Ma Mu wiped the sweat from his forehead, held the parchment and said: "Sir, the data you asked for before have been roughly calculated. So far, we have jurisdiction over four large-scale cities, namely Metasequoia City, Dabancheng, Iklu City and Pai City. The total registered population of the four cities is about 150,000. Including nearby towns, villages, and nomadic tribes, there are nearly 270,000 people in total."
Situ Wushou continued to report: "Among them, Dabancheng is a famous large granary in Western Xinjiang and is rich in products. According to past experience, before winter this year, Dabanchang can harvest more than 15,000 dendrobium of wheat and millet. Just this One place can provide our army with four months of rations.”
Li Jiangyao was overjoyed when he heard this and said with emotion: "This is great! Finally, I no longer have to worry about people eating horse chews."
Situ Wushou nodded slightly and continued: "Iklu City is adjacent to the Flame Mountain and is rich in iron ore. The local blacksmith workshop is also very developed and can produce a large number of weapons and armor. It used to be the main source of equipment for Chechi's army. Although the previous major rebellion caused serious damage to Ikru, the city is currently gradually recovering. According to official statistics, more than a thousand escaped blacksmith masters have returned there and resumed their old trade."
For the army, in addition to food, the most important thing is weapons and equipment, so the situation in Iklu made Li Jiangyao and Xu Youchang unable to help but nod.
"There is also Pai City guarded by Princess Nanhua," Mamu said: "That place is one of the few large cities in the Ghost Desert of Western Xinjiang. Although the overall defense system is relatively weak, it has a large population. Moreover, Pai City is also It was once a county established by Shengtang, so the local people are generally very friendly to Shengtang, and it can become our main base for recruiting troops in the future."
After listening to Ma Mu and Situ Wushou's introduction, Li Jiangyao couldn't help but ask: "According to your reports, our situation is very good now, but why do I feel that you both look gloomy? appearance?"
Ma Mu looked at Situ Wushou, then turned to Li Jiangyao and replied: "Our biggest problem right now is... lack of people."
"Missing someone?" Xu Youchang couldn't help but be stunned: "Who is missing?"
Seeing that Li Jiangyao also didn't understand, Situ Wushou quickly explained: "To be precise, it is a lack of talents. We are now very short of talents to manage cities and govern civil affairs."
Li Jiangyao suddenly realized after hearing this: This is indeed a very serious problem.
Managing a city is never simple.
Ma Mu and Situ Wushou, both in terms of ability and experience, are fully qualified to serve as city guards. But the problem is that in a city with tens of thousands of people, it is impossible for the two of them to do everything by themselves. Even if he grows three heads and six arms, I'm afraid he won't be able to keep busy.
The administrative system and the military system are essentially the same. They must have complete functions, a reasonable division of labor, and an efficient communication and coordination mechanism.
A mature administrative team must not only have a brain like Ma Mu, but also have hands and feet: those in charge of public security, commerce and trade, finance and taxation, treasury, transportation, and even clock work and street cleaning. There must also be dedicated management. The eating, drinking, and eating of the people in the city cannot be ignored, otherwise there will be riots at every turn.
The administrative system of Metasequoia City, thanks to the protection of the Metasequoia garrison and the dedication of Mamu Situ Wushou, was completely preserved during the chaos in Western Xinjiang and operated without any serious problems. However, the situation in other places was not tolerated. Optimistic.
Originally, officials from Shengtang or Chechi were stationed in Daban City, Iklu City and Pai City, but they were either killed or captured during the war, or they fled in all directions. The Turks and Gerhan's subordinates who later took over have also abandoned the city and left, leaving only a few local officials behind.
In a short period of time, these people can barely support the operation of the city, but if you want to manage the four large towns within the jurisdiction in an orderly manner so as to provide strong support for the future counter-insurgency war, the current manpower is simply not enough.
Li Jiangyuan looked out the window and pondered for a long time, then suddenly turned around and said to the three people present: "Hey, look, how about we give him a 'Solicitation Order'?"
"Ask for a wise order?" Xu Youchang asked curiously: "What should I do?"
Li Jiangyao stood in front of them and waved his hand: "Two strategies! One is about profit, and the other is about meaning. First use super high remuneration to cause a sensation, and help us spread the news through people's discussion, and then rely on Loyalty and righteousness inspired officials from Shengtang and Chechi to stand up bravely and contribute to countering the rebellion."
Situ Wushou nodded repeatedly: "Well, this is a good method. As long as we take a two-pronged approach, once the news spreads, there will definitely be many people willing to come."
"Then how much should the reward be?" Ma Mu asked.
Li Jiangyao didn't answer but asked: "How much is your annual salary as a city guard?"
Ma Mu scratched his head: "If you hadn't mentioned this, I would have almost forgotten that I haven't received any salary for more than a year. Before the rebellion in Western Xinjiang, I received twenty silver coins from King Chechi every month. The county magistrate's salary issued by the Shengtang court is once every six months, each time with 300 silver coins. Calculated for the whole year, the total is 840 silver coins. If rewards and allowances are added, it will be about 1,000."
Situ Wushou said: "I used to work in the government office. Although I am not as high-ranking as Lord Ma Mu, but because I am a registered official of Shengtang, and I am involved in Silk Road trade, my salary after one year is almost Thousands of silver coins.”
Xu Youchang smiled when he heard this: "From this point of view, the treatment in the army is better. My previous salary..."
"Stop, stop showing off your wealth here," Li Jiangyao rolled his eyes at him: "Are the officials in other places in Western Xinjiang in similar situations to you two?"
Ma Mu and Situ Wushou both nodded: "Yeah, almost. If you count it higher, it won't exceed two thousand annual salary; if you count it lower, it will be at least two hundred."
Li Jiangyao thought about it silently and made a final decision: "Okay, that's it. The Talent Seeking Order sets five talent levels, which are evaluated according to qualifications, experience, expertise and reputation, and are divided into excellent, advanced, medium, elementary and qualified. .Excellent level, the annual salary is 10,000 silver coins, the high level is 8,000, the middle level is 5,000, and the elementary level is 3,000. Those who are qualified must also reach 2,000 silver coins per year."
Then he added: "Ma Mu and Situ, you two are both outstanding."
Hearing this, Ma Mu and Situ Wushou were so happy that they couldn't help but smile. It wasn't that they cared about the income of 10,000 silver coins, but that Mr. Li designated them as special talents. Of course, it was an incomparable honor.
Xu Youchang nodded: "Well, this salary level is pretty much the same, compared to what I was before..."
Li Jiangyao set the standard of treatment for the "Writing Order", and then an important question came before everyone: How should the banner be determined?
At present, they have controlled a large area in Chechi State, and it is obviously inappropriate to call themselves the "Metasequoia Garrison" as they did before. However, what kind of banner to use involves the external image and military morale, and must be carefully considered, so Xu Youchang called in several other army leaders to discuss it together.
"In my opinion, let's call it the Iron-blooded Revenge Legion!" Holia said excitedly: "Iron-blooded warriors, how about avenging the comrades who died in the rebellion?"
Lin Feng shook his head: "No, no, no. I think it's better to call it 'Shengtang Guards'."
Du Jian groaned angrily: "The garrison sounds boring, so let's just combine your two names and call it the Holy Tang Iron-Blooded Revenge Army!"
Makmu hesitated: "Should we give it a name related to Western Xinjiang, such as 'Western Xinjiang National Guard Army'?"
"This is not appropriate either," Xu Youchang said loudly: "I remember that among the previous designations of the Shengtang Army, the names 'Xiaoqi' and 'Yongdou' were still vacant. How about calling them the Xiaoqi Corps or the Yongdou Corps?"
"Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi, it sounds very stingy, but I still enjoy calling the Iron-Blooded Revenge Army!"
"Do you understand? Riding a knight is the highest honor of the cavalry, okay?"
"No, no, no, it's still the style of the Tang garrison."
"I think General Xu's idea is very good. Let's call it the Knights Cavalry Corps! Xiao Lin's name is too rustic."
"You are so fucking tacky..."
Everyone was noisy and had a lot of fun over the new banner, but Li Jiangyao said nothing, lying on the table next to him and writing furiously. After a while, he stood up and suddenly unfolded the white cloth in his hand, only to see five bright red characters written in cinnabar on it - "Shengtang Zhenjiang Army".
When everyone saw this, they couldn't help but froze on the spot.
Zhenjiang Army, it’s not like everyone has never thought of this name before. Especially Lin Feng and Du Jian, who were originally soldiers of the Zhenjiang Protectorate, were the first to consider this title.
However, the tragic defeat of Crescent Bay and the death of Commander He made everyone present dare not mention this once glorious name easily again.
Now looking at the eye-catching characters on the white cloth in Li Jiangyao's hand, Lin Feng, Du Jian and other officers of the Protectorate couldn't help but wet their eyes, while Xu Youchang Huo Liya and others also sighed and nodded slightly.
-
According to later historical records, starting from the year 282 of the Holy Tang Dynasty, there was a strange phenomenon of two "Xinjiang-suppressing armies" coexisting in the dynasty.
One is that after the Battle of Crescent Bay, the remaining troops of Zhenjiang Protectorate, commanded by Deputy Protector Guan Zhan, retreated to the east of Zijin Pass, with a size of less than 20,000;
The other one was the Metasequoia Military Mansion, which was not officially approved by the Holy Tang Dynasty, but had a large number of soldiers and complex soldiers, and had been fighting in various parts of Western Xinjiang for a long time.
Same town, different situation.
The former has limited ambitions due to the death of his coach and the constraints of powerful ministers; while the latter is an unlucky child who "doesn't care about me and doesn't love me". He has no royal authorization, no supplies, no money, and no one. The "Three Nothings" who are asking for help are alone.
However, it was this lonely army outside the territory that had nothing to rely on but was also fearless. In the difficult years to come, it opened a magnificent chapter for Shengtang.
