Liu Anshi looked at Liang Tao, stretched out four fingers and asked, "Last year, how many governors did Shaanxi change all the way?" ”

Liang Tao looked at Liu Anshi's outstretched finger and replied: "Shaanxi Yiyi changed four pacification envoys last year, not to mention anything else, just on Huanqing Road, two governors died last year, and six were convicted for military affairs. Gyeongju alone: the predecessor Zhiqingzhou is Li Qingchen, Kang Zhi is the second term this year, and Zhao Xing is the third term this year...... I remember that Kang Zhi was also dismissed just now. ”

Liu Anshi smiled: "Gyeongju, do you know that it is not a place of death?" Zhao Liren rose quickly, how did he know that he would not die in Gyeongju. ”

Liang Tao thought about it, and yes, he immediately changed his smile: "It's still the tiger in the palace who is far-sighted, go, I will go to Hele Building with you to drink two cups of pre-celebration." ”

The edict of the imperial court was quickly sent to Huanqing Road along the military channel-well, now Zhao Xing's official position is expressed as: Baowen Pavilion Bachelor, guarding the border of Huanqing Road to recruit and appease the envoy, except for the Qingyang Festival Envoy (Zhizhou), Xingqingyang Regiment Training Envoy, Chaofeng Doctor, Xuanzheng Lang.

Zhao Xing played with the silver ribbon in his hand, a little proud: "I can finally express my official title correctly, right?" My order is right? Let me count, one, two...... Six, six official positions, which means I can get six salaries, which is beautiful. ”

Wan Qiyong had already arrived in Gyeongju at this time, and he echoed: "In this way, among the seven scholars of Sumen, except for Huang Tingjian and Zhang Lei, only the adults have risen the fastest. Zhao Xing admired the official seal in his hand and nodded frequently: "These five-grade officials are good, even the official seal is silver, and I finally said goodbye to the copper ribbon." ”

"More than that", Wan Qianyong said: "Your lord's official robe in the future will be Zhu Ziyi." No more green robes. Moreover, the eldest son of an adult can be gracious, and he doesn't even need to take the Jinshi test, and he is an official ready-made. ”

Shuai Fan said cautiously: "But my lord's move will inevitably mean to hold the court hostage, if I can't make a result, I'm afraid that the punishment of the court will be heavier." ”

Zhao Xing nodded: "Mr. Yayan (Wan Qiyong) hurriedly wrote a thank you sheet - a thank you form for the official family, not for the saint, and thank the official family for the reward." And also. Immediately summon the leaders of all towns and towns to Gyeongju for a meeting, Zilian, you hurry up. Go and bring back the 50,000 guan of the imperial court. ”

The two were agreeing, and Wu Qing held up a seal. Along the way, he shouted and broke in: "Urgent, urgent." ”

Zhao Xing jumped up and asked anxiously, "How is the battle?" ”

Wu Qing replied: "Big victory!" The commander of the Yanlu Palace can be suitable to command more than 8,900 soldiers to enter the living realm, fight against the thieves of the Weizhou Prison Army, and behead seventy levels. Four people were captured and more than 2,130 horses, cattle, sheep, camels, etc. were captured. ”

"Big win?!" Zhao Xing asked for confirmation in confusion: "Are you talking about a big victory?" I remember that the military report not long ago was: The Western Xia army broke through our Anding Fort and demolished the two forts of Zengzi and Tumen. More than 5,000 people were killed, and 3,412 were taken captive. Are you sure that this is a big victory - a big victory for seventy beheadings and four people for raw fowl (capture)? ”

Wu Qing replied as a matter of course: "Of course, to discuss." We repelled the Western Xia army, isn't this a great victory? Also beheaded seventy levels! ”

The guest army fought across borders, and the combat exploits were doubled, and the decapitation of the seventy level meant that Zhi Keshi led nine thousand male soldiers to catch up with the tail of the retreat of the Western Xia people and killed thirty-five people on the other side. Zhao Xing smashed this record in his mouth, turned to Shuai Fan, and muttered: "How many more victories can we afford like this?" ”

Shuai Fan lowered his eyes gloomily: "Our army is all infantry. The chase is tight. I am afraid that the cavalry of the Tangut people will turn back and attack, but it will cause a great defeat. Can now catch up with a tail. It's already good to deter the Tangut people, so why bother to criticize the adults. ”

Zhao Xing shook his head blankly and said to himself: "We were killed more than 5,000 people, captured 3,000 people, dispatched 9,000 troops, killed 35 slow Western Xia waste wood, and captured alive four Western Xia idiots who walked without a sense of direction - is this a big victory?" ”

Shuai Fan frequently glanced at Zhao Xing, and Wu Qing asked incomprehensibly: "My lord, in recent years, we have fought with the Western Xia every month, most of the states and counties are afraid of the Western Xia soldiers, and the Xia people have taken the means to hold on to it, and they have taken the means to hold on to it, and sit and watch the Western Xia people go back and forth with the city, this is the first time in recent years, and the commander of the palace dares to open the city to attack, what kind of courage is this?" ”

Zhao Xing saw Shuai Fan's movements, and suddenly realized, he hurriedly put on a smiling face, and said repeatedly: "It's victory!" Come, Wu Qing, you have reported good news, and you have a reward......"

Zhao Xing fumbled in his arms for a long time, groped out a pair of small and exquisite purple gold monoculars, handed them to Wu Qing casually, and said: "As a scout, the most important thing is to see far, this pair of clairvoyants for you can let you see further." ”

The small telescope with a purple gold shell, this pair of telescopes Zhao Xing often plays, polished to a bright light, Wu Qing was already dizzy when he received it, and muttered: "Jindi, a lot of money...... Adults deserve to be ...... I am afraid that the small land will not be able to bear this reward. ”

Zhao Xing pretended not to hear the other party's nagging, and asked, "When will Zhang Jingluo and Fan Jingzhao come back?" ”

Wu Qing replied: "Master Fan Jingzhao Fan has already turned back from the Dingbian Army, and Zhang Jingluo is going to Huanzhou, and there is still a while. ”

Huanqing Road belongs to the "Zhenzhou", so the border state must always keep a person to sit in the state government. According to the agreement, when Zhang led the troops outside, Zhao Xing sat in the state government and was in charge of the civil and military affairs of Huanqing Road. Zhao Xing originally didn't want Zhang, a sixty-five-year-old man, to go out and sleep in the open, but Zhang insisted on leading troops to fight outside on the grounds that Zhao Xing was new and unfamiliar with military affairs, and Zhao Xing's strengths were not in the military, leaving Zhao Xing alone in the government.

Zhao Xing was very anxious, and the Xixia people took advantage of the spring ploughing time to send troops, so that the harvest of the entire Huanqing Road in one year was completely ruined. The people can't survive this famine, and his energy this year will be wasted on disaster relief, let alone preparing for war.

"How's the state government doing?" Zhao Xing waved his hand to signal Wu Qing to retreat, but Wu Qing was stopped by Zhao Xing as soon as he raised his foot, and he turned his face to ask Wan Qiyong.

Wan Qianyong replied quite proudly: "The officials are very cooperative, speaking of which, they have all heard that the lord entered Gyeongju with a well-armored family army, and those who have good deeds inquired and found out about the adult's previous political achievements." They all have a deep respect for the adults, and now the children are also arriving. The officials were very cooperative, and they waited for the adults to take action to rescue Gyeongju. ”

Zhao Xingyi pointed at Wu Qing and said: "Give him a military order, let him go to Yanbian Huaiwei Village, Weibian Village, and Shengqiang Village, and summon the village chiefs of these three villages to come to me immediately, that's right." Let them come in a big cart. ”

Shuai Fan jumped up, clenched his fists and said, "I'll go with him and survey the terrain along the way." ”

Zhao Xingyi patted his head and said: "I remember that Mr. Mengxi once made a wood carving "Tianxia Prefecture County Map". There are a few children in Hangzhou who like to play with mud who have imitated it with sand, have those children arrived? Let them go with you. Tell them to look carefully along the way, and when you come back, make me a terrain sand table. ”

Shuai Fan made a gesture and hurried away with Wu Qing. Zhao Xing also instructed Wan Qianyong: "Brother Yayan, you have been working hard recently, taking back all the fields of the 100 officials in Gyeongju, planting the mochi seeds I brought, and letting Mizhou continue to transport mochi seedlings here." Try to sow 300,000 mu this year and 3 million mu next year. ”

Wan Qi sighed. said: "Mochi is not a cheap thing, it has been shipped all the way from Mizhou to Huanqing, and it is about to catch up with the price of gold......

Zhao Xing sighed: "Judging from the data: Dacao Valley is really a small investment, small risk, and large profit business, no wonder the Xixia people and Khitan people are tired of it!" ”

Wan Qianyong replied: "My lord, Shuai Fan's reminder just now is right, and his anger can not be vented." Small wins are big wins. My lord. It is not easy to dare to stand out of the village! No more blame, adults! ”

Zhao Xing nodded slowly. Wan Qianyong's hair was full of emotion, his hands and feet were very fast, and when he left the palace, he immediately summoned the officials to take action. When Shuai Fan and Wu Qing rushed to Gyeongju with the owners of the border cottages, the farmland near Gyeongju was already full of people, and even women and children were mobilized to work in the fields with sweat and rain.

Huaiwei Village, Weibian Village, Shengqiang Village three village owners found a strange phenomenon, every few fields have a horse riding children galloping back and forth, occasionally he also jumped off the horse, drilled into the field to reprimand a few times, hand in hand to plant a few mochi seedlings, those trained farmers smiled innocently, to no impatient expression.

When the three village owners arrived at the mansion, Zhao Xing was convening a meeting of businessmen, and Shuai Fan was used to it casually, so he didn't wait outside, and directly broke into the conference room with the three village owners.

Fortunately, there was nothing to discuss at the meeting, Zhao Xing was talking to the businessmen, and when he saw Shuai Fan coming in, he raised his hand and said, "Sit down." ”

When the three village owners came in, it was a white-haired old man who spoke, this person was named Feng Congyi, when Wang Shao "opened up the river and built a town and Tao army", he also adopted the means taken by Zhao Xing today - "recruiting merchants to do their land", he used public funds to lend silver money to merchants, "order interest to support military supplies", and let the merchants operate themselves to increase military expenses - according to the current words, it is army smuggling.

At that time, Feng Congyi came to the capital to "ask for hundreds of thousands" of money, less than a year, "to pay the public and private, more than enough", without a penny in arrears, since then he has stayed in the local area, looking for locals to marry, have children and establish a family business.

Shuai Fan only heard Feng Congyi patting his chest and saying: "The old man's son Feng Ning once saw the big man on the road, haha, the old man buys goods from Yangzhou all the year round, and he has also heard about the means of making money...... Don't say anything. Since you have come to Gyeongju, you can ask for money where you need it...... Hey, when Xining opened the border, Lord Wang had left more than 100 businessmen here, and now there are not many left, the old man only sees twenty or thirty acquaintances now, and the rest either returned to their hometowns, or died, or were taken captive by the Xia people, which is embarrassing to think about. ”

"Lord Wang did the right thing at the beginning", Zhao Xing said with a smile: "War, fighting for the ground is the material." Shaanxi is a barren land, and without the help of all the merchants, this war would not have been able to continue.

Since Mr. Feng knows my details, I think you businessmen also know more or less. I have recruited more than 1,000 craftsmen from Hangzhou, Yangzhou, and Mizhou, and they will serve for three years as agreed, and of course, if you can keep them here and put down roots, I have no objection.

As you know, I can't use so many craftsmen by myself, and besides, I am an official here, so it is not easy to compete with the people for profit. So, go back to my palm there is a list form. The craftsmen's specialties are recorded, and if you want to open a workshop, you can go and sign employment contracts with those craftsmen for two to three years—I will transfer their employment contracts to you. In the past three years, these masters have been responsible for training your apprentices, so the wages are a little higher, but I don't owe you much, because of what they produce. For the first three years, it was purchased by the government.

For example, I have a wind-powered waterwheel on hand. It is windy here in Shaanxi, and this waterwheel can use the wind to lift water to high ground. Watering the fields. During the rainy season or winter, when the farmland is not irrigated. This wind-powered waterwheel will not sit idle, it can be converted into a mill, an oil mill...... Wait a minute. Now I have ten craftsmen who will build and install wind turbines, and I plan to choose three of you and open three workshops at the same time. It is convenient for mass production of windmills.

In the first three years of your workshop, I made a fixed purchase from the Gyeongju government, used the land money subsidized by the imperial court to buy these wind-powered waterwheels, and built mills and small dams for the people of Gyeongju—I am not welcome, because I am the one who provides the drawings and the craftsmen who provide them. So there are two ways to deal with these drawings: one is a buyout. You pay a sum of money to buy the drawings, and then you hire a craftsman from me—you have to hire a craftsman at a price I have to set, and you pay him a little more. When the three-year term is over, and the craftsman is willing to leave, you must not hinder him. As for how to encircle the craftsmen, that's your business. I won't say more.

The other way is that you don't have to pay for it. It only produces, but when the government purchases it, it will purchase it at half price. The part of the drawing money that was not paid was paid by the government, so the government only paid half the price when purchasing, and did not restore the original price until the drawing money was paid - this method is suitable for small businessmen, and it can be regarded as a kind of virtue of the government. When the land money for the drawings is compensated for being clean, the workshop belongs to you, the drawings belong to you, and the government will continue to procure.

It should be noted that the government will also compensate these craftsmen. Then you don't have to interfere. They are willing to come to this war-torn place, on the one hand, because of my face, and on the other hand, because of the high salary. So don't look at the high salary you give, but the one you pay is only half of the salary, and the other half is subsidized by the government. The craftsmen promise to teach your apprentices for three years, but once they leave, they will never stop at Huanqing Road, so you don't have to worry about them opening up and priing you into the corners of the ground—this is guaranteed by the government. ”

Feng Congyi said without blinking: "My lord, what else is there besides the windmill, can we buy out a drawing exclusively and not allow other companies to produce it." ”

Zhao Xing said to himself: "In addition to the windmill drawings, I also have a kind of wire drawing machine and clamping machine...... I won't go into the rest, the wire drawing machine can draw iron into filament, which is used to weave Tang Pi armor, and can also be used in jewelry, and gold and silver into filaments - but treasure.

As for the pincer machine, which is what makes bows and arrows, I will add one more thing: all machinery that can be used as military must be subject to military control, and the government does not interfere with the amount of goods sold in these workshops, but the government has to examine who they sell to.

I can answer the question that Mr. Feng just asked like this: it is not possible to purchase drawings exclusively, firstly, because the government purchases a large amount of land, and a workshop may not be able to meet the purchase volume; The second is because my term of office is only three years, and after three years, you also repaid me for the drawings. When the next official comes, if the government continues to buy military funds, you will have to give people the opportunity to shop around. So three produce one thing, at least three. I have to sell three copies of each drawing, and if there are not enough to count, I will find merchants from other places, such as Yanlu merchants, to make up for the shortfall.

Don't worry, I've been in three states, and I know more than 10,000 merchants, as long as I send a letter and tell them that there is a good deal here, and I believe that they will run fast. Therefore, I will definitely be able to sell the shortage, and now it depends on how much you can eat. ”

The merchants burst out laughing.

The three village owners who came in just now heard something strange, and Shi Dang, the owner of Huaiwei Village, hurriedly interjected: "Can I participate in Huaiwei Village?" There are two hundred and thirteen strongmen in our village, although there is not much money left, but the villagers can make up some of the rest if they get together, and the rest ...... There is also a subsidy from the imperial court, I heard that the imperial court gave me 500,000 guan in Shaanxi, and when I entered the city, I had already heard that the 130,000 guan subsidy on Huanqing Road was fully transported into the treasury. ”

Huaiwei Zhai Shi Dare said that the other two village owners laughed, and they said in unison: "Since the imperial court has subsidies, we don't want food, and the money is exchanged for things, and the adults see what we should do in the three villages." Just say it. ”

It turned out that these three village owners came to Zhao Xing to empty gloves and white wolves.

Zhao Xingyi waved his sleeves and motioned for Wan Qiyong to step forward. The latter stepped forward and made a gesture to the merchants, and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following is to discuss the military situation, let's go to the side hall to talk, there are some drawings in the side hall, I will introduce the use of each kind of machinery to you, and I am willing to buy it." We went directly to the side hall to sign the agreement. ”

Feng Congyi stood up dissatisfied, and muttered, "I think back then, when I opened the border with Lord Wang Xining. But those who have made meritorious contributions, why can't I listen to the military situation? ”

Feng Congyi said so in his mouth. But the movement under his feet was very fast, for fear that the good things would be snatched away by others, and the other businessmen immediately reacted when they saw this, and they also rushed to the side hall.

Wait for the room to be quiet again. Zhao Xing spread out a stack of files, sighed and said: "I don't know that the situation is grim until Gyeongju, I am surrounded by Gyeonglu Town and Twenty-eight, a total of fifteen states, and there are 31,723 strong people, excluding the troops stationed in the state capitals. There are less than 500 strongmen left in each town and town, which is miserable! ”

The three owners of the village were saddened.

Shi Dangdi Huaiwei Village was at the forefront, and the other two villages were behind him, and he was the most qualified to speak, and said with tears in his eyes: "How can there be, my lord, five thousand people remain in the capital city of Gyeongju." There were also some garrisons in several large cities. There are about 1,000 people in each city, and it is our turn to be on the border. There are 300 strong people who are already considered a strong village - 500, ten times this number of people killed in the war in our village over the years, and how many are left.

When Lord Fan Zhongyan Fan passed through Huanqing Road for a while, he searched everywhere and could pick up guns, but there were only 18,000 people, and after Xining opened the border, we were relieved, but if we want to fight again, it is estimated that in another five years, we will not even be able to make up a thousand people. ”

Speaking of excitement, the three village owners howled and cried.

Zhao Xing waited for them to finish crying and calm down before he said: "Please forgive me, you three village masters are on the front line, so I can't give you anything, because I am worried that if I give you machinery, it will be captured by the Xixia people and then imitated."

Your difficulties, I can understand, I thought about a way, now let's talk about the issue of funds, the imperial court allocated 130,000 yuan to the entire Huanqing Road, relying on the ministers of the imperial court to think about state affairs, this money is not lacking, and the full amount is in place.

I have three ways to dispose of this money for you to choose, the first is to send half of it, and the other half will be procured by the government and distributed to you; The second type: I don't pay a penny, I will buy things and distribute them to you; The third type: send a fraction, that is, 10,000 guan, and the remaining dozen, 120,000 guan for material procurement.

You three village owners can choose at will, and they don't all have to choose the same. If you choose to give money, whether it's the first or the third, I'll give you your share of the land, how about it? ”

Shi Dang smacked his lips in disappointment and said, "Although 10,000 is less, it always smells of money - I choose the third one." ”

The other two village owners discussed in a low voice and replied: "This year's war mainly takes place in Huanzhou, but we estimate that this autumn and summer will focus on Gyeongju, and our two villages don't know how to deal with the autumn war, so they choose the second one, and everything depends on the arrangement of adults." ”

Zhao Xing snapped the dossier and said, "Have you ever heard that the grass and trees are all soldiers? ”

A smile appeared on the corner of Shi Kang's mouth and replied, "On Bagong Mountain." I've heard that. But can adults know spells and drive plants and trees as soldiers? ”

Shi Dang has been fighting outside all the year round, and he is a little unruly, just now the two village owners absolutely trusted Zhao Xing in unison, and let Zhao Xing distribute the court subsidies. In turn, it shows that his behavior of asking for money is extraordinary, and he has a fire in his heart, and he speaks very impulsively.

Zhao Xing's expression was solemn, not like a joke: "Yes, I don't have a spell, and I can't drive away the grass and trees, but the grass and trees can indeed be soldiers - my plan is called grass and trees as soldiers......

This time, I brought 20,000 stone grass seeds, and the rest of the grass seeds continue to be shipped here. I placed an order for 500,000 stone grass seeds in the name of the Huanqing Road Pacification Division. Use the money subsidized by the imperial court to buy, and the three of you can take back the grass seeds according to the amount of grass seeds you have shared, and my people will teach you to sow seeds—didn't you miss the spring ploughing, and quickly sow these grass seeds, maybe you can compensate for a year's income. As for the food, you don't have to worry, I will transport it for you, so that you will not go hungry this year. ”

The other two village owners thanked in unison, and their thanks were directed at Zhao Xing's second half of the sentence: "My lord guarantees that we will not be hungry, I believe this, and my lord has this ability." ”

Shi Dang asked the question in everyone's hearts: "Recruitment, could it be that these grass seeds are weapons?" ”

Zhao Xing nodded: "They are weapons, very powerful weapons." Let me introduce you to you, you Huaiwei Village is at the forefront, and I will prepare for you a kind of African grass seed, called Sudan grass. This kind of grass is sown with two catties of grass seeds per mu, and more than 200 stones of grass are harvested (one stone is about 59.2 kilograms, and the yield of Sudanese grass per mu is about 12 tons). ”

"200 Stone ——!" This number made the three village owners take a deep breath. The usual yield of about 10 stone per mu is already a high yield, and this kind of grass can produce 200 stones, which is simply a myth.

Hearing this, Shi Dang knocked his forehead hard, and only regretted it in his heart: "I'm really blinded by money, what did I ask for money just now, just grass seeds." ”

Zhao Xing then explained: "Although this grass has a high yield, you should pay attention to the fact that it is poisonous when it is young, and only the grass that grows to a foot high is not poisonous when it is cut, and it needs to be dried a little after mowing, and it is best to mix it with other grasses to feed the livestock, which can avoid poisoning of domestic animals - there are some tricks in this, and I will send someone to teach you later." ”

Shi Dang said repeatedly: "No problem, my lord, this grass grows so tall, even if the livestock don't eat it, it won't lose when it's dried as firewood." ”

Zhao Xing glanced at the three village owners sternly, and said: "What I told you today is confidential, you must be tight-lipped when you go back, and only let your close children and nephews know about the critical places." Shizhai master, this kind of grass, the first stubble must grow to four feet high before it can be cut, and the second stubble must be more than one foot before it can be mowed. It is used to raise livestock, preferably horses and cattle. Horses can be ridden and can be used in battle; Cattle can be cultivated, beef can be eaten, cowhides can be used to make armor.

Cattle and horses are fine, but it is better to raise horses in full, and I will ask the government to purchase a batch of horse-drawn disc ploughs and send them to you, this thing is faster to plow than oxen......

When the Tangut people came, you must remember that the grass in the fields should not be cut clean, leaving short stubble. Until then, be sure to keep an eye on your livestock and don't let them run into the fields where the grass has been cut to gnaw on the stubble to eat. The cattle and horses of the Tangut people were put into the fields, and they were only allowed to gnaw grass, but it had to be a short stubble of Sudan grass, so that the grass could not kill them. The poisoned cows, horses, chickens, ducks, and pigs don't have to be afraid, and the meat can still be eaten - but don't tell the three village owners of the Xixia people to laugh at this point, and the stone village master laughed to the end, with a hideous expression: "Yes, the cavalry of the Western Xia rushed to our village, and they have always liked to drive the war horses to our fields, so let them eat and die this time." ”

After a pause, Shi Dang asked greedily: "My lord just said that the grass and trees are soldiers, and I know the grass, but what about the wood?" ”