Seeing that everyone agreed to send troops, Chen Cheng said: "Since no one objects, let's send troops. There is a saying in the art of war: before the three armies move, food and grass go first. It also says: soldiers gather with pay, and disperse without food. Yesterday the Ministry of Household Affairs said
I reported a matter, which is related to this year's autumn grain. We are all here today, and we just happened to discuss it together. Xu Shangshu, please tell everyone what happened."
"promise!"
Amid everyone's whispers and stares, Xu Chao stood up unhurriedly, cupped his hands towards Chen Cheng, and then said with a straight face: "Yesterday, the Ministry of Revenue received news that the officials sent to Fuping to supervise the collection of autumn grains are staying.
The inn caught fire, and all six officials were killed in the flames, and no one was spared."
After finishing speaking, Xu Chao bowed his hand to Chen Cheng again and sat down.
"How is this possible?" Yang Qiu was shocked and shouted in panic, "Why didn't I know about this?"
He turned to Xu Chao and said, "Did Shangshu Xu make a mistake?"
Xu Chao glanced at him and said expressionlessly: "It's confirmed."
"This..." Yang Qiu said anxiously: "This is not my problem... I mean that it is common to get lost, and it does not necessarily mean...
.that is......."
Facing the unsmiling Chen Cheng, Yang Qiu suddenly felt frightened and couldn't say anything else. He stood in the lobby, looking left and right, trying to find Ouyuan, but the people he caught were either looking left or right, or lowering their heads.
Without saying a word, Yang Qiu cursed secretly in his heart, pushed away his chair, walked to the center of the lobby, prostrated himself on the ground, and said: "There are many doubts about this matter. Please send someone to investigate in detail!"
Chen Cheng said calmly: "I also feel that we need to check it out. It just so happens that we are sending troops south to meet Han Sui this time. Yang Shangshu can go to Fuping first to reorganize the troops and prepare food and grass. In addition, he can also check this place.
Let’s see if there is anything special about it.”
Are you going to deprive me of my position as Minister of War? Yang Qiu suddenly raised his head, "I..."
"Well, the affairs of the Ministry of War will be temporarily managed by Xu Wen, the Minister of War."
Yan Zhong had already gotten angry with Chen Cheng in advance and knew the outcome of the deal, so he kept smiling. Although Zhao Yun was not told what happened, the orders issued yesterday had already made him vaguely aware of it.
.What happened in the lobby today did not surprise him.
The last assassination of Zhou Mu was vaguely pointed to the Yang family after investigation. Zhao Yun would not be surprised if something happened again. Lu Fang didn't know so much. Seeing the sudden change in the situation, he felt aroused in his heart.
The sea was in turmoil, but I was secretly glad: Fortunately, I didn't get involved with Yang Qiu, otherwise, Yang Qiu wouldn't be the only one who was unlucky today.
Then he thought that Chen Cheng made him the captain of the North, with the intention of dividing Yang Qiu's power. It would be good if the two of them were not on the same page, but how could they really get involved?
Chen Cheng continued: "In order to cope with the coming war, after discussing with the Zhongshu Province and the Shangshu Province, Fuzhong decided to recruit another thousand tooth soldiers this year. This recruitment is only from the reserves and guards. Among them, the North
The county recruits 600 people, and Shuofang County and Wuyuan County each recruit 200 people."
Yang Qiu could no longer hear what Chen Cheng was saying. His mind was in chaos now, and his heart was full of anger and resentment. He knelt on the ground, pressing his hands on the floor, and the anger in his chest seemed to be half exploded.
Hateful! Hateful! He kept roaring in his heart, if it weren't for me, Yang Qiu, how could Chen Cheng sit on top and give orders? If it wasn't for me, Yang Qiu, how could you sit in the position of Liangzhou Mu? Now that you have a firm foothold,
Do you just want to burn bridges?
I, Yang Qiu, absolutely, no, answer, yes!
It's hateful, it's so disgusting!
But along with anger and resentment, there was also fear and uneasiness. During his year in Yinchuan, he not only made a lot of money, but also saw how Chen Cheng trained troops. In just one year, Liangzhou
The army has made great progress. Not only has military discipline improved a lot, but the ordnance has also made great progress. Although the Ministry of Industry still focuses on extension tools, as long as Ainian is established, the output of weapons and armor can increase
several times.
Under such circumstances, even if we mobilize all the troops, can we compete with Chen Cheng? I'm afraid it will be difficult!
Just when anger and fear were mixed in Yang Qiu's heart, he heard the sound of footsteps above. Chen Cheng walked down, helped him up, and said: "The soldiers are very quick. Yang Shangshu can go back to Fuping first. I'll wait for the soldiers and horses here."
If you collect them all, you will immediately go south."
Yang Qiu was held up by Chen Cheng with one hand, and he couldn't help but feel confused again. If I really fight with the lord, can I win? I probably can't win, so will anyone help? Cheng Yi...
.... Cheng Yi most likely won't help, so, then... Is the only option left to ask Han Sui, that old fox?
Chen Cheng didn't care what Yang Qiu was thinking. He patted Yang Qiu's shoulder and said, "Yang Shangshu, Yang Shangshu?"
Yang Qiu came back to his senses, quickly lowered his head and said, "I'm here!"
Before he finished speaking, he felt resentful and ashamed again. The master treated him well, but... for a moment, he didn't know what to do.
Chen Cheng said: "Why are you so depressed? Remember to bring all your silver coins with you later. The Yang family has deep roots in Fuping, and those silver coins can be distributed to the family members."
Yang Qiu became even more confused. Chen Cheng... What does this mean, my lord? Do you want to deprive me of my position as Minister of War? Or do you really just want me to go back to investigate the case? Today's surprise attack was a beating, but he said something later
Excuse me, what exactly is this operation?
Until he returned home, he still couldn't understand what Chen Cheng was thinking. But it didn't matter if he didn't understand, there was someone who definitely understood. Yang Qiu dismissed the concubine at home and turned around and went to Yan Zhong's mansion. Yan Zhong was
Chen Cheng's mastermind had almost no strategy that was not adopted. Who knows more about Chen Cheng than Yan Bodao?
As soon as Yan Zhong sat down in his mansion, he heard a servant coming to report: "Yang Qiu, Minister of the Ministry of War, wants to see you."
He smiled and said to himself: Yang Qiu came too soon. But this was what he expected, so he said: "Please invite him in quickly."
Not long after, there was the sound of footsteps under the eaves of the corridor, and Yang Qiu walked in quickly. Yan Zhong pretended to be surprised and said: "I just said goodbye to Yang Shangshu, why are you so anxious to see me?"
Yan Zhong did not like Hu Feng as much as Chen Cheng. The desks and futons placed in his home were not replaced by Hu tables and Hu chairs. Yang Qiu knelt down and asked: "My lord suddenly ordered me to return to Fuping today, and also asked me
I brought all the silver coins with me, what does that mean?"
Yan Zhong stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Can't Yang Shangshu understand such a simple thing?"
Yang Qiu suppressed the anxiety in his heart and said: "Please teach me, sir!"
Yan Zhong did not answer at first, but asked: "Did Yang Shangshu instigate the burning of tax collectors?"
"Why should I burn them?" Yang Qiu said angrily: "Am I sick? The income from the silver mine alone is more than 10,000 yuan a month. The price of grain has dropped this year, and it is less than 20 yuan a bucket. Ten thousand yuan
How much food can I buy? Why would I send someone to set fire to it just for such a small amount of autumn food?"
Yan Zhong smiled and said: "Isn't that what it is? Yang Shangshu will not kill people just to get some autumn grain. Of course the Lord knows that, so I let you return to Fuping first."
"but........."
Yan Zhong continued: "In less than two years since you came to Liangzhou, you have already occupied the territory of three counties. Your subordinates have sufficient money and food, your soldiers are brave, and you look around with swords in hand. All the princes are jealous of you. If you are Han Sui, Zhang Heng, etc.
What would people think?"
Yang Qiu suddenly understood, "What Zhongshu Ling means is that Han Sui and others sent people to set the fire?"
He then frowned again and asked: "But this doesn't make sense? Didn't Han Sui declare his vassalship? He now needs us to lead troops to march eastward, so what's the benefit of doing so?"
Yan Zhong smiled and said: "Han Sui's name is Nine Bends of the Yellow River. How can anyone else guess what he thinks? Perhaps he is afraid of the monarch's ability to lead troops and is afraid that we will occupy Guanzhong, so on the one hand he asked us to cooperate
Soldiers, on the one hand, they might want to cause some trouble for us."
"That's it!" Yang Qiu hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Then the Lord asked me to go back just to investigate the matter of the fire?"
Yan Zhong smiled and said: "What I just said is just some speculation. I believe that Yang Shangshu will not be crazy enough to set fire to people just for a little autumn food. The king probably doesn't believe it either, but who can guarantee this?
?Maybe Yang Shangshu will inspire others for a while..."
Yang Qiu said quickly: "Zhongshu ordered you to be careful! How can I, Yang Qiu, be that kind of person?"
Yan Zhong laughed and said: "The other meaning of my lord is that if you have great ambitions and are unwilling to be inferior to others, then for the sake of the past friendship between monarchs and ministers, he will not embarrass you and let you go back to rectify the troops. Both sides
Let’s fight it out on the battlefield tomorrow!”
Yang Qiu waved his hands repeatedly and said: "My lord is like a god with his soldiers, how can I dare to be wild and rebellious?"
Yan Zhong stroked his beard and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if I say it, it doesn't matter if the prince says it."
Yang Qiu said anxiously: "The Lord's words don't count, so who has the final say?"
"It doesn't matter who says it. This kind of thing, of course, depends on Yang Shangshu's performance."
Yang Qiu: "What does Zhongshu Ling mean?"
"Handle the case in a beautiful way, give an explanation to the prince, and make it difficult for people to find fault." Yan Zhong blew on the tea cup and said: "Just a little humble opinion, Yang Shangshu can listen to it. What should I do, it's up to you.
Make up your own mind."
Yang Qiu was determined. He took two steps back, then thanked him and said, "If it hadn't been for Zhongshu Ling to clear up the confusion, I would still be in the dark."
He raised his head and said: "Please tell my lord that after I return to Fuping, I will definitely take care of things and sweep the bed to wait for my lord to arrive!"
After Yang Qiu left in a hurry, Yan Zhong recalled Yang Qiu's expression just now and thought to himself: It seems that Yang Qiu did not do this, otherwise, his city would be too deep.
There are very few "citizens" in Beidi County. The common people are either attached to the powerful or devote themselves to the guards. After hearing that tooth soldiers were recruited this year, many people cheered and thought that it was bad luck not to be selected last year.
, or missed the time, thus losing the opportunity to eat meat every day.
In fact, they have some misunderstandings. Although Yabing is full of meat and fish, he does not eat meat every day. He also eats fish, shrimp, crabs and the like a lot of the time.
But it is a pity that this year the Ya soldiers are only recruited from the guards and existing soldiers. If these civilians and powerful children want to participate in the selection of Ya soldiers, they must first join the army. This is not enough for rural soldiers, but also from the county.
Only the national troops will do. However, the Huns in the north have been maimed, and the neighboring Chengyi and Ma Teng have also surrendered. The territory under Chen Cheng's rule does not need that many troops, and there is no plan to expand the army this year.
A few days later, the selection of the tooth soldiers was completed, and the Qiang and Hu Yi from Shuofang County and Wuyuan County also arrived. Chen Cheng summoned 5,000 soldiers and horses in the north of Yinchuan City to swear an oath, and then personally led this soldier and horse Hao
