Zhao Ning returned to Wende Hall.

The Jin had not attacked for five days; the next siege would undoubtedly come soon.

The newly united spirit within the city needed to be quickly consolidated to face the impending assault.

The sturdy walls of Dongjing kept the Jin at bay; the true battle was psychological.

Once the weather warmed next year, the Jin would surely withdraw.

Since this was a psychological battle, it had to be fought at the highest level.

Not long after returning to Wende Hall, Zhao Ning picked up his pen and began writing again.

What was he writing?

He was composing “On the Song-Jin War,” outlining all the strategic measures to counter the Jurchen.

He would record the current situation, the historical trajectory, the Jin’s strategies, the strategies available to his own side, the Jin’s strengths and weaknesses, and his own side’s strengths and weaknesses—all to be made public.

From a strategic planning perspective, this would pressure the Jin, making them clearly aware that the Song dynasty’s national war machine was fully mobilized—and anyone hoping to destroy the Song should think twice.

This was the legendary “playing with open cards.”

What use was this?

There was a peace faction within the Jin court; this provided strong material for them, buying time for the Song.

Because the Song-Jin war would be a protracted struggle.

Of course, the opening chapter was not about strategy but about the tactics of the current siege.

This writing session lasted a full hour.

“Your Majesty,” Wang Huaiji arrived.

“What is it?” Zhao Ning asked without looking up.

“Minister Shuye says that Zhang Jingwen has been captured,” Wang Huaiji presented a confession document.

“Put it aside,” Zhao Ning said.

Wang Huaiji carefully placed it to the side.

Half an hour later, Zhao Ning finally laid down his brush. Though not finished, he needed to rest.

He massaged his temples and picked up the confession.

Upon reading it, his expression immediately darkened.

“This is nonsense!” Zhao Ning slammed the confession onto the desk, startling Wang Huaiji.

“How can the Privy Council meddle in these affairs? A mere junior official in the capital’s household dares to act on his own, claiming to requisition grain from the common people?”