I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 519: Xixia is destroyed, Su Jingming will go to Jiangnan
July 15th.

The sale of Kaifeng Prefecture’s national debt has ended, with the total amount reaching 30 million strings of cash.

at the same time.

Other local state governments began issuing government bonds for a period of two months.

Zhao Zhen was very happy.

With such a good start as Kaifeng Prefecture, he believed that there would be no difficulty in raising the total amount of 80 million strings of cash.

……

July 22nd, five o'clock in the morning.

In the Western Xia territory, in the capital, Xingqing Prefecture, there were waves of chaotic sounds of weapons.

Outside the city, inside the central army tent.

A Song soldier rushed into the military tent and excitedly reported to the Privy Councilor Di Qing who was sitting in the center: "General Di, Xingqing Prefecture has been captured. In the Xixia Imperial Palace, the Queen Mother Mo Zang was captured while sitting on the throne wearing the Xixia Emperor's clothes. The Xixia King Li Liangzuo was poisoned to death."

"Except for a few Tangut nobles who fled in the direction of the Black Mountain Weifu Army, all other officials and nobles have been captured. We have now taken control of the entire Xingqing Prefecture!"

Di Qing nodded slightly and let out a long breath.

"After seven days of attack, we finally captured it!"

Di Qing stood up and said, "Pass the order down. All soldiers in Xingqing Prefecture must strictly abide by military orders. They must not do anything that violates the law, and they are not allowed to celebrate in any way. The three-day looting that some people have been talking about is not applicable in my army. Those who violate it will be punished by military law!"

"Yes." The soldier strode out.

Throughout the dynasties, there was an unwritten rule after the army captured a city.

After the city is captured, you can plunder for three days.

During these three days, soldiers burning, killing, looting, and bullying women were not considered violations of military orders.

But in the army led by Di Qing, he abandoned this dirty military custom.

In fact, this "bad habit" has some merits.

The soldiers went through hardships and risked their lives to break the city.

Some soldiers have no sense of family and country, no sense of national justice, they are just after gold, silver and women.

In order to improve their combat effectiveness, the coach gave them this special reward.

But Di Qing knew.

The current Song Dynasty soldiers do not need such rewards.

This will cause military personnel to have many lifestyle problems in the future, and will make scholars look down on military personnel even more.

Since its founding, the Song Dynasty has always adhered to the national policy of emphasizing culture over military affairs. Due to the reforms throughout the Song Dynasty, the wars, and Su Liang's constant suggestions, the status of military generals was slightly improved.

Su Liang once talked with Di Qing.

The low status of military men was partly due to court regulations and partly due to the military men themselves.

People with low moral character, barbarity and vulgarity will naturally be looked down upon by others.

Among the military officers of the Song Dynasty at that time, Di Qing was the only one who stood out.

It was because of his outstanding military achievements that he had the opportunity to lead the "War to Destroy Xia".

Di Qing could not win this battle.

A large number of civil servants in the court, such as Fu Bi, Liang Shi, Su Liang, Han Qi, and Fu Bi, could also destroy Xia if they became military commanders.

Di Qing was considering the future careers of all the soldiers.

After the war with Western Xia ended, the Song Dynasty might only be left with wars with Liao and Japan. Once the war was over, the military generals would inevitably be suppressed.

In order to let the soldiers live a good life, in addition to making meritorious contributions, they must also ensure that they do not make mistakes.

Immediately.

Di Qing turned around and looked at the map behind him.

As of this moment.

In the entire Western Xia, except for Shazhou and Guazhou in the west, there are two states of the Heishan Wei Fu Military Division in the northeast that have not been occupied.

All other places were under the control of the Song army.

Now that Xingqing Prefecture had been captured, the ruler of Western Xia had died, the Queen Mother had been captured, and a number of officials and nobles had been captured.

This was equivalent to the Song Dynasty having already destroyed the Western Xia court, and it was entirely possible to report the good news to Bian Jing.

The next step is to completely eliminate those fleeing Xixia soldiers.

Di Qing expected.

By early August, Western Xia could be completely destroyed and the war ended.

As for how to rebuild Western Xia, that is the responsibility of all the ministers in Bianjing City.

……

July 28th, early morning.

An urgent military intelligence report reached the city of Bianjing.

"The Song army has conquered Xingqing Prefecture in Western Xia, the king is dead, and the court is destroyed. It is expected that the war against Western Xia will be completely ended in early August."

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but be overjoyed.

He immediately ordered people to write dozens of copies of the news, first send them to the two governments, and then ordered people to post them in the city of Bianjing.

Less than half a day.

The people of the entire Bianjing city all knew that the Western Xia court had fallen.

The people were very happy and celebrated it as a festival. Some people who usually couldn't afford to go out to eat also chose to have a big meal to celebrate the event.

The people of Song Dynasty never liked the Xixia people, and were even somewhat afraid of them during the Qingli period.

Because the Xixia people have always been rude and barbaric, with no rules, they have bullied the people of the Song Dynasty countless times and done all kinds of despicable things.

Now that the Song Dynasty has destroyed this strange country, its territory has increased a lot, and the people are naturally happy.

……

In the afternoon, Chui Gong Hall.

Zhao Zhen, the ministers of the two ministries and three departments, the censors, the Academy of Scholars, the Kaifeng Prefecture and other chief officials gathered together.

"I'll make an exception today and invite you all to have a drink to celebrate your victory!" Zhao Zhen said with a smile.

He waved his hand.

Several eunuchs came over with wine jugs and wine glasses and poured a large glass of fine wine for each of Su Liang.

Then, the king and his ministers stood up and drank together, and then sat down with smiles.

After everyone laughed and enjoyed themselves.

Zhao Zhen said: "Western Xia will be destroyed. Next, how to make this land become the land of our Great Song forever, let the people there recognize the Great Song, and be proud to be the people of our Great Song, it will be up to you all!"

Hear this.

All the gentlemen puffed out their chests and smiled confidently.

Before Di Qing led his army to Hehuang, they had already begun to plan how to manage and build Western Xia after it became part of the Song Dynasty.

Followed by.

Several old men from the two governments and three departments began to talk.

How to set up Luzhou Prefecture in Western Xia, how to let the foreign people manage the Dangxiang people, and how to let the Han officials supervise the foreign people.

How to set land tax and commercial tax for the people of Western Xia, and how to change their commercial structure and folk customs.

How to let them learn the cultural customs of the Song Dynasty, how to help the poor and eliminate evil, and arrange their medical care and education.

……

The gentlemen were talking and expressing their opinions, and they couldn't stop at all.

When it comes to conquering the world, these gentlemen may not be as good as Di Qing and Su Liang, but when it comes to governing the world, their mature experience completely crushes Di Qing, Su Liang, Wang Anshi and others.

This meeting lasted until the evening.

Su Liang said three sentences in total, and then nodded continuously. ...

Another day, Liao Kingdom.

In the hall of a palace.

Yelu Hongji, the Liao prince who was temporarily in charge of the government, sat at the top with a gloomy face.

He learned about the Song Dynasty's issuance of national bonds, and also heard the news that the Song Dynasty had destroyed the Western Xia court.

And below it sat three middle-aged men.

The leader on the left is a slightly fat man. He is Xiao Weixin, the Prime Minister of the Southern Palace of the Liao Dynasty.

The second person on the left, dressed in burly clothes, is Yelu Liang, the current Privy Councilor of the Liao Dynasty.

The leader on the right is a thin man, Yao Jingxing, the Prime Minister of the Northern Palace of the Liao Dynasty.

These three people were just promoted by Yelu Hongji.

At the time of the Liao Dynasty, Emperor Yelü Zongzhen was recuperating in the palace, and Yelü Hongji had become the de facto ruler of the Liao Dynasty.

Yao Jingxing, the Prime Minister of the Northern Palace, was a Han Chinese, but he was Yelu Hongji's teacher. He was very loyal to him and had many ideas.

Yelu Hongji said: "The Song people have so many tricks that they even invented something like 'national debt'. They collected wealth from all over the world in this way. On the one hand, they wanted to develop the people's livelihood in the northwest and the newly occupied Xixia. On the other hand, they should have sufficient military funds to deal with us. Xixia has been destroyed, and we are in danger!"

"Since the Great Song Dynasty's reform, the gap between us and them has become larger and larger. We can't keep up with them at any step!"

Yelu Hongji looked helpless.

At this time, Xiao Weixin, the prime minister of the Southern Palace, said: "Your Majesty, the Song people's strategy of issuing national bonds is indeed a good plan. We can learn from it and reduce the burden on the treasury."

Yelu Hongji frowned slightly.

Northern Prime Minister Yao Jingxing stood up and shook his head, saying, "We are imitating the Song Dynasty, just like Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi."

"The premise for the success of the Song Dynasty's issuance of national bonds is that the court has gained the trust of private businessmen, and their court's annual tax revenue exceeds 100 million yuan, and trade is prosperous, so the court can provide a lot of subsidies to merchants."

"If we learn to do it without forcing it, I'm afraid we won't even be able to collect a million strings of cash, and we'll be criticized. If it's enforced, the people's livelihood in our dynasty will be in decline, and I'm afraid it will lead to even more serious civil unrest!"

The Privy Councilor Yelu Liang glared and said, "Prime Minister Yao, you are trying to boost the morale of the southerners and destroy the prestige of the Liao Dynasty!"

Yao Jingxing glanced at him and did not answer, but looked at Yelu Hongji.

Yelu Hongji thought for a moment and said, "What Prime Minister Yao said is absolutely correct. We can no longer blindly follow the Song Dynasty. We must find our own way."

"The core reason why Song was able to destroy Xia was not because Di Qing was wise or the Song army was brave, but because the Western Xia treasury was poor and the armor, weapons, and food supplies of the Western Xia soldiers were far inferior to those of the Song soldiers."

"At present, if we want to avoid being destroyed by the Song Dynasty, we should not develop people's livelihood and trade, but collect enough money to make our army stronger."

"As long as we have a strong army and can defeat the Song people, all the wealth of Song will be ours."

"I have thought about this for a long time and I am ready to eat the rich and take all the money from the common people."

"Eat the rich?"

Xiao Weixin and Yelu Liang did not understand this Han Chinese idiom, but Yao Jingxing understood it a little.

Yelu Hongji continued, "Next, I want you to compile a list of those who have private property exceeding 30,000 strings of cash in the Liao territory, then fabricate charges against them, confiscate their property, and put their money into the state treasury."

"Of course, we have to do it covertly and save face. Even if it's some Khitan nobles, their property must be confiscated!"

Xiao Weixin was stunned, his expression a little panicked, and he quickly cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this move is likely to cause chaos among the people, a decline in commerce, and even cause the people to revolt!"

"I can't care about so many things! Right now, building a powerful army is everything to us. If we can't defeat the Song army, we will have nothing. If we defeat the Song army, all the Song people's commerce will be ours. If the people dare to rebel, we will suppress them forcefully. For every one who rebels, we will kill him!" Yelu Hongji said seriously.

Suddenly, the three of them bowed at the same time.

They regarded Yelu Hongji as their leader and naturally would not refute his ideas.

……

August 3rd, afternoon.

Inside the Chui Gong Hall.

Zhao Zhen, the ministers of the two ministries and three departments, the chief officials of the Censorate, the Academy of Scholars, Kaifeng Prefecture and other government offices gathered together.

Everyone had a frown on their face, looking depressed.

Among them, Wang Yaochen, the Third Secretary, drooped his head with an expression that showed he was about to cry. Compared with the joy he had shown half a month ago, he was completely different.

Su Liang also frowned.

Just a quarter of an hour ago.

Wang Yaochen reported that after half a month, the amount of local government bonds purchased was still less than 20 million strings of cash.

He estimated that if the situation continued in this way, he could raise a maximum of 60 million guan, which would be 20 million guan short of the total amount of 80 million guan.

Although 50 million strings of cash was enough, the performance of the local provincial government disappointed everyone.

The ones who caused this problem were all Jiangnan businessmen.

Jiangnan is the area with the most developed commerce and the largest number of rich people in the Song Dynasty, except for Kaifeng Prefecture.

however.

Within half a month, merchants in Jiangnan purchased a total of more than 500,000 strings of government bonds.

This is obviously not normal.

Although the three companies have not set quotas for each place, they have privately made plans on how much merchants in each region can contribute.

It is normal for Jiangnan merchants to purchase an amount of more than 20 million guan.

Also.

Cao Yi, the uncle of the Cao State, also brought news to Wang Yaochen.

His Jiangshan businessman friend wanted to buy government bonds, but was stopped. He was worried that his shop would close, so he had to give up buying government bonds.

Sitting on the throne, Zhao Zhen was very angry and a little sad.

The development of commerce in Jiangnan was largely due to the Reform Movement of the Song Dynasty, but the imperial court also gave Jiangnan a very open and free business environment.

I didn't expect that these people have no regard for their country or family at all.

Su Liang was mentally prepared for this.

Many Jiangnan businessmen felt that as long as there was no war in Jiangnan, and even if the Song Dynasty was destroyed, they could still live a good life.

Some old people from prominent families are very rampant.

The imperial court raised the status of merchants and allowed them to make enough money, but they thought it was all their own credit.

Moreover, some big businessmen are fully capable of controlling the taxes of a state, so local officials have to flatter them.

But now, it is obvious that bad habits have been brought about.

When Han Qi was the governor of Hangzhou, he reflected on these problems. Many businessmen only cared about fame and fortune, and had no regard for their country or family at all.

At this time.

Prime Minister Wen Yanbo cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, someone in Jiangnan actually prevented merchants from buying national debts and sharing the country's worries. This is a great evil. I suggest that a special envoy be sent to investigate immediately."

Immediately afterwards, Ouyang Xiu stood up.

"We have stated in the National Debt Contract that the purchase of national debt is voluntary and the court will never force us. If we send officials to investigate, it may be suspected of coercion and cause civil unrest."

Zhao Zhen looked gloomy.

"Without the 20 million guan from Jiangnan, our policy can still be implemented. What makes me sad is the behavior of the merchants from Jiangnan. The court has provided loans with compensation, but they are so unconcerned. Don't they have anything to do with the affairs of the court?"

Immediately, Fu Bi stood up.

"Your Majesty, an open investigation is not possible, but a secret investigation is possible. I suggest sending a special envoy to inspect the military, political and commercial affairs of Jiangnan to find out what went wrong with the merchants in Jiangnan."

Zhao Zhen looked around and then fixed his eyes on Su Liang.

"Su Qing, the gentlemen are all busy with the reform of Xixia these days and cannot leave the court. This matter was originally led by you, so please take the trouble to make the trip. I will be at ease if you go."

"Also, you can bring Cao Yi with you. He knows a lot of businessmen and understands them better, so he should be able to come in handy."

"My minister obeys."

Su Liang thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I would also like to bring Wang Jiefu with me. Merchants have close ties with the three ministries, and Wang Jiefu can also help me."

"Okay." Zhao Zhen nodded.

(End of this chapter)