Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Zhu Guoxiang, Min Zishun, and Bai Chongyan sat together, and the atmosphere was a bit solemn.

Zhu Guoxiang's tone was apologetic: "I really didn't expect that Cai You would lose any face. I also thought that you would be transferred to a small and barren county, but I never expected that it would be that kind of place."

"Well, no matter where you go, it's better than the current assignment." Bai Chongyan could only enjoy the hardship.

His new assignment is the magistrate of Wuning County.

Go back two years and there will be no such county at all.

After the Lunan Yi rebellion, the imperial court urgently established the Changning Army, and the military administration was located in Wuning County. The military commander and the county magistrate all work in Wuning Village. There is not even a formal city for the time being, it is just a military fortress.

Its jurisdiction roughly coincided with Changning County in Yibin in later generations. The county was filled with semi-Chinese Liao people, as well as some Wuman people who were prone to rebellion.

Min Zishun's situation was slightly better, but not so much. He was transferred to be the magistrate of Chenxi County, where the Wuxi Barbarians had just rebelled last year.

Min Zishun was already furious: "That fellow Cai You, he avenged his personal revenge and completely ignored the safety of the country. In the two places where the barbarian rebellion had just been quelled, the new county magistrates were asked to replace them not long after they took office. He is not afraid of frequent By mobilizing local officials, will the barbarians take the opportunity to rebel again?”

"I'm afraid that's what he has in mind. If there is a barbarian rebellion, we will be punished!" Bai Chongyan said.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Zhao Yu has not left Beijing yet. I asked him about it yesterday. In Wuning County, less than 30% of the people are Han people, 50% are Liao people, and the remaining 20% ​​are Umans. Regardless of Liao people or Uzbeks, The Barbarians are all semi-Chinese, and the Liao people are no different from the Han people in farming. The Wuman are half-cultivated and half-pastoral, but many of them can speak Chinese, which is much better than the Wuman further south."

Zhao Yu was the civil servant who led the troops to quell the rebellion of the Lunan Yi. He was just a benevolent official and did not have a Jinshi background.

Although he was favored by Song Huizong, he had a grudge against Tong Guan.

After making great achievements, the emperor promoted him to Zhilong Tuge and served as the economic and strategic envoy to Xihe and Lanhuang. Once he accepted, he would go and become an official under Tong Guan. Zhao Yu was so frightened that he quickly claimed illness and resigned.

When Zhao Yu returned to the capital, the emperor granted him a Taixue Shangshe background and the title of Minister of the Ministry of War.

Zhao Yu still didn't dare to accept it. The Ministry of War was all members of Tong Guan and Cai Jing. After many rejections, he was temporarily thrown into managing the Taoist temple.

Not long ago, Zhao Yu was appointed as the Zhijun of Chengde, and his son Du Enyin became the school secretary.

This was a capable minister and official. In the following years, Zhao Yu tried to dissuade Song Huizong from all his erroneous policies. But the objection is invalid!

"What suggestions does Zhao Zhijun have?" Bai Chongyan asked humbly.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "He said that the Liao people in Lunan were oppressed by both Han officials and Wuman. The Liao people wanted to get close to the government, but they were violently expropriated; the Liao people wanted to get close to the Wuman, but they were robbed by slaves. But half of the people in Wuning County We are all officials. After you leave, your top priority is to appease the officials."

"Junior, please remember this." Bai Chongyan handed over his hand.

Zhu Guoxiang continued: "According to what Zhao Yu said, the most serious disagreement among the Han officials is the ownership of the local salt wells. After you go, you should summon the leaders of each village among the officials to clearly divide the salt wells. The Han people can no longer occupy them. The Liao people cannot compete for the Han Well, and at the same time, they promise to reduce the taxes of the Liao people, and the government will no longer rob their goods."

Bai Chongyan listened patiently.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "At the same time, quickly set up a military school (similar to a state school) and let the children of the leaders of the Liao people go to the military school to study and receive education. On the one hand, the Liao people can be educated, and on the other hand, they can also be used as hostages. Manage the Liao people well. To protect the people is to govern Wuning County well.”

In the late Northern Song Dynasty, the Liao people of Lunan were very close to the Han people except for their different customs. Given time, they would be able to successfully become Han Chinese.

Min Zishun asked: "Juniors go to Chenxi, what teachings does your husband have?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "I don't know much about the Wuxi barbarians, and I can't give specific suggestions. But to deal with the barbarians, it is nothing more than suppression and appeasement. The barbarians are not monolithic. Emphasize the barbarians who are close to the government, attack the barbarians who oppose the government, and treat them well. , to educate them, and use thunderous means at critical times. In addition, we must respect their customs and do not impose Han ethics on them."

"Junior has learned a lesson." Min Zishun handed over his hand.

Zhu Guoxiang's self-proclaimed age is only a few years older than Min Zishun, but this does not hinder their "generational" difference.

The two of them were still renting the Lu family's house, so they immediately handed it over to the real estate agency and asked Zhu Guoxiang to collect the sublet fee on their behalf.

Zhu Guoxiang also wanted to go home for the holidays, so he asked Liang Yi (a half-adopted son and student) to collect it. The coal shop has long been handed over to Liang Yi, and this young man from Daming Village has grown up.

Arrangements also need to be made for the experimental field, where vegetables, flowers and trees are grown.

Everything was almost done. Yang Zhi, who was assigned to Weizhou, was finally chased back halfway and received a military attaché uniform.

"Zhi, thank you Mr. Zhu!" Yang Zhi knelt down when he saw him.

Zhu Guoxiang quickly stopped him: "Although you have no rank, you are already a military attache, how can you kneel down to others? From now on, remember to be an official and don't do anything impulsive again."

Yang Zhi said: "I listen to my husband."

Zhu Guoxiang whispered again: "Keep your eyes open. Cai Jing has a grudge against me, and Cai You is determined to retaliate. Most of the errands of the generals of the Forbidden Army are responsible for escorting military supplies. Cai's party may cause harm. Once they detect any problems, they will Don’t go back to Beijing, go directly to Yangzhou to join Daming Village.”

Yang Zhi was originally excited about becoming an official, but when he heard this, he was instantly frightened.

It would be too easy for the traitor party to frame the general of the Forbidden Army. They would give him an escort task and then set a tricky time limit, which could range from dismissal to decapitation.

Wang Anshi's wife bought a concubine for Wang Anshi. The concubine's husband was a general of the Forbidden Army. Because the army's rations capsized, he was compensated for the loss. The compensation cost him everything and sold his wife.

Zhu Guoxiang continued: "I recommended two Jinshi, both talented and virtuous, but they were sent to a small county full of barbarians by Cai You. If a high-ranking civil servant is like this, you, an unworthy military officer, will definitely be framed by Cai You. Remember, Don’t go back to Beijing, run away to Daming Village in Yangzhou, and settle down there first, and then I will find a way to exonerate you.”

Yang Zhi became more vigilant and said: "If anything happens, I will run away immediately."

Zhu Guoxiang sighed: "Oh, it's me that Party Cai hates, but he got you involved for no reason."

Hearing such words of self-blame, Yang Zhi was inexplicably moved. He knelt down and said, "My lord, please don't say such nonsense. If it hadn't been for your help, I would have been working as a thief in Weizhou. I will remember your kindness all my life." The blame can only be placed on those traitors who are too bad. If all the officials were as good as my husband, the people would have a better life. I admire my husband very much."

"Go, I'm going back to my hometown tomorrow." Zhu Guoxiang helped him up.

The next day, Zhu Guoxiang left Beijing with his entourage, and Song Huizong sent someone to send a thousand taels of silver as travel expenses.

Yang Zhi and his eleven sworn brothers also came early to see him off. However, there were many civil servants at the farewell place, and they were not qualified to squeeze in. They could only watch Zhu Guoxiang leave from a distance.

Yang Zhi was freed from the crime and got an official position. It was time to celebrate and take his brothers to have a drink outside the city.

"Congratulations, eldest brother, for becoming an official!" Everyone raised their glasses.

Yang Zhi smiled and said: "A military attache without rank cannot be considered an official."

Hua Rong said: "Generals also have official status. We can't become a general even if we spend our whole life."

"It's really thanks to Xianggong Zhu that my eldest brother's fortune has turned around." Guan Sheng said.

Sun Li said with a smile: "When I went to beg Zhu Xianggong, I just wanted to get my eldest brother off the hook. But I didn't expect Zhu Xianggong to be so extravagant and cover up, and actually found an official position for my eldest brother."

Xu Ning also smiled and said: "With this glass of wine, I wish my eldest brother a prosperous official career."

Yang Zhi laughed and clinked glasses with his brothers. While changing glasses, he also expressed his worries and repeated Zhu Guoxiang's words.

"Poof!"

Lin Chong was so angry that he slammed the table: "Those little guys are used to harming people. How kind and righteous Mr. Zhu is, but they have the heart to make things difficult for them. They even throw good officials recommended by Mr. Zhu to small barbarian counties."

Chai Jin likes to inquire about gossip: "I heard people say that the price of coal in Tokyo can be reduced. It was Zhu Tanhua who recommended a good official named... Min Shashun. Min was in charge of the Carbon Company, and the price of coal dropped that month. Later, the traitorous party caused trouble and hindered Min Guanren's hands and feet, and the price of charcoal went up by another penny."

Yang Zhi said: "The one who was tricked by the traitorous party this time was the Min official, who was sent to the place where the Wuxi barbarians were in trouble to serve as the county magistrate."

Zhang Qing complained bitterly: "Minguan people have left Tokyo. I am afraid that the price of charcoal will rise again. I will have to buy more charcoal to go home tomorrow."

How could Min Zishun, a small official, have the power to influence the price of charcoal? It is more the merchants of the charcoal business who are joining forces to hold the government back. Moreover, although the new Kaifeng Governor Wang Ge is also a traitor, he is still capable of doing business and is working hard to stabilize coal prices.

Li Jinyi said in a low voice: "If Brother Yang is framed and flees to Daming Village in Yangzhou, we will go with him. When the time comes, bring Brother Yang's family members with us, and everyone will go to work as bankers for Mr. Zhu. Stay in Tokyo and be treated like a dog."

They are really being used like dogs, they will be sent to escort Hua Shigang again.

Once the goods are escorted, the money will be lost once, mainly because of overpayment of tolls.

Although all of them are junior officers of the Xiang Army, they are not much better than the top soldiers of the Xiang Army. Normally, the food and salary are not paid in full, and you have to work to support the family. If Hua Shigang repeatedly harasses him several times, the family may be so poor that it will run out of money.

The Forbidden Army was mostly dragged to fight by Tong Guan, and many things in Tokyo were left to the Xiang Army to deal with.

Genyue is under construction in full swing, and there are no idle people around Tokyo City. Those homeless people were all recruited as civilian husbands, eating old rice and rotten vegetables every day, and carrying earth and building mountains for Gen Yue day and night.

After the beginning of spring, the flowers and stones in various places once again disturbed the people.

Countless local officials went to court to remonstrate, and various small-scale civil unrest broke out.

Faced with the mess all over the place, Song Huizong had to issue an edict: He ordered the supervisors and county guards in various places not to enter the Huashi Gang without permission. Those who were in line with the salary should only order Zhu Meng, Cai You and other six people to listen to the order.

Song Huizong believed that Huashi Gang's disturbance to the people was caused by the local officials' reckless advancement and had nothing to do with his own large-scale construction projects.

Therefore, from now on, only six people, including Zhu Meng and Cai You, will be responsible for Hua Shi Gang's affairs. They arrange which places should be included in the Huashi Gang, and only those prefectures and counties can contribute, and other officials are not allowed to make arbitrary decisions.

This imperial edict is indeed effective, and donations from various places have been greatly reduced.

But within half a year, local officials started again. Even if you can't stop him, if others contribute to please the emperor, wouldn't you suffer a big loss if you don't contribute?

Even if the Zhizhou is benevolent to the people, would the Zhizhou dare to stop the county magistrate from paying tribute?

Or if the envoy or magistrate ordered tribute, would the county magistrate below dare not listen?

Soon there were fishermen in Shandong who revolted and killed officials to become pirates. The reason was that the government forcibly levied Haicuo at a low price and used it as flowers and stones to please the emperor.