Datang Nongsheng

Chapter 73

The difference between talents and mediocrity is that their brains can always think of something useful.

Ma Zhou is a talent. After hearing his first strategy, Sun Xiangfu planned to let him have an overview of the overall situation.

"Besides, what your lord should consider is the subsequent resettlement of these Turkic people. If the court resettles them will become a big trouble, then in the end they will be returned to Jieli or Tuli by those rotten scholars. Seeing that Sun Xiangfu had listened to his suggestion, Ma Zhou continued.

"Yes, do you have any good suggestions?" Sun Xiangfu nodded again when he heard the words.

"Your Majesty should report to Your Majesty, recruit a small number of Turks to join the army, and give them the same treatment as the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty. In this way, the danger of these captives will be reduced, and at the same time, it will give the remaining Turks a glimmer of hope so that they will not rebel. .

In addition, some hardworking and honest Turkic people are recruited as workers, just like those hired workers in Xingfu Village. They only need to pay simple labor and get paid. I would not want to go back to the cold northern grasslands. "

This is Ma Zhou's political thinking. It is a kind of ability to analyze national affairs with the weak amount of information received as a doorman. I have to say that his suggestion is very reliable. Li Shimin in history is because of A large number of Hu captives were absorbed into the army, which strengthened the expeditionary combat capabilities of the Datang army. At the same time, it also made the Hu people less hostile to Datang, and it was easier to surrender to the Datang army. Almost all the wars against the Hu people during Taizong's period ended in victory.

"Then, let's talk about your third strategy!" Sun Xiangfu looked at Ma Zhou expectantly.

Ma Zhou replied with a slight smile, "The last strategy is actually not worth mentioning, and that is to share the benefits. Your Excellency only needs to suggest to His Majesty that the last remaining Turkic captives will be rewarded with thirty or fifty rewards." For the ministers of the court and the central government, let everyone enjoy the benefits of not returning the Turkic prisoners, then, not only this time, but in future wars, it will be difficult for the Turkic prisoners captured by the Tang Dynasty to return to Turkic."

"Walk one step, watch three steps, Niu, sir is really a talent for managing the world."

Sun Xiangfu was really convinced this time. Ma Zhou's few simple suggestions took all factors into consideration, especially the last point of equal benefit, which Sun Xiangfu, who had no social experience, would never have imagined.

In this backward feudal farming society, the young and strong labor force and population are wealth. Moreover, the Turkic people are good at raising horses and serving animals. There is no shortage of grooms and slaves to take care of animals in official families.Even if there is no shortage, if you take these young men to the slave market, one of them can be sold for a few bucks!Dozens is a lot of money.

Think about it, in the future, if the Tang Dynasty captured something in foreign wars, each official would be able to distribute tens of hundreds of slaves worth of slaves, so that official would still hate fighting?That official is willing to give away the wealth he has obtained to others?

"The adults are rude."

Ma Zhou got up and saluted, and was about to leave, but was held back by Sun Xiangfu.

"Sir, don't rush away, eat some wine and meat first, we still have something to talk about."

With that said, Uncle De brought in some cooked food prepared by the kitchen of Wangjiang Tower and put it on the table. Sun Xiangfu poured Ma Zhou a bowl of wine and said, "Mr. , Here is just an opportunity for Mr. to show his talent and let His Majesty see it. I wonder if Mr. intends to become an official?"

If you don't want to be an official, how can Ma Zhou do so much homework and recommend himself to Sun Xiangfu!It should be said that Chang He's official position is not low, but he is a general, and he is actually less than a literati like Ma Zhou. That's enough. Historically, Ma Zhou had a chance to perform after spending several years at Chang He's house.

Now, Chang He led the army to supervise the Turkic captives. It was rare for Ma Zhou to accompany him to help manage some paperwork. This gave Ma Zhou an opportunity. Several prime ministers, the Duke of the Kingdom, are the closest to the emperor. From the fact that he is the one in charge of such a large project, it can be imagined that Li Shimin still trusts his ability very much. Therefore, Ma Zhou Only then did I think about it.

"If I can become an official, I will never forget the kindness of my lord for supporting me."

Ma Zhou got up and gave Sun Xiangfu a big gift, but Sun Xiangfu pulled him up again and pressed him against the table, "You don't have to be polite, sir. Your majesty is willing to ask for talents, and I'm just sharing your worries for your majesty. Of course, it depends on you." Your own ability, I mean, you will assist my subordinate Shi Jiancheng to manage the large and small affairs of the construction site on my behalf. I will go back to Chang'an to report your suggestions to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty accepts them, the project will be completed If it can be completed with both quality and quantity, then it shouldn’t be difficult for Mister to become an official.”

"This, in the next grassroots, how to make it?"

Ma Zhou was a little taken aback, but Sun Xiangfu ignored him and asked Uncle De to call Shi Dalang over.

"Dalang, this Mr. Ma Zhou is a great man of affairs. I want to keep the two of you here to supervise the construction site. You should rely on Mr. Ma as the master. Tomorrow, I have important matters to return to Chang'an. What will I do next?" , Mr. Ma will make arrangements."

Shi Bao basically followed Sun Xiangfu's decision blindly. He said that Ma Zhou had a great talent, so he must be a great talent. He himself was only twelve or thirteen years old, and he might not even be able to write a thousand-character essay silently. Of course, he could only follow orders, and Sun Xiangfu just used his official status to support Ma Zhou.

So, after Sun Xiangfu chatted with Ma Zhou and Shi Bao about the follow-up project plan for a while, the meal was finished.

The next day, Sun Xiangfu put the prepared memorial in his arms early in the morning, rode away to Chang'an, and entered the imperial city in the afternoon. He was not a courtier, so naturally he did not have the right to submit the memorial. Therefore, his The memorial was given to Empress Changsun, who handed it over to Li Shimin on her behalf.

After handing in the memorial, Sun Xiangfu had nothing else to do. He wanted to take a nap in the yamen's room and wait for the harem to reply, but suddenly a visitor came to the door.

"Prince, why did you come to Weichen's place?"

After the simple salute, Sun Xiangfu asked, of course, more questioning eyes were cast on Chang Sun Chong who came with him, and Chang Sun Chong just shrugged helplessly.

"I was bored staying alone in the East Palace, so I wanted to ask you to come to learn opera. When the guards found out that you were in the Yamen, I came here." Li Chengqian said with the appearance of a young adult.

It is estimated that he sent someone to watch the whistle at the gate of the imperial city early in the morning. After all, the East Palace and the imperial city are only separated by a wall.

Thinking about how the ancients spent eight lessons a day in Chinese, especially the crown prince, who had to study twice as much. Sun Xiangfu felt sorry for the child, since he had nothing to do anyway, so he invited Li Chengqian to the yamen for a chat.

"The prince really likes music?"

"Yes! Yes! I have never been praised by my father, only the song you taught me last time was praised by my father, so..."

All right!The child's thinking is actually so simple, he just wants to be affirmed and praised by his parents, but it's a pity that he has achieved the position of prince at such a young age, everything should be done well, and there will be a lot of votes if he doesn't do well People come to accuse him, it can be said that the position of the prince has harmed him, otherwise, his psychology would not be so distorted when he became an adult.

"So, you sneaked out this time?"

One word from Sun Xiangfu blocked Li Chengqian's words, and he nodded with a pitiful look.

"Prince, what will happen if you sneak out?" Sun Xiangfu asked curiously.

"I will be punished by my husband for copying books, and even beat hands." Li Chengqian said with a lingering fear expression.

His teacher was Li Gang, who was known as the teacher of the emperors of the Three Dynasties. Even Li Shimin would respectfully behave as a master and apprentice when he saw him. When he beat him, Li Chengqian had no reason at all.

Seeing Li Chengqian's appearance, Sun Xiangfu's heart suddenly softened, and he decided to help the poor child, so he said, "It's wrong to sneak out, but your Highness's father, queen, mother, and teacher should not belong to your age. It's not right to force something that you should bear on your head, so if the empress summons the minister later, the minister will persuade her."

"No, don't let the queen mother know that I sneaked out, or I won't be able to come out for a long time." Li Chengqian said eagerly, shaking his hands.

"Prince, don't worry, I will have my own way, and I will definitely not implicate you and be punished."

Although Sun Xiangfu said so, Li Chengqian still didn't believe it. However, at this time, the eunuch who passed the decree came. Li Chengqian was startled at first, and wanted to find a place to hide, but found that the eunuch who passed the decree was not here to invite him Instead of going to the queen to ask questions, Li Chengqian summoned Sun Xiangfu, so Li Chengqian watched Sun Xiangfu follow the eunuch out of the yamen with a pleading look.

"Cousin, Sun Zhengming won't talk nonsense, right?" Li Chengqian looked at the eldest grandson beside him with a worried expression when Sun Xiangfu walked away.

"Uh, based on what I know about this kid, he will definitely talk nonsense." The eldest grandson rubbed his nose and said.

"Then what should we do?" Li Chengqian said with regret on his face. He really came at an inappropriate time today. Even if Sun Xiangfu wanted to hide it for him, the eunuch who passed the decree would probably tell the truth to Empress Changsun.

"However, after this kid finishes talking nonsense, maybe my aunt will really change some of the ways she disciplines you."

"Uh, cousin, you're making fun of loneliness." Li Chengqian responded.

Chang Sun Chong patted Li Chengqian's shoulder with a sneer and said, "I learned this from Sun Zhengming, but let's hurry back now! No way, there will be orders from my aunt to the East Palace in a while."

Li Chengqian nodded sadly and said, "I hope Sun Zhengming can persuade the queen mother!"

(End of this chapter)