Chapter 24: The Lingzhou Rebellion

  Li Zhong acted decisively and swiftly, once he made a decision, he didn't drag his feet. He immediately ordered Zhang Shan and others to gather their troops, then turned around and summoned Zhao Wu again.

  This time, he must go in person to preside over it. After he leaves, a series of affairs on the ranch will fall on Zhao Wu's head.

  But Zhao Wu's ability was limited, and he was not good at coping with unexpected situations. If new problems arose that needed to be handled, Li Zhong was afraid that Zhao Wu would not be able to handle them. So he called him over and gave him detailed instructions.

  "After I left, the relevant construction continued as usual without any changes. Once the road to the mountain is completed, we will increase our efforts to find more mineral deposits. If new mines are found, we will continue to build roads and connect them, this is the first point."

  "Secondly, the matter of opening up new land cannot be stopped. The more land, the better... The direction of opening up new land should not continue to the south, but rather to the west, towards the Great River (Yellow River) for development. Related irrigation and fertilization facilities must also be built at the same time. After the wheat is ripe and harvested, you can recruit migrants at your discretion to fill up the grasslands with people. If I have not returned by autumn, you must remember to organize people to sow wheat."

  "Thirdly, the livestock in the pasture should also be raised on a larger scale. Cattle, sheep, horses, red jade birds, and hedgehogs, the more the better. Therefore, the land area of the pasture must also be expanded. However, I know this is not easy to do. You can secretly expand the range of the pasture northward, but pay attention to concealment, so as not to attract the attention of the Xiongnu people and the Jie people in the north."

  "Fourth, the role of alfalfa is huge and we must increase the scale of planting. It's not limited to pastures, as long as it's planted in areas with abundant water sources nearby, after maturation, people can be sent to harvest and store."

  "In addition, the hunting team must continue to expand its hunting range while paying attention to gathering information and mapping."

  Zhao Wu listened while quickly taking notes with a brush.

  "Oh, right."

  Li Dang paused for a moment, then said: "This batch of soldiers I want to take away entirely. I will instruct Wang Lao Hu to recruit more soldiers and continue training. You help keep an eye on things... After you go down, calculate the amount of grain stored in the pasture. If there is enough, we don't have to wait until the wheat is ripe. From now on, start recruiting refugees at your discretion..."

  After saying all that in one breath, Li Zhēn thought it over and over again in his mind, feeling that was about it. He then said: "That's roughly it. If I'm not around when you encounter a problem that can't be solved, you can discuss it with Wang Lǎohǔ and others. If it still can't be solved, send word to me via Blue Bird Courier."

  I remember.

  Zhao Wushen bowed deeply and walked out.

  "Wait..."

  Li Zheng suddenly patted his forehead and said, "There's still something."

  Zhao Hui turned back.

  "This time I'll take all the men and horses away, about a hundred people will be left in Lingzhou. The remaining two hundred people need supplies, you go prepare a month's worth for me."

  "Ah!"

  Because of Li Zhong's long-term plan in his heart, the reserve of military supplies such as grain had been made very early.

  The military rations of the Divine Continent's grasslands were not ordinary, but rather a type of dry cake made from a mixture of oats and vegetables. The extremely short growth cycle and reproductive ability of oats gave it an enormous yield. With sufficient nutrients and rich energy, it was perfectly suited for mass-producing that type of high-energy compressed biscuit-like dry ration. Although the taste was average, it could very well supplement the body's needs; humans could eat it, and mounts could also eat it, making it suitable for both humans and horses.

  Moreover, millet dry cakes also have the great advantage of being small in size and easy to carry, which is just suitable for use on the march.

  After Zhao Wu left, Li Zhong slowly knelt down and sat, his body and mind gradually calming down.

  "After a long while, he finally let out a faint sigh: 'Talents are too scarce...' "

  Even if the management framework of the ranch is already good, Li Zhēng still feels that many things need to be done personally, otherwise the ranch will have a hard time getting started.

  After all, it's because there is no talent under his hand.

  Just like before, he had to give Zhao Wu detailed instructions on all aspects. If there was a capable person under his command, why would he need to worry? It could be handled independently according to the actual situation, much more flexible than needing his instructions, and the effect would be even better.

  He suppressed these distracting thoughts and began to think carefully about the situation in Liangzhou.

  Now Liangzhou is in great chaos, Li Zhong doesn't need to think about it. The official management level is dead or rebellious, the disaster of war is like a runaway horse, spreading rapidly. Even the Fu family, such a big clan, had to migrate to avoid disaster.

  At this point, Li Zhong was completely powerless to change it.

  He wanted to save Han Yang Taishou, Fu Nanrong, whose name and prestige had reached the world, although it was very difficult, but in Li Zhong's view, it was not impossible.

  From the news from Zhou Lin's mouth, Li Zhēng analyzed a most crucial piece of information.

  That's Han Sui and others jointly promoting Wang Guo as their leader!

  This is very suspicious.

  Who is Han Sui?

  This bastard was originally a celebrity and had been an official. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, he even advised General He Jin to eliminate eunuchs. Generally speaking, his reputation is not small.

  After the rebellion in Western Liang, Han Sui had many allies, such as Bei Gong Bo Yu and Bian Zhang, who supported him as leader, but now all these people are dead, killed by Han Sui's own hands, so he became the leader himself.

  From this point on, it can be seen what kind of person Han Sui is - unwilling to be inferior to others, with a strong wrist and ruthless means!

  Is it not strange that a man with an army of one hundred thousand should advance a nameless and obscure kingdom to the position of leader?

  Although Li Zhong did not understand the reason behind it, he had every reason to believe that the rebel army was far from being a united entity.

  Even if the rebel forces were strong again, there would be weaknesses, and with weaknesses, Li Zhong would have opportunities.

  Zhao Wu's ability may be insufficient, but when it comes to doing things, he is quite down-to-earth.

  But after several hours, everything that needed to be prepared had been prepared.

  At this time, Zhang Shan and others also gathered their respective troops and finished their speeches.

  Li Zhēn received their report and didn't say much, only letting everyone prepare well, and set off early the next day.

  Time flies, it's already the second day.

  The sky was just brightening, and Li Zhong was already on his way to Lingzhou.

  Behind him, there were seven green armored cavalrymen, sixty light cavalrymen on war horses, and more than two hundred light and heavy infantrymen. In addition, sixty war horses were specially prepared for the light cavalry, with each person having two horses to maintain their mobility at all times. The men and horses formed two teams, each one holding their heads high and chests out, marching in unison.

  Everyone walked in silence, with nothing but the sound of horseshoes and footsteps in their ears.

  This is the result of military discipline training over this period of time. If it were in the past, it would be absolutely impossible to see.

  Each infantryman had a goatskin bag sewn on his back, containing one month's worth of military rations. Light cavalrymen carried two such bags, and the heavy armored cavalrymen three. Men needed to eat, and so did their mounts.

  Li Ding held the Blood Dragon Spear, with a red tassel on his helmet, wearing fish-scale armor, and the Chi Xiang Sword hanging from his waist. He rode on the back of a massive green cloud, truly majestic and extraordinary.

  "White Wolf!"

  Li Zheng faced the newly risen red sun and said to the white wolf beside him, "You lead a team of men to go ahead and scout out the current situation in Lingzhou."

  Bai Lang received the order and immediately responded with a fist bump. He waved his hand and led ten light cavalrymen to gallop away quickly.

  If Zhou Lin's words are true, then Fu Shi will move today.

  The Fu family's influence on Lingzhou is too great, from military politics to people's livelihoods, any aspect of it cannot be separated from the Fu family's reach.

  Fu's migration was a huge blow to Lingzhou.

  People will panic - what kind of disaster would force the Fu family to move? From various rumors in the city, many people would guess that it was a rebellion. Therefore, Lingzhou would definitely be chaotic! As for how chaotic it would become, Li Jing couldn't guess yet.

  So he sent Bai Lang to lead people to explore the situation in Lingzhou and adjust the plan at any time.

  From Shen Zhou grassland to Lingzhou city, there are fifty miles. The mountain road at the exit of the grassland has long been built into a flat and wide road, so the marching speed is not slow.

  But after a while, by the end of Chen time in the morning, Lingzhou City was already in sight.

  The sun is high in the sky, shining brightly. Logically speaking, June's weather should be scorching hot under the intense sunlight, making people sweat profusely.

  But Li Zhēng led this team of people, surprisingly each and every one was refreshed and invigorated.

  This is due to the special function of the first-order armor suit.

  At his first time in the cockpit training, Li Zhēng felt its characteristics - constant temperature.

  This seems to be of little use in war, it has no effective lethality. But carefully calculated, it is an extremely powerful function.

  To a certain extent, whether in winter or summer, soldiers wearing armor are always superior to those without armor in terms of physical strength and morale.

  For example, on a scorching summer day, the temperature is too high, and soldiers wearing ordinary armor will sweat profusely. This can lead to rapid loss of physical strength and even make soldiers feel war-weary.

  In winter, when the temperature is too low, the body becomes stiff and it's very inconvenient to move.

  But甲装 perfectly avoided this point!

  Even Li Zhuo himself couldn't help but marvel at the system's wonders.

  Under the scorching sun, the outline of Lingzhou City gradually emerged.

  From afar, Li Zhēng saw ten light cavalrymen galloping over.

  "Your Majesty!"

  It is White Wolf.

  "How is it?"

  Li Zhēng asked.

  "Extremely chaotic!"

  Bai Lang said: "Lingzhou City is almost in ruins!"

  "What?!"

  Li Zheng was slightly startled: "When did Mr. Fu leave?"

  "It was at dawn," White Wolf replied: "When I led men to Lingzhou, Fu's cavalry had just left!"

  "What about the government? Is there any movement in the Lingzhou County Government?" Li Zhong asked again.

  "There's no movement." The White Wolf sneered: "The county government office has been deserted for a long time."

  Li Zhēng was taken aback by what he heard.

  The county government office is actually empty, what's going on?!

  What about the county magistrate? Has he abandoned his post and run away?!

  But in an instant, Li Zhēng's mouth corners rose up.

  "This is good."

  It's indeed a good thing. Li Zhong had been considering it for a long time, to take a share from Lingzhou and gain some benefits. And now, isn't this the best opportunity?