In the late Yin month (the first lunar month) of the twenty-eighth year of Qin Shihuang, although spring had already begun in the south, in Beidi County, the last frost and snow had just fallen, and farming would not be fully started until February.
The weather suddenly turns warm and cold, and a team of more than a hundred people is walking by the Jingshui River where the ice and snow are gradually melting...
This team had both chariots and horses. First there were two military chariots leading the way. The left and right chariots were fully armed, holding halberds or bows and arrows. Even the charioteer had a long sword on his back and a hand in his hand.
crossbow.
Then there was a tall carriage drawn by four horses, with a black cover and red barriers on both sides of the carriage. Heifu, the captain of Beidi County, was sitting in it, but he was seen with a dignified crown, wearing a crimson robe and a black crown.
Wearing a long sword and a green ribbon with a silver seal, he was guarded by officers holding halberds on both sides.
After the carriages, there were dozens of horsemen and hundreds of soldiers accompanying them. It can be said that the carriages covered the sun and the roads were full of carriages! There were even drum carriages beating drums and playing sheng and Xiao.
A warrior with a black turban on his head and a beard on his lips rode a horse, and to the beat of sheng and drums, he paraded in front of and behind the team, with a rather smug look on his face.
Finally, he ran to the side of Heifu's car and said excitedly: "In the past, I only saw the honor guard of the county governor in Yan County, and I didn't think it was anything at all. But today, I opened the way for the county governor to go to the county. I really feel that
Extremely majestic!”
This samurai was Gong Ao who resigned from his post as "Nanchang Fake Lieutenant" the year before last and was idle at home. When he learned that Hei Fu was promoted to Beidi County Lieutenant, he tried to get the talisman and came to Beidi, saying that even if he was a
Even without being paid a grain of grain, I still want to be his staff and disciple!
Regarding the uninvited Gong Ao, Chen Ping, the chief historian under Heifu, had doubts: "After all, you have been a county captain, but you resigned and came to be the county captain's guest. What does this mean to people who are interested?"
Gong Ao always looked at Chen Ping, a pretty boy, and said, "I'm just a white boy now, and I don't have to serve this year. Which law am I violating?"
Finally, after some thought, Heifu decided to let Gong Ao be his "guest", who was actually the captain of the bodyguard. This son was from the south and would not be of much use in the north, but his loyalty to Heifu was
It is unparalleled among the northern officials.
More importantly, although Heifu is in the North, he has not forgotten that his roots are still the three thousand sons of Nanjun. And Gong Ao is the medium to communicate closely with them. Thinking about it, Gong Ao's resignation is really a big deal.
What a great thing.
A few days after Gong Ao arrived in Beidi County, Heifu took him, as well as Chief Shi Chen Ping, personal guard Wang Wei, cavalry commander Yiqu Bailang, etc., to travel to the county...
When he was in Nanjun, Heifu traveled to the county with his father-in-law Ye Teng and was involved in the rebellion of the Yidaoba people. In fact, not only the county guard, but also the county lieutenant also has the power and obligation to patrol the jurisdiction from time to time, especially when a new official takes office.
Inspections must be carried out as soon as possible.
The Art of War says: If you know your enemy and yourself, you will not be in danger in a hundred battles. If you do not know your enemy but know yourself, you will win one and lose one. If you do not know your enemy and yourself, you will be in danger in every battle.
Heifu had ambitions to conquer the North, but he also clearly realized that his enemy this time was not a small tribe of Rong people fighting for a living, but the Huns.
Even at this time, the Xiongnu were still fighting against the Yuezhi and Donghu, which was not a complete entity. However, all the nomads were soldiers, and the Xiongnu also had hundreds of thousands of bowmen. Their territory was thousands of miles wide and should not be underestimated.
Therefore, before taking action, he must first "know himself".
Last autumn, when Heifu came to the north to take office, he passed through several counties near Mishui, but he only took a quick look at them without conducting in-depth investigations. So this time, he decided to spend a month and make a thorough tour.
The Qin Dynasty did not allow officials to visit the emperor privately, except for the emperor himself, so Heifu had to go on the road with great fanfare. Although there were many people, Heifu reduced the entertainment in the counties along the way. He set off from Yiqucheng in mid-January and turned around in late January.
Return to the middle road, follow the smooth road, and enter Jingyang County...
When I heard the sound of the flute in the distance and saw the guard of honor approaching, the pedestrians, carriages and horses on the road had to give way, but occasionally I encountered someone running into the road, bowing down and complaining.
Heifu asked someone to stop the complainant and after questioning him, he found out that he was a resident of a nearby village.
The skinny old farmer held dry wheat in his hands and cried: "The field officials have clearly said that if there is drought, storm, waterlogging, locusts and other pests that damage the crops, the number of affected hectares must be reported, and the government can reduce or exempt the field rent. Earlier.
There was hail as big as a baby's fist, which destroyed a lot of heading wheat crops. We went to the countryside to ask for a rent reduction, but we were kicked out. The field officials said that we should collect rent as usual regardless of the millet disaster and regardless of the wheat harvest.
…”
After Heifu listened quietly, he asked Wei Shi to come over and ask him to take the old farmer directly to the Jingyang County Prison and hand it over to the county magistrate in charge of interrogating the case. He then let Jingyang County handle the case on its own in accordance with the law.
The Heijun Lieutenant also explained to the old farmer: "I shouldn't interfere with the affairs of the county governor and the county magistrate. Father, you'd better appeal according to the legal procedures!"
After the old farmer was taken away, Gong Ao was a little disappointed: "I thought the county captain would directly interrogate the case at the edge of the field, and then send us to bring the corrupt officials to justice."
Chen Ping was speechless. After all, Gong Ao had served as a county captain, so how could he be so "ignorant of the king's laws"?
He said: "How can you cut a chicken with a bull's knife? It is much smarter for the county lieutenant to do this than to interfere personally. When the county governor personally reports the old farmer, how dare he not enforce the law impartially?"
Chen Ping had the same opinion as Heifu. These are not matters within his scope and should be ignored. County Governor Zhao Hai was not a strong civil and military officer like Ye Teng. The two of them carefully maintained the boundaries between their powers, and Heifu did not want to let them go.
Zhao Hai was not happy, and Zhao Hai did not want to retire, and he also offended Hei Fu, the upstart who shouldered the mission of the emperor...
How can the two sides work together cautiously and tolerate each other for the sake of the country, be ruined by a few acres of hail-damaged Sumai?
Different paths lead to mutual dissatisfaction. Chen Ping and Gong Ao somewhat dislike each other. During the next trip, the two of them will also care about different things.
Chen Ping observed the number of fields on the roadside and calculated secretly. He found that this was the land with the flattest land, the best water conservancy and the most diligent farmers among the counties along the road.
"I heard that all the land to the west of Longkou of Jingyang is pasture land with fertile grass and beautiful water. Only Jingyang is to the east and cultivates a single county, which can provide food for the Wushi, Chao Na and Xiaoguan troops. The stability of the north depends on this...
…”
In turn, Wuzhi and Chaona's massive livestock also provided assistance for cattle farming in Jingyang. Every household in Jingyang had either cattle or horses, which saved a lot of manpower during spring plowing.
"In the future, the commander-in-chief will use troops in the north. Jingyang and Qixian will be granaries. The matter of planting fields and grain must be started immediately this year!"
Chen Ping was making a lot of calculations in his mind. Although it was still early for him to conquer the world, he still had a sense of accomplishment by helping Heifu manage the military affairs of a county.
But Gong Ao Haowu saw another scene.
He found that most of the passers-by and local farmers were traveling on horseback! Those young adults on the roadside, wearing Rongdi hakama and pleated clothes, were performing the standard mid-summer salute to the black husband, their waists
There were daggers, long swords, and even people carrying bows on their backs. They all had strong arms and round waists, and were a head taller than him, a southerner...
"The people here are very martial."
Gong Ao sighed to Heifu: "Even the farmers who plow the fields are wearing weapons and can shoot bows and arrows at any time! They are far better than Nanjun!"
"Otherwise, how could the Qin soldiers in Kansai sweep across the six kingdoms in Kanto?"
Heifu smiled and said: "Beidi, Shangjun, and Longxi are all approaching the Rong and Di. Although they are separated by the Great Wall, the local people must practice war preparations to resist the constant attacks of the Rong and the Di. In addition, Xia Rong's mixed areas have contaminated the Rong.
People regard death in battle as courage and death as illness as shame. Local men are all strong, able to ride horses, like swords, and are good at hunting."
Chen Ping also nodded and said: "Yes, the ancient chapters of "Qin Feng", "Chariot", "Four Years", and "Xiao Rong" all talk about chariots, horses and hunting in fields. They are talking about the customs of Longxi.
The same is true in the North. Its customs and customs have existed since ancient times. Today, the songs are generous and the romance still exists."
Although the people of Yan and Zhao were also generous and sad, they preferred private fights. The people of Qin in Guanxi were different. They were tamed by Shang Yang's method and were only happy to fight in public and did not dare to fight privately!
This special geographical environment and the quality of the people naturally became an important source of troops for the Qin State.
As the county with the largest number of immigrants from the Central Plains and the largest number of residents registered as households, Jingyang was Heifu’s first choice for selecting troops and generals!
He told Chen Ping and Gong Ao: "I want to use the naturalized Rong soldiers as hunting dogs to help me get cunning rabbits outside the Great Wall. However, no matter how loyal a dog is, it is still a beast. When its wild nature becomes strong, it will bite people. I
We also need some good bows. If you hold them in your hands, you can not only shoot down high-altitude birds, but also aim at the backs of hounds at any time to prevent them from rebelling..."
In the afternoon, when he arrived at Jingyang County, the county captain and others were already waiting for him at the door. After a few polite words with them, Heifu gave the order:
"Immediately go to the county and various villages to recruit local good men who are good at riding, shooting, and martial arts!"
The "good bow" that Heifu wants to obtain is exactly a special group among the Qin people in Kansai: good family members!
