Seeing that Huang Laosi got a lot of business, Chen Laohu next to him suddenly became a little hot. That's fifteen hundred taels of silver! When did such a big business happen in Fort Wytown? After this business is done, it can earn at least two or three hundred taels of silver. Two or three hundred taels of silver, which is not a small amount. He couldn't care about being reserved anymore, and said restlessly: "My lord, a lot of wood is needed to repair the Black Mountain camp...... You see...... Xu Xingxia nodded, and said quietly: "Yes, it does take a lot of wood to repair the Black Mountain Camp, what can you Mu Batian do?" ”

Chen Laohu hurriedly said: "I will provide the adults with good wood at the price of three taels of silver and one material, and I will provide as much as the adults want!" What do you think, my lord? ”

Xu Xingxia groaned and said, "By September, how much wood can you provide?" ”

Chen Laohu hurriedly made a rough calculation, and said quickly: "Five hundred materials!" ”

Xu Xingxia shook his head and said, "Too little!" It's simply not enough! I need at least a thousand pieces of wood! ”

Chen Laohu hurriedly said: "Okay, I'll go back and find more people, work hard to cut down, and make sure that I don't delay the affairs of the adults...... Look at this deposit......"

Xu Xingxia also gave him three hundred taels of silver as a deposit. Chen Laohu happily took the silver, ignoring the eyes of others, took out a silver ingot, and gnawed hard to check the fineness. At last, satisfied, he put the money away.

Chen Denglong said tentatively: "My lord, let them go back first?" ”

Xu Xingxia nodded, waved his hand, and asked Huang Laosi and the four of them to leave first. He left Chen Denglong behind, and called Lin Hainiu to discuss the rebuilding of the Black Mountain camp. Regarding the idea of rebuilding the Montenegrin camp, Xu Xingxia was not a whim, but the need for the development of the situation. There are some things that must be planned now.

Fort Weizhen is indeed a good base to meet the initial development needs of the White Army. However, as the number of white-clothed troops continued to increase, Fort Weizhen could no longer meet the needs. The growing number of white-clothed troops needs larger barracks, larger training grounds, and more space for reading. These are not available at Fort Will.

The development space that Weizhenbao cannot provide, let alone the Niujiaodun. The only one that can meet the development needs of the White Army is the Montenegrin battalion. I think that at the beginning, the imperial court was in the camp of Montenegro, but there were a full 3,000 soldiers stationed. Three thousand soldiers, that's quite a barracks. In the next year or two, the white army will be enough. The area around the Montenegrin battalion is also suitable for training with a large number of cavalry, and there will be no crowds and narrow areas.

From the perspective of strategic position, it is also very necessary to repair the Montenegrin camp. Weizhen Fort is still too far away from Zhenyuanguan. Once something happened to Zhenyuanguan and rushed to reinforcements from Weizhenbao, the daylilies were cold. On the contrary, the Black Mountain battalion was very close to the town and the cavalry could reach it in a moment. Basically, as long as you control the Black Mountain Battalion, you will control Zhenyuan Pass.

From another point of view, as long as the white-clothed army has a firm foothold in the Black Mountain Battalion, the Niujiaodun and Weizhen Fort in the rear are basically safe. It was impossible for the Tartars to cross the Montenegrin camp and go south. It's too dangerous to do that. Especially in the case that he Xu Xingxia was stationed in the Black Mountain camp, he dared to guarantee that few Tartars would dare to ignore him and go south brazenly.

What does this mean? This means that around Fort Weizhen, around the Horn Pier, there is a large amount of arable land that can be re-cultivated. These fields, which have been abandoned for more than ten years or even decades, can be reused. Xu Xingxia didn't dare to guarantee that there were still about 10,000 acres of cultivated land. 10,000 acres of cultivated land can completely solve the problem of insufficient grain in Weizhenbao, and even a large amount of grain can be exported.

In the chaotic times at the end of the Ming Dynasty, what was the most important resource? Not weapons, not population, not money! It's food! Why did the Shaanxi rebel army rise up? It's because there is no food. The reason why the Houjin Tartars repeatedly went south is also because there is no food! Why was Emperor Chongzhen at a loss and unable to mobilize more soldiers? Still no food! In the last years of Chongzhen, the price of a stone of grain soared to ten taels of silver, and there was still no market!

How tight is the food of the imperial court? This is an example. In the second year of Chongzhen, the Tartars crossed the Great Wall on a large scale and went south, approaching the Beijing Division, and the imperial court hurriedly issued an edict asking the Qinwang armies from all over the country to gather to the Beijing Division. However, because the imperial court did not have enough food to supply King Qin's army, as a result, King Qin's army, which rushed to Beijing, had to loot everywhere and take grain on the spot, resulting in mourning all over the field, and ten rooms and nine empty.

Emperor Chongzhen, who was furious, cut off the heads of Geng Ruqi, the governor of Shanxi, and Zhang Honggong, the chief soldier of Shanxi, in one fell swoop, and imprisoned all the secretaries of the military department and the criminal department to set an example. However, the problem of food shortage has always plagued Chongzhen all his life. He never solved the problem. Even Qin Liangyu, a female general who made great contributions at that time, was also deeply troubled by the problem of food shortage. The white pole soldiers she commanded were all hungry to the battlefield.

In the northwest of the Ming Empire, the real grain-producing area is actually only the Hetao Plain. To be precise, it is the Ningxia Plain. In other places, due to the arrival of the Xiaoice period, the climate continues to decrease, drought conditions continue, and grain production will fall to an all-time low. If he Xu Xingxia wants to survive the Xiaoice River safely, he must make full use of the Ningxia Plain. The fields around the Montenegrin camp are the beginning.

Of course, it was not easy to renovate the Black Mountain camp. The Montenegrin camp has been abandoned for decades, and most of the buildings are dilapidated and need to be demolished and rebuilt. There is basically nothing else to use other than the terrain that can be used. The most conservative estimate is that to rebuild the Black Mountain camp, it will cost 30,000 taels of silver.

Thinking of this, Xu Xingxia's eyes couldn't help but look in the direction of Helan Mountain. His biggest hope now is that there is indeed a money leopard in Helan Mountain. If not, things will be more troublesome. However, the determination to rebuild the Black Mountain camp has been made, and even if he goes to wash the Tartars, he must prepare the funds well.

…… In the blink of an eye, it was a good time for Liu Dachun to go to Ningxia City to welcome his relatives.

Early in the morning, Xu Xingxia took Chi Hu and others to Ningxia City to greet relatives with the team of greeting relatives. Liu Dachun, who is the groom's official, wears a red brocade robe, a red gauze hat on his head, a jade belt that is estimated to be a counterfeit product around his waist, and a red ribbon with a big hydrangea tied to the ribbon, which looks like a person.

This is the first time Xu Xingxia has experienced such a thing, and it feels quite interesting. I don't know if I have to dress like this when I get married? I can't help but think of Zhu Zhizhi, who has gone away, if she gets married, I don't know what kind of scene it will be? With her identity, I'm afraid that she will make a sensation in the world, and thousands of people will empty the alley, right?

Wang Qinian is a jack of all trades, Xu Xingxia naturally wants to take it with him. If there is anything you don't understand, you can ask Wang Qinian at any time. This guy's knowledge is indeed rich, and there are few things he doesn't know. It's a moving encyclopedia. Even if he doesn't know, he can tell who is the expert. For example, the great Confucian He Fengsheng of the Western Kingdom Prison, Wang Qinian can actually say the truth.

The two chatted while walking, and before they knew it, Ningxia City was in front of them. Standing outside and looking at Ningxia City, it is really quite spectacular. Compared with Ningxia City, Weizhenbao is a small point. Five hundred Weizhen forts are not as good as one Ningxia city. The city walls of Ningxia City, the shortest place, have seven zhang, the highest place, even more than ten zhang, no wonder the Tartars never dared to fight the idea of Ningxia City, this is simply looking for death.

"Tsubaki, you go in, I'll wait for you outside!"

Xu Xingxia was not ready to enter Ningxia City. There are too many rights and wrongs in it, and if there are any surprises, it will not be good. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, such a basic truth, Xu Xingxia is still very clear. Because of the matter of the two sons-in-law, it is estimated that the two bigwigs in Ningxia Town hate him behind their backs. If he rashly enters Ningxia City, he will simply fall into the net! If someone chops it up, it is estimated that even Qingwangfu will not have time to make a move.

After Liu Dachun went in to greet his relatives, Xu Xingxia, Chi Hu and others walked outside, enjoying the scenery around Ningxia City by the way. Probably affected by the Tartar attack, there are not many pedestrians outside Ningxia City. Occasionally, someone passes by, but they are also in a hurry, and they disappear in a flash. Most of the pedestrians are on horseback, and they are barely visible on foot. Plugged on is indeed plugged on. If you don't know how to ride a horse, you can't walk an inch.

Occasionally, caravans entered and exited the city gates, and they were also in groups, and the number of people was basically not less than a hundred. Inside, half of them are guards carrying various weapons. The security around Ningxia City may be better, and there is not much danger, but once you leave the scope of Ningxia City, it is estimated that it will be dangerous and dangerous.

In Ningxia Town, the caravan was simply difficult to move without a large number of escorts. However, hiring a large number of guards will inevitably increase costs and push up the price of goods. Hiring people is to pay wages, which must naturally be included in the cost of goods. The price of a cotton cloth in the Jiangnan area is only six or seven hundred wen, and when it arrives in Ningxia Town, it costs more than two taels of silver, which is more than three times that of Jiangnan. The cost of commercial trade is so high, it is indeed emotional!

Suddenly, from the east gate of Ningxia City, a large number of chariots and hundreds of cavalry came out. These cavalrymen don't seem to belong to any big man's armed family, but rather like the guards of the Qingwang Mansion. The reason why I feel this way is because the armor and equipment of those guards are quite good, and the horses under the crotch are also quite strong. It feels that in Ningxia City, only the wealthy Qingwang Mansion has such a glamorous cavalry.

In the middle of the cavalry, there was also a large carriage, which was black in appearance, a bit like the one in which Lady Danglin was riding. The carriage was pulled by eight horses, which was indeed quite imposing. Next to the carriage, there were some palace maids accompanying them. Outside the palace maid, there were some eunuchs. Obviously, this is indeed the person from the Qingwang Mansion.

Xu Xingxia asked curiously, "What is Qingwangfu doing?" ”

Wang Qinian said in a low voice: "It is estimated that the princess is going to travel." ”

Xu Xingxia suddenly remembered that he was still Su Xiaoxiao's guard! I wonder if she's in the black carriage? It's really strange, this Su Xiaoxiao, it's not good to stay in King Qing's mansion, what is he doing outside the city? Isn't she worried about encountering a Tartar?

Wang Qinian seemed to be able to feel Xu Xingxia's doubts, and said in a low voice: "The weather is slowly getting hotter, and the princess is probably going to Qingyang Palace to escape the summer." It is said that every summer, she has to stay in Qingyang Palace and wait until the weather is cold before returning. ”

It seems that he is also a sullen person, and when it comes to Su Xiaoxiao, there are many topics. He further explained that this Qingyang Palace is near Qingyangling in Helan Mountain, and it is not too far from Weizhen Fort. The terrain is quite dangerous. The surrounding scenery is very quiet, and there are good hot springs, which is the most suitable for women to escape the heat there.

Xu Xingxia nodded, thinking to himself, the big man is comfortable. In summer, you can go to Qingyangling to escape the heat, and in winter, you can go to Hainan Island to spend the winter...... Well, it's not Hainan Island, it's Qiongzhou Mansion. This Su Xiaoxiao really knows how to enjoy, and she is simply imitating Yang Guifei in the past. It's strange, why didn't the prince go?

Because of the gossip in private, some people really dare to think about anything. Someone said mysteriously that the relationship between the prince and the princess was not good, and the two often quarreled. There are also people who mysteriously say that the prince and the princess have not had sex together for a long time. Some people even say that the prince and the princess are actually strangers. Of course, these messy rumors are all intentionally coined, and only the devil knows the truth or falsehood.

While he was thinking wildly, he suddenly saw a delicate figure rushing out from the other side of the city gate, and the speed was quite fast. She was obviously a woman, and her whole body was fiery red, like a fluttering little pepper. The jujube red horse under her crotch is not very big, but the speed of running is very fast, which is somewhat similar to the master.

Xu Xingxia asked curiously: "Lao Wang, is that the princess?" ”

Wang Qinian shook his head and said, "Of course not." The princess doesn't know how to ride a horse, she goes in and out in a carriage. It was her precious daughter, the Lord of Lingzhu. The princess has a daughter, and she is naturally very precious. cough, in Ningxia City, whoever sees this Lingzhu County Lord is very nerve-wracking, and the uneducated children ......"

Xu Xingxia suddenly frowned. The child who can make Wang Qinian say the three words of unparenting, you can imagine what kind of goods it is. It's a pity that the Lingzhu County Lord is a title rich in aura. Alas, the years are really a pig-killing knife, urging people to get old, black fungus, soft bananas, no matter how beautiful Su Xiaoxiao is, she is also a person who has given birth to children......

(To be continued)