The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 322 The Great Xia Empire Should Be Ruled by Me

Xingqing Prefecture, winter, the Imperial Palace.

Compared to the coldness of the vast land, the interior of the hall was warm and cozy, with three braziers burning fine charcoal, making the air dry and warm.

Li Xiao, wearing a thick, dark cotton-padded coat, was sitting behind his desk, reviewing military reports.

Although the war against Western Xia had come to a temporary end, he took the intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard very seriously.

The Song Dynasty's northern expedition is most likely to take place in the spring of next year.

With the Central Plains war about to break out, how can the Northern Frontier stand aside?
Therefore, after capturing Xingqing Prefecture, he did not lead his army back to the northern frontier, but remained in Xingqing Prefecture.

The goal was to take advantage of the war between the Song and Jin dynasties, when the Jin army was unable to look north, to completely destroy the Xia state and firmly grasp this land in their hands.

"Grand Protector-General".

"Wei Chengzong, the head of the Gansu Salt and Iron Bureau, has arrived."

The voice of a personal guard rang out from outside the hall. Li Xiao nodded slightly: "Let him in."

At the beginning of the establishment of the Protectorate General, Li Xiao set up the Salt and Iron Bureau to manage all the mineral resources in the northern border region.

Salt, iron, coal, gold, silver, copper, sulfur, saltpeter, etc.

It wielded immense power and was the only department besides the Six Garrisons that possessed military authority.

After all, in order to facilitate the management of the mining slaves, each mining area would have corresponding mining soldiers, whose combat power was equivalent to that of the militia in the northern border region.

As the territory in northern Xinjiang expanded, the Salt and Iron Bureau also began to expand.

Desert, Western Regions, Northern Desert, Gansu~
Wherever there are mineral deposits, a salt and iron bureau is established, directly under the jurisdiction of the Salt and Iron Commission, with the local governor having supervisory authority.

The profits generated were directly handed over to the Protectorate General and had nothing to do with the local area.

Therefore, the Salt and Iron Bureau is gradually forming a behemoth within the northern border region.

Reforms are inevitable in the future.

"Greetings, Grand Protector."

Wei Chengzong patted his chest in front of Li Xiao.

"Sit~"

Li Xiao nodded slightly, indicating that he would not be too harsh on his subordinates.

"Tell me, what's the situation at the Dingzhou mine?" Li Xiao asked directly.

After the situation in Xingqing Prefecture stabilized, Li Xiao transferred a group of craftsmen from the Gansu Salt and Iron Bureau to explore the Helan Mountains in western Dingzhou.

In his memory, there was a large coal mine here.

Sure enough, in less than half a month, the craftsmen found a large open-pit coal mine.

This is the Rujigou Coal Mine of later generations.

This coal mine has a large reserve, located on the upper layer of the mountain, making it easy to mine.

Moreover, the coal mined is all low-ash, low-sulfur, and low-phosphorus anthracite, of excellent quality, making it perfect for heating and iron smelting.

Historically, this coal mine was not discovered until the Ming Dynasty, and large-scale manual mining began during the Qing Dynasty.

Now that it has been discovered ahead of schedule in the northern border region, it can solve many problems for Li Xiao.

"Currently, mining operations at the Dingzhou coal mine are on track," Wei Chengzong continued in his report.

"There are 3,820 miners in the mining area, and they can mine about 300,000 catties of coal every day."

"Once spring arrives, the weather warms up, and the ground thaws, the daily output is expected to reach 500,000 jin."

As for the source of the miners, it's quite simple.

It mainly consisted of mid- to high-ranking officers of the Xia army, high-ranking officials and nobles of the Xia state, landowners and gentry, as well as their sons, nephews, descendants, and wicked slaves.

As for the women, they were either given as rewards to meritorious soldiers in the northern frontier or handed over to the Hexi Merchant Guild to be taken to the northern frontier for sale.

These women from official families and landowners were more popular with the men of northern Xinjiang than women from peasant families, which can be considered as making the best use of them.

"How much is the coal priced?" Li Xiao asked.

Wei Chengzong replied, "The Hexi Trading Company has set the price at three copper coins per pound for raw coal and five copper coins per pound for coke."

However, the price is not cheap. The people who stayed in Xingqing Prefecture and were allocated land can only guarantee that they will not starve to death before the new grain is harvested. They probably don't have much money left to buy coal for heating and cooking.

Therefore, the coal mined at this time was mainly for the use of the soldiers of the Six Garrisons. As production increased in the future, the price would naturally fall.

Li Xiao nodded. He was well aware of the current difficulties faced by the people, but coal mining was imperative.

"Next year, the price will have to be lowered so that ordinary people can afford it."

People need firewood for cooking, and if they are allowed to cut down trees, it will inevitably cause soil erosion over time, and the living environment will only get worse and worse.

Moreover, trees are important raw materials for making bows, arrows, and spears, and are strategic resources that should not be wasted on daily heating.

Especially in the northern desert region, which is already harsh and cold, the maximum population that can be accommodated is only a few million.

Li Xiao is gradually relocating another 60,000 Han households to the northern desert, at which point the number of households in Zhonghai and Donghai will reach as many as 120,000.

These people will continue to multiply and thrive.

If they are allowed to cut down trees without restraint, the grassland ecosystem will only deteriorate faster, and it will be impossible to support so many people in the future.

Therefore, Li Xiao had already ordered each household to organize the people to artificially plant alfalfa and expand the grassland area.

At the same time, it is also planned to prohibit the grassland people from cutting down trees and to use coal or coke for cooking in the form of government decrees.

However, this decree cannot be rushed; a grace period of several years is necessary.

Once the people in the northern desert have more money and buying coal will no longer be a burden on their families, then we can forcefully implement it.

The implementation of government orders must follow objective laws and wait until conditions at the grassroots level permit before proceeding in accordance with the trend. Rulers cannot make decisions on a whim, otherwise it will only cause great chaos.

“The reserves at Dingzhou Coal Mine are not a problem, it’s just that we don’t have enough manpower, so the mining volume won’t be too high,” Wei Chengzong said softly.

Li Xiao glanced at them and said calmly, "If nothing unexpected happens, I will give you another batch of mining slaves next year. The mining business will not be interrupted. As long as you can manage them well, that will be fine."

"I will do my utmost," Wei Chengzong said solemnly as he stood up.

"What is the security situation in the mining area?" Li Xiao asked another crucial question.

"Reporting to the Grand Protector, there are about three hundred mining soldiers in the mining area. The core members are all veterans transferred from the northern frontier, and they are very experienced."

"The rest are conscripted Xia Kingdom prisoners of war, armed with powerful bows and crossbows captured from the Xia army, enough to ensure the safety of the mine," Wei Chengzong replied.

“Miners would wear shackles while working to prevent them from escaping.”

"Moreover, there is a large military camp of a thousand households stationed not far from the mining area. It has sufficient troops to deal with any emergencies and ensure that there will be no major chaos in the mining area."

Li Xiao nodded slightly, referring to the daily necessities of life.

Firewood is listed first, as it is closely related to people's lives.

Li Xiao had to personally supervise the process.

Afterwards, Li Xiao inquired about other matters concerning the Dingzhou Coal Mine, seeking to understand as much as possible, no matter how small, to ensure he was not deceived by his subordinates.

After Wei Chengzong left, Li Xiao leaned back in his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze gradually falling into deep thought.

Salt and Iron Bureau...

In recent years, with the expansion into northern Xinjiang, their power has become somewhat too great to handle.

Needless to say, the Salt and Iron Bureau held control over the finances, from coal mines and iron mines to salt fields; almost all of the core resources in northern Xinjiang were in the hands of the Salt and Iron Bureau.

Although the military authority does not directly control troops, it can indirectly influence military force through miners and workshop guards. Even internal personnel appointments and removals can be decided by the Salt and Iron Bureau based on "professional needs".

At present, the northern frontier is in a period of rampant expansion, with everything focused on seizing territory and consolidating its foundation. The efficient operation of the Salt and Iron Bureau can provide a continuous supply of materials for the expansion, so he can tolerate this concentration of power for the time being.

But how long will it last?

When power is unchecked, corruption is bound to breed, and even powerful interest groups may form that are too big to be controlled. In that case, instead of helping expansion, they may become a hidden danger within the northern frontier.

"The necessary discipline is still necessary," Li Xiao muttered to himself, the tapping of his fingertips suddenly intensifying, and his eyes turning colder.

"It is said that Zhang Shitou, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is in charge."

A short while later, Zhang Shitou walked in.

"How's the investigation of Jinshan Coal Mine going?" Li Xiao asked directly, without any pleasantries.

Jinshan Coal Mine is located in the eastern part of Jinshan and has been mined since the Jinzhou Governor's Office period.

The coal mined here is partly coked and sent to steel mills to forge weapons; the other part is sold by Hexi Trading Company. Most of the coal used by ordinary people for heating and cooking comes from here.

It can be said that Jinshan Coal Mine was one of the most important material pillars for Li Xiao's rise to power in the early stages. Even now, it is still the largest coal mine in northern Xinjiang with the highest output, and its status is extremely important.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shitou took out a thin ledger from his pocket, handed it to the table, and said carefully, "Reporting to the Grand Protector, there are indeed some problems with the Jinshan Coal Mine."

“Wu Laoliu, who was in charge, was found to have falsified mining figures, embezzled assets in northern Xinjiang, and also sold coal privately.”

Li Xiao opened the ledger and glanced at the records.

According to the regulations in northern Xinjiang, the coal mined must be registered: part of it is sent to the ironworks according to plan, and the other part is handed over to the Hexi Trading Company for unified sale. The amount mined, transported and sold are clearly recorded, and each link is closely linked.

However, Wu Laoliu bribed the mine's supervisory officials and manipulated the mining volume.

Although 100 jin were mined, only 80 jin were reported. The remaining 20 jin were secretly sold at a low price under the name of "surplus coal outside the plan," and all the money was put into his own pocket.

"Unplanned coal?"

Li Xiao scoffed, his finger pausing on the page about "amount embezzled": "That sounds nice, but it's nothing more than blatant embezzlement."

If Wu Laoliu had used the money to improve the mine conditions, increase the miners' rations, and expand production, he might have turned a blind eye.

His ability to seize assets in northern Xinjiang for himself has crossed his bottom line.

The amount of embezzlement recorded in the ledgers is already over three thousand strings of cash, and the amount that has not yet been uncovered is probably even more.

"Is Wu Laoliu from the Han tribe of Jinzhou?" Li Xiao suddenly asked, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

The Han people of Jinzhou were the Han Chinese from the former Nine Forts and Eighteen Villages, and they were part of Li Xiao's initial group.

It is the foundation of northern Xinjiang.

As long as you have the ability and the courage to fight, even the worst-case scenario is still a thousand or a hundred households.

"Yes."

Zhang Shitou nodded: "He was a former subordinate of Military Advisor Luo. He served as a centurion in the Second Town in his early years, and later transferred to Jinshan Coal Mine, where he became a manager."

Luo Ping was one of the earliest generals to join him in raising an army. Later, he was transferred to the Salt and Iron Bureau as a military advisor, in charge of all the mines in the northern frontier. He was considered a veteran figure in the northern frontier.

When appointing the head of the mine, Luo Ping would naturally recommend his old subordinates to the Performance Evaluation Department. Wu Laoliu's appointment to the lucrative position of head of Jinshan Coal Mine was largely due to Luo Ping's strong recommendation.

Jinshan Coal Mine holds a special position, and the person in charge wields considerable power. Li Xiao is well aware that the person in charge may engage in petty theft and skimming profits, but he is willing to turn a blind eye to it.

After all, people are all made of flesh and blood; one must always leave some hope for those below.

But Wu Laoliu was clearly insatiable and treated the rules of the northern frontier as mere decorations, which was no longer a "small matter".

"kill."

The single word that came out of Li Xiao's mouth was as cold as the wind outside the palace.

He threw the ledgers along with the verified evidence onto the table.

"The Central Plains War is about to break out. You can't leave this place. Send a trusted confidant to Jinshan."

"Get this done," Li Xiao said calmly.

Zhang Shitou nodded emphatically and said, "Your subordinate obeys."

He knew that Li Xiao was making an example of someone. Due to the limitations of the era, the Grand Protectorate could not completely supervise all the major mines, and corruption would inevitably occur again in the future.

Since greed cannot be eradicated, we must use the most ruthless methods to deter people and let everyone know that embezzling assets in northern Xinjiang is acceptable, but one must bear the consequences of being discovered.

"Did Luo Ping get involved in Wu Laoliu's affair?" Li Xiao asked again.

Zhang Shitou pondered for a moment, then replied truthfully, "This subordinate does not know."

If we don't know, it means we haven't found it, but we can't rule out suspicion.

Li Xiao was silent for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "I understand."

Whether Luo Ping was involved or not is actually not important.

It would be best if he didn't participate; even if he had, he couldn't have really taken down Luo Ping.

This level of corruption was not enough for him to take action against a veteran confidant.

Wu Laoliu's death served as a wake-up call for Luo Ping, making him more restrained; that was enough.

After all, Luo Ping was one of the earliest people to follow him through thick and thin, and was also related to the Li family by marriage.

Unless he commits heinous crimes such as treason or collusion with the enemy, or repeatedly fails to correct his ways and touches upon core interests, he will at most be punished with dismissal or retirement.

"You can go now. Take care of Wu Laoliu's matter properly." Li Xiao waved his hand, leaned back in his chair, and turned his gaze back to the snow scene outside the window.

Zhang Shitou bowed and withdrew, and the hall returned to calm once more.

The flames in the charcoal brazier still flickered, but they couldn't dispel the deep look in Li Xiao's eyes.

The Salt and Iron Bureau's crackdown was just the beginning. The road ahead for the northern frontier is long, and internal rules must be established little by little.

Afterwards, Li Xiao wrote a letter to Xiao Yanyan.

He also wrote an imperial edict to Jiu Meng'anhe, ordering him to cooperate with the actions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

……

Time flies, and it's already the first month of the lunar calendar.

Heavy snow was falling over Xiping Prefecture, and people took to the streets, where vendors' cries rang out once again.

Spring Festival couplets began to be pasted on the doors of wealthy families, and children chased and played in the snow. The brief liveliness dispelled some of the heavy oppression that the Northern Frontier Army had brought to the city.

But beneath this calm surface, turbulent undercurrents are brewing.

The next morning, before dawn, a figure secretly slipped out of the side gate of the Empress Dowager's palace.

The man was wrapped in a thick fox fur coat, yet his frail figure was still hard to conceal.

It was Li Anquan, who had been reinstated as the Prince of Zhenyi.

His legs were weak, his face was pale, and his eyes were dark circles, clearly indicating that he had overexerted himself.

But his eyes held an uncontrollable ecstasy, and the corners of his mouth even couldn't help but turn up slightly.

After getting into the carriage, Li Anquan hurried back to his residence. He didn't even bother to drink the scalding ginger soup before immediately sending someone to contact his trusted confidants.

For the next ten days or so, his private conversations never ceased. The gates of the mansion remained tightly shut, and even the servants were strictly forbidden from approaching the main hall.

On the nineteenth day of the first lunar month, Li Anquan finally summoned all his confidants to his residence. A secret meeting concerning the fate of Western Xia quietly unfolded in the main hall, where the stove was burning brightly.

Seated in the hall were all powerful figures in the Xiping Prefecture court: Zhang Xian, the Prefectural Magistrate of Xiping, who was in charge of civil administration in the city; Li Decheng, the newly appointed Minister of Justice; and He Niheda, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards.

There were also several prefects and generals promoted from local areas, all of whom were people carefully placed by Li Anquan in recent days.

"Gentlemen, I have invited you all here today to discuss a very important matter concerning the survival of the Great Xia Dynasty."

Li Anquan sat in the main seat, his usual humility gone, his tone heavy as he glanced at the crowd. "Since the invasion from the Northern Frontier, His Majesty's actions have been witnessed by all of you."

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, filled with indignation: "The misuse of mediocre generals led to the fall of Xingqing Prefecture and the complete annihilation of the Great Xia's elite army."

"In order to raise funds for the army, soldiers were conscripted and taxes were levied on a large scale, causing the people to live in misery and displaced people everywhere."

"When the enemy army was at the gates of the city, he abandoned the ancestral temples and the state, and fled alone to Xiping Prefecture, leaving the people of Xingqing Prefecture to the people of the northern frontier."

"What's even more hateful is that, in order to protect himself, he actually ceded territory and paid reparations to the northern frontier, and even sent Princess Lingyang to marry a foreign ruler. How could our ancestors of the Weiming clan have ever suffered such humiliation?"

Li Anquan slammed his hand heavily on the table, making the cups and saucers rattle: "Now, most of the territory of Great Xia has fallen into the hands of the people of the Northern Frontier."

"But he still did not repent, and acted arbitrarily in Xiping Prefecture, unable to distinguish between loyalty and treachery, and favored those treacherous ministers who only knew how to flatter and fawn, making the court a mess!"

Everyone in the hall lowered their heads, and no one objected.

It is difficult to judge whether Li Chunyou was right or wrong, but it is true that during his reign as emperor, he handed over most of the Xia Kingdom's territory to the Northern Frontier.

"So, we can't wait any longer."

"This must end."

Li Anquan changed the subject, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "What we need to do today is not to rebel, but to set things right and save the Great Xia from its peril."

As he spoke, he took out a roll of cloth from his sleeve and unfolded it in front of everyone, his voice carrying a hint of confidence.

"This is an imperial edict personally issued by the Empress Dowager. It clearly states: 'There are treacherous officials in the court who are misleading the emperor. The ministers are hereby ordered to purge the emperor's inner circle and secure the country.'"

Everyone's eyes fell on the imperial edict, where the three words "purge the emperor's inner circle" stood out, and they were all shocked.

Everyone knows that although the Empress Dowager is Li Chunyou's biological mother, she is a woman with an extremely strong desire for power.

The Western Xia dynasty had a long tradition of empress dowagers ruling as regents. In the past, the empress dowagers held almost the same power in the court as the emperor, and could be considered "vice emperors".

However, after the capital was moved to Xiping Prefecture, Li Chunyou seemed to have become a different person, frighteningly stubborn, and single-mindedly focused on consolidating power.

He constantly clamored to "recover lost territory," not only firmly grasping military and financial power, but also interfering in the affairs of the inner palace and the appointment and removal of members of the imperial clan, which were originally under the control of the Empress Dowager.

This greatly displeased the Empress Dowager, and the conflict between mother and son deepened day by day.

Li Anquan had been frequently visiting the Empress Dowager's palace these days, whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

One moment they say that Li Chunyou is "stubborn and self-willed, and may ruin the country," and the next they say that "the crown prince is young, and if Your Majesty continues to cause trouble like this, you will anger the Northern Frontier Army, and the Great Xia may have no way out."

This gradually aroused the Empress Dowager's desire to depose the emperor.

More importantly, Li Chunyou clamored every day to recover lost territory, which the Empress Dowager considered utterly delusional.

The formidable strength of the Northern Frontier Army is well-known.

It was only through the marriage alliance with Princess Lingyang that the Northern Frontier Army was able to cease hostilities.

Peace is hard-won. If Li Chunyou continues to cause trouble and provokes the Northern Frontier Army to cross the Yellow River, what will Great Xia use to resist?
Essentially, Li Chunyou was a radical, while the Empress Dowager was a conservative who only wanted a peaceful life.

The conflict between the two became increasingly acute, which led to this imperial edict.

The Empress Dowager's chosen new emperor was the eight-year-old Crown Prince, who was her own grandson and easier to control.

Little did she know, Li Anquan had already been making his own plans.

"The Empress Dowager is wise and understanding, knowing that the Great Xia Dynasty cannot be destroyed in His Majesty's hands again."

Li Anquan conveyed the imperial edict to everyone, his tone enticing: "You are all loyal subjects of the Great Xia. Today you help me purge the court of corrupt officials. In the future, when the Great Xia is at peace, I will not keep this glory to myself."

He then made grand promises to everyone, outlining what positions they would hold, how much land they would be rewarded with, and what hereditary titles they would receive upon success.

The breathing of the people in the hall gradually quickened, and the hesitation in their eyes was replaced by fervor.

They were originally Li Anquan's trusted confidants, and now with the Empress Dowager's decree as a pretext, and real high-ranking positions and generous salaries to be gained, why would they care about the "relationship between ruler and subject"?
"This humble general is willing to obey Your Majesty's orders!"

"We, your humble servants, are willing to follow Your Majesty, to purge the court of corrupt officials and secure the stability of the nation!"

Looking at the scene before him, Li Anquan felt even more excited.

His era is about to begin.

"There's no time to lose, let's make our move tonight!"

Li Anquan lowered his voice, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Commander He Ni, you shall immediately lead men to lure and kill Wei Mingtuluo, the commander of the Imperial Guards, take over the Imperial Guards, control the four gates of Xiping Prefecture, and strictly prohibit anyone from entering or leaving."

"Prefect Zhang, take your constables and arrest the 'treacherous officials' around His Majesty. I've already prepared the list; don't miss a single one!"

……

It was nearly midnight, and Li Chunyou was reviewing memorials in his bedchamber. The memorial about "recovering Fuxing Prefecture" was still open on his desk.

Just then, the sudden shouts of battle outside the hall made his heart tighten.

"What's going on outside?" Li Chunyou suddenly stood up and shouted towards the outside of the hall.

The guards responsible for protecting the imperial bedchamber rushed in, their faces pale: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Fighting has broken out among the Imperial Guards outside the palace."

"Someone shouted... that the Imperial Guards had rebelled."

"absurd!"

Li Chunyou trembled with rage, pointing at the palace gate and shouting, "Weiming Tuluo is my trusted confidant, how could he possibly rebel? Someone must be spreading rumors and causing trouble!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, even more intense shouts of killing came from afar, and one could even faintly hear the slogan "Purge the court of corrupt officials".

Li Chunyou's heart sank, and an ominous premonition surged into his mind. He finally realized that things were not as simple as just rumors.

"Quickly! Issue my decree to summon my trusted guards and have them accompany me to take temporary refuge!"

Li Chunyou suppressed his panic and strode towards the rear of the hall: "We will take action after we have investigated the situation."

Soon after, Li Chunyou was cornered in an alley, surrounded by fully armed soldiers, clearly a private army he had been raising.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?" Li Anquan asked with a mocking smile as he approached step by step.

Li Chunyou looked shocked: "It's you?"

"Li Anquan, are you plotting a rebellion?"

"rebellion?"

Li Anquan scoffed and threw the imperial edict in front of Li Chunyou: "Your Majesty should take a look at the Empress Dowager's edict."

"You have committed numerous mistakes, including misusing mediocre generals, losing territory, and ceding land for peace through marriage alliances. Each and every one of these mistakes is enough to warrant the abdication of the throne."

"Now that treacherous officials are in power in the court, I am here today to purge the emperor's inner circle."

Li Chunyou trembled as he looked at the scene before him. He finally realized that he had already fallen into Li Anquan's trap.

"Empress Dowager... how could Mother..." he murmured to himself, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He never imagined that his own mother would betray him by colluding with outsiders.

Li Anquan waved his hand, and his personal guards immediately surrounded Li Chunyou and the few remaining guards.

Although the guards tried to resist, they were quickly subdued by a force several times their size.

"Your Majesty, things have come to this point, you should obediently abdicate."

Li Anquan walked up to Li Chunyou, looked down at him, his eyes full of pride: "The Crown Prince is young. I will assist him in ascending the throne. You can rest assured and enjoy your old age in the palace."

"Li Anquan...you have such a cruel heart..."

Li Chunyou's voice was filled with despair, and his eyes were full of resentment.

He knew that Li Anquan was ambitious and would never hand over the throne to the crown prince.

That foolish Empress Dowager was deceived by Li Anquan.

"ruthless?"

Li Anquan said coldly, "Compared to the empire you lost, compared to the people who died because of you, what I have is nothing."

"From this day forward, the fate of the Great Xia Dynasty shall be in my hands."

(End of this chapter)