In today's chaotic situation, it is easy to lay ground, but it is time-consuming and patient to operate and consolidate.

Fortunately, there is Zhu Ming, who has rich experience in governance, Meng Jiucheng's various policies, Mu Yi, Chen Daotong, Hu Shufang and others who started with him and gradually matured, as well as more and more scholars who have been recruited.

But before leading the army to attack Rizhao County, Meng Jiucheng still gave an explanation to Chen Daotong and others in Foshou Bay.

The slightly salty and wet smell wafted in the distance, the sea breeze blew in your face, and the blue sky and white clouds in the distance reflected the endless sea. White waves kiss the sand, lap against the reef, and splash countless droplets.

In the future, Lanshan Port is still just a small fishing village, but its geographical location is superior, the port conditions are good, and Meng Jiucheng has already planned to start developing.

"Houses and houses shall be built there for the hospitality of foreign merchants; There shall be a storehouse to be used as a place for the storage of goods; There are ...... trestle bridges," Meng Jiucheng pointed to the places one by one according to the drawings he had drawn, and said, "You all know that the food shortage will become more and more serious, and if we can purchase grain from outside, our army will not only be able to maintain its morale and continue to grow, but also be able to help the displaced people and the living. Therefore, the construction of the port should be stepped up, and foreign businessmen should also be treated with generous courtesy......"

"In addition, relying on the mountains to eat the mountains, relying on the water to draft water, building salt farms, and expanding marine fishing are also a way to solve the food shortage. Recruit shipwrights and sailors, build ships, and step up ......"

"With the boat, you can open the water access to the base area, from Zhonglou Town to the Xun River, you can go to Tianhu, and I don't know how much faster the transportation of people and goods......

"Now the manpower is a little tight, you have to work harder. In normal times, it is also necessary to find more talents, especially ...... who are proficient in business and trade."

A lot has been said, a lot has been said, and the central idea is to "build ports, attract foreign businessmen, and open waterways". As for shipbuilding and expanding fishing operations, they can only be small vessels, which is a limitation of technology, materials, and personnel, and it is not easy to solve it.

Therefore, Meng Jiucheng had no choice but to temporarily put the grand idea of building a water division and crisscrossing the sea on the shelf. Even if he develops smoothly in the future and can concentrate on developing a water master, it will be difficult for his dream to be realized without seven or eight years or more than ten years of work.

Zhu Ming appreciated this very much, and also gave Meng Jiucheng great respect in front of outsiders. Write down Meng Jiucheng's explanations one by one, and suggested with a smile: "When the conditions are ripe in the future, I think we can establish a separate institution similar to the City Department to manage foreign trade." ”

Meng Jiucheng thought for a while, immediately agreed, and said with a smile: "Lord Zhu's suggestion is really good. I think that the name of the city department can be changed to customs, and rules and regulations for inspection, collection, extraction, trade, and other affairs can be drawn up, and the merchants can know about it. ”

"It's really inappropriate to call the city." Zhu Ming pondered for a moment and said, "Let's use the name chosen by the general and call it Customs!" ”

"General, do you think that you can give certain rewards to those who can attract merchants to come to trade?" A young scribe bowed down and said, "Many displaced people choose to go south to avoid chaos, and if they know that they can get money, they will definitely make efforts to publicize it or actively solicit it. ”

Meng Jiucheng's eyes lit up, he looked at the young scribe seriously, and said without hiding his appreciation: "Okay, this method is good." Your name is Liang Wendong, right? ”

"Yes, lowly Liang Wendong."

"Well, good job." Meng Jiucheng nodded vigorously, "Make more suggestions in the future, and ask Lord Zhu for advice, his experience in governance is a valuable asset." ”

Zhu Ming smiled, knowing that this was Meng Jiucheng's respect, and he also hoped that he would promote this Liang Wendong more.

"There's nothing else to do, so and now I'm leaving." Meng Jiucheng bowed to everyone, "When the place was first occupied, I bothered you to work a lot, and the operation and governance were stable as soon as possible." ”

Everyone hurriedly returned the salute, watched Meng Jiucheng walk towards his own soldiers, took the reins, turned around and beckoned, and then left.

"General Meng rose in troubled times, loved the people with benevolence, and won many battles without defeat; Although he is young, he is thoughtful and good at accepting advice, and he is a real hero! Liang Wendong seemed to be complimentary, seemed to be emotional, and opened his mouth to speak.

Zhu Ming nodded and said, "Troubled times create heroes, and time is also lucky." If you wait for your dedication today, you will have a good future in the future. ”

……………

Why do you let people repay, why do you let people follow you, is it the domineering spirit of the traverser, or do you let them see the hope of the future?

Glory and wealth, a good future! For Meng Jiucheng, who does not even have complete control over the two counties and has less than 10,000 horses in his hands, even if he makes a promise, is it really convincing?

Leading the team to set off, Meng Jiucheng, who was riding on a horse, and Master Wang Zhongfeng were talking and thinking a little cranky.

"General." Han Shouzhong urged the horse from behind, a horse's head behind Meng Jiucheng, and said cautiously: "There should be no accident when our army captures Rizhao County. After that, he felt that he could take advantage of the victory to continue to enter Mizhou (now Zhucheng) in the north, or attack Juzhou in the east to expand the strategic space. ”

Meng Jiucheng smiled, gently slapped his combat boots with a horsewhip, and said slowly: "Han Tong, according to you, how will our army deal with itself in the future?" Will it continue to develop independently, or will it be attached to the Red Jacket Army, or will it be attached to the Song Dynasty and Jin? ”

Han Shouzhong only paused slightly, and then opened his mouth to answer, which showed that he had considered this.

"The decline of the Jin Kingdom is already very obvious, like a leaky boat, it is difficult to last long, who wants to jump on it? The rabble of the Red Jacket Army is difficult to achieve; Song Ting was weak, and he was afraid that he would not be able to see it because of fear of gold. Han Shouzhong vetoed three at once, but Meng Jiucheng knew that he was right.

Han Shouzhong glanced at Meng Jiucheng's noncommittal look, and continued: "I think that independent development is the best policy to observe the changes in the current situation; The middle strategy is to vote for the Song Dynasty and use the money and grain of the Song Dynasty to support the army; If you can't vote for the Song Dynasty, you will turn to Mongolia, or it may be an optional path, right? ”

Because of the ethnic relationship, the Northland Rebels took the Song Dynasty as their first choice. However, in history, the Southern Song Dynasty court only used, but did not trust, and used all kinds of means such as division and disintegration, money and grain control, and provocation and attack. In the end, some of the rebels were cold, such as Shi Qi and Yan Shi, and they turned to Mongolia.

At that time, people's concept of the country and nationality was not complete, and in the eyes of some people, the purpose of surrendering to Mongolia was to resist gold, that is, to focus on the great cause of resisting gold.

In this regard, of course, Meng Jiucheng disagreed. However, the Song court's distrust of the "naturalized people", its suspicion of the warriors, the use and suppression of the contradictions of the righteous army, and all kinds of stupid, short-sighted, and deadly behaviors are indeed very hateful.