Li Yan lived in Kaifeng for more than a month, and finally selected the garrison troops and began training. The net is worth your collection. It turns out that there are many people who are willing to be soldiers in the social soldiers, mainly because food is difficult to buy, and eating food as a soldier can at least make their families have a full stomach. The Hui Min, except for a few who wanted to join the army, was disbanded as a whole. There are too many rules, and there is no way to serve, so they can only leave the army.

Fortunately, the winter wheat harvest in Guide Province has been abundant, and the harvest of potatoes is even larger, so it can barely supply food to the troops and military families, while other people can only buy high-priced grain for the time being. Of course, potatoes are the cheapest to sell, and ten taels of silver can buy one stone, which is more than ten times cheaper than wheat. Li Yan transferred dozens of people from Qixian County and other places to teach the people who bought potatoes how to make potatoes and eat, at least so that the poor people could live.

However, the recruits in Kaifeng are also bitter about the potatoes for two meals a day, although there are a lot of tricks, mashed potatoes, potato flour, potato cakes, etc., but they are still difficult to adapt to in the short term. Therefore, the garrison let go of the mixed noodles and steamed buns at noon, and the potato meals in the morning and evening were just to deal with it.

However, the high-intensity training soon made them not have the idea of picky eating, and they ate whatever they wanted, as long as they could fill their stomachs.

As for the workshop, Li Yan has not yet started construction. Although the geographical conditions of Kaifeng are better, and there are many people waiting to work, Li Zicheng is still wandering around Xuzhou, so he does not dare to invest too many resources in Kaifeng. After all, Kaifeng is a target, and he doesn't plan to waste too many resources here until a solid defense system is established.

Li Yan returned to Qixian County to listen to Li Zhong's report.

"At present, Tongxu, Weishi, Fugou, Taikang, Dancheng, Huaiyang, Xihua and other counties have been taken over." Li Zhong said: "The thieves there retreated when they saw our people, but the walls of these counties have been demolished, and there are basically few people in the county town. People who had been hiding in other places were still coming back, but there were not many people, and most of them were old people and children. A lot of young men and women have been plundered, so ~"

Li Yan was very helpless, he understood what Li Zhong meant, that is to say, their policy of exchanging land for soldiers would be greatly discounted in these places. Even if the land is redistributed, there will not be many soldiers, and there will not be much food production.

He thought for a while and said, "There are young and strong people in the family, and one soldier still gives ten acres of land. If they are all old and weak, then set aside a piece of land for these people to work together and manage it in a unified manner. However, it is still necessary to divide the fields to each family according to their labor ability, so that they do not push each other and no one is willing to contribute. ”

"Then how much tax will be charged?" asked Li Zhong.

"Forty percent, they didn't contribute soldiers, so naturally they can't be compared with military families." Li Yan said.

Li Zhong also reported: "Some families have returned to their villages, but there are not a few families left in the villages, and it is difficult to manage. ”

Li Yan frowned and thought for a while, and then ordered: "When the troops are exterminated by the bandits, gather all the people from these villages of three or five families, build a fortress in a suitable place, and redivide the fields near the fortress." If there are those who don't want to move, they should be arrested and let them build forts. After the repairs were completed, the family was moved to a farther county for resettlement. ”

"Isn't this a bit intense?" asked Li Zhong. His original intention was to merge if he could, and if he didn't want to, let them fend for themselves. Now there are a lot of thieves and bandits, and if you don't get together, there is no way to live.

Li Yan explained: "Although Li Chuang and the others retreated, there were many small bandits in various places. When they were in several households, three or five robbers would be able to rob them all over again, so that the bandits would be able to exist for a long time. We still have to fight for territory with Li Zicheng and the official army, and we don't have the time and energy to spend with those little thieves. ”

Li Zhong kept nodding and said, "Well, what you said makes sense, then do as you say." However, there are still some villages that are self-contained, and some villages go unnoticed by thieves. ”

"See if the location is right and stay if it's the right place. However, they are also taxed at 40%, unless they are willing to let their own children serve in the army. And to send troops in, not to let them develop freely. Li Yan said while thinking.

Li Zhong frowned and said, "Doesn't this make them dissatisfied?"

Li Yan said nonchalantly: "If you dare to make trouble, then you will be suppressed as bandits." Taking advantage of the passage of the thieves to reorganize the people is much less expensive. Only when the people are organized by us can we have enough food, soldiers, and materials to make our territory indestructible. Even if the enemy has a million troops to attack, there is no need to panic. ”

Li Zhong looked at Li Yan helplessly, and he found that Li Yan was becoming more and more cruel. He seemed to see Li Zicheng's troops attacking, every village was a city, and every citizen was a soldier. The people delayed Li Zicheng's footsteps, and at the same time, they were slaughtered by Li Zicheng one by one. And they led the troops, one by one, to eliminate the team of thieves until Li Zicheng was defeated.

It was as if he saw countless corpses, blood and water all over the ground, and raging flames. In the midst of screams, the entire village was slaughtered. In the sound of artillery fire, countless thieves were killed and wounded. It's a trade for lives, and no matter who wins or loses, countless people will die.

"Second brother" Li Yan saw that Li Zhong was stunned for a long time and did not react, so he shouted.

Li Zhong came back to his senses and asked, "What's the matter?"

Li Yan said with a smile: "Second brother, are you tired, why don't you go to Kaifeng with me in a few days, let Li Mu deal with these things, and you can rest for a while." ”

Li Zhong shook his head and said, "No, Brother Mu is more tired than me, I have no problem." After that, he asked: "Fourth brother, how many people do you think will die and how many people will survive to end this troubled world?"

Li Yan was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Second brother, don't worry, as long as our strength is strong enough, the more people will survive." After all, the thieves are killing and destroying, and the officers and soldiers are no better, but we are rebuilding our homes one by one. ”

"How many troops do you need to be considered strong enough," Li Zhong then asked. They now have more than 40,000 soldiers and horses, and if they talk about fighting, they should not lose to any opponent. However, they still had to leave 20,000 troops to defend the place, so they still couldn't take the initiative to attack.

Li Yan thought for a while before he said with a smile: "100,000 soldiers and horses, when we can have 100,000 mobile soldiers and horses, we can defeat any opponent." Of course, it would be best if the cavalry could exceed three achievements. ”

Li Zhong shook his head helplessly, according to the current ratio, half of the troops will be left behind, and half of them will be battled, that is, 200,000 troops. According to the current situation, if the whole of Henan is taken down, I am afraid that we will be able to gather so many troops.

"Looks like we're going to have to work harder." Li Zhong said,

Li Yan shook his head and said with a smile: "Don't worry, be steady." When the foundation is firm, things will naturally be easier. ”

...

...