Three thousand lion soldiers entered Xining City.
No matter what, they could legitimately take over the city's defense. After fighting for three thousand miles, they finally had a long-term settlement.
Although this shelter is temporarily shared with others, Xining City is not a place at their mercy.
But there are mature towns and enough people here. It is a good place for the bachelors who follow him to start a family.
However, it was a difficult choice for both brothers to decide who to garrison in the city.
Their army was too bloated and chaotic, with a total strength of 17,000 men, and the Lion Battalion alone was overstretched to 7,000, not counting Gao Xian who was recuperating in Pingliang.
In fact, it can only be used for three to four thousand people in combat, and it is difficult to use it flexibly.
In this situation, Liu Chengzong discovered when he was fighting Cao Wenzhao that his army had a large establishment and insufficient officers. It was impossible to complete the combat tasks that a battalion should complete with the same force.
So much so that in that battle, he didn't even dare to order the infantry formation to attack while marching. He relied entirely on the team's initiative at the squad level and its tenacity to fight for a long time to win.
It was also lucky that Cao Wenzhao, a general who rushed blindly, ran out of food, otherwise the Lion Battalion would have suffered a big loss in that battle.
In fact, today's Lion Battalion and even the entire army are a stupid organization that uses thousands of the best soldiers as heavy troops.
After overstaffing, they should have reorganized long ago.
But they had discussed the issue of reorganization many times on the road, but failed to come up with any results.
There was a purpose in creating an army. Before arriving in Xining, they didn't know what they were going to face. After arriving in Xining, they found that they were going to face three completely different opponents.
The pirates, the chieftains, and the Ming army were two of the three armies. They didn't understand their organization, let alone farming and nomadic garrison.
Seventeen thousand troops cannot be stationed in Xining City for a long time. Everything else is easy to say, except that more than 20,000 war horses will eat up everything around them.
So for the time being, Liu Shizi's idea is to set up a garrison camp, led by Liu Chengzu, and stationed in Xining City.
This garrison cannot rely entirely on second-line or even low-level troops. It must have a certain number of elites to deter the chieftains in the city who may have disloyal intentions.
The most important decision was to divide 2,000 people from Yuzi camp and 1,000 people from Shizi camp. They were combined into 3,000 households of Xining camp and were stationed in the city, directly led by Liu Chengzu.
The general of Xining camp is naturally Liu Chengzu, who has three generals under his command: Feng Zhen, Li Wanqing and Liu Guoneng.
The six sentry commanders are Lian Daqi, the former right sentry captain of the Lion Battalion, Hu Sanhuai, the former deputy sentry commander of the Lion Battalion, He Zijie, the native bandit from Ningzhou, Han Chaozai, the leader of Qingyang, Guo Zhashi, the lion commander and groom, and Lao Yuhebao. Officer Tian Shoujing.
When it comes to selecting officers, military quality is not the only criterion. Each officer has his or her own merits.
Some fought hard battles after the rebellion, some were able to coordinate the relationship between officers, some were extremely senior, and some were able to reach the top of the heaven.
This army with different talents was reorganized in the east of Xining City. The sergeants who were organized into the camp were all confused. After being lectured by Liu Shishi, they marched into Xining City and moved into the barracks vacated by the Xining Guards.
Anyway, Liu Chengzong believed in his eldest brother's ability to train soldiers.
His expectations for this army are not high. After the autumn and winter, it will be enough to form combat effectiveness.
As for before this, Liu Chengzong had already found a good place for the army.
In the north of Xining City, there are valleys on the east and west banks of the Beichuan River. To the east is the territory of Chen Tusi. To the north, you can cross the Great Wall and reach the Heilin River and Datong River area.
Large areas of land were reclaimed in this area in the early years, but later they were often looted by Mongolian nobles during the Jiajing period, and the Great Wall was later built during the Longqing period.
Chieftain Chen's land is located on the east side of the valley, criss-crossing the valley.
On the bank of the river, there were girls in colorful costumes riding horses, driving their horses to herd along the river. When they saw Chen Shiwen from a distance, they dismounted and saluted, and then continued to mount their horses to graze.
A young man saw a large group of people appearing in the valley and ran back to the chieftain's station while shouting.
Not long after, more than a dozen horsemen carrying sabers and bows and blunderbuss galloped out and lined up at the mountain pass. The leader stepped forward to ask questions on horseback holding a match rope and a long blunderbuss. It was not until he saw Chen Shiwen that he hurriedly asked people to put away their weapons. One dismounted and saluted.
Chen Shiwen said that person was his supervisor.
Walking into the valley, Chen Shiwen gradually straightened his back like a chieftain. He pointed to a fort built in the mountains and said: "Commander, that is my chieftain's office."
A large group of people from the Lion Battalion camped in the valley and mountain pass, leading Cao Huachun and the guards to follow Chen Shiwen to the Tusi Yamen.
He likes to take Cao Huachun with him very much. This is the ultimate amulet for him to walk under the Ming Dynasty.
Although Cao Huachun is always uneasy around him, it can bring him a great sense of security.
However, Cao Huachun has already done him a big favor, so he will not bring Cao Huachun into Qinghai. After a while, when his luggage can be safely stored in Xining City, he plans to put Cao Huachun back.
Chen Shiwen's Tusi Mansion, apart from the high walls and arrow towers for military purposes outside, was indeed a government office inside, so Liu Shizi was very familiar with this structure.
There was no need for Chen Shiwen and Chen Shifo to lead the way. Liu Chengzong went directly to Xiyamen after entering the Yamen.
Chen Shiwen was dumbfounded, and it felt like the two brothers had entered Liu Chengzong's home.
However, there is no Dianshi Yamen in the Tusi Mansion. The West Yamen is a large courtyard. In the courtyard, several native people are cutting grass, feeding horses, and pushing and turning the mill. In the house, there are several native people who are practicing various tricks.
Chen Shiwen drove them away, asked his second brother to take Cao Huachun around the chieftain's house, and invited Liu Chengzong in.
He said that this used to be the prison of the chieftain's house, but his family never used corporal punishment on the natives. Usually when there were neighborhood disputes, the chieftain would mediate the dispute at the Yamen. If the chieftain could not reconcile or broke the law, he would be sent directly to Xining Guards.
Therefore, there was no need for this large prison, and later it was converted into a side room to house the crooks invited from outside.
Liu Chengzong said: "Gambling is not a good thing. Do you still have this problem?"
"I don't want to play, but the chieftain has to do the chieftain's work. The land at home is getting less and less, and the court will not let me pay less for it."
Chen Shiwen shook his head and explained to Liu Chengzong: "The chieftain's land has to pay more than three bushels of grain to the court. The crops on the tenanted land can only be enough for half a year. They have to go to Xining City to work part-time to make money to eat."
"It's the same for me. I have long-term and short-term workers, and I need people to work, but I don't have the money to pay them. What should I do?"
Chen Shiwen said: "If it's raining and windy, we won't work. Let's set up a platform to win back our wages."
"You are harming people."
"If you don't harm others, you have to harm yourself. Every family of the fourteen chieftains is like this. Some are poor and some are bad. We want to fight for the court. The custom here is to marry a wife at the age of thirteen or fourteen, and marry at twenty or above. Yes, when a man is not engaged in childbirth and practicing riding and shooting, he marries a big wife so that he can take care of the house."
Chen Shiwen spread his hands and sighed slowly: "But the court does not need us to fight. If we can run out and become an official after the war, I would rather become an official."
"Forget it, it sounds like it's easier to be an official." Liu Chengzong shook his head. He had seen too many helpless officials: "I haven't seen many people in Shaanxi who can live comfortably."
"But you said that all fourteen families of chieftains can barely survive like this?"
Chen Shiwen nodded: "It's the same even for the East-West Li family and the East-West Qi family. They manage many people and look glamorous, but in fact the territory is just as messy. It's just that if it's bigger, there will be more solutions."
Chen Shiwen invited Liu Chengzong to the kang, sat on the other side of the kang table, and asked, "When does the commander plan to enter Qinghai?"
"Come on, someone of mine has entered Qinghai earlier, and I have sent people out to look for him... the fourteen chieftains."
Liu Chengzong pondered for a moment and asked, "What do you think of us?"
"I'm looking forward to the marshal entering Qinghai. The little chieftain is fine, but the big chieftain is quite scared. They are grabbing all the businesses in Xining. If the marshal stays in Xining, they will definitely vomit out their stuff."
Chen Shiwen shook his head and said: "No one wants to spit out the things in their mouth."
Liu Chengzong smiled, very satisfied with this situation.
The chieftain is a backward production relationship, similar to a feudal lord. He is the native emperor of his own territory and the emperor's vassal. The native people not only have to pay food to the chieftain, but also to the emperor.
Adding a middleman for nothing.
But at some point, toast will also become an advanced production relationship, such as the current Ming Dynasty.
The chieftain had the power of life and death for the native people, but it was no big deal if the exiled officials and gentry became bad.
There was only one middleman in the Tusi's territory, but there was more than one middleman in the land managed by Liuguan.
Seeing that Liu Chengzong was thinking about something, Chen Shiwen paused for a moment to consider and asked, "The commander-in-chief plans to attack the chieftain?"
Liu Chengzong smiled and said, "Why, are you scared?"
Chen Shiwen shook his head: "It will happen sooner or later. I have nothing to fear. In the future, the commander-in-chief will establish a foothold in Qinghai, conquer the mountains and old forests, and move my whole family there. Chieftain, he has always been in the same place." No, what we are doing is not just about expanding our territory."
"you're right."
Liu Chengzong nodded. In fact, the chieftain was also a military camp. He just used native people who grew up in the local area to farm the fields. But people from Shanyin like the Chen family who came to Xining were indeed military camps.
It's just that when the country loses the motivation to expand outward, the military garrison becomes meaningless and becomes endless internal friction.
He shook his head and said: "I have no intention of touching Toast for a while. As long as no one blocks my way, I will not block other people's way."
With Cao Huachun here, he no longer needs to worry about bribing Li Tianyu, but it will be difficult to build a warehouse next. The place occupies a huge area, almost like building a small city, and the required materials are not enough in Xining's current market.
"Eunuch Cao helped me take down the two streets in the middle of Xining City. Chieftain Li didn't say anything, but it cost a lot to build the warehouse. I see you have wood, and the fourteen chieftains are all in the deep mountains and old forests?"
"Stay close to the deep mountains and old forests. It's easy to get wood and stone."
Chen Shiwen answered, and then asked: "I know the land that the Marshal mentioned. The warehouse is divided by Hongxue Street. The west side is large and the east side is small. The gate opens on Hongxue Street, and the south side is East Street and the west side. There may be 200 shops on North Street."
"Have you ever thought about it, Marshal, just asking the chieftains to build the warehouse?"
Liu Chengzong looked at Chen Shiwen and asked, "How to cultivate?"
"The commander-in-chief wants the vacant land in the street to be used as a warehouse. The chieftains wanted that land in the past because they wanted to build a shop on the street. They would exchange the shop for the chieftain to build a warehouse."
Chen Shiwen raised his head and thought for a while: "There should be nearly 180 shops in those two streets. If the commander-in-chief can give some of the shops to the chieftain, I think everyone will be willing to help the commander-in-chief build the warehouse."
At first Liu Shishi thought this was a bad idea.
Lin Wei had already calculated the cost of building the warehouse for him. The required masonry and wood would cost about three thousand taels. This included the craftsmen of the Lion Camp, so there was no need to pay for work and food.
Are the toasts fools?
In order to pay a rent of one hundred taels a year, each family contributed three to four hundred taels to him to build a warehouse.
But then Liu Chengzong thought about it and realized that Chen Shiwen's plan really worked, because the chieftains also had their own craftsmen, and the chieftains were not like him.
He is a desperado, and from the bottom of his heart he is resistant to things that can only take three to five years to recover.
But the toasts are different. They all believe in value investing.
Especially for this long-term benefit, everyone is very happy to use an investment that will not be repaid in a few years in exchange for the rent of this place for generations to come.
The pawn shop opened by Chen Shiwen's family in the city has been open for more than 200 years since the early Ming Dynasty.
However, he still had some doubts in his heart: "Will the chieftains be willing?"
"Commander, I am also a chieftain." Chen Shiwen opened his palm and said: "If the commander gives me five shops, I am willing to do everything possible to build twenty warehouses."
"Then what if I give you ten rooms?"
Liu Chengzong smiled easily: "I can give ten toasts to each toast."
"Ten rooms each?" Chen Shiwen looked a little confused: "I'm afraid the big chieftains will be unhappy, right?"
"I don't care if they are happy or not, I just ask you, I need 2,500 stone huts each, and they must be moisture-proof, rodent-proof, mildew-proof, and insect-proof. Can you build 40 of them?"
Based on the calculation of 2,400 shi per cell to store grain, Liu Chengzong needed 130 rooms to store grain, and another 130 rooms to store gunpowder, ordnance, utensils, and money.
In addition, there are barracks for some soldiers to live and patrol.
In this way, when he marches into Qinghai, Xining will be his logistics base; and when he moves eastward, Xining will also be his frontline fortress.
Chen Shiwen quickly calculated in his mind that ten front-end shops could be rented out as five large shops. The revenue would be sixty taels a year, one thousand two hundred taels in twenty years, and twelve thousand taels in two hundred years.
And all he needs to pay is to let the local people under his command cut down trees, dig mountains, burn kilns and make bricks... and put in a little bit of insignificant effort.
"able!"
He answered quickly and resolutely, and then said: "However, I have to borrow two hundred taels of silver from the commander, and I will pay it back soon."
Liu Chengzong smiled and shook his head. The world is full of good hands who are empty-handed.
He believed that the little chieftain in front of him had already made up his mind to pay wages to the local people, and then take advantage of a windy and rainy day to let his crooks win back the wages.
"Well, you send someone to ask, under the same conditions, there are a total of 140 shops, and the 14 chieftains ask who is willing to do it and who is not willing to do it; if there is someone who is unwilling to do it, then the remaining people Just make more, and have more shops."
