Chapter 145 Only the East Wind is Lacked
The three treasures of cavalry are saddle, stirrup and horseshoe.
Bingzhou has a natural environment for training cavalry. If the military rations are sufficient, the generals and soldiers are elite, and the combat strategy is correct, if these three are properly equipped, it will undoubtedly have an overwhelming advantage.
It was not difficult for Bingzhou to further improve the stirrups to ensure that people would not be tripped by them when getting on and off the horse.
Everyone in Bingzhou, from the governor to the troops, needed to engage in horseback combat, especially those who were relatively young. It didn't take Qiao Yan any trouble to upgrade an ordinary saddle to a Gaoqiao saddle, and it was not a technical issue in itself.
Only this horseshoe gave her a headache.
It's not as simple as drawing an arc and nailing it on the horse's paw.
In European history, there was a case where a nail on a horseshoe fell off, causing a commander to fall off his horse. His subordinates mistakenly thought he was shot by an arrow and fell to the ground, leading to the general's defeat.
Although there was no pain when the horseshoes were nailed into the cuticle of the warhorse, Qiao Yan had no idea what style the tools needed to replace and install the horseshoes, such as the nail shears and horseshoe shovels, should be. He could only vaguely describe the mechanism, and it would be best if it was made by people who specialized in the field.
There are indeed many war horses in Bingzhou, but the number of people engaged in related nursing work is pitifully small, which gives people a sense of wildness. This inevitably makes Qiao Yan think of letting his subordinates change their careers.
The gift given by Mi Zhu really touched her heart!
The fact that the Mi family of Donghai was able to accumulate such a huge fortune is obviously inseparable from their extremely high emotional intelligence and vision.
Qiao Yan stood up and said, "Take me to meet these people. Zi Zhong was very thoughtful in selecting them."
Mi Zhu was naturally happy to hear this.
Qiao Yan even brought a warhorse from the provincial government's stable and had it trimmed by the Dingling people brought by Mi Zhu.
As they used tools to scrape off the extra "nails" that the horses had grown due to long-term running, and used hoof oil to care for them, Mi Zhu heard Qiao Yan ask casually, "There are many rocks and gravels on the mountain roads in Liangzhou. I heard that in Jiuquan, Dunhuang, Zhangye and other places, people used to wrap camels' feet with animal skins to ensure that they could walk safely. I wonder if we can nail wood or iron pieces to the soles of horses' hooves to ensure that they can walk without injury?"
The Dingling man who was trimming the horse's hooves stopped what he was doing and looked towards Qiao Yan. Although as Mi Zhu said, they had intermarried with the Han people from the Central Plains for three or four generations, there were still some Hu characteristics in the man's facial features.
But his Chinese was very standard. "Under the horse's hoof? Is that what you're talking about?"
He took out a piece of cowhide from the bag beside him and handed it over. On the cowhide was painted the pattern of a horseshoe.
What is Mushi? It is a wooden board made into the shape of a horseshoe, with four holes drilled on it. Four holes are also drilled at the corresponding positions of the horseshoe, and it is fixed with wooden wedges or ropes.
According to what is written on the drawing, the materials used for wooden wheels are similar to those used for carriage wheels. Considering the slightly higher price of iron, it is naturally the optimal solution relatively speaking.
This thing has never appeared in the Central Plains, simply because the conditions for horse racing here are not as harsh as those at the border, and such troublesome means can only play a limited role in protection.
But what Qiao Yan wanted was the efficient operation of the cavalry team. With her current control over the salt and iron monopoly in Bingzhou, she did have the capital to forge a sufficient number of horseshoes.
She set her eyes on the end of the scroll and asked, "If it was made of iron, would you know how to do it?"
The man still maintained the boldness of a Liangzhou man and replied, "If you need me, I can give it a try!"
"Okay!" Qiao Yan clapped his hands and smiled, then immediately had someone take him to a workshop that made iron farm tools, and asked him to cooperate with the blacksmith to try to make horseshoes as soon as possible.
But she didn't favor one over the other.
The other two groups of people brought by Mi Zhu are also very important.
She made a batch of chain mail and sent them to the generals stationed in various counties by special personnel to be tailored for their measurements.
The guy who made the mountain bike and even had the crazy idea of putting sails on the deer cart was directly thrown by Qiao Yan to cooperate with Ma Jun.
They have only one goal, which is to perfect the mountain cart to the level that is most suitable for combat transportation before this winter.
After making these two arrangements, Qiao Yan signaled Mi Zhu to go with her.
After she took two steps, her tone was much softer than when she had just made the arrangements vigorously, and it was more like a joke. "I know the purpose of Zi Zhong's gift of congratulations, but you don't seem to be worried that if the Mi family of Donghai encounters any trouble, our government will inevitably be out of reach in Bingzhou."
"Businessmen have to get used to losses," Mi Zhu replied calmly, "As long as a deal has a 60% chance of success, you can invest a little more. I see more than 60% here at Qiao Hou, so you can put in a little more effort."
Qiao Yan smiled and said, "Since you have given me a favor, how can I not return the favor?"
When Mi Zhu returned to Xuzhou, there were more people in the team.
In Bingzhou's current official position and personnel arrangement system, there is one person who is somewhat out of place.
If they wanted to use him, he was, after all, one of the eight captains of Xiyuan under Emperor Ling of Han. At least he had to take over a position higher than that of captain. Otherwise, it would be unfair to Qiao Yan, a person who obeyed the will of Emperor Ling of Han.
But this person was not included in Qiao Yan's marching plan at the time.
So instead of letting him be in a somewhat awkward situation during this Western Expedition to Liangzhou, it would be better to let him be a dispatched bodyguard to ensure that Donghai Mi's family can escape when necessary.
This is none other than Bao Hong.
Bao Hong was once reported by He Jin for embezzling military rations. Qiao Yan also inquired about this. According to Bao Hong, he did take a little bit, but it was within the unspoken rules of the generals at that time and was by no means as serious as He Jin said. After being beaten by Liu Hong, he would never dare to do it again.
However, considering Qiao Yan's caution about the battle in Liang Province, this made him even less suitable to serve as a captain in the Western Expedition.
Instead, he went to the Mi family in the East China Sea. As a bodyguard hiding there and leading a group of people, he could also enjoy the support of big merchants. It was considered a good place for him.
Bao Hong must know that as one of the men left behind by Emperor Ling of Han, he would be safer on whose side in today's situation, so this business trip did not give him the opportunity to choose another master.
"In fact, he might still be useful." Qiao Yan said to Xi Zhicai as he watched Bao Hong escort Mi Zhu away.
"My lord, do you want to use this slightly greedy person to observe a figure in Xuzhou?" Xi Zhicai asked back.
"To be more precise, I want to see if such a person, after seeing the scene in Bingzhou, can still be persuaded by Zuo Rong's words about the Buddhist kingdom on earth." Qiao Yan said, "This is not a problem just in Xuzhou."
Just as Mi Zhu had noticed, Zuo Rong rose in Xia Pi and was deeply trusted by Xuzhou governor Tao Qian, but he was definitely an important destabilizing factor in Xuzhou.
This man recruited people by preaching Buddhism, and acted even more unscrupulously than Zhang Jue. However, in this almost radical propaganda of Buddhism, he was still able to gather five or six thousand loyal believers.
Even though he repeatedly betrayed and killed those he had joined, he was unable to change the support of these believers. This was even more like Zhang Jue curing illnesses and saving lives during a pandemic and then preaching. It was even more of a religious madness in the face of the collapse of order.
But in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Zuo Rong was by no means an isolated case.
Even though she had been able to use sophistry to dispel the legend about Zhang Jue earlier, it was ultimately because Zhang Jue had the intention to save people, but Zuo Rong did not. This led to the fact that the kingdom of God he had defined was invulnerable within his own scope, unless it was defeated by military conquest like Liu Yao did.
But this is only a temporary solution and not a fundamental solution.
The common people and Buddhist believers who were motivated by him had already regarded Buddhism as a place to place their emotions as the social rituals and music declined.
The final act of killing Zuo Rong was more about them wanting to save their own lives than realizing that this religious belief was unreliable.
The impact of his large-scale construction of Buddhist temples in the Xuzhou and Yangzhou areas almost spanned the entire Southern and Northern Dynasties, which sounds a bit terrifying.
Although Qiao Yan's current short-term plan is to attack Liangzhou, her focus cannot just be on the territory of Bingzhou and Liangzhou.
"Fortunately, Mi Zizhong has a bad impression of Zuo Rong. If Bao Hong behaves inappropriately, he can make timely corrections. Of course, I hope he won't be of such use." Qiao Yan added.
She temporarily withdrew her consideration of the situation in Xuzhou and turned her attention back to the internal construction of Bingzhou.
After the autumn harvest, Bingzhou seems to be passing on the joy of the harvest and the strong sense of belonging of the residents of the state to the newly moved residents, creating a boiling atmosphere.
Starting from autumn, the original farming-based lifestyle has shifted to open-pit coal mining and various production line-based lifestyles, which are also drawing in the new residents.
This year, there are several new production items, which are all the equipment needed for the expedition.
At this time, Budugen also completed this year's material exchange with Bingzhou and returned with the winter supplies reserved for him by Qiao Yan.
However, after he left, the first batch of Xianbei people who were incorporated into the Yanmen County open-pit coal mine also started working under Zhang Liao's supervision.
It was unknown whether Zhang Niujiao would have much in common with these Xianbei people. After all, on the first day of their arrival, regardless of other thoughts, there was one common thought -
Is this the food in Bingzhou?
If they can eat this by working as a coal miner, then it is not impossible for them to recognize the Bingzhou Mu as the Chanyu.
If Bu Dugen knew that the subordinate he entrusted with an important task not only failed to observe Yanmen County properly, but instead quickly turned against him, he would probably be very angry when he returned to the Xianbei royal court.
But Qiao Yan obviously wouldn't take his thoughts into consideration.
On the one hand, she sent letters to Zhang Liao and Zhang Yang, asking them to demonstrate the military strength of the Yanmen garrison to the Xianbei people when necessary, so that they would have something to say when they returned to the grassland in the spring of next year. On the other hand, she once again opened the [Tips] in mid-September, just as a pastime in her busy schedule.
[You have obtained the leader information-Han Sui]
[According to the grapevine, although Han Sui was a well-educated man, he was good at fighting but not at quarreling. He was once scolded and cried by Gai Xun, the governor of Hanyang County. It is said that he and Beigong Boyu had a falling out because he couldn't scold each other, but probably only the two of them knew the specific circumstances. 】
Qiao Yan: “…”
This piece of news is more in line with the gossip than Yuan Shu's previous comments on Xu You and He Yong.
However, there was one person among them who actually played a role in the war in Liangzhou.
Gai Xun, the chief historian of Hanyang County.
Gai Xun——
He was not the chief officer of Hanyang County at that time.
The ten counties of Liangzhou are Beidi, Anding, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Dunhuang, Jincheng, Longxi, Hanyang, and Wudu.
During the Zhongping period, Gai Xun first served as the prefect of Hanyang County and later as the prefect of Wudu County. He is currently serving in the latter position.
But where is Wudu County?
Once Ma Teng and Han Sui, who were in Jincheng and Longxi counties, wanted to attack Sanfu, Wudu County would be the first to be conquered by them.
Gai Xun was rescued by his subordinates and fled to another place in Liang Province, where he lurked secretly with the intention of retaking Wudu. However, when Dong Zhuo tried to win over Ma Teng and Han Sui, he had already deprived Gai Xun of his position as the prefect of Wudu County.
This edict issued in the name of Emperor Liu Xie undoubtedly made Gai Xun lose the opportunity to return to Wudu.
For this reason, he could not help but complain to the prefect of Hanyang County. If the emperor could only issue such orders, he might as well go to the court in the east. Who would care about the distance?
It was also after this complaint that he received a letter from Qiao Yan through Huangfu Song, saying that she intended to invite him to Bingzhou to discuss the attack on Ma Teng and Han Sui.
If we were to say who knew the most about these rebel forces in the western part of Liang Province, it was definitely not Jia Xu from Liang Province, and might not even be Huangfu Song who frequently fought with these two sides, but Gai Xun, who was once an official in Liang Province with Han Sui and had scolded Han Sui to drive him away.
If Qiao Yan had not been regarded as the key to breaking the deadlock by Emperor Ling of Han in the last few years of his life, this upright man from Liangzhou should have been summoned to the capital by Liu Hong and granted the official title of Jingzhao Yin. He would have also left behind a good reputation for refusing to accept any gifts from Dong Zhuo after his death.
However, it is not too late to come in handy now to fill one of the last links in Bingzhou's preparations for the war against Xiliang!
So after Qiao Yan was tipped off about Gai Xun's existence by this "rumor", he immediately extended an invitation.
"Qiao... Bingzhou?" Gai Xun held the invitation letter in his hand.
The news that he hid in Hanyang County to avoid pursuit by Ma Teng, Han Sui and others was not told to many people, and Huangfu Song was one of them.
The fact that Huangfu Song chose to send this letter means that, in Huangfu Song's judgment, Qiao Yan is a person who can be trusted.
Her plan to attack Liangzhou might seem worth a try to Huangfu Song.
Gai Xun was definitely not a person who liked to swallow his anger. He was determined to take back Wudu County, so how could he miss this opportunity to attack.
"Are you planning to go?" asked the prefect of Hanyang County who was here with him.
This prefect of Hanyang was from the Zhang family of Jiuquan and was a relative of Zhang Huan. After the previous prefect of Hanyang, Fu Xie, died for his country, he was appointed the position of prefect of Hanyang by Emperor Ling of Han.
But at this time, the coalition forces of Ma Teng, Han Sui and others were powerful. Even though they were once repelled by the coalition forces of Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song, they still pushed the confrontation front line to the Hanyang area at any time.
With Fu Xie's lesson in mind, the prefect of Hanyang simply did not take office directly, but relied on the four major families in the area to convey government orders to the outside world. This made it possible for him to accept Gai Xun who had fled here.
"Why not go?" Gai Xun slammed the table and stood up. "The governor of Bingzhou is not afraid of me who may bring disgrace upon his superiors, and dares to ask me to go. Why can't I go and be his guide?"
"Ahem..." Upon hearing this, the Hanyang governor almost overturned the cup in his hand, "Don't say anything that would punish your superior."
Gai Xun was right. He had not been in politics for a very long time, but he had outlasted five governors of Liang Province in a row. In a sense, he was more capable of defeating his superiors than Lu Bu.
However, everyone in Liangzhou knew that the succession of the governor of Liangzhou was not really Gai Xun's fault.
The first governor of Liangzhou he met was Liang Hu, who was a neighbor of Qiao Xuan in Yanxili where he used to live. Liang Hu was a decent calligrapher, but was too timid to be the governor of Liangzhou, so he was soon summoned back by Liu Hong.
Zuo Chang, the second governor of Liangzhou who took office in the seventh year of Guanghe, actually took advantage of the conscription to intercept military funds for his own benefit. It was precisely because Zuo Chang failed to send troops to rescue in time that Han Sui, Bian Zhang and others were coerced by Beigong Boyu to become bandits, so the court quickly dealt with Zuo Chang.
Gai Xun soon welcomed his third immediate superior, the newly appointed governor of Liangzhou, Song Xiao, who was even more bizarre. He proposed an extremely "genius" idea, saying that there were always unrests in Liangzhou, which must be because the people here did not study well, so it would be better to let every household copy the "Book of Filial Piety".
Even Liu Hong knew that this idea was unreliable, so Song Xiao's fate could be imagined.
Famine occurred during the tenure of Yang Yong, the fourth governor of Liangzhou, and he was soon dismissed.
The fifth governor of Liangzhou, Geng Bi, put down the rebellion in a reckless manner and even lost his own life, and also implicated Fu Xie in his death.
Just look at the character of these five people and you will know that Gai Xun really cannot take the blame for this.
However, in the Han Dynasty when prophecies and divinations were prevalent, Gai Xun could indeed use this statement to mock himself.
"Well, let's not talk about this. Lend me two people first, otherwise I won't be able to get to Bingzhou." Gai Xun changed the subject.
Before the Hanyang governor could speak, Gai Xun had already turned aside and asked the young man standing beside him, "Zhong Yi, are you willing to accompany me?"
"I am a descendant of the four surnames of Hanyang. I will accompany you to Bingzhou..." What a thing.
Jiang Jiong, the military officer of Hanyang Prefecture, who was called Zhongyi by Gai Xun, had already responded: "I would like to go with Governor Gai!"
Gai Xun's ten years as an official in Liangzhou were not a casual one. Moreover, before becoming the prefect of Wudu County, Gai Xun had also been the prefect of Hanyang County, and he had a very good relationship with the Jiang family among the four surnames in Hanyang.
During the years of famine, he used all his stored grain to feed the people in the county, which won him gratitude from both the upper and lower levels. At that time, he was the prefect of Hanyang County.
Jiang Jiong was still quite young after all, so he was naturally impressed by what Gai Xun showed. Naturally, he couldn't care about his new boss at the moment.
Gai Xun did not stop him, but laughed loudly and said, "Good boy, you are so brave. Let's go and meet the governor of Bingzhou!"
See if she is really as she said in the letter, everything is ready, only lacking an east wind to blow her to Liangzhou.
It was the end of October when Gai Xun received the letter.
In November of the first year of Guangxi, the craftsmen sent to Bingzhou by Mi Zhu finally succeeded in making a complete set of horseshoes and their accessories that were nailed to horseshoes. Under the direction of Qiao Yan, these things were quickly put into mass production.
At this time, the benefits of Bingzhou's bumper harvest and sufficient grain this year were demonstrated. After seeing the provincial government's announcement of requisitioning manpower to mine coal and iron mines, the people in the state signed up one after another because they knew that the wages would definitely be paid.
In order not to be outdone by these enthusiastic Bingzhou people, the Xianbei people sent by Budugen to work had to work harder.
So much so that in Bingzhou, where the Xianbei were supposed to be looting in winter, there was instead a strange sight of people from both sides working in the same position and competing with each other.
Although not many people can see this scene.
Qiao Yan was wearing a cloak and walking in Yanmen County. From the top of the open-pit mine, he looked at the people coming and going below and said to Yanmen Governor Guo Yu, "Let them stop working after half a month. It will be too cold to do this work."
Guo Yu asked: "How should we arrange for these Xianbei people?"
We can't let them spend the entire winter eating and living for free, can we?
Then it sounds like they are doing charity in Bingzhou!
This is a business that will lose money.
Qiao Yan calmly replied: "We won't leave them idle. Let them go to Wuyuan and work under Yuan Zhi."
Of course, she couldn't let these people just enjoy the food in Bingzhou and stop working in the winter. She still had to let them do something.
Unfortunately, these people are clumsy and the work in the workshop is not suitable for them.
There is one place that is quite suitable.
Now that the world is divided into two, she has already torn her face with the Yuan family of Runan, so according to the principle of pacifying the country before fighting foreign enemies -
Can she now eliminate the Du Liao General Han Fu from Bingzhou?
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