Where do people go when they are thrown away in the eternal night? There is no sound. The incense pavilion is hidden, the eyebrows are narrowed, and the moon is about to sink.
Fighting forbearance and not looking for each other? Resenting the lonely quilt. Change my heart for yours, and then we will know each other and remember each other deeply.
——"Complaining of Heartfelt Love: Where Will You Go in the Everlasting Night" Gu Kui (Five Dynasties)
…
After resting for three days in Danluo (today's Jeju Island), the Tang navy set sail and returned to Hangzhou Bay.
A huge iron-clad warship jumped out of the sea. The mast was rusty and mottled, and the sails were broken and decayed. It looked like a demon thief's ship, mysterious and unpredictable.
Bai Fu stood on the bow of the armored warship and smiled at the generals: "You Xiliang horses, who travel across the Western Regions, dare to gallop with me across the sea?"
…
The armored warship, loaded with personnel and supplies, sailed against the wind.
The armored warship rode the wind and waves at extremely fast speeds, sailing on the majestic sea like soaring clouds and mist. The Datang Navy, which set off at the same time, was instantly left behind.
A group of white dolphins lead the way in front of the armored battleship, chasing and playing, flipping and jumping,
Seeing this, the bosses of the fishing boats passing by thought it was the appearance of the sea god and the Dragon King's visit. They quickly led the crew members to kneel on the deck, throw offerings, and kowtow to pray for blessings.
…
The speed of the armored warships amazed the generals, and they quickly crossed the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea.
Not a day later, Bai Fu and others arrived at Tanggu. From Tanggu they landed, entered Jizhou, went north along the Baoqiu River, arrived at Yuyang, the capital of Jizhou, and joined forces with the 5,000 Anxi Ting cavalry stationed here.
The countryside of Yuyang is unusually calm, with military lights stretching into the distance and intersecting with the stars in the sky. If it weren't for the occasional neighing of war horses, no one would have imagined that there was an elite cavalry hidden in this valley.
In the military camp, a large banner stretched in the wind, and the word "white" in Douda was faintly visible. The shogunate tent under the banner was brightly lit, and several figures were clearly reflected on the curtain.
During this battle at sea, no official business was handled for several months. Official documents piled up like a mountain.
Bai Fu carefully read the battle reports of the past few months. During the days when he went to sea to counter the rebellion, the Central Plains battlefield also underwent tremendous changes. The situation was more severe than imagined:
On March 29th (the third year of Qianyuan, 760 AD), General Li Guangbi defeated the Yan army general An Taiqing at the foot of Huaizhou City. On April 2nd, on the west sandbank of Heyang (now Mengzhou City, Henan Province)
Defeated the Yan army and killed 1,500 people.
Generals Zhang Weijin and Cao Jie of Xiangzhou (today's XY City, Hubei Province) gathered their troops and killed Shi Hui, the Jiedushi envoy of Shannan East Road War Zone, and occupied the city to rebel.
Suzong issued an edict to promote Weilun, the governor of Longzhou (now Longxian County, Shaanxi Province), to the military envoy of Shannan East Road War Zone. Since Weilun offended the eunuch Li Fuguo in power, soon after his appointment, Weilun was transferred to the defense envoy of Qinzhou (now TS City, Gansu Province).
.
On April 29, the imperial court ordered Lai Qi, the military envoy of the Shaanxi War Zone (headquartered in Shaanzhou, today's SMX City, Henan), to be appointed as the military commander of the Shannan East Road War Zone (headquartered in Xiangzhou). After Lai Wei arrived in Xiangzhou, Zhang Weijin
Wait for the general to surrender.
On April 7th, due to the great victory at Yanmen Pass and the Hedong Army repelling the rebels, Bohai County, Khitan and Xi tribes allied forces, the imperial court awarded the Hedong War Zone (headquartered in Taiyuan Prefecture, today's TY City, Shanxi) Jiedu Envoy Wang Sili Sikongyi
Position, ranked among the three public officials.
On the same day (leap April 19th), Shi Siming led his troops to enter Luoyang, Tokyo again and stationed themselves here.
On June 6, Xing Ji, the economic envoy of Guizhou (the capital is Guizhou, today's GL City, Guangxi) reported that he would defeat 200,000 Xiyuan Barbarians (an ethnic minority in today's Jingxi City, Guangxi) and kill their leader Huang Qianyao.
wait.
On June 7, Cui Guangyuan, the military commander of the Fengxiang War Zone (headquartered in Fengxiang Prefecture, today's Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province) reported that Jingzhou was defeated, and there were more than 100,000 Qiang and Hun tribesmen in Longzhou.
On June 27, Cui Guangyuan, the military commander of the Fengxiang War Zone, defeated the Dangxiang tribe in Purun County (now north of Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province).
In the same month, Tian Shengong, the commander of the Pinglu War Zone, reported that the Yan army was defeated in Zhengzhou (now ZZ City, Henan).
…
The battle report seemed messy, but Bai Fu smelled something different from it. Among them, the most attention-grabbing one was an edict on the use of coins:
Just as Bai Fu and Sun Dashan expected last year, the consequences of misuse of coins finally appeared.
Kaiyuan money, Qianyuan money and double wheel edge money have been used together for a long time to compete with the people. Looting private wealth to supplement military and court expenses is an evil act that kills the goose and takes the egg.
This year, there was a famine, and each bushel of rice sold for 7,000 yuan. The people were unable to buy food, and the famine became a disaster. There were even tragedies in the world where people exchanged children for food and devoured each other.
Jingzhao Yin Zheng Shuqing vigorously hunted down people who minted money privately. In just a few months, more than 800 people died from violent beatings with sticks, but they still could not stop it.
On May 24, the imperial court appointed Liu Yan, an expert in finance and taxation, as the Minister of Household Affairs, and concurrently as the Duzhi of the Tang Dynasty, Coin Coin, and Salt and Iron Envoy.
Immediately, Suzong issued an edict to Gyeonggi Province (today's central Shaanxi Province): Kaiyuan coins and Qianyuan small coins were all worth ten pieces each, and double wheel edge coins were worth thirty pieces each; other states were waiting for instructions.
Coincidentally, in order to expand military expenditures, Shi Siming followed suit and minted "Shuntian coins", one of which was worth a hundred "Kaiyuan coins". Within the jurisdiction of the Puppet Yan, prices soared and more people died of starvation. Starvation deaths were everywhere on both sides of the road.
.
Seeing this, Bai Fu couldn't bear to look any further and sighed.
The inheritance of military strategists requires military strategists to be cold and ruthless in order to be of great use. But in the face of this bloody human tragedy, even Bai Fu, who has cultivated his mind by "controlling emotions", can hardly remain indifferent.
Bai Fu's mood was ups and downs, and he kept pacing in the tent, complaining in his heart: "After the death of the Taifu, is it possible that there are no more virtuous ministers in the government and the public to save the people of Ming Dynasty from disaster?
No, Mr. Li Mi is a great talent in the world, no less than a Taifu. Why don't you come out when you see the people in such trouble?"
After thinking for a long time, Bai Fu slowly calmed down.
Picking up a few other imperial edicts, there are also intriguing things:
First, on the fourteenth day of the fourth lunar month, King Li Xi of Zhao was renamed King of Yue. Li Xi's real name was Dan, and he was the second son of Emperor Suzong and the half-brother of Prince Li Yu (Li Chu).
After Shi Siming proclaimed himself emperor, Emperor Suzong issued an edict appointing Li Xi as the marshal of the world's troops and horses, and Li Guangbi as the deputy marshal to hold the troops in Guandong to replace Guo Ziyi.
Li Xi already held military power from afar, and was promoted to King of Yue, ranking second only to Prince Li Chu in the royal family. This move was extremely unusual.
Secondly, on June 26, five-year-old Prince Xing Li Yi passed away. Li Yi was the eldest son of Queen Zhang, and his youngest son was Prince Ding Li Dong.
In order to seize the throne, Empress Zhang kept rejecting the crown prince Li Yu (Li Chu). Li Chu had no choice but to be cautious, fearing that if he went on an errand and made the same mistake as Prince Jianning Li Tan, his attitude became more and more respectful and humble.
When Queen Zhang's favor was at its peak, Li Chu died young and Li Tong was still young, so Li Chu's crown prince was finally saved.
But for some reason, Bai Fu always felt that Li Ji's early death was too strange. The biggest beneficiary of this incident was obvious. Bai Fu shuddered, and a handsome but sinister face appeared in front of him.
…
At midnight, when Bai Fu was about to go to bed, his own soldiers informed him that two envoys from Youzhou had come to see him.
Entering the Baifu tent, two night travelers took off their cloaks and veils. They were Tang Jianqiu and Tang Lanzhou, disciples of the Tang clan who were lurking in Youzhou.
Seeing Bai Fu, the two of them were filled with emotions and tears in their eyes. After several years of experience, the two of them have transformed from giggling cardamom girls into calm and capable spy warriors.
Tang Jingqiu said: "The pseudo-Yanhuai King Shi Chaoyi was Shi Siming's eldest son, and he often led his troops to follow Shi Siming in battles. This man cherished his soldiers, and many soldiers admired him and were willing to follow him, but he was not favored by Shi Siming.
Shi Siming's youngest son, Shi Chaoqing, was the eldest son of Empress Xin, and was favored by Shi Siming. When Shi Siming went south, he ordered Shi Chaoqing to guard Fan Yang. This man was an alcoholic, lustful for women, vicious, mischievous, and extremely violent."
Tang Lanzhou said: "With the help of Yan Zhuang, we have instigated the rebellion of Shi Chaoyi's trusted generals Luo Yue and Cai Wenjing.
Shi Chaoqing's generals Gao Jingren, Gao Ruzhen and others were also instigated by us to rebel."
Bai Fu was overjoyed. After asking about the details, he discussed future strategic arrangements with the two men.
Bai Fu said: "We can follow Yan Zhuang's strategy of murdering An Lushan, repeat the drama of An Qingxu's father-killing, and let the Puppet Yan's city be breached from the inside without any effort."
Tang Lanzhou said: "General, what should we do next?"
Bai Fu said: "You are acting on the spur of the moment, spreading news slowly inside and outside the puppet Yan court, saying that Shi Siming dotes on his youngest son Shi Chaoqing, and has always wanted to kill Shi Chaoyi and make Shi Chaoqing the crown prince.
As long as this seed is planted, there will be a harvest one day."
Tang Jingqiu frowned and said: "Shi Chaoyi is not as good as An Qingxu. He is a humble and cautious person. I am afraid it will be difficult for him to kill his father and his brother."
Bai Fu looked at the candle, his eyes like a torch, and said decisively: "The Golden Palace has supreme authority. In front of the emperor's crown, father and son are separated, brothers are at war with each other, and it is not uncommon for them to turn against each other and turn into enemies."
This is due to human nature and does not depend on Shi Chaoyi’s personal character and moral conduct.”
After finalizing the detailed strategy, the sky was about to break, so Bai Fu arranged for the two of them to have food and lodging and let them rest for a while before leaving.
Tang Jingqiu declined politely: "General, we have just learned that you have returned to Youzhou, and we have come to see you on the spur of the moment. Without further ado, we need to rush back to Fanyang as soon as possible in order to avoid exposing our identity and exposing our flaws."
Bai Fu saw that the two of them were in their prime, but there were gray hairs hidden in their green hair. He couldn't bear it, so he comforted them and said seriously: "You two sisters, it is extremely dangerous to lurk in the enemy camp, so be careful."
If there is any disturbance, according to the established plan, we will immediately withdraw from Fan Yang and return to Tang Dynasty.
Although countering the rebellion is a big deal, I don’t ask you two to deliberately perform meritorious deeds, but I ask you to be safe and sound. As long as you survive, it is better than anything else!"
When the two heard the words, they burst into tears and nodded in agreement.
After walking out of Bai Fu's tent, the two men put on their cloaks again to cover their beautiful faces, whipped their horses and whips, and galloped away.
The morning breeze blows on my face, refreshing and pleasant.
Facing the rising sun, a line of clear tears flowed down Tang Lanzhou's cheeks. She sobbed excitedly: "Third sister, it's so good to see the general!
It's a pity that in the end I didn't have the courage to ask him for a hug..."