For Jiang Tian's predecessor, Luo Luo, a unique student, was undoubtedly the softest part of his heart. She was once like his sister who fell out of thin air, and like the daughter he raised for nothing, leaving only a doting and tender existence.
At the beginning, it was also because she was soaked in every bit of her innocence, liveliness and cuteness, like a clear spring that always washed away the dusty soul; it was also the predecessor of Jiang Tian who was a little self-destructive and filled with the darkest heart at that time; bit by bit, from the past, Slowly walked out of the shadows.
Of course, she is now one of the few bonds that Jiang Tian has in this world. So at the moment when they met again, he was only filled with joy and comfort. He picked it up like a koala and refused to let the girl hang it on him, just like walking inside.
"Sir... miss you... really want to... dream... Luo'er... really..."
Although Luoluo's aphasia has not yet recovered from the sudden change on the night of Shangyuan, he can already speak some simple words and incoherent short sentences on his own initiative in front of Jiang Tian. Jiang Tian could only follow her wishes, comforting and responding with a smile:
"I know that Luo'er is the most obedient and well-behaved child I have ever seen;"
"I miss Luo'er too, but it's really not safe outside."
"So, I can only find a way to deal with those evil people."
"It would be great now. We can see each other anytime and anywhere."
"To be honest, I miss Luo'er too, and Luo'er's wife's dog."
"This is the Xiuban in the letter." Jiang Tian took the cat from Shunqing and stuffed it into her hand. He immediately saw that she couldn't put it down, and her eyes turned into crescents with laughter. Sure enough, no one can resist the lethality of a cute cat, especially a soft and fluffy cat.
"Da Luoluo, do you want to go crazy? How about taking a hot bath with ginger slices and orange peel in the pot."
Then Jiang Tian picked it up, and that one ran in with her, then lingered hesitantly at her feet, humming and biting the trouser leg; it was a long-haired tadpole with big ears like a butterfly. With just one look, it grunted and moved its legs, revealing its furry belly in a flattering manner.
I remember back then, this little dog seemed to look down on others. As soon as they met in the back garden, it silently chased Jiang Tian's predecessor, biting and pulling at his feet. Then, he was almost cooked by his impatient predecessor. . As a result, Luoluo happened to come over and they gave it a bath together.
After a while, Jiang Tian looked at the cute figure among the flowers, accompanied by cats barking and dogs barking, emitting tinny laughter like silver bells. Only then did Jiang Tian turn his head, face the old family members of the Liang family who had come with him, and spoke softly. : "Tell me, what are the instructions and explanations for Ambassador Liang?"
"Sure enough, I can't hide it from Jiang Sheng, but it's just a bit hard to tell." The old man smiled bitterly and helplessly and said, "Actually, my master intends to ask me to come here for advice from time to time. I'm sure I won't think about it again in the future. I’ll leave it to you for a while.”
"But what happened to Ambassador Liang, or is there any inconvenience at home?" Jiang Tian suddenly came to his senses after hearing this: "No matter what, Luo Luo is my only student, and I will definitely not sit idly by. "But can you tell me the reason?"
"It doesn't matter, Jiang Sheng is Luo'er's husband and the benefactor of the family, so there is no need to be so open-minded." The old man sighed: "My master has to go far away to attend to matters. However, Luo'er is in this situation again now. Everyday The only person here who is willing to get close to and miss me is Jiang Sheng..."
"I understand," Jiang Tian nodded and confirmed: "In that case, it doesn't matter if you come and go from time to time. Everything will be treated as if it were your own home. I will naturally explain it to her."
However, the next moment, he suddenly saw the progress of the mission emerging in his field of vision; he couldn't help but feel moved, and asked again: "What kind of official business does Ambassador Liang have this time? How long will it take to go? Is it convenient for you to tell me?"
"I heard that it was the money collected by the Anxi Protectorate on behalf of the governor. There was something wrong on the tribute road a few days ago," the martial arts warrior from the old family member thought: "The local military prefecture has already intervened in the investigation, and it was only the newcomers who made major discoveries, so My master was also ordered to go to the scene to witness something."
"Meaning money?" Upon hearing this word, Jiang Tian couldn't help but think of a series of causes and consequences. This was another product of the new policy of restoring the "New Chapter of Zhou Rites" when Liang Gong was still alive and assisting the emperor to divide the princes in the world.
Referring to the story of the Han Dynasty, it was an important obligation to order the domestic princes and foreign ministers who were enfeoffed by the Tang Dynasty to regularly offer precious metals on the grounds of offering sacrifices to the cast utensils needed for the ancestral temple. Of course, in the "New Chapter of Zhou Rites" implemented in the Tang Dynasty, it had to be relatively flexible.
According to the princely rank of Duke Bozi, the amount of household registration and output in the vassal town, a relatively precise and complicated calculation method was naturally formed under the name of Zongfanyuan; but after the basic determination, unless it is important, If something goes wrong, there won't be much change.
Therefore, among the princes, the princes and marquises should be given gold products of the corresponding standard, weight and fineness; while the uncles and sons are of the second level and should be given silver products of the same specifications; while the men and generals are given the same specifications. It is much more relaxed and allows bronzes of various colors to be used as tributes.
Then, according to the distance and the degree of difficulty of sea and land transportation, it can be divided into three thousand miles (once every two years), five thousand miles (once every five years), nine thousand miles (once every ten years), etc. The feed is supplied alternately in batches, and a certain degree of loss is allowed.
The specific number of Xiaofan may be very small, but it must be offered, otherwise you must bear the consequences. Even if there is a famine or war, you can ask for an extension, or reduce or reduce other tributes and taxes, or even apply for relief and support from the suzerain, but you have to pay it.
Therefore, in order to save trouble and for the sake of cost and efficiency, some small and medium-sized vassals will entrust this high-quality tribute service to large merchants who are familiar, reliable and powerful to purchase and transport it on their behalf. Specific to a certain region, the two houses designate the chief lord (official office) of the feudal lord.
Although it seems that it is a waste of manpower and material resources, it is an important link and claim to maintain the principles of sects and vassals between the officials of the Celestial Dynasty and the princes. What's more, these drinking gold are not offered alone, but together with many specialties and native tributes.
Under normal circumstances, along with the special products (national treasury) and local tribute (inner treasury) paid by these princes, there are also a large number of merchant groups from outside the region and vassal states who spend money to buy the status of retinues and lead caravans and ships; Therefore, although the tribute trip is tiring, it may not necessarily result in loss of money.
Therefore, this discretionary system has been inherited for many years. For the Tang Dynasty, it was a disguised search for precious metals at home and abroad; and it was used to maintain the Tang Tongbao and Baoqian issued in various dynasties, and served as the standard basis for the main currency in circulation.
On the other hand, through the process of the princes and vassal states feeding back the Central Plains in the name of paying tribute from outside the territory, it greatly opened up the sources of income for the imperial court. In disguise, the land tax and household tax, which once accounted for most of the country's revenue and had a tradition that lasted for thousands of years, were reduced to a secondary position ranked third.
So sometimes, the imperial court went too far in order to prevent the low price of grain in good years and hurt farmers from causing unrest, or to abandon their land and flee to other vassals during famines. Instead, they regularly purchased large amounts of grain in good years, and even launched all-out efforts to provide relief in times of famine; and used this as a basis. Contents of performance appraisal of local officials.
As for the second largest part of the country's fiscal revenue today, it comes from the commercial taxes and transportation fees from the Thirty-six Dao of the Tang Dynasty, a dozen large and small governor's offices, and governor's offices; plus the princes, ministers, and government officials all over the world. Under the leadership of the foreign barbarians, all parties levied taxes and shipping money (tariffs) on commercial transactions.
Therefore, just controlling the routine vassal tribute from the princes in all directions and nine corners of the world, plus these miscellaneous taxes, accounts for more than half of the world's annual income. Not to mention other various intangible interest inputs, such as tea, wine, salt, and iron, which were monopolized directly or indirectly by the imperial court.
It is precisely because of the constant exchanges and blood transfusions between internal vassals and foreign vassals from all over the world, the continuous naturalization of foreign races from all sides, and the diversion of the local redundant population; the Tang Dynasty court in Central China was able to achieve an unexpected level of light corvee and low taxation. Maintained a prosperous and continuous scenery and dignity.
Therefore, the Jingzhao Liang clan, which has basically retreated behind the scenes, is known as "the Dai Mu Hai Nei (lords), the landless vassal lord". This is not the product of general talk, but through the Lifanyuan and Zongfanyuan. The system represents real huge power and interests.
As one of the three sects of the Liang family, the Western Kingdom of Daxia and the Nanhai Gongfang lineage were the strong pillars of the north and south poles of this tributary system with four barbarians and nine borders. By the way, the Pei family from which Kodakya comes is also an important part of this system.
Therefore, there was once a rumor that a drunken emperor joked to the chamberlain who came to persuade him to cherish the dragon body: "Now that the sky is drooping, I can do it with or without me, but the Liang family cannot be without it, and Daxia and Daxia cannot be without it. In the South China Sea, if both vassals are present, all the princes will have their way."
As a buffer between Daxia and the Central Plains, the Anxi Protectorate, in addition to the six towns that have been transformed into counties in Tang Dynasty, also manages Tochar (Northern Afghanistan), Bakhna (Fergana), large and small Bolu (Kashmir) and other more than a dozen large and small ministerial states, as well as dozens of princes west of Congling.
As a symbol of sect-vassal relations and righteousness, discretionary money is undoubtedly the top priority in the tribute system of vassals and vassals. But something unexpected happened halfway. At a small scale, this was a result of poor local governance, but at a larger scale, it was a serious political incident. No wonder Ambassador Liang himself had to rush over.
In other words, did he have any ominous premonitions or signs? Or maybe it’s because you’re not confident enough to escape unscathed, so you have to make some arrangements in advance on your own side?
