Guiyi Fei Tang

Chapter 284 Ambition is Coming
"I am Shang Moyan, the last general, here to see the commander!"

In July of early autumn, Shang Moyan and Liu Jilian met outside the city of Didao after a long separation.

A pavilion was built at some point at the foot of Phoenix Mountain. The pavilion is close to the stream and is surrounded by flowers and plants.

There were about three hundred elite cavalrymen and more than a hundred armored soldiers on guard within a mile of the pavilion, while only Liu Jilong, Gao Jinda, Cui Shu, Cao Mao, Zhang Chang and the visitor Shang Moyan were inside the pavilion.

"Sit down, let's eat some game and drink some tea today, and chat about some things."

Liu Jilong, who was sitting in the main seat, motioned Shang Moyan to sit down, and because it was a round table, the distance was very close and he could hear everything being said.

"Have you settled the matter in the south?"

Liu Jilong asked while Cao Mao was making tea for everyone.

Outside the pavilion, you can hear the sound of frying in iron pans and smell the aroma of food from time to time.

Shang Moyan smelled the aroma of the food and responded with an eager appetite, "Everything has been taken care of. Besides, my father is in charge in the south, so there won't be any problems."

Liu Jilong nodded when he heard this. He already knew the location of the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan.

The locations of the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan and Duomiwei Prefecture are basically in the eastern part of Ganzi and the eastern part of Aba, adjacent to Yizhou, Weizhou, Yazhou and Lizhou of Xichuan.

According to the intelligence from Sanxianlou, Xichuan had deployed 20,000 troops in these four states, and Shizhou had assembled another 20,000 troops.

In the remaining areas of Xichuan, Wenzhou, Fuzhou and Longzhou were stationed with another 5,000 soldiers and horses, while the remaining prefectures, counties and Chengdu Prefecture had no more than 4,000 soldiers and horses.

As long as Liu Jilian spoke, Shang Moyan could gather his troops and break through into the Chengdu Plain from any of the three states of Yi, Wei and Ya.

But now is not the time. Shang Moyan has just finished a great war and is not well prepared.

While Liu Jilong was thinking about this, he saw the chef coming to serve the food.

"Let's talk while we eat."

Liu Jilong gave instructions and then watched three chefs carrying wooden trays into the pavilion.

There were three or four dishes on each plate, including pork, donkey, beef, mutton, chicken, duck, fish... everything you could think of.

Today in Longyou, not only is the population growing rapidly, but the number of livestock and poultry, which were scarce in the past, has also increased dramatically.

There are nearly 500 towns and villages in Longyou, and each village has a farm for raising poultry and livestock.

Although each farm is small in scale, poultry and livestock are less likely to get sick, and even if they do get sick, they will not all be wiped out.

In this age where people rely mainly on walking, many infectious diseases are spread on the road without waiting for infection, and people die from the disease.

A register of all government-run breeding farms in every village was kept, and Liu Jilong also had a general idea of the situation of poultry and livestock in Longyou.

These methods were originally set up to quickly increase poultry and livestock. After all, in Longyou at that time, the number of pigs was less than the amount of gold.

Even if you buy from Jiannan and Shannan, you can't buy that much.

Now that breeding has been standardized, in just seven or eight years, there are more than 20,000 registered domestic pigs.

Pork and poultry also began to be sold in the government-run butcher shops in counties and towns.

It’s a pity that the Eight-browed Pig and other native pigs grow too slowly and produce too little meat. Except for the taste and texture which are better than the later Yorkshire pigs, all other aspects are not good.

However, for ordinary people, taste and texture are not that important, having meat to eat is enough.

"I have ordered people to build a foreign school in Jiacheng County, Songzhou. The courses taught by the teachers there are exactly the same as those in a normal elementary school."

"After the banquet is over, I'll ask Cao Mao to take you to the elementary school in the city."

"The number of students will be determined according to the number stated in the original letter. After all, we don't have many teachers, and we can't accept unlimited students."

Liu Jilong first explained the schooling matters clearly, and then continued to explain:
"I have recovered Liangzhou and captured many foreign soldiers. If you have enough cattle, sheep and Hankou, I am willing to exchange them with you."

"As for food, I'm afraid you already know what the situation is like in Xichuan."

"Tell me the number of your people. I can only guarantee that they can eat half a pound of millet and wheat every day. I can't guarantee the rest."

"But things like tea, linen, and iron pots can all be sold, and the prices are still the same as the original prices for cattle and sheep."

He said a lot, and Shang Moyan listened attentively.

After Liu Jilong finished speaking, Shang Moyan spoke:

"We have enough cattle and sheep. Here is the list I brought. You can take a look at it."

As he spoke, he took out a piece of rough paper from his arms. Cao Mao took it and handed it to Liu Jilong.

It lists the things Shang Moyan needs, and the amount of each item is not small.

For example, 20,000 dan of tea, 300,000 pieces of linen clothing, 50,000 iron pots, and 10,000 sets of armor and weapons, etc.

Liu Jilong handed it to Gao Jinda, who then handed the paper to the soldiers guarding the pavilion and asked them to send it to the Protectorate for calculation and bring it back.

"As long as you have enough cattle and sheep, they will be in your hands before winter."

Liu Jilong picked up the chopsticks, picked up the food and started eating, and at the same time called on everyone to start eating too.

Shang Moyan heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this, and then said, "There are enough cattle and sheep!"

It can be seen that after he conquered the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan, he obtained a large number of cattle and sheep.

Everyone lowered their heads to eat, and Liu Jilong chatted with Shang Moyan from time to time about Xishan, Duomi, and Weizang.

In general, Tubo was still in chaos, and the royal descendants of Lhasa City were still taking sides and fighting for power.

They could only control the areas near Lhasa, and had no control over Dokham, Tuyuhun, and Bolor.

It can be said that if the current Central Plains dynasty is a dynasty in its rising period, it will not be difficult for this dynasty to conquer Tubo.

After all, Tibet now has many river valleys that can be cultivated, a large enough population, and no shortage of laborers.

Thinking of this, Liu Jilong shook his head.

With the current productivity, Tibet and the two desert regions are only suitable for tributary control, while the situations in the Northeast, Northwest and Southwest are different.

Since the climate was warmer than that of later generations, millions of people including Bohai, Shiwei, Khitan, Xi and others lived in the bitterly cold Northeast region, and the population was far from declining like in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The arable land reclaimed by the Bohai Kingdom alone was enough to accommodate tens or even millions of people.

However, the problem facing the Central Plains and the Northeast is that the climate is now too warm, and the Liaoxi Corridor of the Ming and Qing Dynasties is still under the sea.

If you want to attack the Northeast, there are only two options.

One way is to go by sea, crossing the sea from Denglai to southern Liaoning.

We traveled by land, passing through the territories of Xi and Khitan and entered the northeast.

Although Yelu Abaoji was not yet born, the Khitan people had already lived a life of farming, animal husbandry, and iron smelting.

If they continue like this, with the population size of the Khitan, it should not be a big problem for them to annex the Xi and invade Youzhou at the same time.

However, the Youzhou army is not so easy to deal with. Even the Tang court failed to take it down, let alone other countries and tribes.

For Liu Jilian, the Hu generals were always easy to deal with. After all, there were only a few tricks he could use. There were only a few Hu people with strategic concepts like Lun Qinling and Temujin.

Thinking this way, the meal was finished, and at the same time, the person sent by Gao Jinda also brought a booklet.

Liu Jilong motioned him to pass it to Shang Moyan, who took it and looked at it.

When he saw this, the expression on his face froze instantly.

It is true that after conquering the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan, he captured hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep, but this was obviously not enough to exchange for the supplies he wanted.

Apart from anything else, according to the original price, he would need at least 100,000 cattle, 200,000 horses, or 600,000 sheep to exchange for 10,000 sets of armor.

This is just the armor, not to mention the tea, food, cloth and other supplies he needs.

"This armor... I only need 2,000 sets for now."

Shang Moyan was astonished. After all, after he conquered the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan, he already had iron ore and the ability to forge armor. He just had to wait a little longer.

"We can discuss the armor."

Liu Jilong interrupted him and looked at Gao Jinda and the others: "You guys go out and wait for a moment."

"Yes……"

Gao Jinda and the others stood up and walked out after hearing this. After they left, Liu Jilong spoke:
"Now that you have conquered the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan, what are your plans for the next step?"

"Of course we should go south and take over Kangdi!"

Shang Moyan answered without hesitation, and Liu Jilong nodded and said:

"I can give you three thousand sets of armor, and you buy another two thousand."

"The condition is that after you take over Kangdi, you send people to form an alliance with Dali."

"Alliance?" Shang Moyan's expression became cautious. He was worried that Liu Jilong was testing him.

However, after watching for a long time, he did not see any intention of testing Liu Jilong.

"I need you to form an alliance with Nanzhao to deal with the imperial court together..." Liu Jilong picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said this calmly.

Shang Moyan's pupils contracted, and Liu Jilong continued:
“After you take Kangdi and form an alliance with Nanzhao, I will send someone to tell you which state to attack in Xichuan and what to do.”

"I'll give you three years. If you can take over Kangdi and form an alliance with Nanzhao within three years, then our trade can continue."

"or……"

Liu Jilong paused and glanced at him: "You can also join forces with the imperial court to attack me after I stop the trade."

"Don't worry, Marshal Jie, I'm not the kind of ungrateful person!"

Shang Moyan hurriedly explained that he knew Liu Jilong's abilities.

The fact that Liu Jilong could survive today as a shepherd slave was definitely not something he could handle.

As for the Tang court, Shang Moyan didn't think there was anything to be afraid of. After all, the Tang court couldn't even deal with Nanzhao, let alone become his enemy.

Even though he only has 20,000 soldiers now, he relies on the strong city of Xishan and has the "mountain" of Liu Jilian behind him, so it is not easy for the Tang court to deal with him.

Shang Moyan put the document away, stood up, bowed to Liu Jilong and said:

"I will take Kangdi as soon as possible and wait for your military order!"

Liu Jilong nodded, then looked outside the pavilion: "Come in!"

He called out, and Gao Jinda and others outside the pavilion came quickly from more than ten steps away.

After they entered the pavilion, Liu Jilong said:
"Send him 3,000 sets of armor and weapons, and sell him another 2,000 sets of armor and weapons. The rest of the tea, grain, wine, and salt will be at the original price."

"Yes!" Gao Jinda bowed in response, but there was a hint of surprise in his eyes when he looked at Shang Moyan.

Not only him, Zhang Chang and others also looked at him in this way.

They didn't know what their commander-in-chief had said to Shang Moyan, but they knew that their commander-in-chief would never suffer any loss.

The bigger the gift, the greater the return Shang Moyan will have to give.

While they were thinking this, Liu Jilong asked Gao Jinda and others to accompany Shang Moyan to inspect the primary school, while he himself returned to the Protectorate.

In the next few days, Gao Jinda took Shang Moyan to visit primary schools, military camps, government offices and other places.

It was not until five days later that Shang Moyan left Didao City with a lingering feeling.

At the same time, the materials from this transaction also began to be sent to Songzhou in the south.

Thousands of horse-drawn carriages, driven by laborers, were fully loaded and headed south.

Shang Moyan returned to Xishan along the same route. At this time, Shang Bibi had governed the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan in an orderly manner and suppressed many rebellions of the old nobles of the eight kingdoms.

Shang Bibi set their capital in Bailing City and changed the name of Bailing City to Jinchuan City.

The places where the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan chose to build their cities were all narrow river valleys where barley could be grown.

In the eight countries, Duomi, Mochanchuan and other places, the arable land available for growing barley is less than 400,000 mu.

The annual output of highland barley from this small amount of arable land is less than 300,000 shi.

Even though they could graze, people still needed food, so Shang Moyan and Liu Jilian bought 300,000 shi of grain.

"Counting the annual 300,000 dan of grain, we can have 600,000 dan of grain to eat every year, which is enough for our people to be grateful to us."

In Jinchuan City, a newly built Tang-style palace is particularly eye-catching.

The blue tiles, grey bricks and the wood carvings on the carved beams and painted buildings are all skills that only Han craftsmen possess.

This palace was built by Shang Moyan after he conquered the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan, gathering Han craftsmen from the eight kingdoms.

Although it is called a palace, in fact it is about the same size as a mansion, covering only three acres.

In the central hall, Shang Bibi and Shang Moyan, who had just returned, were discussing the gains from the trade and were very happy.

Shang Bibi never thought that her own dull child could become the owner of most of Duokang.

As long as they go south again and take over Kangdi, they will be the masters of the six ridges of Duokang.

Thinking of this, Shang Bibi couldn't stop smiling. He felt that he could see that scene before he died, bring that scene to the underworld, and tell the ancestors of the Meilu family.

While thinking, Shang Bibi also noticed Shang Moyan's depression and asked:
"Liu Jilong told you something. You're not in the right state."

Shang Moyan pondered for a moment, and finally told his father what Liu Jilong had instructed him to do.

Shang Bibi frowned slightly after hearing this, then put down the document and said, "I have said it before, he is not an ordinary Han Chinese."

"I don't find it strange that he wants to be the emperor. As for why he wants you to unite with the southern barbarians to fight against the Tang Dynasty, I'm afraid he wants to weaken the Tang Dynasty and create enough enemies for the Tang Dynasty."

"Only in this way can his place be safe."

Although Shang Bibi is old and his thinking is slow, he can still see the situation clearly.

"In my opinion, the Tang Dynasty is not that scary."

Shang Moyan said lightly, frowning and said: "I'm just worried about Kangdi..."

"No!" Shang Bibi interrupted him:

"The Tang Dynasty is not as weak as you think, and we are not as strong as you think."

"You think the Tang Dynasty is weak because you think the southern barbarians are no good."

"But the southern barbarians are not weak. At least the white and black barbarians among them are not weak."

"The Tang Dynasty has not reacted yet. By the time they do, the southern barbarians will certainly be in trouble."

"Don't forget how Wei Gao defeated the Eastern Territory's army of more than 100,000!"

He mentioned Wei Gao, but Shang Moyan couldn't remember him. It was not until a while later that he recalled the former Wei Gao.

During the period when Wei Gao was the governor of Xichuan, Tubo and Nanzhao failed to defeat him despite their repeated alliances, and were defeated by him instead.

If Wei Gao had not defeated Tubo's eastern border army five times, the internal conflicts in Tubo might not have erupted so quickly.

However, Shang Moyan also has his own understanding of Wei Gao.

"People like Wei Gao haven't appeared in many years."

"The person who governs Xichuan now is Xiahou Zi. He can't even deal with the southern barbarians, so how can he deal with me?"

In response to Shang Moyan's words, Shang Bibi also nodded and said, "He may not be able to do it, but there must be someone in the Tang Dynasty court who can do it, otherwise Liu Jilong would have torn his face with the Tang Dynasty long ago."

"The reason why he didn't do that is because he doesn't think he can defeat the Tang Dynasty?"

"Should I break my promise?" Shang Moyan was somewhat reluctant, and Shang Bibi also shook her head and said:
"I don't want you to break your promise. I'm just reminding you not to just see Xia Houzi."

"I also learned about the war between the southern barbarians and the Tang Dynasty from the Han people who fled here."

"The Tang Dynasty has only mobilized the troops from Lingnan Road and Jiannan Road, so the battle is so difficult."

"When the troops from other states come to reinforce us, the southern barbarians will definitely not be able to deal with the Tang Dynasty, and they will have to retreat."

"We should take advantage of this opportunity to capture Kangdi, train our troops well, and then send people to join forces with them."

"But the alliance is not in vain. Liu Jilong gave us something, so the southern barbarians must give something as well."

"In this way, even if Liu Jilong stops the trade in the future, we can still trade with the southern barbarians, so our livelihood will not be cut off."

"I am old after all, and it is hard to say how long I can live. You and your brother must support us and make our Lu family strong."

As Shang Bibi finished speaking, her mood gradually became depressed.

Shang Moyan stood up upon seeing this, walked to his side and hugged him: "In my eyes, you will always be my father who takes care of me!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Shang Bibi couldn't help laughing, and then said to Shang Moyan:
"Once you take over the six posts of Dokang, the Luoshui side will notice you."

"Don't be in a hurry to become king. You should be like Liu Jilong and keep in touch with Luoshe so as not to fall out with him."

"In addition..." Shang Bibi took a breath, calmed down and continued:

"After you follow Liu Jilong's military order and harass the border of Jiannan Road, you must also take the opportunity to threaten the Tang Dynasty to open up trade."

"If Tang Ting is willing, then you can see Liu Jilong's attitude."

"I think Liu Jilong should be able to see through your depth. He will never abandon you, a mastiff that he has cultivated with great difficulty, to fight a life-and-death battle with the Tang Dynasty."

"He must have his own intentions when he asked you to send troops."

"As long as your intention is achieved, he won't blame you when you make peace with the Tang Dynasty."

"After the peace talks, all you need to do is to go north to capture Tuyuhun. After you control Tuyuhun, you can then send troops to capture Luoshui and claim your throne!"

Shang Bibi planned the future for Shang Moyan, which was to replace the Hudi Xibuye clan and let the Meilu clan become the king of Tubo...

(End of this chapter)