Chapter 1072: Stronger with Every Fight

Yanzhou during wartime was different from peacetime. Of course, any border area during wartime is different from peacetime, but Yanzhou was quite different from other places.

It was the end of spring plowing.

The entire Yanzhou was like a precise war machine. On the official roads, there were various supply teams appearing from time to time, escorting grain and military supplies. In the fields, the elderly and children were busy, and the minor officials were also busy in the fields. There were also patrolmen wearing light armor, patrolling everywhere on horseback, but anyone who committed a crime would be sentenced severely.

The numerous convicts who dug mines were no longer digging mines; they all ate a full meal and were taken out to carry out some basic construction, starting to build roads in Suizhou and Xiazhou, assisting in transporting materials, and building other fortifications.

And the people originally responsible for these works, as well as the craftsmen under the prefecture yamen, except for some responsible for production, maintenance, and maintenance of armaments, all took up blades and spears, guarding the captured Western Xia garrison troops in Suizhou and Xiazhou, and suppressing the Western Xia people in the two places.

And distinct from the officials, the scholars wearing green cloth strips around their waists were acting as managers, and could be seen everywhere in Yanzhou and the newly conquered Suizhou and Xiazhou.

At this time, it was the end of spring plowing, but a war had been fought, and all the young people were mobilized to escort grain, or continue to do the previous projects, and women were also on the battlefield. At this time, only the old, the young, and the pregnant did not work. The old took the young to work in the fields, and then took care of the children. The schools were all suspended, and there were basically no idle people in Yanzhou.

The remaining local big families and the merchants from outside were all equally busy; they even had to recruit people from other places to work. Because Wang Yan gave them many orders, and even let them go out with the army to purchase, or trade with the Western Xia people, which could be called vigorous and heroic.

And all the action orders of Yanzhou were issued from Suizhou.

Now Suizhou had been completely taken over, and Wang Yan sat in it, issuing orders. With the blessing of his powerful personal ability and the mobilization ability of Yanzhou, which he had forcefully rectified, the reception, stability, and governance of the newly acquired territory all transitioned very smoothly.

On this point, the Yanzhou scholars contributed a lot. They had been trained when rectifying the prefecture affairs before, their business was very skilled, they learned the way of doing things of the officials under Wang Yan, and formed a unified style of doing things.

Simply summarized, it was: I speak, you listen, if you don't do it, I will handle you. This was the so-called paving the way; he had long been prepared for the people to do things.

And under such guidance, the local big families, criminal groups, and some groups with loud voices in the two prefectures were cleaned up in a short period of time, all under the suppression of the militia troops, working hard to build the Great Song's new Suizhou and new Xiazhou.

Wang Yan's actions were questioned by everyone from Zhao Zhen to the Government Affairs Hall, the Privy Council, to various levels of yamen, to Cheng Kan, and then to his subordinates. They unanimously believed that investing in Suizhou and Xiazhou at this time was an extremely unwise act, and instead, they should be heavily looted to subsidize war expenses.

This was because the Great Song had been beaten too much, and the failed war experience of the past had taught them an important lesson: being fat first doesn't count as being fat. Zhao Zhen even specially sent a eunuch to reprimand him.

To this, the war criminal who had been tacitly crowned as the "Sinner of the Great Song" by the Great Song, the Prefect of Yanzhou Wang Yan, sent a memorial to issue the strongest voice of the era: The Song inherits the grace of Han and Tang, and the Xia land is all our old land. Now the recovered old land is all obtained by the efforts of our soldiers, and there is absolutely no possibility of abandonment. If a single hair is damaged, Wang Yan will put on armor and hold a sharp weapon, go to the battlefield to kill the enemy, and die until the end. If Wang Yan dies, there will be others to succeed my ambition, and Xia will definitely perish.

Then no one spoke, because Wang Yan's meaning was very clear: if the land he received and governed was snatched back, he would die.

As for the matter of looting the people to subsidize war expenses, although it was fast to loot wealth, it was too low-level.

Looting wealth is naturally fast, but the wealth of some big families in these two places was just a drop in the bucket compared to the huge war expenses. Looting the people here would not fill the expenses, and it would make this place an enclave, greatly increasing management difficulty, increasing management costs, and even appearing a character like Li Yuanhao at some point. Wealth, ultimately, must be produced, and that is solid.

However, Wang Yan had means to get money; otherwise, why would he open up business and even bring merchants out to fight, which was to make war money? He opened up markets and collected taxes. While engaging in large-scale construction in the two places, he stabilized prices to buy hearts and collected taxes to recover funds.

Of course, overall, it must be an investment. But it didn't matter; he had already applied for the right to mint coins. He didn't mint copper coins, nor did he use Jiaozi, but used the anti-counterfeiting means that his bank had long developed to issue new paper money, which circulated in Western Xia. And it was mandatory that only the paper money he issued could be used for transactions.

First, it didn't cost so much to print money, second, it promoted his paper money, and third, he also stole a little bit of the national power. As long as it developed slowly, it would inevitably spread gradually. They were all benefits.

And the most important point: why did Wang Yan want to take Xiazhou? Because as long as he took Xiazhou, places like Shizhou and Yinzhou, east of Xiazhou and north of Suizhou, would be within his grasp. He could directly replace Fengzhou of Hebei and become the border junction of the three kingdoms, where he could open a trade market and push his paper currency out.

As for why not promote it in other markets, it was very simple: he didn't have a say in other places. But for the newly conquered land, he could definitely say that they all listened to him, and if they didn't, it wouldn't work.

He was sure that after this battle, he would continue to stay, because he had to clean up the mess, and it was also not to let him take the momentum of winning the battle and expanding the territory back to the capital. If he really returned to the capital, the scene was something people didn't dare to think about; it was a tragedy on earth, absolutely official-unbearable.

Calculating carefully, Wang Yan had been an official for five years, but there was not a year he didn't cause trouble...

On this day, Wang Yan was arranging affairs in the temporary yamen of Suizhou, and Xiao Dongliang ran in in a hurry.

"Master, Master, Lord Fan is here, just five miles away."

Wang Yan, who was writing, didn't stop his movements and asked: "Only Lord Fan alone?"

"There is also Di Qing, and the supervisory eunuch sent by the Emperor. And some other officials."

After Xiao Dongliang finished speaking, Wang Yan also stopped his pen, picked up the folding fan with a chipped porcelain on his side, opened it with a snap, fanned it a few times, manually air-dried the ink, lifted it up and folded it three times, put it into an envelope, and took fire lacquer from the side to seal it, only then did he summon a minor official and let him send someone to send it out. Only then did he take Xiao Dongliang and others out to pick up people...

"Long time no see, Xu Ziyan." Before Wang Yan could speak, Fan Zhongyan laughed and greeted him first.

"Seen Lord Fan." Wang Yan nodded, and looked at the old man with a wide frame and a thin body who followed Fan Zhongyan, "Seen Lord Di."

Di Qing smiled and nodded: "I have long heard of Prefect Wang's great name. Seeing it today, it is truly imposing and extraordinary."

"Lord Di is over-praising. Lord Fan, Lord Di, let's go in and talk."

Fan Zhongyan shook his head, walked first with his hands behind his back: "I sat in the carriage for the whole way, and I was in a hurry, and my people were about to fall apart. Let's walk."

"That's fine." Di Qing happily followed.

Immediately, he and Wang Yan followed Fan Zhongyan on the left and right, falling slightly behind.

"Does Xu Ziyan know why I came here?"

"Naturally, the student is hated by people and dogs, and no one wants to come to find trouble for the student. Lord Fan has a close relationship with the student and once commanded the war here, so he is the only choice."

Fan Zhongyan nodded and smiled: "How can I be different from you, a person hated by people and dogs."

"It's different. After this battle, Lord Fan will definitely be restored to the prime ministership. I am afraid that the student will not be able to leave for a short time."

"Is the confidence so sufficient?"

"Must win!"

Wang Yan didn't say the words of defeat, and there was no need to say them. If he lost, neither Fan Zhongyan nor he, Wang Yan, would have a good end, which was also one of the additional conditions for sending Fan Zhongyan here. Of course, this was an additional condition.

After all, as Wang Yan said, if it weren't for Fan Zhongyan coming, others would have been handled by Wang Yan before they even waited for the war to be defeated, which was really scary.

Di Qing nodded on the side: "I have read the battle report. Prefect Wang used troops quickly, fought a surprise attack, and the troops led by Zhong E were all elites with powerful combat power. The rest of the troops didn't seek victory, but only sought not to be defeated. With the twenty thousand troops in the hands of Prefect Wang and Zhong E, although they cannot destroy Xia, they can obtain a large piece of land. It is just that it is not a feint, but a real fight. If their two families come to attack, my Great Song is in danger."

"It's just a matter of vertical and horizontal alliances." Wang Yan laughed, "Yelu Zongzhen is about to die, but it is the end of the crossbow, the national strength is not as good as Yelu Longxu's time, and the internal friction is serious, so he must not dare to send troops to invade. It must be a feint, not worth worrying about. My Great Song is used to sending money, but this time it is not us who send it, it should be Western Xia sending money."

Fan Zhongyan shook his head: "The variables are unknown, so don't be happy too early."

A group of people sat down in the temporary office and drank tea. Fan Zhongyan directly talked about serious matters: "Is there anything I can help with?"

"I want the command of the Yanzhou army."

"Yes. Now the grain and grass for the Yanzhou army are transported by your people, so it is reasonable for you to command them. However, your caution is correct; you didn't reach out in advance, otherwise the trouble would be huge."

Wang Yan could kidnap a Zhong E, because he was a civil official, his official position was high, and he had the power of the garrison troops, and he chose Qingjian to start, so any border general had to act according to the urgency of the situation. Since he couldn't stop Wang Yan from raising troops, he could only follow and strengthen his strength.

But for the troops in other places, Wang Yan didn't go there, but directly commanded the imperial guards without the order of his superiors, which was a huge problem.

But Fan Zhongyan was right; he was in charge of the logistical supply of Yanzhou's military forces. The materials sent from other places were distributed in Yanzhou, and escorted by Yanzhou officials and militia, ensuring efficient operation.

"I naturally know, and I didn't even mention it to Cheng Kan." Wang Yan nodded with a laugh.

Fan Zhongyan laughed; he naturally knew about Old Cheng, who was miserable.

"How do you plan to fight this battle?"

"If there are no changes, then keep fighting. I am not prepared to stop. Lord Fan, Lord Di, do you know that before the war, I had less than two thousand cavalry? Now, more than a month later, it is nearly five thousand. At the beginning, the army led by Zhong E was less than seventeen thousand, and now it has reached twenty thousand. Most of them are Western Xia surrendered soldiers and people. After fighting for a long time, they are all elites."

"Dare to use Western Xia people? Not afraid of being harmed by them?"

"Lord Di, my subordinates treat them the same as my Han people. Every family has been allocated land. If my Great Song is defeated, they will have nothing. Fighting for others to get promoted and get rich, and fighting for their own family to get more land—they all understand this truth, so how can they not use their lives?"

This belongs to political work. Wang Yan's goal is to drag. The Great Song definitely can't drag, and Western Xia can't drag even more. But with Fan Zhongyan's arrival, his power is greater, and he can drag as he fights, and his power will become greater and greater. After all, he now commands a total of over fifty thousand troops in Yanzhou, and controls the government affairs of Yanz, Sui, and Xia, so he naturally hopes that it will be a long-term battle.

If he fights for another year, he dares to drag the Northern Liao to fight together, fighting until the sky is dark and the earth is dark.

"I have one thing I don't understand, and I hope Prefect Wang can solve it."

"Lord Di, why be polite? Just say it."

Di Qing asked puzzledly: "I observe the current war situation, the general trend is with me, in Yanzhou, and in you, Prefect Wang. Other places don't seek victory, but only seek not to be defeated, containing the enemy's troops can win, and can fight steadily and surely, and can also have gains. In such a situation, Prefect Wang memorialized to transfer me here to command military affairs, but why?"

This was the first meeting between Wang Yan and Di Qing, and they had never had any intersection before. Wang Yan also subconsciously diagnosed him; his body was good and he could live for a few more years. But Di Qing's death date was less than two years away, obviously depressed by civil officials and died of depression.

Wang Yan asked with a laugh: "Does Lord Di really not know?"

"I really don't know."

Seeing Wang Yan looking at himself, Fan Zhongyan laughed and shook his head: "Along the way, Han Chen didn't ask."

Wang Yan nodded and said to Di Qing, who had a confused face: "Naturally, it is to save Lord Di."

Hearing Wang Yan's words, Di Qing was stunned for a moment, and then fell into a long silence, really very silent.

He had gone from a criminal to the Privy Commissioner today, becoming a military prime minister, naturally having wisdom. He had long felt that his situation was very bad. If it weren't for Nong Zhigao's rebellion before, his trouble would have already come.

This time he was transferred to Western Xia, he was a bit lucky, lucky that he had avoided danger again. He naturally understood that military men could only reveal their value in war.

But he didn't think that Wang Yan was just to save him, so he let him come...

Seeing him silent, Wang Yan laughed: "My dynasty has always valued civil officials over military ones. Lord Di, as a criminal, has reached the position of Privy Commissioner and is loved by military generals. No matter where you go, local military generals will respond when they see Lord Di. If there is any more merit, how to arrange Lord Di? I am afraid that it must be a king of a different surname. I see Lord Di like this, and I should understand his own situation."

"Naturally understand, but Di Qing has never had any different heart..."

"Guilty of holding a jade, it has nothing to do with what kind of heart Lord Di has."

Lord Di sighed: "It's useless to say more now, let's discuss it after fighting this battle."

"That's fine. Lord Fan, Lord Di, drink tea." Wang Yan signaled, and the three of them picked up their tea and drank it.

Fan Zhongyan didn't stay in Suizhou for long. He had been investigating the people's feelings all the way from Yanzhou and almost knew the situation. Anyway, he was impressed. Before he came, he had already made a decision that he would cooperate with Wang Yan in this battle. If Wang Yan didn't have confidence, he wouldn't start a war rashly. He admitted that he was not as awesome as Wang Yan, so he simply took Wang Yan as the main one and he held the power to assist.

So coming here, the main thing was to see Wang Yan; after all, there were always words that were not easy to fall on paper, and it was necessary to fully express understanding. Also, let Wang Yan see his body and take his pulse.

After the words were finished, the body was checked, and he stayed overnight, and set off for the west the next day. He and Di Qing's task was to suppress the Western Xia army on that side.

Drag as many enemies as possible, and if they could fight out some results, that would be even better.

In fact, the war has been fought to this point, and Western Xia has already lost, because they have no way to effectively solve the problem. Both sides together, so far, have invested fifty thousand troops, and are still continuing to increase troops.

Investing more troops in the west, the east can't take care of it, and they will lose a large amount of land and population, and many soldiers will be captured. But if they take care of the east, the battlefield on the west line will be miserable. The troops on that side are several times that of the east line, and the direction of the attack is a straight line, attacking Xingqing Prefecture from all directions, and the country will perish.

Of course, it is because of Wang Yan that such a situation can be formed. Such a situation is naturally what everyone wants to form, but others don't have his ability.

If it weren't for him, support was not timely, grain and grass were not timely, and the dispatch of all aspects was not timely, and elites wouldn't die. How could the troops increase as they fought, and become stronger as they fought? The front line, the rear, and the newly occupied territory were all top priorities. Only he integrated all forces and also engaged in political ideological work.

However, Zhong E's level was also there. After all, it was he who really led the troops to fight. Although it was according to the strategy set by Wang Yan, constantly adjusting, the decision-making was all done by Zhong E. If his brain wasn't enough and his level wasn't good, he would have finished playing long ago.

It was Wang Yan who set the general direction, as well as timely dispatching limited troops for support, counter-encirclement, logistical supplies, political work, etc., plus Zhong E's wisdom, forming the war opening method of the east line battlefield that is becoming stronger as it fights.

Otherwise, with the Great Song's current level, it would still be beaten by Western Xia, and after one battle, the tribute would double.

Now Fan Zhongyan and Di Qing have come, who are more reliable than Old Cheng, and Fan Zhongyan opened his mouth to give Wang Yan greater power, which could dispatch more troops, so the war on the east line is naturally getting better and better... ===== CHAPTER 1073 =====

However, Zhong E's level was also there; after all, he was the one truly leading the troops in battle. Although he was constantly adjusting according to the strategy set by Wang Yan, the on-the-spot decisions were all made by Zhong E. If his brain wasn't enough and his level wasn't up to par, he would have been finished long ago.

It was Wang Yan who set the general direction, as well as the timely dispatch of limited forces for support, counter-encirclement, logistical supplies, political work, and so on, which, combined with Zhong E's wisdom, formed the way the Eastern Front battlefield was now opening up, becoming stronger the more it fought.

Otherwise, with the Great Song's current level, they would still be hammered by Western Xia, and after one battle, the annual tribute would double.

Now that Fan Zhongyan and Di Qing had arrived, they were more reliable people than Old Cheng, and Fan Zhongyan had opened his mouth to give Wang Yan greater authority, allowing him to dispatch more troops, so the war on the Eastern Front was naturally getting better and better...