Chapter 85

Wen Zisheng, a poet of the Northern Dynasties, wrote in "Liangzhou Songs": "I traveled to Wuwei County and looked at Guzang City in the distance. Cars and horses crisscrossed each other, and the sun was blowing and singing."

In the Tang Dynasty, Wuwei County was Liangzhou, and Guzang City was Liangzhou City, also known as Wuwei City.

This is a well-known international metropolis in Northwest China!

If Chang'an City is square and square, and the independent squares and cities are like a chess game; then Liangzhou City is like a phoenix with spread wings!At this time, Liangzhou City was long from north to south and short from east to west. The south city had Dongyuan City and Xiyuan City, which looked like a bird city with two wings at the head and tail.

Liangzhou City is not one city, but seven!

Regarding this, Cen Shen wrote a poem saying: "The crescent moon rises from the top of the city, and the moon rises from the top of the city to illuminate Liangzhou. There are [-] families in the seven cities of Liangzhou, and the barbarian half-plays the pipa."

The city of Liangzhou in this era was 11 li long and 3 li wide, with a central city and 1 sub-cities surrounding it, with a total population of hundreds of thousands!It is the most powerful city in the Northwest besides Chang'an!

This pattern was not formed in one or two years; its time span was even measured in hundreds of years.

After Liangzhou City became the capital city, five local regimes named "Liang" successively ruled Liangzhou. The upgrading of political development prompted the city to be further built. essential connotation.

In other words, the current layout of Liangzhou City is that of a capital without the name of a capital!
It perfectly interprets what low-key luxury has connotation.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, going to Liangzhou on business has always been a good job for central officials.Not to mention that the Emperor Shan Gao is far away from the barriers, there is also the solid Liangzhou City as a barrier, the mighty Chishui Army as a cover, the goods from the Western Regions are full, and there are also the irresistible Western Regions such as Hu Ji Hu Le wine. specialty".

But at this moment, Cui Xiyi, the governor of Hexi Jiedu, was frowning in the study of Jiedu Mansion.

Annoyed by some messy chores.

As an old bureaucrat, he knew very well that sometimes the government affairs of the imperial court were not very troublesome, because everyone was used to it.

For example, dealing with Tubo.

That's right, Tubo is not easy to deal with, but the problem is that after so many years, Datang Border Town has formed a mobile defense zone against Tubo in Hexi and Longyou, and has deployed nearly 15 warriors A good standing army!

This is not counting the use of the imperial court's "Autumn Defense Order", and tens of thousands of people can be conscripted from the local Sogdian and Hu-inhabited areas in Hexi.

If that's not enough, you can also borrow elite soldiers from Shuofang.

This is the power of the Tang Dynasty's "Autumn Defense Order". When 40 people came from Tubo, the Tang army could increase it to 40 until Tubo couldn't add more.

So this kind of troublesome things that seem to be huge, in fact, only need to be dealt with carefully according to the rules of the court, and it is not a big deal.

However, as a local official, what he fears most is that the Chang'an Center "parachute" some strange characters over.

These people have little ability, big temper, deep background, and a lot of shit.Wherever he goes, he will make a fool of himself.

But the local officials who are soft-spoken can't do anything to them!
Now, the imperial edict is in front of Cui Xiyi, making him dumbfounded.An eight or nine-year-old child, who made up a post in the state capital to join the army, came here for "business", and the sage himself said that he would "take good care of him", which is simply unreasonable!
The position of joining the army in the state capital is very special, because the state capital here is not the capital city of ordinary states and counties, but specifically refers to those "giant cities" that exceed the scale of ordinary capital cities!Only a system of this scale is worthy of the idle official position of joining the army in the state capital.

For example, Yangzhou Prefecture (Yangzhou City), Yizhou Prefecture (Chengdu), Luoyang Prefecture (Luoyang City)...and of course Liangzhou Prefecture (Wuwei City).

Although this official position is actually useless, in "theoretically" it can have a hand in everything.

Including impeachment of Jiedushi!
What makes Cui Xiyi even more embarrassed is that this person's father is Fang Youde, the Jiedu envoy of Youzhou who has become famous in recent years, and his future father-in-law, Wang Zhongsi, is the new envoy of the Chishui Army!

In order to protect his son-in-law, Wang Zhongsi actually sent a team of 50 elite Chishui soldiers, led by one of his fellow villagers, for personal gain. They took off their military uniforms and put on regular clothes. They did not participate in military affairs and just played with this yamen!
The purpose is just to protect him!

Cui Xiyi seemed to fly into his mouth when he yawned, feeling extremely sick, but there was nothing he could do.

This little kid has a lot of background!
In the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty, everything must be done based on relationships!Without a network of connections, you cannot exercise the corresponding power. This is a very real problem.

Not only that, even Niu Xianke, who he recommended to go to the center and had a good personal relationship with him, wrote back and said that after the "Fang Langjun" came to Hexi, he must take good care of him and not let him get sick by neglect. injured.

A lot of people are like this, what else can he, the Hexi Jiedu envoy, do?
But now, Cui Xiyi just wanted to take care of that "Fang Langjun", but he couldn't find anyone for him!
Since leaving the customs, the post stations in various places have no customs clearance records of that person.

In other words, either Fang Langjun had an accident on the road and did not pass through the station farther west at all, or... he got into the entourage of other officials and did not need to take out the customs clearance documents at all!
Judging from the current situation, the latter is more likely!
In the Tang Dynasty, slaves were equal to goods. As long as they were not the kind of "magnificent-looking" slaves, the postmen at the post station would not interfere at all. It didn't matter if there were more or less followers, as long as they did not exceed the corresponding grade of the official.

"Come on!"

Cui Xiyi shouted towards the door.

"Jieshuai, please give me instructions."

A clerk came in and bowed with his hands crossed.

"Go to all the villages and lis in Hexi, and post the bulletins to see who has seen that Mr. Fang Lang."

Cui Xiyi said while kneading her temple in pain.

"Jie Shuai, the list of posts is fine, but the hope of finding him is very slim. We don't know what that person looks like. We only know that there are four people in total, two adults and two children. How can we find him so easily?"

"If you have no choice, why don't you think of a way?"

Cui Xiyi cursed impatiently.

Normally, he has a gentle personality, but recent annoying things have made him really irritable and want to hit someone.

First, he made an agreement with the Tibetan general Kilixu that the two countries would not defend each other on the Hexi border, and the other party agreed.As a result, when his lieutenant went to report his duties to the court, he suggested that Tang Ting betray his promise and conduct a sneak attack!
Fortunately, Li Longji agreed to this move.In desperation, he had no choice but to order the Chishui army to go south to attack the Tubo people, beating Kilixu to escape alone.But Tubo is not Turkic, and their speed of returning blood is far faster than that of nomads like Turkic.In less than half a year, Tubo recovered and began to frequently attack the Hexi Corridor through the tunnels of Qilian Mountain!
It made Cui Xiyi exhausted to deal with it.

Now there is an extra "Fang Ya Nei" to serve, Cui Xiyi only begs this one not to cause trouble, and not to cause trouble, otherwise, it will be very difficult to smooth things over later.

……

Huizhou (the state government is near Jingyuan, Gansu Province) is the last stop in the east of Liangzhou. Just in case, for example, the situation in Hexi collapsed and was hopeless, Tang Ting set up the Wulan Ferry on the Yellow River not far west of Huizhou. .

On the west bank of the Yellow River near Liangzhou, Wulan Pass was built, while on the east bank of the Yellow River, Huining Pass was built.The two passes face each other and guard the two banks, with the winding and magnificent Yellow River in the middle.

At this moment, Fang Chongyong and his party, following the team of "Dugu Judge" Dugu Jun, made their way out of Wulan Pass.From the next step to Liangzhou City, there is no longer any inn that can provide accommodation. It can be said that this is the most difficult journey.

Of course, although there are no imperial inns, there are still many private "shops". They just need to pay for them at their own expense, and the services are not that attentive.

These shops are famous for being as big as ordinary inns, and some are even larger.But the small one only has a courtyard, which can only provide drinking water and simple food.

At the beginning, Fang Chongyong invited Dugu Jun and Gao Shi to drink and make friends, with the attitude of giving it a try.Unexpectedly, the atmosphere of Datang is open, and no one would refuse such an invitation, let alone Fang Chongyong's backing is so strong.

Dugu Jun didn't talk much, he didn't say a few words from the beginning to the end, but after Gao Shi heard that Fang Chongyong and his party were going to Hexi, he enthusiastically introduced them to the customs of Liangzhou.

Probably because he spoke so nicely, Fang Chongyong slapped his forehead, and immediately wrote a recommendation letter to Gao Shi, and then said: "Youzhou Fang Jie is eager for talent, and he may not listen to what others say. I, the only son in my family, have more or less words." It's a bit important. You can take this letter and go to Youzhou Jiedu Mansion to get a part-time job or something."

Gao Shi was overjoyed and thanked him quickly, but Dugujun watched with cold eyes and did not express any opinions.

After Gao Shi left, Fang Chongyong proposed that after leaving Guanzhong, the four of them would accompany Dugu Jun as slaves, and Dugu Jun readily agreed to this request.

"The west wind is strong, and the geese in the sky are called Shuang Chenyue.

In the frosty morning moon, the sound of horseshoes breaking, and the sound of horns swallowing.

Xiongguan Mandao is really like iron, and now it has started from scratch.

From the beginning, the Cangshan Mountain is like the sea, and the setting sun is like blood. "

Fang Chongyong looked back at Wulan Pass under the setting sun and recited a poem with emotion.

"Okay! My virtuous brother has a brilliant literary talent, he is worthy of being the son of Shuai Fang Jie!"

Dugu Jun's applause came from behind him.Although this "Dugu judge" was not enthusiastic about Fang Chongyong in Mawei post, but along the way, the two have become so close that they call each other brothers.Fang Chongyong is young, mature and wise, making Dugu Jun feel ashamed.

"Your brother hides in my team, is it because he is afraid of being plotted against?"

Dugujun asked with a strange look on his face.He found it strange that Fang Chongyong's father was the military envoy of Youzhou Jiedu, and his father-in-law was the military envoy of the Chishui Army. Generally, people who served as military envoys of the Chishui Army would soon take over as the military envoy of Hexi Province according to unspoken rules.

According to the most conservative estimate, Fang Zhongyong also stood behind Fang Zhongyong and a half Jiedu envoy!It's scary to think about it!
This kind of person is very low-key if he doesn't walk sideways, but the one in front of him is so cowardly that he wants to hide in other people's ranks and pretend to be a slave.

"Brother Dugu doesn't know something. He is away from home, the rivers and lakes are dangerous, so be careful when sailing for ten thousand years. The person wearing the clothes of a horse bandit may not be a real horse bandit."

Fang Chongyong sighed with emotion.

Dugu Jun nodded slightly, this is the truth.If Fang Chongyong is killed with open fire, then naturally the world is so big that he can't go anywhere, and Li Longji can't keep this person.But can it be killed secretly?
A crime that is not discovered can only be called an accident, right?
On such a long road from Chang'an to Hexi, there must be many people who died in vain with their bones buried underground.

"My virtuous brother is prepared for danger in times of peace, which is admirable, but..."

Dugu Jun hesitated to speak.

He had wanted to ask this question for a long time, but the two of them were chatting happily along the way, so they didn't care about it.

"Brother Dugu, you may as well speak up if you have something to say."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said.

"Gao Shi is a person who is a follower of power. Although he has been courting me all the way, I dare not recommend him casually to the superior.

Although the wise brother can recommend him to serve in Youzhou Jiedu Mansion, if he commits adultery in the future, Fang Jieshuai will also be jointly and severally liable. "

Dugu Jun didn't continue talking, he believed that with Fang Chongyong's intelligence, he absolutely understood what he was talking about.

Gao Shi, you've only known each other for a day, and it's our first meeting.

The taboo of dealing with the world is nothing more than exchanging shallow words and deep words.You didn't even understand who Gao Shi was, how could you put your father to death like this?

"Don't worry, my father's eyes are like lightning, and monsters and monsters will behave in front of him."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand indifferently and said, not taking Dugujun's words seriously.

Seeing his attitude, Dugu Jun stomped anxiously and said:
"Let me put it this way, besides Gao Shi, the person who wrote my farewell poem was also the famous Li Bai.

But so what, do you think they really want to be my friend?They just thought that I could introduce them to the superiors.If I didn't have an official position, or if I was not a judge but just joined the army for a while, see if they would talk to me.

Even if these are not mentioned, will writing good poems lead to doing things?

That's not necessarily the case!

Those of us officials in the Jiedu Mansion must be able to handle government affairs.Otherwise, he would harm himself and the superior who admired and recommended him. "

The judge is a post organized by the imperial court, and it cannot be recruited by the Jiedushi.Jiedushi only has the right to suggest, not to make decisions.

Therefore, Dugu Jun became this official, which shows that there are people behind him who support him.

It could be seen that Dugu Jun didn't think highly of Gao Shi, even though the latter licked him very hard.It is also very possible that Dugu Jun also despises Li Bai.

Perhaps he recognized the poetic talent of these people, but writing poetry and being an official were two different things after all!
Tang poetry has left a bright memory in the history books, but this does not erase the fact that many poets often had to grovel to please and cater to the powerful.

Even some officials with a slightly higher status than them.

The irony is that many famous articles in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty were produced by kneeling and licking.

The reason why Dugujun thinks highly of Fang Chongyong, besides his personality, is: this kid dared to come to Hexi for training at the age of nine, and he could also get a half-time job and the status of a helper. Then ten years later, twenty years later, he will be What kind of status?
Not to mention his background and background.

Where in the world is there love for no reason!Fang Chongyong was in Dugu Jun's team not to hide his whereabouts, but where did he go simply?
The two chatted while sitting in the carriage, and the time passed quickly, and it was night in no time.

"This line was originally maintained by the Xinquan Army, but it has been downgraded to a guard in the third year of Kaiyuan, and now even the garrison has been moved to Ulan Pass. If it weren't for this, we wouldn't have to sleep in the wild along the way."

Dugujun couldn't help but complain.

In the past, the Tang Dynasty set up an army between Liangzhou and Wulanguan to maintain the safety of the passage. By the way, it also provided some convenience for passing merchants and officials to supplement military expenses.

But later the ecological environment of the station deteriorated, resulting in the administrative downgrade to Shoutuo.And because Wulanguan is far superior to the original station of the Xinquan Army in terms of geographical location and natural conditions, this caused the Xinquan Army to almost change its name to the Ulan Army. The Xinquan Army's station was relocated and became an out-and-out "fortress army."

Anyway, there is a relatively short but real flaw in the Silk Road between the Hexi Corridor and Chang'an.

For Fang Chongyong and others, after all, it is still the same sentence: be careful in sailing the ship of ten thousand years.

Even if they are approaching Liangzhou City, it doesn't mean they can sit back and relax.

After Fang Chongyong arrived at the original station of the Xinquan Army, a group of people chose to camp and camp by a river where the water was very shallow and slow, and only when the water rose in spring and summer. , this is also a last resort.

Slightly away from the earth house abandoned by Xinquan Army.

They chose to leave Wulanguan at dusk, walk to the Xinquan Army station, and then rest and camp. They traveled all day the next day and arrived at Liangzhou City without going into the night.The location arrangement of the Xinquan Army's original garrison was so clever.

If you leave Ulan Pass early in the morning, by the time you have to camp at night, the team will be right within the range of activities of the Tubo people.

The lesser of two evils, there is nothing wrong with Dugu Jun's choice.

While everyone was chatting casually around the campfire, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance, galloping from the road, from far to near!
"Tang Jun will not patrol the post road at night, it must be a horse bandit! Hide quickly!"

Dugujun's expression changed drastically. He didn't expect to encounter such a thing just after leaving Wulan Pass.

There will be no Tibetans here, but the barbarians who pretend to be Tibetans and try to fish in troubled waters cannot be ruled out!Fortunately, he invited more than a dozen guards, if something happened, he could resist it for a while.

 First watch, let's swing our sculls.

  
 
(End of this chapter)

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