A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 1310 Triumph
All rivers flow into the sea.

After half a year of fighting, it was time to return victoriously.

In August, Liaodong was still a thriving scene. The emperor received mooncakes sent by the prince from the Dingzhou base camp.

When the emperor was in Liaodong, he would burn smoke and set fire to the interior of the country every morning and evening to report safety.

Wu Huaiyu also received a box of mooncakes from the prince. This was a special treatment, so the prince gave mooncakes to Li Shimin, Wu Huaiyu and Changsun Wuji separately.

Li Shimin is the prince's father, Wu Ji is the prince's uncle, and Wu Huaiyu is the prince's teacher.

The mooncakes that the prince gave to Huaiyu were placed in an exquisite box, which contained twelve pieces. Each piece weighed two kilograms, which was quite large.

There are also exquisite patterns on the mooncakes.

A two-eared moon rabbit with wings is flying, a toad with a round belly is jumping, and it is surrounded by cassia twigs. This is the Tang people's imagination of the Moon Palace.

Unfortunately, this is a five-nut mooncake. The Tang people like to eat it very much, but Wu Huaiyu hates five-nut mooncakes the most, especially such a large portion.

Pick up another piece, on it is a picture of reunion in the Moon Palace. Under the lush osmanthus tree, the Jade Rabbit is pounding medicine, the toad is leaping, and Chang'e is flying slowly. The pattern is lifelike and extremely exquisite. It is filled with sesame, walnut and jujube kernels, and is not much different from the five-nut one.

The next one is a mooncake with a Baoxiang pattern, which is molded and baked, and filled with grape kernels.

These mooncakes wrapped in red silk are extremely exquisite and huge, like a big bronze mirror. The filling is mainly nuts, with maltose and pastry added.

I took a look at each mooncake and they were all really beautifully made.

The box even comes with an illustrated book of twelve mooncakes with ingredients on them.

In addition to five-nut and grape kernel fillings, there are also date paste, red bean paste, lotus paste, taro paste, bean yellow, bacon, plum and other fillings.

These cakes even have different names. Some are called Lotus Leaf, some are called Golden Flower, and some are called Hibiscus.

The Tang people also had the custom of eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it was also popular to make cakes with flour and give them to relatives and friends.

It’s just that the mooncakes of ordinary people are relatively simple, and may not even have fillings, but the mooncakes given by nobles have rich fillings and exquisite patterns pressed from various molds.

One cake costs hundreds of coins, and ordinary people cannot afford it.

The box of mooncakes that the prince gave to Huaiyu cost several thousand coins. The box alone cost more than a thousand coins, not to mention the small picture album with paintings, poems, legends and stories about mooncakes.

Wu Huaiyu doesn't like eating mooncakes very much.

Especially a mooncake this big.

He called over Wang Fangyi, Zhao Chiman and other generals,
"This is the mooncake given by the prince. Let's share it together."

Looking at the box, everyone knew it was extraordinary.

Wu Huaiyu cut the mooncakes into many small pieces just like sharing pizza, and everyone shared them. The soldiers also made their own mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Wu Huaiyu even paid out of his own pocket to purchase a lot of flour, salted egg yolks, five-nut ingredients, bean paste, jujube paste, etc. from the merchant caravan accompanying the army. He also got a lot of braised meat and made a lot of mooncake fillings of various kinds.

I also bought mold embossing from the caravan.

Although the mooncakes I made myself were not as exquisite as the ones given by the prince, they were also very good and made with plenty of ingredients.

He had a thousand personal soldiers, and each of them was given four mooncakes weighing one pound, which could be used as a snack for enjoying the moon or as a dessert.

Everyone was happy and each of them took a small piece.

The reward from the prince is different from what you have done.

Some people even want to collect this small piece of mooncake.

"Eat it quickly, before it goes bad." Wu Huaiyu scolded with a smile.

The fifteenth moon is sixteen round.

Some people say that the moon is brighter in one's hometown, while others say that the moon in foreign countries is especially round.

A group of rough men shared mooncakes under the moon, chatting about family matters, and their quarrels helped to ease a lot of homesickness. This scene makes people miss their hometown and relatives the most.

Brothers from all over the world shared some stories about their hometowns.

This time, the Eastern Expedition
Of the 1,000 soldiers under Wu Huaiyu's command, 600 were from the Northern Imperial Guards, most of whom were from Guanzhong. 400 were from Huaiyu's clans, or relatives and friends, who came to Liaodong with him in the hope of gaining fame.

Everyone came with a passion.

Overall, the trip was quite rewarding.

All the soldiers who crossed the Yuguan Pass or went out to sea to conquer the east would be directly awarded a medal, and would be rewarded according to their merits in each battle.

In the battle under Liaodong city alone, all of Wu Huaiyu's thousand men were awarded the second rank of honor, and some who performed outstandingly were awarded additional ranks.

Fight all the way down,

Anyway, among his thousand men, the lowest one had obtained the third rank honor, and most of them had obtained the fourth or fifth rank honor.

People like Xue Rengui, who served in white clothes, were favored by the emperor and were directly granted the rank of fifth-rank guerrilla general, the title of Guoyi Duwei of Yunquan Prefecture, and the title of Chief of the North Gate of the Imperial Guards.

Rapid advancement in career and a bright future ahead.

Wang Fangyi and Zhao Zhiman are also good. After all, they have excellent family backgrounds, as well as excellent skills and achievements.

After the expedition to Liao, both of them were awarded the seventh-level honor and were given the honorary title of Light Cavalry Commander, which was equivalent to the fourth rank.

Although the honorary officer is not a real official rank, it is already extremely remarkable.

Moreover, in addition to the honors, the two of them have also obtained the seventh-rank post of Zhechoufu Xiaowei.

This is a real job.

Compared to gaining experience step by step, this saves a lot of years.

"What are your plans next? Do you want to go back to Chang'an or stay here?" Wu Huaiyu took a piece of salted egg yolk mooncake and tasted it carefully. It tasted good, with plenty of ingredients and no added technology or hard work.
"If you return to Chang'an, I can help recommend you to any of the guards or imperial guards you want to join. With your achievements this time and your family background, you can be promoted to a higher position, whether it's a lieutenant general or a chief officer of the Zhechongfu, or a military officer or brigade commander of the various guards. It's all fine."

Wu Huaiyu admired these two people very much. Their abilities were no worse than Xue Rengui's, they just lacked a little bit of luck.

"I have discussed this with my brother Wang, and we want to stay in Liaodong," Zhao Chiman said.

"Have you decided?"

"Yes." Wang Fangyi nodded, "Goguryeo has not been conquered yet, and there will be war next year. There are many opportunities here."

Both of them wanted to gain some fame and honor. Although they had made a lot of progress this time, they received the seventh rank honor and the seventh rank military position.
But when compared with Xue Rengui, they were still far behind, and the two were unwilling to accept the result.

"If you have ambition, I will help you arrange where you want to go."

"Go to the front line." They said in unison.

If they are willing, Wu Huaiyu can also help arrange them into Su Dingfang's Protectorate's Yajun. Now they are colonels, so it would be no problem to promote them to a higher level, but the Protectorate's Yajun is stationed in Liaodong City, which is no longer the front line.

"Have you decided where to go?"

"I want to go to Daxing City or Botan City."

"Me too."

These two cities are located at the mouth of the Yalu River, more than 100 miles away from the mouth of the Yalu River, on the west bank. They were originally the county seat of Xi'anping County from the Han Dynasty to the Sixteen Kingdoms period.

After the Goguryeo occupation, it was renamed Bochu City, which was probably located in Jiuliancheng, northeast of Dandong in later generations.

Pochu City is located at the mouth of Pochu River. A hundred miles upstream along the Yalu River and another thirty miles by small boat is Pochukou. Pochu City was built on the mountains to block the water of the Yalu River for its own protection.

The Poshui River is the Pushi River in later generations.

The city is on the left side of the river mouth. In the Dandong area of ​​later times, there were about nine Goguryeo mountain cities.

Among them, there are two on the banks of the Yalu River. One is Daxing City, which is only about 30 miles away from the mouth of the Yalu River, and the other is Boqi City, which is about 130 miles away from the mouth of the river.

There are also six mountain cities located in the Yalu River and Hunjiang River basins. The Yalu River and Hunjiang River are both tributaries of the Yalu River. Therefore, these nine mountain cities are part of the defense system built by the Goguryeo people around the Yalu River.

But now the two most critical mountain cities have been captured by the Tang army.

Daxing City and Boqi City were captured by the Tang navy, and the important city of Wugut in the northwest was also captured.

In addition, the Wu family had been operating the three islands of Pidao and others at the mouth of the Yalu River for ten years, and the imperial court had opened up a land route from Liaodong through Wugucheng to the mouth of the Yalu River.

This means that although Daxing City and Boqi City are extremely prominent, they are very stable due to the support from land and sea.

But anyone with a discerning eye knew that these two cities would definitely be recaptured by the Goguryeo people.

There is no need to wait until next year for the Tang army to come again.
This year the Goguryeo people will have to launch a counterattack on these two cities.

These two cities are the front-line battlefields, where there are many battles to be fought.

Wang Fangyi and Zhao Chiman were not afraid of fighting, but were afraid of not having a war. They wanted to make merit and were eager to establish achievements. They wanted to take the heads of the Goguryeo people and accumulate their own merits.

"Pang Xiaotai, the governor of Daxingzhou, is an old friend of mine. His son is also my adopted son. If you really want to go there, I can help you arrange it, but you must be mentally prepared. There may be tough battles there, and this winter may even be very difficult to endure."

"We are not afraid. Please help us, General."

"Okay," Huaiyu agreed immediately and arranged for the two of them to go to Daxing City. It was just a matter of his word.

Pang Xiaotai is not only his old friend. When Pang Xiaotai, the barbarian chieftain from southern Lingnan, came to Chang'an, he called him "Pang Xiaotai", his running dog.

Lao Pang even wanted to ask Wu Huaiyu to be his godfather.

With Wu Huaiyu as his backer, the chieftain of Bobai Barbarians has been doing well in the court in recent years. From a third-rank general, he is now appointed as the governor-general, which is also a recognition of his ability by the emperor.

Otherwise, such an important position would not have been given to him.

Wu Huaiyu did what he said and quickly found the relevant people to make the arrangements. To him, the transfer of two small seventh-rank military officers was really not a big deal.

Especially the two of them have strong backgrounds.

"It's all done. Both of you will be transferred to the Daxingzhou Governor's Office and appointed as the Central Guard General. You will command 300 soldiers and guard the two small mountain towns on the west bank of the Yalu River."

The Zhongzhen General commanded a Zhongzhen army of 300 men and was a military officer of the seventh rank.

Compared to their current seventh-rank lieutenant, this general of the central garrison was promoted three levels.

This is the benefit of having a backer.

If they volunteered to stay in Liaodong, they could also be promoted. One of them was from the Wang family of Hedong, one from the Zhao family of Tianshui. They were relatives of the empress and Wu Huaiyu recommended them. Naturally, it would be easy to arrange for them.
What's more, the governor Pang Xiaotai of Daxing City they went to was Wu Huaiyu's man.

"I know you want to make achievements, so I specially arranged this town commander to lead a town of soldiers and guard a small mountain fortress. There are enough opportunities for you to show your abilities. Do your best."

The two were extremely excited, "Thank you, General, for your support."

Wu Huaiyu also arranged several of his own and relatives' nephews and nephews to work under the two men, and asked them to follow them to Daxingzhou. Wu Huaiyu was optimistic about these two men, and picked a few young men to follow them, so that they could help take care of them and support them, and make meritorious deeds together.

Wu Huaiyu did a lot of such arrangements.

He made arrangements not only for Wang Fangyi and Zhao Manchi, but also for the various towns left behind in Liaodong, placing a few here and a few there.

Anyway, basically all the 400 men in his personal guard camp stayed.

Taking this opportunity, the children of these families and relatives also successfully became regular soldiers of the Tang Dynasty. Those who voluntarily stayed and had honors could be promoted first. Even if they were a deputy captain of the ninth rank, they were formal military officers.

The people of the Tang Dynasty had a strong desire for fame and honor. Wu Huaiyu brought them to Liaodong and helped them to achieve merit and receive honors. Now that they were willing to stay, Wu Huaiyu continued to help them.

If there is a chance to raise them, we will help them find a military post. If they are not qualified yet, we will help them get a casual rank first.
If you are really not qualified, you will still be arranged for a good place and position.

August 17,

After the Mid-Autumn Festival in Liaodong,
The emperor issued an edict, and except for the 80,000 troops who stayed behind, the rest of the troops began to return home one after another.

When they came, they had 150,000 troops by land and sea, and tens of thousands of auxiliary troops from the Xi, Qi, Turks, Mohe, Dangxiang, Khibi, Uighurs, Sogdians, etc. After half a year, they were invincible in every battle. It can be said that they swept across Liaodong and defeated Goguryeo repeatedly.

They defeated more than 300,000 Goguryeo troops, beheaded tens of thousands, captured nearly 200,000, and captured hundreds of thousands of men and women, as well as countless cattle and horses.

It was a glorious victory.

However, the casualties of the Tang army were very low. More than a thousand Tang soldiers were killed, including more than a thousand volunteer soldiers. In addition, about three thousand Hu vassal soldiers were killed, including more than a thousand Goguryeo soldiers.

A total of five thousand people died, and only a thousand of the real Tang regular army were killed.

This number is astonishing.

What's more, they captured so many cities and occupied so many places, all the way from Liaodong to the mouth of the Yalu River.

More than 200,000 slaves were sold.
The number of surrendered soldiers and civilians who moved to the interior exceeded 500,000.

It can be said that the Goguryeo people suffered a serious blow this time. Not only did the Great Wall that took them 16 years to build disappear, but even the Liaodong mountain city defense system that took them hundreds of years to maintain collapsed.

If Li Shimin was willing to take some risks, the Tang army might have already appeared at the gates of Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo.

After leaving Liaodong City and standing on the bank of Taizi River, the emperor looked back at Liaodong City.

"Next year, I will lead my army back and destroy Goguryeo in one fell swoop, and completely recover the four Liaodong counties of the Han Dynasty."

Wu Huaiyu rode his horse beside the emperor and did not doubt the emperor's words at all.

Historically, Li Shimin led an expedition to the east and sent out 100,000 troops to attack Liaodong. However, the Xueyantuo in northern Mobei had not yet been conquered, so he had worries.

The emperor conquered Liaodong City, Beisha City, Gaimu City, etc.

However, although they successfully blocked and defeated Gao Yanshou's 150,000 reinforcements, they were stationed at the gates of Anshi for 88 days and failed to capture the city.

When the weather turned cold, they had to retreat.

After Li Shimin returned to the court, he sent troops to destroy Xueyantuo. After that, he actively prepared for war and sent Niu Jinda, Li Ji and others to attack Goguryeo first, in preparation for his personal expedition.

Unfortunately, he was poisoned by the elixir of an Indian monk and died young.

The emperor ultimately failed to lead an expedition against Goguryeo again and died with regret.

But now, the first personal expedition has been a great success.

Next year the emperor will personally lead the army and Goguryeo will be defeated in one battle. Even if the emperor does not come, Goguryeo will not be able to hold out for long.

The emperor turned around, kicked his horse onto the pontoon bridge, and crossed the Taizi River.

Wu Huaiyu followed closely behind.

"Huaiyu, I heard that you bought a large piece of land in Liaodong?"

"Well, I am optimistic about the future of Liaodong. Once the Tang Dynasty recovers this old territory, it will surely be stable in the future. The land of Liaodong is fertile and worth developing."

"Hahaha," Li Shimin laughed, "You have great confidence in the court. This is a good thing. If the people of the world have as much confidence in the court as you do, Liaodong will not have to worry."

The emperor pointed to the vast land in the Taizi River Basin, which was still a large area of ​​barren grassland. "I will grant you 10,000 acres of land as a reward."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."

Wu Huaiyu accepted it with a smile. This was the land along the Taizi River on the outskirts of Liaodong. With a little management, it would become fertile farmland with water.

(End of this chapter)