Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 49 Prodigy VS Prodigy
"The so-called Wuru is similar to my Dao of the Tang Dynasty, but it can handle military affairs.

61 Dongdai, each Dongdai is a thousand households, with a thousand household leader.It is also in charge of the military and civil affairs.Below, from the leader of a thousand households to the leader of ten people, there are full-time officers at each level.

The same is not divided into military and political affairs. "

Seeing Fang Chongyong's confused face, Li Mi explained patiently.Although he has gone through the theories of various schools of thought, he is not proficient in current affairs.That's all I know.

Besides, Li Mi doesn't talk so much on weekdays!
"Understood, thank you for your enlightenment."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, thoughtfully.

It sounds like the organizational form of Tubo is a bit like the "Eight Banners", similar with minor differences.

The same tribe is an administrative unit as well as a military unit.Many organizational forms are the same in ancient and modern times.

"Is this system strong?"

Fang Chongyong couldn't help asking Li Mi a strange question.

Li Mi shook his head and didn't speak. According to what he said before, if he didn't speak, he didn't know.

Seemingly feeling that his attitude was a little cold, Li Mi finally explained: "The households in Dongdai are divided into Gui and Yong. Gui and Yong have soldiers, and Yong is like a common man. These people combine peace and war, and prepare their own weapons and rations. One person goes into battle. , the whole family set off.

Strong and weak cannot be generalized. "

Hearing this, Fang Zhongyong thought about it.Since Gui is the same as the government soldiers, and Yong is the same as the civilian husband (auxiliary soldiers), isn't this riding horse the configuration of the elite government soldiers in the early Tang Dynasty plus miscellaneous fish?

It's just a weakened version of the cottage.

The Tibetan army's logistics were not as good as those of the Tang Dynasty soldiers, and their mobility was also inferior.The entire tribe went into battle together, with the soldiers fighting in the front and their families providing logistics in the rear!
Regardless of the hundreds of thousands of Tubo troops at every turn, in fact, there are not that many of them who actually fight.

"With so many people in battle, if they lose, it's understandable for the soldiers to run fast. What about the family members?"

After thinking for a while, Fang Chongyong raised his doubts.

"If you can take care of it, let's go together, if you can't take care of it, then..."

Li Mi frowned slightly. As a person who is very addicted to Taoism, he also believes that "the heaven and the earth are unkind and treat all living things as rotten dogs."

In a simple sentence, it is called: life and death have fate, wealth and honor depend on heaven.

Everything cannot be forced.

What should I do if the Tubo family members cannot escape?What else can I do?
The questions Fang Chongyong asked were too utilitarian, which displeased Li Mi.Now he is still obsessed with the "Theory of Destiny", and feels that everything in the world has a definite number and cannot be forced.

"I think it's man-made. Every time Tubo goes out to fight, the family will be put to death. This method has obvious disadvantages. Tubo will definitely change the military system. Things are impermanent, and unreasonable things will definitely change."

Fang Chongyong expressed his opinion.

"you're right."

Li Mi nodded slightly, without denying it.He is still studying hard to increase his experience.I came here today not to teach Fang Chongyong, but to test Fang Chongyong at the order of Li Longji.

"Now that the government military system is broken, and the imperial court will use soldiers in the future, how should we deal with it?"

Fang Chongyong continued to ask questions, seeing that the other party was young, he didn't have too many scruples.

Li Mi replied without thinking: "If the government army system has collapsed, then just rebuild the government troops. There is no other good way."

I didn't expect it to be such an answer.

Fang Chongyong thought to himself, this young man named Li Mi is really not simple, and he has also seen the disadvantages of recruiting soldiers.It's just that the other party probably doesn't have a good solution, so they can only emphasize "rebuilding the soldiers".

If the Fubing can be rebuilt, why didn't Li Longji think of a way?
"When I was in Kuizhou, I heard that the imperial court is not spending enough money. Is there a way to bail it out?"

Fang Chongyong then asked.

"Adjust official salaries, reduce redundant staff, and rectify water transportation." Li Mi said twelve words.

"Anymore?"

"none."

"Then I'm fine."

Fang Chongyong sighed softly, he was not interested in those Confucian classics at all, and he didn't think it was necessary for him to take the imperial examination.The teacher sent by Li Longji is really meaningless.

This is an era of raging fire. While there is still a chance to toss, we must find a way and not be swallowed by the tide of the times.He really has no time to waste on those boring things.

"It was the saint who asked me to test whether you are a child prodigy."

Li Mi suddenly said something scary.

"and then?"

Fang Chongyong asked curiously.

"I will tell the sage, you are not a child prodigy, you are the auspicious sign of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Mi stood up and saluted Fang Chongyong.

"Don't trick me!"

Fang Chongyong quickly grabbed Li Mi's sleeve and begged.

"Don't worry, it was just a joke just now. Someone will say that although you are smart, your aptitude is mediocre. After returning to your mission today, XX will travel around the world, and your whereabouts are uncertain. Chang'an is a place of right and wrong. You must always be alert to the dangers around you, so I bid farewell.

When we meet again in the future, I will consider myself a poor man, and there will be a period later. "

Li Mi smiled lightly, then bowed deeply to Fang Chongyong, and left gracefully.He came in a hurry and left in a hurry, Fang Zhongyong was dazed.

"This Chang'an City is full of strange people."

Fang Chongyong watched Li Bi's leaving back at the door, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.He heard from Zheng Shuqing that Li Mi, a child prodigy who became a poet at the age of seven, often went to the palace to talk and laugh with Li Longji at the age of ten.

This guy who didn't want to stay by Li Longji's side as a close minister actually wanted to travel around the world, is it because he has seen through the hypocrisy of the world?
What Fang Chongyong didn't know was that Li Mi came and went in a hurry, but not without reason.

On that day, the young man who was born as a "child prodigy" bid farewell to Li Longji and went to Huashan for a tour.

……

"Specially for military supplies, changing silk to cotton; allowing grain transportation, imitating cloth to raise money. This letter is a bit interesting."

In the study room of Li Linfu's house in Pingkangfang, the newly-promoted Right Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty was flipping through the memorabilia sent by Zheng Shuqing himself, and couldn't help but nod after reading it.

Of course, this memorandum could not be Fang Chongyong's original version, but Zheng Shuqing transcribed it according to his own understanding.

"Hexi provinces often complain that bows and crossbows are not enough and consume too much. Seeing this, it is enough to show that you have put a lot of thought into it. But someone will do it, and the truth is that it will come to Xingqing Palace Let's go and ask for an official for you."

Li Linfu stroked the long beard on his chin, and was very satisfied with the idea of ​​this sketch.If Zheng Shuqing just proposed to transport grain and grass to Hexi, then it would really be meaningless, even a dog could think of it.

The purpose of suppressing Hu merchants is to make them stand on Datang's side and end the war as soon as possible.Then these people will not take advantage of the war and secretly deliver necessities to Tubo.Being able to think of this proves that Zheng Shuqing is already a central bureaucrat with overall thinking.

Instead of being limited to being a local official.

"It all depends on the cultivation of the right minister."

Zheng Shuqing said cautiously and ingratiatingly.

"This recitation, the truth will be discussed in the court. As for the imitation of Sogdian cloth, you should pay more attention. The saints are very concerned about this kind of way to make money. If you are entrusted to preside over this matter , must be done well.”

Although Li Linfu had a smile on his face, there was no hint of a joke in his eyes.

Zheng Shuqing saluted solemnly and said: "I will live up to the entrustment of the right minister."

"Let's go, follow the truth to Xingqing Palace."

Li Linfu got up and left, he is a capable person, if he can take down the position of servant of the household department today, then he will never wait until tomorrow.

……

"Ugh!"

At this moment, Li Longji was walking back and forth in the study room of the Qinzhengwu main building, so irritable that he wanted to hit someone.

Gao Lishi just stayed quietly by the table, lowered his head slightly and did not speak.

"How many times has Concubine Wu Hui told me that she wants to make King Shou the crown prince?"

Li Longji asked Gao Lishi back, with complaints in his tone.

"Back to the saint, I don't remember much. Anyway, I have said it many times."

Gao Lishi said softly, unwilling to look up at Li Longji's face.

"Who is the prince? Shouldn't I have the final say on this matter? Does she still want to be like her aunt? Is she thinking that she will be the queen after I leave?"

Li Longji slapped the table angrily, making a muffled sound.

Concubine Wu Hui cried again in front of Li Longji today, saying that many people wanted to harm her, and that only after King Shou became the prince, their mother and son would be respected.

Li Longji didn't have an attack on the surface, but he was furious afterwards.

At this moment, an eunuch came in and whispered something in Gao Lishi's ear, Gao Lishi came over and said softly to Li Longji: "Sage, please see me on the right."

"It's curfew, brother slave, why come to Xingqing Palace?"

Li Longji was suddenly a little puzzled. It is true that the Right Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty is very busy, but no matter how busy he is, he should be dealing with government affairs at home. What should he report to the emperor face to face?

After a while, Li Linfu was ushered in by the eunuch, who, without further ado, took out Zheng Shuqing's play and handed it to Li Longji.

"That's it."

Li Longji reluctantly took over. He didn't want to deal with official duties at this time.But Concubine Wu Hui made him very annoyed, so it wouldn't be a bad thing to change his mood by reading Shuxu.

"It turns out that the Hexi soldiers are living so hard...why didn't anyone mention this to me before?"

After reading the play, Li Longji sighed with emotion.It was the first time he knew that the silk in Hexi could not be sold at a high price, and that it could not be exchanged for more weaving, and was exploited in disguise by Hu merchants in the Western Regions.

"It seems that there is nothing wrong with promoting Gaochang cotton in the Hexi Corridor. It can be planted in the army first. There is cotton spinning in the Western Regions, and it is not difficult to promote it."

Li Linfu said cautiously.

Seeing that Li Longji didn't respond, Li Linfu continued to add: "After the Gaochang cotton harvested by the military station, it can be transported back to Chang'an for textile sales. The profit is considerable, and it is the right time to use it as military expenses.

Furthermore, the Hexi household tax can be increased and the rent-to-rent ratio can be reduced.After the people have surplus grain, they will implement the method of buying grain and use the money in the treasury to purchase local grain and fodder from the local people in Hexi at high prices. This will not hinder the use of troops and military grain in Hexi. "

Li Linfu bowed deeply to Li Longji.

"Well, let's do it like this. By the way, who is this sketch dedicated to?"

Li Longji nodded slightly and asked.

"Zheng Shuqing, previously served as governor of Kuizhou."

"It turned out to be him, so it's no wonder."

Li Longji has been deeply impressed by Zheng Shuqing's "financial management" methods. In fact, if Lao Zheng was willing to take the blame, Jing Zhaoyin's position would have already been obtained.

He remembered that that one was really good at making money!
"Then let Zheng Shuqing be the vacant household servant.

Well, build a workshop imitating Sogdian brocade on the outskirts of Chang'an, and select the best craftsmen in the palace to go there.All the woven cloth should be sent to the treasury of Daming Palace and should not be spread on the market.

Do you understand, let Zheng Shuqing take this matter as the top priority after taking office. "

Li Longji said with a smile.

"Follow the will of the saint."

Li Linfu bowed cautiously and bid farewell. Although he was satisfied, he still didn't dare to show it.

When he quickly retreated to the door, he was suddenly stopped by Li Longji again.

"Brother slave, now that the crown prince has been abolished, who do you think I should appoint as the crown prince? The crown prince is the foundation of the country, and it cannot always be vacant."

Li Longji asked with a long sigh.

"Returning to the sage, King Shou is benevolent and loving, humble and prudent, so King Shou can be crowned prince."

Li Linfu said calmly.

"Well, I see."

Li Longji nodded noncommittally and signaled Li Linfu to step back.

After the Right Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty stepped down, Li Longji said to Gao Lishi with a cold face: "Concubine Wu Hui must have made an agreement with Brother Shou to force King Shou to be the crown prince."

For Li Linfu, who doesn't get up early without any benefit, if nothing happens, it's best not to say anything.

The sentence "A sage's family affairs can be decided by himself" is enough to cut off all risks.

Is it necessary to recommend Li Xuan, the King of Longevity?
Here's a little bit of Taoism, Li Longji, who grew up in the palace since childhood, has long been accustomed to intrigues and tricks, can understand what's going on with his toes.

"Lishou King, it still doesn't work..."

Li Longji leaned on the table with one elbow, and tapped on his thigh with the other hand.The pros and cons are constantly being weighed in your mind.

Things like using troops to the west of the river, dredging the river, improving water transportation, etc. can all be entrusted to others, and Li Longji usually only needs to give orders.

Only things related to imperial power must be held tightly in his hands, and he cannot leave them to other people to handle them for him.

If King Lishou is the prince, Concubine Wu Hui can blow the pillow wind in her ears, and Li Linfu's party members in the outer dynasty will support him. In this way, wouldn't King Shou Li Wei become a powerful prince?

If there is one more general to support him, wouldn't Li Wei have the ability to ascend the throne in advance?

This situation is not part of Li Longji's strategy.

As long as he doesn't die, no prince can become the emperor.

"Lishi, you go to the outer court tomorrow and spread the word that I intend to make the third prince (Li Heng) the crown prince, but I haven't decided yet and I'm quite hesitant in my heart."

Li Longji said in a deep voice.

Gao Lishi understood, bowed and saluted without speaking.

"Prince..."

Li Longji muttered in his mouth, it seemed that these two words had almost become a heart problem for him.

(End of this chapter)