The war lasted for almost half a year, and firearms had been basically popularized for military use in this era, so the damage to the Xuzhou area was particularly serious.
Of course, agriculture will be most affected.
After all, during the war, there were basically no conditions for farming.
Now that the Northern Qi army has basically completely withdrawn to Shandong, the top priority is to restore production and construction in the lost territory.
In the following period, Shen Yi first worked with Zhang Jian to restore the yamen system in Xuzhou, and at the same time focused on restoring production so as not to delay next year's spring plowing.
The reorganized Huai'an Army, under the leadership of the generals of the three armies, began to recover several states and counties that had been basically undefended after the Qi Army withdrew northward.
They are Yingzhou, Bozhou, Suzhou and Haizhou.
The defenders in these places have all withdrawn. Basically, they can be occupied immediately as soon as the soldiers arrive, without any difficulty.
In the blink of an eye, more than a month passed, and the time came to the end of Hongde's thirteenth year.
Mr. Shen had already put on his winter clothes and was drinking with Zhang Jian at the magistrate's office in Xuzhou... no, it should be said at the magistrate's yamen.
When Xuzhou was in the hands of the Northern Qi Dynasty, although it also had counties under its jurisdiction, it was only a state-level unit. After the liberation, the Jiankang court issued an edict stating that it was Xuzhou Prefecture, so the Zhizhou Yamen was transformed into the Zhifu Yamen.
In the back hall of the magistrate's office, two senior brothers sat across the table from each other. Zhang Fuzun smiled at Shen Yi and said: "Things are going very smoothly. Spring plowing in various states and counties has been arranged. We just have to wait until spring next year. sowing."
He looked at Shen Yi and said, "This is all thanks to your subordinate Xu Daguan, Zi Heng. All kinds of seeds can be delivered quickly, which is very timely."
Grain sowing is very particular. Generally, you need to carefully select some seeds with full grains from the previous year's grain, and then soak them in advance to be used as seeds for the new year.
Last year, there was turmoil near Xuzhou. Many local farmers fled and there was no time to save seeds. Fortunately, Xu Daguan now has great powers and quickly sent a large amount of seeds to Xuzhou.
Mr. Shen lowered his head and took a sip of wine and said, "Planting the seeds is only the first step. The key is to see if we can keep it next year."
Zhang Jian was startled and asked, "Haven't the Qi people already withdrawn to the north?"
"It's just a temporary retreat north."
He said calmly: "The new emperor of the Northern Qi Dynasty has some problems in taking the throne. Now he can't sleep well at night most of the time. He needs a large number of imperial guards to protect him."
"After the Northern Qi Dynasty changes to the Yuan Dynasty next year, he will have won over the people he should win over, and he will probably be able to sleep well."
Shen Yi raised his head and drank the strong wine in the cup. He picked up a piece of charcoal with a tong and threw it into the stove next to him. He was a little lost in thought as he watched the sparks splashing in the stove.
"At that time, the Qi people will definitely go south again, hoping to take back the Xuzhou states."
"If we win that battle, there will be no obstacles in Shandong Province. When the time comes, the front line will..."
Shen Yi smiled and said: "You can push it directly to the edge of the Yellow River."
Zhang Jian also drank a glass of wine, thought for a while, and asked, "Does Zi Heng feel confident?"
Shen Yi shook his head.
"I'm not sure about the fight against Xuzhou. Isn't it possible?"
"The strength of the Huai'an Army now is several times that of when we were in Huai'an Mansion. Although I am not 100% sure, I am not too worried."
Having said this, Shen Yi looked at the north, frowned and said, "I originally wanted to take advantage of the enemy's retreat to the north to see if I could capture Yanzhou."
"result…"
He sighed and said: "There are tens of thousands of defenders in Yanzhou now, and it is difficult to take them down. We have to wait until the Western Route Army moves north before considering Yanzhou."
When the West Route Army moves north, the strength of the Northern Expeditionary Army will immediately double. When the West Route Army attacks Henan, Shen Yi's difficulty in taking Shandong will suddenly decrease.
The reason why Shen Yi gave up attacking Yanzhou a year ago was because intelligence from the internal guards had been sent back one after another recently. The Qi army had completely switched from offense to defense and was preparing to defend Yanzhou to the death.
But now, firstly, the siege equipment is insufficient, and secondly, the military strength is not sufficient, so Shen Yi is ready to put the attack on Yanzhou on hold.
"Senior brother..."
Shen Yi put down the wine glass in his hand, looked at Zhang Jian, and said with a smile: "I'm going back to Jiankang in a few days."
Zhang Jian nodded first, and then asked: "Are you homesick? Or is your Majesty summoning you?"
"Both."
Shen Yi said softly: "Your Majesty's edict calling me back has arrived for three days, but these few days..."
He rubbed his head and said: "After the reorganization, the Huai'an Army is not as smooth as before. Many thorns have popped up, some of which I have to deal with personally..."
"So it was delayed for a few days."
He looked at Zhang Jian and asked: "Senior brother, are you going back to Jiankang? I will take you back with me."
Zhang Jian shook his head and said with a smile: "My family members have all gone back to Yuqian. Even if I go home, I still go back to Yuqian. Why do I go back to Jiankang?"
"It's you, Ziheng."
Zhang Jian thought thoughtfully: "I will go back to Jiankang at this time..."
"It's okay."
Mr. Shen smiled and said: "There are people in the north who are always watching, and the information will be sent to me. As for the Huai'an army..."
"Su Ding and Ling Su are both very stable and nothing will happen to them."
When Zhang Jian heard this, he couldn't help but laugh: "From what Zi Heng said, General Xue is not very stable?"
"He can't be too steady."
Shen Yi smiled and said: "The vanguard army must have the courage to fight and fight hard, otherwise it cannot be called a vanguard."
"That makes sense."
After taking a sip of wine, he said: "Xuzhou has many specialties, including cakes. I will prepare some in the past few days. When Ziheng returns to Jiankang, he will bring them to my mentor."
Zhang Fuzun sighed and said, "In the blink of an eye, I haven't seen my mentor for more than two years. I don't know if his grace is still the same."
Hearing him mention Zhao Changping, Shen Yi thought for a while and said with a smile: "When I go back this year, I will bring my second brother with me. When my uncle meets his second brother, he will look several years younger."
Zhang Jian smiled hoarsely: "You take my deputy away. Master is still young. I'm afraid I will be several years older."
"Senior brother, don't panic. After the New Year, I will bring you back some more county magistrates."
Mr. Shen joked: "It's just that we can't bring people from our academy here again, otherwise the government and the public will say that our Ganquan Academy has formed a clique."
"Speaking of the academy."
Zhang Jian looked at Shen Yi and said, "My mentor wrote in a letter saying that His Majesty wants Uncle Lu to become an official or run a school in Jiankang. Does Zi Heng know about this?"
"Know."
Shen Yi said softly: "That's why I went back to Jiankang at this moment. My father-in-law..."
"I should have arrived in Jiankang by now. I'm celebrating the New Year at my house this year. I'll go back..."
"Discuss it with him."
Zhang Jian nodded.
"It seems that Ziheng should indeed go back."
"Don't worry, I'm in charge of political affairs here in Xuzhou, so there won't be any big trouble."
Shen Yi took out a waist badge engraved with the Chinese character Shen from his arms, placed it in front of Zhang Jian, and said, "Brother, this is my badge."
"If something happens, you hold this sign..."
"Go find Su Ding."
Zhang Jian picked up the sign, looked at it, and said with a smile: "Could this sign be used to mobilize troops?"
This is a bit taboo.
Because troop dispatching is a major matter for the country and is not something to be joked about. Generally, only the emperor's brand can mobilize troops, and even the emperor's brand is not easy to mobilize troops.
Mr. Shen smiled bitterly and said, "Senior brother, please don't joke."
"Just let him cooperate with senior brother in doing things."
Zhang Jian accepted the sign and smiled.
"Now Ziheng is acting more and more like a feudal official."
………………
A few days later, after Shen Yi finished handling the affairs of the Huai'an army, he set off back to Jiankang.
It was already the twelfth lunar month.
He rode horses all the way and traveled a distance of more than 600 miles for about four days. On the fifth day, he finally arrived in Jiankang.
At the gate of Jiankang City, His Majesty the Emperor personally came to greet him.
Shen Yi dismounted and kowtowed to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, Shen Yi, would like to pay homage to your Majesty."
"I have lived up to my holy hope. Now Xuzhou, Yingzhou, Bozhou, Suzhou, Haizhou and other states have been restored."
Mr. Shen lowered his head and his voice was deep and sonorous.
"Dachennan is under direct control of the whole province and has been restored!"
