Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 120
For three days in a row, the Heishuiguo ruins did not dig out what Fang Chongyong wanted, but a lot of scattered coins were dug up, and even a jar full of "Kaiyuan Tongbao" was buried by some Hu merchant. .

But in Fang Chongyong's view, these things are not what he wants.

On the one hand, there was no progress in his own routines, and on the other hand, Guo Ziyi also began to urge him to provide soldiers for the United Army.

The imperial government's decrees are time-sensitive and cannot be delayed forever.Unity soldiers must be deployed before winter, otherwise the relevant officials will be held accountable.It's only a month or so until winter begins.

Not to mention that Fang Chongyong didn't even think about recruiting united soldiers, even if he wanted to do something impatiently, it would be difficult to complete it within a month!
Because Ji Ge's original intention of placing Fang Yanei as governor in Ganzhou was not to let him complete the task.

Fang Chongyong can't handle the situation in Ganzhou, even if people like Fang Xuanling and Ma Zhou are sent here, and a single person can't change the overall situation.Local people's power is limited to death.

In desperation, Fang Chongyong came to the settlement next to the Sogdian city on the left bank of the Black River in a light vehicle and asked their leader Kang Juren for a place in the united army.

The nine surnames of Zhaowu, headed by An, made a rare political investment at the beginning of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, and integrated the Hexi Corridor into the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

At the beginning, most of the soldiers and horses with the nine surnames of Zhaowu were stationed in Chishui Town (later renamed Chiwu Town), south of Liangzhou City. This is the origin of the Chishui Army.

That is to say, the Chishui Army was originally a soldier of the nine surnames of Zhaowu. Datang spent more than 100 years turning it into an elite frontier army directly under the central government. .

This can be said to be the price that must be paid for relying on the boss.

The Sinicization of the nine surnames of Zhaowu is also obvious. Taking the name as an example, before the Wu Zhou Dynasty, there were still "weird names" such as Kang Saqian, Cao Brahman, Kang Fudanyan, and He Fudiyan. You can see that he was born with the nine surnames of Zhaowu.

As a result, after Kaiyuan, among the nine Zhaowu surnames, names like "Kang Taihe", "An Sishun" and "Li Baoyu" (with changed surnames) had become mainstream, and even in the middle and late Tang Dynasty, people began to participate in the imperial examination.

If you don't look at their surnames, it's basically impossible to tell whether they are barbarians.

Kang Juren in front of Fang Chongyong was wearing a pointed hat, which was inlaid with various styles of gemstones, which looked expensive.

The round-neck silk robes with patterned checks are obviously different from the round-neck robes worn by the nobles of the Tang Dynasty, but they also absorb the styles and specifications of the Central Plains.The black leather boots worn on the feet are not much different from those in the Central Plains, but they are slightly "high", completely covering a long section above the ankle.

The beard on his face is neatly trimmed, and he looks like a pampered person.

"I already know Fang Shijun's purpose of coming, but this matter is difficult to handle."

Kang Juren spoke to Fang Chongyong in Chang'an official dialect, without any Hexi local accent, and his Chinese was even more standard than Anaye!

"Six thousand united soldiers is a little too much. How many people is Kang Tongabor willing to send?" Fang Chongyong asked doubtfully.

The managers of the settlements next to the city are called "Tongjian", and they have great power!

"One person has ten guans, and his salary will be calculated according to the standards set by the imperial court for united soldiers. However, military pay cannot be in arrears, and the envoy must make a contract. We can provide 2000 people.

Our company has contacted many cities in Hexi to send out troops together. There definitely aren’t that many here in Zhangye City. "

Kang Juren said seriously, as if he was talking about business.

This condition was very fair, it could be said to be the "market price", and Kang Juren didn't ask for more.After all, he was also an official conferred by the Tang Dynasty. Without this status, he would not be able to manage the Sogdian city.

It's just that Fang Chongyong couldn't accept Kang Juren's conditions, and the extra recruitment fee alone was already terrifying.An additional expenditure of [-] guns is required, and this can only complete one-third of the quota of united soldiers.

What's more, there are a lot of rice, pickles and other things needed to maintain the unity soldiers!
"This...someone will go back to the government office first, and then reply to Kang Tong's detainment."

Fang Zhongyong said expressionlessly, but he had already given up this option in his heart.

"Well, it doesn't matter, Mr. Fang, please feel free to do it, there is no righteousness in buying and selling.

But Mr. Fang, don't leave yet, I see that you, a maid, look a bit shabby.She has the blood of the Western Regions, why not wear some clothes from the Western Regions to look more beautiful.

Of course, courtesy is reciprocal, I will not accept money from the envoy, please come with me and go to the warehouse to choose clothes. "

Kang Juren said with a smile.

Eh?
Do business on my head?

Fang Chongyong was taken aback for a moment, and then he was relieved.

The Sogdians are both farmers and merchants, and their status as minor nobles can account for more than [-]% of the settlements.They sell goods from Chang'an and West Asia, escort caravans, and small farmers who manage their own fields and pastures.

Identity changes as needed, very flexible.

So Kang Juren is not only the manager of a settlement, the leader of a mercenary group, but also a big businessman!His identity can be switched at will as needed!
If necessary, his descendants can even take the imperial examination in the Tang Dynasty!
The way of survival of the Sogdian people is mainly based on the word "flexibility".Whether it is the Tang Dynasty, the Tubo or the Turks, they all like to hire Sogdians as envoys or the guides and followers of envoys.

"Go ahead, pick whatever you want."

Fang Chongyong whispered to Anaye beside him.

"Will it be bad..."

Anaye was obviously moved, but she still felt that something was not right.

"You have the right to use it, and it will become invalid after the expiration date. You can take it with confidence. Whatever you take is mine."

Fang Chongyong said calmly, winking at Anaye.

……

What Fang Chongyong didn't know was that just as he was devastated by the soldiers of the Unity Army, Tubo's offensive against Datang had already begun.

In the autumn of the 26th year of Kaiyuan, Tubo attacked Longyou and broke through Xicangzhou (Luqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province).The Tang army was outnumbered, retreated into Taozhou (Lintan County, Gansu Province), joined forces with the Momen Army (also called the Momen Army) guarding Taozhou, and defended Taozhou City to the death.

It is located on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the altitude is not too high.It's just that further to the west is a mountain platform with a sudden elevation, so the Tang army's power can only be stabilized in the Taozhou area. Even if there are occasional gains in the west, they will soon retreat to Taozhou to hold on.

The direction of the Tubo's attack was far beyond Tang Ting's expectation. Li Longji quickly issued an order to Du Hope, asking him to lead troops south to Taozhou for rescue!
This road goes straight to Guanzhong. If the Hexi Corridor loses the Tang Dynasty, it can still survive. If people in Guanzhong are allowed to drive straight in, the consequences will be too serious.

Du Xiwang, the governor of Longyou, had to mobilize the Lintao Army, the first main force in Longyou, to go south to join forces with the Momen Army.

Datang's passivity against Tubo lies in the fact that it will never be clear how the Tubo army is dispatched on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.On the long border line where the two countries confront each other, Tubo can deploy a large number of troops to any position, and has three matching sources of war, which can provide supplies at any time.

However, if Datang wanted to play like this, he had to endure the extreme climate and plateau reaction on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. He couldn't put a lot of troops in one place. Even if he forced to use troops, he couldn't even use half of his usual strength.

This has led to the fact that in the long military struggle between the two countries, Tubo, whose national strength is weaker, is the one with the strategic initiative.

It doesn't matter if the Tubo people don't move, all the pressure is transferred to Hexi by this move.The joint military operation of the two Jiedu Prefectures of Hexi and Longyou by the Tang Army was disrupted by the Tubo people before it even started.

Li Longji was so angry that he issued another edict, ordering the states in Hexi to strictly implement the imperial court's autumn defense order, and sent a supervisory censor to the Jiedu Mansion in Hexi to supervise those who violated the law!

Fang Chongyong, who was still thinking about countermeasures in Ganzhou, immediately felt the chill from Chang'an.

……

"There is a change in the Tubo people. If you don't think about it, you know where to go. Brother Ji, you are a real dog!"

There was no one around, Fang Chongyong couldn't help cursing.

He could not help frowning when he saw those Baiting soldiers and civilian husbands who "came here for fame".After digging for many days, I found a lot of strange things, but I didn't see what I wanted!
Many times Fang Chongyong has planned to kneel down and return to Chang'an directly. In fact, it is not difficult for him, as long as he writes a "complaint" letter to Brother Ji, he can easily do it.

Who would expect a ten-year-old child to solve problems that even good officials and generals can't handle?

Fang Chongyong understood very well that this was just Brother Ji wanting to beat his scumbag father.

It's just that when he thought about the local conditions and customs in Hexi, he was really worried that the next governor would be unreasonable and desperate, and something big would happen then.

Ok?
Fang Chongyong glanced casually into the dug out things, and immediately lost his composure!
Isn't this what I was looking for?

To be thrown aside by some Qiu Ba or an illiterate civilian husband and dealt with like a hot chicken!
He ignored everyone's astonished eyes and rushed over with a vigorous stride, using his sleeves to shake off the dust on the stone platform that was mostly covered by sand.I saw two semicircular depressions with "iron blocks" that had solidified and stuck inside.

and black “little clods” that were clearly not charcoal.

This is the crucible, the solidified iron block, and the coal for smelting!

There is no place to find when you break through the iron shoes, and it takes no effort to get it.I didn't check for a while, and almost buried the important "physical evidence" that had been unearthed in the Blackwater Country's smelting workshop!
"Don't dig any more, just share the excavated things equally, and let's go home!"

Fang Chongyong shouted excitedly!
Xin Yunjing walked over quickly, looked at the "inexplicable" objects on the ground, and asked in a low voice, "Master, are these all?"

"Yes, clean it up and send it to the Ganzhou government office. I will be of great use!"

Fang Chongyong said in relief, the whole person relaxed.After clearing this last link, the rest of the operation is just like passing the exam.

If you work hard, you can get a full score. If you want to lie flat, you can get a passing score. In short, there is no pressure.

He doesn't care about Brother Ji's autumn prevention orders. If he wants to play tricks, it's not easy. The tricks are all ready!
A group of people started to gather together, each went back to each house, each looked for each mother.

Fang Chongyong rushed back to the government office, he didn't even have time to enjoy the daily "massage service", so he immediately spread out a large paper and wrote a letter with detailed content to Hexi Jiedu Mansion and Chang'an Central.

……

"What is the use of this thing?"

Anaye looked at the "strange objects" that Fang Chongyong asked Xin Yunjing to move back, and asked with a puzzled look.

Digging over there these days actually yielded a little bit.Even the so-called "luminous cup" has been dug up, and it is worth a lot of money!
However, Fang Chongyong had a disdainful attitude towards those foreign objects, but he regarded this object in front of him, which had no use at all, as a treasure!
"This thing is a treasure for getting out of trouble."

Fang Chongyong put his elbow on the shoulder of Anaye, who was half a head shorter than himself, and continued to explain with a smile: "With this thing, Brother Ji won't embarrass me."

It was not the first time Anaye had heard of the nickname given to the emperor, and she was used to it.She still didn't understand, so she asked: "Why is the emperor so easy to talk about?"

"Brother Ji is not easy to talk to at all. He hanged his three sons to death if he disagreed with him. I saw it with my own eyes."

Fang Chongyong muttered to himself.

It's useless to reason with Brother Ji and talk about feelings.

This Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was a top-notch scumbag who was extremely petty, extremely snobbish and ruthless!
"Look at it first, and then make a copy for Hexi Jiedu Mansion."

Fang Chongyong patted Anaye on the shoulder and said, then he lay down on the Taishi chair to rest.

Anaye read the official document he just finished word by word, frowning more and more tightly.

Fang Chongyong said in the official document:

Because of the lack of charcoal and iron ore in the five prefectures of Hexi, there is no condition to develop smelting, and all armaments need to be imported from Guanzhong.

When Weichen was investigating the ruins of the Heishui Kingdom in the northwest of Zhangye City recently, he "accidentally" discovered that the Heishui Kingdom that existed thousands of years ago actually had a mature smelting workshop, and found a crucible for iron smelting. There are some pieces of iron and some coal.Today, it was sent to Chang'an for the imperial court to observe.

The minister suspects that the people of the Heishui Kingdom, or the craftsmen of the Han army, should use coal to smelt iron to make weapons for military supplies.This technology has matured in the Han Dynasty and has been recorded in Nanyang, Yecheng and other places.

Therefore, Weichen wants to find the location of iron ore and coal mining sites in Ganzhou.Strengthen Hexi's armaments.

In addition, it is necessary for the imperial court to send special personnel from the Ministry of Industry to help, and there may be income.

There is another thing that makes Wei Chen very uneasy. Once iron ore is found in Ganzhou, its strategic position will not be the same as before.I am afraid that I will be coveted by Tubo, and my situation will be a hundred times more dangerous than before.

Please ask the imperial court to send sharp soldiers to guard Ganzhou, and order the Ganzhou government to temporarily suspend the autumn defense order, so as to free up manpower and material resources to search for iron ore and coal.

If Ganzhou is acquired by the Tubo people, then Hexi will be a solid fortress for Tubo to invade our Tang Dynasty.

By then, it will be able to provide enough food and fodder for its troops, horses, and soldiers to make up for the shortcomings of Tibet in the past. Its arrogance will definitely become arrogant, and it will covet Guanzhong and even Chang'an.

Please do not delay the imperial court, focus on the overall situation, strengthen the defense of Ganzhou, stabilize the people's sentiments in Ganzhou, and increase efforts to allocate money and food from the central government to Ganzhou as a backup.

It is urgent to cancel the autumn defense order in Ganzhou. Please see the sage clearly.

Then the seal of the governor of Ganzhou and Fang Chongyong's signature were stamped on it.

"So that's fine too."

Anaye muttered to herself.

Fang Chongyong's thinking was unexpected, and he didn't follow the routine at all!
"Of course. Ganzhou is now the top priority target for the Tubo people. If they get Ganzhou's food, water, iron ore, coal, etc., they can use this place as a bridgehead to attack the city. Thinking about it, it really makes people People are afraid.

So now it's not that the imperial court wants me to come up with some dog-hate autumn defense orders, but that I'm in danger now, and the imperial court wants to protect me desperately!I can do whatever I want!
If Ganzhou is forced to turn against the Tubo people, who would dare to take the responsibility in the center of the Tang Dynasty?

Let me beg them?
No, no, now they are begging me on their knees, okay! "

Fang Chongyong said to Anaye triumphantly.

"The imperial court can transfer Mr. Lang away."

Anaye said helplessly that this was the only flaw in Fang Chongyong's current plan.

"Transfer me, isn't that what you have been talking about all the time? Is there anything wrong with transferring me?"

Fang Chongyong looked at the other party with a strange expression and asked.

"You are just as strong as you are without desires..."

Anaye was speechless for a moment, remembering the matter of the "health medicine" before.

If you don't want to be strong, you don't want anything, so you have no flaws.

Fang Chongyong, the governor of Ganzhou, deserves it clearly.

　vote, vote

　　
　
(End of this chapter)