After walking all the way and looking around, it was already early June when we arrived at Hanyinyi outside Xiangyang City.
Mrs. Chen has been having a great time these days. She has returned to her old home, met with her relatives, and visited several scenic spots that impressed her when she was young. Her mood is much better than when she first came here.
After Shao Shude returned to Hanyinyi, he opened the gift from the saint for the first time. His psychological satisfaction was indescribable.
Zhao Kuangning had already withdrawn from the Luyang Pass area, and those on top were the soldiers and horses that Zhe Zongben had drawn from Fengxiang, and the other party recruits recruited from Yin, Lin, and Shengzhou.
"There are too few people in the three prefectures of Xiang and Ying. Especially in the two prefectures of Ying and Fu, they need to be greatly improved." Shao Shude invited Zhao Kuangning for a discussion in Hanyinyi. He spoke and behaved as if he was the master of Xiangyang.
And Zhao Kuangning was also respectful and did not dare to say anything.
He is actually a very smart person and knows what Shao Shude means, that is, there is no need to invest too many resources in Xiangzhou and focus on the development of Ying and Fuzhou. Then contacting Gucheng in Xiangzhou, Dengcheng (Anyang) County seems to have already
After replacing the officials sent by the Xia Palace, the matter could not be clearer.
"Ying, we have returned to the two prefectures. We are sending people to organize water conservancy and reward farmers and mulberry trees." Zhao Kuangning replied: "Now the war with Du Hong has ceased. We are in peace. The common people and scholars are running around telling each other, saying that this is the virtue of the king of Xia.
"
Shao Shude laughed and said: "It's good if the people don't complain about me exploiting Kulie. Taxes will be reduced this autumn, and they will be reduced next year. The three states of the Loyalty and Rebel Army will also have to follow suit."
"As commanded."
"On the other hand, Yingfu is a vast country with few people, so he can think of ways to attract people from other towns and even barbarians, and create a unified household for the people."
"As ordered." Zhao Kuangning nodded like he was pounding garlic.
The three counties of Yingzhou were roughly located in the Zhongxiang and Jingshan areas of Hubei Province in later generations.
The three counties of Fuzhou were roughly located in the Xiantao, Jianli, and Tianmen areas of Hubei Province in later generations.
These five places had more than 5 million people in later generations and were densely populated areas. Although it cannot be compared with industrialized society in the Tang Dynasty, the total number of people in the two states and six counties was less than 100,000. It was indeed too few and the degree of development was low.
It's outrageous.
Lack of people is always a big problem.
There is no one to farm for you, no one to herd your cattle, no one to weave for you, no one to fish for you, so what a fart war.
The long-term stalemate war will inevitably expand the demands on the economic foundation.
"Such a wonderful place between Jiang and Han..." Shao Shude pondered for a moment.
Let’s lay some foundations first. To put it bluntly, if the dynasty he established was after a hundred years of peace and population surge, there would be an undeveloped place like Jianghan, which would be a relatively good pressure relief valve.
Perhaps we can take advantage of this opportunity to occupy more unowned land and use it as pasture under the jurisdiction of the palace, and release it little by little in the future.
"You go back first. Xiangyang and Ezhou should not fight again, or they can help each other." Shao Shude said: "Li Kan in Jiangling, has there been any movement recently?"
"Li Kan is not in good health after a serious illness. Each of the disciples has a lot of support. Xu Cun, Zhang Xiu, Zhang Jun and other foreign generals are ready to make a move. There may be trouble in Kuixia and Jingnan towns." Zhao Kuangning replied.
.
In fact, he has always been interested in Jingnan Town. When Zhao Deqian was in power, he once wanted to embezzle Jingnan as his own rear. However, Li Kan seemed to have little strength and was not easy to fight, so he gave up.
Since Li Suo was moved from Kuizhou to Jiangling Prefecture, the political center of gravity shifted eastward, and Li Kan's territory also changed.
Yuzhou and other places in the westernmost part of Kuixia Town were lost, and now the western boundary only reaches Zhongzhou.
The westward expedition into Sichuan failed, so he went south, but the result was not very successful. Li Kan's expansion was tragic enough. When he heard that Shao Shude actually extended his power to the east of Han Dynasty, no wonder he became angry.
King Jing (Li Kan) now actually controls the six states of Zhong, Wan, Kui, Gui, Xia, and Jing (Jiangling Prefecture), which is not too small. But considering his age, what will happen after his death is probably terrible.
The thing that many warriors worry about the most, but still find it difficult to solve.
"I heard that Lei Man of Langzhou once sent an envoy to Xiangyang?" Shao Shude suddenly asked.
Zhao Kuangning was shocked. Where did King Xia get the news?
Lei Man did come here, just a while ago. Because he heard that Li Kan wanted to march south due to illness, he was worried, so he invited Xiangyang to send troops to attack Li Kan from a flank, but Zhao Kuangning refused.
It was a trivial matter in the first place. Zhao Kuangning was not Shao Shude's subordinate, but just a vassal. There was no need to report everything. What really made him feel uneasy was where did King Xia know about it?
"I did come. Although Lei Man's Dongman Army repelled several sieges by the Jingnan Yamen Army, they suffered heavy losses and had to ask for help from other towns. I have already refused." Zhao Kuangning said.
"If Lei Manruo comes again, he can bring his messenger to the river."
"As commanded."
"Okay, please step back."
After Zhao Kuangning left, Shao Shude and Chen chatted about poetry and prose, and then practiced calligraphy.
At the end of the practice, Shao Shude was so excited that he picked up his brush and wrote on the snow-white and smooth "paper": "Looking back and smiling, the sixth palace has no color."
The paper is moist and soft, the ink gradually spreads out, and there is a coquettish beauty against the snow-white background.
"After practicing calligraphy for many years, what do Wan Niang think?" Shao Shude threw the brush away and said proudly.
Chen's hair was disheveled and her face was flushed. After struggling to get up, she looked down and then looked at Shao Shude with a demure and calm look, implying an adult's reproach for the child's mischief.
The murderous Marshal Shao is in great embarrassment. If others don't feel embarrassed, the only one who is embarrassed is you.
"This... Xiangyang has outstanding people, graceful ladies, and I feel something in my heart, haha." Shao Shude laughed to cover up his embarrassment.
"In the past, the Mengshan people lived in seclusion in their hometown. All they could see were the bells ringing in the mountain temples, the quarrels on the ferry, people rushing with the tide, and boat trips prospering. I returned to my hometown for a few months, and where I saw it, the desolate village was lonely, the bones were piled in the graves, the husbands and travelers were sharpening their knives and sobbing.
"Ms. Chen sighed, sat in Shao Shude's arms, touched his face, and said, "If your Majesty is willing to make the people of Xiangyang as comfortable and peaceful as Guanzhong, what can I not do for you?"
This is to prevent myself from "suffering" the people of Xiangyang anymore.
"Almost." Shao Shude played with his black hair and said, "I have sorted out such a poor place in Guanbei. What's the problem in the eight counties of Xiangzhou?"
Mrs. Chen gave a rare smile and said in a low voice: "The king is decisive in killing and full of pride, and all the heroes in the world bow his head. But there is something delicate about this word. He must have learned it from a woman."
…
After staying in Xiangyang for a few days, Shao Shude led more than 20,000 people from the Tianxiong Army, Yi Cong Army and Tielin Army's right wing to the north, passed through Dengzhou and entered Wuguan, and finally arrived near Chang'an in mid-July.
The capital is in great fear!
Okay, I'm just kidding. Marshal Shao stationed his troops at the East Wei Bridge. The saint was indeed uneasy, but the officials in the Southern and Northern Divisions were in a stable mood and went straight as usual.
On July 20th, Shao Shude arrived in Zhaoying County, Jingzhao Prefecture, and secretly summoned Xiao Yu and Han Quangui to come.
"This pavilion road was built by the First Emperor, above the pedestrian bridge and below the vehicular bridge." On Lishan Mountain, Shao Shude began to show off his knowledge.
Mrs. Chen glanced at the stone tablet nearby, which recorded that the pavilion was rebuilt in the sixth year of Tianbao's reign, and smiled without saying a word.
After the rebellion, Huaqing Palace suffered relatively serious damage, and the imperial court never allocated any funds for repairs. Today, only part of the building is usable.
After Shao Shude sat down in Chongming Pavilion, he admired the beautiful scenery of the Wei River. After receiving an ultimatum, he sent Chen away and summoned Chen Cheng and his eldest son Shao Chengjie.
"Zhao Guangfeng took action against Li Fan." Shao Shude handed the ultimatum to Chen Cheng, then looked at Shao Chengjie and said, "My son, do you think Li Fan will submit?"
Shao Chengjie thought for a while and said: "What if you submit? What if you don't submit? Master, isn't there a large army in Shaanxi and Guo? If Li Fan doesn't want to submit, you can kill him."
Shao Shude didn't expect his son to be so decisive in killing. He was a little surprised and deliberately said: "Li Fan has thousands of soldiers and horses. If we defend the city, Shaanzhou will be isolated on three sides, and we can't conquer it even if we besiege it for a year. What will happen?"
"You can trick him out. Once he leaves the nest, even a warrior can tie him up. Why should I worry?" Shao Chengjie said seriously.
Shao Shude choked. His son was like this, and his father was both happy and worried.
Chen Cheng was observing the situation on the side, and when he saw Shao Shude's complex expression, he interrupted: "Congratulations to the commander-in-chief. The prince is brave and resourceful. I have never revealed Zhao Sima's strategy. It was all the prince's idea."
"Erlang really surprised me." Shao Shude said with a smile: "After restraining Li Fan, what will the Shaanxi and Guo sergeant do?"
"Just give them rewards." Shao Chengjie said.
"Is it enough to just give a reward?" Shao Shude asked.
Shao Chengjie was stunned.
He is still young and inexperienced, and does not know the complex details involved in handling the aftermath of an incident.
"Erlang, listen carefully." Shao Shude cleared his throat and said: "Li Fan is just Li Fan, he is just a person. What my father really has to deal with is not Li Fan, but the Baoyi Army behind Li Fan.
.The foundation of a vassal town does not lie in the commander, the staff, or the generals, but in the intricately connected martial arts group that has been rooted in the prefectures and counties for more than a hundred years. If Li Fan is dealt with this time, and the Baoyi Army is not dealt with, then there will be more in the future.
Zhang Fan, Cui Fan and others appeared."
Shao Chengjie listened carefully.
"The Chengde Wang family has been hereditary for several generations and looks majestic, but if Wang Rong dares to touch the interests of the Chengde military people, he will be killed without discussion. In the six states of Weibo, the commander-in-chief is elected by the sergeants, and the Yamen soldiers kill the commander-in-chief like a pig butchered dog.
It is easy to change the generals, but it is difficult to go to the feudal town." Shao Shude said in a persuasive way: "But if I don't get rid of the feudal town, it will be difficult for my father to sleep peacefully. Even if I can suppress it, in the next hundred years, you can suppress it? Once there is chaos in the country, several towns will be suppressed.
If the separatist regime rebels, other vassal towns will not listen to your orders. They will only watch from the sidelines, riding on the wall left and right, seeking benefits. Therefore, the vassal towns must be eliminated."
Shao Chengjie seemed to understand a little, and whispered: "Then grandma and uncle..."
"Shut up!" Shao Shude said with a change of expression: "You are not allowed to mention these things in the future, even in front of your mother, you are not allowed to talk nonsense."
Shao Chengjie's face turned a little pale, he lowered his head and said, "I understand."
Chen Cheng coughed and said, "Your Majesty, it's not like you are planning ahead..."
Shao Shude glared at Chen Cheng and said, "It's true that I have an idea, but if I don't understand the importance, I might destroy the foundation of my Shao family. How can I trust him with this burden?"
"Actually," Shao Chengjie plucked up his courage and said, "My uncle wanted me to marry my cousin, but my mother-in-law refused. I also rewarded Jin Niang with many utensils and let her stay with her in the palace from time to time."
"Jin Niang?" Shao Shude was stunned.
"Commander, Jin Niang is Zhu Shuzong's legitimate daughter." Chen Cheng introduced.
"Well..." Shao Shude nodded, his face softened a little, and said: "Some things can only be discussed between my father and my son, and must not be spread outside. Chen Changshi can also ask for advice, and don't be impatient."
"I understand." Shao Chengjie responded.
Seeing that the atmosphere in the room was a little stagnant, Chen Cheng laughed and said, "I'm going out to see why Han Quanjie hasn't come yet."
Shao Shude nodded lightly.
After a long time, he gently touched his son's head and sighed: "It is difficult to start a business, and it is also difficult to keep a business. My son should encourage him."