Recently, the news of the rebellion of Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun in Yuyang, Youzhou, has come from time to time, which has made the people of Youzhou and Hebei panic and their desire for the army stronger.

As far as Wen Chou's Taolin Military Department is concerned, during the three-month training period, he did not forget to recruit soldiers, but the requirements have been raised to a higher level. About 3,000 people came to apply for recruitment, however, out of prudence, in three months, Wen Chou only approved the establishment of one tun, that is, about 100 people, but the quality of this batch of soldiers is obviously much better than that of Shahe Township soldiers, and Wen Chou personally served as the head of the tun.

And the reason why Wen Chou set the standard so high was also forced to do it, didn't he want to have thousands of people in his army? Obviously not, but because he doesn't have a lot of resources at his disposal, it is very rare to be able to maintain the establishment of these 800 people.

And the three-month training is also a little effective. Although I dare not say that I can gallop the invincible opponent on the battlefield, but for ordinary thieves and robbers are full of deterrence, there is enough threat, most of their killing skills, horsemanship, archery, array, etc. have a preliminary mastery, what is lacking is only actual combat, and actual combat is the only way for an army to grow from a rural warrior to an invincible iron army.

On the tenth day of August, less than a month has passed since the corn matures in this season, but there is not much grain and grass left in Shahe Township, and it will be impossible to continue in less than ten years. This is still the case that Wen Chou has once again mobilized the villagers, otherwise, as early as the end of July, the granary of the official temple has been exhausted.

Some time ago, the county and the county were also here for the matter of "counting the people" and "comparing the cases", but although the people in Shahe Township were full of vitality and the villagers were full of energy, the money and grain were indeed almost consumed.

When he is so troubled internally and externally, Wen Chou is also extremely irritable. As early as June and July, Wen Chou had sent people to the neighboring counties and townships to buy grain, but this world is not quiet, there is a lot of famine in Qianshou, how can there be any surplus grain to sell? Moreover, in this year of war and chaos, the people of Qianshou have been scared of the famine and military disasters for many years, even if there is some surplus grain, they are unwilling to take it out and sell it! Compared with the wealthy county and township wealthy families, they also attach great importance to food, they are not not not selling, but the asking price is too high, for this reason, Wen Chou took a lot of effort, and even went to his house to negotiate, but he never said that one or two wealthy families would come.

Wen's Pavilion, Wenchou House, inside the lobby.

Wen Chou paced back and forth in the hall with his hands and eyebrows, today was his first time to take a break in recent months, but he still had not completely put down the political affairs of Shahe Township, and he was still thinking about how to solve the current dilemma.

"Uncle Chen, how many belongings do we have? Well, let's put it this way, how much more money is left to divert? Wen Chou heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, turned his head to look, it was Chen Ming, the housekeeper of the Wen family, and asked.

It was midsummer, the weather was a little hot and dry, and Chen Ming was in a hurry, so his forehead was full of sweat, Chen Ming heard this, wiped his sweat and thought for a while, Fang said: "Young master, the current family belongings are about 800,000, if you say that the funds that can be embezzled, at most 500,000, no more!" After all, the food and drink of dozens of people in the family, and the caravan you mentioned also needs to be funded, and it can't be more. ”

"Oh, and 800,000 more.?" Wen Chou said in surprise. Regarding money, because of the absolute trust in Chen Ming and his wife, Wen Chou has always ignored it.

Chen Ming touched a handful of sweat, and when he heard the words of Dao Wenchou, he knew that he was going to bleed again. said with a wry smile: "This 800,000 yuan is the result of my hard work!" ”

"This, Uncle Chen, I know your hard work, hehe, but the money you earn is to be spent, isn't it, and besides, I'm not squandering indiscriminately, it's all for legitimate purposes. Hey. Wen Chou explained with a smile.

"Alas, little old man, I know that the young master is a person with great ambitions, and I fully support the young master, as long as you have your own ideas and plans, the back of the courtyard, don't worry, I can still toss for a few years." When Chen Ming heard this, he sighed and said.

"Hehe, then there is Uncle Lao Chen, this time I will take out 500,000 yuan and go to Luancheng County to buy a batch of grain." Wen Chou thanked him. Indeed, because Chen Ming is in charge at home, Wen Chou has saved a lot of heart, and Wen Chou's respect for Chen Ming is also from the heart. The reason why I went to Luancheng County to buy grain is because in recent years, the Pingjiao, Gaoyi, and Yangshi counties around Shahe Township have been deeply affected by the disaster of the Black Mountain army and thieves, and there are not many people who have grain in stock, and Luancheng County, compared with the other three counties, although it is far away, its military disasters are correspondingly weaker, and there is an old acquaintance Du Yi who is the county king, which is somewhat more convenient.

"Grain, it has long been rumored that there is no food in the township, it seems to be true." Chen Ming also frowned when he heard this.

"Yes! If there is no food, how can I manage the 20,000 people under my rule? How to build an army that can protect the territory and the people, and kill the enemy? Funding to buy grain was also a last resort. Wen Chou said helplessly.

"Well, according to the current price of grain, 600 yuan per stone for refined grain, 330 yuan per stone for barley, and 330 yuan per stone for corn...... Chen Ming muttered.

"Alas, Uncle Chen, Fei Ye, the wealthy family of Luancheng County, said that fine grain is 800 yuan per stone, barley is 450 yuan per stone, and corn is 450 yuan per stone!" Wen Chou sighed helplessly.

"Oh, not really! If in normal times, the fine grain is only 400 yuan per stone, and I already feel that 600 yuan is a high price, how can these wealthy families dare to say such a high price? This, this ....... Chen Ming was a little at a loss.

"Alas, everyone of the wealthy family, hoarding goods and annexing land is not stopped, making life miserable, but I have no right to interfere! There is no will to serve the country for the people, and there is no way to fight corruption and eliminate violence! Wen Chou sighed.

"Then, this 500,000 yuan may not be able to buy much food! What else do you think, young master? Chen Ming frowned and said. Eat the king's lu, for the king's strategy.

"Well, now the official temple still has a savings of 1.2 million yuan, which is the purchase reward of each county, and I issued a part of it, and the other part was originally intended to be used when the army expands in the future, but now it seems that it will be used in advance." Wen Chou frowned and said.

"So, how much are you going to use? Seeing that the spring millet is about to be harvested, after this month, it will be much better! Chen Ming said.

"That's exactly what I mean, if I can survive this August, everything will be fine. I plan to invest a total of one million to go to Luancheng County to buy grain, and I think it is enough. Wen Chou said worriedly. It's just his personal thoughts, and the devil knows if he can get through it?

"Well, that's fine." Chen Ming agreed.

……

The two of them came to the outside of the hall and inside the courtyard while talking, looking up at the red glow in the sky, there was a sense of depression that haunted their hearts.