Chapter 954 Settlement

Chapter 954 Settlement

Chapter 954 Settlement (Part )

When Wang Yan returned to Luoyang, he took a walk around the Jingu Garden and then left.

Sheep are slaughtered there every day, there are a lot of drunkards, and the whole garden is full of nonsense.

In the middle of winter, shirtless wrestling can be seen everywhere.

Some people would get drunk and rest their heads on the hard bodies of their prey, mostly deer, which are a pest in Luoyang.

After Wang Yan inquired, he found out that these people would not leave until after the New Year's Day celebration, so he gave up and moved directly into the old house in Luoyang city.

After returning home and taking a walk, Wang Yan felt bored after not seeing his two daughters and granddaughters for a long time, so he left the city via Tongtuo Street.

Outside Kaiyang Gate in the south of the city, a group of people gathered around Shao Xun, pointing and talking around.

"Is this Biyong?" Shao Xun looked at the courtyard with only half of the wall left with nostalgia, and said, "I was stationed here more than 20 years ago. At that time, there were only a few hundred soldiers, while Zhang Fang's troops were many. If the enemy soldiers had come with all their strength, the outcome would have been unpredictable."

Following closely behind Shao Xun was Yang Jiongzhi, the Grand Guardian of the Jin Dynasty and Yang Xianrong's uncle.

This position was supposed to belong to Shangshu Ling Yu Min, but after the beginning of winter, he had been bedridden, and like his cousin Yu Chen, he did not live long.

The Yu family lost two pillars at once, and its reputation was obviously affected.

There is still fierce collusion going on within the Yingchuan Group, but others don't care about you. When Yu Chen and Yu Min are not around, Yang Jiongzhi naturally takes over.

"Zhang Fang and his ilk only have Luoyang in their eyes. They haven't even occupied the west of the city, and they just looted the south." Yang Jiongzhi said, "They are short-sighted and can't accomplish anything."

Shao Xun laughed and entered the Biyong, which was already half in ruins.

All I could see were broken walls and charred beams. The ground was littered with rotten bricks and tiles, and the weeds were so thick that they almost formed a meadow.

Occasionally, you can see grains of sheep dung, which obviously shows that someone has let sheep graze here.

Shao Xun walked around and finally stopped in front of a house.

Yu Chen's family once lived here, and Shao Xun seemed to still be able to see Yu Wenjun's crescent-shaped smiling eyes.

"Let's level it and build a new block." Shao Xun said, "Just like Yecheng and Bianliang."

After saying this, he turned around and looked at the dozens of officials following him, saying, "The outer city has become a ruin, and we need to clean it up. We will build more mansions in the future to reward you, so that your twenty years of service will not be in vain."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere suddenly became heated.

It was easier to own a house in the capital when the country was founded. At that time, even many ordinary people could live in well-located areas.

But as time went on, decades or even hundreds of years later, it became difficult for ordinary people, even ordinary officials, to get a house in Beijing. Especially for those who were promoted to Beijing from other places, but their ranks were not high enough to live in an official residence, they could only rent a house, and this phenomenon was not uncommon.

Everyone is familiar with the situation in Bianliang. Like Yecheng built by Cao Mengde, it planned many neighborhoods. The closer to the imperial city and the palace, the greater its value.

According to Prince Liang, very beautiful mansions covering a large area will be built in the neighborhoods closer to the imperial city.

The value of the neighborhoods far away from the imperial city is low in itself, and no luxury houses will be built there. They may just be small or medium-sized courtyards.

Follow the dragon early and you will get a mansion.

From Long Wan on, we can only live in a small courtyard.

This group of people started early and have accumulated a lot of merit, so they have great opportunities.

"The first block outside Xuanyang Gate faces Tongtuo Street and can be used as a Tongzheng Block." Shao Xun looked at Yang Jiongzhi and said, "Two houses will be built in the block, and one house will occupy half of the block. Mr. Yang has worked hard and made great contributions, so he can get one of them."

Yang Jiongzhi's expression changed slightly when he heard this.

The house occupies half of the area, which is definitely a royal palace with amazing specifications.

If Liu Hezhu, Liu Runzhong and others had obtained this house, they would only be surprised, then slightly refuse it, and finally accept it "reluctantly".

But Yang Jiongzhi is different. He has a lot of ideas and always feels that doing this will put the Yang family in an awkward position and make others jealous.

So he immediately declined: "My contribution is very small, I really don't dare to accept such a generous reward."

"What is yours is yours, why do you have to do this?" Shao Xun waved his hand and said, "It's settled. Taishan Yang has fought for me in all directions and has also ensured the stability of Yandong, Yudong and even Xuzhou. What reward can't I get? Don't refuse it."

Yang Jiongzhi smiled bitterly and said, "I am honored to be the elder of the Yang family. All the achievements were made by the younger generation of the family. I can't feel at ease after getting this house."

Shao Xun smiled but said nothing.

Yang Jiongzhi must have a way to appease the side branches and nephews of the clan. It doesn't matter if you don't understand, I can send someone to hint.

After the founding of the country, we have to measure the land. The Yang family has such a large family business and so many troops. They have fought in wars and have rich combat experience. They can be divided up.

If we don’t make a distinction, others might disagree.

Yang Jiongzhi must have thought of this, but how to do it specifically depends on his own choice.

The Yang family is actually a microcosm of aristocratic families, except that they are stronger and more typical.

Seeing that Shao Xun insisted on giving him the house, Yang Jiongzhi gradually understood and sighed slightly.

Shao Xun turned his head and whispered, "The Yang family is a prestigious family in the world. I don't know how much they have helped me in the past twenty years. I will accept any reward. When the house is completed in the new year, we can hang the plaque of 'Grand Commander's Mansion'."

Yang Jiongzhi was the Weiwei of the Jin Dynasty and held no official position in the Liang Kingdom. The "Taiwei" mentioned by Shao Xun was obviously the Taiwei of the Xin Dynasty after the founding of the country. He was one of the six dukes along with Taishi, Taibao, Taifu, Situ and Sikong, and was of the first rank.

Such honor was indeed a generous reward, and Yang Jiongzhi was speechless. Although he knew that King Liang was never stingy with official positions, titles, and financial rewards, he valued land and household registration more.

What else is there to say? Yang Jiongzhi didn't know, so he could only thank him in a low voice.

******
When Wang Yan arrived outside Kaiyang Gate, most people had already left.

Shao Xun was strolling in the Mingtang opposite.

Many tents were set up here, and many people lived in the remaining houses, most of whom were Yang Tao's troops who moved here from Chang'an.

These people first came to Chang'an from Longxi, lived there for a few years, and then came to Luoyang from Chang'an. Their lives were really miserable.

What was even more difficult was that they also needed to work, which was to clear the ruins outside Luoyang city and even build houses, which was the legendary work-for-relief.

Some people have already fled these days, it is too hard. As for why they did not rebel, it is because the number of soldiers nearby is several times theirs, and they also include a large number of the elderly, the weak, women and children.

If you don't want to die, don't seek death.

Those who wanted to die have already been killed.

Wang Yan had no interest in these people and bowed to Shao Xun when he saw him.

Shao Xun returned the greeting, then smiled and said, "The commander has arrived just in time. We still need you to plan important matters."

"Alas. My lifelong reputation has been sold out just this once." Wang Yan said angrily.

"It's worth it." Shao Xun joked.

There is no need to be vague when talking to this old Deng. You can't get around him by beating around the bush. He can talk for half an hour straight, and it seems to be deafening, but in fact it is empty and full of emotional output.

Shao Xun knows too well how to get along with Wang Yan.

Don't play tricks on him, you can't beat him.

Don't play tricks with him, you won't be able to beat him.

Be more direct in your speech. If you speak in riddles, Wang Yan will immediately become a riddle teller and confuse you.

Shao Xun knows what he is good at and what the other party is good at.

In peacetime, with rules to constrain him, Wang Yan would eat him to death.

In the troubled times, he created rules with a knife and killed Wang Yan. It was that simple.

"Do you really want to depose and enthrone the emperor?" Wang Yan asked in a low voice.

"I really don't want to do this." Shao Xun said, "But there are so many things to do, and the emperor may not be able to hold on for much longer."

"I have heard of this." Wang Yan sighed, "As the ancients said--"

"General." Shao Xun coughed.

Wang Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty has established the imperial throne, but the steps are still difficult. Yesterday I met with the Liu family, and today I met with the officials. I really cannot spare the time to establish the system, determine the official positions, and distribute the noble titles. I will take care of the abdication myself."

"Thank you for your trouble, Taiwei." Shao Xun said with a smile, "After the founding of the country, who else but Taiwei can be a loyal minister? I heard that Pingyuan County is rich in resources, so I will make it your fiefdom."

Pingyuan County did not suffer any serious damage from the war, and the taxes and rents of 1,500 households were directly allocated to Wang Yan, which was a very stable source of wealth. Most importantly, this county was under the control of King Liang, and it was given to him after the founding of the country, so he could collect taxes and rent immediately.

Wang Yan vaguely heard that Pan Tao was conferred the title of Duke of Yuzhang County, which meant he was just one step away from being better than him.

Yuzhang governed fifteen counties (originally sixteen counties, one of which was incorporated into Xunyang County). It was the largest and richest county in Jiangnan after Danyang. However, the problem was that the county was still in the hands of Sima Rui, and it could only be given to him after the conquest of Jiangdong.

That's the difference.

Of course, Wang Yan didn’t really care about this.

To put it bluntly, measuring land after the founding of the country will cause considerable losses to the Wang family, which cannot be compensated by a county lord.

But under the circumstances, he couldn't think of any clever way to stop this and could only accept it.

In addition, since the Wei Dynasty, the number of fiefs has not remained unchanged.

If you have made meritorious service, your fiefdom can be increased; if you have made mistakes, your fiefdom can be reduced.

Some marquises of a pavilion or a county even had more fiefs than dukes of a county or a state. This was because they had made contributions on the battlefield, but the court did not raise their titles but only gave them more fiefs, thus resulting in this strange phenomenon.

One thousand five hundred households is only the initial quota and it may increase or decrease in the future.

When Wang Yan heard Shao Xun personally promise that he would be granted the title of Duke of Pingyuan in the future, he felt relieved, as this meant that his position in the new dynasty would definitely be at the forefront.

Also, what does "a loyal and devoted minister" mean? You might as well explain it more clearly. Is it the prime minister?

Yu Zimei hasn't come to Luoyang yet, and it's obvious that he's not in good health. Will the position of prime minister fall to me?
Wang Yan suppressed his thoughts and said, "Your Majesty, I have been so kind to you that I cannot repay you. I can only do my best to serve you. During the first day of the New Year's Day, the Crown Prince Regent can issue an edict to abdicate. Your Majesty, please decline. The second edict can be issued in March. When do you think it would be best for the third edict?"

"It's too tight. There's no time to handle many things." Shao Xun said, "Don't worry. Wait until there's news from Liangzhou."

Zhang Mao of Liangzhou has died of illness, and Zhang Jun is now in charge.

Before Zhang Gui died, there were many people who opposed him, but they were all subdued and even defeated one by one.

After Zhang Gui's death, his eldest son Zhang Shi succeeded him, but his authority was not comparable to that of Zhang Gui, and he was eventually assassinated.

After Zhang Shi's death, his younger brother Zhang Mao was recommended by everyone to appoint himself General Pingxi and Governor of Liangzhou, which made the state even more chaotic.

Under the threat of the Hun army, Zhang Mao surrendered.

The Tuoba Xianbei were powerful, and Zhang Mao became their vassal.

Now that Zhang Mao was dead, Zhang Jun, the son of Zhang Shi, inherited the title of Duke of Xiping and made himself Governor of Liang Province.

It is worth mentioning that although the Zhang family members were in fact separatist, none of them established a country. The highest position they held was only the governor of Liangzhou. To put it bluntly, they were just like the warlords in the late Han Dynasty.

Of course, the court only recognized the Duke of Xiping County, while the other generals and governors were all self-proclaimed.

After Qinzhou was recovered, Shao Xun sent envoys to Liangzhou to see if he could negotiate a result.

Although the soldiers of Liangzhou were sharp, they had a small population and were very poor, so they were unable to fight a long-term war of attrition.

In history, there were many reasons why the Later Zhao Dynasty sent a large army to conquer and failed. But to be honest, if they had changed their tactics and sent a large number of cavalry to harass, and at the same time recruited the county governors, county magistrates, and tribal chiefs under the jurisdiction of Liangzhou, they would have exhausted Liangzhou with their size.

In short, if it is possible to avoid fighting, then don't fight. Shao Xun can even tolerate Zhang Jun continuing to serve as the governor of Liang Province (he will definitely not give him the title of governor), on the premise that he becomes the governor of the Daliang Dynasty.

The Daliang Dynasty is not the Former Zhao or the Later Zhao, so there is no need for Liangzhou to fight to the death.

However, if Zhang Jun is truly a loyal minister of the Jin Dynasty, then there is nothing we can do but resolve the issue by force.

At least for now, Shao Xun is willing to give Zhang Jun a chance.

(End of this chapter)