Chapter 268: Hostage Crisis

The three-person meeting is over and the business conference begins. At this conference, Su Qian put forward the strategy of occupying the land for development. Among them, the Liao State will be dominated by the Si family, and the Jurchen will be dominated by the Southeast Chamber of Commerce. The northwest of Western Xia is dominated by the Yangping Chamber of Commerce. He also put forward a preliminary idea for the joint development of Choshu by the two chambers of commerce. The main point of the concept is that once the large-scale war is over, there will be many soldiers who will be disarmed and returned to the fields. If you use them to develop Choshu, there will be various benefits and so on.

The conference was three days, and the first day was the Liao development project dominated by the Si family, recruiting people to buy shares, discussing details and so on. The second day is dominated by the Southeast Chamber of Commerce, which mainly develops Jurchen land projects such as furs, livestock, and medicinal herbs. It also involves issues such as shipping companies and so on. On the third day, the development of Western Xia was not only within the territory of Western Xia, but also involved the commercial extension of Western Liao, which was quite potential.

There was one last and most important topic for the conference. As a result of last year's tax hike, the economy weakened throughout the year and the household purchase rate fell. This leads to a large backlog of products. There is a backlog of about 10 million yuan of goods at the two chambers of commerce. The issue is the handling of goods.

Some propose to donate military roads to boost morale, some propose to sell at a low price, and some propose to give to the disadvantaged. In the end, Ouyang proposed to destroy all the products in the backlog, whether it is food, fabrics, etc., except for those that can be reused. This is a waste, indeed a waste, but this is a way for capital to protect itself. For example, if there is too much milk, it will saturate the market if it is given away and sold at a loss, resulting in an increase in milk sales and a decline in profits. And when the milk is poured out or fed to the pigs, this consumption gap always exists. For example, if a person wants a pound of food, he will not want to eat anything else when he is full of milk. But if the milk is not delivered and sold at a loss, this person still has to look for a pound of food.

In the end, the capitalists unanimously agreed with Ouyang's opinion, and next year the industry will begin to reduce manpower, reduce the scale of operation, and cope with the market weakness. At the same time, the Chamber of Commerce believes that the economy will pick up in the coming year because of the development of foreign trade and the expansion of the market.

The meeting was a success as expected, and the royal newspaper published the spirit and ideas of the conference at the same time. Zhao Yu, who saw the newspaper, was very dissatisfied, and the layoffs of the Chamber of Commerce were definitely not good news for the ruling class. Zhao Yu announced Su Qian's visit. After discussion, Su Qian came up with a plan that satisfied Zhao Yu, reducing salaries and reducing the amount of work without laying off employees!

……

Zhao Yu was satisfied with Su Qian, and Ouyang was also satisfied with Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu finally stopped using *** wrist to interfere with the businessman's ***. Instead, a consultative approach is adopted. Of course, Ouyang also knew Zhao Yu's helpless side. The impact of commerce is everywhere, and if it is unilaterally stifled by commerce, there will be immeasurable consequences. For example, a person in Tokyo suddenly found himself unemployed. Later, it was found that due to the lack of mass production, the price of meat food, the price of cloth, and the price of alcohol all soared. There is no way to live in the city anymore.

In the past, business affected the resettlement policy and the source of tax revenue, but now it affects every household. According to the survey, on average, one out of four people living in Yangping works in the field. Their income guides and stimulates the development of all walks of life, forming an industrial chain. Once they break the chain, the consequences are unimaginable.

At this time, Zhao Yu thought of the method that Ouyang had proposed that the state should invest in and participate in private operations. For example, the state-controlled salt industry can account for 50 percent of the shares to raise capital, control the flow of private capital, and also use relatively advanced non-governmental management methods to save costs and increase income. For example, by taking a stake in the shipping industry, you can ensure that the tax revenue of the shipping industry is monitored, the tax revenue increases, the profit also increases, and at the same time you have the right to speak. But the disadvantage Ouyang also said, it is easy for businessmen to control various state-controlled areas, because you sacrifice a lot of dominance to control. According to the rules of the Chamber of Commerce, the state becomes a unit and becomes a member of the council, and the other members of the council have the right to invest in the national industry.

The more Zhao Yu thought about it, the more headache he felt, this was a rather complicated investment process, so he ordered the household department to study it.

……

Every year passes, every year passes. This year's festival has two more Jin Niang and Zhou Ping. Although Ou Ping started, although he also made some gains. But it has not been successful. Zhou Ping is still not pregnant. So Zhou Ping went to the table with a few men first to talk about national and economic events.

"Dading Mansion has been taken down." Ouyang Dao: "Listening to the news of the Linhuang Society, Emperor Tianzuo has made the decision to move east to Tokyo. However, according to unreliable information, Generalissimo Yeluchun's Tongzhou soldiers and horses have moved. ”

Gan Xin said: "Everyone looked at it ten years ago. Our Great Song Dynasty is a mob of the common people. And the Khitans are nobles *** constantly. Let's just talk about Tokyo, I remember that it was *** at the time, and it was almost flat after several years, and the Jurchens picked up the cheap and occupied Tokyo within two months. Drove out both the rebels and the Khitan army. ”

Zhan Ming said: "As long as there is no internal strife, it is difficult for outsiders to have any way. Whelan received news yesterday that several thousand Jurchen people were ready to surrender. ”

Zhou Ping said: "I heard about it, I heard that the chief of this clan was killed. The two sons fought over the position of chieftain. But he didn't expect that Wanyan Zongbi let Jin Guo take the horse, a son who did not participate in the battle, to be the chief. The two sons immediately united in revolt. You say, is this Yan Zongbi a faint move? ”

Gan Xin shook his head: "The faint trick may not be, if this trick is used well, it can officially classify thousands of people into the Wanyan Department." It's just that Wanyan Zongbi is too arbitrary, if he wants to help this donkey go right away, he has to cut off his two sons. ”

Ouyang smiled bitterly: "You think simply, after Yan Zongbi did that, he would provoke a mutiny." The best thing to do is to defeat the two elder brothers with a horse, the stronger one becomes the king, and the two elder brothers submit. But the colt couldn't stand it, so he had to use a little trick. By the way, Gan Xin, how is the arrangement for this year's New Year? ”

"The same old way." Gan Xin said: "Set up some rice delivery points in Xiangcun and Xincheng, each meal is three or two rice, two taels of meat, and some green vegetables. My lord, I always say that the market is weak and weak, and I look down at the lives of the people below, but how can I go up instead of falling? ”

"Haha, I believe that you are really worried about the country and the people. I remember going to Tokyo in a few months to take the provincial exam. Ouyang asked, "How is it?" ”

Gan Xin smiled bitterly: "My lord, you even mentioned it in front of the emperor, this can't be a jinshi, I really lived in vain." ”

Zhou Ping said: "There are no new rules now, except for the champions, lists, and flowers, all Jinshi must go to the local area to be a clerk for three years, supervise the local locality, and the officials will be evaluated after three years." Those who are not qualified will have their fame revoked. ”

"Gan Xin came to Yangping to supervise, he was the magistrate of the county, and then supervised himself." Ouyang smiled: "But it's finally famous, and Yangping still wants you to come in the future." ”

Zhou Ping said: "I heard that there will be another change next year, that is, each state will set up a tax department to supervise specific projects, which will be directly managed by the imperial court, and even the governor has no right to interfere." ”

"It is impossible not to interfere. If you are an official on other people's territory, if you don't have a better relationship with others, they will kill you half to death. "Like the modern yelling of justice***, ***? What? Your child doesn't want to go to school in my territory, and your wife works? If you get angry, you go to the door of your unit every day to dig a pit and bury the cable.

Everyone is talking about the slow change of the times, which is a process of adaptation and an inevitable product. Centralization has always been done, and it will be done now. Centralization is divided into two major parts: financial and military. The military has done quite well, but the financial sector is really too flawed. After all, it was an era of underdeveloped communications.

The first day of the Lunar New Year is the statutory closing day, which is a day for all people to gamble. This is also the day when Ouyang is worried, when gambling has become a custom, it seriously undermines public order and stability. But Ouyang is powerless to change, every year in the first spring dynasty, Zhao Yu also plays with the courtiers.

However, this year's shutdown has significantly reduced people's enthusiasm, and everyone already knows that this year's salary will be cut, and the number of jobs added every year will be reduced, and the employment situation is very serious. On the one hand, income is low, and on the other hand, prices are rising, and everyone has had a heavier year than in previous years. People are like that, although the economic environment is still better this year than it was five years ago, everyone will only look forward. The turmoil has put the most pressure on small and medium-sized industries, and some large markets are ready to start buying them at low prices.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone came to pay New Year's greetings, Ouyang sent a red envelope, and an internal guard found Ouyang: "Lord Ou, the Emperor Taishang wants to take his students to Liaoguo." ”

"Don't let him go." Old boy, I'm addicted to playing.

The internal guard was embarrassed: "We dare not stop it." ”

This is a big trouble in Yangping, since he went to the Jurchens, the scope of Song Huizong's tourism is no longer limited to the Song Dynasty. Ouyang Dao: "Then let him go." ”

"But?"

"It doesn't matter, the soldier doesn't recognize the emperor, he can't get by."

The inner guard nodded and clenched his fists: "Understood!" ”

It is undeniable that since Song Huizong traveled everywhere, the level of calligraphy and painting has been higher. Many of its students are also outstanding. Ouyang went to Beijing the next day to pay New Year's greetings to his master and offer incense to the soldiers who died, these are all vulgar things. This year is the triennial year of the imperial examination, and many businesses in Tokyo have already begun to prepare. Gan Xin will also participate in the imperial examination this year to seek fame. Diplomas are needed in ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad, but the degree of attention is different in different periods and countries.

But Ouyang Shangjing received bad news that Li Han, who was running a school on Fulu in Chengdu, was arrested by the Qiang people. This news made Ouyang a little surprised and unable to grasp his head, he did not expect that this was a further manifestation of the contradictions and conflicts between the merchants of the Central Plains and the border clans.

Zhang Xuanming invited him to dinner, and he talked about it during the banquet, and then explained: "Brother Xian, if you want to say that the businessmen under your jurisdiction are also good enough. There are policies above, and there are countermeasures below. Although it was reopened to the border tribe for trading, the quality of the things sold was really poor. ”

It turned out that the border trade dispute was not over, and the merchants carried out shoddy methods for the main sale of goods, tea and salt. ruthlessly pit people's winter supplies. If you want to say that the best tea leaves add the lower grade tea, people may not be able to see it, but the merchant is the inferior tea plus the middle leaves. Add white sand to the salt, anyway, the goods are like this, do you want to buy it or not. Do it yourself. The problem in Bashu was the biggest, and the Qiang people gathered together to make dissatisfaction, and Li Han happened to run a school nearby, so he was detained by the Qiang people and expressed his opinions on the imperial court. Now border trade has come to a complete standstill.

Zhang Xuanming said: "Although Li Han is not particular about traveling, he is a real minister. The seizure of the Chin Cha Xing rebelled. But the emperor didn't want to make a big deal out of it, so as not to make the Song Dynasty restless. So send me to the Qiang people to negotiate, and at the same time put pressure on the border trade chamber of commerce, to see if you have any way to accommodate. ”

"I don't understand one thing, why would the emperor rather offend the Chamber of Commerce than offend the border clan?" Ouyang Dao: "Brother also sees now that the price is one price a day, and after the army is equipped with firearms, the horses are now in a state of unsalable. The economy is in recession, and the number of private horses has also dropped a lot. How can you force a merchant to suffer a loss and go to the Qiang tribe? Ouyang was not satisfied with Su Qian, how could he communicate with the emperor about that result. Of course, it is also understandable that Ouyang has almost no selfish thoughts when he is the chairman, and Su Qian does not want to offend the court for the sake of the border merchants, to be precise, the border merchants are self-contained.

"Brother Xian didn't know, and the emperor was also very angry when he learned about it. However, now that the war in the north is raging, it is impossible to draw troops out now. Zhang Xuanming whispered: "But depending on the emperor's intentions, sooner or later, we will have to attack these ethnic groups who are dissatisfied with the imperial court to avoid future troubles." ”

"Well, I'll say a way for the emperor's attitude. Let Yangping Qianzhuang lend money to border merchants and set up a special company to reduce expenses. The local government gave priority to the procurement of these horses. The tea needed by the border merchants can be collected directly from Xincheng, exempted from tea tax, and the salt is directly supplied by the salt department, and the transfer fee is exempted. To put it mildly, the businessman will certainly agree. "The tea tax is relatively high, revised by Ouyang Xiu, and the imperial court is not unaware of the exemption of this part of the tax, but it is afraid that the businessmen will be cunning and use the method of stealing beams and changing pillars to evade taxes. If a company is established, it is different, the company will purchase and mix the goods in a unified manner, and the tea officials can send people to monitor. Unlike the original, hundreds of thousands of merchants are densely packed, and the purchase channels are chaotic and unmanageable.

Zhang Xuanming was happy to hear it and said: "Okay, this method is feasible. When I turn around, I will play the emperor. ”

Ouyang explained: "This is a palliative but not a cure, don't cure the root cause, don't remind the emperor to disrupt their gathering place." ”

……

Back in Yangping, some more days passed. Gan Xin went to Beijing to catch the exam, and Ouyang was in charge of Yangping's affairs. Gan Xin left two secretaries, plus Ouyang is still very familiar with Yangping, and he is more familiar with daily affairs, so it is very simple to take over. The only thing is that it consumes a lot of entertainment time.

During this period, the battle of Song Liao went a little wrong. Civil strife broke out in Liao. Emperor Tianzuo's second son plotted to kill his brother, and after being discovered, Emperor Tianzuo killed his second son, causing the officers of the original faction to be very uneasy. Within a few days, more than 60,000 Liao people surrendered to the Song army. (Shi Zai, original investment)

caused the Song army to attack Linhuang Mansion quickly. Just like the historical Jurchens captured Linhuang Mansion, Emperor Tianzuo fled in a hurry, and due to the lack of information, the Tongzhou area mistakenly thought that Emperor Tianzuo had died. So with the support of Prime Minister Li Chuwen, the minister of the clan Yelu Dashi, and King Xi Hui Libao, Yelu Chun ascended the throne.

Although this civil strife consumed the strength of the Khitans, Yelu Dashi re-assumed the position of generalissimo. And from Tongzhou, a lightning sweep was carried out in the area from Jinzhou to Dadingfu of the Song army. led to the disconnection of the logistics of the Song army. Although the Song army restored the logistics line with its strong strength, the Linhuang army had to wait on the spot. The Liao army was given more time to set up defenses.

If this is not considered trouble, then the more troublesome thing is that Yelu Dashi's character broke out and picked up the treasure, and Song Huizong was captured by him. Song Huizong was indeed as Ouyang thought, it was impossible to go to Liao through the military line, but Yelu Dashi's surprise attack entered the Song occupation area for more than 100 miles, which lasted for three days, and Song Huizong's capture was also possible.

The Liao State has never abolished the royal newspaper, so the news was sent to the imperial court through the news system of the royal newspaper, and Ouyang of course received the news earlier than Zhao Yu, and he couldn't help but curse at the moment. He knew that this person was very difficult. In the history of the Jin against Liao, the Song army attacked the sixteen states of Yanyun, met this person is repeatedly defeated, lost quite badly, as a result, the Jurchens attacked the next sixteen states, the Song people did not get a state, and finally had no choice but to spend money to buy it from the Jurchens. From this point, it can be seen how powerful the combat effectiveness of the Jurchens was at that time.

So the Great Song Dynasty also had a strange thing that had not been encountered in a century. Gan Xin did not pass the palace test, so he took the Jinshi meritorious name, and returned to Yangping with the dispatch document of the Ministry of Officials. The first time Ouyang saw the bitterly smiling Gan Xin, he knew that he would definitely be arrested. Sure enough, Gan Xin brought Zhao Yu's edict and asked Ouyang Shangjing to prepare to deal with this hostage crisis.

……

Zhao Yu looked at Ouyang, and Ouyang looked at Zhao Yu, both of them were very helpless. Although this Song Huizong did not have any rights, his identity could not be ignored. Zhao Yu spoke first: "Now that the war against Liao has been completely suspended, the Emperor Taishang is going to die." But he is not dead, and I will order the attack to continue, for fear that the people and courtiers will be greatly dissatisfied. "In principle, the Emperor is a more noble status than the emperor. The worst thing is that Zhao Yu is a usurper, if it is not dealt with well, the history books will leave a heavy mark, in the ideology and values of the time, Zhao Yu is impossible not to scruple.

Ouyang Dao: "Weichen also knows a little, saying that there are more than 30 people who were captured, eight internal guards and more than 20 students. In the early years, the Empress Jurchen and his entourage raised the Weichen, so that the Song army was like a bamboo in the land of the Jurchen. But I didn't want to go to Liao and his party, and fell into the hands of the enemy. ”

Zhao Yu asked: "What is this Emperor Taishang doing in Liao?" ”

"The Emperor Taishang is now a literati, and His Majesty also knows that the heads of literati are really not something that ordinary people can figure out."

Zhao Yu remembered the fake dream, smiled and said, "No matter what, you have to go to Citongzhou to negotiate." The principle is that it is okay to ask for money and goods, but it is absolutely impossible to withdraw from the army. If you really can't do it, ...... him Killed. ”

Ouyang smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty is wise, but Weichen really can't take the head of the army among the ten thousand armies." ”

"It's either a real killing, or a death announcement." Zhao Yu said: "Give you two months, and after two months, no matter what the situation is, the forbidden army will attack again." The Liao people cannot be dragged until autumn and winter. ”

False reporting of death. This is not the first time that such an approach has been used in history. Ouyang nodded: "Weichen did his best." ”

"Huh? You're not afraid to go to Liao? ”