Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

They then invited the King of Liang to take a seat.

After a satisfying meal,

Ren Liang then invited the Prince of Liang to the main hall to serve tea.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Ren Liang, Zhao Yuan said,

"Ren Gong previously served as the Transport Commissioner in Shaanxi,"

"You must know a great deal about this salt,"

"Please enlighten me, Lord Ren."

Ren Liang said, "Qing salt is produced in the Yanzhou and Lingzhou areas of Western Xia."

"It is called green salt because of its bluish color."

"This salt is of excellent quality,"

"In addition, the Western Xia Dynasty was rich in salt,"

"Therefore, the price is extremely low."

"Therefore, people in the Northwest prefer to use Qingyan salt."

Chapter 1825 Should We Sell It?

"If it weren't for the imperial court's ban on the sale of salt,"

"The salt from Jiechi in Hedong will probably not sell a single pound in the Northwest."

"Because the Western Xia dynasty produced a large quantity of salt,"

"Once they are allowed to buy and sell freely,"

"The Western Xia could then acquire a large amount of wealth."

"Therefore, during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Song, the sale of salt from Western Xia was prohibited."

“Those who illegally sell salt will be executed.”

"However, because there are many foreigners from various regions in Shaanxi who have submitted to the central government,"

“They are even poorer,”

"Compared to salt-free salt, they prefer the cheaper and tastier green salt."

"This caused a lot of trouble,"

"Many barbarian tribes who had submitted to the Song Dynasty even defected to Western Xia,"

"Therefore, the ban has been lifted several times."

"After Li Yuanhao established his kingdom, he decisively defeated the Song army at Sanchuankou, Haoshuichuan, and Dingchuanzhai."

"Forcing the Song Dynasty to negotiate peace."

"Li Yuanhao's letter to the Song Dynasty requested that the Western Xia allow the Song Dynasty to sell 100,000 shi of salt to the Song Dynasty every year."

"However, Ouyang Xiu, Bao Zheng, and others believed that this ban should not be lifted,"

"Therefore, Emperor Shenzong of Song only agreed to a few border markets,"

"Quantitative trading of salt is possible."

"The attitude towards salt production is still mainly one of prohibition."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuan shook his head and said...

"They feared that money would flow into Western Xia,"

"Yet they agreed to pay tribute to the Western Xia,"

"Isn't this just deceiving yourself?"

Ren Liang couldn't explain for the Song Dynasty, so he could only continue.

"After Emperor Shenzong of Song, the Song Dynasty's policy toward Western Xia remained largely unchanged."

"Even though Tong Guan waged war against the Western Xia in previous years,"

"The salt trade at the border market was still symbolically taking place."

Zhao Yuan asked curiously, "What's the story behind that man saying there are many smugglers of salt?"

"In the early days, most of the smugglers of salt were unscrupulous merchants."

"Because salt from the Western Xia was cheap and of good quality,"

"Therefore, although the imperial court has repeatedly issued orders and instructions,"

"However, the problem of illegal vendors is still quite serious."

"In the past two years, however, it has been some of Tong Guan's generals who have been involved in smuggling,"

"Therefore, the problem of smuggled salt became even more serious."

As the story unfolded, Ren Liang shook his head helplessly.

Zhao Yuan frowned and said, "Hasn't Tong Guan always wanted to pacify Western Xia?"

"How could I allow my subordinates to aid the enemy?"

Ren Liang said, "In the first year of Xuanhe, Tong Guan ordered Liu Fa to send troops to attack Lingzhou, the heartland of Western Xia."

"As a result, Liu Fa was defeated and killed, losing 100,000 troops."

"The naturally gifted general Liu Fa has passed away."

"Tong Guan knew then that he couldn't destroy Western Xia,"

"We will no longer wage war against the Western Xia."

"Then they thought of reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun,"

"To be the first eunuch prince."

"His corrupt subordinates then began to sell salt for profit."

"Has no one reported this?"

Ren Liang said, "This matter was tacitly approved by the Song Dynasty."

"The Song Dynasty emperor and his ministers were single-mindedly plotting to ally with the Jin Dynasty to attack the Liao Dynasty."

"Over the years, the national treasury's savings have been completely depleted by the construction of palaces."

"In order not to delay the important matter of the alliance with the Jin to attack the Liao,"

"In the past two years, the Song Dynasty has been plundering the people to raise funds for the war against Liao."

"The hundreds of thousands of Western troops consumed twenty to thirty million strings of cash annually,"

"The Song Dynasty was eager for the Western Army to solve its own problems with money and provisions."

Zhao Yuan stared wide-eyed and said, "The Western Army consumes twenty to thirty million strings of cash every year?"

After the Great Liang destroyed the Song Dynasty,

The spoils from confiscating the homes of treacherous officials like Cai Jing far exceeded Su Yuanjing's initial expectations.

The amount of gold, silver, and cash confiscated alone exceeded fifty million strings of cash.

The mansions, land, and valuables are countless.

Zhao Yuan originally thought that this money could last for two or three years.

I never imagined that the Northwest would be so expensive.

Ren Liang nodded and said, "There are about 300,000 Imperial Guards in the Northwest."

“The annual salary alone is five million strings of cash.”

"Transporting grain from the Central Plains to the Northwest is very costly,"

"The annual cost of purchasing military rations exceeds ten million strings of cash,"

"The cost of repairing weapons and armor will be no less than 25 million strings of cash,"

"A large portion of the Song Dynasty's tax revenue was spent in the six circuits of Shaanxi."

Zhao Yuan never expected to gain control of the Northwest.

It incorporated the most combat-effective Western Army of the Song Dynasty.

But she also found a big spender.

However, this was a problem that gave the prime ministers a headache.

Let's leave it to them.

Zhao Yuan couldn't figure it out either.

So he stopped thinking about it.

"Liu Fa is known as a born divine general?"

Ren Liang nodded and said, "Yes, but he didn't give himself that title."

"It was said by Chage, the King of Jin of Western Xia, and it circulated between the two countries."

"Liu Fa led his troops in battle, winning more often than he lost."

"Defeated the Western Xia Prince Chage twice,"

"It made Brother Cha lament that Liu Fa was a born genius general,"

"When two armies clash, they must avoid Liu Fabing's advance."

"He became famous much earlier than General Zhong,"

"In those years, the Western Xia people were terrified at the mere mention of their name,"

"Unfortunately, in the first year of the Xuanhe era, Tong Guan underestimated the enemy,"

"He forced Liu Fa to lead his troops deep into the heart of Western Xia, but unfortunately he was defeated and killed."

"Otherwise, General Liu Fa and the old Military Strategist Zhong would be stationed in the Northwest,"

"The Western Xia might not dare to invade."

Chapter 1826 Various Races

Zhao Yuan naturally didn't believe that there were two people in charge.

The Western Xia would not have invaded.

However, to receive such high praise from Ren Liang is truly remarkable.

This also shows Liu Fa's formidable reputation.

"Ren Gong served in Shaanxi for many years,"

"He must know a great deal about the affairs of the Northwest,"

"I wonder what advice you have for me, Lord Ren?"

Ren Liang thought for a moment and said, "Since the King of Liang has asked,"

"I shall dare to say a few words,"

"If there is anything wrong, please forgive me, Prince Liang."

Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "Ren Gong, please speak freely, there's no need to hold back."

"I come from humble beginnings, so let's be straightforward with each other."

"When talking about Shaanxi, one cannot help but mention the non-Han people,"

"After the decline of the Tang Dynasty, Shaanxi was controlled by the Tibetan Empire,"

"The Han Chinese within the territory were all assimilated by the Tibetans and formed individual tribes."

"It wasn't until the Song Dynasty conquered Shaanxi that these tribes began to be Sinicized again."