Chapter 759 Power

Chapter 759 Power

Chapter 759 Power
On top of a high hill, a huge flag flutters in the wind.

The flagpole doesn't look very nice, as if it was made from a temporary tree trunk.

The embroidery on the flag was rather crude, and one could tell at a glance that it was not the work of a master from the Shaofu family.

But the four words "Great General Shao" on the flag were enough to smooth over everything.

Under the banner, the soldiers with yellow scarves on their heads were endless and chaotic. However, they soon dispersed and set up camp in units of thousands under the leadership of their respective officers.

The army did not carry much food, because most of it was left for the able-bodied men and women who were rebuilding the city in Gaoyang and Zhongshan.

The soldiers of the Yellow Head Army took out the jerky they carried with them, sat on the ground, and ate in silence.

King Liang, surrounded by his followers, rode his horse to inspect the camp. Wherever he passed, there were constant cheers and shouts.

These people are far from being an army and need more training.

The disaster-stricken area of ​​Julu is mainly in the north, namely Xiaquyang County on the south bank of the Hutuo River.

Qiāo County was also affected to a considerable extent, and many villages were flooded areas formed after the Hutuo River burst its banks.

Several counties in the south were not greatly affected by the Hutuo River. They suffered more because it rained too much, causing rivers to rise along the entire line, especially the vast mainland lake, which overflowed and submerged many farmlands, forts, and manors.

But this process was relatively gentle and slow, unlike Changshan County, which was instantly destroyed by floods, mudslides and trees rushing down from Taihang Mountains.

After the floods in Julu counties receded, most people returned home.

Famine did exist, many people died, and even a large number of refugees were created, but overall, Julu County was still able to barely maintain order.

Liu Hezhu, the general of Lu Ze Town, was ordered to drive tens of thousands of cattle and sheep northward and arrived at Xiaquyang. At that time, Shao Xun was a guest in a fortress.

Don’t think begging is embarrassing, this is the system at that time.

The Jin Dynasty failed in its household registration check and its land occupation order. There were too many failures and there has never been a normal tax system.

There had been nearly twenty years of war at this time, and tax collection was out of the question. Shao Xun could only collect taxes normally in Chen, Nandun, Xincai, Runan, Liang, and Xiangcheng and Luonan counties outside Liang. Even Chenliu County where Bianliang was located had some difficulties, and it was difficult to establish a complete financial and taxation system.

This is begging finance.

When there was no money or grain, officials were sent out to negotiate with each county one by one and slowly raise money. That is, taxes were collected based on families, forts, and manors, rather than households.

Officials from the lower classes cannot do this job, so they can only rely on the children of the gentry.

Julu is not within the territory of Liang State, so it is even more impossible.

When the prefect asked for money, he would greet his subordinates, haggle for a while, and finally receive a discounted amount.

For this disaster relief, the prefect Zhen Ren begged everyone for help and finally raised more than 100,000 hu of grain from several large families in the three southern counties, which barely saved some people.

The prefect could not control the garrison commander Liu Hezhu, and neither could the governor. In the end, it was Lu Zhi who stepped in and gave 20,000 hu of grain and 10,000 sheep to help the victims.

After Shao Xun arrived, Liu Hezhu finally bled profusely and drove 30,000 to 40,000 cattle and sheep to Xiaquyang and slaughtered them on the spot.

Shao Xun was still very satisfied with this.

"Lu Ze also suffered a flood. How much did you lose?" After obtaining two thousand hu of millet from the fort, Shao Xun returned satisfied and asked on the way.

"More than 4,000 people died," Liu Hezhu sighed, "most of them were farmers."

Liu Hezhu's Luze Town was very large, spanning the junction of three counties. When he was suppressing the rebellion, it attracted a large number of Wuhuan, Xiongnu, and Han people. Now it has 8,000 households and more than 40,000 people, and is a force of the same level as Shangbaiqihuo Army.

Liu Hezhu said that most of the dead were farmers, which is both true and false. In fact, everyone in Luze Town is farming, and two-thirds of them are herding in addition to farming.

As the population increases, there is almost no room for it.

"How many people are left?"

"Less than 40,000."

"It's time to split up." Shao Xun said, "If we keep doing this, Luze Town will be ruined by all these people and animals sooner or later."

Liu Hezhu was instinctively unwilling to do so, but he felt that this was unavoidable, after all, the practical difficulties were there.

"Your people should be divided into two groups. One group should go to Changshan or Zhongshan." Shao Xun said, "After the flood, it will be difficult to farm there for a while, so it's a good time to graze."

Liu Hezhu sighed and said, "Whatever the king says, that's what I'll obey."

"I will give you the two counties of Shangquyang and Nanxingtang in Changshan County as well as the mountainous areas in the northwest. You can decide how to resettle them. As for Luze Town, you should evacuate if possible, and take at least 30,000 people with you." Shao Xun said.

"Yes." Liu Hezhu replied.

In fact, it was not a loss. The King of Liang gave him half of Changshan at once, which was very generous.

For grazing, one acre of land in the Central Plains is equivalent to more than ten acres of grassland.

A pasture on the grassland that can support 10,000 people can support 100,000 people in the Central Plains of the same size.

"What if there is another flood next year?" Liu Hezhu couldn't help but ask.

"It's hard for the farmers to walk, so is it hard for you to walk too?" Shao Xun asked, "Run when you see the signs. I will ask Liu Shijun of Jizhou to prepare hay and houses."

Liu Hezhu was relieved. Mixed farming and animal husbandry was better than just farming or grazing. Crops in the fields could not be moved, but livestock had legs of their own. After going to Changshan, he had to find a few hills to store hay and cut wood to build fences.

Although the King of Liang said so, if there is a flood, Liu Chou may not be able to take care of him, so it is better to prepare in advance. In this world, it is useless to rely on others, and you have to rely on yourself in the end.

As the two were talking, they soon arrived at the camp in the north of the county.

Everywhere there were strong men with yellow scarves on their heads.

Their weapons were incomplete, with almost no iron armor and only a few hundred pieces of leather armor, and no one knew where they got them from.

Many people had only a wooden spear besides their tattered linen clothes.

But they seemed to be in good spirits. When they saw King Liang, they all knelt down on the ground without any orders - most of the time there was no need to kneel in the army, but these people knelt down naturally.

Liu Hezhu glanced at Shao Xun quietly. He had inadvertently gathered a loyal army. He hadn't led them to victory yet, but their prestige was already very high.

Liu Hezhu was convinced by this way of doing things, and it was also the main reason why he was willing to obey.

If it was someone else who was not that good, or an ignorant kid, it would be hard to convince people, let alone be worthy of following. Liu Hezhu didn't mind rebelling to see how it went.

Many ragged victims also ran out of the camp.

They were arranged on the north bank of the Hutuo River, across the river from the Huangtou military camp on the south bank.

The Hutuo River, which was extremely violent more than a month ago, has become extremely docile.

On both sides of the river, soldiers and refugees were washing in batches, and it was very lively.

Someone started cursing, saying that he was fetching water to cook, but someone in front of him was peeing into the river, which caused a burst of laughter.

Some people were killing sheep by the river, and as they were killing they were discussing whether it was easier to kill people or sheep - there was a famine, and who hadn't killed a few people to eat?

Some people were lucky enough to catch a few fish. Their comrades cheered and shouted to make soup quickly.

The man said with a serious face that the villagers had abandoned him and left him lying in the mud to die, and it was King Liang who pulled him up. The king asked if there were any fish in the river yesterday, and it was obvious that he wanted to eat them, so this fish could only be offered to the king.

After this was said, no one said anything more.

Liu Hezhu watched for a long time and finally sighed.

In fact, he didn't even know what he was sighing about.

It seemed as if some thoughts and ambitions had been forever dissipated, dissipated in the heartfelt words of respect from the Yellow Head Army soldiers.

The great power of King Liang never lies in himself, but in the support of his officers, soldiers, officials and people.

Even Liu Hezhu, after giving up some unrealistic ideas, actually became a part of King Liang's power.

The trend is overwhelming and upright.

How can the clown Sima be compared with him in gaining the world by right?

After returning to the central army camp, King Liang was seeing off a group of village elders.

"I used to have some opinions about the king, but now I know I was wrong. In this moment of life and death, only the king still cares about us."

"Your Majesty is right. In this world, we must tolerate each other for the sake of the country. No one wins and no one loses. All day long, you scheme and plot, but in the end, a flood will be in vain."

"My parents are starving and freezing, my brothers and their wives are separated. When I am in despair and at a loss, the king comes to comfort me. Who can be my enemy?"

The village elders kept talking, and Shao Xun consoled them one by one. Finally, he said, "Although it is extremely difficult, don't forget to plant winter wheat. Even if you can't plant much, as long as you try your best, you will have a harvest in May next year."

"The world has suffered a great loss this year, and we don't know what will happen next year. At this moment, food is life, and we must plant some no matter how difficult it is. If you have livestock, don't kill them or sell them, and keep them as much as possible. The harvest may not be good, but the grass is lush. God will always have a way out, and the disaster will eventually pass."

"After the disaster, there may be an epidemic. You should stay at home and don't go out too much. Drink more hot water and wash frequently. I will come again next year to see how Hebei is doing after the disaster. If the weather is good, I will drink with you."

They talked for a few more words, then took some food from the camp, thanked the emperor profusely and left, going home to distribute it to the people in their own fortresses.

The forts and manors have different terrains. Some of them managed to preserve their stored grain, while others did not. Their situations were different.

Those who were severely affected by the disaster could borrow money from relatives and friends, and receive some relief grain from the court. Perhaps they could survive the disaster without too many people starving to death.

Shao Xun stayed in Julu until the end of September. During this period, some people actually went south from Changshan, Zhongshan, Gaoyang and other places. There were also many people from Julu and the neighboring Anping and Boling counties.

He gathered some of the best and strongest men, then toured Anping and Bohai in the east, and Zhaojun and Guangping in the west. By the end of October, he arrived in Yecheng with an army of about 40,000 people.

When the white-haired Lu Zhi saw Shao Xun in person, he could hardly believe his eyes.

Is this man with unshaven beard, tired face, dirty and torn body really the King of Liang?

There should be nothing wrong with it.

He was guarded in the center by 40,000 strong men, like a king looking down on the world.

"Feed the boys some food!" These were his first words.

The cheers were earth-shaking.

(End of this chapter)