First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 491

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As expected by Gao Chong, the Xue Yuanjiang brothers did not commit any major evil deeds in Wanchun County.

But corruption does exist, especially for Xue Yuanchang. Princess Wanchun's Shiyi only has [-] households, but he wantonly embezzles land and puts these many fields under the name of Princess Yisi, which actually exceeds a thousand acres.

Not only do they not have to pay taxes, but they also take that part of the rent as their own. A mere seventh-rank princess's house order is equivalent to owning hundreds of households, and is richer than the princess.

In addition, the governor of Taizhou came to Wanchun County to thoroughly investigate Xue Yuanjue, and also found that Xue Yuanjue was using his position to seek personal gain.

In fact, this kind of phenomenon is very common, especially the children of aristocratic families, but they have not exposed it.

The two brothers Xue Yuanjiang would not have been convicted if they hadn't been hiding the fugitive Xue Shi from the same family.

When Wanchun County was undergoing great changes, Gao Chong had already set off for Zhengping. When he left Wanchun and traveled to Jishan, he met a knight head-on.

"Are you in front of Gao Siqing of Dali Temple?" The knight shouted loudly when he saw the team from a distance.

"Come to the horses", Gao Xiong and others rushed forward when they saw this, holding their waist knives and shouting.

The knight reined in his horse beautifully, turned over and jumped off, and when he came to the front, he reported: "Ma San, a scout under the command of Jiangzhou Governor's Mansion, has met Gao Siqing."

The personal guard moved out of the way, and Gao Chong stepped forward, "I am about to go to Zhengping, what's the matter?"

"Return to Gao Siqing, my family's governor has hosted a banquet to welcome Gao Siqing at Ronglou, West Town, Puzhou City, ten miles ahead," the scout replied respectfully.

"Okay, lead the way ahead," Gao Chong was slightly taken aback, then nodded and ordered.

Luo Yong, the governor of Jiangzhou, was named Shixin, and he lived in the world with his words.

Although he is called Yong, he is not brave or unreliable. On the contrary, Luo Shixin is quite resourceful. The battle in the Qianjin Fort was enough to prove Luo Shixin's wisdom.

Zhenrong Tower is located in the west of Puzhou City, only a few tens of miles away from Zhengping, Jiangzhou Government, but it belongs to the boundary of Puzhou.

Luo Shixin didn't wait in Zhengping, but took the initiative to greet him at Jiangzhou's border. This should not be out of respect. Luo Shixin is not a person who pays attention to these vain etiquettes. After all, he has fought side by side and has a deep friendship.

Thinking all the way, everyone rode their horses and galloped, and soon arrived at Zhenrong Tower on the bank of the Yellow River.

Looking at the watchtower standing on the high slope of the bank, Gao Chong nodded and praised: "Yu Wenhu is worthy of being a military master of a generation. Whether it is the Changchun Palace or the Zhenrong Tower, the terrain is extremely dangerous."

The Zhenrong Building was first built during the Northern Zhou Dynasty. It was also built by Otsuka Zaiyu Wenhu, and the Changchun Palace (called Jincheng at that time) was built in Hexi to guard the ferry.

A military military building was built in the west of Puzhou City in Hedong for military observation, named Zhenrong Building, to supervise the river.

Ascend to the Zhenrong Building, you can have a panoramic view of the huge river bend.

Later, this military military building was renamed Guanque Tower.

"Yu Zhi", a shout sounded from a distance, and Luo Shixin was not wearing armor, only wearing a round neck robe, and came forward with a big smile.

"Yuzhi, I haven't seen you for several months, and I want to scare me."

Luo Shixin came up with a bear hug.

"Anyway, the dignified prince, be more reserved," Gao Chong said with a smile as he thumped the past carefully.

"Being reserved in front of you is a fart." Luo Shixin grinned and said, "The reason why I asked to be released is that I don't like the red tape in Beijing, so it's not troublesome."

Gao Chong was very moved to see that Luo Shixin, even though he was appointed as the Duke of the State and was appointed as the governor, still had such a pure heart.

"Come, come, let's go upstairs." Luo Shixin grabbed Gao Chong, "You scholars like to enjoy the scenery. The scenery in Ronglou Town is not bad. I can see the other side of the river at a glance. I have already prepared food and wine. My brother Have a good get together."

"You're a real fellow", Gao Chong shook his head and laughed when he heard the bastard's words, "At least he's a big official in the frontier, can't we be more elegant?"

"Forget it."

The two went upstairs together talking and laughing.

When I climbed to the top of the building, I saw that there was already a table of wine and food.

Feeling the river wind blowing in front of him, Gao Chong felt relaxed and happy, and smiled with his hands behind his back: "You know how to choose a place."

"There are some things to say here, let's rest assured," Luo Shixin smiled, then turned and told his followers: "Go downstairs and watch, no one should come up to disturb our brother's reunion."

"I knew you had something to say", Gao Chong would not be polite with this guy, after running around for half a day, he was already hungry, and when he sat down, he grabbed a leg of lamb and gnawed on it.

Luo Shixin filled Gao Chong's glass of wine, raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "You can eat it as soon as you grab it, so you won't be afraid of being poisoned by me? You must know that you are an inspector in various states, and the local officials hate you the most."

"It's just you," Gao Chong mumbled, chewing on the mutton at the corner of his mouth, "If you can poison me to death, you won't be Luo Shixin."

Luo Shixin paused, then shook his head and sighed: "Back then you sent messages from thousands of miles away and saved my life in Mingshui. Although I still can't figure out why you knew the situation of the battle in Mingshui from thousands of miles away, I, Luo Yong, recognize you as a lifesaver."

"I don't have many brothers who have died. One is Brother Qin, one is Yaojin, one is Maogong, and there is one unlucky brother Shoujing...".

Cheng Zhijie, the word Yizhen, small characters bite gold.Shoujing was Pei Xingyan, who was killed by Wang Shichong in Luoyang for plotting to restore Yue Wang Yang Tong.

Gao Chong didn't speak. After swallowing the mutton, he picked up the tablecloth to wipe his hands, took a gulp of the wine, and quietly waited for Luo Shixin to continue. He knew that Luo Shixin hadn't finished.

"I know that since the prince asked you to inspect the states, and you accepted this errand, you must not be afraid of offending others."

Luo Shixin also drank a glass of wine and continued: "It's just that I have been out for a few years, and I have seen some things that I can't do anything about. You also come from a family, but you are different from them. You may not know it."

Speaking of this, Luo Shixin curled his lips and smiled: "I remember when I first came to Jiangzhou, there were a total of thirteen hussars when I was a general, oh, now they are called the commander, only seven came, and three of the other five had surnames. king".

As he spoke, Luo Shixin glanced at Gao Chong, "The king of the Taiyuan Wang family".

Gao Chong nodded slightly. He didn't know these things. The reason why the aristocratic family is strong lies in this.

Don't think that you can be a dictator because you are the emperor, such as directly sending troops to destroy the family?
First of all, can the decree be promulgated by the three provinces smoothly? In addition, what about money and food?What about the government soldiers?What about the general?

Take the Taiyuan Wang family mentioned by Luo Shixin as an example. Only the old and new Tang books record that there are more than 300 Taiyuan Wang family members with surnames and official positions, including 13 prime ministers.

These more than 360 people are listed in the history books, not unknown middle- and lower-level officials. Many middle- and lower-level officials are not qualified to record the history books.

Just take General Hussars (now known as Tongjun, later named Captain Zhechong) as an example, who is in charge of a military mansion and guards one side.

There are 500 people in Shangfu, ranking the fourth rank.There are 1000 people in Zhongfu, ranking from the fourth rank.There are 800 people in Xiafu, ranking in the top five.

These people are the backbone of the army of the Tang Dynasty. The military mansions are scattered all over the country, and the main generals are mostly local aristocratic families.

"You want to say the Taiyuan Wang family?" Gao Chong said nonchalantly, keeping his chopsticks in his hands.

He is very clear about the family's control over the government, and he will definitely find ways to check and balance it in the future, but he is a vested interest after all, and he cannot overthrow this table.

More importantly, Gao Chong knew very well that aristocratic families were not all harmful. Tang Dynasty aristocratic families were not Song Dynasty scholar-bureaucrats or Ming Dynasty party members, and aristocratic families were not so easy to weaken, so they could only be gradually figured out.

Seeing Gao Chong's nonchalant expression, Luo Shixin was a little surprised, "Aren't you surprised? Jiangzhou Inspector Wang Yao, this man has deep thoughts. He and the former prince Zhongyun Wanggui came out of Taiyuan Wang's Qi County House together."

"Shixin", Gao Chong raised his glass and said, "I'm very glad that you told me this. It shows that you really treat me like a brother. I know this well. Don't get involved too deeply. After all, you still have to sit in power." Zhouzhou, you just need to remember, firmly control the military power in the area under your jurisdiction, and deeply remember Prince Ende, brother, I will not harm you."

"Good you Gao Youzhi," Luo Shixin understood as soon as he heard it, and scolded with a smile: "I was so worried about you that I was going to die, I came here to stop you, lest you be deceived by Wang Yao, so you already know everything ".

At this time, everyone takes the aristocratic family as their glory, wishing to marry a woman with five surnames, wishing to marry a man with five surnames, Luo Shixin dared to take this risk to expose it to Gao Chong, which is enough to show that he values ​​love and righteousness.

After that, the two toasted and exchanged wine, and they did not mince words.

Although Luo Shixin was quite strategic in the military, he was really puzzled by these officialdoms, so he asked directly: "You sent Xue Shi and the three of them directly to the Xue family, so you trust the Xue family patriarch? What if they trick you?"

"How did you trick me?" Gao Chong raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile: "Let him go? Maybe hide him? They don't have the guts, and besides, Xue Shou nodded in agreement."

"Do you know who the owner of the Xue family is?"

Seeing that Luo Shixin was still worried, Gao Chong continued.

Luo Shixin shook his head, "I'm not interested in this."

"Xue Danian, Xue Shou's older brother", Gao Chong laughed.

Luo Shixin was taken aback, he obviously didn't know this secret, "Tell me quickly, what's going on, doesn't Xue Shou have no brothers?"

Seeing his full of curiosity, Gao Chong suddenly laughed, and said slowly: "Xue Shou's father is the great Confucian Xue Daoheng, who is known as 'Hedong Confucius, Yang Zhen is reborn', Xue Daoheng has five sons...".

Luo Shixin said suddenly: "I know Confucius, and I am both from Shandong, so who is Yang Zhen?"

"A famous scholar of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a great Confucian of the generation... oh, you just need to know that he is very educated." Gao Chong couldn't laugh or cry, and continued: "Xue Daoheng has five sons, but his brother Xue Ru has no children...".

"I understand, and then adopt one to Xue Ru?" Luo Shixin's eyes lit up, and he said very cleverly.

"Are you still listening?" Gao Chong stared and said, this guy likes to gossip but he is so straightforward.

"Listen, I'll listen, you continue to talk", Luo Shixin filled Gao Chong's wine with a smile, and continued to listen carefully.

"Xue Ru was an official in Xiangcheng County in the former Sui Dynasty and had no children. Xue Daoheng adopted Xue Shou to Xue Ru, so Xue Shou actually came from the Xue family's lineage. The current head of the Xue family is Xue Danian, that is, Xue Shou's biological elder brother.

So you said that Xue Shou's opinion is not important to the Xue family. Xue Danian would not be confused even if he was thinking about the family. You, how would you choose? "

After listening, Luo Shixin suddenly realized, scratched his head and said, "It's so complicated."

"How many people are in your family?"

"Family? My family has been farming for generations. My uncle died in Liaodong. I, Aye, starved to death. My family is gone. Now I am the only one. How can there be any family?" If the general took it."

In the former Sui Dynasty, Zhang Guo, the general governor of Qi County, whose name was Xutuo, was in the ninth year of Daye. The Changbai Mountain bandits Wang Bo, Zuo Cai and others attacked Qi County. Zhang Xutuo recruited troops to attack. Luo Shixin, who was 14 years old, joined the army. He said bluntly: "You don't even have the strength to wear armor, how can you fight?"

Luo Shixin was furious. Immediately, he put on two sets of armor, hung two pots of arrows, flew on his horse, and bowed left and right. Zhang Xutuo praised him very much and recruited him into the army as a personal guard.

Hearing Luo Shixin's lonely words, Gao Chong was taken aback, and said directly: "You still have our brothers, you are now a majestic prince, honoring your ancestors, and now when there is no war, you have to work hard and spread your branches and leaves." , strengthen you Licheng Roche."

It is precisely because Luo Shixin was lonely since he was a child that he does not understand the complexity of the aristocratic family.

When Luo Shixin heard this, he immediately grinned, "Not to mention, it feels really good to have a son, and I will have a few more later."

Originally, Luo Shixin died in Mingshui at the age of 22 without leaving any heirs, but now Luo Shixin came back from Mingshui alive.

Then, under the help of Qin Qiong, Cheng Zhijie and others, he married Pei Renji's daughter, Pei Shi.

And gave birth to a son the following year, and Luo Shixin named him Luo Jian. According to his words, "I fought to the death in Mingshui, and I wanted him to be as strong as his father." Fortunately, he was not named Luo Jianqiang.

Pei Renji and his eldest son Pei Xingyan were killed in Luoyang, leaving behind their daughter Pei and youngest son Pei Xingjian. Fortunately, Pei Renji was born in the Pei family of Hedong, so the family can support the orphan.

Pei Renji was very kind to Luo Shixin in Wagang, and he supported and taught him a lot. Now that Luo Shixin is marrying his daughter, Pei Renji must be very pleased in the spirit of heaven.

"I've already given birth to two", Gao Chong said contemptuously, "how about we compare and see who has more births".

"It's better than that", Luo Shixin stared, patted his chest and said, "With my physique, it's no problem to give birth to ten or eight children."

Gao Chong almost choked, and only smiled and said: "Women's childbirth hurts the most, don't just arrest the Pei family's wife."

Luo Shixin was very convinced of Gao Chong, and he loved Mrs. Pei very much. Hearing this, he immediately took it seriously, "Then I will have to see a doctor later, and the injury will stop."

The two brothers finally held the wine jar and drank each other. Gao Chong hadn't had such a hearty drink for a long time. Now on this high-rise building, accompanied by a brother with a heart like a child, he only felt very happy. Wine should only be drunk when the mood is in place. have fun.

At this time, as the sun was setting, the storks on the river beach flew to the building to rest. This kind of stork likes to live beside rivers, lakes and ponds, and likes to perch on high places. There are no tall trees in the Yellow River beach, so this group of storks Build the nest on the Zhenrong Tower.

Gao Chong was very happy when he saw this, he poured the dishes to feed all the storks, and said with a smile: "The name of Zhenrong Tower is too aggressive, since so many storks live here, how about changing the name to Guanque Tower? "

"Call him Lou, you can call him whatever you like," Luo Shixin waved his hands indifferently and smiled.

Gao Chong had no choice but to laugh and scolded: "You scumbag, you don't know how to have fun, just look at me and call this Guanque Tower famous all over the world."

After finishing the words, Gao Chong pulled out his sword, turned around and walked towards the white wall beside him.

"The day is surrounded by mountains, and the Yellow River flows into the sea.

If you want to see a thousand miles, go to a higher level."

While waving his arm, the sharp edge of the sword drew deep marks on the white wall.

"In the mid-autumn of the eighth year of Wude, Luo Jiangzhou held a banquet at the Guanque Tower.

Gao Youzhi".

(End of this chapter)