Dawn of the Empire

Chapter '7 Qing'e between Xian Hao (1)

When dividing the defense zone, Zhao De mentioned that he wanted to build more fortresses in the upper reaches of the Yalu River, or to cut firewood, burn charcoal, or exchange the fur pearls of the Jurchen tribe nearby, and to facilitate the mooring of ships. It's a pity that Xia Guoying's headquarters is short of troops, and I hope that there will be capable Han troops to defend.The upper reaches of the Yalu River are located in a remote location with few Han people. Most of the people living in the woods beside the river are Jurchen tribes of savages. Fearing that the nearby Hanzhai might not be able to make it, Liu Qinhu volunteered to defend this barren land voluntarily instead of going to the flat and fertile counties in the south.

Wang Heng said to deal with it directly, but in his heart he looked down on Liu Qinhu.He is very clear that Liu Qinhu looks rough and bold, but in fact he is hiding deep in the city.He was the hidden stake planted by the Shuai Mansion in Jiming Village, beheaded the Yu brothers who were the head of the family, and won the position of head of the village.Although the Yu brothers took refuge in Han Kuang, their crimes should be punished, but Wang Hengzhi still had a grudge in his heart, and once sighed to others: "The old brothers who have been around for more than ten years can kill as soon as they say, it is really chilling." What's more, Liu Qin Hu then cleaned Jiming Village, and it is said that he killed many good people unjustly.Wang Hengzhi had a prejudice in his heart, so he felt that his character was inferior.

"A ruthless and insidious guy, a villain, seeing Zhao De's power, he hastened to curry favor with him." Wang Heng couldn't help sneering, "Since Master Liu admires General Zhao so much, why doesn't he go to toast?"

Liu Qinhu smiled slightly and said: "Thank you, Master Wang, for reminding me." He really stood up and walked over with the jug in hand.Zhao Xingde was surrounded by several other generals of the Han army, Liu Qinhu didn't push forward, so he could only wait beside him, with a vague smile on the corner of his mouth, until the Han generals who were toasting went away. Then he stepped forward and said respectfully: "Liu Qinhu, the last general, toast General Zhao." Different from the intimacy of the other generals of the Han army, Liu Qinhu's demeanor was as if his subordinates were respecting the superior, Zhao Xingde was slightly taken aback , raised his wine glass and said: "General Liu, you don't have to be too modest, you and I will drink together." During the two-month siege, the strength of each Han army showed some strength.Jiming Village was originally the northernmost Han Village. The place is bitterly cold, and growing crops is not enough to make a living, and there are many Jurchen tribes around, so the soldiers and civilians are used to "shooting" and hunting.Zhao Xingde was aware of Liu Qinhu's unit's ability to fight hard and prohibit them, and even wondered why Han Ningshuang didn't transfer this elite army to Suzhou.

"General Zhao treats Liu as an outsider," Liu Qinhu sighed with regret on his face, "Liu hopes that he will follow him."

Zhao Xingde also took half a sip of the lamp, and said with a smile: "Expel the captives to rejuvenate the Han Dynasty, and join in the grand event." There are a few remote Han villages willing to do business in logging and burning charcoal, which also hinted that Wei Xia's state camp will follow suit.Liu Qinhu even privately mentioned that Jiming Village can not only accept the command of Xia Guoying, but can even be reorganized into a garrison camp.But Zhao Xingde couldn't agree to him immediately.Only young men were selected from the Han people to expand the garrison camp, and the speed of forming an army was too slow.However, the sequence of absorbing the Han army into the garrison camp is not easy to lay a solid foundation, and even waste money.

Liu Qinhu simply set up a table and sat down, patted his thigh and said with a smile: "General Zhao's armor is sharp, and he has a lot of strategies in his chest. Liu is very impressed." He lowered his voice and approached, "But what Liu admires the most is not his ability on the battlefield, but a soldier who surrenders without fighting." Zhao Xingde didn't understand what he meant, and only slightly "Oh?"Liu Qinhu's eyes turned slightly, and after a while, he first poured himself a glass of wine, and then filled it up for Zhao Xingde, then said in a low voice: "The reason why Liaodong is known to be difficult to control is that the climate is bitter and cold. Because of the dense forest and narrow roads. When the barbarian tribes drill into the deep mountains and dense forests, they are like fish swimming in the sea. The easiest thing to do is to be defeated. Mr. has a clever plan, with the power of a mere wealth, to cut wood and burn charcoal in Liaodong, and then sell it to the Central Plains. One day, this dense forest in Liaodong will be cut down. If the sea water is drained, fish and dragons will die. There is no way to make a living, and there is nowhere to hide. This is a plan to draw fire from the bottom of the pot. By that time, whether it is the Central Plains army's crusade, or the Han people's reclamation, it will be ten times easier than it is now. Those barbarian tribes who followed the tree cutting and burning charcoal, You really dig your own grave."

Zhao Xingde was secretly surprised, but said: "It's just to find a way to survive, I didn't expect to have such benefits?" He clinked glasses with Liu Qinhu, then smiled and said: "General Liu is joking, how can the sea water be pumped? It has to be done, in such a vast mountain forest, the old trees are cut down, and new ones grow back. Zhao is still hoping that this logging business can be done for hundreds of years." He said haha, but his heart was really happy. He glanced at Liu Qinhu.

"It's just a joke, just a joke." Liu Qinhu also laughed and said, "Business has been in business for hundreds of years, and Liu has always followed General Zhao's lead." "Okay, let's have a toast, two charcoal sellers." Both of them laughed up.The other generals of the Han army looked at this side, and some secretly said that Liu Qinhu had some skills, and he could change the court so quickly.Some scolded contemptuously: "One villain." "Just wait and see, it's time for the commander-in-chief to clean up."

This night, many generals of the Han army were drunk and drunk.At dawn the next day, everyone led their troops to receive nearby counties.Zhao Xingde also returned to Phoenix Mountain with more than a thousand soldiers from Chengying Eighth Battalion and the garrison battalion who had been on an expedition for nearly three months.In just three months after dispatching troops, the army rations in the stockade were almost exhausted. Fortunately, after capturing Laiyuan County, Xia Guoying obtained a reliable port, and Chengying [-]th Battalion brought back thousands of shi of grain from the Central Plains .

After Zhao Xingde returned to Phoenix Mountain, he discussed with Jin Changtai and decided to focus on developing iron smelting and logging.With the help of Fu Hai Xing and Ya Jiao Xing, merchant ships from the State of Song have been carrying grain to Yuancheng in exchange for bulk products such as fur, good wood, and charcoal, which are special products of Liaodong. The ginseng, Specialties such as sea cucumbers and delicacies are not so important.Zhao Xingde didn't think too much about it, just like the Jurchen couldn't understand why a place where it is said that it doesn't snow all year round would buy a lot of 'fur' fur.In terms of management, Jin Changtai gave full play to his ability. In order to solve the problem of insufficient supply, he personally visited the leaders of the Jurchen tribes on both sides of the Yalu River, and sent people to teach the Jurchen tribes on the Yalu River to log and burn charcoal. In exchange for charcoal, fur and ginseng.Chengying Ying strictly graded the charcoal and 'fur' skins collected. The best materials were transported to Jinling and Bianliang, and small items such as famous spices from the South China Sea, rhino horn and ivory etc. were used as large items. With the addition of extras included in the sale, even Japanese people from the other side began to come to Yuancheng to buy goods.Jin Changtai even discussed with Li Sihai to open up a new business route to Taiwan.

Under Jin Changtai's almost crazy expansion, simple fortresses guarded by insufficiently trained garrison soldiers are scattered on both sides of the Yalu River.Because of the shortage of troops, Jin Changtai selected and trained Ding Zhuang to form two battalions of garrison troops.Jian Cheng, Du Chuijiao, Tang Qiyong, and Cha Shen served as the commanders of the garrison battalion respectively, and selected some capable soldiers to serve as centurion commanders in the garrison battalion.According to Jin Changtai's idea, in order for the sergeant to ensure the control of the garrison battalion, the garrison cannot serve as a centurion or above before he is promoted to a sergeant.These arrangements have been continuously reported and submitted. The military government only clarified that sergeants can be selected from the garrison, but after becoming a sergeant, they have to go back to Xia Guo to accept the inspection and training of the military government.The General's Mansion neither opposed nor formally affirmed other arrangements, and adopted a tacit attitude.Zhou Yuanzhong, the commander of the Chengying Army, was faintly encouraging.

The supply department asked the eighth battalion to pay for the garrison battalion by itself.Jin Changtai was also polite, and in the name of the artillery ammunition he carried was running out, he urged the supply department to quickly replenish the ammunition consumed in the two battles of Laiyuan and Kaizhou.And the nearly 1 guan of money that Chengyingying squeezed out in the name of ammunition expenses, more than [-] guan of money and thousands of guan of food in Kaizhou in the name of beheading the enemy's head and strictly guarding the defense area, were all dispatched The military affairs seized the enemy's materials and dealt with them, some of them were given to the sergeants, and some were rewarded to the garrison soldiers.The sergeants put most of the money into Dongmu Bank.Jin Changtai and Zhao Xingde discussed that in order to improve the morale of the garrison battalion, the garrison soldiers were also allowed to join Dongmuxing, but the garrison soldiers seemed to prefer to hide their money at home.The garrison battalion is part of the Phoenix Mountain Han Army to the outside world, and Jin Changtai's account books are recorded as bodyguards hired by Dongmuhang.It's just that the pay is much higher than that of lumberjacks.In addition to military training, the garrison battalion also did a lot of logging, building cities and paving roads.The lack of manpower went beyond the problem of food and grass. Jin Changtai even proposed that Dongmuxing pay for the redemption of Han Chinese slaves from nearby tribes.

As the problem of food and grass eased slightly, Xia Guoying left more iron and steel for its own use, making iron axes for logging, iron picks for fortification, and even various weapons and armor.The soldiers organized the lumberjacks into ranks as well. The lumberjacks chopped down trees with axes all day long, and the food was sufficient, but their brute strength was getting stronger and stronger.The "light work" such as charcoal making, collecting, and farming are mainly undertaken by healthy women, the elderly and the weak.

After Xia Guoying occupied Laiyuan City, Zhao Xingde and Li Sihai joined forces to ask the General's Mansion to add a batch of iron barrel cannons for defending the city, or cast them on the spot in Liaodong.Zhao Xingde was troubled by the lack of archers in the garrison battalion, so he ordered the blacksmith to try to imitate the fire blunderbuss of the Song Dynasty.Zhao Xingde made a slight improvement. He extended the length of the iron gun head installed in front of the fire blunderbuss by two feet, and added a detachable wooden pole behind the fire blunderbuss. Put it into the gun bag and carry it on your back.But when the three pieces are connected, it is about one foot long. Not only can it be used as a long spear, but also because the barrel is made of fine iron, if the front two feet of the barrel are covered with iron, not only will the long spear itself be more powerful and heavy. , the enemy's sword and ax are also difficult to break.It's just that in this way, the cost of the firecracker gun is expensive, and it takes a strong soldier to use it.

The Battle of Kaizhou shocked Liaodong. Zhao Xingde had great military exploits and rich sources of income, and his reputation among the generals of the Han army gradually increased.The situation on the Yalu River side of Taibai Mountain soon spread to Guannan, Suzhou.September is the beginning of autumn, and the weather is getting colder and colder. In three months, the sea water on both sides of the Suzhou Isthmus will freeze.Nanshan City, guarding the Suzhou Isthmus, is progressing slowly, which also makes Han Ningshuang worried.