Shao Shude just went to Weizhou, Minzhou, and Hezhou for inspection, and received good news when he came back.
He felt slightly relieved.
With this good news, the situation in the country became more stable. More than ten years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the three kingdoms of Khitan, Bohai, and Changhe were destroyed, and their prestige was shocked in the north and south. It continued to strengthen the foundation of the new dynasty of Great Xia and enhance its legitimacy.
Shao Duanfeng, Prince of the Protectorate, and his wife have been in Qinzhou for many days.
After getting married in April, I stayed in Beijing for a few months. I was about to leave for Hushengzhou, but I was called back to Qinzhou to accompany my mother in the last moments of her life.
The officials of the Imperial Medical Office were helpless and couldn't even give an explanation. Why was it that Concubine Zhao was in poor health before but was barely able to maintain her health, and then her health deteriorated rapidly a few months after arriving in Qinzhou?
In the end, someone cited the example of Yang Xingmi. He was said to be about to die, but his son who was far away in Xuanzhou had not yet returned to Guangling. The official document calling Yang Xing back was withheld.
"It wasn't until the son came back to explain his funeral arrangements that he passed away soon after.
Shao Shude didn't blame them. Life and death were fateful, and it was normal.
In the past few days, his attitude towards his eighth son has also improved a lot. He used to be very strict.
Hachiro was also a little flattered, so much so that it felt a little unreal.
"After being in Beijing for a few months, don't let the Protectorate State fall behind. Those who should be taken care of should still be taken care of." Under the grape trellis in the small courtyard, Shao Shude warned: "Chuck is capable, but you can't just ignore it.
."
"I know." Shao Duanfeng bowed his head in response.
"Tell me how the Protectorate State is doing now? I haven't been there for several years." Shao Shude poured a glass of wine for his son and asked.
Shao Duanfeng stood up and took it with both hands. After thinking about his words, he said: "Your Majesty's order to build a city on the grassland is really a decisive factor in winning or losing. The more prosperous the city develops, the more stable the grassland will be."
Building cities on the grassland was certainly not Shao Shude's initiative. Moreover, most of the cities in the Seven Sacred States were built by the Khitans. After Daxia occupied this place, they at most repaired and expanded it to make it more spacious, more reasonable, and more
Just stronger and more comfortable.
But then again, most of the previous grassland governments only built cities in places like royal courts and government offices, and the level was still very low, and the living conditions were not much better than tents.
Daxia built a city on the grassland, which was completely a rammed earth city wall built according to the Central Plains standard. It had complete facilities, solid defense, and comfortable living. It was two dimensions from the city of the grassland people.
"Tell me why." Shao Shude encouraged.
"Let me give you a few examples." Shao Duanfeng said: "In May of last year, I was patrolling outside the city and met a shepherd selling sheep, so I asked him a few questions. The shepherd mentioned that the nobles in the city have bad tastes.
, likes to eat lamb, and my family happened to have just given birth to one, so I took it to the city and sold it at a high price, and with the money I got, I bought some needles and thread, pots and pans, and clothes and shoes."
Shao Shude nodded and asked, "Is that all?"
"Also." Shao Duanfeng said: "In August, a businessman came from Beidu. He caught geese by the river and chatted for a while. This businessman came to collect tendons, skin and horns. He said that they usually
In August and September, the herdsmen will bring the goods they have stored for several months here in advance, pay with one hand, and deliver the goods with the other hand. After selling the goods, the shepherds will buy millet and wheat to take home. The pasture is not abundant, and the cattle and sheep
When they were short of food, they relied on these grains to survive."
"If they didn't have this food, they would probably take risks and go out to plunder." Shao Duanfeng added.
Shao Shude was somewhat satisfied, as Balang's observation ability was still very strong.
"The benefits of the city don't stop there." Shao Duanfeng continued: "The city allows people to see doctors, study, and play. If the city is well built, merchants will be willing to travel more, and business will be more prosperous."
Shao Shude was originally sitting there upright, but after listening for a long time, he leaned comfortably on the back of the bed and drank wine comfortably.
Indeed, as Hachiro said, the core of Daxia's control over the grasslands of the Seven Saint Prefectures lies in the city.
Each state has a county-sized earth city, mostly located on the riverside. Some farmland is opened up in the city to grow corn, wheat, fruits and vegetables.
Shao Shude called it the "infrastructure" on the grassland, an indispensable existence. Because the craftsmen living in the city can provide all kinds of handmade products needed by the herdsmen, they have greatly improved their living standards.
The existence of a city also makes it easier to attract businessmen, because it is a natural market and an agreed-upon trading place.
Cities can also provide various consumption venues, such as teahouses, wine shops, brothels, etc.
The gap between rich and poor among grassland people is huge. But poor people also have poor people's consumption needs. For example, investing one penny or two penny to buy a bowl of crude tea. Even if the tea is too watery, it can still make people feel extremely excited.
Great satisfaction.
The rich have more ways to play. Even besides eating, drinking and having fun, they will also invest in other aspects——
There is a gentleman in the city who teaches reading and writing, and wealthy households with many cattle and sheep can send their children there, and in the future they may be able to work as minor officials in the county, state, or even the prince's palace.
If you have a little more imagination, officials in the royal palace can also be promoted to become officials in the capital. There was this tradition in the pre-Tang Dynasty. There were countless officials from the shogunate who made military governors in various towns recruited by the imperial court.
"What are your thoughts on Protecting the Holy State in the future?" Shao Shude asked again.
"That will be it in the short term." Shao Duanfeng said: "If you are willing, sir, give me some officials from Sinong Temple and arrange positions for them to sort out the agricultural and livestock affairs in the whole state. I am afraid this process will take a long time.
It will take ten years. After ten years, I want to build a second city and build a second county."
"You are my son, what is there to be reluctant to part with?" Shao Shude smiled and said: "I can give it to you. But you must also train more local talents in Hushengzhou. Didn't the Song family recommend many people to you?
? Wang Fu Zhang Ce also called friends and brought many families there. There must be talents here. We must be good at discovering and appointing talents. If we do well, we can become officials in the mainland. "
"Yes." Shao Duanfeng said.
"Why do you suddenly want to build a second city?" Shao Shude is more concerned about this issue. This is actually what he hopes to see.
"I feel that the city that appeared across the grassland has changed the living habits of many herdsmen. If you are far away from the city, life will be inconvenient and life will be much harder." Shao Duanfeng said: "It seems that there is an invisible kind of
The traction force makes the herdsmen who live for water and grass unconsciously move closer to the city, which is of great use."
In fact, Wang Fu Zhang Ce had reservations about building a second city. He believed that the more cities in the Protectorate State and the more prosperous the household registration, the easier it would be to attract the attention of the court. When you have spent a lot of effort to develop the local area,
, the imperial court suddenly requires the abolition of feudal vassals and the establishment of counties. What should you do?
You must know that Husheng Prefecture is still a subordinate state of Liaodong Road. The promotion of Jisi Prefecture to Zhengzhou is not without precedent.
But Shao Duanfeng felt that this was unfounded worry. With two or three counties standing tall in protecting the Holy Prefecture, could the imperial court take notice of it?
"Okay, okay." Shao Shude smiled happily.
Originally, he was a little worried that Balang wouldn't be able to stand the "hard" life on the grassland, but now it seems that he was overly worried. He is still interested in going out to the city to play and hunt, and he has the ambition to build a second county in Husheng Prefecture. All this shows that
He plans to take root there.
"Please spend more time with your mother." Shao Shude said, "She - she's only a few days away."
****
On September 13th, the thirteenth prince Shao Jizhi came to Qinzhou according to the imperial edict.
Shao Shude met his son under the same grape trellis. Zhang Hui also came and made tea for the father and son.
"Have you heard about what happened in Yunnan?" he asked.
"Grandpa, the news has spread to Chang'an, and the whole city is in shock." Shao Jizhi said excitedly: "The elders all said that there has not been such exciting news in many years."
"Some people also say that in the early years of the former Tang Dynasty, they also destroyed Gaochang and other countries. They also destroyed the country at the beginning of the Great Xia Dynasty. This was another glorious dynasty."
"There are merchants who are gearing up, saying that they are going to do business with the Southern Barbarians and bring the rare and precious treasures from the Southern Barbarians to Daxia to sell them."
"Oh, by the way, many people wrote poems praising the great achievements of the imperial court."
Shao Jizhi is only twelve years old this year, and he looks like a hot-blooded young man. His words are clear and logical, which makes him proud.
Zhang Hui looked at it with a smile.
Her life was quite legendary. Now that she is dying, she has no other thoughts but to see her children safe and prosperous.
"I'm interested." Shao Shude smiled and said, "What do you think about the Yunnan matter?"
"Yunnan is newly acquired, but the people's support has not yet recovered, and it still needs its own people to guard it," Shao Jizhi said.
Shao Shude glanced at him and smiled without saying a word.
When Shao Jizhi saw that his father didn't answer, he added: "I heard that there are many thieves in Shanchan Mansion. Now they surrender. They are forced by the situation and have not surrendered in their hearts. They still need to..."
"Who did you listen to?" Shao Shude asked.
Shao Jizhi opened his mouth and felt something was wrong, so he could only say: "Many...many people say that."
Zhang Hui got up and gave the father and son some more tea.
Shao Shu took her hand and sat down. He stared at his son for a long time, until his heart went crazy, and then he said: "I have sent a decree to establish Dali Prefecture, Yaozhou, Kunzhou and Tengzhou."
"Where is Tengzhou?" Shao Jizhi asked.
Dali Prefecture should be Nanzhao and Xijing of Changhe.
If nothing unexpected happens in Kunzhou, it should be Shanchanfu in Tokyo, which means "Kunchuan".
Yaozhou is probably Nongdong Town, the hometown of Yaozhou in the Tang Dynasty. Only Tengzhou is unknown where it is located.
"It's Yongchang Town in Nanzhao." Shao Shude said.
"I know." Shao Jizhi said in a low voice.
"Are you still willing to go to Yunnan?" Shao Shude asked.
Shao Jizhi lowered his head and said nothing.
"Hmph! You are picky and picky." Shao Shude's face fell and he said: "Dali, Kunzhou, if I were to leave a place like this, wouldn't I be stabbed in the bone? Is it fair to say that the country's fertile soil is only given to the descendants of the Shao family?"
"
"My grandpa taught me a lesson," Shao Jizhi said, lowering his head.
"I'd like to ask you now, if you were asked to go to Yunnan, would you be willing?" Shao Shude asked.
"Your Majesty!" Zhang Hui looked at him pitifully.
"Don't talk too much." Shao Shude looked at his son and asked, "Are you willing?"
"I wish... I wish." Shao Jizhi said.
"I hope you are really willing." Looking at his son's pitiful look and Zhang Hui's worried look, Shao Shude sighed and said, "Let's study in Beijing first, and then join the vassalage in a few years."
"Your Majesty..." Han Quanjie called softly outside the courtyard gate.
"What's the matter?" Shao Shude asked.
"Concubine Zhao took a nap in the afternoon, but she couldn't sleep anymore. She already..." Han Quanhui said softly.
Shao Shude sat on the bed and remained silent for a long time.
He suddenly remembered a small incident when he was in Suizhou.
Because she was going to Xiazhou to see Zhuge Shuang, Zhao Yu arranged his robes, selected gifts, and gave him various instructions, just like a good wife.
During that whole year, when he woke up every morning, he subconsciously touched his side to see if Zhao Yuren was there.
Today, thirty-three years later, Yu Niang is gone.
"The decree was passed to posthumously present the queen with the posthumous title 'Ming Xian' in Taichang Temple." Shao Shude raised his head and said.
Those who observe beauty and love are called "Ming", those who are wise and wise are called "Xian", these are beautiful posthumous titles.
"According to the decree." Han Quanjie responded.
The posthumous title was decided by Dr. Taichang and then submitted to the Ministry of Rites. If the Ministry of Rites was dissatisfied, it would ask for it to be sent back and re-determined.
In the early years of the former Tang Dynasty, Gaozong had a long secret war with the Ministry of Rites because of the issue of Xu Jingzong's posthumous title.
If we go through the normal process this time, either Taichang Temple or the Ministry of Rites, for various reasons, will probably only give a posthumous title. Now that the saint has decided directly, he has obviously thought about it for a long time, and Taichang Temple should just hold its nose.
