Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

New China built the Shimen Reservoir, which raised the water level of the Bao River, and the plank road is now very close to the river.

The stone gates and plank roads of the Song Dynasty are all hanging on the mountainside cliffs!

Further downstream, the ancient weir and dam were not only repaired, but also another weir and dam was built based on Zhao Fengji's water conservancy design (actually designed by his father).

This winter, an additional weir will be built.

If all three weirs and dams are completed, although they are not as good as the Shimen Reservoir, they will still be enough to ensure irrigation in Hanzhong.

Zhu Ming was standing on the weir at this time, with a large golden rice field behind him.

Taking Baogukou as the dividing line, the army in the north is pressing on the border, and the harvest in the south is imminent.

Although the first phase of the Shanhe Weir main channel and the construction of two weirs and dams has not been completely completed, Baocheng County has been able to maintain its harvest despite droughts and floods.

Whether they are landowners, farmers, or tenants, they are all very motivated at this moment and are doing their best to harvest new rice.

A load of rice is picked back to dry, and after drying, it is immediately handed over to the land tax. All it takes is to transport it to a nearby military grain station, and this year's land tax is completely exempted.

Yes, they are still collecting money from the field. This thing was invented by Cai Jing.

Zhu Ming strictly followed the standards set by Cai Jing and did not allow officials to increase taxes at will. The people in the area actually accepted it, and they all thought that the Zhu family and his son were very benevolent and righteous.

The people in Baocheng County were overjoyed that all the money in the fields was free, and they enthusiastically handed in the land tax and sent the new rice to the army themselves.

Qian Chen is working at the foreign military warehouse in Baocheng County.

An official shouted: "Du Guogui, the first capital in the second li of Shimen Township, buys and sells new rice for 245 shi. After it is weighed and collected, a bond will be issued!"

A big landowner came in with a sad face. Qian Chen filled in the amount and then stamped it on the bond.

Qian Chen is now responsible for the frontline rice production and accepts the dual management of the Zhu family and his son.

Raw rice is still being collected. In principle, it is all voluntary and returns to the essence of raw rice. That is to say, the government spends money to buy grain from the people, and it is no longer a forcibly imposed exorbitant tax.

Moreover, it was changed to the form of war bonds.

The annual interest rate is one and a half cents, which is 15%.

This is a three-year bond, and people can cash it in advance, but the interest will be halved before it matures, and it will take at least one year before it can be cashed.

It was true that too much money was spent on military pay, and he actually spent gold and silver to buy grain from Beijing South Road. Zhu Guoxiang didn't have much money in his hands now. When buying grain from the landlord, you can only buy it on credit. It sounds like it is completely voluntary, but in fact it is still semi-forced.

Any big landowner who doesn't sell grain on credit will always find various crimes to punish them to remind them that the Zhu family and his son are actually rebels.

This naturally offends the landowners, but it can increase loyalty.

The landlord was dissatisfied with the forced credit purchase, and after handing over the grain, he was bound to the rebels. Zhu Guoxiang said that it can be cashed in next year, and interest will be paid when it expires in three years.

This kind of empty promise requires rebels to survive.

Therefore, the landowners could only hope for the victory of the rebels, otherwise the grain they had given out on credit would be wasted.

As for interest, no one expects that.

It is estimated that by next year, most landowners will choose to settle down and not be greedy for the 15% interest on three-year war bonds.

"Don't worry, Mr. Du. The bonds have been given to you. Are you still worried that the government won't give you the money?" Qian Chen said with a smile.

Du Baoguo forced a smile: "That's right. Mr. Zhu kept his promise. He said he would definitely give the money, and he would definitely not miss out on the interest."

Qian Chen said: "Collect the bonds and go home. If they are lost, you will be in trouble. But don't be afraid. Even if the bonds are lost, the government can still check the accounts. It's just that when you cash in the interest on the money, you have to hire someone. The second-class household will act as a guarantee to avoid unclear matters in the future.”

"Yes, yes, yes." Du Guogui quickly agreed.

After leaving the warehouse, Du Guogui carefully checked the bond, which indicated the amount of rice purchased.

This kind of paper is similar to the paper used by Jiaozi, with details printed on the back, including the words "Sichuan Gorge Fourth Road War Bond in the 5th year of Xuanhe" in large words.

"The Song Dynasty brutally ruined the people, and the world is boiling. Today, I, the Zhu family, have raised an army to do justice for heaven and punish the people for their sins... The annual interest is one and a half cents, and it can be redeemed after three years. It can be redeemed in advance for one year, and the interest is halved. …”

The black and white words on the paper were clearly written, and Du Baogui felt a little more at ease.

He decided to cash in the money next year. The interest would be less, or even no interest. He would accept it as selling grain at a low price to the rebels.

We must defeat the officers and soldiers this year. Otherwise, who will they ask for payment when the rebels are finished?

"Food and fodder are shipped!"

Several boats set sail at the entrance of the warehouse.

The grain and grass were first transported to Xi County and then transported to the front line via Chencang Road.

Lueyang is a small and sparsely populated area and cannot collect much food, so it must be supported by military rations from Hanzhong.

The farmers who were brought back from Bao Valley and the clear wilderness will not only be exempted from all taxes this year, but also young and strong people will be converted into grain transporters. Meals were included during the grain transportation period, and they would receive a small amount of wages after the war, and they would be given seeds for next year's spring plowing.

Most of the rebels on the Chencang Road side were stationed at Yuguan, where Qingni Ridge was located.

This green mud ridge is exactly what Li Bai said in his poem: "Where is the green mud, the mountains are covered with nine twists and turns after a hundred steps."

Just listening to these two poems, you know how complicated the terrain is, and the Western Army going south from Chencang Road is really uncomfortable.

The monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty who were responsible for formulating the strategy for suppressing thieves had never been to Hanzhong in person. They could not imagine the steepness of Chencang Road, Baoxie Road, and Tangluo Road.

As time went by, they kept urging from the rear, driving the frontline generals to the point where they wanted to die.

"Is Zhongshi Dao driven crazy?" Zhu Ming used a telescope to observe the plank road to the north of Shimen.

After half a month of rest on the road, the cultivator suddenly sent people to repair the plank road in the dark.

There was a loud knocking ten meters away, and the defenders inside the stone gate were immediately awakened.

The Tiger Crouching Cannon has already been loaded with ammunition and just needs to be ignited with a torch.

Just as the gunner lit the torch with a brazier, several giant arrows suddenly shot out. The gunner's entire right shoulder was crippled, and the two rebels next to him were also shot to death.

There are Western troops using divine arm bows on the plank road!

The more powerful bed crossbow was not brought, and that thing requires multiple people to operate. The plank road was built in the dark, and many people were required to operate the crossbows. There was no room for so many people on the plank road.

"boom!"

Another rebel picked up the torch and quickly lit the artillery fuse.

Immediately afterwards, the musketeers loaded their ammunition by the light of the fire and fired at the plank road ten meters away.

The Western Army suffered several casualties and the rest fled.

After Zhongshidao learned the result, he could only give up repairing the plank road completely. Even if he forcibly ordered it, it is estimated that no soldiers would be willing to carry it out. This was no longer a courageous risk, but simply a fatal mission.

At this moment, Ju Ming stood on the weir and said to Zhang Bor next to him: "If you are willing, when you negotiate peace with the imperial court, you can bring your parents and relatives to Hanzhong."

Zhang Boring said: "Only the parents and brothers are welcome. The rest of the relatives are not willing to leave."

"I heard that Shandong is in chaos." Ju Ming reminded.

Zhang Boring said: "No matter the chaos, we must preserve the ancestral home, ancestral hall and family fields. These are the properties accumulated by the Zhang family over hundreds of years."

"Indeed." Zhu Ming nodded.

When Ju Ming returned to Hanzhong in the spring, Zhang Bor immediately came to see him and now holds an important position in the General's Mansion.

Zhang Boring, Qian Chen, and Ju Ming do not plan to go out for the time being, and they all stay with themselves to listen to their instructions. The shogunate system of the General's Mansion also needs to be improved.

…

"I've seen Gao Chengxuan!" Zhong Shidao led the generals to greet him.

Gao Yaofu was the second son of Gao Qiu, and his official position was Cheng Xuan Envoy, that is, he was the observation post before Huizong's reform in Song Dynasty.

This is a kind of false title of military attache, who gets paid for nothing and does nothing.

Since Gao Qiu had become the head coach of the Western Army, he naturally had to bring his close associates with him, including his two sons. There is also a younger son who is still studying in Tokyo.

Although Gao Yaofu was arrogant and domineering in Tokyo, he was also an unusual dandy. Like Gao Qiu, he was good at calligraphy and painting, and he also practiced spears and clubs since he was a child. After greeting the generals, he couldn't wait to ask: "Why doesn't Zhong Jinglue still have a decisive battle? Tokyo has been urging us for ten days, and my father really can't stand it anymore."

Zhong Shidao didn't explain, and only said: "Gao Chengxuan will go and take a look first before talking."

Gao Yaofu was led along the plank road by Zhongshi Dao, and he stopped when he could see the stone gate from a distance.

Zhong Shidao pointed at the stone gate and said: "The bandits not only demolished the plank road, but also guarded it in the middle of the stone gate. The last three or four feet of the plank road could not be repaired. The bandits have two kinds of weapons. Others call them magic weapons, but I think they are medicine ( Gunpowder) weapon. Whenever used, the sound is like thunder, lead shot can penetrate heavy armor, and iron shot can break solid stone. How can this be overcome? I deliberately did not repair the plank road for many days, sent soldiers to repair it at night, and returned it with a divine arm bow Cover, but still being repelled by that weird weapon."

Gao Yaofu asked: "Isn't there a path around?"

Zhong Shidao said: "Yes. However, it is difficult for a large army to move through the small road, and the baggage cannot be transported through it. We can only send a small group of elites for a surprise attack. The bandits have been prepared for a long time, and the surprise attack will not be effective."

Gao Yaofu asked again: "How about taking a boat down the river?"

Zhong Shidao said: "Our army's boats and rafts are all improvised, and it is difficult to build a big ship for a while. But the bandits have big ships, how can they win a water battle? The flood season in Hanzhong is later than that of the Yangtze River, and now it is just right We were hit by us. The current was so fast that the boat and raft were unsteady, and they had to board the boat eight miles away. When they reached the lower reaches, they were all washed away."

"How about filling the boat with firewood and firewood?" Gao Yaofu asked.

Zhong Shidao said: "You can try, but it is difficult to work. After passing the mouth of Baogu, the river suddenly widened. From a distance, I saw that the thieves seemed to have built a dam or something. How could a fire boat burn the thieves in such a wide river? Boat?"

Gao Yaofu sighed: "It's really difficult."

Zhong Shidao bowed and said: "Please Gao Chengxuan clearly understand the situation here, and be sure to let Gao Taiwei wait patiently. No matter what, the soldiers of the Western Army will attack after the water is shallow."

After all, Gao Qiu had led troops to fight in Shaanxi and knew that this thing should not be rushed.

But the eunuchs and supervisors did not care about this. The emperor urged him hard, and he had to complete the work.

The job of the military supervisor is not to win the battle, but to convey the emperor's will and have the frontline generals strictly implement it.

As for the defeat of Zhongshidao because of this, what the hell does it have to do with him supervising the army?

All the new rice in Hanzhong had been harvested, but the water level had not yet dropped. A stern letter urging war was sent.

The beginning of the letter was to accuse him. The eunuch supervisor said that there were rumors that Zhong Shidao supported the soldiers and respected themselves, and he was suspected of contacting the rebels. The supervisor said that he didn't believe it, but the rumors spread widely. If Zhong Shidao was delayed, he would have no choice but to believe it. Zhong Shidao would be impeached for colluding with the rebels.

After Zhong Shidao read the letter, he was so angry that it was difficult to express.

He handed the letter to the generals to read, and then said: "Let's attack on another day, we can't delay it any longer."