Chapter 27 Feng Changqing: I am ugly, but I work very hard

It is said that Feng Changqing is a very ugly person. According to the "Old Tang Book·Feng Changqing Biography", it is "thin and thin eyes, short and lame feet", which means thin, short, squinting, and lame.In addition to looking quite sorry to the audience, Feng Changqing's life is also quite bad.He seems to have been an orphan since he was a child, with only his grandfather as his relative.When he was young, his grandfather committed a crime and was exiled to Anxi as a gatekeeper, so Feng Changqing followed his grandfather to Anxi. It is obviously not easy for an old man exiled to the frontier to support himself and raise a child, so it is impossible to talk about giving Feng Changqing a good education.Fortunately, Feng Changqing's grandfather was a well-educated and sensible person. He knew that no matter how hard it is, children should not suffer, and no matter how poor they are, education should not be poor.Although there is no money for Feng Changqing to study, he can teach by himself.So in those years, no matter in spring, summer, autumn or winter, people who passed by Anxi South Gate every day could hear an old man on the gate upstairs teaching a child to read.The child's voice was unusually clear and loud.Going far away, people seem to still be able to hear it.

After Feng Changqing grew up, his grandfather passed away, and Feng Changqing was alone ever since.He is ugly, poor, and has no social connections, making him the most inconspicuous of all living beings.Until he was in his thirties, Feng Changqing was still a low-level person in society, and no one could see what he would do in the future. At that time, the Jiedu Envoy of Anxi was Fumeng Lingji, and Gao Xianzhi served as the deputy Jiedu Envoy and the military and horse envoy under his command.We all know that Gao Xianzhi is a handsome man, and he attaches great importance to his appearance, so every time he goes on a tour, he is always accompanied by dozens of entourages in fresh clothes and angry horses.Whenever the majestic Gao Xianzhi led his entourage and cavalry roaring past Anxi market, let alone how cool it was.Feng Changqing met several times on the road, and he was so envious in his heart, so he secretly vowed that he must become a member of this group of people!

But, what is Feng Changqing supposed to do? If you want background but no background, qualifications but no qualifications, money but no money, and you are thin and short, your legs are not the same length, and even your eyes are slanted, such a person wants to be Gao Xianzhi's follower, isn't it just a dream? ? However, none of this could stop Feng Changqing. Because Feng Changqing has a life creed - as long as you put in more effort than others, you can achieve dreams that others cannot achieve. It was with this belief that the short and ugly Feng Changqing came to Gao Xianzhi's residence, and calmly handed over his certificate.Gao Xianzhi only took one look at him, and a feeling of disgust was born spontaneously—how can a person grow up like this?

"Let's go, my entourage is full." Gao Xianzhi said expressionlessly. Feng Changqing turned around and left without saying a word. It wasn't because he quit in anger, but because he had already guessed Gao Xianzhi's reaction.Therefore, Feng Changqing didn't feel that his self-esteem was hurt at all.The next day, Feng Changqing came again and handed over the certificate as usual, as if what happened yesterday never happened. Gao Xianzhi became angry: "Didn't I tell you that my entourage is already full, why are you still here?" This time, Feng Changqing was also on fire.He poked his neck and said to Gao Xianzhi: "I admire your integrity, and I am willing to follow you, so I volunteered to join you when no one recommended you. Why do you reject people thousands of miles away? If you judge people by their talents, then The scholars are convinced; if you judge people by their appearance, I'm afraid you will only lose people's hearts!"

Gao Xianzhi became furious, and immediately waved off the guests. I have seen thick-skinned ones, but I have never seen such thick-skinned ones! There is no doubt that Feng Changqing's efforts have failed. Gao Xianzhi was a man with eyes above his head and coquettish, how could he take in such an ugly, poor and shameless person? If it is an ordinary person, by this time it is time to quit.People want face and tree want skin, and going to surrender will never end well except for being humiliated. However, Feng Changqing is not an ordinary person.He is a person who looks forward to his goal and never gives up until he reaches his goal.

On the third day, Feng Changqing came again.On the fourth day, the fifth day, the sixth day... For dozens of days in a row, Feng Changqing came to stand guard in front of Gao Xianzhi's mansion.They came before dawn in the morning and didn't go back until nightfall.Every day, rain or shine. Gao Xianzhi was puzzled. How can there be such persistent people in this world?If this guy hadn't been kicked in the head by a donkey, there must be something different from ordinary people. The more Gao Xianzhi thought about it, the more incredible he felt.Then one day, when Gao Xianzhi rode his horse back home, he suddenly got off his horse, walked quickly to Feng Changqing who was standing like a wooden stake, stared at him for a long time, and then said four words:

I accept you. Feng Changqing succeeded. With his almost shameless persistence, he finally knocked on the door of Gao Xianzhi's closed heart. This is called sincerity, gold and stone are open! The story of Feng Changqing tells us that sometimes one should not be too shameless. If you want to achieve a career and become a master, you can't cherish your feathers too much.In this world, face is a luxury, which is only suitable for those with status, not for the poor.Of course, you can stick to the principle that people are poor and ambitious in your heart, but you don't have to keep this principle on your face all the time.It can even be said that for a poor man who has nothing, shame is the only capital he can rely on.

Today, if you have nothing, please don't cherish your feathers too much.If necessary, you can tear off your face and throw it on the ground for people to step on.As long as you remember Feng Changqing's story, you may earn back all the lost face in the future.Han Xin also got into other people's crotch, and Zhang Liang picked up other people's shoes, so what's the point of losing face? In short, one should not be black-hearted, but one might as well be thick-skinned. Since becoming Gao Xianzhi's follower, Feng Changqing's life has been completely different. He has a salary, an identity, a status, the prestige of swaggering through the market in fresh clothes and angry horses, and the sense of accomplishment of changing the guns after all the hardships.

However, Feng Changqing was by no means satisfied with this.What he wants is something no one else can even imagine. Feng Changqing dreams that one day, like Gao Xianzhi and Fumeng Linghe, he can become a famous general galloping on the battlefield, and become a feudal official in charge of one side. The science of success tells us: as big a person's heart is, his stage is as big. Of course, the premise is that he must be talented and work hard enough.And Feng Changqing happened to have both.If people still remember the child who studied hard for more than ten years on the South Gate Tower, it is not difficult to believe this.

After working under Gao Xianzhi's command for several years as a follower and aide, Feng Changqing finally got an opportunity.It was the last year of Kaiyuan, when the Daxi tribe in the Western Regions launched a rebellion, Xuanzong ordered Fumeng Lingji to attack, and Fumeng Lingji handed over the task to Gao Xianzhi.Immediately Gao Xianzhi led two thousand cavalry in deep pursuit and wiped out Daxi's rebels in Lingling area.After returning to the camp, Gao Xianzhi was about to write a good report to Fu Meng Lingji, when Feng Changqing suddenly handed him a document. Gao Xianzhi opened it and was surprised.

It turned out that this was a detailed report of Gao Xianzhi's pacification of Daxi. It described in detail how Gao Xianzhi encountered the enemy near Shejing Spring, and the strategy Gao Xianzhi adopted to defeat the enemy. The writing was clear and logical, and there was nothing Gao Xianzhi wanted to say. It was written down by omission, and it was detailed and well written. Gao Xianzhi never expected that this ugly Feng Changqing could write such a beautiful article. It seems that the ancients often said that people should not be judged by their appearance, which is indeed justified. After Gao Xianzhi returned to Anxi, Fumeng Lingsha hosted a banquet to reward him.As soon as they saw Gao Xianzhi, two of Fumeng Lingji's staff hurriedly asked him: "Who wrote that good report? How could there be such a talented person under the deputy ambassador's curtain?" Gao Xianzhi smiled very proudly, and immediately summoned Feng Changqing.The two staff members hurriedly had a long talk with Feng Changqing, and after chatting, they both felt like they hated seeing each other later.From then on, Feng Changqing became famous in the Anxi Army, and Gao Xianzhi also looked at him with admiration, and became more and more respectful of him. In the next few years, Feng Changqing rose steadily, from a little-known follower to a senior general of the Anxi Protectorate, and became Gao Xianzhi's most trusted confidant.In the sixth year of Tianbao, Feng Changqing followed Gao Xianzhi to pacify Xiao Bolu.In December of the same year, Gao Xianzhi replaced Fumeng Lingji as Anxi Jiedu Envoy, and Feng Changqing was also promoted again, "as a Jiedu judge, and given a purple gold fish bag", and soon after, he was awarded "Chaosan Doctor", "Professional knowledge of warehouses, farmland, Jiazhan, Zhidu, and camping in the four towns". ("Old Tang Book·Feng Changqing Biography") Every time Gao Xianzhi went to war, he always asked Feng Changqing to be the posthumous officer (acting Jiedushi), which was equivalent to handing over all the military and political power of the four Anxi towns to him.At this time, Feng Changqing had obviously become the actual second in command of Anxi Tang Army. Due to his humble background, Feng Changqing has always maintained his true nature of diligence and thrift. No matter how much public funds and properties pass through his hands, he will never embezzle a single cent.On this point, Feng Changqing is in stark contrast to the greedy Gao Xianzhi.In addition, Feng Changqing ruled the army strictly, with clear rewards and punishments.There were two generals in the army who violated the military law, and Feng Changqing immediately beheaded them mercilessly, which shocked the entire army.No matter who it is, as long as he dares to belittle or challenge Feng Changqing's authority, catastrophe will happen immediately. Gao Xianzhi's nurse had a son named Zheng Dequan, who served as a general in the army. He was as close to Gao Xianzhi as brothers, and he was usually very prestigious in the army.Since Feng Changqing came from Gao Xianzhi's entourage, Zheng Dequan looked down on him from the bottom of his heart, always looking for opportunities to embarrass him.Once, Feng Changqing brought a group of generals back to Jiedu's mansion from outside, and all the generals followed behind obediently. Seeing this, Zheng Dequan deliberately patted his horse and chased after him, walking swaggeringly in front of Feng Changqing, After I had enough of my addiction, I walked away like no one else was there. Feng Changqing's complexion suddenly changed. After returning to the mansion, Feng Changqing immediately summoned Zheng Dequan and said to him: "I come from a humble background, you know that very well. But since Mr. Zhongcheng (Gao Xianzhi's central official position is Yushi Zhongcheng) let me sit in the back seat You can’t humiliate me in public. You must die once today to clean up military discipline!” After speaking, he immediately ordered Zheng Dequan to be dragged down and beaten with sixty army sticks. At that time, there was only a wall between Jiedushi's mansion and Gao Xianzhi's home. Gao Xianzhi's wet nurse and wife rushed to rescue him when they heard the news, but found the door was closed, so they had to beat and cry desperately outside. Feng Changqing remained unmoved, and did not let the half-dead Zheng Dequan be dragged out until the sixty army sticks were beaten. Gao Xianzhi's nurse and wife immediately wrote a letter to complain to Gao Xianzhi, who was away on the expedition. Gao Xianzhi was shocked when he saw the letter, and quickly asked the sender: "Did you kill him?" A few days later, Gao Xianzhi returned to Anxi, but he didn't mention Zheng Dequan's matter at all.And Feng Changqing remained calm and did not apologize to Gao Xianzhi at all.In fact, Gao Xianzhi also knew that it was Zheng Dequan who violated military discipline first, and Feng Changqing was not at fault for enforcing the military law, so Zheng Dequan could only suffer from being dumb.After this incident, all the officers and men in the army were in awe of Feng Changqing. In the tenth year of Tianbao, Gao Xianzhi was transferred to Hexi Jiedushi, and Anxi Jiedushi was replaced by Wang Zhengjian.The following year, Wang Zhengjian died of illness, and Feng Changqing was promoted to be the deputy governor of Anxi. ("Old Tang Book·Feng Changqing Biography") In December of the eleventh year of Tianbao (AD 752), Feng Changqing was officially appointed as the envoy of the Four Towns of Anxi. At this point, Feng Changqing finally realized his dream and became the great official of the empire as he wished. At this time, it had been more than a year since the defeat of Talas. During this period, the Tang army in Anxi had replenished its vitality and fully recovered its previous strength.Therefore, a mission naturally fell on Feng Changqing's shoulders, that is-to get out of the shadow of Talas' defeat and regain the hegemony of Datang in Central Asia from the Arabs and Tibetans. Feng Changqing set his sights on the Dabolu Kingdom in Central Asia. Dabolu is adjacent to Xiaobolu, and it belonged to Tubo very early.Back then, Gao Xianzhi was powerful in Central Asia by conquering Little Bolu, and now Feng Changqing naturally wants to revive Datang's prestige in Central Asia by conquering Da Bolu. In the twelfth year of Tianbao (753 A.D.), Feng Changqing and Duan Xiushi and others led their troops from Anxi and embarked on the long journey that Gao Xianzhi had gone through. Bodhisattva Law City (now southeast of Gilgit City, Kashmir) was an important border town of the law. After Feng Changqing let the army rest for a while, he successfully conquered Bodhisattva Lao City.After that, the Tang army was in full swing, and the striker continued to send back good news.Feng Changqing then led the main force to advance deep into Dabolu. At this time, Duan Xiushi, who was the scout Guo Yi (Chief of Military Intelligence), noticed a strange phenomenon: almost all the soldiers who fought against Tang Jun were old and weak soldiers, and they would be defeated at the first touch, and they fled to the deep mountains and dense forests on both sides of the road.Although the fighting power of Dabolu's army is far inferior to that of Tang's army, it's not like there isn't even a strong soldier, right? Duan Xiushi felt that there was a ghost here, so he said to Feng Changqing: "It is estimated that the enemy lured me with weak soldiers, and then ambushed elites in the forests on both sides. Please order the commander to search the left and right forests." Feng Changqing also felt that the road was too smooth, and something was really wrong, so he dispatched scout cavalry to search the dense forest on both sides of the road, and found a large number of elite enemy troops ambushing in the jungle. Feng Changqing immediately ordered the attack.The Dabolu soldiers who had been lying in the jungle for several days not only did not get any benefits, but were caught off guard by the Tang army and were quickly wiped out. King Da Bolu saw that his wishful thinking had completely come to naught, and his elites were exhausted, so he had no choice but to surrender to Feng Changqing, and turned to the Tang Dynasty, acknowledging the status of the Tang suzerain. This was another major victory of the Tang Dynasty in Central Asia after Gao Xianzhi conquered Xiaobolu.Especially after experiencing the defeat of Talas, the significance of Feng Changqing's expedition is even more extraordinary.It not only re-established the hegemony of the Tang Dynasty in Central Asia, but also declared to the world with decisive actions that the powerful Tang Dynasty would never be slumped because of the failure of a battle, let alone interrupt the process of strong expansion. However, no one would have expected that such an announcement would become a extinction event. Because just two years later, the Anshi Rebellion broke out. At the moment when the prosperity collapsed, the Tang Empire's history of external expansion that lasted for more than a hundred years also came to an abrupt end.What is even more unexpected is that Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing, who grew up to be a generation of famous generals through foreign wars, not only ruined their fame for a lifetime in this civil strife, but also died in vain under the beheading order of Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty ...