"Qi Gong, since ancient times, there have been many chivalrous soldiers in Yan and Zhao. Half of the elite soldiers came from Hebei. His Majesty Zhenzong formed the Chanyuan alliance with the Khitan. Although it was a bit humiliating, it was beneficial to the people of both countries. Because of the peace between the two countries, the people were able to rest and rest. However, there was a serious disadvantage. After a long period of peace, the soldiers of Hedong, Hebei were not accustomed to war for a long time. Although many rural soldiers, strong men and archers were set up, there were also armed associations such as the archery club, but they were not useful in actual combat. The old minister once transferred 5,000 troops from Hedong, Hebei to Hehuang War. His initial combat effectiveness was very weak, but later it gradually improved and he still couldn't keep up with the Western Army."

Zheng Lang also said it vaguely before.

Gao Taotao remained silent. This problem was a bit serious, because the country spent a lot of money on garrison or military service, and it also delayed agricultural production in the north. But it was not what Gao Taotao thought. At least these soldiers and military service would have some deterrent effect on the Khitan.

Zheng Lang continued: "The old minister had an idea in his mind. Once the Xia was officially attacked, 100,000 to 120,000 village soldiers and soldiers and soldiers from Hebei and Hedong were drawn from Hebei and Hedong. Now he was handed over to the generals to train and reorganize them. When the Xia was attacked, they were mostly used as auxiliary troops to participate in the war. These soldiers were mostly used for logistics. When it was not important, they were allowed to go to the battlefield to hone their skills. As for the vacant forces, the vacant forces were filled with defense. The deterrence of the imperative soldiers was higher than that of the rural soldiers, which could ensure that the Khitans did not dare to attack Hedong, Hebei. The real use of imperative soldiers would be less than 300,000, which Lao minister believed was very important. The climates in different places were different, and the soldiers played different roles. If you want to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, you must have a powerful force in Hedong, Hebei.

Even if the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun were not recovered, the soldiers and strong men in Hedong Township, Hebei were tempered in actual combat and improved their combat effectiveness, and could also prevent the invasion of the northern nomadic peoples. Moreover, if the imperial court had forty generals, the Khitan and Xixia would have the intention to be guarded. Now, forty generals were set up to cover Hedong, Hebei, Shaanxi, from the imperial guards to civilian forces, the two countries would only think that our dynasty was implementing a new military reform and no longer had the intention to prevent. As for the use of more troops and more money and silk, it would be helpless. The imperial court could recover both Liang and Ganzhou now, but if the entire country of Xixia was not gathered, it would be impossible to achieve it without gathering a large army. As for money, as long as the Western Xia was captured, even if the country was in debt. If it was peaceful in the years, three years would be enough to be erased."

"Zheng Qing, you and Xu'er will seize Youyun again."

"The Empress Dowager, you still have to govern the Western Xia. It's not Tubo. The Tubo people's hearts are dispersed and they are not evil with our dynasty, so the governance is easier. However, the Western Xia is different, especially the Qiangs in Yinxia. If they want to return home, they will not be able to do it in a few years. Once it is realized, the old minister will be almost seventy. When it comes to retirement, the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun can only solve it."

Gao Taotao wanted to speak, but Zheng Lang forced to continue. As soon as the matter of Xixia was over, no matter who advised him, he would retire. Even if Gao Taotao and Zhao Xu didn't mind, and they didn't know how many troubles some red-eyed literati and doctors caused. If the moon is full, the water is full, the water is full!

Continuing: "It is even more difficult to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, and at least wait for the Xixia incident. The country must reserve a surplus for more than five years."

With the current income of the Song Dynasty, the five-year surplus may be an extremely huge number. But this is a must.

"It will take another five to ten years to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun. With the financial resources of our dynasty, the Great Wall can be built immediately. The forces on the Tubo Plateau are dispersed, the Uighurs in the West are weak, and the south is not enough to harm. In addition, the Great Wall, our dynasty rule is in An An. At that time, not only can we cut 100,000 imperial guards, but also cut a large number of rural soldiers, foreign soldiers and military service, and the military expenses alone can be reduced by 20 million yuan. The country does not need to spend much money to prepare for the war, so the annual surplus is used to cut taxes. It is possible that the two taxes will be all exempted. Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, once the two taxes are exempted, what kind of prosperity will the Song Dynasty usher in?"

it's out of the question.

If the Song Dynasty could really obtain the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the monarch and ministers would not have tightened their belts like they are now, and the cost would have increased. Also, would the Khitan be willing to build the Great Wall? The next generation must be Zhao Xu, who is also a radical lord. Will he be willing to stop expanding?

But at least the security of the Song Dynasty will be further guaranteed, without major changes, and the financial pressure of the Song Dynasty will be alleviated.

"Don't you get the two taxes?" Gao Taotao pondered for a moment, and yearning appeared in his eyes.

Zhao Xu asked worriedly: "Duke Zheng, I am worried that no one will understand military affairs by then."

"Your Majesty, Guo Kui's military can be equal to me. Wang Shao and Zhang Ju's military cultivation is above me. Your Majesty should not worry. Empress Dowager, I am not willing to open the border. For example, the foreigners west of Chiling surrender one by one. I only recommend that I build two business roads. Planting trees on both sides of the business road will help Hehuang's business prosperity, improve the lives of the people, and make the people of Hehuang return. However, I have never agreed to send officials and soldiers to Lingxi. But Xixia will be destroyed. Without Xixia's restraint, our dynasty will only focus on defending the Khitan, and the troops will be enough, and the pressure of the people of Shaanxi will be relaxed. Recover Youyun, we will control the northern gateway, and we can advance and attack and retreat, and the Khitan will not be worrying about it since then. This generation will live a very hard life, including Your Majesty must work diligently to achieve these two major plans, but it will benefit the Song Dynasty and future generations, and the Song Dynasty can truly become a prosperous country and be famous throughout the ages."

Gao Taotao was eager and worried when he heard this. Of course, now he could only say it was a plan. Only Xixia was really ready to take action. She changed the subject and asked, "Those forty generals?"

"The old minister has the top ten generals in his heart, Miao Su, Liu Changzuo, Guo Cheng, Zhong Yi, Zhong Yan, Wang Junwan, Zhe Kexing, Yan Da, Zhang Yu, Wang Guangzu."

"Wang Guangzu?" Zhao Xu asked in confusion.

Wang Guangzu made military achievements in the Battle of Huluchuan, but was not the most conspicuous one. He was then transferred to Sichuan, and Yu Liao rebelled. Kumamoto led Yang Wan, Jia Changyan, Wang Xuan and Wang Guangzu to fight together, thinking that Wang Guangzu would not use it for him, so he marched in three ways, and the rear of Guangzu's palace. Yang Wan was trapped by the Liao people, Wang Guangzu quickly supported and defeated the enemy's troops. Kumamoto felt ashamed of thanks. The court reported the merits of pacifying the south, and Wang Guangzu was the first. But the center of gravity of the Song Dynasty was not in the southwest, it was just an itchy skin, and it didn't matter.

It depends on the ability of the generals or the performance in the Battle of Hehuang. However, Wang Guangzu did not participate in the battle, and many people were dazzling than Wang Guangzu, such as Gao Yongneng, Zhou Shiqing, and Zong Gu. Zheng Lang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you should not be underestimated. Although I rank him below Zhang Yu, it is actually no less than Zhang Yu."

"What about the top ten lieutenant generals?"

"Gao Yongneng, Wang Wenyu, Kumamoto, Hebin, Zhonggu, Yao Yi, Lin Guang, Li Shunqing, Li Hao, Liu Shaoneng, but unfortunately, the veterans Yang Sui, Dou Shunqing, Jia Kui, Yang Wenguang, Zhang Shouyou, Lu Zheng, and Song Shouyou died one after another, otherwise they would be among them," Zheng Lang said carefully.

Today's list is quite a bit of a matter of fact. This is a direct ranking of all the generals' military abilities. Among the top ten generals, Zhong Yan is only ranked fifth. If the great generals are in Qingzhou, Wang Wenyu, who is in charge of the army of Huanqing Road, is only ranked second, and he does not even occupy the first place. There are even civil officials like Kumamoto in the middle.

In fact, this is the list of generals used by Zheng Lang after retirement. Generals are very important. It prevents the imperial court from randomly using generals in the future, and even once transferred Ge Huaimin to the front line.

Zhao Xu had already realized the importance of it, so he personally took a pen to record it, wrote down twenty names, and asked again: "What about twenty generals?"

"It's appropriate to fold."

"Um?"

"Your Majesty, he has not grown up yet. He glared and grew, no less than the top ten generals."

"Oh, keep talking."

"Zhong Pu, Wang Hou, Qu Zhen, Yao Lin, Zhong Diao, Yao Xiong, Zhong Shidao, Zhao Se, Sun Lu, You Shixiong."

"Why?" Zhao Xu asked in confusion again. Kumamoto could still be considered half a military officer when he was in line, but Zhao Cheng, Sun Lu and You Shixiong were pure scholars and officials.

"Your Majesty, although they are scholars and officials, they have certain military cultivation. Just like Cai Ting, the country needs scholars and officials to govern the people, rather than military generals, to let them lead their troops, or even go to the battlefield to grind them, and they will become more proficient in military affairs, and they will have scholars and officials guarding the border in the future."

"Zheng Qing's words are extremely true," Gao Taotao said. When her husband was alive, if it weren't for Cai Ting's victory several times, the situation in the northwest would have been worse. However, Zheng Lang ranked them below Zhe Keshi, which refers to the growth space. Zhe Keshi is not as dazzling as the one behind.

Zhao Xu wrote down his name and said, "What else?"

"Wang Shan," Zheng Lang said. In fact, Wang Shan has a good military ability, but he has a bad temper, so he is ranked behind Zhong Shidao, who only wanders around the battlefield for a while. The following are either more flawed or limited military ability. But it is better than others, and he said: "Liu Zhongwu, Zhang Yun, Zhang Zheng, Gao Yongheng (Gao Yongneng's younger brother), Zhao Long, Miao Lu (Miao Zuozi), Wang Chongji, Xiang Bao."

Speaking of this, he sighed again: "If the veteran Liu Feng had not passed away, he would have been among them."

Famous generals are like jade and beauties are like flowers, but they disappear quickly. Otherwise, Yang Sui and other generals would be even more like tigers in the summer.

Zhao Xu wrote down his name and asked again: "If Mr. Zheng leaves the temple, who can be the prime minister?"

Once the general is in existence, the prime minister is the most important thing.

"Lu Gong, Fan Chunren, in the future, Zhang Shangying and Zhao Tingzhi will be the two Zhang and Zhao, and can protect the Song Dynasty from 30 years of worry-free life."

"How about Wang Anshi and Sima Guang?"

Zheng Lang was silent for a long time and said, "The way of a ruler is to use people, to use people, to control people, to control people, to control people. Control people is also a science. People all say that Emperor Gaozu of Han is vulgar, but just by using Zhang Liang, Xiao He and Han Xin well, it is enough to be called the ruler of man. Yao Yuanchong and Zhang Shuo at the beginning of Kaiyuan prosperity, people say that they are wise ministers, but in fact they are both cunning people. Because Emperor Minghuang of Tang was used well, they had the rule of Kaiyuan. Renzong also had the skills to control ministers, but they were slightly inferior to Emperor Minghuang of Han Gao and Emperor Minghuang of Tang at the beginning. Therefore, Fan Zhongyan and Lv Yijian were both figures of the whole world, but they caused many contradictions. After several years, the vaguely formed party struggles were resolved. Therefore, the old minister thought that if

It is to use the material of the general. First, you cannot be stubborn and biased, second, you must act, be too conservative or too radical, third, you must have certain talents. Your Majesty is not asking about the material of the subject, but the material of the subject. The old minister can only recommend these four people. Wang Anshi has economic skills, but he is too radical. I am afraid that he will cause unnecessary conflicts after deepening the reform. Wang Anshi must not give him too much action. Sima Guang is knowledgeable and has the ability to act, but he is too conservative and can assist the minister. If he is the prime minister, after he retires, if His Majesty cannot control his reform policies, he will eventually weaken the reform policies and eventually form a situation of poverty and weakness in Renzong's later years. Not only are the two of them, Zhang Dun, Lu Dafang and others, but also the same."

When Zheng Langcai mentioned it, he said that after resigning, Zhao Xu would have asked often that he could also refer to Zhao Xu, but he gradually faded out of government affairs.

Zheng Lang said another thing by the way: "Your Majesty, since the reform, the ethics of officials have been improved, but the system still has one flaw."

"what?"

"Officials are transferred too frequently. If you want to do good things, you must understand that there is a time course. Especially for local officials, officials from all states and counties often do not act and let minor officials in various states and counties control government affairs, and officials are undermined. Or they do not understand the situation, are eager to seek credit, and use money in vain but are counterproductive. Therefore, I think that if there are no major mistakes and achievements, or special needs, officials in various places must implement annual restrictions and may not be transferred within the years."

"Mr. Zheng said very well. I will raise this question at the capital meeting."

After talking for so long, the eunuch served tea.

Zheng Lang took a sip of tea, and Gao Taotao asked, "Zheng Qing, the Ai family heard that the fleet on the other side of the ocean is back."

"Um."

“What foods are really that important?”

"It's very important, but in the eyes of the ministers, the most important thing is the man. Without those foods, there are Wen Jing and Han Xuan, the country is still prosperous and powerful, and with those miscellaneous grains, if the man is like Emperor Yang of Sui and the late lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty, the country will still perish."

"This is extremely true."

Zheng Lang took a sip of tea, thought for a while, and then said, "Your Majesty, you might as well do two more things."

"what?"

"The court will send envoys to celebrate the New Year's Day of the Khitan. It is better to tell them again that the court brings a kind of rice seed that can be planted in Liaodong."

Zhao Xu's eyes were a little confused.

"The Usun Kingdom has introduced rice from China for many years, and the rice seeds have evolved and are relatively cold-resistant. People can be sent to the Usun Kingdom to introduce them to them and spend several years on breeding in Liaodong. This kind of rice can be promoted in Liaodong. There is no need to tell the source of rice seeds to the Khitan, but I believe they will be more happy after hearing this."

After all, Liaodong is vast and sparsely populated. If rice can be grown, it will feed more people. In fact, Japan introduced a large number of rice seeds from China in the Ming Dynasty. Now it has it, rice seeds are not very good. If you want to make a profit, you will have at least ten or eight years. By then, most of the Song Dynasty will attack the Khitan. Whether it is not to attack or to prevent the rise of the Jurchens. The Jurchens are strong, one is a cold life, two is a poor life, and three is a nomadic life.

With rice and miscellaneous grains, they will evolve from nomadic fishing and hunting life to agricultural civilization. In the late Ming Dynasty, even the Jurchens may not have the ability to enter the territory.

As for Outer Mongolia, Zheng Lang was out of the blue. Unless the firearms reached the level of the late 19th century and had the ability to build railways and trains, they would continue to harass the Central Plains. But if they had that ability, let alone the Outer Mongolia Plateau, the Song Dynasty could expand its territory to Central Asia.

In fact, promoting grain cultivation in Liaodong was also a dream in Zheng Lang. As long as the Liaodong tribes could settle down, the Song Dynasty would continue to develop and the Khitan would decline further, and it might take less than a hundred years for the Song Dynasty to have the ability to gain the entire Liaodong and truly rule. It was rule, which could be conquered, but could not achieve rule. Zheng Lang was disliked when he rebelled and returned.

"This...is accurate. What's the second thing?"

"The imperial court used to introduce long-length cotton from the Western Regions, but the breeding was not successful. Now it has obtained new cotton seeds. After evolution, it can be suitable for planting in most areas of our dynasty. However, the northwest is still suitable for planting cotton seeds from the Western Regions. These cotton seeds can be introduced from the Western Regions and planted in Lanwei and other places. Even if the imperial court uses military force, it will not be until next autumn, so soldiers can get a large amount of fabric and cotton coats to save supply costs. At the same time, there is a lack of fabric in the northwest. If the cotton is successfully cultivated, it will allow the people to see more hope, and the people will be willing to succeed in summer."

"Where is Xixia..." Zhao Xu said and laughed. Even though Xixia received the news, the Song Dynasty began to take action, regardless of whether Xixia was introduced or not. He said: "Accurate."

New Year's Day is approaching, and the envoys of the Song Dynasty set off.

Many people are discussing crops across the ocean, but another thing is happening quietly.

The imperial court's secret orders quickly reached the northwest, and the scouts lurking in Xixia began to quietly exchange their cash in the bank of Xixia. After Zheng Lang said this, the big guys gasped, but they didn't realize how cruel this move was.
Chapter completed!