Zhao Ding said: "Since the officials have already said that this is a protracted war, the most important thing is of course the people's support. The one who wins the people's support will win the world."

The rest clearly agreed.

Zhao Ning added: "Xiangong Zhao is right, he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world."

"It is not difficult to say this. Throughout the ages, most kings have known this truth."

"Even if I asked Shao Zeqing what is most important in governing the world, he would answer me that the people's support is the most important."

After the emperor spoke, everyone fell silent.

People's hearts and minds are indeed important, but why is it that everyone knows that people's hearts and minds are most important, yet they are still corrupt and preying on the people?

Zhao Ning continued to refine the question, saying: "Why does Shao Zeqing know that people's hearts are important, but still prey on the people?"

"Because in his mind, people's hearts and minds are just high-sounding words used to deceive the people."

"How many officials in the country think so?"

"Like Shao Zeqing, they use the power in their hands to seek personal gain. They even know that the country will be in danger in the long run, but who will really care about the country and the people?"

Zhao Guanjia's words made everyone present even more silent.

All of you present are good ministers of the country who care about your family and country.

Just take Zongze, when he was taking the exam, others wrote articles praising the false peace to please the examiners, but he denounced bad government and stated the good medicine.

How many people can do this without caring about their personal future?

There is also Li Gang. When the Jin army besieged the city, Zhao Ji wanted to flee south. Li Gang bluntly said that if the emperor fled south, people's hearts would collapse. If you want to flee south, you can give up the throne and escape by yourself.

In that case, many ministers had already fled the capital privately. How many people like Li Gang were as stubborn as the emperor, who stood up to take charge of the overall situation at critical moments and protected the people of the city?

Zhao Ding, for example, was historically the leader of the four ministers in the Southern Song Dynasty. It can be said that Yue Fei's Northern Expedition in the later period and the political stability of the Southern Song Dynasty were inseparable from Zhao Ding, a minister who governed the country.

But how many are like them?

More people enter the officialdom just for their personal future.

The so-called "chicken and dog" ascending to heaven when a person attains enlightenment was the most common practice in the Song Dynasty.

Countless people are trying hard to get into officialdom, not to rule the country and bring peace to the world, but to enjoy glory and enrich their families.

Popular support?

To them, public sentiment is nothing more than a slogan to deceive ordinary people.

Zhao Ning continued: "I heard that in the snowy mountains in the north, snow avalanches will occur at specific periods."

"That's when the snowflakes fall to a certain extent and cannot bear the weight of the snow, and an avalanche occurs."

"Before the avalanche, every snowflake falling from the sky thought that it was just a small snowflake and would not cause any impact if it fell."

Zhao Ning's metaphor immediately made them understand what Zhao Guanjia really meant.

Many officials believe that they only take a small amount for themselves and will not have any impact on the huge country.

Several people were thoughtful, Zhao Ning sighed and said: "When there is an avalanche, no snowflake is innocent."

This time, there was a relatively long silence.

Both the monarch and his ministers seemed to be thinking about this issue.

Li Gang first broke the silence and said: "In an official family, I believe that virtue is the most important. If you choose virtuous officials and make them love the people, you will win the hearts of the people. If the people's hearts are in the court, they can be used by the court to accumulate military supplies and troops.

Fight against the golden thief."

"What Li Qing said is certainly reasonable, but there are hundreds of thousands of officials and officials in the country. Since ancient times, choosing virtuous people has been more difficult than reaching heaven, and virtuous people may not necessarily be talented."

The battle between virtue and talent has also been a problem for thousands of years.

Zhao Ding said: "Officials and ministers believe that in governing the country, everyone cannot be virtuous, and everyone has selfish motives. This has been true since ancient times. However, the current situation is that the officials of the country have been neglected for a long time, and there are many bad policies, so that those who serve the country cannot occupy their positions.

, those who are greedy and careless should be warned!"

He then said: "First of all, we should rectify the officials."

But Zongze said: "The root cause of the country is bad governance. If the bad governance is not eliminated and the official governance is not evident, the national treasury will be empty, the military and government will be decadent, and there will be sluggish people wandering around. How can we fight against the gold thieves?"

"I believe that the bad government of the country should be eliminated. There are four bad policies: taxation, commercial law, redundant officials, and redundant soldiers."

"Reduce taxes and furlough the people, establish commercial laws to regulate the four directions, reduce redundant officials to reduce expenditures, and redundant troops to suppress the military and political affairs. If these four are accomplished, the country will be rich and the army strong."

Zhao Ding could not help but admire and said: "The Zongxiang is an unparalleled scholar. He can command thousands of troops on horseback. When he enters the court, he can assist the emperor in governing the country."

"Someone's heartfelt words made me laugh."

Zhao Ning said: "Zong Qing's words are reasonable. After your words, I feel much more at ease."

If Zhao Guanjia's words were to be translated, the general meaning would be: Since everyone agrees to get rid of the bad government, then I will pile the heads as high as a mountain, so I have nothing to worry about.

With the strong support of these people, the border defense can be stabilized and it will not collapse.

If we cultivate backbone forces like Yue Fei and Han Shizhong, there will be no risk of collapse if we use the knife across the country in the future.

Next, Zhao Ning carefully read Zongze's and Li Gang's "Hebei and Hedong Defense Strategies" one by one.

The main contents of Zongze are as follows:

First, with Damingfu as the center, establish a military defense line with a depth of 500 miles from north to south.

This military defense line includes Longde Prefecture, Cizhou Prefecture, Daming Prefecture, and three military towns from west to east.

Damingfu is located on the bank of the Yellow River, with developed water transportation and a large population, making it the most important of the three towns.

Second, use Jincheng to the south of Longde Mansion as the logistics area of ​​Longde Mansion to supply Longde Mansion. Between the two sides, 40 walled cities with a depth of 500 miles from north to south will be established.

Third, use Xiangzhou as the logistics area of ​​Cizhou and build 50 walled cities with a depth of 500 miles from north to south.

Fourth, from Daming Prefecture to the north, build a defense line hundreds of miles long between Qinghe and Dezhou to defend the Yellow River.

Fifth, including the permanent residents of each city, it involves a total population of nearly 8 million.

Sixth, the total investment cost of the first batch is 10 million yuan.

Li Gang’s content is as follows:

1. Cangzhou and Yongjing Junzhou served as the defense line and 50 walled cities were renovated in order to recapture Hejian Prefecture.

Second, take Shenzhou as the front line, constraining Zhending and Hejian.

Third, it involves a total population of about 5 million people.

Fourth, the first batch of total investment costs is 10 million yuan.

The details also include the location of each city wall, how many soldiers and civilians need to be mobilized, local corvee labor, food reserves, how much it will cost, and how long it will take to complete the project.

These two strategies are not without details. I am afraid they have not stopped in the capital for more than ten days.

The most important point is also mentioned. In the past, the Song Dynasty was severely overstaffed and overstaffed. After the establishment of military towns, military discipline and troop levels must be improved.

Zhang Shuye, who had been silent for the whole time, said: "The officials, please take a look at the new army's policies."

After Zhao Ning finished reading, he started to read what Zhang Shuye submitted.

This document was written by him and Zongze together, covering the establishment, designation, troop quota, military pay, logistics, and promotion mechanism of the new army.

No matter how big or small it is, it’s all here.

In this way, Zhao Ning finally felt a little more at ease.

Once you have a specific strategy, it’s time to implement it.

Zhao Ning said: "It is my good fortune and the country's good fortune that I have all your ministers. You don't have to worry about military expenses. I will continue to provide you with support."

Everyone stood up and said: "The officials are wise and the ministers will do their best."
Chapter completed!