Chapter 275 Industry
The fourth year of Li Yuan.

Xingzhou.

At this time, inside a factory, sections of steam locomotive rails were being rolled into shape.

After so many years, the technology of rail rolling has become more and more mature, and the scale of production has become larger and larger.

Xingzhou’s iron production has soared from 2 million jin per year at the beginning to 8 million jin now.

What does this eight million jin equate to? If converted into the railway construction of the Song Dynasty, it would be roughly equivalent to a double lane of twenty kilometers.

In addition, Cizhou also has an output of 6 million jin. Adding these two together, the Song Dynasty can build 35 kilometers of railways in one year.

of course!

Zhao Xin felt that this might not be the limit of Song Dynasty’s iron smelting capabilities.

This number needs to be further improved in the future.

At this time, the railway from Kaifeng to Youzhou was almost a quarter built.

If you want the whole line to be unobstructed.

It will take at least another twelve years.

“too slow!”

After hearing about the progress of the railway, Zhao Xin had to reply.

Wang Anshi also said: “If we can get other regions to help make rails, it might be much faster.”

Zhao Xin said, “It’s troublesome to transport it here. Can the iron production in Xingzhou and Cizhou double again?”

The craftsman said, “Go back to the government. As long as there is enough manpower, this will not be a problem.”

Wang Anshi also said: “It is necessary for the court to allocate more money and grain. But as far as I know, the money and grain of the court are not that much.”

Zhao Xin said, “As long as this railway is not repaired, it will be difficult to fully utilize its functions. The Merchant Corps, please think of a solution.”

The Merchant Group here…

When we heard the official say this, we knew that they were asked to pay again.

But the good news is that the government usually doesn’t treat them unfairly.

For example, when they paid for the construction of the city walls and the imperial palace of Youzhou, the government allocated the best land to them for future business.

If this railway can be repaired, the government might allow them to use it for free.

I just have to say that the government is too kind.

For something like building a railway, why should we pay other people for their work?

Wouldn’t it be better to just requisition the people to help for free?

Zhao Xin then said to everyone, “People work here, and then have to carry rice back home after work, which is very inconvenient. See if you can give them or their families paper money directly. Then, you can open shops in their villages or nearby cities. When the time comes, they can take the paper money to exchange, which will be much more convenient. Moreover, some places can obviously transport rice directly via the Yellow River, so there is no need to transport food and supplies to Xingzhou and Cizhou every time.”

The merchant group knew that Zhao Xin wanted to promote paper money, so they did not immediately agree with it.

Zhao Xin’s father-in-law, Chen, said, “The current banknotes are so anti-counterfeit that it is difficult for others to copy them. There is no problem using them as receipts. It’s just… how many does the government plan to issue? And… how should they be issued in a standardized manner in the future? There won’t be too many or too few.”

This question immediately expressed what everyone was thinking.

In fact, whether or not counterfeit money is produced is not the point. The point is that the government should not issue banknotes indiscriminately. What they fear most is that the government does not keep its word and issues as much money as it wants.

Zhao Xin also said to everyone: “Don’t worry, in the future, I will definitely discuss with you how much to issue. You can also suggest what you think should be done better.”

After inspecting the iron smelting in Xingzhou and Cizhou, Zhao Xin went with everyone to inspect the Yellow River.

The Yellow River is much better now.

only……

The floods seemed to have stopped, but droughts reappeared.

This drought has lasted too long. There might be a locust plague next.

Fortunately, even so, the impact on the entire Song Dynasty is not that great at present.

After inspecting the Yellow River, he went to Hedong, where he mainly inspected the horse prison.

See if his Wei Qings are taking good care of his horses.

The Hedong region has plains and mountains, and the location is pretty good. It is actually quite good for raising horses.

If we want sustainable development, we still need to have our own horse breeding base.

otherwise……

I can only keep buying other people’s products.

of course!

Last year, with Zhao Xun taking down the Tiandu Mountain Military Supervision Office of Western Xia, they are no longer short of pastures.

Zhao Xin also planned to recruit some people to raise horses for him.

After Xixia was defeated by Zhao Xun, it sent people many times to express its surrender, but everyone knew that Xixia’s surrender was just verbal.

Surrender in exchange for time to reorganize and develop has always been the trick of the Xixia people.

Zhao Xin naturally did not agree to the other party’s surrender. Unless Mei Zang Epang and Li Liangzuo went to Youzhou City in person, Zhao Xin would never accept their surrender.

However, it is not a good idea to let them do this all the time, like clowns, frequently invading the border and affecting the lives of the people living on the border of the Song Dynasty.

therefore……

This year, Zhao Xin planned to see if he could formally occupy Xingqing Prefecture of Western Xia.

It can only be said that in the entire territory of Western Xia, the best and most suitable place for farming is Xingqing Prefecture.

If Xingqing Prefecture could be occupied and maintained for a long time, the economy of Western Xia would definitely suffer a huge blow.

at the same time……

Zhao Xin has sent people to count the iron mines and salt ponds in Xixia.

Although Mo Zang Epang and Li Liangzuo could run away with their people, they couldn’t run away with the iron ore and the salt pond.

The importance of these iron mines and salt ponds is like that of the US military to oil.

Zhao Xin thought that they could build a city and station troops next to the iron mine and the salt lake. This way, even if the Western Xia tried to escape, it would be difficult for them to escape anywhere.

In addition…

Zhao Xin felt that it was also possible to win over some Western Xia merchants.

Once Xixia loses its economic support, it will naturally be impossible to defeat them.

of course!

That’s what I think, but most of these places are located in the hinterland of Western Xia.

The people of Western Xia were in cahoots with Mo Zang Epang and Li Liangzuo.

I’m afraid this is difficult to achieve.

Therefore, we need to consider carefully how to conquer Western Xia.

If we tell the people of Western Xia that if they surrender and do not cause any trouble to the Song army, their taxes will be halved after the battle, I wonder if they will agree?

Zhao Xin also asked Zhong Yan and others how the people of Western Xia viewed Mo Zang Epang and Li Liangzuo.

to be frank!
How could the people of Western Xia like a powerful minister like Mo Zang Epang, who repeatedly provoked wars?

only……

The people had no choice.

The people are also powerless.

Zhao Xin thought that they could start by persuading the people to abandon darkness and turn to light.

(End of this chapter)