Chapter 1182: First Volume, Chapter 1182: Twenty-Seven Strongholds

First Volume, Chapter 1182: Twenty-Seven Strongholds

Qin Feng not only demarcated farmland but also took this opportunity to reorganize a series of critical strongholds.

There are twenty-seven strongholds in total, arranged to support each other and form two lines.

The First Line consists of ten strongholds; the Second Line consists of seventeen strongholds.

Besides being used to garrison troops and store materials and supplies, they also serve as a base and guarantee for the Front Line.

Should the Front Line be defeated, the main army can retreat to these strongholds and continue fighting the Nan Jing along these two stronghold chains.

If the Enemy Army sends Cavalry to ambush the Rear, these two defensive lines formed by the strongholds will deter such raids and ensure the safety of logistics and grain reserves.

"Your Highness, if these are merely pure strongholds, they may drain the people's strength and wealth."

Liu Ming raised objections at once.

Qin Feng had naturally considered this point and immediately explained: "I never said these strongholds are for purely military use."

"Once we capture Nan Jing, these two defensive lines will lose their significance and instead become security risks."

"Therefore, these twenty-seven strongholds are half-military, half-civilian."

Liu Ming frowned slightly; though intelligent, he specialized in his own field and could not match Qin Feng in matters of people's livelihood.

Qin Feng did not beat around the bush: "These five thousand Tuntian Soldiers will be dispersed and garrisoned across these twenty-seven strongholds, integrated with logistics and grain storage."

"Soldiers willing to settle in the strongholds may bring their families and receive subsidies per capita—no limit on household size, two taels of silver per person."

Sun Bo, demoted to Deputy General, immediately grasped Qin Feng's true intent.

"Your Highness, are you suggesting… fighting while simultaneously restoring strength?"

Qin Feng nodded: "Precisely."

"Though Shedynasty and the Di have achieved peace, years of war have emptied the National Treasury and left the land on the brink of collapse."

"Now the Powerful Clans of Nan Jing are resisting stubbornly—this war could drag on indefinitely."

"After the war ends, when families are shattered and lives destroyed, how long will it take to restore national strength? That is another major question."

"Rather than patching up after the damage is done, we should begin restoration now."

"We must fight the war—and restore national strength at the same time."

If these words came from anyone else, those present would never believe them—they would mock the speaker as delusional.

But coming from Qin Feng, they carried an entirely different weight.

After all, Beixi County and the Northern Border are living proof.

Beyond military matters, Qin Feng possesses two other decisive advantages: politics and people's livelihood.

More precisely, in military, political, commercial, and civilian affairs, Qin Feng has reached the pinnacle—even surpassing the understanding of most people.

Precisely because Qin Feng wields authority second only to the Liang Emperor, this seemingly fantastical plan has a chance to become reality.

The representatives of the Tuntian Soldiers all rose to their feet, fists clenched in excitement.

"Your Highness, we can decide right now to move into the strongholds."

"If we can live well, where is it not worth living?"

Lin Dahai, a Professional Soldier, was not among the Tuntian Soldiers, yet he too stood up, his face flushed.

"Your… Your Highness, this subordinate also wishes to move into a stronghold."

Lin Dahai made this decision because he knew exactly what Beixi County used to be like.

But since becoming part of Qin Feng's domain, in such a short time, it transformed from the poorest county in Shedynasty into the wealthiest County City.

Every returning villager carried household wealth of dozens of taels of silver.

To say they were not envious was impossible!

Lin Dahai knew these twenty-seven strongholds would become Qin Feng's next focal point of development.

He could not afford to miss such an opportunity—if he became a subject under Qin Feng, he and his family would have security for life.

Inspired by Lin Dahai, more and more Elite Troops rose to their feet, considering moving into the strongholds.

Seeing such overwhelming support, Qin Feng was naturally pleased—but if everyone moved to the Rear, who would fight on the Front Line?

Qin Feng motioned for silence, stating that the establishment of these twenty-seven strongholds prioritized the Tuntian Soldiers; all other troops must remain stationed on the Front Line.

Only Lin Dahai was granted an exception to enter the Rear.

After all, he possessed combat experience, military knowledge, and a boldness others lacked.

A suitable leader was needed to command the Tuntian Soldiers—otherwise, a rabble would accomplish nothing.

After the coordination meeting ended, Qin Feng immediately convened a smaller meeting with his trusted lieutenants.

Everyone supported Qin Feng's plan to establish twenty-seven strongholds—but when funds were mentioned, their enthusiasm faded.

Xu Mo, Zhao Zhenhai, and Zhao Yulong were military officers and naturally refrained from speaking.

Only Liu Ming, temporarily acting as a civil official, raised the most practical question: where would the money come from?

"Your Highness, aside from opening new farmland and constructing the twenty-seven strongholds, merely the subsidies for the Tuntian Soldiers are no small sum."

"Five thousand Tuntian Soldiers, plus their families, number at least fifteen thousand people."

"Two taels of silver per person amounts to three ten thousand taels!"

"Will this money come from the Northern Border?"

Facing Liu Ming's question, Qin Feng remained unfazed—he knew Liu Ming was not a logistics expert; had Lin Quqi or Li Zhang heard this, they would have questioned Qin Feng's entire family.

Three ten thousand taels was no trivial amount—Beixi County's silver was not blown in by the wind.

Besides, the Northern Border still needed development—could Qin Feng ignore the lives of the rest of its people just to develop Beixi County alone?

After the Northern Border comes Sangzhou…

There are many places that need spending!

Unbeknownst to them, Qin Feng had long held a strategy in mind and did not rush to explain—he instead asked a counterquestion.

"Is the Northern Border's grain enough to eat?"

Liu Ming didn't even think, blurting out: "Of course it's enough. Didn't the King of Qin vigorously develop agriculture in the Northern Border back then? And he even lowered the commoners' taxes time and again."

In everyone's eyes, everything in the Northern Border was thriving.

Only Qin Feng sighed: "It's only just barely enough to eat."

"The Northern Border has heavy wind and little rain, with a harsh climate, so the grain yield is destined to be limited."

"If a natural disaster strikes and the grain fails completely, the Northern Border will immediately be knocked back to its original state."

"Because of the limits imposed by geography, the Northern Border is destined to never become a granary. Compared to farming, the Northern Border's true future lies in animal husbandry."

"By contrast, the area from north of Gusu City all the way to Jingji has a suitable climate and has been the Shedynasty's granary since ancient times."

"Developing this region can later feed back into the Northern Border — this is a win-win."

"As for where the money comes from, it will mainly be allocated from the National Treasury, and the Northern Border will also provide a portion of support."