Ren Liang listened to the shouting behind him, and also secretly praised Chao Yong's old spicy, a sudden event, but Chao Yong received a lot of goods.

After today, the northwest will spread the news of the prince's love for the people.

The matter that Chao Yong promised had almost no impact on the overall situation. The Western Xia launched an invasion of 400,000 troops, and I am afraid that the salt makers have all gone on the expedition, even if the Western Xia is still making salt, but the border soldiers and horses must also be heavily guarded, and the salt dealers will not be able to bring in much salt.

In exchange for an innocuous thing to win the hearts of the people, how could such a prince be a simple martial artist. Of course, it is also possible that the crown prince is simply out of love for the people. If this is the case, then it will be a blessing for the people of the world.

Although the people behind did not know what was happening, they heard the people in front of them shouting, and they all shouted along.

When I arrived at the government, I was purified.

Ren Liang had already prepared a banquet in the side hall, so he invited the prince to take a seat.

After being full of wine and food, Ren asked the prince to serve tea in the lobby.

Chao Yong exchanged a few words with Ren Liang, and then said: "Ren Gong was a transfer envoy in Shaanxi before, so he must know this green salt very well, and I asked Ren Gong to solve my doubts." ”

Ren Liang said: "Green salt is produced in the area of Yanzhou and Lingzhou in Western Xia, and it is called green salt because of its blue color." The quality of this green salt is pure, and the Western Xia is rich in green salt, so the price is also very low. Therefore, the people of the northwest are more willing to use green salt. If it weren't for the imperial court's ban on the sale of green salt, I'm afraid that the salt in Hedong Jiechi would not be able to sell a pound in the northwest.

Because of the large production of green salt in Western Xia, once it was allowed to be bought and sold freely, Western Xia could obtain a large amount of money. Therefore, when Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty forbade the sale of green salt in Western Xia, those who smuggled green salt were severely punished. But because there are a lot of people in Shaanxi, they are poorer, and they prefer cheap and delicious green salt compared to salt. Therefore, many things came out, and even many people who belonged to the Song Dynasty defected to Western Xia. So the ban was also removed several times.

After Li Yuanhao founded the country, Sanchuankou, Haoshuichuan, and Dingchuanzhai defeated the Song army and forced the Song Dynasty to negotiate peace. Li Yuanhao's letter of state asked the Song Dynasty to allow the Western Xia to sell 100,000 stone blue salt to the Song Dynasty every year. However, Ouyang Xiu, Bao Zheng and others all thought that this ban could not be opened, so Song Shenzong only agreed to a few fields and could trade green salt in a certain amount. The attitude towards green salt is still mainly prohibited. ”

When Chao Yong heard this, he couldn't help but shake his head and said: "They are afraid that the money will flow into Western Xia, but they agree to give Western Xia New Year coins, isn't this self-deception." ”

Ren Liang couldn't explain to the Song Dynasty, so he could only continue: "After Song Shenzong, the Song Dynasty's policy towards Western Xia has not changed much. Even a few years ago, Tong Guan continued to use troops against Western Xia. The market is also symbolically trading green salt. ”

Chao Yongqi said: "What's the matter with the man saying that there are a lot of smugglers of green salt?" ”

"In the early years, most of the smugglers of green salt were illegal businessmen, because the green salt of Western Xia was cheap and of good quality, so although the imperial court repeatedly ordered it, the phenomenon of smugglers was still relatively serious. In the past two years, some generals under Tong Guan have been hawking, so the problem of smuggling green salt has become more and more serious. ”

Speaking of which, Ren Liang also shook his head helplessly.

Chao Yong frowned and said, "Hasn't Tong Guan always wanted to pacify Western Xia? How can you let your subordinates be enemies. ”

Ren forged and said: "In the first year of Xuanhe, Tong Guan asked Liu Fa to send troops to attack Lingzhou, the hinterland of Western Xia, but Liu Fa was defeated. 100,000 mourners. When the natural god general Liu Fa died, Tong Guan knew that he could not destroy the Western Xia, and he would no longer use troops against the Western Xia. Instead, he thought about recapturing the sixteen states of Yanyun and becoming the first eunuch prince. The moths under his command also began to sell green salt for a profit. ”

"Didn't anyone report it?"

Ren forgave and said: "This matter was acquiesced by the Song Dynasty. The monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty were bent on planning to attack Liao with Jin, and the savings of the treasury were exhausted by the construction of palaces over the years. In order not to delay the major event of Lianjin's attack on Liao, the Song Dynasty has been looting the people in the past two years and pooling military expenses to attack Liao. Hundreds of thousands of Western troops consume 20 million or 30 million yuan of silver every year. The Song Dynasty wished that the Western Army could solve the problem of money and food by itself. ”

Chao Yong glared and said, "The Western Army consumes twenty or thirty million yuan every year? ”

After the Great Liang destroyed the Song Dynasty, the income from copying the homes of Cai Jing and other traitors far exceeded Su Yuanjing's expectations, and more than 50 million yuan was copied in gold, silver and cash alone. There are countless mansions, land, and valuables.

Chao Yong originally thought that he could support two or three years with this money, but he didn't expect the northwest to spend money like this.

Ren Liang nodded and said: "There are about 300,000 forbidden troops in the northwest, and the salary alone is five million yuan a year. The consumption of grain transportation from the Central Plains to the northwest is very large, and the annual cost of purchasing military rations is more than 10 million guan, and the repair of military armor will not be less than 25 million guan, and half of the taxes paid by the Song Dynasty are consumed on the six roads in Shaanxi. ”

Chao Yong didn't expect to win the northwest and accommodate the most effective Western army of the Song Dynasty, but he also found a big money-eater.

But this is a headache for the prime ministers, so let's leave it to them.

Chao Yong couldn't think of a reason, so he didn't think about it anymore, and instead said: "Liu Fa is known as a natural god general? ”

Ren Liang nodded and said: "Well, but this title is not self-proclaimed, but said by Brother Cha, the king of Western Xia and Jin, and it is spread between the two countries." Liu Fa led the troops to fight, won more and lost less, and defeated Brother Cha, the king of the Western Xia and Jin Dynasty, twice, so that Brother Cha lamented that Liu Fa was a natural general, and the two armies were fighting, and they had to avoid Liu Fa's soldiers. He became famous earlier than the old race, and in those years the Western Xia people could be said to be frightened, but unfortunately in the first year of Xuanhe, Tong Guan underestimated the enemy, forcing Liu Fa to lead his troops deep into the hinterland of Western Xia, and unfortunately died. Otherwise, General Liu Fa and Lao Chong Jing were sitting in the northwest, and Western Xia might not dare to invade. ”

Chao Yong naturally didn't believe that with two people in charge, Western Xia would not invade, but if he could be forgiven for such an evaluation, it could also show Liu Fa's prestige.

"Ren Gong has served in Shaanxi for many years, and he must know a lot about the affairs of the Northwest, I don't know what Ren Gong taught me?"

Ren Liang thought for a while and said, "Since the prince asked, I will dare to say a few words, and if there is anything wrong, please bear with the prince." ”

Chao Yong said with a smile: "Ren Gong said that it is okay, there is no need to shy away from it." I came from a reckless background, and everyone went straight to the point. ”

After the decline of the Tang Dynasty, Shaanxi was controlled by Tubo, and the Han people in the territory were all Tuboized to form tribes. It was not until the Song Dynasty conquered Shaanxi that these tribes began to sinicize again. In fact, the six roads in Shaanxi that the Song Dynasty could fully control were Yongxing Army, Yanyan Road, Huanqing Road, Jingyuan Road, and Qinfeng Road. Xihe Road was originally controlled by Qingtang Qiang, although during the Xining period, Wang Shao captured Xi, Min, Tao Prefecture, but the capture of Qingtang City was only more than ten years. Therefore, many places on Xihe Road are still controlled by many Fanren tribes, and the Song Dynasty can control the state city. Western Xia did not have to bother to send troops to attack the states of Xihe Road, as long as they provoked the surrounding tribes, they could make Xihe Road chaotic. In particular, there is a Tibetan prince Yima Dangzheng alive, this person is the prince of Qingtang Qiang, Qingtang Qiang has been destroyed for more than ten years, and he is still very prestigious among the tribes of Tubo. If this person takes the opportunity to start an incident, I'm afraid that Western Xia will not be pleased. At the beginning, the Qingtang and Qiang occupied the Huangshui Basin, and they were very prosperous by relying on the Silk Road, which could once affect the strategic balance of the Song Dynasty and the Western Xia. ”

Chao Yong was surprised: "In this way, I'm afraid that this Yima Party Zheng will not let go of the opportunity to return to the country." ”

Ren Liang nodded and said, "I'm afraid that's the case, but it's better for the Yima Party to conquer the country than for the Western Xia to seize the Hehuang region." ”

"What Ren Gong said is that it is stronger than fattening Western Xia. Ren Gong continued. ”

"Speaking of the other five roads, when Song Renzong was in power, he divided Shaanxi into four roads: Qinfeng, Jingyuan, Huanqing, and Yanyan, saying that it was to strengthen defense, but in fact, it was not without the intention of guarding against military generals. After all, there were hundreds of thousands of soldiers in Shaanxi, and the Song Dynasty was the most taboo for military generals who had too much military power and divided them into four roads, and the Song Dynasty was also more relieved. However, there are many things that do not help each other, and I am afraid that this matter will still do more harm than good. Most of the tribes in these four roads were Han people who were Tibetanized in those years, and they have basically resumed the life of Han people in recent years. However, a small number of real Fanren tribes are still unruly, especially near the Western Xia, and sometimes some tribes defect to the Western Xia. When Xiaguan was the deputy envoy of Shaanxi Province, Li Zhenduo led more than 10,000 people to defect. ”

Chao Yong said: "I'm afraid their defection is still a problem of the Song Dynasty, right?" ”

Ren Liang nodded and said, "What the prince said is true." Most of them were because of the heavy taxes paid by the imperial court, and their lives could not be sustained, or the border officials bullied the Fanren tribe, causing them to defect. Then there is the question of national defense strategy, in order to resist the invasion of Western Xia, the Song Dynasty built fortresses on a large scale. A large amount of timber is needed to build a fortress, and many people feel that the mountains and trees have spirits, and many people are dissatisfied with the large-scale cutting down of mountains and forests. In addition, there are also some border officials who cut down a large number of trees without permission, and the trees are lined up and sold to the interior for profit. A few years ago, there was a rebellion against the woodcutters. There are also some tribes because of the problem of salt wells, many Fan tribes have salt wells, but the Song Dynasty salt is controlled. Those tribes were forced to sacrifice the salt wells, and their hearts were naturally dissatisfied. ”

This can be regarded as a difference in faith, the Han people may also laugh at the ignorance of the Fanren, how can trees have spirits.

Chao Yong thought for a while and said: "The problem of taxation by the imperial court is easy to solve, and now my Daliang has exempted all harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, only commercial taxes are left, and the burden on the people is very light." The construction of the fort is a military aspect, and I can call the shots and stop. However, the issue of Yanjing involves the finances of the imperial court, and it needs to be discussed by the imperial court. ”

Ren Liang nodded and said: "I'm afraid the imperial court will not agree to hand over the salt well to the Fanren, and the quality of Rong salt in the northwest is also very good, and some are not even worse than green salt." Yanli was also a major tax in the Song Dynasty, with a maximum of 40 million guan a year, and usually 20 or 30 million guan. Now that the imperial court has been exempted from harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, this salt profit is even more important. ”

Chao Yong was dumbfounded and said: "Salt is so profitable? ”

Ren Liang nodded and said: "The imperial court controls the sale of salt, and the salt is only a few cents per catty, but it is sold to merchants for dozens of wen, and the people are indispensable to eat salt, so the profits are naturally very large." (To be continued......)