We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

After resolving the issue of the Luoyang family, Li Che temporarily settled down in Luoyang City.

The heat in Luoyang City was getting worse day by day, and the air was filled with a sense of anxiety.

The city wall had been replaced with a large flag with a dark red dragon and the word "Feng" on it, fluttering in the sultry summer breeze.

Teams of black-armored soldiers patrolled the streets. Although the people did not dare to get as close to them as the people of Feng State, they were no longer afraid of these Fengtian troops.

Although the streets have not yet returned to their former prosperity, the fear they had when the city was broken has disappeared from the faces of the people, and there is more hope in their hearts.

After the Fengtian Army entered the city, there were zero violations of military discipline, and not even a single case of disturbing the public occurred.

Dugu Hong's general's mansion has now become Li Che's residence.

As for Dugu Hong's family, Li Che did not make things difficult for them and they were all properly settled in the separate courtyard.

Even though Dugu Hong made many mistakes, he was still a loyal minister. Li Che respected him for this and naturally would not make things difficult for his family.

In the study, a hint of cool air came out of the ice jar, slightly dispelling the stuffiness in the room.

Li Che was wearing only a thin black uniform, leaning over a large map covering the entire table.

It clearly marks the areas currently controlled by the Fengtian Army, from Feng State to Jin and Qin, and then to the newly acquired Luoyang and most of Yuzhou, as well as Yanzhou captured by Wang Sanchun and Chen Pingzhi, forming a vast northern territory.

Ma Jing of the Northwest Army is the confidant of Emperor Qing, and the Ma family army under his command is also one of the best elite troops in Daqing. Before his death, Emperor Qing said that Ma Jing is trustworthy, and Li Che has already sent people to contact him.

In this way, half of Daqing's territory has fallen into his hands.

Soon, generals including Yue Yun and Yang Xuan walked into the study.

There was no sign of fatigue on the faces of the people, but rather a high fighting spirit.

Li Che raised his head and looked away from the map.

He knew what these killers were doing there. They were probably asking for a fight.

Sure enough, Yelu He was the first to speak in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty, our army has rested for half a month. Why not seize the opportunity and march south, cross the Yangtze River in one swift move, and strike directly at Huanglong?"

Li Che shook his head, picked up a wet towel beside him and wiped the sweat from his forehead, then spoke calmly:

"You, you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry."

Yelu He said doubtfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I don't like tofu."

Li Che was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. This barbarian general had joined the Fengtian Army for several years, but still couldn't understand Xia language.

He could only change his words to something more understandable: "We fought all the way from Shanhaiguan, covering thousands of miles and capturing dozens of cities, large and small."

"The soldiers are human beings, not made of iron. Their bodies are not as strong as yours. They need to rest."

Li Che walked to the window and looked at the leaves outside that were wilting under the scorching sun.

"Besides, look at the weather. It gets hotter the further south you go."

"Most of our Fengtian Army soldiers are from the north and are resistant to cold but not to heat. If we force a march south at this time, the non-combat casualties will probably be higher than the combat casualties."

Yang Xuan interjected, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. There have been numerous cases of heatstroke in the army, and half of the soldiers are still wearing cotton armor. They should change into their uniforms as soon as possible."

"Moreover, the territory we occupy is getting larger and larger. We need to deploy troops to garrison each place to prevent rioters from causing trouble and ensure the stability of the rear."

"General Wang and General Chen sent me a letter saying that Yanzhou was just beginning to be settled and needed time to be digested and consolidated. It's not advisable to move forward rashly."

Li Che nodded approvingly: "That's right, in war, the battle is all about logistics, it's the foundation."

"It's not enough to just occupy territory; we need to digest it and turn it into our strength."

"That's why I asked each unit to rest and recuperate on the spot, strengthen their training, and familiarize themselves with the local climate and soil."

"At the same time, transfer three more armies from Fengguo, Jindi, and Qindi to strengthen the defense of Luoyang and Yanzhou."

This is the importance of strategic depth.

When Li Che attacked Japan, he was able to occupy a large area of ​​Japanese land in one go because he had enough troops.

But it’s completely different in Daqing, Daqing is really too big.

In order to prevent a fire in the backyard, each state, county, and county must retain a certain number of troops to ensure safety.

Li Che walked back to the map and placed his finger heavily on the blue line representing the Yangtze River.

"What we need is not a momentary reckless advance, but a steady and cautious approach. We must cross the Yangtze River in one fell swoop with the force of a mountain and put an end to the false emperor's court once and for all!"

He glanced at the generals and said, "Tell the soldiers to rest well. There will be tough battles in the fall!"

"I obey your command!" Yelu He bowed in response. He also understood that this was the safest strategy.

After the generals dispersed, Li Che called Yang Xuan and asked, "Would you like to accompany me out of the city to inspect the people's livelihood?"

A flash of shyness and joy flashed across Yang Xuan's face. "I will obey your orders."

The two men changed into light armor and walked out of the mansion side by side.

With Li Che's current status, it is not suitable for him to go on incognito visits. He has to display ceremonial guards wherever he goes.

When the people saw the dragon flag, they knew that the emperor had arrived and they all bowed down to pay their respects.

Li Che ordered his troops to hurry out of the city so as not to disturb the people's livelihood.

The scorching sun is still burning, but the wind in the wilderness always brings a hint of flowing air.

The dragon flag procession was not overly ostentatious, but the people working along the way stopped their work and knelt down on the edge of the field in awe.

Compared with the people of Fengguo, the people here have not yet adapted and are naturally cautious.

Li Che rode on Heifeng, looking at the land on both sides that had just regained some vitality, frowning slightly.

Previously, Dugu Hong ordered the people to fortify their walls and clear the fields, and the people lost their land. Now it is too late to sow seeds.

Li Che then ordered the transfer of seeds and agricultural students from Feng State to help the people restore production.

Summer is suitable for growing some fruits and vegetables, especially melons such as loofah. No matter what the yield is, at least people can make some money from them.

"Your Majesty, don't worry too much," Yang Xuan said softly, riding his horse a little behind him. "The agricultural students said these melons grow quickly. As long as we provide enough water and fertilizer, we'll be able to harvest them soon."

"Although it can't provide food, it can still help the people buy some oil and salt, which is already a kindness."

Yang Xuan changed into a light soft armor today. The sun shone on her cheek, and fine beads of sweat oozed from the tip of her nose. There was a hint of gentleness in her heroic look.

The look she gave Li Che was filled with admiration that was difficult to conceal.

Li Che retracted his gaze upon hearing this and smiled at her: "I know, but seeing this vast expanse of land once barren, I always feel that this little bit of green is not enough."

"The issue of land reform... is even more complicated and cannot be rushed."

Li Che originally wanted to distribute the family's land fairly and reasonably to the landless and landless farmers.

However, this involves a series of extremely tedious tasks such as household registration, measurement, allocation, and property rights certification, which requires a large number of grassroots officials and time.

If it is implemented hastily and comprehensively before the foundation of rule is stabilized, it will only cause greater chaos and can only be shelved temporarily.

"Your Majesty is far-sighted," Yang Xuan said in a gentle voice. "Compared to the false emperor who only knew how to exploit, Your Majesty has done so much for the people."

As the two were talking, there was a sudden commotion in the guards ahead.

Then came another low shout: "Stand back! The emperor is here, everyone else should stay away!"

Li Che looked in the direction of the sound and saw a thin, dark-skinned man on a ridge beside the official road. He was being stopped by two bodyguards with long spears. He was looking in the direction of the dragon flag with a look of horror on his face.

"What's the noise?" Li Che asked.

Qiu Bai quickly replied, "Your Majesty, an old farmer insisted on coming here, saying he wanted to give Your Majesty something."

"Oh?" Li Che became interested and waved his hand: "Let him come over."

If it were in Fengguo, there would be quite a lot of such things. Li Che was definitely the biggest star in Fengguo, and he had fans wherever he went.

But he had only seen one citizen in Luoyang who dared to do this.

The guards received the order and made way.

The dark and thin man looked at the fully armed guards around him, his calves trembling, and he almost moved forward.

After seeing Li Che, he knelt down in the dust with a thud, lowered his head, and could not utter a word.

Li Che found it amusing and dismounted, walking up to him and asking, "Old man, if you are so afraid of me, why did you come?"

The man was helped up by Li Che himself. He was so flattered that he was even more incoherent:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... I, Zhao Laoshuan, pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

"I am grateful for your majesty's grace. My old hen at home laid a few eggs, so I saved them... and thought of giving them to your majesty to try..."

Trembling, he took out the thing wrapped in rags from his arms. It was indeed five or six eggs, still covered with the hen's body temperature and grass debris.

The eggs are not big and the colors vary in depth. You can tell at a glance that they were laid by free-range chickens on the farm.

Li Che was slightly startled, then smiled.

Ordinary people value their property more than their life, and they would lick their fingers even if they were to be crouched.

Especially during this lean period, a few eggs may be enough to support a family for several days. How could they be given to me for no reason?

There must be something wrong with Zhao Laoshuan.

But Li Che still took the egg. It was slightly warm to the touch, and his heart moved.

He did not thank me immediately, but deliberately frowned and said in a serious tone: "Zhao Laoshuan, tell me the truth, what exactly do you want to see me about? Have you suffered any injustice?"

Zhao Laoshuan was frightened by Li Che and shuddered, almost collapsing again. He quickly waved his hands: "No, no! Your Majesty, please understand! I just want to ask, is my eldest brother doing well in Fengguo?"

Hearing what Zhao Laoshuan said, Li Che was a little surprised: "Your elder brother is in Fengguo?"

"Yes, yes," Zhao Laoshuan nodded quickly when the emperor asked, "Four or five years ago, there was a severe drought in Luoyang. The fields yielded nothing, and my eldest brother and I couldn't make ends meet."

"Brother...brother left me the few acres of thin land and the old house inherited from our ancestors, and took my sister-in-law and nephew with him, saying that he would go to Fengguo to find a way to make a living..."

Li Che understood that he was worried about his relatives who had moved north.

He shook his head slightly, his tone softening. "I have tens of millions of subjects under my command. How can I possibly recognize every one of them? What's your eldest brother's name?"