In essence, the set played by Li Kui is the early low-end version of the set played by Planet Stirring UK later.

However, the British method is to encourage idle people in the country to become pirates, and the money stolen is added to the amount of money, and the empire and the pirates share it together.

To this end, what Britain needs to pay is to help the "pirates" build warships and manufacture the most advanced "artillery" to provide the greatest guarantee for the extremely vicious "pirates" to make a fortune.

Of course, the unlucky 'pirates' will sink to the bottom of the sea forever. The lucky 'pirates' will become imperial naval officers, or even generals, and receive imperial titles. There was even a period of time when the British Navy was engaged in piracy.

, the target is the Spanish trading fleet, the largest fat sheep in Europe.

After obtaining enough national wealth through robbery, Britain embarked on the road of maritime hegemony.

Then he robbed colonies along the way, thus entering the era of world hegemony.

This path is suitable for many early modern European countries, but it is not suitable for the Song Dynasty.

In today's world, the richest ships on the ocean belong to the Song Dynasty. Merchants in the Song Dynasty were afraid of being robbed, but there was no one else to rob. The Song Dynasty played piracy and could only rob itself, and it would definitely not be able to continue.

The British bastard's methods could not be used by the Song Dynasty.

The reason why Britain uses European checks and balances, world checks and balances.

The main reason is that there are too few British people, less than 20 million people, to manage a colony with a population of 400 million people, and they still want to dominate the earth. It is difficult to think about it.

But the Song Dynasty is different. The Song Dynasty now has a population of 100 million, which is definitely the largest unified dynasty. For every four people in the world, there is one Song Dynasty person. The Song Dynasty does not need to use British methods at all, as long as they continue to migrate out

The population can fill up the entire world.

Even if you can't conquer the whole world, Southeast Asia, Oceania, America...

Can those vast and sparsely populated lands withstand the hardworking farmers of the Song Dynasty?

Therefore, Li Kui seemed to be using a colonial method, but in fact it was a road to assimilation. If the people of the Song Dynasty had continued to go out, China would have cut off the development of all other countries.

Because no nation can be stronger than China. Wherever there are people, export culture and assimilate the locals, then completely wipe out the ethnic imprint of the other party. Where there are no people, go directly to cultivate the land and build cities.

Emperor Zhao Xu was moved, and Li Kui beside him also added many questions that sounded reasonable to him but were ignored.

For example:

"Your Majesty, our Song Dynasty now supports no less than 600,000 soldiers and horses for the Xiang Army, and the annual food, grass and salary are a huge expenditure. And the Xiang Army is different from the Forbidden Army. This is because the imperial court sympathizes with the refugees and provides them with a living. In reality, the Xiang Army is different from the Forbidden Army.

Above, there are many more people who did not even join the Xiang army, but died in natural disasters."

"If these people are sent to a place close to China, given land, farm tools, and protected for their safety, won't these people be grateful for the court's grace? In the future, refugees after natural disasters will no longer survive a narrow escape, but will have

A place to go.”

"Secondly, Your Majesty, except for areas with serious border conflicts, the Forbidden Army generals cannot be reused in other places. If you want to train them, there is no battlefield to send them. Or if you send them to the battlefield, the enemy is too strong and you can only die, which not only consumes countless money and food

, and also attacked the prestige of our country, the Song Dynasty, what can we do?"

"It's good now. No matter how weak the local imperial army is, it can't defeat the Dangxiang people, the Khitan cavalry, and even the Tubo people. I can't beat the natives, right?"

…

The emperor was confused and a little angry at the same time.

After all, the 800,000 forbidden troops were a barrier to protect the Song Dynasty. When Li Kui said this, it seemed that they were useless.

But Li Qingchen, who had been standing aside, became nervous. Isn't the Forbidden Army currently defending the northern line the same useless Forbidden Army that Li Kui said?

Ning Huajun stopped talking, and all the generals ran away.

Although he committed suicide after breaking the city of Yanzhou, the combat effectiveness of Ninghua Army was discounted by the Privy Council itself. And the five military towns of Guangxin, Ansu, Shun'an, Yongning and Anli on Hebei West Road,

It seems that the military strength is strong, but in fact, no one can say what the combat effectiveness is. If others don't know it, doesn't Li Qingchen still know it?

During the entire counterattack on the northern front, Fei Lian's army and the imperial guards were at the front. In addition to Ren Duo Baozhong's more than 20,000 Tibetan soldiers, these 50,000 soldiers and horses were the main force.

The soldiers and horses on Hebei West Road have not made any achievements even after more than a month since the war began. There are many reasons for this failure, but the most likely reason is that the army on Hebei West Road faced the elites of the Liao Kingdom and could only be beaten.

Don't try to take advantage.

just in case……

"Renjie, are you saying that in the unlikely event that the new king of Liao comes to the throne and stabilizes the royal court, Andun will lose Yanzhou and other counties one after another?"

Li Qingchen's Privy Council had a very difficult life. On the one hand, he had to intervene in the capital hall from time to time and be on guard at all times. On the other hand, when fighting with a large army on the border, failure is not terrible, but if the entire army is annihilated, will there be any barrier in Hebei?

?

Since he asked about Hebei West Road, Li Kui had to say something fair: "Being able to defend Zhuozhou and Yizhou, using the Yi River as a natural barrier, you can advance, attack, retreat or defend. If you can do this, you are already a first-class elite.

, the Hebei Forbidden Army cannot reach this level yet. But don’t worry, teacher, there shouldn’t be a problem in the direction of Tongzhou.”

"Tongzhou...isn't it Fei Lianjun?"

Li Qingchen was speechless. If Fei Lian's army could not hold on, then the Song Dynasty might not have any troops left.

Thinking of the fact that the Imperial Guard had to withdraw due to military expenses.

Li Qingchen was also anxious. He was afraid that the whole of Hebei would become a mess and eventually become corrupt.

If the Liao army really went south, even if Zhang Kai led the Western Army to destroy Xixia, it would not be able to make up for the damage caused to the Song Dynasty. For the Song Dynasty, even if Xixia was destroyed, there would still be opponents in the northwest. The Song Dynasty will and

The Liao Dynasty directly faced it, and even the pressure on the northwest was stronger than the pressure Xixia put on the Song Dynasty.

Nearly 400,000 forbidden troops were held back by the north. This situation was almost critical for the Song Dynasty. Especially as the war escalated, 400,000 elite troops were not enough and more troops and horses were needed. This was very important to the Song Dynasty.

It felt like I was stuck in a quagmire with no chance of climbing out.

The temporary financial relief obtained through the reform is difficult to last. If this continues, it will become increasingly difficult for the Song Dynasty's finances. The effect of the Imperial Guard is very good, and Li Qingchen definitely wants to form a second one, or even

The third Praetorian Guard.

But without money, nothing can be built.

For the current plan, the only choice is to open up the source of finance and use Li Kui's method to integrate the Forbidden Army bit by bit and restore the combat effectiveness of the Forbidden Army. Thinking of this, Li Qingchen immediately suggested to the emperor: "I think Li Kui's suggestion is feasible. Please ask your Majesty to do it as soon as possible."

After the court proposal is passed, it will be implemented immediately so that the second army of the Imperial Guard can be formed. As long as the Imperial Guard army is doubled, I believe that the threat of the Liao Kingdom's capture will be eliminated. By then, the Song Dynasty will be able to take a breather.

"

Zhao Xu murmured: "Is it already so serious?"

"Absolutely. The main thing is that the Hebei Forbidden Army only has 30,000 to 40,000 troops to resist the Liao Army. The other troops and horses may be useful in fighting with the wind. If they really face the elite of the Liao Kingdom..."

Li Kui shook his head and said helplessly: "It's not bad, it's pretty good."

When Li Kui and Yelu Hongji fought decisively on Qingheyuan, he did not know the reinforcement situation of the two groups in Hebei Province.

After the decisive battle was over and he reunited with Renduo Baozhong, he realized that the 50,000 troops of the Hebei West Route Army were preparing to withdraw at this juncture. This made Li Kui very dissatisfied.

This time he decided to withdraw the troops because he wanted to make the Hebei Army understand the truth that credit must be earned with one's life.

If you don't work hard, if you want to get credit, there will be no way.

However, Li Kui also made some arrangements. As long as Zhuozhou is in his hands, and Yixian, Yizhou and other places are in the hands of the Song army, the Liao army's march south is still an empty talk.

Zhao Xu frowned and asked Li Kui: "After the Imperial Guards and Feilian Army withdrew, Li Qing, do you think An Dun and Wang Jin can defend Yanzhou?"

"It's difficult. In fact, there is nothing the Imperial Guards can do. The artillery no longer has shells and enough gunpowder to fight in the field. If the Imperial Guards with powerful firepower are placed in the city to defend the city, they can only be passively beaten. At the same time,

The season is also very unfavorable to the Guards. After winter, rain and snow weather increases, and the unfavorable factors for gunpowder becoming damp become more and more serious. Even if there is sufficient ammunition, the field operations of the Guards are very limited in this season."

"It is unlikely that the Liao Kingdom will move south in the short term. But after autumn next year, it will be hard to say." Li Kui said worriedly: "If there are 50,000 troops on the east and west roads of the river, they can be alert in time and retreat to Zhuozhou and other places, it will be better. I

I'm afraid that when the Liao Kingdom reacts and launches a massive attack, it will be difficult for these 50,000 troops to withdraw."

Zhao Xu was indeed frightened and turned to look at Li Qingchen: "Is this really true?"

Li Qingchen was also helpless. Among all the soldiers and horses in the world, Li Kui could defeat the Liao army with less than 30,000 horses and more than 100,000 troops. Only Li Kui could do it. Zhang Kai couldn't do it either.

.If Andun and Wang Jin are useless, even if Yelu Hongji doesn't personally lead the troops, can they beat brother Xiao Chang and deal with Yelu Chen's slaves?

Nonsense!

It's pretty good that these two guys managed to escape alive.

The emperor was waiting for the answer, and Li Qingchen had to tell the truth: "It may be more difficult than what Renjie said."

Emperor Zhao Xu suddenly became anxious and said loudly: "In this case, why don't you withdraw your troops quickly?"

"Your Majesty, it is still unknown whether Emperor Yelu Hongji of Liao Dynasty has...?" Li Kui asked.

"There is no news yet." Zhao Xu also wished that Yelu Hongji would die, which would be regarded as revenge for his father.

But if Yelu Hongji didn't die, there was nothing he could do.

Time is very tight. If the Song Dynasty wants to rise, the war machine must be fully activated. It is obviously inappropriate to increase taxes. The taxes in the Song Dynasty are very heavy. It seems that the Song Dynasty has no control over commercial taxes, salt taxes, and rice prices.

Very effective.

But what is hidden underneath is that the main objects of tax collection in the Song Dynasty were farmers. Agricultural taxes and poll taxes alone accounted for a little more than half of the taxes in the Song Dynasty. In addition to corvee labor, land was constantly being annexed, and private lending was under heavy pressure

, farmers can no longer bear greater tax pressure.

This means that if taxes are increased, even if it is an increase such as salt tax, farmers will be hit. And today's rural areas in the Song Dynasty are already extremely vulnerable.

The frequent riots are enough to show that the peasant class has been exploited to the point of collapse in the Song Dynasty.

On this day, the court meeting in Zichen Palace was extremely strange.

It seemed that the ministers and the emperor were a little perfunctory.
To be continued...