In the afternoon, there was a continuous stream of news from outside the city, and the messengers were rushing around the warlord's residence.
"Your Highness, the warlord of Dongming County, Zhang Han, led 3,000 men to attack the defeated army of the Blackstone Empire and beheaded more than 100 people. He is here to pay his respects to Your Highness!"
"Your Highness, the warlord of Huoyao City, Zhuge Tian, led 2,500 men to pay his respects to Your Highness!"
"Your Highness, the farmer of Lu County, Li Wantian, led 800 villagers to kill the enemy and beheaded more than 50 people. He is here to pay his respects to Your Highness!"
…
In just a short afternoon, after hearing that the empress Qin Yin had appeared in Linghan City, troops from various states and counties appeared like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. However, before the great victory at Dragon Slaying Pass, these people remained silent.
"What exactly is going on?"
In the meeting hall, Qin Yin sat on the warlord's seat and asked with her eyes closed.
Lin Muyu explained, "Previously, because the enemy was too strong, we issued a decree that the officials of various states and counties could recruit their own soldiers to fight against the strong enemy. These people should be similar to the feudal lords, but I didn't expect that even a farmer could gather 800 soldiers to chase after the Blackstone Empire."
Xiang Yu sneered at the side, "Who knows if those 50 heads were the enemy or innocent civilians? Your Highness, don't forget, after this decree was issued, many civilians became roving bandits."
Lin Muyu was silent. Perhaps Xiang Yu's criticism was right. This decree had its advantages and disadvantages, just like the decree issued during the Yellow Turban Uprising at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It saved the world, but it also caused it to fall apart. However, the Qin Empire was different. She still had a large number of main forces, and the monarch wasn't weak either.
Wei Chou hurriedly walked in and said respectfully, "Your Highness, almost all the feudal lords near Lingkong Province are here. There are a total of 14 routes with more than 5,000 soldiers and at least a few hundred soldiers. Do you want to meet them?"
Qin Yin asked, "Yu, what do you think?"
"Let's meet them."
Lin Muyu nodded and said, "We are currently short of soldiers. If we can make use of these people, that would be the best."
"Alright!"
Qin Yin raised her hand and said, "Bring them here, Duke Wei."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
…
Not long after, more than a dozen feudal lords appeared outside the main door of the meeting hall. Some of them were wearing the empire's official robes and armor. Some of them were wearing armor that was made at the last minute, and the most unbearable of them was wearing brocade. However, their faces were sunburned, and it was obvious that they were the leaders of the peasants. This group of more than a dozen people had never seen the empress before, and they were somewhat at a loss as to what to do.
Xiang Yu raised his eyebrows and asked, "Can't you pay your respects to the empress?"
Everyone knelt down one after another. "Your subjects/commoners kowtow to Your Highness!"
"You may rise."
The corners of Qin Yin's mouth curled up, and she said with a smile, "My lords, your contributions will be recorded in the book, and when we have completely recovered the Lingkong Province, we will naturally reward you. But now, the empire is in need of manpower, so I wonder if your troops are willing to be incorporated into the various legions?"
"Oh, I see …" Qin Yin nodded and said with a smile, "Your Highness, I am the governor of Dongming Prefecture, Zhang Han. The bandits of the Blackstone Empire have plundered Dongming Prefecture like a gale sweeping away fallen leaves, and the people in the city have suffered greatly. The 3,000 soldiers that I have recruited are all new soldiers, and they are also the soldiers of Dongming Prefecture. When I was recruiting them, I promised that they would only fight to defend the city, so … they are not real soldiers. If I want to recruit them, I will have to ask for their opinions. I hope that Your Highness can understand."
"Oh, I see …" Qin Yin nodded.
Lin Muyu smiled faintly and said, "Zhang Han, Her Highness is the ruler of Great Qin. Does she still need to listen to his opinion on who she wants to use as soldiers? Isn't it the greatest honor for every adult man in the empire to fight for Her Highness on the battlefield? Why don't you bring all your men into the city? I want to ask them personally if they are willing to serve Her Highness. "
Zhang Han was stunned. "You are …"
Wei Chou said coldly, "He is His Highness, King Qin."
Zhang Han hurriedly knelt down and said, "I pay my respects to His Highness, King Qin … I just feel that … I should consult the soldiers for their own opinions. I have no other intentions. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Lin Muyu waved her hand and said, "I know that it is not easy for you to recruit soldiers, so I will not force you. Let's do it this way. The troops of all the feudal vassals in Lingkong Province will be gathered together to form a garrison of Lingkong Province. The feudal vassals will also be promoted based on the troops that they have recruited. You will still be able to bring the troops that you have recruited and serve the empire. What do you think?"
Zhang Han nodded repeatedly. "I am willing to listen to Your Highness and Her Highness's arrangements!"
Lin Muyu swept her gaze across the rest of the feudal vassals. One after another, they knelt down and said, "We are willing to listen to Your Highness's arrangements!"
"That's good."
Lin Muyu looked at Wei Chou and said, "In that case, I will leave the matter of reorganizing the garrison of Lingkong Province to Duke Wei. Duke Wei will also serve as the temporary commander of this new army. As for the Longdan Army Camp, I will personally lead it."
Wei Chou nodded and smiled. "Yes, Your Highness!"
Now that Qin Yin had returned, Lin Muyu could finally take the time to lead the troops herself. It was also very suitable to appoint Wei Chou as the commander of this new army. Wei Chou was a famous general of the empire and had many successful battles. In terms of prestige and ability to lead troops, he was also one of the best in the empire. He was able to convince the masses and had the ability to lead a new army.
Tang Xiaoxi smiled at the side and said, "Let's wait here for a few more days. Based on the current situation, there will definitely be many feudal vassals rushing over from all over Lingkong Province within three days."
"Yes." Qin Yin nodded and smiled.
Xu Jiantao said, "These bastards … I don't see them usually, but when it is time to ask for rewards, they all appear."
Zhen Yifan laughed heartily, "The prefects and city lords of the various prefectures and commanderies usually don't have much military power. This time, they're taking the opportunity of the imperial edict to make more contributions and think about their future. It's actually quite normal."
Su'Er also nodded and said, "Yes, that's right."
Lin Muyu slowly sat down and said with a cold gaze, "As long as these people don't cause trouble, then everything can be discussed. Wei Chou, you must appease the people's hearts. These feudal vassals all have different thoughts. You must intimidate them and win over the people's hearts at the same time. Right now, we still have four hundred thousand enemies from the Tianji Empire, so we can't let anything happen at the back. "
"Yes, Your Highness, this subordinate understands." Wei Chou cupped his fists and smiled. "Then, this subordinate will lead the guards out of the city to appease the feudal vassals, and arrange camps and provisions for them."
"Yes, go. Be careful."
"Yes!"
… …
Three days passed by in the blink of an eye. The various feudal vassals from the Ling Sky Province, Ling Nan Province, and Ming Shan Province all rushed over upon hearing the news and gathered in Ling Han City. Outside the city, there was a majestic camp. Although most of them were new soldiers, there were at least forty feudal vassals and several tens of thousands of soldiers. This made Wei Qiu extremely happy. After a series of bloody battles, the Courage Dragon Camp was only left with 13000 soldiers. But in the blink of an eye, so many new soldiers had arrived. The opportunity to replenish the soldiers had arrived.
Inside the meeting hall, everyone was drinking afternoon tea.
"How many soldiers are there in total?" Lin Muyu looked at the name list and asked.
Wei Chou said happily, "So far, there are more than seventy-four thousand soldiers. I estimate that there are still tens of thousands of soldiers on the way."
Zeng Yifan smiled. "Congratulations, Duke Wei. The garrison army has just been established, but it already has more than a hundred thousand soldiers. Speaking of which, in terms of numbers, it can already be considered the number one army of the empire!"
Wei Chou said helplessly, "Why must Lord Fan make fun of me? I'm afraid that the combat strength of these 100,000 soldiers cannot even compare to the 10,000 infantry and cavalry of the Longdan Army Camp!"
At this moment, a civil official walked in with a thick booklet in his hand, and he said, "The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Jiang Chong, greets Your Highness Yin!"
"Rise, speak."
"Yes." Jiang Chong placed the register on the table and flipped to the first page with a trembling hand. He said, "The Ministry of Revenue has done a rough count. Last year, the Lingkong Province had a total of five million households. Assuming that each household has eight members, the total population is forty million. We started counting from a month ago, and the current number of households is only about three million and three hundred thousand. When the Blackstone Bandits came, many of the commoners were killed, captured, or hid in the mountains and forests. Nearly half of the population was lost, and the feudal lords forcefully conscripted the commoners. Now, the Lingkong Province can be said to be a hundred things waiting to be done, and the farmland is barren. Your Highness, please rule the country with benevolence and pardon the taxes of the Lingkong Province for three years! "
Qin Yin was surprised, and she lightly touched Tang Xiaoxi's hand, asking for help. After all, Qin Yin had been away from the Shattered Cauldron Realm for too long, and there were many things that she didn't understand, so she couldn't make a rash decision.
Tang Xiaoxi stood up and said, "Her Highness the Empress has decreed that all the commoners in the Lingkong Province will be exempted from taxes for one year, and the rewards for reclaiming land will be increased. For every mu of land reclaimed, the reward will be five Silver Khin Coins, and the reward will be given by the local officials. The Ministry of Personnel is also ordered to investigate corruption, and anyone who embezzles or hides official funds will be beheaded if the amount exceeds 10,000 Gold Khin Coins, exiled if the amount exceeds 2,000 Gold Khin Coins, dismissed if the amount exceeds 500 Gold Khin Coins, and whipped 100 times if the amount exceeds 500 Gold Khin Coins. Ministry of Personnel, record down all my words and immediately issue the decree, and execute it immediately. "
"Yes, Princess Xi!"
Tang Xiaoxi lowered her head and whispered into Qin Yin's ear, "Is this appropriate?"
Qin Yin also nodded and smiled, "That's exactly what I wanted."
…
Another two days later, the last remnants of the Pale Flame Army and Sea Mountain Army also plundered the fishermen's boats and escaped to the East Sea. Whisker Port was a piece of barren land, and the empire's navy was almost completely wiped out. They were powerless to chase after them and could only let them escape. Within these two days, just as everyone expected, the garrison of the Lingkong Province had already expanded to a hundred thousand people.
However, Wei Chou was deeply worried. These hundred thousand people were formed by more than 70 feudal vassals, and there were also many contradictions between the various battalions. The people from the east of the river looked down on the people from the west of the river, and the people from the north of the mountain looked down on the people from the south of the mountain. It was simply a fantasy for them to have the same combat power as the Longdan Army Camp.
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