Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 501 You guys can have fun by yourselves
That night, Fang Chongyong had a strange dream.

He dreamed that he turned into Xiang Yu who was besieged at Gaixia, and was surrounded and killed by countless Han soldiers.

The enemy troops seemed endless and could never be killed.

After waking up in the middle of the night, I found that I was covered in cold sweat, my heart was beating wildly, and my hands could not help but tremble slightly.

"What you think about during the day you dream about at night, alas!"

Fang Zhongyong climbed up from the bed, covered Jiang Wuyan, whose beauty was exposed, with a blanket, sat down alone at the table, and lit the oil lamp.

He closed his eyes, calmed his mind, took a deep breath, and slowly sorted out the information about the Hebei rebels in his mind.

Because life has been relatively stable in the past few months and there has been no marching around, Fang Chongyong's life has also undergone great changes.

The most important point is that his wives and concubines are all pregnant. Wang Yunxiu is already pregnant with her second child, and even Anaye is pregnant. Only Jiang Wuyan, who was born as an assassin, refuses to have children and has been insisting on contraception. There is no movement in her belly yet.

Having several children at once forced Fang Zhongyong to consider the safety of his family. He was no longer alone, and he could no longer just ride a horse and travel the world.

The Hebei rebels were about to move southwards. This was not a fantasy, but something that many people had already anticipated. When that happened, there were several pregnant women in his backyard. Where could they run to?

This is a very serious problem.

"North of Bianzhou, Huazhou and Puzhou on the south bank of the Yellow River, Weizhou, Xiangzhou, and Weizhou north of the Yellow River..."

Fang Zhongyong drew the topographical maps of these states on paper based on his memory. This would be the main battlefield of this battle.

On the battlefield in Henan, the main strategy was "flexible offense" and "flexible defense". Whether on the south bank or the north bank of the Yellow River, there was a certain strategic depth, but there was no strategic location to defend!
In short, relying on brute force to attack and mindless defense are both bad strategies. For both sides of the war, the seemingly flat terrain here is a test of the commander's ability to use troops.

The terrain is secondary, and the level of the army itself is the main factor. There is no certainty of victory or defeat, and there is no routine in fighting.

If you really want to find a reference, it is the Battle of Guandu during the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period.

If we ignore the element of luck, the final outcome is unpredictable. However, the terrain on both sides of the Yellow River has undergone earth-shaking changes in the Tang Dynasty, and the Yellow River in this section is no longer a natural barrier. Cao Cao's fighting style back then is not applicable anywhere else.

"One hundred thousand elite Youzhou troops are unstoppable."

Fang Chongyong sighed deeply. He had to admit that if the Hebei rebels came out in full force, he would be outnumbered and would be in a very passive position.

"Alang is very worried."

Suddenly, Fang Zhongyong heard Jiang Wuyan's voice.

She has always been very reserved, unlike Jinsi Kaiya, a stunner in bed, who would snuggle into Fang Zhongyong's arms when she saw him, and liked to express her feelings through her body.

Jiang Wuyan quietly got up from the bed, put on her pajamas and sat quietly beside Fang Zhongyong. There was no physical contact between the two.

"Have you seen all this?"

Fang Zhongyong turned his head and found Jiang Wuyan looking at him with concern, and asked back helplessly.

"In our line of work, we need to be able to see the big picture from the small details."

Jiang Wuyan said with a slightly blushing face.

During the sex tonight, Fang Chongyong's eyes were red, as if he wanted to eat her alive. It was obvious that he was venting his inner frustration.

"Why do you insist on not having children?"

Fang Zhongyong held Jiang Wuyan's calloused hand and asked.

"A person deserves to live only if he is useful. My use is to protect Ah Lang's safety in certain situations.

Kill people according to Alang's orders.

As for using beauty to seduce people, I think Alang should have no shortage of such people around him.

If I were pregnant, it would be Alang who would protect me, not me protecting Alang."

Jiang Wuyan said in a low voice, with a look of inferiority on his face.

Growing up, there were very few people who were truly kind to her, and Jiang Wuyan never thought of her as Fang Zhongyong's concubine.

It's a relationship similar to that of "lord and guest", except that he only sleeps together occasionally.

"As you wish."

Fang Chongyong sighed, many things cannot be forced.

"By the way, can Alang's troubles be solved by killing a few people? Is there any use for me?"

Jiang Wuyan asked curiously.

"That would be great. The world's situation cannot be solved by killing a few people!"

Fang Zhongyong waved his hand gently.

"Is there anything I can do? I don't think it's necessary to continue the family line. If you think of anything else, you can tell me directly."

Jiang Wuyan looked at Fang Zhongyong very seriously and asked.

It can be felt that Jiang Wuyan was not just speaking casually, but was expressing his feelings out of a desire to repay a favor.

"Tomorrow you will take Madam Wang and other female relatives and quietly leave Bianzhou for Bozhou by boat. I will let Feng Changqing, who is now the governor of Bozhou, arrange your residence.

You can rest and recuperate there. It is inconvenient for several pregnant women at home to do things on a daily basis. Please bear with me."

Fang Zhongyong leaned close to Jiang Wuyan's ear and whispered.

"I understand. I will definitely get it done."

Jiang Wuyan nodded slightly, her face solemn. She had been out in the world since she was young, and had a lot of experience in all aspects, so it was no problem for her to take care of several women.

After feeling that he was a "useful" person, Jiang Wuyan suddenly felt a little relieved.

"You're quite... quite straightforward. You always say what you want to say. I actually like being around people like you."

Jiang Wuyan said hesitantly.

"Stop talking and kiss me."

Fang Zhongyong whispered in Jiang Wuyan's ear.

Hearing this, Jiang Wuyan was stunned at first, then she remembered a joke that Chongyong had told her before, and she burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears came out.

"I used to think that it would be nice if I didn't have to kill people, but I have no other skills except killing people. Even if I pretended to be nice to different men, it was just a show. If I really had to serve them, I wouldn't be able to do it well.

It's like I'm not as good as Anaye and can't take care of Alang's daily life.

Now that I don’t have to kill anyone, I feel like a useless person.”

"I've probably killed more people than you've ever met. I didn't even say I didn't have to kill people, what are you talking about?"

Fang Chongyong shook his head and sighed.

Jiang Wuyan was speechless because what Fang Zhongyong said was the truth. Although he rarely killed people directly, he commanded thousands of troops, so he must have killed many people. Countless people died because of Fang Zhongyong's military orders.

“The chaos in the world has just begun, and there is no end in sight. I don’t know how many people will be displaced and their families will be destroyed.

Living is already difficult.”

"Stop talking and kiss me."

Jiang Wuyan imitated Fang Zhongyong's tone and spoke. The two looked at each other and couldn't help laughing. The depression in the room was swept away.

"Ah Lang, don't you want to tell Madam Wang and the others?"

Jiang Wuyan hugged Fang Zhongyong's arm and asked.

"No, tomorrow I will go to Puzhou and Huazhou with a small group to survey the terrain. I can't stand seeing them swearing to live and die with me. While I'm away, you should take them to Bozhou for shelter." Fang Zhongyong did not say the terrible "what if".

If they were not pregnant, Wang Yunxiu and the others might have been able to survive; but now, as long as Fang Zhongyong was defeated, these pregnant wives and concubines would have no choice but to die.

Jiang Wuyan nodded solemnly. They were now living in the governor's office and were not at home at all. In fact, this was done intentionally by Fang Zhongyong.

The government office can get all the news at the first time, issue orders quickly, and actively deal with various troubles.

In fact, all kinds of pressure have always existed since arriving in Bianzhou, but Fang Zhongyong did not bring them home.

"Ah Lang, take care of yourself. On the battlefield, saving your life is the most important thing..."

Jiang Wuyan spoke incoherently and insincerely.

"They all have one, so please help me have one too."

Fang Zhongyong stared into Jiang Wuyan's eyes and said.

"actually, I……"

The words got stuck in Jiang Wuyan's throat and he couldn't say them out.

She actually had the idea of ​​leaving. She liked a free life and was not used to being a concubine of a rich and powerful man. Without offspring, there would be no worries. This was good for both parties, and no one owed anyone anything.

The love they once had made each other happy is a memory worth remembering, and Jiang Wuyan doesn't think there's anything wrong with it.

However, Fang Zhongyong didn't wait for her to refuse. He blew out the oil lamp and held Jiang Wuyan in his arms.

"Ugh!"

With a leisurely sigh, Jiang Wuyan put her arms around Fang Zhongyong's neck and kissed him actively.

Thinking of the fierce battle Fang Zhongyong was about to face, she said to herself: If I really am pregnant, then it is fate's arrangement.

……

It was already late at night, but the Purple Palace in the Daming Palace in Chang'an was still brightly lit.

Although it was already time to go to bed, several important officials, including Yan Zhenqing, were still discussing state affairs and having heated discussions.

After supporting Li Heng to ascend the throne, more and more government affairs came up, and it seemed that there would never be an end to the things to deal with.

Li Heng yawned as he sat on the dragon throne. As for the matters discussed by the ministers around him, he just nodded and shook his head from time to time, and occasionally interjected to ease the atmosphere.

Basically no statement was made.

It became a perfect mascot.

In fact, Li Heng was not interested in those specific government affairs and had no say in them.

At this moment, the sound of armor rubbing against each other came from far away.

Soon, Fang Youde, dressed in military uniform, wearing light armor and military uniform, with a solemn expression and even a hint of anger, came to the Zichen Hall and looked around at the ministers with lightning eyes.

He held the hilt of his sword in one hand and a stack of papers in the other.

The sharp-eyed Yan Zhenqing has already recognized that this is the official bulletin that has just been printed and distributed to various prefectures and counties!
I just don’t know why Fang Youde has a copy in his hand.

"Marshal Fang?"

Li Heng finally came back to his senses from his confusion, and his sleepiness immediately disappeared.

Compared with Yan Zhenqing and his gang of Chang'an dignitaries and children of aristocratic families who supported him to the top, Li Heng still trusted Fang Youde, Li Mi and others who helped him out of difficulties more.

"Your Majesty, what is going on?"

Fang Youde raised the official report in his hand and asked with a stern look.

"What is Marshal Fang asking about?"

Yan Zhenqing stepped forward, saluted and asked Fang Youde.

Fang Youde didn't want to look at this former subordinate of his. He bypassed Yan Zhenqing and walked directly to Li Heng. Pointing at the official report in his hand, he questioned Li Heng: "Your Majesty, the official report said that each prefecture and county can recruit soldiers and raise military funds on their own. Whose bad idea was this?"

Everyone present looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.

Finally, Yan Zhenqing stepped forward and explained: "Marshal Fang, it was my humble opinion."

Upon hearing this, Fang Youde immediately became unhappy!
"Yan Zhenqing! Can such a strategy that will lead to the destruction of the country be implemented?

Do you think that changing the governor to a military governor will bring peace to the world?"

Fang Youde looked at Yan Zhenqing with anger all over his face, as if he was about to kill someone.

It seemed as if this had been anticipated.

Yan Zhenqing looked at Fang Youde fearlessly and explained slowly, "In the states and counties south of the Yangtze River, the imperial court is extremely short of military strength. Without this policy, any military leader could lead a few thousand soldiers south and establish their own regime, occupy a large area of ​​land and become the king. Marshal Fang, do you intend to take up your sword and wipe them out one by one?"

Hearing this, Fang Youde fell silent.

In fact, this kind of thing happened frequently during the middle and late Tang Dynasty. Later, Yang Xingmi went south to Yangzhou and became the "first person among the Ten Kingdoms."

As the southern army was weak, powerful northern vassals often took advantage of the situation and invaded, causing bloody storms in Lianghuai and Jiangnan. But these troops were in the north and could not cause any trouble at all.

"After each state can recruit soldiers on its own, there will no longer be a situation where hundreds of soldiers want to occupy a state or thousands of soldiers want to capture a major town!
Once the imperial court has accumulated strength and pacified Hebei, it can naturally take back the right to recruit soldiers.

In an emergency, this is the only solution!"

Yan Zhenqing said confidently that in fact, there were other contents in the official report, such as setting up checkpoints at important transportation nodes to collect salt taxes and tea taxes.

This is a set of combo punches.

Fang Youde probably didn't know how difficult the situation in Chang'an and Guanzhong was now.

The treasuries of those powerful and wealthy families might still have a lot of surplus food, but there was not much surplus food left in the national treasury and in the homes of the people in Guanzhong.

"Once the military power is delegated, it will be difficult to take it back! You are just women and children, you are not worthy of being consulted by men!"

Fang Youde cursed loudly, and everyone present, except Li Heng, looked extremely ugly.

"Marshal Fang, you are exaggerating a bit, aren't you? You are leading troops outside, you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are at home!"

An old minister who looked to be over 60 years old, Fang Youde refuted.

"who are you?"

Fang Youde curled his lips and asked with a look of disdain.

"I am Miao Jinqing, the current Minister of Rites and Minister of the Secretariat."

Miao Jinqing said this with a serious face, as if these official positions gave him endless courage.

Fang Youde was too lazy to pay attention to him. He looked at Li Heng and asked, "Your Majesty, if this policy is implemented, it will definitely cause chaos in the world. Please think twice before acting."

By saying this, he clearly showed that he was not giving face to anyone present.

"Marshal Fang, the official report has been sent out for a long time. If we take it back now, it would be like changing our orders every day. It is better to implement it for a while before making any decisions."

Li Ying sighed and said that he actually didn't care whether this national policy was implemented or not.

But Fang Youde's arrogant attitude made him feel uncomfortable.

"Haha, you people who bring disaster to the country and the people, don't come crying and beg me when the time comes!
Your Majesty, I am retiring to my hometown and would not embarrass myself here.

Please take care, Your Majesty."

Fang Youde took off his armor, threw it to the ground, turned around and left!
(End of this chapter)