I studied in modern times

Chapter 891 Conversation
The second year of Yuanyou, the fourth day of the eighth month.

On a fishing platform in the inner pond, Zhao Xu was searching the water surface with a lure rod.

Not far from him were Lü Huiqing, Xiang Zonghui, and Gao Gongji, who were also searching the water with their lure rods.
By the way, nowadays, lure fishing has become a trend in the fishing circles of Bianjing City.

Many lure fishing experts have emerged.

Even the Liao Dynasty envoys were playing with it, and they placed an order for a customized version of the lure, intending to buy it back and present it to the Liao ruler so that Yelu Hongji could also try it.

This is normal!

The monarchs of the Song and Liao dynasties were both fishing enthusiasts.

In the Song Dynasty, during the Zhen Temple and Ren Temple eras, fishing banquets were famous throughout the world.

In the Liao Dynasty, Emperor Shengzong of Liao and Emperor Xingzong of Liao also loved fishing.

Especially Emperor Xingzong of Liao, it is said that he caught fish wherever he went.

They can even ignore state affairs for the sake of fishing.

Otherwise, how can we say that Song and Liao are brotherly countries?
However, Zhao Xu's fishing was not so much entertainment as it was a chance for him to chat with his ministers.

Because he found that when fishing, the distance between the monarch and his subjects would be significantly shortened.

At the same time, it will also stay away from many politically correct formalities, making conversations between the monarch and his subjects more efficient and more in-depth.

Like now.

While pulling the fishing rod, Zhao Xu said to Lu Huiqing: "Prime Minister Lu, after taking office in Xihe, you should work together with Xiang and Gao, the two relatives of the emperor, to build Xihe Road into a strong and prosperous road in the world!"

Yesterday evening, Empress Dowager Xiang surrounded Zhao Xu and came to the small hall under the inner east gate, and then summoned Hanlin scholar Fan Chunren.

So, early this morning, Xuanma was sent out from the palace.

Zhao Xie, a scholar of the Zizhi Palace and the governor of Xihe and Lanhui Road, was demoted to the governor of Xihe and Lanhui Road, and appointed as the governor of Pingjiang Army. He was given the title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi, and was granted the title of the founding duke of Yizhou County. He was given an additional fief of 1,000 households and an actual fief of 200 households. He was also respected as a elder and was granted a house in the first district and first class of Jianlongfang, east wing of the new city of Bianjing. His position was similar to that of the prime minister. He was specially allowed to attend court once a month and to participate in the affairs of the Privy Council.

As a result, Zhao Xie became the first elder of the Yuanyou Dynasty.

Moreover, he was the first elder to be confirmed through the ceremony of Xuanma Baichu.

It was also confirmed through the edict that Zhao Xie had the right to participate in the affairs of the Privy Council.

This is so crucial!

It is equivalent to opening up a new path of progress for the provincial governors in other parts of the world.

Soon after Lu Huiqing returned to the court, everyone inside and outside the court knew that Lu Huiqing was going to Xihe Road to succeed Zhao Xie.

Today, Zhao Xu called together Lu Huiqing, Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji, which was an indirect official announcement of this appointment that had been speculated by the outside world for a long time.

"Your Majesty, your kind words and teachings will be remembered in my heart!" Lu Huiqing quickly put down his fishing rod and bowed in response.

Zhao Xu hummed, and then said to Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji: "The two royal relatives should also support each other with Prime Minister Lu. In military and national affairs, you should especially listen to Prime Minister's orders and not act on your own!"

"Yes!" Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji immediately bowed in response.

"Yeah!" Zhao Xu nodded with satisfaction.

His instructions are necessary.

Because if he had not emphasized these things and personally entrusted these three people with them.

Zhao Xu was really worried that they would fight among themselves in Xihe.

no way!
The civil officials and relatives of the emperor during the Song Dynasty had a rich record of internal strife.

Contrary to the stereotype, it was not just the civil officials who tried every means to fight against the foreign relatives.

In fact, the relatives by marriage would also try every means to fight against the civil officials.

The farther away from Bianliang, the more enthusiastic the foreign relatives and ministers were in their struggle.

The reconciliation between generals and ministers such as Zhao Xie in Xihe, Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji was unprecedented in the Song Dynasty.

And they can live in peace.

In addition to conflicts of interest, the biggest reason is that Zhao Xie is old and will retire soon, and he no longer has the desire to fight with others.

One could even say that he was tired of fighting.

This is also the reason why Zhao Xu chose him.

But Lu Huiqing is different.

This Fujian guy is well-known for being a strong person.

He likes to hold all the power wherever he goes, and he also hates stupidity.

Back then in the court, he was famous for being defiant towards everyone.

When I arrived in other counties, I let myself go even more.

According to the reports from the envoys sent by Zhao Xu to Hedong, when Lu Huiqing was in Hedong, any civil servant or military officer under him who did something not to his liking would be scolded or even severely punished by him!

That year, Zhang Zhijian suddenly stabbed him in the back.

It was because Lu Huiqing, while concurrently serving as the governor of Fuyan Road, whipped Zhang Zhijian twenty times in public on the charge of dereliction of duty.

Zhang Zhijian regarded this as a great humiliation.

Although Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji have acceptable tempers, they are not the kind of people who would compromise even if someone bullies them.

Therefore, Zhao Xu was always worried that Lu Huiqing would fall out with Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji when he arrived in Xihe Road.

If this is the case, the problem will be more troublesome.

It will also affect Zhao Xu's own major strategy.

Therefore, Zhao Xu also put down the fishing rod in his hand, looked at the three people, and said: "Xihe Road, the deficit last year was as high as millions of guan!"

"The whole government has been complaining about this..."

Giving up Xihe, or at least giving up Lanzhou, was a popular idea in the court in the eighth year of Yuanfeng.

The biggest reason for supporters is financial!
No money!

It cannot be said that these people are unreasonable.

Since the Xining Reforms, the three redundancies have not only not been resolved, but have become more and more serious as the business has expanded.

Sixty percent or more of the court's annual fiscal revenue was spent on military expenses/war-related matters.

The remaining less than 40% was needed to support the extravagant desires of Emperor Zhao and his relatives, as well as to support officials in all prefectures and counties across the country.

Very little of it can be used for infrastructure construction.

Apart from other things, the fiscal revenue of the six southeastern routes was all handed over to the central government every year. The infrastructure of these six routes had not been invested much in decades or even hundreds of years.

So, all kinds of problems are popping up.

The modern empire across the ocean has the Rust Belt.

Today, in the six southeastern routes of the Song Dynasty, there are a large number of ancient projects that have fallen into disrepair and are abandoned.

The rednecks in the Rust Belt don’t care about the empire’s global hegemony. They just want to go back to the era when a person could work to support a wife, two children, a dog, and own a big villa in the suburbs.

By the same token, the gentry and common people in the six southeastern routes would not think about the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties, let alone care about Emperor Zhao's determination to recover Lingxia and even his grand ambition to launch a northern expedition against Youyan.

They just want to take care of their own affairs, solve the problem of food and clothing for their wives and children today, so that their families don't have to be displaced tonight.

This is human nature.

Therefore, since Zhao Xu ascended the throne, his top concerns have always been the economy, employment, and stability.

Whether in the Hebei direction, hundreds of thousands or even millions of strings of cash are spent every year to dredge the silt.

It is still better to relax various supervisions on the six southeastern routes, and in various mining supervisions, benefit the people, reduce mining tax deductions, and increase gambling.

Or, in Quanzhou, Mingzhou, and Dengzhou, we can build a large number of ships, encourage maritime trade, and encourage the development of waterways.

He still tried every possible means to send heroes from all the prefectures and counties in the world to Xihe and Jiaozhou.

It's all based on this, it's all for the economy, jobs and stability.

So, Zhao Xu looked at the three people in front of him and said earnestly: "Now, the financial problems of Xihe Road have been greatly alleviated."

"Last year, for the first time, Xihe Road only asked for less than five million guan in financial support!"

"This is even in the midst of a war!"

"I am very happy, the two Empresses in the Palace are also very happy, and the whole court is even happier!"

"Therefore, I hope that Xihe's fiscal and taxation situation will continue to improve this year and next year!"

"We will strive to achieve self-sufficiency by the year after next, and even have enough to provide financial support to the central government!"

"This matter is of vital importance!"

"Do you understand?"

"Yes!" The three of them bowed together and said, "We will definitely live up to your Majesty's teachings!"

"Good!" Zhao Xu nodded.

Then he looked at Lu Huiqing, the person he was most worried about and also the person he was most looking forward to.

"Going to Xihe, my husband has a heavy responsibility!"

"Since we are serving the imperial court, we must keep a close eye on the Western bandits and tighten the rope around their necks, causing them to bleed and suffocate gradually..."

"At the same time, we must also control our sense of proportion..."

"In the next three to five years, it would be best if there were no more major wars in the Xihe direction!"

“Of course, if the Western bandits provoke…” Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes and said sternly: “Don’t hesitate!”

"Fight back for me!"

"Yes!" Lu Huiqing bowed again with joy and encouragement.

What he was most worried about was that the court asked him to control the border well, and even ordered him to be patient even if the western bandits provoked him.

This is not his character!

Now, it has government endorsement.

Lu Huiqing began to sneer in his heart.

He is the best at finding loopholes in the court's policies.

Western thieves provoking?

This is not easy to deal with!
In short, after he takes office, he will try every possible means to provoke the Western bandits.

Without provocation, how can there be military achievements?
Without military achievements, how could he establish his authority? How could he win the hearts of his troops?
During the years of guarding the border in Fuyan Road and Hedong, Lu Huiqing saw through the imperial guards of the Song Dynasty.

The soldiers are never afraid of war.

But there is no war!

Because there was no war, they could only receive a fixed salary.

Relying on military salary of one or even one and a half strings of silver per month.

They can't even support themselves, their wives and their children.

Only when war breaks out can they get rewards and live a good life with their wives and children.

of course……

The premise of all this is that you must win!

If the superior cannot lead them to victory, they will suffer one or two major defeats.

Morale will quickly collapse.

But once, the superior can lead them to victory.

The morale of the army immediately exploded.

Everyone will rush to the battlefield roaring!
"Apart from the Western bandits..." Zhao Xu continued, "The most important thing in Xihe is cotton planting!"

"My husband, you should know the importance of this matter!"

"I understand!" Lu Huiqing's eyes flashed with brilliance.

He has accepted Li Erhu as his white glove.

Naturally, he knew the importance of cotton, Zhao Xu's emphasis on cotton, and Zhao Xu's determination to promote the development of the Song Dynasty's textile industry - the government was willing to spit out the meat in its mouth (Lingjinyuan) for this!

Even Kaifeng Prefecture gave the greatest convenience to private textile workshops!

This is an unprecedented force for Emperor Zhao!
In Lu Huiqing's impression, the Zhao officials have always been at a disadvantage if they don't get any advantage.

Today, in order to promote the development and prosperity of the textile industry, the government not only spit out the meat in its mouth, but also asked the government to provide convenience and support including taxation!

This is simply unprecedented concessions and policy support!

(End of this chapter)