Chapter 1,303 Beyond the Military

Today's Song people are considered the cleanest race in the world, but they are not able to bathe every day like later generations. Su You's habit brought over by later generations can now only be regarded as "elegant addiction".

However, the reputation of Nuanguquan is not for nothing. Fan Chunren felt that the coldness in his old bones was driven out of his body by the warm spring water. It was really comfortable to do this in the winter.

Looking around at the green grass and trees around the hot spring, he said, "This place is uniquely blessed by nature. It's like a cave like no other."

Su You pulled the wooden platform floating on the water over. On it were a cold stew platter, canned Nanhai fruits, and an ice bucket with a bottle of wine in it.

He took out the wine and poured it into three porcelain cups. Su You handed the porcelain cups to Fan Chunren and Fan Chunren respectively: "Today is not only to receive the wind and cleanse the dust for Mr. Fan, but also to see off the fourth brother Fan. Mr. Fan came to take this gift.

By removing the heavy burden, Su You can concentrate on military affairs, and the responsibilities on his shoulders will be relieved by half."

Fan Chunren took the cup and said: "Throughout the ages, how many people have not been obsessed with power? Scholars and the public alike have praised Mingrun's moral integrity. You have set an excellent example for future generations."

Su You and Fan Chunren talked about each other: "Wen Zhenggong is my role model. In fact, our government used civil society to control military affairs and avoided the disaster of vassal towns. From an institutional point of view, there is nothing wrong in itself."

"To say that restraining military officials is the absolute cause of the army's lack of combat effectiveness, I don't quite agree with this point."

"On the contrary, the sergeants became the domestic slaves of the generals, the redundant army became a heavy burden on the country, a large amount of grain distributed to the empty quota was misappropriated by the superiors and the inferiors, and the emergence of a large number of horizontal officials and oblique titles was exactly the state's treatment of the military ministers.

The restraint is ineffective and the law cannot be enforced!"

"And the suppression of military ministers by civilian officials is too simple and crude. They have to rely on and take precautions, but when they rely on them, they do not follow principles, and when they take precautions, they ignore the laws. I don't agree with this."

"The army is the country's army, and no army may become a private army. This is the fundamental principle of the existence of the army. There is no room for bargaining on this point."

"But similarly, if a country wants to make the military its own, it must assume the obligation to train the military."

"Therefore, the military and government must be separated as much as possible. The generals, commanders, and ministers are only responsible for ensuring that the army has combat effectiveness, and are only responsible for the formulation and execution of combat plans. Their salaries and military supplies should be borne by the government."

"I think the current shackles the country imposes on military personnel are too harsh. In fact, cutting off their financial power, providing them with ways to be promoted, giving them the ability to train, and focusing on their war and defense responsibilities is enough to change the status quo."

"In the past, it was difficult to transmit information. The country had to select generals to defend the territory. And because the transmission was not timely and the resources were not prepared, it could only be given full authority to the commanders and ministers."

"This is not a normal state. I call this kind of government a military government and this kind of country a military state."

"The way of military affairs is suitable for using the small to expand the big, but not suitable for using the big to control the small. This is not only the reason why the Qin State was able to rise in the western border and sweep across the six countries, but it is also the reason why its foundation is not solid and it fell after two generations."

"His Majesty Yuanfeng's restructuring is actually a kind of de-militarization. It removes those things from our Song Dynasty state system that originated from the small political power of the warlords of the Later Zhou Dynasty and are not suitable for the system of a big country."

"War is a national event, a matter of survival; officialdom is a matter of national importance and cannot be ignored. Although Su You is far away in Western Xinjiang, how can he not dare not set an example?"

After speaking, he raised his glass and saluted eastward: "What Su You is most grateful for is His Majesty's trust in me. I don't think Su You's suggestion is hypocritical, nor do I think it's a failure to reward high merits.

Worry."

"And I also believe that with the development of history to this day, the Song Dynasty has been able to put aside those backward and crude administrative management methods, and can formulate perfect systems and laws to manage officials, the army and the people well."

"This is the magnanimity and style of a king of a big country. It is also a big country on the road to growth. It has the magnanimity and responsibility it deserves. It is a great honor for Su You to be able to play his part in this."

Fan Chunchun also raised his wine glass: "To my Emperor Song."

The three of them drank the wine together and couldn't help laughing. The awkward atmosphere before had disappeared.

Su You said: "It's because of Brother Deru's hard work that I realized that after finishing Shaanxi, I had to rush to Dingzhou again."

Fan Chunchun didn't take it seriously: "This body has been promised to the country for a long time, and it is the meaning of the title."

Fan Chunren also smiled and said: "Being able to take a dip in this warm spring, drink this little wine, and have a chat with close friends during your hard work is a big advantage."

Su You said: "Brother Deru has any unfinished plans or suggestions for Shaanxi. You can tell me. I know you have always had your own thoughts about Western affairs."

Fan Chunchun poured wine for his brother, and added to Su You: "It's true."

Su You quickly said: "Please speak."

Fan Chunchun said: "The current situation in Western affairs has been better than my best expectations. All the lands in the north of Shanxi are in my hands, and the stubborn enemy has been lingering for decades."

"The merits of Mingrun can be described as great."

"But among the generals, Wang Zhongzheng is greedy, Zhong is arrogant and ruthless, Liu Changzuo is sparse and broad, Gao Zunyu is narrow-minded, and Li Xian is rough and arrogant."

"Liu Changzuo's rash move into Yanzhou is a dangerous signal. It means that Mingrun has the ability to check and balance them. Otherwise, if anyone else is in charge, he may end up overthrowing the army and causing chaos."

"Now the rift between Chang Zuo and Lieutenant Gao is getting deeper and deeper. The difficulty has been resolved. If the armies do not cooperate, another change may occur."

Su You nodded: "This problem will be solved in the near future."

Fan Chunchuan said again: "The army went out of the border, and Guan Shaanxi's affairs were exhausted. Mingrun had already taken measures, built Xingluo warehouse, and divided the road warehouse, and added the private reserves of Sitong in Longshou County, but an emergency still occurred.

Adjusting fortunes caused a great disturbance of 300,000 people in Shaanxi."

"It's the same thing again. It's because Mingrun has the ability to coordinate the government and private affairs, and the people he recommended before, such as Bi Zhongyou, Shen Kuo, Zhao Ji, and Shi Yong, are loyal and hardworking, that such a difficult and important matter can be handled.

"

"However, it is not a good strategy to keep a large army away for a long time. Now that the spirit has not yet come down and the thieves are still rampant, it is like putting out half a fire. If it is not extinguished, it will eventually burn again."

Su You also nodded: "Well, Brother Deru, don't worry. Next, the troops will be divided into various areas and the areas will be replenished. Only the most elite and strongest troops will be left on the front line."

"Now the transportation of grain and fodder is no longer a problem. The transportation is also completed by the recruited Tibetan tribes. At the same time, it is regarded as a work-for-relief. With the confiscation of several false imperial warehouses, we already have three months of savings."

"With Duke Fan, Duke Zeng, and Princess Zhao serving on Shanbei Third Road, I believe it will soon be able to nourish itself. The troubles of inland transshipment will soon be reduced."

Fan Chunchun nodded: "That's very good. Recently, Jingdong's transshipment envoys have presented engravings. His Majesty ordered the court to discuss using Xuzhou's big money of 200,000 yuan to help Shaanxi."

"This is all the blood of the people, how can it be used as a shortcut to promote local officials? When Mingrun was appointed to the court, all roads were not allowed to increase taxes without authorization in the name of supplying the West Road. Otherwise, it would be advantageous for the road to get money, but

From Xuzhou to the border, the labor cost was three times as much as it cost, and the local officials extorted the people, fearing it would be even more than that!"

Su You became serious: "Xingluo warehouse and Yuanfeng warehouse have been set up for the use of the five-pronged army. Now there is no shortage. The six-pronged transport department has never asked the imperial court for transfers from each route."

"The Jingdong Road transfer envoy is Wu Juhou, right? I know him. He is good at managing money and he rose through the ranks very quickly."

"In the past two years, Jingdong Road has levied millions in silver. Officials in Laiwu and Liguo minted large sums of money, earning an income of one hundred thousand yuan a year. They also used the profits from salt and iron taxes to purchase silk products, and then used the income to finance the exchange of horses in Hedong.

Herding involves recruiting herdsmen to herd horses, and then settling homeless people."

Fan Chunchun said: "Yes, that's him. Now he claims to allocate a huge amount of 200,000 yuan to support the army at the border of Shaanxi Province. His Majesty praised him for 'going beyond his duties and caring for other people, and he cannot do it unless he has more than enough talent'."

"

Su You sneered and said: "I don't dare to ask for this money. If I do, I'm afraid that he will be involved one day! Thanks to Brother Deru for reminding me, otherwise this Western Expedition will become an excuse for the cruel officials to prey on the common people!"

The three of them are all experienced people, and their vision is never limited to one moment or one thing.

They are concerned about the overall situation of the court, and there are many other things besides military affairs.
Chapter completed!