Chapter 148: Taking Action Against Zhang Shicheng
After the memorial service, people still have to move on and continue to live their lives.
Apart from the fact that the newspapers in Peking and Yingtian mentioned today's events, and that Liu Lian and Zhu Tong, two masters of calligraphy and painting, had new inspiration and would both create national treasure-level paintings in the future, the matter was over.
At least it's over for Chen Biao.
The late spring cold snap was very considerate. After a day of snow, the temperature began to rise again, which did not cause much trouble for spring plowing.
Chen Biao returned the military power to his three brothers, and handed over security-related matters such as catching thieves to Xu Shuzhen and Chen Huoxing. Liu Lian and Zhu Tong took turns judging cases and mediating disputes. They were also responsible for most of the students' schoolwork. Chen Biao devoted all his energy to economic construction.
The city of Beiping not only had to feed the local people, but also had to feed the army stationed in the suburban camps.
The contributions made by Deng Yu and Zhao Desheng after this battle finally offset their mistakes. They were now transferred to Gansu to continue fighting against the remaining forces of the Yuan army. The city of Beiping only needed to supply food to the army under the command of Zhu Wenzhen, Li Wenzhong and Chen Ying.
Soldiers need to train and fight, and they need to eat enough to be combat-ready.
Therefore, even if all the rations were converted into grain, a soldier would consume about three and a half dan of grain each month. Although transporting grain to the camp outside the capital did not require much transportation cost, there would still be losses, and kickbacks would inevitably occur along the way, so a soldier's grain consumption per month was about four dan.
The annual per-acre yield of cultivated land near Peking is only about three dan at most, with an average of two dan.
Based on the calculation of two shi, two acres of land would have to be cultivated for a year to feed the soldiers for a month.
There are currently more than 30,000 people stationed in the camp outside Beijing. If the food and grass are supplied according to wartime, it will take the entire annual grain output of 60,000 acres of land to feed these 30,000 people.
Of course, the camp outside Beijing would cultivate its own land when not fighting, and not rely entirely on Peking for supplies. When they were not fighting, their food intake would be smaller, but they had to maintain about one stone per month, otherwise they would not be able to train.
After some calculations, Chen Biao finally understood why the combat capability of soldiers would decline rapidly after a dynasty was established for a period of time.
When fighting for the world, one can make the people suffer, or use less kind means to raise food so that the soldiers can have enough to eat every time they fight and train.
But after peace was restored, the dynasty needed to recuperate and could not allow the people to continue to suffer. Therefore, the soldiers' monthly rations could only maintain the level of ordinary people, or even worse.
Soldiers also had to take on the task of cultivating the land, otherwise the army would not be able to get enough food. Without enough food, they would just lie down after farming, so how could they get any physical training? Over time, the army's combat effectiveness would naturally decline.
This is something that is bound to happen under the conditions of productivity of the feudal dynasty.
Even in modern society, not every country can support a full-time professional army of more than 100,000 people.
Everyone in Yingtian knew that the northern farmland could not support the troops stationed there. Now, the only way to feed the suburbs of Beijing and Peking was to transport grain from the Grand Canal and the sea.
Yields per mu in Jiangsu and Zhejiang reached as high as six to nine dan, while fertile farmland in Guangdong and Fujian could yield over ten dan per mu. Before the industrial age, the saying "Suhu, Huguang, and the rest of the world are well-fed" was no exaggeration.
Chen Biao wanted to be self-sufficient, so he reclaimed a lot of land this year.
After driving the Yuan army back to the grasslands, the land near Peking could be reclaimed. Chen Biao bought a lot of good seeds and hired experienced farmers to teach the people how to farm.
But he painfully discovered that even if the people worked very hard and he distributed a lot of land to them, it would be impossible for them to be self-sufficient.
China has been an agricultural civilization since ancient times, and its agricultural technology has almost reached its peak before the industrial age. Therefore, the yield per mu is limited, and at most it depends on the weather, and it won't increase much.
The north is vast and sparsely populated, so while more land could be allocated to the people, the labor cost is high. If too much land is allocated, the people simply won't be able to cultivate it. Therefore, there's a ceiling on the amount of grain each worker can produce. No amount of encouragement or pressure will help.
Chen Biao calculated that after fighting a battle, the cost of transporting food, weapons and ammunition, food for soldiers, and grass for horses, all added up to the price of food, would require all the people in Peking to plant all their arable land this year and then pay the tax set by the Ming Dynasty this year to barely make up for the loss.
It was a battle that lasted only one day.
Chen Biao threw away his brush and collapsed on the armchair, not wanting to give up.
escape.
Chen Chong still had to continue studying with Liu Lian and Zhu Tong, while Chen Chong was already Chen Biao's secretary.
While helping Chen Biao grind ink, he said, "Brother, why worry? We have money and can buy grain from the south. "
Chen Biao said weakly, "This is the amount of grain produced nationwide. We can only produce money, but we can't produce more grain. Now is a time of chaos and the population is declining. In a dozen years, let alone supporting the army, I'm afraid there won't be enough grain to even feed the people."
Chen Xun said, "That's something the Emperor should consider. Big brother, just do your job as the prefect of Beiping well. Why worry about so many things?"
"Is it not okay to worry about the country and the people?" Chen Biao held his head and stretched his cervical vertebrae. "Ah, and besides, our Beiping will be an important border town in the future, and we have to continue to maintain troops. If there is not enough food in the whole country, the soldiers in the border towns will be the first to have their rations cut. The worst result is a mutiny in the barracks. The best result... if the grasslands attack, the border troops will be unable to defeat it, and Beiping will still suffer. It's very bad!"
Chen Xun frowned: "That's true... But that will happen more than ten years later, big brother..."
Chen Chong paused, his expression odd: "Brother, you are only in your thirties or forties, and you might still be the youngest among the provincial governors. This matter still needs your attention."
Chen Biao held his head and continued to move his cervical spine, almost crying.
What does it mean to devote oneself to the cause until death? Even Zhuge Liang's concern for the Han Dynasty was not as great as my concern for the Ming Dynasty!
Chen Chong comforted him, "It's nothing, actually. I don't believe that Big Brother is so powerful that the Emperor would let Big Brother stay in Beiping forever. Big Brother is also the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. When the Crown Prince returns to the throne, Big Brother will definitely go to the Crown Prince's side, and then he won't have to worry about Beiping anymore."
Chen Biao was speechless: "I don't care, so the difficulties in Peking don't exist?"
Chen Xun said, "Brother, you're not in Peking. Peking has its own people in Peking to manage things, and there's also the Emperor above you. Brother, you can't worry about everything in the world by yourself."
Chen Biao lowered his hands from his head and said weakly, "That's right. Anyway, we will be nobles in the future. Even if 50% of the people in the world starve to death, we can still live a life of luxury and enjoy the feasts and drinks without any worries."
Chen Xun was at a loss for words at this childish remark of his eldest brother: "There's no need for a future. We are already nobles. We certainly won't starve, but you will definitely not ignore us, brother. You will just manage it from the center."
Chen Biao said, "Then what nonsense are you talking about?"
Chen Xun sighed, "I'm not trying to comfort you. I have a big brother who cares deeply about the country and the people, and I'm helpless too... Ouch?"
Chen Chong's cheek was pinched by Chen Biao.
Chen Biao said unhappily, "Are you becoming more and more arrogant?"
Chen Xun said vaguely: "It's because you, big brother, are so immature when you work and complain every day."
Chen Chong respected Chen Biao very much. After becoming Chen Biao's secretary, Chen Chong respected Chen Biao even more.
Chen Biao was able to handle so many things every day in an orderly manner. Chen Chong was very impressed by Chen Biao's ability to obtain the information he wanted from just a few words in the documents and make the right decisions.
But in addition to admiration, Chen Chong also felt a little amused and helpless about his elder brother's work status.
Chen Biao worked every day, never stopping to mutter discouraged words. He would slump down in his armchair with his head in his hands a dozen times a day, saying "I don't care," "Whatever happens," "Give up, give up," and then continue working.
Chen Chong rarely disturbed Chen Biao when he was working, so he naturally didn't know how childish Chen Biao behaved while working.
Chen Biao also knew that his working state was a bit embarrassing. But it didn't matter, he just had to show his big brother attitude and force Chen Chong to admit that his big brother was just as handsome when he was working.
Don't speak ill of Big Brother! This is the first rule of the Chen brothers!
After Chen Biao finished complaining today, he continued to work, handling today's official duties swiftly, and then it was time to go out and inspect the military farms.
A prefect has a lot to worry about, from education to taxation to public security. Chen Biao has no shortage of subordinates, especially Chen Lin, who is very efficient and a true talent from Li Shanchang's side. Chen Biao has delegated most of the government affairs to Chen Lin, and only checks the documents for omissions.
Chen Biao devoted all his time to military farming and business planning.
It is difficult for Peking to be self-sufficient on its own now, so the military farming must be stepped up and commerce must also be developed.
If the world is pacified, and Peking can become a prosperous commercial city, it can also achieve a balance between food supply and demand by relying on its own "cash power".
Chen Biao had no way to increase the grain yield per mu, so he could only rely on what he knew to improve the core competitiveness of the city of Peking.
Chen Biao also told his brothers that when they were training on the grasslands, if they saw grassland tribes secretly grazing sheep, they should not drive them away, but instead let them come to Beijing to exchange for daily necessities.
Chen Biao, with Zhu Yuanzhang's endorsement, had actually opened a border market in Beiping even though the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty still existed. In Yingtian City, the court was arguing over Chen Biao's actions every day.
Zhu Yuanzhang has returned to Yingtian.
He has not yet had time to rename Yingtian to Nanjing and Beiping to Beijing.
In order to transport grain to the north, Zhu Yuanzhang finally had to take action against Zhang Shicheng. Now the entire Ming Dynasty was mobilized to prepare for a major battle.
When Zhu Yuanzhang was discussing the attack on Zhang Shicheng in the court, foolish naval generals such as Liao Yongzhong said that Chen Biao was so powerful, and asked Chen Biao to return to Yingtian to fight Zhang Shicheng together.
Liao Yongzhong meant well.
Chen Biao was a military advisor, and he would not let Chen Biao go to the battlefield. He just wanted to use Chen Biao's strategy to capture Zhang Shicheng as soon as possible.
In this way, the Ming army would suffer less damage, and Chen Biao would be able to gain more credit.
Liao Yongzhong believes that it is a win-win situation.
Then Liao Yongzhong was beaten by his own brother for no apparent reason.
Liao Yongzhong once again thought that his brother was jealous of Chen Biao because he could not go to the battlefield, and was unwilling to let Chen Biao achieve success.
He despised his brother very much, but his brother was in poor health, so he couldn't fight with him, and he felt very uncomfortable.
Liao Yongzhong joined other naval commanders in suggesting that Chen Biao return to serve as military advisor.
Then, Liao Yongzhong was called to the palace by Zhu Yuanzhang. When he came out, one of his eyes was swollen and he looked dazed.
He didn't go home, but went straight to find his brother.
"Brother, have you known this for a long time?" Liao Yongzhong was about to cry.
Liao Yongan held the teacup and said, "Well. Do you know who sent someone to take care of me when I was in Pingjiang?"
Liao Yongzhong said: "It's Yang Xian! Yang Xian is the chief inspector, I know!"
Liao Yongan sighed: "Yang Xian's superior is Biao'er. I have always been taken care of by Biao'er."
Liao Yongzhong: "...Why didn't you tell me?"
Liao Yongan rolled his eyes at Liao Yongzhong and said, "Because the Lord won't let me. Just like the Lord won't let me tell you that Biao'er is the Crown Prince."
Liao Yongzhong fell to the ground and burst into tears.
He was filled with grief because he realized that he had made two fatal mistakes with Chen Biao.
The first time, he sent someone to follow Chen Biao, trying to find out what Chen Biao liked so as to please him.
The second time, he sent people to follow his elder brother, but accidentally followed Chen Biao. He thought that Chen Biao was ordered by the lord to teach the prince, and he almost found out where the prince lived.
It turned out that he had already found out where the prince lived. He almost discovered the prince's true identity.
It turns out that Chen Biao is the prince!!!
