On the tenth day of July, yellow flowers gradually bloomed in the streets, as if the moonlight was condensed among the green leaves, attracting bursts of autumn wind. The scorching heat slowly dissipated, and the wheat in the long acres also turned yellow, and the one-year-old autumn harvest was over. It started.
But the farmers in Bingzhou don’t look good. This year’s spring came a bit late, and there were continuous heavy rains in summer. Although wheat seedlings like water, there is too much water. Many wheat seedlings in the low fields have been waterlogged, and the harvest is probably only last year’s. 70%, less than half of the good year before last.
Chen Chong received the news these days and felt quite anxious. He had already calculated an account in Jinyang: last year's campaign was huge. Even though he had agreed with Liu Yu in advance that the military rations would be divided between Youzhou and Bingzhou, which greatly reduced the consumption of food and grass, he could still support an army of 60,000 people. After nearly half a year of expedition, a lot of inventory is still consumed, and this year's consumption has suddenly increased.
First, Yunchang brought back nearly 70,000 refugees from Guanzhong, and they are now resettled in Henan County. Although Henan has a lot of fertile land, Dong Zhuo plundered all his savings. These refugees can only be supported by Bingzhou this year, and it will take at least two years to return to Henan. Self-sufficient.
Secondly, Xuande is expanding his army in Jinyang. The failure to attack Dong Zhuo at the beginning of this year led to another battle with Dong Zhuo after the autumn harvest. Although it is not known when the war started, it is obviously insufficient to rely solely on the existing Bingzhou military strength. However, to expand the army, rice and grain will be needed. After the army is expanded, The labor force in farming became even less.
In addition, the counties in Bingzhou have been exempted from taxes for three years, and the taxes are basically re-taxed this year. The first year of tax collection has been such a bad year. A slight surprise in tax collection may trigger civil unrest.
Chen Chong discussed this matter with Liu Bei. Liu Bei still wanted to go to Jizhou to buy grain. But Chen Chong heard the news that Han Fu, the shepherd of Jizhou, had given up his official position to Yuan Shao because he was afraid of Yuan Shao's power. Yuan Shao and Chen Chong had always been at odds, so he thought it was better not to expect too much. Therefore, he planned to delay the salary of the officials in Bingzhou for a while, and then try to go to Xianbei of the Xiongnu to trade silk, cloth, salt and iron. He might be able to buy some food to make ends meet this year.
Speaking of the Xiongnu now, Chen Chong suddenly remembered that there was actually a lot of gold and silver captured at the Imperial Court of Meiji the year before last. So far, only half of it has been used. However, in such troubled times, gold and silver are not as good as wheat. Chen Chong sent people to inquire about the market price of grain and rice. Even a hundred coins and one stone are priceless. The luxury of gold and silver cannot be compared today. Appears useless.
Chen Chong simply paid his salary in gold and silver, and distributed the rice grains to the state officials at a discount based on the highest market price. They would never starve to death and would always have something to spend. After the decree was passed on, most officials had no objections, and this year's problems were solved.
But as a result, Chen Chong clearly felt that the challenge to Dong was imminent. Every time this matter was delayed for a year, tens or millions more people would die indiscriminately. For the first time, Chen Chong felt so powerless. He could only step up his war preparations and set up two new weapons in Lishi and Gaolang. He recruited nearly three thousand workers to make knives and arrows day and night.
On the other hand, Chen Chong is also moving the official office in Jinyang to Xihe County as planned.
Although he is now called Bingzhou Mu, except for the five counties of Bingzhou under his direct jurisdiction, after the challenge to Dong, he actually manages most of the Sanhe area of Henan, Hanoi, and Hedong, and governs nearly eight counties. The state bureaucracy also expanded to an alarming level.
Today its state capital structure is as follows:
Don't go to work for Kong Rong, and go to the Ministry of Animal Husbandry in Congzhou;
In charge of governance, he was engaged in Yao Gong, in charge of wealth, grain and silk writing;
Bingcao is responsible for Taishi Ci, Wumeng is responsible for Gaozhun, Dianjun is responsible for Qin Yilu, and is responsible for military affairs;
Xu Shu is in charge of Xihe, Chen Qun is in Taiyuan, Yu Fan is in Yanmen, Meng Jian is in Dingxiang, Shi Tao is in Shangdang, Linghu Shao is in Henan, Wang Ling is in Hanoi, and Fan Xian is in Hedong. It is illegal for each county to rule;
Sun Qian was in charge of literature, Liu Yan was in charge of academic promotion, and he was in charge of academic affairs in prefectures and counties;
The main bookkeeper is Jian Yong, who records all the affairs of the family and the provincial documents;
Wang Xiang, the chief of the gate pavilion, is in charge of the main gate of the state; Yu Fan, the Gong Cao Shu Zuo, is in charge of selection; Tao Qiuhong, the filial piety classics master, is in charge of testing scriptures; Zhang Shi, the law order master, is in charge of Ping Lv; Wen Li, the Yue Ling master, is in charge of seasonal temple sacrifices; Cao Shuzuo is the master of bookkeeping Xu Qian, chief bookkeeper;
There are also other Dian County scribes, each with a total of 871 people.
Except for the county officials and their subordinate officials who are still patrolling various places, all the remaining personnel in the state capital will move to Yuanyang. However, Chen Chong considered that the background of the state capital personnel is complex and the move to the state government has a great impact. Bai Bo, the third commander, may have other intentions. Therefore, he planned to make a long-term plan and first station the state capital in Lishi. After discussing with Han Xian and others, he would then move to various official offices within one month to show his importance.
For this reason, Chen Chong specially summoned officials with more than a hundred stones in the state capital and warned them one by one.
Chen Chong was very satisfied with Xu Shu and others from Xihe who took office with him. They had traveled around in the past few years and had experience in chores and general affairs. They had been with the Baibo Army for a long time and knew how to control the situation appropriately. Chen Chong only encouraged them to continue working hard and engrav their names in the annals of history. valley
However, Chen Chong had to explain more to the late students such as Xu Qian, Wang Xiang, etc., and the talents recruited from famous families in the prefectures and counties, such as Wang Ling and Zhang Shi. He warned them: "Now we are moving to Yuanyang. We are claiming to be doing justice to the country, but in fact we are mainly anti-Japanese. Baibo's soldiers and civilians have been out of the jurisdiction of the state capital for a long time. After entering the city, I am afraid there will be many dangers, but you must be angry." Chen Zao, treat others with kindness and sincerity."
Everyone sincerely agreed to the promise, but Kong Rongda did not agree with it. He refuted Chen Chong in public: "The temperament is born in nature, how can it be covered up by hypocrisy? How people behave in the world, good, good and evil, are all natural, why should there be such a thing? Hypocritical?" Finally, he added, "Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you."
These words were meant to accuse Chen Chong of hypocrisy, but Chen Chong didn't take it seriously. Kong Rong has always been famous for being difficult to get along with in the court. He was previously appointed as the governor of Wuyuan by Dong Zhuo, but Dong Zhuo couldn't stand his daily ridicule, so he sent him to the frontier to suffer hardships under the pretense of public office.
Naturally, Chen Chong would not deal with it this way. He had not yet recovered Wuyuan County, so he asked Kong Rong to take over temporarily. However, Kong Rong didn't like to take matters into his own hands, so Jian Yong took care of most of his affairs. Even so, Kong Rong still complained from time to time, and his speech today was just an ordinary complaint. However, Chen Qun, who treated others with such generosity, could not help but complain to him in private. Chen Chong smiled and said to his clan brothers: "Kong Wenju has a gentle temperament, he is upright and upright, and he does not hide everything in his heart. He behaves like looking in a mirror. A gentleman sees what he should do." Encourage yourself, and the villain will think of destroying you when you see it. I have long been accustomed to it."
The words reached Kong Rong's ears, and he accepted them calmly. He laughed at the matter when talking about Xuan: "The dragon head can be used to it, but it won't be like Wang Mang's. It's impossible to say that because of my advice, there will be another one in the future." Where is the name of Duke Zhou?" When everyone heard this, they were all stunned.
But on the west side of the river, Han Xian and others have yet to reply. Chen Chong didn't want to rush him, but time was tight, and a later date might have a greater impact on the subsequent war. After thinking about it, he sent envoys to invite Han Xian, Yang Feng, and Hu Caisan in the name of the Ghost Festival. People come to Lishi to have a feast.
The three agreed to go to the banquet, but the envoy who came back said to Chen Chongyan: "Han Shuai and Yang Shuai looked very different when they talked to me. Only Hu Shuai smiled and spoke calmly. I don't know why?" Chen Chong had expected this. He He smiled and said, "It's good if you're willing to come. Now that the two of them are required to cut flesh, it's human nature to be entangled. But I have been working with him for three years, and we have a close relationship. They will understand the general idea."
On the afternoon of July 14, Chen Chong went out of Shiwuli to greet them to show respect for Han Xian and others. At two o'clock in the morning, a group of people appeared on the horizon. Chen Chong rode forward, greeted the leaders Han Xian and Yang Feng, and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for more than a month, and I miss you two very much." .”
Han Xian and Yang Feng were dressed in military uniforms and wearing bamboo hats. They raised their hands and responded: "We have been taken care of by the dragon head for a long time. How dare we not obey when the dragon head calls us?"
Chen Chong glanced around and asked the two of them: "Why don't you see Hu Shuai? I should have invited him to the banquet."
After hearing this, Han Xian replied: "Old Hu, it's not a coincidence. Yesterday when I was riding my horse, my horse was frightened and my foot was injured. Now I am recovering from my injury in the mansion, so we can only ask the two of us to apologize to the dragon head." At this point, he pointed to a bruise on his lower jaw and said to Chen Chong: "Even my horse was surprised at that time, and it hit here and suffered a lot."
Chen Chong was very sorry about this, so he expressed concern: "I have some plasters for treating bruises at my house. Han Shuai can give it a try. If it works, Han Shuai can also give some to Hu Shuai for me."
After saying that, both of them smiled, and Chen Chong turned on his horse to lead the way for them.
The banquet was held in a jujube forest by the waterside of Xichuan, and all the senior officials of the state government attended the banquet. Just because of the food shortage, the banquet was all about ordinary food. The most sumptuous thing was the venison roasted on the spot. However, there was not enough salt recently, which caused the roasted venison to have a strong smell. Only the wine tube was enough, but the wine was not enough. The taste of the wine was also bland, and many of the guests who enjoyed the good wine were dissatisfied. Chen Chong explained to them: "Wine-making is a waste of grain and rice. The harvest in Bingzhou is tight this year, and it is no longer convenient for the state capital to hold wine and food. This is probably the last time for free drinking this year." Yes, please cherish it, gentlemen!"
Speaking of this, Chen Chong's face showed sadness again, and he said sadly: "I am holding a banquet today because I don't want to have a happy time with you. But when I think about Dong Zhuo's death, nearly 20,000 soldiers died for the country, how can I be happy? Are you up?" Hearing this, everyone was surprised. They put down their cups and listened to Chen Chong continue to speak.
"Today is the Ghost Festival. In Taiping Dao terms, today is the day when the earth official pardons sins. It is also the day when the underground palace opens its doors. All the ghosts in the world will leave the underground palace. The ghosts with owners will go home, and the ghosts without owners will wander around. You can find food and drink by yourself. I heard from the wise master Daliang that they would save the souls of the dead that night and hold a grand ceremony in the Taoist temple to pray for good fortune. Ordinary people would light river lanterns to illuminate the way home for the souls of the dead."
He actually sent people to take out about 500 river lanterns, turned around and walked up to Han Siam and Yang Feng, and asked them: "I am not a member of the Taiping Church, but I think Han Shuai also puts out river lanterns every year in Huanyang."
Han Xian was a little embarrassed. He replied: "Shuai Guo does this every year, but I joined the army because of the pressure of life and not as a member of the Taiping Church."
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This was beyond Chen Chong's expectation, and he immediately lowered his head and sighed: "Then please spare Guo Shuai one more time. The days are long, and I really don't know when I can win in front of his tomb!"
At this time, there was a full moon in the sky. Chen Chong poured all the remaining wine into the Xichuan water and smashed the moon into ripples. Everyone quickly lit up all the river lanterns and carefully placed them in the water. The water flow was gentle, and the golden fireworks floated slightly on the water. When they disappeared from sight, people felt like a ball of soul had disappeared with them.
After the banquet, Han Xian and Yang Feng came to say goodbye. Chen Chong stayed with them for the night. They exchanged pleasantries and declined. Chen Chong then asked again: "Ten days later, I plan to receive the meritorious service and come to Yuanyang. I wonder what you two think?"
Han Xian smiled and replied: "How dare you disobey the dragon's command? I, Cao, will sweep the couch and wait."
They returned to Yuanyang that night and hurriedly found Zhang Ji and said to him: "Time is running out for us and we can't delay it any longer! The general said that the imperial soldiers will come to meet us. I don't know when it will come?"
