Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 293
Chapter 293 Immigrants Into Orchid
Under the Lanzhou Governor-General’s Manor, 100,000 soldiers and civilians had been put into spring farming. The scale and momentum of this was truly frightening. The most obvious feature of a military town like Lanzhou was that there were more males than females, and there were quite a few young and strong males. The ratio of males to females was seriously unbalanced.
To truly achieve a long-term plan, stabilizing the morale of the army is the primary task. Soldiers are human beings, and they are men. They were under several times more pressure than normal people, and their long-term training and hard work were unspeakably painful. There was nowhere to vent the pressure, and there was no way to relieve the pain and exhaustion. In the long run, this was not a small hidden danger.
In recent days, Qin Mubai had heard of a few “barracks howl” incidents in the military camp. Although the scale was small, it was still quite frightening.
The so-called “barracks howl” was when the soldiers fell asleep in the middle of the night when someone suddenly let out a scream in their sleep. As a result, the fear and pressure that many people suppressed in their hearts exploded, and then it turned into a fight and a madness!
These people were restrained by strict military rules for a long time, faced with death threats, missing their loved ones, and various other factors, their minds were on the verge of collapse at all times.
Ying Xiao was a disaster for the army. Seriously, it could lead to the complete collapse of the army!
Although the area where the barracks howled this time was very narrow and quickly calmed down, it attracted the attention of Qin Shubao, Qin Mubai, and the other commanders!
The generals gathered together to discuss a solution to Ying Xiao. Actually, the Tang army had always had a way to relieve pressure for the soldiers, and that was military prostitutes.
Although the Tang army had strict military laws and banned sergeants from visiting prostitutes, there were many times when there was nothing they could do about it-for example, the current Lanzhou army. As a result, many generals who had been in the army all year round tacitly closed their eyes to the sergeants and prostitutes. As long as they did not go too far, they would not pursue them severely. Therefore, there was no lack of the phenomenon that the expeditionary army hid the prostitutes in the trench and took them away with the army in the war history of the Great Tang Dynasty.
However, this method was obviously not feasible in Lanzhou at the moment-the ratio of men to women here was almost 10: 1. Moreover, 99% of them were women from good families. Could it be that these soldiers were going to forcefully snatch away the women of the people?
The generals made trouble together!
In the end, it was Qin Mubai who came up with a way: please play the Imperial Court and allow the families of the Lanzhou soldiers to move with the army, provided that they were willing to do so! After arriving in Lanzhou, the Governor-General’s Mansion and the army were responsible for providing housing, farmland, livestock, and other basic means of subsistence.
Once this case appeared, including Qin Shubao, they unanimously agreed!
Combined with the Wasteland Method, this was truly a long-term national policy plan!
The relocation of the soldiers’ families would greatly reduce their homesickness (of course, women were more important). At the same time, this could increase the population of Lanzhou.
In this era, population is an important guarantee of productivity.
However, this was a huge test for the Emperor and the Imperial Court!
To the emperor, the family members of the fifty thousand soldiers in Lanzhou had to be at least one hundred thousand. As a result, the soldiers took Lanzhou as their home, and their families moved along with the army-wasn’t that a country of their own? It was also a mobile kingdom!
To the Imperial Court, it was needless to say. The families of 50,000 people would be separated into different regions, so it would not be easy to relocate them in unison. This was an incomparably vast project. It didn’t have to be said that money was wasted. Even if he expended all of his manpower and resources, he might not be able to complete it in a short period of time.
This plan, which Mubai had never discussed with Li Shimin before, was a general plan that was suited to local conditions. Although it was extremely difficult to implement, the biggest question was whether the emperor would allow it-in other words, how much trust did the emperor have in the Qin father and son?
This time, the Xue brothers also stood on the same side as the Qin father and son, because they were also men and missed their family members and wives.
The crowd gathered together for an emergency discussion day and night. Three days and three nights later, they finally came out with a complete plan. After that, everyone decided not to put the pressure on Qin Mubai alone-everyone signed a letter together and, in the name of Lanzhou’s long-term plan, requested the Emperor to “move people into Lanzhou”!
The moment the memorial was handed to Chang’an, Li Shimin thought for a while and took out the matter for public discussion. As a result, the entire Imperial Court rumbled!
This was truly unprecedented. A garrison town, requesting to move in. In the past, only soldiers demanded food and money, but they had never heard of “demanding the people”!
The Imperial Court was divided into two distinct factions, and the opposition was strongly opposed by the important officials of the Imperial Court, including Chang Sun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and the others. The reason for Changsun Wuji’s objection was very simple. Historically, he had only moved people to the mainland to expand his country’s strength. The Lanzhou frontier fortress was at most used to accommodate people of Turkic descent. It was absolutely impossible to move the good people of the Great Tang Dynasty (that is, the labor force and fertile women) to the frontier fortress. This was tantamount to injuring one’s internal organs and strengthening one’s external trunk. Moreover, if this example were to be opened, it would greatly foster the ambition of the general guarding the border. Border Town Governor’s power is already very great, go on the horse to rule the army, get off the horse to govern the people, give the military power to grab. Now that he was allowed to expand the population under his rule, it would be a major hidden danger for him to become a country in the long run!
Some, led by Fang Xuanling, oppose it for a simpler reason-a move that would cost the people and money and leave the country’s fiscal reserves empty. Before the start of the battle, there was endless internal friction, and this battle had already been defeated!
There were very few people who supported this move, and there weren’t many people of any importance, so it was hardly worth mentioning.
The Imperial Court had discussed this matter for many days, and the opposition’s advantage was overwhelming.
Normally, Li Shimin could make a decision. However, he did not make a decision, and only repeatedly took out the matter to let the officials “discuss it.”
After discussing it again and again, the result was the same. The waves of opposition rose and fell one after another, but Li Shimin refused to make a decision.
The officials began to speculate, “The Emperor deliberately did this. Could it be that he intentionally supported Lanzhou in doing so?”
Li Shimin had no choice but to think twice in front of such a big event. Even if he was the emperor, if he could not use a strong argument to suppress Youyou’s mouth, such a national policy would not be implemented.
That evening, Li Shimin dressed up and arrived at Li Jing’s mansion. The two of them continued to play chess and sip tea as usual.
After playing two chess games, Li Shimin was defeated and lost, so his heart didn’t wilt at all.
“Your Majesty has something on your mind?” Li Jing asked.
Li Shimin smiled bitterly and told Li Jing about the matter of “moving people into the orchid”.
Li Jing chuckled when he heard this, “Since most of the officials are against it, that proves that this action is indeed quite ridiculous. Your Majesty just doesn’t approve of it. What are your doubts and worries?”
“Ah!” Li Shimin let out a long sigh and smiled bitterly, “Medicine Master, don’t even you understand my intentions?”
Li Jing faintly smiled, “Could it be that His Majesty also has this thought in his heart?”
Li Shimin frowned deeply and nodded, saying, “The auxiliary machine (Changsun Wuji) and the others opposed this case because they stood on my side. He was not wrong for the sake of me and my descendants. Xuan Ling and the others opposed this case because they stood on the side of the Imperial Court and the people. They were not wrong either. I did not say anything to move them, so I was upset.”
Li Jing nodded and smiled, “Then, on what side is His Majesty thinking about this matter?”
“History and nationality.” Li Shimin narrowed his eyes, revealing a bright light.
Hearing these words, Li Jing was stunned. His brows furrowed and he thought for a moment, then suddenly nodded, “Your Majesty is wise! For the sake of our long-term plan, moving people into Orchid is a good plan! Consolidating Lanzhou as a basis for the expansion of China’s territory and the spread of our civilization will begin. Your Majesty’s ambition is far-sighted, I admire you!”
Li Shimin bitterly smiled, “What’s the use of admiration? Even the two prime ministers of my right and left arms are loudly opposing this plan. Wei Zheng is recovering from his illness at home and hasn’t gone to court for a few days. But I’ve heard that the eldest grandson Wuji, who is usually at odds with him, has condescended to invite him out of the mountain and will work together to reprimand criticize me for crippling this plan. What can I do?”
Li Jing remained silent for a long time, nodded thoughtfully and smiled.
“Brother Jing, why are you laughing?” Li Shimin asked.
“So His Majesty feels that this old man’s face is still worth a little money. Please allow this old man to go to court tomorrow!” Li Jing said.
Li Shimin’s eyes lit up, and he was immediately overjoyed, “I, I can’t wait!”
“I’m afraid this old minister alone is not enough.” Li Jing said, “At least two more people are needed.”
“Which two?” Li Shimin asked.
“Minister of War Li Lu and His Highness the Crown Prince.” Li Jing said.
Li Shimin frowned and said, “Li Yu is reasonable. Cheng Qian … what use does he have?”
Li Jing smiled, “Your Majesty, please think twice.”
Li Shimin knitted his brows and said, “I will think twice-come, continue playing chess!”
A few days later, Li Jing, the Duke of Wei, who had left the court for a long time without asking about military affairs, appeared in the court. Because of his inconvenience, the Emperor gave him the privilege of leaning on his staff. However, Li Jing did not take the purple wooden staff that the emperor had bestowed on him and walked into the hall on foot.
At the same time, Li Ji, who was stationed outside, was also rushed back to the court to discuss politics.
But Li Jing did not see the Crown Prince Li Chengqian. Instead, King Wei, Li Tai, appeared in the imperial class!
At this moment, Li Jing already knew everything in his heart-Donggong, he was afraid that someone else was going to change!
Today, the Imperial Court will discuss the matter of “moving people into the Orchid” again.
Eldest Sun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and the others were still strongly opposed. Wei Zheng’s eyes were almost blind, but he also objected to the oral recital.
Li Jing stepped forward. From a long-term perspective, Chen Xu’s interests were at stake, and he strongly supported the move of moving people into Orchid!
Originally, when it came to power, Li Jing was practically in vain. Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, the two leaders of the current dynasty, Li Jing absolutely did not have the strength to challenge them. However, Li Jing’s fame, seniority, especially his influence in the army, and his ability to grasp the important matters of the country were unmatched!
Normally, he didn’t say anything and didn’t participate in politics, nor did he deliberately express himself. What he said was loud and clear!
Li Ji was a very clever man, although his troops were not very clear about the “emigration to Orchid”. However, since the Emperor had deliberately recalled him, it was obvious that he was asking him to give a “reasonable” opinion.
Therefore, he took out his own opinion very reasonably, expressing his agreement with Li Jing’s words, agreeing to move people into Lan and strengthen Lan Zhou, and based on this, he made a grand plan!
This is good. The former and current commanders, who represented the highest authority of the army, all stood out to support the relocation of civilians to Orchid. Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, the ministers who had the authority to speak, could not say the word “military power” even if they had thousands of ancient books in their stomachs for all sorts of reasons!
The Great Tang Empire respected martial arts and valued military merits. Soldiers always talk about politics. Because they often represent the highest interests of the army, representing the military development direction of the entire country!
Li Shimin is the emperor, is the highest “statesman”; But in his bones, he was also a soldier, an emperor who would immediately seize the world. It was different from the scholars with deep-rooted Confucianism such as Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Wei Zheng!
This time, his ideas and ideas had reached a unified front with militarists like Li Jing and Li Xu!
…
This round of morning court discussions didn’t stop until after noon. In the end, the important national policy of “moving people into the Orchid” was actually allowed!
Just as Li Shimin said, this time, from the standpoint of history and nation, he violated his own imperial arts and made such a “tragic” gambling decision!
Although they still held an opposing attitude, the important officials like Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling could only do their best to implement the decisions that the emperor had made.
This would be an incomparably vast project. If more than a hundred thousand military dependents wanted to enter the Orchid, it would be more than a hundred times harder than conscripting a hundred thousand troops to Lanzhou!
This enormous project will begin after the court meeting on this day …
A few days later, the Lanzhou Governor-General’s Mansion received an imperial edict-the Imperial Court had granted Lanzhou permission to “move people into Lanzhou” and was about to implement it! Qin Mubai was the “person in charge” of the implementation and deployment of this national policy in Lanzhou.
At this moment, regardless of whether it was the Xue brothers or Qin Shubao, even Qin Mubai himself did not quite believe that this was the truth!
Originally, they did not have much hope, because the possibility of obtaining approval was almost limitless. The generals signed a letter and were even prepared to be scolded. Who would have thought that such a shocking and pleasantly surprising result would come!
Qin Shubao said to his son, “Sanlang, after wasteland, people are moving into Orchid”. “Which one of these brown and which one of these is related to the country’s bloodline! Can you withstand it?” “Sanlang,” Qin Shubao said to his son, “Sanlang, after wasteland, people are moving into Orchid.”
“Writing History-Someone has to do something like this.” ‘”Why can’t it be me?” Qin Mubai smiled. “It’s more like-enjoyment than endurance!”
