In the fourth year of Qingli, 1044 AD, it was the eighth year of Zhao Jun's coming to the Great Song Dynasty, and he was about to turn 30 years old.

At this time, after eight years of recovery, the Great Song Dynasty has greatly improved from top to bottom, both in terms of system and development direction, many drawbacks have been gradually eliminated, and the country as a whole tends to an upward trend.

However, the problem of three redundancies is still the most unstable factor within the Great Song Dynasty, especially the redundant army, and the perennial military expenditure of 40 or 50 million yuan has seriously dragged down the finances of the Great Song Dynasty.

To this end, Zhao Jun made great efforts to formulate many plans, while reclaiming new land, doing canals and river repairs and other projects to resettle soldiers. On the one hand, he set up a state-owned commercial bank and gave shares to Jiangmen Xungui to eliminate their dissatisfaction.

Under normal circumstances, I think it can probably calm them down.

With this in mind, Zhao Jun helped the Cao family successfully complete the transition within a few months, allowing the Cao Cong family to hand over the empty salary, and completing the transformation of the following weapon manufacturing workshop, making a lot of money.

At noon on January 10, Zhao Jun and Zhao Zhen discussed how to deal with the affairs of Jiangmen Xungui in the Chongzheng Palace, and just now Zhao Zhen gave Zhao Jun another idea.

Because when Zhao Zhen was reading another history, he actually found the formula for cement.

"I didn't expect cement manufacturing to be so simple, it seems that a lot of technology is an inspiration, to put it bluntly, it's worthless, with this thing, building city walls, building roads, isn't it easy?"

Zhao Jun was quite surprised when he heard Zhao Zhen tell him the formula.

He had also seen on some construction sites in later generations that the workers themselves could make cement and mix it with ash from a bag and some water, but he didn't know what the ash was.

Now I understand that it is cement ash, which is made of limestone, clay and iron ore powder in proportion and mixed and then calcined, which is not technically difficult at all.

Zhao Zhen said proudly: "That's right, I found it after reading more than 20 histories, and I haven't read the other cultivations." ”

Saying that, he accused Zhao Jun again: "Look at the traverser of other people, he understands everything, look at you again." ”

"Aha?"

Zhao Jun spread his hands and said, "Then I'll go, you go find someone else." ”

As he spoke, he was leaving.

"I was wrong, I was wrong."

Zhao Zhen hurriedly went up and grabbed his hand and said: "My good grandson, you are my best grandson, it would be good if others crossed over and didn't make me, if you are willing to help me, you are my own grandson, you must not leave!" ”

"Damn!"

Zhao Jun said angrily.

He is from the Department of History, and he is not a major in civil engineering, so it is not easy to find the Bessewell air steelmaking method and the Bessemer converter steelmaking method from Western history, and Zhao Zhen also dislikes that he can't make cement and chemical fertilizer, which is really unbearable.

"Eldest grandson, do you see this cement to help us?"

Zhao Zhen pulled Zhao Jun back with a smile, and then changed the topic and said: "It seems that the modern buildings of later generations use this." ”

"That will definitely help, the cement factory is built, dams are built, river embankments are built, roads are built, those are all projects, anyway, these generals are also lying there to make money, it is better to let them be the bosses of construction companies."

Zhao Jun also took the opportunity to give Zhao Zhen a step down, sat back on the chair, and said while sitting: "Distribute some benefits to them, anyway, it will be a state-owned construction company in the future, pay attention to quality, prevent cutting corners, strictly grasp the arrears of migrant workers' wages, etc., and better negotiate with them." ”

"That's good."

Zhao Zhen exhaled a long breath.

At this time, Bianliang business was in a very active period, with the development of overseas trade, the handicraft manufacturing industry became more and more prosperous, and more and more people went to the city to work.

After the invention of cement, it is also a good thing to start the construction industry when there is no shortage of manpower and productivity has been greatly improved.

In this way, there is one more way for the nobles of the generals, and I don't believe that they are still dragging the army and not letting go.

"Your Majesty, Cao Du commanded them to come."

Wang Shouzhong said at the door.

"Well, it's almost time, let's go."

Zhao Jun got up from his chair again.

Zhao Zhen went out with him.

The banquet was set up in the Gyeongbokgung Hall, and after coming out of the Chongzheng Palace, go north through two palace gates, one palace road, and then go through the Yanhe Palace.

At this time, there must have been at least fifty or sixty people in the room, sitting at seven or eight of those large round tables, greeting each other.

At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, there were still a lot of famous generals, and there were forty or fifty high-level generals who were rewarded by Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi, and there were hundreds of middle and senior generals in the rest, forming a huge group of honors.

The descendants of these people not only make money through the army, but also hold false positions in the Sanya, and have the rank of military attaché, so it can be said that they have received three money.

Except for some generals whose families declined, had few talents, or were eliminated for crimes, almost all the descendants of high-ranking generals in the early Song Dynasty were here, controlling the positions of official affairs, marquis Yu, commander, and marquis of Duyu.

Don't think that these official positions are small, in fact, at present, the original palace commander of the Sanya, the commander of the guards and the horse army, and the guards and the infantry are not permanent after they arrive in Taizong, and the chief officer is the deputy position.

And these official affairs, Marquis Yu, Commander Envoy, and Marquis Du Yu in the Three Ya are the high-ranking officials second only to the three deputy commanders, although they have no actual military power, but their status is still very high.

Today's commander of the former division and deputy commander of the palace is called Gaohua, who, like Guo Chengyou, is Zhao Zhen's "old man of the domain".

The deputy commander of the guards and the infantry army is called Li Yonghe, who is Zhao Zhen's maternal uncle.

The deputy commander of the guards and the horse army is Cao Cong, the uncle of Empress Cao.

In this way, the structure of the overall Sanya is Zhao Zhen's relatives and the old people of the mansion, which ensures his safety.

The rest of the sons and daughters of military generals and nobles are basically gangsters, receiving salaries, eating and waiting for death, and few descendants of founding heroes like Cao Cong can still go into battle to kill the enemy.

At this time, many descendants of the founding generals in the hall gathered, and they actually played their own games on weekdays, some made friends with each other, and some were not used to each other, and when they arrived at the banquet, they naturally formed different circles.

As he was talking, he heard Wang Shouzhong's voice, "Your Majesty has arrived, and the governor has arrived!" ”

And they all got up.

Zhao Zhen and Zhao Jun came in from the apse, Zhao Zhen went to the direction of the main seat, and Zhao Jun went to Cao Cong's table.

"See Your Majesty!"

Everyone bowed in unison.

"Excuse me!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Zhuqing, I invite you to come today, firstly, to reminisce about the past, and secondly, to have some things to discuss."

Zhao Zhen pressed down with both hands, motioned for everyone to sit down, and then said, "Let's have a banquet." ”

Wang Shouzhong waved to the rear.

After a while, many waiters brought up a variety of dishes with all kinds of colors and flavors.

It's just that everyone didn't dare to move the chopsticks.

In fact, they have also heard some rumors recently, and now the emperor has asked them to drag their families into the palace and put their wives and children in the back garden for a banquet, which is really difficult for them to feel at ease.

However, no one suspected that Zhao Zhen was plotting to kill them, firstly, Zhao Zhen was indeed known for his benevolence, and secondly, they had no military power, and it was impossible for them to threaten the imperial power.

So they all just watched the meal and waited for the rest to come.

"Eat them all."

Zhao Zhen smiled: "This matter is also a good thing for Zhuqing, let's talk about it while eating." ”

In his and Zhao Jun's opinion, the Cao family is a typical example, and it is estimated that eight or nine are not far from ten.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Everyone looked at each other before they began to move their chopsticks.

It's just that they basically moved a few times, and after eating a few bites like chewing wax, they looked at each other and didn't say anything else.

Seeing that everyone was relatively silent and quiet, Zhao Jun thought that everyone was afraid, so he stood up with a smile and said, "Everyone, I will toast everyone first!" ”

"The prefect is polite."

"You're welcome."

"I'll wait for a drink."

Everyone hurriedly got up and returned the salute with wine glasses.

Now everyone knows that Zhao Jun is high and powerful, and they are a group of powerless nobles, who dares to provoke him?

After a glass of wine, Zhao Jun said loudly: "Everyone, I came today to discuss important matters with you and state the pros and cons. ”

Everyone knew that business was coming, so they didn't speak, and looked at him quietly.

I saw Zhao Jun put down the wine glass in his hand, walked slowly to the hall, walked back and forth between several tables, and said as he walked.

"I think everyone also knows how serious the redundancy of the Great Song Dynasty is, and the annual expenditure of the imperial court is at least 50 million yuan to meet the needs of the army, and the burden is increasing day by day, making the imperial court breathless."

After Zhao Jun finished saying this, everyone's faces changed, although they had already guessed in their hearts, they were still reluctant to mention this topic.

After all, in recent years, many civil officials in the imperial court have also opposed the issue of three redundancies, believing that the three redundancies are too heavy, resulting in no money and no food in the imperial court, and the topic of reforming the three redundancies has also been noisy.

It's just that everyone, as the audience for the interests of redundant soldiers, naturally dare not speak out. Now Zhao Jun proposed that he obviously wanted to attack the three redundancies, so they all looked solemn.

Zhao Jun continued: "In recent years, it has not been without officials in the DPRK and China who have quite disagreed with the matter of the three redundancies, but the imperial court has not made up its mind to reform, because it knows that all of you here, and even the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the battalion, are among them, with food and clothing. ”

After he said this, everyone's faces were intertwined, and they didn't know what to say.

Zhao Jun still walked back and forth in the hall, put his hands behind his back and said calmly: "Of course, this matter is not bad for you. Taizu once said, "Life is short, and the white horse is over." If the ministers accumulate more gold treasures, they will buy good fields and beautiful houses, and they will sing and dance all year round. In this way, there is no suspicion between the monarch and the minister, and both can be both." ”

"It can be said that your fathers and Weng generations are like this, which is what Taizu allows. However, time has passed, and the number of troops at that time is not large, so the redundancy of troops can only be a minor trouble. But now, it has become a serious illness, so the court has to deal with it. ”

After hearing this, someone immediately couldn't sit still, a middle-aged man in his fifties, who looked like a rich man, stood up with a big belly, and asked repeatedly: "Dare to ask the prefect, how does the imperial court plan to deal with it?" ”

"You are?"

Zhao Jun looked at him.

The man replied: "The lower officials and guards the pro-army Ma Jun Yu Hou, the inner temple Chongban, and the Xiuwu Lang He Changling. ”

The first of these three official names is the commander-in-chief, which is similar to the dispatch officer in the civil service. The second is a rank official, similar to the Jilu official in the civil service. The third is a professional official, which is equivalent to a loose official among civil officials.

Zhao Jun looked at him with strange eyes, this fat appearance was still a cavalryman, I was afraid that he would even gasp for breath when he got on the horse.

But he also knew that this person, the grandson of He Jiyun, a famous general in the early Song Dynasty, also married the daughter of Zhao Yuanzuo, the king of Qi, and he was a good mixer.

"Naturally, it is necessary to eliminate the old and weak in the army, as well as many people who cannot fight."

Zhao Jun replied: "Now that the military discipline in the army is corrupt, many people go out of the camp to do business during the day, and go back to the camp to sleep at night, they are not soldiers at all, and they lead the court to pay for it, how can it be like this?" ”

"Never, Your Majesty!"

Another person stood up for Liu Tinghan's son Liu Zanyuan and bowed his hand to Zhao Zhen: "Your Majesty, now that Western Xia and Liao are still around, reducing the army at this time is tantamount to cutting off an arm. ”

"Alright."

Zhao Zhen waved his hand: "Let's listen to the Zhiyuan." ”

"Alright."

Zhao Jun glanced at Liu Zanyuan and said, "I know what you think in your hearts, do you think the imperial court will abandon you?" ”

Someone hurriedly asked, "I don't know how the imperial court will settle us?" ”

"Who are you?"

"Xiaguan Sanzhi Dutou, right Bandian Zhi, Cheng Zhonglang Chuding."

"It turned out to be the grandson of Chu's servants."

Zhao Jun knew that Chu Zhaofu had no son, so Zhao Kuangyin let his nephew inherit his honorable position, so he said: "Chu Shizhong said back then, "I don't sweat and work, I will get this in vain, I will guard the country, and I should be dedicated to it later." "Now, it's time to dedicate yourself."

Chu Ding's face turned pale in an instant.

"Haha, it's the right thing to do."

Zhao Jun said with a smile.

Chu Ding had no choice but to laugh.

"In fact, it is very simple, the imperial court needs to clean up a large number of idle soldiers to ease the expenditure of the treasury."

Zhao Jun continued: "However, considering that so many people have to eat, and the descendants of the founding fathers of the People's Republic of China depend on it for their livelihood, it is bound to not treat you badly, otherwise I would not have invited you to talk in detail today. ”

He said and pointed at Cao Cong and said: "Everyone has come to know recently, Ma Shuai has made a fortune in recent months, and in the past six months, I am afraid that he has already entered three or four hundred thousand yuan, only more than before, not less than before." And these ways are left by the imperial court for you. ”

Everyone looked at Cao Cong, and Cao Cong stood up and said, "Yes, last year, the imperial court's fleet to overseas came back with more than 7 million yuan worth of gold, silver and jewelry. The imperial court set up a fleet and allowed me to buy shares at a price, and the Cao family earned more than 200,000 yuan for this alone. ”

"Ma Shuai is actually my role model for everyone, although this overseas trade is a bit risky, but the route is basically stable and safe. You can first trade with Goryeo, Japan and other countries, and when the time is ripe, you can go north and reach overseas. ”

Zhao Jun looked around at everyone and said: "In addition, the imperial court will also set up a trading house, and the princes will also take a stake in it, and when the time comes, the imperial court will release some projects, which will be undertaken by the commercial bank, so that those eliminated soldiers can make a living by building bridges and paving roads, building water conservancy facilities, and controlling rivers, and you can also share the profits." ”

"I have calculated, in the next 50 years, the imperial court plans to engage in infrastructure construction, that is, to build roads, bridges, rivers, etc., at least millions or even tens of millions of dollars will be invested every year, plus the profits of sea trade, and in the future, everyone will be allowed to invest in the profits of the steel plant."

"In the end, as long as each family invests enough, they will get more profits. Even if you only give 100,000 or 80,000, it is definitely better than lying in the barracks now. At least 200,000 per year. ”

In this way, the imperial court saved military spending, and spent it on building roads and rivers. The eliminated soldiers have a job, you can make money by contracting the projects of the imperial court, and you can also make money by participating in the maritime trade operated by the imperial court. ”

In the end, Zhao Jun looked at everyone with a smile.

The same is true for Zhao Zhen.

They felt that this one should be foolproof.

Not only the interests of these nobles were taken care of, but also the interests of the soldiers at the bottom.

It's definitely a good thing to kill multiple birds with one stone, and it can't be said that it's a gathering of servants, but at least it has to be a grand event, and everyone has responded.

However, after Zhao Jun's impassioned words were finished, the audience was almost silent, and most of the people just looked at him stunned, no one made a sound, and no one raised their heads to agree.

Even Cao Cong sat there quite embarrassed, bowing his head and saying nothing.

After a few seconds, Zhao Jun, who sensed that something seemed to be wrong in the atmosphere, changed his face slightly, looked around, and asked lightly, "What?" Are you dissatisfied with the placement of the imperial court? Do you still dislike that the court is not good enough for you? ”

This tone is already a bit heavy.

Because of his meritorious service in the Western Xia War, Shi Yuansun, who was promoted to the official minister in front of the palace and the introduction of envoys and doctors of the central guard, stood up and said: "Governor, please slow down in this matter." ”

In an instant, Zhao Jun's face was already extremely ugly, the imperial court gave such preferential treatment, they actually said slowly?

What do you mean?

Do you treat the policies of the imperial court as child's play?

(End of chapter)