"Commander Zhang, at present, two of the three granaries in Licheng have been empty, the silver treasury has almost consumed the accumulation of the past two years, and the spring planting is coming soon, the implementation of the barley tax system and the animal husbandry tax system is a big problem at present, and your military business... Or do you want to postpone it for a while? ”

Chen Ke's words were tactful, but seeing that Zhang Ji's face was gloomy and unhappy, Chen Ke could only continue to say: "Although the light cavalry battalion of the general of the First World War of the Northern Barbarians suffered heavy losses, there are still more than 1,000 light cavalry armor soldiers at the moment. ”

First reprimanded and then supplemented, first hard and then soft, so that Zhang Ji couldn't find the right words for a while.

As a last resort, Zhang Ji could only say in a suppressed voice: "This commander also knows the difficulties of adults, but the current situation in Siye is really not good, the south is good to say, next to the boundary of the central capital, the soldiers patrol and investigate more strictly, but the villages and townships in the north, west and east have been in chaos, and there are roughly ten rooms and five empty, just imagine, the winter grain is snatched away by the barbarians, and the rations issued by the official family are insufficient. There is simply no second way to go! ”

"This..."Chen Ke had a slight doubt, but Zhang Ji didn't give Chen Ke a moment to think about it at all: "My lord, although the thief wind has not yet risen at the moment, but I will speculate from the results of the recent sentry patrol that when spring planting arrives, the barley tax system and the animal husbandry tax system will be divided into five or five divisions, and implemented to all townships and counties, and those people who are already hungry will definitely resist and obstruct, and there will definitely be chaos in the intermediary, if there is no sufficient force and coercion, this Licheng will not be stable within a radius of 100 miles, of course, Ben will do his best to ensure the stability of the four fields, but to what extent, I don't know..."

At this point, Zhang Ji said: "A few days ago, there was a thief in the area of Donghu County, and this commander sent a team of men and horses to suppress the bandits, due to the insufficient supply of grain, grass and equipment, resulting in the failure of the bandits, which not only hit the morale of the soldiers in Licheng, but also made the thieves see the weakness of the official family.

Under these alarmist words, Chen Ke's face turned pale and transient, as for Zhang Ji, he had already retreated into the seat, and for a while, the atmosphere in the county government was very tense.

"Commander Zhang, this is a bit exaggerated!"

Maybe he couldn't get used to Zhang Ji's arbitrary appearance, and the left-hand seat was at the top of the list, and Ge Bai, the counselor of Licheng, spoke sharply, which made Zhang Ji frown slightly.

"Xia Guan heard that although the spring planting matter in Donghu County is chaotic, and the confrontation between the government and the people happens from time to time, there are only more than 1,000 people there, and there are county seats, even if there are really thieves, at most dozens of people, the official does not believe that the people of the entire county are all thieves, and the commander sent a team of light horses, as many as 100 people, but he can't take down the thieves, but it really makes people suspicious? The subordinate officer has the courage to say, could it be that the commander has not yet recovered from the battle in northern Xinjiang? ”

Seeing that the conversation was provoked, in order to avoid the situation from worsening, Chen Ke got up and stopped Ge Bai.

Although Ge Bai was displeased with Zhang Ji in his heart, he was not a dazed person, he got up and arched his hand: "Lord County Shou, the top priority is to implement the reform of the barley tax system and animal husbandry tax to all counties, counties and townships, as long as those people can return to the fields with their hearts and have food and hope, they will naturally not go out to do evil, and thus cut off the root of the people becoming thieves. The reconstruction of the light cavalry battalion under Commander Zhang is still better pushed back! ”

With Ge Bai's advice, Chen Ke spoke straightforwardly, but he didn't want to offend Zhang Jitai, so he eased down and calmed down: "Commander Zhang, what Counselor Ge said is reasonable, so your light cavalry battalion reorganization regulations will be pushed back!" ”

For a while, the official's words were not in his own hands, even if Zhang Ji was unhappy in his heart, he couldn't openly contradict the county guard, in the same way, after Chen Ke won a small victory, he returned to the topic, to avoid Zhang Ji eating too much, seeing that Zhang Ji was angry and did not show it, after all, Zhang Ji is a native of Licheng, and has a lot of prestige in the local area.

Subsequently, Chen Ke put the direction of discussion back to farming and spring planting, and when Chen Ke reached an agreement with the county officials, Zhang Jicai took advantage of the matter to get up: "Since the adults have decided on the policy strategy of spring planting in Licheng, these civil affairs have nothing to do with this commander, and this commander will retire first." ”

"Commander at his own convenience!"

Chen Ke responded, Zhang Ji took people away, looking at his rough and fierce back, Ge Bai was very annoyed: "My lord, look at how arrogant he has become, why don't you follow His Royal Highness the King of Qin to fight in the northern frontier, but I don't know that in the end, I haven't gained an inch..."

"Ge Bai, what are you talking about?"

Chen Ke immediately scolded, he got up and came to the courtyard, looked at the clear sky, and said, "What faction is Zhang Ji from... The official has no intention of taking care of it, the official just wants to let the people be fed and clothed on one acre and three points of land in this Licheng, and spend their old age in peace. ”

"Xia Guan understands!" Ge Bai gave the order.

At this time, a county government came to report.

"My lord, Bei'an General Lin Zhongyi passed by here and came to visit!"

"Bei'an general? Lin Zhongyi? Chen Ke thought for a moment, and said loudly: "Quick, please!" ”

Ge Bai didn't know what he saw: "My lord, will Bei'an general?" Who is he? Do you want to be greeted by an adult in person? ”

"You don't even know this person?" Chen Ke laughed and joked at Ge Bai: "You are the counselor of my Licheng County Government, and you don't even know the talents who have been famous in Northern Xinjiang recently!" ”

"Don't blame me, my lord, the lower officials are not interested in the generals at all, so I don't know the origin of these reckless men!"

"Reckless? No, no, no! Chen Ke asserted that he did not admit it: "This person is only forty years old, three years ago in Licheng Shengde Academy to study, is Yang Mao's bachelor's seat, after entering the army, bloody battles in the north, years ago with the Emperor Xiaowu in the south of the middle are all entitled, leading the Xiao cavalry captain, six grades of partial generals, full of civil and military all-rounders!" ”

"It's... This... Is there such a person? Ge Bai was a little cramped, and Rao is Chen Ke didn't care about him.

With a smile, Chen Ke said: "This Lin Zhongyi is also a native of Northern Xinjiang, and this official will have an indispensable relationship with him in the future, it just so happens that this official really has some problems with banditry, and needs the help of this little general?" You do a good job of the banquet with your heart, if something goes wrong, I will ask you! ”

Outside the county guard's mansion, Zhang Ji came out of the side door, and after letting go, he saw Chen Ke open the middle door of the county mansion and list the official salutes to be welcomed.

"What is this little old man doing?"

The soldier said: "General, it is Lin Zhongyi, the general of Bei'an who was transferred to the north by Emperor Xiaowu, passing through here, going to the mansion to meet him, it is estimated that he is asking for food!" ”