Compared with other princes, Zhang Chao is now someone who has no money. Because every soldier had enough money to pay, he had to pay a lot of money every time he built a legion. Although the trade route has been opened in the east, and even the heroic drunken opium business has brought him a lot of profits, this is only enough to maintain his daily use, and if he wants to continue to expand his army, he will need to continue to develop for several years before he can be guaranteed.

"Stop the conscription, put all those who want to join the army into the second-class army, let them go to the logging, and reclaim the area north of Yanmen Pass." After Zhang Chao set his eyes on the sand table for a long time, he finally made such a decision.

Cutting down trees will have a certain impact on the ecology. Fortunately, there was no such thing as environmental protection at that time, and there was no other damage, and the forest landscape was still quite well maintained. And developing there can not only expand the area of cultivated land, but also take the opportunity to expand the land of China. It's all fertile land, and there is no tree to cover it, so there is no way for some foreign races to sneak attack.

Zhang Chao's main focus was on the north, where new fields were cultivated because the population was too large and needed more food.

Unlike Zhang Chao, who is really stronger than himself, Liu Bei in Xinye is seeking to seize the position of the lord of Jingzhou under the advice of Zhuge Liang.

Liu Bei in history was hesitant to take Liu Biao's land. But now that Cao Cao and Zhang Chao have developed so much, the ambition in their hearts has also been stimulated, and with Zhuge Liang's good words and persuasion, they finally came up with the idea of seizing Jingzhou.

October 199 A.D.

Liu Bei and his tiger generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhang Xiu and others bribed the city gate generals of Jingzhou Zhishaonan County, and suddenly led a large number of troops into the city at night, besieging the mansions of Liu Biao and his important ministers. Overnight, the sky changed color, and Liu Bei became the pastor of Jingzhou.

Liu Bei's actions attracted the attention of all parties, especially Cao Cao to the northeast and Sun Jian to the east. It's just that neither of them did much of a move.

Sun Jian was busy marching into the state, and Cao Cao was busy arranging men and horses on the border with Zhang Chao in the northwest. Zhuge Liang also saw this opportunity to launch an action and hit it with one blow.

By December 199, the general trend of the world had changed at one time.

From west to east, Ma Teng of Liangzhou led Liangzhou pastor; Dong Zhuo of Yongzhou led the Yongzhou pastor; Liu Zhang, Lingyizhou Mu; Liu Bei led Jingzhou pastor; Sun Jian led Yangzhou pastor and Jiaozhou pastor; Cao Cao led the Gon Prefecture Pastor, Qingzhou Pastor, Xuzhou Pastor and Yuzhou Pastor; Yuan Shao led the pastor of Jizhou; Zhang Chao led the state pastor and Jizhou pastor and the division.

Seeing that the bell of the new year is about to ring, the princes of the entire land of China seem to have tacitly stopped fighting and began to prepare for the next New Year.

As the second largest prince, Zhang Chao, the capital of Jinyang City, is even more lively.

Luoyang was burned and Chang'an was invaded by Dong Zhuo, which caused the two cities with the largest city walls and the largest population in China to be damaged to a great extent. However, Jinyang City, under the rapid development of several years, has already shown a trend of a large capital.

The existence of Zhangjiashu College, Zhangjiajun College, Huatuo Medical College, as well as the largest bazaar in China, and the largest wine production base in China, Zhangjia Restaurant, etc., make the economy and talents here extraordinarily large. Even compared to the place where the Son of Heaven is located, Xu Capital is also a lot more prosperous.

Under the successive victories, over the years, Zhang Chao's territory has become larger and larger, the army he has ruled has increased more and more, and the people he has followed have doubled, which has made him the center of the entire Bingzhou and the entire Jinyang City.

It is no exaggeration to say that for the officers and soldiers and the people of Bingzhou, Zhang Chao is their sun. The light shines in all directions, swaying above everyone's head and heart.

In January 200, Zhang Meng, the daughter of Zhang Chao and Da Qiao, was born, and in February of the same year, Zhang Xiao, the daughter born to the eldest lady Cai Yan, was born. After having a son and a daughter in a row, Zhang Chao was overjoyed and decided to make this New Year extraordinarily lively.

At the moment of the order, the streets were full of lights, shops were opened, and people poured out of their homes to feel the atmosphere and changes of the New Year.

The street is so lively, and several ladies in the general's mansion also want to go out for a walk and feel the achievements and glory of their husbands together.

Cai Yan has just given birth to her daughter, and she is still in the middle of giving birth, so she can't go out. Zhang Chao brought several other ladies, including Bai Tong, Zhen Mi and Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao is now seventeen years old, and according to the statement at the time, he could have been married a long time ago. But Zhang Chao insisted on asking to pass through the door when he reached the age of eighteen, so he was not a formal lady. It's just because she accompanies a few ladies in the general's mansion all day long, and gradually the people in the mansion and some powerful people in Zhang Chao's group habitually call her the fifth lady.

is not very old, with such a lively thing, Xiao Qiao will definitely follow. Zhang Chao also doted on him, so he agreed.

Zhang Chao wants to accompany the four ladies to the street to feel the atmosphere of the New Year, which is naturally a big thing for Xu Chu, who is the chief of the guard. Dian Wei was on vacation with his wife and children at home, and he meant to call them back.

was just stopped by Zhang Chao. "Okay, Ziman also has a family and needs to be accompanied. It's on vacation again, so you don't have to force it. With you, Zhongkang, will my life still be worried? ”

Zhang Chao patted Xu Chu's shoulder and said very trustingly. This is just to take fifty iron guards out of the Great General's Mansion.

Jinyang City is Zhang Chao's territory, or his political, cultural and economic center, if the safety here is not guaranteed, then there is no safe place in the world.

It was with this self-confidence that Zhang Chao only brought part of the guards to the street. In order to be able to feel the atmosphere of the New Year like ordinary people, the four ladies also did not bring any maids this time, but the four ladies simply dressed up and followed Zhang Chao to the street.

Although it is just a simple dress, it is still a spring orchid peach blossom, which makes people can't help but marvel at its beauty.

Bai Tong has an extraordinary temperament, Zhen Mi is cunning, Da Qiao is mature, and Xiao Qiao is cute. The four daughters can be said to have their own merits and beauty.

Fifty iron guards all changed into the people's clothes according to the requirements, Zhang Chao didn't want to affect the people's New Year because of his travel, he also wanted to be like an ordinary person, to feel the prosperity of this prosperous world, to feel the joy of the people.

The four iron guards followed Zhang Chao's side with Xu Chu, and the others scattered in all directions, making people not look so conspicuous, but once an emergency occurred, they could also provide support in a short time.

Without riding a white horse, Zhang Chao and the four ladies walked out of the General's Mansion, and after leaving the quiet and solemn alley, they blended into the bustling downtown streets.

After years of development, Jinyang City is no longer the same as when Zhang Chao first came. Now it's crowded and lively.

In the past, Jinyang City, because it was often attacked by the Black Mountain Army and foreign races, the people have always been living in dire straits. But now, with the escort of Zhang Chao's army, they can live and work in peace and contentment, no matter how fierce the war outside is, there has indeed been no war in Jinyang City. In addition, there is a continuous influx of people, so that the housing prices here continue to rise. It is no exaggeration to say that many people now have money and it is difficult to buy a satisfactory house in Jinyang City.

Zhang Chao walked on the street with his four ladies, looking at the tide of people, looking at the joy and satisfaction on everyone's faces, and he was also very proud in his heart.

This is the benefit that Zhang Chao has brought to the people here, and this alone makes this life worthwhile.

"Sister Xiao Qiao, be careful, there are too many people here, let's not get separated." Bai Tong's voice came from the front, Cai Yan was not there, she was a well-deserved eldest sister, and things like this kind of taking care of her sister were naturally up to her.

"Okay, Sister Tong. You see, there is a handicraft shop in front of me, and I heard the maids say that most of the goods are shipped from various states in the Western Regions, so there must be some good things, so why don't we go and have a look. While Xiao Qiao promised Bai Tong, his eyes were attracted by a place called Jin Manju in front of him.

Even if it is called Jin Manju, naturally there is no shortage of such things as gold and silver, and when you see that there are some women wearing brocade clothes who will come out from time to time, you can guess what is sold there.

The attraction of hand ornaments to women is like the attraction of swords, guns and horses to men, and suddenly the eyes of the four women are fixed at one point. Among them, the second lady, Bai Tong, also turned her head and looked at Zhang Chao, who was dressed in white, who followed behind her with an inquiring gaze.

"Hmm." After Zhang Chao noticed Bai Tong's gaze, he smiled and nodded lightly.

Zhang Chao agreed, Bai Tong was naturally very happy, so he took the hands of several sisters and said: "Let's go, let's go and see, it's the New Year, if you like it, the sisters can also buy some for themselves." ”。

Now Zhang Chao's status is different, and his status as his wife is also rising, if he is too ordinary in dressing, sometimes it is a matter of losing face.

Although Zhang Chao also arranged for someone to collect some good hand ornaments for a few ladies, after all, it was not their choice. Now when you have the opportunity to choose by yourself, everyone will not let go of the opportunity.

After Bai Tong's words fell, Zhen Mi and Xiao Qiao walked towards Jin Manju happily.

Zhang Chao looked at the somewhat anxious looks of the women, shook his head and smiled, and then said to Xu Chu beside him: "Zhongkang, you tell the guards to let them guard outside, after all, all the things sold here are women's things, and we don't need too many people to go in." ”