It cannot be said that if we are worried about the Jianlu attacks, we need to build a defense line like the Liaodong Great Wall to completely separate the recovered areas, just like the Nanguan Defense Line.
Guo Dajing also understood and mastered the basic common sense of ancient warfare, that is, he would not easily go around the city and ignore the logistics supply line.
In later generations, some people asked this question on the Internet: The city is protected by tall walls and is easy to defend and difficult to attack, so why must we attack it? Isn't it better to take a detour? Or are the ancients just stupid?
The disadvantages of bypassing the city have been mentioned before. Although there are some successful cases of bypassing the city, the conditions are very harsh and the limitations are great, so smart generals will not use it easily.
Therefore, Liu Qishi's plan to advance the defensive stronghold and occupy a larger territory is normal and will be the way to fight in the future.
As he said, insufficient troops are the main limitation that currently prevents us from advancing the defense line.
There are only two alliances in the Jinzhou garrison. Even if the expansion is completed, it will only be 24,000 troops. To hold two lines, the troops will inevitably be divided, and the troops will be even smaller.
It is obviously difficult to resist the attack of Jianlu's army with more than 10,000 people. And if it fails, no matter how much territory it occupies, it will be contested. No matter how many soldiers and civilians are placed, they will not escape the fate of being massacred.
"Don't be anxious, take your time!" Guo Dajing smiled and comforted: "The current site is more than enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, so why be greedy for more and get into a dangerous situation! Next year, it will not be too late to continue to expand next year."
This is indeed the main reason why Guo Dajing does not want to expand too much. He wants to occupy the land base in the most stable and safe way and solve the most critical food problem first.
According to the normal yields of potatoes, corn, and rye, if there is a bumper harvest this year, there is no need to worry about next year's food.
With enough food, the Dongjiang Army has the conditions to continue to expand its army and receive a large number of escaped Liao people.
And next year, when the Jianlu are experiencing a great famine, it is basically certain that a large number of Shatou Liao people will flee.
All in all, regardless of whether the Jianlu plunder the Gyeonggi area next year, Dongjiang Town will usher in a period of great development after solidifying its foundation.
This is the reason why Guo Dajing kept talking about "next year". Although many people had some speculations, they did not expect that the Jianlu troops might go out in large numbers to plunder the capital, or that there would be a great famine among the Jianlu tribes.
Liu Qishi has become accustomed to it and is no longer sensitive to the word "next year". He no longer accompanies Guo Dajing on inspection tours and is led to the hot springs.
After fighting for many years, he must have suffered injuries and illnesses. He heard that this hot spring was very curative and was called "divine water", and he couldn't help but feel anxious.
Soaking in hot springs definitely has health benefits, and hot water for your feet is also good for your body!
Guo Dajing did not stop him, and continued to be led by Wang Qian, inspecting various camps and defense facilities, and asked concerned about the situation at Wang Qian's home.
"Although I haven't gone home to see it, I heard from the soldiers who came back from visiting relatives that Guanglu Village is doing very well, with big houses and lots of land." Wang Qian replied with great satisfaction: "The family will be divided at last.
Thirty acres of rye and potatoes are grown, and based on last year’s yield, it’s enough to last for two years.”
In order to make it easy for ordinary people to recognize, most of the names of new villages remind them of where the villagers come from. For example, Changshan Village, Lu Village, Pidao Village, Yuncong Village, etc.
"Take time to go home and take a look, and take turns to take vacations, just to reassure everyone." Guo Dajing pondered for a moment and said: "It seems that the communication work will be accelerated."
Although postal communication is a planned task, there are many tasks in the initial construction of Jinzhou, so we can only choose the important ones first, such as spring plowing, building houses, etc.
Guo Dajing felt that communication between soldiers and relatives could be established first. The establishment numbers of the troops had been determined, and the villages where they lived had been fixed, so communication conditions were basically met.
Of course, there must be some problems that need to be solved in the early stage, and the communication speed cannot be guaranteed. But this is not important. In ancient times, long-distance communication was usually entrusted to someone, and it was not surprising that the communication was received in a few months or several months.
Moreover, the establishment of communication will also be an encouragement for soldiers and civilians to learn literacy.
Guo Dajing expressed his thoughts during the chat and asked for the opinions of Wang Qian and other soldiers.
"This is a great thing!" Wang Qian's eyes lit up, and he first agreed: "The soldiers will definitely feel relieved if they can understand the situation at home, and they don't have to worry about it all the time."
Guo Dajing smiled and said: "There must be some aspects of the preferential treatment policy for military families that are not implemented properly. Being able to communicate with their families, if the soldiers are dissatisfied, they can report it to the superiors and get it resolved."
"Your Excellency is absolutely right." A young officer bowed and said, "Although the preferential treatment policy for military family members is already very good, it does have some imperfections."
"That's for sure." Guo Dajing nodded and said, "Many shortcomings need to be improved step by step. But if the higher-ups don't know, there is no way to improve."
After a pause, Guo Dajing reminded again: "Study at night should not be neglected. Being able to read and hyphenate is a skill. When you retire in the future, you may be able to become a minor official. Even if you can write letters to your family, it will be a good thing."
Wang Qian agreed and said: "Yes, now the benefits of literacy and hyphenation have also emerged. Even the supply and marketing station in Murakami requires people who can read and keep accounts. It's a good job, but most people can only read it.
Greedy."
"Murakami's night school will also be opened. This is an unchanged policy." Guo Dajing said: "Let everyone in the family go, and they can still spare an hour or half an hour."
"When you can read the letter by yourself, you don't need someone else to read it for you. You can just write down some close words, and you don't have to be embarrassed." Guo Dajing smiled and joked: "Do you think this is true?"
Everyone laughed. Even though it was not a frivolous thing at that time, there were some things and some words that were really not meant for outsiders to know.
Invisibly, the relationship between Guo Dajing and the soldiers became closer.
Although Guo Dajing was approachable, no one doubted his martial prowess, and therefore he lacked admiration.
Who doesn't know that General Guo killed the prince of the slave chieftain, and who doesn't know that more than a hundred Jianluo died in the hands of General Guo...
It was at the foot of Xiaoheishan that the battlefield was where General Guo led his troops to attack Jianlu, leaving thousands of Jianlu dead and fleeing in embarrassment.
But now, Jinzhou is fifty or sixty miles behind them, with their relatives and friends, and the vast land that has just been cultivated and looking forward to a good harvest.
From officers to soldiers, they all know very clearly what is a hope that can be realized and what must be protected.
Their fighting, their hard work, finally turned into a regretless effort to protect their homeland, which was very different from before.
………………..
What feels very different from before is the psychology of almost everyone, including Han Zhong who returned home from vacation.
At this time, he was wielding a shovel and digging a hole in his backyard. He was almost finished and was sweating profusely.
Village establishment, resettlement of immigrants, spring plowing and sowing, and building houses are many and complex tasks that must be carried out step by step and gradually refined.
Every household has a toilet, which is also an item in the village planning. After being busy, the villagers also took time to repair it.
With a toilet, it is not only convenient to use, but also can accumulate fertilizer, which is also in line with Guo Dajing's impression of the new countryside.
"Brother Han, take a break and drink some water!" Shuzhen came over, holding a water bowl and handing over a cloth towel.
Han Zhong agreed, dug a few more shovels, then climbed out, wiped his hands on the hem of his clothes, took the cloth to wipe his sweat, took the water bowl and drank it all in one go.
Shuzhen looked at the man tenderly from the side. Although the window paper was still not broken, in her heart, they were already a family.
Whether she was forced by the pressure of life to find a man to rely on; or she was grateful for Han Zhong's help, Shuzhen felt that as long as Han Zhong was willing, she would not refuse.
"It's so easy to take a vacation, and you still have to work every day, but it's even more tiring than being in the army." Shuzhen took the empty bowl and said with concern: "You don't even have a military camp to eat, okay?"
Han Zhong laughed and said: "As long as you are full, it is good or bad. As for being tired, working for the family makes me happy even if I am tired."
As he said that, Han Zhong looked up at the more impressive backyard, and said with emotion: "Who would have thought that there would be such a nice and big home. This backyard is just a back garden, which is only owned by rich families."
Shuzhen smiled and said, "It's a pity that there are no flowers, it's just a vegetable garden and an orchard."
"Growing flowers is not something ordinary people like us do, and we shouldn't eat them." Han Zhong said with some curiosity: "If you like flowers and plants, get some flower pots to grow them."
Shuzhen shook her head and said, "Don't dare to spend that much time. When the vegetables grow taller, they will look green and beautiful."
Han Zhong nodded and said, "The digging is almost done. I'll finish the wood, erect the piles, and nail the walls, and it's done."
Shuzhen said quickly: "Don't worry, there are toilets in the village, and there are public ones in the village! You'd better rest for a while, you have to eat soon."
"Besides -" Shuzhen pointed at Han Zhong, "Your clothes are torn. I'll give you two stitches to prevent them from getting bigger and bigger."
Han Zhong glanced down and said with a smile: "Really, your flesh is almost exposed."
When the two returned to the front yard, Han Zhong was about to change clothes. Shuzhen said quickly: "Don't bother, just put it on and I'll connect it with a few stitches."
Han Zhong didn't think much, he responded and stood there.
Shuzhen was probably in a hurry to cook, so she hurried over with needle and thread, reached out to pick up the torn clothes, and started sewing.
Han Zhong was half a head taller than Shuzhen. When he lowered his head slightly, he could see Shuzhen's hair and half of her face, and smelled a feminine scent with a hint of sweat in his nose.
Shuzhen felt the man's heavy breath blowing into her hair and ears. They were so close together and smelled each other. Her face turned red, her heart beat like a little rabbit, and her hands shook a little.
Well, Han Zhong felt the needle prick and couldn't help but hum.
Shuzhen screamed, quickly pulled out the needle, and hurriedly wiped the blood from the eye of the needle. She was so anxious that she wanted to cry.
A pair of strong arms suddenly hugged Shuzhen into his arms, and warm and gentle words passed into her ears, "It's okay, it doesn't hurt at all."
Shuzhen's stiff body suddenly relaxed and softened, her face pressed against her warm and generous chest, and she slowly closed her eyes.
The reliance was so real, there was no longer any random thoughts or uneasiness, Shuzhen's hands slowly hugged Han Zhong tightly, as if she was afraid of losing him.
Yes, she has lost too many, parents, husband, fields, home...
The same goes for Han Zhong. His family was ruined and only his son was left to depend on him.
The two poor people hugged each other tightly, feeling that they had support and thoughts, and that they had a home again.
During the war in Liaodong, many families were separated and their families were destroyed. However, through the subsequent escape and assistance, the basic unit of society - the family - was reorganized.
Sharing hardships and showing sympathy to each other may be just a piece of solid food or a mouthful of water, but it can reunite two broken families.
The concept of home is deeply ingrained in people's hearts, and it is the foundation and spiritual support of individual life. With home, there is responsibility, and it becomes an object to be protected.
It is rare for Han Zhong and Shuzhen to come together after such a long time.
What kind of emotional foundation is needed, as well as being in love and knowing each other, and interdependence is the most needed psychological comfort at that time.
The sound of voices coming from outside caused the man and woman who had been hugging each other for who knows how long to separate like an electric shock. Although there was no further intimacy, the man was in love with the woman, and the window paper was pierced.
The two children came back talking and laughing, Han Shantong was carrying a basket with grass cut for the rabbit, and the little girl was carrying a small bundle symbolically, still eating something in her mouth, smiling happily.
"Dad, Aunt Zhen." Han Shantong did not notice the embarrassment of the adult, put down the basket and walked into the house, greeting him with a smile.
Han Zhong responded with a smile, Shuzhen responded and hurriedly went to the kitchen to make a fire to cook, so as not to be noticed by the children.
"New goods have arrived at the supply and marketing station. I bought two pieces of candied fruit for Yaya." Han Shantong said, "It cost a penny."
Han Zhong didn't take it seriously and said, "If you want to eat, dad will give you some money."
"I won't eat." Han Shantong said, "By the way, the village chief asked me to send you a message. I will ask you to be a witness when the pension is distributed in the afternoon."
The so-called pension is a subsidy to the families of fallen soldiers.
There are now three types: one is a one-time pension of fifty taels; the second is that the original salary received by the deceased will continue to be paid to the family members for a period of ten years; the other is complete tax exemption on cultivated fields.
With military coupons and land, pensions that were previously unavailable to soldiers killed and disabled in battle have now begun to be implemented.
This kind of pension policy allows the families of fallen soldiers to live a good life and relieves the soldiers from worries.
In order to effectively ensure the interests of the martyrs' families, when the village chief distributes food and salary to the military martyrs' families every month, he will ask active or retired soldiers to testify that he has not committed corruption or embezzlement, so as to avoid future troubles.
You must know that Guo Dajing laid the foundation for attaching importance to soldiers in Guanglu Island. He will never spare anyone who dares to infringe on the interests of soldiers and their families.
Han Zhong is not only an active soldier, but also an officer. He has the highest rank in the village. The village chief asked him to witness this as a sign of respect.
Han Zhong nodded and said, "I understand, I'll go after dinner."
Thinking about the new pension policy, Han Zhong felt more confident. His desire for revenge against Jianlu was still there, but if something happened to him, his son, Shuzhen, and Xiaoya would all be alive and well.
Han Zhong stretched out his hand and asked his son to sit next to him, and said hesitantly: "Son, daddy wants to tell you something..."
The improvement of military treatment and the implementation of the pension policy are all seen by ordinary people. It is certain to be envious, but some people can only sigh.
When Zhang Bang came home after working, the food was ready. Looking at his wife and little sister who were eating deliciously, he felt very guilty in his heart.
"What's the matter?" The wife was attentive and noticed her husband's depression, and asked a little strangely: "Are you tired? Then take a rest at home in the afternoon!"
Zhang Bang shook his head and said, "It's not that I'm tired, it's that I feel sorry for you. Look at those who have soldiers at home, they have more fields than us, they can raise sheep and rabbits, and they can also spend money to buy snacks for their children."
Distributing military coupons is the same as distributing food. When people receive military coupons, they go out to buy food. They won't be hungry, but they won't have much money left.
Therefore, the supply and marketing station is constantly adding new products, but the consumer group can only be those military families. Although they cannot buy anything expensive, they can buy a few taels of wine and a piece of candied fruit, which is enough to make others envious.
The wife smiled and said: "Don't compare with them. They have to fight and fight, and they have to earn it with their lives. You are the backbone of the family, and we cannot live without you."
"The pension policy is very good. Even if there is an emergency, the family will not have to worry about food and drink." Zhang Bang saw that his wife's face was wrong and he quickly said: "That's what I said, I have no intention of becoming a soldier."
The wife breathed a sigh of relief and said: "As long as everyone in the family is well, it doesn't matter if we have a simple diet. Don't you calculate clearly that after the autumn harvest, our family will have a surplus of food, and can we still save some money?"
After the autumn harvest, each family will have a surplus of grain, and military bills can be saved, and consumption will be boosted in the future.
Not to mention how luxurious you can be, eating more meat, drinking more wine, adding more seasonings such as sauce and vinegar when cooking, or adding more clothes will also improve your life.
Getting better is certain. Although the magnitude is different, some are fast and some are slow, it can also give people the motivation to strive for better.
Zhang Bang nodded. He understood and was grateful for his wife's care and concern. But compared to other people's living standards, he always felt a little guilty.
The preferential policies for military personnel have become more obvious this year. For example, the supply of non-staple food, the number of distributions of dried fish, smoked fish, duck eggs, etc., is very different between soldiers and civilians.
This gap was intentionally created by Guo Dajing. Including the fact that families of military martyrs were given priority to adopt cattle and sheep, there were not many of them, and ordinary people could not get them at all.
In fact, as Zhang Bang's wife said, soldiers are fighting with their blood and lives, and there is no reason to be the same or different from ordinary people.
Let the military become a profession that everyone envies, and let the military and their families get rich first. Guo Dajing's purpose is simple and clear.
Seeing that her husband didn't seem to be relieved, the wife smiled and said: "The village needs to build roads, dig canals, and build kilns to bake bricks. There is a lot of work this year. If we put in some effort, we can make more money."
The construction of Jinzhou has just begun, various projects will gradually begin, and development will gradually deepen.