When Chen Qing returned to the county town, he happened to encounter a huge herd of sheep entering the city. Hundreds of cavalry escorted the sheep to the military camp.
Chen Qing was very happy when he saw that these sheep were fat and strong, and he quickly ordered: "Who is the master of the sheep? Let him come to see me!"
The soldiers galloped away. After a moment, a logistics soldier was led up, cupped his fists and saluted, "For humble posts, please refer to the command!"
"Where is your Commander Huyan?"
"Reporting to the commander, he is still negotiating with the Qiang people for long-term supply and will not be back until a few days later!"
“Can the price still be negotiated?”
Dutou nodded and said: "This is the first batch of sheep. There are three thousand of them. The Qiang people will not give us any money."
Chen Qing was startled, "Why don't you want money?"
"I heard from Commander Huyan that last year we attacked the Jurchen camp in the West Valley. A large number of war horses and sheep escaped. The Jin soldiers only recovered a very small portion, and most of them were taken by several Qiang tribes. Their chief said,
This is taking advantage of us, so he is willing to give us 10,000 sheep, and he will sell them to us at a cheaper price in the future."
This news was really beyond Chen Qing's expectation. He didn't investigate the situation after the camp was burned down, but he didn't expect that the Qiang people would be benefited in the end.
However, these Qiang people also know how to repay their kindness, which is rare. Chen Qing said happily: "Drive the sheep back to the military camp and reward the three armies tonight!"
...........
Returning to the military camp, Chen Qing just returned to his tent and sat down. Zheng Ping came over and said angrily: "This morning another group of large grain sellers came and collected three thousand shi of grain. I talked with several grain merchants and found out that the price of grain is this year."
The price only increased in March. Before March, it had been around two hundred cents per dou, but these big and evil merchants actually increased the price by one hundred cents for us!"
Chen Qing frowned and asked: "Then at what price did you charge the three thousand shi of grain today?"
"Of course it's two hundred cents per fight, why should I give them three hundred cents?"
"Nonsense!"
Chen Qing said angrily: "You think I don't know the price of food in the past? Three hundred cents per dou is just a profit to them, and they will sell the food to us in the future. You quickly send someone to replenish the difference to them. This kind of thing is spread
When we get out, do we still need our reputation?"
Zheng Ping's lips trembled and he turned to leave. Chen Qing stopped him again, "I should tell you about this first. I forgot. We are not businessmen. We also robbed the money from Jin Bing. The price
Setting a higher price would not be a loss for us, but it would win over big and wealthy families.
There are two major forces in Qinzhou, one is the powerful family force, and the other is the Baozhai force. Since we want to attack the Baozhai force, we must win over the other faction. Otherwise, if these two factions join forces, it will be difficult for us to gain a foothold in Qinzhou in the future."
Zheng Ping nodded silently, and then asked: "Commander, do you think there is a relationship between the wealthy family and the fortress?"
"They are inextricably linked. Don't you think about it, where can the food of these big families be hidden so that it will not be looted by the Jin people? They said it is hidden in the manor. I don't believe it at all. The Jin people only need to bribe a few people."
It's useless no matter how concealed they are as a villager. I know in my heart that these grains must be hidden in the surrounding fortresses."
"I understand and immediately send someone to replenish the price difference to them."
Zheng Ping walked away quickly.
After lunch, personal guard Yan Jun reported outside the tent, "Controller, Sihu Du Min is visiting with an old man, who seems to be his father-in-law!"
"Invite them here!"
Chen Qing heard from Du Min that his father-in-law was a former professor in Qinzhou and Longzhou. He taught for thirty years in Qinzhou and Longzhou. He had numerous disciples and was well-known in Qinzhou and even on Xihe Road.
Not long after, Yan Jun led Du Min and an old man into the big tent. The old man looked to be about sixty years old, short in stature, with a thin appearance. He was wearing a plain shirt and a learning crown. He looked like a well-educated man.
"I, Qiao Lin, have long heard about the general's reputation for resisting the Jin Dynasty, so I came here to visit you!"
"I've heard about the old gentleman's reputation as a scholar since I came to Qinzhou. I wanted to meet him for a while, but I'm really busy. Please come in!"
Chen Qing invited Qiao Lin in very politely, and the two of them sat down separately. Qiao Lin praised: "As soon as the general came to Chengji County, he started to provide porridge. Hey! How many people's lives have been saved! I will give it to you."
Du Min said, this is called the Zhizhi envoy. He not only thinks about the soldiers, but also thinks about the poor people."
"The old man has given you the prize!"
Chen Qing didn't want to hear these flattery words. He smiled and said nothing, waiting for Qiao Lin to continue.
Qiao Lin wanted to praise her a little more, but Du Min saw that Chen Qing didn't want to hear such lies anymore, so he coughed lightly and said, "General Chen, my father-in-law came today with two suggestions."
Chen Qing smiled and said: "Old sir, please speak frankly, Chen Qing is all ears!"
Qiao Lin had no choice but to put away her flattery and turn her mind to business, "The general helps the people for a while, but he can't help them for a year. Why not teach people to fish at the same time?"
"Old sir, you mean farming?"
Qiao Lin nodded, "There are a lot of wasteland outside the city, and there are even large areas of official land that no one is cultivating. Mobilize all the residents in the city to open up wasteland and cultivate land outside the city, at least to ensure that there is enough food in the summer and autumn!"
"It's already early March, isn't it a little late for planting?"
"I'm not talking about planting wheat, but planting millet, planting beans, especially millet. Now is the time. The general has harvested a lot of grain. There must be a lot of millet. He just takes out some of it to make seeds. In addition, the old man can plant it in the front room of the house.
Planting melons later is also food! The key is for the general to encourage and send troops to help everyone, and then the army also grows grain, raises pigs and chickens to relieve worries, what does the general think?"
Chen Qing nodded repeatedly. He only thought about buying food, but forgot about self-reliance. "The old gentleman said it very well. Chen Qing has learned his lesson. I will definitely do it!"
Seeing Chen Qing's modesty, Qiao Lin felt happy and continued: "The second thing is, I want to talk to you about the fortress."
Chen Qing perked up. This was also the issue he was most concerned about. He quickly said: "Old sir, please tell me!"
"Actually, I just want to tell the general that the forts are like broken bamboos. Although there are 300 forts in Qinzhou, as long as the general splits the nodes of the thick bamboo, the problem will be solved easily."
Qiao Lin's thoughts were exactly the same as Chen Qing's. Chen Qing smiled and asked, "Is Zhoujiabao a node?"
Qiao Lin nodded, "Zhoujiabao is the largest node, followed by Anyuan Village in Gangu County and Dingxi Village in Qin'an County. If these three nodes are split, the problem of Qinzhou's forts will be easily solved."
"Then the old man thinks how to solve the problem in Zhoujia Fort?"
Qiao Lin stroked her beard and said: "The owner of Zhoujia Fort is called Zhou Xin. He has also been a professor at Zhouxue for several years. I worked with him. I know this person very well. He is despicable, cunning and cunning.
Yang Fei is his specialty. If he shows favor to the general, don't believe him. This person has no integrity and will never do what he promises. Also, be careful of his brother-in-law."
"Who is his brother-in-law?"
"It's Director Li. Director Li is married to Zhou Xin's cousin."
Chen Qing suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. No wonder Wang Huai took Captain Li to ask for money and food. It turned out that this was the relationship, but Wang Huai didn't tell him.
"Is there any relationship between General Judge Wang Huai and Zhou Xin?"
Qiao Lin laughed lightly, "The Wang family and the Zhou family in Chengji County are both the best families in Qinzhou. They have coexisted in the same county for hundreds of years. Are they not related? Zhou Xin's mother's surname is Wang!
So I came to visit the general today, nominally to talk about opening up wasteland for farming, but actually I want to remind the general that in order to solve the problem of Zhoujiapu, we must not join forces with the state government, otherwise we will not even know if we are sold by them."
Chen Qing took a few steps with his hands behind his back. Did he know what to do?
........
Early the next morning, the entire city of Chengji County was mobilized. Except for the elderly over sixty years old, children under seven years old, and patients paralyzed in bed, all other residents in the city were mobilized by soldiers to clear wasteland outside the city to plant corn and other crops.
Beans and seeds are provided by the army.
The elderly and children at home are not idle either. They are asked to plant melons and gourds in front of and behind their houses.
At the same time, Chen Qing sent seven teams of messenger soldiers to the other seven counties in Qinzhou, asking county officials to organize spring plowing for the people in the county. If seeds were needed, all would be provided by the army.
In fact, the situation in the counties of Qinzhou was better than that of Chengji County, which was governed by the prefecture. After all, they were not occupied by the Jin soldiers and the county officials were all there. However, the granaries were exploited by the Jin soldiers just like Chengji County.
Farmers in various counties have already planted winter wheat and do not need to be urged. However, Chen Qing’s promotion of spring plowing this time is not aimed at farmers, but at county residents. They originally relied on commerce, services and handicrafts for their livelihoods, and now all walks of life
The industry is very dilapidated and withered. The people in the city have no income and food is a problem. Chen Qing can provide relief for a few months, but what about the future?
Therefore, they must start farming by themselves and provide food rations for each household before all walks of life can recover.
In fact, it is easy to say, but how can it be so easy to do? Just mobilizing is very difficult. After all, they are people, not animals. They cannot be driven away by simply chasing them. The army has to force them away at critical moments.
But even if the people are driven out of the city, how to cultivate the land is still a troublesome matter. Where is the land? Is there an owner? Who is grouped with whom? Which piece of land is planted?
It would take ten days and a half to sort out these chores, but they didn't have that many manpower to do this kind of thing. Even if they had people, they wouldn't wait for anyone during the farming season.
Therefore, the simplest way is to concentrate on several thousand acres of government land, with three or four people responsible for one acre of land, and they can plant whatever they want, and then the harvest will be distributed evenly.
Although it is a bit confusing, it is better than just talking and not doing anything.
Just when Chengji County began to vigorously carry out the national mass production movement, people from Zhoujiabao came to Chengji County.