Wang Yue was lying lazily, squinting his eyes, and issuing military orders one after another in a calm voice.
People who don't know better think that he is an old man who sells fried cypress at a stall in the capital and tells his family to prepare for the stall tomorrow morning.
Chang Feng listened carefully to Wang Yue's military orders.
Chang Feng was surprised to find that when 80,000 border troops were assembled, Wang Yue's orders were accurate enough to mobilize every single household station.
He never glanced at the map from beginning to end. Every plant, tree, mountain and river in Ningxia seemed to be stored in his mind.
Chang Feng completely understood why Ma Wensheng said that "the crisis in the northwest can only be solved by Wang Yue alone."
Chang Feng even began to feel annoyed. If we had taken action earlier and helped Wang Yue become the trilateral leader, how could the situation in the northwest have deteriorated to this point?
It will take about a month for the border troops from Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia to complete their assembly in Lingwu.
After the assembly is completed, the army will march towards Helan Mountain.
The soldiers and horses have not moved, but the food and grass go first. After Wang Yue issued military orders to the generals, he then began to meet with local officials to discuss food and grass matters.
Under the trilateral general system, there is one big governor (Shaanxi) and four small governors (Gansu, Ningxia, Hedong, and Hexi).
Wang Yue was the immediate superior of the northwest magistrate. The five governors have gathered in Lingwu City, waiting for Wang Yue to summon them.
In the big tent, the generals retreated. Each went to carry out the military orders issued by Wang Yue.
Wang Yue said: "I would like to invite five governors!"
Then Wang Yue said to Chang Feng and Zhang Yong: "You two, please come to my side."
Wang Yue was still half-lying on the recliner. Chang Feng and Zhang Yong stood on both sides of him, like two generals.
Wang Yue was trying to pull a tiger's skin: Look, Bingbi from the Supervisor of Ceremonies and the shopkeeper from Jinyiwei are both my followers. You civil servants had better cooperate.
Not long after, the five governors walked into the commander's tent with official steps.
The leader of them is Yang Tingxu, the governor of Shaanxi.
Each of these people has his own backer in the capital, and has a huge network of disciples and old friends.
For example, Yang Tingxu was the same year and close friend of Liu Jian, the second assistant to the cabinet.
These people look down on Wang Yue from the bottom of their hearts: You are a guy from the top three, if you hadn't been licking your ass, how could you have risen all the way up and become a trilateral organization that is superior to us?
Who are we? Either one of the top three scholars in the first class, or one of the top ten in the second class, they are all leaders among scholars.
If you don't cling to the powerful. With your rank as a coward, I'm afraid that if you work until you die, you will only be able to reach the fifth level at most.
Wang Yue also looked down on these people: they were just a bunch of corrupt people. With a few examination articles, he earned this high-ranking official and a generous salary.
I have been away from Northwest China for eight years, and all the wealth I worked so hard to build has been completely destroyed by you.
When the five governors saw Wang Yue, they did not kneel down and worship him, but kept their pestles there.
Zhang Yong sneered: "You guys, Futai is in such a big show. Wang Zhishuai has the title of Crown Prince and Tutor, and is a serious civil servant. Not to mention that he is your immediate superior!"
"You guys from the second and third ranks came to see him without kneeling or bowing. Why, after you have been a feudal official for a long time, your knees won't bend anymore?"
After getting along with him all the way from the capital to Ningxia, Zhang Yong has been impressed by Wang Yue's military ability. Naturally, I have to stand by his side and speak for him.
The Superintendent of Ceremonies spoke with his pen, and the five governors had no choice but to kneel down obediently: "I have seen Wang Zhishuai."
Wang Yue said: "Get up. We don't need to take off our pants and fart. It's better to go straight."
"I need you to raise the 100,000 shi of military rations required by the 80,000 frontier troops for the Western Expedition within a month."
According to Wang Yue's plan, the Western Expedition would take three months. One hundred thousand stones of military rations are enough to support it.
Yang Tingxu said coldly: "Our five regions can raise up to 50,000 shi of military rations. Commander Wang knows clearly that the northwest is a barren land."
Wang Yue glanced at Chang Feng: "This is Jin Yiwei Zuo Tongzhi Chang Feng. He is appointed military admiral for this Western Expedition. He is responsible for food and grass affairs."
Chang Feng's name has long been heard by the five governors.
There is a fear chain in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty: military officers are afraid of civil servants, civil servants are afraid of Jin Yiwei, and Jin Yiwei are afraid of eunuchs.
Chang Feng said seriously: "Yang Futai, Hedong, Hexi, Ningxia, and Gansu are barren lands. Is your Shaanxi also a barren land?"
"Shaanxi is famous for being blocked in the south of the Yangtze River! Before I come, I will check the account books of the transfer department."
"Last year, Shaanxi paid a total of two million shi to the grain department of the Ministry of Household Affairs. It's only 100,000 shi of grain. Do you still want to push back?"
Yang Ting was speechless.
Chang Feng said again: "The war in the northwest is about food and grass. Anyone who cares about the supply of food and grass will not be allowed by me, Chang Feng. Nor will the Jin Yiwei. Catch those who should be arrested, and kill those who should be killed."
Yang Tingxu muttered: "We are all second- and third-grade civil servants. It seems that the colleagues of Jinyiwei have no right to arrest us."
What Yang Ting said is true. The power of the Jinyiwei was not as great as people of later generations imagined. They could arrest ministers, ministers, governors, and governors whenever they asked.
The enfeoffment of frontier officials involves the foundation of the country. To catch them requires the emperor's explicit decree.
Zhang Yong's expression changed: "Comrade Jin Yiwei has no right to arrest you. Do I, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, Bingbi, have the right to arrest you?"
Chang Feng and Zhang Yong sang in harmony: "The commander-in-chief Wang's military order has been issued. Within one month, you must raise 100,000 shi of military rations."
"If you don't raise enough money, you will obstruct the Western Expedition, plot evil, collude with foreign enemies, and betray the country."
Chang Feng, the butcher of Jinyiwei, is very good at labeling people.
As soon as this was said, the five governors had no choice but to agree.
Wang Yue closed his eyes: "Then I'll help you all. You can go on your own errands."
The five people left the handsome tent.
Yang Tingxu spat: "Ah, bah! What the hell is Wang Yue? He's just a stinky man from the top three. He has no other ability except to curry favor with eunuchs and favored ministers."
"This time he has found the chief officials of the Supervisor of Ceremonies and the Jin Yiwei to support him."
Governor Gao of Hexi agreed: "That's right. He treats us, those of us who are of noble character and have a first- or second-class background, and treat them like cattle and horses. Is he worthy?"
Ningxia Governor Lin said: "You two, we still have to give the Chief of Ceremonies and the Jin Yiwei some face."
"As the saying goes, don't look at the monk's face to see the Buddha's face. I think we should quickly raise food and grass to avoid getting into trouble with Eunuch Zhang and Chang Butcher."
Yang Tingxu sighed: "Oh, that's all we can do."
Within the handsome tent.
Wang Yue said: "Chang Feng, you saw it. Fighting is never easy. The enemies of the Ming army are both outside and inside, in the light and in the dark."
"Do you know why Lord Yingzong defeated Tumubao in the first place?"
Chang Feng replied: "Of course it was because the treacherous eunuch Wang Zhen was good at improving the army's route. The soldiers were exhausted."
Wang Yue's next words surprised Chang Feng: "That's only part of the reason."
"Let me tell you. In addition, part of the reason is that the people in the Beijing camp who are accompanying Master Yingzong personally have been in short supply of food and grass."
"Some of the civil servants in Beijing deliberately delayed the supply of food and grass."
Wang Yue's words completely ruined Chang Feng's outlook. Chang Feng said: "Can't you? Do civil servants have such courage?"
Wang Yue sneered: "Oh, why not? Lord Yingzong reused eunuchs to check and balance the civil servants. There are people in the court who hope that Lord Yingzong will be defeated and Wang Zhen will fall."
"Of course, the delay in the supply of food and grass by civilian officials was only one of the many reasons for the defeat of Tumubao."
Chang Feng suddenly remembered the three things Wang Shu mentioned to him in his previous letter.
Don't underestimate the shamelessness of civil servants; don't underestimate the ignorance of the people; don't underestimate the cruelty of the court.
Wang Yue said again: "Why do I let you, the Jinyiwei butcher, take care of the food and grass affairs? It's not that you are overqualified, but you want to frighten the local civil servants."
"Let them stop hindering me, a traitor, in the supply of food and grass!"
Chang Feng said: "Commander, don't worry. I am willing to issue a military order. If the food and grass cannot be collected within a month, the emperor will kill my head."
"Of course, I will kill the heads of those governors first."
Wang Yue was very pleased: "With these words from Master Chang, the battle is half won!"
Chang Feng walked to the map: "May I ask Wang Zhitai, where do we store our food and grass?"
In any war from ancient times to the present, a safe place to store food must be chosen in the rear.
Yuan Shao failed in the Battle of Guandu because Wuchao Granary was burned by Cao Cao.
Wang Yue walked to the map and pointed to a place - the salt pond.
The salt pond is two hundred miles southwest of Lingwu.
Wang Yue said: "Yanchi City is suitable for storing grain. You ask the five governors to transport all the grain and grass raised from various places to Yanchi."
Chang Feng came out of the commander's tent, found five governors, and ordered them to transport the grain and grass to the salt pond for concentration.
The five of them smiled at him on the outside, but in their hearts they were in disbelief.
They not only looked down on Wang Yue, but also looked down on Chang Feng: a standing candidate who failed to pass the examination three times in a row.
He became a powerful minister in the capital by flattering the emperor.
Oh, the world has really changed. A small official is actually giving orders to us, the first or second grade Jinshi!
That day, Chang Feng rushed to Yanchi with Fatty Xu and the three thousand border troops assigned to him by Wang Yue.
The 200-mile journey is entirely deserted and deserted. Occasionally scattered camel caravans can be seen.
Fatty Xu sat on his horse and complained: "We agreed that I would charge into the battle this time and revive the Xu family's glory. This would be a good idea. Take me to the rear to take charge of food!"
Chang Feng sighed: "Let the prince of Dingguo charge into the battle? If something goes wrong, even if the battle is won, it will not be considered a complete victory."
"Don't underestimate taking care of the army rations. According to Commander Wang, as long as there is no problem with the army rations, half of the battle is won."
Fatty Xu was a little impatient: "I know! I'll just be your heel."
"Oh, what a pity. This time I even brought my ancestor's Leaf Armor and Flying Dragon Cloud-Slaying Sword. It seems they won't be of any use."
Everyone traveled all night. At noon the next day, we finally arrived at Yanchi City.
Yanchi is a small county town. The magistrate is an old man in his seventies named Lu Gan.
The magistrate of Lu County led the officials and servants of the county government to wait for Chang Feng in front of the city gate for a long time.
Changfeng got off his horse, and the magistrate of Lu saluted him.
Chang Feng asked: "Zhi County Lu, how old are you?"
Lu Gan replied: "Seventy-one."
Chang Feng thought that Lu Gan passed the imperial examination late, which was why he was still a seventh-rank county magistrate at the age of seventy-one.
Chang Feng asked: "How many years have you been an official?"
Lu Gan's answer shocked Chang Feng: "Including this year, it will be exactly forty-six years."
Chang Feng counted with his fingers: "You have been an official since the early years of Jingtai? How come you have been an official for so many years and are still a seventh-grade county magistrate?"
Lu Gan replied: "The lower official is a member of the Juren family and has no talent for advancement. He has been an official for more than 40 years and has been serving as county magistrate in various places in the northwest."
The top three Jinshi of the Ming Dynasty were initially granted the title of county magistrate.
Candidates can only be appointed from the position of official, chief registrar, or county magistrate.
But Northwest is an exception. This is a place of poverty. As long as the candidate is willing to come, the first grant will be the county magistrate.
However, the upper limit of official career for most people is only the seventh grade county magistrate. It doesn't matter how many political achievements you have. If you don't have the title of Jinshi, just be your seventh rank.
This is one of the shortcomings of the Ming Dynasty's official system.
Chang Feng sighed: "You can be regarded as a serious northwest Laozhou County."
Lu Gan laughed and said, "Admiral Chang is so complimentary. I don't make progress as a subordinate."
"You can't make progress if you are a low-ranking official" was Lu Gan's mantra. He said this to every boss he met.
Chinese officialdom has an officialdom tradition that lasts for thousands of years. When addressing an official, you can address him in a more senior way, but not in a small way.
Chang Feng was the military admiral, so Lu Gan called him "Chang Admiral", which sounded more prestigious than "Chang Tongzhi".
Everyone entered Yanchi County. In the small county town, there is a huge granary that can hold 150,000 stones of grain.
This granary occupies an area almost equal to one-third of the county's area.
Chang Feng was greatly surprised: "Magistrate Lu, how much is your county's annual grain tax?"
Lu Gan replied: "We are a poor and small county. The annual grain tax is only three thousand dan."
Chang Feng asked: "Then why build such a big granary?"
Lu Gan replied: "This was built on the order of Marshal Wang in the seventh year of Chenghua. It was specially used to store military rations."
Chang Feng exclaimed: "The commander is really good at predicting things!"
Wang Yue had predicted from twenty-seven years ago that there would be a battle sooner or later between the Ming Dynasty and the grassland tribes at the Helan Mountain, the military demarcation line.
He had long chosen Yanchi as the rear granary for the Helan Mountain War.
This is really not a plan for the eternity, but only a temporary plan.
Chang Feng summoned the five frontier soldiers Qianhu. Assign them to defend cities and granaries.
In the military system of the Ming Dynasty, one thousand households had one thousand men under their command.
Wang Yue gave Changfeng three thousand men to guard the Yanchi granary. There are only five men in command of thousands of households.
Because the border troops are not full, it is a bad rule in the army.
There are usually six to seven hundred soldiers under Qianhu.
No wonder there is a saying in later generations about the Ming Dynasty's frontier army: The frontier army is invincible if it is not full.
At night, Lu Gan set up a table of wine at the county government office to entertain Chang Feng and others.
In the back office dining room. Lu Gan served Chang Fengman a glass of wine: "This time Admiral Chang comes to the county to handle military affairs, and everyone in the county will definitely cooperate with them and do their best for you."
Chang Feng said: "The grain and grass from various places have not yet been transported. After it arrives, people in your county must take fire prevention measures in the granaries."
"If one hundred thousand stones of grain and fodder catch fire, that's no joke."
Lu Gan said repeatedly: "Yes, I will keep in mind Admiral Chang's teachings."
Fatty Xu interjected from the side: "Follow our Master Chang and work hard. When this battle is won, maybe our Master Chang will help you transfer to the blessed land of Jiangnan and become a comfortable magistrate."
"You don't have to live in the northwest anymore."
Lu Gan said quickly: "Then I would like to thank Admiral Chang for his support. Come on, come on, please drink this cup to the full."
(End of chapter)
