Han Shizu

Chapter 507 Deng Qingliu, discuss the aftermath

Previously, when the details of the peace were discussed between the Han and Tang Dynasties, Liu Chengyou drove south to Liyang. After the peace treaty was concluded, there was no more war in Huainan. Months of war can be declared over.

On February [-]th, Liu Chengyou traveled northward from Liyang, arrived in Chuzhou, and stayed in Qingliu County.It was probably the end of the war, the strategy of the Southern Expedition was achieved, and a complete victory was won. Liu Chengyou relaxed and took advantage of the good weather to climb Qingliu Mountain in the west of the county with Wang Pu and other officials.

It's the mid-spring season, the spring is already strong, and the mountains and forests are full of fresh green.Qingliu Mountain is not high and dangerous, but it is twisty enough. The entrance of the mountain is where Qingliu Pass is located. There are many peonies in the mountains, and the spring is in full bloom. Although the peony is late, the mountains and plains are full of mountain flowers, colorful .

I found a few mountain farmers to act as guides, and walked along the mountain path from Guannan to Guanbei, which can not only play a role in mountain climbing, but also reveal a trail for sneak attack.

Passing through a gap, I really suddenly realized that I leaned against the rocks and took a rest.Listen carefully, besides the chirping of birds, there is also the gurgling of streams, which is the sound of flowing water.

"Please let the water flow through Qingliu Pass, please let the water flow through Qingliu Mountain." Liu Chengyou came to Shixing, read a few words by chance, and then regretted it.

Wang Pu and Li Fang were accompanying them, and they also looked at Liu Chengyou in surprise. Although the emperor occasionally has "good nouns", they are always short and incomplete.Listening to his reciting at this time, it is a school of ordinary poems, and it stops abruptly.

Facing the eyes of the two, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but blushed, waved his hands, and said with a forced smile: "Forget it, I really have no poetic talent, so I made you laugh!"

Hearing this, Li Fang said: "Poetry is ultimately small, and your Majesty's talents are all for governing the country and using soldiers!"

Liu Chengyou didn't care about his compliments, chuckled twice, and then his expression tightened: "What I just chanted just now, you are not allowed to spread it, otherwise, I will not let you down lightly!"

No matter what, if such limericks are spread, it will still damage the wisdom of his great Han emperor.

"Yes!" Seeing this, the people around agreed, but the tone was quite relaxed.

"Li Fang!" Liu Chengyou seemed to change the subject intentionally, and asked, "I heard that you are writing the Chronicle of the Southern Expedition?"

"Exactly!" Li Fang replied: "This time your Majesty's southern expedition took all fourteen prefectures of Huainan, expanded land for thousands of miles, increased the number of people by millions, and surrendered Jianghuai. I have the honor to join the expedition, and carefully observe your Majesty's political strategy and power changes, and the strength of the Han generals He is good at fighting, he feels something in his heart, and if he wants to summarize it, he will record it as an article!"

"That's right!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand and ordered: "After the book is completed, I should present it to you for a glance, and see what kind of account you have written about this expedition to the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Fang naturally responded happily: "Yes!"

"Let me choose a name for this book!" Liu Chengyou looked really interested, and said, "Let's call it "A Brief Introduction to the Southern Expedition"!"

"Yes!"

After resting for a while, Liu Chengyou sent someone to ask how long it would take to leave the mountain, and the guide replied that the mountain road was about twenty miles away.When climbing a mountain, you just ask for a mood and an artistic conception. If you walk a lot on the mountain road, you will be tired.However, no matter how hard or tiring the path I choose, I have to grit my teeth and go on.

"Back then, I was able to travel hundreds of miles with the army, crossing mountains and cross-country, as if walking on flat ground, but after a few years, my body is full of flesh, and my physical strength is exhausted!" Liu Chengyou said with emotion.

They are all like this, but Wang Pu and Li Fang are even more unbearable.Hearing his words, panting heavily, Wang Pu said: "Your Majesty has worked hard to control the people, and the suffering during this period is better than the physical fatigue!"

"On weekdays, working on major military and state affairs, taking leisure time to climb high and look far away is indeed a broad-minded effect!" Liu Chengyou said.

Turning his head, seeing that Wang Pu was really exhausted, Liu Chengyou called out immediately: "Li Jixun!"

Soon, a thin general in front stepped on a winding path and walked quickly: "What is your majesty's order?"

This time, the accompanying guards were two hundred Fengchen battalion guards. It was very easy for them to travel through mountains and rivers.

Pointing at Wang Pu, Liu Chengyou ordered: "Look for the guards, and carry Wang Shangshu on their backs in turn!"

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Pu smiled wryly, but he did not reject the emperor's kindness, but his old eyes were inevitably moved.

Leaning on a guard, he regained his strength, but Wang Pu couldn't help it, and talked about state affairs with Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty, now that the Han and Tang Dynasties are negotiating, the Tang army in Jiangbei is retreating south one after another. Watching its movements, there should be no objection." .I'm going to take care of the aftermath!"

"Wang Qing really, never forgets his official duties for a moment!" Liu Chengyou sighed, and said: "I have been thinking about this for a long time. The battle for martial arts is only half of the victory. Take the land and defend it, secure the people, and resume production. , we still need to invest more energy!"

"Your Majesty wins without arrogance. He has a clear mind. The old minister admires him!" Wang Pu said, "In addition, the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Huainan and the hundreds of thousands of civilians in Huaibei should be returned as soon as possible. It is mid-February, and the agricultural work in the Central Plains has already begun." There was a delay!"

"This matter can indeed be arranged!" Liu Chengyou nodded: "After returning to the camp, an edict was issued to inform all states that all Huaibei servicemen who were recruited in the Southern Expedition will be exempted from two taxes for one year. Those who served before the army , Two years. Those who have made meritorious service will be rewarded separately; those who are casualties will be given pensions. The imperial court has to send a commissioner to take care of the post-war comfort! The victory of the Southern Expedition is not due to the merits of the soldiers alone, it is the hard work of these civilians , and cannot be obliterated!"

For the Northern Han Dynasty, Liu Chengyou's proposal would be a big expense, but he was willing to do so. Compared with the peace of mind, these expenses are nothing.Compared with the harvest of this Southern Expedition, it is nothing. The funds collected from the treasury of each state are already a huge harvest.

In this regard, Wang Pu obviously agreed.

"What do Wang Qing think about the aftermath of the Huainan states?" Liu Chengyou asked.

Wang Pu obviously thought about it. Hearing and asking, he almost didn't think about it, and calmly said: "In my opinion, everything should be stabilized and appeased by the people in Huainan. Although the conquest of Huaihe River did not last long, it has great impact on Huainan. The damage to prefectures and counties was huge, especially the four prefectures of Shou, Si, Chu, and Lu.

Among the states, there are countless people who have fled from their homes and taken refuge in the mountains and forests. We should recruit them as many as possible, return their homes, and restore their farming and mulberry fields.Looking at the Tang government, for the people of Huainan, there are many miscellaneous taxes, and your Majesty can do them all.Corrupt and violent officials in various local governments should follow the law of the Han Dynasty to rectify the law.

It will take less than three years to stabilize the people's hearts and restore their production. With Huainan's heritage, it can become a major food and taxation area for the Han Dynasty, so that the imperial court will no longer suffer from hardship.In addition, most of the officials in Huainan died and went to the south. The imperial court should select talents from the Central Plains to fill the posts, so as to strengthen the rule of the Han Dynasty.For those in Huainan who are willing to serve His Majesty with sincerity, we should also choose those with good reputation and give them preferential treatment, and promise them official positions."

Wang Pu said a lot in one breath, Liu Chengyou walked, listened, nodded and commented: "What Wang Qing said almost coincides with mine!"

"The fourteen prefectures of Huainan are thousands of miles from east to west, a vast land, with thousands of threads, and everything is complicated!" Liu Chengyou sighed.

Wang Pu looked very natural, and said in a relaxed tone: "Your Majesty has overcome the dangers of conquest, and now the overall situation has been settled. It is equally difficult and cumbersome to manage the people and bring order out of chaos, but Your Majesty only needs to be a good minister, calmly handle things. That's it!"

"Wang Qing thinks, who can take charge of Huainan's military affairs?" Liu Chengyou asked casually.

Wen asked, Wang Pu opened his mouth, but held back, and said, "Who does Your Majesty like?"

Liu Chengyou's expression showed a little playfulness: "The day before yesterday, Wang Jun asked me for orders, saying that Huainan is new, and everything is still undecided. He is willing to lead the army and station for me, so as to secure the southeast!"

"Your Majesty didn't agree!" Wang Pu asked.

"Not yet!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand.

Seeing this, Wang Pu heaved a sigh of relief, and immediately said with a serious expression: "Your Majesty, Huainan is an important place, and it must not be shared with others. It should be directly under the central government, ruled by ministers, and guarded by generals!"

The corner of Liu Chengyou's mouth twitched slightly: "Wang Qing means that I want to be in Huainan and separate the military from the government?"

"Exactly!" Wang Pu nodded directly, and got off the guard's back, walked to Liu Chengyou, and said seriously: "Your Majesty, the root of the troubled times of the Tang Dynasty, the power of the feudal town, the imperial court is difficult to control, the stem is weak and the branch is strong, for three generations. , although there has been some improvement, since His Majesty took the throne, he has continuously strengthened the central authority, but the number of states and towns in the world is still huge.

If Your Majesty wants to change course and get rid of the old disadvantages, the new land of Huainan can be used for a new system! "

Liu Chengyou heard Wang Pu's meaning, which is to let him use Huainan as a trial site to completely separate the military from the government.

With a slight smile, Liu Chengyou said: "I really intend to reform the system, divide Huainan into Huaidong and Huaixi, and set up a chief minister to take charge of the administration of one branch; Set up a commanding department in the capital to take charge of a military, governing the defense, regiment training, and township soldiers of the states, supplemented by the forbidden army."

Although Liu Chengyou only briefly mentioned it, it already made Wang Pu's eyes shine.

After a pause, Liu Chengyou continued: "The specific details are still waiting to be returned to Beijing, and the ministers will discuss and customize. But here in Huainan, I have already considered the implementation of the system. I will use you as the governor of Huaidong Road , in charge of political affairs, governing Yangzhou. After returning to the north, all the aftermath matters will fall on Wang Qing!"

Hearing this, Wang Pu didn't say much, just put on a solemn expression, he cupped his hands and said, "Your servant is ordered!"

(End of this chapter)