Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

There was a bumper wheat harvest last year, but this year there is a persistent drought. God is really cruel and ruthless.

Except for Hanzhong, the drought in the entire Shaanxi Province, most of Shanxi Province, and less than half of Henan Province is relatively serious this year.

Fortunately, it was the early years of the dynasty and the government was more efficient.

There was no famine in these provinces, and there were even stocks in Changpingcang in these provinces, so the imperial court ordered grain to be transported from the south.

Cars and boats, countless rice and corn are transported northward.

Moreover, when transporting it into the warehouse, several bags were deliberately knocked over. The rope that tied the sack happened to be loose, and the grain was scattered all over the floor. The gossip spread quickly.

Grain merchants who wanted to hoard their supplies had no choice but to give up when they saw this situation.

When Zhu Guoxiang lived in Wangchuan Valley, Shaanxi military intelligence boats and chariots flew quickly to report to the capital.

Zhang Guangdao did not dare to neglect, and directly asked to see the emperor with urgent military information without going through the political Yuan and cabinet.

"What's going on?" Zhu Ming asked.

Zhang Guangdao handed over the military information document and said: "There is a severe drought in Xixia!"

Ju Ming smiled and said: "The drought in Shaanxi is so severe, and the drought in Xixia is completely normal."

When the eunuch forwarded the official document, Zhang Guangdao said: "There may be a famine in Xixia. The border generals in Yan, Qing, Lin, Fu and other places reported that hungry people in Xixia crossed the border to beg for food, and groups of people crossed the mountains and ridges to beg for food in our country. The grass roots and bark of the mountains along the way became food for the hungry people.”

"Accept the placement!" Zhu Ming took the official document and opened it.

Zhang Guangdao said: "Li Yanxian has discussed with the Chief Secretary of Shaanxi Province and ordered the border civil and military officials to properly resettle the hungry people. Especially those with families and dependents, they should be provided with food immediately and settle down to divide the fields. The border population will soon be enriched."

The general officers of the various regions were changed two years ago to prevent problems in long-term security.

Li Yanxian is now in charge of Shaanxi's defense, and Wu Jie is in charge of the large area from Yan'an to Linfu. The Linfu area was later divided into Shanxi and Shaanxi, but in order to facilitate defense against Xixia, the Ming Dynasty placed all of it under Shaanxi.

Zhang Guangdao added: "Xiao Heda, the governor of Xiazhou in Western Xia, sent people to sneak into the hungry people and send his youngest son to Mizhi Village. He also attached a secret letter saying that only your majesty could open it and read it. All Shaanxi civil and military officials Don’t dare to dismantle it.”

Ju Ming had already seen the secret letter, which was hidden among the Shaanxi military intelligence documents.

Xiao Heda was originally a general of the Liao Kingdom and escorted Yelu Nanxian to Xixia for marriage. This guy was squeezed out by the Xixia generals, and Li Qianshun was always protecting him, using him to check and balance Brother Richard.

Li Qianshun appointed several generals to check and balance Brother Richard, but some of them had been secretly recruited by Brother Richard.

When the Ming Dynasty was just founded, Xiao Heda had already skipped half of the rebellions.

At that time, he ignored the orders of the Xixia court and took the initiative to retreat in order to preserve his strength. The monarchs and ministers of Xixia were afraid that he would betray him directly, so they never dared to do anything to him. As Brother Richard regained his strength, Li Qianshun even deliberately indulged this person.

However, there must be some precautions. Xiao Heda's sons were all recruited to serve as hostages in the capital of Xixia Kingdom.

Ju Ming opened the secret letter and read:

"His Majesty, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, is in good health. I, the Liao Kingdom, have sent a general to his relatives, but now the mother country has been merged into the territory of the Ming Dynasty. The princess and her heirs died mysteriously, and I am living alone in Xixia and being ostracized..."

"The brave military commander in the left wing of Xixia has been controlled by Brother Richard's cronies. This person is on the side of my station, and he is always on my back. Last year, he found an excuse to stir up trouble and transferred one of my fierce generals..."

The content of this secret letter is roughly divided into four parts.

First, tell me how difficult your situation is. The military power has been eroded by Brother Richard, and if this continues for a few more years, he will almost become a mere commander.

Second, he expressed his willingness to surrender to the Ming Dynasty. His other sons were all hostages in the capital. But in the past few years, she had an illegitimate child, who was raised to be five years old, and only a few close friends knew about it. Now send the illegitimate son to Ming Dynasty and ask Ju Ming to take good care of him.

Third, he revealed in detail the military situation of Xixia west of Hengshan, saying that he had lost control of Yinzhou. His army was blocked in Xiazhou by Brother Richard's cronies, and now it no longer borders the Ming Dynasty. In addition, the Xiazhou Iron Smelting Plant, the largest in Xixia, was also taken away by Brother Richard's cronies.

Fourth, it also elaborates on the internal affairs of Xixia Kingdom.

Li Qianshun has been promoting Chineseization and "emphasis on culture over military affairs." To put it bluntly, he wants to centralize power.

Thirty years ago, Han official Xue Yuanli was appointed to establish a Chinese school (similar to the Imperial College) in Xixia, and 300 children of the emperor and nobles were selected to teach Han culture.

Twenty years ago, the official appointment system was reformed. For those scholars who are good at Chinese studies, they will be given the same appointment treatment as those from noble clans and noble families.

Li Qianshun also released information to test many times, intending to establish an imperial examination system in Xixia. Because there were too many opponents from clansmen, nobles, and aristocratic families, the imperial examination had to be abandoned.

However, the number of officials promoted because of their expertise in Sinology has become more and more numerous. However, they are suppressed by the powerful and unable to move up in middle and low-level positions. Only a few can be promoted to high positions.

The ruling class of Xixia is becoming increasingly divided.

Clan members, dignitaries, and aristocratic families look down upon officials from humble families, and feel threatened. They were also extremely dissatisfied with the leader of the country, Li Qianshun, especially those with military power, who all turned to Brother Richard.

However, no matter how outstanding their political achievements are, most of the officials from poor families, except for a few lucky ones, have no hope of official career. They are full of grievances, some choose to be corrupt, some are wildly corrupt, and some are seeking refuge with noble clans.

This led to the failure of Xixia's political orders. Many times, middle and low-level officials deliberately obeyed and violated them.

In addition to drought, the Xixia famine also had human factors.

"Xixia is in a period of change!"

Zhu Ming increasingly understood Li Qianshun's difficulties.

This Xixia ruler, with a lot of internal and external troubles, dared not act rashly anymore.

If he dared to force the imperial examination system, or promoted a few more officials from humble families to participate in politics, I am afraid that a large number of clans, nobles, and aristocratic families would support Richard's rebellion!

However, it has been 30 years since the promotion of Sinology, and 20 years since the promotion of officials from Sinology. A large number of officials from humble families are stuck in middle and low-level positions, and have become a new political force. It is impossible for Li Qianshun to change his old path.

If Xixia wants to quickly complete the transformation of centralized power, it must have three prerequisites:

First, there is no external threat, such as the direct collapse of the Ming Dynasty.

Second, Richard must die, and the emperor takes the opportunity to take back the military power.

Third, there will be a rebellion of military nobles, and the emperor will send troops to successfully suppress it.

If these prerequisites cannot be met, it can only be delayed slowly. Wait for those officials from humble families to continue to grow in power, control more power and resources of the country, and then overwhelm the military nobles with absolute advantage.

Xiao Heda said in the secret letter that if the Ming Dynasty sent troops to Xixia, many Xixia officials would be willing to surrender to the Ming Dynasty.

Because they had no future in Xixia!

Zhu Ming called the officials of the Cabinet, the Tongzhengyuan, and the Privy Council to circulate the secret letter among them.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, Xixia has been settled."

"In Xixia, the king and his ministers are at odds, and the upper and lower levels are alienated. As long as we win a few battles, countless people will come to join us."

"..."

Faced with flattery, Zhu Ming can still stay sober: "These low-level and middle-level civil servants of Xixia are of no help to the war. Their strength is too weak, how can they fight against the generals? However, after seizing the territory, they will be used to govern the northwest. The main one is Xiao Heda. Although his military power has been eroded, he still controls most of Xiazhou. With his cooperation in Xiazhou, Hengshan can be used as one of the main attack directions."

"Order the Shaanxi Provincial Administration and the Command to properly resettle the Xixia famine victims who crossed the border to beg for food. After the famine victims are settled and divided into land, they will be immediately organized into baojia. In this way, in two or three years, the Shaanxi border The border can be enriched with population, and the number of civilians will be sufficient when sending troops. "

"On the basis of the previous grain transfer, the Ministry of Revenue will transfer another 300,000 shi of grain to Shaanxi, and exempt this year's summer grain. No matter how severe the drought this year is, Shaanxi must not starve to death, and the famine-stricken people from Western Xia who cross the border must not starve to death. It is easier to fight a war when the population is sufficient!"

"Starting from next year, gradually increase the grain reserves of various prefectures and counties in Shaanxi. Let the local officials fill up the Changping warehouse for me within three years. If there is a disaster next year or the year after, just report it to the court. After the censor verifies it, the court will continue to transfer grain for relief."

"It will take three years to make Shaanxi have sufficient food and grass. Once the war starts, there will be no need to transport grain from other provinces over long distances, and Western Xia will be destroyed in one go!"

After saying this, the ministers were very excited.

If the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun were the biggest pain of the former Song Dynasty monarchs and ministers. Then the damned Western Xia is the second pain.

The war time between the Northern Song Dynasty and Western Xia was several times that of the war with the Liao Kingdom.

The war had been going on since the early days of the Northern Song Dynasty, and it was still going on when the Northern Song Dynasty fell. There were occasional peace talks and ceasefires, but the war would start again after a few years, which cost the Northern Song Dynasty countless money, grain and soldiers.

Now, the Western Xia is finally about to fall!

Zhu Ming asked: "How is the Yellow River being managed?"

Qin Hui replied: "The first diversion has been carried out. However, the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River are dry this year, and the water volume is not very large, so the effect of the diversion cannot be seen for the time being. If there is an autumn flood and there is no danger, a second diversion can be carried out as appropriate. The subsequent investment of money and grain is not much, and the court can safely use troops against the Western Xia."

"Very good." Zhu Ming nodded.

Zhu Ming was afraid that the officials appointed by Qin Hui would make mistakes, and the Yellow River project had always been presided over by the son of cabinet minister Zhao Quan.

However, Qin Hui was the Minister of Works after all, and he also sent several of his confidants to assist Zhao Fengji in managing the Yellow River.

After the imperial meeting ended, the ministers went to arrange their own work.

This year, there was a severe drought in Shaanxi, and the court transported grain on a large scale, which would not arouse the suspicion of the Western Xia monarchs and ministers.

We can continue to transport grain and store it next year and the year after, and we can also use the name of food shortage.

When Shaanxi has sufficient grain reserves, when the refugees from Xixia have settled down, and when there is no shortage of population and food, we can find an excuse to suddenly send troops.

The reason for the war is ready. Xixia secretly colluded with Western Liao and has betrayed the suzerain state!

What, you didn't betray?

Well, the Ming Dynasty is about to go on an expedition to Western Liao, and you Xixia will immediately send troops and people to help. And the Ming army needs to borrow the passage from the Hexi Corridor.

Even if Li Qianshun had ten courages, he would not dare to let the Ming army enter the Hexi Corridor.

If he was unwilling to borrow the passage, he would be named as a betrayer.

After thinking carefully, Zhu Ming wrote another letter to Li Yanxian, asking him to send Xiao Heda's illegitimate son to study in Wangchuan Valley. By the way, he was a hostage.

At this time, the Ming envoy fleet returned home smoothly.

Along with them, there were envoys from dozens of countries.