In the official hall, Wang Xiaolie looked at the official documents. After becoming the envoy of the town, Shao Ling could no longer station himself in Shaanzhou and had already begun to withdraw his troops. After the army returned, they stationed themselves near Dengzhou to facilitate the supply of food and grass.
Wang Xiaolie's army, centered on Xinye, was stationed in Dengzhou, Tangzhou and Xiangyang Prefecture. The armies of other states do not have many troops and can only defend the city. If an enemy comes to attack, the main force can attack quickly. This arrangement is because the three prefectures produce the most grain and grass under their rule, which can support a large army. In other states, it is inconvenient to transport grain and grass, so most of them are stored locally.
At this time, the most powerful army of the Song Dynasty was Zhang Jun's army in Shaanxi, with about 200,000 people. Next is Zhao Gou in the southeast, who originally had hundreds of thousands of people. Last year when Wanyan Zongbi went south, Du Chong was defeated, leaving only tens of thousands of people. The third is Wang Xiaolie's troops. There are more than 40,000 people who can fight on the battlefield, which is unmatched by other armies.
The imperial envoys appointed by the imperial court had as many troops as Wang Xiaoxue, with forty or fifty thousand people. For example, Guo Zhongwei, the governor of Zhenyang, had a small army, with only five or six hundred troops. Strength varies. However, at this time, the numbers claimed by many military commanders were meaningless.
Wang Xiaolie did not expect that in just over two years, he would expand from a small army of several hundred people to this. Among the local powerful factions, it occupies the largest territory and has the largest army.
Standing up, Wang Xiaolie stretched. The most difficult days have passed, and the next development will determine your achievements in this era. When it comes to the number of troops, Wang Xiaolie is not the fastest growing. Speaking of territory, there was once someone who had a bigger one than me. In more than a year, many influential figures have disappeared in the long river of history, only his own strength has become stronger and stronger. Why, because our own army can fight.
Yes, what’s the use of having tens of thousands of troops, or even hundreds of thousands of troops? It's just a joke to collapse at the first touch on the battlefield. Only an army that is truly capable of fighting can rise to the challenge of the times. Only through continuous reorganization and training can the army maintain its combat effectiveness. Only when the local economy develops well can the army be adequately supplied.
Chen Qiudao came in and saluted Wang Xiaolie. Said: "Observe that we have been able to produce cotton cloth stably in the past few months, and it has become very popular. Now one piece on the market costs ten pieces, and demand exceeds supply."
Wang Xiaolie said: "This is a good thing. Xiangyang has been introducing grass cotton for some time. Last year, we finally found suitable seeds, and we only planted them on a large scale this year. With the joint efforts of several communities in Xinye, textile machinery can also be used. There is today’s situation.”
Chen Qiudao said: "That's right. There is a difficult problem now. The Jin people in the north are more willing to pay high prices and sell well. However, the government's market houses are not allowed to trade with the people in the north. When the merchants in the north arrive in Xiangyang, they also Can’t buy cotton.”
Wang Xiaolie said: "What's so strange about this? How can merchants be allowed to do business when the two countries are at war? If the northerners want to buy cotton, of course they have to buy it from other people. It is absolutely impossible for the government to sell it to them."
Chen Qiudao was stunned for a moment. Said: "The observation means that someone from the Song Dynasty bought cotton cloth and could sell it to the Northerners? If so, what is the difference between selling it directly to the Northerners from the government? There is a hand in the middle, and the cotton cloth will make less money."
Wang Xiaolie said with a smile: "How can you make less money if you have a hand in the middle? Where is the price of cotton cloth? Whether you sell it to people in the Song Dynasty or to people in the north, you will still make so much money. The people who handle it in the middle, What is earned is the money of merchants in the North, and the money of people who buy cotton in the North.”
Chen Qiudao lowered his head and thought for a while. He nodded and said: "My observation is that my thinking is wrong. However, if someone buys cotton cloth in Xiangyang and sells it to the people in the north, making money in the process, I think it is a bit unreasonable."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Sell it to the northerners in Xiangyang, how will they transport it away?"
Chen Qiudao said: "Of course we need to find someone to transport goods back to the north. ——The observation means that people from the north are not allowed to transport goods within the territory?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Of course not! Whether they are businessmen or anyone else, how can the Northerners do whatever they want in our territory! If they want to do this business, they must put in their efforts."
Chen Qiudao said yes. I just didn't understand what Wang Xiaolie meant for a moment, so he hesitated and said nothing.
Wang Xiaolie sat down in front of the case and said: "People from the north can only do business in our fixed and open places. How to cooperate with merchants from the Song Dynasty depends on their ability. I have thought about this for a long time. Looking at it now, I have no idea. It is more suitable to set up the field in Xiangcheng. Xiangcheng is on the bank of the Ru River, and it is a mountainous area. It is not far from Yingchang Mansion and is on the main road. The northerners can easily transport goods northward if they buy goods from there."
"Xiangcheng?" Chen Qiudao thought in his mind.
Xiangcheng belongs to Ruzhou and is the northernmost point of Wang Xiaohao's power. There is the bank of the Ru River, and it is on the main road from Dengzhou to Kaifeng Prefecture. When he first occupied Ruzhou, Xiangcheng was an important place designated by Wang Xiaolie, with two thousand heavy troops stationed there.
Seeing that Chen Qiudao was silent, Wang Xiaolie said: "Even if there is a war, the trade between the north and the south cannot be interrupted. Instead of letting smugglers do it, it is better for the government to set rules. Let's build a team to transport goods from Xiangyang to Xiangcheng. . Of course, other people can also transport it, and merchants can also hire porters themselves. After buying goods from Xiangyang or Dengzhou, they can have the team transport them to Xiangcheng. Only in Xiangcheng can northerners do business. As for how they get through Xiangyang, Business in Dengzhou depends on your own abilities."
Chen Qiudao said: "If this is the case, are the northerners only allowed to live in Xiangcheng? Are they not allowed to go to other states to join the army?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "That should be the case. Just letting them be in Xiangcheng will make it inconvenient for the Jin people to do detailed work, and save a lot of trouble."
Chen Qiudao thought for a long time. Said: "This matter involves a lot, I need to go back and arrange it carefully."
Wang Xiaolie said: "This is the best. By the way, in the past few years of war, the Jin people have robbed no one knows how much gold and silver. If you sell goods to the north, you can get some back. The business officials of both sides don't need to obstruct it. When it's convenient, Provide some convenience.”
Chen Qiudao said yes. Say goodbye and leave.
Watching Chen Qiudao leave, Wang Xiaolie stood up and looked out the window.
The state capital in western Beijing was severely damaged and there was no business to be done. But Hebei Road is different. It was relatively less damaged and there were more Jurchens heading south. The Jurchens were in urgent need of goods from the Song Dynasty, and they had money and a business foundation.
For the Song Dynasty, trade at this time was actually a bit humiliating. But what can be done? If you are not as strong as others, you can only suffer some grievances temporarily. As a local power, Wang Xiaolie needed money very much. Even if you are an enemy, if you can make money, you still have to do business.
The Xiang-Deng area was not only on the front line, but also surrounded by separatist forces. If the place is not peaceful, it will naturally affect business. It is indeed difficult to make money without doing business with the Jurchens in the north. As a military commander, one is to enable the army to fight, and the other is to make as much money as possible.
With the opening of banks and the resolution of the start-up capital that troubled Wang Xiaolie the most, a large number of industries and commerce are at the moment of outbreak. Wang Xiaolie does not want to delay the development of the industry due to various reasons, but wants to expand the market as much as possible. The most convenient market now is in the north.
The era of frequent wars between Song and Jin passed, and wars began to decrease. Taking this opportunity, Wang Xiaolie hopes that he can earn as much money as possible and train more troops.
