Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5017 Return to the Political Affairs Hall

Fang Jun also sighed: "The Tang Dynasty is thriving, but too many people are short-sighted and only care about the immediate benefits. They don't know that hidden dangers have already been buried. If we can't use tough measures to eliminate the malpractices and cure the poison at this time, the malpractices will inevitably become more and more serious and irreversible. Therefore, every reform and every innovation will naturally be opposed by many people, and every step forward will be strongly resisted."

Fang Xuanling disagreed: "Don't worry about what the majority think, because the real truth is only in the hands of a few people. The vast majority of people are just ignorant insects. They will only go with the flow and sit in a well and watch the world. So I don't agree with your "minority obeys the majority" in the Military Affairs Office and the Political Affairs Hall. But it doesn't matter. As long as you weigh the pros and cons, see the way forward clearly and think it is right, then go forward unswervingly. If you encounter stumbling blocks on the road, just kick them away."

The so-called reform and innovation are all about changing the vested interests.

Stealing someone's money is like killing their parents. When one's own interests are damaged, there will inevitably be a strong counterattack, and in the end either the reformers and innovators will bleed, or the vested interests will bleed. In short, the road to success must be paved with blood.

As for who is right and who is wrong... Does it mean that what most people think is right is right? This is pure nonsense. The world needs heroes and wise men. The right path can only be opened up by heroes and planned by wise men, not by following the will of the majority.

Because most people are idiots.

Today they rejoice in their short-sightedness, but tomorrow reality will show them how foolish they were.

Fang Jun said happily: "I will obey my father's orders!"

Fang Xuanling looked at his most outstanding son with a complicated look, and said with emotion: "Although I cannot disobey my father's orders, your thoughts and ideas have surpassed my cognition. My knowledge and experience in my life can no longer help you much. So as long as you think it is right, you can do it boldly. When you need your father's support, you can speak frankly."

A son who is too outstanding puts a lot of pressure on his father.

For example, the military reform that is being rigorously verified and boldly conceived concerns the connection between the imperial army and local governments, how to cut off the local government's support and control over the army and bring all military power back to the central government... Fang Xuanling never paid much attention to this during his administration. Thinking about it now, and thinking about the consequences of "weak trunk and strong branches" that may be caused by this, he often trembles with fear and sweats profusely.

For example, the various reforms of commercial taxes have increased the empire's tax collection by more than ten times on the basis of the emphasis on land tax.
In the past, who would have thought that the empire's trade could prosper to such an extent?
Not only did the circulation of goods between the east and the west, and the north and the south accelerate, but there was also an influx of overseas goods. On the rivers and on the official roads, there were dense caravans traveling back and forth every day. The flow of people and the circulation of goods connected the entire empire in the form of commerce, just like the smooth flow and unlimited vitality of blood vessels.

The empire was developing rapidly, and many subversive policies had achieved excellent results, making him, the former chancellor of the empire, feel dazzled and unable to continue...

But no matter what, this huge empire is on the right track. An imperial hero and a veteran court official like him does not really need to know too much. He just needs to escort his son steadily, instead of clinging to the old ways and trying to stop the surging trend.

Times have changed.

……

Fang Jun liked chatting with Fang Xuanling very much. Although due to the limitations of the times, Fang Xuanling could not understand or even accept some of Fang Jun's "deviant" ideas, as the most outstanding prime minister of that era, he could give Fang Jun enlightening help in governing the country, government affairs, and even people's hearts and struggles.

The essence of doing things actually lies in the use of people. If you use the right people, you can get twice the result with half the effort. Otherwise, no matter how perfect your policy or how ingenious your design is, you will still hesitate and get half the result with twice the effort.

When it comes to employing people, Fang Xuanling is definitely the authority among authorities.

When I came out of the main hall, the sky was full of stars and the night was dark. I stretched myself and was about to go to see if the children were asleep when I saw Xiao Shu'er, who was wearing a white printed skirt. Her waist was as slender as a piece of white silk, her figure was as delicate as a willow, her eyebrows were bright, and her smile was charming. It was obvious that she had been waiting for a long time.

What else can Fang Jun say?

In this situation, we should do our best to comfort the pain of missing each other.

……

The maid brought hot water, and Fang Jun took the initiative to help clean up. Then they covered themselves with a thin blanket and fell on the bed hugging each other. The rain was dripping outside the window, and it was difficult to fall asleep for a while.

After finally recovering, Xiao Shu'er rested her head on her husband's shoulder and whispered, "I wonder if I can get pregnant."

Fang Junle said: "No wonder you are like this today, you are missing your son so much, right?"

Xiao Shu'er was a little embarrassed and blushed, but she still said frankly: "Who doesn't want to have a son? A son is the foundation for life. A daughter is always someone else's and cannot be relied on."

In this era, we cannot blame the idea of ​​favoring boys over girls. In fact, in this society where men dominate the means of production, the status of a woman will be completely different depending on whether she has a capable son or not.

To simply condemn so-called feudal ideas without considering the social environment is tantamount to hooliganism.

Fang Jun waved his hands up and down: "Then let's work harder and have more children. There is always a chance that we will have a son."

Feeling her lover's care for her body, Xiao Shu'er squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

Generally speaking, for a son of an aristocratic family or an important official in the imperial court like Fang Jun, there are so many women around him, and no matter how beautiful they are, they are hard to come by. So his wives and concubines are thrown aside early, and only those young girls are favored. Especially after giving birth, when their bodies begin to decline, he will abandon his wives and concubines like old shoes.

Men are very loyal, and they only like young and beautiful girls...

Fortunately, the Fang family had a good family tradition of learning. Although Fang Jun was not as consistent as Fang Xuanling, he was also "lustful but with moderation". Not only did he not take many concubines, but he also doted on his wives and concubines, almost becoming an "oddity" among the civil and military officials and children of aristocratic families in the court.

"Before I left, my uncle sent someone to tell me to ask you to intercede with the Jiangnan gentry when I return to Chang'an. He said that he is old now and his energy is weak. He can no longer intimidate the Jiangnan gentry as before. The imperial examination has stirred up the interests of the Jiangnan gentry. There must be someone who will risk the world's disapproval. However, this is normal and they can't cause any waves. I hope you can consider the overall situation and not pursue it."

Resting her head on her husband's arm and smelling his scent, Xiao Shu'er said softly.

Fang Jun laughed: "Duke Song thinks too highly of me, doesn't he? I have the title of Grand Commandant, but I can't command a single soldier. Even if the Jiangnan nobles rebel, I can do nothing about it."

Xiao Shu'er smoothed her hair, snuggled into her husband's arms, and closed her eyes: "If you ask me to pass on the message, I will pass it on. As for how to do it, it's all up to you, I don't care..."

Fang Jun hugged the beauty and said softly, "Okay, as long as those people don't go too far, I will tell Gao Kan and Su Dingfang to turn a blind eye and hope they will be respectful."

There is a patter of rain outside the window and the night is quiet.

……

A few days later, on the fifth day of April, Jin Shengman gave birth to a baby boy, and the Fang family was filled with joy and celebration.

In this day and age, a person's population represents the foundation. The number of children and grandchildren is directly proportional to the strength of the family. Every addition of a child is a major event for the family...

With the visit of the emperor and the empress to the Fang family, the Fang family became more and more powerful, like oil boiling on a raging fire, and was the envy of others.

In the main hall, Li Chengqian watched Empress Su holding the baby, placing a white jade halberd in the baby's arms, and asked the Fang family father and son beside him with a smile: "This child has the blood of two countries and noble blood. He will definitely be extraordinary in the future. Have you given him a good name?"

Fang Xuanling said: "Your Majesty's visit to my humble home is a great honor to me. It is also a great blessing to this child. I, an old minister, dare to ask Your Majesty to give me a name."

Li Chengqian touched the short mustache on his lips, seemed very interested, thought about it carefully, but suddenly remembered something, a little embarrassed: "I am not talented enough, I dare not mislead the students, I will think about it carefully when I go back, and I must choose a perfect name."

Naming Fang Jun's son was a good opportunity to ease the tension between the two, at least on the surface.

It's just that when Princess Changle gave birth to the child, he was so angry that he didn't give the child a name, so the child still has only the nickname "Lu'er" and no real name yet.

What will Princess Changle think if we are so impatient to name the child?
After all, she is his biological sister...

Fang Jun seemed to sense Li Chengqian's embarrassment and said with a smile, "In that case, I thank your Majesty very much."

Li Chengqian laughed: "Okay, okay, we are a family, it's only natural."

Then he changed the subject and said, "The 'Ministry of Rites Examination' is approaching, and scholars from all over the world are gathering in Chang'an. The city of Chang'an is overcrowded. In order to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination, Erlang must control the left and right Jinwu Guards to maintain order and assist Xu Jingzong. The incident in Jinling must not happen again."

Fang Jun hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty has given an order, and I should obey it. However, the Left and Right Jinwu Guards are the troops stationed in the capital, and they are related to the safety of the country. I am not qualified and my words are not in order. I am afraid that I will be attacked by the censors."

Fang Xuanling stood by, his eyes on his nose, his nose on his heart, and turned a deaf ear to everything.

Li Chengqian laughed and said, "Are you asking me for an official position?"

After a pause, he said, "You and I are close friends, so why should I care whether I have an official position or not? Not to mention the left and right Jinwu Guards, even if the imperial guards in the palace are handed over to you, I will not mind at all. But as you said, we must always do things in a legitimate way. Then, how about conferring the title of Shangshu Zuo Pushe, Tongzhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, and Canyu Zhengshi?"

Fang Jun's eyes moved slightly, but he did not hesitate. He stood up and left the table, bowing to the ground: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

He didn't know what had happened, but Li Chengqian actually allowed him to return to the political hall...