A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 398 The King of Qin's Teachings

Heavy snow fell.

The army is to set off north tomorrow, and the soldiers are reluctant to do so, with much discussion circulating in the army.

After capturing Luoyang and quelling the puppet Zheng regime, everyone was thinking about rewarding their merits, returning to the capital in triumph, and going home in glory.

"Tomorrow is the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. If we're at home, it's a big day for the family to worship the Kitchen God."

"Yes, the New Year is just a few days away. If we go back to Guanzhong now, we can still make it in time for New Year's Eve. Why go north to Taiyuan? The wind is strong, the snow is heavy, and the weather is freezing cold. Aren't we human beings?"

The soldiers' complaints reached Li Shimin's ears.

"The soldiers are longing for home," Li Shimin thought for a moment. "Chancellor Xiao, Chancellor Feng, I wish to open the treasury in Luoyang and distribute all the gold and silk to the soldiers."

The palace servants of Luoyang were also bestowed upon the meritorious soldiers, and some of the land in Henan was also distributed among them as rewards.

At this time, the emperor in Chang'an was unaware that Luoyang had already been captured.

The money and silk in Luoyang's treasury, and even the palace staff, cannot be moved without imperial decree.

"If everyone goes north with resentment, how can we fight the Turks? Many soldiers may even desert along the way, especially the soldiers from Henan."

I will immediately report this matter to His Majesty, and I believe His Majesty will support me. If responsibility is to be pursued, I, Li Shimin, will bear it alone.

With Li Shimin uttering these words, the two prime ministers, Xiao Yu and Feng Deyi, as well as generals such as Yuwen Shiji, Dou Gui, Liu Hongji, and Qu Tutong, naturally could not object.

If we really investigate the responsibility, the King of Qin does indeed bear some of the blame.

As the deputy commander, Li Yuanji was never asked for his opinion, and Li Shimin ignored him completely.

"This humble general is willing to sign his name and submit a memorial." Li Yi also expressed his opinion. As an official of the Crown Prince's Palace, if he did not stand out first and then echo others' support, he would not stand out.

"Xuanling, bring me the medal registers of the soldiers who participated in this eastern expedition. Draft the rewards according to the registers. Be quick, don't delay."

Fang Xuanling, the military advisor of the Prince of Qin's Palace and the examiner of the Shaanxi Eastern Grand Secretariat, stepped forward and said, "I believe that each soldier on the eastern expedition should first be given twenty mu of land, and then, according to the merits he has rendered, another twenty mu should be added."

In addition, each soldier is initially rewarded with two bolts of silk and one thousand coins, and for each meritorious service, an additional two bolts of silk and one thousand coins are awarded.

The other officers each had their own differences.

If the treasury still has surplus funds, further rewards may be given.

As for the palace women in Luoyang, there were quite a few of them, but it was impossible for everyone to get one, so they were assigned according to their merits.

"Okay, let's do it this way, and be quick."

Conferring honors, granting honorary titles, and bestowing official positions are matters for the relevant departments of the imperial court, such as the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, to handle later. Here, we must first bestow these honors.

The rewards were limited to money, silk, land, and some captured horses, slaves, and palace servants.

This task was urgent, but Fang Xuanling dared not refuse.

"Please immediately announce this method of reward to the entire army, and tonight we will reward the troops with mutton and wine!"

“Yes,” Li Shimin waved his hand.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

The soldiers' rewards were limited.
But officers, especially generals, would certainly receive even greater rewards.

Such as the twenty-five chief stewards under Li Shimin, especially those like Qin Qiong, Yuchi Gong, Liu Hongji, Luo Shixin, Huang Junhan, Wang Junkuo, Shi Wanbao, Sheng Yanshi, Dou Cong, Dou Gui, Qu Tutong, and Yin Kaishan, etc.
That deserves a hefty reward.

Of course, Li Yi's army deserves even greater credit this time, and should be treated equally.

Li Yi, Li Shiji, Li Daliang, Guo Xiaoke, Huo Yu, Li Wenxiang, as well as Li Fengci, Li Boyi, and others, were all generals of the imperial court.

Those who surrendered, such as Zhou Faming, Tian Zan, Lu Zushang, Shi Derui, Wang Yaohan, Lu Yin, and Zhang Gongjin, should also be rewarded.

"All generals and officers, bestow upon them more land and slaves," Li Shimin said.

Those at the level of chief steward, such as Luo Shixin, Huang Junhan, Liu Hongji, Li Daliang, and Li Shiji, were each awarded twenty qing of land, which amounted to two thousand mu each.

As for Qu Tutong, Dou Gui, and others, they were of higher rank and had greater merits, each receiving thirty qing (a unit of land measurement).

Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Huo Changsun, Duan Zhixuan, and other commanders of the Xuanjia Cavalry, although they did not lead a separate campaign, had made great contributions in battle. Qiu Xinggong and Yuchi Gong also each had twenty qing of land.

The other second-level managers, such as Sheng Yanshi, Ren Gui, and Guo Xiaoke, each had ten qing (a unit of area).

The next level down are naturally the local governors and prefects, whose estates range from three to five hundred acres.

Li Yi was granted fifty hectares of the best fertile land around Luoyang, and was also given some palace servants, slaves, cattle and horses as rewards. Prince Yuanji of Qi also received fifty hectares.

Li Yi doesn't lack these things now, but given his position and achievements in this eastern expedition, he deserves this level of recognition. Otherwise, if he takes less, how will the generals and commanders below him receive their due?

Li Shentong, the Prince of Huai'an, who was brought back by the emperor's brotherhood with Dou Jiande, even received a reward of thirty hectares of land, after all, he had been the highest military and political official sent by the court to Shandong.

"In accordance with the teachings of the King of Qin, the rewards for the meritorious soldiers in the eastern expedition shall be implemented as soon as possible."

The King of Qin issued an edict.
The soldiers were indeed delighted.

Although the prospect of heading north might upset everyone, the generous rewards would make them temporarily forget about those issues.

At the very least, each person would receive a reward of twenty acres of land, two bolts of silk, and a thousand coins. And this time, during the eastern expedition, each person would receive at least one tael of merit, plus more land, silk, and money.

When the higher-ups announced that a sheep would be slaughtered that night, and that mutton soup and flatbread would be served, everyone was even happier.

These days, ordinary people might not get to eat mutton soup even once a year, and they rarely have the chance to eat flatbread made from wheat flour, let alone have a hearty meal.

Many of the soldiers were selected from middle-class or upper-class families, but at the beginning of the dynasty, many soldiers actually came from ordinary families.

Joy was everywhere.

The north wind howled and snowflakes fluttered, but the victorious soldiers were busy slaughtering sheep, chopping meat, kneading dough, and boiling water. Even the wounded soldiers in the camp received extra special care.

After discussing the matter, Li Yijun handed over the gunpowder formula to Li Shimin. In fact, he had already taught the formula to the advisors and soldiers sent by Li Shimin during the days he was making it.
These are all kept strictly confidential.
Even now, many Tang soldiers still believe the propaganda in the army that the collapse of the city walls of Luoyang's outer city and palace city is a sign of divine intervention and a resurgence of the Tang Dynasty.

Gunpowder is currently the Tang army's top secret. Although black powder is the most rudimentary form of gunpowder, and the methods of using it are even more crude and cumbersome, requiring laborious digging of tunnels, construction of blasting chambers, and blasting, each blast consumes thousands of kilograms of gunpowder, and a single battle requires several blasts, consuming thousands of kilograms.

This thing is really expensive; it's no less costly than things like catapults, ballistae, or bows and arrows used in sieges.
However, it does have a remarkable effect.

Li Shimin attached great importance to it, considering it a national treasure. Those who had followed Li Yi to Xiashi Fort to make gunpowder and received guidance from Li Yi on how to build the demolition chamber, whether officials or soldiers, were now receiving special treatment and key protection.

Fortunately, Li Yi's status was high enough that he was not restricted; otherwise, he wouldn't have taken out this thing so easily.

He estimated that the soldiers' families would likely be placed in a secret workshop by the court, isolated from the outside world, and would probably not have freedom for a long time.

Li Yi went to see Du Ruhui.

"Have you found him?"

"Yes, this guy is in the palace, with Saburo." Du Ruhui's expression was somewhat complicated.

"Did he take Third Brother hostage?"

"No, quite the opposite,"

"What do you mean?"

Du Ruhui sighed and told Li Yi that when he found Du Yan, he was no longer Wang Shichong's trusted minister or confidant, nor was he the Duke of Wen or the Minister of Personnel. Instead, he was Wang Shichong's prisoner and was imprisoned with Du Chuke.

"Isn't it?"

"Wang Shichong had previously received a report that Du Yan was colluding with the Tang Dynasty. Wang Shichong sent people to investigate, but there was no clear evidence. However, Du Yan persuaded Wang Shichong to submit to the Tang Dynasty, so Du Yan was dismissed from his post and imprisoned by Wang Shichong."

After hearing this, Li Yi frowned. "I have a feeling that the person who reported Du Yan was himself. He's trying to escape punishment by changing sides when he sees that the pseudo-Zheng regime is about to fall."

"I think so too. I had already asked the King of Qin for an order to execute that lackey Du Yan, but Sanlang insisted on stopping me, saying that he was only alive in prison because of Du Yan's protection, and that many people were starving to death in the prison every day in the past few months."
Du Yan's wife, Guo, sold her jewelry and bought some wheat on the black market. She mixed it with bran to make cakes and continuously helped him, which kept him from starving. Guo herself was skin and bones from hunger, yet she still helped her sister-in-law and his wife.

Du Chuke stopped Du Ruhui from killing Du Yan, saying that if he wanted to kill Du Yan, he should kill him first, and that revenge only leads to more revenge, since they were all from the Du family of Fengxiang, the Marquis of Jingzhao.

Du Ruhui was unable to make a move against Du Chuke.

“I swear to kill Du Yan, that dog slave, but in the current situation, I can’t do it directly. Otherwise, given Chu Ke’s personality, he really will commit suicide.”

Li Yi thought to himself, "Du Chuke must have gone mad from being locked up. If he wants to die with me, then let him die."

But this cannot be said. Relatives should not be separated by estrangement. Du Ruhui and Du Chuke were brothers with the same father and mother, while Li Yi was Du Ruhui's cousin-in-law and Du Yan's son-in-law.

"Let's think about it carefully," was all he could say.

However, given the current situation in Luoyang, he actually has many ways to kill Du Ruhui without having to kill him directly, since he also has to consider Du Shiniang's feelings.

South of the city,

Dugu Xiude and several of his cousins ​​were roasting a sheep.

With a twang of the bowstring, an arrow struck a nearby pillar.

The crowd touched their knives, thinking they were remnants of Zheng's army.

"There was a message on the arrow."

Dugu Xiude took the arrow, picked up the silk cloth tied to it, and sure enough, there were words on it.

After reading it, Dugu Xiude's expression turned extremely ugly.

"What happened?" a cousin asked.

"You can see for yourselves that Wang Shichong, that dog slave, has been rumored to be pardoned, only to be exiled to Shu."

"Wang Shichong is a lackey, his hands are stained with the blood of countless members of the Dugu family. How can we let him go unpunished!"

The Dugu family scion said angrily.

Previously, Dugu Xiude's father, Dugu Ji, and Dugu Wu both plotted to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. When their plot was exposed, they were both executed, and their wives, concubines, and children in Luoyang were almost all killed as well.

Even Dugu Wudu's son, Shi Rencai, who was only three years old, was imprisoned.

After some planning, the cousins ​​of the Dugu family decided to kill Wang Shichong to avenge their father, especially Dugu Xiude, who was determined to avenge his father.

They disregarded the roasted lamb and went straight to where Wang Shichong was being held.

“We have come on the orders of the King of Qin to summon Wang Shichong and his son Xuanying to see the King of Qin.”

The guards recognized them as members of the Dugu family, who served the King of Qin. Although they were young, they were all officials of the sixth or seventh rank, so they let them in.

The group arrived at the prison.

Wang Shichong, along with his crown prince Xuan Ying, his second son Xuan Shu, and his elder brother Wang Shiyun, were all imprisoned together.

"Wang Shichong, do you recognize us?"

Dugu Xiude shouted angrily as soon as he saw Wang Shichong.

"you are?"

"I am Dugu Xiude, my father's name is Ji!" After saying this, Dugu Xiude drew his sword and rushed forward. The Dugu brothers and their companions hacked Wang Shichong, Wang Xuanying, Wang Xuanshu and Wang Shiyun to death.

"There is one more slave who deserves to die."

"Who?"

“Du Yan, it was this lackey who had Wang Shichong kill my father.”

“Du Yan is not here,” someone said.

"I know where he is!" Dugu Xiude said, his voice filled with malice as he brandished his blood-stained knife.

(End of this chapter)