In the eighth year of Xuanhe's reign in the Song Dynasty, in March, spring was warm and flowers were blooming.
A burst of kicking horse hooves crossed a newly erected pontoon bridge on the Huan River. A horse had already set foot on the south bank. Then dozens of knights rushed over. The figure on the horse, with a black hat and long clothes, and a long sword and quiver hanging on his belt, is none other than Zhao Kai, the most talented man in the Song Dynasty.
On both sides of the road are large areas of land overgrown with grass. Although it is past the time for spring plowing, there are abandoned lands everywhere in the eastern part of Anyang County. A team of four to five thousand riders, arranged in a long column, was marching on the official road from Linzhang County south to Anyang County.
Because there were two to three hundred carts behind this cavalry, as well as a large number of people supporting the elderly and the young, sparsely like a long tail, so the marching speed was not fast. After several days of marching, they had just passed through the territory of Linzhang County and entered Anyang County.
Most of the carts and people following the army were farmers from Linzhang County. When the Jin soldiers passed through, among the four counties under the jurisdiction of Xiangzhou, including Anyang, Linli, Linzhang, and Tangyin, the county seats of Linzhang and Tangyin counties were broken. Among them, Linzhang County suffered particularly badly because it was occupied for a period of time by the Liaodong Haner Army led by Han Chang!
Although Han Chang was later scared away by Zhao Kai's army, the people of Linzhang still had lingering fears. So this time when Zhao Kai led his troops across the border, thousands of farmers followed the team as soon as he called. As for Linzhang County, it had been empty for a long time. It was first cleaned by the Jin people, and then it was harassed by Han Chang for a few days. By the time Zhao Kai led his people to move in, it was already an empty city (it was not completely empty, as there was a lot of food and grass stored in the city). ).
Because this small and dilapidated city is on the main route for the Jin people to retreat from the south to the north. If heavy troops are deployed to defend it, the Jin people will at most go around. If there were not many defenders, it would be equivalent to sending supplies to the Jin people... So Zhao Kai simply ordered the abandonment of Linzhang County and burned it all, leaving only a circle of bare earth walls.
To the south of the Huan River in Linzhang County, there is a large town affiliated with Anyang County, called Yonghe Town, because the Huan River to the east of Yonghe Town is deep and wide, can be used for boating, and is connected to the Yongji Canal. It was very prosperous before the Jin soldiers went south, but now there are only ruins and a dilapidated scene.
Zhao Kai and several of his entourages were immediately standing next to the Huanshui Pier outside the dilapidated Yonghe Town, watching the long queue of water boats on the water.
Although these canal boats left Daming one day later than Zhao Kai, due to the smooth current and wind, they arrived at Yonghe Town early and are now being unloaded.
Marshal's Mansion Chief Shi Lu Yihao already knew that Zhao Kai's men had arrived, so he staggered over on a donkey to see him. With him was a dark-faced man in his twenties, wearing a narrow-sleeved suit. A green robe with a round collar and a sword on his shoulder.
This dark-faced strong man came closer and saw Zhao Kai who immediately recognized the banner of "King Yun Zhao Kai". He didn't care about Lu Yihao beside him, he just bowed his head and bowed: "I, Wanting Li Bao, see His Highness the Great (Nian Dai) King!"
"Wanting Li Bao?" Zhao Kai tried his best to think about it. He knew that Wanting was a place name, located in Xingren Mansion next to Kaifeng Mansion. But he couldn't remember who Li Bao was?
Lu Yihao had already spoken: "Your Majesty, Lu Yihao, is here to see you... Your Majesty, this Li Baonai is a chief executive under the Hebei Yunsi Department. He is quite capable and is valued by Cai Xueshi (Cai Mao), so he recommends it to me." I traveled with him and found that he knew water warfare, was proficient in martial arts, and was willing to join the army, so I brought him to see the king."
The so-called leader is the water transport contractor. In the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaifeng Prefecture, Yingtian Prefecture, Xijing Luoyang and other places relied on water transportation for their supplies, requiring millions of grains of grain to be imported from the southeast every year. In the early Song Dynasty, water transportation was a corvee, and it was the responsibility of the Caozhou government. Later, it became a business - water ships could carry some goods through customs tax-free, so it was profitable, and a group of people with no worth were created. Fei's leader. And because sailing thousands of miles, it is inevitable to encounter water thieves and water bandits, so the gangshang who can become the gang leader have some courage and are good at fighting on the water and on the boat.
Xingren Prefecture is adjacent to the old course of the Yellow River, and the Wuzhang River (an important canal leading to Kaifeng Prefecture) flows through its territory, so many merchants were born, and the Wanting Li family was one of them. This Li Bao is the son of the Li family, but he does not make a living on the Wuzhang River, but runs transportation on the Yongji Canal. Not long ago, he was recruited by Cai Mao, and now he was hired by Zhao Kai through Lu Yihao.
Zhao Kai looked at this black-faced strong man, he looked majestic! So he smiled and nodded, "Okay... I am planning to establish a navy, but unfortunately I don't have any generals who know how to fight with water. Li Bao, you came at the right time. How many of your men are good at using ships and water to fight?" warrior?"
"Reply to the king, the young man has 600 men and 20 big ships!"
Zhao Kai thought for a while, "Then first become a naval commander, Feng Chengxinlang! Those brothers of yours should all be considered utility men!"
Now it’s time to become an official!
After listening to Zhao Kai's words, Li Bao smiled from ear to ear, and bowed to Zhao Kai again: "Little...I will thank you for your kindness!"
Zhao Kai said to Sima Chen Ji beside him: "Sima Chen, I will leave him to you."
Chen Ji responded and took Li Bao to apply for official photos and registers... Seeing Chen Ji and Li Bao leave, Lu Yihao moved closer to Zhao Kai, and then whispered : "Your Majesty, you see that everywhere in Xiangzhou is deserted, which is causing hardship to the people. Do you see this trial field camp, is it...?"
"Hmm..." Zhao Kai nodded and looked around, "There is indeed a lot of wasteland here in Xiangzhou. I'll ask Han Xiaozhou to check it out. There are hundreds of thousands of acres of wasteland." ? All can be classified into the Marshal's Yingtian Division.
Later, just follow the method of dividing the land by the archers in Shaanxi and Hedong, and distribute it to the generals who are willing to take the land! "
What? Lu Yihao was shocked by Zhao Kai's words. Isn't your king too dark? I originally wanted to advise you to take it easy. How about you, you want to take over half of Xiangzhou's land with just one mouth? Are you really in Xiangzhou? No, are all the famous families here in Hebei just made of paper? This is Xiangzhou, the Xiangzhou of the Han family!
The Han family owns a lot of land in Tangyin, Linzhang, Anyang and other counties. At least a quarter of those so-called wastelands belong to the Han family!
Although Zhao Kai came with 27,000 troops, he was still a guest after all. The Han family has been taking root in Xiangzhou for who knows how many years. Since Han Qi, there have been people who have been in charge of Xiangzhou for generations, and they are like the lords of Xiangzhou.
"Your Majesty, isn't this inappropriate?" Lu Yihao said hurriedly, "The wasteland in the eastern part of Xiangzhou is owned by an owner... The Generalissimo's Mansion cannot turn it into camp land. That would be robbing people's wealth!"
Zhao Kai nodded and his face darkened, "People's wealth? Humph, the lonely king worked so hard to come here and took such a big risk to fight against thieves. Who is that for?
Isn't it to protect these people who have land and land? But they can’t all count on me! They should protect themselves, they should join the army, they should stand up and defend their home and country! If these are not possible, then take out some land and give it to Xiangzhou men who are willing to join the army and protect their families and country! "
This doesn’t sound like it’s talking about the Song Dynasty! Lu Yihao looked confused. Although he knew that Zhao Kai was right, the world of Song Dynasty was not like this...
Zhao Kai said with murderous intent: "Lü Changshi, don't worry. When Prefect Han comes to Yonghe Town, the lonely king can talk to him himself!"
Lu Yihao was really dumbfounded after hearing what Zhao Kai said. Does this king know what he is doing? He is robbing Han Xiaozhou and his family!
Go ahead and say it yourself...what to say? Do you want to tell Han Xiaozhou: "Han, hand over all your land?"
...
Asking for a recommendation vote!
