Guo Dajing had complicated feelings about the remaining 30,000 people in Liao Town.
He hated them for fearing the enemy like a tiger, for not caring about the interests of the country, and for having no national justice. But it was a pity for Guo Dajing to beat them to death with a stick.
This is nearly 30,000 cavalry. If I can use it, the Pingliao and the enemy can be completed almost a year ahead of schedule. Of course, it requires strict training and full control, which is not an easy task.
But at least, Liao Zhen cannot be allowed to help the Jianru people recover. Smuggling food supplies is absolutely not allowed. Even if they completely fall out with Liao Zhen, they will not hesitate.
Regarding Guo Dajing's suggestion, Mao Wenlong immediately understood it. It was friendly, but it could also be regarded as a warning. He could point it out tactfully in the letter so that Liao Zhen would not dare to take risks.
Moreover, agreeing to support grain and grass has another meaning, which is to try to win over the people and see if there is no possibility of merging Liao Town.
It turns out that it was Yuan Chonghuan who suppressed the blockade, either to cripple Dongjiang Town, or to take Dongjiang Town completely into his hands.
Now the situation has been completely reversed. Dongjiang Town has become the main force of Ping Liao that the imperial court relies on, while Liao Town has brought its own consequences and has become a suppressed and divided existence.
Mao Wenlong gently stroked his forehead. Although he accepted Guo Dajing's suggestion, he was not optimistic and said slowly: "Even if Liao Zhen can listen to orders, I'm afraid I can't use it with confidence."
Mao Wenlong already looked down upon the combat power of Liao Town. Unless the generals of Liao Town handed over their troops, they would be trained and armed by the officers of Dongjiang Town to become a usable army.
But this is obviously impossible, and Mao Wenlong doesn't want to spend money and food in vain to raise a bunch of waste.
Guo Dajing smiled faintly and said: "General Mo also has a very bad impression of Liao Town, but it doesn't hurt to give it a try. If Liao Town is ungrateful and betrays the country and joins the captives, General Mo will bring 20,000 elite soldiers to pacify Ningyuan."
Mao Wenlong laughed and said with admiration: "I am very pleased to have such ambition."
Leaning in the chair, Mao Wenlong looked at Guo Dajing and said with a smile: "While I am going back to Dalian to do business, I will stay at home for a few days to spend time with Axiu and Aying. Well, Aying is very up to date and has not embarrassed this handsome matchmaker."
It was Mao Shen who must have told Mao Wenlong about A Ying's happiness. Guo Dajing was not surprised by this, he smiled and nodded and quickly agreed.
"There is one more thing to report to the commander-in-chief." Guo Dajing said: "Nowadays, muskets are constantly being produced. In addition to equipping the troops, there will be more surplus. The general thought that a small amount could be distributed to the militia and began training."
Mao Wenlong pondered for a moment and said: "It's okay. But it must be controlled well. It is best to put it away at ordinary times and not leave it in the homes of militiamen."
Although Guo Dajing was a little disapproving, he did not object and accepted the teachings.
This is another big step towards all-in-one soldiers. It not only improves the overall strength of Dongjiang Town, but also lays the foundation for the future development of the vast Beidahuang.
To the north, to the north, the fertile black land is vast, but the sparsely populated swamp forests also hide many dangers.
The army alone may not be able to do it, but the people equipped with muskets will be even more full of adventurous and pioneering spirit.
The endless wasteland, occupied by dozens or hundreds of armed people, is yours, and you will be given at least ten to ten years of farming time without paying taxes.
Even if there are talented managers among the pioneers, it is not impossible for them to be appointed by government officials.
Why the Western Barbarians were able to occupy such a large colony with such a small population was the result of policy encouragement.
Facing a nation that is ignorant and technologically backward, dozens of colonists can conquer it, build castles for jurisdiction, and be entrusted with titles such as governors.
How tempting is it to occupy land, become an official, and get rich? Your entire life will change, and you may even seek benefits for future generations.
………………
In July in Liaodong, the weather is clear and bright. In the vast fields, various crops are growing lushly and vigorously, showing a gratifying scene of a good harvest in sight.
From Gaizhou to Fuzhou, and then through Jinzhou, Guo Dajing saw such delightful scenery. But there are also differences between the three states.
Gaizhou is mostly military settlements, and its land utilization rate is not as good as Fuzhou, let alone Jinzhou. Occasionally, you can still see fields, green grass, and colorful wild flowers.
Entering Jinzhou, you can hardly see such wasteland. Even a small piece of land in the corner has been planted with various crops by the people.
Because there are no taxes on these marginal lands, the people can cultivate, plant, and harvest whatever they can, it is their own.
In Gaizhou, the original owners of this wasteland, the bears, wild boars, and wolves... were still nostalgic for the mountains and forests. They often ran into the crop fields to forage for food, and competed with the soldiers in the military camp from time to time.
It seems to be the same between heaven and earth. Whether they are humans or beasts, they are all fighting and fighting for their own survival.
After defeating the Jianlu, the world will be at peace? I am afraid that only Guo Dajing does not think so, and he has no intention of letting his horse go to Nanshan to lie down and enjoy happiness.
However, when you see the smiling faces of the people and hear their laughter, you feel proud. If you can't even manage these three states well, what's the use of fighting for a bigger territory?
"In another month at most, the rye and potatoes will be harvested. This year is good. As long as the frost doesn't happen too early, the corn harvest will be the same."
Guo Dajing was surprised when he met an old acquaintance on the road, Wang Laohan, the farm manager of Guanglu Island.
"Even you have left the island. I'm afraid there aren't many people on the island, right?" Guo Dajing asked Wang Laohan with a smile as he asked Wang Laohan to sit casually in the shade of the tree.
Wang Laohan chuckled and said: "There is only so much land on the island, but it is not as fertile as the land here. Who would stay on the island and suffer poverty? The key is that our Dongjiang Army is powerful enough, with Marshal Mao and Marshal Guo leading it.
, Jian Nu can’t be defeated!”
Guo Dajing smiled and lowered his head. Safety must be the people's first consideration. If there is a risk of war, they would rather live a miserable life on the island.
"Is this the second year?" Guo Dajing pointed at the field where Wang Laohan was working, but it didn't look like it had just been planted this year.
Wang Laohan nodded repeatedly and said: "Last year was not a good year, but for potatoes, even if the yield was reduced by 30%, it was enough for the family. I lost so much that I didn't feel confident in the first year."
"There will be no problem this year!" Wang Laohan showed a happy smile on his dark face, which appeared to be more wrinkled. "It seems that the potatoes alone will definitely exceed last year's entire harvest. Plus rye, corn
…”
Although the harvest has not started yet, the people's predictions are still very accurate. After many years of farming experience, the difference is basically not much different.
"By the way, I have also planted two acres of sesame seeds. I can harvest them right away." Wang Laohan stretched out his hand and pointed into the distance and said with a smile: "Squeeze out the sesame oil, add a little to the pickles, and it will be fragrant in your mouth.
Fragrant."
Guo Dajing didn't know whether sesame seeds could be suitable for the Liaodong environment during the Little Ice Age, but after hearing Wang Laohan's confirmation, he thought it should be possible.
Even so, this is the decision of the people themselves, but small-area cultivation, such as private land, does not affect the payment of taxes.
Anyway, Guo Dajing doesn't want to promote it, nor does he want to intervene. The Little Ice Age has not yet reached its peak, and the climate will become colder and colder, which will also limit the varieties of crops that can be grown in Liaodong.
Therefore, early-maturing and cold-resistant potatoes and rye are strictly regulated by the government and must be planted in two-thirds of the area. In this way, even if extreme weather occurs, the harvest can be basically guaranteed and the people will not go hungry.
Pickles dripping with sesame oil, this is already a good standard of living for ordinary people. But for the disaster victims in the northwest, being able to drink a bowl of porridge is probably a dream.
After several years of farming experience in Liaodong, Guo Dajing could almost conclude that although the disasters of the Little Ice Age were severe, the reason why refugees were everywhere and uprisings occurred one after another lay with the imperial court and the government.
The reason why farmers abandoned their land and dragged their families and families on the road to escape famine was not only due to disasters, but also due to the increase in taxes.
If the imperial court could reduce taxes and provide some relief in a timely manner, how could farmers who regard land as their life leave their homes?
The disaster has already caused a reduction in production, but taxes are increasing, and the people's harvest is not enough to hand over. Under the pressure of the wolf-like officials, they actually want to sell their sons and daughters. Who will stay where they are, waiting to die?
Natural disasters are ruthless, and man-made disasters are even more severe.
Listening to Wang Laohan nagging about his plans for next year, Guo Dajing smiled from time to time and added a few words to share the joy with the old man.
"The weather is getting colder every year, and I don't know when it will get back to normal." Wang Laohan also noticed the changes in temperature in the past few years and said, "I don't dare to grow other crops, but potatoes, rye, and millet.
It must be diverse, and the family must be fed first, right?”
Guo Dajing said: "It may take ten or eight years before the weather gets colder. No one can say for sure. You are right to think so. Make sure you have enough food first, and then plant a small amount of suitable crops. If the harvest is not good, there will be no
Affected."
It is now the third year of Chongzhen. According to historical records, it should be thirteen or four years before the climate gradually gets warmer.
Guo Dajing, who is already confident, does not think that the next ten years will be particularly difficult. With high-yielding and cold-resistant crops, Liaodong should be stable.
Even if you plant traditional crops, you may not get nothing every year.
Countries at the same latitude include Japan and Korea, and colder places include Mobei Mongolia and Russia. Haven't they all survived and not perished in the Little Ice Age?
Wang Laohan didn't understand the Little Ice Age, but he had great faith in Guo Dajing's judgment. In other words, the people already had a lot of trust in the government. This might be called credibility!
A leopard can be seen in a tube.
Guo Dajing could only know how the people lived through the scenes he saw with his own eyes, the stories he heard with his own ears, and the faces of the people.
There is still a long way to go before we are well-off, but we can already ensure food and clothing. And these changes have been completed in the past few years.
"How are the militiamen in the village? The training will not affect the farm work, right?" Guo Dajing simply asked more to learn more about the actual situation.
"It's okay." Wang Laohan waved his hands and said: "The busy farming period only lasts for a while, and there are more slack periods. With them around, the people feel more at ease. A few days ago, we also killed two people running down the mountain.
Where’s the wild boar!”
Grinning, Wang Laohan continued: "That thing is very powerful. If you don't watch it, you can dig several acres of land in one night, and your crops will be harmed."
Guo Dajing raised his head and looked at the mountains and forests in the distance, but he could only smile helplessly.
But this is not a common thing after all. As the population increases, those poor beasts are either killed or migrate to farther and more remote mountains and forests.
Even so, if the Liaodong land wants to reach the level of development of later generations, it will not be achieved in more than ten years, decades, or even hundreds of years.
In other words, even if the Dongjiang Army no longer expands its territory, it will be enough to support the three states of Liaonan with a population of hundreds of thousands or more than 200,000.
There are also costs, that is, changes in the natural environment and a significant reduction in forest coverage. Of course, we certainly cannot consider that much now, and it is impossible for the Dongjiang Army not to regain lost ground.
A seven or eight-year-old kid ran over and invited Wang Laohan home for dinner. This tough-looking little guy was Wang Laohan's grandson.
"This stinky boy has got his head buried in the dust somewhere." Wang Laohan scolded, but with a face full of favor and smile, he kowtowed to Guo Dajing while pressing his grandson.
When Guo Dajing saw this stocky boy jumping up and down, he smiled and took out two military tickets and stuffed them in his hand, asking him to buy snacks for himself. He was more and more convinced of the people's living standards.
"Old man, go back and eat, I have to continue on my way." Guo Dajing declined Wang Laohan's invitation, mounted his horse, waved, and galloped away with his soldiers.
The quality of life of the people is steadily improving, which also means that the soldiers have no worries and can fight with peace of mind.
It is their heroic fighting that allows relatives and friends to live in peace and allows family members to live better.
As the main manager of the Three States, Guo Dajing only believed what he saw and heard. This may be the biggest difference from the emperor and ministers.
It may not be accurate to use "why not eat minced meat" to describe Chongzhen and his ministers, but they either didn't know much about the sufferings of the people, or they were hard-hearted and turned a blind eye.
The description in the memorial is far less touching than seeing it with your own eyes. Just looking at the three words "people eat each other", can you imagine the miserable scene like hell on earth?
Guo Dajing raised his hand to signal and slowed down his horse.
Not far ahead, several seven or eight-year-old children ran across the road screaming happily, holding branches and net bags, chasing a bird with bright feathers.
One child was obviously smaller. He ran behind and fell over a ditch. He was covered in dirt, but he didn't cry. He got up, giggled, and ran after his companion again.
"The skin is so solid!" Guo Dajing showed a happy smile and watched these wild children running away shouting.
It is a carefree age, playing wildly in the wild and not going home to eat. I hope they can grow up happily and peacefully, and the war will never affect them again, let alone move around for a bite to eat.
Guo Dajing withdrew his gaze, exhaled a long breath, held the horse's belly, and accelerated his speed.