bookbashuk Page 1520
Page 1520
"Yongxing Army's commerce is very developed."
"The Guanzhong Plain is a fertile land stretching for thousands of miles,"
"Agriculture is naturally a good option as well."
"The population within the territory is predominantly Han Chinese,"
"As long as the administration is clean and honest, the Yongxing Army will not have to worry about rebellion."
Zhao Yuan nodded and said, "To be honest, Lord Ren,"
"The reason the imperial court did not take action against officials in Shaanxi,"
"We just wanted to maintain a stable rear area to resist the Western Xia."
"Once we defeat the Western Xia, we will then rectify the administration."
Ren Liang laughed and said, "Of course I know that."
"There are quite a few smart people too,"
"Recently, quite a few officials have abandoned their posts and fled south."
Zhao Yuan, however, paid no attention to court affairs and asked, "Has the court sent someone?"
Ren Liang said, "There are not enough officials available in the court."
"His Majesty previously instructed me to recommend some officials from the Yongxing Army,"
"They also sent some newly appointed scholars who had just passed the imperial examinations."
"Actually, officials in other areas can also be adjusted,"
"The Western Army's troops are mostly concentrated in a few prominent military families,"
"Some of the prefects were appointed as governors by them,"
"When on horseback, he governs the army; when off horseback, he governs the people."
"In some prefectures, the prefect is a civil official,"
"These civil officials were all dispatched by the Song Dynasty,"
"The imperial court adjusted their official positions,"
"It won't have a big impact."
"However, it would be best to ask General Zhong about this matter,"
"He knows the situation in Shaanxi best,"
"To prevent some civil officials and military families from having private connections."
The Song Dynasty was already very wary of military generals.
To avoid arousing the emperor's suspicion, military generals
He also rarely associated with civil officials.
Zhao Yuan heard Ren Liang say this,
After thinking about it,
"Does Lord Ren mean that General Zhong has an intelligence network?"
Ren Liang nodded and said, "Zhong Shiheng, the first general of the Zhong family, once subdued many barbarian tribes."
"The Zhong family generals could rely on Han Chinese to gather information,"
"We can also rely on those barbarians to gather information,"
"Their ability to gather information is no less than that of the Western Xia."
Zhong Shiheng was the founder of the Zhong family generals.
Not only is his martial arts skill outstanding,
Very strategic,
Moreover, he was good at dealing with the Qiang people.
When Fan Zhongyan inspected the border,
They learned that many Qiang tribes in Huanzhou were secretly contacting Li Yuanhao, the ruler of the Xia Kingdom.
Fan Zhongyan immediately thought of Zhong Shiheng.
He was transferred to serve as the prefect of Huanzhou to pacify the Qiang people.
Niu Nu'e, the chieftain of a Qiang tribe,
He is usually very stubborn.
However, I heard that Zhong Shiheng has come to take up his post.
They ran to a very far place to greet them.
Chapter 1828 Integrity First
Zhong Shiheng made an agreement with him,
I will definitely go to his tent the next day.
To comfort and reward the people of the tribe.
Unexpectedly, that very night...
Snowflakes began to fall heavily from the sky.
The snow was three feet deep.
Zhong Shiheng's attendant then advised,
“Niu Nu’e is fierce, cunning, and untrustworthy.”
"Moreover, the road is treacherous and difficult to travel."
Zhong Shiheng, however, remained unmoved.
"I made friends with the Qiang people based on trust and integrity,"
"How can we miss the agreed date?"
So, Zhong Shiheng braved the heavy snow to keep the appointment.
As the snow fell heavily, the Qiang people assumed that Zhong Shiheng would not come to keep his appointment.
But to my surprise, Zhong Shiheng actually came despite the snow.
And he didn't bring many men with him.
There was no intention to guard against them.
The Qiang people saw that Zhong Shiheng was so trustworthy,
They also trusted them very much.
Everyone was moved and bowed down.
And another time,
Zhong Shiheng invited another Qiang chieftain, Mu En, to a banquet in his military tent.
During the toasting and drinking,
Zhong Shiheng then summoned a beautiful maid to offer him wine.
Mu En saw a beautiful woman,
His eyes immediately lit up.
After three rounds of drinking,
Zhong Shiheng got up and left for a moment.
Mu En watched Zhong Shiheng leave.
They didn't take the maids seriously either.
He immediately began to grope and flirt with the maid.
At this moment, Zhong Shiheng suddenly burst through the door.
It seems quite unexpected.
He looked very angry.
Mu En was shocked.
Overwhelmed with shame,
He quickly prostrated himself on the ground to beg for forgiveness.
Unexpectedly, Zhong Shiheng's anger turned to joy.
He readily gave the maid to Mu En.
From then on, Mu En was utterly loyal to Zhong Shiheng.
To serve with all one's might.
Among the Qiang people, anyone with disloyal intentions...
Zhong Shiheng then arranged for Mu En to lead an army to attack.
Invincible in battle, unconquerable in attack.
It is through these various means that
Zhong Shiheng subdued more than a hundred Qiang tribes.
Each time the Western Xia invaded,
There would be Qiang people who would tip them off.
Therefore, Zhong Shiheng was never ambushed by the Western Xia.
During the garrisoning of Qingjian City
Zhong Shiheng had a barbarian general under his command.
I made a small mistake.
This enraged Zhong Shiheng.
Zhong Shiheng, contrary to his usual practice of treating his soldiers like his own children,
He ordered his soldiers to administer caning punishment to him.
And they were watching from the sidelines.
They were subjected to severe torture.
Whether the barbarian general begged for mercy,
It was his subordinates who pleaded on his behalf.
Zhong Shiheng was unwilling to forgive this person.
Zhong Shiheng's caning punishment
This completely shattered the loyalty of the barbarian general.
The injury has not yet healed.
He then left without saying goodbye.
They sought refuge under Li Yuanhao, the ruler of the Western Xia Kingdom.
Li Yuanhao saw that these people were covered in wounds.
He also harbored deep hatred for Zhong Shiheng.
He then took him in as a confidant.
He was granted free access to the Privy Council, the highest military authority.