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Chapter 17 Ambition
  Jiang Shaohua's eyes were bright: "Recruit two thousand more soldiers." He added regretfully: "With the financial resources of Nanyang County, we can only raise so many soldiers."

Not to mention Qin Zhan and the other three, even Song Yuan felt his blood boiling when he heard these two sentences. He couldn't help but ask: "Why does the princess suddenly want to expand the personal guard army?"

Jiang Shaohua used the rhetoric of "grandfather's dream" again: "... my grandfather told me in my dream that drought will lead to locust plagues, and life in the northern states and counties will be difficult in the next few years. Bandits and bandits are rampant. , those big families who built Uburg took the opportunity to recruit refugees and grow their power. The imperial court was simply unable to control such chaos."

"Our Nanyang County is located at the intersection of north and south, so it will also be affected. If we want to keep Nanyang County safe, we must have sufficient military strength."

"The combat effectiveness of the Nanyang garrison is mediocre. The current General Zuo is a person sent by the imperial court and is not of the same mind as us. We can't count on him at the critical moment."

"Therefore, the Guards must be expanded."

This was the second time Song Yuan heard "Grandfather's Dream", and he naturally accepted this statement.

Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan were the most trusted and valued personal guards of King Nanyang during his lifetime. They believed from the bottom of their hearts that the prince would protect Nanyang County even if he went to heaven.

Only Liu Hengchang frowned slightly and glanced at the young princess.

What a coincidence, Jiang Shaohua also looked over.

Liu Hengchang was caught red-handed, but he didn't feel guilty at all. He said solemnly: "I will be bold enough to say a few unpleasant words."

"Four years ago, the imperial court sent General Zuo to take over the Nanyang garrison. In anger, the prince expanded the 500 personal guards to 2,000 people. This matter was because the imperial court was not honest and had no confidence to pursue it. It was regarded as acquiescence. .”

"Now, the county wants to continue to expand the personal guards. If the court investigates, I don't know how to deal with it?"

This question is quite acute.

Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan were not happy to hear this, and glanced at Liu Hengchang in unison.

Song Yuan also looked over intently.

Liu Hengchang's expression remained unchanged as he continued: "The general is not deliberately provocative. Although Nanyang County is the fiefdom of the princess, it is not the royal land in the world. The princess wants to build a granary to store grain, and the court will not interfere. The princess wants to build a military camp and expand it. The Guards, I'm afraid the court won't let it go."

Not only was Jiang Shaohua not angry, but he glanced at Liu Hengchang approvingly: "General Liu is right. The biggest difficulty in this matter is to hide it from the court."

A secret has already shown Jiang Shaohua's attitude.

Military camps must be built and the Guards must be expanded.

As for how to "hide" it from the court, you have to consider it carefully.

Liu Hengchang poured cold water on him again: "Building a military camp is a major event. If you have to collect labor, it will be difficult to hide it from the court!"

"Who said we have to collect labor?" Jiang Shaohua raised his eyebrows: "This year Nanyang County and the counties will build granaries. They will start after the spring plowing. There is no spare manpower at all."

Liu Hengchang was confused when he heard this: "How can we build a military camp without recruiting civilians?"

Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan were also a little confused and turned to look at the princess.

Song Yuan's heart moved, and he quickly looked at the princess, and instantly understood the princess's intention, and said: "The princess wants the guards to build their own military camp!"

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "Besides training every day in the Guards Camp, there is nothing else to do. Aren't you happy to build a military camp for yourself?"

When Song Yuan thought about it, it was true. What's wrong with the 1,800 ready-made strong men who are provided with rice and noodles three meals a day and are paid monthly to do hard and tiring work?
  Qin Zhan was the first to speak in agreement: "The princess is right. If nothing else, we have a battalion of 600 people. We all have a lot of strength and just use it. Anyone who dares to complain will be honest after being beaten with a military stick. "Meng Dashan thought for a moment and said, "In this case, the training will be suspended in the next few months."

Building a military camp requires digging the foundation and moving wood and rocks, which is all heavy physical work.

Jiang Shaohua nodded: "When the location is chosen to build the military camp, the training will stop. Then let the kitchen slaughter a few pigs every day, and the vegetables should have enough oil and water to keep everyone fed."

Everyone nodded together.

Then, I heard another sentence from the princess: "Everyone builds a military camp during the day and spends an hour at night reading and writing."

Everyone: "..."

Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan's face was instantly distorted. They were all rough men, accustomed to wielding swords and guns, so it was nothing to devote their efforts to building military camps. How do you get them to read and write?

They really want to know the characters, but the characters don’t want to know them!
  Qin Zhan coughed, and smiled cautiously with his rough face: "Princess, I am a rough old man, and I don't know a lot of Chinese characters. Let's forget about reading and writing!"

Meng Dashan rubbed his fingers and laughed together: "Princess, I am just like Lao Qin, I am not the same material."

Jiang Shaohua changed the names in a warm voice: "Uncle Qin, Uncle Meng, you two are in your prime. If the world is really in chaos in the future, I will have to rely on you everywhere. You lead 600 people now, relying on military sticks and prestige are enough. What if we lead one thousand or two thousand people in the future, or more?"

I don't know whether it was because of the shout of "Uncle Qin and Uncle Meng" that the blood surged up, or because hearing "two thousand or more" made them ambitious, Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan both turned red in the face.

Jiang Shaohua continued: "In terms of personal skills, General Liu is not as good as the two of you. But the third battalion has the strictest military discipline and the strongest military formation. Fighting alone, the first and second battalions have many masters. When all members practice, the winner is always the third battalion. camp."

"Haven't you ever thought about the reason for this?"

Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan's old face turned red again.

Liu Hengchang's face was also a little red.

He is a descendant of the general Liu family and has a rich family background. He has read military books and learned the art of war since he was a child. There were many children in the Liu family, and he couldn't get ahead, so he thought about finding another way.

Four years ago, the King of Nanyang recruited his own soldiers. He heard the news and came to defect. The King of Nanyang personally tested him and let him enter the personal guard camp. Within two years, he became the commander of the third battalion. It is because he is familiar with military books and is good at training military formations.

Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan were both direct guards of the royal family. They were brothers and had a deep relationship. Even if it wasn't intentional, it was a fact that he was later squeezed out intentionally or unintentionally.

The prince passed away and the princess was young. People in the military camp were in a state of confusion, and he was one of them. Men all want to make a successful career, so what future is there for a ten-year-old girl?
  In addition, Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan always talked against him, which made him feel a little unhappy.

Unexpectedly, the princess would praise Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan like this in front of him!

"The general is not worthy of the princess's high praise." Liu Hengchang calmed down and said with great humility: "General Qin and General Meng are much better than me. I know that my skills are mediocre and far inferior to the two generals, so I Focus on working hard on the military formation."

Qin Zhan had a straightforward temperament and answered with a blushing face: "General Liu, don't be ashamed of us. Lao Meng and I are both rough and tumble men. We really should read the military books."

Meng Dashan slapped his chest: "We listen to the princess."

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  (End of this chapter)