Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 787 The Emperor's Virtue

Just when Dengzhou was bustling with activity, Fang Chongyong quietly issued a personnel appointment.

Yuan Jie, who was the Jingzhao Yin in Bianzhou, was transferred to Guanzhong to serve as the Yin of Guanzhong Prefecture. Yuan Zai, who was originally in this position, was transferred back to Bianzhou to serve as the Jingzhao Yin.

It is equivalent to exchanging the official positions of these two people.

Yuan Jie has always been a conscientious official, so it is impossible for anything to happen to him. Therefore, when some people saw this appointment, they wondered if something had happened to Yuan Zai.

However, Fang Chongyong did not explain the appointment to the outside world, but waited patiently for Yuan Zai to return to Bianzhou.

That day, Yuan Zai came to the Bianzhou government office with trepidation to meet Fang Chongyong, thinking about what had happened a few days ago. After thinking it over, he didn't feel that he had done anything out of line.

Even when the Tianlong people in Guanzhong offered him bribes, he sternly refused.

Of course, it’s not because he is not greedy.

On the contrary, Yuan Zai's inner greed is beyond words. He wants to squeeze the blood out of the Tianlong people in Guanzhong and eat them alive!
He wanted to bring honor to his family and hold great power, and he also wanted a house full of gold and acres of land.

Even if those Tianlong people gave him all their property, they might not be able to impress this popular figure under the Fang family.

What's more, these Tianlong people from Guanzhong only give away a few trivial things and still want to bribe people. Who are they trying to fool?
What Yuan Zai wanted was a thousand times more than what the Tianlong people were offering him now! So instead of pleasing Yuan Zai with their gifts, they made him feel extremely humiliated! He was filled with resentment!

Times have changed, but these people still treat him like a slave? This is intolerable!
After confirming that he had not done anything out of line, Yuan Zai felt relieved.

He thought that during the few months he had been an official in Guanzhong, he probably had to admit that he was inferior to all the famous honest officials since ancient times.

Sure enough, as soon as they met, Yuan Zai saw Fang Chongyong smiling and looking very happy, and he didn't look like he was going to accuse him at all.

"Sit down. I have been looking forward to your return to Bianzhou for a long time. Come on, don't be shy. We must have a few drinks today."

Fang Chongyong laughed and ordered someone to serve Yuan Zai some wine.

After dismissing his attendants and drinking a few cups, he finally asked, "How is the situation in Guanzhong?"

"Not so good. There is an endless stream of people coming to bribe me. The local wealthy people are still ruthless. There must be something to ask for when giving gifts. I am worried about the connection and dare not act rashly. I am always walking on thin ice."

Yuan Zai sighed and said.

"I have already known about this matter. The court will have its own rules at that time. But it would be a waste not to accept those gifts. Just send the gift list to me. You can keep the gifts to supplement your household expenses."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand indifferently.

Yuan Zai was shocked and couldn't help feeling a little scared.

Fortunately, he didn't take the bribes from the Guanzhong Tianlong people seriously and didn't put them in his pocket. If he had really taken them, it would be hard to say what Fang Zhongyong would feel now.

Thinking of this, Yuan Zai swallowed back what he was about to say and asked cautiously, "I wonder why the emperor transferred me back to Bianzhou this time?"

This decree was issued very urgently. In fact, Yuan Zai was in charge of land inspection and farm inventory in Guanzhong. He was halfway through the work and it was not appropriate for him to be transferred back to Bianzhou.

"The emperor was poisoned by the Tibetans, the young crown prince succeeded to the throne, and Empress Wu ruled the country from behind the curtain.

The ruler is young and the country is in doubt. I often feel that the court is in danger of collapse. You are my right-hand man, and now is the time for you to share my worries. Therefore, I transfer you back to Bianzhou for official business and serve as Jingzhao Yin. "

Fang Chongyong's words were confusing, but if you listened carefully, it seemed that there was something else behind his words.

What is the "worry of collapse"?
There is no doubt that the Bianzhou court has unified the country now, and Fang Zhongyong has a firm grip on the military power and the channels for troop recruitment!
In other words, in the future, the number of people supporting him in the Bianzhou army will only increase, not decrease!
The first thing an "archer", a candidate for military officer, had to do when granted the title was to swear allegiance to the official, and then to the emperor.

Where can we find the source of the overthrow? Who can overthrow the Bianzhou court that is now at its peak?
Is he a random person from the Li Tang royal family, or the great Tibetan scholar Dazalugong?
Neither, they don’t deserve it!

Yuan Zai, who was quick-witted, thought several times before he understood what Fang Chongyong wanted to ask.

The ruler is young and the country is in doubt, so share the worries for the officials!

Yuan Zai understood the key words.

If, if Fang Chongyong wants to do "that thing", then maintaining stability in Bianzhou is extremely important, and it is even one of the most critical parts of the entire plan.

Considering that I am the emperor's confidant and help him share his worries, so... is it finally coming?
Yuan Zai already understood everything!
He suppressed his inner excitement and asked in a calm tone: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, as long as you give the order, no matter what it is, I will do it without hesitation!"

"Oh, it's not that serious. I'm just worried that there will be complications. After all, everything in the court must be based on stability.

The government cannot be in chaos, Bianzhou cannot be in chaos, and the world...cannot be in chaos."

Fang Chongyong said meaningfully.

"Your Majesty, the current good situation has not come easily. The emperor is too young to control the government, and the queen mother is governing on his behalf, which makes people feel uneasy.

I think that the emperor should follow the example of the ancient sages and abdicate to resolve this dilemma.

By then, the country will be stable, and the emperor will not lose his position as Duke. This is the best way to have the best of both worlds. Isn't it wonderful?"

Yuan Zai suggested brazenly, his words were very blunt and almost undisguised.

In fact, he is very clear about his own identity: he joined halfway, became the core, was looked down upon by his colleagues, and his eating habits were very ugly.

But so what?
Yuan Zai dares to say what others dare not say!

Yuan Zai dares to do what others dare not do!

Yuan Zai dares to jump into the pit that others dare not jump into!

At this moment, Yuan Zai finally fully understood why Fang Chongyong wanted to transfer him back to Bianzhou.

To get that done, we need someone to take the lead, someone to take responsibility, and someone to be pointed at.

If you don't do it today, you will definitely be done tomorrow! There is no way out, there is no way out, you can only go down this path.

If you win the bet, you will make a fortune; if you lose the bet, you will be infamous forever!

Yuan Zai chose the former without hesitation.

"I am also worried about whether the emperor can control the overall situation. The precedent of Li Wei is not far away. If it weren't for his perverse behavior, the late emperor would not have been able to ascend to the throne, and he would not have been able to sit on the throne."

Fang Chongyong said without comment.

"So what do you think...what should we do?"

Yuan Zai asked tentatively, as if trying to find something key from Fang Zhongyong's words.

Only someone like He Lao Hu would ask the emperor when he would ascend the throne. Fang Zhongyong would definitely not say it himself, but let his subordinates "guess it".

How can a respectable person say that he wants to seize the throne and bully orphans and widows? If he said that, where would he put his face?
If the boss is the one doing all the dishonorable things, what's the use of having younger brothers under him?
"The threat from the Tibetans is right beside us. I will never be able to sleep well unless I take back the land west of the Yellow River.

So when the army marches to Hexi, you must take care of the affairs of Bianzhou. In particular, if there are some people in Bianzhou who are ready to make trouble, you must deal with them in time.

After the autumn harvest this year, the imperial court will send troops to Hexi."

Fang Chongyong told Yuan Zai the truth, which was considered a preventive measure in advance.

It was common to go to war in autumn. On the one hand, plagues were less likely to occur in winter, and on the other hand, after the autumn harvest, the grain stored in the granary was sufficient to support a war.

Last year, we withstood the Tibetan offensive and recovered Guanzhong. This year, we will turn defense into offense and recapture Liangzhou. Next year, we will gradually recapture the five states in Hexi, and then control the Hehuang Valley to create a strategic buffer zone. However, we don't have to wait that long to change the dynasty. As long as we recapture Liangzhou and the army returns to the court, we can carry out the abdication.

Although Fang Chongyong did not say it explicitly, Yuan Zai, who had participated in many government affairs and had rich administrative experience, already understood the other party's plan.

It is very appropriate, and one can even say that it is a cautious step-by-step approach.

“Your Majesty, I think that the current political situation is delicate, and the Emperor and the Queen Mother may not know anything about it.

I would like to give some advice to the Emperor and the Queen Mother on behalf of the Emperor, explaining the pros and cons, so that if something goes wrong, they will not feel helpless. "

Yuan Zai suggested in a low voice.

Hearing this, Fang Zhongyong nodded with satisfaction.

Yuan Zai was very greedy, had a bad way of dealing with people, and didn't get along well with his colleagues. But he had one advantage, which was that he had a very sharp political vision and a very keen political sense!

There are some things that Fang Chongyong cannot do, but these things cannot be avoided!

Yuan Zai thought very clearly that instead of asking Fang Chongyong to "order" someone to do this, it would be better for someone to request to do it himself.

If the government doesn't need someone like him to charge into battle at the front, then what use does he have for them?

"That's fine too."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, agreeing with Yuan Zai's opinion.

"By the way, I asked those people who sent you gifts in Guanzhong to deliver the gifts to your house.

There is absolutely no reason to take back a gift that has been given. When the time comes, see if there are any people you have missed. If there are any, remember to let me know. "

Fang Zhongyong suddenly added a sentence that frightened Yuan Zai so much that he shuddered all over!
"Your Majesty, I am doing my duty for you. There is no need for reward. Please understand!"

Yuan Zai knelt on the ground to express his gratitude, but in fact, he was filled with fear and dread that could not be tolerated.

The government knows everything, even the people who send the gifts! What this means is self-evident.

Yuan Zai was a smart man, and he also understood that Fang Qing was an outstanding ruler, and he definitely could not be fooled. His thoughts had long been seen through.

Fortunately, he did not do anything out of line, otherwise, the consequences would be unpredictable.

"Those are what you deserve. You can refuse to accept them, but they cannot refuse to give them. If you refuse to accept them, it is an attitude, and if they give gifts, it is also an attitude.

They give their gifts, and you do your thing. Everyone gives gifts, which means no one gives gifts."

Fang Zhongyong helped Yuan Zai up, brushed the dust off his body and said.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Excellency. I will do my best to serve you, even if it means doing anything for you!"

Yuan Zai said excitedly.

After sending Yuan Zai out of the government office, Fang Chongyong returned to the study in the government office where he worked every day. His face became calm and he looked thoughtful.

At present, rumors are spreading not only in Bianzhou, but all over the country. There are all kinds of absurd ones. This is obviously not spontaneous. Someone is manipulating it!

When a powerful official seems to be in a good position, he is actually in a precarious situation. If the name is not right, then the words will not flow, and if the words are not flowing, then things will be difficult to accomplish.

After all, powerful officials are just employees, not bosses.

If this situation continues to develop, the stone will eventually be worn away by the water. Once I am seriously ill and unable to manage the affairs, the whole building will be in danger of collapse.

Getting to the top is no longer a question of whether or not to get to the top, but rather a question of when and how to get to the top.

Fang Chongyong felt that it would be appropriate to deal with the Tibetans in Liangzhou, then bring the Tibetan captives back to Bianzhou and hold a military parade in the name of offering captives!
After the military performance, those "excited" soldiers mutinied in the city of Bianliang, draped the dragon robe directly on the emperor, and surrounded the emperor into the imperial palace of Bianliang City.

All in one go!
With the power of a great victory over Tubo, no one dared to oppose. Even if the members of the Li Tang royal family wanted to cause trouble, they could not cause any waves.

Fang Chongyong called Yuan Zai back now to make plans for this matter. Jingzhao Yin raised his arm and called for help, which was still very appealing. If Bianliang City was under control, everything would be easy.

Therefore, the premise of all these things is to capture Liangzhou, improve prestige through military merit, and provide legitimacy for the change of dynasty!
As for whether or not the throne should be passed, it is actually a classic sophistry.

One side could say "the emperor is a virtuous person" and the other side could say "father is father, son is son, monarch is monarch, minister is minister". If they really want to debate, they can't tell who will win even after a hundred years.

Therefore, military force and military achievements are the most important, followed by the ability to control the political situation, and finally the skills of governance.

Politics is very complicated, but political tactics are not complicated at all. There are only a few keys, and if you get them, you can change the world.

The quality of politics depends on how long a regime can exist, and at that time, political tactics will lose their effect.

"The Tang Dynasty will soon become a symbol in memory.

A new beginning, is it the starting point of development or the beginning of chaos? "

Fang Chongyong stood in front of the large map hanging on the wall, feeling a mixture of emotions.

It is easy to seize power, and it can even be said that it is entirely possible to complete the change of dynasty at a relatively low cost. However, can the new court successfully pass the historical crossroads at the turn of the millennium?

With the expansion of the ruling class, aristocratic politics will inevitably come to an end, the threshold for political participation will be lowered, and the number of people will greatly increase.

The civil service government model centered on the imperial examination system will continue to change its appearance and dominate the development of politics.

Land will go from public ownership to private ownership, and then back to a completely different public ownership. Positive practice can lead to development, and reverse practice can also lead to development.

This is certainly a sign of progress, but it may not be a good thing within a certain period of time.

If there is no observation angle that lasts more than a hundred years, who dares to say that the path they are taking is the right one?

Just as the equal-field system was a good thing in politics to consolidate people's hearts, but not necessarily the optimal configuration in terms of productivity, the word "development" has a complex meaning and cannot be generalized, let alone distinguished by so-called good or bad.

In a country on another continent in the past, even though technology had advanced to the point where they could fly into the sky and dive into the sea, politics had only reached the level of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, where aristocratic families ruled together. Many people were still slaves, and although they were called "citizens," they had to pay taxes even for selling blood.

It seems developed, but in fact it is ignorant. It shows that it is wrong to think that technology can determine politics. The world is not necessarily always developing, and there are many cases of great regression.

The memories of his previous life could no longer provide Fang Zhongyong with the so-called correct answers. After the great changes in the world, it meant that he had lost his fig leaf and the person who could take the bullet for him.

There are no more excuses.

He needs to walk the road of the future by himself, a road that even modern people have never walked, a road that has no end in sight.

To be honest, the pressure is quite a bit.

“It’s easy to say, but hard to do.

Without this man, who would I go home with? "

Fang Zhongyong, standing in front of the map, sighed and said to himself, "The lone traveler of this era has to throw away his crutches and set out on the road alone."

What lies ahead and what lies ahead is all unknown.

(End of this chapter)