Chapter 532: Valuing Veterans
Chapter 532: Valuing Veterans
At the same time Xiao Xia returned from Shanyang County, Sima Liu Jian led a hundred large ships with five thousand navy troops and a large amount of wealth back to Jiangdu.
When Xiao Xia got the news, he did not even return to Jiang Ducheng, but went directly to the dock. Dozens of large ships were docking at Pier No. 1 one after another, and thousands of large boxes were piled up on the dock, which was a spectacular sight.
In addition to the captured spoils, there were also taxes from Jian'an County and a large number of Jian'an County specialties such as cotton and tea cakes.
Liu Jian stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Your Highness, Chen Leng led 3,000 soldiers and 50 large ships to the large island of Liuqiu and will be back about ten days later. Zhu Kuan and Zhang Zhenzhou led 2,000 soldiers and 50 large ships to the small island of Liuqiu."
Xiao Xia nodded, "Do they have enough supplies?"
"There is a large amount of food and medicine on Guilong Island, as well as fresh water. They have all been taken away, so there should be no problem with supplies."
"Where are the prisoners?"
Xiao Xia suddenly found it strange that there were no prisoners of war.
"Your Highness, most of the young and strong men on the other side were killed in the battle, and the remaining old, weak, women and children were left in Jian'an County. Governor Wang said that Jian'an County lacked population and wanted to leave all the prisoners behind. Moreover, I considered that many of these old, weak, women and children would die after the long journey back, so I made the decision on my own and left them in Jian'an County."
Xiao Xia nodded. This was fine. It saved him the trouble of finding the place himself.
"Since Governor Wang wants people, then let's stay in Jian'an County! After unloading the goods, brothers, go back to the barracks and have a good rest. I will reward you."
"Thank you, Your Highness. I heard that the navy camp has been disbanded?"
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "It has been cancelled. Just rest in the Jiangdu military camp!"
After unloading, the five thousand soldiers lined up to return to the barracks. At this time, Liu Wenjing stepped forward and sighed: "There are a total of 5,444 boxes, all sealed very tightly. I really don't know how much wealth is inside?"
"Let's sort them slowly in the warehouse! There is another matter I want to discuss with you, sir."
"Your Highness, please speak!"
Xiao Xia said slowly: "I have thought about it over and over again along the way. I think we should try our best, but we should also prepare for the worst. We should plan ahead and put strategic materials and some industries in Jiangnan. Once the court becomes powerful, we will not be able to resist. At least we can still defend the river."
"I will formulate a plan as soon as possible!"
Xiao Xia then went to inspect the new camp. The new camp was located in the west of Jiangdu City. It was the camp where Zhou Fashang had recruited 20,000 troops in Yuhang County. The recruitment went very smoothly. They returned to Jiangdu with the new recruits and began their training.
On the vast parade ground, 20,000 new recruits were divided into ten teams for training formations. The soldiers were in high spirits and their shouts of killing were deafening.
Zhou Fashang introduced to Xiao Xia: "The recruitment went very smoothly this time. They are very supportive of your proposal to exchange land for military service. I feel that if there is enough land, it will be easy to recruit 50,000 troops. Your Highness, can you consider it?"
Xiao Xia pondered for a moment and said, "To be honest with you, General Zhou, I am a little concerned about recruiting soldiers this time. After all, most of them are Shanyue people. I am worried that there will be trouble in the future."
Zhou Fashang smiled and said, "If Your Highness is worried about this, I don't think it's necessary."
"Please tell me, old general!"
"Your Highness, I was once a general of the Chen Dynasty. I know the Shanyue people very well. Since the late Wu Dynasty, the Shanyue people have gradually moved out of the mountains and integrated into the farming society. After the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern Dynasties, the Shanyue people are basically not much different from the Han people. They also make a living by farming, supporting their families, and paying taxes. Especially since Your Highness is using land to exchange for service, which is equivalent to the Guanzhong government soldiers, their loyalty to Your Highness will be stronger. Think about it, Your Highness, if they rebel, what will happen to the land? What about their families? So as long as the generals do not rebel, these Shanyue people are as stable as the Han people and will never have second thoughts." Zhou Fashang's words made Xiao Xia quite excited. He pondered for a moment and asked, "Is fifty acres of land important to the Shanyue people?"
Zhou Fashang smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness, fifty acres of land in Jiangnan is not the same as fifty acres in the north. In Jiangnan, as long as you are diligent, ten acres of land can support a family, and fifty acres of land makes you a small landlord. The land of the Shanyue people is concentrated in the hands of the powerful, and most of the Shanyue people are tenant farmers. This is also the reason why the Southern Dynasty acquiesced to the Shanyue powerful people occupying public land in order to win over the Shanyue powerful people. It is the good land reclaimed by a tribe, which belongs to the tribe, so it is called public land. Later, the tribal leaders occupied a large amount of public land, forming Shanyue powerful people, and the Southern Dynasty also recognized it. So this time, Your Highness can get a lot of land by attacking the powerful people. It is better to use these lands to recruit soldiers, and Your Highness will get a group of elite troops."
Xiao Xia nodded, "Give me more advice, old general. I'll go back and discuss it. If it's feasible, I might ask the old general to go recruit soldiers."
"It is an honor for me to serve Your Highness. Your Highness, please don't be polite. Just give me your orders!"
Zhou Fashang's attitude was a little beyond Xiao Xia's expectations. He asked Zhou Fashang to recruit soldiers in order to sideline him. Now it seems that Zhou Fashang is not so loyal to the emperor, but more loyal to himself.
But it is understandable if you think about it. Zhou Fashang was born in the Chen Dynasty. He went to Lingnan to take up a post in the ninth year of Kaihuang and stayed there for fifteen years. He was not transferred back to Chang'an until the fourth year of Renshou. He was marginalized for a long time and had almost no connections in the court. Now he is over sixty years old and he has to consider his descendants, so he brought his six sons and fifteen grandsons to Jiangnan. This is actually his attitude, and you should trust him.
After thinking this through, Xiao Xia smiled and said, "The post of governor of Suian County is vacant, so let's appoint Commander Zhou Shaoji to take the position!"
Zhou Fashang was marginalized by Yang Su and Yu Shiji in the court. Although he seemed to be valued by the emperor, he did not hold any real position and only held a nominal title of Pillar of the State. This time he was sent to Jiangnan to form a navy, and he simply brought his whole family with him.
Zhou Fashang was deeply moved and quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness, I cannot repay your kindness even if I die!"
"It is my honor that the old general is willing to serve me, and I will not let him down!"
Xiao Xia no longer hesitated and immediately appointed Zhou Fashang as the recruiting ambassador, leading a group of officials to go south again to recruit 30,000 soldiers for him.
An army of 5,000 people, led by generals brothers Meng Rang and Meng Kuan, attacked Licheng County. After Baoguo rebelled in Zhangqiu County, it recruited 20,000 troops, but the food could not last long. Gao Zhu decided to seize Licheng County, which had the largest grain stores, to obtain food supplies.
Seeing that the enemy troops were not large in number, Qin Qiong also led 5,000 men out of the city to fight. Why should he fight instead of relying on the city for defense? Because Licheng County had a dense population, and if he did not fight, these bandits would plunder the countryside and cause very serious losses.
Of course, if the enemy army exceeds ten thousand, Qin Qiong will not attack rashly, but if the enemy army has only five thousand people, he can go out of the city to fight.
The two sides formed up in battle formation outside the city. Meng Kuan rode his horse forward with a large iron stick and rushed to the front to challenge.
When Cheng Yaojin saw that the opponent's black horse was very majestic, his eyes widened. He was afraid that someone would compete with him for the horse, so he did not ask for a fight and rushed forward with a Xuanhua axe.
"I, Old Cheng, am here to meet you!"
Qin Qiong frowned. This bastard actually went up without asking for a fight. He hadn't decided whether to fight him in a duel, but he had made the decision for him.
Qin Qiong had no choice but to order: "Beat the drums to cheer!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The drums started beating loudly, and Cheng Yaojin rushed forward like a chicken with blood pumped up, without even announcing his name, and shouted, "Chop off my head!"
He rushed forward and hit the head with an axe. Others didn't say a word in a one-on-one fight, but he revealed his moves first.
(End of this chapter)