Before the soldiers and horses move, food and fodder go first, and the last thing to fight in a battle is logistics.
Sun Lu arrived, and Long Chen began to talk about spring plowing.
"The two cities of Xianhe and Wushun are surrounded by rice-producing areas in Nanliang. Spring plowing has been completed. When the summer grain harvest is harvested, our army's food and grass will be guaranteed."
Sun Lu nodded slightly. He also asked about the situation on the way and knew these things.
Long Chen continued: "The big problem now is that there are not enough manpower. The people around us have been captured and the rest have been scared away."
"The fields are there, but there are no people to work them."
Sun Lu said: "I have also discovered this problem along the way. What good strategy does King Wu have?"
Long Chen said: "I have posted notices everywhere, strictly instructing soldiers not to disturb the people, and now the people are a little more at ease."
"What I want is to publish the announcement again, and at the same time select some agricultural officials to go everywhere and tell the people around me that all the people who farm the land will not collect rent this year, and they will also be exempted from all corvee labor."
What the common people fear most is taxation and corvee. If you farm the land without collecting rent, and you can be exempted from the corvee, the common people will definitely cultivate the land.
After listening to Long Chen's words, the empress and Sun Lu frowned at the same time.
Sun Lu said: "I know King Wu has always cared about the people, but if we farm the land without collecting rent, where will our army's food come from?"
The wool comes from the sheep, and all the court's income comes from the people. If Long Chen doesn't collect rent, the court will have no income.
Long Chen said: "Master Sun is right, but he is wrong."
“The problem now is that people don’t cultivate land, so they can’t buy it if they have money.”
"We don't charge rent, we just buy it with money. We are not short of money. As long as the people are willing to sell food, we will have military rations."
Sun Lu was stunned for a while, and then said: "Yes, King Wu is right, as long as there is food, we can buy it."
The empress thought about it carefully and felt that Long Chen's words made sense. If the people did not cultivate the land and had no food, where would they collect military rations?
"We don't collect rent, and we also exempt ourselves from corvee labor. If this news spreads, people who have left their hometowns will definitely return home."
The empress agreed with Long Chen's idea.
Long Chen said: "Not only do we not collect rent, we also distribute seeds to them."
"We said we would not collect rent and exempt ourselves from corvee labor. These were empty promises, but we were afraid they would not believe them."
"We send them seeds, and everyone can see it and believe it."
The time for spring plowing is tight, and if people doubt it, they will miss the time.
Therefore, I will first distribute the seeds to everyone to win the trust of the people.
Sun Lu nodded and said: "I understand, I will remember it."
The empress said: "Master Sun, have a good rest today, and we will start tomorrow."
Sun Lu stood up and worshiped: "Wei Chen accepts the order, Wei Chen retires."
Sun Lu exited the meeting hall, leaving only the empress and Long Chen.
Long Chen immediately stood up and bowed: "Wei Chen, please retire."
Yingfeng has been avoiding it intentionally or unintentionally recently, leaving Long Chen and the Empress alone. I don't know if it was the Empress's instigation.
Long Chen left, and the empress snorted coldly, got up and went back to her room.
In the next few days, Long Chen stood still and Guitai was stationed in Linhu City. Li Chengdao was responsible for dispatching troops and generals. Qingren County sent an additional 300,000 troops into the city, bringing the number of troops to 500,000.
...
Jinling City.
As night fell, Ji Zhang's black shadow crossed the city wall and entered the city.
There are no masters in Jinling City now, and it is difficult to find even masters with kingly cultivation. They are just ordinary soldiers to maintain order.
Ji Zhang felt like he was in a deserted place here, he could enter whenever he wanted and leave whenever he wanted.
Stepping on the ridge of the roof, Ji Zhang returned to a house, and Hong Qi came out to greet him.
"What's the situation in the city now?"
Ji Zhang sat down and Hong Qi poured a cup of tea and said, "Everyone has left. Three days ago, Guitai took Li Chengdao, Xuan Jizi, Yu Fuguo, Yan Xi, and Wu Hongying to Linhu City."
"Long Chen's army has arrived at Xianhe City, and the two sides may have already fought."
Ji Zhang listened quietly, and Hong Qi continued: "There is another strange thing recently. The world seems to be lively again, and some masters have appeared in Jinling City."
Ji Zhang said a little strangely: "Aren't most of the masters in the world dead?"
When snatching the Holy Blood Order, many masters died.
The ghost kidnapped more people and sent them to Longxing Valley, and another batch died.
The remaining Jianghu people sneaked into the Eastern Zhou Dynasty to save their lives. There should be no martial arts masters in Nanliang.
Hong Qi said: "My subordinates also find it strange and are still investigating. They seem to have gathered together for a purpose."
Ji Zhang felt more and more strange and said: "In this current situation, the one who has the ability to bring them together is the ghost."
"Could it be that... these people are all evil forces? Just like Shen Wanjin?"
Hong Qi was unsure and said: "It's not clear yet."
Ji Zhang felt that this matter was strange and said, "You must find out about this matter. I think it will be of great use!"
Hong Qi replied: "My subordinates will definitely investigate thoroughly."
Ji Zhang drank half a cup of tea and asked, "Is there any other unusual movement in the city?"
Hong Qi thought for a while and said: "King Wu'an has been contacting the royal family recently and may be preparing to start an uprising."
Ji Zhang laughed when he heard this and said: "If you don't have a single soldier in your hand, what can you do?"
"Even if we give him troops and horses, are they a match for Gui Fei?"
Hong Qi echoed: "My subordinates think so too."
Ji Zhang said: "The ghosts are confronting Long Chen in Linhu City. The rear is empty. You seize the opportunity to expand your power."
"Especially for the various Tangs in the past, if you take over secretly, things can be done faster and they won't have time to take care of it."
After Long Chen destroyed Fuyuan Tower, Wu Yue and Zuo Si took refuge with Li Chengdao, and the Tianxiahui industry was controlled by the Imperial City Division.
Now that Li Chengdao and the Imperial City Secretary are no longer alive, Ji Zhang wants to take the opportunity to get them all back.
Hong Qi immediately said: "My subordinates know."
Ji Zhang said: "Prepare things for me, I will go to Linhu City tomorrow."
Hong Qi immediately went down to prepare.
...
Linhu City.
It was drizzling in the sky, and a boat was floating on the lake. The ghost was wearing a raincoat and holding a fishing rod, fishing quietly.
Tatsuno was guarding him with a knife, followed by four followers.
Yu Fuguo took a speedboat and rowed over quickly.
After getting on the boat, Yu Fuguo knelt on the boat and reported: "We have found out the situation in Xianhe City clearly."
The fishing rod moved, and Yu Fuguo immediately said: "Long Chen and the Empress are here, and the generals under them are Wu Jian, Gan Zhen, Han Ziping, Ye Chang, and Tang Heizi."
"There are 200,000 troops from the Long family in the city, 100,000 soldiers from the Empress, and 100,000 troops from Linjiang City, totaling 400,000. They are all elite."
"Long Chen also brought Sinong Qing here and is recruiting the people around him to farm. It seems that he plans to have a protracted confrontation."
The buoy on the water surface moved, Guite lifted up the fishing rod, but there was nothing on the hook.
"Persistence lasts forever, then perseverance lasts forever."
Guite didn't care at all, Tatsuno re-baited the fishhook and continued fishing.
Yu Fuguo did not dare to say more.
In fact, Nanliang's military rations were also very tight.
Nanliang has been preparing for many years. The household department has good food, but they have too many troops and consume a lot of money every day.
If we continue to confront each other for a long time, I'm afraid it won't be good.
"Let Li Chengdao learn from Long Chen and plant the surrounding fields. I will do whatever they do."
Yu Fuguo immediately bowed and said, "This slave accepts the order."
Returning to the Clippers, Yufuguo immediately returned to the city.
Li Chengdao was inspecting the city, and Yu Fuguo walked over and said, "Your Majesty, the Holy Son has ordered us to plant the surrounding fields so as not to miss the spring plowing." Bayi Chinese website
Li Chengdao turned around with cold eyes, and Yu Fuguo took a step back in fright.
