Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 502 I originally turned my heart to the bright moon

It was a pitch-black night, and you couldn’t see your hand in front of you.

It was already past midnight and everything in Yongjiafang, Chang'an was completely silent, with only torches lit in a courtyard near Xingqing Palace.

Although Hebei is in rebellion now, the impact on Chang'an is small. Ordinary people still live a poor but stable life, and Chang'an's public security is also acceptable, and there will not be people robbing houses at any time.

Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang!
Outside the gate of this courtyard, the swaying black shadows threw cans of incendiary oil, which were common in the military, into the courtyard.

Those fragile pottery jars were smashed to pieces on the ground, kerosene flowed all over the ground, and a pungent smell immediately filled the air and spread everywhere.

"Go away!"

"Go away!"

The dark figure outside the courtyard shouted that there was a fire, while skillfully prying open the gate and rushing into the courtyard, lighting a fire and searching around for something.

puff!
That's the sound of an arrow piercing the flesh!
A man in black who was setting fire in the yard was shot in the chest and fell down. Before he could stagger up, someone stepped on his head!

"Who sent you here?"

The armored general who was stepping on him asked in a deep voice.

"I don't know, I get paid for it..."

The man in black was struggling to say something, but someone stabbed his neck with a knife, and blood gushed out immediately!
"It doesn't matter, just go with peace of mind."

The armored general was none other than Li Jiaqing, a general under Fang Youde. He sighed softly and wiped the blood off his sword on the man in black.

Boring people always like to do boring things, why bother?
In his heart, he secretly laughed at some people who were so overestimating their own abilities that they dared to challenge the authority of the soldiers.

A moment later, Li Jiaqing's elite soldiers had killed all the men in black who had rushed into the courtyard, leaving no one alive. The fire that had just started was also quickly put out by them with sand and soil, and it also did not cause much noise.

This was also Fang Youde's order: If nothing happened, return to the camp after daybreak. If something happened, kill all the invaders and return immediately, without causing any trouble or leaving anyone alive.

A courtyard in Yongjiafang, which was bustling for a moment, quickly fell silent again, as if nothing had happened.

"Let's go back to the camp outside the Jinguang Gate."

After Li Jiaqing gave instructions, he led more than 20 brave and combat-skilled soldiers of the Konghe Army out and left the Fang family residence in Yongjiafang.

As this group of people walked on Chunmingmen Street, the Jinwu Guards on night patrol kept a respectful distance from them and watched them leave Jinguangmen, not daring to stop them at all.

The military camp of the Konghe Army was located in "Sanqiao Town" not far northwest of Chang'an City, which was the only way from Chang'an to Xianyang.

"You came back quite early. I thought you would eat soup noodles in the West Market before coming back."

Seeing Li Jiaqing return early, Fang Youde seemed to be relieved and said, or relieved.

He seemed to be in a good mood and even had the time to tease Li Jiaqing.

"General, someone set fire to the house in Yongjiafang. They were paid to do the job. I have already dealt with them all."

Li Jiaqing reported with a serious expression.

For some people in Chang'an, controlling the Crane Army is a must, but this may not be the case for Fang Youde.

These people often maintain inexplicable self-confidence, believing that if soldiers can command a war, they can do it too.

"They are just scoundrels, not worth mentioning."

Fang Youde sighed. He had actually foreseen that something would happen, otherwise he would not have arranged for Li Jiaqing to ambush there. But prediction is one thing, and knowing that the predicted rubbish actually happened is another.

"Marshal, what should we do now?"

Li Jiaqing asked worriedly, he couldn't stay in Chang'an anyway.

"Set out immediately for Qizhou and camp in Fufeng County.

We stationed in Qizhou and Longzhou.

If you go west, you can go to Liangzhou, where the emperor is far away; if you go east, you can still return to Chang'an at the right time.

Since some people in Chang'an don't welcome us, we should just stay quietly in Qizhou and let them have fun on their own."

Fang Youde said with disdain.

The policy of "decentralizing military and financial power" promulgated by the imperial court was no less than drinking poison to quench thirst. It seemed to be able to stabilize the situation in the Tang Dynasty in the short term, but in fact it opened the way for breeding poison.

The governors who controlled the military power and financial resources of the prefectures and counties would eat each other up and form alliances. Within ten years, a situation of separatist regimes would be formed, with one prefecture controlling several prefectures.

Then these vassal states would treat the Tang court like the Zhou emperor. The obedient ones would pay 30% of the taxes, while the disobedient ones would ask the Tang court for rewards and military expenses.

Next, the imperial court used the vassal states to deal with the vassal states, and built new vassal states to deal with the old ones.

Just like it was then.

Such a court is not worthy of Fang Youde's loyalty, and this is definitely not the Tang Dynasty he wants.

If Li Heng and his central court all had such a governance idea, Fang Youde felt that he might as well become a powerful vassal, enjoy himself for a few decades, and then explode.

Happy, carefree and comfortable.

But what's the point of that?

Therefore, he and most of the people in the central court of Chang'an can only say that they have different plans and cannot work together.

"General, if we were to station troops in Qizhou or Longzhou, I'm afraid the taxes there would be difficult to support the troops."

Li Jiaqing is very talented. He is not just a reckless man who only knows how to fight in the battlefield. He knows the customs of the people in various parts of Guanzhong.

Qizhou and Longzhou were Fengxiang Prefecture in the middle and late Tang Dynasty.

The terrain there is rugged and suitable for grazing, but the population is sparse and taxation is insufficient.

It cannot exist independently and needs to rely on Chang'an and be supported by Chang'an's taxes.

“What you said makes sense.

How about this, it’s still early now, you take your men to Taifu Temple in the imperial city.

Take whatever you have and as much as you can.

We won't stay in Qizhou for long, and this money is enough for a year's expenses.

The current Chang'an court may not be able to last a year!"

Fang Youde said it lightly, not feeling at all that he was doing anything outrageous.

Since people with different ideals cannot work together, they are no longer fellow travelers, but enemies.

The wealth of Taifu Temple was accumulated by Brother Ji over the past few decades. Those insects can use it, but why can't I, Fang, use it?
At this moment, Fang Youde's thoughts were clear and he dared to think and act.

"Marshal, can we really just take whatever we want? That's the Imperial Palace's inner treasury!"

Li Jiaqing rubbed his hands and asked uncertainly. He was excited and worried at the same time, and he was afraid that Fang Youde would abandon him after he failed.

"Since the court cannot tolerate me, it is better for us to keep all this wealth in our hands rather than letting those people get away with it. Go ahead, I will take responsibility for any problems that arise!"

Fang Youde patted Li Jiaqing on the shoulder and said.

"Understood! I will do it immediately and make sure it is done before dawn!"

Li Jiaqing was overjoyed and was about to leave when Fang Youde stopped him.

"As usual, we will give you rewards after we arrive in Qizhou, and anyone who dares to take it privately will have their hands chopped off."

Fang Youde gave a warning.

"Understood! Marshal, rest assured, the brothers all know the rules!"

Li Jiaqing promised solemnly. After he walked away, Fang Youde walked out of the general's tent.

There was no light in the dark night sky, and there seemed to be dark clouds overhead.

There was no starlight, no moonlight, and the darkness made Fang Youde feel depressed and almost breathless. Only the torches in the camp could give him a sense of security.

"The feudal lords were divided, the frontiers were lost, and the Tubo rose. Then the rent and labor service were abolished, and the two-tax system was divided among the feudal lords. Then there were eunuchs in power, literati fighting for factions, and the emperors were more useless than each other. It was hard to see a ruler who could revive the country again.

An Lushan is gone, Yang Yuhuan and Yang Guozhong are gone, why do they appear one after another?

"The old horse is still in the stable, but his ambition is to run a thousand miles. When will the prosperous Tang Dynasty return to the world?"

Fang Youde asked back as if muttering to himself, not sure whether he was asking the heavens or himself.

The ministers discussing state affairs in the Purple Palace tonight did not seem to be the "treacherous and flattering" people in his memory. Some of them were even famous ministers of the middle Tang Dynasty, such as Yan Zhenqing.

Why did they come up with such a bad idea? Why did they adopt such a stupid method of "decentralizing military and financial power" which has a foreseeable end?

Fang Youde didn’t know the answer, but he could see that the things that had saddened him in his previous life were happening one after another.

Those things that have not happened yet will also happen again based on the current world situation.

It was just that the people involved and the people who gave the order were replaced. But none of the things that should be avoided were missed.

"Is the prosperous Tang Dynasty really hopeless?"

Fang Youde looked up to the sky and sighed, no one could answer his question.

……

Fang Chongyong's original plan was to go to Puzhou, Huazhou and other places immediately after daybreak, survey the terrain along the south bank of the Yellow River, check the maps, and conduct detailed inspections of certain key areas.

These places that are investigated in detail may very likely be the battlefields of future encounters or places for ambushes.

But before he could leave, an unexpected guest came to his door.

In the study of the Xuanwu Army Jiedushi Yamen, Fang Zhongyong looked at the middle-aged man in front of him with a small mustache and a thin face. He looked to be about forty years old and was wearing a scarlet official robe.

He claimed to be the judge of Fanyang Jiedushi, a native of Youzhou, and his name was Zhang Xiu!

"Huangfu Weiming has issued an edict to suppress the rebellion. I am honored to be among them. Those are the bandits you want to crush to ashes.

I wonder what Judge Zhang wants to say to this commander?"

Fang Zhongyong asked with a smile, looking at Zhang Xiu with amusement.

The tenderness is like water and the good time is like a dream. He and Jiang Wuyan had so much fun playing in bed last night that he didn't want to leave. When he got up in the morning, Jiang Wuyan looked at him with eyes that could drip tears.

Both of them felt extremely comfortable during this intercourse. Just thinking about that ecstatic scene made their hearts tremble.

So Fang Zhongyong is in a good mood now, and is happy to make friends and chat with this Hebei bureaucrat whom he meets for the first time.

Anyway, everyone is talking at cross purposes, so it doesn't matter what we say.

They're all acting.

"Marshal Fang, everything in the manifesto is just for outsiders to see.

The military commander is the pillar of the country. Since he used to work for the pseudo-dynasty, he is naturally the first one we Hebei Volunteer Army want to eliminate. Doesn't this just prove that the military commander is very important?

Marshal Jie should have seen what the current situation of the pseudo-dynasty is.

Outsiders don’t understand the right and wrong of the Queshu Valley incident. Doesn’t Marshal Fang Jie understand it either?
Since the pseudo dynasty can no longer accommodate a general, why doesn't the general choose to live in another tree and honor the king as the emperor?

Prince Rong also represents the Tang Dynasty and is also the orthodox ruler of the Tang Dynasty."

Zhang Xiu was an eloquent man, and his words made perfect sense.

"A loyal minister does not serve two masters. Judge Zhang, there is no need to say more."

Fang Zhongyong waved his hand calmly, not wanting to argue with Zhang Xiu. Zhang Xiu was just talking nonsense, really treating him like a three-year-old child!

As expected, Zhang Xiu saw that Fang Zhongyong looked down on him at all, so he reluctantly took out a letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"That's interesting."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, without pointing out Zhang Xiu's little thoughts, and directly took the handwritten letter from Huangfu Weiming.

He opened the wax seal, took out the letter, read it quickly, and his face changed slightly.

Even though Fang Zhongyong was knowledgeable and experienced, he was still shocked by Huangfu Weiming's generosity and couldn't help but gasp.

Fang Chongyong was the King of the Kingdom of Qin. All the land south of the Yellow River and east of Hulao Pass was under the jurisdiction of Fang Chongyong. From Guangzhou in the south to the Yellow River in the north, it was such a large area that he could divide it into several Jiedushi as he wanted.

Fang Chongyong was able to retain countless official positions to reward his subordinates.

What Huangfu Weiming asked for was very simple: when the Hebei rebels marched south to attack Luoyang, Fang Chongyong only had to do nothing and fight a tacit battle.

After Prince Rong Li Wan takes control of Chang'an, Fang Chongyong can submit his surrender letter.

Judging from this letter alone, the price offered by Huangfu Weiming was extremely high, the risk faced by Fang Zhongyong was extremely small, and what he had to do could be "negligible."

No matter from which angle you look at it, Fang Chongyong has no reason to refuse. Of course, the prerequisite is that Huangfu Weiming can fulfill his promise in the future!

However, even if Huangfu Weiming wanted to turn against him in the future, he would have to be cautious. By that time, Fang Zhongyong could at least control dozens of states and easily raise an army of 200,000.

Simply put, this letter is more of a peace treaty than a letter of surrender.

At least in Zhang Xiu's opinion, this letter was almost a unilateral benefit to Fang Zhongyong.

"This is a matter of great importance. I need to discuss this with my generals first. Judge Zhang, why don't you stay at the posthouse outside Kaifeng first?

Three days later, no, at the latest three days, I will give you an answer, how about that?"

Fang Zhongyong said with a smile, looking very relaxed, not at all like he was about to get angry.

Zhang Xiu felt relieved.

The matter was of great importance, and it was impossible to agree immediately. If Fang Zhongyong agreed at this moment, he would be perfunctory and his heart would be damned.

But if he is indecisive for a while and has to consult with his subordinates, he may compromise.

Zhang Xiu served as the judge of Youzhou, responsible for the execution of affairs, and was very familiar with the government procedures. He knew very well that the Jiedushi was not the emperor, and whenever there were important matters to be promulgated, he had to explain them clearly to his subordinates and staff to reach a consensus.

Fang Chongyong's request is reasonable.

"In that case, Zhang will wait for good news at the posthouse!"

After Zhang Xiu saluted Fang Chongyong with his hands crossed, he retreated leisurely, leaving Fang Chongyong alone sitting in front of the table, with a frown on his face, tapping the letter on the table with his index finger.

"You want to give me the entire Southern Liang and a small part of the Northern Wei in one breath. Huangfu Weiming, Huangfu Weiming, a good deal must be a difficult deal. Don't you understand this principle?

You are treating me like a fool. Aren't you too contemptuous of me?"

Fang Zhongyong shook his head and sighed, then picked up a paperweight and pressed the letter underneath.

He walked to the door of the study and told He Changqi who was on duty, "Ask Che Guangqian and the others to come to the government office to discuss important matters now."

"Order!"

He Changqi strode away and took the order.

"Men and women deceive each other, this is love!"

When there was no one around, Fang Chongyong complained in Sichuan dialect.

(End of this chapter)