Chapter 258 Three Years
In the sixth year of Jiayou’s year, spring, first month.

The entire Song Dynasty does not include the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, nor does it include Xuchang and Nanyang.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Households, the population of the Song Dynasty totaled over 11 million households and 22.68 million people.

You don’t have to look at how many people there are in the family. Just looking at the number of households is enough to tell that the Song Dynasty was in its heyday at that time.

Even during the Kaiyuan Period of the Tang Dynasty, the population was only about seven or eight million.

The Song Dynasty even had three or four million more people than that.

Moreover, in the past decade or so, as there have been fewer wars, the military pressure from Western Xia has been eliminated.

In addition, Zhao Xin streamlined the administration and punished corrupt officials.

undoubtedly……

Even peasant uprisings and military rebellions now seem to have disappeared all of a sudden.

The interior of the Song Dynasty is now completely peaceful.

Except that there are still some snowstorms, droughts, and earthquakes from time to time.

but……

At present, the impact of these disasters is extremely limited.

So much so that Ouyang Xiu couldn’t help but sigh that year, our Crown Prince really has the style of Emperor Taizong Wen.

Because Emperor Taizong Wen was fighting wars without affecting the country’s construction.

of course!

It doesn’t mean that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has no shortcomings at all.

The biggest shortcoming of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is that he doesn’t allow people to speak, and you have to listen to him in everything.

This is somewhat inconsistent with the image of Emperor Taizong Wen.

Because Emperor Taizong Wen was always open to advice.

On the other hand, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hardly ever accepts anyone’s advice.

There was absolutely no room for negotiation on the issue of building Youzhou City and moving the capital.

Tokyo city at this time.

In a manor where a party was held.

Ouyang Zheng was telling everyone about Zhao Xin.

After he finished speaking, he also said: “So, it is not us, the prime ministers, who are not trying to persuade His Royal Highness the Crown Prince not to move the capital.”

“But… His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been like this since he was young! Even though I have been with him the longest, there is still no room for negotiation.”

Someone asked, “Prime Minister Ouyang, what do you think about moving the capital?”

Ouyang Xiu said, “Of course I am against it! But… I also have to understand the difficulties of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Personally, I think the reason why His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to move the capital to a place so close to the Liao Kingdom is because it is convenient to attack the Liao Kingdom.”

“To be precise, it is to facilitate defense against the barbarians in the north.”

“Throughout history, the barbarians in the north have always been a major threat to the Central Plains, including the Xiongnu during the Han Dynasty, the Turks during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, not to mention the Five Barbarians who invaded China, and us now.”

“The barbarians in the north have always been a great threat to us.”

But soon someone said, “But there’s no need to move so close. If the Liao Kingdom attacks, wouldn’t all the talents of the country, including the leader, be captured?”

The person who said this was Su Shi, who had just returned from mourning.

Ouyang Xiu admired this young man for his good writing skills, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince gave him an order to control public opinion and make the decision understandable to as many people as possible.

So Ouyang Xiu had no choice but to go ahead with it.

He explained: “Isn’t our former Kaifeng Prefecture close to the Liao Kingdom? The Liao Kingdom’s army could reach Kaifeng City in just a few days.”

Su Shi said: “But it is precisely because of this that we must avoid such things from happening again.”

Ouyang Xiu asked, “Then where do you think the capital should be moved to?”

Someone asked, “Why can’t we just move the capital?”

Ouyang Xiu said: “If we don’t move the capital, I don’t think it will work.”

The other party asked, “Why?”

Ouyang Xiu explained: “Although this city of Tokyo is located in the center of the world and has convenient water and land transportation, it has a big problem.”

The other party asked: “What’s the big problem?”

Ouyang Xiu then asked: “If Kaifeng is still the capital, what about Youzhou?”

The other party looked puzzled.

Ouyang Xiu said, “Don’t forget that An Lushan, who led the An-Shi Rebellion, also started his rebellion from Youzhou, from the north. An Lushan was the Jiedushi of Youzhou, also known as the Jiedushi of Fanyang.”

“If Kaifeng is still used as the capital, the capital would need at least 200,000 or 300,000 garrisons. Now, there are more than 100,000 garrisons in the northwest, nearly 100,000 in Hedong, and 100,000 in Hebei. So how many do you think Youzhou will need?”

“We already have too many soldiers. Four-fifths of the taxes in the country have to be used to support the army. Youzhou is the most important place to defend against the Rongdi in the north. No matter what, we need at least 200,000 or 300,000 soldiers.”

“Then do you think Kaifeng needs to increase its troops by another 200,000 or 300,000 so that our central army can control the border troops both inside and outside?”

When everyone heard this, they immediately realized that this was an astronomical figure.

Ouyang Xiu said: “Therefore… moving the capital is exactly what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did to show his sympathy for the people of the country.”

Someone else said, “But it’s not easy to transport grain in Youzhou. Can it feed the people of the capital like Kaifeng?”

Ouyang Xiu said, “What you can think of, can’t His Royal Highness think of it? You may not have been to Hebei, but the railway in Hebei is now being built at a speed of at least 60 miles per year, and as more and more iron ore is mined, it may be even faster. From Kaifeng Prefecture to Youzhou, it is only 1,200 miles at most. The railway will be opened within 20 years at the latest, and within 10 years at the fastest. By then… the court can transport all the grain to Youzhou without spending a single soldier.”

“In fact, we can only see what is in front of us, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already set his sights on ten or twenty years from now.”

“The foresight of you and me cannot be compared with that of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Let me ask you, do you know that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has an academy of science under his command?”

The other party has never even heard of it.

Ouyang Xiu said: “So, you don’t even know this.”

Ouyang Xiu just shook his head at the other person with a look of pity on his face, which made the other person blush and feel embarrassed.

Since you don’t even have this little knowledge, what else are you talking about?

At this time, Cheng Hao, one of the two Cheng brothers, also stood up and said, “It is said that the Academy of Sciences is full of craftsmen, people who are good at strange skills, and even Taoists who make elixirs and officials who are good at astronomy.”

Ouyang Xiu said: “These people have made a tool that can harvest a thousand acres of wheat a day, and it only took more than 200 people.”

“If it were in the past, it would have required at least a thousand people.”

“If the censors saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince associating with these low-class people and advised him based on their own ideas, then it is conceivable that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could develop such a tool?”

“So… sometimes, it’s no wonder that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t listen to our advice at all, because in his opinion, our advice may be extremely stupid.”

Next, he explained the matter of the harvesters in Hedong in more detail.

Although no real objects were taken out for everyone to see.

However, everyone was still stunned by Ouyang Xiu’s description.

……

Youzhou City.

It’s spring, and it’s time for Zhao Xin to prepare for the next battle.

But let me be honest!

Zhao Xin had no idea about these Song Dynasty imperial guards who had only been reformed by the Li Yuan Army for three years, or even less than three years, or maybe only half a year. So in order to determine their loyalty, their courage, and their fighting power, Zhao Xin had to inspect them in advance, and observe and inquire about their psychological conditions one by one.

It can only be said that the sources of personnel of the Song Dynasty’s imperial guards were very complicated.

Of course, it’s not that bad.

Although there may be many citizens in the city, they are all from the lowest class. At least, it can be guaranteed that they are generally poor.

If you are not a poor person, who would come to serve as a guard for a living?

What Zhao Xin was afraid of was that there would be some people among them who were afraid of death and would affect the entire team.

then……

Then there are the following questions and answers.

“what’s your name?”

“Yang Daya.”

“Next, I plan to attack the Liao Kingdom. What do you think?”

The other party’s eyes flickered and he dodged.

therefore……

Zhao Xin also continued: “What? Are you scared?”

Yang Daya said, “A little bit.”

Zhao Xin said, “It’s human nature to be afraid. People who are not afraid are abnormal. They are born killers. But once you are on the battlefield, you shouldn’t be afraid, because fear will not help you win the war, nor will it help you survive.”

“Once we are on the battlefield, there is only one way left, and that is forward, forward, and forward again! As long as you defeat all the enemies, you will naturally survive.”

Zhao Xin asked each of them to ask him a question regarding the war.

Or if you have any personal or family difficulties, you can tell him.

Someone naturally asked, “It is said that Your Highness the Crown Prince has not been home for three years. Don’t you miss home?”

Zhao Xin said, “I have no choice but to sacrifice my own family for the sake of peace in the world. I miss my wife and children, just like you. But if I go back, who will lead you to fight? Besides… I heard you guys were losing battles when I was three years old.”

Everyone laughed.

They had the nerve to laugh even after losing the battle.

However, it is also because of this that Zhao Xin’s prestige in the army is unparalleled.

When encountering some people who are not very good at speaking and stammering and unable to say anything, Zhao Xin would directly ask them, how is their family?
Then he went back and said that life at home was still pretty hard.

Zhao Xin said, “That’s perfect! If I can accomplish something meritorious this time, maybe the conditions at home will be better.”

Someone also interrupted and asked: “What if he unfortunately died in battle?”

Zhao Xin said, “Don’t worry. If you fight with me, how can you get a bad treatment? As long as you fight hard and kill the enemy, I will raise your eldest son until he is 18 years old. Moreover, I will find someone to teach him to read and write.”

“Next… the relevant policies will be promulgated. In short… you just need to focus on fighting. I will take care of the rear affairs for you. I will definitely make sure you don’t have to worry about anything.”

Ask one by one.

To be honest, it also made Zhao Xin’s mouth a little dry.

Because of the large number of people.

I can only pick some representative ones to answer later.

in fact……

The imperial guards are also divided into different ranks.

The highest-level ones are those who can remain calm in battle, are experienced, not afraid of death, and fight to the death. They are equipped with flintlock rifles.

The second-rate ones don’t have flintlock rifles. It’s not that they are unwilling to give them flintlock rifles, but the cost of gunpowder for these rifles is too high. With Zhao Xin’s current strength, he can only train and equip them with this much.

Another thing is, how can we give you a flintlock rifle when you don’t even have the courage? When you load the gunpowder, your hands will tremble and you will fiddle with it for a while but still can’t get it to work.

Therefore, this time, the first-class ones can only be used as crossbowmen according to the conventional method.

The last and worst option is to serve as a grain transport team, look after the horses for Zhao Xun’s elite cavalry, and provide logistics.

What Zhao Xin was most concerned about was definitely the highest class, which was equipped with flintlock rifles.

Regardless of whether these people have the awareness of the Li Yuan Army, their fighting ability is definitely beyond doubt.

Zhao Xin selected a total of two thousand such people.

Zhao Xin really talked to these two thousand people one by one in detail and observed their mental state.

By talking to them in detail and observing their mental states, we can also see that they are obviously different from those mentioned above, some of whom are still afraid of death.

Most of these people are extremely ambitious in achieving great things.

I heard Zhao Xin say that a war was about to begin.

The first thing they thought of was not fear, but to ask Zhao Xin when.

When Zhao Xin was examining the mental state of his soldiers.

at the same time……

On the Liao side.

They were also discussing how to retake the Yanyun area.

Three years later, the Liao people began to forget the pain as their wounds healed.

But what they can’t stand the most is that the good days in the past are gone now.

Although we can grow some crops in Liaodong, there is no problem with food and drink.

But for the nomadic people in the north, and especially for the Khitans who have enjoyed some of the bustling cities of the Han people, they lived such a happy life in the past, and it would be hard for them to live a hard life now.

Moreover, nomadic peoples are highly dependent on goods imported from the Central Plains.

In the past, some officials of the Liao Dynasty could change their silk clothes every now and then.

Yes!

Although the Liao Dynasty may have had some shortcomings in hairstyle, its clothing style has been very similar to that of Chinese people.

Whether it was the upper class nobles or some servants, people wearing Hanfu were everywhere.

But nowadays, if you want to change it every now and then, how can such a good thing be possible?
All your Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun have been taken away by others.

All the taxes went into Zhao Xin’s pocket.

As for things like tea, you can forget about it now.

However, if you only eat meat without drinking tea, that would be greasy.

At last……

Taking advantage of his clansmen’s dissatisfaction with these issues, Yelu Hongji planned to raise an army of 700,000 this year, almost mobilizing the entire country’s strength, to launch a full-scale invasion of the Song Dynasty.

“Fight! This battle must be fought!”

“We all obey your orders, Your Majesty!”

“Correct!”

Yelu Hongji saw that everyone was very excited.

I was also quite excited.

If they can maintain such morale on the battlefield, there is no need to worry about not winning the battle.

(End of this chapter)