"General Dingguo has arrived!"

With Xie Yike's loud voice, Wang Dou, surrounded by Wen Fangliang, Zhong Xiancai, Sun Sanjie, Wen Daxing and other henchmen and generals, followed Xiong Tingrui into the lobby with a smile on his face. Everyone in the hall has only seen this world-famous legend for the first time.

He was young and light, less than thirty, with a majestic figure and a very imposing demeanor.

The generals who hugged him were also full of sharpness, which seemed to show the momentum of this group. Everyone in the hall stood up and saluted, with respectful smiles on their faces.

In particular, Xu Zucheng was guarded by the security acropolis, and Wang Yide, who was guarded by Yongning City, smiled like a flower. Only Zhang Wenru, the garrison of Sihai Yebao, got up with a big grin, opened a pair of drunken eyes, and looked at Wang Dou from head to foot, and from foot to head.

Wang Dou's smile was very gentle and kind, and he did not put up any shelf in front of his subordinates, on the contrary, he claimed that he was young and young, and he had just arrived, and he had to borrow a lot from the experience of his colleagues.

Wang Dou's style is seen in the eyes of Yanqing Prefecture Garrison Chen Enzhong and others, they are all awe-inspiring, this new general, can be described as old and spicy, is a very deep city, the future is not easy to deal with. Of course, for the rest of the guards and ethics, Wang Dou gave them a very good impression, this boss is a good person.

When they met for the first time, the hall could be described as a group of harmony, and only Xiong Tingrui, who was introduced to Wang Dou, was not sorry in his heart. The generals of the East Road were busy currying favor with the new Dingguo general, but they put his old boss aside, sadly, people go to tea and cool, and the ancients did not deceive me!

On the same day, Wang Dou sent Xiong Tingrui away, and the city garrisons also left one after another, looking at the slightly dilapidated general's mansion in front of him, in the future, he will be the owner of this mansion.

The members of the shogunate also took action without stepping on their feet, dividing up the public housing in various halls and houses as office places. Sort out the received law books, mountains and rivers, household registration classics, etc., according to the responsibilities of each department, and busy in an orderly manner.

Wang Dou paid more attention to the Dingkou field on the East Road, and according to the registration on the household register, excluding Baoanzhou, there were more than 18,000 military households on the East Road, and more than 700 military fields.

However, this is the data of the late years of Hongji. Wang Dou watched the relevant historical materials, during the Wanli period, Xuanfu Town had a military household field inspection. As a result, the number of military households per acre of land has decreased by more than half.

The number of military households that disappeared either fled or hid in the names of the officers. Not to mention, the military land was invaded by all sides.

The same is true of the number of troops, there are more than 8,000 officers and soldiers on the roster, more than 2,000 horses and mules, and Wang Dou estimates that half of them can exist.

A glimpse of the whole leopard can be seen, and the disadvantages of the East Road are the same situation in Xuanfu Town, and even the entire Jiubian, and the entire Daming Guard. Why the officers and soldiers of the Daming Guard cannot fight, from the gradual deterioration of the guard, we can already understand.

On April 24, the twelfth year of Chongzhen, Wang Dou went to Huailai City to meet the soldiers and Ma Guoqian and Guo Shitong, who was in charge of grain.

"Hehehehe, General Wang doesn't have to be polite, don't be polite."

Finally looked forward to Wang Dou coming, and met Wang Dou at the same level, only bowing, not bowing, and Guo Shitong, who was in charge of the grain next to him, tried his best to restrain himself so that he did not have a seizure, but Ma Guoyan was still like a spring breeze.

He affectionately invited Wang Dou to sit down in the guest seat, looked at Wang Dou, and said with a smile: "I have heard the name of the general of Dingguo for a long time, the battle of Tongzhou, the battle of Julu, the battle of Pinggu, and the famous Dongnu. There are generals guarding the east road, which is a blessing for the people. ”

Ma Guoxi's speech is easy to make people feel good, and his beard, which is as long as Guan Gong, also left a deep impression on Wang Dou. Out of the corner of his eye, he also caught a glimpse of the expression of Guo Shitong, the judge of the grain next to him. Joy and anger are floating on the surface, and for Wang Niu, this person is not a matter of concern.

"But drinking the name of Ma Gongxiang, it is a pity to see it, and it is better to meet today."

The sedan chair carries people, Ma Guoxi does not put up a shelf for military preparation, and Wang Dou does not mind giving him a few high hats.

Regarding Wang Dou's words, Ma Guoxi was really happy.

Wang Dou suddenly stood up and respectfully saluted the direction of the Jingshi: "Dou Bucai, he is favored by the emperor and can guard the East Road......"

Seeing Wang Dou standing up and mentioning the emperor, Ma Guolei also stood up busily, and Guo Shitong next to him did the same. caught off guard, and couldn't help but curse in his heart.

Wang Dou continued: "...... However, at the end of the general, he was shallow in his studies, and when he first arrived on the East Road, he also asked Ma Gong to give more guidance to the juniors. ”

Ma Guoxi smiled: "Of course, as the official of the East Road, the parents of the people, we should work together to support each other. ”,

He invited Wang Dou to sit down again, and said meaningfully: "General Wang is both civil and military, and his future life is terrifying." ”

He coughed and said, "The imperial court has an order to turn 200,000 people into military households, I don't know what General Wang's plan is?" ”

Wang Dou said: "The strategy of the last general can make him reclaim wasteland, one for every thousands of people, so that the people can be resettled, but it is just ,....."

A look of embarrassment appeared on his face: "To settle the people, the money and grain needed, the cattle to plough the cattle, and the seeds are numerous, but the last general is not able to do it." ”

Ma Guolei narrowed his eyes, how could Wang Dou not be caught? He has plenty of money and food. Even Wang Dou didn't say it, Ma Guolei also heard a little about the battle last year, and his troops captured a lot of money. The amount of silver and horses, cattle and horses, and grain and grass can be described as astronomical.

Ma Guoxi, how Wang Dou made his fortune, knows very well, if it comes to the richest generals on the East Road. It's the warrior in front of him.

If it weren't for the heavy army in his hands, the officials would have flocked to eat the big households.

Of course, Wang Dou made this gesture, Ma Guolei still had to respond, he sighed: "The old man is in charge of the East Road Tuntian, Ma Zheng's affairs, General Wang's worries, the suffering of the people, the old man empathizes." As the parent of the people, no matter how difficult it is, the old man must find ways to settle the people's children. ”

Ma Guokui decided to hand over the matter of Tuntian to Wang Dou and enjoy the success himself. Of course, the verbal support is not costly, and the establishment of the Xintun Institute can also place some personnel in it, and the literati on the East Road can covet the candidates for the officials of the Zhutun. Associated benefits. Ma Guolei received a lot.

He supported Wang Dou, threw himself into the peach, and repaid him, presumably Wang Dou would also agree to some trivial requests from him.

Wang Dou got up and saluted Ma Guolei: "Ma Gong is righteous, and the last general will admire him." ”

Ma Guojian stopped Wang Dou with a smile: "The general doesn't have to be like this, he doesn't have to be like this. ”

The two of them played and humbly sat down with each other.

Guo Shitong, the grain manager next to him, saw that the two of them were transparent, and his expression was even more gloomy.

At this time, Ma Guojian looked at him and said with a smile: "The East Road is going to train the troops, and the matter of food and salary. He also asked Director Guo to assist General Wang a lot. ”

Wang Dou glanced at Ma Guoxi thoughtfully, and gave Guo Shitong a salute with a smile: "Governor Xuanzhen Ji has drawn up the number of soldiers of 5,000, and the final general will roughly calculate the grain and silver, and the people who need it are many, and I don't know what Guo is ......doing."

Guo Shitong was expressionless: "The East Road is dilapidated, the annual tax is insufficient, in order to train the soldiers, the imperial court has levied more than 7.3 million taels of training salaries in the whole territory of the Ming Dynasty. It will take time to collect it, and it will not be a matter of time for the household department to pull out the salary. It is very difficult to raise food and salaries for the new army. ”

Wang Dou glanced at him and said, "Oh. ”

"Of course, as the head of the East Road in charge of grain, Jiang Bing's salary will be managed."

Wang Dou nodded: "Understood." ”

When Wang Dou said goodbye and left, Guo Shitong was a little surprised: "What does this Wang Dou mean?" ”

Looking at Wang Dou's back, Ma Guoxi also narrowed his eyes: "This son is not simple. ”

In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, near May, Wang Dou also inspected the entire East Road, and to his surprise, the entire East Road was an enlarged version of the previous Baoan Prefecture, and even the disadvantages were even more serious.

Only Sihai Yebao garrisoned Zhang Wenru was slightly better.

That's because it doesn't embezzle military salaries, doesn't accept bribes, and doesn't take advantage of military service. Although the sergeant was bitter, his spirit was good, which was the result of Zhang Wenru and his subordinates sharing weal and worn. This person also left a deep impression on Wang Dou, Yin Jia, "It is difficult to return, and the only way to break it is to stand up." Perhaps, I want to redo what I have done in the state city on East Road. ”

At this time, Wang Dou stood on the west gate of Yongning City, standing here, he could look at the panoramic view of the city. Yongning City was built in the Xuande period, not very big, only six miles in Zhou, smaller than Huailai City. There are 48 forts and 2 villages. Yanqing Prefecture has 98 forts and 34 villages.

The city has four city gates in the east, west, south and north, in the west of the city twenty miles, there is the word "Feng" warm shop, and twenty miles, there is the word "yes" warm shop. Forty miles later, there is a warm inlay of the word "Zhu", which is a post station. The guards of the Ming Dynasty are full of temples, and Yongning City is no exception, and there are more than 30 temples of all sizes in the city. Most of the incense is very prosperous, perhaps the more troubled the times, the more the people need spiritual comfort.

The east and west of the city are high mountains on three sides, and go to the northeast, where there are successively distributed the forts of Sihaizhi, Sizhougou Fort, Heihanling Fort, Jinghu Fort, and Liu Bin Fort, guarding the border passes leading to the east road outside the Saiwai.

In Wang Dou's view, except for the Sihai Ye Fort, most of the remaining forts are like nothing.

Because it is a place where the generals are stationed, there is a lot of demand for soldiers, and it is close to the outside of the Saiwai, so there are many merchants who come and go. Standing at the head of the city, there are caravans and camels entering the city from time to time, as well as local military families and ordinary people, most of whom are dressed in tatters and have vegetables on their faces. ,

When they saw Wang Dou and the others standing solemnly at the head of the city, their eyes showed a look of awe. Seeing this figure, everyone's eyes showed a kind of hope, everyone had heard of what General Dingguo did in Baoanzhou, and hoped that after he came to Yongning, he could let the local people live a good life like the soldiers and civilians of Baoanzhou.

Looking at these people, Wang Dou sighed with some emotion, Huailai, Yanqing area, is a famous rich place in Xuanfu Town, surrounded by mountains on three sides, facing water on one side, with excellent climate and fertile land. Why are the local soldiers and civilians so poor?

Wang Dou stood for a long time, and raised his eyes to look in the northwest direction of the city, and walked in the footsteps of the western mountain on that side. A large crowd gathered like ants, busy and busy, including soldiers and local military households. Wang Dou led the army to Yongning, and felt that the military camp in the city was crowded and dilapidated, so he decided to build a new military camp at the foot of the West Mountain for his soldiers to live in.

Since there is enough food to eat for work, and there is also a salary to pay, not to mention the soldiers in the city, that is, the military households inside and outside, all rush to go.

Wang Dou pondered for a long time, the affairs of the East Road are complicated, the rice must be eaten in one bite, and the matter must be taken step by step.

There is a way that is not to suffer from poverty but to suffer from anxiety, no more than the land of Baoanzhou, the east road, the mountains are dense and dense, and there are many bandits like cattle hair, they occupy the top of the mountain, rob the house, and are extremely vicious, which seriously affects the production and life of the local people.

The first thing I did was to exterminate these bandits and restore a stable environment in the area, so that we could talk about other things.

On the first day of the fifth month, after careful planning11, the general's office in Yongning City issued a proclamation order, ordering all the bandits in the territory to surrender within a month, waiting for the government to deal with it. Otherwise, the army will be chopped up. The end of the ashes.

The notice came from Ye Xizhi's hand, and it was murderous, especially the last few sentences: "...... If they are deformed, they are willing to return to agriculture and animal husbandry, and they will also be amnesty, and do not ask. If you are still cowardly, and those who call the public will be killed, and there will be no forgiveness, don't say that you are unpredictable! ”

As soon as this notice with Wang Dou's characteristics came out, everyone on the east road was shocked!