Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 8 "A Very Important Person"

"Where is the best of both worlds solution?"

Li Pan said with a wry smile, "We are afraid of repeating the situation of a military state ruled by elite soldiers. If the soldiers are not elite, then we must increase their numbers. If they are too few, they will be useless. If they are too many, then recruiting more will cost more money."

This is true. The biggest problem of the "three redundancies" in the Song Dynasty is actually "redundant soldiers".

The fiscal revenue of the Song Dynasty was a mixed calculation of in-kind taxes and monetary taxes. In the reign of Emperor Renzong, the annual fiscal revenue converted into copper coins was approximately 5700 million to 7000 million strings of coins.

80% of the money was invested in the military expenditure needed to maintain a standing army of over one million, 8% was used to support the literati, and the remaining 12% was other expenses.

So, the Song Dynasty was very rich, but also very short of money.

If enough money cannot be obtained, it will be impossible to maintain this standing army that absorbs a large number of unstable factors. Not only will the border no longer be stable, but the entire Song Dynasty society will also become extremely chaotic.

So whether it is the Qingli New Deal in the past or the Xining Reform in the future, the purpose can be simply put in two words - to make money!
Lu Beigu pointed at the "Summer Protection Strategy" on the table and said.

"If we follow the plan in my article 'Summer Defense Strategy', recruit a large number of native archers to garrison the fortress, and withdraw some of the imperial guards and garrison troops whose combat effectiveness is questionable, the northwest front can save at least 200 million strings of cash per year."

"The imperial court will not allow the recruitment of a large number of native archers."

Li Pan frowned slightly, feeling a little impatient.

If these were the only thoughts Lu Beigu had, there would be no need to continue this conversation.

But at this time, Lu Beigu analyzed seriously: "If we only recruit half of the native archers, it is possible to actually implement it."

"It is possible to implement it, but if we only recruit half of them, the 100 million strings of cash saved will not be enough to train cavalry."

Li Pan picked up the teacup and put it down again, saying helplessly.

"You don't know the market price of war horses. A Tibetan horse costs 50-70 strings of cash, and a Tangut horse costs over 100 strings of cash. Furthermore, raising horses costs money. One million strings of cash wouldn't even support a force of 100 cavalry, let alone a few thousand cavalry."

However, at this moment, Lu Beigu suddenly said.

"I do have a way to solve this one million kan shortfall, but I don't know whether I should tell you or not."

"But it doesn't matter."

"I wonder if your lord has ever considered that salt, grain, and money aren't actually independent of each other? Everything is connected."

Li Pan frowned even more tightly. He seemed to be thinking about something, but still couldn't figure it out.

It was not until Lu Beigu leaned close to Li Pan's ear and whispered something that Li Pan was stunned at first, and then stopped Lu Beigu from talking.

"So, this is the specific implementation method for the 'trade-driven severing of tendons and joints' strategy you mentioned in your article?"

"Yes."

"How did you come up with such a fantastic idea?"

Lu Beigu said frankly, "Like Ding Wei's story."

Li Pan showed an anxious expression for the first time. He stood up and paced around the room.

As a pragmatist, he was well aware that this method was quite detailed compared to the general content of "Protecting Summer Strategy" and was a truly feasible plan.

——This is also the true development of the most important economic policy in "The Strategies for Protecting Summer".

It was precisely because this method was too feasible that Li Pan even had the idea of ​​"taking it for himself" at a certain moment.

This idea is immoral, but Li Pan is not a moral gentleman. He has always been clear that if he wants to realize his ambitions, he must have the power and position that matches them.

The best way to gain a higher position of power is actually to gain the appreciation of your superiors.

There is a big shot who is about to be promoted in Sichuan today. Li Pan is sure that he will appreciate the method just proposed by Lu Beigu.

But as soon as the thought of "taking it for myself" arose, Li Pan suppressed it.

It's not about morality, it's just about the pros and cons.

Li Pan thought for a few moments, and looking at Lu Beigu who was sitting upright, he made up his mind.

"Don't tell anyone about this method once you leave this door!"

Li Pan said seriously, "If this is feasible, it must be of great importance. I need to inform my superiors. I will write a letter and send it to Chengdu Prefecture later. If nothing unexpected happens, I will take you to see someone after we return from the Cold Food Festival. You can then tell him everything in detail."

Lu Beigu's heart skipped a beat: "Who are you meeting?"

Li Pan said solemnly: "A very important person."

"If you can catch his eye, your future will be limitless!"

Lu Beigu was silent.

Things seem to have triggered a chain reaction.

But it sounds like it has only advantages for him. Having a low initial status has this advantage. If he really says something inappropriate, no one will really bother with him.

After all, he is just a young county school student, so it is normal for him to be careless or lack experience in some things.

On the contrary, if you speak well, you will definitely gain great benefits.

As for who this "very important person" was, Lu Beigu couldn't guess.

But he was sure that his status must be higher than that of a prefect.

On the one hand, if it was just a superior like the prefect, Li Pan would not have taken it so seriously; on the other hand, the fact that Li Pan did not intend to send the letter to Luzhou but to Chengdu already made the problem clear.

Lu Beigu nodded in agreement, and then the two chatted for a while. After they finished their tea, Li Pan let him leave.

"During the Cold Food Festival, you should think things through carefully. Make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Student understands." After Lu Beigu left, Li Pan wrote a secret letter, then called two close followers and gave them detailed instructions.

"You should not take the boat up the river. Instead, you should ride fast horses along the post road to Chengdu Prefecture. I will give you two horses each. Go fast and don't be stingy with the horsepower. Try to arrive in five days."

"Once you arrive in Chengdu, personally deliver this letter to Prime Minister Zhang's residence, and then await news there. You can only return with Prime Minister Zhang's order. At that time, charter a boat and hire several boatmen to take turns rowing. No delays are allowed along the way. You must return to Huijiang County as quickly as possible. Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

Watching the two personal followers hurrying towards the stable, Li Pan's brows finally relaxed a little. He looked at the copied "Proposal for Protecting the Summer" and muttered to himself.

"There are many people who can come up with the strategies of preparing for border defense and employing spies, but to have such an idea for an economic strategy is truly a rare talent."

On the other hand, Lu Beigu, who walked out of the county school, didn't know what Li Pan was thinking, but he was quite hesitant.

Whether it was the big shot Li Pan was going to take him to meet after the week-long vacation, or the county examination in more than two months, that was all in the future.

And right now, where should he go?
Normally, it's time to go home.

The Song Dynasty can be said to be the dynasty with the most holidays in Chinese history, with a quarter of the time each year being on vacation.

The Cold Food Festival is one of the three major festivals, along with New Year's Day and the Winter Solstice. The holiday lasts for seven days. In addition, it is connected with the Qingming Festival, so the students of the county school have a total of eight days of holiday.

It is naturally impossible to stay in the county school during such a long vacation. Everyone has to go home to celebrate the festival and worship their ancestors.

While Lu Beigu inherited the memories of his predecessor, he also inevitably inherited the emotions contained therein.

After all, people are made up of memories!
So although Lu Beigu's soul and thinking come from the modern era, he also has inseparable feelings for his family of this era.

"Since you've made up your mind to survive in this era, then escaping isn't an option. Even an ugly daughter-in-law still has to meet her in-laws, so just face it normally."

Lu Beigu packed up his things and came to the ferry not far from the county school with his backpack.

At the ferry, several black-sailed boats were quietly moored on the shore, with their bows resting on bluestone slabs and their sterns immersed in the blue waves.

The boatmen squatted on the shore in twos and threes. When they saw passengers coming, they stood up to solicit them.

At this moment, someone suddenly called his name from a black-covered boat.

Lu Beigu looked closely and saw that it was one of the two classmates who had called for help to rescue him when he fell into the water.

This man's surname is Lu and his name is Guangyu.

"Brother Lu? Where are you going?"

"My home is in Erlangtan Township, Gulin Town."

Lu Beigu was stunned. So, the two of them lived in the same town, but Lu Beigu lived in the town while the other lived in a village not far away.

It seems that my predecessor was indeed not good at socializing. He was not even familiar with the fellow villagers who were going home in the same direction.

After thanking the other party for saving his life again, Lu Beigu asked curiously.

"I saw you leaving the county school just now. Why haven't you left yet?"

"Well, the boatman has to wait until everyone is gathered before he can start the boat."

"Too."

Lu Beigu nodded and said, "Let's go back together. It's good to have someone to keep you company."

Then he stepped onto the gangplank, and the boat swayed slightly, startling several water birds perched on the side of the boat.

After entering the black boat, Lu Beigu sat down on a bamboo chair tied to the deck. From this angle, the water of Anle Creek was so clear that the bottom was visible, and the fish and small stones were clearly visible.

"Let's sail—"

After waiting for a while, when the boat was full, the boatman standing at the bow holding the pole shouted, the bamboo pole pushed the blue waves, and the black-sailed boat slowly left the shore.

The Hejiang County on the shore gradually faded away, and the blue-gray city walls appeared and disappeared in the spring mist, like a watercolor painting.

The boat sails on the stream, and the green mountains on both sides are like dark green.

It was mid-spring, and the rhododendrons in the mountains were in full bloom, with clusters of fiery red dotted among the lush green. Occasionally, egrets flew over the water, creating ripples with their wings, and then disappeared into the bushes in an instant.

From Hejiang County to Gulin Town, Anle Creek not only has a wide riverbed and gentle water flow, but also has very few rocky beaches, so there is no need for towing.

Oh yes, Anle Creek is the Chishui River in later generations.

During the Qin and Han Dynasties, this river was called "Yibu Water" because its basin was the Yi tribe of the Southern Yi. During the Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties, it was called "Dashe Water". In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was renamed "Chihui River" because the river water was red and there were many poisonous snakes.

In the Song Dynasty today, it was named "Anle Creek" because "there are many longevity trees, vines, cypresses, bamboos, birds, and flowers on the creek, and there is joy in all seasons." As for changing the name to "Chishui River", that was in the Ming Dynasty.

These days, the traffic is very slow, and looking at the scenery on both sides of the river, Lu Beigu's heart gradually calmed down.

He was chatting with Lu Guangyu casually, and while listening to their conversation, the old man rowing at the stern spoke up.

"Are you two young gentlemen going back to Gulin to celebrate the Cold Food Festival?"

"Yes, I am studying in the county school." Lu Guangyu replied.

"Incredible!" The old man's eyes lit up. "Who among the officials in the court isn't a scholar? Only by studying can one have a great future!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Beigu just smiled and said nothing.

It is true that all the officials in the court are scholars, and it is true that the students in the county school are also scholars, but you also have to pass all the hurdles and pass the imperial examination to become a Jinshi, right?

At this moment, Lu Guangyu suddenly asked.

"Brother Lu, what are your plans next?"

(End of this chapter)