Consolidation of the Northern Song Circuit Intendant System (1010s)

Timeline

1. 1011–1015Bianjing · HenanThe central government, coordinating through the Secretariat and the Three Departments, dispatched circuit intendants to circuits such as Eastern Capital, Western Capital, Hebei, Huainan, the Two Zhe, and Jinghu; one intendant per circuit became standard. Intendants managed tax collection, grain tribute, and evaluation of prefectures and counties, sharing and balancing power with judicial commissioners and pacification commissioners.
2. 1016–1020Two Zhe Circuit · ZhejiangIn the 1010s circuit intendants further took on the duty of supervising prefectural and county officials and impeaching misconduct, in coordination with the central censorate. With financial power concentrated in circuit intendants, prefectural and county heads could no longer amass resources for themselves; the Song pattern of divided local authority matured in the early Zhenzong reign.