Chapter 273 Food Crisis

Zhang Yang gathered all the elite soldiers and prepared to attack the tartar head-on in the fortifications. At the same time, the intelligence agencies closely monitored, and all kinds of news kept pouring into Gaoyou Prefecture.

The atmosphere before the war has become tense.

Dadu, Privy Council.

"Master, all the wills have been issued, and now, several armies have come to the capital." The Zhiyuan said.

The Privy Council is the body in charge of military secrets, border defense and court guards, that is, the modern Ministry of National Defense.

Tuo Tuo nodded. These days, in the name of the marshal of the world, coupled with the status of the imperial division, he has been dispatching troops to prepare enough troops to win Gaoyou. This is also a style of detachment. Either you don't fight. Since you fight, you have to fight big, and the army will completely crush Gaoyou Mansion.

"How many people have gathered now?" He asked. He said.

"We have mobilized 160,000 soldiers and horses from Liaoyang, Gansu, and the Privy Council of Zhongshu Province, the command department, Wanhufu, etc., 80,000 soldiers and horses from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other provinces, 60,000 soldiers and horses from the Chahetai Khanate, the Wokutai Khanate and other places. In addition, 10,000 sailors led by Dong Qianxiao, the judge of the Privy Council, and 100 warships. "." Ha Chassong said.

"Why is it so much?" With a dark face, he originally wanted to gather a million troops, but in this way, it was just over 300,000.

"Master, we originally calculated the strength of various private armed forces, but although Li Siqi and Chahan, although they had tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, they did not send troops to us on the pretext of destroying Liu Futong. Lord Alu, the minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, came to Haining Prefecture to gather troops and horses, and he could recruit about 20,000 to 30,000 people. Now, that's all we have. Ha Chassong said.

From the bottom of my heart, I know that with the power of the imperial court alone, it is impossible to eliminate the Red Turban Army around me. Therefore, the imperial court ordered that all large patriotic families can summon volunteers to protect the country and destroy the Red Turban Army. Now Li Siqi has 100,000 people. In this case, it is easy to breed local forces. Centralization will be threatened. Now, Li Siqi will not listen to him.

And Chahan, I still believe it, especially Chahan's son's expansion. They have been sparing no effort to destroy the Red Turban Army, and the north has settled down. The key is that they are all of Mongolian descent.

More than 30 thousand people, most of whom are still unbearable. It is obviously not good for new recruits who have not been trained much.

"The 50,000 defenders of the capital were mobilized, 500 cannons returned from the Wubei Temple, 500 crossbows, and 2,000 fire cannons from the Wubei Temple, and march south with the army!" Take it off and say it.

"Master, I'm afraid you have to agree with the emperor." Ha Chassong said.

"Of course, I will report to the emperor. We have to gather at least 400,000 troops to have a chance of winning." Take it off and say it.

Yu Que has seen him before. Although he is a civil servant, his ability to command operations is still very strong. Yu Que's more than 100,000 people were defeated in front of Gaoyou Mansion, indicating that Zhang Shicheng's army's combat effectiveness is very strong. Only by gathering a large army and using long-range artillery can it offset the advantage of the opponent's firearms.

It has been half a month since the traitor Zhang Shicheng occupied Gaoyou Mansion and defeated the provincial army. Although the strategy of attacking Gaoyou Mansion has been determined, it is difficult to implement it in detail. Although it is a great division, it is impossible to complete it immediately with an order. Such a large number of soldiers and horses are organized. It's very troublesome to come, but the amount of food and fodder that needs to be prepared is also a large amount.

The so-called soldiers and horses are not moving, and food and fodder go first. For such a huge military operation, food and fodder must be prepared first. Otherwise, the army will starve and collapse without fighting.

How did the majestic army that fought everywhere become what it is today? Totoku knew that his soldiers and horses had long been no longer as brave as before. At the beginning, Khan could sweep the desert with only a few thousand horses. Each horse was a few horses. When the horse was tired, he changed to another. When he was hungry, he ate dry food and drank horse milk. It can be said that Khan's army did not need logistical supplies at all. Through rapid maneuver, it completely defeated its enemies several times.

Nowadays, the warriors have no courage at the beginning. Although Zhang Shicheng has only a few thousand horses, he has ten times more than the other party's army to be sure to defeat the other party.

Although there are many people, there are very few elite soldiers. Except for most of the most elite troops, the troops sent by other provinces are not vulnerable at all. As for the soldiers of those Khanate, they are not worth mentioning. These days, the City God has caught a lot of soldiers who have been sneaking chickens and dogs. As annihirators, they are all sent by those Khanates. In the end, the warriors had to station them 30 miles outside the capital. Without orders, they were not allowed to enter the city.

What makes Tuo Tuo even more depressed is that the most feared thing at the beginning has happened. Zhang Shicheng's soldiers have cut off the transportation.

Now most of the grain stocks are still enough for a few months, but many shrewd grain merchants have begun to stock up on grain and do not take out, resulting in the price of grain in most of the city nearly doubling. Although he relied on his status as a master and forcibly collected part of the grain from the grain merchant to meet the needs of the army, this is not the best solution.

Being able to be a grain merchant in most of them has a tough backstage. Behind their backs, some people have begun to be dissatisfied. Many nobles are doing business. Of course, these people know that they are the most well-informed. They know that the transportation is stuck, so they immediately stop selling grain.

If the Gaoyou House cannot be taken down in the near future to solve the food crisis, most of them will be on the verge of collapse. Although the food stored in major households is enough to eat for a year or two, those ordinary people will definitely starve to death on the street. Especially in a few months, the situation will be more serious after it gets cold.

Although the autumn harvest is coming soon, the north has always not been the main area for grain production, not to mention that some dignitaries have changed their fields into pastures, a few acres of thin fields. If they grow grain, they can feed a family, but if they graze, they can't even feed one person.

He got rid of his mind and walked back to the house.

"Dad!" Minmin greeted her happily.

"Hmm." He answered and walked into the room.

Minmin pouted her little mouth. Dad has never been like this before. Is he worried about the military again? I knew that my father was about to go on an expedition. Not only did I not have the impulse to liberate, but I wanted to accompany my father more. Especially today, I cooked in person and made some "special" dishes for my father. Unexpectedly, I was so ignored by my father.

Suddenly, my nose was sore, and tears rolled in my eyes.

"Minmin, Dad has been very busy recently. I want to be alone." He turned his head and looked at his precious daughter and said.

"Abu, my daughter also wants to share it for you. My daughter knows that you are busy. Since she went out in the morning, she hasn't eaten yet, right? My daughter specially cooked some food for you and wanted you to eat something, but you ignored your daughter!" Min** felt extremely wronged.

Eat something? Only then did he remember that he hadn't had a meal for four hours.

"Good, then try my daughter's craftsmanship. My daughter has finally grown up and knows how to be filial to her father." Take it off and say it.

"My daughter is very filial." Only then did Minmin smile.

Turn a few turns, and sure enough, the table was full of food. Especially in the middle, it is actually a roast leg of mutton.

When I saw so much food, there was a trace of deep worry between my eyebrows.

"Dad, what's wrong? I haven't eaten yet, but I know that my daughter's cooking is not good? Minmin asked.

"Minmin, Dad has been teaching you to read Han books. Zhumen smells of wine and meat, and there are frozen bones on the road. Have you heard of these two poems?" He asked. He said.

"Dad, it's just autumn now. It's on the Hulunbuir Grassland. It's not very cold now. It's freezing to death. Try the food I made for you!" Min Min said in a delicate voice.

"Minmin, although people can't freeze to death now, most of the food has lost its supply. Land transportation alone can't meet the demand at all. In less than half a month, I'm afraid someone will starve to death." Take it off and say it.

It will take at least half a month to take the army to go south to Gaoyou Prefecture. He is very worried that after he left, the situation in most of the capital will deteriorate.

Although I have handed over all the official affairs to deal with it first, I'm afraid I can't deal with such a headache first.

I thought it was a big deal. Isn't it just some food? Minmin said, "Dad, don't worry, leave the food matter to your daughter."

Toul's eyes lit up: "Minmin, what are you talking about? Leave it to you to deal with it? What can you deal with?

"Food, didn't Dad say that most of them are short of food now?" Minmin said.

"Yes, do you have a way?"

"Dad, this, my daughter really has a way. Don't worry, the problem of food is on my daughter." Minmin was full of confidence. She didn't see how difficult it was at all. Didn't she just bring some food here? I have been a grain merchant for more than half a year.

"What can you do?" He asked. He said.

"This, Dad, you don't have to ask. Your daughter has her own way." Minmin said.

"No, say it, you said it, so that I can eat at ease."

"Dad, in fact, my daughter has been quietly doing grain business, and she is already the largest grain merchant in most of the city. My daughter's monthly income is now worth half a year's salary." Minmin said.

Do you do food business? First, my heart sank, and then relaxed.

Minmin actually worked as a grain merchant without permission. She was a lady and the daughter of a master of the dynasty. What kind of grain merchant was she? However, fortunately, she became a grain merchant, so there must be inventory. I'm afraid she can take care of these stocks, right?

However, Minmin alone will never think of doing this. There must be someone else behind her. In an instant, she thought of a person: He Zhaoyi.

After He Zhaoyi came to Dadu, Minmin had the best relationship with her. Later, He Zhaoyi returned to Yangzhou, and Minmin quietly followed her, so that she sent people to turn over most of them. After Minmin came back, she became very clever. In fact, she was guilty of being a thief. I'm afraid she has been doing grain trading since then, right?

"Where is Miss He?" He asked. He said.

Minmin was shocked. Dad was his father. In an instant, he knew everything.

"It's near the Taishi Mansion. It's my daughter who took her to do business, but it doesn't matter what happens." Minmin said. She was afraid that her father would blame He Zhaoyi, so she simply took everything to herself.

"How can Dad blame Miss He? Send someone now to invite Miss He. You have cooked so many things that I can't finish it alone. Ask her to eat together!" Take it off and say it.

"Thank you, Dad." Minmin was very happy. When Dad said so, he naturally agreed.

"Xuan Ming, go and invite Zhaoyi." Minmin ordered behind him.

"Yes, miss." The two took orders and left. In the whole Taishi Mansion, only the two elders of Xuanming knew that they and Zhaoyi were engaged in grain business, and only they knew He Zhaoyi's specific residence.

He happily picked up the roast leg of mutton in the middle. It looked very attractive. The cumin was sprinkled very evenly. Suddenly, his appetite was greatly aroused. He put it in his mouth and took a bite.

Why is there a fishy smell? It's all raw inside!

After a while, He Zhao came according to the money, entered the room, and immediately knelt down: "I have seen the master."

"Please get up, please get up, this is home, these customs will be avoided." Duttu said, "It's really worthy of being a merchant. After only half a year in most of the city, I became the first grain merchant in most of the capital."

Xuanming's two elders went to He Zhaoyi. He Zhaoyi knew that the master had known that he and Minmin had partnered to do business. Of course, it would be better to put it on the surface and get the support of the master. He Zhaoyi came to the Taishi's mansion again and saw the detachment.

"Where, the little girl just wants to inherit her father's wish and start the He family's business in most of the city." He Zhaoyi said, "Thank you for your praise."

"I don't know how much food Miss He has now?" The master asked.

He Zhaoyi's brain turned around twice. Now she is no longer the stupid man who bought salt at the beginning. She had to figure it out. The master asked what the meaning was, how much grain she had stored, and whether she wanted to tell the master.

It's just an end. He Zhaoyi figured it out. He must have been cut off from the transportation. The major grain merchants in the capital are collecting grain through various channels, and then saving it. After waiting for the lack of food, he will sell it at a high price and make a fortune.

The master asked himself how much grain he had. If he said it, maybe the master would take it out by himself, and he would lose a lot. But you can't help but say it, otherwise, the master will definitely doubt it.

After a short meal, He Zhaoyi replied honestly, "Master, when the transportation was cut off, our grain was just ready to be shipped. There was not much left. We had a total of 20,000 stones in our grain reserves. Last time, the government forced the payment of 5,000 stones, leaving only 15,000 stones left. In the past few days, we have sold another 3,000 stones, leaving 10,000 stones left. Two thousand stones."

He Zhaoyi still has a total of 100,000 stones of grain left. Compared with other grain merchants, these grains are not much. He Zhaoyi is more good at doing refined salt business. No matter how high the profit of grain is, it is not as high as refined salt. However, of course, she will not say it all foolishly. If there is not much food, she can also earn a lot of money. Anyway, the grain is stored in dozens of different warehouses. Even if the master sends someone to check it, he will never find it out.

Moreover, you can't simply say how much is left, but say a few more data, so that people can be completely believed.

Sure enough, the face was full of disappointment. There are only more than 10,000 stones, and most of them have 200,000. Even if all of her grain is taken out, it will not last for a few days.

"Is there any way to transport the food from the south?" He asked. He said.

"Master, the transportation of grain has always been by the waterway. The waterway is still under the control of the imperial court. It is relatively safe and has a large amount of transportation. However, after the Gaoyou Mansion was broken, the waterway could not come over, and the land road was more time-consuming and labor-intensive on the one hand. On the other hand, the risk along the way was too great. It had to pass through several areas where the Red Turban Army and the official army were fighting. There were many robbers along the way. Without sufficient force, the food would definitely be robbed. He Zhaoyi analyzed: "So, if you want to transport food, you can only transport it by sea."

"Sea transportation?" Although he assisted the emperor to govern the government, he was not very familiar with this matter.

"The imperial court has a port in Dagukou. Our ship can start from the south of the Yangtze River, from the mouth to the north, all the way along the coastline, north to Dagukou, and then take the land route from Dagukou to Dadu." He Zhaoyi said. However, I didn't walk this road.

Although Caoyun is the most suitable mode of transportation, the exploitation of officers and soldiers along the way often makes small grain merchants have no money. Only large grain merchants with backgrounds like He Zhaoyi can pass through Caoyun without any restrictions. Some small grain merchants have to carry out dangerous moves to transport grain from the sea.

It is also risky to transport grain on the sea. First, there are often strong winds and huge waves on the sea. Boatmen who do not know how to sail on the sea can't get through it safely at all. All by luck. Second, they sometimes encounter pirates on the sea. Compared with the land, pirates are even more unscrupulous. They kill people and throw them into the water, and will never be killed. Discovered.

"I heard from them that it is very risky to transport grain by sea, but now the profit of grain is high. Some people are willing to take risks to sail from the sea, but they have little success." He Zhaoyi said.

Although there is not much grain stored, although the transportation has been cut off, in fact, He Zhaoyi is not in a hurry, because she is very confident that with her relationship with Zhang Shicheng, it is not difficult for her ship to pass through the Gaoyou Mansion controlled by Zhang Shicheng. She is just waiting for the opportunity.

"Actually, we can take a compromise." Minmin suddenly said next to her.

How to compromise? Looking at her precious daughter, what else can she think of?

"Isn't it enough for a grain carrier to go out of the sea from the Yangtze River, sail to the north for a while, and then fold back to the canal from the Huai River?" Minmin said.

Thanks to Minmin, she could come up with such an idea. If it had been half a year ago, He Zhaoyi would have applauded and welcome her. However, now she has long been well swered in everything. The structure of the inland river and the sea are completely different. The inland river is stable, and there are huge waves on the sea. If the ship will sail in the inland river. Pulled to the sea and hit the waves, the ship couldn't stand it at all.

"Master, this method doesn't work." He Zhaoyi said, "The two kinds of boats are just different. The boats in the inland river can't sail from a long distance in the sea. The distance from the mouth of the Huaihe River to the mouth of the Yangtze River has greatly exceeded the limit."

Looking at the expression of disappointment, He Zhaoyi suddenly thought, isn't this a good opportunity to perform? With the support of the master, I would definitely be able to crush all the other grain merchants.

"Master, there are still some ways for my family in Yangzhou. I think I may be able to find another waterway to transport grain from the south." He Zhaoyi said, "If the master is allowed, I would like to go back to investigate immediately."

"Then there is nothing, Miss He. If this can be done, I will recommend your credit to the emperor." Take it off and say it.

"Dad, I want to go with you!" Minmin also made do with it. Finally, there was a positive reason to go out to play.

He Zhaoyi's heart suddenly trembled.

(to be continued)