Maybe he was moved by Jia Chang's carefully prepared speech for Mrs. Guo Guo, or maybe he really felt that he owed a lot to his cousin. A few days after receiving Mrs. Guo Guo's advice, Yang Guozhong discussed with his close aides
A very generous decision was made.
Temporarily put aside the rift with Ge Shuhan and Feng Changqing caused by hunting down a few insignificant people. Focus on supporting the two major vassal towns of Hexi and Anxi in the hope that they can join hands with the Prime Minister's Office to jointly deal with the three major vassals.
The dispute provoked by An Lushan, the governor of Zhenjiedushi!
The next morning at court, Song Yu from Zhongshushe and Zheng Ang, a doctor from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, jointly signed a letter, requesting the court to commend Ge Shuhan, Chang Qing and other frontline soldiers for their achievements in breaking thieves, so as to encourage them to continue to kill the enemy with blood. The voice.
As soon as he fell, Hanlin bachelor Zhang Jian and Jingzhao Yin Xianyutong immediately came out to sing peace. These were all capable men under Yang Guozhong, and they usually wanted to vent their anger through one nostril. Therefore, the officials in the DPRK thought about it a little, and soon understood the importance of Hexi.
The rewards with the two towns of Anxi cannot be reversed. Therefore, they are not willing to come forward and be a villain in vain.
Chen Xilie, the left prime minister, is known as the seal prime minister. He was attached to Li Linfu when Li Linfu gained power. Now seeing that Yang Guozhong and his followers were powerful in the court, he turned to attach himself to Yang Guozhong. Seeing that none of his colleagues in the court spoke out against Song Yu,
In response to the suggestions of Zheng Ang and others, he also stood up from the special seat set up for the prime minister and strongly recommended the talents of Ge Shuhan and Feng Changqing.
The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Longji, has been busy arranging the latest songs and dances with Yang Yuhuan and a group of Liyuan disciples recently, and he is not very energetic about such "trivial" "trivial matters". In addition, the contributions of the soldiers of Anxi and Hexi towns are also added.
It was indeed stated clearly, so he waved his hand and ordered with a smile: "In this case, there is no need to discuss it any further. Zhongshu, the two provinces under my command should first draft a specific reward charter. Send it to my study, and send it to me.
After I read it, I will hand it over to the Minister of Public Affairs to issue a commendation!"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty!" Yang Guozhong, the right minister, had long expected such a result. He immediately stood up and responded loudly.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty! If the soldiers at the front hear this news, do you dare to kill the enemy without your life?" Left Prime Minister Chen Xilie, Jingzhao Yin Xianyutong, Zhongshusheren Song Yu, and the official doctor Zheng Ang and others followed Yang Guozhong and shouted in unison.
Sing praises.
This situation is much more harmonious than when the right minister Li Linfu, Jingzhao Yin Wangxuan, and the censor Yang Guozhong were fighting for power in the past two years. Li Longji, who has been the emperor of peace for more than 40 years, has long been tired of government affairs, sees this
, I was very happy and asked casually, "Is Zuo Zang still well off?" (Note 1)
Yang Guozhong was well prepared, bowed slightly, and responded with a smile, "Thanks to your Majesty's great blessing, the place has become more prosperous year after year, and the wealth and silk in Zuo Zang can hardly be put away! Yesterday afternoon, I went to inspect it in person and found that some were wearing copper coins.
The hemp ropes are all torn!"
He started his career as a member of the Communist Party of China, and he was very good at making money. Even before he replaced Li Linfu, he had insisted on selling the grain and cloth stored in various prefectures and counties into gold and silver.
Copper coins, silk and other hard currencies were sent to the capital for unified deployment. After Li Linfu was replaced, the annual land tax from various places was also targeted. Regardless of road damage, local governments were required to pay the full amount. As a result, the national treasury in a short time
It did seem substantial. When the palace needed to increase its allocation, the Ministry of Revenue did not dare to complain to the emperor about the lack of money in Zuozang. Moreover, during the holidays, the money for candles and firewood for the civil and military officials in Beijing also increased.
It has doubled at a speed visible to the naked eye. (Note 2)
However, the warehouses have been emptied by the central government, and local finances will inevitably be stretched. Once there are floods, droughts or other emergencies, officials have no spare capacity to deal with them. They can only write notes to the central government for help, and wait for the central government to allocate money and food.
, often more than half a year has passed, and even if the officials who deal with it are not peeled off layer by layer, it has lost its due role. However, the beneficiaries of this policy are the emperor himself and most of the officials in the court, so few people are willing to speak out against it.
Even if there are one or two people who are aware of its shortcomings, they do not dare to face the suppression of Yang Guozhong's brothers and sisters, and they do not dare to offend their colleagues, so they can only close their eyes and pretend not to see anything.
At this time, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Longji, did not have so much energy to pay attention to local difficulties. He was already nearly 70 years old, and he was more concerned about how to save the energy to enjoy the comfortable time after the end of the dynasty. Hearing Yang Guozhong report that Zuo Zangli was wearing copper coins
The ropes were already rotten. Without even thinking about it, he said with a smile: "Zuo Zang is full, what does it have to do with my great fortune? This is all the result of you ministers working hard! Since the money in Zuo Zang can no longer be put away,
I took some out and repaired the post road from Lingnan to the capital, lest the memorial there would always be delayed for a long time on the road."
"Yes!" Chen Xilie took the lead again, and everyone bowed in response.
His Majesty's reason for renovating the post road is really far-fetched. Lingnan is a place where officials are exiled. Except for Guangzhou, where the world's merchants gather, there is really nothing worthy of the court's attention. However, summer is approaching, and the lychees that the imperial concubine loves need to be delivered in time.
Come on. The color of this fruit changes in one day, the aroma changes in the second day, and the taste changes in the third day. Even if you put it in an ice box after picking and cannot be sent to the capital within seven days, the color, fragrance, and taste will be gone.
But the beauty smiled.
Hearing that the response from the ministers was not as loud as before, Li Longji also felt a little guilty. He was afraid that his subordinates would find excuses to make things difficult, so he returned his imperial edict. After thinking about it, he said with a smile: "If there is still a surplus, I will give it to you."
The palace on the other side of Lishan is also being renovated. After the weather gets hot, I and you all will go to Lishan to escape the heat. It’s better than sweating like rain in the steamer-like Chang’an City!” (Note 3)
The emperor is willing to have fun with his ministers, how can the ministers not be willing to do so? For the sake of his majesty's blessing and everyone sharing it, everyone, led by Chen Xilie, once again bowed to receive the decree. Yang Guozhong originally wanted to object, but when he saw everyone
Everyone was in high spirits, but they could only frown and follow the crowd!
However, if he spends all the money he finally collected from local places on transporting lychees and overhauling palaces, the rewards originally planned to be allocated to the local soldiers in Hexi and Anxi will inevitably be affected. However, this small problem is not at all
The son could not help but the central minister, the important ministers of the two provinces under his sect. After the dynasty was dismissed, they immediately gathered in the political hall and came up with a very appropriate plan based on the needs of His Majesty the Emperor and all parties.
Ge Shuhan had the merit of opening up new territories and was granted the title of King of Xiping County. He recommended meritorious officers such as Huoba Gui Nen, Gao Shi, Wang Sili, Hun Weiming, Yan Wu, Abu Si, Di Sitai, etc.
All received rewards. In addition, the imperial court awarded each participating soldier two pieces of brocade, which were converted into copper coins, and Ge Shuhan received them on his behalf.
Feng Changqing's background was much humbler than that of his brother Shuhan, so although he had made great achievements, he could not be crowned king. He could only be granted the title of Duke of Ningxi, given a mansion in the capital, and promoted one of his sons to a fifth-grade civil servant.
.The meritorious officers and soldiers under their command, such as Duan Xiushi, Zhou Xiaofeng, Zhao Huaixu, Li Yuanqin, etc., were rewarded in varying degrees according to their original positions and new achievements. As with the policy towards the Anxi Army, the imperial court also awarded brocades to each participating soldier.
Two horses were broken into copper coins and were collected by Jiedu envoy Feng Changqing on his behalf.
However, because Hexi and Anxi are too far away from the capital, the money, grain, and silk were severely damaged during transportation. Therefore, the imperial court was considerate of the people and made some adjustments. It did not immediately cash in the money and silk allocated to the Anxi and Hexi armies.
Instead, Ge Shuhan and Feng Changqing were allowed to withhold the taxes from the states and counties under their rule that should be sent to the capital as appropriate. An additional 10% of the losses could be converted into losses. In view of the sparse population in the two places, this year's taxes may not be enough to deduct.
, so the taxes for the next year or even the year after that can also be withheld to convert into military supplies and rewards promised by the court.
"Once this precedent is set, the real power in the hands of the governors of each town will be even greater!" Left Prime Minister Chen Xilie was steady, seeing that Yang Guozhong and others were only thinking about how to save money for the national treasury, but did not consider allowing the governors to
I thought about the long-term impact of the strategy of withholding royal taxes to offset military supplies. I thought about it for a moment and reminded it with a smile.
"When Prime Minister Li was in power, the real power in the hands of the Jiedushi envoys was already difficult to control! Not even a little bit less!" Yang Guozhong immediately frowned and retorted unceremoniously.
"I, I...!" Chen Xilie didn't expect that his good intentions would be regarded as stupid, his face turned slightly dark, and he murmured in response.
"Yang is reckless!" Yang Guozhong quickly realized that he no longer needed to be an opponent of a harmless peacemaker like Chen Xilie. He quickly clasped his fists and apologized in a low voice, calling the other party's name, "Yang was not targeting Mr. Zhirou.
.Yang was worried about state affairs and just lost his temper temporarily. As far as Duke Rou is concerned, he knows that since three years ago, not a penny of taxes from Fanyang, Pinglu, and Hedong towns has been paid to the national treasury! It is also to help us expand the territory of the Tang Dynasty.
, Yang really dare not favor one thing over another!"
"I'm being rude. I didn't expect that Mr. Zuo Xiang's strategy contains such profound meaning!" Although Chen Xilie was very unhappy, he obeyed and walked down the steps given by Yang Guozhong. An Lushan relied on Li Linfu's support.
, had been withholding royal taxes in the name of the tension with the Khitan war. But Li Linfu turned a blind eye to this. Now Yang Guozhong wants to use the power of Ge Shuhan and Feng Changqing to restrict An Lushan, which is indispensable
The same benefits must be given. Otherwise, An Lushan's power will only grow stronger, while Ge Shuhan and Feng Changqing will not be able to grow quickly because they relatively abide by the court's laws.
The truth is clear at first glance, but no one can explain it too clearly. With Chen Xilie, a good old man, taking the lead, other Zhongshu and officials from the two provinces under his command all agreed. Some people also thought of the Anxi and Hexi armies.
How grateful the soldiers were after receiving the rewards from the imperial court, and how they worked with their lives up and down. They felt so elated that even their ears were burned red by the blood.
Yu Wende, who had been promoted to the rank of minister, saw his younger brother's name among the generals recommended by Feng Changqing, and always wanted to take the opportunity to seek some benefits for the family. At this moment, while everyone was happy, he took out the memorial alone,
Pointing to the text in the middle, he hinted to Yang Guozhong in a low voice: "Since your Excellency has taken charge of the government, you have vigorously eliminated the long-standing abuses, rectified the source, and brought forth talents in large numbers in both the government and the public. I just glanced at the request for merit from Fengjiedu to his officers and soldiers.
According to the memorial, there are more than 20 rising stars at the level of school captain alone. They are all between 20 and 30 years old. In time, they will definitely become the pillars of the Tang Dynasty's defense of the Western Frontier!"
"Yeah!" Yang Guozhong stroked his beard and nodded with a smile. Yu Wende was his confidant. He always worked hard and worked hard. Logically speaking, this person's small request should not be dismissed. However, there were obstacles in this list.
There is a big trouble. Wang Xun, who was ordered to be hunted down by Yang Guozhong last year, is also hiding among them. Moreover, he was originally a fallen nobleman, with the hat of viscount on his head, and his starting point was much higher than others.
Yang Guozhong would feel very uncomfortable if he was promoted to a noble rank with everyone else. If he were to be excluded alone, it would be too easy to attract the attention of colleagues present.
While hesitating, he heard Song Yu, a member of the Zhongshu family, said with a smile: "This seal is really good at life, and my brother Song Wu was actually written on it. He only arrived in Anxi last spring, and at that time he was just
He is a small brigade leader. How could he have made such a big contribution? No, no, in order to avoid suspicion, his name must be removed!"
"Master Song is too humble. How can there be such a reason to avoid suspicion?!" The attention of Chen Xilie and others was immediately attracted, and they spoke one after another to persuade Song Yu not to suppress his family too much. Such a statement was disrespectful to Song Wu himself.
It's fair. Secondly, if outsiders misunderstand it, it will be suspected of seeking fame and reputation.
The original purpose of Song Yu, a member of the Zhongshu family, was not to hinder his younger brother's promotion. The Tang Dynasty is no longer the beginning of the founding of the country. The officialdom pays attention to fairness and integrity. It is the kingly rule not to avoid relatives in internal promotions. Otherwise, suddenly among a group of crows,
If a white pigeon appeared, it would definitely be pecked to death by a group of beaks. He did this just to remind Yang Guozhong that Feng Changqing himself had no intention of becoming an enemy of the Prime Minister's Mansion. Otherwise, he would not have promoted Song's relative in an exceptional manner.
My younger brother, the Feilong guards who went to the White Horse Fort camp to seek a future in the army the year before last were all hand-picked by Feng Changqing. With his shrewdness, it is impossible not to know the relationship between Song Wu and Yu Wenzhi and Song Yu and Yu Wende.
.
As expected, Yang Guozhong just pondered for a moment and understood the key point. Jianghu is about letting go of grudges with a smile. Since I failed to kill you, it would be a good idea to find an opportunity to make you an accomplice.
Choice. When everyone gets the benefits together, smart people will naturally not take the past grudges to heart.
Based on the life experience he learned as a street gangster, Yang Guozhong quickly made a decision, "Master Song, you don't have to be too modest. Yang thinks what everyone said today is very reasonable. If the Tang Dynasty wants to stabilize the Western Regions for a long time, we must vigorously promote
A young talent. Don’t look at his background or what he has done in the past! Otherwise, when Feng Changqing, Ge Shuhan and other senior generals get old, who will guard the Quartet for Datang? Let’s do this, our original
It was decided to change it. For those who gave up the comfort of the capital and went to the Western Regions to contribute to the country, especially the group of flying dragon guards who followed General Feng to Anxi, they should not only be rewarded based on their merits, but also be vigorously commended, thinking that the young people in the world
What an example! If you add what Yang said, I believe that His Majesty will appreciate our decision after seeing the reason!"
Note 1: Zuozang is the treasury of the Tang Dynasty. It is responsible for money, silk, miscellaneous colors, and Tianxia Fudiao.
Note 2: Candle money, firewood money, extra-salary subsidies for officials in the Tang Dynasty.
Note 3: In the ancient provinces, if they felt that the emperor's order lacked consideration, they could return the emperor's imperial edict and not issue it.
