I studied in modern times

Chapter 824 Imperial Meeting (2)

As soon as Zhao Xu finished speaking, Cai Jing stepped out, his voice trembling slightly: "Your Majesty, I beg you to enlighten me!"

Zhao Xu looked at Cai Jing and asked with a smile, "Is there anything you don't understand?"

Cai Jing bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I don't understand why Your Majesty can tolerate Li Taide's perverse behavior."

Zhao Xu silently gave Cai Jing a thumbs up in his heart!

What is an excellent supporting actor?
This is!
"Going against the grain?" Zhao Xu chuckled, playing with the Jiaozhi letter in his hand: "Maybe!"

"But what does that have to do with me and the Song Dynasty?"

Zhao Xu stood up, looked at the ministers, and asked, "He is a wise minister who pays tribute of one million dan of rice to the Song Dynasty on time every year and buys one million dan of rice!"

Although the ministers summoned by Zhao Xu were all literati with flexible morals.

However, they were still somewhat uncomfortable with Zhao Xu's blatant use of his own interests to comment on virtue and stupidity, loyalty and filial piety.

Listening, they all looked at each other, hesitating, wondering whether they should give advice or not?
When Zhao Xu saw this, he praised himself for his wise decision not to call Fan Chunren, Lu Dafang and Cheng Yi over.

So true!

If they were here, they would have come out to give advice by now.

A gentleman of moral character like Cheng Yi might even die for his advice!

no way!
Most of the scholars and officials in the Song Dynasty today, like the modern Western elites, have ideology embedded in their brains and are stamped with ideological stamps.

In the hearts of these people, Confucianism's benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, filial piety, propriety, law and morality are universal truths!

It is a universal value, something that is unshakable and indisputable.

Especially people like Cheng Yi, who truly regard the classics of Confucius and Mencius as their guiding principles and life creed, and put them into practice at every moment of their life.

Fortunately, these moral gentlemen are not here now.

The ministers Zhao Xu faced were all selected by him and were very morally flexible.

Moreover, all of them passed Zhao Xu’s personal interview and test!

In terms of stance, you can rest assured!
Therefore, Zhao Xu did not hesitate and dragged Cai Jing out.

"Mr. Cai, how much commercial tax did Bianjing City collect last year, including the liquor tax and the exemption of money?"

Regardless of Cai Jing's character and morals, in terms of ability, he is among the top in contemporary times!

He had memorized all the financial and tax data of Kaifeng Prefecture and could recite them at will.

He almost immediately reported: "Your Majesty, last year, the commercial taxes, liquor monopoly, and exemption of taxes in Bianjing collected a total of 1,437,426 strings of cash... Thanks to Your Majesty, the revenue has increased by nearly 700,000 strings of cash compared to the eighth year of Yuanfeng!"

Zhao Xu looked at the others and said softly, "In and around Bianjing, there are a million soldiers and civilians, but they only collect 1.4 million strings of cash in taxes a year!"

"This is after taking into account the money the dike company spent on buying bets, the liquor tax, and other new items!"

"However, Li Taide of Jiaozhi paid tribute of one million dan of rice to the Song Dynasty in just one year, and delivered another one million dan and purchased rice to Youjiang Pacification Office on time!"

"If we calculate its value, the value of the tribute rice alone is equivalent to the annual fiscal revenue of Kaifeng Prefecture!"

The price of rice in Bian Jing is now about one hundred and twenty coins per dou.

The market price of one million dan of rice must be more than one and a half million guan.

Of course, it is not actually a simple conversion.

Because rice from Jiaozhi is cheap!
Also because money in Jiaozhi is expensive!
So here, there is another exchange rate difference.

The profit between this in and out is more than double!

This is also the reason why Li Taide was willing to work so hard as a dog for the Song Dynasty.

This is also the reason why he was able to successfully build a powerful interest group after returning to China.

no way!
The benefits are exciting!
For the sake of copper coins, the powerful people in Jiaozhi, led by Li Taide, frantically exploited the people under their rule.

Unfortunately, under the current situation, the people don’t even have the option of making ends meet!
Because if they ran south, apart from rainforests and swamps, there would be Champa and Chenla.

And these two countries were being ravaged by the Jiaozhi army.

They are extremely hostile to the Jiaozhi people!

If caught, they would be sent to hard labor.

As for the north?

The local officials will not let go of any free labor!

If you are caught, you will be sent to a sugarcane plantation!

The farmers in Jiaozhi have no way to go up to the sky and no way to go down to the earth!

You can only be exploited obediently!

Of course, there is no need to talk about these things. History should be rough rather than detailed!

And all history is contemporary history.

Of course, these details have to be ignored, lest they be disclosed and irritate the nerves of those upright gentlemen, causing a public opinion storm.

"As for the one million dan of rice that we bought, even though the Song Dynasty paid for it..."

"But for the sake of the people, I combined it with the tribute rice, and then sold it in Jiaozhou and Guangxi at a price close to the cost price of no more than 70 coins per dou..."

Zhao Xu looked at the ministers with compassion, and looked like a saint, as if saying: Is it easy for me? Please understand me, my dear ministers!

Is what Zhao Xu said true?
The answer is of course!
However, he only told at most half the truth.

What he hid is the key!
As the saying goes, cheap grain hurts farmers, expensive grain harms farmers!
Even in modern times, any fluctuation in agricultural products can be devastating to farmers.

What's more, in the Middle Ages, when small-scale farming was the main economy? What's more, in Jiaozhou, south of Lingnan, where the economy was underdeveloped and the degree of development was very low?
After Zhang Dun and others strictly implemented Zhao Xu's policies.

This led to a terrible consequence - the local officials and farmers who grew grain in various parts of Jiaozhou would inevitably lose everything.

Because the cheap rice from Jiaozhi was wantonly destroying grain planting in various parts of Jiaozhou.

If this situation continues, the local officials of Jiaozhou will inevitably completely destroy their ability to be self-sufficient in food.

This artificially created a plantation economic zone that focuses purely on sugarcane planting, production and sugar making.

Why did Zhang Dun, Gao Zunhui, Lu Jiawen, and the local officials willingly implement Zhao Xu's policies, and even implement them so seriously?

This is the power of interests.

Last year, the first batch of sugarcane entered the Song Dynasty market and made huge profits.

Local interest groups have already taken shape!

Brother Kong Fang's power tightly binds all those involved.

An indescribable monster that resembles United Fruit has sprouted its first tentacle.

To be honest, even Zhao Xu doesn’t know what this monster will grow into in the future.
Anyway, I can only say that the people of Southeast Asia are blessed!
But do the ministers know this?

Besides, their moral stance was extremely flexible to begin with, and upon hearing this, they all began to congratulate him: "Your Majesty is benevolent and wise, and you have extended great favor to Jiaozhou, which will surely be praised by all the people..."

There are also those who flatter and fawn on the emperor: "Your Majesty's benevolence to Jiaozhou is like the rising sun, spreading to all directions, like the spring rain, soaking thousands of households..."

Zhao Xu's eyelids twitched when he heard this, and he felt his heart was burning. He quickly waved his hand to stop him from flattering: "Alright, alright..."

"This is why I want to explain this matter to you all..."

"No matter how evil Li Taide of Jiaozhi is, he is still in Jiaozhi..."

"It has nothing to do with me or the Song Dynasty!"

"What's more, he was loyal and devoted to me in Jiaozhi, and served me with all his heart and soul... He is my loyal minister!"

Every year, one million shi of tribute rice is paid, and another one million shi is purchased from the Song Dynasty.

Two million koku of rice!
Even Jiaozhi rice can be harvested three times a year, and the dense water network makes it very suitable for rice production.

But in this medieval era, these two million stones of rice was still an unimaginable number.

Even so, the Song Dynasty allowed Jiaozhi to make multiple deliveries in batches throughout the year.

However, it would have been difficult for Li Taide to achieve this if he had not dug out every last grain of rice from the farmers and government warehouses in Jiaozhi.

From this, you can see how terrible compradors are!
They simply do not treat the people under their rule as human beings.

Because their power does not come from their own country.

But it is given by the master who supports him outside the country.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu sneered: "No matter how cruel Li Taide is, he has never lost his integrity!" "When you go back, remember to praise his loyalty in the Bianjing Yibao!"

For Zhao Xu, this is exactly what happened.

No matter what Li Taide is, he is a loyal minister who is beyond words.

The ministers listened and looked at each other.

At this time, Shen Kuo quietly stepped out and said, "Your Majesty's teachings are like the morning bell and evening drum, which make people reflect..."

"only……"

"I am worried..." He lowered his head and said, "Tai De has been plundering the people's food in Jiaozhi for a long time..."

"I'm afraid there will be chaos in Jiaozhi..."

Zhao Xu listened and smiled.

Shen Kuo's worries were naturally justified.

Read more latest popular novels at 6.9*shuba!

Li Taide's perverse actions in Jiaozhi would sooner or later arouse the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people, leading to an uprising.

Once an uprising breaks out, Li Taide's rule may quickly collapse due to the loss of public support.

but……

This is based on the assumption that there is no interference from extra-regional powers and no involvement from powerful countries.

Once you have...

Then please refer to the examples of benevolent monarchs in modern Africa.

Despite Amin's brutality, Bokassa's burning of books and burying of scholars, and Mobutu's perverse actions, they were still able to rule their countries for more than ten years, or even dozens of years, and they all had a good ending.

Not to mention others.

Although there are no machine guns, airplanes or cannons nowadays, the interference capabilities and deterrence of foreign powers are greatly reduced.

But the problem is that the Jiaozhi people don't have AK and 106 now! They don't have modern ideological weapons!

So, the two sides are even.

Under such circumstances, as long as the Song Dynasty can provide strong enough support to Li Taide's regime.

Then, those so-called peasant uprisings and rebellions in Jiaozhi...

It can be put out in an instant!

Flesh and blood can never defeat steel!

It just so happened that there was a shortage of labor in the sugarcane plantations in Jiaozhou.

So, when Jiaozhi revolted, the Song Dynasty intervened, and the chieftains sent troops to suppress the rebellion along with the government troops, and then took all the prisoners back to plant sugarcane...

The loop is closed! Family!
Besides, Zhao Xu felt that there might not be a need for the Song Dynasty to intervene.

Just let someone teach Li Taide some more governing skills and knowledge.

For example, Xianjun... For example, every time there is a fight, red envelopes are given to the grassroots soldiers!

Even if he is a cook, he can get three months or six months' military pay at one time!

As for the officers?

Everyone has a beautiful wife and concubines, and a big house.

As long as Li Taide can hold the knife, will the peasants revolt?
Isn't it just a mob?

Of course……

Shen Kuo and others did not understand this.

Zhao Xu would not tell them either, lest they learn bad things.

So, after laughing, Zhao Xu just said mysteriously: "Don't worry about this!"

"I have made careful deployment and arrangements to ensure that even if there is unrest in Jiaozhi, it can be suppressed calmly!"

"It's just a small country with a population of only a few hundred thousand..."

After listening to Zhao Xu's words and looking at his expression, the ministers looked at each other.

They had absolutely no objections.

This is because their moral standards are very flexible.

This is also because, up to now, Zhao Xu has not made any misjudgment in similar matters.

From the moment he decided to send troops to the south, he has been using eloquent facts to prove that his judgment on the international situation and military affairs was very accurate!

And success is enough to convince people!
As a result, all the ministers bowed their heads and agreed. After returning, they wrote articles and submitted them to the Bian Jing Yi Bao to clear Li Taide's name.

Zhao Xu was very pleased and gave them instructions on the way and method of cleaning the floor.

Hearing these ministers' surprise, they had never imagined that there were so many tricky ways to whitewash one's reputation.

If we follow Zhao Xu's method, let alone Li Taide.

I'm afraid even Shi Jingtang will have to wash himself!

……

After discussing the affairs of Jiaozhi, Zhao Xu consulted with these close ministers and discussed the matters that each of them was responsible for, and listened to their reports.

The focus is on the production and research and development of the military equipment manufacturing bureau that Shen Kuo is in charge of, as well as the training and recruitment of the Dragon-controlling General commanded by Di Yong.

Zhao Xu had nothing to say about the bureau that specialized in manufacturing military equipment.

Leave professional matters to professionals, they only want results!

Therefore, he did his best to meet the difficulties and financial needs raised by Shen Kuo!
He also gave Shen Kuo fifty blank name slips again.

He was allowed to take it back and write his name on it to reward and motivate the craftsmen who specialized in manufacturing the weapons.

Of course, the official positions granted by these letters were basically those of performing arts officials.

He only had eight empty name cards, which showed that he was not a high-ranking civil or military official.

However, this was still something that the craftsmen of the Song Dynasty would never dare to think about in the past.

These fifty blank name slips were enough to motivate these people to work hard for Zhao Xu's career day and night.

As for Commander Di Yong’s first dragon-controlling general?
There is nothing to say!

Zhao Xu, who studied abroad in modern times, knows the importance of the knife handle.

Therefore, he attached great importance to and was willing to spend money on the First General of the Dragon, the only combat-capable field force among the three imperial guards of Bian Jing!
For the soldiers of the Dragon Commander, he really gave the rewards to the cooks!
Moreover, Di Yong was not passed.

Instead, he asked Liu Weijian to take Feng Jing with him and distribute the Jiaozi to every soldier.

Therefore, the content of Di Yong's report was only about training, military discipline and, most importantly, recruiting soldiers.

Zhao Xu responded to these matters according to his own understanding.

We must intensify training and strictly enforce military discipline!

Zhao Xu is confident about this matter.

Because he paid enough!
Even according to the rules of the Five Dynasties, as long as the government gave them enough money and rewards, they should be brave and courageous even if they were asked to die!

On this point, the soldiers of the Song Dynasty still have a strong sense of professional ethics.

So, basically no problem.

Recruiting soldiers...

Zhao Xu rejected Di Yong's request to recruit soldiers within the Kaifeng Prefecture.

At the same time, he also rejected Yulong Diyi's request to recruit soldiers for himself.

He planned to start a new organization in the Privy Council to recruit soldiers, and then send his confidants to Huainan, Zhejiang, and Jingdong to recruit soldiers.

Moreover, they are recruiting miners from the mines!
After dealing with these things, it was almost noon.

The ministers were very tactful and resigned one after another. Zhao Xu was also hungry, so he agreed to their resignation.

However, Cai Jing was left behind to have dinner with him in the Funing Palace.

(End of this chapter)