Chapter 211 Sorry, I am the Duke II
Sun Chengzong thought carefully, then looked up at Chen Cao and said, "Duke Liang, why did you tell me these things?"
Chen Cao straightened his body, and then said with a righteous look on his face: "Supervisor, although I was born in the eunuch party, I was taught by saints after all. Master Zhao and Master Gao can testify for the younger generation."
Sun Chengzong was naturally aware of Chen Cao's night visit to the Zhao Mansion. Hearing this, he felt some sense and nodded: "Then what are the symptoms after taking this poison powder?"
Chen Cao looked at Sun Chengzong seriously: "Three symptoms: first, the poisoned person is extremely excited, second, hallucinations, and third, limbs are weak and easy to fall into the water..."
"Fell into the water?" Sun Chengzong frowned: "This...this...what does this poisonous powder have to do with falling into the water."
"Hey..." Chen Cao looked as if he was making a fuss: "Supervisor, do you think that if a poisoned person is unable to ride a boat or ride a horse, he is not allowed to fall into the water or fall from his horse?"
Sun Chengzong meditated and nodded: "That's the truth...
So what can be done to save it? "
Chen Cao shook his head gently: "If there is no solution, you will die if you take it..."
Sun Chengzong closed his eyes and thought for a long time, then handed over his hand: "I would like to thank Duke Liang for informing me."
Chen Cao stood up and held his hands in his hands: "Supervisor, I have military orders, so I can't stay with the supervisor for much longer. I am leaving now. I hope that the supervisor will be careful when he returns to the capital. I'll take my leave..."
After walking out of the camp gate, Zhao Xin said: "Master, is there really that poisonous powder?"
Chen Cao glanced sideways at Xin Zhao and joked: "It's true. Whenever you can't think about it anymore, I'll give you some, and your family will have to thank me soon..."
After all, your wealth now exceeds one million..."
Xin Zhao: "..."
...
"My lord, the golden ginseng of Juehua Island will be reported in the future. The Tatars have not set foot across the Shuangtaizi River since the beginning of spring. Even Xiping Fort and other places that fell into the hands of the Tatars have no troops stationed there."
Chen Cao nodded on the boat, then looked at Xin Zhao: "Do you have any clues about what you arranged last year?"
"The spies came to report, but Huang Taiji made big moves. However, for safety reasons, the contact with Xiao Zuo was interrupted from time to time." Zhao Xin answered.
"Where is Yuan Chonghuan's army?"
"It was reported that their troops had just crossed the Daling River..."
Chen Cao looked at the map and then sneered: "It seems that Yuan Chonghuan is biased against me."
"My lord, it is reported that the man built a shrine for Wei Eunuch in Ningyuan City, and personally wrote a memorial text about 10,000 words long. He has flattered Wei Eunuch enough. Now Liaodong has not sent any governors or managers for a long time. Just give him the power as the governor."
Needless to say, Chen Cao is not stupid. He can think of it with his toes: "Well, this guy is a bit interesting. It seems that we can't underestimate him. Zhao Xin, send the order, and the fleet will dock at the mouth of the Daling River. Let's Zhao Tianlin goes to Juehua Island, while the Dingyuan and other ships stay where they are, let’s go ashore first.”
Within a few years, Wang Xiaojie has become much tougher on the land of Liaodong, which is extremely consistent with his role as a vanguard in every battle.
"I will finally meet you, my father-in-law..."
Wang Xiaojie knelt on one knee, with a group of officials behind him.
Chen Cao helped Wang Xiaojie up, and then greeted him: "Thank you for your hard work. I kept you here because I valued your ability. Don't complain in your heart."
Wang Xiaojie handed over his hand: "How dare I complain? If it weren't for the blessing of my father-in-law, I would have been just a commanding officer of Songjiang Wei until I was old."
Chen Cao, Wang Xiaojie and others walked to Guangning City together: "The Wang BuTong you recommended is a practical man and can be of great use. Songjiang Wei has a bright future."
"That's also the guy's own ability, otherwise how could he have caught the attention of the father-in-law."
"Hahaha..."
Guangning City was expanded on the original site and was more than twice the size of the original city. The inside was built with gravel and rammed earth, and the outside was paved with cement stone bricks. Even if the real bullets of the red barbarian cannon were hit, it would not It's just a pit.
The seven-meter-high city wall and the ten-meter-high urn tower give people a sense of security in the land of Liaodong, especially the Han people.
"The slave chief Hachi implemented a policy of massacre against the Han people in Liaodong during his lifetime. According to incomplete statistics, as many as four million Han people were found with corpses. In the past few years, after the repair of Guangning City, he often traded with Mongolia and many were arrested. The Jiannu and Mongolian spies, as well as all the Han people who came from the Tatar-occupied areas, were protected by the general in accordance with the father-in-law's policy..."
Wang Xiaojie said as he walked: "Now the number of people in the city alone has reached 100,000, not counting the people who have been resettled in the surrounding forts. In the end, they will be allowed to plant corn and potatoes on our territory. The harvest is not bad. Not only will we be able to feed our family. People also raised a lot of poultry and were guaranteed meat;
In addition, the trade with the Mongols is also good. They provide cattle and sheep, and we provide corn and potatoes here, and sell some iron tools to them. "
"Well, things are going well," Chen Cao walked up to the urn city tower and looked at the bustling scene in the inner city: "How is business?"
"As long as it's business, we won't reject anything, whether it's Mongolians or Tatars. Except for the prohibition of buying and selling iron, we sell everything else. The merchants gathered at the customs exit are extraordinary, and the furthest away is our Guangning city. , last year we collected nearly 4 million taels in commercial taxes, and I believe there will be more this year.”
Wang Xiaojie handed Chen Cao a cup of tea: "Except for the military pay for the soldiers and the construction of surrounding areas, the remaining money is kept in the warehouse, which is about seven million."
Chen Cao smiled and nodded: "You, the commander-in-chief of Liaoxi, have done a good job. I will give you 500,000 taels of silver as compensation for your hard work."
"The general doesn't dare..." Wang Xiaojie clasped his fists: "The general has some money left."
"Hey..." Chen Cao waved his hand to stop him: "There are a few officials who are not greedy. The amount reported by Jinyiwei is exactly the same as what you reported, which proves that you are a practical person. I, Chen Cao, use people as rewards and punishments. Obviously, you have done a good job in this matter;"
As he spoke, Chen Cao turned to look at Wang Xiaojie: "You have two children at home, your wife's life is not easy, and the family has a large population. I will send this money to your home tomorrow by a warship."
Wang Xiaojie knelt down on one knee with a roar: "My father's kindness will never be repaid until I die..."
"Get up, don't kneel down all the time," Chen Cao patted him on the shoulder: "The court must know about our mutual trading here. By the way, how much benefit did you give to Yuan Chonghuan?"
"Eight hundred thousand taels per year..."
"Starting from this year, we won't give it to him." Chen Cao looked at the busy city with tall buildings in the distance: "Once Guangning is isolated, how long can the food supply last for so many people?"
Wang Xiaojie frowned: "The general dug holes in the city in accordance with the instructions of the father-in-law. The food stored in the city can be enough for the soldiers and civilians in the city. Even if the water channel is cut off, the wells in the city can still supply it;
Sir, are you ready to take action? "
Chen Cao turned to look at Wang Xiaojie: "What? Are you afraid or not?"
Wang Xiaojie laughed and then clasped his fists: "Only after following the father-in-law did I know what war is and what construction is. The policies for the people are also good deeds. I will eventually be convinced."
"Rebellion is a serious crime that affects the nine clans?"
Chen Cao whispered.
Wang Xiaojie lowered his head and said: "If you are not afraid of me, what should I be afraid of? Besides, since I became the commander-in-chief of Western Liaoning, I have been your man. If anything happens to me, I will not be able to escape."
"Well," Chen Cao let out a long breath: "The founding monarchs of every dynasty and every generation used the slogan of serving the people, but in the end they failed to achieve the original intention. I don't know if I can pass it on in the future."
"Instead of competing for profits with the people, we collect heavy taxes from merchants and use them for the people, which is at least better than the previous dynasty and this dynasty." Wang Xiaojie sighed.
The Liaoxi General Military Mansion is located in the middle of the downtown area of the city. It was restructured from the original Liaodong Economic and Strategy Mansion. As soon as Chen Cao entered, he received urgent documents from Baili.
"My lord, this is from the governor's office in Liaodong..."
Chen Cao opened the official document and read it, then smiled scornfully: "Huh, Yuan Chonghuan really thinks of himself as the lord of Liaodong. He actually ordered my Dingwu army to cross the Shuangtaizi River to complete the encirclement."
When Zhao Xin heard this, he also laughed and cursed: "That guy actually dares to give orders to the Duke of the country. Do you really think that we are the chopping block in their hands?"
"Xin Zhao, when will the person sent to contact you come over?"
"According to the schedule, it should be within the next few days."
Chen Cao closed the official document and handed it to Han Shizhong next to him: "Go and send the Jin Yiwei to deliver the official document to Yuan Chonghuan. Tell him that my Dingwu army is coming from afar and needs to rest for three days. After three days, I will personally lead Dingwu." The military army crossed the Shuangtaizi River and marched towards Xining Fort."
"yes..."
..
"Dong..."
Yuan Chonghuan slapped the desk, threw the official documents aside, and cursed: "A lucky Duke really takes himself seriously, and doesn't even consider how much he weighs." .
Go out on the street..."
Being able to force Yuan Chonghuan to utter a Cantonese curse word shows that the content of Chen Cao's official document really made him angry.
Gu Linsheng is no longer the playboy he once was. Now as the chief counselor of the governor's Yamen, his status as a scholar can at least speak to Yuan Chonghuan's account.
Furthermore, Gu Linsheng is no longer the same as he was in the past few years under Yuan Chonghuan. He is the image of the so-called sinister and cunning scholar.
"Don't worry Futai. The military in Liaodong is now handled by Futai. If Chen Cao doesn't follow the military orders of Lord Futai, then he will be playing into the hands of the imperial court. Didn't there be news from the central government recently..."
Yuan Chonghuan nodded. In addition to consuming the main strength of the Dingwu Army, Pingliao was his key plan, and using the Dingwu Army as cannon fodder was also part of his plan. The success or failure of the Dingwu Army also lies here, so the Dingwu Army Whether we are moving forward or not, we must closely follow the arrangements on his side.
"The mission to Liaoyang has not returned yet, and it seems that Jiannu has been informed of our army's movements. Mongolia is ready to make a move. I am really worried that Jiannu will march from Hetao again..."
Gu Linsheng shook his folding fan: "Ming Gong is overly worried. Not to mention the Great Wall along the Hetao area, there are not many hidden bubbles there. If the Jiannu braved the great danger to march from the Hetao, it would be a disaster for them. Give our army an opportunity."
