In terms of books, Yang Ji and Yang Jian agreed that although the imperial court and the royal palace had skilled craftsmen, the technical content of movable type printing and ink was not high. Instead of wasting a lot of effort and time in this area, it would be better to use As the technology spreads, more profit-seeking businessmen will join in. At that time, more people will jump out to confront the aristocratic families for their own interests, instead of the emperor and the royal family fighting alone. This not only reduces the pressure greatly, but also allows more poor people to buy and afford books in a short period of time.
As far as Yang Ji knows, a large number of booksellers and books have appeared in the markets of Luoyang, Taiyuan and other places. I am afraid that the situation is not much different in other places. When this situation spreads all over the world, there is no need for aristocratic families to waste time and money. Their energy is wasted on Daxing and the court. Even if they become arrogant in the future, they will not be able to change any problems.
Confronting the aristocratic families in terms of books and knowledge is just the beginning. Yang Ji, who stood up on behalf of the royal family alone, would definitely not be able to defeat the powerful and powerful aristocratic families. However, in addition to the small number of royal families and aristocratic families, there are also large populations of poor families and ordinary people in the world. The individual strength of the people at the bottom is indeed very weak, but once they are gathered together, they form a destructive and changing force. Therefore, how to mobilize and gather these forces has always been Yang Ji's top priority.
As the great man said, to unite all the forces that can be united, in addition to the aristocratic family class, there are also the vast number of farmers, military, industry, and businessmen who can unite around the imperial power. The key lies in how to unite and mobilize.
For this populous group, tax cuts and public opinion alone are not enough. We must also give the people at the bottom a glimmer of hope and create more contradictions and conflicts between them and the aristocratic families. Only in this way can we benefit the people. Next step of operation.
For now, Liangzhou’s four schools, counties, and Liangzhou University are one means; the implementation of the policy of banning land sales throughout Liangzhou is the second means; and the trial implementation of the per-acre tax system in Tingzhou is the third means. The first and most important method is that as long as the tax target is changed from head to land in the future, whoever has more land will have to pay more taxes. This can somewhat resist the bad habits of Tibetans.
As for the pure bottom-level businessmen, their power is small, and the "businessman politics" mentioned by Gao Jiong is too far away.
"King Wei, do you know the biggest difference between the Guanlong nobles and the Shandong nobles?" Gao Jiong took a sip of tea and asked with a smile.
"The nobles of Guanlong started their careers with military force, while the nobles of Shandong relied on articles. The former wanted to conquer the world, while the latter wanted to rule the world. What the nobles of Guanlong are today is what the nobles of Shandong were like in the beginning. The nobles of Shandong have already completed the most primitive and bloody accumulation of capital. As a result, they have moved from the front to the backstage, and the Guanlong nobles are also trying to transform into Shandong nobles."
Yang Ji pondered for a long time and then added: "Whether it is the Guanlong nobles, Shandong nobles or southern nobles, they never think about problems in terms of months or years. They have a long history and think about problems for a long time. Some major initiatives , even taking into account decades or hundreds of years later, if they have long-term considerations, they would rather give in to short-term interests."
"That's right, that's right!" Gao Jiong nodded and said, "Then do you understand the strength of the Shandong nobles?"
Gao Jiong was obviously a talker now, and he was in a lively conversation. Yang Ji was too embarrassed to chase him away, so he could only patiently say: "Please give me some advice, Mr. Gao!"
"Compared with the Guanlong nobles, the Shandong nobles have a powerful voice, invisible elephants, and the power to turn the sea into mulberry fields! They are independent from the court, but closely related to the court; independent from the world, But they are deeply integrated into the world. Others think that the five surnames and seven sects that have been passed down for a long time are aloof and unconventional, but they are actually more worldly than anyone else, and their utilitarian aspirations are higher and stronger than anyone else."
Gao Yan glanced at Yang Ji and continued: "Thousand-year-old nobles have accumulated huge wealth. This wealth is not the real money and silver we see, wealth is something related to people's livelihood and wisdom."
"Talents?" Gao Jiong's unique opening remarks immediately attracted Yang Ji's attention. He no longer responded perfunctorily, but began to listen carefully.
"It's not just the talents who govern the world, there are also many ordinary people." Gao Jiong said: "Ordinary people include people who farm, people who plant mulberry and raise silkworms, people who weave and make clothes, people who herd... everyone... They are the humblest and most insignificant existences in the world, but if their power is concentrated, they can be enough to change dynasties. Although the Millennium Family cannot use decrees, laws and armies to control the world, they can remotely control it with top-down invisible threads. , control them. If you open a silk and satin shop, you will control the people who plant mulberry trees, raise silkworms, and weave cloth; if you want to buy and sell horses, you will control the herdsmen; if you purchase, transport, and sell grain, you will control the farmers who grow crops. , this kind of control is very light, as long as they break it lightly. The Millennium Family uses this obscure method, that is, through commercial means to control the people, and then affects the court through the people's livelihood of the world, and then through the court Reaction to the world!"
"The court cannot hear the voice of one person! But a thousand-year-old family can unite the voices of many people. If the emperor issues a decree that is not beneficial to the peasants of the world, by the time the consequences of this decree are revealed, the world will already be hungry and the people will riot. Cleaned up. The Millennium Family used the officials and critics they cultivated to raise objections in the court! If the emperor still refused to change, they would then launch a resistance to the court through food price fluctuations, food shortages, etc. "
A sarcastic smile flashed in Yang Ji's eyes, and he added coldly: "There are also the self-respect of bandits; there are also the officials who let the children corrupt the law and discipline, ruin the reputation of the court, and let the people be disappointed in the court, hate the court, and rebel against the court; Also, a policy decree that would benefit the country and the people was stillborn."
"Yes, the Millennium Family has very strong selfishness. In order to satisfy their own selfishness, they will do anything." Gao Jiong looked at Yang Ji with bright eyes and said, "This is because they have experienced decline and decline. After the heyday, the longer the inheritance, the more lessons they will learn; since they cannot control the people of the world through violence, law and other means like the imperial court, they have no choice but to control the people through people's livelihood, precisely because they have to rely on the power of the people of the world to fight The imperial court, so they understand people’s livelihood better than the imperial court and know better what is beneficial to the world. This powerful force cannot be touched or seen, but it actually has a huge effect."
"In order to survive better, they constantly provide strength to the court, and at the same time draw the wealth and power they need from the court. When the court does not abide by this law of symbiosis, when the court cannot meet their needs, when the court violates their rights again and again interests, then they will abandon this court without hesitation, find and support a new court, and then continue to coexist."
Yang Ji frowned and asked, "What is Gao Gong's final intention?"
"Enough is enough!" Gao Jiong touched his beard and said seriously to Yang Ji: "Even if a poor man becomes an official again, he still has to establish his own power. To build power, he needs to save a lot to support his power and scholars. , these poor ghosts are even more ugly than the well-fed aristocratic families. For example, you, King Wei, your descendants will also become a big family. As long as you are still alive, you will also try your best to seek benefits for your descendants. Good job, good living conditions. Therefore, I think that the power of aristocratic families exists now and will exist in the future, and without aristocratic families, the world may not be a better place."
Yang Ji was speechless.
China's gentry politics emerged in the Eastern Han Dynasty, flourished in the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, and reached its peak in the Sui Dynasty. After the suppression of Li Zhi and Wu Zetian, the middle and late Tang Dynasty became glorious again. It was not until the various forces of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms killed each other for a hundred years that it officially came to an end.
But as Gao Jiong said, the dynasties that were later established without gentry neither became better nor worse. The Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties were glorious when gentry politics was prevalent; the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties were also glorious without gentry politics; the Eastern Han Dynasty - Sui and Tang Dynasties were humiliated, and the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties were also humiliated.
The main reason for this unavoidable historical cycle and the inextricable knot of change is that the fundamental system has not changed, so there will be no earth-shaking changes in the world. Although there were no powerful aristocratic families in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, there were also various interest circles, large and small.
In the final analysis, this world is a vanity fair with endless battles. As long as there are people, the battle for fame, wealth and power will never end.
But for the Sui Dynasty, the main contradiction was still concentrated between the imperial power and the aristocratic families. This was the urgent need to resolve.
It’s easy to say that enough is enough, but in fact, how can it be that enough is enough?
Today's aristocratic families are very wary of the Sui Emperor. Even if the emperor wants to reconcile, they will not agree or appreciate it; even if all radical policies are abolished, they will only strive for more power through compromise. Benefits, not what is enough.
Moreover, when Yang Jian compromised with the Shandong nobles and abandoned his studies, he had already lost the hearts of the poor scholars. If he listened to the words of the noble families and implemented the book ban order day by day, it would inevitably make the poor scholars who gradually came closer and the lower-class common people who were eager to learn have a negative attitude towards the Sui royal family. Completely disappointed, to the point of complete despair. If the Sui Dynasty lost the support of so many people, the consequences can be imagined.
Therefore, the struggle between the royal family and the aristocratic families is like sailing against the current or retreating. No matter how difficult it is, we must grit our teeth and persevere.
When the matter came to this point, Yang Ji was no longer interested in discussing this issue anymore. He shook his head and said: "We are all officials in Liangzhou now, and it makes no sense to talk about these matters related to grand strategy!"
Gao Jiong sighed and said with a wry smile to himself: "Don't you know that if you don't advance, you will retreat? It's just that the Sui Dynasty has exhausted my life's efforts. I have deep feelings for this world. I really don't want to see it. Under the pressure of radical policies, the aristocratic families rebelled, causing this prosperous era to be destroyed overnight."
"I can understand Gao Gong's mood, but some things cannot be avoided, and some labor pains are unavoidable during the process." Yang Ji changed the subject and said, "Let's talk about our duties."
Gao Yan cheered up and said with a wry smile: "I, the governor of Liang, Shi Pei, don't care about anything, what do you want me to say?"
"Then do you still think you are the chief historian?" Yang Ji said very bluntly: "You occupy the position of the chief historian but don't do anything. You are simply a model of not shitting yourself in the pit. In my opinion , you'd better stop doing it, it will be good for everyone."
"You said that, but I really won't give in!" Gao Jiong was so angry that his face turned black. My heart says that although I, Gao Qiong, am old and have lost my appearance, I still have the talent, experience, and military skills to govern the country. Let alone a mere general manager, even if I give up your position as the general manager. Give it to me, I can do it better than you. I have condescended to you like this. Instead of not knowing how good I am, you are picky and dislike me?
What does this mean?
"It's not that I dislike you, but you have not only blocked other people's promotion paths, but also affected the efficiency of the Liangzhou General Manager's office. Many things cannot be bypassed by this long history!" Yang Ji gave in to Gao Jiong. Taking a step forward, he continued: "Since you are not going to give up, then I will ask the saint to set up a school to inspect the history of Liangzhou."
Gao Yan's expression softened slightly, and he nodded and said, "This is like a human saying."
Yang Ji smiled coquettishly and asked, "Which one of my subordinates, Duke Gao, thinks is more suitable to be the principal prosecutor?"
Gao Yan said without hesitation: "Yang Shanhui and Wei Yunqi are both fine."
Yang Ji asked curiously: "Why not Yu Shinan?"
"Yu Shinan's calligraphy is quite good, but his level of government affairs is not good. He is, at best, upright, and at worst, pedantic. The other Xiao Yu has the same temper. This kind of person is good at taking charge of the law. , but they will definitely not be able to handle government affairs well, just because Shi, the chief minister in charge, is quite a prime minister and needs to take care of government affairs and official relations in more than a dozen states, and their temper cannot handle everything." Gao Jiong pondered for a while, and continued: "I On the other hand, Yu Shinan's biological brother Yu Shiji is very powerful, and his future achievements will definitely be countless times higher than Yu Shinan's."
"I understand!" Yang Ji nodded slightly. Needless to say, Xiao Yu, Yu Shinan is also a very stubborn person. He can help you handle the things assigned to him, but in this way, there is not much belonging. How can my own opinions and opinions be compared with those of Yu Shiji who could influence the court?
"Compared with Wei Yunqi, Yang Shanhui is more suitable." Gao Jiong explained without waiting for Yang Ji to ask: "I'm not saying that Wei Yunqi is inferior to Yang Shanhui, but that Wei Yunqi belongs to the Wei family branch in Guanzhong. Although the Wei family belongs to the Guanzhong noble family, they are actually inextricably linked to the Guanlong nobles. Even if the Wei family is included in the Guanlong nobles, it is not an exaggeration. Now that the saint is suppressing the Guanlong nobles, you rashly recommend him, which is to you There is no benefit at all to being the chief enemy of this aristocratic family. In addition, the Princess of Jin and the Princess of Yuzhang are all from the Wei family. If you recommend Wei Yunqi, your political leanings are too strong. Taking a stand in this regard too early will be harmful to all. I will It’s the best example. And Yang Shanhui is a branch of the Yang family in Hongnong, and he has some relationship with your royal family, so there’s no problem for you to recommend him.”
Yang Ji thought to himself that ginger is still spicy when old, and wine is still fragrant when old. This understanding and insight were much deeper than what he expected. After being silent for a while, he asked again: "What does Gao Gong know about Tuoba Ningcong, the leader of Dangxiang Qiang?" ?"
"Tuoba Ningcong is an old owl with great ambitions." Gao Jiong said in a deep voice: "After this man was defeated in the Great Sui Dynasty, he used my power in the Great Sui Dynasty to annex the Qiang tribe in Taozhou. He is stronger than him. It has grown countless times before. In order to further annex Tuoba Chici's group, it has flirted with Tuguhun and rebelled against us in the Sui Dynasty countless times. If he is allowed to integrate Dangxiang Qiang, I am afraid that the next step will be to annex Bailanqiang, Qingqiang, Jia Qiang. Liang waited for the Qiang tribe. However, he mainly focused on strengthening himself and had far-reaching ambitions, so before he was strong enough, he would never dare to openly provoke the great Sui Dynasty Xiongfeng. At most, he would just make a small move. It’s actually easy to deal with him.”
"That's right." Yang Ji thought about Tuoba Ningcong's recurring temperament, and said with deep approval: "With Tuoba Ningcong's temperament, it is indeed impossible for him to conflict with me, Sui Dynasty, at this time, especially in the When the situation is unfavorable to us, we might even try to 'contribute to the conflict between Sui Dynasty and Tuyuhun' and reap benefits from it."
"But King Wei is not going to give him this opportunity, is he?" Gao Yan said with a smile.
"Of course!" Yang Ji said, "I plan to go to Taozhou tomorrow, or maybe the day after tomorrow, to completely solve this problem."
"We do not have any advantage in terms of military strength on the border between Sui Dynasty and Tuyuhun. If King Wei transfers troops from them, there may be a big loophole in the front line of the confrontation. I wonder if King Wei has considered this issue?" Gao Jue frowned.
"I have considered it!" Yang Ji said, "I am going to borrow 10,000 elite soldiers from Daxing City."
"This is a good idea, but 10,000 horses and horses are really a little less." Gao Jiong said slowly: "As far as I know, Tuoba Ningcong has a population of about 100,000. If we add what we don't know, Counting strength, it's even more. Moreover, their living conditions are poor, and there are almost no old, weak, sick or disabled people. There are at least 40,000 to 50,000 people in their army, and even women can fight. If you calculate it carefully, , the more troops we can bring out.”
"I think ten thousand is enough!" Yang Ji said with a smile: "The tribe of Tuoba Ningcong lives at the northeastern foot of Xiqing Mountain in Taozhou. If I bring more troops, they only need to drill into the mountains. We can't find anyone. It would be a warning, so I think 10,000 elite soldiers with one block and ten will be enough. Coupled with sophisticated weapons and equipment, our chance of winning is more than three points. If he fights me head-on, or If the war is not going well, it is not too late to mobilize troops nearby. Anyway, Taozhou is not far from Guanzhong and the northern part of Yizhou."
Gao Jiong hesitated for a moment and said slowly: "That's fine!"
——————
Thanks to the book friend "77 Queen of Hongzi and the Great Sword Immortal of Xuanxuan Mountain" for the great prize.
Please ask for monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and subscriptions.
7017k
