Liu Shizi was exhausted from holding two grand weddings at the Marshal's Mansion.
Originally, there were still a few days before the Chinese New Year, and Liu Chengzong wanted to take a few days off for himself and go hunting in the mountains with Cao Yao.
However, the military situation was urgent. In just six days, the intelligence sent from various channels was piled up on a table in the west building of the Commander's Mansion, and the people who wanted to see could fill a whole room.
Everyone in the Marshal's Office was extremely nervous about the fact that after Hong Chengchou entered Gansu, the officers and soldiers repaired the fortress in Gulang and stationed troops around Lanzhou.
What made them nervous was not Hong Chengchou, but the snow in Hehuang.
In the past few years, what every old Lion Soldier has been talking about is how terrible the drought in northern Shaanxi is. After years of persistent indoctrination, even the Mongolians who graze in the Marshal's Mansion have prepared for summer and winter pastures.
Dry season pasture.
Everyone is always prepared to fight drought.
But as time goes by, this concept has actually faded compared to the beginning. Especially with this year's bumper harvest, people suddenly thought that the normal life that had left them had returned.
However, at this time, the joy of the harvest was gradually fading away, and people's minds were turned to be occupied by deeper doubts: In the winter of the sixth year of Chongzhen, there was no snow in Hehuang, not even hail.
The veterans in the Marshal's Mansion are mentally strong as iron, but they are all praying to God to drop a few snowflakes or even a few ice skates.
Because the sun was as hot as fire, the river stopped flowing, the livestock fell to death, and the terrible memory of thousands of miles of red land came back.
In the meeting hall in the west building of the Marshal's Mansion, the generals were sitting upright, not daring to show off their dignity. Even Cheng Yun was sitting there, looking a bit sad.
War is expected for people, but the possible drought is not a good sign for them.
Wang Chengen spread a map of the northwest on the table, pointed with a whip stick at the Zhuanglang River Valley from the east gate of the river mouth to the Gurang Gorge, and said: "Hexi is the territory that was previously taken over by General Li and General Li to the Yongdeng chieftain, and Hedong is controlled by the imperial court.
The Songshan Forts and this 300-mile-long river valley are a battleground for military strategists."
Liu Chengzong sat at the top and looked around at the expressions of the generals. Many of them were deep in thought. Cao Yao noticed his gaze and cautiously pursed his lips and raised his hands to make a five-character gesture.
Liu Chengzong nodded slowly. Cao Yao meant that it would take five days of marching to reach the dangerous Gulang Gorge through this river valley.
It is a good sign that people are lost in thought, which shows that people have seen something from this river valley and Wang Chengen's explanation.
Of course, there are some people who are not thoughtful, such as Xie Erhu, who said: "General, the Tunmu Right Brigade is asking for a fight. As long as the General gives the order, the three battalions from Changhexi, Yongxiebu, and Junggar will fight all the way and wipe them all out!"<
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The courage is commendable.
As soon as he finished speaking, He Huchen, who frowned, said: "Three battalions may not be able to defeat Zhuanglang Acropolis, not to mention the 60-step wide Gulangxia Mountain Road. Twenty generals can stop you."
An inch forward."
Yang Qi also smiled and said: "Xie Brigade Commander, please think twice. If we are blocked for five days, we will have to transport food later."
Wang Chengen didn't say anything, but intentionally or unintentionally used his whip stick to patrol the Songshan area in Hedong on the map. This valley has a Great Wall from south to north, called Songshan New Border. It was built to defend against Songlu and locked the Mongols in a wall.
Between the two side walls.
As long as the Marshal's Mansion transports grain to the north, the logistics supply line will be vulnerable to sneak attacks.
Xie Erhu cursed in his heart, these two bastards had seized the opportunity to retaliate against him.
He is good at plundering, and the plundering troops have no concept of supply lines, but it is different when it comes to capture. Sieges and sieges, especially the heavy army groups that the Marshal's Mansion can attack, all need supply routes.
He didn't know whether what Yang Qi and He Huchen said was right, but he had the ability to distinguish whether they were true or false.
Observing the words, none of the fierce direct line generals in the Marshal's Mansion spoke up, which shows that these two old guys are right, not to mention that Batur Hutaiji beside him also quietly tugged on his armor.
Xie Erhu has always been very persuasive. He stopped talking back and just said with a sullen face: "I, Xie Erhu, will fight whatever the commander-in-chief arranges!"
Batur Hutaiji wanted to help, but he knew about the supply line and could clearly see the dangers of this route. He turned to Liu Chengzong and asked: "Great Khan, this Hong Chengchou is very powerful...
I think we should think of a solution from Jiayuguan."
This time even Wang Chengen couldn't hold back his smile.
The Jiayuguan defense system consists of the Great Wall hanging up the Black Mountain on one side and the Tuolai River Grand Canyon with natural cliffs on the other. Since its establishment, it has never been breached for more than 200 years.
The vast yellow sand outside the pass and the long supply line made it impossible for the army to defend the fortified city for a long time. Maybe the defenders would have collapsed before they received the news of their arrival.
Liu Chengzong nodded to Batur Hutaiji and said, "This is an idea."
But it’s just an idea. Jiayuguan on the western front is indeed a better offensive direction than Gulangxia on the eastern front. However, the premise that the western front is better is that the eastern front is the key defense direction of the Gansu Ming Army. The eastern front is almost impossible to break.
.
The direction of Jiayuguan is just a little more possible than impossible.
A fortified city cannot be attacked by force. It is right to cooperate internally and externally and collapse internally, so Liu Chengzong is waiting for Wang Ziyong to speak.
Wang Ziyong didn't want to speak at first, but more and more people looked at him, so he had to bite the bullet and said: "Commander, there are many members of the Three Tribulations Association in Gansu. If there was still hope earlier,
."
Wang Ziyong shook his head and said: "But now Hong Chengchou has transferred guest troops, and the people in charge of the pass defense are Ningxia border troops. We have nothing to do. Now the Sanjie Association can only coordinate the army to create some chaos and seize the pass city... I'm afraid there is nothing we can do."
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Liu Chengzong nodded to express his understanding. Cao Yao, who had been silent until now, asked: "Commander, how about sending an elite army to cross the Qilian Mountains and attack Liangzhou, Ganzhou and Suzhou?"
"Attack Liangzhou and cut off the retreat of the Gulangxia army; attack Ganzhou and attract the troops from Gulangxia and Jiayuguan to return for reinforcements; attack Suzhou and cut off the food and grass supply for the Jiayuguan garrison."
Liu Chengzong nodded and looked at Chen Qindai, the magistrate of Haibei: "Qindai, are there any roads in the Qilian Mountains that can be passed?"
"Go back to Marshal, yes, yes."
This military meeting was a bit pessimistic, and Chen Qindai's answer was somewhat hesitant. He stood up, clasped his fists and saluted: "The officers and soldiers have blocked the passes. Even if the passes are breached, it will be difficult for the army to cross the mountains; there are still some small roads that can be used.
March, but don't allow the army to mobilize quickly."
"Secondly." Chen Qindai thought it was a trivial matter that the army could not be mobilized. He emphasized: "Our vehicles cannot pass, and it is difficult for horses, donkeys and mules to cross the mountain."
Cao Yao reluctantly hit his leg with his hand, which meant that the cannon could no longer be carried. Even heavy equipment such as a gun could not be carried. I am afraid that even heavy armor could not be carried.
In war, trained elites are indispensable. Without elite soldiers, no matter how good the equipment is, they are all made for the enemy; but without equipment, no matter how good the elite soldiers are, they will be easily killed by the enemy.
Without heavy equipment, they would have abandoned their own retreat by crossing the Qilian Mountains. Facing the Ming army with heavy equipment, they would probably be wiped out.
Liu Chengzong was not as discouraged as others, and just asked: "Brothers, do you have anything else to add?"
Seeing that people had already said everything they wanted to say, and looked at him with particularly guilty looks, this helpless situation really made people feel very helpless and incompetent.
Liu Shizi calmly recorded the key points that everyone said, and then smiled and comforted the generals: "It doesn't matter, all brothers have their own talents, and there will be no good strategy for a while. It is actually limited by the terrain. If you want to
It is so easy to get from Xining to Gansu, and brothers Huo Luochi don’t have to be stuck in Qinghai for a long time."
After that, he said seriously: "Since the military meeting failed for the time being, we will consider defeat before thinking about victory, and discuss our own internal affairs first. Next year in Hehuang will probably be a drought year, so don't worry, everyone. I think this severe drought will come
Very good, we had a good harvest after all."
He turned to look at his brother and asked: "Chengyun, if there is a drought in Hehuang and we fail to capture Gansu, how long can we last?"
This topic made Batur Huitai tremble, and he clasped his hands and prayed that Liu Chengyun would give a good answer.
After all, he already knew that this group of people was driven to Qinghai by the drought. Now that there is another drought in Qinghai, these vicious gangs may be driven to the Tianshan Mountains.
Now he is willing to surrender to Liu Shizi because he will still be the Lord of Tianshan Mountain when he returns, and he will be stronger than before. If Liu Shizi wants to become the Lord of Tianshan Mountain, then he will not be happy.
Fortunately, Chengyun was confident: "Hehuang can hold on as long as the commander wants."
"Second brother, don't worry. Even if his three governors guard Shaanxi and Gansu, Hehuang won't be able to trap you all." Liu Chengyun said: "Hehuang has a special terrain. I think there won't be a severe drought even if it doesn't rain next year."
He explained: "After the last rain in autumn, the rainwater accumulated on the mountains and condensed into the top of the mountain snow. When spring comes, even if it doesn't rain, the peach blossom season will come, and the fields can still be irrigated. Therefore, next year may not be a bumper harvest. It will be an average year."
."
Hearing this, Liu Chengzong grinned. Chengyun was unlike others. No matter what question he had, Liu Chengyun could always answer him with his personal experience among the people.
He asked: "In other words, we can last a whole year."
"At least a year." Chengyun said: "There is still plenty of civilian food. As long as there is no extravagance and waste, the commander-in-chief will ban alcohol, build waterwheels, and grow drought-resistant food. By this time next year, the military food may be a little tight.
, but nothing will happen to the people, and there will be no trouble."
"Then two years is enough time."
Liu Chengzong has always had the most pessimistic attitude towards drought. There is no drought trend in Hehuang, so he can still have a sense of luck. But now that there is a trend, it is difficult for him to imagine that the drought will stop soon.<
/p>
Even if it doesn't rain for three years, it's not an exaggeration in this era.
Liu Chengzong said to Chengyun: "For the sake of food, all industries in Hehuang have been ruined. We cannot let drought ruin the harvest in Hehuang."
What he said about all industries being ruined was not modest. Hehuang originally had the ability to support a large number of people who had left agriculture and invested in handicrafts and service industries.
On the premise that the land output has not changed significantly, the huge military population has occupied these quotas, not to mention that the taxes in Hehuang are very low.
This is not just a nominal tax, they buy half of the people's food income; there is also an indirect salt tax that is nearly ten times that of the Central Plains, especially the latter, which is a bad government wherever it is placed.
But Hehuang is good at treating ordinary people, and this is the only bad policy.
There are no tenants here, no poll tax, no land tax, and no apportionment. Not only can the people afford it, but they can also have enough food and clothing, and live like gods.
The destruction of all industries is a bad government for the generals and officials. Fortunately, the handicraft industry still has a government-run industrial bureau. In order to protect the lives of the people, Hehuang is a self-sufficient small-scale peasant economy.
The Marshal's Mansion is always dividing land, with old land here and new land there. The local township chiefs and security chiefs who came out of the army have their eyes gleaming when they see the landless people. They divide the land in the blink of an eye.
Livestock and household registration are a set of procedures.
That's not even called tying people to the ground, it's simply welding them to death.
Soldiers are the most competitive group. Even when they go to places, their attitude towards orders has not changed. The difference is just that military achievements turn into political achievements, how much land is reclaimed, how many canals are built, how many people are resettled, and how much food is brought. It is the same as in the past battlefields.
No matter how many heads are taken, it is the same.
In this case, the children of the common people have seven or eight acres of land per family, who is willing to serve others and become their grandchildren?
This causes paying players to lose this essential gaming experience for ordinary players.
For Liu Chengzong, this situation is difficult to last. To maintain this policy, he needs to pay a lot of hidden costs. People have needs. Only by suppressing the needs of some people can the desires of others be satisfied.
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The generals believe that suppressing the unscrupulous people who seize wealth can make everyone live better and satisfy their desires, so as to avoid internal collapse.
This is not a lie by Liu Chengzong. If they can unify the world and the people will live a relatively prosperous life, the high-ranking officials, good ministers and generals will naturally have a lot of enjoyment.
The price is that they cannot stop. If they stop, things will develop in a direction that Liu Chengzong does not want.
No one sells his children or maids, so where are there so many servants and maids?
"We can't be tight on military rations. We need to build waterwheels, but what if there's no water?" Liu Chengzong shook his head and said to Chengyun, "Let's build a few reservoirs in Hehuang."
Reservoir is the ancient name of reservoir, also called Potang. The more famous reservoir is Anfeng Pond, which was built under the leadership of Sun Shuao, Prime Minister of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period. It has the ability to divert, store and irrigate water, and can irrigate 100,000 acres of fields.
Liu Chengzong said to Chengyun: "There is a copy of Taixi Water Method in the book I took from Prince Han's Mansion. You can go back and have a look. There are also the few talented people from Lanzhou who have defected to your place. They have all been assigned to you. Carefully select the site and gather the five towns.
We will spend two years in autumn and winter to build several ponds."
"With these reservoirs, combined with other water conservancy and seed selection methods, we should be able to combat drought."
Chengyun stood up and clasped his fists to accept the order. He saw Liu Chengzong also stood up, patted him and said with a smile: "Those people may have some problems, but they are all scholars. The construction of water conservancy should not be a hindrance. With the accumulation of experience, we can control the Yellow River in the future."
The seas and rivers are all controlled by it, and man will conquer nature."
After saying that, Liu Chengzong held the table and said to everyone: "It's getting late. Since the military meeting has returned every result, brothers, go have a meal and rest first, and work together to think about it a few more times. There must be a way to deal with Hong Chengchou." p>
Everyone saw that he was not anxious, and felt a little relaxed in their hearts. They all stood up and left, but they heard him say: "Brother Ziyong, master craftsman will stay here for a while. I have something else to ask."
After everyone left, only Shi Chengwo and Wang Ziyong were left looking at each other, and then Liu Chengzong asked: "Brother Wang, if we raise mules, horses, soldiers, and armor, how much can the Three Tribulations raise on the Qilian Mountains?"
Wang Ziyong pondered for a moment and said: "A thousand war horses, a thousand armors, and three thousand camels. In addition to this, I should be able to get twenty or thirty pearls and small cannons, but the shells and gunpowder
…I’m afraid it’s only enough to fight one battle.”
Liu Chengzong asked again: "If the Ningxia army is mobilized and the army enters Gansu, can the Sanjie Society open the gates of Jiayuguan, Suzhou, Ganzhou and Liangzhou for me?"
As soon as Wang Ziyong heard this, he knew that Liu Chengzong was already thinking about the outcome of the military meeting, and he quickly clasped his fists and said: "If we can make those Ningxia troops leave the city gate of Gansu, the commander-in-chief will look at the methods of our Three Tribulations Association.
!"
"I understand."
Liu Chengzong nodded one after another, turned to look at Shi Chengwo, and said: "Master Shicheng, I need the arsenal to make me a weapon that weighs less than fifteen kilograms each and can send explosive shells one mile away. It can be used as a field artillery weapon."