Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 160 Shocking Case (3)

The Zhongyuan Festival in the Tang Dynasty was not only a folk festival for worshiping ancestors in autumn, but also a Taoist Zhongyuan Festival and a Buddhist Obon Festival. It can be said to be the three streams of secular, Taoist and monks in one.

It is said that on the day of Zhongyuan, the underground palace opens the door to hell, which is also the day when hell opens its doors.All the ghosts have to leave the underworld and take exams. The ghosts with owners go home, while the ghosts without owners wander around the world, wandering around looking for food.

Therefore, the Ghost Festival is also called the Ghost Festival. In various parts of the Tang Dynasty, activities to worship ghosts were generally carried out, and lotus lanterns were lit to illuminate the way home for the dead souls.

At this moment, not long after the city gate had just opened, Li Xuan, the longevity king, who was the grandson of the dragon and the phoenix, left the ten kings' residence and passed through the Yanping Gate to the west.

With only a personal eunuch by his side, he arrived alone at the noble cemetery outside Chang'an City.This place is usually deserted, but today it is different. Many tombstones have offerings placed in front of them.

However, cemeteries probably belong to the human world, so the inequality of human beings is not bad here.

The newness of different tombstones varies greatly, as does the size of different tombs.

There are abundant offerings in front of some tombstones, including garlands, incense candles, incense tables and other items, as well as traces of burning paper money.

Apparently the family is prosperous and the family members remember him and have just paid their respects.

However, some tombstones are overgrown with weeds and have not been cleaned, let alone paid homage, for a long time.

These desolate tombs may be torn down by caring people at some point to make room for others.

King Longevity Li Xuan came to an ordinary tombstone that was clean and tidy, with no weeds and no sacrifices. He stroked the stone monument with his right hand, his expression soft and complicated.

The tombstone clearly reads "Tomb of Monk Tai Zhen".It was so ordinary that no one even wrote down the name of the owner of the tomb clearly. At first glance, it was intentional.

The longevity king Li Xuan sighed softly and asked his personal eunuch to offer the melons and fruits he carried as sacrifices. He also lit incense candles and placed them on the incense table.

After quitting the eunuch, Li Long began to burn paper money on his own.

It’s been four years, it’s been four years since Huanhuan passed away!
For Li Chen, those past events seemed like they happened yesterday.

"Huanhuan, I come to see you every year, but that beast never comes once. He has completely forgotten about you and hangs out with your three cousins.

He took you away from me, but now he doesn't remember you at all!

Huanhuan, did you see it?If you knew better, would you regret it?
He actually doesn't even want to write your name on the tombstone. Don't you mind? "

Li Chen asked calmly.

It's just that the quiet tombstone doesn't say a word, only the birds chirping around it, I don't know what it means.

A drop of rain fell on the face of Shou Wang Li Han. He looked up at the sky and saw big raindrops falling hard and fast, extinguishing the burning flames on the paper money!
"Hahahahaha! Huanhuan, do you regret it too? Are you the one crying now?

Why didn't I reject that beast in the first place?Why am I so cowardly!
How wonderful it would be if I had rejected him then!It was me who hurt you! "

Shou Wang lowered his voice and howled, while beating the ground with his fist!

The rain falling from the sky made the brocade robe on his body wet.At this moment, he was almost like a drowned dog staggering in the wind and rain.He completely lost the manners that a prince of the Tang Dynasty should have, and his handsome and mature face became unpredictable.

At this moment, Longevity King Li Xuan felt that the rain on his head had become less and less, almost nonexistent!
He raised his head, and a red bamboo umbrella blocked him from the heavy rain falling from the sky.In the haze of tears, he vaguely saw this young and graceful girl, who seemed to slowly overlap with Yang Yuhuan's original figure.

"Huanhuan! You're back, Huanhuan!
I was wrong!I was wrong!I shouldn't have let him take you away, I will never be weak again!
Don't leave me again!I beg you!I beg you! "

Li Chen hugged the girl and cried loudly.

The soft body in his arms stiffened slightly, and then he hugged Shou Wang Li Xuan tightly with his backhand.The red bamboo umbrella fell to the ground, and the two hugged each other tightly in the rain.

"I'm just worried about A Lang, so I followed him out to have a look. I'm not Huanhuan."

The soft and warm voice of Wei Shi, who had just entered the palace not long ago, came to the ears of the longevity king Li Chen, with a hint of the naughty unique to his daughter's family, and he immediately showed a look of helplessness on his face.

Li Chen didn't want his weak side to be seen by his new wife, but he had lost his fighting spirit and had no energy to build a new life.

The two of them have not slept together to this day, they can only be regarded as equals and respect each other as guests.

Although Li Chan felt that Wei Shi was indeed a good girl, he was really tired.

"Thank you, Third Lady.

Sorry, I still can't forget her. "

Li Chen murmured in Wei Sanniang's ear. The rain obscured the bitter smile on his face, making it difficult to tell what his expression was.

"If Alang really forgets her, then I will be afraid. Your Highness is now my husband in my heart.

Things will get better gradually in the days to come, and I will always be with His Highness. "

Young Wei Sanniang hugged Li Han tightly regardless of the rain.Her chin playfully rubbed against the beard on the other person's face, with a girlish and naive attitude.

"Go back home, I'll carry you back."

"it is good!"

Wei Sanniang, who was as light as a swallow, jumped on Li Han's back, and the two of them returned to the Ten Kings' House together with their servants holding umbrellas.The two of them talked and laughed along the way, as if the dripping rain around them was the accompaniment of beautiful notes.

At night, King Shou and Wei Sanniang finally merged with each other. They completely accepted each other, both physically and mentally, and experienced the beauty and hope of a new life.

The wholehearted service of his new wife Wei Sanniang was like a clear spring, which rejuvenated the dry soul of Longevity King Li Xuan.

Huanhuan has gone far, but the living people still have to live well.The longevity king Li Xuan decided to forget about Yang Yuhuan. He would not come to visit the grave of monk Taizhen again on the Hungry Ghost Festival next year.

He has waited for his own destination.

……

In a study room of the Zhang family's house in the small town of Shazhou, Dunhuang, Fang Chongyong was interviewing Zhang Tong, the leader of a large local business.

He generously handed Li Linfu's autographed letter to Zhang Chan for inspection, and then waited for the other party to speak first.

"Fang Shijun, are you going back to Beijing to report on your duties?"

Zhang Chan asked with a sigh.

The time now is around the Hungry Ghost Festival, and Fang Chongyong certainly would not choose to leave at this time.But in two months it will be Brother Ji’s birthday, and it will also be his sixtieth birthday.Before that, I must go back and offer the treasure.

In fact, Zhang Tong knew long ago that with Fang Chongyong's talent, he would definitely not be trapped in Shazhou or even Hexi.His stage will definitely be the center of the Tang Dynasty in the future!
Out will be in phase!

"Yes, after all, I am an official appointed by the imperial court. Returning to Beijing to report on my duties is what I should do."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said.

"Yes, the things you did were too big and too beautiful. This made us all forget that you are actually an official of the imperial court, and you will not stay in Shazhou for the rest of your life."

Zhang Chan's wrinkled face showed a wry smile.

The saying that all banquets in the world come to an end is what I'm talking about.No matter how capable Fang Chongyong is, he cannot expect the other party to serve the caravan for the rest of his life.

"After I left, there must be someone in the court who wanted to take over the business in the Western Regions. In the past few years, I didn't get a penny, so every family in the caravan was able to get a bowl of water on an equal footing. Everyone was convinced.

But you can't expect that the people sent by the court to take over will be as selfless as a certain person.

As the saying goes, one must be strong without desires. If one has selfish desires, he will not be able to convince others and win the trust of others.In view of this, it is only a matter of time before this business collapses.

Don't have too many extravagant expectations, just let nature take its course.Be less greedy and live a comfortable life.When you need to break, be decisive and don't delay.

After XX left Shazhou, the Sogdian Hu side would definitely make trouble about the caravan business, so XX would not tell them. Even if he did, they would not take it seriously after XX left. "

Fang Chongyong took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Zhang Tan and continued: "I will resign as the president of the caravan today and entrust you to temporarily take over his duties. After the imperial court sends someone, you will relinquish your position to As long as he is good, he can also find a place for a big local business in Shazhou, but there is only so much I can do."

"Your Majesty... alas!"

Zhang Chan stepped forward and held Fang Chongyong's hand excitedly, and then sighed!

"Your Majesty often says: It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality. We have enjoyed the blessings of your Majesty for three or four years, and now it is gone all of a sudden. What should people do?"

Zhang Chan was in tears and held Fang Chongyong's hand tightly.

"The green mountains will not change, and the green waters will always flow. We can only say that we will see you in the future."

Fang Chongyong saluted Zhang Tan with crossed hands and said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, wait a minute, I will remember your share of the dividends."

Zhang Tan seemed to have remembered something, turned around and rummaged around on the bookshelf, and recently found a thick account book, tied together with hemp rope.

"In the past few years, your Majesty has taken care of families who have lost young men due to the war. Every loan they receive ranges from ten to twenty dollars, which adds up to a lot.

The old man has calculated that the total money in this account book is almost 50 yuan.The account books are kept by the envoy, and the people of Shazhou are under the care of the envoy. How can there be no reason not to pay back the money owed, not to mention that there is no interest.In the future, the caravan will send someone to deliver the money to Chang'an and hand it over to the envoy.

Even if Jun Liangxiu Qingfeng doesn't want money, as an official in Chang'an, doesn't he need money everywhere?Just keep it. These are the portions you deserve. It will only be less, not more. "

Zhang Chan said with emotion and handed the ledger into Fang Chongyong's hands.

Over the years, Fang Shijun has become famous in Hexi not only because he manages the caravan business, but because he uses his share of the dividends to do many things that are beneficial to local needy households.With him taking the lead, other big households were embarrassed to be too stingy with the people.

In view of this, the reputation of the caravans in Hexi can surpass those of the original Hu merchants, and they can receive the widest support and participation.

It can be said that if Fang Chongyong's "interest-free loan" policy had not helped many people, the caravan business would not have been possible, let alone a monopoly.

If the locals in Hexi do not support smuggling, how can the smuggling business be possible?The informers have crossed the threshold of the imperial court!

This is actually a truth that is easy to understand, but many business people are often blinded by interests and cannot see it or deliberately pretend not to see it.

While he was feeling grateful, Zhang Tan saw Fang Chongyong walk to the wall, pick up the torch hanging on it, and then light the account book in his hand.

"Your Majesty! Wait, wait, it's impossible! This is really impossible!"

Zhang Chan was shocked and rushed over to put out the flames in the account books.However, Fang Chongyong drew out the Swift Wind Phantom Knife and pointed it at the opponent, preventing Zhang Tan from getting close.

The other hand held the burning ledger, and he didn't say a word the whole time.

The flame was almost reaching his hands, so Fang Chongyong threw it to the ground and stomped on it to extinguish the remaining flames.Then he sheathed the Swift Wind Phantom Sword and saluted Zhang Chan.

"Ugh!"

Zhang Chan sat back on the high stool feebly and couldn't help but sigh.

"After I leave Hexi, I will ask the government to provide money to build a charity warehouse, and you will post notices everywhere.

Those who owed money on the account books were asked to put grain into the warehouse to repay their debts.Large local households should be lenient and should not seek detailed recourse from those households in need. Repayment or non-repayment is voluntary.

This will be the same rule in the future, no name will be recorded when taking it, and no name will be recorded when entering it.It's up to you to use it consciously. The government office can't control it, but I hope that the local big players won't interfere in this matter.

The common people knew that this was leaving a way out for themselves, so they would naturally return the food and crops. This would give them a way to survive in the event of sudden changes in the future;
If they are not aware of it and only take it but cannot take it in, thinking that it is cake falling from the sky, then there will definitely be famine in the future.

This is also their own fault, and no one will sympathize with them.

Local people supervise and urge each other, and it is not difficult to borrow something and borrow again.This is for others as well as for yourself.

In this way, wouldn't it be more enjoyable than returning to Chang'an with a pile of receipts and ledgers?
Also, saints are very taboo about similar things, so don't name this granary after someone.There is a Doulu army in Shazhou, and Doulu means returning to justice, so we named this warehouse Doulucang.

In this way, the matter is settled. "

After hearing these words, Zhang Chan's mood was ups and downs and it was difficult to control himself.He looked at Fang Chongyong with complicated eyes, just shook his head and sighed: "If you make me the prime minister in the future, you will definitely benefit the people of the Tang Dynasty."

As a minister?

Upon hearing Zhang Chan's emotional words, Fang Chongyong almost laughed out loud.

With an emperor like Brother Ji here, regardless of the past, whoever becomes prime minister in the future will have a hard time!

Fang Chongyong vaguely remembered the records in the history books of his previous life. The emperors of the Tang Dynasty after Brother Ji were just cold-blooded and ruthless people. Those people had many tricks!

Even the Jingyuan soldiers, veteran troops with meritorious service who came from the Beiting Protectorate, were forced to rebel.

Is this something the emperor can do?
"I'm joking, if you want to be the prime minister, I'm not the right one.

Without further ado, I took my leave. "

Fang Chongyong bowed deeply to Zhang Tong, then turned around and left coolly.

When we left Zhang Mansion, there were already thousands of lights outside!
In recent years, Shazhou has become a lot more prosperous and richer, but these are all false prosperity based on other places in the vampire Tang Dynasty.

No matter how beautiful the bubble is, it will eventually burst when you poke it.After the caravan business ceases, Shazhou will return to its original appearance.

There is no way to save this declining dynasty by demolishing the eastern wall to repair the western wall.

However, the general trend of the world and where the road is headed are a fog in front of Fang Chongyong.

"I'm sorry to lay such a big news for Brother Ji. I hope the person who takes over won't be a loser.

Otherwise it would be great fun. "

Fang Chongyong said to himself with a wicked smile on his face.

After the incident in Hexi breaks out, there will definitely be storms and even bloodshed. It will depend on who is unlucky then.

In short, those bullshit things have nothing to do with his office.As the saying goes, being strong without desire means how casual you are when you take over, and how relaxed you are when you leave.

I don’t take it, so I don’t have to be responsible for you. Everything is as it should be.

Soon, his yamen will return to Chang'an to be a quiet and low-key man, Fang Zhongyong thought happily.

The experience of eating locally in Shazhou and wanting to pay but not being able to is really bad.Only a fool like Fang Laique who has never seen the world would feel honored.

And Chang'an is so big, who knows who Fang Chongyong is?Returning to ordinary life, this is the real life we ​​should have!
"Finishing the king's worldly affairs and gaining fame both before and after his death are all in vain!"

Fang Chongyong put his hands behind his back and walked towards the government office with steps as if he didn't recognize his relatives.

He found that he seemed to be missing his childhood in this life.In the past few years in Shazhou, I have always been careful about myself. I am so tired of pretending to be a high official!
When you return to Chang'an, you don't have to pay attention to your words and deeds as you do now, and you have to conform to the personality of a high-ranking official of the Tang Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)