(I wish you all a happy New Year and good luck in the Year of the Ox!)

It is precisely in view of the above considerations that Fang Zian originally wanted to come to the Zhongyi Army to establish a good relationship with his uncle Zhang Diwan and show his power. Unexpectedly, it happened to be the most critical moment for the Zhongyi Army. Of course, Fang Zian could not just sit back and watch.

. He must preserve the loyal army, and strengthen it with the help of tens of thousands of enemies, making it a force that cannot be underestimated. No matter whether this trip is successful or not, whether it is the last retreat or the future direct lineage

He has to do this for all his trump cards.

In fact, Fang Zian has been scolded by Shi Hao in the past few days. At first, it was because Fang Zian privately presented war horses, armor and other items to the Zhongyi Army as a show of goodwill. Shi Hao believed that even if the Zhongyi Army did not like them, there was no need to show favor.

So he gave the accompanying horses, armor, and swords as gifts. There was no need for this. Shi Hao said that he represented the imperial court, and Zhang Diwan and others should not be hostile to the imperial court, let alone hate the envoy because of the imperial court.

Secondly, Fang Zian decided to stay here until he went to Yanjing after the new year. Shi Hao did not agree to do this, because firstly, it missed the time agreed with the Jinren. Secondly, Shi Hao felt that Fang Zian was losing big because of small things.

The more important tasks have not been completed yet, and the situation in the court is changing rapidly, but Fang Zian wants everyone to stay here for many days in vain. This is inappropriate. Fang Zian still begged for an explanation, and Shi Hao reluctantly agreed to do so. But

Shi Hao was obviously unhappy, so he refused to attend various occasions such as mobilization rallies and stayed in the camp without seeing anyone.

Although Fang Zian did not want Shi Hao to be unhappy, he had his own plans and naturally had to help the Zhongyi Army solve the current difficulties no matter what. This was very important to him.

For several days, thousands of soldiers and civilians worked hard in the valley despite the cold wind and made considerable progress. In five days, the soldiers and civilians dug three shallow canals on the ground that was frozen hard under the snow, widened and deepened one.

The large lake filled with silt. Although it is far from Fang Zian's expectation, the prototype of irrigation and drainage in the entire paddy field area has begun to take shape. Relying on the large lake and three ditches, the entire fertile land area with a radius of five miles is covered with hundreds of crescents.

The greenhouses have been built, and the number is still increasing at a rate of more than 30 per day. Under each greenhouse, there will be a paddy field with an area of ​​about half an acre. After all is completed, there will be as many as 3,000 acres of paddy field.

be reclaimed. Of course, this will take a long time to be completed. The ditch channels of the entire flood discharge system and the large lakes for flood storage upstream and downstream still need to be completed. By then, the dry fields and slopes and grasslands planned everywhere will have taken shape.

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the morning of the sixth day of full-scale construction, Xiao Gui returned with a full load of hunting teams. One hundred hunting teams could be said to have returned with a full load, bringing back more than 40 wild boars and eight blind bears. The rest

There are hundreds of small prey, including pheasants, rabbits, deer, roe deer, etc. The Taihang Mountains are rich in biological resources. Xiao Gui and others went hunting in the Yunv Mountain area deeper in the Taihang Mountains, and had a great harvest there. Several blind bears were lying in tree holes.

They were forced to take out the hibernation inside. If Xiao Gui and the others had not come back in a hurry, Xiao Gui and the others would have been able to hunt more prey.

Zhang Diwan was really overjoyed. The hunting team had harvested so much, which was thousands of kilograms of meat. For the Zhongyi Army, this was simply the best gift for the New Year.

In the afternoon, go shopping

The two former generals of the grain army, Wei Gaosheng and Lu Zhendong, also escorted ten carts of grain, grass, chickens, ducks, pigs, and sheep purchased from outside the mountains. Although the amount was not large, there were only more than 500 shi of grain and some other items.

livestock supplies, but this has proved the success of Fang Zian's plan. The camp's food reserves, which had been sharply reduced, suddenly became abundant again.

On the morning of the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Diwan ordered that work be suspended for two days and resume work on the second day of the first lunar month. He also called everyone to gather on the snowfield outside the camp to have a New Year's dinner.

On the snowy field, dozens of wild boars were hung on wooden posts. Soldiers armed with sharp knives skinned the wild boars, chopped them into large pieces of meat with axes, and then threw them into the disaster. Hundreds of cauldrons were lined up in a row.

Turn on the fire, the wood fire crackles, and soon after the large pieces of meat and bones are put into the pot, the meat and bones quickly start to tumble in the boiling hot water, slowly exuding a fragrant aroma. Yes.

For all the soldiers and civilians gathered on the snow, this was the mouth-watering smell of meat they had not seen for a long time. Many of them had not tasted meat for a long time.

As the rich aroma of meat filled the entire ground, all the soldiers and civilians stretched their necks and swallowed their saliva, looking eagerly at the fragrant hot pots with great anticipation. The cooks used big spoons to stir the contents in the pots.

The broth is added with salt and wild garlic dug from the mountains, and the taste makes everyone's mouth water.

"Line up, everyone has something, and everyone is satisfied. After eating, the people can go to the camp to get meat. Each family has three taels of meat. Although it is less, they can go home and give it to their families.

Let's make some meat soup. From now on, we will get more meat, so you don't have to worry about running out of meat." Zhang Diwan said loudly to the dark people with his hands on his hips.

"The great leader is wise, thank the great leader, and thank the officers and soldiers of the Zhongyi Army!" The people cheered thunderously and were extremely excited.

The broth was boiled and the meals were prepared. In the midst of joy, the people clapped in teams and each received a large bowl of broth and a large bowl of rice. They didn't care about the cold ice and snow on the ground, and squatted on the spot, whistling.

They began to eat and drink. There was no noise of human voices in the snowfield, and there were everywhere the sounds of gobbling food, drinking and contented hums. It was really an extremely happy moment for everyone. What could be better than in such a difficult environment?

What about drinking a bowl of thick broth and eating a bowl of fragrant rice at all times, which makes people happy? Although the weather is cold, everyone is sweating from eating, and every cell in the body is dancing.

Fang Zian and Zhang Ruomei stood side by side on a high place, looking at the scene of eating and drinking on the snow, feeling both relieved and emotional.

"It's great. Seeing them look satisfied makes me so happy. Hey, I'm finally relieved." Zhang Ruomei said softly.

Fang Zian nodded and said: "Yes, in fact, their requirements are not high. They are satisfied with meat and food. How can we not satisfy them with such requirements?"

Zhang Ruomei nodded and said: "Yes, they really don't want much. If you can't even satisfy them with this basic requirement, that would be the leader's dereliction of duty. Thanks to my husband, if you hadn't come this time, the situation would have been even worse.

Oops. It's fine now, everything seems different."

Fang Zian smiled and said: "Where is this? This is just a good start. Having enough food and clothing is basic.

Demand, in addition to doing these basic things, the Zhongyi Army also needs more things. For example, armor, weapons, equipment and supplies, and more importantly, it needs to assess the situation and flexibly maneuver behind enemy lines. Not only must it survive, but it must also become a golden person.

A knife for the mouth. This is the meaning of the existence of the Loyalty Army."

Zhang Ruomei said softly: "You can see much more clearly than my brother, and you have a much better vision of the situation. It's a pity that you have to leave as soon as the new year is over. Otherwise, if you stay here, you can give more guidance to my brother and help the Zhongyi Army transform.

Get better."

Fang Zian smiled and said: "Your brother should understand these principles. I will have a long talk with him before I leave. Some things cannot be rushed. Your brother is not a fool, he will know how to do it."

Zhang Ruomei nodded and was about to speak when she saw Zhang Diwan coming up the slope with a few soldiers. From a distance, he laughed loudly and said, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, I've been looking for you everywhere but you haven't been found. Turns out you are here."

Fang Zian greeted him with a smile. Zhang Diwan walked closer and said with a smile: "Brother-in-law, look at how happy they are eating. I am even happier than them. Brother-in-law, I now understand what you said. Let's

The first priority of the Zhongyi Army is to survive and live well before they can further consider the matter of killing the golden dog. Brother-in-law, I want to thank you for your advice. I used to look down on scholars, thinking that they were only talking words and full of bad intentions.

It's a mess, but you made me understand that reading is still useful. Your vision and ideas are better than mine."

Zhang Ruomei smiled sweetly and said: "Oh, my brother can actually say such things. Has the sun come out in the west?"

Zhang Diwan said with a smile: "Xiao Nizi turned her elbows outward, and even my brother laughed at me. But what I said was true. My brother-in-law is really better than me. Brother-in-law, if you stay here to help me, I will be loyal."

The army will surely rise. It’s a pity. I also know that you still have big things to do. It’s such a pity.”

Fang Zian said: "Brother, there is no need to be like this. Things here have actually made a good start. As long as brother proceeds according to the plan and when the three flood discharge channels and two flood storage lakes are completed, there is no need to worry about livelihood issues. With brother's leadership,

With the ability to fight, the loyal army will be able to find a breakthrough to attack the Jin people. In fact, I can't help much. This is what my brother understands."

Zhang Diwan laughed and said: "Don't try to flatter me either. I know you are saying all this as my idea for the sake of my prestige in the army. But this is actually all your fault. I

I just follow your advice and implement it. I know what kind of person I am. When it comes to fighting, I am not afraid of anyone. But when it comes to the overall situation and strategy, I am too far behind. Fortunately, you still have a few people left.

Today, I can ask you for more advice. Let’s not talk about this today. Brothers are waiting for you to drink. Everyone admires you. Let’s go have a drink. It’s the New Year. Put other things aside.

, it’s not too late to talk about it later.”

Fang Zian smiled and said, "Okay, let's go have a drink."

Zhang Diwan laughed and took Fang Zian's arm and walked down the slope towards the camp. Zhang Ruomei followed behind, looking at the two people's backs with an expression of joy from the bottom of his face. Two people in this world
Chapter completed!