Chapter 17 Unable to Recruit Soldiers
"Lord!" Early the next morning, Zhao Feng came to the Xuzhou Mansion, and when he left home, Diao Chan had not even woken up, and Liu Bei was the only one when he came to the Mansion.
"Oh, Bo Tao came early!" Liu Bei seemed to be a little surprised that Zhao Feng came so early, and then the two of them looked at each other tacitly and smiled, everything was silent. Not long after, Jian Yong, Mi Zhu and others also came one after another, and there was nothing special about Xuzhou City recently, and the most important thing was to recruit new soldiers. Zhao Feng and Guan Yu budgeted before, Xuzhou has a total of more than 100,000 households, and a population of more than 3 million, it is estimated that how can 50,000 soldiers be recruited this year, and it should be able to recruit 100,000. In addition, there were originally 100,000 soldiers in Xuzhou, and the total must have been nearly 200,000.
"Xuzhou is the land of four wars, and without 200,000 people, there is really no way to stand here, let alone develop." This is Zhao Feng's original words, and Guan Yu also thinks so. "Gongyou, how has the recruitment been in the past month?" Liu Bei also asked Jian Yong, who was in charge of recruitment, at this time.
"Alas, lord, don't mention it, only more than 10,000 people have been recruited this month, and it is estimated that even if it is recruited in winter, it will only recruit less than 20,000 people." Jian Yong said helplessly. "What?" Jian Yong's words were really unexpected by everyone. "Why are you so many?" Zhao Feng thought in his heart, and said it without paying attention.
"Cao Ying'er has recruited tens of thousands of people in Yanzhou, and our population in Xuzhou is far more than that of Yanzhou, why are there so many people?" Zhang Fei, who was outspoken, also shouted, and everyone was a little confused for a while.
"Yong originally thought that no one would want to be a soldier because our salary was too small, but after I agreed with the second general, I increased the salary by sixty percent, but the number of applicants was still limited. Later, Chen Yuanlong told us that Xuzhou is a rich land, and with the salt drying and deep cultivation method of General Fanzhao before, the people's lives are even richer, so few people are willing to come to serve as soldiers. Jian Yong said helplessly.
"I see!" Only then did everyone suddenly realize that it was because the son was living well enough and was unwilling to do this life-fighting livelihood. Zhao Feng remembered that in his previous life, there were generally people from economically underdeveloped provinces who went to serve as soldiers, such as the Gui army in Guangxi during the Anti-Japanese War, although it was a miscellaneous army, but it was even more powerful than Lao Jiang's Central Army in the war. There is also Shandong, the two lakes region, both of which are the same. On the contrary, like the developed coastal areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, there are very few troops that can fight. The most typical is Guangdong, where the economy was underdeveloped before the liberation, and the Guangdong army was once famous for its bravery. However, after the liberation, especially after the reform and opening up, Guangdong, which had gone up economically, rarely sent troops. After all, if it weren't for the fact that they couldn't find a job, a few people would be willing to eat this bowl of life-threatening rice.
"They're all rich! I don't want to be a soldier anymore. Thinking of this, Zhao Feng couldn't help but admire Tao Qian, who had been dead for almost a year, this old brother was afraid that he knew that there were not many people here in Xuzhou who were willing to be soldiers, so he recruited elite soldiers in Danyang, which could be regarded as a rainy day.
"What then?" Liu Bei was also a little at a loss for a while. Even if he has the ability, he can't sprinkle beans into soldiers. Everyone discussed for a long time, but they couldn't get the point, and finally they all turned their heads to look at Zhao Feng. There is no other reason, Zhao Fengping often has some whimsical ideas, and he is a general, and now that he has a problem recruiting troops, who will he look for if he doesn't look for you?
"Bo Tao, there is a good plan." Liu Bei looked at Zhao Feng with a pensive face, and couldn't help but ask with some expectation. Zhao Feng looked up at everyone, pondered for a moment and said, "Lord, this matter is not achieved overnight, and it needs to be solved through a multi-pronged approach. ”
"Bo Tao, but it doesn't hurt to talk about it." When Liu Bei heard that Zhao Feng was not directly out of line, he suddenly felt that there was still a way to do this. He knew that Zhao Feng had always been cautious, as long as he didn't say no, there must be a way.
"First of all, our recruitment points are too concentrated, all in the hinterland of Xuzhou. As Mr. Jian Yong said, the people in these places live relatively well-off, and there are very few who are willing to serve as soldiers. It's best for us to go to a distant place to recruit troops, such as Xuzhou and Qingzhou, and the junction of Yuzhou, so that General Guan and General Mi, as well as Sun Taishou, will also help recruit troops. Zhao Feng said first. He took into account that in this era, information is relatively closed, transportation is not developed, and there are too few recruitment points, so it is difficult to recruit too many people.
"Makes sense." Liu Bei nodded in agreement, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed that this might not be enough, so he motioned for Zhao Feng to continue.
"The second is to improve the salary. Not only the soldiers' salaries, but also their families should be given corresponding pensions once they are killed or injured and incapacitated. In this way, soldiers will have no worries about fighting, and more people will become soldiers. Zhao Feng continued. I have to say that being a soldier in ancient times was really not a glorious errand, many times the criminals were sent to the army, that is, to be a soldier, such a profession naturally has no benefits at all, everyone depends on the destiny of heaven, if you are lucky, you may survive until you are discharged, and if you are unlucky, you will not die or be disabled.
"Yes, take care of their families." Liu Bei nodded again and again when he heard this, and then saw that Zhao Feng seemed to be unsatisfied, and hurriedly asked, "Is there anything else?" ”
"There is also the old method, let Zhongfu and Sun Taishou and General Chang write more letters to their old friends and let them come to Xuzhou." Zhao Feng said with a smile, and everyone laughed as soon as this remark came out. Up to now, the Xuzhou army has been familiar with Zhao'an, from writing letters to persuade them to surrender, to rectifying and reorganizing, training Tuntian, and the implementation of the whole set of procedures is called a professional. Zhao Feng sometimes couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that it was precisely because of this that Song Jiang, who was fooled by future generations, wanted to recruit peace.
"These three solutions may not be able to solve the problem completely, but they should still be relatively effective. As long as we survive this year and get through Yuzhou next year, it should be much better. Zhao Feng finally concluded, and the last sentence also kindled a little hope in everyone's hearts. Of course, Zhao Feng also knows that there will be trouble next year, and now Cao Ying is busy dealing with Zhang Xiu, and Yuan Shao is busy fighting with Gongsun Zhan, and he can't take care of Xuzhou for the time being, so the only enemy is Yuan Shu in Huainan. When the two bosses come to ease up next year, it's hard to say whether they will be so kind.
"Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu, it's up to you!" Zhao Feng prayed silently in his heart, this old man in history should be the emperor next year, as long as he is a good bird, then the pressure on Xuzhou next year will be much less, Zhao Feng found that he had never so strongly hoped that history would not be changed by himself.
Perhaps it was the heavens that sensed that Zhao Feng missed Yuan Shu so much, and at this moment, a small colonel rushed into the lobby and said, "Report to the lord, General Zhang Liao of Guangling has an urgent military situation to arrive." After that, he presented a letter.
"Yuan Shu sent the general Lei Shu to lead 50,000 horses to attack Guangling!" After reading it, Liu Bei concisely informed everyone of the contents, and there was an uproar in the conference hall. "The Guangling garrison is only 15,000, but I am afraid that General Zhang will inevitably be difficult. Big brother, wait until I lead another 10,000 horses to help. "Guan Yu first asked. Liu Bei hadn't spoken yet, and Chen Gong on the side had already said: "The second general is not impatient, lord, has Wen Yuan asked for help in his letter?" ”
"Huh?" Liu Bei listened to Chen Gong's words and read the letter carefully, and finally said: "But there is no word for help." After saying this, Liu Bei looked at Chen Gong in disbelief.
"Hehe, lord, General Wen Yuan's surname is cautious, if he doesn't ask for help, it means that Guangling is not in danger at this time. The lord does not need to use a large army, he only needs to send a surprise army, wait for the other party to attack the city for a long time, and the army will be slightly reduced, and attack Yuan Shu's army from the rear. Chen Gong said with a smile.
"Reasonable!" Liu Bei understood the key after a little thought, then looked at everyone, and finally said to Zhao Feng: "Bo Tao, you lead a thousand cavalry and three thousand infantry troops to rush from Xiapi to the west of Guangling, and when the time is ripe, you will join forces with General Wenyuan to break the enemy army." ”
"Feng understands!" Zhao Feng also received the order. Zhao Feng knew that Liu Bei also had his considerations for sending him, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were too arrogant, and he couldn't help but feel unhappy if he wanted him to take such a few people to fight; Zhang Fei was too anxious, afraid that he would start a war with Yuan Shu as soon as he arrived, and he couldn't handle this situation. Thinking about it, before Zhao Yun came, he was still the most suitable candidate. Of course, what Zhao Feng didn't know was that the last time he and Guan Hai successfully attacked Cao Ying's camp, it also made Liu Bei more confident in his raid ability. However, at this time, Song Xian and Wei Xu also came out to ask Ying: "The last general has defected to the lord and has not yet made meritorious service, so he is willing to go with General Zhao this time." ”
"Okay, since the two generals are willing, let's go together, but all the marching troops need to be able to listen to Bo Tao's orders." Liu Bei also agreed, and at the same time saw that there were still people among the generals in the hall who were eager to try, and hurriedly waved his hand to stop: "This time there is not too much manpower, and the generals will have the opportunity to make meritorious contributions in the future." ”
"The last will understand." Zang Ba and Hou Cheng and others also responded, and they couldn't help but laugh when they saw each other's impatience, and Zhang Fei and Guan Yu also looked funny. However, Zhao Feng felt that such a smile somewhat reduced the previous mustard between the two sides.
After discussing the rescue of Guangling, then everyone will discuss the recruitment of troops. Jian Yong arranged for more people to go to the junction of Yuzhou and Qingzhou to organize recruitment, and at the same time, Chang Xi and Sun Guan and Zang Ba, who had been thieves, also wrote letters to their colleagues. Of course, it is mainly from Qingzhou and Yuzhou, and the others are too far away to catch up.
"Bo Tao has a good rest, and he will send troops tomorrow." Liu Bei finally commanded. Looking at Lao Liu's pointed expression, Zhao Feng reacted that he now has a big beauty in his family, and Lao Liu is afraid that he will overwork at night.
"If you know that I didn't touch her at all last night, I'm afraid I'm going to be incompetent." Zhao Feng thought a little spoofed, and then said goodbye to Liu Bei and Song Xianwei and went to the military camp to select soldiers and horses. The 1,000 cavalry and 3,000 infantry were quickly selected, and after the three agreed on the time to send their troops, they each said goodbye and went home.
"The general is back!" Just returned to the door of his house and dismounted, Xiaomei's chirping voice was already busy going in to report the news. "Huh?" After Zhao Feng entered the door, he was a little surprised to find that the table was already full of food, and there was a stunning beauty sitting at the table. It's none other than Diao.
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