Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 229 0224【To deal with barbarians】

Zhu Guoxiang, Min Zishun, and Bai Chongyan sat together with a dignified atmosphere.

Zhu Guoxiang's tone was somewhat apologetic: "I really didn't expect that Cai You would lose the slightest bit of shame. I also thought that you would be transferred to a small barren county, but I never guessed that it would be that kind of place."

"Well, no matter where you go, it's better than the current dispatch." Bai Chongyan could only enjoy himself while suffering.

His new assignment is the county magistrate of Wuning.

Going back two years, there is no such county at all.

After the Lunanyi rebellion, the imperial court urgently set up the Changning Army, and Wuning County was established where the military ruled.The Zhijun and the county magistrate both work in the Wuning village, and there is not even a serious city for the time being, it's just a military fort.

The scope of its jurisdiction roughly coincides with the later Changning County of Yibin City. The county is full of semi-Sinicized Liao people, and there are also some Wuman people who are prone to rebellion.

Min Zishun's situation was a little better, but not so much better. He was transferred to be the county magistrate of Chenxi, where Wuxi Man just rebelled last year.

Min Zishun was already furious: "That guy Cai You, avenging his personal revenge, completely disregarding the safety of the country. In two places where the barbarian rebellion had just been quelled, the new county magistrate was not long after he took office, and he asked us to replace him. He is not afraid of frequent By mobilizing local officials, will the barbarians take the opportunity to rebel again?"

"I'm afraid that's what he has in mind. If there is a barbarian rebellion, we will be punished!" Bai Chongyan said.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Zhao Yu happened to have not left Beijing yet. I asked him about it yesterday. In Wuning County, Han people make up less than [-]% of the population, Liao people account for [-]%, and the remaining [-]% ​​are Wuman. Man, all have been semi-Sinicized, and the cultivation of Liao people is no different from that of Han people. Wuman belongs to half farming and half herding, but many of them can speak Chinese, which is much more familiar than Wuman further south."

Zhao Yu was the civil official who commanded the troops to quell the Lunanyi rebellion. He was just a benevolent official and had no Jinshi background.

Although he was favored by Song Huizong, he had an enmity with Tong Guan.

After making great achievements, the emperor promoted him to Zhilong Tuge to serve as the appeasement envoy of Xihe Lanhuang Economic Strategy.Once accepted, he would go to Tong Guan's subordinates to become an official, so scared that Zhao Xun hurriedly claimed his illness and resigned.

When Zhao Kui returned to the capital, the emperor granted him a background in Taixue Shangshe, and worshiped him as Minister of the Ministry of War.

Zhao Xun still didn't dare to accept that the military department was full of Tong Guan and Cai Jing's people.After many refusals, he was temporarily thrown to manage the Taoist temple.

Not long ago, Zhao Yu was appointed as Chengde Zhijun, and even his son Enyin became the school secretary.

This is a capable minister and official. In the next few years, Zhao Xun advised all of Song Huizong's wrong government orders.But the objection is invalid!

"What suggestion does Zhao Zhijun have?" Bai Chongyan asked humbly.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "He said that the Liao people in Lunan were oppressed by both the Han officials and the Wuman. The Liao people wanted to get close to the government, but they were extorted; They are all Liao people, after you go, the most urgent task is to appease the Liao people."

"Juniors, please remember." Bai Chongyan cupped his hands.

Zhu Guoxiang continued: "According to what Zhao Yu said, the most serious disagreement between the Han and Liao is the ownership of the local salt wells. After you go, you should call the leaders of the Liao people's villages to divide those salt wells clearly. The Han people can no longer occupy them. Liaojing, the Liao people can't compete for the Han well, and at the same time promise to reduce the tax of the Liao people, and the government will no longer rob them of their goods."

Bai Chongyan listened patiently.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "At the same time, quickly set up a military school (similar to the state school) so that the children of the leaders of the Liao people can go to the military school to study and receive education. First, it can educate the Liao people, and second, it is also a hostage. Govern the Liao people. People, it is equivalent to governing Wuning County well."

In the late Northern Song Dynasty, the Lunan Liao people were very close to the Han people except for their different customs. Given time, they would be able to Sinicize successfully.

Min Zishun asked: "The younger generation went to Chenxi, what did you teach me?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "I don't know much about the Wuxi Man, and I can't give any specific advice. But to deal with the barbarians, it is nothing more than suppression and appeasement. Among the barbarians, they are not monolithic. Reuse the barbarians who are close to the government, attack the barbarians who oppose the government, and treat them kindly." To educate them, thunderbolts must be used at critical times. In addition, we must respect their customs and not impose them on them with the etiquette of the Han family."

"The junior has been taught." Min Zishun cupped his hands.

Zhu Guoxiang's self-proclaimed age is not much older than Min Zishun, but it does not hinder their "generational" difference.

The two were still renting the Lu family's house, so they immediately threw it to the real estate agency and asked Zhu Guoxiang to collect the sublease fee on their behalf.

Zhu Guoxiang also wanted to go home on vacation, so he asked Liang Yi (half adopted son and student) to pick him up.The coal shop has long been handed over to Liang Yi, a young man from Daming Village who has grown up.

Arrangements should also be made for the experimental field, where vegetables, flowers and trees are planted.

Everything was about the same. Yang Zhi, who was assassinated in Weizhou, was finally chased back halfway, and he was given a uniform of a military officer.

"Zhi, thank you Mr. Zhu!" Yang Zhi knelt when he met him.

Zhu Guoxiang hurriedly stopped him: "Although you have no rank, you are already a military officer, how can you kneel before others? From now on, remember to be an official and don't commit crimes on impulse."

Yang Zhi said: "I listen to my husband."

Zhu Guoxiang warned again in a low voice: "Keep your eyes open. Cai Jing has a grudge against me, and Cai You will take revenge. Most of the errands of the generals of the forbidden army are responsible for escorting military supplies. I am afraid that the Cai Party will play tricks on it. Don’t go back to Beijing, go directly to Yangzhou and join Daming Village.”

Yang Zhi was originally excited because of being an official, but when he heard this, he was instantly terrified.

It's too easy for the treacherous party to frame the general of the imperial army, give him an escort mission, and set a tricky deadline, ranging from dismissal to decapitation.

Wang Anshi's wife bought a concubine for Wang Anshi back then. The concubine's husband was a general of the Forbidden Army. He paid compensation for the overturned army rations. He lost his entire family and sold his wife.

Zhu Guoxiang continued: "I recommended two Jinshi, both of whom have both ability and political integrity, but they were released by Cai You to a small county full of barbarians. Even if you are a civil servant with good grades, you are a military officer with no rank, and you are bound to be framed by Cai You. Remember, Don't go back to Beijing, flee to Daming Village in Yangzhou, settle down there first, and then I will find a way to exonerate you."

Yang Zhi was even more vigilant and said, "Once something happens, I will run away immediately."

Zhu Guoxiang sighed: "Oh, the Cai Party is jealous of me, but they got you involved for no reason."

Hearing this kind of self-blame, Yang Zhi was inexplicably moved, and knelt down and said, "Don't say that, if it wasn't for the help of the husband, I would have been a thief in Weizhou. I will remember the kindness of the husband for the rest of my life. The blame can only be blamed on those traitors who are too bad. If all the officials are like Xianggong, the people must have a better life, and I admire Xianggong very much."

"Go, I'm going back to my hometown tomorrow." Zhu Guoxiang helped him up.

The next day, Zhu Guoxiang left Beijing with his entourage, and Song Huizong sent someone to send a thousand taels of silver as travel expenses.

Yang Zhi and Eleven sworn brothers also came early to see them off.But there were many civil servants at the farewell place, and they were not qualified to squeeze in, so they could only watch Zhu Guoxiang leave from a distance.

Yang Zhi was freed from the crime and got an official position again, so he should celebrate and take his brothers out of the city for a drink.

"Congratulations, brother, for becoming an official!" Everyone raised their glasses.

Yang Zhi said with a smile: "A military officer without rank can't be regarded as an official."

Hua Rong said: "A general also has an official status. If we spend our whole life, we will not be a general."

"Thanks to Zhu Xianggong, the big brother is lucky." Guan Sheng said.

Sun Li said with a smile: "When I went to beg Mr. Zhu, I only wanted to exonerate my elder brother. But I didn't want to cover up like Mr. Zhu. I actually found an official position for my elder brother."

Xu Ning also smiled and said, "This glass of wine, I wish the elder brother a prosperous career."

Yang Zhi laughed and clinked glasses with his brothers. While pushing the glasses for a change, he also expressed his worries and repeated Zhu Guoxiang's words.

"Ah!"

Lin Chong was so angry that he slammed the table: "Those fellows are used to harming people. Mr. Zhu is so benevolent and righteous, they have the heart to make things difficult, and even threw the good officials recommended by Mr. Zhu to a small barbarian county."

Chai Jin likes to inquire about gossip: "I heard people say that the price of charcoal in Tokyo can be reduced because Zhu Tanhua recommended a good official called... What is the name of Min Heshun. The official Min is in charge of the Carbon Coal Division, and the price of coal dropped that month. Later, the treacherous party made troubles and tied the hands and feet of Min officials, and the price of charcoal went up by a penny."

Yang Zhi said: "The one who was tricked by the traitor party this time was the official Min, who was sent out to be the county magistrate in a place where the Wuxi barbarians were in trouble."

Zhang Qing cried bitterly: "Min Guan left Tokyo, fearing that the price of charcoal will rise again, so I have to buy more charcoal to go home tomorrow."

Min Zishun is a small official, how can he have the ability to influence the price of charcoal?More charcoal merchants are joining forces to hold the government.Moreover, the new governor of Kaifeng, Wang Ge, is also a traitor, but he is still capable of doing business and is working hard to stabilize coal prices.

Li Jinyi said in a low voice: "If Brother Yang is framed and flees to Daming Village in Yangzhou, we will go with him. When the time comes, bring Brother Yang's family members with us, and everyone will go to be Zhu Xianggong's farmer, which is better than that." Stay in Tokyo and be treated like a dog."

They are really like dogs, and they are about to be sent to escort Hua Shigang again.

Escorted once, lost money once, mainly because of subsidizing travel expenses.

Although everyone is a low-level officer of the Xiang Army, they are not much better than the top soldiers of the Xiang Army.Usually, the food and salaries are not paid in full, and he has to work to subsidize the family. If Hua Shigang repeatedly tosses and tosses the family several times, the family may be so poor that they will run out of money.

Most of the Imperial Army was dragged by Tong Guan to fight, and many things in Tokyo were left to the Xiang Army.

Gen Yue is under construction in full swing, and there are no idlers around Tokyo City.Those homeless people were all conscripted as civilian husbands, eating old rice and rotten vegetables every day, and carrying dirt and building mountains for Gen Yue day and night.

After the beginning of spring, the flower and stone gangs in various places disturbed the people again.

Numerous local officials went to the shuffle to persuade them, and various small-scale civil unrest broke out.

Faced with the mess everywhere, Song Huizong had to issue an edict: ordering supervisors and county guards in various places not to enter Huashigang indiscriminately, and only six people including Zhu Yu and Cai You were ordered to obey the order for those who were paid.

Song Huizong believed that Huashigang's disturbance to the people was caused by the rash advances of local officials, and had nothing to do with his own large-scale construction projects.

Therefore, from now on, only six people including Zhu Xi and Cai You will be in charge of Hua Shigang's affairs.Wherever they arrange to enter the flowers and stones, only those states and counties can contribute, and other officials cannot make their own opinions.

This decree is indeed useful, and the donations from various places have been greatly reduced.

But within half a year, local officials started again.It can't be stopped, if others donate to please the emperor, wouldn't it be a big loss if you don't donate?

Even though the Zhizhou is benevolent and loves the people, if the county magistrate below pays tribute, will the Zhizhou dare to stop it?
Or if the transshipment envoy and the magistrate ordered to pay tribute, would the county magistrates below dare not listen?
Soon there were Shandong fishermen who rebelled and killed officials to become pirates. The reason was that the government forced sea faults at low prices and transported them as flowers and stones to please the emperor.

(End of this chapter)