Chapter 893 Chapter 893, the tide of wasteland
At the gate of Ganzhou City, Zhu Jianzhong and Pang Guang rode out side by side on horseback, their faces still flushed from drinking too much.
After driving out of the city gate for a distance, a gust of wind blew by, and the two men shook their heads at the same time, and their minds completely returned to clarity.
Zhu Jianzhong looked at Pang Guang with uncertainty: "Should we agree to something that Xiao Yeyang shouldn't agree to?"
Pang Guang did not answer, but raised his hand and slapped his mouth, looking regretful.
Seeing him like this, Zhu Jianzhong had nothing to understand.
Pang Guang said regretfully, "It seems we were tricked by Xiao Yeyang."
Zhu Jianzhong laughed. "Are you kidding me? I don't think so. Aren't we going to have high-yield crops? As long as we can get through this year, the soldiers in the garrison will be able to have enough food to eat tomorrow."
Pang Guang snorted, "Xiao Yeyang gave us high-yield grain seeds, but you didn't even look at what he took from us. Your Jinwei Guard was fine, you only asked for two thousand horses, but my Lanwu Guard had to transfer 20,000 border troops to Ganzhou Guard, and they can't even be the old, weak, or sick."
Zhu Jianzhong looked at Pang Guang and said, "Just be content. If I transfer 20,000 border troops to Ganzhouwei, you won't have to worry about their food. Doesn't this reduce your burden?"
"Lanwuwei doesn't border Western Liao. Originally, the border troops on your side were the reserve troops. Now Xiao Yeyang wants to use them and has also produced the transfer order from the Five Military Commandery. So don't complain."
He paused, a puzzled look on his face.
"But isn't Xiao Yeyang already recruiting soldiers? Why is he mobilizing the Lanwuwei border troops? What is he planning to do? And why is he asking us to keep it a secret?"
Pang Guang remained silent, but he actually had some guesses in his mind.
Xiao Yeyang took over Ganzhou Wei, and he must want to prove his ability.
How to prove it?
Retaking the Dan River that was taken away by the Western Liao people would definitely be the most effective and advantageous attack.
But, does he have the courage?
Now that there is no real war between Western Liao and Daxia, does Xiao Yeyang dare to lead his troops to retake Dan River?
Seeing that Pang Guang didn't respond, Zhu Jianzhong didn't say anything more. He turned around and looked at Madam Xiao preparing gifts for them. He shook his head and said, "It's a shame to accept gifts from others and to eat from others. Are we being wooed by Xiao Yeyang?"
Pang Guang glanced at Zhu Jianzhong and saw that he was smiling. He snorted, "You seem quite happy to me."
Zhu Jianzhong did not deny it, but simply said: "In the past two years, the Western Liao people have become more and more excessive. Not only did they rob money and food, they also robbed women. Last year, they even started massacring the city. The people of Jinweiwei are suffering too much. I don't have the ability to change their lives. If others can, I am willing to do it."
Although Zhu Jianzhong didn't say what he was willing to do, Pang Guang knew it in his heart.
Xiao Mansion.
Xiao Yeyang was lying on the beauty chair when Daohua brought him some hangover soup. After he took it, she saw that his brows were relaxed and the corners of his mouth were slightly smiling. She fanned him and said, "It seems that you had a good conversation with the two commanders."
After Xiao Yeyang finished drinking the hangover soup, he smiled and said, "It's not bad. I gave them the grain they wanted, and I also got the horses and soldiers I wanted. It's a win-win situation."
Daohua smiled and said, "I heard from the maid that you made them drink a lot of wine. Be careful that they won't pay after they sober up."
Xiao Yeyang laughed: "Do you think someone who can sit in the position of commander is so easy to get drunk? They just went with the flow. As soon as we arrived, those two guys were paying attention. Today's result was weighed before they came."
As he said this, he sat up.
"The Jinwei Guards can provide 2,000 horses. Adding them to what I have, we can raise 3,000 cavalry. The remaining 2,000 horses will have to be purchased from the Western Liao people."
Daohua: "The tea has been delivered. If you need it, you can go to the warehouse to pick it up at any time."
"It's great to have you around!" Xiao Yeyang smiled, hugged Daohua and kissed her.
Daohua pushed him away in disgust. The summer in Ganzhouwei was too hot. The Xiao Mansion hadn't prepared any ice this year, and they were sweating every day. "Don't you think it's too hot?"
Xiao Yeyang: "I don't mind." As he said that, he pretended to reach out to hug the rice flowers again.
Daohua quickly stood up and moved a little further away from him, fanning herself as she said, "I just heard from my second uncle that my third cousin has decided to stay. They made the decision so quickly. Did you say something?"
Xiao Yeyang hummed, "The first batch of merchants coming to Ganzhouwei to do business will be given preferential treatment by the garrison. I have asked Uncle Dong to formulate relevant regulations."
"As for my second uncle and third cousin, I plan to allocate a piece of wasteland outside the city for them to build a textile factory. It will be called the Ganzhou Textile Factory. They will be responsible for producing the uniforms for the border troops and garrison soldiers."
Daohua smiled and said, "No wonder my second uncle and third cousin are so active. Your support is really great."
Xiao Yeyang: "My second uncle and third cousin came to Ganzhouwei to do business. They helped me after all, so I naturally won't be stingy."
The next day, the people from Jinweiwei sent two thousand horses to Ganzhouwei.
Xiao Yeyang was busy again, training the cavalry. At the same time, he sent Bu Gandang to Bamu Town to find Ma Teng and tell him that he was willing to exchange tea for horses.
Ma Teng was also a well-informed person. He found out Xiao Yeyang's identity not long after they separated last time. When he saw Bu Gandang, he was very enthusiastic and promised to contact the buyer.
Bu Gandang was very satisfied with Ma Teng's approach. After thinking for a moment, he gave him a word of advice: "My master values capable people. Work hard, and you will benefit from it in the future."
Ma Teng's heart was burning with excitement and he nodded hurriedly.
Even though he seems to be doing well in Bamu Town, the pressure he is under is unknown to ordinary people. If he can really rely on the Xiao Mansion, the safety of him and his family will be better guaranteed.
The Western Liao people restricted the buying and selling of horses. Ma Teng contacted three Western Liao merchants in total before he was able to buy all 2,000 horses, which took him half a month.
Xiao Yeyang was still very impressed with Ma Teng's efficiency, and he gave him two gold bars and asked him to help find out the movements of the Western Liao people.
After gathering five thousand horses, Xiao Yeyang began to concentrate on training the cavalry.
In mid-June, after the site of the Ganzhou Textile Factory was selected and construction began, Li Xingnian left with Qin Xiaoliu and others, while Li Chenzhi stayed.
Ganzhou city gate.
Daohua escorted Li Xingnian out of the city: "Second uncle, Yeyang has gone to lead the cavalry for training, so he can't spare the time to come and see you off. Please bear with me."
Li Xingnian smiled and said, "My uncle knows, so why do I need you to explain it to me?"
Daohua handed a package to Li Xingnian: "Second uncle, this is the letter I wrote to my family. In addition to the letters to the Wang Mansion and the Yan family, there is also one to the person in charge of the Xiangyang Liuli Factory in Zhongzhou."
"Next time you come, I'll have to trouble you to bring a team of craftsmen from the Liulichang with you."
Li Xingnian nodded, put the package away, gave Li Chenzhi a few instructions, then got on the carriage and left.
In late June, as the wheat harvest began, the people of Ganzhou Wei were excited.
In the past, the wheat yield of the best farmland was only two or three dan per mu. Now, with the use of high-yield wheat seeds, even the inferior farmland can yield about three dan of grain, and the best farmland can yield four or five dan.
Although corn, potatoes, and cotton cannot be harvested yet, the growth of crops in the fields already shows signs of a good harvest.
After confirming that high-yield grain seeds were indeed useful, many people began to reclaim wasteland, and those who were wealthy went to the garrisons to purchase barren hills.
A wave of land reclamation was launched in Ganzhou Wei.
Daohua and Xiao Yeyang both welcomed this. The more barren mountains and wastelands that were reclaimed, the more taxes they would collect in the future.
(End of this chapter)
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