On April 27, the fifth year of Dashun, the deputy envoy of Shuofang Jiedu, the deputy governor of Zhenbei, and the governor of Shengzhou, Song Le, arrived in the river.
He landed in Longmen County. After passing through Longmen County, he traveled east along the Fenshui River Valley and arrived at Jishan County in Jiangzhou...
Along the way, the scenery in the river opened his eyes.
He was born in the Song family in Xihe, but apart from having relatives in Hedong, he has not been back for many years and is not very familiar with the land in the middle of the river.
The most outstanding feeling on the road is that there are too many water conservancy projects in Jiangzhou, but they have nothing to do with Wang Chongrong and Wang Chongying brothers. Most of them are leftovers from decades ago. Now they are more or less dilapidated, and the repair efforts are obviously insufficient.
The people did not seem to be very wealthy, and no one was very happy, and they criticized the foreign forces from Shuofang.
Song Le pretended to be an old scholar who had returned to his hometown frustrated after repeated failed attempts, and chatted with the locals.
"Zhang Weng is still going out to collect firewood at such an old age?" Song Le asked with a smile inside the post station.
In this day and age, the government is unable to maintain the post stations of the imperial dynasty, and most of them have been "contracted" to local wealthy households to operate them. Of course, Jishan Post is also the case.
The old man is the biological father of Jishan Post General, but he is still helping the family and working hard to run Jishan Post, a "family hotel".
"It's not easy to live in these war-torn times. What can I say?" The old man put down a bundle of firewood, sat down on a post, and breathed heavily: "It's not easy to run an inn. Last year, it was just a few years.
The Prince of Lingwu County made some money when he lived here. At other times, it was just a matter of profit and loss. There are too few post fields and the government uses horses too frequently, which is difficult!"
"How come the prince of Lingwu County makes a profit by living in the inn?"
"You don't know something. In this world, the King of Hell has always been easy to deal with, but little devils are difficult to deal with. What kind of status is the King of Lingwu County, why would he give you such a small amount of money? I am very happy to serve you, and all kinds of rewards are not a problem." The old man shook his head and said: "
But how can we afford those generals and assistants in the prefecture and county who go back and forth on official business and even eat and drink? Bah, they are all the cronies of Wang Yao."
The people in the river were very courageous when they mocked the Jiedushi in public! Song Le smiled and said: "How is this year?"
"It's not that good either." The old man sighed and said, "There are still a lot of people coming and going on business. Scholars, businessmen, and officials don't have much money in their pockets. Giving them money is not as easy as before. It's harder to make money from them than before.
Too much. Prince Lingwu is not a good person either. He fights with the gods and steals all the money of the people in the river."
"Where do we start talking about this?" Song Le asked.
"Salt Pond." The old man stretched out his right hand, as if to draw something, but after all, his knowledge was limited, so he could only say dejectedly: "There is a lot of money in the Salt Pond, it's gone. Give the warrior a reward, and ask for money; let the warrior eat enough, and ask for food.
"Going to the front line and becoming a master will cost you your life."
Song Le also sighed and comforted: "Maybe after beating Zhu Quanzhong, it will be easier."
"I am sixty-two this year. I was a martial artist in my early years and have seen a lot. How can I stop conquering the world?"
"Isn't the Tang Dynasty still there? How can we conquer the world?"
"Haha." The old man patted his thigh and laughed, saying: "The saints of Chang'an have not been able to raise all the military gifts, and their Li family has no share in the world. The people in Jiangzhou say that the king of Lingwu County is Dong Zhuo
, maybe one day I will go to Beijing and sleep on the dragon bed, and sleep with the queen mother and princess."
Song Le choked there for a moment.
The people in the river are very dissatisfied with Marshal Shao. Could it be that he is looting too hard?
No, there may be other factors. For example, if a large number of Sergeant Shuo Fang's family members move to Jinjiang, they will naturally encroach on the interests of the local people. This contradiction is difficult to reconcile.
Of course, the factor of war cannot be ignored. Conscripting masters, plundering money and food, or even directly letting local warriors from the river go into battle, all of which will lower one's reputation.
"Talking to the guests so much is just complaining." The old man added: "Actually, it was better than the Chao Rebellion. At that time, Huang Chao went to Chang'an and became a saint, and one of the Wang brothers sent troops and the other served as a sacrifice.
Military envoys, the people in the three towns of Hezhong, Shaanxi, Guo, and Hedong were really suffering at that time, and my second son died in the war at that time."
Song Le could only feel a little comforted after hearing this.
The Huangchao and Qin Zongquan Rebellions should be better than those at the end of the Ancient Dynasty. They were mainly limited to some prefectures and counties in Henan, some places in Jiangnan and half of Jingzhao Prefecture. Hedong Road, Hebei Road, the eastern part of Henan Road, Liangzhe and Sanchuan
Densely populated places like this are almost not affected.
Huang Chao wanted to develop outside the country, but he didn't have the ability. After the uprising in Henan, he was forced to go south. When he arrived in Guanzhong, the Western Expedition failed miserably. Basically, he could only operate in places with strong imperial control, such as the more obedient feudal towns in Henan.
Speaking of Dongji, Zhongwu and the towns in the south, the imperial court was still too bad, and the feudal towns only swept the snow in front of them, deliberately letting Huang Chao enter the pass.
"Let's see. Many wives in Jishan County were expropriated. I don't know where they went, and I don't know how many of them will come back. But the work in the fields is taken care of by a group of old and weak women and children. Obviously,
It won't work. This year, the price of food will probably rise sharply. If we fight again next year, the people's lives will be difficult." The old man sighed, got up and carried the firewood to dry.
Song Le sat there quietly.
The general is fighting in Heqing. Although Lingxia ships transport grain and grass, to be honest, the bulk of it is supplied by the people of one prefecture and four states in the river. In the middle of the river, there are more than one million people in the two towns of Shaanxi and Guo, supporting an army of 90,000. This is a battle.
The state and consumption are much greater than when the battalion is not fighting, and there are still so many horses. It is unusual for the public's perception of the commander to drop sharply.
Maybe you transferred me here just to resolve this matter.
After leaving Jishanyi, Song Le slowed down and observed silently all the way, and finally arrived at Longchi Palace at the end of April.
Shao Shude personally hosted a banquet in Qingliang Hall.
"Sir, would you like to go out to Zhenheyang?" After drinking for three rounds, Shao Shude suddenly asked.
Shao Shude respected Song Le, his early mentor and friend, very much. He called him his official title in public, but often called him "Sir" in private.
The common titles used by students in the imperial dynasty to their teachers were "teacher" and "sir", which are almost exactly the same as those in later generations. To be more specific, there are also Changshi (fixed teacher), Mingshi (wise teacher), and Yanshi (Yanshi)
strict teacher), ancestral teacher (former teacher or Confucius), etc.
"The commander is so confident?" Song Le was in a bad mood along the way. Hearing this, he still smiled and said: "Pang Shigu has an army of 100,000 on his side, so it is so easy to fight?"
"How long can Pang Shigu last with me?" Shao Shude said with a smile: "The food and grass for the camp can last for seven months. Is it possible that Pang Shigu can still use it until the end of the year?"
"It is not unusual for the Bian army to attack Erzhu and Shipu and besiege the city for several months or even a year." Song Le reminded.
"That's Zhu Xuan, Zhu Jin, Shi Pu, and Pang Shigu dare to surround me for a year?" Shao Shude smiled, and his words were a bit arrogant. He only heard him say: "In a few more months, if Pang Shigu doesn't leave,
, I made it impossible for him to leave."
"Heqing is sandwiched between mountains and rivers. How many troops can be deployed? Commander, don't try to deceive me."
"After the Dragon Boat Festival, I ordered the Xinquan, Tianxiong, and Shunyi armies to dispatch to Wangwu. Next year, his family will also be moved here. The six inspection envoys and Hengshan two new troops sent out a total of 8,000 steps.
The cavalry has also arrived and is currently stationed in Jinzhou and is ready for use at any time. Quanzhong said that I have few soldiers, so he asked him to see how many soldiers and horses I can pull out." Shao Shude said: "He Qing can't get rid of too many soldiers, but I
The army can be rotated. Pang Shigu has come all the way, and the whole army is stationed east of Heqing, with a camp of more than ten miles. If we fight for a few more months, we will become a tired army, and we will make him look good by then."
Song Le nodded silently and suddenly asked: "This year in Tielin, the families of the officers and soldiers of the Second Wuwei Army moved to the river. Have they settled down now?"
"I have settled down. But" when he said this, Shao Shude's expression was a bit complicated: "After the soldiers' families moved here, not many people were willing to buy land, and they didn't put too much thought into the house. They were actually ready to move again.
Intend."
This means living completely on wages. The number of people willing to buy property has dropped significantly, and it's a bit like a forbidden army in the capital.
"Are the soldiers dissatisfied?" Song Le was very familiar with the warriors of this era, and he got the key point right away.
"There is definitely dissatisfaction, but it can be suppressed." Shao Shude said in his heart that this has consumed the prestige I have accumulated over the years. The soldiers no longer regard me as their "intimate brother". Of course, if I see the effect, maybe I will increase the amount of dissatisfaction.
A reward also played a role.
In the future, it will be necessary to further reshape and strengthen its prestige, such as conquering a large feudal town.
Of course, the generals and bureaucrats may be more dissatisfied than the top soldiers. They have purchased more industries in Lingzhou and have more in-depth local operations. They are not so easy to give up.
It is compulsory to go on an expedition with the coach. You have to go to all corners of the country. This is okay and everyone can accept it. But do your family members also have to come with you? Shao Shude did not use coercion. Only some people took over their children. Most of them took over their children.
The generals only found a concubine in Jinjiang for daily service, while their wives and children were still in Lingzhou.
Among the major military generals, the ones who most firmly support the move of the ruling center are mainly Lu Huaizhong, Fengyin, Li Renjun, Guan Kairun and some Tibetan generals. The civilian officials support more, seems to be because it is easier to paint cakes for them?
But this great migration may also give careerists an opportunity to win over those who are dissatisfied within them?
Shao Shude felt that his mentality towards Zhu Quanzhong had slipped, which was not good.
In history, Zhu Zhen, the number one general of the Bian Army, killed Li Tangbin, the second number one. Zhu Quanzhong actually did not want to lose two generals in succession. He planned to kill Zhu Zhen and planned to go down the steps and pardon his death sentence as soon as someone interceded. Unexpectedly, everyone present
All the generals knelt down and begged for Zhu Zhen. This step was too high...
Lao Zhu killed Zhu Zhen on the spot without any hesitation.
Within Xia Jun, who is Zhu Zhen?
Shao Shude quickly put an end to this dangerous idea. He was still trying to conquer the world, but he was so divided that his great cause was probably going to collapse in the middle.
"In a few days, sir, I will go to Heqing with me," Shao Shude said.
"You should obey your orders."
After the guests and hosts enjoyed the small banquet, Shao Shude returned to Anle Hall to rest.
Webster and Du came to see Pei and Xiao again to discuss poetry.
Shao Shude smiled and said nothing.
This is a game played by adults who know each other well, and he has no intention of breaking it.
Du had obviously gone to Liangzhou with his father, but ended up returning to Chang'an, saying that he couldn't get used to living there. But when he returned to Chang'an, he said that Chang'an was undercurrent and not very safe, so he came to Anyi.
Shao Shude once said in front of Du Ranneng that if he was willing, Du would be sent to his bed that night for him to enjoy. At that time, Lao Du was still very angry. But I was just joking, Lao Du.
Are you serious?
Mrs. Pei sat on one side, stroking her belly, chatting and laughing with Wei in a low voice. Mrs. Xiao was a little bit sour. She had had a chance, but Shao Shude had not yet had her freshness, so he often watered her flower, but she didn't get pregnant.
There's no way. Now that the scumbag's freshness has passed, it's a little more difficult.
Du was playing the qin at the side, and Shao Shude listened quietly. The two noble ladies would have to say goodbye and leave soon, unless Shao Shude stopped them from playing the qin and switched to a wind instrument.
"Commander, I'm waiting for the military report to arrive." Zheng Yong, the tenth general of the army, said softly outside the palace.
"Bring it here."
Zheng Yong walked in without squinting, handed over the official letter, and then quietly left.
Shao Shude unfolded it and took a look, and was overjoyed: Li Hanzhi led thousands of people on foot and cavalry southward, claiming that he would "cut Zhang Quanyi into pieces with a thousand swords."
"Haha!" Shao Shude casually stuffed the official letter into the deep ravine on the upper edge of Du's skirt and grabbed a handful: "Heaven help me!"
Well, it's not as big as Xiao Dai's, but it's pretty solid.
Du Shi's face was as red as blood, and the strings of her piano were plucked.
"What is Zhu Quanzhong doing at this time?" Shao Shude walked towards the map hanging on the wall.
When Webster saw him walking towards him, he felt a little unnatural, with a slightly childish look on his face showing panic.
Shao Shude pinched Webster's face with his left hand, laughed, walked to the map, and drew carefully.
If Li Hanzhi is brave enough, go skating. Zheng. No one in Heyang has time to talk to you right now. Do you dare?