Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 785 It’s not impossible

Du Fu only needed to take Fang Zhongyong's handwritten letter back to Chengdu and hand it over to Yan Wu, and he would have completed his mission perfectly.

But in reality, an official who controls the court in Bianzhou has a lot to consider.

Today, the "Capital Economic Circle" is under construction. Five satellite cities that control the surrounding canals are being developed around the city of Bianliang, with large-scale construction going on day and night.

Social demand is so strong that there is a shortage of people everywhere.

Brick and tile makers need people, carriage and boat companies need people, porters and porters need people.

The weaving workshops need people! The military workshops also need people, and the farm work still needs people!

Now the imperial court has to use foreign troops, and it also needs to recruit young and strong people and recruit elite troops from the united troops.

Not only does the Bianzhou court have to send troops against Hexi, but Lingnan is in chaos. Should it send troops?
This problem was placed on Fang Chongyong's desk.

The day after Du Fu left, Fang Chongyong summoned Yan Zhuang, Li Quan, Liu Yan, Zhang Tongru and others to the government office to discuss the issue of sending troops. It would have been fine if they hadn't discussed it, but once they did, they found a big problem.

The economy of many places was not as developed as that of Bianzhou and surrounding counties, and the central government often had to allocate materials for relief. The Bianzhou court was already a central government, and although its authority was not as strong as that of the Tang Dynasty during the Kaiyuan period, it was no longer a makeshift team.

As the number of officials increased, fiscal expenditures also increased. In the past two years, we have been constantly inspecting land, checking household registration, relocating clients, and coordinating the relationship between local owners and refugee clients, which has cost a lot of money.

Not to mention the money the imperial court spent on opening workshops in Bianzhou and vigorously developing cotton spinning.

It is definitely wrong to say that the imperial court had no money. Over the years, it has been developing Bianzhou, working hard to govern the country, and using the canal to develop the economy. It is very right. It is impossible that there would be no significant results.

The problem is that they earn a lot but spend a lot, and they can barely break even. This balance was achieved only after they confiscated the property of many wealthy families and temples.

Because of this, Liu Yan's hairline has risen a lot and he is already heading towards baldness.

"Your Majesty, the country has a lot of work to do now, especially the development of Jiangnan, which requires continuous investment. Your Majesty previously said that development should be centered around Taihu Lake, and initial results have been achieved in the past two years.

It is really not suitable to open up a battlefield again.

Without further ado, in five years, even if the emperor wants to invade the Arab world, I will have a way.”

Liu Yan saluted Fang Zhongyong with his arms crossed and said.

For Liu Yan, Brother Ji was his benefactor. When he was only seven or eight years old, Brother Ji took him into the palace and invited famous teachers to train him.

Liu Yan should be a staunch royalist.

The reason why such a person was willing to work for Fang Chongyong was because he saw that this official Fang was willing to do practical things. If the person in front of him was not Fang Chongyong, Liu Yan would not have said anything like what he said just now.

"Your Majesty, what Minister Liu said is indeed true. This year is not suitable for fighting on two fronts. Last year, when we sent troops to Guanzhong, many local granaries still have stored grain. Once the army arrives in the fall of this year, they can be used directly.

If we send troops to Lingnan, we will have to rebuild the food supply route. Without two or three years of preparation, it will be difficult to make any progress in Lingnan.

The waste involved is too numerous to count, alas."

Yan Zhuang also echoed Liu Yan.

Fang Zhongyong looked around at everyone, and everyone nodded silently, seeming to agree.

The mentality of these staff members has also changed.

When starting a business, no matter how radical the idea is, as long as it works, you can just implement it without spending any money, regardless of how severe the subsequent backlash may be.

Because starting a business is about racing against time, and conquering the world is about forging ahead. As for the future, let's just live through today first!
Now, the Bianzhou court controls at least 50% of the world, if not 80% of it. At this time, they don't want to make any radical strategies. It seems that there is no problem with stable development and following the routine.

The situation is very good and there are no strong competitors in the Tang Dynasty.

Next, Fang Chongyong only needs to slowly develop his own power, gradually control the court and the outside world, and gradually take control of the local administrative power. Then, the next step will be to welcome the glorious moment of changing dynasties!

Everyone just sits and waits, goes to work and goes home as usual every day, and then you can open a separate page for your family tree.

Why bother?
How can we ensure that what we are doing is not in vain?

Different mindsets will lead to different ideas. Now Fang Chongyong's staff are very keen on stability.

For example, now even Yan Zhuang, who has always acted radically, does not approve of Fang Chongyong sending troops to Lingnan.

"What about you?"

Fang Chongyong looked at Li Quan, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council. Li Quan was a professional in planning wars and his opinion was very important.

"Sir, if we send troops to Hexi, it will be a continuation of the last war. Some troops of the Imperial Army are now stationed in Guanzhong. Compared with sending troops to Lingnan, the cost will be much lower."

Li Quan said with some embarrassment.

He knew that Fang Chongyong wanted to send troops to Lingnan, but the current situation was not really appropriate.

"The court is in a difficult situation right now, and I know that."

Fang Zhongyong sighed, and he looked around at everyone, seeming to compromise. After thinking for a long time, he said, "Everyone, go back and think about the specific strategy. This is a serious matter, and we can't make a decision lightly."

After saying that, everyone stood up, bowed, and left, leaving Fang Chongyong alone in the government office study, staring at the sparsely marked area of ​​Lingnan on the map on the wall, in silence.

It seems as if his eyes are fixed on it.

"People's hearts are fickle. After the Tibetans were driven out of Guanzhong last time, no one thought there would be any obstacles.

"Born in sorrow and die in comfort" is nothing more than this.

Fang Zhongyong sighed, somewhat disappointed but helpless. After all, a person's power is limited. No matter what he does, he needs the full support of his staff and subordinates.

If those people want to support him, they must rely on an effective administrative system, the cohesion of military and civilian morale, and a large amount of money and food.

When the state machine is tired, it must stop and rest.

The current use of civilian manpower has reached its limit, and it is really not suitable to start front-line combat again.

However, the Lingnan region has been difficult to occupy since ancient times, let alone digest the territory. It is precisely because the Han people have been moving southward to open up wasteland for hundreds of years that the current situation has come into being.

Lingnan is in chaos now, and the Nanzhao army has begun to loot here. How can we tolerate this?

When the situation in Lingnan just started to deteriorate, it could still be saved. But once Shaoguan was lost and the risks spread, it was unclear what would happen.

Everything will be ready for you, go back in five or ten years... It will take at least several decades to restore the previous level of rule!

Lingnan is the place with the most development potential in China in the next thousand years! Now even one percent of it has not been developed, how can we let it go to waste?
Feeling depressed, Fang Chongyong returned home. Fang Laique had just gone out with a group of people to the Bian River for an outing, leaving Wang Yunxiu alone in the hall, doing the accounts with an abacus.

Seeing Fang Zhongyong's bad face, she came over and asked in confusion, "Ah Lang, is there something wrong? It shouldn't be like this."

This really shouldn't have happened. We were just one step away from a change of dynasty. If it were someone else, they would have been grinning from ear to ear.

“The imperial court cannot ignore the chaos in Lingnan, but the people are exhausted and the treasury is empty, so it is impossible to continue.

I am just worrying about how to deal with it, and I have nothing else to worry about.”

Fang Zhongyong sat down, waved his hand gently and sighed.

"I feel like the country is almost on Alang's back."

Wang Yunxiu smiled bitterly and didn't know how to comfort Fang Chongyong.

Look at the life of the emperors of the Tang Dynasty. I won’t talk about Emperor Taizong. For example, Brother Ji could sleep with any woman he wanted and go wherever he wanted to play!
As if the things in the palace were not enough to entertain them, they sent Lei Haiqing as a "flower and bird envoy" to search for women among the people.

As a result, Fang Zhongyong worked day and night for state affairs. Yes, the effect was indeed significant. The court in Bianzhou was thriving and had the potential to unify the country.

But what is the point of working so hard on state affairs?

If being an emperor doesn't make you happy, then what's the point of being one?

Wang Yunxiu just felt that what Fang Zhongyong was doing now was not worth it.

Of course, if Fang Zhongyong had given up, their family's graves would now be covered with grass, which was the helplessness of the world. Even if they wanted to lie down, there was nowhere to lie down.

"Ah Lang, men need to rest from time to time. Madam Xue has been living in the mansion for a few months. How about we have our wedding night tonight? I think Madam Xue is very pretty!"

Wang Yunxiu showed an ambiguous look on her face and stretched out her hand and made a dough-kneading gesture.

"Madam Xue, what Madam Xue?"

Fang Zhongyong asked back with a confused look on his face.

"It's the one you gave to Che Guangqian, and he sent it back to you. It has been living in the mansion for a long time!"

Wang Yunxiu reminded.

"Is that true?"

Fang Chongyong thought about it and found that he didn't seem to know about this. Every time he went home, he came and left in a hurry, and even went to war for several months at a time. How could he take care of another young lady at home?

When he was at home, he was like Tang Monk's meat. His beautiful wives and concubines would always say that it was cold at night and they wanted to sleep together. That lady Xue had no chance even if she wanted to get promoted!

"It is true. How about we get it done now?"

Wang Yunxiu asked.

Fang Zhongyong waved his hand tiredly and said, "No need. Just find a good family for her to marry off. There are many female relatives in the family, and they are all good. There is no need to add more people."

"Which family would dare to marry a woman who has entered Fang Qing's mansion?"

Wang Yunxiu asked back with a resentful look on her face.

Fang Zhongyong was speechless, because this was indeed the truth. Even if it was a woman he had never touched, or even seen, as long as she lived in his mansion, no one would dare to play with her after she came out.

This is a fact that is not difficult to understand.

Suddenly, Wang Yunxiu seemed to remember something. She looked at Fang Zhongyong with a strange expression, but didn't say anything. She just kept looking at him.

"What happened today, ma'am?"

Fang Chongyong was also confused by her look.

"Recently, there have been rumors that Alang is not a descendant of the Fang family, but... an illegitimate son of Li Longji. Therefore, those people say that Alang should be called Li Qing, not Fang Qing."

Wang Yunxiu hesitated for a while and spoke slowly.

"Is there such a thing?"

Fang Chongyong was shocked. He couldn't tell before, but now that he is middle-aged, this face looks more and more like Fang Youde. How could he be Ji Ge's descendant?
Wang Yunxiu had met Fang Youde before, so how could she say such strange things?

"I don't believe it either, but the story is getting more and more outrageous.

First of all, Alang’s former home in Chang’an was right behind the Xingqing Palace.

Secondly, Alang’s father was Li Longji’s close follower and was very trusted.

Finally, the court struggle was very fierce, so it was not surprising that Li Longji asked others to raise his children in order to protect them.

This is not what I said, this is a rumor spread by those people outside."

Wang Yunxiu quickly explained.

Well, if Fang Qing is too powerful and cannot kill him, then it seems that it is not impossible to spread a rumor that he is an illegitimate son of the Li Tang royal family.

So, although Fang Qing seized the world, he was actually a member of the Li clan, so this was still the world of Li Tang. If Fang Qing had known better, he would have quickly confirmed this rumor, and then everyone could have fun together again.

In other words, as long as you think you are a descendant of the royal family of Li Tang, it is not impossible to give the world to you! To save the country in a roundabout way, there are always people who can take an unusual path.

In an instant, Fang Chongyong understood the intentions of certain people!

“These guys really do everything they can!”

Fang Zhongyong said bitterly, clenching his fists and then slowly loosening them.

Obviously, three people can make a tiger, especially when it is something so credible that it is difficult for the parties involved to refute it.

"Don't pay attention to these rumors. I will clear them up myself."

Fang Chongyong was so amused by the bizarre ideas of the Guanzhong Tianlong people that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He picked up the teacup and just took a sip of tea when Wang Yunxiu asked, "Ah Lang, do you like men?"

puff!
The tea in his mouth sprayed all over the dozing colorful parrot opposite. The parrot instantly fluttered up and flew up, but was pulled down by the chain on its feet.

"Sabbi! You big sabbi!"

The colorful parrot howled in a shrill voice.

"How did you know that someone is a lesbian?"

Fang Zhongyong asked back, feeling unwell all over.

"Ah Lang doesn't know, there are a lot of rumors about Ah Lang out there right now.

For example, Alang is not interested in women but men, so he did not rob women.

By the way, there are rumors that Alang has become a terrestrial immortal and is no longer a mortal, so he cannot have sexual intercourse with women. But he likes to enter women's dreams and have sex with them.

Some time ago, a woman from a wealthy family came to the Bianzhou government office and cried, saying that she had been making love with Alang in her dreams for several months and was pregnant. She wanted the government to make a decision for her.

Yuan Jie simply sent people to beat him out with sticks, so the matter did not spread.

There are a lot of random things like this, most of which don’t say anything bad about Alang, but how should I put it, it sounds weird.”

Wang Yunxiu told her everything she knew. As for the source of the information, Fang Laique wandered around the streets of Bianzhou every day and came back to tell her everything he heard word for word.

This little fool is like a transparent person. No one takes him seriously and he brags and talks nonsense without any scruples.

Among these rumors, except for those gold diggers who said that they had slept with Fang Qing in their dreams for several months and got pregnant, the others all have hidden secrets.

For example, there is a rumor that has bluntly stated that Fang Qing is not a mortal, but an immortal on earth.

So he was very powerful, the savior of the Tang Dynasty, very good and powerful. These are all facts, and they also correspond to the thriving situation of the Bianzhou court.

However, an immortal is an immortal after all, he cannot stay in the mortal world for long, one day he will have to "travel around the world", right? Fang Qing can manage the world, but it doesn't mean his son can too!
Because the descendants of immortals may not necessarily be immortals themselves. There is no such opportunity, do you know?
Therefore, the power of the court will eventually return to the Li Tang clan. Now the world is in chaos, Fang Qing came out to "take charge" for a while, and in the future when Fang Qing is gone, the power will still be returned to the Li family.

This is just like Zhuge Liang governing Shu Han.

He is indeed respected, but no one is supporting Prime Minister Zhuge Liang to replace him, right?

This is a public opinion war with deep tricks.

If Fang Zhongyong bullied men and women everywhere, these rumors would naturally be self-defeating. The key point is that a certain official usually doesn't like this.

So others will think, since you don’t like this, what are you good at?

Does he like making love with women in dreams, or is he a fairy on land, a fairy who saves the world, or is he Ji Ge’s illegitimate son?

Fang Chongyong had a feeling that as the political situation became clearer and the Bianzhou court lost its challengers, many people who hoped to advance but had not gotten on board before seemed to be a little restless and wanted to do something.

"Ah Lang, are these rumors serious?"

Wang Yunxiu saw Fang Chongyong's face turn from sunny to cloudy, and asked with some concern.

"It's a little serious, but it's okay."

Fang Zhongyong spoke slowly, but he was thinking about the change of dynasty in his mind.

(End of this chapter)