Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 681: Hold on, there is a way

The storyteller left and was replaced by a singer.

In the past, singers and musicians who always served the rich and powerful and only appeared when dignitaries booked the venue, now often appear in teahouses to perform publicly, and people can sit and listen while drinking tea, and even those without money can come in to show their support. Their status has become much lower than before.

It was not for anything else, but simply because consumption had been downgraded. The once-magnificent Tang Dynasty had disappeared, and the wealth of officials and powerful landlords could no longer support it.

Or it feels unnecessary.

Everyone around Fang Chongyong looked at all this thoughtfully; they felt the slow changes of the times.

Slowly, but it has been changing, and it has never stopped. The situation like Brother Ji did in the past, where he kept a group of singers, dancers and musicians in the opera house, may not happen again in a hundred years.

In other words, during one’s lifetime.

A blind old musician walked onto the stage, leading a young lady of about ten years old, who had a very ordinary appearance.

The old man accompanied her, and his voice was like pearls falling on a jade plate.

"Under the warm sun, I greet the fragrance, whose girl is she?

I walked on that small bridge, and you played the sad music on the piano.

Little girl singing by the bridge, tears are flowing from your eyes.

You said one person was showing off, and the other one missed his hometown.

You are graceful and elegant.

......"

The young lady sang a graceful song in her childish voice. Generals like He Changqi shook their heads as they listened, like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit. Only Cen Shen and others looked at Fang Chongyong with playful eyes.

This is the "Bianzhou Qu" that has emerged in recent years: played with a huqin, sung by a single person, with a simple tune but rich connotations. These songs have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain. Walking along the canal ferry, where people come and go, you can hear someone humming a few lines from time to time.

The artists learn very quickly, and the songs spread very quickly.

Because of war and poverty, people had less money to spend on entertainment. Large-scale performances with dozens of people playing drums, music, singing and dancing were beyond the reach of most people.

With performances like the ones we have now, one person can play an instrument for accompaniment, one person can sing along, or even dance and sing at the same time, and you can make a living there.

Literature and art can be so simple, but they will never disappear.

The audience just gave a little money and the next meal was settled. It is hard to say whether this change is a good thing or a bad thing.

In fact, the demand has always been there, and people's desire for a better life remains unchanged. The only thing that has changed is that they are financially strapped.

Cen Shen heard that many of these "Bianzhou Songs" came from Fang Chongyong's mansion, but he didn't know which singing and dancing lady in the mansion wrote them.

“Back when the late emperor was alive, at a banquet in the Pear Garden, there would be over a hundred singers, dancers and musicians.

What a magnificent scene it is.

Now, only two people can play music and sing along. Although there is no pomp and circumstance, it is still comfortable. "

Cen Shen couldn't help but sigh, and his anxious heart calmed down. Fang Zhongyong wasn't anxious, so why should he be anxious?

"The past is like smoke, so don't mention it."

Fang Zhongyong waved his hand and asked He Changqi to give the young lady a small tip. The young lady thanked him profusely, sang a few more songs, and led the old musician away.

Fang Chongyong thought secretly: That must be her grandfather.

At this time, the owner of the teahouse came to the private room and bowed to Fang Zhongyong and said, "Please wait for a moment, a famous chef will be here soon. What we just had was just an appetizer, not the main dish of this restaurant."

"good."

Fang Zhongyong smiled and nodded, then raised his hand slightly.

The shopkeeper had a smile on his face and slowly left the private room. After a while, the sound of a pipa rang out, making people feel nervous.

Cen Shen smiled and said, "This is the famous Guanzhong piece, 'Yangguan Sandie'. Some people practiced it for ten years but still couldn't get it to be accepted by the audience. Today, the Marshal's ears are blessed."

"Wang Wei..."

Fang Zhongyong sighed softly. He probably knew who was playing on the stage outside the private room.

The lyrics of Yangguan Sandie were adapted from Wang Wei's poem Sending Yuan Er to Anxi. Wang Wei had spent some time in the opera world, and this was one of his achievements.

Those who can sing "Yangguan Sandie" must be the people in the opera world back then.

These people and these works are the pinnacle of literary and artistic creation in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty.

After that, things went from bad to worse.

Fang Chongyong began to understand why these people had drifted outside of Guanzhong. When things got tough, everyone had to find a way out for themselves.

Now that Ji Ge is gone, no one will pamper those opera girls. It is easy to imagine what the end will be.

"The willows at the long pavilion are swaying in the wind, the morning rain at Weicheng has moistened the dust, and the green willows at the guest house are new.

Advise Jun to make a glass of wine even more, and there is no reason for him to go out of Yangguan.

The willows at the long pavilion sway in the wind, and I feel sad. My old friend is bidding farewell to me at the Ten-Li Pavilion.

The love is deep, the love is deep, the love is deep, we can't bear to be separated, we can't bear to be separated.

......"

Hearing the melodious and regretful male singing, everyone in the private room fell silent.

Even someone like He Changqi knew the name of Yangguan Sandie, but the prosperous Tang Dynasty, which was contemporary with it, was gone and would never come back.

The private room was far away and I couldn't see clearly, but the voice was familiar.

Fang Chongyong has already recognized who it is.

"Yangguan Sandie" is not long. After one song ends, another one begins.

The sound of this piano piece is mournful, like a girl in the boudoir complaining.

"The bright moon and the clear wind make me miss you so much. I have been a soldier for more than ten years.

The soldiers left with earnest instructions, and when the geese returned they attached several letters.

The man's voice, singing in a gentle and graceful style, is equally outstanding.

Cen Shen sighed with emotion and said, "This is the Song of Yizhou written by Wang Wei. I think you have heard of it too."

Illinois.

Fang Zhongyong nodded silently, counting in his mind how many years had passed since he returned to the Central Plains from the Western Regions. It seemed like a long time ago, yet it also seemed like it was only yesterday.

Except for Cui Qianyou, everyone else present had been to the Western Regions. When they heard the "Song of Yizhou" sung on the stage, their minds were transported back to those days.

"Flowers will bloom again, and people will never be young again."

Fang Chongyong sighed again. He planned to call the musicians and singing girls on the stage to sit in the private room later.

After the song was finished, the teahouse was filled with cheers and applause. The level of this performance was far higher than that of a teahouse.

People like this used to serve Brother Ji and a group of core members of the Li Tang clan. But now, they have fallen to the point of performing in teahouses.

Cen Shen echoed, "General, this level of talent can probably only be found in the palace in the past. It is only natural to meet these two geishas and reward them."

“Yeah, it’s true.

Wild grass and flowers beside the Suzaku Bridge, the sunset at the entrance of Wuyi Alley is slanting.

The swallows that used to fly in front of the halls of the rich and powerful now fly into the homes of ordinary people. "

Fang Zhongyong couldn't help but sigh. Everyone in the private room was silent, and they all felt the changes of the years.

There is no one in the world who is immortal. Everything changes like a passing cloud.

No matter how heroic someone is, he will eventually end up as a handful of dust.

After singing a few songs, the teahouse owner brought the musicians and singing girls to the private room where Fang Chongyong was.

As he guessed, the one playing the pipa was Lei Haiqing, and the one singing was Li Guinian. Both of them were Ji Ge's favorites back then, and he would always bring them along when he played music.

"Why have you two fallen to this point?"

Fang Zhongyong sighed and walked forward to help the two people who were kneeling on the ground up.

However, what he didn't expect was that Lei Haiqing suddenly grabbed the pipa and smashed it towards Fang Chongyong's head when no one was paying attention!
This scene happened in a flash. He Changqi, who was closest to the scene, had formed conditioned reflexes in his muscles after long battles. The sword in his hand was unsheathed in an instant, and the whole person was like a cheetah, and it seemed that two springs had grown on the soles of his feet.

Before Lei Haiqing could hit Fang Chongyong with his pipa, He Changqi's knife had already stabbed out and directly penetrated Lei Haiqing's abdomen. Then He Changqi kept rushing forward, using his elbow to push Lei Haiqing several steps away, and then with a series of blows, he pushed the horizontal knife and nailed the opponent to the wooden wall!
It all happened so fast that no one present could react. Li Guinian, who was standing by, was stunned, not understanding what Lei Haiqing was doing.

Doesn't he know how powerful Fang Qing is now?

Li Guinian cursed in his heart, telling Lei Haiqing that if he wanted to die, he could just go by himself, don't drag him along!

How will this end?
"Traitors, everyone..."

Lei Haiqing died before he could finish his words. His eyes were wide open and he stared at Fang Chongyong. Those eyes, which were filled with unwillingness, had become dull and unfocused.

Cui Qianyou and others immediately drew their swords and controlled Li Guinian!
Fang Zhongyong calmly breathed a sigh of relief and sat back in his seat. He looked at Li Guinian with a bad look and asked, "I wanted to arrange for you to work in the palace of Bianliang City. There is no old grudge or new hatred between us, so why did you want to assassinate me?"

"Slave, slave, I don't know, Lei Haiqing didn't tell me anything!"

Li Guinian knelt on the ground and cried out that he was innocent.

He was traveling with Lei Haiqing, and it was purely coincidental that he met Fang Chongyong and his group here. They were traveling while singing, and their destination was indeed Bianzhou.

Li Guinian didn't expect Lei Haiqing to be so stubborn.

He Changqi stepped forward, and the other party clasped his fists and saluted, suggesting: "Marshal, how about..."

He made a motion of wiping his neck.

"Forget it, give him some money and let him go."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand gently, not wanting to pursue the matter any further.

After Li Guinian was sent away, the atmosphere in the private room was gone. Lei Haiqing's body was still nailed to the wall, looking horrible. How could he drink the tea?
"Let's go back to the camp."

Fang Zhongyong said something listlessly, then stood up and left.

He knew why Lei Haiqing wanted to assassinate him, but there was no way to explain or persuade him for such a thing.

Respect personal choices and give up being soft-hearted.

That's all.

……

The atmosphere in the Mingtang of Luoyang Palace was very depressing.

An Shouzhong was so angry when he saw Li Tingwang fleeing alone.

"Ten thousand soldiers were just gone like that? The Konghe Army was already badly defeated before, how could they fight back?"

An Shouzhong's saliva sprayed all over Li Tingwang's face.

He didn't understand. Even if there were 10,000 pigs, it would take several days to kill them, right?
"General Jie, the Konghe Army is very powerful. Our army was defeated as soon as we engaged them, and we have been defeated in several battles.

I really want to defend Huaizhou, but Huaizhou has no strategic location to defend, so I really can’t defend it.”

Li Tingwang cried and complained, tears streaming down his face.

"Forget it. We have already lost Huaizhou. What else can we do?"

An Shouzhong complained, sighed, and felt terrible.

Li Huaiguang’s next step is to attack the three cities of Heyang.

Should we defend or not? How should we defend?
An Shouzhong felt a headache.

"Why not go to Bianzhou to borrow troops?"

Li Tingwang suggested calmly.

If it was before, An Shouzhong would definitely refuse, but now, he dared not say it. Because if he lost again, An Shouzhong might not be able to control Luoyang City and the army.

This is also the main reason why An Shouzhong knew that what Li Tingwang said was not entirely true and did not dare to do anything to him.

At the critical moment, the military’s morale must not be dispersed.

At this time, a messenger was brought in by the personal guards. When he saw An Shouzhong, he clasped his fists and reported: "General, the Konghe Army has conquered Beizhong City. At present, Nancheng and Heyang Pass are still in our hands. Please bring troops to support us as soon as possible, otherwise something unexpected may happen!"

ha?
An Shouzhong and Li Tingwang were both stunned. Was this damn Li Huaiguang a little too fast?

Among the three cities in Heyang, the largest and earliest built city is the North Central City on the north bank. The South City on the south bank is formed by a ferry crossing on the south bank of the Yellow River and has weak defense. Now only the Heyang Pass on the central sandbar of the Yellow River is still worth defending.

Now that Beizhong City has been lost, we must defend Heyang Pass to the death.

"You guard Luoyang, I will go meet Li Huaiguang!"

An Shouzhong followed the messenger out of the Mingtang and the palace, mounted his horse and headed straight for Heyang Pass.

There is a lag in the transmission of messages. In fact, in the current situation, new changes have occurred during the time when the messenger reports the message.

Han Yougui, a favorite general under Li Huaiguang, once broke through Heyang Pass, but was repelled by the troops under An Shouzhong. An Shouzhong's troops did not follow the moral code of war and cut off the floating bridge leading from Heyang Pass to the north bank of the Yellow River. Although there is still ice on the Yellow River, the ice is very thin and people cannot walk.

Moreover, the ice flood season is about to arrive, and it is hard to say how the situation will develop.

On the north bank of the Yellow River, Li Huaiguang stared at Heyang Pass in the middle of the Yellow River in a daze, one hand tightly grasping the sword at his waist.

"General, we almost succeeded before. An Shouzhong's men actually cut down the floating bridge. Now I really don't have any good solution."

Han Yougui reported to Li Huaiguang.

He was really just one step away, and even occupied Heyang Pass for a time, but he still had to retreat. The soldiers of the Control Crane Army were very tired after fighting repeatedly. However, An Shouzhong's troops were not only more numerous, but also closer to Luoyang, so they had a good rest.

The Luoyang army held on and did not collapse, and Han Yougui had no way to stop it.

They had a bad start, and it was not easy for them to turn the situation around. After taking Beizhong City, they got a reliable foothold on the north bank of the Yellow River. Now the soldiers of the Control Crane Army no longer felt the pressure of life and death.

In other words, they wanted to rest, but the officers could no longer be ordered to do so. This is the objective law of war, and it is impossible not to comply with it.

After a long time, Li Huaiguang sighed and said, "If it was only An Shouzhong, I would have plenty of ways to deal with him. But things are not that simple."

He looked at Han Yougui and a trace of worry flashed across his face.

At present, the Crane Control Army has already gained momentum, but this momentum is not stable. Even if An Shouzhong cannot counterattack, he still has to worry about the intervention of other forces.

"We are almost out of energy, and I believe An Shouzhong is almost out of energy as well. Marshal, as long as we hold on, there is a way."

Han Yougui said with a firm expression.

"Yes, as long as we hold on, there is a way. You go to Bianzhou again to borrow troops. We won't ask for any conditions, not even Luoyang. Just follow Fang Qing's arrangements.

As long as we can win!"

Li Huaiguang said gritting his teeth.

At the critical moment, he can't be cowardly!
(End of this chapter)