The Beginning of Summer has just passed, the beauty of April in the world is gone, and it is gradually beginning to look like summer. Slowly, the wind has become dryer, and the sunshine is no longer so gentle.
On this day, under the scorching sun, a huge motorcade set off from Jiangling City and meandered northward along the avenue. It was the honor guard of the county governor Teng "Xingxian".
First, two military chariots opened the way. Both the left and right chariots were fully armed, either holding halberds or carrying bows and arrows. Even the driver of the chariot had a long sword on his back and a crossbow in his hand.
Then there were two official cars guiding the way, both with white covers, and each seated a soldier and a petty official.
Then came the governor's Gaodaxuan car. The cover was black, and the barriers on both sides of the car were painted red. It was pulled by red horses. The figure of the governor Teng was hidden in the curtain. But he saw him.
The crown is dignified, wearing a black robe, a black crown, a long sword, and a green ribbon with a silver seal. The carriage is guarded by officers and soldiers holding halberds at the front, back, and left.
After the governor's chariot, there were more than a dozen chariots carrying officials of all sizes, dozens of cavalry, and hundreds of soldiers accompanying them. It can be said that the sun is covered by the trains, and the roads are full of chariots! There are also drum chariots beating drums and playing sheng and Xiao.
, so that pedestrians along the way could hear it from a distance, so they would stay aside on both sides, and even watch from far away on the ridge of the fields, all with eyes full of admiration and envy.
"These days, a provincial leader can be so impressive when traveling."
Heifu's carriage was also in the convoy, and he was complaining. He also knew that this was because the laws of the Qin State were very strict. Just like the army used different styles of buns, crowns, and belts to match the titles, in counties and counties, different styles were used.
People with official positions must also ride in cars that match their status, otherwise it will be disrespectful to official officials.
Therefore, as a local official, don’t even think about traveling alone in plain clothes. You may be accused of “undermining the national code” by the censor arranged by the King of Qin as soon as you go out...
Hei Fu was reluctant to force the governor to go out. He wanted to help Li You train his troops in Ying County. The autumn harvest war was getting closer, and Hei Fu also understood that no matter how much he did, he would not be able to do anything until the war started.
At this time, the soldiers and confidants in your hands are the greatest reliance on your survival and meritorious service.
It's a pity that God failed to fulfill his wish. Since he could not escape, before setting off, Heifu also talked with Bing Cao, You Bing Cao Shi and other county officials to understand what "xingxian" was and what he needed to do.
It turns out that traveling to the county is a tradition that has been passed down from the Zhou Dynasty. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period of the Western Zhou Dynasty, in April, "The emperor ordered the wild men to go out to the fields to work for the emperor and persuade the people. If they did not miss the time, he ordered the Situ to patrol the county."
, ordered the farmers to work hard and never rested in the capital." The etiquette system.
In the Warring States Period, the princes began to implement the county system, so there were princes and ministers traveling to the county. Most of them had a clear purpose. For example, King Wuling of Zhao traveled to the county in the state of Zhao. It seemed that he was traveling east and west, but in fact it was to promote horsemanship and archery in Hufu.
Wei Ran, the Marquis of the Prime Minister of Qin, went to Dongfangxing County to see Taoqiu, a feudal city that he had secretly obtained for himself under the guise of Gongji. On the way, he encountered Fan Ju who had sneaked into Hangu Pass. If Fan Ju hadn't been clever, he would have almost been caught...
The purpose of County Governor Teng's visit to the county this time is also very clear. The first is to go to local areas to persuade farmers, which is to pay attention to agricultural affairs. The second is to supervise the county magistrates and warn the Hao family to abide by the law.
It is supervision, with a judicial significance. At the same time, it is also necessary to urge the counties to prepare for the large-scale military recruitment during the slack season, and to check military registration. This is why Heifu, the soldier, Cao Zuoshi, accompanied him.
The first stop they arrived at was Zhijiang County, which is located more than a hundred miles northwest of Jiangling City. I heard that the magistrate of this county was promoted by the county magistrate Teng from the subordinates around him.
When he went to the county, he led everyone to meet him ten miles outside the city early.
Zhijiang County was originally the territory of a small vassal state "Luo State". Later Luo State was annexed by Chu State and it became Chu County. After Qin State occupied Jianghan, it was renamed Zhijiang because the Yangtze River branched here.
River.
The hydrological conditions of the Yangtze River in those days were different from those in later generations. The river flowed from the east of Shu into the territory of Nanjun, exited the Three Gorges, and reached the Zhijiang River. Blocked by the local sediment, it was divided into various continents. There were actually dozens of waterways. It is said that it reaches all the way to the west of Jiangling.
Jiangjin Pavilion was reunited into one.
Heifu also saw this strange scene on the shore and asked the soap-clothed clerk who came to greet them: "How many small islands are there in the river?"
The clerk smiled and replied: "There are indeed people who have been bored and counted. There are ninety-nine continents at most, but they have never reached a hundred... Therefore, there is a local proverb that if the continents are less than a hundred, the king will not come out!"
…
This little official spoke indiscriminately, and the Zhijiang County Lieutenant on the side suddenly scolded with a straight face: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Then he quickly apologized to Heifu. Although Heifu's rank was equal to that of a county lieutenant, he was a county official, which was half a rank higher. In addition, he had to inspect the recruitment situation in Zhijiang County on behalf of the county guard. How could a county lieutenant dare?
Disrespectful?
Driven by the vigorous and resolute style of the county governor Teng, on the first day of his stay in Zhijiang County, Heifu took two soldiers, Cao Shuzuo, to check the local military registration and the prepared recruitment plan overnight.
The population of Zhijiang County is only 30,000, and the population is only 5,000. Starting from next month, a thousand people will be recruited to leave farming and focus on military training. This will have a great impact on the local economy, so the key points of each township must be transferred.
The number of people to be recruited has been distributed. According to the "Garrison Law", "cohabitation is not allowed at the same time", and it is never allowed to have a father and son or two brothers living together in the same family to be recruited at the same time.
While flipping through the slips with detailed records, Heifu thought to himself: "In the original history, Heifu and Jing probably lived separately, and because of the feud between their family and the local officials, they were tricked.
He took advantage of a loophole in the law and was recruited together to participate in this war."
Things tend to harm their own kind, so when traveling to the county, Heifu's duty is to urge the county lieutenant's office to recruit troops in accordance with the law to prevent similar situations from happening!
So after Heifu read the slips overnight, he held a meeting with everyone in the County Lieutenant's Office in a righteous manner. The general content was similar to the "Notice on Earnestly Doing the Recruitment Work for this Year" in his previous life.
Guided by the Qin army’s spirit of “the king raises his troops and repairs his weapons and spears,” and the king’s important instructions last year of “making an appointment with King Jing, sending troops to kill him,” and based on the conscription clauses "Garrison Law" in the Qin Code, we will resolutely implement
Higher-level recruitment orders adhere to quality as the core, strengthen organizational leadership, strictly organize implementation, and pay close attention to work implementation to ensure the successful completion of this summer's recruitment tasks...
That's right, unlike the last time he attacked Chu and rushed to recruit troops, this time the King of Qin paid more attention to the quality of his soldiers!
"Those who are poor in Lu Zuo can be used to transport grain and fodder, but they cannot be used as regular soldiers in the array."
The reason is very simple, as Mencius said, those who have permanent property have perseverance, and those who do not have perseverance! No matter which dynasty or generation, the "good family" of the middle class are the elite main force of the army.
Just like in later generations, recruitment also requires a clear political history, immediate family members have not joined illegal organizations, abide by the law, have good moral character, and do not commit theft, fighting or other illegal activities.
Maybe these good family members are not as good as evil boys in fighting alone. Once they join the army and undergo several months of training, they can defeat a team of evil boys.
In addition, this time the conscription will "go to the rich first", and only "go to the poor" when the number is insufficient or when the busy farming season is over. This is to ensure that each family's agricultural farming proceeds normally, and this can also reduce civil complaints.
After finalizing the objects and scope of the collection, the next step is the time arrangement and steps.
"The troops were recruited in early May, with three months of training. In May, they were divided into ranks; in June, they learned the golden drums and became familiar with the flag; in July, they opened their arsenals, taught them weapons, and formally practiced the art of fighting against the enemy! August
After the autumn harvest, soldiers from each county, led by the county captain, gathered in Yancheng, and the county captain presided over a large-scale training of ten thousand people!"
Everyone promised that there is a strict system in place, and under the supervision of the county guards and soldiers, each county can do its best to implement it.
Although the battle has not started yet, Heifu feels that when the King of Qin and the entire Qin State become serious and face the enemy, from the beginning of the conscription, half of the battle has been won...
"Therefore it is said: Soldiers are better than the imperial court. The one who wins without using his armor is the master of victory; the one who wins with array is the general."
Thinking of this sentence, Hei Fu couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If the King of Qin had not been so contemptuous of his opponents last year, so impatient, and listened to Wang Jianzhi's advice earlier, so many people would not have died in a foreign country.
After doing all this, it was noon on the second day. Heifu's mission in Zhijiang County had been completed. He was about to yawn and go to catch up on his sleep. Unexpectedly, the county magistrate Shi Shi came to him and said that the magistrate was going to the countryside.
Zhong inspected the crops and asked Heifu to follow him.
"Jiangsu, I am a military official. I am in charge of military affairs. Farming in the countryside has nothing to do with me. If I am allowed to go with the county superintendent, I may be suspected of overstepping my duties..."
A moment later, Heifu was complaining in front of Governor Ye's car. He was sleepy and tired and really didn't want to go.
Ye Teng, however, stroked his beard and smiled and said: "Zi Gong asked about politics, and Confucius replied, enough food, enough soldiers, and the trust of the people. Only with enough food can we have enough soldiers, how can farming have nothing to do with military affairs? Besides..."
After saying this, Governor Ye's expression changed and he said with a straight face:
"Isn't the method of compost retting introduced by your family? Zhijiang County is the first place to implement this method under my order. Now the three hundred acres of winter wheat grown there are about to mature. We can tell whether this method is true or false.
If it is effective, people will use it in the rice fields and millet fields. If the elders complain that it is not effective, this county guard will take you down for questioning!"