First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 581 Two determinations
...

Although Luo Li was from the mountains and had no knowledge and could not even read a single Chinese character, he could be a great chief and he also knew how to observe people's emotions and had quite a bit of brains.

Seeing that Gao Chong was deep in thought, he didn't rush him and just ate happily at the food and wine on the desk.

When Gao Chong looked at Yang Hou, Yang Hou suddenly looked solemn.

"Why is he in Beiliu?" Gao Chong asked directly, referring to Luo Li.

Yang Hou just smiled bitterly when he heard this, and looked at Luo Li before he spoke. Luo Li casually wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said: "I came here on my own. I only know Yang Jishi as a high-ranking official in Lingnan." ".

Gao Chong was speechless for a while. After understanding what happened, he felt sympathy for Yang Hou in his heart.

As his name suggests, Yang Hou is really a kind person.

After Chen Longshu registered the local officials in the mountains of Yunkai, he intended to further create political achievements and began to collect a small amount of taxes. Even if it was just a small amount, it would be a political achievement, and the court would be very pleased.

I just didn't expect the Luo Dou Liao people to resist paying taxes so fiercely.

Luo Li went straight to Yang Hou. He was so shameless that he forced him to live in the Governor's Mansion, and simply relied on Yang Hou.

This is completely a slutty act. I am a member of the imperial court, I have no education, and I don’t have any cloth to pay taxes. It’s up to you, Governor Yang, to do whatever you want.

Yang Hou was helpless about this. Chen Longshu could be said to have one hand covering the sky near Longzhou. He was famous and powerful. He, the governor of Xiazhou who governed two counties, did not dare to offend Chen Longshu.

But facing the shameless Luo Li, Yang Hou also did not dare to offend him. If he offended his subordinates and their troops from the mountains invaded Tongzhou directly, it would cause a big fuss, so he had to let Luo Li stay in Beiliu City. .

Gao Chong glanced at Yang Hou, who was helpless, and then at Luo Li, who was thick and thin. It was really interesting for these two people with completely different personalities to compete in Beiliu.

"Chief Luo," Gao Chong coughed and looked at Luo Li, "First of all, Yang Shijun can't do anything about your matter, so don't embarrass him."

"Embarrassed?" Luo Li's eyes widened, "I didn't embarrass Governor Yang. He is a good official and a good person."

Gao Chong continued to be speechless. Luo Li was convinced that Yang Hou had a kind character and did not dare to use force. If it were replaced by other more powerful officers, such as Gao Chong, or even Ning Chun, who dared to use troops and self-respect like this, he would have been intimidated. It means that you will be directly labeled as a traitor to the party, and then reported to the court and sent troops to conquer.

It's just that Yang Hou is committed to maintaining stability and peaceful development, and has always adopted appeasing measures to his colleagues.

The Luo Dou Liao people can be simply understood as the Liao people alliance in the northern part of the Yunkai Mountains. They are composed of dozens of Liao people tribes. The two largest tribes are Luodong and Douxi.

As the name suggests, one lives in Dongli and the other lives by the stream. This is also a common living place for Liao people today. Han people live in villages, while Liao people live in Dongxi.

Luo Li is the elder of Luodong, that is, the chief. He is also the chief recommended by dozens of tribes of the Luo Dou Liao people. To put it simply, he is the chief of the tribal alliance.

Last year, there were heavy rains and flash floods broke out in the mountains. The people of Douxi were severely affected. It was Yang Hou who took the initiative to open a warehouse to provide relief.

This move won the respect of Luo Dou's people, and after meeting Chen Longshu to collect taxes, Luo Li knew that Yang Hou was a good official and an honest man, so he came directly to Beiliu and asked Yang Hou for help.

It's just that this method of request made Yang Hou very embarrassed. Both sides were people he couldn't afford to offend.

So when he heard the news that the economic envoy had arrived outside the city, Yang Hou was immediately overjoyed. He went to great lengths to present gold and silver beauties to please Gao Chong's subordinate officers, and even went to great lengths to arrange this banquet.

Therefore, it is true that Yang Hou behaved strangely and concealed something before, but he did not mean any harm. This is also the reason why Gao Chong agreed to the guards stationed in the camp in the north of the city. Otherwise, Gao Chong would never have agreed due to his cautious temperament.

When Yang Hou heard Luo Li's words, he sighed with emotion: "I concealed something before, so I hope Jing Lue will not be surprised. It's just the official's words from the bottom of my heart. I hope Jing Lue will understand clearly."

"Yang Shijun, it doesn't matter," Gao Chong picked up the wine glass, raised it as a gesture, and drank it all in one gulp.

Yang Hou immediately filled the wine glass, drank three glasses in a row, and then sighed deeply: "Lingnan is difficult, I believe Jing Lue can see it. The terrain here is complex, not conducive to farming, and culture and education are not prosperous. To be honest, Jing Lue, "Xiaguan intends to build a state school, but in this area of ​​two counties in the state, he can't find a decent teaching assistant for the state school."

Yang Hou continued to talk to himself: "There are also savages and barbarians who live together, and conflicts often break out among the tribes. Sometimes a piece of skin for a bucket of food will lead to bloody battles. In less than three years since I took office, I have already broken through dozens of pairs of boots. , I go back and forth between the villages of Dongxi every day to make peace, physically and mentally exhausted, I am a low-ranking official and pastor guarding Tongzhou, and I am afraid of letting down the emperor's favor, but there are some things that cannot be done by human beings."

After hearing this, Tian Yangming and others were also moved.

"Come and pay homage to Ambassador Yang," Gao Chong said while raising his glass, and everyone raised their glasses.

Yang Hou hurriedly adjusted his mood, raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Don't worry, Mr. Yang. I have a general understanding of the situation in Tongzhou. The industry in Tongzhou is too single now. I will make corresponding adjustments when I get to Guangzhou." Gao Chong could only comfort Yang Hou.

Then he looked at Luo Li with a solemn expression, "Chief Luo, I also know about the situation of Luo Dou's people. I will tell you clearly now that if the people have difficulties and cannot afford the taxes, they can report it to the superiors, but there must be no intention of coercion. Otherwise, the power of God is unpredictable.”

Luo Li's brows twitched, and there was a flash of anger in his eyes. Yang Hou stepped forward and whispered in his ear: "Jing Lue is in charge of Lingnan. Don't offend. Don't forget the Ning family of Qinzhou...".

Luo Li loosened his fist and said in a low voice: "Don't worry, Minister of Economic Affairs, we Luo Dou Liao people have no ambitions, even tens of thousands of people can't rebel. It's already very difficult for us to survive in the mountains. As long as you Han people If they don’t come to make things difficult for us, we will definitely obey the government.”

Gao Chong's expression also softened. This Luo Li was also a smart person. He seemed rude, but in fact he was rough and subtle.

"It's very good that Chief Luo has this awareness."

Gao Chong nodded in approval and said: "Remember, the Luo Dou Liao people must resolutely support the policies of the Tang Dynasty and resolutely safeguard the governing authority of Saint Zhenguan. When you come back, you can engrave these two sentences on the stone pillars of the Luo Dou Liao people. The officials must recite it skillfully."

After everyone heard this, they were stunned.

Gao Chong coughed, "Of course, the imperial court will also keep the general Dou Liao people in mind. Here, I promise that the Luo Dou Liao people will be tax-free for three years. After three years, it will be determined based on the actual situation.

In addition, I personally recommended Luo Li to be the Sima of Tongzhou and the captain of Beiliu County. He opened a market in Beiliu, and Luo Li was specifically responsible for the exchange of trade between Han officials."

Hearing this, Luo Li couldn't believe it, "Make me a Sima? Governor Yang, what kind of official position is this? And what is the mutual market?" "That is my assistant officer," Yang Hou patiently explained: "The mutual market I just want you to organize Han Liao’s transactions.”

Luo Li was overjoyed when he heard this, "Luo Li, thank you so much for the envoy."

Compared with the Ning family in Qinzhou, the Chen family in Longzhou, and the Feng family in Gaozhou, the Luo Dou Liao people here are obviously more remote and backward. They have lived in the mountains of Yunkai for a long time. If Chen Longshu hadn't opened the state to expand the territory, they would not have left the mountains and joined the world. But in this way, Better to fool, no, it should be better to communicate and easier to communicate in a friendly manner.

If this were at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, when tens of thousands of people had joined the army, Li Yuan, his father-in-law, would not have been able to appoint a general manager (commander) and add a county prince to the title. Now just a Sima from Xiazhou can solve his staffing problem. Gao Chong couldn't help but sigh with emotion, how simple people's hearts are.

"Jing Luo, what about this year's taxes?" Luo Li actually sat down, carrying a wine flask and filling Gao Chong's wine glass with a smile. His dark face was full of smiles, he was really friendly.

"Tax? What tax? Do you want to go to bed so early?" Gao Chong stared at Luo Li with a look of surprise.

Luo Li was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly, "Okay, I'll convince you that you are a good person. I, Luo Li, will convince you."

"What should you do after you return to Luo Dou this time?" Gao Chong laughed and asked directly.

"How to do it?" Luo Li was stunned again, scratched his head, and suddenly his eyes lit up, "Each tribe will set up a pillar and let people carve words on it, and they will firmly support that."

"Resolutely support the policies and guidelines of the Tang Dynasty and resolutely safeguard the governing authority of Saint Zhenguan."

Gao Chong said in a deep voice: "Be sure to remember it for me. I know it well and know it by heart. Governor Yang, you will send someone to preach it later and compile it into minutes and submit it to the Economic Strategy Office."

Yang Hou responded blankly.

Luo Li kept mumbling, and at least he remembered these two sentences.

"Jing Luushi, what's the use of these two sentences?" Luo Li muttered with a bitter face: "The people in the clan are as stupid as cattle, and they don't understand."

"It doesn't matter if you don't understand, just memorize it," Gao Chong said with a smile, "Whether you will be promoted or not will depend on this."

Luo Li's eyes lit up and he nodded in response.

Pei Xingjian and others looked at each other, and at the same time they admired Gao Chong. These two concise and concise words will play an important role in the enlightenment of the people. No matter how hard you try to teach the king, it will not be as good as these two simple sentences. power.

After resting for a day in Tongzhou, Gao Chong also saw Yang Hou's political achievements. Yang Hou was loyal and honest, and patiently handled conflicts between Han officials. He was still quite prestigious in Tongzhou.

At least when Yang Hou accompanied Gao Chong on the streets of Beiliu, the people who met Yang Hou supported him from the bottom of their hearts.

It seems that Yang Hou is still a talentless man in managing the two counties in Tongzhou. Gao Chong has made up his mind to write to the court to ask for credit from Yang Hou.

This incident is enough to show that there is no shortage of good officials in the Tang Dynasty. It also reflects from the side that there are responsibilities in the official department that cannot be shied away from.

With Yang Hou's political achievements in Tongzhou, he can definitely be rated as high during the evaluation. After all, in the wild land of Lingnan, it is not easy to achieve political achievements. The people are stable and the Han bureaucracy is harmonious. This is political achievement.

Instead of collecting taxes to increase political performance like some states and counties in the Central Plains.

Of course, in the report, Gao Chong did not blame Yousi of the Ministry of Personnel, but just discussed the matter as it happened. After all, the current Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was his good nephew Changsun Wuji, so he was more or less lax.

What's more, even if this situation is brought to light, Changsun Wuji will not be reprimanded, let alone punished. It is against the sky that the official department has personal feelings when evaluating, and does not evaluate impartially, resulting in injustice. , only subordinate departments will be punished.

Going east out of Tongzhou is still within the range of Yunkai Mountain, with Longzhou to the east and Gaozhou to the south.

According to Gao Chong's itinerary, he will go to Longzhou next, then go south to Gaozhou, then leave Gaozhou and reach Guangzhou via Chunzhou, Enzhou, Gangzhou and other places.

This trip to Lingnan entered Lingnan from Guizhou and Nanyinzhou, then Jiangzhou, Yuezhou, Qinzhou and other places put down the Ningdaoming rebellion, and finally went east to Guangzhou via Baizhou, Longzhou and other places, from west to east , can be said to be across Lingnan, and also allowed Gao Chong to further understand the real situation of Lingnan.

Leaving Tongzhou and heading east [-] miles to Longzhou, [-] miles, if you are in the Central Plains, two days is more than enough time, but traveling through the Lingnan mountains will take a full four days. This is the only official route from Tongzhou to Longzhou. In the case of Tao.

Longzhou, this place is also an important place in Lingnan. It is named because of the Longjiang River in its territory. In the sixth year of Tianjian in Nanliang, Longzhou was established. In the third year of Daye in the former Sui Dynasty, Longzhou was abolished and Yongxi County was established. In the fourth year of Wude, it was incorporated into Daye. After the territory of the Tang Dynasty, the county was abolished and a state was established, which was renamed Longzhou. It was governed in Longshui County and administered Longshui, Kaiyang, Zhengyi, Huaide and other counties.

In other prefectures and counties, multiple families may exist side by side and fight against each other, but this is different in Longzhou. The largest clan in Longzhou has always been named Chen. Since the Nanliang period and the establishment of Longzhou, the first family in Longzhou has been named Chen. .

Chen Fanian, the ancestor of the Chen family, was born in Yanling, Henan. He was originally a wealthy family in the Central Plains. He established meritorious service with Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of Nanliang, and even married Xiao Yan's fifth daughter and became his consort.

After Nanliang took over the land of Lingnan, Xiao Yan was in urgent need of confidants to guard it, so he appointed his son-in-law Chen Fanian as the protector of Nanjiang and the governor of Xinzhou and Shizhou. He was granted the title of Duke of Songping County.

The Nanjiang River is the Longjiang River, and the places in the Longjiang River Basin are all under the jurisdiction of Chen Fanian. In fact, it is the plain area of ​​the Longjiang River Basin. The Yunkai Mountains in the west and the Yunwu Mountains in the east are filled with local officials and are not under the jurisdiction of the imperial court.

Later, prefectures were abolished and counties were established, and Xin and Shi prefectures were changed into Pingyuan County, Kaiyang County, and Luoyang County. Chen Fanian was still in charge. Finally, prefectures and counties were reestablished and directly changed to Longzhou.

From then on, Chen Fanian established himself in Longzhou, bringing the advanced culture and production technology of the Central Plains to the local area, promoting poetry and etiquette, and intermarrying with local officials and wealthy families, and gradually became a local leader.

According to historical records, "Taming Xidong with filial piety and righteousness will suppress customs and punish traitors, and thieves will hold their breath." Through his personal ability and charm, Chen Fanian became a chief recommended by local officials and won the respect and trust of local officials.

I heard that when Chen Fanian was the governor of Xinzhou and Shizhou, he worked hard and worked all night long to deal with government affairs. Someone came to him at night to report something. He waited at the door for too long and fell asleep unconsciously. When the person woke up at dawn, the governor Chen was still there. He stayed up all night to deal with government affairs. After the news spread, the people were deeply moved by it. This is one of the reasons why the Chen family was able to establish a foothold in Lingnan.

The current Chen Longshu is the grandson of Chen Fanian. When Chen Longshu was young, he experienced the most glorious moment of the Chen family in Longzhou. At that time, his father Chen Fozhi inherited the reputation of the old chief Chen Fanian and became powerful in Lingnan. He successively served as the governor of Longzhou, the governor of Luozhou, and the governor of Luozhou. He held the post of governor of Xihengzhou and was given the title of Duke of Anjing County.

However, he had bad luck in his later years. He followed Wang Zhongxuan, the leader of the Liao people in Guangzhou, to rebel against the Sui Dynasty. He personally went into battle at the age of more than sixty and died in the rebellion. The Chen family declined rapidly, and Chen Longshu had no choice but to rely on others and seek refuge with the Ning family to survive.

Now Chen Longshu only has one thought, which is to strengthen the Chen family and revive the Chen family. As long as he can restore the glory of the Chen family, he can do anything, even follow Gao Chong, bear the unjust infamy, and overthrow his former sworn brother Ning Chang. True, he did not hesitate.

(End of this chapter)