Zhao Kuangyin's view of Qian Chu had gradually changed.
From the position of ruler of Song, he never believed Qian Chu truly had many choices when facing the southern advance of Song.
Even if Wuyue joined with Li Yu, the outcome would hardly change. Defeat by Song would still be inevitable. In the worst case, the state would perish and its ruler might lose his life as well.
Merchants pursue profit.
Allying with Song to destroy Tang was simply human nature.
Zhao Kuangyin did not dislike merchants, yet he did not particularly favor them either. His earliest plan had been simple.
Once Southern Tang was completely annexed, he would compel Qian Chu to surrender his lands and live peacefully as a wealthy nobleman, no longer interfering in affairs of Song.
But after the appearance of the light screen, and after learning many things about both past and future events, Zhao Kuangyin's mentality slowly began to change.
According to the records revealed by later history, October of the coming year would be the time of his sudden death.
Exactly one year away.
Now the Hanlin physician Liu Han had gained much from the knowledge revealed through the light screen. He consulted ancient sages and learned of later medical methods. His skill had improved greatly.
His examinations of the emperor's health had become more careful than ever.
Yet even though Liu Han repeatedly assured him that his body was sound and showed no hidden illness, the two words "sudden death" still lingered like a cloud in Zhao Kuangyin's heart.
Under such circumstances, the way he dealt with his younger brother became far more decisive.
He no longer feared gossip.
Those connected to the suspected conspiracy were swiftly purged.
The eunuch Wang Jien was accused of colluding with outsiders and plotting wrongdoing.
Execution.
The former physician of the Jin Prince's household, Cheng Dexuan, was condemned for treason.
Beheading with the head displayed.
The former retainer Ma Shao, who had spread talk of Heaven's mandate and stirred the people.
Tattooed and exiled to Western Sichuan.
At the same time, another matter proceeded quickly.
With Zhao Kuangyin's approval and the tacit cooperation of the court officials, the position of crown prince was swiftly confirmed for his son Zhao Dezhao.
From that moment on, Zhao Kuangyin kept his son constantly by his side.
The prince could observe government affairs.
And the emperor could instruct him directly.
Naturally, Zhao Kuangyin's plans regarding both Qian Chu and Li Yu also continued to evolve.
Originally he had intended to place Li Yu under house arrest. After ten or twenty years, when Jiangnan was fully stabilized, he would send Li Yu and his family far away. Perhaps to western Sichuan. Perhaps to Zhuozhou, if the Khitans had already been expelled from Hebei by that time.
But now his own fate in the coming year remained uncertain.
If he wished to pacify Jiangnan quickly in preparation for unforeseen events, he needed Li Yu's cooperation.
Moreover, as the light screen gradually revealed more history, Li Yu's literary talent became increasingly apparent. His name was destined to remain in the annals of history.
Even Zhao Kuangyin could not help but regard him with some respect.
As for Qian Chu, forcing him to surrender sooner would also prevent future troubles.
After careful consideration, Zhao Kuangyin arranged a meeting.
Thus both Li Yu and Qian Chu were invited to the Guangzheng Hall.
If one spoke of Heaven's mandate, the fortune-teller Ma Shao, later mocked as a charlatan, could not compare even one part in ten thousand with the mysterious light screen.
Yet no one expected the current broadcast to praise Li Yu's literary fame, reveal details of Qian Chu's family affairs, and even discuss the historical regret that Song never achieved full unification, allowing the Mongols to rise later.
All these factors combined.
The result turned out surprisingly favorable.
Perhaps it was also because the fall of Jinling had been swift, and Li Yu's family had been well protected. The former ruler of Southern Tang quickly realized that he lacked the talent to rule a state.
The hatred of a fallen kingdom gradually faded.
He decided to devote the rest of his life to poetry and literature, the field where his true talents lay.
Qian Chu was even more straightforward.
He accepted every request Zhao Kuangyin made without bargaining.
He even volunteered to provide strategies and assistance for Song's campaigns against Northern Han and the Khitans.
That was why he was allowed to attend the imperial military discussions.
When Zhao Kuangyin heard Qian Chu propose using maritime transport to operate in Liaodong, he was not surprised at all.
After all, maritime trade and seafaring were precisely Qian Chu's specialties.
Zhao Kuangyin nodded.
"Explain in detail."
General Cao Bin also raised his head with interest, eager to hear the proposal.
Although the final decision had not yet been made, the generals present had already reached a basic consensus with the emperor.
The campaign would proceed along three fronts.
Two armies would destroy Northern Han. One advancing from Hedong, the other from Shanxi.
The third army would march from Hebei to restrain the Khitans.
After all, the Khitan Liao and Northern Han truly depended upon each other. When Song previously attempted to conquer Northern Han, the Khitans had rushed to aid them with desperate force.
That intervention had ultimately caused the Song campaign to fail.
Now the tentative plan assigned Cao Bin, fresh from the victory over Southern Tang, to lead the Hebei army responsible for containing the Khitans.
In a sense, Cao Bin and Qian Chu were working together again.
Cao Bin already knew that the state of Wuyue was deeply involved in maritime commerce and maintained extensive contact with Liaodong.
But he never imagined Qian Chu possessed such detailed knowledge of the Khitans.
He spoke fluently about the various coastal tribes near Khitan territory.
Their locations.
Their relative strengths.
Even internal conflicts within some of the larger tribes.
Yet intelligence was not the only help he offered.
There was something more concrete.
"If Your Majesty permits," Qian Chu said, "this minister can summon bands of sea raiders from Goryeo to harass the Khitan frontier."
Cao Bin noticed the strange expressions on the faces of several generals.
During these recent imperial meetings, the most shocking sight had not been the military plans themselves.
Everyone already knew the emperor intended to destroy Northern Han.
What shocked them was seeing Qian Chu, once a sovereign king, now serving as a minister with cheerful composure.
He addressed Zhao Kuangyin as "Your Majesty" more smoothly than many of the court officials.
The transformation left the generals deeply astonished.
But Cao Bin recalled a document obtained from palace attendants, a record concerning a man named Cao Youwen.
A descendant who had upheld the honor of the Cao military family even unto death.
Thinking of that, Cao Bin felt strangely gratified.
He laughed.
"I never expected the King of Wuyue could command foreign pirates from afar."
Qian Chu shook his head.
"The ruler of Goryeo does not even obey Your Majesty's commands. How could I possibly command their pirates?"
"It is merely deception and profit."
"These sea raiders follow profit wherever it leads. They do not know Song. They do not know Goryeo."
"Offer them profit and they will come."
"Offer them greater profit and they will risk death."
"Offer them unimaginable wealth…"
He paused.
"Even regicide would not deter them."
Cao Bin fell silent.
He slowly nodded, though he did not take the matter too seriously. In his eyes, pirates could only play a minor supporting role.
Yet Zhao Kuangyin seemed thoughtful.
After all, the light screen had mentioned more than once that the powerful Ming empire would later suffer greatly from Japanese pirates.
If even such a mighty empire could be troubled by sea raiders, then the threat of maritime bandits could not be compared to ordinary land rebels.
A sudden idea emerged.
Zhao Kuangyin spoke.
"When you tempt them with profit, tell them this."
"Those who slay Khitan enemies and distinguish themselves in battle will have their names recorded."
"I will send those records to the ruler of Goryeo and recommend rewards and titles."
The others reacted with mixed expressions.
But Qian Chu immediately understood the brilliance of the proposal.
"This strategy is excellent!"
After the discussion ended, the court meeting dispersed.
Qian Chu needed to return and make preparations.
Everyone understood that Song currently lacked the strength to destroy the Khitans in a single campaign.
A proclamation to the entire world was impossible.
Moreover, the ruler of Goryeo had previously hesitated when Zhao Kuangyin invited him to send troops.
The situation was complicated.
Spreading news to attract those sea raiders would require careful manipulation.
Later, while strolling through the imperial garden with his father, Crown Prince Zhao Dezhao voiced his doubts.
"Father, praising pirates may anger the ruler of Goryeo."
Zhao Kuangyin seemed unconcerned.
"Let him be angered."
Zhao Dezhao thought for a moment.
"If we must fight Goryeo, I request to lead the campaign."
Zhao Kuangyin burst into laughter.
"When did I say we would attack Goryeo?"
The prince glanced around. No one was nearby.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"I saw the light screen. Father clearly wishes to develop maritime power."
"And if we do that, Song will inevitably clash with Goryeo or Japan one day."
Zhao Kuangyin showed no reaction.
He sat down on a stone bench beneath an osmanthus tree. Zhao Dezhao hurried forward and brushed the fallen blossoms from the seat with his sleeve.
The emperor smiled slightly.
"The sages once said, 'In the practice of rites, harmony is most precious.'"
Zhao Dezhao replied with equal ease.
"But the sages also said that harmony without proper restraint cannot endure."
"Have you ever heard of a vassal state ignoring the commands of its suzerain?"
Zhao Kuangyin shook his head.
"The ruler of Goryeo refuses my command because his country borders the Khitans."
"If he aids us openly, he risks provoking them."
"This matter may be pursued or ignored."
"It depends on my will."
He looked at his son.
"Now tell me your real thoughts."
Zhao Dezhao did not hesitate.
"Song inherits the legacy of Tang."
"But Goryeo submitted to Tang because of generals like Su Dingfang and Liu Rengui. Because of Emperor Gaozong's power. Because the Battle of Baekgang destroyed their courage."
"Those were Tang's achievements."
"Not Song's."
Zhao Kuangyin smiled.
"And if I destroy Northern Han and defeat the Khitans?"
"Would that not awe Goryeo?"
The crown prince snorted.
"You have not achieved that yet."
"And besides, even the mighty Ming dynasty of later history suffered harassment from Japanese pirates."
"That proves maritime defense is very different from warfare on land."
The words were blunt.
But Zhao Kuangyin laughed with genuine pride.
"Indeed you are my son."
He brushed osmanthus petals from his robe and patted the prince's shoulder.
"The Ministry of Works must not delay the design of new sea-going ships."
"If the ministry's courtyard is too small to simulate ocean waves…"
"Then dig a larger pond."
"Gather craftsmen and test ship models there."
Zhao Dezhao's eyes lit up.
"That would be perfect!"
Zhao Kuangyin smiled.
"Prepare yourself."
"In a few days, in Guangzheng Hall, I will test how much you have learned from the light screen."
The crown prince bowed deeply.
"I will not disappoint you, Father."