"Zheng Shijun, what kind of evil wind has brought you here?"
Fang Chongyong looked at the old god Zheng Shuqing in front of him, and then at the old cow and the cart of gifts behind him, and asked with some confusion.
"Hey, you are out of touch when you say this. My old friend reunited in Chang'an, why should I pay him a visit?"
Zheng Shuqing responded very politely, then turned to the servant behind him and said: "Bring all the gifts in."
After speaking, he presented the gift list and handed it to Fang Chongyong.
"Come in, what are these things? You're so polite when you come to visit us."
Fang Chongyong smiled.
Don't reach out to hit the smiling person. If Lao Zheng comes to the door with such a low profile, it's definitely not good.
Is it to seek an official position?
The question is, what kind of official Lao Zheng is? It doesn’t matter what he says. He is just an eight or nine-year-old boy!
Fang Chongyong murmured in his heart and could only introduce the other party to his house with an embarrassed look.
Zheng Shuqing looked around and said nonchalantly: "It's nothing, they are all useless items, not worth much money. Like tea cakes, tableware, screens and the like."
Fang Zhongyong glanced at the gift list and vaguely saw names such as "Yinping Silver Bowl", "Yinping Food Table Plate" and "Octagonal Flower and Bird Screen". He always felt that these items were expensive and did not sound ordinary.
However, given Lao Zheng's usual style, he seems to be used to extravagance. Since people are willing to give it away, why not accept it?
After leading Zheng Shuqing to the master bedroom, the two sat across from each other in front of the desk. Fang Dafu brought a pot of "peach blossom drink" and carefully exited the room.
"I wonder how Dalang feels after returning to Chang'an? I heard that you have done something big recently."
Zheng Shuqing said slowly, looking around at him.
"Dalang... don't talk about it anymore. As for the other things, Commander Zheng might as well speak up if you have anything to say."
Fang Chongyong said helplessly that in the Tang Dynasty, it was customary to call acquaintances "Mr.
Just many years old.
It's just that she is the eldest in the family, so she is called Auntie. Fang Chongyong is the only son in the family, and his father Fang Youde has never heard of any brothers or sisters, so it is okay to call him "Dalang".
"Okay! I like your husband so much."
Zheng Shuqing laughed, and then begged with a grimace: "It's still the same as before, save my life, and I will be rewarded generously."
Seeing how pitiful he was, Fang Chongyong asked with a strange look on his face: "I've told you Hong Lianchun's brewing method and brewing method. Besides, this trick can't be used again, and it doesn't work anymore if you use it again."
Okay, why did Zheng Shijun go to the boat to find a sword?"
He thought that Zheng Shuqing was begging him to play the "Miracle of Red Lotus Spring" again and make money crazily in Chang'an. It's just that for such a thing, the right time, place and people are indispensable. If you want to replicate it again, it will be as difficult as climbing to the sky!
"Oh, what Honglianchun? You still think I care about that little money. The Zheng family is near Xingyang, next to the canal. If they have property, it won't interfere with it, and they won't starve to death."
Zheng Shuqing waved his hand and said.
The prosperity of the canal line directly promoted the economic development around Xingyang, and the Zheng family in Xingyang also benefited a lot from it.
"So, what's going on?"
Fang Chongyong asked doubtfully.
"That's right, Prime Minister Li is helping someone run the official position of Minister of Household Affairs..."
Zheng Shuqing was twisting his sleeves with his hands, looking like he was hesitating to speak.
"Isn't this great? Does it cost money to operate and get promoted? But I don't have any money here."
Fang Chongyong spread his hands and told Zheng Shuqing that he was "almost" penniless.
"I'm not here to borrow money! This car of gifts alone costs almost a thousand guan!"
Zheng Shuqing couldn't help but yelled at Fang Chongyong.
What?
Fang Zhongyong was stunned. Just a car of junk and a thousand gu of wealth?
Could it be that Lao Zheng was tricked?
What kind of tea is this tea? What kind of saucer is this? What kind of screen is this screen?
Fang Chongyong was a little skeptical. If he really took out a thousand coins to load the car, it would definitely be bigger than the pile of things.
These Chang'an bureaucrats are so rotten. Gifts are always priced in "qianguan". No wonder Du Gongbu's statement about "the wine and meat of the rich families smells bad" is indeed true.
"Please give me your advice, Commander Zheng."
Fang Chongyong said seriously, putting away his previous joking.
"It's like this. What this Minister of the Ministry of Finance has to do is to manage the finances of the imperial court... Then Prime Minister Li asked me to write a memorandum for him to review. If it is well written, he will show it to the saint.
, help me beg for an official."
Zheng Shuqing stated Li Linfu's request in detail.
"Uh, does this mean that you will help the imperial court desperately search for money and grain, and then scrape the ground to get the money and grain, and then send it to the Western Regions for military expenses? In other words, you want to be this official and make money for the imperial court?"
Fang Chongyong asked in disbelief.
I didn't expect that the imperial court really had such an official, who could fish in the river sustainably.
Fang Chongyong sighed in his heart, but his face remained calm, as if he was distracted.
"Can you please stop speaking so vulgarly! I am managing finances for the imperial court, managing finances! I am not a cruel official who wants to squander people's territory!"
Zheng Shuqing frowned and defended, but his pale words probably couldn't convince even him.
Fang Chongyong quickly comforted the other party and said.
"So, what can I do to help Mr. Zheng?"
"Just write this memorial for me."
Zheng Shuqing quickly continued.
"Shall I write it for you?"
Fang Chongyong scratched his hair, looked at Zheng Shuqing as if he were a fool and asked, "Why should I write it for you?"
Because you accepted a gift! Why don’t you do something if you accept a generous gift?
Zheng Shuqing roared in his heart, and he suddenly remembered that Gao Lishi, the man next to Li Longji, seemed to be a ruthless man who took money but did nothing.
But the emperor is standing behind you, who is standing behind you?
The atmosphere was deadlocked for a while.
Fang Zhongyong softened his heart, waved his hand and asked, "Tell me, how should I write it?"
"I can't. If I could, would I still come to beg you?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Zheng Shuqing said with a wry smile.
"You won't dare to take this job?"
Fang Chongyong was already shocked by Zheng Shuqing and had no idea what game this guy wanted to play.
You don’t have any diamonds, so you come out to do porcelain work?
"You don't understand things about officialdom. Just tell me if you can do anything about it."
Zheng Shuqing lamented.
"I don't understand the situation in the Western Region. I don't even understand the people's customs and geography, and I don't have any account books. What can I do?"
"You don't need to understand. I didn't say that I wanted to make money in the Western Regions. Aren't you very good at making money in Chang'an? That Red Lotus Spring has been sold into legend. Now I want to buy one to enjoy myself.
Can’t find the goods.”
When mentioning Fang Chongyong's ability to make money, Zheng Shuqing was full of praise.
Uh, I don't know what to say.
Fang Chongyong held his forehead in pain. He really didn't know how to explain it to Zheng Shuqing, a rotten central government bureaucrat with a relatively dull mind and too flexible wrists.
"Zheng Shijun said before that the imperial court asked you to make money to maintain military supplies in the Hexi Corridor of the Western Regions, right?"
Fang Chongyong crossed his legs, sat in a more comfortable position, and asked in a deep voice.
"That's true. Li Xiang has already made it clear."
Zheng Shuqing nodded slightly and said.
"Then no matter what financial management method is used, as long as there is no shortage of expenses and sufficient military supplies in Hexi Jiedu, then you, as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, will be very safe, right?"
Fang Chongyong asked again, and Zheng Shuqing nodded.
The Minister of Household Affairs is not a "finance manager". Making money is just a means to maintain the normal operation of the army and maintain high-level rewards to ensure the morale of the army. This is the ultimate goal.
All for the Tang Dynasty to win the local war against Tubo! The war is all about logistics!
On the other hand, if Zheng Shuqing plundered a lot of money in Lingnan, but there was no way to transport the money to Chang'an, let alone to the Western Regions, then what use would this type of "financial management" have for winning the war?
Means always serve the purpose, not the other way around.
Don't look at it, both Niu Xianke and Cui Xiyi said that the Hexi government's warehouses are full and the troops are ready.
However, once a war breaks out, it will not be that simple! The Tibetans have strong national power and strong supply capabilities, and their family wealth is much richer than that of the Turks.
Moreover, Tubo was a serf system, good at using brute force, and did not regard the serfs as human beings. It killed a hundred thousand people without blinking an eye, and did not cherish human resources.
Sometimes the Tang Dynasty and Tubo fought against each other, and it was painful to lose money. If one of the Tang Dynasty died and two Tibetans died, the Tubo could keep playing this kind of game.
As long as the fight starts, the continuous logistics cannot be interrupted. Once it is interrupted, big things will happen.
"What someone means is that Guanzhong is unable to support the Hexi Corridor. It is too far away and the logistics will be very difficult. We can only provide assistance to the Hexi feudal towns through other methods. It does not necessarily mean that we have to make money in Chang'an to buy food and send it there.
, the specific situation needs to be analyzed in detail.
Otherwise it is just empty talk."
Hearing this, Zheng Shuqing nodded slightly and had to say that Fang Chongyong's words made sense.
The final question is to continue to support the Hexi Corridor!
"Then Zheng Shijun, you have to bring me the account books reported to the Hexi Jiedushi shogunate over the years, as well as the account books from Ganzhou, Liangzhou and other places. Maybe there is a way, or it's just talk on paper."
Fang Chongyong handed the gift list to Zheng Shuqing and said, "If you don't have these, just drag the gifts back."
"I don't have a position right now. The account books you mentioned are all secrets of the imperial court. Where can I get them? You still think you're in Kuizhou!"
These are stored in special warehouses of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Public Affairs, and are managed by dedicated personnel.
So-and-so is now an official with no errands, and he can't even get in through that door, what do you want me to do?"
Zheng Shuqing roared angrily.
Suddenly, he seemed to think of something, and he raised his chin and was thinking about something.
"It seems that there is nothing we can do."
Zheng Shuqing said thoughtfully.
"any solution?"
Fang Chongyong asked curiously.
"Although I can't do it, someone can do it. And based on his status, it is compliant and legal."
Zheng Shuqing nodded slightly, feeling confident.
"Whatever you need, write me a list, right now."
Zheng Shuqing said eagerly.
"Alright."
Fang Chongyong sighed helplessly, took out an inkstone to sharpen ink, and wrote a series of names on the paper with a brush. These are things he needs to know and are related to the overall situation. Some other things may also be important, but they will not affect the overall situation.
The Hexi Corridor's population, grain output, farming areas, commercial transactions, local specialties, etc. Some things can be quickly converted into military strength, while others cannot.
But why should he, a person who lives outside the palace wall at the back gate of Xingqing Palace, worry about the things that the owner of Xingqing Palace should worry about.
"Can you please stop troubling me for things like this in the future? Others collect money as officials, so it would be better for you to send the money out."
Fang Chongyong couldn't help but complain.
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. It's the last time. It's the last time."
Zheng Shuqing was overjoyed and was ready to go directly to handle this matter as soon as the gate of the workshop opened.
…
Fang Chongyong was busy, and a banquet was being held in Xingqing Palace, separated by a wall.
Niu Xianke, the former Hexi Jiedu envoy, was ordered to go to Beijing to report on his duties! Li Longji specially held a banquet in Xingqing Palace to give Niu Xianke a lot of face.
Just last year (the 24th year of Kaiyuan), Niu Xianke was ordered to be transferred to Shuofang Marching Chief, and the post of Hexi Jiedushi was taken over by Cui Xiyi.
Soon, Cui Xiyi reported that Niu Xianke practiced economy and accumulated property during his tenure, and his political achievements were considerable.
So Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty ordered Zhang Lizhen, a member of the Ministry of Punishment, to go and verify. After investigation, Zhang Lizhen reported back to the court, saying that the warehouses in Hexi were indeed full and the equipment was strong. Cui Xiyi's words were true.
Li Longji was very happy and granted Niu Xian the official position of Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advance.
This is not like Zheng Shuqing leaving his post first and then conferring the post, but conferring the post first, which is a sure thing!
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Compared with Zhang Jiuling, a civil servant who passed the imperial examination, Niu Xianke's qualifications are a bit less interesting, and he can basically be regarded as an example of the grassroots at the bottom struggling to make progress.
In his early years, Niu Xianke worked as a minor official in Quaigu County (near Changwu County, Shaanxi Province). Because of his outstanding work, he was highly regarded by the county magistrate Fu Wenjing.
Fu Wenjing was later promoted to Longyou Yingtian Envoy. Niu Xianke was called as an assistant because he was capable, obedient and an old acquaintance. This official was an affiliated official of the Yingtian Envoy. Niu Xianke then moved to Taozhou Sima due to his military exploits.
.
At this time, Niu Xianke could be regarded as an "independent official." In the Tang Dynasty, a formal official often had several subordinate officials to help him do things. It was often difficult for these subordinate officials to be promoted.
Later, when Wang Jun served as the governor of Hexi Province, Niu Xianke was awarded the title of military governor and became a confidant of the other party. He was further promoted and became a local official.
Later, Xiao Song succeeded him as the envoy of the Hexi Festival and still entrusted military and political affairs to Niu Xianke, which shows how good this person was in handling local government affairs. After Xiao Song returned to pay homage to the prime minister, he served as Zhongshu Ling and led the Hexi Festival from afar.
Du envoy, and recommended Niu Xianke many times.
In the end, Niu Xianke naturally became the governor of Hexi Province.
It can be seen from Niu Xianke's promotion trajectory that those who come from the local grassroots level and can climb up step by step are all truly capable. Jieduzhi airborne from the central government often needs such people under him
Go ahead and help, otherwise you won't be able to deal with the complicated local situation.
"Come, Niu Aiqing, let me toast you and thank you for what you have done for the people in Hexi over the years."
Li Longji looked at Niu Xianke, who had gray hair on his temples and was already a little old in his fifties, picked up the wine bottle and said emotionally.
"Die for the saint!"
Niu Xianke bowed in salute and took the wine bottle from Li Longji. Zhang Jiuling, Li Linfu and the central officials beside him were all moved when they saw this.
"Sage, I think that Niu Xianke is not capable of serving as the minister of the six departments. I impeached the imperial censor Li Shizhi to sit and watch what happened and did not prevent the issuance of the decree."
An inappropriate voice came from the corner of the banquet hall, and everyone present was confused by this sentence.