I am Da Song

Chapter 612 Fortification in Mobei
Su Chi is a technocrat, he does not participate in any political struggles, and is basically not affected by the previous fierce disputes in the court.

Upon receiving Zhao Huan's order, he immediately ordered someone to push a map, and said to everyone: "Now is a time of peace and prosperity, although accidents often occur in the development of cities in various places, which has become commonplace, but overall, the overall national strength of the country is definitely booming. "

"The imperial court allocates funds to the Ministry of Industry every year to build a large number of projects. This project has not stopped since the establishment of the industry. Although it is not spectacular, its impact is actually far-reaching than most national policies."

"Taking last year as an example, the state allocated 8000 million yuan to the Ministry of Industry. The Ministry of Industry's plan list included building 130 miles of roads, 28 cities, 600 post castles, and 3000 water conservancy projects. More than 25, including more than [-] ponds and lake weirs, more than [-] miles of river dams, more than [-] miles of canals, and hundreds of water conservancy projects. In addition, [-] large bridges and more than [-] small bridges have been built.

"All of the above are only projects under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry, excluding water conservancy, roads, and bridges built by the local roads, states, and counties."

Zhao Huan agreed with Su Chi's statement that as long as there is no war, the country must be developing and thriving.

The construction of every road will make the country's industry and commerce more developed.

The completion of every irrigation water conservancy will make agriculture more developed and farmland more productive.

Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty proposed: "The benefit of irrigation is the capital of farming." Therefore, in the assessment of local officials in the Song Dynasty, there is still a very critical content today, which is the construction of water conservancy irrigation projects.

Of course, county-level finances are limited, and large projects may not be built.But it doesn't matter. As early as when Wang Anshi presided over the reform, he promoted the farmland water conservancy law and supported the counties to work together to build key projects.

Therefore, from the third year of Shenzong Xining (1070) to the ninth year of Xining (1076), 10793 water conservancy projects were built across the country, benefiting more than 36 hectares of land in just six years.

And not only irrigation water conservancy, Da Song also built a large number of new equipment next to water conservancy. The government encouraged the development of new technologies such as water deficiencies and water mills, and also encouraged the development of equipment for cleaning silt, such as iron dragon claw mud trucks and Chuanchuan loquats.

Waterwheels and water mills are relatively common ancient projects for everyone.

However, the Tielongzhaoyang mud truck and Junchuan loquat are a bit high-tech no matter how you look at them.

In the Jianye period, on the basis of all the original foundations, the Dasong infrastructure was further developed.

Canal water networks, water transport projects, bridges and roads have connected the economic circles of various regions more closely.

Su Chi pointed to the map and said to everyone: "Professor Su attended the court meeting today, mainly talking about road construction. The old man will focus on the roads and water transportation built by the state."

"The country's road construction and water transportation are mainly divided into two aspects, one is for the military and the other is for the economy."

"The roads built by the military are mainly divided into two directions. The current focus is one to the west and the other to the north."

Needless to say, Xiangxi, even Su Dai, a lady in the palace, knows that going westward is the umbilical cord of the vast empire west of Shaanxi.

That vast territory relies on this umbilical cord to receive solid supplies from the Central Plains, and then send back a lot of wealth, gold, silver, and precious stones.

Whenever the Central Plains is strong, it will open up the Western Regions, cross Congling, and strive for hegemony in the Hezhong and Qihe areas.

Although there is a piece of Gobi and barren land in the middle of the Western Regions.But the area around Hezhong and Qihe is a land of abundance, with fertile soil and water.

Therefore, how to firmly grasp the lifeline of transportation in this intermediate zone determines the hegemony of the empire in the West.

But everyone was a little confused about Chidao heading north.

Zhao Huan asked: "Is it still necessary to go north militarily? As far as I know, the Hulu in the north are no longer successful. The Mongols are weakened and huddled in Mobei. They are swept away by Liting every year, and they are powerless. At this time, build Is Chidao a bit wasteful?"

Su Chi nodded solemnly, and said: "Building the Chi Road to the north is definitely of unparalleled military significance. The decline of Mongolia is the strategic advantage formed by the Holy Dynasty's three-way offensive."

"Whether it is the Heishui Governor's Mansion in Beihai, or Yanyun North Road and Hezhong Road near Mobei, these three directions are indispensable."

"As long as the imperial court cannot directly and effectively rule the wilderness and Gobi in the Mobei area, it is indispensable to build the Chidao to the Heishui Governor's Mansion and Yanyun North Road."

Although it is a strategic advantage, this strategic advantage is the same as the nine borders of the Ming Dynasty, with a large number of troops stationed on the border.

Zhao Huan took the initiative to speak and said: "The transportation capacity of Chidao is more than ten times different from that of the railway. The speed of travel is even more different. I suggest that the railway be directly extended from Chidao to Mobei."

Zhang Jun asked, "The officials plan to garrison troops here?"

Zhao Huan nodded, it is not difficult to garrison troops in Mobei.Now that Mongols have weakened, it's time to bring them under their jurisdiction.

The Han Dynasty even set up a general to protect the Huns in the court of the Huns, so regardless of the special status of Mongolia, it is logical for the Song Dynasty to set up a province in Mongolia.

Basically, the army on Yanyun North Road only needs a large-scale northern expedition to achieve this goal.

This is not because the generals of the Song Dynasty are capable of fighting, but because Mongolia in Mobei has nowhere to escape.

Zhu Di's five expeditions to the desert had no effect. The most important reason was that the Ming Dynasty did not have the Western Regions. The Mongols fled west and north when they saw his mighty army.

Now the Hezhong and Qihe areas have blocked the Mongols' retreat, and the West Liao and Dong Liao are cruising in the northern grasslands. It is more dangerous for Mongolia to flee west than to stay where it is.

And if they don't escape, although the Northern Expedition to the desert is full of difficulties, it is really not impossible for the Central Plains.

As long as the court became serious, there were feats of the Northern Expedition from Han to Tang, Liao, Jin, and Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Zhao Huan said: "After conquering Mongolia, I plan to build Helin City in Mobei. With this as the center, the rivers and mountains will be connected to the midsummer, and the north tower will be guarded by the storm and flood."

Helin is the area under the jurisdiction of General Uliasutai in the Qing Dynasty.The imperial court directly garrisoned troops and exercised strong control over the local Mongolia.

The army of the Manchu Qing could gain a foothold in the Mongolian steppe, but the army of the Ming Dynasty could not. What is the reason?
Is the Manchu Qing army better at riding and shooting?
The answer, of course, is that the Qing army had more muskets than the Ming army, and the artillery was bigger than the Ming army.

After all, the Ministry of War directly stipulated that all green battalion soldiers use shotguns, bows and arrows, and rattan cards as their main weapons.

Since the availability of muskets and artillery, nomadic cavalry has no advantage in the East and the West.

However, Da Song's current army happens to be dominated by muskets and artillery.

Zhao Huan believed that the Song Army could also stably suppress the Mobei Plateau.

(End of this chapter)