"Thank you for this prince, thank you for this ...... Xiao Lang-kun. ”

After the man was invited by Zheng Shuqing to come and sit down, he hurriedly thanked him. He looked very depressed, as if he had been on the road for a long time, and his clothes were dirty.

"Although the post guards at the post station are also people who watch people serve food, they will not drive away the officials who have settled in as they did just now. Who are you? Why do the guards drive you away? ”

Zheng Shuqing asked with a puzzled expression, and poured a glass of wine for this person by the way.

The wine they drink is the Huadiao wine, which is a specialty here in Xiangyang, and the taste of red lotus spring is indistinguishable.

However, as an "Internet celebrity wine", Red Lotus Spring is obviously more famous among the nobles of Chang'an, and Zheng Shuqing and Fang Chongyong both brought some plans to return to Chang'an to give to relatives and friends.

Of course, it is impossible to open and drink at the post station.

"Alas, I am a person from Jingcheng, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, and I am a small Confucius official under the account of Zhang Shouqi, the envoy of Youzhou Festival. As a result, this year, an observer envoy from Chang'an took up an appointment and saw that I was not pleasing to the eye, so he caught me for a little mistake and framed me. In the end, I was transferred to the Lingnan Five Mansions, and continued to work as a Confucian official under the tent.

Isn't that killing me? That place in Lingnan is used to exile officials! Miasma or poisonous insects, which one doesn't kill people! ”

The young man in front of him said indignantly. His officials are doing a good job, and Confucius is the kind of official who can be promoted, and doing well is not without a future.

As a result, the town of Youzhou Domain was parachuted by the imperial court to observe him, and he was directly and rudely "dismissed"!

"So, you were driven out by them because you refused to go to Lingnan and deliberately rubbed at the post station in Xiangyang?"

Fang Chongyong asked as he stared into the man's eyes.

"That...... Don't hide it from the two of you, it seems to be. ”

This person lowered his head embarrassedly, the reason why he kept dragging from Youzhou to Xiangyang, every time he stayed at the post station until someone else drove him away, the purpose was to delay the time and not go to the post, waiting for the transfer.

Generally speaking, the festival envoy is also a part-time observer envoy. But for some reason, this time the imperial court actually insisted on parachuting an observer, and Zhang Shouqi didn't mind this, and called that person a brother.

"This dog officer, it's really a good death! After returning to Chang'an, the official will definitely join him. ”

Zheng Shuqing said indignantly, suddenly thought of something, and asked suspiciously: "By the way, what is your name, and what is the name of the dog official?" ”

"Alas, don't worry about that kind of heart, this dog official is an old minister of the saint when he was hidden in the dragon, and he is deeply favored by the saint. In the next solemnity, the grace of a meal will never be forgotten, so don't pass it by. ”

Yan Zhuang found that he seemed to have said something that he shouldn't have said, and it was taboo to talk shallow and deep.

He was about to get up when he suddenly noticed the eight or nine-year-old boy who didn't talk much pulling at his clothes.

"What is there but it doesn't hurt to say, under this clarity, can't you still say a single word? No matter how big the official is, is it still bigger than the prime minister? This Zheng envoy dares to speak up in front of the prime minister, what is there to say? ”

Fang Chongyong roasted Uncle Zheng on the fire and gave him a look.

After a few cups, Zheng Shuqing's courage also grew, and he said with a big bag: "Just say it, you are a sesame official, and with a wave of your hand, it is easy to save you from trouble." ”

Zheng Shuqing secretly thought that after he entered the center, he would become a mountain of his own, and it seemed that it was also the right intention to recruit some useful thugs and minions.

"The prince is really righteous! The dog official's name is Fang Youde, and the prince can find out after a little inquiry. ”

Yan Zhuang said excitedly, feeling as if he had found a backer.

Zheng Shuqing and Fang Chongyong glanced at each other, and each saw the helplessness in each other's eyes.

"Well, I'm not in a hurry to deal with him yet, let's talk about it first, why was he demoted? Let's see if Zheng Yuanjun has any way to pull you. ”

Fang Chongyong asked without changing his face, and his toes were about to be cut out of the three bedrooms and one living room on the ground.

The same position was transferred from Youzhou to Lingnan, which was a proper demotion to an official.

"Well, it's still the fault of drinking."

Yan Zhuang sighed helplessly and said, "Fang Youde has just arrived in Fanyang City, and all the staff at the reception banquet are there. I drank too much and complained to my colleagues that the imperial court had oppressed Hebei too much! Isn't that true?

As a result, Fang Youde happened to hear it, saying that I slandered the court and plotted against me! I just said a few fair words, and he asked Zhang Jiezhen (Zhang Shouqi) to behead me to set an example!

At that time, many people persuaded me, and Zhang Jiezhen also said that I drank too much nonsense, which saved my life.

The result is good, within a few days I was retaliated against, demoted and went to Lingnan! Do you say I'm wronged? ”

The scumbag's wrist is very sharp, but his brain is still not good.

Fang Chongyong complained in his heart and asked, "What did you say at that time?" ”

"This ...... Does it matter? ”

Yan Zhuang was stunned, he didn't expect Zheng Shuqing's son (mistakenly thinking) to be so curious!

He reluctantly explained: "Fang Youde boasted during the banquet that Pei Yaoqing had made meritorious contributions to the rectification of Caoyun, and said that he had sent seven million stones of grain to Guanzhong in three years, and the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty shook the past and the present.

I told my colleagues that those are the people of Hebei, and it is the imperial court that oppresses us Hebei people to death! Prosperous fart!

Isn't it?

Pei Yaoqing's seven million stone grains and grass came from eight states, five of which were in Hebei, namely Xiangzhou, Weizhou, Beizhou, Dezhou, Cangzhou, and two were Puzhou (Puyang) and Yunzhou, which are next to Hebei.

If the people of Hebei are short of food, they will not even be able to find food to buy in neighboring prefectures and counties.

Isn't this looting Hebei and knocking on bones and sucking the marrow? Am I wrong? Fang Youde, why did the dog official target me? ”

The more Yan Zhuang spoke, the more angry he became, and he couldn't wait to slap the table and scold his mother, Zheng Shuqing hurriedly interrupted: "Be cautious, be cautious." ”

"I'm sorry, but I'm really angry......

Yan Zhuang said ashamedly.

Fang Chongyong saw it in his eyes and was silent. Yan Zhuang is now just a young man who has not been beaten by society. When he matures, he will naturally know that behind the operation of all things, there are laws.

"In fact, the Yongji Canal, a canal north of the Yellow River, is closer to Luoyang and more gentle, which is convenient for grain storage and transportation. The Tongji Canal in the south is not easy to transport grain from Jianghuai into the customs. As for how the imperial court will choose, in fact, it is clear at a glance. ”

Fang Chongyong said in a deep voice.

The idea of the imperial court is very simple, the canal route of Hebei can save freight and suppress Hebei and continue to suck blood. In that case, why not do it thoroughly?

Suffering the people of Hebei and making Chang'an more prosperous, can this business still be done?

Fang Chongyong substituted himself into the identity of Li Longji, and he found that an emperor who was already in his fifties didn't seem to need to think about such a problem!

When a man dies and a bird rises to the sky, is there a person in the world who lives forever? Live a good moment, you can earn it when you are cool first, what do you want to do in the future?

Let's talk about it if something happens!

Jianghuai's grain and grass were transported to Chang'an, and the freight itself was very expensive. The freight of one stone of rice is about to reach more than 50 yuan after arriving in Chang'an. In a good year, the price of rice in Chang'an is also this number. That is to say, according to today's freight, the delivery to Chang'an has doubled, and the transportation is much lost!

This is not counting the loss caused by the countless boats that capsized in the Yellow River in Shaanzhou!

These things were all told to Fang Chongyong by Zheng Shuqing when he was in Kuizhou. Datang's luck is related to the country's fortune. But the location of Chang'an is incomprehensible, and unless the capital is moved to Luoyang, the aging of the empire can be delayed.

Otherwise, the continued inefficiency of the fortune will sooner or later drag the empire into the abyss.

However, it doesn't matter to Li Longji, anyway, as long as Chang'an and Guanzhong are cool, he really can't take care of the rest.

Doesn't Confucianism's courtesy, righteousness, benevolence and faith also pay attention to relatives near and far?

The Li Tang clan originated in Guanzhong and had no connection with Hebei. Most of his supporters are also Guanlong nobles. These people are "pro", and Hebei people are "sparse".

From Li Longji's point of view, is it necessary for him to care so much about what the people in Hebei think?

Fang Chongyong felt that this seemed to be an unsolvable proposition. There is only one bowl of rice, but there are two people to eat, and everyone is not full of food, what should I do, do I have a choice?

"After the official returns to Chang'an, let Li Xiang test your knowledge. If it's okay, then stay in Chang'an. This official repaired a letter to the Lingnan Jiedu envoy, you are just a big and small official, and no one wants to embarrass you.

As for complaining about the court, it would be better for you to say less in the future. Do you not hear the truth that sickness comes from the mouth and from the mouth? ”

Zheng Shuqing said indifferently.

"Thank you Zheng Xianggong, thank you Zheng Xianggong!"

Yan Zhuang saluted respectfully to Zheng Shuqing, and wanted to kowtow and kneel.

"It's too famous, and now it can't be called justice. You have called this official fair, how can Li Xiang deal with himself? ”

Uncle Zheng reprimanded with a straight face.

Fang Chongyong thought in his heart, Lao Zheng said no, his body was still very honest. After all, only the prime minister can be called "Xianggong". Lao Zheng's promotion was imminent, and he really trembled.

Human nature, human nature.

"Uh, this little Langjun is ......"

Yan Zhuang suddenly noticed that Fang Chongyong and Zheng Shuqing didn't look very similar, but when he looked at it, he felt extremely familiar, and he always felt as if he had seen it somewhere.

"Huangkou child, what a worry. I am the only son in the family, and you can call me Dalang in the future. ”

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but tease.

Yan Zhuang nodded slightly, hiding the question in his heart. He always felt as if something was not quite right, and he couldn't tell.

The group rested in Xiangyang for a day, replenished some dry food and wine, and then continued north in the carriage provided by the post station. The next stop is far away, Xiangxian in Dengzhou. Further north is Neixiang County, enter Wuguan Road and go directly to Chang'an.

Due to the delay caused by the freezing of the waterways, Zheng Shuqing suspected that they would not have time to return to Chang'an before the Shangyuan Festival. After the Shangyuan Festival, maybe there will be twists and turns in Zheng Shuqing's election of officials, and this kind of thing often happens, so when officials are dismissed, they will also fill in new positions in time.

Otherwise, his new position is likely to be replaced by the officials to be elected.

However, now the imperial court is also eventful, Pei Yaoqing was deposed, and Zhang Jiuling and Li Linfu became inseparable. It is normal that Zheng Shuqing's official position cannot be determined, and if a new official position is determined immediately, it will be called an aggressive thing.

In this regard, Zheng Shuqing was depressed all day long. In addition, he found that Yan Zhuang was very talented and witty, which was an unexpected joy.

What Zheng Shuqing, Fang Chongyong and the others didn't know was that when they came to Chang'an, the situation here was completely different from what they expected when they set off from Kuizhou.

……

Zhang Jiuling's mansion is in the correction workshop, which is located in the southeast corner of Chang'an City, very close to the Furong Garden. But unlike Li Linfu, Zhang Jiuling is an honest official, and his house is also very small, which is far less magnificent than Li Linfu's house.

This is also related to his slightly humble background.

In essence, Zhang Jiuling was a very traditional and conservative Confucian scholar, and he did not like the atmosphere of poverty and luxury in Chang'an City. Confucian scholars have always had the view that the wealth of the world is constant.

With regard to government affairs, they tend to adopt the method of "reducing expenditure" in order to maintain a balance between fiscal revenue and expenditure. "Open source" is "competing with the people for profit", and Confucian historians have always been strict critics of the things done by financial officials.

If the ruling class uses a little more, then the people will have a little less, and the so-called "competing with the people" comes from this.

From this point of view, it is not surprising that Zhang Jiuling was disdainful of Li Linfu for helping Li Longji collect money, and his face was disapproving. This is due to academic inertia. is a bit similar to Fang Chongyong's previous life, undergraduates looked down on college students.

However, at this time, Zhang Jiuling's life is not as comfortable as outsiders think. He did not wait for the New Year in the correction workshop, but followed Li Longji out of Chang'an to Zhongnan Mountain to "enjoy the snow".

However, Zhang Jiuling, who has experienced many storms, can feel that Li Longji is going to do something big this time!

Because of all kinds of signs, the crown prince Li Ying, whom Zhang Jiuling supports, is making solid preparations...... Conspiracy.

Two years ago, there was a great drought in Guanzhong, and Li Longji toured Luoyang in the east and brought hundreds of officials to Luoyang to "eat". The crown prince at that time, Li Ying, did something that he didn't know how to describe.

At that time, Li Ying borrowed 2,000 armor from Li Longji's thirteenth son, Li Yuan (later renamed Li Xuan), but Li Yuan did not give it. He not only refused, but also reported the matter to Li Longji.

Li Longji, who has been trained in the court for a long time, naturally knows what it means to borrow armor. So he called Zhang Jiuling and asked if he wanted to abolish the prince!

Zhang Jiuling said at the time that the crown prince is the foundation of the country and cannot be moved lightly. He felt that this matter was quite strange, because Li Yuan was only the envoy of the Pinglu Festival, and those soldiers and horses, whether it was armor, were all in Hebei. Where did he change two thousand armors?

In other words, Li Yuan's accusation of the prince is certain. But whether he is falsely accused, or whether he was instructed to play such a game of "confusing the truth with falsehood", no one can say badly.

Li Yun has no possibility of inheriting the throne, and it is impossible for him to take his turn no matter what. In terms of age and wings, he is far inferior to Li Heng; In terms of the degree of favor of his mother, he is far inferior to Shouwang Li Xuan.

Therefore, it is very likely that Li Ying was instructed to deliberately falsely accuse the crown prince Li Ying. In other words, even if Li Ying wants to rebel, it is impossible to give such a big flaw for Li Ying to catch.

So who is behind it, in fact, it is already about to come out!

For these, Zhang Jiuling didn't even dare to think about it!

"The snow scene is very beautiful, can the right minister compose a poem to entertain him?"

Li Longji walked up to Zhang Jiuling's side and pointed to the snow-covered mountains in the distance and asked.

"Wechen is worried about state affairs...... I really don't know what kind of poetry to compose. ”

Zhang Jiuling said humbly to Li Longji.

"Worried about national affairs...... Or are you worried about the prince? ”

Li Longji asked coldly, which made the hairs on Zhang Jiuling's body stand up!