Prime Minister

Chapter 710
The tasks before them are city repairs, city exchanges, salt wells, wine affairs, and the appeasement of the Tibetan Ministry. What is the most important thing?

So many things are inextricably linked, but there is always who should come first.

The three murmured each other in their hearts, Zhang Yue also wanted to test the school and said: "Let's talk, just chat, I can say anything in this handsome mansion, but after going out of this door, no one can say anything."

They were newcomers, and they didn't dare to express their opinions in front of Zhang Yue easily, for fear of leaving a rash impression on Shangguan.

Now with Zhang Yue's words, their minds are also sharpened.

Wen Jifu said: "Since that's the case, I'll say it first. From the beginning of Qingli, when we fought against Dangxiang, Qingtang and Qiang, we focused on fortresses. This was also the strategy set by Duke Fan Wenzheng at the beginning."

"Fortresses can be used to store troops and food. They can both attack and defend. I advocate that Lintao, Nanguan, and Beiguan should be built first to control the danger of Taoshui."

"Then recruit Tibetan soldiers to the army, and then grant land to the local Fan army, and the main force of our Han army retreats to the inland where food is convenient, thus reducing the pressure on the supply line."

Xing Shu said: "The lower officials advocate salt wells and wine affairs. The imperial court now attaches great importance to the collection. At the same time, these two come in faster, and they are also needed by the Tibetans in the Qing and Tang Dynasties."

"I'm afraid that the transshipment department will take advantage of the salt and wine and use it for other purposes."

After Wen Jifu and Xing Shu finished speaking, it was Lu Shengqing's turn.

Lu Shengqing was more cautious, and was always the last one to speak: "This is a new official, and I only know a little about the people of Xihe before. I still advocate that farming should be the main thing. This is what the court is most concerned about right now."

After Xining, the imperial court indeed rewarded officials who carried out large-scale farming in the border areas. This is what Lu Shengqing was referring to.

Zhang Yue said to the three people: "That's right, there are many things you said. We need to pay attention to one thing, but the Zhuansi and the imperial court each have one. What you see has its own truth, but I think the most important thing in Lintao now is On the market."

What Zhang Yue said here saw Lu Shengqing want to speak but stopped saying: "Mingfu, please speak bluntly."

Lu Shengqing said: "The lower officials are presumptuous. Before the envoys and deputy managers, Weiyuan and Guwei farms were very effective. Now that our army is new in Xizhou, why don't we continue to farm? Isn't this a long-term solution?"

Zhang Yue said: "The so-called one time and another time, before the Xihe River Economic Strategy Appeasement Department was set up, and the Lintao City was not built, I plan to recover Xizhou in two years, so I have to plan it slowly."

"But Muzheng was defeated in the first battle. I won Xizhou within a year, and the court dispatched so much money and food to the Economic and Strategy Department. Now the situation has changed. The food and grass can be settled by Jinzhong and Hebu. If To continue farming, how many people will be relocated from the interior, how can it be accomplished without two or three years of work?"

Lu Shengqing heard the words and said, "I understand."

Xing Shu who was on the side smiled and said, "Jinglue is really a good idea."

Zhang Yue said to the three people: "Xizhou is different from the Han land. Except for the soldiers and horses stationed in the prefecture, there are more than [-] Dingkou in this prefecture, and the households are no more than [-]. Most of these people are family members of the garrison army, and there are not many local people. On weekdays we The most important thing to deal with is the more than [-] Tibetans who rule more than ten tents. If we have no salt, no tea, no cloth, and blindly show force, how can these Fans obey orders? But salt, tea, cloth Where to come from, merchants must ship it to us, so we use Shiyisi."

At Zhang Yue's words, the three of them were stunned.

"That's it for today, you all think about it carefully, and report back tomorrow."

After talking about Zhang Yue, he left.

The three continued to roast by the fire and ate the mutton.

Xing Shu said: "Fortunately, the manager didn't care about it just now, otherwise I will be ashamed."

Wen Jifu laughed and said: "Mr. Jinglue is able to be what he is today. He has his own advantages. We don't need to underestimate ourselves."

Lu Shengqing filled a bowl of mutton soup, and said slowly: "Zhou Han is right, governing a big country is like cooking a small fish, and a prime minister is talented in economics, so how can we care about these things with us, let alone this is a mere state, we are by his side Learn more, and you will benefit from it in the future."

"Exactly, exactly." Xing Shu agreed.

All three of them laughed, and now they are full of confidence in the future.

That night Zhang Yue and Wang Shao drank together.

It's cold in the northwest, and it's hard to resist the cold without drinking. Zhang Yuezhi has been drinking every day since then.

Zhang Yue and Wang Shao ate in the same manner. A small pot was burned on the table in front of them, with charcoal in it, and the mutton on the side was cooked with a knife.

The two of them took the mutton with chopsticks and rinsed it in a small pot. After it was fully cooked, they dipped it in leek flower sauce, and finally took a sip of highland barley wine.

Wang Shao enjoyed it so much that two soldiers beside him sliced ​​fresh mutton and brought it in plate by plate. The charcoal fire was charcoal transported thousands of miles from Bianjing.This kind of charcoal fire not only has no smoke, but also has a faint fragrance when burning.

Wang Shao took a sip of wine and said, "The three newcomers under the curtain, what do you think if you don't know the strategy?"

Zhang Yue thought about it and said: "They are all outstanding, but whether they are suitable or not will be seen later."

"Your Majesty has given us Xihe so many official positions? Why did Du Zhi only recruit three people?"

Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty has given a lot, but we can't take all of it. It's good for one person to gain the Tao, and chickens and dogs to ascend to heaven. As officials, we need to know how to measure at all times. After all, we come to Xihe to use things. If we rely on nepotism, we will easily be criticized .”

"Besides, we only manage such a large state right now. Speaking of affairs, it is not as good as a county in other states. Three or five people are enough to manage it."

Wang Shao faintly admired that some people had a little bit of power, so they used it around, wishing to squeeze out the power in their hands.

Zhang Yue is very restrained, never abuses his power, and only wants to do the matter at hand well from beginning to end.

This is easy to say, but very difficult to do.

Wang Shao said with a smile: "The strategy is really far-sighted. I am not afraid of waiting, but I am afraid that the new transfer envoy and Gao Zunyu will make things difficult for us."

Zhang Yue smiled slightly, picked up a piece of mutton with chopsticks, and said, "If they really want to make things difficult, I'll go along with the flow and hand over the power!"

Wang Shao laughed loudly and said, "Your words are really insincere!"

Zhang Yue sighed: "What I'm talking about is that we are not low-ranking officials now. There are a large group of people who follow us. It's not like resigning from the official position in the past when we got bored. How can we let go now?"

The next day in Zhangyue, Wang Shao met Wen and Fu.

As soon as Lu Shengqing came up, he said: "The lower official thought about the Shiyi Division that the economic envoy said all night. It is true that Tongyuan, Lintao, and Weiyuan did not have many soldiers before, but now Qinfeng Road and Jingyuan Road have sent troops. There are more than [-] people, and in the future when Hezhou is conquered, troops will be sent from Qinzhou, and it is impossible to supply the needs of the army in a short period of time."

Lu Shengqing really thought about it all night. The number of soldiers and horses on the Qinfeng Road surged by tens of thousands. No matter how they garrisoned the fields, they would definitely not be able to supply them. Therefore, the military rations must be combined with the methods of garrisoning the fields and entering the middle and buying.

"Therefore, the lower official suggested that a special service should be set up to purchase military rations with salt money and silk. The lower official expects to allocate at least 15 to the Tongyuan Army and [-] to Lintao to purchase military rations every year. Or between three hundred."

Wen Jifu said: "When the price of rice in Bianjing was low, it was only [-] to [-] yuan a bucket, and when it was expensive, it was [-] or [-] yuan a bucket. Of course, it is hard to say in a bad year."

Lu Shengqing said: "Of course, these are only the expenses for the troops stationed in Lintao on weekdays, and the cost of the Tongyuan Army. If there is a war together, and the conquest of Hezhou or something, I don't know how much it will be."

Wang Shao thought to himself, Chang Dao Fujian people are shrewd and good at calculating, Lu Shengqing can do this overnight, he is indeed a capable official.I heard that his elder brother Lv Huiqing is even more amazing, no wonder Wang Jiefu, who is as tall as his eyes, is leaning on him as his right-hand man.

Wang Shao wanted them to take care of the rear again, so that I could concentrate on military affairs.

Xing Shu said: "Since you want to enter China as a businessman, do you want to be a grain merchant in Sichuan and Shu, or a grain merchant in Qinfeng, Shaanxi?"

Zhang Yue glanced at Xing Shu, Xing Shu smiled and said: "I don't mean anything else, but I have a friend who is an official in Sichuan and Shu, from Wanzhou, Sizhou; Yangzhou, Xingyuan Mansion; Chengdu Mansion, Yazhou Capital An important place for the production of Shu tea, it can be used as a place for entering China."

Wang Shao thought for a while and said, "This tea boat can go on the Jialing River, then on the Bailong River, and finally arrive at Minzhou, and then transport it from Minzhou to Xizhou, so that it can avoid the need to transfer all the way from Qinfeng Road to Tongyuan Army."

Xing Shu said: "Wang Jinglue is really familiar with the conditions of the land. These are things that the lower officials have never thought of. We can use tea to buy food from the local Tibetans. I don't know what Jinglue thinks?"

Xing Shu also really has the real ability to work hard, Zhang Yue said: "Businessmen from Shaanxi, Sichuan and Shu can come to Xizhou to enter China. I don't designate any merchants, and let Zhe Bowu buy grain from the market at market prices! "

As soon as Zhang Yue said this, Lu Shengqing raised a question and asked: "If you buy grain at the market price, if the price of rice fluctuates or there is any shortage of supply, wouldn't it be a big mistake? It's better to appoint a few grain merchants."

Zhang Yue said: "First of all, build a granary in Xihe, and store military rations for at least three months. We also use nests to lay eggs for the rest. We must spend the money that should be spent, even if it is some wronged money, we have to admit it."

"Don't think that there is no business and no evil. If we really can't hold on to Xihe, everything will be empty, and they won't kill the chicken to get the eggs."

After a pause, Zhang Yue said: "Now that the three of you are all settled down, I will also arrange things. Soon there will be businessmen from Sichuan and Sichuan arriving in Lintao. Lu Jiyi will take care of the affairs of the Shiyi Division. The county magistrate assists from the side."

After taking office, Xing Shu approached Lu Shengqing in private and said, "I really don't know why the manager didn't designate a few grain merchants, but insisted on buying grain at the market price. Tens of thousands of us eat horse chews. What if something goes wrong? it is good?"

Lu Shengqing said: "What kind of person is Mr. Jinglue, I don't know what you said."

"But once the grain merchant is appointed, the officials and I will have fat in the mouth. We are newcomers, and the manager doesn't trust us. I'm afraid that some of us will ask for benefits from it, and then ruin his reputation."

Xing Shu shook his head and said: "A mere benefit is nothing compared to the safety of the army food. Which one is not like this in Yanbian, Shaanxi Province?"

After Xing Shu finished speaking, his dissatisfaction was beyond words.

(End of this chapter)