Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 43 The Night Owl Enters the House

"Zheng Shijun, what kind of evil wind has brought you here?"

Fang Chongyong looked at Zheng Shuqing, who was in front of the old god, and at the old cow and the cart of gifts behind him, and asked with some doubts.

"Hey, it's too late to say that. An old friend reunited in Chang'an, why should I pay him a visit?"

Zheng Shuqing responded very politely, then turned his head and said to the servant behind him: "Bring all the presents in."

After speaking, he presented the gift list and handed it to Fang Chongyong.

"Please come in, what are these things, it's so polite to come to visit."

Fang Chongyong smiled.

If you don't reach out and don't hit the smiling face, Lao Zheng will come to the door with such a low profile, there must be no good.

Is it for seeking an official?
The problem is that it doesn't matter what kind of official Lao Zheng is, he is just a child of eight or nine years old!

Fang Chongyong murmured in his heart and could only introduce the other party to his house with an embarrassed look.

Zheng Shuqing looked around and said indifferently: "It's nothing, they are all useless items, not worth a lot of money. Like tea cakes, tableware, screens and so on."

Fang Chongyong glanced at the gift list, and vaguely saw names such as "Silver Pinto Silver Bowl", "Silver Flat Food Table Plate", "Octagonal Flower and Bird Screen". He always felt that these items were expensive, and they sounded unusual.

However, with Lao Zheng's usual style, he seems to be used to luxury on weekdays.Since people are willing to give it away, why not accept it?

After leading Zheng Shuqing to the master bedroom, the two sat opposite each other in front of the table.Fang Dafu brought a pot of "Peach Blossom Drink" and carefully exited the room.

"I don't know how Dalang feels after returning to Chang'an? I heard that you have done a big event recently."

Zheng Shuqing said slowly, looking around at him.

"Dalang... don't talk about it anymore. As for the rest, Commander Zheng may as well speak up if you have anything to say."

Fang Chongyong said helplessly that in the Tang Dynasty, it was customary to address acquaintances as "X Lang" and "X Niang", so what was the ranking in the family.For example, "Aunt Gongsun", in fact, she was still very young when she was given this name, only in her teens.

It's just that she is the eldest in the family, so she is called aunt.Fang Chongyong is the only son in the family, and his father Fang Youde has never heard of any siblings, so it is not wrong to call him "Da Lang".

"Okay! I like your husband so much."

Zheng Shuqing laughed, and then begged with a grimace: "It's still the same as before, save my life, and I will be rewarded generously."

Seeing how pitiful he was, Fang Chongyong asked with a strange look on his face: "I've told you Hong Lianchun's brewing method and brewing method. Besides, this trick can't be used again, and it won't work again now." Well, why did Zheng Shijun go to the boat to find a sword?"

He thought that Zheng Shuqing was begging him to play "Red Lotus Spring Miracle" again, making money like crazy in Chang'an.It's just such a thing, the right time, place and people are indispensable, and it's as difficult as going to heaven if you want to copy it again!

"Oh, what Honglianchun? You still think you care about that little money. The Zheng family is near Xingyang, next to the canal. If you have property, it won't be in the way, and you won't starve to death."

Zheng Shuqing waved his hand and said.

The prosperity of the canal line has directly driven the economic development around Xingyang, and the Zheng family of Xingyang has also reaped a lot of benefits from it.

"So, what's going on?"

Fang Chongyong asked doubtfully.

"That's right, Prime Minister Li is helping someone run the official position of Minister of Household Affairs..."

Zheng Shuqing stirred his sleeves with his hands, looking like he was hesitant to speak.

"Isn't this great? Do you need money for promotion? But I don't have any money here."

Fang Chongyong spread his hands and told Zheng Shuqing that he was "almost" penniless.

"I'm not here to borrow money! This car of gifts alone costs almost a thousand guan!"

Zheng Shuqing couldn't help shouting at Fang Chongyong.

What?
Fang Zhongyong was stunned. Just a car of junk and a thousand taels of wealth?
Could it be that Lao Zheng was tricked?
What kind of tea is this?What kind of dish is a dish?What is the screen?
Fang Chongyong was a little skeptical. If he really took out a thousand guan to load the car, it would definitely be bigger than that pile of things.

These Chang'an bureaucrats are so corrupt, and every gift they give is priced at "thousand guan".

"Please give me your advice, Commander Zheng."

Fang Chongyong said seriously, putting away his previous joking.

"It's like this. What this Minister of Household Affairs has to do is manage the finances of the imperial court... Then Prime Minister Li asked me to write a memorandum for him to review. If it is well written, he will show it to the saint. , help me ask for an official."

Zheng Shuqing explained Li Linfu's request in detail.

"Uh, does this mean that you help the imperial court desperately search for money and food, then scrape the ground to get the money and grain, and then send it to the Western Regions for military expenses? In other words, you want to be this official and make money for the imperial court?"

Fang Chongyong asked in disbelief.

I didn't expect that the imperial court really had such an official, who could fish in the river sustainably.

Fang Chongyong sighed in his heart, but his face remained calm, as if he was distracted.

"Can you please stop speaking so vulgarly! I am managing money for the imperial court, managing money! I am not a cruel official who wants to steal people's territory!"

Zheng Shuqing scratched his head and argued, but with those pale words, I'm afraid he couldn't even convince himself.

"Okay, okay, it's financial management, financial management."

Fang Chongyong quickly comforted the other party and said.

"So, what can I do to help Mr. Zheng?"

"Just write this memorial for me."

Zheng Shuqing quickly continued.

"Shall I write for you?"

Fang Chongyong scratched his hair, looked at Zheng Shuqing like a fool and asked, "Why should I write for you?"

Because you received a gift!Why don't you do something after receiving a generous gift?

Zheng Shuqing roared in his heart, and he suddenly remembered that Gao Lishi, the man next to Li Longji, seemed to be a ruthless person who took money but did nothing.

But the emperor stands behind him, who is standing behind you?
For a moment the atmosphere was deadlocked.

Fang Chongyong's heart softened, he waved his hand and asked, "Tell me, how do you write it?"

"I can't. If I could, would I still come to beg you?"

Zheng Shuqing said with a wry smile.

"Don't you still dare to take on this errand?"

Fang Chongyong was already shocked by Zheng Shuqing, and he had no idea what game this guy wanted to play.

You don’t have any diamonds and why do you want to work on porcelain?

"You don't understand officialdom matters. Just tell me if you can do anything about it."

Zheng Shuqing lamented.

"I don't understand the situation in the Western Regions. I don't even understand people's customs and geography, and I don't have account books. What can I do?"

"I don't need you to understand, and I didn't say that I want to make money in the Western Regions. Isn't your ability to make money in Chang'an very good. That Honglianchun has been sold as a legend, and now I want to buy a pot to enjoy it. Can't find it."

Zheng Shuqing was full of praise when he mentioned Fang Chongyong's ability to make money.

Uh, I don’t know what to say.

Fang Chongyong held his forehead in pain. He really didn't know how to explain it to Zheng Shuqing, a rotten central government bureaucrat with a relatively dull mind and too flexible wrists.

"Emissary Zheng said before that the imperial court asked you to make money to maintain military supplies in the Hexi Corridor in the Western Regions, right?"

Fang Chongyong crossed his legs and sat in a more comfortable position, asking in a deep voice.

"Indeed, Li Xiang has made it clear."

Zheng Shuqing nodded slightly and said.

"Then no matter what financial management method is used, as long as there is no shortage of expenses and sufficient military supplies in Hexi Jiedu, then you, as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, will be very safe, right?"

Fang Chongyong asked again, and Zheng Shuqing nodded.

The Minister of Household Affairs is not a "finance manager".Making money is just a means, maintaining the normal operation of the army and maintaining high-level rewards to ensure the morale of the army are the ultimate goals.

All for Datang to win the local war against Tubo!War is about logistics!

Conversely, if Zheng Shuqing collected a lot of money in Lingnan, but these money could not be transported to Chang'an, let alone to the Western Regions, then what use is this type of "financial management" for winning the war?
Means always serve ends, not the other way around.

Don't look at Niu Xianke and Cui Xiyi who said that the Hexi Mansion is full of warehouses and weapons are ready.

However, once the war starts, it's not that simple!Tubo has strong national power and strong supply capabilities, and its family wealth is much richer than that of the Turks.

Moreover, Tubo was a serf system, good at using brute force, and did not regard the serfs as human beings. It killed 10 people without blinking an eye, and did not cherish human resources.

Sometimes the Tang Dynasty and Tubo fought against each other, and they were exhausted and exhausted.If one person dies in the Tang Dynasty and two die in Tubo on the other side, Tubo can keep playing this kind of game.

As long as the fight starts, the continuous logistics cannot be interrupted. Once it is interrupted, big trouble will happen.

"What I mean is that Guanzhong is unable to support the Hexi Corridor. It is too far away and the logistics are very difficult. We can only provide assistance to the Hexi feudal towns through other methods. It does not necessarily mean that we have to make money in Chang'an to buy food and send it there. , the specific situation needs to be analyzed in detail.

Otherwise it is just empty talk. "

Hearing this, Zheng Shuqing nodded slightly. He had to say that Fang Chongyong's words made sense.

The final question is to continue to support the Hexi Corridor!
"Then Zheng Shijun, you have to show me the account books reported by the shogunate of the Hexi Festival over the years, as well as the account books of Ganzhou, Liangzhou and other places. Maybe there is a way, or it is just talking on paper."

Fang Chongyong handed the gift list to Zheng Shuqing and said: "If you don't have these, just drag the gift back."

"I don't have a position right now. The account books you mentioned are all secrets of the imperial court. Where can I get them? You still think you're in Kuizhou!"

Those are stored in special warehouses of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Public Affairs, and are managed by dedicated personnel.

So-and-so is now an official with no errands, and can't even get in through that door. What do you want me to do? "

Zheng Shuqing roared angrily.

Suddenly, he seemed to have thought of something, and he raised his chin and was thinking about something.

"It seems that there is no way."

Zheng Shuqing said thoughtfully.

"any solution?"

Fang Chongyong asked curiously.

"Although I can't do it, someone can do it. And based on his status, it is compliant and legal."

Zheng Shuqing nodded slightly, feeling confident.

"What do you need, you write me a list, right now."

Zheng Shuqing said eagerly.

"Alright."

Fang Chongyong sighed helplessly, took out the inkstone to grind the ink, and wrote a series of names on the paper with a brush.These are all things he needs to know, which is related to the overall situation.Some other things may be important too, but it doesn't affect the whole.

The Hexi Corridor's population, grain output, farming areas, commercial transactions, local specialties, etc.Some things can be quickly converted into military power, and some things can't.

But why should he, a person who lives outside the palace wall at the back gate of Xingqing Palace, worry about things that the owner of Xingqing Palace should worry about.

"Can you please stop troubling me for things like this in the future? Others only collect money as officials, so it would be better for you to send the money out."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but complain.

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. It's the last time. It's the last time."

Zheng Shuqing was overjoyed, as soon as the door of the workshop opened, he was ready to go directly to this matter.

……

Fang Chongyong was busy, and a large banquet was being held in the Xingqing Palace separated by a wall.

The former Hexi Jiedu Envoy Niu Xianke was ordered to report to Beijing!Li Longji specially held a large banquet in Xingqing Palace, giving Niu Xianke enough face.

Just last year (the 24th year of Kaiyuan), Niu Xianke was ordered to be transferred to Shuofang Marching Chief, and the post of Hexi Jiedushi was taken over by Cui Xiyi.

Soon, Cui Xiyi said that when Niu Xianke was in office, he practiced frugality, saved property, and achieved considerable political achievements.

So Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty ordered Zhang Lizhen, a member of the Ministry of Punishment, to go and verify.After investigation, Zhang Lizhen reported back to the court, saying that Hexi's warehouses were indeed full and the equipment was full of energy. Cui Xiyi's words were true.

Li Longji was very happy and granted Niu Xian the official position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry in advance.

This is not like Zheng Shuqing leaving his post first and then conferring the post, but conferring the post first, which is a sure thing!

Compared with civil servants like Zhang Jiuling who passed the imperial examination, Niu Xianke's qualifications are a little less interesting. He can basically be regarded as an example of the grassroots at the bottom struggling to make progress.

Niu Xianke worked as a small official in Quail County (near Changwu County, Shaanxi) in his early years. Because of his outstanding work, he was highly regarded by the county magistrate Fu Wenjing.

Fu Wenjing was later promoted to Longyou Yingtian Envoy. Niu Xianke was called as an assistant because he was capable, obedient and an old acquaintance. This official was an affiliated official of the Yingtian Envoy. Niu Xianke then moved to Taozhou Sima due to his military exploits. .

At this time, Niu Xianke can be regarded as an "independent official."In the Tang Dynasty, a formal official often had several subordinate officials to help him do things.It is often very difficult for these subordinate attachés to be promoted.

Later, when Wang Jun served as the Hexi Jiedu envoy, Niu Xianke was awarded the Jiedu judge, became the other party's confidant, and was further promoted to become a local official.

Later, Xiao Song succeeded as Hexi Jiedu envoy and still entrusted Niu Xianke with general and political affairs, which is enough to show how powerful this person is in handling local government affairs.After Xiao Song returned to pay homage to the prime minister, he served as the order of Zhongshu, led the Hexi Jiedu envoy, and recommended Niu Xianke many times.

In the end, Niu Xianke naturally became the governor of Hexi.

From the trajectory of Niu Xianke's promotion, it can be seen that those who came from the local grassroots can climb up step by step because they have real skills.Jiedu envoys are airborne from the center, and they often need such people to help under him, otherwise they will not be able to cope with the complicated situation in the local area.

"Come, Niu Aiqing, let me toast you and thank you for what you have done for the people in Hexi over the years."

Li Longji looked at the gray-haired Niu Xianke, who was already in his 50s, picked up the wine bottle and said emotionally.

"Death for the saint!"

Niu Xianke bowed to salute and took the wine bottle from Li Longji. Zhang Jiuling, Li Linfu and the chief officials of the central government were all moved when they saw this situation.

"Sage, I believe that Niu Xianke is not capable of serving as the six ministers. I impeached Li Shizhi, the doctor of imperial history, to sit back and watch the matter, and did not stop the decree from being issued."

An inappropriate voice came from the corner of the banquet hall, and everyone present was confused by this sentence.

　Vote up, rush

　　
　
(End of this chapter)