Fu Song

Chapter 703 Urgently
Xiao Chuo handed a file to Yeluzhen.

It was a piece of information about prices in the Southern Song Dynasty.

"Compared to this time last year, the prices in the south have dropped by [-]%! Moreover, this is because they are also collecting a large amount of strategic materials like us. What does this mean? If nothing else, this year's After the autumn harvest, their prices will drop." Xiao Chuo said.

"This shows that the south has a good harvest year after year. In terms of finances, they are much richer than us. They can spend more money to build armaments and collect supplies without affecting the lives of ordinary people." Yeluzhen was a little depressed Authentic: "We can't, because we have to gather enough supplies, which will cause the prices to soar. Not only will the people complain, but even many officials at the grassroots level will have a bit of a difficult life."

"Complaints?" Xiao Chuo sneered: "Is the life now more difficult than it was ten years ago? It should be much better, right? If you can live in those days, you can't live in it now!"

"Queen Mother, it's easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but difficult to go from extravagant to frugal!" Yeluzhen said.

Why did Xiao Chuo get so much support and have such a high reputation among the people? It was because Xiao Chuo, who was in charge of state affairs during the period of Yelu Jun Nabo, made all industries in Daliao flourish. It is rising steadily, and the happiness index, of course, is rising steadily.

It was also because of these that when the battle broke out between the empress and empress parties after Yelujun's death, most people stood by Xiao Chuo's side and became her supporters.

But now, Xiao Chuo is going to attack the Southern Song Dynasty with all his strength, and everyone's living standards have suddenly dropped to a notch. Although it is still better than ten years ago, many people are still dissatisfied.

"After a while, it will be fine!" Xiao Chuo said. "The school office said that the Southern Song Dynasty had new food crops, and the output was quite amazing."

"Yes!" Yeluzhen said: "Agriculture has always been extremely developed around Xijin Mansion, so I have always paid attention to farming in the south. Since last year, several new types of crops have grown in the Southern Song Dynasty. I heard that They were imported from overseas. One is potatoes, which were harvested once in April this year, and the yield per mu has reached an astonishing [-] jin. These two crops can be used as staple food, which is one of the reasons for the price drop in the south. However, I heard that Xiao Fuzheng and their emperor Zhao An in the south were not very satisfied with the output. The yield per mu of crops can be more than doubled. Queen Mother, these two kinds of crops are planted in the south this year, but they are not used for mature fields, but for raw fields or even wastelands that no one has cultivated because of the barrenness. I think this is the most important thing. The most terrifying!"

"They can plant, so naturally we can too!" Xiao Chuo said indifferently: "Send someone over there, and get the seeds back at any cost."

"That side didn't deliberately block these from us at all!" Yeluzhen said with a smile: "I have brought back a lot of seeds, and this time I brought some back for you to taste the Queen Mother. I ate it and it was really good! South I am surprised that such a grandiose weapon is not blocked by us, so it is taken by us."

"My second brother, the atmosphere is real. But, can he block these things if he wants to?" Xiao Chuo said: "As long as the people spread out and plant them, we can always get them. How about It’s generous. It’s just that the people on our side are willing to plant this thing in large quantities?”

"It doesn't compete with the staple food, so there should be no problem in promoting it. Since the queen mother also said so, then I will send people to the south to buy a lot!"

"Okay. Something that can make my second brother care so much is definitely a good thing!" Xiao Chuo warned: "It's not just to get the seeds, don't take a look in the south, inquire about the further use of these things. "

"Yes, I will do it after I go down!" Yeluzhen nodded and said: "Queen Mother, these matters are long-term government affairs. Don't worry, you can take your time. But where is the Western Army?"

"You mean to ask King Zhenbei to send troops to attack the Western Army?" Xiao Chuo said.

"Yes!" Yeluzhen said, "Yelumin, king of Zhenbei, now has more than [-] troops under his command, if he can launch a strike against the Western Army, no matter the victory or defeat, he will be able to eliminate the threat of the Western Army to our waist and ribs. " Yeluzhen said.

Yelumin, the king of Zhennan, is the queen mother's confidant, and no one can order him except the queen mother.

"When Yelumin left Zhongjing, he only brought with him 36 Shan troops and [-] Jurchens. Over the past few years, his subordinates have slowly gathered the eight cavalry of the Wugu Dilietong, and gathered the power of the blockers. , when he arrived in the Western Regions, he merged with the Uighurs, Tubo people, and the tribal armies of the [-] countries in the Western Regions." Xiao Chuo said: "In terms of combat strength alone, he has indeed more than [-] cavalry. However, his strength, Can it be used against the Western Army?"

"If the queen mother asks..."

Xiao Chuo waved his hand: "These people are all gathered together because of their interests. Among them, the Eight Divisions of Wugu Dilietong and the Zoubu people are even very hostile to us. Yelumin gathered these people together and went all the way to Xi, you first went to the Black Khanate, and now you are attacking Huacizimo, tell me, why did Yelumin let these people fight for him?"

Yeluzhen remained silent.

"It's benefits, it's wealth!" Xiao Chuo said: "Only these are the reasons why those people are willing to gather under Yelumin's command. If they didn't have these, would they still obey Yelumin's orders? Cizimo has come to a critical moment, seeing that a lot of wealth is about to be obtained, can Yelumin give up Huacizimo and return to the army? If so, the army may fall apart! Put aside the wealth in hand and not take it , Turning around and confronting the Western Army head-on, what do you think the Wugu Enemy Lietong Eight Departments are doing? What are the divination blockers doing? I’m afraid even those Jurchens will not agree!"

"Yelumin is the king of Zhenbei in Daliao, at this moment, he has to share the worries of Daliao!"

"I will give him an order!" Xiao Chuo said: "At least let him restrain the iron kite and Bubazi. As for the others, he probably can't do anything. King Zhennan, Yelumin can change his mind." It has already done a great job to take away the ambitious Wugu enemy Lietong Babu and the vacillating blockers, so that they will not threaten our Daliao backyard."

"What the queen mother said is very true!" Yeluzhen nodded. If Yelumin can prevent the iron kite and Bubazi from advancing eastward, then he can barely be satisfied. Compared with these two armies, the other tribes of the Western Army Speaking of it, it's not even a star.

This time, the coach of Nanzheng finally fell into the hands of Yeluzhen.

This is a satisfactory result in all aspects.

In the next two years at least, the top priority of the Liao Kingdom is the Southern Expedition. According to the calculations of the Empress Dowager Chengtian, Yeluzhen and others, if everything goes well, everything should be resolved within two years.

If it can't be solved in two years, then the trouble is probably going to be big.

Because Daliao couldn't afford it.

Hundreds of thousands of troops marched south, people eat horses, not to mention other factors, the military expenditure alone is enough to collapse the court.In order to supply the logistics of hundreds of thousands of troops, it is necessary to mobilize at least twice as many civilians as combatants.

Within two years, these people were basically out of production.

It becomes only consumption and no output.

In contrast, the Southern Song Dynasty, which fought locally and was based on defense, was more than capable. What's more, it now seems that the South has once again ridden on the head of Daliao in terms of economy.

Regarding the ability of the Song people to make money, the Liao people can only bow down again.

Even if the queen mother has been sparing no effort to promote the self-sufficiency of the most basic production materials in Daliao for more than ten years, although there are certain effects, compared with the people of Song Dynasty, it is still incomparable.

In the past, no matter how rich the Song people were, the Liao Kingdom was not afraid.

The Song people never turned their economic advantages into military strength. Instead, they felt that the richer they were, the less vulnerable they were.

But now in Jiangning Xinsong, the situation is quite different.

More money is being transformed into stronger combat power, more powerful weapons, and more reserves of strategic materials.

Yeluzhen felt restless every time she saw the relevant information delivered by the school affairs office.

Therefore, it also supports the decision of Empress Dowager Chengtian to fight the Southern Song Dynasty within the past two years.

Although Jiangning Xinsong is now located in the south, it still has a large population base and strong financial resources. Coupled with Xiao Chongwen, a man who is the main battle and has outstanding ability to control the court, the threat of Xinsong is increasing day by day. expand.

Every day that passes, Xin Song's combat effectiveness will increase by another point.

Yelu Longxu sat with Yeluzhen on the street of Jiangshifang.

The craftsman's workshop was a separate area deliberately designated when Zhongjing was newly built, and it was completely isolated from other workshops.At that time, when the square area was built, it caused a lot of controversy because the cost was too high and there were not so many craftsmen in Daliao.

Because most of the truly skilled craftsmen in Daliao were in the hands of nobles, aristocratic families or tribes, and very few were left outside.

However, following the breakthrough of Tokyo, the Empress Dowager Chengtian took over the entire craftsman camp of Da Song in Tokyo in one pot, and brought all of them back to Zhongjing, where they settled in the craftsman's workshop.Not only that, at that time in Tokyo and its surrounding areas, all Song people with a little bit of technology were taken away by the Liao army. These people and their families exceeded nearly 20 people.

Now these people live in the craftsman's workshop.

The craftsmen and their families living here can't get out of this square area.

The workshop area is divided into different areas, engaged in different manufacturing work.

The production of weapons and armor can be regarded as the top priority in the craftsman's workshop, and it is in the core area.

Here, Yeluzhen is naturally most concerned about the supply of weapons and armor to the frontline in the next few years.

Even if she was just walking on the street, Yeluzhen could feel that the temperature here was much higher than outside, and she was already sweating profusely in just a moment.

And looking at the craftsmen in those sheds, most of them only wear a pair of shorts.

Yeluzhen was amazed that the fat Yelu Longxu, who was supposed to be the most afraid of heat, actually looked much better than herself.

"Still in a bad mood?" Looking at Yelu Longxu's elongated face, Yeluzhen smiled and said, "You really can't blame the Queen Mother for this matter. The people you choose are not careful. If you do such a thing, you still have to do it." Being arrested, the dignified Emperor of the Liao Dynasty, An Neng has to suffer such humiliation!"

"If it is said that the queen mother is not behind this matter, I would not believe it!" Yelu Longxu said sullenly: "The queen mother still does not want to return to power!"

"Without this root, how can we get this bud?" Yeluzhen said: "In the end, it is Xiao Se who is not careful, so that he can be taken advantage of by others. Besides, at this moment, our Daliao really needs someone like the Empress Dowager to control it with one hand. The emperor, after all, is only 16 years old."

"With you as the commander of the Southern Expedition, I have nothing to worry about!"

"As the governor of Hebei, you don't know what's going on in front of you?" Yeluzhen said solemnly, "This time our battle will probably be much more difficult than the last time we defeated Hebei and other places. The defeat in Sui County has already been given to us." The alarm bell has been sounded, if you underestimate the enemy again, I am afraid that you and I will die without a place to die."

"I know!" Yelu Longxu was a little frustrated: "I just missed this time, and I don't know when I want to persuade the Queen Mother next time."

"If everything goes well, after we defeat Jiangning Xinsong, this matter can be put on the agenda. There is no need to wait as long as before, and the candidate can be determined, and the emperor can be married quickly. "

"Come on, at that time, when you come back with the power of Mie Song, what else can the Queen Mother say, dare to say?" Yelu Longxu became excited.

"The empress dowager's contribution to Daliao is there. Look at this craftsman's workshop. If there is no empress dowager, how can we have the prosperity here, without the output here, how can we arm our army? Rely on those aristocratic families ? Whenever this happens, they will greedily ask the court for this and that. Now, they are begging us."

"Of course, I won't discredit her credit, but my lord, the manufacture of gunpowder, hand cannons, including bronze cannons, is still firmly in the hands of the Queen Mother! We can't interfere at all. This time, no matter what, we must start from the Queen Mother." Just get some more weapons like this in your hand."

Yeluzhen nodded and said: "Speaking of which, this gunpowder weapon is also the exclusive secret skill of their Xiao family. If there is no queen mother, would we have gunpowder weapons? Don't worry, the all-out southern expedition was originally initiated by the queen mother, so this In a war, the Empress Dowager will never hide it, and the good things will definitely be brought out."

"I'm relieved." Yelu Longxu stopped and looked at the red molten iron slowly flowing out of the iron smelting blast furnace in front of him, "We are stronger than before, and we are confident that we will destroy everything that stands in our way. enemy. The world will be unified under the iron hoof of our Daliao."

(End of this chapter)