Chapter 55: The Special Administrative County (Please Vote for Recommendation)

However, Zhao Huan did not adopt Li Gang’s suggestion. As someone who had traversed time from a later era—a youth born in a period of great national integration—Zhao Huan did not possess the deep-seated nationalist sentiments that Li Gang did.

These thirty thousand prisoners would be wasted if simply slaughtered; if used wisely, they could become thirty thousand laborers. Suddenly, Zhao Huan conceived a rather bold idea.

“I have an immature thought regarding these thirty thousand prisoners,” Zhao Huan said, “Let us discuss it together. Massacring prisoners is hardly befitting the customs of our Grand Song, the land of propriety. Yet we cannot let these soldiers simply depart. So I have devised a compromise: convert these prisoners into slave status, establish the county of Songjiang by the sea under Suzhou Prefecture, relocate these thirty thousand prisoners there, disperse and govern them, reclaim land from the sea, expand our territory.”

“Your Majesty, the Central Plains is vast and bountiful, rich with fertile fields—why trouble ourselves with cultivating such barren lands?” Li Gang advised.

The loyal ministers remained silent, yet their skepticism was clear. In their view, the Grand Song’s lands were sufficiently abundant; self-sufficiency on land was entirely possible, so why exert such effort to reclaim land from the sea?

Zhao Huan felt tempted to point at these old men and scold them: With your current attitude, do you really believe you can summon a hundred responses like the Tang Dynasty, with countless vassal states following in your wake? When will this arrogance ever change? In a hundred years, on the far side of the earth, a Western nation will begin an industrial revolution, then force open our gates with powerful ships and cannons. The humiliation suffered then will far surpass the pain of today’s oppression by Jin.

But Zhao Huan kept these thoughts to himself; if he told them now that the earth was round, he would surely be seen as a monster. The belief in a square earth and round heavens had been fixed for millennia—such change would not come overnight.

“Placing thirty thousand prisoners in Songjiang is convenient for oversight. With the sea at their backs, escape becomes unthinkable, and distance from the center ensures that even if unrest arises, no great trouble will result,” Zhao Huan said calmly. This reason was unquestioned, and all ministers praised Zhao Huan’s clever plan.

Next, however, deciding who should serve as the magistrate of Songjiang County required Zhao Huan’s careful consideration.

Racking his brains, Zhao Huan finally recalled a suitable candidate—Hu Quan.

Hu Quan, one of the four distinguished ministers of Southern Song, was unquestionably talented. Zhao Huan chose him chiefly because, at this time, Hu Quan was a young man of about twenty, and such youth was easier to manage—not like the old men, seasoned and adept at concealing their true intentions.

Thus, Hu Quan was summoned, somewhat bewildered, to the palace, meeting Zhao Huan for the first time.

Hu Quan was confused by the summons. At this time, though talented, he remained unknown to the world. According to history’s course, he would not achieve the imperial examination until two years later.

“You are Hu Quan?” Zhao Huan asked, gazing at the young man before him.

Hu Quan appeared somewhat uneasy in Zhao Huan’s presence and replied, “Indeed, your humble subject. I do not know what commands Your Majesty has for me?”

Zhao Huan’s first impression of Hu Quan was favorable. After a brief exchange, Zhao Huan recognized Hu Quan’s talent and tentatively asked, “If you were given a county to govern, how would you proceed?”

The question was abrupt for Hu Quan, who, at this time, was still a commoner yet to pass the imperial exam. He was clever enough to understand that his answer could influence his future career. Taking a deep breath, he replied, “If governance is upright, customs will follow. As the father and mother official of a county, only through clear governance can one set an example above and below, foster honest customs, and ultimately achieve harmony among the people.”

Zhao Huan nodded. “Well said. Though a county magistrate may seem small, the responsibility is not insignificant—the fate of all the county’s people rests upon your shoulders. If I entrust you with a county now, will you handle it well?”

Pausing, Zhao Huan continued, “No need to answer hastily—I know you are talented. Perhaps you see a county magistrate as beneath you. Let me tell you: the county I speak of is barren land, all in ruins. If you accept this post, everything will begin from nothing.”

Hearing Zhao Huan’s words, Hu Quan fell into deep thought. As Zhao Huan had said, Hu Quan was talented and would never have regarded a county magistrate as worthy in the past. But now, since Zhao Huan himself proposed it, Hu Quan hesitated.

Zhao Huan did not rush him and waited patiently, saying, “If you have any concerns, speak freely. You need not feel burdened; even if you refuse, I will not hold it against you.”

Hu Quan took a deep breath, lifted his head, and said, “May I ask, Your Majesty, which county is it?”

“It is Songjiang County, under Suzhou Prefecture,” Zhao Huan replied.

Hu Quan was puzzled, so Zhao Huan quickly explained, “It is a newly established county. As I told you, after you take office, everything starts from zero.”

All of this was an unknown challenge. Whether to accept it was itself a challenge for Hu Quan.

“Your Majesty!” After what felt to Hu Quan like an eternity, he finally summoned his courage and said to Zhao Huan, “The task is weighty and the road long, but I am willing to try!”

“Excellent!” Zhao Huan applauded him, saying, “Do not bear any burden in your heart. I have decided to establish Songjiang County as a special administrative county. Though it lies within Suzhou Prefecture, it will not be governed by Suzhou. All directives will come from the Six Ministries, and you may consult me at any time. I will be your strongest support!”

Hearing this, Hu Quan could not help but feel a surge of excitement. If this were true, Songjiang would be a county in name, but its actual rank would surpass a prefecture, especially since he could report directly to Zhao Huan—a privilege afforded only to ministers of the Six Ministries.

They say fortune favors the bold; it seemed this time he truly made the right gamble. Hu Quan could not contain his inner joy.