Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 706: Who Has the Best Mutiny Technique
Faced with the "olive branch" extended by Tian Qianzhen, Fang Zhongyong had only one reply: we provide all the help except practical assistance.

As for the plan of cooperating with Tian Qianzhen to launch a mutiny in Hebei to deal with Shi Siming, it was not considered at all.

Fang Chongyong wrote a secret letter and asked someone to take it to Mingzhou and give it to Tian Qianzhen as a response, and then nothing happened.

It’s not that he didn’t believe in Tian Qian’s sincerity, but Yecheng was still in the hands of Li Guiren, and the Bianzhou army had no way to directly attack Youzhou.

Moreover, Li Guiren's current intentions are difficult to predict. He might turn against the Bianzhou court. The situation is already on the verge of breaking out at any time.

When An Shouzhong was still around, when Li Baochen wanted to leave Guanzhong, and when Li Huaiguang was still eyeing Zezhou covetously, Li Guiren needed the protection of the Bianzhou court, and he did not dare to turn against it.

If we turn against each other, we will be surrounded by enemies and have no external help, which will be a way to our death.

But now Li Baochen retreated to Guanzhong, Luoyang was occupied by the Bianzhou army, and An Shouzhong and Li Huaiguang were both dead. Suddenly, the minor contradiction became the main contradiction, and Li Guiren was the only troublemaker who did not obey orders in the Bianzhou court.

Moreover, Li Guiren's subordinate Liu Longxian, now the defense commander of the three cities of Heyang, also actually betrayed him.

Fang Chongyong believed that if the Bianzhou court wanted to do something to Shi Siming, Li Guiren would be involved. It was not worth it for Tian Qianzhen.

Make friends with those far away and attack those nearby, and deal with those who are disobedient around you first. This is a wise saying at all times.

As for Tian Qian's surrender, the other party might not be sincere, and it was probably just a test. For warlords like these, it was as easy as stripping a tiger of its skin to get them to give up their power.

Any military leader who has a way out will not easily take this path.

This incident was just a small episode. Tian Qianzhen couldn't just take action as he said. He also had to find a suitable opportunity.

However, the Bianzhou court, or Fang Chongyong's courage, did far exceed Shi Siming's expectations.

Before the world was pacified, Fang Chongyong actually wanted to cut down the imperial guards. This was something many people, including Shi Siming, had not expected.

Just a few days after Li Qi ascended the throne, the Bianzhou court promulgated the "Law on the Placement of Disabled, Elderly and Weak Soldiers" and began to clear out the numerous wounded soldiers that had resulted from the wars since the establishment of the Bianzhou regime.

For those who are still unmarried, the government is responsible for matchmaking, providing gifts and helping them get married.

Those who are married and have children can get a small amount of money from the government as a subsidy every month until their children reach adulthood. The amount is based on the number of children they have.

Those who were willing to return home were given land to work as farmers. Those who were unwilling to return home were contacted with merchants in Bianzhou to help them set up businesses for the wounded, old and weak, and to get a 50% stake in the business and arrange jobs for them.

In short, the government has taken care of the details of resettlement to ensure that disabled soldiers have a way out and will not drive them away in a one-size-fits-all manner.

For a time, the army was filled with voices of gratitude. The soldiers saw the old, weak and disabled leaving the barracks with smiles on their faces, and the court actually took good care of them and treated them as human beings.

Then I won’t have any worries when I go into battle to kill the enemy in the future.

No matter how bad their treatment is, it can't be worse than that of the wounded soldiers, right?
This tactic of "spending a fortune to buy bones" stabilized the morale of the army and eliminated all possible hidden dangers caused by unfair treatment.

People cannot stand without faith.

The "Law on the Placement of Disabled and Elderly Soldiers" promulgated by Fang Chongyong made all officials and all the people of Bianzhou see the determination and will to reform.

Those retired disabled soldiers praised the government's benevolence and justice to everyone they met, saying that they kept their promises.

Early in the morning, Fang Chongyong was working in the government office, drafting a new Commercial Code. In order to boost the economy, commercial taxes should be divided into different levels to support ordinary people in selling their own agricultural products and enrich the market.

On the one hand, taxes need to be increased on large merchants, and on the other hand, taxes need to be reduced on small vendors. How to grasp the extent of adjustment will be a test of the level of governance.

"We still have to discuss this with Liu Yan. We should try it out in Bianzhou for a year first, and then promote it."

Fang Zhongyong put the pen on the pen holder and sighed.

In the feudal era, many rules were customary. Even a small step forward would be a remarkable achievement, but it would also encounter unimaginable resistance.

As I said, there is still a long way to go.

Fang Chongyong didn't think that if he bleed some vested interests, those people would not resist at all!
Even if these people don't dare to do it openly, it's still okay for them to do things secretly.

At this moment, Zhang Guangsheng walked into the government office in a hurry. Fang Zhongyong clasped his fists and saluted, reporting: "Your Majesty, the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army has mutinied and has blocked the main gate of the palace!"

ha?
Fang Chongyong was stunned, thinking he had heard wrongly.

Now, only those soldiers with consciences that have been eaten by dogs will mutiny, right? Have they lost their sense of right and wrong?

"Tell me slowly, what happened?"

Fang Chongyong asked in a deep voice.

"Sir, I can't explain it clearly. You should go and see it yourself. The palace is not far away anyway!"

Zhang Guangsheng was so anxious that he was sweating all over, but he was not good at explaining himself.

The two called on dozens of their personal guards and rode fast through Kaifeng City. After leaving the city, they headed east.

When he arrived at the palace, Fang Chongyong found that the south gate of the palace was surrounded by people.

However, they were not soldiers, but local people who came to watch the fun, as well as many foreign merchants and tourists.

Although Zhang Guangsheng was anxious, the people at the scene were not anxious at all. They were laughing and pointing at the side.

What the hell is this doing?
Just as Fang Zhongyong was about to dismount from his horse, a loud roar came from not far away, which scared him so much that he staggered and almost fell to the ground.

"The emperor is immoral, so he should abdicate and let the wise man take over!
The official is wise and worthy of being the emperor!
The armies of Bianzhou implore the emperor to abdicate and hand over the throne to the emperor!"

"The emperor abdicates!"

"The emperor abdicates!"

"The emperor abdicates!"

In front of the main gate of the imperial palace, hundreds of disabled retired soldiers, either with broken legs or arms, shouted at the gate.

He shouted at the top of his lungs, his roar shook the heavens!
The soldiers guarding the palace walls seemed to be cooperating with them, pretending not to see anything.

Maybe I would be happy to see it happen.

Anyway, he just didn't want to drive away these wounded soldiers, and he was too lazy to take the bows and arrows behind him.

The crowd watching was just there to watch the fun and not afraid of trouble, so more and more people gathered!
The lenient speech policy that Fang Chongyong ordered to be implemented in Bianzhou made these troublemakers feel that they would not be punished.

If I could see the emperor announce his abdication on the spot today, I would be able to brag about it for the rest of my life!

It’s over, I used too much force!

Fang Chongyong slapped his forehead. He had planned everything, but he hadn't expected that the soldiers had simple minds and pure personalities, and were easily exploited!

If he promulgated the decree on the resettlement of retired soldiers, then these soldiers would think that Fang Zhongyong's interests were tied to theirs. If Li Wei really came to power, could the resettlement law that was currently implemented still be maintained?
I’m afraid it’s not possible!

Only when Fang Zhongyong ascended the throne and became emperor, could his series of policies be sustained and improved. Therefore, Li Wei became a bit of an eyesore.

In the eyes of the soldiers, since Li Wei is not doing anything, it is reasonable to give up the palace to Fang Chongyong to live in, right?
Look, the government’s house in Bianzhou is so small now, there isn’t even much wealth in the warehouse.

He has worked hard and made great contributions, so it is reasonable for him to move into the palace, right?
At this time, if someone with brains appears and stirs up these people a little, they will quickly get together to cause trouble.

What are they doing? It's similar to what Guo Wei and Zhao Kuangyin did:

He put on a yellow robe and replaced it.

Now it is the disabled retired soldiers who are making the commotion, but it is just a test of the waters and a trial and error. The next time it will most likely be regular active soldiers.

Outside the palace walls, disabled retired soldiers were making trouble, and inside the palace walls, active soldiers were playing dumb. I don't know what Li Wei was thinking at the moment, but Fang Zhongyong didn't see him come out to persuade these wounded soldiers to retreat.

At this moment, Fang Zhongyong only hoped that Li Wei could be a little more manly and come out to scold these wounded soldiers. Then he could walk down the steps and apologize to the emperor.

If Li Wei doesn't come out, this drama won't work. Fang Zhongyong's initiative to persuade these retired soldiers to retire would chill the morale of the army.

The clamor for abdication at the city gate continued, but Li Wei seemed to be dead, with no movement at all.

He simply played dead, or let others think he was not in the palace.

The spectators present watched as the retired wounded soldiers forced the emperor to abdicate in front of the palace, but the emperor did not even dare to show up.

I couldn't help but feel extremely disappointed.

"Taizong alone has drained away the heroic spirit of the Li family."

Fang Zhongyong couldn't help but sigh.

He had never expected Li Wei to be so cowardly. After all, he was the emperor, so how could these soldiers dare to do anything to him?
This wave of probing really tested Li Wei's ability!
It was nothing at first, but now it has become a real problem!
Fang Chongyong cursed Li Wei in his heart for being incompetent and shameless.

"Go and call Yuan Jie. He is the Jingzhao Yin, and he is in charge of the affairs of Bianliang City. These old soldiers are lawless and disturbing the people. According to the method we have formulated before, each of them will be fined one penny and driven away.

I will not show up."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, jumped on his horse and rode away.

"Is it just lawlessness and making noise that disturbs the people?"

Zhang Guangsheng asked in confusion before he could understand what was going on.

According to his understanding, this was a mutiny no matter how you looked at it! If they wanted to make a fuss, they could make it infinitely large, until Li Wei abdicated!
As a result, Fang Zhongyong actually... found such a flimsy excuse and fined each person a penny and let the matter go.

Although the city of Bianliang had not yet been built, the laws and regulations for its administration had already been promulgated. For example, if someone got drunk and made trouble on the street and was caught by the yamen runners, he would be fined a penny.

If he hadn't done anything else!
Fang Zhongyong asked helplessly: "Haven't you been the Lieutenant General of the Left Jinwu Guard for several years? Do you still need me to teach you such a small thing?"

Many times, turning big things into small things and small things into nothing is also an attitude that cannot be expressed clearly.

Zhang Guangsheng suddenly realized.

The fact that these people were not severely punished for causing trouble but were only fined a penny says it all.

Even if they don't understand, there are others who can!
"I understand. I will do it right away."

Zhang Guangsheng saluted to Fang Chongyong with his fists, then mounted his horse and left.

Fang Chongyong looked back at the screaming retired wounded soldiers. No one was retreating, as if this was a battlefield. He immediately understood that these people were actually fighting for their own interests.

The upper limit of the feudal dynasty was too low. If the rulers had treated the people at the bottom as human beings and thought about them a little, the country would have been unstable.

People will protect their own interests.

On the one hand, they treat the lower classes like beasts of burden, and on the other hand, when something goes wrong, they expect these beasts of burden to sacrifice their lives for the country.

It was quite reasonable for the cattle and horses not to fight back on the spot.

"The people's hearts and minds are like rivers flowing together. How can human power stop them?"

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but shook his head and sighed, then quietly rode away.

……

The wounded soldiers clamoring in front of the palace to force Li Wei to abdicate was like a drop of water dropped into a pond, without causing any splash.

It has not even been mentioned at the official level!

However, many things are invisible and imperceptible. Many changes are quietly but unwaveringly moving forward.

That day, Li Wei didn't even dare to leave the palace, didn't even dare to face the noisy retired soldiers, and didn't even have the courage to scold them.

Not only did the central government officials see it, but many Bianzhou people, many foreign merchants and travelers also saw it!

Even though no one took the initiative to bring up this matter afterwards, the dignity of Emperor Li had been completely destroyed, and many people became bolder and no longer took Li Wei or even the imperial palace in Bianliang City seriously.

All of a sudden, small stalls sprang up around the palace like mushrooms after rain. These stalls were scattered here and there, in a mess and disorder, making the area around the palace almost like a "grass market" among the people.

In the past, these places were considered important defense areas and merchants and vendors were absolutely not allowed to approach them.

However, no one is afraid now! Everyone knows what kind of person the emperor is, and everyone knows who has the final say in Bianzhou!

Seeing this, Fang Zhongyong planned four commercial streets around the palace, allowing merchants and hawkers to operate in an orderly manner. The shops were adjusted every five days, and no one was allowed to occupy them for a long time, and they were cleared out and rotated regularly.

In short, people like to do business here because it is close to the canal ferry, so Fang Chongyong approved it "in accordance with public opinion."

No one can say anything.

The imperial court increased tax revenue, making it more convenient for merchants and travelers to travel, and providing more jobs for local people.

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong.

The palace was well built, and the soldiers on it looked harmless, so it was just a tourist attraction. If businessmen or tourists who came to Bianzhou to do business did not "check in" at the Bianliang Palace, their trip to Bianzhou would be in vain.

Time flies and more than a month has passed.

The plum rain season arrives, and with it comes the raging floods of the Yellow River!

In order to facilitate the transport of grain, after Fang Chongyong entered Bianzhou, the imperial court diverted large amounts of water from the Yellow River into the Bian River. Although this brought convenience to the transport of grain, it also brought the floods of the Yellow River to Bianzhou.

The severe struggle against floods has begun!

(End of this chapter)