Fu Shanhe

Chapter 110 Business is business
The arrival of the war horses made Li Mu even busier, and he spent the whole day training his troops.

He didn't even go to join in the fun at the auction in Yangzhou Prefecture.

Cavalry is much more difficult to train than infantry.

Riding training, archery training, sword training, and horse training are all required subjects.

Beating drums and marching in formation, charging in groups, taking the lead, blocking roads and ambushing...even horses have to receive special training to enhance their load-bearing capacity and endurance.

If you want to train an excellent cavalryman, the training cycle is usually more than three years.

Most of the soldiers under Li Mu were from Yangzhou and were not good at horse riding.

They could only start with the most basic riding training, and after nearly a month, they only taught the soldiers how to ride horses.

It is limited to riding a horse, and its sitting posture, balance and maneuverability are completely unreliable.

On the contrary, he learned horse breeding very quickly. After just a few lessons, he was able to learn it well.

You can tell at a glance that they are all good at their work.

……

At the camp gate.

"You are blind, this is the prefect's sedan chair, why don't you get out of the way!"

Zhao Bantou, who was walking in front of the team, scolded loudly.

Unfortunately, what greeted him was not welcome or flattery, but a spear filled with cold light.

Realizing that something was wrong, Zhao Bantou rolled over on the spot to avoid the piercing spear.

He was lucky enough to escape with his life, but the arrogance he had accumulated by borrowing the power of another disappeared without a trace in an instant.

Seeing that his colleagues had already distanced themselves from him, Zhao Bantou was so angry that he wanted to curse.

Unlike these local yamen runners, he was a servant brought by Gu Youwen from his hometown.

Because of his good skills, he became a servant.

After taking office in Yangzhou, in order to strengthen control over the government office, he was transformed from a servant to one of the heads of the government office.

Relying on his status as a direct descendant, he acted like a bully and was very powerful along the way.

There is a price to pay for being in the spotlight, and no one reminded him even though he knew it was an iron wall.

"This is a military camp. Anyone who trespasses will be killed!"

The defending soldier's cold reply frightened Zhao Bantou so much that he almost died.

He wanted to curse, but he held it back.

Reason told him that the soldiers in front of him really dared to kill people.

The team suddenly stopped, and the governor Gu in the sedan frowned and ordered:
"Master Liu, go and see what's happening ahead."

After taking office, it is customary for local officials to tour their jurisdictions and understand the people's sentiments.

Gu Youwen was not in a good mood along the way.

After the war, Yangzhou Prefecture was in ruins and there were uninhabited villages everywhere.

Although the land was sold to aristocratic families and dignitaries in the court, it would still take some time to restore it to cultivation.

If you want to take a rest, you can only go to the post station.

Due to the constraints of reality, the states and counties below do not have the objective conditions to create a prosperous environment.

After inspecting the area and witnessing the real conditions of the people, Gu Youwen felt extremely heavy in his heart.

……

"Sir, the Yangzhou camp is ahead of us, and we have been blocked by the soldiers guarding the camp.

The students had a brief communication with them, and the soldiers guarding the village were reporting to their superiors.”

Master Liu simply recounted what had happened, without mentioning the minor conflict that had occurred previously.

There are so many troubles that adults in my family face every day.

There's no need to add another one just for a small conflict.

"Oh, it seems that Lieutenant General Li is really strict in commanding his troops.

I just don’t know if the Yangzhou Camp is as powerful as the rumors say.”

Gu Youwen said expressionlessly.

Although the Yangzhou Battalion was newly formed, it does not mean that it did nothing.

While training the soldiers, Li Mu also led his men out to wipe out several groups of remnant rebels roaming around the countryside.

In fact, these people should have been wiped out before, but they were deliberately delayed until now due to political needs.

Anyway, Yangzhou Prefecture had been devastated, so Li Mu was not afraid of raising a tiger to cause trouble.

Choosing to take action at this time was obviously a deliberate move for the civil servants in the government office to see.

While establishing his authority, he could also ask the government for money and food.

Knowing the nature of civil servants well, Li Mu would not finish his work ahead of time.

A batch of heads were sent to the government office every now and then, so it was hard for the Yangzhou Camp not to be famous.

No one can find fault with the suppression of rebellion.

No matter how reluctant they were, the prefectural government had no choice but to allocate money and grain.

If it weren't for Li Mu's military actions, Gu Youwen would not have dared to lead people to patrol the four directions.

"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, sir. This is the cavalry camp of Yangzhou Camp, and it was established less than a month ago.

It is said that in order to prevent the rebellion from reviving, the infantry of the Yangzhou Camp were dispersed to multiple locations for garrisoning, guarding the main traffic arteries in the city. "

Master Liu replied with a serious look.

On the surface, this division of forces is indeed helpful in combating the rebels.

But they all knew that the real purpose of dividing the troops was not to attack the rebels.

The current rebels are no longer a force to be reckoned with and there is no possibility of them reviving, so there is no need to put in so much effort.

The camps are located along the main traffic arteries in the city, and their main purpose is to spread their influence.

If Li Mu wanted to, he could make it impossible for anyone to move within Yangzhou at any time.

In order to smoothly implement the government orders, including the decrees from the government office, the cooperation of the Yangzhou Camp is required.

This behavior was typical of military tyranny, but the excuse used by the Yangzhou Camp was completely reasonable and they couldn't refuse it.

Under normal circumstances, the rebels will not make a comeback, but there are abnormal situations.

If the Yangzhou Camp was forced to relax its control over the main traffic routes in the prefecture, resulting in a resurgence of the rebels, political responsibility would need to be borne.

Gu Youwen was unwilling to gamble his own future on Li Mu's integrity.

In his impression, the bottom line of military generals is always very low.

"Sir, the camp gate is open.

The soldiers guarding the village won't let the sedan in, what do you think?" Hearing the news brought by the yamen runner, Gu Youwen's face became even uglier.

It is true that the rules in the military camp are strict, but the rules are made by people.

If it were somewhere else, and the generals dared to be so disrespectful, they would not be able to get the military funds for next year.

The situation in the Yangzhou camp was special, as the local subsidies had long been in the hands of the other side.

If the government dares to deduct the expenses for daily military operations, they will just sit there and do nothing.

"Get out of the sedan!"

Gu Youwen gave the order coldly.

He came to patrol the gate of the camp with a purpose, it was not just a coincidence.

……

"Master Gu is so honored to be here. I was busy with military duties and was unable to come to greet you. Please forgive me!"

Li Mu said cheerfully.

Anyone who comes is a guest, let alone a senior official, so we should give him some face.

In fact, the tense relationship with Yangzhou Prefecture was not caused intentionally by him.

It was purely because of the news I received earlier that the Yangzhou Prefecture had the Jinyiwei people targeting me because of the land sale.

It is impossible for such huge money transactions as those in Dayu to occur without insider trading.

Since he didn't get any benefit from it, Li Mu naturally wouldn't stick to him and cause trouble for himself.

It's better to distance ourselves from them first and let the Jinyiwei keep an eye on the real bosses.

"You are too polite, Lord Lieutenant General. I came here for one thing, and two, I have something to discuss with you.

I think Lieutenant General Li also received the news that the imperial court ordered the foreign troops in the Lianghuai area to evacuate within the year.

At present, Yangzhou Wei is still under reconstruction, and the garrison troops in various places have not yet been formed.

In the short term, Li Canjiang will be responsible for the defense of Yangzhou!"

Ancient texts say it straight to the point.

It was definitely not his wish to let the Yangzhou Camp take over the defense of various places.

But the prefectures and counties below sent him urging him to do so every day, which made him exhausted.

Unlike the well-preserved Yangzhou City, the subordinate prefectures and counties suffered heavy losses in the war.

Now, let alone restoring the armed forces, even the yamen runners have not been fully recruited.

Any three or five bandits who enter the city can cut off the county magistrate's head.

Up to now, three high-ranking officials have been killed in Yangzhou.

One of them was hacked to death by bandits in public, which had extremely bad political impact.

This kind of thing can happen while the foreign troops are still in the area. What will happen if they leave?

Local public security deteriorated, and for their own safety, various states and counties asked the Yangzhou Camp to take over defense as soon as possible.

“Sir Prefect, taking over local defense is simple.

However, large-scale military mobilization requires an imperial edict from the emperor, or an official document from the Ministry of War or the Grand Marshal's Office.

If it is a general troop mobilization, there must also be an official document from the governor's office or an order from the dusi's office.

With the official document from the prefect's office, we can only mobilize a small force.

This matter still needs to trouble the prefect to report to the higher authorities."

Li Mu started the program with a smile.

The military deployment in the Dayu Dynasty was extremely complicated. Any military deployment of more than 300 people required an imperial edict and a tiger talisman.

In actual operation, this operation is obviously not advisable.

Every time a military operation was launched, they had to wait for the emperor's order, and when they went to collect the bodies, only a pile of bones was left.

Gradually, the procedures were simplified and multiple departments were given the authority to mobilize troops.

In an emergency, local generals can also decide on their own to launch military operations based on actual conditions.

"I understand the court's regulations, and I have already submitted a memorial to the court explaining the matter.

I think the official documents from the court will arrive soon.

Before that, this government hopes that Li Cangjiang will mobilize a small force to ensure the personal safety of officials in various places."

Gu Youwen said with satisfaction.

As a traditional civil servant, what he hates most is not following the rules.

Li Mu's request to follow the court's rules was exactly what he wanted.

Abiding by the laws of the court means having awe for the court.

No matter how arrogant and domineering this kind of general is, the harm he causes is relatively controllable.

What I fear most is people ignoring rules and making decisions arbitrarily.

"Don't worry, sir. As long as I receive the letter from the government office, I will cooperate with the transfer within my authority.

However, the Yangzhou Camp's logistical capabilities were limited and it was unable to guarantee that supplies would be delivered to the soldiers in a timely manner.

When the soldiers arrived at the local area, the local government would be responsible for their daily food and drink expenses.

All expenditures must be made in accordance with the regulations of the court, and no deductions are allowed.

If the soldiers mutinied because of the withholding of their food, I will not bear any responsibility! "

Gu Youwen did not find Li Mu's request strange.

The logistical supply capabilities of the Dayu official army were generally poor.

It is completely unimaginable to let the Yangzhou Camp be responsible for the logistics of the soldiers after dispersing them to three states and seven counties.

"Don't worry, Lieutenant Commander Li. I will send a notice to the lower levels on this matter and will not cause you any trouble."

Gu Youwen agreed immediately.

Fearing that he was too slow to agree, Li Mu reacted and asked him for money again.

Although Yangzhou Prefecture raised some funds by selling land, money was needed everywhere for post-war reconstruction.

As an official with political ambitions, Gu Youwen dared not squander funds.

Even when the governor's office wanted to lend a hand, he rejected them forcefully.

The Li Mu in front of him was different. After he took office in Yangzhou, he came to ask for money many times.

And he asked for money with good reasons, and it was impossible to refuse.

In just two months, the prefectural government allocated 50,000 taels of silver to the Yangzhou camp.

(End of this chapter)