The news of Ganzhou's great victory not only inspired officials at court and central government, but also aroused strong responses among the people. For several days, the topic of Hexi was discussed in all the restaurants and streets.
At this time, the imperial examination has ended, and dozens of successful candidates are paraded in red and proud, enjoying all the glory, while most of the failed candidates returned home sadly, but there are also many scholars who are nostalgic for Chang'an for various reasons and refuse to leave.
This phenomenon happens every year, and it will not be until summer comes and the scholars have spent all their money that they will quietly leave.
The news of the Ganzhou Army's victory these days also inspired these failed scholars.
There is a Luoshen Restaurant in Pingkangfang, which is also known as Changling Restaurant. This was Wang Changling's favorite restaurant during his lifetime. The walls on the first and second floors are covered with Wang Changling's poems, including several popular famous poems.
Poetry was born here.
The most famous "Out of the Fortress" is inscribed on the front wall of the second floor. It was written with emotion when Wang Changling returned to Chang'an from Anxi and had a gathering with his friends.
The bright moon of the Qin Dynasty was at the Pass of the Han Dynasty, and the people who marched thousands of miles have not yet returned.
But the flying generals of Dragon City are here, and Hu Ma is not taught to cross the Yin Mountains.
At this time, the restaurant was full of fallen soldiers. They were drinking and talking about the situation in the northwest.
"I'm afraid the imperial court will not agree to continue going north and regain the Hexi Corridor."
A scholar sighed: "My father worked as a foreign minister in the Ministry of Rites. He once told me that the imperial court's financial resources were extremely tight and it was impossible to raise enough military salaries. The salt tax and other taxes from the Jianghuai River did not dare to go to Beijing easily.
, at most once every one or two years, a large army will be dispatched to protect it. My father said that it may be feasible to capture the Hexi Corridor, but the court does not have the financial resources to defend it, let alone cope with the subsequent changes. The court can only maintain the status quo. "
Another scholar shook his head, "This is a typical example of living an ignoble existence. We just hope that the nomads will not attack, and we only want peace in front of us, but we don't dare to go out and attack."
"To be fair, you really can't blame the imperial court. It's mainly due to the separatist vassal towns in the Central Plains of Hebei. The imperial court is simply unable to respond on both fronts. You said that the imperial court is fighting aliens in the northwest, and the vassal towns in the Central Plains of Hebei take the opportunity to break up the soil and establish a country? What should you do?
The Tang Dynasty fell apart. According to my thinking, if the feudal town is not peaceful, the Tang Dynasty will never be able to recover Anxi."
The scholar's voice was so loud that the whole restaurant heard it. Everyone fell into silence. A monk sighed and said: "Brother Meng is telling the truth. I went to Youzhou to visit friends last autumn and was surrounded by people all the way.
After strict investigation, they did not recognize the official documents of the Tang Dynasty at all, which gave me the feeling that the Hebei side was completely an independent vassal state, not a vassal town."
This group of scholars is Meng Jiao and his friends. Besides Meng Jiao, there are four other people, the Du brothers, one is Du Xianxiang and the other is Du Siye. Du Siye is the grandson of Du Fu. There is also a scholar named Wang Yong, who is also a scholar.
There were several talented young people, and finally there was a young monk, the famous Huai Su. He was regarded as a close disciple of Yan Zhenqing and was deeply loved by Yan Zhenqing.
At this time, Meng Jiao remembered something, took out a piece of plain paper from his arms, handed it to everyone and said with a smile, "How about everyone taking a look at this poem?"
Wang Yong took the plain paper and read a few sentences, "Why don't you take Wu Gou and collect the fifty states in Guanshan? Okay! Well written."
He immediately exclaimed, and Huaisu quickly grabbed it and praised: "This calligraphy is good, Brother Meng, who wrote this?"
Meng Jiao smiled and said: "This is a poem written by Guo Song to his wife. My master is Guo Song's wife's grandfather. He lives in Xue's house. He found this poem on the wall of his granddaughter's study and copied it down.
When he returned to Luoyang, he gave me this poem."
Hearing that the poem was written by Guo Song, scholars rushed up to read it. Meng Jiao was afraid that the paper would be torn, so he shouted: "Why don't you write it down and let everyone enjoy it together?"
The scholars applauded one after another, and someone called the shopkeeper. Hearing that it was Guo Song's poem, the shopkeeper was a little tempted, and said to everyone: "Either write it on the west wall, which happens to be empty."
Meng Jiao handed the plain paper to Huai Su, "Monk Qian, your calligraphy is the best, you write it!"
Huaisu didn't refuse, took the paper and said happily: "Then I will show my shame!"
He came to the Western Wall, drank the wine in one gulp, and wrote on the wall:
Why don't men take Wu Gou and collect the fifty states in Guanshan?
Please come to Lingyan Pavilion for a while. How can I be a scholar and a marquis of ten thousand households?
The poem was written in one go, with the calligraphy flowing and hearty, and everyone cheered loudly.
Meng Jiao murmured twice, "Why don't the man take Wu Gou and capture the fifty states in Guanshan!" A wave of blood surged to the top of his head. He couldn't restrain the excitement in his heart and said loudly: "Everyone, let's go with it."
It is better to join the army in Hexi and realize our ambitions if we stay here till the end of our lives."
The blood in everyone's chests was also ignited by this poem. Du Siye jumped on the table, waved his arms and shouted: "Brother Meng is right, we can also display our talents in the army. Instead of wasting our lives here, it is better to go out and stand in front of the enemy."
With the Jade Gate closed, you can appreciate the tragic conquest of Anxi!"
Everyone responded one after another. Meng Jiao struck while the iron was hot and took out a large piece of paper and wrote the three characters "Record of Leaving the Fortress". The first one signed his name on it, Du Siye was the second signature, and Wang Yong also signed his own name.
The scholars signed their names one after another. Huaisu hesitated, but he also wanted to visit Hexi, so he also signed the words "Seng Huaisu".
After signing more than forty names in one go, Meng Jiao said: "I'm going to find some financial support. The day after tomorrow, we'll gather here and set off for Ganzhou!"
.........
What happened at the Luoshen Restaurant spread quickly, and the scholars' dedication to serving the country was universally praised. More scholars came from all directions and wrote their names in the "Records of Going out of the Fortress", which amounted to 130 times.
More than ten people are willing to go out to serve the country.
Knowing that the scholars were short of money, merchants in the East City donated money to help. Zhang Lei, the owner of the Jubao Pavilion, gave out one thousand taels of silver to help the scholars go west.
In the morning, Luoshen Restaurant was already crowded with tens of thousands of people. Amid bursts of applause and cheers, more than a hundred scholars wrote down their own heroic words, expressing their determination to join the army and serve the country.
Zhang Lei presented everyone with good wine for longevity and longevity. They drank the wine in one gulp, put on their swords, and mounted their horses or donkeys.
Under the welcome of tens of thousands of people, he left Chang'an and went to the Hexi Corridor to join the army.
Although the enthusiasm among the people to regain the Hexi Corridor was high, the imperial court remained silent. It was the court's political correctness to oppose the use of troops in the Hexi Corridor. Even if they supported the behavior of the scholars in their hearts, no officials dared to publicly express their stance on this issue.
In the imperial study, Li Shi wrote two lines of poems, "Why don't men take Wu hooks and collect the fifty states in Guanshan!" This was copied to him by his confidant eunuch Huo Xianming. Imperial officials would not tell what happened in Luoshen Restaurant.
Li Shi could tell him the things in the palace, but Li Shi could know these things from his close eunuchs.
Li Shi looked at these two sentences and let out a long sigh. If he were an ordinary scholar, he would definitely join the army and go to the Western Regions to serve the country. Unfortunately, he had empty ambitions but nowhere to put them into practice.
At this time, the eunuch reported at the door, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li Bi wants to see you!"
"Let him come in!"
After a moment, Li Mi hurried in. When he saw the banner on the table, he couldn't help but be startled. How could the Holy One know about this?
"Li Xiangguo, I feel so aggrieved!" Li Shi said in a low mood.
Li Bi smiled slightly and said: "Your Majesty can control his emotions, which is the blessing of the Tang Dynasty. I am here to tell you the good news. The money and food from Shu are already on the way to Beijing, totaling more than 25 million yuan."
The money and grain are three million dan, and the judge Wei Gao will lead an army of 3,000 to escort him to Beijing. In addition, part of Jianghuai's money and grain will also be escorted to Beijing next month. Chen Shaoyou has officially sent an ultimatum."
Li Shi was immediately overjoyed. This was a timely help!
"It seems that there is nothing wrong with appointing Cui Kuan as the governor of Jiannan. He still has his heart set on the imperial court. This will solve the imperial court's urgent need."
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. A good governor can not only govern the place and defend the territory, but also be loyal to the court and solve problems for the court in a timely manner. From this point of view, Cui Kuan is more qualified, but Long
However, Zhu Si, the envoy of Youjiedushi, was unsatisfactory. In particular, he shielded Wang Lien, the former governor of Ganzhou, and deceived the late emperor. He should be held responsible. The political affairs hall recommended that your majesty remove Wang Lien from the post of governor of Daizhou. At the same time, he requested that your majesty also remove Zhu Si from the post of governor of Longyoujie.
For the position of governor, truly capable people are appointed as governors of Longyou."
Li Shi knew in his heart that this was actually the result of the competition behind the scenes between the Dugu family and the Yuan family. It was obvious that the Dugu family won, but as the emperor, he hoped that the two families would maintain a balance.
There is no problem in removing Wang Lianen from the post of governor. Guo Song needs to give an explanation to the officers and soldiers of the Ganzhou Army. He has made great contributions. The key to this favor is the appointment of Longyou Jiedushi.
Li Shi took a few steps with his hands behind his back and asked, "I remember that General Dugu recommended Ma Lin to take over as the governor of Longyou, right?"
"Exactly!"
Li Shi pondered for a moment and said: "I have already approved Wang Lien's dismissal. There is no need to ask for instructions again. Zhu Si can be dismissed from the post of Longyou Jiedushi. However, Ma Lin needs to be in charge of the Central Plains to ensure the safety of the canal transport lines. I am considering appointing Zhang Yi, Minister of War,
Take over the post of Longyou Jiedu Envoy."
It was a consensus to remove Zhu Si from the post of Longyou Jiedushi, but Li Shi did not want the Dugu family to gain full power. He needed to dampen its momentum and give the Yuan family some explanation, so Zhu Si could appoint another one.
[Note: Du Siye’s age is written slightly older, he should still be very young at this time]