Lu Bu: My wife comes from two thousand years later
Chapter 434 The Yang Family’s Choice
To send troops, one must first collect grain and laborers. Although the autumn harvest has not yet begun, the conscription order must be passed down first so that officials and soldiers and civilians in various places can prepare.
Taking into account the distance of grain transportation, the gap between the rich and the poor in Yongzhou and Sizhou, social stability and other issues, most of the grain and laborers for this expedition still have to be recruited from Hedong and Hongnong. The tax exemption that Zhang Mo wanted to give to Hedong County can only be postponed to next year.
The people of Hedong did not know that they were supposed to be tax-free this year, so they had no objection. When the time came, they still paid taxes as before. As for the grain borrowed last year, many people used it to support the king in suppressing the rebellion, and no one asked the government for it. However, Zhang Mo still asked local officials to explain to the people and promised to repay the grain borrowed last year with taxes next year.
The logistics laborers were already within the scope of military service. The county magistrate issued the conscription order, and after the autumn harvest, each township and village would gather the recruited men in the county town, and within the specified time, they would escort the county's food and grass to Maojin for assembly, and finally cross the river to assemble in Chang'an.
Everything in Hedong County was arranged in an orderly manner, but things were not so smooth in Hongnong County.
After the death of Emperor Xian, Lü Bu was busy fighting Yuan Shao, Ma Teng, and Han Sui. Not long after he defeated these people, Jizhou rebelled again. He had no time or energy to rectify Hongnong County. Therefore, Hongnong County nominally belonged to the Tang Kingdom, but the actual ruler here was still the Yang family. From the prefect to the county officials, most of them were Yang family's disciples and former officials. Moreover, half of the land and population in the entire county were controlled by the Yang family. Lü Bu only had two garrisons in Hongnong County.
Now they are recruiting food, fodder and laborers in Hongnong County. To put it bluntly, this is actually asking the Yang family for money and people.
"This Lu Bu is a real fighter. Jizhou was just pacified, and now he's eager to take Liangzhou. Right off the bat, he demands 500,000 grain and 20,000 laborers. He's treating my Yang family like a granary!"
At the Yang family in Huayin, Yang Biao heard the grain collection news sent by the prefect, and his brows were furrowed so much that he could kill a fly.
"How can I shirk this?"
Yang Xiu glanced at his father and sighed, "This is a difficult situation. If we provide him with food and men, we'll be helping the Tang prince conquer Liang Province, and then Father will be violating the private alliance with Cao Gong. If we don't, it'll just give the Tang princess an excuse to take over Hongnong County. The problem is, we're stuck between Yongzhou, Hedong, and Henan Yin, with the Qinling Mountains to the south. Even if we ask for foreign aid, we won't be able to do anything!"
Yang Xiu advised, "Father, I think we should be loyal to the Tang Dynasty. If we continue to play both sides, the Zhen family of Jizhou will be a lesson for us. I believe that Cao Gong cannot defeat the King of Tang."
Yang Biao shook his head. "The Tang Kingdom is now the only powerful nation, but it's not invincible. Over the past two years, the Tang Kingdom has been constantly at war, and its national strength has dwindled. Meanwhile, Cao Mengde has been gathering strength and growing stronger. Shouchun and Yuangong Road are almost ruined. If Mengde were to capture him, his land and population would be no less than Tang's. And if he could ally with Liu Jingsheng and Liu Boxi (Liu Fan's courtesy name) to the west, how could he not rival them for supremacy?"
Yang Xiu said helplessly, "If our Yang family's foundation was in Yanzhou or Henan Yin, we could rely on Cao Gong for protection. The key is that we are in Hongnong. If the King of Tang wants to clean up Hongnong, the Yang family will not be able to resist."
"Father, the King of Tang and the Princess are not unreasonable people. They are extremely generous to their subordinates. As long as they are truly loyal, there is no need to worry about their wealth and future. Look at the Sima and Zhang families in Henei. Several of their children have been favored by the King of Tang. He who knows the times is a hero. The Han Dynasty has been completely destroyed since the accidental death of Emperor Xian. Even if Cao Gong conquers the world in the future, he will not be willing to give power to that puppet emperor. And can Liu Jingsheng and Liu Boxi be compared to Emperor Guangwu? I am not talking about Guangwu. Do you think they can compare to the King of Tang? The Han Dynasty cannot be saved!"
After the Jizhou incident, Yang Biao also felt that the world's trend was on the side of the Tang Dynasty. However, as an orthodox Confucian scholar, he really found it difficult to agree with Lu Bu, a traitor who wanted to usurp the Han Dynasty.
He took a step back and said, "Even if we pledge allegiance to the King of Tang as you said, our huge family will be split up. He will not allow Hongnong to be controlled by my Yang family."
Yang Xiu said nonchalantly, "If we demolish it, then demolish it. With the Tang King's protection, there's no point in raising so many soldiers. It's just a waste of food. As for those clansmen separated by generations, there's no kinship at all. As long as they pledge allegiance to the Tang King, my family will be rich and prosperous. You and I can also seek positions in the Tang Kingdom. With your father's prestige, when the Tang King becomes emperor one day, you can at least be granted the title of Three Dukes. What difference does it make whether you become one of the Three Dukes of the Han Dynasty or the Three Dukes of the Tang Kingdom?"
Yang Biao still shook his head. "You think too simply. Retinues and followers are minor matters. Most of the officials in Hongnong are members of the Yang family. There are also many Yang disciples in various prefectures and counties of the Han Dynasty. Even if the family is split up, the Tang King will definitely carry out a major reshuffle of the Hongnong officialdom. The Tang Princess popularized paper and books and established schools everywhere. This is to break the old channels for official promotion and gradually replace the recommendation system with a new one. From your great-grandfather to your father, four generations of our Yang family have served as Grand Marshals in the Han Dynasty. What do you think is their basis?"
He paused for a moment and said, "Even with this powerful political connection, if it were to belong to the Tang Dynasty, even if the Tang King gave me a Three Dukes position in recognition of my father's contribution to Hongnong, it would most likely be a nominal position."
Yang Xiu said, "I understand what my father said. However, given the current situation, if we continue to waver, the consequences are unimaginable. We should choose the lesser of two evils. Besides, what's wrong with Princess Tang reforming the official selection system? Compared to the common people, we, the children of aristocratic families, have been familiar with the classics and learned the Six Arts since childhood, so we have a clear advantage. Most of the people she selected are from aristocratic families. Last time, the Prince of Tang wanted to recruit his son to be the Chief Clerk. If it weren't for my father's disapproval, I would have been a senior official by his side."
"Father, I'm your only son. Are you considering my future or the future of your family members? The Yuan family wanted to establish themselves, but Yuan Benchu was defeated and Yuan Gonglu became corrupt. They took the wrong path and are doomed. And then there's the Zhen family of Jizhou. They invited foreign enemies to rebel while trying to marry their daughter to the King of Tang. What happened next? You're following in the same footsteps of the Zhen family. The bloody lessons of those hundreds of people are right before your eyes!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Biao's brows darkened even more. He knew very well that he was like walking on the edge of a cliff, and if he was not careful he would be crushed to pieces.
Yang Xiu continued, "There are only two paths before us now. Either we pledge our absolute loyalty to the Tang, or we abandon Hongnong and move our entire family to Yanzhou to join Cao Gong. We can't continue to pretend to obey, or the Tang army assembled in Chang'an might turn around and attack Hongnong first."
Yang Biao sighed heavily, "As a father, I know this is not the way to go. It's really hard to make a decision!"
Yang Xiu asked, "Father, don't you believe in your son's ability?"
Yang Biao was stunned, looked up at his son, then lowered his head and remained silent.
"Father, please listen to your son just once!"
"Are you so optimistic about that guy?" Yang Biao looked up again, surprised.
Yang Xiu smiled and said, "Although he may not have much talent, he has a wife who can be called a genius. My son is optimistic about the Princess of Tang."
"She is indeed a rare and extraordinary woman!"
Yang Biao sighed and finally waved his hand, "Well, well, this time you will go with the grain transport convoy to Chang'an to pay your respects to the king!"
"Father, you are wise!" Yang Xiu bowed and a relieved smile appeared on his handsome face.
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