Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 233 The Glory of the Tang Dynasty
In the Tang Dynasty, when traveling west from Chang'an, one had to take the Longguan Road.From east to west, there are Dazhenguan Station, Fenshui Station and Malu Station in the Longshan area, which provide accommodation and horse exchange services for officials traveling between them.

Longguan Road, also known as Longban Road, Longdi Road, and Qianlong Road, is an important transportation road from the Guanzhong Plain to Longnan (southern Gansu) through the Longshan Mountains. Its opening time can be traced back to the Qin people's development of Longnan during the Western Zhou Dynasty.

The terrain of Longshan is dangerous and serves as a natural barrier between Gansu and Shaanxi.It is a boundary mountain running northwest to southeast at the junction of Gansu and Shaanxi. It is also the dividing line between Weihe River, Qianhe River (called Qishui in ancient times) and Jinghe River.

Fenshuiyi is at the foot of the watershed, and the watershed is where this "adjective" comes from. The river divides here.

Outside the gate of Fenshui Post, Fang Chongyong looked up at the vast mountains around him, but what he thought in his heart was: This place was the place of Longxing in the Qin and Han Dynasties and even the Tang Dynasty. Who would have expected that after a thousand years, this place would become deserted and nameless. , completely far away from the political and economic center?
The vicissitudes of life, nothing more than that.

However, Fenshuiyi now is not only not deserted, but also extremely lively.

Even though it's getting dark, there are still people coming and going. Many officials are going to other places to take up their posts after the spring, so they have to pass through here, even at night.

There are only two main roads leading out of Chang'an to the west, one is leading to the Hexi Corridor, and the other is heading to Longyou, which is the road Fang Chongyong and the others are taking now.

Compared with the merchants from the Western Regions who were constantly coming and going to Hexi, the team going to Longyou were mostly civilians going to work as bureaucrats and transporting grain.These people were tired from work, and after a short supply of supplies at Fenshui Station, they hurried on the road, looking busy and shabby.

On the contrary, Fang Chongyong and his party didn't look so anxious, and they looked like they typically wanted to stay at the inn.

"One post passes after another, and the post riders are like stars. It rises from Xianyang at dawn, and reaches the top of Longshan Mountain at dusk. The Long River is inaudible, and its whimpering makes people sad. The sand and dust beat on the horse's sweat, and the fog and dew condense on the mink fur..."

Cen Shen, who was beside Fang Chongyong, couldn't help but recite poems and compose poems.

It was getting dark now, and they would definitely have to stay at Fenshuiyi for one night before leaving.As Fang Chongyong's attaché, Cen Shen only served as a "judge", but his power was closely related to Fang Chongyong's.

The "judge" in the Tang Dynasty actually has nothing to do with punishment. If we really want to say it, it can be translated as "executive officer".That is to say, he obeys the orders of his superiors and does whatever he is told to do. There is no need to ask why.

The supervisory censor took the judge on the road. Fang Chongyong's trip to Longyou was obviously a serious business trip and he was fully prepared.

"Hey, it's not bad. Judge Cen's poem is very good!"

Before Fang Chongyong could speak, Pei Xiu's exclamation came from behind him.

"Do you also know poetry?"

Fang Chongyong turned around and asked, as if he was asking Brother Ji: Does Datang also follow laws?

"Why do you think I don't understand poetry?"

Pei Xiu asked with a puzzled expression.

In order to prove that she is a "very understanding" person, Pei Xiu also specially added: "When I was a palace maid next to the saint, I often listened to Li Taibai reciting poems. It was like the water of the Yellow River coming up from the sky and rushing into the sea. Reply and all, they are all good poems."

As Pei Xiu spoke, he looked at Cen Shen and asked curiously: "Judge Cen, is your poem better or Li Taibai's?"

She asked a stupid question that only Bang Chui would ask.

Cen Shen glanced at Fang Chongyong and saw that Fang Yanei waved his hand casually. Cen Shen understood and said: "Ms. Pei is joking. There is no first in literature and no second in martial arts. Who dares to say that his own poems are the best? This kind of thing There’s nothing to compare to.”

Seeing Fang Chongyong looking at him with interest, Cen Shen continued: "Poetry is just a trivial matter, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is useless. A real man should make contributions to his career, not be clever in poetry. The question raised by Mrs. Pei, a certain It’s okay if you don’t answer.”

Although Cen Shen did not explicitly say that Li Taibai was just like that, his words already contained his pride that "different ways do not work together".

No matter how good Li Bai's poems are, even if you can write better than him, so what?

Can you protect your home and country?
Can it benefit the people?
both are not!
Cen Shen's ambition was not that. He wanted to make contributions at the border.Now that Cen Shen has the connections between Fang and his son, he is on the fast track to becoming an official. Whoever steps on the horse will go back to compete with others on the "little path" of poetry!

If you write a good poem, can you grow an extra arm?
Sure enough, Fang Chongyong came over with a smile on his face, patted Cen Shen on the shoulder and said, "Judge Cen has a heavy responsibility. When you arrive in Shanzhou, you have to be diligent in your official duties."

"With the support of Fang Yushi, there is no reason for a subordinate to fail to do his best. He must do things from the front and back.

Please ask Fang Yushi to wait here while I go to Fenshuiyi to take care of things. "

Cen Shen crossed his arms and bowed attentively, then untied the carriage and led the horse into the inn.Cen Shen has a very high emotional intelligence. Although he was born as a child prodigy, he does not have the arrogance of a child prodigy at all.Although he clearly knew that he was an official, he worked diligently as a servant. It can be said that he had already figured out the way of the world during his wasted years in Chang'an.

But a stick like Pei Xiu couldn't even find the right direction.

"You see, good men all want to make achievements. Writing poems is such a romantic thing, and only ladies like you like it."

After Cen Shen left, Fang Chongyong stabbed Pei Xiu abruptly.

The latter was itching with hatred, but he knew that he was stupid and couldn't speak to Fang Chongyong at all.In fact, what Pei Xiu didn't know was that the number of "poems" in Fang Chongyong's belly far exceeded the limit she could imagine.

It's just that for Fang Chongyong, these are just small tools for showing off and have no actual meaning.If it is not necessary, using copied poems to put gold in one's face is just a cover-up and a slap in the face to show off.

The future Tang Dynasty will be the golden age of Qiu Ba after all!Copying poems is useless!
Fang Chongyong sighed softly, lamenting that Du Fu was born at the wrong time.

"Hey, I think you just can't write poetry and that's why you are so stubborn."

Pei Xiu made a middle finger gesture behind Fang Chongyong, which she learned from him.

Suddenly, Pei Xiu noticed that He Changqi was looking at him with strange eyes.

She immediately turned around and scolded him coldly: "Has General He never seen a beauty? Do you need to stare at me like this?"

"Hahahahaha, I have seen people who can use swords, and I have also seen clubs, but I have never seen people who can use swords like you.

Hehe, I went to feed the horse, feed the horse. "

Along the way, Pei Xiu already knew what the word "bangchui" meant. When he heard He Changqi making fun of him, he quickly pulled out his sword to kill someone, but saw that He Changqi had already hurried into the inn, chasing Fang Chongyong's footsteps. , seemed to be saying something, the two laughed and seemed very happy.

"Mad!"

Pei Xiu stamped her feet in hatred, but was helpless.She also knew very well that she was just a pawn.

……

Fenshui Station was one of the largest stations on the Tang Dynasty Station. Naturally, it had many houses, including three dining halls.It happened to be dinner time now, and there were many people eating there. However, Fang Zhongyong took a quick look and found that except for a very few people (such as their group), all the people eating here were very shabby.

At first glance, it seems that he is not rich or not doing well.

Many of the people eating were non-officials, and many of them wore official robes that looked like they had not been changed for many years.

This situation was very common in the circle of non-official officials in the Tang Dynasty. The clothes worn by A were given to B after he left office, and the clothes worn by B were given to C after he left office. The official establishment simply did not allow them to change clothes at public expense.

Many official robes have patches on top of them. The robes were originally green, but now they have been washed white and the color and pattern are almost indistinguishable.

Not only were they dressed shabbily, these people were also treated "differently" by the postmen at the post station.The free meals on Fang Chongyong's table include minced mutton and white steamed buns, spring fruits picked from unknown sources, and some turbid wine.

And those people only have coarse "vegetable rice" on the table, plus a little "sauce" that they don't know what to make, and that's it.

Guanzhong people have a tradition of eating "sauce" since the pre-Qin era, and the Qin army even carried it forward as military rations.By the Tang Dynasty, there were so many types of sauces that it was almost impossible to count them all.Many places have unique local sauce methods and recipes.It can be said that the nobles eat the sauce of the nobles, and the poor eat the sauce of the poor. They do not interfere with each other, and neither of them understands the taste of what the other eats.

"Shanzhou and other places have heavily stationed troops, and the grain and fodder they need every year comes from Guanzhong, and countless amounts of food are consumed halfway through the long journey.

If it weren't for Fang Yushi, we would probably eat the same as them. "

Cen Shen pointed to the table not far away and whispered to Fang Zhongyong.

Pei Xiu glanced over there. She didn't even recognize what was on the table. Anyway, she had never eaten like that since she was a child.

“If vegetable rice is delicious, it will leave a lasting aroma on your lips and teeth.

But if it is not cooked well, it will be so coarse that it is difficult to swallow, as if a saw is pulling repeatedly in the throat. "

Fang Chongyong sighed softly and didn't want to say anything more. Whether the vegetable rice on the table next door was delicious or not could be known by looking at the expressions of these two non-officials while they were eating.

The price of food in Chang'an is relatively stable, but the price of food in Guanzhong has actually been rising slowly, rising by a bit a year, and has not fallen in these years.

Fang Chongyong had noticed this phenomenon a long time ago, but he didn't know what to do.If you mess around, you may make the situation worse.

From the "pig food" served by non-official officials at the post station, you can understand the extent of the food shortage in Guanzhong.

Of course, this is because the official salaries are low and they don’t want to pay extra.

If they are willing to pay the postmen at the inn, they can also eat well. After all, the "pig food rice" is provided by the inn for free. It is already very good if you have something to eat. What else do you want the inn to do?

Not only do people have different food, but officials with different official positions and identities also have different horses provided by the inns. Many people don't even get horses at all and can only ride donkeys!
Again, it’s provided for free, love it or not!If you want better service, you have to pay more. It is natural.

At this moment, the clear distinction and strictness of the hierarchy are fully revealed, and only people like Pei Xiu who have never experienced hardship will be untouched.

"Have you heard?"

"What's the matter? Tell me."

"Over there in Shanzhou, the Tubo people seem to be ready to make a move."

"Who did you hear?"

"A lot of people say that. It's not a secret."

There was a murmur from the next table.

Fang Chongyong, Cen Shen and others looked at each other. They never expected that when Li Longji was about to attack the Tubo people, the Tubo people actually wanted to strike first!
Although Brother Ji likes to mess around, and although chaos occurs frequently in Chang'an, the Tubo people don't know these things!

Besides, news can’t spread that fast!
On the surface, the Tang Dynasty was still an invincible existence. How could the Tubo people dare to fight against the Tang Dynasty at this time?

Many people, including Cen Shen, cannot understand this.

The shadow of war seems to be slowly coming over. People are counted as tigers, and tigers are also counted as humans.Unlike others, Fang Chongyong understood very well that the Tang Dynasty needed to open up borders to divert the contradiction of land concentration. Tubo also had pressure from Tubo itself, and they also had their own demands for external expansion.

"The relationship between Tang Dynasty and Tubo has been peaceful for four or five years. It seems that they are going to continue the war and have a showdown at Longyou."

Cen Shen said in a deep voice.

Fang Chongyong saw that he knew a lot, so he asked curiously: "Why did Judge Cen say this?"

"Fang Yushi, do you know why there was no such thing in Longyou in the dynasties before the Tang Dynasty, and why there were no enemies like Tubo?"

Cen Shen did not answer Fang Chongyong, but asked a seemingly irrelevant question.

"why?"

Fang Chongyong praised him.

“Because, no dynasty has ever been able to conquer the current location of Longyou Jiedu Mansion.

This is where the glory of the Tang Dynasty lies.

Since the attack has not reached there, how can we talk about the enemy? "

Cen Shen said with pride on his face, and it could be seen that he spoke from the bottom of his heart.

Cen Shen's meaning has been made very clear. The fact that the Tang Dynasty can confront the Tubo people in Shanzhou is a sign of prosperity in military virtue!If martial virtue were not flourishing, the Tang army would not be able to reach there at all!

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, and he had to admit that the area in Qinghai was indeed one of the fruits of victory of the Tang Dynasty over the past century.As for the Hexi Corridor, it was nothing more than a certificate of surrender for the Sogdian barbarians. It was not a "bloody battle". It was more like after taking in the younger brother, everyone joined together to kill people.

Every inch of Tang Dynasty's land in Longyou was cut out by the soldiers of the Tang army, reaching a distance that no predecessors had reached.

So in the Han Dynasty, Longyou was located near Liupan Mountain at the junction of Gansu and Shaanxi.

By the time of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, even Qinghai Lake had become Longyou!The residence of the Longyou Jiedushi was moved directly to the foot of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau!
Fang Chongyong somewhat understood why Brother Ji requested to go to Longyou as the first stop to recruit the elite soldiers of Silver Spear Xiaojie.

If the Tang army has a military spirit, then the frontier army in Longyou must be where the military spirit lies.

"boom!"

In a corner of the inn hall, someone slapped the table hard!
"The Anren Army has not been issued with winter clothes for two years, so we are beating them like dogs! When the Tibetans come, the Anren Army soldiers will abandon their weapons and run away! Look what will happen to those sons of bitches who drink the soldiers' blood!"

A middle-aged man wearing leather armor and Qiu Ba took a sip of wine and couldn't help cursing.

His voice was not quiet. He probably heard someone discussing the possible conflict between Tang Dynasty and Tubo in Longyou, so this man couldn't help complaining to himself!
Fang Chongyong followed the sound and saw that the man's eyes were red, as if he was drunk or sulking. For a moment, he hesitated whether to go over and take a look.

The nonsense that this man said just now is really big or small!It just depends on whether others want to deal with him or not.

At best, it was just a drunken blunder, so I just pretended not to hear it.

To put it more seriously, it was colluding with the Tibetan people to surrender to the city!This is great!

"What are you looking at? Someone could possibly arrest me and send me to Dali Temple!
My name is Guan Chongsi. I don’t want to change my name in business, but I don’t want to change my surname! "

When Naqiu Ba realized that Fang Chongyong was looking at him, he slapped the table hard and shouted unwilling to be outdone.

Hearing this, He Changqi, who was holding a piece of chicken in his hand, put down his chopsticks and looked at Fang Chongyong, as if asking for his advice.

"Brother, you can eat randomly, but you can't talk nonsense."

Fang Chongyong walked over calmly, sat opposite the soldier, and said calmly.

(End of this chapter)