Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 237 Bian Que meets Duke Huan of Cai
There was a law in the Tang Dynasty that when officials went to take office, they could not stay at the same post station for a maximum of three days.

Of course, this is a very loose rule, and it already includes the time spent by officials when they take office. The purpose is not to prevent them from wasting time and deliberately not leaving, but to worry about many junior officials eating and drinking at the inn. It is not convenient for the postmaster and postmen to deal with them.

After the duel, Fang Chongyong ordered Guan Chongsi and He Changqi to go hunting in the mountains and forests around Longshan with a few accompanying guards, that is, several Silver Spear Xiaojie soldiers recruited in Guanzhong. The stick of Xiu was also taken away.

Fang Chongyong, on the other hand, and Cen Shen came to the guest room of the inn to talk secretly and discuss important matters.

There were many things that Qiu Ba like He Changqi couldn't let them know. Fang Chongyong knew very well what kind of virtue this group of people had, and speaking openly would only do bad things.

"Judge Cen, please write a letter. It will be of great use to me."

In front of the desk, Fang Chongyong said to Cen Shen with a serious face.

"Censor Fang, please speak."

Without saying a word, Cen Shen spread out the large paper, rubbed the ink, picked up the brush and was about to start writing.

Looking at this posture, he knew that the other party was an old staff member. Fang Chongyong smiled and waved his hands: "Don't be nervous, Judge Cen. I know that you have served as a non-official official in the Anxi Protectorate for many years. You are very familiar with these chores, but you are not in a hurry for this moment." In the meantime, listen to what someone has to say, and it won’t be too late for you to write again.”

Cen Shen quickly put down the brush, and Fang Chongyong called the postman again and served a pot of green ant-turbid wine, which is common in the post station. The two of them cooked the wine and chatted.

Fang Chongyong not only paid for the drinks, but also gave "tips" to the postmen as rewards, without any official pretensions at all.

"The An Renjun matter cannot be solved if we go through normal channels. In fact, the saint is not completely unreasonable about Longyou's matter.

There is no such thing as officials deceiving a saint. "

Fang Chongyong said with a sigh.

He felt Brother Ji's difficulties from all aspects of the "Liyuan Shooting Concubine" project.A simple summary is that "take all the baht and use it like sand." Ji Ge's problem is that the stall is too big and can no longer be contained.

In fact, how much of the palace's expenses actually went to Ji Ge himself?
The simplest example is that historians in Fang Chongyong's previous life always criticized Brother Ji for wasting money and people by eating lychees for Yang Yuhuan, and had to use post stations and horses to transport lychees thousands of miles away.

But in fact, this kind of thing is not a special case since the pre-Qin Dynasty. At that time, the nobles were intoxicated and dreamed, which was much more powerful than delivering lychees on horseback.

And taking into account the overall cost of transporting lychees, for Ji Ge, eating lychees doesn't cost much.

The scholar-bureaucrat class after the Tang Dynasty wanted to "lock" the imperial power in a cage, so it would naturally highlight certain aspects to show that the country's demise was caused by the incompetence of the emperor.

It's like the Anshi Rebellion was caused by eating lychees.

In fact, Fang Chongyong judged from what he saw and heard that the majority of the expenses of the aristocracy lay in "ostentation", not in Ji Ge's own expenses.

The maids and eunuchs in various palaces in Chang'an dropped a grain of rice from their fingernails every day and threw them together to Brother Ji. They could give him pancreatic cancer!
The biggest expense in Chang'an and even the Guanzhong area is that the clan and nobles, including the bureaucracy, raise many people who "should not be raised" in order to maintain the dignity they feel they "should have".

Such people who are not engaged in production account for almost 15% of the total population of Chang'an, as many as 30 to [-]!
To some extent, it can be regarded as the "tertiary industry" of Fang Chongyong's previous life.

Brother Ji does know that the frontline military pay is not that sufficient.

But how can I put it, there is no war in Longyou now, so we can just save it.

Fang Chongyong saw this, Brother Ji also knew it, and most of the officials from the Ministry of War and Yushitai also knew it.

Why is no one raising such a serious issue?
Because according to the principle of "whoever asks the question, he will solve it", there is a court that cannot make money, and the central officials who serve in it can only pretend to be deaf and dumb to these problems.

The government soldiers were recruited, and the government soldiers were changed to Long March athletes. The price was huge military expenditures, which was unavoidable.

The borders of the Tang Dynasty are generally relatively peaceful now, but the Khitan side of Youzhou is more troubled due to Anlu Mountain's troubles, so the military expenditures on the Youzhou side are naturally the highest priority.

In addition, the Longwu Army was eliminated and the Twelve Shence Army was newly built. Every aspect was free of money.

Who it is given to and who it is not given to depends on the relationship between the border army and the court officials and the priority in the border town defense system.

This cannot be explained clearly in one or two sentences.

Ge Shuhan sent Guan Chongsi to Chang'an to pay homage to the dock, which showed that he was a smart man.But knowing where the road is doesn’t mean you can follow it.Geshuhanbai Pier has no access, which is a typical failure case.

When Fang Chongyong said these words to Cen Shen, his heart was filled with helplessness.

"It's true. The Anxi Protector's Mansion actually relies on the Western Region..."

Cen Shen wanted to say "smuggling", but Fang Chongyong raised his hand to stop him.

"This time, you write a letter, well, just give it to my father. Giving it directly to the saint may not be effective.

Just write this in your letter: The Tubo people on the Longyou border are ready to move and plan to do something evil.Ge Shuhan, the envoy of the Anren Army, planned to pretend to surrender Datong City and pretend to surrender to the Tibetans.

Then the inside should be coordinated with the outside, and the Tubo people should be beaten with a sap.

To the north of Datong City, you can pass through Dadou Valley, and then march to Hexi.

Going south, we can attack Shancheng and then threaten Shanzhou where the Longyou Jiedushi is located.I believe that the Tibetan people will be very interested in this bait, and the possibility of rejection is very small. At the very least, they will send troops to test the water.

The Anren Army had not been issued winter clothes for two years. This time Ge Shuhan pretended to surrender on the grounds that the Tang Dynasty had withheld military pay and the soldiers were dissatisfied and wanted to mutiny.

Once the Tubo people investigated it, they knew that this was true, and they would definitely believe it.

So the odds of this victory are quite high.

Finally, I emphasized in the letter that I asked my father to discuss the matter with the saint and send capable officials to Longyou to take charge of the overall situation and defeat the arrogance of the Tubo people in one battle.

Du Xiang is old and frail, so he might have an accident in battle.His death will definitely affect the morale of the army, so the court must be sure to replace him with a young and powerful man as the governor of Longyou.

Even if this false surrender plan fails, the Tang army will have no losses, and it will be possible to gradually attack Tubo in the future without any harm. "

Fang Chongyong finished speaking in one breath, which shocked Cen Shen beyond measure.

My God, what does it mean to interfere in government affairs and affect the central layout? This is probably the most typical example!

Cen Shen swallowed and asked hesitantly: "Is this really okay? After reading this letter, will the imperial court really replace Du Hope? Will it really make up for the military pay of the Anren Army?"

It was really hard for him to believe that the central court would be led by Fang Chongyong alone.

"The Anren Army's false surrender turned into a real surrender. Which official in the Central Committee can bear such responsibility?"

Fang Chongyong asked confidently.

Cen Shen nodded slowly. He agreed with this point. No one dared to take responsibility for this kind of thing. The one who made the decision must be Li Longji himself.

I have to say that Fang Chongyong's move of retreating into advancement is very subtle.

He forged a plan of "Ge Shuhan's fake surrender", and the central government had only two choices: either cooperate with "Ge Shuhan", fight in Longyou, and launch a huge siege and annihilation war against the Tubo people;
Or appease the Anren Army and make up for the winter clothes that are owed for two years.

To cooperate with this military operation, a large number of troops must be mobilized from the Longyou area. As a result, the court must make up for all the military pay arrears of the Longyou army, at least a large part of it!

In troubled times, the emperor knows how to use hungry soldiers!

What's more, this is the "prosperous Tang Dynasty". If you don't reward the three armies before the war, who will work for you in Bianzhen Qiuba!
To let the border troops go out to fight, they must give money, and they must give cash!No credit allowed!Otherwise, the army cannot even guarantee its basic morale, so how can it win the war?

Those Qiu Ba who are responsible for fighting in the battle formation, from top to bottom, have ten thousand ways to do their job without making any effort!
As the protagonist of the "False Surrender Plan", An Renjun will definitely not stock up on winter clothes for the time being in order not to alert the enemy.But there will definitely be some guarantees, generous rewards and generous pensions after the war.

Therefore, whether it is option one or option two, the problem of Anrenjun’s winter clothes can be alleviated or even completely solved.In this way, Fang Chongyong's promise to take charge of Chongsi was properly resolved.

At the same time, he sold Ge Shuhan a favor.

"But what if the saint is indifferent to this and the whole court does not deal with it?"

Cen Shen asked doubtfully.

As a grassroots bureaucrat who has worked in the Anxi Protectorate for many years, he understands very well the virtues of doing things in the imperial court.

The only people the border towns can rely on are their own people, only people with local interests.Never expect the central court to solve pressing problems in reality!
Just like the "leaving it in but not sending it" (not called this name, but essentially the same) that has existed since the Taizong period, what if Brother Ji keeps this letter in it but never sends it?
This question asked by Cen Shen shows his superb political literacy.

"If it is not dealt with, there may be chaos in Longyou, and the Anren Army may actually mutiny, and then this matter will get bigger and bigger."

Fang Chongyong sighed and continued:

"However, a certain person is just a supervisory censor who went to Longyou to recruit brave men. A certain person has already done what he can do. If the saint does not listen, then the Tang Dynasty will pay a heavy price.

The Tang Dynasty belonged to the saints, the court, and the clan members surnamed Li.

It's not ours. "

Fang Chongyong spread his hands towards Cen Shen, his tone full of helplessness.

He has given Brother Ji an option. If Brother Ji pretends not to see it, it will be like what the famous doctor said to Bian Que when he first met Cai Huangong: If you have an illness, you need to treat it. If you don't treat it, you will be afraid. deep.

Duke Huan of Cai refused to listen and became ill and died.If Brother Ji doesn't listen to the advice and the country is sick and eventually collapses, there is nothing we can do about it.

At least Fang Chongyong has done what he can do. He doesn't owe Brother Ji, let alone Datang!
"Everyone in Chang'an, I think you are drunk and dreaming, and you have no idea what the dead are. If things continue like this, there may be a big disaster coming."

Cen Shen couldn't help sighing and sighing.

From top to bottom in Chang'an City, no consumption downgrade was seen. On the contrary, all kinds of luxury goods were in vogue.However, Longyou outside Chang'an, the front line against the Tubo people, could not even pay normal military pay.

Anyone with a clear mind can see where the problem lies.

"Judge Cen, don't be sad for the spring and autumn. It's important to write a letter. After finishing it, we will take a short rest today and head to Qingshui County tomorrow.

Further west from Qingshui County is Qinzhou (Tianshui). After Qinzhou, it can't be as unorganized as it is now. "

Fang Chongyong shook his head slightly and signaled Cen Shen not to say those "politically incorrect" words.Smart people see many things through their eyes.But seeing is one thing, thinking is one thing, speaking out is another.

For example, people in officialdom, even if they despise a colleague in their hearts, as long as they don't say it out loud, they can at least maintain a reputation for harmony and be able to "get close" to each other again in the future, maintaining the flexibility of their position.

But if you say it face to face, it will offend people to death.

All kinds of chaos in the Tang Dynasty, from the outside to the inside, are not unusual.It's one thing to keep silent after seeing it, but it's another thing to talk nonsense.

Cen Shen looked at Fang Chongyong, who was tall and muscular, and felt that this young Fang Yanei was really stable and impeccable in his official duties.Cen Shen was full of literary thoughts, and he wrote an emotional letter asking for help as soon as he picked up the pen. After the ink dried, he gave it to Fang Chongyong for reading.

"Okay, that's it."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said.

Although his facial expression was as calm as the thousand-year-old bastard, the horror in his heart was beyond comparison.

Cen Shen was worthy of being a "literary man" who could go down in history in his previous life. Writing a letter can make people read it happily and soul-stirring, as if doing so can really defeat the Tubo people.

In order not to set a flag for himself, Fang Chongyong did not tell Cen Shen what Ji Ge might choose.But based on his understanding of Ji Ge, it was inevitable for the latter to appease the Anren Army and maintain peace in the Longyou area.

There is no other reason than that fighting is too expensive.

This old emperor, who is over sixty years old, just wants to save trouble and doesn't want to make trouble, especially if he doesn't want to make a fool of himself. How can he start the war lightly?
……

"Isn't this a fool's errand, saint?"

In the study room of Li Linfu's house in Pingkangfang, Li Linfu's son-in-law Yang Qixuan complained to the right minister of the Tang Dynasty, his voice rising an octave.

Yang Qixuan served as an admonishment official in the court, and his duties were to "advise on gains and losses, and serve and praise the prime minister."

To put it simply, they are professional trolls who specialize in pointing out the shortcomings of high-ranking officials such as kings and prime ministers, and can also provide suggestions and suggestions.

And what Li Linfu asked him to do this time was a fatal order from Brother Ji: let the portrait of the "Bohai County King" before he ascended the throne be hung in Lingyan Pavilion!

Yang Qixuan has always been timid and afraid of getting into trouble. When Li Linfu asked him to handle this "big event", he was so frightened that he couldn't even care about basic etiquette.

No one who can hang out in the court is a real fool, only those who pretend to be fools and those who sell fools.Yang Qixuan thought about it for a moment and realized that the water in this matter was very deep, even bottomless!
Does Li Linfu have any party members?
In fact, there is, and there is no need for Yang Qixuan to step out.

But Li Linfu did not leave this task to his more capable party members. In fact, to put it bluntly, he was still trying to flatter Brother Ji.

If Li Linfu's son-in-law hadn't been the first to speak up about this matter, how would Brother Ji know it was Li Linfu's instruction?

How did the ministers know that it was Li Linfu who initiated the initiative?
This is disingenuous!
Li Linfu just wanted to let Brother Ji and the ministers see that he, the prime minister, was kneeling and licking the emperor without any bottom line, and he was dedicated to being the emperor's most loyal lackey.

Li Linfu doesn't care about the character and integrity of a scholar at all. He is not a scholar!

Li Linfu only knew that if he didn't come out to kneel down and lick Brother Ji, then his position as prime minister would be over.During his many years in office, Li Linfu had offended many people.The remnants of those people took revenge, and the powerless Li Linfu couldn't stop them at all.

As for letting Li Longji enter Lingyan Pavilion, Li Linfu couldn't personally come forward.

After all, he is the prime minister, and his slightest move can cause chaos in the court.Asking his own son to stand up seems to be a bit of a trap.Therefore, it is most appropriate to let the son-in-law handle this matter.

Yang Qixuan, whose official position was closest to that of a "troll", was "lucky" to be selected by Li Linfu.

“It’s not your place to comment on how a saint is.

If you can't handle this matter, there's nothing you can do. The truth is, I'll have to transfer you to the south as governor, lest the saint's thundering wrath will make it impossible for you to end.

Don't ever go back to Chang'an in this life. "

Li Linfu looked like he was shaking his head and sighing, as if he was very sorry.

After a moment of silence, Yang Qixuan gritted his teeth, clenched his fist tightly and said, "Okay! Then my son-in-law will listen to his father-in-law!"

"Well, that's right. Children can be taught."

Li Linfu nodded with a smile and continued: "Tomorrow there will be a court meeting in Zichen Palace. The final word is that we can only advance, not retreat!"

(End of this chapter)