When Zhu Gui heard this, he first paused for a moment, and then said: "Okay, with General Xu here, the safety of this king is guaranteed, but this king still has a small problem." ”

"Minor questions?" Xu Yingxu repeated.

"Didn't the emperor mention the formation of the prince's guard?"

Zhu Gui asked.

Xu Yingxu shook his head.

This made Zhu Gui a little disappointed, and it seemed that this problem could only be solved when the old man's birthday ceremony or the next year's tax payment was made.

However, it is always a good thing that Xu Yingxu can stay in Datong Mansion, at least once the Mongols come to attack, he will not have to be in a hurry.

The two have been talking late at night about the recent problems in Datong Province.

During this period, Xu Miaoqing came to ask Zhu Gui to eat twice, but when she saw that the two were talking happily, she didn't bother.

After a few more days, the household registration in Yunzhou was finally counted, and there were more than 200,000 more people than last year.

And that's not counting the seven counties in the four states.

Zhang Mao personally came to visit, and when he talked about it, his face looked a little embarrassed and relieved.

Externally, this can naturally be regarded as his political achievement, but he knows that he has not done anything substantial in it.

Thinking of this, he still couldn't help but remind: "Lord Wang, the Fang family has great influence in the local area, and Xia Guan has heard about it, the Fang family has an affair with the Mongols outside the Guan, please be careful." ”

This is also a sign of loyalty.

When Zhu Gui heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

Zhang Mao's interest was not surprising to him, but he didn't expect this Fang family to have a connection with the Mongols.

This matter deserves to be taken seriously by him.

So after sending Zhang Mao away, he immediately sent someone to invite Xu Yingxu to mention the matter to the other party.

Xu Yingxu was originally rectifying military affairs, but he found that although the garrison of Datong Mansion belonged to the border army, its military affairs were slack, and there were even small and semi-empty registrations.

That is, there were 5,600 soldiers on the army roll here, but in reality there were only 4,000 soldiers.

Hearing what Zhu Gui said again, he couldn't help but be angry.

"It must be these powerful and inferior gentry who bought all the land of those soldiers, which caused the guards to have so many empty names."

Speaking of this, he looked at Zhu Gui: "Lord Wang, didn't you take back all the land in Datong Mansion?" Can you give some to the health center? ”

Zhu Gui said with a wry smile: "The land has been recovered, but most of it has been divided, and the rest will be reserved for experimental fields to try to grow some high-yield crops such as fruits, vegetables, etc." ”

Seeing Xu Yingxu's gloomy face, he continued: "However, only the land in Datong Mansion has been reclaimed, and the land in the surrounding seven counties has not yet been reclaimed, so you can wait for a while." ”

Xu Yingxu nodded, he was already very satisfied with Zhu Gui's promise.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Gui continued: "Although there is no land for the time being, I can provide some military salaries and equipment to the guard, as long as I have a little training, it should be enough to deal with the Mongols." ”

"Equipment? Is it the kind of firearm used by the prince's own soldiers? ”

As soon as Xu Yingxu heard the 'equipment', his eyes lit up.

"General Xu, don't be joking, I have already said that the manufacture of that kind of flintlock pistol is very difficult, and I can't even afford to equip a hundred-person squad, let alone equip the soldiers of the guard."

Zhu Gui hurriedly excused himself.

In fact, during this time, as the Datong Chamber of Commerce gradually connected the various states and counties under the jurisdiction of Yunzhou, Zhu Gui has received a very considerable return.

And he can now exchange money and experience points for the system shop in exchange for more useful items.

But even so, he planned to strictly control the number of flintlock guns.

Because once there are too many flintlock guns, it can easily fall into the black market, or even into the hands of those who are not good for him.

At that time, he will be the one who is in danger.

He doesn't have enough props to save his life right now.

It's also a bit of a safe thing.

……

Fang's house.

Fang Shiru walked around in the study.

"That's what they said?"

"That's right, sir, they all said that the king forced them to lend money to the Datong Chamber of Commerce, and now they are complaining that their family has no land."

The housekeeper of the Fang family said with a bitter face.

"This acting king, it's really not simple, if he really lets him gain a firm foothold here, I'm afraid there will be no place for the old man to stand in Datong Mansion."

Fang Shiru had a dangerous look in his eyes.

"Master, the day we agreed with the Mongols this month is coming, you see that the limelight is so tight now, should we refuse them?"

The butler whispered.

"It's okay, you immediately send someone to contact the Mongols, we will double the grain and refined salt this time, and open the gate of Datong Mansion and let them in."

Fang Shiru clenched his fists and said.

"This, this, sir, that's a Mongolian, if it's ......"

The housekeeper was obviously frightened by Fang Shiru's thoughts.

However, his words were interrupted by Fang Shiru reaching out.

"Don't worry, there is a garrison outside Datong Mansion, and the Mongols will not cause much damage, but the responsibility for the dereliction of duty of the acting king can be confirmed, and when the emperor is furious, he will definitely revoke his position as vassal king."

Fang Shiru said very firmly.

"Yes."

The housekeeper sighed in his heart, the old man was really stunned, but he could only act according to orders.

……

There are more than a dozen Mongolian tribes outside Shanxi.

During the Yuan dynasty, they were aristocrats who had enslaved the Han Chinese, and now they have been driven back to the steppes, and many Mongols have not yet adapted to this change of status.

Although the once invincible Mongol cavalry has declined, they are still accustomed to raiding border towns.

Datong Province is one of the important towns on the nine borders, and because of its large population and fertile land, the number of Mongolians gathered here is also the largest number of border areas.

That night, the housekeeper of the Fang family found the closest and largest Mongolian tribe to Datong Mansion.

He prostrated himself on the ground and offered letters.

The Mongol chieftain embraced a wild woman, nibbled on a leg of mutton, and told his men to tell him what was on his mind.

"Interesting, I didn't expect the old fox to have nothing to do with a wolf cub, haha, go back and tell your master, the price will be increased to five times the original, and I will help him solve the wolf cub."

The housekeeper was surprised and delighted, but he couldn't make the decision, so he could only return overnight and tell Fang Shiru what happened.

"Five times the money and food, he Hei Muhan has a big appetite."

"But if you can really get rid of the acting king, the old man doesn't believe that the emperor will send a vassal king over, and then this Datong Mansion will become the old man's world again."

Thinking of this, Fang Shiru nodded fiercely, and agreed to this transaction.

Only the butler was pitied, and at dawn he had to run out of the city again.

And what he didn't know was that his movements had already been noticed.

Hu Shidao sat on the city wall and poured a sip of wine, and said to the two subordinates: "I didn't expect that I was so old, and I was fortunate to do things for the prince, and I also caught a big fish." ”