Youzhou originally had only eight counties. After Yang Ji destroyed the Khitan, defeated Goguryeo, harvested millet and Mohe, and forced the Xi tribe to surrender, the imperial court added Mozhou County and Raolezhou County to the territory he had won, making Youzhou rule There are ten counties in total, namely Zhuojun, Shanggu, Yuyang, Anle, Beiping, Liucheng, Yanjun, Liaodong, Mozhou and Raolezhou. Although only two counties were added, the area increased by as much as a quarter compared to before. Lan
On this vast land, although the area of Zhuojun where Youzhou Supervisory Prefecture is located is not the largest, it reaches Yinshan Mountain in the north and the sea in the south. There are various topography and landforms in it. When Yang Ji forced the Xi people to surrender, , considering that Zhuojun was difficult to get out of the fortress and could not restrict the Xi people, the territory between Baihe (Guhe) and Heihe Mountain, which originally belonged to the Xi people, was added to Zhuojun.
When Yang Ji made this decision, Xi Zhong, the governor of Raolezhou County and the chief of the Xi tribe, was extremely dissatisfied and angry. Just because Zhuojun was divided by Yang Ji, the power of the Sui Dynasty crossed the Yanshan Mountains and directly entered Raole. The Xi people living in Raole Prefecture are targeted from the east, west and south. If Yuyang, Beiping, Liucheng and Liaodong are further Looking at the combined forces of the counties, the Xi people were surrounded by the Sui Dynasty and could not move no matter what they wanted to do. And Yang Ji's so-called "taunting people and ridiculing people's governance" is simply a big lie.
However, Xi Zhong was dissatisfied and angry, but he was intimidated by the Sui Dynasty's soldiers and Yang Ji's sword. Therefore, when Yang Ji consulted him for his opinion, he not only did not object, he even behaved better than the other four chiefs. Be positive and loyal.
To put it bluntly, although Xi Zhong was dissatisfied, he did not dare to offend him in front of the God of Death and the Butcher's Knife. If he dares to mess with him and is ignorant, the other four chiefs will take his head off without Yang Ji taking action at all.
Zhuojun governs nine counties, and the county is Jixian. The current county governor and military commander are Xue Shixiong, and the county magistrate is Zhang Huibao.
In the county government office, civil and military officials from all levels of Zhuo County lined up, talking in low voices, and the crowd was crowded.
Xue Shixiong has not arrived yet, so Zhang Huibao is temporarily in charge of the order. Zhang Huibao has a handsome appearance, with three black and neat beards, a long and thin face, elegant and handsome, and an elegant temperament in his movements, which makes people feel like spring breeze. Lan
Zhang Huibao was a native of Hejian County. His father, Zhang Jiong, was generous, upright and proficient in laws and algorithms. He was the fourth minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the Sui Dynasty. When Yang Guang served as the general manager of Yangzhou, the imperial court appointed Zhang Yu as Sima and Doctor Jiayin Qingguanglu of the Yangzhou General Manager's Office. When he helped Yang Guang stabilize his position as general manager, the imperial court transferred him to the north to serve as the governor of Jizhou (Xindu). However, Yang Guang couldn't do without this capable official and frequently asked for him. Zhang Yufu became the chief historian of the Jin Dynasty. Governor of Jiangzhou (Danyang County). When Yang Guang became the crown prince, he went out again to serve as the governor of Jizhou and ascended the throne to open a government. During his tenure, the officials and the people were well-liked and he was known as Liang Erqianshi.
It is a pity that this good minister and capable minister could not wait for the day when Yang Guang ascended the throne and could not enjoy the dividends of supporting Yang Guang. He died in office early in the fourth year of Renshou. Fortunately, Yang Guang did not forget Zhang Xuan and always thought about the "junior-subordinate" relationship between the two. Therefore, when Zhang Huibao, who had been the county magistrate, had observed his mourning for three years, he immediately appointed him as the county magistrate of Zhuojun.
"Zhang Juncheng, the prefect summoned us here, but we don't know why?" Sheriff Shi Jinwenyan looked at Zhang Huibao, the superior, with a strong sense of jealousy in his heart. The man in front of him was just a county magistrate during the Renshou period. After his father Zhang Yu passed away, he resigned and returned home to observe mourning for three years. However, as soon as he came back, he became the county magistrate.
As a member of the Guanlong aristocracy and the son-in-law of the Yuan family, Jin Wenyan would not even be able to become the chief historian if he had not been supported and recommended by his father-in-law. However, despite this, he is now somewhat qualified for the position of chief historian. It's dangerous.
This is because not long after the new governor Xue Shixiong took office, he and Zhang Huibao carried out a vigorous rectification of the military and political affairs of Zhuojun. However, Xue Shixiong considered that he had just arrived and the situation in Liaodong was uneasy. He had not yet touched the civil service system of the county. However, the military aspect The personnel were adjusted one after another, and the county soldiers and county officials responsible for public security in the county were also included in Xue Shixiong's military system.
After this rectification, the civil service system of Zhuo County has been completely separated from the military, and there is no longer any military power. The power in the hands of his long history has been reduced by at least half.
If the children of the Guanlong nobles no longer have military power, are they still just bullshit Guanlong nobles? Lan
Zhang Huibao glanced at Jin Wenyan indifferently and said in a deep voice: "Prefect Xue was ordered by Li Cishi (Li Zixiong) to go to Jizhou to negotiate with King Teng about military rations and other matters. He just returned to Jixian today. When the prefect comes, Jin Changshi It’s not too late to ask again.”
Xue Shixiong was a soldier and general-turned-prefect, and he had a very resolute and resolute demeanor in his work. Since he took over the post of Zhuojun Prefect, he has carried out drastic reforms in Zhuojun's military system. Xue Shixiong was the first to take down the blood. Later, Jun Bing Cao Zhao Yi and Jun Cang Cao He Lanjun were also thrown into prison for committing the same crime.
In addition, the hussar generals and chariot generals of various military offices in Zhuojun were also captured by Xue Shixiong because they were the right-hand men of Yuan Ju, Zhao Yi, He Lanjun and others in committing crimes.
The main reason why the reorganization was so successful was that the middle and lower-level generals of Zhuo County had long complained about the greedy and corrupt "superstructure" of Zhuo County. Moreover, most of them accompanied Yang Ji on his expedition to Khitan and Liaodong. They admired the invincibility of all attacks, invincibility in battle, rewards and punishments. The clear Wei Wang Yang Ji. So when Xue Shixiong came to reorganize the army under the banner of the imperial court and Yang Ji, these middle and low-level generals in Zhuo County immediately played a huge role and presented their evidence to Xue Shixiong.
It can be said that although Xue Shixiong took office not long ago, after this "as fast as the wind, as aggressive as fire" rectification and reform, he has completely controlled the army and military affairs of Zhuojun, making it fully integrated into the Weiwang system. among.
"The prefect is here." At this moment, the clerk outside shouted loudly. The civil and military officials who were whispering fell silent, and there was a sudden silence in the official hall.
Xue Shixiong and his second son Xue Wanshu rushed back from Jizhou day and night. The father and son came to the official office before they could clean up. Seeing that they were covered in mud and water, Xue Shixiong entered the official hall and sat down behind the eucalyptus. Lan
He glanced at the civil and military personnel below, waved his hand to stop the salute ceremony that everyone was about to perform, and said with a cold gaze: "Before I went south, I ordered the civil and military forces in the county to seize the time to raise military supplies, but the Eastern Route Army headed by King Wei did not As the day is approaching, I want to ask you: How is the fundraising going now?"
Zhang Huibao stepped forward, placed a booklet on the table, and then handed it over and said: "This is the military rations that the humble officials and others have raised for several days. Please take a look at it, the prefect."
Xue Shixiong opened the booklet, glanced at the words in front, looked directly at the total number at the back, and then put it back on the table. He glanced down with a frown, and said extremely dissatisfied: "One hundred thousand stones? You only raised one hundred thousand stones in ten days?"
As a general in Liangzhou for a long time, Xue Shixiong has long been accustomed to the cleanliness and efficiency of the Liangzhou Prefectural Mufu, and he also enjoys this top-down efficiency; when he was a general in Liangzhou and the commander-in-chief of the march, he was only responsible for planning. He only focused on how to defeat the enemy and led his troops to fight. As for logistics and other matters, he didn't have to worry about it at all, because he knew that even if there were no logistics materials in the rear, he could still create them.
It is precisely with strong and effective backing that these generals at the forefront can relax and fight without worries. This is also one of the keys to the invincibility of the Liangzhou army. However, after arriving in Youzhou, although everything did not go smoothly, the efficiency and integrity of the Youzhou Supervisory Prefecture made Xue Shixiong extremely anxious and uncomfortable.
If we compare Liangzhou and Youzhou on factors such as service delivery rate, integrity and so on, Xue Shixiong feels that Liangzhou Supervisory Prefecture is at least 90%, and the other 10% is due to poor road conditions, poor transportation, weak foundation and other external factors. In the factor occupation; and on the side of Youzhou Supervisory State, even if he scored fifty points, Xue Shixiong was already very polite.
"Prefect, one hundred thousand stones is already a lot." Zhang Huibao smiled wryly and bowed his hand to Xue Shixiong, explaining: "When Youzhou built the official road of the Western Liaoning Corridor, it spent countless money and food, and this year the northern counties had poor harvests due to drought. The people were severely affected by the disaster, and the state government, in accordance with the imperial order, took the grain from the official warehouses to work for relief, which resulted in very little grain left."
"When aristocratic families and big grain merchants from all over the world learned about the news that hundreds of thousands of Goguryeo soldiers were at the border, they frantically collected and stockpiled grain, causing the price of grain to rise to a point where ordinary people could not afford it. What's more, there was no food available in local markets. No matter how much grain is sold, even if people have a lot of money, they still can’t buy enough grain to fill their bellies.”
Aristocratic families in various places and the grain merchants they controlled were very smart. They would not prevent the local people from raiding their shops when there was no food to eat, so they took out a little bit of grain to sell. This way, they could ensure that the people everywhere had food to eat and no need to eat. To gather people to cause chaos, but not to gather people to rob food. After achieving this goal, they will never sell another grain of rice.
If someone from the outside brings food to their traditional "sphere of influence" to sell, they not only do not support it, but use various means to target it. If the other party does not understand, they will use violent means to destroy the other party including people and food. It is precisely because of this that when the court needs a large amount of food and grass, there are only two options left: one is to negotiate terms with the family members and provide them with the political benefits they need; the other is to spend a large amount of money to purchase them. The food in their hands satisfies their appetites.
As for Youzhou and Jizhou, which are located in the "North China Plain" with fertile land and convenient irrigation, it is also extremely ironic.
This year's spring grain harvest in the "North China Plain" was supposed to be a bumper harvest. Last year, the weather was also smooth. However, the official warehouses and military warehouses assigned by the imperial court to the two states could not stock much grain. As a result, the drought in the north was severe and the Eastern Route Army sent troops. At that time, the food and grass needed by the two states' governments had not yet been collected.
When the aristocratic families and wealthy households paid taxes this year, it was more like they had agreed upon it. When they paid taxes, they uniformly used money instead of grain and did not hand over a grain of grain to the government; if not for Jizhou Mu Yang Lunhe Li Zixiong, the governor of Youzhou, stipulated that families with children serving as officials, officials, generals, or soldiers must pay food. It is estimated that even the 100,000 shi of food cannot be raised.
After Xue Shixiong left Liangzhou and became an official in Youzhou, he finally realized the difficulty of being restricted by the wealthy families. At the same time, he also understood Yang Ji's reasons and determination to deal with the wealthy families in Liangzhou. Lan
This is because the aristocratic families control most of the interests and wealth in the world, but they do not know how to contribute to the world or contribute to this race. Instead, they continue to hinder the peace and development of this race, constantly harm the interests of the people, and constantly exploit The foundation of stability in the world. As a member of the royal family, Yang Ji has the same interests as the people of the world. If he doesn't eradicate these selfish aristocratic families, who else can he eradicate? And if we don't eradicate these lousy things that make the country suffer during the national crisis, will we still keep them as traitors?
Xue Shixiong felt silently for the selfish actions of wealthy families like Youzhou and Jizhou, and he could foresee the fate of these bastards.
When he was in Jizhou, he had already seen Yang Ji and Pei Ju who had separated from the East Route Army and headed north alone. According to Yang Ji, they had easily solved the East Route Army's attack when they were in Daxing City. Food worries. According to the amount of food Yang Ji revealed to him, not to mention tens of thousands of troops, even two to three hundred thousand troops could feed them for three or four years.
The reason why Yang Ji pretended to be severely short of food was simply to let these wealthy family members who were struggling to make money continue to make money, continue to provoke the majesty of the court and the emperor, and continue to commit crimes, so that he could kill them all.
The problem caused by this... is that Xue Shixiong foresees that when Yang Ji arrives, Youzhou officialdom and Youzhou aristocratic families will be bloodbathed. As for his mission, in addition to continuing to cry for poverty and continue to be overwhelmed by the "lack of food", he also has to work hard to collect evidence so that Yang Ji and Pei Ju, who have already set off, can kill them.
As for the local aristocratic families who looked down on everyone, he could only laugh.
It is true that they are indeed amazing behemoths, but when they face the court and the army, they are like children who have been praised too highly and are spoiled. When the court does not need to look at their looks and act, they are A child who lets others take advantage of him and passes the market with money in mind. Lan
"Prefect!" Seeing Xue Shixiong sitting at the top with a dark face and not saying a word for a long time, Zhang Huibao couldn't help shouting.
Xue Shixiong calmed down, frowned and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Prefect, King Wei ordered Youzhou and Jizhou to prepare for the war and jointly prepare 1.5 million military rations. After many negotiations with the state government these days, I found that the entire Youzhou including Zhuojun can only raise 180,000 shi. About. And this amount is far from the military rations required by King Wei." At this point, Zhang Huibao bowed his hands worriedly and asked Xue Shixiong: "But I don't know how much military rations Jizhou can provide? Can it be used in the event of a war? Before, sent to the front line?”
"King Teng said that Jizhou has raised 300,000 shi of grain and transported it to Bohai County day and night." Xue Shixiong reported the number of Jizhou and said expressionlessly: "Next, they will transport this directly by sea. A batch of military rations has arrived at Wanghaitun at the mouth of the Liao River, so we don’t need to worry about it.”
Zhang Huibao made an estimate and frowned: "In other words, there is still a gap of one million stones?"
"Exactly!" It is unreachable, so we should never rely on it."
One and a half million stones of grain is indeed a bit difficult for the "serious disaster" Youzhou and Jizhou in the far south. If the imperial court cannot produce a single grain of rice, this is unreasonable and easily suspicious, so Yang At the meeting, Xue Shixiong was asked to tell Yuzhou and Qingzhou each to provide 150,000 shi of grain, in order to dispel the doubts of Zhuojun officials. Lan
"I understand my humble position!" Zhang Huibao responded worriedly.
Xue Shixiong looked at Jin Wenyan, the chief historian, and asked: "Chang Shi of Jin, how are the people in Zhuo County? Are the people worried about lack of food?"
"Go back to the prefect!" Jin Wenyan said with a sad look on his face: "People from several northern counties have gone south to beg for food, and the official warehouse has long been exhausted."
】
"Although the military situation is urgent now and the war is the priority, the people's lives must not be slack. We must do a good job in resettling the victims and must not cause trouble. Otherwise, don't blame me for turning my back and denying people." Xue Shixiong looked deeply. He glanced at it and then said: "Jin Chief Shi has been an official in Youzhou for a long time and is familiar with the local aristocratic families. You can communicate with them on behalf of the Zhuojun government to see if they can spare some grain. If so, there is no harm in buying it at a high price."
"I humbly obey my command." Jin Wenyan was secretly happy and accepted the command.
Xue Shixiong discussed it again with the officials of the Mansion Hall and said that all the matters were related to food. Later, accompanied by Zhang Huibao, he inspected the weapons, equipment, food and other materials in Zhuojun warehouse.
Zhuojun Cang is a huge warehouse city, which was expanded on the basis of the original official warehouse. However, since it was built not long ago, everyone knows that Zhuojun Cangcheng has almost no material to check. Xue Shixiong knew this, but still ran to check. Let many people know that he is anxious. Lan
