Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 279 Military Reform
Chu Palace, go to the study room.

Qu Bucai tiptoed into the study room, bowed deeply to Xiang Zhuang who was behind the desk, and said, "See Your Majesty."

"Aren't you here? Come here, come and sit here." Xiang Zhuang put down the quill in his hand, got up from the seat on his knees, and motioned for Qu Bucai to sit on the seat opposite the desk.

"Two things." After Qu Bucai took his seat, Xiang Zhuang said directly, "The first thing is that from now on, the public transport paper, books and liquor sold to the Central Plains countries will only be traded in gold, silver and other properties, and copper coins will not be sold. .”

China is not a major silver-producing country, and the output of silver is extremely limited, and the output of gold is even lower. It is not the age of great voyages, and it is wishful thinking to import silver from Nanyang and Japan. Xiang Zhuang wants to reform the currency system and make gold and silver become In order to circulate currency, it is necessary to first plan to plunder enough gold and silver from the Central Plains.

"Here!" Qu Bucai cupped his hands, and agreed without any hesitation.

Xiang Zhuang nodded, and said again: "Second thing, you should go to Panyu immediately and arrange the layout yourself. Wumuya's next infiltration target will be Nanyue Kingdom."

Although Ge Sheng's navy failed to go ashore in Panyu, they still got useful news.

The Nanyue officials refused to go ashore with Ge Sheng's navy, which meant that Zhao Tuo was still implementing the national policy of "closed and locked roads". Why did Zhao Tuo "closed and locked the roads"?There is only one reason, that is, Zhao Tuo failed to fully grasp the 50 strong men of Nanyue Kingdom. In order not to disintegrate the 50 strong men, Zhao Tuo could only close the door and block the news.

Xiang Zhuang sent Ge Sheng to infiltrate South Vietnam, naturally he was eyeing the 50 strong men in South Vietnam!

According to the latest population inventory, there are more than 80 counties in the five counties of Jiangdong. With such a big temptation, it is impossible for Xiang Zhuang not to be tempted, because the state of Chu is short of people.

"Here!" Qu Bucai clapped his hands again in response.

"Go." Xiang Zhuang waved his hand and said, "Do it now."

"I'll take my leave." Qu Bucai stood up, turned around with a bow, and walked away.

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On the outskirts of Wuzhong, a bamboo hut.

Xu Negative was playing the piano by the window. Since he came to Jiangdong more than half a year ago, Xu Negative, Xiaoqing's master and servant lived in this small bamboo forest in the outskirts of Wuzhong. Xu Negative was originally a famous master of yin and yang. After staying in the bamboo hut, celebrities from the Jiangdong clan came in droves, begging Xu negative to tell their fortunes by face-to-face.

But today, Xu Negative declined the visits of all the nobles and celebrities.

All of a sudden, the sound of the piano flowing gently like running water suddenly stopped, but a string was broken.

With the sound of light footsteps, Xiaoqing came in from the outside and sighed: "Young master, in less than two days, you have already broken six strings. It seems that the maidservant has to go to the market again. set."

Xu Negative immediately pushed the piano and got up, then walked to the window and sighed quietly, Xu negative knew very well that six strings broke in two days, which only showed that her mood was already in a mess.

Why is Xu negative's mood in a mess?
It's not because of Bi Shu's incomprehensible goose!
"My lord, why don't I go to Wuzhong?" Xiaoqing asked tentatively.

As Xu negative's maidservant, Xiaoqing is very clear about the emotional entanglement between Xu negative and Bi Shu.

At the beginning, Xu Negative took the initiative to make friends with Bi Shu, just wanting to resolve the Red Luan Tribulation, but the facts proved that it was wishful thinking to resolve the calamity, and Xu Negative soon got lost in the chats, chess games, and piano and Xiao ensemble with Bi Shu. After spending more than half a year together, Xu negative has already fallen in love with Bi Shu deeply.

But Bi Shu seems to really just regard Xu negative as a confidant.

Several times, Xu negative couldn't help hinting at Bi Shu, but Bi Shu didn't respond.

Xu Negative seemed to be caught in some kind of thought and didn't respond, but Xiaoqing knew that Xu Negative had acquiesced, turned around and left the hut, and pulled out a little red horse from the stable, turned on the horse and galloped towards Wuzhong. Then, just after turning around the foot of the opposite mountain, a dozen cavalry suddenly rushed out from the slanting spurs, blocking the way.

The leader was a general of the Chu army with a strong body and thick eyebrows. He grinned and said, "Hey, sister Xiaoqing, where are you going?"

Xiaoqing reined in the horse's head and wanted to go around, and said angrily: "You care about me?"

"Oh, Xiaoqing, don't you know? A group of strong men just appeared in the outskirts of Wuzhong. They kill anyone they see. If they meet a young and beautiful girl, they will... you know what." The general of the Chu army reined in his horse, blocked Xiaoqing's way again, and said with a smile, "Xiaoqing, why don't I go with you."

"What kind of strong man cut the diameter?" Xiaoqing said angrily, "You are."

"What's your name?" The general smiled wryly, "How can I become a strong man with my good intentions?"

"Stop talking nonsense, I still have something to do." Xiaoqing frowned and said, "Pojun, will you let me go?"

Dare to feel that this general is Po Jun. Ever since he met Xu negative and Xiaoqing's master and servant at Qingfeng Chess House that day, Po Jun has been moved. Xu negative has a noble status and is not something Po Jun can provoke. On Xiaoqing's head, for more than half a year, whenever he was free, he would drive thousands of miles from Lujiang River back to Jiangdong, and then pester Xiaoqing in every possible way.

Xiaoqing was so angry that her willow eyebrows stood on end, and she said coquettishly: "Pojun, will you let me go?"

"Give way, of course." Seeing that Xiaoqing was really angry, Po Jun quickly reined in and made way.

Xiaoqing snorted softly, then rode forward, and when passing by Po Jun, she turned her head occasionally, but saw that this big man, Po Jun, was trembling like a child who had done something wrong, Xiao Qing couldn't help laughing, and smiled at Po Jun, but soon covered her small mouth with her small hand.

With this smile, Po Jun's bones were all crisp.

When Xiaoqing was far away, Po Jun reined in his horse and turned back, roaring at the dozen or so soldiers behind him, "Did you see that? Did you see that? This girl smiled at me, hahaha, this girl smiled at me , She fell in love with me! Hahahaha, finally, my hard work for the past six months is not in vain, hehehe."

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Chu Palace, side hall.

Xiang Zhuang looked dignified, sitting on the ground in the center, and Yafu Fan Zeng sat horizontally.

Xiang Ta, Xiang Tuo, Wu She, Bai Lixian, Bi Shu and other civil and military officials were divided into left and right groups. All the officials saw the ceremony, and Xiang Zhuang returned the ceremony and solemnly invited all the officials to take their seats.

In the pre-Qin period, the etiquette between the monarch and his ministers was not so strict.

In the pre-Qin period, monarchs and ministers sat on the ground to discuss matters. After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty dismissed hundreds of schools and only respected Confucianism, the Confucian set of red tape became orthodox, and ministers had to stand. The prime minister has no seat in front of the king. As for the Manchus, the courtiers are simply the king's dogs and have no status at all.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty advocated Confucian etiquette. The original intention was good, because Confucian etiquette can highlight the transcendent status of the king, make ministers more respectful of royal power, and thus achieve the purpose of consolidating royal power invisibly. However, after the rise of Confucianism, the orthodox etiquette of Confucianism gradually changed. It became a deformed Taoism and etiquette, and finally became a cancer of Chinese civilization.

Fan Zeng broke the silence first, and said, "Ji'er, are you really planning to implement the third batch of new laws?"

"Yes." Xiang Zhuang nodded and said, "Jiangdong's population was originally lower than that of Guanzhong and Bashu, and Liu Bang's old man is now engaged in Junyao service and equal calculation of Fu. If we don't catch up, there will be a big gap between Chu and Han." The gap in manpower and national strength will only get bigger and bigger, time is not waiting, Yafu, we can't blindly seek stability and continue to wait."

"Alright." Fan Zeng said solemnly, "Since you have made up your mind, you should support your father!"

Xiang Zhuang pondered for a moment, then said: "This third batch of new laws is very important, and the provisions of the laws and regulations are also very extensive, so we still need everyone to work together."

Xiang Ta, Xiang Tuo and others sat up straight.

Xiang Zhuang's eyes fell on Xiang Ta first, and said: "Zi Yi, you are in the middle to mediate and coordinate the overall situation."

Xiang Ta cupped his hands and said solemnly, "Here!"

Xiang Zhuang said to Xiang Tuo, "Zi Yan, you are in charge of rewarding military homework."

Xiang Tuo sat up on his knees, cupped his hands and said, "Here!"

Xiang Zhuang then said to Bailixian: "Ziliang, you are in charge of rewarding farming, trading, and reading classes."

Bai Lixian then knelt and sat up, cupped his hands and said, "Here!"

Xiang Zhuang said to Wu She again: "Bazhi, you are in charge of propaganda, mobilize all the students of Taixue to copy a large number of new legal provisions, and post them in all 68 counties of the five counties in Jiangdong in the shortest time, and go deep into every township, pavilion, and mile Explain the new law to the elders, so that the elders in Jiangdong can fully understand the benefits of the new law."

Wu She also sat up on his knees and replied, "Here!"

Xiang Zhuang's gaze finally fell on Bi Shu, and said: "Learning swords, I will appoint you as General Zhechong, fully responsible for the reform of the Chu army's military system!"

Bi Shu straightened his clothes, got up and bowed to the ground: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, I dare not serve my life with death!"

Xiang Zhuang waved his hand, and said again: "Xuejian and Yafu stay here, and the rest of you go back to the manor and get ready to go."

Xiang Ta, Xiang Tuo, Bai Lixian, and Wu She stood up, bowed to Xiang Zhuang and Fan Zeng, and said goodbye. Only Xiang Zhuang, Fan Zeng, and Bi Shu were left in the side hall. .

The reform of the military system is not a one-sentence matter. Although Bi Shu has already formulated a whole set of reform plans, which is almost the same as the Fubing system in the later Sui and Tang Dynasties, there are still many details that need to be finalized. For example, the Fubing of each county How much is the quota, and what is the quota of the Imperial Guard as a standing army?
Of course, the most important thing is how to appease the local commanding general.

Once the government military system is implemented, the garrisons in all counties and counties will all be under the jurisdiction of Zhechong Prefecture. There is no token of Zhechong Prefecture and Xiangzhuang's military talisman. Not moving one soldier or one soldier is almost depriving them of their military power. Gao Chu and Pang Yu can say it, but Zhou Yin may not be willing.

(End of this chapter)