With a strong sense of vigilance, Zhao Yucheng took Qi Fang and began to conduct a new round of soul baptism for the troops gathered in Nanchang to enhance the awareness of the troops.
At the same time, farmers' enthusiasm for production was stimulated by establishing farmers' associations and distributing land, laying a solid foundation for this year's spring plowing.
The more Zhao Yucheng acted, the more he felt that the dual military and political system of [Peasant Army-Peasant Association] was too efficient.
Eliminate boring intermediate links, directly give orders to grassroots units and execute them directly, which is very efficient.
In some places, there are many people, so a higher-level organization of the township farmers' association is set up. In some places, there are few people, and the village farmers' association directly coordinates the work, orders it immediately, executes it immediately, and reports it immediately. If it is done well, it can be reported quickly, and if it is not done well, it can be reported immediately. Report soon, it works great.
So how did Su Yonglin develop so quickly back then?
Zhao Yucheng didn't understand it at the beginning, but now that he has done it himself, he understands how this process works.
The main reason was that the Southern Song Dynasty oppressed these farmers too hard. Zhao Yucheng only abolished some unreasonable exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes. The agricultural taxes required due to war factors were still relatively high, but they also won the firm support of the farmers.
The army is fighting in the front, and they are transporting food and grass in the back.
When the weather got cold, they knitted thick clothes for the army under the organization of the farmers' association to keep them warm.
When the Peasant Army fought against the Song Army, there were basically no restrictions due to logistical problems. Compared with the situation of the Song Army, it was much better.
This system is very suitable for this kind of war situation, and can quickly complete war mobilization. Even Zhao Yucheng, who has recently started studying history, feels that it is a bit similar to the Qin State's farming and military merit system during the Warring States Period, which also broke out a strong mobilization force.
However, the two cannot be confused. It can only be said that some of the effects are equivalent, because Zhao Yucheng is not prepared to comprehensively restrict the personal freedom of farmers and exploit them forcefully, nor does he intend to force all farmers to join the army and engage in a general war.
After all, what he took away was a minority, leaving the majority to the farmers.
Farmers do not yet have such a high level of political awareness. They mainly focus on interests. They are not stupid. They can make comparisons and vote with their feet. They will follow whoever has good policies and follow whoever has a good life under their rule. This is is the obvious result.
On the first day of the first lunar month in the fourth year of Hongwu's reign, he gave the entire army a day off to take a rest, eat some delicious food, and celebrate the New Year.
Then, starting from the second day of the first lunar month, the entire army began its normal military training and cultural study schedule without stopping.
At the same time, Zhao Yucheng actively sent people to explore the movements of the Song Army in the direction of Ezhou, always alert to the possibility of another attack by the Song Army.
There is no doubt that if the Song Army comes again, he will fight to the end without hesitation and try his best.
In early February of the fourth year of Hongwu, Zhao Yucheng was making arrangements for spring plowing for the coming year, but suddenly learned of military intelligence that tens of thousands of Song troops had stationed in Wuchang County with evil intentions.
At the same time, news from the Tianwang Army was also delivered on time, saying that Song Emperor Zhao Yu ordered Songchuan Shu General Yao Zhong to lead 40,000 troops to Wuchang County to prepare for another crusade against the peasant army.
Zhao Yucheng became nervous instantly.
He immediately ordered the entire four divisions of the Peasant Army that had just completed reorganization to inform the entire army of the news and let everyone prepare for war as soon as possible.
War can break out again anytime, anywhere.
The entire area under the jurisdiction of the Jiangnan West Road Peasant Army needs to be mobilized for war immediately, and the army must enter first-level combat readiness.
Although I am very reluctant to do so, this year's spring plowing task will obviously be affected, which is very bad.
But just when Zhao Yucheng ordered war mobilization and was worried about future development prospects, he got a piece of great news.
Because of the large-scale military exercises conducted by the Henan Corps of the Ming Dynasty on the border, the Southern Song Dynasty court urgently ordered Yao Zhong to lead the main force of the army north to Xiangyang as a precaution, and immediately sent people to Kaifeng to negotiate to find out the reasons for the large-scale military exercises conducted by the Ming army.
So the crusade ended in vain.
Zhao Yucheng is safe.
Zhao Yucheng was overjoyed. Before he could ask what the reason was, the Skynet Army sent the news.
Because the Southern Song Dynasty court was in chaos, they easily "inquired" about the goals and launch methods of the Southern Song Dynasty's strategic action. After finding out the specific information, they immediately sent the news to Zhongdu.
Su Yonglin from Zhongdu also responded quickly and ordered Zhang Yuejing, commander of the Henan Corps, to immediately mobilize the border defense troops of the Henan Corps to launch a large-scale military exercise to attract the Song Army's movements and try to help the peasant army attract some of the Song Army's attention. The military strength can be regarded as reducing some pressure.
But they didn't expect that Zhao Hao was so afraid of the Ming army. The Ming army only made a slight move, and he asked Yao Zhong to take the main army to Xiangyang to set up defenses, and gave up the invasion of Nanchang.
What else could Zhao Yucheng do?
Of course it was ecstasy.
He once again felt how wonderful it was to hug his thighs, which were so thick that even a slight movement would frighten the people of Song Dynasty and give up the crusade.
Therefore, during this period of time, he could quickly lick his wounds, regain his strength, and strengthen his training. After the most difficult moment passed, the Southern Song Dynasty would not want to embarrass him again.
Zhao Yu couldn't feel Zhao Yucheng's joy. He could only feel intense panic and uneasiness.
The sudden movement of the Ming army made him overwhelmed and very worried. He didn't know if the Ming army was planning to go south to attack him again.
If the Ming army goes south at this time, wouldn't it mean killing him?
And wasn’t the Ming Dynasty overhauling the Yellow River? Aren't you annexing Xixia? Is there that much energy there to start a war again?
Can't they just stop and stop?
Zhao Min was angry and scared at the same time. He felt isolated and helpless and didn't know what to do.
It was not until mid-February that Zhao Hao received news, explaining that the explanation given by the state was a routine training camp, and there was no intention to invade the south. The Southern Song Dynasty was a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. How could the Ming Dynasty attack the vassal state for no reason?
Zhang Yuejing, the commander-in-chief of the Henan Corps, smiled and patted the Southern Song envoy Lu You on the shoulder, telling him not to worry and to go back to work.
"I heard that the Southern Dynasty is experiencing civil strife. I still hope that you can put down the civil strife as soon as possible."
Zhang Yuejing's expression when he said this seemed normal at first glance, but Lu You always felt that Zhang Yuejing's expression was full of malice.
Is it my imagination?
Lu You doesn't know.
After Lu You returned to the court, he told Zhao Hao the news. Zhao Hao felt a little at ease. However, when he asked Xiangyang again, he learned that the Ming army was still conducting martial arts exercises and that the entire army was in a wartime state.
If you want to attack, if nothing else, it is not difficult to directly attack Xiangyang even without large-scale logistics.
For the Southern Song Dynasty, Xiangyang was the northern barrier of the Jinghu War Zone. Once Xiangyang was lost, the door to the Jinghu War Zone would be opened, and the Ming army could march straight in. The Jinghu War Zone would instantly fall into a terrifying situation, and the Southern Song Dynasty would most likely be cut off in two.
Therefore, as long as the Ming army does not stop large-scale military exercises, the combat readiness in the Xiangyang area cannot be relaxed.
As for Zhang Yuejing?
Zhao Hao, who was attacked by soldiers twice, really couldn't believe it.
Therefore, he could never order Yao Zhong to lead the army back to annihilate the peasant army on Jiangnan West Road.
He was very anxious, fearing that something would happen again on Jiangnan West Road. In this way, he would be attacked from both sides, which would be very difficult.
Faced with such a situation, senior officials such as Ye Yiwen, Zhou Linzhi, and Shen Gai were helpless. Only then did Zhao Jun regret that he had killed Zhang Jun and Shi Hao, who had provided him with many effective suggestions.
But these two people were already dead, and it was useless no matter how much he regretted it.
A group of senior officials worked together, and the final solution was to try to recruit the peasant army on Jiangnan West Road.
They tried to win over them with high-ranking officials and generous salaries, asking them to surrender directly and stop fighting. In this way, they could also use their good military strength to strengthen the national defense of the Southern Song Dynasty.
