Emperor Sui Yang

It was quite difficult for Qiu He to go to Jingzhou to recruit soldiers and borrow food. Even if you recruit all the military mansions here, there are only 2 people.

Yang Guang gave him the will, but the specific executor was himself.

This is like a group company. The chairman tells you where to develop business, and how to develop it is your business. The chairman only wants results.

"The size of the Xiangyang navy is not small now, more than 6000 people, and there are five big warships," Qiu He said to Murong Sanzang in the Jiangling prefect's mansion:
"Why do they still have refined weapons? Xiangyang prefect Du Zha, although his son Du Ruhui works in the East Palace, does he have such a big face?"

Murong Sanzang has been sitting in the position of Jiangling county guard for more than ten years. He was supposed to be replaced a long time ago, but he has an old relationship with the prince, and the money he pays for the East Palace every year is not less, so the officials did not move him. .

Murong Sanzang said with a smile: "The Xiangyang navy was originally supported by the crown prince. From the inside to the outside, it is the prince's people. Du Zha is a fart. He can't control the Xiangyang navy."

The two are old acquaintances and have worked together before, Qiu He frowned and said, "So, if I want to recruit these 6000 people, it's almost impossible?"

"Don't look at Zhou Zhongmou of Xiangyang Hussar's Mansion, he is just a Hussar general, but in Jingzhou, no one can appoint him," Murong Sanzang said:

"But you can try it. Zhou Zhongmou was detained by Feng Xuan when he attacked Liuqiu back then. He has a feud with the Feng family. If he is willing to help, the prince will not say anything."

Qiu He sneered and said, "As a county prince, I still need to speak nicely to a military general who is not on the stage? Isn't it self-defeating? I am in the capital, and the prince still respects me a little bit. what?"

Murong Sanzang smiled and said: "Be more polite, after all, he belongs to the crown prince."

Qiu He snorted coldly: "It's because he belongs to the crown prince that I sent someone to go to Xiangyang to find him. If not, I can dismiss him on the spot if he didn't come to see him because I came to Jingzhou."

What they said is correct, he does have this right, because he came on a festival basis and has the right to temporarily dispatch officials from various counties in Jingzhou.

But Jingzhou is a special place. The crown prince used to be the chief executive here. Many officials are attached to the East Palace. If the background is too strong, it will definitely be more arrogant than other places.

At this time, Zhou Zhongmou was announced outside the door.

"Let him in," Qiu He said lightly.

Not long after, Zhou Zhongmou in military uniform came in. He didn't know Qiu He, but he knew that he was a second-rank official just by looking at his official uniform.

"Humble post in Xiangyang Hussar's Mansion, Zhou Zhongmou, pays homage to the Duke of Pingcheng, General."

Qiu He nodded, and said, "Please stand up and sit down."

After Zhou Zhong sat down, Qiu He said: "Xiangyang Hussar's Mansion, in the early years it belonged to Zuo Ling Zuo Mansion, now it is Zuo Tunwei, I am not your general."

Qiu He is the general of Zuo Yuwei, and Zuo Tunwei is now Yang Hao, and Yang Hao himself can't control the Xiangyang Navy.

Zhou Zhongmou was stunned for a moment, thinking that I didn't offend you, so why did you give me power as soon as I came up?
"You are a humble general, under the Sui army system, the general of the twelve guards and the four mansions, in charge of the world's troops and horses. There is nothing wrong with the humble title."

The corners of Qiu He's mouth turned up slightly, and after glancing at Murong Sanzang beside him, he continued:
"You and Brother Feng Xuan and Feng An have dealt with each other before. What do you think of these two people?"

Zhou Zhongmou is a member of the military, so it is suitable to call Qiu He's military position, not the higher-ranking county prince, the general of the military mansion, who is from the second rank.

Just listen to him say: "Back to the general, I think Feng An is reliable in my humble position. Although his loyalty to the court comes from self-protection and the protection of the interests of the Feng family in Lingnan, he is still close to the court, but he That big brother, Feng Xuan, kind of regards Lingnan as his own backyard, and doesn't want the imperial court to intervene too much in Lingnan affairs, and the military power in the Guangzhou area is in Feng Xuan's hands, which is really worrying."

Qiu He nodded: "Feng Xuan is the eldest son, the head of the Feng family, and it is normal for him to hold military power, but Feng An's control over the Guangzhou area is definitely superior to Feng Xuan's. The illusion that brothers are strong and brothers are weak is just for the court. Look, Feng An knows how to hide his strength and bide his time best."

Murong Sanzang went straight to the point and said: "Your Majesty has a decree to order the Duke of Pingcheng to recruit troops from Jingzhou and station them in Guiyang County in case there is any change in the Feng family. Your navy has 6000 people, plus 1000 and [-] people from the Hussar's Mansion. , are all in the ranks of recruitment, shouldn't you have prepared earlier?"

Murong Sanzang's rank is not low, the prefect of Jiangling, and the county magistrate of Hanoi, but his last sentence has a question mark instead.

This is a smart person. He is also hanging out with the prince now, eating in the same pot with Zhou Zhongmou.

After listening to the other party's words, Qiu He obviously frowned, you are really a grandson, do you need to talk like that with a hussar general?It's fine if you flatter the crown prince, even a small official under the crown prince, are you so polite?

Zhou Zhongmo pondered for a moment, and said: "The Xiangyang navy is equipped with light armor suitable for water warfare. If it is a land battle, it will not have an advantage. However, since it is His Majesty's order, the humble side must listen to the command of the general."

Hearing this, Qiu He breathed a sigh of relief, yes, this person nodded, wouldn't there be 7000 people?
It's kind of flattering.

"Very well, you should prepare as soon as possible, we just go to Guiyang to watch Feng An, maybe we will fight," Qiu He said:

"Even if it's light armor, it's still refined steel, and it's far from what the barbarians in Lingnan can resist."

Although even the best knife is difficult to chop wood, the rattan armor of the Lingnan soldiers is not thick at all, and it is too thick to carry. Besides, the main weapon of the Sui Dynasty is the spear, which is tied to the rattan armor. , one stabbed one to die.

It can be said that stabbing weapons are designed to attack rattan armor.

Zhou Zhongmou nodded and said: "Don't worry, General, Xiangyang Hussar's Mansion only needs three days to prepare, and can go south with you at any time."

Qiu He was in a good mood, and said with a smile: "No wonder the crown prince put you here, you have some skills in leading troops, by the way, I heard that you have a good relationship with the Shen family?"

Of course it's good, the Shen family is a supporter of the prince, and Zhou Zhongmou is also a member of the prince, so they get along very well on weekdays.

Shen Lun has become Jiangling Juncheng from the original Jiangling County Lieutenant, and Shen Qu is now Xiangyang County Lieutenant from Xiangyang County Lieutenant. They have all been promoted from county level to county level, jumping a big step.

There are quite a few other Shen family children who have become officials in the Jingzhou area. In Jingzhou right now, the Shen family is the richest.

Qiu He had to look for food. Having soldiers but no food means having cars but no fuel.

Zhou Zhongmou nodded and said: "The humble position and the Shen family are still close. The two sons of the minister are both married to the daughters of the Shen family."

His two sons, Zhou Qing and Zhou Tian, ​​were vigorously trained by Yang Ming in the capital, participated in the Battle of Goguryeo, and are currently holding important positions in the Left Marquis Guard, both married daughters of the Shen family.

The daughter of the big family in Guanzhong, even if she is a concubine, doesn't like him.

And Zhou Zhongmou's hometown is Jiujiang, so he is definitely willing to find a southern girl for his son.

"Please help me introduce it. Tonight, my lord will host a banquet at the treasured place of Prefect Murong. You can help invite Mrs. Shen to the banquet," Qiu He said.

"The humble job must be properly arranged," Zhou Zhongmou said.

The treatment of Mrs. Shen was different, Qiu He had to save face, because he heard from Murong Sanzang that Mrs. Shen went to Beijing last year and stayed in the East Palace for two days, and was received by the prince and concubine personally.

I didn't even have this kind of treatment in the East Palace.

That night, the Shen family came together with Jiangling County Prime Minister Shen Lun.

Shen Lun is very convinced of his sister-in-law now. If it weren't for her, their family would not be where it is today, so he is very relieved to leave the family affairs to her sister-in-law. How to spend the money is also up to Shen.

"Madam, please take a seat," Qiu He said very enthusiastically, completely different from when he was facing Zhou Zhongmou.

"This is Juncheng Shen, right? I've been looking forward to it for a long time, please take a seat."

Shen Lun hurriedly said: "Mr. Qiu is too polite. It is my honor to meet Mr. Qiu today."

"Don't say such outrageous things, sit down and sit down,"

Qiu He also has experience in governing in the local area. He knows the way of officialdom very well. As the saying goes, coaxing people to death does not pay for their lives. Like in movies and TV dramas, he always scolds and insults.

After everyone was seated, Qiu He said with a smile: "I heard that Mrs. Shen brought her precious son to Beijing for the exam last year. I wonder what the result will be?"

Shen's two sons have already been arranged, but after she came back, she didn't mention anything to the outside world. This is a low-key person. When Murong Sanzang saw that Shen was the only one coming back, he made indirect inquiries, but no one said anything.

But Qiu is different, the level is too high.

So Shen said honestly: "The eldest son, Shen Tong, did not enter the palace examination and is now just a minor official in the Ministry of Rites. The second son, Shen Shu, luckily entered the palace and is now serving as a military officer in Wannian County."

Qiu He subconsciously looked at Murong Sanzang, dumbfounded.

This is clearly arranged by the prince himself. Although he is only a small official in the Ministry of Rites, it is completely impossible for your family to enter the Ministry of Rites.

As for the Wannian County Government and Chang'an County Government, these are the two largest counties in Jingzhao County and belong to the Beijing officials, who are much higher than local officials of the same level.

What's more, you still have the backing of the prince, so you have a bright future.

"The crown prince really treats you well," Qiu He sighed:

"It's most suitable for you to be a military officer when you first enter an official position, because military affairs are relatively simple. After staying in the county government for a long time, you will naturally be familiar with other affairs, which will facilitate your promotion in the future. Shangshusheng is not something ordinary people can enter. , this duke is also the eldest son, His Majesty is ready for his majesty, and the rest of the sons, although some are in Shangshu Province, but their positions are not high."

Shen hurriedly said: "It's just a fluke, Mr. Qiu, don't be humble. You are an important minister of the country, and your descendants will treat you kindly."

After everyone chatted some polite words, after drinking for three rounds, Qiu He got straight to the point:

"I follow His Majesty's order to send troops to Guiyang. Unfortunately, there is not enough food and grass. I want to borrow some food from my wife. I don't know if my wife will be embarrassed?"

Without thinking about it, Shen said: "To share the country's worries, I dare not refuse, the Shen family will do their best, and the Shen family is willing to bear the burden of Duke Qiu's logistics."

Qiu He was taken aback for a moment, never expecting that the other party would be so happy, he slapped the table and said:
"It's not for nothing that the crown prince treats Shen's family well. Madam sacrifices herself to serve the public, and Qiu admires it."