Da Wei Chun

"There's not enough food!"

Li Shao was startled, staring at Li Chengzhi who was looking sad.

Seeing that his expression did not seem to be fake, Li Shao changed his mind for a while, and his heart sank suddenly.At the same time, I also understand why Li Chengzhi is so worried.

In this battle, although the Xiao and Long passes were broken, Jingzhou, Qizhou and other 89 counties and [-] counties were occupied, and more than one million stones of grain and grass were seized.

That sounds like a lot at first glance, but only in relative terms.If you don't count the [-] soldiers who went to the West Sea, but only count the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians captured in this battle, each person can get more than ten stones of food, more than a thousand catties.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 already occupied Qizhou and Jingzhou, and Gaoping Town, which is equivalent to the huge Guanzhong, and nearly half of it has been returned to Xihai.

As for one town in these two prefectures, there are nearly a million households and a population of more than 500 million, which is four to fifty times that of the descendants.As for the more than 100 stone grains, even a splash of water cannot be seen.

As for those who wished to die, seeing that the summer harvest was just around the corner, nearly [-]% of the grain fields in the three prefectures of Jing, Qi, and Bin were completely burned down by Yuan Qin.

What else can we use to let the people spend the winter, let alone the fact that there is still a whole year until next summer harvest?
What's more, the tyrants, gentry, aristocratic families, powerful families, etc. in Guanzhong, either short-sighted or forced to help, all offered millet to the court to buy officials as if they were in a daze, and there would be enough to stay. A year's ration.

In this way, even if Li Chengzhi wanted to kill the chicken and take the eggs, it would be impossible to rob the rich and help the poor.

There was a trace of anger in Li Shao's eyes, he gritted his teeth and cursed: "Yuan Qin's intentions are so vicious, he deserves to be killed!"

What's the use of cutting Yuan Qin into pieces?
The so-called two armies confront each other, the winner is king, and they will do everything they can.If it were him, it might not be impossible to do it...

Li Chengzhi sighed secretly, and said in a deep voice: "Only with the current food reserves, even if you eat grass all the time, you will definitely not be able to feed nearly a million households in two states and one town. Therefore, you have to find another plan... A few days ago , Shangshu (Cui Guang) went back to Hexi to supervise the collection of summer grain. When we set off, he talked with me at night by candlelight, and left some advice...

First, slowly figure it out: retreat to Longxi on the spot, only stationed at the second pass of Longxiao, and Gao Ping, Jin Ming and other gates in Guanzhong, leave this devastated, impoverished and displaced Guanzhong to the imperial court, and see what he does...

If the imperial court advances, it will recover the counties and counties of the two prefectures, station soldiers, send rations, and send civilian husbands to prepare for spring farming in the coming year.And in this way, you have to be prepared to be occupied by me again, to be robbed again.

So I thought that the imperial court would retreat in all likelihood.That is to say, after I withdraw my troops, I will completely move the people of the two prefectures to Kanto and Hedong, or the six towns... Therefore, this strategy can only occupy land, not keep people. "

He didn't need to think that since he knew that Xihai would invade Guanzhong, no matter how stupid the emperor, Yuan Yi and the court were, he would definitely not act like an enemy.Therefore, ten to ten will move all the people in Qizhou and Jingzhou to the east of Luoshui.

Li Shao shook his head suddenly: "That's not right... If we withdraw our troops on the spot, then what's the point of this battle? It's just to capture the second pass of Xiaolong, 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 source of troops, food and grass come from?" Come? What's more, if you withdraw this time, if you want to occupy it next time, it will never be so easy..."

"Shangshu also knew it was wrong, so there is a good strategy: strike while the iron is hot! Now that the imperial court has been defeated, it is just when morale is lost and the army's heart is panicked. Our army should use the momentum of breaking bamboo to recover the whole of Guanzhong.

Although the grain fields of Jing, Qi, and Bin were burned by Yuan Qin, Hua and Yong, the richest of the five states, are still there. If they get the grain and grass in these two states, they may not be able to feed Guanzhong... ..."

After a little calculation in his mind, Li Shao knew that this strategy was the old way.

Although there are still nearly 20 Ding Zhuangzu who entered Yonghua and Yongzhou with Yuanqin, most of them are civilian husbands, and less than half are also defeated soldiers. They are not only mobs, but also soldiers of defeated troops. How can it be the opponent of the Xihai tiger and wolf division?
Maybe it will take less than two months to drive straight into Guanzhong.

But not without worries.

"What if Yuan Qin repeats his old trick and burns all the grain fields in Huayong and Yongzhou?"

"If the imperial court really dares to act like this and make Guanzhong a thousand miles away, then don't blame me for drawing my salary from the bottom of the pot!"

Li Chengzhi sneered, "If there are 200 million households and more than [-] million people, if they all escape to the east of the river and Gyeonggi, what will it be like?"

Li Shao felt his scalp go numb.

What is the population of the entire Yuan and Wei Dynasties?
However, there are more than 500 million households, less than 4000 million, and Guanzhong accounts for nearly [-]%.If all flow into the east of the big river, how can there be no chaos in the east and the capital?

With the chaos in Hedong, the prefectures of Ji and Ding, which had been harmed by Gao Zhao the year before, would naturally also be in chaos, and the road between Luojing and the Six Towns was blocked.

After all the calculations, the imperial court is only a small corner south of the big river.Maybe even without Li Chengzhi sending troops, Luoyang would be overrun by refugees...

"Of course, this plan is very vicious. If you can use it, you don't need it. But you must let the court know. If it is really urgent, I will definitely use it. Therefore, knowing that it is Qin poison to quench my thirst, Yuan Qin will also give me money. I will never dare to burn the fertile fields in two states..."

"Then fight!"

Li Shao clapped his fists, his face was full of excitement, "The military system, tactics, and even the weapons of the West Sea are all different. Even if a certain ambition is not old, I am afraid that it will not be able to help you lead the army. But fortunately, Yuguan Zhong There is still a little reputation, since I will raise food and grass for you, sit in the rear, you can rest assured that you will go to the battle..."

"Okay, then thank Uncle Shi!"

Li Chengzhi nodded in response, and said with a warm smile, "But there is one more thing to trouble Uncle Shi: Can you write some letters for my nephew?"

"To whom?"

"The families from the east of the river..."

Li Shao thought about it for a while, and he knew Li Chengzhi's intention: Is this a plan 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 family continuity.

As long as you are not a blind person, you can naturally see who is strong and who is weak.These grasshoppers know clearly in their hearts: Even if it is not yet time to make a choice, they should hide their strengths and bide their time, instead of striving to be the first.

Li Shao's confidence increased even more, and he laughed loudly: "Prepare paper and ink!"

He was a dragon and a snake with his pen, and he wrote one letter in a short time.After Li Chengzhi took it, he swept it slightly, nodded slightly, and ordered Li Xiao to put it in the envelope first.

Li Shao was in high spirits, and his spiritual thoughts were flowing like a spring. Li Chengzhi didn't bother him anymore, but just sat down behind the case and found an imperial edict from the document.

The imperial decree was sent from Luoyang a few days ago. After discussing with Cui Guang and Zhang Jingzhi, Cui Guang returned to Hexi.

Rule across the river?

It seems that the court is really in a hurry...

……

There has been a continuous drizzle in the sky, stopping now and then, and it has been five or six days in a row.

The drizzle washed the bluestone steps until they were shiny, water had accumulated under the steps, and sometimes a blister would appear.

Looking at the gloomy rainy day and listening to the noise outside the hall, the fleshy skin on Xue Jingmao's face twitched involuntarily.

The Xue family is a family from Hedong, and has been a noble family in Fenyin since the end of the Western Jin Dynasty.Li Shiwu.Fu Jian, Yao Hong, and later Liu Yu were demoted.During this period, the children of the clan either served as the leading generals, or served as the governor of the county and sat in the town, which can be said to be prominent for a while.

When the Song Dynasty fell, the great-grandfather Xue Bianju's family surrendered to the Yuan Wei Dynasty, and was granted the Marquis of Fenyin by the Ming Yuan Emperor, the father of Emperor Taiwu.

Later, after Emperor Xiaowen descended to the noble rank, the Marquis of Fenyin became the Uncle of Fenyin, and he had his own descendants to inherit.But the children of the concubine branch also gained a lot of glory, and there are even some amazing talents among them.

Xue Cong, the father of Xue Jingmao, was highly trusted by Emperor Xiaowen during his lifetime. He served as the Zhige General who specialized in Wangjia, and followed Xiaowen's personal expedition.

After Yuan Ke succeeded to the throne, Xue Cong served as governor of Qizhou and died in office.Two sons, one concubine and one concubine, can be a little inferior to their father, but they have not fallen into the door.

Although Xue Jingmao was the eldest son, he was born out of a concubine. It's not good to start a family, but it's not bad either.When Yuan Yong served as the governor of Sizhou, he was only engaged in the Jishi of Sizhou (the secretary of the Jishi, who mainly wrote chapters and articles, and was the assistant of the Jishi, from Qipin).

But when the opportunity came, it couldn't be stopped.In just six years, he has become the prefect of a county from the official to the fifth rank.

Xue Jingmao thought to himself that his luck was not bad, but it was a pity that he was born at the wrong time.

Just like that, seeing the wind subside and the rain rest, the dark clouds as thick as a mountain of lead gradually dispersed, and the sky seemed to be clearing up, but Xue Jingmao's brows became more and more wrinkled.

If it rains continuously, it will naturally affect the summer harvest.Seeing that the sky is coming, he should be happy, right?

Just because the summer grain in Zhaoxing County had already been burned up by the officers and soldiers just before they left, why would they take a bird feather?

If the rebellion takes advantage of the situation and attacks, that's all. The people will naturally think that it was the rebels.Moreover, the rebels are powerful and unrivaled. Whether they are nobles or grassroots, they can only swallow their anger.

Furthermore, the Li family is not a vicious person, as long as they attack the city and occupy the land, they will naturally control the life and death of the people.

But what the hell is, the rebel army stopped chasing them as far as the boundary between Anding County and Zhaoxing County in Jingzhou, and let the officers and soldiers disperse.

No matter how thick-skinned Xue Jingmao was, no matter how low the limit was, the rebel army hadn't even entered the county for half a step. He couldn't tell that the burning of the grain fields was an act of rebellion.

The common people are not fools, not to mention when there are rebellious soldiers crossing the border, according to what the tyrannical trilogy guarding Wubao saw with their own eyes, even if Xue Jingmao wanted to frame him, it would be impossible.

Therefore, when the situation calmed down a bit, the county government was completely surrounded.If it wasn't for the rainy weather, the county government might have been breached long ago.

Even so, Yawai still surrounded many hungry people who had no food to survive the day.Xue Jingmao could only order the officials to carry out the few granaries left in the warehouse and serve porridge outside the yamen.

And when the day clears, people from counties other than the county government will flock here, and there will be a civil uprising at that time.

The hungry people have nowhere to vent their anger, so how can he, the sheriff, be spared?

Xue Jingmao was filled with grief, indignation 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 stared and asked loudly, "Who knocked on the door?"

The yamen servant was guarding behind the door, asked a few words through the crack of the door, and came galloping through the rain.

"My lord, something is wrong... Seven days ago, the people of Changwu County surrounded the county government. The county magistrate had no choice but to come forward to appease him. But when the county magistrate had no food left in the warehouse, the refugees immediately attacked and broke the county government... Since the county magistrate ordered , more than [-] officials and servants in the county were all cut up and eaten alive by the bandits...

In just three days, the rebellion spread to Ding'an and Dingping counties... The bandit leader, known as 'General Pingtian', has gathered [-] people in Changwu, and is scheduled to send troops on Bingchen day..."

Isn't Bingchen day the day after tomorrow?
Knowing that Li's rebellion is invincible, how dare this group of thieves hit a stone with an egg?

Once troops are dispatched, they must come to the county.

Thinking of the magistrate of Changwu County and the officials in the county being cut up and eaten raw by hungry people, Xue Jingmao was horrified.

"Hurry up, report to the governor..."

"Here!"

The subordinates rushed away, Xue Jingmao shouted anxiously again: "Where did the captain (junwei) go?"

"My lord, Commander Zhao and Chengyu Fan both claimed to be sick and returned to the residence yesterday, and they stayed behind closed doors..."

Chang Shi reminded me, then moved forward again, and lowered his voice extremely low, "Master, you must have forgotten the letter from the day before yesterday..."

Xue Jingmao was taken aback 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, Marquis of Guzang, full of the meaning of "abandoning darkness and turning to light".It's not that he hasn't been tempted, but in the end, he was still loyal to the emperor and didn't respond.

As for both the county lieutenant and the county magistrate complaining about illness, Xue Jingmao only thought that these two were frightened by the refugees surrounded outside the Yamen, and even secretly ridiculed them.But at this moment, after being reminded by Chang Shi, he was startled: Those two, I am afraid that they have already expected today's situation and have already made a decision?

But the problem is, it's been two days, who knows how much these two thieves have secretly communicated?

What's more: the enemy is approaching the city, and the county people are already in danger, and the burning of summer grain is even worse.Now if it is known that tens of thousands of bandits are about to attack in a few days, how will the county soldiers and the people respond?
It can't be like Changwu County, where the refugees dismembered their corpses and swallowed them alive, right?
Even guessing with his feet and head, he must have killed the prefect and brought down the bandits...

"My lord, the fire is imminent. Don't hesitate. Whether it's to escape or... well, it's better to make a plan quickly. Otherwise, when the news of the refugees' rebellion spreads, it's hard to guarantee that people like Zhao Junwei will not strike first. For strength, take the envoy's head as a sacrifice to the flag..."

"Escape? To put it bluntly, where are you going? How do you know if Mating, Yongshou, Sanshui and other counties in the southeast are also reversed?"

Seeing that Xue Jingmao's face was uncertain, Chang Shi gritted his teeth: "Then surrender... the Li family, it's better than being eaten alive by hungry people. Besides, the court is unkind, so don't blame me for abandoning me and waiting for you." Waiting for good ministers to choose a tree to live in..."

Xue Jingmao originally wanted to say "two armies confront each other, the winner is king", but he couldn't get it out of his mouth.

It is worthwhile to fortify the walls and clear the fields, so as to avoid the enemy's resources and food, but the mistake is that the imperial court abandoned the people of a county and ignored it.

It has been nearly a month since the governor of Jingzhou withdrew thousands of defeated soldiers and retreated through Zhaoxing County, and then burned the grain and grass.Xue Jingmao has read history books and has governed the region for nearly ten years. How can he not know what consequences Yang Jun's actions will cause?
But the urgent report sent hundreds of letters to Zhoucheng, but they all fell into the sea, without even a word of perfunctory words?
How could Xue Jingmao not know that the imperial court has regarded the 40 people in Zhaoxing County as tasteless...

Although the righteousness of the sage has "loyalty to the emperor", he also has "love for the people".

Since you are not benevolent, don't blame me for being ungrateful...