Xiaoqi

After the summer harvest, the people of Xiliang harvested the first season of grain, and it was a bumper harvest.All farmers who cultivate and cultivate, in accordance with the requirements of the county government, plow the land deeply before cultivating, apply agricultural fertilizer after cultivating, and irrigate with river canals.Therefore, the grain harvested by farmers during the summer harvest is more than several times that of previous years. With the help of government officials in counties, townships, and kiosks, the grains are returned to the warehouses, and all of them belong to the people without paying taxes.Therefore, with one summer harvest, the farmers have harvested more than a year's rations, which is enough to meet their food and clothing; if they live frugally, there will be surplus food when they are harvested next year.

Therefore, in Xiliang, where the land is vast and sparsely populated, as long as you don’t like leisure and hate work, as long as you work hard to reclaim the land and cultivate according to the order, you will not go hungry, let alone sleep in the wilderness and become homeless.

This year, Xiliang was under great rule.Rows of newly built houses sprung up, and villages sprung up quietly like mushrooms after rain. The officials were clear and bright, the government decreed amnesty, and the people rebuilt their homes, worked hard, and the government was well-organized and harmonious.By the end of the year, the entire territory of Xiliang had a new population of several 10 people, and the people were basically self-sufficient without the need for disaster relief from the imperial court.

This year, the whole of Xiliang has changed from the old to the new, and the changes are so great that it can be called earth-shaking.The barren wilderness in the past has become a cluster of cultivated land with uneven levels, and rivers and canals are distributed between the cultivated land; the official road is wide and flat, and there are post stations every [-] miles along the way.There are also fast horses and carriages that can be rented by pedestrians in the posthouse. After arriving at the destination, just take out the voucher and return the fast horse, and you can get the rent after deducting the expenses, which is very convenient.This alone will increase a large amount of income for the treasury of Xiliang, so as to support a large number of refugees and barbarian coolies with three meals a day, so that they can build roads with peace of mind, making the official roads of Xiliang counties and counties more and more unimpeded .

In the same year, Li Li successively traveled to counties and counties in Yongliang and Liangzhou, inspecting officials and people's conditions, inspecting farming and animal husbandry matters; running around the garrison barracks in various counties, checking the accounts of money, food, military equipment, food and pay in each battalion, and checking the compensation of soldiers killed in battle. Review the soldiers of the army to boost the morale of the army.In addition, his six wives gave birth to children one after another, and they gave birth to six children for him, which can be said to be prosperous and have successors.

For more than a year, the whole territory of Xiliang has been stable and peaceful, the people have vigorously cultivated and farmed, the government is well-organized and the people are harmonious, and the strategy of recuperating and restoring people's livelihood has achieved initial results.The lives of the people in the territory have been greatly improved, and the expenditure of the government treasury has stabilized, and there is still a slight surplus at the end of the year.Instead of reducing the number of troops stationed in various places, they are still slowly increasing their troops. It's just that these are privately expanded troops by the commanding generals of each battalion, and they are not reported until the end of the year when the whole army is assembled.

Chapter 389

Time flies and seasons flow.

In a blink of an eye, the fourth year of Chuping has passed, and the first year of Xingping is ushered in, that is, 194 AD.

"Xingping" is the year name that Li Jue tried his best to promote, and its meaning is to follow the example of Dong Zhuo in the past to change the year name, so as to highlight his meritorious service in assisting the country as a regent.Li Li was noncommittal about this, just laughed it off, and let it go, so the name of Chuping came to an end, and the great man entered the first year of Xingping.

The snow melts, and the water in the spring river warms up.

At the beginning of the new year, the General Mansion of Jicheng in Hanyang County held a grand banquet for civil and military officials from various counties in Xiliang.

After the banquet, Li Li issued the new year's political tasks to the civil servants of the counties, and all the generals of the army also received specific general orders to defend the border and continue to harass the surrounding barbarian tribes to protect the environment and the people.

Afterwards, Li Li led Li Zhi, Commander of Jinyi Guards, Li Ru, Commander of Zhongchang, Huan Fei, Commander of Feixiong Bing, Sima Yunluo of Jinyi Guards, Duan Yan, Deputy Commander of Huben Camp, and others, and took a hundred personal guards to inspect various places in Xiliang. counties.

From the beginning of the first lunar month, Li Li and his party all rode together, traveling in starry nights, and patrolling the counties and counties of Yongzhou within a month.Then the group avoided the official road, hid their whereabouts, and went straight to Chang'an through various counties and counties in Liangzhou.

After staying in Chang'an City for three days, Li Li and his party returned to Liangzhou again.However, they turned around suddenly that night, bypassed Chang'an City, and went straight to the northeast.

Hangu Pass, first built in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, is the throat to Luoyang in the east and Chang'an in the west.This Guanxi is located on the plateau, bordering Juejian on the east, Qinling Mountains on the south, and the Yellow River on the north. It is one of the earliest Xiongguan fortresses built in the land of China.

Early spring and February, winter goes to spring.All things are revived, and the wild mountains and rivers are full of vitality again.

In the early morning, with the first ray of sunlight shining on the earth, the gate of Hangu Pass opened on time as usual for pedestrians to pass through.

Under the majestic Xiongguan Pass, outside the east and west city gates, there are hundreds of soldiers from the Wuwei Camp guarding them. The defense is extremely strict, and all passers-by and their parcels are strictly checked.

Relatively speaking, most of the passers-by outside the east gate are those who entered Xiliang.The defenders focused on checking the baggage and goods brought by the pedestrians, but they didn't pay much attention to the pedestrians.As long as the people who pass the customs do not have any disease, and do not carry weapons or prohibited items, the defenders will let them go and enter Chang'an and Xiliang.

Because Xiliang's gatekeeping strategy in recent years is.People and caravans from all over the Central Plains were allowed to enter Xiliang, and refugees and people were encouraged to settle in Xiliang.but.But it is necessary to strictly check the pedestrians leaving the country.All the people and caravans who exit the customs must have the customs clearance road guides issued by the Sili Xiaowei's Mansion and the prefectures and counties. everywhere.Otherwise, there is a slight discrepancy.They will be detained on the spot by the soldiers of the defending army, and then handed over to the county government soldiers to take them to the county where they are severely punished; the lighter ones will be fined a certain amount of money, and the heavier ones will be punished with a staff of forty, and they will be sent to the frontier to serve hard labor.

therefore.The customs clearance conditions of various passes in Xiliang are definitely easy to enter the city, but difficult to leave the city.

In short: let in, never out.

Therefore, compared with the relatively loose inspection at the east gate, the exit inspection at the west gate is almost strict, and the speed of leaving the city is extremely slow.The guards checked the guides of the people leaving the customs one by one. They not only opened the luggage to check carefully, but also searched and checked the body. They took the guides and interrogated them.

"What are you people looking around for? What's there to see? Stand in line, take out your customs clearance path, and open your luggage and the box on the carriage!"

Passing through the west gate, a guard guard in armor held a long spear, with a straight face, stood in front of more than a hundred strong and strong men who were eager to leave the gate, and shouted loudly.As he reprimanded the group of people, he clenched the spear tightly in his hand, and the point of the spear pointed coldly at the chest of the young man in brocade clothes, only an inch away from his heart.

However, what surprised the guard was that the handsome young man in a brocade shirt in front of him had no fear in front of the spear that reached his chest. He still smiled warmly and looked up at him with great interest. The defense situation on the tower of Hangu Pass.

As soon as the gatekeeper's words fell, he shivered inexplicably, a creepy feeling of being stared at by a beast suddenly emerged, and his whole body shuddered.Immediately, he saw two burly men behind the handsome young man squinting their eyes, staring at him coldly, as if they could crush him to death with a single strike.

In addition, there are hundreds of burly and strong men behind these two big men, and their bodies are full of murderous aura, like a group of hungry wolves who want to choose and devour.And these people all stared at him sternly, er, not at him, but at the long gun with his finger on the handsome man's chest all the time.

"Hehehe!" Just as the guards were trembling, the man in brocade clothes who led the guard said with a smile: "What are you doing? Checking out of the customs is the duty of the guards. It has been like this since ancient times. It’s appropriate. Don’t be dumbfounded, quickly take out Lu Yin and hand it over to this little brother for verification, so as not to delay the trip!”

As the brocade-clothed man opened his mouth to speak, the gatekeeper standing in front of everyone suddenly felt lighter, and the creepy feeling just now disappeared suddenly.Immediately, he couldn't help wiping the cold sweat off his forehead, immediately put away his spear, carefully took the customs clearance guides from the man in brocade clothes and his party, checked them one by one, and called a team of ten to carefully check the accompanying packages and boxes of this group.After fully checking the time for a cup of tea, and finally confirming that it is correct, he just removed the antlers and waved his hand to let him go.

Immediately, the chief guard watched the man in brocade clothes and a group of more than a hundred people slowly exit the customs, and said to himself: "It's really strange, they actually have the customs clearance guide of the Shepherd's Mansion in Yongzhou in their hands, and the general Li Li personally issued it. customs clearance document!"

"Shi Chang, what's the matter with you?" Seeing Shi Chang's dazed look, a soldier gently pushed him and asked in a low voice.

Hearing the words, Shi Chang couldn't help shaking his head, and pondered: "These people are all well-dressed, there are men and women, and the accompanying retinues are full of murderous aura, and they seem to be people who have been in the battlefield. Let me report, you check carefully here, and you must not be negligent!" Throwing a word casually, Shi Chang turned and ran to the stone steps, and ran straight to the tower.

Just at this time.Jin Gu, the deputy commander of the Wuwei Battalion who was in charge of guarding Hangu Pass, stood on the tower of the East City Gate, condescending, looking down at the pedestrians entering and leaving the pass.Immediately he saw a group of more than a hundred people galloping out on top-of-the-line horses, quickly passed through the east gate, and headed straight for the east of the Guandong.

Immediately, Jin Gu frowned slightly, his eyes full of gloomyness.Because he could tell at a glance that these horses were all excellent horses from the Xiutu Horse Farm, and this kind of high-quality horses were only eligible to be ridden by mid-to-high-ranking generals above the head of the army.Therefore, he subconsciously thought that it was someone in the racecourse who sold the war horse to the Central Plains caravan privately.

He looked down at the caravan galloping with cold eyes.Jin Gu suddenly saw several very familiar figures from behind, but for a while he couldn't remember where he had seen these people.Until the moment when this group of people was about to disappear from sight, he lay on the tower and exclaimed: "My lord? Commander Li Zhi, General Huan Fei, and servant Li Ru"

"Da da da!"

Outside the east gate of Hangu Pass.

After a group of more than a hundred people passed through the east gate, they immediately got on their horses, rode them and swung their whips.Go straight to the Central Plains.

"Wen You, don't look back! Jin Gu is standing on the east gate tower. If you turn your head, he will recognize you. Then the whereabouts of our party will be leaked. If so, we have carefully prepared for a long time to travel around the world. The trip to the states and counties, we can only give up here, turn around and go back immediately!"

While galloping his horse, Li Li leaned forward and crawled on the horse's back. When he saw Li Ru, he seemed to turn his head to look around.He immediately stopped it, lest he reveal the whereabouts of his party.

"How does my lord know that Jin Gu is standing on the tower?" Li Ru really wanted to look back at Hangu Pass behind him, because it once blocked the footsteps of hundreds of thousands of princes chasing the Xiliang army, which prompted Dong Zhuo to move his capital to Chang'an and retreat to Xiliang The plan was successfully implemented.

"Hehehe!" He rode his horse and galloped.Li Li said with a smile: "Before the battle in the southern suburbs, I wanted to order Jin Gu to garrison Wushuang City in Zhangye County, guarding the horse farm for our army, and spend the rest of his life in peace. I don't think so, although his left leg is disabled, he performed well in the battle. Very good, quite a military exploit. Therefore, I made a temporary decision to organize him into the Wuwei Camp as the deputy commander, stationed in the line from Anyi to Hangu Pass, and guarded the Hangu Pass. When the Wuwei Camp was stationed in Anyi, I sent him Teng Xiao, Jin Gu, Guo Meng and Tie Xiao, each with a set of golden armor.

When I passed the west gate just now, I saw a very familiar figure from the back on the tower, dressed in golden battle armor, so I recognized him as Jin Gu at a glance.Except for him, all the generals stationed at Hangu Pass did not have this indestructible golden armor at all, and he was the only one.In detail, this extremely strong golden armor was a gift from Wen You at the beginning, and dozens of sets have been given out now, and the remaining 400 sets of armor must come in handy in the near future. "

"Hehehe, that's how it is!" Li Ruxin smiled happily, and said with a sudden realization.

Then he rode up to catch up with Li Li, sighed and said: "The scene before the pass just now, until now, my subordinates still have lingering fears and fears. The guard of the pass pointed his spear directly at the lord's chest. If there is a slight mistake, it will be very serious It is possible to hurt the lord. If that is the case, I have committed a great crime, and I will not redeem myself!"

Li Li laughed and said: "Wen You's words must be to persuade me not to go to danger in person during this trip, right? Hehehe!"

"My lord is wise, and this subordinate is exactly what I mean." Li Ru responded happily, and then said earnestly: "My lord is now in the safety of the two prefectures of Xiliang and most of the Sili, and it is also the security of my army of more than [-] in Xiliang. Commander, it is about the future and destiny of Xiliang as a whole, there must be no mistakes! In addition, the lord has six children now, and has a beautiful wife and beautiful family looking forward to him. He is not only the master, but also a father, and even more a husband. No matter how you think about it, the lord can't take personal risks, and the situation like just now must never happen again, otherwise our Xiliang society will be in danger!"

"Well, thank you Wenyou for your concern, I will remember it!" Li Li turned his head to look at Li Ru, and nodded solemnly.

However, it was Li Li's movement of turning his head to look at Li Ru that Jin Gu on the tower behind him recognized him, and then recognized Li Zhi, Huan Fei, Li Ru and others.But Li Li and his party didn't notice this, and thought that their whereabouts were not exposed, and they didn't show their feet along the way.

After leaving Hangu Pass, Li Li and his party gradually slowed down and formally entered Sili territory.

However, this area is still under the jurisdiction of Xiliang, which belongs to Li Li's rule. Tens of thousands of soldiers from the Wuwei camp and the military camp led by Xu Rong are stationed in the counties and counties along the way.

At present, Sili counties and counties such as Hedong, Hanoi, Henan, Hexi and Hongnong are still in the hands of the Xiliang Army, led by Teng Xiao and Xu Rong.Always beware of the invasion of the Kanto princes.

However, the current situation in these counties is different from that in Xiliang Prefecture.There are many famous families in the counties and counties of Sili. The officials in the counties and counties are still the officials appointed by Dong Zhuo in the past. Due to the strength of the Xiliang army, they have to rely on the Xiliang army.In addition, the two-year tax-exemption edict of the two prefectures of Xiliang did not include the counties and counties of Sili. Therefore, these counties and counties still follow the laws of the court and pay money, food and taxes to the Sili Xiaowei Mansion regularly.

This means that there are two completely different taxation systems in the territory under the Xiliang Army, and there are already hidden dangers.If things go on like this.The officials and people in the counties and counties of Sili must be dissatisfied, which may lead to unforeseen and serious consequences in the near future.

However, what is extremely strange is that the counties in Sili have also suffered from wars recently, and the people live in poverty.There are refugees everywhere, and natural disasters continue.According to common sense.These counties are unable to pay taxes, money and food.But this is not the case.The magistrates of the counties and counties in Sili turned a blind eye to the tax exemption decree in Xiliang.

This led to Li Li's original intention of rectifying the administration of officials in the counties of Sili.There is still no entry point, let alone the dismissal of officials in various counties and counties at will. We can only wait and see the changes and wait for the opportunity.at the same time.Li Li dispatched [-] main battle battalions to station in various counties, firmly controlling the situation in Sili, and gradually strengthened his control over Sili.

In fact, Li Li already knew how these counties paid taxes in full and on schedule.It was precisely because he knew the whole story that he allowed Sili counties to maintain the current situation, responding to all changes without change, and waiting for opportunities.