readx; The cruelty of war lies not only in its slaughter of fresh lives, but also in its decisiveness, swiftness, and inability to stop. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

Li Qing'an planned the Jiangnan Campaign for nearly half a year and waited for more than a month, and when it was suddenly launched, it was violently launched with a gesture of no mercy and no turning back.

On the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, 30,000 Northern Tang cavalry surrounded the 60,000 troops in Zixi County with a thunderous force, and captured all of them without wounding a single soldier.

In just two days, two strong cavalry forces of the Northern Tang Dynasty swept across the land of Jiangnan, and the Jiangnan garrisons in various places mutinied, ripped off Li Lan's Vermilion Bird Flag, and set up the Yellow Dragon Army flag on a black background of the Northern Tang Army.

The prefectures and counties in the south of the Yangtze River also drove out Li Lan's observation envoys stationed in various prefectures and counties, and Li Lan's warehouses in various places were confiscated by the local government, his Wu Wang's Mansion in Suzhou was burned down by angry people, and the 500,000 Shijun granary in the north of Suzhou was looted by tens of thousands of people.

At first, the emergency report for help flew like snowflakes to the Jiangnan camp in Runzhou, but two days later, there was no more distress letter, and for Li Lan, the silence south of Runzhou was like death, and all his forces fell apart.

Two Tang cavalry has entered the territory of Runzhou, Zhao Chongjie's department intercepted the garrison that was about to escape on the ship in the east of Jiangning County, the Jiangnan army rushed to the battle, 10,000 iron cavalry only three impacts, and defeated the 20,000 Jiangnan army led by the general Zhu Tao, killed 3,000 enemies, captured more than 15,000 people, and the general Zhu Tao was shot by Zhao Chongjie with an arrow.

Early in the morning, the two Tang cavalry armies converged forty miles south of Dantu County in Runzhou, and their next target was the last 20,000 troops in Dantu County, Runzhou, and Li Luan, the king of Wu, was in the barracks.

Sickness comes like a thread, and illness goes like a mountain.

The big tent of gold wool was in a mess, all kinds of documents were piled up, land contracts, local household registrations, packed and arranged, scattered and piled up without knowing where to put them, so messy that they couldn't put their feet in.

Wu Wang Li Lan sat on a wooden box in a daze, like a person who had not woken up yet, his eyes were dazed and did not know what to do, but his dream had been shattered, he could not have imagined that ten days ago in Jiangbei could not find a boat to cross the river, the Northern Tang Dynasty army actually killed under his nose overnight, Li Qing'an, who had been leading the bow for more than a month, suddenly shot an arrow at his face, the whereabouts of the 60,000 Southern Expeditionary Army were unknown, his son was not known to live or die, and he himself was on the verge of life and death.

The withdrawal of troops is unquestionable, and his courage to fight with Li Qingan has long since disappeared, but he is still a little dazed, and he still wants to reminisce about Jiangnan, but does he still have this chance?

"Your Highness, let's go! If you don't leave, the enemy will be killed. ”

The three staff members who had been persuading him to stay in Jiangnan and fight with Li Qingan were more resolute than anyone else at this time, and they fled quickly, because if they didn't escape, there would be no chance.

Li Lan sighed, he looked up and looked around, but he didn't see Li Bai's shadow.

"Where's Li Taibai?"

"Has Your Highness forgotten? He went to Changzhou to urge grain. ”

"Oh!"

Li Lan felt that he had forgotten everything, and overnight, he wanted to be ten years old, and he suddenly felt a little sad, Li Bai couldn't come back.

"Your Highness! Let's go! The enemy cavalry had already reached twenty miles away. ”

This time it was his guards urging him, "It's really too late if you don't leave." ”

The camp in the south of the Yangtze River is still ten miles away, and if you don't leave, it's really too late, Li Lan also realized this, he stood up and glanced at the wooden box full of camp tents, shook his head and said: "I don't want anything, order everyone to get on the boat!" ”

Time was so tight that there was no time to leave the camp, a carriage came quickly from the camp gate and stopped in front of the big tent, Li Lan took one last look at the camp, gritted his teeth, lowered his head and got into the carriage.

The carriage started, getting faster and faster, and galloped towards the Yangtze River ten miles away.

In the middle of the Yangtze River, more than 20 warships lined up, this is the warships captured by the Northern Tang Army from Yangang, a total of 25 warships, all of them are medium-sized warships of 3500 stones, they are moored in the center of the river, you can see the movement of the south bank of the Yangtze River from a distance, on the south bank of the Yangtze River, hundreds of warships began to anchor, the big sails are opened, the sails are like clouds, the masts are like forests, here the signal that the Jiangnan Army on the south bank is ready to evacuate.

At the bow of the largest warship, Li Qing'an calmly looked at the enemy warship group several miles away with the hilt of his sword, although he was still far away from the other party, but he could already feel the other party's haste and timidity, the other party was already fleeing, today was the fourth day of the first month of the second year of Qingping, he finally recovered the south of the Yangtze River, he seemed to see the endless rice fields, and saw the small rivers crisscrossing this fertile and rich land, which was the richest area in China since the Middle Tang Dynasty.

Although the Tang Dynasty suffered a heavy blow in the Anshi Rebellion, its politics was almost bankrupt, but it still survived in the storm for nearly two hundred years, it is because Jiangnan has brought it a steady stream of materials and food, and now, this rich land has belonged to him, but his blood is not surging, it is strange, his blood is stable and comfortable, only feel bursts of joy, as if this day has come very early, only one sentence flashed in his mind: those who have Jiangnan sit firmly in the world.

Eight years ago, Li Qing'an chose it among the countless horns, it was low and reverberating, just a bass with a sand sound, and when it blew, there was a heart-shaking resonance.

Soon, the same low horn sound sounded on the warship, echoing on the river, echoing with the horn on the opposite bank, only to hear the horn on the opposite bank getting closer and closer, a group of Anxi cavalry in the opposite corner of the majestically emerged, and then, on the bank of the river for several miles, more and more cavalry appeared, they shouted, and pounced on the Jiangnan army that had not yet had time to get on the boat.

There was chaos on the river bank, and there were thousands of soldiers who didn't have time to get on the boat, and the Northern Tang cavalry arrived, and the shore was already in chaos, with soldiers resisting, and more people were so frightened that they surrendered on their knees.

The big ships no longer lined up in line, and began to turn around and sail towards the middle of the river, just a mile away from Li Qing'an's warship, nearly 400 warships slowly left the dock, the sails puffed up, and with the east wind that had just appeared, they drove west along the river, at this time one of the largest warships and Li Qing'an's ship staggered, and the two warships were two hundred paces apart.

Li Lan stood at the bow of the boat, he stared closely at Li Qing'an's boat, suddenly, he saw Li Qing'an, his eyes were full of surprise, he never thought that the enemy who seized his foundation was actually in front of him, only two hundred steps away, his eyes seemed to be sprayed with anger, eager to swallow Li Qing'an, the guard officer next to him also saw Li Qing'an, and immediately shouted: "Lord Wang, this is an opportunity, sink him with a boat!" ”

"Opportunity?"

Li Lan was a little dazed, when did he have a chance? He seemed to see Li Qing'an's cold smile, and suddenly became scared in his heart, and shouted repeatedly: "Hurry! Get out of here. ”

Li Qingan stood at the bow of the boat with his hands in his hands, he was not afraid that Li Lan's big ship would crash into him, he had already seen through the cowardice in Li Lan's bones.

He didn't give the order to release the arrows, but only watched lightly as Li Lan's big ship sailed away and left Jiangnan.

"General, will you just let them go?"

He Lou Yurun looked at the warships that had turned into small black dots in the distance with an unconvinced expression, did he really let these warships escape under their noses?

Li Qingan shook his head lightly and said with a smile: "You don't have to worry, there is a naval army in front of them that will intercept them." ”

After speaking, he waved his warrant and said, "You can go to the other side." ”

Twenty-five warships pulled up their anchors and sailed slowly toward the south bank of the Yangtze River.

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Five days later, on the ninth day of the first lunar month, more than 200 state and county officials from more than 40 counties in 10 prefectures, including Yang, Chu, Xuan, Run, Chang, Su, Hu, Hangzhou, Yue, and Ming, gathered together to attend the Jiangnan New Year Party held by Li Qing'an.

Everyone is full of expectations for this meeting, which is related to the positioning of Jiangnan by the imperial court and the development direction of Jiangnan in the coming decades.

Everyone believes that Li Qing'an's heart has drawn a picture of the future for the development of Jiangnan.

The meeting was held in the lecture hall of Changzhou Guozixue, the lecture hall is a big hall, it is the most magnificent building in Changzhou, which can accommodate 3,000 students to listen to the study here, at this time the hall is full of black people, not only more than 200 officials to participate, but also nearly 500 representatives of wealthy businessmen and gentry from various states also attended the New Year's party.

This is not a banquet, a bit similar to the tea party of later generations, every two people have a table, there are melons and fruits tea on the table, as well as some snacks and sweets, according to the level of official quality, the guards sit in the first row, such as Hangzhou Taishou Han Rong, Xuanzhou Taishou Fifth Qi, Suzhou Taishou Li Xiyan, Changzhou Taishou Wei Huangshang, Yangzhou Taishou Ji Guangchen and so on, followed by Changshi Sima, and then the county order and county Cheng, and then to the back is the local gentlemen and celebrities with titles or honors.

Li Qingan has not yet come, and the atmosphere in the venue is warm, with everyone whispering and making noise.

Hangzhou Taishou Han Rong and Jianghuai transfer envoy Cui Ning sat at a table, although Cui Ning had just come to Yangzhou to take office not long ago, he had met Han Rong several times in Chang'an, and they were quite familiar with each other.

Han Rong is about forty years old, Jinshi was born, entered the official career for nearly 20 years, from the main book step by step to the Taishou, he has been a Taishou for seven or eight years, successively served in several states, outstanding official reputation, according to the normal promotion, the next step he will either enter Beijing for promotion, or for the local observer, it can be said that Han Rong is the official leader of the Jiangnan region, in addition, he is also a master of Danqing, is a famous painter in history, famous for painting cattle.

Han Rong deliberately sat with Cui Ning, and he wanted to learn a little bit about Li Qingan's plans for the Jiangnan region from Cui Ning.

He smiled and asked first, "I don't know how Cui Xiangguo is preparing to dredge the Cao River?" ”

Although Cui Ning was not officially appointed as Zuo Xiangguo, but he has been qualified to be the Pingzhang under the Zhongshu Gate, Zuo Xiang is empty, everyone knows that it is for Cui Ning, and now Cui Ning is temporarily appointed as the Jianghuai, Henan transport envoy, Yu Shi Dafu, responsible for dredging the Cao River, building a warehouse, he led more than 100 people Cao Qu officials have been in Henan to Yangzhou for more than a month, accumulated a large number of data and artwork, this time rushed to Changzhou in order to discuss with Li Qing'an the specific start of construction.

"The preliminary investigation has ended, and now it is mainly a problem of labor, capital and food, as long as these two problems are solved, I am sure that it will take half a year to complete the dredging of the Cao River."

"Is there a solution?"

"There it is!" Cui Ning said with a smile: "Last night, His Royal Highness King Zhao discussed overnight, and the labor was served by prisoners of war from Li Luan's army, with a total of more than 80,000 people, and the new army recruited by Yangzhou will also be responsible for the dredging of the river from Yangzhou to the Huai River, and before spring ploughing, mobilize 200,000 people to participate in the construction of the river; As for the funds, Yangzhou still has 800,000 salt taxes and 450,000 commercial taxes, all of which can be invested in river improvement, and the general promised to transport half of the 2 million stone grain from overseas as a special use for river management, and the people, property and property are complete, and the construction will officially start after the Shangyuan Festival. ”

Cui Ning talked eloquently, but Han Yun was not very concerned with river dredging at this time, he cared about how Li Qingan would fight Jiangnan, and whether he would use Jiangnan as the defeated side to plunder.

He asked cautiously: "Cui Xiangguo, I heard that the reason why His Royal Highness King Zhao took the lead in attacking King Wu is because of the skyrocketing prices in Chang'an and the shortage of materials, Li Lan has already retreated west, I don't know what His Royal Highness King Zhao's next plan is ......."

Cui Ning saw that there was a worry in Han Yun's eyes that could not be concealed, and knowing his worry, he smiled slightly: "Is Han Yuanjun worried about Jianghuai's Mingyu?" ”

Both of them are relatively straightforward people, no subtlety, no temptation, everything is on the point, Han Rong nodded, and sighed in a low voice: "Li Lan is reckless, and he is recruiting soldiers and grain in Jiangnan, Jiangnan is sparsely populated, and he can't withstand his toss, and he has already hurt a lot of vitality, if the imperial court transports a large number of materials from Jiangnan like in the Kaiyuan period, I am very worried that the people of Jiangnan will not be able to afford it." ”

"Han Envoy Jun is a little worried, I am the Taishou envoy in Qizhou, and I have had a deep conversation with His Royal Highness King Zhao, in which he also talked about Jianghuai."

"Oh!" Han Yun was greatly interested, and hurriedly asked, "What did he say?" ”

"He only said one sentence, saying that he would give Jiangnan a fish, not take a fish."

Cui Ning wrote two different words 'fish' and 'fish' on the table with tea, Han Rong's eyes lit up, and then he was a little confused, "Can Cui Xiangguo say it specifically?" ”

"I can't say it specifically, but I know a little bit of His Royal Highness King Zhao's thinking."

Cui Ning took a sip of tea from the teacup, and said with a smile: "According to my experience, the first thing His Royal Highness King Zhao should do in Jiangnan should be to solve the land conflict. ”

"Land?"

"That's right! Land. ”

Cui Ning nodded affirmatively and said: "The land problem is the root cause of all wars and conflicts, Emperor Jingzong forced the land in Guanzhong, although he paid the price of his life, but the land annexation problem in Guanzhong has been basically solved, and it has laid a good foundation for us, and then His Royal Highness King Zhao used the method of redemption in Henan to collect the land, and it has also achieved results, and the land annexation in the Jiangnan area is not serious, and most of the homesteaders are concentrated in this area, so His Royal Highness King Zhao should first set the rules of the land, and then consider others." ”

"I wonder what rules he will make?"

"The first is to redeem the over-occupied land of large households, the second is to freeze the sale of land, and the third is to exchange land for business tax reduction, the second is Yan Zhenqing's suggestion, and the third is Pei Min's suggestion, I estimate that it will be piloted in Jiangnan first."

"Business tax relief?" Han Yun pondered for a moment and said, "Could it be that His Royal Highness King Zhao wants to develop business in Jiangnan?" ”

Cui Ning laughed, "This is inevitable, but not complete, Yangzhou's developed commerce, has been the first in the country, can be extended, in Run, Suzhou, Yue Prefecture Daxing port, the development of overseas trade and inland trade, improve the status of merchants, encourage the people to develop handicrafts, at the same time the land in the south of the Yangtze River is abundant, can move a large number of northern population to the south, improve agricultural skills, reclaim rice fields, increase grain production, so that after five to ten years of development, the Jiangnan region will become the commercial and agricultural center of the Tang Dynasty, I went south this time to dredge the transport, It is also to strengthen the ties between Jiangnan and the Central Plains, and by no means to plunder the materials of the Jiangnan region. ”

Han Yun let out a long sigh of relief and laughed in a low voice: "If this is the case, I dare to guarantee that the Jiangnan officials will resolutely support His Royal Highness King Zhao." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a guard at the door shouting: "His Royal Highness King Zhao has arrived!" ”

The lecture hall suddenly fell silent, and I saw Li Qing'an wearing a purple court uniform, hurriedly walking in from outside the gate, several guards guarding him, with a smile on the corner of his mouth, he walked straight to the chairman, and bowed to everyone: "Everyone, I'm one step late, please forgive me!" ”

There was a round of applause in the lobby, many people saw Li Qingan for the first time, seeing that he was young and upright, heroic, and completely without the legendary fierce and evil appearance, most people fell in love with this young first minister of the Tang Dynasty at first impression.

Changzhou Taishou Wei Huangshang secretly gave a thumbs up to Suzhou Taishou Li Xiyan and said in a low voice: "Quite Taizong's style!" ”

Suzhou Taishou Li Xiyan nodded and smiled: "As the envoy said." ”

Li Qing'an waved his hand and said to everyone: "Let me tell you a piece of news first, I have just received it, the defeated army of Wu King Li Lan encountered the Jingzhou naval army from the east near Wuhu Port in Hezhou, that is, the 30,000 army commanded by the son of Ge Shuhan, the two sides had a fierce battle on the river, Li Lan's boat was sunk, Wu King Li Lan has died in the chaos, more than half of his subordinates were killed and wounded, and finally all surrendered. ”

There was silence in the lobby at first, and then the applause was like thunder, and Li Lan died, which meant that the Jiangnan military disaster was completely over.

The atmosphere in the lobby became relaxed and cheerful, and everyone's hearts were like a big stone being unloaded, as long as Li Lan died, then Li Qingan would no longer be angry with the local government and people in Jiangnan.

At this time, Li Qingan smiled and said: "I invite you to come today, just to talk to you about the future of the Jiangnan region, today is just an informal discussion, you can speak freely, don't be restrained, I will start with the truth." ”

The lobby was quiet again, and everyone looked at Li Qing'an eagerly, only to hear Li Qing'an smile and say: "I only have ten words for the positioning of Jiangnan: give it to fish, not take it from fish......"

"Which envoy will speak first?"

"Let me say a few words first!" Han Yun stood up and smiled.

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The early morning mist shrouded in the Jiandu town of Qu'a County, this is a rich and quiet Jiangnan town, the population is less than 100 households, the people are simple, the people live and work in peace and contentment, the Jiandu town is named because it is close to the Jiandu River, since ancient times, it is famous for producing the Jingkou Ayasan section, almost every household has opened a weaving workshop, and the Jingkou Ayashan section produced has always been a tribute to the capital.

In the mist, Li Qingan was wearing an ordinary blue satin robe, wearing a gauze hat, and two entourages carrying bookcases and luggage, completely a scholar preparing to enter Beijing to take the exam.

Tomorrow Li Qingan will leave Jiangnan and return to Chang'an, and before returning to Chang'an, he needs to settle a matter on his mind.

In the middle of the stone street of the town, there is a Luo Ji weaving workshop, the weaving mill has ten looms, and more than a dozen female workers are hired, which is considered a medium-sized workshop in Jiandu Town.

In front of the workshop is the Jiandu River, there is a small special wharf, on the wharf tethered to two Upong flat-bottomed cargo ships, early in the morning, the Luo Kee weaving mill is shipping, several boatmen are carrying a piece of silk shirts wrapped in oiled paper onto the boat.

At this time, the goods had been moved, and the merchant who received the goods smiled at the owner of Luo Ji Weaving Workshop and said: "Mrs. Luo, thank you this time, next time I will come to pick up the goods around the end of February, I hope Mrs. will help me a lot, I will definitely give a better price." ”

The owner is a middle-aged woman, although she has a few silver strands in her hair, but she still has a beautiful face, she can see the beauty of her youth, she smiled slightly: "Shen Dongzhu has to come earlier, recently a Sogdian merchant came to the town to receive goods, the price is better, but since I have promised Shen Dongzhu, I will not miss the contract, but there is a word in advance, if Shen Dongzhu has not come on February 25, I will treat it as Shen Dongzhu has given up, and the goods will be given to others." ”

"Definitely! Certain! I'll be sure to come by the twenty-fifth. ”

The merchant saluted again, and the boat sailed away slowly, when a young woman hurried out of the shop and asked, "Mother, have you seen Erlang?" ”

"Isn't that right?"

Mrs. Luo pointed not far away, and saw a young man sitting on a big stone by the river, looking at the rising half of the bright red morning sun stupidly, he suddenly turned around and said angrily: "Mother, I'm hungry and want to eat bread!" ”

"Go back to the house with your daughter-in-law! There's bread at home! ”

A hundred steps away, Li Qing'an looked at them, the corners of his eyes were a little moist, he watched the young woman pull her stupid husband into the room, and couldn't help but whisper: "I wish you all peace and happiness in your life!" ”

He turned and silently left the stone street and walked out of the town, where a carriage with more than 100 guards was parked five miles away.

At this time, Mrs. Luo turned around and looked at Li Qing'an's back as she walked farther and farther, and her eyes were a little red.

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(To be continued)