Zhao Zhen's eyes widened and he couldn't answer. Zhao Zhen knew very well what happened back then, what kind of teacher o, that was the way to paralyze the Khitan, and Zheng Lang had no choice but to do it. But if you really say it, it can also be said that Zheng Lang is a teacher (at this time, the meaning of teacher is not only the meaning of a teacher, but also represents a learned elder, which is slightly different from the meaning of later teachers).

Youjin solved the problem for him, Han Jiang said: "Your lord has been in the past few years, why didn't you listen to the envoy sent by your country to visit?" ”

"Han Yushi, in the past few years, I was confined to the domestic situation, and my lord did not send an envoy to visit Zheng Gong." Wang Tang replied without being arrogant or humble.

Zheng Lang and Xiao Yunjin are not very cold, after escaping from the Khitan, Xiao Yunjin has been fanning the flames in front of Liao Xingzong, but the mother and son are not very harmonious, and she fanning the flames has not played much role. Besides, he has been fighting with Western Xia for several years, and he is not in the mood for this.

Later, Liao Xingzong died, Yelu Hongji ascended the throne, and Xiao Yunjin became nǎinǎi for his mother, and his rights were heavier.

Yelu Hongji wouldn't be bored while she was alive.

Sort of a reply.

Han Jiang said again: "Zheng Gong went to Chuzhou, and the river control project was huge, and he couldn't return to Beijing. ”

Zheng Lang and Han Jiang have very little contact in the capital, but Han Jiang rarely impeaches Zheng Lang, almost none, and it is other imperial histories that are impeached, not Han Jiang's own. It's not easy for everyone to say, who is who's in. So to sum up, Pang Ji also has his own entry, Fu Bi is the same, and Han Qi is also the same. Among the counts, Zheng Lang did the most low-key, and there was no gap.

This matter should be divided into two layers, praise is a beautiful thing, it will spread good stories, and if it is not, it will give some ulterior motives to make a fuss.

It is better for Zheng Lang to stay in Chuzhou and not to meet with the Khitan envoys. What kind of story do you want, there are too many good stories of Zheng Lang now, and there is no need for this good story to be icing on the cake.

What is the teacher-student relationship with the Khitan Emperor, if you say, let the Khitan hand over the sixteen states of Youyun.

Zheng Lang is in Chuzhou, if there are nearly a thousand miles to Chuzhou, they are all the core areas of the Song Dynasty, although he is a Khitan envoy, he can't run blindly. It was not during the war between Qingli and Western Xia at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, when the monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty were afraid of being attacked on both sides, and they had to be aggrieved by the Khitan.

Wang Tang did not force it, and said: "When I came, I heard that your country has built a grand canal in order to control the river. ”

Zhao Zhen said: "There is such a thing, which is mainly used to regulate the flow of the Yellow River. ”

There is also irrigation navigation, these two roles can not be underestimated, a canal will make many areas become the land of fish and rice, and they are all more economically developed areas in the Song Dynasty, once navigable, the economy has a great boost. Not to mention anything else, it is the grain and grass materials required to be transferred to Hebei for a year, which will save a huge amount of money. Zheng Langwei said that more than ten years later, there was a great drought in Hebei in the Northern Song Dynasty, and it was not possible to rely on the national warehouse grain alone.

These two roles alone could not make the imperial court support the construction of a new canal. Unless the imperial court agrees to move Kyoto to Qizhou (Jinan) or Qingzhou.

The main role is to control the Yellow River.

Wang Tang said again: "Your Majesty, I heard that the new canal is going to be built to Cangzhou? ”

"Yes."

"Your Majesty, during the Qingli period, our two countries signed an alliance not to build any fortresses or other fortifications in the border states, including the excavation of the Tangbo River, Cangzhou is already close to Youzhou, and your country has violated the original covenant by doing so, and it is such a large canal."

"Wang Qing, this is an unfortunate move, Fu Qing, you take out the map of river governance and show it to the four envoys." Zhao Zhen said.

There is no way.

Theoretically, Hebei and Kaifeng and Chuzhou, Kaifeng Hai Dial is the highest, followed by Chuzhou, and finally Cangzhou, which refers to the average sea dial, from the point of view of the river sea dial, Chuzhou and Kaifeng River plane height is not much different, if then through the steep door adjustment, you can realize the strategy of Huai water backflow into the Yellow River. Part of it promotes the winter navigation capacity of Bianshui, and part of it is to wash away the sediment of the Yellow River. The main body of river control is to open navigation and irrigation, and the second is to reduce waterlogging. All kinds of adjustment measures are not only for river sediment, but also for irrigation functions. In the dry season, the steep gate is used to fill the northern river. The water is quickly discharged during the flood season. Regardless of the sea or the height of the river, Cangzhou is the lowest, and it is close to the sea, so it has become the most important part of river governance.

The Khitan was worried that Cangzhou would also be chosen, because it was close to the sea and could quickly drain the water. If you retreat to the west, it's okay, the Khitan is not good to object, but if you retreat to the west, it will become what Zheng Lang said, far away from the estuary, plus the Taihang Mountains and rivers come, there will still be something wrong in Hebei. In addition, the river has a retention time, the sediment settles, and the northern lakes will disappear one by one and lose their military function.

But it is reasonable for the Khitan to be worried, a Grand Canal directly into the front line will not help the Khitan, unless the Khitan can train a naval army and improve shipbuilding technology, is it possible? The Song Dynasty was able to quickly use this canal to transport all kinds of weapons, grain and grass to the front line and launch an attack on the Khitan.

In fact, the Song Dynasty has always been obsessed with the sixteen states of Youyun.

No matter how Fu Bi explained, several messengers just didn't believe it.

In fact, if you engage in water conservancy in your own country, what does it matter to the Khitan?

What to do, if it is soft, you have to look at the face of the family. Not only is the Khitan the big brother, but also the later generations Ah San and Xiao Yue, who also protested against China's water conservancy. And then explain it repeatedly, why bother! Even such a country has to explain, where did the blood and courage go?

But the Khitan is not Ah San and Xiao Yue, if they really fall out, the Song Dynasty will also have a headache.

The banquet broke up unhappily.

Zhao Zhen wrote an edict and sent it to Chuzhou with special feet, the avenue, and it was only four or five years to go back and forth.

Zheng Lang was also having a headache at this time.

In the beginning, there was not much labor, and the officials were not troubled, and in a hurry, Zheng Lang issued an order that the construction should reach at least one ding of the households below the third grade in the counties through which the construction passed, and at least one of the households of the heads of households must come to the construction site.

If you don't come, you have to force you to come.

In neighboring states and counties where there is no project, fifty percent of the people must come to work on the construction site. At one time, the labor force reached 1.4 million income.

It can't be said to be laborious.

The treatment is still okay, and the imperial court gives him money or grain equivalent to three taels of money every month. Zheng Lang is in charge, there is little corruption, and there is, but he doesn't dare to be greedy, he changes his way to be greedy, he doesn't dare to be greedy, and ninety percent of it can enter the pockets of the people.

The food is prepared by itself, but as a salary, some grain, salt or vegetables are sent down, and some simple shovels and baskets are brought by themselves, complex instruments, or expensive tools, all of which are borne by the imperial court, and at the same time, materials such as work sheds are also borne by the imperial court. Every five years also provide a pound of pork free of charge, bad and bad rest, if there is no bad bad weather, half a month has two holidays. In fact, saving one province, a month, can save nearly two dollars. At least for households below the fifth class, it is a lot of compensation income.

However, there are some fourth-class households in the middle, or those who have something to do at home, or those who are hired by the main household and the merchants.

A forcible order caused a part of the income to complain, accounting for a small proportion, but the number of income is too much, even if it accounts for one percent, there are more than 10,000 people who are dissatisfied.

The chun festival is coming, everyone is on holiday together, Zheng Lang hesitates, chun farming is coming, while the construction, the people want to put it back, can not delay the production of chun farming, but the project will not stop, it is completely voluntary. If the situation at home is not good, or if the labor is sufficient, let them voluntarily stay, not only in March, but also in Xiaxiao. It's just that there is less labor, and it doesn't have much effect on the progress of the project. Either the local soldiers and other soldiers, they can also spare part of their labor.

The Lantern Festival and February must be caught.

Either reduce complaints, only restrict households below the fifth class, and let the fourth-class households listen to their ziyou. But there will be a shortage of labor. Either ignore the complaints and forcibly recruit again.

was talking to Cheng Shimeng: "After the autumn, we can't go on like this, we have to transport and help the people from farther states and counties." ”

This is further away, that is, the people in areas like Shuzhou or Chizhou also have to come to Huainan Road, organized by the government.

Cheng Shimeng said: "But it's too late." ”

After a few months, Cheng Shimeng's hair was almost gray, saying that Lingnan was difficult to treat and fierce, but in fact, compared with these roads, Lingnan didn't know how much better. After a winter quarrel, I haven't made it clear yet, and I may have to continue to quarrel after the autumn.

Zheng Lang pondered.

At this moment, the envoy quickly delivered the edict.

After Zheng Lang heard this, his face was very calm, and he had already been prepared, but he didn't say it. said: "I will write a letter back, and I can send the Khitan away." ”

The canal must be repaired to Cangzhou, if the sixteen states of Youyun are taken, it must be rebuilt to Youzhou, Youzhou does not necessarily have to be the capital, but it must be used as an important town in the north, and the existence of this important town can consolidate the security of the front line and the rear of Gyeonggi.

The letter was soon brought to the capital.

A very simple way to stone the Khitan to death with money.

The Song Dynasty and the Western Xia stopped fighting, and stopped giving to the Western Xia. Spending this money on the Khitan is not given, nor can it be given, once the front is given, the appetite in the back is raised, and it cannot be collected. Relatively speaking, the lack of livestock in the north in the Song Dynasty was not as serious as in the south, but there was still a lack of large livestock.

provided a large order to the Khitan, and released a rumor that the Song Dynasty wanted to buy two million oxen and donkeys from the Khitan, not horses. Over the years, many horses have been bought, and the number of horses in the entire north has almost reached more than 500,000, and some of the main families can have several horses, which can not only farm, but also pull carts for travel, which is very majestic. It is not possible to buy a horse by entering the house, but real carriages can be seen everywhere, not the original ox carts.

However, there were few good horses bought, and neither the Western Xia nor the Khitan sold real good horses to the Song Dynasty. Even if the Western Xia was reversed from obstruction, the good horses were intercepted and replaced with the bad horses of the country.

Including Tibet, not many good horses were provided.

There were good horses, most of them from the Northwest War, and a few of them were smuggled in. All of them are raised in several states on the northwestern margin. Not much, only a little more than 100,000 horses, Zheng Lang has also played many times, can not be raised in the capital, the capital pastoral supervisor has not closed, there are also horses, horses are not very good, the right to the capital cavalry to practice riding.

For these horses, the Song Dynasty suffered a lot of losses, but it was not a big problem to use it to pull carts for ploughing.

At least with horses, some teenagers can learn to ride when they are young, and more people can ride horses.

This goal has also been achieved.

If you spend a lot of money to buy horses just to plough the land and pull the cart, the gains outweigh the losses.

Therefore, it is more reasonable to buy large animals such as cows, donkeys, mules, and camels without mentioning horses. Khitan horses can also be sold, and some good horses must be matched.

It just so happened that the Khitan war lasted longer than in history, the people lived more hard, and there were some contradictions in the economy. The release of this big order will make many Khitan magnates lower their noble heads. But it's not a one-year purchase, it's divided into four or five years, even if the canal is repaired to Cangzhou, this transaction can't be stopped.

Looking at this big order, the Khitan will not be wordy, when the canal is repaired and the raw rice is cooked and matured, can it still force the Song Dynasty to destroy the canal?

Wang Anshi said: "Gong Zheng, this is a good idea. ”

"It's not a good idea, the country is not strong, otherwise don't talk about the Grand Canal, it's the Prancing Horse Youzhou, what can the Khitan do?"

"I feel like I'm strong enough now."

"Still no, rich does not mean strong, strong not only to make the country rich, the people live and work in peace and contentment, but also to have a military force that is enough for self-protection, self-improvement and enterprising jingshen, the latter two are lacking in our dynasty. Even if artillery and other weapons are really produced in large quantities, and without the spirit of enterprising and self-improvement, the country cannot be regarded as strong. And this is what I am most worried about, I am afraid that after the self-dynasty is overcorrected, the introverted jing god formed will become the mainstream of China, and that is the harm to the national income. ”

"Why?" Sima Guang asked.

"Foreign insults, think about it, I can't be regarded as a faint lord for several generations of kings, this is rare, the country has been established for nearly a hundred years, and it is rare to meet a faint lord, and there has never been a faint lord in history, but foreign insults are constant. What would happen if you met another unconscious master? It will be divided among foreign insults. Not only the powerful nomads of the north, but the world is huge, especially in the West. Once the productive forces develop, that will be the real harm to our China. The country is introverted, heavy on internal fighting, and lacks self-improvement to the outside world, and the people are industrious, which will inevitably produce a lot of wealth and cause foreign enemies to be greedy. ”

"Harm to future generations." Cheng Shimeng interjected coldly.

"Exactly, but it's also hard to return," Zheng Lang sighed, and said: "Junshi, Jiefu, the imperial court Yu awarded you the Longtu Pavilion Straight Bachelor, and you will accept it, but you have to resign a few more times." ”

At the end of winter, Zhao Zhen also wanted to reuse the two in, so that Sima Guang would be the judge of the Zhiji Pavilion and the Judgment of the Branch, and Wang Anshi would be the judge of the Degree Branch, the Wailang of the Ancestral Department, and the initiates of the Zhiji Xian Academy, which was a sign that it would be of great use.

However, governing the river really needs Sima Guang and Wang Anshi.

The canal is complicated, and it is not enough to just enter He Tan, Hu Su, and Xiang Chuanshi. These two students, one is paranoid, the other is a cowardly minister, Shengsheng tore the Song Dynasty in half, and then tore it again, but when he started to do things, He Tan's three into one piece, not as good as Wang Anshi's one.

Without Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, Zheng Lang presided over this river control, which will be even more sad.

Therefore did not put.

The imperial court then made compensation and granted the second entry into the Longtu Pavilion as a direct scholar.

"For the sake of the country, I don't care," Mr. Wang replied.

"You have gradually reached the age of no confusion, and you can't delay any longer, but do some concessions in moderation."

"Why?" Da Su leaned over and said.

I don't quite understand that Liu Chang's march made many people open a window, and the imperial court ordered that the scholars should be postponed again and again before they were willing to take up their posts. But Zheng Lang really didn't. Either it is not accepted, whether it is ten edicts or twenty edicts, it is not acceptable. If you want to accept it, you don't push it, you will accept the edict immediately, and even take the initiative to ask for power. It seems to be about the same, but the quality of xing is completely different. The scholars and doctors only accept it in a good name, not accept it.

Liu Chang took into account the face of the three prime ministers, and did not say it too plainly, and after he finished speaking, he did not say anything more.

In fact, Zheng Lang was very disgusted by this kind of counterfeiting atmosphere.

Now let Wang Anshi and Sima Guang hypocritically push back, Su Dongpo is puzzled.

"Either you don't want to be an official, or you can't be high, the sea is up and down, it's not for the officials to adapt to you, no one has that ability, you have to adapt to the entire officialdom," Zheng Lang finished and sighed. Gao Feng Liang Festival, who doesn't want to o, but can that do good things?

This sentence was said very gloomy, but Zheng Lang's four students and Cheng Shimeng were all pondering.

"Gong Zheng, I see, Clavicle Bodhisattva." Su Zhe said.

Da Su glared at Xiao Su fiercely.

The clavicle bodhisattva comes from Tang Jin's notebook novel, saying that there is a woman in Yanzhou Taipingzhai, with white skin, quite a posture, twenty-four or five years old, and walking alone in the city. If there is a young son who has a relationship with him, he will recommend a pillow, and no one will refuse. Died a few years later, the state is not sad, what a good black fungus o, not a penny, to solve the physiological problems of many male compatriots. Therefore, the money was paid for his burial. Suddenly, a monk came to the west, saw the tomb and knelt down, saluted and burned incense. Everyone was puzzled, saying that this longitudinal woman was buried here because she had no home. Why do great monks worship evil? The monk said, not known to the donors, this is the great sage, the clavicle bodhisattva, who gives compassion and joy, and ignites the world. The crowd does not believe, open the tomb to test it, regard its bones all over the body, hook like a lock, and the fruit is like the monk's words. The state was amazed, and in order to set up a great fast, a tower was erected in the city.

Zheng Lang looked at Da Su and felt funny, don't you read these notebook novels?

However, the meaning of what Zheng Lang said is similar to this legend.

If you want to influence officialdom, you must first adapt to officialdom and establish a reputation before you can influence officialdom.

After the letter arrived, Pang Ji had experience and set up a banquet for the four envoys in the post house, and the matter was vaguely stated during the banquet.

The four envoys didn't dare to call the shots, so they could only say, report back when they go back, and give the Song Dynasty another answer.

But the opposition of the four envoys worried some ministers. Even if the Song Dynasty was not afraid of the Khitan invasion, because of the control of the river, the court would be very nervous, at this time, if it fought with the Khitan again because of a canal, would it be worth it?

I didn't dare to oppose the control of the river, just a meteor fell to the southwest, where did it fall, with the current conditions, I am afraid it is difficult to find the relevant meteorite. But this meteor is very big, and the civil official astrology is a dog. Fan Shidao wrote and said: "The Han and Jin dynasties are young, and the dogs are under them, killing the generals for breaking the army, and the corpses are bleeding." Gan's picture, the dog falls, and the big thief rises. Today, the court is not doing nothing, and it is preparing for thieves, and it has not seen it. Although there are generals, if they are not old, they are stupid, although there are many soldiers, there are few brave people. Yi Di can protect also, such as the state and county? The state and county can also be protected, such as thieves? Small into the confusion, waiting for the gap is to do, there must be a hidden danger, take advantage of the intermittent move. It is advisable to choose generals, train soldiers, and prevent them from happening. ”

I don't know if the big thief he is referring to is an internal thief or a Khitan.

Wang Tao wrote again: "Last year's ri's food, this year's star fall, are all in Zhengdan." The main soldier of the dog should be guarded against. Please edict Chinese and foreign people to raise wisdom and martial arts to prepare for the generals. Today's martial arts are too light, and it is advisable to imitate the Tang Dynasty system and set up departments, and give preferential treatment to officials, as if recruiting soldiers and Wu Ran. ”

So Ouyang Xiu put on a long song, saying that Hebei, Hebei soldiers are lazy, and all kinds of others, anyway, it's not good. said six or seven disadvantages of Hebei, some of them were right, and some of them were wrong. When it comes to repairing the river, although it is good to control the river, the people below are too busy and eager to seek merit. If we can't do this, even if we slow down for a year or two, we can't harsh the people, and we can also alleviate the state finances.

Anyway, it has nothing to do with him, and the slower the better, no matter whether it is two or three divisions, the pressure can be relieved.

Zheng Lang didn't pay much attention to these twists and turns.

He didn't believe that in the face of the big order of the Song Dynasty, with the current embarrassing finances of the Khitan, the powerful people were not moved. As soon as you take the bait, the controversy stops.

Instead, he focused on another major event that he didn't pay attention to.

Tang Jie's play, reflecting the border state army on the edge of Hebei, many poor soldiers picked the apple, that is, a kind of reed, when it grew up in early summer, it was very fresh and tender, and could be used as the best livestock feed. The generals asked the soldiers to pick these cattails to buy money, and let the soldiers pay money every time, called land money, to enter the minister's money, but whether they entered or not, it is estimated that only the generals themselves know, but the court did not have this rule. Tang Jie asked the imperial court to issue an edict prohibiting it.

It's not that simple, but everyone is negligent together.

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