Chapter 269 Strengthening Governance
October, the eighth year of Jiayou in the Song Dynasty.

With the coffin finally being buried successfully, all matters related to the funeral have almost come to an end.

For Zhao Xin, the biggest advantage of being an official is that he has to clock in at a fixed time and place for work.

The worst part is that it will be difficult to do everything by myself in the future.

This is actually a kind of hollowing out of himself.

At the end of October, news came about the war on the Western Xia front.

The vanguard troops led by Zhao Xun fought a battle with Western Xia in the Hengshan area. It can only be said that the effect was acceptable, with hundreds of heads beheaded.

Zhao Xin then wrote a separate letter to Zhao Xun, asking about the public opinion in Hengshan area.

After all, most of the people living in the Hengshan area are Qiang people.

It is inevitable that some Qiang people will suddenly choose to rebel for various reasons.

Zhao Xun’s final reply was that life was still OK. For now, the people’s hearts were stable.

What Zhao Xin was most worried about was actually some Song Dynasty officials who were clever enough to bully and oppress the people in these areas.

of course!

It cannot be said that all these Qiang people are good people.

only……

Different living habits and concepts can easily lead to fights.

Although Zhao Xin conquered Hengshan and the Liao Kingdom, he never believed that the people in these areas would always be willing to submit to the Song Dynasty.

As time goes by, these two places will slowly become two powder kegs.

It is not certain when the fight will break out again.

Now the only thing he can do is to select some reliable talents so that such peace can last a little longer.

can only say……

Zhao Xin always felt that he had a lot of things to do, but he had no idea what to do.

In fact, he should establish an official position similar to the political commissar or secretary to manage these places, which might be better.

However, the ideological awareness of this senior political official may not be as noble as mine.

Therefore, how to select people is also a big problem.

When Zhao Xin was rubbing his head in distress at the desk, Ouyang Xiu said, “Your Majesty, Sima Guang wrote a memorial saying that although you have achieved achievements that are rare among emperors of previous dynasties, it is easy to conquer the world but difficult to rule it. He said that you should read more books so that you can heal this country.”

Zhao Xin just wanted to say, bullshit!

However, following Ouyang Xiu’s words, Zhao Xin said: “Next, you help me speak in the court.”

Ouyang Xiu looked puzzled and asked, “What does your Majesty want me to say?”

Zhao Xin said, “Well… just say that Sima Guang suggested that I should not have any entertainment activities for 27 months. When you go to court tomorrow, directly refute this view and say that I have been busy all these years. What the Song Dynasty should worry about most now is whether I will die young because of being too busy.”

“So… the suggestion of not being able to have fun only applies to other people. For a model worker like me, I should actually rest more, so that the Song Dynasty won’t lose a wise king. That would be the biggest loss for the world and its people.”

Ouyang Xiu didn’t know why Zhao Xin said this.

I couldn’t help but think…

Does the emperor want to learn from Li Longji?

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, was also very hardworking in those days, but later, as you can see, the An-Shi Rebellion broke out, and the national strength of the Tang Dynasty took a sharp turn for the worse.

Ouyang Xiu asked, “What do you want to do, sir?”

Zhao Xin said, “I just think I can add some fun to it.”

Ouyang Xiu: “…”

But it’s okay!
Anyway…

In Ouyang Xiu’s opinion, when the emperor is about to become Li Longji, it will be too late for them to speak out to stop it.

The main thing was that after hearing what Zhao Xin said, he was really a little afraid that Zhao Xin would suddenly die.

Zhao Xin then asked Ouyang Xiu, “Where is Su Shi now?”

Ouyang Xiu said, “I am a judge in Fengxiang Prefecture.”

Zhao Xin said, “I think that if we want to maintain long-term peace and stability in the border areas, in addition to conquering and deterring with force, we must also put in some effort in civil governance. So… I plan to set up a special official position to specifically manage the civil governance of the border areas. Do you have any good suggestions?”

Ouyang Xiu said: “Your Majesty is referring to…”

Zhao Xin: “What’s the official title? Something a little better.”

But compared to this…

Zhao Xin felt that he should expand the newspaper business to border areas.

Push some job recruitment information to the people in border areas.

It doesn’t matter whether you will go or not, or whether you can go or not. The key is that for those who have nowhere else to go, at least when they hear that there is a place that can provide them with food and drink, they will have fewer thoughts of rebellion.

Even though this place is a million miles away from him.

Correct!
Next, the newspaper industry is the top priority.

and……

Through newspapers, you can also directly publicize what you want to publicize to the local people. You should make reading newspapers a habit so that those ignorant foreign people can know more about the country’s policies and guidelines, and avoid blindly following others’ calls for rebellion.

of course!

The premise of all this is to fill your stomach first.

As for those people who are illiterate and cannot read newspapers, why not just hire someone to read them?

and so……

Finally, the name of this department came out.

Let’s call it the Propaganda Department.

First set up a Propaganda Department, and then set up a Shangshu, and Su Shi will be the minister.

soon……

Su Shi was called back to Kaifeng Prefecture.

Su Shi was naturally very nervous about being summoned by the emperor.

Zhao Xin then asked: “Since ancient times, very few dynasties have been able to govern the barbarians for a long time. What do you think should be done to govern the barbarians?”

Su Shi, who was of medium build, with a long beard, thick eyebrows, big eyes, a tall hat, and a wide robe with big sleeves, was also stunned. He couldn’t help but wonder, could it be that he had said something bad in the past and the government heard it?
But the official is really young, even two years younger than him.

Su Shi could only say that he had never thought about such a question at all. Therefore, when Zhao Xin suddenly asked him this question, he was at a loss as to what to do.

He could only reply: “I only know that the barbarians fear power but not virtue. We must be vigilant and guard against them at all times.”

Zhao Xin said, “I asked you how to prevent them from rebelling and to let them live peacefully. I didn’t ask you to guard against them.”

Su Shi said, “I don’t know.”

I feel like the government is a bit scary.

Zhao Xin said, “If I throw you to the Liao Kingdom, think about what you can do to prevent the people of the Liao Kingdom from rebelling. I will give you three days, and then tell me your method.”

Su Shi then went back, stroking his head.

no……

There are so many people, why did the government choose to pick him?

It was obvious that he was living a very comfortable life in Fengxiang Prefecture.

And…from what the emperor said, it seems that he wants to throw himself into the Liao Kingdom.

Well……

It would be better to just kill him!
Soon, Su Shi found Ouyang Xiu and asked him what was going on.

It’s hard to say about Ouyang Xiu, and in fact, sometimes Ouyang Xiu couldn’t really understand the emperor’s thoughts.

Then he said to Su Shi: “In short…just answer truthfully.”

Three days later, Su Shi also followed the principle of seeking truth from facts and replied: “Your Majesty, I have been thinking about it for three days, but I can’t think of any good method.”

Zhao Xin then asked, “So you discriminate against foreigners?”

Su Shi was from Sichuan and came from a wealthy family, so it could not be said that he discriminated against foreigners.

only……

If he heard that Zhao Xin had won a victory on the front line and defeated the barbarians, he would still be happy for the abundant martial virtue of our Song Dynasty.

He said, “I don’t think it’s discrimination, but I do have a little hostility towards them. This is because they are fickle and often invade our borders.”

Zhao Xin asked, “Why do you think they keep coming back?”

Su Shi said: “I think this is naturally because it is their nature.”

Zhao Xin said directly: “When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they have enough food and clothing, they know honor and disgrace. Haven’t you read this sentence?”

Su Shi: “Um…I have read it.”

Zhao Xin said, “This is why they repeatedly invade the border. Because they are hungry, they can only kill others to feed themselves. Otherwise, they will starve to death. We have the best land in the world, which we can cultivate. Of course, we don’t have to kill people, but they can’t. Now that I have told you that they are barbarians because they are hungry, do you have any new ideas about how to govern the barbarians?”

Su Shi asked, “Let them eat their fill?”

Zhao Xin: “…”

Seeing that Zhao Xin didn’t say anything, Su Shi immediately continued, “But the grasslands there are not very rich in resources. It may be difficult to get enough to eat.”

Zhao Xin said, “Have you ever thought about why the Liao Kingdom was able to get rid of the bestiality of the barbarians? Although the Liao Kingdom has offended the Song Dynasty in many ways over the years, at least the Liao Kingdom is a rare barbarian that can maintain peace with the Central Plains for a long time. They even wear Hanfu, like the Han people, and respect Confucianism.”

Su Shi said cautiously, “Is it because they have the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and can eat their fill?”

Zhao Xin added: “But it is not easy to feed them. Even the Han people themselves may not be able to eat enough, let alone take care of them. Do you know why I am telling you this?”

Su Shi said, “I don’t know.”

Zhao Xin said, “Throughout the ages, countless Han officials who are loved by the barbarians in the border areas have done things that benefit the barbarians and make their lives better. Only in this way can the border areas be governed well. When the barbarians in the border areas can have enough food, who would be willing to follow their nobles to attack the Han people. Only with this understanding can you govern the border areas well. I plan to send you to the Liao Kingdom to do related work. Do you know why I chose you?”

Su Shi shook his head gently and said, “I don’t know.”

Zhao Xin then said, “Because you are quite famous in the literary world. And… you seem to like Buddhism.”

Su Shi replied: “I have some connection with Buddhism. I grew up in Meishan, where the Buddhist atmosphere is quite strong.”

Zhao Xin said, “That’s good. I hope you can promote Buddhism in Liao. If you know any respected monks, you can bring them with you.”

Su Shi:”……”

Zhao Xin explained: “Belief in Buddhism can make people give up killing, thus making the world peaceful. Next, you will serve as the Minister of Khitan Propaganda Department and the Minister of Poverty Alleviation.”

Su Shi was helpless.

Can’t we discuss it further?

I don’t want to go!
Zhao Xin felt that only Su Shi, who was exiled to Lingnan and could eat 300 lychees a day, could live a good life on the grassland.

It might even be able to bring some more tourism traffic to the grassland area.

Zhao Xin finally asked, “What do you think about making delicious food?”

Su Shi didn’t understand what it meant.

Zhao Xin asked the other party to go back, pack his luggage, and say goodbye to his relatives and friends in a friendly manner.

Be ready to go north at any time, the sooner the better.

Then…

Zhao Xin had to summon the person in charge of the newspaper again.

Ask them to print more newspapers in the future so that they can be used in the Liao region.

In addition…

Other places in the Song Dynasty are also indispensable.

soon……

Su Shi packed his bags.

On Zhao Xin’s side, he first contacted his own business group and published information about purchasing wool in newspapers.

Su Shi then took the newspaper with him to Linhuangfu, the capital of the Liao Kingdom.

The Three Departments also gave Su Shi some start-up capital, which would enable Su Shi to recruit people locally to help him manage things.

Anyway…

We need to create a good environment for obtaining external information and gradually cultivate the local people’s habit of reading newspapers.

of course!

The local people can’t even speak Chinese fluently, let alone read newspapers, but it’s not a big deal.

After all, not understanding it now doesn’t mean you won’t understand it in the future.

Moreover, if they don’t understand, you can hire someone to read it to them and tell them directly what’s in the newspaper.

If you tell a herder that there are people who buy wool somewhere and the price is reasonable, won’t he be able to make money?

As long as you have benefits to offer him, he will naturally come to you with his sheep.

Zhao Xin also planned to build a wool processing factory in Shangjing, Liao Kingdom.

At that time, we can also directly recruit people locally to process the wool.

All that’s left is to sell the goods.

Since Zhao Xin had established the merchant group early on, his father-in-law took the lead in managing it.

Therefore, the matter of bulk cargo was not a big problem for him.

As such transactions increased, the issue of issuing banknotes had to be put on the agenda again.

What businessmen were worried about was that Zhao Xin would issue banknotes indiscriminately.

What Zhao Xin was worried about was that someone might make counterfeit money.

But you have to admit that compared to copper coins or even iron coins, paper money is definitely more convenient for them to use.

The question now is whether to implement it in a certain state first.

But nowadays, it seems that implementing it only in a certain state capital is not enough.

It would be best if it could be implemented nationwide.

Some people in the business group think this is too radical, so the ratio of support to opposition is about half and half.

Zhao Xin could only wait a little longer.

and……

He also needs to improve his anti-counterfeiting technology a little bit.

Like some color changing ink.

It would be best to be able to use chemical methods to stably create an ink that is difficult for others to imitate. In this way, there is no need to worry about others counterfeiting it.

(End of this chapter)