Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 711 Life is a one-way journey
After Shi Siming captured Yecheng, he left immediately.

This cunning northern Hu man had suffered a great loss in Yecheng before, and thought that Yecheng was a so-called "ominous place". So after sending Li Guiren away, he directly stationed his troops in Weizhou and moved the main force a little bit eastward.

Still on the north bank of the Yellow River, he made another feint.

In fact, Shi Siming was not reckless and did not plan to cross the river to plunder Bianzhou now because the time had not yet come.

If a man counts as a tiger, the tiger will also count as a man.

Shi Siming was incapable of organizing the autumn harvest, especially the autumn harvest in the non-occupied areas. Even if he had taken Bianzhou now, the people would have fled and the people's livelihood would have been in decline, and he still could not solve the problem.

Shi Siming wanted to wait until the people in Bianzhou had harvested all the grain and fodder and stored the supplies for the winter, and then he would come and take them away, saving time, effort and worry.

War is a continuation of politics, and politics is often determined by economic factors.

Shi Siming is not stupid, he has the shrewdness and capability unique to nomadic peoples.

He can't produce, but he is good at robbing.

As a result, because Shi Siming went to Weizhou, Yuan Zai, who came to give gifts, ran away empty-handed. After finding out Shi Siming's whereabouts, Yuan Zai had to go to Yuancheng, the capital of Weizhou, to pay a visit to Shi Siming.

Accompanying it was a boatload of copper coins and silk.

On this day, Yuan Zai came to the outskirts of Yuancheng and sent someone into the city to deliver a visiting card to Shi Siming. He was soon received by the other party.

Shi Siming had a very bad temper, but he never hit anyone who smiled at him. Yuan Zai gave him gifts and behaved in a humble manner, which made Shi Siming feel very respected in the eyes of his subordinates.

"You have come all the way from Bianzhou. What do you want to tell me?"

Shi Siming squatted on the main seat in the lobby of Weizhou government office, looking sharply at Yuan Zai who bowed his head in greeting.

"I come here with your sincerity and goodwill, thanking your majesty for sending Li Guiren to Bianzhou. This is a courtesy."

Yuan Zai saluted Shi Siming with his arms crossed, glanced at him inadvertently, and a word immediately popped up in his mind: a monkey in a human form!

At this moment, Shi Siming was like a strong monkey. There was a seat but he refused to sit on it, but squatted on it.

It was funny and ridiculous, but he was not ashamed of it but proud of it.

Many years later, Yuan Zai finally understood why Shi Siming did not sit in that position at that time.

According to the recollections of Shi Siming's close followers, this guy felt that the seat given to the governor was not worthy of him, the Emperor of Great Yan, so he would rather squat on it.

He also expressed his contempt for the Bianzhou court and showed off to people around him afterwards.

"Haha, I have disliked this bastard Li Guiren for a long time.

Just deal with him easily, it's not worth mentioning.

I have seen this gift list, and I see that your government is very sincere. If you are so sincere, why don't you cross the river and serve me as your subject?
Am I not better than the dog emperor of the Li family?"

Shi Siming frowned and asked back.

This is a life-threatening question. If you don’t answer it well, your life will be in real danger.

"Your Majesty, you are joking. The emperor has 100,000 elite soldiers under his command. If you want to be the emperor, you can do it yourself. Why do you have to come to the north to be a minister?"

Yuan Zai refuted righteously and looked very angry, almost furious.

However, his legs kept shaking, betraying his current mood.

That is the uncontrollable fear!

Shi Siming was stunned when he heard this. Then he noticed Yuan Zai's embarrassment and threatened with a cold face: "Say it again, I don't care whether I kill people or not!"

"Your Majesty, you have more than 100,000 elite soldiers under your command. If you want to be the emperor, you can do it yourself. Why do you have to come to the north to serve as a minister?

Even if your majesty asks me a thousand times, I will still answer like this!"

Although Yuan Zai was afraid, he refuted with gritted teeth.

"hahahahahahahaha!"

Shi Siming laughed and danced. Judging from Yuan Zai's attitude, he had already found out a lot of things he wanted to know.

As for killing Yuan Zai, how is that possible!

If Yuan Zai is killed, Bianzhou will definitely seize the time to prepare for war and will be extremely vigilant against the troops in Hebei.

If that's the case, how can they cross the river to plunder after the autumn harvest?
"You are indeed a loyal minister. I was just joking with you. I have received your goodwill and sincerity. You can go back and report.

Since Li Guiren has been destroyed, I will withdraw the troops along the Yellow River. Don't be suspicious."

Shi Siming had an ugly smile on his face, and even when he was smiling, he looked a little ferocious.

Yuan Zai then felt relieved and thanked Shi Siming before leaving.

After leaving Yuancheng, Yuan Zai came to a secluded place, then immediately took off his official robe, changed into a farmer's coarse cloth clothes, and rode his horse at full speed to the south, almost running for his life and returning to Bianzhou.

Shi Siming was acting before, and Yuan Zai was also acting. I didn't expect that this time, so many situations would appear.

Yuan Zai saw that Shi Siming was pretending to be relaxed, so he deliberately said that he wanted to withdraw all the troops on the north bank of the Yellow River, pretending to be ignorant.

It seems like he is lacking in brains.

However, in reality, I am afraid that this so-called "Emperor of Great Yan" had already made up his mind. He wanted to lead his troops across the river and go south to plunder Bianzhou.

Yuan Zai was very confident that Shi Siming was a man of deep thoughts. He was even more afraid that Shi Siming would find out that he had seen through him and send troops to hunt him down.

It was not until he entered Kaifeng County that Yuan Zai felt relieved and felt grateful for having survived a calamity.

At this time, Fang Chongyong had no idea about what happened to Yuan Zai in Weizhou. He was in the study room of his own mansion, staring at a pair of porcelain vases sent by He Dafu.

"Sir, is there anything wrong with this porcelain?
It was fired according to your instructions. The glaze is all taken from minerals in the Western Regions, which is very different from the blue and white porcelain produced in Chang'an."

He Dafu said cautiously.

Having connections with the government is a good thing, but you also have to be careful, work diligently, and survive in the cracks.

This so-called "new blue and white porcelain" was fired according to Fang Chongyong's instructions and is very different from the original blue and white porcelain vase.

Previously, blue and white porcelain had many unresolved problems and had never been put on the table.

One is that the shape is not delicate and round enough, two is that the pattern is too simple, and three is that the quality of the blue-green glaze is not very good.

It’s not that the first two problems are unsolvable, but they are stuck on the third one.

If the quality of the glaze is not good, then you can't make good-looking blue and white porcelain. If it doesn't look good, then it can't be upscale, and if it can't be upscale, then there's no need to spend time making it so exquisite.

At this moment, the blue and white porcelain vase in Fang Chongyong's hand is thick and full, giving people a sense of stability and grandeur.

It is grand yet refined.

This is a pair of vases from a set of blue and white porcelain, which includes dozens of jars, bottles, plates, bowls, etc. The plates are large in shape, with a stable base and smooth lines, while the vases are tall and straight with beautiful lines.

Strong yet gentle.

That feeling is like an archer pulling the bowstring into a crescent moon.

The pleasing beauty reveals a violent potential ready to strike!

"Blue and white porcelain, blue and white porcelain..."

Fang Zhongyong muttered to himself, staring at the porcelain bottle in his hand in a daze.

He seemed to have returned to the time when he watched the Spring Festival Gala that year. He was dizzy from staying up late and suddenly heard that familiar song:

The sky is waiting for mist and rain, and I am waiting for you.

Smoke curls up from the kitchen, thousands of miles across the river.

Fang Zhongyong could not help but sigh and said, "Who first saw the moon by the river? When did the moon by the river first shine on people?

Life goes on from generation to generation, and the moon over the river looks the same year after year."

This is a passage from "Spring River Moon Night", a poem created between the early Tang Dynasty and the prosperous Tang Dynasty. It was widely circulated, and He Dafu had naturally heard of it.

He just didn't know why Fang Chongyong felt so emotional.

He Dafu saluted with his hands crossed and asked again: "Sir, is there anything wrong with this blue and white porcelain?"

At this moment, He Dafu had a puzzled look on his face. He thought Fang Zhongyong's expression after seeing the pair of porcelain bottles should be disappointment or joy. At the very least, the cultivation of the superiors was there, and it was reasonable that his expressionless face could not tell whether he was happy or angry.

But I don't know why the other person looks so melancholy.

"Very good, this is exactly what I wanted.

I want to build an official kiln in Bianzhou, which will specialize in producing this kind of blue and white porcelain. Later, I will gradually expand the variety and sell it throughout the Tang Dynasty.

You did a good job. I will remember this. If I have any work in the future, I will think of you first."

Fang Zhongyong restrained his expression and made a solemn promise to He Dafu. Hearing this, the wealthy man in Bianzhou breathed a sigh of relief.

Those in power are all man-eating tigers. Working for them is like "living with a king is like living with a tiger".

He Dafu understood very well that although Fang Qing seemed easy to talk to now and did not seem like a crazy person, he did things in a very methodical and disciplined manner.

That’s because Fang Qing can now control the situation in Bianzhou, and he can make the environment here more relaxed.

But what will happen in the future is uncertain. Now is now, and the future is the future. It is better to be safe than sorry.

"I will do my best to serve the government, no matter what it takes."

He Dafu nodded and bowed, with a smile on his face.

"Well, I have something else to do, so you can go by yourself. I won't see you off."

Fang Zhongyong waved his hands in a disinterested manner, as if his mood had changed inexplicably. He Dafu didn't know why, but it was not convenient for him to explore.

After he bowed and left, Fang Chongyong picked up the blue and white porcelain vase on the table and looked at it again and again.

"I can't go back!"

He couldn't help but let out a long sigh, then stood up and walked to the bronze mirror in the study.

The man in the mirror was a sturdy man who looked far from elegant. His clothes and hairstyle were almost identical to those of the Tang dynasty people in the ancient paintings of his previous life.

There is no trace of the previous life at all.

With horror, Fang Chongyong realized that he had actually already embarked on an ancient road from which there was no return.

Everything in the previous life is gradually fading away.

Even if he could still reproduce some objects from his previous life, they would only remind him of himself back then.

Goodbye...it's better to miss you, a wry smile appeared on his face.

Just when Fang Zhongyong was relaxing and reminiscing about the past, Da Congming outside the door reported: "Your Majesty, Yuan Zai has returned and said he wants to see you for something important!"

"Let him in."

Fang Zhongyong placed the blue and white porcelain vase on the table, sat back on the cushion, and straightened his back. The melancholy on his face just now had disappeared, and now it was replaced by the calm face of a politician.

Yuan Zai, who didn't even have time to change his coarse cloth clothes, pushed the door open and walked in. The other party saluted with his hands crossed and said, "Your Majesty, Shi Siming has moved the main force of the army to Weizhou and deliberately exposed a flaw. He is also in Yuancheng, the capital of Weizhou. I have already sent the gifts."

Hearing this, Fang Zhongyong did not show any surprise on his face.

In fact, although Shi Siming captured Yecheng without bloodshed, Li Guiren's followers were still there. No one knew what these people were thinking in their hearts even though they surrendered on the surface.

If Shi Siming really stayed in Yecheng, then he would be abnormal!

How could it be safe when a group of soldiers who were not his trusted ones were wandering around in and outside the city?
Shi Siming did not return to Youzhou, but stayed along the banks of the Yellow River. It was obvious what he wanted to do.

"After the autumn, Shi Siming will definitely lead his troops south to plunder."

Fang Chongyong said in a deep voice.

Yuan Zai breathed a sigh of relief. After hearing this, he knew that his judgment was correct.

"Your Majesty is right. I hurried back to Bianzhou just to report this matter. During the meeting, Shi Siming pretended to be stupid and said he wanted to withdraw the troops on the north bank of the Yellow River. I felt something was wrong."

Yuan Zai hurriedly reported.

"You are right. Shi Siming is good at fighting but not governing. Now that Bianzhou is flooded, the government is very busy. This should be the best time for Shi Siming to attack.

But even if he captured Bianzhou now, Shi Siming would not gain any benefit.

At present, more than half of the granaries in Bianzhou are empty, and a lot of them have been sent to the disaster area. We understand, and Shi Siming naturally understands, too, that he is just waiting for the people of Bianzhou to harvest the crops in the fields before he comes to take them directly! "

Fang Chongyong sneered.

This is Shi Siming's weakness. If it were Fang Zhongyong himself, even now, he would have the ability to stabilize the local situation after taking Bianzhou. Shi Siming does not have this ability, but his mind is not confused, so he can only choose a method that is beneficial to himself.

The two sides have different cards in their hands, so their playing styles are also different.

"Your Majesty, why not call all the ministers to discuss the matter? Now that we have determined Shi Siming's intentions, we have ways to deal with it."

Yuan Zai saluted Fang Zhongyong with his hands crossed. Strike while the iron is hot. He will also participate in the council this time. It is the perfect time to show his face.

Fang Chongyong is clear about rewards and punishments, and those who have made contributions will be rewarded. Now Yuan Zai is working with all his might.

Because he knew that as long as he continued to make achievements, the position of prime minister would be his sooner or later.

After all, Fang Zhongyong is going to be the emperor in the future! As long as he ascends the throne, his confidants who have fought hard in the past will surely be promoted and make a fortune!

"Well, we will have a military meeting tomorrow. You have worked hard this time, and this is a reward for you."

Fang Chongyong pointed to the pair of blue and white porcelain vases on the table and said.

"Official, this...isn't it too heavy?"

Yuan Zai was overjoyed, but he suppressed his inner excitement and acted as if it was difficult.

This thing is not about how expensive it is, but about the fact that I have never seen it before, it must be a new thing. Giving it to him means that I value him!
"No need to be so polite, this is what you deserve. Go back and rest. We will come to the military meeting tomorrow."

Fang Chongyong said with a warm smile.

Yuan Zai then walked out of the study with a bottle in one arm, like a wealthy landlord, with a happy smile on his face.

Looking at his leaving back, Fang Zhongyong laughed and shook his head.

Many times, people like Yuan Zai who don’t know the “answer” are actually happy.

Because the future has "countless" possibilities.

It is precisely "prophets" like Fang Zhongyong himself who cannot feel such happiness.

He saw the possible future outcome at a glance.

The biggest problem he faces is how to find a smooth path in a future full of thorns and countless detours.

Fang Chongyong felt that Shi Siming was much more relaxed than him, and that ignorance was the happiest thing.

"By the way, there will be a public trial of Li Guiren tomorrow, it would be nice to go and watch the excitement."

Fang Chongyong suddenly remembered this. He really wanted to see what kind of expression Li Guiren would have when facing the criticism from the people of Bianzhou.

(End of this chapter)