Of course Huang Yi had calculated these accounts. In good conscience, the people at this time were much easier to manage than those in later generations. They were full of awe and more hard-working.
As long as they can get food and clothing, and as long as they have breath, they will not rest. They can work from morning to night for a year.
The people in the base areas are even better.
That's because they have all experienced the abuses of the slaves and Tatars. If they are not diligent, intolerant, and in poor health, they will definitely not survive today.
After gaining a new life and gaining respect, these people were working tirelessly. No one was idle in the winter. If there was no work to do, they formed a team to mine stones. When Huang Yi came back, he found that the gravel and stones were simply piled up. Like mountains.
Because all the people in the base area know that the base will build a city, build many houses, and burn lime. The demand for stone is never-ending.
Therefore, Huang Yi firmly believed that one more person would bring more strength, and he confidently said:
"You only count the food, not the output. There is too much arable land outside the mouth. The location of the base is a treasure land with fertile land and beautiful water. It was cultivated a long time ago.
My plan is to cultivate at least 40,000 acres this year. On average, one acre of land is enough to harvest one stone of grain. Based on the calculation, an adult can be responsible for ten to twenty acres of fields.
The value they create must be far greater than the cost of living.
Moreover, during the off-season, even in the cold winter, one can do mining work, and one can still have enough to eat just by digging coal and transporting it to Zhangjiakou in exchange for grain. "
Li Weida nodded and said: "That's the reason. In a few days, I will arrange for people to go to Xuan Mansion to start the coal business there, and try to collect as much coal as possible from you."
Coal burning is a trend. In the Ming Dynasty, coal burning has not been popularized yet, and wood burning is still the main method.
After the base area could produce steel, Huang Yi drew drawings and arranged for blacksmiths to make briquette molds.
At the same time, it began to produce briquette stoves with ceramic shells. There is reason to believe that this product can reach thousands of households and form an industrial chain.
Seeing that Li Weida expressed his intention to sell more coal, Huang Yi raised his glass and toasted to express his gratitude, and the two drank a toast.
Geng Zhanghua smiled and said: "The key issue is that your base area cannot be burned, killed and looted by the Tatars, otherwise everything will be in vain!"
Huang Yi also smiled and said: "I can be sure that no Tatars will come to the mountains to rob my base this year.
After the autumn harvest, I will lead my men and horses to the east, annihilate several Haraqin tribes, and rob all their cattle, sheep, and horses! "
This sentence ignited a new topic, and Geng Zhanghua became more energetic and said: "Great, I have exactly this intention, and I want to discuss it with you!"
"There is no need to discuss this. Whether you can fight or not depends on your strength. I can ensure that everyone under my command dares to fight and obeys orders and prohibitions.
I wonder if you can ensure that the troops you just pieced together dare to fight and obey orders! "
"There is still half a year left. I will pay close attention to training and strengthen discipline to ensure that my troops can use their fingers like arms after autumn!"
Huang Yi asked: "We took it upon ourselves to attack and kill Haraqin's tribe. Will there be an imperial censor who will impeach Governor Xuanda for arbitrarily provoking a border attack?"
"No, it's already known to everyone that Haraqin surrendered to the Jian slaves. Our crusade is due to our reputation!"
"How many cavalry can you estimate that Qiu Hou can bring with him to fight?"
"At least six hundred, try for nine hundred, what about you?"
"I can bring 360 cavalry with skilled archers and horses, and make sure everyone has iron armor!"
"Are there fewer people and horses?"
"As long as everyone dares to fight, there will be no shortage of people. I can guarantee victory!"
"Alas! You are right. The most important thing is that everyone dares to fight. Yang Shihu, Liu Chuanzong, and Geng Qi, please listen carefully. Can you guarantee that all the people you bring out will dare to fight?"
Huang Yi and Geng Zhanghua had been chatting. They talked a lot. Yang Shihu, Liu Chuanzong, and Geng Qi just listened but said nothing.
Seeing that Geng Zhanghua asked them to express their stance, the three of them stood up and looked at each other for a few times. Yang Shihu replied, "The most important thing is to keep your heart in mind. Our men are all veterans who have been transferred here and they have no shortage of combat effectiveness.
It's just that the spirit of these people is very different when compared with Master Huang's soldiers. "
Geng Zhanghua smiled and said: "Very good, if you promise that everyone dares to fight as soon as you open your mouth, I will demote you to ordinary soldiers when I get back."
"You can also see that most of them have no morale?" Yang Shihu said with a smile.
Geng Zhanghua said with a serious face: "It was not so obvious at first, but compared with Master Huang's soldiers, it is obvious. Don't worry, I will solve this problem myself when I go back!"
I don’t believe it anymore. If you give me kindness and power at the same time, who wouldn’t know how to praise? Who would dare not know how to praise! "
Huang Yi said: "I will teach you a method. If you use it well, you will definitely be able to win over the soldiers."
"Oh? I'd like to hear the details!"
"When you go back, you personally bring a few kilograms of white flour and visit the families of some soldiers, talk to them and solve their practical difficulties. I believe that these soldiers must be grateful and willing to die for you."
"Huh? Never heard of someone leading troops like this?"
"Have you heard about it today?"
"This, this, this is such a waste of time."
"We don't ask you to go to every household. You can choose the most powerful soldiers to visit their homes and solve their livelihood problems."
"Okay! I'll give it a try."
"This trick is called comparing one's heart to one's heart. If you use your heart, the soldiers will definitely pay more attention!"
Huang Yi really meant well, because he had seen it from the information and knew that in the late Ming Dynasty, the generals simply did not know their soldiers, their troops were uncontrolled, and there was no trust between them at all.
The purpose of asking Geng Zhanghua to visit the families of ordinary soldiers was to let him, a young man from a wealthy family, understand the sufferings of the people.
He certainly couldn't change the people. Could it be that he couldn't improve the living conditions of his soldiers?
If he can't even provide the minimum protection for his soldiers, then he is a waste and will inevitably fail.
There was no need for Huang Yi to work hard to help him get on the horse and take him for another ride.
Yang Shihu and Liu Chuanzong were both veterans. Since becoming officers, they no longer dared to say anything and were submissive in front of Geng Zhanghua.
After listening to the method taught by Huang Yi, they both thought it was a good idea.
I remember when they were still small soldiers, if a general came to the house to ask for help, give them food, and promised to solve their daily problems.
They must be willing to sacrifice their lives for this general!
Huang Yi looked at Liu Chuanzong and others and said: "Geng Qi, Liu Chuanzong, and Yang Shihu, you must not be yes-men. You must dare to do things and speak freely.
Master Geng doesn't have time to visit the soldiers, so you can do it for him. "
Liu Chuanzong said solemnly: "We are not very interested in going. It will definitely not be as effective as if you went there in person."
…
