Fenghou

Chen Qing kissed his son's small face, and said with a smile, "What do you want to say to Daddy?"

Little guy pointing at his little ass 'woo!Woo! After saying a few words, he pointed to the mother next to him with an aggrieved face.

Lu Xiu was both angry and funny, "You actually complained to your father that you spanked your little ass today, aren't you convinced?"

She stepped forward and hugged her son. The little guy lay on his mother's shoulders, not daring to make a sound.

Chen Qing couldn't help laughing, "Why did you get beaten today?"

"It's not naughty, Yu Ying refused to urinate when he gave him a piss, thinking that he didn't, but he urinated as soon as he was hugged, and smiled very proudly."

"It's really naughty, okay! I'll go to the study first, and play with him at night."

Chen Qing touched his son's little head and went to the study.

He sat down in the inner study, still thinking about what Zhang Xiao had said to him.

On the surface, Liu Guangshi was recommended by the Empress Dowager, but in fact he was sent by the emperor. His real goal was to take over Xihe Road. Is that true?

It stands to reason that a general should be sent to replace Wu Jie, and then Lu Fasheng remains unchanged. Generally, it is Wu Ling who replaces Wu Jie, and the consistency of the defensive strategy before and after is maintained. This is the normal practice.

But now Liu Guangshi is used to replace Lu Fasheng, which shows that the emperor is dissatisfied with Lu Fasheng. Now that there is no war, what dissatisfaction will the emperor have?

It is very likely that Lu Fasheng failed to deal with him and made the emperor dissatisfied, so he decided to let Liu Guangshi deal with him.

The more Chen Qing thought about it, the greater the possibility. He promised to seal Longyou Xuan Fushi just to confuse himself, and even to confuse Lu Yihao.

The Son of Heaven most likely had already thought about it, once he took Xihe Road, he would replace himself.

This is in line with the emperor's style. All courtiers are tools and pawns. They are placed in a certain place because they have a specific purpose. Once this function is completed, the mission of the courtiers is over.

My role should be to recover Xihe Road. Once Xihe Road is recovered, my mission will be over.

Chen Qing temporarily let go of many chaotic thoughts. After all, these are speculations without any real evidence. Instead, Liu Guangshi's various actions against him annoyed Chen Qing, but he couldn't do anything for a while.

This Liu Guangshi was indeed vicious, directly cutting off his access to resources from Bashu, stabbing his own vitals with one move, much more powerful than Lu Fasheng and Zhu Shengfei.

Indeed, only generals understand generals, he knows what he really needs.

Losing the opportunity to buy resources, how can my one hundred thousand catties of silver play a wealth effect?

Chapter 515 The Handle

After August, the weather became much cooler. Unlike Jiangnan, there are fierce autumn tigers in Chengji County. After entering August, Chengji County cools down quickly, the wheat turns yellow, and the autumn harvest is coming.

This morning, Chen Qing came to a huge mountain depression. There are many such depressions on the Loess Plateau, and basically they have no names. The depression is located in Chigu Town, [-] miles south of the city. It is the weapon testing site of the Military Crafts Department. The test site is also here.

The col itself is more than ten miles long, narrow and not wide enough, but there are three branch valleys inside, and each branch valley is a large space, which is simply a natural place for weapons testing.

The weapon testing site of the Military Craftsmanship Office is in the innermost branch valley, which is about three miles deep and two miles wide, and two rows of large warehouses have been built inside.

Chen Qing and the generals stood on the stand with a radius of 350 feet. Hundreds of steps away, a giant catapult was undergoing throwing practice. It was made with a jujube tree as the trunk and it took nearly a year of trial and error. Its biggest advantage is that it can throw [-]-jin heavy objects [-] steps away.

"If it's a [-]-jin weight, wouldn't it be thrown farther?" Chen Qing asked with a smile.

The chief master craftsman Xie Changzhi quickly explained: "Reporting to Dutong, it's not that the lighter the throw, the farther it is. It's like a big man throwing a feather, but he can't use it with strength. After repeated adjustments, we found that 350 catties is the most suitable, and if the weight is accurate, Basically [-] steps, more accurate!"

Accuracy is very important to the Xihe army now. They are not for defending the city, but more for attacking the city, so it took a year to develop this giant trebuchet.

Chen Qing nodded, "Let's start the experiment!"

With a wave of the red flag, eight soldiers pushed the winch, and the iron chain gradually pulled down the throwing pole. A two-thousand-jin iron box was hung on the other end of the throwing pole. Through the principle of leverage, eight men could operate it.

The soldiers carefully put a large thin-skinned pottery pot full of kerosene weighing 350 jin into the throw pocket, and ignited the kerosene. The soldiers let out a cry, the iron hook was disengaged, and the throwing pole was instantly thrown out. The black kerosene The pot flew into the air with flames, flew towards the imitation city wall [-] steps away, and hit the top of the city with precision.

There was a burst of warm applause in the stands. All the generals are experienced. They know how difficult it is to hit the top of the city 350 steps away. No wonder it took a year to develop.

Chen Qing understood a little bit, and asked with a smile: "Is it simpler and more accurate?"

Xie Changzhi nodded, "At first we used poplar with better toughness as the throwing pole, but we found that there were always deviations. Later, we decided to use jujube with no toughness, and found that it was more stable. After repeated tests, we found the best one. The length of the throwing pole and the weight of the falling object."

Chen Qing thought for a while and asked again: "But now we are in the testing ground, if we transfer to the battlefield, will there be errors?"

"It is indeed possible, and we don't know where the precise 350 steps are? So it needs to be adjusted by the craftsman on site, and it can be adjusted in about three times."

Chen Qingxin said: "Think more about the details, transportation, protection, I even suggest that you put effort into the transportation wheels, it doesn't have to be wooden wheels, you can also consider using copper alloy wheels!"

"Humble job must be carefully considered!"

……

Coming out of the testing ground, not far away is a large wheat field, which is completely yellow, and the wind blows the wheat waves, just like a golden ocean, and it will be fully mature in two or three days, and it can be harvested. At this time, the people are the whole family. Dispatched, waiting in the wheat field, mainly to drive away birds.

Birds are also circling in groups over the wheat fields.

Looking at the wheat fields that were about to mature, Chen Qing felt an indescribable sense of comfort in his heart. They had three major grain-producing areas, especially the Hehuang Valley, whose grain production would fully meet the needs of the people and the army, and they could even exchange sheep from the pastoral areas.

At this time, a huge caravan of camels appeared in front of them, there were as many as four or five hundred of them, and they were fully loaded with goods. Chen Qing couldn't help being slightly startled. Where did the camel caravan come from?

He immediately ordered a soldier to go to inquire about the situation. After a while, a middle-aged man was brought up. He knew Chen Qing, and quickly knelt down to salute.

Chen Qing signaled the soldiers to help him up, and asked him with a smile, "Are you a businessman from Qinzhou?"

"The villain is from Qingshui County and has been in business for generations!"

"Where did your caravan come from?"

"From Chengdu Mansion?"

"Come back from Chengdu Mansion with a full load of goods?"

"Exactly!"

Chen Qing was puzzled, and asked again: "Did you not be strictly inspected when you passed the Jianmen Pass?"

"The inspection is very strict. It is said that the goods purchased by the government are not allowed to go north."

"Then how do you prove that you are not an official product?" Chen Qing asked curiously.

"The villain pays taxes in Chengdu, the inspection is based on whether the tax is paid or not, and they seem to have a list of goods. The villain buys silk and tea cakes, which are not included in the list."

"What items are on the list?"

"I don't know how many kinds there are, but I only heard of pig iron, grain, nitrate, salt, gelatin, white wax rods, and feathers."

Chen Qing understood a little bit that Liu Guangshi not only forbade Xihe Road to purchase goods officially, but also wanted to collect taxes, so he restricted officials but not civilians, and the goods he restricted were basically military supplies.

Thinking of this, Chen Qing had another ray of hope in his heart.

Chen Qing rushed back to Jinglue Mansion and immediately asked Zhu Sui to find Zhang Xiao and Jiang Yan first.

Not long after, Zhang Xiao and Jiang Yanxian hurried over. Chen Qing invited them to sit down, told about the encounter with the caravan today, and finally said with a smile: "We may have gone in the wrong direction. Liu Guangshi didn't intend to restrict The normal trade of ordinary merchants only prohibits government purchases and prohibits military supplies from flowing into Xihe Road. If our purchases are entrusted to private agencies and do not involve military supplies, will we be able to purchase large quantities of supplies as well?"

"You can give it a try, or ask Hu merchants from the Western Regions to do it on your behalf. I think the effect will be better."

The three of them discussed for a while, and decided to try it first, and find a Huren caravan as an agent to purchase goods for them. As for the materials purchased, they mainly consist of silk, cloth, and tea cakes.

……

In Hanzhong, Yang Chui'an, a staff member, hurried into Liu Guangshi's official room, clasped his fists and saluted, "Important news has come from Chengji County!"

Liu Guangshi was refreshed, and quickly asked: "How do you say?"

"Xihe Road is indeed mining copper and iron on a large scale. It is in Chitieshan. Before that, the Xixia prisoners of war were responsible for the mining. After the Xixia prisoners of war returned, they have been recruiting miners. When the official recruitment said it was lead mine, it was actually copper and iron mine. , the output of iron and copper is very large, now we know where Chen Qing’s military salary comes from.”

"it is good!"

Liu Guangshi happily slapped the table and said: "The imperial court has issued repeated orders and repeated orders. It has always been a ban that troops from all over the world are not allowed to mint money or mine iron ore without permission. Now I want to see how he explains it to the officials."

"But will the supervising army have already mentioned this matter to the officials?"

"Impossible! If the supervising army had said so, how could the Empress Dowager not know that the surveillance team from Yushitai should have arrived a long time ago. This eunuch must have accepted Chen Qing's heavy bribe and kept it a secret for him."

"The Xuan Fu envoy is right, what should we do now?"

"What else can be done?"

Liu Guangshi sneered and said, "Report to the officials and the Queen Mother immediately!"

Chapter 516

A few days later, Emperor Zhao Gou received Liu Guangshi's letter from Feige. Zhao Gou slammed his fist on the table and couldn't help cursing: "It's a shame that I still trust him so much. He dared to mine and make money without authorization." , What is the court's law in his eyes?"

Both Zhang Jun and Qin Hui were stunned, and Zhang Jun asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, is this Chen Qing?"

"look by youself!"

Zhao Gou handed Liu Guangshi's pigeon letter to Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun took it over and read it, sighing, "Your Majesty, this question is really justifiable!"

"why would you say so?"

"Weichen served as the Xuanfu envoy of Sichuan and Shanxi, and knew that Bashu's financial resources could only support 6 troops at most. We also read the military expenditure report of the Sichuan and Shaanxi Xuanfu Division this year, and the army under the jurisdiction of the Sichuan and Shaanxi Xuanfu Division was There are 2 troops, 5 in the Hanzhong army, and [-] in the Bashu army, so the military pay for Xihe Road is only [-] at most. In Chen Qing’s report on fighting the Xixia army last year, he said that his army had [-] people, that is, Said, there is still a gap of [-] troops, how will he solve it?"

"Isn't the tax on Xihe Road not enough?"

Zhang Jun shook his head, "Your Majesty, the population of Xihe Road is too small, and it is relatively barren. How can it afford the military salary of 3 people? Your Majesty, if there is something wrong with Chen Qing , that is, he did not report the matter of mining and casting money to the imperial court, and I feel that he may be worried that the imperial court will not approve it!"

Zhao Gou's anger calmed down a little, and he looked at Qin Hui again, "What does Mr. Qin think?"

If it was in the past, Qin Hui would have seized this opportunity to dismiss or transfer Chen Qing away, but now Qin Hui can't figure out Jin Guo's attitude, so he can only slow down his tone a little, bowing and saying: "Your Majesty, Zhang Xianggong is right. It makes sense, Chen Qing is still relatively young, and he is also a general, so it is understandable that he is not familiar with the court's laws.

But through this incident, Weichen deeply realized that there should be a civil servant in charge of Xihe Road, so that he can keep pace with the court at all times. If the military salary is insufficient and the military rations are not enough, the civil servant has an unshirkable responsibility to come forward and demand The imperial court made up for it, so that General Chen would not commit illegal acts of mining iron ore and casting copper coins privately. "

It was rare that Qin Hui had no selfish intentions, and Zhang Jun couldn't help but agree with his words when he said these words with reason and integrity, "I agree with this suggestion, Your Majesty, the eunuch supervising the army itself is not in line with His Majesty's original intention. Let the civil servants rule!"

Zhao Gou pondered for a moment and then asked: "Then what is the relationship between civil servants and Chen Qing? Are they only in charge of politics and not involved in military affairs?"

Qin Hui said with a smile: "Chen Qing should be given the power to deploy troops to fight and deploy defenses, but I feel that, for example, logistics support, food and materials distribution, should be coordinated by civilian officials. Observer, these two different positions, each perform their own responsibilities, there is no relationship between superiors and subordinates, this can also appease Chen Qing, the court just wants to put Xihe Road on the right track."

Zhao Gou asked Zhang Jun in turn, "Does Mr. Qin agree with Mr. Qin's suggestion?"

"My minister... agrees!"

"That's good! That's the decision. I will recall the supervisor first, and then the court will select a capable minister to go to Xihe Road as an observation envoy."

……

Supervising Army Wang Mi was recommended by the Empress Dowager, and to transfer him back, the Empress Dowager must agree to it.

After going to court, Zhao Gou came to pay his respects to his mother as usual.

"The Ai family heard that Chen Qing committed serious violations?" Queen Mother Wei asked coldly.

Zhao Gou knew that Zhu Shengfei must have told his mother, so he hurriedly said: "Before, the imperial court also allowed various places to mint their own coins, such as the iron coins of Shaanxi Road and Sichuan Road, which were minted by themselves, and they were allowed to issue Jiaozi. Chen Qing probably thought that He can mint money by himself, but he doesn't know that he must get the approval of the court."

Empress Dowager Wei sneered and said, "This kind of common sense is known to even a woman in the palace, the Ai family. Doesn't his dignified businessman know?"

"What Erchen means is that he doesn't know the seriousness of this matter."

"Then how does the emperor plan to deal with him?"

"My son wants to recall the supervising army first. I don't know if the queen mother agrees?"

"Aijia agrees!"

Empress Dowager Wei readily agreed, she had long been dissatisfied with Wang Mian's understated report, and replacing him was exactly what Empress Dowager Wei wanted.

"And then? How will the emperor be punished next?"

"I'm considering announcing him to return to Beijing to report on his duties tomorrow spring, severely criticizing him, and then appointing an observer in charge of government affairs to return to Xihe Road with him."

"Is there no punishment now?" Queen Mother Wei said coldly.

Zhao Gou was secretly a little annoyed. The queen mother took too much control, which would ruin his plan.

He hastily said: "Of course there will be punishment. Originally, I promised to designate him as Longyou Xuanfu envoy, but because of this matter, the Xuanfeng will be temporarily suspended, and we will consider it as appropriate after he comes to An'an."

"Officials, you are too tolerant of your subordinates like this. It is not the way to control your subordinates, and it will cause future troubles."

Zhao Gou gritted his teeth and said: "My son's heart is like a mirror, we will talk about everything when he returns to Lin'an!"

Empress Dowager Wei looked at the emperor for a while, then nodded, "I'm sorry to ask you about this matter, you can go down!"

"Mother, take a good rest, and my son will leave!"

Zhao Gou got up and slowly backed away.

……

This morning, Wang Mian, the military supervisor, found Chen Qing.

"Our family received the news from the official family, asking our family to return to Beijing to report on our work, and we may not come back until the beginning of spring tomorrow."

Chen Qingxiao asked: "Didn't you say that you would go back to report on your work after a two-year term of office, but now it's less than a year, why are you going back?"