On Penglai Island, when Zhao Zan brought up business, Fu Yanlin was not in a hurry. She changed the topic and followed Zhao Zan's words to talk about family matters first: "Yuanfu, you are right. When my brother went north to conquer Youzhou, Shi Jingtang will The young and old in my family were sent to Luoyang as rewards, but in fact everyone knew they were hostages. After my brother surrendered to Zhang Longxiang, it was also thanks to the chaos in Luoyang that my Fu family was able to escape. "
Zhao Zan asked: "I wonder what position the fourth uncle holds now that he is here. I heard that Fan Yanguang is the governor of Jiedu. Our Fu family tree has deep roots, which is far beyond the comparison of an explosive martial artist like Fan Yanguang. I think the fourth uncle must be at least one of the governors." Alright?"
Fu Yanlin said: "No, no. Before I set off, my brother was appointed as the Zhonglang General and walked in front of the marshal."
"General Zhonglang?"
Just as Zhang Mai didn't know much about Zhao Zan's situation, Zhao Zan was far away by the sea and didn't have a deep understanding of the internal military and political system of the Tang Army. But he was familiar with history books and knew many stories of the previous dynasties, so he said in an envious tone: "I don't know whether this Zhonglang general of Tiance is compared to the tiger of the Han Dynasty, who is sitting in the two thousand stone forest, or to the Jin Dynasty of the Tang Dynasty." Commander-in-Chief of the Guard, a high position second only to the General?"
Who knows? Fu Yanlin said: "No, Tiance's lieutenant general is very young. In the army, one can be called a general in words, but in fact he is not even a general. He can only be regarded as a quasi-general."
In fact, according to the original organizational structure of Tiance's Tang Army in the northwest, one lieutenant will be able to govern three to four captain's mansions, which means he can control a scale of three to four thousand people. Tiance has a strong army, and does not count auxiliary soldiers and civilians. Therefore, three thousand soldiers are enough to be a single force. Even like Khan Blood and Iron Beast, the core force is only a few thousand people, so the position of Zhonglang General is actually not low. , but now the family fortune is getting bigger and bigger. Especially in the two battles of Guanzhong and Mobei, there are so many people who have accumulated great achievements. A large number of middle-level generals are bound to rise, but high-level generals such as Yang Yi, Shi Ba, and Xue Fu have all reached the ceiling. Therefore, regardless of the scope of the recent war, Both Wei Renpu and Yang Yi and Xue Fu were already discussing the issue of military reform.
Zhao Zan heard Fu Yanlin say that Fu Yanqing was not even a general. But he was stunned and said unfairly: "Isn't Zhang Longxiang known as a wise man? I never expected that he would treat his fourth uncle so badly!"
"In the eyes of others, it may seem like a mistreatment," Fu Yanlin smiled slightly and said, "But my brother is very happy in his heart."
"Very happy? Why is that?"
Fu Yanlin said: "My brother is happy because the marshal told my brother frankly: Guanhou has just arrived and has not made any great achievements. If he suddenly reaches a high position, I am afraid that Anxi's old friends will not accept it. Therefore, the marshal asked my brother to start from the position of Zhonglang."
Speaking of this, Fu Yanlin looked at Zhao Zan, her tone full of unfathomable profundity: "Actually, most of the Jin army's demoted generals are temporarily placed according to the old lords of the pseudo-Jin Dynasty. Among all the demoted generals, the marshal can treat him like this." , there are only two people: one is the elder brother, the other is Gao Xingzhou. He also started as a general of Zhonglang, and after acquiring the two warehouses of Gongji and Pingyou, he was promoted to one level, and now his position is only among Guo, Yang, Xue and Tiezhu. Below the general, but above my brother."
Zhao Zan let out a sigh and was speechless for a moment, looking at Fu Yanlin thoughtfully. Fu Yanlin said this. It clearly means that Zhang Mai has included Fu Yanqing as one of his "own people". Zhao Zan naturally understood what Fu Yanlin meant. He had been familiar with history books since he was a child. Naturally, he knew that the most important thing for the generals who had been surrendered under the new master was not "promotion", but "no disaster". Promotion is easy - you can usually win when you surrender. Big promises to high returns. But it is difficult to avoid disaster - it is always difficult for the master to truly trust a surrendered general, and it is even more difficult to become "one of one's own".
Naturally, Zhao Zan didn't fully believe Fu Yanlin's words. However, as the two families were relatives, Fu Yanlin actually spoke extremely harshly to her for Zhang Mai. This clearly meant that she was completely devoted to Zhang Mai. This shows that Zhang Mai has a deep regard for Fu Yanqing. Brother, I'm afraid it's really not thin.
"My nephew doesn't even dare to hope that he can get the marshal's confidant like his fourth uncle." Zhao Zan sighed: "I just hope that I can wash my feet and land ashore, so that I don't have to do such a wandering life in the future. I don't know what the marshal can do. Give Zhao Zan such a promise?"
"Marshal asked me to bring you a message," Fu Yanlin said. He waited until Zhao Zan's eyebrows were raised and everyone at the table listened attentively before saying, "Marshal said he wants you to go north to Youzhou to meet him."
"Going to Youzhou? Meeting Marshal Zhang?"
"Yes. The marshal's original words were: He wants to see you and let you pass."
Not only Zhao Zan, but also all the generals at the banquet were stunned. Zhang Mai did not promise any high-ranking officials, nor did he promise any guarantees. He just said lightly, which seemed extremely frivolous.
Zhao Zan was slightly displeased. One of his subordinates jumped up first and said angrily: "Are we, the Marquis, asked to go see him? Do you think our Marquis is someone who will come and go as soon as he is called?"
Some of Zhao Zan¡¯s menAmong Zhao Dejun's old troops, some were good at land warfare, and the other group were new generals gathered in Shandong, which were good at water warfare. Because Zhao Zan called himself Marquis of Jinghai after entering the sea, his subordinates called him Lord Marquis. The old subordinates were Lu Long, and the new subordinates were mostly pirates, so they all had domineering personalities. After hearing Fu Yanlin's words, the whole room reacted fiercely, and everyone started shouting.
Zhao Zan's thoughts were much deeper than those of his subordinates. After a flash of anger, he thought that Zhang Mai's words were simple and left a huge space for explanation. He calmed down and raised his hand. No one at the table dared to speak again. Voice.
When Fu Yanlin saw this, she thought to herself: "It seems that Zhao Yuanfu's prestige is very high and he can suppress these arrogant and powerful generals."
Zhao praised: "Marshal Zhang, would you like to go down and see him?"
"yes."
"Go to Youzhou to meet him?"
"yes?"
"How to go to the meeting? When to go to the meeting? How many people should be brought to the meeting?"
Seeing that he had asked three questions in a row, Fu Yanlin smiled slightly and said, "Whatever."
"Whatever?" Zhao Zan frowned and said, "What do you mean?"
Fu Yanlin said: "The marshal said that when you go and how many people you take, he will not force you or restrict you. But your choice will determine your future."
Hearing this, Zhao Zan fell silent. Seeing that this was the point, Fu Yanlin looked around. Zhao Zan understood and ordered the generals to retreat temporarily. There was no third person at the table. Zhao Zan said: "Uncle, there are no outsiders now, let's talk openly. It's really hard for me to accept that Zhang Longxiang belittles me like this! Even if I can bear to accept it, it will be hard for my subordinates to accept it. After all, this is the foundation of the sea. I didn¡¯t knock it down by myself. I¡¯m willing to use it to make a stable fortune, but I can¡¯t sell it too cheaply! Otherwise, it will be difficult for the people under me to survive!¡±
Fu Yanlin said: "Do you think Zhang Longxiang is contemptuous of you?"
"Isn't it?" Zhao Zan said with consternation: "Uncle, because we are related, I respect you as uncle. Of course, I understand that the relationship between our two families has been very estranged over the years, and there is not much affection, but the Fu family Xinsheng must be weak under Tiance's command. I will have to find some Austrian reinforcements in the future. Why didn't I go through Yedu this time, but went to Youzhou to find Zhang Longxiang? I just hope that my fourth uncle can help me get a good one. Terms. After surrendering in the future, my Zhao family will have a higher status under Tiance, and the Fu family will receive greater support. Do I need to explain this truth more clearly? But uncle, you have been helping Zhang Longxiang from the beginning. , This would definitely disappoint Yu.¡±
What the two sides just said was mostly official language, but here we are. Only then are you ready to peel off the skin and tell the truth.
Fu Yanlin nodded and said: "Yuan Fu, you can think so. My brother wouldn't think so? But according to my brother's guess, Zhang Longxiang would issue such an order not to belittle you, but to leave a brighter path for you." The main road comes."
"Oh? What should I say?"
Fu Yanlin briefly summarized what happened in Hebei during this period. The focus is on Fan Yanguang's actions and the fate of the Fu family.
Zhao Zan heard that Fan Yanguang allowed his subordinates to kill the law enforcement team, and sneered: "Fan is seeking death!" He also heard that Fu Yanqing's three brothers became generals at the same time in one day. The fifth brother helped guard Kaifeng, and the seventh brother entered the army. Chenzhou. The eighth brother took Yingchang, and Fu Yanqing was in the center, listening to his advice and following his advice. He couldn't help but blurt out: "Uncle, your Fu family is going to be prosperous!"
Fu Yanlin was not humble and smiled softly and said: "There are indeed signs of this. Although Xianghan and Huaisi have soldiers and horses, they are leaderless and have no fighting spirit. As long as my seventh and eighth brothers can raise an army, the four I then asked for an order from Marshal Zhang. To the west, we should take Xianghan, and to the east, we should take Huaisi. At that time, one person was inside and three generals were outside. At that time, our Fu family would probably compare it to Guo, Yang, Xue and Zheng. It¡¯s still not enough, but it¡¯s enough for our Fu family to gain a firm foothold under the new master.¡±
Zhao Zan thought for a long time, grabbed Fu Yanlin's hand and said, "Uncle, can our Zhao family follow this path?"
Fu Yanlin said: "If the Fu family can do it, why can't the Zhao family? All we need to do is figure out Zhang Longxiang's temperament."
"Please give me some advice, uncle!"
Fu Yanlin said: "As far as fourth brother is concerned, it is only a matter of time that Tiance will dominate the world."
Zhao Zan nodded and said, "I agree with this statement!"
Fu Yanlin said: "However, the Tiance New Tang Dynasty established by Zhang Longxiang is not only powerful in martial arts. During this period, the fourth brother secretly observed its internal political system, which is also very different from the old system in the Central Plains. Fan Yanguang's biggest problem is not who he violated. But he cannot see that Tiance New Tang is now operating a new system, and Fan cannot adapt to the new system. Regardless of whether he violates military discipline or not, it will be a matter of time before he is expelled. But weIf you can adapt to this system, you will flourish in the new dynasty, and your family business will have an unlimited future! "
As he spoke, he talked about the political construction carried out by Zhang Mai after entering Yanyun and Hebei - these were Fu Yanqing's observations, and then told through Fu Yanlin's mouth. In fact, the real situation was much deeper, but Zhao Zan Already listening with gusto, he sighed and said: "Actually, through doing business in the past few years, I have heard about a lot of Ganliang's benevolent policies from merchants, but I have always felt that they were exaggerated. Today, it sounds amazing. The reason why Ce can sweep the world is not luck."
"Fourth brother also made the same comment." Fu Yanlin said: "Yuanfu, now Zhang Longxiang has actually given you a choice. He asked you to go. This depends on your attitude, so there is no limit on when you can go, how you go, and what you need to bring. No matter how many people go, your choice will affect your future. Even if you don¡¯t go"
Zhao praised: "What will happen?"
Fu Yanlin said: "According to my brother's speculation, if Yuan Fu doesn't go up, Zhang Longxiang should send an envoy down again. At that time, it will be the knighthood you are looking forward to, Yuan Fu. There should be Jiedu envoys. If You must be granted the title of Marquis, but it may not be impossible."
Zhao Zan said calmly: "But after that, it will be Fan Yanguang's result, right?"
Fu Yanlin smiled and said, "I'm afraid so."
Zhao Zan pondered deeply and said: "I have no intention of proclaiming myself king in the wilderness overseas. I hope to return to the Central Plains and serve as a minister for generations. I just don't know if I will have a chance to establish myself under Tiance's banner!"
Fu Yanlin said: "Yuan Fu is confused! Although the Khitan, which is the most difficult to defeat, is tied, Jiangnan, Wu, Yue, Fujian and Han are all close to the sea!"
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The banquet in Binhai almost ended on bad terms, but the secret conversation after the end was a joyful one for both the guests and the host. After Fu Yanlin left. The generals came to inquire about the news again, but Zhao Zan just reassured them not to worry: "I have my own ideas, so don't worry."
Then he came to an elegant wooden courtyard on the island. Two female maids welcomed him into the courtyard. Zhao Zan asked: "How is the princess' health today?"
Before the maid could answer, a woman in the hospital said: "I have been raising him for a few days, and my body is no longer serious."
This woman is Zhao Zan¡¯s biological mother, Princess Xingping, who was originally under house arrest in Luoyang. As Zhao Zan's power grew, he spent a lot of money to send spies and bribe officials. However, it was not until the recent chaos in Luoyang that Princess Xingping was rescued and placed on Penglai Island, but it was kept secret for the time being.
Zhao Zanping retired from his maidservant and paid his respects to his mother.
The princess asked: "I met the envoy today. How was the conversation?"
Zhao praised: "I was about to report to my mother." He served his mother with pure filial piety. He gave a brief summary of the meeting, and then said: "What Fu Yanlin said is basically consistent with the information that Ha'er found out. Of course the Fu family wants to surrender us, and they will use this feat as a stepping stone for their Fu family to go further." But there is still some truth in it. Fan Yanguang's path is indeed impassable. But because of the Fu family's rhetoric, he wants to give Zhang Longxiang such a huge property, and the child cannot help but feel unwilling."
The princess said: "I am a woman, and I don't have much knowledge. Not to mention that I have been under house arrest for many years and have no information from the outside world, so I can't help my son. But on the way to escape eastward, I often heard people say that the world is about to be unified again. My son ,What do you think?"
"It will indeed be unified." Zhao Zan said: "It's not just because of the strong military strength. It's also because Tiance's military and political system is far beyond the reach of the northern and southern vassals. The Khitan, which is the most difficult to defeat, has been defeated. Shi Jin is on the verge of collapse. As for the The southern vassals, whether they are proclaimed emperors or kings, are actually just money-guarding dogs, waiting to be collected after Heaven¡¯s policy determines the Central Plains.¡±
The princess said: "Then if Tiance rules the world, will I be able to seize control overseas?"
Zhao Zan smiled bitterly and said: "It's impossible! Although wealth on the sea comes quickly, it can only be earned with the help of the mainland. Otherwise, it is just rootless. Not to mention it is as strong as Tiance. Even Shi Jingtang, if he is not busy, As long as the harbor is sealed off from foreign invaders, within three years, our thousands of ships will be defeated without a fight. If we have not surrendered by the time of the unification of heaven, we will sooner or later be destined to be exiled overseas thieves, and we will never be able to maintain what we have today. happy days."
The princess said: "I don't understand the important affairs of the country, but after seeing the rise and fall of many emperors, I know one thing very well: the whole world is not the king's soil, and the hair that eats the soil is not the king's ministers. In troubled times, regimes can be divided, but when unification comes, only the king and his ministers can be divided . If you have no intention of seeking the throne and feel that you are unable to separate the empire, then simply hand over all your belongings! The more thoroughly you hand over your possessions, the more you will show your true nature as a true minister."
Zhao praised: "Hand it all over? Zhang Mai hasn't made any promises yet!"
"My child, you are confused." The princess said: "The unpromises of the emperor's family cannot be limited."?Ah! "
Zhao praised: "My mother instructed me!"
Seeing the hesitation in his eyes, the princess added: "If I want to gain Zhang Longxiang's trust as soon as possible, but still need to observe him for a while, then it is okay to hand me over first."
Zhao Zan was shocked: "How is that possible!"
"Why not?" The princess said: "We women's lives are never in our own hands. It doesn't matter whether I am in Penglai or Luoyang - as long as your troops and ships are there, I will be fine."
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
When Zhao Zan met Fu Yanlin, Hebei was experiencing a recovery. It cannot be said that there is a comprehensive economic recovery, but at least there is a thriving trend in business.
The Tiance Rangers' strict military discipline and swift actions have effectively cracked down on bandits everywhere. In this country based on agriculture, during the autumn harvest, no farmer is willing to leave the harvest that is about to be received and go out to cause trouble. The autumn harvest is tax-free The promulgation of the order made people feel at ease, and most of the states and counties quickly settled down. Especially the several main roads that ran through the states and counties were unprecedentedly peaceful!
Before. Business travelers not only have to face thieves and bandits, but they also have to be exploited by officials from all over the country. The most troublesome thing is that personal safety is not guaranteed. They dare not go on the road without strong force. After the Anshi Rebellion, the vassal towns were separated, and the Later Liang, Later Tang, and Later Jin were nominally unified. to the north. In fact, they have very limited control over local areas. However, Tiance, which attaches great importance to business, has cleaned up several traffic arteries in just two months. Although Lijin checkpoints were set up along the way in accordance with Tiance's new system, the Lijin tax amount was not set. It must have been carefully calculated, and it was generally controlled within the endurance of the merchants. For Hebei's merchants, traveling traders, and powerful families, this was a new situation that had not been seen in a century.
Although Hedong and Luoyang are isolated, the river channel from Xiabeiji to Hekou Town has been connected. Goods from as far away as the Western Regions and as close as Ganlong were continuously transported to Youzhou, and merchants from Shandong and Hebei also took notice. When Li Bo set out from Yedu, the canal that was originally only used by military vessels was now filled with civilian ships.
From Yedu to the north, there are garrison towers and watchtowers every ten miles, and there are lijin tax customs every thirty or fifty miles. However, there will be no repeated taxation within two hundred miles. You only need to show the tax collector the receipt you received after paying the tax previously. One hundred and twenty tax collectors on the main canal. They were all transferred from the northwest by Zhang Mai. The collection procedures and accounting methods were all in line with Ganlong - it was a set of tax collection procedures that had been effective on Ganliang Road in the past ten years. Local officials in the states along the canal once applied to have locally selected officials serve, but Zhang Mai refused. However, Zhang Mai retained one-third of the tax revenue with the states and counties along the canal, and also ordered each state to recommend officials under the age of 25. The calculator went to Youzhou for training. There will be another call later.
Li Bo headed north from Yedu. The further north he went, the more ships followed behind him. Li Bo stayed overnight in Xiaoxing, but as a businessman pursuing profit, he traveled day and night when he smelled the money in Youzhou - anyway, he was walking on a boat. He asked the boatman to work in two shifts. Before Shi Jingtang used troops against Yan Yun, he had already mobilized all the ships he could to transport troops and food. God knows how so many ships came out of nowhere in such a short period of time. Passing through Taoguan, Linqing, Ninghua, Wucheng, Zhangnan, and Anle, we arrived near Pingyoucang. From here, many official and military ships began to appear, escorting grain and grass to the north, passing through Changhe, Wuqiao, and Anling , Dongguang, and then turn from the canal to Qinghe River, and then the waterway becomes more and more open to the north, running through the entire Cangzhou.
At the confluence of the Haihe River and the Sanggan River, a new town has appeared. The town has only set aside an area, and business travelers are gathering, but the warehouses have already been built. This is what Zhang Mai planned. Hejin Town will be the starting point for grain transportation from the south to the north in the future. Most of the ships escorting food docked here.
Further northwest from Hejin Town, you can still reach Youzhou via the canal, but Li Mao discovered that not only were merchant ships going north, but also merchant ships going south and east.
It¡¯s not strange to go south. When doing business, things come and go, but what are you doing going east? There is the sea!
After Li Zhou inquired about it, he learned that a small town called Tianjin had opened a port at the mouth of the Haihe River!
As a wealthy family in Hebei, Li Mao was quite well-informed. He had known that there was a fishing village at the mouth of the Haihe River. The powerful men in Jidong and Yannan often entrusted merchants to do business with "pirates" in this small fishing village. That fishing village was An important route for smuggling, but I heard from businessmen rushing eastward that not long ago, Marshal Zhang sent troops to the fishing village, renamed it Tianjin, and established a new tax system there - also In other words, from now on, the former smuggling behavior will become an open trade. Goods from the Silk Road can of course be shipped overseas. Goods from overseas can also go to Tianjin by sea and then enter the Hebei business district, becoming a feedback feed for the Western-Taiwan Silk Road.
whenWhen Li Zhou entered Youzhou, the once desolate city was becoming lively, but almost no one coming and going spoke with a Youzhou accent - the Youzhou people had been wiped out by the Khitans, and now they are all Most of the foreign households are business travelers from the west, and some merchants from Jidong and Jizhong. The traders from southern Hebei and Shandong are still on the way. It is estimated that Youzhou will not enter the peak trading season until winter comes. .
Entering from the south gate, passing through the south city, and thinking along the way, Li Bo walked step by step towards the north city on the central avenue paved by Xue Fu, and walked into the golden tent that was open to him. Inside the tent, Zhang Maizheng Place two small flags at the locations of Yingchang and Chenzhou.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Sorry, I have been feeling very depressed these past two days due to some unsatisfactory things. Influence coding.
Feel sorry. (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature. The novels will be better and updated faster!