Although Dou Jiande had surrendered, this matter was still in a top secret state. Except for Yang Yuanqing and a very small number of generals, no one in the Sui army knew that Dou Jiande had surrendered.

It was already the 20th day of the first lunar month. The Sui Dynasty began to secretly mobilize troops from Feihu Xing, Jingxing, and Henei County to mobilize 40,000 elite troops to Hejian County. This is the most elite army of the Sui army, including 30,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry.

But Yang Yuanqing himself was in Youzhou City, and he was still patiently waiting for Luo Shixin's news. It should be said that Dou Jiande was a key part of his operation.

If Dou Jiande eventually surrenders, the Sui army will be relieved and Dou Jiande's army can be used to wipe out Liu Heita, which can be said to have two birds with one stone.

But what made Yang Yuanqing a little regretful was that the recruitment of troops in various places was not completed as planned. He originally planned to recruit 150,000 troops, but by the end of the Yuan Dynasty, he only recruited more than 100,000 people, and there was still a gap of 50,000.

Yang Yuanqing also knew that it was the busiest time for spring farming, and recruiting soldiers was not the best time, and he did not want to blame the prefectural magistrates who were not recruiting soldiers.

But the fact is here. He needs 100,000 new recruits to guard the Hedong counties and 50,000 new recruits to guard the Hebei counties.

It was the gap of the 50,000 troops that forced him to change his plan and change his plan to destroy Dou Jiande in April to recruit Dou Jiande in advance. Now Yang Yuanqing is patiently waiting for Luo Shixin to accept the news of Dou Jiande's army.

Only when this news is settled can he have no worries at all.

Yang Yuanqing was paced back and forth in the room, and he felt a little irritated. According to time, it should be that news came today. It was already afternoon, so why didn’t the news come yet? Could something happen again?

At this time, the voice of the eldest son Yang Ning came from the door, "Father!"

Yang Ning arrived in Youzhou the day before yesterday. According to Yang Yuanqing's idea, he hoped that his son could participate in this magnificent war of unification. Of course, his son was still young and could not go on a horse to fight. But at least he could witness the war of unification with his own eyes as a bystander, which would be of great benefit to his son's growth.

Yang Yuanqing walked forward with a smile, "What, have you finished your homework?"

"Report to my father, my homework has been completed. The child wants to go out of the city and take a walk." Yang Ning answered his father respectfully, his eyes were full of desire, hoping that his father would agree.

Yang Yuanqing looked at the dozen personal soldiers behind him, and he was also depressed, so he might as well leave the city and take a walk.

"Okay! Daddy goes out for a walk with you."

Yang Ning was actually going out alone and was always by his father's side. He felt very stressed, but his father also wanted to follow him. He was a little disappointed, but he didn't dare to refuse to follow, so he had to lower his head and whisper: "The child is willing to go out with his father."

Yang Yuanqing heard that his son was a little insincere. He patted his son on the shoulder and smiled: "Don't think of dad so terrible, dad likes spring too."

He reached out to his son and looked at him with a smile. Yang Ning bit his lips and held his father's hand.

"Let's go! Let's experience spring with dad."

Yang Yuanqing held his son's hand and walked quickly outside the yard.

...........

This year's New Year is relatively late, and it is the 10th day of the first lunar month. After the Jingzhe, everything awakens, and from south to north, it gradually enters the spring plowing season.

Zhuo County is no exception. After the fifteenth, farmers went to the fields one after another and began their annual spring plowing. Zhuo County is geographically northerly, with no rice, mainly wheat and corn. Wheat is planted in spring, and then a season of corn or bean rice is planted after summer harvest.

The wind outside the city is still blowing from the north, but the cold brings a hint of warmth, and you can feel the breath of spring. The willow trees have sprouted tender buds, and the forests that have been desolate all winter have also been coated with a light green layer, so you can feel the vitality coming from the woods.

Yang Yuanqing took his son Yang Ning and rode out of the south gate under the escort of hundreds of personal soldiers. Outside the south gate was an endless wheat field, and farmers who were busy farming could be seen everywhere in the fields, most of whom used horses and oxen to loosen the soil and sow wheat seeds.

Yang Ning rode on a small horse, skillfully riding the horse, and following his father, "Father, when will we set out to the south?"

"Who told you that we are going to the south?" Yang Yuanqing asked lightly.

He turned around and glanced at his personal soldiers coldly. The soldiers were so scared that their faces were pale. Going to the south was absolutely confidential and no leakage was allowed, but they couldn't help but tell the prince.

Yang Ning also noticed the fear of his personal soldiers, so he asked curiously: "Father, is it a secret to go to the south?"

Yang Yuanqing nodded, "This is indeed a major secret. I hope you don't tell anyone."

"The boy understands, he will never say it out."

Yang Yuanqing showed another smile on his face, "We will set out in a few days."

At this time, Yang Yuanqing saw a large group of people in the field in the distance. The leader seemed to be the new prefect Deng Hao. Yang Yuanqing smiled at everyone and said, "Let's go and have a look."

He turned his horse's head and ran towards the field path. Everyone guarded Yang Ning and followed him to the field.

Deng Hao was originally the general manager of Yingzhou under Luo Yi. After Yang Yuanqing expelled Luo Yi, he surrendered to the Sui army and was appointed as the chief minister of Zhuo County. He followed the prefect Wen Yanbo to implement the equal-field system and was quite effective. Wen Yanbo was promoted, so he became the prefect of Zhuo County.

Food is the most important thing for people, so since ancient times, agriculture has been the most concerned thing for officials at all levels. Only when agriculture is stable can the grain prices be stabilized and tax payment can it be guaranteed. Only by winning the hearts of the people and paying taxes in a timely manner can it be favored by the court and further promotions.

Therefore, local officials attach great importance to agriculture. They can be seen everywhere in spring and autumn harvest. Deng Hao is no exception. Especially when the King of Chu is in Youzhou, he should be more positive.

Deng Hao was talking about the difficulties of spring plowing with more than a hundred farmers in the field. At this time, a follower beside him said anxiously: "Empress, the King of Chu is coming down."

Deng Hao turned his head and saw a team of cavalry coming from the ridge of the field. The leader was Yang Yuanqing, King of Chu. He was so scared that he quickly stood up to meet him.

"See Your Highness with a humble position!"

Yang Yuanqing turned over and got off the horse and smiled, "Is Prefect Deng admonishing farmers?"

Deng Hao scratched his head and said embarrassingly: "I don't need to persuade me. There were three heavy snow in winter and the drought was relieved. As soon as the spring began, the villagers were crazy and worked hard to plow the fields. Everyone said that this year would definitely be a good harvest."

"Yes! It's snowing after a long drought, everyone has been holding up enough energy."

When Yang Yuanqing saw a sign near the field, he smiled and asked, "Whose land belongs to this piece of land?"

"Report to Your Highness, this land belongs to the young man."

An old man in his fifties stepped forward and knelt down and said, "Little Min Tian Er, kowtow to His Highness the King of Chu."

At this time, more than a hundred farmers around him surrounded him, and Yang Yuanqing waved his hand and smiled: "Everyone should sit down!"

Several personal soldiers came forward with a mat, but Yang Yuanqing ordered the mat to be taken away and sat down directly on the ground, saying to everyone: "I lead the troops outside to fight, and I always sit anywhere, and I'm used to it."

Yang Ning hesitated for a moment and was about to sit down with his father, but Yang Yuanqing said to him: "These farmer are our parents who are feeding and clothing. You can bow to them to show respect."

Yang Ning hurriedly bowed to everyone and Deng Hao whispered loudly beside him: "Dear fellow villagers, this young man is the prince of the King of Chu, so we should return the gift."

More than a hundred peasants heard that they were the prince of the Chu King, and suddenly felt a stir and kowtowed, "I dare not accept the courtesy of the prince!"

"Everyone sit down!"

Yang Yuanqing waved his hand and smiled at everyone, and asked his son to sit next to him and waited for everyone to sit down in a mess. Yang Yuanqing then asked the landlord, "How much land has Mr. Tian divided in his family?"

"This time we divided eighty acres of Yongye Field, sixty acres of quintessence and twenty acres of mulberry and hemp Yongye Field."

Yongyetian refers to land that can be left to descendants. After the death of the Koudi land, it must be returned to the government. However, it can be divided into 160 acres of land near Youzhou City, which is indeed very high.

Deng Hao next to him quickly explained: "There are still 40 acres of military fields here, and the two sons of Old Man Tian have joined the army."

Yang Yuanqing suddenly realized, turned around and smiled at his son Yang Ning, "Who did you think of this?"

Yang Ning thought for a while and said, "The boy is thinking, since both sons are in the army, who will farm for them? Can the father-in-law be busy alone?"

Yang Ning's words attracted a lot of laughter, and Deng Hao raised his thumbs up and praised: "The prince is indeed extremely smart and can see the key points. In order to relieve the soldiers' worries, Ziwei Pavilion has ordered that all the soldiers who have no sons in the family must solve the labor problem by the government. For example, the two sons of Old Man Tian join the army, and the government finds people to help him plow the fields."

Yang Yuanqing nodded in praise. Although his son had not been in Ziwei Pavilion for a long time, he had made great progress and could think of some key issues.

Yang Yuanqing chatted with everyone for a while and listened to everyone's opinions. In fact, after all, everyone was concerned about taxation. Yang Yuanqing smiled at everyone and said, "Don't worry about taxation. When the country was first established in all dynasties, they had light taxes and levies, and they were resting with the people. The Sui Dynasty was no exception. As long as the world was unified, the army should be relegated to the land. Without the burden of military expenditure, the court's expenses were not large. It would be light taxes and levies to encourage childbirth. I can't say how much taxes were, but I can decide the general direction."

Everyone was overjoyed and said, "We will feel relieved if you have your highness's words."

At this time, a personal soldier quickly stepped forward and whispered a few words. Yang Yuanqing was overjoyed and stood up to bow to everyone, "I have important military affairs, everyone will continue to plow the fields, I will go back first."

Surrounded by his personal soldiers, Yang Yuanqing quickly walked towards the official road. On the official road, a report soldier had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Yang Yuanqing coming, he immediately knelt down on one knee and said, "General Luo has army to report."

After saying that, he submitted a military newspaper. Yang Yuanqing took it and looked at it. As expected, Luo Shixin had taken over 20,000 Qingzhou troops, Kong Deshao became the prefect of Qi County, Qi Shanxing became the prefect of Beihai County, and Dou Jiande was secretly sent to Qinghe County and left Qingzhou.

Yang Yuanqing asked for the last sentence. Dou Jiande left Qingzhou. He immediately ordered, "Go back to the city to pack your luggage and prepare to set off!"

.........

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