Ma Mu wiped the sweat from his forehead, held the parchment roll and said, "My lord, the data you asked for before has been roughly counted now. So far, we have jurisdiction over four larger cities, namely Metasequoia City, Daban City, Ikoru City, and Pai City. The total registered population of the four cities is about 150,000. Together with the nearby towns and villages, as well as nomadic tribes, there are nearly 270,000 people. ”

Situ Wushou then reported: "Among them, Dabancheng is a famous granary in Western Xinjiang, rich in products. According to past experience, before the winter of this year, Daban can harvest more than 15,000 wheat millet. This one place alone can provide our army with food rations for four months. ”

Li Jiangyao was overjoyed when he heard this, and said with emotion: "This is so good! Finally, I don't have to worry about people eating horses. ”

Situ Wushou bowed slightly, and continued: "Icoru City is adjacent to the Flaming Mountain and is rich in iron ore. The local blacksmith workshop was also very developed, capable of making a large number of weapons and armor, and was once the main source of equipment for the Chechi army. Although Ikoru was badly damaged by the previous rebellion, the city is gradually recovering. According to the officials, more than 1,000 fugitive blacksmiths have returned there to return to their old jobs. ”

For the army, in addition to food, the most important thing is weapons and equipment, so the situation of Ikoru made Li Jiangyao and Xu Youchang nod their heads uncontrollably.

"And the city of Pai, which is guarded by the lord of Nanhua County," Ma Mu said, "that place is one of the few big cities in the ghost desert of Western Xinjiang. Although the overall defense system is relatively weak, it has a large population. In addition, Pai City was also the county seat set up by Shengtang, so the local people are generally very friendly to Shengtang, and it can become the main base for our future military recruitment. ”

After listening to Ma Mu and Situ Wushou's introductions, Li Jiangyao couldn't help but ask: "According to your two reports, our situation is very good now, but why do I feel that you both look sad?" ”

Ma Mu looked at Situ Wushou, then turned to Li Jiangyao and replied, "Our biggest problem at the moment is ...... Lack of people. ”

"Lack of people?" Xu Youchang couldn't help but be stunned: "Who is missing?" ”

Seeing that Li Jiangyao also didn't understand, Situ Wushou hurriedly explained: "To be precise, there is a shortage of talents. We are now very short of people who can manage cities and govern civil affairs. ”

When Li Jiangyao heard this, he suddenly realized: This is indeed a very serious problem.

Managing a city is never easy.

Ma Mu and Situ Wushou, regardless of ability or experience, are fully qualified for the position of the city keeper. But the problem is that a city with a population of tens of thousands can't rely on the two of them to do everything by themselves. Even if you grow three heads and six arms, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep busy.

The administrative system and the military system are essentially the same, and they must have perfect functions, a reasonable division of labor, and an efficient communication and coordination mechanism.

A mature administrative team must not only have a brain like Ma Mu, but also have hands and feet: in charge of public security, commerce, finance and taxation, government treasury, transportation, and even the time and street cleaning. The people of the whole city should not ignore everything they eat, drink, and Lazar, otherwise there will be riots at every turn.

The administrative system of Metasequoia City, with the protection of the Metasequoia garrison and the maintenance of Mamu Situ Wushou's intentions, has been completely preserved in the chaos of Western Xinjiang and has no major problems in operation, but the situation in other places is not optimistic.

Originally, the cities of Daban, Ikru and Pai were all garrisoned by officials from Shengtang or Chechi, but they were either killed and captured in the war, or scattered and fled. The Turks and Gelhan's subordinates who took over later have now abandoned the city, leaving only a few local officials to guard it.

In the short term, these people can barely support the city, but if they want to manage the four large towns in the jurisdiction in order to provide strong support for the future counterinsurgency war, they are simply not enough.

Li Jiangyao looked out the window and pondered for a long time, then suddenly turned around and said to the three people present: "Hey, look, how about we give him a 'merit order'?" ”

"Merit Order?" Xu Youchang was curious: "How do you do it?" ”

Li Jiangyao stood in front of them and waved his hand: "Two strategies!" One is profitable, the other is meaningful. First caused a sensation with super high remuneration, helped us spread the news widely through the discussion of the people, and then with loyalty and righteousness, inspired the officials of Shengtang and Che Chi to stand up bravely and contribute to the counterinsurgency. ”

Situ Wushou nodded again and again: "Well, this method is good." As long as the two-pronged approach is carried out, once the news spreads, there will be many people willing to come. ”

"And how much should I be paid?" Mamu asked.

Li Jiangyao didn't answer and asked: "What is your annual salary as a city guard?" ”

Ma Mu scratched his head: "If you don't mention this, I almost forgot, I haven't received a salary for more than a year." Before the rebellion in Western Xinjiang, I received 20 silver coins from the Chechi royal court every month, and the county order issued by the Shengtang court was once every six months, 300 silver coins each time, and the whole year was calculated, a total of 840 silver coins, if you add rewards and allowances, you can have about 1,000. ”

Situ Wushou said: "I used to serve in the official city bureau, although I was not as high as Lord Ma Mu's rank, but because I was a naturalized official of the Holy Tang Dynasty and was involved in Silk Road commerce, my salary was almost a thousand silver coins in a year. ”

Xu Youchang smiled when he heard this: "From this point of view, it is still the treatment of the army, wow, my previous annual salary ......"

"Stop, don't show off your wealth here," Li Jiang glanced at him: "Are the governors and officials in other parts of Western Xinjiang in a similar situation to the two of you?" ”

Ma Mu and Situ Wushou both nodded: "Well, almost." If you count higher, it will not exceed two thousand annual salaries; If you count lower, it will be at least two hundred. ”

Li Jiangyao silently pondered for a while, and said, "Okay, that's it." The Talent Seeking Order sets up five talent grades, which are evaluated according to qualifications, experience, expertise and reputation, and are divided into excellent, high, intermediate, elementary, and qualified. The premium level is 10,000 silver coins a year, 8,000 for the highest, 5,000 for the middle, 3,000 for the primary, and 2,000 silver coins for the qualified. ”

Then he added: "Ma Mu and Situ, both of you are excellent. ”

Hearing this, Ma Mu and Situ Wushou immediately closed their mouths happily, it was not that they had the rare income of 10,000 silver coins, but that Lord Li had designated them as excellent, of course, it was extremely honorable.

Xu Youchang nodded: "Well, this salary level is about the same, compared to my previous ......"

Li Jiangyao set the standard of treatment for the "Talent Seeking Order", and the next important question came to everyone: how should the banner be determined?

At present, they have controlled a large area in the territory of Chechi, and it is obviously not appropriate to call themselves "Metasequoia Garrison" as before. However, what kind of banner to play involves the external image and morale of the army, and it must be carefully considered, so Xu Youchang also brought several other army leaders to discuss together.

"In my opinion, it's called the Iron Revenge Army!" Horia said excitedly: "Predator, how about avenging the comrades who died in the rebellion?" ”

Lin Feng shook his head: "It's not appropriate, it's not appropriate." I think it's better to call it 'St. Tang Garrison'. ”

Du Jianwen snorted angrily: "The garrison is boring to listen to, just put the names of the two of you together, and call it the Saint Tang Iron Blood Revenge Army!" ”

Mark Mu hesitated: "Should we take a name related to Western Xinjiang, such as 'Western Xinjiang Protector Army'?" ”

"This is not suitable," Xu Youchang said loudly: "I remember that in the previous number of the Holy Tang Army, the names 'Xiao Cai' and 'Yong Dou' are still vacant, or are they called Xiao Cavalry Legion or Yong Fighting Legion?" ”

"Xiao Ride, Xiao Ride, it sounds very stingy, or it is fun to call the Iron and Blood Revenge Army!"

"Do you understand? Horsemen are the highest glory of cavalry, right? ”

"No, no, no, it's still the style of the Datang garrison."

"I think General Xu's idea is very good, it's called the Xiao Cavalry Legion! Kobayashi's name is too rustic. ”

"You're fucking rustic......"

Everyone was noisy and shouting, and they were all over the place for the new banner, but Li Jiangyao didn't say a word, and lay on the table next to him and wrote hard. After a while, he stood up and suddenly unfolded the white cloth in his hand, only to see five bright red characters written on it in cinnabar - "Shengtang Town Xinjiang Army".

When everyone saw this, they couldn't help but be stunned on the spot.

Zhenjiang Army, this name was not unthought of before. Especially Lin Feng and Du Jian, who were originally soldiers of the Zhenjiang Metropolitan Protectorate, first considered this title.

However, the fiasco of Crescent Bay and the death of Commander He made everyone present dare not easily mention this once glorious name.

Now looking at the eye-catching characters on the white cloth in Li Jiangyao's hand, Lin Feng, Du Jian and other soldiers of the Imperial Protectorate couldn't help but wet their eyes, while Xu Youchang Huo Liya and others were also embarrassed and bowed slightly.

-

According to the records of later historical records, from the 282nd year of the Shengtang Dynasty, there was a strange scene of two "Zhenjiang Army" coexisting in the imperial dynasty.

One is that after the Battle of Crescent Bay, under the command of the deputy capital protector Guan Zhan, the remnants of the Zhenjiang Protectorate to the east of Zijin Pass retreated to the rest of the Zhenjiang Metropolitan Protectorate, with a scale of less than 20,000 people;

The other is the Zhenjiang Army Metasequoia Military Mansion that has not been officially approved by the Holy Tang Dynasty, but has a large number of people and complex soldiers, and has been fighting in various parts of Western Xinjiang for a long time.

Same town, different circumstances.

The former was unable to retreat because of the death of the coach and the constraints of the ministers, but he could only shrink into a corner of his ambitions; The latter is an unlucky child who "doesn't hurt his grandmother and doesn't love his uncle", who has neither royal authorization, nor food and salary, and even no one cares about the "three nos".

However, it was this lone army outside the territory that had nothing to rely on, but also fearless, that opened a magnificent chapter for Shengtang in the difficult years to come.