In the early spring of Northern Xinjiang, the mountains in the distance are still covered with snow, and there is no green color at all. The remaining snow in the fields looks like mottled white bark, with patches here and patches there.
The farmers were walking around the fields with their hands behind their backs, with smiles on their faces, saying something... With such heavy snow, this year will definitely be a good harvest.
A group of cavalry slowly passed by on the official road. The farmers looked at these cavalry and smiled.
"With Neizhou in hand, now we can farm with confidence."
"yes!"
An old man came riding a horse, accompanied by an old family member.
Nearby, the old man dismounted his horse and walked along the field ridge.
The farmers immediately fell silent.
Although I have never read a book, my instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages is innate.
The old man looked a little fierce. Although the scars on his face had healed a lot, there was still a hint of coldness.
I'm afraid this person is not simple.
The old man smiled and said: "I come from Neizhou and do business in grain business. Looking at the situation this year... it looks like a bumper harvest?"
Turns out he is a businessman!
Everyone felt relieved.
Doing business on the frontier, especially doing business, is like licking blood from the edge of a knife. If you are not ruthless, you will not make money, and you will not be able to save your life.
An old farmer smiled and said: "No, last year there was a few heavy snows, this year will definitely be a good harvest."
This is experience.
The old man smiled and said: "In this way, my business has gained confidence. By the way, it will still be tax-free this year, right?"
"Yes! The Duke is kind and promised tax exemption for three years. No, last year we didn't pay a penny or a grain of food."
The old man nodded, "Keeping your word is the basis of governance. However, I heard that the victory in Neizhou was reported to Chang'an, and His Majesty was furious."
"Not ecstatic?" Several farmers were stunned.
"You say you are angry, why did you curse Yang Ni?" The old man sighed, "If Chang'an is like this, I don't know what will happen to our northern Xinjiang from now on."
The old family member behind him turned his back, his body trembling slightly, as if he was choking.
"This..." an old farmer scratched his head, "Your Majesty is really angry? Isn't it? This conquering Neizhou, even I know it will be of great benefit to Northern Xinjiang and the Tang Dynasty. Is Chang'an... blind?"
The old man smiled and said: "The nobles in Chang'an live high up. I guess they can't see clearly! I have a few friends in Chang'an who wrote to me saying that Chang'an is currently training the guards and they must be prepared to be ready."
"Who are you guarding against?" asked a farmer.
The old farmer scolded: "What the dog said, he is guarding us!"
"Ah! As you say, what is he trying to do to prevent us?"
"Just in case we fight him."
"But the Duke has said that he will be loyal to the Tang Dynasty in this life. What is he guarding against?"
"this……"
The old farmer scratched his few hair and said, "I see, this is a thief with a guilty conscience."
"But that's the emperor!"
Everyone fell silent.
The emperor is supreme, this has been the rule for thousands of years.
Rules deeply engraved in everyone's bones.
The old man sighed, "What if the army invades the territory?"
Everyone was silent, and the old man asked again, "If Chang'an openly says that the Duke is rebellious, what should we do?"
Everyone was silent.
The old man shook his head, turned around and walked slowly.
"Bitch bitch slave!"
The old farmer suddenly stamped his feet. When the old man turned around, he saw the old farmer saying: "I only know that these good days were given by the Duke of the State. If anyone wants to deal with the Duke of the State, they will deal with me.
Even if it is for the sake of my children and grandchildren, I have to stand in front of the Duke. If anyone wants to touch the Duke, they must kill me first!"
The old man turned around and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
After getting on his horse and looking at the vast fields to the left and right, the old man said: "The country is so picturesque!"
The old servant said: "Alang, it's too cold today. You should rest in Neizhou for a few more days. Zhen Sima said that this day is not suitable for traveling, but you insist on leaving."
The old man was Song Zhen. At the beginning of spring, he went to inspect Neizhou and comforted the first batch of immigrants.
Song Zhen said: "Taoxian quickly sent the news from Chang'an. Zitai wants to ask me how we should deal with Chang'an's aggression. I can't sit still!"
The old servant said: "Chang'an is also well fed. The Duke has said that he will live up to the Tang Dynasty, but they don't stop. Isn't this trying to force him to rebel against the Duke?"
"hehe!"
Song Zhen smiled and said, "The Duke is a kind man."
The old servant couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Yes."
Ta-ta-ta!
Behind, a group of cavalry came.
These were the accompanying cavalry, but Song Zhen wanted to conduct a patrol in plainclothes, so he ordered them to follow behind and not get closer.
In early spring, although there was no activity in the fields, farmers appeared in twos and threes on the edges of the fields.
"It feels like there is hope!"
Song Zhen was very happy.
When I saw the county seat of Taoxian County from a distance, a frightened horse rushed over.
"Get out of the way!"
Two horsemen followed, riding their horses in hot pursuit and shouting at the same time.
Song Zhen didn't move.
The cavalry behind him stepped forward, bows drawn and arrows drawn.
"Don't do it!"
A man flew by, faster than the frightened horse. He pressed his hands on the horse's neck and exerted slight force. The frightened horse neighed and stopped.
Under such momentum, it can be stopped with just one press, which is shocking.
Song Zhen sighed, "If you didn't wait for the Duke to protect you, you ran out to catch the frightened horse, but who caused the trouble?"
The one who came was the Qiu Long Guard. Hearing this, he said sarcastically: "The little Duke is going out, and the leopard is coming with him. We thought about letting him ride in the carriage, but when we got to the city gate, the little Duke yelled that he wanted to ride a horse.
As soon as the young Duke came out, the swordsman followed him and frightened the merchant's horse on the spot. We couldn't embarrass the prince, so we chased him all the way."
Song Zhen's face was dark, "If the child wants to ride a horse, let him ride it? Who will lead the team?"
Qiu Longwei said: "Commander."
When Lin Feibao heard his little master say that he wanted to ride a horse, he probably thought that the little master wanted to fight with an iron horse and conquer the world... He was so excited that he had to agree!
"Just pretend I didn't ask."
As he said this, dozens of guards came accompanied by a carriage.
"Song Gong!"
Lin Feibao cupped his hands, and in front of him sat the little Duke of the Kingdom on horseback. The Little Duke also cupped his hands and said naively: "Mr. Song."
Song Zhen's eyebrows relaxed, and he was so kind that the officials in the Ministry of War who he had dealt with dropped their jaws, "Where are you going, A Liang?"
Ah Liang said: "I want a sister!"
Song Zhen understood, "It's not here yet!"
He is older and has less worries. The last time I asked, Zhou Ning's delivery date has not yet arrived.
Lin Feibao said: "The young prince said he wanted to pay his respects."
"Worship God?"
"yes."
"Go, go, go!"
Everyone protected A Liang and continued to move forward. As they passed each other, Lin Feibao heard Old Song Digu saying, "A Liang Renxiao, okay!"
Replace A Liang with the prince, and this would be correct.
Lin Feibao had a smile on his face, he was in a rare good mood!
When we arrived at the Jiedu Envoy's Mansion, our disciples said, "I've seen Duke Song."
"Is the Duke here?" Song Zhen dismounted.
"Here, I was talking about why Song Gong hasn't come back yet."
"He talks about me? He probably has too many things to do and is looking for a coolie!"
Song Zhen grumbled and walked in all the way.
"… Over in Chang'an, the emperor ordered the guards to be trained. In the short term, this is to prepare for our northern border army to move south. In the long term, it is a sharpening of swords. Once the northern border is weakened, the army will come to the city."
Liu Qing dropped the message in his hand and said, "Zitai, you are sharpening your sword!"
"I am not a cow or a sheep." Yang Xuan smiled and said: "I was thinking, if Northern Xinjiang continues to be strong, what will happen to Chang'an?"
"Chang'an will curse loudly!"
Song Zhen walked in.
"Thank you for your hard work, Duke Song." Yang Guogong stood up to greet him in a false voice.
"The people in Neizhou are still in good spirits. But before leaving, some people asked me what they would do if the Northern Liao army invaded the border. I replied that the Nationalist Congress would come to resist."
Yang Xuan handed him hot tea with his own hand, "How are the Beiliao people left behind?"
"It looks a little scary, but Zhen Siwen said, take your time and assimilate bit by bit." Song Zhen said with a smile: "What else did he say, let them live according to the rules of the Tang Dynasty, and have to start from scratch.
In the beginning, after two generations, we will only remember the Tang Dynasty. I think this method is good."
Liu Qing nodded, "Zitai employs people well."
"This method is good, but it takes too long." Yang Xuan said.
"Then do you have any good ideas?" Song Zhen asked.
Yang Xuan nodded, "With Bei Liao gone, they will naturally become the common people of the Tang Dynasty."
Song Zhen: "..."
"Destroy his country and hold his king in front of the emperor..." Yang Xuan squinted, "I'm looking forward to that day!"
"Make him dance and drink wine!" Song Zhen waved his hand, as if he was directing the enemy chief to dance, with a drunken look on his face.
"Long live the mountain call, kneel down and surrender, and congratulate me on the great Tang Dynasty!" Liu Qing's eyes were full of longing.
"Will there ever be such a day?" Song Zhen's voice was trembling, "How many years, how many years have passed, the Tang Dynasty no longer has the majesty to attract all nations to come to court. If I can see that day, I will die in peace."
"It will happen!" Yang Xuan solemnly said, "I promise."
Song Zhen took a long breath and said, "If one day, Zitai, I can go underground and explain to Your Majesty."
Yang Xuan smiled and said, "I think he will also be happy. By the way, I have a question. When he was the prince and acted upright, why was he rejected by the emperor and the empress?"
He always felt that his father's death was not that simple.
Li Mi and his son are very good at their methods, and the powerful group behind them is also very good, but the prince is the prince, and if the emperor and empress support him, external forces will have no effect.
"I was at the frontier fortress at that time!" Song Zhen said.
"I was the one who messed up."
At that time, Song Zhen was still a powerful general in the army, and the situation in Chang'an had nothing to do with him.
Yang Xuan stood up and said, "I'll go home and take a look."
"Go for it!"
Watching him go out, Song Zhen said: "When I asked the question earlier, Zitai had a look of hope in his eyes."
"After all, they are his grandfather and grandmother. Who doesn't want to see a harmonious family?" Liu Qing said.
"How deeply do you think the emperor and empress were involved in what happened back then?" Song Zhen asked.
"It's best for you and me not to delve into this issue." Liu Qing said seriously, "Let Zitai investigate on his own."
Song Zhen sighed, "That's too cruel!"
"If you want to be a king, you have to endure pain first. There is no exception."
"Yes! Being filial to the emperor just didn't make it through that test. Here in Zitai..." Song Zhen said softly: "On the way, I tested the people's hearts. I heard that Chang'an is not kind to Northern Xinjiang, and most of the people sided with Zitai.
However, the future is still difficult.”
After all, Chang'an is orthodox.
Liu Qing said: "No matter how difficult it is, I have to push him up!"
…
Yang Xuan returned home.
"The young man takes his pet out when he goes out, and his home suddenly becomes deserted. I'm not used to it."
"yes!"
Several maids were talking, and when they saw Yang Xuan coming, they quickly saluted.
Yang Xuan nodded, and when he entered, he saw Zhou Ning being supported for a walk.
"Slow down!"
Yang Xuan quickly avoided it.
Zhou Ning's belly was very big, and she frowned as she walked, "A Liang said he was going to say goodbye."
"How did he know this? He must have been taught it by someone else. However, this is a good thing." Yang Xuan said.
"Yes! Filial piety."
"What the child will do in the future is God's will. What parents can do is teach him how to be a good person. Be kind but not pedantic, and be optimistic and open-minded. In this way, even when he grows old, he will still be a good person."
This is Yang Xuan’s view on educating children.
If a child is taught incorrectly, the greater the achievement, the greater the disaster and the greater the hidden danger.
Moreover, it will harm future generations.
"I listen to you." Zhou Ning was rarely so gentle, and Yang Guogong was secretly pleased.
"By the way, have you seen Helian Yunshang?" Yang Xuan asked.
"I originally said we would meet him a while ago, but my second son ran away to Neizhou a while ago and was so scared that he was trying to kill people. I thought I would wait until he comes back to see him."
"He just can't sit still." Yang Xuan was a little envious of Wang Laoer's free and uninhibited attitude, "Let's meet him later! No, let Yi Niang see him!"
Zhou Ning shook his head, "Yiniang has good taste, but if it's too cold, she's afraid of scaring that woman."
Yang Xuan was delighted, "That's the county chief after all, he's well-informed."
"Just a rich man."
Zhou is qualified to say this, but Zhou Ning has never been a mean person, so these words are a bit strange.
Yang Xuan stayed with her for a while, then went out to look for Yi Niang, "Is Aning in a bad mood right now?"
Yi Niang smiled, "She described Helian Yunshang as a rich man. This was to suppress her, so that the second child would not be bullied by Helian Yunshang in the future."
Yang Xuan smiled, "A woman's heart is so elusive."
"Mr. Lang."
A maid came over and said, "The Jiedu Envoy's Mansion is sending someone to see you."
I just came back!
Yang Xuan reluctantly went to the front yard.
There were minor officials waiting, "My lord, someone from Chang'an came and said that the official positions of Song Gong and others have been approved, but I have to wait until everyone is here before announcing the announcement."
Along with the good news, Yang Xuan's memorial was sent to Chang'an. The memorial was written by Lao Liu, listing some officials who needed to be promoted, and asked Chang'an to consider it.
Song Zhen, the governor of Jiedu, bid farewell.
Jiang Cunzhong, General Zhonglang.
Zhen Siwen, governor of Neizhou...
etc.
This is the procedure. When both parties are not openly at odds with each other, Yang Xuan needs to give Changan this face.
But if Chang'an delays or objects, then I'm sorry, Yang Guogong will backtrack and appoint himself an official.
"How is the visitor?" Yang Xuan asked.
"Looks quite friendly."
"Amicable? But I have no money in Northern Xinjiang!"
Yang Xuan asked again, "Where is Jiang Cunzhong?"
"I'm going to train outside the city. I guess I won't be back until tomorrow."
But Zhen Siwen is still far away!
"That's it, let's wait until everyone is here."
"yes!"
Yang Xuan turned around and Han Ji came.
"There is a lot of sharpening in Chang'an. This appointment is also a test and an opportunity to intimidate us in Northern Xinjiang. Mr. Lang, I am afraid that the person who comes here is not good."
Yang Xuan said: "I'm afraid that the people who come will be too kind!"
…
Double monthly passes on the last day, brothers, the Jazz is counting on you!