The Aftermath 04: This Small Matter of Border Defense
The Aftermath 04: This Small Matter of Border Defense
Northwest, Lingzhou.
Lingzhou was once a strategic fortress of the Western Xia Kingdom. Two years ago, after it was captured by the Crown Prince of the Song Dynasty, he oversaw a series of reforms, and the place was completely transformed.
For a long time, the ordinary people of Lingzhou regarded "blue and white salt" as a mythical creation. They had heard of its existence since childhood but had never seen it with their own eyes, nor did they feel that it had anything to do with their lives.
The city was built right next to the salt mines, but the ordinary people of Lingzhou could only eat coarse salt that tasted bitter. The limited production of bluish-white salt all ended up in the pockets of the government.
They kept some for their own use, supplied it to the front lines as military supplies, or traded it with other countries for horses, tea, and grain. Of course, the supplies they received were also for their own use; not a single penny went into the pockets of the common people.
This absurd affair finally ended after the Crown Prince of the Song Dynasty conquered Lingzhou. Shortly after taking control of the city, he led a large force to the salt mines near Lingzhou. By washing the brine dissolved from the coarse salt with wood ash, they greatly increased the production of bluish-white salt.
Once the new salt was dried, he sent people to transport it to the city for public sale. At that time, every household rushed out with their salt jars, fearing they might not encounter such a good thing again in their lifetime.
They were later proven wrong.
It's not just the second time; it happens almost every day!
The Crown Prince at the time decreed that Lingzhou, Hongzhou, and even all salt-producing cities of the former Western Xia could automatically withhold an amount of salt equivalent to local taxes and distribute it to the people before paying tribute of refined salt. The price had to be the same as that of coarse salt.
In other words, a large amount of taxes were waived for these cities, and the money was returned to the people in the form of refined salt.
The people of Lingzhou were finally able to eat refined table salt in their lifetime. For the first time, they also learned that salt could truly be as white as snowflakes, without a single impurity. Eating this salt, which had no bitter taste, gave them the energy to work vigorously.
No wonder the soldiers in the army all need salt. They eat it, and they're even more capable than the soldiers!
But Fusu didn't think so.
He personally visited Western Xia to investigate the living conditions of the local people. Due to the arid and cold terrain, local produce was scarcer than in the east, and class stratification was more pronounced. Merchants like those in the Song Dynasty, who, despite being at the bottom of the social hierarchy, lived very comfortably due to their wealth, were virtually nonexistent in Western Xia.
The simplistic and rigid class divisions resulted in the upper classes blatantly and thoroughly exploiting the lower classes. Before personally visiting Lingzhou, Fusu could hardly imagine that the local people couldn't even afford good salt.
After discussing with his ministers, he made a decision.
Uneven development between regions is not a good thing for a country. This is especially true for newly recovered territories like Western Xia and the Sixteen Prefectures. If their economy and culture cannot be integrated with the Song Dynasty's mainland, they may one day leave the Central Plains again.
It is imperative to provide assistance to the Western Xia and the Sixteen Prefectures.
The people of Lingzhou were suddenly struck by the fact that many Song people had recently appeared in their city. No, that's not quite right; they were now Song people too.
To correct the statement further... it was that many talented people from the Song Dynasty emerged.
The newly appointed scholars who passed the special imperial examination were appointed as specially created instructors.
A disheartened old scholar, who had failed the imperial examinations for many years, moved to Lingzhou to open an academy and teach students.
The wealthy merchants of Jiangnan opened branches all the way to the northwestern states, their shelves filled with a dazzling array of cheap and useful gadgets.
The craftsman surnamed Bi, who was never appreciated in his hometown, was eager to open a movable type printing workshop in Lingzhou, hoping to transmit all the classics of the Song Dynasty to the Northwest without missing a single one.
...
Such a variety of things are overwhelming.
Emperor Wu of Han once forcibly relocated all the wealthy households in the empire to the vicinity of the imperial tomb to guard it for their father, Liu Bei. Fusu could not emulate his forcefulness; among threats and inducements, he excelled at inducement.
Officials who voluntarily go to the Northwest will automatically receive a one-grade promotion in their performance evaluation at the end of their three-year term. Retired scholars who have failed the imperial examinations for many years will be granted places for their sons and grandsons to study at the Imperial Academy. Merchants doing business in the Northwest will receive a corresponding tax exemption based on the percentage of tax paid at their stores.
As for the inventor who invented movable type printing, it was a completely unexpected surprise.
Following Fusu's suggestion, Shen Kuo quickly found Bi Sheng, who was living a life of quiet seclusion in the city. Bi Sheng was greatly surprised that the editor-in-chief of the "Seeking Knowledge" newspaper had personally come to him. After all, his inventions had always been misunderstood and even ridiculed by those around him, leaving him disheartened.
Then one day, an official from Bianjing suddenly appeared and said, "I admire you very much," and even rushed to erect a monument and write a biography for you.
Amidst the uproar around him, Bi Sheng practically floated to the capital for his interview. He thought this was the best luck he'd ever had. But on the very day he was to meet Lord Shen, the Emperor himself suddenly appeared at the banquet?
"You're Bi Sheng, the inventor of movable type printing? I've heard so much about you."
Bi Sheng nearly fainted on the spot.
Shen Kuo immediately supported Bi Sheng with both hands to prevent him from fainting, which would be disgraceful in front of the emperor. But neither of them knew that the emperor himself, though seemingly calm and composed, was actually extremely excited inside.
Fusu opened his big, dark eyes and secretly clenched his sleeves: had he witnessed the birth of a textbook text?
After a few more moments, Bi Sheng's complexion returned to normal, and he seemed to have recovered. But that was only on the surface. His mind was still a chaotic mess, and he answered questions entirely based on his subconscious and instincts.
"...Would Mr. Bi be willing to travel to the North to promote the classics and historical texts of our Great Song Dynasty?"
"willing!"
A moment later, Bi Sheng came to his senses and was immediately stunned. What had he just promised the emperor? ...To go north?
But seeing the official's gleaming eyes, Bi Sheng felt little regret. A scholar would die for one who understands him. Were they, craftsmen, no different? To be appreciated by an official was infinitely better than to live a life of obscurity and obscurity. What did it matter if they went to the unfamiliar north?
He pressed the young official for his thoughts, only to learn that the official wanted the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun and Western Xia to receive an education similar to that of the Central Plains as soon as possible. In this process, book printing was essential. That's why he had chosen the young official, who possessed skills in movable type printing.
Such a grand undertaking was entrusted to the hands of an unknown craftsman... Bi Sheng suddenly felt a heavy burden on his shoulders.
He volunteered, saying, "I am willing to go to the Northwest."
According to the official, this place has never been under the control of the Central Plains since ancient times, and even its writing system is self-created, quite different from Chinese characters. It is also the place where the classics and historical texts are most needed for dissemination.
Then he can go.
Fusu never expected that his impulsive, surprise interview at the "Dream Pool Essays" would yield such great results. Meanwhile, talented individuals sharing the same mission as Bi Sheng and his contemporaries were being continuously sent to the Northwest and the Sixteen Prefectures.
Their transportation costs, along with the promised rewards, added up to a considerable sum. Yet, strangely, the tax records showed no overspending. Where did this extra money come from?
These three musketeers of the First Industrial Revolution indeed performed remarkably well. In all areas where they were put into production, government tax revenue increased by 30% to 50%.
Among them, Yunzhou performed the best.
Furthermore, Wang Anshi, the prefect of Yunzhou, was well-versed in financial management, and he managed the economy of the prefecture in an orderly manner. When he completed his three-year term and was evaluated, he ranked first among all the prefects, making a great splash and seemingly poised for a promotion.
Su Shi, who was returning to the capital with Fusu, secretly told him that Wang Anshi was receiving a constant stream of visits and letters from acquaintances, both familiar and unfamiliar, asking him how he had increased tax revenue. The Wang family's doorstep was practically worn down by the constant stream of visitors.
Fusu couldn't help but ask curiously, "So what did he say?"
Su Shi laughed gleefully, "He replied with just two words: 'Find coal!'"
Fusu: "..."
"Well, it's not entirely wrong."
His gaze shifted to the map unfolded behind the Chui Gong Hall: he had sent so many talented people to the northwest and north. They must be among those who had written to him seeking advice. He wondered what they would think after receiving Wang Anshi's brilliant plan, and whether they would actually send people to look for coal and find coal mines.
Who will be the lucky one?
Just ten days later, the answer was revealed. The prefect of Lingzhou reported in his memorial that they had discovered a coal mine seven miles outside the city.
The memorial also stated that they lacked local talent and requested that Bianjing send some technically skilled people to support their development.
Fusu had already sent many talented people to Lingzhou, and even Bi Sheng was stationed there. Sending a few more wouldn't be a problem. So he issued an edict that anyone from the honeycomb briquette factory in Yunzhou who was willing to go to Lingzhou to provide technical guidance would be generously rewarded.
With generous rewards, a team was indeed organized and sent across Hanzhong to Lingzhou to provide support. Fusu also dispatched people to build a batch of steam engines and send them to Lingzhou to support the development of the area to the greatest extent possible.
After all, this is a great opportunity for Lingzhou to catch up with, or even overtake, the east.
A month later, filled with anticipation, Fusu opened the memorial submitted by the prefect of Lingzhou. He couldn't wait to know what results his unwavering support had yielded.
The memorial detailed the process and achievements of these days, which made Fusu nod repeatedly: Very good, at least his hard work has not been in vain.
Just as he was about to close the memorial, he noticed a line of small print at the bottom: "The people of Lingzhou are deeply grateful for Your Majesty's kindness. Following the advice of the people from Yunzhou, they are also clamoring to build a shrine and sculpt a statue for Your Majesty. Your humble servant dares not dissuade them."
A quick calculation suggests that the memorial should be completed around the time it reaches Bianjing.
Fusu: "..."
Fusu: "…………"
No, we told you to learn from advanced experiences, how come you've also adopted this superstitious custom?!
Author's Note: [Dog head with rose in hand]
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