Turbulent Times Chapter 1018: Population is the most precious resource

Thinking like this, Zhao Chen said to Guan Fengping: "Master Guan, the first condition that your prefect said would have been agreed, you can continue to say the second condition."

Guan Fengping said: "The second condition that the prefect said is that the county government should come forward to recruit people for the navy."

Zhao Chen suddenly asked Guan Fengping with a gloomy face: "Isn't it a bit inappropriate for your prefect to do this? Does he really think that Ben will not understand that he wants to take the opportunity to stuff him into the navy?"

"General Zhao is serious. The prefect is doing this to let the people have males in every household, so that there will be no males to work, so that the old and young women and children will have no support for life." Guan Fengping said calmly, " If General Zhao is unwilling, the prefect will not force you, but please go to other counties to recruit troops."

The naval division is based in Fanyang County, but the imperial court did not stipulate that the source of troops for the naval division can only be Fanyang County.

At this time, Huang Shaoqiu whispered in his ear: "My lord, I just haven't had time to report to my lord. The problem of the source of soldiers, I have already solved the problem."

Zhao Chen now trusts Huang Shaoqiu very much. Hearing this, he was immediately overjoyed, and said to Guan Fengping without hesitation: "Master Guan, you don't need to worry about the source of troops. I will figure out a solution on my own. Just do as your prefect says!"

Guan Fengping seemed to have known Zhao Chen's reaction for a long time. With a smile on his face, he took out an IOU with a clear description of the calculation method of interest, and said, "Then please sign Mr. Zhao's name. Get your handprint!"

Looking at this IOU, Zhao Chen suddenly felt as if he had boarded a thief ship and was deeply trapped by someone for some reason. There will be no problems in returning it, so in the end I wrote my name on the IOU and put my fingerprint on it.

After Guan Fengping left with the IOU, Zhao Chen couldn't wait to ask Huang Shaoqiu: "Shaoqiu, how do you solve the problem of the source of troops you just mentioned?"

Huang Shaoqiu quickly said: "My lord, there are countless islands in the Bohai Sea and the East China Sea. Some islanders on them, some migrated from the mainland many years ago, and some are local aborigines, but most of them are Controlled by some pirate forces. The humble way is to **** these islanders, and these pirates also have many warships in their hands. If they can **** them together, the problem of warships will also be solved. "

Zhao Chen was overjoyed when he heard the words, but still worried, he said, "Shaoqiu, can we deal with those pirates well? Don't miss out on the people and ships, and instead let us suffer."

Huang Shaoqiu said confidently: "Don't worry, general, after all, the navy is an orthodox army of the imperial court. How can it be those pirates who can contend? The general only needs to give the lowly 8,000 people and 100 warships, and the lowly will guarantee to capture 15,000 people." Thousands of men, enough 30,000 sailors for the general, and help the general train these people into elite soldiers when they return to humble positions, so that they will be loyal to the adults, and with a strong general as the commander, when His Majesty attacks Goguryeo in the future, he will go from the water. Send troops, and the general will make great achievements."

Huang Shaoqiu's self-confidence and the bright future he said dispelled Zhao Chen's doubts. He gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, then it's settled. You take my tiger talisman to prepare for the deployment of troops and set off in two days. If you complete this task, I will definitely give credit to the imperial court. Now that the navy has been promoted to one level, after 30,000 sailors are in place, the imperial court will decree that I will be promoted from the navy general to the navy marching army. Chief, and when the time comes, the navy will have a deputy general, I will definitely recommend you to the court, and I will find someone to open up the relationship with you, and I will definitely make you a navy general.”

When Huang Shaoqiu heard this, his face immediately revealed just the right amount of excitement, and he said, "Thank you for your cultivation, General, I will definitely help you bring back 15,000 officers and soldiers and some warships."

…

…

At the same time, Wang Junlin was having a secret conversation with Shen Guoer in the posthouse of Rongcheng County.

"Regarding Fengping creating an opportunity for Zhao Chen, Huang Shaoqiu took the opportunity to show his loyalty to him, and Zhao Chen, who was in urgent need of help, would truly regard Huang Shaoqiu as his confidant, and let him be subdued by his own efforts. "Wang Junlin said with a smile.

"My lord has no plans to play with Zhao Chen." Guo'er said with a smile.

Wang Junlin shook his head and said: "Who wants to play with him! Isn't it just thinking of letting the imperial court's money and food support us for 30,000 sailors."

Guo'er's eyes flickered, and she said, "My lord, can the plan be started?"

Wang Junlin nodded and said: "If things go well for Huang Shaoqiu, Huang Shaoqiu will soon lead 8,000 sailors to sea, and he will dispatch six times successively, losing about 500 sailors each time, but each time he can About 3,000 men and a few warships have been kidnapped, Zhao Chen will not be disappointed."

"At that time, there will be 3,000 more experienced naval officers and soldiers on Snake Island, and about 15,000 men from the salt field will go to the naval camp, and among them there will be more than 500 veterans from Youzhou. The selected generals, they have performed outstandingly in the past, and with Huang Shaoqiu's support, they will soon stand out and become the chief of the fire, the chief of the hundred, the head of the regiment, and even the captain. After three years, the Wanshui division will basically be us Controlled."

Shen Guoer said: "Just in this way, the population of the saltworks has been reduced by as much as half, and the farmland, army, shipyard, and various workshops of the saltworks all require a lot of labor, leaving less than 20,000 people. , I’m afraid it’s not enough.”

Wang Junlin said: "Of course it's not enough, but I've already figured out how to replenish the saltworks."

Shen Guoer was thoughtful, suddenly remembered something, and said: "My lord, is it the idea of ​​those refugees from Huainan?"

Wang Junlin said appreciatively: "That's right, when I learned about the mob rebellion in Huainan a month ago, the people were displaced, and there were a large number of refugees and deserters, I already had this plan."

Shen Guoer suddenly realized, and said: "No wonder my lord asked me to arrange people to lead these refugees to Fanyang County."

Wang Junlin snorted coldly: "Those refugees are no less than 50,000 people. When they flood into Fanyang County, Yang Su who is hidden in the dark, Yu Wenshu who is in the open and others will take pleasure in their misfortune. I feel sympathetic, but in this case, if I help His Majesty solve the problem of the fifty thousand refugees, and the various taxes to the imperial court at the end of the year remain unchanged, this will surely make His Majesty recognize my loyalty even more. This is a great benefit in the first place, but the biggest benefit is to add urgently needed population to the salt farm. Give them a normal life, and you can easily get their firm support and incomparable loyalty, even more loyal than the 30,000 salt men and salt slaves before."