Liu Feng also said, "The court began hoarding grain in those years, but the consumption of troops in various regions was too great. Moreover, there are signs of drought this year, and I fear grain will be scarce in many places. If so, after half a year, without new supplies, our army's provisions will be in short supply."
Liang Xiao nodded slightly, his brow furrowed.
When it comes to marching and fighting, logistics have always been a major problem. It is not an exaggeration to say that war is fought by logistics.
Once the grain in the granaries of various regions is depleted, the nearly one million troops in the Western Regions, Jiangnan, the Eastern Sea, and Liaodong, along with a large number of cavalry, will require at least three million logistical support.
This is even with the Great Qian state providing mobile supplies like cattle and sheep, which are grazed along the way and used as a source of meat during wartime. Otherwise, the logistical pressure would be even greater.
A total of at least four million people would be out of productive labor, which would be a considerable burden on the Great Qian state's production.
This would be manageable if it were not a lean year, but once lean years arrive, the pressure on grain production becomes even greater.
If it weren't for the land reclamation and the policy of "tan ding ru mu" (a tax reform) that increased the people's enthusiasm for production, along with new crops to alleviate famine, the Great Qian state would indeed be unable to support a multi-front war, even with tens of millions of taels of gold.
Currently, the grain output of the Great Qian state has reached the limit of what human labor can achieve; there are no more people to invest in farming.
The granaries prepared in the Luzhou area several years ago have been depleted, relying entirely on local harvests and supplies from the rear.
Because of the poor harvests in various regions last year, many stored grains were used to aid disaster victims and stabilize the situation in Jiangnan.
It is now autumn, and the new crops are about to be harvested. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn can help somewhat fill the deficit in grain for the Jiangnan army, but this can only last for two or three months!
If the harvests of grains in various regions are poor, then the logistics will need to be re-allocated.
However, the Western Regions, the Eastern Sea, and Liaodong also require provisions...
"Marshal! The people of Luzhou are eagerly offering their household grain, waiting in the square outside the military camp!"
At this moment, a messenger officer arrived, startling everyone. They all followed Liang Xiao out of the military camp.
Exiting the camp, Liang Xiao looked into the distance at the relief sculptures.
The several pictures recorded on them were of him and Zhuo Zifang directing and dispatching troops on the platform, defeating the rebels, and the second picture depicted General Tian capturing generals and seizing flags, striking terror in all directions.
[Marquis An Guo and Lord Zhuo, may your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your lifespan as enduring as the Southern Mountains!]
[General Tian, may your legacy be immortal!]
Several inscriptions below were neatly arranged.
At this moment, thousands of people had gathered in the square, mostly young and strong men, each with one or two sacks beside them. The grains inside some of the sacks were faintly visible.
Upon hearing of Liang Xiao's arrival, the people were all invigorated and eagerly opened their sacks, revealing the rice and grains inside.
"Marquis An Guo, have our soldiers been fighting for a year? Are you short of provisions?"
"Our family began hoarding grain like the court two years ago. After de-husking, it can be consumed. Now, we offer it to the soldiers for free to ensure they have sufficient provisions!"
A young man explained excitedly, and the surrounding people echoed his sentiments.
"If you all offer your stored grain, what will you eat?" Liang Xiao asked.
The young man explained, "We have agreed among ourselves. We usually eat coarse food and have a meal of rice every two or three days. We won't starve to death!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers behind Liang Xiao looked ashamed.
Seeing Liang Xiao fall silent, the young man replied, "Marquis An Guo need not worry. For us common people, it is only after the court repels the enemy that we can live and work in peace. If Luzhou falls, we will all be massacred!"
Liang Xiao smiled and nodded, "Everyone, please take your stored grain home and eat and drink as usual. In another while, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn will also be harvested."
"Understood! We will eat these things, and the stored grain will be reserved for the court's requisition!" the young man said joyfully.
"No, I mean that these newly harvested crops, combined with the remaining stored grain, will be sufficient for our army for half a year," Liang Xiao repeatedly shook his head. Then, with a burning gaze, he added, "I guarantee that within half a year, our army will break the enemy's forces and drive them out of Jiangnan!"
Upon hearing this, soldiers and civilians alike cheered with excitement.
"As expected of Marquis An Guo!"
Returning to the military camp, Zhuo Ying and others looked troubled.
"Marshal, the enemy forces are strong, and they have a continuous supply of provisions. If our army is to defeat them all within half a year, we must cut off their supply lines, but our army does not have enough cavalry..."
Liang Xiao said without hesitation, "I will send someone to notify Yanzhou to bring the Great Qian's elite cavalry over, improve the army's supplies, and dispatch more cattle and sheep."
Everyone was surprised and delighted.
The Great Qian's elite cavalry had always been trained in Yanzhou, and only the Divine Arrow Corps had been taken to the desert and achieved great merit.
The Great Qian's heavy cavalry, due to their heavy equipment, were not suitable for desert warfare.
But in Jiangnan, it was different. There were mostly plains, and the enemy forces were primarily infantry!
"We cannot place our hopes on the Marquis of Zhenguo of Great Liang to restrain his troops; we must consider the Great Liang army as a whole and defeat them together!" Liang Xiao clenched his fist and said resolutely.
In the Great Liang country, on the banks of the Heng River, countless medium and large merchant ships were carrying potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and some grain, crossing the river northward.
"Regent! The noble families, in addition to collecting grain from the common people, are also using their land to plant new crops. Our country has a bumper harvest this year!"
Qin Feng's expression was grim as he listened to his dejected subordinate's report.
The Great Liang country is located south of the Heng River, with a hot climate. The sowing and harvesting of new crops are slightly faster than in the Great Qian state.
After several years of promotion, the people of Great Qian can now grow new crops, so it is not surprising that these noble families can cultivate them on a large scale.
However, if this is the case, even if the Ministry of Revenue cuts off the grain supply to the front lines, the Great Liang army on the front lines will still have new supplies, and they will not retreat...
Ye Chengxiu reminded, "If we dispatch troops to intercept those merchant ships, not only will we be in the wrong, but we will also need to deploy a large number of troops, which could easily leave the capital and the rear vulnerable, allowing the forces of Dong Chen and others to take advantage of the situation..."
Qin Feng gritted his teeth and said, "Dispatch ten thousand troops from the Zhenbei Army and order those merchant ships to return immediately. Only mention the front-line war, strictly prohibit aiding the enemy, and execute anyone who violates this. Since they are crossing the river under the guise of merchant ships to provide support, we can also act with righteousness and recover as much as possible. After all, regular merchants would not risk going to Jiangnan in Great Qian to sell rice at this time!"
Mu Xuan and Dong Chen's faction were constantly waiting for the capital to be empty so they could strike back. He had to ensure that the capital had enough Xuan Guards, Zhenbei Army, and Northern King's Imperial Guards.
As ten thousand Zhenbei Army troops left the capital, only ten thousand Xuan Guards, ten thousand Northern King's Imperial Guards, and five thousand Zhenbei Army troops remained in the vicinity of the Great Liang capital.
At this time, a group of Xuan Guards was still searching in the palace, hoping to find the records mentioned by those palace maids years ago.
However, due to the renovation of the palace and Mu Xuan residing in this imperial chamber, the Xuan Guards had been unable to find an opportunity to act.
Mu Xuan received the news of the Zhenbei Army's sortie and was furious, "Ingrates! Take this opportunity to immediately summon the southern barbarians to serve the king!"
To the south of the Great Liang country, there were also barbarian natives with considerable influence, who were also connected to the Rejuvenation Sect...