"Commander, the construction of the west city has begun, and everything is going well." In Lingzhou City, Chen Cheng handed over a military report: "If we can reserve 100,000 hu of military rations, the south road will be stable."
The Xishi City was originally not big, and had been severely damaged by wind and rain. No one had high expectations of how far it could be repaired. Just like the Tubo people wanted to rebuild the city wall of Lanzhou, how could that be possible? It was built in a hurry
A good city wall was of extremely poor quality and lacked many things, so it could not withstand an attack from an army.
Xishi City has only been repaired in a hurry, and the city walls are surrounded by wooden extensions on both sides. It exists as a temporary warehouse, which is barely enough during the war.
"After the walled city is repaired, we will name it Dingxi." Shao Shude lowered his head and looked at the accounts and said casually.
"As ordered." Chen Cheng felt that the name was just right, and at the same time he began to think about where to the west? Hezhou? Shanzhou? Or all of them?
So comfortable! Shao Shude looked at the accounts with excitement. In the first year of Guangqi's reign, the two prefectures of Yanzhou were exempted from taxes and began to pay taxes in the second year. Last year, the eight counties of Lingzhou contributed 757,351 dendrobium of land tax, and the two counties of Yanzhou contributed 84,147 dendrobium.
In terms of local tax and household tax, Lingzhou contributed more than 83,200 pieces of silk and 16,262 pieces of money.
Comfortable! One state contributes more than one-third of the town’s local tax and more than one-quarter of the household tax. Lingzhou is really worth it! Moreover, this figure is based on the fact that most of the immigrants from Guanzhong have not had time to farm.
Basically, the spring sowing has already begun, and Lingzhou this year is even more worth looking forward to!
In fact, for those newly arrived Guanzhong residents, I originally wanted to give them tax exemption for two years, but Marshal Shao calculated his family fortune and could only sigh, "I don't dare!"
In the two counties of Huizhou, the population increased significantly in the second year of Guangqi. From 1,200 households with an average of 5.7 people per household when the lost land was recovered, the number soared to 6,200 households with an average of 3.1 people. The main reason is that a large number of residents migrated to the border areas under the policy of immigration.
There are a total of 5,000 households settled here, most of which are sparsely populated, and some even have only one person.
Shao Shude once promised them that they would be tax-free for ten years starting from the second year of Guangqi. In addition, because of the Western Expedition, the local people in Huizhou will also act as tutors, provide money and food, and will also receive appropriate tax exemptions. Therefore, in the next nine years,
It is better to forget about Huizhou. The Han people will hardly contribute any wealth, unless Marshal Shao takes the initiative to break the promise. Of course, this is impossible.
The territory of the Zhenwu Army and the Tiande Army has just begun to be integrated. This year, it is tax-free (only for Han people). Among them, the three counties of Linzhou are temporarily allowed to support themselves, which is equivalent to a small vassal town.
Lingzhou, and only Lingzhou, is now the largest source of wealth for the entire ten states and thirty-four counties of the Dingnan Army. No matter how important it is, it cannot be overemphasized!
"Commander, the first unit of the Yi Cong Army has arrived at Huining Pass." Chen Cheng reminded softly.
"Well, there are still three thousand prisoners from the nest this year, and they will all be sent to Weizhou." Shao Shude turned over the ledger and muttered to himself.
Chen Cheng was speechless. The co-author was so immersed in finance that he didn't even hear what he said.
But why Weizhou and not Lanzhou? Has the plan changed? Chen Cheng started to think about it again.
"Let's go, stop thinking nonsense." Shao Shude handed the account book to Kong Muguan, laughed, and said: "Go to the dock and have a look."
Near the dock is the shipbuilding workshop, and Li Shao has been waiting here for a long time.
"Li Shuai." Shao Shude bowed his hands and said.
"Commander, don't try to offend me, just call me Commander Li." Li Shao waved his hand quickly.
"Then let's call him Li Pushe." Shao Shude said with a smile.
This is the honorary title given to Li Shao by the imperial court. Calling him this way just avoids embarrassment.
"Commander, are you here to see the boat?"
"Of course. When marching and fighting, the most important thing is food and grass." Shao Shude said: "The Tubo bandits are all waiting to attack my food road. Let them see whether they will run out of food and grass first, or I will.
The army will run out of food and fodder first."
In ancient times, countless soldiers retreated because they ran out of food. Sometimes they won on the battlefield, but ended up running out of food and unable to expand the victory. Sometimes it was even worse, when they ran out of food, they were defeated or even annihilated.
When a famous general uses troops, the first consideration is to cut off the opponent's food route. Now when using troops against Tubo, more than 50,000 people are mobilized. If the Yinshan Tibetan tribe is not included, it consumes more than 40,000 husks of food a month, which is more than that of a sergeant.
It's much higher in camp.
Of course, the Dingnan Army never only eats food when fighting. In fact, before the capture of Lingzhou, there was a long-term shortage of grain in the town. The army had a lot of milk and preserved meat to make up for it. After all, the Tibetan tribe could only give you cattle and sheep as tribute.
Most of them don't farm.
In the second year of Guangqi's reign, 2.078 million hu of grain and beans were collected. The yamen army and the ministries that enjoyed yamen treatment were given out more than 1.15 million hu of grain in one year. The daily consumption of the sergeants was also very amazing, including feeding horses and draft animals.
of beans, more than 460,000 hu of beans were consumed in a year. After deducting the pension of more than 121,000 hu of beans, the balance was more than 300,000.
This is only the balance of raising the army. Part of the salary of officials and craftsmen must also be paid with food. There are also various project expenses, which also require food. In fact, not much is left in the end.
Fortunately, there were hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep, as well as medicinal materials, leather and other groceries donated by the Tibetan tribe. In addition to the rewards, there was still a lot left. But people cannot eat only meat without eating grains. Before the war, the shogunate used cattle and sheep to serve as soldiers.
I came back with a lot of grain in my hand, because they couldn't finish it.
During the Western Expedition to Tibet, Marshal Shao only prepared about six or seven months of grain, beans, and dried milk. If he couldn't finish it within half a year, he would have to advance next year's tax revenue. Fortunately, the autumn grain harvest had already been harvested for about a month.
War is really a very costly social activity, especially when you use more than 50,000 people.
"There are five boatmen in a tanker, and they can transport 1,500 grains per trip. There are already sixty boats now, right?" Shao Shude asked, looking at the forest of masts on the dock.
"There are 58 ships, and there are still 2 ships that have not been completely completed." Li Shao replied: "The dark-dried wood that had accumulated for many years in the Lingzhou shipyard was cleared away. The subsequent ships will be built directly after felling the wood according to the commander's instructions.
Made. According to Ma Dajiang, such a ship has a limited lifespan."
Last year, the shipbuilding workshops in Lingzhou and Huaiyuan counties were very busy. Even in the middle of winter, they were cutting wooden ships to provide support for this spring's war.
You lack a wood drying kiln! Shao Shude thought.
It takes several years to dry ship materials in the shade, which is too slow. However, if you establish a complete plan to harvest large wood every year, process it and store it in the shade, it will not be a problem. It's just that you have to fight, and you have to catch up.
no way.
Transporting grain, transporting ordnance, transporting coal, transporting cattle and sheep, transporting building materials, transporting all kinds of messy things, the pressure is too great! If it is all transported by land, the cost will not be sky-high? Mobilize more than 100,000 masters?
Then agricultural production will be wasted.
At this time, the Lingzhou wharf was busy. Masters were carrying grain bags, transporting grain into the cabins from generation to generation, and stacking them up.
After the rivers thawed in March, a large number of ships were pushed into the dock one by one, anchored, and waited to load supplies.
On the other sides of the river, there are two docks for loading goods.
Dongcang City in Lingzhou is built on a high ground on the east bank of the river, across the river from Lingzhou City. On the west bank of the river, there is also Xicang City, also across the river from Lingzhou. Yes, Lingzhou City was built
On the river, it was very painful.
The three terminals ship goods together, and the speed is quite fast.
"Dang Dang..." The bell rang on the dock, and a ship loaded with grain, beans and fodder pulled anchor and set sail.
The wind will still be blowing from the north. If the wind direction is unfavorable, it will be necessary to mobilize the masters to pull fiber, which may even be difficult, but it is still cheaper than land transportation.
War is also a complex and sophisticated social activity.
Some people only see the fighting and killing on the battlefield, with heroes running rampant and arrogant. But few people delve into what kind of system, what kind of people, and what kind of things support these heroes "pretending to be awesome".
”.
How is your economic situation? How is your logistics and transportation system? How is your ordnance manufacturing capability? How is your propaganda system? What is your public sentiment? Can you support you to "pretend" to this extent?
How can we fight a war without these complex, hard-working and tedious behind-the-scenes work? Without good behind-the-scenes work, the combat effectiveness of the front line cannot be guaranteed, and the heroes can only be short of breath and helpless.
The north wind gradually became biting, and Shao Shude was in a good mood: "The strong wind is blowing, the clouds are flying, let's go, it's time for the men of the Tielin Army to move out!"
On March 15, the third year of Guangqi, Shao Shude personally led the Tielin Army, the Iron Cavalry Army, the Leopard Cavalry Capital, and the Tiande Army with 19,000 people southward. They meandered along the post road on the west bank of the Yellow River and arrived on the second day of April.
Ulan County.
At this time, tens of thousands of Yicong troops were stationed at Wulan Pass, 7,000 Wuwei troops were stationed at Xinquan Military City, and 4,000 Tiande troops marched out to the village twenty miles southwest of Wulan County.
On the third day of April, all the armies on the southeast route sent Yang Yue's messenger across the river to deliver the urgent message. Tubo and Tibetans in Min and Wei prefectures gathered forces from all over the place and seemed to be planning to attack Xizhai.
"Oh, it's good to lure them out. Otherwise, we will search the mountains and suppress the strongholds. How will we be able to annihilate them!" Shao Shude put down the military report and shouted to Li Renfu, "Bring the Lanzhou secret envoy here."
"I have met Prince Lingwu." A young man walked in and saluted respectfully.
"Are you Qin Han, the son of Qin Gui?" Shao Shude asked.
"Exactly."
"Please sit down and serve tea." Shao Shude ordered.
"Thank you, Prince Lingwu." Qin Han bowed again and said, "My family sent me here to introduce some guides to the king."
"Are they those boatmen?"
"Exactly." Qin Han replied: "From Lanzhou to Huining Pass, the water is strong and there are many shoals and reefs, making navigation difficult. These people have been traveling between Huizhou in the past to do water business."
"Tubo people also do business?"
"Prince Lingwu was joking. Even the barbarians in the mountains are doing business. Of course the Tubo people can do it."
"What's the safest way to navigate this waterway?"
"The two gorges of Xiangshui and Sangyuan have steep stone walls and it is difficult to open the fiber road. If the wind direction is unfavorable, it is impossible to pull the fiber. Even if the wind direction is favorable, there are rapids and dangerous shoals in the river, making it difficult to control. In the eighth year of Tianbao, there was a great famine in Guanzhong, and the order was issued to transport the fiber.
When grain from Lanzhou, Shanzhou and other places entered Guanzhong, it was very difficult to go down the river, and many ships were damaged. It would be even more difficult to go upstream, so I hope your Majesty will check it out." Qin Han said.
Since the late Ming Dynasty, China has entered a small glacier climate, reaching its lowest temperature in the later years of Kangxi, and then slowly rising, until the late Qing Dynasty when it gradually got rid of it. During this period, precipitation was less and the Yellow River water was not abundant. From Lanzhou
From the section down to Zhongwei, there is a saying that there are four gorges and one shoal, that is, the four canyons of Heishan, Hongshan, Mulberry, Xiangshui, and a shoal in Dalanggou. It is more dangerous to sail. Rafters and boatmen have to go to this place every time they sail.
Concentrate, if you are not careful, the boat will be destroyed and people will be killed.
At this time, at the end of the Tang Dynasty, the temperature began to drop slowly, and reached a low point in the middle of the Five Dynasties. However, this low point lasted for a short time, which was completely different from that of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and it quickly reached a low point in the early Song Dynasty.
It's picked up.
Of course, by the end of the Song Dynasty, the temperature was much lower than that of the late Tang Dynasty, and slightly higher than that of the Five Dynasties. This can be seen from the fact that the grain harvest in the Song Dynasty was a full month later than that in the Tang Dynasty.
The water volume of the Yellow River at this time was much more abundant than during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Heishan Gorge and Dalanggou sections in later generations were not so dangerous at this time, as you can see from the position of the Huining Pass ferry. But again
Going up to Lanzhou, there is indeed a more troublesome flight section.
"Is it likely that the ship will be destroyed?" Shao Shude pondered for a while and asked.
"How many ships can the king afford to destroy?" Qin Han asked.
Fuck, this question stopped me.
Xuanzong can bear the destruction of ships, but I can't. I only have so little food, and it hurts to lose one ship.
"If I'm stretching, can I avoid the rapids and rapids?"
"It's difficult, but you can give it a try. However, it is impossible to open a towpath in Mulberry Garden and Xiangshui Gorge."
"Young man can definitely teach me." Shao Shude smiled.
"Your Majesty can build a ship in Huizhou. A small boat is enough. It can sail to Mulberry Garden and dock near the two Xiangshui Gorges. This is not far from Lanzhou. The section from Huining Pass to Huizhou can be transshipped by land."
It’s very troublesome! Shao Shude sighed, he didn’t dare to take risks, so he could only sail in sections, go overland when encountering dangerous places, and then sail again.
But this is not bad. From Lingzhou to Huiningguan, it saves hundreds of miles of land transportation costs. It can also save a considerable section of road later, and overall it is worth it.
The masters are about to be recruited in Huizhou again, but the local people are already quite nervous and may not be enough. The masters who followed from Lingzhou originally wanted to send them back, but now it seems that it is impossible. This year in Lingzhou
The agricultural harvest will be affected, pitfall!
"Let's do it! The snow-capped mountains have been logging for more than half a year. Let them stop building rafts downstream and make every effort to ensure military supplies." Shao Shude said: "After the army received grain, grass and equipment at Wulan Pass, they continued to set off.
I don’t want to wait any longer.”
"Yes." Li Renfu immediately sent someone to deliver the order.
"Let's talk about the inside story of Tubo in Lanzhou." Shao Shude said: "The news I got from Hu Shang is that there are more than 20,000 Tubo soldiers in Lanzhou. Is it true?"
"Twenty thousand is less than 20,000. We can still draw 15,000 to 15,000. If we include the four Han tribes, it is barely close to 20,000." Qin Han replied.
There was not much difference from what Kang Fujin said, so Shao Shude was relieved.
He has a total of 32,000 troops on his side, nearly half of whom are combat soldiers. If they fight head-on, he is confident of defeating the same number of Tibetans, not to mention that their troops are less than 20,000.