Zhao Tai refused to accept the imperial edict and was dissatisfied with the reward from the Kingdom of Jin. In order to stabilize Zhao Tai and get Song Yuan, Heda had no choice but to go to Suining in person to talk to Zhao Tai.

There are only a few months left before the Yellow River freezes. Heda dare not delay. In order to get Song Yuan quickly, he can only set off immediately.

After simply telling the slaves that they were optimistic about Xuzhou, Heda led only a dozen cavalrymen and galloped out of the city towards Suining.

After Zhao Tai returned to Suining, he was busy inspecting and understanding the situation in the county. He spent a few days visiting all the towns.

After this round, Zhao Tai had a basic understanding of Suining's situation. The entire county's industry was mainly agriculture, with no other profitable industries.

Although agriculture is the foundation of the country, it is well known that there is little money to be made from agriculture.

Zhao Tai made a rough calculation and found that if the army were to be expanded by 30,000 people, the military salary alone would cost nearly 400,000 guan a year. Adding in food, military supplies, and soldier pensions, the figure would be at least 600,000 guan.

Zhao Tai asked Wang Wentong to calculate that the land tax in Suining County, plus the county's commercial tax, after deducting losses, could only be put into the treasury of about 60,000 guan.

This means that it would take at least ten counties to support a standing army of 30,000 people.

Now that Zhao Tai's territory is small, he can only use his brains in other aspects and engage in things other than agriculture.

At this time, in the county government office, Zhao Tai summoned Wang Wentong, Zhou Quan and others to discuss how to resettle the hungry people outside the city and develop breeding and handicraft industries.

Zhao Tai took a sip of tea and said, "Mr. Wang, how many hungry people are there outside the city now?"

Wang Wentong said: "Reporting to my husband, there are still 21,000 people, but recently there are hundreds of people coming every day, and it won't be long before the number will exceed 30,000!"

"Thirty thousand people means thirty thousand mouths!" Zhao Tai sighed, and then mused: "It's past the farming season. Even if we allocate land and seeds to them now, we still have to raise them until next year's harvest! This is too stressful.

Already."

Zhou Bin said in a deep voice: "How about I ask the Zhizhi envoy for a sum of grain to be used for disaster relief?"

Zhao Tai waved his hand and said, "I want the best I can get. But I guess the system commander won't be able to give much. I think the key is to let the hungry people save themselves!"

Zhou Bin asked: "It's past the farming season, how can we save ourselves?"

Zhao Tai looked at Wang Wentong and asked, "Mr. I said before that I sent people to look for minerals in the county. Did they find anything?"

Wang Wentong shook his head, "There are nearly a hundred hills and hills in Suining, but apart from stones, no mines have been found!"

After hearing this, Zhao Tai knew that he was not qualified to be a mine boss, so he asked again: "Then go to the Song Dynasty to investigate. Are there any goods that the Song Dynasty needs that we can produce here?"

Suining County's agriculture could not sustain so many troops, so Zhao Tai wanted to start some handicraft industry.

If we could produce some handmade goods and sell them to the Southern Song Dynasty, based on Zhao Tai's experience, we should be able to earn more food than farming.

In this way, he can make a fortune, and the hungry people can be resettled without land.

Unexpectedly, Wang Wentong shook his head again and said, "Reporting to my husband, the Song Dynasty needs a lot of goods, but we can't produce them here, or if we produce them, we can't compete with the merchants there! Like porcelain, cloth, tea, etc.

All the businessmen have gone through years of competition and accumulation, and it is difficult for us to get involved!"

Zhao Tai exhaled. He actually knew what Wang Wentong said.

He established some industries in Chuzhou, avoiding the original industries of the Song Dynasty and making certain innovations, otherwise it would be difficult to open up the situation.

Counting the Northern Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty has lived for almost three hundred years. By now, all walks of life in the Song Dynasty have developed to a saturated stage, and it is difficult for new people to get a share of the old industries.

Zhao Tai thought for a while, and it seemed that he still needed to innovate and create new demands.

Zhao Tai pondered for a while, thinking about something that could make money, be more acceptable to the people of the Song Dynasty, and could absorb a large amount of labor.

Zhao Tai thought for a moment and felt that sugar, soap, and Jiangxiang technology could all be considered!

At this time, Zhao Tai was thinking about where to start. Sun Li suddenly came to report: "Ms. sir, the generalissimo has arrived from Xuzhou!"

When Zhao Tai heard this, he could only stop his thoughts and asked, "What are Heda doing here?"

"My lord, it should be about Song Yuan and the reward!" Wang Wentong said casually.

Zhao Tai smiled when he heard this, "Where are they?"

"I just entered the city and am coming this way!" Sun Li said.

Zhao Tai frowned slightly, Heda was the marshal of the Jin army, and the soldiers guarding the gate did not dare to stop him, which was reasonable. However, Zhao Tai was still a little unhappy when he learned that the soldiers directly let Heda enter the city.

"Since Heda is here, you can come with me to greet him!" Zhao Tai stood up immediately.

Zhao Tai led everyone outside the mansion. Not long after, the sound of horse hoofbeats came from the street. Heda led more than ten horses and galloped to the yamen and stopped in front of the government office.

"Hahaha..." Zhao Tai laughed and stepped forward to salute, "Generalissimo is coming, why didn't you inform me in advance?"

Heda got off his horse, handed the whip to his subordinate, and walked up to Zhao Tai, "Haha~ I heard that Guorui is unwell, so I'm here to see you!"

As he spoke, he looked Zhao Tai up and down and said with a smile, "I think Guorui is in good health!"

When Zhao Tai returned to Suining from the Southern Song Dynasty, he should have gone to Xuzhou to report back to Heda about his trip to Shandong and the Battle of Huainan. However, Zhao Tai never went to Xuzhou because he was not feeling well.

Zhao Tai laughed, "The marshal doesn't know something. This expedition to Shandong is extremely dangerous. It's easy to hide from open guns and hidden arrows along the way. It's because I suffered from mental illness on the road. I've been in better condition recently."

Heda heard the implication of Zhao Tai's words and remembered the purpose of his coming here. He pulled Zhao Tai and patted the back of his hand, "Guorui! I have already blamed Pu Chaguan Nu for the Shandong incident. He withdrew on his own.

I left you in Shandong and I gave him a good scolding. However, the official slave told me that he sent a messenger long ago to inform you of the retreat. Didn't you meet the messenger?"

Zhao Tai looked at Heda, and the two looked at each other. Zhao Tai shook his head, "I didn't meet the messenger!"

"Oops!" Heda exclaimed, "The messenger must have been intercepted and killed by the Mongols!"

Zhao Tai watched Heda's performance and looked at his expectant eyes, so he cooperated and said: "I think I was intercepted and killed by the Mongols. I am a minister in the same court as an official slave, how could he harm me!"

Heda was overjoyed when he heard this, "Guorui, I'm very happy that you think so!"

Zhao Tai didn't want to get entangled with Heda on the Shandong matter. He had decided to pretend to be confused and not pursue the matter for the time being.

After all, now that Mongolian troops are approaching, even if he doesn't get along with Heda and Guannu, he can only make do with his life. They can't fight first if the Mongols don't come.

Zhao Tai smiled in response, "Marshal came here specifically to explain to the slaves?"
Chapter completed!