Xiongzhou to Youzhou, is the former Song Dynasty and Khitan post road, convenient transportation. Early in the morning of the third day, the brigade left Xiongzhou and headed towards Youzhou. The post station on the road had long been dilapidated, and it was temporarily packed up for Zhao Zhen and a group of ministers to live in. Zhang Yu and Long Weijun camped nearby.

After Xincheng County, I arrived in Zhuozhou on the third day. As soon as I arrived at the city gate, I saw a large number of people kneeling at the city gate, placing incense tables.

Du Zhongxiao ordered that there was no need to stay, and the army entered the city. As soon as he reached the gate of the city, suddenly a man rushed up, knelt in the middle of the street, and kept kowtowing to Lu Book. The two guards rushed forward, grabbed the man's arms, and dragged them aside.

Zhao Zhen in the car said: "When the emperor was the first emperor, every time he went out of the inner house, there would be people watching on the two sides of the royal street. As for the fact that some people want to see the face of the Son of Heaven and deliberately stop the car. Although the first emperor felt inconvenient, he never blamed. When I come to Youzhou, I should remember the holy virtues of the first emperor and not treat the people harshly. ”

After speaking, let Song Zhen step forward and ask why this person was blocking the road.

After a while, Song Zhen came back and arched his hand: "Your Majesty, Weichen asked clearly. This person's name is Ma Zonghai, and he opens a wine shop in the city. There are two sons, both of whom were assassinated as signing soldiers, and their lives and deaths are unknown. Because there is no business recently, the eldest daughter-in-law left with someone, leaving a young child. The second daughter-in-law died of starvation a few days ago, leaving behind a daughter. Since the army entered the city, a porridge shed has been set up in the city, and these days they have relied on the soup soup of the imperial court to live. I heard that His Majesty came to Zhuozhou, and I came to thank you. Although this person is a big man, he is a good person. ”

Zhao Zhen sighed: "It's really pitiful. ordered Zhuozhou City to give him some money and food to help him reopen the wine shop. By the next year, business should be fine. Now that things are going to be difficult, the magistrates should do things with their hearts. ”

Song Zhen received the order and gave his own orders.

Du Zhongxiao rode on the horse and did not speak. Since the Khitan army went south, within the rule of Youzhou, whether it was rich or poor, there was no relationship in the yamen, and these days were very miserable. In the beginning, it was just a sign of the army, a tax on grain. Later, the Khitan army could not grab food, and the battle ahead was unfavorable, so it intensified. It doesn't matter whether it is levied or not, the money and grain are directly robbed by the households, and many people go bankrupt overnight.

What if you know? Du Zhongxiao had no choice. The money and food of the Song Dynasty were not endless, and it was already remarkable to be able to guarantee that no one would starve to death. Other things can only be seen as if they are not seen.

Zhao Zhen is the emperor, and when he encounters this kind of thing, of course he can order his subordinates to subsidize this man and win people's hearts. Du Zhongxiao can't do it, it's not his job to win people's hearts, so he can only ask. His job was to wipe out the Khitan army and restore local production as soon as possible.

entered the city and rested at the Zhuozhou official office. Zhao Zhen called Du Zhongxiao and Han Qi.

When they entered the room, the two of them saluted. Zhao Zhen ordered to sit down.

After serving tea, Zhao Zhen said: "When I entered Zhuozhou today, I saw that the people all had dishes, which was very different from Xiongzhou. Needless to say, this should be the case for the most part. After recovering these places, this is the territory of the imperial court, and the people can't do this. Let the people under his rule not lack food and clothing, and not suffer from cold and hunger, not only the holy virtue of the court, but also the hearts of the people here can be recovered as soon as possible. What do you think you should do? ”

Han Qi arched his hand: "What Youzhou lacks most now is food. You can buy some grain from Liangzhejiang and transport it to Youzhou. Daily soup soup to ensure that no one starves to death. If you can persist until next year, there is a way. These survivors must be grateful for the kindness of the imperial court. ”

Zhao Zhen nodded, turned his head to Du Zhongxiao and said, "What does the captain think?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "It is better to teach people to fish than to teach them to fish." The people of Youzhou are difficult, first, there is a lack of food. As the minister said, bring some grain from the hinterland to ensure that no one will starve to death. Again, the Khitan looting is too powerful, all industries in Youzhou are withering, and the people can't make money. Just like Ma Zonghai outside the city gate today, he originally had his own wine shop, and he should have had food and clothing in the past. But now everyone has no money, no business, and their families can only freeze and starve to death. What the imperial court has to do is, first, to organize production. The Khitan signed the army, and most of the young people were stabbed into the army, and the people lacked manpower. It is important for the yamen to come forward and organize the people and let the families help each other, so that they have something to do and can receive money. There is another thing, the imperial court occupies this place, and the coins must also pass here. You can let Zhongshu transport some money, do some things in the locality, build bridges, pave roads, transport grain, whatever you want, and send the money to the people here. If the people have money in their hands, there will be merchants who will sell grain, which is also a way. ”

Zhao Zhen nodded again and again after hearing this: "It makes sense." If it is only given by the imperial court, one is that the imperial court spends a lot, and the other is not a long-term solution. It would be much better if the people were allowed to do the work and the yamen would give them money. The people got the money, and the yamen did the best of both worlds. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "This is a cash-for-work grant, so that the people can work to make money and survive the famine." ”

Zhao Zhen said: "To do this, you have to have a name." What is the right thing to do here? This is a post road, it looks a little dilapidated, can you let Zhuozhou and other places recruit people to repair the road? Building bridges and paving roads is always the right thing to do. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Of course you can." However, how many people can be taken care of without much work to repair the road? After Youzhou, the most important thing is actually to build a railway. Using the railway to connect Xiongzhou and Youzhou, the people worked to earn money, and it was also of great use to the imperial court. ”

Zhao Zhen said to Han Qi: "What do you think? This railway should be built inevitably. ”

Han Qi arched his hand: "Your Majesty said yes." Occupy Youzhou and build the railway here, it will be solid. In that case, let's wait until the war is over. In addition, a large number of Khitan captives can also do this. ”

Regarding the Khitans captured in this battle, Zhao Zhen discussed it with several important ministers. Signing in the army is forced to become a soldier and can go home. But the nomadic cavalry from the steppe, it is impossible to let them return to the steppe. Eventually, they will be broken up, and they will either be assigned to the box army to raise horses, or they will do other things. The Central Plains have suffered from the peoples of the steppe, and it is impossible to put them back.

After discussing the matter of building the road, Zhao Zhen said: "This victory is over, it is not easy to restore the prosperity of Youzhou." If you don't come here, how do you know that the Khitan has made this disaster like this? That's it, the land of Youzhou, free from taxes for three years, and recuperate. ”

Du Zhongxiao and Han Qi arched their hands: "The saint is wise!" ”

How much can you receive in such a secluded state for taxes? 400,000 soldiers, a large number of deaths, here is not only poor, but also a large lack of labor. Not for a decade or two, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to recover. It is necessary to exempt the people from taxation for three years and let the people recuperate.

Since opening up the Hequ Road, Du Zhongxiao has participated in many wars and recovered many places, and it is the first time he has encountered Youzhou like this. In a war, the youth and strength are empty, and the people are withering, even if there is money, there is not enough manpower. The Khitan is a big country, not only has external combat power, but also has the ability to destroy internally. Hundreds of thousands of troops moved south, and in order to supply this army, many places suffered great damage.

Prosperity, the people suffer, death, and the people suffer. Youzhou really responded to this sentence.

Out of the room, Han Qi sighed: "Restoring Yanyun should have been a happy thing. But His Majesty came in person, but when he saw the withering of people's livelihood, he must have been displeased. Alas, at this time, perhaps it would be better if His Majesty did not come. ”