The Yicheng County Magistrate was talking to Bao Zheng when the Yamen servant suddenly came to report:
"Sir, Jiangling Prefecture's Military Supervisor is camping outside the county with three thousand troops!"
The Yicheng County Magistrate asked in confusion: "Jiangling soldiers and horses, how did they arrive?"
The yamen servant said: "They said they came here on Uncle Cao's order..."
Before he finished speaking, another government official came to report:
"Sir, the Jingzhou troops are rushing outside the city..."
The magistrate of Yicheng County was surprised and said, "Could it be that all the soldiers and horses from the nine counties have arrived?"
Bao Zheng said solemnly: "It's nonsense, it's just a small group of bandits, why bother so much?"
He held a high position and was the prefect of Kaifeng, but he did not have the right to mobilize local troops, so he could only borrow troops from the local area.
As a big shot in the imperial court, anyone would give him some face.
However, Cao Bin gathered all the soldiers and horses from the nine counties, which made him feel that it was a bit of a fuss.
The magistrate of Yicheng suddenly laughed and said:
"I didn't expect Uncle Cao to respect Master Bao so much. With your order, Uncle Cao actually mobilized all the soldiers and horses from the nine counties."
Although Bao Zheng felt that Cao Bin was a bit wasteful, he couldn't help but feel very satisfied.
He stroked his beard, shook his head and said:
"Armor is an important weapon of the country. It is a bit frivolous for Uncle Zhongjing to use it so easily. I will talk about him after I meet him."
Gongsun Ce had a smile on his face and said:
"It's no wonder that your Excellency has good intentions. Uncle Zhongjing seems to have remained unchanged on the surface."
"But judging from the current attitude, it can be regarded as a wake-up call."
"Whether it's disaster relief in Shandong or sending envoys to Xixia, you can see something about it."
"Especially this time when we govern Xiangzhou, we have wonderful ideas for governance, and they are silent and leave no trace. It can be said to be a unique talent."
Bao Zheng nodded and said with emotion:
"That's right. The construction of a port in Nuoda has not hurt or troubled the people at all, and it has also benefited several states and counties."
"Such a perfect political means is an elusive vision for scholars like us..."
In fact, what he sees now is that the port brings prosperity to the "local area", which is a short-term effect. Future development is the focus.
And what he said was a bit conservative. In fact, the role of exchanges is more than that?
The world's first exchange was established to strengthen connections between merchants and resolve the imbalance between supply and demand.
The existence of the Xiangyang Exchange was equivalent to linking the important commercial activities of the entire Song Dynasty.
For example, if the people in Jingxiang want to plant cash crops, they can sign a contract with merchants before planting them. After they are mature, they do not need to work hard to sell them. The merchants can purchase them according to the prior agreement and sell them to the places where they are most needed...
This model was very common in later generations, but it was extremely advanced in the Song Dynasty.
The basis of its existence lies in the grasp and transmission of information, and this is what Cao Bin values.
It may be that the information may not be accurate, such as weather forecasts, but there is always one more reference.
After all, even the weather forecasts of later generations are sometimes inaccurate.
In this era, an accuracy rate of 50% to 60% is enough.
"Sir, if you want to purge the court and change Uncle Zhongjing's stance, the key lies in your marriage to him."
Seeing Bao Zheng deep in thought, Gongsun Ce shook his feather fan and said.
Bao Zheng said helplessly: "It's hard to say, after all, the friendship between the Pang and Cao families has been between two generations."
Gongsun Ce laughed confidently:
"It's not difficult for Gongsun. Just a few alienating tactics are enough to make Uncle Cao recognize Master Pang's true face..."
"When the time comes, it will be a very simple matter whether you accept him as a disciple or arrange a marriage for him."
Bao Zheng glanced at him, waved his hand and said:
"Don't say this anymore. How can the court affairs involve his marriage?"
"Furthermore, I just feel pity for his talents, not to form a party."
"Why should I accept him as my disciple? Should I teach him martial arts?"
Having said this, even he himself smiled a little.
When the Yicheng County Magistrate heard this, he was thoughtful.
Uncle Zhongjing seems to have a good relationship with Tianbo Mansion and Master Bao. His position is somewhat ambiguous, and he seems to be quite talented.
I don’t know if my mentor Kou Xiang has the intention to win over him.
Considering Cao Bin's promotion speed, he may soon grow into the backbone of the imperial court.
Thinking of this, he planned to write a letter to Beijing immediately after returning home.
On this day, people from all the prefectures in the nine counties of Jingxiang gathered towards Yicheng County.
At ten o'clock in the evening, there were military tents outside the county town, with more than 30,000 to 40,000 people present.
The common people had rarely seen so many people and horses, and they thought there was going to be another war, so they were so frightened that they did not dare to go out.
The Yicheng County Magistrate smiled bitterly and said:
"Thankfully these soldiers have good military discipline, otherwise I, Yicheng, would be in bad luck."
The soldiers who arrived outside Yicheng County did not ask to enter the city. They just buried pots and cooked rice. After eating, they started group activities, and some even took the time to train.
This kind of military appearance made Bao Zheng and others look at him with suspicion.
Such a self-disciplined army, not to mention the Forbidden Army and Xiang Army stationed in the local area, is very rare even in Bianjing's Upper Fourth Army.
As the saying goes, what kind of general leads what kind of soldiers.
Of course, it's not about people like Cao Bin, but because of his method of organizing the army.
In order to save energy, he directly asked Yang Zhi to send more than a thousand Xiangyang garrison troops to serve as officers in the garrison in various states.
Anyway, all the generals and colonels in the army have been withdrawn, and just a few have been replaced, and even the reward system has been brought over.
In this case, those troops have become the same as the Xiangyang garrison.
"Not bad! Very good! This kind of sergeant can be called the elite division of the Song Dynasty! I didn't expect Cao Bin to have such an ability to run an army!"
Several people stood on the city wall and looked into the distance, Bao Zheng couldn't help but said.
It can be seen that he is very happy in his heart, and he even calls Cao Bin casually.
After hearing this, the Yicheng County Magistrate became even more determined to write a letter to the teacher as soon as possible.
At this moment, the thunderous sound of golden drums suddenly sounded from several military camps outside the city.
Countless sergeants quickly lined up and shouted in unison.
"Oh, oh..."
"The Great Song Dynasty is victorious!"
"My uncle is mighty!"
The Yicheng County Magistrate was so frightened that his legs weakened and he said in panic: "What's wrong? What are they going to do?"
Gongsun Ce chuckled, pointed his feather fan into the distance and said, "Don't worry, Lord County, Uncle Zhongjing is here!"
I saw countless smoke and dust flying in the north, and thousands of people and horses were meandering towards them. A general in front of them rushed on horseback and led a group of knights straight to the military camp.
At the same time, a figure in red drove his horse towards the city gate.
When he came closer, he jumped up from his horse, took a few steps on the damaged part of the city wall, jumped directly to the top of the city, held his hands with a smile on his face and said:
"Sir, Uncle Zhongjing personally led five thousand troops to wait for dispatch!"
Gongsun Ce smiled when he heard this and said: "Sir, if it is as we expected, it is only one step away..."
Bao Zheng shook his head and said, "It's too much to ask Cao Bin to come to see me!"
