One day in early April, when Xuchang County once again entered the busy spring ploughing, Zhao Yu took a group of people to the farmland outside the city to inspect the progress of spring ploughing.

The slight difference from last year is that the fields that have been cultivated this year have been divided into two pieces, the 'official field' and the 'people's land', the latter being the responsibility of the people's group organized by the county guard's office, and the former being the responsibility of the Xuchang Reclamation Army under the jurisdiction of the Governor's Office.

Compared with the noisy and lively Minqing group, the prisoner peasants attached to the reclamation army were almost silent from beginning to end, and their efficiency in turning the soil and sowing seeds was comparable to that of the old peasants.

Looking at the skillful movements of these people, who would have thought that these people are all veterans who have stepped on the battlefield.

"Do you really want these people to be imprisoned peasants for five years?"

Looking at the soldiers who were turning over the soil and sowing seeds in the farmland in the distance, Zhang Ji casually asked Zhao Yu who was standing beside him.

"Huh?"

Zhao Yu glanced at Zhang Ji.

Seeing this, Zhang Ji said with a little regret: "I mean, these are all veterans who have been on the battlefield, if you really let them be farmers for five years, and then recruit them as soldiers, I'm afraid you will have to spend some more energy to train......

"Not necessarily."

Zhao Yu shook his head.

In his opinion, if it is a veteran who has really been on the battlefield and killed people, even if he has been a farmer for five years, those who dare to go into battle to kill the enemy still dare to go into battle to kill the enemy, the difference is only whether they are willing or not.

After all, soldiers don't require them to have any kind of martial arts, strength and courage are enough, and doing farm work is also a way to train their physical strength.

Of course, the most important thing is that the prisoners and peasants do not need to pay military salaries, rewards, pensions, etc., as long as they take care of the food, considering that there are thousands of subordinate soldiers at every turn, this saves a considerable amount of expenses.

The only thing that made Zhao Yu hesitate was only Zhou Gong, Xu Lian, Han Gu, Gao Ning and other former righteous generals, but weighing the pros and cons, Zhao Yu felt that it was better to let these people stay in the subordinate army, and to a certain extent, Zhou Gong and others would restrain these subordinate soldiers for him.

"Speaking of that Zhou Gong, he joined the ...... 'Xuchangtang'"

On the other side of Zhao Yu, Chen Zu, who accompanied Zhao Yu, suddenly chuckled and said, the 'Xuchang Hall' in his mouth refers to the Black Tiger Society's hall entrance in Xuchang.

Unlike Changshe, Yingyin, Yingyang and other counties, where Ma Hong, Zhang Feng, Ma Gai and others, who served as the governors of the county, served as the head of the Black Tiger Society, Xuchang, as the county of Yingchuan County, as the base camp of the Black Tiger Society in the future, had much more affairs to deal with than the rest of the county, so Zhao Yu appointed Chen Zu as the hall master of Xuchang.

In Xuchang, Chen Zu was ostensibly a businessman, and had just formed a cooperation with the Ruyang Wei Mutual Aid Talks, creating a chamber of commerce called 'Xuchang Xingshenghui', referred to as 'Xuxing Chamber of Commerce', but in private, he was the head of the Xuchang Hall of the Black Tiger Society, responsible for developing disciples, exploring various intelligence, and encircling the families and merchants in Xuchang.

In all fairness, the officials of the Governor's Office and the County Guard Office are not ignorant of this, but unfortunately, most of the officials and servants have been bought by the Black Tiger Society, and the rest dare not speak out at all.

Even the upright Xun Yi remained silent on this matter.

Because Zhao Yu told him with practical actions that Yingchuan, which he completely controlled, was more peaceful than any county.

This is not a boast, the snail mountain thieves in Runan County have not been exterminated until now, and the Yique thieves in the west of Henan County are the same, and a few days ago, Nanyang County broke out in the rebellion of the rebel remnants, but Yingchuan County, Mrs. Pingping, Zhao Yu's decree of 'Guantian raising the army', so that Yingchuan counties have a considerable county army one after another, as little as one or two thousand, as many as two or three thousand, even if there is another invasion of the Changsha rebels, the war situation in each county is definitely much better than the previous two years, It is impossible to lose several counties in just a few days, at least until Zhao Yu leads the county army to rush to reinforcements.

The combination of this county army and the county army is the biggest confidence of Yingchuan County today, and it is also the foundation of the current public security and stability of Yingchuan County.

"Zhou Gong joined Xuchang Hall? When will it be? ”

Zhao Yu asked Chen Zu in surprise.

"It's probably the time when the big leader went to Kunyang a while ago." Chen Zu said disapprerovingly: "I don't think it's a big deal, so I didn't report it on purpose." ”

"Hmm."

Zhao Yu nodded slightly.

Zhou Gong joining his Black Tiger Club is really not a big deal, after all, as long as Zhou Gong and these people want to borrow the skin of the Yingchuan County Army to survive, they have to firmly hold the Black Tiger Society, and leave Yingchuan County, but there is no soil for them to secretly spread the belief of the righteous teacher.

Unless these people flee to the territory of the Jiangdong Yishi.

Just as a few people were chatting, several county guards hurriedly walked in the distance, and the first one came to Zhao Yu, clasped his fists and reported: "Captain, the department has just received a letter from Runan County, according to the messenger, it was sent by Hu Ben Zhonglang to General Zou Zanzou. ”

"Zou Zan?"

Zhao Yu was slightly stunned, and a few thoughts turned in his heart.

He was a little curious about what Zou Zan was writing to him at this time.

Could it be for the thieves in Woniu Mountain? Or do you want to get food on credit?

Thinking of the group of thieves in Woniu Mountain, Zhao Yu couldn't help laughing.

There is no other reason, just because when he went to Luyang County last month, Zou Zan sent a partial general to lead 5,000 Taishi troops to suppress the group of thieves in Woniu Mountain, but the 5,000 elites turned around in Woniu Mountain for hundreds of miles, and they were stunned and did not find the whereabouts of the group of bandits, so they could only retreat to Xiping County after eating up the grain and grass carried by the army.

Of course, there is no way, after all, the area of Woniu Mountain is too large, more than Yingshan, not to mention the 5,000 Taishi army, even if all the 100,000 Taishi troops under Zou Zan are sent, it is impossible to find the whereabouts of that group of bandits in a short time, unless that group of bandits is stupid enough to dare to confront the Taishi army - the 100,000 Taishi army directly under Chen Taishi can be called the most elite army in the Jin Kingdom.

I have to say that when he first learned that Zou Zan sent people to encircle and suppress the group of thieves in Woniu Mountain, Zhao Yu was still startled, after all, he still hoped that the group of thieves would be alive for the time being.

But after thinking about it carefully, Zhao Yu suddenly felt that even if the group of bandits were exterminated, it would be nothing, and it was a big deal that he sent someone to pretend to be the Lying Niu Bandits, so that it would be easy to control the harm.

Unexpectedly, the group of bandits were still quite acquainted, and as soon as they saw the elite army coming to encircle and suppress them, they immediately fled into the mountains.

In this way, not to mention Zou Zan, even Zhao Yu, who is familiar with the bandits, will not want to exterminate the group of thieves in the Lying Niu Mountain in a short time, unless he sends a large number of troops who are familiar with the battle in the mountains and forests.

"Zhang Ji, I'm going back to the Governor's Office, I'll leave it to you here."

"Yes."

After admonishing Zhang Ji, Zhao Yu returned to Xuchang with Chen Zu.

After entering the city, Chen Zu also said goodbye and left, after all, he, the master of the Black Tiger Society Xuchang Hall, still had a lot of affairs at hand.

A moment later, Zhao Yu took Niu Heng and He Shun back to the Governor's Office, and saw Zou Zan's letter on the desk in his room.

The reason for Zou Zan's letter was neither for the thieves in Woniu Mountain, nor for borrowing grain, but to tell Zhao Yu that a large group of civilians had poured into Runan County from Changsha County and Jiangxia County one after another.

Only then did Zhao Yu remember that in order to entrap Ju Sheng, Cao Wu and other generals, he did send people to send news to Changsha County and Jiangxia County, intending to lure the families of those captives to join him in Yingchuan, the purpose was of course to keep those captured former rebel soldiers, after all, these were veterans who could be directly sent to the battlefield, and he was reluctant to release them back to his hometown after the expiration of five years.

"Another group of people who are eating with their mouths open, this is really ......."

Zhao Yu had a headache.

But after weighing it, he still decided to accept it, after all, in this era, no one is as clear as him about the importance of population, as long as the county's grain stock can hold up, Zhao Yu welcomes all foreign population.

After all, there is a lot of strength in people, and whether he is concentrating on cultivating fields in Yingchuan County, or mining mines, smelting iron and forging soldiers, he needs a lot of labor.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yu instructed He Shun: "He Shun, send the county guard to summon Cao Wu to come." ”

"Yes." He Shun clenched his fists and left.

Half an hour later, when Zhao Yu was dealing with government affairs, Cao Wu hurriedly came to the party room and saluted him with a fist: "Du Wei, you call for a humble position?" ”

"Hmm."

Zhao Yu didn't talk nonsense, and after beckoning Cao Wu to take a few steps closer, he said: "I just received the news from General Zou from Runan County, and learned that a large number of civilians from Changsha and Jiangxia have moved to Runan County ......" Saying that, he saw Cao Wu's face showing surprise, nodded and said: "Yes, it's what you think, in short, you lead your army to pick it up." In addition, according to General Zou, Jiangxia County is currently very chaotic, and there are green forest thieves and the like who are committing murders and looting regardless of whether they are enemies or enemies, if necessary, I will allow you to cross the border to Jiangxia County, but do not attack the city under the banner, lest Jiangxia County become more and more ruined. If you encounter any obstacles during this period, you may wish to ask General Zou for help. …… As for the grain and grass, you go to Han He. ”

"Thank you, Captain!"

Cao Wu solemnly clenched his fists and received his life, his face full of joy.

After he turned to leave, He Shun frowned and said, "Great Chief, isn't Jiangxia County divided and occupied by Zhang Tai and Xiang Hu of the Green Forest Thieves?" These people occupy the city as king, recruit troops and horses, and have gathered many thieves, and Cao Wu has less than 5,000 soldiers under his command......"

"Huh." Zhao Yu laughed.

It is undeniable that he also knew about the changes in Jiangxia County, that is, when Chen Miao chose to follow Zhao Yin to Jiangdong Yishi, Zhang Tai, Xiang Hu and other green forest thieves fled back to Jiangxia County, taking the opportunity to occupy and gradually occupy the territory of Jiangxia Yishi, using money and food to recruit a group of people, forming a situation of separating Jiangxia County.

Of course, the reason why this group of green forest thieves was able to gradually grow in Jiangxia County was only because Zou Zan and his 100,000 Taishi army were dragged down by the situation of the Runan County group of robbers, as long as Runan County stabilized, Zou Zan could recover Jiangxia County at any time.

Don't look at those green forest thieves, it seems that they are said to have grown to thousands or even tens of thousands, but Zhao Yu has no doubt that if this group of people dares to provoke Cao Wu and the second battalion of the brigade camp under his command, they will be killed by the latter.

You must know that the soldiers under Cao Wu's command are the first batch of veterans from Changsha Yishi, who are comparable to the civilians, farmers, and thieves temporarily recruited by Zhang Tai, Xiang Hu and other green forest thieves.

Rather than worried, Zhao Yu was more curious about why Zhang Tai and Xiang Hu's group of guys didn't flee to the south of the river, such as Changsha County.

These guys, do you really think that gathering a group of rabble can divide Jiangxia County?

Zhao Yu was really curious about this.

It wasn't until Zhao Yu received a letter from Cao Wu from Jiangxia County that he knew that the reason why Zhang Tai and Xiang Hu's group of green forest thieves did not escape the river was because Xiang Xuan had returned to Changsha County and replaced Guan Shuo, who was killed by Xue Ao in Nanyang County, and became the new commander of Jiangxia Yishi.

Zhao Yu pondered, maybe Zhang Tai, Xiang Hu and others didn't want to be driven by Xiang Xuan anymore, so they took advantage of the fact that the Jin army had not recovered Jiangxia County and wanted to live a life of being the king and hegemon in Jiangxia County.

But it is obvious that sooner or later, this group of guys will be surrounded and wiped out by the Jin army, either by Zou Zan of the garrison Runan, or by Wang Shangde of the garrison of Nanjun.

However, Xiang Xuan may still be able to hold back the Jin army in Changsha County, or retreat into Guiyang County, or retreat into Yuzhang County, and delay the Jin army by taking advantage of the geographical depth, after all, this Xuan still has some ability.

Two days later, on the seventh day of the fourth month, Zhao Yu received a letter from Taishi Chen, and when he asked the messenger, it was actually sent from Handan.

The content of the letter is very simple, that is, I hope that Yingchuan County will prepare a batch of grain and grass for Zou Zan and Wang Tan's army to use to suppress Jiangdong Yishi - I hope that the word in the letter is 'hope', but Zhao Yu's understanding of 'request' is not bad.

"In the end, Taishi Chen chose to immediately enter and suppress Jiangdong Yishi......

After reading this letter, Zhao Yu sighed and sighed.

From a personal point of view, of course, he hopes that this battle will be postponed indefinitely, after all, one side is his 'Zhao Army', and his brother Zhao Yin, and the other side, whether it is Chen Taishi, or Zou Zan, Xue Ao, Wang Tan and others, are all good to him.

Including Zhang Jing.

The world-famous Five Tigers of Chenmen, Zhao Yu is the only one who has never been in contact with Han Yan.

Even though his personal feelings are still on his brother Zhao Yin's side, he doesn't want the two sides to meet on the battlefield, not to mention that Jiang Dongyi is on his brother Zhao Yin's side, and there is a high probability that he may lose the battle.

But sadly, this is something he can't stop.

He just didn't understand why Taishi Chen was in a hurry to suppress Jiangdong Yishi at this stall, no matter how he thought about it, the next step was to recover Jiangxia County first, right?

But even with all kinds of incomprehensible questions, Zhao Yu had to prepare a batch of grain and grass in advance according to Taishi Chen's instructions.

On the same day, Zhao Yu went to the county guard mansion and discussed the matter with the county chief Chen Lang, Chen Lang was shocked when he heard it: "The imperial court wants to send troops to suppress Shandong?" Do you want me to prepare military rations in Yingchuan? This ......"

It's no wonder that Chen Lang was shocked, after all, the grain he harvested in Yingchuan County last year successively supported Chenjun, Chenliu, Runan County, and Nanyang County, although in the past two years, the imperial court has suspended the collection of taxes because of the relationship between the rebels, but the problem is that the grain that has been 'lent' out is already more than the tax grain handed over to the imperial court, and then he is asked to raise a batch of military grain in Yingchuan County, what should he do with the dozens or millions of soldiers and civilians in Yingchuan County?

Do you eat dirt?

Chen Lang said to Zhao Yu at that time: "Duwei, I want to raise hundreds of thousands of stone military rations in the county in one go, even if I can't take it out of Yingchuan, Duwei, you are close to Taishi Chen, please be sure to tell Taishi the truth." ”

"It didn't work."

Zhao Yu shook his head slightly.

He remembered Taishi Chen's letter very clearly, although the word was 'hope', but the word 'must' was added, which shows that the old man has made up his mind.

"How could it be ......?"

Chen Lang broke out in a cold sweat, and said eagerly: "Even if it is delayed for a year, it will be delayed for a year, and the three counties of Chenjun, Chenliu, and Runan can at least barely be self-sufficient, and I Yingchuan only needs to share the grain with Henan County to support Nanyang County, but now it is ......."

"......" Zhao Yu pondered silently.

In fact, he also felt that this matter was a little weird, it stands to reason that Taishi Chen would not not not understand the situation of Chenliu, Chenjun, Runan, and Nanyang counties, so what could he do if he delayed a year or two to suppress Jiangdong Yishi?

Like this, it gave Jiangdong Yishi a chance to breathe?

Don't the counties of Chenliu, Chenjun, Runan, and Nanyang need a chance to breathe?

In fact, the situation of both sides is the same.

Even from the standpoint of the Jin State, Zhao Yu also believed that the imperial court should delay it for two years before entering the Jiangdong Yishi.

Two years later, even if there were 100,000 or 200,000 more troops in Jiangdong? At least the Jin State has lightened its burden, even if the two sides have been fighting for a few years, and the counties and counties of the Jin State have basically recovered their stability by the time, they can also bear the grain and grass needed to enter and suppress the Jiangdong Yishi, how can it be like now, the thieves in Runan have not been finished, and Jiangxia County is still being cut off by the green forest thieves, so they are in a hurry to mobilize troops against the Jiangdong Yishi.

At this time, if the Jiangdong Yishi is defeated again, even if the Jin army wins, it may only be a miserable victory for the Jin State, and the hidden danger is huge.

But looking at Taishi Chen's letter, it was obvious that the old man had made up his mind.

"Is there any reason for this?"

Rao is Zhao Yu was also a little puzzled.

While shaking his head and sighing, Zhao Yu said to Chen Lang in a deep voice: "In short, let's raise 200,000 stone grain first." …… I estimate that the Taishi sent troops to suppress the Jiangdong rebels this time, and the strength should be about 200,000, and 200,000 stone grain is almost enough for these 200,000 troops to eat for three months, and it is already early April, and it should be able to eat until July......"

Chen Lang smiled bitterly: "Counting the cost, you can't eat enough for three months." ”

The 'consumption' he refers to the grain consumed by the civilian or non-staff personnel of the army during the transportation of grain.

“…… Raise 300,000 stones first, and I should still have 300,000 stones in Yingchuan. ”

Zhao Yu said in a deep voice.

Hearing this, Chen Lang said with a wry smile: "There are naturally 300,000 stones, in fact, there are 500,000 stones, the problem is that this batch of grain has been allocated, what should Chen Jun, Chen Liu, Runan, and Nanyang do?" Dialing again? If I allocate it again, dozens or millions of people in Yingchuan will only have to eat soil......"

Zhao Yu pondered for a moment, and said in a deep voice: "Suspend the aid to Chenjun, Chenliu, Runan, and Nanyang counties, and raise 300,000 stone grain first. For the rest, I will go back and write a letter to General Zou Zan and discuss it with him. ”

Chen Lang nodded slightly, and then asked Zhao Yu again: "Can you tell the county guard about this matter?" ”

Zhao Yu thought for a while and nodded: "Say it." ”

"Okay."

After saying goodbye to Chen Lang, Zhao Yu returned to the Governor's Office, and immediately wrote three letters, sending people to Liangcheng in Liang County, Chen County in Chen County, and Pingyu County in Runan County, and handed them to Xue Ao, Wang Tan and Zou Zan respectively to see if they could learn anything from these three 'righteous brothers'.

Around dusk, the county guard Li Min urgently summoned Zhao Yu to the back mansion of the county guard mansion and asked Zhao Yu about 'raising military rations'.

Maybe Li Junshou thought that Zhao Yu, as the righteous son of Taishi Chen, would know some information, but Zhao Yu himself was confused.

In the case of unsuccessful inquiry, Li Junshou frowned and said: "In this case, I will go to the imperial court to dissuade the imperial court from postponing the invasion of the Jiangdong rebels. ”

Zhao Yu naturally wouldn't dissuade him, but he felt that Li Junshou's persuasion might not have much effect.

Because he roughly understands Taishi Chen's character, if it weren't for the special circumstances, Taishi Chen would never make the people of the Jin Kingdom, who had had a hard time in the past two years, even worse, and once again tried his best to raise grain and grass to start a war with the Jiangdong Yishi - although it is beneficial for the latter to delay the Jiangdong Yishi for two years, but on the whole, it must be that the Jin State is more dominant, so what's the urgency?

Taishi Chen was anxious to exterminate Jiangdong Yishi, there must be some other reason.

Three days later, on the 10th day of the fourth month, Wang Tan, the rear general of the garrison in Chen County, came to Xuchang in person.

After learning the news, Zhao Yu invited Wang Tan to his mansion and instructed the cook to prepare a table of wine and food to wash the dust for Wang Tan.

During the banquet, Zhao Yu asked Wang Yan on the side: "Brother Shaoyan, last autumn harvest, south of the big river, north of the big river, only Henan and Yingchuan counties have harvested, and the rest of Liang County, Chenliu, Chen County, and Runan have only resumed farming this year, and even, Jiangxia County is still in the hands of a group of thieves, why is Taishi in a hurry to suppress the Jiangdong rebels?" …… The territory of the Jiangdong rebels spans Jiyin, Jibei, Taishan, Lujun, Jinan, Beihai, Langya, Donghai, Pengcheng, Xiapi, Guangling, Jiangdong and other counties, which can be defeated in a year and a half. Hearing this, Wang Jian shook his head and explained: "The virtuous brother misunderstood, not because my father was in a hurry, but because of the imperial court...... To be exact, His Majesty is in a hurry. ”

"Your Majesty?"

"Ahh Wang Tan nodded, and said solemnly: "Virtuous brother, don't spread it, according to my father, Your Majesty once dreamed of being devoured by two tigers one day, and after the national teacher's divination, it was fulfilled in the 'Zhao people', which secretly coincided with the prophecy of 'Li should die, Zhao should prosper', and His Majesty was very taboo. It just so happened that the leaders of the Jiangdong rebels were the brothers Zhao Zhang and Zhao Yu, and His Majesty believed that this Zhao brother was the second tiger of the 'Dead Li Xing Zhao', so he ordered his father to eradicate him as soon as possible at all costs. ”

After more than a year, he heard these so-called proverbs from Wang Tan's mouth again that caused his Luyang Zhao family to be ruined, and Zhao Yu's face under the mask became very ugly.

He couldn't help but scoff: "That's it? Is it better for this so-called proverb to plunge the world into turmoil? ”

"Staying in the ......"

Wang Tan may have misunderstood something, and he was not angry when he saw Zhao Yu's sarcastic words, but was relieved: "After defeating the Jiangdong rebels, the foolish brothers will immediately appease the counties and control the ...... of law and order."

Speaking of this, he didn't know what to say, because he also understood that the Jiangdong rebels had already grown stronger by taking advantage of the merger of various righteous teachers in the previous two years, just like the righteous brother in front of him said, it was definitely not a year and a half to eradicate.

There is no doubt that the invasion of the Jiangdong Yishi will be a protracted battle, and it is possible for both sides to fight for several years.

And in the past few years, I don't know how many innocent people will be involved in this turmoil.

But what can be done? The king's order is hard to disobey!

Not to mention, the Jiangdong rebels, who have gradually become larger, have indeed seriously threatened his Jin Kingdom.

At the same time, in the county government of Ye County, Yang Ding, the county commander of Ye County, also received a letter sent by Wei Chi, the general, from Handan.

After carefully reading, Yang Ding leaned back in his chair and thought thoughtfully.

"Sure enough, in the end, it is necessary to send Taishi Chen to immediately attack the Jiangdong rebels...... When Taishi Chen entered the Jiangdong rebels, I could just take the opportunity to design that Zhou Hu would be difficult to turn over, even if Taishi Chen learned about it afterwards, there was nothing he could do, and I could replace Zhou Hu at that time......

Thinking of this, he immediately wrote a letter and immediately summoned his confidants.

"Immediately send someone to Handan and hand over this letter to Wei Chi."

"Yes, young master."