On this day, the Khitan prisoners of war were finally escorted to Chang'an by five hundred soldiers from the border town of Youzhou. Li Longji, who played with Yang Yuhuan every night, was overjoyed when he learned about this and ordered to reward the meritorious soldiers.
If a person is captured alive, he will be rewarded with ten pieces of human silk; if he is beheaded, he will be rewarded with five pieces of silk; his merit, rank, etc. can be allocated by Youzhou Jiedu Mansion.
This reward was very generous, because based on the number of heads killed, it can be said that each of these soldiers was very rich.
You must know that today is no longer the era of achievements in the early Tang Dynasty. The land that the Tang State can obtain has long been acquired and consolidated. The difficulty of gaining military merit is far greater than before.
The existence of the Fubing system in name only is largely due to the fact that war has become unprofitable and has become an "evil thing" purely for errands.
Even if they could occasionally win a big victory over an enemy country on the border, the gains would be futile, and the soldiers at the grassroots level would not get much benefit. The central government of the Tang Dynasty would often just use honorary officers and titles to kill them.
Regarding rewards for military achievements, the imperial court was very generous in giving titles, but was very stingy in giving money and silk. To sum it up with an idiom, it was a typical case of "paying lip service but not delivering the goods".
As introduced in "Mulan Ci", the military merits of the Tang Dynasty also implemented the "twelve turns" system.
During the Northern Wei Dynasty, if the battle was "twelve rounds of military merit", then the reward after the war would be "a reward for hundreds of thousands of strong men".
What is "turn"?
The general with the most outstanding performance in each battle can obtain the "three-turn" meritorious service.
The forces of both sides have reached a certain scale (battles that are too small will not count), and if you annihilate (kill prisoners) 40% of the enemy's forces in a battle with fewer enemies, you can obtain the "Fifth Turn" meritorious service.
For other beheading levels, the superiors are responsible for calculating the number of revolutions as to what role they play in the battle. The merits of multiple battles can be accumulated, and if you have eleven rounds, you can be granted the title of Zhuguo. If you have twelve or more rounds, it is capped and you are on the top.
Zhuguo.
However, in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, this situation completely changed.
No one knows how many "Shangzhu Kingdoms" the Tang Dynasty had during this period, and the proportion is difficult to calculate. For example, Jiangnan and Shu were the imperial court's moneybags. There were very few people serving in the military, so the proportion was naturally very low.
Pitiful.
However, the situation in Hexi is that among local men, including those who have never served in the military, the number of men with the title of "Shangzhu Kingdom" exceeds 20%, nearly a quarter!
It is conservatively estimated that more than one of the five men is Shangzhuguo. Not only is this reward not worth boasting about, it is even humiliating to a certain extent.
With this great victory in the Youzhou vassal town, the rewards and pensions for these 500 people, as a rule, should be handled by Fang Youde himself. He would calculate the twelve military merits and give them to some honorary officers.
Please reward me if you receive an imperial edict to come to Beijing. The face is not as great as usual.
Of course, Li Longji may not agree every time, but who knows that he just got the wife of his son, longevity king Li Xuan, and he is having fun.
Fang Youde's military exploits became the capital for him and his "daughter-in-law" to brag about his civil and martial arts.
This was the luck of the soldiers in Youzhou Border Town, because they met a Jiedushi who was different from the previous commanders and had the life, death and interests of the soldiers at heart.
This is also the misfortune of the soldiers in Youzhou Border Town, because no matter how many military exploits they created, they still need a powerful person to fight for their interests. How many "Fang Youde" are there in the Tang Dynasty now?
How often does Li Longji have a good mood?
What if the Tang sage happens to be in a bad mood when repaying his merits?
Of course, it's a pity that there are only 500 soldiers who need rewards and pensions. If there were more, Li Longji might cover his pockets and fool around.
Just as the scholars of Chang'an Winery were praising the great victory in the border towns and the majesty of the Tang Dynasty was shining in all directions, not everyone was so rejoicing. For example, the only son of the Youzhou Jiedushi who made immortal contributions...
.
In the study room of the Fang family house at the back door of Xingqing Palace, Fang Chongyong looked helplessly at Zheng Shuqing with his hands empty, and asked feebly: "Are you here to mock me on purpose?"
"Why should I come to taunt you?"
Zheng Shuqing asked with a strange look on his face.
"I thought I was already famous."
Fang Chongyong sighed and described to the other party his experience of "dropping out of Weilong".
"Are you saying that you entered the Imperial Academy and were rejected because you were not old enough? Then you entered the Hongwen Hall and were expelled because of your father's advice?"
Zheng Shuqing looked surprised. This was the first time he had heard of such an outrageous experience, so he had gained a lot of experience.
"Yes, and then he gave me a Qianniu Guards Lieutenant General, a nine-year-old Qianniu Guards Lieutenant General. Do you think it's ridiculous or not?"
Fang Chongyong barely had the words "no love in life" written on his face.
What did I do wrong! I am still a child!
Fang Chongyong felt that the passing of the year was unlucky, and it seemed that everything he did recently was unlucky.
"Well, Ruizhong is eleven months old and was crowned king when he was less than one year old. I feel that your experience is not too outrageous.
Uh, but since you have been named Qianniu Guards Commander, shouldn't there be the word "inspection" in front of it?"
Zheng Shuqing comforted him kindly, but his words sounded like ridicule.
"Yeah?"
Fang Chongyong was stunned. Gao Lishi came to deliver the edict. The edict was too long. He didn't remember it, so he remembered the Qianniu Guards Lieutenant General. He took the silk book off the bookshelf and read it. Sure enough, it clearly said "Inspection and Examination"
The word "school".
"Originally, this dynasty changed the reserve generals of the previous dynasty to Zhonglang generals. There are two guards on the left and right. They are of the fourth rank. They are in charge of judging affairs, serving in the palace, and calling for rescue. It is a very big official. It can be said that he is a senior official.
With high authority, many border town soldiers will never reach this position despite their hard work.
However, if the word "check" is added in front of it, it will be completely different.
The General of the Qianniu Guard is equivalent to being specially approved by a saint. He has not passed the review in the outer court. He just has a name in the Qianniu Guard and does not have to perform his duties. Basically, he can't do anything. Who knows how many Qian Niu Guards there are now?
General Niuwei Zhonglang..."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The more Zheng Shuqing talks about Fang Chongyong, the darker his face becomes.
"Don't be angry, your monthly salary is one thousand five hundred and sixty-seven, which is eleven."
Zheng Shuqing, the Minister of Household Affairs, was "skilled in business" and the official salary was readily available.
Okay, you can just do nothing, just sit back and get money, even though it's a bit small.
With a salary of less than 200 guan a year, the income is not worthy of Qian Niu Wei Zhonglang General. It can be seen that there must be additional income for Qian Niu Wei Zhonglang General to support his family. Otherwise, basic expenses in Chang'an will be a problem. With this little money
Not enough to go to a better restaurant for a drink.
"That's why you came to me? I don't have Red Lotus Spring here anymore. I want you to make your own red yeast and brew it yourself."
Being bullied by Zheng Shuqing, Fang Zhongyong couldn't bear it anymore!
"No, no, no, no, I came to you this time for a good reason."
Zheng Shuqing looked mysterious and took out an invitation from his sleeve.
"Three days later, in order to celebrate the victory in Youzhou Border Town, the saint will set up a stage to hold an opera, song and dance performance in the Liyuan. With the invitation, you can go in and watch. This opportunity is rare."
Li Longji is going to hold a concert?
Fang Chongyong was stunned, and then he took the invitation. The seat number was even written on the back.
The ancients were not fools. If they didn’t write down their seat numbers in advance, then all the dignitaries would be there, and tickets were issued too much for various reasons. Wouldn’t there be a fight over the seat issue?
The seat itself is not a problem, the problem is that the face cannot be picked up if it falls on the floor.
So pretending to slap someone in the face to fight for a seat is simply impossible these days. These crappy things have already been fully considered when preparing for the performance.
Zheng Shuqing's family is well-off, and this kind of people no longer care about the so-called "little details", but instead regard face as the top priority.
Wanting to understand this situation, Fang Chongyong pushed the invitation back, sighed and said: "We are all so familiar, there is no need to be so polite, just talk about anything."
"Is such that."
Zheng Shuqing was not polite to Fang Chongyong at all. He took out a very bright silk fragment from his sleeve and handed it to Fang Chongyong.
"Sogdian Brocade? Zheng Shilang's efficiency is really..."
Fang Chongyong was shocked.
It can only be said that everyone understands what kind of efficiency the feudal era was like.
If you don't want to delay, it will take a long time to go through the process; if someone deliberately messes up, it will take several months to complete a small thing. This situation is also very common.
"You don't understand, this is what the saint asked to do, can you not hurry up? It's just... the imitation Sogdian brocade is still different from the Sogdian brocade from the Western Regions, alas!"
Zheng Shuqing couldn't explain the specific difference. Of course, it was just because of his lack of verbal expression skills. In fact, when he put the two pieces of fabric on the table, anyone could intuitively tell which one was different.
One is Sogdian brocade from the Western Regions, and the other is imitated by the Tang Dynasty.
In fact, the first time Sogdian brocade was "dismantled" was in the early Tang Dynasty, but the direction of attention and the purpose of achieving it were different. Moreover, Sogdian brocade from the Western Regions was also constantly introducing new ones. This can be regarded as
A kind of business competition like palm-to-hand confrontation.
According to Fang Chongyong's original understanding, the so-called "imitation" means completely copying the other party's style. But in fact, this idea is just wishful thinking.
Copying is not something everyone can copy, nor can it be copied casually.
After all, the style of fabric is not a text painting, but also incorporates the thoughts of painters and craftsmen. Some techniques are even passed down from generation to generation, becoming unique secrets that are passed down from generation to generation.
Every time a fabric comes out, the craftsmen actually "write" their ideas on the fabric. The craftsmen don't understand the meaning of the Sogdian brocade from the Western Regions, so the imitations have no essence, just
A crude imitation.
The dignitaries in Chang'an are used to seeing good things. How can they tolerate this kind of big deception?
When the time comes, not only will Zheng Shuqing not be able to make meritorious deeds, but he will also be punished by Li Longji!
Lao Zheng was not a fool. He knew it would not work, so he asked the craftsmen to give it a try and imitate Sogdian brocade according to his own ideas.
The good news is that this imitation Sogdgen brocade looks better than the original.
This is also easy to understand. Datang crushed the West Asian region in terms of raw materials in the silk fabric industry. Silkworms are artificially fed and have sufficient nutrients. The silk they spit out is thick and long-fiber, with a bright and translucent luster.
The bad news is, it's a little... a little bit less Sogdana-like.
The reason is actually quite understandable.
Zheng Shuqing described to Fang Chongyong the news he had learned from the textile workers.
The silks in the Western Regions in the past were not only produced in the Tang Dynasty, but also "wild silk" produced in various countries in the Western Regions. Wild silkworms are native silkworms that have not been artificially domesticated and selected from generation to generation.
The silk that comes out is thin and short.
However, there is always a wrong approach. The Sogdian brocade made from mixed silk in West Asia has a different style.
In order to ensure high profits on the Silk Road, various countries in the Western Regions implemented a strict technological blockade on the Tang Dynasty's sericulture technology. Although this matter was beyond Fang Chongyong's understanding, it was the fact that the countries that were most afraid of silk technology being mastered by West Asia instead
Not the Tang Dynasty.
Regarding the technology of various best-selling products in the Tang Dynasty, the country that was most concerned about was not the Tang Dynasty itself, but other countries on the Silk Road.
These countries assume the responsibility of "technological walls".
In addition, the paintings in West Asia are famous for their square and hard style, while the fabric patterns of the Tang Dynasty are famous for their round and full styles. The two styles are different. If you simply copy them, you will only draw tigers but not dogs.
Therefore, the craftsmen under Lao Zheng’s command cannot say that it is bad, but it is not “Sogdian Brocade”, so I have to say two things!
This situation is like saying that Li Longji wanted to play the electronic keyboard, but there was no electricity in the Tang Dynasty, so the craftsmen had to make a piano. The piano is very good, but does it have the bad tone of the electronic keyboard?
Could it be that Li Longji is just a bitch and likes the tune of the electronic keyboard?
Hard to say.
This was one of the reasons why Zheng Shuqing ran to Fang Chongyong to call for help.
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! "I think the imitation Sogdian Brocade is better than the original version."
Fang Chongyong held the two pieces of fabric in his hand and gestured.
"It doesn't matter what you think. It doesn't work for you. It depends on what the saint thinks."
Zheng Shuqing retorted and looked eagerly, hoping that this little prodigy of the Tang Dynasty would have some ideas, even if they were bad ones.
"Saints, saints, saints, what can you say that is true to saints? You were not raised by a saint..."
Fang Chongyong was halfway through his words, but stopped. Those three words were too insulting. Even if he and Lao Zheng already had a relatively deep personal relationship, he couldn't speak so openly.
"You just don't understand the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty at all."
Zheng Shuqing sighed, did not care about Fang Chongyong's gaffe, and continued:
"You think the left minister, the right minister, the minister, the governor, and the censor are all great, right? They hold great power and can decide the life and death of ordinary people, right?
In fact, there is only one rule for the operation of the Tang Dynasty, and that is, whatever the saint wants to do, he must have it. Other than that, it is all imaginary, and it is framed for outsiders to see.
It's like you haven't entered the Imperial College before. In fact, it's because the saint feels that he has treated your family so harshly. There are more than two thousand students in the Imperial College. How many Imperial College students can't be found anywhere in Chang'an City?
Even if the students who come out of the Imperial College are appointed officials after passing the imperial examination, they are just..."
Zheng Shuqing pointed at himself and said, "It's just a dog of a saint."
"And many people are not even qualified to be dogs and can only be manipulated like ants.
Later, you were admitted to Hongwen Hall under special circumstances. I originally thought you were going to have a successful career, but now... I can't understand it anymore.
Don't talk nonsense, just tell me what to do now, ugh."
"Of course there is a way."
Fang Chongyong already has a solution.
"Okay, how long will it take for it to take effect?"
Zheng Shuqing's face was filled with excitement. He now wished he could call Fang Chongyong daddy.