Zhang Hongsheng was stunned for a moment, and then said: "We have weapons and armor, the soldiers are strong and strong, the only hidden danger is that there is no doctor in the army, but this problem has been solved, the peach blossom village is thriving at this time, as long as there is a chance, we will first level the small and medium-sized cottages nearby, what do you think?" ”

Su Yi knew that Zhang Hongsheng was loyal, and he couldn't bear to dampen his enthusiasm, so he reminded in a tactful tone: "What about the grain? Have you ever considered the issue of food? ”

As soon as his words fell, Qian Leopard on the side spoke: "The lord is right, food is indeed a big problem, daily marches, expeditions against other cottages are inseparable from food!" ”

He was originally the second master of Qingfeng Village, only because he was defeated by the green shirt thief, he fell to the Zongheng Mountain Range, and later fought with the Black Armor Army in the Zongheng Mountain Range, this way he fled, he knew the importance of food, no matter how strong the army, as long as there was a lack of food, it would not be long before the army's heart would collapse.

Although Zhang Hongsheng is the military advisor of Taohuazhai, his actual role is that he is the bookkeeper, in charge of the material reserves in the warehouse, and he usually works part-time as the head of the military justice department to deal with some thieves who have made mistakes.

"Lord, our food reserves are enough, to be able to support until the end of the year, it shouldn't be a big problem, even if the food is eaten up, we can buy it from Chengjiazhuang, we have weapons and money, and then they will rush to sell us food."

Su Yi shook his head in disappointment and said: "In the troubled times, all forces are competing, whether it is Chengjiazhuang or Wangjiazhuang, they may become our opponents, do you expect them to sell us grain?" ”

Zhang Hongsheng was stunned for a moment, and the scar on the side slapped the table hard and said, "Brother Su is right!" I didn't even expect this, the biggest problem of our Taohuazhai today is that the food is not self-sufficient, we have no farmland and no hemp field, not only the food can not be self-sufficient, cotton and linen and other cloth we can not be self-sufficient, once there is a war, Taohuazhai wants to compete in the world, there are no two things as reserves......"

Speaking of this, Scar's face suddenly turned colorless, and several other people also looked at each other.

Zhang Hongsheng was a little unconvinced: "We have weapons and armor, can't we use these to exchange food with others?" ”

Scar glanced at Zhang Hongsheng lightly and said: "Master Zhang, if Taohuazhai and other forces can't stalemate, our army is short of food, and the army is disheartened, at this time, use weapons to trade food with others, do you think the other party will open his mouth?" In other words, if we can only buy grain from others, then as long as the other party interrupts the grain trade with us, it will be able to curb the development of Taohuazhai, and we will be controlled by others. ”

Zhang Hongsheng was stunned again, he had nothing to argue, so he could only bow his head unconvinced.

Gao Heihu raised his head and said: "This is not a big problem, when the time comes, we will lay down a few villages, grab their farmland, and send some slaves and farmers to cultivate, so that the cottage will have a grain reserve." ”

Su Yi nodded, although Gao Heihu is a rough man, and he can only use rough methods to think about problems, but his suggestion is simple and rude, and it is also the most practical method for the current Peach Blossom Village.

"Black Tiger is right, in fact, the problem of food supply, not only our peach blossom village, but also other cottages, are not self-sufficient, this is understandable, we are not a powerful force after all, there is no farmland, no tenants. Relying on our nearest Shangjun County, there are many powerful forces there, although they are currently building military forts and strengthening defensive measures, but as long as we are willing to do so, we can defeat them at any time. ”

Su Yi glanced at the few people present: "In addition to Shangjun County, there are still many villages and towns in Youzhou that can be attacked, Liaodong is far away from us, and Gongsun Yiqing has a good way of governing the army, if you want to attack the villages and towns in Liaodong, you will definitely be counterattacked by the Liaodong army, but Youzhou is different, there are many Hu people here, and the combat effectiveness of the army in Youzhou is not comparable to Liaodong at all, from top to bottom, we can't miss such an opportunity." ”

Zhang Hongsheng said with joy again: "The lord means that we want to attack some villages and towns in Youzhou as a stronghold, so that we can serve as the foundation when the world is in turmoil, and as the foundation for our lives?" ”

Su Yi shook his head and said, "Our foundation is in Peach Blossom Village!" We have to find a way to occupy some villages outside the vertical and horizontal mountain ranges, or build a military fort, and then interdependent with the peach blossom village, the military fort is responsible for the production of food, but in this way, it is inconvenient to transport grain over long distances, and it is easy to be attacked by rogues and other bandits, not to mention, we are now attacking the villages and towns of Youzhou, I am afraid that we will become a bird, and we will be counterattacked by the Youzhou army, and the gains outweigh the losses. ”

Scar hurriedly asked, "Brother Su, what do you mean?" ”

Su Yi looked at Scar and said slowly: "Scar, you and I are not aiming to be a thief, we live by robbing merchants all day long, we have to think about the future, the strength of Taohuazhai was not enough before, it is too early for me to tell you this, now Taohuazhai has developed to a certain scale, if we are just satisfied with the status quo, we will definitely become the next Qingyunzhai." ”

"So what are we going to do?"

"Buy officials." Su Yi looked at Scar quietly, as soon as his words fell, everyone present was shocked, Gao Heihu stood up suddenly, and roared: "Lord, do you want to take refuge in the imperial court?" ”

Su Yi said with a smile: "Of course, it is impossible to defect to the imperial court, I just want to buy an official and a half-position through Huang Wenbing's relationship, and then dredge it through some relationships, turn you all into military households, and establish a military fort in Youzhou." ”

Zhang Hongsheng wondered: "Will this work?" ”

Su Yi said: "How do you know if you don't try it?" There's nothing you can't trade in the world, and the most important thing is to see how many chips you can take out and trade. ”

The relationship between him and Pei Wen has long been known in the imperial city, Huang Wenbing and Pei Wen are political opponents, no matter what the purpose, if he appoints Su Yi as an official, it is equivalent to slapping Pei Wen in the face...... I believe that Huang Wenbing will not miss this opportunity to hit Pei Wen.

"In other words, even if the road of buying officials does not work, we can also find another way, Yongji Canal is a very special place, this is the place with the most Hu tribes in Youzhou, there are many kinds of Hu people, each has a deep hatred for each other, we can take advantage of this opportunity, take advantage of the discord of these Hu tribes, take the Yongji Canal, Yongji Canal is close to the north of the Yellow River, where there is plenty of water, there are good fields and hemp fields, the Hu people do not do farming, but actually change the good land into pasture, used to raise horses, cattle and sheep, as long as we occupy the Yongji Canal, They were able to reclaim the fertile land and rob the horses, cattle and sheep of the Hu tribes. ”

The scar on the side fell into deep thought, while Gao Heihu thought relatively simply, "Those Hu people are skilled in bows and horses, we have to prepare well if we want to fight them, when the time comes, I will take eight hundred wrenxes first, and the lord of Erzhai will lead the sword and shield soldiers to support me, and we will take Yongji Canal in the fastest way." ”

Meng Hai, who had not spoken, said: "Yongji Canal is indeed a good place, the key is that this place is not far from the vertical and horizontal mountain ranges, as far as I know, there is a main road leading to Yongji Canal in the barren forest south of Taohuazhai, but this artery road is more precipitous, and there is a barren mountain thief in the barren forest over there, I have brought my brothers to contact them, although the number of this barren mountain thief is not much, but they are all fierce and bloodthirsty, and they are more difficult opponents." ”

Su Yi's eyes lit up, Meng Hai had brought him too many surprises, he could take the opportunity to take the opportunity to lay down two small cottages with few garrisons when Su Yi went to Qingyun Village, and this person had a lively mind and many ghost ideas.

Su Yi asked, "Are you sure you can solve these barren mountain thieves?" Meng Hai said slowly: "Maybe I can divide them...... Recruit some of them, and then the barren mountain thieves will be self-defeating, and we will be able to take the Southern Barren Forest without bloodshed. With the Yongji Canal, we have fertile land and hemp fields to cultivate, the problem of grain and cloth can be solved, although the hemp fields cannot produce silk, but the impact on us is not great, the key point is salt and pig iron, these are the two things, which are also the materials we need the most at present. ”

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