351, Strategy
351, Strategy
July and August every year are the two months when Hu Bing is most active.
Because winter is coming in a month, the fighting on both sides will subside for a while.
So during these two months, the Hu soldiers would constantly invade the border, trying to plunder some supplies to take back for the winter.
When talking about this issue with Zhao Lang, Lu Mingfei recalled a strategy of "bartering for food" that he had seen in a history book before. In modern terms, it is called an economic trade war.
"Since the Hu people want food, why don't we give it to them?"
"Do you have any solution?" Zhao Lang didn't think that the "give" Lu Mingfei said was given in vain.
Lu Mingfei nodded and told Zhao Lang about the strategy of "bartering goods for food." "We can buy wool from them at a high price in the early stage, so that they can get a taste of the sweetness first."
"Think about it, if a little wool could be exchanged for food and the supplies they need, how many tribes would be willing to risk their lives and fight us?"
"In the early stages, we can start with their weakest tribe, and then gradually conquer the others. Once most of the tribes have lost their fighting spirit, those that still want to fight and invade ours will no longer have so many troops. Then we won't be a threat anymore."
"Think about it, if raising sheep, milking them, and shearing their wool could lead to a good life, how many tribes of barbarians would be willing to fight and shed blood?"
Later, Lu Mingfei instilled in Zhao Lang some modern economic and trade warfare methods and strategies.
It was the first time that Zhao Lang encountered this way of fighting. He found it strange at first, but then he gradually fell into deep thought.
"Your suggestion is quite good. But I'm afraid that there are still many stubborn generals and soldiers in the army, and they may not agree." Zhao Lang quite liked the method of fighting without fighting proposed by their Lord Lu.
"Everything depends on human effort. You can first mention it to your father. If your father listens to you, we will be halfway to success."
Lu Mingfei hadn't forgotten what Zhao Lang had said about the existence of spies in the army, so he reminded them, "Of course, it would be best if the fewest people who know about our purpose knew about it."
"Didn't you say there's a spy in the army that hasn't been caught? If we let them know our purpose, they'll definitely come up with a way to deal with it."
If the spies knew their plan and purpose, there was no guarantee that the leaders of the Hu people would know it. So this thing could be done, but their purpose must not be known to outsiders.
But if he didn't reveal his purpose and just said he wanted to trade with the Hu people, I'm afraid the generals in the army would not agree, and the emperor and the officials in the court far away in Kyoto would also oppose it.
When the time comes and they are accused of treason, it will be like their kindness has been wasted.
Therefore, Lu Mingfei briefly discussed these possible situations and possibilities with Zhao Lang and came up with a second solution: "In fact, it would be best if both sides could cease fire and then trade with each other. That would be a natural outcome."
"We've been fighting here for over two years, almost three, right? The imperial court hasn't sent much military pay or supplies, so we've had to rely on ourselves. The soldiers in the army are probably exhausted, and the people at the border are also tired."
"The Ministry of Revenue has long been out of money. If the border can be stopped, a large number of ministers in the court should support it. I think the emperor also doesn't want to stop the war."
"As you know, the princes of various regions now disrespect the emperor and are clamoring for independence. If a truce is reached at the border, the imperial court will be able to transfer troops from your Zhenbei Army to deal with the Zhennan Prince. As long as the Zhennan Prince is captured, the other princes will return to the imperial court."
Based on Lu Mingfei's understanding of the emperor, if there was a truce in the north, the emperor would definitely transfer troops from the Zhenbei Army to deal with other vassal kings.
The two of them talked about this matter for half the night.
***
At dawn the next day, Lu Mingfei was about to leave Pingzhou.
He has been in Pingzhou City for three days this time. There are still many things waiting for him to deal with in Li County, so he can't stay here all the time.
In addition, Zhao Lang also had things to do here, so he couldn't accompany him back to Li County.
Zhao Rui has sent people all over the city to look for him these days, so in order to prevent Zhao Rui's people from finding him, Zhao Lang gave him a new identity.
The secret guard who was good at disguise also gave him a new mask.
Afraid that Zhao Rui would recognize him, he also made some adjustments to his height and walking posture to ensure that Young Master Zhao would not recognize him if he walked towards him.
It was just dawn outside, and the carriage that was taking him away was waiting for him in the yard.
He was about to leave, but Zhao Lang still held onto his hand, unwilling to let go. Lu Mingfei held his hand in return, a soothing smile on his face, and said to Zhao Lang, "I'm going to Li County first. I'll come back to see you after I've sorted things out there."
"Be careful on your journey." Zhao Lang held the young man's hand and kissed it on his lips.
Lu Mingfei looked at the person who lowered his head and kissed the back of his hand devoutly. A smile appeared on the corner of his mouth and he said, "Well, you too. Whatever you do in the future, you must put your safety first."
"As long as the country survives, there's no need to worry about running out of firewood, right?"
"Yes." Although he was reluctant, Zhao Lang still let go of her hand. "I'll go find you after I've arranged my military affairs."
"Okay, don't worry. If you don't come to find me, I will come to find you." Lu Mingfei stood on tiptoe, kissed Zhao Lang on the lips, turned around and left, stepped on a low stool to get on the carriage, bent down and sat in the carriage.
After getting on the carriage, he lifted the curtain and looked out, and saw Zhao Lang standing there looking at him motionlessly.
There was reluctance in the eyes of the two people when they looked at each other.
"Let's go." Lu Mingfei lowered the car window curtains and said to the people outside.
The guards outside saluted their prince and drove away in the carriage.
Zhao Lang stood in the yard without moving until the carriage and the mounted guards left.
"Master, Lord Lu has left." Li Qun reminded their prince in a low voice.
Zhao Lang turned around and glanced at the nosy guard. "Don't I know what I'm doing? Do I need you to remind me?"
Guard Li lowered his head and dared not say anything more.
***
When their carriage passed the city gate, the general guarding the city verified their identities and let them pass.
Lu Mingfei rode out of the city in a carriage. The people sent by Young Master Zhao to capture him passed by him and didn't even notice him.
"It seems that this Young Master Zhao is very smart? His subordinates are so stupid." However, the thought that Zhao Rui staying in Prince Ding's Mansion and the army is a threat to Zhao Lang.
If Zhao Rui can kill Zhao Lang once, he will kill him a second time.
It is obvious that Zhao Lang's return has begun to shake his position and foundation.
Thinking of this, Lu Mingfei's heart was overshadowed. Before leaving Pingzhou City, he began to worry about Zhao Lang.
On the way back to Li County, he sat in the carriage and looked at the bare land on both sides of the road where no crops were grown.
So much land is left vacant and not used to grow crops. On one hand, there are people starving to death, and on the other hand, there are landlords who hold land but do not cultivate it. It would be a lie to say that I am not heartbroken to see so much wasteland.
There is so much land lying idle and uncultivated here, and the landlords are unwilling to give it to the people for free.
What’s the difference between this and modern times where milk cannot be sold and is poured away rather than given to the poor?
But Lu Mingfei knew in his heart that it would be difficult for him to shake the interests of the privileged class and the landlord class with his own strength. Since ancient times, how many high-ranking officials and prime ministers who proposed land reforms have lived to a ripe old age and died of old age?
Therefore, he cannot change the fate of the entire dynasty and all the people now. He can only use his energy in the small county under his jurisdiction and find ways to improve the lives of the people under his jurisdiction.
July and August are supposed to be the harvest seasons, but the amount of grain that can be harvested in the entire Li County is probably very little.
There are many factors involved. In addition to the constant wars in the north, the small number of people here is a problem, which has also led to a continuous reduction in the area of arable land.
The second is the low grain production. People work hard to farm the land for a year, but the grain they harvest is not enough to feed their families and pay taxes. This is also a big problem.
If we want to change people’s lives and ensure that everyone has enough to eat, the first thing we must do is to solve their food problem.
The news from the experimental field in Tong County has not been delivered yet, and he doesn't know what the situation is like there.
The day after returning to Li County, the first thing Lu Mingfei did when he returned to the government office was to have his lawyer summoned. "Please arrange for a few people to go to the countryside and call the village heads and village heads of each township and village to come see me."
"It's the end of July now, let them arrive on August 8th."
Leave half a month free so that it will be convenient for everyone to come and see him.
As a modern man, Lu Mingfei still likes to call his subordinates to hold a small meeting. Without gathering people together, some government decrees cannot be issued.
"When you send someone there, tell them I have a way to grow vegetables in autumn and winter, and I'll teach them for free. Ask them if they want some. If they do, come to the county government office and get it. Also, I have some free ways to make money, and I can teach them for free."
"Yes, yes. I will arrange someone to inform everyone to come over." The master responded.
Seeing their adults waving their hands, he went downstairs to get busy.
When he walked out of the room, the lawyer hesitated for a moment. Why did he feel that the adult just now was a little different from the adult he met a few days ago?
Lu Mingfei, who was still sitting in the room, had no idea of the doubts in his master's mind.
After the lawyer left, he remembered that there were some vacant houses in the county town, so he asked someone to get the registration book, selected two, and arranged for people to clean them up so that they could be used as accommodation for the employees who came to the meeting.
On the first day back in Li County, he was busy in the yamen until dark before going back to his residence to eat and sleep.
It's just that there is one person missing by his side. He always thinks of him in his heart. Every time he thinks of him, he feels a little bit of longing and concern, and also a little uncomfortable... Author's words: Thank you Bole 9492239 (9492239) for your support. Kisses! To know more exciting content, please leave me a message on Liancheng Reading.
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