Looking at Luo Cheng in the distance, Zhang Xuan turned back to everyone and said: "In fact, when we went south to intercept Yu Wenhua, Goguryeo had already taken action, taking the opportunity to occupy Huilong Town, and uprooting our foundation on the Liaodong Peninsula, which was the harbinger of Goguryeo's attempt to get involved in the Central Plains.

Judging from the descriptions of the three merchants, the situation has been very clear, Goguryeo is going to use Goyeol to invade the Central Plains, I think this is not a short-term act, it should be a long-planned long-term strategy, but in any case, Liaodong is the first step they must take, they will use Liaodong as a foundation to invade Hebei, their time has come, and the war is likely to break out after the beginning of spring. ”

At this time, Li Gang said slowly: "Goguryeo is not a day or two, in the Han and Wei dynasties, the imperial court has always owned four counties in Liaodong, including Liaoxi, Xuansu, Liaodong, Lelang, including the Liaodong Peninsula, and even Pyongyang belong to the counties of the Han court, but after the Wuhu Rebellion, the Central Plains fell into chaos, Goguryeo took the opportunity to expand westward, and gradually expanded the line of power to the Liaohe River, Goguryeo has seriously threatened the security of the Liaoxi Corridor and Hebei.

Therefore, when the Great Sui unified the world, Emperor Wen took the lead in attacking Goguryeo, mobilized the army to conquer the east, and the first emperor conquered Goryeo three times, the imperial court hoped to restore the territory of the late Han Dynasty in Liaodong, so that the Central Plains of Hebei had enough buffer, but unfortunately it was not successful, although Goguryeo surrendered for a while, but it was reversed, and the ambition was difficult, and I hope that His Royal Highness will continue to crusade east when he has the conditions in the future, and restore the territory of my Han Dynasty. ”

Li Gang's words moved everyone, and everyone didn't expect that Li Gang, who had not spoken all the time, was actually thinking about destroying the country of Goguryeo, Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment and said: "I participated in the Third Battle of Goguryeo, and I can understand why the Son of Heaven didn't destroy Goguryeo at that time, because our national strength at that time was no longer able to control the population and land of Goguryeo, and in the end we could only cheapen Silla or Baekje, I believe." In the future, we will destroy Goguryeo one day, but now I am thinking about three things: first, to completely defeat Goguryeo; second, to recover the Liaodong Peninsula; Third, let Goguryeo become a source of military food for us."

Speaking of which. Zhang Xuan asked Li Gang again: "I want to know if the current imperial court money and grain can support me to recruit another 50,000 troops." ”

In fact, after the Qingzhou Army surrendered the Youzhou army and recruited some of the Central Plains disaster victims into the army, the total strength of the army had reached 150,000, which was only 50,000 short of Zhang Xuan's initial target of 200,000 people, and the strength reached 200,000, so it could compete with Li Yuan and the Wagang army.

The key to supporting 200,000 soldiers lies in the population, not only the soldiers eat, but also the weapons and armor are replenished, and someone must mine and smelt iron. Someone needs to make weapons and armor, and there must be military horses to be fed, and so on.

Generally speaking, the limit of support is six young and strong to raise one soldier, which is extremely exploitative for the people, ten young and strong to raise one soldier, a little better, but because of the low productivity, it is also very difficult.

But that's it. An army of 200,000 also needs 2 million young people, plus their families and children. At least 10 million people, the million army of the Great Sui is supported by 50 million people.

Zhang Xuan knew this very well, and from the territory and population he currently controlled, it was still difficult to support an army of 200,000, so he was really a little worried in his heart.

Li Gang pondered for a moment and said, "If we look at it right now, we have the inventory of the Lushui warehouse. Coupled with Li Yuan's ransom soldiers' money and food, it is more than enough to recruit 50,000 troops, and the key is to be durable, including the supply of weapons and the support of money and food. Relying only on Hebei and Qingzhou, it is still a bit heavy to support 200,000 troops, but if the military cantonment does a good job so that the army can be self-sufficient, I think the 200,000 army can barely sustain it. ”

Li Gang's implication is that they can still eat the old bottom of the Sui Dynasty now, but in order to maintain it for a long time, it is necessary to strengthen the military cantonments, and the army can be self-sufficient in food, so that the tax pressure on the county and county governments can be reduced, which is conducive to economic recovery.

Li Gang continued: "At present, the field tax in Chang'an is two liters per mu, and the household tax is two thousand wen per year, and our field tax and household tax are basically the same as those in Chang'an, and the taxes in the counties of the Central Plains are extremely heavy, reaching five to six liters per mu, which is three times that of us and Chang'an, and the commercial tax and household department are also heavy.

The population of the Central Plains is bound to flow to Hebei and Guanlong, but I heard that the land tax in Chang'an will be reduced to one liter and eight hes after Li Yuan ascends the throne, and at the same time limit the rent of tenant farmers, these measures may not attract the people of Hebei and Qingzhou, but the attraction to the population of the Central Plains is great, Your Highness, how should we deal with it? ”

Li Gang's words revealed a ruthless fact, Li Yuan owns the three granaries of southern Bingzhou, Guanzhong and Bashu, and he can reduce taxes on the basis of maintaining the same army of 200,000, but he Zhang Xuan does not have this condition, either reduce the number of troops or increase taxes, otherwise Li Yuan cannot compete, this is the difference in strength between the two sides.

Therefore, Li Gang put forward a plan to increase the military cantonment, increase the army's food self-sufficiency, then it can feed the 200,000 army and Li Yuan to contend with, this is indeed an effective method, the Qingzhou army itself has a military cantonment system, forty percent of the military food is solved by the military cantonment, if the army self-sufficiency rate can be increased to more than seventy percent, then they can also reduce taxes.

At this time, Li Jing said on the side: "Li Shangshu has a lot of ideas for open source, and Juntun is indeed a good plan, but I also have a plan, which may alleviate the food shortage to a certain extent." ”

Everyone looked at Li Jing together, and Zhang Xuan smiled and said, "Li Sima can speak freely!" ”

Li Jing nodded and said: "I have been an official in Mayi County for many years, although the land in Mayi County is barren and the grain production is very low, I rarely hear that there is a famine problem in Mayi County, and the fundamental reason for this is that Mayi County can obtain meat supply from the grassland. ”

Everyone immediately understood what Li Jing meant, and Li Gang said: "What Li Sima means is that we can trade with the grassland to obtain meat, which can be regarded as a supplement to food, right?" ”

"In fact, if there is enough meat, it is a great improvement to the soldier's physique, and the food consumption will be reduced accordingly, I once calculated that if there is no oil, water and meat, a strong man must eat a bucket of rice every day to be full, if there is a pound of meat every day, then half a bucket of rice can be eaten every day, and the physical strength and strength will increase, so meat is very important to soldiers."

Li Jing pondered and said: "I don't know if Sima has thought about it, the 200,000 army needs at least millions or even tens of millions of cattle and sheep every year, and the demand for silk, cloth, and ceramics is actually not large, so what can we use to exchange a large number of cattle and sheep with the grassland?" ”

"They need a lot of salt and pig iron"

As soon as Li Jing's words fell, everyone objected, "Pig iron is not good, and it is never allowed to be sold to the grassland." ”

Li Jing didn't tell the difference, and looked at Zhang Xuan, and the lobby gradually quieted down, and everyone looked at Zhang Xuan together.

Zhang Xuan said slowly: "First of all, there are many pastures along the river in Beihai County, and a large number of alfalfa have been planted along the beach, and the livestock production is already the first in the world, and secondly, we also promote animal husbandry in Donglai County and Gaomi County, raise a large number of sheep, and can also specialize in raising beef cattle, not selling them in the market, only supplying the army, and then developing fisheries, supplementing with fish and meat, of course, this may not be enough, then the shortage will be solved through trade with the grassland, we can use tea to solve the shortage of supply, and use tea to ferment and make tea bricks to sell to the grassland." , we can monopolize the salt tea trade with the steppe, so that the supply of meat for the army is basically enough, as for pig iron"

Zhang Xuan glanced at the crowd: "I can understand Li Sima's intentions, pig iron can be sold, but not to the Turks, but to the Turkic opponents, such as Bayegu, Huifu, Tongluo and other tribes, so that they have the strength to confront the Turks, which is very good for containing the Turkic forces to the south, in fact, I have been thinking about this issue, once the conditions permit, I plan to support Bayegu, but not now, first of all, our own pig iron is not enough." ”

Zhang Xuan's words can be regarded as the final statement, you can vigorously develop and grassland trade in exchange for meat, everyone also knows that the Khitan, who is also a grassland people, has begun to buy a large amount of tea, so tea will definitely become the largest trade commodity with the grassland.

At this time, Li Gang smiled and said: "Since this decision has been made, I suggest that a special office can be set up to be responsible for this matter, and it is best to control tea in the south, and promote trade with the grassland with the power of the whole country." ”

Everyone dispersed, and only Zhang Xuan and Li Jing were left in the lobby, Li Jing was old because of his age, Zhang Xuan no longer let him lead the troops to fight, but let him serve as the secretary of the military department, which was also the most suitable official position for him.

Li Jingxiao asked, "The general sent someone to pick up the general, I don't know where he is now?" ”

"It should be in Donghai County now, he insisted on coming to Beihai County by boat, and we are all looking forward to his arrival."

"Does Your Highness still want him to be in charge of the navy?"

Zhang Xuan nodded, "So far, I haven't found anyone who can replace him, although we also have a few excellent naval generals, but as the commander, they are still a little weaker, I very much need to come to Hu'er, such an experienced and strong commander as the chief general of the naval army." ”

Zhang Xuan left Li Jing alone, not because he wanted to talk to him about the issue of protecting his children, so Zhang Xuan diverted the topic and turned back to business.

"I want to talk to Li Shangshu about recruitment." (To be continued.) )