hotmtlnovel Chapter 1062: Still Need to Benefit the People
Chapter 1062: Still Need to Benefit the People
Chapter 1062: Still Need to Benefit the People
At this moment, the emperor was looking at the map. Considering the middle and the worst options, compared with building in Hengshan and Jingyuan Road, building in Hengshan was definitely more in line with his wishes.
Because capturing Hengshan would definitely be more effective than taking Jingyuan Road, but the difficulty of logistical supply was too high, but it was not an insurmountable problem for the government.
Since the reform, he has accumulated a large amount of money and believes that the support of military food and equipment will be no problem.
The strongest force of the Song army was the Fuyan Road. From the fourth year of Zhiping when Zhong Yan captured Suide City, to the third year of Xining when he entered Luowu City, this was the old route.
Zhong Yan and Xu Xi had always advocated advancing troops from Hengshan, and Lu Huiqing also strongly advocated this idea.
Lu Huiqing is the governor of Fuyan Road, and the current governor of Jingyuan Road is Shen Kuo. Once the offensive plan is adjusted, it will inevitably affect the overall situation.
But Zhang Yue's analysis of sending troops through Jingyuan Road does make sense.
The official was caught in a dilemma.
Zhang Yue took one look at the emperor and knew what he was thinking. Sending troops from Fuyan Road to advance to Hengshan would definitely deal a greater blow to Western Xia and have a better effect.
But the problem is that the pressure on logistics supplies is too great.
Historically, the logistics of the Song army in Hedong, Fuyan, and Huanqing routes collapsed. What was the reason behind this?
Referring to another major battle, civilian service was only conscripted between the ages of eighteen and fifty-five.
Civil servants received three pounds of autumn grain and half a pound of vegetable money every day. In winter, they were given a set of cotton clothes and a cotton hat, and in summer, they were given a set of single clothes and a single hat. In addition, they were given four ounces of yellow tobacco every month, and those who did not smoke yellow tobacco could get cash discounts.
In addition, there are subsidies for office expenses, repair costs, fuel costs, gun cleaning fees, hairdressing fees, medical expenses, injury expenses, burial expenses, compensation and bedding fees.
There is a small station every thirty miles and a large station every sixty miles for the civilian servants, which provide them with tea, food, accommodation and even free medical treatment.
Civilians who are away from home can have others plow the family fields for them, and those who really cannot leave can pay for the labor.
That’s why there is that classic saying.
In contrast, the logistical support of the Song Dynasty was extremely poor.
It’s not that the supplies are not adequately prepared. The government has prepared enough, but they just can’t be delivered.
Emperor Taizu of Song valued the people's strength and established a rule that "one man is given two liters of food a day". This was contrary to the ancient practice of conscripting civilians without providing them with food, and he took the initiative to provide food to the civilians.
In the Song Dynasty, there were two types of civilian labor: "Spring laborers" and "Emergency laborers". Spring laborers were called in during the busy farming season, while emergency laborers were called in when there was an emergency. This system ensured that "people's labor should not be called indiscriminately".
But these systems are just systems.
When major events occurred in Shaanxi, civilians were conscripted and had to travel on the road without rest, and then they fled in large numbers.
During the Yuanfeng year's expedition against the Xia, in order to prevent the civilians from escaping, the officials sent soldiers to capture and cut off the tendons of the fleeing civilians, and then threw them into the valley, leaving them to die wailing.
A petty official who supervised the grain could execute any disobedient civilian without asking for permission. Compared with not killing the literati, the treatment of the lower-class people was nothing but disregard for human life.
When the five armies were attacking Xia, they were short of food and had to eat the civilians first.
Although the officials have tried very hard (to exploit the people), to the point of exceeding the human capacity, the logistical supply still cannot keep up, and the logistics have always collapsed after every battle.
What are the deep-seated reasons behind logistics supply?
It is an economic problem. Shaanxi is a poor place and the people cannot bear the burden of war.
And what is the underlying issue behind the economy?
It's a system problem.
Despite Zhang Yue's repeated advocacy, even reducing taxes for low-income people in Shaanxi has become difficult.
Zhang Yue could understand the emperor's determination to expand the territory, but he lost 400,000 soldiers in the five-pronged expedition against Xia, and 200,000 soldiers in the Battle of Yongle City.
Even if the number of deaths in civilian service is added, the old party's records of casualties are definitely exaggerated.
But failure is failure, and it is heartbreaking. Not to mention the emperor, can the prime minister also escape blame?
If it weren't for this, the emperor wouldn't have become sick with anger, and how could the prodigal emperor Song Huizong have ascended the throne?
Having said this, the king and his ministers have already spoken their mind.
Zhang Yue finally advised: "Your Majesty, the dispute between Song and Xia may seem like a dispute over military forces, but it is actually a dispute over economy. It may seem like an economic dispute, but it is actually a dispute over people's strength. It may seem like a dispute over people's strength, but it is actually a dispute over systems."
"When the Qingmiao, Junshu and Shiyi laws were first enacted, they did have the effect of breaking up annexation and enriching the national treasury, but now they have become a way to make excessive money. Whether the people of the world are living a better or worse life is a matter of opinion."
The emperor's face was very interesting when he heard this, and he couldn't hold it in anymore: "Didn't I change the labor law according to your advice?"
Zhang Yue said: "After the labor law was changed, it did benefit the people, but the most corrupt market law has not been changed! This law is a waste of effort, but it has gained nothing."
The officials were furious when they heard this. Zhang Yue really did as Wang Anshi said. Changing the conscription law was just the beginning, not the end. The next step was to change the market exchange law.
As for Zhang Yue, the historical role of the Market Exchange System was that he used a capital of 15 million strings of cash and collected 9 million strings of cash in interest, but lost 7.8 million strings of cash in capital, and tens of thousands of households in the private sector went bankrupt due to debts.
Other reforms at least had the effect of making money, but the Market Exchange Law almost lost the original capital, and also harmed the people, businesses, the country, affairs, and the law.
The market exchange law is just on the surface. Behind the scenes, the government is digging deep into the ground to make money.
But at least the government used the money from the sealing ceremony on state affairs, and did not enjoy any of it for itself.
But after Xining and Yuanfeng, the currency was sealed everywhere. After Yuanyou, it stopped for a while. When Cai Jing changed the currency system, the amount was doubled compared to Xining. By the late Huizong period, the amount reached 60 million strings of cash a year.
Song Huizong amassed wealth for his own use, but in the end it all benefited the Jin people.
The emperor was speechless after hearing what Zhang Yue said. He suspected that Zhang Yue's proposal to send troops from Jingyuan Road was just a cover, and was actually a roundabout way to persuade him to give up the idea of invading Western Xia.
Zhang Yue continued, "Your Majesty, the problem in the world today is that the writers write about peace and prosperity but are unwilling to bow their heads to the people. Therefore, I once again implore Your Majesty to treat the people well, nurture their strength, take the people's hearts into consideration, and take the people as the foundation of the world's politics."
The official remained silent, his face solemn.
Zhang Yue knew that the official was not convinced by what he said, and was even a little annoyed, and wanted to say something to refute. He must have his own reasons, but the fact that he showed his emotions showed that he was indeed unsteady in his heart.
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, I have said everything I wanted to say... The war to destroy Xia cannot be rushed!"
The emperor said, "Mr. Zhang, what if I still take the worst or the worst option?"
Zhang Yue was silent for a moment and said, "This is your Majesty's wise decision. I dare not interfere."
The emperor nodded and said, "I...I have decided to reduce the tax in Shaanxi by half next year!"
"I'll pay for this from the sealed pile treasury!"
Zhang Yue thought that the emperor would listen to advice, and immediately said, "Your Majesty, please order the Secretariat to make the decision on this matter!"
The emperor said, "If Liu Bang doesn't use Han Xin, the outcome is unknown. I plan to entrust the expedition to the west and the success or failure of the country to you!"
Zhang Yue said: "I am a humble person who has received your advice, and I shall repay it with my death. I was foolish and spoke rudely, but your majesty is magnanimous and forgiving, which is beyond the reach of any saintly monarch in ancient and modern times."
"The dispatch of troops to Jingyuan Road was my idea, but it is up to Your Majesty to decide whether to use it or not. I will take my leave!"
……
After Zhang Yue finished speaking, he bid farewell to the emperor.
Sending troops from Jingyuan Road is his bottom line. If the government does not accept it, then he will... he will wait and see.
If the emperor really wanted to launch the five-pronged attack on Xia, Zhang Yue felt that at least he had fulfilled his responsibility to advise him, and from now on he could just wait and see who would win or lose, and leave everything to fate.
When they arrived at the palace gate, Peng Jingyi, Huang Haoyi and others stretched their necks, and when they saw Zhang Yue, they were overjoyed and shouted, "Here comes the husband, here comes the husband!"
Zhang Yue asked in surprise: "Why is that?"
Peng Jingyi said: "Today, my husband entered the palace. Some people said that my husband was angry and wanted to settle accounts with the emperor. And Shi Deyi, who served the emperor before, was also angry. Today, he said in the palace that my husband... my husband..."
Zhang Yue smiled when he heard this, and then said, "Go to the Secretariat to see Prime Minister Wang and tell him that I am seriously ill and cannot go to the Secretariat to govern the country for a while. Please ask him to take charge of the state affairs during these days."
Huang Haoyi and Peng Jingyi were both surprised.
Zhang Yue said: "After returning home, you will keep visitors away for me. Tell everyone that I am ill and I will not see anyone!"
Peng Jingyi said: "Sir, if you claim to be ill at this time, there will be a lot of gossip in the capital, and people will think you have lost your power, so..."
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "That's what I want others to think! Go ahead and do it!"
……
After Zhang Yue left, the emperor looked at the map of Jingyuan Road and ordered the eunuch, "Send Wang Zhongzheng to see him immediately!"
After Wang Zhongzheng was pulled off the carriage by Zhang Yue in front of the emperor, he was forced to leave Bian Jing and go to Shaanxi for inspection. In fact, he was demoted.
Now the government wants to hear his judgment.
Wang Zhongzheng kowtowed to the emperor when he saw him. The emperor said to him, "You have been in Jingyuan Road and Fuyan Road these days. What do you think of the governor Shen Kuo?"
Wang Zhongzheng said: "Shen Kuo is a scholar, and he is like a pedantic minister. He is very rigid in his work and it is difficult to make changes."
"How is Lu Huiqing?"
Wang Zhongzheng said with a stern expression: "He is a talented and capable minister. Since he took office in Yanzhou, both the native and the domesticated people are in awe of him, and even the Westerners dare not cross the border easily."
Wang Zhongzheng and Lu Huiqing in the northwest are close friends, almost secretly sworn brothers. But Wang Zhongzheng is not talking nonsense about Lu Huiqing's talent. Lu Huiqing is indeed very talented. Wang Zhongzheng admires him from the bottom of his heart.
The official nodded and said, "Some people say that it is very difficult to attack Xia from Huanqing Road, Fuyan Road, and Hedong Road. The logistics supply is not good. What do you think?"
When Wang Zhongzheng heard the emperor's inquiries, he was not at all panicked, because Lu Huiqing had already told him these words when he was in Yanzhou.
Wang Zhongzheng said: "Your Majesty, what you said is indeed correct. Sending troops from these three directions through hundreds of miles of barren land is indeed extremely difficult for logistics. But I have heard that those who are good at using troops do not store food for more than three years. They rely on the enemy for food, so the army can get food."
"The Yellow River surrounds the hinterland of the Westerners, with more than 100,000 hectares of farmland. On weekdays, there are hundreds of grain storage sites, so as long as the army arrives, they can take food."
The emperor was overjoyed when he heard what Wang Zhongzheng said.
Ps: Two updates tomorrow!
(End of this chapter)