The sky was clear and cloudless, and the rice fields ten miles north of Anshang City were crowded with people, a scene of busy autumn harvest.
Yang Qing untied his robe and sat in the shade of a tree wearing only a short linen shirt to rest. He took the cold water from Zhou Xing and drank it in one gulp, feeling much cooler and more comfortable.
In order to encourage the officials and the people, he just went to the fields to harvest rice for a while, which made him very tired as he had never done much farm work.
After only working for half an hour, he was sweating profusely, but in order to set an example for the soldiers and the people, he still gritted his teeth and persisted. In the end, Lu Shen couldn't stand it anymore, so he persuaded him to come up and rest. After all, the prefect kept working, so how could other officials rest?
"Magistrate Lu, if we go by the efficiency of these two days, how many days will it take for the county's rice harvest to be completed?" Yang Qing asked Lu Shen, who also came to rest under the shade of the tree.
"Mr. Huifu, I have mobilized more than 30,000 men and women to participate in this autumn harvest in the county. Each person can harvest an average of one acre of rice per day. And if we only count the more than 300,000 acres of rice fields in the central and northern parts, it will still be The official estimates that it will take eight or nine days to finish harvesting the rice."
"Eight or nine days?" Yang Qing thought for a moment and said, "If Feng Chong fights properly, he should be able to buy us this time."
Lu Shen agreed: "What Mr. Fu said is true, but I'm afraid Gao Ding won't let us get our wish easily."
Yang Qing said: "Huh, Gao Ding has already taken action, but Liu Yin and the others were temporarily repulsed."
"Master Fu, what do you mean by this?" Lu Shen asked puzzledly.
Yang Qing smiled slightly and said, "You will understand after you return to the city."
Last night, Wu Que returned to the city overnight and told Yang Qing exactly what was going on at the Dingjiacun camp. However, he was busy out of the city today to supervise the farmers, so he had not summoned his subordinates to report the military situation.
In the valley, Gao Zhong reached into the stream with his hands, picked up the water and washed his face. In the past two days, he had gathered his troops and found out that the Han camp in Dingjia Village was now heavily guarded and there was no chance of taking advantage.
Even if they went to forcibly harass them, it would probably have little effect. Therefore, Gao Zhong and the deputy general discussed and decided to bypass the main camp and go to Anshang hinterland to harass them in order to offset their merits and revive their morale.
"Second King, our sons and daughters are all ready. We are just waiting for your command. The sons and daughters will turn An Shang upside down." The deputy general came to Gao Zhong and said.
Gao Zhong shouted: "Okay, order all the troops to follow me to attack."
In the lobby of Anshang County Temple, the chief civil and military officers of the county and county gathered together, all listening attentively to Yang Xi's report on the military situation of the barbarian cavalry invasion.
"Okay, good fight..." After listening to the military report, everyone burst into cheers and praised Liu Yin and others for their courage in designing and using their troops properly.
Zhang Ni, the one on the lower left, also showed approval, and raised his hands to Yang Qing and said: "Master Fu, Xiuran and the others fought beautifully this time, and the result was not small. They are truly worthy of a commendation."
As the commander-in-chief of the county soldiers, Zhang Yi naturally wanted to take credit for his subordinates' achievements in battle.
Yang Qing nodded and said: "Yes, Wen Ran drafted a reward document on my behalf and sent it to the Dingjiacun camp. As for the credit this time, let's record it in the credit book for now, and then reward him after defeating Gaoding."
"Yes, Mr. Fu." Yang Xi responded with cupped hands.
Yang Qing nodded and continued: "According to detailed investigation, the commander of the Yi cavalry is Gao Ding's second brother. It is said that this man is a daring man. This time he was defeated by Xiuren. Everyone thought he was What should be the next step?”,
Everyone was silent and thinking after hearing the words. After a while, Zhang Ni replied: "Master Fu, Gaoding sent cavalry to come first and set it up for me. One of them is to harass our camp in Dingjia Village, and the other is to plunder." Stop me from successfully completing the autumn harvest."
"Now, his attack on the Dingjiacun camp has been frustrated, and Liu Yin and the others are also well prepared. It can be said that there is no chance to attack the camp again. If you are high-ranking, you should no longer attack the camp, but lead the army deep into the hinterland. If you plunder a bit, you will gain something."
Yang Qingdao: "What Bo Qi said is reasonable. But if Gao Zhong really acts like this, we really have nothing to do with him now." After that, he turned to Wang Yi and asked: "Wang Gong Cao, how is the recruitment of Qing Zhuang? "
In order to deal with Gaoding's invasion, Yang Qing decided to recruit a thousand people to help defend the city, so that most of the more than 3,000 county soldiers could be brought to Dingjiacun to fight.
Wang Yi cupped his hands and replied: "Sir, Qian Qingzhuang has basically been recruited. They are still being registered and will be handed over to General Zhang tomorrow."
"Okay, after Min Zhuang enters the camp, Bo Qi, you must arrange for people to train as soon as possible. This group of young Zhuang is not only for defending the city this time, but will also be recruited directly from them when the county soldiers expand in the future."
"Don't worry, Mr. Fu, Yi will arrange for capable men to train the army." Zhang Yi solemnly replied.
Yang Qingdao: "With these thousands of young men, our army can..."
"Master Fu, today the Yi cavalry suddenly bypassed the Dingjiacun camp and penetrated deep into our territory. They are burning, killing and looting." Before Yang Qing could finish speaking, Wu Que suddenly entered the room and reported.
"Hmph, I didn't expect that when we just talked about this second king, this thief would actually go deep into my Anshang hinterland to plunder." Yang Qing said angrily: "Uncle Qi, where is this thief now?"
Now the identity of Wu Que, the leader of the detailed work directly affiliated to Yang Qing, has almost been made public. Although his official identity is still the leader of the eunuch guard team, everyone in the hall knows that he has many secrets, so No one dares to underestimate him.
Seeing Yang Qing asking questions at this moment, everyone looked at Wu Que, for fear of missing some key news.
Wu Que replied: "The enemy cavalry first looted the Hexiang area, and now they have penetrated deep into the Lianxiang territory."
Lianxiang is located in the middle part of Anshang. After Lianxiang, you will reach Anshang County. It can be seen that the Yi troops have indeed reached the hinterland of the county.
Everyone felt that the situation was serious and turned to look at Yang Qing, hoping that he could make an idea, but saw that he had his eyes closed and said nothing.
When everyone saw the prefect behaving like this, they didn't dare to ask, and they all thought to themselves.
After a long while, Yang Qing opened his eyes and smiled: "Hey, why didn't you say a word?"
When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but twitch the corners of their mouths, thinking that it was not to disturb your old man's thoughts.
Zhang Ni also slandered in his heart, but still asked anxiously: "Master Fu, there is a serious intruder. Please tell me how to deal with it."
As Gao Zhong went deep into the hinterland, Yang Qingyuan was thinking about how to use this opportunity to annihilate him in one fell swoop, but after thinking for a while, he still had no idea. Seeing Zhang Ni's words so solemnly, he immediately said seriously: "Well, when the soldiers come, they will cover up the water and the earth." , the enemy's cavalry is looting, you should send troops to attack them."
"Bo Qi, you quickly return to the camp and send five hundred troops to Lianxiang to defend the enemy. I remember that Lianxiang also has a camp with a dangerous terrain, which can be used as a garrison."
"No." Zhang Yi stood up and responded.
"Remember, those who want to lead the army should remember that the purpose of sending troops this time is to retreat the enemy, not to defeat it. The first thing is to save the lives of the people. As for food, property and other materials, they cannot forcefully protect them." Yang Qing warned again.
"Yes, I will keep this in mind."
Yang Qing said again: "That's all, let's stop the discussion here today and let's disperse."
After lunch, Yang Qing was going to take a nap to rest. Suddenly Mulan came into the room and reported that Zhang Ni was asking for an audience. There was no choice but to cheer up Yang Qing to meet him.
The two sat down, and Yang Qing asked: "How about it? Have you made arrangements for the troops to attack?"
Zhang Ni replied: "The last general has ordered Shen Da to lead two tunks of sword and shield soldiers and three tunks of archers and crossbowmen to go to Lianxiang to defend against the enemy."
"Very good. Shen Da is calm and steady, and can handle it." Yang Qing nodded and said: "It's just that our army lacks strength, otherwise we can find ways to eat these more than a thousand enemy cavalry,"
Zhang Yi also sighed: "Yes, the enemy cavalry broke away from the group and came to harass them. Although it is hateful, it also gave us a chance to annihilate them. However, our army is insufficient in strength. Otherwise, how could we let Gao Zhong be so arrogant?" .”
"Master Fu, Master Fu." Suddenly, Yang Xi trotted into the house and reported: "Master Fu, Chief Guli has led his troops to the outside of the city."
When Yang Qing heard this, he said happily: "Haha, I came just in time. Bo Qi will follow me out of the city to greet me."
