A day later, the one million dollars promised by Li Junshou were moved by a famous soldier to the open space in the Governor's Office, and the dozen or so large wooden boxes full of copper coins were full.

For individuals, it is undeniable that one million dollars is a lot of money, but for the county army, which now has nearly 30,000 people, it is simply a gap between the teeth to use this money to treat the army.

If you do the math, you will know that this million coins will be distributed to 30,000 county soldiers, and on average, each county pawn can get 33 copper coins, what can these 33 copper coins do?

Don't forget, seven years ago, when Zhao Yu was still the second son of the Zhao family in Luyang and fought with the Zheng family in Ruyang County, the local rice price had already exceeded 200 yuan per stone of rice.

One stone of rice can probably make a person in the prime of life eat for 90 days, and if it is a family of five, its food consumption is about one stone of rice a month, in other words, a family needs to earn money that can buy one stone of rice every month to support the whole family.

The problem is that now it is seven years later, due to the continuous natural disasters and wars in the world, the price of rice has already soared, even under the control of local governments, it has already exceeded the grade of 300 yuan and 1 stone, and even on the black market - that is, those unscrupulous black merchants who hoard grain, they often sell grain at a higher price, 400 yuan a stone, 500 yuan a stone, or even 600 yuan a stone.

In this case, can the distribution of thirty-three copper coins to the county soldiers have the effect of boosting morale?

Apparently impossible, right? What can these thirty-three copper coins do?

Of course, Xuchang is the seat of Yingchuan County, and the price of rice here will certainly not be exaggerated to the point of 400 yuan, 500 yuan, and 600 yuan per stone of rice, and Li Junshou has worked very hard to control it within 350 yuan per stone of rice, according to this price, 33 copper coins can probably buy nine catties of rice, which is not enough for one person to eat for ten days.

Not to mention Zhao Yu, even Tian Qin, Liao Guang and other officials of the Governor's Office did not think that this money could play a role in boosting morale.

"It's better to distribute food directly."

When Zhao Yu held a meeting in the Governor's Office, a Gong Cao muttered in a low voice, causing everyone's attention.

By the way, in Xuchang City, food control has also been adopted, but it is different from Kunyang.

On the Kunyang side, the implementation is the 'wartime control' proposed by Zhao Yu, that is, the county government collects grain and feeds all the people in the county according to three different standards, while the local people unconditionally accept the arrangements of the county government, men either serve as soldiers or work in workshops, while women and children do more less intense work, such as sewing armor, boiling water for cooking, etc., in other words, this is a disguised 'work for relief', which can be understood as the Kunyang County government 'hires' all the local people with grain.

The advantage of this is that although the people of Kunyang may not be able to eat enough, they will not starve to death, and the county government can pinch the grain of the whole county in their hands, which is convenient for regulation and control, and even fundamentally eliminates the possibility of the emergence of a 'grain black market'. - Of course, those black market grain merchants may not dare to go to Kunyang, after all, there is a group of bandit forces in Kunyang that the rebels are afraid of.

Xuchang is different, Xuchang adopted, is also the Jinguo county commonly used 'control law', to put it bluntly, is to stipulate the amount of grain purchased by each household in the month, and send relevant officials to supervise, and at the same time crack down on hoarding, crack down on black market grain and rice, and strictly control the price of rice within a certain range to avoid huge fluctuations.

Compared with Kunyang, the advantage of this is that the pressure on the government is relatively small, and it does not have to bear the responsibility of the rations of the people in the entire city; At the same time, those people whose food consumption exceeds the standards set by the government can only buy food through the black market, which stimulates the circulation of 'black market rice' in disguise.

Thinking about it this way, Zhao Yu felt that his 'Kunyang model' was more advantageous, although he was under great pressure as a county official.

And when Zhao Yu and others held a meeting in the Governor's Office on "how to effectively use that million dollars to stimulate morale", in Yingyin County, more than ten miles away, a team under the banner of 'Jiangxia Yishi' hurriedly entered the city.

Headed by it, it was Zhong Fei, the general of the Jiangxia Righteous Division, who was stationed in Linying during this time, and Zhou Gong, who was also the general of the Jiangxia Army and was stationed in Yanling during this time.

After learning the news that Zhong Fei and Zhou Gong came together, Xiang Xuan and Yan Xuan personally welcomed the two into the city and invited them to the original county office.

In the house that originally belonged to the county magistrate's house in the county office, Xiang Xuan and the others invited Zhong Fei and Zhou Gong to sit down, and immediately, Xiang Xuan smiled and said to the two: "The two of you have worked hard to run this trip, especially General Zhou." ”

"Where, where." Zhong Fei smiled and waved his hand.

From the side, Zhou Gong smiled silently.

As the three generals who were sent by Jiangxia Yishi Qu Shuai Chen Miao to assist Xiang Xuan in attacking Xuchang last year, Yan Xuan, Zhong Fei, and Zhou Gong still have a good relationship with Xiang Xuan. ——This is thanks to the personal relationship between Guan Shuo and Chen Miao.

After some greetings, Xiang Xuan put away the smile on his face, and after glancing at Yan Xuan, he said to Zhong Fei and Zhou Gong with a straight face: "I invited you two to come this time to discuss a major matter...... Do you know Zhou Hu? ”

"Kunyang's 'black scarf thief' thief, Zhou Hu?" Zhong Fei asked in surprise.

Black Turban Thief, this is the usual name of the Black Tiger Thief under Zhao Yu's leadership by the righteous teachers of Changsha and Jiangxia, just because the Black Tiger Thief who brought heavy damage to the righteous teacher at that time was wrapped in a black scarf on his head, so he was called a 'black scarf pawn' by the righteous soldiers, even if it was clearly known that people called themselves 'Black Tiger', such as 'Black Turban Pawn' and 'Black Turban Thief' are also difficult to correct because they are called smooth.

"Yes."

After hearing Zhong Fei's words, Xiang Xuan nodded, and then said: "Now this Zhou Hu is in Xuchang, and has replaced Cao Suo as the governor of Yingchuan County. ”918

“……”

Zhong Fei showed a look of surprise on his face, and from the side, Zhou Gong, who was not smiling, immediately frowned.

You must know that since the first war in Kunyang, Zhao Yu's pseudonym of 'Zhou Hu', although it is not famous all over the world, has been spread all over the army among the righteous teachers of Changsha and Jiangxia.

It's no wonder, after all, Zhao Yu hit Guan Shuo hard last year, and there was still Chen Miao by Guan Shuo's side at that time - the Qu Shuai of the two righteous divisions was defeated by one person, how could this not shock the soldiers of the two righteous divisions in Changsha and Jiangxia?

Seeing that Zhong Fei and Zhou Gong both had different faces, Xiang Xuan no longer concealed it, and said: "Two, originally my three parties planned to besiege Xuchang, and that was when Cao Suo served as the captain, and I forgive Cao Suo for not playing any tricks." However, Zhou Hu is different, this week Zhou Hu replaced Cao Suo as the governor of Yingchuan County, we must change our previous strategy, take Xuchang as soon as possible, and must not give Zhou Hu a chance to completely control the Yingchuan County Army......"

Zhong Fei nodded and asked, "What are General Xiang's plans?" ”

Hearing this, Xiang Xuan and Yan Xuan glanced at each other, and Zhengse said: "I have discussed with General Yan, although Xuchang's troops are weak, but the number is not small, only if I launch a joint attack from the three sides, can we capture Xuchang in one fell swoop......"

"Assault ......"

A hint of hesitation flashed on Zhong Fei's face.

Seeing this, Xiang Xuan immediately persuaded: "This matter must be done as soon as possible!" …… The two must not have forgotten that last year, Guan Shuai was thinking about reducing casualties, so he first besieged Kunyang, and then sent the Green Forest Army to attack the city, which gave Kunyang a chance to breathe, not only did not capture Kunyang in the end, but instead trained an elite team for that Zhou Hu...... At this time, it is advisable to immediately send troops to attack, otherwise, if the Zhou Tiger is given a chance to breathe, no one can guarantee whether the Zhou Tiger will train another 'Xuchang pawn', and at that time, if we want to capture Xuchang and completely occupy this area, I am afraid it will be even more difficult. ”

"Hmm......"

Zhong Fei touched his beard and pondered, and suddenly, he turned his head and asked Zhou Gong, "Zhou Gong, what do you think?" ”

"There's nothing wrong with attacking early."

Zhou Gong glanced at Xiang Xuan and Yan Xuan, frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "Two days ago, the soldiers I sent to Runan County to urge grain came back and told me that Chen Shuai had led the army to Chen County, counting the days, it should be time to Chen County......

"So fast?"

Zhong Fei looked surprised and asked curiously, "Is Chen Shuai's troops enough?" ”

It's no wonder he asked, after all, Chen Xuan, the commander of his Jiangxia Righteous Division, sent 40,000 troops to reinforce Guan Shuo and Xiang Xuan last year, and transferred 50,000 troops to reinforce Guan Shuo after the beginning of spring this year - although most of these 50,000 troops were newly recruited in Runan County last year, but after careful calculation, with the troops under Chen Miao's hands now, it is really reluctant to hold on to Runan County, let alone attack Chen County?

"I don't know about this, I think Chen Shuai has his idea."

Zhou Gong shook his head, frowned slightly, and said, "It's okay to capture Xuchang as soon as possible, just so that I can lead the army to reinforce Chen Shuai." ”

Xiang Xuan was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "Since this is the case, then it is scheduled that three days later, my three forces will attack Xuchang together, and strive to capture Xuchang in one go!" ”

"Hmm."

Zhong Fei and Zhou Gong glanced at each other and nodded solemnly.

On the same day, Xiang Xuan, Yan Xuan, Zhong Fei, and Zhou Gong finished discussing, and then Zhong Fei and Zhou Gong returned to Linying and Yanling respectively.

Two days later, on June 14, Zhou Gong sent troops to Yanling, led 12,000 troops, marched more than 60 miles, and marched towards Xuchang, and marched to the eastern suburbs of Xuchang for 20 miles before the evening of the 14th.

Since there was no wolf activity in the east of Xuchang, the army of Xuchang did not dare to go out of the city, and no one knew about the entire Xuchang.

The next day, that is, on June 15, Zhong Fei sent troops in the direction of Linying, led an army of 15,000, and arrived in the southern suburbs of Xuchang after marching for two hours.

On the same day, Xiang Xuan and Yan Xuan sent troops to Yingyin and led an army of 15,000.

By the morning of the 15th, these three volunteer divisions, totaling 42,000 troops, appeared in the east, south, and west directions of Xuchang at the same time, arranging troops outside the city to prepare for the siege.

For a time, the three alarm bells of Xuchang West City Gate, South City Gate, and East City sounded, and the entire Xuchang City fell into panic.