Tian Chou had been to the Wang Family Courtyard in Bangzhou many times, but he had never been as uncomfortable as this time.

Walking on the central axis of this huge manor with hundreds of rooms, Tian Chou felt that the houses on both sides and the passers-by on the road looked at him a little differently.

It was like there were a hundred caterpillars crawling around on my body.

In the past, when he walked on this road, everyone would look up to him with admiration, fear, and respect.

But now, Tian Chou feels that there is one more thing, and that is contempt.

He couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

If you commit evil yourself, you will not survive. The ancients are sincere and I cannot deceive you.

If only I had been a little firmer in the beginning, I could have avoided the embarrassing situation now.

Tian Chou felt very uncomfortable when he thought that this time he was being compared to the old man Yang Qing.

By being compared, you lose not only your face, but also your real benefits.

For example, in the soon-to-be-established Guiyang Road Pacifying Envoy's Mansion, the Yang family's share is much larger than the Tian family's share, and in important positions, they are even more capable.

Get more.

Who doesn’t want to work with a determined ally?

You are half-hearted, so no wonder people have a conservative attitude towards you.

And the gap is widened bit by bit in this way.

Now, it's just the beginning.

Therefore, Tian Chou had to make a trip for the future.

What was lost has been lost, and now, he is ready to pay more to regain what was lost previously.

This is a price that must be paid.

If you cannot stop the loss in time, it will only become more and more difficult in the future.

This is how it is in the officialdom. If you make a mistake in one step, you may be in trouble for the rest of your life. And power and interests are basically linked to the official title.

Tian Yi is not in Bangzhou. I heard that he went to Guiyang specifically to move the federation's headquarters. I hope that Tian's misguided trip this time will not affect his status in front of Xiao Cheng.

The red main building appeared in the field of vision, and then he saw Xiao Cheng standing on the steps with his hands behind his back.

Tian Chou's heart felt hot and he strode over.

The room was warm, and Tian Chou's heart was also warm. Xiao Cheng did not blame Tian at all for his previous retreat. He still had the same attitude as before, which made Tian Chou sigh with emotion for a long time.

There is no special enthusiasm or obvious alienation. If this is the attitude, it can only mean that Xiao Cheng is really concerned.

Of course, Xiao Cheng's free and easy attitude should also be due to the fact that this time things went smoothly beyond people's imagination. A great victory always makes people feel happy and magnanimous.

"The integration of the entire Zhongsheng Army into the military system of the Federation is naturally what I want!" Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "Brother Tian, ​​to tell you the truth, our next opponent is Dali, and that is not Luo Shi

The Ghost Kingdom can't be compared. Although Luo's Ghost Kingdom can barely be called a country, in fact, it is just a tribal government attached to the Song Dynasty. Dali is different. It is a real

He is a well-established country. With the troops I currently have, it is really difficult to deal with him."

Tian Chou nodded. He was naturally aware of the size of the army under the federation system. The Tiannan Army and the Tianwu Army each had a strength of 2,500 people. Han Yan's Xiang Army had 3,000 people. The newly reorganized Luo Gang

With Wang Zhu and Fan Yifei as commanders, the Heavenly Wolf Army has 5,000 people. All in all, it is only just over 10,000 people.

And Dali is a big country with a population of one million and an army of one hundred thousand.

"After the Zhongsheng Army, the Xiongwei Army, and the Zunyi Army are all integrated, the combat effectiveness of our army will be greatly strengthened." Tian Chou said: "The troops that Dali can bring out to fight us will not exceed at most.

This number."

"Brother Tian, ​​there are more than 20,000 people in the Zhongsheng Army, and there are almost the same number in the Bozhou Army. To be honest, we can't afford to support them!" Xiao Cheng said: "Besides, I don't think it is necessary to support so many.

People, if Brother Tian really wants to integrate the Zhongsheng Army, the first step is to conduct large-scale disarmament. We only need the most elite ones. As the saying goes, soldiers are more valuable than elites."

Tian Chou hesitated: "Did Yang Gong also discuss this issue with you Chongwen?"

"Of course." Xiao Cheng nodded and said: "After the reorganization of the Xiongwei Army, only three thousand elites will be left. The remaining people will be given severance pay and then go home to make a living on their own. I hope that the same will be true for the Zhongsheng Army."

"So many troops are to be laid off at once?" Tian Chou said in embarrassment: "Soldiers are fine, but officers?"

"Officers must be demoted." Xiao Cheng said unceremoniously: "Moreover, only those with the ability can stay. I know that this matter will definitely cause a big backlash in the military, but if it can't be done

At this point, I would rather wait for the integration of the Zhongsheng Army."

Tian Chou pondered and couldn't decide. He didn't expect that Xiao Cheng's efforts in this aspect were so great, and it was so different from his idea.

"Brother Tian, ​​yesterday, the Statistics Department basically produced the census on Guiyang Road." Xiao Cheng took out a stack of forms and said: "There will definitely be some deviations, but in general it is still good. The whole of Guiyang

There are only 600,000 adult Ding on the road, and this is after taking into account the Ding of the newly conquered Luo Shi Ghost Kingdom. If we maintain an army of 20,000, that is 30 people, and we have to raise one soldier.

, if we count our officials, this ratio will be even lower, plus some intangible things like corvee imposed on the people, the burden on the people will be too great."

"Have all the people been counted?"

"Naturally, this is the most important thing and the basis for how far we can go. I have arranged to start doing this very early, and now the results are finally coming. Brother Tian, ​​with all due respect, places like Sizhou

, the burden on the people is actually heavier than in other places, because you have too many troops."

"If you cut too hard, it will trigger some backlash!" Tian Chou said: "Please give me some time."

"Of course!" Xiao Cheng said: "You can also do it step by step. Those disbanded armies can be organized into Xiang army, regiment training, rural soldiers, etc. For the time being, they will still be given military pay, etc., but it will take year by year.

Lower it until there are no more. Most of those officers are from the Tian family and people related to the Tian family. These people need to be solved by Brother Tian. As long as these people are honest, I think there will be no trouble.

.”

"Thank you for your understanding!"

Glutinous rice

"This is what should have been done. I would like to thank you for understanding the overall situation and being willing to put aside the interests of your family and work with me to do a great cause." Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "Brother Tian, ​​this is not the case.

What ordinary people can do, you and Mr. Yang are my nobles. Without your help, I, Mr. Xiao, would not be here today. So you can also tell Mrs. Tian that as long as I, Mr. Xiao, are around one day, Mrs. Tian will do it.

, you can definitely enjoy prosperity and wealth."

Tian Chou was speechless and could only clasp his fists to the ground.

Xiao Cheng is not wrong in saying this, but his family knows his own affairs. In fact, the days of the Tian family and the Yang family have been extremely difficult in recent years.

In the eyes of the imperial court, these people are naturally aliens, and some are just guarding and suppressing them for fear that they will cause trouble. But within Sizhou, expenses are increasing year by year, and in the entire Tian family, only a few are really capable, and most of them are capable of doing things.

Not only cannot it help the family, but it has become a drag on the family.

Within the jurisdiction, the burden on the people is becoming increasingly heavy, and there are many people who have broken down their homes and destroyed their homes. There are more and more rebels, refugees, and bandits every year. However, the income is decreasing every year.

It looks like flowers blooming outside, but inside it is already in danger. Maybe with just a little spark, the whole Sizhou will turn into a blazing torch.

Ordinary disciples of the Tian family cannot see these things, but Tian Chou, as the clan leader, naturally knows them all.

If it is poor, it will change, if it changes, it will be general, and if it is general, it will not hurt.

If things don't change, I'm afraid the Sizhou Tian family will have big problems.

Bozhou Yang Family is actually facing the same problem.

That's why they paid attention to Xiao Ding, who was pioneering in the northwest at that time.

At that time, both Yang Qing and Tian Chou realized that if they wanted their family to continue to prosper, in addition to cutting off internal problems, they would also have to expand outwards to completely solve the problem.

But if they really want to go abroad, the first person who won't agree will be the imperial court.

It was at this time that Xiao Cheng came.

This gave them hope.

It is an excellent choice to use Xiao Cheng's hand to complete the expansion of the Tian and Yang families.

So they took the initiative to come to the door.

However, in the subsequent development, they did not expect that Xiao Cheng would become more and more powerful, so that today, the Tian and Yang families have become auxiliaries in an absolute sense.

But from another perspective, the Tian and Yang families have indeed gotten out of the dilemma of being trapped in one place and begun to glow with new vitality.

Now, the general trend is developing and they can no longer stop it.

If I really want to get off the boat at this time, I am afraid that I will be capsized by the big waves caused by the big boat.

The long-term strategy is to continue to work closely together, or even integrate into one, to truly have me in you and you in me.

"Whether it is the Zhongsheng Army or the Xiongwei Army, after reorganization, the command will be returned to the future Guiyang Road Pacifying Envoy Yamen, but the main generals of the two armies will still be people from the Tian and Yang families.

There won't be any changes in a short period of time." Xiao Cheng said: "However, the functions of the sergeants in the pacification envoy's yamen will undergo major changes. I plan to use Du Qianjia as the head of the sergeants to lead Guiyang.

All the troops on the road have the right to command and deploy all the troops on the Guiyang road. Brother Tian, ​​is he interested in taking charge of this capital?"

Tian Chou couldn't help but feel moved, but after thinking about it, he shook his head and refused: "Thank you for your love. I'm in Sizhou, and I can't get away for a while. It's better to let Mr. Yang take this position."

Xiao Cheng laughed: "Yang Gong and you are talking about the same thing. Think about it. Under such a big change, Bozhou and Sizhou still need you to take charge. Then I am going to let Yang Wanfu take this position. Regardless of his qualifications,

Even with experience, I am competent enough, what do you think?"

"Everything will be decided by the signing." Tian Chou nodded. Although the Zhongsheng Army has been reorganized, as long as the main generals from top to bottom are still named Tian, ​​he is not too worried.

"Since Brother Tian is going back to Sizhou, we need to ask Brother Tian to help the joint bank implement the issuance of Jiaozi in Sizhou." Xiao Cheng said: "This is an urgent matter at the moment. We want our Jiaozi to be competitive.
To be continued...