Shudao Lizhou, the ancient road on both sides is green and lush with cypress trees, stretching for hundreds of miles. It blocks out the sun and is still dim in the daytime. The mountains are like clusters, and the Jialing River flows towards the south in a mighty way.
On the ancient road, the army was meandering forward. Zhao Hong, surrounded by the army, looked away from the picturesque mountains and rivers, and frowned slightly.
Why come to Sichuan? Why save Xixia?
He was not trying to get chestnuts out of the fire, because to save Xixia, he had to fight against the powerful Mongolian army. There was only the burning flames of war in front of him, and there were no chestnuts in it.
But, does he have a choice?
Others don't know it, but as a "passer", he knows that when the Mongolian army destroys Xia and cuts down gold, there will be no peace on the border of the Song Dynasty, and mourning will be everywhere. What is even more cruel is that in a few decades, the Song Dynasty will be subjugated by the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty after Yashan.
Judging from his current age in his early twenties and his six-pack abs, he was probably still alive at that time.
Considering that he will be over sixty or seventy years old when the time comes, can he bear the destruction of his country and his family?
Under his rule, major countries with Han as the main body could not rise, and the Han people were devastated and reduced to the third or fourth class. Are these painful historical facts what he wanted?
The Mongol Empire was unprecedentedly powerful and its military force was invincible. Can its weak Song Dynasty compete with it?
To his relief, the rear was stable and no longer distracted him. His "mother" Yang Guizhi even donated millions of "private money" to support his new policies in various areas of the Song Dynasty.
He doesn't care about money, but this improvement in the relationship between "emperor, queen, son and mother" allows him to handle political affairs with peace of mind and no longer worries about fires in the backyard.
Many of those civil servants still refused to give up, and they followed the New Deal he implemented in both positive and negative ways. Perhaps in the future, he will continue to suppress people without mercy.
The fact that Jiangnan East Road punished Gu Song and Huang Rucheng also proves that once the emperor is arbitrary, if the king wants his ministers to die, they will have to die. The idea that the scholar-bureaucrat family dominates is nothing but nonsense and extremely ridiculous.
I don't know what his "father" Song Ningzong is afraid of Shi Miyuan? It is really strange that Shi Miyuan was so powerful that he dominated the king for more than ten or twenty years.
"Your Majesty, with so many graduates from the Martial Arts Hall, the Northwest Frontier Fortress has strong troops and talents!"
Zhang Jin, an official from the Anti-Corruption Department who was accompanying him, began to compliment him in a low voice.
Half of the nearly 600 remaining students from the first batch of Jinling Lecture Hall who just graduated in March were transferred to Sichuan. In addition to Lizhou Lianglu and Lizhou Camp, some went to Sichuan Martial Arts Hall to teach, and some also went to Lizhou Weapons Manufacturing Branch.
For example, Zhen Zhidao, the son of Zhen Dexiu, a political official, volunteered to go to the Lizhou Arms Manufacturing Branch to manufacture firearms.
After inspecting the Lizhou Arms Manufacturing Branch, they told Tian Yi, Zheng Tu and others that they were preparing to establish the Mianzhou Arms Manufacturing Branch. The Lizhou Arms Manufacturing Branch takes care of all areas of Sichuan, but it is too far from the frontier and is not suitable for future war needs.
"Zhang Jin, the Sichuan Anti-Corruption Branch is also strong. After you take office, make bold moves without any scruples. Fan Zhong may have to devote more energy to implementing the New Deal. You have a heavy responsibility on your shoulders. Don't let me. Disappointment, don’t let the Song Dynasty down, and don’t let down the great years.”
Zhao Hong solemnly warned this young official, who was only in his mid-twenties.
His brother-in-law Zhou Ping's support, Zhou Ping's advice, considering the situation in Sichuan, the war in the next ten years may be at Shukou, and it is understandable to mobilize the best troops and generals to concentrate on the northwest border.
"Your Majesty's teachings, I will take them to heart."
Zhang Jin immediately clasped his fists in salute, his face full of seriousness.
"Your Majesty, next month is the imperial examination. Why do you have to go all the way to do it in person? Just send a minister here. How hard it is!"
Dong Songchen muttered softly from the side.
First, he toured the southeast for several months, paid private visits incognito, and then attended the opening ceremonies of Jinling Martial Arts Hall and Jinling University Hall. Then he led some graduates directly to Sichuan, a non-stop, tiring journey. After inspecting the Sichuan frontier fortress, he had to rush back to preside over the imperial examination.
Being an emperor is really hard work.
"Sichuan is implementing the New Deal, and I have to personally arrange it. The defense of Shukou is related to the foundation of the Song Dynasty, and I have to come and see for myself. The wars in the next few years may all be in the northwest border, and I may have to come to Sichuan a few more times. .”
As for meeting with Xixia envoys at Shukou and possibly sending troops to reinforce Xixia, Zhao Hong did not say anything.
All officials in the court were opposed to this matter, and there were very few supporters. He had no choice but to take matters into his own hands once again.
"Your Majesty, the Lizhou camp has arrived!"
The guards came up and reported loudly.
Zhao Hong looked up, and sure enough, at the gate of Lizhou Camp, a large group of Zizhu officials were waiting, and everyone stretched their necks.
Looking at the crowd, the figure of Fan Zhong, the head of the Sichuan Anti-Corruption Division, is clearly visible.
Having been operating in Sichuan for such a long time, there have been a lot of secrets. There are many crimes and corruption committed by Sichuan scholar-bureaucrats.
Zhao Hong felt chilled and couldn't help but smile coldly.
Many of the Sichuan officials in front of them have an uncertain future. Sichuan under the control of Sichuan scholar-bureaucrats may soon be turned upside down.
"Old minister, see your Majesty!"
"I see your Majesty!"
There were also officials such as Uncle Gao Tai, the magistrate of Lizhou, and Guo Zhengsun, the pacifier of Lizhou West Road, who came forward to see the ceremony.
"See Your Majesty!"
At the gate of Lizhou Camp, Cui Yu, Fan Zhong, and a group of Sichuan officials came forward to bow and salute.
Everyone was surprised to find that the emperor came on horseback and did not ride in a chariot. He looked tough and brave, and he was indeed a strong man from the Song Dynasty.
The Emperor of the Song Dynasty came to the entrance of Shu, leaping on his horse and whipping his whip. Zhao Hong should be a unique alternative among the emperors of the Song Dynasty.
Emperor, you don’t just want to inspect the Sichuan border defense, right?
Many officials were uneasy and looked ugly.
This new emperor of the Song Dynasty is always unexpected and frightening.
"Cui Qing, An Qing, Gao Qing, Fan Qing, Yu Qing, how are you all doing?"
Zhao Hong laughed and jumped off the horse without asking for help from the guards.
His current riding skills are no longer what they used to be.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty!"
Everyone was respectful and replied together.
"My dear friends, come with me to see the new army!"
Zhao Hong stepped forward with a smile on his face, and all the ministers with different thoughts followed him one after another.
"Lizhou Camp, you really did not disappoint me. Cui Qing, Gao Qing, thank you for your hard work!"
Zhao Hong looked at the well-organized Lizhou camp surrounded by high walls, stopped and spoke warmly to Cui Yuyu and Uncle Gao Tai, the magistrate of Lizhou.
"To share your Majesty's worries, I dare not say the word "hard work"!"
Cui Yu and Uncle Gao Tai both smiled happily and quickly showed humility.
"Uncle Gao Tai, you have made outstanding achievements in Lizhou. I want to transfer you to serve as the transfer envoy to Huaixi and the general magistrate of Luzhou. What do you think?"
Zhao Hong smiled and said to Uncle Gao Tai.
The Wei family and the Gao family are two major families in Pujiang, Sichuan. The two surnames frequently passed through successive generations, resulting in the situation where the Wei and Gao surnames are "the same person, even though they are cousins."
The Wei Gao family in Pujiang was famous all over the world for his nine Jinshi. Wei Liaoweng, the minister of the Ministry of War, was also one of them.
Uncle Gaotai, the magistrate of Lizhou, was a typical scholar-bureaucrat of the Song Dynasty. He had some abilities and was relatively clean as an official, so he could be put to good use.
It can be reused everywhere, even in the center of the imperial court, except in Sichuan.
His elder brother Gao Jia was the magistrate of Mianzhou, the administrative office of Lizhou West Road, his other brother Gao Dingzi was the general commander of Sichuan, his younger brother Wei Wenweng was the magistrate of Chengdu, his younger brother Wei Liaoweng was the minister of the Ministry of War, and he was a close minister of Zhao Hong.
Not to mention, among this group of ministers, there was also Wei Liaoweng's son-in-law An Gongxing who served as the Tongchuan Road transfer envoy. An Gongxing's elder brother An Guizhong was in charge of Sichuan Zhishi Yiwen.
An Guizhong and An Gongxing were the sons of An Bing, the former Sichuan pacifier.
The relationships between these people are intricately intertwined. Even though there are many loyal ministers and officials among them, they cannot reassure him and cannot allow them to control the government of Sichuan.
"I thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
Uncle Gao Tai's face was red, and he knelt down to thank him regardless of the dust on the ground.
Wei Gao's ancestral motto was to "die without sweating in five days" to serve the country and the people. He did not realize that the emperor wanted to take advantage of the Sichuan scholar-bureaucrats.
"Chen Li, Yu Jie, how is the spring plowing in Hanzhong going?"
It was related to the food supply in Lizhou and Lizhou, so he couldn't help but worry.
Both Lizhou and Lizhou roads relied on the Hanzhong Plain on Lizhou East Road for military supplies. Transporting grain from Sichuan across thousands of mountains and rivers is too difficult, so we still have to rely on self-sufficiency.
"Your Majesty, half of the cultivated land in the military and civilian villages in Hanzhong has reached more than 10,000 hectares. By the time of summer cultivation, I am sure that it can reach 20,000 hectares."
Chen Li, the pacification envoy of Lizhou East Road, made a report on behalf of Yu Jie.
"Chen Li, well done! Hanzhong is in the northwest of the Yangtze River and has more than 30,000 hectares of arable land. Within three years, all the arable land in Hanzhong will be cultivated. Can it be done?"
More than 30,000 hectares, that is, more than 3 million acres, spring wheat and autumn millet, produce about 6 million shi of grain a year, enough to supply the frontier army.
"Your Majesty, I will do my best to live up to your Majesty's trust!"
Chen quickly responded. As long as the border is peaceful and the refugees return, three years should be enough.
"Guo Zhengsun, Lizhou West Road, three passes and five states, and the dangerous passes of Dacheng, have all started to be repaired?"
"Back to Your Majesty, repairs have begun in big cities such as Xihe Prefecture, Mianzhou, and Tongqingfu. They should be completed by the second half of the year. However, there are many dangerous roads and dangerous roads. If they are all repaired, it will probably take several years. The required Money cannot be measured."
Guo Zhengsun bit the bullet and told the truth.
"Only the big city will be built, and the small town will be merged into the big city. All dangerous fortresses will be abandoned."
Zhao Hong made arrangements immediately.
Once the Mongolian cavalry invades the three passes and five states, the safety of the people must be guaranteed and the big city must be impregnable.
Just give up on those so-called dangerous obstacles. Talent is the foundation.
Uncle Gao Tai was very proud, Chen Lihe and Guo Zhengsun were all smiles. Many of the accompanying ministers were forced to smile but felt guilty.
Uncle Gao Tai and Guo Zhengsun can be beaming with joy, but who knows what kind of future awaits them?
"Greetings to Your Majesty!"
The conversation finally ended, and all the courtiers came forward to pay their respects.
Zhao Hong glanced at the ministers who had different thoughts, nodded, and walked up to the high platform calmly.
With their wide robes, big sleeves, and majestic crowns, who knows what kind of ugliness lies beneath these official robes?
