The sixth year of Zhiping was the first year when the Song Dynasty came out of chaos. The previous year was caused by the issue of alternating prime ministers.

Several veteran officials left sadly, and some late-born juniors were very popular, and the changes were so fast that they were dazzling.

In the sixth year of Zhiping, the dynasty of the Song Dynasty finally stabilized.

The major officials have found their own position and have learned to communicate effectively around the new policy. One of the most obvious benefits is that the chaotic battles have been significantly reduced. In major government affairs, everyone can work together to advance quickly.

Another important benefit is that the deficits over the years have been compensated.

Of course, the means to make up for the deficit are not very glorious.

On the surface, the Han family was searched, many merchants involved in speculation were tracked down, and huge sums of money were obtained. The property of the Khitan tribes they embezzled for granted, naturally turned into the spoils of the Song Dynasty, and they would never give the Khitan tribes a copper coin!

In secret, Wang Ning'an knocked on Mr. Wen to Mr. Wen for a sum of money.

With these, I filled a few holes.

Now the court is full of people taught by Wang Ning'an, so it is impossible to expect them to pay the debt honestly.

After these people gathered together to discuss the interest rate, they overwhelmed the interest rate by five percent... and then issued new debts to repay old debts. Because there is a interest rate gap between the new and old debts, this trick can save 20 million interest.

With the surplus of finance, they can finally issue debts again.

This time, 150 million railway bonds were issued in one go, and finally, the long-awaited railway construction began.

Su Song was full of enthusiasm and he planned the entire railway line in an all-round way.

First of all, the first railway extends from Jingzhao Prefecture to Liangzhou, passes through the Hexi Corridor, and goes all the way to the Western Regions... This is a very difficult section, but it is also the least controversial section.

Since the Han Dynasty established the Western Regions Protectorate, this land has been under the control of the Central Plains dynasty. After hundreds of years, it has lost the Western Regions due to the warlords fighting in the late Tang Dynasty and the decline of national strength... More than a hundred years of tearing and splitting, the wounds are still there, with blood stains!

No one can afford to lose the price of the Western Regions again.

In any case, even if you sell the money, you must build this road!

In addition, the officials and civilians of Bashu jointly wrote a letter requesting that the Sichuan-Shaanxi Road be built into a railway... The Shu Road is difficult to move, and the Shu area is rich... so many local products cannot be transported out, and I don’t know how many people have been worried.

A few years ago, straight roads were built, which made everyone see hope, but no matter how good the straight roads were, they could not compare to railways. One cart could transport hundreds of carts.

Moreover, they do not use forage, and the speed is fast, and they are not stopped day and night. A driver, plus two shoveling coal, is worth hundreds of drivers... Many Bashu children who went to Beijing to study, screamed and shouted that they must get the train. In order to achieve their goal, they even went to the Su family father and son, wrote a blood letter, and asked them to help clear the situation.

Under the strong demands of the people of Bashu, the railway from Jingzhao Prefecture to Yizhou was also included in the agenda.

This is a very difficult road. Su Song has practiced the straight road and knows it in his mind that he will never be able to achieve it without ten years of hard work, but he has no hesitation.

One road can closely link Bashu and the Central Plains, and even radiate the entire southwest... What Su Song really hopes is to build the railway all the way to Dali so that Dali's copper mine can be transported directly to the capital.

Perhaps at that time, there is no need to move troops at all, and Dali will automatically be included in the Central Plains territory.

...

"The size of the territory that can be controlled in previous dynasties depends on communications and transportation... Usually, the country's territory is at most a radius of a horse running for one month. Because within this distance, if there is chaos, the dispatch of troops from various places can usually be sent in three to six months... If this distance exceeds this distance, there will be a situation where it will be impossible to send troops for a year, and everything will be late... And the further the distance, the greater the transportation consumption. Seventy-five% of military supplies, food, grass, personnel and horses are consumed on the road. It takes harder to capture a barren land, which is not worth the loss. This is why the Central Plains dynasties in the past dynasties tend to be conservative after the world is stable. When dealing with the four barbarians, they also like to use gentle means to convince people with the kingly way. Sometimes it seems to be a loss, but it is due to great wisdom."

"This is a very simple arithmetic. They sent 1,000 guan of local products and gave 30,000 guans back, which made the barbarians happy. The Central Plains may have spent millions of military expenses less, tens of thousands of people less, or even hundreds of thousands of people... This business will not be compensated no matter how you look at it."

Wang Ning'an said with a smile. There were dozens of people sitting in front of him, including the governor Cai Jing, Liang Shicheng, Tong Guan, Gao Qiu and others, all of whom were focused on listening to Wang Ning'an's lectures.

Speaking of which, Wang Ning'an is not as relaxed as it seems.

He founded the New Policy Society and naturally wanted to develop members. He had a large group of senior officials in Beijing and had enough talent to support him locally.

He would take over the Pingzhang incident in Liaodong Province, just to cultivate subsequent talents.

Not long ago, he ordered Zhang Yun and Chen Xiliang to recommend some honest and upright officials with ability to do things... These two people followed suit, and they recommended Tong Guan, Gao Qiu and Liang Shicheng!

What I want is an honest official, not a treacherous minister!

Wang Ning'an even suspected that Zhang Yun was fooling him, but after careful investigation, it was really different from what he imagined.

Take Gaoqiu for example. He used to be a driver in the transportation team, but later because of his intelligence and learning skills, he became a minor official in charge of the tractor team.

Last year, he took the rest of the tractor drivers to open up 300,000 acres of arable land on both sides of the Wuding River.

Because of his outstanding political achievements, he was recommended as a county lieutenant. After serving as a county lieutenant, he spent another three months on field investigations and proposed a plan to manage Wuding River. He suggested that 300 miles of river embankment could obtain one million mu of fertile land, which was enough to support the grain needed by the 30,000 army. He proposed that not only farming, but also develop animal husbandry and fishery, and turn the Shuozhou area into a blessed land in Jiangnan at the foot of the Great Wall!

Gaoqiu's plan was so beautiful that he not only had plans, but also implemented it, and did a great job.

It is precisely because of this that he was recommended and became the first batch of preparatory members of the New Politics Society!

That’s right, Wang Ning'an, based on the principle of preferring nothingness rather than being too bad, must manage the selection of personnel from the source.

He taught this in person.

He had not abandoned the skills he had learned at the Six Arts School, but he was full of energy and talked freely.

"I just said it, but everything has changed, and the secret of the change lies in the railway! Because of the railway, we can use faster speed to understand the changes in various places and respond in a timely manner... Moreover, the railway not only has speed, but also has terrible transportation capabilities, and can quickly put troops and baggage thousands of miles away. With such a powerful tool, the Song Dynasty has the confidence to expand its territory... I can tell you that wherever the railway reaches, the troops reach, that is, the interests reach... Places along the railway will surrender to the Song Dynasty and become our vassals, and they will not be able to escape from the palm of the Song Dynasty at all."

...

Gao Qiu stared with his round eyes, listening while writing hard. His foundation was not very good... For example, the backbone that impressed his superiors was made by him, but the polishing was made by Xiaopeng for help... He did not have Cai Jing's deceit, and he didn't know the identity of the "Wang Gong", but Gao Qiu could hear that Wang Gong had the style of the King of Yan in the planning part. Maybe Wang Gong also came from the Six Arts Department!

I am so lucky that I can not only get help from Wang Gong, but also hear the prince’s lecture. I really benefited a lot!

After three consecutive days of courses, they all understood the importance of road construction.

Especially Gaoqiu, he was born in a tractor, and was driven by steam engines. The only difference is that one has tracks and the other has no one. He has the deepest understanding.

"Your Majesty, I have a suggestion!"

Wang Ning'an glanced at the fat man in the black and smiled and said, "Tell me, what do you think?"

"Prince! Bei Zhi believes that the railway should be extended northward as soon as possible, from Youzhou to the original Khitan Zhongjing, Shangjing, and another road should be built to connect the Bohai Sea. In this way, the entire Liaodong is under the control of the Song Dynasty, and there is no need to worry about the rebellion of the Jurchen tribe!" Gao Qiu paused and said, "If possible, another road should be extended to Goryeo."

“Good idea!”

Wang Ning'an praised: "But have you ever thought about how much money it will cost to build so many roads?"

Gao Qiu lowered his head and thought for a while, "It should be estimated that Beizhi will not be less than 100 million yuan... But Beizhi believes that the places passing along the railway are not wild and barren... The Khitans also have farmlands in these places. They traced upwards. During the Han and Tang Dynasties, they all cultivated farms in Liaodong... If the land around the line can be revitalized and sold to merchants and farmers, and promised to be exempted for five years, it will definitely attract a batch of funds. Beizhi is expected to only half of the cost to build the railway... Beizhi is willing to ask for an order immediately, take people to survey the route, and submit a complete report to the prince within 3 months!"

It’s not a big deal to be able to talk freely.

But it is not easy to actually do it.

You should know that there are so many Khitan soldiers and the Jurchen tribe in Liaodong at present. Maybe they will have their lives to worry about, but Gaoqiu is not hesitant at all.

This courage alone is worthy of recognition.

It seems that there are no natural treacherous people in this world. If they are well trained, they may be pillars!

Wang Ning'an's view quietly changed, "Since that's the case, I will give you 300 people and go to investigate the route immediately and come up with the results as soon as possible!"

"Abide by the order!"

Gao Qiu hurriedly went to prepare, not just Bashu and Liaodong, but the southeast had already been clamoring to build roads, and several roads were already under construction, such as Suzhou and Jiangning.

The real thing that has not yet moved is Lingnan and Huguang, and they can't wait at all... Especially Lingnan, they directly sent petitioners to find the capital.

They can pay for money, and they can pay for land... They only ask the court to provide talents, help them and build the road as soon as possible!
Chapter completed!