At the end of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 646
The current strength of Qi State is definitely among the top three among the many separatist forces. However, in terms of the number of troops in Qi State, it is estimated that the top five cannot be ranked. The Wagang army is far behind, even inferior to Xiao Mian who ruled Jingxiang and Baling and other places separately. Xiao Mian claims to have 150,000 troops. Of course, it is not known how much water there is.

In fact, the current population of the Qi State has exceeded 4 million. If Gao Bufan is willing, it is more than enough to raise an army of 500,000, but it is not necessary at all.As we all know, the economic foundation determines the superstructure. Without that economic strength, no matter how large the army is, it is useless. It is like a castle in the air, top-heavy and shallow-rooted, and may collapse at any time.

The soldiers of Qi State are professional soldiers who are completely out of production. Every additional soldier recruited means one less commoner farming. Therefore, on average, every thirty commoners support one soldier. This is an extraordinary bottom line. The ratio of soldiers to civilians If it is too high, the people will have to work hard. Once the people are overwhelmed, the society will be difficult to stabilize and the regime will collapse.

Take the Sui Dynasty as an example. Yang Jian's "rule of the first emperor" made the whole country prosperous and prosperous. The population reached 500 more than 20 million, while the standing army of the Sui Dynasty was less than one million, equivalent to fifty or sixty people to feed A soldier, so the burden of the people is relatively easy, so the society is stable and the country is prosperous. However, since Yang Guang came to power, he has built a lot of construction at home and resorted to war abroad, resulting in a sharp drop in population. By the end of the Sui Dynasty, the warlords were fighting, and the population of the country was less than [-] million. , On average, fifteen to twenty people feed a soldier, and the burden on the people can be imagined.

Since Gao Bufan entered Youzhou, he has been fighting steadily. At the beginning, he only recruited [-] troops, and later increased to [-]. After Luo Yi was eliminated, the territory expanded by half, and the Youzhou army gradually expanded to about [-]. Until now, when Dou Jiande's territory was annexed, Qi State almost occupies the entire Hebei land, and its standing force is only worth more than [-].

Therefore, Gao Bufan has been cautiously expanding his military power, and resolutely defending the bottom line of 1/30 military-to-civilian ratio. The reason why Qi is more prosperous than other places is definitely due to this measure.

On the other hand, Li Mi claims to have millions of soldiers, and Xiao Mian also claims to have 400,000 soldiers. Most of them are definitely bragging. After all, the population and the amount of cultivated land are placed there. Li Mi and Xiao Mian's small territory will definitely not be able to support such a huge army. Of course, if it is a combination of soldiers and civilians, it is barely justified. Soldiers usually work as farmers to farm the land, and when they fight, they copy guys to the battlefield. However, such an army has limited combat power. Compared with professional troops, its combat power may be several times worse. street.

This is the so-called soldiers that are more expensive than elite soldiers. Gao Qi has always followed the route of elite soldiers. Soldiers are all full-time and do not participate in labor. Those peasant armies.

Closer to home, and it will be July in a blink of an eye, the territory under the original Dou Jiande's rule has been fully integrated into the Qi State's rule, and the soldiers and troops under Dou Jiande's command have also been incorporated by Gao Bufan. The total strength of the Qi State is close to 150,000, and the combined light and heavy cavalry exceeds [-] cavalry, and the strength has once again expanded by a level.

Next, the goal of the Qi army is naturally to enter the Central Plains and the counties of Shandong.

On July [-]th, in the city of Handan, Gao Bufan summoned all his advisers and generals to a meeting. This was an extremely important military meeting, which would decide a series of military operations that the Qi army would take over, so all the generals were in high spirits. Grinding his fists, fighting high, ready to fight.

Hehe, Dou Jiande blocked the way before, with his hands and feet tied, and has been blocking Qi from developing southward and marching into the Central Plains. Now this stumbling block has finally been decisively removed by the King of Qi. Jianghuai, Jiangnan, Jiangbei, and Jiangdong are all exposed to the soldiers of the Qi army. What a vast and fertile country!Enough for all of them to perform to their heart's content, enough for all of them to gallop to their heart's content, wonderful! ! !
In the hall, Gao Bufan sat in the middle, and the participants included: Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, Wen Yanbo, Pei Yun, Yu Shinan; Xu Shiji, Pei Xingyan, Lu Sheng, Cheng Yaojin, Xue Wanjun, Xue Wanche, Shan Xiongxin.

Gao Bufan looked around at the crowd of talented people in front of him, and he couldn't help feeling proud. Before he knew it, he had become such a big family, his subordinates were strong, and his advisers were as talented as clouds. This sense of accomplishment, how could it be called "exciting" Great?

At this time, Gao Bufan took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Du Ruhui, saying: "This is a letter sent by General Li Jing from Yanmen recently. According to reliable information, Li Shimin will be able to pacify Longxi soon. .”

As soon as this remark came out, everyone couldn't help being surprised. Pei Xingyan said in surprise: "So fast, didn't Li Shimin suffer a big defeat under the hands of Xue Ju, the overlord of the Western Qin Dynasty a few months ago? Even Liu Hongji, Yin Kaishan and other confidant generals Captured by Xue Ju."

Du Ruhui quickly read the letter Gao Bufan handed him, and said with a strange expression: "It turned out that Xue Ju died suddenly. And Wumou, who is far behind Xue Ju, how can he be Li Shimin's opponent? It is not surprising that he was easily eliminated by Li Shimin in the end."

Everyone couldn't help but suddenly realized that it was no wonder that Li Shimin turned defeat into victory so quickly, but Xue Ju suddenly died violently. Li Shimin's luck is really good.

Changsun Wuji sighed and said, "I thought that even if Xue Ju couldn't defeat Li Tang, he could at least hold Li Tang for a few years, but unexpectedly, it turned around."

Xu Shiji's eyes flashed, and he frowned and said, "Xue Ju just defeated Li Shimin and was preparing to attack Guanzhong, but suddenly died suddenly. This matter is very suspicious."

As soon as this remark came out, everyone's expressions changed slightly, and Wen Yanbo stroked his beard and said, "General Xu is right, this matter is indeed very strange. Before General Li was going to send troops to Yanmen, he was also assassinated, and he was almost killed Donate to the country."

Cheng Yaojin couldn't help scolding: "The boy Li Shimin was really insidious to get into his grandma. In all likelihood, he used shady means to kill Xue Ju. Maybe General Li Jing was assassinated, and it was Li Tang who found him." People did it."

Pei Xingyan also said angrily: "It's really despicable and shameless to engage in assassination, it's extremely low!"

For a moment, all the generals couldn't help being filled with righteous indignation, because such a tactic was too shameless to be put on the stage, and everyone was also worried that Li Tang would use the same tactic against him in the future, making it impossible to guard against.

Gao Bufan glanced at the eldest grandson Wuji who was hesitant to speak, and said with a smile, "Does Wuji have something to say?"

Changsun Wuji hurriedly stood up and saluted respectfully, "To the King of Qi, I don't know if I should say something, and I'm afraid it will attract everyone's displeasure."

Gao Bufan nodded and said: "But it's okay to talk, it's just a matter of fact, everyone can speak freely."

The eldest grandson Wuji made a bow when he heard the words: "As we all know, I and Li Shimin grew up together since childhood, and I know him quite well. Wuji is not trying to excuse him, but it stands to reason that Li Shimin He shouldn't have done something like this.

Moreover, once this opening is opened, everyone will assassinate each other in the future, and Li Tang will naturally not be spared. At that time, everyone will be in danger, and even attack Li Tangqun, presumably because Li Shimin is smart, it is unlikely that he will do it An outrageous folly. "

Pei Yun smiled and said: "When Xue Ju died, the biggest beneficiary is indeed Li Tang!"

Changsun Wuji nodded and said: "That's true, so Wuji also feels suspicious, but how Xue Ju died, there is no definite news yet, maybe it is really an emergency and it is unknown."

Gao Bufan smiled and said: "Wuji's words are not unreasonable, and I don't really believe that Li Shimin will do such a stupid thing that makes people angry."

Du Ruhui smoothed things over and said, "For the time being, we can't make a conclusion on this matter, but as the saying goes, you must not have the intention to harm others, and you must have the intention to guard against others. In the future, everyone must pay attention to strengthen prevention."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Changsun Wuji hurriedly said: "Once Li Tang has pacified Longxi, he will have no worries about the future. He will probably free up his hands to fight for the Central Plains and Hedong counties, and even use multiple methods to send troops to the Central Plains, Hedong, and Bashu at the same time. , so we have to step up, and the subordinates suggest that the troops be divided into two groups, one to attack Luoyang, the other to attack Shandong and the Jianghuai area, and to seize the opportunity with two prongs."

As soon as this remark came out, the generals couldn't help cheering up, and immediately put aside the matter of Xue Ju, and started discussing each other.

I saw Xu Shiji nodded and said: "I agree with the suggestion of the auxiliary machine. With the current strength of the Qi State, it is completely possible to divide the troops into two groups and attack both ways. Li Mi is currently fighting with Wang Shichong in Luoyang. This is the perfect time for us to seize the Liyang Warehouse. Moreover, after Yu Wenhuaji was annihilated, Shandong, Jianghuai, and Jiangdong were empty of troops, and it was a good time to occupy them, and if it was too late, it would be easy for people like Li Zitong and Du Fuwei."

Gao Bufan nodded and said, "That makes sense."

Everyone discussed for a while, and finally decided to divide the army into three groups. The first route, led by Xu Shiji, went south to attack Wei County and captured Liyang Cang. Under the leadership of Sheng, he went south to attack Wuyang County, taking care of the left and right, and was ready to support Xu Shiji and Pei Xingyan at any time.

On July [-], Gao Bufan formally appointed Xu Shiji as the general manager of the Henan Road Army, Du Ruhui as the commander of the Henan Road Army, and marched into Weijun.

Appoint Pei Xingyan as the general manager of the Southeast Road, Wen Yanbo as the commander of the Southeast Road Army, and send troops to Qi County.

Appoint Lu Sheng as the general manager of the Zhongnan Road, and Yu Shinan as the commander of the march, and send troops to Wuyang County.

As for Gao Bufan himself, he was the Grand Marshal of the marching army, accompanied by Lu Sheng and other troops to attack Wuyang County, and sat in the center, taking care of Xu Shiji and Pei Xingyan at any time.

(End of this chapter)