Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 533 The Best Solution
There are two reasons why Zhao Mu was so eager to rebuild the Protectorate.

The first and most direct reason is the economic and people's livelihood reasons.

Because of the policy of Zhao Mu and Zhezong to reduce the army and streamline the government, two-thirds of the army of the Song Dynasty was reduced. This saved a lot of manpower. However, after a hundred years of development, the land annexation of the Song Dynasty was not to the point of being out of control, but there was not much land for these people to cultivate.

All the projects in the Song Dynasty were completed. Once these people were idle and had no income, they would easily cause trouble in society, or even become bandits and gather people to rebel.

Therefore, Zhezong followed the method previously discussed with Zhao Mu and after conquering the Western Xia Kingdom, he transferred the excess manpower to the Qi Kingdom, which had changed its ways.

But what the two did not expect was that the plan could not keep up with the changes. Because Zhao Mu had to give an account to Li Qiushui and Li Qinglu, the Song Dynasty took over the entire Western Xia almost without a single drop of blood.

Although the Western Xia Kingdom was established and most of the Dangxiang residents were moved to Qingtang, occupying the resources of the Tibetans, the manpower sent by the Central Plains to the Qi Kingdom was still a bit too much for Zhao Mu to bear.

After much thought, Zhao Musi concluded that there were only two ways to solve the problem of insufficient and uneven resource allocation.

Or it could be internal reform. Get rid of those officials and landlords who own houses and lands. Take away most of the resources they occupy and redistribute them.

But this method obviously doesn't work because it is not in the interests of Zhao Mu, the "feudal ruler".

Because the biggest "landlord" is none other than him, the king. Zhao Mu doesn't have the courage to hang himself.

Besides, even if he proposed it, his officials would not agree. He had finally conquered the Western Xia Kingdom and could not cause unrest again.

Since the first option doesn't work, the only option left is to "start a war" to consume excess human resources or to take resources from the enemy to support oneself in order to achieve the most stable balance.

It's just that the intensity of this war must be controlled. It's not okay to go to war with Liao as Zhezong said.

Because the Liao Kingdom was so large, if a war was launched against it, it would affect the entire Song Dynasty. Although Zhao Mu was confident of winning, the cost to the Song Dynasty would also be huge. What Zhao Mu wanted was a big victory, not a "bitter victory".

What's more, the Liao Kingdom was not something that Qi could swallow alone. Besides, Zhao Mu just wanted to consume the extra resources. He didn't want to fight to the death.

After looking around, Zhao Mu found that the only enemy he could fight was the Gaochang Uighurs in the west.

After all, the Song Dynasty was his suzerain state, and if he attacked the Liao Kingdom in the north now, the war would be too large and the gains would not outweigh the losses. And the Xixia Kingdom in the southwest was his ally.

So Gaochang Kingdom had to bear the brunt of the situation.

Zhao Mu's idea was also very simple, that is, if he could win, then the looted resources would not only supply himself, but also allow him to control the Western Regions in advance. It would not be a bad thing for his own Qi State to help the Song Dynasty complete the future Western Expedition.

But if the war is very difficult, then we should control the intensity of the war and consume the excess human resources.

Although this is cruel, Zhao Mu has to do this for the stability of the country. His way of being responsible to the people and the army is to try to ensure victory. As long as they win, they can use the extra manpower to garrison in various cities in the Western Regions, and then let the Western Regions pay to support them.

In this way, not only can the financial pressure on his side be reduced, but he can even earn a tribute.

Zhao Mu had been thinking about this idea before, but he forgot about it when he was busy with state affairs. This time he wanted to find a girl to have fun, and he remembered this matter after seeing Musa.

After Zhao Mu and Musa finished bathing, he wanted to take Musa back to his bedroom to enjoy her "Yoga Tantra" skills.

But just as Zhao Mu walked out of Huaqing Pool, a maid came to report: "Your Majesty! The envoy of Liao Kingdom requests to see you!" Hearing this, Zhao Mu was speechless.

Musa, who was wiping her body, couldn't help but laugh when she saw Zhao Mu's disgusted expression.

Musa said, "It seems that my lord, you will not be able to see my 'Yoga Tantra' skills today. Let's do it another day."

Zhao Mu turned around and said, "No! You can't escape today. Okay, go back and change your clothes and wait for me in my bedroom. I will definitely see you in the evening."

Musa said, "Okay. Then I will go back to your palace and wait. Your Majesty, please focus on state affairs first."

Zhao Mu looked at the female official who came to report and asked, "It's Yelu Yanxiu again, right?"

The female official replied, "Your Majesty, the Liao envoy claimed to be the Princess of Zhao. I do not know her name."

Zhao Mu sighed and said, "I understand. Let her go to the imperial study and wait for me."

The female official was very surprised to hear Zhao Mu's order. She said, "Your Majesty, the envoys from Liao are from a big country. According to etiquette, they should summon our Qi officials to Yin'an Hall to meet them. Is this the right way to summon them?"

Zhao Mu originally wanted to cool down, but she interrupted his mood. Now he was even angrier, and even started to feel furious in his heart.

Zhao Mu said impatiently: "That's how you treat others. You don't have to treat this annoying woman like that! Go! Follow my orders!"

"Yes!" Seeing Zhao Mu's impatient look, the female official did not dare to stay any longer. After answering yes, she immediately turned around and left.

Zhao Mu let out a long sigh of relief, then spread out his arms and let the palace maids wipe his body and change his clothes.

Zhao Mu changed his clothes and rushed to his imperial study.

Yelu Yanxiu was sitting upright in a chair under the dragon desk. She had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Zhao Mu arrive, Yelu Yanxiu said, "Why is your Majesty so late? It may be a bit against the rules to neglect the envoy."

When Zhao Mu saw her, he said coldly, "That's how you treat others. You don't have to follow any rules when it comes to your Highness the Princess!"

Seeing Zhao Mu's angry look, Yelu Yanxiu covered his face and smiled, "Your Majesty is so angry with me, is it because I disturbed your good deeds and you are deliberately taking your anger out on me?"

Zhao Mu didn't expect that this woman had guessed it right. He replied, "So what?"

Yelu Yanxiu then said charmingly: "If that is the case, I really have to say sorry to the king. But the king does not need to be angry, I can compensate the king."

Zhao Mu asked: "Oh? How to compensate?"

Yelu Yanxiu unbuttoned her clothes, revealing her snow-white and tender shoulders. She said, "Of course, I will come to compensate the king in person."

Although Yelu Yanxiu was very coquettish, Zhao Mu still said calmly: "Princess, if you have something serious to say, just say it. But if you came all the way here just to let me see you flirt, then I don't have time to watch you flirt."

(End of this chapter)