I studied in modern times

Chapter 809 Xixia's Concerns

After entering May, the rainfall in Lanzhou gradually increased.

The flow of the Yellow River also became abundant.

Zhao Xie strolled in his own cotton farm outside Lanzhou City, watching the hardworking workers busy in the fields.

He nodded slightly, very satisfied with this, and then instructed his nephew Zhao Xian who accompanied him on the inspection: "The customers work hard in the fields, so they must pay attention to their diet and not neglect them, otherwise they will not be full!"

"Yes!" Zhao Xian bowed and accepted the order: "I will follow your instructions!"

After this year's cotton harvest, it was confirmed that it was profitable and the profits were beyond imagination.

Almost all the young and strong men of the Zhao family in Qiongzhou were summoned to Xihe Road by Zhao Xie's letters.

The Zhao family of Qiongzhou is a large family that has been passed down for hundreds of years.

The ancestor can be traced back to Zhao Xiangzi in the Spring and Autumn Period - according to the family tree, this branch of their family was directly descended from Zhao Xiangzi.

This may be a bit of a climb down, but there is a definite record of the first ancestor who came to Qiongzhou to settle down and started the Zhao family lineage in Qiongzhou - Zhao Deming, the former governor of Qiongzhou in the Tang Dynasty.

Over the past four hundred years, the family has grown and prospered, despite experiencing wars, droughts, famines and other turmoils.

However, the Zhao family of Qiongzhou has long become a major surname in Qiongzhou.

There are at least a thousand people in Zhao Xie's branch within the five generations of his kin.

There are more than a hundred families with close relations and frequent exchanges.

Each family selected a young and strong person to come, that’s more than a hundred people.

It was precisely because of these clansmen that Zhao Xie was able to ensure that after he left office and arrived in Bian Jing, these cotton fields would still be his family's property.

But this is not enough insurance!

Zhao Xie turned around and said to his nephews who were following him: "I will be leaving my post soon..."

"After I leave office, you should listen to the new manager's instructions on cotton farm matters... Don't act recklessly!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, but they didn't take it seriously in their hearts.

In their view, no matter how powerful the new governor is, he must respect the nephews and nephews of the old governor.

In addition, the two royal relatives from the Gao and Xiang families will stay in Xihe!

With these two royal relatives around, even if the prime minister were to go to Xihe, he wouldn't be able to turn the tables!
Zhao Xie was not at ease. He stared at these people and said, "You must remember what I said!"

"Guo Zhongtong (Guo Kui) wrote to me a few days ago, saying that the court has already decided on a person to succeed me..."

Everyone raised their heads, looked at Zhao Xie, and asked, "Excuse me, sir, which husband is this?"

Zhao Xie heaved a sigh of relief: "Nine out of ten times it's Lu Jifu!"

"Ah!" Everyone was stunned.

"What about Famalue?"

"Mr. Lu, the one who kills without blinking an eye?!"

"What a vicious and evil person!"

"Why is it him?!"

Zhao Xie looked at these useless bastards, snorted twice, and scolded them: "The court has its own arrangements and rules for selecting talents and employing people!"

"You are just common people, how dare you make irresponsible comments?"

"Behave yourself, everyone!"

"Don't cause any trouble before or after I leave office!"

"Otherwise, if he falls into Lu Jifu's hands, I won't be able to save him!"

This is really not a threat!
Even though Zhao Xie was far away from Bian Jing, he knew that the emperor had two favorites.

One is Zhang Dun also known as Zhang Zihou, and the other is Lu Huiqing also known as Lu Jifu.

There is no need to say much about Zhang Zihou.

Some time ago, his father passed away. The emperor sent an envoy to express condolences and issued an extraordinary decree to grant a stele for his father and a special grant of 100,000 strings of cash for funeral expenses.

The emperor's favor towards him was so great that only a few people in the court, such as Yan Shu, could compare with him.

As for Lu Huiqing...

There began to be some confusion in Zhao Xie's eyes.

It is understandable that Zhang Dun had the emperor's favor. After all, many matters before and after the new emperor ascended the throne were handled by the ministers.

At that time, it was usually easy for the new monarch to develop a liking for a minister who had excellent work ability and charismatic personality.

But the problem is...

Lu Huiqing just came to Beijing this year!
He must have never seen the emperor before!
Therefore, it is impossible for him to have any personal feelings for the emperor.

It was precisely for this reason that when the Zhang Zhijian case broke out in the eighth year of Yuanfeng, people inside and outside the court generally speculated that it was the late emperor who had entrusted him with matters concerning Lu Huiqing.

However, now...

However, the emperor gave Xihe Road, the assignment that could lay golden eggs in the future, to Lu Huiqing!
Zhao Xie knew very well what this meant.
The road along Xihe is completely different from the past.

Now, the hot land under our feet is sprouting with vitality.

It is no exaggeration to say that even if a pig is released, it can enter the two palaces lying down.

Therefore, only the emperor's close confidant can be appointed.

Therefore, before this, Zhao Xie had always speculated that it was Fan Chunren, Lu Dafang or even Cai Jing who came to Xihe to gild himself.

He never thought that it would be Lu Jifu, a guy from Fujian!
And when Lu Jifu came to Xihe, given his personality, he probably wouldn't just ask for the cool umbrellas from the two governments.

He must be here to become prime minister.

Zhao Xie couldn't help but let out a sigh, then looked at the cotton fields stretching in front of him.

Just at this moment, he saw a horse galloping towards him.

"Mr. Jinglie!" the visitor shouted from afar.

Zhao Xie took a closer look and recognized the other person. It was Zhong Jianzhong, the errand boy in his governor's mansion.

This person was born as a close minister to the emperor!

The future is very bright!
In last year's war, this boy followed Zhong Pu to rescue Xige City and made great achievements. Therefore, after the war, he was rewarded for his merits and promoted to Deputy Envoy of the Supply Department.

This is the rank of ambassador!

Even though, he is an ambassador of the lowest level!
But this is still shocking!

You know, all in all, he has only been in the army for one year.

Even if we count the time he spent with the emperor in the capital, it would not be more than two years!

Two years is not enough for a normal young envoy to even be promoted to the next level!

But he skipped the entire minor envoy level and entered the major envoy level, starting from the ranks of chief and deputy envoys of various ministries.

After three to five years, he will be appointed as the commander of Yao County and be in charge of the troops of a state. It is not impossible that he will even be the commander-in-chief of a troop at a critical moment.

This is the value of a noble person, which outsiders cannot envy!
But then again, this guy is indeed knowledgeable about military affairs and good at fighting.

After the battle of Xige City, he was awarded six levels of merit for beheading people personally.

The total number of beheadings and prisoners captured by the troops was nearly three thousand.

Therefore, special promotion is reasonable and no one can gossip about it.

Who is Zhao Xie?

Of course, he knew how to take advantage of the situation, so he was transferred to the Jinglüe Shogunate and took on the preparatory duties of the Jinglüe Mansion.

The so-called preparatory mission is a position under the Jinglüe Division, in charge of inspecting the money and grain of the military and prefectures in the route.

Simply put, it is the person in charge of giving out rewards.

This is a lucrative job, but also a very risky one.

Because, if the soldiers below found out that their military pay and money had been defrauded by others,

At the very least, it could lead to unrest, and at the worst, it could lead to mutiny.

I don't know how many [preparation missions] of the General's Office have failed because of these things.

Among them are many noble people.

For example, Han Gang, the elder brother of Han Jiang, the retired Duke of Kangguo, had his career cut off by the soldiers...

Therefore, Zhao Xie’s support was both a gift and a poison.

However, at present, Zhong Jianzhong has done a good job. He is clean and honest, works seriously, and has a good relationship with the soldiers below.

Zhong Jianzhong rode his horse at full speed, and when he arrived in front of Zhao Xie, he dismounted and bowed, saying, "Sir, the Western Bandit Prime Minister has sent someone to deliver the latest batch of [captive soldiers and civilians]..."

Zhao Xie listened and smiled: "It seems that the Western thief has also heard the news that I am leaving!"

In the battle last year, the Western bandits were completely defeated and frightened.

So, the Song Dynasty called out the word "Laozi" from the mouths of the four Dangxiang people.

Lu Huiqing of Hedong, Liu Changzuo of Fuyan Road, Zhang Yu of Huanqing Road, and Zhao Xie of Xihe Road.

Now, Mr. Zhao of Xihe Road is about to leave office.

Of course the Western bandits will come to test the wind direction.

"I'm afraid they will be disappointed..." Zhao Xie chuckled: "Let the old man go, and welcome Lu Jifu..."

"Let's go!" Zhao Xie looked towards Lanzhou City: "Let me meet the envoy of the Western Bandit Prime Minister for a while!"

……

Lanzhou City, the headquarters of the governor.

Liang Ziqing, the Western Xia envoy, sat in a room in the backyard of the headquarters. He closed his eyes and waited quietly.

Liang Ziqing has traveled between Lanzhou and Nanmu Club many times in the past few months.

On behalf of Liang Yibu, he negotiated one deal after another with the Xihe Road of the Southern Dynasty.

Countless fine iron coins from the Southern Dynasties were moved back and then melted down to be cast into weapons and armor.

Become the support and strength of his lord.

As a result, a dangerous but tacit relationship has formed between Xihe Lu and his lord.

On the one hand, both sides are still shouting for war.

The slogan of the Southern Dynasty is - Recapture Lingxia and attack Xingqing Prefecture directly!
And his master's slogan is - punish the southern barbarians and recapture Lanzhou!

Both sides are indeed seriously preparing for war.

His lord Liang Yibu, now in control of the Nanmu Society, relies on the various military supervisors of the Right Wing Military Supervision Office. After carefully learning the lessons of last year's defeat, he began to focus on building his own siege troops.

The focus is on the Poxi Army! Now, the Poxi Army has been expanded to an unprecedented 3,000 people.

This is the largest scale the Poxi Army has ever seen since its establishment.

no way!
In last year's war, the Southern Barbarians dug deep trenches and built fortifications, held their ground in strong cities and fortresses, waited for the Great White Gao Kingdom to become exhausted, and then used light cavalry to quickly attack and reap the rewards.

The Great Baigao Kingdom suffered great torture and suffered heavy losses!

Therefore, the first priority is to strengthen our own offensive and defensive capabilities and our projection capabilities when facing rapid assaults by enemy light cavalry in field battles.

No matter from which perspective, the Poxi Army must be strengthened.

At the same time, his lord was also learning the methods of the southern barbarians.

Forts are being built in large numbers along the border areas.

This year alone, as many as twenty-three forts are under construction on the front line between Lanzhou and Huizhou.

The training and armaments of the Nanman people have also been visibly strengthened.

Every time he entered the country, he could see new changes in the cities, fortresses and defense lines of the Southern Barbarians.

At the same time, more and more water wheels appeared along the Yellow River and its tributaries.

Large tracts of previously wasteland have been reclaimed.

It's terrifying and creepy.

In short, a new round of arms race has begun.

But on the other hand, both parties are conducting frequent transactions in private and tacitly.

In addition to the overt market trade, the business continues to be hot.

The green salt, furs, gems, jade, gold and silver from the Great Baigao Kingdom flowed into the Nanman continuously.

Then they took away cartloads of iron coins from the Nanman.

In private, both sides have never stopped the "redeem of captured soldiers and civilians" agreed upon during the armistice.

Batches of old and young, women and children, were sent to Nanman and exchanged for coins made of fine iron.

At first, those who were sent here to Nanman were indeed the Nanman soldiers and civilians who had been captured and abducted in past dynasties and their descendants.

However, these people were soon sent away.

Next are the Qiang people in Hengshan.

Then came the Uighurs of Ganzhou and Shazhou.

His lord sent out troops to search everywhere for the Uighurs who were active on both sides of the Helan Mountains. These former enemies were once again taken seriously by the Great Baigao Kingdom.

One tribe after another was destroyed, and the old, young, women, children, and the strong were sent to the Xihe Road in the southern barbarians in exchange for precious fine iron coins.

In this deal, both parties feel they have made a good profit.

Therefore, it has always been a matter of handing over people with one hand and money with the other.

pity……

The southern barbarians will soon need a new leader.

Zhao Xie will return to Beijing and never come back.

Once the new governor takes office, no one knows whether he will continue his predecessor's policy of redemption.

Once the redemption policy is interrupted, his master's military reorganization plan will probably be in trouble.

Without the fine iron from the Southern Barbarians, it would be very difficult to continue improving the military equipment of the Iron Harriers, the Poxi Army, and Zhuang Linglang.

At the same time, the fine iron coins from the southern barbarians are still a very important currency in the area ruled by his lord today.

These coins made of fine iron are now popular in all the military supervisory offices in the right wing.

Nowadays, even serfs have learned to distinguish the true from the false.

Just as I was thinking about this, a voice of a Nanman official came from outside the door: "Mr. Zhao, the governor of Xihe and Lanhui Road of the Great Song Dynasty, invites the envoy of Xia Kingdom!"

……

A quarter of an hour later, Liang Ziqing was brought to a courtyard at the back of the headquarters.

Here, he saw Zhao Xie.

He and Zhao Xie were considered 'acquaintances'.

Therefore, he stepped forward and bowed, "Liang Ziqing, the envoy of Xia State, greets the General Zhao of the upper state!"

Zhao Xie hummed and said calmly, "Please take a seat, Your Excellency."

Liang Ziqing bowed again and stood up, walking to a place about three steps in front of Zhao Xie, where there was already a stool.

He sat down silently, then took out a piece of silk book from his bosom and handed it to Zhao Xie: "Sir, this is the list of lost people that our country will return to your country as agreed..."

"I hope you will review and sign the document as soon as possible so that I can escort the money and goods back to the country!"

The [redemption] between the Song and Xia sides in Xihe was based on the agreement reached last year between Liang Yibu, the brother-in-law of the Western Xia king, and Xiang Zonghui, the brother-in-law of the Song king.

The redemption was carried out at a unified price of 70 strings of iron coins per able-bodied man, 50 strings of iron coins for women and children, 30 strings of iron coins for children under 12 years old, and 15 strings of iron coins for children under 6 years old.

Of course, the words put on paper will definitely not be so straightforward and clearly marked.

Instead, it uses countless rhetorical words piled up together.

For example, the memorial sent back to Bian Jing from Xihe Road was entirely about how benevolent Confucius was and how righteous Mencius was.

The greatest kindness is to love others, and the greatest righteousness is to save others.

Throughout the ages, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been trapped by the Western bandits, fathers and sons have been separated, and flesh and blood have been torn apart...

Miserable!
Naturally, Bian Jing could not veto such a benevolent and righteous policy.

Anyone who dares to oppose must be prepared to have his or her opposing opinions published in the Bian Jing Xin Bao for people all over the world to discuss!
Of course, everyone in Xihe Road knew why they had to spend so much effort to "redeem" it.

The people who are redeemed are all labor force!
And Xihe is short of labor now!

As one of the owners of the largest cotton farms in Xihe Road, Zhao Xie, as a member of an interest group, naturally knew the importance of cheap workers.

So, he glanced at the document Liang Ziqing handed over and frowned: "Why is there so little this time?"

"There are only 300 men, more than 80 women and children, and only more than 100 children..."

Too little!
Even his newly reclaimed cotton fields couldn’t be filled!

The cotton farmers on Xihe Road are all crying out for food!
Just waiting for new labor to come in!
Liang Ziqing did not hide it from him and replied: "Please forgive me, sir. It is true that recently, the Uighurs in Ganzhou and Shazhou have become very cunning... It is difficult to find a large settlement... We can only look for it among the tribes in Hengshan... As you know, this is a bit difficult..."

Zhao Xie narrowed his eyes.

He didn't care where these men sent by the Dangxiang people came from.
So, he said directly: "It is difficult to find the Uighurs in Ganzhou and Shazhou... Why don't you go to the Western Regions to look for them?"

"Uh..." Liang Ziqing was suddenly speechless.

Western Region?

That’s a client of Dabai Gaoguo!

Can't afford to offend.

If you offend them, they might close border trade and cut off the Silk Road.

In this way, no one will make any money!

Zhao Xie saw this and said nothing more, "That's fine!"

"Let's make the delivery first!"

"The relevant iron coins have been prepared. Once your country sends the people over, we will place the iron coins on the border!"

This has been the usual trading pattern over the past few months.

It’s also a way to avoid risks!

This was to prevent the news from leaking out and being known by the crows in Bian Jing, who would then label Xihe as a "traffic thief".

Liang Ziqing nodded in approval.

"Does your Excellency have anything else to say?" Zhao Xie asked deliberately.

Liang Ziqing nodded.

"I heard that my husband is leaving his post?"

Zhao Xie nodded.

"Do you know which minister of your country will be the successor?"

Zhao Xie sneered and said nothing.

Liang Ziqing naturally knew that Zhao Xie would never tell him the answer.

The hands of this "Zhao Laozi" are stained with the blood of the warriors of the Great Baigao Kingdom.

So, he asked directly: "But is it Mr. Lu from Hedong?"

Zhao Xie's pupils focused.

It was this reaction that Liang Ziqing caught: "It seems that it is really Mr. Lu!"

Liang Ziqing closed his eyes: "From now on, there will be more trouble on the border!"

Lu Huiqing spent several years in Hedong, and tortured the Zuo Xiang terribly.

According to the intelligence we have, this person's favorite thing is to use money and food to hit people.

When he was the commander of Hedong, he not only used the financial and tax revenues of the entire Hedong Road for military purposes.

Relying on the order of the old emperor of Nanman, the financial taxes of Hebei and Jingdong Road were also used to support troops and wage wars.

So, they went to Hedong and attacked Caogu of Dabai Gao State.

Every time he sent out troops, it was always in a mighty force, with tens of thousands of elite soldiers deployed in front of him.

When the Great Baigao Kingdom sent out a large army, he retreated.

If the main force of the Great Baigao Kingdom did not come out, he would wreak havoc and destruction in the border areas.

Now he is in Xihe...

If we follow their example in Hedong...

Well, let alone the current [redemption transaction], even the normal border market trade may be restricted and affected.

Liang Ziqing suddenly became worried.

Zhao Xie looked at him and just sneered.

Will it be troublesome from now on?

When was it not you who started the trouble first?
Oh, now, if you change someone who might actively cause trouble for you, you will be compassionate?

He totally deserves a beating!
(End of this chapter)