"Say, I'm busy."

Li Linfu said perfunctorily with a displeased face, and did not hesitate to say goodbye to Liu Yan, who was sitting opposite him.

For real talents, the right phase is still good at enveloping.

As long as he can do things, as long as he doesn't deliberately work against himself, he is willing to join his family.

But the right minister also has the temper of the right minister, and the ideas of his subordinates cannot be contrary to their own opinions.

"Right Minister, about the ...... of Jiaozi linked to the salt tax"

Liu Yan asked cautiously.

Before he finished speaking, Li Linfu finally couldn't bear it anymore and slapped the table hard.

Liu Yan was silent for a moment.

"You, you, what should I say?"

Li Linfu sighed, stood up, and paced in the study.

"You said that the method of salt, do you think that the original phase has not considered it?

Datang is not short of salt! There is no shortage in the northwest, and there is no shortage in the seaside!

Salt comes much faster than silk! If you want to make a fuss about salt, someone must be up and down! ”

Li Linfu scolded Liu Yan loudly and said.

After being silent for a long time, Liu Yan saluted Li Linfu with his hands crossed:

"Right Minister, what you said has also been considered.

The existing system of rent adjustment is not compatible, and it must be abolished.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, we can also stabilize the prices in the customs and straighten out the trade of the canal.

By the way......"

"Okay, okay, no more talk."

Li Linfu listened loudly.

Whether Liu Yan's policy is effective or not, Li Linfu estimates that it is still somewhat useful, and even very useful.

But if it is according to Liu Yan's plan, this must be to sort out the country up and down, and the action cannot be small, and it is impossible not to need the Son of Heaven to come forward to remove the obstacles.

Look at today's saints, is that the material?

Just abolishing the rent adjustment is a big deal, and Liu Yan may not have a concept of all the aspects involved!

"There is a lot of salt in Cangzhou, Hebei, and there is a long reed salt field for the land of the swallow.

If you really want to do something, then pilot the salt tax at the Changlu Salt Farm. With the salt and salt tax of the Changlu Salt Farm as a guarantee, Hebei Jiaozi was issued, and it was observed for a few years before that.

On the Hexi side, the prime minister will not touch it for the time being, and Yan Zhuang and Cen Shen and other officials will be reinstated.

Go on, go on, there are other things to be busy with, it's a saint's big business, don't come and make trouble again! ”

Li Linfu said helplessly, he was really scared by Liu Yan.

If it weren't for Liu Yan's unique understanding of people's livelihood, economy and business operations, and he was really an indispensable helper in managing the government by himself, Li Linfu would have kicked the other party to the local area as a stabbing history.

"Xie Youxiang, I will do my best to do my best."

Liu Yan saluted respectfully to Li Linfu, and then withdrew from the study.

After he left, Li Linfu sat alone in front of the table, the more he thought about it, the more angry he became, and finally couldn't help but flip the table directly!

Riding a horse, Qiu Ba on the west side of the river, is really not polite at all!

Make up a trick of "falling into the water" to hide people's eyes.

He's a right-hand minister, doesn't he want to lose face?

However, after thinking about it, Li Linfu was depressed and found that he really didn't seem to have any way to deal with those people in Hexi.

Unless the army is used to solve it!

But that's not where it is. At the beginning, it was the imperial court that piloted Jiaozi in Hexi, but now it is running well over there, and the imperial court is red, so it will be snatched back.

It is not unreasonable in itself.

The point is, it's a convenient way, but it's not the only way. If the matter is really big, it is impossible for Ji Ge to protect himself, and it is very likely that he will use his head as a right-hand minister to calm the dispute.

Prime minister, even if 10,000 people die, there are many people in Datang who can be it.

If Hexi is in chaos, it will be really messy! How the Son of Heaven will choose, Li Linfu actually knows in his heart.

This time he suffered a dumb loss.

At this time, the servant who went to Xingqing Palace to send the turtle back during the day came back to give a farewell.

Li Linfu asked expectantly, "What did the senior waiter say?" ”

"General Gao said: Got it."

The servant replied honestly.

Gao Lishi did just say these three words, and then hurried to the Huaqing Palace in the north of Lishan.

"Not a hint?"

Li Linfu's whole person is not good, it is not easy to collect these dozen kinds of turtles!

Of course, it is easy to find turtles, but when you find them, you find that many of them are duplicate species. It was quite a hassle to collect more than a dozen different varieties.

Although he didn't do it himself, he had to ask from time to time.

"Back to the right minister, the slave really didn't see what General Gao was thinking at the time, but he didn't seem to care too much."

The slave said with some grievances.

Li Linfu couldn't help but sigh, waved his big hand, and motioned for the other party to get out!

After the servant left, Li Linfu's face became gloomy.

The saint has a strange disease! In the prescription for curing diseases, there is a turtle! I just don't know which piece of the turtle is on it, and whether the prescription is right or not.

Li Linfu felt that maybe the sage cast a large net to ask for all kinds of turtles, which were specially used to test medicines!

The cold wind blew in the night, and Li Linfu, who was pacing in the yard, suddenly felt cold.

The saint has a strange disease, and he is at this age, even if he is prescribed the right medicine, how many years can he live?

When the Son of Heaven dies, who rules the world?

This answer is particularly critical for Li Linfu.

Because it is almost certain that no matter who the next Son of Heaven is, he will not need him, the "brother slave" who calls for wind and rain in the court.

"Come on, prepare the car, I'm going to Huaqing Palace."

Li Linfu shouted in the direction of the gatehouse.

……

Marching in the middle of the night in the Western Regions is the norm, and even the norm for most armies. The stars in the sky are used as a guide, and when combined with the direction of certain landmarks (such as mountains), it is not easy to get lost.

This cavalry of thousands of people was marching along the road from Zhezhi City of Shiguo to Kangguo. It is said that it is a road, but in fact it is also a sandy land and a barren beach.

The target of their sneak attack this time was an important stronghold on the border between Kang and Shi: Juzhan Ticheng.

This city is located on the south bank of Yaozhishui, less than 200 miles south of Zhezhi City, at the mouth of the valley of the Fergana Valley, and belongs to the jurisdiction of Kangguo.

This city is a key node and bridgehead to defend the capital of Kangguo, Samad (Samarkand).

Strategic position is very important.

At the heart of the castle is a small castle built on a mound with a length and width of more than 100 meters. On the outskirts of the castle, there is a lot of farmland along the medicine and water, as well as undefended market towns and houses.

The whole together constitutes a hierarchical city system. Many cities in the Western Regions are like this, the core castle is very limited in area, and ordinary civilians and slaves do not live in the castle.

To the north of the city, there is a natural defense zone with medicine and water, and not far to the west, there is the capital of Kangguo, the city of Sama. I have to say that the strategic position of Juzhanti is formed by the location and is irreplaceable, and it has little to do with how well the castle is repaired.

The cavalry, which numbered thousands of men, came to the other side of the city under the cover of night, and saw that on the opposite side, in addition to the outline of the castle dotted with stars and many torches, there was also a very large camp on the east side.

There are lights all over the place, and there are a lot of troops stationed at a glance!

"Senior Deputy Protector, do you want the army to cross the river?"

Xi Yuanqingce, who was holding a horse lance, immediately stepped forward and asked Gao Xianzhi at the front of the team.

This army turned out to be the light cavalry of the Anxi Army led by Gao Xianzhi!

Wrapped in a white robe, inside is the common Tang Army leather armor in the Western Regions.

Gao Xianzhi used the trick to change the slaves of Shiguo into the uniforms of the Anxi Army, and during the day, the team left the Tang Army camp outside Zhezhi City, pretended to go to Talas City, and quietly returned a large part at night.

Using such a trick, Gao Xianzhi had already gathered the main cavalry force of the Anxi Army, and he was waiting for tonight.

Gao Xianzhi had long known that the Great Cannibal had an army in the battle, and the scale was not small.

He also knew why the other party didn't do it until now.

It's not because the big cannibal is stupid, but Abu Muslims, waiting for the freezing period of medicine to kill water!

As soon as late autumn arrives, the medicine killing water will freeze untouchably, especially at night.

But Abu Muslims must not have known that when it was not yet frozen, the depth of the water could already allow horses to wade across the river.

The middle and lower reaches of this snow-capped mountain meltwater are often diverted, and the water depth difference between the dry season and the wet season is very large, which is literally heaven and earth.

It seems that there is a natural moat in the north of the city, but it can't play a role at all.

"The Great Eater is weak, and I heard that Abu Muslims have gathered more than 100,000 people.

Only by cutting off one of his arms can we return with our whole body out. ”

Gao Xianzhi said to Xi Yuanqing expressionlessly.

"We'll take the lead at the end of the meeting."

Xi Yuanqing clasped his fists and saluted.

"Well, it's a quick fix, don't procrastinate.

Later, if you see that the situation is similar, ask the flag bearer to tie the torch to the top of the flagpole as a trumpet, or listen to me blow the horn, and then take the soldiers and horses directly back to Zhezhi City from the north. ”

Gao Xianzhi admonished in a very serious tone.

"Understood."

"You just kill through the camp, don't care about the nearby city of Juzhanti."

Gao Xianzhi instructed again.

"Understood."

Xi Yuanqing felt Gao Xianzhi's nervousness, maybe this Anxi army commander was not as confident as he appeared.

"Hmm."

Gao Xianzhi didn't talk much nonsense, and stepped forward, and the flow of medicine and water just touched the horse's knees.

As we walked on, the water deepened, but only the stirrups passed.

The cavalry team of the Tang Army, like dumplings, slowly followed behind, slowly wading across the river, and slowly gathering on the south bank of the Yaozhi Water.

All try to avoid making noises.

During the whole process, neither the city patrol soldiers at the head of the city nor the patrol posts in the big cannibal camp found any clues.

The big cannibal had already preconceived that Gao Xianzhi's mind was now full of money and women, and the Anxi army was now full of joy and wanted to return to Qiuzi, and it was impossible for him to sneak up on them in the opposite direction!

In fact, even Abu Muslims did not think that the Tang army would fight back.

I have more than 100,000 soldiers and horses in my hands, will I still be afraid of you, a tired army with less than 10,000 in your hands and still like arrows?

I have medicine to kill water as a natural moat, what do you have?

Abu Muslims' self-confidence is based on the consideration of the balance of strength. Even Fang Chongyong felt that Gao Xianzhi was going to be finished, and it was impossible to defeat the Great Cannibal.

Shout!

A sharp arrow was fired in the darkness, knocking a large cannibal in chain mail to the ground, hitting him right in the neck and killing him with a single blow. Chain mail is excellent for bows and arrows, but there is no protection for the neck.

"Woo......"

Almost at the same time, all the sentinels in a certain area outside the camp were shot at the same time, without even making a sound. In the distance, hooks and locks with thick ropes were thrown in the darkness to tie the fence of the camp, and more than a dozen horses began to drag the ropes frantically.

Bang!

The fragile fence fell to the ground with a thud, revealing a frighteningly wide gap.

Then Xi Yuanqing took the lead and rushed into the unsuspecting cannibal camp inside, shooting arrows coated with fire oil, igniting one military tent after another. The sound of earth-shattering horses resounded through the camp, accompanied by one cry after another, shouting in the language of the Great Food: "Run!" We can't stand it! ”

The barracks of the big cannibals, like ice water poured into a hot oil pot, completely exploded!

The Great Eater who got the weapon, there was not even one out of ten people. When they ran out of the burning tent, they saw Tang cavalry on horseback killing people everywhere, and corpses were strewn everywhere they passed.

Since the Great Food Officer was shot and killed just after a few shouts, the Great Food Army did not organize any effective resistance at all.

What's more, because many of these big cannibals are not from the same region, they have different cultures, different social organizations, and different leaders, so these tribal soldiers with the name of big food soldiers have no idea of "rescue robes" at all.

Seeing that the other tribes were slaughtered by the Tang army, they ran faster than rabbits, and wished that Gao Xianzhi would not notice him.

Under the moonlight, the brutal fighting continued, and the Kang army in the city was not allowed to leave the city under the strict orders of the prince of Kang. Just like that, at the head of the castle, I watched the fire in the big cannibal camp not far away, and the wails in the night sky.

……

At dawn the next day, outside the city, on the banks of the medicine killing water, there were corpses floating everywhere, and many people had an arrow stuck in their backs.

The camp not far away had been destroyed, and there was not a single living person in it. The 30,000 vanguard army dissipated in this way, and only a very small number of people fled back to the city of Samad in formation.

Abu Muslim, who is in his thirties, wears a black robe, wears a white cloth on his head that covers his ears on both sides, a West Asian style helmet, and a scimitar with a slight arc around his waist.

He couldn't help but sigh as he looked around at the camp.

It's so miserable, if you don't pay attention, you will suffer a big loss!

The strength of the Anxi Tang Army is unimaginable!

This army, Abu Muslims originally planned to wait for the frozen period to arrive, then march to Zhezhi City in Shiguo, and then pursue the Tang army from the rear all the way.

When the time comes, there will be no river blocking, and there will be no danger to defend.

Abu Muslim believed that he would win, because the Ansi Tang army, which was full of baggage, would never go fast.

The spies have already inquired clearly, and the Tang army has not left with baggage at present, so it is obvious that the time is not yet ripe to send troops.

I didn't expect Gao Xianzhi to dare to fight back!

How did he have the audacity!

Abu Muslim glanced back at the prince of Shi, who had spoken generously in front of him, and then found that the other party's cheeks were pale with fright, and his body was trembling slightly.

"Gao Xianzhi's sneak attack on us shows that he has no confidence in defeating us.

The elite soldiers of Khorasan are gathered here, and if I do not win, I will not be able to return to Baghdad.

You don't have to worry. ”

Abu Muslim comforted the prince of Shi and said.

He was a native of Persian Khorasan, a slave born, a humble man, an insight into human nature, and a charismatic personality, who dispelled the concerns of the prince of Shi in a few words.

Abu Muslim has been in prison and has been at the bottom for a long time, and he does not have the disease of aristocratism. The Shiite uprising, he is the soul of it. Without Abu Muslims, it would have been impossible for the Black Eaters to establish a regime.

Even now, the war in Dashi has not completely subsided.

Abu Muslims attached great importance to this battle, and there was no way out at all.

If this war is lost, or if the effort is fruitless, it is difficult to say how the domestic political situation will change.

"Pacify the people and return to the city of Samma! Don't hold yourself accountable for defeat! ”

Abu Muslim gave an order to the lieutenant.

(End of chapter)