The Struggle of the Reborn Prince

Lingzhou is an important town in the northwest border, and is a hub city for the transportation of Mobei, Hexi and Western Regions in the Central Plains. It passes through Yuan, Jing and other states in the south, and Qing and Ning and other states in the south. There are two post roads to Chang'an; it passes through Fengzhou to the north of Uighurs and other states in the north.

All tribes; go west to Liangzhou to the Western Regions; northwest to Yizhou to the Western Regions; southwest to Wulan Pass, Huizhou to Lanzhou; east to Yanzhou to Xiazhou to cross the Yellow River to Taiyuan Prefecture, and also have the Yellow River water transportation.

Many towns in the northwest continued to communicate with Lingzhou commercial roads based on the previous generations, or opened up new roads to reach the Western Regions, becoming new network traffic lines or important intermediate stations for the mainland to the Western Regions. And traditional

Business roads have gradually become operational by the Central Plains dynasty, and have governed the political and military channels in the northwest and domestic commercial roads that trade with the mainland. Many towns have been formed along the commercial road, from the military bases of the prefecture to various counties, cities, towns and forts.

Traffic routes are dense.

At the same time, in the trade between China and the West, it was famous for its prosperous relay trade at that time, and was an important window for the exchange of materials and cultural resources between the Central Plains dynasties and the northwest tribes. The trade route began with luxury goods trade, and later, the luxury goods such as silk and pearls and jade were still large in number.

But what the Central Plains dynasty wants to obtain most in the trade between China and West is the output and input of military horses and salt tea, which also occupies a very important position in foreign relations. In other words, the scope of Chinese and Western material transactions has been expanded to

National necessities and daily necessities.

From the Five Dynasties to the early Northern Song Dynasty, Lingzhou was the largest relay for silk and horse trade between the Central Plains and the outside of the Great Wall. As the gateway to the Western Regions at that time, it controlled the trade route to the Western Regions. Its geographical location was very important, including the Uighurs in Ganzhou and the Western Regions.

The official tribute trade of all ethnic groups was still carried out through Lingzhou, and the Dangxiang tribe gained financial support through the plunder of officials, civilians and business travel across the border.

Therefore, after the Western Xia occupied Lingzhou, its political backwardness was not just a unilateral issue of the Western Xia, but was related to the trade transfer stations such as Lingzhou controlled by the Western Xia and gaining benefits from Western trade. However, the control of the trade channel

If a country persists in monopolizing this interest, it will naturally cause dissatisfaction among some countries. The countries in the Western Regions exploited by excessive transit tax rates, and countries that try to share their profits because they are dissatisfied with this interest and try to establish a evasion.

Open the route of transportation between China and West in Xixia.

Because Lingzhou was occupied by Li Jiqian, Lingzhou's important position in the East-West trade was weakened, causing major changes in the history of Sino-West transportation. The Song Dynasty established connections with Tubo in Xiliang, and the countries in the Western Regions passed through the Western Liang to tribute to the Song Dynasty.

Avoid the Xixia and detour southward and enter the Song territory. The road was cut off after Xiliang returned to the Song Dynasty. At the same time, the Liao Kingdom avoided the Xixia and established a trade channel with the Western Regions countries in the northern desert. They had to pass on the one hand

Lingzhou and other major transportation routes controlled by the Western Xia carried out trade, while avoiding Lingzhou opening up a transportation channel between the Chinese and Western countries in the south. The land transportation between the Chinese and Western countries, which lasted for more than a thousand years, gradually declined, and the sea trade between the Chinese and Western countries rose. It was forced to make a "

Maritime Silk Road'...

Zhao Qiong knew clearly the difficulties he was going to face. If he wanted to seize the initiative in the war, he needed excellent weapons, a well-trained army and sufficient logistics supplies, and all of this must be supported by strong financial resources.

Although he has attracted a lot of funds through a series of preferential fiscal policies he implemented, the tense fiscal situation in the northwest has also eased. However, these taxes collected by the government will not fall into their pockets, Xixia's 'year-old

Gong's whole son was put into his father's inner treasury, and even the war compensation he fought for was left only a part of it to resettle refugees and to provide for the people who died in the war.

The weapons and equipment of the Zhongyong Army, food, drink, defecation, clothes from the inside out, and even socks on his feet were his own money. Now, a Kru army fighting in the Liao Kingdom was added, and the logistics supply at this stage was also added.

It all depends on his supply. This huge expense made Zhao Qie, who had tens of millions of yuan, feel difficult. If he only relies on the current business to supplement it, he will be afraid that it will not take two years, let alone development, and even returning to Xiangyi to farm.

Will the Jurchens let him go? So he must reopen his wealth and expand his trade scope. Make more money back to support this most expensive game.

Zhao Qi once hated those "officials" who used themselves as policy makers and were familiar with insider information. They could make a fortune from it with their foresight, but now he himself has become one of them. Zhao Qi Qi is in Xixia

During the negotiations, we already knew that under our own coercion, Xixia would reopen the trade route to the Western Regions. Dangsheng Hetang opened a port in Xixia and acquired a large area of ​​fertile land in Lingzhou. He used his own business network to turn the green and white salt.

When it was sold to the Song Dynasty and surrounding countries, others often had just received the news or went to the northwest. This step made Zhao Qi make a fortune, but it also made Zhao Qi feel quite uneasy.

I can comfort myself by "those who achieve great things are not careful".

"Prince, why did you come to the construction site?" Lingzhou magistrate Xu Hong suddenly saw several people walking along the irrigation canal. He looked closely and saw that it was the prince who was carrying several guards, and quickly dressed up to greet him and saluted him.

"I'll come and see how you're doing!" Zhao Qiong said, looking at Fengchen's face, with a thin face.

"The prince has his life, how dare the subordinates be negligent? Now they are working day and night!" Xu Hong said with a wry smile. He had just arrived in Lingzhou to take office, and received the order from the prince to open canals and reclaim wasteland, resettle refugees, and establish civilian villages.

point.

"Haha, thank you Mr. Xu for your hard work!" Zhao Xiao smiled. Looking at Xu Hong's appearance, he knew that he had been eating and living on the canals for the past few days. "This year, these branch canals must be repaired, and the main canals must be strengthened and silted.

We will be able to irrigate thousands of hectares of fertile land next spring, and we can also recover some capital!"

"Your Majesty, what's right, but the northwest is cold and the frozen soil is as hard as iron. It can only be burned and dug at the same time. It has delayed a lot of effort. I can't even think about it!" Xu Hong pointed to the one who was working not far away.

The team gang said that the frozen soil was three feet thick, and only a white spot was left when the pickaxe was dug down. It could only be ignited to burn the frozen soil layer before it could be dug. Although it was a turn of work, it still had half the effort with twice the effort and no work was done.

"I know, but if you don't prepare this winter, you will be abandoned next year. You also know our situation. Lingzhou's grain storage can only last until May next year. The rest will be transported from the mainland, and now there is a shortage of money everywhere.

It is unrealistic to rely solely on the court, so you must ensure that there will be a bumper harvest next year to alleviate the crisis of food shortage. The year after that, you must ensure that Lingzhou has surplus grain and support it!" Zhao Qi said seriously, according to the development of history

Next year, the Song Dynasty will attack Liao as promised. The southeast has just experienced turmoil. The treasury in Hebei and Henan are nine out of ten, and it will support the supply of food and grass for hundreds of thousands of troops. There will definitely be no surplus grain to support the northwest.

I can only rely on myself if I don’t want to be hungry.

"Don't worry, the emperor will never let down his expectations!" Although Xu Hong complained, he was still in control for so long, how could he not know the current situation!

"You can think of more ways, this canal can make money, don't just know how to ask me for money!" Zhao Qi said that in the past dynasties, the government has mostly adopted the method of hiring people to farm, and the Song Dynasty is no exception, which is also in line with the modern era.

The production and construction corps are similar. In addition to providing oxen, seeds and other means of production, the government also needs to pay monthly salary and calculate the harvested grains separately. This can ensure that the residents can earn a stable income from drought and flood, so that people can be retained. However, in this way, the funds invested in advance are

It's a big number.

"What the prince means is that anyone who uses the canal irrigation must pay and work?" Xu Hong thought for a while and asked.

"Of course, after the irrigation canal is repaired, the surrounding fields of more than ten miles can benefit, but the fields are not owned by the residents. Wouldn't the landlords of all sizes take advantage of us in vain? If they want to use water, they can't use it in vain.

But you can't scare everyone away!" Zhao Qi said.

"Well, the prince is right, and the official is educated!" Xu Hong got the prince's affirmative reply and knew how to do it. After regaining Lingzhou, there were many people who fled here with strong funds, and some more.

The mainland's large households followed Kuotian to get a bargain, and they also bought a lot of land here. If the irrigation canal is repaired, their land can also be used, and those wastelands can also become fertile land. It should not be possible to ask them to pay some money appropriately.

It's difficult, but only money skeletons like the prince can come up with this kind of solution. If he proposes it, he will have to make a fuss about profits with the people.

"Mr. Xu, I'm not sure if I do things. I'll go to Lao Han's place to check it out, but I have to be careful of my health. Don't be tired!" Zhao Qi looked at Xu Hong who was thinking, and said, knowing that he had understood it.

Spirit.

"Prince, take care of yourself. Lord Han has a lot of life. You can go to his place to have a free meal!" Han Tong was promoted to the post of the Lingzhou Army Governor and settled his home here. Xu Hong smiled and gave it to him with a respectful gift.

The prince said!

Zhao Qi shook his head with a wry smile. Xu Hong also learned bad things from him and became stingy. He saved the hospitality expenses! He said goodbye to Xu Hong and headed to Jingzhou. After Zhao Qi returned to Hedong, he then formed the company.

The opportunity of the Imperial Army on the Hezhong Road reorganized the Imperial Army and the Xiang Army in Hedong and Hezhong.

Since the Song Dynasty implemented a recruiting system, all the soldiers were professional soldiers. Soldiers were 60 years old, ten generals, generals, guards, and officials could not retire until they were 65 years old, so the army was filled with many people who could not be conquered.

Old and weak military generals, called "remaining members", can retain military origins, reduce military salary, and engage in errands in the army. It has the meaning of comforting and caring for elderly and disabled soldiers, and its sense of happiness is not ordinary.

Zhao Qi expanded this rule. Any military general who is over 30 years old and does not want to serve in the army can be included in the remaining personnel, but one condition is that he must obey the distribution of the border defense to engage in military camps, and his salary is not

Reduce the reduction, and can bring family members to the place. In addition, recruiting Ding Zhuang from refugees to make up for the shortcomings, and trained dozens of generals to separate the troops from the border. They became soldiers with knives in one hand and plows in the other, and took on the task of reclaiming and guarding the border.

, and Lingzhou concentrated 50,000 troops, becoming an important force to defend against the invasion of the Western Xia and reducing the economic burden.