Compared with more than ten years ago, Xingqing Mansion has undergone earth-shaking changes.

When Li Xu took control of Xingqing, there were only about 5,000 households and tens of thousands of people in Xingqing.

In more than ten years, Xingqing Prefecture now has more than 30,000 Ding households and more than 200,000 Ding households.

It controls Heshuo in the north, Qingliang in the south, and controls the upper reaches of various roads. It controls Xingqing Prefecture, which is the key point in the western border. Agriculture and animal husbandry are quite developed.

Thanks to the stable water diversion and irrigation in the Yellow River Basin, agricultural development has been stable, which can provide a stable food supply for the soldiers and civilians of Xingqing Prefecture. After Xiao Ding took full control of it, Zhang Yuan presided over the construction of the alluvial plain at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain.

The Haowang Canal is more than two hundred miles long.

The successful construction of Haowang Canal brought the agriculture and animal husbandry around Xingqing Mansion to a new level.

It also made this place the food base and important pasture for the entire Western Army.

What puzzles everyone is that Xiao Ding has never carried out any large-scale construction of the city.

Even the city walls left over from Li Xu's time have now been completely demolished, and all the bricks and tiles obtained have been used to build residential buildings.

Xiao Ding will not build the city.

In his words, if the enemy is allowed to attack here, then the Western Army will have completely failed. Even if there is a city wall, how long can it struggle?

Don't use earth and wood as a city, but use people as a city, this is what Xiao Ding shouted.

In the past ten years or so, the entire Xingqing Prefecture’s settlement policy has been firmly practicing this principle.

Not everyone can settle in Xingqing Mansion and its surrounding areas.

Within the old city, all the top civil and military officials of the Western Army lived, and then they expanded outward layer by layer based on their status in the Western Army.

Even the ordinary people on the outermost periphery are mostly soldiers and their family members who have retired from the Western Army.

The Western Army stipulates that those who exceed the age of 40 and are not above the rank of general will be retired. These retired soldiers will be given priority to settle in Xingqing Mansion.

Either work, farm, or be a low-level official, just to name a few.

When these people retire, except for armor and crossbows, which are not allowed to be taken away, other weapons can be taken away. This makes almost every household in Xingqing Prefecture own weapons.

In addition to the 5,000 iron kites, the Western Army stationed only 10,000 buzi in Xingqing Mansion, which benefited from this.

As long as there is a need, with a call, basically every household here can carry their own weapons and quickly organize into experienced armies.

It is basically impossible for outsiders to settle in Xingqing Mansion, unless you have made great contributions to the Western Army.

Therefore, the people here are the most loyal to Xiao Ding, because in essence, they are the gainers of benefits. Only by working hard to maintain the current ruling model can they continue to gain benefits.

As for businessmen, no matter how rich they are, it is difficult to obtain a household loan in Xingqing Prefecture, and most of these people are concentrated in Xingping Prefecture, another important town in the Western Army.

Xingqing Prefecture is the political center and military center, while Xingping Prefecture is the economic center. The rich people gathered in Xingping Prefecture are really full of people.

Xingping Prefecture has developed industry and commerce.

Xingqing Prefecture is dominated by agriculture, animal husbandry and a large number of military workshops.

This year has been very difficult.

The two major battles fought with the Liao Kingdom at Xuanglei Village and Heishan both ended with the victory of the Western Army. However, we know the hard times and these two battles caused heavy losses to the Western Army.

What is even more annoying is that the rebellion in Xizhou has cut off the trade routes to the west, and has lost an important source of finance and taxation.

Up to now, the Xizhou Rebellion and the Tubo Rebellion are still restraining the energy of the Western Army all the time, spending a lot of money every moment.

As long as the army is not moving, it will require a lot of money and food to support it. Once the army is moving, the cost will immediately spiral up.

"The grain harvest is actually good this year!" Zhang Yuan looked a little older, and his back seemed a little stooped. He presided over the entire political affairs of the Western Army, and Xiao Ding did not interfere at all.

Xiao Ding's energy was basically focused on military affairs.

"But wars and rebellions have made our burden too heavy." Zhang Yuan flipped through the accounts that Cao, the head of the household, had just compiled, and sighed: "The two battles with the Liao people destroyed all our savings for many years.

"Although this year's autumn grain has been put into storage, compared to previous years, half of the warehouses are still empty."

"Have the pensions for the war dead and disabled been paid out?" Xiao Ding asked: "No matter how difficult it is, this matter cannot be delayed any longer. There was no money at the beginning, but it was paid out immediately after the autumn harvest was promised.

.”

"Of course we are prepared for this, but General Manager, can we use land to compensate for it?" Zhang Yuandao: "We don't have anything else, but we have a lot of land! Money is really tight, but because we won both battles, we can cultivate the land

, the pasture is more than enough.”

"The Point Guard Is Here"

"Is there enough land around Xingqing Mansion and Xingping Mansion?" At this point, Xiao Ding reacted: "You mean over there at Black Mountain and Black Water?"

Zhang Yuan nodded.

"I'm afraid they don't want to. In the past, rewards and compensation were only given around Xingping Prefecture in Xingqing Prefecture."

"Double or even triple the land!" Zhang Yuan hesitated, "We can even allow them to own slaves to help with farming. General Manager, the Xizhou Rebellion and the Tubo Rebellion captured many people. These people are not as good as...

…”

"No!" Xiao Ding categorically rejected. "This hole must not be opened. Once it is opened, the consequences will be disastrous. Have you ever thought about it? Today you are supposed to have enough labor for the families of these disabled or war dead, but this policy

In the end, only the rich and powerful will have more slaves to create wealth for them. Today they are just prisoners on the battlefield and people of the enemy country in the conquered land. But what if these are all poor? Will it happen?

Have our own people become slaves? Absolutely not!"

"Actually, slaves were still very common in this area in the past. Even in some remote areas under our rule, this kind of thing is still common, and everyone's level of love is still acceptable."

"But we have been fighting against this kind of thing. We can exist as helpers and hired workers, but we must not be eternally free slaves! Changshi, there is nothing negotiable on this matter. You cannot reverse the course of history just because of our current predicament.

Ha, who can say this? By the way, second brother, second brother said it!"

"If this is the case, I'm afraid very few people will be willing to go to the border areas. They are all heroes and cannot be forced!" Zhang Yuan was a little distressed.

"Before, you told me that Erlang set up some kind of joint bank in the southwest, issued some kind of bonds, and some kind of bonds. It seems that he used this thing to alleviate the economic crisis. Can we use it?"

"General manager, we only know one thing, but not the other. We don't fully understand the pros and cons, and we dare not imitate others. If we make the wrong move in economic matters, it will cause big problems."

"Just send someone to Jiangning City and invite a group of experts from Lao Er!" Xiao Ding said with a smile.

Zhang Yuan was silent for a moment and said: "General manager, it is always inappropriate to leave important economic matters to outsiders."

Xiao Ding glanced at Zhang Yuan and said with a smile: "Get the people here first. It's not like we don't have economic talents, right? Let them learn first!"

"Yes!" Zhang Yuan nodded and said: "It always takes time to come and go, and it is difficult to solve the urgent need."

Xiao Ding stood up, walked a few steps in the room, and said: "In that case, let's borrow money first. Starting from me, based on the level, everyone will lend money to solve the current difficulties. As for the domestic situation,

Merchant, forget it, let’s borrow it too! What other exclusive rights can we sell? As long as it doesn’t involve life and death, we will sell everything. Chang Shi Haosheng, go and plan it!”

"General manager, you should really think about this matter." Zhang Yuan put away the account book in front of him and said: "The things Jing'er brought back from Xiping Military Division also illustrate the wishes of the subordinates. In the past few days,

Similar things have begun to arrive from all over the place. This one cannot be suppressed, so don’t try to block it, you can only loosen it.”

"Everyone is thinking about their support and promotion!" Xiao Ding was a little annoyed: "Chang Shi, why don't I promote myself to a higher level and claim to be the Privy Council member with the same signature? This is my husband-in-law."

Zhang Yuan said seductively: "General Manager, are you still thinking of asking the young emperor of Jiangning Mansion to give you an edict to confirm? You admit it, but do the eight military divisions under the Western Army recognize it? Millions of people

Do the people recognize it? Do Nan Renzhong recognize it? Do the Tuoba clan recognize it? Do the generals and officials of other ethnic groups recognize it? The land of the Western Army was all built by the general manager and everyone with swords and guns. Before Tokyo was not broken, no matter what

Anyway, we are still slightly involved with them, so forget it if you don’t want to go further. Who is the Song Ting in Jiangning now? Why should we kneel down? "

Xiao Ding let out a heavy breath and said, "Chang Shi, do you think that since I have truly become emperor, I won't talk about eternal life? I just ask you, can I pass it on to the second generation?"

Without waiting for Zhang Yuan to answer, Xiao Ding continued: "In this case, who will be the first to fall out with us? Qin Feng Road and Li Chun. And we will no longer be able to maintain our alliance with the Xin Song Dynasty in Jiangning Mansion.

It’s overwhelming. If this is the case, who will be happiest? The people of Liao! Who is our biggest enemy now? Is it the people of Liao or the new Song Dynasty court in Jiangning Mansion? "

"But General Manager, if the wishes of the officers and soldiers are not satisfied, over time, there will be disaster. The army is the foundation of our foundation, and the composition of our army is complex. Han people only account for 30%, and other ethnic groups will follow us.

Do you really care how much you want to fight with the Liao people? Isn’t what those people want just to get promoted and make a fortune?" Zhang Yuandao.

"Think about this matter again! Let's see if there is any solution to both problems!" Xiao Ding stood up and patted Zhang Yuan on the shoulder: "Chang Shi, sitting south and facing north, is said to be a loner, but in fact he has a deep heart.

I also thought about it. But I always have to think further. If I do it today, how will it end in the future? Even though the new Song Dynasty court in Jiangning Mansion is still very weak, they have already established a firm foothold!

As long as Xiangyang and Xuzhou can be defended, with the wealth of Jiangnan and the ability of my second brother, I am afraid that it will not take many years to build a powerful army that is not inferior to our Guangrui Army."

"How can the Liao people just sit back and watch them develop and grow?" Zhang Yuan shook his head: "Liu Yu, Qu Zhen and others will inevitably be driven to launch attacks to the south of the Yangtze River. The war will continue. How will it develop? Moreover, the Empress Dowager Chengtian has powerful methods. Look at this

Zi, within a few years, the internal disputes will be completely suppressed by her. With the current size of the Liao Kingdom, how can the New Song Dynasty court in Jiangning withstand it?"

"Why do you think the Liao Kingdom will definitely attack Jiangning first?" Xiao Ding looked at him: "In my opinion, I am afraid that Xiao Yi will attack me first."

"How come?"

"Definitely!" Xiao Dingdan said calmly: "I, the youngest sister, have been in awe of his second brother the most since she was a child. For me, she has only respect and no fear. She wants to have a good competition with her second brother.

, she must first remove me as a possible obstacle. So I think she will definitely hit me first. Chang Shi, do you think that if I become emperor and have a complete relationship with Jiang Ning, will my third sister laugh?

Very happy? When the Liao army sends troops to attack me, even if my second brother wants to come to rescue me, will the civil and military officials below agree? With the strength of our Western Army, can we fight against the Liao people alone?"

Zhang Yuan was a little stupid. He considered the problem from a political perspective, but Xiao Ding considered the problem from the character of his third sister.

I have to say that this is really possible.

After all, the Empress Dowager Chengtian of the Liao Kingdom now holds all the power, and no one can compete with her.

"I think Yelumin's appointment as the governor of the Northwest Road Recruitment Department is her first step." Xiao Ding took a deep breath.

"In this matter, the Jing'an Department is working hard to verify the true strategic purpose of the Liao Kingdom." Zhang Yuandao: "Perhaps there will be an answer soon?"

"No matter whether Yelumin is going to fight against Heihan or Huazizimo, he will eventually have a direct conflict with us in the Western Region, and there will definitely be continuous war in the west!" Xiao Ding said: "So at this time, we need support from Jiangning Mansion.

Both Qinfeng Road and Yizhou Road can give us practical help. In the past, we could waver, but now, we can only unite the weak to fight against the strong. At this time, everyone is trying to persuade us to move in, hoping to bring us to the West.

The army was dragged into the abyss, Chang Shi, you should have seen this, but your mind was deceived!"

Zhang Yuan was a little agitated and wanted to defend himself, but after thinking about it for a while, he finally said nothing.

"Convene all the generals above the commander level, summon the officials above the seventh rank, and gather in Xingqing Mansion. If these things are not explained thoroughly and clearly, as you said, there will be problems. Then everyone can come together to discuss it and discuss it.

Let’s talk clearly. Only in this way will everyone’s scattered thoughts be reunited. Don’t think about how strong we are now. Zhao and Song were very strong in our eyes before, but in just half a year, the country was destroyed.
Chapter completed!