Late Tang

Youzhou, also known as Jicheng, from the Jin Dynasty to the Sui Dynasty, the governors of Youzhou used Ji as their governing place.In the 18th year of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty (730), Yuyang, Yutian, Sanhe and other three counties in the east of Youzhou were divided into Jizhou. It is called Youzhou City, and it is generally no longer called Ji.

The old Youzhou City is a fortress of a majestic city. The scale of Youzhou City is nine miles from north to south, seven miles from east to west, and ten gates.With a circumference of 32 miles, which is about 23 miles today (about 0.72 miles in every Tang Dynasty), it is a rectangular city slightly longer from north to south and slightly narrower from east to west.

It was changed to Zhuojun in the Sui Dynasty, and it was restored to Youzhou in the reign of Tang Wude. It was the rear base of the northern expedition to Goguryeo.During the Tianbao period, An Lushan proclaimed himself emperor here, and after the Anshi Rebellion subsided, it was restored to Youzhou, under the control of Lulong Jiedu envoy.For more than a hundred years since then, this place has been firmly controlling more than a dozen states under its jurisdiction, and has always been the base camp of one of the three northern vassals.

As an important military town and commercial center in the north, Youzhou City's status and role became more prominent in the Tang Dynasty.Whenever the national power is strong, Youzhou City must be used as a strategic base to expand the territory; when the national power is weak, it will become an important place for military defense; Economic and cultural exchanges between nomadic peoples.

The army of Zhendong Army entered Youzhou City, Li Jing sat astride his horse, Li Keju was a head behind, and followed closely next to Li Jing.On the one hand, he introduced Youzhou City to Li Jing with a smile on his face, as if he was a hospitable host.Li Jing's face was also full of spring breeze, but in fact it was just a fake smile without the slightest emotion in it.He knew very well in his heart that no matter how close he is to Li Keju on the surface, it is only because of interests. In fact, why does this kid hate him in his heart? After all, his father also died at the hands of Li Jing.

It was also when Li Jing accepted Li Keju as his nephew that he suddenly discovered that he had known Li Keju for a long time.This kid went to southern Liaoning as Li Maoxun's envoy last time and talked to him about a deal.At that time, the kid never said that he was the son of Li Maoxun. This fact made Li Jing a little more wary of this guy.This is a guy who can endure and has a sharp eye.If Li Maoxun is a wild wolf, this Li Keju is a poisonous snake.

"Youzhou has been an important town in the north since ancient times. Today, Youzhou City is not only a strong city, but also has a prosperous business. There are more than 30 industries in the city alone. There are many industries and the division of labor is very detailed. There are rice shops and white rice shops. , rice shop, japonica rice shop, butcher shop, meat shop, oil shop, five-cooked shop, fruit shop, pepper shop, charcoal shop, pig iron shop, grinding shop, cloth shop, silk shop, small silk shop, colored silk shop, Mian shop, Futou shop, Xinhuo shop, miscellaneous goods shop, boots shop, etc. In addition to self-produced silk products in Youzhou, there are also products from other places. The market also has hoes, shovels, plows, hammers, knives, hooks, etc. All kinds of metal tools and household utensils." Speaking of this, Li Keju smiled and said to Li Jing: "Here, the best sellers are the products from Dengzhou. Every store and business, as long as there are Dengzhou products for sale, The business must be booming, and there is no market for the price.”

Youzhou City is well planned, with squares and cities. "Fang" is also called Li, generally called "Li Fang", which is the basic division unit in the Tang Dynasty.The squares in Youzhou City are cross streets, which are divided into four districts, and each district is divided into four districts by crosses, that is, each square has 4 districts.The pattern of the square is in the shape of a square, with walls on all sides, each with a door, and there is an alley between the two opposite doors, which is in the shape of a cross.

The names of many squares in Youzhou City are also very famous, such as Gubinfang, Lulongfang, Sushenfang, Huayanfang, Liaoxifang, Tongmafang, Jibeifang, Yandufang, Jundufang, Zhaoshengli , Guirenli, Dongtongyuanli, Quanlifang, Shihe, Zunhuali, Pingshuofang, Kaitai Tongyuanfang, Xianzhongfang, Yongpingfang, Qilifang, Tongsifang, Jiningli, Bei Luofang and Tangyinfang.Waiting for the various workshops, some workshops, such as Gubinfang and Sushenfang, are inhabited by some Hu people.The people living in Kubinfang are the soldiers of the Kubin Kingdom in the Western Regions who once accompanied Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty to conquer the Liao Dynasty, and the people living in Sushenfang are the people of the Heishui Mohe tribe.

"My nephew also wants to follow what my uncle did in Dengzhou, and also wants to increase business transactions. However, there is very little output in Lulong Town, and I want to buy more goods from Dengzhou for sale in the future. I don't know if my uncle is willing to agree. ?”

"This is a good thing. Commodity circulation and trade are a win-win thing. It can not only increase the order output of our workshops in Dengzhou, but also allow workers and workshop owners to earn more money. Similarly, the sale of goods in Youzhou is rich It improves the lives of the people in Youzhou and promotes trade, and through transportation and sales, Youzhou can also collect a lot of taxes.” Regarding this proposal, Li Keju just didn’t mention it, and Li Jing would let him open these trade channels of.As a big town, Youzhou has more than a dozen states, and it is very close to Dengzhou, so it is the best place to sell goods.However, Youzhou Town used to have many checkpoints and heavy taxes were imposed on many foreign goods, so very few goods from Dengzhou were sold to Youzhou Town.This time, of course, Li Jing had to settle the matter and make Youzhou a big town selling Dengzhou goods.For the time being, soldiers and horses could not occupy Youzhou, so they took down Youzhou's business first.

That night, Li Keju had another excited banquet, and rewarded the soldiers of the Zhendong Army with wine and meat.Li Keju's two younger sisters also tied the knot with Li Jing's two nephews that night.Lively and lively until midnight.

Early the next morning, Li Keju asked Li Jing to discuss the matter.

At Lu Long's mansion, Li Jing and the generals came with two battalions of guards.As soon as the people arrived, Liu Xun and Wang Yanzhang immediately led the guard battalion to replace the guards in the Shuai Mansion and nearby.

Li Zhen, Lin Wu, Wang Zhong and other Zhendong army civil and military personnel entered the handsome hall first, and Li Keju and others inside had been waiting for a long time.

"Duke Zhendong is here!" Following Zhao Jiang's voice, he shouted loudly.

Suddenly there was a sound of horseshoes outside the festival hall, and then a golden sweat-blooded horse broke in beating its iron hooves.There was a burst of exclamation in the hall, the hall was very solemn, and they were not even allowed to carry weapons when discussing matters, but now someone came into the hall on horseback, their surprise can be imagined.

That five-foot-tall sweat-blooded horse was one foot taller than an ordinary war horse, almost as tall as a person.On the back of a shiny golden BMW, Li Jing is wearing a golden armor today, and his cloak is also a shiny gold-woven cloak.The sword at the waist was also replaced with a sword with a golden sheath and a golden wolf head, which was as dazzling as it could be.

Li Jing rode the BMW all the way to the top of the festival hall. The horse shook its head and sneezed. Li Keju, who was sitting there, had a flash of anger on his face, but then suppressed it.With a forced smile on his face, he stood up and said, "Uncle is in a good mood today, he is really like a unicorn and a horse like a dragon."

The sweaty BMW who had just been praised a few words was very unwilling to show face in front of all the civil and military people in the hall, and directly plopped a pile of horse shit on the hall.A smell blew past, and Li Maju's smile froze on his face.

Li Jing got off the horse and sat straight on Li Keju's original seat.

Li Keju was stunned for a moment, but in the end he didn't say anything, he beckoned someone to clean up the pile of horse shit, and then asked someone to move a chair to sit under Li Jing's left head with a calm face.

Li Keju invited Li Jing to come today, but it was actually very simple. He just wanted to return to him the cities of Huichang, Gu'an, Binhai, Changzhou, and Wozhou that Li Jing currently occupies.As for Li Jing staying in Youzhou City now, he didn't mention it.

"No problem." Li Jing said straightforwardly, "But for the time being, there are still many wounded soldiers of our army in those cities, and it is inconvenient to move for a while. Let them stay there for the time being. Anyway, it doesn't matter if there are more people. It won't affect When it comes to you, as for the city defense, let them guard it for you first."

This is the refusal that turned the corner. These cities are the back road for Li Jing to attack Youzhou all the way. Of course, Li Jing has to keep people guarding.If it is handed over to Li Keju, although Li Jing doesn't have to worry about what kind of tricks he dares to play, but Li Jing has always disliked giving the right of choice to the other party.

Li Keju hit a nail, his chest rose and fell a little too quickly, but he quickly suppressed it.Then he asked again: "Uncle is now taking over as the commander of the imperial court's recruiting camp in the east. Now that the Shatuo people have continuously defeated the imperial court soldiers and horses, I wonder when uncle plans to enter Datong?"

Li Jing and the Zhendong Army entered Youzhou City. Although the military discipline was good and Qiu did not commit any crimes, it would be difficult to live with an extra Supreme Emperor on his head.He wished that Li Jing could leave as soon as possible, the sooner he could leave, the better.

"The soldiers have to rest for a while." Li Jing replied very simply, which made Li Keju's heart twitch again.Li Jing glanced at Li Keju meaningfully, and said with a light smile: "Why, my nephew is already sure that he can deal with those people who covet your handsome position by himself? I heard that Liu Yue and Fan Xinglong have joined forces Many generals of the Lu Long Army have been gathered, and more than [-] troops have been gathered in Yanzhou, Guishun Prefecture, and Xianzhou to the northeast of Youzhou, and it seems that they are about to move."

Li Keju also knew the news a long time ago, but he thought that he had already recognized Li Jing as his uncle. With this relationship, Liu Yue and the others should dare not come to attack him even if they did not listen to his orders.

Li Jing shook his head: "My nephew's thinking is too simple. Some people don't remember the pain. If you don't teach them a lesson, they don't know how good it is. Now that you have asked me to be your uncle, we two The family is married again. These people are coming at you, that is not giving me Li Jing's face. Don't worry, I will help you settle this matter."

"Uncle wants to send troops to deal with Liu Yue and Fan Xinglong?" Li Keju's tone was full of excitement.Liu Yue and the others are now gathering troops, obviously wanting to grab the commander-in-chief position.If Li Jing is willing to make a move, then there is nothing to worry about.It's just, why is Li Jing so kind all of a sudden.

(To be continued)