Chapter 50: Winter of the Year of the Water Sheep (1)

  In the winter of 899, the Tang Dynasty suddenly entered a brief period of peace. This peace was extremely rare in an era where vassals were numerous and the world was in turmoil, making it seem rather abrupt and inexplicable. In the last winter of the ninth century, all the feudal lords simultaneously fell into a state of dormancy and gasping for breath, while licking their wounds and striving to accumulate and recover their strength, they kept a close eye on their surroundings, waiting for an opportunity to launch even more ferocious attacks on their opponents.

  Since the Huang Chao rebellion during the Xizong dynasty, the entire Chinese territory has been turbulent and fragmented. Armies have marched across the land like schools of fish in a river, with no moment of peace. Today you come to my house to borrow grain, tomorrow I go to your house to beg for food; last month you plundered my family's courtyard, next month I will burn down your house... Under such chaos, the powerful aristocratic families that had formed and flourished since the Han dynasty finally dispersed like smoke in the wind. Those surnames that once shone brightly in history also became ordinary and dull, losing all their former glory.

  The five surnames of Qinghe, Boling Cui, Fanyang Lu, Xingyang Zheng, and Taiyuan Wang, as well as the two clans of Zhaojun Li and Longxi Li, have long since become indistinguishable from the common people. The dominant powers in the world have changed to a group of rough and unrefined military men. Zhu Wen, who rose from being a bandit, Li Kuangyuan, also known as "the one-eyed dragon", Yang Xingmi, who started out as a soldier, Liu Ren'gong, Wang Jian, a ruffian, butcher, and private salt merchant... This world is no longer controlled by the officials in the government or the eunuchs in the imperial court. As for the emperor living in the Taiji Palace within Chang'an City, his imperial authority had long since dissipated during his imprisonment in Huazhou several years ago, leaving him a "lonely and isolated person" after the collective slaughter of the Li clan's royal family members.

  Of course, the word "peace" is only relative, and true peace in this era is impossible. This winter, Wang Shifan, the military governor of Pinglu in Henan, had his subordinates in Yizhou and Mizhou rebel against him, and he sought help from Yang Xingmi, the military governor of Huainan. Yang Xingmi sent troops to help quell the rebellion in order to win over Wang Shifan, who was a prominent regional commander. Also that winter, Zhu Jian, the military governor of Shan Prefecture, killed Li Ke and renamed himself Zhu Youqian, asking to become Zhu Quanzhong's adopted son or nephew. If these events had occurred during the peaceful years of the Tang dynasty, they would have been considered major incidents, but in the second year of Guanghua (AD 889), they were hardly worth mentioning.

  Dongping Junwang, Censor-in-Chief and Chancellor, Xuanwu Jiedushi Zhu Quanzhong had gone through more than a decade of battles, defeating Huang Chao, annihilating Qin Zongquan in the west, attacking Zhu Jin and Zhu Xuan brothers in the east, triumphing over Shi Pu, defending against He Dong in the north, and controlling Wei Bo, among countless other battles. He finally brought most of the land between the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River under his control, becoming the de facto master of the Central Plains. This winter, he was meticulously deploying troops, setting his sights on the next campaign to conquer the towns of Hebei...

  Jin King, Taishi and concurrent Chancellor of the Central Secretariat, Hedong Jiedushi Li Keyong lost Xing, Huaizhou, Ci, and Lu states, under the overwhelming offensive of the Xuanwu Army, he was at a disadvantage. This winter, he was recuperating and accumulating internal strength, waiting for an even bigger war to come...

  Yang Xingmi, the King of Hongnong Commandery, the same middle book door under the flat chapter, Huainan Jiedushi, after repelling the southward-advancing Xuanwu Army, also defeated Qian Rao, who occupied Liangzhe, in Lin'an, and finally became the big brother of Jianghuai. This winter, he was working hard to stabilize the countryside, actively recovering people's livelihoods, while preparing his army for war, and began to cast his eyes on Zhu Quanzhong's abdomen...

  Xiguan Jiedushi Wang Jian, after years of eastern and western expeditions, finally expanded his sphere of influence to most areas of Shannan Road, owning the land of two rivers and three gorges. This winter, he was diligently engaged in agriculture, water conservancy, stabilizing the territory, implementing a strategy of self-cultivation, focusing on domestic affairs to consolidate his separatist regime in the Tianfu region...

  In contrast, Liu Ren-guang, the military governor of Lulong, was not so peaceful. When the entire Tang Dynasty was in a strange silence, the borders of Lulong were under intense attack by the Khitans. Due to the heavy losses of the elite troops in the battle against Weibo in the south, the war situation was very unfavorable. This winter, the commander-in-chief who had been sitting in the first place among the vassals in Hebei for three years was deeply uneasy...

  The war on the border also directly affected Youzhou, the political, economic and military center of Hebei Province, where Lulong Jiedushi was located.

  This impact is not on the warmth and fullness of the common people. This autumn, the wind and rain are in harmony, so all states under the jurisdiction of Lulong Jiedu have achieved a relatively large harvest, and Youzhou is no exception. The grain piled up like mountains has been stored in various large granaries, and the situation is very pleasant. Under the regulation of the Jiedu government, the price of grain has not fluctuated greatly, but rather the supply is abundant.

  The ones who were more affected were the traveling merchants. Because the border trade routes were not open, various goods such as salt, tea leaves, cloth, liquor, porcelain and so on accumulated in warehouses all over Youzhou City, making the traveling merchants very anxious. Some of the traveling merchants couldn't wait for the war to end, so they simply sold off their goods at a low price, which benefited the people of Youzhou. However, materials like fur and leather became scarce, and the prices of many goods such as ginseng and deer antlers skyrocketed to an astonishing degree. Even mutton doubled in price. But everything was still fine, at least the ordinary people didn't pay much attention to this because they were not closely related to these goods.

  This influence is more about the curiosity, anxiety, worry and concern in people's hearts, as well as the anger caused by the provocation of the remaining pride of being a Tang Dynasty citizen. People are asking and discussing the current war situation everywhere, and whenever travelers from the border arrive, they are immediately surrounded by a crowd of people who ask about everything that has happened outside the pass. In various tea houses and taverns, familiar and unfamiliar people gather together, passing on rumors whose authenticity they themselves do not know, predicting the development of the war.

  The people most concerned about the progress of the war are those families with sons serving on the border. The military and aristocratic families have a higher status and their own sources of information, while lower-ranking officers rely on relatives and friends to gather news, and ordinary families without background or connections can only judge the safety of their loved ones through rumors circulating in the market.

  In the Zhang residence in Dongshi's Fourth Alley, Old Captain Zhang saw off a messenger from Pingzhou and gazed at the pile of money on the table, feeling a surge of pride deep within. This was the two months' worth of military pay for his second son, Zhang Xing, totaling eight taels, with four taels per month. Next to the pay was also a letter written by Second Son, its contents simple and easy to understand, which Old Captain Zhang could barely read but naturally understood.

  He has become the inspector of Pingzhou Army, ranked as a brave deputy lieutenant, ninth grade down. The old general himself had been in the army all his life and eventually became only a general, ranked as a brave lieutenant, ninth grade up. He was excited and thrilled that his second son had almost reached his own highest peak at such a young age. His second son was still young and would definitely have a better future ahead of him. As a father, the old general was truly delighted. The messenger was to return to Pingzhou the next day, so he prepared to write a reply immediately and asked the messenger to take it back early the next morning. The content of the letter had already been thought out, in addition to informing his second son that everything was safe at home, he also wanted to carefully remind him to do well under Li Yudie's command, and to fight bravely forward during battles, without any retreat.

  The old man recalled Li Yu, the young man who had come to their home with Er Lang as a guest. At that time, the old man felt that this young man was somewhat different from others in his words and deeds. Unexpectedly, he has now become Er Lang's superior, and Er Lang is still under his command, winning a beautiful battle at Yu Guan and getting promoted. The old man also recalled other young men who had come to their home as guests, all of whom are now gathered under Li Yu's banner, forming a tight-knit group. Based on the old man's military experience, he planned to remind Er Lang in the letter that if these young people were to form a clique and gain power, Er Lang must know when to advance and retreat, be aware of his own status and position, and not fight for things that are not worth fighting for.

  Lao Dutou had already thought out in his heart how to write the letter, and then ordered the old woman around him to take out pen, ink, paper and inkstone. At the same time, he let Lan'er go buy some good wine and cut a few catties of dried meat, tonight he wants to get drunk! The old woman who was overjoyed immediately listened and opened the cabinet, while Lan'er went to the kitchen with a smile on her face to take out the food basket. When she left the house, she heard Lao Dutou loudly instructing her to buy some good wine, don't be stingy with money, best is "Xiang Qianli" from Mingyue Wine House!

  Lan'er nodded in agreement and happily hummed a tune as she went to buy wine. The "Xiang Qian Li" at Mingyue Wine House was indeed quite expensive, the Zhang family wasn't a wealthy household, and Old Master Zhang only got to drink it a few times a year. Lan'er planned to buy more this time, since her brother had been promoted and his salary increased, she wanted to let her father have a good drink!

  Mingyue Wine House is located in the most prosperous area of Dongshi, and it has always been a place where officials and wealthy people from Youzhou entertain their guests. Lan'er first went to Yangma Street to buy two catties of mutton legs, carefully put them into a food basket, then came to Mingyue Wine House, waited for a moment in the main hall, and brought up a jar of "Xiang Qianli".

  The wine shop owner, a former soldier, was once under the command of Old Du. He couldn't help but chuckle and ask, "Has something joyful happened in your household? Are you preparing for several days of heavy drinking?"

  Lan'er pouted and said: "Uncle Chen is joking. My brother has been promoted to the position of Da Tou in the border army, and Father is very pleased. Our family is preparing to celebrate."

  Master Chen naturally congratulated him a few times, then went to the kitchen to take out several ingredients and stuffed them all into Lan's lunchbox, saying that he was adding some color, and Lan only thanked him as he came out.

  Next to the Mingyue Wine House was a silk store, Lan'er looked inside and saw the neatly stacked bolts of fabric, hesitated for a moment, stepped in, cut half a bolt of smooth brocade, and only then came out with satisfaction. The clothes her parents wore were really too old, Lan'er wanted to make new clothes for them, wear them during the New Year, and they would definitely look dignified. Her brother was now a military officer, and their parents should also have attire that matched their status.

  Just out of the silk shop, Lan'er was suddenly stopped by two soldiers. Since Lan'er gradually grew up and her figure and appearance became more elegant, this kind of situation often occurred. Lan'er also handled it with ease, and coldly said: "You two should be careful. My family's master used to be a battalion commander in the original government army, and now my brother is also a battalion commander in the Pingzhou Army. It would be better for you two to leave on your own, lest we get into a dispute and nobody benefits."

  Generally speaking, after listening to Lan'er's words, those scoundrels would mostly slink away with their tails between their legs. At most, a few of the more vicious ones might throw out a couple of harsh words before also beating a retreat. But unexpectedly, these two soldiers didn't leave after hearing her; one of them even said: "Miss, don't misunderstand, we two just have some business to ask about and didn't dare have any evil intentions."

  Lan'er was taken aback and asked: "What's going on? Please speak clearly, both of you."

  The soldier said: "Two months ago, did you, young lady, save a drunkard at the Mingyue Tavern?"

  Lan'er thought for a moment and said, "A drunkard? I've met one before, but it's not worth mentioning the word 'rescue'."

  The two soldiers' faces lit up with joy, and the one who spoke first hastily asked: "Later on, did the young lady ask for a carriage to send that drunkard back to the military camp?"

  Lan'er nodded: "What's wrong with that? Is there something wrong?"

  The two soldiers were overjoyed and bowed their heads, saying: "Where is the young lady's home? Who are the elders and brothers in her family? We hope you will inform us."

  Lan'er asked in confusion: "Who is that drunkard? And who are you two?"

  The soldier hastily said, "Little girl, don't worry, this time there's only good news, no bad news. We are the household guards of the Wang family, and we've been waiting in front of this wine tower for many days. The person you saved at that time was the elder brother of our master..."