The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 200 The truth about Longshan Pass

In the office of Jiedu Mansion, Zhu Xiu was working on the final drawings and design of the agricultural reclamation areas in Liangyuan and Linjing counties.

These are also the largest and last two agricultural reclamation development zones in Jingzhou after the Anding County Immigration Development Zone.

After the development of these three agricultural reclamation areas centered on the county seat is completed, the cultivated land utilization area in Jingzhou will reach a historical high.

The previous years when Jingzhou had the most farmland and household registrations were between the 20th and [-]th years of Emperor Xuanzong's Kaiyuan reign. The number of household registrations once reached about [-] households and the population exceeded [-].

This set of data also represents the glory of Jingzhou more than 200 years ago.

Today, through Zhu Xiu's unconventional immigration policy, Jingzhou's registered population has exploded.

The vigorous construction of agricultural reclamation areas and water conservancy projects has ensured a bumper harvest throughout Jingzhou throughout the year, and the grain reserves can fully meet the needs of the military and civilians within the jurisdiction.

Nowadays, Jingzhou's population growth has tended to be flat, and people are no longer deliberately introduced from other states. However, Jingzhou's reputation for various favorable policies has spread, and neighboring Qizhou, Longzhou, Qingzhou, Ningzhou and other places have There are refugees who move here with their families, hoping to find a new way of living in Jingzhou.

Zhu Xiu has already sent orders to all counties to receive the refugees nearby, allocate fields for them to cultivate, or recruit migrant workers to provide work in exchange for relief.

Anyway, there is a lot of construction work and water conservancy projects all over Jingzhou, making full use of the advantages of the Jinghe River Basin and reclaiming wasteland, which requires a lot of labor.

After a few years, the leased official land for the relocated households will expire, and the land under their names will be converted into permanent fields. The newly relocated people will completely take root, and the population will be able to trigger a new round of growth.

Zhu Xiu has asked Wen Zhongping and others to start studying policies to encourage childbirth.

After the drawings and design of the agricultural reclamation area are completed, Zhu Xiu will personally make a trip to Liangyuan and Linjing to lead local county officials to carry out preliminary construction investment.

Counting the time, I won’t be back in two or three months.

Fu Jinzhan only stayed in Jiedu Mansion for three days before he proposed to visit the salt factory and the immigration development zone.

Just as Tao Wenju was withdrawing from Changwu City, Zhu Xiu asked him to accompany Madam Fu to serve her.

Tao Wenju is a smart man, and he is the best person to do this kind of thing.

Shi Lingyan pestered Zhu Xiu for several days. Taking advantage of Fu Jinzhan's opportunity to leave the city, Zhu Xiu tried every means to coax her to go with him, so that she would not be idle all day and delay his serious work.

Li Chongjin has been obsessed with chess recently. He spends all day in several chess halls in the county, playing with others from morning till night, shouting and drinking.

The chess hall is a new entertainment venue that has recently emerged in Anding County. Different from the serious chess hall, the chess hall is more like an entertainment place with a gambling nature, which is lively, noisy and prosperous.

In addition to chess, the chess hall also offers new games such as chess, flying chess, draughts, and marching chess, which greatly enriches the amateur entertainment life of the people in the county.

There is also a chess and card room specializing in mahjong and poker, which is also under intensive preparation.

These businesses were all Zhu Xiu's idea, but he and the Jiedu Mansion were not involved. Instead, the officials and generals in the Changyi Army negotiated the investment and management, and the Jiedu Mansion only collected taxes as usual every year.

This kind of entertainment industry has little technical content and is easy to be imitated. It will spread all over the country in a few years.

It would be most appropriate to take it out and let the leaders of the Changyi Army get a share of the pie to win over people's hearts.

Several commanders of the Ya Army, General Zhecheng Town, Secretary-General Wen Zhongping, Judge Song Shen, Jiedu Tui Officer and Du Branch Officer Pei Jin, Quaigu County Magistrate Shen Xuemin and other internal officials and generals of the Changyi Army can all learn from it. beneficial.

As a result, their interest relationship with the Zhangyi Army became closer, and they supported Zhu Xiu and Shi Kuangwei more and more.

Encourage joining the army, vigorously reward and promote meritorious officers, elevate the status of sergeants, give priority to allocating land to the Ya Army, and protect the interests of sergeants. The implementation of these policies allowed Zhu Xiu to win over the military and increase his reputation within the Ya Army.

Then, through profit rationing, officials and generals within the Changyi Army can obtain real business benefits and win support and popularity.

Nowadays, no one in Jingzhou will question the name of Young Envoy Jun. People and officials regard Zhu Xiu as the successor of Shi Jieshuai and the next candidate for Jiedushi Jun.

Shi Kuangwei enjoyed his leisure time, fishing and walking birds every day, wandering around the city, sitting in the chess hall for the whole day, and became chess friends with Li Chongjin.

Zhu Xiu put away several design drawings, drank tea, leaned back on the Taishi chair, closed his eyes and rested for a while.

Li Chongjin was a restless factor, so he was a little worried about having him stay in the county, so he thought it would be better to take him with him.

While he was thinking, Yan Ping hurriedly entered and presented a red lacquered sealed bamboo tube.

Zhu Xiu glanced at the red paint mark, which should have been sent by the pawn shop in the city.

He unscrewed the bamboo tube and took out a note with a few words written on it.

"Xu Maocai? From the south? Why do you want to ask about me?" Zhu Xiu frowned and threw the note to Yan Ping.

Yan Ping took it and looked at it and said: "This person is inquiring about the author of "Snow Fu". It seems that he does not know the existence of Shao Langjun."

"Xu Maocai" Zhu Xiu pondered for a while, thinking rapidly in his mind, and had no impression of this name.

"No! The secret report said that this person speaks with a Wu County accent and has come all the way. He may have another identity. This name is most likely a pseudonym. He is looking for the source of Xuefu. Has this article already spread to Jiangnan? ?”

Zhu Xiu shook his head and became more and more confused.

Yan Ping remembered something, and hurriedly said: "A month ago, the outsiders that Guan Tieshi arrested into the reformation site seemed to be a group of southerners. Is there any connection between them?"

Zhu Xiudao: "Go and find Guan Tieshi, then send someone to find this Xu Maocai, monitor him closely, but don't disturb him."

Yan Ping responded, holding his fists and retreating.

After a while, Guan Tieshi hurriedly walked into the official room.

"Young Master, are you calling me?"

"Brother Guan, please sit down." Zhu Xiu smiled and pointed to the chair beside her.

Guan Tieshi thanked him and sat down. He seemed to be walking in a hurry, but also seemed to have something urgent at hand. His breathing was not steady, and he glanced outside from time to time.

"Brother Guan seems to be very busy these days?" Zhu Xiu stood up and gave him some tea.

Guan Tieshi's smile was unnatural: "It's not bad. There is a batch of salt that is going to Fangzhou. People from Zhenhai Camp have been waiting at the salt factory for five or six days, urging them non-stop. I have been taking care of this for the past few days."

Zhu Xiu smiled and stared at him: "I heard that Brother Guan went to Longshan Pass, and you just hurried back two days before I came back?"

Guan Tieshi's eyes dodged a little, and he said with a dry smile: "Under the order of the commander-in-chief, I went to inquire about the progress of the battle at Longshan Pass."

Zhu Xiu smiled and said, "Really? Why haven't I heard from the handsome man these few days? Is Longshan Pass okay?"

Guan Tieshi's expression became more and more nervous and unnatural: "The Tibetan people outside the pass have stopped a lot, and there has been no movement for more than a month. However, from time to time, we can still find signs of Tibetan troops mobilizing from the foot of Liupan Mountain. There is nothing wrong at the moment, maybe the handsome man feels that he has not told Your needs. The burden on your shoulders is too heavy, and the handsome master can’t bear to let you work too hard."

Zhu Xiu looked at him deeply, and Guan Tieshi couldn't help but lower his head with guilt.

"Since Brother Guan doesn't want to reveal the truth, I won't force it, so as not to embarrass you, I will go to the handsome man to find out later."

Guan Tieshi felt relieved, clasped his fists and said, "Thank you so much, Young Envoy. There are some things that are beyond my control. It would be better for Young Envoy to discuss it with the handsome master."

Zhu Xiu smiled and changed the subject: "I came to you to ask about a group of foreigners caught near the salt factory a month ago. Do you still remember this?"

Guan Tieshi thought about it and said, "It is indeed true. Those people all have Jiangnan accents, are very dignified, and spend a lot of money. Two of them are named Xu, claiming to be descendants of the Xu family in Wu County, and they want to discuss business with me, Zhang Yijun."

"The Xu family of Wu County is a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River and one of the largest salt merchants in the south of the Yangtze River. The Xu family is interested in the salt factory. Do they want to do salt transportation business with us?"

Zhu Xiu was a little skeptical, "The Xu family is not short of salt, and Jingzhou is too far away from Jiangnan. What on earth is the Xu family planning to do here? Among the few people you captured, is there one named Xu Maocai?" Guan Tieshi thought for a while, and smiled wryly. Said: "After a month, I haven't paid much attention to it. I really don't remember clearly. I originally wanted to wait for you to come back and report it, but I forgot it when I got busy. But a few days ago, the reform site sent someone to report. Among that group, two of them performed well during their service and can be released according to regulations."

Zhu Xiu nodded: "That's right. These people should be here to find me. They are searching for information all over the city."

Guan Tieshi was startled: "Are we going to send someone to capture them?"

"No, the purpose of these people is unknown, but now it seems that there is no malice, and I don't know that my identity has been exposed. Don't disturb them for the time being, just spy on them."

Guan Tieshi said: "I sent someone to order Monk Hun to take good care of the warriors brought by the Xu family."

Zhu Xiu gave a few more instructions and asked him to retreat first.

Guan Tieshi walked out of the courtyard and walked along the corridor to prepare to leave the house.

At the corner, a dark figure suddenly stepped forward to stop him. Guan Tieshi was startled and pressed his hand on the handle of the knife to draw out the knife. When he looked closely, he saw that it was Shi Kuangwei.

"Handsome Master, what are you doing?" Guan Tieshi saluted hurriedly, dumbfounded.

Skuangwei's face was a little gloomy, he folded his hands behind his back, glared at him, looked around, and said in a low voice, "Boy Zhu isn't suspicious, is he?"

Guan Tieshi smiled bitterly and said: "Young Master is so shrewd, how could you hide the matter at Longshan Pass from him! That look in his eyes, like a knife, made me panic!"

Shi Kuangwei's black face darkened, and he scolded angrily: "Idiot! You are a warrior who fights on the battlefield after all. How can you be afraid of a boy with no hair?"

Guan Tieshi said aggrievedly: "Young Envoy is a god-like figure. Now in the hearts of the Yajun officers and soldiers, who doesn't respect him and fear him? For a common man like me, he can't see through his internal organs at a glance."

"What a stupid stone! I'm so angry!" Shi Kuangwei punched him in the chest and cursed.

Guan Tieshi rubbed his chest and muttered: "I'm afraid that the handsome master will have no way to hide in front of the young envoy, and will be seen through."

Shi Kuangwei glared at him and said in a low voice: "Go to Longshan Pass in person and ask Wei Hu to come back! Tell him not to be confused. As long as he comes back, he will still be the commander of Zhangyi Army Ya Neidu. It turns out. The state is bitter and cold, how many passes can he occupy, how much can he accomplish?"

Guan Tieshi hesitated and said: "Master Handsome, you'd better discuss this matter with the young envoy."

Shi Kuangwei said with a fierce face: "Of course I will talk to Zhu Xiaozi! But no matter what, I feel sorry for Wei Hu. If Zhu Xiu hadn't been there, he should have been the one to take over the Zhang Yi Army!"

Guan Tieshi said quietly: "Without the Young Envoy, the Zhangyi Army would have fallen apart long ago, and there would be no chance of it being as grand as it is today."

Shi Kuangwei's eyes were a little sad: "Wei Hu still has a way to go back. As long as he comes back, I will forget the blame. Zhu Xiu is not a narrow-minded person and will give Wei Hu a way out."

Guan Tieshi clasped his fists and said: "Master Handsome's intention, I understand. I will leave without further delay. I will leave overnight."

"Thank you for your hard work, please be safe." Shi Kuangwei patted him heavily on the shoulder.

After watching Guan Tieshi leave, Shi Kuangwei lowered his head and frowned, thought for a moment, and walked towards the courtyard where the office was located.

Along the way, Shi Kuangwei rubbed his black face hard to make his stiff and solemn face look softer.

~~~
Zhu Xiu was sitting on the Taishi chair, playing with the bowl, thinking about something. When he noticed someone poking his head at the door of the room, he curled his lips and hummed: "You're already here, why don't you come in?"

Shi Kuangwei rubbed his hands and stepped into the threshold, and said with a smile: "I have nothing to do. Come and take a look. I didn't disturb you, right?"

"How come, handsome master, please take a seat." Zhu Xiu gave up his seat.

Shi Kuangwei hurriedly took two steps forward, pushed him back into the chair, and sat aside.

Zhu Xiu was not pretentious and joked: "You look like you are asking for something?"

Shi Kuangwei glared and said, "What else do we want between us? Family matters are easy to discuss!"

Zhu Xiu's eyebrows were raised lightly, her eyes were bright, and she suddenly said: "Are you afraid that I will kill Wei Hu and want to protect him?"

"Ahem!~" Shi Kuangwei was peeling off a piece of yellow tangerine and stuffing it into his mouth. He panicked and almost got stuck in his throat. He coughed violently, stroked his chest, and took several sips of cold tea to feel relieved.

"How much do you, kid, really know?" Shi Kuangwei opened his eyes wide.

Zhu Xiu said lightly: "It should be about the same as what you know. The Tubo people outside Longshan Pass were deliberately recruited by Wei Hu. He led his troops to the rescue, secretly contacted several generals in the towns, and built momentum to make a plan for the Tubo people. In a massive offensive posture, he used this as an excuse to constantly ask for money and food from Jingzhou.

It's just an old trick to encourage bandits to show their self-respect, so it's not surprising. "

Shi Kuangwei's dark face was full of horror, and his lips were trembling: "How far has the Tibetan Front Battalion that you are holding tightly in your hands developed?"

Zhu Xiu smiled slightly and said: "Within the territory under the jurisdiction of Changyi Army, it can basically penetrate every corner!"

The corner of Shi Kuangwei's mouth twitched, and he smiled bitterly in frustration: "I really can't hide it from you. Tell me, what are you going to do?"

Zhu Xiu suppressed her smile and said, "You want me to pretend not to know and not pursue the matter?"

Shi Kuangwei sighed and said: "A few years ago, I did privately promise to train him to take over my position. After all, this matter is due to my lack of consideration and I can't help him. It is inevitable that he will have complaints in his heart. "

Zhu Xiu shook his head and said: "The resentment in his heart may be deeper than you think. This time he gathered troops at Longshan Pass with evil intentions. This is not the first time he has taken risks."

Shi Kuangwei was stunned: "What do you mean by this?"

Zhu Xiu glanced at the letter under a pile of documents on the desk, hesitated for a moment, and said with a forced smile: "It's nothing. I'm just worried that in order to fight for power, Wei Hu will not hesitate to collude with the Tubo people and borrow money from the Tubo people." The force separatizes the southern part of Yuanzhou."

"Wei Hu hates the Tubo people. He will never do this! He can still distinguish right from wrong!"

Shi Kuangwei said hurriedly.

Zhu Xiu smiled bitterly, Lao Shi indeed regarded Wei Hu as half his son.

Just how much weight does ten years of support have in Wei Hu's heart?
Zhu Xiu sighed softly: "Within half a month, let Wei Hu bring the soldiers and horses back, and this matter will be treated as if it never happened. Old Shi, you should understand that I do not want to compete with Wei Hu for the position of Jiedushi." , I just want to do something in Jingzhou to prove my ability.

If Wei Hu is capable enough, it is not impossible for him to take over as Jiedushi in the future. "

After a pause, Zhu Xiu said with rare sternness: "But now, I have devoted too much effort to the Zhangyi Army and Jingzhou, and I will never allow anyone to cause chaos!"

Shi Kuangwei hurriedly said: "I recalled Wei Hu precisely to avoid chaos in the Zhangyi Army! Don't worry, within half a month, our father and I will settle this matter!"

Shi Kuangwei trotted away. He wanted to go back and write another personal letter urging Wei Hu to lead his army back.

Zhu Xiu sat for a while and took out the secret letter that was pressed on the desk.

Here, Yan Ping sent last night a detailed investigation report on the riots in Anding county and the mutiny of the Ya army more than a year ago.

All the evidence shows that the rebellion of Yajun is inseparable from Wei Hu!

Zhu Xiu knew that Lao Shi had a father-son relationship with Wei Hu, so he had to be more cautious when dealing with Wei Hu.

Wei Hu's status in the Changyi Army is quite special, and he can cause panic if he is not careful.

The Changyi Army could no longer afford internal chaos.

"I hope you can untie the knot yourself, otherwise."

Zhu Xiu murmured to himself, slightly squinting his eyes with a sharp look.

(End of this chapter)