Chapter 25 Economic System
In the second year of Guanghe, at the end of March, Jiyin County.
At night, Xue's wall outside Chengyang County.
It was already dark at this time, but everyone was still excited. Zhang Chong asked someone to set up a few torches on the stage and listened carefully to Duman's suggestions.
After Ding Sheng finished making jokes and saying useless things.
Duman, who had always been the most resourceful member of the team, spoke out what Zhang Chong was thinking.
Only see Duman said:
"Everyone, think about it, why did the leader ask these three questions? As he said at the beginning, these are all important issues related to our survival.
First of all, number one, what do we do next?
Have you forgotten that there are soldiers from the Li clan chasing us behind us? There will even be soldiers from counties and villages in the future who will become our enemies.
Now we have broken through the Xue family wall and have captured something.
But according to the original plan to lurk in the Reed Lake, we cannot take these things away with our pack transport.
And even if we carry it, it will slow us down and arouse the covetousness of the surrounding water pirates.
When the time comes, there are pursuers in front and tigers and wolves inside, and it will be difficult to survive.
But if you don't leave, stay here in Xuejiabi.
Although this place is considered hidden, it is still too close to Chengshi.
Before, we checked the entrances in the wall and found out that one Ding and one young man of the Xue family had escaped.
At that time, all they have to do is contact relatives and friends or go to the government office directly, and then we will be in danger here in Xuejiabi.
Therefore, everyone must discuss whether to stay or go. Do you understand? ”
After listening to Duman's words, everyone became nervous. It turned out that they and others were still in danger.
Zhang Chong was very satisfied. He added some details and said:
"I read the letters between the Xue family and nearby families before, and it turns out that they were victims of the party's imprisonment and fled here.
So there is a high probability that they will not go to the government office.
Some of you may not know what a partisan and a partisan is, but that’s not important.
The important thing is that these people are wanted by the government and will not fall into the trap themselves.
But that doesn’t mean we are safe because we have internal worries.
The reason why I ask the second question is to consider this.
There are now a total of sixty-five of us, and three of us were injured during the attack on the wall during the day.
In addition, we need someone to look after the warehouse, and there may only be forty people actually looking after the prisoners.
But how many Dingkou are there now?
According to the numbers given by the younger brother, there are 210 male and female children, and 46 male and female children, as well as young and old.
There are so many people, we simply can’t keep an eye on them.
And as long as one of them escapes under the cover of night and warns other nearby powerful docks, then we will be in danger.
So how to deal with this prisoner's mouth has become another matter.
Also, the third question I raised is the rectification of our team.
Why do I say this?
When we attacked the wall today, I discovered that we really didn't have any rules.
For example, Chen Huan and I broke through the wall first, but then no team followed closely.
There were also people who were originally going to attack the granary, but suddenly followed the others and ran to capture the prisoners, and the whole thing was in chaos.
This time we were lucky enough to behead the enemy first. These Xue family disciples were frightened and allowed us to get off the dock wall smoothly.
But what about the future? If we encounter a serious enemy, we will suffer heavy losses. So I asked everyone what to do. ”
If Duman's speech made everyone nervous, then Zhang Chong's speech made everyone think.
Yang Mao has the most experience in the military. He pointed out the key to the third question using the military as an example.
He pointed out that when using troops, the system must be established first. If the system is established first, the soldiers will not be in chaos. If the soldiers are not in chaos, the punishment will be clear.
It's a simple thing. Everyone on the battlefield is afraid of death. If there is no institutional restraint, if one person leaves and a thousand people run away, the army will inevitably be overthrown and the general will be killed.
But if there are golden drums and flags, and there are many tribes and troops, and the people are single-minded, then the brave can't advance alone, and the timid can't retreat alone. This is what Sun Wu called the method of using the crowd.
Then he suggested to Zhang Chong that now that we have sixty-five people, we can organize it into a group of five Shi people and horses, including fifteen people from the Tunbu and ten Shi men each.
We don't have golden drums and flags now, but fortunately there are few people and shouting is enough, so there is no rush.
Zhang Chong thought about Yang Mao's suggestion.
What Yang Mao mentioned is exactly the current organization of the economic division of the Eastern Han Dynasty army, so that everyone can understand and accept it.
He did not rashly innovate the so-called military system, or install any miscellaneous titles, because he was worried that he would be regarded as a grass-roots establishment and be looked down upon.
Now when reorganizing the army, we might as well start with a departmental system, and we must eat our food one bite at a time.
After thinking about it, Zhang Chonghuan looked at the people present and began to order generals on the spot.
"Okay, just do what Damao said. Everyone present was brave enough to get into the battle this time, so I will reward you based on your merits.
First up is Chen Huan, who climbed up first with me.
I let you know how good you are in archery, and I will simply select ten people from the team who can use bows and crossbows. If you are dissatisfied, you can choose someone to teach you, and keep the enemy at a distance of a hundred steps.
Then there is Yang Mao, who is good at military affairs. I will appoint you as the second commander of the Tunbu to assist me in military affairs.
Wang Zhang and Li Wu are the corps commanders of our garrison, and we select fifteen courageous warriors to serve as garrison troops.
After that came Ding Sheng and Heifu.
The two of you fight bravely and fight to the death. I also let you two be as strong as you want, and choose twenty of them, who are good at using the ring-shou sword, to serve as the troops in the battle, and fight with the enemy within a few inches.
Next is Zhang Dan. You are smart and willful, and I will let you do whatever you want. I will choose ten men to use spears and spears to keep the enemy within fifty steps.
Finally, there is my younger father, Zhang Bingnan, who has always been prudent and good at management. I will let you be the leader of the baggage. I will also choose ten people who are not good at fighting to make fires to cook, escort the baggage, and use all the big animals. ”
After speaking, Zhang Chong looked at the last person, Du Man. "Finally, Duman, who is wise and resourceful, I will appoint you as counselor of the garrison, assisting in managing military aircraft and all general affairs."
Finally, Zhang Chong looked at everyone affectionately:
“A man cannot stand without a name, and an army cannot be famous without a name.
From today on, we will set up a flag and call it General Shi.
From now on you will call me Qu Kui in the army. To the outside world, we are called General Shi's team.
I hope that everyone can remember the oath made in the forest the day before yesterday and work hard together! ”
After saying that, he made a fist with his right hand and stood up.
"Work hard" everyone clenched their right fists and stood up.
Everyone laughed.
Zhang Chong pointed to the prisoner's mouth below again and asked everyone if anyone had any idea?
Everyone shook their heads. Some of them really had no solution, and some had solutions, but they dared not say it.
For example, if you can’t let go and you can’t control it, then you can’t kill it? Killing him can also give his brothers courage.
But after spending these days together, everyone who thinks like this knows that Zhang Chong would not do this.
Since the person in charge doesn't accept it, why bother saying it? It's not to make yourself uncomfortable.
Duman hesitated for a while and asked Zhang Chong uncertainly:
"What do you have in mind? Everyone probably doesn't have a clue right now. Since Qu Kui said it, he must have an idea. Why not talk to everyone about it."
"Okay" Zhang Chong no longer hid it.
"In addition to reading the Xue family's letters, I also asked carefully about the conditions of these prisoners.
Although there are more than 200 people in this Dingkou, the staff is actually quite complex.
I roughly divided it:
The first is the core members of the Xue family, which has the smallest number, about twenty people. These people are generally hostile to us.
When we entered the wall, they resisted the most fiercely, so some of their relatives died at our hands.
Then there are the tribes and slaves of the Xue family, about a hundred people, generally strong and strong.
The most loyal among this group of people had already died when we came in, and the rest were considered submissive.
The last one is people like Tian Dayong.
They were all people from nearby settlements, either as tenant farmers or as slaves, or they were desperate and sold into slavery.
They generally hate Xue the most.
But it cannot be generalized, because some people will be grateful to the Xue family for giving them a bite of millet and then give up.
Those who have these thoughts must also be selected and placed into the first category.
According to this division, we can treat them differently.
For the first category, we strictly control it.
Then for the second category, we will allocate Xue’s land to them to create a confrontation between the two.
The third category is what we have to fight for.
Now the grain in the granary is enough for us to eat, and the excess can be taken home by the disciples and distributed to nearby settlements.
This way you can both keep them alive and gain their support.
We need to reorganize our time here, and it is untenable without these local mountain sheds as our eyes and ears. ”
"What do you think?" After speaking, Zhang Chong asked the group of stunned companions again.
"Brother Chong, no, Qu Kui, you are really tall. Such a division is really clear. Who should we help and who should we be wary of? It is clear at a glance. I, Zhang Dan, have nothing to say."
It was not just Zhang Dan who had nothing to say. It was the first time for everyone present that they had heard of such a manipulative person.
It stands to reason that Qu Kui is just a farmer. Why is he so wise? It can only be attributed to God’s talent.
Seeing that no one had any objections, Zhang Chong made the final conclusion:
"Then for the three questions I raised, let's do this next.
First, Yang Mao led Chen Huan, Hei Fu, Wang Zhang, Li Wu and other five people as trainers.
You are fully responsible for the compilation and training of this exercise. The requirements are to clear the flag, practice the equipment, and be familiar with the formation.
Then the young father will lead the organized baggage team, and then he will be allowed to take out the captured women and children, and send them to make more flags with food.
Yang Mao and I will discuss the style of the flag later and then draw a picture for you.
After that, Duman led a team to manage the three types of prisoners in separate accounts according to the classification I mentioned above.
Especially for the third type, the home is a nearby slave and must be fought for.
Then you and Zhang Dan will coordinate the necessities such as salt and millet and send them to nearby settlements.
If there are any who defect to the army, they will be sent to Yang Mao for training first.
Finally, we will repair and prepare our weapons here at Xuejiabi, and then decide on the next route. Do you understand? ”
"Here" everyone responded.
"Then let's do this tonight. We will set up tents in this wheat field to rest. The prisoners will take care of their food first and stabilize their emotions.
Tomorrow morning, just do as I said and everyone should perform their duties. ”
Then, everyone dispersed.
An acquaintance on the other side asked if he knew how to use a bow, and on the other side he asked if he knew how to use a knife.
The scene was still messy, but full of hope.
This long day is over.
Some people are laughing, some are crying, there is no such thing as joy or sorrow in the world.
(End of chapter)