There was no grand and solemn funeral, and not even many people attended.
The big dog's coffin was placed on the pedestal of the dragon chair in the main hall of Yongzhou Palace. Fang Jie, Qilin, Mu Xiaoyao, and Shen Qingshan stood under the pedestal, looking up at him.
When he walked out of the main hall, Qilin wanted to close the door of the main hall but was stopped by Fang Xie. He shook his head and said softly: "Open the door, if he can still see it, he should also want to look outside. landscape."
The big dog was silent and rubbed his nose.
The sudden death of Big Dog made Fang Jie lose his interest in attacking Nanyan. For the next month or so, the Black Banner Army rested in Yongzhou City. The generals of various armies led the soldiers for routine training, and Fang Jie would sit in the hall for a while every day, talking to himself. Some people are worried about his performance, and naturally some people gloat over his misfortune. Those local so-called nobles in Yongzhou who are not dead are very happy to hear that Fang Xie has been in a trance recently, and they wish Fang Xie would go crazy like this.
It's just a pity that as long as Fang Jie is still in Yongzhou City for a day, they can only behave with their tails between their legs.
In the blink of an eye, spring is warm and flowers are blooming. Although the changes of the four seasons in Yongzhou are not obvious, the four seasons will not change due to people's will, and what should come will still come.
The first to come was the battle report from Huang Yangdao. Cui Zhongzhen led troops to besiege Xinyang City. Unexpectedly, Tian Xin, the guard of Xinyang City, surrendered in Kaesong. I thought it would be a fierce battle, but I didn't expect it to be won so easily.
Chen Xiaoru took the battle report and walked quickly outside Fang Jie's study, Fang Jie heard the words and asked him to come in. Fang Jie has lost a lot of weight recently, and the coldness between his brows has also disappeared somewhat. Chen Xiaoru knew how much the big dog's departure would be to Fang Jie. This general who is now in command of the three armies would not cry in front of others, but if he pressed the wound in his heart like this, I'm afraid it would hurt even more.
"General, good news!"
Chen Xiaoru handed over the battle report: "In the news just sent, Tian Xin, the guard of Xinyang City, sent someone to contact General Cui, and proposed that as long as the lives of the defenders in Xinyang City are guaranteed, Tian Xin is willing to donate Xinyang City."
Fang Jie didn't expect this battle to end so soon, so he took a look at the battle report: "Still talking?"
"Well, we're still talking."
Chen Xiaoru replied: "This is the military situation that Dugu Wenxiu asked the Xiaoqi School to convey at the fastest speed. I want to ask the general for instructions, but even if it is the transmission method of the Xiaoqi School, it will take at least half a month on the road. Within a month, the matter should be over."
Fang Jie nodded: "Send someone back to tell Cui Zhongzhen that the location of Xinyang City is dangerous and should not be taken lightly. Luo Tu's hundreds of thousands of horses are on the north bank of the Yangtze River, only seven or eight hundred miles away from Xinyang City. Once the news of Xinyang City's fall reaches In Luo Tu's ears, he must have reacted. No one can guess whether to go to the south of the Yangtze River or attack Xinyang. Tell him to break up the original defenders of Xinyang City and select the elite to stay. Just a sum of money and dismissal."
"Ling, Dugu Wenxiu is the general manager of Huangyang Dao. Except for military affairs, other matters are decided by him. Distribute the silver taels of those demobilized soldiers and let the wealthy families in Xinyang City donate. Don't try to win people's hearts. I don't need these. Who If the family does not produce money, then it will directly copy someone else's house."
"Here."
Chen Xiaoru responded.
"Tell Dugu Wenxiu that no matter who is thinking of attracting more local gentry families to expand their strength, he should not think so. I don't need the so-called support of those people, I only need them to be obedient and obedient. If you are not obedient, there is no need to stay. Why are you being polite?"
This is Fang Jie's second confession, so Chen Xiaoru made a special note of it.
"besides… "
Fang Jie was silent for a while and asked, "Call Zhang Xi after you go back. I asked him to count the population of Pingshang Road. It has been more than a month. I guess there is an approximate figure."
"Here, the subordinate will take his leave first."
"What are San Jinhou doing these days?"
Fang Jie asked suddenly.
Chen Xiaoru replied: "The Marquis of Sanjin has been traveling in the mountains and rivers these days, and sometimes he goes out for six or seven days before returning. He only brought two or three entourages with him. He just left Yongzhou early this morning. It is said that he is going to Mochi Mountain to see it. "
"The ground in Yongzhou is not peaceful yet. Send some elites from Xiaoqi School to protect Sanjinhou. Don't hide it from him, so as not to misunderstand."
"Here."
"Go ahead."
Fang Jie waved his hand: "That's right... let Sun Kaidao come to Yongzhou."
Chen Xiaoru agreed, and as soon as he walked out of Fang Jie's study, he suddenly saw a hundred households from Xiaoqi School running over in a hurry.
"What happened?"
Chen Xiaoru stopped the hundred households and asked.
"Return to Commander, something happened to Huang Yangdao!"
Chen Xiaoru's heart sank, and he suddenly panicked.
…
…
"Analysis of news from now..."
Chen Xiaoru's voice was a little low, because he really didn't expect that the happy event he reported to Fang Jie just now turned into a disaster after a while.
"General Cui was ambushed by Tian Xin. When he entered the city to accept the surrender, he was surrounded by rebels ambushing on the street. Hundreds of elite soldiers who accompanied him into the city were all killed in battle. General Cui was able to escape after the personal soldiers fought to the death and reopened the city gate."
"but… "
Chen Xiaoru took a peek at Fang Jie's face and continued: "General Cui was seriously injured and unconscious. Tian Xin led the rebel army to attack. The army was defeated and retreated forty miles, with more than 5,000 people injured. If it wasn't for General Chen Move the mountain and lead the cavalry to rescue, I'm afraid the loss will be even greater."
"Where's Dugu Wenxiu?"
Fang asked.
"It is said that Lord Dugu had repeatedly dissuaded General Cui before the incident, so don't trust Tian Xin. Even when General Cui called the generals to discuss matters, Lord Dugu also said that although Tian Xin was not well-known among the left front guards before, But since Luo Yao left this person to guard the faith, this person must have something special. But General Cui thinks that Xinyang is an isolated city, and now that the Luo family's rebels have lost consecutive battles, Tian Xin has no reason or courage resistance."
Chen Xiaoru flipped through the military newspaper and said: "The news from Xiaoqi School said that when General Cui entered the city, Dugu Wenxiu had ordered the whole army to be on alert, but he was a civilian official, and most of the generals in the army didn't care, so that the rebels killed him." When we left the city, our army did not have time to line up..."
Fang Jie picked up his teacup and took a sip, his eyes wandering.
"Order, remove Cui Zhongzhen from all his military posts and send him back to Suzaku Mountain to recuperate. Dugu Wenxiu is the commander of the Xinyang March, and Chen Qianshan is the deputy commander...the ones who are lost will be retrieved as they are. Let them find a way to win this battle. I will again Give Dugu Wenxiu a month, and if he can't win Xinyang City within a month, let him and Chen Qianshan come to see him."
"Here."
Fang Jie took over the military newspaper and looked at it, then tossed it aside.
"In every battle, there are winners and losers. I won't cut off your heads because of the defeat in the first battle. Everyone will make mistakes. But this incident also tells you a truth. Your arrogance and negligence will always be your own. worst enemy."
"Subordinates, remember!"
Xiahou Baichuan, Chen Dingnan and others answered with clasped fists.
"in addition… "
Fang Jie looked at Chen Xiaoru and said: "Send people to Yongbei, Beihui, and Nanhui. Please Zhong Xin, Chi Haonian, and Du Jianzhou, the three governors-general, come to Yongzhou to discuss matters. Just say that I am waiting for them in Yongzhou. Please." They set off immediately."
"General... I'm afraid these three people may not dare to come?"
Xiahou Baichuan pondered for a while and said.
Fang Jie hummed: "Of course they don't dare to come, and I didn't expect them to come. I asked Zhang Xi to count the population of the people in Pingshang Road. Although there is no specific figure yet, after the war and natural disasters, ten people in Pingshang Road have gone. June 7th is an indisputable fact. Of the four roads in the southwest, Pingshang Road is the most prosperous, and the people have suffered so much, and most of Pingshang Road has been abolished... I plan to transfer people from Yongbei Road, Nanhui Road, and Beihui Road. Ping Shang, of course, will put some pressure on those three people. If you directly talk about this matter, they will definitely refuse in every possible way."
"I invited them to come, but they didn't dare to come, and then I sent someone to talk about it, but they didn't dare to refuse."
Fang Jie paused for a moment and continued: "Send people to post notices in the counties and counties of Pingshang Road, calling on the people to return to their homes and cultivate land. When the Nanmanzi came, those wealthy households ran away with their families. I don't deny that the land was once theirs. These rich households belong to me after I take them back. All the people can plant on my land, and they can plant as many fields as they have ability... It is distributed according to the ration field of one mu per person. No money or food is charged. If you want to grow more, you can rent it. If you rent more than five acres, you will receive 20% of the tax, if you rent more than ten acres, you will receive 30%, and if you rent more than 15 acres, you will receive half. After everything is ready, the tax will be lowered.”
"The general..."
Chen Dingnan persuaded: "In this way, I am afraid that many people will object..."
"I said, those who follow me, I will not move them a field. Those who go against me, I will not leave them a field. Let's make arrangements and let Pingshangdao resume production as soon as possible."
At this moment, Wu Yiyi, Marquis of Sanjin, hurried in from the outside.
"Major General, is this matter delayed a little bit?"
As he walked, he said: "This subordinate just left the city and not far away, when he was chased back by people from the Xiao Riding School, saying that the general has something important to discuss, the subordinate didn't dare to delay, and rushed back without stopping."
"Lord Hou, what do you mean?"
Fang asked.
Wu Yidao said anxiously: "The general returned the land to the people. This is a great thing since ancient times, and it is a blessing for the people. But is this matter too hasty? The subordinates are not against the general's military order, but feel that this matter still needs to be discussed in detail. , it won’t be too late to implement a specific regulation.”
"I understand what San Jinhou means."
Fang Jie was silent for a while and said: "Although you say this, you still oppose my practice of returning the land to the people. Because doing so will offend all the big families in the Central Plains. In the future, if the Black Banner Army wants to expand outwards, It’s as hard as climbing the sky.”
Wu Yiyi opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
"There's no need to wait."
Fang Jie said calmly: "I used to think that although this is a good thing, it is not time to implement it. I will implement it when I have the strength to make everyone dare not oppose me. But after the big dog died, I Suddenly I understood a truth...some things, it is better to do them early, so as not to regret later. Yes, I did this to offend all the rich and aristocratic families in the world, and they will definitely regard me as an enemy. But now, Even if I don't do this, how many aristocratic families still treat me like relatives and friends?"
"I offended them, but I won the hearts of the people."
Fang Jie stood up, walked to the door of the study and looked at the blue sky outside: "I'm here... I have to do something."
The inner meaning of this sentence is understood by no one except himself.
There was a voice in Fang Jie’s heart that kept saying, no matter what God sent you to this world to do, you should do what you want to do. Maybe you'll offend the world, but you're not here to please the world. Not everyone is a Dalun Mingwang who can live a thousand years...