Emperor Sui Yang

After Cui Hongsheng left Gaochang with 3 people, he was stationed in Zhangye County because he had a mission to keep an eye on the Western Regions.

After the Northern Expedition of the Great Sui Dynasty, it would be no joke if the Western Turks came from behind.

Although the Western Turks suffered a heavy defeat and suffered heavy losses, the Xueyantuo and Tiele tribes who were with him became more attached because of the ruthless defeat.

Tong Yehu was an awesome man. After escaping back to the Turks, he was quickly elected as the new Khan by the tribes.

Historically, Tong Yehu was the pinnacle of the entire Western Turks. His territory was larger than that of previous generations, and he was the most powerful leader of the Western Turks in history.

After he returned to Sanmi Mountain, the first thing he did was to move his tent from Sanmi Mountain to Qianquan City (in Kyrgyzstan). He was worried that the Sui Dynasty would follow him. After all, Sanmi Mountain is today's North Halke, Kuqa County, Xinjiang. Mountain, relatively close to Sui Dynasty.

The Sui side was very satisfied with this attitude, and Tong Yehu continued to bow to the Sui Dynasty and sent people to send the [-] horses used in exchange for Qibi Geling to the Sui border, as well as some tributes.

Attitudes change between countries, and the fragile group, today I can be a vassal, but tomorrow I can turn my back. As the same saying goes, people who are not of my race will have different hearts.

The imperial court sent envoy Wei Jie and deputy envoy Cui Yi to the Western Turks in order to appease them.

After all, people probably knew what was going on in the Sui Dynasty. Among them, Cui Yi was the younger brother of Cui Zhen, the Han military advisor in Qibi Geling. Cui Zhen was now mixed up and had been assigned to Tong Yehu's tent. Because of last year's Guanzhong battle, Cui Zhen once advised that we should not move forward until we reach Wuwei, otherwise the army's front line will be stretched and we will have to wait for death.

Shekui didn't listen at that time, thinking that he and more than 50 soldiers from beginning to end, with strong troops and horses, could go straight into Guanzhong and capture Daxing.

Little did they know that Li Jing deliberately led them inside.

"The counties in Hexi are already stretched thin just to supply Cui Hongsheng, and we can no longer requisition food from there," Cui Zhongfang retorted to Yuwen Shu at the court meeting.

Yu Wenshu didn't recruit either. The food shortage was too big and it was unrealistic to rely solely on Jiangnan and Henan. He didn't dare to conquer Guanzhong, so he could only worry about Hexi.

Then, as soon as Yu Wenshu retorted, Cui Zhongfang immediately fell silent.

It was obvious that Cui Zhongfang was just expressing his stance, but had no intention of fighting for it. He meant to tell others, you see, I don’t agree, but I can’t defeat Yu Wenshu.
Yang Yue and Yang Xuangan have already left, and Yu Wenshu is almost there. He will wait for the matter in Hexi to be resolved before setting off for Luoyang. After all, Dongdu is the dispatch center for the entire Northern Expedition.

As for Yu Zhongwen, he came back and only heard him say:

"I have brought back the left and right Yi guards. Including the guards recruited from Guanzhong, there are about 12 soldiers and horses. How much food and civilians are needed? You have to finish the work for me before leaving."

I am the general manager of the march of the Western Route Army. I am only responsible for fighting, but you must prepare everything I need for the war, otherwise I will not do it.

Yu Wenshu is also having a hard time. As the main manager of the middle road, he also has to be responsible for coordinating the recruitment of the whole country. I am so tired, why are you forcing me?

"In another ten days, I have to leave for Luoyang anyway. You can't rely on me for everything in Guanzhong?" With that, Yu Wenshu winked at Yu Zhongwen, which meant that you asked the prince to find a solution for you.

Yu Zhongwen's eyes moved towards Yang Ming.

Yang Ming smiled and said: "We will no longer requisition food from Hexi. Cui Hongsheng is starving. The consequences are too serious. We call on the wealthy businessmen in Guanzhong and Bashu to donate their salaries."

The idea of ​​donation began when Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty destroyed the San Francisco vassals, and was carried forward by Emperor Kangxi. Within two years, [-] county magistrate positions were sold in Shanxi and Gansu. The next six tours of Jiangnan included Qianlong's visit to Jiangnan. In fact, Just to ask for money, the wealthy businessmen, officials and gentry who passed along the road had to give money. Gradually it developed into a kind of tax, called a donation tax. As long as the emperor passed by you, you had to pay this tax.

This is called exorbitant taxes.

Yang Guang was lucky enough to spend money from the treasury, so at least he looked more glamorous on the surface, and those braids were purely for begging.

Yes, donating money sounds nice, but it actually means selling your official position.

Yang Ming really had no choice, otherwise he wouldn't have used the method of donating money. Fortunately, the imperial examination in the Sui Dynasty was in its infancy. If you sell some officials, it won't have much impact. If you sell officials in the Ming Dynasty, those gangs Officials who have read the books of sages can spit on you to death.

Because selling one's official position is tantamount to cutting off the promotion channels for the scholars below.

That's why Yang Ming chose Guanzhong and Bashu, because in these two places, the channels for advancement have always been cut off. Instead of being monopolized by aristocratic families, it is better to give some opportunities to wealthy businessmen.

It was also the first time that Yu Wenshu heard such a shameless method, and he exclaimed: "This method is good. After a great war in Guanzhong last year, various counties and counties had a lot of shortages. Bashu was rich in food, and it was all in the hands of local wealthy families. Yes, they are definitely willing."

Yang Ming said with a smile: "We can only donate money from Guanzhong and Bashu, not other places. As for how to donate, Xu Guogong drew up a method before leaving and handed it over to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Personnel for implementation. It must be implemented quickly. .”

Yu Wenshu nodded quickly. It was already February, and Yu Zhongwen would have to leave in late April, which meant there were still two months left. The time was indeed very tight.

As the chief dispatcher, after he went to Luoyang, he could definitely persuade Yang Guang to postpone it for another month. After all, Yang Guang was still in Jiangxi and had not left yet, so he was the one who was taking the most time.

At present, preparations in various parts of the north are very difficult, and it is almost impossible not to postpone it. We can't go out hungry.Yang Ming only felt that his mind was haggard and his whole body was exhausted. Seeing this, all the ministers stopped talking and waited for the court to leave.

"Yu Shangshu stays, everyone else should disperse," Yang Ming waved his hand feebly.

Yu Wenshu and others hurriedly said something to the prince to take care of himself, and then they left one after another.

As Yu Zhongwen's marching commander, Yu Shiji is actually not qualified. After all, this guy doesn't know how to fight. But he has an advantage. I will never interfere in things I don't understand.

Without this transparency, one would not become the emperor's favorite.

The ministers who have left their names in history are not simple people, and there is one quality in Yu Shiji that Yang Ming still likes, that is, loyalty.

Historically, he followed Yang Guang in Jiangdu and was killed together.

Although he was a treacherous minister, in the eyes of the emperor, a loyal and treacherous minister was also a good minister.

"Last year, the imperial court borrowed a sum of money from the warriors Xun and He Chou. I borrowed the money, and the imperial court has to repay it," Yang Ming said, "But in the current situation, how can we repay it?"

Yu Shiji was the same as Pei Yun. Apart from eating and sleeping, his mind was always trying to figure out the leader's intentions. Yang Guang was the leader, and so was Yang Ming.

People who are good at understanding people's hearts often have extremely high emotional intelligence. Yu Shiji said:

"No, this money was not borrowed by His Highness. I have heard about this. In the Battle of Guanzhong, the soldiers bravely killed the enemy. Naturally, the court must distinguish rewards and punishments. The warriors Xun and He Chou only helped a little. Shouldn't they? Is it also called donating?"

Yang Ming laughed: "You can't say that. If it counts as a donation, they won't get any benefits."

"Actually," Yu Shiji had already guessed what Yang Ming wanted to do: "There are not many vacancies at the moment. If there are vacancies in the future, we can give priority to these two."

Yu Shiji is now the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and personnel appointments are under the control of others, and everyone under the fifth rank has the power of appointment and dismissal.

In fact, Yang Ming wants to default on the debt, but defaulting on the debt cannot be in vain. You have to give people some matching benefits. Does Samurai Yu want to buy an official position?He thinks more than anyone else. Maybe someone wants to get it right in one step and add some money to buy a high official.

As for He Chou, he already has a position, but he can prepare it for his son.

Yang Ming smiled: "You are the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. You are in charge of the appointment and dismissal, examinations, promotions, honors, and transfers of civil servants. I won't interfere anymore. You can take care of it yourself."

"I understand. Your Highness can rest assured," Yu Shiji said with a smile.

The imperial court owed Wu and He a total of 240 million yuan, which was owed by Yang Ming himself. However, the current situation is that it may not be possible to repay it in the next five years, so this becomes a breach of trust.

So Yang Ming has to solve this matter. He is not willing to take on debt. Of course, he is as pissed as his father and is not willing to repay the debt.

Debts are also divided into categories. Some debts have to be repaid even if you try to sell them, while some debts have to be repaid in a curved manner.

Yang Ming would definitely not let Li Jing and Su Lie go, but he still hoped that Xu Shiji and Hou Junji could go out and have some experience.

In the evening, the two men were called into the East Palace and had dinner in Yang Ming's palace.

This is a great honor. With their status, the two of them are actually not qualified at all. Although they relied on the battle last year to become Captain Suide from the seventh grade and Captain Huairen from the eighth grade, you have to know, Many officials of the third rank have never had a meal with Yang Ming.

Isn’t Yu Shiji a ready-made example?
Yang Ming looked at the restrained two people, motioned them to relax a little, and then said:
"I came from a martial arts background and have served as a soldier since then. I said hello to Wei Xuan. You two will follow him north this time. You have also seen the Eastern and Western Turkic cavalry. You are considered experienced. I am looking forward to the two of you on this expedition. Success can be achieved immediately.”

Xu Shiji hurriedly said: "The prince has high hopes, and I will repay you even if I despise my position."

"Even if you die for a humble position, it is difficult to repay it," Hou Junji also said.

Yang Ming smiled: "You two were chosen by me. As the saying goes, master leads you in. Cultivation depends on the individual. Merits are achieved through hard work. You can't be fooled for much. Only those who know how to seize opportunities will have a future. Let's be granted the title of wife." Yinzi relies on opportunities, you two need to seize them."

The two nodded hurriedly, completely moved.

The two of them are still very young, and they don't know that Yang Ming is trying to win over them, because they are really not qualified for the prince to win over them.

But they also know very well that the prince is their nobleman. After tonight's meal, the prince will be their supporter and from now on, they will be their master and servant.