During the autumn ripening season in Jiangning, the rice ears along the coast of Jiangxi are also golden, waiting for a good harvest. However, among the rice fields, the sparse wasteland and wasteland are like bald spots on a leopard's head, which is very dazzling.
The surrounding counties of Jiangning and the plains along Poyang Lake ended the war at about the same time and began to resume production.
Jiangning, Yijiang, and Huizhou counties, in addition to tax exemptions, also invested more than 1.5 million taels of silver after the war in the form of work-for-relief to help refugees return to their hometowns and restore local production.
Survive the famine.
The Privy Council also set up large-scale quarrying mines in Lishui, Liyang and other places, opened rivers and canals, dug mountains and built roads, absorbing a lot of labor. More importantly, a large amount of rice grains were imported from Huaidong to help flood victims overcome the famine.
At that time, the import of a large number of iron tools and the construction of river canals and embankments also promoted the restoration of farming.
Therefore, the overall situation in Jiangning stabilized after the summer began. After the autumn began, the rice ears in the fields were as golden as can be seen, which made people see the dawn of rejuvenation - the rapid recuperation and recuperation was astonishing to the world.
Surrounded by the cavalry, She Fei Xiong galloped up to the Guanshan Ridge in Sili, overlooking the undulating mountains and fields in the lower reaches of the Xinjiang River.
There are two main passages for heading west from western Zhejiang: one is Wujiang, heading west from Wuyuan; the other is Xinjiang, heading west from Xijiangshan County, Quzhou. Among them, Wujiang Road is dangerous, with many dangerous passes along the way; while Xinjiang Road is relatively spacious, starting from
In the northwest of Zhejiang, there is the Yushan River that flows southward and merges into the Xinjiang River. Quzhou in the east is the core area of the valley in central Zhejiang and is the main road from western Zhejiang to Jiangxi.
Shangrao, located in the upper reaches of Xinjiang River, is the real gateway to eastern Jiangxi.
There is a tight confrontation between the two armies at the two passages of Wujiang and Xinjiang. Between Wujiang and Xinjiang, as well as north from Wujiang to the south of the Yangtze River, Huaiyu Mountain, Yishan Mountain, and Jiuzishan Mountain have high mountains and dangerous valleys, forming the two counties of Jiangxi and Jiangdong.
natural barrier.
But no matter how dangerous the mountain is, if the scouts can pass through secretly, there won't be any big problem.
She Feixiong is also well aware of the agricultural recovery situation outside Jiangning.
It was originally thought that the plundering of Jiangning City and surrounding counties would make it difficult for Huaidong to stabilize the situation and start another large-scale war in at least two or three years. Who would have thought that Huaidong would annihilate Jianghuai in less than a year?
Is the situation straightened out?
Huaidong Bank borrowed five million taels of silver from the Jiangning government office and the household department twice, which was the key to the rapid stabilization of the situation in Jianghuai. Although the She family robbed Jiangning, the amount of gold and silver they obtained was not a small amount, but
Jiangxi is lacking in supplies and is not as good as Jiangning and other places that can import large quantities of grain, salt, iron horses, etc. from Huaidong.
In the early years, Li Zhuo led the East Fujian Army to fight fiercely in northern Fujian. In order to support the war, Jiangxi's financial resources were almost exhausted. Coupled with the natural and man-made disasters in the later period, Jiangxi never recovered. When the She family raised troops and horses,
After entering Jiangxi, war broke out all over Jiangxi, and Jiangxi's supplies were even more scarce.
After successfully capturing Jiangzhou at the beginning of the year, the She family had complete control of the Poyang Lake Plain.
However, as the She family's soldiers and horses retreated to Jiangxi territory, the She family, in addition to resuming farming, was more urgent to stabilize the outer defense line and raise enough food and grass to support hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses.
Without the ability to import grain from the outside, we can only compete with the people for food. For the Poyang Lake Plain, which was devastated by the war, we are doubly exploiting and extorting rather than investing a large amount of materials for relief.
After spring, famine broke out along the Poyang Lake, and tens of thousands of people died of starvation. The restoration of farming in the Poyang Lake plain was very unsatisfactory. Troubles broke out in various places. In the past year, She Fei Xiong also raised elite soldiers and horses everywhere.
There is no day to rest in extinguishing the chaos. This time, the troops are sent eastward to reinforce Shangrao. She Feixiong is also deeply tired and does not know when he can reverse his disadvantage.
The She family cannot invest a lot of materials to help the local area, but have to rely on the local area to recover on its own. It will take four or five years at least to recover from this, but Huaidong will not give them so much time. After autumn, Huaidong
A large amount of supplies were organized, and troops and horses were gathered at the border of Zhejiang and Jiangxi. The drums of war gradually became louder and the smoke of war gradually rose.
"Young Marshal, the front army has passed Hengfeng. Should we rush to Shangrao first?"
Several riders galloped down the mountain, and the captain at the head strode up to She Feixiong to report.
"There's no need to be in such a hurry, the Huaidong Chongcheng Army is not moving that fast!" She Feixiong said.
The soldiers and horses from Huaidong are to be concentrated in Jiangshan County in the west of Quzhou. The most spacious route is to take the Qianjiang River, from Lanxi River, through Lanxi County and into Quzhou in a big circle - although this route is tortuous and has to make a big circle,
There are many waterways along the way, and the terrain is spacious. Take the Yushan River directly into Jiangshan County. There is a dangerous mountain road from Wuyuan to the upper reaches of the Yushan River, which will limit the number and speed of Huaidong soldiers and horses.
These two routes determine that Huaidong troops and horses cannot quickly concentrate on the front of Shangrao, and the war may not really start until mid-to-late November.
Rather than worrying that Shangrao would give Huaidong troops a breakthrough, She Feixiong was more worried that the war in Shangrao would last too long.
Standing on Guanshan Ridge, you can see the Xinjiang River in the distance. The water dries up after autumn. The Xinjiang River is thin and narrow, shining with sparkling waves, like a silver light belt embedded in the mountains and fields.
The skinny river surface was full of ships carrying supplies to aid Shangrao. A large number of civilians were forced to come over. They were barefoot in the increasingly cold river beach and wetlands, with thick hemp ropes deeply cut into their flesh, pulling the sunken grain ships.
Follow the river upstream.
On the post road on the north bank of the river, there are all soldiers and horses traveling eastward. Their scales reflect the warm sunshine of late autumn, allowing people to see the final majesty of the elites of the Eighth Fujian Province.
Including Mingkou and Baizhou villages guarding the Wujiang River in the north, Shejia is located in the southeast of Poyang Lake, with Shangrao as the center, deploying more than 50,000 troops to guard the gateway to Jiangxi, keeping Huaidong soldiers and horses out of Jiangxi, and
Protect the passage between southern Jiangxi and northern Fujian and prevent it from being cut off by Huaidong.
Fifty thousand garrison soldiers, plus the civilian men and mules and horses requisitioned by the army, the monthly consumption of food and grass will reach as high as 50,000 to 60,000 dan, plus the expenses of building forts and building war equipment, etc., which puts pressure on the She family.
It will get better day by day.
In addition, the pressure faced by Jiangzhou will not be weaker than that on the eastern front. Hu Wenmu of Jinghu has been transferred eastward one after another, and the number of troops concentrated in Ezhou and other places has exceeded 40,000; and Yue Lengqiu of Chizhou is not a fuel-efficient lamp.
He led 50,000 soldiers and horses to expand westward along the southern foot of Huaishan Mountain.
When the She family's soldiers and horses are restrained to Shangrao and Jiangzhou, their control over the inner side of the Poyang Lake plain and both sides of the Gan River will inevitably weaken. The remaining forces of the Pan family have not yet been completely wiped out, hiding in the deep mountains and old forests of the upper reaches of the Gan River.
Waiting for a counterattack at any time. It is difficult to guess what the local forces who have surrendered on the surface are hiding in their hearts. Once the She family's troops on the inside are reduced, there is no guarantee that they will not make any changes.
She Feixiong feels as if he is on a dangerous ship with leaky walls. At present, he can only hope that this ship can last longer. Only when Beiyan defeats the Cao family and captures Guanshan can the situation in Jiangxi be completely relieved.
.
By that time, Nanyang and Huaixi are in danger, and Suizhou may surrender to the Northern Yan at any time. The main force of Huaidong's troops can only be forced to go north to defend the Northern Yan and ensure that the hinterland of Huaidong is not attacked by the Northern Yan's cavalry.
She Feixiong is not the kind of person who puts his hopes on others. Even if they expect Beiyan to attract the main force of Huaidong's troops, they still have to survive Huaidong's offensive first.
Shefei Xiong was thinking wildly and stood on the top of Guanshan Mountain again, watching the marching team. Then he and his followers took a side road to catch up with the front army. They entered Shangrao before the Chinese army and arranged for them to die in battle.
thing.
*************
Huichang and Changting in the southeast of Ganzhou are at the intersection of Wuyi Mountain and Nanling. The mountains and ravines are connected, and the peaks and roads are dangerous. However, there are many cottages scattered among the mountains, and there are walking traders who use mules and horses instead of feet.
In the mountains, I make a living by making a small profit.
At the beginning of winter, it rained lightly. A caravan consisting of a dozen men, young and old, and six mules and horses rushed to Lifangliao at the northwest foot of Zhupo Mountain in Huichang County to seek shelter from the rain and sell various goods.
The cottage is isolated, and most of the people who come into contact with the outside world rely on traveling vendors here. The villagers in Lifangliao, regardless of the rain, gathered downstairs in the cottage to select suitable items.
There has been a war and chaos these days, and no traveling merchants have come here for a long time. Even Li Houjun, the owner of Lijialiao, personally walked out of the big house to join in the fun.
Li Houjun is in his fifties, has a thin and narrow face, and is one of the few scholars in Sixiangbali. Although he has not passed the imperial examination, with the ancestral legacy left by his ancestors, Li Houjun is also one of the few people in Sixiangbali.
The caravan passed through the border and was accompanied by two long attendants, and walked to the square building.
The goods spread out by the caravan on the oilcloth include rouge and gouache for girls and young wives, oil, salt, soy and vinegar for daily household use, and sharpening stones, knives, and irons. It’s just that this caravan merchant has a very ugly face, and he doesn’t often walk here before.
A business trip along the way.
Listening to the elderly vendor squatting in front of the stall selling goods to the villagers, Li Houjun lifted up the skirt of his robe, squatted in front of the stall, picked up a pile of porcelain bowls on the oilcloth, and asked: "Listen to the accent, do you live in Longnan?"
"I have sharp ears. I live in a small village between Longnan and Dingnan, and I walk around to make a living." The vendor frowned with a smile and pointed at the porcelain bowl in Li Houjun's hand. "My ears are sharp and my eyes are sharp."
, This porcelain bowl is a good product from Yongshan Kiln. This pile of bowls is the only one in this batch. Each pile will cost you eight taels of silver..."
"Ha, bite your hand!" Li Houjun put down the porcelain bowl with a smile, and asked, "Since I can come from Yongshan, I should also know the situation over there in Jiangzhou. I said that this war is in chaos. When did it happen?
Head?"
"Hurry up, hurry up, otherwise the young people won't dare to go out and ask for a living." The vendor responded casually.
"Is there any salt or iron?" Li Houjun asked.
"Aren't they all here?"
"Are there more?" Li Houjun asked.
"Oh, salt and iron are not easy to come by. The officials only allow this. If you exceed the amount, you will be decapitated," the vendor said calmly, "Besides, there is a shortage of salt everywhere in the mountains. What do you want iron for?"
"The farm tools in the village have not been replaced for many years. They are too damaged and will affect next year's farming. I put out these kitchen knives, but they are of no use!" Li Houjun stood up with his knees and said, "You are traveling all over the world.
It is not easy to make a living. Everyone who comes here is a guest, and they come to the house for a good meal at noon. It is a thank you from the Li family for remembering this place..."
"Thank you sir for the meal..." More than a dozen young and old men expressed their thanks together.
*********************
The villagers watched a lot, but few could afford to buy anything. After a while, most of the people dispersed. Li Houjun sent the housekeeper over to invite these traveling merchants to have a meal in the house, and to take over all the remaining goods.
It's just that this housekeeper is strong, with calluses on his hands and thick knuckles. He doesn't look like a steward of a wealthy family at all. He also has a knife on his waist, and looks more like a general fighting on the battlefield; several Orions look like him.
people are walking around.
Lifangliao was originally a village, so it is not surprising that there were many hunters.
Dozens of foot merchants ate in the side courtyard calmly, not daring to be stared at by people who looked like hunters. Although it was just a simple meal, they were all given an extra piece of bacon. Everyone was thankful. The leader of the foot merchants was a middle-aged man.
His face looked mature and weather-beaten. He must go to Li Houjun to thank him, so he followed the housekeeper to the main courtyard.
"The master wants salt and iron. I don't have any in my hands right now. I only have a few protective weapons. If the master doesn't mind, I'll make a price," the leader said. "Go back to Huichang City and report to the officials."
Just make a mistake and buy a few knives at a big price..."
"I need iron materials to repair pots and pans, so what do I need your knife for?" Li Houjun became alert.
"When I was passing Huangbai Mountain a few days ago, I heard Master Chen Jiashu from Chenjiawa say that the young master of the domain was in Zhupo Mountain. I thought you were buying salt and iron on behalf of the young master of the domain!" The leader piled up with a harmless look on his face.
Laugh, as if you were talking about something insignificant.
Li Houjun was so frightened that his hands and feet were cold, but the butler beside him was calm. He pulled out the saber from his waist, put it to the leader's waist, and said in a low voice: "Who are you?"
"The people from Chenjiawa introduced us to look for the young master here. We left the thousand taels of silver reward in Ganzhou City and went into this deep mountain and old forest. Colonel Chen, who do you think he is?" the leader?
He didn't pay much attention to the knife at his waist. He turned his head and looked at the housekeeper and asked.