Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 835 Surrender
"If the general is willing to take action, Tubo can be destroyed in a day and night!" Murong Miao said with a smile: "In this way, thousands of miles west of Chang'an will be bathed in Han breeze, and the imperial court will no longer have to worry about looking westward!"

"Don't make things too simple!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "I just said that we would get rid of Qinling and recover Qinghai at most. As for attacking the Tibetan headquarters, forget it. The snowy plateau has high mountains and dangerous roads and the climate is very cold. At my age, I’d better forget it!”

"That's true!" Di Renjie said: "The general is the pillar of the country, how can he act lightly? In fact, as long as we can regain the land of Hehuang in Qinghai, we will cut off Tubo's arm, and the rest will be simple. Leave it to the younger generations. "

Wang Wenzuo nodded. In his opinion, the main conflict between Tang and Tubo was actually the competition for the Longyou area of ​​Qinghai. For Tang, the Longyou area of ​​Qinghai was not only related to the control of the Silk Road, but also related to the security of the core area of ​​Guanzhong. , it is inevitable to fight; and for Tubo, Qinghai is not only the most convenient way out of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but also has fertile land, suitable for farming and animal husbandry. Once Qinghai is lost, the existing agricultural foundation of the plateau will be the only one to maintain the existing Tubo It is difficult to unify the country.

Therefore, although there were intervals of peace during the war between Tubo and Tang, it lasted for nearly two hundred years, almost at the same time as the two empires. The reason is that the war between the two sides was determined by their geopolitics, not by the great achievements of a certain emperor. The geographical environment also determines that it is difficult for the Tang Empire to project its power to the snowy plateau, so Wang Wenzuo's plan is only to destroy and kill Qinling in his lifetime, take back Qinghai, and leave the rest to his descendants! His main energy should still be reserved for balancing the strength among the disciples and promoting the colonization of the New World as much as possible.

Wang Wenzuo's entry into Beijing set off a new wave in Chang'an's political arena. The princes in the court have realized that since Hebei's semi-separated state has become a fait accompli, they must maintain the relationship between the two parties and ensure the legitimacy of Hebei's rule in Chang'an. recognition is the most important thing. Wang Wenzuo's personal visit to pay homage to the emperor is undoubtedly the best recognition of this legitimacy. After all, in the traditional political discourse system of ancient China, although the status of the emperor was supreme, there were also semi-independent princes. Although Wang Wenzuo was not the king of the Li clan, he also obtained the status of a relative through marriage with the royal family, and there were With enough military merit, it makes sense to serve as Fang Bo and control the barbarian tribes in the east, just like Qi Huan and Jin Wen in the Spring and Autumn Period.

Now that it makes sense from a political and ethical perspective, the last obstacle that prevented these people from visiting Wang Wenzuo no longer existed. Whether it’s to reminisce about old friendships or to prepare for the future, the front door of Wang Wenzuo’s mansion is already bustling with people and cars and horses. It seems that the things that happened in the past no longer exist, and it is completely a scene of flowers and fire cooking. scene.

"Xu Shaoxun, a doctor in the merit examination department, begged Mr. Wang to pass on Wang Fang Bo to see him!" An official in a scarlet robe presented Di Renjie with a famous thorn in both hands. Di Renjie took the assassination and showed an apologetic smile: "Mr. Xu, my master has some distinguished guests at the moment. I'm afraid I won't be able to see him today!"

"Of course, of course!" Xu Shaoxun was not surprised at all: "Then tomorrow -"

"If the general wants to enter the palace tomorrow, I'm afraid he won't be able to do it!" Di Renjie said with a smile: "Let's do this! Why don't you allow the doctor to go back first? If the general is free, I should send someone to the palace to inform you. How about that?"

"Then there's Mr. Lao Lang!" Xu Shaoxun bowed his hands to Di Renjie and exited the door. He walked to his carriage and looked at the rows of carriages and horses in the alley. He couldn't help but smile proudly, as if he himself What has been won.

Di Renjie did not lie. Wang Wenzuo did have a guest at this time. Zhang Wenguan, who had just been promoted to the rank of servant, came to visit with an important task, which was to discuss the tax issue in Hebei with Wang Wenzuo.

According to the political structure at the founding of the Tang Dynasty, it was generally a two-level structure of central government - state - county. The so-called Tao was only a temporary supervisory agency with no actual administrative power. This can also be seen from the grade of the governor of the state. The governor of Shangzhou is already the third grade. From the grade point of view, this is the highest grade that a courtier may be promoted to under normal circumstances, similar to the status of a county governor in the Han Dynasty. (In the Han Dynasty, the county governor had two thousand shi, and other central official positions except Sangong also only had 2,000 shi)
However, since the states in the Tang Dynasty were much smaller in terms of land area and population than the counties and feudal states in the Qin and Han Dynasties, and their number was much larger (about four hundred), so for the convenience of governance, this temporary The power of the supervisory agencies has also become more and more powerful. For example, after Wang Wenzuo took office in Hebei, he actually became the local chief executive.

But this raises a new question: Does Hebei still have to pay taxes to the central government? If so, how much do you pay? How much of the tax paid will be shipped to Guanzhong and how much will stay locally? Before Wang Wenzuo came to Chang'an this time, no one dared to raise this issue with Hebei. Generally speaking, they would take whatever they gave. But since Wang Wenzuo himself came this time, Zhang Wenguan, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, had to come forward in person. Gong to gong and drum to drum with Wang Wenzuo made the matter clear.

"Sanlang!" Zhang Wenguan picked up the tea cup and blew it gently: "The last time we met was four years ago. This time you have gray hair on your temples, and you have aged a lot!"

"My son is about to get a wife, how can I not grow old?" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "But the world is like this, so we can only move forward with all our strength!"

"Sanlang, this is not just about getting a wife!" Zhang Wenguan laughed: "Who in Chang'an wouldn't envy you to have such a promising son as Hu Liang?"

Wang Wenzuo smiled. He knew that the old man must have something more to say, so he simply shut up and waited quietly. Zhang Wenguan took a sip of tea: "The next generation has to deal with the next generation, and we also have to deal with our own generation. Sanlang, have you ever thought about how to deal with the taxes in Hebei?"

"How to say?"

"There are ten roads in the Tang Dynasty, and the household registration in Hebei is the first. In the past, millions of grains and silk were transported to Chang'an every year. You are now in charge of this road as Fangbo. It is not impossible to follow the story of Qi Heng and Jin Wen, but the tribute is always Do you have to pay it?" Zhang Wenguan asked: "Otherwise, how can the imperial court maintain its annual financial expenditure?"

"That's what Prime Minister Zhang taught you!" Wang Wenzuo nodded: "Wang is a minister of the Tang Dynasty, and Hebei is a prefecture and county of the Tang Dynasty. Naturally, he has to pay taxes. In the past few years, due to special circumstances, the taxes paid were somewhat irregular. It’s normal. Please forgive me. How much should I pay and how should I pay it?”

Seeing Wang Wenzuo agreeing so happily, Zhang Wenguan breathed a sigh of relief. Of course he knew that after this incident, the taxes sent from Hebei to Chang'an would definitely be much less than before, but as long as Wang Wenzuo nodded, the remaining specific figures would be You can talk about it, it’s much better than taking what you get now as much as others give you.

He considered his tone, stretched out his right hand and made a "seven" gesture: "How about this, how about 70% of the year when he ascended the throne?"

"Did Prime Minister Zhang say 70% of the taxes from Hebei or 70% of the money shipped to Chang'an?" Wang Wenzuo asked.

"Of course it's 70% that was shipped to Chang'an!" Zhang Wenguan nodded.

Wang Wenzuo laughed when he heard what Zhang Wenguan said. Taxes in the Tang Dynasty were generally divided into three parts: offering to the emperor, sending envoys, and staying in the state, which supplied Chang'an, envoys, and states respectively. Zhang Wenguan was equivalent to dividing the original Chang'an. The price was discounted by another 30%, which was considered a big concession.

"Let's go with 80%!" Wang Wenzuo smiled: "But instead of using one year's figures, take the average of the last five years. It's more fair! How about that?"

Zhang Wenguan also didn't expect Wang Wenzuo to be so easy to talk to, so he couldn't help but be overjoyed: "The general is really angry, so let's leave it as it is!"

"But I also have a condition!" Wang Wenzuo stretched out a finger.

"What conditions?"

"Although Hebei is under the jurisdiction of Wang, it is still a county of the Tang Dynasty!" Wang Wenzuo said: "The flow of merchants from the two places is within one country, not two countries. Prefectures and counties in various places are not allowed to obstruct or increase taxes for various reasons. We must not harm merchants from Hebei, and we must not ban the circulation of goods from Hebei. As long as we agree to this request, I will agree that Hebei will pay the taxes as they are. How about that?”

"This -" Zhang Wenguan thought for a moment: "I don't have any objections, but I have to discuss it with the officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs before I can give you an answer!" "That's okay, then I'll leave the next thing to the people below. Let's discuss it!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "We old people, let's have some tea first!"

Zhang Wenguan also knew that there must be many details that needed to be discussed for such an important matter, and it was impossible for him and Wang Wenzuo to discuss them one by one in person. However, since Wang Wenzuo had already nodded on the big deal, his trip was not in vain. Feeling relaxed, he also smiled and said, "Okay, let's have a taste of the General's good tea today!"

After sending Zhang Wenguan away, Di Renjie came in from the outside: "General, is Prime Minister Zhang gone?"

"Well!" Wang Wenzuo spread his arms and moved his shoulders: "He should be here today on the order of the emperor to discuss the matter of offering sacrifices to Hebei!"

"Oh? How much is he asking for?" Di Renjie's eyes lit up.

"Seventy percent! Calculated based on the year he ascended the throne!"

"It's not bad!" Di Renjie smiled: "It saves effort to deal with smart people!"

"Xiang Zhang is a sensible person, so naturally he won't ask for trouble by asking for trouble!" Wang Wenzuo smiled: "I have promised him to give 80%, but it must be calculated based on the average of the five consecutive years!"

"Ah?" Di Renjie was surprised: "To protect the good young master, or to fight against Tibet?"

"Some, but not all!" Wang Wenzuo smiled: "I made a condition. The court can ask for these tributes, but it must not treat Hebei differently in terms of the circulation of goods."

"Treat each other differently?" Di Renjie asked: "What does the general mean -?"

"Just increase taxes or prohibit inflow!" Wang Wenzuo said: "If nothing happens, Hebei's industry and commerce will become more prosperous in the next few years, and many commodities such as woolen fabrics, salt, and medicines will flow into various parts of the Tang Dynasty in large quantities. Compared with these , the extra payment we made is nothing at all!”

Although Di Renjie has always been shrewd and capable, Di Renjie was still doubtful about Wang Wenzuo's predictions about the outside world. Wang Wenzuo saw this and smiled: "You have stayed in Chang'an for a long time. Let's put it this way, you have the opportunity to go to Cangzhou. At the local port You can understand by looking at the prices of various goods in the market.”

"General, do you want me to go back to Hebei?"

"Well, it's enough to have Murong Mu here in Chang'an. You can go back to Hebei and stay in Fanyang for a few months, and then go to the Andong Protectorate to be the chief historian, majoring in Linhai Road and opening up Liaoze!"

"I obey!" Di Renjie cheered up. Since the governor of the Andong Protectorate was a distant leader of the royal family by convention, Chang Shi was the actual chief officer, and he was finally given sole control.

As the saying goes, there is no airtight wall in the world, and this is especially true in Chang'an. Within a few days of the secret conversation between Zhang and Wang in the study, Hebei's previous agreement to pay 80% of the debt had already spread throughout Chang'an's restaurants and bars. This undoubtedly greatly improved Wang Wenzuo's reputation among Chang'an citizens.

The reason is simple. The citizens may not be interested in whether Hebei is submissive to the imperial court, but no one cares about the price of grain. The grain and cloth shipped from Hebei to Guanzhong every year are closely related to the food and warmth of the citizens of Chang'an.

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It was sunset when Hu Liang walked out of the Qinling Mountains. The western sky seemed like a golden and purple tapestry, and the clouds bloomed with bright red brilliance. Behind him, the snow-covered mountaintop shone brightly, and the granite walls on the hillside not far away glowed faintly red. As the day draws to a close, the mountain itself changes from gold to orange, then to purple, and finally to black.

"It's so beautiful!" Hu Liang exclaimed as he put a leather bag filled with beans to his mount's mouth. His mount was a cross between an Arabian horse and a Liangzhou horse. It was fast and tireless. When other horses were exhausted, , they can still walk a long way, even so, they have to feed the horses.

"How long until we get to Chang'an!"

"It should be a long time!" Hou Mo and Chen Ping said with a smile: "Sir, do you miss the eldest princess?"

"It's a bit!" Hu Liang said with a smile: "When I was in Chengdu, I was so busy all day long that I didn't think much about it. But these days when I have nothing to do on the road, I miss it!"

"Young couples love each other the most!" Houmo Chenping said with a smile: "But don't worry, young master. After returning to Chang'an this time, you will not leave Chang'an very often!"

"Why?"

"You are already a prince-in-law!" Hou Mo and Chen Ping said with a smile: "Your identity is different from the past!"

Hu Liang didn't speak. He understood what Hou Mo and Chen Ping meant by not finishing his sentence. He smoothed the horse's mane, moved the bag away from the horse's mouth, tied a knot and put it away again, shook the reins and said, "Let's go!"

After Hu Liang arrived in Chang'an, he did not go to see his father immediately. Instead, he went to the Ministry of War to pay his errand. Then he went to the palace to pay homage to the emperor and the eldest princess. That night, he came to Wang Wenzuo's residence.