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

Then there are narrow riverside areas like the Hexi Corridor.

It can be said that the Western Xia was not a place that produced abundant grain.

Li Qianshun mobilized 600,000 troops this time.

However, he squandered most of his savings from over the years.

Currently, Xingqing Prefecture's grain and provisions can only support 50,000 troops for a little over two months.

They can barely hold out until the autumn harvest.

The supplies for the troops sent to assist in the battle were still undecided.

Zhao Yuan originally intended to purchase from some large merchants.

That's why we invited several big merchants from Xingqing Prefecture.

I was just feeling a little sleepy.

Then someone brought a pillow.

Zhao Yuan did not refuse.

After thinking for a moment, he said,

"If you can offer 100,000 strings of cash or 20,000 bushels of grain,"

"I can give you a baronship."

Currently, the price of rice in the Central Plains is around two strings of cash per shi (a unit of dry measure).

However, the Western Xia produced little grain.

Shaanxi is barely self-sufficient.

Only Sichuan and the Jiangnan region had abundant food supplies.

Grain was transported from these two locations.

However, the losses and shipping costs are substantial.

Transport 30,000 shi of grain to Western Xia.

The expenditure was probably more than 100,000 strings of cash.

Of course, whether it's 100,000 strings of cash or 20,000 bushels of grain, it's still a huge fortune.

Even a baron could only receive one hundred strings of cash a year from the court.

Moreover, baron is the lowest rank of nobility.

The next generation is reduced by one level and becomes a nobody again.

Moreover, officials of the Liang dynasty were not exempt from commercial taxes.

It can be said that the title of nobility in Daliang has no real benefits.

However, the title of nobility held a fatal attraction for merchants.

After they accumulated wealth that they could not enjoy inexhaustible,

They will then pursue an improvement in their status.

They just didn't have this opportunity before.

Now that we hear the king's personal promise...

We responded immediately and actively.

Even if the title of nobility has no power.

But the nobleman and the commoner went to the government office to do the same thing.

The treatment will definitely be different.

"I am willing to offer 100,000 strings of cash."

"Even a humble man like myself would be willing to offer 100,000 strings of cash."

"Even a humble man like myself would be willing to offer 100,000 strings of cash."

After Zhao Yuan led his troops to capture Xingqing Prefecture,

They simply cleared out some wealthy households in the city who refused to hand over their weapons and provide haircuts.

Most of the major shareholders were not harmed.

Because Zhao Yuan knew that many border generals had their homes in the capital.

If we accidentally raid their property...

It's possible that even generals who were prepared to surrender will lead their troops to resist.

Therefore, they did not rob the wealthy households.

They were simply made to release all the Han Chinese servants.

Commerce flourished in the Song Dynasty.

There are many merchants with millions in wealth.

Corrupt officials like Cai Jing and Zhu Mian owned hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland alone.

They can earn tens of thousands of coins every year from rent.

However, Zhao Yuan did not expect that there were so many wealthy people in Western Xia.

He just spoke,

Six people responded.

However, apart from the fat man who spoke first,

The others were all Dangxiang officials.

The other merchants were also very envious of the titles in the Great Liang Dynasty.

But unfortunately, I was short of money.

We cannot come up with that much money and grain.

The others were all tribal leaders.

In the Western Xia Dynasty, power and wealth were concentrated in the hands of tribal leaders.

Although even 100,000 strings of cash would be a significant financial blow to them.

However, to obtain a noble title in Daliang,

And so he acquired a talisman.

They treated it as money to buy peace of mind.

Zhao Yuan nodded and said, "Okay."

"As long as you pay the full amount of money and grain,"

"I then submitted a memorial to the imperial court,"

"I bestow upon you titles and ceremonial regalia."

Chapter 1925 To Surrender or Not

To demonstrate the prestige of Lord Liang...

Zhao Yuan, however, had a set of elaborate but impractical aristocratic etiquette rules devised.

Different ranks of nobility were accompanied by exquisite ceremonial regalia.

However, maintaining these ceremonial guards is also a considerable expense.

Even ordinary officials who obtain titles,

They also lack the financial resources to support their daily displays of wealth.

The ceremonial procession can only be used on some important days.

Zhao Yuan hadn't expected to obtain 600,000 strings of cash so easily.

More importantly, a vassal army can be formed immediately.

It takes a long period of training for a Han Chinese to become a qualified soldier.

What Daliang lacks is time.

But for a people who live on horseback...

As long as they are given weapons

They are qualified soldiers.

Zhao Yuan had no intention of taking his vassal army to the Central Plains.

That might attract criticism.

However, they could use vassal armies to deal with the Tanguts, Liao people, and Jurchens.

quickly,

The main hall was filled with fine wines and delicacies.

Li Qianshun's concubines danced gracefully in the palace.

Zhao Yuan suddenly remembered someone.

He gave Shi Yong a few instructions.

Soon,

Yelü Nanxian and Li Renai were then invited into the main hall.

Li Ren'ai saw so many of his former subordinates feasting in the palace.

He was greatly angered.

When the Tangut people saw Li Ren'ai arrive,

It was somewhat awkward.

Zhao Yuan still saw Li Ren'ai as an ugly bald man.

He frowned and said,

"Why is his head still so ugly?"

These past two days Zhao Yuan has been busy with military affairs.

However, he did not go to see Li Ren'ai and Yelü Nanxian, who were imprisoned.

The Han Chinese guard said,

"The little man tried to shave his head several times,"

"He threatened to kill himself,"

“I’m afraid he’ll commit suicide.”

When Li Ren'ai heard Zhao Yuan ask about it,

He looked at Zhao Yuan with a determined expression.

He didn't believe Zhao Yuan would do that for his hair.

It cost him his life.

Zhao Yuan turned to Li Kui, who was eating heartily beside him, and said...

“Shaving your head is your job,”

"How come there are still some who slipped through the net?"

Li Kui grabbed another handful of camel meat and stuffed it into his mouth, muttering,

"I thought the King of Liang's personal guards had dealt with everyone in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yong