At night, Chen Xinjia's mansion.

Zhang Ruoqi and Chen Xinjia drank tea in the study. After a long silence, Zhang Ruoqi finally asked: "This soldier, what do you have to show when you go out of the customs this time?" ”

Chen Xinjia shook his head and said, "You just went to discuss with Hong Hujiu, and by the way, observe the situation in Liaodong." Let's see if the soldiers in Liaodong can have the strength to fight. Hong Hujiu wants to consume, but our Daming is also full of natural disasters**, and the household department has already complained a lot. More than 100,000 troops, as well as 50,000 mules and horses, they could no longer afford to supply. ”

"What do you mean by this soldier, if you can, or can you fight quickly?" Zhang Ruoqi asked.

Chen Xinjia waved his hand and said, "I can't say that, it still depends on the actual situation in Liaodong and His Majesty's intentions." If it can be decided in one battle, it will be the best. If you can't fight, then you can only consume. It's just that I don't know how much summer tax I can collect this year, and whether I can support Liaodong. ”

"Hong Hujiu is said to have been in the army for a long time, and he has made great contributions to the eradication of Gao Chuang." Zhang Ruoqi frowned, and said puzzledly: "And he has won a few battles in Liaodong before, he wants to gather troops, and His Majesty and his own soldiers have also transferred troops to him." But even so, he still insisted on confronting the Qing soldiers, which made some sense. ”

"That's why I want to send you over to take a look," Chen Xinjia said, "Let's see what the situation in Liaodong is." ”

Zhang Ruoqi nodded and said, "Don't worry, this soldier will definitely report back the situation in Liaodong in time." ”

Chen Xinjia nodded and said, "Well, Brother Wangtian Shi will leave as soon as possible to share your Majesty's worries." ”

"The next official will leave the day after tomorrow, and he must report the situation in Liaodong to the imperial court earlier." Zhang Ruoqi stood up and arched his hand. After that, he said goodbye and left.

Return to the city of Defu, the guerrilla general Yamen.

After Li Yan arranged the affairs of Xiayi and Yongcheng, he returned to Fucheng. He put Li Zhong in charge of Qixian, Kaocheng, Suizhou, and Ningling to the west of Decheng, and Li Moulai to be in charge of Yucheng, Xiayi, and Yongcheng in the east of Fucheng.

Their main responsibility is to resettle displaced people and protect places, which they have been doing, and there is no difficulty. As for the work of the county government, they basically don't care. After the villages, bazaars, and workshops outside the city are established, there will be basically nothing to do in the yamen.

When Li Yan returned to Fucheng, he received good news from Qixian County, and the potatoes planted in February also had a bumper harvest. That is, with them, it is possible to grow two crops of potatoes in a year. This is good news, especially for Li Yan.

His territory suddenly expanded seven or eight times, and the number of people to be resettled suddenly increased by six or seven times. At this time, there was good news that potatoes could be planted for two seasons, which immediately reassured him. As long as the people have something to eat, they can settle down. Although people may not be used to using potatoes as a staple food, it is much better than tree bark and wild vegetables, and the people should be able to accept it.

However, Li Yan still does not plan to let go of those big households, no matter whether the people have spent this year's rations or not, the big households must pay taxes. However, the granges of those royal palaces are not easy to deal with, there are not only the granges of the Zhou king's mansion, but also the granges of other royal mansions. He can't move these palaces yet, so Tian Yong's role is becoming more and more important.

Li Yan instructed Li Mu: "When you go to Xiayi this time, what you have to do is not only to resettle the homeless, but also to exterminate a small group of thieves!" ”

Li Mu nodded and said, "Okay, as long as the recruits are replenished, I will start dealing with it." ”

Li Yan continued: "Also be careful, you can't let Tian Yong get food from us. It doesn't matter if you come here to grab it or buy it from us. ”

"Isn't this forcing him to Yuan Laoshan?" Li Mu asked puzzled.

Li Yan explained: "Yuan Laoshan has no food there, I have asked the second brother to increase troops in Luyi County, as long as Yuan Laoshan crosses the border, he will resolutely crack down." ”

Li Mu thought for a moment and asked, "If they don't dare to come to us, they will go somewhere else." Is the fourth brother trying to force him away? ”

"I don't care where he goes, but he can't come to us for trouble." Li Yan said: "This is very important, so that the people have absolute trust in us. Regardless of whether Yuan Laoshan will leave or not, Tian Yong should stay. ”

"Oh? What is the rationale for this? Li Mu asked suspiciously.

Li Yan explained: "There are already a few former officers and soldiers who have come into contact with the people we sent. They are all locals, and they all regret leaving and want to return to our team. But I haven't agreed to let them come back for the time being, but let them stay in Tian Yong's team so that they can be our eyeliner. ”

"Gao," Li Mu praised: "As long as we have these inside lines, we can grasp Tian Yong's situation, surround them, and force them to surrender." After that, let them make knives for us, and let the gentry obey. ”

Li Yan smiled: "This is not in a hurry, now is not the time." Let's wait for the thieves and the officials and soldiers who come to encircle and suppress them to fight first, if the officials and troops win, we still have to keep a low profile. If the thieves win again, then these gentry will not be so tough. At that time, let Tian Yong and them move, and it will be twice the result with half the effort. ”

Li Mu said with a smile: "It's still the fourth brother who thinks thoughtfully. Then he asked, "What are we going to do with those royal granges?" ”

Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "After I go, I can divide the wasteland when I see it." If someone from the palace comes to look for it, you ask them to take out the title deed, which is a red deed approved by the government, and a private white deed is not counted. If the red deed is also taken out, you can send them to me, and I will deal with it. ”

"If there are those who can't open their eyes, just throw them into the Yellow River." Li Mu said with a smile: "This is a mess, and it is normal for anything to happen." ”

"If there are too many people, forget it," Li Yan reminded: "If there are too many people, those princes will be asked for help everywhere." Our best choice now is to keep a low profile. Don't let anyone pay attention to us, so that we can digest this place in Guide Mansion with peace of mind. ”

Li Mu said with a smile: "I know, I will grasp the scale." ”

Li Yan instructed: "Okay, you bring the 1,200 stone grain over, it should be able to be used for a while." ”

Li Mu smiled: "This can be regarded as a little contribution made by those officials and gentry to us." But those guys are really powerful, Su Jingjing didn't agree, so he moved the grain out of the treasury. Su Jing is also angry now, and it is estimated that he will not stand with those officials and gentry in the future. ”

"Their contribution is still to come," Li Yan also said with a smile, "So we can't be too ruthless with these officials now." ”

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