As for Western Xia.
Then we can probably just go with the flow.
Because the Song Dynasty ignored the Western Xia envoys, maintained an ambiguous attitude, and did not sign a peace treaty with them.
It is obvious that after two years, the Western Xia will be destroyed and the Hexi Corridor will be recovered.
On May 14th, the weather had been getting hotter recently, with the temperature rising continuously. It also happened to be the most prosperous time for business in Bianliang, and the heat was spreading throughout the city.
Only the Constitutional Court is cool and comfortable. Outside the court, there are towering trees, green grass, and a gentle breeze.
There were a lot of ice cubes in the room. Saltpeter ice making was one of the oldest ice-making technologies. The royal family would naturally make a large amount of ice cubes for storage every year before the summer came. Now was the time when they were needed.
"Bianliang has been bustling lately. Envoys from Liao, Xixia, Goryeo, Dali, Yue, and Uighur have arrived. There are also rare guests, including envoys from Japan and the Black Khanate in the far western regions."
As Yan Shu reviewed today's official documents, he casually remarked, "These people are endless. It's hard for the court to receive them. Now it's all pushed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wang Siwen even complained to me this morning."
"That's right. The US was just a second-rate country before World War I. After the war, it made a fortune and became the world's leading industrial power. After World War II, it became one of the two poles of the world. When the Soviet Union collapsed, it was unrivaled and truly invincible."
Zhao Jun laughed and said, "Our current situation is basically the same as that of the United States after the collapse of the Russian Bear. We are invincible, with people from all directions coming to us, and we have become the big brother of East Asia."
"I have to say, this feeling is pretty good."
Everyone looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"By the way, Hanlong, Bianliang University said there are too few students and they hope to expand the enrollment this year. What do you think?"
After joking, Jia Changchao asked Zhao Jun.
He used to be the Minister of Education and is now also in charge of education.
"Well, although Bianliang University was established in the past, its main focus was to train talents for the Academy of Sciences. It did not recruit students from outside the university, but only admitted Jinshi candidates who were interested in scientific research and extremely outstanding high school students."
Zhao Jun said: "We have gradually completed most of the basic science knowledge from elementary school to high school, and advanced mathematics, advanced physics and advanced chemistry are also making steady progress. It is time to formally expand enrollment and cultivate more scientific research talents."
He pondered for a moment, then said, "Let's start with Bianliang University. Let them organize personnel, bring in troops and equipment, and establish branch universities in various regions. Every region of the Song Dynasty must have at least one university. Once the schools are established, we can hold a unified college entrance examination. Let the Ministry of Education organize it."
"yes."
Jia Changchao nodded.
"Many countries have requested to establish diplomatic missions in Bianliang. What do you think, Hanlong?"
Cai Qi asked here.
"Let them build it. That means we can't build the United Nations now, but we'll have to find a way to annex them later."
"Okay."
"Hanlong, this is the current national industrial statistics. Basically, every road has at least three steel mills, and more than ten cement plants and brick factories."
Song Shou, who is in charge of industry, also said.
"It's not enough. The big construction has to continue."
"Isn't this a step too big? Although our current income is steadily increasing, the financial investment in construction is also very large, and the court will be very stressed."
"Don't be afraid to spend money. Money is something you can't bring with you when you're born and you can't take with you when you die, so you have to spend it lavishly."
Zhao Jun thought for a moment and said, "I think these small countries around here are still a bit too primitive. Let's have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs negotiate with Dali to repair the land route from Sichuan to Yunnan and dredge the waterway so we can sell more goods to them."
"I'm afraid they won't agree."
"But it's not up to them to agree or not. By the way, although those tribes at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan nominally belong to the Great Song, they have always refused to obey the imperial court. Let's have Chengdu send troops there, take over the city, and officially establish a government."
"this."
Everyone was stunned when they heard this.
It’s not that I’m worried about war, but it’s a bit thankless.
Why did the ancient dynasties only care about the Thirteen Prefectures of the Han Area?
Because these places are high-quality assets, rich in resources and fertile land, they are suitable for the development of agricultural civilization.
Other places, such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Guangdong and Guangxi Lingnan, the Mongolian grasslands, the three northeastern provinces, southwestern Yunnan and Guizhou, etc., were areas with very harsh natural conditions in ancient times.
Therefore, although Zhuge Liang went south to subdue the ethnic minorities in Yunnan, he did not vigorously develop the area. Instead, he established the Beijiang Military Governor's Office, which was a semi-controlled rule.
Now that the Song Dynasty has reclaimed Yanyun, all the high-quality assets inherent to the Han people have been reclaimed. The rest of the country is now considered low-quality assets. Will this increase the burden on the court?
"First, establish the government and then slowly rule."
Zhao Jun smiled and said, "Don't worry about whether these local ethnic groups submit or not. First, declare sovereignty, then slowly govern. Yunnan is the main source of gold and silver. What the Song Dynasty lacks right now isn't material goods, but money."
"Didn't the prefect plan to make banknotes? How's that going?"
Xia Song asked.
"I guess they'll be officially released next year or the year after. We're already working on the banknote production project at the Chemistry College. It's not easy to prevent counterfeiting, but the silver coins can be released starting next year. This will help alleviate the current financial pressure."
Zhao Jun said.
"Commodity circulation currency is indeed very important. My Song Dynasty is increasingly short of money."
Yan Shu sighed.
The emergence of Jiaozi in the Northern Song Dynasty was caused by the lack of money.
When there are far more goods on the market than money, it causes serious deflation.
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