"Daddy." Looking at the falling snow, Han Gang stopped Han Qianliu, "How is the harvest in the cotton field this year?" ”

"There is only one hectare of land in total, and the cotton yield per acre is only seventy or eighty catties. After harvesting, it is necessary to remove the seeds and comb them, which is much more troublesome than reeling silk. Silk cotton can fill clothes in three or four taels, and cotton is at least a pound. ”

“…… Take your time. Han Gang shook his head, sure enough, it wasn't time yet.

Cotton was planted in the first year of Tongyuan Army, and since last year, Han Gang asked merchants who came and went to Hexi in the Western Regions to collect cotton seeds, and in the next year, bags of cottonseeds filled half of the warehouse. Han Gang didn't expect that his fluttering words would make those businessmen rush to flatter.

Since there were enough seeds, Han Gang's original intention was to plant a few acres for experiments first, so he gave up and planted as many as 100 acres in one go. He is also taking risks, but fortunately, Han Qianliu has the ability and has it. Han Gang didn't know how much the harvest was qualified, and no one in the city knew how much or less the output of seventy or eighty catties was, so he could only let the merchants inquire again.

However, Tongyuanjun is not suitable for raising ducks and geese here, otherwise it will be easy to make down jackets on a large scale. Han Gang himself has one, which is made of goose velvet. Nowadays, there are also cloaks made of the belly fluff of wild geese, and there are quite a few of them, but the price is very high. The source is unstable and not suitable for popularization. What is really suitable is silkworm and cotton that can be cultivated on a large scale. If it is confined to Hexi, there is only cotton.

"Take your time......" Sighing again, Han Gang and his father arrived in front of the yamen.

After entering the yamen, Han Gang went to the main hall to listen to orders, while Han Qianliu went to his own official hall.

Cai Yanqing was in the main hall, Wang Shao and Gao Zunyu were talking, and Cai Xi, the transfer judge, was also there.

"Yukun, you're just in time!" Seeing Han Gang coming in, Cai Yanqing hurriedly called him.

Han Gang bowed down to them first, and then asked unhurriedly, "I don't know what advice the envoy has?" ”

"How are you prepared for cold clothing and rain gear for the march?" Cai Yanqing asked anxiously, and he was also asking about what to do after the snow. After a snowfall, the weather will only get colder and colder, and if you are not prepared, there will be many more unnecessary injuries in the army.

"The hat and robes to keep out the rain, Han Gang has prepared them in advance." Han Gang replied, calm and relaxed, "The oilcloth cloaks issued to the officers of the colonel are also in the warehouse in good place, Han Gang has checked them again and again a few days ago, and there is no problem." Whether it is an army belonging to Tongyuan or a reinforcement from outside, even if they don't bring these two pieces of equipment when they rush over, the lower officials can match them - as long as the leading military academy signs and draws, the lower officials can repay the account. ”

Han Gang's answer reflected his thoughtfulness, Cai Yanqing nodded, and Wang Shao and Gao Zunyu also smiled, Han Gang's last sentence was a half-joke.

"What about the winter coat?" Cai Xi asked with a cold face.

"The problem of winter clothes is not easy to handle!" Han Gang shook his head first, he felt that something was wrong with Cai Yu's attitude. There were some doubts in his heart, but he didn't delay a little when answering, "According to the rules of the old year, Meng Dong only sent silk cotton in October." It's only mid-September now, and this year's winter season will take half a month to arrive. Han Gang wanted to ask the envoy and the judgment here, could they send the silk cotton and winter clothes of the foreign reinforcements who participated in the war not to their original stationing place, but directly to Tongyuan? ”

"Impossible!" Cai Yanqing was still thinking about it, but Cai Xi had already vetoed it, "Cao Si has his own way of acting, if he follows the power of everything, things will be messed up!" ”

"In that case, that's it." Han Gang's understatement was like a gentleman who saw a student write a wrong word, and he didn't care. He smiled at Cai Xi: "In fact, when recruiting reinforcements from all walks of life, they were already notified in the edict to bring winter clothes. As far as Han Gang knew, the vast majority of them were carrying winter clothes. It's just that Han Gang thinks that if he can have one or two more sets of winter clothes, or more silk cotton, the soldiers who participated in the war will have a better life. ”

In the past few days, when the two reinforcements arrived, Han Gang did not just count the number of people in order to count the grain and grass. At the same time, he carefully checked the weapons and equipment of more than a dozen teams. He was the one who was on the edge to appease the driver, not only to give advice and deal with general affairs, but also to judge the strength and weakness of each army for Wang Shao and whether it was useful or not. Han Gang and Wang Hou worked hard for a few days, and basically had the bottom in their hearts, such as winter clothes and rain gear, and it was impossible for qualified generals not to bring them.

Han Gang's proposal just wanted to test the attitude of Cai Yanqing and Cai Yao. Looking at it now, it's at least half clear. Han Gang looked at it, Wang Shao didn't react, and Gao Zunyu showed him an approving smile.

Cai Yanqing's private morality is very good. When Cai Yanqing came to work in Qin Fenglu, Han Gang had already heard about it from Gao Zunyu.

Cai Yanqing was the nephew of Cai Qi, the prime minister of the former dynasty, because Cai Qi had no son at the beginning, he was passed to Cai Qi's knees. Later, after more than ten or twenty years, Cai Qi finally had a son in his old age, Cai Yanqing took the initiative to return to his original home, and left all his family property to his young cousin, whether it was earned by himself or given by Cai Qi, he did not leave anything behind. His righteous deeds of not loving wealth and silk are quite well received in Laizhou Township.

It's just that Cai Qi's son-in-law, Liu Zhen, is the prefect of Kaifeng who competed with Cai Qu for the court a few days ago. Liu Zhen is an iron-clad old party, and Han Gang doesn't know Cai Yanqing's political bias, but he is also a relative of Liu Zhen, and it may not be far behind. Even if Cai Yanqing seemed to have the intention of making friends with him, Han Gang didn't dare to say many things. Always keep an eye on your heart, and when you have the opportunity, you must speak and test.

But this temptation, because Cai Yan rushed to come out, Cai Yanqing's attitude was still uncertain. On the contrary, it was Cai Xi's move that made Han Gang confirm his faction - another old party! Otherwise, the words 'impossible' will at least turn a little, and the three words 'impossible' are inevitably too tough, and they are not in line with the normal habits of officialdom. It is only when someone wants to take a stand that there will be such fierce rhetoric.

Due to the vague confrontation between Cai Xi and Han Gang, the atmosphere was a little cold.

Cai Yanqing came forward to ease the atmosphere, and he asked Han Gang, "Yukun, you are in charge of the transfer of the army this time, I don't know what you think?" ”

Han Gang thought for a moment and replied, "This time in the war, you can't expect to be defeated by food. The movement of the Tongyuan Army is so big, as long as Mu Zheng has a little brain, he will not resist head-on. On the contrary, he was worried that he would order his brother to blind Wu Qi to clear the wilderness, and then make a detour behind our army to threaten the safety of the grain route. ”

"In other words, you are not sure about transporting food to the army?" Cai Xi asked coldly.

Han Gangquan didn't hear the thorn in Cai Yu's words, and replied: "There is no need to worry about this road from Longxi to Weiyuan. The Qingtang Department, the Nazhi Linzhan Department, and the Baojia in the villages along the way can all be protected. That is, after passing the Bird and Mouse Mountain, until Lintao, that section of the line is in the valley, which is very dangerous. ”

Han Gang said this, and Wang Shao excused himself: "At that time, we will arrange manpower to guard, and we are not afraid of anything else, that is, the grain road must be protected." ”

Just after a little discussion in the main hall, on the bell and drum tower outside the yamen, the drum sounded, and the time for sending troops had arrived.

Miao Zhu and Wang Sunchen arrived first, their bodies were neatly dressed, the red tassels on their helmets were bright as blood, and they bowed down on one knee in front of Wang Shao's case. Miao Zhu raised his hands and took the arrow thrown by Wang Shao.

Then Liu Changzuo and Yao Ji took the lead, and more than 20 generals were listed left and right, standing neatly, waiting for Wang Shao's assignment.

In addition, Bao Shun [Yu Longke], Bao Yue [Blind Medicine] and Zhang Xianger also came. This time, Wang Shao did not order them to send troops, but he wanted to capture the attitude of indulgence, but let them take the initiative to send them to the door. This is also a last resort, Wang Shao does not have any extra money and food in his hands, since they take the initiative to come to the door, they can just let them bring their own dry food.

From this day on, first Miao Zhu and Wang Sunchen swore to go out of the army, and then the Chinese army and the rear army were the first to go.

Zhao Long led the first selected Feng and followed Wang Shaoju in the Chinese army. Liu Changzuo was in charge of the rear army. The soldiers and horses from all walks of life who came to help were all arranged. With a black bull shirt drum to sacrifice the flag, Wang Shao's handsome flag was raised, and the mighty army went all the way to the west, towards both sides of the Taoshui River, and rushed straight away.

……………………

Lanzhou.

It was late at night, and the lights in the main tent of the head of the Yuzang family were still on. The blind messenger slammed his head and groveled, with a relieved smile on his face.

Yu Zang Huama watched him go backwards out of the account, with a playful smile on his young face. The cold wind swept in through the open curtains, and the fire in the tent danced.

"Hua Ma are going to send troops!?" An elder who had endured for a long time finally shouted, "Last time, ......"

"What troops?" Yu Zanghuama's rhetorical question interrupted the elder's shouting.

The old man was stunned, and was stared at by Yu Zanghuama's eyes wide. Confused in his head, he ate and said: "Rescue the blind Wu Qi......"

"For what?" Yu Zang Huama half-squinted his eyes again, and held up a piece of brocade sent by Blind Wu Qi to look at the light, and spoke casually.

The elder was completely confused, "...... Didn't Hua Ma accept a gift from Blind Wu Qi and promise to send troops?! ”

"Say it down, do it all down." Treacherous words, Yu Zang Huama said it confidently and without any shame. He tossed the brocade aside, picked up a silver flask, and shone it at the lamp. The sterling silver flask made by Lianggong reflects the warm brilliance under the lamplight. "Blind Wu Qi is really generous." He exclaimed.

"Then don't you go to save the blind Wu Qi?" The elder asked, although it was a little unreasonable for Yu Zang Huama to collect money and not do anything, but this choice made him feel much more at ease.

Yu Zang Huama clapped his hands and called a few guards: "Go, send orders to all departments, let them reorganize their troops and horses, and get ready." ”

"Hemp?!"

The elder stood up with a scream, he couldn't figure out what the young patriarch was thinking, and his mind turned into a mess over and over again.

Yu Zang Huama threw aside the gift he had sent and looked out of the tent leisurely, "It's not that there is no chance." ”