The Sui Dynasty's chess game

Chapter 805 Determined to Change Face
Wei Zheng pondered for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, I was thinking that when we raised sheep in Taihu Lake, we provided the army with a million sheep every year. Some farmers raised several thousand sheep. I was wondering why only the Hu people could raise sheep, while the Han people had to farm. There are good precedents in Jiangnan.”

"and then?"

Wei Zheng slowly said, "We have destroyed Tuyuhun, but the area around Xihai Lake is almost entirely inhabited by Qiang people. This will not do. If this continues, a second Tuyuhun will inevitably emerge. I suggest that tens of thousands of Han households be moved to Xihai County to settle down, farm, raise sheep, and then build a city and establish government offices. This way, we can effectively manage Xihai County and suppress any signs of the Qiang people becoming independent in time."

Xiao Xia sighed softly, "Minister Wei is right, but we need people everywhere, and we don't have that many people!"

"Your Majesty, we can relocate people from Bashu. Bashu has never been ravaged by war and has a large population. Moreover, I have a suggestion: we can force the relocation according to the will of the court and not take the personal wishes of the people too seriously."

Fang Xuanling agreed, saying, "Minister Wei is right. If we consider personal desires too much, we will ultimately accomplish nothing!"

Xiao Xia also said, "You two are right. Vice Minister Fang, you are in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. You will write a memorial and submit it to the Council of State Affairs for discussion. That's settled then!"

The three men left, and shortly afterward, the newly appointed secretary, Chu Suiliang, announced at the door, "Your Majesty, Chancellor Liu requests an audience!"

Judging that Liu Wenjing had something she wanted to say to her privately, Xiao Xia nodded and said, "Please invite him in!"

A short while later, Liu Wenjing strode in, "Your Majesty, I've disturbed you!"

"Please take a seat!"

Liu Wenjing sat down and said, "Vice Minister Wei's plan is indeed good, and I support it, but I'm afraid it will be difficult to pass in the Council of State Affairs!"

"why?"

"Your Majesty, please consider how the Northern Desert Plan was approved?"

Xiao Xia initially proposed establishing a military household system and relocating 30,000 military households to the northern desert, but this was opposed by the Council of State Affairs. Pei Ju, Zhang Yunqiu, and Pei Wen'an all opposed it, Xiao Yu abstained, and only Liu Wenjing supported it, so the plan failed.

In the end, the plan had to be revised, stipulating that after ten years of border service, the person would return and receive an additional 200 acres of land as compensation. Only then was the plan barely approved.

The fundamental reason here is that Zhang Yunqiu and Pei Wen'an opposed stationing troops in the northern desert and also opposed sending the Turks back to the Central Plains for resettlement.

It wasn't that they had selfish motives, but rather that they opposed territorial expansion, believing it would excessively deplete the Sui Dynasty's national strength. Indeed, the 30,000 households living in the northern desert could be self-sufficient in food, but lacked other necessities, which had to be transported from the Sui Dynasty, resulting in excessive consumption.

Expanding territory is a double-edged sword. While the territory increases, the burden on the state also increases. Emperor Wu of Han expanded the territory and launched expeditions against the Xiongnu, but this almost bankrupted the Han Dynasty.

This is a matter of ideological choice. The late emperor's construction of the Grand Canal was a sin in his own time, but a benefit for future generations.

Xiao Xia also knew the hardships behind the immigrants. Traveling thousands of miles by large cart was too much for the wooden carts to bear. If they were to use iron wheels and axles, there wasn't enough iron available. So most of the time, the immigrants had to walk, and often half of them would die on the way.

But if you worry about this and that and refuse to do it, then expanding your territory will become empty talk, and you will miss the opportunity.

Although Liu Wenjing didn't say it explicitly, Xiao Xia understood his meaning. He pondered for a moment and said, "I understand. Let me think about it!"

"Wei Chen resigns!"

Liu Wenjing left, and Xiao Xia stood by the window with her hands behind her back, lost in thought.

Xiao Xia also knew that it was time for a change of prime minister. He needed a prime minister who was proactive and could find solutions to problems, a prime minister who was of one mind with him, not a prime minister who would hold him back.

Although Zhang Yunqiu and Pei Wen'an had good intentions and did not want to deplete the nation's resources, their limited vision determined their understanding. They failed to realize that territorial expansion not only consumed national resources but also yielded enormous benefits. Moreover, the Han people's reluctance to go to the frontier stemmed essentially from a fear of security, a fear that they and their families would be killed by the nomadic tribes.

The key is to have a strong military. For example, if every household has guns, firearms, and mines, when the barbarians attack, several households can unite to protect each other, and a dozen guns can kill hundreds of cavalrymen.

There's also the issue of reducing mortality during long journeys, which can be addressed by ensuring adequate logistical support along the route, minimizing walking, and using animal power instead.

In fact, any difficulty can be overcome as long as you actively seek solutions. The key is to have a positive and optimistic attitude, rather than being conservative and stuck in the past.

From this perspective, it is indeed time for a change of phase.

That afternoon, Xiao Xia met separately with Pei Wen'an and Zhang Yunqiu, both of whom clearly stated that they were willing to accept any arrangements made by the emperor.

That evening, an imperial edict was issued, appointing Zhang Yunqiu as the Hebei Circuit Inspector and Pacification Commissioner, while retaining his status as Chancellor.

Pei Wenyuan was appointed as the Henan Circuit Intendant and Pacification Commissioner, while retaining his status as Chancellor.

At the same time, Xiao Xia promoted Wei Zheng to the position of Chancellor, Fang Xuanling was promoted to Minister of Revenue and promoted to Chancellor, and Li Jing was promoted to Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, appointed Minister of War, and granted the qualification of a member of the Secretariat-Chancellery.

Du Ruhui, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was promoted to Minister of Justice and given the qualification to serve in the Secretariat-Chancellery.

The other three ministers, Liu Wenjing, Pei Ju, and Xiao Yu, remain unchanged.

Five days later, the resolution to relocate 50,000 landless peasant households from Bashu to Longyou was passed unanimously in the government hall. Of these 50,000 households, 30,000 went to various prefectures in Longyou and 20,000 went to Xihai Prefecture.

Each household that went to Xihai County received 300 acres of land or 1,000 acres of pasture, and was exempt from taxes for 50 years.

Those who went to Longyou received fifty mu of resettlement land.

This was a forced relocation; whether they wanted to or not, once selected by the government, they had to set off within a month.

.........

That morning, the people of Luoyang, who had just woken up, suddenly discovered twenty new timekeeping devices. These timekeeping devices were placed on a high platform, one zhang high and seven chi wide, with a large disc on top. The disc was divided into twelve sections, each representing one hour, and each section was further subdivided into eight quarters, representing eight quarters of an hour.

There are also two pointers, one short and one long. The short pointer indicates the hour, and the long pointer indicates the quarter-hour, making the exact time and quarter-hour clear at a glance.

This was quite novel to the people who were used to the bell and drum towers telling time, and it caused a sensation in Luoyang. People crowded around each clock, and these clocks also had the function of telling time, ringing at regular intervals every two hours.

Of course, this is just the beginning. Later, there will be a clock in every neighborhood, then in every county, and then it will shrink down and appear in every household.

There was a clock standing thirty paces away outside Xiao Xia's study. Xiao Xia could see it clearly from the window. He drank tea while admiring the gravity clock.

It must be said that Yun Dingxing's products are indeed very good. The craftsmanship is very high, the workmanship is exquisite, the lines are smooth, and the timekeeping is very accurate. He also invented the function of timing the bell, which was outside of his own drawings.

"Your Majesty, Yun Dingxing, the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Workshops, requests an audience!"

Xiao Xia nodded, "Please let him in!"

(End of this chapter)