First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

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Originally, everyone had intended to follow the Great Hemo Society to rebel against the Turks and join the Tang Dynasty. Now, after being forced by Qilifa Zhao Deyan, everyone's minds were strengthened.

That night, Da Hemo led dozens of personal guards and rushed to Youzhou overnight.

The next day, when Zhao Deyan came to Yazhang arrogantly and domineeringly, he couldn't see Da Hemo Hui and became even more furious.

"What does this mean?" Zhao Deyan changed his usual calm demeanor, his eyes flashed with sternness, and he roared: "What does the Great Hemo Club mean? Where is the other person? Please tell him to come to me quickly."

"Bold, the chief has a noble status, please pay attention to your words," a tall and strong Khitan man in the tent couldn't help scolding.

Ah Huisuzhi was so anxious when he saw this that he had no time to stop him.

"How dare you, a barbarian, disrespect me?" Zhao Deyan's eyes widened and he said, "Sharu sip, slap your mouth."

Shalu Chuu behind him was stunned when he heard this. He was also a general in the Turks. He had bullied others in the past, but he had never seen Zhao Deyan so domineering and arrogant.

Zhao Deyan's eyes narrowed and he raised the Khan's saber, "You also want to disobey?"

"I don't dare," Sharu said hurriedly as a promise, stepped forward, raised his hand and slapped him.

The Khitan man was furious and was about to resist when Zhao Deyan shouted loudly, "Anyone who dares to act differently will be treated as treason."

Ah Huisuzhi grabbed him tightly, only to hear a crisp sound, and a red slap mark appeared on the Khitan man's face.

"Ah", the Khitan man was furious, but he let Ah Huisuzhi hug him tightly.

When Zhao Deyan saw this, he looked up to the sky and laughed wildly, so viciously.

"Today is the second day. Tomorrow night, I want to see the contract or the tax. You lowly barbarians, just take care of yourself." Zhao Deyan said a word and walked out of the tent with his hands behind his back.

After getting out of the big tent, when he heard the roaring sound in the tent, Zhao Deyan twitched the corner of his mouth and turned his head and said, "General Shalu, we will withdraw tonight."

Shalu was stunned for a moment, "What about taxes?"

"The Khitan people have no loyalty to the Khan at all, and now the Great Hemo Society doesn't know where they are. I suspect they have another conspiracy. If we don't leave, we will die here."Zhao Deyan said in a low voice.

Shaluchu felt a chill run through his body when he heard this. They were in the Khitan tribe now, with only a hundred guards around them. If the Khitans turned against them, they really wouldn't be able to get out, even if they nodded in agreement.

Youzhou, Jixian, Dadudufu.

Duke Ren Liu Hongji looked solemn, and the hall was silent.

Ohamakai didn't rush him, he just waited quietly.

For a long time, Liu Hongji looked at the scribe on the side. This scribe was the new governor of Youzhou, Shi Li Xuandao. The former chief, Li Xizhi, was called into the court to serve as the chief minister shortly after Gao Chong returned to Beijing.

Li Xuandao is also one of the nineteen bachelors of the Qin Palace. His identity is not simple. He was born in the Li family's aunt in Longxi. According to his seniority, he is Li Shimin's clan uncle. Li Xuandao has another identity that few people know. He is also Fang Xuan. age nephew.

Although Li Xuandao is two years older than Fang Xuanling, he is really Fang Xuanling's nephew.

Fang Xuanling's family background is not simple either. The Qinghe Fang family is also a second-rate family. His father Fang Yanqian was the Sili governor of the former Sui Dynasty. His grandfather Fang Xiong was the prefect of Qinghe and Guangchuan counties in the Northern Wei Dynasty. His great-grandfather Fang Yi was the prefect of Song'an in the Northern Wei Dynasty... …

The Fang family has been a high-ranking official for generations, and their family status is not low. Fang Xuanling's sister married into the Li family in Longxi, and Fang Xuanling's wife was also from the Fanyang Lu family.

Seeing Liu Hongji looking over, Li Xuandao, as the long history officer, had to respond, and he immediately said without thinking: "The Yi and Di came to surrender, which proves that my virtue is being criticized by all quarters. Is there any reason why I should not be accepted?"

Liu Hongji nodded when he heard this, "This is natural, but without a proper strategy, the Khitan tribes will surely be attacked by the Turks, but...".

Speaking of this, Liu Hongji's eyes flashed, "But if the plan is right, it may be an excellent opportunity for our Datang."

The conversation between the two did not avoid Da Hemo Hui. After hearing these words, Da Hemo Hui immediately stood up and said, "Khitan and other tribes are at the mercy of the Tang Dynasty."

Liu Hongji nodded with satisfaction. Suddenly an idea came to his mind. He leaned forward and asked, "Brother Mohui, did you just say that Tuli recruited you to attack Xue Yantuo?"

Seeing that Liu Hongji was as friendly as ever, and that he, in the position of Grand Governor, actually called him a brother to a barbarian chieftain, Da Hemo Hui also felt warm in his heart. He nodded and said: "Exactly, Tuli has limited us to recruit [-] troops from each tribe today." , followed the army north to conquer Xue Yantuo."

Liu Hongji was a ranger when he was young, and he has always been unruly. According to his current status as the Grand Governor, he is also a first-class figure in the entire Tang Dynasty. However, his personality has always been like this. Even when facing a soldier, he would not hesitate. Backing each other up and calling him brother-in-law is his unique personality charm.

Liu Hongji nodded slowly, thoughtfully.

"Hongji, do you have any ideas about the Turks' northern expedition?" Li Xuandao had been assisting Liu Hongji for several months, and Li Xuandao probably guessed Liu Hongji's thoughts.

Liu Hongji raised his brows and said, "The enemy of our enemy is our friend, not to mention Yi Nan..." Halfway through, Liu Hongji paused without leaving any trace and said, "They are not our enemies. I think there is a conspiracy behind it."

"Should we report it to the court first?" Li Xuandao also nodded in agreement, but the matter was so important that Li Xuandao, as a long history official, did not dare to make arbitrary decisions.

"It's too late," Liu Hongji just shook his head, "It's only half a month before it comes back. The opportunity is fleeting. We can wait, but Mohui and the others can't wait."

Suddenly, Liu Hongji suddenly raised his head and looked at the Dahemo Hui, "Mohui, if you are asked to lead your troops to fight back against the Turks, do you dare?"

Dahe Mohui sat up in confusion, "Why don't you dare? I have wanted to kill them a long time ago. They bully others too much, but our power is too weak and we still need the protection of Datang."

"Okay, it's natural to be protected," Liu Hongji applauded, "In that case, I have a plan, it depends on whether you have the courage to implement it, Mo Hui."

"Please give me your instructions, Commander-in-Chief", Da Hemo would bow down with a loud voice, "Now we have no way to survive. As long as the Tang Dynasty is willing to protect us, the Khitan ministries can be driven at will."

Liu Hongji's face was full of excitement, "Come forward."

The three of them immediately got together.

"Tuli was ordered to conquer Xue Yantuo in the north. The main force will definitely be your Khitan tribes. Maybe during the battle, you can counterattack and defeat Tuli, and then welcome Xue Yantuo to go south. As long as Xue Yantuo goes south, the old thief Xieli will have no time to worry about the east. , only the Turkic chaos is in our interests, what do you think?" Liu Hongji whispered, and the two of them were surprised by what he said.

Li Xuandao frowned and said: "This, once the matter is leaked, it will definitely lead to conflicts between the two countries."

"Is there no conflict between the two countries now?" Liu Hongji asked rhetorically: "We will be outside and we need to act according to the situation. The current situation is very beneficial to our country, so what can't we do?"

Da Hemohui nodded solemnly, "All Khitan ministries are willing to obey the instructions of the Grand Governor."

Liu Hongji was overjoyed when he saw this.

Then Da Hemohui continued: "In fact, Tuli's servant is not favored by Jieli. If Tuli's defeat leads Xue Yantuo to invade Monan, Jieli will not spare Tuli lightly."

Liu Hongji became excited again when he heard this, "Is there any chance to persuade Tuli to join us then?"

Da Hemohui was stunned and said, "Maybe it's feasible, but the governor, Tu Li, is almost the same as Jie Li. He is equally violent, wanton, and demanding. Even if he joins the Tang Dynasty, I, the Khitan tribe, are not willing to submit to Tu Li anymore."

Liu Hongji laughed when he heard this and said: "That's for sure. The whole world is the land of the king, and the shore of the land is the king's ministers. We only surrender to the sage of the Tang Dynasty."

Hearing this, Da Hemohui finally felt at ease. He also knew that the political system of the Tang Dynasty was completely different from that of the Turks.

In the Turks, they surrendered to Tuli, and Tuli obeyed Jieli. In short, their monarch was Tuli. After all, on the grasslands, this system of tribal dependence had existed for thousands of years.

However, in the Tang Dynasty, if you dare to say that your monarch is your superior, you will get your superior to death. In the Central Plains Dynasty, there is only one monarch, and that is the current emperor.

"Then I will go back and get rid of the damn Qilifa first, and then I will respond to Tuli." Ohma would make a decision immediately and not delay.

Liu Hongji paused after hearing this, "Qi Lifa?"

Dahemo saw the situation and had to say: "The political councilor in the royal court when Lifa came to the palace was a Han Chinese named Zhao Deyan, who was highly regarded by the emperor. He was not a kind person. He had been bewitching or doing other evil things and imposing additional taxes. Now he is doing it. The policy of deferring tax payment on mortgages has caused panic among people on the grassland."

Liu Hongji immediately paid attention to it and said, "Brothers from the Moroccan Society, tell me carefully about this Zhao Deyan."

Next, Da Hemohui will tell the truth about some of Zhao Deyan's deeds. Originally, the customs of the tribes on the grassland were simple and the governance was simple. For example, when Jieli Khan collected taxes, he could directly order the ministries to pay the taxes. When going to war, he would directly order the ministries to pay taxes. Send troops, but after Zhao Deyan took office, he began drastic reforms and applied some cumbersome regulations to the Turkic Khanate, which caused anger and resentment.

Some strict laws were formulated and enforced, which also caused great dissatisfaction among the tribes, such as herding. Previously, the tribes lived one by one, but now Zhao Deyan forcibly divides the jurisdiction. For example, your Khitan tribe can only be limited to this area. area, you are not allowed to leave the country at will.

According to him, this was based on the feudal system of the Han Dynasty. The vassal king was not allowed to leave the fiefdom at will, which was more conducive to the rule of the Khan.

After the Great Hemo Conference was finished, Liu Hongji and the two looked strange.

"We have brothers from the labor union. You should go back and prepare." Liu Hongji came to his senses and stood up to see him off. "I am waiting for your good news in Youzhou. I will also collect some cloth and salt and send it to you secretly later. ".

Da Hemohui was overjoyed when he heard this, thanked him and left.

There were only two people in the hall, Liu Hongji and Li Xuandao, who looked at each other and saw confusion in each other's eyes.

"Brother Yuan Yi, please speak first," Liu Hongji sat back on the couch and stretched out his hand.

Li Xuandao, named Yuan Yi, is five years older than Liu Hongji.

"If I remember correctly, the person who served as the middle school secretary of Dou Jiande in the Puppet Xia Dynasty was also named Zhao Deyan, and his surname in Qinghe, Hebei Province should be from the Zhao family in Qinghe."

Li Xuandao twisted his beard and frowned, and said hesitantly: "It's just that after the fall of the Puppet Xia, Zhao Deyan disappeared. I don't know if the current Turk Lifa is the Zhao Deyan of that year."

Li Xuandao already has half a hundred New Year's goods, so he can be called an old man.

"There is such a person? I have never heard of it." Liu Hongji said in surprise: "How did Brother Yuan Yi know about it?"

"Hongji must have forgotten that my mother's family is the Fang family of Qinghe." Li Xuandao said with a smile: "My family has moved to Henan since the reign of Emperor Kaihuang of the Sui Dynasty. I have traveled frequently between Hebei and Henan since I was a child, so I know it."

Liu Hongji suddenly realized it, then rubbed his chin and said thoughtfully: "Listening to what the Great Hemo Association said, Zhao Deyan seems to be a mediocre person. He has made all the Turkic tribes complain, but... this is a great benefit to our government." .

Li Xuandao shook his head at this time and said: "I don't know if this Zhao Deyan is the Zhao Deyan of Qinghe back then, but the Zhao Deyan I knew well back then is not mediocre."

"He was a handsome man of the Zhao family in Qinghe. He was promoted to Jinshi and later became a prefecture and county assistant. He defected to the puppet Xia Dynasty and became a member of Zhongshushe. When Wang Shibing entered Luoyang City, Wang Shichong asked for help from Dou Jiande. It was Zhao Deyan and Liu Bin and his two men persuaded Dou Jiande to send troops to rescue Luoyang."

"From Dou Jiande's point of view at the time, rescuing Wang Shichong was undoubtedly the right choice. It was just a saint with great talent who defeated him in one battle."

Liu Hongji didn't know the story. Hearing this, he was surprised and said: "Is this happening?"

Li Xuandao nodded slowly, "It's unmistakable. Anyi Jinggong had the habit of writing down notes. He had a clear record of this matter in the Pseudo-Xia Dynasty. Before his death, he donated the manuscript to Hongwen Museum for the purpose of compiling history."

Duke Jing of Anyi is Pei Ju, who was given the title of Duke of Anyi County. He passed away at the beginning of the year and was given the posthumous title of "Jing". At that time, Pei Ju served as the minister's right servant in the Xia State and concurrently as the minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He was an important minister of the Xia State. His The records are sure to be correct.

Pei Ju lived to be eighty years old and served in the Northern Qi, Northern Zhou, Sui and Tang dynasties. His essays have important reference significance for the compilation of history.

As a bachelor of Hongwen Museum, Li Xuandao was well-read, and he also read Pei Ju's essays carefully and recited them casually.

""A letter of support for Zheng": jointly signed by Liu Bin, the assistant minister of Zhongshu in the pseudo-Xia Dynasty, and Zhao Deyan, a member of the Zhongshu family."

"The world is in chaos. Tang has conquered Guanxi, Zheng has conquered Henan, and Xia has conquered Hebei. Together they have formed a tripartite force. Today, Tang has raised its troops to march towards Zheng, and since autumn has gone through the winter. Tang's troops are increasing day by day, and Zheng's land is shrinking day by day. Tang is strong and Zheng is weak, and the situation will inevitably fail. . If Zheng dies, Xia will not be able to be independent. It is better to relieve the hatred and send out troops to rescue him. Xia will attack the outside and Zheng will attack the inside. The Tang Dynasty will be destroyed. After the Tang army has retreated, Xu will observe the changes and take Zheng if he can. Combining the armies of the two countries and taking advantage of Tang's masters, the world can take advantage of him."

After hearing this, Liu Hongji also looked solemn, sat up straight and sighed: "These two Liu and Zhao are really talented. If it weren't for a saint who used his troops like gods and defeated them in one battle, maybe, maybe the situation would be as what they said."

"That's why I said that Zhao Deyan is definitely not mediocre. If the current Turkic Zhao Deyan is really the same person back then, he will be the disaster of our Tang Dynasty." Li Xuandao sighed quietly, then he seemed to think of something, and he also had doubts on his face, " But looking at the current situation in Turks, it is really puzzling.”

"Anyway, it will be of great benefit to our court." Liu Hongji couldn't figure it out, but he didn't dwell on it and said directly: "I will report it to the saint and explain the situation of the Turks. I will ask Brother Yuan Yi to make some corrections later."

Li Xuandao nodded in response, full of doubts in his heart.