Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

254 Chapter 4.50 Officers are vacant, no troops, food and grass are burned out, and no weapons
Volume Four

4.50 There are no officers, no troops, all the food and grass, and no weapons.
Jinling is not far from Daye, but in this day and age, it is a very troublesome journey. Although the waterway is connected, it has to go against the current all the way. There are also a series of troublesome things such as waterways and checkpoints, and there is also the need for food after the cruise. The speed of the ship and cargo ship was not fast. By the time Zhou Yang finally arrived at the destination, six days had passed, and they had not arrived until the evening of September [-]th. He simply arranged for everyone to rest and discuss the issue of disembarkation the next day.

In the early morning of the next day, Zhou Yang couldn't sleep much because he had slept well all the way. When he got up, the sun had just emerged, but as soon as he left the room, servants came to report. Several subordinates who had been arranged in advance had already boarded the ship to pay their respects. At this time, Waiting on deck one.

"I have met you in this humble position!" He washed up a little and came down to receive him. However, as soon as he entered the living room door, he saw six people who were sitting upright kneeling down, headed by Yuan Xiu, including Zhao Tong, Jiao Zhen, Li Feng and Meng. There are five hundred households in total, including Fu Shi, the last chief bookkeeper. No one is left behind, and all of them are present. It is obvious that they have corrected their status.

"Okay, brothers, please get up and sit down." Zhou Yang nodded with satisfaction, but after he took his seat, he waved his hand and motioned for the six people to get up and take their seats, "How about it, the six adults have now taken office. It’s been more than half a month, what do you think?”

But unexpectedly, he didn't even finish his words. The six of them actually looked at each other, and no one spoke for a long time.

"My lord." After more than a dozen breaths, Yuan Xiu, the leader, smiled wryly and became the representative, "I don't know what to say because I have heard about the military affairs before, but I never thought about it. Now the imperial court The health center has actually reached such an extent, which is simply, well, unheard of!"

"It sucks?" Zhou Yang had already expected this, so he asked casually.

"Masters, please have tea!" While everyone was depressed, Zhao Qiying and Qingwen had already brought tea trays to the door. They nodded to Zhou Yang for instructions before entering and serving tea. However, the small tea tray in Qingwen's hand only had one cup for her. There were six tea cups on the big tea tray in her hand, and Qingwen, who had put down the small tea tray, served them to six people respectively.

"Thank you, Aunt Zhao!" It's just that the titles of six people thanking each other one after another made Zhou Yang feel very strange, and he always thought of that strange woman from Rongguo Mansion.
"Okay, let's talk about the specific situation, Mr. Fu, tell me!" He waved his hand to signal the two girls to leave, but Zhou Yang turned his head and found that everyone averted their eyes, so he simply nodded, anyway, this is the one who came here A backup person is not afraid of offending anyone.

"Back to your lord, Daye Guards Thousand Households. As the name suggests, according to the regulations, it should be a troop of thousands of households." Seeing that there was no one to respond, Fu Shi could only say with a wry smile, "That is, one person from a thousand households and two deputies from a thousand households." There are ten people from a hundred households, and the military force under their jurisdiction is ten from a hundred households, plus the general banner directly under the Qianhu and two deputy Qianhu.

It should include one to three cavalry hundred households and the remaining infantry hundred households. The total strength is about [-]; When the higher-ups inquired, at least there was a response, but the current Qianhusuo, let alone a full staff or even half of them, I'm afraid."

"Tell me, why is it stuck?" Zhou Yang asked a little strangely when he noticed that Fu Shi had stopped.

"Sir, let's talk about the humble position." Meng Kun, who has always had a carefree temper, stood up and said, "I'm afraid no one can tell how many are in service now, and it's impossible to count, because currently, the humble position and others have found only one deputy A thousand households and a hundred households, it doesn’t matter whether the others have it or not.”

"How many troops can we find?" Zhou Yang asked with a frown.

"The hundred households are half of the establishment, and the deputy thousand households are surrounded by more than the usual establishment, about two small flags." Meng Kun's big bearded face showed a speechless expression, "There are probably two of them. A person with a small flag is equipped with a war horse, and there is one next to each of them, and they are gone."

"No more?" Even though Zhou Yang had already guessed, he was still fooled by this coquettish move.

"It's gone." Yuan Xiu was obviously broken. "I checked the roster. Theoretically, this place is full. However, except for the residences and camps of the two people just now, the rest of the Qianhu Camp has basically collapsed. If you want to use it, just use it." It needs to be renovated; as for the actual strength of the troops, I found an old soldier guarding the old camp and asked him. According to his answer, the last operation here was at least ten years ago."

"Very good, the troops are gone. Where are the officers?" Even though he had fallen into the well, Zhou Yang still wanted to rescue him.

"Since my lord appointed the official, the former Lord Qianhu has been transferred away." Yuan Xiu's answer made Zhou Yang nod slightly, which is understandable, but it will not be so simple next time, "two deputy Qianhu, one In office, he was originally from a wealthy family in Wuchang Prefecture; the other one had never appeared, no one could tell where he was, and no one recognized the name on the handover record.

In theory, there are only seven people in office among the ten theoretical hundred households at most. Most of them were transferred out for various reasons more than a month ago. The only one left is also from a wealthy family in Wuchang Prefecture. On weekdays, He has always been the incumbent deputy Qianhu's confidant; others, such as Shibaihu and Zongqi, can't be checked. "

"It's completely normal." Zhou Yang nodded. It seems that this guardhouse is a place for certain people. The only two actual positions are also "divided fat" by local wealthy families. "It doesn't matter if the officers are gone. It just happens to be returned to them." We have saved a lot of trouble, but where are the food and grass supplies? We can’t go on hungry, right?”

"Um" Fu Shi, the chief bookkeeper with supervisory responsibilities, stood up in a cold sweat, "The night when Bei Shi and others arrived here, the grain depot was accidentally flooded and burned to rubble; because the document depot was also built nearby, This one was all burned out. The person who was in charge of guarding at the time was probably too drunk and unresponsive. He was also burned to death in the fire." "Fire Dragon. Forget it, basic operations." Zhou Yang almost became angry, "Very good, there is nothing to check about the food and salary, but what about the arsenal? We can't leave our men empty-handed - what are your expressions?"

"Sir, according to the rules of the Zhou Dynasty, Qianhu Station does not have to have an armory. There happens to be no armory here." This time it was Jiao Zhen who took over the conversation and ruined the three views when he opened his mouth. "If necessary, please apply to the next level up. The leader is Master Luo Gang, the commander of Wuchang Guards. However, according to the official correspondence between Master Fu and the other side, Daye Guards Qianhu Station last applied for ordnance five years ago, and Master Luo has not yet arrived. Things from the past"

"It's understandable that it's hard to settle the old scores of my predecessor." Zhou Yang didn't even have the energy to be angry, "Great, there are no officers, no troops, all the food and grass are burned, and no weapons, so I will take you with me, plus Eighty soldiers serve as mere commanders, right? You guys have been here for more than half a month, you have to do something, right?"

"Back to my lord, people with low ranks have done some things." Zhao Tong, who had a bad background and the strongest ability to take care of himself, hurriedly got up and replied, "Because I knew that my lord wanted to start a career, people with low ranks didn't report it. Try Some preparation work was done, mainly to be able to recruit people as soon as possible after the adults arrived.

Over at the camp outside the city, I have summoned nearby craftsmen and civilians to repair and rebuild it, and now it has a general appearance. The Qianhu Yamen in the city has also been repaired and is ready for move-in at any time. However, if it is to be completed according to the standards that the Lord originally told me, it still needs to be completed. It will take more than half a month; in terms of food and salary, the goods have been purchased from the Wuchang Prefecture Branch of Xue Zihao. Even the soldiers have been recruited and replenished, about [-] people. "

"Not bad!" Zhou Yang nodded with satisfaction. It's really good for these people to be able to achieve such results in a ruins. "In other words, we can enter normal military arrangements now?"

"This." Zhao Tong turned to look at Li Feng, who had been silent.

"Tell me, it's already like this, what's more unacceptable?" Zhou Yang waved his hand generously, signaling Li Feng to speak.

"Go back to your lord, because there is neither food nor ammunition here, and the latter can say that the matter of food and salary is much more troublesome." Li Feng stood up and said bravely, "In order to let everyone eat, the humble job is in the name of adults. Purchased grain and grass on credit from Xue Zihao for military needs."

"It's excusable." Zhou Yang nodded in agreement, "What else?"

"Repairing the camp requires hiring people, and these all cost money." Li Feng looked up at Zhou Yang and then quickly lowered his head, "When the Lord sent the humble people and others over, he did provide them with wages. This, if it is just the humble people and the Forty soldiers are enough, but the food and salary needed to repair the barracks and recruit soldiers."

"Tell me, how did you get here?" Zhou Yang had a vague foreboding and spoke much more seriously.

"After discussion with the others, I borrowed it from the Wuchang branch of Xue Zihao in your name, but we can't support it here." Li Feng almost gritted his teeth and said, "Beizhi is pressing on the shopkeeper of Xue Zihao. I borrowed money from a local bank with a monthly interest rate of [-]%, and I managed to survive."

"How much did you borrow?" Zhou Yang patted his head, feeling that his blood pressure was a little elevated.

"5 taels" Li Feng's voice was so low that it was almost inaudible.

"Well, I can still bear it -" Zhou Yang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, then exploded violently, "What the hell! Li Yilong, don't run away like your mother. If I don't beat you to death, you're a piece of shit, mine." Money, 1 taels more a month? Do you know that your little salary is enough for you to live without food or water for 20 years?"

"Sir, please calm down!" Yuan Xiu quickly winked at Meng Kun, and the two of them worked together to hug someone, "This is also to allow you to master the military power as soon as possible."

"I can't calm down!" Zhou Yang wondered in his eyes whether these idiots knew he had money and didn't take it seriously when using it. "Do you not want to do it anymore and just want me to get out of here with a lot of debt? "

"Sir, I have sent an official document to Commander Luo, requesting him to apply for food and salary for Qianhu from the Ministry of War." Fu Shi said carefully, "Fortunately, I heard that only [-]% of the salary has been paid here for many years. This time I officially applied. , and with your lord's way in the Ministry of War, I think you can get [-]% no matter what."

Zhou Yang no longer knew how to complain.

(End of this chapter)