Chapter 956 The Central Plains has become a wasteland, and it is not easy to restore it!
"The second front army moved south from the front line of Pingyang Prefecture and is now advancing towards Jiezhou. The third front army moved south from the front line of Lu'an Prefecture. It has already captured Jincheng, Zezhou Prefecture, and is approaching the Yellow River! In the current war situation, we are holding back! Zhengzhou
The affairs of Zhengzhou City must be sorted out quickly. Within five days, the main force must move westward!" Cao Ruohai was busy after entering Zhengzhou City. After struggling for several days, he was still in chaos. As a result, the military intelligence department passed
Rumored military information showed that the other two armies had already begun preparations to join forces in Luoyang. He was so anxious that he had to hold an emergency meeting to discuss and speed up the progress!
"Commander, when the army is advancing towards Luoyang, should it take the Dengfeng line, or along the river in the direction of Xingyang and Gongxian?"
"Let's divide the troops into two groups. Each group will have a main battle division and other brigades, totaling 20,000 people, and advance to Luoyang in separate groups." There are many alternative routes from Zhengzhou to Luoyang. After thinking about it, Cao Ruohai decided to divide it into two groups.
It would be better to enter Luoyang. After all, the main purpose of this army is to regain the entire Central Plains, not just for the city of Luoyang.
"With only 20,000 troops per route, isn't the strength a bit thin?"
"This is all we can do now. We only have 60,000 people. The cities of Zhengzhou and Kaifeng have to be defended, and the back roads have to be guarded. We won't be able to free up many people. This western expedition sounds like an army of nearly 200,000 people. It really spreads out.
It was later discovered that the number of troops was still insufficient, and these troops and horses were only enough to liberate the two provinces of Shanxi and the Central Plains. For the second phase of the Western Expedition, we need to expand some troops!"
When the troops are used, they will be regretted. If it is just for fighting, 178,000 people will be enough. But the Central Plains and Shanxi provinces are large enough. Even if a government only sends one security brigade to garrison, it will still take 20 to 30 people.
Traveling is enough. Maintaining law and order and clearing out stragglers are the most troublesome and labor-intensive. Just relying on these troops and horses now is not enough to regain the country, not to mention the whole country, even just to regain the north!
"General, if the troops are not enough, my sons can also be used. Even if they cannot help on the battlefield, they can always help maintain the rear route and transport food and grass. As long as the general trusts me, I will do it.
Their work." Chen Yongfu was also invited to participate in this military meeting. Seeing that Cao Ruohai did not have enough troops, he said that the surrendered troops he brought could also be used.
"General Chen, it's not that we don't believe you, but the Military Command Hall and the Ministry of War have already reached a conclusion. I have no right to change the regulations. Sons of your army, don't be impatient. It won't be too late to serve the imperial court after the reorganization and training are completed."
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Cao Ruohai was really worried about letting the surrendered soldiers help guard the way back. Even if the military command hall ordered him to do so, he would refuse it. In battle, friendly forces must be reliable.
"Just doing this will delay the imperial court's opportunity to pacify the world? I'll say it bluntly, although the imperial army is mighty, it is a little short after all. Isn't it enough to help the world?"
"It's not enough now, it will be enough in a few days! Your Majesty and the imperial court's strategy for helping the world is to attack the world slowly and steadily. No matter how many lands are restored, they must be restored, stabilized, and managed well! Take this
Let’s take the second Western Expedition as an example. The imperial court’s general strategy was to restore the Central Plains and Shanxi first, and then move to Sichuan and Shaanxi after stabilizing the situation! It’s not just trying to achieve full success.”
Chen Yongfu was about to be sent to Beijing, so Cao Ruohai didn't mind revealing the general military strategy to him. The main reason why he was allowed to participate in the meeting this time was because he was a local leader in Henan, and his coming to the meeting was only beneficial to the united front.
Seeing that Cao Ruohai was confident both inside and outside his words, Chen Yongfu stopped talking nonsense. Anyway, he would just worry about going to Beijing to retire. Military matters seemed to have nothing to do with him from now on.
It’s related!
"General, when will it be appropriate for me to leave for Beijing to meet the Holy Spirit?"
"Wait a few more days. The governor of Henan appointed by the imperial court is on his way. When he arrives in Zhengzhou, there are still some things that need to be handed over by the commander-in-chief. After the handover is completed, the commander-in-chief can go to Beijing to meet the saint."
"I wonder who the governor of Henan is appointed by the imperial court? Can the general tell me something?"
"The document says that it should be the Governor of Song Dynasty who used to be in charge of Yunzhong! He has been the governor of Yunzhong for several years, and he should be the most suitable candidate to be transferred to the Central Plains this time! The Central Plains is an important province, and an idle person cannot afford it.
Such a big errand."
"Governor Song wants to take charge of the Central Plains? General Sin has heard of his reputation before. It is a rare blessing for the Central Plains to have such an able minister to take charge!" Chen Yongfu has only heard of Song Quan, and he said this purely to be polite.
Second, it is useless for him to care about whether Song Quan is an official or not.
"Governor Song is really a rare official. The newly established province of Yunzhong has prospered under his management in recent years. This time he comes to the Central Plains, he will definitely turn the Central Plains from decline to prosperity! In these years, the Central Plains has
It has been ruined and the life of the people is too miserable, and it is difficult to bring peace of mind to the people!"
During the Western Expedition, Cao Ruohai had a deeper impression of the dilapidation of the Central Plains. The prosperous Central Plains was empty of houses and deserted villages everywhere. Even big cities like Zhengzhou were in dilapidated condition. This way
The sight made him dare not look directly at a soldier! Now he can only count on ministers like Song Quan to revive the Central Plains! In the eyes of Cao Ruohai and other soldiers, the civil servants of the imperial court are now useless in politics.
No. Even a wild place like Yunzhong can achieve improvement and vitality. How can the Central Plains be better than any other place?
At this time, Song Quan, who was omnipotent in Cao Ruohai's mind, had already entered the Central Plains with the first batch of officials deployed by the imperial court. As soon as he set foot on the land of the Central Plains, Song Quan's face became solemn. A layman watching the excitement,
As an expert knows, Song Quan was mentally prepared for the ruins of the Central Plains, but it is really a headache to be in such a dilapidated state! Looking around, there are abandoned lands everywhere, some of which have obviously been abandoned for more than ten years. The Central Plains have become
Entering the wasteland, this scene can only be described as shocking!
It is difficult to build a place that was originally a blank space, but it is even more difficult to turn an originally prosperous place from decline to revival! At this time, Song Quan felt more pressure as he walked towards Zhengzhou! Ten rooms and nine empty rooms
It is not easy to restore the Central Plains, and now he has no way out. If he does not restore the Central Plains, how can he deliver missions to the court? How can he further his career?
"Ask the accompanying secretariat to draft a document and send it to the restored counties in Henan. From now on, we will try our best to keep the local people in Henan and not allow hordes of refugees to enter other provinces again! All
In the Guangfu area of Henan, starting from this year, agricultural taxes will be exempted for three years. All fields that have been abandoned for more than two years will have their original land deeds invalidated and will be handed over to the government. The government will organize the redistribution of the fields to the people to restore the fields and bring peace to the people! In addition,
Send a document to the imperial court and ask the imperial court to organize a work team to enter Henan as soon as possible to clear the wasteland and calm the people."