In order to compete for the position of deputy governor of the Northern Navy, the major political factions, civil and military officials, tried their best to support the candidates they supported. After a lot of bickering, fierce debates, and survival of the fittest, only the southern gentry and the Hedong gentry were left to recommend. Wang Rengong was recommended and supported by Pei Renji, Guanlong nobles and Guanzhong gentry.
In the process of recommending and supporting Pei Renji, the Hedong gentry headed by Pei Ju were in an assisting position due to the official taboo of "promoting talents but not relatives"; the main attackers were the southern gentry who had reached a cooperative relationship with him. However, even if the two worked together, they were at a disadvantage under the pressure of the Guanlong nobles and Guanzhong gentry.
This is because the Guanlong nobles and Wang Rengong supported by the Guanlong nobles are no weaker than Pei Renji in terms of ability, qualifications, and achievements. In many aspects, they even far surpass Pei Renji.
Wang Rengong was from Gui, Tianshui. He served as the secretary of King Yang Jun of the Qin Dynasty and the chief minister. During the Battle of Pingchen, he accompanied Yang Jun to station in Xiakou, fighting alongside Zhou Luohu, Zhou Fashang and others who were generals of the Chen Dynasty at the time. The side talks prompted Zhou Luohu and others to lead their troops to surrender to the Sui Dynasty one after another. He also paid tribute to the general of chariot and cavalry for his merit. Later, he followed Yang Su to defeat the Turks in Lingwu County, and won the honor of Shangkaifu. He used the hussar general to show off the military affairs of King Yang Xiu of Shu. Then, under the orders of King Yang Xiu of Shu, he led troops to defeat many times and brought disaster to the place. of wolf people.
Pei Renji also has the above experience and qualifications, so the two of them are inseparable in comparison. But when Yang Guang ascended the throne as emperor, the difference came out.
When Yang Liang launched the rebellion, Wang Rengong once again followed Yang Su to fight. After the war, he was promoted to general and became the governor of Ji County due to his merits. Pei Renji was an official of Yang Liang at the time. Although he was exiled to Taiyuan because he opposed Yang Liang's rebellion. Da Lao was praised by Yang afterwards, but there is no comparison at all with Wang Rengong, who made great contributions.
This is also the main reason why the Guanlong nobles and Guanzhong nobles can suppress the southern nobles and Hedong nobles.
However, Pei Renji also had his own advantages, that is, he served as a mid-level general of the navy, and led a fleet of the Sui Navy many times to suppress rebellions in the rivers, lakes and seas of the south. In the end, he won a great victory every time. Although Wang Rengong also fought with the Chen Dynasty Navy in Hankou, he was just a "captain", and his subsequent military exploits and awards were all obtained in land battles.
In addition to the gap in actual combat, the Guanlong nobles and Guanzhong gentry held the view that the Northern Navy did not fight immediately, Wang Rengong could learn from it. When the Northern Navy had combat effectiveness, he had already transformed into a qualified deputy commander; Their argument was far-fetched, but they changed their tone and criticized Pei Renji based on the current situation of corruption in the Southern Navy. They believed that although he was competent in ability, his moral character, loyalty and integrity were not good enough. Otherwise, why didn't he take the corruption into account? Things, revealed to the saint?
Of course, they also admitted that corruption had nothing to do with Pei Renji, but as a middle-level general, it was impossible for him to be unaware of the problems in the Navy. However, he did not report them, which proved that he was incompetent.
This move was something that the Southern and Hedong nobles could not refute, and it was also the key to success or failure.
Yang Ji listened to the bickering between the four factions below, and gained a better understanding of the overt and covert struggles between the four factions.
The more Yang Guang wants to achieve a balance of power, the more he can intensify party struggles and unite major factions. However, if he does not pay attention to region and origin when selecting officials, he will face new problems. This was a chronic political disease of Yang Guang's dynasty, and it was also an unsolvable political problem in feudal society.
After that, officials from all over the world supported and discussed each candidate based on their official reputation, talents, conduct, qualifications... and even their family members and family traditions, citing scriptures.
Yang Ji felt sleepy after listening, but Yang Guang was sometimes thinking, sometimes nodding, and sometimes frowning in thought. Although he was not as expressive as the so-called "mentors" in variety shows, he would accept advice with an open mind and open up his mind. The image of a wise king is shown to everyone.
"That's enough!" Finally, Yang Guang, who was sitting at the top, couldn't bear it anymore. He saw the quarrel below and the dust was about to settle. He knew that if they continued to argue, he would have no reason to do so. Wang Rengong was no longer needed, so he spoke up at the right time to interrupt the debates and disputes among officials from the four major factions.
In fact, although Wang Rengong was a member of the Guanlong nobles, he himself was Yang Guang's confidant. When Yang Guang heard this, he was ready to set up a
The two deputy governors were then assigned to Pei Renji and Wang Rengong. In this way, the Northern Navy formed a pattern of one chief and two lieutenants, and three parties restricting each other.
Compared with one upright and one upright, the three-legged force can undoubtedly ensure the loyalty of the northern navy. But the problem is that he wants to provoke disputes among the major factions and lead the southern gentry, Hedong gentry and Guanlong nobles to fight; so for the sake of current strategy, this idea can only be suppressed.
It was decided to wait until the strategic goal was achieved before adding a deputy governor.
The civil and military officials in the hall were silent, with different expressions.
In the dead silence, Xiao Jue and Pei Ju silently returned to the train with bitterness in their hearts: In order to help Pei Renji defeat Wang Rengong, his strong enemy, and to win this position, the two of them stayed up almost all night last night, and mobilized their respective factions. The wise men and capable ministers discussed all night long and calculated various situations in their minds. However, they had calculated everything, but they did not expect that the Guanlong nobles and the Guanzhong gentry would go astray, expose their own ugliness, admit the corruption in the Southern Navy, and exchange the interests of the Northern Navy for their Losses in the Southern Navy.
The saint must have been extremely dissatisfied and disappointed with Pei Renji at this time. After all, if Pei Renji had reported it earlier, the Southern Navy would not have fallen to this point; facing such an incompetent, incompetent, and irresponsible person, the saint must have He thought that if he served as the deputy commander of the Northern Navy, he would be indifferent to the corruption happening in front of him and around him.
With such a bad impression in his mind, as well as its natural extension and deduction, how could the saint confer this important position on Pei Renji?
It is useless to fight anymore at this time.
Yang Guang looked around the ministers, passing by Su Wei and Changsun Chi who had also passed away, and finally settled on Shangshu Zuopushe Gao Jiong who was not present, and asked: "Gao Qing, do you have any ideas about the candidate for deputy governor?" Any suggestions?"
Gao Jiong did not recommend anyone to compete. He was a spectator in this game. After hearing this, he also felt that Wang Rengong was a better character and more credible. As for Wang Rengong's disadvantage, in his opinion, it could not be regarded as a disadvantage at all, but Su Wei, Changsun Chi and others had just missed the point. So he said to Yang Guang: "Sage, I think Wang Rengong is worthy of this position." . General Wang Rengong has sufficient qualifications and capabilities, and although his experience in naval warfare is somewhat weaker, the Northern Navy focuses on naval warfare. Even General Pei and others have to relearn maritime warfare methods and adapt to the wind and waves at sea, so this is not considered Weaknesses."
Su Wei, Changsun Chi and others were stunned for a moment at this opening, and then became excited. They had mentioned this before, but they ignored the difference between naval warfare and river and lake warfare, so the argument that "it can be learned" seemed far-fetched. Now after Gao Jiong's mention and addition, Pei Renji no longer has any advantage.
The big thing has been decided, the overall situation has been decided!
After hearing this, Pei Ju and Xiao Jue felt even more miserable. Now even if Yang Ji comes out to support, it will be of no avail and there is nothing he can do to save the day.
Yang Guang was also caught in a dilemma and didn't even know what to do. Without this debate, he would have appointed Pei Renji directly. But now... of course he cannot forcefully hire Pei Renji and give up the better Wang Rengong in full view of the public. Otherwise, what is the difference between him and an arbitrary tyrant?
Isn't it possible to appoint a higher-ranking deputy governor?
Yang Ji, who was watching the excitement, knew that he could not stay silent, otherwise the ministers would think that Yang Guang was partial to Pei Renji. Although he was indeed partial, he couldn't let others see it. He immediately stood up, cupped his hands to Yang Guang and said, "Sage, I have a different opinion. I think General Pei Renji is more suitable to be the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Navy than General Wang Rengong. "
"Hiss"... The sound of gasping suddenly sounded in the hall. This guy is really fierce. He didn't even give a reason and just said that Pei Renji was better?
Pei Ju and Xiao Jue shook their heads secretly, so what? Not only did it have no effect at all, but it also provided evidence for the alliance between the Wei Wang clan and the Hedong gentry and the southern gentry.
"But I don't know what King Wei's reason is?" Yang Guang didn't believe it, but he was a little surprised in his heart, mistakenly thinking that Yang Ji's act of showing his presence was to gain favors. After all, things have reached this point, and he still takes the "risk" to help. No matter how you put it, it is a favor.
As long as it is a favor, Pei Ju and Xiao Jue have to give in. Otherwise, how can others
What to see?
"If you remember correctly, Wang Rengong and Zhou Fashang fought in Xiakou, and they fought more than once. Although General Zhou finally abandoned the dark side and turned to the bright side, in General Wang's eyes, he was a surrendered and defeated general." Yang Ji looked at Looking at Yang Guang, seeing his eyes sparkling, knowing that Yang Guang had come to his senses, he continued: "Let him become a general under his former enemy and defeated general, and let him be dispatched by the other side, will he feel better? ?」
"Your Majesty, what you said is wrong!" Before Yang Ji finished speaking, Changsun Chi, who couldn't sit still, immediately stood up and objected: "General Zhou and General Wang are both sincere gentlemen. Their style is to deal with the situation rather than the person. Besides, The two of them were each their own masters and had no personal grudges, so how could they be tit for tat?"
"I also think that the possibility of tit-for-tat is unlikely, but don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of the unexpected!" Yang Ji said: "The Northern Navy doesn't even have a base now, and the chief and deputy commanders have so many things to negotiate. If the two get along with each other, Opinions are constantly competing with each other. Will General Zhou think that General Wang is deliberately provocative, and will General Wang think that General Zhou is deliberately targeting? No one can guarantee this, and no one dares to take this risk. If this is the case, state affairs will be missed. , and who will be responsible?”
"..." Changsun Chi was immediately dumbfounded and spoke slowly.
In this era, when recommending people, it is not done once the recommendation is made. If the person who is successfully recommended commits something unforgivable, the recommender will also be held accountable by the court. It is precisely because of the existence of this "involvement" system that ministers in the peaceful and prosperous times would be more cautious when recommending people; they would not recommend someone indiscriminately just because they were one of their own. Sometimes, in order to avoid being implicated, they will even take the initiative to report corrupt officials they have recommended. In order to ensure the clarity of official administration to a certain extent.
If Changsun Chi and others successfully recommended Wang Rengong even though they knew that Zhou Fashang and Wang Rengong had an old grudge, Zhou Fashang and Wang Rengong, as Yang Ji said, delayed the establishment of a peace war between the northern navy because of the quarrel between the generals. If the training process prevents it from forming combat effectiveness, then all the blame lies on Wang Rengong. The person who recommended Wang Rengong today will not only bear responsibility, but will ultimately bear far greater culpability than Wang Rengong himself.
This is the reason why Changsun Chi is speechless and dare not make a promise.
Yang Ji said, "I believe that General Pei Renji is more suitable to be the deputy commander-in-chief of the Northern Navy than General Wang Rengong." The reason why he did not directly recommend Pei Renji was also derived from this.
When Pei Ju and Xiao Jue heard this, their hearts were agitated and they thought to themselves: King Wei is really amazing, he reversed the situation in one fell swoop.
Their goal has been achieved by Yang Ji, so there is no need to increase their presence.
After a while, Changsun Chi took a deep look at Yang Ji, frowned and said, "But King Wei, General Pei is a person with faults after all!"
"I can't say fault!" Yang Ji did not fall into the trap set by his "in-laws" and said calmly and lightly: "The imperial court has not sent anyone to investigate, so we can't tell whether there is corruption in the Southern Navy; Pei Renji Of course, I can’t say whether the general was at fault. But I personally believe in the naval generals.”
Changsun Chi was speechless and retreated silently. Although everyone knows that there are problems in the Southern Navy, and there are many and big problems, but there is no investigation and no evidence yet, even if he wants to say that a certain Guanlong noble son is guilty.
"That's it!" Yang Guang didn't expect Yang Ji to be able to make a comeback. Seeing that no one objected, he ordered Pei Ju, the minister of Huangmen of the Ministry of Internal History, "The Ministry of Internal History has drafted an edict to designate Pei Renji as the deputy capital of the Northern Navy. The superintendent will supervise military affairs and manage food and wages, and will take up his post at a selected date."
Pei Ju came out of the queue, cupped his hands and said, "I obey your order!"
At this point, the selection of deputy commander of the Northern Navy has been settled, and there are no more twists and turns!
Yang Guang wanted to glance at Pei Ju and said in a solemn tone: "I don't want my deputy governor to be a waste who does nothing and has no responsibility. After Pei Qing returns, he will give me a warning to Pei Renji and correct it if he has made any mistakes. If you don’t have any, please encourage me!”
"Here!" Pei Ju felt awe-struck in his heart. He bowed respectfully to Yang Guangshen above, and remembered this in his mind.
Pei Renji knew clearly that the Saint divided and weakened the Guanlong nobles, and there were such good people in the Southern Navy.
It was an opportunity to make meritorious deeds, but that damn bastard not only didn't report it, he didn't even say anything. He was really a bastard and stupid person.
So after returning, he must give a stern warning on behalf of the saint, on behalf of the Pei family, and on behalf of himself.
