War Begins Again
Two days passed very quickly, and the gifts mentioned by Immortal Zi Yang were also delivered to the residence." These two gifts are the most valuable items in my collection for more than a hundred years.
"But I don't have any use for it anymore. I'll give it to you two to fulfill our relationship as master and disciple. I'll give Bing-Er this Dragon Scale Silver Armor, which has an inner and outer armor."
It was said that it was sewn with the scales of the divine dragon in the sky. It was also said that it was left behind by Zhao Zilong, the invincible general of Changshan.
When you grow up, you can wear this dragon scale silver armor to make contributions. "And for Yuan Ba, this pair of drums and golden hammers. Yuan Ba, you haven't had a suitable weapon."
I will give you this pair of hammers. These hammers are only 320 jin, just right for a person with infinite strength like you.”
After distributing the gifts, he saw that his two disciples were so fond of his gifts that they couldn't put them down.
Perfected Zi Yang was very gratified. He knew that his gift was very much in line with his disciple's wishes. Then, he said to the two of them," Before we leave, I will take the risk to reveal your destiny to you. Bing 'er's fate is precious beyond words. She will not be a common person in the future. You just have to be careful of the two dragons fighting to avoid harming the common people. Yuan Ba is too vicious and is a killing star. He should die early. But I have a way to change his luck. You have to be careful in the future. Don't hurt the life of the person who uses the boring. Otherwise, you will be in danger. You two take care of yourself. I'm leaving…" After saying that, Immortal Zi Yang waved his sleeve. It had actually disappeared.
Li Bing and Li Yuanba stared blankly at their teacher leaving just like that, their hearts filled with sorrow…
June this year seemed to be exceptionally dry. It had already been a month, but the heavens had been holding back the rain. The sun burned the earth every day, and the crops in the fields drooped their heads listlessly. The ground was cracked, just like the wounds on people's hands. The farmers were anxious every day, hoping that the heavens would have eyes and rain.
Ever since Immortal Zi Yang left, Li Bing had become listless all day long. Even Li Yuanba, who had always been slow, had become much more stable these days. He only locked himself in the courtyard every day and stroked the pair of drums, jars, and golden hammers that Immortal Zi Yang had given him before he left. His face showed a lack of interest.
The fact that it did not rain worried the farmers in the fields and the imperial court in the capital. Since July, the imperial court of the Great Sui Dynasty had received emergency memorials from various places, saying that there was a local drought. Yang Jian instructed the Ministry of Revenue to quickly draw up a drought relief plan. These days, the Minister of Revenue, Su Wei, had been visiting the Tang Duke's Mansion almost every day. He had always been on good terms with Li Yuan, and Li Yuan was more resourceful. This was also the first time Su Wei had encountered such a nationwide drought. She was so anxious that she didn't have any ideas, so she came to trouble Li Yuan.
Although Li Yuan had his own ideas, he was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel Affairs after all. He did not have any good ideas about these civil affairs. Therefore, the two of them discussed in the study room, but they still did not come up with any good ideas.
Lady Dou saw that Li Yuan had been frowning these days and asked him why he was troubled. Li Yuan told Lady Dou about the drought. Although Lady Dou was well-read, she was still a woman and did not have any good ideas. Later on, the entire Public House knew about the drought this year. As this year was a year of drought, the grain price would definitely soar after autumn. Dou shi hurriedly arranged for the accountant in the manor to pay for the purchase of grain in the city so that the manor could survive this year of drought.
When Li Bing went out these days, he saw that Chang 'an City was no different from the past. It was still as prosperous as before. There were young ladies in the stores, shops, and rich and powerful young masters. It seemed that the drought outside and Chang' an City were completely different worlds. The farmers outside were struggling to survive, while the rich and powerful people in Chang 'an City were still living a life of luxury. He could not help but gently recite the famous folk song,""The red sun is blazing like fire, and the fields are half-scorched. The farmer's heart was like boiling soup, and the king's grandson waved his fan.”However, this was how the world was. It was a dog-eat-dog society. Right now, he was powerless to change anything. He could only silently look at these pitiful people. Speaking of which, it seemed that he was the one who sold the folding fan.
Fighting against drought was also a difficult problem in the later generations. Other than artificial rainfall, there were almost no particularly good methods. Li Bing knew nothing about agriculture. He was not an encyclopedia. He was just an ordinary person. His knowledge was limited. He did not know how to make airplanes and cannons, dig wells to improve farming tools, nor did he know how to make paper or build ships. He could only use the methods of the ancients to slowly realize his ideas.
In this year of drought, the role he could play was quite limited. He could only do what he could. He walked into the Treasure Pavilion of De Bing Hall. Seeing that there was no one around, he flashed into the cabinet. After three years, the head shopkeeper of De Bing Hall had been appointed as Li Shan, who was one of Li Bing's earliest confidants and had a good business mind. As the most profitable business, the Treasure Pavilion was the head of De Bing Hall. He went straight into the head shopkeeper's room. Li Shan was gathering the accountant who was hired to check the accounts for the first half of the year. Seeing Li Bing come, the expressionless Li Shan who was sitting on the chair and drinking tea quickly put on a smile. He quickly walked in front of Li Bing and quietly bowed without attracting attention. He said softly,"Young Master, you're here." Li Bing nodded noncommittally and then asked Li Shan,""How was the harvest in the first half of the year?" "In the first half of the year, the sales volume of the crystal mirrors declined slightly. The market for crystal mirrors has become saturated over the years, but the profits of crystal products have increased by another 20%!”Li Shan replied respectfully. The crystal mirror and crystal glass were the names Li Bing gave to his new toys.
"En, it's alright ~" Li Bing nodded slightly. It seemed that although there was a drought this year, the profits of the goods had not decreased. He pondered for a moment and said to Li Shan,""Later, tell someone to go to the village outside the city to get 100,000 yuan to buy food near the capital. Don't touch it in the village first. There will be a drought this year, and there will be refugees again. Chang 'an will definitely not let the disaster victims enter the city. Set up a porridge stall outside the city and let Dingfang watch over it. If the conditions are good, send them to the village. Do something and accumulate some merit."”
When Li Shan heard this, he hurriedly said," Young Master is merciful. I'll remember these words. I'll immediately order someone to do it!"”
Li Bing turned around and walked out." Go. Remember to buy around Chang 'an. Don't make the price of grain in Chang' an rise."”
Li Bing walked out of the Treasure Pavilion and walked on the street in a daze. He wanted to go to Gao Yuqin's place, but because of the series of things that had happened recently, he was not in the mood. He walked and walked until he entered the Taichang Temple in Chang 'an. In his previous life, his parents were Buddhists and Daoists, so he had heard and seen many things since he was young. He also had a certain belief in Buddhism and Taoism. These days, he felt very stifled, so he often came to communicate with the abbot in the temple when he had nothing to do. He felt much better.
In the Turkic Khaganate of the steppe, Qimin Khagan expressionlessly listened to the reports of the various tribal leaders on the drought of the steppe this year. The rain had decreased greatly this year, and the grass on the steppe had withered. Without fodder, the livestock of the Turkic Khaganate had also died of thirst and hunger, their numbers sharply decreasing. If this continued, the Turks would face a food shortage this year. After Qimin heard the report, his face twitched at the bad news. He slapped the armrest on his right hand and said,"All tribes, listen up. Gather thirty thousand soldiers for this Khan. This Khan will personally lead my Turkic men to the Central Plains to harvest grass!”
Three days later, Qimin Khagan, who was about to set off, suddenly received a report. The emissary of the Western Turkic Chuluo Khagan had come to pay a visit.
It turned out that this year's drought had affected even the Western Turkic Khaganate, reducing their rations and livestock by thirty percent. However, the Western Turks were separated from the Great Sui by a vast desert, so they did not send any troops. For the survival of the Western Turks this year, he wanted to join forces with the Eastern Turks to attack the Great Sui. Qimin also felt that although the Eastern Turks had won every war against the Sui Dynasty in recent years, they had only won by a hair's breadth and suffered heavy casualties. However, the Eastern Turks were not strong enough to support a large-scale invasion of the Sui Dynasty, so it was a good thing to have the support of the Western Turks. After Qimin and Chuluo Emissary's discussion, half a month later, the thirty thousand Eastern Turkic cavalry and thirty thousand Western Turkic cavalry marched from Hangu Pass toward Great Sui.
In June of the seventh year of Renshou of Emperor Wen of the Great Sui Dynasty, 60,000 troops from the East and West Turks invaded Hangu Pass, and smoke rose on the border of the Great Sui Dynasty again. The Eastern Turkic Qimin Khan personally led the expedition, with General Shide Danluo as the vanguard and the Western Turkic Kuolobili as the commander. They passed through Yulin, Wuyuan, and Anding prefectures, killing and pillaging wherever they went. The Turkic army swept through the three prefectures like a plague of locusts, leaving behind nothing but corpses in the three prefectures.
During the morning court session, Emperor Wen of Sui received urgent military intelligence from the border. Due to the drought, the Turks had already invaded three counties, and the situation was dire.
Sui Wendi expressionlessly finished reading the military report and ordered his generals to read it out to the court. He asked the officials for their opinions. Since the wars between Great Sui and the Turks had always ended in failure, the officials, especially the civil officials, had been frightened by the sudden attack. They had been beaten to the point of losing their courage and had all suggested to Sui Wendi to negotiate peace with the Turks. Even some of the generals had remained silent, showing no intention of fighting.
Only Li Yuan pondered for a moment before walking to the center of the hall and saying to Emperor Wen,""Your Majesty, although the Turks have come in a menacing manner this time, the generals at the border of Great Sui still have the strength to fight. Moreover, the country is suffering from a drought this year, and the national treasury is dissatisfied. How can we negotiate peace with the Turks? How can we appease the Turks who have come to rob us of food and money?”
Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty saw that the ministers were all asking for peace. Yang Jian was already advanced in age, and although he wasn't fatuous, he no longer had the ambition of his youth. As an important official of the court, Li Yuan had always been conscientious and devoted to Yang Jian. Yang Jian trusted his nephew greatly, and he felt that Li Yuan's words made sense. He decided to fight the Turks and ordered Yanzhou, Yongzhou, and Jizhou to send 150,000 soldiers. Minister of War Yuwen Huaji recommended Chai Shen as commander, Xue Qianhu as vanguard, and Yang Qing as general to stop the invading Turks.
On the 20th day of the sixth month, the two sides fought on the outskirts of Shangdang. However, the Turks defeated the main force of the Sui army with 60,000 cavalry. Xue Qianhu was captured, and Chai Shen and Yang Qing fled back to Chang 'an with 30,000 remnants.
Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty was furious and sent Chai Shen and Yang Qing to prison. Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang, was implicated in the defeat. His official rank was reduced and his salary was fined for half a year. Yu Wenhua, the Minister of War, recommended a wrong person and was removed from his post. Yang Jian wanted to gather troops to fight the Turks again, but the morale of the army had been lost. He could only negotiate peace.
On the 5th day of the 7th month, Great Sui's envoy for peace, Yang Su, met with the envoys of the Eastern and Western Turks at Hangu Pass. Great Sui and the Turks discussed peace and both sides agreed: After the Turks withdrew from Great Sui, Great Sui had to pay the Turks three million strings of money, one million catties of grain, and ten thousand livestock in the second half of the year.
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