During the Tang Dynasty, the climate in Guanzhong was still quite humid, and in early summer, there was a lot of rain.

Although Jingshui is the main river in the Guanzhong area, it is not a big river rolling in, but a very rich source, which is formed by the convergence of a large number of mountain springs and small tributaries.

Jing water can be said to accumulate a lot, and it is a mountain spring gathering, so the river water is clear, which is very different from the turbid Wei water. In the northeast of Chang'an, where the two rivers converge, there will be a strange situation where one river is clear and the other is turbid, and even a wonderful situation can be recognized at a glance.

The idiom calls it "distinction".

Due to the "explosive" source of Jing water, the amount of spring water in the mountains has a great relationship with rainwater! Therefore, every time there is a heavy rain or rising water, the height of the river level in Jingshui will be very different, and flash floods and other things are commonplace.

After being reprimanded by Ji Ge, Fang Youde had to lead five thousand Shence soldiers to the north of Jingyang County, where the mouth of the valley of Jingshui is located. In the last years of the Warring States period, a canal was built by the Korean spy Jeong Kook to irrigate Guanzhong.

It is also called Zheng Guoqu.

In the first two years of the Western Han Dynasty, Zhao Zhong's doctor Bai Gong suggested that on the basis of Zhengguo Canal, a new canal should be built, and the Jingshui should be diverted to the east, and the water should be injected into Weishui in Liyang (northeast of Lintong County), which was named Zhengbai Canal. Zhengbai Canal has three main canals, namely Taibai Canal, Zhongbai Canal and Nanbai Canal, also known as Sanbai Canal.

This is the core area of Guanzhong irrigation!

Sometimes the rain is pouring down, and sometimes it's just hasty. As soon as he arrived in the north of Jingyang, Fang Youde ordered the soldiers to cut down wood and build rafts, and prepared a waterway to go north to Pizhou along Jingshui. At the same time, a group of people were assigned to set up a new camp at the starting point of Zheng Guoqu.

I have to say that this order is so bizarre that Gao Shi, who is in charge of supervising the army in the army, couldn't help but privately drag Fang You into the makeshift tent, retired his own soldiers, and expressed his opinion to the latter.

"General Fang, it has rained too much recently, and I can't use bows and arrows. The roads are rough and prone to flash flooding. It's probably not a good strategy to attack Pizhou in such a hurry!

The camp was arranged at the valley where Jingshui flowed, and if the rebels in Pizhou upstream blocked the river and built a dam, the river embankment would be destroyed when there was heavy rain.

When the time comes, the overwhelming water of the Jing River will rush down the downstream to the camp, wouldn't it be a big deal? ”

Gao Shi whispered, lowering his head and not daring to look at Fang Youde. Although he was worried that he would be punished, he still fought on the basis of reason.

Pizhou was about a hundred miles away from where they had set up camp. This section of the road is all valley terrain, and the riverbed of Jingshui is very narrow. At the exit of the valley, the riverbed widens suddenly, and the water from the top of the valley carries great kinetic energy, pouring thousands of miles!

Which army can withstand it? How can man overcome heaven?

What he could see, Gao Shi didn't believe that Fang Youde wouldn't be able to see it.

"The saint is in a hurry to go to war, and he has to do it as a last resort."

Fang Youde said with a sigh, looking helpless.

"General, the sage doesn't know the situation in the army, nor does he understand astronomy and geography, the direction of mountains and rivers, and he doesn't know the art of war!

It's you leading the troops, not the saints leading the troops! If he loses, the saint will punish him! ”

Gao Shi knelt down directly, kowtowed to Fang Youde, and knelt on the ground and couldn't get up.

He is extremely politically sensitive, how can he not see that this war is related to the political situation in Datang Guanzhong! If Fang Youde is defeated, the army loyal to Ji Ge will be unable to control the situation in Chang'an. When the time comes, all the cows, ghosts, snakes, and gods will jump out.

In case which prince calls on the border army to stand up and "clear the monarch's side", it will really be a big mess in the world!

Only by neatly resolving the Khitan slave rebellion in Pizhou can this battle maintain the political balance in Guanzhong.

When the situation calms down, it is not too late to replenish the Shence Army.

"In that case, it's good to talk about it in private. Spread it, it's a capital offense. ”

Fang Youde helped Gao Shi up, patted him on the shoulder and encouraged: "You are right, these are the general's plans to throw stones and ask for directions." The camp was set up here for those Khitan slaves to attack by water. If you want to break through Pizhou, General Ben has another plan. ”

Just a trick?

Gao Shi was overjoyed, and the stone in his heart fell to the ground.

There must be capable people behind the Khitan slaves, otherwise it would be impossible to seize Pizhou. However, after they conquered Pizhou, they did not take the opportunity to expand their scale and territory, which shows that they are not united internally, and their organizational ability is limited, and they are even more unpopular.

The rebels may have a plan, but there is no need to overestimate their strength.

Before coming to Liquan, Fang Youde had already estimated the battle situation in his mind. Of course, if you follow Brother Ji's style of play, no matter how you play, it will be overturned.

Brother Ji thought that Taizong had defeated the enemy in the shallow water source of Jingshui back then, and now he could reproduce the victory of that year, which was simply unreasonable in Fang Youde's opinion. From ancient times to the present, no two battles have been exactly the same, isn't it ridiculous to follow the routine?

After following Brother Ji for decades, Fang Youde knew very well that Brother Ji had no military talent at all, and he was a pure war novice, and he did not inherit even a little bit of his ancestor's ability to lead troops.

To put it simply, Brother Ji is a spicy chicken who can only talk on paper. Listen to his command, and I don't know how to die.

"General Fang, will that plan come out?

To be humble is to be curious and know the rules of the army. ”

Gao Shi asked with a virtuous hand salute.

"It doesn't hurt to tell you.

In this way, you take 500 people, plant banners in the camp, build rafts, and make a posture of going north to attack Pizhou by water.

The commander of this section led the troops to detour to the northwest of Liquan County, there is a valley mouth called Jianzigou, from where there is a trail that does not need to worry about flash floods.

Here you can go straight to the valley surrounded by mountains in the backyard of the capital of Pizhou, and attack Pizhou from the rear.

Let you lead the troops here, can you? ”

Fang Youde looked at Gao Shi intently and asked, his tone solemn and serious.

The "backyard" he is talking about is the cultivated land of Pizhou, that is, in the southwest valley where the capital city of Jingshui is located, a farmland surrounded by mountains, which is also the main grain producing area of Pizhou. Because it is surrounded by mountains, it is not an official road, and only mountain people who go to the southwest to collect medicine are walking on weekdays.

Even the officials of Chang'an may not know that there is such a road, let alone those rebels.

The Khitan slaves were not natives of Guanzhong, so it was impossible for them to be familiar with this road! The place where the coal was dug was near Sanshui County on the other side of Jingshui, and it is estimated that even the entrance to the mountain road was, these people did not find out.

However, Fang Youde had only walked through the previous life, and it would already be an era when the Shence Army was about to break away from the control of the Chang'an Imperial Court, so it cannot be ruled out that this sheep intestine path has not yet been walked out.

Wars are all risk-taking, and no one dares to say that they are sure of everything, as long as they fight a war, they may lose.

The person who leads the army is to lead his subordinates to victory, use all the resources in his hands, at any cost, regardless of everything.

That's all.

When you encounter trouble, you can rise to the occasion, and there is nothing to be afraid of.

"General Fang, humble ...... It's okay to be humble! ”

Gao Shi said excitedly, the opportunity came too suddenly, and he was caught off guard.

"Send a few people to the upper reaches of Jingshui to watch, and if the flash flood comes, put sheepskin rafts into the water.

Outside the camp, on the shore of Jingshui, send someone to see if there is a sheepskin raft rushing down, if there is, put down everything in your hand and run quickly! ”

Fang Youde patiently advised.

He estimated that the enemy army would most likely have to attack by water.

In particular, these people found that the Shence Army was building a raft at the exit of the valley in Jingshui, and it was estimated that they would not be able to hold it back. Once the water attack, those people will get carried away, thinking that the main force of the Shence Army has been washed away by the flood, and their side can "expand the results".

"The lowly position understands that he will definitely make a big show in the camp and confuse those Khitan slaves."

Gao Shi patted his chest and assured.

"General Ben only uses you because you see the situation. If they had used others, they might have taken a turn to attack Pizhou along the Jingshui because they looked down on the rebels.

You don't want to disappoint General Ben. ”

Fang Youde took out a silver fish talisman from his waist and handed it to Gao Shi to continue:

"This army of 500 men has been handed over to you, and you may be drowned in the flood at any time, and although there will be no fighting, it will certainly not be very safe. So you have to be vigilant and don't lose your life in vain. Don't divulge secrets, if someone asks, they will say that General Ben led his troops back to Liquan. ”

"Order!"

Gao Shi carefully took the fish talisman and put it away, he seemed to be able to see that he had stepped on the ladder of official promotion.

If he can get through this hurdle and even protect these divine soldiers in the flood, then it is only a matter of time before he can use this as a foundation to become an important minister of the court or even a close minister of the Son of Heaven.

……

In Daze, north of Jinchang City, the capital of Guazhou Prefecture in Hexi, the Anxi Expeditionary Force deliberately circled a site and hung up a huge wooden sign.

It reads "Silk for Camels".

Daze is the last stop of the Styx River, there are many waterfowl and beautiful scenery, and it is the place where merchants from the west of the river gather. Of course, the Yumen Pass of the Tang Dynasty was located here, and all the large-scale transactions were actually carried out under the supervision of the Tang army.

This is the last stop on the northern route from Hexi to the Western Regions (Northern Xinjiang), and official trade is generally taken by this route. The next transit station is Yizhou (Hami), an important town in the Beiting Prefecture.

Next is Xizhou, the base camp of the "Tang Army's non-actual control area" leading to the Western Regions, which is also the hometown of Gaochang State. This area is the core area of the Western Regions controlled by the Tang Army, and it is also where Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Province, is located in Fang Chongyong's previous life.

To put it bluntly, this road is the official road and main road from Datang to the Western Regions.

From Shazhou to the northern route of the Western Regions, you need to pass through an inaccessible desert, which is usually walked by merchants in the Western Regions, and it is a high-risk area for killing people and stealing goods. The only good thing is that you are charged a tariff less!

If you take the southern route of the Western Regions (southern Xinjiang) from Shazhou, you will have to pass through the abandoned ancient kingdom of Loulan and Lop Nur. The natural conditions of this route are very harsh, and the supply areas along the route are very small and cannot accommodate large caravans passing through.

At present, Datang officials have abandoned this line. The people who are still walking are all "good people" who are also businessmen and thieves.

The current route that the Anxi expeditionary force can take can only be the northern route, and there is no need to buy a large number of camels, and the natural conditions for marching along the way are not as bad as ordinary people imagined, and there are many pedestrians and merchants.

However, if we take into account that the strategic goal of the Anxi Expeditionary Force is the countries west of the Green Ridge, including Xiao Bolu, then we have to consider the situation that the supply cannot keep up.

Fighting in the Western Regions and running thousands of miles is the norm. In the desert and Gobi in the Western Regions, how can you have fun on a long-distance march without camels?

"Fang Jieshuai, such a good silk, let's just exchange camels with these Hu merchants? Isn't it good to use Jiaozi?

The last general feels like a loss! ”

He Changqi looked at the boxes of fine silk from Guanzhong, which were happily carried away by the servants of Hu Shang, and asked a little unwillingly.

Fang Chongyong didn't bother to pay attention to him, but just urged Yang Yan beside him to settle the accounts well, don't make a mistake in calculating the accounts, and in the end, the Jiaozi standard money on the Hexi side is not enough.

The operating rule of the standard gold system is that the standard currency used for exchange must be sufficient, and there must be no run. To prepare camels for this expedition, they can only be bought from Hu Shang, and it is useless to fool these people with Jiaozi.

Because the Jiaozi that are now circulating unhindered in Hexi cannot be completely circulated smoothly in the Western Regions. Even in places like Yizhou and Xizhou, many businessmen don't recognize it!

The Western Regions is also some distance away from Hexi, and the cost of a trip is not small. Even if he takes Jiaozi and exchanges it in Hexi, no merchant is willing to risk his wealth being emptied and exchange his property for those things that are too hard to wipe his buttocks.

Of course, if silk can also be freely exchanged in Illinois and Western states, it is a different matter.

In this regard, Fang Chongyong can see it clearly, respecting the IQ of others is respecting his own emotional intelligence!

"Fang Jieshuai, these silks have been transported, and there is not enough in the treasury, but how can they be exchanged?"

He Changqi couldn't help but complain in a low voice.

"Can you please stop making noise here?

Even if these silks are transported to the Western Regions, when we arrive, won't they still be ours!

In the end, the shipping cost is also saved, so why not? ”

Fang Chongyong impatiently took off the official hat on He Changqi's head and put it on the other party's hand, and couldn't help but scold.

"General He, the commander has already been deployed, so you don't have to worry about this idleness.

How to play in Liangzhou, how to play in Yizhou and Xizhou. In the end, those silks will be confiscated and exchanged for transactions. ”

Yang Yan, who had been taking notes, explained with a smile.

it!

He Changqi suddenly realized! Fang Chongyong's hand is too slippery!

Now, Hu Shang has exchanged the camels that are not lacking in Hexi for the silk that is scarce in the Western Regions, and on the surface, it looks like he is making money. It's just that after Fang Chongyong and the expeditionary force arrive in the Western Regions, he will collect all the local silk as the "standard gold", and issue the same amount of Jiaozi at the same time.

In this way, it is necessary to transport silk to the Western Regions by yourself, and the freight and capacity are eliminated. These silks went around and around, and finally changed their mode and returned to the hands of the Tang Dynasty. It was still Fang Chongyong who bought the camel with Jiaozi.

This is much more polite than the current open fire and taking Jiaozi to find Hu Shangqiang to buy camels! Maintain the local business stability of Hexi!

Rabbits don't eat the grass next to the nest, how can the Hexi Jiedu envoy pull down his face to buy and sell? In business, in business, of course, we must pay attention to credibility, and it is not right to take a knife at every turn.

As for going to a place like the Western Regions, after all, the market environment over there is very chaotic, and it's not unusual for anything to happen, right?

If you don't change the silk for Jiaozi, there is no way, so I have to not even give you Jiaozi, and I just grabbed it.

Who asked my subordinates to Qiu Baduo, they all have to eat, the eldest brother covers the younger brother, and it makes sense to crack down on "illegal traders" in the chaotic place of the market.

It's human nature.

At this moment, He Changqi was moved by Fang Chongyong.

In order to make these Hu businessmen feel comfortable, Fang Chongyong actually made so many detours, and he deserves to be the envoy of the Hexi Festival!

Fang Jieshuai could obviously be robbed directly, but he also gave Hu Shang an equal amount of Jiaozi, which can be called Tong Suo.

He is so kind, I cry to death!

He Changqi felt that he had learned another trick.

"Jiaozi has to hurry up and print, Yizhou and Xizhou are quite rich, commerce is prosperous, and Jiaozi is in great demand there.

If you print a batch afterwards, I'm afraid that it will be too late in the short term. ”

Fang Chongyong explained to Yang Yan.

"Don't worry, everything is in plan."

Yang Yan has already recorded the details of today's sale, and I have to say that silk is really hard currency in the Western Regions, and there are Hu merchants queuing up to lead camels to trade when they hang a sign.

At this moment, there was a commotion in the distance, and several camels were fighting in teams, spitting at each other and kicking wildly with their hooves, very irritable.

As a result, smoke and dust rose from the fence, and many people retreated.

"These camels are not very good at fighting, but their temper is not small, and they have a bit of a taste of a small country in the Western Regions."

Fang Chongyong folded his arms and said thoughtfully.

"Hehe, if you're not honest, you'll be honest if you go up and hit a stick."

He Changqi said with a wicked smile on the side.

(End of chapter)