Shuozhou is located north of Yanmen Pass, upstream of the Sanggan River.

Shuozhou is adjacent to the Great Wall and the Khitan grasslands. It has always been bullied by foreign races such as the Khitan and Xi people. It has always been known as a bitter and cold place. There are only three counties in such a huge place, with few people, which shows that it is not an easy place to live.

The three counties of Shuozhou are Mayi, Shanyang, and Changning.

The Shuozhou capital Shanyang is the place where the governor's mansion is located. Zhu Li and others have decided on the plan, so they will take action immediately.

Zhang Guimu was left to lead the cavalry, with a total of 5,000 infantry guarding the north entrance, and the others headed to their destinations.

At the gate of the governor's mansion in Shanyang, Zhu Li had just arrived here, and two people came towards him. One on the left, with a slutty shirt and dressed as a scholar, but he was walking and walking with a dragon and tiger steps. He was handsome; the other on the right was a thick black face, which looked a bit similar to Li Kui in the New Year painting.

"Subordinate Zhang Shen, the chief minister of the governor's office, has met the envoy." The middle-aged man dressed in a scribe bowed.

"I am the next Zhou Dewei, Sima of the Governor's Mansion, and I have met the envoy." The stout and black-faced young man bowed.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Li glanced at the other two, with a little suspicious expression and said indifferently: "Two months ago, this place was occupied by Shatu people. How could you two be fine?"

When Zhang Shen heard this, he looked ashamed and bowed again: "I will not hide it from the envoy. When the Shatuo people attacked Shanyang, we were two of us, but we were arrested by them. Later, Duke Li surrendered Gao Wen Ji, and we were released. During the period before the envoy arrived, we were both responsible for government affairs."

After hearing what he said, Zhu Li looked a little slow, took Zhu Ning'er from a maid riding a horse, turned around and instructed: "Gao Yuan, lead your subordinates directly to Tanglong Town. There must be no people there. Maybe when the Khitans will call you. You can just agree to me what you lack."

"Nuo" Gao Yuan did not hesitate. After responding to his order, he waved his hand and drove straight to the tilted fort with more than 5,000 swords and shields.

As for Zhang Guiba, he had already led his archers and cavalry, together with the three thousand guards sent by Zhu Li, to Yanmen Pass quickly. He must have occupied that heroic pass at this moment. After all, as the governor of Daizhou, Zhu Mei lost Daizhou before. Even if Tang Ting continued to use him to guard Daizhou, he would definitely have some research. He is afraid that he is still in the capital, waiting for the imperial edict in a hurry, so he won't mention plundering everywhere.

"Mr. Guo, Brother Chongtao, please ask you two to learn about the situation with Zhang Shen and Zhou Dewei first, and tell me later. I will take Ning'er to see the residence first." Zhu Li gave Guo Qizuo and Guo Chongtao's instructions and said earnestly.

"No" Guo Qizuo, but Guo Chongtao responded quickly and immediately walked towards Zhang Shen and Zhou Dewei.

Zhu Li asked Shi Yan to send the Yue cavalry into the military camp in the city first, and he himself brought Zhu Ning'er and two maids into the governor's mansion.

The governor's mansion is so big. It is not only grand in scale, magnificent, but also very handsome, solemn and elegant. Dozens of houses are neat and elegant, gorgeous but not delicate, stretched but not ostentatious, full of ancient charm and full of vitality, making people feel comfortable.

The vestibule is very spacious and is a place to entertain guests. When you walk through the vestibule, you will see a huge two-story loft, with more than a dozen small buildings on both sides of the loft, connected to each other by corridors.

On the right is a very open martial arts training ground, on the left is Xiaochi Rock Mountain, a neat and spacious bluestone path that runs vertically between the two, leading directly from the front hall to the attic in the middle.

The first floor of the attic is very spacious, and it should be a place for discussion or banquets. When you walk through the attic, you will be the inner courtyard. The inner courtyard is decorated in a more elegant manner, with a distinct layer, and a clear main side.

There is also a courtyard behind the inner courtyard, but there is a garden with winding paths, small ponds and rocks, pavilions and pavilions, and arch bridges along the water. It is a good place to rest and enjoy.

"Brother, this place is so big. If only Ah Lang, Ah Mom would be there." Zhu Ning'er followed Zhu Li to visit the entire governor's mansion. While she was happy, she suddenly spoke up and said in her eyes.

Zhu Li stroked her head, was silent for a moment, and said gently: "Does Ning'er miss them?"

"Well, Alang, my mother went to beat the bad guys and said she would come back soon, but we have been having a New Year and we haven't come back yet. Are we going too far and they can't find us?" Zhu Ning'er said with a melancholy face and bitterness.

When Zhu Li heard this, he felt distressed. He never gave up looking for his parents. As early as in Shenmen Village, he asked Yuchi Jin to help her find out about her parents, but there was no result.

When he came to the north, the news about his parents became even more slim. Zhu Li was fine. He only had a faint sadness, and most of it was the natural reaction of this body. After all, his current soul came from later generations and had never been with his parents in this life. His longing, and worries were not so unforgettable.

Zhu Ning'er is different. The little girl is one year older, but she is not as cheerful as before. Instead, she often becomes worried. On the one hand, it is because the news about her parents is slim, and on the other hand, it is because Zhu Li has spent too little time with her.

No, you have to find something for your sister to do. Once you have something to do, your thoughts will be more focused, which will distract her from her attention. At the same time, you must speed up the investigation of your parents' news.

Zhu Li called a squad captain and asked him to go to the city to inquire. He wanted to find a teacher for Zhu Ning'er and buy a few smart and flexible maids of the right age to play with Zhu Ning'er.

The brother and sister settled down and cleaned up two rooms for Guo Qizuo and Guo Chongtao in the inner courtyard.

In the evening, Guo Qizuo, Guo Chongtao, Zhang Shen and Zhou Dewei came to pay their respects. Zhu Li took them to the study. After several people sat down, Guo Qizuo said, "Empress, the situation in Shuozhou has been sorted out. There are about 6,000 households in three counties, with a population of about 30,000."

"Why are there so few?" Zhu Li was shocked when he heard this. The governor of a state is equivalent to the current mayor. The population of a city is only more than 30,000. On average, it is about 10,000 people in a county. This simply subverted his understanding. (Emeng: During the Tang Dynasty, when he was called the governor, Zhu Li was the governor who took office in Shuozhou)

Zhu Li's expression was strange, which immediately made Zhang Shen a little uneasy. He quickly explained: "The envoy, the north is bitter and cold, and the population has always been small. When Shuozhou was in Xuanzong, the largest population was only more than 80,000. In recent decades, it has been in chaos. It is not easy to have more than 30,000 people now."

"This year, there are Khitans who often come to rob, and there are warlords who fight in the middle. There are more than 30,000 people. It is a blessing to invite heaven." Guo Qizuo sighed and said to Zhu Li.

"The people I brought from Tanzhou are nearly 15,000, plus the auxiliary soldiers, there are nearly 30,000 people. There are only 30,000 people in Shuozhou. This includes the elderly, children, women and children. How can these people raise these 5,000 guards?" Zhu Li looked ugly and asked Guo Qizuo and Zhang Shen.

When he was transferred to Shuozhou, he didn't have much food and grass, and his accumulation during the previous bandit suppression could only last for two months at most. How could he not be anxious?

Zhou Dewei, who was like Li Kui, heard this and quickly spoke: "Empress, we have military camps and should be able to be self-sufficient."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Li glanced at him and shook her head and said, "I want to train the main combat troops into a professional soldier. The military camp can only rely on the auxiliary army at most. But even if there is a military camp, this is a later story. Our food and grass will not last long."

Seeing that Zhu Li was very determined, Guo Qizuo raised his eyebrows, and came up with a plan, bowed and said, "I'm worried about food and grass?"

"Not bad." Zhu Li said calmly.

"I have a strategy to solve the urgent problem." Guo Qizuo narrowed his eyes slightly and said lightly.

"Well, since Mr. Guo has a solution, let's talk about it quickly." Zhu Li was shocked, looked at Guo Qizuo, and hurriedly urged.

When Guo Qizuo saw Zhu Li's impatient expression, he did not dare to keep it in hiding again and said, "Shuozhou is located in the north, and the grassland is north of the Great Wall. Since the Khitans can cross the Great Wall to rob us every year, why not rob them, kill their men, plunder their wives and daughters, and rob them all of their cattle and sheep."

"If everything goes well, cattle and sheep can be used as military rations or exchanged for food and grass from the people. Women can be betrothed to local men or even guards in the army. In less than twenty years, the population of Shuozhou will inevitably increase greatly." Guo Qizuo talked freely, not thinking that there was anything wrong with doing this. Di people could be used as Han people to slaughter and loot at will. Why did the Han people regard them as human beings?

"There are many Khitans who control strings. If this arouses them to retaliate, we can't resist it alone." Zhang Shen said a little worriedly when he heard this.

"Hmph, who said we did it? It was clearly done by horse bandits. The cattle and sheep and women fell into our hands. It was just the spoils we snatched from horse bandits." Guo Jiayun said lightly. "What's more, on the grassland now, there are many Han compatriots in those Khitan tribes. They are stolen and living a life of slaves and maids. If these Han people are brought back to Shuozhou to settle, they can also increase the population of this state."

"Okay, that's it. As for the taxes of the people, let's say that the new governor took office three fires. The first fire is that people in the country will be exempted from rent and taxes within three years."

As soon as this statement was made, Zhang Shen and Zhou Dewei immediately looked at Zhu Li with a look of more gentleness. After all, they were officials in Shuozhou for a long time and were also locals. Zhu Li's pardons benefited from their fellow villagers, and they were not grateful.

"By the way, sir, you draw some smart guards from the guards. You are responsible for training them into detailed works, specifically for your dispatch, and spy on the dignitaries in Shuozhou. Since this governor said that he would be exempt from rent and tax, if someone dares to overcome them and get enough of his personal pockets, don't blame me for being rude." Zhu Li said gloomy again.

"No" Guo Qizuo answered the order happily, Zhang Shen and Zhou Dewei did not question either. They also hated those officials who bullied the village and the people in the name of the government, and naturally agreed with Zhu Li's decision.

"Guo Chongtao, you and Zhang Shen are responsible for handling other government affairs in the governor's mansion. By the way, we give priority to helping the people solve their difficulties, advocating education, encouraging the construction of private schools in cities, towns, and even villages, and setting rewards must be implemented." Zhu Li thought of the scene of warriors rising and literati withering in history in the late Tang Dynasty, and focused on the story.

"No" Zhang Shen, Guo Chongtao responded quickly.

"As for Zhou Dewei, are you a military general?" Zhu Li looked at Zhou Dewei, who was as dark as a carbon head.

"Yes, the messenger."
Chapter completed!