Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 535: The Street of Heaven Tramples the Bones of the Nobles (Part )
The night was dark and extremely quiet, making it frightening.

Due to the curfew, the nightlife of ordinary Chang'an residents was almost non-existent. And because of the recent unrest and the closure of all industries, the nightlife of the powerful people in Chang'an also almost stopped.

Now the nights in Chang'an have become truly quiet, and there is no longer any saying that "Chang'an is the city that never sleeps".

Anrenfang is one of the wards in the outer city of Chang'an, under the jurisdiction of Wannian County. It is located in the third row south of the imperial city and the first row east of Zhuque Street.

This kind of block has two gates, east and west, but no north and south gates. The people living in it are either rich or noble. In the southeast corner, there is the family of Liu Yanjing, the grandfather of Ning Wang Li Xian, and in the southwest corner, there is the family of Wang Xin, the uncle of Xue Wang Li Ye.

In addition, the residences of Ji Ge's daughter Princess Wanchun and former Jiannan Jiedushi Zhangchou Jianqiong (deceased) in Chang'an were also located here.

Zhang Boyi, a close confidant of Li Guangbi, led a team of 1,000 people along Zhuque Street to the west gate of Anrenfang to confiscate the houses. According to the addresses on the list, at least four or five families were in Anrenfang.

In addition to him, Li Guangbi had many generals under his command, each of whom led a team of one thousand people and was divided into several neighborhoods to search and confiscate properties.

Li Guangbi also strictly ordered them not to cross the border, and each team was only responsible for its own area.

How much you can get depends entirely on luck and ability. Li Guangbi does not ask at all and leaves it all to the leading generals to distribute.

However, Li Guangbi himself sat in Xuanwu Gate and did not participate in this matter. For a general of his level, money and wealth no longer had much meaning. As long as he had enough food and drink, money was just a number.

Without military power, you cannot keep mountains of gold and silver.

"General Zhang, are we going to confiscate the properties of the families on the list later?"

A personal soldier asked Zhang Boyi in a low voice.

"How do you say this?"

Zhang Boyi frowned slightly and asked with an unhappy look.

"General Zhang, among the thousand of us, even if these families are quite wealthy, how much can each of us get? According to the list, there are only a few families.

If we divide the wealth of one household among hundreds of brothers, wouldn't these households have to be extremely wealthy?"

The personal soldier couldn't help but remind Zhang Boyi.

It is well known that the rich and powerful in Chang'an are very wealthy, but it is questionable whether these people have much floating wealth in their homes.

Most of the huge wealth owned by the powerful families in the Tang Dynasty were real estate such as land deeds and house deeds.

These plots of land and houses are very valuable, but they cannot be converted into cash. Moreover, the foundations of the rich and powerful are actually the manors outside Chang'an City, as well as ponds, lakes, orchards and other lands that can produce agricultural and sideline products.

It is also valuable and can continue to make money.

However, these things also cannot be taken away if they do not have legs.

A family with a fortune worth 10,000 strings of cash was already a steal. But if it were distributed to each person, it would only be 10 strings of cash!

This little money is useless!
Zhang Boyi nodded slightly, thinking that what the guard said made sense. Even if one dug deep into the ground, there would still be too many people and not enough food.

Moreover, it is not ruled out that there are also "naked officials", that is, those who are penniless in Chang'an City and whose properties are all in their old houses in their hometowns, which are jointly managed by their clans.

This kind of thing is also quite common in Hexi. There are many martial arts-loving military families in border towns, and it is unknown how many military generals a family may have.

If one person dies, the property will be kept by the family. If there are children, they will inherit part of it. If there are no children, the next of kin will adopt the child, and the risk will be shared.

If they meet such a person, wouldn’t all these thousand people have made a wasted trip?

"So what do you think?"

Zhang Boyi asked in a deep voice.

"General Zhang, we will go to the family with the largest gate. We will not go to the family with the smallest gate. This is also considered as robbing the rich to help the poor.

For those who are not on the list, we will burn them and put an end to them once and for all.

Hehe, Chang'an is not peaceful, and it is common for bandits to take advantage of the situation to rob. Who would investigate it?"

The bodyguard suggested in a low voice.

Zhang Boyi touched the beard on his chin, thought about it, and found that it was really true!
The money was too little, not enough for the brothers to share. Moreover, Zhang Boyi wanted to take more himself, so the people below would get even less.

The distribution of spoils is obviously related to the size of the military rank.

How much can the soldiers at the bottom of the society get? If they don’t get enough, will they complain? If they complain again, will they cause trouble?

This may seem like a small matter, but blocking someone's financial path is like killing their parents.

It's murder of one's parents, how can it be a small matter?
For a moment, Zhang Boyi was a little hesitant, as if he would feel guilty if he didn't do something "outside the game".

Seeing that Zhang Boyi seemed hesitant, the personal soldier stabbed him again and said, "General Zhang, if we don't take it, someone else will. It would be a waste if we don't take it. We are acting on behalf of heaven!"

"Then let's do this. You lead your men over the wall and open the gate. If anyone tries to stop us, we'll kill them!"

Zhang Boyi gave orders to the personal soldier.

He vaguely felt that something was not right about this matter, but now the arrow was on the string and had to be shot, and he had no choice but to take action.

puff!
The sound of swords cutting into flesh reached Zhang Boyi's ears. He said nothing and stood outside the gate quietly waiting for news.

Soon, the gate was opened from the inside. The soldier wiped the blood off his sword, cursing as he walked. He put the sword back into the scabbard, came to Zhang Boyi, clasped his fists and reported: "General Zhang, the gate is open, we can start now."

"Go and pass on the message. Gather the people together first and find out where the money is. That's it."

Zhang Boyi made a gesture of wiping his neck.

"Kill them all? Kill women too?"

The personal soldier beside him was a little confused. The women in those powerful and wealthy families were so beautiful. Wouldn't it be a pity to just kill them like that?

"It's up to you to do whatever you want, I will just wait outside.

But after you get out, there cannot be any living people in the places where houses are searched. Do you understand?
This general will lead a team to inspect it personally!"

A hint of ruthlessness flashed across Zhang Boyi's face!
The few guards around him nodded like chicks pecking at rice, and went to pass on the order. Soon, a large group of people and horses filed in, like a lake mouth opening to release floodwaters.

The sound of armor rubbing and colliding was very solemn!

Zhang Boyi retreated far to the side with his personal soldiers. Looking at those soldiers rushing into Anrenfang like wolves and tigers, he couldn't help but sigh.

In fact, Zhang Boyi, like Li Guangbi, did not want to get blood on his hands.

This kind of blood of robbery can never be washed away once it is stained. Many innocent people must have died tonight.

Although it was Zhang Boyi who ordered the extermination of the entire family, he was unwilling to kill anyone with his own hands, let alone rape a woman.

There is no such thing in the world as confiscating property without killing anyone. If he doesn't kill, Brother Ji will find it difficult to vent his hatred.

Maybe there were good people among those killed, or maybe they had never participated in any coup at all, and maybe the ones who committed the crime were just their uncles, nephews, husbands, etc.

However, this world itself is irrational. Being implicated means death, being implicated means death, and being killed by mistake also means death. There are too many helplessness, and no one has the heart to listen to these grievances.

It was the boatman who operated the boat improperly, and the boat capsized after hitting the reef. The unlucky ones were everyone on the boat. How could there be any question of innocence or not?

Zhang Boyi was lost in thought for a while, and only a few dozen people from his personal guards were left outside Anrenfang.

"When they come out, search them one by one, and kill anyone who has stolen anything without asking any questions.

After the inspection, you will take the lead and select people to carry the treasures separately."

Zhang Boyi gave instructions to his personal soldiers.

Among these one thousand soldiers, what were the others doing in Anrenfang besides them?

In fact, it was just to kill people.

It was common for a wealthy family in Chang'an to have hundreds of slaves. If there were too few slaves, it would be hard to say whether you killed someone or someone killed you. Without absolute suppression by force, this matter would not be easy to handle.

"what!"

A woman's scream was heard from Anrenfang, followed by the sound of swords clashing, as well as crying, shouting and cursing.

The soldiers around Zhang Boyi looked at each other in bewilderment, not understanding why Zhang Boyi didn't let them go in and "have fun" together. "Burning, killing and looting are not decent after all, so you should try not to go in the future. Anyway, you won't lose any money, you just won't get to play with women. Where in the world can't there be women?"

Zhang Boyi couldn't help but warn the soldiers around him.

He usually treated people sincerely, and although the soldiers were a little dissatisfied, they all remained silent and did not refute.

Because Zhang Boyi was telling the truth, this is Chang'an, it is different from other places. Killing people here is taboo.

If you can avoid getting blood on your hands, try not to get it on your hands, even though to outsiders there may not be much difference between the two.

The cries and shouts continued, with no sign of abating. Zhang Boyi took out the list and looked at it, only to find that he didn't recognize any of the names on it.

I don’t even recognize many words.

However, just looking at those surnames, you can tell that these people are either rich or noble, even extremely noble.

These people were born with good food and good clothes, and the starting point of their struggle often exceeded the end point of ordinary people's lifelong struggle. Zhang Boyi asked himself, his family was in the south, and his father was also a local official, which was already considered a wealthy family in the local area.

But if this identity were left in Chang'an, it would only be considered average. After all, he was a warrior from a remote village, and he couldn't even recognize all the characters!
If he really wanted to find a wife and live in Chang'an, the women from powerful families might not even look at him.

Of course, that was before.

The world is becoming more and more chaotic now, and the charm of a man holding a knife will increase infinitely.

Zhang Boyi believes that he is still capable!
Just like tonight, he can decide the life and death of everyone in Anrenfang in front of this neighborhood. He is more powerful than the King of Hell.

Whoever he wants to die cannot live!

"There are many beautiful women in Chang'an Pingkangfang. If anyone can't help themselves, just take the money and have fun. Don't make trouble!"

Zhang Boyi couldn't help but warn his personal soldiers.

He knew that many people's lower bodies needed to be cleaned up and they wanted to vent their sexual desires on the women of powerful families.

This kind of thing is not that it cannot be done, but it cannot be done in this situation, and it is even more inappropriate to do it at this critical juncture.

If Brother Ji still had a few more decades to live as an emperor, Zhang Boyi would not hesitate to go to Anrenfang and play with any beautiful woman he could find until he was exhausted.

He is not afraid because the emperor will protect him!
But, Brother Ji is old, he is no longer good. He is no longer good in every aspect, not just physically.

Nowadays, when it comes to confiscating property and exterminating families, we need to be more cautious and not go too far.

In less than an hour, a lieutenant came out of Anrenfang and reported to Zhang Boyi: "General Zhang, the matter has been completed. No one is left alive."

Zhang Boyi looked at his dishevelled appearance, nodded in understanding and said, "Go and inform all the camps, and assemble at Zhuque Street after finishing your work. Leave 200 people to carry the money and the rest go back to Xuanwu Gate."

"Order!"

The captain turned and left feeling somewhat guilty, and he couldn't help feeling regretful.

I just played with a concubine of a powerful family. Her face was as beautiful as a fairy, her body was as soft as noodles and as smooth as fine silk.

When they pulled her to the bed, she was very passionate and cooperative. Outsiders who didn't know would think that the concubine was seducing the man.

He had never felt so good in his life.

But this captain was still decisive and killed the beautiful concubine of this powerful family with a single knife.

There was no hesitation at all.

As for women, it’s fine to just play with them. There’s no need to keep them around. Keeping them will only cause trouble.

She is not the principal wife, she is just a commodity that has lost its value, you can just throw her away.

He felt sorry, but he didn't have even a hint of regret.

Soon, these border soldiers from Hexi and Longyou walked out of the gate one after another, each with an excited smile on their face, and whispering to each other.

Seeing that everyone was present, Zhang Boyi ordered a body search. After the body search, it was found that there was not a single soldier with any accomplices.

Zhang Boyi felt strange at first, but then he felt relieved after thinking about it for a moment.

These soldiers probably figured it out too. They got too much stuff this time, so there's no need to break the rules by keeping it for themselves.

"Leave two hundred people to carry the stolen money, and the rest return to Xuanwu Gate to wait!"

Zhang Boyi waved his hand, and the army of a thousand people split into two groups, like a river flowing in two directions.

The area in front of the west gate of Anrenfang became much quieter, but standing on Zhuque Street, one could hear faint cries, which made one's back feel cold.

After Zhang Boyi led his men through the gate, they arrived in front of a large house. When they walked into the spacious front yard, they saw corpses everywhere, densely packed with no less than a hundred people.

Most of them were slaves, and only a few wearing brocade robes were the masters of the family.

What are the names of these unlucky guys? Are they on the list?
It doesn't seem to be that important, because Zhang Boyi and the others didn't come here for this.

He saw the body of a young woman not far away. Her lower body was naked and she was lying on the ground. His face could not be seen clearly, but judging from her figure, she must be an enchanting beauty.

Zhang Boyi had already roughly guessed what had happened.

"You don't have to look around, just move your things."

He gave the order somewhat listlessly.

Soon, all kinds of silks, made of high quality and in piles, were brought out and thrown into the yard by the soldiers and placed randomly.

There was also a box full of gold and silver items, including silver plates, silver basins, bronze statues, gold bowls and other metal products.

There are also rare handicrafts made of jade belts, agates, and rhino horns, all of which are very valuable, which shows that the owner has a lot of wealth.

Of course, if these are divided among a thousand people, each person will not get much, especially when the officers have to take the lion's share.

Leaving behind a dozen people to move things, Zhang Boyi continued to the next house.

……

The dark night hides evil.

The sickening smell of blood spread from certain neighborhoods to Suzaku Street, as if hell had descended.

Fires broke out for no reason in some areas of Chang'an, as if God was punishing those wealthy and powerful people who abused their power and were unkind to their wealth.

Ji Ge issued an imperial decree, ordering 60,000 Western Army soldiers to use their steel knives to severely punish those "nobles" who committed crimes and subverted the country.

This night is destined to be sleepless.

Screams, cries, laughter and curses, faint and yet tangible, came from all the neighborhoods and converged into a creepy elegy on Suzaku Street.

It's like the wailing of an evil ghost, wreaking havoc on the world!
Team after team of Western Army soldiers came out of the gates of each block, carrying valuables and other items in their hands. Some teams suddenly met each other and saw that the other team also had things in their hands, and they couldn't help but smile at each other.

Under the light of the torches, there were faces that were proud and satisfied.

They were so simple and strong, some of them were still childish, and there was no sign that they had been on a killing spree tonight.

Guo Ziyi led a team of hundreds of soldiers and patrolled on Zhuque Street.

The people walking in front held up vertical flags with the word "Patrol" written on them. They all had blank expressions on their faces, and seemed somewhat reluctant.

When a group of people who had just finished their business came out of the square gate and met them, they couldn't help but look at them with sympathy. If you don't participate in the looting, you won't get the big share.

How much benefit he can get in the end depends on how much conscience Li Guangbi has left.

In short, these people are in big trouble.

In this team, many soldiers showed expressions of resentment and envy. They seemed to not understand why Guo Ziyi would take the initiative to take on such an "unlucky" task.

Guo Ziyi, who was walking in the front, sighed to himself: "Such a big thing has happened, how should it end?"

He had a gloomy brow, as if he was worried about something serious.

(End of this chapter)