After coming to Lanzhou, although Qin Mubai also had his own special driver's office in the Governor's Mansion, because his work was mostly related to the Assassin's Mansion, he spent more time in the Lanzhou Assassin's Mansion.

Today, as usual, when he was discussing the matter of spring ploughing with Lanzhou Thorn Shi Xiao Liang and others, a guard hundred horsemen in the Governor's Mansion came to report, saying that Xue Wanche and Xue Wanjun, brothers with some generals, rushed into the Governor's Mansion and loudly questioned the Governor Qin Shubao, and they were forced to the palace!

As soon as Qin Mubai heard this, he felt a little angry in his heart, threw down the matter at hand, and immediately rushed to the Governor's Mansion just one street away.

In the council hall of the Governor's Palace, there were indeed many people standing. Although it is not like the pawn said that it is forcing the palace by force, but the smell of gunpowder is indeed very strong. Even from a distance, you can hear a loud roar.

The people in the military are different from the court officials, and it is not uncommon for them to speak loudly and straight, and to roar. It's just that the Xue brothers gathered so many generals to come together to make trouble and besiege Qin Shubao, which is indeed excessive!

Above the main hall, Xue Wanche was on the left, Xue Wanjun was on the right, and there were six or seven generals standing behind the two brothers, most of whom were front-line field commanders, with personalities like fire, and most of them were people who had followed the Xue brothers for many years and were accustomed to fighting. There are many people, as if they don't intend to give Qin Shubao, the general, much face. The gossip was passionate, and the quarrel was fierce.

Qin Mubai was angry and listened outside, these people were arguing around, and the focus of the argument was nothing more than why he didn't wave his army to attack for a long time, but still held on to the city. This is just a matter of self-reliance, and we actually let the whole army of 50,000 go to farming - we are warriors who kill the enemy, not farmers who cut seeds!

In the face of the indiscriminate bombardment of this group of fellow generals, Qin Shubao's reaction was surprisingly calm. Not humble, not overbearing, and not too much. Still as water, eyes like falcons, with his hands on his beard, quietly watching these people perform, almost without saying a word.

Everyone made a fuss for a while, and found that Qin Shubao didn't give a reaction, but beat a drum in his heart, as if he also realized that something was wrong with him, so he gradually quieted down.

Xue Wanjun hugged his fists and said, "General, if you are not rude to the last general, you must dare to commit a crime." It's just that the last general is very puzzled by the order issued by the Governor's Office. The officers and men of the three armies are not satisfied. If a reasonable explanation is not given, the generals and others are afraid that the army's mind will change, which is not good! ”

Qin Shubao looked at Xue Wanjun, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, his long gray beard trembled slightly, and said, "Finally finished arguing?" ”

Xue Wanjun and the others' faces changed, knowing that they were rude first, and hurriedly clasped their fists together: "The last general is rude, I hope the general will forgive me!" ”

Qin Shubao stood up, put his hands behind his back, and slowly walked to the middle of Xue Wanjun and the others, and said leisurely: "It's not been a year and a half since you joined the army. Do you have to know, what is a military order? ”

"Yes, the Admiral knows." Xue Wanjun seemed to be the head of the generals, and replied with his fists clenched, "Military orders are like mountains, and orders are used to obey." ”

"And what are you doing here?" Uncle Qin's phoenix eyes narrowed faintly burst out with a trace of murderous aura, stared at Xue Wanjun, and said in a deep voice, "I have ordered it to be released, and it can be changed?" Wait, are you trying to force the palace to fail?! ”

"The last general will not dare!" Xue Wanjun and the others clasped their fists neatly and hurriedly responded.

At this moment, the smell of gunpowder in the hall suddenly became stronger, and although Xue Wanjun's mouth softened, he was obviously not convinced, and insisted: "The last general has already said it." It's not that we're reluctant to carry out military orders. It's just the desire of the army, and the generals don't want to farm, they just want to go into battle to kill the enemy! Moreover, the last general has led the army here for more than three months, and not a single soldier has been moved, and the Tubo people occasionally come to provoke and disturb the trouble, and the Governor's Mansion has not issued a strict order. All the soldiers held back a fire in their hearts, vomited a puddle of blood, and had nowhere to vent! Now, if you don't let me go into battle, I will let me take off my robe and armor and go to farming...... In this way, the last general can still act according to the order without complaint, but it is difficult to protect the soldiers under his command, what is their heart! ”

"Are you threatening me?" Qin Shubao's voice was cold, and he walked up to Xue Wanjun and stared into his eyes. Because he was slightly taller than Xue Wanjun, he lowered his head slightly condescendingly, and said almost to his face, "Is it this general, I have to explain everything to you clearly?" ”

Xue Wanjun was forced in front of Qin Shubao so aggressively, as if he couldn't hide his anger, and said in a deep voice: "The last general will never dare to commit a crime." However, the public is angry, and the general is asked to think twice. Be sure to give a reasonable explanation! ”

"What if I don't give it?" Qin Shubao asked.

Xue Wanjun quickly continued: "Then the end will ...... It is difficult to ensure whether the military will mutiny! ”

"You dare!" Qin Shubao drank in a deep voice, and his anger burst out!

The sound of swords unsheathed suddenly sounded in the hall, and the hundred cavalry guards moved forward when they heard the sound. Xue Wanche and the others, who had been watching from the sidelines, also reacted immediately, and many people held their hands on the hilt of the knife, and they just pulled it out!

Sabre-rattling, touch-and-go!

At this time, Qin Mubai walked in with his feet raised.

"Stand down!" He shouted loudly, and all the hundreds of horsemen returned their swords to their sheaths, glanced at the Xue brothers and the others a few times coldly, and retreated.

Xue Wanche and the others also put away the hand holding the knife, and symbolically hugged Qin Mubai: "I've seen the young general." ”

Major General is a new title after Qin Mubai came to Lanzhou. Because both father and son are surnamed Qin, the title of "General Qin" is inevitably confused. Qin Shubao is a general, so Qin Mubai is called a major general.

"Father." After entering the door, Qin Mubai first saw the military salute, and then said, "Didn't General Xue and the others want to explain?" Allow the end of the world to explain it to them! ”

"Humph!" Qin Shubao sneered and said noncommittal, walked back to the handsome chair and sat down, and drank tea by himself.

Arrogant, eating soft and not hard, this is a typical Qin Shubao style.

Now, the siege target of the Xue brothers has instantly changed to Qin Mubai. Because they knew that these decrees were actually from Qin Mubai's hands. The purpose of this trip was not originally to fight with Qin Shubao, but to target Qin Mubai.

"Major General, it's just in time." Xue Wanjun seemed to be smiling, and said in a fierce and energetic tone, "We are very puzzled by the decree issued by the governor. You are the governor of the Metropolitan Government, in charge of government affairs and people's livelihood, these decrees should be from you, right? ”

"Yes." Qin Mubai smiled and nodded.

"Then why did you make such a decision?" Xue Wanjun's thick eyebrows tightened, and he said sharply, "Fifty thousand troops, hot-blooded warriors - big eyes and small eyes follow you to farm and weave mulberry!" Do you treat Lanzhou as Xiangzhou? ”

"How is Lanzhou, and what is happening to Xiangzhou?" Qin Mubai didn't laugh angrily, and said lightly, "The soldiers and civilians in Xiangzhou are people, but the soldiers and civilians in Lanzhou are not people, so they don't need to eat and dress?" ”

"You...... Distinguish sophistry! Xue Wanjun touched a nail that was not big or small, his anger rose more and more, and he gritted his teeth and said, "We are waiting for thousands of miles to wave our troops, just to expel Hu Lu and kill the enemy for the country." Farming and raising mulberry is what farmers and women do! How can we wait for the admirals to follow suit—what a reason! ”

"What General Xue said is extremely true!" The generals joined together, "The Tibetan scattered cavalry and the brave often harassed, plundered the herdsmen and burned and robbed the villages, and they were extremely vicious!" At this moment, we should fight bravely to kill the enemy to protect the territory and the people, how can we sit idly by, but go to farm and raise mulberry with peace of mind, and do the act of sheep and cattle! ”

"Everyone, calm your anger first." Qin Mubai suppressed his anger and said calmly, "Let me ask first, how much grain do you still have in the army?" ”

Xue Wanjun sneered: "The grain and grass of all the armies are distributed by you, but you came to ask us instead?" ”

"I have to say it yourself. Don't you ever care about grain, so you can't tell why? Qin Mubai was not angry, but looked at him with a smile.

Xue Wanjun temporarily suppressed his anger and replied: "This general commanded more than 15,000 soldiers and horses on the front line of Shancheng, 20,000 horses, and a total of more than 30,000 stones of grain and grass. ”

"That's a total of 35,000 mouths, waiting to eat?" Qin Mubai smiled faintly and said, "There are only 30,000 stones of grain and grass left, and on average, there is less than one stone of grain and grass per person per horse." Even if one person and one horse have a hundred catties of grain and grass, enough to eat for a few days, I don't think I need to count it with you - within a month, the grain and grass will be exhausted, right? ”

"So what?" Xue Wanjun sneered, "Could it be that you don't allocate grain and grass to us anymore?" ”

"Of course not." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "However, in the Lanzhou Mansion, there are only less than 200,000 stones of grain and grass left. How much can I dial you? I asked General Xue Wanche rhetorically, there are more soldiers and civilians in Liangzhou than in the Shancheng front, right? ”

"Yes." Xue Wanche replied lukewarmly.

"Lanzhou is more than Shancheng and Liangzhou." Qin Mubai said, "In this way, how should the 200,000 stone grain and grass be distributed?" I would like to ask the generals. ”

"That's your business!" Xue Wanjun said impatiently, "After talking about it for a long time, what do you want to say?" If there is no grain and grass, will you not find the imperial court? What does the military department do for food, isn't it just to supply grain and grass to the front? ”

"Yes, these things should be worried about by the military department, so I don't need to worry about it." Qin Mubai said, "But have you calculated, every stone of grain and grass transported to Lanzhou, it will take at least two months." In addition, 100,000 stones of grain and grass set off from Taicang, Chang'an, and it would be good to have 30,000 or 40,000 stones left when they arrived in Lanzhou. In addition, there are also winter clothes and bedding for the soldiers, all of which are supplied from the rear. Lanzhou's barren land has almost no self-sufficiency. Well, the Tibetans are coming, and they are repulsed. Repel today, and come again tomorrow. Defense is always passive, if the Guanlong defense line is large, which place can the generals defend? After guarding the east side, an enemy cavalry from the west infiltrated in, burned, killed, looted, and abused for a while, and ran away. Our army struggled to catch up, or maybe it was able to catch up, and cut off a few heads and ran back in a hurry, thinking that it had made a great achievement. However, can this really frustrate the bones of the Tibetan people? ”

"What do you mean by that?" Xue Wanjun couldn't help but be a little annoyed, "Are you doubting the combat ability of Ben and his subordinates?" ”

"Definitely." Qin Mubai said, "General Xue's courage and good fighting make the enemy fearful, and the world knows it. However, the general was eager for meritorious service, but short-sighted. I only think about killing the enemy today, not tomorrow. The lifeblood of the Lanzhou garrison is supported by the supply line of 1,400 miles behind them. Isn't this a fatal cover that restricts our army's combat effectiveness? The Tibetan people are good at guerrillas, and they leave immediately after fighting, and they are erratic. The reason why they dare to do this is because they are sure that we are not well supplied, and they cannot afford to go on an expedition to destroy their lair. Therefore, every time he came to harass and plunder, he swaggered back to Dafeichuan to garrison. We know that they are stationed in the hinterland of Dafeichuan and Tuyuhun, but we are unable to conquer and exterminate them. No matter how brave a soldier is, he can't fight hungry, right? If you can shorten the supply line from 1,400 li to dozens of li, or even carry a granary with you to fight, what is there to fear? ”

"Oh, after talking for a long time, that's why you ordered Tuntian Weaving?" Xue Wanjun was not convinced, but sneered, "It is said that Ben will be short-sighted, but your vision is really long-term." The 50,000 army has gone to farm and raise mulberry, who will defend against the enemy? If the Tibetans come to attack at this time, won't the newly opened fields and mulberry gardens be completely destroyed? ”

"When you are free, you are a farmer and a soldier when you are in war, so why bother?" Qin Mubai replied, "Farming and raising mulberry is, of course, temporary. All the proceeds of the farmland and mulberry orchards that were opened up belonged to the army, and there was no offense against the people. Our army is self-sufficient, firstly, to open up sources and reduce expenditure for Datang, and secondly, to receive grain and grass quickly, so that there is no need to worry about supplies. However, there are no worries about the future, and the army's combat effectiveness will certainly rise steadily. It will not be difficult to win the battle again. ”

"Sounds wonderful." Xue Wanjun said, "However, is farming and raising mulberry a day's work? It is not the work of years to plant trees and open pastures! - How long are you going to let our 50,000-strong army stay in Lanzhou?! ”

"As little as one year, as much as five years, it will be effective!" Qin Mubai replied decisively.

"How can this be true? The battle has not yet been fought, so let's farm for five years! Xue Wanjun was full of anger and said hatefully, "We are all war-torn people, and we would rather return the body with a horse leather than be a mud-legged general who farms and raises mulberry!" ”

At this time, Qin Mubai's face also sank, and he said coldly: "I have explained everything that should be explained." If you still have any questions, please come to inquire privately, and I will answer them patiently. If you really don't want to do what you are told, then please! ”

Xue Wanjun's eyes widened: "We are ordered to come to suppress the thieves and kill the enemy, and the follow-up supply has nothing to do with us!" All in all, we dare not obey the decree of farming and raising mulberry! ”

"After talking for a long time, you still have to disobey the military order?" Qin Mubai smiled coldly, "As the saying goes, salute first and then soldier." I feel like I've said everything I need to say and explained everything. If General Xue wants to be aggressive again, I will have to do business! ”

"How dare you? You still dare to tie me up! Xue Wanjun was furious and roared, "Ben General, I will have a copy of you now!" It's been more than 100 days since you came to Lanzhou, and you don't do your job all day long, taking the officials up and down to enjoy the mountains and rivers! I don't want to use soldiers and don't want to retreat from the enemy, I just want to raise mulberry turtles in Tuntian and shrink to defend yourself, you are clearly raising Kou and fattening the soldiers to be self-respecting! ”

"General Xue wants to join me? Okay, go ahead! Qin Mubai smiled coldly in complete dismay, "Some, I can't ask for it!" ”

"We'll see!"

Xue Wanjun snorted, glared at Qin Mubai angrily, and strode away with a battle robe. The rest of the people also glared at Qin Mubai a few times with bad intentions, and left angrily.