Horse on the World

Chapter 356 Deadlock
In May, Bingzhou was just beginning to be brought under Li Qing's rule, and Wu Ze, unwilling to reconcile, led his huge convoy, carrying the wealth he had searched in Bingzhou for more than ten years, and left the territory that once belonged to him step by step. To compensate for Wu Zecheng's huge loss, the Luoyang Center under Xiao Haoran's control granted Wu Ze the title of Marquis of Dayi, the official title of Minister of the Ministry of War, and changed his status from a local vassal to become a powerful official in the capital. Of course, in private, Xiao Haoran also expressed his gratitude to He promised that on the day when the event is accomplished, Bingzhou will become Wu Zecheng's hereditary territory.

Joining Xiao Haoran's camp, Wu Zecheng can only accept it, but fortunately Xiao Haoran is very generous, so he has nothing to say, he can only look forward to the day in the future, of course, Wu Zecheng is not a fuel-efficient lamp, I can go , but you, Li Qing, don't even think about taking over Bingzhou so smoothly.

From the outside, it seems that Wu Zecheng is a bachelor, the local government is still in office, and the Bingzhou army is still stationed in Bingzhou, but this is the biggest trouble for Li Qing's entry into Bingzhou. Can he successfully solve the bureaucracy and army under Wu Zecheng? Dingzhou's intelligence will be tested again. If it is resolved well, the state will transition peacefully. If it is not resolved well, these people will be the root cause of the disaster.These old bureaucrats and troops are all natives of Dingzhou, and they have considerable appeal and reputation in the local area. If Li Qing acts recklessly, Bingzhou is very likely to fall into chaos.

The new Zhizhou Jiewei brought his family and was escorted by two guards, and entered the capital of Bingzhou, Ande, with a smile on his face. Among the two guards, one had only one arm. For the luxurious Bingzhou Zhizhou mansion, he and the others lived together. Going in is like throwing a pebble in a pond, and even a little wave cannot be stirred up.

The officials of Bingzhou breathed a sigh of relief. Jie Wei only took up the post, which meant that Li Qing did not want to make a big move against the bureaucratic system of Bingzhou. They would still keep their positions and continue their privileges in Bingzhou.

The common people looked on coldly. To them, it was just a change of the biggest master on the head. They still farmed, paid taxes, and lived. Bingzhou is a grain-producing area. Although the tax is heavy, it is not too difficult to live. In the old days, what the common people fear most is war. Once there is a war, it will be precarious.

The businessmen in Bingzhou are the most excited about Bingzhou being brought under Li Qing's rule. They are the most well-informed group of people and they all have a certain understanding of Dingzhou's commercial policies. In Dingzhou, businessmen are not like other people in Dachu. The status of the place is relatively low, but it occupies an important place in the entire Dingzhou system, even a pivotal position. If Li Qing is in charge, if Dingzhou's commercial policy can be extended to Bingzhou, then their status will be greatly improved. Improvement, although the business tax in Dingzhou is extremely heavy, for these businessmen in Bingzhou, no matter how heavy the business tax is, they will not pay as much bribes to the original officials and lords, not to mention that compared to accumulating more wealth, What they are most looking forward to now is the improvement of social status.The improvement of social status will further reduce their cost of doing business, and businessmen can see this most clearly.

Jiewei's entry into Bingzhou made Bingzhou officials excited, but their excitement didn't last long, so they poured cold water on their heads, because the second department that Jiewei opened in Bingzhou was impressively famous The Statistics and Investigation Department of the Ministry of Public Security, the common people don’t know much about this yamen that just rented a yard in Ande and hung a sign outside the gate, but they think their black uniforms are quite good-looking, but the officials are different, statistics They know exactly what the Investigation Department does.

Ji Sichen sat in the big case of the office room that was converted from the original customer service center, and felt really excited. He was finally in charge of the party. Although he was in charge of a department in the headquarters of the Statistics and Investigation Department before, he was in the breeze all the time. Under those sharp eyes, he felt heavy pressure all the time, and he didn't dare to relax a bit.But now it is different. Although he also holds the position of director of the Analysis and Planning Department, he is the chief officer after all, and he can decide many things by himself.

Ji Sichen has always been suspicious of Qingfeng's use of him. Unlike other middle-level staff in the Statistics and Investigation Department, Ji Sichen has his own ideas. For a person who joined the Statistics and Investigation Department halfway, and immediately occupied a high position, Ji Sichen has always been cautious. Not only for the former officials of the investigation department, but also for an ordinary investigator, he has always been amiable. Who knows which one of these people will be able to listen to the sky and stand directly in front of Qingfeng's desk?The longer he works in the Statistical Investigation Department, the more careful Ji Sichen becomes. In his opinion, the Statistical Investigation Department is a machine with an extremely precise structure, with one gear biting the other, restraining and supporting each other, and no one can leave. Who, and the only person who can take charge of this machine is Director Qingfeng.

And Qingfeng showed extraordinary trust in him. Not only did Zhou Lilong, the former director of the analysis and planning department, be transferred away, and let himself take charge of this core department, but now he even let himself be one of the princes. You know, this is still a statistical investigation For the first time in history, even in Fuzhou, it only sent a temporary agency there.

Does Qingfeng want to support herself as her successor?It's not that this idea didn't flash in Ji Sichen's mind, but it was immediately rejected by him. Qingfeng has no reason to do so, not to mention that she is in her prime and much younger than herself, but she will go further in the future. Becoming the Marshal's concubine, it is impossible for him to be the master of the Statistics and Investigation Department. Whether it is Zhong Jing, Wang Qi, or the head of the Foreign Information Agency, the head of the Internal Information Agency is taller than himself in Qingfeng's mind. Be more believable.

Perhaps what she valued was her own talent. For this, Ji Sichen was quite confident. In the huge department of the Statistics and Investigation Department, except for Qingfeng himself, Ji Sichen believed that he was slightly better in terms of brains.

"Support those who are unsuccessful, win over those who sit on the fence, and attack those with vested interests. At the same time, we must classify those with vested interests. Those who can be used can be used, and those that must be defeated. At the same time, relying on the business network of merchants, quickly expand the investigation department throughout the state. Network, put the entire Bingzhou under the effective supervision of the investigation department, and lay a solid foundation for Dingzhou to take over Bingzhou." This is the strategy that Ji Sichen and Qingfeng decided after several days of discussion in the Dingzhou headquarters.Putting aside the distracting thoughts in his mind, Ji Sichen pulled a thick document from his desk and began to read page by page. He wanted to make a briefing as soon as possible, and then submit this briefing to Jiewei, the state capital of Bingzhou. Jie Wei, who is chic and calm, is more impatient than himself. As a high-ranking official, Jie Wei is even more eager to make some achievements in Bingzhou to prove that the commander-in-chief has a discerning eye for him.

Grinning silently, Ji Sichen called out, "Come here, make me a cup of strong tea, I'm going to stay up late today."

Bingzhou was engaged in a war without gunpowder, while Qinzhou at this time was completely mired in the quagmire of war. After Xiao Yuanshan led [-] troops from the Luoyang Left Camp to Qinzhou, the momentum of the formerly overwhelming southern army gradually increased. Contained by Xiao Yuanshan, in Chengfeng County, a hundred miles west of Qinzhou, the armies of both sides reached a stalemate.

Lu Xiaobo and Zhang Wei possessed [-] troops, while Xiao Yuanshan had only [-] elite troops on the opposite side. However, the south had been unable to break through Xiao Yuanshan's defense line for a month. Grasping the flaw, decisively cut off all possibilities, which made Lu Xiaobo and Zhang Wei extremely anxious.

At this moment, in the barracks of the southern army, a veteran with white beard and hair was leaning over a map, scribing his fingers around, and finally landed heavily on a small black dot.

"Director Lu, Deputy Chief Zhang, if we want to win Chengfeng County, we must first capture this place, Linxi Town!" The veteran turned to look at Lu Xiaobo and Zhang Wei who were drinking in a big bowl.

"Old General Hu!" Lu Xiaobo and Zhang Wei stood up, walked to the map with wine bowls in their hands, and looked at the place he was pointing at.

Hu Zequan, an experienced veteran under King Ning, in terms of qualifications, he is no worse than Xiao Yuanshan, but he does not have the other's family background, so his position has always stayed above the position of lieutenant general, Lu Xiaobo and Zhang Wei were hindered In Chengfeng County, King Ning sent him to assist the two men in command, and after being recruited by King Ning, Lu Xiaobo and Zhang Wei were appointed as the marching chief and deputy chief respectively. The two are obviously very satisfied with their current life.

Hu Zequan frowned and glanced at the two chief executives. The other party was several ranks higher than him. If someone dared to drink at this time in his own barracks, he would pull it out without hesitation and beat him up heavily. But now, he can only talk about it. He is quite dissatisfied with King Ning's recruitment of these people. After all, they are gangsters. After several attacks, they have killed their feathers and returned. If you are in the mood to drink in a big bowl and eat a big piece of meat.

Shaking his head, although the [-] troops have undergone training and a large number of southern military officers have been installed, it is impossible to completely eradicate the old habits of these people in a short period of time. Such an army is brave enough to fight smoothly But if you encounter a strong opponent and fall into a hard fight, it will definitely not last long.So now it seems that they have [-] troops, and the other party only has [-], but Xiao Yuanshan's [-] are the elite Zuo Daying officers and soldiers of the capital, and in Hu Zequan's view, his own side is slightly weaker.

You can't fight your opponent head-on. This is the conclusion Hu Zequan came to after he arrived in Chengfeng County for more than ten days and witnessed a small-scale confrontation between the two armies.It is impossible for a herd of sheep to beat a lion.Glancing at the two red-faced chief executives again, Hu Zequan suddenly had an idea in his heart. Could it be that King Ning used this opportunity to consume some rubbish? With 10 people, even if he was temporarily defeated in Qinzhou, President Xiao Yuanshan A few teeth will also be broken, and the remaining part will be reorganized, and the combat effectiveness will increase instead.Hu Zequan shuddered. If this was the case, then his ending would be very tragic.No, I have to find a way to win this battle, otherwise I will definitely become a scapegoat.

(End of this chapter)