The tasks before them were city repairs, market exchanges, salt wells, wine services, and the appeasement of the Tibetan tribe. What was the top priority?
There are so many things involved, but there always has to be someone first.
The three of them murmured in their hearts, and Zhang Yue also wanted to take the exam and said: "Let's talk, let's just treat it as small talk. I can say anything in this handsome man's house, but no one can talk about it outside this door. "
When they first arrived, they didn't dare to express their opinions easily in front of Zhang Yue, for fear of leaving a rash impression on Shangguan.
Now with Zhang Yue's words, their minds became more active.
Wen Jifu said: "In that case, I will say it first. Starting from Qingli, when we fight against Dangxiang and Qingtang Qiang, we will focus on fortification. This was also the strategy set by Fan Wenzhenggong."
"The forts can be used to garrison troops and grain, and they can both attack and defend. I propose to build the Lintao, Nanguan, and Beiguan fortresses first to control the danger of Taoshui."
"Then we recruit Tibetan soldiers into the army, and then grant fields to the local Tibetan troops, while the main force of our Han army retreats to the interior where food is more convenient, thus reducing the pressure on the supply lines."
Xing Shu said: "The lower official proposed salt wells and wine services. The court now attaches great importance to levy. At the same time, these two can bring in money quickly, and they are also needed by the Qing and Tang Tibetan people."
"I'm just afraid that the transportation department will take a fancy to the benefits of salt and wine and use them for other purposes."
After Wen Jifu and Xing Shu finished speaking, it was Lu Shengqing's turn.
Lu Shengqing was more cautious and was always the last to speak: "Xiaguan is new here, and he only knew a little bit about the people of Xihe. Xiaguan still advocates focusing on farming, which is what the court is most concerned about at the moment."
After Xining, the imperial court did reward officials who carried out large-scale farming in the border areas. This is what Lu Shengqing was referring to.
Zhang Yue said to the three of them: "Yes, what you said is complicated. We need to pay attention to one thing, but there is one thing for Zhuansi and the imperial court. What you see makes sense, but I think Lintao is the most important thing now." Still on the exchange."
When Zhang Yue said this, he saw Lu Shengqing about to speak but then stopped: "Mingfu, please speak frankly."
Lu Shengqing said: "I am presumptuous. Before the commander-in-chief and the deputy commander-in-chief, the farming in Weiyuan and ancient Wei was very effective. Now that our army has newly occupied Xizhou, why not continue to farm? Isn't this a long-term solution?"
Zhang Yue said: "The so-called one-time-and-that-time situation, the land was to be established before, but the Xihe Economic Strategy and Appeasement Department has not been set up, and Lintao City has not yet been conquered. I plan to regain Xizhou in two years, so I have to plan it slowly now."
"But Muzheng was defeated in the first battle, and within a year I captured Xizhou, and the imperial court dispatched so much money and grain to the Economic and Strategy Department. Now the situation has changed. This grain and grass can be solved by entering China and Hebian. If If we continue to farm, how many people will be relocated from the mainland? How can we accomplish this without two or three years of work?"
Lu Shengqing heard this and said, "I understand."
Xing Shu on the side smiled and said, "Jing Lue is really wise."
Zhang Yue said to the three people: "Xizhou is different from the Han Dynasty. In addition to the soldiers and horses stationed there, there are more than 5,000 Dingkou and less than 2,000 households in this state. Most of these people are family members of the troops stationed there, and there are not many locals. On weekdays, we The most important thing we have to deal with is the control of more than 500,000 Tibetan people in more than ten tents. If we have no salt, no tea, and no cloth in our hands, and just show force, how can these Tibetan people obey our orders? And salt, tea, and cloth Where it comes from, merchants must transport it to us, so we have to use Shi Yisi."
After Zhang Yue's words, the three of them were stunned.
"That's it for today. Please think about it carefully and report back tomorrow."
After saying this, Zhang Yue left immediately.
The three of them continued to cook on the fire and eat the mutton.
Xing Shu said: "Fortunately, I just didn't care about it, otherwise we would have been very embarrassed."
Wen Jifu said with a smile: "Since Mr. Jinglue is today, he has his own merits, so we don't have to belittle ourselves."
Lu Shengqing filled a bowl of mutton soup and said slowly: "Zhou Han is right, running a big country is like cooking small delicacies, and the managers are talented prime ministers, how can they care about this with us, let alone this mere state, we are by his side The more you learn, the more you will benefit from it in the future.”
"Exactly, exactly." Xing Shu agreed.
All three of them smiled and now feel confident about the future.
That night Zhang Yue and Wang Shao drank together.
It was cold in the northwest, and it was difficult to resist the cold without drinking. Zhang Yue drank every day from then on.
Zhang Yue and Wang Shao were eating in the same way. There was a small pot on the table in front of them, with charcoal fire in it, and the mutton on the side was cooked with a razor blade.
The two of them picked up the mutton with kuaizi and rinsed it in a small pot. After it was cooked through, they dipped it in chive flower sauce, and finally took a sip of highland barley wine. The taste was unmatched even by the prime minister.
Wang Shao enjoyed it very much. Two military men on the side sliced the fresh mutton and brought it in plate after plate. The charcoal fire was made by transporting fragrant charcoal from Bianjing thousands of miles away. This kind of charcoal fire not only has no smoke, but also has a subtle fragrance when burning.
Wang Shao took a sip of wine and said, "What do you think of the three new people coming to the tentacles?"
Zhang Yue thought for a while and said: "They are all outstanding, but whether they are suitable for use or not, we have to see in the future."
"His Majesty gave us Xihe so many official positions? Why did Duzhi only recruit three people?"
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty gave you a lot, but we can't take them all. It's good for one person to achieve enlightenment, and chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. As officials, we need to know how to measure at all times. After all, we are here to serve in Xihe. If we are nepotistic, we will easily be criticized. .”
"Besides, we only manage such a large state at the moment. When it comes to affairs, it is not as good as a county in other states. Three or five people are enough to manage it."
Wang Shao secretly admired that some people had a little power and used it here and there, wishing they could squeeze out all the power they had.
Zhang Yue is very restrained and never abuses his power. From the beginning to the end, he just wants to do the job at hand well.
This is easy to say, but very difficult to do.
Wang Shao smiled and said: "The plan is really far-sighted. I'm not afraid at all. I'm just afraid that the new transfer envoy and Gao Zunyu will cause trouble for us."
Zhang Yue smiled slightly, picked up a piece of mutton and said, "If they really want to make things difficult for them, you and I will just go with the flow and hand over the power to them!"
Wang Shao laughed when he heard this and said, "You really don't mean what you say!"
Zhang Yue sighed: "What I'm saying is that we are not just ordinary officials now. We have a large group of people around us. We didn't just resign due to idleness in the past. How can we let go now?"
The next day in Zhangyue, Wang Shao met Wen and Fu.
As soon as Lu Shengqing came up, he said: "The lower official has been thinking about the Shiyi Division mentioned by the general officer all night. It is true that there were not many soldiers stationed in Tongyuan, Lintao and Weiyuan before, but now there are soldiers and horses from Qinfeng Road and Jingyuan Road. There are more than 36,000 people. In the future, we will have to mobilize troops from Qinzhou to conquer Hezhou. The farmland will not be able to supply the needs of the army for a while."
Lu Shengqing really thought about it all night. The number of soldiers and horses on Qinfeng Road increased by tens of thousands, and no matter how hard they tried to farm, they would definitely not be able to supply them. Therefore, military rations had to be combined with farming and purchasing.
"Therefore, the official suggested that we need to set up a branch office to purchase military rations with salt, banknotes, and silk. The official expected to allocate at least 150,000 yuan to the Tongyuan Army and 70,000 to Lintao every year to purchase military rations. It is estimated that the money for buying rice will be 100 yuan. Between fifty or three hundred.”
Wen Jifu said: "When the price of rice in Bianjing is low, it only costs thirty to forty yuan a dou. When it is expensive, it costs seventy or eighty yuan a dou. Of course, it is hard to say when there is a famine."
Lu Shengqing said: "Of course, these are just the expenses for garrisoning troops in Lintao and Tongyuan Army on weekdays. If there is a war, and there is a conquest of Hezhou or something, I don't know how much it will be."
Wang Shao thought to himself, Chang Dao, the Fujian people are shrewd and good at calculations. Lu Shengqing can do this in one night, so he is indeed a capable official. I heard that his brother Lu Huiqing was even more impressive. No wonder Wang Jiefu, with his eyes as high as his head, relied on him as his right-hand man.
Wang Shao wanted them to take care of the rear area again, so that I could concentrate on military affairs.
Xing Shu said: "Since you want to be a merchant in China, do you want a grain merchant from Sichuan and Sichuan, or a grain merchant from Qinfeng in Shaanxi?"
Zhang Yue glanced at Xing Shu, and Xing Shu smiled and said: "I don't mean anything else, but I have a good friend who is an official in Sichuan and Shu, from Wanzhou, Sizhou; Yangzhou, Xingyuan Prefecture; Chengdu Prefecture, Yazhou Capital The important place for producing Sichuan tea can be used to enter the country."
Wang Shao thought for a while and said: "This tea boat can go along the Jialing River and then to
The Bailongjiang River finally arrived at Minzhou, and was then transported from Minzhou to Xizhou, thus eliminating the need for transportation all the way from Qinfeng Road to Tongyuan Army. "
Xing Shu said: "Wang Jinglue is really familiar with the local conditions. These are things that Xianguan never thought of. We can use tea to buy food from the local Tibetan people. I wonder what does Wang Jinglue mean?"
Xing Shu is really talented and hard-working. Zhang Yue said: "Businessmen from Shaanxi, Sichuan and Shu can come to Xizhou to join. I will not designate any merchants, and let Zhebo buy grain from the market at market prices!" "
As soon as Zhang Yue said this, Lu Shengqing raised a question and asked: "If you buy grain at market price, if there is a fluctuation in rice price or there is some supply shortage, wouldn't you miss a big deal? It is better to designate a few grain merchants."
Zhang Yue said: "First of all, build a granary in Xihe to store military rations for at least three months. We will also use the nest to lay eggs for the rest. The money we should spend must be spent. Even if it is some unjust money, we have to admit it."
"Don't think about doing it without businessmen. If we really can't defend Xihe, everything will be in vain. They won't kill the chickens to get the eggs."
After a pause, Zhang Yue said: "Now that the three of you have settled down, I will also arrange things. Businessmen from Sichuan and Sichuan will arrive in Lintao soon. Lu Jiyi will take charge of the affairs of the City Yi Department, and Wen Tongpan will be with you." The magistrate of Xing County assisted him."
After taking office, Xing Shu went to Lu Shengqing privately and said, "I really don't know why the manager didn't designate a few grain merchants and insisted on buying grain at market prices. We have tens of thousands of people eating horse chews. What if something goes wrong?" good?"
Lu Shengqing said: "What kind of person is Mr. Jinglue? I don't know what you are talking about."
"But once a grain merchant is appointed, we and other officials will have fat in their mouths. We are new here, and the manager can't trust us. We are afraid that a few of us will seek benefits from it and ruin his reputation."
Xing Shu shook his head and said: "The mere benefits are nothing compared to the safety of military supplies. This is not the case for all the people in Yanbian, Shaanxi and China."
After Xing Shu finished speaking, his dissatisfaction was palpable.
