The dinner party held by Jie Feng was indeed extremely luxurious. As expected, it must have been provided by Guo Huai.

However, Guo Huai was not present. This reception banquet can be regarded as a private banquet in the Yongliang Governor's Mansion. There were not many people attending the banquet. Except for Cao Liang, Yanghu, and Du Yu, there were only a few close generals of Xiahou Xuan.

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At the banquet, Cao Liang met Ren Lan, an old acquaintance.

Ren Lan was Xia Houxuan's long history when he was the general in the southern expedition, and he could also be regarded as Cao Liang's predecessor. Since Huainan returned to Luoyang, the two of them had not seen each other for almost a year. When they met, Cao Liang was slightly embarrassed.

Embarrassing, although it was said that this position of chief historian was not requested by him, but by Xia Houxuan's repeated request, Cao Liang was still a little embarrassed.

However, Ren Lan has no grudges and is very calm. In fact, Ren Lan also knows very well that the last time he led the Southern Conquest Army out of trouble, it was entirely due to Cao Liang's performance. If he really led the army, he doesn't know where he would go.

In a dead end.

In a sense, Cao Liang saved his own life. If Cao Liang had not made plans and fought bravely to kill the enemy, the entire Southern Expedition Army would have been overturned. However, under the overthrow of the nest, there would have been no eggs left intact.

So it was all thanks to Cao Liang that he could save his life.

The position of the chief historian is the most important. Not only is he the right-hand man of the general, he must handle the general affairs of the general's palace, he must also provide advice and plans to the general, and he is responsible for leading the entire army when the general is unable to attend to matters for some reason.

After Xia Houxuan was suddenly injured in the last battle of Huainan, the command of the Southern Army rested on Ren Lan's shoulders, which felt like a heavy responsibility. But Ren Lan was stretched thin and struggled to move forward.

If Cao Liang had not stepped forward to take charge of the overall situation, the consequences would have been truly unpredictable.

In fact, at that time, Ren Lan had the idea of ​​​​giving up the position of chief historian to Cao Liang, and let him unified the command. However, doing so would involve all aspects of the problem. In addition, the war was tense and it was not continuous.

So Renlan had no choice but to do it.

This time Xia Houxuan went on an expedition again, and Xia Houxuan arranged for him to serve as the food and grass transportation envoy. Ren Lan was filled with joy and relieved.

The Grain and Forage Transport Supervisor is responsible for the army's grain and fodder supplies and logistical equipment. Ren Lan feels that this job is very suitable for him. At least he does not have to hold the position of long history with heavy responsibilities. Ren Lan feels a lot more relaxed.

What's more, this position is also very important. Food, grass and baggage are related to the survival of the army. Before the troops and horses are moved, food and grass go first, which shows its importance.

Ren Lan was quite good at doing this kind of thing, so when he met Cao Liang again, Ren Lan felt at ease and calm, without any intention of being offended.

Seeing Ren Lan like this, Cao Liang was in a good mood and had a great time chatting with Ren Lan.

Ren Lan was recruited by Xia Houxuan immediately. When he accompanied Xia Houxuan to Chang'an, when talking about the food and grass affairs, Ren Lan had a look of helplessness on his face.

The main task of Ren Lan's Grain and Forage Transport Supervisor is to supervise the transportation of grain and fodder, but so far, the grain and fodder that has been raised is much less than planned. Ren Lan is quite a clever woman and it is hard to make a meal without rice.

The problem of food and grass has now become the most troublesome problem for Xiahou Xuan. According to the original plan, nearly 70% of the food and grass must be raised from Guanzhong. The cost of food and grass for an army of 150,000 is really not a small amount.

According to the plan, nearly 500,000 grains and grasses will be raised from the Guanzhong area. However, so far, less than one-third of the grains and grasses raised have been raised. As the New Year is approaching, Cao Shuang's original date of conquering Shu is getting closer and closer.

As they got closer, Xia Houxuan became extremely anxious, and Ren Lan was at his wits' end.

After all, Ren Lan is just a food and grass supervisor. Without food and grass, he can't create it out of thin air.

Cao Liang couldn't help but be a little surprised. Farming had already been implemented in Yongliang many years ago. Military and civilian villages were developed simultaneously. The army also actively devoted itself to the construction of farming in its spare time. There were many places in Yongliang.

Is it possible that it is so difficult to bring out 500,000 dendrobium grains from the granary?

Ren Lan explained with a wry smile that as the war subsided in the Yongliang area in the past few years, and after Sima Yi, who had previously attached great importance to the farming, resigned, the farming has become increasingly deserted. The farming that can still be maintained now is no longer ten percent of what it was at the time.

One two.

Coupled with this year's severe drought in Guanzhong and the grain harvest, several granaries near Chang'an cannot even produce a single grain of grain. The warehouses are cleaner than their faces, and even many officials' salaries are in arrears for several months.

If we don’t come out, how can we raise 500,000 bushels of grain and grass?

This is indeed the biggest problem facing Xia Houxuan. His main purpose of coming to Guanzhong in advance for this trip is to prepare food and grass. However, the current shortage of food and grass will seriously affect the army's expedition plan.

Hearing that Cao Liang and Ren Lan talked about the food and grass issue, Xia Houxuan stopped hiding it and revealed the situation to Cao Liang. Anyway, after Cao Liang officially takes office tomorrow, the issue of food and grass needs to be solved urgently.

Xia Houxuan and Ren Lan said much the same thing. In short, if the food problem is not solved for one day, the army's expedition will be delayed for one more day.

As for whether grain and grass can be mobilized from Luoyang and other areas, it is indeed contrary to the original intention. After all, Luoyang originally planned to mobilize nearly 300,000 dendrobium of grain and grass, which is already limited by its ability. If it wants to increase the quota, it is indeed

It is also a difficult matter.

After hearing this, Cao Liang fell into deep thought.

The first thing Guo Huai wants to do is the issue of food and grass. For many years, the power in the Yongliang area has been concentrated in their hands. If Guo Huai wants to sabotage this conquest of Shu, the simplest thing to do is to clear out Chang'an.

Several nearby granaries put Xiahou Xuan in a state of having no food to adjust. In this way, the Wei army's expedition plan could easily be aborted.

The so-called abandoned farmland was naturally arranged by Guo Huai. Otherwise, how could a good farmland be abandoned for no reason? Guo Huai was a smart and strong man. Obviously, there was a lot of trouble hidden in this farmland matter.

But now is not the time to solve the farming problem. Even if the farming is done, water from afar cannot quench the thirst nearby. If the farming wants to reap benefits, it will have to wait until at least next autumn.

How could Xia Houxuan wait so long now? All he needed was to raise 500,000 hu of grain and grass within one or two months. Anything else was nonsense.

When he thought of this problem, Xia Houxuan felt tight in his chest and kicked the ball directly to Cao Liang: "Ziming, you are very resourceful. Think of a way to raise this shortfall of food. The only way to go out with the army is to
Chapter completed!