A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 85: Stealing Du Shiniang
Fanchuan,

Fengxiang Marquis Mansion.

"Madam, Dongyuan Jilang is here,"

Guo frowned, a look of disgust on her face, "What is he doing here?"

"Ji Lang said he had something important to tell Madam."

Guo was silent for a long time, "Let him in."

Du Ruhui, wearing a crimson round-collared official robe and a golden belt around his waist, walked into the North Hall with his head held high. This was a place he had feared since childhood and a place he had deliberately kept his distance from later.

The silver-haired old lady in the hall seemed to have been like this for many years. She always had the final say and always looked down on the people in the East Courtyard.

"Grandson greets grandmother."

"What brings you here today?"

"I just came back from Chang'an and heard some news from Luoyang. I wanted to tell my grandmother."

Hearing the news from Luoyang, Guo immediately perked up, "What happened in Luoyang?"

"event."

"Yesterday, during the third watch of the night of the Zhongyuan Festival, the army in Luoyang mutinied. Wang Shichong stormed the palace and killed Yuan Wendu, Lu Chu, Zhao Changwen, Guo Changyi, and others. Huangfu Wuyi abandoned his wife and fled west to Chang'an. Duan Da surrendered to Wang Shichong, and Yang Tong was forced to appoint Wang Shichong as Shangshu Zuo Pushe and Governor-General of All Military Affairs.

Wang Shichong moved into the Shangshu Province and appointed his brother Wang Shiyun as the Internal History Minister to live in the palace. The Wang family members shared the military power and handed over all government affairs to his party members.
Luoyang has changed.”

Guo's body shook.
"Are Shiro and Rokuro all right?"

The fourth son is Du Yan, the legitimate son of Guo, and the sixth son is also Du Rui, her legitimate son.

Seeing that he only cared about his two biological sons, Du Ruhui felt disdainful. Du Ruhui's eldest brother and third brother were also in Luoyang, but Guo didn't show any concern at all.

"Wei Liulang fled Luoyang and went to seek refuge with Li Mi."

Guo didn't care about Wei Liulang, she only cared about her two biological sons.

"Is Shiro Rokuro okay?"

"My fourth uncle has long been attached to Wang Shichong. Now he has risen to power overnight. He has been promoted to Imperial Censor. Even my sixth uncle has become a Doctor in the Ministry of Personnel."

“But this is not a good thing. Even Wei Liulang knows that even if Wang Shichong seizes power through a coup, the most powerful person in the Luoyang court is not in Luoyang City, but the Grand Marshal and Duke of Wei, Li Mi, who is outside.

Luoyang was already short of food and clothing and was struggling to survive. Now Wang Shichong rebelled and massacred dissidents. Many people fled to Guanzhong or to Li Mi.
How long can Wang Shichong remain proud?

What will be the end of the fourth and sixth uncles who attached themselves to Wang Shichong?"

Guo was furious. "What do you mean by saying these words? Are you cursing your own uncle?"

"I say this to remind Grandmother that although my fourth uncle, sixth uncle, and my third brother are all in Luoyang, they are also forced to be trapped there. The situation in the world is becoming clearer, and the Tang Dynasty will eventually unify the world.

I heard that Grandma put Shi Niang in solitary confinement and wanted to send her to Luoyang? Grandma is really old and confused. Luoyang is now a hellhole. Others can't escape even if they want to, but Grandma wants to send her most beloved granddaughter into the hellhole.

"You bastard, you have no respect for your elders," Mrs. Guo could no longer hold back and scolded him angrily.

Du Ruhui had been scolded so many times by Guo since he was little that he was used to it. He sneered a few times and said, "I have sent people to Luoyang to ask my eldest brother and third brother to find a way to return to Guanzhong. I also hope that the old lady can persuade my fourth uncle and sixth uncle to come back as soon as possible.
The King of Qin told me that if they return, he would personally recommend them to Your Majesty for important positions."

Mrs. Guo was so angry that she was shaking. This grandson was so unfilial that he actually dared to accuse her directly.

"I heard that you have a good relationship with that wild Taoist priest in Yushuchuan. Are you speaking for him? Where is the reputation of my Jingzhao Du family?"

Du Ruhui shook his head.
"Grandmother will be eighty next year, so why is she still so strict about everything, both inside and outside the home? From now on, I will take care of the affairs of the Fengxiang Marquisate for the old lady. When Fourth Uncle returns, I will hand it over to him.

Madam, just rest and recuperate. You're tired of caring too much."

These words made Guo stand up in anger, "Unfilial evildoer, how dare you,"

Du Ruhui stood there straight, looking down at Guo.

"I will take Shi Niang to Chang'an to live for a while. My wife misses her."

After saying this, he turned and left.

Guo was so angry that she shouted, "Come here, are they all dead? Stop this unfilial man quickly."

The Du family came over after hearing the noise.

Du Sanlang was glared at by Guo, so he had to chase her outside.
"Erlang, what are you doing? If you have something to say, we can talk it over. The old lady is old and can't stand it any longer."

Du Ruhui stopped and stared at his uncle, who was born to a servant. "Third uncle wants to teach me how to do things?"

Cold voice, sharp eyes,
Du Sanlang never thought that this nephew would be so oppressive.
He stammered, "No, just,"

"Third Uncle, think carefully. Do you want to listen to the old lady who is already confused and senile, or do you want to listen to me?"

Du Sanlang was in great trouble.

He never thought that his nephew would be so powerful now.

He stood there, not knowing whether to leave or not.

"Brother Qiao, whoever dares to stop me will have his legs broken."

Qiao Gui, the General of Chariots and Cavalry of the Prince of Qin's Palace, stood eight feet tall, towering like an iron tower. He patted the long sword at his waist and said, "Don't worry, Captain Du. Now that I'm here today, I will definitely help you get things done."

Du Ruhui said to Du Sanlang, "This is General Qiao, the General of Chariots and Cavalry of the Prince of Qin's Palace. He is a good friend of the Prince of Qin since childhood. He is very good at fencing and can also shoot arrows with both hands. He is also a good reader.
Do you want to try General Qiao's sword?"

Du Sanlang suddenly came to his senses and quickly stepped aside.

The managers, servants, and maids of the Du family all retreated, and no one dared to step forward.

Du Ruhui alone had already put them in a difficult position. After all, he was a fifth-rank official in the imperial court and held the highest position in the government.
Now another companion of His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin has arrived, and he is also the General of Cavalry of the Royal Palace. Who dares to stop him?

Du Ruhui brought Qiao Gui to the west wing.

"Get out of the way,"

The two strong women guarding the door hesitated for a moment and then obediently moved aside.

The door is locked,

Qiao Gui drew his sword quickly.

The great sword slashed,

The copper lock fell off with a sound.

Du Ruhui opened the door,
Du Shiniang was writing in the room, imitating Li Yi's Thousand Character Essay.

"Shi Niang," the noise outside had already entered the house, but Du Shiniang still did not stop writing.
When the door was opened, she just raised her head, called out "Second Brother", and continued writing.

"Second brother will take you to Chang'an,"

"Thank you for your kindness, Second Brother. If I leave, A-Zu will be sad. I'd better stay."

Du Ruhui walked up to him and said, "If you stay, she will send you to Luoyang."

Du Shiniang stopped writing and stood there in a daze.

"I have something to tell you. Li Yi is going to Jingzhou with the army."

Du Shiniang rolled her eyes. "What? Li Lang wants to join the army. When?"

"We were supposed to leave three days ago, but due to the sudden change in Luoyang, the King of Qin has temporarily postponed his departure from the capital. Li Yi will probably have to wait a few days before he can leave with His Highness."

"Is he okay?" Du Shiniang asked in a low voice.

"Why don't you just meet him and ask him in person?" Du Ruhui said with a smile.

"But Grandpa," Du Shiniang had been confined here for the past few days and had thought a lot, "Brother, is Li Lang's workshop okay? What happened last time?"

"It's all a small matter. Li Yi doesn't care at all. That kid later blackmailed your grandfather again and made our Du family pay fifty taels of gold to buy his prescription.

He's so audacious that he dared to hit the Du family. But I really admire this guy. There's nothing he can't do."

Hearing that Li Yi was fine, Du Shiniang breathed a sigh of relief and her eyes brightened.

Du Ruhui saw it all, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he felt very comfortable. Old Madam Guo always treated her daughter Du Yan as the apple of her eye.
If she really fell in love with Li Yi, a boy with no family background, it would really make Guo angry to death.

Although this would also bring shame to the Du family,

But Du Ruhui felt that it didn't matter. Maybe he should help his cousin.

He hated Guo and Du Yan. It would be great to think that the apple of Guo and Du Yan's eye would end up marrying a young Taoist priest who had returned to secular life.

The two generations of father and son have suppressed the anger and grievances they have endured for too long.

"Shi Niang, are you really interested in that boy Wu Yi?"

Du Shiniang's face quickly turned red all the way to her ears, but she did not deny it.

Or rather, she has been asking herself these days whether she really likes Li Lang. She has no answer and is confused.
But after the old lady intervened, Du Shiniang was reminded.
She also doesn't know what love is.
But from the pleasant time when we first met, to the gradual familiarity, to the time when I missed him so much after not seeing him for a day, to the time when I was happy and excited when talking to him,
It's really special.

I can't describe the feeling.
It is impossible to figure out and difficult to grasp.

Du Ruhui was very surprised. He thought that Guo was just making such a fuss for the sake of Shi Niang's reputation. Now it seems that Shi Niang really has feelings for that boy.

This is really surprising,

"Come on, come back to Chang'an with me. I'll ask Li Yi to come to my Chang'an residence tomorrow. You haven't seen him for a long time, so you should have a good chat."

Du Shiniang uttered a mosquito-like whisper, "Hmm."

Du Ruhui took Du Shiniang away, and Du Shiniang only took her personal maid Shuying with her. When Guo heard the news, she fainted from anger.

It took a long time to wake up.

His eyes lost their luster and he was in a daze.

After a long time, Guo asked Du Sanlang to bring paper and pen. She dictated Du Sanlang's notes and wrote a letter to Du Yan in Luoyang, asking about the brothers' situation after the Luoyang mutiny.
At the same time, he also told me what happened today.

"The Du family has produced an unfilial and rebellious person. I, an eighty-year-old old woman, am being bullied by this rebellious grandson..."

Du Sanlang held the pen for a long time but did not dare to write it down. "Madam, do you really want to tell Silang about this?"

"Write, Du Ruhui got close to the King of Qin of the Tang Dynasty and became a member of the King of Qin's palace. Does he think he's so great? My son is still a third-rank Imperial Censor. He is just a rich man in a red robe, but my son is a noble in a purple robe!"

Chang'an,

Li Yi was a guest at the home of his senior brother Sun Fujia.
He was supposed to celebrate the Ghost Festival at home and set out with the army three days ago, but then news came that Wang Shichong had rebelled in Luoyang. The court in Chang'an was shaken and the emperor convened an emergency court meeting, so Li Shimin's departure from the capital was postponed.

"Another great war was about to break out in the Central Plains. Hearing that Li Mi was about to enter the court, he traveled to Wen County and met Wei Jin, the Minister of Civil Affairs in Luoyang. He learned that there had been a mutiny in Luoyang and that Yuan Wendu and his men were dead. So he led his troops back to Jinyong City.
Now the situation is tense between Wang Shichong and Li Mi, and war is about to break out.

There was a great famine in the Eastern Capital, and private money was used arbitrarily. A stone of rice cost eighty to ninety thousand yuan."

Sun Fujia put down a chess piece and said.

"Then Wang Shichong must attack Li Mi, otherwise he will collapse. Eight or nine thousand for a dou of rice, what a crazy and desperate situation," Li Yi sighed as he looked at the chessboard.

"Yes, Yang Guang spent countless manpower and financial resources to build the Eastern Capital Luoyang, which once amazed countless foreign envoys. But now, after years of war, it has become a living hell. Xu Wenyuan, the chief academic of the Luoyang Imperial College, a renowned scholar and a high-ranking official, ended up having to go out of the city to chop wood himself, and was even captured by Li Mi's soldiers."

"The former governor of the Eastern Capital, Emperor Huangtai's Minister of War and General of the Right Guard, Huangfu Wuyi, has arrived in Chang'an. Your Majesty has bestowed upon him the titles of Minister of Punishment and Duke of Hua." Speaking of him, Sun Fujia was very emotional. Huangfu Wuyi was the descendant of a famous official. His father was the Sima of the Bingzhou General Administration Office. When Yang Liang rebelled, he refused to obey and was killed.

When Huangfu Wuyi was the governor of Yuyang, his achievements were outstanding. Later, he was promoted to General of the Right Guard and stayed in Jiangdu. He, Duan Da, Yuan Wendu and others supported the establishment of King Yang Tong of Yue.
When Wang Shichong launched the mutiny that night, Huangfu Wuyi was ready to lead his troops out of Xuanwu Gate and attack Wang Shichong from behind. However, the Changqiu Supervisor had been bribed by Wang Shichong and deliberately claimed that he could not find the key to the palace gate to delay time. In the end, Huangfu Wuyi had no choice but to flee to Chang'an.

"Wang Shichong's pursuers caught up with Huangfu Wuyi halfway, but he turned around and said, 'I would rather die than rebel with you.' Finally, he took off his golden belt and threw it away. The pursuers scrambled for it, and he escaped on horseback."

Li Yi had no good feelings towards Brother Huangfu, who had the same name as him. He actually abandoned his wife and children and ran away alone. He could neither be loyal to the emperor and die for his country, nor stay to protect his wife and children. There was really nothing to say.

"There will be a major change in the Central Plains. The court is considering whether to send troops out of Tongguan first to deal with the change in the Central Plains, or to send troops to Jingbin to pacify Longyou first." Sun Fujia asked Li Yi, "Which side do you think should be attacked first?"

"Of course, we must deal with Xue Rengao first. Now is the best time. If we miss this opportunity, Longyou will be in turmoil, and we don't know when we can resolve this worry.

As for Luoyang, there is no rush for now."

Li Yi made another move. There is a term in Go: gold edges, silver corners, and grass belly.

The four corners of the chessboard are the most efficient places to surround.

When playing chess, one usually starts by seizing the four corners, then moves to the four sides, and finally fights for the center.

The same is true for the struggle for world domination. Occupying the corners will provide a stable base for leisurely development. However, the Central Plains, as a place surrounded by enemies, is vulnerable to attacks from all sides.
The reason why Wang Shichong and Li Mi were finally eliminated in history was that Henan was an area where wars broke out on all sides and people were fighting each other to the death, making it impossible for them to develop peacefully and consolidate their base.

However, Li Yuan started his army in Taiyuan, but quickly marched into Guanzhong and seized Chang'an in one fell swoop. With this piece of land as a base, he then stabilized Hedong, planned to take Bashu, and then took Longyou and Hexi. He then sent troops to Shannan. When his strength expanded to a large enough level, he went to compete for the Central Plains.

If Li Yuan had headed straight to Luoyang after launching his rebellion in Taiyuan, leading to a battle for supremacy among the heroes, and allowed Xue Ju to occupy Guanzhong first, Li Yuan might have been defeated earlier.

Now we have to take advantage of the fact that Xue Juxin has passed away and the main force of the Longyou army is trapped in Jingzhou, and annihilate them in one fell swoop. We cannot give them a chance to breathe and recover, otherwise it will be very difficult to take Longyou.

Moreover, for Li Shimin, the seed of the pseudo-Qin State was already ripe and could be picked with a light hand. This would be the achievement of destroying a country and the first major battle after the Tang Dynasty entered Guanzhong. It would be a pity if he missed it.

"The price of houses in Chang'an is still relatively low now. Don't you plan to buy one?" Sun Fujia asked with a smile.

"Well, I plan to do this before I go on the expedition. I'll buy a set first."

It’s a good time to buy at the bottom, it would be a pity not to buy it. I still have a lot of money and no place to invest it for the time being.

(End of this chapter)