People in the Song Dynasty were lawless

Chapter 403 Establishing a modern national system

The seventh year of Qingli was the most comfortable year in the Song Dynasty.

In April, Xixia and Liao sent envoys one after another to seek peace with the Song Dynasty.

Among them, Xixia was willing to declare itself a vassal and pay tribute, while Liao hoped to sign a treaty of peace and equality again.

They even carefully prayed to the Song Dynasty to return Liaoyang Mansion to them.

But it is obvious that the Liao Kingdom is no longer qualified to bargain with the Song Dynasty. It would be good if they can stabilize their internal affairs.

Because Yelu Zongzhen was defeated, the first people to cause trouble were the Mongols in the Mongolian grassland, and the Bohai, Nüzhi, Shiwei and other ethnic groups in the northeast were in internal turmoil.

Therefore, the Song Dynasty sternly rejected this request, and loudly rebuked the Liao envoys, scolding them bloody, but did not dare to reply.

This time, many ministers of the Song Dynasty were proud and proud. On the other hand, the envoys of the Liao Kingdom were filled with anger and swallowed their anger.

However, the Song Dynasty did not continue to add insult to injury.

The Song State promised not to continue attacking northward, and all the captives could be redeemed. Moreover, the previously signed commercial treaties still counted. Apart from requiring the Liao State to pay tribute of several thousand war horses and 10,000 taels of silver every year, there were no other requirements.

Because the Song Dynasty did not pay attention to the Xixia envoys, its attitude was non-committal, and it did not sign a peace treaty with them.

The gunpowder production base was destroyed, and Yanyun and Liaoyang Prefectures were lost. The population, economy, and national strength suffered heavy losses, and there was bound to be a counterattack from all ethnic groups.

The Song Dynasty suddenly became the hegemon of East Asia from its former second eldest brother, causing shocks in all directions and an endless stream of tributes.

In the battle of Xijin, the Song Dynasty captured more than 100,000 wounded soldiers, surrendered Liao people, and captured soldiers on the battlefield.

It's just that the annual income of the Liao Kingdom is only a few million yuan, and at most it is only tens of millions, and most of the tax revenue comes from Yanyun and the Northeast region.

It was just as Zhang Jian expected.

There are a lot of ice cubes in the house. Saltpeter ice making is one of the oldest ice-making technologies. Naturally, the royal family will make a large amount of ice cubes every year before summer comes and store it. Now is the time when it is needed.

Even Liao general Xiao Xiaomu allowed them to redeem him.

With this tragic defeat, the foundation of the entire Liao Kingdom was shaken.

Due to Zhao Jun's insidious arms race strategy, most of the Liao's resources and output were spent on military expenditures.

Those who could originally live to be over ninety years old may be close to running out of gas.

If the Song Dynasty ignored it, then the Jin people's destruction of the Liao Dynasty, which would probably happen decades later, would happen now.

Only the political courtyard is cool and comfortable. Outside the courtyard, there are towering trees, shaded by greenery, and a gentle breeze.

Obviously, Xixia will be wiped out in two years, and it will be a matter of time before the Hexi Corridor is recovered.

Although the Song Dynasty is now powerful and not interested in the current management of the north, it does not mean that they need a strong neighbor.

Once the Liao Kingdom was destroyed, it would not be a good thing for the Song Dynasty to have a unified regime established by Nüzhi, Mengwu, Bohai, Shiwei and others in the Northeast.

The Song Dynasty did not intend to completely eliminate the Liao Kingdom, so after signing a series of unequal treaties, it finally gave the Liao Kingdom a chance to breathe.

Every year, more than one million kilograms of sulfur are purchased from the middleman Da Song, and iron and bronze are used to make grenades and cannons. Domestic development is lackluster.

Therefore, it was the best outcome for the Song Dynasty to help maintain the Liao Kingdom's fragile regime and allow them to continue internal strife and remain in a stage of chaos.

At this time, Emperor Yelu Zong of the Liao Kingdom was seriously ill. Zhang Jian, the old master, was originally in Shunzhou. When he learned of the bad news ahead, he also fell ill all of a sudden.

Under the supervision of these Xiang troops, these tribesmen were allowed to participate in the construction of Youzhou on the spot. They dug canals, built roads, and cultivated fields with reference to the large-scale infrastructure construction policy currently underway in the Song Dynasty.

As a result, when the Song Dynasty regained Shenzhou, it directly handed over the firearms manufacturing base of the Liao State, and confiscated all the craftsmen and raw materials.

Now the Liao people had a big problem.

However, Zhang Jian had been a grand master for so many years after all. Although he was on his deathbed, it was not difficult to understand the thoughts of the Song Dynasty, so he gave Yelu Zongzhen advice.

In this way, the Liao State could continue to suppress the ethnic minorities of various tribes through firearms. In order to have money to maintain firearms, it had to continue to exploit those ethnic minorities, which triggered conflicts between the Khitan and other ethnic groups.

The Song Dynasty did this not to please the Liao people, but if it didn't do this, the Liao Kingdom would have perished.

Therefore, it can be said that the Song Dynasty has squeezed the Liao Kingdom to the extreme. It not only promised to continue the sulfur trade with them, but also wanted to plunder their money.

As for Xixia.

Then it's probably just a matter of chance.

After all, there were more than nine million people in the Liao Dynasty. The Khitan ethnic group only accounted for about one-eighth of the total population, and other ethnic groups accounted for seven-eighths.

Although Yelu Chongyuan was the younger brother of the emperor, his political ability was still slightly lacking. Therefore, even when Yelu Zongzhen was seriously ill, he listened to Zhang Jian's advice and asked Yelu Chongyuan to send someone to plead guilty to the Song Dynasty.

Now that Yanyun and Liaoyang Mansion, the richest city in the Northeast, have been taken away by the Song Dynasty, the annual income can be said to have been reduced by at least 60%. For the Liao Kingdom, it is basically just surviving, and it would be good if it does not collapse on the spot.

Even when the Song Dynasty intended to spare the Liao Kingdom, the battle between the Liao and Song Dynasties finally came to an end, and the current status pattern of East Asia was finally determined.

On May 14th, the weather has been getting hotter and hotter recently, the temperature has been rising, and it coincides with Bianliang's most prosperous business period, so the heat is spreading in the city.

However, in the battle of Xijin, they not only lost Nanjing of the Liao Kingdom, but also Tokyo, an important firearms production base of the Liao Kingdom.

Regarding Han Liao soldiers, the Song Dynasty adopted a relatively loose policy and organized them into local Xiang armies. The rest of the Mongolian, Bohai, Nüzhi, Shiwei and other tribes were organized into the Construction Corps.

Due to geographical constraints, the sulfur purchased from Japan could only be unloaded in Liaoyang Prefecture. In order to reduce land costs, naturally the only choice was to manufacture gunpowder and firearms in situ.

They were able to continue to use force to suppress other ethnic tribes. In addition to relying on the powerful Su Guards, the existence of firearms also played a vital factor.

The soldiers of the Khitan nation can be redeemed by the Liao Kingdom, and gold, silver, copper, war horses, cattle, sheep, furs, and all resources and minerals can be used as ransom.

The so-called wall falls when everyone pushes it, and the drum breaks when thousands of people hammer it.

"During this period, Bianliang was really lively. Envoys from the Liao Kingdom, Xixia, Goryeo, Dali, Yue Dynasty, Uighurs, and rare guests, even the Japanese envoys and the Black Khan envoys from the Western Regions came. ”

Yan Shu said casually while reviewing today's Zhazi official documents: "There is an endless stream of people, and it is difficult for the court to receive them. Now they are all handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wang Siwen even complained to me this morning."

"That is, the United States was only a second-rate country before World War I. After World War I, it made a fortune and became the world's largest industrial power. After World War II, it became one of the two poles in the world. When the Mao Xiong disintegrated, the limelight There is no difference for a moment, and you are truly invincible.”

Zhao Jun said with a smile: "Our current situation is basically the same as that of the United States after the disintegration of the Mao Xiong. We are invincible, coming from all directions, and have become the big brother of East Asia."

"I have to say, this feeling is pretty good."

Everyone looked at each other and laughed. "By the way, Hanlong, Bianliang University said that there are too few students and they hope to increase the enrollment this year. What do you think?"

After making a joke, Jia Chang asked Zhao Jun.

He used to be the Minister of Education, and now he is also in charge of education.

"Well, although Bianliang University was established in the past, its main purpose was to cultivate talents for the Academy of Sciences. It did not recruit students from outside. It only recruited Jinshi scholars and extremely outstanding high school students who were interested in scientific research."

Zhao Jun said: "Now we have slowly completed most of the basic science knowledge from primary school to high school, and advanced mathematics, advanced physics and advanced chemistry are also making steady progress. It is time to officially expand enrollment and cultivate more scientific research talents."

As he spoke, he began to think deeply, and after a while he said: "In this way, starting from Bianliang University, let them organize personnel, bring people and equipment, and establish branch universities in each road first. Each road in the Song Dynasty must have at least one Once the school is established, we will organize the college entrance examination and let the Ministry of Education organize it.”

"Yes."

Jia Changchao nodded.

"Many countries have requested to establish embassies in Bianliang. What do you think, Hanlong?"

Cai Qi asked here.

"Let them build it. That is to say, we cannot build the United Nations now. We will have to find opportunities to annex them in the future."

"That's fine."

"Hanlong, this is the current national industrial situation. Basically, each road has at least three steel plants, and more than ten cement plants and brick factories."

Song Shou, who is in charge of industry, also said.

"It's not enough. Big construction must continue."

"Are we taking too big a step? Although our current income is steadily increasing, we still need to invest a lot of construction finance, which will be very difficult for the court."

"Don't be afraid of spending money. Money is something that you won't take with you until you die, so you have to spend it ruthlessly."

Zhao Jun thought for a while and said: "I think the surrounding small countries are a bit too primitive. Let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs negotiate with Dali to repair the land road from Sichuan to Yunnan, dredge the waterway, and sell more things there. "

"They're afraid they won't agree."

"It's up to them to agree or not. By the way, although the tribes at the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan belong to the Song Dynasty in name, they have always disobeyed the imperial court and asked Chengdu to send troops to take over the city and formally establish The government."

"this."

Everyone was stunned for a moment when they heard this.

It's not that I'm worried about fighting, but it's a bit thankless.

Why did the ancient dynasty only care about the thirteen states of Han Dynasty?
Because these places are high-quality assets with rich products and fertile land, which are suitable for the development of farming civilization.

Other places, such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Guangdong, Guangxi, Lingnan, Mongolian grasslands, the three northeastern provinces, southwest Yunnan and Guizhou, etc., were areas with very harsh natural conditions in ancient times.

Therefore, although Zhuge Liang went south to conquer the ethnic minorities in Yunnan, he did not vigorously develop it. Instead, he established the Governor's Palace of Gajiang, which was a semi-ruling rule.

Now that the Song Dynasty has taken back Yanyun, all the high-quality assets inherent to the Han people have been taken back. In other places, they are inferior assets. Will they increase the burden on the court?

"Establish the government first and then rule slowly."

Zhao Jun smiled and said: "Don't worry about whether these local ethnic groups are convinced or not, declare sovereignty first, and then slowly govern. Yunnan mainly produces gold and silver. What the Song Dynasty lacks now is not material, but money."

"Didn't Zhiyuan plan to make banknotes? How is it now?"

Xia Song asked.

"It is expected to be officially released next year and the year after that. The School of Chemistry is already working on the banknote production project. It will not be easy to prevent counterfeiting. However, the silver coins can be sold starting next year, which can alleviate the current pressure of lack of money."

Zhao Jun said.

"The currency for commodity circulation is indeed very important. The Song Dynasty is increasingly short of money."

Yan Shu sighed.

The emergence of Jiaozi in the Northern Song Dynasty was caused by lack of money.

There are far more goods on the market than money, causing severe deflation.

Prices have been falling every day in the past few years. If the imperial court had not been purchasing agricultural products to maintain prices, farmers would have been miserable.

Mainly, large-scale infrastructure construction has been carried out for five or six years. From the second year of Qingli to the present, large-scale repairs have been carried out on official roads, waterways, and canals across the country.

Materials circulate faster, and after overthrowing a large number of landlords, the amount of farmland increases instead of decreasing. In addition, the number of household registrations in the Song Dynasty jumped from more than 70 million before Qingli to about 90 million last year.

With more fields, more people, and skyrocketing productivity, output will naturally increase by a huge amount.

The prices of various agricultural products such as rice, millet, beans, and wheat are falling day by day, and the introduction of crops such as corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes has allowed the livestock industry to flourish. The production technology of lard, peanuts and soybean oil has improved, and the prices of animal oil and vegetable oil have also fallen.

It can be said that not only the loose policies of the Song Dynasty in recent years have brought prosperity to the people, but it is also a direct result of the introduction of a large number of overseas crops, which has greatly increased productivity.

"The current productivity has basically reached the peak period of the Qing Dynasty. Feeding a population of 4 to 5 billion is not a problem. In the next hundred years, the population of the Song Dynasty will explode, and it will not be a problem to increase to 2 to 300 million people."

Zhao Jun said: "So we have to step up a bit and be prepared for danger in times of peace. The Agricultural College must be vigorously developed. Various experimental fields and experimental bases must be invested in the construction and continuous improvement. We must seek hybrid rice and prepare for the third productivity. skyrocketed.”

"Ah."

Everyone nodded after hearing this.

"Speaking of it, I have established a relatively mature official system, with the Constitutional Yuan as the core, and each ministry performs its own duties, with layer-by-layer supervision and layer-by-layer governance. But I have not yet established a complete modern country."

Zhao Jun suddenly thought of a question and said to everyone: "In this way, during the Chongzheng Palace meeting this afternoon, we will discuss with the officials to improve the modern national system."

"it is good."

"We must indeed move towards the future and break away from the original shackles."

"The Song Dynasty will finally transform from an agricultural society to an industrial society. This is a beginning and innovation for our Chinese civilization."

"I agree."

Everyone agreed that a complete modern national system is the foundation and trend of the future.

(End of this chapter)