Chapter 289: Shazhou Night Talk

Li Qing strode out of the tent, with yellow dust rolling and sand flying all over the sky. Nearly a thousand cavalry had sailed hundreds of steps away. Their team was neat and majestic. The sunlight reflected on the black armor. At the front of the team, a large apricot yellow flag embroidered with gold thread, shining with golden light in the sun.

"Woo~" The horn sounded again, and the team slowly stopped. Two war horses rushed out from the corner of the flag, both of which were silver helmets and silver armor. An officer in front of him carried a silver spear in his hand and a archer with a slight archery on his waist. He was nine feet tall, with wide shoulders and round waist, with heavy eyebrows and tiger eyes, sharp eyes and straight eyes. His nose was tall and slender, and his head was raised slightly in habit, revealing a bit of arrogance. It was Nan Jiyun, the current deputy general of Doulu Army. The general behind him was elegant. Although he was a soldier, he had a bit of scholarly spirit. He was Duan Xiushi, the scout leader of Doulu Army.

Li Siye, the original military envoy of the Doulu Army, was transferred back to Anxi by Gao Xianzhi by Gao Xianzhi before the Battle of Xiaobojin in the sixth year of Tianbao. Because of his outstanding military achievements, he has now been promoted to the military envoy of the four towns of Anzhen. Currently, the military envoy of the Doulu Army is Bai Xiaode. He performed well in the battle to kill Tubo Zanpu and seize Shibao City and was promoted. After Li Qing entered the capital, the governor of Shazhou had always served as the governor of Hexi. The specific government affairs were chaired by Wang Changling, the officer-in-chief of the military officer, and the army was led by Bai Xiaode.

Nan Jiyun and Duan Xiushi rushed to Li Qing, jumped off the horse and half-kneeled, holding their fists and bowed to him, "I will meet the governor!"

Li Qing looked at these two old subordinates who had not seen each other for several years and felt very moved. He quickly helped them up and said, "Get up! Get up!"

"Yes, my old subordinates are all promising, they are all generals who can stand alone." Li Qing patted Nan Jiyun's shoulder, looked at Duan Xiushi and smiled: "Did the scars on his face last time?"

Duan Xiushi's eyes were a little rosy and she choked and said, "It's really a blessing for me, Doulu Jun, to be able to come back."

Li Qing nodded and smiled and said, "Time changes and things change. Today's governor is no longer the governor Li four years ago."

"Yes! The governor is much more mature!" Nan Jiyun looked at Li Qing's short beards and his eyes were quiet. He couldn't help but think of the little host of the hotel who had a dispute with him back then; he thought of the heroic Li Duwei who was marching across Nanzhao; he thought of the governor Li who was rushing thousands of miles away and taking responsibility on his shoulders. After many ups and downs, he has become an important official of the court. It is another scene to return to the Western Regions. The encounters of people are really wonderful.

At this time, Tochar's team had packed up and was about to set off. The envoy Shamitar waved goodbye to Li Qing from a distance, and Li Qing also smiled and bowed slightly to him.

He suddenly remembered something, and when the envoy walked away, he turned around and asked with a smile: "I almost forgot. When you came, you saw a group of Tubo scouts pretending to be Tang army?"

"Report to the Governor, I met it and it has been wiped out by us, which scared the Governor."

Duan Xiushi said with a shameful look on her face and a self-blame tone: "They came from Daxue Mountain. They were discovered by my scouts, but they disappeared. I thought they had gone back, but I didn't expect that they would hide here. They were dereliction of duty. Please punish the governor!"

"You are indeed dereliction of duty if you release more than 300 Tubo scouts into the country."

Li Qing's face gradually became solemn, and he stared at Duan Xiushi and said slowly: "I will lower you one level and be fined for half a year. You can be convinced!"

Duan Xiushi's face immediately turned red, and she lowered her head and replied loudly: "The last general will be punished!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Nan Jiyun's eyes. Li Qing was still smiling just now, but he turned his face in a blink of an eye. The punishment was so strict that he left no room for anything. A sense of awe arose in his heart. He turned over and galloped in front of the cavalry and said sternly: "General Duan sent the Tubo army into the country, for the crime of dereliction of duty, the governor demoted him to a higher level and fined him for half a year. The army can hear it clearly."

Nearly a thousand cavalrymen were silent, and only the wind slapped the corners of the flag were heard. Some of them were Li Qing's old subordinates and some were newly recruited troops, but their mood was the same at the moment. I wonder what kind of governor they would face in the future.

"Let's go!" Li Qing said lightly. With a urging his horse, he drove southwards surrounded by thousands of cavalrymen.

After several years of separation, Shazhou has changed a lot. First of all, the population has increased to more than 30,000 households, nearly 200,000 people, most of which are landless farmers who fled from the Central Plains. With the increase in population, commerce and handicrafts have gradually developed, especially bulk trade. Hu merchants traveled between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, and Shazhou became a hub for distribution and trade transfer.

As a result, the Dunhuang County Town has doubled, and a circle of outer cities has been built on the basis of the original small county. Wang Changling led the people to plant trees, dig canals to divert water, plant wheat and millet. After several years, the desolate small county in the past has become green and green, becoming an oasis on the frontier. The people live and work in peace and contentment, the nation is harmonious, and they are full of vitality.

Today, when the old boss returned, Bai Xiaode led all the generals, and Wang Changling led a group of civil servants to the city gate to welcome Li Qing. The old people met, and there was no need to repeat the lively scene.

The yamen did not change. Since Li Qing was the chief rank of the Anxi Protectorate, and the chief of the Anxi Jiedu Prefecture, he was in charge of the government affairs of the entire Anxi area, so he would mainly work in Kucha in the future. Of course, Shazhou would also come back from time to time, and this was his old nest. He had decided to settle his home in Shazhou, but his old house had not been cleaned up yet, so Li Qing temporarily lived in the prefecture yamen. He came to Shazhou mainly to inspect the old land and contact the old officials. He only stayed for two days. He would set off to Kucha early the next morning.

After the welcoming ceremony, Li Qing took a nap in the yamen. When he woke up, it was already dusk. Li Qing stretched his waist long and felt refreshed. He pushed open the back window and looked out. The red fireball was slowly falling to the west. The burning sunset covered the entire county with a layer of golden light. The sob horns faintly came from the city wall. The yard was very quiet. He remembered that there were several broken earth walls here, but now the earth wall was gone and replaced by more than a dozen low poplar trees. Although they were young and tender, they were particularly lush. When a gust of wind blew, the green leaves made a rustling sound.

"Have Yangming eaten?"

Li Qing suddenly turned around and saw Wang Changling standing at the door with a smile on his face. Behind him, Dunhuang County Magistrate Zhang Xun also smiled like him, as if he was infected by him.

Speaking of eating, Li Qing's stomach chuckled, and then he remembered that he had not eaten lunch yet, "Please sit down, two of you."

Li Qing smiled and asked them to sit down, then made a gesture to the personal soldiers at the door, and the personal soldiers quickly brought some wine and food.

"Come on! Have a drink together, let's have a chat while eating."

Li Qing filled them with a glass of wine, then picked up his glass and said with emotion: "When I left the Hexi Corridor, I was reluctant to leave. I thought that our Shazhou is located in the Gobi Desert. The yellow sand is very different from the Hexi Corridor where the wind blows the grass and sees cattle and sheep. I was ready in my heart, but unexpectedly, Shazhou has become an oasis with rivers and green trees. It has completely changed the scene when I left four years ago. I have to thank the two parents for coming! I wish you a cup."

"This is all done by Wang Chanjun, and I will only fight." Zhang Xun knelt Wang Changling with his elbow and smiled modestly. When he came to Shazhou with Li Qing, his skin was white, but a few years later, he was dark and thin, like a piece of charcoal. The same was true for Wang Changling. He was an old farmer, and now he led the people to dig canals and rivers, and personally carried mud and soil.

But there was no major change, the same as when Li Qing first met him in Yibin County.

At this time, Zhang Xun pushed all the credit to him, but he was not humble. He squinted his eyes and drank the wine without saying a word, looking happy to accept it. Li Qing saw their tacit understanding and smiled slightly.

"But!" He suddenly changed his subject and asked again: "I heard Nan Jiyun say on the way that the population of Shazhou has reached 30,000 households, but there are only 8,000 households on the account form you reported to the Ministry of Revenue. Why is there such a big difference?"

These words were like strange peaks. When they heard the two of them looking at each other, they remembered that the minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the court's minister of the Ministry of Revenue, could they hide such cheating?

"This is my responsibility!" Wang Changling waved his hand, stopped Zhang Xun's words, and took over the matter. "The difference is mainly the landless peasants who escaped from the Central Plains. The court stipulated that they were not allowed to be registered and must be sent back to their hometowns. However, my Shazhou was vast and sparsely populated, and the people were the most scarce, so I tampered with the account form and reported it to the households, and the others were hiding it."

"Brother Yuhu has become more courageous and dares to deceive the court. Are you afraid that those who are jealous will sue you?"

Wang Changling shook his head and smiled bitterly: "These accounting tables are all reported by Zhang Xun and I. No one knows that if something happens, I will bear it alone. These people have lived and worked in peace here, and I will never rush them back."

Li Qing stroked his beard and smiled slightly, "Don't worry, two, I will not only know how to say this, but I will also take responsibility in the future. You just want to find a way to recruit more people for me."

He was just asking. Not to mention that he is no longer the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, even if he is, he will pretend to be confused and leave it alone. After all, the old friends in the old place are there, how could he be ruthless? Besides, Li Longji criticized him for adding 3,000 troops, but it was just a quota and did not really transfer the army to him. He also asked him to find a way to recruit the army himself. He was worried about this, but now the source of troops is already there, and the problem is solved, so why don’t he be overjoyed?

However, Wang Changling's words made Li Qing think of Gao Xianzhi. Anxi's account table shows that the number of Anxi households has not increased but decreased. Is it also fake?

Li Qing did not ask urgently. He picked up the wine glass and took a sip. Then he asked calmly: "How many years have Brother Yuhu been in the Western Regions? Can you understand the recent situation of Anxi?"

Although Wang Changling didn't care about concealing the news, this has always been a concern for him. He is not a governor. Once a new governor takes office, the matter will be exposed immediately. If the official affairs are lost, the situation he created with great difficulty will be completely ruined.

But it seemed that God blessed him, and the court sent Li Qing back. He then breathed a long sigh. Now Li Qing clearly expressed his support for him, which made him no longer worry. At this moment, Li Qing had already changed the topic and asked about Anxi's situation. Wang Changling completely relieved himself. He drank two glasses of wine and said enthusiastically: "I have been to Kucha twice, and there are many merchants in Shazhou. I have heard and witnessed it. I also know a little about it. I don't know which question Yangming wants to ask?"

"I don't know which aspect I want to hear, Brother Yuhu will tell me about current affairs!"

"Current affairs?"

Wang Changling shook his head repeatedly, "When talking about current affairs, I may not be very good, but I am telling the truth. Don't be surprised if Yangming hears it."

Li Qing smiled lightly and said, "Don't I know your rectal personality yet? Since I asked you, I just want to hear the truth."

Wang Changling lowered his head and pondered for a moment before slowly saying: "If you want to talk about Anxi's current affairs, you must first start with its trade transfer. Our Shazhou is now well-developed and has replaced Kucha as the largest trade transfer station in the Western Regions. It's just a gift from Gao Xianzhi."

“Why?”

Wang Changling waved his hand, "Yangming, don't be anxious. Let me tell you slowly. The problem lies in the commercial tax. It turns out that in addition to paying taxes in Chang'an, merchants also have to pay a tax in Anxi. Although it is not in accordance with the rules, this is well known to everyone. At first, it was 20 taxes. It would be fine if the burden is not heavy. However, from the war in Xiaobojin last year, the commercial tax suddenly increased to five taxes and one taxes. The burden on merchants was extremely heavy. Later, the war in Xiaobojin ended. Perhaps Gao Xianzhi tasted the sweetness and did not change it. Until now, the five taxes and one taxes are still there. Merchants can only find another place to engage in transit goods, so they fulfilled our Shazhou."

Speaking of this, Wang Changling was quite emotional, "When the Great Food was in its prime, merchants were endless, and merchants as far as the Great Qin Dynasty had arrived. However, after the rise of Abbasids in Khurasan, the Great Food fell into a civil war, and the trade routes were blocked, and merchants were sharply reduced. Only some merchants from the nine surnames Hu Xiaoguo traveled. Gao Xianzhi also imposed this heavy tax at this time, which was a worse problem for these merchants. Yangming went to Anxi, and he should light taxes and appease the Hus in Anxi. I think I, Emperor Taizong, gave both kindness and power.

The battle with the strong and the weak, and the water was defeated by dozens of countries in Anxi. Everyone was grateful to the Khan of Heaven. It was a pity that the great success of the emperor was very happy, and his gentleness gradually decreased, and his majesty became more serious. Gao Xianzhi was even more brave and cruel. Even though he won military victory, he lost all his heart. When Yangming went to Anxi, he should be more flexible and less strong, open schools, educate the people, spread the culture of the Central Plains, encourage intermarriage of Hu and Han, and accelerate national integration. This is a long-term solution."

At this time, Zhang Xun next to him said, "Brother Shaobo's idea is good, it may be difficult to implement. Gao Xianzhi became increasingly arrogant after Xiaobojin's great victory. How could he let the governor easily change his established strategy? If he just works hard, he will stumbling behind him, wear small shoes, and draw a sword and Zhang crossbow to oppose the governor in everything. I think it is of course the best way to convince Gao Xianzhi to cooperate. If he can't convince, the governor should adopt some strategies and not to resist him clearly. The military strategy says, "The real one is empty, and the virtual one is real one is real." He will attack him in a roundabout way and sideways, and make him unable to speak. Then, he will promote administrative affairs from simple to difficult, from easy to difficult, and slowly plan it. It will only take effect in two or three years."

Although Wang Changling's knowledge is good, Zhang Xun's pragmatism makes Li Qing even more admired. This time he came to Anxi. Li Longji's purpose was to let him and Gao Xianzhi restrain each other, and of course he would also be wary of their alliance, so there would inevitably be actions. Marine Marine Cheng is probably playing this role. Although he had a good personal relationship with Li Qing, he would not dare to disobey Li Longji's holy intention. In this way, Li Qing would never have the day to form an alliance with Gao Xianzhi. Therefore, when he went to Anxi, he must first have a group of his capable subordinates. Zhang Xun is a great talent, and he is too aggrieved for a county magistrate. Duan Xiushi is also good, both civil and military, and Zhang Ji. Then transfer Gao Shi, so that his subordinates will be full of talents and will not be afraid of Gao Xianzhi.

Thinking of this, Li Qing pointed at Zhang Xun and smiled at Wang Changling and said, "I have a lot of people under my command. I will take it away from the magistrate of Zhang County. Can Brother Yuhu agree?"

Although Wang Changling couldn't bear it, he knew that Li Qing urgently needed a capable general, so he nodded and said, "Yangming just took it away, but the new Dunhuang County Magistrate still needs to be sent by the court. My old friend Cen Shen was extremely depressed in the capital. Yangming might help me transfer him?"
Chapter completed!