The Han Dynasty in the Central Plains almost had an almost crazy obsession with the Great Wall, just like the Egyptians worshiping the pyramids, and like the Mayans were crazy about the temple.

This is a kind of persistence that is integrated into the bloodline, and it has not changed since Qin.

At the beginning, Zhao Zhen simply believed that the Great Wall was a kind of passive defense. After having the Great Wall, he could rest assured and rely on artificial natural danger to attack the invading enemy.

But Pang Ji told him that this was not the case, everything was not what it seemed, the Great Wall was not just a high wall, not just a place of defense.

Today's lectures on the imperial lectures include Yang Xiu, who is full of classics, but also Pang Ji, who is familiar with political affairs. He sat quietly in his master's position, and behind him was a portrait of Confucius. The old man sat quietly, as if he should have sat there. Zhao Zhen felt that this Confucian temperament was born.

This Confucian scholar's appearance has to be convincing, right?

After drinking a sip of tea and moistening his throat, Pang Ji slightly tidied up his sleeves, which were not messy and said, "Why is Your Majesty unwilling to build the Great Wall? This is a matter of benefiting the country. The Qin Emperor and Han Wu were all the same. The Song Dynasty seized Yanyun in the north to seize the vital land. There was danger of the Great Wall and could be rejected by the enemy who came invaded."

Zhao Zhen frowned. He didn't know why when he raised an objection to the construction of the Great Wall, why all the civil and military officials in the court strongly opposed it. The opposition of the military generals was understandable, because this was their defensive offensive, which could make the soldiers guarding the border safer and more comfortable.

But the opposition of the civil servant made him a little confused. Aren’t civil servants all resisting such evil policies? There would be no good reputation for building the Great Wall. There was a piece of it related to the Great Wall on Qin Shihuang’s head, and the Great Wall of Han was a proof of Emperor Wu of Han’s violence. There were many places where this emperor stood tall and stood up to the sky and the earth were criticized by others for the Great Wall.

Of course, some of them were obviously slandered by later generations for some purpose, but it is undeniable that his reputation was indeed affected.

After thinking about it, Zhao Zhen replied to Pang Ji in the simplest and easiest words of convincing civil officials: "Because the Great Wall is exhausted and the money is damaged, our Song Dynasty will be vast after it recovers the northwest. If it is to build the Great Wall, it will cost a lot. Besides, I am preparing to launch the northern expedition again. What is the significance of building the Great Wall?"

Pang Ji and Yang Xiu looked at each other, and both sides showed mysterious smiles, which made Zhao Zhen inexplicable. Pang Ji finally spoke when Zhao Zhen was about to go wild: "Your Majesty thinks this Great Wall is only used for defense?"

Zhao Zhen said a little strangely: "Since ancient times, building cities to defend against enemies, and building the Great Wall is just a frame of the Song Dynasty in a city, relying on the benefits of high walls to attack the invading enemies. What else is there to do?"

"This is for the pass. The Great Wall restricts not only the troops, but also the people and merchants... What do you think?"

Zhao Zhen frowned and thought for a while before he suddenly realized it, and the conclusion he came to was dumbfounded. This... it is really incredible. It turns out that the role of the Great Wall is not only to resist foreign enemies, but also to play the role of the national gate!

Suddenly, Zhao Zhen felt that he was impressed by the wisdom of his ancestors in China. This reverse thinking has deceived the grassland nation for many years? I am afraid that it was because he knew that the Qing Dynasty was ruling the Central Plains.

Not to mention the grassland people, even Zhao Zhen, a later generation, was shocked by this conclusion. Of course, perhaps he had not studied it himself, and had even carefully observed the miracle that was towering on the land of China.

The Great Wall not only plays this military role, but also a kind of blockade and economic blockade! Zhao Zhen suddenly realized that this made sense. No wonder the mountains and ridges are high, no wonder the Great Wall is built on the Thousand Miles of Gobi, and horses cannot reach the Thousand Miles of Gobi, and if the Thousand Miles of Gobi is a large-scale penetration, it is difficult to defend.

If that's the case, what's the significance of the Great Wall?

Pang Ji's words were like opening a window for Zhao Zhen. The blockade of the Great Wall sometimes exceeds its military role. It is undeniable that the military value of the Great Wall is immeasurable, but its economic role has been underestimated by all generations.

Although the Song Dynasty did not have a Great Wall, it did not affect the study of the Great Wall. The Qin and Han Dynasties had Great Walls, and the Great Wall was reinforced throughout the dynasties. Although there was no great renovation of the Great Wall during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the strengthening of it never stopped.

From Ershi City in Dayuan in the west and to the north bank of the Yalu River in the east, the Han Great Wall, which is nearly 10,000 kilometers long, has been well built, but the Song Dynasty cannot use it. Because the Han Great Wall is almost all within the territory of the Liao Dynasty, the court officials of the Song Dynasty proposed to build their own Great Wall.

Once the Great Wall was built, the trade between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty was completely eliminated. It can be said that the day before the Great Wall was completed, the merchants from the Song Dynasty were decided by the imperial emperors when they entered and left the Song Dynasty. If trade was to be closed, the easiest way was to prohibit merchants from going to the Liao Dynasty.

This is a complete ban without any room for negotiation. The Great Wall not only blocked the merchants of the Liao Dynasty, but also made the merchants of the Song Dynasty stand firm and could only trade through the passes opened by the imperial court. This is a kind of monopoly.

Of course, the role of the Great Wall is not just that. It is a huge and complex system. When Di Qing arrived, Zhao Zhen knew that some kind of continuity had been reached between civil and military officials, and it was necessary to promote the construction of the Great Wall.

Zhao Zhen never denies its military value. He remembers that he once watched a documentary in later generations. The distance between 11 kilometers and the time it took only seven minutes to use the beacon tower to report the news, while the car took nine minutes. This was due to the beacon tower being corroded for thousands of years.

As long as a beacon tower on the border is lit, the long information chain will not be broken and will continue to spread to Beijing, which is much faster than Feige's sending a letter.

The Song Dynasty also had the strongest defensive means. The role of the Great Wall has been the biggest obstacle to nomads since ancient times. What's the use of you having 100,000 cavalry?

What can I do under the endless city wall? I have the ability to ride a horse and come over? Not to mention the Great Wall, even the three-meter-high earth wall can become a fatal obstacle to cavalry!

When he saw Di Qing coming, Pang Ji showed a long-lost smile. He had a very high likes for this Privy Councilor. Di Qing was not only a military general, but also had the unique Confucian style of conducting people and affairs.

After clearing his throat, Pang Ji spoke to Zhao Zhen: "The official family is not a military official, but he knows that building the Great Wall can be used to block transactions, or can quickly spread the news and block the country's doors. This is so precautionary! General Di is well-versed in military affairs, and His Majesty is also a saint king who is in charge of the imperial throne. It is not easy to show off his skills in military affairs."

Zhao Zhen smiled and pointed at Pang Ji, then pointed at Di Qing: "You two are probably already discussed. Today's lecture on the sutras and daily lectures have become your lobbyists. Building the Great Wall is a big deal. I will discuss it tomorrow."

Pang Ji and Di Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Zhen could even hear the sound from Di Qing's throat. The two of them were too nervous. Di Qing was understandable. Why did Pang Ji be so nervous...
Chapter completed!