Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 342 Unexpected natural disaster
Dengzhou Port.

Liu Rengui watched the ships leaving the port filled with food.

Bao Nan, the governor of Dengzhou, said: "This time the fleet has arrived at Xiongjin Port. Brother Liu, you and I can rest assured that the affairs in our hands have come to an end. Today, I invite a few friends to gather together and talk about the world. How about it?" ?”

When Liu Rengui saw the huge cargo ship leaving the port, he looked at Bao Nan who looked expectant and said, "Liu also wants to meet a famous person from Dengzhou. Can Brother Bao please introduce me to him?"

Liu Rengui is in pain and happiness now.

Chen Qingsi's song "Farewell Liu Da", the line "Don't worry about the road ahead without friends, no one in the world does not know you" elevated Liu Rengui to a certain level.

As this famous sentence that can be passed down through the ages spreads widely, the name Liu Rengui is also known to the world.

If Liu Rengui is not worthy of this sentence, the world will only regard it as flattery among literati, but Liu Rengui is worthy of this sentence, whether it was during the Li Shimin period, when he killed the captain Lu Ning with a stick, or when he was not afraid of the first The power of his favorite minister Li Yifu and his open opposition to him are all good things to talk about.

In addition, Liu Rengui was a talented man in both civil and military affairs, and he was indeed a first-rate figure at that time. His sudden fame made him the center of attention wherever he went, and people would visit him. This was especially true after he was promoted to governor of Qingzhou.

Qingzhou is located on the land of Qilu. This land of Qilu has many scholars and is known as the land of etiquette and the hometown of Confucius and Mencius.

Liu Rengui took office in Qingzhou, and many scholars from the surrounding area came here because of his reputation.

Liu Rengui's own talents were enough to satisfy these scholars, so when he first arrived in Qingzhou, he met a large number of famous scholars.

The vast majority of people in this era are illiterate. If they want to do something big, the more wealthy people they get to know, the smoother things will be handled.

Liu Rengui's biggest problem was his background. Now he has gained fame and met many celebrities. He is able to work smoothly in Qingzhou and has received first-class evaluations.

Again, Liu Rengui was appointed as the shipping ambassador, responsible for the task of serving as a logistics granary.

The logistical supplies for this 100,000-strong army are still transported by sea, and there are hundreds of things that need to be calculated.

But Liu Rengui had someone on his staff, and he had met many scholars and close friends. With their help, he put everything in order...

The only trouble is that scholars are too enthusiastic and need to face a lot of unnecessary entertainment.

Bao Nan has invited many times. He had always declined on the grounds of official duties. Now that the two teams of boats have left the port, there is no reason to refuse.

Literary people are nice, but if they don't give any face to me, it's really offending.

Liu Rengui followed Bao Nan to a banquet specially held for him.

Liu Rengui is now extremely well-known, has taken over the logistical responsibilities, and has a bright future.

In particular, Chen Qingsi is now at the peak of his power, and Liu Rengui is his best friend and confidant, so he is bound to have people who flatter him.

The Tang Dynasty style promoted by Chen Qingsi was hindered in the capital because of the palace style poetry, but it was the most popular in Qilu.

This palace style, in the final analysis, is court literature. Qilu still has a certain Wei and Jin style, and looks down on pretentious court literature. On the contrary, the Tang Dynasty style is an innovation based on the Wei and Jin style, and it is easy to get the support of the scholars here. .

Naturally, the discussion of Tang Dynasty style was inevitable at the banquet.

Liu Rengui also knew that his official career was smooth sailing, mostly due to Chen Qingsi's blessing. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart: when he entered Beijing, he still needed their protection, but now he has turned his back on guest and became the leader of the Qingliu Party, and he can benefit himself in this way.

How can we repay such a great favor? "Brother Liu..." Seeing that Liu Rengui was a little distracted, Shi Baonan enthusiastically introduced: "Brother Liu can try a delicacy later, the black pig from Zhouhu. There is an island in Zhouhu that is rich in wild oranges. Black pigs feed on wild oranges, and their meat is the most juicy and not smelly at all. This thing is particularly rare, and you only have the opportunity to eat it every three to five years. Brother Liu happened to meet him, and it happened that Zhou Hu had a ship coming from far away this year, so he specially gave it to This treat…”

Zhou Hu?

Liu Rengui was an erudite man. He had read about "Zhouhu" in books and knew that it was located in the southwest of Haidong Peninsula and the northwest of Japan. It was also called Dongyingzhou. There are historical records from the Three Kingdoms period: "Their people are short and short, and their speech is different from that of Han. They all have bonnets like Xianbei, but their clothes are Wei, and they are good at raising cattle and pigs. Their clothes have tops but no bottoms, and they are slightly like naked people. They travel by boat. , buy South Korea and China in the market”

"But the Zhou Hu in "Three Kingdoms·Book of Wei·Biography of Wuwan Xianbei Dongyi"?"

"High!" Shi Baonan exclaimed: "Brother Liu is a learned man, and he is the Hu of this state. This place was originally backward, and the ground grew grains. They didn't know how to use oxen for plowing, and they used iron teeth to loach the soil. A few decades ago, a group of people appeared on the island. Outsiders teach them how to farm and work. Sometimes they come by ship for three years, sometimes for five years, bringing with them some local specialties. Except for black pigs and oranges, they are all common things."

Liu Rengui said with a smile: "Then I have to try it."

Shi Baonan is very enthusiastic, and Chen Qingsi is now Li Zhi's favorite. His term in Dengzhou has expired, but he has never been promoted, not even promoted. He desperately hoped that someone would say a few kind words for him in the temple.

Today, he specially invited all the wealthy gentry and Confucian scholars in Dengzhou to come, and the momentum was huge, so he had this intention.

How could Liu Rengui fail to see that he responded enthusiastically to everyone's flattery and gave Shi Baonan face, but he did not agree to what he asked for. However, he did not refuse and said: "Brother Bao helped with the transportation of grain and grass." I have a lot, and Brother Bao has a lot in my credit book."

Shi Baonan was overjoyed. Although he failed to get Chen Qingsi's recommendation, it was not a loss if he could get Liu Rengui's words.

It's all worth it.

Liu Rengui handles the interpersonal problems he faces with ease.

then……

On the third day of the banquet, a piece of news came.

The grain transport fleet encountered strong winds at sea. Five large cargo ships were out of control, collided with each other, and capsized in the East China Sea.

The news reached Chang'an as quickly as possible.

After receiving the news, Li Jingxuan immediately wrote a letter demanding severe punishment for Liu Rengui.

"Grain and grass are a major matter in the country, and Governor Liu shoulders the heavy responsibility of escorting them, but five grain ships capsized and tens of thousands of grains were buried on the sea. Countless people's hard work was destroyed in one day. If this person is not punished severely, how can he explain to the people? ?”

Chen Qingsi did not immediately defend Liu Rengui, but just looked at Yuan Zhixin.

Yuan Zhixin was originally Liu Rengui's confidant. At this moment, he received the instruction and defended his old boss, "The sea storm broke out and the heavy rain came suddenly. This is a natural disaster that cannot be predicted by human beings. It is really wrong to blame Liu Rengui." Thin."

Li Zhi did not punish him severely, but ordered Liu Rengui to be removed from office.

This dismissal was a common punishment method in the Tang Dynasty. It looked very heavy, but in fact it was just lifted high and put down gently.

It's just that you have given up your official position and given an explanation, you can use it again anytime and anywhere, and you will not be demoted.

only……

Chen Qingsi frowned. If Liu Rengui is dismissed from his post at this time, who will take the lead in Baekje?

(End of this chapter)