Chapter 162: Changing Native Offices to Imperial Administration

"Can't you raise grain from the local area?"

Jia Bo asked with concern.

If they were to recover Lianzhou Prefecture, there would be more than one hundred thousand mouths to feed, and continuing to recover lost territory later would increase the number of people to feed even more.

Relying purely on rear supply would be a very heavy pressure for the Great Dayu Dynasty.

"Official Jia is joking!

Guangxi is barren to begin with and has been ravaged by the rebel army once.

The people have reached the point of exchanging children to eat, so where could grain and fodder be raised?

If it were just the consumption of more than ten thousand soldiers, with the assistance pay from Nanzhili, we wouldn't be urging Guangdong to issue grain every day.

That's not right!

We have reported these situations to the Provincial Governor's office of Guangdong; did they not report it to Grand Secretary Xu?"

Jing Yifeng asked with feigned surprise.

Knowing that the Provincial Governor of Guangdong was going to be held accountable, naturally, he had to kick him while he was down.

Since submitting the memorial to impeach him, both sides had reached the point of life and death.

If they didn't take advantage of the Imperial Commissioner to completely finish off Zou Yunchuan now, that would be irresponsible to their own official careers.

"No!

If the memorial had been received, Grand Secretary Xu would definitely have found a way to solve it; how could he be so passive!"

Jia Bo answered affirmatively.

Deep in his heart, he greeted Zou Yunchuan's whole family again.

It seemed like he was just making things difficult for the Yangzhou Battalion and the Huaian Battalion, but in reality, he was also cutting off his own career path.

As a special envoy sent by the Imperial Commissioner, besides delivering orders, he was also here to act as an army supervisor.

He had seen the allied forces of Guangdong and knew that those guys couldn't be counted on, which was why he ran to Lianzhou without even celebrating the New Year.

Judging from the situation along the way, the Yangzhou Battalion and the Huaian Battalion did not disappoint him; one could feel the murderous aura from far away.

Compared to the two main armies of Huguang and Guangdong, these could definitely be counted as elite troops.

He never imagined that while he had troops capable of fighting, they could still be blocked by prisoners and refugees.

"Two Assistant Regional Commanders, the rebel army is attacking on a large scale; at this moment, Huguang is in danger, and Guangdong is in danger.

For the sake of the big picture, please be sure to take Xunzhou Prefecture and Wuzhou Prefecture to exert pressure on the rebel army!

As for the grain and fodder problem, this official will report it to the Grand Secretary and will not make things difficult for you."

Jia Bo thought for a moment and said.

Whether he could get enough grain and fodder, he had no bottom in his heart either.

At the moment, these more than one hundred thousand mouths were already very tricky.

If this number increased by several times, even if Grand Secretary Xu spoke up, it might not necessarily be solved.

But remembering Grand Secretary Xu's promise when he came, he still felt he should do something.

As long as they could recover the two places, the rebel army would inevitably turn back to reinforce, and the crisis in Huguang and Guangdong would be resolved.

The Yangzhou Battalion and the Huaian Battalion couldn't withstand the counterattack of the rebel army's main force; at worst, they could just abandon the refugees and prisoners and retreat.

"Official Jia, it's almost New Year.

At this time, it is when the military heart is unstable, so it is really not suitable to launch an offensive.

I imagine the situation of the rebel army is about the same; even if a great battle is to be launched, it will be a matter for after the New Year.

Why don't you urge the grain and fodder first; the amount transported this time won't last long."

Li Mu refused tactfully.

The reason was very sufficient; the soldiers wanted to celebrate the New Year.

Not fighting during the New Year was a tradition of the Great Dayu.

As for whether the rebel army would abide by the tradition, only heaven knew.

With an extra buffer period, whether Grand Secretary Xu could get enough grain and fodder would also be about ready to be revealed.

"After the New Year, I fear it will be a bit late!

If we can take advantage of the rebel army's New Year period to send troops, we will definitely have a good harvest."

Jia Bo frowned and said.

With the loss of Yongzhou, Huguang was exposed to the iron hooves of the rebel army.

When he left Wuchang, a White Lotus Sect rebellion had also broken out in Hengzhou Prefecture, and it had likely fallen by now.

It wouldn't be surprising if the rebel army's Northern Expeditionary Army had already killed their way to Changsha.

The situation in Guangdong was equally terrible; when he passed by, Zhaoqing Prefecture, Gaozhou Prefecture, Leizhou Prefecture, and Luoding Prefecture had all fallen into the hands of the rebel army.

Even Guangzhou Prefecture had lost half.

"Official Jia, Guangxi has always had the saying of 'seven mountains, two waters, and one field.'

The White Lotus Sect rebellion was able to grow rapidly because local chieftains also participated.

To recover lost territory, we not only have to conquer cities but also solve the chieftains entrenched in the mountains.

When the First Emperor conquered Baiyue, he fought in Guangxi for a full six years, with hundreds of thousands of corpses and blood flowing, before he could recover Guangxi.

Our dynasty's pacification of Guangxi also took several years, and there were multiple repetitions afterward.

Looking at the entire history, there has never been a quick victory to settle Guangxi.

To recover Xunzhou and Wuzhou, which are heavily guarded by the enemy, it is impossible to do so without a year or half a year.

Not to hide it from you, now every county we conquer requires a large amount of time to clear out the bandits.

If we encounter areas where chieftains are entrenched, the time spent entangled will be even longer.

Without pulling out these hidden dangers, the main army cannot move forward at all.

If Official Jia has the heart, why not report to the Grand Secretary to promote 'changing native offices to imperial administration' in Guangxi to solve these stubborn diseases in one fell swoop!"

Li Mu feigned difficulty and bluffed.

Since stepping on the land of Guangxi, he had been thinking about "changing native offices to imperial administration."

However, as a military officer, he had no say in civil governance.

Even if he submitted a memorial to the imperial court, it would be ignored by the civil officials.

To promote changing native offices to imperial administration, only a civil official with weight could submit a memorial, and it would be possible to get it passed.

That it would help stabilize the empire's rule was certain, but the risk was also huge.

Once changing native offices to imperial administration was promoted, it would push all the local chieftains toward the rebel army.

"Inappropriate!

Pacifying the rebellion is already extremely tricky.

If the chieftains are pushed to the opposite side, it will further increase the difficulty of suppressing the rebellion!"

Jia Bo refused decisively.

Regarding the matter of changing native offices to imperial administration in Guangxi, since the establishment of the Great Dayu, it had been attempted five times, all of which ended in failure.

A strategy that was not completed during the empire's peak period would only be harder in the late stage of the dynasty.

"Official Jia, your worry is superfluous.

Regardless of whether we change native offices to imperial administration, the chieftains have already participated in the rebellion.

Grand Secretary Xu coming out of the capital this time definitely needs to make some achievements.

Just pacifying the rebellion is not enough; only changing native offices to imperial administration, this kind of great cause that will leave a name for eternity, is worthy of him.

In fact, even if Grand Secretary Xu doesn't do it, the next Provincial Governor of Guangxi will do it.

After the imperial court's main army finishes encircling and suppressing the rebel army, the local chieftain forces will also be mostly cleared out.

If Grand Secretary Xu is not interested, then..."

Li Mu deliberately left a tail, letting Jia Bo play freely.

Literati with a bit of pursuit are all interested in leaving a name in history.

If changing native offices to imperial administration in Guangxi were a pit, no matter how great the temptation, everyone wouldn't rush in.

But the current situation is that the Guangxi chieftains have already rebelled; regardless of whether we change native offices to imperial administration, the imperial court must take action against them.

Of course, one could also choose to offer amnesty.

In the past, when chieftains caused chaos, only the ringleaders were executed, and those who were coerced were not questioned.

However, doing so is also full of risks.

If the chieftains who were offered amnesty rebel again, the official responsible for the amnesty needs to bear joint responsibility.

In the past, this little matter was nothing.

With Grand Secretary Xu's status, as long as it wasn't a large-scale rebellion of chieftains, he could handle it.

Now it is at the juncture of power reshuffling; leaving any handle could become a sharp blade in the hands of political enemies.

"This matter is of great importance; I need to report it to the Grand Secretary before I can make a decision.

You two should first prepare to send troops and strive to take Xunzhou in one fell swoop after the New Year!"

Jia Bo thought for a moment and said.

Being circled around, he almost forgot the theme.

However, after understanding the situation in Guangxi, his psychological expectations had dropped significantly.

With a group of chieftains drilling in the mountains, this war couldn't be fast even if one wanted it to be.

As for "changing native offices to imperial administration," he indeed had some thoughts in his heart.

However, he had no right to make decisions on such a big matter.

Even if it were really to be promoted, this political achievement could only be Grand Secretary Xu's.

Wanting to sit at the table and eat meat, unless he could serve as the Provincial Governor of Guangxi or the Provincial Administration Commissioner.

Being several levels apart, the probability of being promoted by exception was almost zero.

……

Guangzhou Prefecture.

After a long period of passive defense, the morale of the garrison troops inevitably began to decline.

Especially as the end of the year approached, the Provincial Governor's office didn't show anything, which made the soldiers below very hurt.

"Provincial Governor, the wine and meat prepared are too little.

It was eaten up in one meal on New Year's Eve; what to do during the New Year period?"

Fujian Regional Commander Wei Zhiyuan complained first.

As a guest army, they were only temporarily under the command of the Provincial Governor of Guangdong and would leave after the war.

The personnel relationship was not in Guangdong, so the fear of local civil officials was slightly less.

"If it's not enough, then save it!

This Governor has issued it according to the ratio of one jin of wine, half a jin of pork, and one jin of fish per person.

Among the people, these things are enough for a family to have a fat New Year.

It's not that this Governor is stingy; it's really that the ability is limited.

How about this, the fish and meat supply for each soldier will be increased by another half a jin!"

Zou Yunchuan feigned generosity and said.

A single soldier is not conspicuous, but the materials for more than one hundred thousand people in the whole army added up to a huge sum of money.

In fact, the money problem was secondary; the key was that the production capacity of pork, beef, and mutton in Guangzhou was limited.

The demand was too huge; it was no longer something money could solve.

Relatively speaking, the fish supply was richer.

However, affected by the policy of banning the sea, the number of fishermen in Guangzhou was limited, which restricted the production capacity of fish.

"You can rest assured that the treatment for officials with ranks will be much higher.

For military officers of Senior Rank Seven and above, wine and meat will not be subject to quota restrictions."

Seeing that the group of military officers still didn't buy it, Zou Yunchuan, who realized the trouble, added subsequently.

In fact, the meat consumed by the soldiers was only a small part; the consumption of materials by the officers was the big part.

The materials issued by the Provincial Governor's office, after being peeled off layer by layer, would only be less when they reached the soldiers' hands.

……

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 163 =====