Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 430 Xin'an and Shangzhou

Twenty thousand troops came to the city of Xin'an.

Yes, he split up again.

Before that, ten thousand people from the Hengshan Party stayed in Xiashi County to renovate the fortress and guard the place.

From Xiashi County to Xin'an County, the total distance is about [-] miles. It is impossible not to leave troops to defend. After all, this is the enemy's territory, and there is no such local army as the local army to help defend the home.

In Ganhaozhai, Mianchi County, Xiashibao and nearby important locations, 3000 infantry from the Tianxiong Army and more than [-] cavalry from the Shunyi Army were left to defend.

In fact, it is not enough at all. More than 9000 people spread over a distance of [-] miles, which is sparse, which is symbolic.

The current troops around Shao Dashuai include 5000 cavalry from the Tielin Army ([-] cavalry belonging to the army have been rebuilt), [-] cavalry from the Tianzhu Army (same as above), and [-] cavalry from Xu Hao, the envoy of Heluo Youyi. , Originally there were [-] auxiliary soldiers of the Silver Spears, but they had already gone south to join the Silver Spears as soldiers.

The Zhongshun army has rolled to more than 4000, but its combat effectiveness and fighting will are very suspicious, and its loyalty is also very problematic, and it cannot be relied on at all.

The population of Henan Prefecture is still too small. Qin Zongquan and Sun Ru came back and forth, and now there are only [-] households. It is a problem to recruit surrenders, rebels, and servants.

And there is no servant army, just rely on the tens of thousands of people brought over, and divide the troops to stay behind.Shao Shude suddenly remembered that the Japanese invaded China in later generations, and only a few hundred people in a squadron were released in a county...

The strength of the troops was diluted to the extreme.

It is still necessary to obtain the support of the big families and military leaders in the Central Plains. Alas, this population has suddenly been plundered.

"Marshal, is there something you don't understand?" Chen Cheng asked in the camp that had just been set up.

At this time, there were no other people inside and outside the big tent except the soldiers.

"I was wondering if it is possible to consider granting a real power Jiedushi?" Shao Shude said this vaguely, but Chen Cheng understood it immediately.

Jinyang Li Keyong, this group is to give territory and soldiers to his subordinates, similar to other feudal towns in the world.

For example, Li Hanzhi, the governor of Zezhou, is actually in charge of Luzhou.

After conquering the three prefectures of Hebei, An Jinjun served as the training envoy of the Xing Ming Regiment.

In the history of capturing Datong, Biaoshi Shanyou was used as the defense envoy of Datong.

Youzhou was also handed over to Liu Rengong, Zhou Dewei and others.

It means that a middle-level army head is placed under a large army head, and the middle-level army head divides the territory for the small army head under him.

The old-school warlord rule system is also the model practiced by most of the country's vassals and towns at this time.

Speaking of which, in the northern towns, only Shao Shude and Zhu Quanzhong are two outliers.

Hu Zhen of Huazhou, an old man from Zhu Quanzhong Yuan, served as the envoy of Xuanyi Jiedu, leading Hua and Zheng Erzhou.But he has no real power, and Zhu Quanzhong controls them all, which is essentially similar to Binning and other towns in Shuofang.

Both modes have pros and cons.

The former can greatly mobilize the enthusiasm of his subordinates. After all, who doesn't want to be the emperor?But there are also disadvantages. People will oppose it as they say, and there are not many obstacles.

The latter's decree is unified, which can better coordinate resources, but the pursuit of the subordinates is only the way of wealth and honor, without the refreshing feeling of having real power.

In fact, Zhu Quanzhong couldn't stand it anymore in the later stage.

The surrounding feudal towns are too difficult to chew.

Can you imagine that the main forces of the Yan and Yun towns are completely lost, but with the second wave of soldiers recruited, can they still stick to it tenaciously?

Wang Zhongshi attacked the Yanzhou soldiers' fortress and rushed to kill them in heavy armor. He suffered eight or nine wounds on his body and almost died. It took more than a month for him to recover.And Zhu Quanzhong has many such people under his command, who dare to fight and fight hard, but it is so hard to chew these Central Plains towns, and it is still in the case of annihilating the main force elite in field battles.

He had to compromise, because people refused to spread the word, and they just wanted to resist.

Wei Bo compromised, Zelu compromised, Hezhong compromised too...

Why can't warriors see the general trend of the world clearly and surrender early?Attacking a corner with half the world, you still have to resist, what the hell?Why can't they know the current affairs like the leaders of the separatist regime in the last years of other dynasties?
These cheap embryos in the Central Plains kill talents!
And the consequences of compromise are, of course, serious.

Weibo, Youzhou and other towns surrendered and rebelled uncertainly, and finally, after five dynasties, they barely accepted the power of Jiedu envoys from various places.

If Shao Shude is willing to let people "bring capital into the group", entrust them with great power like the Zhejia and Zhugejia, they will definitely make faster progress on paper, but dare?

"Marshal, don't confer fame and equipment lightly, slow down and be safe." Chen Cheng said: "In case someone rebels and seizes power, we can still rely on the new master. How is the Shao clan?"

In fact, Chen Cheng couldn't attach himself to the new owner either.His core staff, like Jing Xiang, are likely to hang themselves...

"Nowadays, Shuofang, Longyou, Hexi, Binning, Jingyuan, Weibei, Huazhou and other towns have been won. Fengxiang and Xingyuan are also close to each other. After taking Jinshang, Shanguo, and Hezhong, the four fortresses are already in power. Cheng, isn’t Jingzhao Mansion allowed to be manipulated?” Having said this, he lowered his voice and said, “It’s not a problem even if you crack the earth and become emperor, why bother?”

"That's right." Shao Shude smiled and said, "Even if I promised Zhang Quanyi the position of Jiedushi, he wouldn't dare to accept it. Xuanwu is close at hand, while Lingxia is far away. It's not difficult to choose."

"This Xin'an County will not be attacked." Shao Shude said: "If too many elites are lost and Zhu Quanzhong's army overwhelms them, how can we fight? If we continue to plunder the population, it will be a big deal. I will close the door and become the Tu Emperor. Go out, harass Quanzhong, make him exhausted, and finally run out of money and exhausted, unable to fight."

"The commander must pay attention to two directions." Chen Cheng said: "Shaanguo and Hezhong are the first, and Shannan Dongdao is the second. These are the two iron arms that strangle Quanzhong."

Hezhong and Shanguo are the passages from the north to the east. Xiang, Deng, Tang and other prefectures on the east road of Shannan, as well as Cai, Ru and Xu prefectures in the north of Huaixi, are very important.

"Zhejia..." Shao Shude pondered for a while.

The position of Shao Chengjie's heir really cannot be moved, this is the biggest reliance on the Zhe family.The next generation may still need to continue to marry children and in-laws to deepen the relationship.

Marrying a family daughter is absolutely impossible, as it will disrupt the political balance in the town, so the only option is to marry a daughter.And the children of the Zhe family who married the daughter of the Shao family must of course be the head of the Zhe family, which is a must.

"Let's not talk about these." Shao Shude sat back on the chair and said, "The iron cavalry army defeated the Bian army and captured more than two thousand people. Can these people be used?"

"It can't be used for the time being." Chen Cheng replied: "If the power of Quanzhong is declining day by day, you can use it as much as possible. However, it is in full swing, so it can't be used. It's better to send it to Feng, Sheng, Liang, Gan, break it up and resettle it."

"It's a pity that they are all elite soldiers." Shao Shude sighed: "We can't let them go to Liang and Gan. The [-] soldiers from the Jingyuan Army are placed there. If the two are linked together, trouble may arise. Send them to Qing Tang is not right, let's go to He, Lan, Cheng, and Tier states."

Especially Jiezhou, after it was brought back from Tubo, it was almost deserted.Xiao Yu moved the households from Guanzhong, and there are only [-] households so far, farming, raising silkworms, herding sheep, and cultivating tea trees just started in the past two or three years.

According to the data of the first year of Dashun (32), the 890 counties in the ten prefectures of Longyou continuously migrated households and encroached on Tubo and Qiang people. There are more than 74000 registered households and more than 37 people.

There is no need to think too much about goods and goods, and it is certainly not possible to collect taxes based on more than 7 households.Because whether it is a private household in Guanzhong or an annexed Qianghu, there is a ten-year tax-free period.The original batch of talent just entered their fourth year of tax exemption, and this year marks their fifth year.

Xiao Yu took good care of this place, and it has been quite good for four years. Every year, some goods such as money and grain, cattle and sheep, leather, wood, and herbs are offered.Although not much, it is not without small supplements.

After all, the foundation is too bad. I don't know when it will be able to restore the grand occasion of Tianbao years?
The population of ten states is about the same as that of the same state. This matter makes...

But don't underestimate Longyou too much, the local Fan people are a large area, far surpassing the Tang people.

Longyou is still the Longyou of the past, the land has not changed, but the people have changed.Now it is slowly on the right track and slowly recovering.

The Tibetans can come to fight. Although the combat effectiveness is hard to say, it can reduce the casualties of the Tang people.

Although this will allow a large number of Tibetans to climb to high positions because of their military exploits, their number is too small, and the middle and lower classes are still Tang people, and they will eventually be assimilated.

It's better than the Tang people serving as soldiers, ten out of ten, and the Tibetans farming and grazing to provide wealth and recuperation.I dare not forget the old story of Xianbei fighting and Han people farming the land.

"The commander-in-chief's move is to strengthen the foundation, and he will win the world in the future." Chen Cheng was afraid of flattery: "When I attack the Huaixi states from the south to the north, the whole loyalty will be exhausted, and the more I fight, the weaker it will be. But I have Longyou, Hexi and Shuofang continue to provide goods and soldiers, and the fighting becomes stronger. All loyalty has no rear, but I have."

"Quanzhong still has a rear. Xuanwu and Xuanyi are the prefectures. Although they are connected to the territory of Erzhu and Shipu, if they can't penetrate these places, they are not the front line." Shao Shude said: "My rear is also the front line. Not too peaceful. There was a Tubo rebellion in Qingtang this year, which was jointly suppressed by the Heyuan Army, the Jishi Army, and the various tribes. Li Renmei, the Uighur of Ganzhou, led the Hexi Party to invade Liang and Gan, but Tuoba Renfu hadn’t done anything yet. This man I really don't want to!"

To rule so many people, but also to search for their wealth, and to go to war, then you must be prepared for rebellion.

In the Helong area, it is inevitable to guard tens of thousands of troops all the year round, and this is the cost.

"The Uighurs in Gaochang plundered and plundered the rebel army, but Zhang Huai was unable to control it. Suzhou Dragon led the Yumen army to help, but he barely forced them back. If the Hexi Tibetans rebelled again, it would be a great joy." Shao Shude smiled wryly. : "At first I wanted to transfer some of the Guiyi Army and the Yumen Army to the east, but now it seems impossible. It would be good if you can help me block the Uighur forces in the Western Regions and take care of some places."

"Forget it, everyone has their own troubles. I have troubles, and Quan Zhong also has them. We are mutual. Today, we want to magnify Quan Zhong's troubles. This is the chance of victory." Shao Shude said: "Quan Zhong is the vanguard to ensure victory." If the first army is destroyed, Hu Zhen and Zhu Quanzhong should be terrified. This has given us some time, so let’s toss the population first. Quanzhong’s people come less, so I won’t leave, and I even took the opportunity to eat his one. There are too many people coming, so let's go. From now on, in Henan Province, we will come and walk when we are in a good mood, and also come when we are in a bad mood. What can Quan Zhong do to me?"

"Commander, Li Kuangwei of Youzhou raised troops, and Helian Duo of Datong also sent troops south." Zheng Yong, a tenth personal soldier, suddenly walked in and reported: "The envoys of Xinquan Army Yang Jun sent them here urgently."

……

The vanguard led by Zhe Zongben arrived in Shangzhou.

The old man was also unwilling to admit defeat. He led [-] elites out of Fengxiang, walked through Guanzhong, and marched lightly, day and night, and finally arrived in Shangzhou.

However, this journey was exhausting enough, and the large troops were left far behind.The three thousand soldiers from Xingyuan Mansion trekked through mountains and rivers in the Qinling Mountains and rushed to Jinzhou.

Zhezongben is currently the commander of all the soldiers and horses in Qiuchi, Qinling.

Shao Shude's appointment was not ordered by the imperial court, and it was impossible for the imperial court to give him this position.

Zhe Zongben's original plan was that he would personally lead a group of soldiers and horses to set off from Shangzhou, take Shangshan Road, leave Wuguan, and directly attack Dengzhou Neixiang (now Neixiang County, Nanyang City). Why go to Junzhou?

However, Shao Shude felt that the land in Shangzhou was barren and the people were poor, and the Shangshan Road was not easy to travel. He was afraid that it would not be able to support a large-scale military expedition.

Is it safe to send out Wuguan to attack Dengzhou with a small number of elite troops?
Deng, Tang, Shen, Guang, Cai, Ru, Xu, and Chen, the eight prefectures, have strong folk customs, and the famous "Huaiyi" separatist forces have long resisted the central government, which is not so easy to fight.

It would be fine if we could raise a large army, but Zhe Zongben faced the same problem as Shao Shude, he had to work hard for an expedition, and the road was not easy to walk, so it was impossible to bring many troops.

Even if you have millions of troops, it will be useless if you can't bring them to the front line, and people won't be afraid of you.

Conversely speaking, the same is true for attacking the Central Plains, which is full of difficulties.

"I've seen Zheshuai." Li Tong bowed to Guoxia in Shangzhou.

Li Tong is the second son of Li Xiang, an official to the governor of Shangzhou and the defense envoy of Wuguan.

"Li Shijun has been guarding Shangzhou for many years, and the Cai thief dare not look west. It's terrible." Zhe Zongben gave him a top hat as soon as he came up.

If the thief Cai didn't come, it's not because Li Tong defended well, but because Shangzhou is too poor.

Li Tong's ability is also very average, the army is extremely sparse, and it seems that he is not very capable of fighting.

"Soldiers from the Zhe family, I just took a look at it, and it's really majestic. Feng Xing of Junzhou is rampant and rebellious, this time I will definitely make him suffer a bit." Hearing Zhe Zongben's praise of himself, Li Tong was also very happy, his father I always say that I have no ability, not as good as my elder brother, could it be that I have not discovered my strengths?
Zhe Zongben laughed when he heard this.

Just this ambition?Let Feng Xingxi suffer a little bit?Is it possible not to kill him?
Zhe Zong didn't take Feng Xingxi seriously at all.

The commander-in-chief was worried that it would be difficult for Shangshan to walk, and he was also worried that he would directly force Zhao Dezhen from Xiangyang to Zhu Quanzhong's side.

The former is actually not a problem. No matter the cost, the people and draft animals are expropriated, and the fate is just that. Zhe Zong doesn't care at all.

But the possibility of the latter cannot be ignored.

The Zhao family in Xiangyang should not have much ambition, they only want to separate themselves and become the local overlord.You still have legitimate reasons for attacking Junzhou. This matter can be turned around, and you can talk about it, but leaving Wuguan and going straight to Dengzhou will definitely make Xiangyang panic.

If Mrs. Zhao couldn't figure it out, wouldn't she have to ask Zhu Quanzhong for help?Wouldn't it be beautiful to have a whole town for nothing?

"Emissary Li, I heard that there is still a road leading to Lantian, which is easier to go, and now it is possible to pass the army?" Li Tong invited Zhe Zongben to the city for a banquet, and the two talked while walking.

"There is indeed one." Li Tong nodded and said: "Jinglongzhong, the prime minister Cui Shi (shí) presided over the construction, from the Kaishan Road in the west of Shangzhou to Shimen, north to Shimen Valley in Lantian County, and set up Dachang Pass here to keep soldiers Tun guards. There are tens of thousands of servants and fifteen dead, but it is a pity that they have been abandoned."

"Why was it abandoned?"

"In summer, the roadbed is flooded with water, and it is often destroyed and blocked, so we don't go this way."

Zhe Zongben was thoughtful.

It is impossible to support large-scale military campaigns by relying solely on the local area of ​​Shangzhou. Food, equipment, and goods must be transported abroad.

For Sinotrans, the most costly section is from Guanzhong to Shangzhou.

"Is there water transportation in Shangzhou?"

"Of course there are." Li Tong introduced: "There is a wharf outside the city of Shangzhou, which is transported by Danshui water and transferred to Hanshui to Xiangyang. The southeast rent and tax are transferred to Guanzhong. Except for the Bianshui payment road, the rest is Transport it by water from Xiangyang to the city of Shangzhou, and then take the Shangshan Road to Chang'an."

Zhe Zongben's heart skipped a beat.

"How rich is Xiangyang?" He asked suddenly.

(End of this chapter)