Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 133: The Tang Dynasty is full of martial virtues and must also win through culture

Anyi.

The former city guard's mansion has now been transformed into the Tang County Duke's Mansion.

When Wang Sizheng arrived at the mansion, he saw Yang Kan, Gao Gao, Hou Jing and others were already waiting there.

"Hey, Lao Wang!"

Hou Jing waved and greeted him.

Wang Sizheng nodded in response. He had already gotten used to this.

Although he is now the chief historian of Tangzhou, he has unknowingly boarded Li Shuang's pirate ship and become a member of their gang.

Wang Sizheng unexpectedly discovered that being on this pirate ship was not only not uncomfortable, but surprisingly comfortable.

Whenever Li Shuang summoned his retainers to discuss matters, Wang Sizheng, although not a retainer, would still participate.

Yang Kan sat upright with his legs crossed, while Hou Jing leaned sideways and discussed something.

"My Lord, why did you ask us to come here this time?"

"This time we went south to Anyi and raided the homes of so many corrupt officials. Now that we have control of Liechi, we must be expanding our forces."

"It's good to expand the army. I was thinking of going to Xiazhou for a visit."

……

Wang Sizheng listened quietly and spoke unconsciously:

"I think we should renovate the various ferry crossings and build some boats to connect the Dahe River with the east side of the river."

As soon as Wang Sizheng finished speaking, Hou Jing waved his hand, not treating him as an outsider at all.

"Impossible. What does this have to do with us? That's what the officials of each county should do."

After hearing this, Wang Sizheng was not surprised by Hou Jing's rebuttal, but was a little surprised that he had unknowingly integrated into this group.

Li Shuang came out with a box.

Seeing this, everyone stood up and bowed, saying:
"My Lord (Governor)!"

Li Shuang put down the small box and waved.

"sit!"

After Li Shuang sat down, the other four people present followed suit.

"I came here because I made some money recently and wanted to discuss with you how to spend it."

When Hou Jing heard this, he gave Wang Sizheng and Gao Ang a look, as if to say, "Am I right?"
Gaoang was a little excited and spoke first:

"I think we should recruit troops!"

Li Shuang listened and said:

"Tell me!"

"We've brought two thousand soldiers to Hedong. I think we should take this opportunity to expand it to three thousand!"

Hou Jing nodded.

"Then buy war horses, make armor, and get weapons."

Li Shuang said:
"and then?"

"Let's go to Xiazhou and have some fun!"

Hou Jing's sincere answer was met with Li Shuang's ruthless rebuttal.

"I can recruit soldiers, but the imperial court has recently issued a strict order, forbidding my troops from going to Xiazhou."

Hou Jing let out a light exclamation and thought it was strange.

"Why?"

"I heard that the Hu leaders in Xiazhou have joined forces and signed a blood oath to the Luoyang court. If my troops go there again, they will go to Luoyang and crash into the gate of the Great Gate!"

Gaoang heard this and his face turned angry.

"These barbarians are threatening us with their own lives?"

Hou Jing listened and thought it made sense.

"Let them crash into me. I want to see how high their blood splashes!"

Li Shuang shook his head.

"I am in charge of the salt business, and it would be inappropriate for me to disrespect the imperial court at this time."

After saying that, Li Shuang looked at Yang Kan and asked:
"Zu Xin, what do you think?"

Yang Kan thought for a moment and said in a deep voice:
"I believe the world is about to be in chaos. My lord, you can build more granaries in Baima and Anyi. While the trade routes are open, you can stockpile salt, iron, cloth, grain, and other supplies to prepare for emergencies."

Compared with Gao Gao and Hou Jing, Yang Kan thought a little further.

Li Shuang nodded and said, "Zu Xin is absolutely right. The fighting in Hebei is intensifying, and chaos is imminent. We should prioritize cloth and grain. Let Zu Xin handle this matter!"

In this era, the boundaries between civil officials and military commanders were not clear. Those who could manage a large army could naturally also manage the sale of food and supplies.

For example, Hou Jing served as the chief clerk under Li Shuang for a long time, managing documents.

"promise!"

Finally, Li Shuang looked at Wang Sizheng and asked:
"Si Zheng, what do you think?"

Wang Sizheng said:

"I think we should manage a city well!"

???

Li Shuang was stunned and said:

"That city wouldn't be called Yubi, right?"

Wang Sizheng was also stunned. Why was Li Shuang so upset with Yubi?
"It's Baibi City!"

"Why?"

"The two most important routes in Hedong are from Pingyang via the Fen River to Longmen, and from Pingyang via Wenxi to Anyi. I suggest rebuilding Baibi City at the intersection of the two roads, stationing several hundred to a thousand soldiers there, to control Hedong."

Li Shuang listened and thought it made sense.

"Then, let's do as you wish!"

"promise!"

Seeing that everyone was silent, Li Shuang pushed up the box he had brought.

"Next, let me tell you my idea."

Li Shuang opened the box, and everyone came over and saw a book in the box.

"Three Kingdoms?"
-
By the salt pond, Chen Shuangchi rolled up his sleeves, glanced at the sun in the sky, and said.

"It's so hot!"

Li Shuang's retainer Jia Sixie suggested to use some "cultivation, watering and drying method". Chen Shuangchi did not understand, but still did as he said.

The salt terraces in the distance are the recent masterpieces of the Shu salt workers.

Jia Sixie was leading his men to prepare the braising sauce.

Working under Li Shuang was even more tiring than before, but Chen Shuangchi felt happy about it.

It’s simple, Li Shuang really gave money!
A breeze blows beside the salt pond.

Even the wind in this place smells pungent.

"Brother, let's go!"

"Where to go?"

"Haven't you heard that the teahouse nearby has opened? I heard you can even listen to books there!"

Chen Shuangchi didn't agree with Li Shuang's new form of entertainment, but he still went to join in the fun.

But when he reached the door, he was stopped by someone.

"To get in, five cents!"

"What the hell, just five coins?"

Chen Shuangchi complained.

You know, many of them only have two Hu pancakes and a bowl of tasteless soup for a meal, and five cents is enough.

“It’s newly opened, otherwise it would be more expensive.”

"I want to see what's going on."

Chen Shuangchi paid five coins and walked in.

This teahouse is not big and its style is very rustic, but it is already mostly occupied.

It can be seen that many of them, like Chen Shuangchi, are planning to join in the fun.

Not long after, an old man came out. When everyone saw him, they sneered:
"Isn't he the old scholar from the village? He offended the Xianbei people in Luoyang and couldn't get an official position. He can only write petitions to make a living. Why is he here?"

Chen Shuangchi also laughed, but the old man on the stage became anxious.

"Don't laugh. According to the Duke, I'm now called a storyteller!"

The old man adjusted his throat and said:

"As the world's general trend goes, long periods of division will inevitably lead to unification, and long periods of unification will inevitably lead to division..."

……

(End of this chapter)