In the early autumn of the tenth year of Qianyou (957), Chengdu.
The hibiscus densely covered inside and outside the city are already ready to bloom, ready to show their most beautiful posture in front of the Chengdu citizens and tourists. The city in the middle of Sichuan will usher in the season of blooming flowers again.
Nearly three years have passed since the battle between Qin and Feng, but the impact of the defeat on Hou Shu has become more and more serious with the passage of time. The peace treaty in exchange for paying tribute has made the people of Sichuan and Shu increasingly tired.
The preparation and training of the Northern Defense Army, the expenditure of military expenditures, and the raising of annual tributes became a serious burden on the Hou Shu court. In addition, political corruption, turmoil, extravagance, frequent chaos, and enemies
There is no problem at all in spreading rumors to stir up trouble, and describing today's Hou Shu as a country in decline and in a precarious state.
More than twenty years of peace and more than twenty years of accumulation were all exhausted in the long years of failure. The court of Later Shu once again felt what it was like to have empty money.
In the face of internal and external troubles, Meng Chang, the lord of Shu, let go of the burdens in his heart and indulged himself more in enjoyment. It was very easy to switch from frugality to luxury. By following the example, Meng Chang's descendants and ministers were also completely relaxed.
, enjoying the life of aristocratic privileges wantonly, scrambling for the first place, regardless of everything, the dynasty's luck is rapidly consumed.
In order to maintain the rule and replenish the national treasury, all the burdens were eventually transferred to the ordinary people in Sichuan. Taxes and gifts were increased, and corvees were widely invited. The people of Sichuan and Sichuan suffered greatly, and they were full of resentment and curses.
It is very difficult for people to establish a positive and good image, but it is too easy to destroy it. It can be said that the image of thrift, thrift and love for the people that Meng Chang spent nearly twenty years established was completely eliminated in these two or three years.
collapse.
It was much more serious than in the original history. At least in the old history, when the Song Dynasty subjugated the country and the family moved north, the people of Shu felt pity for it. However, nowadays, scolding is light. In the past few years, in various places in both Sichuan and Sichuan,
There were more than 20 civil unrests, and resistance to taxes and donations occurred frequently. After that, the Shu court's approach was to constantly dispatch troops and generals to eliminate and suppress them.
Two campaigns to the north and one campaign to the north ended in failure, which had an incalculable negative impact on the Shu court. The Shu court also had to rush to make many conquests to meet the immediate needs, and the consequences were vicious.
In this cycle, the political and public sentiments of the Shu Kingdom became more and more disintegrated.
Of course, in addition to the imperial court, there were a lot of promoters of the chaos in Shu. The spies of the Northern Han Dynasty were afraid of chaos, and the colluded officials allowed the bureaucrats, landlords, and wealthy businessmen to plunder people's property and wealth to enrich themselves.
.....
However, no matter how dark the government is and how chaotic the two rivers are, Chengdu is still so prosperous and the hustle and bustle is still the same. However, this is an abnormal prosperity, and everyone can feel the tense atmosphere permeating the city, as oppressive as a dark cloud
, which makes people feel gloomy.
Ordinary people's lives are becoming more and more miserable. The price of food is rising, there is no food available, public security is deteriorating, conflicts occur frequently in cities and towns, and it is difficult to see people when traveling. Around Chengdu, the number of landless and bankrupt refugees is increasing, and they continue to gather.
The earth is driven away and there is no hope.
"The price of rice has gone up again!" There was a sigh in front of a rice shop.
In front of the shop, there was a queue of about twenty people. They were all ordinary people, some carrying bags or carrying baskets. They looked at the newly written wooden sign with the price of rice and couldn't help but complain.
Twenty-seven dollars per dou rice!
Compared with that year, it has increased six or seven times. Even compared with before the war between Qin and Feng, it has doubled, and it continues to rise. The price refers to copper coins, miscellaneous coins, iron coins, the price is still
To calculate separately, the "Qianyu Tongbao" introduced from the north would be cheaper. There was a shortage of copper in Shu. After the Han-Shu peace treaty was signed, the financial pressure became greater. The Later Shu court cast a large number of iron coins.
When used for circulation, the result is that the economy is increasingly collapsing, and money is cheap and things are expensive.
Compared with the complaints of the people who buy food, the owner of the shop can't help but show a cheerful smile. There is always balance in this world. When someone cries, someone laughs. People who are in the food business will never worry about high food prices. As for the people,
Suffering and people's livelihood are issues that the court should consider and have nothing to do with him as a grain merchant.
"Everyone line up, prepare money, don't crowd, don't make trouble!" A few strong men guarded the shop, maintaining order, staring fiercely at the people buying food, as if they were looking at class enemies.
Most of the people in line were honest, either prepared as instructed, planned to give up rice and buy millet, or calculated their money and left voluntarily. However, the impact of rising food prices is very serious.
Intuitively, there may be some people leaving, but more people come with sacks after hearing the news. The scramble to buy food gradually spreads in the city...
"If this continues, the people of Chengdu will not even be able to have a full stomach!" In a wine shop, several scholars were drinking light wine and heard the scramble for food in the city. One of them couldn't help but sigh.
These young scholars were students of official schools. On weekdays, it was inevitable that they would call friends, talk about state affairs, and talk about the current situation. As the politics of Shu gradually collapsed, there were many knowledgeable people who felt sad and wanted to call for improvements. However, they often
Out of power.
"It's already hard to eat!" One person said even more angrily: "Food prices are high, refugees are multiplying, and public sentiment is turbulent. Why does the court do nothing? People can carry a boat or capsize it. Such a simple truth, don't the princes in the court understand?
?"
"Why don't the government care about those profiteers who are driving up the price of grain? There is a shortage of food in Sichuan, so the court should come up with effective policies to crack down on profiteers, ban grain for brewing, open warehouses to release grain, and stabilize prices!" One person drank the wine in the glass and shook the glass vigorously.
He landed on the food table and said angrily.
"Behind these profiteers, there are indispensable high-ranking officials of the court. How can they take care of it? How can they take care of it?" Hearing this, another person said angrily: "As for the official food of the court, we need to support officials, the army, and support the people.
If you rebel, you have to pay tribute to the Northern Han Dynasty, how can you care about the people of Guizhou!"
"Only after the autumn harvest, the autumn grains are put into storage, and the new grains are brought to Beijing, can there be some relief..."
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"I heard that there was civil unrest in Zitong again!"
"The rebellions in Ling and Rongzhou have not subsided yet. That Zhao Jiwen is so useless that he has allowed a bunch of people to run rampant to this day!" One person yelled and cursed: "Why doesn't the imperial court change its generals?"
In the winter of last year, the Xiu people in Shuling and Rongzhou rebelled. Thousands of people rebelled, and they attacked and plundered the government. The Shu people made a big fuss. The Shu court sent Zhao Jiwen, an envoy from the bow and arrow warehouse, to lead his army to put down the rebellion, but they won the battle.
, but the remaining rebellion was difficult to subdue, and the damage has been done to this day, involving a large amount of financial and military resources of Hou Shu. For Hou Shu, who was suffering from internal and external troubles, it was nothing short of adding insult to injury.
"There are powerful men outside who are looking at you, and rebellions are happening inside. The country is in turmoil! Alas..." No matter how angry you are, it will eventually turn into a helpless sigh.
"Great Shu cannot continue like this, otherwise it will be annexed by the Northern Han Dynasty sooner or later. We will pay homage to the palace and ask Your Majesty to change course, reform the bad government, appease the people, enrich the country and strengthen the army!" Someone suggested with righteous words.
But there are only a few people who respond, and it’s just talk. If you want to take action, isn’t it difficult for others?
There is a saying that the Northern Han Dynasty was largely responsible for the chaos in Later Shu. Several conquests broke the economic balance in Shu. They were full of malice, fanned the flames, and conspired to disrupt Shu, which further aggravated its turmoil.
Of course, the role of the Northern Han Dynasty was due to external factors. Ultimately, it was the Shu court itself that was in chaos. Starting from the leader of Shu, Meng Chang, it was rotten layer by layer, and nothing could stop it.
At a time when public sentiment is surging inside and outside Chengdu, the Shu Palace, the Crystal Palace built on the Maha Pond, is still full of brilliance, wind, flowers, snow, moonlight, and melodious sounds lingering inside and outside the palace.
Meng Chang, the Lord of Shu, was enjoying himself with his Hua Rui wives. The suffering of the people was no longer his concern, or perhaps he deliberately ignored it.
As a ruler who has been in charge of Sichuan and Shu for more than 20 years, it is impossible for Meng Chang not to be aware of the chaos and turmoil in the country in the past few years. However, if he knows, he will never recover.
He also had nothing to do about the corruption of the government. When the country was stable, he could not make up his mind to rectify the shortcomings of the nobility and bureaucracy. But now.
For Meng Chang today, instead of worrying about those boring things, it is better to indulge in sensuality and make up for the enjoyment of the previous twenty years.
The sound of silk and bamboo was melodious, surrounded by the singing of orioles and the dancing of swallows. Meng Chao's obviously fat figure shuttled among them, holding a wine glass and a wine flask, pouring and drinking by himself. He was slightly drunk, with a rosy face, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying emotionally, in a wild and unrestrained manner.
, intoxicated with it, unaware of the changes in the world...
Fall, perdition, and escape are the truest portrayal of the current Shu Lord.