Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 581: The Great Cause of Founding a Nation: Making Friends with Distant Countries and Attacking Nearby Countries

Returning to the Chang'an he had longed for, and walking on the wide Chunmingmen Street, Li Bai found that the prosperous and wealthy Chang'an in his memory was no longer as glorious as it once was.

The road is still as wide, but people on the street are all in a hurry. Beggars can be seen from time to time in the corners. The autumn wind blows the fallen leaves, and the whole place looks bleak.

Many people, carrying their families, walked eastward from the city, staggering as if they were fleeing.

The severe food shortage in Guanzhong this year has made it unbearable for many ordinary families in Chang'an City.

During the heyday of Chang'an, the annual grain shortage was about three million shi. Hebei could provide about one million shi, Huaibei and Jiangnan could provide about eight to one million shi, and the rest depended on transportation from Guanzhong.

Now that the grain in Hebei could not be harvested, and the grain in Lianghuai and Jiangnan had also been greatly reduced, the food shortage in Chang'an was at least one million dan. Many poor families, artisans and even small traders could no longer make ends meet, and left Chang'an with their families to return to their hometowns to seek food.

They didn't want to leave, but they had to. The famine in Chang'an during the Wu Zhou period seemed to be repeating itself today.

Li Bai did not go to the West Market to see the price of grain, but he knew that it must be a scary number.

From the corner of his eye, he saw a few people following him stealthily, so he put his hand on the hilt of the sword, ready to take action at any time.

Fortunately, it was just a false alarm. Those who were following him gave up immediately when they saw him heading towards Dunhuafang. Dunhuafang was a place where officials and nobles gathered. It could be said that "there were great scholars talking and laughing, and there were no ordinary people coming and going". There were many officials in the court.

It's not someone that ordinary bandits can afford to offend.

He arrived at the door of Yan's mansion and gently knocked on the copper ring on the door.

Yan Zhenqing's son Yan Yu opened the door and saw Li Bai. He was puzzled and felt as if he had seen him somewhere.

"I am Li Taibai, and I have come to pay a special visit to Mr. Yan."

Li Bai saluted somewhat stiffly, always thinking of Wei Zichun's reminder before departure.

You must be extremely careful. This is a mission that concerns life and death, and you must not make any mistakes!
When Yan Yu heard that it was Li Bai, he quickly brought him home, his eyes full of admiration.

"Mr. Taibai's poems and essays are famous all over the world. It is a great honor for me to have you as a guest in my Yan family.

Sir, please wait a moment. I will go get some drinks."

Yan Yu quickly found some good wine and treated Li Bai to a drink.

After the two of them sat down, Yan Yu asked with some confusion: "I wonder why Mr. Taibai came to see my father?"

Li Bai wanted to say "It's none of your business", but remembering Wei Zichun's repeated warnings, he restrained his temper, crossed his hands and saluted Yan Yu and said, "Li is here to discuss something important with Mr. Yan."

The sentence "It's not convenient for you to know" was omitted.

Yan Yu was no fool, so he understood what Yan Zhenqing meant. He led Li Bai into Yan Zhenqing's study and chatted with him there.

I thought Yan Zhenqing would return soon, but I didn't expect to have to wait for four or five hours!

It was almost midnight when Yan Zhenqing returned home, dragging his corpse-like body, while Li Bai and Yan Yu had already fallen asleep in the study!
"Go and rest."

Yan Zhenqing waved his hand gently at Yan Yu, his body seeming to be filled with endless fatigue.

Yan Yu originally wanted to stay and listen, but seeing Yan Zhenqing's firm attitude, he had to leave the study and go back to his bedroom to rest.

"I haven't seen you for a long time. I wonder where Li Bai is on business?"

Yan Zhenqing asked indifferently. Actually, as the prime minister, he naturally knew that Li Bai was a man of Yong Wang Li Lin. He asked this question just to confirm his guess.

As expected, Li Bai saluted Yan Zhenqing and said, "I am currently working for Prince Yong as a judge."

This is nonsense. Li Bai doesn't know what Yan Zhenqing's current attitude is, so it is naturally impossible for him to tell him everything.

"I feel tired today because of official business. If Judge Li has anything to say, please speak directly."

Unlike Yan Yu, who had a "little fanboy" attitude, Yan Zhenqing was quite calm and had the air of a prime minister. He would not treat Li Bai differently just because he wrote good poems.

"I have received the order from Prince Yong to come to Chang'an to persuade Prime Minister Yan to send troops to Luoyang. The troops from Bianzhou will also attack Luoyang from Hulao Pass.

I believe that the enemy army will not be able to take care of both ends and will surely end up in a disastrous defeat.

If this battle is successful, the imperial court can seize the three cities of Heyang. If this key place is captured, the grain transport will also be opened up.

The grain ships from Lianghuai and Jiangnan could then go to Guanzhong along the Yellow River.

Isn’t it beautiful? "

Li Bai didn't waste any words, but instead threw out his trump card.

In fact, what he didn't know was that it was no longer a secret that Li Lin was preparing to ascend the throne and become emperor. Even though Fang Zhongyong had not announced it to the public, there were many signs that could prove that Prince Yong was planning something big!

For example, it was very unusual for Prince Yong and his staff to come to Bianzhou.

After all, Yan Zhenqing was the prime minister. His political sense was far more sensitive than that of ordinary people, and his intelligence channels were not simple. Naturally, he understood what Li Bai meant.

"Ugh!"

Yan Zhenqing let out a long sigh. The things he was worried about were becoming reality one by one.

Li Wan's rebellion has not been resolved yet, and now Yong Wang Li Lin is also going to rebel. However, this is not surprising. Li Heng killed his father and the emperor, which is equivalent to automatically giving up the orthodoxy and breaking the unspoken rules of the inheritance of the artifact.

The rebellion of the princes in various places was expected. After all, these people could rebel under the banner of "avenging their fathers".

Who would be polite to Li Heng?

"Li Taibai, I am asking you a question, and you must answer it truthfully."

Yan Zhenqing looked at Li Bai and asked seriously.

"Excuse me, Mr. Yan."

Li Bai's heart was in his throat.

"Your Highness Prince Yong, are you ready to be crowned emperor?"

Yan Zhenqing stared into Li Bai's eyes and asked.

Li Bai remained silent.

In fact, if you don’t say it, it’s already a tacit agreement.

Li Bai also had his own political ambitions.

When Prince Yong ascends the throne, he, as Prince Yong's aide, will also be promoted.

At the very least you can become the Minister of Rites, right?

In the past, he could never reach the position of prime minister, but now it is different. So essentially, Li Bai and Yan Zhenqing have nothing to talk about in private.

He firmly supports Li Lin's ascension to the throne!
Different interests mean different positions. What else can you say?

Could I chat with Yan Zhenqing about literature and poetry in this quiet night while dozing off?
"I understand."

Seeing that Li Bai remained silent, Yan Zhenqing nodded.

He got it.

"Li Baochen is ambitious. With him around, the Yellow River is blocked, so the grain ships from Jiangnan and Lianghuai cannot reach Chang'an. I saw many hungry people on the streets of Chang'an today. Mr. Yan should have seen it too, right?"

Li Bai once again reminded Yan Zhenqing what the point of dealing with Li Baochen was.

Indeed, Fang Chongyong could ignore Li Baochen, but Yan Zhenqing could not. Even if the imperial court transported grain by sea, it must be transported to Chang'an via the Yellow River.

The three cities of Heyang are the collar that strangles Guanzhong's throat.

Even if Li Lin wanted to ascend the throne and become emperor, it was extremely necessary for Chang'an to seize Luoyang.

If we can cooperate with the elite troops from Bianzhou and attack from both sides, our chances of winning will be very high.

But there is still a question. After Luoyang is captured, who will own it?
Could there be something fishy going on behind the scenes?
Yan Zhenqing was a little hesitant for a moment.

"This is a handwritten letter from Marshal Fang Jie. It also has the seal and signature of His Royal Highness Prince Yong. Please have a look, Minister Yan."

Only then did Li Bai take out a letter from his arms and hand it to Yan Zhenqing.

Wei Zichun was the manipulator behind this matter. Both Fang Zhongyong and Li Lin were hoping that Marshal Baochen would be killed soon.

"Ah."

Yan Zhenqing nodded, read the letter and put it into his sleeve.

Fang Chongyong said in the letter that after defeating Li Baochen, the troops of Xuanwu Town would retreat back to Bianzhou and would not enter Luoyang City.

This was no longer a hint, but something that was made clear. As for whether Yan Zhenqing believed it or not, that was his business.

Yan Zhenqing may not care, but Chang'an, which is short of food, cannot ignore it.

"Judge Li, why don't you stay at Yan's house today? I still need to consider it."

Yan Zhenqing said after thinking for a moment.

"So good."

Li Bai breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that Yan Zhenqing did not directly refuse proved that the matter was halfway accomplished.

After asking the servants in the mansion to make arrangements for Li Bai, Yan Zhenqing did not go to bed, but instead called his aide Li E, who lived in the mansion, to discuss the matter.

Yan Zhenqing handed Fang Chongyong's handwritten letter to the aide, repeated Li Bai's words, and then waited quietly for Li E's reply.

"Mr. Yan, we have no choice in this matter. Right now, people in Chang'an are leaving their homes every day, and the food shortage is too severe.

If the grain route is not opened up, the grain from Jiangnan and Lianghuai will not be able to enter Guanzhong. What should we do then?

You can't wait until there are starving people everywhere before you take action, right?"

Li E asked back worriedly.

He also realized that the core of the problem was not Luoyang City, but the three cities of Heyang near Luoyang City, on the bank of the Yellow River. This was the throat of the Yellow River.

Since Li Baochen occupied this place, the grain transport in Guanzhong has been cut off. When Huangfu Weiming was still here, he never took any ruthless action.

Huangfu Weiming is one of the representatives of the Guanzhong family. How could he be so cruel to Guanzhong?
But Marshal Baochen would not give face to the people of Guanzhong.

Therefore, since Fang Youde defeated Huangfu Weiming in Huayin last time, the situation in Guanzhong has become worse day by day, and the food shortage has become more and more serious.

The three cities of Heyang are military defensive cities that depend on Luoyang. To capture the three cities of Heyang, one must capture Luoyang.

From this perspective, there is nothing wrong with Fang Chongyong's suggestion.

Li E's opinion is highly consistent with Yan Zhenqing's: There is no problem in sending troops to Luoyang, but who will Luoyang belong to after the war?

Can they believe the assurance Fang Zhongyong made in the letter? Do they want to take a chance?
Yan Zhenqing was in a dilemma, so he wanted to hear Li E's advice.

"Mr. Yan, many people in Chang'an do not want the current emperor to be Li Heng.

If we can successfully retake Luoyang this time, I believe those people will be quiet for a while."

Li E said slowly.

He seemed to be hesitant to speak, but in the end he didn't say anything "extra".

In fact, Li E felt that there was no need for Yan Zhenqing to protect Li Heng to the death. Is a man who killed his father and his emperor really worthy of being the emperor?
But Yan Zhenqing obviously believed that if the emperor was changed again, the imperial power would continue to decline and become more corrupt.

When faced with two evils, choose the lesser one. There is never a perfect choice in this world.

"Tomorrow you will go to Fengxiang Prefecture and ask Li Jiaqing, the commander of the Control Crane Army, for his opinion, and report back to me immediately.

The Control Crane Army plus the troops of Gao Xianzhi, the military commander of Tongguan, should be enough to deal with Li Baochen."

Yan Zhenqing said with a long sigh.

Guanzhong has recently expanded its military forces, with the number of the Konghe Army increasing to 20,000, and the Tongguan Army increasing to 10,000. There are also the Nan Ya Imperial Guards in Chang'an City, with a total of 20,000 new soldiers.

Li Baochen only had 50,000 troops under his command, and they had to garrison the three cities of Luoyang, Heyang, as well as Zhengzhou and Huazhou near Hulao Pass.

Although Li Guiren on the other side of the Yellow River belonged to the Hebei rebels, he would only obey orders from Li Baochen and not his decrees.

If the Silver Spear Xiejie Army of Xuanwu Town could unite with the troops in Guanzhong and attack Li Baochen from both sides, they would surely win.

"I will leave tonight."

Li E nodded in agreement without hesitation.

"Wait a moment, I will write a letter to you."

After saying this, Yan Zhenqing quickly wrote a letter and gave it to Li E to take away.

After Li E left, Yan Zhenqing lay down tiredly on the soft couch in the study, feeling that all his strength had been drained.

Li Heng's killing of his father and his king changed the good situation that was about to sweep across the country. Before this, Yan Zhenqing was at least more optimistic than Fang Youde and believed that the situation could still be managed.

But now it's different.

Yan Zhenqing knew very well that now it was more like struggling to hold on than to clean up the situation.

The supplies from Wuguan Road seem to be gradually decreasing.

I heard that Ying Wang Li Yu was also recruiting troops in Xiangyang, and it seemed that he had the same idea as Li Lin. Wuguan Road was a supply route that relied on the Han River. Li Yu was very concerned and was actually planning for the future by gradually reducing the supply of Wuguan Road.

Does Yan Zhenqing have any solution?
To be honest, he had no idea what to do.

The army in Guanzhong can now attack Luoyang without any problem, but it is hard to say if it can attack Xiangyang further.

Li Lu is also a prince. If he shouts in front of the enemy and raises an army in the name of revenge for the late emperor, it is hard to say who the people will support by then!

Yan Zhenqing also knew that the soldiers of the Control Crane Army were very dissatisfied with the bureaucrats in Chang'an.

I just hope they can consider the overall situation this time.

……

In the largest mansion in Chenliu County, Prince Yong Li Lin looked at the letter brought by Wei Zichun, his hands trembling and fear in his eyes.

He looked like he was out of his mind.

When Li Lin saw the handwritten letter from Wei Jian to Fang Chongyong, he felt terrible.

"What does Fang Qing mean? What does Wei Jian mean? What are they going to do?"

Li Lin asked Wei Zichun incoherently. He didn't even have time to worry about whether Wei Zichun, who was from the Jingzhao Wei family, had an affair with Wei Jian!
"Your Highness, Fang Qing handed me Wei Jian's letter, and it's clear that he doesn't intend to join them.

Please don't panic, Your Highness."

Wei Zichun whispered to comfort Li Lin and said that he was actually very nervous too, because once Fang Zhongyong chose to cooperate with Wei Jian and others, there would be no place for Li Lin anymore.

Can Fang Chongyong really ignore the temptation of taking over Luoyang?

Li Lin couldn't believe it.

"If you don't agree, then don't agree. Why did you give me the letter?"

Li Lin complained slightly with dissatisfaction.

Wei Zichun was somewhat helpless and could only carefully remind him: "Your Highness, could it be that Fang Qing wants you to go to Kaifeng County and talk to him in person?"

Wei Zichun put forward his own ideas. In fact, when the letter came to him, Yan Zhuang said nothing!
(End of this chapter)