According to Dai Jingbin, several generals in the Qianhu City of Xiahe Village deliberately indulged the soldiers to flee, just to collect and embezzle military salaries. Not only that, Chi Xu and Huang Wenxian also invaded a large number of tuntian, but they did not accept a single grain of grain, but transferred all the burden to the ordinary tun army, further increasing the burden of ordinary military households.

From the 1000 households in the city of 100 households, Tian Huixu to 100 households, Chi Xu and others, each of them encroached on more than 2,000 acres of fertile land, not only that, but they also privately enlisted soldiers and military households to cultivate the fields for them, build houses on weekdays, transport private goods, and other affairs, and also used a large number of soldiers.

In addition, the practice of accepting bribes in the army of Qianhu Suocheng is even more common, and the officers also have a regular bribery income, that is, "buying leisure", as long as each soldier here gives the general a few hundred dollars a month, he can do nothing, and then justifiably go to other jobs.

Even horses can be bought for leisure, and those soldiers can use their war horses to make other livelihoods as long as they pay hundreds of dollars a month.

Except for some of the soldiers who are on the run, most of them are this kind of idle people, and many of them have not seen each other for months and do not know where they have gone. Due to the large number of vacancies in soldiers, although Chi Xu and others temporarily pulled a large number of tunding to make up for the number, it was still far from enough to make up for this shortage.

Liu Yan couldn't help but sigh after hearing this, this kind of soldier buying idle was common in the late Manchu Dynasty, but he didn't expect that at the end of the Ming Dynasty, this kind of thing had already appeared.

At this time, from Dai Jingbin's mouth, Liu Yan felt his full of complaints, Dai Jingbin, as the deputy Qianhu Guantun official of Qianhu City, because the generals invaded Tuntian Dingkou in large numbers, so that his annual grain payment could not meet the requirements of Shangguan, so there was no chance of promotion, Dai Jingbin was full of resentment towards his colleagues in the city.

It is precisely because of this that Dai Jingbin got together with Mrs. Xu and them before, just to get some money and food in order to deal with Shangguan.

However, in the past, Dai Jingbin was weak in the city of Qianhusuo, but now that he has an old acquaintance like Liu Yan, even if he is an old acquaintance who does not know each other, Dai Jingbin took the opportunity to take refuge.

Dai Jingbin's special visit tonight is the result of careful consideration. When he said such things to Liu Yan, he was already on Liu Yan's side. If his words leak out even a bit, unless Liu Yan takes care of him, he will have no place in the city of Qianhusuo.

Liu Yan looked at Dai Jingbin and said with a smile: "Old Dai, you are familiar with this place in the city of thousands of households, and I will have to rely on you in the future." ”

Dai Jingbin was overjoyed, Liu Yan said such words, indicating that he regarded him as a confidant, so Dai Jingbin immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "My subordinates are willing to die for the adults, and they will go to the soup and go to the fire." ”

Liu Yan helped him up, and after Dai Jingbin sat down happily, Liu Yan pondered for a long time, and said: "The city of thousands of households is so corrupted, there is no way to return to the sky, and there is only a way to rebuild!" But first, I want to get a full picture of what's going on inside and outside the city. Lao Dai, these days, you will take me to walk outside the city, and after detailed consideration, I will make a decision. ”

"Subordinates obey!"

After the two talked for a while, Dai Jingbin left satisfied.

And Liu Yan fell into contemplation, the problems of the first thousand households in Xiahezhai exceeded his expectations, and now it seems that Liu Yan has completely given up the previous idea of "transforming" the former thousand households in Xiahezhai, but has made up his mind to tear down and start over.

Just when Liu Yan was about to think carefully about countermeasures, Chen Xun reported outside: "My lord, the ancient town inspection department Song Patrol asks to see you. ”

"Huh?"

Liu Yan said, "Let him in." ”

"Yes."

After the initial conflict, Liu Yan and Song Gongming could not be regarded as not fighting, and later their communication was only limited to business contacts, and the two did not have much contact in other aspects.

At this time, Liu Yan jumped from the chief flag officer of Huoludun to the defense officer of the Qianhu Household in front of Xiahezhai, and became the official who inspected Song Gongming, which made Song Gongming a little unable to sit still.

So after Song Gongming prepared a heavy gift, he rushed directly to the city of Qianhu in front of Xiahe Village, ready to meet Liu Yan.

A moment later, Song Gongming walked in with a smile on his face and saluted Liu Yan from afar.

"Subordinate Ancient Town Inspection Division, Song Gongming, meet the defense lord!"

Liu Yan smiled and waved his hand and said, "Inspector Song, we are all old acquaintances, we don't need so much courtesy, sit down." ”

Song Gongming clenched his fists again, then found a seat, only sat on half of his buttocks, and sat down with a shhh.

Then Liu Yan exchanged a few words with Song Gongming, and then asked, "Is there something wrong with Song Patrol coming today?" ”

Song Gongming said: "Hehe, that's the case, my subordinates heard that the adults had entered the Qianqian Household in Xiahe Village, and they were very happy in their hearts. ”

Liu Yan said with a smile: "Song Patrol is polite, we are all acquaintances, what are you doing with these?" ”

Then Liu Yan took the gift list, glanced at it, and the gift list was about worth one hundred and eighty taels of silver, so he smiled and gave it to his hand.

"We are all old acquaintances, so if there is something wrong with the Song Patrol, just say it."

Since Liu Yan didn't like to go around the bend, Song Gongming smiled and said bluntly: "My lord, my subordinate is in charge of the Ancient Town Inspection Department, and he has never made much achievements, and he is very uneasy, so I came here today to ask the adults for a lesson or two, and after I go back, I will be better motivated, and I will worry more for the adults." ”

Liu Yan understood it, this Song Gongming said a lot over and over again, and it was nothing more than coming to take refuge in himself. Originally, Liu Yan and Song Gongming were considered a business cooperative relationship, but as Liu Yan changed from a subordinate to a flat level, and now he has become Song Gongming's superior, this kind of business cooperative relationship no longer exists, Song Gongming must make a choice, or take refuge in Liu Yan, or give up the business of sea salt, soap, and pot wine, after all, the world has never heard of it, and there is a share of silver for doing business with Shangguan.

Liu Yan smiled and said, "I understand." In this case, how is the Song Patrol going to govern the Guzhen Inspection Division? ”

Song Gongming came prepared this time and said: "My lord, my subordinates know that my lord's command only has soldiers and no family members, so my subordinates are determined to follow your example. ”

"Oh?"

When Song Gongming said this, Liu Yan was really a little surprised, and he was also a little impressed by Song Gongming, this person's determination was really beyond his expectations.

"Well, it's not easy for you to have this insight, I'm very happy."

Song Gongming suddenly laughed out loud and said, "If the adults are satisfied, the subordinates will be very happy in their hearts." ”

"The next step of the subordinates is to follow the example of the adults and rectify the soldiers and horses of the Guzhen Inspection Division, and after a period of training, the subordinates will invite the adults to review, and the adults can rest assured that they ......"

Liu Yan raised his hand to stop Song Gongming, only to see Song Gongming stop respectfully, look at Liu Yan and wait for the following.

Liu Yan said with a smile: "I am going to add a position of a hundred household officials in the city of Qianhu in front of Xiahe Village, and I will take care of the winery, salt drying and soap workshop for me. ”

Song Gongming was dumbfounded.

"Great, my lord, have my subordinates done anything wrong, please make it clear!"

Liu Yan said: "Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean to deal with you, I just asked for your opinion." ”

Liu Yan immediately got up and walked to Song Gongming's side, Song Gongming also hurriedly stood up when he saw this, the expression on his face was ugly, he didn't know what Liu Yan was going to do, could it be that he was removed from the inspection position of the Ancient Town Inspection Division?

"We're old acquaintances, and the previous things have already been turned over, so I won't mention it again. It's just that I think your ability is not to govern and lead troops, but to operate, you are good at dealing with businessmen, and you also know how to make money. ”

Liu Yan beckoned Song Gongming to sit down and said, "I already understand this clearly, you and Lord Wang Weizhen manage a trade route together, but the silver you earn is more than 20% more than Lord Wang, this is the ability!" ”

Song Gongming looked at Liu Yan thoughtfully, and said, "If the adult wants to transfer his subordinates to the Qianqian Household in Xiahe Village, is it really not to dispose of his subordinates?" ”

"Naturally not!"

Liu Yan immediately said his thoughts: "You come to the Qianqian Household Office in Xiahe Village, and you are still a hundred household officials, who are responsible for managing the business of soap workshops, salt drying farms, and wine shops, as long as you do a good job, one percent of the profits from these businesses will belong to you, and they will be settled on a monthly basis, how about it?" ”

Song Gongming was overjoyed, although he only had a profit of one percent, but when it came to the business of the soap workshop, the salt drying field, and the winery, the specific amount was also very considerable, which was much stronger than his own hard work in the ancient town inspection department.

So Song Gongming immediately agreed, and promised that he would sort out the affairs of the ancient town and wait for Liu Yan to send someone to hand it over.

Liu Yan laughed, patted Song Gongming's shoulder and said, "That's right, you Song Baihu is a reasonable person, I am very pleased." In this way, three days later, I will send Wang Bo, the official of the hundred households, to lead the troops over, and you and Wang Baihu will hand over the affairs as soon as possible, and I will handle the farewell between you and Wang Baihu as soon as possible. ”

Song Gongming clenched his fists and said: "Don't worry, my lord, my subordinates should cooperate." ”

After sending Song Gongming away, Liu Yan called Wang Bo again and said, "I appointed you as the inspector of the Guzhen Inspection Department, can you do a good job?" ”

Wang Bo was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then he was ecstatic, and said: "Your Excellency has raised your subordinates like this, and your subordinates will definitely manage the Ancient Town Inspection Department for your lordship, please rest assured!" ”

"You are the same as Zhang Yi, you are the hundred household officials I sent to the local area, you must strictly follow the requirements of the infantry discipline, lead good soldiers, guard the land, obey my orders, all the new policies I implement, you and Zhang Yi must implement them to the letter, understand?"

Wang Bo was originally from the Dun Army, and was promoted by Liu Yan all the way to the level of a hundred household officials, and he had long been loyal to Liu Yan in his heart, so naturally he would not have a second word, and immediately said: "Don't worry, my lord, my subordinates must remember it, my lord will say one, and my subordinates will never say two!" ”

"Good!"

After Liu Yan instructed Wang Bo here, he ordered Wang Bo to lead his troops to the Guzhen Inspection Department within three days, and make a good handover with Song Gongming, and to imitate what he did in Wangjiazhuang, verify the accounts of soldiers and horses, military equipment, money and grain, cultivated land and other accounts in the Guzhen Inspection Department, and dismiss mediocre talents everywhere.

And Liu Yan's only requirement is to rectify the Guzhen Inspection Department within half a year, which is the same as Wangjiazhuang.

Such a requirement is actually very high, but Wang Bo is full of enthusiasm, and he went back to rectify the soldiers and horses on the same day, preparing to lead his troops to set off the next day.

Early the next morning, Liu Yan sent away Wang Bo's sentry horses, and then found Dai Jingbin, the deputy thousand-household, and ordered Xu Ming of the hundred households to lead his troops to accompany him, and together they went to various military camps and cultivated land to inspect the situation.

Some people died, but not completely......