Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 159 The Foundation of the King
On the fourth day of May in the first year of Guangqi, the gate of Lingzhou city was opened.Yamen General Han Xun and others went out of the city to greet him on their knees, shouting "guilty".Two thousand government soldiers and two thousand state soldiers also put down their equipment and lined up outside the city.

Lingzhou, an important town on the western frontier, has now completely surrendered to the Dingnan Army.

"General Han attacked and killed Han Lang. He has meritorious service and is not guilty. Please stand up." Shao Shude said in a loud voice, and everyone present heard it. Han Xun's face turned red and then pale. Not nice.

"Where's Han Zun?" Shao Shude asked again.

"Commander, Han Zun heard the news yesterday and fled back home. After killing his wife, concubine and children, he committed suicide." Han Xun replied.

"To commit suicide in fear of crime, that's all. Send Han Lang and his son, the head of Kang Yuancheng, and his family to the capital. General Han will handle this matter. The Han family will move to Xiazhou." Shao Shude said without doubt.

"Of order." Han Xun replied tremblingly.Without the foundation of Lingzhou, the Han family is like the rootless duckweed. If they want to make a comeback, they don't know how many generations they will have to work hard.

At this time, [-] soldiers of the Jinglue Army had entered the city and controlled various places.Shao Shude was not in a hurry to go in, instead, he went to the Lingzhou army kneeling all over the ground, and said: "In the past, Marshal Tang led Shuofang warriors, smashed the nest, and saved the world. Shao has been famous for a long time. Don't think about defending your family and defending your country, but attacking and killing Jie Shuai and the fish and meat common people, can you be convicted of a crime?"

After finishing speaking, he waved his hand, and the ten personal soldiers Feng Yin stepped forward, holding a list and reading out.There were a total of more than ten people, all generals, who gave or led the order to burn, kill, and loot, and there were even three Han clan members among them.

The crime of killing Li Yuanli is not to be pursued, but it is not said that the crime of robbing and killing the people is not to be prosecuted. Today, they should be arrested together and punished tomorrow.

The dozen or so people who heard the name felt that something was wrong, and got up one after another, with panicked expressions.Some people begged for mercy, while others turned around and tried to escape.Unexpectedly, someone in the surrendered army rose violently and directly captured him, saying: "How much did Li Shuai treat you in the past? Unexpectedly, he betrayed and attacked you. Today, the king of Lingwu County is in charge. Li Shuai can rest in peace even in the spirit of heaven. Leave it to me." !"

Shao's soldiers also stepped forward one after another, shouting: "Only kill these ten people, don't be alarmed."

Soon, more than a dozen generals were tied up and knelt on the ground.

With a wave of Shao Shude's hand, the soldiers raised their knives and dropped them, and their heads rolled immediately.

"Hang his head at various places in the city gate, and then write a notice to enumerate his crimes." Shao Shude ordered.

Han Xun gently closed his eyes.This time Kaesong surrendered, he didn't know whether it was right or wrong, the method of Lingwu County King was obviously beyond his expectation.It not only won the hearts of Li Yuanli's old department, but also the hearts of the common people, and more than ten general positions were vacated. When they are reorganized and annexed, it should be easier.

This Lingzhou is getting farther and farther away from their Han family.

After beheading more than ten generals, Shao Shude went to Li Yuanli's grave in person and paid homage.

At last, Han and Kang didn't get things done.If it was not enough to kill Duan Wenchu ​​like Li Keyong did, and he had to trample his bones with war horses, then he would have to kill more people.

"In the past when Li Guochang and his son were begged in Hedong, Li Shuai held the festival Xia Sui, and Shao was also Li Shuai's general. It's a pity that we have never met, and now we should pay homage to him." After the ceremony, Shao Shude looked at the small grave and said: "The tomb must also be rebuilt for Li Shuai."

"Let's go, enter the city." After a while, Shao Shude ordered.

More than [-] people from the Tielin Army and Iron Cavalry Army guarded the group and entered Lingzhou, while the Wuwei Army and Yi Cong Army stayed outside the city to camp.

"Everyone, the Shuofang army must be reorganized." Shao Shude, who was sitting in Han Lang's seat, looked at the generals and said, "How many soldiers are there?"

"Commander, a thousand cavalry soldiers from Lingzhou came to surrender yesterday, and they were all guarded in the camp. The attack the night before yesterday also captured more than a thousand soldiers from Lingzhou." Lu Huaizhong was the first to come out and replied.

After taking advantage of the wind and rain to break Kang Yuancheng, Tuoba Sigong and others fled overnight.The cavalry of the Tielin Army and Wuwei Army pursued them during the day, but the effect was not good, and they only beheaded hundreds of levels before returning.

But Tuoba Sigong could escape, so where would the total of [-] Lingzhou cavalry escape?The family members were all in the city, but in the end, they took the initiative to surrender.

"Commander, the Dingyuan army did not obey Han Lang's false order. As soon as our army arrived, we took the initiative to surrender. In Hongjing and Lingwu counties, the last general also arrested 500 people, of which [-] were the strong people in the city. They have been released. Returning, there are still three thousand left." Zhe Siyu also came out and replied.

"That's five thousand paces." Shao Shude said: "Today, two thousand Yamen troops went out of the city to surrender to XX, a total of 7000 people, very good."

"A certain person wants to establish a Dingyuan army with a strength of [-]. The Tielin Army dispatched [-] infantry, the Jinglue Army dispatched [-] infantry, the Wuwei Army dispatched [-] infantry, and the Yi Congjun dispatched [-] infantry. That is [-] pawns. On the other hand, the Tielin and Wuwei armies each send out [-] cavalry soldiers, and the iron cavalry army sends out [-] cavalry pawns. This is [-] cavalry pawns, so we can form the Dingyuan Army." Shao Shude said "Wang Yu served as the envoy of the Dingyuan army, Li Yixian served as the deputy envoy, Cai Songyang served as the Marquis of Yudu, and Wei Mengbao served as the envoy of Youyi, guarding the eight counties of Lingyan for a certain person."

"The last general takes orders." Wang Yu and the other four came out to respond.

"Lingzhou's surrender army will be dismantled into the four armies of Tielin, Wuwei, Jinglue, and Iron Cavalry. If there is not enough, we will recruit from the righteous army to make up for it. Well, there are still some shortages in the auxiliary troops of the Tielin and Wuwei armies. The Jinglue Army still lacks cavalry soldiers, so let’s recruit a battalion each, General Yeli and Buzang, after the meeting, I will ask each department if there is anyone who is willing to join the army.” Shao Shude said.

"The general will follow orders." Yeli Yulue and Wuzang Jieming stepped forward and responded.

如此一番整编后，铁林军将有9000人（骑兵2000）、武威军7000人（骑兵2000）、经略军7500人（骑兵500）、定远军7500人（骑兵1000）、铁骑军3000人，义从军内有衙军编制的也将扩充到千人，总计三万五千步骑，煞是惊人。

However, the territory of these six states is extremely vast, the people's conditions are complicated, and the force is not enough, so it is really not easy to rule.Newly acquired two prefectures and eight counties in Lingyan, but the number of Han people is less than 7. Even counting hermits, there are at most 22 people. With less than 60 Han people in six prefectures and [-] counties supporting [-] troops, this financial situation is bound to increase. It takes a lot of weight.

But there is no way.What time is it now?Li Ke used this guy to keep an eye on Linzhou, and asked the court to include Linzhou under the rule of Hedong, and the court actually agreed.Of course, Qi Bizhang, the governor of the Zhenwu Army, and Zhejia of Linzhou disagreed, but they couldn't tell when Li Keyong would go crazy, and he would send troops to seize it, so he had to be prepared.

With an army of [-], there are only more than [-] who can really be used when going out.Once something happened in the north, a large number of party members had to be recruited to help.The last time he challenged Youzhou, Hengshan Dangxiang and grassland miscellaneous captives all benefited. This time, he seemed to be losing money even himself, let alone the Dangxiang people.

How should I face Yeli Jingchen, Wuzang Qingxiang, and Weicai Sudu?Is it possible to give them a whole nephew, grandson or something?Alas, the rule is trembling, and it feels like the six states under its jurisdiction are like a pressure cooker.Among the generals in the world, is there anyone like me who keeps victorious on the battlefield but still rules like walking on thin ice?
Perhaps, he can make up for the shortfall from Hexi Dangxiang?Tuoba Sigong and the others haven't found them yet, they are leading the Dangxiang soldiers, and they might have sneaked back to Po Chou, Mi Qin and other departments.

In addition, Huining and Wulan counties in Huizhou, which were nominally under the Shuofang Army, had been occupied by Tubo for many years.Today I heard that the situation of Tubo is declining, and there are no elite soldiers and generals in Huizhou, only some small tribes.Can you try to send troops, take it back, and loot a little property by the way?

This matter has to be carefully discussed, don't provoke the Tubo army to attack, it will delay the matter.

After the preliminary plan for reorganization was made, Shao Shude no longer intervened in detail, he only needed to pay attention to the progress.Anyway, with the large army gathered inside and outside the city, it is not expected that the Lingzhou army will make trouble again.

On the second day, accompanied by Chen Cheng, Guo Fu, Lu Siye and others, he made an inspection outside the city.

"Marshal, there are no big rivers and high mountains in Lingzhou. The land is convenient and the water transportation is developed. The Chinese army attacks, or the northern strong enemy invades. These are important passages. In the past, Taizong visited Lingzhou to appease the various ministries. The title of Khan." Outside the city of Lingzhou, Chen Cheng talked eloquently: "The commander-in-chief has acquired the six prefectures of Xia Suiyinyou Lingyan. More rectification can be the foundation of hegemony."

"Today, Lin, Sheng, and Feng are still missing. The three surrendered cities in the west, the east, and the east, the Zhenwu army city, and the party affairs of the various ministries have not yet been leveled. Can An Neng sit back and relax?" Shao Shude rode on a tall horse, pointing to a place in the distance, and asked: " Is this the salt pond?"

"This is the hot spring salt pond, which produces salt." Chen Cheng replied: "Lingzhou has many salt ponds, but it is not as rich in salt as Yanzhou, let alone Youzhou. Commander, the wealth of Lingzhou is not salt, but fertile soil for thousands of miles .”

"In Huile County, there is the Bogulu Canal, which was opened by Diao Yong during the Northern Wei Dynasty, and it can still irrigate more than a thousand hectares of land." Chen Cheng continued: "Lingwu County in Hexi has the Han Canal, which stretches for more than forty miles. On the left and right there are eight canals such as Huqu, Yushi, and Baijia. Hongjing County, built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, attracted Han people from the Kanto to garrison fields, commonly known as "Hancheng", and can irrigate thousands of hectares of flat fields. Huaiyuan County has more irrigation canals, Helian During the period, there were orchards, corn storehouses, and three salt ponds. Commander, these are all the canal fields that still exist today. There are also countless irrigation canals, which are slightly silted because they have not been plowed for many years. If the immigrants realize this, please add After cleaning up, the entire Lingzhou can irrigate hundreds of thousands of hectares of fertile land, which is the foundation of the king."

"There is no need for hundreds of thousands of hectares." Shao Shude said with a smile: "It only needs 20 hectares of irrigated land, and one household grants [-] mu of land, which can support [-] households and a million people. With this million people, plus The Han people in the rest of the states can raise one hundred thousand soldiers by gritting their teeth. In today’s world, is there any town that can raise one hundred thousand soldiers? Unfortunately, there are not so many people!"

The biggest advantage of the Yinchuan Plain is that the land is extremely flat and stretches as far as the eye can see, and it is irrigated by the Yellow River and its tributaries.The most amazing thing is that the channels are basically artesian channels, and there is no need to build water trucks.Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, a large number of irrigation canal networks have been built in successive dynasties, and the foundation is very good, so it is called the frontier of Jiangnan.

The only thing missing is probably the population.

Where do you get the population from?If there is a sufficient population, the three prefectures of Xia, Sui, and Yin that are currently being vigorously developed may not even need to continue to invest. They can directly move the ruling center to Lingzhou, then take Hexi to the west, go to the grasslands in the north, and attack Binning, Jingyuan, and Fengxiang in the south. town, and even peek at the land of Shu, completing the hegemony is as easy as pie.

The crux of all problems lies in the lack of population.Since the Anshi Rebellion, Lingzhou has been abandoned for too long!
Obtaining the population should be the focus of the next stage, and plans must be made in advance.

(End of this chapter)