Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 574 A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (End of this volume)

when!when!when!
when!when!when!
At the ferry outside Kaifeng County, dozens of police officers in black robes were beating drums and gongs to clear the area.

"Let those idlers go!

Hurry, hurry, the rest of you go to the ferry and clear the area. The fleet of the King of Pingxi is coming!"

Zheng Shuqing put his hands on his waist and gave instructions to the police officers around him.

Those people did not hesitate. They rushed directly to the pier of the ferry with water and fire sticks and beat and scolded the people stranded there.

For a moment, it was as if a chicken coop was poked, and the porters standing by the pier waiting for business suddenly scattered like birds and beasts, running faster than rabbits.

When Yuan Jie, the governor of Bianzhou, saw this scene, he sighed helplessly and said, "Mr. Zheng's tactics are a bit too rough."

Zheng Shuqing was a jerk who usually wanted to lie in the yard and bask in the sun all day long, and he would not budge even if urged. But when he heard that Fang Zhongyong was going back to Bianzhou with the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army, he immediately jumped up and down.

What a veteran official!
“These porters and the like are just like the filial sons at home, they must be beaten with sticks.

Envoy Yuan still has too little experience."

Zheng Shuqing made a complaint by taking advantage of his seniority, and he looked complacent, obviously not ashamed of it.

Is this how the stick produces filial sons?
Yuan Jie was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly.

Today is the day that Fang Chongyong returns to Bianzhou. Even if those porters stranded on the pier are beaten to death, their deaths will be in vain.

The profession of porter has a long history, but its prosperity and organization are closely related to the prosperity of the canal economy.

After merchants dock, whether unloading or purchasing goods, it is impossible for them to carry them themselves, and usually the boatman on the ship will not carry them.

This requires professional unloading and moving workers. Over time, similar "businesses" will emerge, with shops opened in Kaifeng County, responsible for taking orders and calculating payments.

The porters would wait at the ferry, asking everyone they met if they wanted to load or unload cargo.

Therefore, the more developed the shipping is, the more porters are needed.

These people came from all walks of life, most of them were from other places, and almost none of them had fixed land in Bianzhou.

The social status of porters was very low. According to the general values ​​of the Tang Dynasty society, anyone with a chance of success would not do this job.

"Ok?"

With a quick glance, Zheng Shuqing seemed to see a familiar figure among the porters. When he looked again, the person had gone far away, leaving only a blurry back.

Just at this time, He Changqi was already walking towards him. Zheng Shuqing did not think about who the man he had just seen looked like, but walked up to He Changqi with a smile and saluted and asked:
"General He, what are your plans for today?"

In terms of seniority, He Changqi is not even qualified to carry Zheng Shuqing's shoes.

But now, Old Zheng is willing to swallow his pride and try to please He Changqi.

When Yuan Jie saw this scene, he understood. He finally understood why Zheng Shuqing was known as the "unshakable figure in the political arena" and was still alive and well.

This guy doesn't have much ability to do serious work, but he is first-rate at judging people's needs and can hold his head down when asking others to do something for him.

Such people may not be able to maintain high positions and high salaries for a long time, but it is easy for them to survive.

Yuan Jie couldn't help but sigh for himself. He was too honest, so he was always unpopular and it was difficult for him to rise to prominence. At most, he could only get to the level of a provincial governor, and it was impossible for him to go any higher.

Unless you encounter a great opportunity.

"Judge Zheng is in Bianzhou, and he doesn't have to live in the open air, so why has he lost weight?"

He Changqi looked at Zheng Shuqing, who was so thin that he would fall down if the wind blew, and made small talk.

"I am worried about Marshal Fang Jie fighting on the front line, so I have no appetite."

Zheng Shuqing sighed in a pretentious manner.

He was indeed worried that Fang Chongyong would lose the battle, but he was not worried about Fang Chongyong himself. Instead, he was worried that the enemy would reach Bianzhou and kill Zheng's entire family!

A large number of Zhengs from Xingyang originally lived in Henan, and many of them lived in Bianzhou. If the Hebei rebels went south to capture Bianzhou, the Zhengs would probably not have a good time.

At the very least, it is inevitable that a large amount of floating wealth will be seized by the rebels.

For this reason, Zheng Shuqing was worried every day and kept sending people to inquire about the military situation at the front and find out whether the Silver Spear Xiaojie Army was surrounded.

Fang Chongyong's father, Fang Youde, was not as concerned about the battle situation in Hebei as Zheng Shuqing!

"Judge Zheng really underestimated us. With Silver Spear Xiaojie here, there's no place for those scumbags from Hebei to run rampant. Marshal Fang Jie even managed to scare that idiot Li Baochen."

He Changqi said nonchalantly that he was actually very worried when he was rushing to Hebei.

But this does not prevent He Lao Hu from bragging to everyone in Bianzhou.

"Speaking of Li Baochen, he is really arrogant. He speaks like an emperor."

Zheng Shuqing sighed and continued, "Li Baochen sent several waves of people to lobby for the military commander to serve him and offer the six states of Xuanwu Town. He wrote four or five letters in person, each with a harsher tone than the last.

In the last letter, this person even threatened to kill General Fang Jie as a sacrifice to the gods if he disagreed. "

Zheng Shuqing's tone was filled with confusion.

Marshal Baochen probably realized now that he had been fooled by Fang Chongyong's "Baochen is the emperor" trick, and he was somewhat furious.

It’s just that Zheng Shuqing didn’t know about this, so he thought this person was simply incomprehensible.

We haven't even fought a battle yet, and you're writing to me asking me to surrender. Are you crazy?
"Actually..."

He Changqi was about to say something, but then he remembered Fang Chongyong's previous reminder and stopped talking immediately.

He came to Bianzhou to scout ahead, not to complain about Li Baochen. Fang Chongyong had promised to support Marshal Baochen and join him as a lackey!

Now that he has turned against him, it is only natural for Marshal Baochen to feel that he has been fooled and want to settle the score with Fang Chongyong.

The reason why he hadn't taken action yet was because Li Baochen hadn't settled the affairs in Luoyang City. Once he had united the rebels in Hebei and dealt with the miscellaneous affairs in Luoyang City, he would probably lead his troops out of Luoyang and plunder the land to the east.

A head-on confrontation with Fang Chongyong is inevitable.

"Judge Zheng, don't worry about that idiot. It's just that...oh, some dry bones in a grave."

He Changqi said with a laugh, and then stopped talking, staring at the river. Today, not only was the ferry cleared, but the river was also cleared, and no other boats were allowed to stay here.

Suddenly, Zheng Shuqing nudged He Changqi's arm with his arm and asked in a low voice, "How many soldiers does Prince Yong have?"

"It doesn't matter how many there are, not a single soldier is allowed to leave Qizhou!"

He Changqi came over and responded casually.

When he said this, there was a smug look on his face, as if he was the one who personally slapped Prince Yong Li Lin in the face by Fang Zhongyong.

Fang Chongyong’s request to Li Lin was very clear: your staff can come to Bianzhou and can be assigned positions, but the army cannot come to Bianzhou, not even a single soldier!

The troops under Prince Yong's command were not allowed to leave Qizhou and had to exist as a united force of prefectures and counties. This was a "hard requirement" that Fang Chongyong put forward to Li Lin, and if they disagreed, they would be disbanded.

The reason why he wanted to do this was very simple: if your troops arrived in Bianzhou, how should I arrange my own troops?
The Silver Spear Filial Piety Army is to be the imperial guards. If your rotten sweet potatoes and stinky bird eggs come, how can I, as the commander of the army, place these people? Do I have to share the military power with the scum under your command?

Of course, in exchange, Fang Chongyong promised not to replace the chief officer of the army, not to carry out a large-scale purge of middle and low-level officers in the army, and to ensure the basic integrity of the Qizhou army.

After discussing with Wei Zichun, Prince Yong Li Lin had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree to this "unequal treaty."

The situation is stronger than people, and we have no choice but to agree.

Because even if he did not agree, Fang Chongyong could suppress it on the grounds of "Qizhou Army Rebellion", which would not prevent him from supporting Li Lin to take the throne in Bianzhou.

The cruelty of politics is so merciless.

Zheng Shuqing was obviously relieved and said meaningfully: "Prince Yong will not accomplish anything great. It would be best if his troops do not come to Bianzhou." Huh?
He Changqi was stunned and looked at Zheng Shuqing with some surprise.

He remembered that he didn't seem to have said that Fang Zhongyong wanted to support Prince Yong to ascend the throne in Bianzhou! He just said that Prince Yong was also on the boat, traveling to Bianzhou with the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army.

Zheng Shuqing had never contacted Fang Chongyong before, so he probably didn't know that Prince Yong was going to ascend the throne in Bianzhou.

What does he mean by that?
He Changqi felt that Old Zheng was not as foolish as he looked. This "unemployed" scholar must have seen through Fang Chongyong's plot.

"coming!"

Yuan Jie said, pointing at the fleet approaching in the distance.

As the canal boat got closer, the crowd waiting on the shore became more and more excited.

……

"It's finally here!"

Fang Chongyong jumped from the bow of the leading canal boat to the trestle bridge at the Bianzhou ferry, and his heart immediately settled down. He was finally back at home, and he didn't have to worry anymore.

"General, I have prepared a celebration banquet in the city to welcome the soldiers of the three armies. Please come this way!"

Yuan Jie stepped forward and saluted Fang Chongyong, then made a gesture of invitation.

"Hey, no hurry, wait for His Royal Highness Prince Yong."

Fang Zhongyong said with a smile on his face and jokingly said.

He walked to the shore, greeted everyone who was waiting one by one, and then waited with them.

Soon, as the subsequent boats arrived at the shore one after another, the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army also disembarked. After everyone had disembarked, the last boat to arrive at the ferry, Yongwang Li Lin, and his staff, disembarked and stepped onto the shore.

Each of them had an unhappy look on their face, and only a few of them still maintained a polite smile.

It doesn't look like seasickness.

He Changqi walked forward with some doubt, leaned close to Fang Zhongyong's ear and whispered, "General Jie, why do all of Prince Yong's people have such sad faces?"

When he led his men away to serve as the vanguard, he saw that the people under Prince Yong were still talking and laughing with Fang Chongyong. Why did they all look as if their parents had died now?

He Changqi didn't understand what was going on.

"Liu Julin, a subordinate of Prince Yong, came to have a quarrel with me because he was dissatisfied with Qizhou's request that troops from Qizhou should not enter Bianzhou.

He was so depressed that he jumped into the river and committed suicide. I have ordered him to be buried with honor. As for Prince Yong and his staff, they probably felt sad about Liu Julin's unfortunate death. "

Fang Chongyong sighed helplessly and said with a look of sympathy.

He Changqi nodded woodenly. He was not a fool. How could he believe that such an unruly person like Liu Julin would jump into the river to commit suicide?

But since Fang Zhongyong said that the other party committed suicide, then it must have been suicide.

have nothing to say.

"Yuan Cishan, you have cleared the ferry crossing in Bianzhou, causing His Royal Highness Prince Yong to think that Bianzhou has been in decline under my rule.

What you did was not authentic!"

Fang Zhongyong deliberately put on a stern face and lectured Yuan Jiedao.

It’s not the first day that Lao Yuan has been an official, so he knows that many things need to be heard in the opposite way.

If Fang Zhongyong really wanted to lecture him, he didn't have to do it in front of Li Lin. The sentence just now was supposed to be a lecture for being nosy, but in fact it was a compliment for his ability to get things done.

After all, Li Lin is a deity to be "worshipped", so how can he not have his own style?
The "disturbance" caused by the clearing of the area was precisely Li Lin's display of face, and this display could not be omitted.

"General Jie loves his people like his own children. I have failed to do my job well. Please punish me."

Yuan Jie cautiously crossed his arms and bowed to apologize.

"There's no need to punish me. Just be careful not to disturb others next time."

Fang Zhongyong spoke in an official tone, and it was obvious that he was speaking to Li Lin who was standing beside him.

"You are so thoughtful, Envoy Yuan. I don't mind these things. Let's go into the city now."

Li Lin forced a smile on his face, but he was still upset about Liu Julin's tragic death.

The people of the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army reported that Liu Julin accidentally fell into the water. How could it be such a coincidence? No one fell into the water, but Liu Julin, who was arguing for the military power of Qizhou in front of Fang Zhongyong, fell into the water and died!
Although Liu Julin was not an obedient subject to Li Lin, he was his aide after all!
Hitting Liu Julin's face was like hitting Li Lin's face. Liu Julin's unclear death also meant that he might die unclearly one day.

How could Li Lin pretend that nothing happened when faced with such a serious matter?
Of course, His Royal Highness Prince Yong, who originally wanted to go to Fang Chongyong to argue, was stopped by his chief aide Wei Zichun.

Wei Zichun still said the same thing: Patience can turn into gold!

In Wei Zichun's opinion, Liu Julin would die because he asked for military power in front of Fang Zhongyong! This had already touched the opponent's bottom line, so Liu Julin was bound to die, and it only depended on how he died.

Being forced to commit suicide was already a way for Fang Zhongyong to give Li Lin face. Dealing with Liu Julin before the ship docked was also a way to give Li Lin face.

Otherwise, killing Li Lin's aides in Bianzhou would have had such a huge impact that the word "puppet" would have been engraved on Li Lin's face.

Can't you understand which is more important?
After some persuasion, Li Lin finally gave in, but he still said: I have no choice but to accept it.

No matter how powerful a person is, he will die if he is stabbed in the neck. Liu Julin is a ready-made example, and Fang Zhongyong is killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.

"Your Highness, please come this way. I will lead the way for you."

Fang Chongyong made a gesture of invitation to Li Lin.

Before Li Lin took a step, Gao Shang walked up to him, stretched out his only remaining right hand, and tugged at the other's sleeve.

"please."

Li Lin sighed lightly, made a gesture of invitation, and walked side by side with Fang Chongyong.

Arriving at the gate of Kaifeng County, Li Lin looked left and right and felt that this city was unpleasant to the eyes no matter how hard he tried.

The large-scale ferry nearby, the shops everywhere, the small city... Bianzhou is a commercial port no matter how you look at it.

There are many people, land and merchants, so it is lively enough, but it lacks the majesty of an emperor.

The majesty of imperial power is often expressed through huge cities, towering attics, and magnificent palaces.

Because majesty is something illusory and needs some "carrier" to carry it.

For example, buildings, laws, and similar things are used to demonstrate majesty.

In other words, imperial power is actually a "monster" composed of one privilege after another.

"Marshal Fang, when do you plan to start building the capital of Bianzhou?"

When they reached the city gate, Li Lin stopped, looked at Fang Chongyong and asked.

"The day your highness ascends the throne is the day when the construction of Bianliang City begins.

Only the emperor is worthy of the capital of God."

Fang Chongyong said meaningfully.

"I understand."

Li Lin nodded slightly, accepting the current situation.

In any case, let’s start with the ascension to the throne.

(End of this volume, next volume: Life is full of crossroads, even if you become a general or a god, you still have to be a mortal.)
(End of this chapter)