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

Chapter 563 Youzhou Cavalry Beneath Cloud City

Liu Hong, the registrar of Fanzhi County, came to Yanmen and brought five thousand taels of gold.

All the gold was melted down by goldsmiths and cast into kidney-shaped gold ingots, which filled ten chests.

"In this crackdown on illegal activities at temples on Mount Wutai and Mount Heng, monks who are knowledgeable in Buddhist teachings but lack monastic certificates will be reissued certificates after examination, at a cost of 40,000 coins each..."

Five taels of gold would get you a certificate of ordination, allowing you to continue as a monk; without one, you'd have to return to secular life. Mount Wutai and Mount Heng have numerous temples; just in Fanzhi on Mount Wutai and within the two counties of Wutai, there are over fifty large temples, not even counting the smaller ones.

There are also many temples at the foot of the mountain.

"I didn't expect there to be so many monks here."

They sold a thousand ordination certificates and earned five thousand taels of gold, a total of forty thousand strings of cash.

Those monks are really rich, and they're really willing to spend money.

However, if it weren't for the Turkic invasion and Liu Hong leading his troops up the mountain, this matter wouldn't have been resolved so quickly.

"Let's use this gold to buy grain, resettle the people of Daibei, and rebuild after the disaster."

Liu Hong was somewhat surprised.

This is five thousand taels of gold! How could Li Sikong not take a single tael?
He personally escorted the gold here, and hadn't even revealed the specific accounts to anyone, only considering that Sikong might want some.

Who knew Li Yi didn't want it at all?
They didn't even take the gold back to Dingzhou, but instead planned to use it in Daibei.

“This money must be accounted for in a special account, used for its designated purpose, and every transaction must be recorded and audited in the end.”

Liu Hong nodded. If Li Sikong didn't take it, then Liu Sihuzuo naturally couldn't take it either. In fact, although the money was used in Daibei, it had to be used and arranged by the officials of Dingzhou, and wouldn't be directly handed over to the officials of Daizhou.

This money came from the temples, from the monks' rent and loans, as well as the incense money they received. Now it is being used for the people's post-war reconstruction, which is taking from the people and using it for the people, accumulating good deeds.

Over the next few days, merchants came to see Liu Hong one after another, some exchanging silk for gold, others selling grain, cattle, horses, and farming tools.
Five thousand taels of gold may seem like a large sum, but when placed in the counties under the jurisdiction of the Daizhou General Administration, it would not amount to much for post-war reconstruction and resettlement of disaster victims.

Huo Yu, Li Rulianhua, Luo San and others all brought grain. It cost four thousand coins per shi (a unit of dry measure), and one tael of gold could buy two shi of grain. The price of a degree certificate could be exchanged for ten shi of grain.

However, what Daibei lacks most right now is food.

With food, the people can be stabilized and post-disaster reconstruction can begin. Otherwise, these people will become refugees, begging for food in various places east and north of the river. Some may even become desperate and take risks, becoming bandits and thieves, wreaking havoc in the countryside.

"You've worked hard, transporting grain thousands of miles back and forth."

Li Yi and Huo Yu strolled along the Great Wall at Yanmen Pass.

After several months apart, Huo Yu transported a large quantity of grain from the Jianghuai region northward.

"You said you were going south to buy grain and then heading north to support your rebellion in suppressing Gao's rebellion, but by the time my grain shipment arrived, you had already defeated the Turkic Khaganate." Huo Yu looked at Li Yi with eyes full of admiration.

"What kind of defeat is this? Jieli just retreated because he was unwilling to fight anymore after he had plundered enough. Our Tang Dynasty still has to give him a princess and 'reward' him every year, three thousand taels of gold and two hundred thousand bolts of silk."

The Great Wall winds like a dragon.

But they could not stop the Turkic iron hooves, and in recent years the Turks have come and gone freely.

Huo Yu comforted him, "Actually, you did a good job. Think about it, after the New Year, Gao Kaidao rebelled. You didn't have the support of the imperial court's troops and funds, yet you quickly defeated Gao Kaidao and stabilized Hengyi and Dingshen prefectures."
In April, they marched out of the Taihang Mountains again, recapturing Weizhou and Beiyanzhou, and destroying Gao Kaidao's stronghold. Then, while the imperial army remained inactive, they...
Once again, they advanced alone, fighting their way to the vicinity of Yanmen City, and repeatedly defeated the Turks.

If you hadn't displayed your great power, Jieli wouldn't have been in such a hurry to attack the city, Zhang Jinshu and others wouldn't have surrendered because of Gao Kaidao's burning of siege equipment, and Jieli wouldn't have retreated.

You single-handedly lifted the siege of Yanmen, repelled Jieli, and recovered the prefectures of Xin, Dai, Wei, and Northern Yan for the court, saving countless lives.
In the end, they exchanged five thousand Turkic prisoners for twelve thousand Tang soldiers and civilians.

If we take a long-term view
The Tang Dynasty has indeed not performed well against the Turks in recent years. However, considering that the Tang Dynasty has only been in power for five or six years since it started its military campaign, it has not been easy to sweep away the various warlords in the Central Plains while also facing enormous pressure from the Turks.

Moreover, in recent years, although the Tang Dynasty seemed to be at a disadvantage in its relationship with the Turks, it was actually constantly pushing back.

For example, Weizhou, Beiyanzhou, and even Xinzhou and Daizhou were not previously under the control of the Tang Dynasty; they were in the hands of Liu Wuzhou, Gao Kaidao, Li Da'en, and others.

After each major battle with the Turks, it seemed the Turks plundered the spoils, but the Tang Dynasty always managed to expand northward.

Lan, Xin, Dai, Wei, Bei Yan,
Although Yunshuo has not yet been conquered, the Tang Dynasty is already closing in.

The next war between these two abrupt factions may have to be fought in Mayi.

Judging from the overall situation, the Tang Dynasty is indeed doing well, and it is even certain that it will be able to recover Daibei in the future.

What the Tang Dynasty needed was time.
The Turks don't have much time left to be arrogant and domineering.

Gao Kaidao and Hu Da'en, these former warlords who had carved out their own territories in the north, were also killed in the sudden battle.
Immortals fight, mortals suffer.

Yuan Junzhang certainly won't last much longer.

This is also why Li Yi insisted on leaving Yingzhou as a bridgehead in the north of the mountains, despite the imperial court's orders.

"The weather is getting hotter and hotter, but Wutai Mountain is very cool. Why don't you take Xiaoyuer and go to Wutai Mountain to escape the heat?"

As for the grain trade between Jianghuai and other regions, the roadblocks have been cleared, and the process from procurement to transportation is already very smooth. Huo Yu no longer needs to go through so much trouble.

"Little Yu'er is very well-behaved; she can even recite poems now."

Huo Yu was very fond of this adopted daughter, a child who was just over three years old. He took her with him when he went to Jiangnan to sell grain. Fortunately, they mostly traveled by boat on the canal, so it wasn't too arduous.

"The children are still young, they can learn to read and write gradually," Li Yi said with a smile. Huo Yu looked at Li Yi and said, "Congratulations on the addition of six more children to your family."

Dugu Yujingxian of Mingzhou was also granted a birth, and gave birth to a son, bringing Li Yi's total to eight sons.

Li Yi took her hand. "What's wrong? Are you jealous?"

"Jealous? What do you mean?" Huo Yushui blinked her big almond-shaped eyes, somewhat puzzled.

Li Yi laughed heartily, forgetting that the story of jealousy originated during the Zhenguan era and involved Lady Lu, the wife of Fang Xuanling.

Lady Lu, the wife of Chancellor Fang Xuanling during the Zhenguan era, was very strong-willed and resolutely opposed her husband taking concubines. When Emperor Taizong of Tang bestowed two beauties upon Fang Xuanling, Lady Lu refused to let him take them home.

Li Shimin deliberately tested her by giving her a pot of poisoned wine, forcing her to choose between drinking the poisoned wine and letting her husband take a concubine.

As a result, Lady Lu drank the poisoned wine without hesitation. However, the poisoned wine was actually vinegar. After this incident, Li Shimin withdrew his order and did not force Fang Xuanling to take a concubine.

This story of jealousy can be interpreted in different ways by people from different eras.

Li Yi now understood the power of the Lu family, because he came from the Lu family of Fanyang, one of the five noble families, while Fang Xuanling came from the Fang family of Qinghe, which, although also a prominent family, was a level below the Lu family.

If Fang Xuanling's mother hadn't been from the Li family of Zhao County, Fang Xuanling wouldn't have been qualified to marry a woman from the Lu family of Fanyang.

Therefore, after marriage, Fang Xuanling was very afraid of his wife. In fact, he was afraid of the reputation and status of the Lu family of Fanyang. Of course, it is said that the Lu family also respected and loved Fang Xuanling, and the Lu family helped Fang Xuanling a lot.

In his youth, Fang Xuanling passed the imperial examination and was appointed as a county magistrate. However, the country was in chaos at the time, and Fang Xuanling fell seriously ill shortly after taking office. Seeing that he was beyond cure and about to die, Fang Xuanling arranged for his young, newlywed wife to remarry after his death.

As a result, Lady Lu went back to her room and gouged out one of her eyes, showing it to Fang Xuanling to show that she would never remarry.

Strangely enough, Fang Xuanling's illness was miraculously cured, perhaps because he was so frightened that he broke out in a sweat.

Later, Fang Xuanling resigned from his official post and voluntarily joined Li Shimin's service, assisting the Prince of Qin and eventually becoming a renowned prime minister during the Zhenguan era.

From then on, he treated his wife, Lady Lu, with utmost respect and love, refusing even concubines and beautiful women bestowed upon him by the emperor.

at night,

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Li Yi and Huo Yu were like dry tinder, burning with passion and entwined in each other's arms. It was only then that Li Yi realized the allure of a young married woman.

They are open and have a good understanding.

Li Yi also fought a rare third battle.

I'm exhausted.

This young body is already at its limit after three times. I wonder what kind of divine body those who shout about seven times or two hours each time have.

Do you eat bull penis, sheep testicles, and deer blood every day?

Li Yi was panting heavily.
Huo Yu completely collapsed into a puddle of mud.

for a long time,

The two of them finally came to their senses.
That feeling of complete release, of being emptied out, is hard to describe.

"Why did Ru Lianhua leave as soon as I arrived? I was thinking of having tea and chatting with her, and maybe we could become sisters and keep each other company." Huo Yu nestled against Li Yi's chest.

Li stayed with Li Yi in Daibei for a while, but when she heard that Huo Yu had arrived, she quickly left.

It was to avoid Huo Yu.

Perhaps she hasn't figured out how to face it yet, even though Huo Yu wasn't one of Li Yi's wives or concubines.

Huo Yu was quite curious about Li Shi. He never expected that someone of Li Shi's status would willingly become Li Yi's lover.

Sanggan River Valley

Li Daoxuan and Wang Junkuo led 20,000 troops and waited outside Yunzhou City at the foot of Baideng Mountain for the arrival of a 50,000-strong allied army led by Yuan Junzhang, Gao Manzheng, and the Turkic Bu Lishe, who had come to aid Yunzhou City.

Facing an enemy that outnumbers them by more than two,
Prince Li Daoxuan of Huaiyang, however, was not afraid at all; on the contrary, he was extremely excited.

"Duke Peng, this time we've caught a big fish! Yuan Junzhang has 30,000 troops from the Daibei, and Bu Lishe has 20,000 Turkic soldiers."
"Let's annihilate them all here!"

Wang Junkuo stroked his beard and said, "We will follow the Grand Steward's lead. We will fight however the Grand Steward says."

Li Daoxuan said, "Although the enemy is numerous, in my view they are all like chickens and dogs. Taking advantage of their recent arrival and their exhausted state,..."

"In a moment, I will lead the cavalry straight into the enemy lines, with Duke Peng leading the army to follow. Let us crush the enemy in one fell swoop!"

Wang Junkuo praised loudly, "The Prince of Huaiyang is truly a second King of Qin! His pioneering spirit in charging into battle is unmatched!"

This humble general believes that the enemy army will surely be routed by Your Majesty in one fell swoop!

"I have heard that Your Majesty once fought in Haozhou, bare-chested in the heavy snow, with only three thousand light soldiers, and defeated Liu Wuzhou's ten thousand troops. Today, you will surely achieve the same feat!"

The young prince waved his hand and led five thousand Youzhou cavalry to launch the first attack on the enemy's fifty thousand troops!
Duke Peng, Wang Junkuo, leading the remaining 15,000 men, smiled even more broadly at Peng Guogong's indomitable spirit.

(End of this chapter)