It was light and March of the sixth year, and the weather was getting warmer. Whether it is a plateau or a meadow, the snow has melted, and the people on the Hetao Plain drive their slightly tired cattle to work in the fields.

The fields are full of keel waterwheels that have been improved by Ma Jun, and the river water is lifted to irrigate the fields one by one. In the field, many cattle pull an unknown frame to move horizontally and vertically, which is Ma Jun's newly invented seeding vehicle. The ox pulls and drives away, and a farmer on the car steps on the mechanism to make power, automatically digging the pit and then sowing the seeds.

It is also matched with a harvesting locomotive, which only needs two farmers to operate, and the efficiency is three or five times faster than the usual harvest of four or five people. However, at this time, it is spring plowing and sowing, and it is not necessarily in the field.

According to the farming mode of the past, it is difficult to fully develop the world in the Hetao Plain without 100,000 people. However, because of the above three farming tools, not to mention the improvement of efficiency, it also liberated tens of thousands of laborers for the Northern Protectorate.

The Xiongnu, Qiang and other foreign people, who originally moved into the Han Dynasty in large numbers, gave up their grazing and embarked on the road of commerce. For this reason, Ao had to try to centralize the management of the relatively concentrated pastoral areas, and pay for labor, so as not to waste such a rich pastoral area.

As for the people who gave up farming and grazing, some of them were employed by Xiang Ao's unified management of the pastoral areas or official construction, and most of the people preferred to engage in commercial transactions, wandering around the Han prefectures, and even all ethnic groups outside the Saiwai, and even some people dared to go to the Kushan land outside the Western Regions.

As for commercial taxes, Xiang Ao could not control them, so he had to levy customs duties according to the value and quantity of goods at the time of entry and exit. Each city has a fixed trading area, and you need to pay a fee to rent a trading desk. All transactions in the trading area are classified as illegal, and once discovered, the property will be confiscated during the current and daily transactions, and the family will be exterminated.

Xiang Ao even ordered the whole government to reward for reporting, which is very high, and try to eliminate tax evasion.

As for other taxes in the whole government, except for the poll tax required by the imperial court, Xiang Ao can be exempted. The taxes of the people engaged in agriculture are very small, and many people ask Xiang Ao for orders to rent more land and want to make a fortune.

In the lands of Linrong and Shuofang, although farming and animal husbandry are not good, there are more artisans who rent their own shops and use their ancestral skills to make a living. Xiang Ao is even more supportive, giving a lot of subsidies to craftsmen and reducing taxes and fees.

Different from the scene of refugees everywhere in the prefectures and counties of the Central Plains, the Northern Regions Protectorate is full of vitality, everyone's face is full of happiness, and every family is rich in meat and bright clothes. Even if you don't have long skills, you only need to endure hardships, and you can have no worries about food and clothing, after all, the Northern Regions Protectorate often issues unofficial conscriptions, and the salary is also a lot.

"Princess, Zhao admires!" Hu Zhao was amazed by the various decrees proposed by Xiang Ao in the past few months, and he admired Xiang Ao so much.

Xiang Ao waved his hand and said softly: "Kong Ming has a good reputation, I just want to make the people better, but I work hard for Kong Ming." ”

"It is the duty of the Lord to share his sorrows." Hu Zhaozuo bowed and said: "After being able to follow the lord, it is also a blessing for Zhao to create the northern region of Kangtai." ”

"Can Kong Ming not be so polite, although the two of us are divided between the top and bottom, we can also be teachers and friends, and it is good to be casual in private."

"There is a difference between respect and inferiority, and the lord must not say it again!"

Xiang Ao sighed helplessly, communicating with Hu Zhao many times was still fruitless, Hu Zhao was good at everything, but he was too rigorous, especially the difference between the top and bottom, and he did not regress.

Many political affairs in the Northern Regions have been arranged, and Jiang Zhuo has also been appointed as the commander of the city and temporarily transferred to the surrendered city. Although Zhang Long has not attacked in recent years, he has also worked hard, so Xiang Ao appointed Zhang Long as the county commander of Rong County, responsible for the defense and people's livelihood of Rong County.

The remaining Southern Huns who fled to the west did not move for the time being, so Xiang Ao ordered Wang Wu to serve as the county commander of the three seals, stationed in Jilusai and assisted Zhang Long in developing Rongcheng.

He also ordered Ma Jun to be the commander of Guangmu County, and concurrently recruited the left chief of the Northern General's Mansion, in charge of the entire General's Mansion farming and major pastoral areas. However, only an army of 500 cavalry was left to garrison, and the main defensive forces were thrown into the surrendered city and the newly built fortresses around it.

Yunzhong Taishou is still Luan He, this person can be handy in both political affairs and defense. This person is even more proficient in the way of being an official, Xiang Ao was very low-key when he first took office, never said much, just listened to the arrangement and did a good job in the moment.

Hu Zhao also very much recognized Luan He's talent, and recommended to Xiang Ao many times that he could take on important responsibilities in the house. As for Hu Zhao, in addition to the status of the head of the general's mansion, Xiang Ao also appointed him as the Taishou of Wuyuan.

"My lord, can you get news from the Xianbei Royal Court?" At this time, Xu Fu had been recalled to Wuyuan by Xiang Ao and was ready to go out with the army at any time.

"Danhan Mountain doesn't have to worry too much, I'm worried about why the people in the court haven't urged yet."

"Hehe, don't panic, there will be changes in the middle of the Blessing Dynasty in the near future, the lord just needs to wait." Xu Fu chuckled and persuaded.

Xiang Ao nodded and stopped answering, looking down at Yutu in contemplation.

"The lord, it is not difficult to premeditate the royal court, and Zhao is even more worried about the reaction of the court after the lord's public contribution." Hu Zhao frowned slightly: "From ancient times to the present, there is no aftermath for the masters, and there are villains in the court who target the lord, which is even more troublesome." ”

When Xiang Ao and Xu Fu heard this, they were all shocked. "Fortunately, Kong Ming reminded us, otherwise we are very likely to be doomed." Xiang Ao sighed, frightened and annoyed at the same time.

Xu Fu pondered for a moment, then raised his head and said to Xiang Aozuo, "Lord, can you give up the credit?" ”

"Huh?! What does Yuan Zhi mean? ”

Xu Fuluo straightened his clothes and said: "This time the troops are Xianbei, and the lord has the right to hold the festival." Fu heard that Yuyang Gongsun Zan was quelling the rebellion against Wuhuan at this time, this person was brave and unparalleled, and he was very deterrent outside the territory. ”

"Although this person is a concubine, he is also the queen of the Liaoxi Wang clan. It is very prestigious in western Liaoning, eastern Liaodong and even Jizhou. The lord is also friendly with him, and this is an opportunity. ”

Xiang Ao was curious about why Xu Fu would mention Gongsun Zan when he first heard it, and when Xu Fu came, Xiang Ao instantly understood: "What Yuan Zhi said, I want to give the credit of cutting Helian to Brother Bogui?" ”

"Yes!"

"Yuan Zhi Dacai!" Hu Zhao also understood this when he heard this, and said with a little excitement: "Lord, Yuan Zhi's plan can solve this way!" ”

Xiang Ao laughed, and suddenly in his heart, he immediately wrote to Gongsun Zhan, explaining the benefits and disadvantages, and wanted to put the greatest credit in his hands.

The letter was sent to Yuyang in a few days.

"General Fengyuan is very human, and he is very human!" Gongsun Chan laughed loudly after receiving Xiang Ao's letter, and admired Xiang Ao even more in his heart.

"General, why are you so happy?" Wei Xu saw Gongsun Chan laughing so loudly on the side, so he asked curiously.

"It's nothing, it's just a little joke in General Fengyuan's heart!" Gongsun Chan said, placing the letter written by Cai Lun on top of the oil lamp, and there was only a little dust left for a moment. Wei Xu was extremely curious on the side, and it was not good to ask more, so he had to be bored in his heart.

At this time, Yuan Shao's hometown was Ruyang, Runan.

"Lord, although the design of Xiang Ao was successful this time, there are still worries in the villain's heart."

"Oh? Listen to it! ”

"Lord, Xiang Ao can fight well, although the Lord forced Xiang Ao to attack Xianbei Jicheng, if Xiang Ao really captured the Xianbei royal court, would it help him expand the prestige of the court? If you want to target it again, it may not be easy! ”

"Huh!" Yuan Shao chuckled: "If that guy can really capture Danhan Mountain, it's a good thing, then only my uncle needs to play a book of high merit and shock the master, what will happen to Rujue Xiang Ao?" ”

"The Lord is wise!" When this person heard this, a cold sweat broke out on his back, the Lord was indeed ruthless, and Xiang Ao would never recover in this way.

"Hey, hey!" Yuan Shao didn't say anything more, but still chuckled.

"Report!" Xiang Ao's personal guard stood outside the hall and shouted loudly.

"What?" Xiang Ao beckoned him into the hall and asked softly.

"Wait for the king, a letter from the court!"

"Oh? Finally urging me to send troops? When Xiang Ao was puzzled, Xu Fu stepped forward to take the edict from the guard.

"Lord, it is indeed a reminder document!" Xu Fu didn't look worried, and said indifferently.

"In this case, I will return to the imperial court and send troops in ten days!" Xiang Ao got up, slightly excited in his heart, he had waited too long.

The Northern Regions were ready to send troops at any time, and finally waited for the edict from the DPRK and China, and Xiang Ao couldn't hold back the throbbing in his heart. In the next few days, the entire Northern Regions moved frequently, and the people were excited to learn that it was the Xianbei Royal Court that had been sent to the Xianbei Imperial Court. The Northern Protectorate will make another miraculous feat.

It's just that the original Xianbei herdsmen were a little sad, although they have lived in Dahan for a long time, but after all, there are still a lot of feelings pinned on Xianbei outside the Saiwai. However, the vast majority of Xianbei herdsmen did not think much about it, after all, Xiang Ao, the general of the expedition to the north, was not a brutal person, and he treated the people under his rule even more favorably. Perhaps, it is not a bad thing to be able to live in the customs for a long time and become a citizen of the Han Dynasty.

However, there are still a few Xianbei people who are ready to make trouble in secret. However, under the suppression of the defenders and the support of most of the people, the Xianbei people who still had different intentions were arrested in a very short time. It was Jiao Jing who stayed behind to supervise the Northern Regions this time, and Jiao Jing also knew that the stakes were at stake in sending troops this time, so he was as ruthless as Jiang Lu usually did. Anyone who proves his intention to rebel will be announced to the Northern Regions.

In order to set an example, Jiao Jing tortured and executed some of the leaders without mercy. There was also a rumor and blood in the Northern Regions Protectorate.

When he received the imperial edict, Xiang Ao had already taken the position of general of the northern expedition to the north and ordered the commanders of the border counties to gather troops and wait for the garrison of the border passes. Suddenly, the entire Han border was solemn, and the soldiers and horses of all counties were also on standby, and Xiang Ao sent out all the soldiers and horses of 15,000. Excluding the 800 traps and more than 1,000 infantry led by Gao Shun, the 13,000 in July were all elite cavalry.

In particular, the archery battalion has expanded to 3,000, all of whom are good marksmen, all of whom are led by Jiang Yan. Because there were no generals available, Xiang Ao had to temporarily order Li Jin to lead 3,000 elite cavalry, which was a battalion and a left army. Jiao Meng led 3,000 elite cavalry, as a battalion, as the right army. Li Jin's brother temporarily led 2,000 personal guard cavalry, and Xiang Ao led 2,000 elites as the Chinese army. Gao Shun's leaders were all infantry, and Xiang Ao ordered Gao Shun to follow and wait until he attacked under Danhan Mountain to make plans.