The day after Tian Guanglin returned to the gravel fort, the Qianhu Institute sent a fast horse messenger with a carriage to send the captured results to the Gansu Town Command Envoy.

Shiguantun under the jurisdiction of the gravel fort, attacked by the Tartar cavalry brigade, under the personal command of Wang Chongli and deputy Qianhetian Guanglin of the Qianhu Office, Luo Yufei of the hundred households, Sun Dezhang, the pacification officer, and others led the troops to support, and resolutely resisted the siege of the Tartars for more than ten days, killed more than 100, wounded hundreds, captured more than 300 Tartar heads, and repelled the attack of the Tartars; Hu Shibiao, one hundred households in Shiguantun, fought bravely to kill the enemy, and his eyes and hands were injured.

The Tartars were rejected from Shiguan Tun, and in a fit of rage, they actually sent a small group of horses to attack two inferior military camps under the jurisdiction of Qianhu, causing hundreds of casualties and property losses.

It's just that in the thick stack of folded battle reports, from beginning to end, Ximen Xiaoye was "negligent", and there was no trace between the lines.

A sprinkled battle report was soon sent to the commander's yamen. For a time, the town of Gansu shook. In the face of the invasion of the Tatar soldiers of Qingfeng Valley, the Ming border army received a report and their morale soared.

The Tartar cavalry, which was already difficult to move in the snow outside Qingfeng Valley, encountered the Ming army that could not hold out, so they could only use only a dozen Huzun cannons to bombard the Ming army; With one's own shortcomings and the strengths of others, it is difficult to say that the southern invasion of Tartar threshing grass has achieved results.

Just when the Gansu Town Command Envoy sent this battle report to the Political Envoy and the Right Army Governor's Mansion in an urgent manner, Xiao Ye had already returned to Shiguantun.

Quarry mill, busy scene back to normal.

In the hundred households in the stone castle, Xiao Ye, who was sitting on a chair, listened to Hu Shibiao's narration, and felt very uncomfortable, Xin Weilin, Wang Ziliang, and Wang Dali on both sides also looked silent; It seems that everyone has guessed that the credit after this battle is basically lost to the hundred households.

Hu Shibiao looked at everyone's faces, knew that something was wrong, and consciously gave his leave.

"One hundred households, these thousand households have given some old grain, the silver is only three hundred taels, and they have to take away the ten fires/guns of the sunspots, isn't this a robbery," Hu Shibiao just left, Wang Dali couldn't hold back and shouted loudly.

"This is not the point, the key point is the request of the deputy thousand households, Brother Shi Dao, your family members must not stay here any longer, I'm afraid that what they want is not small," Xin Weilin said slowly, his eyes glanced at Xiao Ye, who was silent, "Baihu, you have to make up your mind,"

What he meant was to let Xiao Ye shift his focus or shift to Lao Yangkou Tunbao, which was a legitimate place to govern a hundred households, and it was very unjustifiable to stay here.

However, everyone did misunderstand the meaning of Xin Weilin's words.

"Yes, this place is not a good place, and it is difficult for the old sheep to stay for a long time, Lord Baihu, let's go to Madao Stone Fort," Wang Ziliang rubbed the paper fan in his hand, opened his mouth and said, "There, there is nothing to do with the gravel castle, he Wang Chongli and his ilk, can't come up with the slightest excuse,"

Xiao Ye knew the deep meaning in his words, but he didn't say that it was difficult for his father-in-law to make sense, it was this A-number stone castle that made him unable to give up Shiguantun at all.

"Shiguantun is the place where hundreds of households started, and there are tablets and tombs of soldiers killed in battle, so you can't give up," Xin Lilin shook his head, he disagreed with Wang Ziliang's suggestion, "However, hundreds of households can hoard troops in Madao Stone Fort, and there are still three caves in the cunning rabbit, and it is understandable to leave a back hand,"

The most important thing is that this transaction with Wang Huang and the two families is about to start, but it is carried out in the name of Hu Shibiao, those people, Qianhu would rather supervise and go to the grassland, than let them go to Madao Stone Fort; If you have the heart to investigate, you can find out who is in charge of the Madao Stone Fort.

It seems to be the territory of the Tartars, but it is still in the two-way zone, and in fact, anyone can go up and pinch it. What Xiao Ye lacks most at present is population. Of course, where the people who bought and sold secretly went, that was Xiao Ye's business.

"Well, the Madao Stone Fort is in front of the grassland Tartars, and it is more than defended but has been detected by the Tartars, and it has become a chicken rib, so let's use it to garrison it for the time being, as for here, we can't give up," Xiao Ye pondered for a long time, suspending the idea of opening a passage at the north entrance of the canyon.

Madao Stone Fort, out of the big ditch is the grassland, but because of the topography, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the Tartar is easier to monitor, so it can only play the role of a garrison. Shang Shetian's prospecting team, if there is nothing to do in winter, go there for a while to see if there is any low iron ore around.

It's not easy to do it at both ends.

Lao Yangkou Tunbao, looking at the momentum of this year's drought, it is a good place to take in the homeless, and it will be a source of soldiers in the future, he will not give up, the stone mill in the stone fort of the first number, the huge and heavy weight, how to carry it, with Hu Shibiao squatting here, it will not go wrong.

Xin Sansheng is right, this Shiguantun is his foothold, and it is also the place where the sergeants rely on their hearts, and it is also the location of the Jiazi stone mill, once he gives up, the consequences are unpredictable.

The Tartar outside Madao Stone Fort has appeared, last night he received a report from the scout, and took out ten machine gun bullet chains overnight, which should have been delivered now, Wang Meng and they defended there, and it was not a big problem to hold on.

But the passage from Bailong Lake to Madao Stone Fort was cut off, and Xiao Ye, who was secretly annoyed, slapped a smile, "Tell you a good news, Qin Shishi and they have returned, and the grassland horse thief Lu Yidao has escaped with serious injuries, and the seizure is not counted,"

"Qin Shi, Wang Hu, and they, with this battle, they can become rich people,"

This good news made several backbones smile on their faces, there should be a lot of good things in the horse thief's lair, after removing the sergeant's deserving, this time the two hundred households in the New Year are not bad for money.

"Okay, don't talk about those troubles, this official will make a decision at the meeting, and I am discussing with you with a conclusion" Xiao Ye waved his hand, "Now discuss the replenishment of troops after the war,"

"Madao Stone Fort, there are currently thirty sergeants of the three flag teams, and fifty sergeants of Bailonghu reinforcements will not return, and they need to be supplemented to one hundred," It seems that Qin Shishi will not be able to come back.

"Shiguantun and Lao Yangkou Tunbao, the sergeants are recruited as soon as possible, two hundred sergeants are indispensable, and the more Tunding, the better," Xiao Ye thought for a while, "Shiguantun General Flag Committee Xiao Liuzi, Lao Yangkou General Flag Committee Ximen Zuoshi,"

One hundred households and two general flags, Xiao Ye didn't care before, depending on the situation, he had to send people, otherwise he would be excused by thousands of households, and it would be difficult to insert outsiders; Now send people with cronies to take charge, plus Hu Shibiao's letter, you can apply to the thousand households for four people.

"Wang Meng, the general banner of Lao Yangkou, actually governs Madao Stone Fort," Xiao Ye's voice landed, Xin Weilin and Wang Ziliang smiled and said hello to Wang Dali, but Wang Blacksmith was very happy, but he didn't expect that there was green smoke on his ancestral grave, and there were also officers, and no matter how low-ranking they were, they were also officers.

"Huang Hanxiang, the general banner of Lao Yangkou Tunbao, actually governs Bailong Lake, and the flag officers who are missing from the flag teams under the general banner are served by the guards sent by the officials," Xiao Ye is completely in charge of the strength of the sergeant, and everyone has no objections, which is also the normal situation of thousands of households in the current season.

Speaking of which, Xiao Ye took out a letter, which was written by Huang Hanxiang, "The letter sent by Huang Zongqi from Bailonghu is about the establishment of sergeants there, let's take a look first,"

Two pieces of letter paper that were full of writing, Xin Lilin and Wang Ziliang read it, Wang Dali didn't read it at all, and he couldn't read it in vain.

"Baihu, this Huang Hanxiang should be borrowed from the establishment of the Tartar cavalry, which is simple and feasible," Xin Weilin returned the letter to Xiao Ye and frowned, "But it is contrary to the establishment of our Ming army,"

"That's on the grassland, because of the situation, Brother Huang still used his brain," Wang Ziliang disagreed with Xin Weilin's euphemism, "As long as you can improve your combat power, it's okay to try it out,"

Earlier, in a letter to Huang Hanxiang, Xiao Ye put forward the theory of soldiers and servants, each soldier has five servants and ten servants, and the soldiers lead the servants to fight in wartime, and the servants only take care of logistics and do not participate in the battle.

Unlike the Tartars, the relationship between the soldier and the servant and the servant is not a servile relationship, but a subordinate relationship, once the soldier is killed, the servant can compete as a soldier, and the servant can also be supplemented as a servant. Soldiers and servants have different salaries, and servants have different salaries.

This is obviously a hidden flag team, and it is also Xiao Ye who borrowed from the establishment model of the Haixi Village Legion, and Xiao Ye, who is scratching his head for the preparation of Bailonghu, can't think of too many ways, so he can only follow other people's examples.

But after the book "Infantry Tactical Drill" was taken out, Xiao Ye's thoughts changed, not to mention, Huang Hanxiang also clearly disagreed with Xiao Ye's intentions; The number of sergeants on the grassland can't be hidden, so why not make it up openly, and the identity is a hidden danger in the end.

I appreciated Huang Hanxiang's idea very much, Xiao Ye was embarrassed, and after discussing with Xin Weilin and Wang Ziliang, it was decided that Bailonghu would still learn from the army of Tatars, and not break away from the structure of the Ming army, and set up a hundred-person team, ten flag teams per hundred-person team, two total flags, and five flag teams under the jurisdiction of each, and each flag team has one flag officer, two captains, and eight sergeants.

There is another flag team under each general flag, accompanied by men and miscellaneous servants, and the food and salary are not reduced but there are no rewards for seizure.

At present, Huang Hanxiang has three armed hundred-man teams in Bailonghu to control the Galen tribe, and the Tartar herdsmen can also join the hundred-man team after selection, and as long as there is no shortage of food supply in the future, it will not be difficult to build the fourth hundred-man team.

He is a serious hundred, and there are not as many sergeants in his hands as his subordinates, thinking about Xiao Ye is helpless, it is estimated that he would have been countered long ago when he put it on the grassland.

The most important thing is that with the monthly competition mechanism, there is always competition in the flag team, which can maintain the strong combat effectiveness of the sergeants, which is what Xiao Ye values the most.

"This official thinks that the formation of a team of 100 people, this matter is feasible in Bailong Lake, but Shiguantun and Lao Yangkou are not suitable to implement," Xiao Ye smiled and put away the letter, he had already decided on this matter, just take it out and let everyone know.

There are more and more Tartar herdsmen belonging to Huang Hanxiang on the grassland, and if he has no way to manage them, there will be endless troubles in the future. However, his decision led to the sergeants of Shiguantun, Madao Shibao, and Laoyangkoutun Fort in the future, and they all asked to transfer to Bailonghu.

Even Xiao Ye's personal guards secretly grinded their fists, and opportunities were always reserved for the most powerful sergeants.

would rather be a chicken head than a phoenix tail, which fiery sergeant has no idea of competing for the flag officer?

"The selection of flag officers can be carried out with military exploits, firearms tests, etc., the commander is preferred, the sergeant has a small ratio every month, a large ratio a year, the winner is elected as the acting flag officer at the end of the year, the salary is adjusted the next month, and in case of war, the 100-person team captures half of the team, and the 100 households have to issue a regulation," Xin Weilin's mind turned quickly, and he immediately thought of going deeper.

"Half of the battle captures will be returned to the 100 households, and the 100 people below will be distributed according to the merits of the battle, but the amount of capture is huge, so it has to be discussed separately according to the situation," Wang Ziliang was also unambiguous, his eyes flickered, and he joined the discussion.

Increasing the share of sergeants' combat captures, Xiao Ye and the two scholars have talked about it, there is no way, just this kind of continuous battle damage consumption, if there is no reward and stimulus, after a long time, I am afraid that the sergeants will ask to work in the mill.

Therefore, no matter how abundant the seizure is, as long as it is not military materials, Xiao Ye is also willing to take it out and award it to his flag officers and sergeants, which is the strongest means to motivate the military.

Maybe in a few years, there will not be a few flag officers under him who are worth more than 10,000 taels; And his unsparing reward is also one of the important reasons why the military families are willing to follow.

Huang Hanxiang now has 300 sergeants, and the establishment of the 100-person team has also adapted to the earlier one, and after the flag team is equipped with a captain, it not only solves the order of selection of flag officers, but also increases the competition between sergeants; What made Xiao Ye's heart flutter the most was that the Tartar slaves of the Galen tribe had strong men to join, and they were all fierce lancers with a little training.

This also laid the foundation for the expansion of the Bailonghu team in the future, and Xiao Ye was very excited when he thought about it. As for the safety of the passage for material supply, it depends on Huang Hanxiang's ability.

Two hundred rifle soldiers, one hundred fire/lancers, it is safe to survive on the grassland.

Although fifty sergeants were taken away, they were given the right to expand, and I thought that Huang Hanxiang would quickly replenish the sergeants, as long as he grasped the number of mixed tartars.

Of course, the premise is that Xiao Ye can supply a large number of fire/guns, earth-shaking thunder, a small number of rifles, and sufficient food, otherwise those Tartar herdsmen who were recruited as sergeants may not mutiny.

Huang Hanxiang has a lot of soldiers to fight in his hands, Xiao Ye is not worried, not to mention that those firearms/guns, rifles and other firearms are in his hands, that is, most of the flag officers are selected from the personal guards, plus the supply of food and salary, Xiao Ye does not believe that Huang Hanxiang has no brains.

In these years, there is no money, no food, no weapons, and no matter how loyal and brave a soldier is, he can't fight hungry, let alone the family members who have to be supported behind him.

"Uncle Wang, your craftsman team and Wang Qing's escort team, the task is still very heavy," Xiao Ye said, took out a map, and compared it to it, "Our letter whistle transmission is not far away, with a limit of five miles, the mountain road between Shiguantun and Madao Shibao can gallop horses, but after the north entrance of the canyon, a stone fort will need to be built to ensure that the news transmission with Bailong Lake can be planned in advance,"

"For today's plan, the first thing is to build a stone fort twenty miles outside the Madao Stone Fort, which has entered the Gobi Desert, and the Madao Stone Fort will fight against the Tartars, and the Tartars will inevitably see it as a thorn in their side,"

The C-shaped stone mill can't reach out of Shiguan for fifty miles, Xiao Ye can only start in this regard, and at the north entrance of the canyon, he can only let go of his greed.

"Brother Liu Ren's herald also needs to increase manpower, and you can choose a clever past from the sergeant," under the dim light of the hundred households, several people listened attentively.

However, the only thing that gave Xiao Ye a headache was that he was also a hundred household officers, which was really uncomfortable, and in order to fight against the Tartars, he had to secretly increase the number of sergeants.

Xiao Ye and a few people discussed in the hundred households, Hu Shibiao returned home, and after dinner, he took the teacup and thought about his thoughts; Thinking about it, but he became more and more restless, and now he had to make a decision.

Originally, he took refuge in Wang Chongli, but after the battle between Shiguantun and Tatar this time, it was obvious that Tian Guanglin tried to intervene, and the intention of winning him over was self-evident; And Ximen Xiao Ye, who is currently actually in control of Shiguantun, is lukewarm to him.

Wang Chongli and Tian Guanglin are rookies in the officialdom for businessmen, and their future is visible, but will they take care of themselves as a disabled low-level officer in the future, Hu Shibiao has no confidence; After Jiang Jie went to Gansu Town to command the envoy, he just sent a letter to himself.

Besides, why did Jiang Jie and Jiang Qinggui die, Hu Shibiao's heart is very bright, and he definitely can't get rid of Ximen Xiao Ye, so once he offends Xiao Ye in the future? Hiss, Hu Shibiao's whole body was cold and tight.

However, even his own personal guards, who died in the grassland, were able to give a large amount of compensation, which shows that Xiao Ye's kindness to the sergeant is commendable, not an indifferent lord.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Xiaozi, who is not optimistic about everyone, was able to gain a foothold in Shiguan, and also got into a relationship with the Persians, I heard that the steppe horse thief and him are also unclear, this is really difficult to choose.

Hu Shibiao, who was circling in the hall, didn't know how long he pondered, until he listened to the voices of the family members in the inner room, gradually quieted down, and couldn't help but stop; Yes, my family is in Shiguantun, two and a half years old, still studying in a private school, and practicing fire/guns and horseback riding.

The lives of his own family are actually in the hands of others.

Hey, the picture is not small, Simon Gale, you have given birth to a terrible boy; Hu Shibiao's face changed for a long time, and finally pressed the stupid thought, stomped his feet hard, straightened his clothes, walked out of the courtyard gate, and walked towards the stone castle of No. A.

What is the number A stone castle, and what is the fire/gun, these names don't know how Xiao Xiaozi was named, Hu Shibiao, who muttered in his heart, kept moving; Behind him, two sergeants with guns on their backs followed from a distance.

When night fell, the number A stone fort, the lantern at the gate of the fort was tall, and there were five sentry sergeants standing, Hu Shibiao walked in and took a look, oh, Xiao Liuzi and Zuo Shi stood with three personal guards, with guns on their shoulders, looking vigilant.

The matter discussed in the hundred households was soon passed out by the guards who brought tea and water, and Zuo Shi, who knew that he had not spent much time by his brother's side, although he was reluctant in his heart, he could not disobey Xiao Ye's military order, and he was very happy in his heart.

Then, let's stand up for the rest of the guards, Zuo Shi went to work early, and together with the little six sons who were in charge, he waited for the hundred households behind him and the residence of his brother's family.

"Stop, which one?" The alert Zuo Shi, from afar, saw a black shadow approaching on the right, pressed the handle of the gun in his waist, and asked loudly, although there is a secret post under the mountain, he is still quite nervous, tomorrow, he will leave the guard, and he can't relax.

"It's me, Hu Shibiao," Hu Shibiao smiled reluctantly, and walked into the light, "Zuo Shi, you are in charge," this kid he almost watched grow up, and now he can take on it.

"Oh, it's Hu Baihu, it's so late, you come to Baihu for everything?" Zuo Shi stepped forward in surprise and asked; The little sixth son who looked at Hu Shibiao coldly behind him, squinted at the two shadows in the distance, and did not come forward to ask.

"That's the case, I have something important to tell Ximen Baihu, and I hope Zuo Shi will give you an announcement," Hu Shibiao smiled and stood in place without moving; Shiguantun is heavily guarded at night, if he moves around, it is difficult to protect which fire/gun is on his head, and he can't hold back to give a guy, then he will die unjustly.

"This," Zuo Shi looked at Xiao Liuzi hesitantly, but all he saw was an expressionless face; In the past, this kind of thing was dealt with by Xiao Liuzi, but now the captain is silent, that is, let him get familiar with it first, so as not to go to the old sheep's mouth and be embarrassed.

"Then you wait first, I'll go and tell the hundred households," after thinking about it, Zuo Shi glanced at the guards next to him, turned his head and entered the castle gate.

Hundred households, Xiao Ye was busy working in the two wings for a while, Lina's arm injury was just healing, and the intimacy stopped after a little taste, Xiuxiu wanted to comfort her.

After taking care of Lina, Xiao Ye returned to the bedroom of the main house, lying on the kang and hugging Mei'er, before he could say a word, in the courtyard outside the window, there was a sound of hurried footsteps, and the guards at the gate of the courtyard called in a low voice, "Hundred, hundred,".

"There must be something, you better get down to business first," pulled down the big hand on her chest, and said softly, getting up and putting on her coat and lighting the oil lamp.

"Who, it's a big night," I originally wanted to talk to Mei'er about the female guard, but Xiao Ye was distracted by the movement outside, "I know, I'll come right away,"

In the hall, the guards had already lit the oil lamp, Xiao Ye wore a silk cotton coat, lifted the cotton curtain and walked out, "Xiao Miao, what's the matter?" At this time, the rough girl in the side room served hot tea and stirred up the fire.

Miao Biwu, a tightly wrapped guard, still had a cold air on his body, and when he saw Baihu coming out, he hurriedly said, "Baihu, Zuo Shi came just now, and said that the fort gate was there, Hu Shibiao asked to see him, but he didn't let him in, and he was still waiting outside,"

Miao Biwu was brought back from the grassland by Xiao Ye, and when he came back, his face was yellow and thin, and he was like a handful of bones, but no one could have imagined that this sheepherd who herded sheep for the Tartars, after raising it, not only did the fire / gun shoot accurately, but the most powerful thing was that within thirty steps of the earth-shaking thunder, where to throw, the skill of throwing stones and driving sheep, it was also an advantage to change the environment.

Among all the guards, each of the others had three earth-shattering thunders on their bodies, only Miao Biwu and Xiao Ye had no limit on the number, and they could bring a few with a few.

"What is he doing here?" Xiao Ye muttered, sat there without saying a word, and saw that Xiao Miao was still waiting for a reply, so he asked, "It's too cold outside, stay in the hall for a while to warm up, do you have that hand warmer?" ”

"Yes, one per person," Miao Biwu, who was carrying a rifle, patted his pocket with a smile, "It's not cold at all, it's hot, "But Baihu said to stay here longer, he didn't dare, he didn't see the captain still blowing the wind at the gate of the fort."

Dressed in a heavy field cotton coat, with a silk cotton coat inside, plus a cloth ball wrapped in newspaper to warm his hands, and long leather boots, if he is still dissatisfied, he does not have the shimmer glasses.

"Well, go, call Hu Shibiao in, it's cold outside," Xiao Ye smiled and waved his hand, his personal guards, who will be released in the future, are all the material of the flag officer, relying on the tenacious military discipline trained in Shiguantun.

"Okay," Miao Biwu responded, and slowly withdrew, that Hu Baihu, everyone didn't like it, so let him freeze outside for a while.

Sending the girl back to sleep, Xiao Yedry sat and drank a cup of warm tea, only then did he see Miao Biwu leading Hu Shibiao, who was staggering, to the door.

"Hu Baihu, come in," without being too polite, Xiao Ye directly called Hu Shibiao in; If Hu Shibiao doesn't come tonight, he will have a showdown with him in the next two days.

Hu Shibiao entered the hall of the hundred households and talked with Xiao Ye for a long time, as for what he talked about, no one knew, but the smile on Miao Biwu's face when he sent him away could be seen that this Hu Baihu, who was separated from everyone, seemed to be in a pretty good mood.

The next day, Wang Dali received a notice from 100 households that Hu Shibiao's 100 households would be treated better, and 20 guards would be added, and they would be selected from Huang Hanxiang, and the salary would be similar to Xiao Ye's guards; Naturally, Mei'er, who is in charge of the grain and financial accounts, also got the news earlier.

Zuo Shi took five personal guards and went to Lao Yangkou to take office; Xiao Liuzi became the chief flag officer on the spot, and also took away five personal guards; Xiao Ye, who had thirty-one guards left, hurried to Madao Stone Fort after explaining things to Xin Weilin and Wang Ziliang.

With him was a team of pack horses under Wang Qing, carrying heavy supplies and stepping on the horse road.