Xuanfu Town, Xuanhua City.
This is the original residence of Yang Guozhu, the chief military officer of Xuanfu Town. The Great Wall under the jurisdiction of Xuanfu Town stretches from Yongguan to Sihaiye in the east and reaches the Xiyang River in present-day Yuyang Gao County in northeastern Shanxi Province in the west, with a length of 1,023 miles.
Xuanfu Town is located in the northwest of the capital. It is no less important than Jizhou Town in protecting the security of the capital. The side walls are also very strong, and some areas are lined with several walls. The town is divided into four routes: east, west, north and middle for defense.
Sihaiye on the east road, Geyu on the middle road, Zhangjiakou and Xiyanghe on the west road are all important passes. Among them, Dushikou on the north road is the most important and can be called a chokepoint.
In today's Xuanfu Town, since Yang Guozhu died in Shanxi, the imperial court has not appointed a general military officer. After the soldiers and horses in Xuanfu Town went out to fight against the bandit army and were completely wiped out by Li Zicheng, the soldiers and horses everywhere were basically at a disadvantage. In the "vacant" state, the remaining soldiers and horses in the entire Xuanfu Town totaled only more than 3,000, and most of them were old, weak and disabled soldiers.
When the ninth army commander of the National Defense Force Jia Hongyu and deputy commander Chen Mocheng led their troops to Xuanhua City, they immediately discussed it with the northwest inspection team.
The leader of the northwest inspection team sent by the imperial court was Li Jiwen, the staff officer of the General Staff Department. Liu Yan's boss at the time was now glowing. He was grateful for Liu Yan's decision to side with him. Now he has gained the important position of leader of the inspection team. position.
Of course, Li Jiwen was not an idiot. Since Liu Yan entrusted him with such an important position, he must achieve something. Fortunately, the relevant details of the New Deal and military reform have been very clear, and Li Ji
Li Jiwen only needs to carry out verification step by step. Moreover, with the support of more than 40,000 elite soldiers of the Ninth Army and the arbitrary power given by the imperial court as a basis, Li Jiwen is full of confidence this time.
A few days later, in the General Military Mansion in Xuanhua City, Li Jiwen first checked the various archives left, and then received news one after another from those sent to various places to collect and return them all night. He said to Jia Hongyu and Chen Mocheng: "It seems that the Xuan Mansion The situation in the town is better than we expected."
Jia Hongyu nodded and said: "The soldiers and horses in Xuanfu Town were annihilated by bandits before and have not been rebuilt until now. Therefore, there is little resistance to the implementation of military reform. Part of the money and food allocated by the court has been received. It is just because of the death of generals at all levels." , fled, and no one stood up to take charge of the affairs. The implementation of the new policies was similar. Most of the civil servants in Xuanfu Town were seriously lacking, and no one implemented the new policies at all."
Chen Mocheng said: "In other words, the reason why the New Deal and military reforms in Xuanfu Town have been delayed is because of the serious shortage of civil servants and generals in Xuanfu Town, rather than because of resistance by local officials?"
Li Jiwen nodded and said: "Judging from the current situation, it should be like this."
Jia Hongyu said: "Then the matter will be simple. In my opinion, we will go to various parts of Xuanfu Town as inspection teams to promote available people and implement the new policies and military reform policies as soon as possible. At the same time, the officers and soldiers of our Ninth Army were also immediately assigned Stationed in various places in Xuanfu Town to prevent possible unrest in various places."
Li Jiwen nodded in agreement.
On that day, the northwest inspection team was divided into four groups and went to the East, West, North, and Middle 4th Road of Xuanfu Town respectively. At the same time, Jia Hongyu was in Xuanhua City.
, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Chen Mocheng, Commander-in-Chief Wei Dong of the Left Camp, and Commander-in-Chief Qi Haiwei of the Right Camp each led a group of generals to accompany them.
The remaining units of the Ninth Army began to station in various parts of Xuanfu Town, including Shunshengchuan West City, Shunshengchuan East City, Huai'an Guard, Wanquan Right Guard, Wanquan Left Guard, Zhangjiakou Fort, Longmen Guard, Bao'an Prefecture, Huailai Guard, etc. The land was all garrisoned by officers and soldiers of the Ninth Army of the National Defense Forces.
In the next month, the Northwest Inspection Team, in accordance with the imperial court's plan, removed all the more than 3,000 old and weak soldiers left in Xuanfu Town, and abolished all the guard posts in various places. The name was still called XX Guards, but it was no longer responsible for Garrison duties.
At the same time, all cultivated land in military settlements in various parts of Xuanfu Town was converted into civilian land, and all military households were also converted into civilian households, and the cultivated land was replenished according to the quota of fifty acres of land per household.
New schools were built throughout Xuanfu Town, industry and commerce were encouraged, business taxes were levied, and gentry and royal families were taxed together to increase court taxes, implement various new policies such as the reform of criminal names, and so on.
Of course, these are just the beginning. The northwest inspection team cannot stay in Xuanfu Town for a long time, so Li Jiwen hurriedly returned to Xuanhua City after promoting and placing available officials from various places.
"General Jia, I think things here in Xuanfu Town are almost finished."
Jia Hongyu nodded and said: "Yes, the military reform here has ended. All the guards have been abolished. Some of the remaining generals have also been screened. Except for a very few who can be retained, the rest have been Removed from office.”
"In addition, this town also received the order from Mr. Ge yesterday to change Xuanfu Town to Xuanfu. This town has already transferred the few available weapons
The generals were promoted, and at the same time some generals were urgently transferred from Beizhili and Shandong. What Mr. Ge meant was that Xuanfu was located in an important position, so the garrison prepared a separate battalion for one mansion, which was called the Xuanfu camp. "
Li Jiwen said with a smile: "Congratulations to General Jia. It seems that the military reform in Xuanfu Town will be completed first."
Jia Hongyu then asked: "What is Mr. Li's next plan?"
Li Jiwen said: "It is already early September, and our time is already very tight. I think we will gather our troops in the next few days and head to Shanxi. Our first stop will be Datong Town. We will first move the troops there." The town was also abolished.”
"good!"
Two days later, the Ninth Army of the National Defense Forces gradually reduced its strength. Jia Hongyu, Chen Mocheng, and Li Jiwen led their troops from Xuanhua City and entered Datong Town from Huai'anwei.
However, when the large group of troops entered Datong Town, Zhenluwei, Tianchengwei, Gaoshanwei, Yanghewei and other places along the way were all in ruins. The cultivated fields of the military camps in various places were all deserted. During the march, the army could not even see In a village where cooking smoke was burning, the Huoludun and Tunbao were deserted, as if there were no more living people in Datong Town.
Li Jiwen was also riding his horse at this time. Looking around, there were no "living things" in the wilderness except the officers and soldiers of the Ninth Army marching mightily.
“I can’t believe that Datong Town is in such a state of decline!”
Jia Hongyu also sighed and said: "When Wang Pu was stationed here, although he had no political achievements, Datong Town was not so dilapidated."
Chen Mocheng said: "They are all thieves! According to the intelligence of the Military Intelligence Department, since Wang Pu
After surrendering to Li Zicheng, Datong Town was plundered by an army of bandits. The young and strong population was robbed, money, food and materials were robbed from various places. The people were in great trouble! "
Li Jiwen said: "I think the situation in all parts of Shanxi is not optimistic, but looking at the situation in Datong Town, the reason why the New Deal and military reforms cannot be implemented in all parts of Shanxi is because the damage in various parts of Shanxi is too serious."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Report!"
Suddenly, a team of warriors rode up from the front. The leader of the warrior team loudly shouted: "Report to the main town, a large number of refugees were found in the front, numbering in the tens of thousands!"
Jia Hongyu frowned and said: "Ahead is Zhenchuan Fort. After passing Zhenchuan Fort and heading south, you can reach Datong City in two days. It's unbelievable that there is such a large wave of refugees here!"
Li Jiwen sighed and said: "Let's go, go to the front to help the refugees. I think we can leave a patrol team and some soldiers and horses, and our team will continue to Datong City to implement the situation in Datong as soon as possible. Then go directly to Taiyuan Prefecture in order to consolidate the situation in Shanxi."
Jia Hongyu and Chen Mocheng agreed.
But when Jia Hongyu, Chen Mocheng and Li Jiwen saw the more than 10,000 refugees, the three of them fell silent.
The refugees were supporting the old and the young, and despair was written on their faces. Regardless of men, women, or children, they were all sallow and skinny. They were swaying from side to side when they walked, as if they would be blown down by a gust of wind at any time.
In the endless sea of refugees, countless refugees were sobbing and crying. When the voices were combined, it was like a hell.
The hundreds of ghosts walking in the night seemed to make Jia Hongyu, Chen Mocheng, and Li Jiwen tremble in their hearts. Are these the people of the Ming Dynasty?
Then Li Jiwen was no longer in a hurry. With the help of the soldiers of the Ninth Army, he stopped more than 10,000 refugees, cooked porridge on the spot, and discussed with Jia Hongyu and Chen Mocheng to resettle the more than 10,000 refugees. In Zhenluwei, Tianchengwei, Gaoshanwei, Yanghewei and other places, not only can production in various places be restored, but the population of these places can also be enriched.
Anyway, these places are already deserted, and the nearby cultivated land is basically ownerless land. It will be enough to complete the title deed procedures when the time comes.
Naturally, Jia Hongyu and Chen Mocheng had no objections.
"Master, please live!"
Suddenly, there was a scream from nowhere, and then more than 10,000 refugees who had already drank some hot porridge fell to their knees, kowtowed to Jia Hongyu, Chen Mocheng, and Li Jiwen, shouting to survive.
Jia Hongyu, Chen Mocheng, and Li Jiwen burst into tears, with mixed feelings in their hearts, which was very unpleasant.
This is the people of the Ming Dynasty. Just a bowl of hot porridge can earn the gratitude of these people. As long as they are given a field, an ox, and a plow, they can farm and produce safely and contribute to the country. One's own efforts.
The prosperity and glory of China for thousands of years are supported by the fields and sweat of these hundreds of millions of people!
Therefore, the Ming Dynasty is so lucky to have the best people in the world. Their hard work, hardship, bravery, and wisdom are unmatched by any foreign race!
When night fell that day, the officers and soldiers of the Ninth Army set up camp on the same spot, and more than 10,000 refugees were also gathered into the camp.
exist
In the Chinese army's tent, Li Jiwen, Jia Hongyu, and Chen Mocheng were discussing.
"The matter here must be settled tomorrow. First, a general officer will be sent to escort the people to various places for resettlement. The inspection team will also send some personnel there."
Li Jiwen agreed with Jia Hongyu's words, and then added: "In addition, I think Datong City can also send an inspection team to go there in groups. I will go directly to Taiyuan Prefecture with most of the inspection team."
"Well!"
Jia Hongyu said: "As for Datong Town, let's worry about Deputy General Chen and lead the left soldiers of Zuoying to Datong City."
Chen Mocheng said: "Don't worry, headquarter, I will leave Datong to me."
Seeing that the separate operations were agreed upon, Li Jiwen said: "The Military Intelligence Department also has intelligence support for the situation in Shanxi this time: ever since the army of bandits was annihilated, various places in Shanxi that were originally devastated by the army of bandits have appeared. There are many powerful people, as well as the civilian and military generals who have returned anyway. They are seizing farmland and industries in various places, while the civilian and military generals are fighting for power and profit. No one cares about the life and death of the people, and no one implements the New Deal and military reform policies."
Li Jiwen finally sighed: "So, our trip to Shanxi has a long way to go!"
Jia Hongyu also felt a headache at this time, but he had more than 40,000 elite troops in his hands. The worst result would be to defeat skill with strength. At worst, he could just kill them all the way.
Fortunately, when the army set off, Liu Yan had already given Jia Hongyu and others reassurance: no matter what trouble happened, even if it forced the entire Shanxi Province to rebel, Liu Yan would be there to take care of it, so everyone could just go ahead and do it!
It can be seen that this time Liu Yan
Great determination!
So Jia Hongyu said: "Don't worry, Master Li. In the words of Mr. Ge: in the face of absolute strength, any conspiracy and trick are just a joke!"
"When entering Shanxi this time, anyone who resists the New Deal and military reforms, bullies and harms the people, or disobeys our orders, whether they are civil servants, military generals, or powerful gentry, will be severely punished. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!"
Although Li Jiwen did not agree with the strategy of mass killing, facing the situation in Shanxi, he could only nod in agreement.
