Li Shao was startled and stared at Li Chengzhi who looked sad.
Seeing that his expression didn't look fake, Li Shao changed his mind and his heart suddenly sank. At the same time, he also understood why Li Chengzhi was so worried.
In this battle, although the Xiao and Long passes were defeated, 11 counties and 89 counties including Jingzhou and Qizhou were captured, and more than a million stones of grain and grass were seized.
At first glance, it sounds like a lot, but it is only in relative terms. If we do not count the 100,000 soldiers who went to the West Sea, and only count the hundreds of thousands of surrendered soldiers and civilians captured in this battle, one person can get ten shi of food, and there is still more than 100,000 soldiers. More than a thousand kilograms. Even if they were all fed as pigs, it would be more than enough for two years.
But don't forget that Li Chengzhi has occupied Qi, Jingzhou, and Gaoping Town, which means that nearly half of the huge Guanzhong has returned to the West Sea.
In these two prefectures and one town, there are nearly one million households and a population of more than five million, which is forty or fifty times that of Jiezhu. With more than a hundred stones of grain, you won't even see a drop of water.
But those who wanted to die saw that the summer harvest was approaching, and nearly 70% of the grain fields in Jing, Qi, and Bin states were burned down by Yuan Qin.
What can we do to keep the people through the winter, not to mention that there will be a whole year before next summer's harvest?
What's even more exaggerated is that the powerful people, noble families, aristocratic families, and noble families in Guanzhong are either short-sighted or forced to have no choice. They all offer millets to the court and buy officials as if they are in a daze, and they will only keep enough generals. A year's worth of food.
In this way, even if Li Chengzhi wanted to kill the goose and take the eggs, it would be impossible to rob the rich and give to the poor.
There was a trace of anger in Li Shao's eyes, and he gritted his teeth and cursed: "Yuan Qin's intentions are so vicious, he deserves to be killed!"
What's the point of cutting Yuan Qin into pieces with thousands of swords?
As the so-called two armies confront each other, the winner is king, and he will do whatever he can. If it were him, he might not be able to do it...
Li Chengzhi sighed secretly and said in a deep voice: "With the current grain reserves, even if we eat grass every day, we will definitely not be able to feed nearly one million households in two states and one town. Therefore, we must find other plans... A few days ago , Shangshu (Cui Guang) returned to Hexi to supervise the harvest of summer grain. When he set out, he held a candle-lit night talk with me and left behind some strategies...
First, Xu Xu planned to retreat to Longxi on the spot, stationing only the Longxiao Pass and other Guanzhong gates such as Gaoping and Jinming, leaving the devastated, impoverished and displaced Guanzhong to the imperial court to see what he would do...
If the imperial court advances, it will take over the two prefectures and counties, station soldiers, provide food rations, and send civilians to prepare for the next spring plowing. And if this happens, it will be occupied and robbed by me again. One time preparation.
Therefore, I thought that the imperial court would most likely withdraw. That is to say, after I withdraw, the people of the two states will be completely moved to Guandong and Hedong, or to the six towns... Therefore, this strategy can only occupy land, but not retain people. "
There is no need for him to think that since he knows that Xihai will invade Guanzhong, the emperor, Yuan Yi and the court, no matter how stupid they are, will never do anything to support the enemy. Therefore, 10% of the time they will move all the people of Qi and Jingzhou. , moved to the east of Luoshui.
Li Shao shook his head fiercely: "That's inappropriate... If we withdraw our troops on the spot, what's the point of this battle? It's just to capture Xiaolong Pass, and we will only live in Hexi in the future? If we want to plot the Central Plains again in the future, where will the sources of troops and food and grass come from? Come? What’s more, if I withdraw this time, I won’t be able to take it so easily next time..."
"The minister also knew that something was wrong, so he had the best strategy: strike while the iron is hot! Now that the imperial court has been defeated, morale has been completely lost and the army is in panic. Our army should use the power of breaking the bamboo to recover the entire territory of Guanzhong.
Although the grain fields of Jing, Qi, and Bin states were burned to pieces by Yuan Qin, the two states of Hua and Yong, the richest among the five states, are still there. If the grain and grass from these two states are obtained, it may not be impossible to feed Guanzhong...
…”
Li Shao thought about it for a while and realized that this strategy was the only way to become mature.
Although there are nearly 200,000 Ding Zhuangzhu who followed Yuan Qin's defeat into Yonghua and Hua prefectures, most of them are civilians, and a small number are also defeated soldiers. They are not only rabble, but also soldiers of the defeated army. They have no military spirit and morale.
, how can he be the opponent of the Tiger and Wolf Division in the West Sea?
Maybe it won't take more than two months to drive straight in and return to Guanzhong.
But it is not without worries.
"What if Yuan Qin repeated his old trick and burned all the grain fields in Huayong and Yongzhou?"
"If the imperial court really dares to do something like this and make Guanzhong a thousand miles away, then don't blame me for taking the piss out of the cauldron!"
Li Chengzhi laughed coldly, "What would it be like if all two million households, with a population of over ten million, fled to the east of the river and the capital?"
Li Shao felt his scalp was numb.
What was the population of the entire Yuan and Wei dynasties?
There are only more than 5 million households, less than 40 million, and Guanzhong accounts for nearly 30%. If they all flock to the east of the river, how can there be no reason for chaos in Hedong and the capital?
When Hedong was in chaos, the Ji, Ding and other prefectures that had been harmed by Gao Zhao the year before were naturally in chaos, and the road between Luojing and the six towns was blocked.
After all the calculations, the imperial court only has a small corner south of the river. Maybe even without Li Chengzhi sending troops, Luoyang will be captured by the refugees...
"Of course, this tactic is very vicious. If you can't use it, don't use it. But you have to let the court know. If it is really urgent, I will definitely use it. So Yuan Qin knew that it was a poison to quench his thirst and gave me the money.
We will never dare to burn the farmland of the two states again..."
"Then fight!"
Li Shao fisted his fist, his face full of excitement, "Xihai's military system, tactics, and even weapons are all unique. Even if I am not too ambitious, I am afraid I will not be able to help you lead the army. But fortunately, I am in Guanzhong.
I still have a little reputation, so I will raise food and grass for you and sit in the rear, so you can go on the expedition without worries..."
"Okay, then thank you Uncle Shi!"
Li Chengzhi nodded in agreement, then smiled warmly and said, "But there is one more thing I have to trouble my uncle: can you help my nephew write some letters?"
"To whom?"
"The aristocratic families in Hedong..."
Li Shao changed his mind for a moment and knew Li Chengzhi's intention: Is he preparing to persuade him to surrender?
It doesn't matter if the strategy is old-fashioned, as long as it works. What's more, for aristocratic families and noble families, nothing is more important than the continuation of the family.
As long as they are not blind, they can naturally tell who is strong and who is weak. These grassroots people know clearly in their hearts: even if it is not time to make a choice, they should hide their capabilities and bide their time, rather than strive to be the first.
Li Shao's confidence increased even more, and he laughed loudly and said: "Prepare paper and ink!"
He was quick to write, and soon he wrote an letter. After taking it, Li Chengzhi scanned it briefly, nodded slightly, and ordered Li Xiao to put it in the envelope first.
Li Shao was in high spirits and his thoughts were flowing like a fountain. Li Chengzhi did not disturb him anymore. He just sat down behind the case and found an imperial edict from the document.
The imperial edict was sent from Luoyang a few days ago. After discussing with Cui Guang and Zhang Jingzhi, Cui Guang returned to Hexi.
Governing across the river?
It seems that the court is really anxious...
…
There is a continuous drizzle in the sky, and it stops now and then, for five or six days in a row.
The drizzle has washed the bluestone steps until they are shiny. Water has accumulated under the steps, and occasionally a bubble will appear.
Looking at the gloomy rainy day and listening to the noise outside the hall, the skin on Xue Jingmao's face twitched involuntarily.
The Xue family is a family from Hedong, and has been a wealthy family in Fenyin since the end of the Western Jin Dynasty. It passed through Shiwu, Fu Jian, Yao Hong, and later Liu Yu. The descendants of the family were either generals, governors, or governors.
, it can be said to be prominent for a while.
When the Song Dynasty fell, great-grandfather Xue Bian's clan surrendered to the Yuan and Wei dynasties, and he was granted the title of Marquis of Fenyin by Emperor Ming and Yuan, the father of Emperor Taiwu.
Later, after Emperor Xiaowen demoted the title, Marquis Fenyin became Uncle Fenyin, and he had his own direct descendants to inherit. However, the descendants of the concubine branch also got a lot of glory, and there were many amazing and talented people among them.
Xue Jingmao's father, Xue Cong, was highly trusted by Emperor Xiaowen during his lifetime. He served as General Zhige, specializing in the king's control. He even accompanied Xiaowen on his own expeditions and served as Sima at that time. After returning to the court, he was appointed Lieutenant of the Censor and one of the Nine Ministers.
After Yuan Ke succeeded to the throne, Xue Cong served as the governor of Qizhou and died in office. The two sons, one a concubine and the other a legitimate son, were slightly less talented than their father, but they did not fall into the lintel.
Although Xue Jingmao was the eldest son, he was born as a concubine. His start-up was not considered good, but it was not considered bad either. When Yuan Yong was appointed as the pastor of Sizhou, he was only a secretary in the Sizhou Ji Office (a kind of secretary in the Ji Office, responsible for writing chapters and papers, and engaged in
He is the assistant of Ji Shi, from the seventh rank).
But when the opportunity came, nothing could stop him. In just six years, he was already the fifth-rank governor of a county.
Xue Jingmao thought that he was not lucky, but it was a pity that he was born at the wrong time.
At this moment, seeing the wind subside and the rain subside, the dark clouds as thick as lead mountains gradually dispersed, and the sky seemed to be clearing up, Xue Jingmao's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
If it rains non-stop, it will naturally affect the summer harvest. Seeing that the weather is approaching, should he be happy?
Just because the summer grain in Zhao Xing County had already been completely burned by the fire before the officers and soldiers left, why would you want to collect some bird feathers?
It would be fine if the rebels took advantage of the situation and attacked. Then the people would naturally think that it was the rebels. Moreover, the rebels were so powerful that they were unmatched. No matter whether they were nobles or ordinary people, they would naturally have no choice but to swallow their anger.
Furthermore, the Li family is not a very vicious person. As long as they attack the city and occupy the land, they will naturally care about the life and death of the people.
But what's terrible is that when they were able to pursue them to the borderline between Anding County and Zhaoxing County in Jingzhou, the rebels stopped pursuing them and allowed the officers and soldiers to disperse.
The rebels had not even entered the county, and no matter how thick-skinned Xue Jingmao was, no matter how low his limits were, he could not say that burning the grain fields was a treasonous act.
The common people are not fools, not to mention that when there are rebels crossing the border, the powerful tribesmen guarding Wubao saw with their own eyes that Xue Jingmao would not be able to frame him even if he wanted to.
So when the situation calmed down a little, the county government office was surrounded by water. If it hadn't been rainy, the county government office would have been breached long ago.
Even so, many hungry people who had no food to survive the day were still surrounded outside the yamen. Xue Jingmao could only ask the officials to carry out the few grains left in the warehouse and serve porridge outside the yamen.
And when the weather clears, people from other counties outside the county will definitely come in droves, which will definitely trigger a civil uprising.
The hungry people had nowhere to vent their anger, so how could he, the county guard, be spared?
Xue Jingmao was filled with grief, anger, and fear, and the facial features on his face were twisted into a ball.
"Dong dong dong..."
The door was smashed like a drum. Xue Jingmao's eyes widened and he shouted loudly: "Who knocked on the door?"
There was a government official guarding the door. He asked a few questions through the crack in the door and rushed over through the rain.
"Your Majesty, something bad happened... Seven days ago, the people of Changwu County surrounded the county government office. The county magistrate had no choice but to come out to comfort him. But when the magistrate saw that there was no food left in the county warehouse, the refugees immediately took action and attacked the county government office... Since the county magistrate issued the order
, more than thirty officials and servants in the county were all cut into pieces and eaten by the bandits...
In just three days, the rebellion spread to Ding'an and the two counties of Dingping... The bandit leader, known as 'General Pingtian', has gathered a hundred thousand people under the command of Changwu, and is scheduled to send out troops on Bingchen day..."
Bingchen day, isn’t it the day after tomorrow?
Knowing that Li's rebellion is unmatched, how dare these thieves kill an egg against a stone?
Once troops are sent out, they must go to the county town.
Xue Jingmao was horrified when he thought of the Changwu County magistrate and county officials who were cut into pieces and eaten raw by the hungry people.
"Quick, report to the governor urgently..."
"Here!"
The subordinates rushed away, and Xue Jingmao shouted anxiously: "Where did the school lieutenant (county lieutenant) go?"
"Your Majesty, both Zhao Junwei and Fan Juncheng said they were ill and returned home yesterday and stayed behind closed doors..."
Chang Shi reminded him, then moved forward and lowered his voice, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten the letter from the day before yesterday..."
Xue Jingmao was stunned for a moment, and the blood on his face receded at a speed visible to the naked eye until it turned blue in the white.
The letter was written by Li Shao, the Marquis of Guzang, and it was full of the meaning of "abandoning the darkness and turning to the light." He was not unmoved, but in the end he was still loyal to the emperor and did not respond.
When both the county lieutenant and the county magistrate reported illness, Xue Jingmao only thought that the two were frightened by the refugees surrounding the government office, and secretly ridiculed them. But at this time, Chang Shi reminded him, and he was shocked: Then
Perhaps the two of them have already anticipated today's situation and have already made a decision?
But the problem is, it's been two days, God knows how much these two thieves have secretly communicated with each other?
What's more, when a powerful enemy approaches the city, everyone in the county is already in danger, and the loss of summer supplies makes it even worse. Now if it is known that hundreds of thousands of bandits will attack in a few days, the county soldiers and the people will be in danger.
How will you respond?
We can't be like those in Changwu County, where we can be dismembered alive by the refugees and swallowed alive, right?
Even if I guess with my feet on my head, I must have killed him as the prefect and surrendered the bandits...
"Your Majesty, the situation is imminent. You must not hesitate. Whether you are escaping or... well, it is better to make a plan quickly. Otherwise, when the news of the refugees' revolt spreads, there is no guarantee that the likes of Zhao Junwei will not strike first.
To be strong, take the envoy's head as a sacrifice to the flag..."
"Escape? That's easy to say. Where to escape? Who knows if the counties in the southeast such as Mating, Yongshou, and Sanshui have also rebelled?"
Seeing the uncertainty on Xue Jingmao's face, Chang Shi gritted his teeth and said: "Then surrender... It would be better to surrender the Li family than to be eaten alive by the hungry people. Besides, the imperial court was unkind and abandoned me and ignored me. Don't blame me."
Waiting for good ministers to choose a tree to live in..."
Xue Jingmao wanted to say "Two armies face off, the winner is king", but when the words reached his tongue, he could not spit them out.
It is useless to strengthen the walls and clear the country to prevent the enemy from losing supplies and supplies, but the mistake is that the imperial court abandons the people of a county and ignores them.
It has been nearly a month since the governor of Jingzhou withdrew thousands of defeated troops through Zhao Xing County and burned the grain and grass. Xue Jingmao had read history books and had been in charge of the place for nearly ten years. How could he not know the consequences of Yang Jun's move?
But hundreds of urgent reports were sent to the prefecture, but all fell into the dust, not even a perfunctory word?
How could Xue Jingmao not know that the 400,000 people of Zhao Xing County were considered useless by the imperial court...
Although the righteousness of a saint includes "loyalty to the emperor", it also includes "loving the people".
Since you are unkind, don't blame me for being unrighteous...