Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 742 Uneasiness
Liang Chongyi, who stayed in the Poyang Lake water fortress and trained the navy day and night, had a hard time recently because the new deputy governor Yao Lingyan was a piece of shit.

Liang Chongyi said that the lake does not freeze in winter, which is a good time to rest and recuperate before fighting in the spring of next year.

However, Yao Lingyan said that the opportunity was rare and they should take advantage of the recent defeat of the Bianzhou army to quickly capture Xunyang.

Liang Chongyi said that the territory they now occupied had changed from one water fort to two water forts and a county town, and their military forces were dispersed and it was not suitable to make any rash moves.

However, Yao Lingyan said that since they couldn't hold the city anyway, it would be better to attack instead of defend and make the Bianzhou army breathless.

What defense are you thinking about? You're thinking about your mother! Are you qualified to lead troops?
In short, this general parachuted by the court just didn't get along with Liang Chongyi. Yao Lingyan was also a soldier and spoke very aggressively!
At this time, Liang Chongyi missed Yu Qi very much, and he finally figured out something.

The reason why he and Yu Qi get along well is not because he is very capable, but because Yu Qi is much better than him in dealing with people, which makes him feel very "comfortable".

Now that he's been replaced by someone of a similar rank to me, we can't get along at all.

Liang Chongyi had no choice but to write a memorial back to Xiangyang to explain the pros and cons.

In short, the main force of the Bianzhou army is still there, and we must not move lightly. If we lose the battle, the situation in Hongzhou is in danger of being overturned.

Li Lu replied quickly with four very brief words: Do what is convenient for you.

Liang Chongyi breathed a sigh of relief and blocked Yao Lingyan's mouth with the imperial edict. The navy hasn't been trained yet, what's the point of fighting!

It has to be said that Li Lu's political tactics were successful.

Because the Jingxiang Army in Hongzhou was Lu Jiong's subordinate, Lu Jiong had an extraordinary position in this army.

If Lu Jiong is the main general, then no matter whether it is Liang Chongyi or Yao Lingyan, no matter how much trouble they make, they will not be able to shake Lu Jiong's authority.

But now, Liang Chongyi was parachuted in, and so was Yao Lingyan. In this army, Liang Chongyi's prestige was slightly higher because he had won a victory before, but he did not have an overwhelming advantage.

So if we look at it from the perspective of political intrigue, the biggest winner in this dispute is the emperor Li Lu. When Liang Chongyi and Yao Lingyan argued, they both needed Li Lu to be the "referee".

Whoever Li Lu's imperial edict favors can carry out his order.

This is roughly equivalent to the emperor controlling the army.

Of course, there is a prerequisite, that is, you can win. If you can't win, then all the political operations will be reset to zero, and it will be useless no matter how much you play.

After a quiet winter, when spring came and flowers bloomed, Yao Lingyan became restless again. He bypassed Liang Chongyi and complained to Li Yu. In the memorial, Yao Lingyan said that Liang Chongyi was afraid of the enemy and avoided fighting, had ulterior motives, and had not taken any action throughout the winter.

The only county that was captured, Duchang, was voluntarily given up by the Bianzhou army.

In short, Yao Lingyan implied that Liang Chongyi might be colluding with the Bianzhou army, which was why he was unwilling to fight.

This memorial touched Li Lu's sensitive nerves. He did not know how to lead troops and naturally distrusted anyone who could.

The greatest sin of an emperor is that he cannot lead his troops to fight.

Because he doesn't know how to lead troops, he needs to rely on military generals who can lead troops to serve as marshals.

Because of the reliance on military generals, the military power inevitably fell into the hands of others, so eunuchs or civil officials of the court had to be employed to restrain the military generals.

Because of the reliance on eunuchs and civil servants, the administrative and personnel powers were also eroded by these people and had to be ceded to the other side in exchange for their obedience.

After all this, the emperor who was not a puppet would become a puppet.

Li Yu received Yao Lingyan's memorial and chose to "keep it in the palace" but issued an imperial edict to the Poyang Lake navy in Hongzhou:
Go north to the mouth of Ganjiang River and lift the blockade of Ganjiang River estuary by the Bianzhou army.

The Ganjiang River estuary is the main channel and the only waterway for merchants and travelers to enter Yuzhang, and its strategic position is extremely important. As long as it is blocked by the Bianzhou army, Yuzhang's economy will not be able to operate normally.

After receiving the imperial edict, Liang Chongyi was furious! Even if he was a fool, he knew that Yao Lingyan was behind it! A vicious plan came to his mind, and Liang Chongyi decided to borrow Li Guangbi's knife to kill Yao Lingyan, the disobedient deputy general.

……

"Mr. Xiao, come, come, sit here."

In the study of the Bianzhou government office, Fang Chongyong saw Xiao Yingshi looking at him anxiously, so he gently made a gesture to invite him to sit opposite him.

After the other party sat down, Fang Zhongyong dismissed the outsiders, and he and Xiao Yingshi were the only two people left in the study.

"I wonder what important matter has the emperor summoned me so urgently?"

Xiao Yingshi suppressed his inner uneasiness and asked calmly, looking as if he was confused and ignorant.

"Mr. Xiao is a man of great talent, but it is a waste of his talent to be a minor official in the Ministry of Rites. I have always kept it in mind, but I just don't have the opportunity.

Now I intend to reform the structure of the court and establish a new department called the Ministry of Education.

As the name implies, it teaches and educates people, is responsible for managing the Imperial College and local government academies, and is responsible for the imperial examinations. This official intends to separate these, including the imperial examinations, from the Ministry of Rites and make them an independent government office, no longer subject to the constraints of the Ministry of Rites.

Mr. Xiao is a man of great literary talent and is well-known throughout the world. Are you interested in serving as a minister in the Ministry of Education?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a smile.

It turned out to be this matter!

Xiao Yingshi was surprised and immediately felt ashamed. He thought his "custom-made pornographic book" was exposed, but he didn't expect that he would be given an official title.

He was quite tempted, but he also understood Fang Qing's intention!

Xiao Yingshi hesitated for a moment.

It is not difficult to guess the main purpose of Fang Qing doing this, which is to spend a fortune to buy bones and set an example.

Xiao Yingshi was notoriously stubborn and would rather take the imperial examination than recommend himself for an official position in Bianzhou.

Why? It’s because of the bad temper of the intellectuals who think they are noble.

If he really didn't want to be an official, he could just go and live in the mountains of Yazhou. I guarantee that no one from the court would be able to find him, let alone take revenge on him.

"Sir, I am not very knowledgeable and I am afraid that I am not qualified for the job."

After a fierce ideological struggle, Xiao Yingshi said with some embarrassment.

He wanted to be an official, and he read so many books, not just to write articles for his own pleasure. The Xiao family was originally a family of officials, and all the family members were officials. If they were not officials, they would be idle at home, and they would not engage in other professions, including business.

Xiao Yingshi is now in a state of desolation. He has used up all his strength to reject Fang Chongyong just now, and he may regret it as soon as he walks out of the study.

"Mr. Xiao, please don't refuse. This is not for someone of ours, but for the people. Is it in vain that there is no discrimination in education? Mr. Xiao has also been a teacher for the past two years. Perhaps he has gained something?"

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, signaling Xiao Yingshi not to refuse.

"Then... I will take over the position temporarily for a while. If the emperor finds a more suitable candidate, I am willing to step down and let him take over."

Xiao Yingshi saluted Fang Zhongyong with his arms folded, feeling mixed emotions for a moment.

Although his heart was still towards the orthodox Li Tang dynasty, his body was already very honest and was serving the "new court".

"Well, that's good. Then I can rest assured."

Fang Zhongyong nodded slightly, not seeming to blame anyone.

Xiao Yingshi felt doubtful.

I heard that some time ago, all the major bookstores in Bianzhou were closed down and many "banned books" were found. Zhang Guangsheng led a group of personal guards to search everywhere and arrested many people and sent them to Shanyuan Villa for labor reform.

Of course, the sentence was not severe, just one year in prison.

That’s why Xiao Yingshi felt strange. Could it be that his book hasn’t been found yet?

Seeing that Xiao Yingshi was still unwilling to leave, Fang Zhongyong looked strange and asked curiously, "Does Mr. Xiao have anything else to say?"

"Uh, nothing, nothing, I'll take my leave."

Xiao Yingshi hurriedly saluted Fang Zhongyong with his arms crossed. He always felt a little awkward but couldn't quite put it into words.

However, just as Xiao Yingshi was about to push the door and leave, Fang Chongyong shouted at his back: "Mr. Xiao, please stay. You forgot something here with me." Forgot something?

Xiao Yingshi subconsciously touched his cuffs and found that everything in his sleeve pockets was there, so he stepped forward and bowed respectfully, asking, "Your Majesty, I did not leave anything here."

"How can there not be? This is it."

Fang Chongyong took out a thread-bound book from the drawer of the desk and handed it to Xiao Yingshi. It was the book "Hunting Beauties in the Western Regions"!
When Xiao Yingshi saw the book, he was so frightened that he almost knelt down on the spot! He took the book in his hands tremblingly, lowered his head, and was so ashamed and angry that he didn't know what to say.

“Mr. Xiao’s writing is very good, and the story is also good, but please don’t write about me next time.

The daughter of the medical officer in your book is the illegitimate daughter of Prince Xin'an. Several people in their family serve as officials in Bianzhou. If they knew that you had made up such a story about their family, you would be in trouble. "

Fang Zhongyong spoke slowly with a smile on his face, but this smile seemed to have some profound meaning no matter how you looked at it.

"This subordinate is guilty of death! Death penalty!"

Xiao Yingshi was so frightened that he immediately knelt down with his forehead touching the ground, not daring to look up at Fang Zhongyong. The book in his hand also fell to the ground.

"Mr. Xiao, there is no need to do this."

Fang Chongyong helped Xiao Yingshi up and stuffed the pornographic book that had fallen to the ground back into his arms.

"Confucian scholars always say that punishing without teaching is cruelty. Now I have taught you a lesson. So, this will not happen again."

He patted Xiao Yingshi on the shoulder and walked him out of the study.

After walking out of the government office, Xiao Yingshi came to his senses and felt as if he had been to the gates of hell.

"The Tang Dynasty is over."

Xiao Yingshi couldn't help but sigh and talked to himself.

With powerful ministers like Fang Qing around, the Tang Dynasty has no hope of reversing the current situation unless Emperor Taizong comes back to life.

Sadly, people like Xiao Yingshi still have to live. Even if they are still immersed in the glory of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, they have to face reality.

That harsh and unforgiving reality.

The "Ministry of Education" that is about to be established is obviously the product of the former Yizhiqinglisi within the Ministry of Rites, which was repackaged after its functions were strengthened.

The Ministry of Rites originally had four departments under it, namely: the Department of Ceremonies and Rites, the Department of Ancestral Sacrifices, the Department of Hosts and Guests, and the Department of Fine Food.

The Yizhi Qinglisi was the agency that managed the nation's school affairs, the imperial examinations, and exchanges between vassal states and foreign countries.

Fang Qing's plan was far-reaching and steadily advancing, dismantling the official structure of the Tang Dynasty. Once the framework was completely dismantled, ascending the throne would be a matter of words.

This kind of slow and steady operation is the most deadly. The authority of the Tang Dynasty is fading every day. Some time ago, the Yongwang lineage gave up the imperial power and transferred it to the Shengwang lineage. If it were in the past, it would definitely cause a big uproar in the city.

However, in Bianzhou, it was treated as a piece of cake, and no one discussed it at all. Everyone just did what they were supposed to do!
Since the Ministry of Rites was a powerful department established to maintain imperial power, and became "virtualized" because the emperor was a puppet emperor, splitting up and reorganizing the powerful departments and then completely hollowing out the Ministry of Rites would be an alternative way to resolve the contradiction.

After all, it seemed a bit inappropriate to let people from the Ministry of Rites sing praises for Fang Qing himself.

By setting up a separate Ministry of Education, Fang Qing wanted to cultivate fresh blood that was completely loyal to him and not give any chance to the Li clan members.

As for Xiao Yingshi being the first "Minister of Education", it is not known whether Fang Qing had already thought of this or it was just a stopgap measure.

After figuring out all these points, Xiao Yingshi had the complex feeling of a slutty woman after having an affair, feeling ashamed but also refreshed all over.

The one who betrayed was Li Tang, and the one who benefited was himself. On one side was his ideal, and on the other was reality. Should he return to the Bianzhou government office and resign?
After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Yingshi immediately thought of his descendants, and his heart hardened.

That's right, the Xiao family will all live under the rule of the Bianzhou court in the future. He is not an "invincible person" without a father, a mother, or any relatives.

He has parents, brothers, wife, children, and even grandchildren, a family of dozens of people.

Not to mention that Xiao Yingshi might offend someone in the future, he has already offended Yuan Zai now, and it is hard to say that the latter will not make things difficult for him or his descendants.

In this era of turmoil and peace, being targeted and harassed by high-ranking officials often means death.

After becoming the Minister of Education, whether it was Yuan Zai or anyone else, even if they were not afraid of Xiao Yingshi, they had to consider Fang Qing's face.

The Minister of Education appointed by Fang Qing cannot just go and give someone a kick in the ass.

That's not kicking Xiao Yingshi's ass, that's slapping Fang Guanjia's face!
However, while enjoying the benefits, he would certainly be labeled as "Fang Qing's confidant" by outsiders, a label that could never be removed.

Xiao Yingshi thought about it and decided to sell his soul.

Yes, if he didn't become a high-ranking official, he would have gone down with the broken ship of the Li Tang Dynasty and would have been buried with his descendants.

I think Fang Qing will also expose the author of the pornographic book, making himself infamous and ruined.

What's the point?

Xiao Yingshi smiled bitterly and shook his head. He returned home and sat down. After thinking it over, he felt that he had betrayed the past inside and out, and it seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Alang, someone from the government just came and brought the official robe. Congratulations, Alang, on becoming a high-ranking official!"

The servant, with a happy look on his face, placed a wooden box on the table in the bedroom.

When Xiao Yingshi opened it, he saw a purple robe that could only be worn by a third-rank official of the imperial court. There was also a goldfish bag and a wooden plaque with identity information and official title written on it.

At the bottom is an official document from the imperial court, which is also the appointment letter of Xiao Yingshi as the Minister of Education.

When Fang Qing does something, he just goes for it when he has a combo, not giving Xiao Yingshi any chance to refuse.

Things have come to this point. If Xiao Yingshi resigns again, it would be an ungrateful slap in the face.

Even if Fang Qing doesn't deal with him in the future, Fang Qing's minions will never let him go.

"Go to Bozhou and have your family move to Bianzhou. Bianzhou is prosperous and convenient for the imperial examinations."

Xiao Yingshi waved his hand listlessly and said.

"Ah Lang, this is a purple robe! Ah Lang is going to be the prime minister, why are you worried?"

The servant asked in confusion, not understanding what kind of pretense Xiao Yingshi was pretending to be.

“Once you’re on this pirate ship, it’s hard to get off, you can only go down this path until the end.

If Fang Qing cannot ascend the throne and become emperor in the future, my Xiao family will surely perish without a burial place."

Xiao Yingshi sighed and did not hesitate to mention it in front of the servants.

Precisely because he is a smart man, he understands how difficult and dangerous this road is.

Suddenly, Xiao Yingshi remembered the pornographic and violent plot in his book.

He had a strange illusion that the character Fang Qing in the book used similar tactics when dealing with women: the same calmness, the same coercion and inducement, and taking advantage of every opportunity.

"The government is really... Alas!"

Xiao Yingshi shook his head and smiled bitterly, knowing that he had been fooled by the other party without making a sound, but he couldn't hate him at all.

He casually opened the book he had written, and saw that someone had written "comments" on it with a red pen.

"When capturing a female doctor, Fang Qing doesn't have to use force. He can just spend money to buy her. After raising her for a few years, she will become a beauty beyond compare."

"There is little water in the Western Regions. People can be frozen into icicles at night. Why don't you try lying on the sand for half an hour?"

"It is despicable to lay hands on a subordinate's wife."

……

Seeing these familiar words, Xiao Yingshi realized that it was Fang Chongyong's personal approval, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

(End of this chapter)