The Southwest War situation seems to be a delicate balance and confrontation, but this is just a superficial phenomenon.≥,

Because the old army had low combat power and too few new troops, the Qing army could only maintain the current situation with its numerical advantage. The Qing army, which had suffered consecutive defeats, both the new army in Hubei and the numerous patrol battalions, were all afraid and did not take the initiative to attack.

The expansion and victory of the Revolutionary Army in western Yunnan and northwest Yunnan was not only defeated the weak patrol battalion defenders, but to some extent had broken the siege of the Qing army. After Dali, the important town in northwestern Yunnan was restored by the Revolutionary Army, it became a base for forward departure, and could conquer Eryuan, Jianchuan, Heqing, and Lijiang to the north, and then cross the Jinsha River and enter the Sichuan-Tibet region.

This means that the Qing court would mobilize troops and stop the revolutionary army from advancing north. If the war extends to a larger range, it will take a longer front line, and more troops and materials will be even more unbearable.

Despite this, the revolutionary army still adhered to the strategy of steady development. The idea of ​​occupying, stabilizing, governing, and digesting, and self-reliance, and using war to support war is basically realized. Taxes, money and grain, the Southwest Revolutionary Military Government can finally collect taxes, money and grain from the people under its rule like a regime, or appoint local officials like a government, establish administrative departments, and introduce various policy measures.

Yunnan salt, which has a long history in Yunnan, provided a great source of wealth for the revolutionary military government. A large number of salt wells mainly in southern Yunnan can produce more than 30 million jin of annual output. After being taken over by the revolutionary military government, they also followed Chen Wenqiang's salt ticket system: that is, "regardless of merchants and civilians, they are allowed to buy tickets and sell salt; they are not limited to any well to transport salt, and they are not limited to wherever they are."

In the general impression, Yunnan is located in the border, with an underdeveloped economy, and even the name of barbarians in history. However, the development of border trade has still appeared many prosperous trade centers. For example, Manmo, Jiangtou City, and Mengmi, which is rich in gems, can be said to be a prosperous scene of "a small market a day, a big market a day". In these commercial towns, salt is an indispensable largest commodity, and "the daily use of salt in the barbarians comes from this."

The disadvantages of reforming the salt administration of the Qing court. Expanding the production of various salt wells, the revolutionary military government won by sales, and adding likin and salt tax to the price of salt at one time. It can be said that the government, merchants and people benefited.

In addition to salt, Pu'er tea, medicinal materials, mountain goods, etc. are also bulk trading commodities in Yunnan. Especially the border traders traded between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, Southeast Asia and South Asia are the main trading targets of Yunnan, Yunnan salt, Pu'er tea, and silk and porcelain shipped from the mainland are the main export commodities.

At the same time, the revolutionary military government reformed the likin system. If goods were trafficked in the liberation area, they would receive a pass at the departure point and pay half of the likin. They would no longer collect it along the way. After arriving at the destination, they would pay the certificate and pay the other half.

Many LIKAs were removed, the procedures for collecting LIKUS were simplified, and the amount was greatly reduced. These measures undoubtedly accelerated the circulation of goods in the LIKEN area, and amid the praise of the merchants and the military government's revenue also increased greatly.

Stable regime, establish administrative management, develop economy, and promote trade... Obviously, these tasks that were not valued at the beginning of the revolution are now becoming the cornerstone and driving force for the development and growth of the revolutionary army. Moreover, these tasks have also cultivated various administrative talents, which are of great significance to the successful construction of the future revolution.

Huang and Tao Chengzhang may not have understood the intention of the Fuxing Society, but even if this matter is on the surface, it is a reasonable reason. It is understandable that Song Fuhua solved it in a tactful way.

…………

With the initial scale and relatively stable base areas, money and food have enabled the expansion plan of the army to be implemented. Relatively speaking, the recruitment of the Revolutionary Army is more attractive than that of the Qing army.

金龙镇十字路口的墙壁上,贴上了一张醒目的布告:“……各民族百姓,皆为中华子民,革命军政府皆以善政待之,皆使之不受欺辱贫苦……今革命军欲解万民于满清暴政.东征西讨,所向势如破竹.且纪律十分严明,不动百姓一丝一粟；公平买卖,价钱交付十足.凡良善百姓,切莫怀疑畏缩,踊跃参军入伍,推翻满清,驱除暴政.以共享安乐生活.希望努力宣传,将此广播流传.西南革命军政府滇省军区宣!”

Several revolutionary soldiers from different ethnic groups stood under the notice and took turns to preach loudly in different languages, attracting more and more people.

Announcements are a unified model set by the military government. They are quite popular and there are no such people. They are originally for the people to listen to, but they are very literary and difficult to read. They don’t understand it, and they are almost the same as if they are not.

Among the crowd were Han people, Miao people and other ethnic groups, as well as Yi people with barefoots and cloaks made of wool.

"Eliminate tyranny, long live the revolution." Several soldiers finally finished reading the notice and shouted, but the audience below did not respond, and their eyes were full of confusion and curiosity.

"As long as you can shout these two sentences, you will get one or two salt. If you join the army, each family will give you five kilograms of salt and ten acres of land." The soldiers of the Revolutionary Army did not care. This situation has been encountered many times, but in the end it has not changed much.

Hearing the word "Salt", there was a commotion in the crowd. Although not many, the key was to get it for nothing! Just like selling things for gifts, no matter what it is, it would be useless if you don't take it. Joining the army, there were five kilograms of salt and ten acres of land!

"Eliminate tyranny, overthrow the Qing Dynasty, long live the revolution, long live the revolutionary army." Several soldiers shouted again, then encouraged again, and pointed out that bamboo sheds had already been built not far away, trucks of salt piles were piled up, and rows of soldiers were ready to be distributed.

Two young men in ragged clothes ran out of the crowd, came to the shed, asked in a pretentious manner, shouted slogans, and then each held a small bag of salt, muttered happily for a moment, and ran to the recruiting place.

It’s so simple. Under the power of role models, people who were still hesitating rushed over, and immediately shouted loudly, “Eliminating tyranny, overthrow the Qing Dynasty, long live the revolution, long live the revolutionary army.”

Five kilograms of salt and ten acres of land to fill military pay is a very attractive condition. For the poor people, it means that one person joins the army and the whole family will not be hungry. The areas at the junction of Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou have many ethnic minorities and are also poor areas, which have not changed in modern times.

Of course, it is not so easy to get these benefits. Once you become a soldier, you have to fight bravely. If you run away fearfully, your family members will be punished. The intention of the revolutionary military government is also clear, giving you a good land to live a good life, and at the same time, it also ties your interests to the land, linking your family and relatives with your performance in the army.

先分满清官员家田,再分官田,不够再用其他方式补偿.

再加上已经施行的《革命军兵役法》,《革命军伤残抚恤法》,《革命军家属优待法》等,基本上解除了士兵的后顾之忧.

“俄耶要当宾.”一个彝人挤上来,怪腔怪调地说道.

这个彝人身材又高又大,头上黑布缠头,打着赤膊,光着双足,只围着一块麻布,肤色黝黑,站在那里,就象半截铁塔似的,样子十分慓悍威武.

一个彝族士兵立刻走上来,充当翻译,一问一答,然后再转述给旁边的书记官.

依布,男,二十二岁,彝族,身高六尺一,家有一妻二子一女……书记官刷刷记录着,却被一阵喧哗声打断.

招兵点旁边放着几根五十余斤的大铁棍,算是体检的器具,只要能举起来三次,便算是合格,简单而快速.一个壮汉不仅举了起来,而且还能挥舞自如,引起了旁观者的欢呼.

依布见书记官移目观看,不由得眉头一皱,不满地哼了一声,大步而去,抓起一根铁棍,也舞动起来,比那个壮汉更加自如.舞了一阵,方才扶棍立定,脸不红,气不喘,立时引起了更大的叫好.

“身体健壮,力大无比……”书记官呵呵一笑,提笔写完,拿起块号牌向依布招了招.

依布将铁棍一扔,快步过来,接过号牌,连比划带说,“田呢,十亩,害有,盐巴,吴紧.”

书记官被这怪腔调逗乐了,叫过彝族士兵给这个莽汉解释清楚,又招手叫过下一个.

另一边,以盐换粮的棚子前也人头攒动,甚至还有头上蒙着侗锦挑着担儿的侗族妇女,挑起担儿颤悠悠地走得象流水一般.

尽管家里穷,但吃糠咽菜也能对付过去,可这以盐换粮的好事却不是什么时候都能赶上的.所以,很多百姓都打着这样的主意,把家里的粮食尽量多地拿出来一些,换取便宜廉价的盐巴.

“民众的要求并不高,如不能使其满意,那便是政府和官员的责任了.”秋j在远处望着,不无感慨地说道:“滇省军区一个镇的指标,我觉得很快便能完成.”

“这还要看地方官员的能力啊!”杨文恺沉吟着,不无顾虑地说道:“政策能否落实,关系到征兵的进度和百姓参军的热情.以前呢,咱们是想得简单了.”

秋j比较赞同,笑道:“还有一点你没说出来,那就是胜利的鼓舞.地方政务咱们管不着,可这打胜仗,可是责无旁贷吧!”

“还是你看得全面.”杨文恺伸手指了指,说道:“有女的来报名参军了呢,这真是少见.”

“以后就常见了.”秋j笑得畅快,整了整衣服,大步走了过去.

…………………(To be continued.)
Chapter completed!