In the Southern Song Dynasty, I competed with Mongolia for the world

Chapter 203 Don't Leave a Grain of Rice or a Drop of Water to the Mongols
Xixia was short of money and copper. It fought with the Northern Song Dynasty and forced the Northern Song Dynasty to seek peace. The Northern Song Dynasty paid 2000 taels of silver to Xixia every year in the name of "year gift", which is about 25 copper coins, 15 pieces of silk, and tea. 13 catties, these are urgently needed in Xixia. Xixia has almost always used copper and iron coins from the two Song Dynasties in China, and made very little by himself, and the money he made himself was not recognized when it came out of Xixia.

But Song money can be used everywhere in Mongolia, Jin, Dali, even Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.

So in June of this year, Song Dynasty and Xixia signed a new covenant to jointly resist Mongolia and do business for mutual benefit.

Because the second of Zhang Gongfu's seven strategies is to "strengthen the alliance and trust to alleviate the national crisis", Li Dewang intends to stick to the alliance this time.

The covenant between the two countries stipulates that Xixia trades [-] war horses from the Song Dynasty every year.

The Song Dynasty gave 20 copper and iron coins to Xixia each year.

[-] catties of sugar, [-] catties of tea, and [-] bolts of silk.

At this time, a good Western horse is about 100 or more, and the Xixia 130 horses are worth between [-] million and [-] million.

The goods given by Song Dynasty are slightly higher according to the market price, and the actual value must be far inferior to the war horse. Both parties are quite satisfied.

Because the sixth of Zhang Gongfu's seven strategies is "advocating thrift and enriching the military reserve", Li Dewang lowered his requirements for tea and silk. Except for a small amount of gifts to nobles and the royal family for their own use, the rest, including the most popular white sugar, are all Used to sell in the market to raise military funds.

It has to be said that Li Dewang, the Xixia emperor, was just like Wanyan Shouxu, desperately wanting to resist Mongolia.

Xixia was the largest horse producing area among the Three Kingdoms at this time, with an average annual inventory of 50 horses.

Xiliang Prefecture, its auxiliary county, is "good at water and grass, good at animal husbandry", and is known as "Liangzhou's animal husbandry is the best in the world". The Hexi Youxiang area represented by "Liangzhou" is the largest official horse farm in Xixia. At the end of the period, the annual output of high-quality war horses was nearly [-].

This time Gao Zhiyao was destined to send the first batch of [-] high-quality war horses to the territory of the Kingdom of Jin for trading. The two parties agreed in Didao County.

At that time Gao Zhiyao was still puzzled.

Because at this time Linzhao Mansion was within the territory of Jin State, Didao County was the seat of Jin State's Linzhao Mansion.

He couldn't understand why the Jin people could agree to the Song people's transaction here.

When he arrived in Lanzhou, Gao Zhiyao was dumbfounded.

Along the way, there is hardly any human habitation, and it often takes dozens of miles to see some scattered people.

Gao Zhiyao has been managing horse affairs in Xiliang, and he didn't know what happened, so he quickly recruited a local commoner, and after asking, he found out that Song people fought a battle with Jin Guo some time ago, and then it seems that Song people occupied this place , People are moving everywhere to the Song Dynasty.

Gao Zhiyao was stunned for a moment, when would Song people do this?
Since the Northern Song Dynasty fought against the Liao Kingdom of Xixia and later the Kingdom of Jin, Song people seldom moved people in the name of officials.

On the contrary, these nomads like to break in and do this the most.

Gao Zhiyao was surprised that the new emperor of the Song Dynasty actually knew how to relocate people.

But as his team got deeper, Gao Zhiyao became more and more shocked.

Didao County is closer to Song Dynasty and farther from Xixia. The reason why they are willing to send them here is because they are all horses.

As the seat of Lintao Prefecture, Didao County used to have tens of thousands of households, and it was the most prosperous county on Jin Guoxi Road. Merchants traveling between Xixia and Jin, including those from Song, would pass by here.

But when Gao Zhiyao entered Didao County, he didn't see any life along the way, nor did he see a living person.

The entire Didao County was quiet, and not even a dog could be seen on the road.

If he didn't know that the Song people regarded themselves as benevolent and righteous, he would have suspected that all the people here were slaughtered by the Song people.

"Lord Gao, what's wrong, you can't see anyone all the way here? Will the people of Song play tricks?" At this time, a relative came over and asked cautiously.

Gao Zhiyao said in a deep voice: "Probably not, the two countries have formally signed an alliance, do they want to fight horses in the future?"

The man hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth and said: "Selling war horses and Song, isn't it a strong enemy and a weak me?"

Gao Zhiyao immediately said: "Mongolia is our enemy now."

He looked up at the densely packed horse team around him, and said with a wry smile: "If you don't take advantage of the present to exchange some money with the Song people, will you be taken away by the Mongols in vain on the battlefield in the future?"

The follower was speechless, bowed his head and said nothing more.

"Report" At this moment, a sentry came back in front: "The gate of Didao County is wide open, and there are many mule carts outside the city. Song people are waiting for us."

"Okay, hurry up." Gao Zhiyao was overjoyed and raised his whip vigorously.

When their horse team came outside the city, they saw a lot of carriages parked outside the city, and they lined up from outside the city to the inside of the city.

Opposite is also a young man who looks about the same age as him. He is about 20 years old and claims to be Meng. He is Meng Ying, Meng Gong's ninth younger brother.

The two sides trade face to face and order goods from each other.

Meng Ying led two middle-aged men to watch the horses. They looked at the teeth and legs of the horses very carefully.

Gao Zhiyao walked directly into the city, and he gasped again as soon as he entered.

The county seat of Didao County is dilapidated, and many people are demolishing shops and houses along the street.

Looking at the posture of the Song people, it seems that the entire Didao County is going to be demolished into ruins?
He hurriedly found Meng Ying: "What are you doing?"

Meng Ying said: "Don't leave a brick, a piece of wood, a piece of cloth, a grain of rice, or a drop of water for the Mongols."

"..." Gao Zhiyao.

"Wooden cloth can make a fire to keep warm in winter, and a brick house can keep out the cold and shelter from the rain. Master Gao should understand this truth."

Damn you, Gao Zhiyao scolded the people of the Song Dynasty for being a concubine in his heart, and the Mongol army came to Linzhao Mansion, and he didn't want to find a place to rest?

No matter what, Gao Zhiyao believed in his heart that the people of Song Dynasty were really determined to run a defense line in this area, and it was impossible to take the initiative to attack other countries, including their Xixia.

After the transaction was completed and returned to Xixia, Gao Zhiyao reported what he had seen and heard to Li Dewang, saying that the Song people almost emptied the area around Linzhao Mansion and Fengxiang, and focused on guarding Fengxiang and the three passes and five prefectures, which also increased the difficulty of the enemy's attack.

According to the people of Song Dynasty, it is unlikely to take the initiative to attack, because it is more difficult for them to come out to attack, and there is no place for supplies.

So the Xixia monarchs and ministers thought that they could trade with the Song people with peace of mind in the future.
-
In December of the first year of Baoqing, Lin'an City ushered in the first snow of the year.

Ordinary people may not feel what happened in the past year.

In fact, in the eyes of civil and military officials across the country in the Song Dynasty, the first year of Baoqing was a very special year for them with deep memories.

The Song Dynasty changed a new emperor, and took back Fengxiang, Linzhao, Shaanxi and other places. More than half of the entire Shandong was recruited by the imperial court and brought under control.

The Great Song Dynasty has repeatedly been suffocated in the battlefield and diplomacy, this time it is a rare elation in decades.

What makes them even more memorable is that in the first year of Baoqing, a large number of officials were replaced throughout the country, and almost half of the main officials above the county level in the Song Dynasty were replaced.

The new emperor is based on talents, and he puts more value on virtuous ministers. Everyone in the court seems to see the hope of the revival of the Great Song Dynasty.

Now that the Chinese New Year is approaching, the emperor ordered all localities to be diligent and thrifty. The imperial city can only set off [-] fireworks this year to show the festival, and all other celebrations will be cancelled.

late december.

Empress Xie Daoqing stood outside the gate of Renming Hall in the imperial city.

Xie Daoqing is only 15 years old. I don't know if he hasn't developed yet. He is petite and exquisite, and his face is full of immaturity.

She has been married to the emperor for almost a year, but she has seen the emperor's face less than ten times in this year.

The emperor was very kind to her, he would greet her every time he came, and sometimes he would play cards with her to make her happy.

But Xie Daoqing knew that because he was introduced by the empress dowager, the emperor had a gap with her in his heart.

Zhao Yurui only slept with her ten times in almost a year, but never stayed overnight in Renming Hall, and usually left after sleeping.

This made Xie Daoqing feel ashamed, the emperor doesn't trust her?
But she can also be considerate of the emperor.

It is normal for the emperor to mutiny and force the empress dowager to hand over power. He does not trust Xie Daoqing.

The emperor didn't abolish her as a queen, which was considered benevolent and righteous.

It's just that she is a 15-year-old girl after all, and she always looks forward to being accompanied.

Now that the Chinese New Year is approaching, and the emperor forbids extravagance, the Hall of Renming is extremely deserted.

Xie Daoqing stood at the gate of the hall, looking at the heavy snow outside, feeling mixed feelings in his heart.

"Your Majesty is here." At this moment, the servant's singing was heard not far away.

Xie Daoqing came back to his senses immediately, and quickly wiped away the tears on his face and under the corners of his eyes.

The servant behind her, the deputy knew that Huang Chang ran out immediately, and then knelt at the gate of the courtyard.

Xie Daoqing glanced at Huang Chang, this was left by Mrs. Zhong, the former concubine, and the Hall of Renming was also Mrs. Zhong's former palace. She is surrounded by people left by Mrs. Zhong, which is really helpless.

Thinking of this, she was about to shed tears a little impatiently, but the emperor was coming soon, so she quickly wiped her eyes again and forced a smile on her face.

After a while, the emperor walked quickly to the Hall of Renming despite the heavy snow without an umbrella.

Seeing that the emperor didn't hold an umbrella, Xie Daoqing's heart softened again, and he couldn't get angry.

"See Your Majesty." Just as Xie Daoqing bent down, the emperor had already stretched out his hand to support her: "Come inside, it's quite cold outside, don't freeze."

After finishing speaking, he put his arms around Xie Daoqing's small waist, and the emperor entered the palace with her.

Xie Daoqing's grievance seemed to disappear.

After entering, the emperor immediately asked: "The Chinese New Year is approaching, do you want Daoqing to go home and see his family?"

"If you need to go out of the palace, send Huang Chang and Yao Bizhi to arrange it."

"I—can I go home?" Xie Daoqing was a little surprised?

"It's human nature to reunite with relatives during Chinese New Year." The emperor smiled and said, "We often meet in the palace. Daoqing's family members probably miss you very much."

Xie Daoqing was a little moved. Although the emperor was wary of her, he was still very reasonable.

Zhao Yurui said again at this time: "Brother Ni Xie Yi, I am going to let him go to the county below to serve as magistrate after the Chinese New Year is over. The imperial court is planning to cancel the dismissal of officials, and you can't make up for them in the future. Go back and persuade him. If If you don’t want to, you won’t have the chance to be an official in the future.”

"Thank you Your Majesty, my concubine will definitely persuade him well." Xie Daoqing said hastily.

In history, Xie Yi was crowned the king of the county, and Xie Daoqing's father was posthumously crowned king of Wei.

In ancient times, one person attained the Tao, and it is not a lie that chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.

But now with Zhao Yurui, it is basically impossible for Xie Yi to be knighted.

To get him a county magistrate is already considered the utmost benevolence.

Xie Daoqing is a smart man. He basically understood what the emperor meant. When you go home, you have to say good-bye to your family. The emperor will not reward the queen's family. You should keep your tail between your legs when you are outside in the future. Don't be too arrogant.

Zhao Yurui had a conversation with her, then suddenly looked up and looked around.

Huang Chang waved his hand immediately, and the maids and servants in the palace withdrew one after another.

Brush, Xie Daoqing blushed.

The emperor is good at everything, but he likes the daytime anytime, anywhere---.

After coming out of the Hall of Renming, the emperor went to the Hall of Xuande in a well-dressed manner.

Many ministers have already arrived at Xuande Hall, all of whom were recruited by Zhao Yurui.

There are Ge Hong, the privy envoy, and Li Zongmian, who signed the letter to the Privy Council (equivalent to the Privy Council Deputy Envoy), and Wei Liaoweng (also equivalent to the Privy Council Deputy Envoy and Deputy Prime Minister) who knows the Privy Council Affairs, Counselor Political Affairs, and Minister of the Ministry of War.

Zhao Yurui got annoyed hearing these official names, but they could be simple and clear, and they were called deputy envoys, and there were many tricks in the Song Dynasty.

In the Southern Song Dynasty, there were also various prefixes such as right and sign, some of which were similar to the meaning of deputy in charge of work in later generations, and some meant young and inexperienced, so a prefix was required.

Others present at the scene were Deng Ruoshui, Secretary of the Ministry of Officials, Xu Yuan, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Du Fan, Secretary of the Ministry of Households, Yang Changru, Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, Li Huang, Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, Zhao Rushu, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Qiao Xingjian, Minister of Zhongshu, Hu Mengyu, Minister of the Ministry, and all of them entered Zouyuan Qin Zhuo, the deputy capital, and Hu Yu, the scholar of the Duanming Palace, Quan Juan, the Minister of Finance, and so on.

(End of this chapter)