Chapter 178 Urgent Report
Li Linfu sighed and went out to greet Li Heng in person.

The two of them first exchanged polite greetings before getting down to business.

Li Heng said, "To be honest with you, Right Prime Minister, I came here to discuss something important."

"Your Highness, please feel free to speak. I will do my best to accomplish it if I can." Li Linfu said with a smile.

Li Heng said, "Right Prime Minister, you know that I borrowed money and grain from the great families in Longyou Road in Helong before. Now that the war has been won, can the court transfer money and grain to repay it?"

"Alas!" Li Linfu sighed heavily, "A man cannot stand without trust. I also want to transfer money and grain to repay the Helong clan, but the border war continues. If the war is won, the rewards for soldiers at all levels and the pensions for the wounded soldiers will also be a large sum of money. This year, several states and counties have suffered disasters and need to allocate funds for relief. The court is now struggling and cannot come up with so much money at once. I'm afraid it will take some time."

Li Heng said: "As far as I know, Pei Gong and Wei Jian have successively reformed the grain transport system. The materials and money from Jianghuai can be directly delivered to Chang'an. The court should have some money left."

Li Linfu got angry when he mentioned Pei Yaoqing and Wei Jian.

Pei Yaoqing and Zhang Jiuling first disagreed with his political views. He finally defeated Zhang Jiuling and suppressed Pei Yaoqing, but then Wei Jian emerged.

Wei Jian's sister was Li Heng's Crown Princess Wei, who was a member of the prince's party and a thorn in Li Linfu's side.

Li Linfu had previously thought about taking action against Wei Jian, but Wei Jian did have some ideas for reforming the canal transport system, and was quite favored by Li Longji.

This forced Li Linfu to plan a more sophisticated plan to target Wei Jian.

Although Li Linfu was making plans in his mind, his expression did not change much.

He was stunned for a moment, then said, "Your Highness has just been appointed as the governor of Helong. You should know that the materials and money from Jianghuai are all used to support the border war. This year, the border has increased its expenditure on grain purchases by 3.6 million pieces, of which 800,000 pieces are for Shuofang and Hexi, and 1 million pieces are for Longyou. The clothing grant is 5.3 million pieces, of which 1.2 million pieces are for Shuofang, 1.5 million pieces are for Longyou, and 1 million pieces are for Hexi. The Helong region has received the most money, and Your Highness knows all this clearly. Where does the court have any extra money now? Of course, if Your Highness insists, I can embezzle it from other places, but after embezzling it, I am afraid there will be no money for disaster relief."

Li Linfu first settled an account with Li Heng, and then put a big hat on Li Heng.

As long as we transfer money to pay Li Heng’s debt, there will be no money for disaster relief. If people starve to death, it will all be Li Heng’s fault.

Having said that, Li Heng no longer had the nerve to continue asking for money.

However, Li Heng knew from the beginning that it was not easy to ask for the money, but he couldn't refuse it.

Because he had to show that he had borrowed the money and that he was very anxious, so as to reassure the court.

So Li Heng sighed and said, "If that's the case, then I'll have to talk to the Helong clan again and ask them to delay the time."

"Your Highness is righteous." Li Linfu flattered.

Li Heng smiled bitterly and said, "I hope the Right Prime Minister will support me in recruiting guards."

Li Linfu said: "Your Highness, just follow the regulations to collect the funds. The Saint has given the order, and I will naturally cooperate with him to the fullest."

Li Heng said, "Thank you very much, Right Prime Minister."

Li Linfu said, "It is my duty, Your Highness, please be polite."

As soon as Li Linfu finished speaking, someone suddenly brought an urgent report, which said that the Arabs had attacked Bukhara and controlled most of the Pamir Mountains.

After reading the urgent report, Li Linfu and Li Heng immediately went into the palace together.

In the palace, Li Longji was having fun with his concubines. Li Heng and Li Linfu waited in the Purple Palace for an hour before Li Longji slowly appeared.

Li Linfu quickly presented the urgent report. Li Longji took a look and said, "It is a common state affair to win over the barbarians and make them pay tribute. It is the duty of the army to maintain a strict frontier and to prepare for war. Although all the parties have come together, we should not neglect their military preparations. When the barbarians pay tribute, we should not take their battlefield lightly. The Arabs have invaded the Western Regions that pay tribute to the Tang Dynasty. I cannot sit idly by and watch. We must fight back."

In the original history, the Arabs were also constantly encroaching on the Western Regions, just like now, but there was no Li Heng at that time, Xiaoboluo was in the hands of Tubo, and Wang Zhongsi in the north was also in the midst of war. Therefore, Li Longji gave all the support except help to the Western Regions for their requests for help.

The general approach is to provide verbal support.

But now, things are very different.

Li Heng first stabilized Xiaobolü, then took Suiye City, and just now he captured Shibao City. Wang Zhongsi in the north also won the battle ahead of time.

The advance of time made Li Longji feel that it was time to challenge the Arabs.

Li Longji paused, looked at Li Heng, and said, "I originally wanted to let you recuperate in Chang'an, but the military situation is urgent, so I have to tire you out. I order you to concurrently serve as the governor of Beiting to resist the Arabs. Are you willing?"

This time, Li Longji appointed Li Heng as the Jiedushi of Beiting without hesitation for three reasons.

First, Li Heng had already served as the governor of three towns, and this time he was only allowed to serve as the governor of two towns, so there was no need for him to do any psychological preparation.

Second, the Arabs are not weak.

Historically, the Battle of Talas took place in the ninth year of Tianbao, which was eight years later. In that battle, the Tang army was defeated.

Moreover, the Arabs were weaker when they fought the Battle of Talas than they are now, and the Tang army's environment was better than it is now.

In the ninth year of Tianbao, Abbas's rebel army had just captured Damascus, the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, announcing the demise of the Umayyad Caliphate. The Black Caliphate officially replaced the White Caliphate.

Therefore, the Arab Empire was in the transition period between the old and new dynasties at that time. Li Longji and Gao Xianzhi wanted to take this opportunity to advance further west into the Western Regions and compete with the Arab Empire, but they were still defeated.

But now, the Arab Empire is still the Umayyad Empire, and its national strength is at its peak.

Although Li Longji did not know about the Battle of Talas, he knew the strength of the Arabs.

Given the strength of the Arab Empire, Anxi alone could not deal with it. It had to join forces with Beiting to have the strength to fight.

The third is Li Heng’s outstanding performance in warfare.

Li Longji was a person who was good at employing people. Once he found someone with strong ability, he would focus on employing that person.

People like Li Heng, who win wherever they go, are the best firefighters on the battlefield.

Li Heng did not hesitate and replied: "If it is beneficial to the country, why should I care about my life? I am willing to fight with the Arabs. If I cannot repel the enemy, I will die for my country."

"Good!" Li Longji was very happy. "You are worthy of being my good son. Go back and pack your things, and then set off for Anxi."

"Yes!" Li Ying knelt down and said earnestly, "I don't know when I can return after leaving. I hope you take care of yourself!"

Li Longji was deeply moved, and quickly helped Li Heng up, saying: "You should take care of yourself, I will wait for your return with a great victory! You presented me with the method of making ice, and I have asked someone to learn it. When you return to Chang'an, I will give you iced wine. By the way, you should go see your mother before you leave."

"Yes, I'll take my leave."

Li Heng bowed deeply to Li Longji again before leaving.

Li Ying followed his instructions and went to see Concubine Wu Huifei first, and then returned to Anxi with Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing.

(End of this chapter)