Datang Nongsheng

Chapter 706
Colleagues are enemies. When the output of one country is exactly the same as that of another country, then they are enemies among enemies. Xue Yantuo is already a super giant with a population of nearly 200 million under the Datang Group in the process of continuous expansion and absorption. Nomadic Khanate.

In the past, their population was just over one million, and the number of cattle and sheep they fed was several million, at most 1000 million. But now, because they have solved the problems of wintering cattle and sheep, silage fodder, and even eating salt In less than seven or eight years, their breeding scale has reached more than 5000 million heads.

You must know that the people of Xueyantuo, who eat cattle and sheep as their staple food, have to eat at least one cow and more than ten sheep per person per year. If the family has a large population, one sheep may not be enough for a meal. Merchants trade a lot of food and vegetables for food, and if there is no such scale of farming, even 5000 million heads can't satisfy their large population to eat. In the past, they would consume the population through war. Trade, and robbery, get food from the Han people, but now, without war, their population size is constantly expanding, and their consumption will also increase.

For example, in later generations, Mongolian herdsmen raised hundreds of head per household on average, and slaughtered hundreds of millions of head every year, and they did not dare to rely solely on beef and mutton as their staple food.

Because, if you eat this way, the 200 million people of Xue Yantuo alone will consume tens of millions of cattle and sheep a year. Inner Mongolia has a population of more than 2000 million in later generations. Hundreds of millions of cattle and sheep will be eaten.

Because, a sheep, counting the domestic goods, is only more than 30 catties of meat. If a person eats only meat, a sheep can last for about five days at most. Six sheep a month can eat more than 70 catties a year. Only, yaks are a little better. The bulls can produce about [-] catties of meat, and the cows can produce about [-] catties. On average, it is only worth a dozen sheep.

This kind of consumption formula is basically suitable for all nomadic peoples, because cattle and sheep are all about the same size, and the food intake of people is also about the same.

Under the premise of such a large output and such a large consumption by Xue Yantuo, the output of their cattle and sheepskin goods, and even the wool industry that is now emerging is very huge.

In the past, Datang wanted to build equipment such as bows, arrows and crossbows. It was difficult to find beef tendons, and the number of equipment was very limited.Now, that's as much as you want.

In the past, people in the Tang Dynasty all wore linen clothes, cloth shoes, and straw sandals.Now, almost most of the people can have one or two pairs of leather shoes, one or two leather jackets, and woolen sweaters, reaching the goal set by Sun Xiangfu a few years ago.

Not only that, these extended products of animal husbandry can also be exported in large quantities, and they are exquisite in workmanship and low in price.

This makes all the nomads who do not belong to the Tang Dynasty feel sad. Why did the big cannibals launch aggressive wars outward?
Because no one wanted the things they produced. Compared with the cows and sheepskins produced by Datang, the products produced by Dashi were simply scum.

Therefore, this country established on horseback had no choice but to rely on more forceful aggression and plunder to survive. This is why they had to continue to attack and provoke the Persian and Byzantine empires even though they had just established the country.

The nomadic countries in Eurasia during this period were not only big cannibals.

There are also the Kingdom of Oguz on the Caspian Sea, which already borders Xue Yantuo, the Kingdom of Orissa, and the Khazar Khanate, which has a large territory and a population of over one million, between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.

Previously, they were actually in a state of confrontation with the Byzantine Empire, just like the relationship between the Turks and the Tang Dynasty before Li Shimin came to power. Although there were confrontations and some small-scale frictions of looting and counterattacks, they would still pass some trade. Let both parties survive within an acceptable range.

But now it is different. The Byzantine Empire chose to purchase from the high-quality and cheap Datang in the fur trade, which broke the previous balance. If the giant merchants who mainly trade with these countries join forces to attack, then their economy will collapse.

The economy has collapsed, and if you want to survive, you must go to war. Going to war with the Byzantine Empire will not solve their problems. In your own hands, you can completely solve the problem.

Although this would offend the mighty Tang Empire, they are nomads, and they are not afraid of war at all. As long as they are incorporated into Xue Yantuo's territory, they have a depth of more than 1 miles from east to west, from north to south, so are they afraid that Datang will settle accounts with them?
At that time, they will be like fish in the sea, and Datang will not have the main production base of cattle and sheep fur, and the cattle and sheep fur in their hands will become more valuable, and they will tide over the difficulties from then on.

After listening to some of Li Chengqian's descriptions, Sun Xiangfu said, "Wang Xu's plan is pretty reliable, but if you plan to use it as a starting point, you still need to look at Yi Nan's attitude and get his support. Your plan, It is possible to succeed, and, don't forget, people like Wang Xu will benefit from both sides if they provoke a war. , turned into going to the outside world to create chaos.”

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "How could I not have thought of this! Therefore, my plan is not to provoke those countries to wage war against Xue Yantuo according to their plan, but to drive them with interests and let them go Disturbing the Byzantine Empire, even the Xueyantuo Khanate, which is my vassal, does not allow wars in the land of Tang Dynasty."

Sun Xiangfu nodded and said, "Well, your ideas are becoming more and more mature, but I'm not good at these things, you'd better take your ideas to your father and the house minister for more discussion. Not a way out.”

To unify the Eurasian continent, the biggest problem is the Byzantine Empire, because they have a population base of more than 4000 million, a long cultural heritage, and great potential for war. The big cannibals in history are so ferocious, and they can only defeat them. Can't kill them.

However, intrigues and strategic and tactical arrangements are not Sun Xiangfu's specialty. His talent is only to develop and enhance national strength, so he didn't express any opinions.

Li Chengqian nodded when he heard the words. The first step in the plan for the Western Regions is definitely not to go to war directly, but to use non-war means to eat as much as possible. I have given you the talisman to travel across the world and plan farming affairs in all places, according to your estimation, how much can the grain output of my Tang Dynasty be increased next year on the basis of this year?"

After thinking for a while, Sun Xiangfu replied, "Up to [-]%."

Li Chengqian was a little surprised when he heard the words, "We have introduced so many high-yielding food crops, so it only increased by [-]%?"

Sun Xiangfu smiled and said, "It's not bad to be able to increase by [-]%. These high-yield crops will not be able to be promoted to the whole country next year. In addition, the economic value of common people's food crops is not high enough, so they will be more willing For the cultivation of other cash crops, if the imperial court forcibly intervenes with policies as in the past, it will violate the market rules, which will lead to a decrease in the income of farmers and people, and the cost of buying some daily necessities they need will increase, causing dissatisfaction.

Moreover, the growth rate of 1% is actually quite a lot. After all, our current output base is large, 1000% is almost [-] million stones, which is enough to feed more than [-] million people. If this growth rate is maintained every year in the future If so, within ten years, it would be enough to feed the population of the entire Eurasian continent. "

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I am relieved to hear what the teacher said. In fact, during this period of time, there are no less than thirty kingdoms that have expressed their willingness to submit to the court. Although their strength is not strong, their total population is There are at least seventy-eight million people, but right now, the conditions for surrender are still being discussed in detail.”

"Anyone who wants to benefit from us and chooses to submit may not necessarily be sincerely submitting. In fact, we can ignore them for the time being and follow our own strategic steps to accept the expected surrender of the kingdom in a rhythmic manner.

You have to know that once we start merging the territory of these small kingdoms into the territory of Datang, it will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among the major western empires. The reason why they are so friendly to Datang now and buy our products in large quantities is because of us. Although powerful, they did not expand to the Western Regions and invaded their interests by force. They were also happy to sell us a favor, and strengthened their own strength by doing business with us.

And for the time being, these countries are allowed to exist between their several great empires, like the Byzantine Empire, in order to avoid damage to their own national power, they will let these small kingdoms be subordinate to them to help them resist the big cannibals, which makes those small kingdoms different from them Centrifugal and moral, heart to us Datang.

The most perfect expansion is not an expansion in exchange for the kings who benefit from these small kingdoms, but to gain the hearts of the people under the rule of these small kingdoms, so that they will not be so easy to leave us. As for those lands, the hearts of the people are ours , is it still far from becoming ours? "Sun Xiangfu expressed his point of view.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "The teacher's words are reasonable. When I return to them, I will make some adjustments. In addition, the students have one more thing to ask you."

Sun Xian said very simply, "Say it!"

Li Chengqian said according to his words, "Before, when I was in Chang'an to supervise the country, there was a courtier who asked me to hold a martial arts exam to select a military officer. However, after my father-in-law read the memorial, he directly suggested that I refuse. I don't know. The teacher thought that it should be how?"

The father-in-law that Li Chengqian was talking about was naturally Hou Junji, the current minister of the Ministry of War. He is now the absolute representative of the generals. He suggested that Li Chengqian refuse, that is to say, the use of martial arts would violate the interests of their generals.

Previously, when the military academy was opened, these noble generals supported it with both hands. These people have few other things in their families, but they have many sons. The imperial court opened the military academy and refused to let their generals’ children enroll. This must be unreasonable Yes, and everyone knows that the future military officers of Datang will come out of the Military Academy. That is to say, the opening of this military academy will allow them to inherit the power and status of the general sect group well.

However, the martial arts is different. It is for the selection of talents from all over the world. It will become a promotion channel for the children of the poor family, breaking their dream of the children of the general family to monopolize the power of the military officer and pass it down from generation to generation. Naturally, they will not agree. As the representative of Jiangmen, Hou Junji will naturally be pushed out to protect Jiangmen's interests.

Moreover, Hou Junji is Li Chengqian's father-in-law, Li Chengqian's natural supporter, Li Chengqian is definitely not good at rejecting him, so this matter has been delayed, including Li Shimin's return to the court, Li Chengqian did not dare to mention this matter again , because, let alone, it is what the Jiangmen group wants to see the most. As long as he raises this matter again, it means that he disagrees with Hou Junji's suggestion and damages the interests of the Jiangmen group.

And Li Chengqian asked Sun Xiangfu about this matter, the meaning is obvious, that is, he thinks in his heart that the martial arts is a good thing for the country and the dynasty. If the military power is in the hands of these existing generals for generations, Yu Guo said, It's definitely not a good thing, without worries about the future, they will rot very quickly.

Therefore, when Li Chengqian already had the answer in his mind, Sun Xiangfu didn't need to teach him how to do it, but asked, "People's hearts are never satisfied. If they win benefits from you, they will definitely return to you." Continue to fight for your interests, do you want to satisfy them all the time?"

Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "No, making the door bigger will do a lot of harm."

Sun Xiangfu nodded and said, "Any interest group will be harmful if it grows bigger. You know, why did your uncle Li Jiancheng lose to your father in the battle for the throne?"

Hearing Sun Xiangfu's question suddenly, Li Chengqian hesitated and said, "Well, I was still young and didn't know much about the process. Maybe it's because my uncle was too aggressive, and my father had no choice but to fight back!"

This question, until now, is still a taboo in the Tang Dynasty, and no one dares to raise it. Therefore, even if Li Chengqian is sensible now, he still doesn't know the details of the original situation.

Sun Xiangfu said bluntly, "Your uncle is not without talent, but he is too concerned about the feelings of various interest groups, which has led to the lack of talents who really think about the country.

He puts all his hopes on some aristocratic people who only think about his own interests, and he will be restrained in doing things.

But your father is different.

He is dedicated to the public, and the people he gathers under his command are all people with lofty ideals. He has never been indomitable in doing things, and he has never been restrained.

Therefore, when he quelled the riots in the former Sui Dynasty, he was able to make great military achievements and gradually gained military and political advantages. Moreover, at the critical moment when the probability of success was not high, some people dared to risk their lives for him, took risks, and succeeded in the end.

Can your status today be shaken by a certain interest group?
Absolutely not.

You are the orthodox eldest son, with outstanding political achievements, known to all the people in the world, and there is nothing wrong with you. Even His Majesty cannot shake you, let alone other interest groups.

Therefore, you must not learn from your uncle and be influenced by those who seem to support you. When you do things, you safeguard their interests and harm the interests of the country.

If you, a prince, are used to speaking for a certain interest group, then you will not get the support of talents other than this interest group, and even push them to the opposite of yourself, and give up the world for the sake of an interest group Jun, but very stupid behavior.

Therefore, as the crown prince and the future emperor, what you should consider is always the interests of the country and all the people, not the interests of a certain interest group. "

When Li Chengqian heard the words, he suddenly realized, and he cupped his hands and bowed to his disciples, "Thank you, teacher, for explaining the students' doubts. I will report this matter to my father later on. If it can be done, the children of the poor family who want to join Wu in the world will have a bright future." Chance."

Sun Xiangfu helped him up and said, "We don't need to be so polite when chatting with master and apprentice. From the perspective of the master, martial arts will be an inevitable trend in the future, because the country needs it, the royal family, the center of the court, and more If necessary, when you report this matter to His Majesty, he will tell you the reason. As for how to open it, there are many ways in it, you need to communicate more with your royal father."

(End of this chapter)