Chapter 22 The Fang family’s determination
When Fufangguan, Hubenwei Town of the Ming Dynasty, saw his former teacher again, he was full of emotions. When Fangguan was young, Fang Guozhen started an army. As Fang Guozhen's legitimate son and future heir. Fang Guozhen also attaches great importance to Fang Guan's training.
Invite famous teachers everywhere, such as Zhan Ding.
I remember how glorious I was when I was young. Everyone around you revolves around you. But this year, nearly half a hundred years ago, it was so miserable.
Fang Guan is not without talent.
After all, as mentioned earlier, the Ming Dynasty was destroyed by culture due to the Yuan Dynasty. There are not many people who are just well-read in poetry and books and have received education. Fang Guozhen may not be worse at Fang Guan's education than Zhu Biao. This is not to say that Fang Guan's talent is superior to Zhu Biao's, it just means that compared to ordinary people, Fang Guan's starting point is beyond comparison.
Not to mention, the most disciplined person is not studying, but worldly affairs.
Falling from the peak, the world is in trouble. That year, when he got married. He can choose the beauties from eastern Zhejiang. Now that his son is getting married, he can't even find a decent in-law. No matter whether the woman is good or bad. As soon as the parents heard that he was Fang Guozhen's grandson, they immediately shook their heads.
Fang Guan could only find a market woman for his son. Fang Guan felt heartbroken when he thought of this.
Fang Guan knew about Zhan Ding's imprisonment. But he did nothing. First of all, he had no connections and was a marginal person in the Ming court. It is impossible for him to reach into the prison of Jin Yiwei. In addition, he was also worried that if he did nothing, Zhan Ding would still have a chance to survive. If he did. Zhan Ding will definitely die.
Fang Guozhen's name is always engraved on their foreheads.
At this moment, Fang Guan and Zhan Ding met without saying a word. Silent tears flowed first.
say what? What's there to say.
No, there are countless things to talk about in the past ten years, and there are countless bitter and painful things that I want to talk about. But at this moment, I don’t know where to start.
It took a while for both parties to collect their emotions.
Zhan Ding told Fang Guan what Zhu Yuanzhang meant and said: "Master, this is an opportunity for the Fang family. Perhaps it will be the only opportunity in the future. It is also the last thing I can do for the Fang family. Please give me more, Master." Take heart."
Fang Guan's face was red at this moment, and his veins were popping out, and he said, "I know. I know. This thing must be done. Even if I die, I must do it."
Fang Guan told the truth.
A polite word. Fang Guan has long wanted to die. Not everyone can withstand such a gap. A mere town governor. Perhaps ordinary people think he is an official. But in Fang Guan's view, it was simply humiliating.
Of course, nothing more than humiliation. Surrender. This is as it should be.
It's just that Fang Guan is unwilling to accept the decline of the Fang family.
The same surrender, how glorious the Qian family of Wuyue King was. But if the Fang family continues like this, they will disappear into oblivion within a few years. Who still knows what his Fang family is?
If Fang Guan is really a person without ability or talent. He might be able to accept this result. But after all, Fang Guan was a man who had experienced great storms. He was sent on several missions, met with Zhang Shicheng, and met with Zhu Yuanzhang. Even visited Dadu. In terms of diplomacy, Fang Guan also did some things back then.
The heroes of the world. Fang Guan has seen many. The horizons are high. He is not a mediocre person either. Because of this, he was in more pain and discomfort.
If not worried about the future of the Fang family. Fang Guan has been drinking and beauties for a long time, and he will not rest until his death.
Therefore, at this moment, let him use his own life to find the invisible shackles for the Fang family. At least, let the Fang family be able to serve openly in the Ming Dynasty. There is no invisible ceiling. Even if Fang Guan is dead. Also die without regrets.
This is the limit of what he can do. The rest is up to his sons.
Zhan Ding said: "I haven't contacted my old friend for many years. I don't know what is going on at sea now. How much does the young master know?"
Fang Guan said: "I don't understand at all. Since my father returned to the court with his armor, he has never been involved in matters at sea. He has cut off all contact with his old friends. He is not afraid of the teacher's jokes. My brothers and I have not been together for more than ten years. At one time, there was very little correspondence.”
Zhan Ding also sighed after hearing this.
As mentioned earlier, Fang Guozhen was nepotistic. Therefore, the core of power of Fang Guozhen's regime lies in the Fang family. The reason why Fang Guan did not dare to interact with the brothers in the Fang family. It's because all the brothers in the Fang family are the team members of Fang Guozhen's regime.
How dare they contact you randomly.
And today each side. Fang Guozhen's three sons, Fang Guan was in the capital, one was in a household in Guangdong, and the other was exiled to Yunnan. Only the other brothers are serving in different places. They are all generals and minor officials. There isn't even a commander.
Zhan Ding said: "What should we do? Now that the Fang family is used above, they value the connections and abilities at sea, but now it has been cut off for these years. How can we deal with it?"
Fang Guan smiled faintly and said: "No need to deal with it. My father is a hero at sea. Maritime knowledge has always been learned at home. Why need help from others. The Fang family's Fang character is enough. Teacher, resolve big issues and clear up big doubts. Manage everything vertically and horizontally, I am not as good as you, but you are not as good as me in the sea, thousands of miles away. In fact, I only have a little understanding of such people in the Fang family. Moreover, even if we have not contacted each other for more than ten years. The old man back then Brothers, they won’t all wither away.”
"You have to trust the Fang family about matters at sea."
Zhan Ding said: "In that case, let's go south quickly. It won't be too late."
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He Xi never expected that the Fang family would be so determined.
Almost not long after Zhu Yuanzhang's secret message arrived again. Fangguan is here.
Zhu Yuanzhang severely reprimanded He Xi in a secret letter. He told He Xi about Princess Anqing. I want He Xi to reflect on it. But he was reluctant to reprimand Princess Anqing. Immediately, he did not deny He Xi's views on the sea ban policy. But Zhu Yuanzhang reminded him. Proceed with caution. I'd rather take it slow. Don't be too hasty. In short, give He Xi freedom of action. But the southeast coast must not be messed up.
This cannot be confused, it probably means two things.
First, the pirates who had been calmed down could not become chaotic again because of He Xi's actions. Second, in the officialdom, no big disturbances can be made. After all, from the perspective of the entire Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates and pirates were secondary directions along the southeast coast. Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want to involve too much energy here.
In a word, stability is paramount and reform must be promoted amidst stability. Don't make too many mistakes and let him wipe your ass.
Regarding Princess Anqing, He Xi only had time to give her a few words of advice. Nothing else was said. Instead, he stepped forward and swept through the Ningbo government officials. It can be said that He Xi used his influence to save at least hundreds of lives.
There is no other reason. He Xi wants to use his own reputation to cover up Princess Anqing's reputation. In the future, when outsiders mention it, it will be He Xi who did it. Not done by Princess Anqing.
Of course, the impact is not good. Maybe it ruined He Xi's reputation in the officialdom.
Although He Xi is very calculating in many things. It’s not enough if you’re not good at calculations. Whoever competes with him is not an old fox. He was not as savvy, he was sold out, and he was still making money for others. But for some things, He Xi still thinks it's better to be sincere.
However, these are small things.
Really big deal. He Xi had no clue at all. That's about the sea.
Today, Ningbo can almost be said to be the number one seaport in the world. He Xi conducted an in-depth investigation into Ningbo. He also met sailors from across the ocean. As mentioned before, Ming Dynasty’s maritime trade fell into a low ebb. But official trade has always existed. There are still some sailors traveling to Southeast Asia.
However, He Xi obviously felt it a little bit. That is why he is incompatible with the real ocean trading circle.
It was like an invisible barrier that separated He Xi from this circle. Even though He Xi has met some people in this circle. But no one told He Xi the truth. They are all high-sounding prevarications. This made He Xi helpless.
There was one thing that he clearly knew was that these people were not telling the truth. But he had nothing to do with these people.
Now that I think about it, this is not what this circle did to He Xi, but what this circle did to the Ming court.
