Chapter 281 Far Beyond Han and Tang Dynasties
the second year.

Everything in the country is moving forward steadily.

In addition to Xingzhou and Cizhou, Huaizhou and Mengzhou were added to the railway this year.

The so-called Huaizhou and Mengzhou are actually the Jiaozuo area in later generations.

Moreover, there are a lot of stones in Huaizhou, which can be said to be inexhaustible, and are just right for paving roads.

Governance of ethnic minorities.

During this year, the people of the former Liao Kingdom and Western Xia gradually began to live a stable life.

at the same time……

There were also some individual common people who traveled thousands of miles to work in the Song Dynasty.

In agriculture.

The Hexi Corridor and Tokyo Liaoyang Prefecture were originally relatively far away from the city, making it inconvenient for the people to open up wasteland and cultivate land.

Now, Zhao Xin has greatly expanded the area of ​​reclamation and built granaries.

Over the years, we have been reclaiming and maintaining the land.

This year, these places also ushered in a bumper harvest.

and……

These places have basically achieved semi-mechanization.

At this time, through reasonable allocation, food in the capital was no longer so tight.

at the same time……

The railway has not yet been fully built.

But it is already available now.

This greatly improves the speed of logistics.

As for paper money.

It was also in this year that it began to be officially released.

The capital and the entire Hebei region will go first.

Other places were also affected one after another.

Although many people still don’t trust this light piece of paper.

It feels like the government can print whatever it wants, which is so unreliable.

but……

Even the big businessmen recognize this and are willing to sell their goods to you, so what is there to worry about?

At least……

In this short period of time, within one or two years, this money should still maintain its value.

of course!

There are still some people who prefer to use copper coins.

This habit can only be changed slowly, bit by bit.

Chemical industry.

Glass windows are also very popular this year.

Anyone who has some spare money would like to buy one for themselves.

In addition…

For example, Zhao Xin asked his father-in-law to sell a small amount of soap.

In fact, the people of the Song Dynasty didn’t really need soap in their daily lives.

Moreover, the people of the Song Dynasty all had their own folk methods.

These traditional methods and materials are readily available, so why bother wasting money to buy them?

and so……

This soap is sold in small quantities just to make it convenient for lazy people.

As for the nobility, in fact, their soap is more exquisite, and the spices they put in are not cheap. There is no need to buy your chemical soap.

However, if you are going on a long journey, it would be nice to bring a bar of soap like this with you.

after all……

In the wild, some materials are difficult to obtain, but if you can bring a small piece of soap with you on the road, you can always find a stream to take a bath, and you can wash it very refreshed and clean.

When Su Che heard about this thing, he immediately bought one and sent it to his brother.

How did my brother offend the government?

Could it be that my brother’s reputation was too great, and the government heard about it, so they were displeased and sent him to such a faraway place?

Recently, his brother wrote back saying that he was almost becoming Su Wu.

At the beginning of this year, Zhao Xin also asked Su Shi that if possible, he could directly select some ordinary herdsmen on the grassland.

Let them serve as censors, dispersed to various tribes, and provide feedback on the various situations in the lives of herdsmen at all times.

In addition…

Zhao Xin feels that not studying is not the way to success.

and so……

After hearing about the two buddies Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, Zhao Xin thought that he should let Cheng Yi, who failed the imperial examination, go to the grassland to accompany Su Shi.

Cheng Yi was mainly responsible for educational work.

For example, literacy.

But that doesn’t mean everyone can teach.

Instead, we should select some soldiers from the army, teach them to read and write, and help them become illiterate, so that…if Zhao Xin issues any decree, no one on the grassland will be able to understand it.

after……

Some signs can be erected on the grassland, with the imperial edict or other information directly posted on them.

Once the place was fixed, Su Shi no longer needed to follow those nomadic herdsmen around.

Of course Cheng Yi was not very willing to go.

After all, the prairie is not as comfortable as staying at home in the garden and teaching others.

Zhao Xin also said: “Confucius said that there is no distinction between the classes in education. Do you think the grassland is not good and you don’t want to endure the hardship?”

Cheng Yi didn’t dare to answer.

Zhao Xin also said: “Then your missionary work, it seems that the purpose is not pure, probably just want others to respect you, flatter you, and completely just want to educate the world. That’s it! If you don’t want to, then forget it.”

Cheng Yi had no choice but to agree.

Because if he doesn’t agree, then he won’t be able to become an official in the future.

even……

If his conversation with the government today were to get out, his reputation would be ruined.

Cheng Yi: “I am willing to go.”

Zhao Xin said, “Then go find Su Shi first. Su Shi has rich experience living on the grassland. Then go to Zhong Yi and ask him to select some people for you to teach. The main thing is that they can read and write. As for the great principles, teach them if you can. Don’t force others to listen if they don’t want to. If you can teach them to read and write, it will be a great achievement.”

After returning…

Cheng Yi told his brother, relatives and friends about this matter.

Good guy!
A large group of people started talking about it.

The government is too good to those barbarians.

and……

It is said…

The emperor wants to marry the ruler of Liao, or to be more precise, the former ruler of Liao.

then……

after a few days.

People like Sima Guang wrote a memorial to Zhao Xin, asking him not to be too nice to these barbarians.

But it’s true!

This year, the marriage should be almost settled.

Let his crown prince marry Yelu Hongji’s eldest daughter.

mainly……

Yelu Hongji’s son, Yelu Jun, doesn’t seem to be very interested in his own daughter.

In addition…

Perhaps influenced by Yelu Hongji, Yelu Jun has now also become obsessed with Buddhism.

The main reason is that Buddhism believes in afterlife, and in this life, Yelu Jun is basically finished.

Therefore, we can only hope that our next life will be better.

future……

Yelu Jun might become a monk.

Zhao Xin had already learned a little about this from her daughter.

The current situation is that Yelu Hongji and Yelu Jun both believe in Buddhism.

Although Xiao Guanyin doesn’t believe in Buddhism very much, but looking at her name, she would rather believe it than not.

in fact……

She still felt a little heartbroken to see her husband and son become like this.

however……

The situation is already like this, what’s the point of you struggling?

And here in Sichuan…

Li Liangzuo was even more straightforward. He died of illness after arriving in Sichuan.

Zhao Xin suspected that someone below felt it was troublesome to serve the other party, so he killed the other party directly.

This way they don’t have to waste time and energy on each other.

Zhao Xin received such a report.

can only say……

There’s not much to say.

Anyway…

Just like that!

This year……

Zhao Xin also thought about learning to paint. It is well known that most ancient Chinese paintings only focus on spirit, not form.

Zhao Xin felt that he might be able to change a little bit.

then……

Zhao Xin then used a lens and a camera obscura to draw a picture of a palace maid.

to be frank!
This drawing is actually of no use.

of course!

If other people can master this skill, they should be able to make some money by painting for others.

It can be considered as the beginning of a new industry.

When he showed it to the people from the Academy of Sciences, they couldn’t believe that Zhao Xin could draw so well.

however……

How could they possibly know that they were using cheating methods?

Today’s academy of sciences also pays great attention to various drawings.

Zhao Xin set rules for them, such as front view, side view, top view, and engineering drawings.

No matter how the length is marked, there is something corresponding.

even……

You still have to draw it to scale on the drawing.

This has also greatly promoted the dissemination of knowledge, allowing the second generation of workers who come in later to immediately learn what their parents did.

From last year…

Zhao Xin then asked people to study steam paddle steamers.

of course!

Zhao Xin also gave them some scientific knowledge.

It would be even better if the propeller could be made directly.

However, propellers require very advanced sealing technology.

unless……

You install a pumping device on the boat, which allows you to take in water while pumping it out.

However, seawater is corrosive to a certain extent after all. Even so, it remains to be seen whether the product will be durable.

Zhao Xin remembered that there seemed to be a kind of propeller that could be installed outside separately and then driven through gears or something.

But he couldn’t remember the structure.

This kind of propeller, which is made separately and will not get water in, is actually acceptable.

But in terms of energy utilization efficiency, it is definitely not as good as that of later generations.

Anyway…

Let’s study it first!

If we cannot develop steamships, it will be difficult to achieve maritime expansion and maritime colonization.

Back then, the American ship crossed the Pacific Ocean on a paddle steamer.

of course!

Zhao Xin was not sure whether the picture was real or fake.

I always feel…

No matter how you look at it, crossing the Pacific Ocean by paddle steamer seems a bit unreliable.

Especially when encountering strong winds and waves, can this paddle wheel really hold up if left outside like this?

It is also possible that the picture was fabricated and tampered with by some people in later generations.

At the beginning of this year, this small steamship, only ten and a half feet long and equipped with a miniature steam engine, was built.

If it is used on a calm lake, there is no problem.

And it looks like it’s running pretty fast.

But what Zhao Xin needs them to study, let alone go deep into the ocean, at least, it would be best if they can sail not far from the coast.

All we can say is that the craftsmen are very enthusiastic about researching new inventions, and some of them may even be almost obsessed.

In addition to material rewards such as silk and even official titles, Zhao Xin thought that the more important thing was that exploring the unknown was the interest and hobby of many men.

However, if you want to build a large ship, you have to use a larger steam engine, as well as a steam forging hammer, a hydraulic press, etc.

estimate……

It would probably take at least five years to build a steamship that could sail on the ocean.

at the same time……

Some people also study airplanes.

Zhao Xin could only ask them to take it slow for now, but they could try to study the diesel engine.

However, some parts of diesel engines may require higher processing precision.

of course!

Over the years, the Song Dynasty’s processing technology has actually been constantly improving.

just now……

It can be said that there is no problem at all for a steam engine to run at ten kilometers per hour.

The science and technology of the Song Dynasty is constantly improving every year.

On the contrary, in terms of civil administration and the promotion of administrative talents…

Zhao Xin may have done a poor job.

but……

It’s not that Zhao Xin didn’t make any effort at all.

People like Ouyang Xiu, Fu Bi, and Wen Yanbo will eventually grow old.

In fact, Zhao Xin is also very concerned about whether there will be successors after them.

Just saying one thing!

Although I have heard a lot of names, many of them don’t sound familiar to me.

There is a person named Huang Tingjian, and I always feel like I have heard of this name somewhere.

Feel……

He is a very famous person.

When it comes to the assessment of civil servants, it is really difficult to judge who is superior and who is inferior.

after all……

Sometimes, some people’s reputation may be hyped up.

of course!

The key is……

Zhao Xin feels that there is currently no civil servant who, to be honest, can understand him.

Even someone like Ouyang Xiu might not necessarily know what his political views were.

But can you express your political views?

Just thinking about it this way, Zhao Xin felt relieved.

Zhao Xin felt that people like Huang Tingjian were capable of getting things done.

Next…

Let them start by cracking down on corrupt officials and rectifying the bureaucracy.

If it is done well, then keep it and continue to reuse it.

If it is not done well, send it back to its place of origin.

from now on……

Prime ministers must come from prefectures and counties.

Although this seems to be a simple thing to say, it seems that since ancient times, few kings have been able to do it.

But think about it!

People who come up from prefectures and counties may not be close to you, and may even oppose you in the court. But if you promote someone who is already close to you, then he will definitely listen to you in everything in the court.

As a king, sometimes, you also need some confidants to speak for you in the court.

But now that Zhao Xin already has his own confidants, he can naturally do it easily.

This spring.

Zhao Xun submitted a memorial, saying that Western Xia was basically stable and that they should be able to attack the Zubu tribe in the autumn.

Zhao Xin was also considering whether to go and fight.

If all the battles were over, there would be no pressure on the court, which would not be conducive to keeping the ministers vigilant.

and……

In Zhao Xin’s opinion, the Zubu tribe really doesn’t have much money to make.

It feels like if we fight, there’s a high probability that we’ll suffer a loss.

of course!

It’s not a good idea to just let it develop like this, so… after thinking about it, I decided to defeat the Zhubu tribe while the current soldiers still have combat effectiveness.

This autumn…

Zhao Xin asked Zhong Yi to take the trained Khitan soldiers, as well as the Ugu and Dilie tribes, to test the waters together.

See if combat is feasible.

At the same time, we also need to improve the relationship.

Zhao Xun led the Li Yuan army and attacked from two directions from south to north.

natural!

The Song army was unstoppable all the way.

Defeated the Zubu tribe’s troops many times.

It lasted less than a month.

Except for the rebellious chieftain Tarigan and others, the other chieftains of the Zhubu tribe, big and small, saw that they were no match for the enemy and could not win the battle at all, so they laid down their weapons and surrendered.

From then on, the grassland was clear.

Ouyang Xiu also said that the country opened a peaceful era, expanded its territory, and made its people happy and contented, and its literary style flourished. Its reputation and achievements far surpassed those of the Han and Tang dynasties.

Zhao Xin felt that this was an exaggeration!
How can I compare with the Han and Tang dynasties?

(End of this chapter)