Soldiers are expensive and fast!
After receiving the imperial decree, Mu Guiying immediately selected his soldiers and quickly went south without any delay.
By the time she arrived at the north bank of the Huaihe River, more than twenty days had passed.
What makes her depressed is.
The imperial court had clearly agreed to supply the food for two months, but the food and grass delivered were mixed with a lot of bran. The real food was only enough for more than a month, and no one knew who had withheld it.
The ordnance and armor are also mixed with a lot of second-hand remnants.
Although she was used to this kind of thing, she didn't expect that she would be stuck when the court was in such a critical situation.
"Guiying, the food and grass can only last for more than half a month. Do you want to collect food on the spot?"
The fifth lady of the Yang family asked.
Tong Guan also nodded and said:
"Yes, Marshal Mu, you have to collect enough food and grass for a month, otherwise you will be too passive."
Mu Guiying looked at the surging river water, shook her head and said:
"This year, taxes have been increased in various places, making it difficult to collect food. We don't have that much time."
"It's better to cross the river as soon as possible and get closer to the east of the Yangtze River. Firstly, we should try our best to provide food to the enemy, and secondly, we can receive Cao Bin's supplies. I just hope he can provide enough food and grass."
While talking, the spy suddenly came to report:
"Report to the marshal, there are countless boats on the river in the east, coming upstream!"
Everyone was shocked and Mu Guiying immediately said:
"Quickly get detailed information and find out where the navy is from."
Afterwards, he hurriedly ordered his men to be on guard.
The fifth lady of the Yang family muttered:
"The thieves shouldn't have so many navy troops."
Tong Guan patted his head and said:
"It can't be the fleet sent by Lord Cao, right? But why do his people appear here?"
Then he shook his head and said:
"Probably not!"
How could there be such a considerate transporter?
It would be nice not to allow them to send troops to transport food to the east of the Yangtze River, but also to send them to the Huaihe River via a detour. He felt that his idea was too beautiful.
At this moment, hundreds of large and small ships appeared in everyone's sight, covering the river.
The spies also came quickly to report:
"Report to the marshal, it's a grain transport ship from Zhejiang Province."
When Mu Guiying heard this, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't expect that Cao Bin was so considerate and delivered the food and grass directly under her nose.
Tong Guan already laughed excitedly:
"As expected of Mr. Cao, my family is most willing to work with Mr. Cao? It's so comfortable!"
When the fifth lady of the Yang family heard this, she couldn't help but give him a blank look.
A dead eunuch talks so arrogantly, what nonsense are these!
At this time, the fleet had slowly stopped on the river, and a large ship of about ten feet slowly docked.
Sanniang of the Yang family walked off the boat with a middle-aged man dressed as a member of the Communist Party of China.
She said with excitement:
"Guiying, Cao Bin sent someone to send 50,000 stones of food and grass, as well as weapons, armor, artillery, giant crossbows and other military supplies."
"There will be grain, grass and equipment coming later..."
When Mu Guiying heard this, she suddenly felt confident.
Fifty thousand stones of grain and grass are enough to last the 70,000 to 80,000 horses for more than a month and a half.
Tong Guan attached his palm and said with a smile:
"Marquis Cao is really generous. Not only has he solved the problem of food shortage, but he has also eliminated the need to requisition ships."
"We can cross the Huai River with these grain ships."
At this time, the middle-aged man dressed outside came forward and said:
"Marshal Mu, Boy Supervisor, and the villain are the ones responsible for delivering food this time."
"This is the food and fodder list. I need you to sign for it."
Mu Guiying nodded and said:
"I'm going to trouble you two this time..."
The officer shook his head quickly and said:
"I don't dare. Marshal Mu is too polite. This villain is not an official, just a businessman."
Mu Guiying was stunned for a moment and looked at Yang Sanniang in confusion. How could Cao Bin send a businessman to transport military supplies?
Sanniang of the Yang family smiled and said:
"This is Cao Bin's idea, and he made some kind of bid."
"He borrowed all these materials from Zhang Yuanwai..."
Mu Guiying was a little confused after what she heard, but she didn't study it in detail and instead looked at the list in her hand.
I saw it read:
Twenty-five thousand dan of rice, 5,000 dan of salted fish, 2,000 dan of bacon, 300 live sheep, 500 castrated pigs...a total of 50,000 dan.
Not only Mu Guiying, but also Tong Guan was shocked.
This is both fish and meat. Are you sure this is military rations? Landlords and rich people don’t dare to eat like this?
Seeing the two of them stunned, the officer quickly said cautiously:
"The military ration package provided by the villain is enough to feed 50,000 people for a month."
"If you are satisfied, give me a five-star review..."
Mu Guiying couldn't be more satisfied with the military rations, but what's with the good reviews?
He only counted so much military rations for one month, what a luxury...
But these are not important. Of course she will praise such military rations. She was about to start writing when she suddenly saw Yang Sanniang shaking her head slightly.
Mu Guiying didn't understand what he meant, so she had to stop talking and said:
"Commissioner, please take a break. I will discuss the matter of favorable comments before discussing it."
Although the officer was a little anxious, he did not dare to disobey Mu Guiying's arrangements.
After the Yang family's Sanniang and everyone returned to the military tent, she said:
"Guiying, don't be fooled by this person and cannot give him full marks."
Tong Guandeng immediately blushed, slapped the table and said angrily:
"Don't go too far. Why can't you give me full...yes, full marks?"
"If you want to use this to take advantage of Mr. Cao, our family will never agree!"
The third lady of the Yang family rolled her eyes and said speechlessly:
"Tong Jianjun, if you don't understand, don't speak. Who said you want to take advantage of Cao Bin?"
"This is the method he came up with to let the merchants fight among themselves."
"Do you think he gave away this kind of high-quality military rations for free?"
"He was thinking about the other benefits provided by Cao Bin, like some kind of gold membership... Although I don't understand it, the benefits must be huge."
Yang Sanniang took a sip of tea and continued:
"Cao Bin has attracted many merchants to compete for this logistical supply."
"Wherever the Huaihe River reaches and along the Yangtze River, wherever there is water, you can get a large amount of supplies."
"Even in the deep mountains, these merchants will fully cooperate with us in our invasion."
"So Guiying doesn't need to give him a five-star review. If you give him less, wouldn't it make him more attentive?"
Her somewhat wicked and bad speech made everyone look at each other for a long time, but Mu Guiying's focus was not on this. She sighed:
"I know that Cao Bin never treats the people he works with badly, but I didn't expect such preferential treatment."
"If this is the case, we still won't be able to win completely. Not to mention the imperial court, we will also be sorry for Cao Bin's change of heart."
According to the custom of the Song Dynasty, generals are separated from food and grass.
It is not that the grain and grass completely obey the general's orders, but the general requests for grain distribution.
With such inconsistent orders for soldiers and food, there were often situations where the distribution was not in place.
It was for this reason that Taizong's second Northern Expedition was out of touch with logistics, leading to a major defeat.
There was obviously enough supplies, but they couldn't be transported to the front line in time, and there was nothing anyone could do.
Cao Bin's powerful logistical support can be said to have never been seen before. If he cannot win the battle under such conditions, he will really be sorry for his plan...
Just thinking about the impending situation in the court, Mu Guiying couldn't help but feel worried.
Although Cao Bin went to Jiangdong, it was unlikely that he could escape the imperial struggle.
I just hope he doesn't make the wrong choice.
It would be so heartbreaking if such a considerate and outstanding person fell due to a feud...
