Kingdom of Heaven and Han

Chapter 623
Zheng Chen entered Zhao Gou's study room and saw that there was only a small yellow door standing beside him, and there was no one else, so he couldn't help but feel nervous.

Stepping forward, Zheng Chen saluted Zhao Gou.

Zhao Gou smiled and said, "The chief sits down."

Zheng Chen was taken aback.Hastily said: "In front of the official's house, where is there a small place to sit?"

Zhao Gou said: "Today is special, let's sit down and talk. There are no outsiders here, just relax."

Where does Zheng Chen dare to sit?Thank you again and again, and stood carefully on the side.

Zhao Gou said: "The cabinet chief and Xueshi Hu went to Xijing this time, and they have worked hard all the way."

Zheng Chen hurriedly said he didn't dare.He went to the east of the palace to worship the officials and bring the imperial equipment, and he stayed around Zhao Gou every day.Zhao Gou was so polite to him suddenly today, Zheng Chen knew in his heart that he should be asking about his trip to Luoyang this time.

The great victory in Shanzhou, killing more than 2 gold troops in the first battle, shocked the court so much that everyone wanted to know what kind of person Wang Xiaolie was.Especially this time it was Li Yanxian who came to present the captives, and Zhao Gou was inevitably suspicious because Wang Xiaolie didn't come. More than [-] Jin troops, according to the situation before Shaoxing, were enough to penetrate the entire Song Dynasty.

People in this era are not like people in later generations who read history books. They only read 10 people here and 20 people there, and they don’t think about [-] Jinjun.In fact, in real battles, it is extremely rare for the Jin army to invest [-] troops.Zhao Gou has experienced so many ups and downs, and he understands the strength of Jin Jun very well, so he will not misjudge.Wang Xiaolie's ability to kill more than [-] Jin troops in one battle shows that all the armies in the Song Dynasty are far from Wang Xiaolie's.

Whether he likes it or not, Zhao Gou must try his best to win over the current Wang Xiaolie.Losing people like Li Cheng and Kong Yanzhou would not hurt the Song Dynasty.If Wang Xiaolie is lost at this time, the situation in the Song Dynasty will be very bad.Zhao Gou knew this well, so he did not hesitate to reward Wang Xiao very much.Even Li Yanxian, Zhao Gou gave him special courtesy.

Looking at Zheng Chen, Zhao Gou smiled.Asked: "The cabinet chief went to Xijing this time, what kind of person is Wang Jieshuai?"

Zheng Chen was silent for a while.After thinking about it, he carefully answered: "The young one went to Xijing, right after the Great War, Wang Jieshuai was very busy, and he only saw two sides. With his little knowledge, Wang Jieshuai was kind to others, without putting on airs, and was very easy to get along with. "

Zhao Gou nodded.Suddenly said: "You came to Xijing after the great victory in Shanzhou, why didn't Wang Jieshuai come with you to offer prisoners?"

Zheng Chen said: "Wang Jieshuai said that the battle ahead is busy, and the Jin army may not be willing to lose, so they dare not leave without permission."

Zhao Gou said: "Is it true what the cabinet chief has seen and heard?"

Seeing Zhao Gou's smiling face, Zheng Chen's gaze was like a knife, as if piercing into his heart, and he couldn't help sweating on his forehead.Carefully replied: "From what I saw, Xijing was very busy at that time, and it was indeed unusual. I don't know if the Jin army will raise troops to attack again."

Zhao Gou nodded, lowering his head as if thinking about something.He raised his head suddenly, and said again: "The Jin army will start the war, and they have to wait until the autumn is high and the horses are fat. Now it is about to enter the hot season, why does Wang Xiaolie think that the Jin army will attack Xijing again?"

Zheng Chen said: "If we talk about the past, it is true. But Wu Shu, the fourth prince of the Jin Kingdom, seems not to care about autumn heights and horse fat. In the fourth year of Jianyan, he searched mountains and seas in the heat of summer. When he arrived in Shaanxi, Wu Shu again Waging war many times over the summer. Different from others."

"It makes sense." Zhao Gou nodded. "Then the chief thinks that Wang Jieshuai didn't come because he was afraid of the Jin army coming to attack?"

Zheng Chen said: "Don't hide it from the officials, the young one has only met Wang Jieshuai two or three times, and I don't know who he was before, so how dare I guess what he's thinking?"

Zhao Gou didn't speak, just looked at Zheng Chen.It wasn't until beads of sweat trickled down Zheng Chen's forehead that he said slowly, "Don't be nervous, chief."

Zheng Chen didn't dare to wipe his sweat, he just claimed yes.

Zhao Gou sighed lightly.He said to himself: "Wang Xiaoliu rose from the rebel army and devoted himself to serving the country. It's really not easy. It's a pity that I can't see him after making such a great contribution this time. If there is one or two in the court Compared with Wang Xiaolie, how can the country's affairs be so difficult! Sigh—"

Zheng Chen listened carefully, not daring to vent his breath.

After a while, Zhao Gou said: "It is extremely expensive to raise soldiers. It must be extremely difficult for Wang Xiaolie to raise an army of [-] with [-] or [-] states. How is the life of the common people?"

Zheng Chen said: "When I went there, it was the time when the Jin army attacked Xijing. As soon as I entered Suizhou, I saw people carrying food to the county town, and there were quite a few of them. When it comes to food, it is money.”

Zhao Gou nodded.Said: "Wang Xiaolie is in Xiangyang. He prints huizi by himself. I heard that many places like to use it. I looked for it. The printing is really exquisite, and the denomination is not big. You said that the government gave money to the people, and it was huizi. Bar?"

Zheng Chen said: "I didn't ask, but I think it should be. After passing through Suizhou, except for one or two pennies, the people there use clubs."

Zhao Gou hurriedly asked, "Is the Huizi printed out of thin air, and the people are willing to use it?"

Zheng Chen said: "As far as I can see, the common people don't seem to be against it, and they like to use it. This thing is printed on paper, which is lighter than copper coins and easy to carry. It is more convenient if you do business over long distances. Daily trading of goods , and better than copper coins.”

Zhao Gou couldn't help frowning.Said: "Wang Jieshuai is really a great person! Huizi, as long as the people are willing to use it, the government can print it in millions, so how can there be no money? In order to deal with the war, we also print Huizi, why don't the people Like to use it? If they can rule like Wang Xiaolie, how much easier the government will be!"

Zheng Chen said: "As far as I can see, the Huizi in Xiangyang is different from ours. Under Wang Jieshuai's rule, the Huizi can be used for transactions, can be used to pay taxes, and can be deposited in the bank to earn interest. .Unlike other places, no matter how much time passes, Xiangyang Huizi will not become lighter, and you can still buy so many goods."

Zhao Gou said: "Wang Xiao doesn't have many meetings to hunt seals? If there are few seals, what's the use of this thing!"

Zheng Chen said: "The officials are sages!"

Zhao Gou shook his head, these incomprehensible things, I still don't think about it for the time being.He asked again: "Even though Yinhuizi, the government is not short of expenses, but the people suffer from it. From what you can see, is the life of the people under Wang Xiaolie's rule easier or more difficult than in other places?" "

Zheng Chen said: "The government, under the rule of Wang Jieshuai, as far as I can see, the people in other parts of the world live better. I asked Xueshi Hu, and in their place, the people only pay three buckets of grain per mu of land— —”

Zhao Gou said: "I've heard of it too. Three buckets per mu, the land tax is not light."

Zheng Chen said: "However, under Wang Jieshuai's rule, there is nothing but three buckets of grain for one mu of land. No miscellaneous taxes, no exorbitant donations, no money to buy, nothing left. Oh, that's right. , There are fifty laborers in Yiding. Compared with other places, the tax looks heavy, but it is actually much lighter.”

Zhao Gou nodded, but did not speak.After Jingkang, Zhao Gou was not an emperor raised in the deep palace without knowing the sufferings of the people.The world is like this, and it is necessary to raise soldiers and quell chaos. How can it be possible without exorbitant taxes?Under Wang Xiaolie's rule, if there were only these taxes on the surface, it would be much better than the people in other places.What the people are most afraid of is the miscellaneous taxes that come from nowhere.

In fact, with the national power and productivity development level of the Song Dynasty, it was more than enough to deal with the war with the Jin State.Why is it that the people are actually living a difficult life and the court is still short of money?In addition to official corruption and ineffectiveness in doing things, the more important reason is that a lot of wealth was wasted in vain.The efficiency of the government is low, and when the money is in the hands, only a fraction of it is really effective.What Wang Xiaolie does is to maximize the effect of the collected wealth.The burden of the common people is low, but the money in Wang Xiaolie's hands is enough, and there is even a surplus.

The Song Dynasty was able to have today's predicament, and the government had to bear a very large responsibility.Just not surrendering and resisting the Jin army is not enough, far from enough.The government must shoulder its own responsibilities and do a good job in this matter.It cannot be said that as long as I do not surrender, no matter how harshly I treat the people, I am qualified.

(End of this chapter)