The military system of the Tang Dynasty was destroyed in the middle of the period, and the imperial court had to adopt the mercenary system in order to ensure the supply of soldiers. Many villagers in Shiqiao Village have been beneficiaries or victims of the mercenary system, including Feng Aweng.

To put it simply, the mercenary system is paid, but there is a major flaw, that is, the soldiers no longer fight for the country, but for their own interests. The family and the court are no longer the beliefs they have to defend desperately, it's just their boss, I can work for the boss today, and I can resign tomorrow.

When a soldier loses faith on the battlefield and does not know why he is fighting, the combat effectiveness of the army is naturally not as good as before.

This is also one of the important reasons why foreign wars have been repeatedly defeated since the middle of the Tang Dynasty.

In the final analysis, the most fundamental reason for the destruction of the government military system is the destruction of the civilian equalization system.

At the beginning of all dynasties, the kings and saints were virtuous, the folk atmosphere was also very simple, and the powerful landlord class was also friendly and gentle, because a country was broken and rebuilt, everything was equal to starting from scratch, everyone's starting point was the same, and the gap between the rich and the poor was not so huge.

When the fortunes of the country gradually prospered, when the lives of the powerful and the people were getting better and better, and the prosperous era came quietly unconsciously, the greed of the people's hearts gradually could not be contained. After the game of power, money, and people's hearts, choosing to be strong and joining forces, and choosing to be weak and devouring, this is the inevitable law of social development, which cannot be avoided by all dynasties.

In the prosperous era, the powerful circles occupied a large amount of farmland, and the powerless peasant households lost their land and could only become refugees, and when the vast majority of the world's wealth and land were concentrated in a few powerful people, the so-called prosperous foundation came to an end.

The poets of Chang'an are still relishing the prosperity of the times into their poems, toasting and chanting in the prosperous long streets, while the farmers in the rural villages of the Tang Dynasty are helping the old and the young to leave their homes, waiting for the fate of starving to the wild.

At the steep point of the car, no one can control its speed and direction, not even the Son of Heaven.

…………

Ten days later, late one night, Gu Qing was sleeping in the house, and was woken up by the careful and rapid knocking of the maid in the backyard, Gu Qing, who was awakened in the middle of the night, was furious, he got up angry, sat on the bed and roared at the door, the maid outside the door was so frightened that he trembled, and after being quiet for a while, he still had the courage to report to Gu Qing, Steward Xu was waiting outside the backyard door, and a letter from Qingcheng County was delivered, which was very urgent.

Gu Qing was stunned when he heard this, and then got up in his clothes.

Hurriedly walking out of the backyard, Gu Qing ignored Steward Xu's apology, took the letter and unfolded it, and ordered someone to approach with a lantern.

The letter was written by Zhang Huaiyu, in which she wrote in detail about the tragic situation of landless farmers in Qingcheng County, as well as the fact that the land in Qingcheng County has been gradually encroached upon and occupied by the gentry for decades.

In the end, Zhang Huaiyu turned his pen and told Gu Qing that Song Gensheng had decided not to compromise, and he wanted to make a move on the gentry and let them return the land, and the government and county government would redistribute the recovered land to the farmers.

When Gu Qing saw this, his hand couldn't help shaking, and his face instantly turned a little pale.

Okay, Song Gensheng is going to pierce the sky, and from the time when the letter was sent, it may have been pierced.

At this time, even if Gu Qing wrote a letter to persuade him, I am afraid it will be too late, and the gentleman surnamed Cai who is locked up in the county government prison is very likely to have fallen to the ground.

And that gentry is the spokesperson of King Ji in Qingcheng County......

Gu Qing couldn't help but have a headache, he realized that trouble was coming, this trouble was big, big......

Early the next morning, Gu Qing specially sent someone to take leave from Zuo Wei, and then sat at home with peace of mind, waiting for trouble to take the initiative to find him.

Sure enough, in the morning, Steward Xu hurriedly walked into the front hall to report, and there was a subordinate waiting outside the door, saying that His Royal Highness King Ji was invited.

Gu Qing sighed and ordered the carriage to be prepared.

In the Jiwang Mansion, Gu Qing sat in the front hall and waited for about an hour, no one entertained him after entering the door, there were no drinks and snacks, and even the people under him had a cold face.

Gu Qing knew that this was King Ji giving him a horse, so he was neither anxious nor angry, and sat leisurely in the front hall admiring the various decorations of the palace, and expressed his admiration from time to time.

King Ji finally walked out from behind the screen, compared to the last time they met, today's King Ji looked indifferent, and his face was like frost.

Gu Qing smiled and stood up to salute, his expression was as usual.

King Ji was indifferent, and after sitting down, he went straight to the topic: "Gu Changshi, do you know what your friend did in Qingcheng County?" ”

Gu Qing shook his head: "I don't know." ”

King Ji said coldly: "Ten days ago, he killed the gentleman surnamed Cai, and returned all the land under his name to the county government. This king wants to ask Gu Changshi, last time you came to apologize, this king also promised to reveal the matter, but that friend of yours immediately killed people and seized land in Qingcheng County, did you two join forces to play this king? ”

Gu Qing smiled bitterly: "This matter is an accident......

King Ji waved his hand and stared at him coldly: "I don't want to hear any explanation, it has happened, and it is useless to explain anything, I just want to know what you plan to do next, and what are you going to do with the land that has been collected by the county government?" ”

Gu Qing lowered his head, and his expression gradually changed.

"The minister guesses that the Song County Order may return the land to the farmers, after all, the land belongs to the farmers, and the property is just returned to the original owner."

King Ji was stunned for a moment, and then he was furious: "Those lands were bought by this king!" ”

Gu Qing sighed secretly, in fact, since he knew that Song Gensheng killed the gentry surnamed Cai, Gu Qing knew that the contradiction between him and King Ji could not be resolved, for King Ji, killing people is a trivial matter, and land is a big matter, with Song Gensheng's temperament, it is impossible to return the land to King Ji, so will King Ji, who has been touched by interests, still be polite to Gu Qing?

Now that he has completely offended King Ji, Gu Qing decided to turn his face.

It's not pretended, it's a showdown.

The gentle smile gradually changed at a speed visible to the naked eye, Gu Qing's expression gradually became stiff and indifferent, and there was obviously still a smile on his face, but the smile had turned into a sneer.

"Clever and robbing...... Is it also considered a 'buy'? Gu Qing's voice was very soft, as if he was afraid of waking up a sleeping child, but the sneer on the corner of his mouth became more and more profound.

King Ji was stunned, and for a long time, his face was also gloomy, his eyes were like a hungry wolf, staring at Gu Qing coldly.

"What does Gu Changshi mean, this matter will not be good?"

Gu Qing was still smiling: "The minister thinks that His Highness doesn't want to be good." ”

"Give me back the land, Qingcheng County ordered the killing of the gentry surnamed Cai, and the king can not be held accountable." After thinking calmly, King Ji decided to compromise.

Gu Qing is only a long history, but Gu Qing's connections and prestige in Chang'an City make him have to compromise, especially his relationship with Yang Guifei, which makes King Ji even more jealous. King Ji knew how cruel and cold his father was, and he didn't blink when he forced three princes to death at the same time, he was afraid that Yang Guifei would blow the pillow wind for Gu Qing. Book 8

Gu Qing smiled bitterly, he had already heard the compromise in King Ji's words, which was already rare for a prince. If he were Song Gensheng, he might agree immediately.

However, Gu Qing is not Song Gensheng, Song Gensheng will not compromise, Gu Qing can only choose to stand on Song Gensheng's side.

For standing in line, Gu Qing always takes a firm stand, and he is never reasonable, and he does not help his relatives.

It's just that deep down, Gu Qing still wants to beat Song Gensheng violently, this urge is as strong as the desperate desire of a couple who has been in a long-distance relationship for many years.

Looking directly into King Ji's eyes, Gu Qing slowly shook his head: "Your Highness, the minister can't do it." The land has been ordered by Song County to be returned to the county government, perhaps at this time it has been distributed to local farmers, and the minister is willing to compensate His Highness some silver money in his private name, I don't know what His Highness wants? ”

This is also the result of Gu Qing's third thought, and he also made a compromise with King Ji. If he can use money to solve the trouble in front of him, it doesn't matter if Gu Qing goes bankrupt, he knows that if he can't talk to King Ji today, Song Gensheng will face the disaster of death.

The prince did not dare to interfere in the government and could not order the removal of Song Gensheng, but in this lawless dynasty, one party dared to send a dead man to assassinate the prime minister, why is it difficult for the prince to kill a county order?

King Ji stared at Gu Qing's eyes, and he also shook his head slowly: "Gu Qing, it's not about money and land anymore, understand?" The prince's land was confiscated by a county order, and the king will not be able to raise his head in Chang'an, so many royal brothers and brothers will look at the king's jokes, my face has been trampled under your feet by you and the county order, and I only let you return the land, for the sake of your Gu Qing's face, if you don't even return the land to the king, then ...... No wonder this king is not welcome. ”

Gu Qing looked down at his hands and said softly: "Your Highness only talks about money, land, and face, but he never mentions those farmers who have lost their land, you ...... Have you forgotten that those farmers are the most pitiful people? ”

"Gu Qing, don't prevaricate this king with these meaningless reasons, whether the peasant households have land or not, that is a matter that the court princes should care about, and it has nothing to do with this king."

Gu Qing rubbed his face, stood up, and said with a smile: "Your Highness, before the minister was an official, he was just a meaningless farmer, the minister just figured it out, if the minister compromises with His Highness today, it will be forgetting his roots, and he will be poked in the backbone by the neighbors." Since you can't talk to His Royal Highness, if you have any means, just use it, and the minister and Song County will follow. ”

King Ji's eyes were contemptuous, and he smiled mockingly: "Do you know how ridiculous your righteous face is at the moment? ”

Gu Qing said with a smile: "Your Highness, who was born superior, isn't it ugly and hideous, each other." ”

"The minister retired."

The gentleman broke off his friendship and did not speak ill of him.

Gu Qing and King Ji were very restrained in maintaining their superficial politeness, Gu Qing still saluted King Ji and respectfully retreated outside the hall.

King Ji got up and stared at Gu Qing's figure, and when he was about to turn around and leave, King Ji suddenly raised his voice and said, "Gu Qing, from this moment on, you and I will not die." ”

Gu Qing paused, smiled and nodded: "Okay, it's decided." Never die. ”

The eyes of the two met in mid-air, sparks flew everywhere, and the killing machine was suddenly born.

…………

At the same time that Gu Qing walked out of the Jiwang Mansion, a team of knights in civilian clothes set off from the back gate of the palace, left the city towards Hanguang Gate, and went straight to Qingcheng County, Shuzhou.

There was no room for things to turn around, and Gu Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

You don't have to intrigue with others, you don't have to grovel to others, and then you can look at each other's creation.

Hurriedly returning home, Gu Qing stepped into the door and loudly told Steward Xu to pack up, and called Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing again.

Seeing Gu Qing's solemn expression, the two shopkeepers who were confused hurriedly asked what was going on.

"Don't ask, I'm afraid you won't be able to sleep at night, this matter has nothing to do with the two of you." Gu Qing replied lightly while packing up his daily necessities.

Hao Donglai's heart is more lively, and people are also interested, and when he heard this, he immediately said: "Shaolangjun, do you need help from the two of us?" ”

Gu Qing thought for a moment and said, "How many guys do you employ in the four shops in Chang'an now?" ”

"More than 50 people, just opened, don't dare to spread the stall too big."

"The four shops were all closed, and more than 50 men were sent out, leaving Chang'an and going in four directions, and quietly posting a poster in each city, the content of the poster said that the Qingcheng County Order of Shuzhou was not afraid of power, bravely resisted the magnates, and sought justice for the landless farmers, and was hated by the magnates who occupied the farmland, and the magnates sent assassins to ask for the life of the Song County Order."

The two shopkeepers were taken aback: "Song County Ling was assassinated? ”

"I heard it clearly, it is about to be assassinated, not to have been assassinated, there is an essential difference between the two...... You have nothing to do lately to eat more pig brains to supplement the form. ”

"What do you want to do when Shaolangjun packs up?"

Gu Qing was silent for a moment and said, "I want to go back to Qingcheng County." ”

The two of them were shocked: "Knowing that the assassin has gone to Qingcheng County, why should Shaolangjun take the risk himself?" ”

"I have entered a dead end in Chang'an, and there is no solution, Song Gensheng is isolated in Qingcheng County, and I will go back to live and die with him."

"Shaolang-kun can't!" Hao Donglai grabbed the baggage of his suitcase, and said hurriedly: "With all due respect, Shao Langjun has no killing skills, and his skills are no different from ordinary people, there are disadvantages and disadvantages in going to Qingcheng County, and there is even a risk of life, there is no point, it is better to think of other ways to help Song County." ”

Gu Qing shook his head: "In life for decades, if you have to weigh the pros and cons of everything before doing it, it is too sad to live." I used to be such a pathetic person, but in the future, I don't want to be such a person again. ”

"You guys stay well in Chang'an, if there is any movement, you can send a horse to Qingcheng County to tell you." Gu Qing put the simple burden on his shoulders, patted the two of them, and said with a smile: "Take care, I'm leaving." ”

After speaking, Gu Qing turned around and left.

The two shopkeepers chased after him in a hurry, and were about to grab Gu Qing, but they were frightened by Gu Qing's stern eyes and didn't dare to move again.

Gu Qing didn't know how to ride a horse, Steward Xu prepared a carriage and a coachman for him, when Gu Qing just threw the burden into the carriage and was about to go up, a figure hurriedly came and stopped in front of the carriage, Gu Qing looked at it, but it was Li Shiniang's female disciple, a little familiar.

"Shaolangjun, my girl wants to see Shaolangjun."

"It's too late, I have something urgent, tell Aunt Li ......"

Before she finished speaking, the female disciple dragged the coachman off the carriage, grabbed the reins with the other hand, and said without backing down: "Shaolangjun, my girl wants to see Shaolangjun." ”