blogombal Page 1519
Page 1519
"In fact, the Song Dynasty could only completely control five of the six routes in Shaanxi: Yongxing Army, Fuyan Road, Huanqing Road, Jingyuan Road, and Qinfeng Road."
"Xihe Road was originally controlled by the Qingtang Qiang people,"
"Although Wang Shao had already captured several prefectures including Xi, Min, and Tao during the Xining era,"
"But it has only been a little over a decade since Qing Tang City was captured."
"Therefore, many areas along Xihe Road were still controlled by numerous indigenous tribes,"
"The only places the Song Dynasty could control were the prefectures and cities."
"The Western Xia need not waste its efforts sending troops to attack the various prefectures of Xihe Road,"
"By stirring up trouble among the surrounding tribes, we can throw Xihe Road into chaos."
"Especially since the Tibetan prince Yima Dangzheng is still alive,"
"This man is the prince of the Qingtang Qiang,"
"The Qingtang Qiang were wiped out only a little over a decade ago,"
"He still enjoys great prestige among the various Tibetan tribes."
"If this person takes this opportunity to start a rebellion,"
"I'm afraid even the Western Xia won't fare well."
"In the past, the Qinghai-Tibetan Qiang people occupied the Huangshui River basin,"
"They prospered greatly thanks to the Silk Road,"
"It could once affect the strategic balance between the Song Dynasty and the Western Xia Dynasty."
Zhao Yuan exclaimed in surprise, "So that's how it is?"
"I'm afraid Yima Dangzheng won't let go of the opportunity to restore the country."
Ren Liang nodded and said, "I'm afraid that's the case."
"However, it is better for the Yima Party to conquer and restore the country than for the Western Xia to seize the Hehuang region."
"What you say is true, Ren Gong. It's better than enriching Western Xia. Ren Gong, please continue."
"As for the other five routes, during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song,"
"Divide Shaanxi into four routes: Qin-Feng, Jing-Yuan, Huan-Qing, and Fu-Yan,"
"It is said to be to strengthen defenses, but it is also intended to guard against military generals."
"After all, Shaanxi has hundreds of thousands of troops stationed there,"
"The Song Dynasty was most wary of military generals having too much power. By dividing them into four routes, the Song Dynasty felt more at ease."
"However, it's not uncommon for the four routes to fail to provide mutual assistance,"
"This matter is probably more harmful than beneficial."
"These four tribes are mostly Han Chinese who were assimilated into Tibetan culture in the past,"
"In recent years, the lives of Han people have basically returned to normal."
"However, a few truly independent tribes remain unruly,"
“Especially in areas close to Western Xia, tribes frequently defected to Western Xia.”
"Back when I was the Deputy Transport Commissioner of Shaanxi,"
“The barbarian Li Eduo once led more than 10,000 people in a defection.”
Zhao Yuan said, "Isn't their defection probably a problem with the Song Dynasty?"
Ren Liang nodded and said, "What the King of Liang says is true."
"Most of the time it's because the imperial court imposes heavy taxes, making it impossible for them to make a living,"
"Or perhaps the border officials bullied the tribes, causing them to defect."
"Then there's the issue of defense strategy,"
"In order to resist the invasion of the Western Xia, the Song Dynasty built a large number of fortresses and strongholds."
"Building a fortress requires a lot of timber,"
"And many of the indigenous people believe that trees in the mountains possess spirits,"
"Many indigenous people are dissatisfied with the rampant deforestation."
"In addition, some border officials privately hired people to cut down large numbers of trees,"
"They would make rafts from logs and transport them to the interior for profit."
"In previous years, there was a rebellion by barbarians who killed lumberjacks."
"And some tribes are affected by the salt wells,"
"Many indigenous tribes have salt wells,"
"However, salt was regulated in the Song Dynasty."
“Those tribes were forced to give up their salt wells, and naturally they were dissatisfied.”
This could be considered a difference in beliefs.
The Han people might even laugh at the barbarians for their ignorance.
How could trees have spirits?
Zhao Yuan thought for a moment and said, "The problem of the imperial court's taxes is easy to solve."
"Now, our Great Liang has abolished all exorbitant taxes and levies, leaving only commercial taxes,"
"The burden on ordinary people is very light."
"Building fortresses and strongholds is a military matter,"
“I can decide to stop.”
"However, the issue of salt wells involves the imperial court's finances and requires further discussion by the court."
Ren Liang nodded and said, "I'm afraid the imperial court would also disagree with handing the salt wells over to the barbarians."
"The salt from the Northwest is also of very good quality,"
“Some of them are even as good as salt.”
"Salt profits were a major source of tax revenue even in the Song Dynasty,"
"At its peak, it reached 40 million strings of cash a year,"
"It usually costs between 20 and 30 million strings of cash."
"Now the imperial court has abolished the exorbitant taxes and levies,"
"The profits from salt production are even more important."
Chapter 1827 Reforming the Salt Law
Zhao Yuan stared in disbelief and exclaimed, "Salt can be so profitable?"
Ren Liang nodded and said, "The imperial court controls the sale of salt."
"The salt is bought for only a few coins per pound."
"But it sold to merchants for a few dozen coins,"
"And the common people all need salt,"
"The profits are naturally huge."
Ren Liang said, "The salt in the world is nothing more than pond salt, sea salt, well salt, and mineral salt."
"During the Song Dynasty, salt production mainly consisted of pond salt and sea salt,"
"Sea salt is produced along the southeastern coast."
"Nowadays, only the Jingdong region in Daliang probably has a small amount of sea salt."
"Jiechi, the main salt-producing area in the Central Plains,"
"Now it's also in Tian Hu's hands."
"The imperial court has very few salt-producing areas under its control,"
"The salt wells in the Northwest became increasingly important."
Zhao Yuan nodded and said, "What you say is true, Lord Ren."
"It seems we really can't give up on this salt well."
"However, our dynasty has abolished all exorbitant taxes and levies,"
"That should be enough to settle these barbarians down."
Ren Liang said, "Most of the non-Han people in the four routes of Fu and Yan now make a living by farming."
"The land was allocated during the Song Dynasty,"
"Abolish agricultural taxes and exorbitant levies,"
“It’s still very attractive to them.”
"However, the aboriginal people of Xihe Road mainly engage in animal husbandry,"
"Even before the Song Dynasty, it was rare to collect taxes from them,"
"Therefore, taxes are irrelevant to them."
Zhao Yuan originally thought that coming to the Northwest was only to fight against the Western Xia people.
I never imagined that the Song Dynasty had controlled Shaanxi for so many years.
There are still many problems.
It seems that immigration is the best way to conquer.
To make Han Chinese the mainstream in all places,
The non-Han people became a minority.
That shouldn't cause any major trouble.
Ideally, Han Chinese and non-Han people should live together again.
With the large Han Chinese population, the indigenous people were assimilated.
However, these things can be done gradually in the future.
The most urgent task is to defeat the Western Xia.
Maintain stability.
To merge with the anime characters as quickly as possible,
Their tribe would have to be disbanded.
Whenever you do this,
This will likely cause a backlash.
Only when the Central Plains are unified,
Only then could he free up his hands to deal with the disobedient barbarians.
Ren Liang took a sip of tea.
"He mentioned the other five routes,"
"Only the Yongxing Army remains."
"The Yongxing Army is probably in the best situation,"
"And Fuyan Road and Huanqing Road are blocking the way,"
"The Yongxing Army has never experienced war."
"In addition, the Song Dynasty valued commerce,"