Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 273 Differences in Concepts

Chen Qingsi has different opinions on this. Of course, it is not wrong to put people first.

Everyone wants to let the people of the world live a good life, even the high-ranking officials and nobles who have nothing to do with their bodies. Only when the world is peaceful can they live a comfortable life.

It's just that the world is not peaceful.

The Tang Dynasty is not the only country in this world.

The collision between civilization and barbarism is an inevitable law.

Once barbarism defeats civilization, the fate of civilization cannot be described in words.

Not to mention the carnage caused by the Jin Dynasty's destruction of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty's destruction of the Southern Song Dynasty, and the Qing Dynasty's destruction of the Ming Dynasty, these were all disasters a hundred years ago when barbarians were rampant during the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties.

Working behind closed doors and remaining stubborn will only lead to others surpassing you.

However, Chen Qingsi did not say anything. In this era, we need both war-fighting factions and anti-war factions.

If the whole dynasty is full of warring factions and they think of using force to solve problems whenever they encounter problems, that will not work.

The danger of forgetting to fight is very terrible, but being warlike is also risky.

It is a good thing for the country that there are some anti-war voices, and they are pulling the strings in the temple to prevent the main war faction from taking over, and to provide certain restraints.

Chen Qingsi had a high level of political awareness, so he did not speak.

But Li Jingxuan suddenly asked: "Mr. Chen, what do you think of this?"

Li Jingxuan's question also made Zhang Wenguan show an interested look.

Zhang Wenguan admired Chen Qingsi very much, not only because Sanshou surrendered to the city and saved hundreds of millions of money for the court, but also because of his "Two Poems of Compassion for the Farmers" and what he did in Qingxi County and Tonglu County.

Zhang Wenguan is now performing the duties of prime minister, and is only half a step away from ascending to the position of prime minister.

If Chen Qingsi shares the same goals with him, he looks forward to working with him, and the two of them will work together to seek benefits for all people.

This is also the reason why Li Jingxuan specifically asked Chen Qingsi.

Li Jingxuan worked with Zhang Wenguan for only half a year, but he was inspired by his moral integrity and caring for the people, and he was willing to follow him and work together to contribute to the world's common people.

Li Jingxuan knew Zhang Wenguan's thoughts and specifically brought it up to test his opinion in order to determine whether he was a fellow traveler.

Chen Qingsi thought for a while and said, "I have a different view."

Zhang Wenguan, Li Jingxuan and even Li Hong all set their sights on Chen Qingsi.

Zhang Wenguan listened attentively.

There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Li Jingxuan's eyes, and he did not speak, but listened patiently.

Chen Qingsi said: "The horse-raising land will be converted into civilian farmland. This move can indeed alleviate the food crisis in Guanzhong. But I don't know if Zhang Zhanshi and Li Zhanshicheng have thought about it. The soldiers of the world are led by Guanzhong. Whenever there is a war, the soldiers of Guanzhong will We are the first to bear the brunt. If there is not enough supply of war horses in Guanzhong, and the soldiers have insufficient riding training, they will suffer a defeat on the battlefield. How much will be lost? How should this be calculated? "

The Zhechong military mansions of the Tang Dynasty were concentrated in Guanzhong, accounting for more than one-third of the total, followed by Hedong and Henan...

The Tang army's invincibility was closely related to the deployment of soldiers.

When the Tang army fought, both cavalry and infantry were supplied with horses, and some had more than one.

For example, the elite heavy armored infantry and heavy armored cavalry are the core strong soldiers. Each of them goes into battle with at least two horses, one for riding and one for carrying armor.

As shown on TV, when generals march in armor, it's all nonsense.

Ancient warriors were big-shouldered and round-waisted, weighing two to three hundred kilograms, plus dozens of kilograms of armor, ten kilograms, or even dozens of kilograms of weapons. No matter how durable a war horse was, it couldn't bear the burden of carrying four to five hundred kilograms of stuff all the way. , and can also engage in battle.

Compared with cattle and donkeys, horses have the weakest vitality. It can't stand being overloaded for a long time. The cow and donkey are tired and paralyzed, and they can recover after taking a rest. Once a horse becomes paralyzed from exhaustion, it is almost as if half of its life has been lost.

In the Tang Army's battles, the greatest consumption was not men, but horses. For the sake of people's livelihood, some unnecessary horse-raising land can indeed be converted into fields, but the horse-raising land in Guanzhong and Weinan must not be converted.

This is the core of Datang...

Li Longji has done such stupid things in history. Due to the collapse of the government's military system, he delegated power to the outside world, which made the frontier army brave and good at fighting. However, the central army was like a sheep, strong on the outside and weak on the inside, which gave An Lushan the opportunity to rebel. .

To put it bluntly, the Anshi Rebellion was just the Northeastern frontier army of the Tang Dynasty fighting against the Northern and Northwest frontier armies...

How can the Central Army be of great use?

If it were a year ago, Chen Qingsi would probably not have said this to Zhang Wenguan and Li Jingxuan. After all, there was no need to offend more people...

Things are different now. Chen Qingsi has established a firm foothold in Chang'an. He is not afraid of offending people and can reveal his true political opinions to anyone.

Zhang Wenguan frowned.

Li Jingxuan's face became even more gloomy.

Zhang Wenguan advocated a cessation of war to support the people. Historically, during the years when he was in power, he suppressed the murderous spirit in the temple, so much so that when Su Dingfang died of illness, no one dared to report it.

Who is Su Dingfang? In his life, he conquered the Western Turks, leveled Congling, defeated Tubo, Yibaiji, and conquered Goryeo. He destroyed three kingdoms before and after, and captured their masters alive...

When it comes to achievements in foreign wars, even in the whole of China, no similar figure can be found.

As a result, Su Dingfang died of illness in the border area, and no one in the civil and military dynasties dared to tell Li Zhi.

In the end, Li Zhi couldn't help but feel sad when he got the news: "Su Dingfang has made great contributions to the country, and he has received praises and gifts, but the ministers did not say anything, so he was mourned and honored. Why?"

Of course, it is undeniable that during the years when Zhang Wenguan was in power, people all over the world had the opportunity to recuperate and recuperate.

Chen Qingsi's words are completely opposite to Zhang Wenguan's political philosophy.

Zhang Wenguan did not expect that Chen Qingsi, who loves the people and values ​​people's livelihood, would actually want to take the lead in the war. He couldn't help but said: "Mr. Chen, you don't hear the words that war will lead to danger? Since your Majesty took the throne, your army has conquered the east and west, costing trillions, which has led to the decline of people's livelihood in many places." If he could recuperate early, why would he be like this? If Mr. Chen can write a poem like 'There is no idle land in the world, farmers are still starving to death', he should know more about what the war has brought."

Zhang Wenguan meant what he said.

Li Hong naturally couldn't understand.

Chen Qingsi knew that Zhang Wenguan was alluding to Chen Shuozhen's rebellion.

Chen Shuozhen's rebellion was attributed to the imperial court's conquests from all directions.

This is a fact.

Chen Qingsi had been the county magistrate in Qingxi County, and he knew best what kind of person Chen Shuo really was.

If the local people had a way to survive at that time, she would never rebel.

There is no doubt that Chen Shuo was really forced to rebel by the imperial court.

But can Li Zhi not fight?

No!

Chen Qingsi said: "How did Zhang Zhan think that all the barbarians in the Tang Dynasty have surrendered to us, paying tribute continuously, and the power of Zhenguan continues to this day? It is in these years that your majesty and the generals conquered the north and south and fought back little by little."

As a recognized "benevolent and Confucian" emperor, Li Zhi has just ascended the throne. Internally, he is checked and balanced by Changsun Wuji. If he is not tough externally, if he does not fight...

Foreigners from all over the world knew that Li Tang's new emperor was a puppet.

(End of this chapter)