The Song army did not have extra food to feed these prisoners of war. Chen Qing immediately ordered that all the prisoners of war be sent to mine saltpeter mines, and two thousand soldiers were sent to guard these prisoners of war. Anyone who dared to cause trouble would be killed!
Sent two thousand troops to guard prisoners of war, Chen Qing once again faced the problem of insufficient troops. He had to maintain a standing combat strength of 20,000 troops, but apart from the 20,000 standing troops, Chen Qing only had 10,000 defense troops left in his hands.
, guarding three states seems to be stretched thin.
Especially in Qinzhou, Chengji County needs at least 5,000 people to guard it. Adding the 2,000 people from Ganquan Fort, we actually need 7,000 troops. This is the minimum requirement. If we add 1,000 people from each county, then Qinzhou alone
At least 10,000 people are needed.
Recruiting troops has become a top priority, but recruiting troops requires money and food, and in the bitter cold land of the northwest, these are the two most scarce resources.
This is not like the thousands of people in the past, who could be fed by one Qinzhou. Now he has 30,000 troops. It is really difficult to support three states. He needs to find a larger grain-producing land.
Moreover, they consume too much grain. If there is no additional income from grain, they may not be able to hold on to next year's summer grain harvest.
Thinking of the additional income from grain, Chen Qing set his sights on Lintao Prefecture. There was the Tao River Valley, a major production area, and there must be a large amount of grain stored there.
But even if he captures Lintao Mansion, it will only temporarily solve an urgent need. If his troops increase to 40,000, how will he solve the long-term shortage of food and military salaries?
In the tent, Zhang Xiao pointed at the map and said to Chen Qing: "The closest grain-producing areas to us are either the Guanzhong Plain in the east or the Hehuang Valley in the west. Moreover, the Hehuang Valley is controlled by the Tubo people. Even if we occupy it,
It is necessary to recruit a large number of Han people to farm. In fact, the Hehuang Valley is only a long-term prospect and is not realistic at this stage."
Chen Qing smiled bitterly and said: "But the Guanzhong Plain is not realistic at this stage!"
"Du Tong is absolutely right. Although the Hehuang Valley and Guanzhong Plain are unrealistic, it does not mean that the current dilemma cannot be solved."
"Please tell me to join the army!"
Zhang Xiao said with a smile: "We actually still have three ways to go. The first is to develop the Wei River Valley in Qinzhou and Gongzhou, and the Tao River Valley in Lintao. But we need manpower. We must either implement military camps or go to Guanzhong to recruit people.
;
The second is trade, using livestock to exchange for grain from Bashu. I have specially investigated and found that the price of livestock such as mules, donkeys and cattle in Bashu is five times that of Hehuang area, and the price of sheepskins is even ten times higher.
But because of the war, the caravans are a bit congested, but we can set up military trading houses to conduct large-scale trade, and the food will be sent back based on the price difference. To expand the number of camels, we can build our own transportation team.
The third way is to mine, especially copper and silver mines, but this way is strictly prohibited by the court and is very sensitive."
"Why are you sensitive?" Chen Qing was a little confused.
Zhang Xiao looked at the young coach and saw some things that he still didn't understand.
"The separatist regimes after the mid-Tang Dynasty slowly evolved into the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. After the Song Dynasty unified the world, it has been deeply analyzed that the biggest feature of the separatist regimes is that they mine and cast their own money, forming independent finances, independent financial power, independent military power, and independent official power.
Independence, these three major independences led to them becoming a completely independent kingdom, the most important of which is financial independence.
Therefore, the imperial court was particularly strict in controlling the mining of border armies. They would rather allow local officials to mint their own money, but they would never allow the army to mine and mint their own money, not even mines and iron smelting. Iron smelting would mean military expansion, which would
The president should be cautious in this regard.”
Chen Qing pondered for a while and said: "Why did I think of opening a copper-iron mine? Because there is a hematite mine next to the saltpeter mine, which is rich in copper and iron. I thought that the saltpeter mine was already mined by miners, so why not let the prisoners of war mine copper instead?
iron ore."
“Is the copper-iron ore high grade?”
"It's quite good. It's a rich mine with a large output."
Zhang Xiao thought for a while and said: "Dutong can be mined, but copper should not be turned into money for the time being. Others will not be able to catch Dutong's braid. I think the food problem should be solved by using the first two methods to increase the population.
Expand trade.”
Chen Qing nodded, "Speaking of which, I still want to seize Lintao Mansion first. According to the information I have received, Lintao Mansion has a large amount of food supplies stored in it. I am worried that they will move to Lanzhou."
"If the capital wants to send troops to Lintao, hurry up! Occupy Lintao Prefecture before winter comes, and use another winter to consolidate the occupation. As for the copper and iron mines in Gongzhou, leave it to the humble officials, and the capital will not have to worry about it.
Already."
Chen Qing said happily: "Then please join the army!"
On the tenth day after capturing 20,000 Xixia troops, Chen Qing went out again and led 15,000 men to attack Lintao Mansion.
At this time, it was already September and late autumn, which is usually the middle and late stages of the war. It would start to snow in two months, and the war would have to stop.
Of course, Chen Qing knew the information about Lintao Prefecture very well. Lintao Prefecture is mainly populated by Han, Tubo and Qiang people. The Tao River divides Lintao Prefecture into two parts. The east side of the Tao River is mainly Han people who engage in agricultural production, and the west side of the Tao River is dominated by Han people.
The Qiang and Tubo people are the main residents, and they make a living by raising animals.
In the past few decades, all ethnic groups in Taofu Prefecture have lived in peace and harmony. Didao County is located in the middle of the Taoshui River Valley, and Xihe Road Jinglue Mansion or Jiedu Prefecture is located in Didao County. The residents in the county are mainly Han people, but
Xixia also began to immigrate to Lintao, and many large houses and profitable businesses were occupied by Xixia people. Han people mainly lived at the bottom, selling their labor force, or working as errand merchants.
Currently, Xixia has deployed 5,000 troops in Lintao Prefecture, which are deployed in Didao County and several major forts. Among them, there are 3,000 troops in Didao County.
The Xixia army also set up observation posts on the official road at the junction of Lintao and Gongzhou. Once the Song army entered Lintao Prefecture, the posts would immediately notify the Lintao County general, who would then notify Lanzhou.
As night fell, Chen Qing led his army to temporarily camp in a pine forest on the east bank of the Taoshui River Valley. They did not bring tents or luggage, so they could only wrap themselves in military blankets and rest.
At this time, a group of Han people drove dozens of carts over, loaded with grain and slaughtered pigs and sheep. Chen Qing heard the news and rushed over.
The two old men knelt down and saluted Chen Qing, "We looked forward to the stars and the moon, and finally the general is here!"
Chen Qing quickly helped up the two old men, cupped his fists and said to the group: "Thank you for your support to the Song Army. Please tell the people in the Taoshui Valley that we will take Lintao Mansion back from the Xixia Army this time.
Overthrow the Xixia rule that oppresses everyone."
"We will definitely tell everyone."
At this time, Niu Gao brought a man in his thirties and said to Chen Qing: "This is the former Wuzhi County magistrate of Didao County. This time he is the one who organized the people to send us food."
Wuzhi County hurriedly stepped forward and bowed in salute, "Wu Hongwei, a humble official, is here to see Jiedu Envoy!"
Chen Qing saw that he was tall and majestic, so he smiled and said: "Liu Jinglue told me that there is a county magistrate general on Xihe Road, it must be you!"
Liu Ziyu told Chen Qing about the situation on Xihe Road, and specifically mentioned to him a commander who had been transferred from a military position to a county magistrate. Although Liu Ziyu's temporary appointment was a military general, he did better than a civilian official, so Liu Ziyu simply
He was allowed to serve as county magistrate, but the Ministry of Civil Affairs did not approve it. Like Wang Huai, he was an unnamed local official.
Wu Hongwei nodded, "It's a humble position. I wonder where Marshal Liu is now?"
"He is currently quelling the barbarian rebellion on Guangnan West Road, a very far away place."
Chen Qing invited Wu Hongwei to sit down in the pine forest and asked with a smile: "Has Wuzhi County always been in Lintao Prefecture?"
Wu Hongwei nodded, "My humble position is that I am a native of Lintao Prefecture. With the protection of the local people, the Xixia people cannot catch me!"
"If I want to attack Didao County, is there any shortcut?"
This is the issue that Chen Qing is most concerned about. He does not carry siege weapons and plans to make them by cutting down trees locally. If there is a shortcut, it will save him a lot of trouble.
Wu Hongwei was a military commander. He understood Chen Qing's meaning very well and said with a smile: "It's really God's will!"
"How to say?"
"A section of the city wall in the southeast corner of the county town was empty. A group of beggars hollowed out the soil inside the city wall, and it became their habitat. Before I could fill it in, the Jin soldiers came to kill me.
With no soldiers or soldiers under his command, he could only abandon the city and flee.
Later, Jin Bing appointed the county captain Zhu Sui as the county magistrate. I told Zhu Sui not to fill in that section of the city wall, but to just seal it with bricks.
Later, the puppet Qi army came, and the Xixia people also came, but they didn't realize that that section of the city wall was empty. I said, sooner or later, the Song army will definitely use this section of the city wall to capture the city. Now the Jiedushi is coming.
