The news that the Tang army took Shibao City was sent to Chang'an in the form of flying pigeons five hours later, and it spread throughout Chang'an overnight, first the government and the opposition celebrated with each other, although many civilians did not know the important surname of Shibao City, but the news of the Tang army's victory was enough to make the city jubilant, and the New Year of Tianbao in the eighth year became so exciting.

On the afternoon of the 29th, Chang'an City was very lively, full of brightly dressed pedestrians, carriages and chariots, a group of laughing children galloped through the streets, in the sound of firecrackers, three soldiers in ragged military uniforms led their horses to the gate of Gaolishi Mansion.

They are Nan Jiyun and two soldiers who came from Longyou, although they traveled all night, but they still couldn't catch up with the speed of the carrier pigeons, they also heard the news of the victory of Shibao City when they were in Xianyang, but there was no news about Li Qing'an and Ying Long's army, Nan Jiyun was anxious.

They walked up the steps and knocked on the door, a porter came out, Nan Jiyun showed the jade plate given to him by Li Qing'an, the porter did not dare to slack off, and immediately went back to report, a moment, a housekeeper led them into the mansion gate, about half an hour later, the side door of the Gaolishi Mansion opened, and a wide carriage drove out of the mansion gate and drove towards Xingqing Palace.

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After getting the news of the victory of the Longyou Army yesterday, Li Linfu was worried, the important surname of the victory in the Battle of Shibao City is far greater than the battle of Xiao Bolu for the imperial court, and the Shengshang rewarded the Anxi Army after the first battle of Xiao Bolu, so what about the Battle of Shibao City? Of course, Li Linfu also knew that he should be rewarded, but he knew better how much money and silk in the left collection were there? Governing the country is like governing the family, and it is difficult for him Li Linfu to cook without rice! Half a month ago, he relied on a forged Jianghuai transfer envoy to make the price of rice plummet, that is because he knew that Chang'an was not short of rice, but only a little trick, but the reward for the Longyou army was real and could not be avoided.

Li Linfu thought about it again and decided to tell Li Longji the financial situation, let him take it easy, and after making a decision, Li Linfu immediately rushed to Xingqing Palace.

Although Li Linfu used clever means to make the price of rice in Chang'an plummet half a month ago, Li Longji did not promote him, after all, Li Linfu's methods were not very glorious, but Li Longji still gave him a special reward, he did not need to report again, Li Linfu walked into the Datong Hall worriedly, but saw Li Longji's more than a dozen personal guards lined up, standing at the door of the imperial study, looking like a great enemy, Li Linfu was stunned in his heart, and the pace under his feet also hesitated.

A San Lang Wei hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Xiangguo, Your Majesty has decreed that no one is allowed to enter." ”

"Who is Your Majesty receiving?"

"It was Gonggong Gao who brought a general, it seems to be from Longyou."

"Longyou?" Li Linfu was stunned, who is coming?

In the imperial study, Li Longji sat weakly on the imperial chair, gently pressing his forehead with his thumb, he couldn't imagine that on that snowstorm night, the three thousand Tang troops faced the crazy attack of the eighty thousand Tibetan army.

Decades of brutal political struggles hardened his heart, but at this time, his nose was slightly sour.

Nan Jiyun knelt on the ground and wept silently, "Weichen escaped by luck, but our General Li and the three thousand brothers don't know whether they are alive or dead, Your Majesty, 80,000 Tubo troops!" ”

"I know!"

Li Longji sighed lightly and said, "I will investigate Dong Yanguang's guilt, and I will definitely give an explanation to Anxi Jun."

At this time, Gao Lishi, who was standing on the side, said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, since Shibao City can be finally taken, it means that Li Qing'an still successfully intercepted the Tubo army, in this case, the old slave thinks that Li Qing'an is still alive, and since Li Qing'an can use gunpowder to resist the enemy, the old slave believes that he will be able to turn the corner." ”

"The general is right, since the Stone Fort City has been broken, then Li Qing'an should be fine, and I look forward to seeing him."

Gao Lishi's comfort made Li Longji feel a little reassured, he thought of gunpowder, so he picked up the recipe written by Li Qing'an on the imperial case, and said with a slight smile: "There are still Fang Shi in my palace to take this medicine, who would have thought that it would be a sharp weapon to kill the enemy, with it, why should I be afraid of Tibet?" With this alone, Li Qingan has also made great contributions to me. ”

"Your Majesty, Xiangguo is here." A eunuch at the door whispered.

"I'm looking for him! Invite him in. ”

Li Longji smiled and said to Nan Jiyun: "General Nan, you risked your life to break through and come to report the news, your loyalty is commendable, and I will also praise you well, now you go back to rest first and wait for the triumph of the army." ”

"Wechen thank Your Majesty!"

Nan Jiyun slowly retreated, just passing by Li Linfu who came in, Li Linfu glanced back at Nan Jiyun suspiciously, this is a strange Tang Army general, he has never seen it.

He walked forward quickly and bowed, "Minister Li Linfu see Your Majesty!" ”

"Sangkook, please take a seat!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Linfu sat down and said, "The minister is to discuss with His Majesty after the good of the Battle of Longyou. ”

Li Longji was a little uneasy, he was holding a small bag of gunpowder in his hand, looking at it carefully, Li Linfu stopped following, Li Longji suddenly felt something, he put down the gunpowder bag and said with a smile: "I am distracted, Xiangguo continued." ”

"The battle of Longyou has won a big victory, and it is natural to reward the soldiers, of course the ministers will vigorously support Your Majesty, but ......"

"Just what? Keep talking! ”

Li Linfu sighed secretly, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "It's just that it's approaching the end of the year, Zuozang is empty, I'm afraid I won't be able to spend much money to reward meritorious soldiers." ”

Li Longji looked at Li Linfu coldly, for a long time, he snorted softly and said: "Xiangguo, the battle of Longyou was deployed at the beginning of the year, and I also said a few months ago that I hope to take Shibao City before the New Year, since I have already spoken first, Xiangguo should have prepared the corresponding reward a long time ago." ”

"The minister was originally ready, but His Majesty rewarded Yang ..... last month."

"Presumptuous!"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Longji slapped the table heavily and said angrily: "Do you mean to say that I spent all the money?" Lee Sang-guk. ”

Li Linfu was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, kowtowed again and again: "The minister doesn't dare, it's really empty, and the minister has nothing to do, please Your Majesty Mingjian!" ”

Li Longji stared at him fiercely, and only replied for a long time, "Say it!" How much money can be taken out? ”

Li Linfu hurriedly took out a notebook from his arms, handed it over, and said, "This is a plan that the minister is considering, please look at it." ”

A eunuch stepped forward to present the fold to Li Longji, Li Longji looked at it with a gloomy face, Li Linfu's plan was a combination of land, money, and honorable officers, and the number of money and silk was basically the same as last year's reward to Anxi, with 300,000 yuan of money and 150,000 horses of silk, but there were 5,000 hectares of land in the four states of Longyou, and there were a large number of honorable officers, which seemed to be barely passable at first glance, but the battle of Xiaobolu was more than 20,000 people participating in the battle, while the battle of Shibaocheng was the participation of 150,000 troops, and there was nothing left per capita.

Of course, Li Longji knew this, he threw the fold on the table, sighed and said, "Can't there be more?" Originally, my plan was a million. ”

"Your Majesty, there is at least 300,000 yuan in the death pension, which is also the big head, these two pieces add up, and there is only 50,000 yuan left in Zuozang's money, or it will be after the beginning of the spring and wait for Yangzhou's taxes to be released."

"Can't wait until then!"

Li Longji took two steps behind his back, turned around and said, "That's it!" First, the bereavement pension can be given a little less, 100,000 yuan, and the rest can be given in the form of money and rice paid by the local government every month, or converted into land, and then reduced or exempted from taxes, so that 200,000 yuan can be squeezed out; secondly, he ordered the young government supervisor to mint gold and silver, and if the money was insufficient, he replaced it with gold and silver; Thirdly, not all participants in the war are rewarded the same, some armies, I want to reward them heavily, and some armies not only do not reward them, but also punish them heavily! ”

Li Linfu was a little stunned, what does this third plan mean?

Li Longji glanced at him, threw the simple report written by Nan Jiyun to him, and said coldly: "Look for yourself!" If you look at it, you will understand how the Stone Castle City was taken. ”

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Ten days later, Ge Shuhan led 5,000 troops to return triumphantly, these 5,000 people are the elite he selected from the various armies, all the way to the flag, the armor is distinct, the momentum is huge, this is also a large-scale local army specially approved by the Ministry of War into Beijing, but there are also harsh conditions, such as not allowed to bring long weapons and crossbows, not allowed to bring heavy siege weapons, only allowed to carry horizontal knives, light and soft dress into Beijing.

When the triumphant army arrived in Xianyang, the news spread to Chang'an, the city was boiling, countless people helped the old and the young out of the city to greet them, and the Suzaku Street was crowded with people, and Chang'an City almost fell out of the city.

At noon, when the well-dressed Longyou army entered the Mingde Gate, Zhuque Street was completely boiling, more than 300,000 Chang'an people gathered on both sides of Zhuque Street, stretching for ten miles, the people beat gongs and drums, shouting and shaking the sky, everywhere were excited faces, Longyou won the battle, which means that Guanzhong is safe, Chang'an is safe.

When a group of imposing soldiers walked in front of them, the atmosphere was so enthusiastic that the crowd waved and cheered, shouting like thunder: "Long live the Tang Dynasty!" Long live the soldiers of Longyou! ”

Walking in the front of the Anxi Six Hundred Mo Sword Army soldiers, the burly Li Siye took the lead, his face was grim, his eyes did not squint, whenever they walked by, suddenly countless young women jumped up excitedly, and threw ribbons and brocade flowers at them, this is the first hero to capture Shibao City, and it is the hero in their minds.

Tens of thousands of guards were responsible for maintaining order, from Mingde Gate to Suzaku Gate, tens of thousands of soldiers held hands, desperately blocking the front of the people, Ge Shuhan rode in the middle of the team, accompanied by Chen Xilie, Yang Shenjin and dozens of other high-ranking officials who greeted him ten miles away.

He smiled and waved to the crowd from time to time, and he was extremely complacent, and at this moment, he also reached a glorious apex of his life.

At this time, the team gradually arrived in front of the Suzaku Gate, Li Longji personally led nearly 1,000 civil and military officials and clansmen, waiting for their triumph here, the team stopped far away, Ge Shuhan and dozens of generals urged the horses out of the ranks, and when there were still a hundred steps, they turned over and dismounted, and rushed to Li Longji together, kneeling down on one knee, Ge Shuhan said in a loud voice: "Brother Shuhan, see my majesty!" ”

The generals shouted in unison: "Ministers and others see Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live Long live!" ”

Li Longji hurriedly helped Ge Shuhan up, and said with a pleased smile: "Aiqing is worthy of being my minister, I have waited for eight years, and finally waited for the day when Shibao City will return, Aiqing has contributed to me and to Sheji!" ”

"It is the duty of a minister to share worries for His Majesty, and His Majesty does not need to praise it."

Saying that, Ge Shuhan pointed to the generals and said to Li Longji: "This time to capture Shibao City, it is still the generals who use their lives, and they have made great achievements. ”

"I understand!"

Li Longji stepped forward with a smile and looked around, but he didn't see Li Qingan, so he couldn't help but look back, and asked Ge Shuhan, "Where is Li Qingan?" ”

Ge Shuhan said lightly: "General Li and Weichen entered the customs together, but when he arrived in Jincheng County, he said that he had something to do, so he led his headquarters to leave the team, where he went, Weichen is not very clear. ”

As soon as he said a word, all the civil and military ministers immediately looked at each other, and their eyes showed shock, this Li Qingan dared not to enter the city with the army?

"Li Qing'an is bold!"

Yang Zhao shouted angrily: "His Majesty the Emperor personally led the Manchu Dynasty civil and military forces to welcome the victory of the Longyou Army, what a glory this is, he dares not to participate in the entrance ceremony, is he despising the saint?" ”

"Your Majesty!"

Li Siye hurriedly reported loudly: "Li Qing'an really has something important!" ”

Li Longji turned his head and glared at Yang Zhao, slowly walked in front of Li Siye, and asked softly, "What is his important business?" ”

Li Siye's eyes were a little red, and he said in a trembling voice: "Because of such a grand triumph, he can't face the soldiers who died in battle. ”

After a long time, Li Longji sighed, nodded and said, "I have also led soldiers, so I can understand his feelings." ”

He turned back to the crowd and said loudly, "No matter what, everyone is a meritorious soldier, and I want to reward you well." ”

He boarded the dragon chariot and smiled at Ge Shuhan: "General Ge Shu, you have made immortal contributions to me, and I specially allow you to share a car with me to show your glory!" ”

In the eyes of everyone, Ge Shuhan boarded the dragon chariot, and the applause in front of the Suzaku Gate was like thunder, and the cheers resounded through the street.

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There is a small town about 30 miles east of Jincheng County, Jingzhao Prefecture, called Xiwei Bridge, because this is the only way for Chang'an to go to Longyou, so the town is very large, there are thousands of families living in it, just like a small county, the town is very lively at the moment, the Longyou Triumphant Army has just passed here, almost all the people of the town have come out to welcome.

The procession had departed, but the enthusiasm had not yet dissipated, and there were still people in groups and threes talking on the street, and on the side of the road stood a young woman, who was holding a thin boy, still looking in the direction of the Longyou army from a distance.

Several women walked past her, and when they saw her neck stretched out, they joked: "Lin San Niang, are you still waiting for your Lin San to come home?" ”

"Nope!" The woman's face flushed, and she smiled a little embarrassedly: "These Longyou soldiers are all burly, and my family Lin San is thin and short, how can he be selected." ”

"Mother, when will Daddy come back?" asked the little boy by looking up.

The woman smiled, "I guess your father has returned to Anxi, and the war has already ended, he must be waiting for us in Anxi, go home quickly!" It's too much of a hurry. ”

The woman took the little boy and walked quickly to the west of the town, in a private house in the west of the town, there were dozens of families rented, these dozens of families were from Jiangdu, they were part of the family members of the Jiangdu regimental training camp, from Jiangdu with the old and the young, ready to wait for the end of the Longyou battle to settle in Anxi.

The woman took the child to a house, and there was a red lantern hanging at the door, and a door charm to ward off evil spirits was pasted, indicating that the New Year had just passed, and she saw a gray-haired old man standing at the door on crutches from afar, and she hurriedly stepped forward and complained: "Dad, what are you doing when you come out, it's cold outside!" Go back to the house. ”

"Taigong, my mother said that my father went to Anxi, when will we leave?"

The old man lovingly touched his grandson's head and said with a smile: "After two days of renting a carriage, we will set off." ”

"Yang'er, you help the grandfather into the house, and the mother goes to cook."

The family entered the courtyard and closed the door, when a group of horsemen came in the distance, about two hundred people, and several carriages were mixed in with the horses, and the carriages were filled with earthen porcelain jars, each with a small note pasted on it.

They slowly approached, and in the middle there were four female soldiers in military uniforms, each of them black and thin, without a smile on their faces, and several of them were accompanying them.

"General Li, this is where the Jiangdu people live, a total of fifty-two households."

These soldiers are Li Qing'an and his men, they survived a total of 284 people, except for the seriously injured 80 people in Shanzhou to recuperate, the remaining 203 people have entered Beijing with Li Qing'an, after the war, they collected a total of 840 soldiers' corpses, the rest of the corpses can not be found, Li Qing'an entered Beijing to hand over their ashes to their relatives.

The arrival of the two hundred troops attracted the attention of the tenants of Jiangdu, and many of them ran out and watched from afar, when suddenly an old woman shouted: "Eleven Lang, is it you?" ”

One of the soldiers rolled off his horse, and he almost crawled to his knees in front of the old woman, crying, "Mother! It's a child, and the child is not dead! ”

The old woman hugged her son and cried bitterly, at this time, the Jiangdu family knew that it was their relatives who came back, the news spread immediately, countless people rushed to this side, they did not dare to approach, they stretched their necks anxiously looking for their relatives in the group of soldiers, none of them were found, everyone talked about it, there are five hundred people in the Jiangdu camp, there seem to be only a few dozen people in it, and the rest may have returned to Anxi!

The soldiers dismounted, and Li Zheng pointed to the closed courtyard gate in front of him and said, "General Li, this is the Lin Sanjia." ”

Li Qingan took a clay pot, bit his lip, stepped forward and knocked on the door, the door opened, and there was a young woman standing inside the door.

"You guys.... Who to look for? ”

"We are the Anxi Army, from Longyou, are you Lin San's wife?"

"I am!" The young woman became a little uneasy, she looked back, and asked in a trembling voice, "Why didn't my Lin San come, he... Is he hurt? ”

At this time, an old voice came from the courtyard, "Sanniang, who is here?" ”

"Dad, it seems to be someone from San Lang's army."

A young man appeared at the door with a gray-haired old man, the old man looked at Li Qing'an, and then at the soldier at the door, he suddenly took a step back in fear and asked, "This military master, where is my son?" ”

Li Qing'an knelt down slowly, and all the soldiers behind him knelt down with him, Li Qing'an held Lin San's urn high above his head, tears flowing down his face.

"Aong, I've sent your son back!"

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(To be continued)