Chapter 290: The dispute over the canal transport (Central)

Salt, iron and canal transport have always been the blood and lifeline of the Tang Dynasty's economy. Both are indispensable. After the Anshi Rebellion, the court implemented the fiscal policy of "military and national plans, relying on the Jianghuai River". It is precisely for this reason that the economic center of the Tang Dynasty gradually shifted to the southeast. However, the southeast salt, rice and grain rented mediocre property mainly relied on water transportation to Kyoto and other places and supplying military needs. In response to the difficulties of the Bian River system being abandoned, the ships blocked the overflow, and the money transported the rice. In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, great efforts were spent to clear the canal transport, and the government hired the river division sailors to supervise the transport of salt and rice. It was precisely because of the smooth transportation of canal transport that the political stability and the people were in peace, and the Tang Dynasty's economy was gradually restored.

But since the Cui family split, the water transportation in the Tang Dynasty seemed to have been a nightmare. The warlords of Bianhuai repeatedly cut off the water transportation and looted the water transportation, causing the court's fiscal revenue to be in a difficult situation. The salary of officials who owed Xuanren for six years was as high as 550,000 knots. By March, Zuozang had less than 200,000 knots of money, and the financial crisis had become the top priority that threatened the court's survival.

At the court meeting on April 1, it was decided to urgently transfer one million salt tax from Jiangling to Beijing.

The starting point of the Tang Dynasty's canal transport route was Yuhang County. However, since the Salt and Iron Supervision is located in Guangling, the money and grain transported from all over the Yangtze River were first concentrated in Guangling, and then shipped from Guangling to north, along the canal into the Huai River, then from the Huai River to the Bian River, and finally into the Yellow River in Heyin, along the Yellow River, and along the Tianbao Canal to transport it to Chang'an, the threat mainly occurred on the section from Huai River to Chenliu. Here they passed through Cui Qinggong and the original territory of Li Huaixian, but Cui Xian and Li Hou, without waiting for Li Huaixian to take action, Cui Qinggong had already entered his mouth first.

The tax of one million guan of salt weighs six million jin, and it must be loaded with thousands of grain ships. On April 13, the Jianghuai Transport Author Wang Yahou collected nearly five thousand grain ships, loading one million guan and five hundred thousand stones of grain. He set out in three batches from Jiangdu. Under the escort of the two thousand Linhuai regiments, he rushed northward. There was a moment of panic, and those who were interested along the way were moved.

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At dawn, white mist like cow milk covers the Huanghuai Plain. This is in Fuli County, Pengjun. The sound of roosters crowing on both sides of the canal canal has been heard one after another. A group of early people at the ferry were anxiously waiting to get on the boat. On the official road, there were only a peddler sleeping in the wild walking tiredly carrying a load. This was a quiet and ordinary morning.

Suddenly, the fierce sound of horse hooves came from the official road. A team of cavalry broke through the thick fog and rushed towards the lightning. They flew past the people waiting to cross the river, rolling up a strong wind, sweeping the thick fog into the air. The people only saw about 30 or 40 horses rushing past, melting into the thick fog in a moment, and sailing towards the northwest. Passers-by were talking and guessing what might happen, but none of them could guess that in two days, thousands of canal ships would come from the south.

After passing Fuli County, he walked about 200 miles northwest and entered the territory of Qiao County. In the Xiangyang Battle at the beginning of the year, Wei Deqing sent troops to occupy Qiao County, but soon under the threat of Cui Qinggong's return to the army, he gave up Qiao County and returned to Chenliu. The general stationed in Qiao County is the former four of the four great King Kongs under Cui Qinggong - Ma Dawei

, with more than 20,000 troops stationed, Ma Dawei was about fifty years old. Unlike other generals under Cui Qinggong, he was a rare civil servant. He was born with a white face and long beard. He was the first to be Cui Qinggong's marching Sima. During the Li Huaixian split, he was named the Three Treasures General by Cui Qinggong for saving most of Cui Qinggong's military rations and became one of his commanders. Now his headquarters is stationed in Qiao County.

A team of scouts composed of thirty people finally rushed into the gate of Qiao County at dusk and headed straight to the garrison headquarters located in the north of the city. At this moment, Ma Dawei was walking around in the tent with his hands behind his back. Half a month ago, he received a letter from Cui Qinggong's flying pigeon, ordering him to pay close attention to the movements of the canal ships. Once the canal ships enter Qiao County, he immediately intercepted them.

Ma Dawei was in charge of money and grain. He knew better than everyone else the importance of this million trump card to Cui Qinggong. Although he had gained money in the east to Xiangyang, most of them were the generals who led the troops and some soldiers who participated in the looting. Cui Qinggong's army itself did not get much money. On the contrary, a battle almost completely consumed the money and grain accumulated over the years, and Wei Deqing's robbery took advantage of the situation, which caused Cui Qinggong to suffer heavy losses. Cui Qinggong's 200,000 army had almost reached the point where he had run out of money and food. If there was no supplement, even if the army did not mutiny, the situation of large-scale soldiers fleeing would inevitably be inevitable.

At this moment, the imperial court's millions of cabbage ships were coming. Although Ma Dawei knew that the political consequences of robbing cabbage ships were serious, like Cui Qinggong, he still decided to start without hesitation. After all, survival is the most important thing.

"Report to the General, the scout has news."

The news from outside the tent lifted Ma Dawei's spirits, and he had been waiting for a long time.

"Let them in!" Ma Dawei ordered in panic.

After a moment, the scouts were quickly entering the tent. He knelt down on one knee and bowed: "Report to the general, his subordinates have discovered the whereabouts of the canal ship."

“Where are they now?”

"The subordinates found that they had left the Huaihe River and were probably close to Fuli County now. The canal ships were originally divided into three sections. After entering the canal, they were changed to two teams. They were less than fifty miles apart. There were about 5,000 ships, which were very large, and there were two thousand cavalry guards."

"Million yuan!" Ma Dawei took a breath. He couldn't even do the formation of five thousand ships even if he wanted to act in a low-key manner. When things really came to an end, he was a little confused. Do you really have to seize the money and food?

"If you don't take it, you will be defeated by Wadeqing in the north." A stern scolding suddenly came from the door of the tent. Ma Dawei turned around and found that it was Cui Qinggong. I wonder when he would arrive?

Ma Dawei was so scared that he quickly stepped forward, knelt down and saluted, "See the prince!"

"Hmph!" Cui Qinggong snorted heavily. He returned to Ruyang from Chang'an first. After learning about Guangling's ship departure, he immediately rushed to Qiao County. He just came to the tent and saw that Ma Dawei was still hesitating when he learned the accurate news. He couldn't help but feel very annoyed, "You are still my marching Sima. Are you still not sure about the embarrassment in the army now? Why are you still hesitating!"

Ma Dawei was frightened and quickly explained: "I dare not! I am thinking that there are still countless money and grains in Guangling to transport north. If we rob, the follow-up will not come again..."

"You idiot!" Cui Qinggong was extremely angry, "We will not intercept it, and Wei Deqing will also take action. Are you still counting on the next time?"

"Yes! My subordinates know their mistakes." Although Ma Dawei did not think that Wadeqing would intercept the ship, under Cui Qinggong's tyranny, he had to bow his head and admit his mistakes.

Cui Qinggong was slightly angry. Thinking that the million-dollar money was about to come, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "Okay, what I should say has been said. I came this time to watch the million-dollar money enter my warehouse with my own eyes."

When he reached the tent, he suddenly remembered something and asked the scout again, "Can you find out who the escort is?"

"Report to the prince, when the canal ship left the Huai River and entered the Bian River, a team of people joined the canal ship, with great momentum, but I don't know who it was?"

Cui Qinggong nodded. It must be that this was Li Huai, the commander of the guide. He heard that he did not go to Donghai County and went directly to Guangling from Peng County. He should be in the team. Thinking of this, he said to Ma Dawei again: "The guide for the guide of the ship this time is Li Huai, the new assistant minister of the Ministry of War. Tell the brothers to be careful and just rob the ship. Don't make a big deal, let alone hurt Li Huai. Do you understand?"

"Subordinate to obey the order!"

At night, Cui Qinggong's army began to mobilize, and an army of about 10,000 troops marched at night and headed towards the Bian River east of Qiao County.

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On April 18, on the night when Cui Qinggong's army was mobilized, another army of about 20,000 people also rushed south along the Bian River, aiming directly at the canal ship full of money and grain.

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The night in the south came quickly. Before the last light of the sun could disappear, the stars were already shining in the deep blue sky. The shadows around them were getting closer and closer together, making the vast plain narrower.

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Under the dark sky, a big boat was leisurely walking south under the starlight. On the boat, Li Fengyun, wearing a Taoist suit, sat with her knees in her arms. She looked up at the night sky. Her white jade-like face shone with a hazy luster under the starlight, and her eyes were filled with yearning for the starlight.

Behind her were two young and heroic guards, and they could be seen as being dressed as men. These were her two subordinates, with great martial arts skills and holding the long sword tightly in their hands.

"Miss, look!" A maid pointed to the shore and saw groups of black shadows running south about a hundred steps away. No one lit the torch. Only the messy footsteps, the sound of horse hooves, and the sound of armor hitting swords. This was a large group of soldiers marching at night.

Li Fengyun smiled and turned around and asked the boatman: "Boatman, where are we now?"

The boatman was shaking the boat and laughing, "We are still in Xiayi County now, but after crossing a small bridge in front, we enter Qiao County."

"Thank you, the boatman."
Chapter completed!