At the beginning, I gave up my military power with a cup of wine, and I ascended the throne

Chapter 212 Waiting for the Messenger from Zhenbei Hou
for a long time.

After figuring out the stakes, he smiled bitterly and said, "Fortunately, Mr. Guo came back in time. If he had been later, I would have sent troops."

have to say.

A poisonous scholar is a poisonous scholar. His far-sightedness is unmatched by others.

Xiao Han has lived two lives as a human being and has been in battle for many years, so he can only see eighty steps ahead, while Guo Tu can only see a hundred steps ahead.

Guo Tu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Guo, please continue."

He said: "Since I can't take the two states, what should I do? I can't just watch the fun."

"We have seized several counties in Youzhou by force."

Guo Tu said leisurely: "Then take this opportunity to completely pacify the mixed Hu tribes on the western grasslands."

"If we attack the two states, no matter if we win or lose, you will lose a lot of soldiers and generals, and the gains will not outweigh the losses. If we fight with both sides, we can weaken Jizhou. If Jizhou is weak, Northern Wei will be strong. If Northern Wei is strong, the court will definitely rely on you more."

"The three counties of Xiliang are still too small. If we take Youzhou in the east and pacify the barbarians in the west, the gains of one will be reduced while the losses of the other will make the lord gain several counties."

Guo Tu was confident: "As for the two states, they are well managed and can be defended. They have long been in the lord's pocket. The only difference is when to take them."

"It will take several years to manage several counties well, and then we will have another Xiliang. By then, with the power of the two states, we will have a strong army and horses. If we want, we can take over Juzizhou and Hexizhou in an instant."

"Mr. Guo is a great talent."

Xiao Han stood up, his face solemn, and bowed, clasping his fists, "Listening to your words is worth ten years of reading."

"My lord, you are welcome."

Guo Tu was terrified.

"Just do as you are told, sir."

He smiled and said: "Sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight, first take Youzhou, then pacify the mixed Hu people."

With Guo Tu's return, daily duties became much easier. In addition, Pan Yuanshao promoted a group of scholars from various counties and sent them to the marquis's mansion, all of whom were truly talented and learned.

Lin Che simply set up a military and political department to be responsible for making plans for the entire Xiliang’s military and political affairs.

Guo Tu was appointed as the chief clerk of the Military Affairs Department.

The Military Affairs Department does not belong to the provincial government, but is directly under the jurisdiction of the Marquis of Xiliang, and has about thirty people.

The original study courtyard was changed into the Military and Political Department courtyard. It was bustling with people coming and going every day. Later, he felt it was a bit noisy, so he moved the Military and Political Department to another courtyard.

Memorials from local government offices were first sent to the provincial government, and after being processed, they were sent to the Military Affairs Department for review.

If there are any different opinions, they will be sent to the Marquis of Xiliang, who is also the Governor of Xiliang, and he will handle them.

This way.

The military and political power of the entire Xiliang was divided into two, with the provincial government and the military administration department each having one.

Similar to the six ministries and cabinet of the imperial court in the capital.

It has greatly accelerated the speed of handling government affairs in various places.

April.

Spring blossoms.

The grass grows and the orioles fly.

The flower buds in the yard have already appeared, the willows are swaying, the grass is lush, and the bamboo trees are green.

The vegetable garden opened up by Qingyao is lush and green. Thanks to Qingyao's diligence in watering and fertilizing, the vegetables are growing very well.

The three counties of Xiliang began the spring plowing work in full swing again. Xiliang County started first, followed by Xia Pi, and finally Shangdang.

In comparison.

The three states of Ji, You and others were in a desolate state. An army of 300,000 strong was stuck on the border between Ji and Xiliang states, with refugees and barren fields everywhere.

Spring ploughing should have started last month, but local government offices still recruited soldiers everywhere, and for a while, the whole country was filled with grief.

Beside the lake.

Xiao Han sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed, holding a fishing rod in his hand and fishing.

Blood Shadow was like a piece of wood, with a cold face, standing behind him, holding the ancient sword in his arms.

The sky was dark, and the sun was setting in the west.

In the bamboo forest in the distance.

Qingyao, dressed in white, is practicing sword.

"Has the envoy from Jizhou arrived today?" he asked.

"No."

Bloodshadow shook his head.

"Xie Xuanli is quite capable."

Xiao Han muttered with a smile on his face. If the Marquis of Zhenbei was not in a hurry, he would naturally not be in a hurry either.

Within this plan, Xiliang could advance and retreat freely, and the initiative was completely in his hands.

Xie Xuanli and Jizhou will bow their heads sooner or later, it’s just a matter of time.

And the longer this time is delayed, the greater the benefit will be for Xiao Han.

As the spring plowing season was about to end, with 300,000 cavalry deployed on the border between Jizhou and Xiliang, the Northern Wei was in full force.

With more than 400,000 troops, the amount of food and fodder they consume every day is an astronomical figure.

"He won't last much longer."

Xueying shook his head.

"I still hope Xie Xuanli can have some backbone and hold on for a while longer."

Xiao Han opened his eyes and said, "You've taken the bait."

He lifted his wrist slightly, raised the fishing rod, and threw out a small fish as long as a thumb. He smacked his lips.

Such a small fish, not even enough to fill the gaps between teeth, so I picked it up and threw it into the lake.

Before the little fish could even jump, it was swallowed by the duck that swooped over. The beast flapped its wings at him, as if to signal for more to come.

"Go away, don't disturb me fishing."

Xiao Han poked the duck twice with a bamboo pole in annoyance, and it swam to the side reluctantly.

But he was not far away, hiding in the shade under the willow leaves, staring at the fishing rod in Xiao Han's hand.

"Qingyao, your duck just ate three of my fish. Put it on your account and deduct it from your salary this month."

He turned and shouted to the woman who was practicing sword under the bamboo forest.

"What it eats is none of my business."

Qingyao said without turning her head.

"The ducks you raise are none of your business, whose business is it?"

Xiao Han asked back.

"Go find whoever wants to eat it."

Qingyao answered.

"Then I'll stew it tonight, just right for duck soup."

The beast doesn't know yet that he has been targeted.

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of April. Xiao Han, along with several officials from the Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Bureau, set out from Xiliang City and began to visit various places to check on the spring farming situation.

Especially in Xia Pi and Shangdang counties, most of the elite troops of the Nine Guards have been transferred to the eastern front to confront Jizhou.

Only a few elderly, weak, women and children were left in each guard post.

Many fields can only be cultivated by the state government by dispatching people from other places. The fields that have been reclaimed with great difficulty must not be abandoned again.

In Shangdang County, most of the troops of the three Shatuo guards were withdrawn, leaving only 30,000 cavalrymen.

The surrounding miscellaneous Hu tribes began to become restless.

After traveling through the three counties of Xiliang, Xiao Han finally realized that the decision he made at the beginning was a bit too bold.

Just as Guo Tu said, trying to swallow an elephant with a snake is really unwise.

It is easy to conquer the two states, but it is difficult to hold them. Currently, the Xiliang army is more than capable of holding the land, but is somewhat unable to advance eastward.

By then, Orange Island and Hexi Prefecture will be like two leeches lying on Xiliang, and they must keep sucking the blood of the three counties of Xiliang in order to survive.

At present, it is mainly cannibalism.

When I returned to Xiliang City, it was already the end of May. The flowers in the courtyard were in full bloom. I could hear the fragrance of the flowers in the garden blowing into the backyard along with the cool breeze.

Two green bamboos blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving patches of shade at the door. He moved out a rattan chair and placed it under the bamboo forest. On the low table next to it were placed cold wine, fruits and snacks. The cool air echoed and dispelled the heat.

(End of this chapter)