It's hard to say whether Zhao Xu wants to go to heaven or not, but the Queen Mother of Xixia definitely wants to go to heaven.
In the first year of Feilong, not long after the new year began, the Queen Mother of Xixia staged a palace drama.
She directly ordered the Xixia leader Li Bingchang to be placed under house arrest.
The news reached Bianliang, Tokyo as soon as possible, but Zhang Fei was not surprised at all.
Because for the Empress Dowager Liang, she now has no way out. Because she banned trade with the Song Dynasty, more and more people turned to the Song Dynasty. You must know that it was the Song Dynasty that threatened Xixia with trade. It can be seen that Xixia
There was a greater need for trade with the Song Dynasty, so the people, merchants, and some village owners along the border of Xixia were very opposed to the order of the Empress Dowager Liang.
In fact, the Empress Dowager Liang knew very well that this was wrong, but she had no choice, because after Li Bingchang took office, she had been using close officials to create public opinion in the court, restore Han rituals, and make good friends with the Song Dynasty, but she was a Han woman.
, can only take more urgent and extreme measures.
But it seems that more and more people are supporting their country's leader for their own interests, and the border is becoming more and more chaotic.
If things continue like this, Li Bingchang is very likely to use this matter to regain his power.
The only way is to break up the relationship first and put the emperor under house arrest to ensure his own power. In this way, he can negotiate with the Song Dynasty more independently in diplomacy without being involved in internal affairs.
In other words, I just need to stabilize the internal affairs first, and then we can open up the discussion, and that makes sense.
But now I have to bite it no matter what.
However, her move shocked the whole country, and also made the chiefs and merchants who had secretly traded with the Song Dynasty know that they had no way out. If they did not go against it, they would definitely be liquidated by the Empress Dowager Liang, so they directly sent someone to contact Wang Shao.
Zhong Er expressed his willingness to surrender to the Song Dynasty.
After Zhao Xu learned the news, he immediately held a key meeting.
Chui Gong Hall.
"According to what Wang Shao and Zhong E said, many chiefs in the border states are determined to rebel against the Empress Dowager Liang and surrender to the Song Dynasty. This is an excellent opportunity to eliminate Xixia!"
Wang Anshi was very moved by this.
This is really an excellent opportunity. Nowadays, the national power of the Song Dynasty is not what it used to be, and there is such a big civil strife in Xixia. It really takes advantage of the right time, place and people.
Wen Yanbo said: "But our spies in Xixia and Liao have also confirmed that in the second half of last year, the Queen Mother of Xixia secretly sent envoys to Liao twice.
Without the support of the Liao Kingdom, the Queen Mother of Xixia would not dare to do this. They must have reached some kind of agreement. Once we send troops to Xixia, the Liao Kingdom will most likely take advantage of it."
Lu Huiqing said: "Since Xixia has surrendered to the Liao Kingdom, if we wait until the Queen Mother of Xixia completes the internal rectification, it will definitely pose a greater threat to our country."
Wen Yanbo said: "Of course we can't let go of the opportunity, but we have already planned to use merchants to secretly send troops, build forts, and assist them in their defense, so that we can have enough soldiers and horses to defend the Liao Kingdom. As long as we do not march on a large scale,
The Liao Kingdom may not even dare to go south."
Wang Anshi said: "Although this strategy is feasible, it may not be able to defend it. The Queen Mother of Xixia will definitely send a large army to suppress the rebellious generals and village owners. If she does not send the main force in, how can she stop them?"
Wen Yanbo stroked his beard and asked Zhao Xu: "Your Majesty, this battle is related to the fate of the country. A commander should be appointed to take charge of the overall situation."
Zhao Xu nodded and said: "I want to appoint Wang Shao as the commander-in-chief of the three armies. After all, he once used the same tactics to capture the Hehuang area, and he is very familiar with the local situation."
Wang Anshi immediately said: "I also think Wang Shao is the best candidate."
Wen Yanbo hesitated slightly, but after thinking over and over again, he said: "Your Majesty, you don't trust the people you employ, and you don't use the people you doubt. If you appoint Wang Shao as commander-in-chief, you must trust him, and you can't make the same mistakes as before."
He said it very euphemistically, but in fact it was an allusion to the emperor not to give random orders, and not to follow the example of his predecessors and control the battle situation.
He also knew that this opportunity was rare, but the Liao Kingdom was watching eagerly. If he was too aggressive, the Liao Kingdom might take advantage of it, but if he was too conservative, he might miss the opportunity.
We can only appoint a commander and let him make a decision based on the situation on the front line.
This kind of battle situation is difficult to control remotely.
Zhao Xu nodded and said: "Now that the reform has been successful, there is no need to do this. If you don't have any objections, I plan to appoint Wang Shao as the general manager of the three marches in Guanxi, Longyou and Hedong."
When Sima Guang heard this, he felt a little panicked. He wanted to say that this is not the system of our dynasty, but then he thought about it. The previous reform of the official system followed the Tang system. Although it was finally changed to the four different ones, this is what the slogan was after all.
The Grand Controller of the Marching Army is quite reasonable.
Wen Yanbo did not object and said: "Your Majesty can order Wang Shao to act according to the opportunity and decide how many main forces to send in. However, it is not appropriate to declare war, let alone advance rashly. We should proceed step by step, focusing on building camps and defense, and encroaching on Xixia's territory. We only need to
By using this battle to weaken Xixia, we can win the final victory, and there is no need to launch a large-scale attack."
Zhao Xu nodded and looked at Wang Anshi and the others.
Of course Wang Anshi and others agree.
In fact, they were worried that the conservatives were too weak to attack and missed the opportunity, but they believed in Wang Shao very much, and Wang Shao would definitely not let Xixia go.
After the meeting, Zhao Xu immediately went to a small attic nearby, where Zhang Fei was already waiting.
"Your Majesty, they didn't quarrel, did they?"
Zhang Fei asked.
Zhao Xu shook his head and said: "Gong Wen's idea is the same as ours, but he thinks this policy is too conservative and is worried about delaying the fighter plane. However, when I decided to appoint Wang Shao as the general manager of the march, he no longer objected."
Zhang Fei breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."
Zhao Xu frowned and said: "What I am most worried about now is the Northern Dynasty. According to the news, the Northern Dynasty must have reached an agreement with the Queen Mother of Xixia, but I don't know what they are planning. Will they send troops directly, or will they wait until the Queen Mother of Xixia calms down the internal affairs and then negotiate with them?"
They may send troops together, or they may just put pressure on our country to make the Queen Mother of Xixia equalize the civil strife."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Although the country's strength is growing, he is still very worried if fighting on two fronts at the same time.
Zhang Fei consoled him: "Your Majesty, we have tried our best to avoid fighting on two fronts, and even businessmen have taken advantage of it. However, this is a matter of people and God. In the end, the final initiative is in the hands of the Liao Kingdom."
of.
However, with our current national strength, I am confident that we can stop the Liao Kingdom before launching a full-scale attack on Xixia."
Zhao Xu nodded.
Zhang Fei didn't say anything more. Not only Zhao Xu, but also most of the ministers in the court had a fear of the Liao Kingdom, which could not be eliminated without going to war.
...
The next day, Zhao Xu sent fast horses to convey his appointment to Xizhou. To be on the safe side, he even sent fast horses to Yanzhou, Suizhou and other northwest border states to let them accept Wang Shao's command.
Although Zhang Fei had already said hello before when he went there, after all, these three marching generals appeared for the first time in the Song Dynasty, and Zhao Xu was worried that the generals would not understand.
At the same time, the troops in Hebei were ordered to enter a state of combat readiness, including most of the royal police.
...
The highest royal court.
"Xueshi Wang, Third Secretary, do you still have time to come to my place for tea?"
Zhang Fei looked at Wang Anshi and Xue Xiang and said with a smile.
Wang Anshi smiled and said: "Of course we are not here to drink tea."
"That is...?"
"Is such that."
Xue Xiang immediately said: "Now we have to be fully prepared, and the same is true for finances, but things are not what they used to be. In addition, our country has not declared war yet, so it is not appropriate to recruit laborers. We can only spend money to hire people."
To transport grain and fodder, we still don’t know how long this war will last and how large it will be.”
Zhang Fei said: "Increase taxes?"
Xue Xiang hesitated a little.
Wang Anshi said: "We have not yet reached the point of raising taxes. We want to issue debt similar to salt bonds to ensure that the national treasury is always full, so that we can deal with the crisis in the north."
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "This is feasible. I actually don't agree with increasing taxes. The more times like this, the more important it is to take care of internal affairs. If taxes are increased, it will cause dissatisfaction among the people. I just don't know how much you plan to issue."
debt?"
Wang Anshi said: "Ten million strings."
Zhang Fei said: "That's a little too much."
Wang Anshi said: "Hezhong Mansion can issue one million guan, so how can the imperial court issue 10 million guan too much?"
Zhang Fei said: "The Hezhong Mansion issued a million guan, which was entirely supported by the salt pond, and when the debt matures, it must be repaid with interest. The key is to issue so much, and businessmen don't dare to do so."
purchase."
Wang Anshi said: "That's why we came to you to find a solution."
Xue Xiang added: "Issuing this kind of debt is also to protect tax coins. Once news of war comes, people may sell off tax coins and try to keep copper coins, because they will worry about the imperial court issuing banknotes indiscriminately to supplement military expenditures."
Zhang Fei frowned, "This is really a problem. Debt alone may not be enough to reassure the people. It will also make the people think that the court has no money, triggering even more panic selling."
Xue Xiangdao: "Then how do you think we should keep the tax coins?"
Zhang Fei said: "The third envoy must prepare enough reserves of copper coins and silk cloth, and at the same time recover some tax coins."
Wang Anshi said: "At present, the imperial court is using money. How to recover tax coins?"
Although they are all first-rate geniuses, they are still a little unsure of how to operate this kind of legal paper currency in a war since it was just released.
Zhang Fei pondered for a while and said: "This can only rely on the three major Jiekupu."
Wang Anshi asked: "How?"
Zhang Fei said: "First of all, it's definitely not possible to pay so much money at once. It needs to be paid for at least three years. It's still time. They only need to pay back three to four million yuan every year. With the current financial situation, they are more assured."
Wang Anshi nodded and said: "This is no problem. The current situation is still uncertain."
Zhang Fei added: "Don't they all have storage businesses now?"
The two nodded.
Zhang Fei said: "We can use their storage business to recycle tax coins on the market. As long as the number of tax coins on the market is maintained at a low level, there will be no panic about tax coins.
Let the three major Jieku shops first increase the storage interest to 5% per year, and after maturity, you can choose to settle in copper coins or tax coins, so as to attract people to save money, and then we will increase the interest rate to 10% per year.
We sell the debt to them with interest, and they make half the net profit in the middle, and the pressure is also shared. I think we can persuade them to agree."
Xue Xiang's eyes lit up when he heard this, "In other words, we will directly sell all the debts to the three major Jiekupu, and the three major Jiekupu will use our debt interest to attract people to save money?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "That's right. Of course, the three major Jiekupu can also directly sell the debt."
Xue Xiangdao: "This is a wonderful strategy."
Wang Anshi laughed and said, "I knew you had an idea. Ahem, President, I'm sorry."
Zhang Fei rolled his eyes and said: "But, Scholar Wang, I have to remind you of one thing. As you just said, things are not what they used to be. Everything must be governed by the law, but there is no rush to follow the authority."
In the past, times like this were the best time to fish in troubled waters, but now the Public Security Bureau, Yushitai, and Taxation Department are all watching. If someone in the Public Service Department wants to make a fortune, it will definitely affect Wang Xueshi, Lu Shangshu, and the Imperial Court.
There will definitely be a heavy sentence."
Wang Anshi said: "But how can we keep an eye on this?"
Zhang Fei said: "But everyone is recommended by you. If something happens, you must be responsible."
Wang Anshi nodded and said, "I will tell Jifu."
After that, he added: "But since the law is to be enforced, you must also improve the relevant laws. When the country's survival is at stake, the court must use coercive means."
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "I will go to the Legislative Council to discuss and draft a war mobilization law so that the government can recruit people in accordance with this law in times of crisis."
Wang Anshi nodded and said: "You have to watch this method, it cannot be decided by Sima Junshi and others."
Zhang Fei said: "I'm not watching. I don't have any experience in this area. The Political Affairs Hall must also be involved."
Wang Anshi felt even more relieved after hearing this.
Zhang Fei added: "In addition, we can now slowly build momentum through newspapers and periodicals to arouse everyone's memory of being oppressed by the Liao Kingdom. If we are going to fight on two fronts, we must be united."
Wang Anshi said worriedly: "But the attitude of the Liao Kingdom is still unclear."
Zhang Fei said: "We can slowly build momentum, which will test Bachelor Wang's literary skills."
Wang Anshi said angrily: "What does this have to do with literary skills? If it really does, why would I come to you again and again to beg you? I will write a few articles and you can help me take a look."
Zhang Fei nodded.
...
Although times have changed, the tacit understanding between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang has never been absent. As soon as Wang Anshi and the others left, Sima Guang came to the imperial court.
"well...!"
After sitting down, Sima Guang said nothing but a long sigh.
"Why did Academician Sima sigh?"
Zhang Fei personally handed him a cup of tea.
Sima Guang glanced at him and said, "You are asking knowingly."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "This tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop, so it needs to be beaten."
Sima Guang said: "But after finally living a good life for a few years, I really don't want to...sigh..."
He really doesn't want to fight. The current society is really better than what he dreamed of and has surpassed Confucian standards. However, fighting wastes people and money. In his mind, it is like a perfect picture that will be destroyed.
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "I think it is better to fight late than to fight early."
"How?" Sima Guang asked.
Zhang Fei said: "We will only get richer and richer, and they will only get poorer and poorer. At that time, we will be a fat sheep in their eyes, and they will be a hungry wolf in our eyes. At that time, I am afraid that most people will follow Bachelor Sima also doesn't want to fight, but the other party has to fight. The difference in mood makes us even more passive."
"That's true." Sima Guang nodded and said, "What can the public prosecutor and the procuratorate do at this time?"
This was also the first time that the Public Security Bureau faced this situation, and he was quite confused.
Zhang Fei said: "Calm down, take it easy, and be a little more diligent than usual."
Sima Guang looked at him doubtfully.
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "We are the key force to stabilize the country. If we all panic, there will definitely be chaos in the rear. By defending the public security and judicial laws, we have actually done a great favor to the court."
Sima Guang said: "But whenever a war breaks out, the court's policies will gradually become extreme. Taxes will be increased, and corvee labor may not be left behind. How should the public security organs and the law face this situation?"
Zhang Fei said: "Legislation."
Sima Guang said: "Does legislation prevent it?"
"No."
Zhang Fei said: "Legislative support."
"...?"
"Sister Sima, this is related to the survival of the country, and it is everyone's responsibility."
Zhang Fei said: "In fact, our dynasty has always had relevant laws to ensure how to recruit laborers during wars and the minimum wages they receive. However, in the past, corruption in government led to many generals and officials using public affairs for personal gain and making a lot of war fortune. Now we are amending the law to determine the obligations that each citizen should bear in times of crisis, and to ensure that people can get their due rewards. Although it may be lower than usual, it must at least protect the life needs of the people and their families.
How to make all this work in accordance with the law is the test of our public prosecutors and law."
Sima Guang asked again: "When it comes to this general, many generals do nothing during the war. How should we respond?"
Zhang Fei said: "What about the score? If it does not affect the war situation, you can settle the accounts later. But if it affects the war situation due to selfish interests, you must punish it immediately. But this requires the officials of the Public Security Bureau to be smart enough to take action at the appropriate time." , this is also a major test for judicial officials, but it must be experienced."
"Yes! This is something you have to experience."
Sima Guang nodded and suddenly looked at Zhang Fei again, "Why are you not panicking at all?"
Zhang Fei said: "Because I think we will win."
"Why?"
"Those who have attained the truth will receive much help, but those who have lost the path will receive little help."
Zhang Fei said: "I am standing on morality. Why are the people of Xixia willing to surrender to our Song Dynasty? It is not because they hate the Queen Mother Liang, but because they yearn for a better life. The problem that Bachelor Sima just mentioned is that in their country, They will appear one by one, and this is the advantage of the public prosecutors, so we will only get stronger as we fight, and they will get weaker and weaker."
After hearing this, Sima Guang was stunned for a long time, and suddenly smiled bitterly and said: "I often use these principles to persuade officials, but in fact I haven't fully understood them yet!"
Zhang Fei said: "Perhaps it's not that Academician Sima didn't understand it thoroughly, but that in the eyes of Academician Sima, there are only Han and barbarians."
Sima Guang was suddenly startled. After a while, he slowly said: "I am far inferior to you."
...
From the concerns of Sima Guang and Wang Anshi, it is not difficult to see that they are worried about the new system's response to war.
Because they were afraid that the war would destroy the entire new system.
This is indeed very possible, because in a war, who would care so much, whether everyone can still abide by the law, and whether the public security organs and prosecutors will become a stumbling block to the government's decrees, these are all unpredictable.
This is also a severe test for the public security organs.
If the advantages of the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate can be demonstrated in this environment, then the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate will be completely rooted in this land.
Most of this pressure is concentrated on Zhang Fei.
We can only rely more on him to find a solution.
Today, he came to the headquarters of the charity foundation and held a meeting with Fan Yong and Chen Maoqian to discuss the national debt.
"Is there going to be a war?"
Chen Maoqian asked in a low voice.
Of course he had gotten wind of his many transactions in the northwest. After hearing Zhang Fei's proposal, he knew that there might be a war.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Zhang Fei said: "As far as I know, the imperial court has no intention of starting a war with anyone, but you also know that the west is in chaos now. This tree wants to be quiet but the wind is not stopping. The imperial court must
Be prepared for those emergencies."
Fan Yong said: "The president of the court spoke, and it sounded like a sure profit without loss. Of course we would not refuse this, but that is not necessarily the case at Xiangguo Temple. After all, the imperial court did not take advantage after every battle.
Moreover, the treasury is empty, so it is unlikely that we will be able to repay the debt.
I think Xiangguo Temple is also worried about this, which will make all the business we have worked hard for many years go to waste."
Borrowing money is not a problem, but he really has no confidence in the country's war.
If you win, you will lose, and if you lose, you will lose.
How can you ensure that after the war is over, the country can pay back the money?
Zhang Fei said: "Why don't you think so, if the enemy comes in, it won't mean that our business will be in vain, but our lives will be lost.
You should think this way. The imperial court is willing to lend money because it actually does not want to increase taxes and is also afraid of interrupting the country's upward momentum. Moreover, as long as the war occurs on the territory of other countries, it will not affect your business and the country's tax policy will still operate very stably.
, the money will naturally be paid back then.
In addition, the money is not given to corrupt officials, but to you businessmen. Now the court hires people and buys goods directly from businessmen. This will set off a wave of chaos, and you businessmen will
Make a lot of money.
Your worries are nothing compared to these three points."
Everyone looked at each other in shock.
It seems reasonable.
They also know that it is Xixia who is provoking trouble. If someone wants to beat you, if you don't, you will be dead.
Chen Maoqian suddenly said: "Sanlang said so sincerely, does he want us to learn to persuade Xiangguo Temple?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "No one knows me well, but I think as long as the Ma family and we agree, the Xiangguo Temple will also agree, and the three envoys will show up to talk to them."
As the president of the court, he can only talk to these friends and cannot talk to the other party on behalf of the court. He does not have this power, and what he says has no legal effect.
After communicating with these businessmen, he went to the Legislative Council to discuss with Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, Wang Anshi, and Sima Guang how to draft a war mobilization law.
If it is not written clearly, it will be difficult for the public security organs to intervene.
In ancient times, there was no concept of mobilization, but there were only some regulations, and these regulations were in the same vein as the previous laws, which were mainly based on punishment, mainly stipulating that tasks should be completed on time, otherwise, what punishment would be received.
But this is definitely not in line with the philosophy of the public security organs.
All need to be reworked.
Zhang Fei actually doesn't know much about this. What war was like in ancient times can be understood by reading history books. But if you want to talk about what mobilization was like in ancient times, the books may only be the tip of the iceberg. If you have not experienced it,
, is unimaginable. He just put forward some ideas and suggestions, mainly to ensure everyone's obligations and rights, but it is up to Fu Bi and the others to discuss the specific formula.