Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 343 What do you want to do?
"Open the city gate!"

The Tang soldiers on the tower shouted to the people below.

In front of the city tower, three hundred soldiers of the Filial Piety Festival Army on horseback lined up neatly, looking quite impressive. Fang Zhongyong was riding a horse, at the front of the team. Looking at the majestic pass in front of him, which was uncommon in the Western Regions, he couldn't help but marvel.

Soon, the gate of the city gate was opened. This city gate, which was sandwiched between two mountains and less than a hundred meters wide, finally "opened its mouth" to reveal the scenery beyond the door.

It was a winding and deep valley with no end as far as the eye could see. There are stone mountains on both sides, not too tall and tall, but there are very few trees, and it can even be said that there is no grass growing.

Any army must be careful when passing through such a valley.

Li Qijun introduced to Fang Chongyong beside him:
"This is the Iron Gate Pass, the west gate of Yanqi Town, and it is under the control of Yanqi. On weekdays, if there is no customs clearance document, anyone who crosses the customs without permission will be imprisoned for one year. It is quite difficult to get customs clearance documents on weekdays, and almost all of them are businessmen. Talent leaves.

As long as there are hundreds of sharp soldiers guarding this place, the enemies west of Yanqi Town will be unable to pass. "

There was quite a bit of pride in his words.

The valley where Tiemenguan Pass is located was not originally a pass. This pass was only built after the Tang Dynasty. As a Tang Dynasty bureaucrat, it is human nature to feel proud.

But Fang Chongyong's eyes had already seen the Tang army returning to Guanzhong from the northwest, and the Tang Dynasty's power shrinking in the Western Region.

Even if the Tubo people don't come to cause trouble, local powers will slowly rise here.

At that time, will anyone want to make a comeback?
There probably will still be some.

Could it be in Huaqing Palace, which is full of hot springs?

In what capacity and from what standpoint do you do things?
Fang Chongyong has been considering these issues along the way.

He was obviously dissatisfied with Gao Xianzhi's blind campaign of disregarding his head and body.

People of this era saw the Tang army coming from the east, and saw the Tang army beating them with all kinds of punches.

This is a local force belonging to the Anxi Protectorate. It does not participate in mobilization on weekdays. It is a completely different system from the Anxi Army. This is the complexity of the Tang military system.

But the Tang Dynasty thought so, but King Yanqi and King Qiuci did not think so!
If these two places were unified by the Tang Dynasty, they would be reduced from royal families to local wealthy families. In other words, they would lose all their current authority.

Reminiscent of Li Qijun's words, Fang Zhongyong sighed with waning enthusiasm and said: "The strength of a country lies not in morality. How can a small iron gate block the surging public opinion."

Gaochang State has been called Xizhou, and the imperial court has sent governors to manage it, just like the five states in Hexi. But why is Yanqi Town named after "town"?

"Those who know me say that I am worried; those who do not know me say that what do I want?"

Don't say anything that is not conducive to unity. "

Li Qijun didn't know why Fang Chongyong said that, so he could only nodded lightly without comment.

Summer is here, and it’s very hot in Chang’an City. Passers-by were sweating profusely and in low spirits.

The Tang Dynasty's interest in Yanqi and Qiuci was out of the need to manage the Western Regions. These two places were very important, even indispensable, for the Tang Dynasty's expansion in the Western Regions.

Fang Chongyong shook his head and said, already riding his horse into the iron gate gate. This pass is very "thick" and the doorway is dozens of meters long. Judging from the productivity conditions here in the Western Region, it can be said that Datang spent a lot of money to build this Iron Gate.

He Changqi came close to Fang Chongyong and whispered.

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, there was no "Yanqi Shouchu" unit in the official establishment of the Tang Army. However, Yanqi Town unified the scattered defenders scattered at beacon towers and passes into Yanqi Shouchuo. It can be regarded as "adapting measures to local conditions".

Because although land equalization has been implemented to a certain extent here, most of them are still military villages, and everything is basically under military control.

Now as the Western Region Economic and Strategic Ambassador, what else can I do?

The ordinary restraint policy could no longer satisfy Datang's military and political deployment in the Western Regions. Therefore, it is imperative to organize households to integrate the people like Gaochang State did.

It's hot in Chang'an, so Xingqing Palace can't be cool. So where is the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty spending his summer vacation at this moment?

It took a lot of effort for the Central Plains regime to control this place, but it was easy to lose it.

"The further west you go, the weaker the power of the Tang Dynasty. You must be careful in your words and deeds. Bai Xiaode, the tenth general of the Anxi Army, is from the old royal family of Qiuchi. There are many people like him in the Anxi Army. It is important to know the consequences of illness. The saying goes, disaster comes from the mouth.

In Fang Chongyong's view, the Tang Dynasty's "Heavenly Soldiers" marched westward, and people in small oasis towns all over the city went out to greet them. They won food and supported the king's army in marching westward. This was just the wishful thinking of some people.

That's definitely not something you can do casually in the Western Regions and then go home!
Yanqi Town is the first stop after leaving Xizhou. The local water resources are very abundant, and it is a bridgehead for the Western Regions. To a certain extent, the strategic position is even higher than the undefendable Kucha City.

Fang Chongyong suddenly muttered something to himself, which seemed inexplicable to outsiders.

He Changqi grinned.

The narrow East Market and West Market are like a steamer baking, making everyone doing business inside feel like a lobster with a red shell that has been steamed.

"Commander Jie, you don't have to worry. If Gao Xianzhi doesn't obey orders then, just take away his military power. What else do you have to worry about?"

"It's not Gao Xianzhi's business. It's useless to say more."

……

Since it is military control, it means that it is not very safe here. Once the Tang army shrinks its sphere of influence in the Western Regions, Yanqi will not be very safe either.

In fact, both Yanqi and Qiuci experienced a process from friendship to enmity with the Tang Dynasty.

Fang Chongyong sighed helplessly. If He Changqi agrees well now, he may not be sure what the situation will be like when the time comes.

Fang Chongyong warned He Changqi and said.

Who can bear this?
So a life-and-death conflict was inevitable. King Yanqi and King Qiuci also introduced Western Turkic forces to help. Of course, they still couldn't stop the Tang army's cavalry.

Yes, I was accepting and very friendly at first, but then I turned against him. The reasons have nothing to do with good or evil, only conflicts of interest.

"Please don't worry, Marshal Jie. When we get to Qiuci, I will sew my mouth shut."

Fang Chongyong must seize the time to prevent Gao Xianzhi from leading the army. He does not have so much energy to manage the government affairs of the four towns in Anxi. Otherwise, many things in Yanqi Town are worthy of investigation and study.

That is of course impossible.

Although the conditions of Huaqing Palace are good, it has always been a place to avoid the cold in winter. When the weather is cold, it is as warm as spring near the hot spring pool.

You can avoid the cold here, but not the heat. To be precise, Huaqing Palace is even hotter in summer. Of course, Brother Ji, who is already over sixty years old, cannot go to Huaqing Palace to endure the sourness.

When you are young, you can experience the fun of summer hot springs.

So where did Brother Ji go?

The answer is that under the protection of a group of Shence troops and eunuchs, he came to Huangyu, which is less than a few dozen miles south of Chang'an City, and lived in Cuiwei Palace on the mountain to enjoy the coolness and escape the heat!

Huangyu is a mountain range, less than eight kilometers long, with dense trees and springs in it.

Not to mention the beautiful scenery here, it is also very cool in summer.

The mountain road up the mountain was specially built by Taizong. Specifically, when the Taihe Palace was expanded in the 21st year of Zhenguan, Taizong used the people who had been organized before to expand the Taihe Palace. Cuiwei Palace was built here to escape the summer heat and served as Taizong's summer palace.

As soon as Brother Ji moved into Cuiwei Palace, maybe it was because Taizong also worked here in the summer. As soon as he came here, he felt particularly cool, comfortable and wonderful, so he simply stopped leaving. He ordered a group of highly skilled musicians and dancers from the Liyuan to come over. They played music from the Western Regions and danced the Orchid's dance every night. They lived as happily as gods.

However, among powerful people, not everyone feels as happy and comfortable as Brother Ji. There are also some people who are not satisfied with the food, restless, and are so anxious that they want to roar and howl.

In Prince Yong's Mansion in Jingyang County near Chang'an, the young Prince Yong Li Lin was walking around in the study like an ant on a hot pot.

Some things that have happened in Chang'an City recently are very unfavorable to him!
Gao Lishi was ordered by Ji Ge to investigate the rebellion of Khitan captives some time ago. At the beginning, Fang Youde reported that Li Qiwu, the governor of the clan, who was established by the Khitans, had already committed suicide by taking poison in advance after he broke through the city.

This situation is quite unreasonable, because Li Qiwu was forced to be the "pseudo emperor", and he should have a lot of "grievances" in his heart.

According to normal people's thinking, shouldn't Li Qiwu keep his mouth open and plead for mercy in front of Brother Ji, asking Brother Ji to spare his family?
What's the use of committing suicide in advance?
Of course, the clues have been cut off here. Li Qiwu committed suicide and the whole family was exiled, which was a final conclusion. It always felt like there was a dark hand behind this incident, which organized the scattered forces, and the mysterious "strategist" was not caught.

But Li Lin learned from Gao Shang that Gao Lishi was now slowly checking for clues under the water, and he was clearly pointing to Prince Li Xuan.

"It's all you! It was you who said that I would take action when I had the chance! But now it's fine! What did you want me to do?"

Li Lin couldn't help but roared at Gao Shang.

"The slave had already persuaded the Yelv family to block the river dam. During the heavy rain, the water attacked Jingyang County and hit the Zhengguo Canal to create chaos. As a result, he could not restrain the Khitan slaves and could not accomplish anything. The slave couldn't do it himself, right?

At that time, the slave was able to take advantage of the chaos and poison Li Qiwu, leaving clues pointing to the prince. It was already very difficult for him not to be caught by Fang Youde.

It is really chilling that His Highness is blaming the slave like this now. "

Gao Shang pretended to be sad and shook his head.

"This king...this king is not saying anything wrong with you.

Alas, no one thought that that old guy was in the Shence Army in Jingyang at that time! "

Li Lin was very regretful and blamed himself. If he had known this, he was in Jingyang County, and there were some methods he could use!

Seeing the regretful look of the other party, a trace of disdain flashed across his noble and handsome face, and then quickly disappeared without being noticed by Li Lin.

Why didn't anyone think of it? Am I, Gao, not a human being?

Gao Shang cursed Li Lin in his heart as a stupid pig.

What did he say when he set out for Pizhou? Didn't he say that the saint would definitely leave Chang'an and finally go to Fang Youde's Shence Army to avoid disaster?
But what did this idiot Li Lin do?
He didn't dare to do anything, he didn't dare to take a gamble while the Shence Army was empty of troops! Don't want to mess up the situation!
An Lushan is a stupid pig, the Khitan slaves are stupid pigs, the Chang'an saint is a stupid pig, and even this Yong Wang is a stupid pig!

I read a lot of poems and books, and I was full of strategies. I had no chance to get ahead. It was because I was from a bad background, so I had to endure it for the time being. I was even plotted to become a eunuch!
Gao Shang has countless heroic hatred in his heart.

But he didn't dare to show it, because whether it was Li Lin, Brother Ji, or even Gao Lishi, they could crush him to death at will!

"Your Highness, for the sake of the present, it is best to stay the same and adapt to all circumstances. There is no need to do anything more to cover up the traces of the Khitan slave rebellion.

Of course, in order to attract the saint's attention, I will report to the saint. Just say that you found out that the prince planned to set fire to Shaoshan in Cuiwei Palace, and you were hesitating whether to report the matter. "

Gao Shang said with a cold light in his eyes.

Isn't Gao Lishi investigating the last case? Then come up with a more difficult thing to distract Gao Lishi!
Now the emperor is spending the summer in Cuiwei Palace. If there are rumors that the prince wants to burn the mountain, Chang'an City will be even more lively, right?

As for whether this thing is true or false, does it matter?
Nobility feels unimportant.

Because King Yong's "duty" itself is to "keep an eye on" the prince. The more these princes attack the prince, the happier the emperor will be.

The truth of the facts themselves is no longer important.

"Well, why don't I just go to the saint and file a complaint against the prince?"

Li Lin asked with some confusion.

Hearing this, Gao Shang was so angry that he was about to lose his temper. He suppressed his anger and explained:

"The prince wants to be the emperor. This is a normal thought. His Highness knew that the prince wanted to burn the mountain and burn the saint to death in Cuiwei Palace. In the end, he hesitated whether to report it. This is only human nature.

After the slave went to report once, His Highness went to report again. This is the procedure that should be followed. "

"Yes! You are indeed thoughtful!

Hehe, this time Li Chen will shed his skin even if he doesn't die! "

Li Lin said with a sneer.

Gao Shang immediately echoed: "Your Highness is wise, isn't that so?"

He said this, but he didn't think so in his heart.

The saint will never change the prince again, no matter what. Li Xuan is set up as a target, so he is a unique and large shield. Without Li Chen, the saint still needs a prince to silence the crowd in the court.

Don't say that Li Chen didn't plan to burn Brother Ji to death at all. Even if it were true, as long as there was no substantive action, Brother Ji would not be able to touch him.

Regarding this kind of gossip, what Brother Ji wants to see is just the feud between the prince and many princes, not the rights and wrongs.

Li Lin couldn't even figure this out. Calling him a stupid pig was really an insult!
Gao Shang thought secretly in his heart.

Of course, it is precisely because Li Lin is a fool that he is easy to manipulate! If he were a prince, he wouldn't have much room for maneuver.

Is Gao Shang's ultimate goal to push Li Lin to the top? Do you want him, the eunuch, to dominate the world?

No, no, no, none of that.

For Gao Shang, no matter how important things are, they are not as important as the things about his lower body. When Gao Shang was impoverished and was studying at Linghuchao's house, he couldn't control his lower body and stole Linghuchao's concubine. He made her pregnant and gave birth to a daughter.

Now that Ji Ge has cut off his lifeblood, it is tantamount to taking away the happiest part of his life.

Even if Gao Shang is allowed to be the emperor in the future, what will happen?

So he doesn't care about what he can get at all. In his noble heart, his greatest happiness is that Brother Ji is unhappy, the Tang Dynasty has collapsed, and the clan is running away like wild dogs.

“Then go quickly.

By the way, you have to tell the saint something good about me, and don't describe me as a beast who wants his father to die quickly. "

Li Lin ordered with a troubled expression.

Hearing this, Gao Shang almost laughed out loud.

He suppressed the contempt in his heart, crossed his hands and saluted Li Lin: "Your Highness, please rest assured, these slaves know what they are doing. Although it is a pity that An Lushan died, Your Highness will still have many opportunities in the future. Until the last moment, tens of millions of Can’t give up!”

"When this king inherits the throne, I will definitely reward you with high-ranking officials and generous salaries!"

Li Lin held Gao Shang's hand tightly and made a choked promise.

(End of this chapter)