When Xu Baisheng's request for instructions was sent to Jiangdu Prefecture, Zhang Yangquan was inspecting the rice sowing situation in the suburbs.
Along the way, many construction teams can be seen building bridges and roads.
These construction teams have begun to spontaneously form groups, with the leader contracting construction work from the government.
Through the car window, you can see farmers busy with farm work in the fields. The sun is already quite hot in March.
Zhang Yangquan and Shen Qianqian got off the carriage together and came to a small road. When an old farmer in the field was drinking water and taking a rest, they walked quickly over.
"Hello, father-in-law."
The old farmer was sitting under a big tree, holding a bamboo hat and fanning the wind. When he saw a group of people approaching, he was startled, got up quickly, and asked: "Who are you?"
Zhang Yangquan asked his guards to move away, and then smiled at the old farmer and said: "Old man, we are just passers-by and are a little curious, so we want to ask you a few questions."
When the old farmer saw Yang Sanqiang and others retreating, he finally felt relieved, sat back and said, "Are you asking for directions?"
Zhang Yangquan sat down next to him and said with a smile: "We are not asking for directions. We just heard someone say that your Jiangdu Prefecture has a very high grain harvest. I don't know if it is true or not?"
When the old farmer heard this question, he suddenly became energetic, held his head high and said: "How can it be false? The old man has been farming all his life, and he only started to grow such good rice in recent years!"
Zhang Yangquan asked: "Can you have enough to eat now?"
The old farmer smiled and said: "Of course it can. Since the third year since our Jiangdu Army captured Jiangdu Prefecture, no one in our village has starved to death!"
Zhang Yangquan asked again: "Are you still worried now?"
The old farmer laughed and said: "Young people, no matter what you become, you will definitely have troubles throughout your life. This is inevitable!"
Zhang Yangquan smiled and said: "That's what you always said. Let me ask another question, what is your biggest worry now?"
The old farmer thought for a while, and his dark face was suddenly covered with wrinkles.
"Well, the old man is just looking forward to selling more food and sending his two grandsons to study in a private school. If he can get ahead in the future and honor his ancestors, the old man's life will not be in vain!"
Zhang Yangquan was startled for a moment and said, "Private schools shouldn't be expensive. Can your family not afford the tuition?"
The old farmer sighed and said: "Official schools are indeed not expensive. But private schools are ridiculously expensive. Some private schools only teach a few children, but the old man doesn't understand. If they teach more children, can't they make more money?
?Why do we have to set the academic qualifications so high?"
Zhang Yangquan glanced at Shen Qianqian, and Shen Qianqian immediately took notes and wrote them down.
"Old man, I won't bother you anymore, we're leaving."
Seeing that they were about to leave, the old farmer said blankly: "Have you finished asking questions?"
Shen Qianqian smiled and said: "Yes, my official family is in the grain business, so I want to know about the grain situation in Jiangdu Prefecture."
The old farmer thought to himself: "Then why are you asking about the school?" He didn't ask any questions. He went back to work in the fields with bare feet and a bamboo hat.
Zhang Yangquan stopped getting on the carriage and walked silently on the official road. After pondering for a while, he said: "Qianqian, please count, among the people who asked today, how many people mentioned the issue of private schools?"
Shen Qianqian had already counted them and said without hesitation: "Six, almost half!"
Zhang Yangquan said in a deep voice: "Qianqian, do you know the reason for the old man's doubts just now?"
It rained yesterday and the ground was a little wet. Shen Qianqian was walking cautiously while holding up her skirt when she heard the words "Ah".
Zhang Yangquan saw her appearance and said angrily: "Get in the carriage!"
Shen Qianqian quickly put down her skirt, hugged Zhang Yangquan's arm, and said with a smile: "Officer, I know the reason!"
Zhang Yangquan glanced at her and said, "What's the reason?"
Shen Qianqian said: "The main reason should be that the parents of other private schools are unwilling. If everyone goes to the same private school, they can't have different academic qualifications, right?"
Zhang Yangquan raised his eyebrows and said: "Then why don't the private school teachers set the tuition fees lower from the beginning? As long as we recruit more students, we should make a lot of money!"
Shen Qianqian thought for a while and said: "It should be for reputation! Generally speaking, the higher the academic qualifications of a private school, the higher the knowledge of the master, and naturally the greater the reputation!"
After a pause, he continued: "And there are many rich people who only go to expensive private schools, but are unwilling to go to cheap ones, which invisibly increases the academic qualifications!"
Zhang Yangquan was silent for a while and said in a deep voice: "This matter needs to be resolved as soon as possible. Remember to remind me when you return to the city!"
Shen Qianqian smiled and agreed.
At this moment, the sound of horse hooves was suddenly heard, and a guard rode up from behind. He turned over and dismounted, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the latest military information is coming from the front line."
Zhang Yangquan reached out to take the official document, glanced at it, and said: "Take it to the princess and Dr. Liu first. If they have no objection, just stamp it and send it to the front line!"
The bodyguard accepted the promise and left.
Seeing Zhang Yangquan's decisive approach, Shen Qianqian smiled slightly and said, "Husband, a while ago you were worried about the military situation ahead, but now you don't seem to be worried anymore?"
Zhang Yangquan said: "It can be said that I have gained a lot of wisdom. The plan was too smooth at that time, and Chen Youliang never took any action. I always felt that something was wrong."
"Now I know what Chen Youliang is thinking, and with the changes in the situation in the north, his plans have come to nothing, so there is nothing to worry about."
"What I'm most worried about now is Bianliang!"
Shen Qianqian said in surprise: "Have the Tatars already reached Bianliang?"
Zhang Yangquan waved his hand and said: "That's not true, but Chahan Timur has assembled an army at Hulao Pass, and he is probably going to attack Bianliang soon!"
Shen Qianqian frowned and said: "A while ago, they were saying that the Song Army was going to conquer Dadu. How could it change like this all of a sudden? This change is too fast!"
Zhang Yangquan sighed: "This situation is mainly due to problems with Liu Futong's strategy!"
"What's the problem?"
Zhang Yangquan pulled Shen Qianqian back to the carriage, took out a map from his sleeve, and spread it on his knees.
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"Look, this is Liu Futong's three-way Northern Expedition attack plan. He sent almost most of his troops to attack the Yuan Dynasty, just like a warrior, punching out both fists!"
Shen Qianqian said thoughtfully: "Is he only attacking but not defending?"
Zhang Yangquan nodded and said: "That's right, so when he punches, it looks fierce, but as long as others catch his two fists, he will be in danger!"
Shen Qianqian took a closer look at the three marching routes of the Song Army and said, "So these three routes are Liu Futong's three fists?"
"Well, but the fists of the West Route Army have been destroyed by Chahan Timur. Liu Futong's only two real threats are the Central Route Army and the East Route Army!"
Shen Qianqian tilted his head and said: "Once Mao Gui dies, will the East Route Army be abolished?"
Zhang Yangquan sighed: "Yes, Mao Gui and his team were originally Liu Futong's biggest support, equivalent to the most powerful right hook, but it was a pity that Zhao Jun used it to cut it off!"
Shen Qianqian pointed to the middle and said: "Isn't there still the Central Route Army? They have already crossed the river!"
Zhang Yangquan glanced at her and said: "Not only did they cross the river, they already captured Xanadu!"
Shen Qianqian was surprised: "Isn't Xanadu the companion capital of the Tatars?"
"Yes."
"That should be a great victory, why haven't I heard you mention it?"
Zhang Yangquan shook his head and said: "Because he has no choice but to attack. To be precise, they have already been defeated and it is impossible to conquer Dadu!"
Shen Qianqian stared at Xanadu and said: "Why is this? Xanadu is not far from Dadu!"
Zhang Yangquan said: "Look carefully at their marching route map. Do you find anything strange?"
Shen Qianqian looked at it carefully for a long time and said: "Well...it seems to have circled half a circle around Dadu!"
Zhang Yangquan said: "From the map, they seem to be circling. The actual situation is that they also wanted to march towards Dadu, but were repelled halfway, so they could only circle around and find other ways to attack Dadu!"
Shen Qianqian asked curiously: "Isn't Chahan Timur not in Hebei? Why can't they get in?"
"The person who stopped them was Hu Linchi, a subordinate of Chahan Timur. Judging from his current behavior, he is also a person who needs attention."
Shen Qianqian stared at Xanadu for a while and said, "No matter what, they are so close to Dadu, so they are still a threat, right?"
Zhang Yangquan shook his head and said: "There is no threat to this group of people. They are like pawns crossing the river. They reach the bottom line of the chessboard and cannot look back!"
Shen Qianqian asked in confusion: "Why can't you look back?"
Zhang Yangquan said slowly: "After crossing the river, this group of troops had already lost their supplies and had to fight along the way. There was no food and grass for them in the places they passed, so they could not turn back!"
"Can't we go south to attack Dadu?"
"This is already a tired army. It couldn't penetrate the outer reaches of Dadu before, and it's even less likely to succeed in the future!"
Shen Qianqian hesitated for a while and said, "Then what will they do?"
Zhang Yangquan thought for a while and said: "We can only continue heading north until we are eliminated!"
This is the biggest difference between Mao Gui and the Central Route Army. After Mao Gui conquers a part of the land, he will manage it well and make it his own base. Even if he loses one or two battles, it will not have much impact.
Pan Cheng's and Guan Duo's armies are different.
The two armies are like rogues. Everywhere they go, they will collect food and grass and force men to join the army, like locusts crossing the border.
The people hate him deeply.
As soon as they leave, the local people will kill the officials they appointed, so they will fall into a situation where they can't make progress and cannot retreat.