Under the Lanzhou Dudufu, 100,000 soldiers and civilians devoted themselves to spring plowing and production, and their scale and momentum could be considered frightening. One of the most obvious characteristics of a military town like Lanzhou is that there are more men than women, and there are many young and strong men. The ratio of men to women is seriously imbalanced.
To truly implement a long-term plan, stabilizing military morale is the top priority. Soldiers are people too, and they are men. They endured several times more pressure than ordinary people, and endured long-term and high-load training and labor, which made them miserable. There is nowhere to vent the pressure, and there is no way to relieve the pain and fatigue. If things go on like this, it will be a big hidden danger.
In recent days, Qin Mubai has heard about several "camp roar" incidents in military camps. Although the scale is small, it is quite scary.
The so-called "camp roar" means that the sergeants were sleeping until midnight, and suddenly someone screamed in their sleep. This triggered the fear and pressure that many people had suppressed in their hearts, and then turned into fights and madness!
These people are all suppressed by various factors such as long-term strict military regulations, facing death threats, missing their relatives, etc., and their spirits are always tense and on the verge of collapse.
The camp roar was a disaster for the army. In serious cases, it can lead to the complete collapse of the army!
Although the area where the camp roar occurred was very small and it calmed down quickly, it attracted the attention of the generals such as Qin Shubao and Qin Mubai!
The generals gathered together to discuss a solution to the "camp roar". In fact, the Tang Army has always had a special way to reduce stress for sergeants, and that is - military prostitutes.
Although the Tang army had strict military laws and explicitly prohibited sergeants from having sex with prostitutes, in many cases, there was nothing they could do about it - for example, the current Lanzhou army. Therefore, many generals who have been in charge of the army all year round have a tacit understanding with each other and turn a blind eye to sergeants having sex with prostitutes. As long as they don't go too far, they generally won't be severely punished. Therefore, in the history of wars in the Tang Dynasty, there were many instances of expeditionary armies hiding prostitutes in their baggage and taking them away with the army.
But this method obviously doesn't work in Lanzhou at the moment - the ratio of men to women here is almost ten to one, and 99% of them are women from good families. Is it possible to let these sergeants rob civilian girls
All the generals are in trouble together!
In the end, Qin Mubai came up with a solution: ask the court to allow the families of Lanzhou soldiers to move to join the army, provided they voluntarily do so! After arriving in Lanzhou, the governor's office and the army were responsible for providing basic living necessities such as houses, farmland, and livestock, with appropriate tax reductions and exemptions, and subsidies as appropriate!
As soon as the case came out, everyone including Qin Shubao unanimously agreed!
Combined with the Farming Law, this is a truly ambitious and long-term national policy!
The relocation of the soldiers' families will greatly reduce the soldiers' homesickness (of course, women are more important when they come). At the same time, this can increase the population of Lanzhou.
In this era, population is an important guarantee of productivity.
However, this is a huge test for the emperor and the court!
As far as the emperor was concerned, there were 50,000 soldiers in Lanzhou, and a conservative estimate of the family members who would move there would be at least 100,000. In this way, the soldiers call Lanzhou their home, and their families follow the army - isn't it a country of its own? It’s still a mobile kingdom!
Not to mention the imperial court. Fifty thousand family members are separated in various places. How easy is it to relocate them in a unified manner? This is an extremely huge project, not to mention the loss of money and food. Even if all the manpower and material resources are spent, it may not be able to be completed in a short time.
Qin Mubai had not discussed this plan with Li Shimin at first. It was a strategy devised based on local conditions. Although it is extremely difficult to implement, the biggest question is whether the emperor will allow it - in other words, how much trust does the emperor have in the Qin family and his son
This time, the Xue brothers also stood on the same side as the Qin family father and son, because they were also men and missed their relatives, wives and concubines at home.
The generals gathered together for urgent discussions day and night. After three days and three nights, a complete plan was finally presented. Then everyone decided not to put the pressure on Qin Mubai alone - everyone jointly signed a letter, asking the emperor to "immigrate people to Lanzhou" in the name of Lanzhou's long-term plan!
As soon as this memorial was delivered to Chang'an, Li Shimin thought about it again and again and brought the matter up for public discussion. As a result, the entire court was in an uproar!
This is truly unprecedented. A border garrison town, requesting immigrants to move in. Historically, people have only wanted soldiers, food, and money. I have never heard of "people"!
The court was divided into two distinct factions. The opposition, led by important ministers in the court such as Sun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, strongly opposed it. The reason for Changsun Wuji's opposition was very simple. Historically, the only move was to move people to the interior to expand national power. The Lanzhou frontier fortress could only be used to house people of Turkic descent. It was impossible to bring good people of the Tang Dynasty (that is, labor force, fertile people, etc.) women) moved to the frontier fortress. This is tantamount to injuring the internal organs and strengthening the external organs. Furthermore, if this example is allowed, it will greatly increase the ambition of the border guard general. The power of the governor of the border town is already very great. He can govern the army on horseback and govern the people on horseback, and he can grasp the wealth and military power. Now he is allowed to expand the population under his rule. If things go on like this, he will be too big to become his own country. This is a major hidden danger!
The reason for opposition by some people led by Fang Xuanling is simpler - this move will waste people and money, and the country's financial reserves will be emptied. There was endless internal friction before the war started. This battle has been lost!
There are only a handful of people who support this move, and there are only a few important people, so they are almost not worth mentioning.
The court discussed this matter for many days, and the opposition's advantage became overwhelming.
According to general custom, Li Shimin can make the decision. However, he did not make a decision for a long time. He just repeatedly brought the matter up and asked the ministers to "discuss it."
It was discussed again and again, but the result was the same. Opposition came and went, but Li Shimin just refused to make a final decision.
The ministers began to speculate: The emperor did this deliberately. Did he intend to support Lanzhou in doing this
In the face of such a major event, Li Shimin had to think twice. Even if he is the emperor, if he cannot come up with a strong argument to suppress the public opinion, such a national strategy will not be implemented.
That evening, Li Shimin went out incognito and arrived at Li Jing's house. The two of them were still playing chess and drinking tea as usual.
After playing two games of chess, Li Shimin was completely defeated and his heart was not wilting at all.
"Your Majesty, is there something on your mind?" Li Jing asked.
Li Shimin smiled bitterly and told Li Jing about "relocating people to Lan".
After hearing this, Li Jing chuckled: "Since most of the court officials are opposed to it, it proves that this move is indeed quite ridiculous. Your Majesty will not approve it, so why should you have any doubts or worries?"
"Hey!" Li Shimin sighed and said with a wry smile: "Pharmacist, don't you even understand my thoughts?"
Li Jing smiled slightly: "Does your Majesty also have this idea in mind?"
Li Shimin nodded with thick eyebrows and said: "The assistant machine (Chang Sun Wuji) and others opposed this case because they were standing on my side and thinking about me and my descendants. He was not wrong; Xuan Ling and others People oppose this case from the perspective of the court and the people, and they are not wrong. I have no words to persuade them, so I am distressed."
Li Jing nodded and smiled slightly: "Then your Majesty, from what standpoint are you thinking about this matter?"
"History and nation." Li Shimin narrowed his eyes and revealed his vision.
After hearing these words, Li Jing was stunned for a moment. His eyebrows were furrowed in thought for a moment, and he nodded suddenly: "Your Majesty is wise! Considering the long-term plan of our clan, moving people to Lan is actually the best strategy for consolidation! Lanzhou, based on this, the territory of China will begin to expand from here, and the civilization of our people will spread from here. Your Majesty is ambitious and far-sighted, I admire you!"
Li Shimin smiled bitterly: "What's the use of admiration? Now in the court, even my two prime ministers on the right and left are loudly objecting. Wei Zheng is recuperating at home and has not been to the court for several days. But I have heard that I am not with him on weekdays. My eldest grandson Wuji deigned to visit him and asked him to come out. They will work together to remonstrate with me and let me scrap this plan. "
Li Jing was silent for a long time, then nodded thoughtfully and smiled.
"Why is Brother Jing laughing?" Li Shimin asked.
"Your Majesty thinks that this old face of my old minister is still worth a little money, so please allow me to go to court tomorrow to discuss matters!" Li Jing said.
Li Shimin's eyes lit up and he was immediately overjoyed: "I can't get what I asked for!"
"I'm afraid the veteran alone is not enough." Li Jing said, "At least two more people are needed."
"Which two?" Li Shimin asked.
"Li Ji, Minister of War, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Li Jing said.
Li Shimin frowned: "Li Ji is quite reasonable. Cheng Qian... what's the use of him?"
Li Jing smiled: "Your Majesty, please think twice."
Li Shimin frowned: "I will think twice - come on, continue playing chess!"
A few days later, in the morning court, Duke Wei Li Jing, who had been away from the court for a long time and had no interest in military affairs, suddenly appeared in the court hall. Because of his inconvenient legs and feet, the emperor allowed him to go to court with a stick. But Li Jing did not take his purple wooden stick specially gifted by the emperor and walked into the court hall.
At the same time, Li Ji, who was stationed abroad, was also urgently recalled to the DPRK to discuss politics together.
But Li Jing didn't see Prince Li Chengqian. Instead, Wei King Li Tai appeared in the court!
At this moment, Li Jing knew everything in his heart—Donggong, I'm afraid there will be a replacement!
Today in the court, we will discuss the matter of "immigrating people to Lan" again.
Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others still strongly opposed it. Wei Zheng was nearly blind, but he asked someone to submit the oral memorial and expressed his objection.
Li Jing came forward. He stated the interests and benefits from a long-term perspective and strongly supported the move of immigrants to Lan!
Originally, in terms of power, Li Jing was almost useless; Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling were the two chief assistants in the dynasty, but Li Jing had no ability to compete with them. But in terms of reputation and qualifications, especially his influence in the military and his ability to grasp military and state affairs, Li Jing is unmatched by anyone!
He is usually taciturn and rarely participates in political affairs. He never expresses himself deliberately, but what he says is very powerful!
Li Ji was a very smart man, although he was stationed abroad and didn't know much about "immigrating people to Lan". But since the emperor deliberately recalled him, he obviously wanted him to give "reasonable" opinions.
Therefore, he expressed his opinions very reasonably, agreed with Li Jing's statement, agreed to move people into Lanzhou, strengthen Lanzhou, and use this as a basis for his ambitious plans!
This is just great. The former commander-in-chief and the current commander-in-chief, who represent the highest authority of the military, all stood up to express their support for the immigration to Lanzhou. Ministers such as Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, who have the say in government affairs, could not speak the word "military power" even if they filled their stomachs with thousands of books and various reasons!
The Tang Dynasty favored martial arts and valued military achievements. Soldiers always stick to their word when discussing politics. Because they often represent the highest interests of the military and the military development direction of the entire country!
Li Shimin was the emperor, the highest-level "politician"; but at heart, he was also a soldier, an emperor who was about to conquer the world. They are different from scholars such as Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng, who have deep-rooted Confucian ideas!
This time, his concepts and thoughts reached a unified front with military strategists like Li Jing and Li Ji!
…
In this round of morning court, the discussions did not stop until after noon. Finally, the major national policy of "immigrating people to Lanzhou" was actually approved!
As Li Shimin said, this time, from the standpoint of history and nation, he violated his own imperial skills and made such a gambling decision that was almost "tragic"!
Although they still maintained an oppositional attitude, important officials such as Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling could only do their best to implement the decisions that the emperor had made.
This will be an extremely huge project. It is more than a hundred times more difficult to recruit more than 100,000 troops to Lanzhou than to recruit 100,000 troops to march to Lanzhou!
This huge project began to be implemented after the court meeting on this day...
A few days later, the Lanzhou Governor's Office received an imperial edict - the imperial court had approved the move of "immigrating residents to Lanzhou" and was about to implement it! And designated the "person in charge" on Lanzhou's side to be responsible for the implementation and deployment of this national policy, that is - Qin Mubai!
At this moment, both the Xue brothers, Qin Shubao, and even Qin Mubai himself didn't quite believe that this was true!
Originally, they didn't have much hope, because the possibility of being approved was almost infinitely close to Ling. All the generals signed a letter, and they were even prepared to be scolded. Unexpectedly, this is a shocking and surprising result!
"Sanlang, after the farming, people moved to Lan..." Qin Shubao said to his son, "Which one of these is a matter of national importance! Can you bear it?"
"Writing history - something like this must be done by someone." Qin Mubai smiled slightly, "Why can't it be me? Rather than endure it, I think it is more enjoyment!"