Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 453
Cheng Rui went into his cellar early in the morning.

He carefully counted the wine urns in the corner, there were eight jars left in total, and he was afraid that the whole army would be wiped out today.

"Husband." His wife, Qian Shi, came over and urged: "The commander-in-chief is coming soon, why are you procrastinating?"

"Forget it, let people move it all out." Cheng Rui is good at wine, these jars are his treasures, and it looks like he can't keep them today.

After coming out of the cellar, Mrs. Qian dusted him off and complained: "The governor of Yanzhou has been in office for more than four years. It's time to talk to the commander-in-chief and move him. We dare not think about Lingzhou and Xiazhou. Suizhou and Yinzhou have just changed people, so why not find a place in Guanzhong?"

"Where is Guanzhong?" Cheng Rui glared at his wife, and said, "Jingyuan two prefectures? Binning three prefectures? Is it possible? Li Yanling and Sun Ba both have their old brothers who want to be resettled, how can there be so many places for you? "

"Didn't it mean that Li Yanling was leaving? If he moved to town, wouldn't he have a chance?"

"Don't spread random news." Cheng Rui stroked his forehead, really impatient with his wife's noise, and said, "It's fine to talk about these things at home, don't gossip when you go out. Li Yanling is one of the old people in Yuancong, with seniority They are all considered old. Whether he can move or not, the commander-in-chief has the final say, but he is not happy to offend others."

Qian Shi stopped talking.

She is utilitarian, but not stupid.Although Li Yanling didn't show much ability in marching and fighting, his qualifications are unmatched, and the commander is a nostalgic, as long as he doesn't rebel, his position will be as stable as Mount Tai.

A while ago, there were rumors that the imperial court might set up a Shaanxi town to lead the three prefectures of Shaanxi, Guo, and Hua, and Li Yanling would move the town to Shaanxi.When Mrs. Qian heard about it, her mind moved. She wondered whether her husband could go to the three prefectures of Bin, Ning and Qing to seek governors in one prefecture. It would be better than Yanzhou, which has a combined population of less than [-]. .

Cheng Rui returned to the hall.

The three sons and two daughters came forward to salute and say hello together.

The king of Lingwu County is kind. He asked himself to come over from Li Kan at the beginning, and he also brought his family and relatives, more than a hundred people up and down.Otherwise, I am afraid that he has been killed by that old thief for a long time.

Cheng Rui noticed that the two daughters were dressed up beautifully, and his face turned dark immediately. Just as he was about to reprimand him, his wife, Qian Shi, followed him again and said, "My concubine asked them to dress up, thirteen or fourteen-year-old ladies, too. Reached the age of marriage."

The two girls blushed when they heard this.

Cheng Rui let out a long sigh, too lazy to talk nonsense anymore.

"My lord, the commander-in-chief's guard of honor has arrived." A staff member ran over panting to report.

"Let's go out to greet you." Cheng Rui flicked his sleeves, and asked his wife Qian to check carefully to make sure there was no dirt, took a deep breath, and led the family to the main entrance.

There are dozens of horses galloping on the street.

They yelled loudly and drove the people watching the excitement as far away as possible.

Soon, four hundred soldiers walked over quickly.

They divided half of them into the homes of the neighbors around Chengfu. After a careful search, they set up defenses on the spot.

The remaining half of the people pleaded guilty, and then entered the Cheng mansion one after another, while checking carefully, they stood in every corner of the mansion.

It's just like the emperor's pie!

Cheng Rui thought to himself, the commander-in-chief really cherishes his life, he is so careful wherever he goes.

At the end of the street, cars drove up from afar, guarded by hundreds of soldiers, and there were many flags and banners, which was astonishing.

Cheng Rui heard that the commander-in-chief had expanded the number of soldiers from six hundred to one thousand, and now it seems that it is not a lie.

Wherever he went, there were thousands of well-equipped guards. As long as he was not besieged by the army, it would not be so easy for ordinary people to murder the commander-in-chief head-on, and it could even be said to be impossible.

Wang Chongrong's death was due to his carelessness, and the commander-in-chief has learned his lesson.

"Cheng Dalang's mansion is well repaired." After getting out of the carriage, holding Zhao Yu and Xiao Dai's hands, Shao Shude looked up and said with a smile.

Cheng Rui was a little nervous when he heard the words, and was about to say something, but he heard Shao Shude say again: "My people must be rich, the governor Cheng's monthly salary is [-] yuan, this house is just right, it doesn't matter."

Only then did Cheng Rui feel relieved.

After the group entered the hall, Shao Shude sat down in the middle, and Cheng Rui introduced his family members one by one.

The three sons seem to be from martial arts training, and their hands are full of calluses. One is in the military academy of the state army, and the other is the deputy envoy of regiment training. One person serves as the warehouse governor in Honshu. He has no official position, but he can be regarded as a position of real power.

The two daughters were not very old, and they were thinly made of powder and wearing beautiful skirts. They blushed and stepped aside after saluting, sneaking glances at Shao Shude from time to time, and quickly lowered their heads when they were discovered.

Cheng Rui was a little embarrassed.

Zhao Yu, who was sitting next to Shao Shude, whispered something in his ear, and both of them laughed.

Cheng Rui became more and more embarrassed.

In the evening, I have to tidy up my old wife. The two wives next to the commander are radiant.Comparing my own daughter with them, it was as if a native chicken had met a phoenix, and they were ashamed!

"Cheng Dalang, sit down, aren't you tired from standing?" Shao Shude pointed to the seat next to him, and said with a smile, "We've met each other, everyone, go your own way, I'll talk to Mr. Cheng talk."

Everyone saluted and left.

"In the past few years, Yanzhou's household registration has been increasing day by day, and many party members have come down to farm. The governor has done a good job." Shao Shude said: "Yanchi was sent to serve, and the prefecture has also arranged in an orderly manner. This is a capable official."

"It's the commander who worked hard and set the rules. I can't wait to follow the rules." Cheng Rui replied.

The place with the richest salt resources in Shuofang Town is actually Yanzhou, followed by Youzhou, Fengzhou, Lingzhou, and Xiazhou, which is almost negligible.

Yanli, which used to be stable at 20 yuan per year, has increased in recent years, reaching 26 yuan.In addition to the factor of population growth, it actually took away some of the market for the salt in the river.

After all, the Shuofang army is the largest force in the Northwest at this time. A stronger army will have a stronger influence, and it will also promote business.

After ten or eight years of development, as long as Shao Dashuai is ruthless, he can even seize the entire market of Hezhong Salt in Guanzhong.

For such an important industry, the local government naturally needs to cooperate actively. Cheng Rui has always regarded it as a major event, and has been watching it personally, not daring to be sloppy.

"There is no need to be too humble." Shao Shude said with a smile: "Have you worked in Yanzhou for the fifth year? Have you ever thought about moving?"

Cheng Rui was startled, and secretly thought that his wife had guessed correctly that the place was going to be moved.

"But according to the commander in chief." Cheng Rui replied.

"I just got the news that Li Xiang, the envoy of the Jinshang Festival, has passed away. Li Xiang's son, Li Bai, has been appointed as the empress. However, there is some instability in the army. Some people support Li Tong, the governor of Shangzhou, as the empress." Shao Shude said: "Both of them are called I called Uncle Shi, I am also very embarrassed, I don’t know which one to support.”

Cheng Rui suddenly realized, and said: "In order to prevent the two Li from fighting and hurting the brotherhood, why not move the town?"

"That's what I mean too." Shao Shude sighed: "The gold merchants are poor, but they have been stable for many years and have not been affected by wars. There are also transfer yards to transfer goods. Today there are more than 12 households and more than [-] mouths, which are more prosperous than those in Kaiyuan. If you move to the town, you need a good place to go, and you can't wrong my two nephews."

Cheng Rui pretended to think for a while, and suggested: "How about moving the town to Binning or Jingyuan?"

"I'm afraid Jingyuan can't do it. After relocating 7000 soldiers and more than [-] surrendered soldiers, the household registration has declined greatly. Binning is not bad. The land of three states has been stable for decades, and it is indeed better than gold merchants." Shao Shude Said: "If Li Bai is willing to move the town, he will be the Commander-in-Chief of Bin. I'm interested in you for the position of governor of Shangzhou. Are you sure if you go?"

"I don't know if I went to Shangzhou, what does the commander-in-chief want to order his subordinates to do? Reorganize the army? Civil affairs?" Cheng Rui asked.

"There is no need to reorganize the army. I plan to hand over the post of Defense Envoy of Wuguan to Wang Yu, the envoy of the Dingyuan Army. He is Li Xiang's former general, and most of the soldiers in Jinshang Town are from the Chao Army. He is an acquaintance with Wang Yu. He will go. Can subdue those generals." Shao Shude said: "Shang Zhou also has a population of [-] to [-] people, and there are two major events for Cheng Dalang to go."

"Please show me, Commander."

"First, reorganize the road from Dachangguan to Shangzhou. This road was opened in Jinglongzhong, and the roadbed still exists. However, it is rainy in summer, the river surges, and the road is flooded. We need to find a way to rectify it." Shao Shude looked at Cheng Rui, who was listening with a serious face, said: "Secondly, take a group of cattle to Shangzhou to develop production. I heard people say that many people in Shangzhou cultivate the fields too crudely, and the harvest per mu is only seven or eight dollars. It's really too low. Renovate the roads and save more money and food. On these two things, can Cheng Dalang be sure? If they are good enough, the post of deputy envoy of a township is not impossible."

"You should do your best not to miss the general's plan of attack." Cheng Rui immediately stood up and responded.

"Sit down." Shao Shude nodded in satisfaction.

It's that easy to talk to smart people.

The two states of Jinshang are important. If there is a choice, Shao Shude would rather exchange the three states of Binning and Ningxia.

In fact, he is already preparing to go to the imperial court to merge the [-] counties of Jin, Shang, and Jun into one town, plan and coordinate local resources in a unified way, and make good use of the [-] to [-] people as a base for attacking the Shannan East Road.

The refurbishment of the mountain road opened by Cui Shi is also for the service of war.

The transportation cost of Shangshan Road is too high, and because the imperial court needs to use this road to transship goods from the southeast, the transportation volume is also limited.Then, the half-abandoned Shimendao should be used, otherwise how to support the front line?
This is like a person who needs to do strenuous exercise, but there is a particularly slender section of the supplying blood vessel, and the blood flow rate is still slow. At this time, if two blood vessels can be paralleled to supply blood at the same time, it will greatly alleviate the predicament.

Zhe Zongben had already set up a stronghold in Xiaojiangkou, and stationed there with a thousand children of the Zhe family and a thousand soldiers from Junzhou.

Xingyuan soldiers arrived in Shangzhou last winter, and stopped after the snow fell. They waited until the rivers thawed this spring.

After hearing of Feng Xing's defeat, the Jinzhou soldiers had already returned to the town.

The rest of the Fengxiang Army is currently escorting grain, grass and equipment between Guanzhong and Shangzhou.The reason why they haven't gone south yet is because Junzhou can't afford more soldiers and horses, so it's better to hoard food and grass for a period of time first.

Such traffic conditions are really unfriendly to war.If you can't plunder enough supplies from the enemy, it will inevitably develop into an intermittent war, that is, you will fight for a period of time and run out of supplies, so you have to retreat and rest, and continue to launch a second wave of offensive after the supplies are sufficient.

This is so easy to give the enemy a chance to adjust!

"The imperial court intends to set up towns in the Jin, Shang, and Jun states. I would like to present Li Yanling, commander-in-chief of Bing, as the envoy of Jiedu. This is also the governor of Junzhou, and coordinates the military affairs of Jin, Shang, and Junzhou. Li Yanling is in charge of the people, Zhezong is in charge of the army, Cheng Dalang went to Shangzhou, he should know what to do."

"The only subordinates are Li Shuai who follow the lead." Cheng Rui said without hesitation.

In fact, there is nothing to hesitate. The place of Jinshang is a bit off. The commander-in-chief has established a system of separation of military and government. Presumably he does not want Zheshi to build up a large piece of land in Shannan after occupying Fengxiang, a prefecture and four prefectures. Connect with Fengxiang.

Think about it, Fengxiang Township is located in the east of Yangzhou, which is Jinzhou, and its location is quite delicate.

There is no problem with Li Yanling's loyalty, and he is also smooth, sensible, and knows all kinds of inside information.With him as Jiedushi, it should not hinder Zhe Zongben's military operations, nor will the relationship get out of hand.

This employment is indeed very particular!

"The three sons who just got married are all strong and brave. I don't know if they have served in the army?" Shao Shude asked again.

"They all worked in Yanzhou and never joined the Yajun."

"That's a pity." Shao Shude said with a look of regret: "The eldest son should stay in Yanzhou. The second son can go to Xiashiyi to serve in the army. It's not a problem to make up a military academy. The youngest son goes to Shanzhou and continues to be the warehouse supervisor. Xiao Han Li Tangbin, the envoy of the Guansai system, is about to lead his army eastward, and both of them have the opportunity to make contributions."

"The second son can go to Shanzhou to make meritorious deeds, because the commander-in-chief thinks highly of them, and dare not follow orders!" Cheng Rui replied loudly.

(End of this chapter)