Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 430 0425 [Can really offend people]

Xiangyang.

Grand Marshal Zhu Ming and Prefect Li Hanzhang are standing in front of a map.

Zhao Fengji pointed to the line segments and circles drawn on the map and said: "The lake and swamp area in the north of Jiangling is the easiest to manage, and there are many people in the countryside. Construction will start next year. Those altar owners in the villages will either be killed by us." or be taken away by Zhongxiang, Baojia should be re-established. Let Baochang lead the villagers to dig aqueducts, some lakes are reserved for water storage, and some lakes are built into polders. In this way, the accumulated water in the swamp can be drained, and the remaining There are lakes for flood relief and drought relief, and aqueducts along the way can also be used for irrigation.”

Those lakes and marshes are formed artificially, and the improvement does not count as destroying the wetlands.

Li Hanzhang said: "Recently, some wealthy households have come to complain about their grievances. They are all landlords who have fled from the surrounding areas of Jiangling. Their land was taken away. Now that Zhong Xiang is no longer there, these landlords want to get their land back. Some are The merchants in Jiangling hope to get back their own shops."

"Since the peasants have obtained the land, it is easy to cause chaos if they interfere arbitrarily," Zhu Ming said very tactfully. "There is wasteland everywhere, so just let the gentry continue to cultivate the wasteland. At most, there will be a little more tax reduction for the first three years. As for the merchants, There is a shortage of people in Jiangling City, so let them take it back to the shop."

When Zhong Xiang withdrew his army, although he promised not to take away the people, thousands of soldiers were recruited from the city, and they moved away with their families, and they also quietly took away many craftsmen.

As for the shops, the small shopkeepers and small traders were not attacked by Zhong Xiang, they were still doing business under the rule of Chu State.

All the people running were big merchants, and it was difficult for these people to return to Jiangling, because they lacked funds and goods, and even if they got the shops, most of them could only be rented out.Moreover, large shops and restaurants may not necessarily be able to find tenants.

Li Hanzhang did not think of attacking the big landlords, but he did not want further chaos, and he also agreed with Zhu Ming's approach: "This year, we will first organize the Baojia to appease the people of Jiangling and prevent the remnants of the Manichaeism from causing chaos. When the autumn rainy season is over next year, I will organize the people." Govern the lake."

"How to do it, you guys arrange it, I don't want to interfere too much. Go get busy." Zhu Ming still remembers the agreement with his father.

Li Hanzhang and Zhao Fengji bowed and left, and Zhu Ming took out the translated secret letter.

Ju Ming also sent agents to Tokyo, but they could only obtain general information.

What Li Bangyan sent was high-level first-hand information. For example, Ma Kuo reported that the Jin people were training troops at the border, and no more than 20 people could get the news.

What's even more ridiculous is that the adherents of the Liao Kingdom there were starving and fleeing famine a few months ago, and agricultural production was almost completely abandoned.Song Dynasty transferred money and grain from Hebei and Shandong to relief, and the replanted wheat was about to be harvested. The Jin people suddenly took back the prefectures and counties, and trained the people saved by Song Dynasty to serve as soldiers.

If the Song Dynasty did nothing and let the survivors of the Liao Kingdom starve to death, the Jin people would not be able to explode quickly.

Historically, the Jin people went south the next year, and I don't know if it will be earlier now.

"Marshal, the two wives of the Zhong family and the Zhe family have arrived," Bai Sheng came in to report, "The first batch of Northwest war horses have also been delivered, and two Longxi righteous men have also arrived. According to the horse buyer, these two are in Lanzhou. He is very famous in Longxi, and the one named Li Xiaozhong has changed his name to Li Yanxian, and the horse buyer has sent someone to find out his real name."

"What?" Zhu Ming suddenly raised his head.

Bai Sheng said: "Li Xiaozhong."

Zhu Ming stood up and said, "I mean his pseudonym."

"Li Yanxian." Bai Sheng repeated.

"The mainstay." Zhu Ming muttered and walked out.

The mainstay in the Yellow River was in Shanzhou, and Li Yanxian defended Shanzhou and finally committed suicide by jumping into the Yellow River.His title of "mainstay" is well deserved.

Although this gentleman was supported by the soldiers and the people, he was unwilling to compromise with the civil servants and generals.He was too upright and upright, not only offending civil and military officials, but also offending Zhao Gou by refusing to accept the post of governor.With this approach, how could any friendly forces rescue him?

Humble and arrogant, completely opposite to normal people.

In comparison, Yue Fei can bend and stretch, and can withstand all kinds of uselessness.

Zhu Ming first went to see the war horses brought in. The horse buyer was called Qu Shouxin, and he bowed to him and said, "Generalissimo, I am lucky to have a humble job. I bought back a total of 160 five good horses. One died of illness on the way, and several others fell ill. But it shouldn't be a problem."

"Okay, Your Excellency has made a great contribution!" Zhu Ming did not hesitate to praise, and decided to upgrade this person to a higher level, and everyone who participated in the horse buying will also be rewarded.

Most of the more than 100 war horses in front of us are Ganqing horses, which come from Qinghai and Gansu areas, also known as Tubo horses in the Tang and Song dynasties.

The Xixia cavalry also adopted a large number of Gan and Qing horses, and bred their own unique war horses (Western horses).

The West Horse is the offspring of a cross between Gansu and Qinghai horses, Mongolian horses and Dawan horses. It can fight on the plains and cross mountains. It can even endure hunger and thirst and cross a small desert.

The more Ju Ming watched it, the more he liked it, so he asked someone to bring the cornucopia.

Cornucopia was very happy to see his little friend, and got into the crowd of horses to rub around.

Qu Shouxin introduced again: "These two are heroes of the Northwest, the taller one is called Li Yanxian, and the shorter one is called Yan Ping."

"Greetings to the Generalissimo!" The two stepped forward to salute.

"What a strong man!" Ju Ming praised.

Li Yanxian is about 1.8 meters tall, and Yan Ping is about 1.7 meters five. He has been observing mountains and rivers and robberies in the frontier all year round, which naturally creates a kind of unruly temperament.

They do not obey the control of power. If they are not happy working under Zhu Ming, they will resign even if they are in a high position.

Zhu Ming dragged the two of them in for a conversation, completely ignoring the daughters of Zhongjia and Zhejia.

"What do you two think about the border between Song and Xia?" Zhu Ming exchanged a few words and then began to ask about the military.

This is exactly in line with Li Yanxian's character. He doesn't like to come to Xu, so he replied immediately: "After the Song Dynasty occupied Hehuang, the number of war horses and population that Xixia could requisition dropped sharply. Moreover, the domestic political situation in Xixia was unstable, and grain harvests had been poor for many years in a row. The military strength of the army has long been inferior. At this time, the Han people only need to step by step. Every time they occupy a new piece of land, they will build a fortress to immigrate. In less than ten years, the Xixia border will be completely Han land. A new piece of land was occupied, and the reclamation was done extremely badly, forcing the soldiers at the border to flee."

"Have you ever been in the Western Army?" Zhu Ming asked.

Yan Ping said: "Not only did he serve in the Western Army, but he was also a deserter in the Western Army. My brother has a straightforward personality and easily offended the superior. He couldn't stand the birdishness, so he ran away within half a year."

Li Yanxian said: "I don't know about other places in the Great Song Dynasty. I only talk about the troops from all walks of life in Shaanxi. Whether it is the imperial army, the Xiang army, or the archers of the township soldiers, the biggest problem is that the rewards and punishments are unclear and the food is deducted. As a general, when Share joys and sorrows with the soldiers. Even if you can't do this, you should be rewarded and punished. In today's Western Army, it is difficult to get rewards for meritorious deeds, and no punishment for mistakes. Over time, military discipline does not exist. To save my own life."

"There is also the land of Hehuang. Exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes are levied regardless of whether the soldiers' military fields have not been reclaimed. The military salaries that soldiers can receive are not enough to pay taxes to border counties. In those years, one soldier at the border has escaped. Not left. Later, the old businessman was demoted to be the prefect of Xi’an Prefecture, and then he managed Hehuang, vigorously rectified military discipline, and reduced exorbitant taxes, which made fewer soldiers escape.”

Li Yanxian said impassionedly: "Nowadays, people from all walks of life in Shaanxi are suffering from military service and miscellaneous taxes. The Western Army has long been vulnerable. The Generalissimo should raise troops as soon as possible, take all the walks in Shaanxi into his pocket, and treat the people with a little leniency. Jianer is willing to serve his life. When the Generalissimo sends out troops, I can return to Longxi to respond, and it is easy to recruit three to five thousand strong men. Take Longxi, and I can take it even in Lanzhou!"

If he is not familiar with history, Ju Ming will think that this person is bragging, but in fact he is telling the truth.

Zhu Ming smiled and asked, "Don't you know how to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country?"

Li Yanxian said: "I was born in Ningzhou and grew up in Longxi. I also wanted to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country, so I joined the Western Army to serve. However, the generals and officers of the Western Army are mostly wine bags and rice bags. They are very good at deducting military pay and enlisting soldiers. Let them lead the army to fight But it's like a child's play. Some veteran generals who knew the soldiers were also constrained by eunuchs and civil officials, and they forced them to lead their troops to die. It is not uncommon for tens of thousands of troops to be lost in a defeated battle. Once the front line is defeated, the Xixia people take the opportunity How many people on the frontier were ruined by looting across the border? The imperial court is already hopeless, isn’t the Generalissimo raising troops because of this?”

Zhu Ming said: "To be honest, I negotiated peace with the court of Song State last year because of the lack of food and grass. Although this year's harvest is bumper, we have to reclaim wasteland in Jingxiang and Nanyang. We have to wait for next year's summer and autumn to store in order to have enough money." It is also possible to forcefully occupy Shaanxi, but the military rations continue to be transported from Sichuan, which is too costly, and the army must be requisitioned locally to maintain the army. People in Shaanxi, how can there be so much food to collect?"

However, Li Yanxian said: "If the Generalissimo is not collecting grain in Shaanxi, will the Song Dynasty government not collect it? Simply fight there as soon as possible, and let the people of Shaanxi suffer for a year or two, and they will be able to live a better life in the future. To be extorted is nothing more than to cherish one's reputation."

Is it necessary to be so direct?
Zhu Ming finally learned how much Li Yanxian can offend people.

Ju Ming was already familiar with the territory of the Great Song Dynasty. He dipped his hands in tea and drew a simple map: "Do you two know the Kingdom of Jin?"

Yan Ping said: "Of course we know that the Liao Lord was beaten and fled, and the Xixia people changed their masters, and they have bowed their heads to the Kingdom of Jin."

Zhu Ming said: "The Jin soldiers are extremely fierce, and they can beat the Liao army so that they dare not fight. And the frightened Liao army can also beat the Song soldiers to flee. There was a battle last year, a thousand gold cavalry, by luring the enemy , pretending to be defeated, and laying an ambush, in the end only 800 people remained, and went straight to the [-] Xixia army, defeating the elite Xixia army."

"There is such a thing?" Li Yanxian said in shock.

Zhu Ming also said: "This year, the Kingdom of Jin is training troops on the border of the Song and Jin Dynasties, and its intention to go south has been clearly revealed. Or next year, or at the latest the year after, the Jin soldiers will invade the south on a large scale. These barbarians are even more brutal than Xixia. It’s not uncommon, and it’s not uncommon to be killed by Jin Bing to Tokyo. At that time, it’s the time for us to send troops. Resist foreigners and relieve the people, and take advantage of the trend to replace Da Song Tianming!”

Li Yanxian was quite touched when he heard this, and he clasped his fists and said, "Today is just the first time we met, and the Generalissimo actually told me about the important affairs of the society. It is rare in ancient and modern times to employ such a person without doubt. Since the Generalissimo trusts me, I will definitely devote myself to death in the future!"

Zhu Ming said with a smile, "Take me to meet someone, the general I just subdued. He is a hero in Dongting, and you are a hero in Longxi. I think we can hit it off right away."

(End of this chapter)