Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 100

In the autumn of the 26th year of Kaiyuan, after years of poor harvests, Guanzhong ushered in a rare bumper harvest.

So Li Longji ordered Zhang Shougui, the left minister, to be in charge of deploying the "peace and purchase method" for the Guanzhong area.That is: to purchase grain from Guanzhong at a price [-]% higher than the market price for Chang'an's needs.

For a time, the government and the public were joyful, and the people all shouted long live.

This move not only prevented "cheap grain from hurting farmers", but also enriched the granary.

Now that "open source" is available, it is inevitable to "cut expenditure".Li Longji also ordered that the water transportation volume be stopped by half.Jiangnan water transport, with its freight rates remaining high, is no longer organized by the government to purchase, and the profits and losses of transactions are determined by merchants from various places.

Whether it is lucky or not, whether it is lucky or not, the court will not interfere.

In order to enrich the internal treasury, Li Longji appointed Yang Shenjin as the supervisory censor and Tai Fuqing; he also appointed his younger brother Yang Shen as the supervisory censor as the cashier of Hanjiacang, taking over Zheng Shuqing's original powers and responsibilities.In addition, Yang Shenyu was also appointed as the prince's sheren, serving as the censor, and in charge of Jingcang.

The three Yang brothers were all in the limelight for a while, and they became the new cutting-edge forces promoted by Li Longji, specializing in large-scale treasury, with a vague attitude of decentralizing Li Linfu.Li Linfu's confidant, Zheng Shuqing, not only asked himself to be dismissed as the minister of the household department, but was also sent to Qizhou to serve as the governor. It can be seen that Li Linfu expressed his compromise with Ji Ge's appointment.

Yang Chongli, the father of the three Yang brothers, served as Taifuqing for 20 years and was always fair and honest.When he was in his 90s, he was appointed as the Minister of Household Affairs, but was dismissed from the post of Taifuqing because of old age and illness. He has been dead for three years now.

On the surface, it seems that this is Li Longji remembering his old feelings, taking care of Yang Chongli's descendants, and promoting him vigorously.

But from the perspective of actual power operations, whether it is Zheng Shuqing, the minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who "asked for demotion", or the minister of the Ministry of household affairs was concurrently appointed by Zhang Shougui, and the three Yang brothers were all appointed to manage the granary of the Gyeonggi Prefecture, the power of the right prime minister Li Linfu lies in Continuous loss.

It's hard to say, it wasn't Li Longji beating Li Linfu, or in the eyes of outsiders, it was Li Longji punishing Li Linfu for supporting Shouwang Li Ju!

As for the actual reason, only Li Longji himself knows clearly.

Recently, Li Linfu's house in Pingkangfang has been deserted again, and no party members or cronies have come to conspire.Li Linfu's quietness and calmness make it difficult to figure out what he is thinking.

Chang'an's turbulent political situation, even veterans who have been in politics for many years, such as He Zhizhang and others, have to be careful in their lives, and dare not be absent from work and drink as often as before.

At the same time, the proportion of talents from the imperial examination system in the central court continues to decrease, and the number of admissions for imperial examinations this year is 20, which is far lower than the average number of 27 people admitted for imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty over the years.

After Zhang Jiuling was dismissed from office, Li Longji obviously disliked the courtiers who were born in the imperial examination. Perhaps he thought in his heart that they were small in ability and talk a lot of nonsense, and he didn't want these people to enter the court.Therefore, the Ministry of Officials controlled by Li Linfu is also constantly sending candidates with Jinshi background to local prefectures and counties as county lieutenants and joining the army.

On this day, after participating in the autumn harvest sacrifice, Li Longji was resting in the main building of Qinzhengwu.

The emperor's participation in the harvest celebration on the outskirts of Chang'an is the same as the spring plowing ceremony. This is an "old rule" passed down from the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Since the Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty, every emperor must participate without exception.

Li Longji has participated in this event for decades, and since he ascended the throne, he has never been absent.However, this year, he felt a kind of exhaustion from the depths of his soul.

That's right, I am tired, both physically and mentally.

He's tired of this year-to-year "inherent show."

"Lishi, what happened to the battle in Hexi? Is there any battle report?"

Li Longji lay reclined on the couch in the study, and asked weakly.

The farmers who participated in the celebration in the outskirts of Chang'an probably didn't know that the energetic Chang'an sage was as tired as a dead dog after returning to Xingqing Palace.If they knew, perhaps they would not have much respect for the emperor in their hearts.

Fortunately, only Gao Lishi knew about Li Longji's fatigue.

"Back to the saint, Wang Zhongsi led the troops to conquer the new city of Tubo. He has written a memorial and asked the saint for instructions on how to deal with it next. He suggested that a new army should be formed in the new city of Tubo to guard the main traffic routes and prevent the Tubo people from entering Dadouba calmly. valley."

Gao Lishi was well-read and had a strong memory, and was quite capable of handling government affairs.He recited the memorial written by Wang Zhongsi to Li Longji verbatim. The latter nodded frequently, but seemed disapproving of the Tang army's victory in Hexi.

"That's fine, then set up a Wei Rong army in the new city, with a capacity of one thousand people."

Li Longji accepted all Wang Zhongsi's suggestions, and now the battle against Tubo is just an appetizer.

"By the way, Cui Xiyi, Hexi Jiedu envoy, is now notorious among the Tubo people, and they all think that he is treacherous. Tubo Zanpu uses this to boost morale, and wants to avenge Cui Xiyi's betrayal of the alliance and attacking Kilixu. What does the saint think about this matter? What about the disposal?"

Gao Lishi asked cautiously.

His words had one meaning: Should the imperial court justify Cui Xiyi's name!
If the imperial court comes out to justify Cui Xiyi's name, then Cui Xiyi's action is a "just act" authorized by the Tang court. Soldiers are not tired of deceit, what morals can they say to the Tubo clown?

If the imperial court keeps silent, or even disposes of Cui Xiyi, then it means that this move is the "privileged use of troops" by the Jiedu envoy of Hexi, and it is not Tang Ting who owes Tubo, but Cui Xiyi himself!
However, everyone familiar with the matter understood that Cui Xiyi had no intention of sending troops to Tibet at first. He only used troops against Tibet under the pressure and urging of the imperial court.From this perspective, the person who became the clown was not Tubo, let alone Cui Xiyi, but Li Longji, who was very happy with his success.

Just how can a saint be a clown?
So the person who becomes the clown can only be Tubo or Cui Xiyi!

Sure enough, as Gao Lishi expected, Li Longji pondered for a moment and said: "Remove Cui Xiyi from the post of Hexi Jiedu envoy, and change him to Henan Yin, let him be the political party in Luoyang."

"Here, who will replace Hexi Jiedu?"

"Let Xiao Jiong promote Wang Zhongsi to the deputy envoy of Hexi Jiedu, and let him recommend a place for the military envoy of the Great Dou Army. Kang Taihe is old. It is time to return to Chang'an to report on his duties and enjoy his old age."

Li Longji decided the fate of local officials in Hexi with just one sentence. Those who should be promoted would be promoted, those who should be retired would be retired, and those who should be relocated would be relocated.As for rewarding the three armies, Ji Geti didn't mention it either.

Perhaps in his opinion, there are only a thousand troops stationed in Tubo New City. Not only did the Tang army deploy heavy troops in Longyou in the southeast, but there are also [-] or [-] elite troops available in Hexi. The Chishui Army is still a direct ace army that has been in existence since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. .

Is it really worth mentioning such a powerful force to defeat the Tubo people in a small town with a population of [-] people?

Li Longji obviously didn't think this was the "big meal" he was looking forward to, it was just an appetizer at best.

"After autumn, the Tubo people are likely to attack aggressively. Let Wang Zhongsi be prepared. I don't want to hear news that Liangzhou City is in danger."

Li Longji said bitterly that these military affairs and government affairs took up a lot of his time, made him have no energy to enjoy himself, and destroyed his ease of mind.

"Well, I'll do it now."

Gao Lishi said with a low eyebrow, he actually still has a lot of doubts in his mind, but... Forget it, if Li Longji thinks it's nothing, then it's nothing.

"By the way, Huanhuan lives with Yuzhen, and I always feel uneasy. Is there any way to bring her to Xingqing Palace?"

Li Longji pulled Gao Lishi's sleeve and asked in a low voice.

Gao Lishi's heart tightened, Li Longji's "uneasiness" was fake, and his "impatient" was real, but these little secrets, he, the personal eunuch who has been with him for many years, could not possibly break through.

"Saint, the position of Concubine of King Shou is currently vacant. If Yang Yuhuan is allowed to enter Xingqing Palace, I am afraid that people will criticize her.

Why don't you arrange the marriage of King Shou first and order him to get married in the near future!
King Shou married a wife, then... everything will come naturally. "

Gao Lishi suggested calmly.

"wonderful!"

Li Longji was overjoyed, held Gao Lishi's hand, and roared excitedly: "Do it quickly. It must be done in a decent manner, so that everyone in Chang'an knows about it. Why don't you open a big pot to let everyone know?" Let's celebrate King Shou's marriage."

"I'm going to prepare it now. It's just the money for this big pot... Will the internal treasury come out?"

Gao Lishi asked doubtfully.

Li Longji is very generous on weekdays, but when it comes to the affairs of the internal library, he is outrageously stingy.

"Let the various states and counties in Gyeonggi distribute it, and don't touch a penny from the internal treasury. It's the wedding of King Shou, not mine!"

Li Longji said impatiently.

……

Fang Chongyong's suggestion played a major role in the Tang army's attack on the new city of Tubo.Since they are all young soldiers under the age of 20, their adaptability to altitude sickness is incomparable to old soldiers.

Therefore, this time the Tang army fought across an altitude of nearly 2000 meters. Their bravery, decisiveness, and crispness exceeded the Tubo people's expectations.

Even so, in the fierce battle, the Tang army still had many casualties.Wang Zhongsi set up an army in Xincheng, named "Wei Rong Army", with a quota of [-] soldiers.He also appointed Cui Ganyou as the military envoy of the Weirong Army, responsible for supervising the movement of the Tubo people going north.

Wang Zhongsi himself returned to Liangzhou City with the wounded soldiers and the remaining troops, and discussed the next action plan with Cui Xiyi, the governor of Hexi.

In the courtyard of a medical center in Liangzhou City, there were wounded Tang soldiers lying on the ground.They were all fractured in the battle and needed to go to the hospital for "bone setting" treatment.

Because most tribes of the Tubo people do not like to use bows and arrows (especially in the plateau areas where Zanpu developed), but like to use stone-throwing Udo.Therefore, in battle, the proportion of fractures among Tang soldiers was higher than that of arrow wounds and knife wounds.

For these people with fractures, the injured area is difficult to treat on the spot, and it also affects the march and fighting.

Due to Dr. Li's inconvenient legs and feet, Anaye was in charge of commanding and dispatching the affairs in the clinic, with several soldiers from the Chishui Army helping.But Fang Chongyong, a half-grown child, was simply reduced to a spectator.

This is just a certain medical clinic in Liangzhou City. There are many other medical clinics like this, and each of them has assumed the responsibility of treating the wounded of the Tang army.And the "subsidy" they can get is almost negligible, and it would be good if they can get back the money for the medicinal materials.

It can be regarded as a kind of "corvement" that is not called corvee, and there is no way to refuse it.

The military pressure of the border towns is actually borne by every Hexi people, whether they are Han Chinese, Sogdians, or naturalized Turkic people, they must bear such tangible or intangible pressure unconditionally.

Fang Chongyong asked Fang Laique to go to the city to buy a stack of papers, set up a table in the yard, and then came to write letters to the wounded Tang soldiers here.

"I am safe in Liangzhou City, and I have made great achievements in the battle against Tubo this time. There is no corvee at home this year, and my mother's dowry money will be collected, mother, please don't worry.

That's all for writing, right? "

Fang Chongyong looked at the young man in front of him whose leg was broken by a stone thrown by Wu Duo and who could barely walk with a cane after being splinted.

"Yes, it's just a small injury, so don't worry about it at home."

There was a sincere smile on his tanned red face, as if the one who broke his leg was not himself, but a Tibetan.

"After finishing writing, leave it here. You write your name, and someone will take the post road to deliver it to your family in Guazhou."

The soldier of the Tang army wrote his name at the end of the letter, and then lowered his voice and exclaimed: "Young gentleman is a high official of the court, I have seen the handwriting of those small officials in Hexi before, all crooked and ugly. Mr. Lang It's well written!"

"Don't be so close, just bring me a penny."

Fang Chongyong smiled and patted the other party's arm.

A penny is not the cost of production, but tells everyone here: there is a price to pay for any service.If you don't accept this penny, you may have to pay back the favor in the future, which will cost you your life!

Fang Chongyong's temper really suits the appetite of these Hexi Qiubas. The young soldier with a broken calf carefully took out a "Kaiyuan Tongbao" and put it on the table, and then said to him: "What errands do you have in the future, Mr. Xiaolang?" As long as it is not a rebellion, just send someone to the branch of the Chishui Army to make a sound."

"I have to be miserable to send you to do things. Save up your dowry. It's useless to think about these messes all day. Get lost! Next!"

Fang Chongyong waved his hands impatiently, and an unlucky guy with broken hands came forward, blushing and bowing his head without speaking.

"There are a lot of people queuing up behind, can you be quicker?"

Fang Chongyong said with a sigh.

"Write a letter to Xiaohua, asking her not to get married..."

The man held back for a long time before uttering a word.

"I wish to be a lovebird in the sky, and Lian Lizhi in the earth; if you want to marry someone, don't marry someone else, you must marry me. Is it good to write like this?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a tired face, afraid that this boring gourd would not be able to say a word for a long time.

"Good, good, really good, there is nothing better."

The soldier looked pleasantly surprised. He didn't expect Fang Chongyong, a half-old boy, to be so reliable.

"Xiao Langjun is really amazing!"

He added another sentence.

"You don't have empty hands, let me sign for you. What's your name?"

"My name is Liu Zhan, Chen Liuren. I came to Hexi Fan at the age of 15, and it has been five years."

He seemed to be afraid of being ridiculed for wanting a woman and refused to speak, not because he couldn't speak clearly.

"That's all, after five years it's time to return to my hometown."

Fang Chongyong sighed and said: "Give me your military identity card, and I will tell the Jiedushi to return you to your place of origin. It is not too difficult to let a veteran who has been on duty for many years return home. "

In fact, there are still a very small number of soldiers in the Hexi area who were recruited from other places to join the army. When the time came, the military mansion was empty and no one could replace them, so they could only stay on duty there until they died of old age!

Now the Hexi frontier army doesn't like such soldiers, thinking that they have no land locally, so they don't have the heart to defend the cities in Hexi.When fighting, you will cherish your life and not exert your strength.

"Thank you, Mr. Sir! I cannot thank you enough for your kindness!"

This person was about to kneel, but found that both arms were broken, so he could only nod his head cautiously with a dejected look on his face.

"Go ahead, next one."

Fang Chongyong took out a penny from his pocket, and beckoned the next person to come forward.

Anaye was surprised to find that the wounded soldiers of the Tang army who were lying on the ground and howling, all consciously lined up one by one, waiting for Fang Chongyong to write home letters to them.

(End of this chapter)