Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 646 Rapid Deterioration

Late at night, the oil lamp was still on in the bedroom.

Fang Zhongyong looked at Xue Yaoying, who was sitting on the bed, at a loss.

He looked at Rosa again, who looked helpless.

He didn't know what to say!
It was just a casual remark at the time, but Zhang Guangsheng actually sent the girl over in a serious manner!

Can't we just find a random courtyard to settle down in?

"Go and tell Da Congming to find Li Sheng. He should be in Kaifeng City right now and not out on business."

Fang Zhongyong said to Rosa.

"Well... if Alang thinks I'm in the way, I won't be back later."

Rosa said with some entanglement, sighing in her heart.

Just now in the study, the atmosphere between the two of them was very good, and she even felt sweet because they had the same ideas.

But when Fang Zhongyong carried her into the bedroom and saw Xue Yaoying on the bed, Rosa's mind calmed down completely.

She felt that as for matters between men and women, it would be better to wait until Wang Yunxiu came to Bianzhou to discuss them.

"It's not what you think. Go call Dacongming."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand gently and said.

When he and Xue Yaoying were alone in the bedroom, Fang Zhongyong sighed and said with regret: "You exude a subtle fragrance, and the purpose is not simple. It is to please the dignitaries. I heard that your mother has been feeding you certain spices since you were a child, hoping that you can become a concubine of the rich and powerful. But I have seen these spices when I was in Hexi, and I know them very well. If you continue to eat them, your body will continue to be damaged. If this continues day by day, you will not live past the age of thirty."

"Is it true? Is it really that serious?"

Xue Yaoying was shocked and asked subconsciously.

Her slightly childish face was filled with fear.

Xue Yaoying's voice is always hoarse, and it doesn't seem like it's because of illness, but it just happens to be "naturally" like that.

The reason why she was so surprised was not because she felt that Fang Zhongyong was talking nonsense. On the contrary, Xue Yaoying thought that what he said was very likely true.

This could also explain why she had been sickly since childhood.

Xue Yaoying's body odor, according to her mother, is very effective in attracting men and is her only asset for settling down in the future. But Xue Yaoying knows her own body and doesn't think this is a good thing at all.

Ever since she started taking spice, she had been feeling weak from time to time, which was definitely not normal.

Medicines are poisonous. Over time, many common medicines can be fatal. Fang Zhongyong's words can be said to have torn apart Xue Yaoying's "magical" mask.

How could it be possible that taking special spices for a long time to stimulate the body to emit a strong aroma would not be harmful to the body?
On the other hand, if the side effects were not so strong, then Brother Ji's concubines would have used this method to cheat! The women of the rich and powerful would not be stingy with their money in order to "solidify their favor".

And the women in brothels would even regard this as "standard configuration".

But none of this happened.

How could something so cost-effective not be popular if its side effects were minimal?

Unless, this evil path is destined to be short-lived and not worth taking.

In fact, Fang Chongyong had heard of this method when he was in Hexi. Women eat "spices" to get body fragrance, and then this fragrance will make men who are close to her unable to stop and eager to have sex.

It's a case of overtaking on a curve.

This kind of "secret technique" was called evil magic by people in the Western Regions, and the dignitaries were very secretive about it.

They want to enjoy the "spice beauty" but don't want to bear the corresponding moral responsibility, so they just pretend not to know.

"I heard about this method when I was the governor of Shazhou. From today on, you should stop taking spices and take care of yourself for a long time, and maybe you can recover."

Fang Zhongyong said with a serious face.

Xue Yaoying had a dejected expression on her face and nodded slightly, obviously very disappointed.

Because after her parents died and her family fell into poverty, Yuan Zai, her "benefactor", did not let her stop taking the spices that stimulated her body odor.

If she doesn't take the spices, her body odor will gradually fade and eventually become no different from that of ordinary people.

In other words, from beginning to end, Xue Yaoying was a tool for seeking "advancement" in the eyes of both her mother and Yuan Zai.

Since it is an artifact, whether the artifact itself is "healthy or not" is completely unimportant.

As for women, it is enough for them to charm men. Why do they need to live long? This logic is actually very self-consistent and smooth.

To sum it up in simple words: struggle requires sacrifice. How can you make progress without paying a price?
After a while, Li Sheng also arrived. He had dark circles under his eyes, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was yawning, and it was obvious that he had been pulled out of bed.

"The emperor summoned me late at night, but I don't know why."

Li Sheng saluted Fang Zhongyong and asked, glanced at Xue Yaoying who was sitting on the bed, and then quickly looked away.

"Take your trusted followers and this Lady Xue with you to Dengzhou. Tell Che Guangqian that this young lady was given to him as a concubine by the commander.

As for what Che Guangqian's military order is, I will write a letter and explain it clearly.

Next, he will lead his troops on an expedition, and you will take over the defense of Dengzhou.

Che Guangqian will not return to Dengzhou after the war.

Now I appoint you as the Defense Commissioner of Dengzhou!"

Fang Zhongyong said as he sat down at the desk. Rosa handed him a pen and paper, and he immediately started writing.

Li Sheng looked at Xue Yaoying who was sitting on the bed, and then looked at Rosa who was serving Fang Zhongyong. He seemed to understand something and couldn't help but sigh in his heart:

It’s not that Marshal Fang doesn’t need women, he’s just not the kind of pervert who can’t walk when he sees a beautiful woman, and he doesn’t judge people by appearance.

There are some bad rumors in Bianzhou now.

They said that Fang Qing did not have a harem of three thousand concubines, did not ride a horse around the streets searching for beauties, and even sternly refused the gifts of daughters from local wealthy families.

He must be suspected of being a homosexual, or he is just in poor health and can no longer play in bed.

Li Sheng was secretly worried about this.

Needless to say, this must be Li Lin and his gang who are secretly spreading rumors. Those people are only capable of this.

Anyway, since it concerns a man's lower body, you can find fault with it no matter what.

Those who like beautiful women are called sex-hungry ghosts.

Anyone who doesn't like beautiful women is a homosexual.

Those who hang out with beautiful women all day long are just reveling every night and neglecting their official duties.

If you don't like to hang out with beautiful women all day, then you are old and can only envy them.

In short, people with malicious intent will always find excuses to attack you.

“General, Madam Wang doesn’t really care about such things, unless there is a woman of noble status who would take the spotlight.

It is not a bad idea for you to take this Madam Xue into your room."

Seeing that Fang Zhongyong had finished writing, Li Sheng came over and whispered.

He believed that a woman's temperament was determined by her personality. Xue Yaoying had practiced dancing for a long time and looked like a dancer.

With something like this happening, do we still need to worry about Wang Yunxiu getting jealous?
nonexistent.

Wang Yunxiu only gets jealous of women, not goods. In this day and age, dancers are equivalent to goods, which is written in the law.

"This time Che Guangqian is going to send troops to Hangzhou as bait to attract the enemy troops to attack. Rewarding him for his merits is a matter after the war, but there is nothing wrong with giving him a beauty as a reward before the war to encourage him.

If he wins this battle, I will make him the governor of Huainan. So he will not object to you taking over Dengzhou.

Of course, if he is unwilling to set off, then you can lead the troops to Hangzhou for him.

After the war, I will also appoint you as the governor of Huainan!"

Fang Zhongyong laughed loudly. How could Che Guangqian let me take the credit for this?

Li Sheng secretly complained in his heart. Fang Zhongyong's words were just polite words.

The Jiedushi of Huainan, with his capital in Yangzhou, was a top-notch lucrative position.

If Che Guangqian really got the main credit for crossing the river to suppress the bandits, then he obviously deserved the title of Jiedushi of Huainan.

So what about the current Huainan Jiedushi Li Qi?
A question suddenly popped up in Li Sheng's mind.

He changed his mind and felt relieved.

Li Qi couldn't do anything about the Jiangdong uprising. Even if he was allowed to rule Yangzhou, he would be too worried to survive!

Anyone with a reasonable mind should understand that an innocent man is guilty of possessing a treasure.

If Li Qi doesn't understand, Fang Chongyong will make him understand in the future.

Li Sheng put Fang Zhongyong's handwritten letter into an envelope and sealed it with wax. He clasped his fists and said goodbye, "I will go to Dengzhou now."

"Well, last time you took Madam Su back to Bianzhou from Chang'an, it went very smoothly. This time, just send Madam Xue to Dengzhou. There won't be any fighting there for the time being, so you should hurry up and organize your troops.

Madam Wang has already arranged a marriage for you..."

Fang Chongyong was halfway through his words when he quickly swallowed back the last sentence, "We'll get married when you return to Bianzhou."

"Then prepare this."

Li Sheng pretended not to understand Fang Zhongyong's hint, made a "please" gesture to Xue Yaoying, and took her out of the Bianzhou government office, disappearing into the night.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen the master reward his confidants with beauties? If you make more contributions in the future, you will definitely be included!"

Seeing Da Congming staring at Xue Yaoying's back in a daze, Fang Zhongyong patted him on the shoulder and scolded him a few words.

"Sir, you are so generous that it undermines the dignity of the master.

I have only heard of masters robbing the girls from their servants' families, but I have never heard of masters giving beautiful girls to their servants as rewards.

It’s like…”

Da Congming was about to talk about Brother Ji, but suddenly he remembered that Brother Ji died tragically, so he simply kept silent.

"You know nothing, why don't you back off!
If the master always plunders his subordinates' women for his own enjoyment, is he still the master?
You're reading too much and your butt is hurting you!"

Fang Zhongyong kicked Dacongming angrily, signaling him to get out!
Da Congming knew that he had said the wrong thing, so he quickly apologized and ran away.

After he left, Fang Zhongyong asked Luo Sha, "Do you also think that we shouldn't send Xue Yaoying to Dengzhou?"

“Ah Lang has a deeper meaning, but outsiders just don’t understand.

Everyone thinks that if I am strong, I can rob you. Otherwise, how can I prove that I am strong?
Similarly, Yuan Zai was weak, so he had to offer Xue to advance. If A Lang was not strong, why would he offer Xue to him?
The wise man's words may be inappropriate, but that is human nature."

Rosa spoke slowly, her tone still as gentle as her usual one.

“No, the custom of sending girls away should not be allowed to continue.

Today I accept Yuan Zai's woman, tomorrow Zheng Shuqing sends her daughter, I can't refuse. Otherwise, I either look down on Zheng's beauty or look down on Zheng Shuqing himself.

Similarly, the one who started it all will have no descendants. Taking Xue into his room this time, there will surely be many more opportunists like Yuan Zai in the future.

By then, everyone will send girls to Fang, and I don’t run a brothel here!"

Fang Zhongyong said unhappily.

Suddenly, he remembered that the woman in front of him, whose original name was Da Zhenhui, whom he renamed "Rosa", was also given to her by someone else.

There was a moment of silence.

"Ah Lang, I am no longer an insect."

Rosa winked and smiled at Fang Zhongyong.

……

After receiving the news of the chaos in Jiangdong, Fang Chongyong began to mobilize troops the next day. He himself set out immediately and marched south to Shouchun with the elite troops of Xuanwu Town.

However, the transmission of news is delayed. The situation south of the Yangtze River developed much faster than Fang Zhongyong expected!

On the day that Cen Shen arrived in Kaifeng County, Fang Qing, a local tyrant in Shezhou and also the leader of the "righteous army", went north from Qimen County in Shezhou to Xuanzhou and conquered many counties in the west of Xuanzhou, such as Shidai County and Qingyang County, and only stopped when he reached Qiupu on the Yangtze River.

Fang Qing claimed to have 100,000 elite troops, and they conquered cities everywhere.

The imperial army's lieutenant generals Lü Taiyi and Wu Riqi led their troops eastward to Hangzhou, where they held their ground and waited for help. They sent envoys to Yangzhou, hoping that Prince Sheng Li Qi could lead troops south to rescue them.

In addition, Yuan Chao, who started his army in Taizhou, successively conquered Quzhou, Yuezhou, Mingzhou and other places. He had an army of 100,000 and claimed to have 500,000 soldiers to the outside world!

Wherever the "righteous army" went, local people participated enthusiastically, and it seemed that they were sweeping across the south of the Yangtze River!
Lai Zhen was ordered to lead 10,000 troops to cross the Yangtze River and go south to quell the rebellion. But when he arrived in Changzhou and Wuxi, he ordered them to stop and not to advance rashly, choosing to wait and see while strengthening the defense of Wuxi.

This is also a last resort.

The enemy army was developing at a very fast speed, and Lai Zhen felt that he did not have enough troops, so he did not dare to advance alone. If his army was destroyed, not only would Jiangnan belong to Yuan Chao, but even Yangzhou would probably be lost.

Wuxi and Suzhou are both on the shores of Lake Tai. Lai Zhen's choice of a defensive position was actually very clever, as he could control many cities along the shores of Lake Tai through Lake Tai.

As for Hangzhou, it is too far away. If we rush in, we may be directly besieged by the rebels.

When the battle report from the front was sent to Tangzi City in Yangzhou, Prince Sheng Li Qi was completely paralyzed.

The battle of wits and courage with the imperial court in Bianzhou had already exhausted him physically and mentally. Now the rebels in the south were pressing forward again, and the rebel Fang Qing's troops had already reached the south bank of the Yangtze River!
This is how to do?
You know, Yangzhou City is in the north of the Yangtze River! It's right next to the Yangtze River!

The progress of the bandit army was far beyond Li Qi's imagination. If the war situation in Jiangnan collapsed, the bandit army would directly attack Dantu on the other side of Yangzhou!
If the situation is allowed to develop in this way, within a month, Li Qi's head will be hung on the wall of Yangzhou city by the rebels.

"What should we do? What should we do? When will Marshal Fang's troops arrive in Yangzhou? Has he set out yet?"

Early that morning, in the bond-signing room on the city wall, Prince Sheng Li Qi had a terrified look on his face and pulled Gao Shi's sleeve to ask.

He had just received news from his scouts that Hangzhou had been besieged from two sides. Yuan Chao's vanguard had even bypassed Hangzhou and headed north to attack Jiaxing.

Lai Zhen sent someone to deliver a message saying: If things don't go well, it's better to retreat to Yangzhou. Yuan Chao's troops are arrogant and aggressive, so we can't confront them head-on.

This really made Li Qi at a loss as to what to do.

"Don't panic, Your Highness. Yuan Chao's troops have not yet fought any tough battles. Previously, it was only because the military preparations in Jiangnan were lax and leaderless that the enemy army took the initiative."

Gao Shi patiently comforted Li Qi.

In fact, the current situation in Jiangnan is far more dangerous than he said. But as an aide, what else can Gao Shi say?

When encountering such a big event, the most important thing is not to panic. If Li Qi doesn't act recklessly, then everything will be fine.

"Hurry, hurry, write another letter and ask Marshal Fang to come to Yangzhou to rescue us as soon as possible.

I don’t want to stay here anymore, I want to go to Bianzhou!

Whoever wants to be the governor of Huainan can do so!"

Li Qi covered his head and walked around the signing room like a frightened field mouse.

Gao Shi was about to say something, but paused and didn't speak.

Li Qi was too weak-willed. He had neither the intention to establish his own regime nor the courage to do so, and he was even less able to withstand the pressure.

Even before the big wind and waves hit him, Li Qi was already panicking. For a person like this, maybe being a rich man... might be better for him.

"Well, I will write a letter to ask for help."

Gao Shi nodded calmly and said.

"Marshal Fang must come in person! I don't trust anyone else!"

Li Qi pulled Gao Shi's sleeve hysterically, his eyes almost popping out.

(End of this chapter)