Chapter 973 Northern Zhili, Great Wall, Gubeikou

(0973)

【Today's first update is delivered!】

Northern Zhili, Great Wall, Gubeikou.

Zhang Zhun rode a war horse, stood at the gap at the Gubei exit, staring quietly northward.

The weather in November was quite cold on the block. All the plants around the gap had withered. The dry grass kept floating up and falling behind the gap under the north wind. When the wind was strong, the dead grass was connected with dust, sprinkling like a small sandstorm.

The north wind blew by, blowing Zhang Zhun's cloak high. Behind him, the military uniforms of the Hu Ben Army soldiers were blown tightly against him. The soldiers of the Hu Ben Army were quite patient. Facing the cold, they had no big reaction, and they could not bear it if they were a few civil officials.

Zhang Zhun went to Gubeikou to take a look, for a special reason. As the founder of the future new empire, he must have a basic understanding of the country's topography and landforms. In his previous life, Zhang Zhun had never been to Gubeikou, and his understanding of it was basically blank. But it was very close to the capital, so he had to come and inspect it in person.

Throughout history, the strategic location of Gubeikou has been very important. In the past thousands of years, nomadic peoples outside the border often entered the border from here. Some of the Northeast Field Army in later generations also entered the border from here. It can be seen that Gubeikou has become an important strategic road between the outside of the border and the Central Plains.

From here, the territory of the Mongolian Halashen tribe. Continue to the northeast, it is the location of the Chengde Summer Resort, which was famous in later generations. However, four hundred years ago, the beautiful Chengde area was still under the control of the Mongols. The Mongols did not regard it as a tourist area at all, but only as a daily pasture. Every day, large groups of horses, cattle and sheep appeared here.

In fact, at that time, no one knew the term Chengde. In the mouths of ordinary people, this was Halahetao. Few people would think that such a beautiful place was always associated with war. In fact, the two invasions of the Tatars entered from here. Before the invasion, the Tatars rested in Halahetao, regained their energy, and then waited for the best opportunity to enter in one fell swoop.

It can be said that Gubeikou and Xifengkou to the east are the two most serious passes that threaten the safety of the capital. For the sake of the safety of the capital, the Hu Ben Army needs to arrange defensive troops here. Zhang Zhun’s preliminary plan is to deploy about 300 people per pass.

Well, it's three hundred people. In Zhang Zhun's opinion, three hundred people are enough. Their purpose is to monitor the movements of the Mongolian grasslands, rather than fighting with the Mongolians. Zhang Zhun believes that at this time, even if they give the Mongolians the courage to be a whale, they would not dare to invade.

In fact, Zhang Zhun, who came from later generations, has always been a negative attitude towards defensive buildings like the Great Wall. The Great Wall actually does not have much effect, it can only prevent some small offensive attacks. If you want to prevent the invasion of a large number of nomadic peoples, you must start by enhancing the overall national strength and maintaining control over the outside world. If you wait until the nomadic people launch a large-scale attack on the Great Wall, it will be too late.

With Zhang Zhun's personality, he would never build the Great Wall. He would only send large troops like the Han Dynasty, repeatedly sweeping the Huns, and constantly weakening the power of the nomadic people. In fact, as long as the Central Plains regime is powerful, no matter what kind of nomadic people is, it is no problem.

On the contrary, if the regime in the Central Plains was extremely dark and corrupt, and no nomadic peoples needed to launch an attack, the first thing that would start to make a fuss in their own country was. It seemed that in the late Han Dynasty, in the late Ming Dynasty, it was the first thing that would start to make a fuss in their own country, and then nomadic peoples went south in large numbers. As long as there was nomadic peoples in their own country, the nomadic peoples basically had no chance to go south unless the nomadic people were strong to the point of being as perverted as Genghis Khan in the past.

"Sir, a Mongolian is here."

Suddenly, Dugu Lie rushed to report.

"Um."

Zhang Zhun nodded calmly.

A moment later, several Mongolians walked to Zhang Zhun. Obviously, the Mongolians were a little nervous about Zhang Zhun's arrival. They didn't even dare to ride horses in front of Zhang Zhun. After they arrived, they were also very nervous and did not even dare to say more.

The Mongols in these border areas knew the most clearly about the changes in the situation in the Central Plains. They knew the most clearly what the Hu Ben Army was currently doing. At this time, let alone them, even their Khan, Halashen's leader, and Hadan Batel, would not dare to say a word to Zhang Zhun.

Zhang Zhun looked at the cavalry behind him and smiled knowingly. It seemed that the Mongols had misunderstood and thought they were coming to trouble them. To be honest, Zhang Zhun liked the Mongols to have such reactions. In front of the Hu Ben Army, they should be nervous. Even, they should be trembling. Every new dynasty in the Central Plains was established when nomadic peoples were trembling. With the strength of the Hu Ben Army, it would be strange if the Mongols did not tremble.

"How are your wintering supplies reserves?"

Zhang Zhun asked in a gentle tone.

He was not really concerned about the situation of the Mongolians, but just out of polite greetings. Those Mongolians obviously had no experience in the world and did not understand Zhang Zhun's meaning at all. Hearing Zhang Zhun's words, he thought Zhang Zhun was really concerned about them. For a moment, he was frightened and complained about his suffering.

Of course, the supplies for the Mongols to spend the winter were not very good. When they were in Nanluo, they did not get any benefits and lost a large number of people and war horses. After returning to the grassland, they could only earn their capital. At the same time, they also hoarded materials through all channels as much as possible. However, under the circumstances at that time, the supplies they could get were indeed too limited.

Later, the areas controlled by the Hu Ben Army became larger and larger, and the border areas in Northern Zhili were basically controlled by the Hu Ben Army, and the Mongols received even less materials. If they wanted to get the materials, they had to be approved by the Hu Ben Army. At that time, the Hu Ben Army was determined to eliminate the Tartars, so naturally it was impossible for them to provide too much assistance to the Mongols.

However, compared with the past, the Mongolians still gained more benefits from the Hu Ben Army. Especially in terms of tea and salt, Zhang Zhun basically supplies it openly, and the price is relatively fair. As long as you are willing to pay for money, the Hu Ben Army has tea and salt, even if you want tens of thousands of pounds at once, it will be fine.

It was not until he fully grasped the trade rights of the border areas that Zhang Zhun discovered that there was no more profitable business in the world than tea and salt. No wonder the officials who were in charge of the border trade in the past were all fat and rich. Iron and silk, porcelain, medicinal materials, etc. were not as good as the profits of maritime trade.

Unfortunately, the population of the nomadic people was slightly smaller and could not digest too much tea and salt. Zhang Zhun couldn't help but fantasize that if the nomadic peoples all over the world needed the tea and salt of the Hu Ben Army, they would be developed. I wonder what the situation was in the Western Regions? The Indians in the Americas didn't know whether to drink tea?

Zhang Zhun was not worried about the Mongols making trouble. Now he no longer cared about the Mongols. As long as the Hu Ben Army is strong, there is no need to take the nomadic people to heart. In fact, with the possibility of the industrial revolution and the rapid development of science and technology, the status of the nomadic people will further decline.

"Silence."

Zhang Zhun turned around and shouted.

As a meeting gift, Zhang Zhun gave the Mongolians 30 kilograms of salt and 30 kilograms of tea each. For the nomadic people, this is a good thing! With these things, they can exchange them for enough supplies and spend the winter safely.

...

Getting down from Gubeikou, Zhang Zhun passed by Changping again.

Changping is the location of the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty. Except for Zhu Yuanzhang's tombs, the tombs of other emperors are all here. This is the famous Ming Tombs in later generations... Well, Emperor Chongzhen's tombs are not here, and I believe there is no chance to be buried here.

According to the report below, when Chongzhen evacuated the capital, he only removed the spiritual positions of his ancestors and did not make much changes to the cemetery. According to legend, those emperors' cemeteries were all blocked, and once they were closed, outsiders could never enter. Of course, this is for ordinary people.

"Silence."

Zhang Zhun suddenly shouted.

"What are the instructions for the sir?"

Silently came over and said cautiously.

"Be careful to protect these tombs and don't let all the tomb robbers dig out."

Zhang Zhun said slowly.

"clear."

He said in a quiet tone.

It can be seen that Jianmo felt a bit difficult about this task. The Shuntian Mansion is now a piece of blank paper, and everything is in trouble. There are indeed too many things he needs to do. It seems that the task of Guanping Mausoleum is difficult to complete. However, since Zhang Zhun mentioned that no matter how difficult it is, he must find a way to complete it.

In fact, Zhang Zhun also knew that the people below might not be able to do what they asked. The people buried here were all emperors. Just take out any burial items, which are rare treasures in the world. Stimulating with huge profits, it would be strange if the tomb robbers were not crazy. Later generations of Ming Thirteen Tombs have been visited by tomb robbers for many times.

In order to protect the emperor's tombs from tomb robbers, the court had a special guard army called Xiaolingwei, which was dedicated to guarding these tombs. There were many legends about Xiaolingwei in later generations, and there were many different opinions, and there were all kinds of people. However, now, the Xiaolingwei has completely disappeared.

The only thing Zhang Zhun can be sure of is that many of these Xiaoling Guards who guarded the tombs later became professional tomb robbers. What they stole was the emperor's tombs they used to be. The stories about them could be written into dozens of novels.

...

Walking west from Changping, Zhang Zhun quickly arrived at Xuanfu.

Xuanfu is the support point for the northwest defense of the capital. There is a Xuanfu Town in the important towns on the nine sides. Because the geographical location here is indeed very important, there was also a group of troops stationed in Zhangjiakou in later generations. However, Zhangjiakou is still a small military fortress. Under normal circumstances, only more than 300 military households are stationed.

The main ruling institution of the Xuanfu was originally the Wanquandusi. The people living around the Xuanfu were basically military households. Later, the title of governor of the Xuanfu and governor of the Xuanfu was added, and was served by senior civil servants. In terms of civil servants, Xuanzhen and Liaodong were almost on par, but they were not as eye-catching as Liaodong.

When entering the capital, Zhang Zhun had already ordered the abolition of Wanquandusi, Baoanzhou, Yanqing Prefecture, Xuanfu Jun Town, and all its jurisdictions were included in the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture. The purpose of this is to facilitate the control of wind and sand and to more effectively coordinate manpower, material and financial resources.

Before the arrival of the Hu Ben Army, a considerable number of military households in the Xuanfu area migrated to Guanzhong with Emperor Chongzhen. However, there were also many people who stayed. Those who escaped with Emperor Chongzhen were naturally the top leaders of the military town. Those who stayed were the bottom leaders of the military town.

The army of the Ming Dynasty was generally divided into Beijing Army (i.e. Beijing Camp), border Army (i.e. Jiubian Army), and Duoji Army (i.e. general garrison troops). In general, the combat effectiveness of the border troops was the strongest, life was the cruelest, and they had to face the threat of death every day. Due to the cruel environment, their patience and vitality were also the strongest. As long as there was a slight possibility, they would survive tenaciously.

According to incomplete statistics, in the surrounding areas of Xuanfu, there are about 30,000 military households left. These 30,000 military households, plus their respective families, have about 100,000 people. Unlike the mainland military households, border troops are often attacked by the enemy and have to fight against the enemy frequently. If you are not careful, you may die in battle or be disabled. With the perverted household registration system of the Ming Dynasty, ordinary women are unwilling to marry into the border areas.

The number of military households in Xuanfu Military Town was not much since its establishment. In addition, people continued to flee, and the number was always reduced. Every year, the court would send a large number of prisoners to Xuanfu and other places to supplement the number of people who fled. If there were 30,000 military households and their respective families, there would definitely be more than 200,000.

Due to the continuous invasion of the Tartars, the living conditions in various parts of Xuanfu were very bad. The main manifestations were that water resources were scarce, water conservancy facilities were seriously damaged, land drought was serious, and most of the fields could not be cultivated. Most people were panic and had no intention of farming, for fear that other enemies would come to kill them.

"First, your military status has been removed! From now on, you can freely communicate!"

"Second, everyone will get five acres of land! No one will take away yours!"

"Third, the border areas will be stable from now on, and you can farm with peace of mind!

Zhang Zhun made a solemn promise.
Chapter completed!