Chapter 419: Late Pilgrimage

In Chang'an, the third heavy snowfall in winter has fallen all night. The biting snowflakes in the sky are blown into long thin lines by the wind. The streets are covered with snow, as if they are covered with a layer of cold and soft carpet. It is crushed by cars, stepped on by people, and turned into brown mud.

In Xicheng City, although the roads are muddy, this cannot stop the popularity. As the New Year approaches, business in Xicheng City is extremely popular. The edges of the streets are filled with passers-by carrying large and small bags, men and women, flowing endlessly. Shocking from the shops are one after another, connecting them. In the middle of the road, thousands of carriages loaded with goods are lined up and down, driving slowly, mixed with camel carriages coming from the far Western Regions.

On the left side of the road is Caohe. The river water has frozen, and nearly a thousand empty 100 stone grain ships have frozen in the river. After the thawing is next spring, these large ships will sail to the south and transport the southern rice to Chang'an.

After three years of development, Chang'an has also undergone considerable changes, but this change is not reflected in the changes in the appearance of the city. Chang'an City is still majestic and grand, carrying a long history, but it has been full of vitality in the solemn history. The price of rice, which has always been regarded as the weather vane of the price of the Tang Dynasty, has dropped to 45 cents per dou. Although it cannot be compared with the ten cents per dou during the prosperous Kaiyuan period, compared with the purchasing power of ordinary people, it is already quite cheap. An ordinary porter can earn four guan copper coins or forty silver coins a month, so that he can buy nine stones of rice in a month, which is enough to support the whole family. Moreover, if this porter can still have his own carriage and transport goods in the west city alone, he can earn ten cents a month and his life will be much more abundant.

There are hundreds of rice shops in the rice shop in the West City, which are magnificent. The popularity here is also the most popular. It is mid-December, and there is still half a month before the New Year. All major grain stores have prepared enough goods when the rice prices are the cheapest in October, just waiting for the rice prices to rise before the New Year every year. This is the annual market and the golden season for merchants.

The largest Baichuan Grain Store in the West City is crowded with people. Nearly a hundred small shop owners from various shops are busy purchasing goods. At the back door of the rice shop, more than 100 carriages have been lined up. The grain price of Baichuan Grain Store is three to five cents cheaper than other shops. However, it does not do sporadic business and sells at least ten stones of rice. It makes money by making large-scale inlets and outs, and it has to go in and out more than 100,000 stones of rice every year. Because the rice price is slightly cheaper, there are hundreds of small shops in Chang'an, and restaurants are its fixed customers. The change in its rice price has thus become the weather vane of Chang'an rice price.

At this time, more than a dozen people walked in from the gate of the rice shop, or more than a dozen stubborn guards surrounded a man in his thirties. He saw that the man had a slightly dark skin, calm and friendly eyes, and long beards left under his jaw. He was wearing a white brocade robe, deer leather boots, a black veil hat, and a gold silk strap around his waist. This was the dress of an ordinary Tang Dynasty literati, but when he was worn, he had an indescribable grace.

The dozens of guards behind him were all tall and stunning, with their swords on their waists and their every move exuded a fierce murderous aura. As soon as dozens of people entered the house, the shop immediately became quiet.

The shopkeeper of Baichuan Grain Store is surnamed Qin. He is an old man about 60 years old. He has been in charge of our store for more than 20 years and has seen all kinds of scenes. He only glanced at him and knew that the person was an imperial official and his grade was not small. He quickly greeted him with a smile and said, "Welcome to our store. My surname is Qin. I am the shopkeeper of our store. Please give me instructions if you have any questions."

"I'm here to check the rice price." The man smiled slightly. His speaking speed was very slow, so slow that it was completely inconsistent with the busy rhythm in the store. However, as soon as he spoke, his momentum completely controlled the scene, and forced people to answer according to his rhythm.

At this time, a few more people came in outside the door. One of them was over fifty years old and was majestic. Manager Qin was shocked when he saw him. This person had visited the grain store last year and was the current prime minister, Han Jian.

Han Huan entered the room and said a few respectfully to the young man. The young man nodded, pointed at the shopkeeper Qin, and signaled that he was also asking.

Having written this, most readers must have guessed who he is. Yes, he is Zhang Huan, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Today, he came to the western market with several prime ministers to inspect the changes in rice prices on site.

He has been ascending the throne for three years, and the Tang Dynasty was firmly controlled by him. After three years of hard work, the Tang Dynasty's national strength gradually began to recover, and some major national policies have also begun to show influence. For example, the current decline in rice prices is due to the gradual migration of the grain belt south. Both the Jianghuai region and Shuzhong can mature twice a year. Within three years, the grain fields in the south increased by two million hectares. Of course, this is not obtained from the reclaiming of land, but many of the ins and outs of Anshizhi

The fertile fields that were left untouched have been reclaimed, and the rivers in the south are crisscrossed, with sufficient water, and the yield per mu of them can reach five or six hundred kilograms, which greatly increases the grain output. The north mainly planted mulberry and hemp. Since last year, cotton cultivation has been piloted in the military fields in the Central Plains. Although it took some time to popularize cotton cloth, many people on the streets have already worn cotton robes with better warmth. For example, the shopkeeper Qin of the grain store in front of him was wearing a thick white cotton robes.

Manager Qin's legs were trembling. He had already guessed who the guest was in front of him. In addition to being a today, who was qualified to accept the respect of the first prime minister calmly.

"I'll ask you, how much has the rice price increased compared to a month ago?" Perhaps Zhang Huan had already felt the fear of Manager Qin. He tried his best to slow down his tone and had a soft smile on his face.

Manager Qin was afraid and became excited again. The opposite person was talking to him was His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. He quickly bowed and replied: "For the return officer, the best Huzhou rice in the shop a month ago was 330 cents per stone. Now the price has risen slightly. Today, it will take 390 cents to buy one stone. According to the normal market price, in two days, I will probably increase to 420 cents per stone. Moreover, I am the bulk price, and the retail price outside will definitely exceed 50 cents per bucket."

"Do you think it will break through 60 quin?" This is the question that Zhang Huan is concerned about. The focus of today's court discussion is that rice prices will rise in the past few days. Whether the Changping Administration should list official rice to stabilize the price of rice. Han Huan believes that it should take timely measures to stabilize the price of rice, but Chu Xingshui believes that there is sufficient food and there is no need to launch official rice for the time being. The focus of both sides is on whether the rice prices will break through the limit of the endurance of quinox. Everyone was unable to argue, so Zhang Huan suggested that everyone come to the West City for on-site inspection.

"No!" Zhang Guan Qin gave Zhang Huan a positive reply, "The key is to see if the rice reserves are sufficient. If you lack food, like in the past few years, the trend of snatching rice is normal, not to mention 60 ci, it is normal to break through 300 ci. Now that the food is sufficient, the people do not have the urge to deliberately store grain. The competition among various grain shops is fierce. According to my experience, at most 55 ci, the second Huaibei rice may not be sold even 50 ci. And once the New Year passes, the rice price will definitely fall below 50 ci."

Speaking of this, Manager Qin sighed, "The rice is cheap and hurts the farmers!"

Zhang Huan smiled faintly and did not comment on this seemingly philosophical saying. To be precise, this shopkeeper Qin expressed his feelings because the profits of selling rice became thinner. A few years ago, selling rice was a huge profit. Grain merchants could get ten times the profit by manipulating the rice price. Therefore, there are hundreds of rice shops in the western market. Now selling a bucket of rice is only 20% profit. No wonder grain merchants complain.

"Rice is cheap to harm farmers." This sentence seems to make sense. Under the Two Tax Law, farmers pay money as taxes. If rice is cheap, money is expensive, and farmers' burden seems to have increased greatly. But this is exactly the essence of the Two Tax Law. If rice is cheap and money is expensive, farmers must develop side jobs to make money, grow mulberry and hemp, raise pigs and livestock, or let their children go to weaving workshops and mines, so that industry and commerce can get enough labor. If the Tang Dynasty did not raise lazy people, they must sweat more and have more children if they wanted to live a better life.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Qin." Zhang Huangong bowed and turned around and left surrounded by guards. Shopkeeper Qin looked at his back as he was leaving, and suddenly felt scared. Did he talk too much about his last sentence?

After leaving Xicheng, Zhang Huan went back to Daming Palace directly. The time to meet the Uighur envoys was about to come, and the people's livelihood issues such as food were thrown to the prime ministers to solve. What he had to consider was major issues related to the safety of the country.

The Uighur envoys should have come to Chang'an to meet the new Emperor of the Tang Dynasty three years ago, but they remained silent for three years. It was not until today that they arrived late. Zhang Huan also knew that the arrival of the Uighur envoys was also the result of their domestic political struggle. The Uighur domestic forces can be divided into four factions, one is the traditional aristocrats, mainly engaged in animal husbandry, mainly referring to Pugu, Hun, Tongluo, Abus and other tribes. These tribes have been favored by the Tang Dynasty for a long time and have a good impression of the Tang Dynasty. They belong to the pro-Tang faction and once occupied a great influence in the Uighurs.

The second is the Sogdians. Like the Jews in later generations, they had no country of their own and were active on the Silk Road for a long time. They were famous Shang people. After the Anshi Rebellion of the Tang Dynasty, Tubo invaded north, causing the Silk Road to move northward. A large number of Sogdian merchants entered the Uighurs and became emerging nobles of the Uighurs. A few years ago, they were suppressed by the traditional Uighurs, and they have been on the rise again in recent years. Sogdian merchants are connected with the black-clothed big-vegetarians and have always been close to the big-vegetarian school. The Sogdians also produced some famous figures in the Tang Dynasty, such as An Lushan.

The third force is Manichaeism, represented by the national teacher Surman, who has fully participated in the political decision-making of the Uighurs and plays an important role in the decision-making of the Uighurs; the last force is the Uighur military, which is strong and extremely aggressive, and has always been resentful of the failure of Anxi and Beiting. The main representative of this faction is the current prime minister Jiegangas.

These four major forces flourished alternately, which affected the Uighurs' domestic policies to sway left and right. During the period of the Khan of Li, the Sogdians and the Manichaeites gained power, and the Uighurs repeatedly invaded the Central Plains. The two countries became in conflict. When the Vijay Khan ascended the throne, the traditional nobles of the pro-Tang faction occupied the upper part. The Uighurs repaired the Tang Dynasty and formulated the national policy of advancing westward. When the Loyal Khan was a relatively neutral Khan, the Sogdians and Manichaeism emerged again. In addition, the military was resentful of the failure of Beiting. Under this joint exclusion, the traditional nobles began to lose their power. The most direct impact on the Uighurs' national policy was that the Uighurs reached a strategic partnership with the Dashi three years ago.

It is precisely this reason that the Uighurs almost cut off official exchanges with the Tang Dynasty in the past three years, and this time the Uighurs came to envoy was the result of a efforts by a pro-Tang faction.

Zhang Huan knew very well about these complex relationships. The Guoan Department also arranged a large number of intelligence personnel in the Uighurs, conveying every move in the Uighurs.

"Your Majesty, the Uighur envoy has arrived." The eunuch An Zhongshun's report interrupted his meditation.

"Take him to the Zichen Partial Palace to meet him."

An Zhongshun agreed and hurriedly ran out. After a moment, a loud shout came from afar: "Your Majesty has an order, Xuan Huihe Special Envoy Zi Chen, a side palace to meet him!"

Zhang Huan cleaned up a little, and then walked quickly towards the side hall under the escort of dozens of guards.

The special envoy of the Uighurs was Yaoluo Geling. During the Battle of Anxi, he once represented the Zhongzhen Khan and negotiated with Zhang Huan. He was also a Han native and was adopted by the former Via Khan. He was appointed as the second prime minister of the Uighurs. In addition to Yaoluo Geling, this time he was also appointed as the deputy envoy of the Tang Dynasty, called Kang Chixin, who was a Sogdian. He was appointed as the General Meilu of the Uighur. Although Kang Weide was the deputy envoy, he also represented the interests of the Sogdians, Manichaeism and the Uighur military. In fact, his status in the mission was even greater than that of Yaoluo Geling.

With a bell ringing, Yao Luo Ge Ling slowly walked into the Zichen side hall accompanied by Zhao Zong, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, while the deputy envoy Kang Chixin followed three steps slowly, glanced at Yao Luo Ge Ling's back and sneered.

In addition to Emperor Zhang Huan of the Tang Dynasty, four other prime ministers participated in the meeting, namely Han Huan, Pei You, Yuan Zai and Chu Xingshui. In addition, Taichang's minister Du Ya, Taifu Temple minister Fang Zongyan, and Zongzheng Temple minister Li Qiao also accompanied him.

"My special envoy of Uighurs Yao Luo Geling kowtowed to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. I wish His Majesty a long life!" Yao Luo Geling kowtowed three times respectfully to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The deputy envoy Kang Chixin, who had no choice but to kneel down, but straightened his waist and refused to bow.

Zhang Huan glanced at him, then waved his hand and smiled, "The special envoy is exempted from gifts, and he will be given a seat!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Yao Luo Ge Ling sat down, and Kang Chixin followed behind without saying a word. At this time, Zhang Huan smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Ge Ling, Anxi has been separated for several years. How are you loyal Khans recently?"

"When you say that, Khan is busy with affairs and cannot come to pay homage to Your Majesty in person. Please forgive me. This is the letter written by Khan to Your Majesty. I would like to congratulate Your Majesty on his ascension to the throne!" Yao Luo Ge Ling said, and stood up and raised a volume of letters high above his head and presented them to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. A guard came forward to take the letters and handed them over to Zhang Huan.

Zhang Huan took the letter of the country and placed it on the imperial case, but then asked Yao Luo Ge Ling with a smile: "I heard from Saiye that the climate in the north has been extremely cold in the past two years. I wonder if your country will be affected?"

Yao Luo Ge Ling's eyes were filled with gloom. How could he not be affected? A blizzard at the end of September raided most of the Uighurs, frozen countless cattle and sheep to death. The Uighurs had already shown signs of famine. It was in this context that the loyal Khan was forced to agree to the request of the animal husbandry nobles and sent him to the Tang Dynasty for help.

"Report to Your Majesty, the Uighurs' food is in short supply. It is already winter, and life is even more difficult. This time I was entrusted by the Khan. First, I am commending His Majesty the Emperor ascended the throne, and secondly, I am willing to exchange 100,000 horses for food from the Tang Dynasty. Please forgive me for your kindness."

Zhang Huan pondered for a moment and said, "The Tang Dynasty opened the horse market in Fengzhou and Shengzhou as early as the Qingzhi period. It has never been cut off. Moreover, the restrictions on grain trade were lifted in the 16th year of Qingzhi. Even if your country exchanges grain, why do you want me to be kind?"

"This... this matter is a bit difficult to open."

Yao Luo Ge Ling showed an embarrassing look on his face. He hesitated and said: "My Khan means to ask the Tang Dynasty to advance part of the food, and the horses will be gradually delivered to the Tang Dynasty next year. The Uighurs are willing to guarantee this matter in the form of a letter of state."

The implication was that he wanted to ask the Tang Dynasty to borrow grain and use horses to repay it next year. If it was a little more glamorous, it would become a grain-horse trade. Zhang Huan then understood what he meant and couldn't help but laugh.

"I agree to this matter in principle, but for the specific details, the envoy can negotiate with the prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty." Zhang Huan said to Pei You again: "Pei Aiqing, I will leave this matter to you to be fully responsible."

Pei You quickly stood up and saluted, "I obey the order!"

Yao Luo Ge Ling was overjoyed. He hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down at Zhang Huan: "I represent the loyal Khan to express my highest respect to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The relationship between the Uighurs and the Tang Dynasty will definitely become stronger from this kind of good cooperation."

Yao Luo Ge Ling's words are from the heart. The pro-Tang sect of the Uighurs has been repeatedly suppressed. If the Tang Dynasty can generously rescue the Uighurs this time, it will definitely become an opportunity for the pro-Tang sect to gradually turn over. How could he not be ecstatic for this?

But at this moment, someone in the hall suddenly snorted softly, his tone was extremely contemptuous. Although the voice was extremely low, the hall could hear it clearly. Everyone looked at the sound together and saw that the person who snorted coldly was Kang Chixin, the deputy envoy of the Uighurs. He had no expression at this moment, his eyes were rolling, and his face was full of disdain for the Yao Luo Geling.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense, and everyone saw the cracks inside the Uighurs. After a while, Yao Luo Ge Ling ignored Kang Chixin and said to Zhang Huan in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I have another matter to report to His Majesty the Emperor this time."

Zhang Huan nodded and said, "Mr. Ge Ling, but it's okay."

"In June this year, my Uighur Kedun was sick, and Khan had never made a promise. Another important mission of the Southern Tang Dynasty this time was to ask Khan to marry the Princess of the Tang Dynasty and to be the New Khun of my Uighur."

As soon as Yao Luo Ge Ling finished speaking, Kang Chi stood up and sternly scolded him in Turkic words: "Khan only said he wanted to marry the princess of the Tang Dynasty, but did not say he wanted to be a Ke Dun. The Ke Dun of the Uighurs wanted to be an Lisi Princess Anlis. This was because the Khan personally agreed to the envoy of the big food. What qualifications do you have to change the Khan's decision without authorization."

After saying that, he stood up and bowed to Zhang Huanshen, saying in Chinese: "Your Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, my Khan is indeed willing to marry the Princess of the Tang Dynasty, but he did not say that he would make him Ke Dun. This is an internal mistake from our envoy. Please forgive me."

Zhang Huan said nothing. He glanced at Zhao Zong, the Minister of the Honglu Temple. Zhao Zong was proficient in Turkic language. He could hear Kang Chixin's rebuke of Yao Luo Ge Ling clearly. Seeing that His Majesty looked at him, he immediately waved his hand to Zhang Huan, indicating that he would not agree for the time being.

Zhang Huan understood, and he sneered in his heart, and then laughed: "The Uighurs and the Tang Dynasty have a tradition of marriage, so this matter can also be considered, but it is related to national etiquette. I think it is best to confirm it with Khan clearly, so as not to make a laugh. Mr. Ge Ling, what do you think?"
Chapter completed!