Prancing Horse Xiliang

Chapter 409
Just as the flames of war in the Central Plains were resurgent, the war in the Western Regions also entered a fever pitch.

In May, Luo Zheng restrained the main cavalry of the Dayue Clan with [-] Huqi from the Western Regions, and ordered the mighty general Yan Xing to lead [-] of the most elite Xiliang cavalry to attack the rear army of the Dayue Clan with all his might, defeating the Da Yue Clan in one fell swoop. The most elite [-] cavalrymen of the Yue clan killed more than [-] people from King Guishuang and Sun Quangui, the king of the Dayue clan, and then turned around and defeated the middle army of the Dayue clan.

Taking advantage of the situation, Luo Zheng swung his army to cover up the killing, and led his army to pursue for more than two thousand miles, until he pursued to the Hindu Kush Mountain (now India) before withdrawing his army.

During the battle, more than [-] of the Da Yue clan's [-] people died in battle, and more than [-] were captured. Less than [-] fled back to Fulusha, and captured more than [-] kings and grandchildren, tens of thousands of horses, and twelve bloody horses. It can be described as a complete victory.

If it wasn't for the lack of military supplies, Luo Zheng was ready to hit Fulusha to destroy Guishuang in one fell swoop.

In July, Luo Zheng returned to Shitagancheng, killed Cheshi, Dawan, Yuzhen, Jumi and other state leaders and thousands of nobles, appease the relatively weak Shache, Wensu and other countries, and ordered Countries in the Western Regions donated hundreds of thousands of gold, and hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep and horses.

In August, Luo Zheng's class returned to the dynasty.

At the beginning of October, the army returned to Chang'an, disarmed and rested.

From the beginning of the army in June 201 to the return to Chang'an in October 202, it took a full year and four months.

Since Luo Zheng entered Liangzhou, he has never left for such a long time.

The journey to the Western Regions is much farther than the desert.

In this era, transportation is scarce, and a trip to the Western Regions is even more difficult than a trip around the world in later generations.

Although it is said that the Western Region is the Yumen Pass, the Western Region is not inferior to the desert. From the Western Region to Guishuang, it can travel thousands of miles. It takes several months for the cavalry to go back and forth, which is too far.

Not only are the soldiers tired, but they urgently need to take off their armor and rest.

Luo Zheng also almost knelt down. After returning to Chang'an, he plunged into the mansion, declined all visitors, and took half a month to wash away his physical and mental exhaustion. He ordered a group of confidants, civil and military, to come to the palace to discuss matters.

Jia Xu, Xun Yu, Cheng Ying, Fa Zheng, Yan Xing and other confidants gathered in the front hall of the palace.

Luo Zheng was dressed in casual clothes, and while eating the watermelon hidden in the kiln, he listened to reports from Jia Xu, Xun Yu and others.

At this time, the weather is already cold, and the first winter snow of this year came earlier.

It's snowing heavily outside. Eating watermelon at this time makes people cool from the inside to the outside and feels refreshed.

On the table in front of the others, there were also sliced ​​watermelons, but no one ate them.

Jia Xu and Xun Yu took turns to report on the changes in the situation in the Central Plains since Luo Zheng sent troops last year to the present, as well as the income and expenditure of money and food under the rule, resettlement of refugees, material reserves, army reorganization, and encouragement of births.

"and many more!"

Hearing the encouragement of birth, Luo Zheng immediately asked: "How much population has increased in Guanzhong and Liangzhou in recent years?"

Xun Yu said: "Because Guanzhong and Liangzhou have been implementing the policy of encouraging births set by the lord, the people in Guanzhong, Liangzhou and Shuozhou have been competing to give birth these years. From the fourth year of Jianfa (AD 196) to the present, In six years, the new population has increased by about 200 million, and many people have seven or eight children, and many even have more than a dozen births, and the population growth rate is unprecedented."

Luo Zheng is not without worry: "The population is growing so fast, there will be no problems, right?"

Xun Yu said: "Don't worry, my lord. With the high yield of golden rice, as long as there are no wars and floods, a family of ten can have enough food and clothing as long as they plant [-] mu of fertile land, and there will definitely be no famine!"

Luo Zhengdao: "The population is growing so fast, is the field rich?"

Xun Yu said: "Guanzhong and Liangzhou are vast and sparsely populated, and there are no aristocrats to encroach on the land. Even if there are tens of millions of people, there will be no land to divide. However, there are not many mature paddy fields, and Yu has organized The peasants built canals and reclaimed wasteland in Beidi Plain, Juyanhai, Shuozhou, Xiutuze and other places, and within three years they could get hundreds of thousands of hectares of fertile land!"

Only then did Luo Zheng feel relieved, and asked again, "What is the population growth rate of Xichuan, Sili, and Yanyu?"

Xun Yu said: "The situation in Xichuan is special, and the population growth is far less than that of Yongliang. Sili and Yanyu prefectures have not been newly occupied for a long time, and the population growth is relatively slow. But at most two to three years, wait for the people's hearts of Sili and Yanyu prefectures. An Ding, if people have food in their homes, they will actively raise children, but the population growth rate in Yanyu and Yuzhou, the land of the Fourth World War, may not catch up with the Yongliang area."

Luo Zheng knocked on the table and said: "Policies continue to be tilted towards the common people. Those who have more children will not only be given food and land, but the performance evaluation of officials will also be linked to the growth rate of the population, so as to increase the enthusiasm of officials at all levels to encourage childbirth. Don’t mess with it, we’re talking about trying to find a way here, but the policy can’t be implemented when it reaches the bottom.”

Xun Yu responded, and said: "There is another problem. Because there are not enough doctors, the baby's survival rate is too low. Out of ten newborn babies, at most five can survive, and the few can only survive three. , I have to find a way to explain this!"

Luo Zheng rubbed his eyebrows and said: "Establish a medical officer, set up medicine, encourage those who are ambitious to practice medicine, and improve the social status and income of doctors. Ten years later, the lonely king will treat at least 10 doctors and die of illness. Reduced by [-]%."

Xun Yu cupped his hands and said, "Obey!"

Luo Zhengdao: "How is Hebei? Are Yuan Shao's three sons still in civil war?"

Cheng Ying said: "In the spring, Cao Cao took advantage of Yuan Tan's attack on Jizhou to take Qingzhou, which was blocked by our army. Our army formed an alliance with Yuan Tan, and Yuan Tan's attack on Jizhou failed. However, Yuan Tan only wanted to defeat his younger brother and lead Hebei, and he did not dare to fight against our army. He only wanted to use our army or Cao Cao's power to attack Yuan Shang."

Luo Zhengdao: "Yuan Shao can be regarded as a character, but he did a stupid thing when he was dying. The bones of my father have not yet cooled, and the three brothers of the Yuan family have started fighting each other. If it is a lonely king, I would rather shoot at the wall than never have such a son. "

"puff!"

Fazheng spewed out a mouthful of tea, and quickly covered his mouth with his wife.

Everyone in the hall couldn't hold back their laughter, they all blushed and their necks were thick, wanting to laugh but not daring to laugh.

Only Xun Yu frowned, feeling that it was a bit disrespectful for the lord to not be eloquent.

He wanted to say a few words of remonstrance, but after a long time of talking, he didn't say it out.

Jia Xu caressed his beard and said: "There is a civil strife in Hebei. This is a good opportunity from God. The Lord should just take Hebei to determine the north."

Xun Yu, Fazheng, Cheng Ying and others all agreed. Now that Cao Cao has retreated to Xuzhou, and the three brothers of the Yuan family are in civil war, it has reached the point where fire and water are incompatible. It is indeed a great opportunity to take Hebei.

Luo Zhengdao: "How to take Hebei?"

Jia Xu said: "You can take Bingzhou first, then Tuyou and Jizhou, and finally Qingzhou!"

"Bingzhou?"

Luo Zheng frowned and said: "Is there any detailed plan, let's hear it!"

(End of this chapter)