Chapter 232: Plan for the Plan for the Soldiers of Plants (Part 1)

Liu Anshi looked at Liang Tao, stretched out four fingers and asked, "Last year, how many magistrates changed along the way in Shaanxi?"

Liang Tao looked at Liu Anshi's fingers and replied: "Shaanxi Road changed four pacifiers last year. Not to mention anything else, just on Huanqing Road, two magistrates died last year, and six were convicted of military affairs. Only Qingzhou: the former magistrate Qingzhou was Li Qingchen, Kang Shi was the second this year, and Zhao Xing was the third this year... I remember that Kang Shi was dismissed from office just now."

Liu Anshi smiled: "How could you know that Qingzhou is not a place of death? Zhao Li people were promoted quickly, but he would not know that he would not die in Qingzhou."

When Liang Tao thought about it, it was right. He immediately changed his smile: "It's better to be far-sighted in the palace. Let's go and I will go to Helelou for two cups to celebrate."

The imperial edict from the court was quickly sent to Huanqing Road along the military channel - Well, Zhao Xing's official position is now expressed as: a bachelor of Baowen Pavilion, guarding the edge of Huanqing road, recruiting pacification envoys, and in addition to the Qingyang Jiedushi (Magistrate), serving as the Qingyang delegation envoy, the court and Fengfu doctor, and Xuan Zhenglang.

Zhao Xing played with the silver ribbon in his hand and was a little proud: "I can finally express my official title correctly, right? My order is right? Let me count, one, two... six, six official positions, which means I can get six salary, which is very beautiful."

Wan Qiyong had arrived in Qingzhou at this time, and he echoed: "In this way, among the seven scholars of Sujia, except Huang Tingjian and Zhang Lei (lěi), the only one who was promoted the fastest."

Zhao Xing admired the official seal in his hand and nodded frequently: "This fifth-rank official is good, even the official seal is silver. I finally said goodbye to the copper ribbon."

"It's not just these," Wanqi Yong said: "The robe of the adults will be red purple clothes in the future, and you won't have to wear green robes anymore. Moreover, the robe's eldest son can be kind and not even a Jinshi exam. He is a ready-made official."

Shuai Fan said carefully: "But this move by the Lord is a sign of holding the court hostage. If I can't achieve results, I'm afraid the court's punishment will be heavier."

Zhao Xing nodded: "Mr. Yayan (Wanqiyong) quickly write a thank-you form - to the official family not the saints, thank the official family for their rewards. Also, immediately call the leaders of the towns and forts to come to Qingzhou for a meeting. Zilian, hurry up and go back the 500,000 guan from the court."

The two of them agreed, and Wu Qing held up a stamp and shouted along the way and rushed in: "Urgent report, emergency military report."

Zhao Xing jumped up and asked anxiously: "How is the battle?"

Wu Qing replied: "Great victory! The commander of the Fuyan Road Palace, Zhe Ke, led more than 8,900 soldiers into the living world, and fought against the Weizhou Military Supervisor, beheaded at level 70, and four birds (captured) were born, and more than 2,130 people were captured, including horses, cattle, sheep, camels, etc.."

"Great victory?!" Zhao Xing sought confirmation in confusion: "Are you talking about a big victory? I remember the military newspaper not long ago: The Xixia army broke through my Anding Fort, demolished the two forts of Zengzi and Tumen. They killed more than 5,000 live-action people and captured 3,412 people in Dingkou. Are you sure this is a big victory - beheading level 70, and a great victory for four birds (capturing)?"

Wu Qing answered naturally: "Of course, we repelled the Western Xia army. Isn't this a great victory? He also beheaded at level 70!"

The foreign army fought across borders, and its military achievements were doubled. Beheading level 70 means that Zhe Keshi led nine thousand soldiers to catch up with the retreating tail of the Xixia people and killed 35 people on the other side. Zhao Xing smashed this record in his mouth, turned to Shuai Fan, and murmured: "How many more times can we bear such victory?"

Shuai Fan lowered his eyes: "Our army is full of infantry, and it is chasing tightly. I am afraid that the cavalry of the Xixia people will turn around and cause great defeat. It is already good to catch up with a tail and shock the Xixia people. Why bother to blame the emperor?"

Zhao Xing shook his head blankly and said to himself: "We were killed more than 5,000 people, captured 3,000 people, dispatched nine thousand troops, killed thirty-five Xixia wastes who ran slowly, and captured four Xixia idiots who had no sense of direction alive - is this a great victory?"

Shuai Fan frequently winked at Zhao Xing, and Wu Qing asked in confusion: "Sir, in recent years, we have fought with Xixia every month. Most prefectures and counties are afraid of the Xixia soldiers. When the Xia people come, they will take measures that they cannot stand firm. Watch the Xixia people and the city come down. This is the first time in recent years. The Zhedian Shuai dares to open the city to attack. What courage does this mean?"

When Zhao Xing saw Shuai Fan's movements, he suddenly realized. He quickly changed into a smile and said repeatedly: "It's victory! Come on, Wu Qing, you have reported the good news and you will be rewarded..."

Zhao Xing groped in his arms for a long time, and found a pair of small and exquisite purple gold monocular telescopes, handed them to Wu Qing, saying, "As a scout, the most important thing is to see far. This pair of clairvoyances can give you this pair of clairvoyances to you, so you can see farther."

The small telescope with purple gold shells, Zhao Xing often plays with this telescope, polished brightly. Wu Qing was already fainted when he received it and murmured: "It's gold, so much money... I'm worthy of it... I'm afraid that the little one can't bear this reward."

Zhao Xing pretended not to hear the other party’s nagging and asked: “When will Zhang Jinglue and Fan Jingzhao come back?”

Wu Qing replied: "Mr. Fan Jingzhao has already redirected from the Dingbian Army. Zhengluo Zhang is going to Huanzhou, and it will be a while."

Huanqing Road belongs to the "Zhenzhou", and such a border defense prefecture must always be retained by one person in charge of the state. According to the agreement, when Zhang Shi led the troops outside, Zhao Xing was responsible for the civil and military affairs of Huanqing Road. Zhao Xing originally did not want Zhang Shi, a 65-year-old man, to travel outside and sleep in the open, but Zhang Shi insisted on leading troops out to fight on the grounds that Zhao Xing was new and was not familiar with military affairs, and Zhao Xing's strength was not on military terms, and left Zhao Xing alone in the government office.

Zhao Xing was very anxious. The people of Xixia took advantage of the spring plowing, and the harvest of the entire Huanqing Road was completely destroyed. The people could not overcome this famine, so his energy this year would be wasted on disaster relief, let alone preparing for war.

"How is the situation in the prefecture yamen?" Zhao Xing waved his hand to signal Wu Qing to retreat, but Wu Qing was called by Zhao Xing again, and he turned his face to ask Wan Qi Yong.

Wan Qiyong answered quite proudly: "The yamen runners are very cooperative. Speaking of which, they all heard that the adults entered Qingzhou with a fully equipped family army. When a troublemaker asked, he found out that the adults had deep respect for the adults' past political achievements. At present, the children have arrived one after another. The minor officials cooperated very well and waited for the adults to take action to rescue Qingzhou."

Zhao Xing pointed at Wu Qing and said, "Give him a military order, let him go to Huaiwei Village, Weibian Village, and Shengqiang Village in Yanbian. Summon the leaders of these three villages to come to my place immediately. By the way, let them drive the cart."

Shuai Fan jumped up, clasped her fists and said, "I'll go with him and check the terrain along the way."

Zhao Xing slapped his forehead and said, "I remember Mr. Mengxi once made a wood carving "The Map of the World and County". Several children in Hangzhou who like to play with mud have imitated it with sand. Have those children arrived? Let them go with you and tell them to observe carefully along the way. After they come back, they will make a terrain sand table for me."

Shuai Fan bowed and hurried away with Wu Qing. Zhao Xing instructed Wan Qi Yong: "Brother Yayan, you have worked hard recently and took back all the positions of officials in Qingzhou, planting the mochi seeds I brought. Also, let Mizhou continue to transport mochi seeds here, try to sow 300,000 mu this year, and 3 million mu next year."

Wanqi sighed and said, "Mochi is not a cheap thing either. He traveled from Mizhou to Huanqing, and it was almost up to the price of gold..."

Zhao Xing sighed: "From the data: Caicaogu is a deal with small investment, small risks and big profits. No wonder the Xixia people and the Khitans are happy with it!"

Wan Qi Yong replied seriously: "Sir, Shuai Fan's reminder just now is right. You can be strong and not let go. A small victory will be a big victory. Sir, it is not easy to dare to leave the village and stand! Sir! Don't blame me anymore!"

Zhao Xing nodded slowly, and Wan Qiyong's hair was moved and his hands were very moved. When he left the government office, he immediately summoned the yamen runners to take action. When Shuai Fan and Wu Qing led the village owner of Linbian Mountain to Qingzhou, the farmlands near Qingzhou were already full of farming people, and even women and children were mobilized, and they worked in the fields sweating profusely.

The three masters of Huaiwei Village, Weibian Village and Shengqiang Village discovered a strange phenomenon. Every few fields, there was a child riding a horse running back and forth. Occasionally, he jumped off the horse, crawled into the fields and scolded him a few times, and planted a few macao seedlings step by step. The farmers who were trained smiled silly, and they had no impatient expression.

When the three village masters arrived at the government office, Zhao Xing was convening a meeting of merchants. Shuai Fan was used to it and did not wait outside. He directly led the three village masters into the conference room.

Fortunately, there was nothing discussed at the meeting. Zhao Xing was chatting with the merchants. When he saw Shuai Fan coming in, he raised his hand and said, "Sit down."

When the three camp masters came in, it was an old man with white hair who spoke. The man was named Feng Congyi. When Wang Shao "exploded Hehuang and built the Tao Army" he also adopted the measures taken by Zhao Xing today - "recruiting merchants to make the land available." He used public funds to lend money to merchants to "respond to military supplies" and let the merchants operate on their own to increase military expenditures - in the present words, it is military smuggling.

At that time, Feng Congyi, who came from the capital, "had hundreds of thousands" of funds, "paid public and private, and had no money to pay", and he did not owe any penny. From then on, he stayed in the local area, got married to local people, gave birth to children and established a family business.

Shuai Fan only heard Feng Congyi patted his chest and said, "My son Feng Ning once saw the adults on the road. Haha, I have purchased goods from Yangzhou all year round, and I have heard about the means of making money by adults... I don't say anything anymore. Since the adults came to Qingzhou, they can speak up if they need money... Hey, when Xining opened the border, Lord Wang left more than a hundred merchants here, but now there are not many left. Now I have only seen twenty or thirty acquaintances, and the rest have either returned to their hometown, passed away, or were captured by the Xia people. It makes people shudder when I think of it."

"Mr. Wang did the right thing at the beginning," Zhao Xing said with a smile: "War is about materials. Shaanxi is barren. Without the help of all the merchants, the war cannot be fought.

Since Mr. Feng knows my background, I think all the merchants have more or less understood it. I have recruited more than a thousand craftsmen from Hangzhou, Yangzhou and Mizhou, and they will serve for three years as agreed. Of course, if you can leave them here to take root, I will not object.

Everyone also knows that I can’t use so many craftsmen alone, and I am not good at competing for profit with the people. Let’s do this. Looking back, my secretary has a list form that records the specialties of craftsmen. If you want to open a workshop, you can sign a two- to three-year employment contract with those craftsmen. I will transfer their employment contract to you. In the past three years, these masters have been responsible for training you apprentices, so the wages are a little higher, but I don’t lose money to you, because the things they produce are purchased by the government for the first three years.

For example, I have a wind-powered water wheel on hand. There is a strong wind here in Shaanxi. This water wheel can use wind power to lift water to the highlands and irrigate the fields. In the rainy season or winter, when the farmland is not irrigated, this wind-powered water wheel will not be idle. It can be converted into a mill, an oil press... etc. Now I can make and install wind-powered water wheels, and there are ten craftsmen on hand. I plan to choose three of you and open three workshops at the same time to facilitate the production of wind-powered water wheels.

In the first three years of the establishment of your shop, I purchased the quota of the government in Qing Dynasty, used the money subsidized by the imperial court to buy these wind turbines, and built mills and small dams for the people of Qingzhou. I am not polite, because I was the one who provided the drawings and I was the one who provided the craftsmen, so there are two ways to deal with these drawings: one is to buy out at one time. You pay a sum of money to buy the drawings, and then hire my craftsmen. The salary must be hired by me. The salary is a little higher, and you will pay it to him. When the three years of employment is over, the craftsmen are willing to leave, so you must not stop them. As for how to win over the craftsmen, that is your business, I will not say much.

Another way is that you don’t need to pay money, just do production, but the government will purchase half price when purchasing, and the unpaid drawing money will be paid by the government. Therefore, the government only pays half price when purchasing, and the original price will not be restored until the drawing money is paid. This method is suitable for small merchants and is also a kind of moral policy of the government. When the money of the drawing is compensated, the workshop belongs to you and the drawing belongs to you, and the government continues to purchase.

It should be noted that the government will also give them a compensation. You don’t need to interfere with this. They are willing to come to this place of war, on the one hand, it depends on my face, and on the other hand, it is because of the high salary. So although you pay high, the salary you pay is only half the salary, and the other half is subsidized by the government. The craftsmen guaranteed to teach your apprentices for three years, but once they leave, they will never stop on Huanqing Road, so you don’t have to worry that they will start in the local area and pry your corners - this is guaranteed by the government.”

Feng Congyi said without blinking, "Sir, what else can we have besides the windmill? Can we exclusively buy out a drawing and not be produced by other companies."

Zhao Xing continued to say to himself: "In addition to the windmill drawings, I also have a wire drawing machine, a clamp bed... I won't go into details about the others. The wire drawing machine can pull iron into thin wires, used to weave Tang Pijia, and can also be used on jewelry to pull gold and silver into thin wires - but baby.

As for clamp beds, they are something that makes bows and arrows. Speaking of this, I will add one more sentence: Any machinery that can be used as military use must be controlled by the army. The government will not interfere with how much goods are sold in these workshops, but to whom the government will conduct an examination.

The question Mr. Feng asked just now, I can answer this way: exclusive purchase of drawings is not possible. First, because the government purchases a large amount, a workshop may not be able to meet the purchase volume; second, because my term of office is only three years. After three years, you will also repay my drawing money. The next official is here. If the government continues to purchase military funds, you must give them the opportunity to compare the three companies. So three companies produce one thing, at least three companies. I have to sell three copies of each drawing. If not enough, I will find merchants from other places, such as merchants on Fuyan Road, to make up for the vacancies.

Don't worry, I have been to three states and I know less than 10,000 merchants. As long as I go to a letter, tell them that there are good deals here, I believe they run fast. So I will definitely sell the shortage. Now, it depends on how much you can eat."

The merchants burst into laughter.

The three village masters who came in just now heard something strange. Shi Gan, the leader of Huaiwei Village, quickly interrupted: "Can I participate in Huaiwei Village? Our village has 213 strong men. Although the remaining money is not enough, the villagers can get some together. The rest... There is also the subsidy of the court. I heard that the court gave me 500,000 guan in Shaanxi. When I just entered the city, I had already heard that the 130,000 guan subsidy on Huanqing Road was enough to enter the treasury."

The statement of Shi Gan from Huaiwei Village caused the other two camp leaders to laugh and said in unison: "The court has subsidies, so we don't want food anymore. Let's exchange the money for things. Please see what our three villages should do, just say it."

It turned out that these three camp leaders came to Zhao Xing to make a fortune.

Zhao Xing waved his sleeves and signaled Wan Qiyong to come forward. The latter went up to bow to the merchants and said, "Dear merchants, let's discuss military information. Let's go to the side hall to talk. There are some drawings in the side hall. I will introduce the purpose of each machine. If you are willing to buy it, we will go to the side hall to sign an agreement."

Feng Congyi stood up dissatisfiedly and muttered, "I remember when I followed Lord Wang to open the border with Xining, I made contributions. Why can't I listen to the military situation?"

Although Feng Congyi said this, his feet moved very quickly, fearing that they would be too late and the good things would be stolen by others. Seeing this, the other merchants immediately reacted and rushed to the side hall.

When the room returned to silence, Zhao Xing spread out a stack of files and sighed and said, "I don't know if the situation is serious until Qingzhou. I have 28 forts in Qinglu Town, a total of 15 states, and there are 31,723 strong people. Except for the troops stationed in each prefecture, there are less than 500 strong people left in each town, which is miserable!"

The three camp masters were sad.

Shigan's Huaiwei Village is at the forefront, and the other two villages are behind it. He is the most qualified to speak and said with tears: "How can you do it? Sir, there are 5,000 people left in Qingzhou Prefecture City, and there are some garrisons in several big cities, with about 1,000 people in each city. It's our turn to have a strong village. Five hundred people are considered a strong village--five hundred. Ten times the number of deaths in our village over the years is this number, how many can we have left.

When Lord Fan Zhongyan and the Huanqing Road Manager, he plundered all the male men who could pick up guns, but only 18,000 people. After Xining drove the border, we took a breath, but if we had to continue fighting, we would probably not be able to get a thousand people out for another five years."

Speaking of excitement, the three village leaders burst into tears.

Zhao Xing waited until they finished crying and calmed down, and said, "Please forgive me, you three camp leaders are on the front line, so I can't give you anything, because I'm worried that if I give you machinery, they will be captured by the Xixia people and then imitate it.

I can understand your difficulties. I have thought about it. Now let’s talk about the issue of funds first. The court allocated 130,000 jin to the entire Huanqing Road. The court ministers were concerned about state affairs. The money was not short of money, and the amount was fully allocated.

I have three ways to deal with this money. The first is: half is distributed, and the other half is purchased by the government and distributed to you; the second is: I will not pay a penny, and I will purchase all the things to you; the third is: I will give you a fraction, that is, ten thousand guan, and the remaining dozens, and 120,000 guan of crops are purchased.

You three village masters can choose at will, and they may not necessarily choose the same one. If you choose to pay, no matter the first or third type, I will send you the share you deserve. How about it?"

Shi Gan smacked his lips in disappointment and said, "Although ten thousand coins are small, I always smell the money - I will choose the third one."

The other two camp leaders discussed in a low voice and replied: "This year's war mainly occurred in Huanzhou, but we estimate that Xixia will mainly attack Qingzhou this autumn. Our two camps do not know how to deal with the autumn war, so they chose the second one. Everything depends on the arrangements of the adults."

Zhao Xing closed the file and said, "Have you heard of 'Grass and trees all the soldiers'?"

A smile appeared on Shi Gan's mouth and replied: "'On Bagong Mountain, grass and trees are all soldiers'. I have heard of this. But can you know magic and drive grass and trees into soldiers?"

Shi Gan was fighting abroad all year round, and he was a little unruly. Just now, the two camp leaders spoke in unison and absolutely trusted Zhao Xing and allowed Zhao Xing to allocate subsidies to the court. In turn, it demonstrated that his behavior of asking for money was particularly angry. He felt angry and spoke very violently.

Zhao Xing looked solemn, not like a joke: "Yes, I don't have magic, I can't drive away the plants, but plants can indeed be soldiers - my plan is called 'Grain and trees for soldiers'...

This time I brought 20,000 stone of grass seeds, and the rest of the grass seeds are still transporting here one after another. I placed an order of 500,000 stone of grass seeds in the name of the Huanqing Road Funeral Department. I used the money subsidized by the imperial court to buy them. Your three villages can take them back according to the amount of grass seeds they have obtained. My people will teach you how to sow - have you missed the spring plowing? Hurry up and sprinkle these grass seeds, maybe you can compensate for your income for one year. As for the grain, you don’t have to worry, I will transport them to you to ensure that you are not hungry this year."

The other two camp leaders thanked each other in unison, and their thanks were for Zhao Xing's second half: "Sir, we are not hungry. I believe this, I have the ability."

Shi Gan asked everyone’s questions: “Can you ask, are these grass seeds just weapons?”

Zhao Xing nodded: "They are weapons, very powerful weapons. Let me introduce you to you. Your Huaiwei Village is at the forefront. What I have prepared for you is an African grass seed called Sudan Grass. This grass is sown two kilograms of grass seeds per mu, and harvests more than 200 stones of green grass (about 59.2 kilograms of one stone, and the yield of Sudan Grass is about 12 tons per mu)."

"200 stones--!" This number made the three village owners take a deep breath of air conditioning. The normal yield of land per mu is already high, but this kind of grass can actually produce 200 stones, which is simply a myth.

Hearing this, Shi Gan knocked his forehead hard and only regretted it: "I am really confused about money. What did you want money just now? Just ask for grass seeds."

Zhao Xing continued: "Although this grass has a high yield, you should pay attention to it. It is poisonous when it is young. Only grass that grows to one foot tall will not be poisonous after being cut. Moreover, it needs to be dried after being cut. It is best to mix it with other grass to feed the animals to avoid poisoning in livestock - there are some tips, and I will send someone to teach you later."

Shi Gan said repeatedly: "No problem, sir, this grass is so tall that even if the animals don't eat it, it won't be a loss if it's dried and used as firewood."

Zhao Xing looked at the three camp leaders sternly and said, "What I told you today is secrets. When you go back, you must keep your mouth shut. Just let your nephew know if you are close to your nephews. The stone camp leader, the first crop of this kind of grass must grow to four feet tall before it can be cut, and the second crop must be more than one foot to be cut. It is best to raise livestock, and horses can be ridden and used for fighting; cattle can be plowed, beef can be eaten with cow skin and armor.

Both ox and horses are fine, but it is best to raise all horses. I will ask the government to purchase a batch of horse-drawn disc plows and send them to you. This thing is faster to plow than ox...

When the Xixia people are here, you must remember to not cut the grass in the fields completely, leaving short stubble. Before this, you must keep your livestock tightly and not let them run to the fields where the grass has been cut and eat grass. The Xixia people's cattle and horses are put into the fields, just let them chew grass, but they must be short stubble Sudan grass. You should not be afraid of poisoning cattle, horse, chicken, duck and pigs. The meat can still be eaten - but don't tell the Xixia people this."

The three camp masters laughed, and the stone camp master laughed to the end, with a ferocious expression: "Yes, the cavalry of Xixia rushed to our village and always liked to drive the war horses into our fields. This time they would let them eat it, and they would die."
Chapter completed!