Chapter 254: Ratio of Soldiers to Civilians

Is there a salt shortage in Dingzhou? Not only lacking, but very lacking. The salt is prepared by the Salt Administration. After the bell phase, the salt has not flowed into the *** area. Dongting Lake is a freshwater lake, and Zhong Xiang will not produce it himself, so he can do a little bit of stealing chickens and dogs, but as soon as Liu Qi arrived, he carried out very strict management. It is better to have a lack of salt than to let a grain of salt flow into the rebel zone. At this time, Zhong Xiang received a message that a batch of salt would be transported to Tanzhou through Dongting Lake, half of which belonged to military supplies to supplement the forbidden army.

Although it is likely to be a trap, Zhong Xiang is also a person who can settle accounts, there are too many people who eat salt now, and the least shortage is manpower, and it is cost-effective to take risks. So a fleet of 1,000 people set out.

According to reliable sources, the escort was the responsibility of the soldiers of Gangneung. There were only more than 100 soldiers in the first half, and in the middle section, Xia Cheng and Liu Heng would send heavy troops to escort them. Therefore, the location of the hijacking must be in the previous waterway, but how to avoid the eyes and ears of Xia Cheng and Liu Heng?

In the end, Zhong Xiang made a bold plan to use his soldiers' familiarity with Dongting Lake to conduct a blind voyage. Blind navigation is to sail without raising fire, and to use familiarity with waterways to sail in the dark moonlight and extremely low visibility. Ouyang and Liu Qi didn't expect Zhong Xiang to use this trick.

According to Liu Qi's original calculation, the fleet would be attacked in Yunmeng Shuize. Because the waterways in that place are extensive, and the water is shallow and sometimes deep, non-veterans dare not easily drive in that area.

In order to avoid revealing the rumors, the escort soldiers in the early stage didn't know that there was fraud at all, and they were caught off guard by Zhong Xiang's subordinates. Two things can be seen from this incident. The first point is that the ability of the local soldiers to fight against the wind is really not very good, and when they see that there are many enemies, all of them jump into the water and run away, and there are very few resistors. The second point is that none of the shipwrights were harmed, and according to the principle of fighting on both sides and not dismantling the means of transport, the boatmen will cooperate with the rebels to deliver the goods to the designated place.

This hijacking, like many robberies in the Water Margin, is more of a textbook classic. Water Margin is generally used to sell Menghan medicinal wine, and Zhong Xiang's methods are obviously much more clever.

"This bell is not simple." Liu Qi had already arrived at the city of Dingzhou, drinking tea with Ouyang Da Tent, and couldn't help but praise the report when he received it.

Ouyang nodded: "Simple people can't get to that position." ”

"Report!" A soldier entered the account and said: "General, my lord, the city of Dingzhou is cheering collectively." ”

"Got it." Liu Qi ordered: "Inform all departments, attack in four days, and take precautions during the period." ”

"Yes!" Under the city of Dingzhou, in addition to the nearly 10,000 people in Liu Qi's headquarters, there were other soldiers and villagers from the west and south routes, with a total of 30,000 people. Led by their respective commanders, they formed horns to protect the left and right flanks of Liu Qi's army.

Ouyang was curious: "What kind of poison do you use?" ”

"In the first war against the Western Xia, I had some contact with the Tibetan army and learned about a herb that grew in their tribe, called Thunder Vine. There are also near the Yangtze River, but the toxicity is not strong enough, and the more humid this thing is, the more toxic it is. It turned out that the Tibetan people provided us with the use of treating wounds and killing insects. Apply it to the wound and the wound will not fester. But it will be poisoned, and if you apply it for more than half an hour, it will basically be incurable. Therefore, do not apply more than half a tick at a time. Although the wound will not fester, whether or not it can survive depends on the soldier's physique, and only those who can survive four days without fever can survive. Liu Qi said with a smile: "There are such good things, so naturally you have to bring more, so I bought a lot of them from Tubo, dried them, and brought them to Yuzhou, but unfortunately there is no place for them." This time, I had Tripterygium wilfordii soaked in salt and then processed by the Salt Division. But the time is relatively tight, because it has to be dried for a few days, so I soaked it for one night, and the toxicity did not come out completely. ”

That is, chronic poison, which slowly destroys the human body. Herbal poisons are much inferior to animal and biological poisons in terms of toxicity, but they are cheaper and more abundant. And the focus is on the destruction of the person's immune function, rather than on the other two types of focus on the nervous system.

Liu Qi was interested in this poison that could be used on a large scale, and history records that he poisoned the Jin soldiers twice, resulting in a large-scale defeat of the Jin soldiers. He is also one of the few famous generals in Chinese history who used such despicable means to defeat the enemy, or it can be said that he is a rare general who will do anything to defeat the enemy. Because of his methods, Wujin will be willing to face him head-on. The means are impossible to prevent. The most famous battle of Shunchang was when 3,000 people used fraud and poisoning to break 100,000 Jin soldiers, including Tiefutu and Kidnapping Horses, the main forces of the Jin soldiers. The Battle of Shunchang also became a terrifying day for Jin Bing's talk. The next year, they came again. Liu Qi was poisoned again, and as soon as Jin Ren came into contact with him, he knew that Liu Qi was leading the troops, so he ran away directly. In the end, Emperor Jin could only personally conquer Liu Qi.

There are very few such drug experts in military history, so Dingzhou suffered. The next day, a spy came to report that a plague had been found in Dingzhou City, and many people had dizziness, headache, palpitations, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, muscle pain, howling and struggling, numbness or convulsions in the limbs, pain in the liver and kidneys, and four people had died. Liu Qi smiled at Ouyang and said that the medicinal properties would last for four days, and then if they still ate salt, it would be even more serious.

At noon on the fourth day, Liu Qi announced the siege of the city. There was little resistance to breaking open the gates. The city is full of mourning. Houses and roads are struggling with half-dead people. Not only was there no resistance in the city, but there were not even those who surrendered. After the forbidden army was stationed, they gathered their weapons and began to steam the all-purpose antidote. It is to steam mung beans, honeysuckle and licorice in a certain proportion, and on the other side organize people to pursue the deserters from the waterway. But I didn't think that the two armies heard about the plague in Dingzhou, and they were reluctant to send people in. When Liu Qi heard this, he was about to stop the treatment and concentrate his forces in pursuit, but was stopped by Ouyang.

Ouyang Dao: "If you can save it or not, I'm afraid everyone will think that you are a cold-blooded person." Although the army is ruthless, the Great Song Dynasty has always been based on benevolence. So they must be saved, or you will be in big trouble. ”

Liu Qi shook his head: "If you don't take this opportunity to exterminate Zhong Xiang, it will be even more difficult to exterminate it again." ”

Ouyang said patiently: "You have believed me so many times, why don't you believe it again?" ”

Liu Qi finally nodded: "Okay!" So he gave the order to go down, abandon the pursuit, and treat the sick in the city.

After the incident, the news never spread, and everyone really thought that there was a plague outbreak in Dingzhou. So the imperial court praised Liu Qi's attitude. Think he has the style of benevolence. Because of this matter, Liu Qi finally broke away from Han Shizhong's aura and became a commander-in-chief recognized by everyone. Whether it is his own people or enemies, no one likes people like Bai Qi. On the contrary, everyone respects people like Liu Bei who have an aura of benevolence and righteousness.

The local situation was also unexpected by Liu Qi, and the people of Dongting Lake were grateful for the fact that he gave up the pursuit and instead treated the sick and brought the plague under control. Everyone calls him Liu Gong. More cured patients were grateful to Liu Qi and were willing to lead the Song army to pursue Zhong Xiang.

During this period, it took more than a month, until mid-October, Song Jiang broke Zhong Xiang's last water village and captured Zhong Xiang and his group of wives and sons. Zhong Xiang Yang Mo's rebel army was declared defeated. Once again, the evil government forces have taken out the non-state forces.

However, the local economy, culture, architecture, and city of Dongting Lake have suffered unprecedented damage. The five counties of Tanzhou and one prefecture, and the five counties of Dingzhou were all destroyed and burned. Business is paralyzed, the economy is paralyzed, and it will take years or even decades to recover. The number of innocent civilians killed is even more staggering. Although Zhong Xiang was not the largest peasant uprising, it was the most destructive. The scope of the puppet regime's attack is rare in ancient history.

When Ouyang saw Zhong Xiang, he slapped him over. Zhong Xiang scolded: "Corrupt officials! ”

"It's really hard to reason with you." Ouyang looked at the dragon robe next to him and said, "I want to be the emperor and want to go crazy with you." Tell this corrupt official, why do you want to be the emperor? Answer Ben corrupt official is happy, forget it today. Answer not happy, I will let your sons and daughters die tragically in front of you. ”

"Humph!" Zhong Xiang sneered: "Under the nest, there are eggs." ”

"It's really hard-mouthed." Ouyang asked Liu Qi: "What do you think?" ”

"According to the law, the bell will be chopped off, and there will be no doubt that the violent corpse will be seven days." Liu Qi said: "Do you still want to turn waste into treasure? ”

"That's right." Ouyang said with a smile: "This guy's dragon robe has been searched by us, but the property has not been found, and the whereabouts of his eldest son Zhong Ziang are unknown." ”

Liu Qi said: "The thief's heart is not dead, and he is still trying to make a comeback." ”

When breaking through the last water village, it was found that Zhong Ziang was missing and several of his personal guards. The whereabouts of the million-dollar treasure estimated by Ouyang are unknown. After understanding, when he was in Dingzhou, Zhong Xiang secretly transported his wealth to a certain place in Dongting Lake. It is said that more than thirty craftsmen were also recruited, but no one ever saw the soldiers and craftsmen transporting them again. That's why Ouyang was so interested in meeting Zhong Xiang. As expected, Zhong Xiang's dead duck has a hard beak. But Ouyang couldn't kill Zhong Xiang, otherwise the court would be unhappy.

Zhong Xiang is a person with insight, perseverance, and courage, and Ouyang knows that some of his methods are of little use to him. When he was pondering how to deal with it, Liu Qi said: "My lord, I don't think I can get this money." It can only be noticed by the money bank. ”

Ouyang said: "I didn't look at this million, I was worried that this Zhong Ziang would make waves in the future." ”

"If that's the case, I have a plan."

……

The next day, the General Suppression (Bandit Suppression General Headquarters) issued an announcement to reward Zhong Ziang, and the reward was Zhong Ziang's net worth of more than one million. On the tenth day of the announcement, Zhong Ziang's head was sent to Zhong Xiang.

Zhong Xiang said in disbelief: "Impossible, they won't betray Ziang." "They were referring to a couple of personal guards.

"They really won't." Liu Qi said: "I also admire such heroes who are not moved by money. But they won't, their families will. As soon as the bounty was posted, the guards' families contacted us and provided them with their living habits. There are good gamblers, good drinkers, and lustful people. There was also a man who had an adulterous affair with his sister-in-law and widow. The woman came to us and said that as long as we helped them change their household registration, go away, and don't hurt his man, she would take us to the amorous guard. ”

Ouyang added: "The guard is not worried that my sister-in-law is often beaten by her eldest brother, and she once sneaked into the house in private, and there is no secret at all. Although he didn't tell his sister-in-law where he was hiding, he agreed to meet again. Crazy men and women. After we captured the guard, he began to die, and finally, under the tenderness of his sister-in-law and the persuasion of suicide, he finally agreed and took us to the hiding place. ”

"Woman, hehe, woman!" Zhong Xiang is an old tear.

"Men conquer the world for women, and women conquer men for the world." Ouyang patted Zhong Xiang's face and said, "Boy, the power of the relationship between men and women is much greater than the imagination of a man who can only play with women." General Liu, what if I don't have a sister-in-law? ”

"That might take some time. Guards are also human beings, and they always think about their families. It may not come out this year, but what about next year? After all, there will be a day to come out. Liu Qi smiled: "I didn't expect the credit to fall to us." ”

……

Zhong Ziang's head represents the official end of this crackdown on bandits. Liu Qi is a forbidden army in Tokyo, of course, he can't stay for a long time, and he escorted Zhong Xiang's family on the road the next day. Ouyang stayed for a few more days, mainly to contact merchants, landlords, and the government to study some ways to protect the place. At the same time, the Yangping Chamber of Commerce donated 800,000 yuan, more than half of which was used to fund the local restoration and construction, and the other half was used by the registered businessmen of the Chamber of Commerce for the benefit of the dead, and the other half was used by civilian armed forces. Yangping Qian Zhuang will provide interest-free loans with a total value of 3 million to help Dongting Lake restore basic business. This move was well received by Zhao Yu and the courtiers.

At the end of November, Ouyang left Dongting Lake and went to Beijing to pay the decree under the protection of several hundred forbidden troops. During this half a year, the Liao, Jin, and Song maintained a state of confrontation with each other, and the Song army also tried to use the Di River, but due to the explanation of Yelu Dashi, the North Upper Waterway of the Di River could not be navigated. Moreover, the troops and equipment have not been adjusted in place, and the Hangzhou fleet suffered heavy losses in the early stage and needed to be repaired, so the war has never started. It took time for Liao to borrow troops, and there were enemies on both sides, so they did not take the initiative to attack. The attitude of the Jurchens was to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, although He Liao had torn his face, but Zong Han had always restrained his subordinates from attacking.

Looking at the wars between the Western Xia, the Song, and the Liao, the purpose was rarely to destroy the other side. There is much occupation of one place and the strife of several cities. Hit and hit, and hit and hit. Everyone is used to this rhythm. However, people of insight know that next year will be the most important year for the military operations of the three countries.

But there have been some changes in strategy, although Yeluchun has a strongman wife, he still has military talents. After listening to Yelu Dashi's opinion, he gradually withdrew the Jinzhou army to Dadingfu and Tongzhou, avoiding the Battle of Jinzhou that the Great Song Dynasty had prepared for a long time. Yelu Dashi believed that Jinzhou was close to the sea, and the Liao army had no fleet, so it could not withstand the enemy on both sides, and retreating inland could also divide the advantage of the Song army.

……

When he returned to Tokyo to pay the decree, this time he was an exception, he did not have a direct audience, and he waited from morning to evening without announcing Ouyang. Ouyang inquired about the vendor in front of the palace and learned that Tong Guan had come back and had not come out since he entered in the morning. Ouyang had just arrived at the post house to register, and someone from the palace came to announce his visit.

Ouyang had the impression that the emperor rarely declared his courtiers at dinner, unless there was something important. For example, in the first Western Xia War, logistics support, and the deployment of the forbidden army were discussed all night. Ouyang estimated that something big had happened.

Zhao Yu was a little tired, but when he saw Ouyang's spirit, he came. Zhao Yu was also in a good mood and asked, "What do you drink?" ”

"Tea bar." Nothing good to drink. There is no cola, beer and coffee, do you want to consider abducting the Hangzhou fleet to develop South America, hoping to have a cup of coffee in your lifetime?

Zhao Yu waved his hand, and the ninth father-in-law went to rush in person. In fact, Ouyang doesn't like the food tossed by the ninth father-in-law very much, and feels a little disgusting, why is it disgusting, I can't say. Zhao Yu said: "This time it was very good, and the courtiers praised it a lot. The most rare thing is that you can do it without wasting any soldiers and horses, and I'm considering whether to arrange for you to be the generalissimo. ”

"Your Majesty is in a good mood today."

"Of course, you royals don't know yet, do you?" Zhao Yu said: "The eight divisions of the Enemy Lie Commander of the Western Liao Black Bone Enemy Lie Military Division established themselves as kings, and they are connected to the south and northwest military roads. The back road of the Liao State has been cut off, and the only way to retreat to Tokyo is to do so in the future. ”

Ouyang asked, "What else?" ”

"There is also Liao Prime Minister Li Chuwen who contacted Tong Guan privately and prepared to vote for Song. And one more big thing. Zhao Yuyi pointed to the map in front of him: "Come and see." ”

"Yes!" Ouyang walked to Zhao Yu's side.

Zhao Yu pointed to the map and said: "The Hangzhou fleet is transporting the main force of the Hebei military route to the territory of the Yalu River. ”

Ouyang was taken aback: "Your Majesty wants to go to war on both sides?" "The Yalu River used to be the Changbai Mountains, and occupying the Changbai Mountains could threaten the Huanglong Mansion.

"Yes." Zhao Yu nodded: "I am ready to appoint Yue Fei as the general of Zhenhai, land from Suzhou in the southern Jurchen, riot the Jurchen dispatch, and threaten the Jindu Liaoyang Mansion." ”

Ouyang couldn't help but be a little puzzled: "Why did Your Majesty suddenly ......?"

"Wanyan Wu begs to buy is a Ming Jun. Over the past year or so, since there was basically no war, the life of the Jurchens has improved a lot. Tong Guan said that they could not be allowed to improve, and that they must be given less medical treatment, less medicine, and less food. Zhao Yu said: "I feel that it is reasonable, and now it is difficult for Liaojin to start a large-scale war." Therefore, the Hebei military route will be transferred to the Yalu River, and it is not necessary to fight, as long as they gather troops and give up production. They were forced to feed their wars with war, and to compete with the Liao people for population, wealth, and food. This is a ploy to drive away the wolf. ”

This is really okay, there are nearly hundreds of thousands of people in Liaobian with the main force of the Northwest Military Road and the main force of the Yongxing Military Road. Not only defensive, but also offensive enough.

Zhao Yu said again: "After the beginning of spring, I will recruit another 100,000 forbidden troops to supplement Hebei East Road. Look at this information compiled by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Households. ”

Ouyang flipped through the data, and above it was the statistics of the production survey and the upper limit of the troop. Zhao Yu pointed to this item and said: "At present, the problem in various places is that there is little land and too many people. According to statistics, the ratio of the total number of forbidden armies to the total population can be 1:40, as long as there is no civil strife, our Great Song Dynasty can completely maintain this base of soldiers, not only does not destroy production, but also benefits stability. If desired, it can be increased to one to thirty without massively interfering with production. "The main purpose of Wang Anshi's army recruitment policy is not to meet the needs of soldiers, but to resettle the landless, which can greatly alleviate social contradictions.

Ouyang pinched his fingers, and one to forty could set up an army of more than 1.3 million. In proportion, the forbidden army could reach almost eight hundred thousand. If it's one to thirty, it can reach one million and eight million. This ratio is not excessive, according to the configuration of the Liao people, the population of 9 million, the palace tent army of 400,000, and the configuration of 1.2 million Jingzhou soldiers, the ratio is close to 1 to 5. In the Western Xia, under the Jurchen policy of all the people being soldiers, the ratio reached two to one, and the soldiers were twice as many as the people. In World War II, Germany had more than 10 million troops and a population of only 60 million, a ratio of one to six.

: The previous chapter gave an inappropriate example of Wang Xiaoer, and I hereby apologize, and I hereby thank the reader for galloping.

2: You can ignore that paragraph, as *** compensation, the number of words in this chapter will be a little more.