In the winter of 899 AD, the Tang Dynasty suddenly entered a brief period of peace. This kind of peace was very rare. In this era of vassal towns and turmoil in the world, this kind of peace came very suddenly and somewhat inexplicably. In the ninth century
In the last winter of , all the princes in the world went into hibernation and panting. While licking the wounds on their bodies, they worked hard to accumulate and restore their strength. They stared at the surroundings eagerly, waiting for the right opportunity.
Launch a more ferocious attack on your opponent.
Since Emperor Xizong raised his troops to the Yellow King, the entire land of China has been in turmoil, the mountains and rivers have been shattered, and the armies have crossed the border like crucian carp in the river. You come and I go, and there has never been a moment of peace. Today you come to my house to borrow food, and tomorrow I will go to your house to eat.
You robbed my yard one month, and I will burn your house next month... Under such chaos, the powerful families that have been formed and multiplied for thousands of years since the Han Dynasty finally disappeared. Those who have been in history have
The glorious surname has also become ordinary and dim, losing all the aura surrounding it.
The Qinghe, Boling Cui, Fanyang Lu, Xingyang Zheng, Taiyuan Wang, Zhaojun, and Longxi Li families, the five surnames Qiwang, have long since disappeared from the public, and the people who dominate the world have been replaced by rude warriors.
Zhu Quanzhong, who was born as a ruffian, Li Keyong, the "one-eyed dragon" from Shatuo, Yang Xingmi, Liu Rengong, who started out as a big soldier, and Wang Jian, a scoundrel, butcher, and private salt dealer... This world is no longer run by the ministers of the political affairs hall, let alone those from the north.
The middle-ranking officials of the yamen have the final say. As for the emperor who lives in the Taiji Palace in Chang'an City, his majesty as emperor had already disappeared into "disarray in the wind" during his imprisonment in Huazhou a few years ago.
The clan members surnamed Li were massacred and truly became a "lonely family" worthy of the name.
Of course, the word tranquility is only a relative term. Real world peace cannot exist in this era. This winter, Wang Shifan, the governor of Pinglu Jiedushi in Henan Province, under the jurisdiction of Yi, Mi and other state generals rebelled. Wang Shifan
He asked Yang Xingmi, the military governor of Huainan, for help. In order to win over this prestigious vassal commander, Yang Xingmi sent troops to help him quell the rebellion. Also in the winter of this year, the Shaanzhou capital killed Zhu Jian and left Li Chang, who changed his name to Zhu Youqian and invited him.
Became Zhu Quanzhong's nephew. If these things were placed in the Taiping Period of the Tang Dynasty, they would be great events, but in the second year of Guanghua Period, they are really nothing.
After more than ten years of campaigns, Zhu Quanzhong, the prince of Dongping County, the captain of the school inspection and Zhongshu Ling, and the envoy of Xuanwu Jiedu, defeated Huang Chao, destroyed Qin Zongquan in the west, attacked Zhu Jin and Zhu Xuan brothers in the east, defeated Shi Pu, and conquered Hedong in the north.
After countless battles such as controlling Weibo, he finally brought most of the land in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River under his control, becoming the de facto overlord of the Central Plains. This winter, he is making careful arrangements, eyeing the towns of Hebei for his next expedition...
After the King of Jin, Grand Master of the Examination and Secretary of the Central Committee, and Hedong Jiedushi Li Keyong lost Xing, Ming, Ci, Lu and other prefectures, they were completely at a disadvantage under the aggressive offensive of the Xuanwu Army. This winter, he was recuperating.
Charge up, accumulate internal strength, and welcome the coming of greater war...
The prince of Hongnong County, Tong Zhongshu's subordinate, Ping Zhangshi, Huainan Jiedu envoy Yang Xingmi, after repelling the Xuanwu army going south, defeated Zhenhai Jiedu envoy Qian Hao in Lin'an, who occupied two Zhejiang provinces, and finally became the boss of Jianghuai.
This winter, he was working hard to stabilize the countryside and actively restore people's livelihood. At the same time, he was preparing his army and began to set his sights on Zhu Quanzhong's back...
After years of expeditions from east to west, Wang Jian, the governor of Xichuan, finally expanded his sphere of influence to most of Jiannan Road and owned the land of two rivers and three gorges. This winter, he is working hard on farming, building water conservancy, stabilizing territory, and implementing
The strategy of self-cultivation is to focus on internal affairs in order to consolidate his own rule on the land of Tianfu...
In comparison, Sikong, the inspector, Tong Zhongshu, and Liu Rengong, the governor of Lulong, were not so peaceful. While the entire Tang Dynasty was in a strange tranquility, Lulong's army was everywhere at the border with Khitan.
Under the fierce attack of the people. Due to the heavy losses of the elite army in the southern expedition to Weibo, the war progress was very unfavorable. This winter, the commander-in-chief who had been the leader of the Hebei feudal lords for three years was...
In deep uneasiness...
The war at the border also directly affected Hebei's political, economic and military center, Youzhou, where Lulong Jiedu ruled.
This impact does not lie in the food and clothing of the people. This autumn has been good and the weather has been good, so all states under Lulong Jiedu have achieved a relatively good harvest, and Youzhou is no exception. Mountains of grain have been stored in major granaries.
The situation is very gratifying. Under the control of Jiedu government, food prices have not fluctuated greatly, and the supply is abundant.
The ones who were most affected were those merchants who went everywhere. Because the border trade routes were blocked, salt, tea, cloth, spirits, porcelain and other goods were accumulated in various warehouses in Youzhou City, which made the merchants very worried.
Anxious. Some merchants really couldn't wait for the end of the long-lost war, so they simply sold off the goods in their hands, which made the people of Youzhou get some benefits. Only materials such as furs, wild ginseng, and deer antlers were in very short supply.
The prices of many commodities have soared to a surprising level, and even mutton has doubled. But everything is fine, at least the common people do not pay too much attention to this, because they are far away from these commodities.
Still a little far away.
This influence lies more in the curiosity, uneasiness, anxiety and worry in people's hearts, as well as the anger that arises when the people of the Tang Dynasty are provoked by the pride they still have in their hearts. People are asking around, talking about the current war, coming from the border
There will always be a group of people around the travelers, asking carefully about everything that happened outside the customs. In various teahouses and restaurants, people who know and do not know gather together, telling each other things that they do not know whether they are true or not.
Rumors predict the progress of the war.
The people who are most concerned about the progress of the war are those families whose children are serving at the border. The families of military generals have a higher status and have their own sources of information. The middle and low-level officers inquire about each other through relatives and friends, and those who have no background.
People with different backgrounds can only judge the health of their family members through the news circulating in the market.
At the Zhang residence in the four alleys of Dongshi, the old man saw off the messenger from Pingzhou. Looking at the money piled on the table, he felt a burst of pride deep in his heart. The money was two months' military pay for his second son Zhang Xingzhong.
, a total of eight guan, four guans per month. Next to the payment there is a letter from home written by Erlang. The content of the letter is very simple, and the old man can barely read, so he can naturally understand it.
Erlang of his own family has become the chief inspector of the Pingzhou Army, with a rank of Yong, deputy lieutenant, and a rank of nine. The old captain has been in the army all his life, but now he is just a captain, with a rank of Yong, a lieutenant, and a rank of nine.
Ping Shang. He was both excited and excited that Erlang could almost reach his peak at such a young age. Erlang is still young and will definitely have a better future in the future. As a father, Lao Dutou is sincerely happy.
The courier will return to Pingzhou tomorrow. He plans to write a reply immediately and ask the courier to take it back early tomorrow morning. The content of the letter has also been thought out. In addition to informing Erlang that everything is safe at home, he also needs to give him careful instructions to let him
Work hard under Li Yuhang. When fighting, you must move forward bravely and never flinch.
The old man thought of Li Yuying, the young man who came to his home with Erlang as a guest. At that time, the old man felt that this young man spoke and acted a little differently. Unexpectedly, he now became his Erlang's friend.
The boss, Erlang of his own family, fought a brilliant battle in Yuguan under the command of that young man, and was promoted as a result. The old man also thought of the other young people who came to his home as guests, and now those young people have gathered together
Li Yuhang's subordinates have become a tight-knit group. According to Lao Dutou's lifelong experience in the army, he also planned to tell Erlang at the end of the letter that if these young people unite and stand on the mountain in the future, Erlang must know how to advance and how to retreat.
Don't fight for your status and status over things that shouldn't be fought over.
The old man thought about how to write the letter in his mind, and then ordered the old ladies around him to take out pens, inks, paper and inkstones. At the same time, he asked Lan'er to buy some good wine and cut a few kilograms of dried meat back. He was going to get drunk tonight.
Fang Xiu! The happy old lady who didn’t know what to do immediately opened the cupboard obediently, while Laner went to the kitchen to get the food basket with a smile on her face. When she was leaving, she heard the old lady telling her loudly that she must sell it.
Don’t be stingy with money for some good wine, the best one is “Xiang Qianli” from Mingyue Restaurant!
Lan'er nodded and agreed, humming a tune happily and going to buy wine. The "Xiang Qianli" at Mingyue Restaurant was a bit expensive. The Zhang family was not a rich family, and they couldn't drink it a few times in the first year. Lan'er planned to do this
Sell more this time. Since my brother has been promoted and his salary has been increased, let me let my father drink to his heart's content this time!
Mingyue Restaurant is located in the most prosperous area of Dongshi. It has always been a place where wealthy officials and wealthy people from Youzhou invite guests to have banquets. Lan'er first went to Yangma Street to cut two pounds of lamb legs, carefully put them in the food, and then came again
When I arrived at Mingyue Restaurant, I waited for a while under the lobby and picked up a jar of "Xiang Qianli".
The master who sells wine used to be a veteran in the army. Speaking of which, he was still a subordinate of Lao Dutou. Seeing that Lan'er sold so much in one go, he couldn't help but smile and asked: "What happy event has happened to your family? You have to prepare for it."
How many days have you been drunk?"
Lan'er pursed her lips and said, "Uncle Chen was joking. My brother moved the capital in the border army. Your Excellency is very happy and the family is preparing to celebrate."
Master Chen naturally congratulated a few words, then went to the kitchen to fetch a few ingredients, stuffed them all into Lan'er's food box, saying it was a bonus, and Lan'er came out with thanks.
Next to the Mingyue Restaurant was a silk and satin shop. Lan'er looked at the neatly arranged pieces of silk fabric inside. After hesitating for a moment, she stepped in and cut out half a piece of silky brocade before she was satisfied.
He hugged her and came out. The cloth clothes of my father and mother were too old. Laner wanted to tailor clothes for each of them. They would look noble when wearing them during the Chinese New Year. My brother is now an officer.
My parents should also have clothes worthy of their status.
Just coming out of the silk shop, Lan'er was suddenly stopped by two soldiers. Ever since Lan'er gradually grew up and her figure and appearance became more and more beautiful, this kind of situation happened frequently. Lan'er also managed to cope with it, and she immediately
He said with a cold face: "You two should respect yourselves. A certain family member used to be the captain of the Yameni Army, and now his brother is also the captain of the Pingzhou Army. It's better for you two to leave on your own, so as not to make everyone unhappy if there is a dispute.
.”
Generally speaking, after listening to Lan'er's words, most of the young people would leave in despair. Some of the more fierce ones would only say a few harsh words at most, but in the end they would just let it go. However, these two soldiers didn't want to
After hearing this, the soldiers did not leave. One of them also said: "Little lady, please don't misunderstand me. The two of you just wanted to inquire about something, and we didn't dare to have any ill intentions."
Lan'er was stunned and asked, "What's the matter? Please tell me."
The sergeant said: "Two months ago, did my little lady rescue a drunk man in this Mingyue Restaurant?"
Lan'er thought for a while and said: "Drunk man? I met one, but I couldn't talk about the word 'rescue'."
The two sergeants were overjoyed, and the one in charge quickly asked: "Later, did the young lady hire a driver to take the drunkard back to the military camp?"
Lan'er nodded: "So what? Is there something wrong?"
The two sergeants were overjoyed and bowed at the same time: "Where is my little lady's home? Sir, who is your elder brother? I hope you can tell me."
Lan'er asked in confusion: "Who is that drunkard? Who are you two?"
The sergeant at the moment said hurriedly: "Little lady, there is no need to worry. There are only good things and no bad things this time. A certain servant of the king's command envoy has been waiting in front of this restaurant for many days. The person whom the young lady rescued at that time was