The continuous green hills are like a screen, covering this beautiful mountain dam in her arms, and it is easy for people not to see her peerless face.

Streams cascade down the hillside and rush here, winding between the hills, singing merrily. When your eyes sweep there, following her footsteps, in the blink of an eye, the brook mischievously disappears without a trace. When you look back disappointed, she sneaks out of nowhere.

This is a typical limestone geological mountain dam, where rivers converge, but neither lakes nor large rivers are formed. The stream flowed here and slipped away from the ground like a hurried passer-by.

The hills are full of swamps, and the vegetation is extremely dense, making it difficult for people and horses to walk.

Among the plants and trees, patches of reclaimed paddy fields are scattered scattered, and the sparse rice in them is in the harvest season. This is the second crop of rice that is re-tillered after the first crop of rice is harvested, and the yield per mu is scarce. If it were in developed places such as Jianghuai, the peasants would have already plowed the land and planted wheat instead, and would not have left them in the field to waste fertility. But here, it is a blessing from heaven and an extra reward for farmers.

It was the first time Xu Ping had been to Chungju, and the richness of the land was beyond his expectations. This is a shrunken Ruhe County, and there are almost all the things in Ruhe County, but the scale is much smaller. And it is located in the upper reaches of the river, although there are no big rivers going out, but the underground rivers extend in all directions, and most of the years there are no waterlogging, and there is no such thing as the most terrible natural disaster there.

Guarding such a good place, the Huang family honestly manages the neighborhood well, and can live a prosperous life, I really can't figure out why they like to fight and kill so much. As a result, only one-tenth of the fertile land in front of me has been reclaimed, and the population is scattered after one failure to run out and loot, and I don't know when it will be restored.

Yesterday, Cao Zhizhou conquered this place without leaving any traces, everything seemed peaceful and quiet, just like the way it has been here for thousands of years.

Xu Ping took Tan Hu and his entourage soldiers into the Zhongzhou walled city, and Cao Keming's personal soldiers had already come to catch him and lead him directly to the state office.

Zhongzhou belonged to Luolong County of Longzhou in the Tang Dynasty, and abandoned Longzhou in the Song Dynasty, and set up Zhongzhou, Luoyang and other Tuzhou counties in the original Longzhou, with a history of not long. The so-called state government is just the big mansion of the Huang family, and it is not according to the shape of the state government at this time.

When they arrived in the hall, they met Cao Zhizhou, the two sat separately, and the soldiers brought tea.

Xu Ping had a lot of doubts in his heart, and couldn't help asking, "Zhizhou, what's going on here in Zhongzhou?" Didn't Huang Congfu answer from the inside? Why did Huang Conggui run away? ”

Cao Keming shook his head: "What do you want?" When our army arrived here, before we could set up our position, the gates of the city were opened and we descended. Only when I entered the city did I know that I was only halfway there, and Huang Conggui ran away with the treasure in the library, and I heard that he went to Qianlongzhai. I'm about to discuss with you how to get people back from Qianlongzhai. If they refuse to obey, the army is out anyway, so simply level it out! ”

Flat relocation to Longzhai? Xu Ping smiled bitterly in his heart. Cao Zhizhou is on the rise, it's easy to say, how easy is it to do? Zhongzhou is only one day away from Ruhe, and Xu Ping can also supply grain and grass after a long time. Qianlongzhai is more than 100 miles away from Zhongzhou, and it takes four or five days on the road. It doesn't take much, as long as you grind there for a month or two, the manpower and material resources of the entire Ruhe County will be put in, and this year's sugar squeezing season will be delayed. Moreover, the strength of these Tuzhou counties is limited, and it is not difficult to fight, but the difficult thing is how to defend after the fight. If there are fewer people left, it will not be useful to do so, and it will not be long before the barbarians scattered in the mountains will make a comeback. There are too many people left, even if one or two hundred people are stationed in each place, with the transportation conditions in the mountains, the supply of grain and grass is beyond the capacity of Yongzhou.

After thinking for a while, Xu Ping still didn't answer the words, and said, "Let's discuss these things carefully afterwards." What about Huang Congfu? Why is it so useless to speak in front of me? ”

Cao Keming was a little stunned, and finally gathered a large army, but he didn't fight a battle, which was as uncomfortable as flashing his waist. However, he also knew the difficulty of marching in the mountains, so he no longer insisted on talking about this topic, and ordered his own soldiers: "Go and call Huang Congfu, and tell him that the sentence has been reached, and I have something to ask him." ”

The soldiers promised to go.

Xu Ping asked again: "What about his father?" That Huang Congji, why didn't he show up? ”

Cao Keming snorted coldly: "That's even more useless!" Since I entered the city, he has pretended to be sick and has not been able to come out, and he has not even dared to see him, and he is not as good as his son! ”

Xu Ping's brows furrowed even tighter. How did you find such a family? A big man, he has no responsibility at all, no wonder he was easily suppressed by his brothers for a decade or two.

"Don't talk about their father and son. Huang Congji's wife is the daughter of Shen Yu Zhitong, is she in the city? ”

"I was kidnapped by Huang Conggui, and I heard that it was going to be presented to Qianlong Zhitong as a meeting gift."

"So amazing?"

Xu Ping suspected that he had misheard. Duan Yunjie is already an adult, her mother is no matter how beautiful she is, she is also in her thirties, this era is not as powerful as the maintenance technology of later generations, no matter how beautiful she is, how beautiful can she be? Even Duan Yunjie is at a young age, and I haven't seen anyone go crazy for her.

Cao Keming said: "These habits of the barbarians, where can we talk about them? Ah Shen is the daughter of Shen Zhidong, and Shen Dong is so prosperous this year, her daughter's worth will naturally rise. ”

Xu Ping nodded and didn't speak again.

It is reasonable to say that the marriage relationship between the barbarian chieftains is extremely complicated, and this is not only a medium for the forces to join forces, but also a means for the forces to annex each other, and this matter cannot be viewed only from the perspective of individuals. The marriage between barbarian chieftains was no less extensive than that of the bureaucrats and doctors of the Song Dynasty, and its purpose was even more naked, and it was not even constrained by etiquette and morality.

Huang Congfu came in with his own soldiers, looked at the ground and didn't dare to raise his head, feeling ashamed to death. remembered the bold words in front of Xu Ping: "As long as my uncle is not there, of course our father and son in Zhongzhou have done the master!" I never expected that the opportunity fell in front of me from the sky, and I not only couldn't catch it when I stretched out my hand, but also was smashed by the good things that fell from the sky.

"I'll help you get on the horse and give you another ride." Xu Ping's words that day were still lingering in his ears, but Huang Congfu felt that the opportunity was leaving him, and he stretched out his hand weakly, but he couldn't grasp it.

Xu Ping looked at Huang Congfu's appearance, his legs were unstable, his hands were trembling, he looked down at the ground, he fell step by step, and his shoulders shrugged as if he was still sobbing. His clothes were disheveled, with blood marks in some places, and his legs could not stand up even if he was bent and straight, as if he had been tortured.

The soldier returned to his life and stood aside.

Xu Ping put down the teacup, calmed down his mood, and asked in a consciously peaceful voice as much as possible: "Huang Congfu, didn't we say it before?" How did you get to this point? ”

Huang Congfu couldn't bear it anymore, and knelt on the ground: "Shangguan Mingjian, it's really not my fault!" This time they went out to loot Shen Dong, I didn't know beforehand! When I found that there were a lot fewer people in the walled city, the little ones knew that something must have happened, but they didn't tell me if they asked others! When I finally inquire about the matter, Zhiju - the soldiers and horses of Zhizhou are almost in Chungju-"

"What? You know this news later than I know?! Xu Ping's patience was almost exhausted, and he couldn't help but pat the table. I worked hard to find you Ruhe, said all the good things to you, and arranged everything for you, and that's how you did things when you came? ”

"I-I don't want to-"

Xu Ping exhaled a long breath: "Forget it, there is no need to mention these nonsense." Let's talk about what happened before Cao Zhizhou entered the city. ”

"When the news of Zhizhou's march here, Huang Conggui, my cousin, arrested our father and son and tortured us. Shangguan, I never knew that Huang Conggui was such a vicious person, I just thought he was just domineering! He—he willingly tied our father and son to a stool and laid firewood under his legs. Shangguan, don't you know, that kind of taste, I had the heart to die at that time! ”

Xu Ping coughed, waved his hand and said, "Needless to say, these details are the key ones." ”

"Yes, little one!" Huang Congfu's chest rose and fell, obviously Huang Conggui's punishment left a deep impression on him, but he was afraid that he would never forget it for the rest of his life, but he didn't know that Huang Conggui just used Xu Ping's methods on him, and he learned to try it on himself.

"Huang Congfu has used torture on us, and only then did he tell us that when the imperial army kills, Zhongzhou will definitely not be able to hold it, and he brought money to Qianlongzhai, and it is not too late to kill him when he joins his father."

Xu Ping sneered: "He thinks well, but I'm afraid that he will go underground to find Huang Chengxiang." ”

Huang Congfu raised his head violently, his eyes lit up, and his voice trembled: "Shangguan - Shangguan is talking about my uncle, he- he is dead?" Could it be that he really can't come back? ”

"What's so strange? Huang Chengxiang sent troops to attack other states without authorization, treating the imperial court as nothing, does he still want to live a long life? This is also a reminder to other barbarian chiefs, only by keeping to themselves can they have a good life! ”

After speaking, Xu Ping was silent for a while. Unexpectedly, without having to do it himself, Huang Chengxiang couldn't help but go to Shen Yu for trouble. knew this earlier, why bother looking for Huang Congfu's waste beforehand? Until now, it is like kraft candy sticking to the hand, and it is not easy to shake off.

Huang Congfu knelt on the ground, unable to hide the ecstasy on his face no matter what. All the suffering today is worth it, and the days of enduring humiliation and burdens in the past are worth it! Huang Chengxiang is dead, Huang Conggui has run away, who else is there in this Zhongzhou, and who else can sit in the seat of Zhizhou?

The seat of the governor of Chungju, who else can I be! As for Daddy, he doesn't have to think about it at all, he has been frightened in his life and will never come to fight with him.

Who else is me! Who else is me! - Hah! Ha!

When he became the governor, the first thing he did was to change his wife. Now the background is too ordinary, his father is just a Tita in the state, and the family does not have ten acres of land, how can he be worthy of Zhizhou? I heard that the daughter of the magistrate of Tuoling County is good-looking and is at a good age, well, it is better to marry Chungju and pair with herself. The two places are not far apart, and they join hands to fight against Shendong, which has developed this year.

The future is immeasurable, the future is immeasurable!

Xu Ping and Cao Keming glanced at each other and said to Huang Congfu: "You go back first, have a good rest, and treat the injuries on your body." I'm not in a hurry at this time, I'll talk to you later. ”

Huang Congfu stood up, a little disappointed, looked at Xu Ping, and said with a blank eye: "Shangguan, I-Zhizhou-why don't you settle down now?" ”

Xu Ping waved his hand: "Go back first, it's important to recuperate, everything is not in a hurry, the coming day will be long." ”

Huang Congfu was a little frustrated, but he didn't dare to talk back, so he had to turn around and go out. I couldn't tell the height under my feet, and I kept angry with myself in my heart: "Shangguan must be heartbroken that I was injured, not that I was not allowed to be the governor, but that I was able to take over the responsibility of the governor!" - It must be so! Definitely! ”

Seeing Huang Congfu go out, Xu Ping smiled bitterly: "Who would have thought that I would find such a person?" ”

Cao Keming couldn't help laughing: "Things have come to this point, and it's useless to regret it." How will Chungju arrange it in the future, and what is the idea of the general judgment? ”

The two divided the work of Xu Ping to manage the Zuojiang area, although Cao Keming led people to fight down, how to arrange him still respected Xu Ping's opinion.

Xu Ping sighed: "If Zhongzhou can be withdrawn, I really want to withdraw this Tuzhou!" Huang Congfu is unreliable, how can he hand over Zhongzhou to him? ”

"I'm afraid that there is no other choice." Cao Keming drank tea leisurely, "Either withdraw from Zhongzhou, or let Huang Congfu be the governor." I've inquired about his father, but it's not as good as him. ”

Xu Ping lowered his head and was silent, and after a while, he raised his head and said to Cao Keming: "Okay, I also said this to him before, and the seat of Zhizhou will be given to Huang Congfu to sit." But you can't let him come nonsense, without preparation, it won't take a year and a half for Huang Conggui, who escaped, to come back and overturn him! Zhongzhou has been down, next year I will go to Guwanzhai to see Shentong, plus Zhongzhou here, such as He County is foolproof, Siling there is no use in the inspection village. Then simply let Zhang Rong take his people to move here, and if our Imperial Court agrees, let him bring people to plant sugar cane here. Make up for Zhang Rong's command manpower, and he is not afraid of Zhongzhou turning the sky! ”

Cao Keming hesitated for a moment: "Those barbarian chiefs are not fools, what is the difference between your arrangement and the withdrawal of Zhongzhou?" It's nothing more than leaving Huang Congfu's archway. ”

"Whether they are fools or not, we just treat them as fools! Whether Huang Congfu's archway can stand up or not, it's up to him, I'm too lazy to worry about that! After this incident, I have figured out that we don't need to rely on these people for anything, we have to rely on our own people to do it. As for what those barbarian chiefs think, they don't have to care, they can't count on it anyway! ”

"It's up to you, in my mind, even if you can't leave all the garrison troops in Guangxi, Zhang Rong and his subordinates should be sure and can't escape. With him here, Huang Congfu is just a clay sculpture, pretending, it doesn't matter what kind of person he is. ”

"All the guards in Guangxi stayed?" Xu Ping shook his head and smiled bitterly, "That's more than 2,000 people a year, with these manpower, I can pave all the way along the Zuojiang River, and one in Tuzhou will be counted as one, and all of them will be eaten in Yongzhou's stomach." Is this possible? How much of a move is this for the Privy Council? How could those guys get themselves in such big trouble? That is, if you think about it, it would be good to be able to keep the people of Yongzhou. ”

Two thousand people can be counted as a county, and one new county will be added every year, occupying the most important place, and the entire Zuojiang area will be filled in only three to five years. The imperial court can make this determination, so how can there be so many Tuzhou Tuxian?

After the two discussed, Cao Keming went out to direct the soldiers to prepare for evacuation. Come all the way here, you can't come in vain, the grain depot of the Huang family in Chungju must be emptied, this is not a year to save, without the grain in the warehouse, they will no longer be able to make trouble. Some rare treasures in the state that were not taken away by Huang Conggui, such as precious specialty clams, musk, gold, silver and jewelry, Cao Keming will bring them back to Yongzhou. The dispatch of the army costs a lot of money and food, which can be regarded as a supplement, and cannot be spent all the money in the county.

Huang Congfu watched the soldiers busy in the walled city, his face was as black as the bottom of the pot, but he didn't dare to say anything. The city was broken, and the officers and soldiers were as kind as the White Lotus, if they were replaced by barbarians from other states, they would not only rob food and treasures, but also rob people, both men and women as long as they were young and strong. After robbing people, they will kill cattle and burn houses, and even burn crops in other places, which is miserable.

Xu Ping stood in front with his sleeves crossed, and he didn't need to look at it to know Huang Congfu's face. The grain will be transported to Ruhe County, and part of it will be directly placed in the inspection village, and when there is a shortage of food here in Zhongzhou, it will be transported from the inspection village. After this hand, it is the gift of the imperial court, letting these people know that they will not be able to live without the imperial court. There is no way, without these means, they don't know how to be grateful.

Zhang Rong came from a distance and saluted Xu in parallel.

Xu Ping nodded, let him stand aside, and said to Huang Congfu behind him: "This Zhang Inspector, you have dealt with it, you should be familiar with it." ”

Huang Congfu hurriedly said: "Zhang Patrol is stationed outside the valley, and he knows a little. ”

Xu Ping nodded and said: "I have discussed with Cao Zhizhou, I read that your heart is to the imperial court, you are honest and measured, and you are ready to protect you as the governor of Zhongzhou." ”

Huang Congfu was overjoyed, his face was clouded, his wish was fulfilled, and he hurriedly thanked him.

Xu Ping said again: "As soon as we go back, we will play the chapter, this kind of thing, for example, there will be no objections to the imperial court." But when your confession and talisman are down, why will it take a few months, these days, you will first perform the ministry of the governor, what do you think? ”

"Thank you Shangguan Ende, everything is at your command!"

I became a governor, and finally became a governor! What kind of grain, what treasures, and what if they are all removed? As long as you sit in the seat of Zhizhou, all this will come back soon!

Xu Ping nodded: "This is all because you have always been respectful, Cao Zhizhou and I see it in our eyes and remember it in our hearts, of course we will not forget you when we have this opportunity." As a Zhizhou, you must not forget the lessons of your predecessor, get along with the surrounding states, and don't fight and kill at every turn. Especially to the imperial court, you must be deferential. ”

"The little one understands, the little one understands, and he will definitely listen to the words of the court."

"Also, Huang Chengxiang went to Shentong this time and took most of Ding Zhuang out of Zhongzhou, you don't have enough manpower here. The replenishment of the population is not a matter of one or two years, and if there are fewer people, it is inevitable that you will be bullied by the surrounding states, and it will be difficult for you to do it. In this way, Zhang Rong is a person you know well, so I will leave him here to help you, his troops are all in battle, and he can also help you deal with other states. What do you think? ”

Huang Congfu opened his mouth wide: "Shangguan asked Zhang to inspect - let Zhang Inspector stay in Zhongzhou?" ”

Xu Ping glanced back at him and said expressionlessly, "Yes, this is also for your good." Huang Conggui went to Qianlongtong, who knows if he can borrow troops from there? Can you handle it? With Zhang Patrol and people here, you can be at ease in Zhizhou, and Cao Zhizhou and I will also be at ease. ”

"Thank you—thank you, Shangguan."

Although Huang Congfu didn't know the specific arrangements of Xu Ping and Cao Keming, Zhang Rong was stationed in Zhongzhou with more than 200 troops, and he still knew his future situation.

This Zhizhou seems to be a little different from what I thought!