I studied in modern times

Chapter 633: A Money-Burning War

September 19th, the first year of Yuanyou.

Zhao Xu convened a small military meeting in front of the emperor in the Zichen Hall.

This was requested by Zhang Heng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

The participants included the right prime minister Lu Gongzhu, the co-director of the Privy Council An Tao, the deputy director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Liang Congzheng, and the director of the military equipment manufacturing bureau Shen Kuo.

At this time, Zhang Heng held a banner and reported to the Ministry of Revenue about the money, silk, armor, rice, wheat and weapons that had been transported from Bian Jing, Luoyang, Daming Prefecture and other places to various routes since the war broke out.

Strings of numbers popped out of Zhang Heng's mouth.

The whole hall became silent.

Zhao Xu's little hands couldn't help but grab the fur on the cushion.

Behind him, the two palaces behind the curtain couldn't help but stop breathing.

This was the first time they had directly felt the pressure of war on the country’s finances!
Compared with the current war, the southern expedition in the first half of this year was just for fun!
Massive amounts of money and silk, countless grains from government vaults, and countless armors and weapons continuously flowed into the border areas from all over the place.

There is no return!

According to Zhang Heng's report, up to that date, the Ministry of Revenue had already spent more than 1.4 million strings of cash and 160,000 pieces of cloth in Bian Jing alone, which were transported to various routes to support military expenses.

The little money that the Ministry of Revenue had saved with great difficulty was almost all spent in just over a month!

If the war continues, the Ministry of Revenue will be completely wiped out by the end of this month.

After listening to Zhang Heng's report, Zhao Xu rubbed his temples and sighed, "The Art of War says: Victory is more important than duration. Therefore, a general who knows how to fight is the master of the people's life and the safety of the country!"

"Now I know!"

Both palaces nodded in agreement and were deeply shocked by the cost of the war!
"Your Majesty is wise!" Zhang Heng bowed again, "I beg Your Majesty to release the sealed treasury to help the country."

He was at his wits' end.

You know, what we are calculating now is only the central account.

This does not include the grain, surplus money and green seedling money that were urgently requisitioned from the granaries in various routes by the military governors.

Not to mention the grain and money requisitioned from Henan, Daming Prefecture, Hebei Road, etc.

If you really calculate it, the cost of this war is astronomical.

What’s even more troublesome is that all the deficits of various sectors must be reimbursed by the central government in the end. If the central government refuses to reimburse, then each sector will find a way on its own - ask the people for reimbursement!
So, Zhang Heng had no choice but to come and ask for money!

"The money for sealing the treasury..." Zhao Xu looked back at the curtain and asked softly, "What do you think, Grandmother and Queen Mother?"

The two palaces looked at each other, and Empress Dowager Xiang seemed somewhat reluctant.

But what can we do? This is a military matter and we have to use it even if we don't want to.

He said to the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, how about taking out two million strings of cash from the treasury to help with state expenses?"

The Empress Dowager nodded: "For now, this is the only way!"

She didn't object.

Because of this war, she gained honor!
Once the Empress Dowager is happy, she would be happy to spend 20 million strings of cash, let alone two!

Just like Zhao Xu’s previous life, the battle in the second year of Yuanyou.

She paid the money readily.

So Zhao Xu ordered Zhang Heng to write a proposal, which was then sealed by the two palaces, signed by the right prime minister Lu Gongzhu and the co-director of the Privy Council An Tao, and finally signed by Zhao Xu, who signed the notice to spend the money from the sealed treasury, and finally handed over to Liang Congzheng to execute.

Liang Congzheng took the notice, bowed his head to accept the order, and was about to leave.

But Zhao Xu stopped him and said, "Do you know whether there is any news about Xixia envoys entering Hedong?"

Liang Congzheng bowed and said, "Not yet."

"Oh..." Zhao Xu nodded: "Then wait a moment."

All eyes in the hall were immediately focused on Zhao Xu.

He asked the Empress Dowager, "Sixth brother...what does this Xixia envoy want?"

"Oh!" Zhao Xu explained: "Mother, it is like this. Ten days ago, Hedong Governor Lu Huiqing said that he would lead the army to recapture Ningxing and the city as well as Kuyehe and Outuo..."

"I will issue a handwritten edict to Lu Huiqing, ordering him to abide by the peace agreement and withdraw from Ningxing, Heshi and Kuyehe..."

"In order to create favorable conditions for peace talks between the two countries!"

When these words were spoken, not only the two palaces, but even all the ministers in the palace were shocked.

Although, the Zhao officials have always been weak-kneed.

But at the same time, the Zhao officials are all ruthless when they are in a powerful position!

Their personalities are very much like those of ordinary people who bully the weak and fear the strong.

When faced with setbacks, they complain and shift the blame.

But once they get the upper hand and stand to gain something, they will become unyielding and extremely tough!
So, according to the temperament of most Zhao officials.

Now, the Song Dynasty has all the advantages in the war on the front line. Once the government becomes arrogant, it may take the opportunity to expand the war and even want to achieve victory in one battle and launch another five-pronged attack on Xia.

And this is exactly what Lu Gongzhu and Han Jiang are worried about.

The two of them have been having a headache these days, wondering how to persuade the emperor and the two palaces to stop while the going is good and take advantage of the situation once Western Xia sends envoys to ask for peace.

However, he did not expect that the emperor had already issued an edict when Lu Huiqing of Hedong submitted the memorial, ordering them to withdraw from Ningxing, Heshi, Kuyehe and Outuo.

"I wonder why Lü Jifu has changed his temper..." Lü Gongzhu thought to himself, "So that's why!"

Over the past ten days, the Hedong direction has been extremely quiet.

Although Lu Huiqing still kept his troops at the border, he did not move forward a single step.

There was a lot of discussion in the government and the public, and all kinds of opinions were said!

Now, the answer is revealed.

It’s because of the official imperial edict.

Just ...

Why is Lu Huiqing so obedient?
Lu Gongzhu was a little confused!

It should be noted that what Lu Huiqing said about Ma Liu was not just that he was as thin as a monkey.

He is just like a monkey in that he cannot be quiet.

Back then in the court, he not only fought against the old party, but also against the new party.

After fighting for a long time, everyone became afraid of him!

He offended Wang Jiefu's son Wang Rong, and the New Party's core members Zeng Bu and Zhang Dun!

After all these years, have you seen anyone say anything good about Lu Huiqing?

Not even one!
On the contrary, both the New Party and the Old Party were deliberately ignoring and neglecting Lu Huiqing.

If you can't ignore or neglect him, just catch him and scold and belittle him!

and so……

Has Lu Huiqing changed his personality?
But...is it possible?

Lu Gongzhu shook his head - if Famalu could change his character, it would be better to believe that Wang Jiefu really gave up his ambition to be a saint!
At least Wang Jiefu was still capable of negotiation, as he was still a member of the scholar-officials.

But Lu Jifu doesn't look like a scholar-official!

This guy is a typical Legalist!
and so……

"What happened to Lu Jifu?"

Lu Gongzhu felt that he couldn't figure it out.

……

Jialu Village, on the village wall
Lu Huiqing, the Grand Secretary of the Council of State of the Song Dynasty and the Governor-General and Pacifier of Hedong, was now craning his neck and looking towards the direction of Kuye River, expecting the envoy from Western Xia.

He now wants this war to end more than anyone else.

because……

He gently held the piece of Yuanshu paper in his hand.

On the paper was a handwritten edict from the young master of Bian Jing.

There was a sentence in the imperial edict that made him excited, excited, and even more delighted. "When my father was alive, he once told me that there are gentleman Confucians and petty Confucians in this world. Gentleman Confucians focus on the basics, while petty Confucians focus on the details... Among the gentleman Confucians, the best one is Lu Qing, the governor of Hedong!"

Gentleman Confucian and villain Confucian are the names used to refer to enemies and friends when dividing factions within Confucianism since ancient times.

Just like treacherous villains, villains, and wise ministers.

The secret of application lies in concentration!
However, the New Party has proposed the criteria for division.

What is a gentleman Confucian? It means to focus on the basics!
What is a petty Confucian? Those who pursue the end are them!
However, focusing on the basics and pursuing the end have their own interpretations within the framework of new learning.

To put it simply, being practical and down-to-earth means focusing on the basics.

Those who pursue fame, fortune and short-term gains, or who do nothing and talk without doing anything, are tending towards the end.

Above the gentleman Confucian is the academic leader who leads everything, the living incarnation of Confucius, a collection of sages such as Mencius, Xunzi, Yang Xiong and others who walked in the secular world.

This is the role that Wang Anshi used to play.

Therefore, there is no need to describe in detail Lu Huiqing's mood at this time.

In his opinion, the young master's handwritten edict was implicitly telling him that you are the gentleman and scholar that I should rely on, and the role model that I should learn from!

Whenever Lu Huiqing thought of this, he would tremble all over and become extremely excited.

Because in his mind, he always overlapped the image of the young master with the previous emperor in the early years of Xining.

In such a fantasy, he would regard himself as the Wang Anshi of the past.

Wang Anshi in the early years of Xining was the emperor's teacher. The late emperor relied on, trusted and admired him.

Whenever Lu Huiqing thought of this, he became full of energy.

He can endure any grievance and is willing to do anything.

So much so that he was willing to stay in Jialuzhai with peace of mind, waiting for the envoy from Western Xia.

Instead of marching north again and heading straight for Mingtangchuan.

Lu Huiqing's wait finally paid off.

"Sir!" His favorite general Zi Hu came up to him and bowed, saying, "The military supervisor of the Zuoxiang Shenyong Division of Western Xia sent someone to report that the queen mother sent an envoy named Moduo from Xiazhou to the court via Zuoxiang, and begged you to send someone to receive him."

Lu Huiqing snorted and raised her head proudly: "Got it!"

……

Return to the Purple Palace in Bian Jing.

"Sixth brother, why do you want to negotiate peace?" asked the Empress Dowager Xiang in surprise.

Zhao Xu turned around and said with a smile: "Mother, this is what the Emperor taught me."

"Ok?"

"My father once taught me that the military is not just about the army, but politics. That is why the military and the country have been one since ancient times! Therefore, military affairs are the continuation of national affairs. They are also important matters that affect the rise and fall of the country and the prosperity and decline of the society. We must be careful!"

"Therefore, my father taught me that whenever I use a force, I should think about how to end it!"

"I was ordered to do things within my ability, and not to do something that I know is impossible!"

Zhao Xu said this with a look of reminiscence: "The Emperor also said: No matter when or where, the ruler should always leave some room for emergency situations! Don't be impatient, especially don't think of achieving success in one fell swoop!"

"When deploying troops, one must not only consider victory or defeat, but also the hardships of the people's livelihood and the financial resources of the country!"

The two palaces listened and swallowed.

"Is this the late emperor?" Both palaces had the same question in their minds.

The late emperor who always liked to go all in?
is it possible?
The ministers listened as if they were listening to a myth.

With the temperament of the late emperor, could he say such words?

But if you think about it carefully... everyone has to believe it!

Because in his later years, the late emperor experienced the failure of the five-way expedition against Xia and the disappointment of the Battle of Yongle City.

From the third year of Yuanfeng to the seventh year of Yuanfeng, the continuous failure of military adventures may have really made him start to reflect, and he taught the lessons learned from these reflections to the present.

This is the only explanation!
otherwise……

Who else could it be?

Who else can say something as philosophical as "The military is not just about soldiers, but politics, the continuation of state affairs" which also contains quite profound military and political insights?

Who else can summarize the experience that "the ruler should leave some redundancy for extraordinary times"?
It can only be that the one who led the five-way attack on Xia suffered a great loss and ruined the good situation.

During the Battle of Yongle City, the late emperor trusted Xu Xi too much and took a gamble, which resulted in his defeat!

Only he has such experience!
Others do not have such experience and do not have such thoughts.

But even so, the young master, at such a young age, was able to accept and remember the teachings of the late emperor, and apply them in state affairs.

It's really shocking!
"Only the Emperor Yingwen of the Great Song Dynasty is brave, brave, holy and filial, divine and wise..." Everyone faced the Yongyu Mausoleum and bowed again.

Then, they bowed their heads to Zhao Xu and congratulated him: "Your Majesty, you are wise and wise, and you are a blessing to the country and the people!"

Zhao Xu listened to the compliment and curled up his lips slightly.

These are actually the experiences he learned and summarized when he was studying abroad in modern times and witnessed the gains and losses of countries in the world.

The larger the country, the more room it should leave for redundancy and the more cautious it should be in its actions and steps.

To put it simply, you have to learn to be humble!

Don't waste time before you are absolutely sure and have made adequate preparations!

This experience, together with the lessons he learned from his previous life, have become the principles he follows in governing and administering politics.

The lesson is - as an emperor, he must live long enough and have a healthy body!

For a king who dies young, even if he has thousands of ambitions and aspirations, all will be in vain!

"If this war hadn't come so suddenly..." Zhao Xu sighed in his heart, "I wouldn't have to take action against the various officials in such a panic!"

Yes, originally, he planned to reform the various departments step by step and slowly.

However, this sudden war disrupted his rhythm.

Forcing him to start taking action against the various officials in advance.

no way!
War is a money-eating beast.

This is not only the case during the war, but also after the war, a large amount of money has to be spent on the aftermath.

Zhang Dun's southern expedition is still coming to an end.

The funds invested from May to now have exceeded one million strings of cash!

Even so, this was the result of Zhang Dun's desperate efforts to save money and Zhao Xu's control of all the eight states of Jiaozhou and enfeoffment of chieftains.

Otherwise, the cost of setting up itinerant officials and registering all citizens would probably be skyrocketing.

Today, this war is also ordinary.

Even if it ends now, it would be normal to burn eight or nine million strings of cash.

For every month the war lasted, military expenditures amounted to millions of strings of cash!
And the post-war rewards, pensions and other things will cost a lot of money!

This is just the price of repelling Western Xia.

If you want to destroy Xixia and establish effective rule in Lingxia...

Zhao Xu estimated that without a military budget of 80 to 90 million guan, and without the determination to continuously invest several million guan every year for more than ten or twenty years, it would be impossible to achieve the goal.

Don’t even think about it!
Of course, there is also a cheap way to deal with it - learn from Genghis Khan, and after destroying Western Xia, kill all the Tangut men taller than the wheels, and bring all the women, children, the elderly and the weak back as slaves!
However, the Song Dynasty could not and would not choose this method.

Because, although the Song Dynasty was a feudal dynasty.

But the moral standards of the literati are incredibly high!
Don't even think about slaughtering people like Genghis Khan did.

In Zhao Xu's previous life, the Western Army was discovered killing prisoners, women, children and the elderly in order to obtain rewards.

Public opinion in the court and the country was shocked, and the literati were constantly criticized.

In the end, Zhao Xu could only issue an edict to increase the reward for living prisoners (regardless of gender, age or status) to above that for beheading - two pieces of silk for a beheaded person, and three pieces of silk for a living prisoner.

This is also the standard of the "Yuanyou Military Reward Order" issued by Zhao Xu this year.

Under such circumstances, Zhao Xu could only sell the properties while they could still be sold at a high price, and quickly exchange the money for filling the deficit in the national treasury and maintaining the status quo of the Song Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)