Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 815 Focus on Economy
Everyone felt their blood boiling as they listened to Su Chen's heroic and passionate words. Even though they hadn't even finished three rounds of drinks, their hearts were already filled with indescribable excitement and excitement.

"Your Highness, are you really planning to launch a northern expedition against the Song Kingdom?" Zhu Kuangye was in close contact with Su Chen for the first time, and his heart was filled with curiosity and awe. He couldn't wait to confirm the authenticity of the news.

Su Chen nodded and said, "I have this idea, but I haven't decided on the time to send troops. After all, Song is powerful and has the foundation of the Later Zhou Dynasty. The population of the Central Plains is twice as much as ours, and the products are abundant. Northerners are tall and strong, with strong soldiers and horses. I don't have much advantage in land battles. In addition, Wu is newly established and needs a few years of recuperation to store enough food, weapons, medicines, war horses, etc. It is definitely not possible to prepare them in a short time. All of these require consultation with the ministers and concerted efforts."

Xu Xuan replied, "That makes sense. Your Majesty is able to analyze so much without being blindly arrogant. This is commendable. Our Wu State has just been established and the people are unstable. We really shouldn't go to war with the powerful Song State right away. After five years of recuperation, perhaps we can recruit soldiers, store food and grass, and have the strength to march north!"

Xu Xuan is now the Minister of Revenue, in charge of the economic lifeline of the Wu State and has the most say.

Han Xizai said: "We have been waiting for that day for a long time. We were preparing for it during the Yang Wu period. Unfortunately, Yang Xingmi died young and did not cause any impact on the Later Zhou. The rulers who came after him were young, and the Xu and Li families successively seized power, and the Later Zhou Dynasty perished."

Zhu Kuangye bowed and said, "Your Highness, although I am not talented, I have led troops to fight in the battlefield. In the future, when we fight against the Song Kingdom in the north, I hope to follow you and continue to lead the troops."

He had a knot in his heart. When he led his troops to fight against the Later Zhou army in Huainan, his army was defeated due to the insufficient manpower of the Southern Tang, low combat effectiveness and improper command by the court. Many of his soldiers were killed. This regret and shame always lingered in his heart.

Su Chen nodded slightly, his eyes firm: "Yes! The army is currently in need of talented generals. General Zhu, if you are willing to return to the army and serve, you can go with me to the Jinling camp this time. I intend to recruit talents in Jinling and Runzhou, recruit soldiers and expand the army, and make full preparations for the future Northern Expedition."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Kuangye's expression froze, and he clasped his fists and said respectfully, "I am willing to follow your orders and follow you, Your Majesty!"

Gao Yue said at this time: "I heard that the Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty is preparing to personally lead an expedition to the Northern Han Dynasty, and the vanguard troops have already set out."

Han Xizai said: "After the Song Dynasty destroyed Shu, it obtained a lot of supplies and replenished the national treasury. Now Wu has annexed Lingnan and unified the south. The momentum is strong, so that Zhao Guanjia of Song Dynasty dare not use troops to attack the south for a while. He seems to want to learn from us, first wipe out Liu Junhan State, complete the unification of the north, and then there will be a war between the north and the south!"

Su Chen nodded. In history, Zhao Kuangyin chose the strategy of attacking the south first and then the north. However, he changed his strategy in the middle and launched an attack on the Northern Han Dynasty, but he did not succeed in destroying the Northern Han Dynasty. The time was around this period.

"We are keeping a close eye on the movements in the north, but the key is to improve our own strength, such as developing the economy, planting a large amount of Champa rice next year, increasing exports of porcelain and tea to Southeast Asia, Liao, Japan, and the Western Regions, obtaining more coins, horses, and developing shipping companies and horse farms. We should pay attention to all of these."

Su Chen was very concerned about these economic and commercial developments. Only with economic growth, expansion and acquisition of more materials could the internal economy of Wu be kept in order, the people would not be levied heavy taxes and extortions, and the survival problems of the poor people could be solved. Only in this way could Wu be stable and the strategy of the Northern Expedition be not affected.

Fighting a war is no small matter. With hundreds of thousands of troops, the daily consumption is huge, and the rear needs to be constantly transported for supplies. Food, military pay, war horses, weapons, etc. are all huge wealth, which requires strong economic support. If you rely on taxes from the people and plunder the people's fat, then the rear will be turbulent and mutinous uprisings will occur soon after the war, just like the Sui Dynasty. The three expeditions to Goryeo dragged down the economy of the Sui Dynasty, causing the people in the country to live in misery, and revolted against the Sui Dynasty, and finally made Yang Guang the sinner of the fall of the Sui Dynasty.

Xu Xuan said: "Your Highness is right. We have already discussed these business ideas in the Ministry of Revenue. Although some of the ideas proposed by Your Highness are too shocking and different from the suppression of industry and commerce in the Han and Tang dynasties, they are indeed effective. If we give full play to workshops and commerce, and then adopt the government-run method, control taxes and profits, and have some regulations for private vendors, we can promote it without destroying the scale of farming and ensuring the grain harvest."

In ancient times, agricultural civilization was very important, because if everyone stopped farming and went into business, there would easily be a shortage of food and people would starve to death. Even if commodities were very developed at that time, without food, the price of rice would skyrocket in an instant, and ordinary people would not be able to afford it, which would eventually lead to big problems.

Therefore, in ancient times, commerce was suppressed and farming was emphasized in order to ensure food production. Even in modern times, when the economy is highly developed, there are regulations on the cultivated area of ​​farmland across the country, and it cannot be less than a certain number! Otherwise, if an accident occurs, there will really be a great famine.

Su Chen said: "We walk on two legs. One leg is to continue to expand farming, plant rice that can be harvested twice a year, and store grain for backup. The other leg is to vigorously develop government-run workshops to produce glass, fine salt, black pork, wine, cotton clothes, tea, blue and white porcelain, etc., to earn profits from foreign trade and replenish the national treasury!"

"Well said, we support it!!"

"Makes sense!"

These ministers could not have imagined that Su Chen, in addition to being able to write poetry and novels and lead troops in battle, also knew so much about state governance and economics. They immediately felt that he was a great man with great talent and strategy, no less than the wise kings of ancient times.

Su Chen talked and drank with these ministers and had a great time.

Many important events were mentioned lightly and he did not reveal the specific plans, but the general direction could be discussed with everyone. This time, with the help of Yin Chongyi, Li Ping, Xu You, Xiao Yan, Chen Qiao, Zhang Li and Zhu Kuangye, they worked together and achieved better results. They were like colleagues in the shogunate and became closer.

After the banquet, Su Chen did not stay at Han's house, but chose to return to his own palace.

Although Jinling was where his family lived, only Liu Mo Nong stayed here silently, taking care of everything in the palace. Whenever Su Chen came, he would show her some favor, and this time was no exception.

A short separation is better than a new marriage, and the emotions become stronger at this moment. Su Chen hugged Liu Mo Nong and walked into the bed together, followed by a deep and passionate lingering