The area further north of Kuizhou City is full of mountains, with few roads in sight. Now that Fang Chongyong is standing on the rammed earth north city wall, he can see the fierce fire in the dark green mountains in the distance!
Thick smoke billows! Blocking out the sky!
This wave of Liao people's rebellion will burn down many mountains and forests.
Fang Chongyong couldn't help but asked Zheng Shuqing beside him in a low voice: "Zheng Shijun, the officials are so troubled, does the city care about them?"
"This is an internal matter for the Liao people. If we help, we will only make things more chaotic."
Zheng Shuqing sighed softly and said, there are many things that Fang Chongyong cannot explain in just a few words.
The Liao people are similar to the people of Shanyue. They live in scattered groups and have no organization. There is no leader like a chief.
They can be found everywhere in Shu and the southwest. In Kuizhou, only the Kuizhou capital along the river and Wushan County to the east belong to the Han people. The places farther away and closer to the mountains are the settlements of the Liao people.
Although the Han people and the Liao people often had conflicts, because the capital of Kuizhou was a commercial port, it provided many survival opportunities for the Liao people. Therefore, the relationship between the two parties was relatively harmonious, and the integration was relatively deep, and they did not attack each other. There was more cooperation, and merchants often hired servants as guides or slaves to earn a living on the ship.
If there were officials making trouble in the city, it would be Zheng Shuqing who would handle the matter on behalf of the government. In fact, most of them were trivial matters.
The so-called big things are all between Liao people and Liao people!
At this moment, several officials with dark faces, green headscarves on their heads, short-breasted shirts and trousers, danced and shouted loudly toward the closed gates of Kuizhou City, vaguely resembling the word "Help!" , but the voice is weird. It was obvious that Zheng Shuqing was to order the city gates to be opened and allow them to take refuge in the city.
Before Fang Chongyong could say anything, the pursuers behind these people arrived. There were more than a dozen soldiers armed with swords and axes. They were dressed the same as the fleeing soldiers. When they came up, white knives went in and red knives came out.
Those few people had almost no resistance. After being hacked to death, the bodies were dragged away by the pursuers, leaving long blood marks on the ground. After a while, except for the dark red marks on the ground, it seemed like nothing had happened.
Zheng Shuqing, Yang Ruoxu and others at the top of the city all had expressionless faces and looked at this cruel and bloody vendetta very indifferently without saying a word.
"Since we have killed people, the mountain fire must be extinguished."
After a long time, Zheng Shuqing said softly to Fang Chongyong. As if to confirm his words, the mountain fire in the distance was indeed much smaller.
Seeing that Fang Chongyong seemed to still have doubts, Zheng Shuqing explained: "When the officials solve problems, they always come to kill them. They don't blame the father for his son's death, just like animals. In fact, such atrocities can be stopped by uniting the troops in the city, but another person It’s something that can’t be stopped.”
"Please tell me."
Fang Chongyong humbly asked for advice. Governor Zheng was a good official in Kuizhou. He felt that he had indeed underestimated the governance level of others.
"When the Liao people burn mountains, they are burning she grains. After the fire, there is a she field, and they will cultivate the she fields in the next year. When the land is no longer fertile, they will burn the she grains elsewhere. When burning the mountains, they often offer sacrifices to pray for rain and kill their enemies. Sacrifice to heaven…how can the government stop such a thing?”
Zheng Shuqing said helplessly.
The Han people in Kuizhou no longer farm much, but the Liao people do not have the food, cloth and silk to trade with merchants. They still maintain the primitive slash-and-burn farming method. Under such circumstances, the yield and quality of the food grown can be imagined.
These things have no market competitiveness at the Kuizhou Commercial Port. The merchants who come and go are all people who have seen the market. It is impossible to buy things produced in the fields of the Liao people and sell them elsewhere. The things that the Liao people trade with the merchants will not be sold elsewhere. There is a universe.
Zheng Shuqing felt that there was no need to tell these things to a child with a yellow mouth.
"The officials often kill their enemies and exterminate their families, showing no discipline..."
Fang Chongyong murmured to himself, with mixed feelings in his heart.
Poor people must be hateful. If people are not restrained by propriety, justice and integrity, and are not restrained by laws and regulations, they will indeed be like those people outside the city at this moment.
The Liao people came to Kuizhou City honestly, not because they wanted to like it so much, but because the Tang Dynasty government was strong and the Kuizhou commercial port was prosperous, so they could only rely on this place to make a living.
The world turns people into beasts, and turns "beasts" into people, nothing more than that.
At this moment, Zheng Shuqing's personal entourage came over and said in his ear with a very small voice: "Your Majesty, General Wang from Dongyang Mansion has arrived. He seems to have the intention of raising an army to investigate the crime. He is now waiting at the gate of the government office, bringing with him Many soldiers from the government came to build momentum."
Hearing this, Zheng Shuqing's face fell and he sighed helplessly. He shouted to Yang Ruoxu: "Follow me to the government office and let these united soldiers disperse."
There was indeed nothing going on now. Yang Ruoxu said a few words to his subordinates and followed Zheng Shuqing cautiously, looking very nervous. On the contrary, Fang Chongyong was confused.
"You should come too, we're here anyway."
Zheng Shuqing felt very unhappy and wondered whether that person was here to confirm that Fang Chongyong was still alive. Judging from Fang Youde's old-fashioned character, it was impossible to leave his son in Kuizhou without making any arrangements. The guy surnamed Wang came by such a coincidence that it was hard to say that it wasn't Fang Youde's prior arrangement.
That guy must have gone to Chang'an to complain!
When Zheng Shuqing thinks of Fang Youde, his teeth itch with hatred.
Yes, Fang Youde's personal integrity is very admirable, but this person is stuck in the past and doesn't know how to adapt.
He only adheres to his own principles and completely ignores the life and death of others. He always talks about "loyalty to the country, even before death."
In order to file a complaint, his own son would be thrown away at his will. This kind of fierceness is really not something ordinary people can have. Zheng Shuqing had no doubt that if Li Longji asked Fang Youde to kill his own son, that one would definitely do it.
The group of people arrived at the dilapidated government office, and they could smell the smell of wood rotting due to moisture in the lobby. Fang Chongyong frowned slightly. He already understood that Zheng Shuqing lived in the Lotus Pond Courtyard for his own comfort, and did not live in a government office that had no money to repair it.
Officials like them from aristocratic families, their food, clothing, housing and transportation are all extremely luxurious, and they don't expect to live with the salary from the court at all. Being an official is to ensure the continuous flow of benefits and protect the territory where their family is located.
As for local officials not repairing government and county offices, it is easy to understand. If they did, wouldn't it mean that the government was very rich?
Then if disaster relief is needed at that time, the local government will have to pay for it, right?
Have money to repair the government offices but no money to provide disaster relief? Then why do you have the nerve to find a local big business to share?
Just as Fang Zhongyong was thinking about it, he had already seen a burly general wearing Mingguang armor leading dozens of fully armed soldiers in front of the lobby.
These soldiers have a horizontal sword on the left side of their waists, two short-handled axes on the right side, and arrow pots and horn bows on their backs. The body is pierced with armor, the arms are pierced, the small round guard on the chest, the riveted helmet, including the armor with a front placket. It is not an exaggeration to describe him as armed to the teeth.
The troops are neatly dressed, the equipment is neat, and the momentum is impressive!
The government office lobby seemed like nothing to them.
Compared with the fifty crossbowmen under Yang Ruoxu, these soldiers are the real killing machines.
"Prince Zheng! The Liao people in Kuizhou burned the mountains, and you sat back and watched several times, ignoring the majesty of the Tang Dynasty! Today I heard that the Liao people burned the mountains and attacked each other. A certain man specially led his subordinates to come to help. Why did you leave your post without permission? ?”
The burly general surnamed Wang pointed at Zheng Shuqing and yelled, and he slapped his hat on him one after another.
"Wang Zhongsi! You were demoted to Dongyang Mansion to be idle because of your arrogant opinions on the military affairs of Shu! Do you still think this is Tubo! I have not investigated you for the crime of trespassing in the government office!"
Don't slap someone in the face, don't expose someone's shortcomings. Zheng Shuqing was not someone to be trifled with. He explained Wang Zhongsi’s current situation in one sentence:
Cast idle!
Zheng Shuqing did not need to be polite to Wang Zhongsi, because Wang Zhongsi was a good friend of the loyal king Li Sisheng (later Li Heng), and Li Linfu protected the longevity king Li Xuan!
Wang Zhongsi used to fight against Tibet on the border. He repeatedly performed extraordinary feats and was trusted by Li Longji. However... he has now been demoted for saying something he shouldn't have said.
Of course, there may be other reasons, but on the surface, he was demoted because of "making irresponsible comments on government affairs."
The problem still lies with that Jiannan Jiedushi Wang Yu.
When Wang Zhongsi was on the Tubo border, he wrote a memorial to comment on Wang Yu and the Jiannan Army, saying that Wang Yu's policy in border towns in Shu was "bad". Therefore, he was framed by Wang Yu's sworn brother Huangfu Weiming, saying that he had "different ambitions."
So I didn't know what Li Longji was thinking, so he demoted Wang Zhongsi to Zuo Guoyi of Dongyang Prefecture. Not only is this ghost place extremely far away from Chang'an, it is even within the radiation range of Jiannan Jiedu Envoy. A lot of the money and food in Kuizhou was allocated to the Jiannan Army.
Li Longji's sap blow was extremely cruel.
So what kind of official is Zuo Guoyi? Zuo Guoyi is the deputy captain of the Zhechong Commandery. He is responsible for training the soldiers and managing the Zhechong Mansion. He can even decide whose cubs can serve as soldiers and whose cubs cannot!
Is it powerful?
Well, it was once very big and very impressive. It was one of the important steps for ordinary people to climb up after joining the army. Many generals in the Tang Dynasty had the experience of serving as assistant officers in the military government before becoming famous.
But what about now?
Now it is basically equivalent to not being an official, and there is only a thin line between them and civilians! To put it bluntly, it’s nothing! It’s useless!
The power and position of Zuo Guoyi in Dongyang Prefecture under Wang Zhongsi was far inferior to Zheng Shuqing, the governor of Kuizhou!
The reason why Wang Zhongsi could stand here to challenge Zheng Shuqing was because he was once a popular figure around Li Longji, a specially trained general, and he had an irreversible friendship with Li Heng.
He is powerful only because he is Wang Zhongsi and his "holy family", not because of Zuo Guoyi's official position.
Although the military government in the mid-Tang Dynasty has not been abolished, it is basically no different from existing in name only. The common people regard joining the military government as a serious danger. There are many people who escape from serving. The officers and titles in the military government are not worth mentioning at all.
Taking it to the public for comparison, all the points are minus points instead of plus points. The matchmakers would frown when they saw it, and would rather not talk about that.
The world has changed, and today is no longer the era during the Zhenguan period when it was glorious to be a soldier in the government and the family did not have to worry about getting married.
This stronghold for training government soldiers is one mile outside Wushan County, not far east of Kuizhou City. Not only is it dilapidated and small, but Kuizhou itself is a commercial port and there are no wars. In addition, the land equalization system has long existed in name only. How can there be any government troops to recruit?
Now, the dozen or so fully armed elites in the government office lobby were all of Wang Zhongsi's "property". Not a single one was left, and they were all pulled out to suppress the situation.
How glorious the former soldiers were, how miserable today's soldiers are.
But Wang Zhongsi was ambitious. He wanted to strive for military glory so that he could return to Chang'an and enter Li Longji's sight again! He wanted to prove to Li Longji that no matter where he was, he was a loyal minister and good general.
Fang Chongyong looked at Yang Ruoxu, who had no expression on his face and seemed hopeless, and thought to himself: This man may have seen through life a long time ago, and he no longer has any extravagant hopes of living in Kuizhou City and waiting to die.
Wang Zhongsi had just arrived in Kuizhou not long ago and didn't know the "market conditions". Sooner or later, he will understand that as a military attache here in Kuizhou, unless there is chaos in the world, no matter how much he dances, he will not achieve anything famous.
Fang Chongyong couldn't help but compare him with the new bustards who had just entered the industry, and the scene of being trained by the madam on how to pick up customers appeared in his mind...
So the psychological gap is indeed quite big, right?
The burly Wang Zhongsi and the delicate Qinghuan were incompatible with each other, but they had some similar experiences. When Fang Chongyong thought of this, he couldn't help but want to laugh out loud, but in the end he actually endured it. Couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Hehe, hehe..."
This time, not only Wang Zhongsi and the soldiers behind him, but also Zheng Shuqing looked at Fang Chongyong in surprise.
Zheng Shuqing really couldn't imagine that Fang Chongyong, Fang Youde's only son, would actually mock his father Fang Youde's old friend.
I ridiculed Wang Zhongsi because I am a member of Li Linfu, and it is impossible for me and Wang Zhongsi to urinate in the same pot. What are you trying to do by mocking Wang Zhongsi?
Zheng Shuqing fell into deep doubts. Could this be the legendary traitor?
Because of Fang Chongyong's weird laughter, the tense atmosphere between the two sides disappeared, and instead they fell into an awkward situation of not knowing how to break the deadlock.
"General Wang, I felt something when I saw the soldiers fighting, and I have a poem I want to give you. If General Wang thinks it's not bad, how about bringing the soldiers back to Dongyang Mansion? The fighting between the soldiers is over, and the mountain fire If they let it go, they will naturally destroy it, so why should the king, his general, and his disciples waste their military strength?"
Fang Chongyong suggested cautiously.
Wang Zhongsi glanced at him thoughtfully and nodded slightly.
"That's all you say."
Wang Zhongsi looked at Fang Chongyong carefully. His slightly red and black weathered face was calm, and he did not explain his true purpose.
“When you draw your bow, you should use it with strength, and when you use arrows, you should use length.
To shoot a man, shoot a horse first; to capture a thief, capture the king first.
There is also a limit to killing people, and all countries have their own borders.
If you can control the invasion of the mausoleum, how can you kill more people? "
After finishing the poem, everyone present fell into deep thought. Yang Ruoxu looked at Fang Chongyong with deep meaning, not knowing what he was thinking.
Seeing that no one spoke, Fang Chongyong explained with an embarrassed look: "The Liao people in Kuizhou are scattered and have no subordinates. If they are strangled, they will disappear into the deep forest and be difficult to find. When the soldiers retreat, they will come to provoke them again." , there is no reason to guard against thieves for a thousand days.
Although I am young, I also know the principle of giving both kindness and power, and using the law as a prison. Many of the Liao people in Kuizhou are servants in the city, and there are also many guides and boatmen. Just using force may be counterproductive. The bad habits of officials will be difficult to correct for a while, and they can be controlled a little, there is no need to go to war. "
Fang Chongyong finished everything he said quickly, but Wang Zhongsi and Zheng Shuqing were still deep in thought and did not speak, and no one interrupted their thoughts.
Originally, what the Liao people were causing trouble this time was the grudges in the world. It was because there was really no military merit to be gained here in Kuizhou, which made Wang Zhongsi, Zheng Shuqing and others eager to try. It was best to turn these grudges into a "civilian uprising" , or even "rebellion". In that case, wouldn't the credit come?
But if the incident happened in Kuizhou, Zheng Shuqing would not be exempted from the responsibility of "provoking civil unrest". Compared with the military exploits that are likely to outweigh the merits and demerits, making money is more important. Therefore, he cannot let Wang Zhongsi do whatever he wants.
The country has been at peace for a long time, and those generals who cannot go to border towns, how can they be promoted?
There is no ordinary way for them to find the answer! So creating a little problem where there is no problem is the path that those generals who are motivated can choose.
This is not a problem for any one person, it is a problem for the world, the country, and the court.
"Prince Zheng, please take care of yourself."
Wang Zhongsi snorted coldly, turned around and left. I arrived an hour or two late, and now it's too late to intervene. I can only see if there are any opportunities in the future.
He filed out of the government office lobby with more than a dozen soldiers. The harsh sound of armors rubbing against each other made everyone left here feel terrified.
"You can go with Wang Zhongsi, and I will not stop you. He still has some friendship with your father."
Zheng Shuqing turned around very proudly, his back facing Fang Chongyong.
"Your Majesty is joking. Once a word comes out, it's hard to chase after a horse, but I still understand."
Fang Zhongyong said with a sarcastic smile.
run? Where else can you run?
If according to history books, Li Linfu can still be prime minister for twenty years, will he hide from now on, hide for twenty years, and then come out to play with An Lushan?
Zheng Shuqing's level of testing was really too poor.
Fang Chongyong didn't even bother to scold him.
"Well, children can be taught."
Zheng Shuqing turned around and nodded with a smile, feeling very satisfied with Fang Zhongyong's knowledge and knowledge.
