Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 138 Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi Return

Although Zhong Shiheng performed well during his lifetime, the Zhong family at that time did not participate in the imperial examinations.

It is natural that no one in the family can become an official.

Now, Zhong Shiheng has passed away, and his entire family has been instantly reduced to their original forms and become soldiers.

This is naturally unacceptable to the Zhong family.

Therefore, the descendants of the Zhong family made such a fuss.

of course!

Pang Ji also went a bit too far.

You should at least give credit to others.

then……

The next arrangement was to give the position of Tianxing County Lieutenant to Zhong Shiheng's eldest son, Zhong Gu, who was 22 years old this year.

The so-called Tianxing County is Fengxiang County.

In addition, give Zhong Shiheng's youngest son, Zhong Yi, who is thirteen years old this year, a chance to stay with Zhao Xin.

While conveying the intention to Zhong Gu and Zhong Yi.

Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi also received an imperial decree to transfer them to the court.

In May of that year, after handing over all military affairs in the northwest, the two returned to Tokyo Kaifeng City together.

When he returned to Kaifeng, Fan Zhongyan couldn't help but sigh, "It's been two or three years since we last met, but Dongjing City is still the same as before."

Han Qi listened to Fan Zhongyan's sigh and also sat on his horse, saying seriously: "The emperor called you and me back, not to see if Dongjing City is different from before."

Both of them knew that letting them come back was definitely to allow them to come back to do more important things.

Then...

Zhao Zhen also held a special banquet to entertain the two of them.

Fan Zhongyan’s side is easy to deal with!
As for Han Qi, I think he needs some more training.

therefore……

At this banquet, Zhao Zhen also repeatedly emphasized that the country's long-standing problems cannot be eliminated in a day or two, but something must be done because there are already so many problems now, and if nothing is done, it may be even more difficult to save the country in the future.

However, what Zhao Zhen said was basically what Zhao Xin told him to say.

As for Zhao Xin...

Zhao Xin thought it would be better for him to hide in the dark. After all, they didn't know how many people they would offend in the future.

If he got too close to them, others might think that he had instructed these two people to do it.

A banquet came down.

Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi also roughly understood what it meant.

Those officials who do not take action should be replaced.

For some states and counties that have a sparse population due to war and other reasons, those that can be merged will be merged, and the land will be re-surveyed. After the merger, the redundant officials will also be dismissed.

The reason for merging prefectures and counties was mainly related to household registration and corvee labor.

Some counties, which originally had not that many people, had to bear the taxes and labor service of so many people. This was obviously unreasonable and would only further arouse conflicts between the people and the government.

After the merger, it is natural to re-measure the population and land.

This mainly applies to those states and counties where the number of escapes is more serious.

The purpose of this move is mainly to reduce the burden on the people.

As you can imagine, doing such a thing would offend a lot of people.

Fortunately, the government did not ask them to do this to the entire country, but only focused on rectifying some areas where the situation was serious.

Zhao Zhen finally said: "You are all capable and promising ministers. I will leave these matters to you."

This time, there was no talk of promoting the two of them.

Originally, when many people heard that Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi had returned, they thought that the government wanted to appoint them as prime ministers of the two governments.

Be reasonable!
This chapter is about Xiang and Yan Shu, which is not very good!
Zhang Dexiang did nothing, Yan Shu, while others were at war in the northwest, but he could still enjoy the romance in the middle of winter.

Ouyang Xiu criticized Yan Shu's behavior.

Therefore, Yan Shu was a little dislikeful of Ouyang Xiu.

On Zhao Xin's side, he also strictly ordered Ouyang Xiu and others not to have any contact with Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi in the future.

I can’t even write a letter!
This confused Ouyang Xiu and others.

He asked, "Your Highness Prince Yu, why is this?"

Zhao Xin said, "Just listen to me and don't cause trouble for me. If you meet us on the road next time, it's best to pretend not to know you." Before this, Zhao Xin's scolding of them was still useful.

If Zhao Xin hadn't scolded them in the past, they wouldn't be so obedient now.

Ouyang Xiu and others all looked confused.

even……

In order to prevent Ouyang Xiu and others from meeting Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi in the court.

Zhao Xin also specially asked them to visit Zhang Kang and Teng Zongliang.

It can also be considered as helping him supervise Zhang Kang and Teng Zongliang.

Look at these two people, are they working seriously?

As of this year, adding the existing population in Xuchang and Nanyang, there are now nearly 70,000 to 80,000 households living in the area from Xuchang to Nanyang.

The reason why the number is so small is that Zhao Xin has not yet taken coercive measures to demand people from other states and counties.

take it easy!

This May.

The hydraulic boring machine looks quite good.

Zhao Xin then began to have people cast bronze cannons and make carriages that could support the cannons, so that they could be pulled to war by horses.

However, Zhao Xin definitely didn't know how long or what the caliber of this bronze cannon was.

Then it can only be based on feeling.

Just use your hands to indicate how big the muzzle of the bronze cannon is, and as for the length, just get a rough feel for it.

You know what, casting this bronze cannon really costs a lot of money!

He just made a casual gesture and the people in the mathematics group told him that it would probably weigh at least a thousand pounds. If it was converted into copper coins, it would probably cost at least one hundred and forty or fifty strings of coins.

Let’s calculate it as one hundred and fifty strings of cash.

The materials for a cannon alone would cost so much money.

One hundred and fifty strings of cash was certainly not very expensive for Zhao Xin.

After all, his monthly salary was two hundred strings of cash.

But for low-level officials in the Song Dynasty who only earn a few or dozens of strings of coins a month, this is too expensive!

Do!
Even if one course costs 150 strings of cash, you have to do it!
otherwise……

You have good things but you don't use them. Instead you fight with others naked. Aren't you a fool?
at the same time……

He also began to ask others to buy small amounts of raw materials for gunpowder for him.

Mainly nitrate.

This is relatively difficult to obtain.

However, the Song Dynasty already had a lot of experience in the development of saltpeter.

therefore……

These are all ready-made, so Zhao Xin can just use them directly.

The only thing that made Zhao Xin a little confused was whether he should set up a special department to make saltpeter.

If they had founded the company themselves, it would have been easier to keep their research on gunpowder secret.

But the cost will naturally increase accordingly.

It took some time to purchase some saltpeter.

Then mix the sulfur and willow charcoal together.

Then it needs to be granulated.

Each of these steps seems easy, but in fact it is not simple at all.

If one person makes it just for fun, it's fine.

But what if you want to supply thousands or even tens of thousands of troops?

Especially for daily training, a lot of gunpowder is definitely required.

If you only employ people, your efficiency will definitely not be able to keep up.

When I think of this...

Zhao Xin thought that it would be better to set up a saltpeter-making department of his own.

(End of this chapter)