Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 336 Grand Plan!

When Su Yun said this, everyone present frowned.

At this time, Liang Tao sneered and said: "It seems that Minister Su knows very little about history. Since the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, it has been necessary to transport grain from Jiangnan to the capital.

Xuanzong went to the eastern capital Luoyang several times and moved all the important government offices to Luoyang and lived in Luoyang. The reason was that the Guanzhong region had a large population, and with the agricultural level at that time, it was really difficult to support a metropolis like Chang'an with a population of one million.

It is precisely because of this that when the Great Song Dynasty was founded, we chose Bian Jing as our capital. It is precisely because Bian Jing can rely on water transport and use grain from the southeast to supply Bian Jing that we have the prosperity of Bian Jing.

The situation has been like this for five or six hundred years since the Tang Dynasty. Do you think it can be revived?
The Yellow River is only one of the reasons, the more important reason is the continuous wars in the north!"

Liang Tao's words caused the court ministers to nod their heads repeatedly.

In fact, everyone knows that the northern economy was in decline and even collapsed. Or, in other words, everyone knew it at the beginning of the founding of the country. From the very beginning, the north had already shown signs of decline, especially during the years of war with the Liao Kingdom, the northern economy was on the verge of complete collapse.

It's not like we haven't thought of a solution, but it really doesn't work!

The Yellow River frequently changes its course, and wars may break out at any time. What is even more burdensome is that in order to maintain a large army in the north, the north has been drained dry!

Now Su Yun said that he wanted to revitalize the north, but in their eyes it was just a daydream!
As for revitalizing the north, given the current situation in the north, even if the entire Song Dynasty were to put its efforts into governing it, it might not necessarily be effective. Moreover, even if it were to be revitalized, once a dispute with the Liao Kingdom arose again, all efforts would be in vain!
However, Su Yun said loudly: "Gentlemen, are you completely sentencing the North to death? Is the North really hopeless? Haha, gentlemen, I don't think so!"

Su Yun glanced at the civil and military officials in the court and said loudly: "The main problems facing the northern economy are mainly the northward flow of the Yellow River, the obstruction of grain transport, the decline of agriculture, and the frequent wars and heavy taxes.

Therefore, as long as we solve these problems one by one, the economy of the North can be revitalized.

After research, our Ministry of Industry has finalized a complete plan.

First, we will coordinate the management of the Yellow River and water transport. In the next five years, our Ministry of Industry will dredge the north-flowing river channel, acknowledge the reality that the Yellow River flows north, and dredge the old Shanghu channel. This step is to reduce floods in Hebei and create basic conditions for agriculture!

The second is to divert water and reduce siltation. Diversion channels will be dug at key nodes such as Huazhou and Chanzhou to divert water from the Yellow River to irrigate farmland in Hebei, which will also serve as flood retention areas, turning harm into benefit.

Next is the promotion of flood-resistant crops. We plan to introduce improved varieties of Champa rice and plant flood-resistant crops such as sorghum and buckwheat to stabilize grain production.

Then, during this process, the water conservancy system will be restored simultaneously, the ponds in Hebei will be repaired, the embankments of the Juma River and Hutuo River will be rebuilt, and the military farm water conservancy network will be restored.

Then, they drew on the polder technology of the south and built embankments to surround fields in low-lying areas of Hebei to prevent seasonal floods.

When these things are accomplished, agriculture in the north will see a great revitalization. I dare not boast about anything else, but the north will not only be self-sufficient in food, it will even be able to supply Bianliang!
In order for the North to be able to stabilize its economic recovery, it must be given a chance to breathe, and therefore, the Northern Army must be self-sufficient.

Therefore, it is necessary to re-implement military farming and border economy. We can learn from Fan Wenzheng’s experience in farming in Shaanxi and promote the combination of military and civilian farming on the Song-Liao border (such as Xiongzhou and Bazhou), plant mulberry, jujube, millet and wheat, and realize the integration of soldiers and farmers.

In addition, refugees were recruited as farmers, taxes were reduced or exempted for ten years, and the border population and economy were gradually restored.

However, it is not enough to just ensure food supply, military expenses must also be supplemented. Therefore, I suggest upgrading the market economy, expanding the scale of Xiongzhou and Bazhou market, allowing private caravans to participate, and the court only needs to levy transaction taxes to supplement military expenses.

Not only that, we also have to rebuild northern commerce!
First, we need to dredge the Yongji Canal, repair the northern section of the Yongji Canal from the Sui and Tang Dynasties, connect Kaifeng, Damingfu to Youzhou, and expand the trade between Hebei and the Liao Kingdom.

Secondly, develop the coal and iron industries, expand the Xingzhou and Cizhou iron mines in Hebei and coal mining in Shanxi, and develop both state-owned and private enterprises to create a weapons and agricultural tool manufacturing center.

The third was to support the handicraft industry, promote textile technology in Dingzhou and Zhending Prefecture, and set up official weaving workshops in imitation of the south to produce silk to replace part of the southern silk transported by the canal.

The Cizhou Kiln and Yaozhou Kiln were encouraged to expand production and explore the Korean and Japanese markets through sea transportation from Dengzhou to Liaodong.

With these measures, not only will agriculture flourish in the north, but commerce will also flourish. In just a few years, the north will no longer need the support of the imperial court. Agricultural taxes, commercial taxes, grain, and various commodities will be continuously supplied to Bianjing. By then, there will be no need to transport materials from the far southeast to Beijing. By that time, the national strength of the Song Dynasty will have a qualitative improvement. Needless to say, the people will be rich and the country will be strong. Naturally, it will be much more relaxed when dealing with foreign countries!"

In Su Yun's clear voice, a grand vision was slowly unfolded. All the ministers in the court listened attentively. After Su Yun finished speaking, they looked at each other. Some of them fell into deep thought, while others showed mocking expressions.

Empress Dowager Gao was shaken when she heard this, and thought to herself: If what Su Yun said can be realized, then the Song Dynasty can be said to be revived in my hands!
However, when she looked up, she saw that the civil and military officials in the court had different expressions, and she knew that there were indeed many dissidents.

Sure enough, not long after Su Yun finished speaking, Liang Tao sneered and said, "Minister Su, according to your plan, how much money does the court need to invest?
Controlling the Yellow River is only the first step. You will also need to dredge the Yongji Canal, divert water from the Yellow River to irrigate farmland in Hebei, develop the coal and iron industries, build a weapons and farm tool manufacturing center, support the handicraft industry, set up a government-run weaving factory, etc. To accomplish these things, will an investment of 100 million strings of cash be enough?"

When Empress Dowager Gao heard this, it was as if a bucket of cold water was poured down on her, and her whole head went cold.

Unexpectedly, Su Yun smiled and said, "Liang Jianyi does not need to worry about this. Whether it is the management of the Yellow River, the revitalization of agriculture, the construction of water conservancy, or the development of commerce, it is all the responsibility of the Ministry of Works, and the court does not need to pay for it.

All the court needs is to give us the authority when we need it. As long as we give us five years, we will definitely give the court a brand new north, a north with abundant resources and developed commerce!"

After these words were spoken, the officials in the court looked at each other in bewilderment.

Liang Tao frowned and looked at Liu Zhi and Wang Yansou.

When Su Yun saw the looks in their eyes, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. The reason why the Shuo Party let Liang Tao take the lead and also wanted to stop the Ministry of Works from managing the Yellow River was not quite reasonable. They had only one plan - to find a way to seize the funds of the Ministry of Works!

Moreover, the Shuo Party was plotting to seize the funds of the Ministry of Works and might even join forces with other ministries to coerce the Ministry of Works. It would be useless even if they complained to the Empress Dowager Gao, because by the end of the year, the imperial treasury would be exhausted and everyone's eyes would be on them, including the Empress Dowager Gao.

There's nothing we can do about it, the Ministry of Industry has money.

In this case, we must find a use for this money. Not only should we promote the management of the Yellow River, but we must also find a use for the remaining money. Only in this way can we stop them from extending their hands.

However, this matter involves too many things, involves too much investment, and even concerns the destiny of the entire country, so it is not so easy to determine it.

There will be countless forces that will block it for their own interests, and there will also be countless people or forces that will reach out to gain benefits from the Ministry of Industry.

But Su Yun was not afraid of difficulties. Since he had decided to do it, he would face these difficulties and challenges.

Liang Tao was about to speak, but Empress Dowager Gao interrupted him and said, "Minister Su, are you serious?"

Su Yun smiled and said, "Of course I take it seriously. The Ministry of Works has already prepared the money for the management of the Yellow River and the construction of water conservancy projects. There are a total of 7 million strings of cash. With such a sum of money, this first step can definitely be completed.

As for promoting Champa rice and encouraging industry and commerce, the initial investment is actually not that large. It can be started with a few million strings of cash. Later on, these industries will generate their own blood and profits continuously, and they can update and develop rapidly.

Your Majesty, please give the Ministry of Works five years, and you and the officials in the court will just watch and see our Ministry of Works create a miracle for the court!"

Empress Dowager Gao was surprised when she heard this and said, "Your Ministry of Works is so rich? It has more than 7 million strings of cash. The imperial treasury now has less than 3 million strings of cash... Didn't Minister Zeng say before that the three ministries were all operating at a loss? How come they are making such a huge profit in your hands?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zeng Bu of the Ministry of Revenue immediately became embarrassed.

Su Yun smiled and said, "I am not good at other things, but I am pretty good at business management. Therefore, the Queen Mother can rest assured to hand over the management of the North to me. It only takes five years, and I will definitely give you a surprise!"

As soon as Su Yun said this, the officials in the court immediately complained: You can't do anything else, but you can't be a master of classics? You can't be a champion of the Song Dynasty? You can't be a top three scholar? ... Hey, this kid can do anything!

Empress Dowager Gao also thought of this, and suddenly she felt excited: This kid is really amazing. He is good at studying, writing, and fighting. Now he is unrivaled in business. Maybe he can really do it?
If the entire north can be revitalized, then problems such as resisting the Liao Kingdom and ending the financial crisis caused by the reform will be easily solved, and the national strength of the Song Dynasty will also usher in a great improvement. At that time, it may not be wrong to say that the Song Dynasty is reviving!
And I, the empress dowager who ruled the country from behind the curtain, will also go down in history because of this!

(End of this chapter)