Full text, no ads, Chapter 2: The Imperial Edict Arrives from the East
The early autumn in the Hetao Plain is a different scene. The corn in the endless fields is light yellow. The harvest period will come in a month. On both sides of the fields, there are abundant water flows in the artificially dug canals. In the distance, you can see dense forests.
, like patches of green blankets distributed on the vast and fertile Hetao Plain, like green pearls. (Full text e-book free download)
After several years of development by the Sui Dynasty, the Hetao Plain, which had been desolate for hundreds of years, gradually returned to its prosperity during the Han Dynasty. In just five years, 200,000 people moved in from Guannai, Guanzhong, Hedong, and Longyou.
With a population of more than one million, nearly half of the tens of thousands of women and children captured by Yang Yuanqing from the Western Regions were settled on the Hetao Plain.
The population surged, rivers and canals were dug, and large areas of fertile land were developed. Villages appeared one after another on the vast plains, and new county towns were built one after another. Originally, there were only three counties: Jiuyuan, Yong'an, and Dali. Now there are
Wuhai, Beihe, and Feng'an counties were added. The population and counties are mainly distributed in the east of the plain, with Jiuyuan County as the center, but the border trade is still in Dali County. The entire Hetao Plain is used to grow wheat, millet, millet, and mulberry.
Hemp and sweet apples are the main crops. At the same time, every household also raises cattle, sheep, horses and donkeys, making the Hetao Plain richer than in Guanhai.
That afternoon, a group of 500 cavalrymen galloped from the north along the galloping road, with dust billowing under the horses' hooves. The galloping road was built when Emperor Yang Guang inspected Wuyuan County. It is wide and strong, and now it is a bridge connecting the five provinces.
The most important transportation artery between the north and south of Yuan County is Dali County in the north and Jiuyuan County in the south. They are 120 miles apart. It is precisely because of this flat and wide galloping road that the cavalry can cross the plains in one day.
Dozens of flag banners stood among the galloping cavalry, mainly the red flag of the Sui Dynasty, but also the battle flag of the Fengzhou Army. The red flag was embroidered with a soaring black eagle. The eagle
It is the most common raptor on the Hetao Plain, hovering under the blue sky and white clouds.
There is also a handsome flag, which is also a red flag with a golden word "Yang" embroidered on it. This is the handsome flag of Fengzhou coach Yang Yuanqing.
Under the commander's flag, Yang Yuanqing wore his armor and his eyes were cold and stern. He had been in charge of the Fengzhou Army for nearly two years and had firmly controlled the 24,000 Fengzhou Army.
Yang Yuanqing looked into the distance. This place is only twenty miles away from Jiuyuan County, the county seat. The population is gradually becoming denser. There is a huge dark building in the southeast of Chidao called Baocheng. It is also a unique building in Fengzhou.
Made of large fired green bricks and cast iron gates, it is three feet high. Each castle can accommodate thousands of people. It is the station of the government soldiers in peacetime and a refuge for the elderly, weak, women and children in wartime. In a densely populated area, it has a radius of
There will be a castle like this within ten miles.
One mile ahead is an inn. There are five inns on both sides of this 120-mile long road for travelers and merchants to rest, eat, and stay. The inn in front is called Longquan Inn, and behind it is
There is a large village called Longquan Village, where more than 200 families with four surnames migrated from Longquan County, Hedong Province.
Like the Central Plains, the more than 200,000 immigrants in Wuyuan County are mainly tied to blood families. Often several families in the same area gather together to form a village. In the family, the elders and patriarchs exercise family leadership.
This has been the case for thousands of years, which has given the people strong cohesion.
Yang Yuanqing waved his hand and the cavalry slowed down. He immediately ordered: "Go to the post station and rest for a quarter of an hour!"
It was noon, it was lunch time. The soldiers accelerated and rushed to the post station. In a moment, the post station became very lively. The soldiers brought their own dry food and dried meat. The post station mainly provided clean water and resting places. There was a restaurant in the backyard of the post station.
There was a deep well, and soon the well was crowded with soldiers fetching water.
Yang Yuanqing was interested in Longquan Village behind the inn. Just now he saw village soldiers training on the wheat field outside the village. He drank two sips of water, ate some dry food, and then, escorted by more than a dozen soldiers, rode towards the threshing field.
Running to the wheat field.
On the wheat field, two hundred village soldiers from Longquan Village were training in formation. They were wearing leather armor, carrying bows and arrows on their backs, waving their spears and shouting loudly. Two army veterans served as brigade commanders.
Because Fengzhou is close to the Turks and is the northernmost military town of the Sui Dynasty. It is a bridgehead to defend against the steppe barbarians and is extremely vulnerable to invasion by the steppe barbarians. Therefore, the Sui Emperor Yang Guang approved Yang Yuanqing's request last year and established a military base in the Fengzhou area.
Implement the Vigilante League Protection Law.
That is to say, in addition to the normal 24,000 frontier troops, there is also one male from each household, who will be trained intensively during the off-season. The training is also based on ten men per fire, fifty men per team, hundred men per brigade, and three hundred men per battalion.
, a thousand-man regiment is temporarily established, which is similar to the Central Plains' government military system, but there is an essential difference. They are still civilians, not soldiers. They are not registered with the Ministry of War, and the officers are not full-time. They are designated from the militia, but the weapons are in the Ministry of War.
For the record, every five villages have an weapons room with dedicated personnel to keep it, and the Ministry of War will send people to inspect it every year.
Although it was an uncompensated training, the people of Fengzhou participated in the training very enthusiastically. Everyone understood that once the barbarians from the grassland attacked, they could not completely rely on the army, but would have to rely more on themselves to defend their homeland.
Yang Yuanqing did not step forward to disturb the militia training. He immediately inspected the villagers training from a mile away. Two hundred strong villagers were wearing leather armor and iron helmets. They were all brave and powerful, and they were wielding two hundred spears together.
, the tip of the spear flashed, and the shouts were like thunder. They were training the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty in the spear method to destroy the captives. The spear method is simple and practical, very suitable for actual combat, and there is nothing fancy about it.
Two veterans served as brigade commanders of the militia. One of them was leading the team in spear practice, while the other was patrolling on horseback, holding a whip in his hand and with a fierce and rough attitude. Anyone who dared to be lazy would be severely whipped.
"General Manager, would you like to go up and take a look?" a soldier asked.
Yang Yuanqing shook his head, turned the horse's head and said: "It's time to set off, go back!"
A dozen people turned their horses and ran towards the post station. The five hundred soldiers at the post station also mounted their horses one after another, and their horses galloped towards Jiuyuan County in the south...
In the afternoon, five hundred cavalry arrived in Jiuyuan County. Jiuyuan County is the seat of Wuyuan County and the military office of Fengzhou Governor. It is surrounded by 10,000 troops and Yang Yuanqing's home is also located here.
After entering the county seat, Yang Yuanqing went directly to the General Manager's Office. As before, the General Manager's Office and the county government were still two brands with one team. The former chief officer, Wei Siyun, had been promoted to the prefect of Lingwu County. The current chief officer was Jing Zhaoyin.
Cui Junsu, Cui Bosu's younger brother, had been on several missions to the Western Turks and was proficient in the Turkic language and quite capable, while Sima was Du Ruhui.
Yang Yuanqing turned over and dismounted, and two officers stepped forward to salute. Yang Yuanqing threw the horse's reins to the soldiers and asked: "Are they still there?"
The people Yang Yuanqing was referring to were the two eunuchs who came from Yanmen County. He was originally inspecting Dali City, but when he heard that the eunuchs were coming, he hurried back to Jiuyuan County.
The officer nodded, "They have been waiting for the supervisor."
Yang Yuanqing quickly walked into the government office. The two eunuchs who were waiting impatiently heard that Yang Yuanqing was back. They basically ran out and shouted: "Manager Yang, you are finally back, but our family is waiting to die. Quickly
Take the order!"
"Two father-in-laws, please wait a moment. I will place the incense table and receive the order!"
Several people had already set up the incense table and cushions. Yang Yuanqing knelt down and said: "Your Majesty Yang Yuanqing respectfully welcomes the imperial edict!"
The first eunuch brushed the ground to spread the decree and read aloud: "The great cause has just begun, and everything in the sea is peaceful. At this time when the government is in harmony with the people, the horses are fat and the grass is growing outside the wall. I inspect the borders and specially summon the important generals from all the border towns to discuss the imperial camp together.
Discussing the important matters of border defense, General Zuo Xiaowei and General Manager Yang Yuanqing of Fengzhou are sent to the Mayi border fortress to see you at once. I express my gratitude to you!"
"Your Majesty Yang Yuanqing obeys the order!"
Yang Yuanqing received the imperial edict respectfully and asked: "Where is the Holy One now?"
The leading eunuch scratched his head in embarrassment and said with a wry smile: "Our family came from Loufan County and traveled for more than ten days to get here. Now I don't know where the Holy Lord is? He is probably on the edge of the grassland. He shouldn't go deep into the grassland.
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Yang Yuanqing nodded, "I'll go back and tidy up and arrange government affairs. We'll set off early tomorrow morning!"
.........
Yang Yuanqing's official residence in Wuyuan County is not far from the government office, only a hundred steps away. The house is not big, covering an area of ten acres. It is also an old house. When he returned home, his wife Pei Minqiu and several maids welcomed him after hearing the news.
When she came out, her belly was slightly bulging, and she was five months pregnant. This was the second child she was pregnant with. At the end of last year, Pei Minqiu also gave birth to a daughter, named Yang Sihua, in memory of Yang Lihua, who died of illness in Xiping County.
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"Husband, an imperial edict has arrived!"
"I've already taken it."
Yang Yuanqing stepped forward to support his wife and asked with concern: "How do you feel?"
Pei Minqiu whispered excitedly: "I think this time I am a boy, my kicks are very powerful, and I especially like meat dishes recently."
"Does this have something to do with meat and vegetables?"
"Of course it does matter. When I was pregnant with Sihua, I liked to eat vegetarian food. I felt nauseated when I saw meat. The same goes for Chuchen."
When he mentioned Chuchen, Yang Yuanqing glanced back and asked strangely: "Where is she?"
"She is coaxing Bing'er to sleep. Mother Ru has been a little sick in the past two days. She can only take care of the child by herself. She will come over soon."
Pei Minqiu asked worriedly: "Did the Holy One call you to Beijing to report on your duties?"
Yang Yuanqing shook his head, "I'm not going to Beijing. The Holy Spirit is also outside the Great Wall now, on the Mayi Road. He summoned the border defense general to come for an audience. I'm going too. I'll set off early tomorrow morning and come back in a month at most. And after this summons,
There is no need to go to Beijing to report on my work."
When Pei Minqiu heard that he didn't have to go to Beijing to report on his work, he immediately turned from worry to joy and said with a smile: "Okay, I'll help you pack your luggage."
She thought for a while and said, "How about letting Green Tea go with you, and I can take care of your daily life on the way."
Green Tea was officially adopted as a concubine by Yang Yuanqing in March this year. She has a good relationship with the two mistresses, and Pei Minqiu also trusts her.
Yang Yuanqing shook his head, "If she wants to take care of you, just stay at home and you go pack your luggage! I also need to pack some paperwork."
Pei Minqiu had no choice but to go. Yang Yuanqing came to his study, sat down, and got the work report. This was the work report he was going to give to Yang Guang when he went to Beijing next year. He had already written half of it. It was still early, so now
He had to prepare quickly because he was going to meet the saint in advance. He just picked up a pen and wrote a line of words.
Chuchen walked in with a bowl of hot tea. She was Yuan Qing's common wife. She had been with Yuan Qing for almost two years. Years of practicing martial arts still kept her in beautiful shape and vigorous vitality, just like when she was sixteen.
What she looked like when she was seven years old was that she had been accustomed to living a life of her own for a long time. This life of staying in the house every day almost made her sick.
When Chuchen heard that Yuan Qing was going to travel far away, she had an idea in her mind. She hugged Yuan Qing's neck from behind, gently touched his ears with her nose, and whispered coquettishly: "I want to go with you too!"
Yuan Qing took her hand and smiled: "If you come with me, what will Bing'er do?"
"Bing'er can be taken care of by Mother Ru. Mother Ru has been taking care of her for two years. There is no problem. Mother Ru will recover from her illness tonight, and Min Qiu can also take care of her."
"Can she leave her mother?" Yang Yuanqing asked again with a smile.
Chuchen was a little discouraged and said: "She just can't live without nanny, but she can live without me."
Yang Yuanqing understood the grievances of this Jianghuai heroine. This time she was just going to meet the saint, not a military operation. As usual, she could bring her family, so he patted her hand and said with a smile: "As long as you can convince the little guy, then you can come with me."
, dress up as my personal soldier, maybe you can be of great use."
I was overjoyed to be born, but I was secretly thinking about how to convince my daughter. The key is what gift to impress her with?