Mao Wenlong and Hong Chengchou did not give in to each other, so Hong Ziyan's marriage was delayed again. In the face of Hong Chengchou's repeated remorse, Mao Wenlong was also annoyed.

He had already made up his mind that he would never mention Hong Ziyan's marriage again in the future, and he didn't believe that Hong Chengchou could wait.

There was one more trouble, but fortunately, Mao Wenlong received good news that Chen Jisheng had returned with his troops and would arrive in Ye County tomorrow.

Chen Jisheng is back, which means that Li Zicheng has fled to Shanxi, and Henan Mansion will return to calm next, and Yexian County can continue to develop with peace of mind.

Early the next morning, Mao Wenlong took the whole army of Ye County out of the city to greet him. Chen Jisheng was very punctual, there were only 5,000 people when he went, but when he came back, Mao Wenlong found that it seemed to be more than doubled.

After staying outside the city for a short time, Mao Wenlong took Chen Jisheng, who had returned triumphantly, back to Mao's mansion to talk first. The army was taken over by Liu Guangzuo and Chengzuo and brought back to the Houshan military camp to settle down.

In the conference hall in the front yard, Mao Wenlong, Hong Chengchou, Chen Jisheng, and Adou gathered in the hall.

Chen Jisheng's face was full of red light, and his face was full of smiles, it seems that the harvest of this expedition should be not small.

"Chief soldier, then Li Ziguo is as you expected, after they did not recruit soldiers and horses in Henan, they were suppressed by the officers and soldiers, and then they really fled to Shanxi. Now that the soldiers and horses of the imperial court have been chasing, Henan Mansion has completely calmed down. Chen Jisheng told Mao Wenlong in 1510.

Mao Wenlong was also very satisfied after hearing this, and asked Chen Jisheng with a smile on his face: "There should indeed be no problem in Henan in a short period of time, but what is the situation in Shaanxi now?" ”

Speaking of the situation in Shaanxi, the smile on Chen Jisheng's face disappeared suddenly, and he hesitated for a moment before replying: "The situation in Shaanxi is not very good, since that Li Zicheng fled to Henan with the remnants. There were no large numbers of displaced people in Shaanxi, and the imperial court took the opportunity to recover most of the city. ”

Chen Jisheng paused for a moment before continuing: "Fortunately, the grain and grass in the court are indeed insufficient, and they still failed to appease the people of Shaanxi, and chaos occurs from time to time. The only bad thing is Xianyang City, Brother Xu Fuzuo has not had a good time recently, and has been attacked by the imperial court several times, but fortunately, he can still withstand it, but he can't expand again. ”

"It's just that I can't expand." Mao Wenlong laughed twice, not caring at all.

Chen Jisheng obviously had a different opinion from Mao Wenlong, and he said with a sad face: "General soldier, now is the emptiest time in Shaanxi, and it is also the best time for Brother Xu's side to develop. The imperial court obviously also took care of these, so it left tens of thousands of troops to involve Brother Xu. ”

Saying this, Mao Wenlong felt that it was indeed reasonable, and thought about it: "That's it! After two days, you and Adou will go together to help. Push back those tens of thousands of imperial troops, and then take the opportunity to expand, but don't expand too fast, you have to fight steadily, you know? ”

Chen Jisheng and Adou immediately responded with fists: "The subordinates obey the order!" ”

Mao Wenlong waved his hand and said, "Okay, Jisheng, you're tired when you came back just now, go down to rest first, and we'll talk about it in the evening if there's something." ”

"Yes, the subordinates are retired!" Chen Jisheng stepped back with a smile.

Mao Wenlong looked at Hong Chengchou at this time, he was still worried about yesterday's events at the moment, and he didn't want to talk to him, but the affairs at home naturally couldn't affect the business, so Mao Wenlong still spoke first: "Sir, do you think there is anything to pay attention to in Shaanxi?" ”

Hong Chengchou had been closing his eyes just now, and he was suddenly asked, he opened his eyes and glanced at Mao Wenlong, shook his head and said: "The imperial court is difficult to take care of now in the first place, it is indeed a good time for us to expand, there is nothing to pay attention to." ”

The current situation is very good for Mao Wenlong, and it is the time for Mao Wenlong to expand with all his might. Of course, the premise is that Mao Wenlong has such strength, but fortunately, the current food in Ye County is sufficient, and there is no problem with adding another 100,000 soldiers and horses.

Mao Wenlong agreed with Hong Chengchou's words just now, he announced the dissolution with a smile, and then went to the barracks to check with Adou and Haoda.

The barracks are bustling with activity at the moment, and the entire school yard is overcrowded, and it is usually in order, but it will be a bit chaotic.

When Mao Wenlong arrived, Liu Guangzuo and Cheng Zuo were busy registering the new young adults.

Seeing this busy scene, Mao Wenlong didn't want to go down and bother, so he simply went to the handsome tent first and asked Adou to help.

waited until the evening when Liu Guangzuo, Chengzuo, and Adou came to the tent with a tired face.

Mao Wenlong smiled and said, "What's the matter, it's very hard, right?" ”

Liu Guangzuo is refreshing after all, and he has always had a personality of saying whatever he wants, which will hear Mao Wenlong mention it, and he immediately stepped forward and complained: "Chief soldier, we only have two secretaries in the army now, and there are too many people like today to be busy at all." Will we recruit a few first? ”

Mao Wenlong was slightly stunned: "Why are there only two clerks, didn't I remember that there were more than a dozen before?" ”

Liu Guangzuo's face was full of bitterness, and he crossed his fingers to count Mao Wenlong's head: "When Brother Xu left, he took six of them directly. In the past, the farm needed a clerk and had to leave five, but now the remaining two are still left by me, otherwise the mistress would have been sent to the grain farm in the city to take care of the accounts. ”

After he mentioned this, Mao Wenlong really remembered, but such a trivial matter should not have to go through him before it can be recruited. It's just a small clerk, and if it's not enough, go to find it, so why complain to yourself here.

Mao Wenlong lowered his face and blamed Liu Guangzuo: "If you don't have enough manpower, you should recruit as soon as possible, why do you have to complain if you don't have enough people now?" ”

Cheng Zuo was afraid that Liu Guangzuo would be impulsive, so he immediately stepped forward and replied: "The general soldier doesn't know, this Ye County is a small place, and only the children of those big clans can read and count." Ordinary people didn't even have to eat before, and they were busy all day long for their families' food and clothing. ”

"No one in the family can afford to go to school, so there are very few competent clerks. And the gentry clan in Ye County has been completely wiped out by us, and we naturally can't use their children, so there have been no literate people in our army for a long time. ”

Mao Wenlong was very surprised, the current situation was completely beyond his imagination, hesitated for a moment, and asked without giving up: "Can't you recruit those scholars outside?" ”

Cheng Zuo looked embarrassed: "There are people who study outside, but either they have already served the imperial court or have been recruited by those rebels, and we will be gone when it is our turn." ”

In fact, Chengzuo still has reservations, and now those who read are fragrant and sweet, and they are popular everywhere. And the Dongjiang Army wants these scholars to just come to be a small clerk, who will be happy?

Mao Wenlong will finally realize that something is wrong, he himself actually left such an important thing behind.

Although the armed forces are peaceful in the world, and the armed forces are indeed ranked first in troubled times, the civil and military forces have complemented each other since ancient times, and they are indispensable.

And Mao Wenlong actually forgot about the text, the army was originally full of rough men, and there were any scholars there. Especially in the previous Dongjiang Town, except for a few generals under him who could also read and write, there were no scholars at all.

After some consideration, Mao Wenlong felt that it was necessary to set up a school in Ye County and accept some children who were suitable for reading age to start teaching.

"Well, I've remembered that, and I'll arrange it afterwards. Let's talk about what Jisheng brought back this time! Mao Wenlong had a plan in his heart, so he stopped talking about it.

Cheng Zuo looked confused, and he didn't know how Mao Wenlong would solve the problem of lack of scholars in the army. Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it anymore, he had no choice but not to talk about it.

"Returning to the general army, this time Brother Chen brought back more than 4,000 young and strong people, and more than 6,000 family members of the army. Horses, cattle and sheep are few, and the rest are things that are not worth mentioning. Chengzuo was not as happy as Chen Jisheng.

It is indeed good for 4,000 young men to join the army, and with only two months of intensive training, these 4,000 people are a good new army. But there are more than 6,000 family members of the accompanying army, which makes Cheng Zuo unhappy.

Although the grain in Ye County is sufficient, it cannot withstand such a waste. In addition, Yexian County's arable land is now saturated, and there is no surplus land to cultivate.

Fortunately, Mao Wenlong later set up a farm specializing in raising livestock, which provided stable meat for Ye County and fed a large group of people.

And the only regret is that if it goes on like this, Ye County can no longer withstand the toss.

Mao Wenlong didn't hear the helplessness in Cheng Zuo's tone, he smiled and said: "Not bad, the person brought back by this kid Jisheng should be good, how many generals and soldiers are there in our army now?" ”

Cheng Zuo recalled for a moment, and then said: "Our original Dongjiang army had 30,000, and now 20,000 have gone to Xianyang City. And there are only 10,000 left in Ye County. At present, there are 20,000 newly recruited soldiers, and the number of their family members is nearly 50,000. ”

Cheng Zuo didn't wait for Mao Wenlong to speak, he continued: "General soldier, we can't expand our troops like this. Every time the young recruits are recruited with their families, Ye County used to have extra land arrangements, but now it is completely saturated, and if it continues like this, Ye County will be overcrowded. ”

Mao Wenlong smiled indifferently: "Perhaps, it's time for us to expand a little." ”

did not let Chengzuo continue, and Mao Wenlong announced his dissolution after understanding the situation. Then before leaving, he explained that he would gather in the council hall of Mao's Mansion at night to discuss the expansion of Ye County.

Mao Wenlong then left the barracks and returned to Mao's mansion to find Hong Chengchou directly. He knew that Hong Chengchou was born as a literati, and he was the only one who taught literacy.

As for the matter of running a school, Mao Wenlong wanted to entrust this matter to him. After all, at present, Mao Wenlong's command is still under this one, and Hong Chengchou is still under heavy responsibility.

And the most important thing is that Hong Chengchou has been staying in Ye County since he came to Mao Wenlong, and has never done anything serious.

According to what he meant, Mao Wenlong knew that he didn't want to have any conflicts with the imperial court. But whenever there is a conflict, he avoids talking about it.

Hong Chengchou is reading a book in his study at the moment, enjoying his leisure time alone. The people outside were busy to death, and Mao Wenlong also gave him an official position as a general, but he never paid attention to things in the army.

Seeing Mao Wenlong coming suddenly, Hong Chengchou put down the books in his hand, he mistakenly thought that Mao Wenlong was here to give in to him and marry his daughter.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, and there was a hint of smugness on his face, which made Mao Wenlong very unhappy. He was not polite, and opened his mouth to tell him about running a school.

Hong Chengchou unexpectedly did not refuse, but hesitated: "You want to be in the Ye County Half School?" ”

Mao Wenlong nodded and said, "Yes, and the sooner the better." Now there is not even a small clerk in the army, and such talents are urgently needed. Of course, I don't need those students to read the scriptures or anything, I want to be able to do practical things and do work, but don't give me pustules that only know how to breathe. ”

Hong Chengchou doesn't like to hear this: "What's the pus, you make it clear to the old man." If you look down on scholars, don't come to me to do anything, the old man can't do anything about running a school, you can ask for another high-level job. ”

Hong Chengchou's temper was provoked again, and the black lines on Mao Wenlong's head were fine, but he blamed himself for being too talkative.

Subsequently, Mao Wenlong hurriedly said with a smiling face: "Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue, I apologized to you as soon as possible just now." ”

Seeing Mao Wenlong, who had a good attitude, Hong Chengchou reined in his temper and said coldly: "It's not impossible for me to run a school to teach students, but I must be in charge of the affairs of the school, and I have the final say on what I want to teach or not, and you are not allowed to interfere." ”

Mao Wenlong suddenly tightened his eyebrows, in this way, he was very bottomless, and Hong Chengchou always made Mao Wenlong hate it like this.

He really wanted to stop asking Hong Chengchou altogether, but at present, he was the only one who could do it, so he had no choice but to face the reality. In short, promise to come down first, and who can say for sure what will happen in the future.

"Okay, that's it! You can pick the questions of the students in the whole Ye County, and you can pick whichever one you like. My request was very simple, first help me teach a few to serve as clerks in the army. "Mao Wenlong is very simple.

Running a school is to teach and educate people, and to be a model for others. Hong Chengchou is actually very impulsive in his heart, he is also quite interested in this, and he doesn't want his talent to be buried like this.

Without any hesitation, in the face of Mao Wenlong's small request, Hong Chengchou naturally agreed. The two can be regarded as untying the knot in their hearts that they have formed in the past two days because of Hong Ziyan's marriage.

didn't expect things to go so smoothly, Mao Wenlong originally thought that Hong Chengchou would embarrass himself in every way. Now it seems that he himself is worrying about the sky and thinking too much.

talked with Hong Chengchou about running a school again, and Mao Wenlong didn't invite Hong Chengchou to go to the dining hall until the evening.

Before the meal, Mao Wenlong informed Hong Chengchou that the location of the school could be discussed with Chen Lan and Ziyan. It's up to them to do it, and Hong Chengchou has no objection to this.

As a result, the relationship between the two has also eased, and for the first time during the meal, they talked and laughed and talked happily. broke the long-standing default rules in Mao's house, and ate without saying anything!