There was a bumper wheat harvest last year, but this year there is a persistent drought. God is really cruel and ruthless.
Except for Hanzhong, the drought in the entire Shaanxi Province, most of Shanxi Province, and less than half of Henan Province is relatively serious this year.
Fortunately, it was the early years of the dynasty and the government was more efficient.
There was no famine in these provinces, and there were even stocks in Changpingcang in these provinces, so the imperial court ordered grain to be transported from the south.
Cars and boats, countless rice and corn are transported northward.
Moreover, when transporting them into the warehouse, they deliberately knocked over a few bags. The ropes that tied the sacks happened to be loose, and the grains were scattered on the floor, and the gossip spread quickly.
Grain merchants who wanted to hoard their supplies had no choice but to give up when they saw this situation.
When Zhu Guoxiang lived in Wangchuan Valley, Shaanxi military reports were reported to the capital at high speed.
Zhang Guangdao did not dare to neglect, and directly asked to see the emperor with urgent military information without going through the political Yuan and cabinet.
"What happened?" Zhu Ming asked.
Zhang Guangdao handed over the military information document and said: "There is a severe drought in Xixia!"
Ju Ming smiled and said: "The drought in Shaanxi is so serious, and the drought in Xixia is normal."
When the eunuch forwarded the official document, Zhang Guangdao said: "There may be a famine in Xixia. The border generals in Yan, Qing, Lin, Fu and other places reported that hungry people in Xixia crossed the border to beg for food, and flocks of people crossed the mountains and ridges to beg for food in our country.
The grass roots and bark of the mountains along the way became food for the hungry people."
"Accept the placement!" Zhu Ming took the official document and opened it.
Zhang Guangdao said: "Li Yanxian has discussed with the Chief Secretary of Shaanxi Province and ordered the border civil and military officials to properly resettle the hungry people. Especially those with families and dependents, they should be provided with food immediately and settle down to divide the fields. The border population will soon be enriched."
The general officers of the various regions were changed two years ago to prevent problems in long-term security.
Li Yanxian is now in charge of Shaanxi's defense, and Wu Jie is in charge of the large area from Yan'an to Linfu - the Linfu area was later divided into Shanxi and Shaanxi, but in order to facilitate the defense of Xixia, the Ming Dynasty placed all of it under Shaanxi.
Zhang Guangdao added: "Xiao Heda, the governor of Xiazhou in Western Xia, sent people to sneak into the hungry people and send his youngest son to Mizhi Village. He also attached a secret letter, saying that only your majesty could open it and read it. All Shaanxi civil and military officials
Don’t dare to dismantle it.”
Ju Ming had already seen the secret letter, which was hidden among the Shaanxi military intelligence documents.
Xiao Heda was originally a general of the Liao Kingdom and escorted Yelu Nanxian to Xixia for marriage. This guy was ostracized by the Xixia military generals and was always protected by Li Qianshun, who used him to check and balance Brother Richard.
Li Qianshun appointed several generals to check and balance Brother Richard, but some of them had been secretly recruited by Brother Richard.
When the Ming Dynasty was just founded, Xiao Heda had already skipped half of the rebellions.
At that time, he ignored the orders of the Xixia court and took the initiative to retreat in order to preserve his strength. The monarchs and ministers of Xixia were afraid that he would betray him directly, so they never dared to do anything to him. As Brother Richard regained his strength, Li Qianshun even deliberately indulged this person.
However, there must be some precautions. Xiao Heda's sons were all recruited to serve as hostages in the capital of Xixia Kingdom.
Ju Ming opened the secret letter and read:
"His Majesty, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, is in good health. I, the Liao Kingdom, sent a general to his relatives, but now my mother country has been merged into the territory of the Ming Dynasty. The princess and her heirs died mysteriously, and I am living alone in Xixia and being ostracized..."
"The brave military commander in the left wing of Xixia has been controlled by Brother Richard's cronies. This person is on the side of my station, and he is always on my back. Last year, he found an excuse to stir up trouble and transferred one of my fierce generals..."
The content of this secret letter is roughly divided into four parts.
First, tell me how difficult your situation is. The military power has been eroded by Brother Richard, and if this continues for a few more years, he will almost become a mere commander.
Second, he expressed his willingness to seek refuge in the Ming Dynasty. His other sons were all serving as hostages in the capital. But in the past few years, he had an illegitimate son who had been raised to five years old and only a few close associates knew about it. Now he sent the illegitimate son to the Ming Dynasty.
Please take good care of Ju Ming.
Third, it revealed in detail the military situation of Xixia west of Hengshan, saying that he had lost control of Yinzhou. His army was blocked in Xiazhou by Richard Brother's cronies, and now it no longer borders the Ming Dynasty. In addition, Xixia's largest army
The Xiazhou Iron Smelting Field was also taken away by Brother Richard's cronies.
Fourth, it also elaborates on the internal affairs of the Xixia Kingdom.
Li Qianshun has been promoting Chineseization and "emphasis on culture over military affairs". To put it bluntly, he wants to centralize power.
Thirty years ago, Han official Xue Yuanli was appointed to establish a Chinese academy (similar to the Imperial College) in Xixia, and 300 children of the emperor and nobles were selected to teach Han culture.
Twenty years ago, the official appointment system was reformed. Those scholars who were good at sinology were given the same appointment treatment as those from noble families.
Li Qianshun also released information many times to test the idea of establishing an imperial examination system in Xixia. Because there were too many opponents from clansmen, nobles, and aristocratic families, the imperial examination had to be abandoned.
However, the number of officials who are promoted because they are good at sinology has become more and more. However, they are suppressed by the powerful, and they are stuck in middle and low-level positions and cannot be promoted. Only a few can be promoted to high positions.
The ruling class of Xixia is becoming increasingly divided.
Relatives, dignitaries, and aristocratic families could not stand the officials from humble families, and felt that they were threatened. They were also extremely dissatisfied with the leader of the country, Li Qianshun, especially those with military power, and they all turned to Brother Richard.
However, no matter how outstanding their political achievements are, most of the officials from poor families, except for a few lucky ones, have no hope of official career. They are full of resentment, some choose to be corrupt, some are embezzling wildly, and some are seeking refuge with noble clans.
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This led to the failure of Xixia's political orders. Many times, middle and low-level officials deliberately obeyed and disobeyed them.
In addition to drought, the Xixia famine also had human factors.
"Xixia is in a period of change!"
Ju Ming became increasingly aware of Li Qianshun's difficulties.
The leader of the Xixia Kingdom suffered from a lot of internal and external troubles and no longer dared to act rashly.
If he dares to impose the imperial examination system, or promote a few more officials from poor families to participate in politics, I am afraid that a large number of clans, nobles, and aristocratic families will support Brother Richard's rebellion!
However, it has been thirty years since the promotion of Sinology and twenty years since the promotion of Sinology officials. A large number of officials from poor families are stuck in middle and low-level positions and have become an emerging political force. It is impossible for Li Qianshun to change the old path.
If Xixia wants to quickly complete the transformation of centralized power, it must meet three prerequisites:
First, there are no external threats, such as the direct collapse of the Ming Dynasty.
Second, Brother Richard must die and the emperor takes the opportunity to take back military power.
Third, there was a rebellion by the military nobles, and the emperor successfully suppressed it by sending troops.
If these prerequisites cannot be met, we can only wait for time. Wait for those officials from poor families to continue to grow in power, control more power and resources in the country, and then overwhelm the military aristocracy with absolute superiority.
Xiao Heda said in the secret letter that if the Ming Dynasty sent troops to Xixia, many Xixia officials would be willing to join the Ming Dynasty.
Because they have no future in Xixia!
Ju Ming summoned officials from the Cabinet, General Council, and Privy Council and asked everyone to circulate this secret letter.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, Xixia is settled."
"In the country of Xixia, the monarchs and ministers are at odds with each other, and the superiors and subordinates are at odds with each other. As long as we win a few battles, there will be countless people who will surrender."
"..."
In the face of flattery, Ju Ming could still remain sober: "These middle and low-level civil servants in Xixia are of little help to the war. Their strength is too weak, how can they fight with the generals who lead the troops? But after seizing the territory, they will govern the northwest We can use them. The main one is Xiao Heda. Although his military power has been eroded, he still controls most of Xiazhou. With his cooperation in Xiazhou, Hengshan can be one of the main directions of attack."
"Order the Shaanxi Chief Secretary and the Capital Command Department to properly resettle the hungry Xixia people who cross the border to beg for food. After the hungry people are registered and divided into fields, they are immediately organized into Baojia. In this way, in two or three years, the Shaanxi border will be fully populated, and there will be enough civilians when sending troops. .”
"On the basis of the previous grain adjustment, the Ministry of Revenue has transferred another 300,000 shi of grain to Shaanxi and exempted this year's summer grain. No matter how serious this year's drought is, Shaanxi cannot starve to death, nor should the hungry people who cross the border in Xixia starve to death. .Only when the population is sufficient can we fight wars!"
"Starting from next year, I will slowly increase the grain reserves in various prefectures and counties in Shaanxi. Let the local officials fill up the Changping warehouse for me within three years. If there is a disaster next year or the year after, feel free to report it to the court. After verification by the censor, , the imperial court will continue to provide food relief."
"It will take three years to make Shaanxi rich in food and grass. Once the war starts, there will be no need to transport food from other provinces long distances, and Xixia will be wiped out in one go!"
After saying this, the ministers were very excited.
If the Sixteenth State of Youyun was the greatest pain for the former Song Dynasty monarchs and ministers, then damn Xixia was the second pain.
The war between the Northern Song Dynasty and Xixia was several times longer than the war against the Liao Kingdom.
The war continued from the early days of the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty, and the war continued until the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty. There were occasional peace talks and armistices, and the war started again after a few years, which cost the Northern Song Dynasty countless money, food and soldiers.
Now, Xixia is finally about to be destroyed!
Ju Ming asked: "How is the management of the Yellow River going?"
Qin Hui replied: "The first diversion has been carried out. However, there is a drought in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River this year, and the water volume is not very large. The effect of the diversion cannot be seen for the time being. If there are autumn floods and there is no danger, a second diversion can be carried out as appropriate. Follow-up investment
There is not much money and food, so the imperial court can safely use troops against Xixia."
"Very good." Zhu Ming nodded.
Zhu Ming was afraid that the officials appointed by Qin Hui would make mistakes, so the Yellow River project was always in charge of the son of the cabinet minister Zhao Quan.
However, Qin Hui was the minister of the Ministry of Industry after all, and he sent several of his confidants to assist Zhao Fengji in regulating the Yellow River.
The imperial meeting ended and the ministers went to arrange their work.
There was a severe drought in Shaanxi this year, and the imperial court transported grain on a large scale, which would not arouse the suspicion of the Xixia monarchs and ministers.
Next year and the year after, we can continue to transport grain and store it, or we can use the excuse of food shortage.
When Shaanxi's grain and grass reserves are sufficient, when the victims who escaped from Xixia settle down, and there is no shortage of population and food, they can find an excuse to suddenly send troops.
The reason for the war is ready. Xixia secretly colluded with Xiliao and has betrayed the suzerain!
What, you didn't betray?
Well, the Ming Dynasty is about to go on an expedition to the Western Liao Dynasty, and you, Xixia, will immediately send troops and people to help. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty’s army needs to borrow a passage from the Hexi Corridor.
Even if Li Qianshun was given ten courages, he would not dare to let the Ming army enter the Hexi Corridor.
If you don't want to take advantage of others, you will be accused of betrayal.
After thinking about it carefully, Zhu Ming wrote another letter to Li Yanxian, asking him to send Xiao Heda's illegitimate son to Wangchuan Valley to study and serve as a hostage.
At this time, the Ming Dynasty envoy fleet returned home smoothly.
Also accompanying us were envoys from dozens of countries, large and small.