Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 413: People’s joys and sorrows are not the same
As the saying goes, good fortune never comes alone but misfortune never comes alone. Although the Tang army defeated Tibet in the Western Regions, consolidated the border, further controlled various small countries west of Congling, and built a new "River Protectorate".

However, humans can defeat humans, but humans cannot defeat Heaven.

The Tang army can defeat any opponent, but it is impossible to win against natural disasters.

In the spring of the tenth year of Tianbao, there was a severe drought in Guanzhong, Henan, and Hebei, and various places had to intercept water and divert water for irrigation. As a result, neighboring states and counties fought over water, and local powerful groups frequently organized armed fights.

There have also been many vicious cases in which homesteaders were beaten to death by local bosses for "stealing water." For a time, the word "water shortage" became a sensitive word, and it seemed that the whole world was suffering from water shortage.

However, according to the laws of nature, after water evaporates, it cannot disappear into thin air. It either moved or stayed in the air temporarily. After encountering cold air, it would have to fall to the ground sooner or later.

So in midsummer two months later, heavy rains poured down in Guanzhong, Henan, Lianghuai and other areas, especially in Henan. The heavy rains caused the Yellow River to overflow and burst its banks, and the entire Yellow River system was at extremely high water levels. It is not uncommon for tributaries to burst their banks, and the government is so busy that it is difficult to deal with one out of ten cases.

The Tang Dynasty had been opening up wasteland and reclaiming land from lakes in Henan for many years, which greatly reduced the water storage capacity, and they did not build large-scale reservoirs to store water like modern times.

Therefore, Henan has become the hardest-hit area. Many people's farmland was destroyed by floods and they were displaced.

However, in Hebei, although there were no floods after the drought, a locust plague broke out! Locusts swarmed in and gnawed the seedlings in fertile fields in many prefectures and counties in Hebei into bare patches, leaving almost no grass growing wherever they passed.

Some people said that the imperial court would send imperial envoys to provide disaster relief; some said that the local disaster was not serious and could be dealt with by themselves; still others said that there was a civil unrest in the local area and hoped that the imperial court would authorize the prefectures and counties to organize "united troops" to suppress the civil unrest.

Should they accept this low-priced food or not? If you accept it, the money in your hand will have bottomed out. If you don't accept it, it seems that you will not be able to meet the target. You know, food is no more durable than gold and silver. The more it is kept, the less likely it is that anyone wants it!
This natural disaster was a catastrophe for ordinary people, but for these officials, it was a "big help" to them. It is not an exaggeration to say that it was timely rain.

actually not.

The reason why they are not sold to farmers is because those Kuhaha people cannot buy much at all, or they cannot afford it at all. Moreover, the officials in Changpingcang did not have so much energy and manpower to serve "retail investors", so they could only capture the bulk.

There seems to be no problem with this kind of assessment. How can the court not have assessment standards for local officials?
If there is no assessment, it will be purely "man-governed", and it is easy for officials to corrupt. Assessment, more or less, has the meaning of "legal system". Can we say that the court did something wrong? Can we say that the officials who handled these matters did something wrong?

All I can say is that, this world is so big, people’s joys and sorrows are not the same.

The answer is that most of the officials in Changpingcang chose to sell old grain to large households at high prices and let local large households handle the disaster and "destock" in one fell swoop.

The excess old grain had to be sold to local big players at a lower price to make room. This is also the so-called "introducing the old and bringing in the new". It is impossible to keep food piling up in the granary.

It stands to reason that at this juncture, it is normal operation to open warehouses and release grain.

Don't ask, just ask because there are not enough manpower, and it is indeed not enough.

So conversely, buying at low prices in good years and selling at high prices in bad years is a normal "commercial" operation. At most, the local big business and powerful people only collude with the local government for mutual benefit, but they are not able to control the government and influence decision-making.

As a result, various memorials with different opinions flew into Chang'an like snow flakes and were delivered to the desks of the two prime ministers.

If they didn't take this opportunity to sell grain at a high price and fill the deficit in one fell swoop, would they still honestly sell grain, which was already as valuable as gold and silver, for free and ruin their own jobs?
It's impossible even if you think about it, because the imperial court also has performance appraisals for the management officials of Changpingcang, and they will never be allowed to do whatever they want. How much food you have earned and how much money you have made or lost during your tenure are the basis for promotion or demotion. These KPIs are the basis for promotion or demotion.

However, except for the limited grain relief in Guanzhong, Changping warehouses in other places were so busy that they couldn't squeeze out a grain of rice for a long time.

The original intention of the establishment of Changpingcang was to buy low and sell high to stabilize grain prices. If the price of food continues to be low, the management officials of Changpingcang will also be in a difficult position.

Therefore, Changpingcang lost a lot of money on its books, and the officials who managed Changpingcang in various places were also anxious to get angry, but they had no idea what to do.

Why is this so? Could it be that the government has been bribed by wealthy and powerful people from all over the country?

According to the function, when the price of grain is low, we buy it to avoid "price of rice hurting farmers"; when the price of grain is high, we sell it at a high price, so as to prevent the people from being unable to afford food. This is the meaning of the existence of Chang Ping Cang.

So, what are the measures of various state governments? Why don't they open warehouses to store grain?

Because the relief food is free, Guanzhong can afford it, but other places cannot afford it!
As early as after Zhenguan, Changpingcang was no longer a simple national grain storage, but a "grain trading house" similar to a "business" model. In other words, if there are no special orders, such as ration dispatch, inventory transfer, etc., Chang Pingcang will also be responsible for its own profits and losses.

The past two years have been good years, and grain prices have been deliberately lowered, resulting in Changpingcang being unable to make ends meet. The accumulated old grain cannot be sold at a high price because grain prices are very low and new grain has to be purchased continuously.

There are droughts on one side, floods on the other, and locust plagues on the other, mixed with small-scale civil unrest.

The situation encountered by each place was different, and the degree and type of disasters were also different, which immediately caused the Right Prime Minister Li Shizhi and the Left Prime Minister Fangguan, who lacked local government experience, to scramble.

The good weather in the past few years made the increasingly lazy and lazy court unprepared when it encountered a disaster.

A storm began to brew.

……

"I have crossed mountains and seas, and also passed through mountains and seas of people. Everything I once owned was gone like smoke in the blink of an eye..."

While humming a little tune and riding a camel forward, Fang Chongyong saw a towering city at the end of his field of vision.

It took several months to march thousands of miles. They walked all the way from Zhezhi City in Shiguo, passed through Suiye City, Yili Bagua City, Tingzhou Jinman City, and finally came to the Hexi Corridor, passing from Guazhou to Tang Dynasty Yumen Pass, all the way east!
After walking thousands of miles of yellow sand and passing through layers of passes, we finally returned to the Hexi Corridor.

The big city not far away now is the core of the Hexi Corridor, Liangzhou Wuwei City. Its city shape is like a big roc spreading its wings, which is very special and can be said to be unique in the Tang Dynasty.

"Jie Shuai, we are returning home in fine clothes this time! Brothers all want to show off in Liangzhou."

He Changqi, who was riding a camel, sighed with a smile on his face.

They took nothing with them except food. When they came back, the baggage carried by the camel was filled with various gems, gold and silver, gold and silver coins from various countries in the Western Regions, as well as rare department stores unique to the Western Regions, medicinal materials, etc.

It would be really nice to find a reliable channel to exchange these precious commodities that are difficult to divide into silk and divide them after they are brought back to Chang'an.

The Anxi Expeditionary Force has now been disbanded, and the troops from the Beiting Protectorate have been reorganized when they passed through Jinman City. Only the first part of the Chishui Army and the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army, which were stationed near Wuwei City, are still there, so The size of the force has been greatly reduced.

"Everyone, stay calm and don't be too impatient. This is no longer the Western Region, and it's no longer a place where we keep our word."

Fang Chongyong warned He Changqi with a straight face.

"Hehe, Commander Jie is right. We have made enough anyway, and there is no need to have any disputes with others. Those military tickets are really easy to use. You can get whatever you want."

He Changqi couldn't help but complain. He was telling the truth. Before leaving, the Anxi Expeditionary Force ruthlessly raided the dignitaries and wealthy households in various countries west of Congling, as well as high-ranking Hu merchants.

Well, actually it can't be considered as looting, but these people "enshrined" themselves. Fang Chongyong really didn't put a knife on their necks to demand it.

In fact, these people are slicker than loaches. The cannibal forces temporarily retreated, and the Western Region became the "One Word Hall" of the Tang army.

Whatever they take out now can be brought back five times or ten times under the care of Tang Jun in the future! This business is done without losing money at all! But if you are reluctant to spend money, then you have to worry about bandits.

As long as you take off your military uniform, you can't tell who is the robber. These well-informed and wealthy businessmen all know what they are doing.

"Be low-key and make a fortune in silence."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and was too lazy to explain to He Changqi.

He Changqi thought that the "military stamps" were robbery, but in fact, because Fang Chongyong no longer planned to print this kind of military stamps, the number of them circulating in the market would only become smaller and smaller.

As long as the Tang army continues to maintain its presence in the Western Regions, military tickets will not only not depreciate in value, but will also retain their value because of their scarcity.

Fang Chongyong never did anything like taking advantage of the situation, and kept a thin line when he started.

While the two were chatting, a horse came galloping from a distance.

After approaching, the man got off his horse and saluted Fang Chongyong who was riding on the camel: "Fang Jieshuai has been tired all the way, so let's lead him into Wuwei City from the end. Li Liuhou has already prepared a banquet at Huamen Tower. To cleanse the wind and dust for the commander."

This person was An Chongzhang. He hadn't seen him for more than a year. Fang Chongyong felt that apart from his thicker beard, he didn't have much change.

"Li Liuhou" is Li Guangbi. Because Fang Chongyong has not officially handed over the post of Hexi Jiedu Envoy, he is currently only serving as the temporary successor. Of course, considering the relationship between Li Guangbi and Wang Zhongsi, it is impossible for the other party to do anything to Fang Chongyong.

“That’s just right, these brothers from the Chishui Army, I’ll leave this section to you.

I will go to Liangzhou City on my own. "

After Fang Chongyong got off the camel, he walked up and patted An Chongzhang on the shoulder and said. The two exchanged glances, which made An Chongzhang let out a sigh of relief.

Previously, the Liangzhou An family wanted to get involved in the posts of Hexi Jiedushi and Western Region Economic and Strategic Ambassador, but Fang Chongyong thwarted him.

But it is obvious that even if Fang Chongyong steps down, the court has not handed over these two positions to An's people. The meaning of this is self-evident.

"Send the order, the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army will camp on the spot, and the Chishui Army will follow General An."

Fang Chongyong shouted to Feng Changqing who was not far away.

An Chongzhang's face froze, and then he smiled bitterly. This Fang Jieshuai was a grudge-bearing person. Although he probably wouldn't wear small shoes for Anshi, he couldn't put on a good face.

He clearly remembered An's little tricks to cause trouble after Fang Chongyong left for the expedition.

The other party didn't put it into practice, and Fang Chongyong certainly didn't care, so it was normal to give him some courtesy.

Putting Guan Chongsi in charge of camp affairs, Fang Chongyong took He Changqi, Che Guangqian, Wang Nan and other generals of the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army outside Wuwei City. I saw that Li Guangbi had been waiting here with the Hexi generals for a long time.

Fang Chongyong looked thoughtfully at Guo Ziyi next to Li Guangbi, thinking secretly in his heart.

In the Tang Dynasty Frontier Army, if you want to get to the top, you really can’t do it without a backstage!
Lao Guo has no backstage and can't get promoted, so he has always been a deputy. Li Guangbi was promoted exceptionally because of his close relationship with Wang Zhongsi.

Of course, it is precisely because of the lack of prestige that it happens to be a check and balance with the local forces in Liangzhou! No one can be as consistent as Fang Chongyong.

Because he had not experienced the Anshi Rebellion, Fang Chongyong had fought all the way through it now and was experienced in battles. Whether it is Guo Ziyi or Li Guangbi, their qualifications are somewhat insufficient in front of Fang Chongyong.

"Fang Jieshuai, the last general has prepared a banquet to welcome the wind. Please show your respect to Commander Fang Jie."

Li Guangbi stepped forward and the other party Chongyong saluted respectfully.

He really admired Fang Chongyong, because the other party had connections but did not use them, and his status was carved out with one blow.

Just say that traveling thousands of miles this time, from Liangzhou to Mulu City, is not something ordinary people can do.

Not to mention fighting, anyone who can get there smoothly from Liangzhou is a tough guy!
"General Li, you don't have to be polite. You and I are our own people. The seal of the Hexi Jiedu Envoy is here. You can do as you please."

Fang Chongyong inadvertently leaned over and whispered, and handed the cloth bag containing the seal of the Hexi Jiedushi Envoy to Li Guangbi in his sleeve.

Since you are one of your own, then you should send someone over as soon as possible to give him some fresh air!

Li Guangbi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and couldn't help but blame Fang Chongyong in his heart.

Recently, he has been on tenterhooks and has been walking on thin ice in office.

Because Fang Chongyong made great contributions but was dismissed from his post, he must be extremely dissatisfied. This tone definitely cannot come from a saint, so it is hard to say whether he will cause trouble for others.

Li Guangbi didn't think that he was Wang Zhongsi's confidant, so Fang Chongyong would definitely look good on him.

Unexpectedly, this person had already figured it out.

"Please, Marshal Li Jie, you are here to take the seat today, please don't refuse."

Fang Chongyong said with a calm face, not angry but confident, making people unable to refuse.

"Then thank you Censor Fang for your kindness, please!"

Li Guangbi did not refuse, because he also needed to establish his prestige. This reception banquet was like "Han Xin coming on stage to pay homage to his general", and he needed a heavyweight to support him.

There is no more suitable candidate than Fang Chongyong.

(End of this chapter)