Chapter 225 The King of a Lost Country 25
The success of Yongning City's recruitment was far beyond Nan Liujing's imagination.
In addition to the young and strong men living in the disaster refugee camp, many young and strong men living in Yongning City also came to join the army.
Before New Year's Eve, a total of 1,800 people in Yongning City signed up to join the army.
On New Year's Eve, the second batch of disaster relief supplies was also delivered to Yongning City.
With a whole granary of food as support, Yongning City is not short of food now, but it lacks herbs, warm clothes and coal and firewood. These disaster relief supplies just solved Nan Liujing's urgent needs. The
one who escorted these disaster relief supplies was not a stranger. It was Yang Zhen, who Nan Liujing had accepted in Qingshui Village.
After this period of training, Yang Zhen has become Li Guanqi's right-hand man and can help Li Guanqi deal with many trivial matters.
"Give these things a share and distribute them to the disaster victims."
"When distributing porridge tonight, make it thicker and add a little more pork to it. Make it pork porridge and let the disaster victims taste the meat."
Nan Liujing quickly arranged the matter and pointed to one of the carriages and asked, "What's in this carriage? It looks different from the other carriages."
Yang Zhen deliberately kept it a secret: "Young Master, do you want to go and take a look yourself?" Nan Liujing
lifted the curtain of the carriage. When he saw the items piled inside, his heart suddenly warmed: "Is it the New Year's goods prepared for me by Master Liang, Mr. Qu, Second Brother Li, and Fourth Brother Qi?"
Yang Zhen smiled and said, "Sure enough, I can't hide it from you, young master."
"Storekeeper Li said that with Steward Guisheng taking care of the young master, he must have everything. So they didn't prepare anything expensive, just some clothes and food that could be stored."
Nan Liujing climbed onto the carriage: "This fox fur feels really soft, it must have been hunted by Master Liang..."
"This box of ancient books and calligraphy and paintings written by great scholars of the previous dynasty must have been from Mr. Qu..."
"Second Brother Li is the most practical. He knew I was short of money, so he gave me 12,000 silver notes for the New Year..."
"These foods were prepared by Fourth Brother Qi..."
Nan Liujing examined them with great interest for a long time, and even had a sweet worry: "There are too many foods. Fourth Brother Qi is going to empty his salary."
Yao Rong had reason to suspect that the child was showing off, and laughed for a long time, Then he said: [These cakes are all good things, you can keep some for yourself, and use the rest as prizes.]
"Prizes?"
[You can arrange a simple award ceremony, pick out twenty people who have performed outstandingly in this disaster relief, and then personally go on stage to present them with awards. You can also take this opportunity to show your face and deepen the impression of you among the disaster victims.]
Nan Liujing understood it immediately and instantly understood the various advantages of this idea.
Although time was a bit tight, Nan Liujing still got a list of twenty names before noon.
He held the list and asked someone to prepare the car.
[Are you going out like this?] Yao Rong hurriedly stopped him.
"Anything else to prepare?" Nan Liujing was at a loss.
Yao Rong laughed: [Put on the clothes Liang Guangyu gave you, and then put on the jade ornaments I gave you, and dress up more brilliantly. This is your first official appearance in Yongning City.]
Nan Liujing: "..."
Nan Liujing muttered in his heart: Is this the image project that the teacher talked about?
Yao Rong seemed to guess what he was thinking, and smiled: [The common people like to see this.]
Regardless of whether this is an image project or not, in short, this is a way that the common people like to see.
The mighty wind blew up his robe, and the fine snow covered his shoulders. Nan Liujing stood on the city wall, smiling and waving at the people of Yongning City under the city wall, and the afterglow in the sky served as a background. The
people of Yongning City looked up and looked at this figure who was not generous but extremely reliable, and felt unprecedented peace of mind.
After New Year's Eve, the enthusiasm for joining the army, which had cooled down, rose again.
Many common people ran to the county government office and blocked the bailiffs, saying that they wanted to sign up for the army.
The bailiff said with a bitter face: "The number of applicants has exceeded, why don't you wait for the next time."
"What! We have to wait for the next time! Are you kidding
me?" "Is there anyone in Yongning City who is taller than me? Is there anyone who is stronger than me? What is your intention in stopping me from signing up?"
Bailiff: ???
So if I stop you from signing up, I become someone with ulterior motives? ???
After hearing this, Nan Liujing was a little amused.
He really didn't expect that his special dressing up that day would lead to such a sequel.
Yao Rong smiled: [The common people's ideas are very simple. ]
[You offer good conditions when recruiting soldiers, and you have the ability. They all believe that you can provide them with a good life and lead them to victory. Everyone likes to follow people who can win.]
These days, not many people are willing to be soldiers.
But that's because the army not only cannot pay enough food and wages, but also deducts soldiers' wages. If a soldier accidentally dies in battle, the court may not pay a pension.
Even if it does, that little pension can only fill a gap.
In this case, who would be willing to risk their lives for the court?
"They all like to follow people who can win, but what they don't realize is that whoever they choose to follow will have the chance to win."
Nan Liujing and Yao Rong sighed for a few words, turned to the yamen runner and said, "Since everyone wants to sign up, let them sign up. I will then increase the number of places and recruit more soldiers."
Half a month later, Nan Liujing selected two thousand people from the three thousand people who signed up.
Together with the original three thousand soldiers and horses of Yongning City, Nan Liujing now has five thousand soldiers under his command.
Nan Liujing has learned a lot of military tactics and read a lot of military books, but he is still a complete novice in leading troops.
So he chose to use the dumbest method to train soldiers -
to give soldiers enough food and wages.
To eat and live with the soldiers.
To train with the soldiers, and even to endure more hardships than the soldiers.
He was already popular among the people, and this move convinced the soldiers in the barracks.
***
In Chang'an County, which is a hundred miles away from Yongning City, Qi Mingxu and Jiang Ding were not in such a good situation.
County Magistrate Zhou almost lost his granary, and his life was in the hands of Nan Liujing, so he did not dare to resist Nan Liujing. But Qi Mingxu and Jiang Ding came to Chang'an County to take up their posts, and they were under pressure from several superiors.
These superiors were amateurs in fighting, but experts in infighting.
They fled at the first sign of trouble on the battlefield, and fought fiercely in their own small piece of land.
A small county city can actually be divided into four camps. People from the Three Kingdoms would call them good guys when they saw them.
That was Qi Mingxu.
If anyone else comes, they may not be able to do better than Qi Mingxu.
It took Qi Mingxu several months to gain a foothold in Chang'an County and recruit a thousand new soldiers.
His thousand new soldiers had no equipment and no food and wages.
Jiang Ding was so angry that he rolled up his sleeves and wanted to beat people, but Qi Mingxu finally held him down.
If there is no equipment, then make it yourself.
Jiang Ding brought several craftsmen to Chang'an County, wasn't it just for this time?
If there is no food and wages, then pay for it yourself.
Whoever supports these soldiers will listen to him from now on.
He was no less angry than Jiang Ding, but he was calmer than Jiang Ding.
Just wait, when he has trained his 1,000 soldiers, he will drive all these officials who only know how to fight for power out of Chang'an County!
***
In February, spring came back to the world.
As the winter snow gradually melted, the victims completely emerged from the snowstorm and resumed their normal lives.
In early March, when all the people were moving towards a new life and engaging in spring ploughing in the new year, the imperial court finally sent people to Yongning County regarding last year's snowstorm!
When County Magistrate Zhou received the imperial memorial and saw the so-called imperial officials standing at the gate of the county government with arrogance, he was confused and his fists were itchy.
If it weren't for the teacher's desperate resistance, County Magistrate Zhou would have to rush over to challenge the imperial officials.
Are you mistaken, big brother!
The city of Yongning has changed its name to "Yao". Spring has already come, and you are just here to help with the snow disaster! ?
The imperial emissary didn't notice County Magistrate Zhou's anger at all. After being welcomed into the county government, he crossed his legs and said in a leisurely voice: "During the New Year period, your majesty was not feeling well. Several adults were worried about your health and had no time to approve the official documents."
"It was not until after the New Year that your majesty's health improved, and you immediately sent me to Yongning City to check on the situation."
"I think the situation in Yongning City is not as serious as County Magistrate Zhou said in his memorial."
Now the one with the hard fist has become the master.
County Magistrate Zhou stopped the master with his backhand and said to the imperial eunuch with a smile: "The officials of the court and His Majesty have too many things to do every day. After I submitted the memorial, I thought that I couldn't let the officials of the court and His Majesty worry, so I tried to alleviate the disaster myself."
The imperial eunuch was satisfied: "He is a sensible man."
In his heart, County Magistrate Zhou cursed "grandson of a turtle", "bastard", "your whole family is doomed to fail", and "you are a traitor". "The descendants will be extinct", he still looked flattering: "But, the people of Yongning City have suffered a disaster after all, I wonder if the court has any consolation policies?"
Qincha nodded: "Of course there is. His Majesty said that considering that Yongning City has just suffered a disaster, the tax will be reduced by 10% this year."
County Magistrate Zhou stared at Qincha, waiting for Qincha's next words, but Qincha had already picked up the tea and sipped it slowly. County
Magistrate Zhou was dumbfounded: That's it!?
70% of the tax was reduced to 60%. Do the people of Yongning City still have to be grateful for the kindness of Emperor Yongqing!
The imperial emissary put down the teacup and said, "Master Zhou, you also know that the harvest has been poor in recent years, and there is a shortage of money everywhere. The Ministry of Revenue can no longer provide money. It's not that the court is unwilling to provide disaster relief, but it is simply that a skilled cook cannot cook without rice."
The court has no money, so what else can it do?
If it can't make Emperor Yongqing suffer, and can't make the officials in the court suffer, then it can only make the people suffer!
County Magistrate Zhou thought that this imperial emissary could only be so shameless at most.
He never expected that after this imperial emissary settled down in the county government, he actually asked him for bribes openly and secretly! If he gave too little, he would even give him the cold shoulder!
County Magistrate Zhou felt that he was no longer a good person, but compared to those hypocritical beasts in the capital, he could brag about himself as "kind-hearted and kind-hearted".
After several days of hard work, County Magistrate Zhou finally sent the imperial messenger away.
Looking at the imperial messenger and his entourage walking away, County Magistrate Zhou felt that he had aged more than ten years.
He looked at the master beside him and said tiredly: "Young Master Yao Nan is too modest."
"He said he was the leader of the mountain stronghold and that he hijacked the county government of Yongning City. But to me, Young Master Yao Nan brought people to Yongning City, which clearly means that the king's teacher has come in person."
The master hesitated for a while and tentatively asked County Magistrate Zhou: "Sir, do you still blame me now?"
County Magistrate Zhou rolled his eyes: "I have never treated you badly in all these years, but you almost killed me."
During this period of time, the two have been working under Nan Liujing, but their relationship is very tense. It was only during these few days when they worked together to fool the imperial officials that the atmosphere eased a little.
The master could only smile bitterly.
"But I have figured it out now--"
County Magistrate Zhou took a deep breath and suddenly changed the subject.
"From my perspective, I definitely cannot let the granary be robbed. From your perspective, those who are going to starve to death are your fellow villagers. From Li Sheng's perspective, if he doesn't rob the granary, then he, his mother, and his wife will all die."
"All three of us did
the right thing." "But it is precisely because we did the right thing that a huge disaster almost occurred, which just proves the wrongness of the world."
In the past, County Magistrate Zhou felt that he was forced to do something and had to help Nan Liujing.
Now he really wants to join Nan Liujing.
Any official with a conscience cannot stay in such a court with peace of mind.
This is a world that has no room for good people.
County Magistrate Zhou put his hands behind his back and suddenly asked, "Master, if the granary is really robbed and the court blames you, what are you going to do?"
"At that time, I didn't think so much. I just wanted to take one step at a time." After hesitating, the master added, "Maybe you don't believe it. If the court blames me, I will take all the blame and will never watch you get into trouble."
County Magistrate Zhou patted the master's shoulder and walked away with his hands behind his back.
"Sir, where are you going?"
"I'm going to find Young Master Yao Nan and complain to him about how miserable I've been these past few days, and then tell him about my feelings and insights." County Commander Zhou muttered, "I have now completely abandoned the dark and joined the light, and I have to let Young Master Yao Nan know my loyalty."
"I'll go with you, sir." The master hurriedly chased after him.
County Commander Zhou glanced at him and didn't object.
Nan Liujing has been staying in the barracks for some time, trying to avoid meeting the imperial envoys.
He was writing the development plan for Yongning County this year. Seeing County Commander Zhou and the master coming, he said to them: "You've come at the right time. I have something for you to do."
This year, the main theme of Yongning City is training troops and development.
Nan Liujing established four free private schools in the two places, and also built a library with a rich collection of books, which could be borrowed and copied for free by students who were poor but aspiring to study. Nan Liujing
vigorously developed agriculture, produced a large number of agricultural tools, and rented them to the common people so that they could use them during the busy farming season.
Nan Liujing also promoted kangs and beehive coal, and even searched for cotton seeds everywhere, hoping to grow cotton...
He also intended to instigate rebellion in Wuyou City and Wuqing City near Yongning City.
The county magistrate of Wuyou City was a wise man. After several contacts with Nan Liujing, he chose to join Nan Liujing.
The county magistrate of Wuqing City had some relationship with the Ji family. He was a stubborn person and did many unscrupulous things in office.
Nan Liujing tried to contact the deputy of the county magistrate of Wuqing City and wrote a letter to Qi Si.
Half a month later, the county magistrate of Wuqing City and his confidants were captured by the An Pavilion and died that night. The Ji family wanted to rescue them but they didn't have time to do it.
Then, the court issued an appointment edict, making the deputy the new county magistrate of Wuqing City. In
the winter of the same year, Di Rong, who had tasted the sweetness, once again sent troops to invade the border of Daye. A 2,000-man army besieged Chang'an County and slaughtered the people around the county. Qi Mingxu, who was well prepared, killed them all.
After this battle, Qi Mingxu won several more small victories.
Since General Yao died on the battlefield and the Yao family was overthrown, the court has never achieved such brilliant results.
Even though the pro-peace faction in the court deliberately suppressed him, Qi Mingxu still jumped several levels and became the highest-ranking official in Chang'an County.
The four forces in Chang'an County joined forces, but they failed to suppress Qi Mingxu's edge. Instead, Qi Mingxu seized the opportunity to counterattack, using the friction between them to intensify the contradictions, and finally successfully controlled most of Chang'an County.
Qi Mingxu was ruthless. As soon as he came to power, he began to sharpen his swords against the four forces in Chang'an County and continued to expand his army.
By the spring of the third year after Nan Liujing and Qi Mingxu came to the North, Nan Liujing had 15,000 people and Qi Mingxu had 7,000 troops.
Of the 16 cities on the border, Yongning, Wuyou, Wuqing and Chang'an were completely changed.
The name Yao Nan is known to everyone in the North.