Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 479 Whoever Controls the Canal Controls the World
On the Yongji Canal, there is a fleet of dozens of large and small grain boats, sailing south along the canal to the Yellow River.

Because of the war, the water transport between the Yellow River and the Yongji Canal had been completely cut off. The grain and fodder transported from Hebei stopped near Jixian County. Other places in Hebei also stopped large-scale water transport to the south, and instead intercepted most of the supplies, with a small portion for the front-line military supplies.

Since the people of Hebei have turned against us, there is absolutely no reason to deliver the goods to Guanzhong.

Fang Chongyong stood at the bow of a canal boat, looking at the scenery on both sides of the river.

It is empty, dilapidated and can only be described as devastated.

Those who could run had already fled with their families. In the past, shops providing wine and food to the canal boats could be seen from time to time on both sides of the canal.

Nowadays, even the doors of these shops have been removed for firewood burning, and not even a ghost can be seen.

As for the "wild markets" along the canal, where there is a small market every three days and a large market every five days, there is not even a single hair to be seen.

At this time, the Yongji Canal had become a purely military canal. With no merchants or travelers, it was naturally impossible for anyone to do business at the ferry crossings along the coast.

Even without burning, killing and looting, the damage that war does to the economy is self-evident. As long as there is war, the people cannot live a good life.

It is difficult to understand the suffering of the people during the rise and fall of a country unless you see it with your own eyes.

Fang Chongyong, who was standing at the bow, was also sighing.

From his point of view, only when the world is in turmoil can there be a chance of success, just like if there were no diseases in the world, all doctors would starve to death.

If there is no war, what is the use of warriors? From the perspective of warriors, the world has some black humor.

"General Jie, it is not difficult for us to occupy Bianzhou. Even if we cannot occupy Bianzhou, it will definitely not be a problem for us to find a good place to settle down in Huainan.

However, we have been declared traitors by the imperial court, so what should we do next?"

Che Guangqian's voice came to Fang Zhongyong's ears.

Seeing his worried look, Fang Zhongyong waved his hand, pointed to the water surface of Yongji Canal and said, "This is the answer."

"Yongji Canal? What can it do?"

Che Guangqian asked back in disbelief.

“It’s not just the Yongji Canal, but the Grand Canal including the Yongji Canal.

The glorious era of the Tang Dynasty is over. In the future, whoever controls the canal will rule the world."

Fang Zhongyong explained to Che Guangqian.

However, Che Guangqian still couldn't understand his "novel" view. After all, for contemporary people to see the future historical trend, they need extremely high vision, knowledge reserves, logical reasoning ability, and imagination.

It is extremely rare to find all these elements concentrated in one person.

Seeing that Che Guangqian didn't believe it, Fang Zhongyong continued to explain:
“If we can occupy Bianzhou and block the key node of the canal transportation, no matter who takes over Guanzhong or Luoyang in the future, as long as we find an excuse to say that the canal needs to be dredged, it will be temporarily blocked.

Then the grain, fodder and supplies from Lianghuai and Jiangnan would not be able to be transported to Guanzhong.

The water transport between Hebei and Henan was also cut off by us.

In the future, anyone who wants to do business along the canal will have to give us some face.

This already makes you invincible.

If we can find a way to properly manage the canal, the benefits will be so great that we can hardly imagine.

With the convenience of the canal, we can easily mobilize troops and attack wherever we are directed; with the wealth from the canal, we can easily recruit soldiers and have bright helmets and armor.

With the canal as the road, there is no place in the world that cannot be reached."

At this point, Fang Chongyong felt a surge of pride in his heart. At this moment, the sky was already dawning, and the fleet passed through a small and narrow section of artificial waterway, and the view in front of them suddenly opened up!
"We've reached the Yellow River. Go give the signal and get ready to take turns paddling. We're going upstream!"

Fang Chongyong ordered Che Guangqian.

There is no suitable terrain to build a ferry on the other side of the southern exit of Yongji Canal. If you go downstream, you will reach Baima and Huatai; if you go upstream, you can reach Heyin County, the end of Tongji Canal.

Fang Chongyong and his men had a very smooth journey without being chased or intercepted by the enemy. This was not accidental, but was intentional on the part of Huangfu Weiming.

Of course, this was also within Fang Zhongyong's expectations, and the two sides reached a tacit understanding.

It is much better to let this rebel army go south to disgust the imperial court than to suffer tens of thousands of casualties and help Brother Ji to "suppress the bandits". Huangfu Weiming had already guessed Fang Zhongyong's intention. This trip was just to leave Hebei, so he would naturally not send people to chase and intercept him along the way.

"Order!"

Che Guangqian walked into the cabin and hung two red lanterns on the mast of the canal boat. Then he told the boatman to go upstream directly to Heyin County.

After entering the Yellow River, the boat began to slow down. Heyin County was where the imperial court stored grain and fodder, so it must be heavily guarded. When the time comes, we will have to use some tricks.

Fang Chongyong was secretly pondering a countermeasure in his mind.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that he seems full of confidence in front of his subordinates, as if he has already planned the path for the next fifty years.

But in fact, because of a trick played by Brother Ji, Fang Chongyong's secret plan to dominate Hedong and to establish himself as a spectator had already failed.

He had no idea what the future would be like, so he could only grit his teeth and move forward step by step.

The strong will overcome all obstacles; only the weak will complain about the environment.

……

The atmosphere in the side hall of Luoyang Shangyang Palace was somewhat solemn.

Looking at Fang Youde, who was so powerful without even getting angry, Crown Prince Li Heng actually felt a little guilty. He knew very well that without Fang Youde's full support in establishing himself in Luoyang, he would be nothing now!

Even practicing in seclusion at the foot of Mount Hua was a luxury. Without Ji Ge's authority, neither the other princes nor those ambitious people would let his nominal crown prince continue to live.

"The prince said that he wanted to rule Chang'an, right?"

Fang Youde asked calmly, without getting angry or questioning Li Heng.

"Lord Fang, that is indeed the case. I do not want to wait any longer. Now the situation has changed. It is a good time to enter Chang'an."

Li Heng said with a firm face that since he already knew that Brother Ji was not in Chang'an, the opportunity could not be missed, so why should he defend Luoyang for that tyrant?
"Your Highness, I understand your eagerness to return to Chang'an.

However, you were canonized as the prince by the saint, and your power comes from the saint. If the state system is destroyed, you, the prince, will exist in name only.

Now that the sacred artifact has been covered in dust, ambitious people throughout the Tang Dynasty are unwilling to be left out and are popping up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

I think that you only have the title of crown prince granted by the saint, which does not prove that you are the crown prince worthy of the title.

If he went to Chang'an, he would be no different from those traitors.

Therefore, my suggestion is to be patient for the time being, take Luoyang as the base, and manage it well.

It is not the right time to enter Chang'an now. You can only defend Luoyang and prove that you are indeed the crown prince who deserves the title and can shoulder the heavy responsibility. Then there will be people who will welcome the crown prince to Chang'an without the crown prince having to mention it.

Please understand, Prince!"

Fang Youde said a lot of things in a very eloquent manner, and summed it up in one sentence: I think the time is not right!

Li Heng's face turned red and white. After a long time, he sighed. Fang Youde bowed and apologized, saying, "Please forgive me, Marshal Fang. I was too impatient."

He felt mixed emotions: anger, unwillingness, and a sense of helplessness.

Li Mi saw that Li Heng was very depressed and comforted him:
"Don't worry, Your Highness. In fact, what Marshal Fang said is not without reason. Your Highness is not convinced by the people now. If you enter Chang'an, you will only be labeled as a traitor. Why don't I go to Chang'an, contact the knowledgeable people in Guanzhong, and listen to their opinions and ideas.

When the time is right, entering Chang'an will be a natural outcome."

Li Mi saluted Li Heng and said.

Fang Youde is good at military affairs and needs to lead his troops to take over Tongguan or Puzhou and then lead the army to the city of Chang'an.

In order to win the support of the emperor, Li Mi had to sneak into Chang'an, contact various powerful people and gain their support.

The success rate is indeed higher with a two-pronged approach.

In a word, we still have to take a long-term view.

"Your Highness, you are still young, but I am old.

You are anxious, but I am even more anxious.

However, times are tough and problems cannot be solved hastily.

What you want in your mind is to cut the saint into pieces day and night to vent your hatred.

But if you think this way, will the world be as you wish?

After so many years, isn't the saint still alive and well? "

Fang Youde's words revealed the secret in Li Heng's heart, making the prince feel embarrassed.

Li Mi sighed in his heart, this Marshal Fang is good in everything except that he is too frank and doesn't know how to be more tactful. Li Heng's temper is not bad. Of course, if he had a bad temper, he would have exploded when Princess Yang Yuhuan was robbed, and then Brother Ji would have found a reason to kill him.

But even so, Li Heng was at a loss at the moment. He was very angry and didn't know what to say. He felt embarrassed, ashamed and angry.

“General Fang, it is a public matter for the Crown Prince to inherit the sacred artifact and the throne;

The grudge between the prince and the saint is a personal one.

Official business and personal grudges should not be mixed.

Put public interests before private ones."

Li Mi tried to smooth things over.

However, it was obvious from Li Ying's disapproving expression that Fang Youde's words went straight to Li Ying's heart.

This prince was out for revenge. Making trouble for Brother Ji was his biggest motivation. As for the empty talk about succession to the throne and ruling the four directions, Li Heng didn't take it to heart.

What does the welfare of the people of the world have to do with him?

At this time, an eunuch came to report to Li Ying: "Your Highness, Lu Jing, the governor of the three cities of Heyang, wants to see you."

"Let him in."

Li Ying waved his hand gently and said.

After a while, Lu Jing, dressed in military uniform, walked into the side hall of Shangyang Palace. Seeing Fang Youde was there, he immediately saluted and said,
"Your Highness, Marshal, Cui Qianyou, the defense envoy of the two capitals, sent people to take over the three cities of Heyang, but was driven away by me. Cui Qianyou's troops are deployed in Puzhou and Tongguan, and it is not convenient for them to support each other.

If the three cities of Heyang were opened, the two places would be able to deploy troops and horses easily after passing through the Chen Pass. It is understandable that Cui Qianyou was anxious.

But how should we respond? They are not the Hebei bandit army..."

Lu Jiong asked somewhat uncertainly.

Fang Youde directly retorted: "Then you can just treat them as bandits. Anyone who dares to come to Beizhong City will be killed without mercy. There is nothing to say."

Fang Youde's words blocked all the words that Lu Jing had been holding in his heart!
Marshal Fang is so strong and powerful!

Lu Jiong smiled bitterly and looked at Li Ying, not knowing what to say.

"Your Highness, Cui Qianyou is also a human being, not from the royal family. He has no personal grudge against Your Highness, and it is even more impossible for him to inherit the throne.

I will go to Tongguan now and persuade him to secretly surrender to Your Highness. Once the time is right, he will let us enter Chang'an.

Otherwise, once the two sides start fighting, their tempers will only grow worse, and it will be difficult to make peace.”

Li Mi stepped forward and volunteered, saluted Li Heng and said.

Fang Youde said nothing. He was tough, but he was not a fool. Since Cui Qianyou could be persuaded to surrender, there was no need to fight to the death.

"Then I'll trouble Mr. Li to go there."

Li Heng held Li Mi's hands and said.

"Your Highness, please rest assured."

Li Mi bowed and saluted, then left the side hall. Seeing that he had left, Fang Youde also used the excuse of military duties to take Lu Jiong to bow and leave.

Soon, Li Heng was the only one left in this side hall.

"Sanniang, why is revenge so difficult?"

Li Heng leaned against a big pillar and slowly slid down to the ground.

It's easy to lie down and pretend nothing happened, or even secretly resist Brother Ji.

But it is not easy to actually plan to kill this tyrant.

Just at the beginning, Li Ying felt how difficult it was to defeat Brother Ji using "orthodox" methods.

Li Heng wanted to kill Ji Ge, but many of his subordinates only wanted the former glory of the Tang Dynasty. They were not concerned about how to deal with Ji Ge, and some even directly proposed to respect Ji Ge as the emperor.

Just like what Li Erfeng did to Li Yuan back then.

Therefore, when Fang Youde pointed out that Li Heng's only motivation to move forward was revenge, the prince felt as if his heart and liver were seen through.

What exactly do these people want to achieve by supporting me to get to the top?

After calming down, a very strange and frightening question suddenly popped up in Li Heng's mind.

……

"Put down the bows and crossbows! Put them all down!"

Fang Chongyong shouted to He Changqi in front of him.

At the ferry crossing on the outskirts of Heyin County, which had been burned beyond recognition even by one's parents, a group of people were confronting the soldiers of the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army who had just disembarked.

The atmosphere on both sides was tense.

Judging from the uniforms, these people seem to be local unity soldiers from Henan. Only the uniforms are uniform, and the armor on their bodies is whatever they have. Some even cut out thick cardboard, painted it black, and then put it on for battle.

They looked a bit out of place, and it was obvious that they were a makeshift team. Their equipment was not even as good as the united soldiers who participated in the training during the autumn defense of Hexi.

“But Yuan Jie is in front of me!”

Fang Chongyong shouted to the leader of the crowd, walking from the middle of the team to the front. He had already recognized the old acquaintance.

"Put down your knives, we are one of us!"

Yuan Jie stepped out of the crowd and almost cried when he saw Fang Chongyong.

"General Jie, you are finally here!

The prince declared himself emperor and Hebei Province rebelled. We fled all the way to Heyin County, but were detained as soon as we entered the city.

After the prince's troops left, Huangfu Weiming's rebels came again, and we had to flee into the nearby mountains and forests.

Wait until the rebels retreat before you dare come back!"

Yuan Jie's old face turned red. He didn't say why they came to the canal ferry to wait, but instead rushed to rob these canal boats like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey.

In fact, to put it bluntly, Yuan Jie just wanted to rob his fellow thieves and rob the passing canal boats!
Then he took a grain boat and continued south to his hometown, Lu County. He used the supplies on the boat to form a team in his hometown and waited for the court's appointment!

As for who is the imperial court, we will see who has greater power and influence in the future!
Unexpectedly, after the boat docked, the soldiers who came down were all strong and well-armored soldiers! Yuan Jie and his men were stunned.

For a moment, I couldn't advance or retreat.

"Why don't you rob the local wealthy people? Instead, why do you intercept the canal ships?"

Fang Zhongyong asked curiously, robbing the locals is obviously more efficient!
Of course, the local area is not so easy to rob.

In these days, the civil order was all maintained by the Tang government. Now that Hebei was in rebellion, the order established by the court began to collapse rapidly, and those who could still breathe at home were no longer good men and women.

Those who are truly afraid of trouble would have already fled into the mountains and forests.

"We want to borrow some money for our journey, but we need to have someone give us some face."

Yuan Jie said embarrassedly.

Fang Chongyong looked at the hundreds of unruly soldiers behind him and seemed to understand something.

The local aristocratic families in the Tang Dynasty all used "manors" as their economic foundation. Although I don't know if it is the same as the manors in Western Europe, it is called this name now, without changing a single word.

Since it is a manor, there must be many people working in it, and there will be no lack of basic military facilities.

Yuan Jie took these hundreds of soldiers who were as united as beggars and went to the homes of wealthy families to "borrow money."

If you are not careful, you may be detained by someone with ulterior motives and become a tenant's slave. Now there is chaos and all kinds of bad things can happen.

Even the Hebei rebels would not easily touch those people, because they were the foundation of the Tang Dynasty's rule. No matter who won the world, these people would be able to fight for it, and they should try their best to fight for it.

"He Lao Hu, take some capable brothers with you and follow this governor to visit the local wealthy families and borrow some food from them.

Please be polite and let Che Guangqian write an IOU in person. We are borrowing, not robbing.

Remember, you should write the IOU in the name of the current saint, not in the name of this commander. Go!"

Fang Zhongyong waved his hand and instructed He Changqi.

"I've been given the order, I'll do it now!"

He Changqi laughed loudly, took Yuan Jie's arm and walked away.

(End of this chapter)