Back to the Warring States Period as Zhao Kuo

After a long journey, Zhao Kuo crossed the Gobi Desert once and came to Dunhuang City.

Including when he left a few months ago, this was just a city that had just been established, but now when Zhao Kuo came back, he was very pleasantly surprised to find that this city was already thriving and fully equipped with what a city should have. appearance.

It's just that behind the development of this city, there are actually no hidden worries.

The sheriff of Dunhuang County reported such a situation just like Zhao Kuo.

"Your Majesty, please also know that the reason why our Dunhuang City has been able to develop to the present is mainly due to the continuous flow of materials and elements from the Central Plains, but the problem lies in Dunhuang City. If we really want to continue to develop, it is absolutely impossible. It has always relied on external assistance.

However, Dunhuang lacks the necessary conditions for development. It is sparsely populated, and there are not enough arable land and water sources. Even if some horses and other animal husbandry are domesticated, it is impossible to support too many people.

I have thought of a lot of solutions in the past few months, but I have not thought of a solution that can really solve the problem. I hope that Your Majesty can give me some advice. "

Looking at the Dunhuang Sheriff with an uneasy face in front of him, Zhao Kuo also laughed.

"Of course I am aware of your worries, but you also need to know that I have told everyone before leaving the imperial capital to go west, this time we will go to the Western Regions, it will definitely not be a matter of losing money, but Make a lot of money."

After hearing Zhao Kuo's words, the governor of Dunhuang was completely puzzled, because he didn't understand how Zhao Kuo's words were related to the development of Dunhuang County?

Zhao Kuo continued to explain patiently with a smile: "Let me put it this way, this time we opened up the Western Regions mainly to open up trade routes to the west.

After I return to the Imperial Capital City, a steady stream of business groups will start from the Central Plains and go to the Western Regions to trade with them.

At that time, your Dunhuang city will become a very important trade node. You only need to collect a part of the trade tax here, which is enough to make your city develop without any worries. "

What Zhao Kuo said is indeed the truth. In history, when the Han Dynasty opened up the Western Regions, the legendary Silk Road opened.

A large amount of silk from the Central Plains was continuously transported along the Western Regions to Central Asia, West Asia, and then Europe. For a long time, European nobles were obsessed with these exquisite goods from the East.

And this Silk Road also brought huge income to the Central Plains Dynasty, and made Dunhuang, the commercial city along the way, greatly developed.

After hearing Zhao Kuo's words, the governor of Dunhuang obviously still had some doubts. After all, in the opinion of the governor of Dunhuang, the location of Dunhuang County can be said to be too remote, it is simply a place where birds don't shit.

Would anyone actually pass through such a place to trade in the desert further west?

The governor of Dunhuang really felt that this seemed unreliable.

But in front of him was His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han Kingdom. Of course, the governor of Dunhuang County could not be so stupid as to directly contradict Zhao Kuo. Focus on business development.”

Zhao Kuo smiled and looked at the Dunhuang sheriff who was born in a school but was obviously insincere when he spoke, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, what I said, when has it not been realized?"

Chapter 1140 Conversation with King Zhou in Luoyi Sacrifice

After Zhao Kuo gave instructions to the sheriff of Dunhuang County, who still seemed a little confused, on the second day, he happily brought his many troops and continued to return to the Central Plains non-stop.

On the way, he passed Wuwei, Jiuquan, and Zhangye three cities one after another.

Like Dunhuang, officials from the Han Dynasty from the Academy managed it in an orderly manner, which made Zhao Kuo nod secretly.

For the current Han Kingdom, it is not the traditional aristocrats who really support the backbone of its ruling class, but these poor officials who were born in poverty and successfully graduated after being trained by various scholars in the academy.

Compared with the nobles, these humble officials are more ambitious and want to change their situation through making contributions, so no matter what they do, they are very active and willing to do it, and they will never say , only because it is safe and deterred.

In the period when an empire was just established, having such a group of vigorous officials was definitely the dream of every emperor.

After leaving these four cities, Zhao Kuo entered Longxi County.

After entering Longxi County, Zhao Kuo found that many generals and officials of the Han Dynasty around him all breathed a sigh of relief.

Longxi County was the westernmost territory previously controlled by the Qin State. In other words, entering here is equivalent to entering the core area controlled by the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period. It is no wonder that these generals and officials of the Han Dynasty regarded him as a go home.

Li Mu smiled and said to Zhao Kuo: "Your Majesty, this trip to the west has traveled thousands of miles, and I finally returned here successfully.

Fortunately, everything is going well, otherwise, once I return to the earth spirit, those old men will be annoying to death. "

Zhao Kuo couldn't help laughing when he heard this.

Zhao Kuo can actually understand the pressure on Li Mu. This kind of pressure does not only come from the fact that the Western Expedition must win or that the Western Expedition must obtain sufficient benefits, but a large part of it actually comes from Zhao Kuo himself.

Because this time Zhao Kuo was personally conscripted by the imperial driver, and Li Mu was the highest-level official of the Han Dynasty who accompanied Zhao Kuo. If something happened to Zhao Kuo, then the first person to be held accountable must be Li Mu.

But now, Zhao Kuo has returned to Longxi County safe and sound, and has entered the territory of the Central Plains in a broad sense, so Li Mu must not be responsible for the next thing.

Not only that, but Li Mu also made a great contribution in the Western Expedition this time, and after returning, he naturally blushed a lot, thinking about it is a flattering thing.

After returning to Longxi County, the next place is Guanzhong.

Zhao Kuo specially stayed in Guanzhong for a period of time to inspect the current situation in Guanzhong.

It has to be said that the current Guanzhong does not seem to be much different from the Guanzhong under the Qin State. The farmers live and work in peace and contentment, and the number of vendors in the city has gradually increased. There will be more time.

We must know that Qin State had always followed the policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing business during Shang Yang's reform, which led to Qin's commercial development being the worst among the seven heroes of the Warring States Period.

But now, if you look at the merchants walking around in Xianyang City, and then look at the constant hawking in Xianyang City, you can feel that the new capital of the Great Qin Dynasty in this city has now taken on a new look.

Zhao Kuo was also quite satisfied with this, and specially warned the local officials: "You must remember that although this place has now become the land of our Great Han Kingdom, the people here are the people of our Great Han Kingdom. We must treat them equally, and we must not use the previous Zhao Kingdom and Qin Kingdom as the classification of race, do you understand?"

In fact, Zhao Kuo knew very well that he had seized the power of Zhao State after all. In this case, if he only pretended to be Zhao Guoren, it would inevitably arouse the dissatisfaction of the original people of the other six countries, and Zhao Guoren might not just buy Zhao Guoren. included account.

So Zhao Kuo simply treated all the people of the Seven Kingdoms equally as before. In this way, since everyone has already felt the fairness, they will naturally love Zhao Kuo and the Han Kingdom. This is the only way to truly help the newborn Han. The best guarantee for the country to win the hearts of the people.

Soon Zhao Kuo left Xianyang and continued eastward. A few days later, he came to Luoyi, the original capital after the emperor of Zhou moved eastward.

A cold knowledge that is very interesting to say is that Zhou Tianzi has always existed. Whether it is in history or this period, Zhou Tianzhi has maintained a steady stream, and the last city lasted until the last few years of the Warring States Period.

Going back to this world line, the last piece of land of Zhou Tianzi had been divided up by Qin and South Korea a few years ago, and the last Zhou Tianzi had also been secretly murdered.

Today's Luoyi has become a relatively lively city in the Central Plains, but relatively speaking it is not a top-notch city.

Someone once proposed that all the nine tripods in this city be moved to the new imperial capital, but Zhao Kuo decided to reject this request after thinking about it.

Zhao Kuo said such a sentence at the time: "Zhou Tianzi's Jiuding is not really able to represent the world's luck, otherwise, Zhou Tianzi has been in possession of Jiuding for so many years, why is he still so weak?

Since the Jiuding has a very special meaning for the Zhou Dynasty, let the descendants of the Emperor Zhou have it. "

Zhao Kuo not only left the nine great tripods of the Zhou Dynasty in Luoyi, but also canonized the original royal palace of the Zhou Dynasty to the descendants of the Zhou Dynasty. The incense of the dynasty will not be cut off.

This time, passing by Luoyi, Zhao Kuo also specially entered the palace of Emperor Zhou, and offered a stick of incense to the emperors of the previous Zhou dynasties.

Zhou Wang Jichang, Zhou Wu Wang Jifa, and Zhou Cheng Wang Jisong looked at the names full of historical significance in front of them, and Zhao Kuo's expression gradually became solemn.

As we all know, the Ming founded by the Han nationality is also called the Huaxia Ming.

So here comes the question, where did the word Huaxia start?

Of course, the word Huaxia has existed since ancient times, but the concept was really established from the Zhou Dynasty.

When Zhou Gongdan established the etiquette and laws of the Zhou Dynasty, he called the princes and nations who were willing to obey the Zhou Dynasty's etiquette and laws "Zhuxia", which was the predecessor of the word Huaxia.

After the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, the Huaxia Ming Dynasty really spread its branches and leaves in the Central Plains. With the passing of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, a small noble Qin State from the Emperor Zhou finally unified the entire China. Completely integrated the Chinese people together until modern times.

From this point of view, the contribution of the Zhou Dynasty to Huaxia Ming is beyond doubt.

Zhao Kuo bowed towards the tablets in front of him with a solemn expression.

These former kings of China once created the real Ming Dynasty of China for the sake of China.

In the future, I will take over your will and continue to let Huaxia Ming spread its branches and leaves in this world, becoming more bright and powerful!After a while, Zhao Kuo walked out of the palace. A young man had been waiting here for a long time and saluted Zhao Kuo respectfully: "Ji Ling has seen Your Majesty."

Ji Ling is the current king of Zhou.

After Zhao Kuo unified the world, all the titles of the kings of the seven heroes of the Warring States Period were cancelled. Similar to the descendants of the Shang Dynasty, Ji Ling did not need to be a minister to Zhao Kuo, but the title of "Son of Heaven" was canceled from Ji Ling.

Considering that Zhao Kuo himself is the "emperor" and is higher in rank than King Zhou, this arrangement did not arouse any opposition.

Zhao Kuo looked at Ji Ling with a smile, and said, "King Zhou, come with me."

Ji Ling was obviously a little panicked, and followed Zhao Kuo, deliberately lagging behind by half a body, and followed suit.

Looking at the Zhou Palace in front of him, Zhao Kuo also expressed emotion: "I heard that the Zhou Palace has been in disrepair for a long time, but I didn't expect it to be so dilapidated."

Ji Ling showed a helpless wry smile, and said: "Since King Ping, this place has been worse every year, and now it can barely maintain it, which is actually pretty good."

Zhao Kuo said slowly: "After all, this is one of the origins of our Chinese Ming Dynasty. Although I am the emperor, if there is no Zhou Dynasty, it is also impossible to have today's Zhen.

After I go back, I will ask someone to arrange some repairs to the Zhou Palace. "

In Zhao Kuo's view, a building full of historical significance like the Zhou Palace must be repaired carefully, so that future generations can see that the ancient kings of China built a building. What a grand and majestic building, let's see how shocking the Chinese architectural style was back then.

Architecture is living history.

If all the buildings are destroyed, no matter how long the history is, when it can only be seen in books, there will obviously still be a sense of alienation.

The so-called "seeing is better than hearing a hundred times" is exactly like this.

After hearing Zhao Kuo's words, Ji Ling immediately revealed a pleasant expression on his face, and said to Zhao Kuo, "Thank you, Your Majesty, Ji Ling."

Zhao Kuo smiled and continued walking forward.

After a while, the two of them came to a large hall. Walking into the courtyard of this hall, they could see nine bronze tripods that were as high as a person standing, and there were very complicated bronze patterns on the tripods.

Although it has been hundreds of years, these nine tripods have not become decayed or damaged, but have added a sense of historical weight to them.

Ji Ling introduced to Zhao Kuo: "Your Majesty, this is Jiuding."

Zhao Kuo nodded, looking at Jiuding in front of him, his thoughts diverged for a while.

Jiuding, for the whole of China, is a symbol of civilization, and it is also a symbol of the Supreme of the Central Plains.

Back then, King Zhuang of Chu came to the outskirts of Luoyi aggressively to drink horses from the Yellow River, just to challenge and compete for the supremacy of the Central Plains.

So that since then, "Aspiration to the Central Plains" has become the highest ideal in the hearts of every ruler of the Huaxia Dynasty.

Jiuding symbolizes the nine states in the world, namely Jizhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou, Yuzhou, Liangzhou, and Yongzhou.

This Kyushu was actually established as early as the founding of the Xia Dynasty. If you look at the map of the Xia Dynasty, you will be surprised to find that most of the land was still out of reach for the Xia Dynasty. Kyushu, now All have been brought under the rule of the Han Dynasty.

In other words, when the Xia Dynasty established Kyushu back then, it was more or less a "map to open up borders" in it, but now Zhao Kuo is taking all Kyushu in a down-to-earth manner, which can be regarded as fulfilling the wishes of these old ancestors. desire.

Looking at the Jiuding in front of him, Zhao Kuo chuckled and said to Ji Ling, "Do you know why I didn't move the Jiuding to the imperial capital?"

Ji Ling shook his head: "Ji Ling doesn't know."

Zhao Kuo looked at Jiuding in front of him, and said leisurely: "I have always felt that there is such a thing as destiny, but what factors really determine who the destiny is?

In fact, it is the hearts of the people in the world.

When the hearts of the world are on me, my great man doesn't need Jiuding, he doesn't need any Jade Seal, and he can also firmly control the entire country, and he can also make China the same as the Han Dynasty.

This is the reason why I don't need Jiuding. I am the disseminator and carry forward the Huaxia Ming. All members of the Huaxia Ming will be grateful and worship me. Their people's hearts are the best support for me. It is the real Jiuding in my heart! "

Listening to Zhao Kuo's words, Ji Ling's expression gradually became solemn.

As far as this king of Zhou is concerned, he has never lived a day in his life, even if he has real power and can rule a country, but this does not prevent Ji Ling from thinking about it at certain times. After the "Son of Heaven", what should be the situation.

But no matter what kind of imagination it is, there are still some tastes of painting cakes to satisfy the hunger, after all, there are no three flavors in it.

Until today, Ji Ling met Zhao Kuo in person, and heard these deafening words from the emperor who conquered and unified China.

At this moment, Ji Ling suddenly understood why Zhao Kuo was able to go from a courtier of the Zhao Kingdom to the present step by step, and become a real Ninth Five-Year Supreme step by step.

Ji Ling took a deep breath, and said to Zhao Kuo sincerely, "Your Majesty's words really make Ji Ling admire.

Having an emperor like His Majesty in the world is the blessing of all the people, and it is an honor for China! "

These words were not Ji Ling's desire to flatter, but were truly from the bottom of his heart.

Zhao Kuo laughed and patted Ji Ling on the shoulder: "Take good care of this place. This is not only your ancestor and glory, but also the ancestor and glory of our Chinese people!"

Chapter 1141 Returning to the Imperial City and the Western Expedition Successfully Concluded

For Zhao Kuo, this conversation was nothing more than a feeling after seeing the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, but for the young Zhou Wang Ji Ling, it was a conversation that changed the trajectory of his life.

After this conversation, Ji Ling devoted herself to the study of the Zhou Dynasty, and wrote many books on Zhou Dynasty in the following decades.

Since Ji Ling himself was able to learn many secrets of the Zhou royal family as the king of Zhou, these books of his were also a sensation after they were published, and were praised by later generations of scholars as "the most detailed encyclopedia of the Zhou Dynasty". People in later generations have a deeper understanding of the Zhou Dynasty, a rather ancient dynasty.

On the second day after this conversation ended, Zhao Kuo led his troops and horses to leave Luoyi in a mighty manner, and continued to advance towards the imperial capital.

Along the way, many cities in the Central Plains passed by one after another. Zhao Kuo was very pleased to notice that all the cities had shown a thriving attitude.

This is also one of the great benefits that unification has brought to China. Although this year's Han Dynasty is still using troops in the three directions of the Western Regions, Lingnan and Southwest at the same time, all the people in the Central Plains know that they will not suffer from war any impact.

A sense of security is a very inexplicable thing. When all people feel that they are safe, many phenomena begin to appear.

Farmers work harder on the land, and don't need to worry that an enemy army will appear and loot the food in the field and at home.

Merchants can more confidently and boldly invest a large amount of funds in their hands into the market to do business, and more confidently and boldly expand their business network to every corner of the Han Kingdom. If you want to be charged with exorbitant taxes, you don't need to worry about being directly "requisitioned" by any army from another country that is actually fighting on the road.

As for officials, without the pressure of war, they can also free up their energy from city defense and military affairs, and focus more on governing internal affairs and improving people's livelihood. After all, after losing military merit, this is the last thing officials want to be promoted. good road.

It can be said that whether it is the people, merchants or officials, everyone's energy has been improved to varying degrees, and when these three parties work together, the whole country will naturally experience a huge improvement.