Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 682: Unfortunate Arrival

Lei Haiqing's "ingratitude" seemed to be a turning point.

Before this, Fang Chongyong was still very relaxed on the way. Even when he heard Cen Shen say that the Konghe Army asked for help from Bianzhou, he did not take it seriously. Fang Chongyong believed that Che Guangqian could handle it, otherwise, he would not have summoned her back to Bianzhou to take charge of the situation.

However, when Lei Haiqing attacked and injured someone in the teahouse, Fang Zhongyong's mood became obviously heavier, and his casual smile no longer appeared on his face. After returning to the army, he stayed at home and rarely left the military camp. Even if he wanted to inspect the people's sentiments, he would just send Cen Shen and others to take a look around and come back to report.

When the army arrived at Juye Lake, although it was not yet spring and the flowers were blooming, the thin ice on the lake had already melted, and the canal boats were coming and going, which was very bustling. It can be said that the water was already hot even though the weather was not yet warm.

The goods that had been piled up along the canal for a winter began to be transported at full speed. The development of Bianzhou's canal transportation not only boosted the logistics of Huainan, but also the Jiaodong Peninsula, but the scale of transportation was not as large as that of Huainan.

Fang Chongyong ordered Cui Qianyou to collect grain ships in Juye Lake and set out from Liangshan Lake to the east to Licheng, Qizhou. After arriving, they would take a short rest and then switch to sea vessels, sail out from Jishui River and head to Dengzhou.

From Bianzhou, go through Baigou to Juye Lake, then enter the Jishui River from Liangshan Lake in Juye Lake, and finally change ships at Licheng (Jinan City) on the bank of the Jishui River to go out to Dengzhou. This is a very mature waterway, but it was once abandoned in history.

Basically, there is no need to travel on land, everything can be done by boat. This line closely connects Jiaodong with the Central Plains.

After Fang Chongyong took control of Bianzhou, he re-activated this route. Goods from Bohai were unloaded at Dengzhou Port, then entered Bianzhou via this route and were then sold to various parts of the Tang Dynasty.

With the continuous development of waterways, the original operation of setting Bianzhou as the capital is pushing this regime into the fast lane of economic development.

Except for people like Lei Haiqing who were loyal to Brother Ji and missed the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, everyone else had more or less figured out something. The depression in Guanzhong was not entirely due to the war, but largely due to the inconvenience of transportation, especially water transportation, which made the logistics costs unbearable.

In this way, the economy cannot develop.

Chang'an is the memory and symbol of the Tang Dynasty. Without the grand Chang'an, the Tang Dynasty recorded in history books would not be there.

Giving up Chang'an is equivalent to re-establishing a new dynasty. There are more than one or two people who see through it but don't speak out.

The new era and the old era began to gradually alternate. Even if people like Lei Haiqing were unwilling, they had to admit: the times have indeed changed.

No one can stop its pace, no matter whether they are ordinary people or high-ranking officials.

Lei Haiqing and the others could not let go of the obsession in their hearts, so as soon as there was a little spark, the obsession in their hearts would be ignited, making them self-destruct like moths to a flame.

Fang Zhongyong also understood that Lei Haiqing was not the only one who had such a character. They might not be as strong-willed as Lei Haiqing.

Although their bodies have entered the new era, their souls are still living in the old era and cannot escape it.

Some force themselves to smile, some pretend to be calm, and some are in a state of panic all day long.

In this regard, Fang Chongyong can only respect these people's choices and give up his Madonna complex.

The army arrived at Licheng smoothly. Fang Chongyong ordered Cen Shen to go into the city to communicate with the governor of Qizhou about military logistics matters, while he stayed in the military camp to calm down and understand the morale of the troops.

At noon that day, the officers and soldiers in the camp were having lunch.

Fang Chongyong, wearing a soldier's uniform, found a random fire and ate inside. There were ten people in a fire, with a fire chief. In fact, this organization had a lot to do with eating. These ten people ate together during the war.

Like other soldiers of the tax police corps, Fang Chongyong was given two white sesame cakes, two steamed buns with unknown fillings (they look a bit like British scones, but with fillings inside), two winter oranges, and unlimited broth.

He didn't drink the soup, but from the smell it felt like fish soup. Qizhou is close to the Ji River and has no shortage of aquatic products. It even has specialized aquaculture, so it's not surprising to eat fish soup in the military camp.

Fishermen dug ponds by the river and dug holes to bring in the Jishui River. They then fenced the entrance with bamboo and laid fishing nets at the hole to raise fish. This type of pond is mainly used for fish farming, but rice is usually also cultivated as a sideline, and is called a "fish field."

Qizhou is rich and has abundant resources, so the food provided by the quartermaster is quite good.

But if you go to a place where there are few people, you can only eat dry Hu bing and the so-called "special military rations".

It is a kind of thing that is made by boiling millet, drying it, repeatedly drying it, steaming it, and even soaking it in cold water, it can be eaten directly. It tastes terrible, but it can fill your stomach.

There was no meat in the lunch, so Fang Zhongyong decided to dismiss the governor of Qizhou and ask him to come to the Ministry of Personnel in Bianzhou for assessment and questioning. In this era, if you don't make the food in the army good, you are either old-fashioned or have bad intentions.

Either way, they both deserve a beating.

"Are the uniforms you are wearing keeping you warm? Will it be cold in the winter?"

Fang Chongyong didn't even have time to eat. He suddenly asked a tax police soldier who was sitting next to him and eating and drinking.

The man swallowed hard and said in a low voice, "Marshal, military uniforms are not warm. We don't have silver spears and filial quilts. When we go out for patrol in winter, our legs will shake. Please don't tell others that I said this."

If Fang Zhongyong asked whether the military uniforms had the function of keeping warm, this soldier would definitely answer that they did, and that they were warmer than ordinary cloth robes and were definitely not of poor quality.

But that's all. Before the advent of cotton, it was normal to suffer from cold in winter without wearing fur coats.

Military officers and dignitaries like to wear a cloak on their shoulders in winter, not for the sake of appearance, but because they can wrap the body with the cloak when it is cold, and take it off when it is not cold.

Cotton production is limited, and the promotion area is also limited. Although the production cost is much lower than silk, things are more expensive because they are rare! The price of cotton cloth and quilts will not drop for decades. Grass cotton is grown ten times a year in ten years. How much would it take to replace even half of the silk on the market?

Demand far exceeds output.

As for fur, it is better not to mention it. It is impossible for it to be popularized among the soldiers.

The soldiers all knew that Fang Zhongyong was not arrogant and was easy to talk to, so they just told him directly. Anyway, as long as they reported serious matters and objective difficulties to him instead of making unreasonable demands, the problems could usually be solved in a short time.

This is the truth.

"When I lead the troops, I want to wrap you up tightly and stuff your mouths full. The soldiers' clothes cannot keep them warm in winter, and there is no meat in the meals. This is my fault."

Fang Zhongyong sighed.

Hearing this, the soldier was terrified, and immediately bowed to the other party, stammering: "I dare not say this, the commander treats us very well, I am from Hebei, and compared to that place, this tax police corps is like a paradise."

"It doesn't matter, no matter how hard it is, I can't make you suffer.

If you don't have enough to eat or enough clothes to wear, tell me. Even if I don't have money, the powerful landlords in the world have money, so I will ask them for money.

As long as I have something to eat, I won’t need your three meals a day.”

Fang Chongyong patted the soldier on the shoulder, stood up and went to inspect other places in the camp.

After he left, the others in the rage gathered around and asked, "Is Marshal Fang still easy to talk to?"

"The Marshal said he wanted us to eat well and dress well, and if we had no money, he would go to the powerful landlords to ask for it on our behalf."

The soldier just now patted his chest proudly and said this, as if he was asking for money.

"Marshal Fang still remembers us. I remember when I was a tenant farmer in a landlord's house, life was so hard that I had no place to complain.

Who in the army who has any dignity would not fight to the death in battle? "

One of them shook his head and sighed.

"It's different now. With Marshal Fang's support, I will use this to negotiate with any wealthy family that refuses to even look at us." Huo Chang patted the sword on his waist and grinned.

"Yes, following the Marshal, I eat nine meals a day. I swing my sword so fast that I can't see any afterimages.

How about I show you two tricks now?"

"What do you think will be gained from this trip to Bohai State?"

The soldiers began to discuss the next battle, and their hearts were burning with excitement. The main reason for being a soldier is to eat food for one's own future, and real money is the most practical.

This is the good thing about Marshal Fang. He doesn't say empty words. He gives food, clothes and money every day. He really gives them! He never owes them anything!

With Marshal Fang around, they don't have to worry about being embezzled by their superiors when they make achievements, and they can swing their swords with full energy!
This is called military pay with warmth, sword wielding with force, and support with attitude!

Fang Chongyong's attitude towards the local wealthy families in Bianzhou was very ordinary, and he even attacked them with heavy punches, offending more than one or two people. But he was very good to the grassroots soldiers, giving them real money, and he was very popular among the grassroots.

If there was a real commotion someday, Emperor Li Lin would have his supporters. However, those who supported him might be able to give him money, but they definitely couldn't lift a knife, and they looked down on those who could lift a knife.

On the contrary, those who gathered around Fang Chongyong were all people with strong martial virtues, and the soldiers were loyal to him.

Even if Fang Chongyong handed over the seal of the Marshal to Li Lin now, he only needed to say a word to let the soldiers in the army kill Li Lin's confidants and seize the military power.

Fang Chongyong has an extraordinary understanding of the changes of the times.

After all, the right to speak lies in the hands of the person holding the knife.

……

In the lobby of Kaifeng Prefecture Yamen, Han Yougui paced back and forth like an ant on hot pot.

But there is no way.

Fang Qing is not here! The officials in Bianzhou, such as Yan Zhuang, Li Quan, etc., are all very secretive. They are just pretending to be like "Fang Qing is not here, but I am afraid you will find out."

Then he asked Han Yougui to wait in the lobby of the government office.

After a while, Li Quan arrived. Han Yougui saw him enter the government office and asked anxiously, "Is Marshal Fang back?"

"General Han, please follow me. This is not the place to talk."

Li Quan said seriously.

Han Yougui nodded. He also knew that the other party was going to show some real stuff.

The two of them came to a more remote signing room in the Privy Council. Li Quan didn't waste any words and directly handed the transfer order that he had prepared before to Han Yougui.

Han Yougui was dumbfounded when he saw the military order. The use of troops in Bianzhou was relatively regular, and the movement of troops was recorded.

Although the military order did not say where Fang Chongyong went, it clearly stated that the Bianzhou Imperial Guard, namely Yinqiang Xiaojie, was transferred to Dengzhou on official business.

It didn't say what the specific matter was, only the word "official business".

The one who led the silver spear to the battle was most likely Fang Qing. Han Yougui finally understood the strange attitude of the officials in Bianzhou.

"The King of Bohai passed away, but the news was kept secret. Marshal Fang wanted to support Daqinmao to ascend the throne, and the nephew of the King of Bohai who just passed away is now in Dengzhou.

If General Han came to Bianzhou to borrow troops, Li could only answer: There are no troops to borrow.

Marshal Fang is not in Bianzhou either. If you wait for him to come back, it may be the turn of spring and summer. You should think about it yourself. "

Li Quan said calmly.

Han Yougui didn't have the ability to read minds, so he had no way of knowing whether Li Quan's words were true or false.

However, what the other party said was very logical and there were no loopholes. As for whether the Bianzhou army had been transferred to Dengzhou, in fact, there were many waterways here, and many merchants came and went.

Military deployments are very noisy, so it is impossible that there will be no traces at all. Han Yougui felt that if he asked around in Bianzhou, he would definitely be able to find out some inside information, and it wouldn't take too much effort.

He clasped his fists and bowed to Li Quan, saying, "In that case, I, Han, will take my leave first."

"General Han, take care."

Li Quan did not exchange pleasantries with Han Yougui. He simply saluted with his arms crossed and escorted him out of the Privy Council gate.

Han Yougui was in disguise, dressed like an ordinary farmer. He sneaked into the streets near the Bianzhou ferry, asked the boatmen at the ferry, and then learned an important situation.

Well, or it is a situation that many people in Bianzhou know.

Just a few days ago, a large army from Bianzhou headed eastward along Baigou, with its destination being Dengzhou.

This is consistent with the military order that Li Quan showed himself.

In other words, it is very likely true that the Bianzhou Army was transferred to Dengzhou with the intention of supporting Daqinmao to ascend the throne in Bohai State. Of course, Han Yougui felt that Fang Qing's actions were understandable.

If Daqinmao controlled the Bohai Kingdom, it would be highly likely that he would cooperate in sending troops to the northeast in the future to attack Shi Siming from both sides.

This is not just Fang doing nothing.

"Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, what can we do?"

Han Yougui was a little hesitant for a moment.

It was really unbelievable that Bianzhou had no soldiers. However, judging from the current situation, it seemed to be true.

what can we do about it?

"Why don't we go back to North Central City first?"

Han Yougui sighed and said to himself, "If you don't rest in the middle, you can reach Beizhong City by riding a horse from Bianzhou in just one day."

It would be better to go back and ask Li Huaiguang first.

Han Yougui arrived at the posthouse, mounted his horse and headed north.

Han Yougui left in the afternoon, but just as night fell, Yan Zhuang, who was still working in the government office, was waiting for the anxious Li Tingwang.

Because they had met before, Li Tingwang did not bother to be polite with Yan Zhuang. He asked directly: "Minister Yan, is Marshal Fang in the government office? I have something urgent to ask you!"

Anxious? Do you think you are the only one who is anxious?
Yan Zhuang laughed in his heart, but his face remained calm. He sighed leisurely and said, "General Li's arrival is really unfortunate!"

(End of this chapter)