This time, when Xiao Yu followed Li Xiang to Sichuan, he indeed mobilized a lot of family resources, but the corresponding gains were also good. More than a dozen young men in the family have come to Sichuan, and they all have experience in governing a region. After returning to Chang'an in the future, this will be a precious asset. No matter which government office they are arranged in, other people can't explain it. If you want to stop it, you have to see whether the person you promote has this experience.
"Speaking of this matter, I have to thank Your Highness on their behalf. However, the territories of the four chieftains also need a large number of local officials. Now the court has given us a list. I wonder what Your Highness thinks?"
Xiao Yu thought of another thing. Since the territories of the four chieftains have belonged to the Tang Dynasty, we have the right to set up local officials here. However, they cannot appoint local officials themselves. If you appoint and dismiss them yourself, then what is the use of the Ministry of Personnel of the imperial court?
"The court is giving us a lot of support now. They want to place people here, but we can't send them all back. You can bargain with the court and let them place at most one-third of the people. You can also send a few people from your family, and I'll take care of the rest myself."
When dividing the cake, Li Xiang was never shy and took more than half of the officials in one gulp. After all, this place was conquered by others. Xiao Yu also helped Li Xiang a lot, so he was able to get a piece of meat in advance. Think about the large families in Chang'an City, they may have been fighting for these places. What does it matter if we suffer a little in Sichuan? Isn't it all for the next generation of our family?
Xiao Yu was fishing while handling some documents. When Li Xiang nodded, he immediately wrote down this item. Even though he was the highest administrative officer in Sichuan, there were some things that required Li Xiang's approval. Li Xiang had conquered this place with his own hands. If you think that the power to divide the cake is in your hands, then you are going a bit too far.
"There's news about His Highness, there's news about His Highness..."
Xiao Yu was writing when he was startled by the loud voice. In the distance, Qin Huaiyu was waving a letter. It seemed that there was news from the south. Everyone's attention was focused on the south in the past few days. Unexpectedly, the two brothers couldn't help it so soon. If he had known it would be like this, Li Xiang would simply not come back. It would be better for him to guide them on the spot in the south.
"You need to temper your temper. You come from the Duke's Mansion after all, and your father has taught you often that you should be more shrewd when encountering things. You are about to set out with the army. If you are still so jumpy when encountering something, wouldn't it be a disgrace to our Tang Dynasty?"
Xiao Yu is an old minister who has served three dynasties. Let alone Qin Huaiyu, even if Qin Huaiyu's father Qin Qiong is here, Xiao Yu can say a few words if he wants to. He is considered an old man in the court, so when Xiao Yu speaks, Qin Huaiyu can only stand there obediently.
"Don't talk about him, old man. Young men like him may not have made great military achievements, but they all have laurels on their heads. This kid, on the other hand, has only done the finishing work. Now it's his turn to go to the battlefield, so of course he's a little more excited than others."
Seeing Qin Huaiyu's reserved look, Li Xiang also wanted to say a few words for him in his heart. After hearing this, Xiao Yu finally showed a smile on his face. Young generals must always remember that they represent the face of our Tang Dynasty in the outside world. If they are so naive, they will probably be laughed at in the future.
In Xiao Yu's opinion, if Qin Huaiyu embarrassed himself, it would not only bring shame to his own people, but also his father, General Qin Qiong, who would probably not be able to hold his head up. It is better to say a few words now than to be embarrassed in the future.
"Your Highness is right. Since you have something important to discuss, I will go back first and go fishing with Your Highness another day."
Xiao Yu was very self-aware. He knew that he was only in charge of Sichuan's civil affairs. If there were any military or national affairs, he would never stay here on his own initiative unless Li Xiang asked him to stay. This was also one of the reasons why he had been able to remain undefeated for many years.
"This isn't a big deal. We'll need your cooperation later. After their army heads south, all the food and fodder supplies will be provided by you. Although a lot has been shipped from Chang'an, it will take a lot of time to transport them back."
In Li Xiang's opinion, the most important thing for the army's southward advance is not what happens on the battlefield, because what happens on the battlefield can be predicted now. No matter which of the two brothers wins, they can never be the opponent of our Tang Dynasty army. The most important thing is that the logistical supply must keep up.
Li Xiang himself came from Nanzhao Kingdom, so he naturally knew Nanzhao's supply capacity. If tens of thousands of people were to go in at once in peacetime, there would naturally be no problem. But now the war has started, and no one knows to what extent this war will spread. Once it spreads from the royal city to the whole country, the supply of food will have to rely entirely on Sichuan. In addition to our own army, we must also transport a large amount of food if we want to stabilize the local society.
Of course, if the war had not affected a large area and only affected the army, then the food in Sichuan could have been saved. The Nanzhao Kingdom had stored a lot of good things over the years, so it would have been no problem to satisfy their food, drink, and defecation needs, and it would not have brought too much burden to the Tang Dynasty's takeover. However, the situation on the battlefield was changing rapidly, and no one knew what would happen next, so being adequately prepared was what a mature person should do.
"Please rest assured, Your Highness. Although only one season's worth of grain has matured, the government granaries around Chengdu are full. Most importantly, we've reclaimed a lot of wasteland, and Your Highness has given us a lot of good seeds. We're not short of food here now. Even without support from Chang'an City, I can still provide enough food for tens of thousands of people to keep them well fed for three years."
Xiao Yu was indeed a capable man. The war with the chieftains had just ended a few months earlier. Combined with the previous agricultural promotion, in just one season of grain, he had already changed Sichuan's long-standing chronic problems. Based on this alone, I'm afraid no one in the entire Tang Dynasty court had this ability.
The reason why Li Xiang wanted to bring him here was because of his ability. Instead of growing old in Chang'an City, it would be better for him to come to Sichuan and make use of his remaining energy.
