Please ask me to be the emperor

Zhang Shun saw that all the four battalions of rebels had objections, so he simply divided them into four battalions and asked "Chuang Jiang" Huang Lai'er to stay in Xin'an temporarily. The remaining three battalions, together with "King of Chaos", Cao Wenzhao, and Cao Bianjiao's uncle and nephew, all surrounded the city. Set up camp to defend Luoyang.

As a result, when everyone heard that Generals "Big and Little Cao" had also surrendered to King Shun and were stationed nearby, their expressions changed greatly. Even "Living Cao Cao" and "Eight Kings" had the urge to flee.

Regardless of the fact that the four battalions of rebels currently have a total of 8,000 combat-ready soldiers, according to their estimates, Cao Wenzhao only needs 3,000 men under his command to drive them to the sky and nowhere.

If King Shun really had evil intentions, he would kill them here. Then, he used Cao Wenzhao's power to suppress the rebels outside the city, enough to completely annex the remaining four tribes, and then everything would be over!

In fact, they judge a gentleman with a villain's heart. Now Zhang Shun does not need to take such a high-risk action.

In recent days, with the efforts of him and Ma Yingniang, the military school system, the preparation of military school textbooks, and the establishment of military school classes have been initially completed.

The military academy now run by Ma Yingniang is fully capable of conducting grassroots officer training at the speed of "one corps commander in three days, one captain in five days, one flag commander in ten days, and one division chief in half a month."

As long as Zhang Shun's men have enough food, grass and salary, they can recruit "Mao Gourds" from Song County and Lushi County anytime and anywhere, and they can be trained in half a month.

That "Mao Gourd" has outstanding personal martial arts skills, and with a little training, he can become a strong soldier. How can Zhang Shun care about the possessions of these four people with ulterior motives?

It's just that what Zhang Shun lacks most now is time to grow up. If you can take the opportunity to win over these four people, you can earn money by resisting Hong Chengchou for a while.

When the time comes when your troops and horses are strong, what will you have to fear from other rebels, officers and soldiers, or the Manchus?

After "Chuang King", "Chuang General", "Living Cao Cao" and "Eight Kings" left in confusion, Zhang Shenyan quickly admonished: "My lord, originally this Luoyang city only had 50,000 shi of food. In addition, To confiscate the property of other corrupt officials is only 60,000 to 70,000 dan."

"Not to mention the food and drink of the former soldiers, there are currently more than 18,000 people in the six battalions of the rebel army. Based on the ration of four dan per person per year, we still need 72,000 dan of food and grass."

"If we add the more than 15,000 of them, I'm afraid I won't have 150,000 shi of food a year, and the rebels may not be able to survive this difficulty!"

How could Zhang Shun not know what Zhang Shenyan said? However, he still shook his head and said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang can only do subtraction, but not addition?"

"No matter how much food the rebels have, what's the use if we can't guarantee that it won't be taken away by others? A few days ago, I only had 5,000 men and horses under my command, so I don't have to worry about food for the time being, but is there any way to ensure that we can eat this food alive? Woolen cloth?"

"I know that our army is short of food, so I have ordered Li Baihu to go to various places to urge the prince's fields and grains of grain and silver. I should get something before the year. I will also prepare some silver and go to various places to buy grain and try my best to satisfy the rebels."

"As for the rest, let's discuss it later!"

Zhang Shun had already said this, so Zhang Shenyan couldn't say anything more.

But Lu Weiqi hesitated for a moment, cupped his hands to Zhang Shun and said, "I have something that I shouldn't say. It's just King Shun's benevolence. I can't bear it, but I have to say it!"

Zhang Shun couldn't help but wonder, Lu Weiqi had always been as silent as Xu Shu when he entered Cao's camp. I wonder what happened today?

With the attitude of saying that his advice may be offensive, Zhang nodded and said, "It's up to you whether you tell me or not, and it's up to me whether you listen or not. Why do you have any hesitation?"

Lu Weiqi hesitated for a moment and then said boldly: "Mr. Song and I have gone deep into the countryside these days to visit the village chiefs and village elders. We found that due to the severe drought this year, many people have no way to make a living due to the lack of access to the economy."

"I also know that the army is short of food, but the people's livelihood is so difficult and they are crying for food, so I have to let King Shun hear about it!"

The so-called "lack of supply" means that the rations harvested by the people in the previous season are not enough to support the harvest of the next season's crops, which is quite similar to the interruption of the capital chain of enterprises.

It's only mid-to-late November, and it's not long before the autumn harvest. Now we're running out of food? Zhang Shun was shocked and asked quickly: "How many days do people have to eat at home?"

Seeing Zhang Shun's serious look, Lu Weiqi responded with a bit of embarrassment: "This winter will be fine for the time being, but I estimate that it will last until spring at most. Before the summer harvest, there is expected to be a gap of two or three months!"

Lu Weiqi originally thought that Zhang Shun would scold him for lying about military information. Unexpectedly, Zhang Shun thought carefully for a long time, and couldn't help laughing and said: "In this case, then the government's autumn grain and the common people must not pay it anymore!"

"The order goes on, because there are constant natural disasters this year, and the people's fields have failed to harvest. If there are people who are willing to join the rebel army, they will be exempted from the current year's grain! During the winter leisure, you can follow the rebel army to dig out locusts, level the low-lying areas, and use work as food and work as relief. !”

Lu Weiqi and Zhang Shenyan couldn't help but shine when they heard this. Zhang Shun's method was a success. It can not only recruit more people, but also supplement some food for the people.

However, the two of them couldn't help but secretly complain. Lu Weiqi and Zhang Shenyan looked at each other and were silent for a moment. Zhang Shenyan had no choice but to add: "Although my lord's plan is the best of both worlds, firstly, the rebels are increasingly running out of food. Secondly, my subordinates are short of manpower and are already in dire straits." . I’m afraid we won’t be able to cover everything and handle this matter satisfactorily.”

Zhang Shun smiled and said: "Everyone has come up with ideas on the food issue, and I will try my best to solve it. As for the shortage of manpower, I plan to start from the following aspects."

"First, recruit officials from Baodu Village. They are all talents trained by our army in Baodu Village to open up wasteland and measure fields, and they are enough to take on this important task. Secondly, there are more than 70 students from Songshan Academy, except for some who hold the position of Except for the clerks, everyone else is quite free."

"In the past two days, I visited the old mountain leader Zuo Lengchan. Firstly, I want to hire a disciple, and I need to say hello to him to avoid conflicts. Secondly, I should start training this official."

"The books on arithmetic and measurement have already been compiled when I trained officials last time. This time, I just asked the old mountain chief to add some more, and simply rebuilt an academy to recruit young people who have a little knowledge of pen and ink, with two We will train them as soon as possible within a month. This will also reduce the burden on both of you."

Zhang Shun's approach of opening the school without making any decisions was really an eye-opener for Zhang Shenyan and Lu Weiqi.

However, after the two of them thought about it for a moment, they had no choice but to say hello. Although these are trivial matters, they are the foundation of the rebel army. If given time, Zhang Shun would definitely separate himself from one side and look down upon the whole world.

After saying goodbye to Zhang Shun, Zhang Shenyan and others, Lu Weiqi hurried back home in three steps at a time.

Ignoring wiping the sweat from my forehead, I shouted loudly: "Where is Madam? Come and study ink with me quickly. Prepare pen, ink, paper and inkstone for me early!"

As soon as Mrs. Lu heard this, she knew that Lu Weiqi had something confidential and did not want others to know. She hurriedly responded, and in a short time she had all the writing supplies ready.

Only then did Lu Weiqi take a breath and write with a stroke of brush: "Your Excellency, the former Minister of War of Nanjing, Lu Weiqi, bowed his head and bowed again: The thieves have occupied Luoyang City for a long time, training soldiers and horses, and rectifying the administration, and they obviously have great ambitions. If you don't take it now, I will worry about the world! The people of Luoyang and the gentry in the city have been waiting for you for a long time. If the superintendent can come with a large army"

As he was writing, Lu Weiqi suddenly paused and sighed.

Mrs. Lu felt strange and couldn't help but ask quickly: "What do you mean by this, husband? How can you write half of it and break it by throwing the pen? Could it be that the thief is so fierce that it is difficult to control, and my husband is worried?"

Lu Weiqi was silent for a long time and then responded in a low voice: "If King Shun only kills and fights ruthlessly, there is nothing to be afraid of! It's just that this man rectified the government, controlled and prevented drought and locust disasters, and provided relief work to save the people. , no one but the emperor can do it!"

"If I harm him, I'm afraid Henan Prefecture will suffer from it! If I help him, I will be disloyal to you, and I will be ashamed of my ancestors and me, who are full of sage books!"