Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4993: Keep it in the middle
Li Chengqian sighed, and before turning back to the imperial desk, he tapped the memorial with his finger and asked, "Regardless of Pei Huaijie's stance, how should we deal with this memorial now?"

He was unwilling and unable to confront the military directly.

As for Fang Jun, he firmly believed that he supported his throne and would never betray him. However, his growing prestige and increasing strength undoubtedly threatened the supreme position of imperial power, and they were bound to take opposing positions.

At a time when the country's national strength is growing, the Tang Empire, under the leadership of this emperor, has been rapidly advancing towards becoming the most powerful country in history. If a conflict between imperial power and military power breaks out at this time, it will inevitably lead to internal friction and affect the overall situation.

But this damn memorial was sent to him, and he could not approve it or refute it, so it was really difficult to make a decision.

Liu Li was extremely terrified. He was the one who caused this incident. He thought that his plan was foolproof, but it went wrong because of Pei Huaijie, which put His Majesty in a dilemma...

His mind raced, and he asked tentatively, "Why don't you keep it in your possession and not send it out, Your Majesty?"

"Keep it in the palace and don't send it out" refers to a way of dealing with the situation, that is, keeping the ministers' memorials in the palace, neither allowing them to be submitted nor rejecting them.

This method often has extremely profound political significance. Keeping a memorial in the palace does not mean that it will never be issued. It may be issued a few days after the emperor has reviewed it, or it may be issued a year later. Of course, it may never be issued, but such a memorial kept in the palace must discuss military or national affairs, and there is no guarantee that it will one day become a starting point for a certain time related to it.

Throughout history, behind almost every memorial that was "kept in the palace and not sent out" there was an invisible power game.

Li Chengqian pondered for a moment and nodded: "This is the only way. I hope Duke Yue will not misunderstand."

Liu Li breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the matter had come to an end. This memorial would probably be "kept in the palace" forever, and he also got out of this matter.

"Eunuch Yue is loyal to his country and has outstanding abilities. He will certainly understand and appreciate your majesty's good intentions."

"I hope so."

Li Chengqian sighed and shook his head.

He kept Ma Zhou's memorial in his possession and did not send it out. It seemed that he was taking an evasive and tolerant attitude towards the game between imperial power and military power. In fact, this move also meant that he was extremely afraid of military power and intended to start a struggle, but he was just "holding back" for the time being.

Although it may not be that intense on the surface, there is not much difference.

However, he did not have much confidence in his struggle with the military represented by Fang Jun and Li Ji.

He is not Emperor Taizong, and his foundation in the army is almost zero. He can only rely on political tactics to hinder, divide, and check and balance. If he fights directly, he will never have the slightest chance of winning...

……

Just as Li Chengqian worried, the news of "keeping it in the palace and not sending it out" quickly spread, causing an uproar throughout the court and the country.

"Keeping it in the palace and not sending it out" seemed to be a weighing of the resolution on the memorial, but in fact everyone could see the concession and forbearance behind it. This was a manifestation of the fact that the imperial power did not have sufficient confidence when facing the navy.

Coupled with the previous news of the Persian naval battle, it is inevitable that a certain argument will arise: the strength of the navy has surpassed the imperial power?
Hibiscus Garden.

After bathing, Fang Jun changed into a blue cloth robe and knelt on the mat by the window, drinking tea leisurely. Jin Deman, who was lying on the bed, finally caught his breath, propped up his beautiful upper body, and slowly put on a thin gauze dress. His skin was as white as snow, and his beautiful face was like a crabapple after the rain, with a blush still on it.

The maid came in, blushing as she tidied up the messy bed, and helped Kindman, whose legs were trembling slightly, to the back hall to take a bath...

Fang Jun held a book in his hand and drank half of a pot of tea slowly. After taking a shower and changing his clothes, Jin Deman came out and sat beside him.

A faint fragrance like orchid and musk wafted into his nose. Fang Jun turned his head and looked. The queen's profile was as beautiful as a picture, her skin was as rosy as lychee, her gauze dress was light and beautiful, and she exuded a lazy charm from head to toe.

Fang Jun placed the brewed tea next to her and raised his eyebrows: "Have a cup of tea and replenish your water."

Jin Deman first thanked him subconsciously, then reacted, her pretty face flushed, her eyes like water, and she glanced at Fang Jun with infinite anger: "A dignified imperial lieutenant, actually speaks so frivolously and dissolutely, I'm afraid it will damage the dignity of the empire."

Fang Jun laughed and pointed to the bed not far away: "Just now I was sitting on the bed and doing something more caressing and dissolute, but your majesty didn't say that. You have been praising and encouraging me, hoping that I can do my best and serve you until my death..."

"Stop talking!"

Jin Deman was no match for Fang Jun. Thinking of his unruly behavior in his absent-minded state just now, he felt so ashamed that he raised his hand to cover Fang Jun's mouth.

Since Fang Jun returned from Zhaoling, they have been here. The two have fought several times and exhausted their physical strength. Now they are a little hungry. They eat some snacks with tea to fill their stomachs. Then a maid comes in and whispers the news spreading outside in Jin Deman's ear without avoiding Fang Jun.

Upon hearing that Li Chengqian had kept Ma Zhou's memorial "without sending it out", Jin Deman looked at Fang Jun with sparkling eyes, slightly surprised: "Is the Tang Navy planning to break away from the emperor's control?"

After all, she was once the queen of Silla and had outstanding political talent. She immediately understood the Tang emperor's fear and concessions towards the royal navy.

As for the Royal Navy, her feelings were too deep.

Countless strong ships and powerful guns could deliver the invincible Tang army to any coastal area at any time. Even Goguryeo, a once powerful country that occupied Liaodong, lost its capital and kingdom under the artillery of the Tang navy. This shows how invincible that country was.

However, such an invincible army wanted to escape from the control of the Tang Emperor...

Does it mean that the Tang Dynasty may split?
As long as Fang Jun is willing, he can create countless countries in the East, South, and even the West at any time...

Fang Jun smiled and stretched out his hand, holding her slender waist: "Why, are you still thinking about restoring Silla?"

Jin Deman looked at him and said, "It is not necessary to restore the country, but it would be fine if we could establish an independent country overseas."

"Haha, what are you thinking about?"

Fang Jun laughed, sipped his tea, and said calmly: "Since ancient times, China has never shown its territorial ambitions to the outside world. The so-called 'All under heaven belongs to the king' is just a joke. Why would we waste manpower and financial resources for a piece of land that we are destined not to occupy for a long time?"

"Oh," Jin Deman sneered, "Then the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions were destroyed one after another. Wasn't it because of China?"

Fang Jun glanced at her and clicked his tongue. "You are the queen of Silla, but you don't have any political accomplishment at all? Since ancient times, the center of the Chinese dynasty has either been in Guanzhong or in Luoyang, which is adjacent to Guanzhong. Whenever the Western Regions were strong, the troops of the Hu people would march straight to Guanzhong, which was the time when the Chinese dynasty suffered foreign aggression. Therefore, for the Chinese dynasty, the Western Regions must be a huge strategic buffer zone. How could it fall into the hands of the Hu people? It's different on the sea. As long as we follow the Chinese culture and respect the Chinese rules, the Tang Dynasty has no intention of starting a war."

Jin Deman was very curious: "What are the rules of China?"

Fang Jun raised his chin slightly, with a bit of arrogance: "We should have the same track for our vehicles, the same writing system, the same weights and measures, speak the Chinese language, use the Chinese currency, and practice benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness... these are the rules of China. As long as we do this, the Tang Dynasty will not only not care what its country is called, but will also regard it as a country of the same origin. If we encounter an invasion by foreign invaders, we can ask for help from the Tang Dynasty at any time."

"The Chinese culture has a long history. You can intimidate all nations without resorting to military force. This is truly enviable."

Jin Deman sighed softly. Although dynasties changed in China, its core culture remained unchanged and was passed down from generation to generation. Perhaps the national strength was sometimes strong and sometimes weak, but the immortal bloodline had already been established.

In comparison, Silla was a small country with a poor culture. Once its heritage was in danger, it would be a disaster.

If you want to survive, you can only rely on the strong.

However, if one relies on the strong, one will lose his own culture and become a vassal or even a lackey of the strong...

However, the fame of Chinese culture was not achieved overnight. Its ancestors went through countless wars and migrations, gradually completing the integration of the nation over a long and difficult period of time, thus laying the foundation for its core culture, which was something that Silla could not envy.

"But what does this have to do with the imperial power's fear of the navy?"

"In Chinese history, there have been countless wise and holy rulers, all of whom were able to create a glorious era. However, looking through history books, we often see that when the ruler dies, the government ceases to exist, and the prosperity eventually declines. Therefore, the knowledgeable people of the Tang Dynasty have begun to tacitly create a different era. We may not need a wise and powerful monarch, but only a well-functioning system... A wise and powerful monarch is hard to come by, and lacks continuity, while a well-functioning system can be passed on forever."

Fang Jun did not hide anything about Jin Deman. Not only was this woman dependent on him physically and mentally, but he was also the backer of the Silla Jin royal family. If she lost his protection, both she and the Jin royal family behind her would be swallowed up by the aristocratic families of the Tang Dynasty.

Jin Deman couldn't imagine it and said in shock: "If everything you envision is realized, wouldn't the emperor become a puppet on the throne?"

No wonder the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty showed fear of the navy. I think he has deeply realized the conflict between imperial power and military power, and the consequences after failure.

Fang Jun shook his head: "We are not against imperial power, let alone the emperor. We are just against absolute power."

The operating rules of all things in the universe are complementary and nothing is absolute.

Anything that appears absolute is an absolute disaster.

Rule by man is absolutely unacceptable; rule by law is eternal.

Military power must be separated from the control of imperial power. When the wealth in the Tang Dynasty accumulates to a certain level, irreconcilable contradictions will arise between imperial power and the scholar class.

When scholars, merchants, and even soldiers forced the emperor to recognize the "supremacy of law," it would inevitably mark the day when the social structure of the Tang Dynasty had completed its transformation.

Even if the so-called "supremacy of law" is just a means of ruling, "rule of man" cannot be eliminated within the supreme framework of "rule of law", and it is still a symbol of the advancement of civilization.

Because nothing in the world is absolute.