It's not the first lunar month yet, and it's freezing cold.
Most of Huai'an's troops were from the south, and those in the far north were probably those from the Huaihe River Navy.
Under such circumstances, Shen Yi would naturally not choose to attack. He would not consider heading north until at least the end of February or March.
Therefore, he has a "vacation period" of more than a month.
Although it is a free period, you still have to do what needs to be done.
For example, spring plowing, and another example...
Make artillery.
After His Majesty the Emperor saw the explosive ammunition last year, he asked the Bureau of Military Affairs to send 500 additional craftsmen to Shen Yi. In addition, Shen Yi recruited himself, and now his firearms workshop...
No, it should be said to be an arsenal.
It is already quite large.
During the time when he went south to Jiankang, the arsenal was basically not idle for a day except for the few days of holiday during the Chinese New Year.
A large number of crossbows, armor and weapons, as well as artillery and explosive shells, were produced.
Especially explosive shells and new artillery.
These two items were both produced last year. When Yanzhou was invaded last year, they were severely insufficient in quantity and could not yet play their original role.
But now, whether it is artillery or artillery shells, the quantity has reached a large scale and can basically be rationed.
In other words, in addition to Shen Yi's own Chinese artillery battalion, the three armies sent out can also start to consider equipping artillery battalions.
The only problem is that this kind of artillery is still very crude and primitive.
There is still no way to replace the role of crossbows and conventional long-range weapons on the battlefield.
But something is better than nothing.
These are real combat capabilities.
Time passed day by day, and soon it was early February.
Ye Chan finally arrived at Yanzhou Mansion.
Rao has been in charge of business in the southeast for many years and has traveled to many places. Miss Ye, who came all the way, also suffered a lot and contracted a bit of cold.
However, the illness was not serious. After a few days of rest, he was able to enter Mr. Shen's study and help Mr. Shen deal with things.
On the eighth day of February, Zhao Er and Zhao Jizhou also returned to Yanzhou and began to take over Yanzhou's logistics work.
Also in the afternoon of the same day, Zhang Jian, the prefect of Yanzhou, sent someone to make a plaque and hung it on the gate of Shen Yi's residence.
The three brothers stood at the gate, watching the plaque slowly rise.
"Inspection of Shandong."
Hanging these four words means that Master Shen's residence will officially become the Shandong Governor's Yamen from now on.
Mr. Shen raised his head, looked at the plaque, then looked back at Zhang Jian, and smiled dumbly: "Brother, what you wrote is too straightforward. I have been to the governor's yamen in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces. There is a hanging hanging on the door of the yamen. The plaques are all drawn from classics, so how can there be such a dry words like "Governor of Shandong"."
Zhang Fuzun clasped his hands behind his back and said, "At this time, we have to be straightforward. The more straightforward the better."
"I want everyone to know that there is a governor of Shandong in Dachen, and he is in Yanzhou."
Mr. Shen then thought thoughtfully and said with a smile: "There is some truth."
"I just don't know when this plaque will be hung in Jinan Mansion."
Zhao Jizhou stood behind the two of them and said with a smile: "Senior Brother Zhang is not hanging a plaque here. He is clearly urging you, Ziheng, to quickly build the Sansi Envoy Yamen in Shandong."
"He, the chief envoy of Shandong, obviously can't wait any longer."
Zhang Fuzun turned around, glared at Zhao Er, and said angrily: "You are the only one who knows how to talk nonsense!"
Mr. Shen smiled and said: "It is not difficult to build the Third Division Envoy Yamen. Let the senior brother act as the Chief Envoy of Shandong. At this time, it is just a matter of writing a memorial, but..."
Shen Yi smiled and said: "Now that we have the chief envoy, the commander-in-chief can select a replacement from our army. Then who should be the inspector-general?"
He looked at Zhao Er with a smile.
Zhang Jian also looked at Zhao Jizhou, clapped his hands and said with a smile: "I thought you, Zhao Er, were thinking about something. It turned out that you were coveting the position of inspector. We are all brothers. If you have anything to say, just say it. Why hide it like this?" Tucked in?"
Zhang Jian studied under Zhao Changping since he was a child.
He and Zhao Er are similar in age and have known each other since childhood. Because they were too familiar with each other, they were considered childhood friends and were not even regarded as senior brothers.
Zhao Jizhou's face turned red as he was squeezed out, and he said in a dull voice: "I don't even have a fifth-grade official now, and I don't know how far I am from being an inspector. It's just Qilang who is biased towards you and bullies me!"
Shen Yi stood in the middle, laughing dumbly: "Okay, okay, it's just a joke, don't get upset."
"Second brother returned to Yanzhou today, and we brothers are looking for a place to eat."
………………
Jinan Fucheng, Ningchun Tower.
It has just entered February, and although the weather is showing signs of warming up, it is still a bit cold. There is still a charcoal fire burning in Ningchun Tower.
In a carpeted private room, Zhou Yuanlang sat between two servants, squinting his eyes slightly and feeling the smoothness on his hands.
Not far from him, General Tu was sitting carelessly on the steps. Behind him were two young women, massaging his shoulders.
Because of his comfort, the general who had fought at the border for many years also narrowed his eyes in contentment. After a long time, he softly sighed: "No wonder many Zhuli masters find it difficult to get back up after getting off their horses. Such soft It’s warm and fragrant, and it’s indeed much more comfortable than the cold weather in the north.”
He exhaled a breath and said slowly: "I really don't care about the battlefield..."
Zhou Yuanlang calmly took out his already warm palm, put it in front of him, smelled it, and said lightly: "Without Shen Qi, with the power of Conglong, both the general and I could lie down in this gentle countryside. A lifetime ago."
Having said this, he laughed at himself: "It may not even be used cleanly in not just one lifetime, but several lifetimes."
Hearing the words Shen Qi, Tu Yuan opened his eyes and his tone was filled with anger unconsciously.
"This guy is really difficult to deal with!"
General Tu said in a sullen voice: "Moreover, Shen Qi is not the only one who is difficult to deal with now. The entire Huai'an Army under his command has become very difficult to deal with."
"On the first day of the Lunar New Year, we made a surprise attack on Chen Jun. We thought that by taking them by surprise, we could at least eat a small piece of their flesh. But it turned out that it only worked in Dongchang Mansion."
Zhou Yuanlang lay on the soft couch, closed his eyes, and said calmly: "Even so, the battle of Dongchang Mansion was a great victory."
"The reward given to the general by the imperial court should come out soon."
After saying this, he opened his eyes, stood up from the soft couch, walked to the window, and opened the window.
The spring wind in early February blew in immediately, bringing with it a burst of chill.
Several young women in thin clothes exclaimed and crossed their chests with their hands.
General Tu didn't pay attention to these women. He stood up directly, stood behind Zhou Yuanlang, followed Zhou Yuanlang's gaze, and asked: "Sir, what are you looking at?"
"Looking at Jinan City."
Ningchun Building is three stories high, and the two of them are on the third floor now.
In an era when buildings were generally low, they could see very far away like this, and even see half of Jinan City.
"What a wonderful city, bustling and lively."
At this time, the war in Yanzhou had not yet reached Jinan.
This provincial capital still maintains daily life, and there are many people in the streets and alleys.
Zhou Yuanlang gently clenched his fist: "It's a pity that the thieves in the Southern Dynasties don't know how valuable this prosperity is, and they are determined to start a war."
This provincial capital is naturally a prosperous and bustling city for "successful people" such as Zhou Yuanlang, or the aloof Zhu Li.
From their perspective, it can even be said that Shen Qi is a foreign invader who is bent on provoking war and destroying their "good life".
Zhou Yuanlang waved behind him, and a woman who had already put on her coat obediently came up to him and was held in his arms.
The "hidden prime minister" raised his head, looked at Jinan Mansion in the distance, and murmured: "General, have you seen it?"
Tu Yuan was startled and asked: "Sir, what did you see?"