Chapter 16 The 1880s (780-789)

1. In spring, on the first day of the first lunar month, the Tang Dynasty (capital Chang'an) changed its name to Jianzhong.Civil and military officials presented the honorary title to Tang Emperor (twelfth Emperor Dezong) Li Shi (39 years old this year), calling him the Holy God Wenwu Emperor.Forgive the world.Adopting the suggestion of Prime Minister Yang Yan, the imperial edict said: "The central government promotes and dismisses special envoys (retirement envoys), chief executives (observation envoys) of the provincial government, and governors. Our bank's "Zenyong Adjustment Method" refers to April 624. Rent is land tax, mediocre is labor service, and adjustment is tax. Now it is merged and all are paid with money. Twice a year, those who pay in summer are called "summer tax". No more than June; those who pay in autumn are called "autumn tax", and those who pay no more than November are collectively called "two taxes"). All other exorbitant taxes, old and new, in various names are all cancelled. Except for the 'second tax', if anyone dares to Anyone who collects an extra penny is guilty of violating the law.”

In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the way the government collected taxes was divided into "land tax" (rent), "labor service" (yong), and "taxation" (tune).If you have land, you should pay land taxes, if you have adults, you should perform hard labor, and if you have household registration, you should pay taxes.During the last years of the Ninth Emperor Li Longji's reign (the 1940s and 1950s), government archives were gradually destroyed and scattered, and many of the remaining records were inconsistent with reality.In 1756, the whole country was in chaos, and various places were expropriated. It was as urgent as a spark, and it was completely unconventional.The number of agencies responsible for expropriation continues to increase, but no one can control the other; so each of them cleverly created names and added laws and regulations. The old ones have not been abolished, and the new ones have been implemented, and there will be no end.Children from rich families can be exempted from taxation and labor if they become officials or monks, but children from poor families cannot escape.As a result, rich families became richer and poor families became poorer and poorer. Corrupt officials took advantage of the opportunity to exploit and oppress them, collecting them every ten and a half months. The local population will not exceed four or five tenths.

Up to now, Prime Minister Yang Yan has created the "Two Tax Law": estimate the annual expenditure of the state and county in advance, add the amount submitted to the central government, and then ask the people to pay this amount according to their income.Regardless of the hukou of aborigines or refugees, as long as they settle down, they will be registered as naturalized. The population does not matter whether it is young (over 18 years old) or middle-aged (over 23 years old), and it is only classified according to the rich and poor.As for the merchants who do business, they bear one-thirtieth of the total annual income of the state and county where they live, so that they, like settled agricultural households, cannot evade tax obligations.Taxes on agricultural households are collected in two seasons, autumn and summer.All land taxes, labor services, taxes, and other exorbitant taxes are cancelled, and the National Finance Director (Duzhi) is responsible for overall planning and handling.

Li Shi accepted this reform and took advantage of the opportunity of the amnesty to promulgate this new tax law. 2. In the beginning, when Liu Yan, the left top executive of the State Council (Zuo Pushe), was the Minister of Civil Affairs (Shangshu of the Ministry of Civil Affairs), Yang Yan was the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs (Minister of the Ministry of Officials), and they did not like each other.Yuan Zai was killed (refer to March 777), and Liu Yan did his best secretly.When Li Shi came to the throne, everyone hated Liu Yan because he had controlled the country's wealth for a long time (from May 760 to the present), so many people reminded the emperor that the transportation director (transit envoy) should be revoked.And there are rumors that: Liu Yan once submitted a secret report, suggesting that the former emperor (eleventh term) Li Yu should make Concubine Dugu the queen (if Dugu becomes the queen, her biological son Li Jiong, King of Han, will surely seize the throne, and Li Shi will immediately in danger).Since Yang Yan was promoted to be prime minister, he planned to avenge Yuan Zai (any villain in the world has friends who praise him, and any vicious political leader has people who support him), so he found an opportunity to cry in front of Li Shi They communicated and said: "Liu Yan, Li Gan, and Liu Zhongyi conspired together (refer to last year's leap in May). As a prime minister, I cannot eradicate the national traitors. I should be severely punished." Another prime minister, Cui Youfu, said: "This kind of unproven You should not pay attention to the ambiguous rumors. Moreover, His Majesty has issued an amnesty, and you should not pursue such rumors." But Yang Yan still persevered, suggesting: "The State Council (Shangshu Province) is the nerve center of the empire. Set up many directors and divide their powers, it is best to restore the original system." Li Shi approved.

On the twenty-eighth day of the first lunar month (the original text is "Jiazi", modified according to the "Old Tang Book"), an edict was issued on the national money and food work, all of which were returned to the Finance Department (Money Department) and the Grain Department (Warehouse Department) of the Ministry of Finance of the State Council; Liu Yan relieved the transportation director (Transshipment Envoy), Material Adjustment Director (Zuyong Envoy), Land Mu Green Crops Tax Collection Director (Crop Envoy), Director of Salt and Iron Monopoly (Salt and Iron Envoy) and other special agency heads.

3. On February 1st, ordered eleven special envoys for promotion and dismissal (dismissal envoys) to inspect various places. At that time, Tian Yue, the commander (Jiedu envoy) of the Weibo war zone (headquartered in Weizhou), was quite respectful and obedient to the central government. Ignorant, completely ignorant of the situation he was facing, heard that there were 70,000 armed forces in the war zone, so an order was issued to Tian Yue to disarm 40,000 troops and send them back to his hometown to work in the fields.Tian Yue pretended to be obedient to orders, and immediately laid off 40,000 people.Soon after, he gathered the demobilized soldiers and angered them. Tian Yue said: "You have lived in the army for a long time. You have parents and wives. They are all in the barracks. Once you are promoted and dismissed by the special envoy, what will you do for a living in the future?" ?” The soldiers cried loudly.Tian Yue took out his own family property as military pay, and kept them in the army.So the soldiers were grateful to Tian Yue and hated the Central Committee.

4. The prime minister, Cui Youfu, was seriously ill, so he didn't care much; Yang Yansui was in power, and dedicated to avenging himself.Shangshu revived Yuan Zai’s suggestion of opening up Xinjiang (refer to October 773), intending to build Yuanzhou (Guzhou City · Ningxia Guyuan County) city first, and planned to mobilize the two capitals (the capital Chang’an and the eastern capital Luoyang) , Young people from Guannei (central part of Shaanxi Province) went to Fengzhou (Wuyuan County, Inner Mongolia) to renovate and dredge the irrigation system Lingyang Canal (in Wuyuan County), and prepare to open up wasteland and cultivate fields.Li Shi sent eunuchs to the Jingyuan War Zone (headquartered in Jingzhou) to ask the commander Duan Xiushi's opinion. Duan Xiushi said: "I feel that the troops are not enough for defense along the border. We should not provoke the enemy first and stimulate them to fight back." Yang Yan was furious. Thinking that he was sabotaging his affairs, he dismissed Duan Xiushi as the commander of the war zone and transferred him back to the central government as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (Si Nongqing).

On February 12th, Li Huaiguang, the commander of the Binning Theater (headquartered in Binzhou), was appointed as the commander of the four towns, the commander of the Beiting Theater Task Force (based in Jingzhou), and the commander of the Jingyuan Theater, and ordered him to advance the army to Yuanzhou (Guyuan County, Ningxia); Liu Wenxi, the alternate commander of the four towns and the Beiting Theater Task Force (remaining later), was appointed as the general secretary (don't drive).Yan Ying, the special mayor of the capital Chang'an (Jing Zhaoyin), objected, and Shangshu said: "Shuofang blocked the next five cities (refer to February 776), the land was originally fertile, but after the great chaos in 755, manpower was insufficient, so that It is deserted, and the actual cultivated land is less than one-tenth of the past. If there is sufficient manpower input, there is no need to wait until today. People from the two capitals (the capital Chang’an, the eastern capital Luoyang) and Guanfu (the central part of Shaanxi Province) were recruited to Feng The prefecture dredged the canals, opened up wasteland and cultivated fields, and what they got was not worth what they gave, but the people of Guanfu were inevitably scattered, which not only made the fields in Gyeonggi deserted, but also did not help the army's rations." After the memorial was submitted, there was no further text.However, the dredging project of Lingyang Canal could not be completed and was completely abandoned.

5. Li Shi adopted Yang Yan's suggestion and used the excuse that Liu Yan's memorial did not match the facts. On February 14, Liu Yan was demoted as the governor of Zhongzhou (Zhongxian County, Chongqing City). 6. On February 18th, Li Baozhen (An Baozhen) was promoted to the alternate commander (staying behind) of the Zelu War Zone (headquartered in Luzhou) as the real commander ("New Book of Tang·Fang Zhenbiao": this year, Zhao The headquarters of the Righteous War Zone was moved to Luzhou, and the Zelu War Zone was merged into it). 7. Yang Yan intends to build Yuanzhou City as a base, and then recover Qinzhou Yuanzhou (southern Gansu Province), so he ordered Li Huaiguang to go to the front as the director to supervise the construction; he ordered the commander of the Lulong Theater (the task force stationed in Fengxiang Mansion) Zhu Xi and Cui Ning (Cui Wei), the commander of the Shuofang Theater (headquartered in Fangzhou), each led 10,000 people to follow up and carry out the protection project.The emperor issued an edict to Jingzhou, ordering to prepare tools for building the city.The soldiers in the Jingyuan theater were furious, and said: "We served as the western barrier of the empire for more than ten years. At first, we stationed in Binzhou, plowed the fields and planted mulberries. After finally settling down, we were transferred to Jingzhou (refer to the 12th year of 768). Month), overcoming thorns and thorns, setting up camp, and before the stools are warmed up, we are going to be deported beyond the Great Wall! What crime have we committed to be treated like this!"

When Li Huaiguang first took over as the commander of the Binning theater, he executed General Wen Ruya and others (refer to August last year), and the military orders were strict; later, the central government ordered Li Huaiguang to also be the commander of the Jingyuan theater. The five generals (Wen Ruya, Shi Kang, Pang Xianhe, Zhang Xianming, and Li Guangyi) committed some heinous crimes, and all of them were beheaded? Now they are here again, why don’t you worry about it!” General Secretary Liu Wenxi then took advantage of everyone’s anger and fear Psychologically, occupying Jingzhou and refusing to accept orders, the Central Committee of Shangshu requested to send Duan Xiushi back. If there is any difficulty, send Zhu Xi.

On February 28th, Li Shi agreed and ordered Zhu Jianjian, the commander of the four towns, the Beiting Theater Task Force (in Jingzhou) and the Jingyuan Theater Command, to replace Li Huaiguang. 8. In March, Zhang She, the Royal Literature Research Officer (Hanlin Bachelor) and the Supreme Advisor of the Supervisory Council (Zuo Sanqi, a regular attendant), accepted money bribes from Xin Jinggao, the former chief executive (observation envoy) of Hunan Province (the capital is located in Tanzhou), When the matter was discovered, Li Shi was furious and planned to execute him according to law.At this time, Li Zhongchen (Dong Qin), who was expelled from the Huaixi War Zone (headquartered in Caizhou) (refer to March last year), was acting as the Prime Minister Sikong (the third of the three officials) and the second-level real prime minister ( Tongping Zhangshi) was authorized to participate in the Imperial Meeting (at the request of the court) and said to Li Shi: "Your Majesty, with the dignity of the emperor, made the teacher commit crimes because of poverty. In my opinion, it is not the teacher's fault." .” Li Shi’s anger calmed down a little. On March 6, Zhang She was dismissed from office and sent back to his hometown. Because of his personal anger, Xin Jinggao beat his subordinates to death with sticks. The relevant unit said: "Xin Jinggao should be executed for his crime." Li Shi intends to approve.Li Zhongchen said: "Xin Jinggao should have died a long time ago." When Li Shi asked why, Li Zhongchen said: "Xin Jinggao's father, uncle, and brothers (cousin Xin Yunjing and younger brother Xin Min) all died fighting for the country, but Xin Jinggao is still alive today. , so I think he should have died a long time ago." Li Shi also felt sad, and only demoted Xin Jinggao as the prince's master (from the third rank).Li Zhongchen used the opportunity to save people, mostly in this way. Bo Yang said: Li Zhongchen's seemingly loyal behavior is the official culture's "three saves and three don't save students": "Save life but not death, save the rich but not the poor, save officials but not the people." Saving "life", the living may be rewarded ; The dead have been wronged, and the bereaved family thinks that this should be the case, so it is difficult to be grateful.To save the "rich", rich people can immediately send gold and silver treasures to the gate (or send them to the bank), and the enjoyment will be immediate; Political contributions?The reason to save "officials" is even more obvious than two plus two equals four. Officials have the right to make you rich, and they have the right to make you rich.Li Zhongchen's "Three Rescue Cards" that sold his conscience, personality and human dignity were praised as "saving people", which is a kind of poison in Han culture. 9. After Prime Minister Yang Yan dismissed the National Finance Director (Duzhi) and Transportation Director (transshipment envoy), he ordered the Finance Department (Money Department) and the Grain Department (Wangbu) of the Ministry of Finance of the State Council to take over.However, the functions of the State Council (Shangshu Province) have been suspended for too long. There is a lack of information and insufficient talents. On March 28th, Li Shi ordered Han Hui, a senior advisor (advising doctor) of the Supervisory Council, to be the deputy minister of the Ministry of Finance of the State Council (the minister of the household department) and the national financial director (juanduzhi); (Jinbu Physician) Du You from Wannian (the eastern half of the capital Chang'an) temporarily served as the Director of Water and Land Transport of Jianghuai (East China) (Jianghuai Water and Land Transit Envoy), restoring Liu Yan's old system. 10. Liu Wenxi, who occupied Jingzhou, refused to accept Zhu Xi recommended by him, and planned to become the commander of the theater himself. In summer, on April 1st, Liu Wenxi formally betrayed the central government and sent his son to the Tubo Kingdom (the capital Luoxie City) as a hostage, requesting to send troops to rescue him.Li Shi ordered Zhu Xi and Li Huaiguang to crusade; he also ordered Zhang Juji, the base commander (envoy) of the Shence Army (the Seventh and Eighth Armies of the Forbidden Army), to lead the Forbidden Army to reinforce with 2,000 troops. 11. The Kingdom of Tubo heard the news that Wei Lun, the deputy head of the Sacrifice Department (Taichang Shaoqing) sent by the Tang Dynasty, escorted the Tubo captives back home (refer to August last year), and couldn’t believe it. Returning to the tribes to which everyone belongs, it is claimed: "The new emperor of the Tang Dynasty ascended the throne, released the maids to go home, and released the birds and beasts to return to the mountains. Under the leadership of wise and mighty leaders, China is peaceful." Tubo King (36th) Chi Song Dezan was overjoyed and cleared the road to welcome Waylon.Then, he sent envoys to come to Chang'an with Wei Lun to meet him, and sent a memorial ceremony for the former emperor (eleventh) Li Yu. On April 9th, when the Tubo envoys arrived in the capital (the capital Chang'an), Li received them with grand ceremonies and ordered the Tubo captives to be released along the border.The generals of the Xichuan War Zone (headquartered in Chengdu) objected, and Shangshu said: "The Tubo people are wolves. Those who are captured alive by us cannot be allowed to go back." Di Shun obeyed and sent them back. Striking shows power, and returning them shows sincerity. If power cannot be exerted, and sincerity cannot be observed, how can people in a distant place generate centripetal force!" Order them all to be sent away. 12. During the reign of the eleventh emperor Li Yu, every year on New Year's Day, Winter Solstice, Dragon Boat Festival, and the emperor's birthday, prefectures and counties competed with each other to present special blessing gifts in addition to regular taxation (refer to October 766) Li Yu will have a good impression of whoever contributed more (this is the same as Yang Guang, the second emperor of the Sui Dynasty, refer to December 616).Military military officers and treacherous civilian officials took advantage of this opportunity to oppress civilians. April 19th is Li Shi's birthday. According to the custom, all places make extra offerings, but Li Shi does not accept them all.Li Zhengji (Li Huaiyu), the commander of the Pinglu theater (headquartered in Yunzhou), and Tian Yue, the commander of the Weibo theater, each presented 30,000 pieces of silk and satin. taxation. 13. On May 5th, Wei Lun was promoted to be Minister of Sacrifice (Tai Changqing). On May 22, Wei Lun was sent to the Kingdom of Tubo again.Wei Lun asked Li Shi to come forward and sign an oath to form an alliance with Tubo.Prime Minister Yang Yan believed that it would hurt the dignity of the Tang Dynasty, so he suggested that Guo Ziyi, the king of Fenyang, sign the affidavit, and Li Shi should approve the word "yes" on it.Li Shi accepted. 14. The Central Crusade Army Zhu Xi and others surrounded Jingzhou, where Liu Wenxi, the leader of the mutiny, cut off all communication lines, closed the camps tightly, and did not launch attacks. It took a long time to conquer.At this time, the weather had not rained for a long time, the sun was scorching hot, the drought was over, taxes were collected, grain and grass were collected, and food and grass were transferred from east to west, and there was turmoil inside and outside.Li Shi refused all of them, saying: "If a clown can't be eradicated, how can a huge empire be governed!" Liu Wenxi sent a general Liu Haibin to the capital to petition, and Liu Haibin reported to Li Shi: "I am the old ministry of your majesty when he was a prince (Li Shi King Feng Yong, who was the Marshal of the National Field Army (refer to April 762; the officers of the task force, all subordinates), how could he listen to the traitor? He must be beheaded for His Majesty. Liu Wenxi’s request is only one It's just an official talisman, I hope His Majesty will give it to him for the time being, his guard will be relaxed, and my plan can be implemented." Li Shi said: "Name and official position must not be given to anyone casually. It is very good that you can make meritorious service. My He won't be able to get an official talisman." Liu Haibin was ordered to go back and tell Liu Wenxi, and ordered the crusade army to continue the attack.He also reduced his own diet, rewarded the soldiers, and the officers and soldiers in the besieged city should receive spring clothes as usual; therefore, everyone knew that Li Shi would not change his mind.At this time, the diplomatic relations between the Tubo Kingdom and the Tang Dynasty were in harmony, and they refused to support Liu Wenxi. On May 27th, Liu Haibin and other generals rose up together, killed Liu Wenxi, beheaded him, and sent him to the capital.But the city of Yuanzhou could never be built. Since Li Shi came to the throne, Li Zhengji (Li Huaiyu), the commander of the Pinglu theater, has been in a state of anxiety. He once sent an assistant to the capital to make an appointment. When good news came from Jingzhou, Li Shi ordered him to watch Liu Wenxi's head before returning.Li Zhengji was even more frightened. 15. On June 1st, Cui Youfu, deputy chief supervisor of the Supervisory Yuan (Menxia Shilang) and second-level de facto prime minister, passed away (at the age of 60). 16. Sang Daomao, a sorcerer, said: "In a few years, Your Majesty will have bad luck to leave the palace. From my observation, Fengtian (Qianxian County, Shaanxi Province) has the spirit of the emperor. It is best to increase the height and thickness of the city wall. Be prepared for the unexpected and extraordinary.” On June 8, Li Shi ordered the capital Chang'an Special Municipal Government (Jingzhao) to recruit thousands of civilian husbands to cooperate with the soldiers of the Imperial Army to build the Fengtian City Wall. 17. In the beginning, the customs of the Huihe Khanate were honest and simple, and the distance between the Khan and his subjects was not too great. Therefore, they were united, strong, brave, and invincible.Later, during the Tang Dynasty's civil war, they helped the Tang Dynasty government establish great achievements, and the Tang Dynasty gave them generous gifts in return.Dengli Khan (the third great Khan) Yao Luoge Yidi Jiansui began to swell, feeling that he was great and extraordinary, and built palaces arbitrarily, for the queen, concubine, and maids to live in. The houses are luxuriously decorated, and they pay more attention to their clothes. and grooming; in order to provide for this extravagance, the Tang Dynasty plundered the people's wealth, and Huihe's own good customs were all corrupted.The eleventh emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yu, passed away (refer to May last year). The successor (twelfth emperor) Li Shi sent eunuch Liang Wenxiu to report the funeral. Reception as a VIP. Among the Hu tribe with the nine surnames (in the northwest of Shanxi Province), there were tribesmen who surrendered to Huihe. They emphasized the prosperity and prosperity of China to Yaoluoge Yidijian, and suggested that Yaoluoge Yidijian use the occasion of the royal funeral of the Tang Dynasty to launch an attack. A lot of wealth can be obtained.Yao Luoge Yidijian was stunned, and planned to use all the power of the whole country to invade south.The prime minister, Prince Yao Luoge Dun Mohe, who is the cousin of Yao Luoge Yidijian, dissuaded him and said: "The Tang Dynasty is a huge empire, and no place has failed us. The year before last, we went deep into Taiyuan (Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province), The capture of tens of thousands of sheep and horses should be regarded as a great victory (refer to the first month of 778), but the journey is too long and food cannot be supplied. When they return home, many soldiers have to walk on foot (killing their own horses to satisfy their hunger). Now, the whole country is going south , Even if it is a great victory, it is nothing more than that, if we cannot achieve a great victory, how can we come back?" Yao Luoge Yidijian refused to accept it.Yao Luoge Dun Mohe took advantage of everyone's strong opposition to the southward invasion, staged a coup d'état, killed Yao Luoge Yidijian, and killed 2,000 members of the Hu tribe with the nine surnames. Khan (the fourth great Khan), sent his subordinate, Prince Luo Geyu, and eunuch Liang Wenxiu, to Chang'an for an audience, vowed to be a vassal of the Tang Dynasty, let his long hair hang down, and never cut it again (expressing acceptance of the customs of the Central Plains) , Waiting for further instructions from the emperor of the Tang Dynasty. On June 22, Li Shi sent the deputy mayor of the special city of Chang'an (Jingzhao Shaoyin) and Linzhang (in the south of Linzhang County, Hebei Province) Ren Yuanxiu to confer the medicine Luoge Dunmohe, calling Wuyi a successful khan . 18. In autumn, on July 4th, Shaozhou (Shaoyang City, Hunan Province) leader Wang Guoliang surrendered (refer to December last year). Wang Guoliang was originally the gate official (Yajiang) of Daoying in Hunan Province. Xin Jinggao, the chief executive, sent him to garrison Wugang (Chengbu County, Hunan Province) to defend against the intrusion of Xiyuanman (minority tribes in Jingxi County, Guangxi).Xin Jinggao is greedy, cruel and tyrannical, and Wang Guoliang's family is rich, so Xin Jinggao framed Wang Guoliang for death, intending to kill him for money.Wang Guoliang had no way to appeal and was very frightened, so he defended Wugang County to mutiny, formed an alliance with Xiyuanman, gathered a thousand people, raided and plundered nearby counties and counties, along the border of Hunan Road for a thousand miles, and all were injured.Li Shi ordered the Jingnan Theater (headquartered in Jiangling Prefecture), Qianzhong Road (capital in Qianzhou), Jiangnan West Road (capital in Hongzhou), and Guizhou Road (capital in Guizhou) to join forces for several years. , cannot be conquered. Later, Cao Wang Li Gao took over as the chief executive of Hunan Province, saying: "It is not the best strategy to drive exhausted civilians and chase down the turbulent crowd." So he wrote to Wang Guoliang, saying: "The general is not a rebellious person. Just to save my own life. Like you, I was framed by Xin Jinggao. I have been exonerated by the central government. How can I bear to put the blade on your head? If you don’t surrender immediately when you meet me, it will be too late to regret it. Wang Guoliang was both happy and scared, and sent envoys to submit a letter of surrender, but he still hesitated to make a final decision.So Li Gao pretended to be his own messenger, and with only one cavalry guard, crossed the mountains and ridges, marched five hundred miles, and arrived at the camp of the Bianmin army. "The militiamen were greatly surprised.Wang Guoliang rushed out to meet him, knelt and kowtowed before the horse, begging for forgiveness.Li Gao held his hand and agreed to be sworn brothers.Wang Guoliang then burned the weapons and equipment used for siege and defense, disbanded the rebel army, and made them return to their hometowns to work in agriculture. Li Shi issued an edict to pardon Wang Guoliang's crimes and gave him a new name Wang Weixin. 19. On July 19th, Li Shiyao honored his missing mother, Ms. Shen, as the empress dowager (for the disappearance, refer to July 1965). 20. Yu Zhun, the commander of the Jingnan War Zone, catered to Prime Minister Yang Yan’s will, and reported Zhongzhou Governor Liu Yan: He wrote a letter to the special mayor of Fengxiang (Fengxiang Yin) Zhu Xi, begging him to rescue him, and the wording was full of resentment (Zhongzhou belonged to Jing South Theater).Moreover, Yu Zhun even accused Liu Yan of going to the Shu to ask for an increase in the number of militias affiliated to the state government, in fact preparing to betray the central government.When Li Shi asked Yang Yan for his opinion, Yang Yan confirmed that Liu Yan did have such a conspiracy.Li Shisui secretly sent eunuchs to Zhongzhou to hang Liu Yan (at the age of sixty-five). On July 27, Li Shi issued an edict ordering Liu Yan to commit suicide. In the beginning, during the Anshi Rebellion (refer to November 755), eight or nine out of ten household registrations across the country were lost in a few years, prefectures and counties were divided by warlords, all tribute and taxes could not reach the central government, and the national treasury dried up.Natural disasters and man-made disasters continued one after another; Rong and Di invaded every year, and a large number of national defense troops were stationed along the border, all of which were supplied by the government, and the expenses were too high to be calculated, all of which were planned by Liu Yan.At the beginning, Liu Yan served as the director of transportation (transport envoy), responsible for the finances of various provinces in Eastern Shaanxi (Eastern China) (refer to June 1762), and various provinces in Shaanxi (West China), which were still under the Ministry of Finance (Department of Households) of the State Council. Later, he also took charge of Shaanxi (refer to last year's leap in May), but was dismissed soon (refer to the first month of this year). Liu Yan is energetic, quick-witted, able to adapt to changing situations, adjusting the amount of supplies, and his method is magical. He often hires fast-moving people with high salaries, sets up price information stations in important places, and investigates various prices, even in distant cities. In a few days, the report was sent to the Commissioner's Office. The prices of food and goods were all under the control of the Commissioner's Office. The country obtained a large amount of financial resources, but the people did not worry about skyrocketing or drastic price drops.Liu Yan emphasized: "To accomplish a task depends entirely on talented people. Therefore, we must select people who are knowledgeable, quick-tempered, shrewd, tough, honest and diligent, and entrust them with tasks. In order to manage gold, silver and food, intellectuals should be appointed. Low-level cadres such as employees (subordinate staff) can only be responsible for clerical work and cannot speak casually.” He also emphasized: “Once intellectuals (scholars) are accused of taking bribes, They will be criticized by the world, so they love fame far more than money, because most of them are clean and self-loving; low-level officials such as employees, even if they are as clean as water, cannot be promoted in life, so they love money far more than name. Employee-level officials, Naturally, there are a lot of corruption and bribery." However, only Liu Yan can do it perfectly, and those who imitate him can't catch up.Although Liu Yan's subordinates were scattered in all directions, and some were even thousands of miles away, once the order arrived, Liu Yan seemed to be standing in front of him, and even his personal behavior, including every action, every word and deed, could not be deceived or neglected by Liu Yan.Some people in power recommended relatives and friends to Liu Yan, and Liu Yan accepted them all, but gave him an idle job, salary, promotion speed, everything was on the normal track, but he was not allowed to take actual responsibility for those people.All the units Liu Yan belongs to, all important and difficult positions must be handed over to the most outstanding talents at that time.After Liu Yan was framed and murdered by Li Shi, most of the Tang government officials in charge of finance and taxation were Liu Yan's old subordinates. Liu Yan understands that the more household registrations, the more sources of taxation, so he is in charge of the country's finances, and his top priority is to make the people of the country rich.Therefore, special officers (zhiyuan officials) are set up in each province, and every ten days and every other month, the rainfall, snowfall, and grain harvest of the counties to which the province belongs must be reported to the General Administration. (envoy).If the harvest is good, it will be bought at a high price, and if the harvest is bad, it will be sold at a low price, or the grain will be exchanged for other daily necessities, which will be supplied to government officials, or shipped to areas with good grain harvests for sale.When the special officer (zhiyuan official) found that there was a sign of crop failure, he first reported it to the director, and then Liu Yan made a plan to exempt a certain amount of taxes in a certain month and a certain amount of subsidies in a certain month.At that time, without waiting for the state and county to apply, Liu Yan has already taken the initiative to report to the emperor for implementation.Reflect the urgent needs of the people, never miss the opportunity, and will not wait until the people are suffering, exiled, and starved to death, and then go to the relief.Therefore, the people can live and work in peace and contentment, and the household registration increases.When Liu Yan was the transportation director (transshipment envoy) (refer to June 1762), there were only two million households in the country, and later, it reached more than three million households.All areas under Liu Yan's jurisdiction had an increase in household registration; other areas did not.At first, the annual collection of wealth was less than 4 million strings, and later it was as high as more than 10 million strings. Liu Yan's main method is to use the salt monopoly system to supply huge government and military expenditures.At that time, from the west of Xuzhou (Xuchang City, Henan Province), Ruzhou (Ruzhou City, Henan Province), Zhengzhou (Zhengzhou City, Henan Province), and Dengzhou (Dengzhou City, Henan Province), people used the Hedong (Shanxi Province) Pool Salt, headed by the National Finance Director (Duzhi).From Bianzhou (Kaifeng City, Henan Province), Huazhou (Huaxian County, Henan Province), Tangzhou (Biyang County, Henan Province), and east of Caizhou, people use sea salt, and Liu Yan is in charge.Liu Yan believes that the more officials there are, the more people will be harassed. Therefore, salt management officers (salt officials) are only set up in places where salt is produced, and the salt produced by salt households is collected and sold to merchants. Wherever it is, it will be shipped to that place, and there will be no officials in other states and counties.If the mountainous area is too far away from the salt-producing areas, merchants may not want to go there, so a salt transport officer will be set up, and the government will transport the salt to the mountainous area for storage.Sometimes salt merchants are hindered and unable to supply, and the price of salt soars, and the government sells the salt at a lower price, which is called "Changping salt". The government can make profits, and the people can no longer lack salt.At the beginning, Haiyan's tax revenue was only 400,000 strings, but later the income has reached 6 million strings. Therefore, the treasury is sufficient, but the people have not increased the burden.The tax on pond salt in Hedong (Shanxi Province) is only 800,000 yuan per year, which is more expensive than sea salt. (According to the "New Book of Tang·Shihuo Zhi", the distribution of salt production at that time was roughly divided into two categories. In the coastal area, there were four major salt fields, distributed in Lianshui, Huzhou, Yuezhou, and Hangzhou. The government set up the following ten management Bureaus: Jiaxing Supervisor, Hailing Supervisor, Yancheng Supervisor, Xinting Supervisor, Linping Supervisor, Lanting Supervisor, Yongjia Supervisor, Dachang Supervisor, Waiting Officer Supervisor, Fudu Supervisor, manage coastal salt farms. Thirteen tour offices are also set up: Yangzhou Academy, Chenxu Academy, Bianzhou Academy, Lushou Academy, Baisha Academy, Zhunxi Academy, Yongqiao Academy, Zhexi Academy, Songzhou Academy, Sizhou Academy, Lingnan Academy, Yanyun Academy, Zhenghua Academy. Thirteen Academy The main responsibility is to arrest private salt sellers and collect taxes when salt merchants pass by. Therefore, each court also has the macro-control function of the price difference of salt across the country. As for the inland areas, they all rely on salt ponds and salt wells. Plan: Anyi, Hezhong Prefecture , There are five salt ponds in Jiexian County, collectively called "two ponds", which obtain more than 10,000 dendrobium salts every year and supply them to the capital. Yanzhou has Wuchi, Baichi, Wachi, Xixiangchi, Lingzhou has eight ponds including hot springs, and Huizhou has Hechi and the three prefectures all exchange salt for rice. Anbei Duhufu has Huluochi for the two military bases of Zhenwu and Tiande. There are 41 salt wells in Qianzhou, one salt well in Chengzhou and Xunzhou, and one in Shannan West Road War Zone. There are 123 salt wells, 460 salt wells in the Dongchuan theater, and 13 salt wells in the Xichuan theater. In addition to sea salt and pool salt, there are also "salt villages", where there are laborers and soldiers in Youzhou and Hengye Army guard.) In the past, grain from the Guandong (east of Tongguan) was transported to Chang'an, the capital, because the river along the way was dangerous and fast, and boats were often destroyed and people died. Merit will be richly rewarded.Liu Yan believed that the Yangtze River, the Bian River, the Yellow River, and the Wei River all have different flow speeds and carrying capacities. A ship starting from the Yangtze River and arriving at the capital is naturally prone to accidents. Therefore, according to the actual conditions of each river, a segmented transportation plan was drawn up. Each builds its own grain ship and trains its own sailors.The grain ships of the Yangtze River went to Yangzhou, the grain ships of the Bian River went to Heyin (Taohuayu in the northwest of Zhengzhou City, Henan Province), the grain ships of the Yellow River went to Weikou (Tongguan County, Shaanxi Province, where the Wei River flows into the Yellow River), and the grain ships of the Weishui River went to the warehouse in Chang'an, the capital.At the same time, granaries were set up along the way to store them one by one.Since then, the annual transportation volume has reached more than one million hu, and no bucket has been sunk.The grain ships consisted of ten ships called "gang", led by the generals stationed in the area, and credit was counted only if there were no losses ten times in a row, and they were rewarded with promotions.So they were careful and protected the grain ship with all their heart. After a few trips, even their hair would turn white. Liu Yan set up ten shipyards in Yangzi (South Yangtze River Ferry, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province), each costing as much as one thousand strings of money.Some people said: "The cost of each ship is less than five hundred strings of money, isn't it too much waste?" Liu Yan said: "On the contrary, to achieve a big cause, you can't be too demanding in a small place. There must be a long-term plan, taking into account the future development. Now, the shipyard has just started to be established, employing a lot of people, we must first teach them to maintain a certain standard of living, food and clothing and daily expenses are relatively plentiful, so that it is possible for him to manufacture things for the government Sturdy. How can it be maintained for a long time if you immediately calculate the price of a nail with them? I can almost foresee that in the future, someone will accuse me of paying too much to the workers and insist on reducing it; if it is reduced by half, it is still ok Barely maintain the standard; if it is reduced to less than half, the built ship cannot be used." In the 50 years after Liu Yan's death, the officials in charge cut the construction cost to half. In the 1870s (the 20th Emperor Li Wei was in power), the officials in charge paid for the cost completely. The thinner it is, the more fragile it is, and it will break if it is hit, and the entire waterborne grain transportation will come to a complete standstill. Liu Yan reacts quickly and has a strong sense of responsibility when doing things. Regardless of whether the matter is important or not, the decision must be made on the same day, and it will never be delayed until the next day. No later financial experts can compare with him. *Liu Yun said: No one in charge of the country's finances in the past did not oppress the people to serve the king; hurt others to serve himself; changed laws and regulations to exercise power;All kinds of situations have happened.There is no one in history like Liu Yan who regulates materials, appoints talents, makes the country rich without burdening the people, and saves the people by himself to benefit the people.Some people may question and say: "Ji Chan of Zheng State, officials cannot deceive him; Mizi of Song State, officials cannot bear to deceive him; Ximen Bao of Wei State, officials dare not deceive him (Ji Chan, refer to 519 Note in February). These three gentlemen were sages in ancient times, and their subordinates all had the heart to deceive them, but they just couldn’t, couldn’t bear it, and didn’t dare. But Liu Yan’s subordinates, no matter how far or near, didn’t even have the heart to deceive them. Why?" He replied: "Because Liu Yan selected suitable talents and let them display their talents!" After Liu Yan's death, his subordinates controlled the finances of the Tang Dynasty for more than 20 years, which can explain everything. "Historical Records: Biography of Huo Zhi" said: "Stable prices, and there is no shortage of materials in the market, is the way to stabilize the society." Liu Yan managed the national taxation, and the prices were stable. Nothing was particularly expensive, and nothing was particularly cheap (see July 6 Four years in March)!一些高谈阔论治国平天下的人，怎能相比！刘晏推荐颜真卿，是忠诚（刘晏曾把国务院财政部副部长官位让给颜真卿）；减轻王缙的罪罚，是公正（参考七七七年三月）。忠诚公正都超越同僚。然而，森林中如果有一棵特殊的树，直插霄汉，狂风定会把它摧折。之前，常衮妒忌，之后，杨炎陷害，使人长长叹息（常衮妒忌刘晏，故推荐刘晏当国务院左执行长，希望削除他的财政大权，但李豫命刘晏仍兼各机关首长。参考前年十二月）！当时也有人讥刺刘晏，说他对抨击他的人都用钱封他们的口！问题是，如果不封这种可以说出伤人谗言的口，刘晏怎么能获得大权，如不能获得大权，又怎么能施展他的才干，拯救国家。这只是他的权术，有什么可讥刺的。 21、八月三日，振武战区（总部设单于府）候补司令官（留后）张光晟屠杀回纥汗国使节药罗葛突董等九百余人。 药罗葛突董，是武义可汗（四任大可汗）药罗葛顿莫贺的叔父。唐王朝十一任帝李豫在位时，九姓胡人曾经冒充回纥人，跟汉人混杂在一起，住在京师，做生意、置产业，残忍凶暴，横行霸道，跟回纥人一样，成为唐朝政府与人民的灾难。李适登基后，下令药罗葛突董率领他的部众回国。药罗葛突董携带大批行李辎重，抵达振武战区，不肯马上回国，反而逗留数月之久，一直向地方政府要求优厚供应，每天仅牛羊肉就要一千斤，其他东西如同这个比例，但他们仍然任意砍柴放牧，踩践庄稼，态度蛮横，振武军民，痛苦难言。张光晟打算发动一场突击，屠杀所有回纥人，掠夺他们满载而归的行李辎重；但畏惧回纥人强悍，不敢动手。九姓胡人这时已听到新可汗屠杀他们族人的消息，很多人开始中途逃走，药罗葛突董严加防范，于是九姓胡人既不能逃亡，又不敢回去，陷入绝境，为了自救，就向张光晟呈献密计，请求铲除回纥人。张光晟对回纥内部分裂大为兴奋，遂一口答应。李适自从在陕州（河南省三门峡市）被回纥羞辱（参考七六二年十月），对回纥至为痛恨，张光晟了解皇帝这种心理，乃上疏奏称：“回纥本部人马，并不是很多，所以强大的原因，靠其他胡族部落的顺服。现在听说他们自相残害，新可汗药罗葛顿莫贺刚上台，旧可汗药罗葛移地健的儿子以及原来的宰相、将军，各率军队数千人互相攻击，政治情势还没有稳定。他们没有充足的钱财，就不能驱使他们的部众，陛下如不利用这个机会予以铲除，而放他们回去，送上钱财，正是把武器拿给强盗，把粮食送给匪徒。请准许我动手诛杀。”上疏三次，李适都不准许。 张光晟乃决定刺激回纥人挑畔，于是派一位副将领经过回纥宾馆门口，故意趾高气扬，傲慢无礼，药罗葛突董果然大怒，把那位副将领揪住，打数十马鞭。张光晟挥军突击，把包括药罗葛突董在内所有回纥人和九姓胡人全部屠杀，尸首堆成一个高台，只留下一个九姓胡人，命他回国说明：“回纥人鞭打大唐大将，而且阴谋夺取振武战区要塞，边防军迫不得已，先行诛杀。”李适调张光晟回京师当右金吾（卫军第十二军）将军，派宦官王嘉祥前往回纥王庭（设蒙古国哈尔和林市），致送礼物及信函。回纥政府要求把擅自诛杀回纥的人交给他们，由他们复仇；李适为此特别再贬张光晟当睦王李述的师傅（李述是李适的老弟），以安抚回纥的愤怒。 22、八月十六日，加授卢龙（总部幽州）、陇右（总部普润）、泾原（总部泾州）三战区司令官朱泚兼任立法院最高立法长（兼中书令·使相），仍保有卢龙、陇右司令官。命舒王李谟当四镇、北庭特遣兵团（驻泾州）司令官（行军节度使）、泾原战区司令长官（节度大使），擢升泾州前营作战司令（牙前兵马使）河中（山西省永济市）人姚令言当候补司令官。 李谟，是李邈的儿子（李邈，是李适的老弟，七七三年五月逝世），因早年丧父，李适收养为自己的儿子。 23、八月二十二日，李适下诏追赠娘亲皇太后沈女士的老爹、祖父、老哥、老弟以及沈家男女们，纷纷任官封爵，赐给采邑的人事任命状跟土地授权证，总共一百二十七件，驮到马背上，由宦官一一送到沈家。 24、九月二十一日，建筑部长（将作）奏称：宣政殿走廊损坏，但是下（十）月河魁、天罡二位凶神出现（阴阳家认为：天上有河魅星群、天罡星群，是两位凶神。巫法师说：当这两位凶神出现之时，任何事都不要做，否则，将有大祸。罡，音gang），不可以动工。李适说：“只要不妨碍公务，不伤害人民，就是吉祥，何必管什么时辰？”命马上修建。 25、立法院立法官（中书舍人）高参建议皇帝，派沈姓族人分别到各地明察暗访失踪的皇太后沈女士。 九月二十九日（原文误置于十月，据《新唐书》改），李适命睦王李述当奉迎特使，国务院工程部长（工部尚书）乔琳当副奉迎特使，又命沈姓家族四人当执行官，会同宦官，分别到各道寻访。 26、本（八）世纪七〇年代之前，田赋捐税的征收、开支以及官员薪俸的多少，都没有法令可以根据，一切由机关首长决定，加上元载、王缙当权，公开贿赂，全国不惩治贪污将近二十年。只发生一件：江西道行政长官路嗣恭检举虔州（江西省赣州市）州长源敷翰，判处流刑（虔州属江西道）。 李适认为宣歙道（首府设宣州）行政长官薛邕，温文儒雅，又是过去的旧部（薛邕贬歙州，参考七七三年五月），特地擢升他到中央任国务院左秘书长（左丞）。薛邕临离开宣州时，侵吞政府财产以万万钱为计算单位，宫廷监察官（殿中侍御史）员寓（员，姓）揭发。 冬季，十月九日，贬薛邕当连山县（广东省连山县）防卫员（尉）。于是州县官员才开始畏惧法律的尊严，不敢贪赃枉法。 李适刚登基时，疏远宦官，亲近高级知识分子，张涉因对儒家学派经典有高深的研究，而调到中央；薛邕也因是一介书生，而进入中枢，结果都因贪污有据，身败名裂。宦官、武职官员反而拿他们当做例证，辩解说：“政府文官，动不动就贪赃万万钱，却一口咬定我们搞乱天下，岂不是诬害我们，欺骗人民。”于是，李适才开始迷惑，不知道要倚靠谁才对。 27、十一月，李适诏令：除了待诏官外，更增加地方政府进京朝贡特使（朝集使）二人，以便向他们查访政治上的缺失，跟边疆人民的疾苦（朝集使，参考六四三年九月）。 28、从前，公主结婚后，端坐上座，公公、婆婆向她下跪叩头，公主并不回礼。现在，李适命礼仪官员制定公主叩见公公、婆婆以及叩见丈夫的伯父、叔父、老哥、姐姐的礼仪。新礼仪规定：公公、婆婆坐在上座，老哥、姐姐站在东厢，由公主向他们下跪叩头，跟民间的普通家庭一样（公主出嫁后，仍以媳妇身份侍奉公婆，自南平公主时开始，参考六三七年三月）。有一位县主（亲王的孙女称县主）已经择定十一月十七日那天结婚，可是到了那天，李适的一位堂妹逝世，李适遂命婚礼停止。有关官员奏称：“所有准备都已完成，而且，未成年人死亡，不应妨碍其他喜庆。”李适说：“你注重钱财，我注重礼仪。”结婚仪式终于停止。 七五六年以来，国家多事，公主、郡主、县主很多不能在适婚年龄出嫁，有的甚至头发已白，虽然也住在皇宫里，有的甚至十年之久，见不到皇帝一面。直到李适，才接见没有结婚的皇女，对长辈致敬，对晚辈慰问，全都把她们嫁出，致送的嫁妆，无论大小，李适都亲自过目。 十一月十九日、二十日两天，岳阳等九十一位县主同时结婚。 29、吐蕃王国看见唐朝使节韦伦再次抵达，越发高兴。 十二月一日，韦伦回国，吐蕃派他们的宰相论钦明思等随同到长安朝贡。 30、本年，李适封太子李诵的娘亲王女士为淑妃（此时唐王朝的小老婆群编制没有“淑妃”）。 31、本年统计，全国纳税人三百零八万五千零七十六户，适龄青年七十六万八千余人，全国税收一千零八十九万八千余串，米谷二百一十五万七千余斛。