The rise of the prince

Chapter 408

The so-called Black Mountain Bandit is a generation of bandits who have been fleeing the Ningjiang Mansion for a long time.

And the black mountain thief is different from other thieves.

Because Ningjiang Mansion is the main road between Zhending Mansion, an important town in Guanbei, and Kaiyuan Mansion.The important town of Zhending is also the first line of defense against the Liao people on Guanbei Road. At least tens of thousands of forbidden troops will switch from Kaiyuan to Zhending Mansion every year.

Not only the transfer of personnel, but also the exchange of supplies, etc., made people come and go on this road. Many businessmen, passing by, took this spacious official road.

Firstly, to guard against the threat of the Liao people and ensure unimpeded supplies during the war, secondly, the country maintains this official road all the year round, and thirdly, there are more pedestrians coming and going, as well as officers and soldiers, so it is relatively safe.

In this way, the official road of Zhending Mansion, Ningjiang Mansion, and Kaiyuan Mansion, with the first half of the waterway and the second half of the land route, has become the most important traffic artery in the north.Almost all merchants traveling with the border and even the Liao Kingdom took this route, and it was once prosperous.

But gradually, the problem of this avenue also came to the fore, that is, it is close to the Taihang Mountain, which is not a big deal at all, the land official road bypasses the mountain, and there are many people going to the other side, which is safer.

But things are always changing, from the time the official road was repaired to use, it was only safe for less than a year.
Before there was this official road, going north was to take the mountain trail west of Taihang Mountain. The trail was dangerous and difficult to walk, but it connected the border with the Liao Kingdom.

So there are still many people coming and going, and many local people provide food and accommodation for the merchants, buy and sell local specialties, serve as guides or do some coolies for a living, and villages and towns are gradually built on the roadside, and they continue to expand. live and work in peace and contentment.

Later, in order to prevent the Liao Kingdom, and at the same time facilitate the imperial army to change defenses against Zhending Mansion, and ensure the smooth logistics and supply lines, the last emperor recruited tens of thousands of corvee workers. After three years, he built a road from Kaiyuan to Ningjiang and then to Zhending, which is now official. road.

This avenue runs east of Taihang Mountain, the first half is by water, and the second half is by land. It is spacious and easy to walk. The imperial court maintains it every year, which is safe and convenient. It does not need to go to the plateau, saving time and effort. Naturally, merchants do not take the western path, but go east avenue.

"Wouldn't that be a great thing." He Qian heard her father interject in the middle of what she said. If it was another woman, she might be scolded, but He Zhaoke couldn't bear to scold his precious daughter. good thing."

In the small courtyard of the He Mansion, Li Xingzhou and He Zhao sat opposite each other in front of the red sandalwood table, and He Qian sat on one side.There is not a single flower in He Zhao's garden. They are all different kinds of bamboo. It looks monotonous and lacks interest, but it can be seen that He Zhao really likes bamboo.

Regarding the matter of Jiangzhou, De Gong suggested that he come to ask He Zhao.

Because He Zhao worked in Jiannan Road and Ningjiang Mansion successively before he became the governor of Kaiyuan Mansion. Compared with his stupid son Wang Tong, De recognized that He Zhao saw the problem more thoroughly, so he asked him for advice.

Li Xingzhou probably also thought of why He Zhao said that.

"Why not? Once the official road is connected, it will connect Zhending Mansion, Ningjiang Mansion, and Kaiyuan Mansion. Not to mention the convenience of border guards and business travel, these places will become more prosperous." He Qian asked puzzledly, her thoughts probably Same with many normal people.

He Zhao expressionless, "Make tea."

He Qian didn't understand why her father had a stern face and was a little unhappy, but he still pouted and made tea obediently.

He Zhao took a sip of tea, sighed and said, "In the beginning, when the first emperor decided to overhaul his official ways, many ministers in the court also said like you.

But they are not as ignorant as you are. Some of them have properties in that area, and it will be beneficial for them to build this road, while others are really thinking about the overall situation of the society.But the prefect of Zhending at that time.”

Speaking of this, He Zhao stopped, as if unwilling to say any more.
He Qian was in a hurry, and pulled Dad's arm and shook it: "Where is Dad next?"

"Later." He Zhao put down his teacup and glanced at Li Xingzhou: "Just when all the officials agreed and the edict was about to be issued, the magistrate of Zhending traveled thousands of miles to the capital city without stopping for a moment. When he arrived, he was as thin as a monkey. He seemed ashamed, knelt outside the Meridian Gate without eating or sleeping, and begged the emperor not to build the road in tears. He said that once the road was completed, the world would be in chaos, and the imperial court would prepare to send troops to quell the chaos."

He Qian looked at her father with a puzzled expression, full of curiosity, "Why is there such a mess? Is it really such a mess?"

"Naturally, no one paid attention to him at that time. The overhaul of officialdom was unanimously decided by the emperor and the ministers. Many people from all over the country also supported this matter. In this way, it is a done deal." He Zhao's tone became serious: "The magistrate's surname is really determined. Zeng kowtowed outside the Meridian Gate and almost died of starvation, but the late emperor still didn’t see him, and was cursed by the people, disgusted by all the officials, so he jumped into the river and committed suicide when he returned crying.”

"Why!" He Qian was stunned.

"No reason, he has his own reasons.
This matter was decided by the former emperor. When the official road was completed, the current emperor had just been on the throne for half a year. At that time, the old man was still young. Almost all the people in the area have rebelled, and tens of thousands of people have turned into bandits, men, women, old and young, and they burned, killed and looted merchants passing by in a mighty way."

Speaking of this, He Zhao's face was heavy, while He Qian was speechless.

"Do you understand now?" He Zhao looked at Li Xingzhou.

Li Xingzhou nodded: "There are few vegetation in the west of Taihang Mountain, and the terrain is high and steep. The land is bare and unsuitable for cultivation. In the past, there was no official road. Merchants going north and taking the small road to the west will naturally bring supplies. The local people trade with them, and they will have a way of life. Generations have lived on it.

Once the official road is complete, all merchants going north take the Taihang Mountain Avenue. If there are no merchants coming and going in the west, the local people will not be able to do business, and there will be no business travel to bring them food and supplies.

And in other places, farming, fishing and hunting can still survive, but there are loess poor lands in the west of Taihang Mountains, and it is difficult to cultivate, that is the way for most people to survive."

"Huh, you are really smart." He Zhao nodded, and then said in a deep voice, "What's wrong with the common people? It's just to find a way to survive, otherwise they can only wait for death.

But what happened to the emperor?If the official road is not cultivated, it will be difficult for the army to go north, and it will not be easy to supply, and it will not be able to effectively guard against the Liao Kingdom. When the Liao soldiers go south, the whole country will be uneasy, and how many people will be displaced. "

Li Xingzhou nodded. Indeed, people like to classify things or people into right and wrong, because it makes it easier to see the world that way. It’s like watching TV when you were a child. You always have to ask your parents which one is good and which one is bad. Much simpler.
But things in the world are not that simple. Most of the time, right and wrong cannot define people and things.

The people are right, they are right for survival, the emperor is right, for the safety of more people, they are all right, but conflicts are inevitable, conflicts mean conflicts, bloodshed
"The people west of the Taihang Mountains were the original black bandits.

At first they walked over the Taihang Mountains on a small path, and ran into the mountains after they had robbed in the east, and returned to the west of the mountain.

If the officers and soldiers came, they would also run into the mountains. Those mountains were high and steep, with many rocky gullies. Except for the locals who were familiar with the trails and good at climbing, no one else could climb them at all.

(End of this chapter)