Late Tang Dynasty: I

Chapter 181
As the Hezhong Mansion is such a tax-heavy place, Li Ye naturally dare not be careless, there must be important officials in charge.

His Majesty the Emperor issued an edict to summon Prime Minister Sun Kui to the Hezhong Mansion, and concurrently serve as the Deputy Jiedu envoy of the Hezhong Mansion, in charge of government affairs. For the time being, all the affairs of the household department were handed over to Zhang Chengye.

Prime Minister Sun Weizui was also summoned to Hezhong Mansion, and concurrently served as the commander of the army and battalion of Hezhong Mansion, and all the prefectures' military.

One town and two ministers set a precedent in the Tang Dynasty.

Jingxiang also clicked his tongue secretly, which shows that His Majesty the Emperor attaches great importance to Hezhong, but it is clear after thinking about it, not to mention salt benefits, even with a population of more than 100 million, it is worth the emperor's trouble.

Li Ye smiled and said: "This is also a measure of rights and interests. After the Quartet is stabilized, naturally there is no need to worry about it."

Li Ye didn't plan to go back to Chang'an during the Shangyuan Festival, and the grand court meeting to sing praises would be avoided if it was avoided.

"I want to lead the army to Luoyang! Aiqing and Zhang Guogong will discuss about transporting some money, food, and grass to Luoyang. First, the army will be stationed, and the food and grass supplies will keep up. Second, I will reward the army of Li Siyuan and Li Kexiu. By the way, gold, silver, Prepare a few copies of silk and satin as well."

Heyang Jiedu made Li Kexiu more than 5000 people, and Luoyang Yin Li Siyuan had [-] people. The two armies will be handed over to the imperial army. After the handover is completed, they will leave Luoyang and return to Hedong.

"Since we have met, we will have a good relationship."

Li Ye thinks this way, once acquainted with each other, once met, there is always some affection, even if they meet on the battlefield in the future, they will always take care of them, it's just a little property, he can afford it now.

Jing Xiang said: "Your Majesty, the armies have traveled back and forth for hundreds of miles. Among the cavalry, there are many newly attached soldiers. Wang Rulin and the Shanguo army are all newly attached troops. Luoyang is thousands of miles away. I am so tired, I am afraid that something will happen. !"

Li Ye let out a long sigh and said, "It's not that I don't spare my military power, but I have no choice!"

The Eighth Cavalry Army, Zuo Shence Army, Zuo Huwei Army, Zuo Shenwei Army, Shanguo Army, and Wang Rulin's cavalry. With so many troops and auxiliary troops, there must be 10 horses. If 10 horses are consumed, how many civilians will be recruited along the way? .

"It won't be long before the spring plowing, and mobilizing the army at that time will inevitably affect the farming season!"

Of course, His Majesty's fear of disturbing the people is one reason, and another reason is military training. A long march of a thousand miles is a great test of the soldiers' will and endurance.

Li Ye has only one solution for the collapsed army, and that is to cancel the bugle and dismantle it into other armies.

Now there are fourteen army infantry with bugles, eight army cavalry, and two armies of personal guards are being formed. His Majesty the Emperor has enough confidence to make a fuss.

With the departure of the three armies of Hou Zhongji, Li Ting, and Gao Sishan, the Hezhong Mansion was no longer so crowded. Three days later, His Majesty the Emperor ordered that the Eighth Cavalry Army, the Zuo Shence Army, the Zuo Huwei Army, the Zuo Shenwei Army, and the Shanguo Army Wang Rulin's cavalry set off.

The Hezhong Mansion only left Zhou Xian's [-] Youshence Army and some auxiliary troops, and the huge Hezhong Mansion suddenly became empty.

Next to the Yongji Canal, Li Ye said to Sun Kui with emotion: "The river is newly attached, and the people's minds are settled. Sun Gong should be kind to the public, provide water conservancy, and sow spring plowing. Call everywhere, don't let the fertile land go to waste!"

"Your Majesty, the old minister takes orders!"

Li Ye also said kindly to Sun Wei, "I don't have any worries about the military affairs in Hezhong and the direction of Hedong for the time being, but Li Hanzhi of Zezhou, who is like a jackal, has plundered Jiangzhou and Jinzhou many times. This is what I am worried about." ah!"

"Your Majesty, at the end of the day, we will do a good job in the defense of Jiangzhou and Jinzhou, and resist the enemy and the outside of Hezhong."

Li Ye nodded and said: "You can contact Luzhou Wei Zhaodu Jiedu. If something happens, I will give Aiqing the right to make arbitrary decisions on the fly to control the armies in Hezhong and Luzhou."

"promise!"

As for the right magic strategy Zhou Xian, Li Ye also entrusted it in public.

"The world is difficult. All armies like to plunder, but I still hate it. Commander Zhou can understand what I mean."

"Your Majesty, the final general will set strict military discipline. If there are any offenders, the military law must be strictly enforced."

Li Ye nodded and said: "You must not slack off in commanding the troops. Just like Chang'an, three days of small drills and five days of heavy drills must never be abandoned."

"promise!"

Li Ye turned around and said to everyone: "The matter of the Hezhong Mansion is up to all the ministers!"

"Minister/Minister General, willing to die for His Majesty!"

Li Ye stepped on the horse, and the wind was bitter, and he felt like the wind was rustling and the water was cold.

It is not easy for a large army to walk, Li Ye is now considered to be rich in experience, and he controls the overall situation for the handsome.

Arrange for the vanguard to build roads and bridges, and arrange for scouts to guard the surrounding area. As for where to camp along the way, where to supply food and grass, what to do in case of wind and rain, that is a matter for the marching commander and judge. Li Ye only needs to make arrangements people.

"I also need to inform Duke Kong that the matter in Luoyang is urgent, and Zhang Yichao's sacrificial ceremony can only be postponed."

"By the way, where is Wang Chongying now?"

Jing Xiang said: "Return to Your Majesty, Wang Chongying, Wang Yao and Wang Ke are all in Tongguan, waiting for His Majesty to summon you!"

Li Ye nodded and said: "I will meet them at Tongguan, the army is not allowed to stay, I will arrive later!"

"promise!"

Tongguan, the official residence of the defense envoy.

Wang Chongying, Wang Yao, and Wang Ke were together, and time had passed, and the three of them no longer had the harmony they used to have. Now that Wang Gong had been separated, the atmosphere couldn't help but feel more desolate.

Wang Chongying's hair seems to have turned gray overnight, but her complexion has improved a bit. After experiencing the ups and downs of life, she has returned to the starting point again, and Wang Chongying also looked away.

For him, the Jiedushi brought prosperity and wealth, and the huge power also brought a heavy burden. If he wanted to wear the crown, he must bear its weight, and the same was true for Jiedushi.

But now, everything is like a passing cloud, life and death are all in the hands of His Majesty, so what is there to care about?

He couldn't even hate Wang Ke, they were all poor people who were passionate about power, but even so, it was impossible to forgive Wang Ke.

The family love has long since disappeared at the moment of Wang Ke's betrayal.

Wang Chongying's thoughts were all on Wang Yao, he thought that if His Majesty committed a crime, he would be willing to bear it all, and only asked the emperor to give his son a way to survive.

But Wang Ke never dared to sit down, so he mustered up the courage to walk in front of Wang Chongying.

"Father handsome!"

Wang Yao's face was livid, and he didn't speak. He was not a talkative character, but Wang Chongying waved his hands and said, "Don't talk about father, Wang Ke, you are not my son, so be it!"

Wang Ke stood there without moving, and sighed helplessly. Wang Chongying didn't even say a serious word, just like a stranger, the indifference in his words made his heart sink into an ice cellar, and what's more, he was confused about the future.

"His Majesty is here!"

The three of them were busy waiting.

As soon as Li Ye entered the lobby, he saw Wang Ke. His Majesty the Emperor didn't like this kind of young man.

"The king of Lijun in the east of the river, Biaoru, is the governor of the river, you go and take up the post!"

"His Majesty……"

Wang Ke still couldn't believe it, but he couldn't hide the ecstasy in his eyes.

Li Ye said to the guards beside him: "Take Wang Jiedu to take office!"

"promise!"

Accompanying Wang Ke to the Hezhong Mansion were twenty emperor's personal guards. The candidates were naturally carefully selected by His Majesty the Emperor. They were all the sons of officials, and the leader was Zi Yong, the son of Yang Shouhou, the former Jiedu envoy of Shannan West Road.

If you are from a humble family, you might be bought by Wang Ke if you meet someone with shallow eyelids, but the children of officials and eunuchs are definitely better.

For example, if you spend 10 yuan, there is a high probability that you can buy a man with a monthly salary of 10 yuan, but if you want to spend [-] yuan to buy the son of the richest man in the king, it will be difficult. If there are not a hundred young models, there will be no chance.

Wang Ke was taken away, Li Ye looked at Wang Chongying, and saw that there was no wave in his eyes, and Wang Yao looked at Wang Ke's back, with a look of resentment on his face.

It was the first time His Majesty the Emperor met Wang Chongying, and he looked at his prodigal son with great interest.

"In March of the first year of Wende, I just ascended the throne. At that time, how could you help me a lot?"

At that time, the imperial court was poor and empty, and the salaries of officials could not be paid out. The operation of the imperial court depended on the taxes brought in by several false sons of Yang Fugong, which was extremely difficult.

If it weren't for Wang Chongying's 20 soldiers in the river, tens of thousands of people, and [-] shi, grain, grass and money, it would be really difficult to sustain it.

Thinking about it now, His Majesty the Emperor is also full of embarrassment.

Wang Chongying prostrated himself and said: "Your Majesty has the talents of dragon and martial arts, great talent and general strategy, and I dare not take credit for it!"

Li Ye smiled and said: "Get up, there is no need to be polite, I still have to rush to Luoyang, I don't have much time, I just want to talk to you."

"Your Majesty is going to Luoyang..."

Li Ye nodded.

Wang Chongying had also seen the world, thought for a while, and thought, Does Your Majesty want to enter the Central Plains?Thinking of this, his face changed.

Said: "Your Majesty, the Xuanwu army in the Central Plains is powerful, and the three nearby towns of Heshuo in Hebei are even more deeply rooted. Li Keyong in Hedong..."

Li Ye said with a smile: "Wang Jiedu can think about what the court thinks, I am very relieved, I just want to ask you, do you hate me for killing your son Wang Gong?"

"Your Majesty, this rebellious son committed a heinous crime. He was supposed to be punished, but I only resented him and failed to teach him well!"

Li Ye looked at Wang Chongying. Wang Gong's matter must be brought up. Seeing that his eyes did not seem to be fake, he got up and said, "I have prepared a mansion for you in Chang'an. After returning to Chang'an, you can recuperate from illness. This time, the court can successfully conquer Hezhong. , you are still meritorious, and the reward will be discussed when I come back!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I don't dare to ask for a reward, I just ask Your Majesty to treat my son Wang Yao kindly!"

Li Ye looked at Wang Yao who was standing next to Wang Chongying, and she looked a bit heroic.

But Li Ye still shook his head, killed his brother, how dare he accept Wang Yao as a personal guard, as for other appointments, I can only talk about it, according to Li Ye's thinking, it would be good to be honored for a lifetime!

"Take good care of your father!"

Wang Yao cupped her fists and said, "No!"

After Li Ye finished speaking, he walked out of the gate first, then got on his horse and left Tongguan to catch up with the team.

At this time, Hedong, Taiyuan Mansion.

After wasting a month, the matter in Hezhong was settled, and Du Rangneng had no reason to stay in Taiyuan, so he wrote to the emperor to return to Chang'an.

This time he made a worthwhile trip, bringing back a woman to the emperor, as well as a fierce general and five hundred cavalry.

Congratulations!

(End of this chapter)