The problem of shortage of people is easy to solve, but if there is shortage of food, you can only rob it clearly.

But it's a question of who to steal!

It is obviously not possible to steal the grain depot of local governments. It is said that the treasury has been empty for several months. Not only will Chenxi go to steal the population and lose it, but it may not be framed. It is really not worth the loss. But if the robbery of the people will cause public resentment, the rebels may not be rekindled.

After thinking about it, it seemed that only the rebels were the most suitable, but where did the rebels have so much food for him to rob? It is still unknown where the rebels fled. Even if they could capture one or two copycats, they would only be able to recover a few grains. It was even more expensive to go on a battle trip, and it was not practical.

For several days, Chen Xi held several meetings just for the issue of food and grass. He did not give a specific solution. As a result, when the matter was promoted, the generals, Zhang Yong, Liu Jin began to offer suggestions. Su Jingyang, Wang He and others really wanted to solve the problem, but Zhang Yong mocked him and mocked him. It seemed that Chen Xi was going to suffer a big loss due to poor food and grass, and was ready to make a joke.

"...Mr. Shen, aren't you very capable? Why can't you do it now? You can't even get the food that is urgently needed in the army. What do the soldiers eat and wear if this continues? You can't go to the battlefield with hunger in summer clothes in the middle of winter, right? Lord Shen, Your Majesty has high hopes for you. If you fail to do your best to eliminate the rebels, I'm afraid that the people in the court will be disappointed with you!"

Zhang Yong was so proud. Chen Xi made him lose his temper a few days ago. Now he can show off his power in front of Shen Xi.

Zhang Yong was the only one in the central army's tent, because he knew that the rebels had indeed retreated, and the surrounding areas of Linguicheng were very safe, so his life was saved in this war.

Zhang Yong sarcastically said that Chen Xi was too lazy to speak, and the army needed some strange voices. In his opinion, it was a warning to himself.

Zhang Yong was arrogant, while Liu Jin next to him helped and said, "Eunuch Zhang, don't worry, isn't we for the soldiers of the three armies? If it really doesn't work, just borrow some food from Linguicheng. At worst, a batch of people will be recruited from Huguang and Jiangxi to repay it!"

Wang He was a little dissatisfied: "Eunuch Liu's words are wrong. We sent troops to help Guangxi fight the rebellion. They have no choice but to provide food. Why do we have to return it?"

Chen Xi shook his head: "Don't think of borrowing and then returning it first. Transport grain from Huguang and Jiangxi, crossing mountains and ridges all the way. The loss on the road alone will be as high as 30%, which is not worth the loss. But as far as I know... in a few days, a batch of grain will be transported..."

When they heard that there was food, everyone present widened their eyes. They were worried for a long time and had already resolved the situation here in Shenxi.

They thought to themselves: "No wonder Lord Shen is so calm. It turns out that he has prepared a lot... but I don't know where this food comes from?"

Zhang Yong was a little surprised: "Mr. Shen, you can't just talk nonsense. Since you said that the transportation of grain in Huguang and Jiangxi is not worth the cost, where did your food come from? Could it be that the strong wind blows?"

Chen Xi looked at Zhang Yong, frowned and asked, "What is Eunuch Zhang's meaning? Is this official talking nonsense?"

Because of the issue of the prestige of the head coach, even if Zhang Yong has a big question, he should let it go at this time. Provoking Chen Xi is not a wise move. It is okay to sarcastically say a few words, but if it involves the dignity of the head coach, it is to be an enemy of the three armies.

Even Zhang Yong didn't say anything, and no one here dared to say anything else. Chen Xi said: "It won't take long, and the food will be transported here. You can wait... But this batch of food is a bit different from what you usually use! As for the different methods, you don't have to ask. When the food arrives, you will know naturally!"

The generals and the eunuchs present did not understand what Chen Xi meant. Food was nothing more than rice, flour, sorghum rice, millet, etc. How could there be differences?

They didn't know that the grain Chen Xi mentioned was actually corn and sweet potatoes he promoted on a large scale in Fujian and Guangdong. Now it is the season for sweet potatoes and corn harvest. A large amount of grain will be transported from Guangdong and Fujian through the Xijiang River and Guijiang River. However, the soldiers have never eaten these things, and Chen Xi needs to get a precaution in advance.

There is food, but it is different from what you usually eat, but it will definitely not kill people. This thing will become your staple food in the future.

If you want to eat good food, it’s fine. People who can eat white rice and white flour naturally disdain to eat coarse grains, but you can first meet the conditions for eating white rice and white flour. Specifically for the soldiers in the army, they must be the top military meritorious persons to enjoy white rice and white flour.

...

...

Nowadays, Song Xiaocheng and Huiniang are not on the southeast coast, but the local chariot and horse gangs have become bigger, and even the trade system established by Huiniang is becoming more and more perfect.

After five or six consecutive harvests of new crops, Chenxi, in order to stabilize the prices of new crops in the southeast coast, allowed Song Xiaocheng and Huiniang's forces to launch a large-scale acquisition in the southeast.

Chen Xi’s original intention is to formulate an “official guide price” to ensure the interests of the people through large-scale grain collection.

When people see that new grain can eat enough food and sell excess grain for money, they will naturally increase the planting area if they live a better life.

Previously, after Xie Qian, Liu Daxia and others fought for, the collection of official grains in the southeast coast could be offset with corn. Unfortunately, sweet potatoes that are difficult to preserve cannot be used as official grains for the time being, and can only be used for food and clothing for the people.

People began to bring sweet potatoes to the market. Compared with rice, most of the things that are cheaper than noodles can not only fill their stomachs, but also solve the people's food and clothing problems, but also generate income for farmers.

Hui Niang followed Chen Xi south and was unable to dispatch money and grain. Now Song Xiaocheng has taken on the heavy responsibility and has personally gone to Fujian and Guangdong. In order to get him to purchase the new crops, Chen Xi asked Song Xiaocheng to bring more than 40,000 taels of silver.

It is too easy to support the soldiers in the army under Chen Xi for more than one cent at a price of only one cent for a new crop. On average, each person has eight taels of silver. Even if they share it with the civilians, each person has five taels of rice. They can buy back 40 million kilograms of new crops, so that they can't finish it for two years.

Of course, the more than 40,000 taels of silver given by Chen Xi and the new crops purchased were not all for the cost of the soldiers of the three armies, but also to ensure that the new crops were promoted to the six southwestern provinces where he now promoted military affairs.

In addition to the previous Fujian and Guangdong, most areas in Jiangnan would promote new crops. He began to use the political convenience at hand to gradually influence and change the daily lives of the people in the south.

On the ninth day when the three armies were stationed outside Linguicheng, Song Xiaocheng had sent people to deliver letters to the army.

Song Xiaocheng purchased grain in Fujian and Guangdong, then loaded ships to drive directly from the offshore Pearl River estuary, then went upstream from the Xijiang River and transported it to Lingui by water. Chenxi calculated the time. Even if Song Xiaocheng rushed to the scene, when the grain was delivered, the three armies had already left food for four or five days.

In order to make up for the food gap for four or five days, Chen Xi must do something... He is preparing to let the local area in Guangxi suffer from bleeding. There are hundreds of thousands of kilograms of grain, but hundreds of thousands of kilograms are always needed. In addition, there are more than 8,000 people including the civil servants. Even if they save a day's consumption, they will have nearly 10,000 kilograms of grain. Chen Xi has initially prepared to let the local area give 10,000 kilograms of grain. Even with the current high-priced grain price, the local area's grain is worth only 1,000 taels of silver. Chen Xi cannot think of how much impact this number will have on the management of a province.

Chen Xi called Su Jingyang and Wang He to explain the military affairs in detail to the two, and then talked about his preparations to enter the city to discuss the food request.

Su Jingyang said worriedly: "Sir, the people from the local government in Guangxi seem to be disrespectful to you. You have been in Lingui for nearly ten days, but no one of the three officials came to pay their respects. In this case, you still have to enter the city. If these people give you a warning, wouldn't it be a loss for your face?"

Wang He didn't agree: "Sir, don't go!"

Chen Xi smiled and said, "I won't go, would you invite them? If you want to ask for food, you can't ask the local government that has long been empty, but with the gentry. But if there is no official threading needles, how can I see the gentry? Therefore, this matter must be used in the local three yamen."

"Let me do this, I will go there in two days. After all, through fishing and hunting, the army can still hold on for a while. I will first compile a book to the city. If the local government can assist me, if I don't follow me, I will only go to the city in person, so I will treat it as a contact with people!"

Wang He and Su Jingyang could not understand Chen Xi's thinking.

As military generals, they don’t need to consider the right and wrong in the officialdom. In fact, they are all commanders and have high positions and power. If it weren’t for Chen Xi, they wouldn’t respect them so much. Now they are secretly not worth it for Chen Xi and feel that they have been greatly insulted.

But for Chen Xi, what he was facing was just a basic official routine. He didn't feel wronged or unwilling. The civil servant group liked to engage in internal strife. If the people from the local three ministries in Guangxi could not be completely suppressed, these people would not cooperate with him, and even promote new crops would have many obstacles.

Chen Xi explained again: "After I left, you will decide on all matters in the camp with both of you and you must not obey the orders of the military supervisor. You must perform your duties and not slack off!"
Chapter completed!