It is a truth that any emperor understands that the struggle of the party will lead to the subjugation of the country; however, balancing the court and not allowing one family to dominate is what every wise king should do... If you want balance, you must fight; struggle is the same as party struggle. The gap between the two periods is also very small. How to maintain balance in the court while avoiding party disputes?
This is the most profound knowledge for an emperor, and few emperors have been able to achieve it in the past and present. Li Chengqian, who boasted himself to be of average talent, was one head and two older.
But since we are sitting in this position, how can we retreat in fear of difficulties and ignore them indifferently?
Although he did not have any ambition to conquer the world, he could not let the evil in the court go unchecked. Emperor Taizong devoted all his power to the Eastern Expedition and emptied almost every treasury in the empire. Jiangnan, which was responsible for the heavy supply of grain and materials, was even more dissatisfied. Although Goguryeo was finally destroyed against all odds and the greatest threat to the northeastern border of the empire was eliminated, the direct However, there was almost no material replenishment. Subsequently, two consecutive rebellions destroyed the Guanzhong area, the "basic base" of the empire. The foundation of the empire was shaky and unstable, and it was almost on the verge of collapse. If not for the heavy losses of the Shandong family, it would be difficult to survive, and Jiangnan With the Navy as a deterrent, I am afraid that such a huge empire will fall into civil strife, just like the end of the Sui Dynasty, when wars broke out and China was shattered.
As an emperor, he must innovate national policies, reform and strengthen himself, overcome difficulties, and face difficulties...
If a party dispute breaks out at this time and the empire is in turmoil or even the building collapses, won't he, Li Chengqian, become Li Tang's eternal sinner?
…
Facing Li Chengqian's rebuke, Liu Ji felt helpless. He knew that Fang Jun's status in the emperor's heart was incomparable, but he never thought that his level of trust was so high. The gaps in government affairs are always waiting for Fang Jun to further complete the path of becoming a powerful minister by "integrating military and political affairs"...
He had no choice but to say: "Your Majesty clearly knows that the Duke of Yue is naturally loyal to the country. However, if this example is set and others follow suit, won't it lead to the disintegration of the military system and sow the seeds of disaster? The land in the capital is deployed without His Majesty's decree or the order of the Military Aircraft Department. Soldiers are absolutely undesirable."
The army is the cornerstone of the empire, but it is also a double-edged sword. If it cannot be restrained, it is very likely to transform into an uncontrollable monster. It must be bitten, otherwise if it chooses people to eat at any time, how can it be saved?
The raging military power means that the military is strong, one is declining, the other is increasing, and the civil service is naturally in decline.
Li Chengqian pondered for a moment, nodded and said: "After all, the situation this time is urgent and there is a reason for it. I will mention this matter at the Military Aircraft Department afterwards, discuss it with all the Military Aircraft Ministers, and make a decision."
Liu Jie was very aggrieved. This Lao Shizi's "Military Aircraft Department" was simply a ladder to steal the house. It was directly led by the emperor and accountable to the emperor, bypassing the political hall. Even he, the Zhongshuling, could not participate in it. Naturally, he had no control over it. This situation of being helpless and unable to do anything is really depressing.
*****
Along the bank of the river, countless wooden stakes were driven down, and large stones sank to the bottom of the river. Soldiers and civilians took materials from the local area and brought in soil, and finally blocked the breach in the river embankment. People on both sides of the bank let out huge cheers.
Fang Jun and more than a thousand soldiers crawled out of the water. Each one of them was blue and blue from the cold, their whole body was stiff, and their body temperature was extremely severe. Even Fang Jun's super physique was blue-faced and white-lipped, and he was shivering, let alone others.
Ma Zhou had already ordered people to build a bonfire and built a simple windproof shed under the river embankment. Wang Fangyi sent people back to the military camp to get clothes. Xingjiao Temple also sent several large pots of ginger soup. All the soldiers took off their clothes and got soaked in the shed. He washed his body with hot water and put on dry clothes. Then he poured down a large bowl of hot ginger soup. The smell of the ginger water stimulated tears to flow and his breath became smooth, and the lost physical strength was restored bit by bit.
A row of Bagua stoves were built outside the shed with stones and green bricks. The wood was put into it to ignite it. A large pot was placed on it. Large slices of cooked fat meat were put into the pot and stir-fried until the aroma was overflowing. Add various chopped vegetables and stir-fry, then add water, cover, and simmer over high heat.
Fang Jun put on ordinary clothes, sat on a wooden pier, drank tea, and chatted with Ma Zhou beside him.
Ma Zhou took a sip of tea and sighed: "Erlang... was a little reckless today. Although the disaster is like a fire, it is a taboo to mobilize the army to participate in disaster relief at will. Your Majesty may not say anything, but someone will inevitably grab this A little impeachment, no matter how prosperous your holy family is, but if water drops penetrate the stone and the rope cuts the wood, in the long run, there will inevitably be a gap between you and Your Majesty."
Military power is a taboo, and must be placed above everything else at all times. With Fang Jun's current power and status, even if he kills a high-ranking official, it is not a big deal. The emperor will protect him, but he can do it without authorization. The deployment of troops will inevitably make the emperor more and more jealous. It may not matter once or twice, but if things go on like this, how can we not bury the estrangement?
This kind of thing must be guarded against. Even if we have the power to mobilize troops, we should fundamentally and completely prevent it.
Fang Jun drank tea and said with a smile: "You think I don't know? No matter how serious the disaster is, it won't take long to deliver a memorial to Tai Chi Palace asking for the deployment of troops... I did it on purpose."
Ma Zhou was speechless and had nothing to say.
Since Fang Jun has known this truth for a long time but still goes his own way, either because of his arrogance and ambition, or because of other motives, it is natural that he will not be the former based on his understanding of Fang Jun.
But what could Fang Jun mean by doing this? Ma Zhou just thought for a moment and guessed Fang Jun's true intention, but shook his head and expressed disapproval: "Does Erlang want to use this method to taint himself? The idea is good. After all, your current situation can almost be said to be... Flowers decorate the brocade, and fire cooks the oil. We should be careful of overflowing and overflowing, flourishing and declining. It is a good thing to take the initiative to keep some distance from Your Majesty and let His Majesty be more distant from you. But this move is a bit rough. If even Your Majesty can see it, If it is clear, how can it be considered as self-destruction?"
Fang Jun asked: "If even His Majesty can't see it, is it still considered self-destruction?"
Ma Zhou was stunned. He was a very smart man and he immediately understood what Fang Jun meant.
What is "self-defilement"? It is a kind of "self-denial" behavior that must be carried out in order to avoid the fear and scruples of certain people in a specific situation. However, the core of this behavior is "attitude". It is to let some scrupulous people see your true intention of "self-denial", not what you actually did. Otherwise, it is not "self-defeating", but It's "really dirty"...
Ma Zhou thought about it for a while, nodded and said, "I am superficial in this matter. Erlang handled it very well and the scale was just right."
Why deploy troops without authorization? It is to deliberately do something wrong and give His Majesty an excuse. Whether it is a verbal reprimand or any punishment measures, His Majesty can let His Majesty understand his intention to "voluntarily stigmatize", thereby eliminating the possible barriers.
This is much smarter than "real stigma"...
Ma Zhou lamented: "When it comes to understanding people's minds, I am not as good as Erlang Duo."
Fang Jun squinted at him: "Are you praising me or scolding me?"
Ma Zhou laughed and said, "You can do whatever you think. Anyway, I don't know how to read people's hearts."
Fang Jun also smiled: "Four words for you: old and cunning!"
Ma Zhou: "To each other."
"Ask, accept, accept."
…
In the sheltered shed, Ma Zhou wrote a disaster report, detailing the causes of the flood decision, the blockage process, and the resulting losses. He recorded everything in detail, and then transcribed it. Two copies were signed and stamped together with Fang Jun, one was sent to the Ministry of Industry for filing, and the other was sent to Tai Chi Palace for His Majesty's royal viewing.
After the official duties were completed, the big pot of vegetables was ready to be cooked, and the rich aroma was blown by the cold wind. Fang Jun, Ma Zhou, and Wang Fangyi hid under the shed to avoid the wind. A pot was filled with stewed vegetables, large pieces of fat, and Fresh vegetables, and a jar of strong liquor brought by a soldier from nowhere. The three of them ate two bites of vegetables and drank a sip of wine. They were sweating profusely in a short time under the cold wind, and the dampness and coldness in their bodies were eliminated. Extremely happy.
Fang Jun took a sip of wine and sighed: "People are still a bit cheap. They spend all day pampering and eating like bells and whistles, but they don't have a good appetite. No matter how much delicacies are placed in front of them, they can't even whet their appetite. However, if you are tired, After a while, not only does my body feel comfortable, but this ordinary food and drink tastes great and my appetite is whetted, it is really unreasonable."
Ma Zhou approved: "So people can't have smooth sailing. If it's too smooth, it will lead to paralysis of the mind and insatiable desires. I always feel that God treats me differently, so I hope for more and never end. On the contrary, I encounter some setbacks from time to time. It can make the mind calmer and be prepared for danger in times of peace, so as not to make big mistakes.”
Fang Jun smiled and clinked a drink with him. After finishing the drink, he smiled and said, "Why do you always feel that there is something in your words today?"
Ma Zhou wiped his mouth and glanced at Wang Fangyi who was eating a lot. He knew that this was Fang Jun's confidant, so there was no need to avoid him. He said slowly: "I always feel that the matter of measuring the land in the world is a bit radical."
Fang Jun didn't answer but asked: "Do you know the purpose of measuring acres?"
Ma Zhou held the pot and poured wine into the glasses in front of the three of them, and said leisurely: "If someone else did this, I can't think of their intention, but since it's you who is doing it, then just think in the most unlikely place, and you will definitely get away from it." The truth is not far away.”
Wang Fangyi quickly took the wine glass with both hands: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The person serving the wine was the Prime Minister of the dynasty. He was so honored that he couldn't be rude.
Ma Zhou waved his hand casually, not taking it seriously: "There is no distinction between big and small on the wine table, just do whatever you want."
Fang Jun picked up a piece of meat and chewed it in his mouth. He felt the rich aroma of the meat and knew that Ma Zhou had guessed the real purpose of measuring the acres. He was very interested and wanted to know the views of this famous historical official, so he swallowed the meat. He took a sip of wine and said, "I'd like to hear the details."
Naturally, it was aimed at Ma Zhou’s “radical” comment.
Ma Zhou said in a deep voice: "This move is an unprecedented change. I don't know whether it is right or wrong, but I know that this move will inevitably be opposed by the world. At that time, people will definitely rise up to criticize. It is not only you who are caught in the turbulent public opinion, but also Your Majesty. Can you stand up to it?" Can you withstand the opposition of the whole world?"
What does it mean to "risk the world's disdain"?
This is it, and I'm afraid it will be the biggest disgrace in the world...
(End of chapter)
