In the first-level combat readiness state, all soldiers in the team must be on standby, be on duty at all times, and be on alert. Not only that, even retired veterans may be recalled, and all transportation methods give priority to military personnel! As for private enterprises, they must also prepare to produce military industry
Products, in a word: must meet the needs of the military!
Zhao Xi is familiar with the first-level combat readiness of future generations. In view of the current actual situation, Zhao Xi's first-level combat readiness status is almost copied except for some era-limited content.
Before the first-level war preparations were issued, the public opinion of the state and the dynasty had already reached a peak against sending troops to the north to start a war. At this time, the people of the Song Dynasty were fully able to cooperate and support the state and dynasty's war preparations.
In the imperial court, there was also a real wave of enthusiasm for retired soldiers who were already local government officials to apply to enlist in the army again...
“The people’s support can be used!”
"The people's hearts can be used but cannot be lost. The reason why they have such people's hearts is that they all believe that the imperial court can win this war, or have such expectations. Once the battlefield is defeated, the people's hearts gathered in this way will collapse very quickly.
of."
The cabinet did not lose its rational judgment because of the trend of the country.
However, compared to the previous wartime state, the cabinet at this time was relatively relaxed when discussing matters. After all, the Song Dynasty is different from the past, and it really has the strength to regain Yanyun.
"Officials, based on the current statistics and requests from the Ministry of War and the Privy Council, the number of active and retired soldiers in the country can reach 1.7 million."
"Since the implementation of the military service law of the imperial dynasty, more than 400,000 soldiers have replaced retired soldiers, and nearly 700,000 active soldiers. In addition, there are 100,000 regular cavalry units, 100,000 auxiliary cavalry units, and those who signed up later.
The number of cavalry is nearly 150,000..."
"In addition, there are rail troops, mining city guards, workshop city guards, water transport troops, etc., who have also enthusiastically signed up to participate in the war. There is no shortage of troops in the country!"
"It's just that because Dangxiang, Tubo and other tribesmen are keen to participate in the war and gain military exploits themselves, the imperial court has difficulty in purchasing war horses. The regular cavalry team has just been able to maintain one person and two riders. It wants to reach the level of three riders per person like Beiliao.
There is a huge shortage of war horses."
"Even for the auxiliary cavalry and the following cavalry team, it is difficult for one person to have three cavalry."
In this battle, although chariots and infantry were still the main battlefield, because Northern Liao was dominated by cavalry, cavalry battles would definitely have a great impact on the outcome of the battle.
Zhang Dun knew very well that he must report clearly the current situation of the cavalry.
From the perspective of level one combat preparations, the war horse is the only one with a gap.
“How about the horses used on the tracks?”
"Back at the official residence, most of the track horses are retired war horses and cannot be requisitioned for war."
Before Xue Xiang could reply, Zhang Dun took over. The track horses, from the earlier draft horses, have been replaced by retired war horses over the years, which is a big improvement, but this is only for the track.
This war is so critical that orbital war horses cannot be requisitioned. Ordinarily the officials should know that...
"I'm not talking about requisitioning rail horses. I'm asking whether the rail transportation horses can meet the needs of this war?"
"Back at the official house, there are sufficient reserves of track horses. I have already calculated that even if there are losses during the war, the current horse reserves of the country are enough to support the end of the war. Three or two years of reserves."
"In addition, General Gao mobilized tens of thousands of Yunnan horses from the southwest. Although they are difficult to use as war horses, the endurance of the Yunnan horses is sufficient for rail transportation!"
There is no problem with this, the only thing left is war horses. War horses... Northwest, Bei Liao, Jurchen, these are all the places where war horses are produced...
"How's it going with the Fourth Prince?"
"Back at my official home, I have already contacted them. Not to mention the losses caused by the Jurchen war with the Northern Liao court in the early stage, there are countless war horses requisitioned by the Northern Liao court. Even if there are any, the number is not enough to meet the needs of the imperial court."
The imperial court had been preparing for this war for a long time. The reserve of war horses should be easy, but later on, they did not expect that Dangxiang, Tubo and other nobles would tend to participate in the war, which suddenly led to a shortage of war horses.
Since the imperial court decided to send Tang and Tubo cavalry into the battlefield and take charge of the final pursuit and fight deep into the grasslands, these horses could not be forcibly requisitioned.
"Arabian horses...oh, how about Persian war horses or Cathay war horses?"
I don’t know much about war horses, but Zhao Xi seems to remember that there is a saying about Arabian horses when it comes to the classification of horse breeds in later generations.
"The great food minister of Persia thinks it is possible. But water from afar cannot quench the thirst that is near!"
"I order that all caravans traveling to the Western Regions, carrying more than fifty war horses, will be exempted from 30% of the tax. Those carrying more than a hundred war horses, will be exempted from the tax by 50%. Those carrying more than 300 war horses, will be exempted from all taxes."
"Furthermore, the imperial court will purchase the war horses transferred from the Western Regions at the market price of the grassland war horses. This edict will be effective from now until the end of the war with the Northern Liao Dynasty."
"Whether you can raise war horses depends on the merchants' operational capabilities!"
In any era, wars require money and food. The Song Dynasty is not short of money now, and even the money and food in the inner garden is enough to satisfy a war.
What's more, the imperial court has been planning this war for many years, and the money and food stored in the treasury are more than enough for a war that will overwhelm the country.
With such a foundation, naturally there cannot be a shortage of military supplies...it is nothing more than a matter of money.
"Officials, Shopkeeper Zhao asked Xiao to take the lead. The caravan has arrived in Qinzhou with the first batch of food war horses. They will be transported to Bianliang in the near future and handed over to the imperial court for use..."
Zhao Qin had told Wang Zhongzheng a few days ago, asking Wang Zhongzheng to report to the officials when the court was discussing war horses.
Wang Zhongzheng reported to the officials in a low voice. The cabinet thought it was the front line, or there were some changes in Northern Liao...
"The war horse issue should be solved. Sir, take a look at this..."
This is the bill of lading from the Royal Trading Company. You only need to pick up the goods at the rail station in Bianliang... A thousand large food war horses are about to arrive in Bianliang.
"The officials... and ministers are waiting to issue an edict. I am afraid that the merchants of the country have been waiting for such an edict for a long time!"
Businessmen should be people with considerable judgment.
When the Guo Dynasty started to direct public opinion against the Northern Liao Dynasty, it was not difficult for a discerning person to see that this was the imperial court preparing for a war with the Liao Dynasty. In addition to the private clamoring of Dang Xiang, Tubo and other nobles, the imperial court passed the decision to allow Dang Xiang and Tubo nobles to enter the country.
The army joins the war.
It is not difficult for a smart person to consider the issue of war horses.
What's more important is that Zhao Qin's current status among the merchants of the country means that there is almost no business that shopkeeper Zhao has to do that is not profitable!
Today, no one in the imperial court remembers that Zhao Qin was from Neiyuan. They only know that she is the number one figure in the Song Dynasty business circle.