Chen Mao said: "Before the Holy Lord summoned you yesterday, he had already summoned us to Weiyang Palace. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info After you left, he was even more furious, saying that the Pingzhou army battle was over, why are we still conscripting troops and food? ”

Jiang Hexing is also a little puzzled, isn't this expedition against the Huns ready for a long time?

Chen Mao explained in detail that there are a lot of troops sent across the country, not only in the border counties, but also in all counties in the interior, not only soldiers, but also grain and grass. Now the armies of all walks of life are gathered, but there is not enough food.

How many people do you need to carry grain for an army of 300,000, at least three million people need to carry food. The Yellow River is broken again, and now it has rushed to the Huai River in the south, and the Huai River has also had problems, and it is impossible to sail.

This time the grain is even more unlucky, and if the ox cart and horse cart go far, there is not enough for people to eat and feed the horses.

If the grain can't be transported, what should the soldiers who arrived in the early stage do not have to eat the food, and rob the local people. Especially in the area of Daijun and Bingzhou, there were many mountain roads, and the food was not lucky, so there was often no food to eat. The soldiers had no choice but to let go and grab food.

At this time, the local people were miserable, they fled one after another, the fields were barren, and some even went up to the mountains to become bandits, specifically against the officials and soldiers.

Now the battle has not yet been fought, but the local people are the first to fight, Wang Mang is very dissatisfied with the big Sima, yesterday he strictly ordered him to clean up military discipline, and on the other hand asked him to suppress the local people rebellion.

Da Sima can only agree, but now the fatal thing is food, 300,000 troops, close to the Huns must be given first, otherwise I am afraid that the soldiers will run away without a trace. But close to the Xiongnu, the grain is not very lucky. The waterway is easy to manage, and no matter how much food is transported by boat, the mountain road is troublesome, and there is no road in some places.

Jiang Hexing understood in his heart that Wang Mang's fifteen-way army was lined up at the border. It looks very imposing, but this is not the way to fight, and just transporting grain is a big problem. Transporting grain to fifteen places at the same time is a big problem. In the past, there were garrisons in these places, but there were not many people, so they could be solved locally, and some of them were brought in from other places, and it was basically no problem.

Now it's terrible, tens of thousands of horses, people eat horses and feed them, is this worth it? There is also a line between the Xiongnu and the Great Wall in the north, mostly mountainous, difficult to travel, and once the local food is insufficient, it will fall into a vicious circle.

There is not enough food in other places, the soldiers grab the food, the people flee, the fields are barren, the food is even more scarce, the soldiers rob more fiercely, almost all the people flee, and if they don't run, their homes are also robbed.

Some bold people went up to the mountains to be kings, and the grass fell to become cowards, and together with the officers and soldiers, they grabbed what they should rob, and they took what they should do, and the local law and order were completely eroded. It is estimated that some military rations will also be difficult to deliver.

Jiang Hexing thought of this, his head also got bigger, although there is a lot of food in Pingzhou, but I don't know how many refugees will come this year, and I have to take care of my own people's food first.

Jiang Hexing asked, "I don't know what I can do for Da Sima?" ”

Chen Mao said: "Yan You wrote to me some time ago, saying that your shipbuilding is very good and you transport a lot of grain, and I heard that Li Tong and Li Yi both used this ship to help transport grain in the army. Da Sima's intention is to see if he can help us transport grain upstream along the Sanggan River. In this way, we will be able to solve the food problem by garrisoning troops in Daijun, Yanmen, Shanggu, and other places. The people can live and work in peace and contentment, without being harassed, and the rebellion of the people can be pacified below.

If the food problem is not solved, trying to solve the dispute between the military and the people in the border counties is tantamount to fighting fires with salaries. ”

Jiang River Road: "The river there can't be a big boat, I heard that there is no fixed river there, the Sanggan River, the waterway is shallow, I'm afraid it can't transport many things, right?" ”

Chen Mao said: "He Wang, I heard that you have been in Daijun for a while, I'm afraid it won't be long, right?" At the turn of summer and autumn, when there is a lot of rain, boating on the river is definitely not a problem. ”

Jiang Hexing thought for a while and said, "In this way, we will set up a market in Quanzhou Port, where we can buy and sell grain, and we will also sell medicine there, and as for the ships, we will also sell them when the time comes." As long as you need it, I can sell it, just one hand of money, one hand of goods. ”

Chen Mao slapped the table and said, "Really? Didn't you say earlier, then what more do I need to get a certificate of defense or something? You just have to say it, and I can do it. ”

Jiang Hexing smiled and said: "I want money, no, it's not that I want money, it's the businessman who wants money, and I don't want anything else." ”

Chen Mao asked excitedly, "Is there a car?" ”

Jiang Hexing said: "This is not clear, when the time comes, someone will sell it, and no one will sell it." ”

Chen Mao said: "Don't you care about this? ”

Jiang Hexing asked rhetorically: "What do I care about this, I only collect taxes." ”

"Okay, okay, you can be regarded as a great favor for us, I will go back immediately to tell Da Sima." As he spoke, Chen Mao stood up and turned around to leave.

Jiang Hexing grabbed him and said, "General Chen, didn't you just say that you want to have a good drink?" I've got all the food and wine here, and I'm ready for a feast soon, but you're leaving, how can you tell me to be good, isn't this the way of hospitality? ”

Chen Mao said: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, this good news came suddenly, I want to tell Da Sima." He is now restless and restless every day, and I guess he can sleep well if I say this. ”

As he spoke, Chen Mao happily went out.

The stars twinkled in the sky and the courtyard was brightly lit.

Jiang Hexing put the prepared wine and food in the courtyard, Chen Mao left, and he had to drink this wine.

Jiang Hexing, Yang Xiong, Xu Lang, Zhang Meng, Li Bin, Zhou Ren and so on were served together, chatting while eating.

Jiang Hexing asked Li Bin about the matter on the bank of the Yellow River, and Li Bin happily talked about the past.

There is basically no big difference, just to say it in detail, Yang Xiong specifically asked about the situation of refugees on the banks of the Yellow River, and Zhou Ren gave a detailed introduction. It was supposed to be a good banquet, but when Yang Xiong asked like this, Zhou Ren talked about the tragic situation of the refugees, and everyone was not very interested in drinking.

Fortunately, Li Bin was more knowledgeable, and quickly diverted the conversation and talked about some interesting things, so that everyone's mood gradually improved, and the wine was happier.

The wine was drunk late and dispersed until midnight.

The next day, Jiang Hexing was having breakfast, and the soldiers came to report that Chen Mao was visiting.

Jiang Hexing invited Chen Mao to come in, Chen Mao said that he reported this matter to Da Sima yesterday, Da Sima Zhen Han was very excited, thought about it, but still didn't dare to make his own opinion, hoping that Jiang Hexing could enter the palace with him and talk to Wang Mang about the matter, if Wang Mang agreed, he could handle it immediately.

Jiang Hexing said: "I can enter the palace, but where is Da Sima now?" ”

Chen Mao said that he had agreed with Zhen Han that as long as Jiang Hexing agreed, he could enter the palace this afternoon. Now Wang Mang is working most of the day, and it doesn't take much for a person like Zhen Han to enter the palace.

Jiang Hexing nodded in agreement, and decided to enter the palace in the afternoon to meet Wang Mang and explain the matter. (To be continued.) )